Child's uncooperative behavior can impede the efficient delivery of dental care. Therefore, in spite of exceeding availability of behavior management techniques there is a need to search for a psychological behavior management technique that effectively reduces fear and anxiety during dental treatment and instill a change in child's attitude toward the treatment and is also acceptable by the parents. The aim of our systematic review is to determine the efficacy of various psychological behavior management techniques in managing a child's behavior in pediatric dentistry by assessing the fear and anxiety levels, ease of use by the clinician, application in various operative procedures, and parental acceptance. A systematic search was conducted by two reviewers in databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane for the studies published from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. Studies included were clinical studies which evaluated the efficacy of various psychological behavior management techniques by evaluating the fear and anxiety levels and the changes in behavior during dental treatment in children aged between 4 and 14 years. The studies selected were then assessed for quality with the help of predetermined criteria which categorized the studies into high, medium, and low. Through search strategy, 7147 articles were yielded. After screening through titles and abstracts, 60 nonduplicated articles were selected which were further screened for full text. At the end, 15 articles were included in systematic review and 3 articles for meta-analysis. It was concluded that all the psychological behavior management techniques aided in reduction of fear and anxiety. In noninvasive procedures, conventional psychological behavior management techniques can be effective but in invasive procedures other newer psychological behavior management techniques showed better results. The aspect of parental acceptance regarding various techniques was not discussed in any of the included studies.


This article was originally published by the Vera Institute of Justice in June 2006. What happens inside jails and prisons does not stay inside jails and prisons: It comes home with prisoners after they are released and with corrections officers at the end of each shift. When people live and work in facilities that are unsafe, unhealthy, unproductive, or inhumane, they carry the effects into the community with them. We all bear responsibility for creating correctional institutions that are safe, humane, and productive. With so much at stake for U.S. citizens9 health and safety, with so many people directly affected by the conditions in U.S. prisons and jails, this is the moment to confront confinement in the United States.


Abstract The Urals are a Late Palaeozoic orogenic belt. The relicts of earlier orogens are traced in its basement. In particular, the Late Vendian pre-Uralian orogen is reconstructed and identified as a part of the Late Precambrian Cadomian orogen. The Uralian orogeny was preceded by Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician epicontinental rifting and formation of the Paleo-Uralian ocean whose remnants are Palaeozoic ophiolites. Calc-alkaline volcanites and plutons, typical of active margins, are widely developed in the eastern Urals. The Uralian foldbelt results from oblique collision between the East European (Laurussia) passive margin and the active margin on the Kazakhstanian continent. Collision began in the south of the Urals and moved, wave-like, to the north. The eastern and northern parts of the Urals have been affected by the Middle Jurassic Cimmerian intracontinental (intra-Pangaea) shortening. The Uralian-Cimmerian mountain belt was eroded and partially inundated by seas in the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous times and has been reactivated since the Oligocene in response to a recent intracontinental shortening.


Confusion has arisen in both theory and practice due to vague interpretations of the phrase "athletic capability." Therefore, in order to find a way out of this situation, this study aimed to formulate a framework of thought suitable for grasping the situation, with the premise that acquiring common understanding is indispensable. Paying attention to three viewpoints—criticism of structural authority, examination of analytical viewpoints, and presentation of frameworks—a consideration of conceptual athletic capability using categorical methods was attempted from an analysis/examination of each. As a result, athletic capability was considered to be a collective of three capabilities—the physical, the intellectual and the sensitive—as individual dynamics, and it was clarified that the "sports structure" objectified by each ability and that exists at a deep level is a framework of thought suitable for grasping athletic capability. In addition, it was shown that "athletic capability" results from a sports structure composed of three abilities: physical, intellectual and sensitive. It was concluded that when this sports structure indergoes internal changes or is subject to external stimulation by functioning as an analyzer to clarify various complex sports phenomena, first, it will set the ranges possible for correspondence, second, it will provide a basis for theoretical explanations related to various complex sports phenomena and be capable of regularly predicting various phenomena that may occur, and finally, it will contribute much to generation of athletic capability that was previously not present, as well as improving existing capability.


This paper presents two applications about representative photo selection and smart thumbnailing using the results of near-duplicate detection. For a given photo cluster, near-duplicate photo pairs are first determined, and the relationships between them are modeled by a graph. The most typical one is then automatically selected by examining the mutual relation between them. For smart thumbnailing, we determine the region-of-interest of the selected representative photo based on locally matched feature points, which is a view different from conventional saliency-based approaches. The experiments show satisfactory performance in representative selection and promising results in ROI determination.


The effect of castration on the development of thyroid tumors was studied histologically and biochemically in Wistar rats given a single ip injection of 210 mg of N-bis (2-hydroxypropyl)-nitrosamine (DHPN) followed by phenobarbital (Pb). Castration was performed one week after, or one week before the injection of DHPN. The injection of DHPN was given at the end of the first week, and the rats were fed 500 ppm Pb in the basal diet for 38 weeks from week 3 to week 40. The incidence of thyroid adenomas and cancers was 20% (4/20) and 10% (2/20) in rats treated with DHPN alone. It was 75% (15/20) and 40% (8/20) in rats treated with DHPN and Pb; 30% (6/20) and 15% (3/20) in rats treated with DHPN and Pb, and castrated after DHPN; 20% (4/20) and 0% in rats treated with DHPN and Pb, and castrated before DHPN and Pb; and 0% and 0% in rats castrated either before or after receiving DHPN. Castration thus inhibited the development of thyroid tumor in rats treated with DHPN. The inhibition of tumor development in rats treated with DHPN and Pb, and castrated before receiving DHPN, was greater than in the rats castrated after receiving DHPN. Castration inhibited the secretion of TSH in rats treated with DHPN and Pb.


Social media use significantly increased during the novel pandemic. The problems of infodemic associated with uncontrolled social media usage added to COVID-19 related stress in young adults. This study was aimed at finding the relationship between problematic social media usage, COVID-19 related stress and time spent on social media. A cross-sectional research design with a survey method was applied to the population of Punjab Province, Pakistan. The data of 412 participants of age 18 to 35 (38% males and 62% females) was analyzed for results. Statistical analysis showed that COVID-19 related stress is positively and significantly (r =0.40, p < .01) associated with social media excessive use but not with the time spent on social media. The R2 value of 0.16 revealed that the predictor variable (social media excessive use) explained 16% variance in the outcome variable (COVID-19 related stress) with F (1, 410) = 76.79, p < .001. The study confirms the negative effects of excessive social media consumption on mental health during the pandemic. The benefits of findings for policymakers, government and health psychologists are discussed.


Abstract A new species of the genus Ripipteryx (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Ripipterygidae) from the Toledo District of southern Belize is described and illustrated. Ripipteryx mopana sp. n. is placed in the Scrofulosa Group based on its elaborately ornamented frons and is readily distinguished from its congeners by the fusion of the superior and inferior frontal folds to form a nasiform median process, the epiproct with both anterior and posterior margins emarginate, the subgenital plate with distinct lateroapical depressions either side of the median line, the basal plate of the phallus strongly bilobed apically, and the development of well-demarcated denticular lobes in the dorsal endophallic valves. A preliminary key to the species of the Scrofulosa Group is provided.


BACKGROUND
A low dose injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) may induce pre-eclampsia-like symptoms in rats, and microRNA-155 (miR-155) is elevated in the placentas of patients with pre-eclampsia. Our goal was to investigate the association of miR-155 with pre-eclampsia and the pathways involved using human-trophoblast-derived cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) stimulated with LPS.

METHODS
We measured miR-155 in HTR-8/SVneo cells treated with LPS (25-800 ng/ml) using real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to study transcription factor activated protein 1 (AP-1) (JunB and FosB subunits) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 in the HTR-8/SVneo cells and placentas from patients with pre-eclampsia. DNA precipitation assays and luciferase reporter analysis were used to evaluate the regulation of miR-155 by AP-1 and NF-κB. Cell migration was determined by scratch assay. Syncytialization of HTR-8/SVneo cells was analysed following transfection with miR-155.

RESULTS
miR-155 was increased together with AP-1 and NF-κB in HTR-8/SVneo cells incubated with low dose of LPS (≤100 ng/ml; P < 0.05 versus baseline). Both JunB/FosB and p65 were increased in placenta from women with severe pre-eclampsia versus a normal pregnancy, with elevated expression of miR-155 (P < 0.05). For specific DNA-binding sites upstream of BIC/miR-155 gene promoter, the AP-1 site was more important than the NF-κB site for increasing miR-155 in HTR-8/SVneo cells. The cells with enforced expression of miR-155 showed a reduced ability to migrate (P < 0.05) and an increased number of syncytiotrophoblast-like multinuclear cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
LPS may induce remodelling of the human-trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SVneo cells by increasing miR-155, acting in part through the AP-1 and NF-κB pathways.


The microscopic structure of fluids of simple spheres is well known. However, the constituents of most real-life fluids are non-spherical, leading to a coupling between the rotational and translational degrees of freedom. The structure of simple dense fluids of spheroids - ellipsoids of revolution - was only recently determined by direct experimental techniques [A. P. Cohen, E. Janai, E. Mogilko, A. B. Schofield, and E. Sloutskin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 238301 (2011)]. Using confocal microscopy, it was demonstrated that the structure of these simple fluids cannot be described by hard particle models based on the widely used Percus-Yevick approximation. In this paper, we describe a new protocol for determining the shape of the experimental spheroids, which allows us to expand our previous microscopy measurements of these fluids. To avoid the approximations in the theoretical approach, we have also used molecular dynamics simulations to reproduce the experimental radial distribution functions g(r) and estimate the contribution of charge effects to the interactions. Accounting for these charge effects within the Percus-Yevick framework leads to similar agreement with the experiment.


