Background Anticoagulants are high-risk drugs so they require regular analytical monitoring to ensure adequate levels of safety and efficacy. Purpose To identify and quantify the prescription errors that occur during the hospital admission of patients taking anticoagulants with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and enoxaparin. To quantify the degree of acceptance of the intervention of the pharmacist to avoid such errors. Material and methods Prospective observational study conducted in a hospital. Duration: 5 months. Patients included those taking anticoagulants with VKA who were admitted to the hospital and underwent an analytical check by haematology on admission. Sources of information: Silicon v. 9.59 electronic prescription program and haematology instructions. Discrepancies between the prescription of the anticoagulant and the instructions were codified: VKA1 Different VKA dose prescribed. VKA2 Lack of enoxaparin prescription. VKA3 Different enoxaparin frequency. VKA4 Different enoxaparin dose. VKA5 Lack of VKA prescription. VKA6 VKA does not match instructions. VKA7 Instructions recommend discontinuing enoxaparin and on the prescription it is not discontinued. VKA8 Enoxaparin prescribed when it is not recommended in the instructions. VKA9 Apixaban, enoxaparin and acenocoumarol prescribed. Pharmaceutical interventions (PI): PI1 Suspend medication and prescribe the correct one. PI2 Suggest prescription of necessary medication. PI3 Correct enoxaparin frequency. PI4 Correct enoxaparin dose. PI5 Prescribe the VKA. PI6 Review instructions. PI7 Suspend enoxaparin (recommendation in instructions). PI8 Suspend enoxaparin (no recommendation in instructions). PI9 Interaction with other anticoagulants. Results One hundred and nine patients were analysed (194 haematology instructions). Errors in the prescription: 37.63%. Degree of acceptance of PI: 100%. The discrepancies and interventions detected were: VKA5, I5 (37%), VKA2, I2 (20.55%), VKA1, I1 (12.35%), VKA and I4, six, seven and eight (6.85%) and VKA and I3, nine (1.35%). Conclusion In our population, a high percentage of errors were detected in the prescription of anticoagulants. Pharmaceutical intervention was key to minimising prescription errors and improving patient safety. References and/or Acknowledgements Acknowledgements to the Congress. No conflict of interest


The influence of a macroscopic time-dependent threshold on the retrieval process of three-state extremely diluted neural networks is examined. If the threshold is chosen appropriately in function of the noise and the pattern activity of the network, adapting itself in the course of the time evolution, it guarantees an autonomous functioning of the network. It is found that this self-control mechanism considerably improves the retrieval quality, especially in the limit of low activity, including the storage capacity, the basins of attraction and the information content. The mutual information is shown to be the relevant parameter to study the retrieval quality of such low activity models. Numerical results confirm these observations.


The characteristic response of resonator-type filters is determined by the mutual resonator-to-resonator coupling coefficients, which are not readily trimmed once a device is fabricated. We show that loss and/or gain is a mechanism which can mimic the role of the coupling coefficients, and which can therefore be used for post-fabrication tuning or trimming. By using loss-only trimming, the throughput crosstalk performance can be improved by several orders of magnitude while incurring only small signal attenuation.


Evolutionary algorithms are powerful optimization and design tools, and the design of fitness function is their crucial phase. The ruggedness of a fitness function landscape has a profound effect on optimization speed. The choice of objectives and penalty coefficients are important problems for evolutionary antenna design, because these parameters influence the ruggedness of the fitness function landscape. In this paper, we analyze several fitness function landscapes for evolutionary design of dipole antennas using the method of basin evaluation. Our approach makes it possible to compare different fitness functions and thus define proper fitness functions for evolutionary antenna design.


Laboratory channels are often used to study the complexity of braiding mechanisms for the advantages with respect to field studies. Nevertheless, the extensive use of experimental data raises the question of how representative laboratory braided channels are as compared to real braided rivers. This study verifies to what extent laboratory braided patterns reproduce the main features of braided rivers. Experimental data display isotropic and anisotropic scaling of braided patterns, state‐space plot of total widths, anisotropic scaling of islands, and statistical distribution of island areas that are similar to those observed in real rivers. Moreover, the data reveals scaling in the perimeter‐area relation. These results support both the reliability of experimental braided channels as physical models of braided rivers and also the possibility of investigating some aspects of braiding in the laboratory that are difficult to address in the field. The lack of preferential scales in island characteristics suggests that other phenomena must play a key role in generating island shapes besides classical sediment transport‐based mechanisms which tend to select well‐defined length scales.


: Major maritime carriers are globally demanding improvements in the efficiency of port operations. Cargo carried by ships must be loaded and unloaded quickly with minimal stopover time in the port. This is driving the implementation of more efficient processes and the reorganization of technologies at the terminals: connected platforms, cloud-based services, service-oriented architectures (SOA), sensors and other IoT technologies (M2M), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), autonomous transportation, next generation mobile networks (5G) and blockchain-based technology. RTPORT, the 5G-based Model-Driven Real Time Module, will allow a better management of general cargo resulting in faster throughput compared to traditional human-driven communications. A full reorganized mobile network (5G), connecting smart sensors with cloud resources will be used in order decrease environmental impacts by optimizing trucks movements in the port area as well as improving workers' safety and enhance their skills with digital tools. The effectiveness of RTPORT will be evaluated in the Port of Livorno for EU Horizon 2020-funded Capacity with a Positive Environmental and Societal Footprint - Ports in the Future (COREALIS) project and it represents the starting point for the deployment of the Physical Internet.


The paper emerged out of my own and my colleagues' growing discontent with the traditional, ill-organized and unproductive way of evaluating the one-month-teaching practice of student teachers of English Language Teaching (ELT) at Haramaya University. It advances the argument that student teacher evaluation systems should be restructured to represent the voices and experiences of the student teachers. Towards this end, I proposed a mentoring framework that potentially encourages student teachers to become critical practitioners. The model I propose emphasizes the professional agency of the student teacher. The paper holds the position that to transform their views of teaching and learning, student teachers as well as their trainers should be empowered to seek justice and emancipation from the traditional model of evaluation. Finally, it attempts to leave readers with the impression that if we prefer our zone of comfort at the expense of our student teachers' growth, we must know that we are jeopardizing the fate of teacher education.


During apoptosis, cytochrome c is released from mitochondria to the cytosol to activate a caspase cascade, which commits the cell to the death process. It has been proposed that the release of cytochrome c is caused by a swelling of the mitochondrial matrix triggered by the apoptotic stimuli. To test this theory, we measured directly the dynamic re-distribution of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged cytochrome c and morphological change of mitochondria within living HeLa cells during u.v.-induced apoptosis. We observed that mitochondria did not swell when cytochrome c was released from mitochondria to cytosol during apoptosis. Instead, mitochondria swelled to spherical shapes within 10 minutes of cytochrome c release. This finding strongly suggests that cytochrome c release in apoptosis was not caused by mitochondrial swelling. This conclusion was further supported in two separated experiments using an immunostaining method and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP) treatment. In addition, we found evidence that cytochrome c was also released before mitochondrial swelling in apoptosis induced by other cell death-inducing treatments, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and actinomycin D.


CO2 readily combines with H2O to form and H+. Because an increase of only 100 nM in the concentration of H+ (a decrease of 0.1 unit of pH) in blood can prove fatal, the regulated excretion of CO2 during breathing is an essential life-preserving process. In rodents and humans, this vital process is mediated in part via the direct sensing of CO2 via connexin26 (Cx26). CO2 binds to hemichannels of Cx26 causing them to open and allow release of the neurotransmitter ATP. If Cx26 were to be a universal and important CO2 sensor across all homeothermic animals, then a simple hypothesis would posit that it should exhibit evolutionary adaptation in animals with different homeostatic set points for the regulation of partial pressure of arterial CO2 (PaCO2). In humans and rats, PaCO2 is regulated around a set point of 40 mmHg. By contrast, birds are able to maintain cerebral blood flow and breathing at much lower levels of PaCO2. Fossorial mammals, such as the mole rat, live exclusively underground in burrows that are both hypoxic and hypercapnic and can thrive under very hypercapnic conditions. We have therefore compared the CO2 sensitivity of Cx26 from human, chicken, rat and mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber). We find that both the affinity and cooperativity of CO2 binding to Cx26 have been subjected to evolutionary adaption in a manner consistent with the homeostatic requirements of these four species. This is analogous to the evolutionary adaptation of haemoglobin to the needs of O2 transport across the animal kingdom and supports the hypothesis that Cx26 is an important and universal CO2 sensor in homeotherms.


The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Life Thread Model, which incorporates established psychological and social theory related to identity change following an acquired disability. It is supported by a growing body of empirical evidence and can be used to broaden our understanding of service provision in rehabilitation. We suggest that a limited appreciation of social and psychological processes underpinning rehabilitation has led to different agendas for patients and professionals, lack of recognition of power relationships, negative views of disability, and insufficient professional knowledge about the management of emotional responses. The Life Thread Model, based on narrative theory and focusing on interpersonal relationships, has been developed following ten years of empirical research. Using the model, the balance of power between professionals and patients can be recognized. We suggest that positive emotional responses can be supported through (a) endorsing a positive view of self, (b) 'being' with somebody as well as 'doing' things for them; and (c) seeing acquired disability as a time of transition rather than simply of loss. This model highlights the usually hidden social processes which underpin clinical practice in acquired disability. Recognition of the importance of discursive as well as physical strategies widens the possibilities for intervention and treatment.


