The well-known root-locus method is developed for special subset of linear time-invariant systems known as fractional-order systems. Transfer functions of these systems are rational functions with polynomials of rational powers of the Laplace variable s. Such systems are defined on a Riemann surface because of their multivalued nature. A set of rules for plotting the root loci on the first Riemann sheet is presented. The important features of the classical root-locus method such as asymptotes, roots condition on the real axis, and breakaway points are extended to fractional case. It is also shown that the proposed method can assess the closed-loop stability of fractional-order systems in the presence of a varying gain in the loop. Three illustrative examples are presented to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.


We evaluate the entanglement of purification (EoP), which measures correlations between two subsystems, for excited states dual to asymptotically AdS spacetimes using holography. In this framework EoP is given by the minimal cross sectional area of an entanglement wedge. We carry out a perturbative analysis for calculating EoP between the vacuum and other states for a symmetric configuration consisting of two disjoint strips and obtain analytical results in the specific regimes of the parameter space. In particular, when the states described by purely gravitational excitations in the bulk we find that the leading correction to EoP is negative and the correlation between the subregions decreases. We also study other types of excitations upon adding the extra matter fields including current and scalar condensate. For the latter class of excitations, we find that the variation of EoP is negative, when the dimension of the scalar operator respects the unitarity bound. Finally, we discuss how these results are consistent with the behavior of other correlation measures including the holographic mutual information. ar X iv :2 10 5. 12 47 6v 1 [ he pth ] 2 6 M ay 2 02 1


Organic substrates are distinctive and important resources due to their ability to regulate nutrient cycles and habitats they provide. In this research we test the importance of organic substrates for present distribution of habitats accumulating organic sediment and compare historic (circa 1850) and present land cover maps to characterise the long-term change on these substrates. The results show: 1) areal extent of organic substrates in lowlands is 8552 ha, in highlands 11,465 ha and in mountains 13,374 ha; 2) the area of current mire habitats is 43,801.75 ha, on organic-substrates it is 9555.64 ha (i.e. 21.82% share on all current mire habitats) and mire habitats covers 28.62% of organic sediments, and; 3) the test of losses and gains among land cover units and between organic and non-organic soils show us, that the most remarkable land cover losses on organic soils occurred on grasslands in all altitude categories – to water areas and arable land in Lowlands (< 350 m a.s.l.), to forests in Highlands (from 350 to 750 m a.s.l.) and Mountains (> 750 m a.s.l.). Although organic sediments are sparse in lowlands, they were found to be very important for the present distribution of mire habitats.


Recent investigations suggest that physeal morphologic features have a major role in the capital femoral epiphysis stability and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) pathology, with a smaller epiphyseal tubercle and larger peripheral cupping of the femoral epiphysis being present in hips with progressive SCFE compared to healthy controls. Yet, little is known on the causal versus remodeling nature of these associations. This study aimed to use preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with unilateral SCFE to perform a comparison of the morphology of the epiphyseal tubercle, metaphyseal fossa, and peripheral cupping in hips with SCFE versus the contralateral uninvolved hips. Preoperative MRIs from 22 unilateral SCFE patients were used to quantify the morphological features of the epiphyseal tubercle (height, width, and length), metaphyseal fossa (depth, width, and length), and peripheral cupping height in three dimension. The quantified anatomical features were compared between hips with SCFE and the contralateral uninvolved side across the whole cohort and within SCFE severity subgroups using paired t‐test. We found significantly smaller epiphyseal tubercle heights (p < 0.001) across all severities of SCFE when compared to their uninvolved contralateral side. There was a marginally smaller metaphyseal fossa length (p = 0.05) in SCFE hips compared to their contralateral uninvolved hips, with mild SCFE hips specifically having smaller fossa and epiphyseal lengths (p < 0.05) than their contralateral uninvolved side. There were no side‐to‐side differences in any other features of the epiphyseal tubercle, metaphyseal fossa and peripheral cupping across all severities (p > 0.05). These findings suggest a potential causal role of epiphyseal tubercle in SCFE pathogenesis.


The large number of references given illustrates the interest in the plant physiological aspects of pesticide research. The conclusions from this survey, that the main path of movement is in the xylem but that the compound enters the phloem, apparently in relatively high concentrations, yet does not move to any significant amount in this conducting tissue, would seem to be difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis of mass flow translocation in the phloem. S. B. Soloway, in his chapter "Correlation between Biological Activity and Molecular Structure of the Cyclodiene Insecticides", has brought logic to bear on an apparently confusing group of compounds, which includes aldrin, dieldrin and endrin. The subject matter, involving as it does a bewildering mass of chemicals of slightly differing structures, many of which can exist in different geometrical forms, is extremely readable and admirably presented. Although progress in plant chemotherapy has been reviewed " at fairly. frequent intervals, plant pathologists and chemists alike should find the chapter entitled "Natural Models for Plant Chemotherapy" by A.E. Dimond rewarding reading. Systemic fungicides as a group have a low order of activity by comparison with systemic insecticides. This is because it is difficult to attain selective toxicity to microbial pathogens without affecting the host plant. The author describes the types of chemicals, naturally occurring and synthetic, which have shown chemotherapeutic effectsand then elaborates on the various ways in which control has been achieved. This is a concise, up-to-date review of recent work; furthermore, it contains a useful introductory section on entry and transport of foreign chemicals in plants. The fifth chapter is "Genetic Studies on Insecticide Resistance". A voluminous literature on the subject of insecticide resistance has accumulated over the years since DDT was first introduced, and G. P. Georghiou deserves full credit for this masterly review. Resistance brought about by DDT, cyclodienes, organophosphates and carbamates in different insects is treated in detail, and the chapter is concluded with a useful critical consideration of the investigations which have been made. The final chapter, "Nicotinoids as Insecticides", by Izuru Yamamoto, deals with the chemistry and mode of insecticidal action of nicotine analogues. The author reviews the compounds which have been synthesized, correlating struc-


We discuss some universal relations that hold for conformal field theories which admit a dual classical gravitational description in anti-de Sitter space. These relations therefore apply in a suitable large N limit, and imply that various hydrodynamic transport coefficients for conserved currents and thermodynamic state functions are entirely fixed by central charges.


In the Old Testament the cup symbolizes human fate, life or destiny. It can bear both positive and negative connotations depending on context and circumstances. The cup is an indispensable item to the Passover seder in Judaism. It's become a central symbol of freedom and divine intervention in the history of Israel. The paper is focusing on the Eucharistic Cup of Jesus, whose meaning cannot be fully grasped without reference to the ancient Jewish tradition. Słowa klucze: Nowy Testament; Ostatnia Wieczerza; Eucharystia; Pascha; kielich.


Major microprocessor vendors have integrated functional software-based self-testing in their manufacturing test flows during the last decade. Functional self-testing is performed by test programs that the processor executes at-speed from on-chip memory. Multiprocessors and multithreaded architectures are constantly becoming the typical general-purpose computing paradigm, and thus the various existing uniprocessor functional self-testing schemes must be adopted and adjusted to meet the testing requirements of complex multiprocessors. A major challenge in porting a functional self-testing approach from the uniprocessor to the multiprocessor case is to take advantage of the inherent execution parallelism offered by the multiple cores and the multiple threads in order to reduce test execution time. In this paper, we study the application of functional self-testing to chip multithreaded (CMT) processors. We propose a method that exploits thread-level parallelism (TLP) to speed up the execution of self-test routines in every physical core of a multiprocessor chip. The proposed method effectively splits the self-test routines into shorter ones, assigns the new routines to the hardware threads of the core and schedules their execution in order to minimize the core idle intervals due to cache misses or long latency operations and maximize the utilization of core computing resources. We demonstrate our method in the open-source CMT multiprocessor model, Sun's OpenSPARC T1, which contains eight CPU cores, each one supporting four hardware threads. Our experimental results show a self-test execution speedup of more than three times compared to the single thread execution.


The hydration of α−tricalcium phosphate (α−TCP) is known to lead to the formation of an interlinked calcium−deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) framework. This apatite resembles the composition and structure of physiologic bone mineral, making it a good candidate for bone reconstruction. The additional presence of a calcium sulfate phase, which has a faster resorption rate than apatite, gives a gradual creation of porosity in the cement. This may in turn enhance bone ingrowth. The aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding of the main characteristics and properties of a bi−phasic α−TCP/α−CSH cement, prepared with an X−ray contrast medium.Isothermal calorimetry has been used to follow the course of the hydration reaction over time as it involves traceable exothermic events with possible contributions from both the calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate components. This was done in an attempt to identify and differentiate the role of each reactive phase. Additionally, the total produced heat from the cement has been used to estimate the degree of conversion and this result has been verified by X−ray diffraction analysis.Furthermore, compressive strength of the α−TCP/α−CSH cement has been measured over time to investigate the possible connection to its thermal evolution signature. Also, the impact of the surrounding environment on the α−TCP and α−CSH conversion was investigated by comparing XRD results between samples that had been kept dry or wet.


Four recent papers have investigated the effects of ensemble size on the Brier score (BS) and discrete ranked probability score (RPS) attained by ensemble‐based probabilistic forecasts. The connections between these papers are described and their results are generalized. In particular, expressions, explanations and estimators for the expected effect of ensemble size on the RPS and continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) are obtained. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society


Background: This study examines the Medicaid program as an essential part of the healthcare system in the United States. Methods: We employ an extensive discussion to highlight the importance of the Medicaid program and provide several policy suggestions. Results: The pressure to find innovative solutions to rapidly increasing costs of healthcare is reshaping the Medicaid program at the state level. As a result, states are having to rethink the design of their benefits and how best to coordinate the program, payers, and providers. These changes will affect the Medicaid program well beyond the current economic downturn. Conclusion: Overall, we propose that material changes are necessary in order to make the plan sustainable at the state level. Policy implications: Possible changes include revising the standards for Medicaid eligibility, new laws that shift the burden of healthcare from the state to private employers, and making healthcare more affordable for those who are not eligible for Medicaid.


