High-Q evanescent-mode resonators and filters are realized by both silicon micromachining and layer-by-layer polymer processing. Capacitively loaded cavities can be reduced to a size much smaller than a wavelength, but still have a much higher unloaded Q than lumped elements. The loaded resonators are utilized for reduced-size filters with a low insertion loss enabled by the relatively high-Q factor. The small fabrication tolerances of silicon micromachining and polymer stereolithography processing enable the realization of highly loaded evanescent-mode resonators and filters. A 14-GHz resonator micromachined in silicon has a volume of 5 mm /spl times/ 5 mm /spl times/ 0.45 mm, representing a resonant frequency reduction of 66.8% compared to an empty cavity of the same dimensions. The polymer-based fabrication is used to create resonators of different three-dimensional geometries with Q's up to 1940 and frequency reductions up to 49.9%. An insertion loss of 0.83 dB is measured in a 1.69% bandwidth filter created by polymer processing with a frequency reduction of 47% compared to an unloaded cavity. The frequency sensitivity to fabrication tolerances of these structures is also analyzed.


The effect of ascorbic acid deficiency on serum and liver cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride levels, serum lipoprotein levels and serum lipoprotein cholesterol levels were examined in male rats with a hereditary defect in ascorbic acid synthesis (ODS rats). Male homozygotes (od/od) and male rats of their parent strain (+/+) were each divided into four treatment groups and were fed vitamin C-deficient or vitamin C-replete diets containing either 0 or 0.5% cholesterol. During the 3-wk feeding-period the ODS (od/od) rats fed the vitamin C-deficient diet gradually decreased food intake, resulting in a lower body weight than that of od/od rats given ascorbic acid. The serum cholesterol level was significantly higher in the vitamin C-deficient od/od rats fed the cholesterol diet, and it tended to be higher in those fed the control (0% cholesterol) diet, whereas the liver lipid levels remained unchanged relative to those in od/od rats fed the vitamin C-replete diet. The serum very low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were lower in od/od rats fed the vitamin C-deficient diet without cholesterol, but intermediate density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were markedly higher in the vitamin C-deficient od/od rats than in od/od rats given ascorbic acid, regardless of dietary cholesterol level. The ratio of HDL2 cholesterol to HDL3 cholesterol was also higher in the vitamin C-deficient od/od rats. The parent strain of the od/od rats (+/+) showed no change due to vitamin C deficiency. These results suggest that vitamin C deficiency delays low density lipoprotein metabolism and produces hypercholesterolemia in male od/od rats.


ABSTRACT Salzmann's nodular degeneration (SND) typically occurs in patients who are female, 50–60 years old, and have a history of corneal inflammation and irritation. Multiple case reports have documented associations between SND and trachoma, viral infections, trauma, contact lens wear, corneal surgeries and corneal exposure. The authors describe a patient with bilateral SND confirmed by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in the context of thyroid eye disease (TED) and history of LASIK. Treatment involved propylthiouracil (PTU), artificial tear use, loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel, eyelid taping and selenium supplementation and prospective superficial keratectomy with diamond burr polish.


Microstructural bone phenotypes, such as the intracortical canal network, could be directly linked to the mechanical failure behavior of cortical bone tissue. In addition, high accumulation of microdamage can significantly increase bone brittleness and thus, is a precursor of mechanical failure. Here, we discuss the development and validation of an automated step-wise micro-compression device (MCD) for dynamic image-guided failure assessment (DIGFA) of intracortical bone microstructure and bone microdamage. The device was found to be highly accurate and precise with positioning errors of less than 1 µm and force errors of less than 1.25 N. In addition, the results of a first biological study using DIGFA and time-lapsed computed tomography are presented. In short, whole mouse femora from mature C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H/He (C3H) mice with mid-diaphyseal notches were tested in step-wise compression and concomitantly imaged until failure. DIGFA was performed at the TOMCAT beamline of the Swiss Light Source using synchrotron radiation-based computed tomography (SR CT). Following the experiment, intracortical porosity was separated into the canal network, osteocyte lacunae, and microcracks for subsequent morphometric evaluation. The thicker cortex of C3H was penetrated by a dense canal network, whereas in B6 only a few scattered canals were observed. For B6, the first occurrence of crack was noted at 1.45% local strain, while for C3H, crack initiation took place only at 2.66% local strain. In addition, we were able to relate whole bone mechanics to local failure events by deriving correlations between microstructural porosity and microdamage propagation. In conclusion, initiation and accumulation of microcracks were investigated for two mouse phenotypes demonstrating that DIGFA in combination with SR CT is a suitable technique for time-lapsed three-dimensional assessment of bone morphology and bone fracture behavior down to the cellular level.


For the development of multistimuli responsive organogels, the new organic gelator LMWG 1, featuring electroactive TTF and photoresponsive azobenzene groups, was designed and studied. By manipulating the redox state of the TTF group in LMWG 1, the gel-sol transition for organogels with the LMWG 1 can be reversibly tuned by either chemical or electrochemical oxidation/reduction reactions. Alternatively, the photoisomerization of the azobenzene group in LMWG 1 can also trigger the gel-sol transition. Therefore, organogels with LMWG 1 respond not only to thermal stimuli but also to redox reactions and light irradiation.


Health surveillance in industries is an important prospect to ensure safety and prevent sudden collapses. Vibration Based Structure Health Monitoring (VBSHM) is being used continuously for structures and machine diagnostics in industry. Changes in natural frequencies are frequently used as an input parameter for VBSHM. In this paper, the frequency shift coefficient (FSC) is used for the assessment of various numerical damaged cases. An FSC-based algorithm is employed in order to estimate the positions and severity of damages using only the natural frequencies of healthy and unknown (damaged) structures. The study focuses on cantilever beams. By considering the minimization of FSC, damage positions and severity are obtained. Artificially damaged cases are assessed by changes in its positions, the number of damages and the size of damages along with the various parts of the cantilever beam. The study is further investigated by considering the effect of uncertainty on natural frequencies (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) in damaged cases, and the algorithm is used to estimate the position and severity of the damage. The outcomes and efficiency of the proposed FSC based method are evaluated in order to locate and quantify damages. The efficiency of the algorithm is demonstrated by locating and quantifying double damages in a real cantilever steel beam using vibration measurements.


Infection with Toxoplasma gondii has become a major cause of morbidity in patients with AIDS. To investigate the mechanisms responsible for immune responses to toxoplasma Ag we used a highly purified membrane protein (P30) of T. gondii to stimulate an in vitro Ag-specific cytotoxic T cell response. P30 immune mouse splenocytes reduced extracellular T. gondii plaque-forming units by more than 50% when incubated at an E/T ratio of 10:1 or greater. By using a [3H]uracil radioisotope release assay, the effect of the immune splenocytes was determined to be a direct parasite lytic mechanism. The immune splenocytes were P30 Ag specific and of the Thy 1.2, Lyt2,3+ (CD4-, CD8+) phenotype, specific for mouse cytotoxic T cells. Opsonization of the parasites with monoclonal P30-reactive mAb did not enhance parasiticidal activity. Culture supernatants obtained during the 2-h cytotoxic assay were not parasiticidal, and anti-asialo-GM1 antibody plus C did not destroy the parasiticidal activity of the P30 responder cells. Accordingly, we have identified an Ag-specific subset of CD4-, CD8+, P30 responder T cells that are directly parasiticidal to extracellular T. gondii, and that exhibit cytotoxicity independent of antibody opsonization, lymphokine secretion, NK cell activity, and, apparently, MHC involvement as well.


The Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) Psychotic Thinking scale previously was found insensitive in the detection of schizophrenia. The MCMI also was shown to be susceptible to undetected "faking good." We hypothesized that the insensitivity of the MCMI Psychotic Thinking scale was due to an unwillingness of schizophrenic patients to report psychotic symptoms. The MCMI was administered to 258 male schizophrenic inpatients who were classified as symptom-reporters or nonreporters based upon whether they endorsed psychotic symptoms on a separate problem checklist. Willingness to report psychotic symptoms was a significant factor in MCMI Psychotic Thinking scale scores as well as many other MCMI scales.


Background: The mechanisms determining chemotherapeutic resistance of breast cancers are rather complicated with a variety of molecules involved. While targeting one single molecule or one signaling pathway are not sufficient to reverse chemo-resistance. Therefore, it is more important to identify and eliminate the subpopulations of tumor cells that are resistant to chemotherapy. Recently, accumulating evidence demonstrates that a wide variety of malignancies may be driven by a small subset of "tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) displays a variety of drug-resisting mechanisms. Nevertheless, it remains obscure whether the proportion of breast tumor initiating cells (BT-ICs) correlates with chemotherapeutic sensitivity of breast cancers, and whether targeting BT-ICs may help to reverse chemo-resistance in the malignancy.Material and Methods: Using immunohistochemistry, we tested the expression level of ALDH1 in 192 human breast cancer samples before underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and analyzed the relationship between the ALDH1 level and clinical pathological features including clinical response and disease free survival (DFS). We tested the proportion of CD44+/CD24-, ALDH1+ and side population in primary cancer cells, wide type MCF7 and Adriamycin resistant (AdrR) MCF-7 by FACS. Compared the mammosphere formations in suspension culture. We further tested the drug sensitivity after treated with 1UM Lapatinib in AdrR MCF-7 mammospheric cells by MTT and AnnexinV staining. Results: In all 192 cases, there were 19.79% (38 of 192) cases with high ALDH1 expression (>20% positive cancer cells) compared to 80.21% (154 of 192) cases with low expression (≤20% positives cells). The clinical response (PR and cCR) was only 52.63%% (20 of 38) in patients with high ALDH1 expression compared with 81.17% (125 of 154) in patients with low ALDH1 expression (x2=15.926; P=0.000). Patients with low ALDH1expression survived significantly longer than those with high ALDH1 expression (P = 0.006). In primary cancer cells, the percentage of ALDH1+ and CD44+/CD24-cells were up to 8.72% ±3.73% and 36% ±7.9% in the PD samples respectively, whereas only 1.42%±1.63% and 3.17 ±0.45% in PR samples (p=0.037 and 0.018). Moreover, mammosphere formation of primary human breast cancer cells was 10-20 fold higher in PD samples than in PR samples (p=0.01). Then we compared the proportion of BT-ICs between two breast cancer cell lines. The mammoshpere formation rate of the AdrR MCF-7 increased to 9.1%±1.01% compared with 1.03%±0.15% in the parent MCF-7 breast cancer cell (p=0.0046), meanwhile, the percentage of CD44+/CD24- cells was much higher in the AdrR MCF-7 cells(64.85%±1.3% vs than 1.3%±0.1%,p=0.01), the proportion of ALDH1+ cells was 15.9%±1.5% to 2.7%±0.3% (p=0.01),as well as the percentage of side population was 10.8%±1.4% to.0.25%±0.05% (p=0.001).After treated with Lapatinib, the sensitivity of passaged mammospheric AdrR MCF-7 cells to chemotherapy increased in the cell viability assay, while the dead cells increased from 50% ±2.8% to 75%±6.5% tested by FACS under chemotherapy pressure (p=012).Conclusion: Proportion of tumor initiating cells contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance of breast cancers. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 503.


