The risk of suffering pain increases significantly throughout life, reaching the highest levels in its latest years. Prevalence of pain in nursing homes is estimated to range from 40 to 80% of residents, most of them old adults affected with dementia. It is already known that pain is under-diagnosed and under-treated in patients with severe cognitive impairment and poor/absent verbal communication, resulting in a serious impact on their quality of life, psychosocial, and physical functioning. Under-treated pain is commonly the cause of behavioral symptoms, which can lead to misuse of antipsychotic treatments. Here, we present two Regional and National Surveys in Spain (2015–2017) on the current practices, use of observational tools for pain assessment, guidelines, and policies. Results, discussed as compared to the survey across central/north Europe, confirm the professional concerns on pain in severe dementia, due to poor standardization and lack of guidelines/recommendations. In Spain, observational tools are scarcely used because of their difficulty and low reliability in severe dementia, since the poor/absent verbal communication and comprehension are considered limiting factors. Behavioral observation tools should be used while attending the patients, in a situation including rest and movement, should be short (3–5 min) and scored using a numeric scale. Among the pain items to score, "Facial expression" and "Verbalization" were considered essential and very useful, respectively. This was in contrast to "Body movements" and "Vocalizations," respectively, according to the survey in central/north Europe. Scarce time availability for pain assessment and monitoring, together with low feasible and time-consuming tools, can make pain assessment a challenge. The presence of confounding factors, the low awareness and poor knowledge/education of specific tools for this population are worrisome. These complaints draw future directions to improve pain assessment. More time available, awareness, and involvement of the teams would also benefit pain assessment and management in cognitive impairment. The experiences and opinions recorded in these surveys in Spain and other E.U. countries were considered sources of knowledge for designing the "PAIC-15 scale," a new internationally agreed-on meta-tool for Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition and the "Observational pain assessment" in older persons with dementia.


Streptococcus pyogenes is an important bacterial pathogen that colonizes the throat and skin of human beings and causes a wide variety of diseases ranging from mild infections like pharyngitis, tonsillitis and impetigo to severe invasive infections such streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, septicemia, and necrotizing fasciitis, and produces a wide variety of virulence factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance, virulence genes; [pyrogenic exotoxin genes (speA, C, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, smeZ and ssa), deoxyribonuclease genes (sdaB, spd3, sdc ve sdaD), protease genes (speB, spyCEP ve scpA) and inhibitor genes (mac and sic)] of S.pyogenes strains isolated from throat cultures of patients with symptomatic tonsillo-pharyngitis and typing by multiple locus variable number tandem repeat fingerprinting (MLVF) method. One hundred and fifty S.pyogenes isolates were identified by conventional methods and streptococcus group A latex kit (Biomerieux, France). Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method as recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. DNA isolation was performed by using a commercial DNA isolation kit (Qiagen, Germany) in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. The virulence genes were determined by multiplex PCR. MLVF method was performed with multiplex PCR using specific primers for repeated sequences within bacterial genome. All of the S.pyogenes isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, vancomycin and linezolid. Among streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin genes the most frequent gene was smeZ (90.0%) followed by speG (88.0%), speC (58.7%), ssa (42.7%), speA (33.3%), speJ (24.0%), speK (18.7%), speH (14.0%), speI (13.3%), speL and speM (9.3%). Of the DNase genes, sdaB was detected in all strains (100%), spd3, sdc, sdaD genes were determined as 64.7%, 36.0%, 24.7% respectively. Protease genes (speB, spyCEP, scpA) and mac gene from the inhibitor genes were positive in all strains, and sic gene was positive in only 3 (2.0%) of the isolates. Thirty-two different patterns that contained two or more isolates were determined by MLVF analysis. Ninety one isolates were included in any of the 32 different patterns, while 59 isolates were defined as sporadic isolates. In conclusion, S.pyogenes isolates collected from throat cultures of patients with symptomatic tonsillo-pharyngitis in Konya/Turkey were susceptible to all antibiotics studied and have carried a very high rate of virulence factors. However the isolates were mostly clonally unrelated and sporadic. This study is the first report in Turkey, in which S.pyogenes isolates were typed by the MLVF method and a large number of virulence factors were investigated.


A substitution network is a temporary network that self-deploys to dynamically
replace a portion of a damaged infrastructure by means of a fleet of mobile
routers. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a previous
self-deployment scheme, adaptive positioning algorithm (APOLO), for
substitution networks and we show the benefit of the controlled mobility in such
a network. To that end, we evaluate APOLO in terms of throughput under several
scenarios and different metrics. These results constitute a comprehensive
evaluation of APOLO and enable to envision new ways of optimization and future
paths of research. We prove that APOLO is an efficient
deployment and redeployment algorithm for mobile relay networks.


Sun-loving plants trigger the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) to compete against their neighbors for sunlight. Phytochromes are plant red (R) and far-red (FR) light photoreceptors that play a major role in perceiving the shading signals and triggering SAS. Shade induces a reduction in the level of active phytochrome B (phyB), thus increasing the abundance of PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs), a group of growth-promoting transcription factors. However, whether other factors are involved in modulating PIF activity in the shade remains largely obscure. Here, we show that SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE2 (SOS2), a protein kinase essential for salt tolerance, positively regulates SAS in Arabidopsis thaliana. SOS2 directly phosphorylates PIF4 and PIF5 at a serine residue close to their conserved motif for binding to active phyB. This phosphorylation thus decreases their interaction with phyB and post-translationally promotes PIF4 and PIF5 protein accumulation. Notably, the role of SOS2 in regulating PIF4 and PIF5 protein abundance and SAS is more prominent under salt stress. Moreover, phyA and phyB physically interact with SOS2 and promote SOS2 kinase activity in the light. Collectively, our study uncovers an unexpected role of salt-activated SOS2 in promoting SAS by modulating the phyB-PIF module, providing insight into the coordinated response of plants to salt stress and shade.


The energy preserving average vector field (AVF) method is applied to the coupled Schrödinger—KdV equations. Two energy preserving schemes are constructed by using Fourier pseudospectral method in space direction discretization. In order to accelerate our simulation, the split-step technique is used. The numerical experiments show that the non-splitting scheme and splitting scheme are both effective, and have excellent long time numerical behavior. The comparisons show that the splitting scheme is faster than the non-splitting scheme, but it is not as good as the non-splitting scheme in preserving the invariants.


We compared a latex agglutination method, Directigen (Hynson, Westcott & Dunning) with a culture-based system for detection of group A streptococci in 964 throat swabs. Discordants were resolved by Lancefield typing of beta-hemolytic colonies. After culture, swabs were randomly assigned to be tested by Directigen within 4 h of sampling or after overnight storage. For swabs that yielded more than 50 beta-hemolytic colonies from culture, there was a highly significant difference (P less than 0.01) in sensitivity between the group tested early and the group tested after storage overnight. For swabs tested within 4 h of sampling, a trend (P = 0.07) existed between sensitivity and length of delay before testing.


We thank the reviewer for his/her time in reading our manuscript and for the overall positive evaluation received. We do not disagree with any of the reviewer's comments so the vast majority of those have resulted in an addition to the text or to a change. Our reply to each comment is shown below, interspersed with the reviewer's comments. We noted that a revised manuscript version is not yet required at this stage, hence to make replies clearer we include below portions of modified/updated sentences that will be used in the revised manuscript version.


In the present study, effect of inclusions characteristics changing on the formation of acicular ferritein submerged arc welding of API5l-X65 low alloy steel was investigated. Three different welding fluxes with different chemical composition and basicity index of 0.72, 0.82 and 0.99, and two different welding heat inputs of 1.6 kJ / mm and 2.4 kJ / * یکینورتکلا تسپ ،لوئسم هدنسیون : email@example.com نا ا یراک و یروان و مو ع D ow nl oa de d fr om jw st i.i ut .a c. ir at 4 :1 4 IR D T o n W ed ne sd ay M ar ch 2 5t h 20 20 ییلام داوج ناراکمه و رشن ، ی ه روانف و مولع ي راکشوج ي ا ی ،نار لاس مجنپ هرامش ، 1 ، ناتسبات و راهب 1398 هحفص ، 91 77 78 mm were used to create inclusions with different characteristics such as chemical composition and size. The results indicate that inclusions acting as acicular ferrite nucleation sites and improvement of the microstructure and resulted mechanical properties, can be observed in welding conditions in which the welding flux with lowest basicity index and higher welding heat input. Under these conditions, the percentage of inclusions with a high titanium oxide value and size range of 0.5 to 1.5 micrometers is increased, which increases the amount of acicular ferrite in the microstructure. However, in other welding conditions, formation of grain boundary ferrite reduces amount of acicular ferrite and weakens mechanical properties of weld metal compared to the base metal.


Our experiences with a PACS-Subsystem have shown, that it would be more usefull and less expensive, first to install digital archiving systems in single areas. After a certain time of errorfree working the subsstems should be integrated into a superior information system. Fast data networks and userfriendly viewing stations are a basic requirement. Common standards of archiving, independent of the manufacturer, should be considered.