Acknowledgments. Preface: Drama, Poetry, and Performance. Introduction: Between Poetry and Performance. i. Shakespeare 3.0. ii. Images of Writing/Metaphors of Performance. The score. The blueprint. Information/software. Dramatic tools, performance technologies. iii. Agencies of Drama: Burke, Poetry, and Performance. Writing as agency: "Antony in Behalf of the Play". 1. From Poetry to Performance. i. Dramatic Performance and its Discontents: The New Criticism. Drama, poetry, and "interpretation". "An arrangement of words". Acts of speech. Heresy, responsibility, and performance. ii. Dramatic Writing and its Discontents: Performance Studies, Drama Studies. Antigone's bones. The "theater of acting". Rethinking writing. 2. Performing Writing: Hamlet. i. Hamlet's Book. Playing the book. The law of writ. Speaking by the card. ii. Corrupt Stuff or, Doing Things with (Old) Words. The crux of performance. Enseamed beds. iii. "OK, we can skip to the book": The Wooster Group Hamlet. Theatrofilm by Electronovision. (Re)playing Burton, performing Hamlet. 3. Embodying Writing: Ibsen and Parks. i. Can We Act What We Say?: Rosmersholm. Inscribing character. Acting the role. Confession, disclosure, detour. Doing (unspeakable) things with words. ii. Footnoting Performance: The America Play and Venus. A wink to Mr. Lincolns pasteboard cutout. Diggidy-diggidy-diggidy-dawg. 4. Writing Space: Beckett and Brecht. i. Quad : Euclidean Dramaturgies. ii. By Accepting This License. iii. What Where: Brechtian Technologies. Notes. Works Cited. Further Reading. Index.


The onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, including lifestyle factors. Obesity is the principal lifestyle factor associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is essential for nurses to have an understanding of the pathophysiology associated with factors that contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly those associated with obesity. Nurses who have an understanding of the interaction between obesity and the onset of type 2 diabetes are better equipped to discuss the importance of weight loss and other necessary lifestyle adjustments in the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes associated with obesity, to implement evidence-based practice and to support patients to manage their health effectively.


This article is the result of a study on the evaluation of the Men / Women Potential Development Search Program (P5) of Jayapura Regency, which is a program to improve the quality and competence of Papuan children from Jayapura Regency by providing opportunities for the young generation of indigenous people of Jayapura Regency who have the potential to continuing education in the Undergraduate (S1) and Strata 2 (S2) programs, both domestically and abroad which are controlled by the Resource Potential and Development Agency (BKPPSD) of Jayapura Regency. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. Sources of research data obtained library data in the form of online newspapers namely Pacific Post jubi and other newspapers. Data collection techniques are done through literature studies both online and ofline. Data analysis techniques are carried out by analyzing a number of qualitative data from available data sources. The results of this study indicate that the Implementation of the Potential Search and Development Program for Papuan Men and Women (P5) from Jayapura District has not been effective, inefficiencies have occurred, program coverage is not comprehensive, resource participation is still focused on one OPD, policy values have not met target group preferences, the accuracy of the program is one of the instruments for the success of development, so the expected goal is Program P5 to become a policy model in Jayapura Regency.


In order to assess the effect of hypercholesterolemia on cardiac sympathetic nerve function, New Zealand white rabbits were fed a normal diet (the control group) or one enriched with 0.5% cholesterol [the hypercholesterol (HC) group] for 3 months. Before and after the 3-month diet treatment, we performed serial imaging examinations and analyzed the uptake and washout ratio of 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) from the myocardium by administration of 123I-MIBG through an ear vein. At the end of the experiments, the rabbits were sacrificed, and right ventricular strips were taken from their hearts. The inotropic response of the right ventricular strips to isoproterenol (ISO) and norepinephrine (NE) were evaluated. The cardiac MIBG uptake of the HC group, which was evaluated using the heart to mediastinum ratio, was higher than that of the age-matched control group. However, the washout ratios of 123I-MIBG did not differ statistically between the two groups. On pretreatment with cocaine, NE-enhanced contractility was greater in papillary muscles isolated from the HC group. The concentration-response curve to ISO was shifted to the right in the HC group, compared with that in the control group. In conclusion, hypercholesterolemia in rabbits resulted in an increase in sympathetic nerve density in the myocardium, a decrease in the inotropic response to ISO and an increase in the inotropic response to NE in cocaine-treated myocardium. Both the in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated the functional significance of neural remodeling induced by hypercholesterolemia.


Machine learning (ML) has been utilized to predict climatic parameters, and many successes have been reported in the literature. In this paper, we scrutinize the effectiveness of five widely used ML algorithms in the monthly prediction of seasonal climatic parameters using monthly image data. Specifically, we quantify the predictive performance of these algorithms applied to five climatic parameters using various combinations of features. We compare the predictive accuracy of the resulting trained ML models to that of basic statistical estimators that are computed directly from the training data. Our results show that ML never significantly outperforms the statistical baseline, and underperforms for most feature sets. Unlike previous similar studies, we provide error bars for the relative performance of different predictors based on jackknife estimates applied to differences in predictive error magnitudes. We also show that the practice of shuffling data sequences which was employed in some previous references leads to data leakage, resulting in over-estimated performance. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates the importance of using well-grounded statistical techniques when producing and analyzing the results of ML predictive models.


This paper presents a proof-of-concept system for low-complexity mmWave beam sensing at W-band that can be used for RF direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation. Instead of relying on complicated RSSI - or phase-detecting receivers, the system exploits 3D geometric structures with single-diode power detector arrays (detect-arrays) to estimate a mmWave beam's DoA. Such low-complexity detectors can be highly advantageous for mobile units in enterprise IoT settings, where mmWave access points are already deployed for high-datarate communication. The latter can cooperatively provide signal bursts to achieve location awareness for drones or robots in GPS-denied indoor environments, without the need for highly-complex receivers with downconverter chains. The technique could be beneficial in establishing positioning reference points or assisting inertial measurement units (IMUs) to reset their accumulative error.


SUMMARY The effects of a counter-irritant on stimulating hoof growth was tested on 6 mature horses. The counter-irritant, Irish Reducinet, was used in an effort to stimulate the growth rate of normal equine hoof tissue. As determined by measurements taken every thirty (30) days over a three (3) month period it is shown that a counter-irritant applied to the coronary band will stimulate the equine hoof growth rate. This research study was done to determine if there is any benefit to using a counter-irritant to increase hoof gtowth rate. An increase in the rate of hoof growth length would be valuable to the horse that has developed a quarter crack or lost a large portion of hoof wall due to over-reaching or forging. With accelerated growth rate the horse would be able to resume training or return to work at an earlier date than the non-treated horse with a simi liar condition.


As a master regulator of cell signaling and tumorigenesis, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) protein has emerged at the forefront of anti-cancer drug development. Abnormal Stat3 activity has been demonstrated in a wide variety of human cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, glioblastoma and cancers of the pancreas, breast, prostate, and ovary. Constitutive Stat3 activation interferes with normal cell cycling and causes the accumulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. This renders malignant cells resistant to naturally occurring apoptotic cues and allows them subject to proliferate rapidly. Cancer cells become reliant on increased levels of Stat3 activity are vulnerable to therapeutic intervention through Stat3 inhibition. In healthy cells, Stat3 activity is transient and non-essential, thus, inhibiting Stat3 presents an avenue for the development of novel cancer therapeutic agents. Our approach involves the interruption of several critical Stat3 functions by occupation of the SH2 domain with small molecule inhibitors. Stat39s SH2 domain is a key component in the Stat3 signaling pathway as it not only facilitates activation of monomeric Stat3 but also moderates the formation of the transcriptionally active Stat3:Stat3 homodimer. Our research groups have conducted a thorough structure-activity relationship on a known Stat3-SH2 domain binder (S3I-201) and have discovered several more potent and more drug-like Stat3 inhibitors. Most recently, we have utilized a tetrapodal scaffold that has allowed more complete occupation of the SH2 domain and resulted in greatly improved binding affinity. These novel compounds effectively displace an SH2 domain-binding peptide probe, prevent Stat3 phosphorylation in cell line models and suppress Stat3 target gene expression at near-nanomolar concentrations. Our latest Stat3 inhibitors are effective across a wide variety of human cancers and exhibit a 10–20-fold improvement in cellular EC 50 values over the parent compound, S3I-201. Remarkable activity is observed in mouse xenograft models of human breast cancer where nearly complete inhibition of tumor growth is observed at a dosing of 3 mg/kg daily. Furthermore, recent experiments demonstrate the same potent activity when the drug is administered by oral gavage, with plasma drug concentrations reaching 20 μM. Preliminary investigations have also shown that our lead compounds can re-sensitize malignant cells that are resistant to conventional chemotherapeutics agents. We present our newest library of Stat3 inhibitors, which holds great promise in the fight against cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A121.


Flow in riverine reservoirs and impoundments can be strong enough to wash out phytoplankton populations, including harmful algae. However, fringing coves and shoreline features can comprise a hydraulic storage zone that enhances algal persistence. Mathematical models of this situation were constructed to represent populations of toxic flagellates or cyanobacteria, and complementary models represented dynamics of exchange between a single cove and a main lake. Steady-state analyses predict that spatial variation in algal abundance and toxin concentration along the axis of flow in a riverine reservoir is most likely to arise for critical flows just below those causing washout, which can be identified by the Peclet number. Spatial variation in algal abundance and toxin concentration between a single cove and the main lake is predicted to occur when a cove is hydraulically isolated from the main lake, or as a transient phenomenon during strong flow events. This modeling suggests a potential for managing harmful algal blooms through flow manipulations in some instances, or by localized controls of abundance or toxicity in relatively isolated coves.


