Based on the observation that the phenomena of a low birth rate and an aged population are rapidly occurring in South Korea, the present study established a research question on how to provide social services in this context and examined the "Social Service Project to Cope with a Low Birth Rate and Aged Society," which is being implemented by each local government. The result of the analysis is as follows. To cope with the low birth rate, 17 metropolitan local governments operate various social services, such as: creating an atmosphere that encourages childbearing and parenting; establishing policies that encourage childbearing; paying medical expenses during delivery for low-income families; providing a comprehensive care package for pregnant women; developing applications on pregnancy–childbearing–parenting; building public daycare centers; and lending toys. The social services to cope with an aged society include: removing inconveniences in homes for the elderly; hiring assistants to help with the health and safety of the elderly; managing dementia in the elderly; pairing "buddies" with those elderly residing alone; building a silver town (retirement home) for the low-income elderly; creating a living space for the elderly living alone; hosting video festivals; and providing jobs for the elderly. Although the social services to cope with the low birth rate and aged society are diverse, they have limitations in that they lack a "medium-to-long-term vision" and that they do not "secure the budget" in advance. Because this problem cannot be solved within a short period, Korean society need a change in direction to establish a long-term goal and push forward the core projects. In particular, budgetary agreement between central and local governments must be drawn up before nationally funded projects related to social services are planned. Considering current economic recession and negative policy environments, we suggested an alternative social service policy approaches such as an on-line based social service market for overcoming the jurisdictional restrains, social service industry for stable and high quality service, social responsibility investment as a new fund for social service.


We report characteristics of global lightning activity on a seasonal time scale as inferred from two independently operating instruments measuring magnetic field variations in the lower ELF range. In this picture, the strongest source of lightning activity is centered on the North American continent. We reduce the source proximity effect to the observing sites experimentally with a simple differential technique and reconfirm the conclusion of Holzer and Deal (1956) that wave propagation conditions in the lower ELF range are of minor importance. The resulting mean seasonal variations of continental lightning in mid‐ and tropical latitudes are found to be related to surface temperature variations in moderate‐ and tropical rain forest climates and they support the view of Williams (1992) that monitoring of global lightning activity may provide a thermometer‐independent measure of temperature changes associated with climate variability.


Obesity and overweight are the major threat to the health of people in the world. There are several drugs available for weight reduction but they sometimes produce adverse toxicities which may be fatal for life. Medicinal herbal supplements are being extensively utilized due to their effectiveness in managing many chronic disorders. They are cost-effective, and have no toxic effects in comparison with many chemically synthesized drugs. There are several herbs which may help in preventing obesity. Herbs such as Amla, Fenugreek, Gurmar, Cocoa, Turmeric, Green Tea, Locust Bean are the examples which have the capacity of reducing the total cholesterol and play significant role in prevention of obesity and related metabolic disorders.


We discuss two alternatives for introducing consideration of ethical questions in the computer science curriculum. These alternatives are 1) a selfcontained course on ethical issues in computing, and 2) introduction of modules devoted to ethical questions throughout the curriculum in content courses such as software engineering, databases, data mining, artificial intelligence, and systems. We discuss the advantages and the potential "hidden messages" involved in each of these approaches. By way of illustration, we list some of the pertinent points raised by two important case studies that are appropriate for inclusion in either a self-contained course or a course on software engineering.


OBJECTIVE
Ovarian cancer is a gynecological malignancy with high mortality rates all over the world. Markers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are urgently required to improve the mortality rates. As a key proto-oncogene, CCND1 is known to be amplified in many different carcinomas, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, etc. CCND1 plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, its function and mechanism have not been completely elucidated in ovarian cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the present study, we use cisplatin in vitro to inhibit the cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3. CCND1 expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were carried out by real-time PCR, CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTS
Our results demonstrated that cisplatin could inhibit the expression of CCND1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, which is related to the decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that CCND1 is a potential therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment.


In memory of Stephen Wiesner, 1942—2021. Intractable computational problems are a barrier for algorithm designers. Cryptographers are modern lemonade makers. Their lemons are these intractable problems, which they squeeze into sweet lemonade: secure cryptographic protocols. Why is a lemon even required? Because it lets us assume there is something an adversary cannot do. Intractable problems can give the honest user an advantage: for example, the honest user can multiply two large primes. The honest user knows the prime factors of the resulting number; yet, it is widely believed that a classical adversary cannot (efficiently) find these factors. Cryptographers have been squeezing this computational intractability lemon since the 1970s. Are there any other lemons on which cryptography could be based? Quantum mechanics has quite a few peculiarities. One notable example is the no-cloning theorem, which states that quantum information cannot be cloned. Uncloneable cryptography—the main focus of this review—uses the no-cloning lemon as its main ingredient. For a broader perspective, see Figure 1.


In this paper, we present a general theory of finite quantum measurements, for which we assume that the state space of the measured system is a finite dimensional Hilbert space and that the possible outcomes of a measurement is a finite set of real numbers. We develop the theory in a deductive manner from the basic postulates for quantum mechanics and a few plausible axioms for general quantum measurements. We derive an axiomatic characterization of all the physically realizable finite quantum measurements. Mathematical tools necessary to describe measurement statistics, such as POVMs and quantum instruments, are not assumed at the outset, but we introduce them as natural consequences of our axioms. Our objective is to show that those mathematical tools can be naturally derived from obvious theoretical requirements.


The first decade of the new millennium brought a series of already historical facts, which the international society is called to deal with, understand and solve based on the assumption that the solutions are only possible if thought of and implemented in an integrated, solidary and multilateral way. This need of cooperation also makes the world more interdependent than before, confirming a new logic of power in international relations. General environmental problems, as well as those related to human rights, finances, trade, among others, may only have satisfactory solutions if negotiated and regulated by all the states, without disregarding the role played by new agents in the international scenario. The emerging global environmental issues, particularly climate change, have been challenging the international system to adopt effective measures to face this problem on an urgent basis, at the risk of aggravating the resulting social, economic, political and environmental impacts. The Environmental International Law has been facing these issues in an innovating way, incorporating a new form of global environmental governance based on which new players are brought to the discussion and implementation of measures to face environmental problems. Among these players, we should highlight the subnational regional governments and their horizontal networks of actions and insertions in the decision making scenario. The purpose of this article is to explore the role of subnational governments and their networks in the development of global climate governance and in the consolidation of the international environmental law, particularly the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD).


Several efforts were made in the subsisting solutions to identify a prosperous packet relegation solution. A variety of decision-tree-predicated packet relegation algorithms were analysed in our works. Earlier decision tree algorithms culls field as well as number of cuts predicated on a nearby optimized decision, which compromises search speed as well as recollection requisite. Hardware implementations of Internet procedure (IP) organization algorithms have been proposed by the research community over the years to realize high speed routers and Internet backbone. Firewalls use packet filtering to block verbalize quandaries and force access to web and mail via proxies. Still part of "defense in depth" today. Need expeditious wire speed packet filtering? However, the primary challenge in implementing this high-level approach lies in the second phase, i.e. how to efficiently amalgamate the results of the single field searches. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for packet relegation it solves the adversaries quandaries and resolve the packet cutting quandaries with efficacious manner deeply pipelining the architecture. This paper presents a boundary cutting (BC) scenario which exploits the structure of classifiers. It ascertains the space that each rule covers and perform cutting according to rule boundary. Hence it is deterministic, and more efficacious in providing amended search performance and efficient in recollection requisite. Security roles are withal considered during relegation
KEYWORDS: Packet; Classification; Independent; Set


The African trypanosome (Trypanosoma brucei brucei) in its bloodstream phase has been found to possess rather unique surface properties. Results of lectin and iron colloid binding studies have indicated that the parasite's surface coat is devoid of many types of exposed carbohydrate residues which commonly are expressed on a variety of mammalian cell types. These include: glucose, mannose, galactose, n-acetylglucosamine, n-acetylgalactosamine, and neuraminic acid. A number of these carbohydrates (E.G., glucose, mannose, galactose and n-acetylgalactosamine) are, however, buried within the surface coat as evidenced by lectin binding to trypsinized parasites. The surface of well preserved parasites also lack exposed sialic acid and phospholipid moieties. Moribund parasites (or trypsinzed organisms) with altered surface coats were found to possess well defined phospholipid regions, but not negatively charged sialyl residues. Results presented tend to suggest that carbohydrates and phospholipids are not present in the outermost portion of the glycocalyx, thus exerting little or no influence on surface-mediated biological activities. However, the presence of such components on the plasmalemma is presumed to be structurally significant; especially during those developmental phases where the glycocalyx is absent, i.e., fly midgut phase.


Lung function studis were performed in 33 patients with lymphomyeloproliferative diseases (25 cases of multiple myeloma and 8 cases of Hodgkin's disease) who received cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, and melphalan therapy. Lung function was investigated by spirometric tests, indicative tests of small airways disease, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DUCO). Indicative tests of small airways disease and other lung function tests such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEY,), vital capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC) etc. were markedly improved in 18 patients (55%), whereas 24 patients (73%) showed a decreased diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Furthermore, most of the patients (77% – 83%) showed contemporaneous involvement of spirometric tests and DUCO. The DUCO was also found more constantly impaired than other function tests because it had decreased with and without other spirometric tests. Impaired lung function tests were found to be related to a cumulative dose of antineoplastic drugs. The absence of increased lung toxicity was found to be related to several drugs administered in combination. In view of the absence of previous bronchopathies, lung involvement signs in multiple myeloma (25, 26) or lymphoma, and concomitant bronchopneumonias, the impaired functional tests could be ascibed to drug-induced lung toxicity. In the absence of clinical symptoms, roentgenographic and pathologic features, impaired lung function tests may play a role as early-onset signs of drug-induced lung toxicity.


