The accurate and timely monitoring of regional urban extent is helpful for analyzing urban sprawl and studying environmental issues related to urbanization. This paper proposes a classification scheme for large-scale urban extent mapping by combining the Day/Night Band of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Satellite (NPP-VIIRS DNB) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer products (MODIS NDVI). A Back Propagation (BP) neural network based one-class classification method, the Present-Unlabeled Learning (PUL) algorithm, is employed to classify images into urban and non-urban areas. Experiments are conducted in mainland China (excluding surrounding islands) to detect urban areas in 2012. Results show that the proposed model can successfully map urban area with a kappa of 0.842 on the pixel level. Most of the urban areas are identified with a producer's accuracy of 79.63%, and only 10.42% the generated urban areas are misclassified with a user's accuracy of 89.58%. At the city level, among 647 cities, only four county-level cities are omitted. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, three contrastive analyses are conducted: (1) comparing the urban map obtained in this paper with that generated by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System Nighttime Light Data (DMSP/OLS NLD) and MODIS NDVI and with that extracted from MCD12Q1 in MODIS products; (2) comparing the performance of the integration of NPP-VIIRS DNB and MODIS NDVI with single input data; and (3) comparing the classification method used in this paper (PUL) with a linear method (Large-scale Impervious Surface Index (LISI)). According to our analyses, the proposed classification scheme shows great potential to map regional urban extents in an effective and efficient manner.


Aim: The current study was performed to develop and validate stability indicating high performance liquid chromatography method (RP-HPLC) for determination of ledipasvir (LPR); to identify and characterize its major degradants by liquid chromatographic– tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-ESI-MS). Materials and Methods: The method was developed using reverse phase gradient elution and validated for standard ICH parameters. The optimized mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile:water with 0.2 % formic acid (70:30% v/v) at 1 ml/min flow rate with satisfactory retention time (tR), theoretical plates and good resolution of LPR and its degradants. Further, forced degradation under acid, base, thermal, photolytic and oxidative stress conditions was studied as per ICH guidelines. LC-ESI-MS with time of flight analyser was used to characterize the degradants. The degradation pathways for major degradants were proposed. Results: The developed method had retention time of 6 mins. The RSD for system was found to be less than 2% whereas mean recovery was obtained 97.2 – 102.5%. Linearity range of 5-30 μg/ml with 0.998 regression coefficient (R2) was observed. Detection and quantification limits were obtained as 0.010 μg/mL and 0.032 μg/mL, respectively. LPR was stable in photolytic and thermal environments whereas degraded in acid, base and oxidative states. LC–ESI–MS was used effectively for characterization and structural elucidation of degradants. Conclusion: The results indicated that validated RP-HPLC technique can be employed for routine analysis of LPR in bulk and dosage formulas and also would be capable of separating degradants from analyte peak.


Currently, many different control interfaces for the operation of active movement-assistive device exist but their respective performance capabilities and limitations remain unclear. The goal of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the performance and learning characteristics of EMG-, force- and hand joystick-based interfaces. The human operator abilities were assessed in 8 healthy subjects using a screen-based one-dimensional position-tracking task, where the interface signal was mapped to the velocity of the cursor and the target was moving according to a multi-sine signal with a flat velocity spectrum. The performance of the control interfaces was evaluated in terms of tracking error, human-operator bandwidth, information transmission rate and effort. Results showed significant differences between the control interfaces in all the performance descriptors: the joystick-based interface presented significantly higher tracking error compared to EMG- (p<0.001) and force-based (p<0.005) interfaces; the EMG-based control interface showed a significantly higher bandwidth (p<0.001) than the force- and the joystick-based interfaces; the force- and joystick-based interfaces provided significantly higher information transmission rates (p<0.001) than the EMG-based interface; the force-based interface presented significantly lower effort than EMG- (p<0.001) and joystick-based (p<0.005) interfaces. None of the evaluated interfaces was superior in all four performance descriptors, but the force-based interface presented more positive results than the EMG- and joystick-based interfaces. However, in practice, the performance descriptors should be weighted according to the requirements of the specific application to determine which interface is the most suitable for the control of a particular active upper-extremity movement-assistive device.


Peter DeWint (1784-1849), was a major proponent of the early nineteenth-century watercolour tradition. While his links with others such as the Monro Circle, David Cox and John Constable have been discussed, little has been revealed of the painter's life and wider influences that directed his career as a landscape painter. Drawing together up-to-date scholarship, Peter DeWint (1784-1849): 'For the common observer of life and nature' re-presents and re-evaluates the artist and his work, so offering a reassessment of his approach to painting and his contribution to British art history. This book seeks to locate DeWint within the changing attitudes and ideas in painting of the period and to highlight how key historical changes such as agrarian reform helped shape his career. It reveals, too, hitherto neglected facets of the painter's work including his interest in architectural subjects, his use of Creswick papers and his posthumous reputation. Featuring a full reprint of his wife's memoir, Peter DeWint (1784-1849): 'For the common observer of life and art' will provide a major reappraisal of the artist's life and career.


Reasoning on precedence relations is crucial for many planning and scheduling systems. In this paper we propose a double precedence graph where direct precedence relations are kept additionally to traditional precedence relations (A can directly precede B if no activity must be allocated between A and B). Such precedence relations are motivated by solving problems like modelling sequence-dependent setup times or describing state transitions. We describe a constraint-based model for double precedence graphs and present incremental propagation rules for maintaining the transitive closure of the graph.


New approach to determining no arbitrage conditions is presented in this paper. Determined by supply and demand prices are used instead of assumptions about price processes. Special attention was made to alternative numeraire change technique that was obtained using presented approach. Results allow making an assumption that there are significant difference between wide-spread models and real markets, and arbitrage is possible far more often then is considered to be earlier. These opportunities are hidden by market underdevelopment. However they may lead to serious changes on markets in the future.


As part of research into occupational doctors' practices in the field of MSD prevention, the objective is to explore the differences between occupational health physicians in practices between men and women employees' ability to return to work. Diagnosis is based on what they are able to do or not do in their day-to-day life. The way the employees are questioned is often stereotypical depending on family roles and gender-related characteristics: housework for women, doing DIY or gardening for men. A part from this stereotypical style of questioning, the occupation health physician' actions when writing out ability restrictions for men and women are often linked to the employees' work context. Indeed, employees can be exposed unequally to MSDs, and this sometimes leads to real job issues. Yet, underlying these common practices, the way the back-to-work medical visit with a female or male employee is organised differs according to the occupational doctor's gender. One of the main differences is the way the doctors manage their relationship with the employees.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes in intestinal permeability in liver cirrhosis and to investigate whether intestinal permeability relates to the stage and aetiology of cirrhosis or existence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

DESIGN
A prospective study of intestinal permeability in patients with cirrhosis.

SETTING
Gastroenterology and Nuclear Medicine Departments of Ege University Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS
Intestinal permeability was assessed in 44 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and 10 healthy volunteers by measuring 24 h urine excretion of (99m)technetium diethyl triamine penta-acetic acid (99mTc DTPA). Cases with an associated disease, impaired renal function, continuing alcohol consumption and drug intake which is known to have an effect on intestinal permeability were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Comparisons of 24 h urine excretion of 99mTc DTPA were made between the groups of cirrhotics and controls, different grades of cirrhosis (according to Child-Pugh criteria), alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhotics and cirrhotic patients with and without SBP.

RESULTS
Patients with cirrhosis excreted 99mTc DTPA significantly more than controls (11.56 +/- 8.96% in cirrhotics and 4.30 +/- 1.49% in controls, P < 0.0001). There was no relationship of 24 h urine excretion of the tracer with the grade and aetiology of cirrhosis (12.20 +/- 9.47%, 11.41 +/- 9.84%, and 11.09 +/- 8.42%, in Child A, B, and C groups and 8.45 +/- 6.57% and 12.05 +/- 9.25% in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhotics, respectively). No significant difference was found between cirrhotic patients with and without SBP in terms of excretion of the administered dose of 99mTc DTPA (9.98 +/- 9.47% and 12.20 +/- 8.82%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that intestinal permeability increased in cirrhotic patients regardless of the grade and aetiology of disease. The presence of SBP does not seem to be due to increased intestinal permeability.


A second-generation, Stirling-cycle cryocooler (cryogenic refrigerator) for space applications, with a cooling capacity of 5 watts at 65 K, was recently completed. The refrigerator, called the Prototype Model, was designed with a goal of 5 year life with no degradation in cooling performance. The free displacer and free piston of the refrigerator are driven directly by moving-magnet linear motors with the moving elements supported by active magnetic bearings. The use of clearance seals and the absence of outgassing material in the working volume of the refrigerator enable long-life operation with no deterioration in performance. Fiber-optic sensors detect the radial position of the shafts and provide a control signal for the magnetic bearings. The frequency, phase, stroke, and offset of the compressor and expander are controlled by signals from precision linear position sensors (LVDTs). The vibration generated by the compressor and expander is cancelled by an active counter balance which also uses a moving-magnet linear motor and magnetic bearings. The driving signal for the counter balance is derived from the compressor and expander position sensors which have wide bandwidth for suppression of harmonic vibrations. The efficiency of the three active members, which operate in a resonant mode, is enhanced by amore » magnetic spring in the expander and by gas springs in the compressor and counterbalance. The cooling was achieved with a total motor input power of 139 watts. The magnetic-bearing stiffness was significantly increased from the first-generation cooler to accommodate shuttle launch vibrations.« less


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

Emergence of resistance is a major concern when treating cancer patients with targeted kinase inhibitors, as exemplified by the appearance of point mutations in Bcr-Abl in CML patients treated with imatinib or a secondary EGFR-T790M mutation in lung cancer patients treated with gefitinib or erlotinib. In vitro approaches to identify resistance mutations in Bcr-Abl have yielded mutation spectra that faithfully recapitulated clinical observations.