A clearly erosional, asymmetrical structure with a large concentration of unsorted clasts (ranging from gravel to boulder size) in its deepest point is present in Weichselian glaciolacustrine, mainly fine-grained sediments exposed in an outcrop near Dukuli (NE Latvia). No traces of currents that were sufficiently strong to be capable to erode the sediments significantly have been encountered in the sedimentary succession under study, and such currents would certainly not have been capable to transport boulder-sized clasts. Neither are traces present of mass movements that could deposit the boulder-sized clasts. The glaciolacustrine setting of the succession, the deep scouring and the high concentration of large clasts must therefore be ascribed to erosion of the lake bottom by the keel of an ice raft that became grounded and gradually melted; the debris that was carried along by the ice raft was released and concentrated at the deepest point of the depression that had


We present a detailed study of quantum thermal machines employing quantum systems as working substances. In particular, we study two different types of two-stroke cycles where two collections of identical quantum systems with evenly spaced energy levels are initially prepared at thermal equilibrium by putting them in contact with a cold and a hot thermal bath, respectively. The two cycles differ in the absence or the presence of a mediator system, while, in both cases, non-resonant exchange Hamiltonians are exploited as particle interactions. We show that the efficiencies of these machines depend only on the energy gaps of the systems composing the collections and are equal to the efficiency of "equivalent" Otto cycles. Focusing on the cases of qubits or harmonic oscillators for both models, we maximize the engine power and analyze, in the model without the mediator, the role of the waiting time between subsequent interactions. It turns out that the case with the mediator can bring performance advantages when the interaction times are comparable with the waiting time of the correspondent cycle without the mediator. We find that in both cycles, the power peaks of qubit systems can surpass the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency. Finally, we compare our cycle without the mediator with previous schemes of the quantum Otto cycle showing that high coupling is not required to achieve the same maximum power.


This paper investigates driving forces and hinders for collaborative knowledge creation, and the influence of IT-support technologies. We look at the use of wikis in learning in situation and the problems and possibilities for support of learning processes. The focus is on organizational learning, however not many reports are to be found on this topic. To gain some initiating insight into how to support organizational learning we look at some evidence from education. An overview from past studies and some evidence from our own use of wikis are used as a base for suggestion for the possibilities of wikis. Some important problems to be addressed before launching a corporate wiki include are discussed.


This study treats the system of Vlasov and Maxwell equations for the Fourier transform in space and time of a plasma referred to Cartesian co-ordinates with the z co-ordinate parallel to the uniform equilibrium magnetic field; the equilibrium plasma density depends on ηχ, where η is a parameter, and goes to zero as │χ│ → ∞. The component ky of the wave vector is taken to be zero, whereas kz is non-zero, thereby allowing for Landau damping. Coupling of the components of the electric field parallel and perpendicular to the equilibrium magnetic field (the ordinary and extraordinary waves in a homogeneous plasma) is neglected.


The article, starting from the novel The Awakening (1899) itself and its social background, analyzes the thoughts and actions of the female protagonist Edna Pontellier in the novel written by the American novelist Kate Chopin by dint of putting her into the frames of her family and then society. The article argues that, Edna, far from being the representative of the awakening of feminine self-consciousness, is not awakened at all. On the contrary, all that she thinks and does is unrealistic, romantic, selfish and even absurd, for which her romantic notion of love and her "misreading" of the then social reality and new ideological movements account. Therefore, Edna's actions are not worth eulogizing.


A retrospective review of two multicenter prospective stud- ies was performed of a dual radius design acetabular shell, one with a titanium arc deposited surface roughening and hydroxylapatite coating (AD HA) designed to optimize initial component stability and enhance biological ixation and the other grit-blasted and HA (GB HA) coated. The purpose of the study was to evaluate intermediate clinical and radiographic success of this device, as compared to a grit-blasted HA (GB HA) coated shell of the same design. Eighty-nine hips (83 patients) with a diagnosis of noninlam- matory degenerative joint disease (NIDJD) were implanted with the AD HA shells (Group 1) by three surgeons at three sites. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographi- cally for 5 to 8 years postoperatively (mean, 5.5 years). Clinical and radiographic data for 179 cases with GB HA shells and a diagnosis of NIDJD (Group 2) were reviewed retrospectively at an equivalent time frame. Fifty-eight hips in each group with a minimum 5-year follow-up were identiied through patient matching, based on age, gender, and preoperative body mass index, to provide the cohorts for this study. Radiographically, all patients in Group 1 were stable, and there were no cases of acetabular loosening or revision of the acetabular shell. Three patients in Group 2 had radiographic evidence of acetabular shell migration and eight shells (three dislocations, ive acetabular loosenings) had been revised by 60 months postoperatively. Intermediate results with the AD HA shells are encouraging, as evidenced by clinical success, radiographic stability, and 100% survi- vorship at 5 to 8 years (mean, 66 months).


The impact of shrimp fisheries in tropical regions has become comparable to the world's most intensively exploited temperate shelf ecosystems. The increase in the fishing fleet in south-eastern Brazil and the decrease in landings of profitable shrimp species have contributed to the incorporation of additional species into those fisheries. The goal of the present study is to investigate the influence of environmental factors on the abundance patterns of shrimp communities on the south-eastern coast of Brazil, over a period of two years. Monthly collections were conducted in the Ubatuba and Caraguatatuba regions using a commercial shrimp fishing boat equipped with 'double-rig' nets. Each region was divided into 7 sampling stations up to 35 m deep. The relationship between the environmental factors and the abundance patterns in the shrimp communities was assessed using a canonical correlation analysis (CCorrA). The first set of variables used during the CCorrA included environmental characteristics and the second set of variables the abundance of the studied species. A total of 374,915 individuals were collected during the present study. Xiphopenaeus kroyeri showed the highest abundance (273,127), followed by Artemesia longinaris (73,422), and Pleoticus muelleri (15,262). In the first root, depth and temperature showed the highest factor loadings (0.9 and −0.7) and canonical weights (0.6 and −0.4). These environmental factors were strongly associated with the abundance of X. kroyeri (factor loading =−0.9 and canonical weight =−0.9). The second root demonstrated a positive relationship between abundance of P. muelleri and depth, and an inverse association with bottom temperature. The abundance patterns of X. kroyeri and P. muelleri were strongly affected by the water mass South Atlantic Central Water (cold waters =15°C), which can lead to a temperature decrease in deeper areas (>15 m). Thus, the opposite abundance trend for depth of these species might reflect bathymetric variation in temperature, a clear example of distinct behavioural differences of species of different origins, either tropical (X. kroyeri) or subantarctic (P. muelleri). The low overall association between environmental parameters and shrimp abundance patterns indicates that each studied species might have responded idiosyncratically to environmental variation, such that a general community-level response was not apparent. However, other confounding factors such as intraspecific migration patterns might have also played a role in generating the observed patterns.


Energy consumption of the running stage of automobiles can be drastically reduced by lightening their weight by CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastics). However, energy consumption of the CFRP manufacturing is so big to cancel the energy saving of the running stage. To reduce energy consumption and cost of CFRP manufacturing, reuse of carbon fiber is the most effective. Then, the objective of this study is to develop CFRTP (carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics) by using waste CFRP, and the target of the mechanical properties of the recycled CFRP is more than those of secondary structural parts of current automobile.


This policy brief examines the lack of gender diversity in international investment and trade dispute resolution in light of SDG 5.1 The primary objective of the brief is to link SDG 5 with the imperative of diversifying international adjudication bodies in the fields of trade and investment. The brief demonstrates that women continue to be underrepresented as adjudicators in the fields of investment and trade, and proposes steps necessary to address persistent under-representation. In particular, the brief argues that further empirical research in these fields and a targeted gender strategy are necessary to achieve meaningful progress. In its analysis, the brief will focus on the investor-state tribunals under the framework of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) panels.


Traditionally, data compression deals with the problem of concisely representing a data source, e.g. a sequence of letters, for the purpose of eventual reproduction (either exact or approximate). In this work we are interested in the case where the goal is to answer similarity queries about the compressed sequence, i.e. to identify whether or not the original sequence is similar to a given query sequence. We study the fundamental tradeoff between the compression rate and the reliability of the queries performed on compressed data. For i.i.d. sequences, we characterize the minimal compression rate that allows query answers, that are reliable in the sense of having a vanishing false-positive probability, when false negatives are not allowed. The result is partially based on a previous work by Ahlswede et al., and the inherently typical subset lemma plays a key role in the converse proof. We then characterize the compression rate achievable by schemes that use lossy source codes as a building block, and show that such schemes are, in general, suboptimal. Finally, we tackle the problem of evaluating the minimal compression rate, by converting the problem to a sequence of convex programs that can be solved efficiently.


