OBJECTIVE
To determine the impacts of functional training versus conventional training on posture control and functional mobility in spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children.

METHODS
The randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Rehab Cure physiotherapy centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to September 2020, and comprised children of either gender aged 4-14 years, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, gross motor functional classification system level II or III, and no mental retardation. The subjects were randomised into conventional therapy group A and functional training group B. Intensity of exercises was gradually increased each week, starting from 10 reps to 20 reps. The subjects received treatment 3 times a week for 8 weeks, and each session lasted 45-60 min. Paediatric Balance Scale, Trunk Control Measurement Scale, Five Times Sit to Stand Test and Timed-Up-and-Go test were used at baseline and post-intervention. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.

RESULTS
Of the 14 subjects, there were 7(50%) in each of the two groups. Overall, there were 8(57.14%) males and 6(42.86%) females with a mean age of 7.57±1.86 years. Significant improvement was noted in both groups post-intervention (p<0.05), but intergroup differences were not significant (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Both functional training and conventional therapy significantly improved postural control and functional mobility in spastic cerebral palsy children, but intergroup differences were not significant.

Clinical Trial Number
IRCT20200909048676N1.


Many biologists, ecologists, and conservationists are interested in the possibilities that remote sensing offers for their daily work and study site analyses as well as for the assessment of biodiversity. However, due to differing technical backgrounds and languages, cross-sectorial communication between this group and remote-sensing scientists is often hampered. Hardly any really comprehensive studies exist that are directed towards the conservation community and provide a solid overview of available Earth observation sensors and their different characteristics. This article presents, categorizes, and discusses what spaceborne remote sensing has contributed to the study of animal and vegetation biodiversity, which different types of variables of value for the biodiversity community can be derived from remote-sensing data, and which types of spaceborne sensor data are available for which time spans, and at which spatial and temporal resolution. We categorize all current and important past sensors with respect to application fields relevant for biologists, ecologists, and conservationists. Furthermore, sensor gaps and current challenges for Earth observation with respect to data access and provision are presented.


Smart breath monitor devices with high stretchability, fast response/recovery times and self-powered characteristic are essential in the wearable medical and life science applications. In this work, we report on the development of a versatile high-performance humidity sensor based on TiO2 nanowire networks for self-powered sensing application of human breath monitoring. These sensors, with typical response times of ∼3.6 s and recovery times of ∼14 s, exhibit high sensitivity to water vapor and can yield an output voltage that is directly proportional to the humidity level of ambient environment. The structure of nanowire networks is highly flexible and maintains the output voltage even after 10 000 times bending. By combining this type of sensor with a commercial signal transmission and processing system, it shows the good basis for real-time/remote-controlled monitoring and analysis of human breath under a variety of respiratory conditions. Our results suggest a new class of humidity sensing for self-powered biomedical devices and open to new technologies in energy, electronics, and sensor applications.


This paper investigates an approach that uses the cognitive architecture Soar to improve the performance of an automated robotic system, which uses a combination of vision and force sensing to remove screws from laptop cases. Soar's long-term memory module, semantic memory, was used to remember pieces of information regarding laptop models and screw holes. The system was trained with multiple laptop models and the method in which Soar was used to facilitate the removal of screws was varied to determine the best performance of the system. In all the cases, Soar could determine the correct laptop model and in what orientation it was placed in the system. Soar was also used to remember what circle locations that were explored contained screws and what circles did not. Remembering the locations of the holes decreased a trial time by over 60%. The system performed the best when the number of training trials used to explore circle locations was limited, as this decreased the total trial time by over 10% for most of the laptop models and orientations. Note to Practitioners—Although the amount of discarded electronic waste in the world is rapidly increasing, efficient methods that can handle this in an automated non-destructive fashion have not been developed. Screws are a common fastener used on electronic products, such as laptops, and must be removed during nondestructive methods. In this paper, we focus on using the cognitive architecture Soar to facilitate the disassembly sequence of removing these screws from the back of laptops. Soar is able to differentiate between different models of laptops and store the locations of screws for these models leading to an improvement of the disassembly time when the same laptop model is used. Currently, this paper only uses one of Soar's long-term memory modules (semantic memory) and a screwdriver tool. However, this paper can be extended to use multiple tools by using different features available in Soar such as other long-term memory modules and substates.


An investigation of the effects of proof loading on residual stresses in test panels simulating welds in ammonia storage spheres was performed. The two test panels contained welds with different degrees of misalignment and distortion. Measurements were made of the surface residual stresses before and after loading to about two thirds yield and of the strain changes during loading. Previous research has suggested that the residual stress after proof loading is a function of material yield strength and applied proof stress only. In the present project, it was found that the relaxation of residual stresses transverse to the weld was sensitive to the local geometry. However, a simple method for including the effects of residual stresses in defect assessments is proposed.


Postural control has been defined as the control of the body's position in space for the purposes of balance and orientation. Given the mechanical instability of the human body system, the neural process involved in stability organization and body orientation in space is necessary almost all motor actions. To manage movement variability, the postural control system presents a high adaptability in response to changing task and environment demands. The main sensory systems contribute to the development of an internal representation of body posture that is continuously updated based on multisensory feedback and is used to forward commands to control body position in space. For example, understanding the importance of proprioceptive information, and how ankle muscles can influence changes of support and stability that could improve postural control is of significant relevance. The purpose of this chapter is to review and discuss the short and long term influence of wearing an unstable shoe construction on postural control. The review provides instinctive knowledge that can be used during rehabilitation to improve motor performance. It also aims to provide a significant insight into areas that have been dedicated to the implementation of preventive measures, such as ergonomy. * Corresponding author: firstname.lastname@example.com. Andreia S. P. Sousa and João Manuel R. S. Tavares 2


Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) rarely coexists with morphea, especially when bullae occur in lesions of morphea. Here we report the case of a 15-year-old girl with this condition, who also fulfilled four out of 11 diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Tissue biopsy of different skin lesions showed LSA in the regions of bullous morphea, that has rarely been reported in the literature.


Little has been published about the difficulties encountered during the insertion of osseointegrated implants for the attachment of bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and auricular prostheses in children. This study examines this issue in the first 51 children implanted at our centre. During surgery, the most common problem encountered was the presence of thin bone resulting in incomplete insertion of fixtures. Five fixtures had failed to integrate and six fixtures were lost in the long-term, however, only five children required revision surgery. The reason why few patients require revision was due to the judicious insertion of 'sleeper' fixtures. At follow-up, seven children required counselling for psychological problems. It is apparent from this study that osseointegrated implants in children are associated with difficulties, re-emphasizing that a paediatric osseointegration programme requires significant investment, and should only be undertaken by institutions that are committed to its success.


The present study examined the psychometric ethnic equivalence of the Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). Results from a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed a 3-factor solution for the South-Asian American sample that largely resembles results found in prior research conducted with Caucasian American samples. An exploratory factor analysis for the East-Asian American sample revealed a 5- factor solution. Four of the five factors consisted of items from both scales indicating the two scales do not assess social interaction versus social performance anxiety exclusively among East-Asian Americans. For both groups, correlations among measure total scores and individual factors indicated ethnic identity and self-construal did not influence the expression of social anxiety on these self-report scales. These findings suggest that the construct of social anxiety as measured by these scales differs between Asian American cultures and highlights the need to consider culture in the interpretation of these scales.


The classification and management of hypertensive crisis have been recently reviewed in the context of both European and American guidelines. The key points for proper blood pressure control in severe arterial hypertension are: 1 - Distinction between urgent intervention and emergencies 2 - Choice of the best drug(s) 3 - Choice of the correct route of administration. In patients with renal disease, beside the common causes of hypertension/ hypertensive crises, kidney-specific causes should be taken into account such as renal parenchymal hypertension, renovascular hypertension, sclerodermic crises, and preeclampsia.


For South Korea, the 2002 World Cup came to be largely defined by the 'street supporters' – millions of Koreans who took to the streets to support their team and celebrate its achievements. Proclaimed as a cathartic experience that would revitalize Korean society and mentality, such interpretations obscured the actual operation of street support as primarily a scheme of media consumption. This article examines the Korean media's coverage of street support, and their production of the practice as a commoditized spectacle. The media used this coverage to develop a pervasive rhythm of media consumption, wherein the relationship between sport and nationalism was leveraged for a generalized and carnivalesque spectacle. This treatment of street support was a particularly explicit indicator of a more general trend, wherein the practice of sport spectatorship is increasingly displaced by the practice of general media consumption with regard to sport.


The general issues of competitiveness of transnational corporations have been considered. Research of the problem of competitiveness of Russian transnational corporations on the world market and the formation of their competitive advantages for sustainable development in a globalized economy has been сonducted. The author's interpretation of the concept of "enterprise competitiveness" has been proposed. In a global liberalized economy, transnational corporations have the opportunity to influence geopolitical issues in international trade and employment, as well as dictate their own rules. The constant increase in the level of competitiveness of a small group of transnational corporations has been noted in the article, the format of competition in industry and regional markets is often oligopolistic. Building a true global strategy for the development of transnational corporations and obtaining a competitive advantage by them is impossible without sufficient knowledge of current trends in globalization: globalization of the market, globalization of costs, globalization of competition, globalization of government policies. The methods of obtaining competitive advantages of transnational corporations have been adduced and сharacterized. For Russian transnational corporations, the issue of their competitiveness is very acute in the markets of rapidly turning goods or in the markets of new technologies. Factors, hindering the growth of the competitiveness of Russian corporations: incorrect corporate policies, leading to inefficiency of personnel motivation, corporate culture, inconsistency with international standards, incorrect alignment of the global strategy, lack of reciprocity principles and correct negotiation. This creates a negative image of the company, which affects its position, and subsequently its competitiveness. Competitiveness is one of the most important factors for ensuring the sustainable development of the economy of Russian corporations. The criteria for assessing sustainability, the corporations should meet have been suggested.