Fox, A. J., Tombleson, J. B. L., Watt, A., and Wilkie, A. G. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 42-47. A survey of respiratory disease in cotton operatives. Part I. Symptoms and ventilation test results. Between 1966 and 1968, 2 316 operatives were examined in the blow and card rooms of the south-east Lancashire coarse cotton industry. Between 1968 and 1970, a second survey of 2 556 operatives was carried out including 886 of the previous group and also operatives in fine and coarse cardrooms, in ring and winding rooms, and operatives in other parts of the country who were not examined previously. Symptoms and ventilatory changes of byssinosis were found in operatives in all mills except the two fine cotton mills. Some operatives with less than 10 years' exposure were classified as byssinotic, including 14 in the first survey and 17 in the second who had had less than five years' exposure. These operatives were found in all types of work room. The 886 operatives examined on two occasions showed a greater deterioration in ventilatory function than a local control population. Even symptom-free operatives showed a 10% excess in the rate of deterioration of FEV1·0 with age. But neither the ventilatory tests nor the symptomatic enquiry were of value in predicting the rate of deterioration between the two studies.


Guinea fowl of both sexes were fed from 0 to 8 weeks on protein level ranging from 18 to 26% using constant energy concertration of 3000 kilocalories/kg diet. At the end of th experimental period, keets on 24 and 26% potein levels with liveweights of 854 and 867.3g respectively were significantly heavier than keets on the other diets. Keets on these two rations showed no significant differences in he final liveweights, liveweight gains and feed consumption. however, it appeared from the result that feed consumption was related to growth rate The feed/gain ratio was significantly better for keets that received 24% protein level than for those on 26% protein. But feed/gain ratios generally tended to be inversely relateJ to growth rate. On the basis of this study it is recommended that the diet of guinea fowl keets in the tropics should not contain less than 24% crude protein for optimal results. Key words : Crude Protein; Requirement; Guinea Fowl Tropics


The authors are educational psychologists in the Schools' Psychological Service, Hull. They compare two forms of intervention with a three-year-old who presented with severe autistic behaviour and absence of expressive language. The first intervention sought to stimulate development through play and immediate pleasant adult contact. The second applied behavioural techniques to specific problems at home and at school.


Abstract Based on resources theories, the present study examines a serial mediation model, in which empowering leadership predicts employee job crafting through psychological capital (PsyCap) and trust in leader, and job crafting subsequently predicts three different work behaviors: psychological withdrawal, physical withdrawal, and positive work behavior. Data were collected from US employees at four separate points with one-month intervals. Structural equation modeling including testing alternative models was utilized to assess the mediation model. The results generally supported the hypothesized model, suggesting that empowering leadership elicited greater personal and job resources in the form of PsyCap and leader trust, which in turn, led to job crafting behaviors. Subsequently, job crafting made employees engage in more positive work behaviors, as well as fewer psychological and physical withdrawal behaviors. Significant direct effects of empowering leadership and PsyCap on one outcome, psychological withdrawal, were found in some analyses, however. Overall, the findings of the present study underline the importance of personal and job resources for favorable work behaviors by testing the mediating processes.


This paper presents a carry look ahead (CLA) circuitry design based on dynamic circuit aiming at delay reduction in addition of BCD coded decimal numbers. The performance of the proposed dynamic decimal adder is analyzed demonstrating its speed improvement. Timing simulation on the proposed decimal addition circuit employing 0.25 mum CMOS technology yields the worst case delay of 622 ns


We introduce and study polystable divisors on a tropical curve, which are the tropical analogue of polystable torsion-free rank-1 sheaves on a nodal curve. We construct a universal tropical Jacobian over the moduli space of tropical curves of genus $g$. This space parametrizes equivalence classes of tropical curves of genus $g$ together with a $\mu$-polystable divisor, and can be seen as a tropical counterpart of Caporaso universal Picard scheme. We describe polyhedral decompositions of the Jacobian of a tropical curve via polystable divisors, relating them with other known polyhedral decompositions.


ABSTRACT The differences in morphology and age between single and paired males of an urban population of the European Blackbirds (Turdus merula) were studied in Żeromski park in the city of Szczecin (NW Poland) spanning 11 breeding seasons since 1998. The proportion of single to paired males in different age groups was established. Also, morphology features like the length of tail, wing and tarsus of 45 single males and 475 paired males were collected. We found that old males (after second year of life) formed pair bonds more often than the young males (in their second year of life). The probability of being a paired male in case of young males increased along with the tarsus length.


A significant component of recent space exploration has been unmanned mission to comets and asteroids. The increase in interest for these bodies necessitates an increase in demand for higher fidelity trajectory simulations in order to assure mission success. Most available methods for simulating trajectories about asymmetric bodies assume they are of uniform density. This thesis examines a hybrid method that merges a mass concentration ("mascon") model and a spherical harmonic model using the "Brillouin sphere" as the interface. This joint model will be used for simulating trajectories about variable density bodies and, in particular, contact binary asteroids and comets. The scope of this thesis is confined to the analysis and characterization of the spherical harmonic modeling method in which three bodies of increasing asymmetrical severity are used as test cases: Earth, asteroid 101955 Bennu, and asteroid 25143 Itokawa. Since the zonal harmonics are well defined for Earth, it is used as the initial baseline for the method. Trajectories in the equatorial plane and inclined to this plane are simulated to analyze the dynamical behavior of the environment around each of the three bodies. There are multiple degrees of freedom in the spherical harmonic modeling method which are characterized as follows: (1) The radius of the Brillouin sphere is varied as a function of the altitude of the simulated orbit, (2) The truncation degree of the series is chosen based upon the error incurred in the acceleration field on the chosen Brillouin sphere, and (3) The gravitational potential and acceleration field are calculated using the determined radial location of the Brillouin sphere and the truncation degree. An ideal Brillouin sphere radius and truncation degree are able to be determined as a function of a given orbit where the error in the acceleration field is locally minimized. The dual-density model for a contact binary is found to more accurately describe the dynamical environment around Asteroid 25143 Itokawa compared to the single density model.


Antibiotics are widely used in the therapy of infections. Besides the respective interactions between antibiotics and pathogens it seems that antibiotics also directly interact with the immune system. Some commonly used antibiotics are currently known to have effects on the innate immune response, as shown by in vitro, ex vivo and also in vivo animal experiments and clinical studies. Most of the experimental papers published to date, as well as most reviews, relate to how antibiotics affect the innate immune response or non-specific monocyte or lymphocyte proliferation. However the effects of antibiotics on the adaptive immune response are still not well characterized. This review of the literature considering different in vivo experiments indicate the real importance of interrelations existing between acquired immune responses and antibiotics, however, the mechanism of immunomodulatory effects of antibiotics are still poorly understood. Currently, data on the immunomodulating effects of antibiotics often remain heterogeneous, contradictory or insufficient, but most results published to date revealed the immunosuppressive effect of antibiotics on the antigen-specific immune response in vivo. In pigs as well as in poultry herds, it is not uncommon practice to add antibiotics to drinking water or feed at the time of vaccination. Information on the effects of such practices on the immune system of animals is restricted and more in vivo studies are needed to investigate the effects of antimicrobial drugs on the immune system, especially in the field conditions.


There is a rich literature about the analysis of consumption behavior from the perspective of Islamic economy. The focus of such literature has been on the incorporation of the effect of moral values on individuals' consumption behavior. However, studies on consumption did not pay enough heed to the analysis of the ultimate effect of faith values on the track of consumption behavior over time. This desired track of consumption involves showing certain hypotheses and probabilities. This study suggests a normative statement which includes the gradual disappearance of parsimony and improvidence over time. This disappearance would correct the deviation of actual consumption of society members from the desired moderate consumption level, so as to make households' consumption behavior at the desired level which is consistent with Islamic Sharia. The study emphasizes the need to develop analysis and research in two integrated directions: i) conducting more empirical studies to examine the consistency of the normative statement with evidence from real situations, and ii) conducting more analysis to develop a specific measure for the desired consumption levels as well as the limits of parsimony and improvidence.
Keywords: Disappearance of improvidence and parsimony limits, Desired moderate consumption level, Actual consumption, Improvidence and parsimony consumption levels, Track of households' consumption behavior.


Although past research has suggested that acute exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF MF) impairs learning and memory function, data on chronic exposure remain scarce. In this study, we examined the changes in spatial learning and memory by the Morris water maze test after 4 weeks of daily exposure of rats to a 50-Hz magnetic field of 2 mT for either 1 or 4 h. We found that chronic exposure to ELF MF reduced the latency to find the hidden platform and improved long-term memory of former location of platform without affecting the short-term memory and motor activity. These findings for the first time indicate that chronic exposure to ELF MF exerts a positive effect on the acquisition and maintenance of spatial memory.


This paper presents an atmospheric optical turbulence mitigation method that uses a sequence of short-exposure frames. An iterative block matching registration method is proposed for image dewarping. The dewarped frames are combined in a least squares lucky look (LL) fusion process. Here image patches are weighted so as to produce a fused image that is consistent with a theoretical LL optical transfer function (OTF) model. Finally, a Wiener filter is applied to provide deconvolution of the LL OTF. We also explore the LL selectivity tradespace. As the selectivity increases, the LL OTF becomes more favorable but the signal-to-noise ratio suffers, and vice versa. A restoration algorithm is applied to simulated data for quantitative analysis and two different real-world datasets for subjective evaluation. The proposed approach provides improved results compared with the benchmark methods.


Abstract: The aim of this article is to find out possible gender differences of participation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in regulation of contractility in vascular smooth muscles of rats with diabetes. We used isolated tail artery of both genders rats with streptazotocin-induced diabetes (SID). After 3 weeks, we compared concentration-effects curves obtained with phenylephrine (0.1 to 300 μM) in the presence of 100 µM of diazoxid in control and SID rats of both genders. Diazoxide at 100 μM concentration significantly antagonizes concentration-dependent contraction of tail artery induced by phenylephrine in both male and female control rats. However, this antagonism disappeared in male but not female rats treated by streptozotocin. Our results indicate that SID leads to downregulation or functional malformation (lack of reaction to the opener) of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in males, but not in females rats. This observation has to be confirmed by immunochemistry analysis and taking into account in humans.