Some robust control methods have been developed in the past in order to increase tracking performance in the presence of parametric uncertainties. In the presence of parametric uncertainty, unmodelled dynamics and other sources of uncertainties, robust control laws are used. Corless-Leitmann [1] approach is a popular approach used for designing robust controllers for robot manipulators. In early application of Corless-Leitmann [1] approach to robot manipulators [2, 3], it is difficult to compute uncertainty bound precisely. Because, uncertainty bound on parameters depends on the inertia parameters, the reference trajectory and manipulator state vector. Spong [4] proposed a new robust controller for robot manipulators using the Lyapunov theory that guaranties stability of uncertain systems. In this approach, Leithmann [5] or Corless-Leithman [1] approach is used for designing the robust controller. One of the advantage of Spong's approach [4] is that uncertainty on parameter is needed to derive robust controller and uncertainty bound parameters depends only on the inertia parameters of the robots. Yaz [6] proposed a robust control law based on Spong's study [4] and global exponential stability of uncertain system is guaranteed. However, disturbance and unmodelled dynamics are not considered in algorithm of [4, 6]. Danesh at al [7] develop Spong's approach [4] in such a manner that control scheme is made robust not only to uncertain inertia parameters but also to robust unmodelled dynamics and disturbances. Koo and Kim [8] introduce adaptive scheme of uncertainty bound on parameters for robust control of robot manipulators. In [8], upper uncertainty bound is not known as would be in robust controller [4] and uncertainty bound is estimated with estimation law in order to control the uncertain system. A new robust control approach is proposed by Liu and Goldenerg [9] for robot manipulators based on a decomposition of model uncertainty. Parameterized uncertainty is distinguished from unparameterized uncertainty and a compensator is designed for parameterized and unparameterized uncertainty. A decomposition-based control design framework for mechanical systems with model uncertainties is proposed by Liu [10]. In order to increases tracking performance of uncertain systems, design of uncertainty bound estimation functions are considered. For this purpose, some uncertainty bound estimation functions are developed [11-15] based on a Lyapunov function, thus, stability of


The objective of this thesis proposal is to determine the effect of a varying latex binder on the physical and optical characteristics of a coated sheet with different binder addition levels. A total of nine separate coating formulations were made up of three different styrene to butadiene ratios and three different binder addition levels. The optical properties that were tested include opacity, brightness, paper gloss, and K&N ink absorption. The adhesive properties were evaluated by testing the physical properties of pick strength, · abrasion resistance, and wet rub. The porosity and roughness characteristics were also tested. One liter of each coating formulation was made and ran on the CLC laboratory coater. A fifty pound basis weight base sheet was used. The parameters such as coat weight, percent solids, low shear viscosity, pH, pigment, and drying conditions were held constant at values to ensure good runnability on the CLC and resembling those most commonly used within the industry. The focus of this thesis topic being the binder variable, more specifically styrene-butadiene latex. The latex was obtained from the Dow chemical company at three different styrene to butadiene ratios within each latex. One formulation contained Dow 617 latex (hard} with a styrene/butadiene ratio of 1.9 and a glass transitional temperature (Tg) of 18 C. The second formulation contained Dow 620 latex (typical) with a styrene/butadiene ratio of 1.7 and a Tg of 12 C. The final formulation contained Dow 679 latex (soft) with a styrene/butadiene ratio of 1.3 and a Tg of -10 C. The amount oflatex binder based on dry pigment became another variable. One coating formulation contained the typical 12% binder, one was lower approximately containing 8% binder, and the other was above the typical at 18% binder based on dry pigment. By altering the latex binder, the properties of the coating formulation itself alters. Certain properties such as film formation, glass transitional temperature, coalescence, and pigment to binder interactions all vary by changing the amount and type of latex. It can be concluded that the hard latex at a lower binder level is desired to achieve optimum optical characteristics while soft latex at a high binder level is desired for optimum binding strength cha.racteristics. A compromise between the two must be achieved while making the proper coating formulation.


Protein concentrates were prepared from defatted rice bran at different extraction temperature (30-75°C) and analyzed for their functional properties. Protein yield increased as the temperature of extraction was increased while the protein content of protein concentrate decreased. Water binding capacity was in the range of 1.1-2.27 g/g while oil absorption capacity ranged between 1.64 and 6.89 (g/g). RBPC extracted at 60°C exhibited maximum foam producing capacity of 120% at 1% salt concentration. Emulsifying capacity of protein concentrates ranged between 33.71-70.85%. Emulsion capacity decreased as the temperature of extraction was increased. Emulsions were fairly stable under different pH, salt and sugar concentrations.


Background: VRP(vascular Rab-GAP/TBC domain containing protein) is a recently discovered gene from antisense-display screening of angiogenesis- related genes. However, its function in vascular endothelial cells has not been elucidated yet. This study was performed to examine the effects of overexpression of VRP on the function of vascular endothelial cells. Methods: VRP cDNA was cloned from polyA+ RNA from human microvascular endothelial cells, and inserted into a mammalian expression plasmid vector under the control of a CMV promotor. The constructed VRP expression vector was transfected into ECV304 cells. Then the proliferation, tube formation, and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) secretion of the VRP-overexpressed cells were examined. Results: The expression of VRP mRNA was about two-fold greater in the VRP- transfected cells than in the control ECV304 cells. There was, however, no significant difference in the proliferation, cord-like structure formation, and VEGF secretion between the two cell groups. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that VRP overexpression does not affect the proliferation, tube formation, or VEGF secretion of ECV304 cells. Further studies are needed to elucidate the functional role of VRP in endothelial cells(J Kor Diabetes Assoc 27:449~455, 2003).


0. Introduction. In the investigation of functors on the category of preschemes, one is led, by Grothendieck [3], to consider the following situation. Let A be a complete noetherian local ring, u, its maximal ideal, and k = A/u. the residue field. (In most applications A is k itself, or a ring of Witt vectors.) Let C be the category of Artin local A-algebras with residue field k. A covariant functor F from C to Sets is called pro-representable if it has the form


A supported lipid bilayer (SLB) is a lipid bilayer formed on a solid substrate. This system is currently one of the most common model systems used to imitate the properties of the cell membrane that surrounds human cells. In this work it was found that the hydrodynamic shear force from a liquid flow above an SLB can be used to move the entire SLB in the direction of the flowing liquid. This takes place in a rolling type of motion, with the lower monolayer of the SLB being essentially stationary on the support. Forming the SLB on the walls of a microfluidic channel provides a controlled and versatile method of handling and transporting the SLB and molecules associated with it. The theory behind, and some general observations, of this phenomenon are presented in this thesis. In addition of being able to drive the SLB over different types of surfaces and structures, this technique can also be used to manipulate the concentration of molecules solubilized in, or coupled to, the SLB. For example, it was found that membrane-bound proteins could be accumulated at the front of the advancing SLB, leading to a local increase in surface concentration of several orders of magnitude. This could allow the detection of membrane-associated molecules at much lower average surface coverage than previously possible. Another observation was that different types of membrane-associated molecules have a characteristic drift velocity in the lipid bilayer, under the same bulk flow in the channel. This opens up the possibility of separating membrane-associated molecules within the SLB based on differences in drift velocity, as in chromatography, but without the need of first extracting the molecules of interest from the lipid bilayer.


Discussing the source of the self is never an easy task. Autobiographical desires get displaced into biographical sketches, which are then readily transformed into broad historical portraits. Ultimately, the task of re-narrating all these simultaneous strands slips into the genre of fiction, as in Virginia Woolf's parodic biography, Orlando. If Orlando can be characterized as Woolf's exploration of her own theory of sexuality (Holtby), it is also a fictionalized biography of Woolf's friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West, and still again it functions as a broadly sketched history of English literature and politics. One can imagine how to write a biography of one's lover would be to undergo the process of a powerfully mute identification and realization, one that calls up denials and displacements as well.(1) As desire for identification draws Woolf toward the genre of biographical fiction, the need for differentiation following upon such a mimetic project propels her back into parody.(2) If the text is "true to" Sackville-West's personal history, the novel is still quite unfaithful to the genre of biography. How can one be both faithful to facts and unfaithful and tell more of the truth without exactly telling it the same? While the book's incompetent narrator may issue misleading imperatives to find "the single thread" that ties together personal identity, the effects of Orlando's transformation through the ages - marked especially by his/her changes in clothing - execute a parodic deconstruction of essentialist claims tentatively offered in the text. The tension of these issues centers on the breakdown of inner and outer spaces in Woolf's writing. Woolf plays on a twentieth-century conception of truth, derived from the Greek notion of alethea, unveiling. In her novel truth is destabilized and turns into parody through an emphasis on period fashions, cross-dressing, and undressing of "essential" bodies. Because of the nature of parody - to implement the very concept that is being distorted and undone - confusion prevails in the current criticism as to Woolf's position on subjectivity and essentialism in Orlando. Critics tend toward one of two extreme positions with regard to Woolf's theory of subjectivity in Orlando, with Fredric Jameson, on the one hand, using Orlando as an example of a novel that portrays an unchanging, constant personality passing through the centuries, bearing the marks of only external re-shapings;(3) Makiko Minow-Pinkney, on the other hand, argues that "social and historical factors are . . . fully admitted as constitutive for the human subject in the novel" (135). This question of whether some innate human essence can surmount historical effects or whether the only "essence" we know as personality is fully shaped by the world around one - this problem is comically re-figured by Woolf as the question of whether the clothes "make the (wo)man." At one point Orlando's narrator suggests that "in every human being a vacillation from one sex to the other takes place, and often it is only the clothes that keep the male or female likeness" (189). While one must remain persistently wary of the narrator's authority in this text, this claim at least points to the importance of such a possibility.(4) Moreover, advocates of gender studies will recognize an early formulation of contemporary questions about the extent to which society - and not biology - delineates distinction between "men" and "women."(5) As Bette London has pointed out, Woolf has become the American feminist's favorite cultural icon, the mother to whom we turn in hope of finding a mirror of ourselves.(6) It begins to look, on London's review of often contrary receptions, as if Woolf's figure admits of so many identities that Woolf is merely a mirror to her reader - another bad cliche of the woman who can mutate to become whatever society demands of her. My point here is that Woolf is hardly so obliging, and that contemporary feminist debates do violence to Woolf's texts whenever they try to create her as icon of their cause, as they struggle to fix her identity as one identity alone. …


Lactobacillus hammesii converts linoleic acid into an antifungal hydroxy fatty acid. High speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) using a hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water solvent system [3.5:1.5:3:2 (v/v/v/v)] allowed isolation of the antifungal hydroxy fatty acid. A method was developed for characterization of antifungal hydroxy fatty acids using normal phase liquid chromatography combined with atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/APPI-MS/MS). The position of unsaturations and hydroxyl groups was determined directly from crude lipid extracts and their hydroxylated derivatives. The antifungal compounds were identified as a racemic mixture of 10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic and 10-hydroxy-trans-12-octadecenoic acid. Additionally, HSCCC and LC/APPI-MS/MS methods were used to elucidate the pathway of conversion of linoleic acid by Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis , Lactobacillus plantarum , and L. hammesii to hydroxy fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. This study links previously reported 10-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid producing Lactobacillus strains to antifungal activities.