In order to predict resistance mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met that could emerge during inhibitor treatment in patients, we performed a resistance screen in BaF3 cells transformed with Tpr-Met using the novel selective c-Met inhibitor NVP-BVU972. The observed spectrum of mutations in resistant cells was dominated by substitutions of the residue Y1230 in the activation loop of the c-Met kinase domain, but also included other missense mutations. Intriguingly, some of the c-Met resistance mutations observed in this cellular screen were identical with previously described activating mutations in cancer patients that interfere with inhibitory interactions in the inactive conformation. Co-crystallization of the c-Met kinase domain in complex with NVP-BVU972 revealed a key role for Y1230 in binding of NVP-BVU972. This binding mode has also been reported for multiple other selective c-Met inhibitors, some of which have entered clinical trials, suggesting a broader relevance of the resistance profile obtained with NVP-BVU972.

A second resistance screen in the same format with the c-Met inhibitor AMG 458 yielded a distinct spectrum of mutations that was rich in F1200 alterations. This is consistent with a different predicted binding mode. Again, the mutation profile observed with AMG 458 could be predictive for several other inhibitors that bind c-Met in a similar way.

Collectively, our findings suggest that amino acid substitutions in the c-Met kinase domain of cancer patients need to be carefully monitored prior to and during treatment with c-Met inhibitors, as resistance may pre-exist or emerge. Compounds binding in the same manner as NVP-BVU972 might be particularly susceptible to the development of resistance through mutations in Y1230, a complication that could potentially be overcome by c-Met inhibitors with alternative binding modes.

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 4738. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4738


Purpose: This study aimed to determine in a private hospitals group the nurses'comments about the in-servis training applications in the institution and it was made in descriptive type. Method: This study was consemed by 1038 nurses working for 6 hospitals belong to an Healthcare Group. This study was constituted by 722 nurses who were completed their orientation process. The data, consist of 52 questions were collected by questionnaire which include demographic properties, the education activities of the institution, and the nurses'comments about the education activities in the institution. Results: As a result of this research, it was found that; a majority of the nurses satisfied with the education activities of the institution, they wanted at the most improve their Professional knowledge, and they wanted to get help from Education and Development Department about apply for to reach the professional knowledge and the publications. The nurses especially want to be educated by the educator nurses and they want to be awarded due to their success in education by a gift, congratulation and a promotion. In the education process satisfaction of analizes of requirement activities were the lowest, satisfaction of the education applications were the highest. Under 20 age, high school graduate, and satisfated their job and education activites of institution were more positive comments than the others.


Follicular helper T cells (TFH) constitute the CD4+ T cell effector subset that is specialized to provide germinal center B cell help. TFH differentiation is driven by the transcription factor Bcl6, and recent studies have identified cytokine and cell-cell signals that are required for optimal expression of Bcl6. However, the mechanisms underlying the negative regulation of TFH differentiation have been less clear. Here, we show that STAT5 was a key inhibitor of TFH differentiation and function. Constitutive STAT5 signaling in activated CD4+ T cells selectively blocked TFH differentiation, resulting in a collapse of the germinal center reaction. Conversely, STAT5-deficient CD4+ T cells (mature STAT5flox/flox CD4+ T cells transduced with a Cre-expressing retrovirus) rapidly upregulated Bcl6 expression and preferentially differentiated into TFH cells. STAT5 signaling failed to inhibit TFH differentiation in the absence of the transcription factor Blimp-1. We have previously shown that Blimp-1 is a direct repressor of Bcl6-mediated TFH differentiation (Science, 2009). These results demonstrate that STAT5 and Blimp-1 collaborate to negatively regulate TFH differentiation.


Abstract Here we report the chloroplast genome sequence of Rosa minutifolia. This rose grows in warm climates, it has been reported as an endangered species. The complete chloroplast genome size was 157,396 bp, and exhibited a quadripartite structure with dual inverted repeats (IRs) regions (26,041 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,775 bp), and a large single-copy (LSC) region (86,539 bp). The genome contained a total of 137 genes including 90 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. minutifolia is closely related to R. rugosa and R. hybrid cultivar Augusta.


In this paper, we utilize known exact analytic solutions of perfect fluid hydrodynamics to analytically calculate the polarization of baryons produced in heavy-ion collisions. Assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium also for spin degrees of freedom, baryons get a net polarization at their formation (freeze-out). This polarization depends on the time evolution of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), which can be described as an almost perfect fluid. By using exact analytic solutions, we can thus analyze the necessity of rotation (and vorticity) for non-zero net polarization. In this paper, we give the first analytical calculations for the polarization four-vector. We use two hydrodynamical solutions; one is the spherically symmetric Hubble flow (a somewhat oversimplified model, to demonstrate the methodology); and the other solution is a somewhat more involved one that corresponds to a rotating and accelerating expansion, and is thus well-suited for the investigation of some of the main features of the time evolution of the QGP created in peripheral heavy-ion collisions (although there are still numerous features of real collision geometry that are beyond the scope of this simple model). Finally, we illustrate and discuss our results on the polarization.


Background and objectives: Warfarin sodium therapy is usually initiated with a loading dose to reduce the time needed to reach the target international normalized ratio (INR). The right initial dose of warfarin is controversial. This study aimed to determine the best initial dose of warfarin in terms of safety and efficacy. Patients and methods: This is a prospective hospital-based study. Fifty-nine patients who were admitted to the coronary care unit with clinical indication for warfarin were assigned to use the initial dose of warfarin 5 mg or 10 mg with the target INR of 2-3. An ethical clearance was obtained from the state ministry of health. A written consent was taken from each patient. An INR was measured at baseline and then after 72 hours. The data were then collected using a data sheet including age, gender, baseline INR, initial dose of warfarin, INR after 72 hours and whether the patient developed bleeding or not. Patients on Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.  Results: A total number of 59 patients were enrolled in the study. In this series, 59% of patients were females. The mean age of patients was 56 years. Five mg loading dose was used in 35 of patients (59%) while 10 mg was used in 24 patients (41%). The mean INR after 72 hours was 2.8 for those with the initial dose of 5 mg. For those with the initial loading dose of 10 mg the mean INR after 72 hours was 3.2. Minor bleeding occurred in three patients, two of them used the initial loading dose of 5mg and only one patient from the group of 10mg.  Conclusion: From this study, it seems that 5 mg loading dose of warfarin is reasonable and cost effective; nevertheless, 10mg initial loading dose is not associated with increased risk of bleeding.


Background/Aim:L-Ascorbic acid (AA) is the predominant circulating form of vitamin C found in human blood. It has been hypothesized that surgical stress increases the vitamin C metabolite dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA). Vitamin C is mainly excreted through the kidneys. In this study, the ratio of AA to DHAA excreted in urine was determined in patients who had undergone total hip joint endoprosthesis surgery (n = 12), and the results were compared with data obtained from healthy controls (n = 12). Methods: All subjects received 1,000 mg sodium ascorbate intravenously three times a day (every 8 h) for 8 days, starting 2 days prior to surgery. Total urine was collected daily while subsequent determinations of AA and DHAA were performed photometrically. Results: Administration of vitamin C led to average daily excretions of the combined products AA + DHAA of 2,343 ± 438 mg/day (mean value ± confidence intervals). The initial average ratio DHAA/AA of all 24 probands was 0.064 (6% DHAA; 153 ± 76 mg/day). One day after surgery, an increase in the DHAA/AA ratio to 0.165 (15% DHAA; 332 ± 107 mg/day) was measured in the patients. The ratio decreased 2 days after surgery and returned to normal within 5 days. Conclusion: Our data indicate that surgery increases the oxidation of AA and urinary excretion of DHAA, as a result of the enhanced formation of free radicals.


Background: Adult patients with type 2 diabetes controlled with insulin frequently require the addition of insulin sensitising drugs such as metformin and sometimes glitazones to achieve optimum glycaemic control. Five of a group of eight people with suboptimal diabetes control who were treated by the introduction of gliclazide are reported on. Three patients were excluded. One with type 1 diabetes and two others who had dietary or other therapeutic interventions coinciding with re-introduction gliclazide. Does the re-introduction of gliclazide effect a clinically significant improvement in glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients with suboptimal control taking combinations of short and long acting insulin plus metformin? Method: Five adult patients with type 2 diabetes with suboptimal control using combinations of short and long acting insulin plus metformin who were adherent to their dietary regimen were treated by the addition of gliclazide at different doses. Two of the patients were taking pioglitazone in addition to metformin and insulin. Their glycaemic control was monitored over the following six months. Results: All five showed significant improvement in glycaemic control after three months. Mean reduction in HbA1c was 1.4% (range 0.9% to 2.5%). Six months after the introduction of gliclazide four patients had HbA1c below base line figure and in two patients clinically significant improvement had been maintained. Conclusion: A double blind randomised placebo control study is necessary to evaluate a possible role for gliclazide in type 2 diabetes patients who have suboptimal glycaemic control using combinations of short and long acting insulin plus metformin.


