AIM
In recent years, neoplastic diseases in children have acquired growing importance in the field of paediatrics. This has been accompanied by significant advances in the treatment of children's cancer, with long-term survival rates of 90% in the case of some tumors, resulting in the need for more medical and health care on all levels. With these advances comes a new responsibility to do everything possible to prevent complications stemming from neoplasia and its treatment. Among the side effects of cancer therapies (mainly chemotherapy and radiation treatment) are chronic or acute oral manifestations that are frequent sources of discomfort, focal points of systemic infections and other side effects, depending on the child's stage of development. In most cases, the incidence and severity of oral complications are associated with preexisting factors (cavities, gum disease and poor hygiene) that clearly affect their emergence, increase and persistence. The aim of this article is to propose a guideline for managing oral complications of paediatric cancer treatments.

CONCLUSIONS
It is fundamental for the patient and their parents to be aware of the possibility of preventing or reducing problems in the oral cavity through preventive measures and simple oral treatment.


A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed as autoimmune gastritis by the presence of serum antibody against alpha-subunit of gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase. The patient did not have pernicious anemia, but showed achlorhydria, marked hypergastrinemia, enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia and an extremely high histidine decarboxylase activity in the gastric fundic mucosa. Intragastric acidification by infusion of hydrochloric acid via a nasogastric tube induced a transient reduction of serum gastrin level and fundic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity. A marked increase in fundic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity as well as hypergastrinemia appears to be the pathophysiologic response to achlorhydria caused by autoimmunity against gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase.


—Consensus has been widely used in distributed control, where distributed individuals need to share their states with their neighbors through communication links to achieve a common goal. However, the objectives of existing consensus-based control strategies for energy systems seldom address battery degradation cost, which is an important performance indicator to assess the performance and sustainability of battery energy storage (BES) systems. In this paper, we propose a consensus-based optimal control strategy for multi-microgrid systems, aim- ing at multiple control objectives including minimizing battery degradation cost. Distributed consensus is used to synchronize the ratio of BES output power to BES state-of-charge (SoC) among all microgrids while each microgrid is trying to reach its individual optimality. In order to reduce the pressure of communication links and prevent excessive exposure of local information, this ratio is the only state variable shared between microgrids. Since our complex nonlinear problem might be difficult to solve by traditional methods, we design a compressive sensing-based gradient descent (CSGD) method to solve the control problem. Numerical simulation results show that our control strategy results in a 74.24% reduction in battery degradation cost on average compared to the control method without considering battery degradation. In addition, the compressive sensing method causes an 89.12% reduction in computation time cost compared to the traditional Monte Carlo (MC) method in solving the control problem.


Author(s): Crawford, Cassandra Stacey | Advisor(s): Clarke, Adele | Abstract: Situated at the intersection of science and technology studies (STS), medical sociology and the sociology of the body, this work is a genealogical analysis of phantom-prosthetic relations or the historically multifarious and dynamic relationship between dismemberment and prosthetization understood through psychological, medical and biomedical constructions of phantom limb syndrome. I trace the major shifts in knowledges and discourses about phantom limb etiology, nosology, and epidemiology from the late-1800s through 2005 revealing how this amorphous, ethereal object became material or socially substantive over the 20th century. I further situate psychological and (bio)medical constructions of phantom limb in the larger socio-cultural and historical context of the modernization of dismemberment, including: the establishment of synchronic practices and principles between amputation surgery and prosthetic science; the state-sponsored rapid coalescence and professionalization of the field of prosthetic science; the elaboration and sophistication of prosthetic technologies and techniques; the institutionalization of post-surgical rehabilitation including pain treatment; and the use of visualizing technologies to situate phantom limb in the brains of amputee.One of the central concerns of the dissertation is historical changes in corporeal ideology or those ideas, knowledges, institutions and practices that make up what is taken for granted about the body, its use, its capacities, its "nature." I explore the implications of corporeal ideology for governing and disciplining partial-ized bodies and spectral parts. However, I also demonstrate how phantoms have functioned as a window into corporeal resistance. I detail the ways in which phantoms have resisted attempts at biomedical domestication, as well as how they have been the force behind many transmutations within the field of phantom research, within bodies, and between bodies and technologies. Data included ten months of observation at a San Francisco bay area orthotic and prosthetic clinic, observation at an annual Amputee Coalition of America conference, eight in-depth semi-structured interviews with key researchers and practitioners in the field, and an interpretive content analysis of 439 articles published in the medical literature from 1930 to 2005.