This research observed that all Brazilian institutions for climate change policy adopted the same governance model, characterized by three common factors: (1) institutional diversity, (2) cooperation and (3) political competition. An analysis of the Inter-Ministerial Commission on Global Climate Change (CIMMGC in Portuguese) was realized. The idea was to assess the effects of a bigger institutional diversity on cooperation and political competition among actors involved in the institution mentioned above. Some elements, such as the elevated inclusiveness of political actors and the accountability reinforcement in the political decision-making process are essential to this Case Study. The outcome of this analysis pointed out that no democratic governance absence could result from a bigger political inclusiveness in the decision-making process of the Brazilian climate change policy. The Inter-Ministerial Commission on Global Climate Change (ICGCC) did not lose its institutional dynamism and decision-making authority on goals delegated by the Brazilian National Plan on Climate Change, despite the reinforcement of accountability mechanisms in political process.


Magnetic nano- and microparticles have already found many important applications in various areas of biosciences, medicine, biotechnology, environmental technology etc. These smart materials exhibit different types of response to external magnetic field. In most cases they can be described as composite materials, where the magnetic properties are caused by the presence of iron oxides nano- or microparticles. Such materials can be efficiently separated from difficult-to-handle samples and targeted to the desired place, applied as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, used to generate heat during exposure to alternating magnetic field or to modify biomolecules and biological structures.


May 2020 Abstract. Recognizing the practical need to control the cutting process, leading firms in the high-tech market began to offer software products that, in the automatic mode, were said to be able to calculate the optimal cutting mode. Currently, the most advanced technology is called iMachining, which means intelligent Machining. The article presents an analysis of the control, automatically designed in the iMachining Solid CAM module, for machining a test part, the contour of which is formed by two straight circular arcs of a circle. It is shown that when designing control, geometric criteria are used that are associated with the path of shaping, so stabilization of the cutting process is not achieved. A control design method is proposed based on the results of simulation the Material Removal Rate (MRR), which allows stabilizing the


: The level of bacterial colonization of the operative wounds in performance of the reconstructive operations on the vessels equal to 10(3) bacteria in 1 g of tissue is critical for the development of suppuration. The use for treating the wounds of the low-frequency ultrasound and gentamycin solution in 17 patients permitted to reduce the critical level of bacterial wound colonization, and due to this, to decrease the incidence of the purulent-septic complications from 35.7 to 5.9%. In 14 patients after the operations for late reocclusion performed in presence of cicatrices of the tissues, there was no wound suppuration.


Abstract Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of Lingshan Island, located along the continental margin of East Asia, have received increased attention. The Lingke-1 core mainly belongs to the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group. We investigate provenance, tectonic setting, palaeoclimate and palaeoredox conditions in the study area using elemental geochemistry, thereby elucidating the depositional history of the Lower Cretaceous sediments and reconstructing the palaeo-environment. To achieve this, 90 siltstones and 76 mudstones were sampled from this core and other outcrops on Lingshan Island. The chemical index of alternation (CIA) values for the majority of the samples and the bivariate diagrams indicate that the sedimentary rocks were subjected to minor weathering processes. Geochemical results suggest that source rocks for the region are felsic igneous and metamorphic rocks, along with minor proportions of intermediate igneous rocks. Major- and trace-element discrimination diagrams, deciphering the tectonic history, indicate that source rocks mainly originated from the continental island-arc and active continental margin. Several representative geochemical indices and the bivariate plots based on elemental contents show that the Laiyang Group was predominantly deposited in arid conditions. Sr/Ba values suggest a palaeosalinity transition from brackish to saline, demonstrating a depositional transformation from lacustrine facies for the lower Laiyang Group to marine facies in the upper Laiyang Group. U/Th and V/(V+Ni) ratios and Ce anomalies in the rocks indicate anoxic conditions. We conclude that the conspicuous decline in the trends of the above three geochemical indices, ranging between 400 and 800 m, may be related to the latest Hauterivian oceanic anoxic event.


This study examined consumer's willingness to pay for food safety attributes in bread in Lagos metropolis. It empirically analyzed the factors driving willingness to pay for improved bread and the effect of attributes on willingness to pay and mean willingness to pay for improved bread. The data for the study using a well-structured questionnaire containing Choice Experiment (CE) questions for eliciting willingness to pay was collected from 150 respondents using a two-stage random sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and the Conditional logit regression model. Empirical results reveal that price and the non-monetary attributes namely, bromate label, certification, nutritional label, flavor and texture were all significant in explaining consumer's choices. The study suggests that government and producers should promote strict adherence to bromate free and nutritional labels, since the result shows that consumers' willingness to pay is higher than the status quo with respect to this attributes.


This paper focuses on classical portfolio strategies applied to five countries, which are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These five countries form the so-called BRICS group. In particular, the authors investigate their corporate and sovereign bond market and evaluate whether these markets can represent a profitable investment for non-satiable and risk-averse investors. Two-step optimization is proposed to control price risk and market risk. For price risk management, classical immunization strategies and are obtained funds of bond are obtained that share the same risk measure. For market risk control, the previously found funds are used and a performance measure optimization commonly used in stock markets is applied to define the best portfolio of funds. Therefore, the resulting optimal portfolio controls the price risk and jointly maximizes a desired performance measure that includes the market risk. Finally, the authors propose an empirical analysis to evaluate the profitability of the suggested twostep optimization for the five BRICS countries and compare the ex-post sample paths of the obtained portfolios for testing the stochastic dominance relations.


Raman spectra of Gram-positive and Gram-negative plant bacteria have been measured with micro-Raman spectrometers equipped with 785 and 514.5 nm lasers. The Gram-positive bacteria Microbacterium testaceum, Paenibacillus validus, and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis have strong carotenoid bands in the regions 1155–1157 cm−1 and 1516–1522 cm−1 that differentiate them from other tested Gram-negative bacteria. In the Raman spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus megaterium excited with 785 nm laser, the Raman bands at 1157 and 1521 cm−1 are weak in intensity compared to other Gram-positive bacteria, and these bands did not show significant resonance Raman enhancement in the spectrum recorded with 514.5 nm laser excitation. The Gram-positive bacteria could be separated from each other based on the bands associated with the in-phase C=C (ν1) vibrations of the polyene chain of carotenoids. None of the Gram-negative bacteria tested had carotenoid bands. The bacteria in the genus Xanthomonas have a carotenoid-like pigment, xanthomonadin, identified in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae, and it is a unique Raman marker for the bacteria. The representative bands for xanthomonadin were the C–C stretching (ν2) vibrations of the polyene chain at 1135–1136 cm−1 and the in-phase C=C (ν1) vibrations of the polyene chain at 1529–1531 cm−1, which were distinct from the carotenoid bands of other tested bacteria. The tyrosine peak in the region 1170–1175 cm−1 was the only other marker present in Gram-negative bacteria that was absent in all tested Gram-positives. A strong-intensity exopolysaccharide-associated marker at 1551 cm−1 is a distinguishable feature of Enterobacter cloacae. The Gram-negative Agrobacterium rhizogenes and Ralstonia solanacearum were differentiated from each other and other tested bacteria on the basis of presence or absence and relative intensities of peaks. The principal components analysis (PCA) of the spectra excited with 785 nm laser differentiated the various strains of bacteria based on the unique pigments these bacteria do or do not possess. Raman spectroscopy of diverse plant bacteria that are pathogenic and non-pathogenic to plants, and isolated from plants and soil, indicates the possibilities of using the method in understanding plant–bacterial interactions at the cellular level.


The purpose of this research is to assess consumers' ability to correctly interpret messages that designers incorporate into new package designs. Packages today are designed to communicate many different messages-status, femininity, environmentally conscious, security (tamper-proof), etc. The goal of this project was to explore how consumers perceive and interpret these messages, and how consumers' interpretations of designers' messages relate to liking the package. Results suggest that in cases where consumers correctly interpret designer messages: 1. Messages are clear and unambiguous. 2. Messages deal more with positive image associations than practical or functional benefits. 3. Designers and receivers might be communicating on subconscious levels. 4. Designs that communicate well are liked more than designs which communicate poorly.


Polyamide prepared by the reaction of ethylene diamine with different
ratios between 1,6-glyconic acid and phthalic anhydride. The differential
scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to study the nonisothermal and isothermal
crystallization of low density polyamides in phosphate glass (Pglass)-polymer
hybrid blends. The % crystallinity decreased as the Pglass volume increased.
The half-life (t1/2) for crystallization decreased as the
propagation rate constant rose for both the polymer matrices with increasing
Pglass concentrations. The results show that the Pglass is improved nucleating
agent for formation of the Pglass-polymer hybrids up to 35% Pglass and the
energy necessary to break decreased. The stability of the reaction of ethylene diamine
with phthalic anhydride and glyconic acid was qualitatively investigated using
molecular orbital calculations.


One of the issues in university education is what breadth of understanding is reflected in both the teaching and research. There is a regrettable tendency for academics, having become great experts in their own field, to then remain bunkered down in those fields for ever - indeed often taking a remarkably narrow view even of these specialist fields. This narrow world view is then transmitted to the students, together with an intolerance for other views, or at least an undervaluing of their worth. Many examples can be given from many disciplines: one classic example was the way the world of psychology fell prey to Watson's very narrow views on behaviourism; another is the disdain expressed in some literary circles for scientific thought; a third is the similar disdain expressed by some pure mathematicians for applied mathematics, or theoretical particle physicists for more applied physics.