In this article, I examine how young unemployed people deal with the risk of unemployment in the Danish welfare state, focusing on two main issues. I examine the technologies currently being used in the unemployment system to manage youth unemployment and I explore how the young unemployed people who are the subject of these technologies understand and react to them. I also consider the affective work, which underpins these technologies and the ways this shapes the framing of risks. In this article, I draw on a Danish research study (2014–2015) that examined the ways in which the Danish unemployment fund operated and I used in-depth interviews to explore the ways in which 33 young unemployed Danes interacted with the unemployment fund. Using the conceptual tools provided by the governmentality risk perspective, I analysed the relationship between institutionalised risk management and individual risk management. I found that the management of risk at the institutional level invoked the use of a screening tool that categorised young unemployed people into risk groups and this categorisation determined the intervention the young unemployed persons received. I found that in the new unemployment system, young unemployed people were treated not only as homo economicus, that is, rational actors responding to economic incentives but they were also seen as sensitive beings whose feelings and affects could be shaped by technologies empowering and motivating them in order to enable them to manage their own risk of unemployment more effectively. This psychologised the issue of unemployment.


The stability of a vertical jet of water has been examined by imposing audio frequency disturbances. Flash photographs allow a direct measurement of the growth rate of the disturbances and the complete dispersion curve has been investigated. The effects of viscosity on the stability have been examined with glycerine-water solutions and have been found to be in good agreement with Chandrasekhar's calculations.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe phenomenological structures of the experiences of dietary life on elderly over 100 years old. Methods: The participants of this research included nine persons over the age of 100 years of age and ten family members who assisted in the dietary regime. Qualitative data were collected by individual in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method of phenomenology. Results: The results of the research provide four categories and nine theme clusters. The categories included a rustic menu consisting of vegetables, grain-oriented traditional food, sensible dining table in harmony with nature, dietary life and emphasis on how to eat. The nine theme clusters were preference for fresh vegetable, preference of cooked potherb, boiled rice and cereal as main staple food, intake of soybeans, preference of native local foods, non-preference of unhealthy foods, select healthy and control food portion sizes for longevity, objection to light eating, and enjoying a meal. Conclusion: The findings of the study offer insight about the nutrition patterns among the people over 100 years of age.


658 Selective expression of cytokines on the surface of tumors is likely to stimulate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that are primed and already recognize tumor antigens. This may result in enhanced tumor recognition and killing. This gene therapy approach may avoid toxicity associated with systemic therapy with high doses of the cytokines needed to achieve the same effects. In order to test this concept, we have evaluated an IL-2 gene construct that is designed to induce tumor cells to express a membrane bound form of IL-2 (IL-2tm). A mammalian plasmid expression vector was designed to express a fusion gene consisting of human interleukin 2 with a Fc receptor epsilon transmembrane anchor derived from the gamma subunit of the Fc receptor epsilon. We demonstrated that mRNA and protein for the IL-2tm fusion protein was expressed in transfected RD995 tumor cells. Expression of the IL-2tm protein on the tumor cell surface membrane was confirmed by laser confocal microscopy. In order to assess biological function, RD995 transfected with IL-2tm or the empty expression vector (pCMV2b) were implanted subcutaneously into C3H/HEN mice. Non-transfected RD995 was also implanted subcutaneously for tumor growth comparison (control group). Groups of mice implanted with 10 6 or 10 5 RD995 transfected with IL-2tm grew considerably more slowly than RD995 transfected with pCMV2b or non-transfected control RD995 implanted tumors. Further preclinical evaluation of the IL-2tm gene therapy as a possible cancer treatment is underway.


The research and development of default value development and management platform of nuclear power plant control system can realize the functions of default value analysis, value selection, query and data management. The software standardizes the process and judgment factors of default value analysis process, makes qualitative and quantitative judgment on value selection factors, and combines the value selection algorithm embedded in the software, The auxiliary designer can automatically get the default value. The use of software can effectively improve the rationality and standardization of default value analysis. The software platform solves the problems of different default value analysis standards and chaotic data management in nuclear power plants. As the first special software for signal default value analysis and management of nuclear power control system in China, it has improved the intelligent level of the third generation nuclear power HPR1000.


We give a detailed description of the model construction procedures about our new approach to the family structure of the standard model. SM-like chiral fermion spectra, largely "derivable" from the gauge anomaly constraints, are formulated in a SU(N)SU(3)SU(2)U(1) symmetry framework as an extension of the SM symmetry. The N = 4 case gives naturally three families as a result, withU(1)Y nontrivially embedded into the SU(4)AU(1)X. Such a spectrum has extra vector-like quarks and leptons. We illustrate how an acceptable symmetry breaking pattern can be obtained through a relatively simple scalar sector which gives naturally hierarchical quark mass matrices. Compatibility with various FCNC constraints and some interesting aspects of the possible phenomenological features are discussed, from a non-model specic perspective. The question of incorporating supersymmetry without putting in the Higgses as extra supermultiplet is also addressed.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prospectively the impact of various factors on subintimal angioplasty of superficial femoral artery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Within a period of 36 months, 44 patients with 45 chronic occlusions in superficial femoral artery were examined. The influence of sex, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, chronic ischemia stage, occlusion length and calcification, flush occlusion of the superficial femoral artery, ischemic cardiac disease, postprocedural medical treatment was evaluated.

RESULTS
Arterial calcification had a significant impact on technical success of subintimal angioplasty (p=0.03). Sex, age, smoking, flush occlusion of the superficial femoral artery, and cardiac disease influenced technical and hemodynamic success (p=0.086-0.295). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic ischemia stage, occlusion length, and postprocedural medical treatment did not significantly influence technical and hemodynamic success (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Arterial calcification had a significant impact on technical success of subintimal angioplasty. Sex, age, smoking, flush occlusion of the superficial femoral artery, and ischemic cardiac disease influenced technical and hemodynamic success. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic ischemia stage, occlusion length, and postprocedural medical treatment had no statistically significant impact on technical and hemodynamic success.


Lopes DCF. Participation of GPER-1, a G-protein coupled estrogen receptor, in the estrogen-mediated neuroprotection of brain cortical primary cells in a glucose/oxygen deprivation model. [Ph. D. thesis (Pharmacology)]. São Paulo: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo; 2014. Estrogen plays a key role in reproduction, development of mammary glands, bone turnover, metabolism and cardiovascular function. In the central nervous system, this hormone is important to the development of neuroendocrine nucleus and other neural networks including the limbic and motor systems. Within this context, we aim to elucidate the cellular mechanisms that underlie the potential neuroprotection through rapid non-genomic signaling mediated by GPER-1 (G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1) in mixed neuron/glia and enriched neurons primary culture derived from frontal cortex submitted or not to glucose/oxygen deprivation (OGD). First, our results showed that cortical cells in cultures expressed GPER-1 and this receptor was dispersed both in the cytoplasm and the perinuclear region of cells in the absence of the ligand (E2). At 10 minutes of E2 exposure, the GPER-1 perinuclear localization was diminished and we observed an increase of GPER-1 in the cytosol. At 15 minutes, the receptor tended to be throughout the cytoplasm and in plasma membrane, suggesting that the perinuclear compartment is likely not the final destination for GPER-1, and at 30 minutes after E2, the GPER-1 was disperse again in cytosol, perinuclear and nuclear regions. When these cultures were stimulated with G1, GPER-1 trafficking occurred earlier than the one induced by E2 exposure (5 minutes). This GPER-1 trafficking also was observed in C6 glioma cells induced by the same stimuli. Finally, we investigated possible neuroprotective effects of E2 and/or G1 in both phenotypes of cultures exposed to OGD for 15, 30 and 60 minutes and reperfused for up to 24 hours, our results showed that protection induced by rapid estrogenic signaling was cellular composition-dependent, since only in mixed cultures these effects were evident. The absence of GPER-1 signaling before OGD, using GPER-1 antagonist G15, increased OGD-induced cell death, suggesting that the blockage of this pathway could be associated to a worst prognostic of ischemic damage. On the other hand, media culture supplemented with G1 during OGD and reperfusion attenuated those effects induced by OGD. Moreover, it was observed that glial cells played an important role as neuroprotective mediators via nonnuclear estrogenic signaling in this ischemia model. However, these neuroprotective effects were not observed in immortalized astrocyte lineage, C6 glioma cells, under the same paradigms. In addition, our results showed that neuroprotective via GPER-1 is not mediated by cross-talk GPER-1/EGFR, because EGF receptors inhibition either blocked nor potentiated the deleterious effects of ischemia, suggesting that in the central nervous system, estrogenic signaling through GPER-1 would be different than the one in cancer cells. Therefore, GPER-1 participation in the neuroprotection mediated by estrogen could have important practical implications, since it opens the possibility to development and use of new GPER-1 agonists to elucidate protection mechanisms from injury to repair processes in ischemic conditions.


In Turkey, the armed forces play the central role in reconciling the paradoxical societal forces of democracy, authoritarianism, secularism, and Islam. Using the literature on civil–military relations, especially Huntington's theory of objective civilian control, the author attempts to show that this contradictory blend of ideologies renders objective civilian control of the military in Turkey impossible.