There is an urgent need to accelerate the discovery of effective drugs for COVID-19. We have developed machine learning models for rapid discovery of molecules potentially inhibitory to SARS-CoV-2 and negligible or no human cell toxicity. The machine learning (ML) QSAR models were trained and optimized with features (descriptors and fingerprints) of the experimentally validated SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory compounds. Several molecular descriptors and fingerprints were calculated to select the decisive ones for the training and evaluation of thousands of ML models. The best-optimized models are deployed as ASCoVPred webserver and standalone software, that provides easy and free access to the models. The feature selection for selecting the best descriptors for ML models training helped identify a set of decisive descriptors and fingerprints that correlate positively or negatively with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and toxicity of the compounds. Systematic prediction and optimization of compounds with the help of ASCoVPred can facilitate the discovery of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds. The ASCoVPred web server and standalone software are freely available at http://220.127.116.11/ascovpred/.


The current thesis has been written as part of the undergraduate studies for the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Patras University. Its objective is the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from two, at least, photographs, which is part of computer vision. More specifically, this thesis analyzes in detail the case of stereo vision when the camera, among two successive shots of the same image, has zero relative rotation compared to its initial position and an average translation of about 5 cm. In this way, it attempts to simulate human vision since this is essential for many Artificial Intelligence applications.
 Humans take stereo vision for granted since they live in a three-dimensional world. However, this world becomes two-dimensional when recorded by a camera. We can still get information about the image depth but this is empirically done based on comparing various heights, shapes and sizes. Images are identified by the computer as any other file. Computers cannot draw conclusions about what is depicted in the real world. They need to combine at least two images of the same scene and of different positions to identify the image's depth.
 This process is described in the current thesis. The first chapter describes stereo vision and why it is so useful. The second chapter provides the basic principles of projective geometry, the mathematical background for passing from the two-dimensional level to the three-dimensional. The third chapter refers to camera modeling and its parameters (instrisic and extrinsic). Chapter four analyzes the camera calibration process. Chapter five explains the matching process of points of interest in both pictures. The sixth chapter provides the basic principles of epipolar geometry. The seventh chapter shows the experimental procedure that we followed in order to estimate the depth of the scene. Chapter eight shows how the 3D reconstruction is finally done. Chapter nine talks about our conclusions and how the results could improve.
 Both theoretical and experimental parts of this project cover the key points of 3d reconstruction. The results of the experiments show that the existing methods are satisfying but could improve more.

We want to thank our supervisor professor Mr. Dermatas for his collaboration and his understanding.


AIM
To investigate the status of the lymphatic vessels in the small bowel affected by Crohn's disease (CD) at the moment of surgery.

METHODS
During the period January 2011-June 2011, 25 consecutive patients affected by CD were operated on in our Institution. During surgery, Patent Blue V was injected subserosally and the way it spread along the subserosa of the intestinal wall, through the mesenterial layers towards the main lymphatic collectors and eventually to the lymph nodes was observed and recorded. Since some patients had been undergone strictureplasty at previous surgery, we also examined the status of intestinal lymph vessels after previous strictureplasties. The same procedure was performed in a control group of 5 patients affected by colorectal cancer. Length of lesions, caliber, maximal thickness of the diseased intestinal wall, thickness of the wall at injection site and thickness of the mesentery were evaluated at surgery.

RESULTS
We observed three features after the injection of Patent Blue V in the intestinal loops: (1) Macroscopically healthy terminal ileum of patients with CD or colon cancer showed thin lymphatic vessels linearly directed toward the mesentery; (2) In mild lesions in which the intestinal wall did not reach 8 mm of thickness, we observed short, wide and tortuous lymphatic vessels directed longitudinally along the intestinal axis toward disease-free areas and then transversally toward the mesentery; and (3) Injection in the severely affected lesions, that had a thickness of the intestinal wall over 10 mm, did not show any feature of lymphatic vessels at least on the subserosal surface. There was a correlation between the thickness of the parietal wall and the severity of the lymphatic alterations. Normal lymphatic vessels were observed at previous strictureplasties in the presence of complete regression of the inflammation.

CONCLUSION
Injection of Patent Blue V in the intestinal wall could help distinguish healthy tracts of the small bowel from those macroscopically borderline.


Children under the age of 1 year (toddlers) are more susceptible to disease, which causes the environment to greatly affect the health of toddlers. Children's health is one of the most important things, especially when the child is in its infancy. The importance of SOP is one of the assessments of the quality of health services for both government and private agencies. There is input from patients as service users so that the importance of SOP for General Hospital services as service guidelines so that patient satisfaction is obtained. The purpose of this study was to see how useful the SOPs were compiled and the compliance of doctors in providing services based on SOPs on the quality of service received by patients. The method used is the Forward Chaining Method which is a method for reasoning from a problem by providing a solution. This research is an applied technology product that is expected to provide benefits as a media for consultation or instructor for the community in general, as well as for doctors and paramedics at public hospitals. The design of this system has been carried out through data collection activities, design rules, process design and system testing. From the collection of data and information found disease facts, complaints, symptoms and suggestions for treatment. The results obtained from testing the system using the PHP MySQl application show that the results of diagnoses and diseases of children at Tanjung Balai General Hospital have as many as 10 patient data that have been studied by experts and have carried out system testing to achieve an accuracy of 80%. Keywords: SOP, Forward chaining, rules, PHP MySQl, Expert System, disease diagnosis.


Abstract Kabakov, A. E., Malyutina, Y. V. and Latchman, D. S. Hsf1-Mediated Stress Response can Transiently Enhance Cellular Radioresistance. Radiat. Res. 165, 410–423 (2006). To elucidate how the heat-shock transcription factor 1 (Hsf1)-mediated stress response affects cellular radioresistance, mouse embryo fibroblasts with Hsf1-gene knockout (Hsf1−/− cells) or with normal wild-type Hsf1 expression (Hsf1 wild-type cells) were preconditioned by heating (43°C, 30 min) without or with quercetin (an inhibitor of Hsf1) and then exposed to γ radiation (4 or 6 Gy). Some cell samples were infected with virus-based vectors to overexpress the constitutively active (mutant) form of Hsf1 or individual heat-shock proteins (Hsps). The heat preconditioning transiently up-regulated the Hsp levels in Hsf1 wild-type cells and significantly improved their postirradiation survival; these effects could be abolished by quercetin or simulated (without preheating) by the Hsf1 overexpression. In contrast, no enhanced radioresistance was found in heat-preconditioned Hsf1−/− cells that were unable to trigger Hsf1-mediated Hsp induction after heating. However, when the constitutively active Hsf1 was overexpressed in Hsf1−/− cells, the latter accumulated stress-inducible Hsps and became more radioresistant like heat-preconditioned Hsf1 wild-type cells. The overexpression of Hsp70 or/ and Hsp27 also enhanced radioresistance of both cell cultures. Thus the preirradiation stress response resulting in the intracellular Hsp accumulation can improve survival of severely irradiated mammalian cells.


Essential oils (EOs) are mostly composed of terpenes and phenolic compounds that are stored in secretory tissues of aromatic plants. This study evaluated the effect of both commercial and experimental thyme oil (cEO and eEO, respectively) on ATCC strains of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella paratyphi present on surfaces of chilled raw beef. The composition of each EO was analyzed chemically by gas chromatography coupled with spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial activity was assessed through the agar diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration by means of the macro dilution method in broth, thus proving that a higher concentration of both cEO and eEO is required to reduce the growth of S. enteritidis compared to S. paratyphi. Similar results were obtained when pieces of beef previously inoculated with 104 cfu / ml and kept at 0°C, 4°C and 10°C for 72 hours were treated with three concentrations of cEO and eEO. The in vivo approach showed that S. paratyphi is more sensitive to the action of EO than S. enteritidis and such sensitivity decreases when temperature increases. Overall, the cEO proved to be more effective than the eEO on the growth inhibition of the two species, showing in all cases a reduction greater than 10% for S. paratyphi at the concentration of 50% (v / v) and greater than 7% at the concentrations of 40 and 30% (v / v), exhibiting a significant variation at a p-value < 0.05. Regarding S. enteritidis, the values of reduction were 4.5% at 0°C and 4°C and 3.5% at 10°C for the cEO, and higher than 1% for the eEO. It is concluded that the application of thyme EO on surfaces of meat contributes to reduce the presence of Salmonella spp. on this type of foodstuff.


PURPOSE
The Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) was launched in 2018 to standardize reporting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for bladder cancer (BC). This study aimed to prospectively validate VI-RADS using a next-generation MRI scanner and to investigate the usefulness of denoising deep learning reconstruction (dDLR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 98 patients who underwent bladder multiparametric MRI using a next-generation MRI scanner before transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Tumors were categorized according to VI-RADS, and we ultimately analyzed 68 patients with pathologically confirmed urothelial BC. We used receiving operating characteristic curve analyses to assess the predictive accuracy of VI-RADS for muscle invasion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for different VI-RADS score cutoffs.