The magnetoresistance (MR) of icosahedral Al-Pd-Re of nominal composition Al(70.5)Pd(21)Res(8.5), and With resistance ratios R [=rho(4 K)/rho(295 K)] from 2 to 120, has been measured in the range 0.1-40 K in magnetic fields up to 12 T. Three regions of the MR can be distinguished. For R up to 13 quantum interference effects (QIE) describe the observations well. MR in excess of 100% was observed at low temperatures in this region. For R increasing above 13, the approach of a possible metal-insulator transition (MIT) can be followed in the results. A new negative MR contribution emerges at the lowest temperature, 0.2 K, and increases in magnitude with R. From analyses within QIE the Coulomb interaction parameter above R approximate to 10 and the inelastic-scattering time decrease with R, and the results indicate that this may be the case also for the spin-orbit-scattering rate. For R greater than or equal to 50, weak localization has broken down. Samples prepared by two different methods were studied in this region of R. Although the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and the MR at temperatures above 4 K are similar for similar R values in both sets of samples, significant differences were observed;below 1 K. We discuss this MR in the light of current theories on both sides of an MIT and conclude that none of these theories can fully reproduce the observed features for samples in this range.


This paper gives an overview of the diachronous (prospective) and synchronous (retrospective) approach to ageing studies of scientific literature from the perspective of technical reliability, visualising the different aspects that can be analysed by the two approaches. The main objective is to deepen the understanding of the mechanism and the theory underlying the two aproaches, and is to show that the difference between the diachronous and synchronous model is not "just counting into opposite directions" In this context, a stochastic model is presented showing that one and the same model can be used to describe both diachronous and synchronous perspectives of citation processes. On the basis of this model, it is explained how some diachronous and synchronous citation-based indicators can be re-calculated for changing publication periods and citation windows underlying their construction. The paper is concluded by several applications such as the definition and calculation of diachronous (prospective) an...


&NA; As a consequence of its consistent safety profile and the low incidence of side effects, paracetamol is one of the most widely used analgesics, both in adults and children. However, paracetamol has the potential for hepatotoxicity, usually as a result of deliberate self-poisoning or, to a much lesser extent, accidental overdose. A variety of factors is thought to influence hepatotoxicity, including dose, concomitant use of microsome-inducing agents and other drugs, underlying disease, malnutrition, fasting, acute and chronic alcohol intake, ethnicity, and age. Unfortunately, none of these factors has been properly studied in humans. From a physiological standpoint, acute paracetamol hepatotoxicity at therapeutic doses is extremely unlikely despite reports of so-called therapeutic misadventure. It is clear that, in many of these cases, grossly excessive doses of paracetamol have been taken. Analyzing the various reports is difficult as the data are often incomplete. In summary, although hepatic toxicity is recognized in patients taking a major paracetamol overdose, the incidence of adverse events with its proper use is very low, particularly when considering with the enormous volume of drug use. Therapeutic misadventure is extremely uncommon and the facts are often misrepresented.


One of the major factors influencing consumer decisions to purchase a product or service is information sources about the product or service. Awareness of a particular product or service and resulting purchase decisions largely depend on the information consumers are able to gather and the credibility of such information. Often, purchase decisions that are considered risky or about which consumers have more uncertainty result in information search. Travel purchase decisions generally have attributes that encourage consumers to engage in information search. Numerous factors may influence a consumer's information seeking behavior. Several researchers suggest one factor influencing information search is a consumer's level of product involvement. This purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between product involvement and information search with respect to a tourism destination. A survey was conducted with prospective travelers to a destination in the U.S. Results suggest there is a relationship between involvement and information search, with more involved travelers having an interest in more information about a destination.


With their special hierarchical fractal and highly symmetric formation, silver dendrites have a large surface area and plentiful active sites at edges, which have allowed them to exhibit unique properties ranging from superhydrophobic surfaces to biosensors. Yet, many suggested synthesis processes either require a long reaction time or risk contamination from sacrificial elements. Limited research in directing while enhancing the growth of these silver dendrites also hinders the application of these unique microstructures as site-selective hydrophobicity of surfaces and location-dependent SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy). A possible solution to this is to utilize WO3 nanocubes as beacons to accelerate and conduct the growth of these silver dendrites through the electrochemical migration process. These nanocubes effortlessly altered the applied electric field distributed between the electrodes, depending on their orientations and positions. As the silver dendrites branched from the nanocubes, the dendrites themselves further concentrated the electric field to encourage the growth of more loose fractal silver dendrites. The combinatory effect successfully directs the growth of silver dendrites along the concentrated electric field paths. Both changes to the electric field and directed growth of silver dendrites are underscored using Multiphysics COMSOL simulations and time-lapse microscopy. This work provided insight into the possibility of designing microstructures to direct and accelerate the growth of silver dendrites.


Field level distributions of land quality are used to explain diversion decisions under U.S. commodity programs. Regression results for North Carolina indicate that differences in the yield potential of soils may influence the opportunity costs of land diversions. These effects increase with farm size. For large farms, a decrease in mean soil quality on a field relative to the farm mean or an increase in the coefficient of variation of quality within a field increases the proportion of land diverted within a field. There is no evidence that small farmers respond to land quality distributions in making diversion decisions.


Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a highly flowable, nonsegregating concrete that spreads into place, fills formwork, and encapsulates reinforcement without mechanical consolidation. SCC is increasingly being used worldwide because it has been found to offer a high-quality product with significant reductions in equipment use, construction time, labor, and construction noise. The stability, or static segregation resistance, of this new concrete type is typically assessed according to a hardened visual stability index (HVSI). Traditionally, HVSI assessment is based on visual judgment, and therefore its accuracy can be severely limited by human error, low efficiency, and work tedium. Thus, a study developed and implemented a methodology for automatically evaluating SCC stability. This was done in several steps: converting the image of a typical concrete sample (a cut surface with various shades of gray) into a binary image of light colors (aggregates) and dark colors (concrete cement), identifying aggregate sizes, detecting the mortar layer thickness, and using statistical analysis to derive the HVSI. Algorithms were developed for each phase and were implemented with standard coding languages. In effect, the methodology digitally processes a given concrete sample image and assesses its stability with respect to the HVSI. Accuracy of the new methodology was checked with control observations and was found to provide a reliable assessment of SCC stability in regard to static segregation resistance.


Vanadium dioxide thin films are used for uncooled microbolometers due to their high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). This paper describes the preparation and properties of the films. The films are deposited on a quartz substrate by low temperature reactive ion-beam sputtering and post annealing at a temperature of 500/spl deg/C. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates that the films are mixed vanadium oxides of mainly V/sup 4+/ and V/sup 5+/. The TCR value of -1.86%K/sup -1/ at a temperature of 25/spl deg/C is achieved through electrical conductivity measurements.


We report on an analysis of hot-carrier lifetimes from electron-phonon interaction in lead iodide perovskites using first-principles calculations. Our calculations show that the holes in CsPbI3 have very long lifetimes in the valence band region situated 0.6 eV below the top of the valence band. On the other hand, no long lifetime is predicted in PbI3(-). These different results reflect the different electronic density of states (DOSs) in the valence bands, that is, a small DOS for the former structure while a sharp DOS peak for the latter structure. We propose a reduction of the relaxation paths in the small valence DOS as being the origin of the slow hot-hole cooling. Analyzing the generalized Eliashberg functions, we predict that different perovskite A-site cations do not have an impact on the carrier decay mechanism. The similarity between the DOS structures of CsPbI3 and CH3NH3PbI3 enables us to extend the description of the decay mechanism of fully inorganic CsPbI3 to its organic-inorganic counterpart, CH3NH3PbI3.


This survey study is a pragmatic analysis of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari's 31 st March 2015's telephone conversation, while collation of the presidential election results was still on-going. The conversation was selected largely due to its linguistic textual quality, and perhaps the quality of attention that the presidential election generated. Data was obtained through transcription of the conversation as published by The Punch newspaper of Friday, April 3, 2015.Relevant literature in the field of pragmaticswas reviewed. Searle's (1969) adapted in George Yule's (1996)taxonomy of speech acts was considered useful for identification and classification of the utterances of the conversation into speech acts.Analysis has revealed that all the twenty-three (23) utterances of the conversation satisfied the maxims of Quantity, Quality, Relation and Manner on the strength of common ground which the speakers and we, the listeners/analysts, share. It is also obvious that Expressive, Declaration, Directive, Representative and Commissive acts characterized the telephone conversation.The conclusion is that manipulation of common ground serves both interactional efficacy and social affiliation, and the choices speakers make is a reflection of the level of intimacy and intensity of social relations among speaker, addressee, and referent. And the text of this telephone conversation has demonstrated that.


The high-ohmic polycrystalline (HIPO) resistor is one of the basic devices used in analogue-digital designs. The requirements for accuracy, voltage and temperature linearity, and matching performance are very high. On the other hand, from the process point of view, this is one of the least controlled devices, whose properties depend on all subsequent temperature steps and layers in the backend process. In addition, the surroundings and the topology influence the characteristics of this resistor. By using a new test structure and method, we are able to characterise the dependence of the HIPO parameters on process changes and topology as it appears in the real ASIC. In this paper, we report the most important impact we have discovered, that of metal lines placed in parallel with the HIPO resistors. Different metalisation schemes are compared with regard to the effect on the analogue characteristics of the HIPO resistor.