With the proliferation of edge smart devices and the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technologies, intelligent fatigue detection has become one of the most-used methods in our daily driving. To improve the performance of the detection model, a series of techniques have been developed. However, existing work still leaves much to be desired, such as privacy disclosure and communication cost. To address these issues, we propose FedSup, a client-edge-cloud framework for privacy and efficient fatigue detection. Inspired by the federated learning technique, FedSup intelligently utilizes the collaboration between client, edge, and cloud server to realizing dynamic model optimization while protecting edge data privacy. Moreover, to reduce the unnecessary system communication overhead, we further propose a Bayesian convolutional neural network (BCNN) approximation strategy on the clients and an uncertainty weighted aggregation algorithm on the cloud to enhance the central model training efficiency. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the FedSup framework is suitable for IoV scenarios and outperforms other mainstream methods.


Anomaly detection (AD) from hyperspectral images (HSIs) is of great importance in both space exploration and Earth observations. However, the challenges caused by insufficient datasets, no labels, and noise corruption substantially downgrade the accuracy of detection. To solve these problems, this article proposes a sparse coding (SC)-inspired generative adversarial network (GAN) for weakly supervised hyperspectral AD (HAD), named sparseHAD. It can learn a discriminative latent reconstruction with small errors for background pixels and large errors for anomalous ones. First, a background-category searching step is built to alleviate the difficulty of data annotation. Then, an SC-inspired regularized network is integrated into an end-to-end GAN to form a weakly supervised spectral mapping model consisting of two encoders, a decoder, and a discriminator. This model not only makes the network more robust and interpretable experimentally and theoretically but also develops a new SC-inspired path for HAD. Subsequently, the proposed sparseHAD detects anomalies in a latent space rather than the original space, which also contributes to its noise robustness. Quantitative assessments and experiments over real HSIs demonstrate the unique promise of the proposed sparseHAD. The code, data, and trained models are available at https://github.com/JiangThea/HAD.


Efficient internal branding practices give service organisations competitive advantage. While the impact of internal branding on employees behaviours has already been examined by academicians and practitioners, its role in developing a favourable employee brand remains unexplored. This article aims to analyse the influence of internal branding activities on employees' brand knowledge, commitment and employee brand in higher education institutions in India and United States of America. Further the relationship between employee brand and brand endorsement is also examined. Using an online survey, data were collected from the teaching faculty members of higher educational institutions in India (274 samples) and the United States of America (274 samples). The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) results showed that internal branding influence employees' knowledge, commitment and image of the brand. The results also proved that employee brand significantly influences employees' brand endorsement in both countries. The administrators of the institutes in both countries should strengthen the internal branding activities by enhancing brand-centric rewards and promotions to motivate employees to deliver the desired brand image to students and other stakeholders. They must get feedback from employees at regular intervals to know their perception regarding the brand and its image to maintain favorable employee brand.


Dynamics of a rodent community were studied in the Negev Desert Highlands (Israel) during 8 years on 24 permanent 1-ha plots representing six main habitat types. Based on theoretical models of habitat selection, we hypothesized that niche overlap between species of the same spatial guild should increase with density faster than that between species of different guilds. Data were analysed using multivariate (principal component and discriminant) analyses to test the hypothesis. Density changes in most rodent species followed fluctuations in the amount of rainfall. Habitat niche breadth was density-dependent in six species and density-independent in four species. Significant habitat shifts and switches of spatial guild membership were found in three of 10 species. Pairwise values of habitat overlap were significantly and positively correlated with density only in species pairs where both species demonstrated density-dependent variation of habitat breadth. In most other pairs of species, overlap values were density-independent. Comparison of changes in average within-season values of habitat overlap with density within and among spatial guilds directly supported our hypothesis demonstrating faster increase of niche overlap with density between species of the same spatial guild than between species of different guilds.


Microbial pathogens of both plants and animals employ virulence factors that suppress the host immune response. The tomato pathogen Pseudomonas syringae injects the AvrPtoB type III effector protein into the plant cell to suppress programmed cell death (PCD) associated with plant immunity. AvrPtoB also inhibits PCD in yeast, indicating that AvrPtoB manipulates a conserved component of eukaryotic PCD. To identify host targets of AvrPtoB, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified tomato ubiquitin (Ub) as a strong AvrPtoB interactor. AvrPtoB is ubiquitinated in vitro and exhibits E3 Ub ligase activity in the presence of recombinant E1 activating enzyme and specific E2 Ub-conjugating enzymes. The C terminus of AvrPtoB is sufficient for both anti-PCD and E3 Ub ligase activities, suggesting the two functions are associated. Indeed, mutation of AvrPtoB lysine residues in the C terminus, between K512 and K529, disrupts AvrPtoB-Ub interactions, decreases AvrPtoB-mediated anti-PCD activity, and abrogates P. syringae pathogenesis of susceptible tomato plants. Remarkably, quantitative decreases in AvrPtoB anti-PCD activity are correlated with decreases in AvrPtoB ubiquitination and E3 Ub ligase activity. Overall, these data reveal a unique bacterial pathogenesis strategy, where AvrPtoB manipulates the host Ub system and requires intrinsic E3 Ub ligase activity to suppress plant immunity.


A glasshouse experiment in 1997 at Wye College, University of London, investigated the uptake of 35S-SO4 at two growth stages. When labelled S was applied at growth stage 24 on 20 January only 14% of available sulphur was detected in the plant parts. There was a progressive increase in uptake into the newly emerged leaves. The leaves, which emerged after the application of the radiolabelled sulphur solution was complete, imported sulphur from other parts of the plant. At final harvest the ears had become a major new sink and had imported 68% of the labelled sulphur. When labelled sulphur was applied on 7 March at growth stage 41–45, an average of 93% of available sulphur was taken up during the 3 days exposure period. The major portion was quickly translocated and recovered from the aerial parts. At final harvest 53% appeared in the grain. The experimental results demonstrated that sulphur reserves can be remobilized to developing sinks. It is suggested that sulphate ions can be retained as a reserve pool by the plant until they are required by actively developing sinks.


A decision-aided error correction algorithm is described and evaluated. The receiver based on this algorithm is tested experimentally in real time using a digital signal processor. Its performance is evaluated for a signal based on the North American cellular standard, transmitted over a Rayleigh flat fading channel. The test results show that the algorithm significantly reduces the irreducible error floor. Under adequate SNR conditions, this method of error correction is quite attractive compared to other techniques such as coding, insertion of pilot symbols, or the diversity method, because it requires no overhead bits. Also, since the algorithm does not require any modification to the frame structure of the signal, it may be preferred if the transmitting signal format has already been standardized.


In this paper three dimensional velocity images of the crust and upper mantle beneath the North South Zone are reconstructed using 10277 P wave arrivals of regional earthquakes recorded at 157 stations in the study area with LSQR algorithm. The image results indicate that: 1. There is a significant lateral heterogeneity in the crust and upper mantle beneath the North South Zone persisting down to 450 km in depth. 2. The velocity images of the upper crust show the features closely related to the well known tectonic features on the surface. 3. The low velocity layer exists in a very wide range of the mid-crust. The lowest velocity value is near 5.60 km/s. 4. in a long narrow piece of area between 25°N-38°N and 100.0° E-I03.2°E, the low velocity anomaly about 7.49 km/s appears at the top of the upper mantle. The image result at a depth of 120 km also outlines dearly the welded boundaries between the different geological blocks. The statistical data show that seismic activity is related to the velocity structure of the North South Zone: almost all of the major earthquakes took place in the transition strips between high and low velocity zones in the crust above 20 km.


Summary
There are limited data concerning suspensory ligament branch (SLB) injuries in sports horses. This retrospective study aimed to describe the limb and mediolateral distribution of SLB injuries, the case history of injured horses, clinical signs, response to diagnostic analgesia, presence of other injuries, ultrasonographic features, radiological abnormalities and outcome. Case records of sports horses with ultrasonographic evidence of SLB injury (1998–2012) were reviewed. Ultrasonographic images were assessed subjectively and objectively. Descriptive statistics were used to describe horse data and injury distribution. Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to test sidedness, forelimbs and hindlimbs, and medial and lateral branches. Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to test for the ability to detect SLB enlargement by palpation and ultrasonography. Seventy-one horses had injuries in 88 limbs, 42 forelimbs and 46 hindlimbs; 39/71 (54.9%) horses with only one branch injured, 18 (25.3%) with 2, 3 (4.2%) with 3, and 11 (15.5%) with 4. There was no significant difference in the proportion of injured medial and lateral branches, forelimbs or hindlimbs, left fore vs. right fore, or left hind vs. right hind. Forelimb injuries were overrepresented in event horses (76.2%) and hindlimb injuries in dressage horses (87.1%). Twenty-eight horses had primary SLB injuries; 43 had other concurrent injuries in the same limb, 23 involving the suspensory apparatus. There was a significant difference (P = 0.011 in the ability to detect palpable enlargement of an SLB (60/171, 35.1%), compared with enlargement detected ultrasonographically (111/171, 64.9%). Periligamentous fibrosis was present in 78.7% of injured hindlimb SLBs and in 35.8% of forelimbs. Of horses with primary SLB injuries, 43.5% returned to full athletic function at their previous level for at least one year and up to 5 years. Periligamentous fibrosis or hyperextension of the fetlock adversely influenced outcome.


This is the issue of successful behavioral interventions and international comparisons that support the need for better primary health care in the United States. Men's preconception care is considered, and the issue rounds out with articles about the radiologic findings of fluid in the mastoid bone, sex of physicians and mortality rates, a diabetes drug review, and, as usual, some informative brief case reports.