When building a new application we are increasingly confronted with the need of reusing and integrating pre-existing knowledge. Nevertheless, it is a fact that this prior knowledge is virtually impossible to reuse as-is. This is true also in domains, e.g., eHealth, where a lot of effort has been put into developing high-quality standards and reference ontologies, e.g. FHIR1. In this paper, we propose an integrated methodology, called iTelos, which enables data and knowledge reuse towards the construction of Interoperable Electronic Health Records (iEHR). The key intuition is that the data level and the schema level of an application should be developed independently, thus allowing for maximum flexibility in the reuse of the prior knowledge, but under the overall guidance of the needs to be satisfied, formalized as competence queries. This intuition is implemented by codifying all the requirements, including those concerning reuse, as part of a purpose defined a priori, which is then used to drive a middle-out development process where the application schema and data are continuously aligned. The proposed methodology is validated through its application to a large-scale case study.


The endocrine effects of opioids used for the management of persistent pain are poorly understood by clinicians and patients, and hormone levels are rarely measured. It is recognized that opioids exert this effect via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Additional effects on adrenal hormones, weight, blood pressure and bone density may also occur. Symptoms and signs of sex hormone deficiency occur in both men and women but are under-reported and are often clinically unrecognized. The potential effects of long term opioid therapy on the endocrine system should be explained to patients before opioid therapy is commenced. Monitoring of sex hormones is recommended; if there are deficiencies opioids should be tapered and withdrawn, if this is clinically acceptable. If opioid therapy has to continue, hormone replacement therapy should be initiated and monitored by an endocrinologist.


The reimbursement of emerging durable and potentially curative cell and gene therapies challenge US payers due to their high upfront costs. In addition, the lack of long-term clinical durability data amplifies uncertainties that complicate payer coverage and reimbursement determinations. These cell and gene therapy characteristics could negatively impact patient access and, ultimately, future developer innovation.


Background: Toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infection constitutes a major economic and public health problem in the world particulary in the developing countries including the Middle East due to the high rate of morbidity and mortality especially., among pregnant women and patients. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and infection among aborted women in order to establish basic knowledge for future pregnancy care. Materials and Methods: A total number of 340 blood samples (230 samples from aborted women and 110 samples from normal pregnant women as control was collected and tested for the presence of IgG and IgM concering Toxoplasma gondii and CMV. Results: A significant higher rate of IgG and IgM specific for Toxoplasma (58.3% and 8.3%) among aborted women than control women (36.4% and 2.7%), respectively. A higher seropositivity rates of anti-CMV IgG (90.4%) and IgM (6.1%) in aborted women than in normal control women (82.7% and 3.6%), respectively. The overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis and CMV infection was increased with increasing age of aborted women and frequency of recurrent of abortion .The rates of toxoplasmosis and CMV infection were higher among abortd women living in rural areas than those living in urban areas. Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis as well as CMV infection are more prevalent among aborted women .


The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) evolved into a worldwide outbreak, with the first Polish cases in February/March 2020. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of the circulating virus lineages between March 2020 and February 2021. We performed variant identification, spike mutation pattern analysis, and phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses for 1106 high-coverage whole-genome sequences, implementing maximum likelihood, multiple continuous-time Markov chain, and Bayesian birth–death skyline models. For time trends, logistic regression was used. In the dataset, virus B.1.221 lineage was predominant (15.37%), followed by B.1.258 (15.01%) and B.1.1.29 (11.48%) strains. Three clades were identified, being responsible for 74.41% of infections over the analyzed period. Expansion in variant diversity was observed since September 2020 with increasing frequency of the number in spike substitutions, mainly H69V70 deletion, P681H, N439K, and S98F. In population dynamics inferences, three periods with exponential increase in infection were observed, beginning in March, July, and September 2020, respectively, and were driven by different virus clades. Additionally, a notable increase in infections caused by the B.1.1.7 lineage since February 2021 was noted. Over time, the virus accumulated mutations related to optimized transmissibility; therefore, faster dissemination is reflected by the second wave of epidemics in Poland.


PRAYER AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY Prayer should be an intrinsic part of theology because the way in which people understand the nature of God determines the nature and content of their prayers. This article poses the following question: In which way is prayer discussed in Old Testament theologies? This question is discussed by an investigation into ten prominent Old Testament theologies: Eichrodt; Vriezen; Von Rad; Zimmerli; McKenzie; Westermann; Clements; Childs; Preuss; en Brueggemann. It is significant that the systematic discussion of prayer is ignored or neglected in many theologies, especially theologies of English scholars. There are a few deficiencies in theologies discussing prayer, inter alia the negligence of non-Psalmic prayers and intercessory prayers.


Abstract The Internet and information and communication technologies (ICT) have changed everything: news, commerce, advertising, relating to others, getting information and transport too. It has changed how the people work, how they practice religion, how they date, how they spend the free time and how they travel. One of the technological innovations that are based on usage ICT in advertising space is digital signage. This article presents the results of research dedicated to investigate the relationships between customers-passengers and this new ICT technology in real environment. The results of the research stimulate the discussion about the future advertising practices in Žilina town. Based on the wide analysis of opportunities the digital signage technology in advertising practices, the presented marketing research investigates how passengers accept virtual advertising technology in urban transport system of Žilina town. Authors highlight the advantages of interactivity between digital signage technology and consumers. The conclusions of this article triggers further investigations in the area of the interactions between the digital advertising technology and passengers, and the passengers' perception and acceptation of shopping activities on the basis of advertising in digital signage medias.


Abstract The oral history interview is a "multi-layered communicative event". It is a unique, active event, reflective of a specific culture and of a particular time and space. Interviews, more precisely biographical interviews, are the tool I have been using for decades. The relationship between the interviewer and interviewee is, therefore, an essential question for me. I interview people to find out what happened to them, how they felt about it, how they recall it and what wider public memory they draw upon. Focused on the biographical narratives, as well as in-depth and repeated interviews, I have constantly faced ethical and moral questions in accordance with my role as a listener, and as a partner in the interview, but also as a scholar with the goal of using the interview in my scientific work. In my text, I would like to develop Hourig Attarian's inspiring ideas on self-reflexivity, which brings to light the grey zones that we encounter in our work. This is often a difficult and fragile process. It is central to the connections that I create with the interviewees in my projects. These people always affect the course of my work, but also me personally. This balancing act is an exercise. I try to understand my own limits, I try to push my own boundaries, and assess how each of these circumstances impacts my research.


Extended target/object tracking (ETT) problem involves tracking objects which potentially generate multiple measurements at a single sensor scan. State-of-the-art ETT algorithms can efficiently exploit the available information in these measurements such that they can track the dynamic behaviour of objects and learn their shapes simultaneously. Once the shape estimate of an object is formed, it can naturally be utilized by high-level tasks such as classification of the object type. In this work, we propose to use a naively deep neural network, which consists of one input, two hidden and one output layers, to classify dynamic objects regarding their shape estimates. The proposed method shows superior performance in comparison to a Bayesian classifier for simulation experiments.


Abstract Algeria loses more than 20,000 hectares of forest to fire every year. The losses are costly both in terms of life and property damage, which weighs heavily on the environment and the local economy. Geomatics can complement the conventional methods used in fire hazard prevention and management. The objective of our study is to use the geographic information system (GIS) and the Remote Sensing (RS) technology to develop the fire risk assessment map of the forest massif of Zelamta located in Southeast Mascara province (Northwest Algeria). The methodology employed was an empirical model involving three parameters that can control fire behaviour: geomorphology, vegetal cover combustibility, and human activity. The obtained results can help in the decision-making process as well as provide cartographic support for forest fire prevention and management.


We present extensions to Raghavan and Baum's reliability-output Viterbi algorithm (ROVA) to accommodate tail-biting convolutional codes. These tail-biting reliability-output algorithms compute the exact word-error probability of the decoded codeword after first calculating the posterior probability of the decoded tail-biting codeword's starting state. One approach employs a state-estimation algorithm that selects the maximum a posteriori state based on the posterior distribution of the starting states. Another approach is an approximation to the exact tail-biting ROVA that estimates the word-error probability. A comparison of the computational complexity of each approach is discussed in detail. The presented reliability-output algorithms apply to both feedforward and feedback tail-biting convolutional encoders. These tail-biting reliability-output algorithms are suitable for use in reliability-based retransmission schemes with short blocklengths, in which terminated convolutional codes would introduce rate loss.