The anthrax toxin comprises three proteins. When they work together, they can kill humans, especially after spores of the bacteria have been inhaled. One anthrax protein, called protective antigen (PA), chaperones the two other toxins into human or animal cells and shields them from the body's immune system. The second, lethal factor (LF), destroys the white blood cells that hosts send in defence. The third toxin molecule, edema factor (EF), hijacks the signaling system in the body. This disrupts the energy balance of cells and leads to them accumulating fluid and complete destroy of cells.


We have previously investigated the biodistribution and therapy effect of a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) intended for theranostics of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the off-target effect and different linear energy transfer (LET) radionuclides without the effect of PSA targeting by using an antibody with the same scaffold as previously used immunoconjugates but with random, non-specific, antigen binding region. This allows us to identify alterations generated by specific targeting and those related to passive bystander effects, such as enhanced permeability and retention (EPR). A control humanized IgG monoclonal antibody (hIgG1) and an isotype control IgG monoclonal antibody were conjugated with the chelator CHX-A"-DTPA. The immunoconjugate was radiolabeled with either Lutetium-177 ([177Lu]Lu) or Indium-111 ([111In]In). A biodistribution study in mice carrying LNCaP xenografts, was performed to evaluate the non-specific uptake of [177Lu]Lu-hIgG1 in tumors and normal organs. Further, therapy studies of [177Lu]Lu and [111In]In labeled IgG were performed in BALB/c mice carrying LNCaP xenografts. Tumor tissues of treated xenografts and control were sectioned and immunohistochemically stained for Ki67 and PSA. The highest tumor uptake for the [177Lu]Lu-hIgG1 was seen at 72 hours (7.2±2 %IA/g), when comparing the tumor uptake of the fPSA targeting antibody to the non-specific antibody, the non-specific antibody contributes to half of the tumor uptake at 72 h. The liver uptake was 3.1±0.5 %IA/g at 24 h, 2.8±0.5 %IA/g at 72 h and 1.3±0.6 %IA/g at 120 h in LNCaP xenografts, which was approximately three times lower at 24 h and two times lower at 72 h than for the antibody with preserved targeting. Immunohistochemical labeling showed a reduction of PSA expression and a reduction of Ki67 labeled cells in the [111In]In treated LNCaP tumors, compared to vehicle and [177Lu]Lu treated mice. In conclusion, we found that specific targeting might negatively influence normal organ uptake when targeting secreted antigens. Furthermore, different energy deposition i.e. linear energy transfer of a radionuclide might have diverse effects on receptor expression and cell proliferation in tumors.


Analytical approximation of the maximal invariant ellipsoids for linear systems with actuator saturation is established. Simultaneously, a necessary and sufficient condition for such approximation equalling to the exact maximal invariant ellipsoid is presented. In addition, a geometric property of the maximal invariant ellipsoid in ldquominimal energy control with guaranteed convergence raterdquo problem is proposed. All results are given in explicit forms and easy to implement in system analysis and design. Two numerical examples are used to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) continue to attract growing interest from scientists in a wide range of fields, likely due to their fascinating nanoarchitecture as well as their electronic and physical properties. From the viewpoint of synthetic chemistry, the chemical and physical stability, high surface area, and π-stacking nature of CNTs are attractive features for their application as solid supports for molecular catalysts. The chemical functionalization of CNTs has been explored for various applications, including covalent and noncovalent grafting of molecular catalysts. Although noncovalent grafting provides less stable immobilized catalysts compared with covalently grafted hybrid molecular catalysts and CNTs, the preparation protocol is expeditious and repetitive use of the catalysts is well demonstrated, confirming their potential broad utility in synthetic organic chemistry.


This nested case-control study examined relationships between MDR1, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 variants and hepatotoxicity during antiretroviral therapy with either efavirenz- or nevirapine-containing regimens. Decreased risk of hepatotoxicity was associated with MDR1 3435C-->T (odds ratio, 0.254; P=.021). An interaction between MDR1 and hepatitis B surface antigen status predicted risk with 82% accuracy (P<.001).


The growth of domain-specific applications of semantic models, boosted by the recent achievements of unsupervised embedding learning algorithms, demands domain-specific evaluation datasets. In many cases, content-based recommenders being a prime example, these models are required to rank words or texts according to their semantic relatedness to a given concept, with particular focus on top ranks. In this work, we give a threefold contribution to address these requirements: (i) we define a protocol for the construction, based on adaptive pairwise comparisons, of a relatedness-based evaluation dataset tailored on the available resources and optimized to be particularly accurate in top-rank evaluation; (ii) we define appropriate metrics, extensions of well-known ranking correlation coefficients, to evaluate a semantic model via the aforementioned dataset by taking into account the greater significance of top ranks. Finally, (iii) we define a stochastic transitivity model to simulate semantic-driven pairwise comparisons, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed dataset construction protocol.


The primary aim of numerical taxonomy is to provide classifications which are precise, repeatable and predictive. This quantitative basis of taxonomy was first applied to biological classifications and led to the realization that group making should follow certain established principles and not just happen. The logical and sequential steps involved, though in practice not always consciously separable, can be applied to all branches of knowledge. The steps are:


We try to model surrender rates with a few explanatory variables such as the difference between reference new money rates and product crediting rates with surrender charges, the policy age since the contract was issued, unemployment rates, economy growth rates, and seasonal effects. In modeling surrender rates we use the logit function. We calculate the value of interest indexed annuities and investigate the surrender rate impacts on the value, the duration, and the convexity of interest indexed annuities.


Aimming at the actual conditions of assessment problem, this paper makes use of the fair self-adapting capacity of the neural network and the strong global search capacity of the genetic algorithm, and it adopts genetic neural network to solve the assessment on the battle demand plan of weapon development by combining genetic algorithm with neural network. By sample data training, the algorithm raises the accuracy and applicability of estimate. It is proved that the algorithm can overcome the human factor and random influence, and its steadiness and precision are also higher.


Gunnebo AB is one of Europe's leading companies within the area of security today. Gunnebo AB is now looking to expand its Gunnebo Integrated Security division with an entry in the Swedish security industry, where it has limited presence. The focus will lie on an acquisition of a Swedish electronic security or monitoring company. This thesis describes and analyses the Swedish integrated security industry and market in order to identify, select, and value the most potential acquisition candidate/s according to certain acquisition criteria. The candidate/s should furthermore be able to form a platform for further expansion in Sweden. The Swedish integrated security market is fragmented and consists of a large number of players, the industry is also very relationship oriented. In industry there are a lot of new comers and their difficulty is in getting established. To be successful in the market certain key success factors need to be fulfilled e.g. a full solution, well-established relationships, and strong sales and marketing. Based on the ability to meet the key success factors and the ability to form a platform, a constellation of two candidates has been chosen. They complement each other in an excellent way and are the best acquisitions for Gunnebo AB.


The usage of social networks environments inside organizations is being suggested as a good way to deploy knowledge management initiatives. Because this kind of environment provides a natural and informal way to people engage on collaborative activities, this kind of initiative can be a good alternative approach to achieve better results in knowledge management initiatives. In this context, it was conducted an action research to investigate how a Web based social network could be used as the main tool in a knowledge management initiative being held in an innovation institute. During this action research, the Web based social network was proposed and developed to meet the knowledge management needs of the organization. In the five years span in which the action research was carried out, a set of metrics were proposed, monitored and analyzed, originating some improvement proposals for both, the initiative and the social network environment. Through the deployment of these proposals, it was possible to monitor the impacts of the proposals on the organization. At the end, this action research showed some reflections and conclusions on the whole initiative.


Background The increased emergency illness among aging people lead to prehospital care for aging people, especially in the suburban in the Northern of Thailand. Objective To develop participation model of prehospital care for aging people at the suburban in the Northern of Thailand. Methods The 205 Participants of this action research composed of three groups: Supporters; Practitioners were village health volunteers care giver and representative people; researchers were community and academic researchers. This research divided into phases; look phase were rapid assessment procedures and community needs of prehospital care; Act phase were forums and act on prehospital case programs; and evaluation phase. Data collection were using by inept-interview, observation, survey and forums and verified by triangulation investigation and cronbach's alfa coefficient. Data were analyzed by domain analysis, Freelist analysis, frequency, rank, mean, standard deviation, PNImodified and paire t-test. Results The model consisted of 3components. The first component were structures which based on the context of kinship and reciprocity; health and political human capital; and outsider health facilities. The second component were 4 process; socialization based on the context; co-ordination; supporting; and participation of human capital. The third component were evaluation which composed of After Action Review and empowerment evaluation which lead to change knowledge, perception and self efficacy among participants in the activity program. Besides, its also established the prehospital care and the emergency care information program for the community. Conclusion The results of this research should be applied to set up policy and planning for service prehospital care in the similar area. Keywords: participation model/prehospital care/aging people/suburban


Real-time observation of ultrafast dynamics in the microcosm is a fundamental approach for understanding the internal evolution of physical, chemical and biological systems. Tools for tracing such dynamics are flashes of light with duration comparable to or shorter than the characteristic evolution times of the system under investigation. While femtosecond (fs) pulses are successfully used to investigate vibrational dynamics in molecular systems, real time observation of electron motion in all states of matter requires temporal resolution in the attosecond (1 attosecond (asec) = 10−18 s) time scale. During the last decades, continuous efforts in ultra-short pulse engineering led to the development of table-top sources which can produce asec pulses. These pulses have been synthesized by using broadband coherent radiation in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral region generated by the interaction of matter with intense fs pulses. Here, we will review asec pulses generated by the interaction of gas phase media and solid surfaces with intense fs IR laser fields. After a brief overview of the fundamental process underlying the XUV emission form these media, we will review the current technology, specifications and the ongoing developments of such asec sources.