Background Epigenetic and genetic alteration plays a major role to the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Consumption of tobacco (smoking/chewing) and human papilloma virus (HPV) are also associated with an increase the risk of HNSCC. Promoter hypermethylation of the tumor suppression genes is related with transcriptional inactivation and loss of gene expression. We investigated epigenetic alteration (promoter methylation of tumor-related genes/loci) in tumor tissues in the context of genetic alteration, viral infection, and tobacco exposure and survival status. Methodology The study included 116 tissue samples (71 tumor and 45 normal tissues) from the Northeast Indian population. Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to determine the methylation status of 10 tumor-related genes/loci (p16, DAPK, RASSF1, BRAC1, GSTP1, ECAD, MLH1, MINT1, MINT2 and MINT31). Polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GST (M1 & T1), XRCC1and XRCC2 genes were studied by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and multiplex-PCR respectively. Principal Findings Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis based on methylation pattern had identified two tumor clusters, which significantly differ by CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), tobacco, GSTM1, CYP1A1, HPV and survival status. Analyzing methylation of genes/loci individually, we have found significant higher methylation of DAPK, RASSF1, p16 and MINT31genes (P = 0.031, 0.013, 0.031 and 0.015 respectively) in HPV (+) cases compared to HPV (-). Furthermore, a CIMP-high and Cluster-1 characteristic was also associated with poor survival. Conclusions Promoter methylation profiles reflecting a correlation with tobacco, HPV, survival status and genetic alteration and may act as a marker to determine subtypes and patient outcome in HNSCC.


SRY-box transcription factor 21 antisense divergent transcript 1 (SOX21-AS1) is a multifaceted long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that plays diverse roles in both neoplastic conditions and Alzheimer's disease. Its aberrant expression intricately regulates a wide spectrum of cellular processes, spanning from epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis, migration, metastasis, and stemness to drug resistance. SOX21-AS1 achieves these effects through its involvement in the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, modulation of downstream genes, and regulation of critical pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Hippo, Wnt/β-catenin, and ERK signaling. Of significant clinical relevance, SOX21-AS1 expression has shown robust correlations with various clinical-pathological features. Moreover, it has demonstrated promising prognostic and diagnostic potential across a spectrum of tumors, as evidenced by existing literature and TCGA pan-cancer analyses. In Alzheimer's disease, SOX21-AS1 assumes a distinctive role. It influences neuronal viability, apoptosis, and oxidative stress by interacting with miR-107 and miR-132, and affecting the PI3K/AKT and Wnt signaling pathways. This comprehensive review sheds light on the functions of SOX21-AS1 and the regulated mechanisms underpinning its impact on neoplastic conditions and Alzheimer's disease. It underscores the clinical significance of SOX21-AS1 and positions it as a promising therapeutic target in both the oncological and neurodegenerative domains.


Time driven activity-based costing is a new way to overcome the problems in the traditional ABC, where the first stage of the allocation of resources is removed and used resources are expressed by the time equations. The present research focuses on the behavioral aspects (staff public participation and leadership style) of system design and shows that how behavioral aspects can lead to operational improvements during the design process of time driven activity-based costing. In this study, two types of costing system are examined by reviewing and analyzing the case study used by Hozee and Bergman about setting up the costing system in various warehouses of a company in Belgium. In the first type, the participation of all members of the organization, especially at low levels, has led to discussions about the input parameters in the costing model and when this group discussions about costing data are driven by aware responsible (people-centered management style), operational improvement will be appeared. In the second type, the operational staff in the design process are not participated and are intimidated of the new costing system and have perforce implemented the system that finally no operational improvements have been reached. Hence, the findings of the research show that the staff public participation and appropriate management styles (Thoughtful leadership style - based on participation rather than absolute - authoritarian leadership style ) are unavoidable to achieve operational improvement during the design process of Time Driven Activity-based costing system, increase the chances of system success and finally lead to operational improvements.


Abstract: Rainfall simulation studies were conducted in conjunction with the Denver Regional Urban Runoff Program to: (1) Compare runoff quantity and quality from two different intensities of rainfall on impervious plots having identical antecedent conditions, (2) document a first flush of constituent loads in runoff from 1,000-square-foot streetsurface plots, (3) compare runoff characteristics from a street surface subjected to simulated rainfall with those from a 69-acre urban basin of mixed land use subjected to natural rainfall, (4) perform statistical analysis of constituent loads in the runoff with several independent variables, and (5) compare the quantity and quality of runoff from 400-square-foot plots of native grasses used for pasture and subjected to simulated rainfall with that from a 405-acre basin covered with native grasses used for pasture and sub-jected to natural rainfall. The rainfall simulations conducted on the street surface showed that higher intensity simulated rainfall produced a higher percentage of runoff than lower intensity rainfall. A first flush of constituent loads occurred for most constituents in the runoff from most rainfall simulations on the street surface; however, a first flush did not occur in the runoff from simulated rainfall on the pasture. The event mean concentrations of constituents in the runoff from simulated storms on the street surface were generally much smaller than the event mean concentrations of constituents in the runoff from an adjacent urban basin. Analysis of the data from the rainfall simulations on a street surface indicates that intensity of rainfall and total rainfall are important variables determining constituent loads. The design of the experiment was such that intensity of rainfall and total rainfall were highly correlated, thus precluding the development of useful regression equations to predict washoff loads. The quality of runoff from the simulated rainfall on the pasture was influenced by the disturbed perimeters of the plots; however, the runoff-to-rainfall ratios for the simulated storms fell within the range of ratios measured for natural storms over the adjacent 405-acre basin.


We investigate the real-space spectral properties of strongly-correlated multi-impurity arrays in the Kondo insulator regime. Employing a recently developed mapping onto an effective correlated cluster problem makes the problem accessible to the numerical renormalization group. The evolution of the spectrum as function of cluster size and cluster site is studied. We applied the extended Lieb-Mattis theorem to predict whether the spectral function must vanish at the Fermi energy developing a true pseudo-gap or whether the spectral function remains finite at ω = 0. Our numerical renormalization group spectra confirm the predictions of the theorem and shows a metallic behavior at the surface of a cluster prevailing in arbitrary spatial dimensions. We present a conventional minimal extension of a particle-hole symmetric Anderson lattice model at U = 0 that leads to a gapped bulk band but a surface band with mainly f -orbital character for weak and moderate hybridization strength. The change in the site-dependent spectra upon introducing a Kondo hole in the center of the cluster are presented as a function of the hole-orbital energy. In particular the spectral signatures across the Kosterlitz-Thouless type quantum phase transition from a singlet to a local moment fixed point are discussed.


BACKGROUND The Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation accepts permissive hypoxaemia in adult patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The neurological long-term outcome of this approach has not yet been studied. OBJECTIVES We investigated the prevalence of brain lesions and cognitive dysfunction in survivors from the Influenza A/H1N1 2009 pandemic treated with permissive hypoxaemia during ECMO for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Our hypothesis was that this method is reasonable if tissue hypoxia is avoided. DESIGN Long-term follow-up study after ECMO. SETTING Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, from October 2012 to July 2013. PATIENTS Seven patients treated with ECMO for severe influenza A/H1N1-induced ARDS were studied 3.2 years after treatment. Blood lactate concentrations were used as a surrogate for tissue oxygenation. INTERVENTIONS Neurocognitive outcome was studied with standardised cognitive tests and MRI of the brain. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cognitive functioning and hypoxic brain lesions after permissive hypoxaemia during ECMO. The observation period was the first 10 days of ECMO or the entire treatment period if shorter than 10 days. RESULTS Eleven of 13 patients were still alive 3 years after ECMO. We were able to contact seven of these patients (mean age 31 years), who all agreed to participate in this study. Mean ± SD peripherally measured arterial saturation during the observation period was 79 ± 10%. Full-scale Intelligence Quotient was within one standard deviation or above from the mean of a healthy population in five patients, and was 1.5 SD below the mean in one patient. In one other patient, it could not be determined because of a lack of formal education. Memory functioning was normal in all patients. MRI showed no changes related to cerebral hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS Permissive hypoxaemia during ECMO might not negatively affect long-term cognitive outcome if adequate organ perfusion is maintained. TRIAL REGISTRATION at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01763060


Vaginal cuff dehiscence is a rare but serious complication that can develop after hysterectomy. Emergent surgical intervention is required for vaginal cuff dehiscence due to the potential subsequent vaginal evisceration, which may lead to necrosis of the small bowel. A 62-year-old nulliparous woman with a 30-year history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis (treated with oral steroids) presented with a vaginal cuff dehiscence. Thirty-eight days before the admission, she had undergone a radical operation including total abdominal hysterectomy for uterine corpus cancer at another hospital. We performed emergent laparoscopic surgery to reduce the prolapsed small bowel into the abdominal cavity and repaired the vaginal cuff with a two-layer continuous closure using absorbable barbed sutures. The patient experienced no postoperative complications, and no recurrence of the vaginal cuff dehiscence occurred. Vaginal cuff dehiscence and evisceration can be surgically managed using an abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic approach, and the choice of method should be based on patient characteristics and the surgeon's skills. Laparoscopic vaginal cuff repair with a two-layer continuous closure using absorbable barbed sutures is a minimally invasive technique that is safe and effective for medically stable patients with no small bowel injury or vascular compromise and no pelvic abscess.


A new use for intraoperative bone imaging is described. The technique allowed accurate localization of bone pathology for biopsy where plain radiographs and bone morphology were otherwise normal. The technique should increase diagnostic accuracy and eliminate false-negative biopsy results.