We report a method for tuning the distribution of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) produced by the anodic arc production method via the application of nonuniform magnetic fields to the gap region during synthesis. Raman, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared absorbance and near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopies were used to characterize samples together with scanning electron microscopy. Application of the nonuniform magnetic field 0.2-2 kG results in a broadening of the diameter range of SWCNTs produced toward decreased diameters, with substantial fractions of produced SWCNTs being of small diameter, less than ∼1.3 nm, at the highest field. The ability to tune production of the arc production method may allow for improvement in achievable SWCNT properties.


1. Synovial tuberculosis was much commoner than osseous tuberculosis in the knee joint (in this series the proportion was sixty-eight to ten), and tended to occur at a later age.

2. In no proven case of synovial disease did the patient recover sufficiently to bend the knee to a right angle.

3. In no fewer than eight of forty-seven cases of unproven synovial disease was full range of the knee recovered.

4. Of twenty cases of synovial disease treated by immobilization for an average period of five years, in seventeen ankylosis was unsound enough to necessitate arthrodesis.

5. Arthrodesis produced bony union without deformity in all except two patients in whom it was undertaken: one of these died and the leg of the other had to be amputated. The average length of time for which immobilization was necessary after arthrodesis was one and one-fourth years in patients between the ages of nine and thirty. The arthrodeses were performed so as to fix the joint in full extension. Adequate protection of the limb was successful, even in children, in preventing subsequent deformity at the site of operation or at the epiphysis.

6. A careful examination of the skiagrams taken shortly after arthrodesis showed the epiphyseal lines (if present) to be intact in all cases. The distance of the epiphyseal cartilage from the end of the bone leaves the surgeon so much margin that such a result may reasonably be hoped for in synovial infection when the disease has not extended to the epiphyseal cartilage. Thus, following arthrodesis, there is no reason to expect shortening of the limb beyond that which is due to interference with growth by the tuberculous process.

7. The time taken to achieve bony union was independent of any variation in operative procedure. Furthermore, in patients of fifteen or over, it was unaffected by previous immobilization. In younger patients immobilization preceded arthrodesis in every case but one.

8. A comparison of the synovial and osseous groups with respect to mortality brings out the fact that, in the former group, two deaths occurred in sixty-eight cases; whereas, in the latter, three deaths occurred in ten cases.

9. In half the cases of osseous disease complete recovery resulted. It is probable, therefore, that, in cases in which the disease is not too advanced, the knee joint suffers only a so called sympathetic inflammation from which recovery may reasonably be expected whenever radical treatment can be directed to the focus in the bone without opening the knee joint itself. Moreover, only thus can the spread of tuberculous infection into the joint be prevented with any certainty.

10. In the cases proved to be non-tuberculous, the disease of the synovial membrane appeared either to recover completely, or to pass into a condition resembling the osteo-arthritis of middle age, or to get definitely worse with the development of sepsis.

These facts suggest the existence of a distinct disease of the synovial membrane of the knee joint, which lasts for years without affecting other joints. It is not syphilitic. It tends with treatment (or even without) in some cases to get completely well, in some to recover partly, with the development of a premature osteo-arthritis, and in some to become septic. In all these cases the synovial membrane showed the microscopic appearance of a non-specific chronic inflammation.

11. The fact that no proven case of synovial disease recovered suggests that the eight cases of unproven disease that did so may be regarded as: (a) wrongly diagnosed, or (b) primarily osseous cases in which the bony focus was too small to show on the skiagram.

Against the latter view is the fact that none of these cases proved fatal. And in favor of the former is the fact that, of twenty-six cases subjected to synovectomy, five showed no evidence of tuberculous infection. There is, therefore, nothing improbable in the hypothesis that there was an error of diagnosis in eight of the forty-two unproven cases.


This paper presents a new cache replacement policy based on Instruction-based Reuse Distance Prediction (IbRDP) Replacement Policy originally proposed by Keramidas, Petoumenos, and Kaxiras [5] and further optimized by Petoumenos et al. [6]. In these works [5,6] we have proven that there is a strong correlation between the temporal characteristics of the cache blocks and the access patterns of instructions (PCs) that touch these cache blocks. Based on this observation we introduced a new class of instruction-based predictors which are able to directly predict with high accuracy at run-time when a cache block is going to be accessed in the future, a.k.a. the reuse distance of a cache block. Being able to predict the reuse distances of the cache blocks permits us to make near-optimal replacement decisions by "looking into the future." In this work, we employ an extension of the IbRDP Replacement policy [6]. We carefully re-design the organization as well as the functionality of the predictor and the corresponding replacement algorithm in order to fit into the tight area budget provided by the CRC committee [3]. Since our proposal naturally supports the ability to victimize the currently fetched blocks by not caching them at all in the cache (Selective Caching), we submit for evaluation two versions: the base-IbRDP and the IbRDP enhanced with Selective Caching (IbRDP+SC). Our performance evaluations based on a subset of SPEC2006 applications show that IbRDP achieves an IPC improvement of 4.66% (arithmetic average) over traditional LRU, while IbRDP+SC is able to further increase its distance compared to the baseline LRU to 6.04%. Finally, we also show that IbRDP outperforms the previous state of the art proposal (namely Dynamic Insertion Policy or DIP [7]) by 2.32% in terms of IPC (3.81% for the IbRDP+SC).


The e ect of computer networks on our ability to access information cannot be overstated Today anyone with access to the Internet can quickly view or retrieve any les that any other Internet user has chosen to make available When we use this access to do a search we nd that often the results of the search are not easily used to what we want because the data stored on the Internet are unstructured and inconsistent This situation might be improved by setting up a new class of public computer networks Data Networks where the computers query each other to get answers that people need A new language called Data Network Language DNL is developed in this thesis as a query language for a Data Network The data that are stored in a DNL database are structured data such as sets relations or mathematical expressions In this thesis the syntax and grammar rules of DNL are developed along with a set of constructors that will be used for retrieval of data stored in DNL database A DNL lexical analyser and parser generated by LEX and YACC in UNIX are also developed Some illustrative examples are provided


Flowability of powder and granular materials is an important property to design and control the manufacturing process. A simple and low-cost technique was developed to evaluate the flowability of wet powder and granulate materials. In the proposed technique, the flowability can be evaluated by the torque for stirring wet powder with a pitched-blade paddle. In order to confirm the performance of our technique, the torques to stir the wet beads with varying moisture contents were measured. The effects of additive liquid viscosity on the torque for stirring were investigated, and the correlation between the moisture content corresponding to maximum steady torque for stirring and the additive liquid viscosity was presented.


The teaching and learning process has a big revolution since Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID19) has spread out to the world. Education is one of the sectors that have a mostly big impact on its condition. COVID 19 changes everything in the education system. The teaching and learning process which do face to face must be changed to an online system. Thus, in this research, the researchers want to identify the teacher's challenges for doing online teaching and learning. The researchers also describe the strength and weaknesses of online learning based on teachers' perceptions. This research used a qualitative approach because the researchers describe teacher challenges toward online learning and the easiness and the difficulties of online learning in the pandemic era. The participants of this research were 14 English teachers from a different level of education in South Kalimantan. The instruments used in this study consisted of 12 open-ended questionnaires made online using Google form. The result of the questionnaire that has filled out by the participants recorded in the researcher's email, then based on this result the researchers describe the findings and related it to the relevant theory. The findings of this research are most of the teachers agree that the challenges to applying online learning are in facilitation such as internet connection, quota, the places of home living, and the process of online learning itself such as the teacher's less in technology for designing interesting online learning activities, less communicative, lack of interaction, and fostering an effective online learning climate and for the strength and the weakness of online learning activities most of the teachers agree that the strength of online learning is flexible in time and place, thus the teaching and learning can conduct everywhere and anytime, for the weakness the teacher agree that online learning can't conduct maximal pedagogy process in learning activities.  Keywords: teacher, challenges, online learning, pandemic era


A study was conducted to determine the optimum concentration of benzyladenie (BA) and gibberllic acid (GA3) to break the dormancy of gladiolus corms in relation to storage period and to find out the effect of BA and GA3 on growth and development of gladiolus corm and cormels. The effect of GA3 on dormancy breaking was most pronounced in the 100 ppm treatment being 26.93 days while in the water control took 49.60 days. Among different levels of BA, dormancy breaking was comparatively earlier by 29.60 days when treated with 50 BA. Considering storage periods, corms stored for 30 days followed by different growth regulator treatments sprouted 11.63 and 21.24 days earlier than 75 and 90 days stored corms, respectively. Corms treated with 75 ppm GA3 and stored for 90 days produced the maximum percentage of spikes (56.9%) whereas 90 days stored corms treated with 125 ppm BA produced the highest number of plants (2.41) and corms (2.50) hill -1 . The corms treated with 100 ppm GA3 and stored for 90 days produced the heaviest (21.50 g and 18.82 g, respectively) and largest (4.46 cm and 4.17 cm, respectively) corms.