Elderly individuals with subjective memory impairment (SMI) report memory decline, but perform within the age-, gender-, and education- adjusted normal range on neuropsychological tests. Longitudinal studies indicate SMI as a risk factor or early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is increasing evidence from neuroimaging that at the group level, subjects with SMI display evidence of AD related pathology. This study aimed to determine differences in cortical thickness between individuals with SMI and healthy control subjects (CO) using the FreeSurfer environment. 110 participants (41 SMI/69 CO) underwent structural 3D-T1 MR imaging. Cortical thickness values were compared between groups in predefined AD-related brain regions of the medial temporal lobe, namely the bilateral entorhinal cortex and bilateral parahippocampal cortex. Cortical thickness reduction was observed in the SMI group compared to controls in the left entorhinal cortex (p = 0.003). We interpret our findings as evidence of early AD-related brain changes in persons with SMI.


"Advances in Accounting Education" is a referenced, academic research annual whose purpose is to help meet the needs of faculty members interested in ways to improve their classroom instruction. We publish thoughtful, well-developed articles that are readable, relevant and reliable. Articles may be either empirical or non-empirical. They emphasize pedagogy i.e. explaining how faculty members can improve their teaching methods or how accounting units can improve their curricula/programs.


Demand side financing initiatives are different forms of financing health services that aim to minimize financial obstacles to accessing health care and also decrease inequities by ensuring that services are made affordable to poor and underserved populations through provision of subsidies. Vouchers have been expected to improve health outcomes by improving on service quality, improving effectiveness while also increasing the utilization of health care services. Despite the fact that vouchers have been implemented in Kenya since 2006, very few studies have focussed on underlying factors that contribute to low utilization even with high demand for the vouchers particularly in Kilifi County. This study investigates the relationship between demand and household and individual characteristics and also the relationship between utilization and household characteristics. The findings indicate that age, education, marital status and occupation had a relationship with demand for the reproductive health vouchers while for utilization of the vouchers only age and marital status were found to be statistically significant.


A wide variety of pedagogical methods have been employed over the years in the presentation of business capstone courses. Most methods have used some combination of case studies, lecture, and term-length projects. More recently, with the advent and widespread availability of personal computer technology, business simulations have been gaining increasing acceptance. The introduction of a business simulation is generally to offer a "hands-on" experience for the student. Therefore, if a capstone simulation is for the purpose of "experiential learning," then integration of the techniques taught for business analysis should, likewise, be incorporated. This paper presents one scenario of how a business simulation is incorporated into a business capstone course. The simulation then provides the data for analysis using spreadsheet techniques as a basis for decision support.


This study features an examination of the effects of working with traumatised individuals, namely vicarious traumatisation. Predictor variables such as age, career longevity, personal trauma history and workload were correlated with vicarious trauma. Support systems used by nurses were explored. The questionnaire consisted of items of the TSI Belief Scale, demographic characteristics of persons with a personal trauma history, work related aspects and support systems. Participants were 37 nurses (30 female and 7 male) who render a community mental health service in the Cape Metropole. Results of the study indicate that the variables age and career longevity were statistically significantly related to vicarious trauma. There was no relationship between personal trauma history, workload and vicarious trauma. The nurses identified the psychiatrist and psychologist as their main support systems in dealing with vicarious trauma. Recommendations were made to assist the organisation and nurses on how to deal with vicarious trauma. KEY CONCEPTS Vicarious trauma/traumatisation, nurses, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress.


Delivery of therapeutic concentrations of drugs to the lung periphery is crucial in treatment of many infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lung. Conventional drug treatment for serious pulmonary infections consists of systemic administration of drug in order to achieve concentrations in the bloodstream that will reach therapeutic results.

Advantages to topical drug administration to the lungs via aerosol are well known (3). However, the amount of drug that can be inhaled as aerosol is frequently small, thereby limiting the amount of drug delivered to the distal portion of the lung (1). Intratracheal instillation of surfactant, in the animal model, increased the fractional area of lung exposed and improved the uniformity of spread of radioactive label in the lung compared to the saline control (2).

We examined the effect of physical perturbation with the mixture, antibiotic, and surfactant, via heat and sonication and stability over time as a function of the MIC for Pseudomonas.

Tobramycin and surfactant (Exosurf suspension) were combined in cationic adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (CAMHB) to create mixtures containing 8, 16, 32, or 64 μg of surfactant per ml, all with 4 μg of tobramycin per ml (4). One aliquot of each mixture was heated at 80°C for 30 min, one was sonicated at room temperature for 30 min, and a third was held at room temperature for 30 min without additional treatment. Serial twofold dilutions of each aliquot were prepared in CAMHB in microdilution trays (final volume, 100 μl/well) and inoculated with approximately 5 × 105 CFU of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Serial dilutions of tobramycin in CAMHB and separate serial dilutions of surfactant in CAMHB were inoculated with the same organism to serve as controls. All trays were incubated for 18 h at 35°C, and the MIC was determined visually.

When tobramycin and surfactant were mixed, sonicated, and heated to 80°C for 30 min, there was no in vitro reduction in MIC for P. aeruginosa.

To assess the stability of mixtures of tobramycin and surfactant, we prepared a stock mixture containing 27 mg each of tobramycin and surfactant per ml. Dilutions of this mixture were prepared immediately to give final concentrations of tobramycin ranging from 0.06 to 8 μg/ml in CAMHB. Controls, inoculation, incubation, and examination were identical to those described above. The remaining stock mixture was stored at 4°C for 3 weeks, and the MIC was determined at 1 week and again at 3 weeks.

No decline in the MIC of the mixture was found when it was stored in a refrigerated environment for up to 3 weeks.

van't Veen and coworkers (5) found a reduction in bactericidal activity of tobramycin when tobramycin was mixed with surfactant which could be compensated for by increasing the tobramycin concentration. A possible explanation of the difference from our study may be the difference in the surfactants. Exosurf, a synthetic compound, does not contain protein, whereas van't Veen et al. used a surfactant obtained from the bovine lung containing a protein component.


Hypoxia is a ubiquitous negative prognostic factor in solid tumours. Oxygen-enhanced MRI can spatially map regions refractory to an oxygen challenge and, when combined with a perfusion measurement, has the potential to quantify hypoxia in vivo. We developed the technique in healthy volunteers before successfully translating into a longitudinal patient study of patients with cervical carcinoma. We present initial data to support OE-MRI quantifying and mapping hypoxia modification following therapy in this clinical dataset.


A procedure for the numerical approximation of high-dimensional Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman (HJB) equations associated to optimal feedback control problems for semilinear parabolic equations is proposed. Its main ingredients are a pseudospectral collocation approximation of the PDE dynamics and an iterative method for the nonlinear HJB equation associated to the feedback synthesis. The latter is known as the successive Galerkin approximation. It can also be interpreted as Newton iteration for the HJB equation. At every step, the associated linear generalized HJB equation is approximated via a separable polynomial approximation ansatz. Stabilizing feedback controls are obtained from solutions to the HJB equations for systems of dimension up to fourteen.


Providing scalable clustered storage in a cost-effective way depends on the availability of an efficient network block device (nbd) layer. We study the performance of gmblock, an nbd server over Myrinet utilizing a direct disk-to-NIC data path which bypasses the CPU and main memory bus. To overcome the architectural limitation of a low number of outstanding requests, we focus on overlapping read and network I/O for a single request, in order to improve throughput. To this end, we introduce the concept of synchronized send operations and present an implementation on Myrinet/GM, based on custom modifications to the NIC firmware and associated userspace library. Compared to a network block sharing system over standard GM and the base version of gmblock, our enhanced implementation supporting synchronized sends delivers 81% and 44% higher throughput for streaming block I/O, respectively.


This research is motivated by the low student achievement in the fractional material. The students' learning outcomes in the material have not been able to reach the KKM. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of the cooperative learning model. The subjects of this study were teachers and all grade II students of SDN Tengko 01, amounting to 24 students. This research was carried out in two cycles. The instruments used were lesson plans, question sheets, lesson plans analysis sheets and APKG sheets. Data collection techniques in this study used test techniques and observation techniques. The data analysis technique used was quantitative description. The results showed that the use of cooperative learning models can be used to improve student achievement. This is evidenced by changes in abilities and an increase in the average score obtained by students after improving learning. In cycle 1 the value is 69 and in cycle 2 it becomes 82. this number can be found say that there is an increase in student learning outcomes that are quite good, seen from the results of the cycle 1 test to the final results after learning.