We present a queuing-theoretic and optimization-based model for radio resource management in IEEE 802.16-based multiservice broadband wireless access (BWA) networks considering both packet-level and connection-level quality-of-service (QoS) constraints. Specifically, we model and analyze two approaches, namely, the optimal and the iterative approaches, for joint bandwidth allocation (BA) and connection admission control (CAC). To limit the amount of bandwidth allocated to each service type, for both these approaches, the total available bandwidth is shared among the different types of services using a complete partitioning approach. While, for the optimal approach, an assignment problem is formulated and solved, a water-filling mechanism is used for the iterative approach. The latter incurs significantly less computational complexity compared to the former while providing similar system performances. To analyze the connection-level performance measures such as connection blocking probability and average number of ongoing connections, a queuing model is developed. Then, an optimization formulation is used to obtain the optimal threshold settings for complete partitioning of the available bandwidth resource so that the connection-level QoS for the different services can be maintained at the target level while maximizing the average system revenue. To analyze the packet-level performance measures such as the packet delay statistics and transmission rate (or throughput), a queuing analytical model is developed which considers adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) at the physical/radio link layer. In summary, the queuing-theoretic and optimization-based model for joint BA and CAC provides a unified radio resource management solution for the IEEE 802.16-based broadband wireless access networks


Nature or Nurture in English Academic Writing: Korean and American Rhetorical Patterns Sunok Kim Linguistics, BYU Master of Arts For many years, linguists, ESL writing teachers, and especially students have puzzled over the phenomenon where non-native English writers' sentences are grammatically correct, but their paragraphs and complete essays often appear illogical to native English speaking readers. From the perspective of Kaplan's original contrastive rhetoric theory where American rhetoric is "linear," Korean L2 writers' apparently circular rhetoric causes problems. Even though Korean writers are trying to write paragraphs that are logical for native English readers, this illogical output results in Korean ESL students being perceived as poor writers. In order to discover more about the nature of the rhetorical problems Korean ESL writers face, this study reports on a close contrastive analysis of a corpus consisting of 25 Freshmen Korean ESL students' unedited, first draft essays and 25 Freshmen native-English speaking American Freshmen' unedited, first draft essays randomly collected from a series of 1st year writing classes at a U.S.-based university. The analysis focused on areas where the logical flow breaks down from a native English reader's perspective. The Topical Structure Analytical approach (TSA), developed by Lautamatti (1987), was used to analyze the data. Results show that both American and Korean Freshmen have difficulty controlling topical subjects and discourse topics in their writing. Instead, they often introduced irrelevant subtopics that did not advance overall topic development, making their writing difficult for general readers to follow. The key finding of the study shows that to overcome these rhetorical weaknesses, both Korean and American Freshmen need to be educated in academic writing regardless of their first language.


The galvanomagnetic properties of a magnetic-breakdown linkedorbit network with two-dimensional topology are calculated for the case of a stochastic distribution of defects in the network. The results show excellent agreement with experiments on magnesium and· illustrate the transition between a smoothly varying magnetoresistivity (semiclassical regime) and an oscillatory magnetoresistivity (quantum regime). October 27, 1988 LBL-26182


The elapsed time equation is an age-structured model that describes dynamics of interconnected spiking neurons through the elapsed time since the last discharge, leading to many interesting questions on the evolution of the system from a mathematical and biological point of view. In this work, we first deal with the case when transmission after a spike is instantaneous and the case when there exists a distributed delay that depends on previous history of the system, which is a more realistic assumption. Then we study the well-posedness and the numerical analysis of the elapsed time models. For existence and uniqueness we improve the previous works by relaxing some hypothesis on the nonlinearity, including the strongly excitatory case, while for the numerical analysis we prove that the approximation given by the explicit upwind scheme converges to the solution of the non-linear problem. We also show some numerical simulations to compare the behavior of the system in the case of instantaneous transmission with the case of distributed delay under different parameters, leading to solutions with different asymptotic profiles.


Many entities currently use permeability specifications in Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements and structures. Recent studies have shown surface resistivity testing correlates well with ASTM C1202 ["Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete's Ability to resist Chloride Ion Penetration," Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2010] rapid chloride penetration (RCP) testing. The success of this research has led to surface resistivity testing on Portland cement concrete cylinders being implemented in Louisiana. However, many of the studies have questioned the impact of various factors on surface resistivity measurements. This project investigates a ruggedness factorial using many of the factors in question to determine the level of impact of each factor. A partial factorial consisting of 35 combinations of factors was developed using 11 factors and 16 mixtures. Some factors were mixture dependent; therefore, RCP testing was also performed on a portion of the factorial to determine if factors influence the surface resistivity meter or permeability in general. The ruggedness study showed age and aggregate type as significant factors for surface resistivity. Additional comparisons against a control suggested age, calcium nitrite, aggregate size, and aggregate type as significant factors for surface resistivity. However, comparative RCP testing on the same sample sets concluded that all significant factors determined either affect the permeability of the sample in general or will influence rapid chloride permeability as well.


The Problem of Time occurs because the 'time' of GR and of ordinary Quantum Theory are mutually incompatible notions. This is problematic in trying to replace these two branches of physics with a single framework in situations in which the conditions of both apply, e.g. in black holes or in the very early universe. Emphasis in this Review is on the Problem of Time being multi‐faceted and on the nature of each of the eight principal facets. Namely, the Frozen Formalism Problem, Configurational Relationalism Problem (formerly Sandwich Problem), Foliation Dependence Problem, Constraint Closure Problem (formerly Functional Evolution Problem), Multiple Choice Problem, Global Problem of Time, Problem of Beables (alias Problem of Observables) and Spacetime Reconstruction/Replacement Problem. Strategizing in this Review is not just centred about the Frozen Formalism Problem facet, but rather about each of the eight facets. Particular emphasis is placed upon A) relationalism as an underpinning of the facets and as a selector of particular strategies (especially a modification of Barbour relationalism, though also with some consideration of Rovelli relationalism). B) Classifying approaches by the full ordering in which they embrace constrain, quantize, find time/history and find observables, rather than only by partial orderings such as "Dirac‐quantize". C) Foliation (in)dependence and Spacetime Reconstruction for a wide range of physical theories, strategizing centred about the Problem of Beables, the Patching Approach to the Global Problem of Time, and the role of the question‐types considered in physics. D) The Halliwell‐ and Gambini–Porto–Pullin‐type combined Strategies in the context of semiclassical quantum cosmology.


ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important health problem and the major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) especially in Upper Egypt. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HBV among Assiut governorate patients. Our study examined 1085 patients for HBsAg at Assiut governorate, Egypt. Out of the 1085 population tested for HBsAg, 623 (57.5%) were males whereas 462 (42.5%) were females. A total of 165 out 1085 were seropositive for HBsAg (15.2%). The highest seropositive of HBsAg were recorded in 106/623 males (17.1%) compared as 59/462 females (12.8%). HBsAg seropositive were decreased with grassing age, the highest seroprevalence of HBsAg 62/165 (37.6%) was recorded in age ranges between 21 and 30 years, while the lowest seroprevalence of HBsAg 8/165 (4.8%) was recorded in age >60 year. All patients were divided into four groups according to HBV-DNA. Seroprevalence of HBsAg was increased with group 2 (Low titer of HBV-DNA <2000 IU/mL) (46.1%), where highest prevalence of HBsAg was recorded in males (37.6%) compared to as females (8.5%). The lowest seroprevalence of HBsAg were recoded with group 3 (high titer of HBV-DNA > 2000 IU/mL) (14.5%). HBV was common in rural versus urban community areas (78.2% versus 21.8%, respectively). Screening of HBV infection to monitor liver disease progression in HBV carriers by using molecular, biochemical, and serological markers, so that effective treatment can be initiated early before the development of advanced liver disease.


ical Journal 1998; 317: 61–5. 6. Smith R, Hiatt H, Berwick D. Education and debate. Shared ethical principles for everybody in health care: a working draft from the Tavistock Group. Introduction – a shared statement of ethical principles for those who shape and give health care. British Medical Journal 1999; 318: 248–51. 7. Bolsin S, Faunce T, Oakley J. Practical virtue ethics: healthcare whistleblowing and portable digital technology. Journal of Medical Ethics 2005; 31: 612–8. 8. Bolsin S, Barach P. The role and influence of public reporting of paediatric cardiac care outcome data. Progress in Paediatric Cardiology 2012; 33: 99– 101.


In this study, a new Support Vector Machine (SVM) based method for diagnosis of diabetes is proposed. In the proposed method, feature of adaptibility is added to the support vector machine. Thus, a new kind of SVM named "Adaptive SVM" is proposed, and by using it together with the Feature Selection Method, smartly diagnosis of diseases is aimed. During the training and testing of this newly designed smart system, diabetes data set which is obtained from the medical database of University of California is used. It is observed that classification rate of this newly proposed method on the diabetes daha set is more successful than the similar studies which are implemented so far and which are in the literature.