Cure rates following surgery and platinum-containing chemotherapy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer are only 20-30%. Relapse rates even after complete chemotherapy responses or those leaving only microscopic residual disease are disappointingly high at 30 to 80%. Strategies to improve outcome, consolidate the results of surgery and chemotherapy, or salvage those with residual disease include whole-abdominopelvic irradiation. This paper reviews its usage to date in 28 trials. The results of sequential therapy are generally disappointing, possibly because of inappropriate patient selection, toxic regimens, underlying biological factors, and difficulties interpreting the uncontrolled studies. Tumor residuum appears to be one factor predictive of survival: no residuum, 76%; microscopic or < 5 mm, 49%; macroscopic, 17%. Other factors may be tumor grade and patient age. Appropriate selection of patients for controlled studies of sequential radiotherapy after surgery and chemotherapy include those with negative second-look laparotomy who had large residual Stage III presentations prechemotherapy, are over 50 years of age, or who have grade 3 tumors. Others are those with microscopic residual disease, grade 1 or 2. If therapy is to be successfully completed with minimal morbidity, abdominal radiotherapy should be limited to < or = 25 Gy, initial chemotherapy to six courses, and surgery to initial debulking and second-look laparotomy.


Dose rate and dose enhancement (DE) factors were measured at fifteen gamma sources at eight different laboratories using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) from two independent sources and pMOS RADFETs, respectively. Dose enhancement factors were determined by comparing the responses of RADFETs with ceramic and gold-flashed kovar lids. Dose enhancement factors measured within Pb/Al test enclosures varied from essentially 1.0 (no enhancement) very close to a Co-60 room or tunnel source up to 1.24 within an enclosed Gammacell 220. DE factors between 1.5 and 1.8 were measured within a Pb/Al box behind a 2-inch Pb brick attenuator in a Co-60 room source. Two Cs-137 sources evaluated were characterized by DE factors extending from 1.17 up to 1.3-1.4 inside the Pb/Al box. Gamma cell dose rates determined from TLDs from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)-Crane and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) were generally close to expected levels. Dose rates were measured in an ARACOR 4100 X-ray source using both SNL dual-dielectric RADFETs and Radiation Experiments and Monitors (REM) thick thermal oxide RADFETs.


"In the spring of 2014, the Center for Public Interest Design (CPID) was approached by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to begin the process of exploring how public interest design could be used to address the needs of some of Sacramento's most disinvested and environmentally impacted neighborhoods. This collaboration began at a crucial time for California as the State was in the process of implementing the first cap and trade legislation in the US. A significant percentage of funds collected through the sale of carbon tax credits associated with this legislation are required to be invested in disadvantaged communities. This paper proposal examines the potential for design to play a role in identifying social investment opportunities to create healthier communities through the CPID's work with students in Central California."


Speech is segmented into intonational units marked by prosodic boundaries. This segmentation is claimed to have important consequences on syntax, information structure and cognition. This work aims both to investigate the phonetic-acoustic parameters that guide the production and perception of prosodic boundaries, and to develop models for automatic detection of prosodic boundaries in male monological spontaneous speech of Brazilian Portuguese. Two samples were segmented into intonational units by two groups of trained annotators. The boundaries perceived by the annotators were tagged as either terminal or non-terminal. A script was used to extract 111 phonetic-acoustic parameters along speech signal in a right and left windows around the boundary of each phonological word. The extracted parameters comprise measures of (1) Speech rate and rhythm; (2) Standardized segment duration; (3) Fundamental frequency; (4) Intensity; (5) Silent pause. The script considers as prosodic boundary positions at which at least 50% of the annotators indicated a boundary of the same type. A training of models composed by the parameters extracted by the script was developed; these models, were then improved heuristically. The models were developed from the two samples and from the whole data, both using non-balanced and balanced data. Linear Discriminant Analysis algorithm was adopted to produce the models. The models for terminal boundaries show a much higher performance than those for non-terminal ones. In this paper we: (i) show the methodological procedures; (ii) analyze the different models; (iii) discuss some strategies that could lead to an improvement of our results.


Background: The Pennylsvania (PA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) provides nutrition education to students in schools where a significant proportion of the students are SNAP eligible. A solid foundation in nutrition knowledge is critical to empower young people to develop lifelong healthy eating patterns and lifestyles. The purpose of this research was to examine the efficacy of a five-lesson high school nutrition curriculum on influencing nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among high school students in Philadelphia, PA. Methods: SNAP-Ed nutrition educators provided the five-lesson curriculum to students enrolled in 18 PA SNAP-Ed eligible high schools. The modified Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey was used to assess nutrition-related behaviors at baseline (n=1100) and post-intervention (n=972). A curriculum-specific, supplemental questionnaire was added at baseline (n=852) and post-intervention (n=753) in the second and third year of the intervention. The questionnaire was added to assess nutrition knowledge and attitudes. Data were analyzed to determine changes in nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of students after they were exposed to the educational intervention. Results: After completing the five-lesson curriculum, students reported significant increases in consumption of 100% fruit juice (p=0.0008), non-fried potatoes (p=0.005), carrots (p=0.0360), and milk (p=0.0057), and significant decreases in soda consumption (p=0.0330). Students significantly improved nutrition knowledge and attitudes after completing the intervention (p=0.0002). Specifically, students improved their overall score, as well as in six of the 18 knowledge and attitude questions. Conclusion: The five-lesson curriculum was effective in improving nutrition-related behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes. This study provides evidence of the success of a nutrition curriculum specific to high school students. Accepted on July 08, 2021


Colorado is regularly impacted by long-range transport of wildfire smoke from upwind regions. This smoke is a major source of ambient PM2.5. Maternal exposure to total PM2.5 during pregnancy has been linked to decreased birth weight and other adverse outcomes, although the impact of wildfire smoke contribution has only recently been investigated. The objective of this study was to estimate associations between adverse pregnancy outcomes and ambient wildfire smoke PM2.5. Wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposures were estimated using a previously published method incorporating ground-based monitors and remote sensing data. Logistic regression models stratified by ZIP code and mixed models with random intercept by ZIP code were used to test for associations. The primary outcomes of interest were preterm birth and birth weight. Secondary outcomes included gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, neonatal intensive care unit admission, assisted ventilation, small for gestational age, and low birth weight. Exposure to wildfire smoke PM2.5 over the full gestation and during the second trimester were positively associated with pre-term birth (OR = 1.076 (μg/m3)−1 [95% CI = 1.016, 1.139; p = 0.013] and 1.132 (μg/m3)−1 [95% CI = 1.088, 1.178]; p < 0.0001, respectively), while exposure during the first trimester was associated with decreased birth weight (−5.7 g/(μg/m3) [95% CI: −11.1, −0.4; p = 0.036]). Secondary outcomes were mixed.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether tobacco quitline telephone coaches can be trained to counsel hazardous-drinking smokers to improve smoking cessation success and to limit or abstain from alcohol use.

METHOD
Smokers (N = 1,948) who called the New York State Smokers' Quitline and reported hazardous drinking (exceeding sex-specific weekly limits [14 drinks for men, 7 drinks for women] or meeting/exceeding daily drinking limits [5 drinks for men, 4 drinks for women] at least once in the past year) were randomized to receive either brief motivational counseling to limit or abstain from alcohol plus an alcohol reduction booklet added to standard care (Alcohol + Tobacco Counseling; ATC), or only smoking cessation counseling plus a smoking cessation booklet added to standard care (Tobacco-Only Counseling; TOC).

RESULTS
Acceptable coach adherence was achieved. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that ATC was associated with a significantly higher rate of smoking abstinence at 7-month follow-up (13.5%) compared with TOC (10.3%; p = .03). The respondent analysis (ATC= 26.2%; TOC = 20.4%) paralleled the ITT findings. When controlling for treatment condition, participants who did not report any heavy drinking were significantly more likely to quit smoking than those who reported any heavy drinking (OR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.29, 2.71]; p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS
A brief alcohol intervention plus standard care via a telephone quitline resulted in significantly higher smoking cessation rates for hazardous-drinking callers. Given that quitline coaches were trained to provide the intervention with acceptable adherence, the potential to extend this intervention for wide-scale implementation and impact is promising.


A number of regulatory bodies impose a mandatory duty on lawyers to notify their clients of alternative forms of dispute resolution in connection with any engagement involving a conflict, potential lawsuit, or lawsuit. The propriety of such a requirement is subject to an on-going, and increasingly predictable, debate focused upon the scope of the duty and any exemptions therefrom and upon its intrusiveness vis-à-vis lawyer autonomy. This article reviews the relevant ethical rules and the debate inspired thereby; considers the gender-related themes present and, more importantly, absent in this debate; and raises questions about the possible pragmatic and policy-related impacts and relevance of these themes.


Many constituents of the diet from macronutrients to minerals exert influence on the brain's structure and function. Alzheimer's disease, a syndrome of cognitive deterioration, is a health problem in the geriatric population. Several studies have explored the role of diet in this disorder. Most of the results show that the high ingestion of unsaturated fatty acids, fish, vitamins B (B6, folate) and antioxidant vitamins (C,E) is associated with a low risk for the disease. In spite of the fact that not all these results are consistent, the possible etiological contribution of the nutritional factors should be considered in the prevention of this disease.


The characteristics or properties that underlie the concept of community are present in several social groups which have some similarity in their distinctive features and they act as a core to the construction of the concepts of Domain, Discourse Community and Epistemic Community, which are fundamental to the research in several fields of knowledge. Considering the conceptual triangle – Domain, Discourse Community, and Epistemic Community - this study aims to examine theoretical and methodological aspects related to them by investigating their characterizing features and, consequently, their main distinctions and similarities, especially regarding the universe of Information Science. Thus, the aim of this essay is to contribute to the deepening of the theoretical understanding of the concepts covered, reflecting on their compatibilities, as well as the characteristics that distinguish and specify them.           It was possible to see that these concepts have similarities to each other, such as their contexts arising from the need to understand sociological aspects of science; the mutual understanding among its members about the specialized languages and theoretical bases used; the analysis based on tacit documents, duly expressed and recorded. These aspects of similarities demonstrate that these concepts can be understood as belonging to the same set, and inserted in the overarching area of Sociology of Science. Even so, these concepts have their characterizing features, which distinguish their analysis objectives and also their peculiar scientific biases.