Much of the academic debate has gone in to exploring the better asset pricing model that can explain the quantification of the trade-off between risk and expected return for the cross section of stock return. Nevertheless this intimidating task becomes more pragmatic given the market structure of emerging markets, liquidity effects, market inefficiency, and more significantly the presence of inherent imperfect rationality or sentiment. The basic objective of this paper is to evaluate the pricing implication of unconditional five factor model to explain the cross sectional stock return behaviour in the context of Indian stock market. Our analysis also aims to examine the pricing nature of aggregate market wide sentiment risk in the presence of other risk factors. We employ Fama and French time series regression approach to examine the impact of market risk premium, size, book-to-market equity, momentum and liquidity as risk factors on stock return. Our empirical results show that given the multidimensional nature of risk the choice of a five factor model is apparently persuasive for consideration in investment decisions. However, inconsistent with prior literature book-to-market equity fails to explain the average return in case of large stocks, and pricing evidence of momentum profits fades in case of winner stocks and momentum strategy retains its value only for the sell side transactions i.e., loser portfolios. With the presence of liquidity factor in the five factor model specification, the results suggest that liquidity is priced and explains a cross sectional variation in stock returns. Our results also suggest that it is naive to argue for the universal pricing implication of sentiment risk in a multifactor model framework, and market wide risk factors resume their importance as rational source of priced risk.


The paper investigates a novel approach to the traffic control problem of signalized junction with bus priority. In road traffic engineering practice, adaptive control algorithms are generally used for maximizing the traffic flow of intersections. The adaptive strategies aim to calculate optimal signal splits for the traffic lights. The calculation is usually based on the number of vehicles measured by appropriate detection methods and may also depend on public transport priority actions (e.g. "green call" by buses). The main drawback of these methods is that the number of vehicle passengers is not taken into consideration. Unlike the common approaches the presented control strategy considers weighted passenger number exclusively (by using the assumption that the number of passengers can be measured in all vehicles). Hence, the control aim is to maximize the number of weighted passenger number capable to cross the intersection. The proposed control method is based on two factors: the number of passengers in road vehicles and their temporal distance measured from the stop line. The strategy does not apply priority measures for public transport directly. At the same time, the vehicles carrying numerous passengers (i.e. buses) acquire preference.


The analysis of the human behavior from video is a wide field of the vision by computer. In this work, we are presenting mainly a new approach and method of detects behavior or abnormal events continuous of crowd in the case of the dangerous situations. These scenes are characterized by the presence of a great number of people in the camera's field of vision. A major problem is the development of an autonomous approach for the management of a great number of anomalies which is almost impossible to carry out by operators. We present in this paper an approach for the anomalies detection, the visual sequences of the video are detected like behavior normal or abnormal based on the measurement and the extraction of the points by the optical flow, then calculations of the distance between the matrices of covariance of the distributions of the vectors of movement calculated on the consecutive reinforcements.


The application of quantum theory to gravity is beset with many technical and conceptual problems. After a short tour d'horizon of recent attempts to master those problems by the introduction of new approaches, we show that the aim, a background independent quantum theory of gravity, can be reached in a particular area, 2d dilaton quantum gravity, without any assumptions beyond standard quantum field theory.


Model-based 3D object tracking is fast and robust using 3D edges. However, traditional edge-based approaches have difficulty handling occluding contours of curved surfaces, since they are not static model edges but change with the viewpoint. In this paper we propose a unified approach to edge-based tracking where 3D edges including occluding contours are utilized. This is achieved through an analysis of local surface differential geometry, which provides the foundation for incorporating occluding contours of curved surfaces into edge-based tracking. This approach uses a simple parametrization of both types of model edges within the same framework. The proposed method has been tested within the context of an existing edge-based tracking system. The system can track both types of model edges in a very fast and robust manner. Experimental results on both synthetic and real scenes are provided, which confirm that occluding contours improve real-time 3D tracking performance.


In this research, the behaviour of nickel oxide as inhibitor of hot corrosion of stainless steel AISI 304H in presence of a salt compound for 80% V2O5 – 20%Na2SO4 in weight and oxidant atmosphere of 99%O2 – 1%SO2 was studied. Two molars ratios inhibitor / salt 2:1 and 3:1 were used and electrochemical techniques as linear polarization resistance, EIS and Tafel extrapolation were
employed to evaluate the influence of temperature and time in the NiO inhibition, to determine oxidation rate and inhibitor efficiency on the material damage. Results showed that the techniques of direct current only were
effectives when the electrolyte have a ionic behaviour, while that the techniques of alternate current were reliable for the alls condition test, showed an high resistance to the transference charge. The results showed that the damage of material were controlled for a charge transference very high through solid electrolyte and oxide layer formed, this was confirmed by SEM techniques carried to the tested samples.


Two experiments are presented in which different mechanisms controlling each limb in a bilateral arm response to a unilateral kinesthetic stimulus are postulated to occur. In Experiment 1, the limb serving as the stimulus are postulated to occur. In Experiment 1, the limb serving as the stimulus limb was described as operating with relative invariance by using a tightly coupled input-output reflexive pathway, whereas the nonstimulus limb appeared to be controlled by higher-order processing thought to be more susceptible to influences such as hemispheric specialization and stimulus expectancy. The differential control model was further tested in Experiment 2 by retaining the interhemispheric pathway of the unilateral kinesthetic stimulus but experimentally uncoupling the reflex mechanism from the stimulus side. Analyses of bilateral EMG premotor latencies under these conditions revealed that each response side can be controlled at separate levels-i.e., by a reflexive type mechanism or by higher-order processing when one of the response limbs is also the stimulus limb, both sides reflect behavior that is best described by an information processing type of voluntary control.


The present invention describes a rotor blade for a wind turbine, which wind turbine rotor having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft. The rotor includes a hub, the blades extending from the hub substantially in a radial direction when mounted to the hub. The blade comprising: a profiled contour comprising a pressure side and a suction side and a leading edge and a trailing edge and a chord extending between the leading and trailing edges, profiled contour when being impacted by an incident airflow generating a lift, profile contour in the radial direction is divided into a root region closest to the hub, the hub most remote from the airfoil region and the transition region is preferably located between the root region and the airfoil region, a root region with a substantially circular or elliptical type surface area of the airfoil having a lift generating profile, the transition region has a profile in the radial direction is gradually changed from the lift generating profile of circular or elliptical root region airfoil-shaped profile facing the surface region, wherein the airfoil region comprising at least a first longitudinal segment, at least 20% of the longitudinal length extending along a first longitudinal region of the airfoil section, a first longitudinal segment including a first base portion having leading and trailing edges and leading and trailing extending between the edge of the chord. First base portion having a cross-sectional profile, the profile having a cross section is zero or less lift coefficient at 0 ° impact angle of attack of the air stream enters.


To date Northern Sotho metalexicographers have focused their attention on lemma-tisation problems in respect of the so-called main or primary part of speech categories, viz. nouns and verbs. See, for example, Prinsloo and De Schryver (1999) and Prinsloo and Gouws (1996). No attention has been given to the lemmatisation of adverbs. The latter are regarded by Ziervogel and Mokgokong (1975: 114, Introduction) as a "secondary part of speech". The treatment of adverbs in Northern Sotho dictionaries is marred by inconsistencies such as omissions from the macrostruc-ture, insufficient and inconsistent labelling, inferior treatment in the microstructure, under-utiliza-tion of the mediostructure and outer texts, and reflects a lack of a strategy of selection of items for lemmatisation. Linguistic descriptions of adverbs in currently available grammars vary substan-tially and therefore confuse learners of the language and inexperienced lexicographers1. The aim of this article is to offer solutions to the lemmatisation problems regarding adverbs in Northern Sotho and to propose guiding entries for paper and electronic dictionaries which could serve as models for future dictionaries. The treatment of adverbs in Northern Sotho dictionaries will also be criti-cally evaluated, especially in terms of frequency of use and target users' needs.

Keywords: lexicography, lemmatisation, adverbs, information retriev-al, electronic dictionary, macrostructure, microstructure, cross-refer-encing, mediostructure, dictionary, african languages, back matter, northern sotho


Embedded computer vision applications demand high system computational power and constitute one of the key drivers for application-specific multi- and many-core systems. A number of early system design choices can impact the system's parallel performance – among which the parallel granularity, the number of processors and the balance between computation and communication. Their impact in the final system performance is difficult to assess in early design stages and there is a lack for tools that support designers in this task. The contributions of this thesis consist in two methods and associated tools that facilitate the selection of embedded multiprocessor's architectural parameters and computer vision application parallelization strategies. The first consists of a Design Space Exploration (DSE) methodology that relies on Parana, a fast and accurate parallel performance estimation tool. Parana enables the evaluation of what-if parallelization scenarios and can determine their maximum achievable performance limits. The second contribution consists of a method for optimal 2D image tile sizing using constraint programming within the Tilana tool. The proposed method integrates non-linear DMA data transfer times and parallel scheduling overheads for increased accuracy.