Multiaccess edge computing is an essential technology that academia and industry have recognized as fundamental for the future of the Internet of Things. Current research on the subject utilizes virtual machines as the intermediary between end devices and cloud servers. However, recently a new framework was proposed that utilizes Cybertwins instead of virtual machines for the same function. Such framework comes with a myriad of advantages but, most importantly, in this case, it includes a control plane capable of enabling cooperation between the Cybertwins. In this article, we present a mathematical model of the total service delay of a Cybertwin-based multiaccess edge computing system that includes user mobility, migration of virtual servers, multiple physical servers at different network tiers, fronthaul and backhaul communication, processing, and content request/caching. We also propose algorithms for guiding the operation of Cybertwins and the control plane in a multiaccess edge computing scenario. Finally, a performance analysis between Cybertwin and a virtual machine-based scheme is offered. Simulations show that Cybertwin brings significant improvement for the assumed scenario in the form of a faster overall service due to the higher cooperation. The models and simulations here were designed with the characteristics of future networks, beyond the current 5G, in mind, making them likely relevant for future networks, where multiaccess edge computing and the Internet of Things should play an even more important role.


This paper considers the puzzle of why a substantial number of people pay their taxes even when the probability of being caught when evading is virtually nil. Our suggestion is to augment the traditional theory of public enforcement to take into account tax morale -- the intrinsic motivation to support the taxing authority. We analyze the consequences of a variable probability of catching and punishing a tax evader and a variable fine on individual behavior and on social welfare. It is shown that as tax morale becomes more important, enforcement mechanisms should not be as widely used. However, if enforcement mechanisms are used, the probability of catching violators should be increased. Please contact the Program in Law and Economics at Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 for a copy of this paper.


The purpose of this study is to discover the structure of the universal lived experience of feeling listened to, a phenomenon of health and quality of life related to the human-to-human relationship. This Parse research method study included 10 adults who shared their experiences of feeling listened to. The structure, feeling listened to is unreserved affirmation amid potential irreverence arising with the liberating contentment of benevolent affiliations, is the central finding of the study. This finding was connected to humanbecoming theory and extant literature, contributing to nursing knowledge, expanding the theory, and enhancing understanding about feeling listened to.


Most public workers in Nigeria have always faced the problem of housing either during service or after retirement. This is because the mechanism put in place by the government for tackling the housing problem has not met their expectations. Due to that, workers started using alternative means to solve their housing needs. This study measured the level of housing activities carried out by the cooperative society and assessed cooperators' satisfaction with the activities in Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was based on a questionnaire survey conducted on institution-based cooperative societies engaged in cooperator housing activities using various methods. Data was collected from Jos University Teaching Hospital JUTH multipurpose cooperative society in the State. Data were analysed with descriptive statistical tools using mean ranking, and a 5-Point Likert scale was used to determine the level of each activity. It was found that housing development, direct purchases of houses, private-public projects and building materials purchase ranked highest. In contrast, processing land and building documents, housing loans, and land allocation were the least ranked contrary to popular belief that cooperative societies only achieved land allocation and granting of housing loans. Also, the respondents were most satisfied with housing development, directly purchased houses, building materials purchase, transaction cost, while their level of satisfaction on interest to be paid on loans for housing, cost of loan recovery, processing of land and building document and land allocation were ranked least respectively. Therefore, the study concluded that cooperators satisfaction should be given consideration in all activities to improve patronage for their various housing needs at all times.


ABSTRACT Alginate overproduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also known as mucoidy, is associated with chronic endobronchial infections in cystic fibrosis. Alginate biosynthesis is initiated by the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor (σ22; AlgU/AlgT). In the wild-type (wt) nonmucoid strains, such as PAO1, AlgU is sequestered to the cytoplasmic membrane by the anti-sigma factor MucA that inhibits alginate production. One mechanism underlying the conversion to mucoidy is mutation of mucA. However, the mucoid conversion can occur in wt mucA strains via the degradation of MucA by activated intramembrane proteases AlgW and/or MucP. Previously, we reported that the deletion of the sensor kinase KinB in PAO1 induces an AlgW-dependent proteolysis of MucA, resulting in alginate overproduction. This type of mucoid induction requires the alternate sigma factor RpoN (σ54). To determine the RpoN-dependent KinB regulon, microarray and proteomic analyses were performed on a mucoid kinB mutant and an isogenic nonmucoid kinB rpoN double mutant. In the kinB mutant of PAO1, RpoN controlled the expression of approximately 20% of the genome. In addition to alginate biosynthetic and regulatory genes, KinB and RpoN also control a large number of genes including those involved in carbohydrate metabolism, quorum sensing, iron regulation, rhamnolipid production, and motility. In an acute pneumonia murine infection model, BALB/c mice exhibited increased survival when challenged with the kinB mutant relative to survival with PAO1 challenge. Together, these data strongly suggest that KinB regulates virulence factors important for the development of acute pneumonia and conversion to mucoidy.


Mirrors used in synchrotron radiation facilities can reflect X-ray beams ideally owing to recent advancements in ultraprecise fabrication technologies. Flat mirrors can change the direction of an X-ray beam without distorting its wavefront. Elliptically figured mirrors can focus X-rays onto a spot with nanometer dimensions. The intensity distribution of a reflected X-ray beam is determined, and thus can be controlled, by the shape of the employed mirror. This study proposes, fabricates, and evaluates a ring-focusing mirror that can produce an X-ray beam with a ring-shaped intensity profile. This ring-shaped X-ray beam could be created and observed at the soft X-ray beamline BL25SU at the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility, Japan. The increase in the freedom of X-ray mirror shapes will lead to the development of various analytical methods and optical systems in the X-ray region.


Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) is a single chain, 70-amino acid, peptide hormone, which is essential to the process of growth and differentiation in higher vertebrates. IGF-I exhibits a very high degree of conservation throughout vertebrate evolution, and recent studies in fish have shown improved rates of growth in salmonids treated with exogenous recombinant mammalian IGF-I, implying a role for this hormone in fish similar to that in mammals. This paper reports the identification and sequencing of four different liver-derived cDNAs encoding IGF-I from chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. The different cDNAs all contain sequences that encode an identical mature IGF-I protein. The differences between the four cDNAs are of two types: 1) single basepair changes and 2) additional blocks of sequence occurring at one site within the E-domain regions of three of the four cDNAs. The sequence data indicate that each of the cDNAs identified was transcribed from a different IGF-I gene, and analysis of the chinook salmon genome by Southern blotting supports the existence of four distinct IGF-I genes and suggests that there are at least two IGF-I loci in salmon. Although, analysis of total RNA from salmonid liver identifies only a single major transcript of 4200 nucleotides, polymerase chain reaction analysis suggests the presence of two structurally different salmonid IGF-I genes with the potential for multiple splicing alternatives of the IGF-I transcript.


Self-adaptive systems are expected to mitigate disruptions by continually adjusting their configuration and behaviour. This mitigation is often reactive. Typically, environmental or internal changes trigger a system response only after a violation of the system requirements. Despite a broad agreement that prevention is better than cure in self-adaptation, proactive adaptation methods are underrepresented within the repertoire of solutions available to the developers of self-adaptive systems. To address this gap, we present a work-in-progress approach for the prediction of-system-level disruptions (PRESTO) through parametric model checking. Intended for use in the analysis step of the MAPE-K (MonitorAnalyse-Plan-Execute over a shared Knowledge) feedback control loop of self-adaptive systems, PRESTO comprises two stages. First, time-series analysis is applied to monitoring data in order to identify trends in the values of individual system and/or environment parameters. Next, future non-functional requirement violations are predicted by using parametric model checking, in order to establish the potential impact of these trends on the reliability and performance of the system. We illustrate the application of PRESTO in a case study from the autonomous farming domain.


Mark G Jones (MGJ) : A 33-year-old woman was referred for a respiratory opinion. Three months prior she had developed a 'bad cold'. This had persisted with intermittent rhinorrhoea, non-productive cough, pleuritic chest pain and a weight loss of 6 kg. Her symptoms had transiently improved following courses of co-amoxiclav and clarithromycin from her primary care physician and local district general hospital. The patient was previously healthy with no medical history of note. She had smoked minimally and drank little alcohol. There were no occupational or environmental exposures of note. Her family kept two cats and she had travelled to Spain 4 months prior to symptom onset.

On examination she appeared unwell. Bilateral submandibular and cervical lymphadenopathies were detected. Bilateral crackles were auscultated in the chest. Cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurological examinations were normal. The chest radiograph showed lingular consolidation and patchy right basal ground-glass opacities. Initial laboratory investigations identified a neutrophilia (25.2 × 109/l) and a raised C reactive protein (CRP) (123 mg/l). Liver and renal function tests were within the normal range.

Katherine M A O'Reilly (KO'R): We have a previously healthy young woman who presents with pulmonary infiltrates, raised inflammatory markers, lymphadenopathy and weight loss. Although the initial presentation was suggestive of a community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CAP), the response to broad-spectrum antibiotics is not as expected. So while CAP is unlikely, atypical infections including mycobacterial disease should be considered. The weight loss and lymphadenopathy are concerning and we should exclude an underlying malignancy such as lymphoma. In addition, HIV/AIDS, underlying inflammatory conditions such as vasculitis or cryptogenic organising pneumonia and recurrent aspiration should be considered.