Background: Wheat leaf rust is an important disease worldwide. Understanding the Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici ( Pt ) pathogenic molecular mechanism and the inconstant toxic region is critical for managing the disease. The present study aimed to analyze pathogenic divergence between Pt isolates. Results: Total RNA was extracted from wheat cultiver Thatcher infected by two Pt isolates, Tc361_1 (THTT) and Tc284_2 (THTS) at 144 hours post inoculation (hpi). The mRNA was then sequenced, and a total of 2,784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. Forty-five genes were specifically expressed in THTT; these genes included transcription initiation factors and genes with transmembrane transporter activity and other genes. Twenty-six genes were specifically expressed in THTS, including genes with GTPase activity, ABC transporter genes and other genes. Fifty-four differentially expressed candidate effectors were screened from the two isolates. Two candidate effectors were chosen and validated on tobacco, and the results showed that they could inhibit necrosis induced by Bax. qRT-PCR of 12 significant DEGs was carried out to validate the results are similar to that of RNA-seq at 144 hpi, to show the expression levels of these DEGs in the early stage and to elucidate the differences in expression between the two Pt pathotypes. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed that the two pathtypes of THTT and THTS although contribute similar virulence to wheat, there are a large number of genes participate in the interaction with susceptible wheat cultivar Thatcher, and revealed the pathgenicity of rust is very complicated.


This paper explores the relation between the quality of …nancial institution and asset bubbles. In this paper, we will show that bubbles can improve the macro performance even if the quality of …nancial institution is very poor and the …nancial market does not work well. In this sense, the high quality of …nancial institution and bubbles are substitutes. We will explore, however, that they are not perfect substitutes. Bubbles may burst. If bubbles burst, the economic performance must go down if the quality of …nancial institution is low. Hence, we will show that not relaying on bubbles, but improving the quality of …nancial institution is important for long run macro performance.


This paper seeks to understand what factors contribute to voluntary adoption of the ISO 14001 environmental management system by private sector facilities in Japan. A model based on regulatory, competitiveness, social responsibility and organization theory is applied to 1999 survey data. Analysis shows systematically different factors to be important indicators of voluntarism in different industries and for facilities at different stages of certification. First adopters and second adopters appear to be fundamentally different types of organizations driven by different internal and external factors. Although results do not indicate a clear causal linkage between ISO adoption and greening activity, evidence shows that at least two different stages of adoption have taken place in Japan and that ISO adoption is associated with environmental action. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment


The convergence of different legal systems is one of the leading theses in the discipline of law. This paper proposes that international economic law is one of the great sources of inspiration for the coming together of various legal systems around the world. The paper will explore the European Union experience in this respect and it will analyse a number of legal principles which promote the idea of legal convergence in the sphere of international economic law. Furthermore, referral will be made to the organisations promoting the convergence of legal systems such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WB) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).


The objective of this research is to improve a helium Brayton cycle and to develop a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle for the Pebble Bed Reactor (PBR) that can also be applied to the Fast Gas-Cooled Reactor (FGR) and the Very-High-Temperature Gas- Cooled Reactor (VHTR). The proposed supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle will be used to improve the PBR, FGR, and VHTR net plant efficiency. Another objective of this research is to test materials to be used in the power conversion side at supercritical carbon dioxide conditions. Generally, the optimized Brayton cycle and balance of plant (BOP) to be developed from this study can be applied to Generation-IV reactor concepts. Particularly, we are interested in VHTR because it has a good chance of being built in the near future.


By briefly heating the local environment with a heat lamp and observing what happens with a thermal camera, robots could potentially infer properties of their surroundings. However, this form of active thermography introduces large signal variations compared to traditional active thermography, which has typically been used to characterize small regions of materials in carefully controlled settings. We demonstrate that a data-driven approach with modern machine learning methods can be used to classify material samples over relatively large surface areas and variable distances. We also introduce the use of z-normalization to improve material classification and reduce variation due to distance and heating intensity. Our best performing algorithm achieved an overall accuracy of 77.7% for multi-class classification among 12 materials placed at varying distances (20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm). The observations were made for 5 seconds with 1s of heating and 4s of cooling. We also provide a demonstration of performance with a multi-material scene.


The study aimed to identify the perceived organizational reputation and its impact on achieving strategic creativity in Islamic banks, the study adopted the descriptive analytical approach, and a questionnaire was designed as a tool for the study, and the study community of all employees in Islamic banks from the top and middle management has been represented, and the study has been applied to The Palestinian Islamic Bank and the Arab Islamic Bank were used; the comprehensive inventory method was used, due to the small size of the study sample, as questionnaires were distributed to (175) employees, and a number of (5) categories were chosen from each branch of the bank, and they are (general manager, deputy general manager Branch Manager, Head of Department, Department Director), (164) questionnaires were retrieved, with a recovery rate of (93.71%). The study showed a number of results, the most important of which are: The perceived organizational reputation is available at a high level in Islamic banks in Palestine at a rate of (79.931%). The dimensions of strategic innovation are available at a high level in Islamic banks in Palestine with a relative weight of 82.22%.There is a direct relationship with statistical significance between and the level of enhancing the perceived organizational reputation and achieving strategic creativity in Islamic banks in Palestine.There is a statistically significant effect to enhance the perceived organizational reputation on achieving strategic creativity at a level in Islamic banks in Palestine at a rate of (39.1%), and that the remaining percentage (61.9%) in influencing the achievement of strategic creativity is due to other variables. There are no differences between the average estimates about the reality of the study variables in Islamic banks due to (gender, age group, educational qualification, number of years of service, job title). The study also presented a set of recommendations, including: The bank must provide the environment and the appropriate climate for employees to invest their intellectual energy, urge them to strategic creativity, and deal fairly with all creative ideas regardless of their source. Senior management in Islamic banks adopts a clear strategy to enhance its operations, to increase awareness of the importance of perceived organizational reputation as being an essential pillar of development and progress.


IN this paper, the feature vector of a few dimensions for the electromyograph (EMG) recognition systems is extracted. We aim at the construction of the comprehensive operation equipment to which the operation used frequently was summarized. Important frequency bands of EMG signals are selected by using a genetic algorithm. The EMG signals are a kind of the living organism signal. The EMG signals based on 7 operations at a wrist are measured and recognized. We perform a recognition experiment of EMG signals by neural network using the selected frequency band. We show the effectiveness of this method by means of computer simulations.


This research aims to develop the model of knowledge management and social media technology that appropriate with teaching and learning for graduated student, in particular to enhance graduated student's self-directed learning skill and practices that including knowledge management process: creating, analyzing, nurturing, disseminating, and optimizing as part of the teaching and learning activity. In this process which driven by social media tools: Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Wikis, and blogs it's has a necessary role to drive and integrate knowledge and learning activities within the knowledge management process, and the self-directed learning skill steps included planning, strategy, motivation, monitoring, evaluating, and summary. In this respect, this research explored the appropriate model of knowledge management via social media that enhance the graduate student's self-directed learning skill.


With considerable relief, Canada's First Ministers announced in the small hours of Sept. 16 that they had gotten the message that taxpayers were fed up with long waiting lists and wanted more (of their own) money spent on health care. The federal component of public spending on health care will increase by $18 billion over 6 years, with an "escalator" formula bringing this new money to $41.2 billion by 2014. This is enough — more than enough — to rectify the shortfall in federal contributions identified by Mr. Romanow's commission on health care — the so-called "Romanow gap." The cash boost is welcome: most experts agree that the Canadian health care system is underfunded. But will it be enough to bring about the "transformative change" needed to meet Romanow's recommendations — to close the other Romanow gaps? Although the amount seems large, it works out to only a modest annual increase — roughly 3.5% of total public expenditures on health care. Yet health care expenditures are increasing at a rate of 6%–8% per year, a rate of increase that is widely expected to continue, if not accelerate, as a tsunami of new technology surges into offices and hospitals. Even if the new money can be directed to reducing some waiting lists, patching home care and paying for catastrophic drug costs, it is unlikely that the average physician or patient will notice much difference. In preparing his recommendations Romanow carefully examined the evidence that the public health care system was sick, assessed its resources, made a diagnosis and prescribed a program for rehabilitation. Money was part of it. But he also diagnosed system failures that cannnot be fixed with an injection of cash. During September's health care conference hardly any of these failures were discussed. The First Ministers are well versed in the ailments of public health care and in how difficult they will be to remedy. But, as Alberta premier Ralph Klein bluntly put it, "The whole conference was about money, nothing else." There had to be an outcome in this reality-TV intergovernmental sparring (even if it was determined off-camera), and cash was the easiest. The Prime Minister attempted to insert some controls over the use of federal transfers, including, importantly, national reporting of some health system performance measures such as waiting times. But the agreement neglected the rest of the reforms proposed by Mr. Romanow. For Mr. Romanow, reform requires fundamental changes to the way health care is delivered. For the other Romanow gaps include that between the public's expectations and real sustainability; between the complexity of modern medical care and the informational infrastructure needed to reduce inefficiency; and between existing scopes of practice and the integrated teamwork now required. Regarding the latter, hardly a word was spoken of primary care reform. Reform is such a polite word. But what it means, among other things, is redefining the roles and responsibilities of health care providers, particularly nurses and physicians. Reform, the sleeping elephant in the living room that we continue to step around quietly. Implementing the hard parts of the Romanow reforms falls to the provincial governments, the professions and existing institutions such as hospitals. If provincial health care systems are to survive they will have to change the way professionals work together. Accomplishing these and other changes (such as the role of the private sector) will require public involvement and changes to public expectations. Health care budgets cannot keep growing at current above-inflation rates. Canada needs open, informed public discussions, not of the latest anecdotes of desperate patients waiting for cataract or cancer surgery, but of the data on how the health care system is functioning. And Canadians will need to debate their other collective responsibilities to future generations (who will bear the burden of the increasing costs) with respect to education, housing, child care and environmental protection; these are, no less than medical care, necessary to the nations' health. — CMAJ