Too many times, in our busy lives, we lose track of what really matters and neglect our practices to the point of not attracting new patients or even losing some of our current patients. Being nice to our patients, providing extraordinary service and spending a little extra time in our treatment rooms will pay huge dividends in terms of full schedules. This article will outline some simple techniques you can use immediately in your office to increase referrals and have your current patients "begging for more".


The phenomenon pejoratively known as the new "ethno-nationalism" conceals a rich array of cultural processes. Having seen how this ideology can be used to manipulate, can we then take the leap down to everyday life to see how people use it in practice? On the basis of Nordic experience, the article discusses how the national is informalized and wrested from the hands of power, how it is appropriated by individuals, groups, and local communities to articulate a cultural identity that does not need to have so much to do with the nation. It is used to convey messages that can be about the relation of periphery to centre, about young people's relations to adults, tho relations of Swedes to immigrants, etc. By giving a temporary cultural identity, the national can be used to highlight life policy questions about how we should live in late modernity. In this way, it becomes a channel for remoralizing everyday life. The care with which people seize national symbol is partly due to informalization: hardly a single birthday, annual festival, sports contest, or other event passes without the flag being used - literally - to decorate the cake. But this is a type of national identity which people can allow themselves to play with, without being exposed to anything deadly serious. The article discusses how national identity can also become a tool in the service of cultural complexity - not of homogenization - and it can contribute to the negotiation of new collective identities and deeper reflexivity.


In this paper, we examine new Internet ecosystem strategies through compre-hensive OECD PATSTAT patent data analyses focusing on mobile operating system software firms. We also describe current patent disputes between mobile hardware firms and mobile operating system software firms in the US and their relevant intellectual property in order to highlight the changes and decisions made within current mobile value chains, which may then enable the further examination of strategic decisions of individual firms. Based on OECD PATSTAT and our descriptive analyses, we find that the latest strategic decisions made by the mobile hardware and operating system firms target industry-level competition on intellectual property and control over new industry convergence, whereas the value of hardware-based intellectual property is measured and evaluated against software and heuristics related intellectual property. This industry convergence includes the evolution of new ecosystems based on Apple, Google and Microsoft technologies that will change the role of several firms in the mobile value chain.


ON TYPHUS AND TYPHOID FEVERS AS SEEN IN DUBLIN. BY HENRY KENNEDY, MI.D. THE object of the communication was to show that while these types or varieties might, in the great-majority of instances, be distinguished the one from the other, they were still but the results of a common poison. To the distinctive marks between the two varieties he had drawn attention, in the Dublin Medical Joutrnal, as far back as the year 1837, three years before the appearance of Dr. Stewart's memoir. The arguments for the identity of the poison, the author divided into general and special. Amongst the former, he particularly dwelt on the fact of different types of fever coming from the one room; such as cases with and without spots, or some with dark and others with rose spots, or the congestive, nervous, and gastric fevers, all existing in one family and at the sames time. Amongst the special arguments the details of some cases were given where petechine existed, together with ulcerated bowels; and also cases of the same variety where the two rashes were mixed. The author also noticed the fact that intestinal haemorrhage was at least as common in typhus as in typhoid fevers-contrary to what is usually thought. In conclusion, the author glanced at the views now held by many on the stimulant treatment of acute disease. He observed that the extent to which these doctrines were carried elsewhere had not reached Dublin, nor did he think they would; and he considered there were many points, directly involving the general question, which yet required the fullest consideration. Though the author did not enter at all on the general treatment of fever, he spoke of a few points having a special reference to the treatment of typhoid fever. In particular, he drew attention to the necessity for making a distinction between the stimulants in common use, of wlhich wine and beef-tea were instanced. In his experience, the effects of the former were much less likely to be followed by any unpleasant results than those of the latter; and this he had remarked not only in fever, but also in some of the phlegmasiie. The cause of this difference Dr. KENNEDY attributed to the difference in the constituent parts of the two fluids. To the carbonate of ammonia he also directed attention, as being in general use; and yet, in his experience, he had found it very apt to cause diarrhcea, and latterly had entirely given it up. The medicine he now placed the most reliance on was the dilute sulphuric acid; and he had arrived at this conclusion after having tried the ordinary astringents. The acid, however, was not a new remedy. With the acid he always joined local treatment, suchl as leeching and blistering; nor of its efficacy-when used with ordinary discretion-had he the slightest doubt, notwithstanding all that had been recently urged against it. In the last place, the author spoke of a certain class of cases of typhoid fever in which it seemed as if the poison were flitting about the system, at one time attacking the abdomen, again the chest, or the brain. In such cases he had adopted the expedient of keeping a blister open, usually on the chest, for some days; and from this plan he had seen very marked advantage. THE CASE OF DR. BEETSON: MILITARY COURT OF INQUIRY.


Background: Studies indicate that extended shifts worked by hospital staff nurses are associated with higher risk of errors. Long work hours coupled with insufficient sleep and fatigue are even riskier. Although other industries have developed programs to reduce fatigue-related errors and injury, fatigue countermeasures program for nurses (FCMPN) are lacking. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an FCMPN for improving sleep duration and quality while reducing daytime sleepiness and patient care errors. Selected sleep variables, errors and drowsy driving, were evaluated among hospital staff nurses (n = 47) before and after FCMPN implementation. Method: A one-group pretest-posttest repeated-measures approach was used. Participants provided data 2 weeks before the FCMPN, 4 weeks after receiving the intervention, and again at 3 months after intervention. Results: Most of the nurses experienced poor sleep quality, severe daytime sleepiness, and decreased alertness at work and while operating a motor vehicle. After the FCMPN, significant improvements were noted in sleep duration, sleep quality, alertness, and error prevention. Although significant improvements were not found in daytime sleepiness scores, severity of daytime sleepiness appeared to decrease. Despite improvements in fatigue management, nurses reported feelings of guilt when engaging in FCMPN activities, especially strategic naps and relieved breaks. Conclusions: Initial findings support the feasibility of using an FCMPN for mitigating fatigue, improving sleep, and reducing errors among hospital staff nurses. In future investigations, the acceptability, efficacy, and effectiveness of FCMPNs can be examined.


SECTION I ETIOPATHOGENIC BASES AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS Chapter 1. Background. Patellofemoral malaligment vs Tissue homeostasis. Myths and truths about patellofemoral disease. CHAPTER 2. Pathogenesis of anterior knee pain and patellar instability. What have we learned from realignment surgery? CHAPTER 3. Neuroanatomic bases for anterior knee pain in the young patient. 'Neural model'. CHAPTER 4. Biomechanical bases for anterior knee pain and patellar instability in the young patient. CHAPTER 5. Anatomy of patellar dislocation. CHAPTER 6. Evaluation of the patient with anterior knee pain and patellar instability. CHAPTER 7. Uncommon causes of anterior knee pain. CHAPTER 8. Risk factors and prevention of anterior knee pain. CHAPTER 9. Conservative treatment of athletes with anterior knee pain: science, classical and new ideas. CHAPTER 10. Conservative management of anterior knee pain: the McConnell program. CHAPTER 11. Squeletal malalignment and anterior knee pain. Rationale, diagnosis and management. CHAPTER 12. Treatment of symptomatic deep cartilage defects of the patella and trochlea with and without patellofemoral malalignment. Basic science and treatment CHAPTER 13. Autologous periosteum transplantation to treat full thickness patellar cartilage defects associated with severe anterior knee-pain. CHAPTER 14. Patella plica syndrome CHAPTER 15. Patellar tendinopathy: Where does the pain come from? CHAPTER 16. Patellar tendinopathy: The science behind treatment. CHAPTER 17. Prevention of anterior knee pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. CHAPTER 18. Lysis of pretibial patellar tendon adhesions (Anterior Interval Release)to treat anterior knee pain after ACL reconstruction. CHAPTER 19. Donor-site morbidity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autografts. Clinical, radiographical, histological and ultrastructural aspects. SECTION II CLINICAL CASES COMMENTED CHAPTER 20. Complicated cases studies. CHAPTER 21. Failure of patellofemoral surgery. Analysis of clinical cases. CHAPTER 22. Arthrofibrosis and patella infera. CHAPTER 23. Neuromatous knee pain : Evaluation and management


This paper describes a concept-to-speech system for generating spoken descriptions of routes between places within Macquarie University Computing Department. The Natural Language Generation (NLG) component of the system generates a textual route description marked with intonational information. The discourse structure of the route description is related closely to the knowledge representation of the route. The NLG component includes a pitch accenting algorithm which places appropriate pitch accents on elements of the utterance requiring particular emphasis or stress. Our pitch accenting algorithm uses a domain knowledge base and a discourse history. From these it determines whether information selected to form the content of the utterance is shared mutual domain knowledge, given information, or new information. It can then assign an appropriate pitch accent to one word in each prosodic phrase. The text-to-speech component then determines the appropriate syllable to be accented in the word.