RESULTS
Muscle invasion was detected in the TURBT specimens of 18 patients (26%). The optimal cutoff value of the VI-RADS score was determined as≥4 based on the receiver operating curve analyses. The accuracy of diagnosing muscle invasion using a cutoff of VI-RADS ≥4 was 94% (AUC: 0.92). Additionally, we assessed the utility of dDLR: combination with dDLR significantly improved the AUC of category by T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and of the four patients who were misdiagnosed by the final VI-RADS score, three were correctly diagnosed by T2WI+dDLR.

CONCLUSIONS
In this prospective validation study with a next-generation MRI scanner, VI-RADS showed high predictive accuracy for muscle invasion in patients with BC before TURBT. Combining T2WI with dDLR might further improve the diagnostic accuracy of VI-RADS.


The aims of this study were to investigate otolith dysfunction, especially isolated otolith dysfunction (with preserved semicircular canal function) in persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) patients. Twenty-one patients who had been diagnosed with PPPD were enrolled in this study. The subjects filled out questionnaires [the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the Niigata PPPD Questionnaire (NPQ)] and underwent vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) tests, video head-impulse tests (vHIT), and stabilometry. Among the 21 subjects with PPPD, 9 showed isolated otolith dysfunction, 4 exhibited both otolith dysfunction and semicircular canal dysfunction, and 2 demonstrated isolated semicircular canal dysfunction. Six subjects exhibited normal VEMP and vHIT results. Concerning the subjects' questionnaire scores and stabilometric parameters, there were no significant differences among subgroups when the subjects were classified according to their VEMP and vHIT results while stabilometric parameters obtained in PPPD subjects were significantly increased than published data of healthy subjects. As precipitating conditions for PPPD, vestibular neuritis was the most frequent and the second most was idiopathic otolithic vertigo. In conclusion, the majority of PPPD patients had otolith dysfunction, and most of them showed isolated otolith dysfunction. Idiopathic otolithic vertigo can be a precipitating factor of PPPD. While otolith dysfunction may be associated with initiation of PPPD symptoms, PPPD symptoms are also considered to be associated with other dysfunctions of the sensory processing system.


Abstract Objective: Reactive hyperplastic lesions are one of the most common lesions of the oral cavity. Mast cells can be found in various oral lesions. However, the exact role of mast cells in oral reactive lesions is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to compare the mast cells count in various oral reactive lesions and to evaluate the correlation between the mast cells number and the intensity of inflammation. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 80 samples of oral reactive lesions including irritation fibroma, pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma (20 for each). Eight samples of normal oral mucosa were selected as the control group. To determine the mast cells count and the intensity of inflammation, Toluidine blue and Hematoxylin & Eosin staining was performed respectively. The data was analyzed with SPSS (V.21), Kruskal-Wallis, Tukey and Spearman's correlation coefficient tests. Results: In this study, a significant increase in mast cells count was found in oral reactive lesions compared to normal oral mucosa (p<0.001). Difference of mast cell count between irritation fibroma and the peripheral giant cell granuloma groups (p=0.023), peripheral ossifying fibroma and peripheral giant cell granuloma groups (p=0.001) was statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between mast cell count and the intensity of inflammation in the irritation fibroma and pyogenic granuloma groups. Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that mast cells count in peripheral ossifying fibroma and irritation fibroma were significantly higher than normal oral mucosa, so mast cells may have some role in the induction of fibrosis in oral reactive lesions.


: The author discusses maternal nutritional depletion, the negative energy balance and/or micronutrient deficiencies resulting from the energetic burden of frequent reproductive cycling combined with undernutrition and overexertion, and its impact upon a woman's health and nutritional status and that of her offspring. The article is therefore concerned with the impact of nutritional depletion which occurs during a woman's life cycle, as opposed to the effects of nutritional depletion which occur intergenerationally. A brief summary is presented of the recognition and controversy regarding the effects of reproductive stress followed by a description of the factors which make assessment and identification of specific consequences so complex, with approaches suggested to alleviate maternal nutritional depletion. Policy directions and areas for research are suggested.


Next generation robot is expected to provide multi-purpose services depending on surrounding environments. Currently, many of robots would support a limited services, since it is difficult to solve the cross-cutting concerns in those complex services. Additionally, after the launch of robot products, it requires to support additional extended services that would depend on the real environment, even if the hardware environment would be the same. We believe that the essential idea of Context-oriented programming (COP) could help these difficulties. To achieve our final goal, which is to develop a multi-purpose services robot, there are some discussions needed for the current COP languages to satisfy the multi-purpose service robot requirements. In this paper, firstly we introduce the background of our proposal that the current robotics problems and future vision, then a case study of a tunnel rescue robot that will make clear to our goal for robot development based on COP. Finally, to achieve this goal we present a novel architecture. The proposed architecture will satisfy the requirements of the future robot.


Graphene revealed a number of unique properties beneficial for electronics. However, graphene does not have an energy band-gap, which presents a serious hurdle for its applications in digital logic gates. The efforts to induce a band-gap in graphene via quantum confinement or surface functionalization have not resulted in a breakthrough. Here we show that the negative differential resistance experimentally observed in graphene field-effect transistors of "conventional" design allows for construction of viable non-Boolean computational architectures with the gapless graphene. The negative differential resistance—observed under certain biasing schemes—is an intrinsic property of graphene, resulting from its symmetric band structure. Our atomistic modeling shows that the negative differential resistance appears not only in the drift-diffusion regime but also in the ballistic regime at the nanometer-scale—although the physics changes. The obtained results present a conceptual change in graphene research and indicate an alternative route for graphene's applications in information processing. VC 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4824828]


Fully nonlinear wave interaction with a fixed breakwater is investigated in a numerical wave tank (NWT). The potential theory and high-order boundary element method are used to solve the boundary value problem. Time domain simulation by a mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian (MEL) formulation and high-order boundary integral method based on non uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) formulation is employed to solve the equations. At each time step, Laplace equation is solved in Eulerian frame and fully non-linear free-surface conditions are updated in Lagrangian manner through material node approach and fourth order Runge-Kutta time integration scheme. Incident wave is fed by specifying the normal flux of appropriate wave potential on the fixed inflow boundary. To ensure the open water condition and to reduce the reflected wave energy into the computational domain, two damping zones are provided on both ends of the numerical wave tank. The convergence and stability of the presented numerical procedure are examined and compared with the analytical solutions. Wave reflection and transmission of nonlinear waves with different steepness are investigated. Also, the calculation of wave load on the breakwater is evaluated by first and second order time derivatives of the potential.


The two competing Australian stock exchanges have an extremely high and growing percentage of their trading volumes being transacted from within their own competing dark pool matching services. In this article, the authors determine the exchange dark pool participation rate (EDPPR) in 50 of the largest Australian stocks by market capitalization during a three-month period (October 2014 through December 2014). The hypothesis is that the higher the stock price is, the lower the EDPPR will be.


In many African countries, spatial inequalities in the provision and distribution of social services can be explained by a myriad of factors including the development approaches adopted in their colonial history. This paper explores the spatial inequality among cities in Northern and Southern Ghana as evident in the availability of infrastructural facilities such as health, education, telecommunication, and potable water. Using secondary data from various government documents, the paper sought to explain the contours of spatial inequality among six major and strategically located cities in Ghana- three each in northern and southern parts of the country. The paper uses Lorenz curve as the main technique in establishing spatial inequalities among the selected cities. The paper reveals that provision of and access to schools, hospitals and other social services tend to favour the southern parts of the country hence influencing the spatial distribution of population. This dichotomy took its roots from the colonial administration, which favoured the development of the mineral rich parts of Ghana to serve the interests of their metropolitan markets. Unfortunately, this skewed spatial development approach has been perpetuated by all post-independence governments due to their subtle but continuous dependence on their colonial masters. The paper recommended investments in intermediate settlements in the three northern regions to serve as service centres to stimulate the development of Northern Ghana.

 Key words: Spatial inequalities, disparities, infrastructural facilities, cities.


In today's world, every business organization can pursue marketing goals online. Choosing the right Internet marketing tools or combining several may be significant in reaching the target audience. Therefore, without precise criteria for assessing the impact of Internet marketing tools on business organizations, it is not very easy to choose the most appropriate tools to compete with other businesses. This paper aims to investigate the impact of Internet marketing tools on business organizations. In order to achieve this goal, the following tasks are set: to analyse the Internet marketing concept and to reveal the impact assessment criteria. The results have shown that there is no agreed scientific definition of the term and concept of Internet marketing tools. However, it is obvious that Internet marketing is the part of digital marketing. Also, the Internet marketing impact criteria consist of short-term effect, long-term effect, and alternatives. Internet marketing tools typically drive sales growth, strengthen the brand and help to build and maintain relationships with clients.


In this paper, we present work conducted in order to explain the results of a commercial software used for real-time decision support for the flow management of a combined wastewater network. This tool is deployed in many major cities and is used on a daily basis. We apply decision trees to build rules for classifying and interpreting the solutions of the optimization model. Our main goal is to build a classifier that would help a user understand why a proposed solution is good and why other solutions are worse. We demonstrate the feasibility of the approach to our industrial application by generating a large dataset of feasible solutions and classifying them as satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on whether the objective function is a certain percentage higher than the optimal (minimum) objective. We evaluate the performance of the learned classifier on unseen examples. Our results show that our approach is very promising according to reactions from analysts and potential users.