s: Background: As a woman's age increases, infertility also increases. Women with cervical insufficiency seek pregnancy at advanced age. Objectives: This study quantifies pregnancy outcome in women with cervical incompetence according to maternal age. Methods: A register-based study conducted between May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 at MCH, Qassim, KSA. During this period, 8723 deliveries and 52 cases with cervical insufficiency were identified. Patients were divided according to maternal age into group 1 less than 35 years of age or group 2 at or greater than 35 years of age. Results: Out of these 52, 38(73.1%) comprised Group1 and 14 (26.9%) comprised group 2. Patients in group 2, were older, (40 vs. 27 years, P=0.00), of high gravidity (17 vs. 4, P=0.00), had less previous history of ERCP (14.3% vs.31.6% P=0.002), were likely delivered by caesarean section (0.002) and were less likely developed PROM (P=0.047). However, both groups (G1 and G2) were similar in gestational age at delivery (36.6 vs. 36.6 weeks, P=0.95), the abortion rate, (8(21.1%) vs. 2(14.3%), P=0.58), and the rate of preterm delivery, 3(10.3%) vs. 2(16.7%) respectively (P=0.57). Conclusion: pregnancy outcome in women with cervical incompetence and advanced maternal age is not influenced by maternal age. (Alsammani MA et al NJIRM 2012; 3(3) : 63-67)


Plate fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures is designed to provide rigid internal fixation in order to facilitate early motion and thereby minimize joint and tendon complications. In a series of plate fixations, 16 of 38 (42%) of proximal phalangeal and metacarpal shaft fractures developed complications of stiffness, malunion, nonunion, and tendon rupture. Complications occurred more frequently for phalangeal than for metacarpal fractures and more frequently when there were associated bone or soft tissue injuries. The technique is demanding and secondary procedures are frequently required.


A new methodology for model reduction of multi-input multi-output systems exploits the notion of an oblique projection. A reduced model is uniquely defined by a projector whose range and orthogonal to the null space are chosen among the ranges of generalized controllability and observability matrices. The reduced order models match various combinations (chosen by the designer) of four types of parameters of the full order system associated with (i) low frequency response, (ii) high frequency response, (iii) low frequency power spectral density and (iv) high frequency power spectral density. Thus, the proposed method is a computationally simple substitute for many existing methods, has an extreme flexibility to embrace combinations of existing methods and offers some new features.


oldest generations. Adulescentula (3.57), on the other hand, is used merely as a feminine correspondent to adulescens (cf. puella/puer), with which it is juxtaposed. Cf. funiculus (3.37; note funes in the next line, and see TLL VI.1.1592.44 'uocem sermonis plebei'), lectulus (1.25, 3.48), riuulus (3.22; cf. It. riuolo, Friul. riul), adulescentulus (1.31). Word order is not dealt with, but one should not stress unduly P.'s omissions. Within the limits which he has set himself P. has produced an excellent monograph.


Introduction: Some therapies for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are limited by hypoglycaemia, and this underestimated side effect carries an associated morbidity and financial burden. Large trials that have examined strict glycaemic control and cardiovascular outcomes in T2DM have highlighted the potential harm of exposure to hypoglycaemia in people with coronary heart disease. Areas covered: The responses to, and the morbidity associated with, hypoglycaemia in T2DM are discussed with identification of people most at risk of severe hypoglycaemia. The evidence base for non-pharmacological strategies and the risks of hypoglycaemia associated with various treatment modalities are examined. This review provides the clinician with a rational approach to the selection of different anti-diabetes drugs to minimize the risk of hypoglycaemia. Expert opinion: When managing T2DM, insulin and insulin secretagogues should be used judiciously and glycaemic targets individualized to avoid hypoglycaemia. Incretin mimetics present a lower risk of hypoglycaemia with similar efficacy as traditional agents in treating hyperglycaemia. The potential relationship between hypoglycaemia and precipitation of acute cardiovascular events is a highly topical area of research and may help determine what glycaemic targets are appropriate in people with T2DM.


Fish catch prediction is an important problem in the fisheries sector and has a long history of research. The
main goal of this paper is to create a model and make predictions using fish catch data of two fish species. Among the most
effective and prominent approaches for analyzing time series data is the methods introduced by Box and Jenkins. In this
study we applied the Box-Jenkins methodology to build Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA)
model for monthly catches of two fish species for a period of five years (2007 – 2011). The seasonal ARIMA (1, 1, 0)(0, 0,
1)12 and SARIMA (0, 1, 1) (0, 0, 1)12 models were found fit and confirmed by the Ljung-Box test and these models were
used to forecast 5 months upcoming catches of Trichiurus lepturus (Ikan Selayor) and Amblygaster leiogaster (Tambun
Beluru) fish species. The result will help decision makers to establish priorities in terms of fisheries management.


Objective: To highlight the prevalence of incidentally discovered ocular findings harvested amongst candidates of different age groups presented for pre-employment screening in a tertiary care eye hospital. Methods: This Cross sectional prospective study was conducted in Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from Jun 2018 to Dec 2019. Data was collected using non-probability consecutive sampling technique. All candidates who appeared for medical fitness examination were included. Candidates belonged to various regions of Pakistan. Complete ophthalmic checkup including visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examination was performed. The data analysis was done by IBM SPSS 2.0 software. Results: One thousand and five hundred (1500) candidates underwent ophthalmic medical fitness examination during Jun 2018 to Dec 2019, out of these 86% (1290) were males and 14% (210) were females. Mean age of the candidates was 23.14 ± 5.66 years. The most common incidental ocular findings were amblyopia 24.6% (369), strabismus 10% (150), cataract 7.3% (110), macular scar 6.5% (100) and colour vision deficiencies 5.5% (82). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that out of total patients, 77% (1095) were found to be asymptomatic and 23% (405) were symptomatic. The study provides frequency for prevailing diseases and can help in improvement of eye care screening.


In multiple linear regression analysis, multicollinearity and outliers are two main problems. When multicollinearity exists, biased estimation techniques such as Ridge and Liu Estimators are preferable to Ordinary Least Square. On the other hand, when outliers exist in the data, robust estimators like M, MM, LTS and S Estimators, are preferred. To handle these two problems jointly, the study combines the Ridge and Liu Estimators with Robust Estimators to provide Robust Ridge and Robust Liu estimators respectively. The Mean Square Error (MSE) criterion was used to compare the performance of the estimators. Application to the proposed estimators to three (3) real life data set with multicollinearity and outliers problems reveals that the M-Liu and LTS-Liu Estimator are generally most efficient.. Keywords: Ordinary Least Squares, Ridge Regression Estimator, Liu Estimator, Robust Estimator, Robust Ridge Regression Estimator, Robust Liu Estimator


In situ energy dispersive x-ray measurements were performed on C60 fullerene at pressures of 2.6, 5.7 and 12 GPa and temperatures between 300 and 1100 K. The polymerization process was followed in detail and the dynamics of the phase changes measured. This has enabled us to map the P-T phase diagram and look at the dynamics of the phase transformations.


Abstract The jaguar Panthera onca, a threatened species in Brazil, is losing suitable habitat as a result of agricultural expansion and other forms of land conversion, especially in the Cerrado biome. In the current context of habitat loss and fragmentation, a network of protected areas is paramount for the conservation of this species. We aimed to identify jaguar conservation units in the Cerrado, and propose a ranking of priority areas for the species in this region. We used the maximum entropy algorithm to model habitat suitability for the jaguar in the Cerrado, with nine uncorrelated environmental variables and 106 non-autocorrelated presence-only records. We prioritized regions, using Zonation, and ranked jaguar conservation units according to their area, proximity to strictly protected areas, jaguar presence, and potential for connectivity. Circa 30% of the Cerrado is suitable for the jaguar. The most important variables affecting jaguar distribution are mean rainfall and land cover, with a high probability of jaguar presence in forest and savannah. We selected 31 high-priority jaguar conservation units, covering c. 174,825 km2 (8.5%) of the Cerrado. We emphasize the need for new protected areas and the promotion of sustainable development, as only 0.4% of the Cerrado (8,345 km2) has high environmental suitability for jaguars and < 1% of the area covered by jaguar conservation units falls within protected areas. Most jaguar conservation units identified here are relevant for habitat connectivity in Brazil, given their proximity to other critical areas for jaguar conservation in the Caatinga and the Amazon.


7 individual cases of hepatocellular damage caused by the use of oral hormonal contraceptives are examined. 3 different morphological patterns of damage were observed: reactive hepatitis intrahepatic cholestasis and subacute hepatitis. Discussion of the pathenogenesis of this damage revolves around the theory of competitive effect of sex hormones on the metabolism and transport of bilirubin the theory of hypersensitivity and theoretical toxic actions of contraceptive hormones. The reversibility of hepatocellular damage in 3 cases in the form of gestational hepatosis perhaps advocates the theory of hypersensitivity to endogenous and exogenous hormones. 1 case of subacute hepatitis had a lethal outcome which suggests the possibility of direct toxic effects of hormonal contraceptives.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)


Abstract Management of cancer pain is still a significant problem in healthcare today despite the fact that such discomfort can be controlled in approximately 90% of patients. Emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual suffering associated with this disease complicates the problem. Guidelines issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality address management of cancer pain. Pain intensity scales, complementary and alternative methods, and the role of an interdisciplinary care team, as well as a need to provide spiritual support to both patient and family, are included in this discussion. A case vignette describes management of cancer pain in a typical patient admitted to hospice.