Radio is a media of information and business which can provide up to date information to public by relying on its rapidity, radio can be the media that is still highly considered in the promotional activities of client companies which do cooperate with some radios. Trax FM Semarang is one of regional radio that is still highly considered by clients to become their media partners. In the business relationship, there are many factors that can make some strong relation of the partnership between two parties. This study aims to find out the relation between of the sales promotion exposures, marketing communication competence, and brand image of client's loyalty Trax FM Radio Semarang. In order to solve the problems, used some theories, such as Behavioural Learning theory, Speech Act theory, Communication Competence theory, and Cognitive Learning theory. The objects of the study were companies who work with Trax FM Semarang at least for 2 times of partnership within one year. The amount of respondents was about 30 companies who were taken by using the technique of non-probability sampling. The data were analyzed by using proper test and classic assumption test, and then followed by pearson's correlation analysis with the help of SPSS application program V.20.0. The study resulted in that from 3 (three) variables of X, 2 (two) of them received positive value, that was marketing communication competence and brand image. Respondents appraised that the Trax FM Semarang has competent marketing in their field, and Trax FM Semarang is a radio that has a pretty good brand image. However it is not certain that is positively related to client's loyalty of Trax FM Semarang. After did the hypothesis test by the method of pearson's correlation test, it resulted in that the first hypothesis of this study showed there is no relation between sales promotion exposure variable (X1) to the client's loyalty of Trax FM Semarang (Y). Then, the second hypothesis test (X2) showed that marketing communication competence variable has no relation to client loyalty of Trax FM Semarang. Moreover, the third hypothesis test resulted that brand image variable (X3) was not related to client's loyalty of Trax FM Semarang (Y).


Voting in elections is the basis of democracy, but voting at polling stations may not be possible for all citizens. Remote Internet e-voting uses the voter's own equipment to cast votes, but is potentially vulnerable to many common attacks, which affect the election's integrity. Security can be improved by distributing vote processing over many web servers installed in tamper-resistant, secure environments, using the Smart Card Web Server SCWS on a mobile phone Subscriber Identity Module SIM. A generic voting model is proposed, using a SIM/SCWS voting application with standardised Mobile Network Operator MNO management procedures to process the votes cast. E-voting systems Pret i Voter and Estonian I-voting are used to illustrate the generic model. As the SCWS voting application is used in a distributed processing architecture, e-voting security is enhanced: to compromise an election, an attacker must target many individual mobile devices, rather than a centralised web server.


Does takeover increase stockholder value? - Yes. We modify the calendar-time portfolio regressions (CTPRs) approach to measure the abnormal returns of a takeover portfolio composed exclusively of successful bidders and targets from 1963 to 1995. This technique balances the positive announcement-period stock price effects against the alleged post-announcement drift that is commonly thought to accompany takeovers. By regressing the takeover portfolio returns on asset-pricing factors with GARCH(1,1) error specification, our methodology overcomes a number of limitations that would otherwise confound this approach. Studying 3,467 successful takeover events, we find that value weighted portfolios earn a highly significant 72 basis points a month in abnormal returns. Equally weighted results are even more dramatic. We extend the analysis to study mergers within and across industry boundaries. Using method of payment as a proxy for pooling versus purchase accounting, we also examine the impact of accounting choice on performance.


From 6 experiments dealing with the development of young female cattle, partly from calf to calving, 660 metabolism periods were evaluated as to energy intake, live weight gain (LWG) and energy expenditure. Growth intensity was deliberately regulated through energy intake. In the experiment with the highest growth rate the average LWG was greater than 850 g/animal and day and in the experiment with the lowest growth rate at about 550 g/animal and day. Energy expenditure increased from 15 MJ net energy fatcattle/kg LWG at a live weight of 50 kg to 50-80 MJ NEFcattle/kg LWG in clear dependence on growth intensity. Comparative examinations of energy intake and energy requirement, estimated with equations forming the basis of recommendations for the energy supply of young female cattle in the framework of the GDR system of feed evaluation, lead to the conclusion that a new concept of identifying the energy requirement of young female cattle has to be developed.


A simple method is introduced to test the dimensionality axiom in the Rasch model. The method consists of a suitable partitioning of the data set. This partitioning is based on the responses to some of the items being investigated. The items used for this purpose are called the external criterion items. data are presented indicating the effectiveness of the method in instances where the traditional test procedures fail.


Different amplitude pulsations are discussed which have been recorded in echo-encephalographic examinations of various brain structures. The pulse curves are compared with amplitude pulsations of a model experiment.


Ultrastructural evaluation of myelin coat helps to understand the possible background of pathological changes leading to deterioration or complete loss of nerve functions. A number of terms were previously introduced to describe the fine structural changes in myelin under various conditions. We believe that using a common terminology will be helpful to interpret the structure/function relationship in neurological disorders empowering the diagnosis and possible therapeutical approaches. In this paper, we present examples of ultrastructural changes in myelin during myelination, demyelination, re-myelination and dysmyelination processes and we reviewed the terminology previously used.We tried to include all studies reporting ultrastructural findings with no limitation to the experimental conditions, the species used and the disorders. The terminology used to describe the structural findings included compacted myelin, partially compacted myelin, noncompacted myelin, redundancy (hypermyelination, tomacula, myelinosome), splitting, complete circular splitting, myelin degradation, concentric lamellar bodies (myelin figures), loss of myelin lamellae, polyaxonal Schwann cells and necrotic cell debris.Ultrastructural data described in this paper aimed to provide a guide for future studies. We concluded that the evaluation of ultrastructural changes in any neurological disorder is greatly valuable for a better understanding of pathological and physiological changes occured. We also believe that supporting the ultrastructural findings with quantitative methods in the future will be of great value.


Hydrophobicity profiles of myoglobins in the animal species far remote in the evolutionary series are considerably similar. A complete coincidence as to the arrangement of hydrophobic zones along the polypeptide chain in myoglobins of the compared species (from a man to mollusc) is revealed at the beginning of alpha-helix of B-segment and in the area corresponding to a cluster which embodies a heme- bound water molecule, distal histidine E7 being directed to this cluster. The mollusc myoglobin with two absent (as compared to myoglobins of other species) hydrophobic sites differs in the profile of hydrophobicity most of all. It is supposed that hydrophobic nuclei forming the heme circumference create a globule "skeleton" thus pre-setting general spatial structure of the myoglobin molecule, which is very significant for its functional activity.


E-learning growth is driven by global, societal, and technological changes that both enable and require increased worker and learner mobility, access to distributed domain expertise, and lifelong learning. Distance learning can deliver course value that cannot be provided in a classroom to trainers, workers, educators and learners. This study presents a prototype for analysis of how knowledge emerges during distributed team decision making. Analysis of ad hoc sharing of individual knowledge during synchronous online text-based group discourse demonstrates how reciprocal knowledge construction can enable emergence of shared understanding. The difficulty of evaluating collaborative knowledge construction in a virtual environment is demonstrated by presenting an annotated discourse episode for a distributed decision making task used to acquaint learners with the nature of virtual teamwork.


We report the efficacy of intercostal nerve transfer to restore elbow flexion, shoulder functions, and hand functions. One hundred and twelve patients with loss of elbow flexion were treated with intercostal nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve and 97 (87%) of them regained grade 3 or 4 elbow flexion. Seven patients with loss of shoulder functions were treated with combined intercostal nerve transfer to the axillary nerve and phrenic nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve, and 4 (57%) of them regained more than 80 degrees abduction and 5 (71%) regained more than 50 degrees external rotation starting with the forearm against the chest. To restore hand functions, intercostal nerves were sutured to the radial nerve or one of its branches in 40 patients and to the median nerve in 10 patients. Motor recovery was poor in both nerve transfers, but protective sensation was regained in the fingers innervated by the median nerve in 9 (90%) of the 10 patients. We conclude that intercostal nerve transfer after brachial plexus injury was a useful procedure to restore elbow flexion and shoulder functions, and for restoring a protective sensation in the fingers.


Neurological injuries are one of the main reasons for the loss of functional mobility in humans. Compromised functionalities may include restrictions in the shoulder's range of motion. Robotic devices, used for the physical therapy of shoulder, have different mechanism designs and control strategies. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed review of different mechanisms used in shoulder rehabilitation robots as well as their control strategies. Shoulder robot mechanisms are grouped based on their actuating systems, namely, cable-driven shoulder rehabilitation mechanisms and power-driven mechanisms. The actuation systems considered during this study include electrical actuators, pneumatic actuators, series elastic actuators, and pneumatic muscle actuators. Experimental evaluation and validation of previous shoulder rehabilitation robots is also discussed citing their constraints and limitations. Safety aspects of existing shoulder robots have also been discussed. This paper also presents the advantages and disadvantages of previously proposed shoulder rehabilitation robots, their actuation, and control strategies and concludes by presenting future challenges and pathways.