The two landscapes of Marie Claire Blais's Une Saison dans la Vie d'Emmanuel , the outer landscape of the Quebec winter, and the inner, imaginative one shared by her characters, interact and combine in a diabolical vision of human existence that recalls the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud. Through the use of a fragmentary style of narration with its shifting points of view, through grotesque characterization, and above all, through the confusion of time and space, the characters' lives are isolated and distorted even as they express the human condition. Rimbaud's "Une Saison en Enfer," with its descent into hell and corresponding glimpses of heaven, elucidates this novel's demonstration of the interdependence of life and death, pleasure and pain, and the corresponding cycle of unfulfilled renewal.


BACKGROUND
Development of skills in peer-to-peer feedback in multicultural and global contexts is important to excellent teaching practice in nursing education.

PURPOSE
This study identified student attitudes toward giving and receiving peer-to-peer feedback between international peers in a graduate-level online instructional design course.

METHODS
Twenty-one graduate nursing students in 2 nurse educator programs from the United States and Finland participated in this descriptive study. Pre- and postcourse Feedback Orientation Scale (FOS) scores were analyzed in combination with student reflections on learning experiences related to peer-review course activities.

RESULTS
Mean pre- to postcourse overall FOS scores increased, suggesting greater student receptiveness to peer feedback, particularly in the dimensions of utility and self-efficacy. Postcourse reflections demonstrated increased appreciation for opportunities to triangulate feedback from multiple, diverse sources.

CONCLUSIONS
Opportunities for graduate students in nurse educator programs to exchange peer-to-peer feedback with international peers foster growth in positive attitudes toward receiving and using peer feedback.


A high density fish polyculture investigation was conducted during the summer season of 1984-1985 at the Umtata Dam Fish Research Centre, Transkei. Fish species used, included the cross-breed between the Israeli Dor 70 and the Aischgrund varieties of the European common carp Cyprinus carpio, bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis, black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Fresh pig manure was used as nutrient to stimulate pond productivity. In addition, some ponds also received formulated feed. With pig manure alone, a net fish production of 1,66 t ha-1 was achieved over a period of 175 days. Where feed was also provided to the fish, the fish yield over the same period amounted to 8,57 t ha-1. The pond water effluent was used for vegetable production. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sai. 1986,65-71


As well as being the key of economic developement, the growth of
national economies is the most important factor that pollutes environment, because
it increases the consumption. Companies are the biggest producer and consumer in
economy. Businesses manifacture their products in multiple countries and remove
borders because of today's economic and competitive conditions. Protection and
development of resources is the basis of sustainable development. Today, most
businesses face difficulties about rival businesses' competitive power and price
politics. But,for well established firms ―crises are temporary, competitiveness is
permanent‖, so the target of businesses is to obtain this competitive power and
sustain it. ABC system is a more accurate cost calculation method. ABC system
focuses on activities instead of traditional volume based costing. ABC system
focuses on what causes the formation of costs and how to make contact with costs
and products. Application is made by taking a marble company as an example, and
results have been evaluated.


This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of citric acid [77‐92‐9] in workplace air in a concentration range of one tenth up to twice the currently valid OEL or MAK value of 2 mg/m3 E. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a glass fibre filter, which is inserted in a GSP sampling system. using a suitable flow‐regulated pump with a volumetric flow rate of 10 L/min or 3,5 L/min. For sampling 2 hours or 15 min (checking the short‐term value) can be used. The collected citric acid is extracted with diluted caustic soda and analysed by means of high performance liquid chromatography using an UV detector. The quantitative determination is based on a calibration function obtained by means of a multiple‐point calibration. The absolute limit of quantification (LOQ) is 12 ng and the relative LOQ is 0.005 mg/m3 based on an air sample volume of approx. 1200 L (0.014 mg/m3 based on air sample volume of 420 L) or 0.04 mg/m3 based on an air sample volume of approx. 150 L (for short‐term value) (0.11 mg/m3 based on air sample volume of 52.5 L). The mean recovery was 100% and the expanded uncertainty for the overall measurement method was 18%.


In this work, we propose a framework relying solely on chat-based customer support (CS) interactions for predicting the recommendation decision of individual users. For our case study, we analyzed a total number of 16.4k users and 48.7k customer support conversations within the financial vertical of a large e-commerce company in Latin America. Consequently, our main contributions and objectives are to use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to assess and predict the recommendation behavior where, in addition to using static sentiment analysis, we exploit the predictive power of each user's sentiment dynamics. Our results show that, with respective feature interpretability, it is possible to predict the likelihood of a user to recommend a product or service, based solely on the message-wise sentiment evolution of their CS conversations in a fully automated way.


The short-reach optical transmission systems based on intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) are gradually evolving into the networks with complex link topologies and connections, especially inside the data center. Multipath interference (MPI) introduces irregular fluctuations in the 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) signals and therefore affects the transmission performance. This Letter proposes an adaptive decision threshold (ADT) scheme to dynamically update the decision threshold, which can track the signal fluctuations in real time and mitigate the impact of MPI noise on the transmitted PAM4 signals. Numerical simulation results present that the proposed ADT scheme can significantly improve the bit error rate (BER) performance of the MPI-impaired PAM4 transmission system considering different MPI levels and laser linewidths. In a 50-Gbps PAM4 transmission system, the ADT can improve the MPI tolerance by more than beyond 6 dB when the BER reaches the KP4-forward error correction (FEC) criterion (2.4 × 10-4), presenting a better denoising performance than the existing MPI-mitigation algorithms A1 and A2. Moreover, the ADT scheme offers a lower computation complexity compared with A1 and A2, making it more practical for implementation.


In this paper, we demonstrate reversible resistive switching in silver/polystyrene/silver nano-gap devices comprising Ag nano-strips separated by a nanoscale gap and encapsulated in polystyrene (PS). These devices show highly reversible switching behavior with high on-off ratios (>103) during cyclic switching tests over many cycles. We also observe evolution of the gap after extensive testing, which is consistent with metal filament formation as the switching mechanism in these Ag/PS/Ag nano-gap devices. The reversible electrical bistability demonstrated here was accomplished with an electrically inactive polymer, thereby extending the range of polymers suitable for organic digital memory applications.


Effects of gamma-rays on the DNA-cholesterol complex have been studied. Radiation-induced changes are found and compared with those on DNA-dye or drug complexes.


Background: The tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as pivotal in tumor progression. Thus, by completely separating tumor cells from stromal cells it enables a thorough elucidation of gene-changes in the two compartments, and thereby offers the possibility to better understand the biological effects in tumors with and without treatment. Since tumor hypoxia is considered to be relevant for several aspects of tumor pathophysiology, including activation of signalling pathways that regulate proliferation, angiogenesis and death, our hypothesis was that a reduction in the hypoxic state of the tumor, might have an inhibitory effect on tumor growth per se. Induction of hyperoxia by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure, enhance dissolved oxygen in the plasma and thereby the pO 2 in the tumor tissue. Methods: The murine mammary dsRed cell line 4T1 was implanted into the mouse mammary fat pad in eGFP expressing NOD/Scid mice. One group was exposed to repeated HBO treatment (2.5 bar, 100% O 2 , 3 exposures a 90 min), one to daily HBO treatment (2.5bar, 100% O 2 , 7 exposures a 90 min), whereas the control group was housed under normal atmosphere. Treatment effects were determined by assessment of tumor growth, tumor vascularisation, tumor cell proliferation and cell death. FACS was used to completely separate red tumor cells from green host cells, RNA was extracted and gene expression profiling performed. Results: The model enabled us to completely separate the two compartments (tumor vs stroma), as verified by confocal microscopy and gene expression profiling. Highly upregulated genes in the untreated tumor stroma, included constituents of the ECM and MMP9s, as well as genes related to cell-migration and motility. Significant changes in response to treatment between the tumor and stroma was found, especially concerning genes related to cell adhesion and angiogenesis. Furthermore, changes occurring within each of these compartments were found. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited (∼ 50%, after 8 days) after both repeated and daily HBO treatment compared to controls. Repeated HBO treatment showed a significant anti-angiogenic effect, while daily HBO treatment did not. The gene expression confirmed this. Neither morphology, proliferation nor the amount of cell death was significantly changed after the two HBO treatment regimes, despite the significant effect on tumor growth. Conclusion: The present model provides a significant insight into how tumor cells communicate with the stroma, both before any treatment and after enhanced oxygenation. Furthermore, hyperoxia induced a significant inhibitory effect on the 4T1 mammary tumor growth, with a significant anti-angiogenic effect after repeated hyperoxic treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 528. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-528


Abstract Associate Hospital Managers (AHMs) are members of the local community with a power under section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to discharge people from compulsory mental health care against medical advice. They provide scrutiny of professional decisions and, in so doing, protect patient liberty by providing review of compulsory care. Abolition of the AHMs has been contemplated on numerous occasions, most recently by the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 (December 2018), the White Paper on 'Reforming the Mental Health Act' (January 2021) and the Government's response (July 2021). Through an historical and contemporary consideration of the section 23 power spanning 1808–2022, this paper argues that removal of the AHMs would be detrimental to the legitimacy of the 1983 Act. This is because the abolition of the AHMs would undermine the principles of local, democratic, community oversight entailed by section 23, and found nowhere else in the Act. The Draft Mental Health Bill (June 2022) does not address these concerns.