Prenatal protein malnutrition has been demonstrated to result in alterations in the serotonergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems in the rat hippocampus. In the present study, whole-cell patch clamp recordings of CA1 pyramidal cells were employed in an effort to gain insight into the specific cellular locus and functional consequences of the previously reported changes. Hippocampal slices were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats whose dams were fed either a normal (25% casein) or low (6% casein) protein diet during pregnancy. The development of GABAA receptor-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) and their modulation by the benzodiazipine agonist zolpidem were compared in cells from the two nutritional groups at postnatal days 7, 14, 21 and >90. The modulation of mIPSCs by serotonin was also examined in cells from 21 day old rats. No significant differences were observed in the characteristics of mIPSCs in cells from control vs. prenatally protein malnourished rats at any of the ages studied, although there was a trend for a higher frequency of mIPSCs in adult (>p90) prenatally protein malnourished rats. At all ages, zolpidem produced a significant increase in the mean decay time of mIPSCs that was not significantly different in cells from the two nutritional groups. Serotonin application resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of mIPSCs in CA1 pyramidal cells but there was no significant difference between cells from the two nutritional groups in the characteristics of this effect These data demonstrate that the previously observed alterations in the serotonergic and GABAergic systems that result from prenatal protein malnutrition do not have significant functional consequences at a single cell level in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus as measured in vitro.


Centrifugal impeller blade trimming has long been used in the turbocharger industry to adapt a single impeller casting to a series of flow capacities, but surprisingly little published literature exists on the effects of trimming to compressor performance.This paper is presented as partial remedy, and describes the performance characteristics of a single stage centrifugal compressor designed and tested to cover a range of flow requirements by impeller blade and diffuser vane trimming.Stage and component test performance characteristics are presented for five trimmed flowpath contours covering a flow capacity range of approximately five to one at a DeLaval number of 0.75.The impeller tip diameter was 356mm, and the highest overall stage efficiency measured was 84.8% at an (air) pressure ratio of 1.5.Copyright © 2001 by ASME


Summary Rectal prolapse is a disorder in which the rectum protrudes from the anal canal. Solitary rectal ulcer may coexist. Both conditions have been associated with chronic constipation and excessive straining during defecation. Rectal prolapse has been rarely reported in women suffering from anorexia nervosa. Lack of rectal support because of loss of ischiorectal fat has been proposed as one of the possible mechanisms in this condition, together with chronic constipation and abuse of laxative. We report the case of an anorexic woman with a severe rectal prolapse and bleeding requiring urgent Altmeier's procedure. Surgery was complicated by dehiscence of the anastomosis and volvulus, requiring ileostomy and laciniae debridement. Pathological analysis of all the surgical samples taken from different abdominal sites highlighted changes in the visceral adipose tissue consisting in nodular aggregates of small adipocytes dispersed in a myxoid matrix surrounding blood vessels within abundant fibrosis. The morphologic features resemble those observed in primordial fetal fat and are comparable to those observed in cancer associated cachexia. The diffuse myxoid degeneration of visceral adipose tissue may play a role in the pathogenesis of rectal prolapse in patients with anorexia nervosa. Besides starvation, the mechanism sustaining myxoid degeneration of the adipose tissue is not entirely clear. Whenever possible improving nutritional and clinical conditions should be ideal before any surgical approach.


Bracing system is one of the structural system which forms an integral part of the frame. Steel bracings have been used extensively as a structural system to resist seismic loads in the recent times due to their passive energy dissipation property. Steel bracing being economical and easy to erect assists to enhance the strength and retrofitting properties of a structure and their effective performance in controlling seismic effects on the structures during earthquake. In the present study the effect of soil structure interaction (SSI) on multi-storied vertically irregular RC buildings on a horizontal soil profile with varying underlying soil types using concentric chevron bracing is investigated. A G+4 story vertically irregular building (with bracing and without bracing) is analyzed as per IS 1893:2002 using ANSYS.v19 software with fixed and flexible foundation. The soil structure interaction effects on the flexible foundation are analyzed and the effectiveness of the chevron braced frame on the seismic performance of the building is studied. Two different combination of the soil profile for the same building with bracing and without bracing and for free headed and fixed headed flexible foundation condition has been analyzed in response spectrum method for Winkler theory. The performance of the building is evaluated in terms of displacement, storey drift and bending moment along the pile and time period. It was found that the chevron bracing with fixed headed flexible foundation significantly contributes to the structural stiffness and reduces the displacement compared to the bare frame and also the SSI effect considering the water table showed more displacement when compared to the structure on saturated hard soils. Time period increases when SSI was considered


A fundamental problem in conservation biology is the risk of inbreeding in fragmented and declining populations. In the Hluhluwe‐iMfolozi Park (HiP), a small, enclosed reserve in South Africa, a large lion Panthera leo population arose from a founder group of five individuals in the 1960s. The HiP lion population went through a persistent decline and showed indications of inbreeding depression. To restore the genetic variation of the inbred HiP lion population, new lions were translocated into the existing population. Translocated females formed stable associations and established enduring pride areas with other translocated lionesses, but did not bond into native female prides. The translocated male coalition was more successful in gaining and maintaining residence in a pride than the translocated lone male that split off on his own from the male coalition. Litter size and cub survival was about twice as high for pairings involving at least one translocated parent than for pairings of two native lions. It is therefore possible to infuse new genes rapidly and successfully into a small, isolated lion population. Such translocations may become an important adaptive management tool as lion populations become increasingly fragmented.


Many children of all ages with swallowing disorders now receive at least part of their swallowing therapy in the public schools. This article presents the various types of swallowing therapy available, including postural changes, sensory enhancements, changes in feeding processes, and exercise programs. Other therapy issues discussed include the relationship of the feeding process to swallowing therapy, the schedule of therapy, and maintenance programs as compared to therapy. Clinicians are also provided with a number of references for additional reading on therapy procedures.


The significance of and the distinction between the lattice Gruneisen parameter and the thermodynamic Gruneisen parameter is discussed. A relationship between these parameters has been examined and analysed for nine polymers and their ratio is utilised to measure the interchain specific heat and specific heat ratio. Calculated data on the Gruneisen parameter, interchain specific heat ratio and interchain isobaric specific heat taken up by the molecular vibrations for these polymers is presented. It is seen that the interchain vibrations contribute from 11 to 30% of the total isochoric specific heat in these polymers.


Glutathione S‐transferase omega 2 (GSTO2) lacks any appreciable GST activity, but it exhibits thioltransferase activity. The significance of GSTO2 in lung function has been reported; however, the precise expression and molecular function of GSTO2 in the lungs remain unclear. In the present study, we found that GSTO2 is expressed in airway basal cells, non–ciliated, columnar Clara cells, and type II alveolar cells, which have self‐renewal capacity in the lungs. Contrastingly, no GSTO2 expression was observed in 94 lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) samples. When human LSCC cell lines were treated with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine, a DNA‐methyltransferase inhibitor, GSTO2 transcription was induced, suggesting that aberrant GSTO2 hypermethylation in LSCC is the cause of its downregulation. Forced GSTO2 expression in LSCC cell lines inhibited cell growth and colony formation in vitro. In a subcutaneous xenograft model, GSTO2‐transfected cells formed smaller tumors in nude mice than mock‐transfected cells. Upon intravenous injection into nude mice, the incidence of liver metastasis was lower in mice injected with GSTO2‐transfected cells than in those injected with mock‐transfected cells. In addition, GSTO2 induction suppressed the expression of β‐catenin and the oxygen consumption rate, but it did not affect the extracellular acidification rate. Furthermore, GSTO2‐transfected cells displayed lower mitochondrial membrane potential than mock‐transfected cells. When GSTO2‐transfected cells were treated with a p38 inhibitor, β‐catenin expression and mitochondrial membrane potential were recovered. Our study indicated that the loss of GSTO2 via DNA hypermethylation contributes to the growth and progression of LSCC, probably by modulating cancer metabolism via the p38/β‐catenin signaling pathway.


A frequency scanning method is introduced in the paper to obtain a more accurate frequency characteristic for identifying harmonic instability in HVDC power systems. An example of the application is used to identify the resonance frequencies in the CIGRE benchmark model. The paper shows that the benchmark model is not tuned to the resonance frequency that it was designed for. Using the scanning method, the resonance frequency of the benchmark model maybe shifted to demonstrate a simulation of core-saturation type instability. >


We propose an extension of the concept of Expected Improvement criterion commonly used in Kriging based optimization. We extend it for more complex Kriging models, e.g. models using derivatives. The target field of application are CFD problems, where objective function are extremely expensive to evaluate, but the theory can be also used in other fields.


After a short chronology of the investigation, the author discusses the nature of the implosives and the problems resulting from their complexity and ambiguity. One of the main problems is that of the production of voice; the most satisfactory solution is offered by the 'active voice' suggested by HUSSON. From certain phenomena it can be seen that the articulation is based upon the more or less modified movements of the second phase of the act of deglutition; wherein certain reflex-conditioned interdependencies play an important part. As a result, there is not merely one phonemic constituent to be called 'implosion', but two or three different ones, depending on the points of departure of articulation. 'Implosion' is one of the most ancient and archaic manners of articulation.


New high-performance neural interfacing approaches are demanded for today's Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs). In this paper, we present the architecture of a wireless network of implantable microsystems (Brain-ASNET: Brain Area Sensor NETwork). As well, we introduce an energy-efficient ad-hoc network protocol for the desired network, along with a method to overcome issue of variable packet length caused by bit stuffing process in HDLC standard protocol. To implement the idea, architecture and design of a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) is also presented. The SoC can be configured to be used either as a sensor node chip or the network coordinator's RF front-end and network controller. The SoC is designed and laid-out in an IBM 0.13μm CMOS process. The post-layout simulation results show energy efficiency of the designed ad-hoc network protocol and low power dissipation of the SoC. The whole chip, including all functional and peripheral integrated components, consumes 138μW and 412μW, at 1.2V, configured in a synchronized network as a sensor node and the coordinator, respectively.