– This article aims to propose a three‐stage framework for on‐going professional development of aspirant and incumbent heads that is designed to increase their own self‐efficacy. It is suggested that continuity and progression in self‐efficacy development can be addressed via processes pertaining to acculturation, assimilation and actualisation. The on‐going work of Fletcher augments this conceptual framework with a new approach to action research ensuring an evidence‐based foundation to the growth of self‐efficacy., – The article offers an analysis of existing research evidence in coaching, mentoring, talent management, leadership development and self‐efficacy to propose a framework useful in research and in the development of self‐efficacy that may help secure transition between the potential to lead and high performance in leadership incumbency in schools., – The article points to the importance of coaching and mentoring as potential scaffolds to create an appreciation of self‐efficacy's value at all stages of the headship journey. It is suggested that active development of individual's self‐efficacy through mentoring and coaching relationships may serve to ensure that the loss of human potential of those who could lead but never completed the journey is reduced., – The article identifies new questions pertaining to the practice of high quality coaching and mentoring in the journey to leadership in schools and raises further questions pertaining to the conceptualisation of learning relationships and the interactions and feelings involved in such learning relationships., – This article suggests a phased approach, an integrated vision of mentoring and coaching for headteacher development that can span their professional lifetime. This generative approach is what distinguishes the authors' proposal from others. An emphasis is placed on self‐study integrated in an Appreciative Inquiry approach, however, the authors' proposal goes further in that they have realised that aspirant headteachers should be taught how to undertake self study integrated with action research not only for their own benefit as they journey towards incumbency but also so that they can become coach and mentor for others; for their staff, pupils and other aspirant headteachers.


Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) with normal lymphocyte counts is associated with decreased numbers of normal circulating B-cell subsets.Little is known about the distribution of normal lymphoid cells and their subsets in the peripheral blood (PB) of subjects with monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL). In our study, we compared the absolute number of PB lymphoid cells and their subpopulations in 95 MBL cases with normal lymphocyte counts vs. 617 age-/sex-matched non-MBL healthy subjects (controls), using highly sensitive flow cytometry. MBL cases showed significantly reduced numbers of normal circulating B-cells, at the expense of immature and naive B-cells; in addition, CD4+CD8+ double-positive T-cells and CD8+ T-cells were significantly lower and higher vs. controls, respectively. Moreover, most normal B-cell subsets were significantly decreased in PB at >1% MBL-counts, vs. "low-count" MBL cases, and lower amounts of immature/naive B-cells were detected in biclonal (particularly in cases with coexisting CLL-like- and non-CLL-like B-cell clones) vs. monoclonal MBL subjects. In summary, our results show imbalanced (reduced) absolute numbers of recently produced normal circulating B-cells (e.g., immature and naıve B-cells) in MBL, which becomes more pronounced as the MBL cell count increases.


Teasing out chirality in graphene A chiral elementary particle has its spin pointing in either the same or the opposite direction as its momentum. In graphene, electrons have an analogous chirality, but observing it in electrical transport experiments is tricky. To do this, Wallbank et al. studied how electrons tunnel between two slightly misaligned graphene sheets separated by a layer of insulating hexagonal boron nitride. The chiral nature of the electrons imposed restrictions on the tunneling, which made it possible to discern the signatures of chirality in the data. Science, this issue p. 575 Tunneling experiments in graphene/hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures show effects of electrons' chirality. Chirality is a fundamental property of electrons with the relativistic spectrum found in graphene and topological insulators. It plays a crucial role in relativistic phenomena, such as Klein tunneling, but it is difficult to visualize directly. Here, we report the direct observation and manipulation of chirality and pseudospin polarization in the tunneling of electrons between two almost perfectly aligned graphene crystals. We use a strong in-plane magnetic field as a tool to resolve the contributions of the chiral electronic states that have a phase difference between the two components of their vector wave function. Our experiments not only shed light on chirality, but also demonstrate a technique for preparing graphene's Dirac electrons in a particular quantum chiral state in a selected valley.


Background: The aim of this study was introduce a qualitative approach for synthesis previous findings in health called met-ethnography. Generally, qualitative meta-ethnography is a study design used to systematically assess previous research studies to derive new concepts constructions about the subject. Epistemologically, this is a meta-interpretation about past studies. Methods: Noblit and Hare (1988) proposed a meta-ethnography method which includes seven stages: (1) Getting started involves formulating a research idea that is 'worthy of the synthesis effort'. (2) Deciding what is relevant. (3) Reading the studies involves careful attention to the conceptual content of the included studies. (4) Determining how studies are related involves identifying and describing the 'metaphors' or concepts in studies and 'translating' or comparing them to those in other studies. (5) Translating studies into each other involves sorting concepts from primary studies into conceptual categories; (6) Synthesizing translations involves developing a model that helps to make sense of the topic under investigation. (7) Expressing the synthesis involves output and dissemination of findings. Results: For quality appraisal using of structured checklists is proposed. However, adequate description for 'well enough' meth-odologically report is the main goal. Conclusions: Generally, this study involves identifying ideas from the studies included and progressively abstracting these ideas into a line of argument, or conceptual model can help for providing thick description about different issues in health.


Spoken production is subjected to speed and needs in the conversations that can locally be changed, which makes it dynamic and flexible. Often the thematic framework of the next ut-terance is determined while the appropriate complex linguistic construction for it is not yet available. Delays and pauses before continuing in the utterances are traces of searching words and an indication that we often decide on the linguistic structure in terms of complex and schematic constructions in the construction grammar before we fill it with vocabulary. This paper is about the functions of organizing the conversations, phonetic and phonological fea-tures of a particular ja from within the turn, often the utterance, and the intonation unit in German which at the problems of finding words of speakers mainly mean "immediately re-sume". In this context, intonation incorporation of this ja into what is uttered just before and immediately after it, is especially indicative. Continuation- ja with independent intonation contour namely announces new construction, while intonation incorporated continuation- ja prevents premature conclusion of the listener that the sentence will be interrupted and an-nounce one or more components of the utterance or correction of specific components.


Treatment of the pea carpel with the ethylene action inhibitors, silver thiosulphate and 2,5-norbornadiene, retarded its senescence and extended the growth time in which the unpollinated carpel was able to respond to gibberellins. Cells of the senescent carpel have characteristics of apoptotic cells, such as nuclei condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Both DNA laddering and condensed nuclei can be prevented by the use of the ethylene action inhibitors, while ethylene treatment accelerates DNA fragmentation. It is postulated that ethylene produced by the flower after anthesis determines the fate of the ovary/ovule; in other words, if the ovary receives no additional stimulus (pollination or gibberellin treatment), it undergoes a senescence process, with some cells showing characteristics similar to those of programmed cell death already identified in animal systems.


The fate of deepwater releases of gas and oil mixtures is initially determined by solubility and volatility of individual hydrocarbon species; these attributes determine partitioning between air and water. Quantifying this partitioning is necessary to constrain simulations of gas and oil transport, to predict marine bioavailability of different fractions of the gas‐oil mixture, and to develop a comprehensive picture of the fate of leaked hydrocarbons in the marine environment. Analysis of airborne atmospheric data shows massive amounts (∼258,000 kg/day) of hydrocarbons evaporating promptly from the Deepwater Horizon spill; these data collected during two research flights constrain air‐water partitioning, thus bioavailability and fate, of the leaked fluid. This analysis quantifies the fraction of surfacing hydrocarbons that dissolves in the water column (∼33% by mass), the fraction that does not dissolve, and the fraction that evaporates promptly after surfacing (∼14% by mass). We do not quantify the leaked fraction lacking a surface expression; therefore, calculation of atmospheric mass fluxes provides a lower limit to the total hydrocarbon leak rate of 32,600 to 47,700 barrels of fluid per day, depending on reservoir fluid composition information. This study demonstrates a new approach for rapid‐response airborne assessment of future oil spills.


In the present work, two new generalized weighted methods of imputation of missing data are developed and tested using a daily rainfall series. The proposed methodology allows to fully rebuild the time series while preserving its statistical properties. Rainfall records in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, during the period 1980-2012 were used to test and evaluate the proposed methodology. The imputation of missing data in a given weather station is performed by using daily data from neighboring stations with a similar rainfall behavior. The choice of optimal parameters for the proposed formulae is based on minimizing the mean absolute error (MAE) via an evolutionary strategy (CMA-ES). The K -means method was used with the Euclidean distance in order to select the adequate neighboring weather stations. Five different methods were applied to estimate the optimal number of clusters: the elbow method, gap statistics, TraceW, Hartigan and Krzanowski-Lai indices. In addition, the structural stability of the chosen clusters was evaluated in order to demonstrate that these represent the correct data structure and are not the result of an artificial internal procedure of the grouping algorithm. Results from two different statistical tests, Friedman and Nemenyi post hoc, showed that our two new methods produce significantly and statistically better estimation when compared to existing methods in the literature.