Comparing market estimates for wireless personal communication and considering proposals for wideband multimedia services with the existing spectrum allocations for these types of systems show that spectrum resource management remains an important topic in the near and distant future. In this article the authors start by presenting a quite general formulation of the radio resource management problem where the three key allocation decisions are concerned with waveforms ("channels"), access ports (or base stations), and, finally, with transmitter power. Some approaches to these problems found in the literature are reviewed. In particular, the principles of random channel allocation schemes, as found in frequency-hopping or direct-sequence CDMA systems, are compared with deterministic dynamic channel allocation schemes. The article closes by giving an outlook of some of the key problems in resource management in future wireless multimedia systems.


Correlated transient absorption and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements have been performed for monolayer graphene, both free-standing and supported on a glass substrate. The AFM images allow us to locate regions of the suspended graphene. The transient absorption traces show a fast instrument response limited decay, followed by a slower intensity dependent decay. The fast decay is assigned to a combination of coupling between the excited charge carriers and the optical phonon modes of graphene and the substrate, and diffusion of the charge carrier out of the probe region. The slow decay is due to the hot phonon effect and reflects the lifetime of the intrinsic optical phonons of graphene. The time constant for the slow decay is longer for suspended graphene compared to substrate-supported graphene. This is attributed to interactions between the excited charge carriers and the surface optical phonon modes of the substrate, which supplies an additional relaxation channel for supported graphene.


The majority of pollutants that affect wastewater are concentrated by treatment processes in sludge; it is therefore critical to have a suitable evaluation methodology of sludge management options to analyze if pollution is redirected from water to other media, such as air and soil. Life cycle assessment is one of the most widely known and internationally accepted methodologies to compare environmental impacts of processes and systems and to evaluate their sustainability in the entire life cycle. In this study the methodology was applied to assess and compare three scenarios of urban sewage sludge treatment and disposal: sludge anaerobic digestion followed by dedicated incineration, sludge incineration without previous digestion, and sludge anaerobic digestion followed by composting. The potential benefits of spreading the compost to soil were not included in the system boundaries even if, due to its nutrients contents and soil improving features, compost could partially replace the use of commercial products. The study was aimed at finding out the environmental critical points of the treatment alternatives selected and at providing a technical and scientific contribution for further debates with national and local authorities on the environmental optimization of sewage sludge management. Life cycle assessment results confirmed the major contribution of electricity and methane consumption on several environmental impact categories. Incineration contributes more than sludge composting to almost all categories, although the heavy metals content of urban wastewater sludge raises substantial concerns when composted sludge is spread to soil. In this paper the models adopted, the hypotheses assumed and the main findings of the study are presented and discussed. .


Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of improved periodontal health on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Material and Methods: Fifty (50) patients with type 2 DM were selected. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Data collection: Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded at baseline and after 3 months. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), were analysed at baseline, 3 months following the periodontal therapy. The treatment group received full-mouth scaling and root planing whereas the control group received no periodontal treatment. Results: A statistically significant effect could be demonstrated for PI, GI, PPD, CAL and BOP for the treatment group. HbA1c levels in the treatment group decreased significantly whereas the control group showed a slight but insignificant decrease for this parameter. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that non-surgical periodontal treatment is associated with improved glycaemic control in type 2 patients and could be undertaken along with the standard measures for the diabetic patient care.


The normal anatomical relations and the physiological action of the supraspinatus muscle in the movement of abduction are such that frequent and continued action may produce a profound change in the character of the muscle.

The change in the muscle consists essentially of an alteration in the character of its lateral portion,—from fleshy fibers ending in a short tendon to a wide aponeurosis of fibrous tissue which blends with the infraspinatus.

Once the muscle has been weakened by this alteration, a series of other changes become imminent possibilities. These include calcification, splitting or rupture of the tendon, separation of the sheet from the greater tuberosity, and the establishment of free communication between the subacromial bursa and the joint cavity.

Associated and subsequent changes occur in the greater tuberosity, in the intertubercular sulcus, in the articular cartilage, in the tendon of the long head of the biceps, and in the walk of the joint cavity.

The long head of the biceps (capsular portion of the tendon) is at first flattened and frayed. Eventual disappearance of this portion is not uncommon.

The purpose of this communication is to emphasize the fact that these results are not caused by sudden acute ruptures of the supraspinatus, but are preceded by a long preliminary wearing effect on the tendon of the supraspinatus. On this account the age of the patient and the type of occupation are important etiological factors.

From all figures available it would appear that about 20 per cent. of all adult shoulders show some degree of change in the supraspinatus. Further, about one-quarter of this 20 per cent. will suffer some degree of rupture or splitting. On this basis, the condition as described constitutes the most common form of shoulder disability. Comparison of these figures with the number of cases reported suggests that many of these shoulders are undiagnosed and untreated.


Abstract The purpose of this Article is to consider a novel framework for institutional shareholders' activism in the United States. This new activism framework would be aimed at improving, at minimal costs, the performance of the portfolio companies in which institutional shareholders invest. The Article begins by laying out this new activism framework and then compares the proposed framework with the prevalent mode of activism through hedge funds. The Article concludes with a discussion of certain implementation challenges, and calls for future research into the proposed activism framework.


Educators are increasingly recognizing the advantages and benefits of Virtual Reality to broaden their teaching experiences in biology. Besides giving them another way to visualize learning objects, transforming their students from spectators to actors in the learning process. However, little has been discussed about the use of these low-cost immersive environments. Thus, the reviewed publications were retrieved by extracting keywords from documents indexed in four digital scientific libraries, which were then systematically filtered using exclusion, inclusion, semi-automated methods. This paper addresses three key points: which technologies are used in microbiology teaching, which of these are in the Virtual Reality technology domain, and which are implemented with low-cost resources. The mapping was performed between application domains and learning content and between design elements and learning content. We noted that most of the reviewed works have an evaluation of the usability of the applications, not focusing on the educational feasibility or the learning outcomes that can be obtained by them. We observed that the publications show gaps in the actual use and our review indicates unexplored areas, both at the level of the application project centered on the user and in the requirements of educational viability, thus being able to motivate future work in the field.


PURPOSE
An active-passive dual-targeting gambogic acid HPMA Copolymer Coupling drug system with high efficiency, low toxicity and high selectivity was constructed.

METHODS
The gambogic acid HPMA copolymer coupling drug system was constructed and its structure was characterized. The cytotoxicity of gambogic acid HPMA copolymer was detected by MTT assay. The pharmacokinetics of gambogic acid HPMA copolymer was evaluated in mice. Targetability of gambogic acid HPMA copolymer was evaluated by tissue distribution experiment. The in vitro antitumor activity of gambogic acid HPMA copolymer was evaluated by pharmacodynamics experiment in mice.

RESULTS
Two copolymers of gambogic acid HPMA were successfully prepared. The copolymers showed reduced cytotoxicity and a certain sustained release effect and targeting property. In vivo pharmacodynamic experiments also showed better anti-tumor effects than GA.

DISCUSSION
In this study, gambogic acid was combined with HPMA polymer and the targeting molecule D-galactose/folic acid to form a polymer micelle with high efficiency, low toxicity and high selectivity for active-passive dual targeting. The construction of the drug system provides new ideas for future formulation research and development.


We aimed to analyze the role of the common genetic variants located in the PIN1 locus, a relevant prolyl isomerase required to control the proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells and the integrity of the blood–testis barrier, in the genetic risk of developing male infertility due to a severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF). Genotyping was performed using TaqMan genotyping assays for three PIN1 taggers (rs2287839, rs2233678 and rs62105751). The study cohort included 715 males diagnosed with SPGF and classified as suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 505) or severe oligospermia (SO, n = 210), and 1058 controls from the Iberian Peninsula. The allelic frequency differences between cases and controls were analyzed by the means of logistic regression models. A subtype specific genetic association with the subset of NOA patients classified as suffering from the Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome was observed with the minor alleles showing strong risk effects for this subset (ORaddrs2287839 = 1.85 (1.17–2.93), ORaddrs2233678 = 1.62 (1.11–2.36), ORaddrs62105751 = 1.43 (1.06–1.93)). The causal variants were predicted to affect the binding of key transcription factors and to produce an altered PIN1 gene expression and isoform balance. In conclusion, common non-coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in PIN1 increase the genetic risk to develop SCO.


Recent advances in microscopy imaging and genomics have created an explosion of patient data in the pathology domain. Whole-slide images (WSIs) of tissues can now capture disease processes as they unfold in high resolution, recording the visual cues that have been the basis of pathologic diagnosis for over a century. Each WSI contains billions of pixels and up to a million or more microanatomic objects whose appearances hold important prognostic information. Computational image analysis enables the mining of massive WSI datasets to extract quantitative morphologic features describing the visual qualities of patient tissues. When combined with genomic and clinical variables, this quantitative information provides scientists and clinicians with insights into disease biology and patient outcomes. To facilitate interaction with this rich resource, we have developed a web-based machine-learning framework that enables users to rapidly build classifiers using an intuitive active learning process that minimizes data labeling effort. In this paper we describe the architecture and design of this system, and demonstrate its effectiveness through quantification of glioma brain tumors.