This thesis reports on the exploitation of the beam-expanding properties of tapers in single-mode fibres and on the development of a new and versatile approach to fibre polishing. A theoretical study of the fused-taper coupler explains the differences in coupling and polarisation characteristics of strongly-fused and weakly-fused couplers in terms of the difference in tunnelling capability of TE and TM polarised waves. A study of the application of glass capillary overjackets in the production of stable taper-based devices resulted in the realisation of the first practical tapered beam-expander for single-mode fibres and a class of couplers in which cut-off of the LP11 mode of the composite waveguide comprising the coupler waist induced a flattening of the wavelength characteristics of splitting ratio. The operational principles and fabrication of a single-mode fibre beam-splitter is described. This new device which operates as a LP01 mode transformer exhibits wavelength independent 50:50 power splitting. A new polishing technique in which the optical fibre is polished on a motor driven polishing wheel is reported. The polishing can be completed in less than ten minutes and polished lengths of up to 40mm are easily attainable. The technique was successfully applied to the construction of spectrally broad fibre polarisers.


The copper(II), nickel(II), etc. complexes of 5,15-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)tetrabenzoporphyrin (TMS-H2BP) and 5,15-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)tetrabenzoporphyrin (TIPS-H2BP) have been prepared from the corresponding bicycle[2.2.2]octadiene(BCOD)-fused precursors by the retro-Diels–Alder reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses show that TMS-H2BP and its metal complexes of zinc(II) (TMS-ZnBP) and copper(II) (TMS-CuBP) adopt flat molecular conformations and form herringbone-type packing structures in the single crystalline state. TIPS-H2BP and the zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes (TIPS-ZnBP and TIPS-CuBP) are similar to the TMS derivatives in molecular conformation, but these TIPS derivatives form one-dimensional slipped-stack structures. The nickel complexes TMS-NiBP and TIPS-NiBP have U-shaped structures because of the small size of nickel(II) ion. Solution processed organic thin-film transistors of the benzoporphyrins were fabricated and TMS-H2BP showed the highest hole mobility of 0.11 cm2.V-1.s-1. Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on TMS- or TIPS-H2BP and their metal complexes as p-type and PC71BM as n-type materials were fabricated by solution process. Atomic force microscopy and thin-film XRD measurements indicated that the film crystallinities were increased by raising the annealing temperature over 180°C or by changing the substituents from triisopropylsilyl to trimethylsilyl. The best power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.49% was achieved with TMS-ZnBP by annealing at 180°C with a moderate crystallinity and smooth surface.


OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether cigarette smoking weakens the pelvic floor and to determine its effective impact relative to other factors. STUDY DESIGN: Between September 2017 and September 2018, 250 patients admitted to an outpatient gynecology clinic was examined by a single physician and their anamnesis were taken, the data obtained were evaluated retrospectively. As a result of the examination, the pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated according to the Modified Oxford Scale and the patients evaluated as 1/5 and 2/5 were grouped as having weak muscle strength and the rest were grouped as having high muscle strength. The intention was then to compare these two groups. The SPSS 21.0 for Windows program was used to perform statistical evaluations. Comparative analysis was performed with regression analysis. RESULTS: 250 women participated in the study. 4 patients had muscle strength of 1/5; while 40 patients had muscle strength of 2/5 (17.6%). Patients with muscle strength of 1/5 and 2/5 were grouped as weak muscle strength. Advanced age, increased parity, smoking, and obesity are risk factors for a decrease in pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which of these factors has the greatest impact on pelvic floor muscle strength. Smoking has a 7-fold effect on decreased muscle strength (OR: 7.925) and obesity has a 5-fold impact (OR: 5.374). CONCLUSION: Although the mechanism of the effect of cigarette smoking on the pelvic floor is not known, it should be remembered that this effect has an adverse impact together with other factors which also have proven detrimental effects.


Introduction: Health information-seeking behaviour is a process of gathering information for individuals to understand and cope with his/her health problems. Apart from the Internet or Web 1.0, Web 2.0 tools has been increasingly used as alternative to seek health information and one such tool is social media platform. This study aims to identify cognitive determinants of health information-seeking behaviour through social media platforms among Malaysian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study by means of convenience sampling was conducted during a nationwide pandemic lockdown. Cognitive determinants were defined as respondent's perceived usefulness, perceived ease of user, perceived benefit, perceived costs, perceived behavioural control, and perceived risk towards social media use. Questionnaires were distributed via Google Form link to multiple social media platforms and cross-platform messaging app. Differences between group of sociodemographic factors and other independent variables were tested with nonparametric tests while multiple linear regression was employed to determine the significant predictors of the health information seeking behavior. Results: A total of 705 individuals responded to the survey invitation, the majority of which were females (65%), Malay (93.6%), married (52.1%), and received tertiary education (88.5%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that perceived benefit (β= 0.612, 95% CI: 0.517-0.708, p<0.001), perceived usefulness (β= 0.653, 95% CI: 0.453-0.853, p<0.001), and perceived risk (β= 0.131, 95% CI: 0.03-0.259, p=0.044) significantly predict health information seeking behavior through social media platform. Conclusion: Our findings provide fundamental grounds for stakeholders to better understand and influence online behavior. Staying abreast of the current online trend is crucial as more people have begun to rely on social media for health information.


The cellular localization of the 35 kDa, low molecular mass acid metallophosphatase (LMW AcPase) from the frog (Rana esculenta) liver and its activity towards P-Ser and P-Tyr phosphorylated peptides were studied. This enzyme was localized to the cytoplasm of hepatocytes but did not appear in other cells of liver tissue (endothelium, macrophages, blood cells). This LMW AcPase does not display activity towards (32)P-phosphorylase a under conditions standard for the enzymes of PPP family. Proteins containing P-Ser: rabbit (32)P-phosphorylasea and phosvitin are hydrolysed only at acidic pH and are poor substrates for this enzyme. The frog AcPase is not inhibited by okadaic acid and F(-) ions, the Ser/Thr protein phosphatase inhibitors. Moreover, the frog enzyme does not cross-react with specific antisera directed against N-terminal fragment of human PP2A and C-terminal conserved fragment of the eukaryotic PP2A catalytic subunits. These results exclude LMW AcPase from belonging to Ser/Thr protein phosphatases: PP1c or PP2Ac. In addition to P-Tyr, this enzyme hydrolyses efficiently at acidic pH P-Tyr phosphorylated peptides (hirudin and gastrin fragments). K(m) value for the hirudin fragment (7.55 +/- 1.59 x 10(-6) M) is 2-3 orders of magnitude lower in comparison with other substrates tested. The enzyme is inhibited competitively by typical inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases): sodium orthovanadate, molybdate and tungstate. These results may suggest that the LMW AcPase of frog liver can act as PTPase in vivo. A different cellular localization and different response to inhibition by tetrahedral oxyanions (molybdate, vanadate and tungstate) provide further evidence that LMW AcPase of frog liver is distinct from the mammalian tartrate-resistant acid phosphatases.


It is important to demonstrate replicable evidence of the effectiveness of counselling procedures. The study aimed to contribute to the currently limited evidence base examining the effectiveness of university student counselling in the UK. Information on therapeutic outcome [based on Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) scores] for 305 individuals attending a large UK university counselling service was analysed. Following counselling intervention: there was a statistically significant improvement in CORE-OM scores with 63% of individuals showing a reliable improvement and only 2% showing a reliable deterioration. Of those who began with a score in the clinical range, 49% showed a clinically significant change. These results provide additional evidence for the effectiveness of university counselling interventions. Future research should aim to build on this preliminary research using randomised controlled trial designs.


Einstein's weak
equivalence principle suggests that gravity and acceleration (centrifugal
force) are indistinguishable from each other and, therefore, equivalent. We
maintain that they are not only equivalent, but even identical, or to rephrase
the main statement of this work: A gravitational force does not exist. Rather,
gravity is a fictitious force, or, more pointedly: Gravity is the centrifugal
force which acts upon material bodies within the rotating S3-hypersphere of the
Universe. These in turn warp the adjacent space-fabric, shaping it to the
well-known field geometry of general relativity.


This paper forwards a novel wire length calculation algorithm based on TSV position. Typical 2D wire length calculation method such as half-perimeter model does not take via position into account. But in 3D IC placement, TSV position does affect the real wire length which is ignored in previous works. To get accurate wire length data and help 3D placement researches, this paper forwards the TSV based 3D IC wire length algorithm. Experiments are done on folded placement results of IBM placement benchmark circuits. Results shows that this algorithm can effectively identify the difference wire length of the cross wafer net according to the traditional method and calculate it accurately.


Financial inclusion envisages bringing the people into the formal banking sector and mobile banking can help in this task. It is estimated that almost 85% of the BoP population in the world uses mobile phones but, whether the mobile banking will actually help the BoP and fulfill the purpose of financial inclusion remains a question. Limited research has been conducted on mobile banking among the BoP and has mainly focused on the mobile banking adoption and its determinants. The benefits and challenges of mobile banking to the poor have not been discussed in the past. Before working on the potential solutions of mobile banking, a serious thought over if the mobile banking will actually help the poor or in what ways can help in preparing a strategy that can integrate the positioning of the benefits of mobile banking solutions. Thus, through this research we aim to discuss the benefits and challenges of mobile banking to the BoP. The benefits of mobile banking to the BoP are reduced cost, reduced time and personalization. The challenges of mobile banking are related to system, security, regulatory environment, economic viability. The service providers should work closely with the government agencies to develop appropriate systems that can overcome the challenges and increase the benefits in order to encourage the use of mobile banking at the BoP.