MG J : Further questioning identified no history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, swallowing difficulties or risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. Serologies including mycoplasma, coxiella, bartonella, toxoplasma, borrelia and histoplasma were negative. Lactate dehydrogenase level …


We are aimed to observe the effect of applying the combined temporo-occipital fascial flap in the medium scalp defect with bone exposure. Three cases of moderate scalp defect with bone exposure were admitted by The 89th Hospital of PLA and China-Japan Friendship Hospital from October 2009 to March 2014, and the wounds were repaired by application of the temporo-occipital fascial flap with medium-thickness skin grafting. And then these 3 patients were followed up after the operation, and the wound repair was observed. These 3 cases of fascial flaps all survived well with good appearance and covered the wound completely. Fibrosarcoma of one case had a relapse 3 months after operation, and the other two cases were followed up from 6 months to 3 years. Meanwhile, the appearance and function were satisfactory. The communicating branches between superficial temporal artery and occipital artery are rich. Therefore we designed and utilized the long temporo-occipital fascial flap containing the ipsilateral occipital superficial fascia to repair the scalp defect with bone exposure, and the curative effect is satisfactory.


We describe a digital implementation of a Kalman filter to estimate the true values of the angular position, the angular velocity and the coil current of a motor used to drive a fuel valve. By modeling the effect of coil current on the position sensor as a linear additive term, and the uncertainties in the actuator parameters as an additive random noise on the angular position, angular velocity and coil current, we have attempted to improve the robustness of the estimator. We believe that the storage and execution time requirements of this algorithm as implemented on the TI-320C2407 based actuator are comparable or less than the current model based algorithm.


We derive well-posed boundary conditions for the linearized Serre equations in one spatial dimension by using the energy method. An energy stable and conservative discontinuous Galerkin spectral element method with simple upwind numerical fluxes is proposed for solving the initial boundary value problem. We derive discrete energy estimates for the numerical approximation and prove a priori error estimates in the energy norm. Detailed numerical examples are provided to verify the theoretical analysis and show convergence of numerical errors.


Background: Randomized studies proved the efficacy of new drugs for the systemic treatment of advanced gastric cancer in the past 5 years. But little is known about the use of 1 line chemotherapy in clinical practice in patients with advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) and the stomach. We investigated temporal trends in therapy, and factors influencing treatment decisions for these patients during a four-year period. Patients and methods: 1058 patients (median age 67 years) with advanced AEG or gastric cancers undergoing treatment decisions were documented with the Therapiemonitor® in 2006 – 2009. Therapiemonitor® collects population-based data regarding treatment decisions and strategies. Time trends of drug use and intensity in the 1 line treatment were analysed in the entire patient group and according to age (cut-off 65 years) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS; cut-off 80%). Results: Over time the use of oxaliplatin and docetaxel as well as capecitabine increased, while cisplatin and irinotecan use slightly declined. The use of chemotherapy triplets rose from 10.1% in 2006 to 47.0% in 2009. Treatment patterns significantly varied by age and KPS: Older patients were significantly less likely to receive chemotherapy triplets, cisplatin and docetaxel but tended to receive more often oxaliplatin. Likewise, triplets, cisplatin and docetaxel were less frequently used in patients with KPS < 80%, while capecitabine and irinotecan were significantly more often used in this patient group. Conclusion: A clear tendency towards the use of more intensive chemotherapy regimens in patients with AEG and gastric cancer was observed over time. Older or less fit patients were treated preferably with monotherapy or chemotherapy doublets during 2006 – 2009. Oxaliplatin and docetaxel use has substantially risen.


We study lattices in a product $G=G_{1}\times \cdots \times G_{n}$ of non-discrete, compactly generated, totally disconnected locally compact (tdlc) groups. We assume that each factor is quasi just-non-compact, meaning that $G_{i}$ is non-compact and every closed normal subgroup of $G_{i}$ is discrete or cocompact (e.g. $G_{i}$ is topologically simple). We show that the set of discrete subgroups of $G$ containing a fixed cocompact lattice $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ with dense projections is finite. The same result holds if $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ is non-uniform, provided $G$ has Kazhdan's property (T). We show that for any compact subset $K\subset G$ , the collection of discrete subgroups $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}\leqslant G$ with $G=\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}K$ and dense projections is uniformly discrete and hence of covolume bounded away from $0$ . When the ambient group $G$ is compactly presented, we show in addition that the collection of those lattices falls into finitely many $\operatorname{Aut}(G)$ -orbits. As an application, we establish finiteness results for discrete groups acting on products of locally finite graphs with semiprimitive local action on each factor. We also present several intermediate results of independent interest. Notably it is shown that if a non-discrete, compactly generated quasi just-non-compact tdlc group $G$ is a Chabauty limit of discrete subgroups, then some compact open subgroup of $G$ is an infinitely generated pro- $p$ group for some prime $p$ . It is also shown that in any Kazhdan group with discrete amenable radical, the lattices form an open subset of the Chabauty space of closed subgroups.


The underwater domain is an alluring 'other world', inviting of human-aquatic interactivity and bodily play and yet it is also an extreme environment as it is inhospitable to support human life without external air-supply. Playful interactions are therefore matters of life and death in the underwater domain. We correlated data on human-aquatic interactions and narcosis with a range of game design principals to produce a design pallet for digital underwater play from water level to 30m depth. We also present a proof-of-concept system called Gravity Well as an exemplary research tool. Through our work, we aim to inspire other researchers and designers to consider creating digital play in and under water.


Poor quality lighting not only impedes astronomy research and our right to see a starry night sky, but creates safety issues, affects human circadian sensitivities, disrupts ecosystems, and wastes billions of dollars/year in energy consumption. It also leads to excess carbon emissions. How do you change the mindset of society that is used to turning night into day? You educate the next generation on quality lighting. As an outcome of the International Year of Light 2015, the U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory's Education and Public Outreach group has produced a Quality Lighting Teaching (QLT) Kit. The kits are designed around problem-based learning scenarios. The kit's six activities allow students to address real lighting problems that relate to wildlife, sky glow, aging eyes, energy consumption, safety, and light trespass. The activities are optimized for 11-14 year olds, but can be expanded to younger and older. All materials are in English and Spanish. Most of the activities can be done within in a few minutes during class or afterschool in the form of stations or as stand-alones. Everything one needs for the six activities is included. Tutorial videos on how to do the activities can be found at www.noao.edu/education/qltkit.php. Ninety-two kits have been distributed to 32 countries with the help of SPIE–The International Society for Optical Engineering, CIE–International Commission on Illuminations, OSA–The Optical Society, IDA–the International Dark Sky Association, and the IAU OAD–Office of Astronomy Development. Highlights from the initial program evaluation will be discussed.


Abstract: North Bolaang Mongondow Regency formed as a result of the nuances of reform and regional autonomy. North Bolaang Mongondow with its existence as an expansion are after the implementation of regional autonomy, the maters that were examined in this study was: how much influence among the variables of human resources, financial resources/funding, policy development to variable acceleration of infrastructure development in North Bolaang Mongondow. The research method used was research using both primary and secondary data, by dividing the questionnaire and secondary data collection agencies. Inference and descriptive statistics used in this research is simple regression and multiple regressions. Respondents totaled 75 people, drawn by simple random sampling. The results of this study show that there are significant human resource affect toward infrastructure acceleration; the higher the human resource, then, the better the acceleration of the development. there are significant financial resources impact on infrastructure acceleration; the higher the financial resources, then, the faster the infrastructure acceleration is. There are significant effects of the development policy toward the infrastructure acceleration; the higher the development policy, then, the better the infrastructure acceleration.  It is advised that human resource should be improved and developed through civil service recruitment with accurate competition and qualification, technical tutor related to infrastructure acceleration, and incentive to existing employees. Besides, there should be researches done in relation to financial resources aspects in North Bolaang Mongondow Region in order to infrastructure development acceleration. There also should be further researches especially about divisions of development policies between the development done by both legislative and executive government. Key Words: Human Resources, financial resources, policy development, acceleration of infrastructure development


The coronavirus (COVID-19) arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) in February 2020, placing an unprecedented burden on the National Health Service (NHS). Literature from past epidemics and the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of using a gender lens when considering policy, experiences, and impacts of the disease. Researchers are increasingly examining the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs), yet there is a dearth of research considering how gender shapes HCWs' personal experiences. As the majority of HCWs in the UK and worldwide are women, research that investigates gender and focuses on women's experiences is urgently needed. We conducted an analysis of 41 qualitative interviews with HCWs in the British NHS during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020. Our findings demonstrate that gender is significant when understanding the experiences of HCWs during COVID-19 as it illuminates ingrained inequalities and asymmetrical power relations, gendered organizational structures and norms, and individual gendered bodies that interact to shape experiences of healthcare workers. These findings point to important steps to improve gender equality, the wellbeing of healthcare workers, and the overall strength of the NHS.