A time-frequency analysis, which represents the time change of a signal, is significant in all fields. Wigner distribution, a short time Fourier transform (STFT), a kernel method, and a characteristic function method etc. are known as a time-frequency analyzing method, and those methods have merits and demerits. STFT method has been used as ultrasound blood-flow imaging for a long time, because it is suitable for a non-stationary signal analysis. In this paper, I investigated how to control a time-frequency resolution of STFT, and evaluated the image quality of non-stationary signals using a point-spread function (PSF). The time-frequency resolution of an image corresponds to the aspect ratio of a pixel. Because of the uncertainty principle of time and frequency, to control the aspect ratio is not easy. The PSF is changed by the parameters, such as a frequency-range, a frequency-resolution, a time-range, a window function, a sampling frequency, etc. I propose the control method that keeps the aspect ratio of PSF constant with expansion and contraction of an image.


OBJECTIVE
To study optimal process conditions for the inclusion of volatile oil from Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma using saturated water solution method.

METHOD
The optimal technology of inclusion was identified respectively by the utilization ratio of volatile oils and the yield of inclusion compound in an orthogonal experiment design, and the inclusion efficiency was evaluated by TLC, UV, IR, SE and GC-MS.

RESULT
The optimum preparation conditions for inclusion were established as follows: volatile oil: beta-CD was 1: 6, the inclusion temperature was 40 degrees C, the stirring speed and time were in 300 r x min(-1) and for 1 h. The analysis results showed that a new substance was conformed. The change of the volatile oil component was found before and after inclusion.

CONCLUSION
The optimal process conditions are easy for operation, and high in utilization ratio of volatile oils and the yield of inclusion compound.


BACKGROUND
Despite the advances in the treatment of exanguinating patients, hemorrhage remains as the leading cause of early deaths. A great deal of attention has been given to "damage control" as a therapeutic alternative in this scenario.

AIM
To appraise the definition, indications, operative techniques and results of damage control for the treatment of exanguinating trauma patients.

METHOD
Bibliographic review.

RESULTS
Damage control introduces the concept of breaking the vicious cycle of metabolic acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy which results from hemorrhagic shock. Thus, the operation has to be interrupted before this irreversible stage, even if the injured organs were not given the definitive treatment at this moment. So, damage control involves three steps: an abbreviated operation, a recovering period in the intensive care unit, and the reoperation for the definitive treatment. At the abbreviated operation, operative techniques as stapling intestinal injuries or packing liver wounds are applied, allowing rapid control of the bleeding and spillage. In the intensive care unit, the patient is warmed, oxygen delivery and consumption are restored and coagulation factors administered. As soon as the hemodynamic stability, ideal body temperature and coagulation status are reached, the definitive operation is carried out. Damage control is a helpful option if correctly used. However, there are also severe complications that can occur. Therefore, it should be employed only in centers that could provide optimum resources.

CONCLUSION
Damage control is an important tactical alternative for the treatment of exanguinating trauma patients.


Environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants during pregnancy has potential adverse health effects on the fetus. One of the environmental pollutants is polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). Earlier, we reported the presence of PCBs in fetal tissues such as the umbilical cord. Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of aging because it shortens with each cell division. According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis, fetal exposure to environmental pollutants during pregnancy affects the occurrence of non-communicable diseases in later life. In the current study, we investigated the association between cord tissue TL and serum levels of PCBs. The subjects were 114 mother-child pairs participating in a birth cohort study, the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH). Maternal serum was collected during pregnancy, and cord serum and tissue were obtained at birth. TL was assessed by qPCR using genomic DNA extracted from the cord tissue. Maternal and cord serum PCB congener levels were assessed using gas chromatography and negative ion chemical ionization qMS. In male fetuses, serum levels of PCB74 in the cord blood were significantly associated with TL following covariate adjustment, but no significant association was found in female fetuses. These data suggest that the TL of the umbilical cord is affected by fetal exposure to PCBs.


An open question in the Deep Learning community is why neural networks trained with Gradient Descent generalize well on real datasets even though they are capable of fitting random data. We propose an approach to answering this question based on a hypothesis about the dynamics of gradient descent that we call Coherent Gradients: Gradients from similar examples are similar and so the overall gradient is stronger in certain directions where these reinforce each other. Thus changes to the network parameters during training are biased towards those that (locally) simultaneously benefit many examples when such similarity exists. We support this hypothesis with heuristic arguments and perturbative experiments and outline how this can explain several common empirical observations about Deep Learning. Furthermore, our analysis is not just descriptive, but prescriptive. It suggests a natural modification to gradient descent that can greatly reduce overfitting.


Objective To describe the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) following a thoracentesis for a spontaneous pneumothorax. Materials and Methods HRCT scans from 43 patients who developed REPE immediately after a thoracentesis for treatment of pneumothorax were retrospectively analyzed. The study group consisted of 41 men and two women with a mean age of 34 years. The average time interval between insertion of the drainage tube and HRCT was 8.5 hours (range, 1-24 hours). The patterns and distribution of the lung lesions were analyzed and were assigned one of the following classifications: consolidation, ground-glass opacity (GGO), intralobular interstitial thickening, interlobular septal thickening, thickening of bronchovascular bundles, and nodules. The presence of pleural effusion and contralateral lung involvement was also assessed. Results Patchy areas of GGO were observed in all 43 patients examined. Consolidation was noted in 22 patients (51%). The geographic distribution of GGO and consolidation was noted in 25 patients (58%). Interlobular septal thickening and intralobular interstitial thickening was noted in 28 patients (65%), respectively. Bronchovascular bundle thickening was seen in 13 patients (30%), whereas ill-defined centrilobular GGO nodules were observed in five patients (12%). The lesions were predominantly peripheral in 38 patients (88%). Of these lesions, gravity-dependent distribution was noted in 23 cases (53%). Bilateral lung involvement was noted in four patients (9%), and a small amount of pleural effusion was seen in seven patients (16%). Conclusion The HRCT findings of REPE were peripheral patchy areas of GGO that were frequently combined with consolidation as well as interlobular septal and intralobular interstitial thickening.


The purpose of this study is to assess the economic integration of small and medium enterprises in Ethiopia, in the case of Tigray Regional State Mekelle. The development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector has been highly agenda on the Tigray Regional State to generate employment and reduce poverty. The goal of the economic integration of SMEs is have free movement of capital, labor finance, and service between SMEs in the region and outside the country and becomes a more efficient in the allocation of resources. This study was employed a qualitative research method conducted in Mekelle city, focusing on the challenges of SMEs. Collected data by interview 15 (10 SMEDA leaders and stakeholders) and eight focus group discussions with the SMEs council, including non-participatory observation of the researcher. The result also revealed that small and medium enterprises are operated in a problematic situation suffering from financial constraints and work premises are found out as a general challenge to all SMEs. Also, the commitment, capacity, and attitude of leaders at a different level to support and coordination for SMEs is weak. The critical problem of peace and security among the Ethiopian Regional Governments and neighboring countries hinders the market linkage among them. On the other hand, the dependency and rent seeking mentality of the SMEs to prepare a business plan and promote their products. The commitment, attitude, and capacity of the leaders at a different level to support and coordinate SMEs' activities is feeble. The researcher recommends that the regional government should establish specialized financial institutions and market supporting unit to help SMEs. Alongside the asset of the operators should be considered as collateral to solve the liquidity problem of the enterprises. Capacity building to operators and SMESDA leaders are very critical to internalize the experience gain from others to support SMEs efficiently. Work premises should be ready before the SMEs are established. Keywords : Small and Medium Enterprise, Economic Integration of Small Enterprises, work premises DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-14 Publication date: February 29 th 2020


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

The ka-mi-kae-kyuk-tang (KMKKT) is a formula of ten Oriental herbs containing Korean Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) root. Previous studies by our collaborative team found that the KMKKT ethanol extract exerted anti-angiogenesis, apoptosis and anti-metastasis in vitro and in vivo (carcinogenesis 2006). We also showed that AGN extract suppressed DU-145 & PC-3 xenograft growth (Am J Chin Med 1009).

In the present study, we used the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) spontaneous primary carcinogenesis model to establish the chemoprevention efficacy of KMKKT and AGN and to explore cellular and molecular correlates of the in vivo anti-cancer effects. Male C57BL6 TRAMP mice were given a daily gavage (5 times per wk, 5 mg/mouse) as KMKKT and AGN beginning at 8 weeks of age (1% Tween-80 as vehicle n=13; KMKKT n=14; AGN n=17). We treated wild-type littermates also with KMKKT and AGN. All mice were terminated at 24 weeks of age, unless earlier euthanasia was necessitated by large tumor size.

The results show that the genitourinary (GU) tract weight was decreased in both KMKKT (66.4%) and AGN (57.6%) treated groups compared to vehicle group (100%). The dorsal-lateral prostate (DLP) weight was significantly lower in KMKKT and AGN groups compared to control group (P=0.02), with no difference found in the wild-type mice cohorts. In TRAMP and wild-type mice that received KMKKT and AGN vs. vehicle, there is no significant difference of the body weight and main organs (liver and kidney) (P>0.05). Additionally, macroscopical prostate tumors were found 46.2% (6/13) in control group, but just 14.3% (2/14) and 17.6% (3/17) in KMKKT and AGN group (Chi-square analysis P=0.07 and P=0.09). The average tumor burden was 0.81g/mouse in control group, 0.27 and 0.12 g/mouse in KMKKT and AGN group, respectively. All these macroscopical tumors are T-antigen (+), synaptophysin(+), androgen-receptor(−) and E-cadherin(−) poorly differentiated neuro-endocrine carcinoma (NECa). Furthermore, KMKKT and AGN-treated NECa contained lower basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) detectable by WB, antibody array and IHC. Decursinol, the hydrolysis product of decursin and DA was detectable in the plasma of AGN-treated mice.