Canopy reflectance model inversion using look-up table approaches provides powerful and flexible options for deriving improved forest biophysical structural information (BSI) compared with traditional statistical empirical methods. The BIOPHYS algorithm is an improved, physically-based inversion approach for deriving BSI for independent use and validation and for monitoring, inventory and quantifying forest disturbance as well as input to ecosystem, climate and carbon models. Based on the multiple-forward mode (MFM) inversion approach, BIOPHYS results were summarised from different studies (Minnesota/NASA COVER; Virginia/LEDAPS; Saskatchewan/BOREAS), sensors (airborne MMR; Landsat; MODIS) and models (GeoSail; GOMS). Applications output included forest density, height, crown dimension, branch and green leaf area, canopy cover, disturbance estimates based on multi-temporal chronosequences, and structural change following recovery from forest fires over the last century. Good correspondences with validation field data were obtained. Integrated analyses of multiple solar and view angle imagery further improved retrievals compared with single pass data. Quantifying ecosystem dynamics such as the area and percent of forest disturbance, early regrowth and succession provide essential inputs to process-driven models of carbon flux. BIOPHYS is well suited for large-area, multi-temporal applications involving multiple image sets and mosaics for assessing vegetation disturbance and quantifying biophysical structural dynamics and change. It is also suitable for integration with forest inventory, monitoring, updating, and other programs.


The epigenetic nature of development mandates the observation of the effect of any exogenous substance, especially those with estrogenic activities, during critical phases of development. The submandibular gland (SMG) presents as a great model due to extensive postnatal development, and is known to be regulated and affected by hormones as well as growth factors. Herein, we observed postnatal development following low doses of Biochanin A (BCA) and 17β estradiol (E2) in rats. The pups were randomly divided into four groups: control, BCA, E2, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and euthanized at the 6th, 15th, 30th, and 60th postnatal days (PND). SMG morphogenesis was assessed. The nuclear expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) was evaluated immunohistochemically; ERβ expression was up-regulated by BCA and down-regulated by E2. Similarly, caspase three gene expression, assessed by real time polymerase chain reaction was increased in the BCA group but decreased in the E2 group. A significant decrease in epidermal growth factor gene expression was noted at PND 30. The results presented by this study provide evidence that the effect of a postnatal exposure of the SMG to Biochanin A during development could be linked to sex hormone-dependent disorders.


The thyroid gland regulates growth and metabolism via production of thyroid hormone in follicles composed of thyrocytes. So far, thyrocytes have been assumed to be a homogenous population. To uncover genetic heterogeneity in the thyrocyte population, and molecularly characterize the non-thyrocyte cells surrounding the follicle, we developed a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the zebrafish thyroid gland. The 6249-cell atlas includes profiles of thyrocytes, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, immune cells and fibroblasts. Further, the thyrocytes could be split into two sub-populations with unique transcriptional signature, including differential expression of the transcription factor pax2a. To validate thyrocyte heterogeneity, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9-based pax2a knock-in line, which demonstrated specific pax2a expression in the thyrocytes. However, a population of pax2a-low mature thyrocytes interspersed within individual follicles could be distinguished, corroborating heterogeneity within the thyrocyte population. Our results identify and validate transcriptional differences within the nominally homogenous thyrocyte population. One-line summary Single-cell analysis uncovers latent heterogeneity in thyroid follicular cells. Graphical Abstract


Digital technologies now enable books and other digital resources to be openly available to those with access to the Internet. This study examined the financial viability of a religious publisher that put free digital versions of eight of its print books on the Internet. The cost to put these eight books online was $940. Over a 10-week period, these books were downloaded 102,256 times and sales of these books increased 26%. Online sales increased at a much higher rate. Comparisons with historical book sales and sales of comparable titles indicate that that this increase may have been connected to the free books being available. There was a modest correlation between book downloads and print sales.


The United States government has been compared to the 4 century BCE democracy of Athens for centuries and is often viewed as a copy of that ancient city-state. While this appears true superficially, it is important to determine whether the two systems of government are actually alike. When the United States Constitution (1788 C.E.) and Aristotle's Constitution of the Athenians (~327 B.C.E.) are compared, one finds that while the structures and political bodies are similar in form, their function and behavior are very different. This is not just due to a difference of 2000 years, or that they had different technology, but because of fundamental variations in legislation and roles in government. In fact, based on the etymological meaning of the word "democracy", it can even be said that neither is a "true" democracy in the first place, due to either an exclusion of a majority of citizens (Athens) or the implementation of representatives rather than direct voting (United States). As clean as it would be to say that Athens and America are alike in their government, that statement is factually inaccurate.


This work presents the performance of a radiation detector based on LEC semi-insulating GaAs with Au/Zn Schottky contact at variable temperature. The roles of the shaping time of a linear amplifier and operating voltage were studied. The performance of the radiation detector was calculated from pulse height spectra of 59.5 keV (/sup 241/Am) and 122.1 keV (/sup 57/Co). The optimal reverse bias voltage of the radiation detector, shaping time of the linear amplifier and temperature of detector were investigated. The best charge collection efficiency of 98.2% at 303 K, relative energy resolution in FWHM 19.8% for 59.5 keV and 10.7% for 122.1 keV at 253 K were obtained.


Wireless sensor networks play an important role in economic production and social life. However, in recent years, the number of wireless sensor network vulnerabilities has been increasing rapidly, which makes wireless sensor networks face more and more severe challenges. It is of great significance to realize the quantitative evaluation of wireless sensor networks in order to maintain the service quality of wireless sensor networks more effectively. The evaluating problem of the service quality of wireless sensor networks is a kind of multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem. In this paper, depending on the classical EDAS method, the EDAS method will be extended to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) to address some MAGDM issues. At first, some essential concepts of IVIFSs are briefly reviewed. Subsequently, relying on the CRITIC method, the attributes' weights are decided. Furthermore, integrating the EDAS method with IVIFSs, IVIF-EDAS method is established, and all calculating procedures are depicted. Finally, an empirical application for evaluating the service quality of wireless sensor networks is given to demonstrate this novel algorithm, and some comparative analyses are made to confirm the merits of the designed method.


Advances in biochemistry have shown that the behavior of human beings is in a great degree dependent on the stability of metabolic processes. If the metabolism of an individual is in some manner disturbed, he responds with a reaction entirely abnormal and is said to be suffering from a "disease." The importance of metabolism is generally known, yet the progress in our knowledge of infectious diseases and bacteria have in some way relegated the metabolic disorders into the background of clinical values. Disorders of metabolism produce symptom complexes as variable as individuals in their constitutional make up. Human beings are particularly sensitive to humoral changes. Such changes as excessive intake or loss of water will produce abnormal reactions. Changes in the mineral or colloidal constituents of the body, such as loss of salts or plasma proteins, will produce varied clinical pictures. An excess of sugar, as well as a lack


Optically compact star-forming galaxies (SFGs) have been proposed as immediate progenitors of quiescent galaxies, although their origin and nature are debated. Were they formed in slow secular processes or in rapid merger-driven starbursts? Answering this question would provide fundamental insight into how quenching occurs. We explore the location of the general population of galaxies with respect to fundamental star-forming and structural relations, identify compact SFGs based on their stellar core densities, and study three diagnostics of the burstiness of star formation: (1) star formation efficiency, (2) interstellar medium (ISM), and (3) radio emission. The overall distribution of galaxies in the fundamental relations points toward a smooth transition toward quiescence while galaxies grow their stellar cores, although some galaxies suddenly increase their specific star formation rate when they become compact. From their star formation efficiencies compact and extended SFGs appear similar. In relation to the ISM diagnostic, study of the CO excitation, the density of the neutral gas, and the strength of the ultraviolet radiation field shows that compact SFGs resemble galaxies located in the upper envelope of the main sequence of SFGs, although this is based on a small sample size. Regarding the radio emission diagnostic, we find that galaxies become increasingly compact as the starburst ages, implying that at least some compact SFGs are old starbursts. We suggest that compact SFGs could be starbursts winding down and eventually crossing the main sequence toward quiescence.


This MA thesis was written to give inexperienced interpreters some points of reference as to what to expect when working in UEFA disciplinary hearing. We identify the theoretical framework within which interpreting in a sports setting takes place and review the literature on the notion of quality in interpreting. We explore in a sources and philosophies of law characterizing proceedings in UEFA's judicial bodies, hypothesising that legal knowledge is critical and more important than football knowledge to perform well at UEFA disciplinary hearings. The answers given by the users, the interpreters and the Chief Interpreter provide a comprehensive picture of users' expectations, the difficulties encountered by interpreters and an evaluation of the interpreters' output. The data gathered also indicates how interpreters adjust their resources to the task and gibes insight into the working conditions. The reader will furthermore find practical suggestions and a glossary aimed at helping prospective UEFA interpreters.


Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) often use a subjective evaluation program to assess the condition of their roadway assets. Because pavement markings are typically only a small part of these assessment programs and because visual assessment is subjective, the ratings may not always be accurate in identifying roadways with inadequate markings. This research sought to evaluate the accuracy of visual assessments of pavement markings. The Texas Transportation Institute conducted two separate nighttime evaluations as part of a Texas DOT research project. The first evaluation was conducted on open roads, and the second was conducted on a closed experimental course. Subjective rating data were collected on pavement markings by several DOT evaluators. To analyze the data, researchers compared retroreflectivity measurements with subjective ratings of the pavement markings. For the first night study, the average subjective rating of each marking compared with the measured retroreflectivity resulted in a logarithmic R2 value of .818. The second night study resulted in a logarithmic R2 value of .821 before training and .809 after training. The data were also evaluated by marking color and evaluator experience level. Researchers found that average subjective ratings showed acceptable correlation with retroreflectivity measurements, but ratings could show large variations between individuals. The researchers recommend that subjective assessment be considered a viable option for evaluating pavement markings. They also recommend that for any assessment the evaluator be well trained or multiple evaluators be utilized, with reported ratings averaged to provide reliable results.