Boolean networks are well-known as one of the models of biological networks such as gene regulatory networks. In this paper, we propose a solving method of the optimal control problem of context-sensitive probabilistic Boolean networks (CS-PBNs), which are one of the extended models of Boolean networks. In the existing solving methods, it is necessary to compute state transition diagrams with 2n nodes for a given CS-PBN with n states. So the existing methods cannot be applied to large-scale networks. To avoid the computation of state transition diagrams, an integer programming-based approach is proposed. In the proposed method, a CS-PBN is transformed into a linear system with binary variables, and the optimal control problem is reduced to an integer linear programming problem, which can be computed relatively easier than the existing methods using state transition diagrams.


Local economic growth can be spurred by casino tourism, yet this may take place at the expense of the external regions where tourists live. We show that Pigouvian taxes should be imposed on gambling activity to attenuate its external cost. The tax may boost social welfare in the local and external communities even though casinos and tourists incur certain private losses due to their tax burdens. The tax can also mitigate gaming-biased unbalanced growth via resource reallocation, and improve the terms of trade for local welfare enhancement through tourism as an exporting industry. If taxes are collected from tourists but not fully refunded, local tax policy then plays the dual roles for both social cost reduction and public revenue generation. Our empirical study suggests the importance of casino taxation for preventing the 'exported' social cost from coming back to hurt the local economy, for too much such exportation may trigger visa policy restrictions by tourists' home communities.


This thesis describes an institutional development history of a university coming out of colonial rule, through the days when-it had full national support for its central role for national development, leading to a period when the university had increasing difficulties claiming support for it. It examines the successes and failures of drawing up and implementing a strategic plan for university institutional development at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Mozambique. The most positive result was to draw up the university's first strategic plan to transform the institution and to implement and build on it. The most difficult problem was the internal organisational weaknesses that constrained the institution in its implementation of the plan as scheduled, including those of finance and accountancy. The plan was well received by government and the donor community and became a model in the region, with other African universities following it. However, the implementation of the plan was not as successful at least in part because it was critically naive about the level of resources the universities could claim. This lack of realism about accountability was deep-rooted: organisational development was unbalanced with specialists trained - but little training of integrators/managers. Examples of research funding and project planning demonstrate that the sense.of realism and accountability can be learned, but may best be learned through establishing systems of financial control. The thesis suggests more consistent management systems. The expanded use of a simple financial tool illustrated the need to change and improve the financial and accounting systems of the university. The thesis argues that the development of African universities should take into account not only strategic decisions at the macro and leadership level, but also the implementation capacity of academic and administrative staff, including the appropriate functioning financial management and accounting systems.


Conditional access system (CAS) performs entitlement management to make only legitimate subscribers watch pay-services. Generally, CAS uses passive entitlement management to fulfil that entitlement control, and various schemes are existed for that. Among them, Tu introduced two schemes in F.K. Tu et al., (1999), which are the simple scheme and complete scheme of four levels hierarchy. The advantage of the simple scheme of four levels hierarchy is a small key generation and encryption load for a CAS, but it is not good for the dynamic entitlement management. On the other hand, the complete scheme of four levels hierarchy is good for the dynamic entitlement management, but key generation and encryption load for CAS is considerable when it is compared to the simple scheme. In this circumstance, we proposed a novel scheme, which is an active entitlement key management. The proposed scheme not only performs the dynamic entitlement management very efficiently, but also generates and encrypts keys with a small load for CAS, which is just the same as the load of the simple scheme


COVID-19 is a disease caused by coronavirus;it is also called a SARS-COV-2 virus Over the last six months, it has spread rapidly worldwide and made it a pandemic The pandemic has forced people to stay indoors and work, which may increase chronic diseases among them Immunomodulators are the sub-stances which influence the immune system It includes some medications as well as some activities like exercise, Yoga, meditation etc Elderly citizens who used to walk generally before lockdown may suffer from pedestrian problems including hyperthyroidism, sugar problems blood When the media used to do the work regularly, we had one kind of stress to do all the desired or targeted work on time But now the person became very lazy due to self-reliant sched-ule that may lead to many diseases So physical exercise is essential in this pandemic situation Physical activity results in better immune response, which may result in many health benefits An individual who regularly does physical exercises is healthy and fit in every aspect that can beat any of the diseases It can also refine cardiovascular risk factor In addition to this, it also enhances-pro thrombogenesis, improves endothelial functions, increases inculcation, depletes sympathetic tone and some other undefined factors But all these have been put at bay due to Covid-19 pandemic It is challenging to keep up an exercise routine due to daily restricted movements Physical exercise helps in boosting the immune system of our body which reduces stress, anxiety Brain gets the supplement of endorphins, chemicals that revitalise one's mind and body enriching the mental and spiritual faculty of an individual


This paper focuses on several issues that arise in Miranda Fricker's book Epistemic injustice surrounding her claims about our (moral) culpability for perpetrating acts of testimonial injustice. While she makes frequent claims about moral culpability with respect to specific examples, she never addresses the issue in its full generality, and we are left to extrapolate her general view about moral culpability for acts of testimonial injustice from these more restricted and particular claims. Although Fricker never describes testimonial injustice in such terms, I argue that the fundamental wrong done in acts of testimonial injustice is a form of negligence. Once we understand testimonial injustice in this way, it is easier to see when and why we are culpable for perpetrating such injustices. Indeed, explicitly recognizing testimonial injustice as a form of negligence solves several problems for Fricker's view, which are elucidated briefly along the way. However, construing testimonial injustice as a form of negligence has a cost as well. It highlights the fact that the normative core of Fricker's view is deontological, rather than virtue-theoretic. Fricker claims to be offering a theory of the virtue of testimonial justice along the model of current virtue theories in epistemology, yet it seems that there is no compelling reason to think of what she has offered as a virtue theory, at least not on the model of virtue theories that one finds in epistemology. This is not to say that her view is any less plausible for not being a virtue theory. But calling it a virtue theory affects how one interprets its various claims, and tends to lead one away from, rather than toward, a proper understanding of the deep deontological nature of her account.


Abstract.
 The Pecan ipmPIPE Program has been operational throughout the Pecan Belt for four growing seasons. During this period, new interactive deliverables including near real time, locally relevant risk assessment tools for major pests, educational materials useful in conducting best management practices, a pecan library, pesticide search engines, and an interactive database have been developed and made available to the public using the Internet. Using metrics from several sources shows that ∼50% of Texas pecan producers have readily adopted this new technology; producers from other states are shown to behave similarly, albeit fewer metrics were available for comparison. The annual economic impact in Texas is estimated to be $1 million, which is expected to increase 2–3 fold if similar metrics were available to assess this belt-wide. The program is expected to increase in value to stakeholders as more producer adoption occurs and as Internet tools become increasingly sophisticated. The need for professional information technology expertise on the scientific team, rather than just technical support, is addressed as a current challenge if this new approach is to continue to best serve agriculture and the public.


We consider hybrid wireless experimentation, which has emerged as an alternative and complementary methodology to physical experimentation and simulation for wireless network evaluation. Specifically, our focus in this paper is on WHYNET, a flexible hybrid evaluation framework providing the capability to seamlessly integrate simulated, emulated and physical networks, thereby enabling several ways of realizing a given target wireless network scenario each using physical (operational) and simulated elements in different combinations depending on the evaluation needs and available testbed resources. Using two novel and detailed case studies of WHYNET, we demonstrate the utility of the hybrid approach for realistic, scalable and cost-effective evaluation of heterogeneous wireless network scenarios and cross-layer protocol mechanisms


This Resource Letter provides an introductory guide to the literature on nonlinear dynamics. Journal articles and books are cited for the following topics: general aspects of nonlinear dynamics and applications of nonlinear dynamics to various fields of physics, other sciences, and a few areas outside the sciences. Software and Internet resources are given also.


The paper has been designed as a handbook for Fisheries Administrators (a term used to denote those fisheries authorities responsible for decisions regarding the fisheries of their country) for their consideration when establishing, or enhancing, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems in support of fisheries management initiatives. The paper is divided into three main parts: definition and context of an MCS system; design considerations for MCS; and, MCS operational procedures. Annexes provide detailed examples of operational issues to be addressed in MCS system design and implementation.


Major episodic acidifications were observed on several occasions in first-order brooks at Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine. Short-term declines of up to 2 pH units and 130 μeq L−1 acid-neutralizing capacity were caused by HCl from soil solutions, rather than by H2SO4 or HNO3 from precipitation, because (1) SO4 concentrations were constant or decreased during the pH depression, (2) Cl concentrations were greatest at the time of lowest pH, and (3) Na:Cl ratios decreased from values much greater than those in precipitation (a result of chemical weathering), to values equal to or less than those in precipitation. Dilution, increases in NO3 concentrations, or increased export of organic acidity from soils were insufficient to cause the observed decreases in pH. These data represent surface water acidifications due primarily to an ion exchange "salt effect" of Na+ for H+ in soil solution, and secondarily to dilution, neither of which is a consequence of acidic deposition. The requisite conditions for a major episodic salt effect acidification include acidic soils, and either an especially salt-laden wet precipitation event, or a period of accumulation of marine salts from dry deposition, followed by wet inputs.