The purpose of these experiments was to study the role that Galectin-1 (GAL1) has in Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. GAL1 protein levels have been identified to be significantly upregulated in gliomas. GAL1 levels have also been closely associated with patient survival. The PI3K enzyme converts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 serves as a membrane anchor leading to the activation of AKT. PI3K/AKT signaling is important in cancer cell biology because induction of this pathway is associated with increased cell survival, cell cycle progression, and growth. A PIP3 Mass ELISA was performed on cell lysates isolated from wild type (WT) and GAL1 knockdown cells with and without Inslulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) stimulation. Briefly, cells were stimulated with 5mM IGF1 followed by cell lysis. Lysates were compared by ELISA for PIP3 levels. Following this an in vitro PI3K assay was done. This assay is designed to measure the activity of a purified PI3K enzyme by detecting PIP2 to PIP3 conversion. Enzyme was incubated with Gal1 alone, LY294002 PI3K inhibitor, or with both Gal1 and the inhibitor. Controls included enzyme only, enzyme with inhibitor, no enzyme, and no substrate. In order to investigate whether a physical interaction was occurring between Gal1 and PI3K, Co-IP experiments were performed. These experiments involved isolation of cell lysates from WT LN229 cells and GAL1 knockdown LN229 cells. Following pulldown, Co-IP9s were run on an SDS-PAGE gel, transferred to blots, and probed for GAL1 and p85 α or β. Previous experiments demonstrated a possible role for GAL1 in PI3K signaling and AKT activation. In the PIP3 mass ELISA experiment, WT cells demonstrated elevated cellular PIP3 levels in response to IGF1 stimulation, as expected. GAL1 knockdown cells did not show any increase in PIP3 levels in response to stimulation. We next examined if GAL1 was having a direct effect on PI3K activity. In vitro PI3K reactions showed a specific upregulation of PI3K activity in response to addition of GAL1. In response to 1000-fold changes in GAL1 concentration there was an approximate 2-fold increase in PI3K (p85α/p110α) activity. GAL1 also demonstrated an ability to overcome LY294002 inhibition of the enzyme. Enzyme incubated with both inhibitor and 5uM GAL1 showed 4 times the conversion as compared to enzyme with inhibitor alone. Interaction studies indicate that there is not a physical interaction between GAL1 and either p85 α or β. Future studies characterizing the role of GAL1 in PI3K signaling include repeating the PI3K assay with other PI3K class I isoforms to examine differences. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments will also be performed to further test for a physical interaction between PI3K and GAL1. In conclusion GAL1 has demonstrated an ability to effect PI3K activity, and thereby PI3K signaling. However, a physical interaction between GAL1 and PI3K was not observed. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 301.


Ear is a very prominent part of the face after nose and eyes especially in Indian subcontinent where in both the males and females it adorns a variety of ornaments to beautify the face. However, because of limited functional importance of external ear the burns of the ear are often neglected. More often, isolated burns of the ear are very rare. They are usually involved with facial burns and therefore inhalational injuries. Overall management of burns to improve survival takes precedence over the management of just the burned ear. Therefore, neglected ear burns can lead to cosmetic deformity which can vary from minor to very severe. Giving due importance to this small structure can prevent a lot of morbidity during the acute phase and deformities later on as a sequel of burns. Correction of those deformities and giving a normal shape to the ear can be a very daunting task because of the intricacies involved in framing the cartilage and inadequate soft tissue availability in the surrounding area. This article emphasizes on the steps which can be taken from the first postburn day to avoid complications like chondritis, chondral abscess, and various other deformities because in a patient surviving burn injury, the quality of his or her life will be determined by the degree of these deformities.


The use of thermal spray coatings provides protection to the surfaces operating in severe environments. The main goal of the current work is to investigate the possibility of using a high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermally sprayed wear resistant TiAl/Al2O3 coating on tool steel (H13) which is used for making dies for aluminium high pressure die casting. A feedstock of TiAl/Al2O3 composite powder was produced from a mixture of Al and TiO2 powders by high energy mechanical milling, followed by a thermal reaction process. The feedstock was then thermally sprayed using a high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique onto H13 steel substrates to produce a composite coating. The present study describes and compares the tribological properties such as friction and sliding wear rate of the coating both at room and high temperature (700°C). The results showed that the composite coating has lower wear rate at high temperature (700°C) than the uncoated H13 sample. At Room temperature without using lubricant there is no much significant difference between the wear rate of the coated and uncoated samples. The experimental results showed that the composite coating has great potential for high temperature application due to its lower wear rate at high temperature in comparison with the uncoated sample at the same temperature. The composite coating was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). This paper reports the experimental observations and discusses the wear resistance performance of the coatings at room and high temperatures.


EPMA has been applied to electron beam evaporated and r.f. sputtered layers of about 200 tig/cm. This includes analysis of trapped argon and oxygen ranging from 0.2 to 10 wt%. For primary electron energies of 5 to 15 keV depth range of X-ray emission may be predicted with an accuracy of ± 10 nm. Errors of quantitative analysis are discussed for various correction models and should not exceed 3.5 %. I INTRODUCTION Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) may be performed at a sufficiently low primary electron energy (Eg) for which the depth range of X-ray emission is reduced to about 0.2 to 0.5 um. This letter considers some practical aspects of EPMA under conditions of thin film analysis: Experimental depth ranges compared to the theoretical predictions, evaluation of analytical sensitivities, accuracy provided by various models of matrix correction, and simultaneous quantitative analysis of incorporated argon and oxygen. II DEPTH RANGE OF X-RAY EMISSION Experimental depth ranges have been studied for FeLa, AuMa, FeKa, and AuLa X-ray lines covering the range of critical excitation energies (Ec). from 0.7 keV to 12 keV. Pure element films of 0.05 to 0.5 nm were deposited on carbon by electron beam evaporation. The exact mass deposition was determined by chemical analysis. X-ray intensities normalized to a thick film standard were measured as a function of primary electron energy. The extrapolation of this curve to the saturation level at low EQ yields the primary electron energy for which the film thickness represents the depth range of X-ray emission. In Figure 1 experimental depth ranges are compared to those obtained by the range relation of Castaing [1]. The influence of mass absorption was calculated by the absorption factor of Philibert. For AuLa and FeKa this model gives an accurate representation of the measured depth ranges. For the X-ray lines with E c < 5 keV, Figure 1 shows larger deviations from the experimental data which may be explained by the strong influence of Xray absorption. Alternatively, theoretical depth ranges have been derived from depth distribution functions 0 (pz) calculated by the formula of Parobek and Brown [2]. Figure 1 shows an accurate fit to the experimental data for FeLa and AuMa, but significant deviations for Article published online by EDP Sciences and available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/jphyscol:19842145 C2-622 JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE Castaing's formula --i'arobek,Brown $,pz, 0 experimental' , electron energy I keV 1 Fig. 1 Experimental and calculated depth range of X-ray emission for the element targets of Fe and Au as a function of primary electron energy. lL' Ib io io h 40 $0 $0 do atomic number Fig. 2 Overvoltage and counting rate (crystal spectrometers) of some elements from C to Bi corresponding to a depth range of 0.3 pm. Data refer to a concentration of 30 wt% in a matrix of Fe. FeXa and AuLa (Ec > 5 keV). Within the limits pointed out, both models enable one to predict depth ranges of 0.2 to 0.5 pm with an error of about + 10 nm correspondinq to the error estimated for the determination of experimental depth ranges. A comparable depth range for X-ray lines separated by a large difference of the critical excitation energy may be obtained by measurements at two electron energies. I11 ANALYTICAL SENSITIVITY Analysis of thin films at low overvoltages (EO/Ec<2) or by low energy X-rays combined with low electron energies (EO<10 keV) conflicts with the requirements of analytical sensitivity. This concerns the ability to distinguish between two compositions that are nearly equal. The Xray intensity of 17 elements from carbon to bismuth was calculated by ZAF correction for the electron energy representing a linear depth range of 0.3 pm in a matrix of 70 wt% of iron (Fig. 2)\ This was based on measurements of the pure element or a well defined cbmpound by crystal spectrometers. A suitable choice of the X-ray line results in at least 1000 cps (beam current 100 nA) corresponding to 3 measurements, each at a counting time of 30 seconds, to obtain a sensitivity of 0.8%. This should be acceptable even for a large series of samples considering the stability of the applied computer-controlled instrument (CAMEBAX) . IV ACCURACY OF QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS Atomic number correction may be a significant limitation to the accuracy of quantitative thin film analysis. This was studied for An-Cu alloys (NBS SRM 482) simulating a large difference of atomic number between specimen and pure element standard (AZ = 40). Conventional ZAF correction was performed by a commercial on-line program [ 3 ] using backscattering factors of Duncumb combined with the Bethe formula for the calculation of stopping power factors. Analytical errors of the applied ZAF model show a tendency towards overcorrection with decreasing EO (Fig. 3). Alternatively, the atomic number correction was performed by modified expressions of Love and Scott [ 4 ] for the backscatter factor R and the stopping power factor S. Figure 3 indicates improved accuracy for AuMa at electron energies of 5 to 10 keV. CorrecA u M a \ \ C u K u 10 .\ 20 wt % Au 20wt% Cu