Objective Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) have lower muscle strength and lower pressure pain thresholds (PPT). The primary aim of this study was to determine the associations between muscle strength and PPT in adults with FM to test the hypothesis that greater measures of muscle strength would be associated with greater values of PPT. Secondary aims included determining the effects of pain severity and the peak uptake of oxygen (Vo2) on the associations between muscle strength and PPT. Methods Knee extensor and flexor strength (N = 69) was measured in the dominant leg using a dynamometer, and PPT was assessed using an electronic algometer. Pain severity was determined using the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and peak Vo2 uptake was quantified using an electronically braked cycle ergometer. Results Univariable linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between PPT (dependent variable) and isometric knee extensor (P<.001), isokinetic (60°/s) knee extensor (P = .002), and isokinetic (60°/s) knee flexor strength (P = .043). In a multiple variable linear regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, pain severity, body mass index and peak Vo2 uptake, a significant association was found between PPT and isometric knee extensor strength (P = .008). In a similar multiple variable analysis, a significant association was found between PPT and isokinetic knee extensor strength (P = .044). Conclusion Greater measures of isometric and isokinetic knee extensor strength were significantly associated with greater values of PPT in both univariable and multiple variable linear regression models. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01253395


The multiprocessor scheduling is the method to allocate modules(or tasks) with precedence relationship onto the processors in such a way that the parallel time (completion time of a program in multiprocessor system) is minimized. In this paper, we propose a scheduling heuristic which is based on linear clustering scheme and uses only local information of a DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph). Proposed algorithm gives an optimal scheduling result for a coarse grain DAG with only fork or join nodes and a greatly reduced parallel time for general DAGs. Simulation results showed that proposed algorithm has better scheduling result and less algorithm execution time than any of compared algorithms.


Ordinary visual perception of a spatial object involves visual awareness of some of the space the object occupies, and visual awareness of the object as located in space. But does visual perception of a spatial object require visual awareness of space and spatial location? Call the claim that it does the spatial perception requirement (SPR). (SPR) is subject to serious empirical challenge. For on the face of it individuals with Bálint's Syndrome – a pathological spatial perception deficit to be described further below – are individuals who can see objects but who can't see space itself, and can't see objects as spatially located. If this is right, then in Bálint's Syndrome there is a wholesale failure of (SPR). I will argue that both aspects of (SPR) are defensible even in the light of Bálint's Syndrome. And I will argue further that we have positive reason to suppose that individuals with Bálint's Syndrome can see the spaces occupied by the objects they see. But how, then, can we articulate the way in which the experiences of individuals with Bálint's Syndrome differ from ordinary visual experiences? I suggest that we can articulate this in terms of the structure of visual experience: the experiences of individuals with Bálint's Syndrome do not involve a visual field in the way that ordinary visual experiences do.


A rapid and sensitive ultra-fast liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method, followed by simple protein precipitation and solid-phase extraction, has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of four azo dyes (Para red, Solvent yellow 2, Solvent red 1 and Sudan red 7B) in rat plasma using D5-Sudan I as the internal standard. The optimal separation was accomplished on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with gradient elution using the mobile phase including acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid). The flow rate was 0.45 mL/min. The detection was conducted by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring. The calibration curves showed good linearity, with correlation coefficients >0.998 for all of the analytes within the concentration range. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) of Para red, Solvent yellow 2, Solvent red 1 and Sudan red 7B in rat plasma were 1.0, 0.1, 0.1 and 0.1 μg/L, respectively. The intra- and interday relative standard deviations were ≤9.6 and ≤12.4%, respectively, and the accuracy was in the range of -5.8 to -9.5%. The average recoveries were between 81.49 and 118.65%, and the matrix effects were satisfactory in the biological matrices. The fully validated method has been successfully applied in measuring levels of the four azo dyes in rat plasma following oral administration of 20.0 mg/kg of analytes in rats, which was suitable for the pharmacokinetic studies of the azo dyes.


Background Research is a critical component amongst the strategies to improve health outcomes of any country. The role of research assumes greater importance in Africa as it carries a larger share of global burden of diseases, blindness and low vision. "Vision 2020- the Right to Sight" is a WHO-IAPB collaborated initiative aiming to eliminate preventable blindness by the year 2020. High quality research in eye care is imperative for the initiative to succeed, however, there is a dearth of research in eye care in sub Saharan Africa in general and specifically in the Eastern, Central and Southern African (ECSA) region. Identifying the barriers that hamper research in this region is an important step towards elimination of preventable blindness. Methods A structured questionnaire using the SurveyMonkey program was sent to ophthalmologists in the ECSA region and South Africa through their respective regional professional bodies. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program version. Results Lack of funding, inadequate time and poor research knowledge were the main research barriers while ability to improve eye health care through research was the main incentive for conducting research. Conclusion The barriers mainly center on financial, human and administrative infrastructure and resources. In spite of the barriers, ophthalmologists in the study region are enthusiastic in research aiming to increase evidence based knowledge to improve eye health care in line with the goals of "Vision 2020- the Right to Sight" initiative.


The classic Bogoliubov theory of weakly interacting Bose gases rests upon the assumption that nearly all the bosons condense into the lowest quantum state at sufficiently low temperatures. Here we develop a generalized version of Bogoliubov theory for the case of a driven-dissipative exciton-polariton condensate with a large incoherent uncondensed component, or excitonic reservoir. We argue that such a reservoir can consist of both excitonic high-momentum polaritons and optically dark superpositions of excitons across different optically active layers, such as multiple quantum wells in a microcavity. In particular, we predict interconversion between the dark and bright (light-coupled) excitonic states that can lead to a dynamical equilibrium between the condensate and reservoir populations. We show that the presence of the reservoir fundamentally modifies both the energy and the amplitudes of the Bogoliubov quasiparticle excitations due to the non-Galilean-invariant nature of polaritons. Our theoretical findings are supported by our experiment, where we directly detect the Bogoliubov excitation branches of an optically trapped polariton condensate in the high-density regime. By analyzing the measured occupations of the excitation branches, we extract the Bogoliubov amplitudes across a range of momenta and show that they agree with our generalized theory.


Background: Occupational exposure to mercury is associated to mercurialism, a characteristic occupational poisoning. To verify impact of environmental mercury levels improvement would have in gold's refinery workers of a Peruvian auriferous company, we carried out a reengineering program for exposure control. This program included health and hygiene occupational aspects and operation's management active participation. Objective: To study in gold refinery workers variations in indicators of exposure to mercury with environment labor quality improvement. Design: Prospective and descriptive study. Place of study: Occupational Health Service in a Peruvian mining company. Participants: Workers of gold refinery. Interventions: Modification of physician examination methodology, hygienic evaluation and improved conditions of the labor environment. Every six months we quantified the environmental limits of both toxic and biological exposure indicators. Then variation of exposure biological indices versus variation of environmental limits was analyzed. Main outcome measures: Environmental and biological indicators. Results: Environmental indicators values improved every year, as well as workers biological indicators. Environmental mercury decreased from 6.3 mg/m3 in 2003 to 0.03 at the end of 2007, p < 0.001. Urinary mercury decreased from 11.9 ug/L in 2003 to 2.3 in 2007, p < 0.01. Conclusions: In the group studied workers' toxic levels decreased with improvement of the environment indicator.


Present manuscript reports the solution of well known non linear wave mechanics problem called KDV equation, here main emphasis is given on the Mathematical modeling of traveling waves and their solutions in the form of Korteweg- de Vries equation (KdV) It is a non-linear Partial Differential Equation (PDE) of third order which arises in a number of physical applications such as water waves, elastic rods, plasma physics etc. We present numerical solution of the above equation using B-spline FEM (Finite Element Method) approach. The ultimate goal of the paper is to solve the above problem using numerical simulation in which the accuracy of computed solutions is examined by making comparison with analytical solutions, which are found to be in good agreement with each other along with that we discussed the physical interpolation of the soliton study in which we found that the travel waves reaches to the maximum magnitude of the velocity in the short time of the interval and there is an uncertainty in the motion of the moving waves. Another important observation we found that the maximum magnitude of the velocity in the most of the time domain is around 1 but in some of the condition waves having a unnatural phenomena which is called the existence of the doubly soliton is seemed frequently. All above observation which is clearly indication of the generic outcome of a weakly nonlinear long-wave asymptotic analysis of many physical systems. The another achievement of the work is to implementation of the cubic B- spline FEM in the above non linear propagating waves phenomena. Keyword-Spline, FEM, KDV, Separated solitary Waves


We use classical molecular dynamics simulations to study the motion of sodium atoms in amorphous Na2O – 4SiO2 over a wide range of temperatures below and above the glass transition temperature Tg. We find that the region of space most visited by the sodium atoms forms a network of connected pockets that we call channels. These channels are strongly correlated with the locations of the non-bridging oxygens of the matrix and give rise to a pre-peak in the structure factor. In order to understand the physical origin of the channels we have studied the characteristics of the sodium atoms INside and OUTside the channels. We show that neither the potential energy nor the local environment permit us to distinguish between IN and OUT atoms. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the channels correspond to regions of higher sodium density compared to the rest of the system. Finally, as expected, we show that the mean square displacement of the sodium atoms inside the channels is significantly larger than that of the sodium atoms outside.


Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a small, ubiquitous phospholipid that acts as an extracellular signaling molecule by binding to and activating at least five known G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): LPA(1)-LPA(5). They are encoded by distinct genes named LPAR1-LPAR5 in humans and Lpar1-Lpar5 in mice. The biological roles of LPA are diverse and include developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological effects. This diversity is mediated by broad and overlapping expression patterns and multiple downstream signaling pathways activated by cognate LPA receptors. Studies using cloned receptors and genetic knockout mice have been instrumental in uncovering the significance of this signaling system, notably involving basic cellular processes as well as multiple organ systems such as the nervous system. This has further provided valuable proof-of-concept data to support LPA receptors and LPA metabolic enzymes as targets for the treatment of medically important diseases that include neuropsychiatric disorders, neuropathic pain, infertility, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer.