In summary, results from this pilot study indicate that oral administration of KMKKT and AGN may inhibit prostate primary carcinogenesis in the TRAMP model. Additional chemoprevention studies are merited. [Grant support: NCCAM 1R21AT005383, NCI R01CA136953, R01CA126880 and Korean KOSEF-MEST No. 2009-0063466].

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5581. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5581


In many ultrasound examinations, an important task is to distinguish between areas of different characteristics, e.g. myocardial tissue and blood. While many studies have reported on exact border determination-which usually requires operator's intervention, this article reports on a reliable, automatic method for differentiation between blood and tissue in ultrasound images.


ABSTRACT The multi-faceted complexities of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) require consistent action, a multidisciplinary approach, and long-term political commitment. Building coalitions can amplify stakeholder efforts to carry out effective AMR prevention and control strategies. We have developed and implemented an approach to help local stakeholders kick-start the coalition-building process. The five-step process is to (1) mobilise support, (2) understand the local situation, (3) develop an action plan, (4) implement the plan, and (5) monitor and evaluate. We first piloted the approach in Zambia in 2004, then used the lessons learned to expand it for use in Ethiopia and Namibia and to the regional level through the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network [EPN]. Call-to-action declarations and workshops helped promote a shared vision, resulting in the development of national AMR action plans, revision of university curricula to incorporate relevant topics, infection control activities, engagement with journalists from various mass media outlets, and strengthening of drug quality assurance systems. Our experience with the coalition-building approach in Ethiopia, Namibia, Zambia, and with the EPN shows that coalitions can form in a variety of ways with many different stakeholders, including government, academia, and faith-based organisations, to organise actions to preserve the effectiveness of existing antimicrobials and contain AMR.


Strategies are presented that a dispatcher may use to take advantage of real-time information to manage a fleet of trucks to provide truckload pickup-and-delivery service under time windows for service and computing time constraints. These strategies are hybrid in that they combine very efficient dynamic local heuristic rules for quick initial assignment, with formal optimization-based procedures for subsequent load reassignment decisions within the time requirements of the dynamic problem. Simulation experiments were performed to test these strategies under alternative specifications and parameter values. In the first stage, the acceptance decision and initial schedule of trucks were determined so as to respond rapidly to incoming customer requests for service. Then, some time is allowed to improve the schedule of trucks by swapping the assigned loads using local optimization at the reassignment stage. Two strategies are described to control the computation time of the reassignment optimization problem by controlling the problem size. The simulation results confirm the significant potential for reassignment strategies under real-time information to improve system performance and suggest that considerable improvement is attainable even under restricted problem formulations.


In order to improve the logistics for locally produced food, and its integration with large-scale distribution systems, the conceptual idea of optimised and integrated logistics networks was analysed and demonstrated in a pilot project of local food producers in southern Sweden. The main objective of this paper was to assess the e-trade integrated logistics systems, economic benefits and environmental impact of integrated logistics systems, based on route optimisation analyses and producer data collected using questionnaires. The study revealed that the introduction of IT-systems for electronic trade had positive and negative economic effects. Internet-based cloud services designed for electronic business-to-business trading and coordinated transport with a common collection centre (CC) were important steps in the process of integration. The pilot project also showed the importance of a flexible organisation and a strong driving partner to con- tinue and develop collaboration. Route optimisation could reduce the route distances, decrease the environmental im- pact and provide economic benefits due to reduced working hours. The lowest estimated global warming potential from vehicle emissions was found when coordination was considered for collection to the CC and to and from the distribu- tion centre (DC). The lowest estimated potentials for acidification, eutrophication and human toxicity were found when integrated collections and deliveries took place during each route. To identify how the local food supply chains should be organised, more case studies of local food producers in different settings and under different conditions need to be carried out. With further case studies and surveys, more general patterns of variation and relations between variables may also be identified.


An extensive and systematic calculation was performed to explore hierarchical cylindrical structures and the order-to-order transitions of AB diblock copolymers (f(A) = 0.3) on a saw-toothed substrate using self-consistent mean-field theory. We obtained fifteen relatively simple morphologies, including the existing morphologies observed experimentally and from simulations, and five more complicated structures, by varying the lateral periodicity of the substrate, the film thickness of diblock copolymers, the interaction between the A-block and the substrate and the tilt angles (or the shape) of the substrate. These structures show that the orientation and number of layers of cylinders can be tailored. Even lamellae and spherical microdomains were observed. Most interestingly, hierarchical structures are also observed, such as the morphology of C(ab)(//) within the upper cylinder perpendicular to the bottom cylinder, SC(b)(//) morphology that the upper is a cylinder but the bottom is a sphere. In addition, we discussed these complex hierarchical structures in detail and have analyzed the order-to-order transitions between the cylindrical morphologies with distinct orientations and layers.


Abstract The electron microscopic study represent the changes in the skin layers in the malignant tumor, the nodular basal cell epithelioma. Comparisons were made between normal cells found in the normal skin at the periphery of the tumor, the cells located near the tumor and the tumors located in the depth of the carcinoma. The microscopic analysis of the tumor formation revealed the characteristics of the pigmented nodular basal cell epitheliu. To the exterior of the carcinoma were evidenced numerous globular formations limiting the peripheral extension of the tumor, which explains its evolution in years.


Many networked applications use push-based many-to-many communication. Especially real-time applications, such as online games and other virtual reality applications, need to synchronize state between many participants under strict latency requirements. Those applications typically exchange frequent state updates and therefore require an appropriate dissemination mechanism. Centralized and server-based solutions do not minimize latency, since they always need an extra round-trip to the server. In addition, a server infrastructure constitutes a potential performance bottleneck and thus a scalability limitation. Direct communication between event source and destination is often latency-minimal but quickly exceeds the capacities especially of poorly connected participants because each one needs to communicate individually with many others.
Our proposed solution, InterestCast, provides a decentralized event dissemination mechanism that uses peer-to-peer event forwarding, allowing powerful participants to help weak participants with the event multiplication and dissemination. To obtain forwarding configurations that best fit the current situation and application needs, InterestCast adapts them dynamically and continuously during runtime. The application's needs are passed as utility functions, which determine the utility of events with a given latency for a given interest level. Interest levels serve as an abstraction for the importance of events from a specific source, allowing a more fine-grained prioritization than an all-or-nothing subscription model. This is particularly useful if the importance of updates depends on virtual reality distance or another application-specific metric.
InterestCast runs an incremental local optimization algorithm that repeatedly evaluates all possible rerouting operations from the point of view of the respective local node. In each iteration, the best operation is chosen based on the application's utility functions and a system model that predicts the effects of a given operation. As this optimization process is run on each node independently, it scales well with the number of participants. The prediction only uses local knowledge
as well as information from the local neighborhood in up to two hops, which is provided by a neighborhood information exchange protocol.
Our evaluation shows that the results of InterestCast's distributed optimization are close to the global optima computed by a integer program solver. Computing the optimum for a given situation globally at runtime, however, is infeasible due to its computational complexity, even with a highly simplified network model. In detailed network simulations, we further demonstrate the superiority of InterestCast over a purely direct event dissemination in online gaming scenarios. In comparison with the direct dissemination, InterestCast significantly reduces the traffic of weak nodes and almost quadruples the possible number of participants for the same average delivery latency of high-interest events.


Sound velocities of diopside liquid were determined at high pressures and temperatures up to 3.8 GPa and 2375 K, using the ultrasonic technique combined with synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and imaging in a multianvil apparatus. Our results show that the sound velocity increases with pressure but is nearly independent of temperature. Using a Monte Carlo approach, the measured high‐pressure sound velocities combined with ambient‐pressure density provide tight constraints for the equation of state of diopside liquid, with a best‐fit adiabatic bulk modulus (KS) of 23.8 ± 0.4 GPa and its pressure derivative (KS') of 7.5 ± 0.5. The calculated adiabatic temperature and density profile of diopside liquid suggest that a melt layer with diopside composition in the upper mantle would be gravitationally unstable and start to crystallize from the bottom of the layer during cooling. By comparing our results with previous acoustic measurements on silicate glasses, we demonstrate the important differences in sound velocities between silicate liquids and glasses and conclude that silicate glasses may not work as a good analog material for studying the acoustic properties of silicate liquids, as measurements on unrelaxed glasses do not capture the entropic contribution to the compressional properties of liquids. We modeled velocity reductions due to partial melts in the upper mantle using our results and found that for a given velocity reduction, the deeper the low‐velocity region, the larger the melt fraction is required. Using silicate glass data for such estimation would result in a significant underestimation of melt fractions at high pressures.


Introduction: Severe COVID-19 illness is characterized by the development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), for which the mainstay of treatment is represented by mechanical ventilation. Mortality associated with ARDS due to other causes is in the range of 40-60% but currently available data are not yet sufficient to draw safe conclusions on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients who require mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: This is a Cross-sectional and retrospective study in which we want to determine if the new intubation protocol developed in our center is safe and efficient to achieve effective intubation in patients with COVID-19 as well as to avoid the transmission of the virus in anesthesiology specialists. Results: The average time to achieve an effective intubation was 49 seconds (range: 35-75 seconds). The number of patients in whom it was possible to achieve intubation on the first attempt was 55 (92.45%). The number of patients who failed to intubate on the first attempt was 4, corresponding to 7.55%. Conclusion: The protocol for intubation of patients COVID19 that we used demonstrated effective results at the time of its application, ensuring the safety of the participating health personnel, as well as all the intubation procedures that were carried out in an effective way.