The IT unit is not the only provider of information technology (IT) used in business processes. Aiming for increased performance, many business workgroups autonomously implement IT resources not covered by their organizational IT service management. This is called shadow IT. Risks and inefficiencies associated with this phenomenon challenge organizations. Organizations need to decide how to deal with identified shadow IT and if the business or the IT unit should be responsible for corresponding tasks and components. This study proposes design principles for a method to control identified shadow IT following action design research in four organizational settings. The procedure results in an allocation of IT task responsibilities between the business workgroups and the IT unit following risk considerations and transaction cost economics, leading to an IT service governance. This contributes to governance research regarding adaptive and efficient arrangements with reduced risks for business-located IT activities.


Neighborhood racial composition preferences have the potential to produce extreme residential segregation between racial groups. Whites' preferences to avoid Blacks, and Blacks' preferences to maintain residential contact with their own group can induce high levels of White-Black segregation. Similar preferences can lead to segregation for Asians and Latinos. These theoretical facts have lead some observers to attribute continued residential segregation in the United States to preferences. These observers imply that elimination of housing market discrimination, socioeconomic differences, and other discrepancies between groups in metropolitan housing markets, would do little to lessen residential segregation by race. Most support for this perspective 1) relies on caricatures of empirically observed preferences, or 2) fails to examine whether preferences align with actual housing choices. These limitations are problematic. A failure to include realistic assessments of preferences in simulation models can lead to an overstatement of the potential for preferences to generate segregation, and a corresponding understatement of the potential for housing market discrimination and other race-related factors to induce and sustain segregation. This dissertation addresses the limitations of previous attempts to vet the importance of preferences for segregation. It develops an appropriate statistical model for comparing stated racial composition preferences to actual neighborhood attainments. It uses this model to assess whether people migrate in ways that agree with their preferences, or whether some groups are systematically frustrated in matching their neighborhood attainments to their preferences. Finally, it combines results from these empirical assessments in simulation models of segregation. When some groups are stymied in migrating according to their stated preferences, does this tend to result in higher levels of segregation? Using data from Los Angeles County, this dissertation shows that Latinos, and to a lesser degree, Blacks, are disadvantaged relative to Whites in matching their residential preferences to their attainments. In simulation, these frustrated preferences yield excess levels of racial segregation: If people were able to migrate according to their stated preferences, levels of residential segregation would be approximately 20% lower. These results illustrate that preferences set a floor for levels of segregation, but do not fully explain extant segregation. Room remains for explanations based on discrimination and social networks.


Computer networks have experienced an explosive growth over the past few years and with that growth have come severe congestion problems. For example, it is now common to see internet gateways drop 10% of the incoming packets because of local buffer overflows. Our investigation of some of these problems has shown that much of the cause lies in transport protocol implementations ( not in the protocols themselves): The 'obvious' ways to implement a window-based transport protocol can result in exactly the wrong behavior in response to network congestion. We give examples of 'wrong' behavior and describe some simple algorithms that can be used to make right things happen. The algorithms are rooted in the idea of achieving network stability by forcing the transport connection to obey a 'packet conservation' principle. We show how the algorithms derive from this principle and what effect they have on traffic over congested networks. In October of '86, the Internet had the first of what became a series of 'congestion collapses'. During this period, the data throughput from LBL to UC Berkeley (sites separated by 400 yards and two IMP hops) dropped from 32 Kbps to 40 bps. We were fascinated by this sudden factor-of-thousand drop in bandwidth and embarked on an investigation of why things had gotten so bad. In particular, we wondered if the 4.3 BSD (Berkeley UNIX) TCP was mis-behaving or if it could be tuned to work better under abysmal network conditions. The answer to both of these questions was "yes".


This report for the IAG Joint Working Group 2.3 is an assessment of various GOCE gravity field models. The GOCE models were evaluated by assessing the model performance for satellite orbit dynamics based on Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) observations. Tests show all recent GOCE and GRACE-based gravity field models perform similarly in terms of the RMS fit of the SLR observations (for all models the RMS does not differ by more than 1 cm). GOCE_TIM models perform best for many of the satellites in this particular test. The estimate of C20 is likely to be a dominant source of longwavelength gravity model error when SLR or GPS measurements are not used.


We investigate the electron heating dynamics in electropositive argon and helium capacitively coupled RF discharges driven at 13.56 MHz by particle-in-cell simulations and by an analytical model. The model allows one to calculate the electric field outside the electrode sheaths, space and time resolved within the RF period. Electrons are found to be heated by strong ambipolar electric fields outside the sheath during the phase of sheath expansion in addition to classical sheath expansion heating. By tracing individual electrons we also show that ionization is primarily caused by electrons that collide with the expanding sheath edge multiple times during one phase of sheath expansion due to backscattering toward the sheath by collisions. A synergistic combination of these different heating events during one phase of sheath expansion is required to accelerate an electron to energies above the threshold for ionization. The ambipolar electric field outside the sheath is found to be time modulated due to a time modulation of the electron mean energy caused by the presence of sheath expansion heating only during one half of the RF period at a given electrode. This time modulation results in more electron heating than cooling inside the region of high electric field outside the sheath on time average. If an electric field reversal is present during sheath collapse, this time modulation and, thus, the asymmetry between the phases of sheath expansion and collapse will be enhanced. We propose that the ambipolar electron heating should be included in models describing electron heating in capacitive RF plasmas.


Still a cause of preventable blindness

The word "leprosy" tends to conjure up images from the past including the "lepers" described in New Testament times, perhaps as seen in the film Ben Hur , or those for whom "leper windows" were constructed in churches throughout Europe in medieval times. The fact that the term "leper" is now rendered obsolete in describing a person with the treatable mycobacterial disease known as leprosy, or Hansen's disease, seems to have passed many people by. Speaking of leprosy in the current day context usually evokes a cautious curiosity in lay circles or, in Western medical circles, the admission of having no more than a line or two of textbook knowledge on the subject, and genuine interest in the fact that it can involve the eyes. Hansen's statement that "there is no disease which so frequently gives rise to disorders of the eye as leprosy does,"1 may no longer hold true. However, despite the advent of multidrug therapy (MDT) in the early 1980s, leprosy remains a significant cause of visual impairment in countries where it is still prevalent.2

The prevalence of leprosy has been decreasing over the past 15 years, but as a sequel to the World Health Organization's drive to encourage governments to aim for the elimination of leprosy by the year 2000, improved case finding in some countries, including India (which has approximately 70% of the world's leprosy affected population), is thought to have contributed to an apparent increase in the observed incidence of new cases during the 1990s.3 This increasing incidence rate continues in some countries, and in the top 10 leprosy endemic countries, 65 000 children were diagnosed with leprosy in 2004. In India, however, over the past 2 …


The paper discusses how designers, conducting design projects in specific organization's, can assure that the design of IT is appropriately linked to the organizations overall business strategy. A case study is presented in the form of a design project in a small public organization. Functional analysis was used as a means to clarify how a specific needed information system could support the organization's new business strategy. Using functional analysis in the design project had a powerful effect: it seriously challenged the organization's business strategy and revealed that the system the organization believed it needed was irrelevant, while it needed other systems nobody had thought of beforehand. Functional analysis is outlined, the results from using this analysis are described, and lessons to be learned are discussed. The paper concludes by pointing out the need for explicit attention to the relation between an organization's IT-projects and its business strategy and by suggesting that it is the responsibility of the designers, conducting design projects, to assure that this task is taken proper care of. Practical guidelines for this purpose are given.


Abstract Treatment of patients with inherited bleeding disorders (PWIBD) in the emergency department (ED) is challenging. In 2010, a project was started involving all eight hemophilia centers (HC) and all 44 EDs of the Region of Emilia-Romagna (Italy) to improve emergency care for PWIBD. The project incorporates guidelines for emergency treatment, education for ED staff, and a dedicated Web site providing extensive information, proposing treatments, and sharing data with patients' electronic clinical records. A Web algorithm, accessible to PWIBD as well as ED and HC staff, suggests the first dose of concentrate for each type and severity of bleed or trauma. Following training courses in each ED, the network was activated. During 2012 and 2013, the site was visited 14,000 times, the EDs accessed the Web site 1,739 times, and used the algorithms 206 times. In two reference EDs, triage-assessment and triage-treatment times were reduced in 2013 and 2012 (27/20 and 110/71.5 minutes, respectively) and medical advice from the HC increased (54 vs. 24% cases). The main advantages of this system are better management of patients in ED (shorter triage-to-treatment times) and improved collaboration between HCs and EDs. The most critical point remaining is staff turnover in EDs, necessitating continual training.


Cross-border travel generates a substantial amount of mobility near the borders, but is not a large percentage of total Dutch mobility. However in the border regions of the country, these flows are important. For the Dutch national transport model LMS, O-D matrices are required that include cross-border car travel. This is a challenging task, due to scarcity of data. First, a production model (by travel purpose) is used to calculate the total production of car journeys. Next, these journeys are distributed over domestic and foreign destinations using a simplified destination choice model. From the resulting matrix, domestic journeys are removed and only the border crossing journeys are kept. Domestic journeys are then replaced by the results of the existing much more detailed mode-and destination choice models. The new models are estimated on the Dutch national mobility survey (MON) and are of reasonable quality. The predicted numbers of border crossing journeys to Belgium and Germany are lower than the numbers from traffic counts, and therefore an additional calibration to count data totals is carried out. The results indicate that for commuting the resistance to cross the border is equivalent to 35 (Belgium) or 46 (Germany) minutes extra travel time. Also for all other travel purposes in the model, it is found that the border resistance for journeys to Belgium is smaller than that for journeys to Germany, which can be explained by the additional factor of language difference. The smallest border resistance for both countries is found for shopping journeys.