A critical determinant in chronic gammaherpesvirus infections is the ability of these viruses to establish latency in a lymphocyte reservoir. The nuclear factor (NF)-κB family of transcription factors represent key players in B-cell biology and are targeted by gammaherpesviruses to promote host cell survival, proliferation, and transformation. However, the role of NF-κB signaling in the establishment of latency in vivo has not been addressed. Here we report the generation and in vivo characterization of a recombinant murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) that expresses a constitutively active form of the NF-κB inhibitor, IκBαM. Inhibition of NF-κB signaling upon infection with γHV68-IκBαM did not affect lytic replication in cell culture or in the lung following intranasal inoculation. However, there was a substantial decrease in the frequency of latently infected lymphocytes in the lung (90% reduction) and spleens (97% reduction) 16 d post intranasal inoculation. Importantly, the defect in establishment of latency in lung B cells could not be overcome by increasing the dose of virus 100-fold. The observed decrease in establishment of viral latency correlated with a loss of activated, CD69hi B cells in both the lungs and spleen at day 16 postinfection, which was not apparent by 6 wk postinfection. Constitutive expression of Bcl-2 in B cells did not rescue the defect in the establishment of latency observed with γHV68-IκBαM, indicating that NF-κB–mediated functions apart from Bcl-2–mediated B-cell survival are critical for the efficient establishment of gammaherpesvirus latency in vivo. In contrast to the results obtained following intranasal inoculation, infection of mice with γHV68-IκBαM by the intraperitoneal route had only a modest impact on splenic latency, suggesting that route of inoculation may alter requirements for establishment of virus latency in B cells. Finally, analyses of the pathogenesis of γHV68-IκBαM provides evidence that NF-κB signaling plays an important role during multiple stages of γHV68 infection in vivo and, as such, represents a key host regulatory pathway that is likely manipulated by the virus to establish latency in B cells.


Correlated component failures (COCOF) may impact the reliability of a software application, and hence these types of failures must be explicitly incorporated into reliability analysis. The influence of COCOF on application reliability must be analyzed within the context of the application architecture. Contemporary reliability analysis approaches that incorporate COCOF, however, cannot scale to even moderate-sized software applications. This paper presents an efficient, scalable approach to analyze the reliability of a component-based software system, considering COCOF within the context of its architecture. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated through two experimental studies. The results indicate that the approach is simple and efficient, and hence can be applied to large systems to identify correlations that impede system reliability.


The impact of dry- and hydro-thermal treatments on swelling power (SP), water absorption (WA) and water solubility (WS) of red-rice flour (RRF) were investigated. The dry-thermal treatment was conducted at RRF's moisture content (mc) of 10%, and the hydro-thermal treatment was performed at the mc of 25%. There were two heating methods applied on RRF: oven (80 o C) and autoclave (121 o C) heating. The exposure duration was 8, 10 and 12 hours in an oven-heating; 15 and 30 minutes in an autoclave-heating. Results showed that exposure durations, moisture content and theirs interaction had significant effect on SP and WS of RRF for the autoclave-heating. WA and WS increased with longer exposure duration to heat, and at a higher heating temperature. WA of RRF (40.34%) at 8 hr of exposure duration increased to 51.43% after 12 hr of exposure duration (for dry-thermal treatment) and 45.36% to 50.76% for hydro-thermal treatment. Modification of RRF by hydro-thermal treatment in an autoclave gave better physical properties than that of heating in an oven with higher values on SP and WA, and lower value of WS


In this survey, we describe controlled interacting particle systems (CIPS) to approximate the solution of the optimal filtering and the optimal control problems. Part I of the survey is focussed on the feedback particle filter (FPF) algorithm, its derivation based on optimal transportation theory, and its relationship to the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and the conventional sequential importance sampling-resampling (SIR) particle filters. The central numerical problem of FPF -- to approximate the solution of the Poisson equation -- is described together with the main solution approaches. An analytical and numerical comparison with the SIR particle filter is given to illustrate the advantages of the CIPS approach. Part II of the survey is focussed on adapting these algorithms for the problem of reinforcement learning. The survey includes several remarks that describe extensions as well as open problems in this subject.


The pharmaceutical industry has been attracted to the gene therapy field and is starting to support clinical trials, establishing collaborative strategies to develop commercial products which in many cases are based on lentiviral vectors. The predictable widespread use of lentiviral vectors in next-generation gene therapy scenarios aimed at dealing with not only rare diseases raises important challenges and hurdles regarding their manufacture. The author reflects on this in the chapter on the state of the art in the manufacture of lentiviral vectors, addressing some current manufacturing processes, their achievements, and the uncertainties in ensuring a validated process capable of releasing consistent vector quality that meets global health authorities' requirements. In summary, the proposal looks at the goals and challenges that must be addressed in manufacturing lentiviral vectors, in order to satisfy supply in the commercial stage, before we reach the next stage in gene therapy.


Negative effects of psychological treatments constitute an important but largely unexplored area of research. Prior investigations have indicated that approximately 5-10% of all patients receiving face-to-face treatments deteriorate. In addition, other types of negative effects could exist as well, for instance, novel symptoms, social stigma, and interpersonal difficulties, but have been studied to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, negative effects are also assumed to occur in psychological treatments delivered online, but their incidence and impact is still unknown. In the current study, data collected from a smartphone-based treatment for social anxiety disorder (total N =189) was assessed in order to determine the influence of negative effects on treatment outcome. A new self-report measure for reporting negative effects was developed through a comprehensive literature search and a review of similar instruments for face-to-face treatments, consisting of sixty items scored on a five-point Likert-scale. Change from pre- to post-treatment assessment on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was correlated with the frequency and impact of negative effects, indicating that the number of incidents, r = .175, and the degree to which the patient was affected by the negative effects, r = .192, were related to less change in symptom severity. However, no sociodemographic variables or degree of social anxiety at baseline had a relationship with negative effects during treatment. In terms of the most recurring types of negative effects, patients reported that they had a bad conscience about not conducting their assignments (Item 16), being stressed by the treatment schedule (Item 2), and feeling left out during treatment (Item 55).


This case report discusses how the family doctor and the clinic staff deal with a violent mistrusting patient. Are doctors obliged to treat violent patients? What are the limits of such treatment relationship? What might be their implications? The debate relates to ethical guidelines and initial reports about termination of treatment relations initiated by family doctors in southern Israel.


Organizations that implement strategic energy management programs have the potential to achieve sustained energy savings if the programs are carried out properly. A key opportunity for achieving energy savings that plant managers can take is to determine an appropriate level of energy performance by comparing their plant's performance with that of similar plants in the same industry. Manufacturing facilities can set energy efficiency targets by using performancebased indicators. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its ENERGY STAR® program, has been developing plant energy performance indicators (EPIs) to encourage a variety of U.S. industries to use energy more efficiently. This report describes work with the corn refining industry to provide a plant-level indicator of energy efficiency for facilities that produce a variety of products — including corn starch, corn oil, animal feed, corn sweeteners, and ethanol —for the paper, food, beverage, and other industries in the United States. Consideration is given to the role that performance-based indicators play in motivating change; the steps needed to develop indicators, including interacting with an industry to secure adequate data for an indicator; and the actual application and use of an indicator when complete. How indicators are employed in the EPA's efforts to encourage industries to voluntarily improve their use of energy is discussed as well. The report describes the data and statistical methods used to construct the EPI for corn refining plants. Individual equations are presented, as are the instructions for using them in an associated Excel spreadsheet.


This report describes a case involving a 78-year-old Caucasian male, whose medical history was significant for sinonasal (angiocentric) T/NK lymphoma, who was treated by surgery and radiation in 1988. After the treatment, the patient was apparently free of residual/recurrent disease for a period of 12 years. There was periodical clinical follow up including repeated biopsies. After this period, the patient suffered from sudden deterioration of the health status with multiorgan involvement by the disease and he died. The diagnosis was confirmed by an autopsy. To our knowledge, this is the fifth reported case with extended survival (more than 12 years) free of recurrent/residual disease after the initial treatment, in which the patients ultimately died because of the disease. These findings suggest the importance of prolonged clinical follow-up in patients with this diagnosis.


Environmental concerns are becoming important global tasks. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) contains oil and grease and also rich in organic matter in the form of total suspended solids which can increase biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of POME. It is generated in huge quantities during the production of crude palm oil and pollutes land, water and atmosphere if left untreated. The current study mainly focuses on evaluating the efficacy of fungal isolates screened and isolated from POME dump sites in the bioremediation of POME. Five fungal species used in the present study were previously isolated by the author from POME dump sites of Pedavegi palm oil mill industry. Out of these, Emericella nidulans NFCCI 3643 was proven to be an excellent biological agent in reducing the organic load of POME. The organism showed 80.28% reduction in COD, 88.23% in BOD and 87.34% in oil/grease content at their optimal environmental and nutritional conditions. The mixed cultures showed better reduction efficiency as compared to individual pure cultures. The natural inhabitants of POME dump sites showed their lipolytic ability and E. nidulans was found to be an excellent agent in the bioremediation of POME. Fungal isolates in consortium can function better in bioremediating POME than individual pure cultures.

 Key words: Palm oil mill effluent (POME), oil and grease, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), organic load, Emericella nidulans, bioremediation.