Parallel strand bamboo (PSB) is a high-strength bamboo composite that has been used in construction in recent years. Crack growth is a major concern in the design of PSB components for building structures. This study investigated the mode II fracture properties of PSB composite under in-plane shear action, starting from the end notched flexure (ENF) test as the prototype of specimens. The compliance based beam method (CBBM) was used to analyze the crack propagation process. The results showed that crack propagation of mode II fracture of PSB was self-similar cracking with cracks parallel to the strand. The fracture process contained two stages: the development of the Fracture Process Zone (FPZ) and the crack propagation stage. The critical energy release rate GIIc was a constant independent of the initial crack length, with a mean value of 2.61 N/mm; the mean value of fracture toughness KIIc was 4436 kN·m-3/2, which is greater than those of commonly used timber products. The R-curve showed a gradual increase before crack extension due to the development of the FPZ but became approximately horizontal during crack propagation.


This is a much revised and expanded version of the author's previous book Principles of Environmental Science (1988), also published by Elsevier. It incorporates new tools such as ecotechnology, cleaner technology, life cycle analysis and environmental risk assessment, which have changed environmental management strategy radically over the last decade.Sven Jorgensen has worked at the Royal Danish School of Pharmacy as Professor in Environmental Chemistry since 1965, and has also held the position Professor in Environmental Technology at the Danish Agricultural University since 1978. He is Editor in Chief of Ecological Modelling and Editor of the book series Developments in Environmental Modelling.


The growing affluence of the East and Southeast Asian economies has come about through a substantial increase in their economic links with the rest of the world, the OECD economies in particular. Econometric studies that try to quantify these links face a severe shortage of high-frequency time series data for China and the group of ASEAN4 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand). In this paper we provide quarterly real GDP estimates for these countries derived by applying the Chow-Lin related series technique to annual real GDP series. The quality of the disaggregated series is evaluated through a number of indirect methods. Some potential problems of using readily available univariate disaggregation techniques are also highlighted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Two carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites and their electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) have been investigated. The CNTs having aspect ratio of 500, 500-1000 and good conductive network are added into composites. The EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of two composites containing CNTs are achieved up to 20 dB (>;99%). CNTs composites are the promising material as electromagnetic shielding materials for industrial applications. The characterization of morphology of carbon nanotubes and SE measurement results are presented and discussed.


The U.S. Department of Energy's Co-Optima initiative simultaneous focused on diversifying fuel sources, improving efficiency, and reducing emissions through using novel combustion strategies and sustainable fuel blends. For medium-duty/heavy-duty diesel engines, research in this area has led to the development of a multimode strategy that uses premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) at low loads and conventional diesel combustion (CDC) at mid–high loads. The aim of this study was to understand how emissions were impacted when using PCCI instead of CDC at low loads and switching to an oxygenated biofuel blend. It provides a detailed speciation of the hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from a multimode medium-duty engine operating at low loads in PCCI and CDC modes and high loads in CDC. The effect of the oxygenated biofuel blend on emissions was studied at all three mode–load conditions using #2 ULSD and a bio-derived fuel (25% hexyl hexanoate (HHN)) blended in #2 ULSD. The PCCI mode effectively decreased NOx, total HC, and PM/PN emissions, with a substantial decrease in larger particles (≥50 nm). A PM/PN reduction was observed at high loads with the 25% HHN fuel. While the total HC emissions were not impacted by fuel type, the detailed HC analysis exposed changes in the HC's composition.


Aim: To prove that topical antifungal and antibiotic prophylaxis distributed by grass roots village health workers (VHWs) in Burma is an effective public health intervention for the prevention of post-traumatic microbial keratitis in a population where the majority of ulcers are fungal. Methods: Three villages in Bago District with a combined population of 16 987 were selected for the study. This defined population was followed prospectively for 12 months by 15 VHWs who were trained to identify post-traumatic corneal abrasions with fluorescein dye and a blue torch and to administer 1%chloramphenicol and 1%clotrimazole ointment three times a day for 3 days to the eyes of individuals who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Results: During the 12 month period 273 individuals reported to VHWs with an ocular injury and 126 were found to have a corneal abrasion. All 126 were treated with 1%chloramphenicol and 1%clotrimazole ointment three times a day for 3 days, and all healed without sequelae. Conclusions: Both fungal and bacterial ulcers that occur following traumatic corneal abrasions can be effectively prevented in a village setting by using relatively simple measures that local volunteer public health workers can easily be taught to employ.


As the COVID-19 global pandemic limited face-to-face social contact, mental health concerns increased for adolescents. Additionally, many adolescents turned to technology to communicate with their peers, which also raised concerns about adolescent smartphone addiction. However, research has yet to examine how mental health and technology engagement are related to adolescents' feelings of social connection—an important developmental predictor of wellbeing across the lifespan. Specifically, little is known regarding the relative risk of adolescents' mental health concerns, a known risk factor for social disconnection and isolation and smartphone addiction in contributing to feelings of social disconnection in the time of COVID-19. The present study investigated how mental health outcomes and smartphone addiction contributed to Canadian adolescents' (n = 1753) feelings of social disconnection during COVID-19. Between October 2020 and May 2021, data were collected from five secondary schools in and around the lower mainland of British Columbia using an online-administered self-report questionnaire. Adolescents responded to questions about their smartphone addiction, internalizing problems, and an open-ended question about their feelings of connection to others. Findings from logistic regression analyses indicated that depression was a predictor of feeling socially disconnected: however, smartphone addiction was not associated with feelings of social disconnection during COVID-19. Implications of these findings can help inform the development of prevention programs targeting adolescents at risk for social disconnection in times of increased social isolation (e.g., a global pandemic). Specifically, these findings suggest that adolescents higher in depressive symptoms, and not those higher in smartphone addiction, are the ones most at risk.


Influenza A viruses possesses two virion surface glycoproteins including haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The NA plays an important role in viral replication and promotes virus release from infected cells and facilitates virus spread throughout the body. To find out any genomic changes that might be occurred on NA gene of avian influenza circulating viruses, we have genetically analyzed the neuraminidase gene of six Avian Influenza (AI) viruses H9N2 subtype isolated from different parts of Iran. A comparison of deduced amino acid sequences, showed some amino acid substitutions among the local AI isolates. However no insertions/deletions or shortening in the stalk region of the genes were observed. Mutation in Glu 119 as a marker for enzyme sensitivity to the antiviral drugs was not observed. Phylogenitic analysis revealed three distinct groups among the isolates of Iran, Hong Kong, and Pakistan/Japan/Saudi Arabia respectively. Based on the results, no significant mutations in NA genes of the viruses isolated during the period of the study occurred and our findings are in agreement with results of previous study of the viruses indicated a low pathogen character for the isolates on the basis of amino acid sequence of HA cleavage site and experimental infection.


Mango is a widely cultivated tropical fruit crop and exhibits climacteric behavior characterized by changes in respiration and ethylene production during development and ripening. Optimal postharvest ripening depends on many factors, but during shipping to distant high-value markets, ripening generally should be minimized. Monitoring the physiological activity presents possibilities for real-time response and the integration of smart technologies. However, systems are still needed which are portable, economical, and accurate. Optical sensors are low-cost but lack good accuracy, while electrochemical sensors are highly accurate but expensive. Economic nanoparticle sensors are being developed for potential applications in fruit quality monitoring, but they can be complex. This work explores possibilities for development of a monitoring system for climacteric fruits such as mango and presents results on testing of commercially available systems and development of sensors that will fit the criteria.


"The Preposition Book" is intended as a thorough guide and workbook to address students' questions and misconceptions regarding English prepositions and to improve their ability to use prepositions fluently. The book comprehensively covers pre-positions and also provides opportunities to practice many other essential points of English grammar and usage practice."The Preposition Book" is organized by level of difficulty but was written for intermediate-level students. A Comprehensive Test appears at the end of each chapter."The Preposition Book" is accompanied by a CD-ROM, Preposition Pinball and Other Games, which is sold separately or with this book. The CD-ROM reinforces learning from the text and provides extra practice in using prepositions. Site licenses are available.


The theatre criticism of Urjo Kareda in the Toronto Star offers favoured primary source material for theatre historians evaluating the so-called "alternative theatre" movement in Toronto in the early 1970s. Indeed, it has been argued that theatre activity during these years constitutes a "movement" largely because of Kareda's engaging writing at the time, which popularly labeled it as "movement" even as it emerged. However, Kareda's equally engaging writing in the campus weekly newspaper the Varsity in the mid-1960s, while he was a student at the University of Toronto, has been left unexplored. This essay argues that Kareda's themes, styles, and opinions in that student publication reveal much about the development of his early views on theatre practices and aesthetics in the years prior to the emergence of the alternative theatres, most notably his unwavering preference for neo-Aristotelian stage naturalism and psychological realism, and a dynamic emphasis on Toronto's theatre ecology. In doing so, it offers connections between undergraduate cultural production and career-minded journalistic theatre writing. And it challenges scholars to rethink the professional researcher's undervaluation of extra-professional theatre criticism.