Ridesharing is undoubtedly appealing from a sustainability perspective; however, profit optimization is very important for commercial providers. As such, ridesharing offers a valuable opportunity to garner profit by reducing the number of driver-miles that need to be paid for in order to serve the same set of passengers. In this paper, we study profit optimization for commercial ridesharing service providers such as UberPool and LyftLine.


Esterified hyaluronan scaffolds offer significant advantages for tissue engineering. They are recognized by cellular receptors, interact with many other extracellular matrix proteins and their metabolism is mediated by intrinsic cellular pathways. In this study differences in the viability and structural integrity of vascular tissue models cultured on hyaluronan scaffolds under laminar flow conditions highlighted potential differences in the biodegradation kinetics, processes and end‐products, depending on the culture environment. Critical factors are likely to include seeding densities and the duration and magnitude of applied biomechanical stress. Proteomic evaluation of the timing and amount of remodelling protein expression, the resulting biomechanical changes arising from this response and metabolic cell viability assay, together with examination of tissue morphology, were conducted in vascular tissue models cultured on esterified hyaluronan felt and PTFE mesh scaffolds. The vascular tissue models were derived using complete cell sheets derived from harvested and expanded umbilical cord vein cells. This seeding method utilizes high‐density cell populations from the outset, while the cells are already supported by their own abundant extracellular matrix. Type I and type IV collagen expression in parallel with MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 expression were monitored in the tissue models over a 10 day culture period under laminar flow regimes using protein immobilization technologies. Uniaxial tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy were used to compare the resulting effects of hydrodynamic stimulation upon structural integrity, while viability assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of shear on metabolic function. The proteomic results showed that the hyaluronan felt‐supported tissues expressed higher levels of all remodelling proteins than those cultured on PTFE mesh. Overall, a 21% greater expression of type I collagen, 24% higher levels of type IV collagen, 24% higher levels of MMP‐1 and 34% more MMP‐2 were observed during hydrodynamic stress. This was coupled with a loss of structural integrity in these models after the introduction of laminar flow, as compared to the increases in all mechanical properties observed in the PTFE mesh‐supported tissues. However, under flow conditions, the hyaluronan‐supported tissues showed some recovery of the viability originally lost during static culture conditions, in contrast to PTFE mesh‐based models, where initial gains were followed by a decline in metabolic viability after applied shear stress. Proteomic, cell viability and mechanical testing data emphasized the need for extended in vitro evaluations to enable better understanding of multi‐stage remodelling and reparative processes in tissues cultured on biodegradable scaffolds. This study also highlighted the possibility that in high‐density tissue culture with a biodegradable component, dynamic conditions may be more conducive to optimal tissue development than the static environment because they facilitate the efficient removal of high concentrations of degradation end‐products accumulating in the pericellular space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Knowledge utilization is a field crossing many sectors, from agriculture, since the 1920s, to health care today. Evaluators have made long‐standing contributions to understanding knowledge utilization. Different models or ways to think about knowledge utilization have evolved to reflect different perspectives, contexts, and stages of the process, from knowledge creation to the use of effectiveness results in policymaking. The rich interdisciplinary history of this field challenges evaluators to interrogate what knowledge (really) means within a policy or program—whether knowledge is being used more symbolically, rhetorically, or tactically, for example. Differences in program or policy effectiveness across different program sites might result from different types of knowledge use in those sites. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.


Genetic recovery of an American beech (Fagus grandifolia) population in deciduous forests that were once pastures was studied using 16 allozyme loci from 410 individuals in a 600 m × 600 m study plot in Maryland, USA. We also examined the spatio-temporal genetic structure of the American beech population at a regional scale. Overall genetic diversity of mature trees was measured by estimating average heterozygosity (H = 0.156). Rare alleles were observed in five loci, Lap, 6Pdgh3, Pgi, Adh1 and Got3. Mature individuals were divided into three size classes based on d.b.h. The genetic component of each size class was compared and it was revealed that several alleles (Pgm-a, 6Pgdh3-a and Lap-b) were shared only in specific size classes. The spatial distribution of the genotypes demonstrated a conspicuous localization in three loci (Aco, Adh1 and Idh). Spatial autocorrelation analyses were carried out among the mature trees for a 20 m interval, and were positive for 0–120 m and negative for >180 m. Distrograms indicated that a unique genetic localization occurs among mature individuals. Seven hundred and seventy-five seedlings in the 10 m × 120 m transect were analyzed to measure gene flow via seed and/or pollen. We obtained a genetic neighborhood area of 1.17 ha and an effective population size of 32.4. The temporal and spatial modes of genetic recovery of the population are discussed in the context of conservation biology.


Simulated Annealing and Genetic Algorithm are two well-known metaheuristic algorithms for combinatorial optimization. These two methods have also been used for solving constrained continuous problems. In this study, five constrained continuous problems have been solved both Simulated Annealing (SA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). Optimum results have been compared with real optimum values obtained with continuous optimization methods. It has been seen that combinatorial optimization methods can successfully be applied to continuous optimization problems.


This paper provides an approximate closed form solution to the problem of data-aided joint maximum likelihood estimation of the carrier frequency offset and of the channel impulse response in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing transmission over a multipath fading channel. This results in a novel pilot-aided feedforward estimator, that can be employed for pilot-based receiver training. It is also shown how the novel joint estimation strategy can be exploited in an iterative (turbo) receiver structure to track the fast channel and frequency offset changes occurring during the transmission of information symbols. The performance of this structure is assessed by computer simulations and is compared with that provided by other estimation/detection strategies.


This paper is dedicated to the risk analysis of credit portfolios. Assuming that default indicators form an exchangeable sequence of Bernoulli random variables and as a consequence of de Finetti's theorem, default indicators are Binomial mixtures. We can characterize the supermodular order between two exchangeable Bernoulli random vectors in terms of the convex ordering of their corresponding mixture distributions. Thus we can proceed to some comparisons between stoploss premiums, CDO tranche premiums and convex risk measures on aggregate losses. This methodology provides a unified analysis of dependence for a number of CDO pricing models based on factor copulas, multivariate Poisson and structural approaches.


o meet the growing demand for vended foods of an increasing population, Tthe need to develop marketing policy and strategy cannot be ignored for better management of consumer behaviour and understanding of food consumption patterns. This study therefore investigated social factors as the determinants of consumption patterns of vended foods among auto-technicians in Ibadan metropolis. The study employed the survey research design. The population consisted of 5,468 registered members of National Auto and Technical Association (NATA) in11 Local Government Areas in Ibadan metropolis, out of which 2,014 members were selected through scientific sampling method. Data generated were analysed using frequency, mean, standard deviation and regression analysis at 0.05 alpha level. The findings revealed that social factors (F .stat 2 =181.624; R =0.295; p(.000)<.05. The study concludes that social factors are determinants of food consumption patterns among auto-technicians in Ibadan metropolis. For this reason, this study recommends that social factors (environment, health, family, religion) should be imbibed and considered in the development of marketing strategies and taping of marketing opportunities. Occupational change is recommended to improve standard of living which enhances employment.


Despite the availability of safe and effective hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines for >20 years, strategies targeting risk groups failed to sufficiently control hepatitis B disease at the population level; this is mainly because of difficulties in risk identification and in program implementation. Hence, the global burden of disease of HBV still is substantial. The World Health Organization recommends universal vaccination against hepatitis B to ultimately eliminate HBV; this recommendation had been progressively implemented to reach 168 countries with a universal program by the end of 2006. However, hepatitis B immunization is currently becoming endangered of losing its place on the agendas of governments, agencies, and international organizations, mainly because of the increasing success of these immunization programs and the interest in newer vaccine-preventable diseases and the related programs. This publication aims to show that vaccination programs targeting newborns and infants are preferable to achieve this goal. The benefits of universal HBV vaccination for newborns and infants are: higher impact on chronic carrier rate and transmission; established potential of high vaccine coverage in this age group; opportunities to combine HBV vaccination with existing universal vaccination programs for newborns and infants; and impact on perinatal transmission, if vaccination is started shortly after birth. Moreover, the safety, immunogenicity, and long-term efficacy of newborn and infant HBV vaccination have been proven extensively. In summary, newborn and infant HBV vaccination programs should be considered the preferred strategy, capable of providing important and sustained impact on global HBV incidence, even if they have a delayed impact on sexual transmission of HBV.


PyRoss is an open-source Python library that offers an integrated platform for inference, prediction and optimisation of NPIs in age- and contact-structured epidemiological compartment models. This report outlines the rationale and functionality of the PyRoss library, with various illustrations and examples focusing on well-mixed, age-structured populations. The PyRoss library supports arbitrary structured models formulated stochastically (as master equations) or deterministically (as ODEs) and allows mid-run transitioning from one to the other. By supporting additional compartmental subdivision ad libitum, PyRoss can emulate time-since-infection models and allows medical stages such as hospitalization or quarantine to be modelled and forecast. The PyRoss library enables fitting to epidemiological data, as available, using Bayesian parameter inference, so that competing models can be weighed by their evidence. PyRoss allows fully Bayesian forecasts of the impact of idealized NPIs by convolving uncertainties arising from epidemiological data, model choice, parameters, and intrinsic stochasticity. Algorithms to optimize time-dependent NPI scenarios against user-defined cost functions are included. PyRoss's current age-structured compartment framework for well-mixed populations will in future reports be extended to include compartments structured by location, occupation, use of travel networks and other attributes relevant to assessing disease spread and the impact of NPIs. We argue that such compartment models, by allowing social data of arbitrary granularity to be combined with Bayesian parameter estimation for poorly-known disease variables, could enable more powerful and robust prediction than other approaches to detailed epidemic modelling. We invite others to use the PyRoss library for research to address today's COVID-19 crisis, and to plan for future pandemics.