A long-standing problem in measuring the terrestrial heat flow beneath the ocean floors has been the acquisition of deep temperature information comparable to that more readily obtained on the continents. While rather sophisticated sediment temperature and in situ thermal conductivity probes have evolved over the years from the simplicity of the Bullard and Ewing designs [Langseth, 1965; Lister, 1979; Hyndman et al., 1979], they are limited to a few meters of penetration. The improved accuracy and detail afforded by these later designs have revealed dynamic phenomena that are crucial to an understanding of processes in the ocean lithosphere [e.g., Anderson et al., 1979; Langseth and Herman, 1981] and that can best be studied in deep holes over an extended period of time. Recently, a prototype system has been installed in an offshore petroleum exploration well in the Canadian Arctic to demonstrate the technology of measuring precise wellbore temperatures to hundreds of meters depth at frequent intervals over a period of several years.


Polyvector-valued gauge field theories in noncommutative Clifford spaces are presented. The noncommutative binary star products are associative and require the use of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula. An important relationship among the n-ary commutators of noncommuting spacetime coordinates [X1,X2, ......,Xn] and the poly-vector valued coordinates X123...n in noncommutative Clifford spaces is explicitly derived and is given by [X1,X2, ......,Xn] = n! X123...n. It is argued how the large N limit of n-ary commutators of n hyper-matrices Xi1i2....in leads to Eguchi-Schild p-brane actions when p+1 = n. A noncomutative n-ary generalized star product of functions is provided which is associated with the deformation quantization of n-ary structures. Finally, brief comments are made about the mapping of the Nambu-Heisenberg n-ary commutation relations of linear operators into the deformed Nambu-Poisson brackets of their corresponding symbols.


Image processing techniques are applied in many fields of science. This study aims to detect tumors in the foot and create 3D models via computed tomography (CT), as well as to produce biometric data. 1 039 CT images were obtained from a server. The parameters used were a collimation of 64 detectors, a scanning thickness of 0,5-3 mm, and a pixel size of 512 x 512, with a radiometric resolution of the 16-bit gray levels. Noise reduction, segmentation, and morphological analysis were performed on CT scans to detect bone tumors. In addition, this study used digital image processing techniques to create a virtual three-dimensional (3D) model of bone tumors. The performance of our proposal was evaluated by analyzing the receptor operating characteristics (ROC). According to the results, the sensitivity, specificity, and precision in tumor detection were 0,96, 1, and 0,98%, respectively, with a 0,99% average F-measure. Radiologist reports were used for the sake of comparison. The proposed technique for detecting bone tumors of the foot via CT can help radiologists with its increased precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F-measure. This method could improve the diagnosis of foot and ankle tumors by allowing for the multidirectional quantification of abnormalities.


Abstract. Marine bivalve mollusc shells can offer valuable insights into past oceanographic variability and seasonality. Given its ecological and archaeological significance, Mytilus californianus (California mussel) presents the opportunity to examine seasonal and decadal changes recorded in its shell over centuries to millennia. While dark–light growth bands in M. californianus shells could be advantageous for reconstructing past environments, uncertainties remain regarding shell structure, environmental controls of dark–light band formation, and the amount of time represented by a dark–light pair. By analyzing a suite of M. californianus shells collected in 2002, 2003, 2019, and 2020 from Bodega Bay, California, we describe the mineralogical composition, establish relationships among growth band pattern, micro-environment, and collection season, and compare shell structure and growth band expression between the archival (2002–2003) and modern (2019–2020) shells. We identified three mineralogical layers in M. californianus: an outer prismatic calcite layer, a middle aragonite layer, and a secondary inner prismatic calcite layer, which makes M. californianus the only Mytilus species to precipitate a secondary calcite layer. Within the inner calcite layer, light bands are strongly correlated with winter collection months and could be used to reconstruct periods with moderate, stable temperatures and minimal upwelling. Additionally, modern shells have significantly thinner inner calcite layers and more poorly expressed growth bands than the archival shells, although we also show that growth band contrast is strongly influenced by micro–environment. Mytilus californianus from northern California is calcifying differently, and apparently more slowly, than it was 20 years ago.


The yeast nuclear gene ATP2 encodes a F1-ATPase beta-subunit protein of 509 amino acids with a predicted mass of 54,575 daltons. In contrast to the ATPase beta-subunit proteins determined previously from Escherichia coli and various plant sources, the yeast mitochondrial precursor peptide contains a unique cysteine residue within its immediate amino terminus. Expression of an in-frame deletion in ATP2 between residues 28 and 34 to eliminate this single cysteine residue located near the processing site of the matrix protease does not prevent the in vivo delivery of the subunit to mitochondria or its assembly into a functional ATPase complex. Thus, the import F1 beta-subunit into mitochondria does not require a covalent modification of the type utilized for the secretion of the major lipoprotein from E. coli. In addition, analysis of the level of the major F1-ATPase subunits in mitochondria prepared from an atp2- disruption mutant demonstrates that the in vivo import of these catalytic subunits is not dependent on each other. These data and additional studies, therefore, suggest that the determinants for mitochondrial delivery reside within the amino terminus of the individual precursors.


The freshwater macrophytes are abundant in tropical and subtropical climates. These macrophytes may be used as feed ingredients for fish and other animals. The nutritional value of twelve freshwater-cultured macrophytes was evaluated in the present study. Significantly higher crude protein (36.94–36.65%) and lipid (8.13–7.62%) were found in Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza; ash content was significantly higher in Hydrilla verticillata, Wolffia globosa, and Pistia stratiotes (20.69–21.00%) compared with others. The highest levels of sodium, magnesium, chromium, and iron levels were recorded in P. stratiotes. H. verticillata was a rich source of copper, manganese, cobalt, and zinc; the contents of calcium, magnesium, strontium, and nickel were highest in S. polyrhiza. Selenium and potassium contents were higher in Salvinia natans and W. globosa, respectively. The n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contents were significantly higher in W. globosa and Ipomoea aquatica, respectively compared with others. Linoleic and α-linolenic acids were dominant n-6 and n-3 PUFAs. The highest value (4.04) of n-3/n-6 was found in I. aquatica. The ratio ranged from 0.61 to 2.46 in other macrophytes. This study reveals that macrophytes are rich sources of minerals, n-6 and n-3 PUFAs.


SUMMARY Introduction: Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine tumors that are usually located on the gas- trointestinal system, but infrequent in the sinus area. Description: The case of a 55-year-old woman with a unilateral nasal mass is described. The pathological analysis shows histological and immunohistochemical characteristics compatible with atypical carcinoid tumor. Discussion: Carcinoid tumors may be typical or atypical according to their degree of differentiation. Although rare, they should be considered in differential diagnosis of unilateral polyposis. Treatment is essentially surgical. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of histopathological analysis of all unilateral nasal lesions.


title of this research is the Implementation of Healthy Indonesia Card Program (KIS) in Cibadak District, Sukabumi District. This research is based on the importance of the use of Healthy Indonesia Card which must be owned by the lower society in order to get free and equal health services. This study aims to find out the Implementation of Healthy Card Program (KIS) in Kecamatan Cibadak Sukabumi District. Based on the observation and interviews with various informants, the researcher finds the problem phenomenon that is the poor people who have not got the Healthy Indonesia Card and still there are people who do not know Healthy Card Indonesia program, besides the inaccurate data collection
done by the officers to the community in the distribution of Card Indonesia Healthy. This research is qualitative. Primary data were obtained from interviews with various informants. While secondary data obtained from the source of studies such as legislation, local regulations, sources of books and previous research sources relevant to the research undertaken. Briefly implementation is
an implementation or implementation while health is a basic human need to live a decent and productive. Based on the results of interviews with informants, Implementation of Healthy Card Program (KIS) in Cibadak District Sukabumi Regency has not been realized well. It is seen from the existing resources in the District has not done a good job, namely the lack of data collection optimally. It is expected that the Cibadak subdistrict can implement the Implementation of Healthy Card Indonesia Program (KIS) well with the data collection accurately, and orderly. So that people can have Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS) as a whole.


Despite the recognized importance of wetlands as habitat for fishes and the growing need to assess and manage human impacts on that habitat, there is little information on patterns and variability of habitat within Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Our goal was to describe wetland aquatic habitat patterns and the natural factors that organize them as a step towards developing habitat assessment schemes and identifying experimental design elements for future synoptic surveys. We analyzed data on aquatic vegetation structure, water chemistry, and water movement (inferred from gypsum plug dissolution) in relation to hydrology and morphology in inundated segments of ten relatively un-impacted coastal marshes of western Lake Superior. Spatial differences in aquatic habitat within wetlands were as large or larger than differences among wetlands, and habitat patterns were strongly associated with morphology and hydrology. Back-bay segments tended to have greater vegetation cover and structural complexity and lower levels of water movement, and they were prone to high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels in wetlands having little seiche activity. Increasing seiche inputs tended to homogenize habitat elements among wetland segments, while increasing tributary inputs tended to increase spatial variability. Patterns in emergent vegetation differed from patterns in submerged/floating vegetation, and different assessment metrics may be needed for different plant zones. Segment-scale sampling schemes like those used in this study have the potential to elucidate habitat patterns within inundated portions of wetlands with a reasonable level of effort. Human impacts on coastal wetland fish habitat must be interpreted in the context of natural spatial heterogeneity as structured by wetland morphology and magnitude of seiche and tributary inputs.


An anthology of five of the best autobiographical narratives detailing black life in New England in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The volume is accompanied by Cottrol's introduction, which discusses their significance and the window that they open on the lives of black New Englanders as they moved from eighteenth century slavery to freedom and the struggle for equality in the nineteenth century.