This paper reports on the methodology and materials used to construct anthropomorphic phantoms for use in dosimetry studies, improving on methods and materials previously described by Jones et al. [Med Phys. 2006;33(9):3274–82]. To date, the methodology described has been successfully used to create a series of three different adult phantoms at the University of Florida (UF). All phantoms were constructed in 5 mm transverse slices using materials designed to mimic human tissue at diagnostic photon energies: soft tissue‐equivalent substitute (STES), lung tissue‐equivalent substitute (LTES), and bone tissue‐equivalent substitute (BTES). While the formulation for BTES remains unchanged from the previous epoxy resin compound developed by Jones et al. [Med Phys. 2003;30(8):2072—81], both the STES and LTES were redesigned utilizing a urethane‐based compound which forms a pliable tissue‐equivalent material. These urethane‐based materials were chosen in part for improved phantom durability and easier accommodation of real‐time dosimeters. The production process has also been streamlined with the use of an automated machining system to create molds for the phantom slices from bitmap images based on the original segmented computed tomography (CT) datasets. Information regarding the new tissue‐equivalent materials, as well as images of the construction process and completed phantom, are included. PACS number: 87.53.Bn


Abstract. The study applies the improved cloud-free Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectral radiometer (MODIS) daily snow cover product (MODMYD_MC) to analyze the snow cover variations from snow Hydrologic Year (HY) HY2000 to HY2013 in the Amur River Basin (ARB), northeast Asia. The fractions of forest cover were 38 %, 63 % and 47 % in 2009 in China (the southern ARB), Russia (the northern ARB) and ARB, respectively. Forest demonstrates complex influences on the snow accumulation and melting processes and on optical satellite snow cover mapping. Validation results show that MODMYD_MC has a snow agreement of 88 % against in situ snow depth (SD) observations (SD≥4cm). The agreement is about 10 % lower at the forested stations than at the non-forested stations. Snow Cover Durations (SCD) from MODMYD_MC are 20 days shorter than ground observations (SD ≥ 1 cm) at the forested stations, while they are just 8 days shorter than ground observations (SD ≥ 1 cm) at the non-forested stations. Annual mean SCDs in the forested areas are 21 days shorter than those in the nearby farmland in the SanJiang Plain. SCD and Snow Cover Fraction (SCF) are negatively correlated with air temperature in ARB, especially in the snow melting season, when the mean air temperature in March and April can explain 86 % and 74 % of the mean SCF variations in China and Russia, respectively. From 1961 to 2015, the annual mean air temperature presented an increase trend by 0.33 ℃/decade in both China and Russia, while it had a decrease trend during the study period from HY2000 to HY2013. The decrease of air temperature resulted in an increase of snow cover although the increase of snow cover was not significant above the 90 % confidence level. SCD and SCF had larger increase rates in China than in Russia, and they were larger in the forested area than in the nearby farmland in similarly climatic settings in the SanJiang Plain. Air temperature began to increase again in 2014 and 2015, and the increasing air temperature in ARB projects a decrease of snow cover extent and periods in the coming years.


A method is presented for identifying critical farm machinery in a linear programming context. The method uses a technical coefficient sensitivity analysis formula that overcomes problems associated with direct use of shadow prices for critical machinery identification. Case studies show the formula identifies the benefits of altering machinery generally with less than 10% error.


Internet of Things (IoT) has accelerated the deployment of millions of sensors at the edge of the network, through Smart City infrastructure and lifestyle devices. Cloud computing platforms are often tasked with handling these large volumes and fast streams of data from the edge. Recently, Fog computing has emerged as a concept for low-latency and resource-rich processing of these observation streams, to complement Edge and Cloud computing. In this paper, we review various dimensions of system architecture, application characteristics and platform abstractions that are manifest in this Edge, Fog and Cloud eco-system. We highlight novel capabilities of the Edge and Fog layers, such as physical and application mobility, privacy sensitivity, and a nascent runtime environment. IoT application case studies based on first-hand experiences across diverse domains drive this categorization. We also highlight the gap between the potential and the reality of Fog computing, and identify challenges that need to be overcome for the solution to be sustainable. Taken together, our article can help platform and application developers bridge the gap that remains in making Fog computing viable.


Colloidal suspensions of engineered nanoparticles have been studied in recent years for waste water and in-situ groundwater remediation. In particular, injectable Fe-based materials (nano- and micro-sized zero-valent iron particles, NZVI and MZVI) are an improvement on commonly used granular iron: they can be suspended in a slurry and directly injected into the source of contamination, overcoming most of the limitations of zerovalent iron permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). Moreover, colloidal particles show increased reactivity, thanks to their high specific surface area. To improve colloidal stability and transportability of MZVI and NZVI, the use of highly viscous shear-thinning carrier fluids have been suggested, and proved to be effective. This work, co-funded by European Union project AQUAREHAB (FP7 - Grant Agreement Nr. 226565), presents experimental and modeling results for the transport of highly concentrated (up to 20 g/l) non-Newtonian (namely, shear-thinning) slurries of MZVI and NZVI in sand packed columns. Assessing the mobility of iron-based colloids is a key issue for field applications of these materials. A transport model is required to provide a reliable estimation of the radius of influence for the injection points, for a correct dimensioning of full scale remediations and to predict short- and long-term mobility of the iron particles injected in the subsurface. If compared to transport models developed for natural colloids and synthetic model particles (namely latex spheres), the model here presented incorporates more complex phenomena. Rheological properties of the shear-thinning carrier fluid, hydrodynamic parameters of the porous medium (porosity, permeability), and colloid concentrations (both suspended and deposed) are strongly inter-dependent, thus resulting in a complex set of coupled partial differential equations and constitutive relationships. The model results highlight that deposition of relevant amounts of iron particles onto the soil grains significantly reduce porosity and permeability, thus resulting in clogging phenomena, especially for nanoscale particles. Moreover, mechanical filtration is shown to play a role under certain hydrochemical conditions, thus influencing the particle transport


This quantitative study explored the relationship between hope, a psychological construct (Snyder, 2000), and college students' mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, as measured by their loneliness, depression, and stress levels. Analyzing survey data from a non-random probability sample of 257 college students, results indicate that hope was inversely related with loneliness, depression, and stress suggesting that greater presence of hope is associated with lower levels of such symptoms (r's ranging -0.15 to -0.23). Noteworthy, hierarchical linear regression tests show that hope was significantly related to depressive symptoms in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly twice the strength of other predictors. Implications of the study's findings for public policy, professional practice, and future research are discussed.


Present study was carried out to compare the customers' satisfaction after adopting mobile number portability in three districts (Jind, Rohtak and Sirsa) of Haryana. Total 150 respondents were selected for the survey, 50 respondents from each districts and all of these belongs to the different age groups and different profession. Random sampling method was used for data collection. A well structured questionnaire was prepared to analyse the response from different users about satisfaction towards mobile number portability process. Different statistical techniques were used during data analysis (Percentage, Mean, Mode, Standard deviation, Chi-square test). IBM SPSS (16.0 version) software was used to compile all observations.


Objectives Osteoarthritis is a painful joint disease responsible for walking impairment. Its quantitative assessment by gait analysis in mice may be a relevant and noninvasive strategy to assess the disease severity. In this study, we aimed to determine the severity of osteoarthritis at the tissular and gait levels in unilateral and bilateral posttraumatic murine osteoarthritis. Methods Twenty-four C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 8/group): controls, unilateral surgery, and bilateral surgery. Posttraumatic osteoarthritis was induced unilaterally or bilaterally by destabilization of the medial meniscus. Gait analysis was performed weekly with the CatWalkTM XT system until the 16th week after surgery. After animal sacrifices, histological and micro–computed tomographic assessment was performed. Results Operated knees showed a significant increase in the histological score compared with controls (P < 0.001). Calcified anterior medial meniscal bone volume was higher on the ipsilateral side after unilateral destabilization of the medial meniscus (P < 0.001) and on both sides after bilateral intervention (P < 0.01). One week after surgery, the mice mean speed decreased significantly in both operated groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). In the unilateral group, a significant increase in the contralateral hind print area appeared from week 4 to week 16. Conclusions While bilateral destabilization of the medial meniscus induced no detectable gait modification except 1 week after surgery, unilateral model was responsible for a gait disturbance on the contralateral side. Further studies are needed to better define the place of the CatWalkTM in the evaluation of mouse models of osteoarthritis.


A novel planarization technique for variable size and pattern factors is presented. It is demonstrated that by the combination of reactive ion etching (RIE) and chemical mechanical polish (CMP), the process window is improved to the extent that the planarization becomes a reality. This technique is applied in the shallow trench isolation process which is used in 16-Mb DRAM (dynamic RAM) technology to achieve 0.5- mu m isolation/device dimensions. By a proper combination of RIE and CMP processes, the fundamental problem of tolerance accumulation from deposition and etchback of large film thicknesses is avoided. Excellent planarization is achieved in different areas of the DRAM chip with varying isolation sizes and pattern factors, including deep trench integration. High gate oxide breakdown yield (comparable to LOCOS isolation), which is indicative of the planarization low defect density, is demonstrated.<<ETX>>


Background Data: In March 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic and called for international effort to manage the disease. This pandemic has had many adverse effects on the globe. Spinal surgery and surgeons have dealt extensively with this pandemic. Purpose: To review the available data of COVID-19 and the recent status of spinal surgery. Study Design: Literature review. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the English literature for the most up-to-date available data of the COVOD-19 and reported the current status of spinal surgery and surgeons during the pandemic and how they have been affected by and handled the pandemic. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the global reconstruction of the health care services of the spinal surgery. New guidelines and recommendations have been released by many health authorities during the pandemic to optimize the working conditions and make maximum use of the available resources; other guidelines are in progress depending on the altering nature of the disease. Maximizing the use of telemedicine and online education would decrease the spread of infection, continuing the health care and education. We have to continue this practice as the pandemic is expected to last for many months and to learn lessons from the current and previous pandemics to avoid another pandemic wave. Conclusion: Spinal surgeons have a crucial role as health care providers and society advocates. Optimizing the conditions for health care providers and patients in theatres, clinics, and inpatients would lessen the risk of spreading infections. Telemedicine and online education are playing a significant role during the pandemic. (2020ESJ134)


A network of distributed image-based medical services (Imagencies) is proposed. Each one is a community of specialised, co-operating programs (Imagents), providing acquisition, processing, archiving and management facilities. Both synchronous and asynchronous communication are proposed, based on the standard protocols available on the Internet. We describe a prototype implementation in the field of telepathology. At present, the Imagency includes a secretary and an image processing specialist; asynchronous communication is realised by the standard MIME protocol for multimedia electronic mail. Practical results and future perspectives are presented and discussed.