The influence of noise on the Wigner distribution (WD) of discrete-time signals is analyzed. Signals contaminated by white noise are considered. The expressions for the mean and variance of the WD estimator are derived. It is then shown that the application of only one window is sufficient to make the variance of the estimator finite. This is a significant difference from the analog case, where two windows are needed. The expression for the optimal window width is derived. The results are illustrated by several numerical examples. Using the derived expressions, the effects of finite register length on the WD are analyzed. Fixed and floating point arithmetic are considered. >


This paper presents the spiral recognition methodology with its application in unconstrained handwritten Chinese legal amount recognition in a practical environment of a CheckReader/spl trade/. This paper first describes the failed application of neural network - hidden Markov model hybrid recognizer on Chinese bank check legal amount recognition, and explains the reasons for the failure: the neural network - hidden Markov model hybrid recognizer cannot handle the complexity in the training for Chinese legal amounts. Then a spiral recognition methodology is presented. This methodology enables the system to increase its recognition power (both the recognition rate and the number of recognized characters) during the training iterations. Some experiments were done to show that the spiral recognition methodology has a high performance in the recognition of unconstrained handwritten Chinese legal amounts. The recognition rate at the character level is 93.5%, and the recognition rate at the legal amount level is 60%. Combined with the recognition of courtesy amount, the overall error rate is less than 1%.


BACKGROUND
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has always been a global health threat and leading cause of deaths. However, due to the emergence of drug-resistant HIV, an inevitable consequence of increasing use of antiretroviral drugs posed a major threat to antiretroviral therapy success.

OBJECTIVE
The discovery of anti-HIV-1 agents will be used for the effective treatment of HIV/AIDS.

METHOD
In continuation of our program aimed to discover anti-HIV-1 agents, twelve matrine derivatives, such as 14-formyl-15-aryloxy/methoxymatrines (3a-j) and 14-aryloxymethylidenylmatrines (3k,l), were semi-prepared from matrine, and evaluated against HIV-1 IIIB replication in acutely infected C8166 cells in vitro.

RESULTS
Among them, compound 3j showed the most potent anti-HIV-1 activity with EC50 and therapeutic index (TI) values of 1.79 µg/mL, and 98.2, respectively.

CONCLUSION
It has been demonstrated that the positions of methyl on the phenyl ring and 14- formylmatrine-15-oxy on the naphthyl ring were very important for the activity. It will lay the foundation for further structural modification and application of matrines as HIV-1 inhibitors.


Twenty-three (23) derivatives of coumarin (5-27) were synthesized and screened for their in vitro β- glucuronidase (E. coli) inhibitory activities. Only three compounds, 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (9) (IC50 = 52.39 ± 1.85 µM), 3-chloro-6-hexyl-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (18) (IC50 = 60.50 ± 0.87 µM), and 3,6- dichloro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (15) (IC50 = 380.26 ± 0.92 µM) displayed activities against β- glucuronidase as compared to standard D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC50 = 45.75 ± 2.16 µM). The results indicated that the activity of the synthetic coumarins depends upon the substituents present on the coumarin skeleton.


This paper describes a method for recognizing partially occluded specularity objects for bin-picking tasks using the eigen-space analysis. Although effective in recognizing an isolated object, as was shown by Murase and Nayar, the current method can not be applied to partially occluded objects that are typical in bin-picking tasks. The analysis also requires that the object is centered in an image before recognition. These limitations of the eigen-space analysis are due to the fact that the whole appearance of an object is utilized as a template for the analysis. We propose a new method, referred to as the "eigen-window" method, that stores multiple partial appearances of an object in the eigen-space. Such partial appearances require a large number of memory space. To reduce the memory requirement by avoiding redundant windows and to select only effective windows to be stored, a similarity measure among windows is developed. Using a pose clustering method among windows, the method determines the pose of an object. We have implemented the method and verify the validity of the method.


Based the review of 55 children of whom 19 were treated surgically, the authors have designed 6 anatomo-clinic entities. Each one of these has its own treatment ranging from nothing to decompression of the neural axis with arthrodesis. Relationship between bones and joints and nervous tissues are emphasized with the manner to appreciate them clinically and with X rays or computerised tomography. This has always to be done before any surgical treatment. The goals of this surgery are: --to give perfect stability and acceptable morphologic result of the relation between head and neck, and neural decompression --to cure, and prevent perhaps, progressive myelopathy of which we know the bad prognosis when discovered and treated in adult life.


Through nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests, it is demonstrated that friction-induced protrusive nanostructures (or hillocks) showed good mechanical behaviour. At the maximum indentation depth of 2 nm, the elastic modulus of the hillocks on the silicon/quartz surface was only 5.3%/14.8% lower than that measured on their substrates. After scratching under a contact pressure of 10.3 GPa on silicon hillocks or 7.2 GPa on quartz hillocks, no surface damage was observed on the scratched area. Hence, the friction-induced hillocks can withstand typical contact in dynamic MEMS. Even though the scratch depths were much larger than the height of the detected hillocks, no peeling-off scar or surface crack could be detected beside the grooves on the hillocks, which indicated that the hillocks bonded strongly to their substrates. Further analysis revealed that the strength of the friction-induced hillocks was strongly dependent on the friction-induced process. The hillock produced at high sliding speed can lead to a high elastic modulus. Transmission electron microscope detection showed that the deformed silicon matrix formed chiefly at high sliding speed can enhance the elastic modulus of the hillocks. As a comparison, the amorphous silicon layer formed mainly at low sliding speed can reduce the elastic modulus of the hillocks.


Large-scale urban development projects are a significant format of urban expansion and renewal across the globe. As generators of governance innovation and indicators of the future city in each urban context, large-scale development projects have been interpreted within frameworks of 'variegations' of wider circulating processes, such as neoliberalisation or financialisation. However, such projects often entail significant state support and investment, are strongly linked to a wide variety of transnational investors and developers and are frequently highly contested in their local environments. Thus, each project comes to fruition in a distinctive regulatory context, often as an exception to the norm, and each emerges through complex interactions over a long period of time amongst an array of actors. We therefore seek to broaden the discussion from an analytical focus on variegated globalised processes to consider three large-scale urban development projects (in Shanghai, Johannesburg and London) as distinctive (transcalar) territorialisations. Using an innovative comparative approach, we outline the grounds for a systematic analytical conversation across mega-urban development projects in very different contexts. Initially, comparability rests on the shared features of large-scale developments – that they are multi-jurisdictional, involve long time scales and bring significant financing challenges. Comparing three development projects, we are able to interrogate, rather than take for granted, how a range of wider processes, circulating practices, transcalar actors and territorial regulatory formations composed specific urban outcomes in each case. Thinking across these diverse cases provides grounds for rebuilding understandings of urban development politics.


The behaviour of vibrational plane waves in disordered solids has been studied theoretically, particularly in the vicinity of the Ioffe-Regel crossover. We have analysed the behaviour of vibrational excitations in vitreous silica, for which we have found the Ioffe-Regel crossover frequency to be THz (for both longitudinal and transverse waves), in good agreement with experimental observations. Two methods have been used to obtain : either by determining the decay time of the plane waves, or by analysing the distribution in k-space of plane-wave components in the final scattered state of a plane wave.


Retina, located in the innermost layer of the eye of human, holds the decisive role in visual perception. Dissecting the heterogeneity of retina is essential for understanding the mechanism of vision formation and even the development of central nervous system (CNS). Here, we performed single cell RNA-seq, analyzed 57,832 cells from human infant donors, resulting in 20 distinct clusters representing major cell types in retina: rod photoreceptors, cone photoreceptors, bipolar cells, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, Muller glia cells and microglia. We next constructed extensive networks of intercellular communication and identified ligand-receptor interactions playing crucial roles in regulating neural cell development and immune homeostasis in retina. Though re-clustering, we identified known subtypes in cone PRs and additional unreported subpopulations and corresponding markers in rod PRs as well as bipolar cells. Additionally, we linked inherited retinal disease to certain cell subtypes or subpopulations through enrichment analysis. Intriguingly, we found that status and functions of photoreceptors changed drastically between early and late retina. Overall, our study offers the first retinal cell atlas in human infants, dissecting the heterogeneity of retina and identifying the key molecules in the developmental process, which provides an important resource that will pave the way for retina development mechanism research and regenerative medicine concerning retinal biology.


We investigated the effects of paracetamol on cell cycle and cell death in cultured HL-60 cells. Paracetamol (0.1-3.0 mM) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. Inhibition of DNA synthesis was observed at as low concentrations as 0.03 mM. When HL-60 cells were exposed to paracetamol (0.1-1.0 mM), flow cytometric analysis showed that cells accumulated in the G1/S phase, and then slowly proceeded through the S-phase. Exposure to 2.0-3.0 mM paracetamol, on the other hand, resulted in a reduction of the number of cells in S-phase and G2/M phase, and a concurrent increase in cells/bodies with a lower DNA content than that of the G1 cells. Microscopic studies revealed increased numbers of cells with nuclear condensation and fragmentation, indicating that apoptosis was the dominating mode of death in this cell line after exposure to paracetamol. However, when DNA from paracetamol-treated cells were electrophoresed in agarose, no clear ladder pattern characteristic for apoptotic cells was observed. This was most likely a result of secondary necrosis which followed incomplete apoptosis. Within 5-10 hr after start of paracetamol exposure, a marked downregulation of both c-myc and bcl-2 mRNA was observed. In conclusion, the present results show that exposure to high non-therapeutic concentrations of paracetamol cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HL-60 cells in S-phase.