The effect of collective bargaining on innovation has long been in dispute. At the level of theory, the hold-up problem has been used to justify positive as well as negative effects of unionism. At the empirical level, although some would consider the North American evidence as cut and dried, this is not the case for other countries. In Europe there is some suggestion that certain industrial relations systems, either alone or in combination with the regulatory framework in which they are embedded, may tip the balance in favor of a beneficial union effect. In the present paper, we assemble nationally representative data for Germany – for many observers the exemplar of a cooperative industrial relations regime – to investigate the impact of collective bargaining on (several measures of) process innovation and product innovation. Our cross section and longitudinal analysis fails to indicate that unionism retards innovation. Indeed, in conjunction with workplace representation, collective bargaining at sectoral level might even be pro innovative.


The review is devoted to using endoscopic methods as a stage of a combined palliative treatment of inoperable lung cancer and elucidates the theoretical and practical aspects of using the main up-to-date methods of acting on the tumor process during the endoscopic interventions: electro-, radio, cryosurgical, laser, stenting, brachytherapy, conservative methods. Advantages and shortcomings of these methods are discussed as well as indications and contraindications to their application, possible complications and methods of their elimination and prevention.


Background: The association between asthma and mental disorders is known, being anxiety and depression the most common ones. Objective: To determine the proportion of mental disorders (anxiety and/or depression) in our asthmatic patients compared to the non asthmatic population, and to assess the relationship between the severity and control level of asthma and the presence of psychiatric comorbility. Methods: A transversal descriptive study was developed with 317 asthmatic and 306 non asthmatic patients, from 17 to 70 years old in an urban primary care centre. The Goldberg test for screening of anxiety and depression was performed. Other analyzed items were: age, gender, previous anxiety and/or depression, chronic diseases, severity of asthma and level of control. Results: 70.3% of the asthmatic patients were women versus 51.3% on the non asthmatic group, the average age was 42 (SD 16.89) and 47 (SD 14.09) years old respectively. 57.1% had intermittent asthma, 16.7% mild persistent and 26.2% moderate persistent. 62.7% presented controlled asthma, 23.4% partially controlled and 13.9% uncontrolled asthma. The Goldberg test score of the asthmatic group showed anxiety in 51.1% compared to 34.6% on the non asthmatic group (p Conclusions: The asthmatic group showed greater proportion of anxiety and depression compared to the non asthmatic group. Better asthma control was associated with lower anxiety and depression. No other associations were significant.


A key to the larvae of Apatania zonella Zetterstedt, A. muliebris McLachlan, A. hispida Forsstund, A. stigmatella (Zetterstedt), A. auricula Forsslund and A. wallengreni McLachlan is provided. Morphological variations in the femate genitalia of A. muliebris, A. zanella and A. hispida were found. Evidence of parthenogenesis in A. muliehris is given. Of the montane species A. muliehris, A. zanella and A. hispida had a 2-years life cycle, while A. stigmatella had a 1-year cycle. In the lowland A. wallengreni had a 1-year life cycle. Data on flight periods and habitats are given.


Fast engineering wake models are the backbone of wind farm annual energy production (AEP) estimators, whereas the addition of induction zone models in existing tools is a more recent response to rising concerns over wind farm blockage associated losses. Here, "blockage" describes the combined induction fields of all wind turbines inside a farm. Unlike the term might suggest, blockage not only reduces flow speeds, but also increases them; for instance along the outer edges of wind farms. Evaluating the overall impact on AEP of these gains and losses necessitates accurate wind farm induction models. Whilst engineering wake models are tuned to predict wind farm performance, existing induction zone models are all derived for accurately predicting the near field induction not the far field value—important for wind farm simulations. This paper presents the induction models implemented in the wind farm simulation tool PyWake, as well as results from novel analytical models and compares their far field predictions to RANS-AD simulations of different turbines. We demonstrate that when including blockage in AEP simulations, the downstream speed-ups need to be included to avoid an unrealistic bias toward AEP loss and that wake expansion significantly impacts induction at rated thrust levels.


A 78-year-old man presented with nephrotic syndrome and new-onset disorientation. Plasma D-dimer level was increased, and a lower leg deep vein thrombosis was identified on ultrasound. Histopathologic analysis of percutaneous renal biopsy samples confirmed the diagnosis of minimal change disease. Treatment with prednisone (20 mg/day), cyclosporine (50 mg/day), and anticoagulant therapy with edoxaban tosylate hydrate led to the complete resolution of nephrotic syndrome after 4 weeks. Despite this, his disorientation persisted. Head CT and MRI have revealed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and dural arteriovenous fistula, which was considered a possible complication of nephrotic syndrome. Embolization dramatically improved his disorientation. This paper highlights that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and dural arteriovenous fistula should always be considered in patients with nephrotic syndrome and new-onset disorientation.


The stigmatizing attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) can be a major barrier to effective patient care. As future physicians, medical students represent a core group that should be targeted with focused knowledge and adequate training to provide patient care without prejudice. The aim of the current study was to examine HIV/AIDS knowledge, and the stigmatizing attitude towards PLWHA, among medical students in Jordan. The current study was based on a self-administered online questionnaire, which was distributed during March–May 2021, involving students at the six medical schools in Jordan, with items assessing demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, and HIV/AIDS stigmatizing attitude, which was evaluated using the validated HIV-stigma scale. The total number of respondents was 1362, with predominance of females (n = 780, 57.3%). Lack of HIV/AIDS knowledge among the study participants was notable for the following items: HIV transmission through breastfeeding (40.8% correct responses), HIV is not transmitted through saliva (42.6% correct responses), and vertical transmission of HIV can be prevented (48.8% correct responses). Approximately two-thirds of the respondents displayed a positive attitude towards PLWHA. For six out of the 14 HIV/AIDS knowledge items, lack of knowledge was significantly correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. Multinomial regression analysis showed that a significantly more negative attitude towards PLWHA was found among the pre-clinical students compared to the clinical students (odds ratio (OR): 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–0.97, p = 0.036); and that affiliation to medical schools that were founded before 2000 was associated with a more positive attitude towards PLWHA compared to affiliation to recently founded medical schools in the country (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42–2.42, p < 0.001). About one-third of medical students who participated in the study displayed a negative attitude towards PLWHA. Defects in HIV/AIDS knowledge were detected for aspects involving HIV transmission and prevention, and such defects were correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. It is recommended to revise the current medical training curricula, and to tailor improvements in the overall HIV/AIDS knowledge, which can be reflected in a more positive attitude towards PLWHA, particularly for the recently established medical schools in the country.


South Africa has transformed its mental health service provision from in-hospital care to community-based rehabilitation. Although the idea is sound, the process places the caregiving families under an immense pressure. The aim of this study was to explore the impact that the de-institutionalisation process has had on the families as they care for their child with intellectual disability. The study was conducted by means of qualitative, unstructured interviews with families that have had a child de-institutionalised from Alexandra Hospital in the Western Cape. All of the patients were diagnosed with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and mental illness. Even though the patients were in group-homes or attended a day care centre, final responsibility for the patients lay with the parents. Three main themes emerged from the interviews that describe the impact of deinstitutionalisation, viz. the characteristics of the family member with intellectual disability (aggressive, abusive and self-destructive behaviour of the patient), the effect that these characteristics had on the family (marital stress and health risks to the care giver), and community and resource factors. The study placed the family central to its environment and discussed the impact deinstitutionalisation had on its environment as a whole. It was concluded that the burden that de-institutionalisation places on the families far exceeded their ability to cope with these circumstances. This status quo could be improved if adequate resources and skills are given to families prior to de-institutional


In this paper, we describe the self reconfigurable mesh network . A wireless mesh network has to face problems such as dynamic obstacles, bandwidth demands channel interference, etc. These kind of failures causes performance degradation in wireless mesh network. The Autonomous reconfiguration system presented over this paper helps a multiradio WMN to recover from link failure in a autonomous way. ARS monitors and generates the necessary changes in the network. Based on the changes generated the network is reconfigured.


Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare syndrome caused by adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutation resulting in the development of hundreds of adenomatous colorectal polyps. The disease process usually manifests fully by the second decade of life. Total colectomy or restorative proctocolectomy is often required to prevent the development of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Routine surveillance following surgery is critical for the early detection of polyps or malignancy. We present a rare case of a 31-year-old male with a history of FAP status post total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) who presented with acute exacerbation of lower back pain and new-onset lower extremity paresthesia. Imaging demonstrated an aggressive T12 vertebral body lesion. Pathology following laminectomy demonstrated metastatic adenocarcinoma. Subsequent pouchoscopy revealed a distal 1.5-cm pedunculated lesion arising from remnant rectal tissue with pathology confirming moderately differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma. This patient underwent a prophylactic proctocolectomy 20 years prior to this admission but was lost to follow-up prior to any endoscopic evaluations. Despite postoperative surveillance guidelines and patient counseling, follow-up and recommended endoscopic evaluation are often inadequate. This case examines potential socioeconomic factors influencing the completion of surveillance endoscopy and also represents an opportunity to incorporate education and provide resources to patients with FAP to improve surveillance examinations and mitigate the development of preventable malignancies.


Two design techniques improve the robustness of Whitenoise encryption algorithm implementation to side-channel attacks based on dynamic and/or static power consumption. The first technique conceals the power consumption and has linear cost. The second technique randomizes the power consumption and has quadratic cost. These techniques are not mutually exclusive; their synergy provides a good robustness to power analysis attacks. Other circuit-level protection can be applied on top of the proposed techniques, opening the avenue for generating very robust implementations.