Phase diagram of Gibbs monolayers of mixtures containing n-hexadecyl phosphate (n-HDP) and L-arginine (L-arg) at a molar ratio of 1:2 has been constructed by measuring surface-pressure-time (pi-t) isotherms with film balance and by observing monolayer morphology with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). This phase diagram shows a triple point for gas (G), liquid expanded (LE), and liquid condensed (LC) phases at around 6.7 degrees C. Above this triple point, a first-order G-LE phase transition occurring at 0 surface pressure is followed by another first-order LE-LC phase transition taking place at a certain higher surface pressure that depends upon temperature. The BAM observation supports these results. Below the triple point, the pi-t measurements show only one first-order phase transition that should be G-LC. All of these findings are in agreement with the general phase diagram of the spread monolayers. However, the BAM observation at a temperature below the triple point shows that the thermodynamically allowed G-LC phase transition is, in fact, a combination of the G-LE and LE-LC phase transitions. The latter two-phase transitions are separated by time and not by the surface pressure, indicating that the G-LC phase transition is kinetically separated into these two-phase transitions. The position of the LE phase below the triple point in the phase diagram is along the phase boundary between the G and LC phases.


Seismic images along Australia's southern continental margin reveal the internal geometry and depositional history of the Hammerhead Delta, a Late Cretaceous shelf-margin delta complex in the Ceduna Subbasin of the Bight Basin. The Hammerhead Delta comprises the late Santonian to Maastrichtian Hammerhead supersequence, which is divisible into three, third-order sequence sets and their component sequences. Sequence set 1 (late Santonian to early Campanian) comprises three progradational sequences deposited after a major fall in sea level under a high sediment supply regime. Sequence set 2 (early Campanian to early Maastrichtian) comprises two, sandy progradational sequences. Basinward shifts in facies caused by forced regression are apparent between each progradational sequence. Sequence set 3 (early to late Maastrichtian) is a thick, aggradational succession deposited when the rates of creation of accommodation space and sediment supply were balanced. A transgressive episode at the top of sequence set 3 marks a rapid decrease in sediment supply and the end of deltaic sedimentation.A long-lived sand-rich sediment supply, most likely derived from erosion of the eastern Australian highlands to the northeast, was the major influence on delta formation. Rapid progradation and the formation of thick shelf-margin clinoforms resulted in slope instability, growth-faulting, and load-induced collapse of the shelf margin during the Campanian. The Hammerhead Delta is characterized by sandy, progradational clinoforms and lacks the thick coeval prodeltaic shales and shale tectonism that are common to many other large deltas. The results of this study, which included seismic facies mapping, well correlations, and comparisons to other large shale-poor deltas, suggest that the Hammerhead Delta has excellent reservoir potential.


We study the dynamics and interactions of the critical fluctuations of the Verwey transition in magnetite (${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$) in the pretransition region by means of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on a natural single crystal. We find that a ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{5}$ mode interacts strongly with a central peak of order parameter fluctuations, whose width is determined by the order parameter coherence time. This is compared with pump-probe experiments, which we formerly explained in terms of fluctuation-assisted stimulated Raman scattering. Our estimates of the order parameter correlation time from experiments in the energy domain (inelastic neutron scattering experiments) and in the time domain (pump-probe experiments) coincide, thus giving further credit to our previous interpretation of pump-probe experiments and confirming that the Verwey transition is of the order-disorder type, without phonon softening.


The genus Physalaemus Fitzinger is composed by 49 species (Frost 2020), which are grouped in two major clades (Lourenço et al. 2015), the Physalaemus cuvieri and P. signifer clades. Within the P. cuvieri clade, five species groups are recognized: P. biligonigerus, P. cuvieri, P. gracilis, P. henselii, and P. olfersii (Lourenço et al. 2015). According to Lourenço et al. (2015), seven species are assigned to the P. olfersii group: P. feioi, P. insperatus, P. lateristriga, P. maximus, P. olfersii, P. orophilus, and P. soaresi. Regarding their larval stage, four species have their tadpoles described for external morphology: P. maximus, P. olfersii, P. orophilus, and P. soaresi (Weber et al. 2005; Baêta et al. 2007; Giaretta et al. 2009; Pezzuti et al. 2019); two of them have their tadpoles described for oral internal morphology: P. maximus and P. soaresi (Ruggeri Weber 2012). Herein, we describe the external and oral internal morphology of tadpole of P. lateristriga from Paraná State, southern Brazil, and compare them to the known tadpoles of the P. olfersii group.


Two cases of necrosis of the head of the femur, one associated with an ununited fracture of the neck and the other with an ununited fracture at the junction of the head and neck, which developed after healing of a primary fracture located distally in the neck, were treated by drilling two holes across the neck and upper portion of the head and the insertion of a rectangular tibial bone graft into each hole. The fractures united promptly and the upper portion of the head was rapidly invaded and replaced by new bone, thereby avoiding collapse of the head from weight-bearing. In one patient, function was restored practically to normal and there was little roentgenographic evidence of degenerative arthritis, seven and one-half years after operation. An equally promising result was present in the other patient at the end of twelve and one-half months.

In a third case of ununited fracture with death of the head of two years' duration, the lower bone graft was inserted across the fracture line deep into the head, while the upper graft was inserted only to the margin of the upper portion of the head. Bony union occurred promptly; but, beginning sixteen months after operation, the upper portion of the head, which had not been drilled and supported by a graft, underwent collapse and absorption, and a poor functional result was obtained.

The cases present evidence that drilling and bone-pegging of the upper portion of the necrotic head of the femur which has undergone little or no collapse may increase the rate of transformation of the structure into living bone, shorten the non-weight-bearing period, and decrease the incidence of collapse, deformity, degenerative arthritis, and poor functional results.


Experiences with shoulder replacement in 40 cases since 1966 and the development of a nonblocked total prosthesis are described. The replacement of both joint surfaces according to the principles of low friction arthroplasty ist needed to obtain relief of pain. The nonblocked system corresponds in a high degree to physiologic conditions. The shape of the implant and the meticulous reconstruction of the inner and outer rotator cuffs reduce the danger of dislocation considerably. Only small bone resection is necessary. In cases of dislocated compound fractures and of painful posttraumatic and rheumatic arthrosis, total replacement could be an alternative to resection of the humeral head as well as to shoulder arthrodesis.


Motion Analysis of Physical Human-Human Collaboration with Varying Modus Seth Michael Freeman Department of Mechanical Engineering, BYU Master of Science Despite the existence of robots that are capable of lifting heavy loads, robotic assistants that can help people move objects as part of a team are not available. This is because of a lack of critical intelligence that results in inefficient and ineffective performance of these robots. This work makes progress towards improved intelligence of robotic lifting assistants by studying humanhuman teams in order to understand basic principles of co-manipulation teamwork. The effect of modus, or the manner in which a team moves an object together, is the primary study of this work. Data was collected from over 30 human-human trials in which participants in teams of two co-manipulated an object that weighed 60 pounds. These participants maneuvered through a series of five obstacles while carrying the object, exhibiting one of four modi at any given time. The raw data from these experiments was cleaned and distilled into a pose trajectory, velocity trajectory, acceleration trajectory, and interaction wrench trajectory. Classifying on the original base set of four modi with a neural net showed that two of the three modi were very similar, such that classification between three modi was more appropriate. The three modi used in classification were quickly, smoothly and avoiding obstacles. Using a convolutional neural net, three modi were able to be classified from a validation set with up to 85% accuracy. Detecting modus has the potential to greatly improve human-robot co-manipulation by providing a means to determine an appropriate robot behavior objective function. Survey data showed that participants trust each other more after working together and that they feel that their partners are more qualified after they worked together. A number of modified scales were also shown to be reliable which will allow future researchers in human-robot comanipulation to properly evaluate how humans feel about working with each other. These same scales will also provide a useful comparison to human-robot teams in order to determine how much humans trust robots as co-manipulation team members.


Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a gas-phase thin film technology that boasts atomic-level control over the amount of material being deposited. A great deal of research effort has been devoted to the exploitation of ALD precision for the synthesis of nanostructures other than thin films such as supported nanoparticles (NPs). ALD is not only precise but also scalable to high-surface-area supports such as powders, which are relevant to a wide range of applications in fields spanning catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and medicine. Yet, translating the precision of ALD of thin films to the synthesis of NPs is not straightforward. In fact, ALD is mostly understood in terms of self-limiting surface reactions leading to a layer-by-layer conformal growth. However, the formation and growth of NPs is bound to be dictated by atomistic processes other than ALD surface reactions, such as the diffusion and aggregation of atoms and NPs. Understanding the role of such non-equilibrium processes is the key to achieving atomic-level control over the morphology of ALD-grown NPs and, in particular, their particle size distribution (PSD) and shape. This thesis is aimed at expanding our atomic-scale understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of NPs during ALD. In particular, this thesis is based on experiments and models that were devised with an eye to scalability.