Healthy subjects ingested (2)H(2)O. (2)H enriched the hydrogen bound to carbon 1 of blood glucose 1.3 to 1.8 times more than the hydrogens bound to carbon 6. Enrichment at carbon 1 was more than at carbon 5 after 14 h, but not after 42 h, of fasting. After overnight fasting, when [2,3-(3)H]succinate was infused, 34 times as much (3)H was bound to carbon 6 as to carbon 1. On [1-(2)H,1-(3)H, 1-(14)C]galactose infusion, the ratios of (2)H to (14)C and of (3)H to (14)C in blood glucose were 30% less than in the galactose. (3)H at carbon 6 was 1% of that at carbon 1 of the glucose. Thus, although the two hydrogens bound to carbon 1 and the two bound to carbon 6 of fructose 6-phosphate (p) during gluconeogenesis are equally enriched in (2)H via pyruvate's equilibration with alanine, one of each is further enriched via hydration of fumarate that is converted to glucose. That hydrogen at carbon 1 of fructose 6-phosphate (P) is also enriched in fructose 6-P's equilibration with mannose 6-P. (2)H from (2)H(2)O at carbon 1 to carbon 2 of blood glucose cannot then quantitate gluconeogenesis because of [1-(2)H]glucose formation during glycogenolysis. Triose-P cycling has a minimal effect on quantitation. (2)H recovery in glucose from [1-(2)H]galactose does not quantitate galactose conversion via UDP-glucose to glycogen.


We have constructed a new Quantum Nonlinear Schrödinger type periodic chain in which the interaction is long-range and not the usual nearest neighbour one. Using a new form of the transfer matrix with inhomogeneities at the lattice sites a long range Hamiltonian and its eigenvalues are extracted by using the algebraic Bethe ansatz.


Religious ritual in ancient Greece regularly incorporated music, so much so that certain instruments or vocal genres frequently became associated with the religious veneration of specific gods. The Attic cult of Pan and the Nymphs should also be included among this group: though little is often known about the specific ritual practices, the literary and visual evidence associated with the cults make repeated reference to music performed on the panpipes—and to auditory and sensory stimuli more generally—as a prominent feature of the worship of these gods. I consider the Vari Cave, sacred to Pan and the Nymphs, together with the surviving marble votive reliefs from that space, to explore the sounds and sensations associated with the veneration of the rural gods. I argue that the sensory experience offered by the cave and the images within it would have enhanced the worshiper's experience of the ritual and the gods for whom they were performed. In this way, visual and auditory perceptions blurred together to create a powerful experience of the divine.


Refugees are particularly at risk of mental health problems and they often have special needs that must be met if integration into the new country is to succeed.1 However, there is a lack of research that focuses on the refugees' own perceptions and ideas about mental health.2 One of the largest refugee populations worldwide is the Somalis. It is estimated that more than a million have fled their country because of the civil war.3 Many Somalis in the diaspora experience anxiety, marginalization, and mental health problems. At the same time, few make use of biomedical health services when suffering. Moreover, there exists a certain mistrust of the biomedical health sector.4 In addition, many Somalis turn to non-Western healing practices when suffering from episodes of ill health.5 Somalis in the diaspora have depression and anxiety related to war, the loss of family members, and afflicting spirits known as jinni or jinn.6 This essay examines ideas and experiences of mental health problems among Somali refugees in Sweden. It explores these issues from an anthropological perspective by emphasizing people's own words about illness, healing, and well-being. In so doing, the article adds to the knowledge about how Somalis in the diaspora conceptualize and respond to mental illness.


The plasticity and the dynamic fragility of bulk metallic glass of a Zr62Cu18Ni10Al10 alloy are studied by three-point beam bending methods. We find that the alloy behaves super plastic not only at room temperature, but also at high temperatures. More importantly, it is found that the superplasticity increases with increasing temperature. In addition, the dynamic fragility parameter m for the supercooled liquid of this alloy is measured to be 34.87 and the supercooled liquid of Zr62Cu18Ni10Al10 alloy behaves as a strong liquid.


Lower deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is one of the major complications of patients with tumors or patients undergoing major surgery. Electrical acupoint stimulation, an established technique of traditional Chinese medicine, can be well combined with Western medicine to reduce the incidence of postoperative DVT, especially in elderly patients1. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of electrical acupoint stimulation on blood viscosity of patients undergoing colorectal tumor surgery. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients who had malignant colorectal tumor stage A ,B,C and D undergoing elective surgery for that tumor selected randomly and divided into two equal groups. Group 1 include 15 patients that received standard traditional physical therapy postoperative care from the first day after surgery for 1 week. Group 2 include 15 patients who received the same treatment as group1 plus electrical acupoint stimulation from the first day after surgery for 1 week. Blood viscosity in both groups were assessed using platelet count, prothrombine concentration and color duplex study of the blood flow velocity in the veins of lower limbs. Results: The results of this study showed significant decrease in the blood viscosity of lower limb veins in the group 2 that used electrical acupoint stimulation over group 1(P value < 0.001) . Conclusion: It was concluded that electrical acupoint stimulation is an effective method to increase blood viscosity and hence decrease the incidence of DVT after colorectal tumor surgery.


With the rise of urban population, updated spatial information of indoor environments is needed in a growing number of applications. Navigational assistance for disabled or aged people, guidance for robots, augmented reality for gaming, and tourism or training emergency assistance units are just a few examples of the emerging applications requiring real three-dimensional (3D) spatial data of indoor scenes. This work proposes the use of point clouds for obstacle-aware indoor pathfinding. Point clouds are firstly used for reconstructing semantically rich 3D models of building structural elements in order to extract initial navigational information. Potential obstacles to navigation are classified in the point cloud and directly used to correct the path according to the mobility skills of different users. The methodology is tested in several real case studies for wheelchair and ordinary users. Experiments show that, after several iterations, paths are readapted to avoid obstacles.


The Masirah nappes are represented by allochthonous Late Jurassic to Cretaceous volcanic rocks and ophiolites well as Permian to Maastrichtian marine sediments, obducted onto the Oman continental margin at the cretaceous/Tertiary boundary (Schreurs and Immenhauser, 1999). The Masirah ophiolite forms a straight NNE-SSW trending strip 40 km wide, extending 450 km from Ras Madrakah to the Batain coast. The ophiolite is truncated by the ophiolitic mélange (known as Masirah Mélange) which makes a high angle with the sheeted dike trend and has been interpreted as a transform fault zone (Moseley and Abbotts 1979). The Masirah Mélange shows all the features characteristic of a tectonic mélange, in particular indefinite, non-stratigraphic, contacts and scanty matrix, indicating that it is not a diapiric mélange (Shackletonet and Ries.1990). The blocks within the mélange range in size from several kilometers to a few meters and are composed of blocks of all the rock types of the ophiolite beside metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks from RasMedraka Mélange are mainly composed amphibolite, two mica gneiss, and schist. The amphibolite consists of hornblende, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, sphene, chlorite, epidote, calcite, quartz, biotite, prehnite, magnetite, and ilmenite. Geochemical data shows amphibolites have similar MORBgeochemical characteristics. The Masirah ophiolite and mélange preserve a very long (80 Ma) history of igneous and sedimentary activity prior to emplacement onto the Arabian continental crust. However, dating of the mélange is so far proving difficult. It clearly post-dates the main ophiolite and pre-dates the early Tertiary (Shackletonet al. 1990).

This study is focused on providing age constraints for the amphibolite and greenschist facies metamorphic rocks of the Masirah Mélange in Ras Madraka by 40Ar ⁄ 39Ar dating. All 40Ar ⁄ 39Ar results were obtained in the ALF Argonlab, Freiberg University, Germany.  Most of the samples show large degrees of Ar-loss or, in some cases, the presence of an excess Ar component, reflected by disturbed age spectra. In general, however, the large number of temperature steps measured in one hornblende sample allows the determination of well-constrained inverse isochron ages that generally provide a more robust error estimate than plateau ages. Laser stepwise heating of these hornblende samples yielded flat age spectra with plateau ages of 83.8+0.96 Ma.

The Indian Ocean was characterized by stepwise breakup of east and west Gondwana at 157 Ma, breakup of east Gondwana at 130 Ma, Madagascar and India/Seychelles at 95–84 Ma, India and Seychelles at 65 Ma, and, finally at40 Ma, rifting between Africa and Arabia Peters, 2000; Nasir 2016). The range from 160 Ma to 80 Ma suggests that magmatic activity in the Masirah ophiolite was more or less continuous over a period of ~80 Ma, and correlates with large-scale tectonic events recorded in the early Indian Ocean at 80-160 Ma. The 40Ar ⁄ 39Ar ages indicate that hornblende formed before 84 Ma and this age can be interpreted as cooling ages dating approximately the formation of the plastic deformation and abduction. We attribute the Masirah Mélange to the Madagascar and India/Seychelles breaking event at 95–84.