Objectives To determine the incidence of perioperative adverse events in very elderly women (age ≥ 80 years) undergoing urogynecologic procedures and to examine the effect of preoperative functional status/capacity on these outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of all women aged 80 years or older who underwent a urogynecologic procedure at a tertiary care specialty practice between 2006 and 2014. Subjects were identified by their Current Procedural Terminology codes and the electronic medical record was queried for demographic and perioperative data. Functional status was recorded using data from the preoperative anesthesia assessment, and included the functional status score (range, 1–4) and a functional capacity evaluation (metabolic equivalents [METs, range, 1 to 8+]). Results One hundred sixty-four women aged 80 years or older underwent a urogynecologic procedure during the study period. Mean age was 83 years (±3; range, 80–95 years). The median functional status was 2 (1–4) and median functional capacity was 5.5 METs (1.75–8.0). The overall postoperative adverse event rate was 18.3%; the incidence of serious events was 7.8%. Most serious events were associated with preexisting medical conditions. Presence of 3 or more comorbid conditions was associated with a higher risk of postoperative readmission, need for transfusion and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism. Preoperative functional status and functional capacity were not associated with postoperative adverse events. Patients with METs scores of 4.5 or less were more likely to need home services or a skilled nursing facility (SNF) postoperatively compared with patients with higher scores (28.9% vs 6.7%, P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–11.9). Dementia was also associated with SNF admission (36.3% vs 10%; P = 0.01; odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–12.8). Conclusions The incidence of serious postoperative adverse events is low in very elderly patients undergoing urogynecologic procedures. Dementia and poor functional capacity appear to be associated with a higher need for postoperative home services or SNF admission.


Approximation of Jacobian inverse kinematics algorithms This paper addresses the synthesis problem of Jacobian inverse kinematics algorithms for stationary manipulators and mobile robots. Special attention is paid to the design of extended Jacobian algorithms that approximate the Jacobian pseudoinverse algorithm. Two approaches to the approximation problem are developed: one relies on variational calculus, the other is differential geometric. Example designs of the extended Jacobian inverse kinematics algorithm for 3DOF manipulators as well as for the unicycle mobile robot illustrate the theoretical concepts.


This study investigated the effect of different types of feedback in an e-learning environment in enhancing students' achievement and motivation in the Information Technology subject. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. The sample consisted of 97 eighth-grade students enrolled in Sarah Umm Ishaq Basic Education School in the Al Batinah North Governorate of Oman for the academic year 2021/2022. This research used a pre-test and post-test and motivation surveys to measure the effects of three feedback types. For the data analysis, the researchers used the descriptive statistics of means and standard deviations, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and one-way repeated measures ANOVA. The results of the study showed that the types of feedback had an effect on academic achievement relative to the IT curriculum for the 8th-grade students, favoring interpretive feedback. The results also indicated that students' experiences with feedback types in the IT curriculum significantly increased their motivation and had a positive effect, particularly favoring interpretive feedback.


BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common reasons for visiting psychiatrists and psychologists. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD and its related risk factors among children at elementary schools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study focused on teachers and parents of 779 elementary students who were selected through stratified cluster random sampling; Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires were used to collecting data. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), independent samples t-test, Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression. The significant level was set at 0.05. Results: According to teachers' responses, the prevalence of ADHD among students in elementary schools was 4.4%, whereas parents reported a prevalence of 0.5%. There was a significant relationship between childhood ADHD and marital status of parents, fathers' smoking habits, previous experience of living in rural areas, children's previous history of having diseases and using the medicine, previous history of ADHD, and psychological problems in the family. Conclusions: According to the study, teachers and parents suffer from a lack of knowledge about ADHD. Thus, the educational workshops and programs should be held for teachers, parents, and counselors to inform them about the procedures for timely diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.


We have developed a convenient method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical trisulfides under mild conditions in very good yields. The designed method is based on the straightforward preparation of 1-[(5,5-dimethyl-2-thioxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)trisulfanyl]dodecane from readily available 5,5-dimethyl-2-sulfanyl-2-thioxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane, sulfur dichloride (SCl 2 ) and dodecane-1-thiol. The unsymmetrical trisulfides can be obtained from aliphatic, aromatic thiols and L -cysteine derivatives as well.


Background: The consumption of Fe tablets needs to be the attention of midwives as one of the spearheads in providing antenatal care services. Due to the low level of compliance of pregnant women to consume Fe tablets, it is necessary to provide appropriate counseling as an effort to increase compliance with Fe tablets. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the application model (Sumiferos) for preventing anemia with pregnant women compliance in consuming Fe tablets at Putri Ayu Health Center in Jambi city. Materials and methods: This study used a quasi-experimental research design with a post-test design by involving an intervention group and a control group (post-test), two group designs. With the total of 70 subjects;the intervention group, 35 respondents were given a website application (sumiferos), and a control group 35 respondents were given a leflet. After a month, the number of Fe tablets that have been consumed was monitored. Compliance of pregnant women in consuming Fe tablets required a monitoring or supervisioncarried out by health workers. Therefore, an intervention was given by using a website-based application (sumiferos) for pregnant women as a communication tool that has been created and designed previously by researchers. Results: Posttest statistical analysis showed that pregnant women who were given a website application (sumiferos) in the intervention group showed better compliance than pregnant women in the control group given lefket. Conclusion: Based on the results,a website application (sumiferos) is more effective than leaflets in improving maternal compliance to consume Fe tablets given by health workers.


Sialic acid occupies a privileged position at the terminus of the glycan chain of many cell-surface glycoconjugates. Owing to both their structure and location, charged sialic acid residues mediate numerous critical interactions in cell–cell communication including cell recognition, invasion, migration, receptor binding, and immunological responses. Sialyltransferases (STs) are the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of sialylated glycans and are highly upregulated, up to 40–60 %, in a range of cancers, with tumour hypersialylation strongly correlated with both tumour progression and treatment resistance. Accordingly, inhibiting sialylation is currently being explored by several research groups worldwide as a potential new cancer treatment strategy. However, to progress small molecule ST inhibitors into the clinic, issues around selectivity, synthetic accessibility, and cell permeability need to be addressed. Using computationally guided design principles, we produced a leading series of ST inhibitors by replacing the cytidine nucleoside with uridine and substituting the charged phosphodiester linker with a carbamate or triazole moiety. Biological evaluation of the newly developed inhibitors was performed using commercially available human ST enzymes, with the K i inhibition values of the lead compounds ranging from 1 to 20 m M. Compared with earlier generations of sialylation inhibitors, our inhibitors are non-toxic in a range of cell studies, with improved synthetic accessibility.


The performance of Kriolu rap in Lisbon, Portugal has emerged at a time when Western European countries are reassessing the relationship between national territory and identity. Attractive to some and disturbing to others are the attitude and flair of Kriolu rappers. A group of mostly young men of Cape Verdean descent, these rappers insist on speaking and singing in Kriolu, a creole language that lacks official-language status in both Portugal and Cape Verde. In this article, based on analyses of rap lyrics, excerpts from my fieldwork conversations with rappers, and structural features of the Kriolu language itself, I propose that Kriolu rap is a renewed interrogation of diaspora and of place-based identity. More generally, I propose that, when contextualized in terms of cultural history and (post)colonial politics, Kriolu rap offers insight into the relationship between words and music as part of a process of combining aesthetics with social claims. [creole, rap, diaspora, chronotope, Cape Verde, Portugal]


A diabetic Caucasian woman presented with discrepantly low HbA Ic values compared with her glycaemia. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis disclosed 80% HbA and 20% HbI Philadelphia (I6alpha2 lys --> glut). The calculated glycosylation gap from the fructosamine level was 1.2%. The haemoglobin alpha/beta glycation ratios, as measured by electron spray ionisation mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), for the patient and her three children also carrying the mutation were decreased by values of 0.56 and 0.51, 0.50 and 0.49, respectively (reference value 0.66).


Summary There are only a few sequences of ancient magic signs known to us today that have been preserved on multiple artefacts. A previously unnoticed sequence of 17 signs on a gem in the Museum of Fine Arts in Vienna occurs with minor but significant variations on two other gems in the State Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich. The Viennese gem is dated to the 16th century and is documented as a drawing in a 17th century publication. The first Munich gem has been assigned to the Graeco-Roman period. The second gem, which, according to the inventory card of the museum, also belongs to the Graeco-Roman period, is published here for the first time. A comparative study of the three gems and the drawing has lead to a number of new findings, including the re-dating of the Munich gems.


Atomicity is an important correctness condition for concurrent systems. Informally, atomicity is the property that every concurrent execution of a set of transactions is equivalent to some serial execution of the same transactions. In multi-threaded programs, executions of procedures (or methods) can be regarded as transactions. Correctness in the presence of concurrency often requires atomicity of these transactions. Tools that automatically detect atomicity violations can uncover subtle errors that are hard to find with traditional debugging and testing techniques.This paper presents new algorithms for runtime (dynamic) detection of violations of conflict-atomicity and view-atomicity, which are analogous to conflict-serializability and view-serializability in database systems. In these algorithms, the recorded events are formed into a graph with edges representing the synchronization within each transaction and possible interactions between transactions. We give conditions on the graph that imply conflict-atomicity and view-atomicity. Experiments show that these new algorithms are more efficient in most experiments and are more accurate than previous algorithms with comparable asymptotic complexity.