There is an increasing demand by patients to use natural products with hypoglycaemic activity for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The present investigation aims at examining the hypoglycemic potential of methanolic extract of P. citrinopileatus mycelium on streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. Oral treatment of control and diabetic rats with extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight were monitored for blood glucose, serum insulin and catalase activity. Results showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) in fasting blood glucose level and serum catalase activity but a significant increase in serum insulin level in the high dose treated group compared to untreated diabetes mellitus experimental group. Furthermore, some histopathological changes were noticed in the kidney tissue section. This study revealed P. citrinopileatus had excellent antidiabetic activity and thus have great potential as an ingredient in natural health products.


Abstract– In contrast to the well-known "lake-type" sockeye salmon, two additional anadromous life-history types have been recognized within the species: 'river-type' sockeye salmon whose juveniles spend 1 or 2 years in off-channel river habitats prior to migrating to sea, and "sea-type" sockeye salmon that initially rear in similar river habitats yet migrate to sea as underyearlings. Persistent populations of river-/sea-type sockeye salmon occur in small numbers throughout the species'range in North America but are usually associated with glacier-fed rivers. We found published and unpublished records showing that riverine-spawning sockeye salmon occur in 11 rivers in western Washington, USA, that don't have access to juvenile lake-rearing habitat. Evidence of persistent spawning was strongest for the Nooksack and Skagit rivers in northern Puget Sound. We analyzed allozyme frequency differentiation in 26 laketype and 12 river-/sea-type populations of sockeye salmon in North America, ranging from northern Puget Sound, Washington (including 3 in the Nooksack and Skagit rivers) to northern Southeast Alaska. Across this 2000 km range, river-/sea-type sockeye salmon showed very little genetic differentiation between populations, much less than that displayed by the highly divergent lake-type sockeye salmon. Genetic similarity among river-/sea-type sockeye salmon in this study is likely a result of common ancestry and a high level of historical gene flow among river-/sea-type sockeye salmon populations.


Abstract. This paper uses the Budyko method to investigate mean annual streamflow changes, due to climate variation and human influence, in the important Karkheh River Basin in western Iran. To validate the results, hydrological modelling (HBV model) and Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) images were used for the study period between 1980 and 2012. The recently developed DBEST (Detecting Breakpoints and Estimating Segments in Trend) method identified an abrupt negative change in the streamflow trend in 1994–5. The results show that the observed streamflow decrease in the Karkheh River is associated with both climate variation and human influence. The combination of increased irrigated area (from 9 to 19 % of the total basin area), reduction of forests (from 11 to 3 %), and decreasing annual precipitation has significantly reduced streamflow in the basin. Moreover, the results show that the streamflow reduction in the Karkheh Basin is more sensitive to the change in precipitation than temperature.


The Internet is migrating from IPv4 to IPv6. To determine the features for research test bed product selection, we compare the up-to-date information of IPv4 and IPv6. Currently IPv6 network penetration is still low but it is expected to grow, while IPv4 address pool is projected by Regional Internet Registry to be exhausted by the end of 2011. The reason why uptake of IPv6 is still low is because of high cost of service migration from IPv4 to IPv6, successfully used of IPv4 Network Address Translation for Intranet and unproven return of investment in IPv6 technology. This paper aims to review few migration path from IPv4 to IPv6 and some of the existing IPv6 products.


Increasingly larger data centers constructed to serve Internet-scale enterprise and Cloud computing workloads are creating significant challenges for the management systems designed to operate them. In this paper we present the design and implementation of a management system that uses server-attached wireless sensors to create an auto-configuring wireless-only monitoring network that can be used to address a number of challenges in the area of data center operations management. We exhibit the use of this wireless network in tracking the physical location of servers and in troubleshooting connectivity problems in the wired data center network infrastructure. Our system is implemented as an extension to the Nagios distributed monitoring and management system and demonstrated to provide continuous awareness of the physical location of the server infrastructure as well as insight into wired network partitions under switch failures.


Brief review of developments in information work in Portugal since the early 1980s. Describes developments in public libraries, the national bibliographic database, training, software, access to online databases, CD-ROM and Portuguese participation in information projects of the European Community.


A case report presents fracture of sternum during the resuscitation and in continuity iatrogenic hematoma and afterwards abscessus of mediastinum, and empyema the both of pleura cavities. Fracture of thorax wall is rather often event, but in the most, it has not adverse effects. This case refers to 68 years old patient, who had one of the most serious complications: abscessus of mediastinum, empyema of left and right pleura cavities with perforation outside the anterior wall of thorax. He was treated in General Hospital Biała Podlaska, Department of Surgery with good results and was extracted home as well-being patient after 35 days spent in hospital the second hospitalisation.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a simulated CO2 pneumoperitoneum environment on the viability and proliferation of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cells in vitro.

STUDY DESIGN
In vitro study.

METHODS
A control Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line and 3 canine TCC cell lines were exposed to 100% CO2 at pressure of 0, 5, 10, or 15 mmHg for 2 hours by using an airtight chamber and a mechanical insufflator at 37°C. Culture media pH was measured. Viability and proliferation were assessed by using a resazurin assay and trypan blue dye, respectively.

RESULTS
The pH in the media significantly decreased immediately after CO2 exposure but returned to normal within 1 hour. The viability of the cell lines was variably affected at the evaluated pressures. Insufflation pressure of 10 mmHg resulted in significantly decreased cell viability compared with control. The impact of 15 mmHg CO2 was comparable to 0 mmHg and control. CO2 insufflation pressure had no significant effects on proliferation up to 7 days postexposure. Conclusion/Clinical significance: A positive pressure CO2 environment significantly decreased the viability of TCC and MDCK cells under specific conditions without influencing their proliferation up to 7 days postexposure. Investigating these effects in clinical patients undergoing CO2 laparoscopy is essential to assess for port site metastasis or peritoneal carcinomatosis in order to translate these in vitro results to clinical recommendations.


PURPOSE
We aimed to identify the risk factors associated with late aneurysmal sac expansion after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images of 143 patients who were followed for ≥6 months after EVAR. Sac expansion was defined as an increase in sac diameter of 5 mm relative to the preoperative diameter. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify associated risk factors for late sac expansion after EVAR from the following variables: age, gender, device, endoleak, antiplatelet therapy, internal iliac artery embolization, and preprocedural variables (aneurysm diameter, proximal neck diameter, proximal neck length, suprarenal neck angulation, and infrarenal neck angulation).

RESULTS
Univariate analysis revealed female gender, endoleak, aneurysm diameter ≥60 mm, suprarenal neck angulation >45°, and infrarenal neck angulation >60° as factors associated with sac expansion. Multivariate analysis revealed endoleak, aneurysm diameter ≥60 mm, and infrarenal neck angulation >60° as independent predictors of sac expansion (P < 0.05, for all).

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms (<60 mm) and infrarenal neck angulation ≤60° are more favorable candidates for EVAR. Intraprocedural treatments, such as prophylactic embolization of aortic branches or intrasac embolization, may reduce the risk of sac expansion in patients with larger abdominal aortic aneurysms or greater infrarenal neck angulation.


Feature extraction is necessary to classify a data with large dimension such as image data. It is important that the obtained features include the maximum information of input data. The representative methods for feature extraction are PCA, ICA, LDA and MLP etc. PCA, LDA are unsupervised type algorithms, and LDA, MLP are supervised type algorithms. Supervised type algorithms are more suitable for feature extraction because of using input data with class information. In this paper, we suggest the feature extraction scheme which uses class information to extract features by PCA. We test our algorithm using Yale face database and analyze the performance to compare with other algorithms.


Use of the leverage of the federal government dollar to accomplish objectives which have nothing to do with the purposes for which the dollar is given has become dangerously fashionable… . It might be called the "now that I have bought the button, I have a right to design the coat" approach. Kingman Brewster, President, Yale University


The egg is one of animal protein sources which content good nutrition for human life. Egg consumption is larger than the consumption of another animal production because it was easy to found and cheaper in price. Aggregate egg production increase significantly, especially in the years after 1980 and it continued consistently until now. The higher or the lower of egg production are affected by several development supporting factors. Egg production produced by commercial chicken farming system have a larger production contribution and become larger and larger from time to time, but in the same time the egg production contribution from native chicken and duck are precisely decrease. That is because egg production rate of those two are slower. Consumption rate variation is close relation with the specific tradition of the region, like local culture, tradition and habit of community. These features affect consumption pattern of the society. Production-consumption balancing vary among provinces. Balanced ratio of those, production and consumption, yields three criteria, namely the provinces which have surplus balancing , sufficien balancing and deficit balancing. The provinces with surplus balancing can be called as the egg supplier for other provinces with deficit balancing. Key words: Egg production, egg consumption, production-consumption path


Effects of substrate hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity on height measurement of individual ds-DNA molecules are investigated with tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM) and vibrating mode scanning polarization force microscopy (VSPFM). The measured heights of ds-DNA on hydrophobic highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) are remarkably less than those on hydrophilic bare mica and Ni2+ treated mica in both TMAFM and VSPFM. By analysing the results, we propose that the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of substrate can greatly influence the height measurement of DNA molecules.