Among the environmental-friendly technologies recently proposed in the literature, high-temperature heat pumps represent a promising solution to foster the complete penetration of renewables within the power grid. Such systems may be based on closed Brayton cycles and leverage many existing components. As they are meant to provide high-temperature heat while using renewable electricity, their potential field of application ranges from industrial heating to energy storage. Several variants are currently under development to assess the feasibility of such systems in providing flexibility to the electricity grid. To do so, they need to operate in part-load conditions and quickly react when the load must be adjusted. In this regard, this study investigates the transient capabilities of Brayton heat pump technology. To this extent, a detailed transient model of a novel prototype proposed in the literature is presented, accounting for controls, thermal inertia and volume dynamics related to heat exchangers and piping. Furthermore, the model is used to assess the transient performance of the system in response to sudden load variations, which is achieved by adapting the turbomachinery operating velocities. Results show that the system can safely operate in part-load conditions with regulation times compatible with industrial needs.


The incidence, distribution and prevalence of downy mildew in maize were investigated during the
2008 growing season following a planned–two time survey across the Sudan and the Sahel savanna agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. The occurrence of the disease was investigated in 102 and 120 farmers' fields in 34 and 40 locations in the first and second surveys respectively. Average incidence (%) of the disease was obtained from a sample of 100 plants each from three farms per stop; each farm representing a replicate. Simple random sampling technique was employed in the
selection of plants. Results of the survey have revealed that 20 out of the 34 locations visited during the first survey had maize with early symptoms of the disease while only 4 out of the 40 locations visited in the second survey was having the symptoms of the disease. The incidence of the disease was 8.20% and 1.12%, in the first and second survey respectively and therefore
significantly different (p>0.05) indicating that the disease was more prevalent at seedling than at grain filling stage which is an indication of the absence of certified, sorghum downy mildew (SDM) free seeds in most of the regions surveyed. The incidence was also higher in the Sudan than in the Sahel savanna (16.28% and 3.28% first and second visits respectively). This might be probably
because of differences in climate of the two zones and the fact that maize was grown more in the Sudan than in the Sahel savanna zone. Although the incidence was generally low, proper measures should be taken to avoid unexpected epidemic of the disease in the future.


With the use of observations in 250 cases of childhood glaucoma, defects were classified anatomically according to the three major anterior chamber structures affected: the trabecular meshwork, the iris, and the cornea. The classification should do much to facilitate communication in the area of the developmental glaucomas and provide standardization of terminology to allow collaborative study of these rare diseases.


There is growing evidence to suggest that the black hole mass has been previously underestimated with the H$\beta$ line width for certain active galactic nuclei (AGN). With the assumption of the flatter rather than isotropic velocity distribution of gases in the broad-line region of AGN, we investigated the properties of narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies, like the black hole mass and the Eddington ratio, and compared with broad line Seyfert 1 (BLS1) galaxies. Since gamma-rays detected in a few NLS1s which favor a smaller viewing angle in NLS1s than BLS1s, with the projection effect we estimated the relative black hole mass and Eddington ratio for NLS1s and BLS1s. The result implies that the NLS1s and BLS1s have similar black hole masses and Eddington ratios, peaked at a larger black hole mass and lower Eddington ratio for the NLS1s than thought before. Furthermore, with applying the correction factor 6 of average black hole mass as derived from the modelling of both optical and UV data in radio-loud NLS1s by Calderone et al., to the Xu et al. sample, we find that the NLS1s and BLS1s also show similar black hole masses and Eddington ratios, peaked at $2.0\times10^{7}M_{\odot}$ and 0.12 (Eddington ratio) for the NLS1s. The $M_{BH}-\sigma$ relation due to the enhanced black hole masses of NLS1s is discussed. In addition, there seems to show a linear correlation between jet power and disk luminosity for the flat spectrum radio-loud NLS1 sample, which implies an accretion dominated rather than black hole spin dominated jet.


The paper analyzes the physical fundamentals of spectrum analysis and security threats due to the inability to provide sufficient level of data integrity and availability in wireless networks. The device for the construction of spectrum analyzers was searched. The analysis of hardware and circuitry of systems is made. Based on these data, solutions are built that allow you to make a stand-alone device based on the Atmega328 and Cortex-M3 processors. The structural scheme is developed and the questions of coordination of interfaces of existing modules and boards are solved. Procedures for obtaining data and displaying them are developed. The firmware with a module based on Arduino Nano and STM32F103C8 boards has been developed. All results are practically confirmed on hardware, and examples of hardware and software implementation of spectrum analysis by one device on different platforms are given.


Nat Turner's name rings through American history with a force all its own. Leader of the most important slave rebellion on these shores, murderer of unarmed men and women, beacon of freedom, religious fanatic-this contradictory figure represents all the terrible complexities of American slavery. And yet, writes Kenneth Greenberg, we do not know what he looked like, where he is buried, or even whether Nat Turner was his real name. In Nat Turner, Greenberg gathers twelve distinguished scholars to offer provocative new insight into the man, his rebellion, and his time. The historians here explore Turner's slave community, discussing the support for his uprising as well as the religious and literary context of his movement. They examine the place of women in his insurrection, and its far-reaching consequences (including an extraordinary 1832 Virginia debate about ridding the state of slavery). Here are discussions of Turner's lurid visions-the instructions he received from God to kill all of his white oppressors. Louis Masur places him against the backdrop of the nation's sectional crisis, and Douglas Egerton puts his revolt in the context of rebellions across the Americas. We trace Turner's passage through American memory, and Greenberg includes a fascinating interview with William Styron on his landmark book, The Confessions of Nat Turner. Nat Turner has always been controversial, an emblem of the searing wound of slavery in American life. This book, coinciding with a documentary co-written by Greenberg, directed by Charles Burnett, and produced by Frank Christopher, offers a clear-eyed look at one of the best known and least understood figures in our history.


OBJECTIVE
To confirm the anti-NPC effect of sanguinarine (SA) through a series of wet experiments.

METHODS
NPC cell viability was determined by proliferation experiment. Cell clone formation experiment, cell scratch test, transwell migration and invasion experiment and flow cytometry-based cell apoptosis assay were further performed. In addition, Western blotting was performed to investigate the cell signaling pathway. All the relevant experimental data were statistically processed using SPSS 16.0 software.

RESULTS
The results showed that sanguinarine represented a time and dose dependent inhibition effects on NPC cell proliferation including the low differentiated CNE2 cells and high metastatic 5-8F cells, along with the cell cloning ability reduction. In addition, sanguinarine has a certain inhibitory effect on the invasion and migration of NPC cells. Mechanistically, sanguinarine displayed the anti-NPC effects mainly involved into the suppression of mTOR signaling and cell apoptosis, which is closely associated with the tumor growth and metastatic malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, we discover that sanguinarine is a new high-efficiency anti-NPC monomer of Chinese medicine, with a value for the follow-up pre-clinical research.


High voltage-gated calcium channels consist of a pore-forming subunit (alpha(1)) and three nonhomologous subunits (alpha(2)/delta, beta, and gamma). Although it is well established that the beta-subunit promotes traffic of channels to the plasma membrane and modifies their activity, the reversible nature of the interaction with the alpha(1)-subunit remains controversial. Here, we address this issue by examining the effect of purified beta(2a) protein on Ca(V)1.2 and Ca(V)2.3 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The beta(2a)-subunit binds to the alpha(1)-interaction domain (AID) in vitro, and when injected into oocytes, it shifts the voltage dependence of activation and increases charge movement to ionic current coupling of Ca(V)1.2 channels. This increase depended on the integrity of AID but was not abolished by bafilomycin, demonstrating that the alpha(1)-beta interaction through the AID site can take place at the plasma membrane. Furthermore, injection of beta(2a) protein inhibited inactivation of Ca(V)2.3 channels and converted fast inactivating Ca(V)2.3/beta(1b) channels to slow inactivating channels. Inhibition of inactivation required larger concentration of beta(2a) in oocytes expressing Ca(V)2.3/beta(1b) channels than expressing Ca(V)2.3 alone but reached the same maximal level as expected for a competitive interaction through a single binding site. Together, our data show that the alpha(1)-beta interaction is reversible in intact cells and defines calcium channels beta-subunits as regulatory proteins rather than stoichiometric subunits.


A 61-year-old female received intravenous injection of calcium chloride after common iliac artery bypass surgery. A red flare appeared at the site of the intravenous infusion on the left forearm and gradually progressed to induration. Seven weeks later, she was referred to the Department of Dermatology for management. Physical examination showed an indurated plaque measuring 13 × 65 mm in size, with linearly distributed ulcers covered by yellowish-white substance, surrounded by reddish skin. Laboratory tests showed no significant abnormalities including serum calcium, phosphate and thyroid hormones. Cultures were negative for microorganisms. Histopathological examination showed calcium deposition confined to the dermis. The lesion healed spontaneously within 2 months with scar formation. A review of the Japanese literature showed confinement of calcium deposits to the dermis in most of the reported cases. We speculate that the pathomechanism of dermal calcinosis includes needle-induced tissue injury with capillary destruction, leading to release of excess calcium between collagen fibers, and its binding to phosphate in the dermis and deposition as calcium phosphate crystals.