Conscious sedation, as used in dentistry and oral surgery, has been used satisfactorily to manage patients undergoing the intense pain encountered in radio frequency trigeminal rhizotomy for tic douloureux. The pain produced by this procedure cannot be blocked by local anesthesia. General anesthesia cannot be used because of the need for sensory testing in an awake, cooperative patient. Conscious sedation using alphaprodine, hydroxyzine, methohexital, and intensive behavioral modification was compared with a neuroleptic intravenous sedation technique using droperidol, fentanyl, and thiopental. Patients managed with conscious sedation were found to be more amnestic for the pain of surgery, a difference that persisted six months later.


Author(s): Gilden, Julia Katherine | Advisor(s): Krummel, Matthew F | Abstract: Coordination of immunity requires rapid trafficking of T cells among diverse tissues throughout the body. In their travels, cells can adopt versatile shapes and modes of motility. In lymph nodes and interstitial spaces, T cells crawl rapidly, with an amoeboid morphology characterized by leading edge protrusion and MyoII-based contraction at the trailing uropod. In this work, I have investigated the role of septin GTPases in T cell motility, and in other aspects of T cell biology. Knockdown of septins in D10 T cells results in an uncontrolled cortex with unusual and dynamic blebs and protrusion that lead to inefficient crawling in 2D. Using an osmotic stress model of cortical expansion and contraction, I determined that septins function in the contraction phase of cortical control, assembling at the plasma membrane at stretched, actin-poor regions. My data indicate that septins coordinate the cortex via recapture and contortion of plasma membrane. These findings suggest potentially important roles for septins in migration in vivo, and I have validated a conditional Sept7 knockout mouse model for use in future studies.


fat and the Eskimos have diets very high, but in each case the ratio of essential fatty aeids to saturated fatty acids is high. On an Eskimo diet (marine food and water only for 100 days) my plasma fibrinogen concentration started and remained at a normal level. The Japanese and Eskimos also have very low prevalences of bronchial carcinoma despite their heavy smoking; in Eskimos these were documented by Stefansson.i In an analysis of 43 countries Wynder et al showed a possible relation between high dietary fat, smoking, and lung cancer.7 But Eskimos on their traditional diet have the highest dietary fat intake in the world and the Japanese among the lowest, which with other considerations led me to suggest more than 30 years ago that there was a relation between a relative deficiency of essential fatty acids (which is a low ratio of essential fatty acids to long chain saturated fatty acids and trans isomers), smoking, and lung cancer8; this ratio is about 0-2-0-3 in British diets but 1-0 or more in Japanese and traditional Eskimo diets. Keys, at a time when he thought that the quantity and not quality of fat was the important factor in coronary heart disease, stated that the American diet was higher in fat than that of Eskimos9 and quoted me in support, but my paper on Eskimo diets showed just the opposite'0; the Eskimo diet is, of course, rich in the long chain n-3 essential fatty acids of marine oils," as is the Japanese diet.1 So we have a plausible explanation of the low prevalence of coronary heart disease and lung cancer despite heavy smoking in those who have a high ratio of these essential fatty acids to long chain saturated fatty acids and trans isomers, whatever the actual amount of fat in the diet.


The paper aims to present the results of a survey of academic libraries about the adoption and perceived impact of Web 2.0 technologies. A total of 26 college libraries affiliated with Solapur University participated among the members. It was found that each library was using some form of technology, such as RSS, blogs, social networking sites, wikis, and instant messaging. Analyzing the entire college web technology usages, it is observed from the results that most of the web technologies are not used by the mainstream of the users due to lack of awareness, training, etc. Accurate and appropriate training should be conducted by the colleges' Libraries according to the necessities of the users. Systematic training will inevitably help the user for the maximum utilization of e-resources of the library. The leading web technologies such as internet surfing, emails, search engines, wikis, photo sharing, etc. are used by a great number of users on a daily and weekly basis of frequency. On the other hand majority of the web technologies are never used by a great number of users.


Recently, machine learning based single image super resolution (SR) approaches focus on jointly learning representations for high-resolution (HR) and low-resolution (LR) image patch pairs to improve the quality of the super-resolved images. However, due to treat all image pixels equally without considering the salient structures, these approaches usually fail to produce visual pleasant images with sharp edges and fine details. To address this issue, in this work we present a new novel SR approach, which replaces the main building blocks of the classical interpolation pipeline by a flexible, content-adaptive deep neural networks. In particular, two well-designed structure-aware components, respectively capturing local- and holistic-image contents, are naturally incorporated into the fully-convolutional representation learning to enhance the image sharpness and naturalness. Extensively evaluations on several standard benchmarks (e.g., Set5, Set14 and BSD200) demonstrate that our approach can achieve superior results, especially on the image with salient structures, over many existing state-of-the-art SR methods under both quantitative and qualitative measures.


The resolution of conflicts between n aircraft is highly combinational and cannot be optimally solved using classical mathematical optimization techniques. Using a priority order to solve a n-aircraft conflict is much easier but the solution is not optimal. FACES (free-flight autonomous coordinated en route solver) is a model for coordinated on-board sequential conflict solving. In this project, conflict-free trajectories are obtained by applying elementary maneuvers to each aircraft, sequentially, according to some priority order. In this paper, a comparative study on a set of proposed priority heuristics to provide a suitable priority order is presented, and aggregated heuristics are compared according to some criteria. The conflict solver FACES using heuristics is tested in en-route upper airspace within an air traffic simulator using real traffic data.


The results of a manometric follow-up study of 10 patients treated by diverticulectomy for pharyngooesophageal diverticula are published. Compared with normals, these patients showed no difference in the length and resting pressure of the pharyngo-oesophageal sphincter. The changes in pressure in the pharynx and sphincter area induced by swallowing were also normal, in strength as well as in sequence. It is concluded that a hypertensive or abnormally functioning pharyngo-oesophageal sphincteris is not a common pathogenetic factor in pharyngo-oesophageal diverticula.


Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is used in musculoskeletal lesion surgery, including muscle, bone, tendons and ligaments. PRP might accelerate the healing process and the integration of the graft, allowing an earlier return to sports activities of patients. PRP is obtained from autologous blood, which is centrifuged, obtaining platelet and supposedly growth factor concentrations three to five times higher than those of regular blood. The clinical results of studies performed in Chile and elsewhere on PRP use in knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been variable. Therefore, there is not enough evidence to support or deny the usefulness of PRP in ACL reconstructions.


Uganda is well endowed with economic quantities of salt evident in the interstitial brines and evaporite deposits of Lake Katwe, a closed saline lake located in the western branch of the great East African rift valley. Currently, rudimentally methods of salt mining based on solar evaporation of brine continue to be used for salt extraction at the lake. These have proved to be hazardous and unsustainable to the salt miners and the environment. In this work, literature concerning the occurrence of salt and the most common available technologies for salt extraction is documented. Field studies were undertaken to characterize the salt lake deposit and to devise strategies of improving salt mining and extraction from the salt lake raw materials. The mineral salt raw materials (brines and evaporites) were characterized to determine their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and morphological composition through field and laboratory analyses. In addition, laboratory extraction techniques were undertaken to evaluate possibilities of future sustainable salt extraction from the lake deposit. Also, PHREEQC simulations using Pitzer models were carried out to determine the present saturation state of the lake brine and to estimate which salts and the order in which they precipitate from the brine upon concentration by evaporation.Results reveal that the raw materials from the salt lake contain substantial amounts of salt which can be commercialized for optimum production. The brines are highly alkaline and rich in Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, CO32-, and HCO3-. Moreover, they contain trace amounts of Mg2+, Ca2+, Br-, and F-. The lake is hydro-chemically of a carbonate type with the brines showing an intermediate transition between Na-Cl and Na-HCO3 water types. The evaporites are composed of halite mixed with other salts such as hanksite, burkeite, trona etc, with their composition varying considerably within the same grades. The laboratory extraction experiments indicate that various types of economic salts such as thenardite, anhydrite, mirabilite, burkeite, hanksite, gypsum, trona, halite, nahcolite, soda ash, and thermonatrite precipitate from the brine of Lake Katwe. The salts crystallize in the order following the sequence starting with sulfates, followed by chlorides and carbonates, respectively. Moreover, thermodynamic modeling in PHREEQC accurately predicted the solubility and sequence of the salt precipitation from the lake brine. Understanding the sequence of salt precipitation from the brine helps to control its evolution during concentration and hence, will lead to an improved operating design scheme of the current extraction processes. The work providesinformation towards future mineral salt exploitation from the salt lake.


The ATP-gated P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) play a key role in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to immunological challenges. Pannexin 1 (Panx1), conventionally described as a hemichannel forming protein, was suggested to be involved in the formation of the P2X7 large pore, which provides a conduit for large molecules such as fluorescent dyes. Firstly, this thesis demonstrated that the P2X7R-mediated dye uptake, a phenomenon attributed to the activation of Panx1, was suppressed by acidic pH and this inhibition was abolished in a P2X7 mutant (aspartic acid 197 to alanine) that was insensitive to extracellular pH. Then, the functional properties of human or mouse Panx1 in HEK293 cells were analysed in the absence of P2X7. The Panx1 currents were not affected by extracellular/intracellular calcium, but were reversibly inhibited by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and non-specific anion channel blockers. Ion substitution experiments showed that Panx1 was permeable only to monovalent anions and single channel studies revealed a medium sized unitary conductance of Panx1 (~65 pS). Based on the evidence, this thesis concluded that Panx1 is an anion channel but not a hemichannel as originally proposed.