Taking Jiangxia District in Wuhan City as the research region by using RS and GIS comprehensively. According to the country secondary category and classification standard interpretation. Reveal the characteristics of the fractal structures of the distribution of land use types. Explore the significance of the fractal on land use types. The fractal dimensions (D) and stability indexes (S) of first and second land use types of Jiangxia District are calculated. This paper made a statistical of fractal analysis for the distribution of land use type. Some feasible policies are put forward based on fractal dimensions, stability indexes and human factors of different land use types. The result indicate that the urban construction land ardmeadow deviate from largely random value (1.500) and at relatively stable state, closer to the regular body; And the fractal dimensions of the unused land are the largest and its stability indexes are lower, for it is hardly affected by human activities; the fractal dimensions of the agricultural land are relatively stable and the land use pattern can be changed easily. On the other hand, the fractal dimensions of land use for traffic and dry land deviate from random value too little extent, which shows that the two land use types affected by this regional physical geography condition are relatively complicated and unstable. Fractal dimensions and stability indexes of land use types reflect land use structure of the research region; it has found a new quantitative reference index to evaluate the scientific rationality of land use. This conclusion provides new indexes or reference for Jiangxia's general land plan. Not only the character of land use type's fractal structure is found, but also fractal dimension's significance is discussed. At last, combine with the conclusions and under the actual socioeconomic status, give some useful suggestion for the region's future land use planning.


3D multi-object tracking is a crucial component in the perception system of autonomous driving vehicles. Tracking all dynamic objects around the vehicle is essential for tasks such as obstacle avoidance and path planning. Autonomous vehicles are usually equipped with different sensor modalities to improve accuracy and reliability. While sensor fusion has been widely used in object detection networks in recent years, most existing multi-object tracking algorithms either rely on a single input modality, or do not fully exploit the information provided by multiple sensing modalities. In this work, we propose an end-to-end network for joint object detection and tracking based on radar and camera sensor fusion. Our proposed method uses a center-based radar-camera fusion algorithm for object detection and utilizes a greedy algorithm for object association. The proposed greedy algorithm uses the depth, velocity and 2D displacement of the detected objects to associate them through time. This makes our tracking algorithm very robust to occluded and overlapping objects, as the depth and velocity information can help the network in distinguishing them. We evaluate our method on the challenging nuScenes dataset, where it achieves 20.0 AMOTA and outperforms all vision-based 3D tracking methods in the benchmark, as well as the baseline LiDAR-based method. Our method is online with a runtime of 35ms per image, making it very suitable for autonomous driving applications.


In this study we have implemented the Kmeans and Kmediods algorithms in order to make a practical comparison between them. The system was tested using a manual set of clusters that consists from 242 predefined clustering documents. The results showed a good indication about using them especially for Kmediods. The average precision and recall for Kmeans compared with Kmediods are 0. 56, 0. 52, 0. 69 and 0. 60 respectively. we have also extract feature set of keywords in order to improve the performance, the result illustrates that two algorithms can be applied to Arabic text, a sufficient number of examples for each category, the selection of the feature space, the training data set used and the value of K can enormously affect the accuracy of clustering.


The purpose of the study was to test the possible and controversial thermotolerance role of monoterpene production and emission and the related responses of antioxidants. Quercus ilex seedlings were exposed to a ramp of temperatures of 5°C steps from 25 to 50°C growing with and without limonene fumigation (7.5μll -1 ). Net photosynthetic rates, maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ), oxidation state of ascorbic acid, and lipid peroxidation estimated by malondialdehyde concentrations of limonene-fumigated (LF) plants did not significantly differ from control (C) plants. No consistent changes in emissions of the other monoterpenes, α-pinene, β-phellandrene, β-pinene or β-myrcene were found. However, slight differences were found in the concentration of antioxidants. The amounts of α-tocopherol did not change or even tended to decrease at high temperatures in LF plants whereas they tended to increase by approximately 60% at 45 and 50°C relative to 25°C in C plants. Ascorbic acid reached its maximum concentration only at 45° C in LF plants whereas it reached its maximum at 35°C in C plants. β-Carotene did not decrease at high temperatures in LF plants whereas it decreased by approximately 15% at 45-50°C in C plants. Brown pigment index (BP1), an optical indicator of tissue oxidative processes, was lower in LF plants than in C plants. The photochemical reflectance index (PRI), an optical indicator of photosynthetic light use efficiency, was higher for LF plants than for C plants at elevated temperatures. Visual leaf damage (browning) tended to be less in LF plants than in C plans although not significantly (26.5 ± 8.5 versus 16.2 ± 4.8%). These results show that limonene does not confer clear and strong thermotolerance but might have some minor role. These results are in agreement with previous indications of weaker thermotolerance effect of monoterpenes than of isoprene.


The heterodimeric actin-capping protein (CP) can be inhibited by polyphosphoinositides, which may be important for actin polymerization at membranes in cells. Here, we have identified a conserved set of basic residues on the surface of CP that are important for the interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Computational docking studies predicted the identity of residues involved in this interaction, and functional and physical assays with site-directed mutants of CP confirmed the prediction. The PIP2 binding site overlaps with the more important of the two known actin-binding sites of CP. Correspondingly, we observed that loss of PIP2 binding correlated with loss of actin binding among the mutants. Using TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence) microscopy, we observed that PIP2 rapidly converted capped actin filaments to a growing state, consistent with uncapping. Together, these results extend our understanding of how CP binds to the barbed end of the actin filament, and they support the idea that CP can "wobble" when bound to the barbed end solely by the C-terminal "tentacle" of its β-subunit.


During pregnancy and childbirth, there can be physical and psychological changes in the mother. These changes can cause anxiety, stress and can eventually lead to depression. The risks that can be caused are the birth of babies with low birth weight (LBW), small head size (microsomia), premature birth, weakening of the baby's immune system, and prolonged labor. The problems that give rise to this idea are the high incidence of anxiety experienced by pregnant and maternity mothers so that it can cause complications for mothers and babies, lack of training and ignorance of the Independent Midwife Practice (PMB) at the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) Badung district towards complementary therapies, especially Massage Endorphins. and gymball exercise. The service is carried out by providing 2 training materials, namely Massage Endorphin and gymball exercise which is given to 40 members of the Midwife Independent Practice who are members of the PC IBI Badung Regency which is carried out online.


Abstract The Transfiguration narratives have received considerable attention from New Testament scholars, but so far very little has been written about them from the point of view of their reception-history. The purpose of this article is to examine the ways in which they have been interpreted in the Latin West from the time of Hilary of Poitiers in the fourth century to Peter of Blois in the early thirteenth. Among these writers, from the big names like Jerome to the lesser known figures like Peter of Celle, a varied tapestry emerges where light allegory plays an important part, whether in the symbolisms given to the choice of the three disciples, Peter, James and John, or to the dazzling clothes of Christ as baptismal – a particular insight of Bede, which keeps recurring in subsequent writers and preachers. Unlike the East, where the Transfiguration became a major festival on 6 August from the seventh century onwards, the Latin West was slow to absorb it; but it was given particular impetus by Peter the Venerable, Abbot of Cluny, in the twelfth century. Whether read as narrative in connection with Lent ('glory before cross'), or as a festival in its own right, the Transfiguration emerges as an unusually rich source of biblical interpretation that poses real challenges to the use of the religious imagination today. And it provides a significant contribution to the development of a balanced view of reception-history in our own time.


An anaglyph is a single image created by selecting complementary colors from a stereo color pair, the user can perceive depth by viewing it through color-filtered glasses. We propose a technique to reconstruct the original color stereo pair given such an anaglyph. We modified SIFT-Flow and use it to initially match the different color channels across the two views. Our technique then iteratively refines the matches, selects the good matches (which defines the "anchor" colors), and propagates the anchor colors. We use a diffusion-based technique for the color propagation, and added a step to suppress unwanted colors. Results on a variety of inputs demonstrate the robustness of our technique. We also extended our method to anaglyph videos by using optic flow between time frames.


The term 'protein secretion' summarises a complex mechanism by which (bacterial) cells transport proteins across membranes. Protein secretion by bacteria is an extensively studied subject, because the understanding of the mechanism behind it enables us to apply it for biotechnological and pharmaceutical purposes. The Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus subtilis for instance, is already used for the production and secretion of many useful proteins, such as enzymes, for the development of food-related and non food-related products. For quick and efficient secretion of proteins to the extracellular environment, bacteria have developed several mechanisms that enable the translocation of the proteins across the membrane of the cell. The Twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway is one of these mechanisms, which is able to secrete folded proteins. Bacillus subtilis contains two of these pathways, which are very alike but operate independently and display a different substrate specificity. The underlying mechanism of the substrate specificity of the two Tat pathways of Bacillus subtilis is the main topic of this thesis. Detailed studies concerning the Tat components, the complexes they form and the proteins that are translocated by those complexes are described in the experimental chapters of the thesis. The main conclusion is that the substrate specificity is most likely determined by a combination of the growth conditions, the organism and specific properties of the Tat components and the Tat substrate. This provided novel leads for optimisation of the identification of general elements that can guarantee efficient secretion of a wide variety of proteins. The application of the Bacillus subtilis Tat system in the biotechnolocial industry is discussed.


Election systems making use of eVoting machines are becoming more prevalent. However, security issues do exist within current products and proposed systems. One of these issues is the occurrence of implementation-specific information leakage, otherwise known as side-channel leakage. These have serious implications for voter secrecy. An attack based on electromagnetic leakage from Nedap voting machines has demonstrated that this type of leakage is a relevant issue within eVoting. Therefore, in this paper we present an analysis showing how common components of eVoting machines may be vulnerable to side-channel attacks. As side-channel leakage is also not sufficiently addressed in the many available requirement documents for eVoting systems, we also define requirements for side-channels within the scope of eVoting machine security. Our proposal involves the application of the Common Criteria method. These requirements can be integrated into existing or future Protection Profiles and Security Targets for eVoting systems.