The chemical energy stored in energetic materials may often be utilized in various ways, which motivates the development of multifunctional catalysts for flexible and efficient utilization of the chemical energy. Hydrazine is a promising energy carrier due to its high energy density and high hydrogen content, which can be utilized as a chemical hydrogen storage medium or a fuel for direct fuel cells. Herein, we propose a bifunctional catalyst for efficient dehydrogenation and electro-oxidation of hydrazine. As a proof-of-concept study, a carbon-black-supported Pt0.2Ni0.8 nanoparticle catalyst has been developed with high activity and durability for both complete dehydrogenation (with a turnover frequency of 673 h−1 and a H2 generation rate of 188 L h−1 gmetal−1) and electro-oxidation (with a mass activity of 132 mA mgmetal−1) of hydrazine under mild conditions, outperforming other catalysts including Pt, Ni, Pd0.2Ni0.8, and Au0.2Ni0.8 nanoparticles. Such a bifunctional catalyst can enable the utilization of hydrazine as a promising energy carrier for both on-demand hydrogen generation and electricity generation via direct hydrazine fuel cells, enhancing its flexibility for future onboard applications.


BACKGROUND. Field cancerization, which is not yet well-characterized in the prostate, occurs when large areas of an organ or tissue surface are affected by a carcinogenic insult, resulting in the development of multi-focal independent premalignant foci and molecular lesions that precede histological change. METHODS. Herein, we review the cumulative body of evidence concerning field effects in the prostate and critically evaluate the methods available for the identification and validation of field effect biomarkers. Validated biomarkers for field effects have an important role to play as surrogate endpoint biomarkers in Phase II prevention trials and as clinical predictors of cancer in men with negative biopsies. RESULTS. Thus far, field effects have been identified involving nuclear morphometric changes, gene expression, protein expression, gene promoter methylation, DNA damage and angiogenesis. In addition to comparing cancer-adjacent benign tissue to more distant areas or to ''supernormal'' tissue from cancer-free organs, investigators can use a nested case–control design for negative biopsies that offers a number of unique advantages. CONCLUSIONS. True carcinogenic field effects should be distinguished from secondary responses of the microenvironment to a developing tumor, although the latter may still lead to useful clinical prediction tools. Prostate 69: 1470–1479, 2009. # 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Objective: To analyze the effect of decitabine combined with conventional chemotherapy on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its influencing factors. Methods: Eighty patients with MDS who were admitted to our hospital were selected by this study between February 2017 and February 2018. The selected patients were divided into a traditional group (CAG/DA scheme) and the combined group (DAC combined with CAG/DA scheme) according to the random number table method, 40 each. The clinical treatment effects of the two groups were compared, and the influencing factors of the effect were analyzed. Results: After four courses of treatment, the difference in the total effective rate between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05); the difference in the incidence of adverse reactions and in the overall survival (OS) rate between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, the progression free survival (PFS) rate of the combined group was significantly higher compared with the traditional group (P<0.05); the Hb level, WHO stage and and karyotype of the patients before treatment had significant influence on the treatment effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: DAC in combination with conventional chemotherapy has good effect in the treatment of MDS, and it will not increase adverse reactions. In addition to treatment scheme, the influencing factors of the effect of treatment for MDS also include Hb, WHO stage and karyotype.


This case study examines the extension of the National Information Exchange Model NIEM [1] to include K-12 education metadata. NIEM's compliance with ISO/IEC 11179 [2] metadata standards was found to be critical for cost-effective system interoperability. This study indicates that extending the NIEM can be compatible with newer RDF and OWL metadata standards. We discuss how this strategy will dramatically lower data integration costs and make longitudinal data analysis more cost-effective. We make recommendations for state education agencies, federal policy makers, and metadata standards organizations. The conclusion discusses the possible impacts of recent innovations in collaborative metadata standards efforts.


Currently, biodiversity conservation is an indispensable work in many countries. In biodiversity conservation, species extinction is one hot research topic. This paper started with the extinction theory and literature analysis, then it examined the main reasons for the species extinction (climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, introduced species, chains of extinction, infectious disease, overexploitation, and pollution). This paper can enhance people's understanding of species extinction and the importance of biodiversity conservation.


Two patients with small primary pontine hemorrhage developed a syndrome identical to ataxic hemiparesis, one of the lacunar syndromes of Fisher. The possible mechanisms of the homolateral cerebellar signs, pyramidal signs, and dysarthria are discussed. Lesions of the ipsilateral pontine nuclei may be responsible for the homolateral ataxia.


Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of physiotherapy treatment following Post TKR and suggest the standard criteria for outpatient discharge from physiotherapy department at KPJ Hospitals.
Methods: Male And Female patients with unilateral and bilateral TKR and underwent rehabilitation at KPJ Hospital from Jan 2013 to Oct 2013 were selected as samples for the study. Pre and post data of knee joint pain, knee range of movement, knee flexion and extension muscle strength, lower limb dynamic balance and ADL functional scale were analyzed to find the outcome.
Result: All the variables had significance effect after intervention with P < 0.001*.Knee joint Pain has reduced to 3.5 ± 0.22 , range of movement for knee flexion increased to 91.85 ± 3.38 and extension lag has reduced to1.5 ± 0.43, Manual Muscle Power for quadriceps and hamstrings has increased to 3.63 ± 0.1 and 3.63 ± 0.11 respectively. Dynamic balance of lower limb has improved to 3.24 ± 0.12. Functional scale has improved for Dressing, Toileting, Transfer, Mobility and Stair as 9.17 ± 0.26, 8.89 ±0.29, 12.78 ± 0.43, 13.63 ± 0.39 and 7.87 ± 0.41 respectively.
Conclusion: This study concluded that Physiotherapy rehabilitation can significantly reduce Post TKR Pain and improve Knee joint mobility, Muscle strength, Balance capability and activities of daily life among post TKR patients. This study result has suggested the outpatient discharge criteria for post TKR at KPJ Hospitals in Malaysia.


This study empirically investigates the hypothesis that the lower the public's job approval rating of the U.S. President, the higher the degree of aggregate federal personal income tax evasion in the U.S. Using annual data on aggregate federal personal income tax evasion for the period 1960-2001 compiled by Feige, with 2001 being the most recent year for which these data are currently available, and allowing for such factors as federal income tax rates, IRS tax return audit rates, the tax-free municipal bond yield, the interest rate penalty on detected unreported income, public dissatisfaction with government officials (other than the U.S. President), and the Tax Reform Act of 1986, this study finds consistent empirical support for the hypothesis that income tax evasion is a decreasing function of the Presidential approval rating, i.e., that the lower (higher) the President's approval rating, the greater (lower) the degree of aggregate federal personal income tax evasion. Finally, use of two well-known alternative estimates of the aggregate degree of federal personal income tax evasion yields results generally consistent with these conclusions.


We investigate the pairwise thermal quantum discord in a three-qubit XXZ model with Dzyaloshinskii—Moriya (DM) interaction. We find that the effects of DM interaction on antiferromagnetic system is distinct from that of ferromagnetic system. The magnetic field supplemented with DM term contribute to enhance the range of quantum discord. It is revealed that the situations where quantum discord fails to indicate a sudden change of groundstate at finite temperature though indicating such a sudden change of groundstate at zero temperature. Dynamics of pairwise thermal quantum discord is considered as well. Thermal quantum discord vanishes in asymptotic limit regardless of its initial values, however, thermal entanglement suddenly disappears in finite time.


Since the global warming problem threatens the whole world, it is understood that countries should develop energy policies that will increase their sustainable and clean energy investments. Compared to other alternatives, the high cost of renewable energy projects is an essential obstacle in this process. Therefore, priority should be given to developing distributed energy projects to minimize this problem. The scope of the present paper is to identify the most critical items that affect the performance of distributed energy projects to have knowledge-oriented competencies. In this way, companies can focus on more critical items to provide efficiency for distributed energy projects. As a result, clean energy usage is improved, and the global warming problem is handled more successfully. A novel decision-making model is generated to examine the competencies of the knowledge economy based on collaborative filtering and bipolar q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets (q-ROFSs) with the golden ratio. The analysis concludes that learning and growth are the most critical balanced scorecard perspectives. Moreover, it was also determined that information and communication technology is the most critical competency of the knowledge economy. Therefore, it would be appropriate for investors who plan to invest in distributed energy projects to form a research and development team. Hence, new technologies will be followed instantly. In this way, companies will be able to gain a cost advantage. In this context, improving distributed energy projects is important to increase efficiency in clean energy investments.