INTRODUCTION
Early administration of oral colostrum has been recommended in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infant care.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effect of early colostrum administration on in-hospital outcome and lactation of VLBW preterm infants compared with historical control in an Intensive Care Unit.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD
descriptive cohort study with historical control of VLBW preterm infants who did or did not receive early oral colostrum, born 1.6 years before and 1.4 years after this protocol, with information collected from the database of infants under 1500 grams at birth and in the colostrum protocol registry. Children born to HIV+ mothers, with hepatitis, chemothe rapy, and those born with malformations incompatible with life were excluded. The main perinatal, morbidity, nutritional, and breastfeeding data at discharge were compared.

RESULTS
94 patients were born pre-colostrum and 64 in the protocol period (post-colostrum). The groups were comparable in perinatal history. No difference was observed in infectious, respiratory, or gastrointestinal morbidity, progress in enteral feeding, days of parenteral nutrition, and length of hospital stay. There were signi ficant differences in the percentage breastfeeding at discharge (52 vs. 69%, p < 0.037) and in average breast milk volume at discharge (70 vs. 102 ml/k/day, p < 0.012) in the post-colostrum group. Con clusions: Early colostrum administration to preterm infants was associated with a higher volume of maternal milk at discharge, being a good benefit in VLBW preterm infant care.


This paper investigates the Euclidean length of a random walk though n coplanar points. The length of which has multiple applications including spanning trees, Steiner trees, and certain forms of the travelling salesman problem. To estimate this distance, we partition an area A into m equivalent squares and then add the expected Euclidean distances travelled between each of the m squares with the expected Euclidean distances travelled within each of the m squares. The end result is a closed form model for the expected length of a random walk through n coplanar points. Some avenues of future research are also included.


Purpose: The rise of the phrase Work Life Balance was bought up in 1986 when amid many Americans there was prevalence of detrimental work place practices like neglecting families, leisure activities and friends in order to achieve their study place goals. The significance of work-life balance has been gaining ground in recent years to grasp a wider range of groups, including students. Searching and finding a balance can be complex and challenging for many individuals and students. Research design, data and methodology: Through this paper we will explore how students balance the competing demands of work, study, and social activities. Several factors have increased imbalances within Educational organizations, and technology specifically has been influential. However, technology also provides a novel solution to this organizational performance management issue. A Study-Life Optimization model (SLO) is suggested, which incorporates information systems, analytics, and decision support into a Smart Service System. A general framework for this model, detailing data collection, measurement, and ethical issues is explained briefly. Results: Outcomes include improved WLB, greater perceived quality of life, and increased Educational organizational performance. Conclusions: This paper contributes to the relevant literature as it pays attention to the various students' of varying lifestyles school-work-personal lives. Findings of this study will provide a meaningful of the Work/school-life balance issues faced by students. The research could be helpful to the various stakeholders of a University, the curriculum designers, program coordinators etc.


ABSTRACT Private supplementary tutoring (PST) is a phenomenon growing throughout the world. Looking at regions such as East Asia where it is already vast and comparing with regions where it remains modest but is rising, some authors have argued that countries must act quickly to discourage negative societal implications which arise when PST grows. One underpinning suggestion here is the notion that addressing PST may be time-critical. Drawing on insights from political science on the nature of continuity and change, in this paper I explore the possibility that societies could become substantially 'locked in' to complex patterns of dependence on PST. I report on the case of South Korea, drawing on interviews with experts in the Korean education system. I show that parents have been incentivised progressively over time to layer 'shadow education' over public schooling, particularly in times of heightened anxiety. Governments meanwhile have faced disincentives to restrict PST and public school teachers have had to adjust to becoming perceived as offering a residual service.


The experience at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals with transplantation of the greater omentum as a free revascularized graft in 18 patients is presented. In each instance, there was realization of the therapeutic objective, either 1) the amelioration of congenital or acquired somatic deformity (14 patients) or 2) the control of infection (4 patients). Because the omentum is a syncytium of blood vessels and a variable amount of fat within redundant leaves of peritoneal membrane laden with macrophages, it is a tissue that serves admirably its extended role as an extracelomic free transplant. The greater omentum has been used for this purpose in five patients with hemifacial atrophy (Romberg's disease); three patients with hemifacial microsomia (first and second branchial arch syndrome); two patients with extensive losses of the maxilla, palate, and face due to a shotgun blast; two patients with atrophy and facial growth arrest due to x-irradiation; and two patients with deformity of the jaw and neck following tumor resection. In three additional patients, the omentum was used to obliterate the dead space after debridement of an infected open frontal sinus following failure of conventional therapy. In one instance, a revascularized free graft of omentum was used to salvage a patient with an exposed irradiated carotid artery graft and skin flap failure following radical neck dissection. In these 18 patients, there were no intra-abdominal complications consequent to harvest of the omentum. In one patient afflicted with hemifacial atrophy, there was spotty necrosis of the overlying attenuated facial skin flap and limited fat necrosis. In the follow-up period of four months to seven years, there has been no instance of late resorption. The method is reliable and has considerable promise in reconstructive surgery.


This paper presents a technology review of voltage-source-converter topologies for industrial medium-voltage drives. In this highly active area, different converter topologies and circuits have found their application in the market. This paper covers the high-power voltage-source inverter and the most used multilevel-inverter topologies, including the neutral-point-clamped, cascaded H-bridge, and flying-capacitor converters. This paper presents the operating principle of each topology and a review of the most relevant modulation methods, focused mainly on those used by industry. In addition, the latest advances and future trends of the technology are discussed. It is concluded that the topology and modulation-method selection are closely related to each particular application, leaving a space on the market for all the different solutions, depending on their unique features and limitations like power or voltage level, dynamic performance, reliability, costs, and other technical specifications.


infiltrating type of poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma. It is characterized by cancer cell infiltration and proliferation beneath the gastric mucosa with marked stromal fibrosis [1]. The gastric wall is thickened and stiffened due to diffuse in− filtration and proliferation of cancer cells with extensive stromal fibrosis. Endosco− py is useful for assessing the growth pat− tern, but it is very difficult to obtain an appropriate sample with a routine pinch biopsy. However, after utilizing argon plasma coagulation (APC) to remove the superficial gastric epithelium and cauter− ize the denuded surface, we were easily able to confirm the diagnosis of scirrhous gastric carcinoma with pinch biopsy. A 79−year−old woman attended a clinic because of upper abdominal discomfort. Gastrointestinal endoscopy strongly sug− gested the presence of advanced gastric cancer, but no cancer cells were found in routine biopsy specimens. The patient was referred to our hospital for definitive diagnosis and further treatment. At gas− trointestinal endoscopy, the stomach was very hard and could not be distended with air; it was covered with roughened mucosa that was red and edematous, but no erosions or ulcerations were seen (l" Fig. 1). Biopsy was done again, but a histopathological diagnosis was not ob− tained. To obtain a definitive diagnosis, biopsy after APC treatment was utilized [2]. APC treatment included 50 W soft−mode co− agulation and 0.5 L/min argon gas (ICC200; Erbe Co., Tübingen, Germany). The first biopsy after APC treatment yiel− ded a definite histopathological diagno− sis; cancer cells were observed beneath the APC−burned area in the biopsied sam− ple (l" Fig. 2). The cancer cells, clustered together, were small−sized, atypical cells that contained PAS−positive material in their cytoplasm. On the basis of these findings, a definite histopathological di− agnosis of poorly differentiated adenocar− cinoma was made.


The exact mechanisms of ankle and foot fracture in motor vehicle crashes have been little studied because detailed medical records of injured occupants have been lacking. A study of 23 frontal impacts for which detailed information, including x-rays, is available was conducted to identify common mechanisms of fracture and examine the role of footwell intrusion in ankle and foot injury. The medical files made possible the association of fracture mechanisms with injury locations within and near the ankle and the positive identification of four common fracture mechanisms: inversion or eversion, direct vertical force, dorsiflexion, and direct side force. Inversion or eversion was identified as a fracture mechanism in 15 of the 23 injured ankles or feet (65%) and 12 of 13 malleolar injuries (92%). This stands in contrast to other recent work in which dorsiflexion was postulated to be a prominent injury mechanism. Concurrent vehicle investigations made it clear that footwell intrusion plays a large role in injuries induced by inversion or eversion. The importance of intrusion as a contributing cause of ankle and foot injuries is currently unrecognized in U.S. vehicle safety standards.


Phobos, a satellite of Mars, was successfully studied by flyby, orbiter, and landing missions to the Red Planet, but several questions remain about its origin, composition, and relationship to Mars. It is suggested that Phobos is either a captured body from the asteroid belt or the outer Solar System (capture scenario), or a consequence of re-accreted ejecta from Mars (in situ formation/giant impact). So far, Phobos has been characterized by its two spectral units - blue and red - with different compositional restrains. The red unit represents most of the surface, while the blue unit is focused on the Stickney crater and surroundings. In the absence of samples returned from this satellite, simulant regolith must be studied to infer various proprieties, and complement in situ studies. To date, there are three simulants of this satellite: Phobos-1C, Phobos Captured Asteroid-1 (PCA-1), and Phobos Giant Impact-1 (PGI-1). Since Phobos may have a Mars-like composition, terrestrial analogues of Mars should also be analysed. The data retrieved from the various assays performed with these planetary field analogues may be used as a database to complement future space missions to Phobos, but, ultimately, the composition of Phobos will have to be analysed by a sample-return mission.