Professional training of music teacher is a versatile and creative process. It includes numerous areas, such as instrumental and vocal training, studying pedagogical technologies for working with children, studying masterpieces of world music art, and, certainly, studying digital resources and technologies. Digital education space is a digital environment integrating opportunities of digital education resources, computer-aided music technologies and tools, which is the basis in training music teacher. The importance of skills of setting as interactive accompaniment and basic user accompaniment in the form of phonogram is also stipulated by the specificity of accompaniment activity of music teacher as one of the major constituents of professional readiness. Imagination of music teacher as a concertmaster (accompanist of children singing) exerts the influence on whether he would be able by means of expressive playing and keyboard technique to underline and to support the temper of children singing, to present clearly and to reproduce instrument features by piano. That is, a music teacher should be aware of organology, know features of instrument sounding and peculiarities of various instruments. This is sufficiently aided by sequencer software with embedded banks of virtual tunes on synthesizer. In digital education space, video is presented as teaching aid for transfer of learning information, that is, it is considered as video aid, video device used for organization of education. Under existing conditions of distance learning, the interaction between teacher–choirmaster, teacher–vocalist, concertmaster, and students is supported by information and communication technologies. Therefore, mastering means and resources of digital education space is aimed at improved of professional training of future music teacher being the basis of formation of personal capabilities and skills of student.


Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an unusual complication of malignancy. We diagnosed primary splenic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in a patient. A seven-year-old boy presented with Coombs test-positive hemolytic anemia. After a course of prednisolone therapy, a complete response for anemia was achieved. Twenty months later, in addition to severe hemolytic anemia, the patient was diagnosed with ALCL after splenectomy and pathologic examination of the sample. The recognition of this clinical picture as a complication of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has important implications. The most effective management of AIHA in the setting of cancer is to treat the underlying malignancy.


The electrical conductivity of a colloid-water-electrolyte system increases with the frequency of the applied alternating electric current. The phenomenon is referred to as conductivity dispersion. This paper reports on the effects of electrolyte type, electrolyte concentration, and water content on the dispersion characteristics of kaolinite, illite, and silty clay soils, with emphasis on the mechanisms governing the dispersion phenomenon. It was observed that magnitude of conductivity dispersion increases with a reduction in water content, electrolyte concentration, and cation-exchange capacity of the clay. The type of ions influence the electrical dispersion through their size and mobility. Frequency effect increases as the hydrated radius of the counterions associated with the clay surface increases. Conductivity dispersion is explained primarily in terms of counterion/co-ion ratio in the diffuse double layer. Increase in the ratio of counterions to co-ions is an indication of a larger contribution to conduction by counterions than by co-ions, which in turn results in a larger frequency effect. Although diffusion coupling has an important role in the electrical dispersion characteristics of clay—water—electrolyte systems, other coupling phenomena, particularly electro-osmotic coupling, plays a significant part.


Cwh6 is a temperature-sensitive cell wall mutant of Succharomyces cereuisiae. CWH6 was found to be identical to SPT14,a gene that ishighly homologous to both human PIG-A and to RFAK from Salmonella typhimurium. PIG-A and RFAK are involved in transferring N-acetylglucosamine to, respectively, a GPI anchor precursor and to lipopolysaccharides. Because cell walls of cwh6 are greatly reduced in mannose, and because slarne cell wall proteins are known to be incorporated into the cell wall through a GPI-anchor dependent mechanism, we propose thal. Sptl4p/Cwh6p is involved in transferring N-acetylglucosamine to a precursor of GPI anchors. We further propose that the majority of cell wall proteins are incorporated into the cell wall through a GPI anchor.


BACKGROUND
Drug-induced thyrotoxicosis is not uncommon. It may worsen life-threatening arrhythmias and may be refractory to medical treatment. Near-total thyroidectomy presents a valid alternative to medical therapy and should be considered early in the management of the disease.

OBJECTIVES
To assess whether near-total thyroidectomy was a viable approach for our patients.

METHODS
Twelve patients--7 men and 5 women, aged 63 to 82 years--presented with drug-induced fulminant thyrotoxicosis following 1 to 12 months of amiodarone treatment (11 patients, mean 7 months) and after a 6 months course of interferon-alpha treatment (one patient). Medical therapy included propylthiouracil in doses up to 1200 mg/day in all patients and a beta-receptor antagonist in seven. Five patients had to stop amiodarone treatment and start high doses of steroids. A thyroid scan was performed in all patients using 5 mCi of Tc-99m pertechnetate. The thyroid scan showed absent uptake of the tracer in the thyroid bed in all patients, precluding the use of radioablation.

RESULTS
Four patients (three with AIT and one with interferon therapy) who did not respond to 3 months of medical therapy required surgical thyroidectomy due to severe unremitting thyrotoxicosis. A near-total thyroidectomy resulted in rapid correction of thyrotoxicosis, enabling continuation of the anti-arrhythmic drug. There were no intraoperative or postoperative arrhythmias. Subsequently, all patients recovered rapidly and remained well and euthyroid on thyroxine replacement therapy.

CONCLUSIONS
Since surgery results in rapid control of thyrotoxicosis and permits continued therapy with amiodarone, we suggest that near-total thyroidectomy warrants consideration as a definitive treatment for resistant amiodarone or interferon-induced thyrotoxicosis.


Introduction. Negotiorum gestio (NG) denotes an action where a person well intendedly acts on behalf of another without obtaining the latter's prior consent. In broad terms, NG-like actions have played a considerable role in health care provision. In some settings, health care delivery with only little or presumed patients' consent has been the rule rather than the exception. However, bioethical principles regarding patient autonomy and obtainment of the patient's informed consent (IC) before intervention are now increasingly materialized in the law of many countries. Aim. To study legal consequences of NG in family medicine and IC handling options. Methods. Case law examination. Results. A disciplinary board case is described concerning a family doctor conducting unlawful NG by not coming up to legal IC requirements. Discussion and Conclusion. The practical and legal implications of IC and possible role of novel Shared Decision-Making approaches in coming up to regulation and bioethical demands are discussed. It is concluded that a doctor may run an unnecessary legal risk when conducting NG in decision-competent patients and furthermore it is suggested that novel Shared Decision-Making approaches could help in obtaining a rightful and practicable IC.


I begin here by discussing the role of Leibniz in historical thought, particularly in Frank Ankersmit's representationalist philosophy of historiography. I then discuss Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen's recent criticism of Ankersmit's commitment to holism about the semantics of historiography. I argue that the criticism fails because Kuukkanen is not sufficiently sensitive to the Leibnizian foundation of Ankersmit's holism. Ankersmit can absorb Kuukkanen's criticisms into his Leibnizism. I conclude by suggesting that the philosophy of historiography needs to be connected to substantial projects in the philosophical criticism of historiography.


ABSTRACT In 2014, the Danish school system celebrated its 200-year anniversary with a five-volume publication entitled Dansk skolehistorie gennem 500 år (500 years of Danish school history). As editors-in-chief, we took our inspiration from the cultural turn within history more generally and the search for the black box of schooling among historians of education more specifically. Our ambition was to write a history about how schooling was done, experienced, negotiated, and contested by a range of agents, from pupils to parents, teachers, and authorities. We wanted to write the history of education as intimately connected to and intertwined with changing childhoods and broader cultural and social developments. In addition, we decided to write from the perspective of diversity with regard to agents, contexts, schools, sources, and methodologies. Our approach is new within Danish educational history writing and as such not yet reflected in international work on the Danish school system. The purpose of this article is therefore to present our arguments, chronologies, and conclusions. The article also introduces our research design and a description of four methodological tools we found helpful when writing the history of education from a bottom-up perspective. The article ends by outlining our main conclusions and reflecting on the challenges we encountered when opening "the black box of schooling".


Numerous factors have been shown to influence microbiome composition, including host genetics, diet and environmental variables. Recent studies have explored how host genetics influence human gut microbial communities, and those of pre-clinical models e.g. mice. However to date no studies have determined the influence of host genetics and extreme environments on wild animal microbiomes. Furthermore, when 'wild' species have been utilised this has typically involved working on captive individuals, restricted to a single species or limited to single sampling without replicates. Here we present work which takes advantage of a unique opportunity to directly investigate host organism genetic influences and environment on the resident microbiome. Our dataset comprised samples from individuals of two closely related sympatric, independently adapted arid mouse species, subject to the same stresses and diet; Acomys cahirinus and Acomys russatus. These desert dwellers are very highly adapted to the extreme environment they live in, and therefore represent an exciting opportunity to probe key microbiome-environment-host genetic questions. Samples are replicates from wild individuals, separated by a period of four months. Wild individuals were captured on two occasions and faecal samples collected. DNA extracted and subjected to shotgun metagenomic sequencing, generating NGS data. Preliminary analysis allowed us to probe community composition and relative abundance within individuals, and between members of the same species. Utilising Kraken, Centrifuge and Metaphlan we have found that abundant taxa include Lactobacillus and Roseburia. Ongoing analysis will enable us to establish the relative influence of host genetics on the metagenome composition of the two species.


We consider implementation of operators via lter banks in the framework of the multiresolution analysis. Our method is particularly ecient for convolution operators. Although our method of applying operators to functions may be used with any wavelet basis with a sucient number of vanishing moments, we distinguish two particular settings, namely, orthogonal bases and the autocorrelation shell. We apply our method to evaluate the Hilbert transform of signals and derive a fast algorithm capable of achieving any given accuracy. We consider the case where the wavelet is the autocorrelation function of another wavelet associated with an orthonormal basis and where our method provides a fast algorithm for the computation of the modulus and the phase of signals. Moreover, the resulting wavelet may be viewed as being (approximately, but with any given accuracy) in the Hardy space H 2 (R).