The microenvironment of most tumors is filled with a large population of macrophages. In breast cancer, studies have found that macrophages can account for >50% of the tumor mass. Their presence within the tumor microenvironment, in some cases, has been proven to increase metastasis, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. However, colorectal cancer has been seen in some cases to exhibit decreased tumor growth and proliferation when a larger number of macrophages are associated with the tumor. Previous studies have suggested that cytokines and chemokines released by the tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment influence the polarization of the macrophages present. The M1 phenotype will often lead to aggressive destruction of the tumor, while an M2 phenotype will in fact aid tumor survival. M2 macrophages have been suggested to have a reduced phagocytic function. In this study, we investigated overall phagocytosis of microspheres by U-937 derived macrophages when exposed to nutrient-depleted media from both breast and colon cancer cell lines as well as when exposed to nutrient-depleted media containing cancer cells themselves. U-9379s were stained with Efluor 670 dye for identification and then stimulated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Macrophages were then incubated for various time periods with cancer cells seeded in 6-well plates. Engulfment was measured by adding fluorescent latex microspheres to samples and assayed using a flow cytometer. Overall engulfment was measured as the percent of macrophages in a sample that engulfed microspheres while aggressiveness was measured as the amount of beads that macrophages were seen to phagocytose. Controls indicate that 5-10% of cancer cells non-specifically bind microspheres and that approximately 20% of unstimulated U9379s engulf beads, whereas positive controls indicate that 80% of PMA stimulated U9379s engulf microspheres. Further results show that incubation in spent media from both breast and colon cell lines did not significantly alter overall phagocytosis or aggressiveness. However, when incubated with either colon or breast cancer cell lines in spent media, there is as high as a 30% reduction in overall engulfment, indicating a shift toward an M2 phenotype. When macrophages are co-cultured with non-cancerous lymphocytes, the overall engulfment stays consistent with positive controls. Also, highly aggressive macrophages engulfed significantly less aggressively when exposed to tumor microenvironments as compared to positive controls. This study suggests that the microenvironment influences the polarization of macrophages via cell to cell contact and that both overall engulfment and aggressiveness of macrophages are affected. It also suggests that the microenvironments of both breast and colon cancer are equally able to polarize macrophages toward M2. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 803. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-803


Objective. This study is a secondary analysis of outcomes examining risk behavior in the context of the naturalistic occurrence of parental monitoring and participation in an emotion regulation intervention over a 12-month period. Method: Early adolescents with mental health symptoms (N=420), ages 12–14 years, were recruited and randomized into either an Emotional Regulation (ER) or Health Promotion (HP) condition. Assessments included adolescent self-report of unsupervised time, substance use and sexual behavior at baseline, 6-months, and one year post-intervention. Analytic groups were formed by intervention condition (ER or HP) and baseline reports of unsupervised time (⩽1× per week or >1× per week of unsupervised time with opposite sex peers) resulting in a total of four groups. Logistic regression and time-to-event analyses were used to test differences in substance use and delay of sexual initiation between the groups. Results: Participation in the ER intervention in the presence of low unsupervised time was superior in reducing both substance use and sexual initiation than either factor alone; and either factor alone was more effective than the absence of both. Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions targeting health risk behaviors, including substance use and sexual risk behavior, among early adolescents with mental health symptoms may be more effective when targeting both internal (e.g., emotional regulation) and external (e.g., unsupervised time spent with peers) protective factors. Limiting unsupervised time spent with peers through parental monitoring may serve to scaffold and reinforce early adolescent acquisition of effective emotion regulation which can be employed during emotionally arousing risk situations.


We investigate the drivers behind the use of alternative trading systems for a sample of self-directed online investors. The results show that the factors explicit transaction costs, trading times, awareness of alternative trading systems and degree of personal involvement in the transaction all exert a positive effect on an online investor's preferential use of alternative trading systems, whereas regulatory supervision exerts a negative effect. Additionally, we observe that the effect of trading times is significantly lower for investors with no experience of alternative trading systems and the effect of regulatory supervision is significantly lower for investors who trade leveraged products.


Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are very rare anomalies of the lung parenchyma. Although many patients are asymptomatic, it carries a high risk of severe cerebral complications, and rarely fatal outcome due to rupture of the malformation. There is a strong association with the Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. The patients should be treated in case of symptomatic PAVMs (paradoxical emboli), and also preventively, when the feeding artery is at least 3 mm in diameter. Embolization is a well-established treatment, which can be very challenging when dealing with very high-flow fistulas, where there is a risk of inadvertent migration of the embolization material in the left cavities of the heart and in the aorta. This report emphasizes the importance of the diagnosis and the embolization indication in pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, and the usefulness of detachable coils in case of high-flow fistulas.


ABSTRACT Background: Nearly half of the world's population rely on solid fuels (wood or coal) for their everyday household energy needs. Much of this fuel is burned in open fires and simple stoves with inadequate ventilation, causing very high levels of smoke exposure, particularly for women and infants. This study aimed to investigate the associations between psychological, nutritional factors, and ambient smoke exposure, affect the risk of low birth weight. Subjects and Method: A case control study was carried out at 25 community health centers in Gunungkidul, Yogyaarta, Indonesia, from January to February 2020. A sample of 200 infants was selected by simple random sampling. The dependent variable was low birth weight. The ondependent variables were maternal education, early marriage, family income, maternal age at pregnancy, ambient smoke exposure, gestational stress, anemia, and maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). The data were obtained from medical record, maternal and child health book, and questionnaire. The data were analzed by path analysis. Results: The risk of low birth weight was directly increased with maternal age <20 or ≥35 years (b= 1.7; 95% CI= 0.62 to 2.9; p= 0.002), anemia (b= 2.7; 95% CI= 1.77 to 3.67; p<0.001), gestational stress (b= 1.7; 95% CI= 0.41 to 2.99; p= 0.009), and ambient smoke exposure (b= 1.6; 95% CI= 0.62 to 2.72; p= 0.002). The risk of low birth weigth was indirectly decreased with early marriage, maternal education, maternal MUAC, and family income. Conclusion: The risk of low birth weight is directly increased with maternal age <20 or ≥35 years, anemia, gestational stress, and ambient smoke exposure. The risk of low birth weigth is indirectly decreased with early marriage, maternal education, maternal MUAC, and family income. Keywords: low birth weight, early marriage, gestational stress, path analysis Correspondence: Isne Susanti. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutarni 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. Mobile: +6285271128121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.01.49


Maraviroc is the first inhibitor of CCR5 co-receptors to be marketed as an antiretroviral. The pre-clinical studies and phase III trials have shown that it has a very favourable safety profile. No characteristic adverse effect of maraviroc has been identified. Unlike with aplaviroc, where its clinical development was stopped due to serious hepatoxicity, no increase in liver toxicity has been demonstrated in patients treated with maraviroc even if they are co-infected by hepatotropic virus. Nor was there any evidence of an increase in the incidence of neoplasms or serious infections in patients treated with maraviroc. In a study on naive patients, maraviroc produced nonsignificant changes in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Although CCR5 co-receptors play a role in the immune response of the body, it has not been shown whether individuals homozygote for its deletion (delta-32 mutation) have an increased risk of serious infections, with the possible exception of encephalitis due to the West Nile virus. However, long-term follow up is required on patients treated with to be able to rule out any increased susceptibility to infections or neoplasms.


This paper aims to investigate the link between disability and sport fields by adopting an organizational perspective through the application of "International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health" (ICF) framework. Disability represents one relevant phenomenon worldwide but scholars and practitioners still pay scarce attention for proposing and implementing effective managerial and organizational solutions to overcome barriers or constraints for disabled people. The introduction of the ICF can significantly support the real widespread of the idea "free world for all", also thanks to the crucial role of sport in promoting the social inclusion. This paper provides a deep reading of both phenomena, disability and sport, through the ICF standards application, to suggest and promote organizational and managerial solutions, especially in terms of training, in any organiza - tional contexts.


The present paper is intended to provide the basis for the study of weakly differentiable functions on rectifiable varifolds with locally bounded first variation. The concept proposed here is defined by means of integration by parts identities for certain compositions with smooth functions. In this class the idea of zero boundary values is realised using the relative perimeter of superlevel sets. Results include a variety of Sobolev Poincare type embeddings, embeddings into spaces of continuous and sometimes Holder continuous functions, pointwise differentiability results both of approximate and integral type as well as coarea formulae. As prerequisite for this study decomposition properties of such varifolds and a relative isoperimetric inequality are established. Both involve a concept of distributional boundary of a set introduced for this purpose. As applications the finiteness of the geodesic distance associated to varifolds with suitable summability of the mean curvature and a characterisation of curvature varifolds are obtained.


Recursive procedures that allow placing a vocal signal inside another of similar kind provide a neuro-computational blueprint for syntax and phonology in spoken language and human song. There are, however, no known vocal sequences among nonhuman primates arranged in self-embedded patterns that evince vocal recursion or potential insipient or evolutionary transitional forms thereof, suggesting a neuro-cognitive transformation exclusive to humans. Here, we uncover that wild flanged male orangutan long calls feature rhythmically isochronous call sequences nested within isochronous call sequences, consistent with two hierarchical strata. Remarkably, three temporally and acoustically distinct call rhythms in the lower stratum were not related to the overarching rhythm at the higher stratum by any low multiples, which suggests that these recursive structures were neither the result of parallel non-hierarchical procedures or anatomical artifacts of bodily constrains or resonances. Findings represent a case of temporally recursive hominid vocal combinatorics in the absence syntax, semantics, phonology or music. Second-order combinatorics, 'sequences within sequences', involving hierarchically organized and cyclically structured vocal sounds in ancient hominids may have preluded the evolution of recursion in modern language-able humans.


The rapid growth of seafood industry has lead to fierce competition. PT Anela is one of the major players in its industry. The company needs to develop a good strategy for competitive advantage in winning the competition. PT Anela is one of the ma jor players in the seafood industry. However, they have limitation in production capacity. The objectives of this study are to calculate the forecast demand and to develop aggregate production planning for PT Anela to meet demand with the lowest cost. The data is gathered through literature review and secondary data gathered directly from the company itself. The demand data from past three years was used to forecast demand using linear regression with seasonal index. Furthermore, all data was analyzed and used to design aggregate planning by using three strategies namely Chase, Level and Mixed strategy which calculated by POM for Windows. The results of this study show that the mixed strategy is the optimal strategy .


Dark current/voltage characteristics have been examined as a function of temperature for two structures of A1-pSi m.i.s. solar cells. The solar cells have been prepared with interfacial oxide thickness ranging from 10 A to 20 A. The results show that the diode saturation current Jo for all oxide thicknesses behave as a majority-carrier current, highly dependent on the effective metal-to-semiconductor barrier height oms and the oxide-tunnel exponent X1/2δ. From the illuminated current/voltage characteristics the sum of oms and (KT/q)X1/2δ is found to be in the range of 730–1025 mV, increasing with increasing oxide thicknessand acceptor concentration.


Background: Despite the high effectiveness of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in preventing invasive disease (ID) in children, Hib vaccine failures (VFs) cases may still occur. This study aimed to characterize the Hib-VF cases in Portugal in a 12-year period and trying to identify the possible associated risk factors. Methods: Prospective descriptive nationwide surveillance study. Bacteriologic and molecular studies were performed at the same Reference Laboratory. Clinical data were collected by the referring pediatrician. Results: Hib was identified in 41 children with ID and 26 (63%) were considered VF. Nineteen (73%) cases occurred in children less than 5 years old; 12 (46%) occurred before the Hib vaccine booster dose at 18 months of age. Comparing the first and the last 6-year periods of the study, the incidence rate of Hib, VF and total H. influenzae (Hi) ID significantly raised (P < 0.05). VF cases corresponded, respectively, to 13.5% (7/52) and 22% (19/88) of total Hi-ID cases (P = 0.232). Two children died due to epiglottitis and 1 acquired sensorineural hearing loss. Only 1 child had an inborn error of immunity. The immunologic workup performed in 9 children revealed no significant abnormalities. All 25 Hib-VF strains analyzed belonged to the same clonal complex 6. Conclusions: In Portugal, more than 95% of children are vaccinated against Hib, but severe Hib-ID cases still occur. No predisposing factors were clearly identified to justify the increased number of VF in recent years. Along with continued Hi-ID surveillance, Hib colonization and serologic studies should be implemented.


This paper presents some of the results of projections prepared by the World Bank in 1983 for all the worlds countries. The projections (presented against a background of recent demographic trends as estimated by the United Nations) trace the approach of each individual country to a stationary state. Implications of the underlying fertility and mortality assumptions are shown mainly in terms of time trends of total population to the year 2100 annual rates of growth and absolute annual increments. These indices are shown for the largest individual countries for world regions and for country groupings according to economic criteria. The detailed predictive performance of such projections is likely to be poor but the projections indicate orders of magnitude characterizing certain aggregate demographic phenomena whose occurrence is highly probable and set clearly interpretable reference points useful in discussing contemporary issues of policy. (authors)


The microstructure and tensile mechanical properties of Haynes 230 fabricated through laser powder directed energy deposition (LP-DED) were investigated, varying temperature heat treatments between 900°C to 1177°C following deposition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for microstructural analysis, whilst tensile testing was utilized to evaluate the room temperature mechanical properties of the alloy. In an asdeposited state, the initial microstructure consisted of cellular γ and M6C/M23C6 carbides. The cellular regions seem to be fully dissolved upon solutionizing at 1177°C for 3 hours. Following post-deposition heat-treatments, the carbides were observed to precipitate and grow along the grain boundaries as well as in the interior of grains. Solutionizing at 1177°C for 3 hours following stress-relieving yielded better ductility and had an insignificant effect on the strength.


The room-temperature operation of a GaN/AlN quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) using the intersubband transition (ISBT) in a GaN/AlN multiple quantum well (MQW) was demonstrated for the first time. The GaN/AlN QWIP was operated under DC biasing with a vertically conductive geometry to the MQW layer. A clear photoinduced response was observed for P polarized 1.47µm light irradiation. Dependencies of the photoresponse on the applied DC bias voltage, and the polarization and wavelength of incident light were evaluated for the GaN/AlN QWIP. The maximum responsivity was estimated to be 0.11mA/W for a DC bias of 15V at room temperature.


Although opioids frequently are administered to patients with severe head trauma, the effects of such drugs on intracranial pressure are controversial. Nine patients with severe head trauma were studied for the effects of fentanyl and sufentanil on intracranial pressure (ICP). In all patients, ICP monitoring was instituted before the study. Full neuromuscular blockade was achieved with vecuronium bromide before the administration of either fentanyl (3 micrograms.kg-1) or sufentanil (0.6 microgram.kg-1) as an intravenous bolus over a 1-min period in a masked and random fashion. Patients received the other opioid in the same fashion 24 h later. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and ICP were recorded continuously for the 1 h after drug administration. Fentanyl was associated with an average ICP increase of 8 +/- 2 mmHg, and sufentanil with an increase of 6 +/- 1 mmHg. These increases were statistically significant. Both drugs produced clinically mild decreases in mean arterial blood pressure (fentanyl, 11 +/- 6 mmHg; sufentanil, 10 +/- 5 mmHg) that nevertheless were statistically significant. No significant changes in heart rate occurred. These results indicate that modest doses of potent opioids can significantly increase ICP in patients with severe head trauma.


Recently, Bain et al. (2002) emphasized the critical importance of the transaction‐processing cycles and internal control topics to undergraduates in an Accounting Information Systems (AIS) course. The current article outlines an in‐class, roleplay exercise designed to provide students with a working understanding of the revenue cycle and its related key documents. Additionally, the exercise encourages students to consider risk exposures, internal controls, and technological opportunities to improve business processes. A pre‐/post‐test reveals that the in‐class role‐play is a successful learning exercise that significantly increases students' understanding of the revenue cycle. The test also indicates that students enjoy the experience.


The design and fabrication of hydraulic microcomponents obtained by stereolithography are proposed in this paper. A piezoelectric micropump and microchannels have been fabricated and tested extensively. The pump body and the microchannels are made out of ultraviolet-photocurable polymer material and manufactured by a single stereolithographic process. Stereolithography has been selected since it allows the microfabrication of three-dimensional structures of any complex shape, even incorporating 'integral' movable parts that may require no assembly. The design of the pump body and the flow channels has been based on optimum hydraulic criteria, and aimed to obtain long life and quick, cheap and easy manufacturing. Design rules have been studied in order to obtain hydraulic components with specific behaviours (flow rate, head, loss and charge). The paper describes the finite-element analysis of the thin plate pumping element and of the actuator, as well as the fabrication and experimental performance of the pump. Experimental results show good agreement with theoretical prediction obtained by simulation, and values of flow rate and discharge head that are among the highest reported in the literature for pumps for similar size and working principles.


The kinetic equation valid for a gas with short-range forces in an externally applied field is derived from the Liouville equation. The correction to the Boltzmann equation linear in eta T (the ratio of the time required for two particles to reach their asymptotic momentum in a twobody collision to the time required for the field to bring a particle from rest to thermal speed) is calculated. This correction is shown to vanish identically in the weak coupling limit. (auth)


Policy gradient methods have had great success in solving continuous control tasks, yet the stochastic nature of such problems makes deterministic value estimation difficult. We propose an approach which instead estimates a distribution by fitting the value function with a Bayesian Neural Network. We optimize an $\alpha$-divergence objective with Bayesian dropout approximation to learn and estimate this distribution. We show that using the Monte Carlo posterior mean of the Bayesian value function distribution, rather than a deterministic network, improves stability and performance of policy gradient methods in continuous control MuJoCo simulations.


. Currently, organizations tend to reuse their past knowledge to make good decisions quickly and effectively and thus, to improve their business processes performance in terms of time, quality, efficiency, etc. Process mining techniques allow organizations to achieve this objective through process discovery. This paper develops a semi-automated approach that supports decision making by discovering decision rules from the past process executions. It identifies a ranking of the process patterns that satisfy the discovered decision rules and which are the most likely to be executed by a given user in a given context. The approach is applied on a supervision process of the gas network exploitation.


Stress is a state of mental strain for a specific person experiencing issues with their social and environmental well-being, which can result in a variety of illnesses. The important phage is when a person is young since this is when their life is going through a lot of change. They are expected to be members of the social elite. Therefore, kids should improve their stress-management skills to live healthy lives after they join the society. Comparing stress to Avasad in Ayurveda (Vatanatamaja vikaras). It's regarded as being among the Manasik Rogas. Ayurveda deals with the mind and body of human beings. Only the conventional system of medicine helps to maintain health in the healthy while also treating the sick. The Ahar vihar, Aushad, and Sanshodhan principles of Ayurveda's therapy are included. Two types of medication internal and external are described in the classical texts of Ayurveda. Many herbal and herbal-mineral concoctions are referred to be "Medhya medicines" in internal medicine. Like Mandukparni Brahmi, Vacha, Shankhpushpi, Giloy, Jyotismati, Ashwagandha, Tagar, etc., the majority of them have been scientifically and therapeutically shown to be effective stress relievers. In terms of external medicine, Panchakarma techniques like Shirodhara are also described. Shirodhara treatment is frequently used to treat psychological disorders. Although Shirodhara's clinical effectiveness has been established, its mode of action is complicated. Shirodhara aids in soothing the anxious mind and relaxing the entire body because the body, mind, and spirit are all interconnected. Shirodhara's therapeutic effectiveness has been established, however, its mode of action is complicated. Since the body, mind, and spirit are all intertwined, Shirodhara helps to quiet a busy mind and rest the entire body.


One hundred forty-six cases of Gorham's syndrome are documented in the literature. Twenty-five (17 percent) patients have been reported to have chylothorax as a complication. To our knowledge, this high incidence of chylothorax has not been reported previously. We describe two such patients treated by thoracic duct ligation and compared our results with others to support early surgical intervention via a low right-sided thoracotomy in these cases.