In recent years, there's been strong demand for seawalls that havea gentle slope and permeability that serveswater affinity and disaster prevention from wave attack. The aim of this study is to examine wave transformation, including wave run-up that propagates on the coastal structures. A numerical model based on the weak nonlinear dispersive Boussinesq equation, together with the unsteady nonlinear Darcy law for fluid motion in permeable layer, is developed. The applicability of this numerical model is examined through Deguchi and Moriwaki's hydraulic model test on the permeable slopes. From this study, it is found that the proposed numerical model can predict wave transformation and run-up on the gentle slope with a permeable layer, but can't show accurate results for slopes steeper than about 1:10.


Local abdominal hypothermia in intensive therapy of peritonitis in children checked abdominal inflammation, prevented the onset of hyperthermic reactions, promoted early stabilization of central hemodynamic parameters and early normalization of humoral immunity and led to certain clinical improvement. Taking into consideration the above data as well as possible indications and contraindications one can recommend local abdominal hypothermia for intensive therapy of generalized suppurative peritonitis in children.


Commissioned by the Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support, this is a collection of three reports on the costs of children in Australian families: 'The estimated costs of children in Australian families in 2005–06'; 'Updated costs of children using Australian budget standards; and 'Costs of children and equivalence scales: a review of methodological issues and Australian estimates'.


The distribution solutions, which are part of the distribution and logistics policy of Sopharma Trading AD, play a key role for the overall success of the company. Distribution in itself is important element that takes time to build and represents a strong corporate linking with multiple intermediaries. Creating effective distribution channels is so crucial that it can predetermine the outcome of competition between companies. In this article are presented the distribution services and solutions, as well as the market position of Sopharma Trading AD.


In the framework of density functional theory (DFT) we computed the spectral properties of a total of about 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different charge states. From our complete atlas of PAHs, ranging in size from naphthalene (C10H8) to dicoronylene (C48H20), we present here a sample of results concerning both ground–state and excited–state properties. Our theoretical results are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental data. This makes them particularly precious when the latter are not easily obtainable, as is often the case for the highly reactive radicals and ions of such species. In another paper (Mulas et al., same volume) we show that our theoretical results can be reliably used to model the behaviour of these molecules in astrophysical environments.


To study the tissue preference of invasion, we developed an assay system for the invasion of endothelial cells as a modification of the previously established assay of tumor cell invasion of meso‐thelial cells. Rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH 130) that had been seeded on a monolayer of cultured endothelial cells penetrated and formed tumor cell colonies under the monolayer. The penetration was time‐dependent and the number of penetrated tumor cells and colonies was proportional to the number of tumor cells seeded. Comparison of the in vitro tumor cell invasion of endothelial cell monolayer with that of cultured mesothelial cell layer showed that a clone from the tumor cells (CI‐30) which was highly penetrative into the mesothelial cell layer had only a limited ability to penetrate the endothelial cell layer.


Radiopharmaceuticals are used in nuclear medicine for diagnosis and therapy. Sensors are being developed for radiopharmaceuticals to determine the chemical form of the agent that targets a particular organ. One type of sensor is an electrode coated with a polymer film into which the radiopharmaceutical partitions to enable its detection by voitammetry. This is demonstrated with an electrochemical sensor that consists of a carbon electrode modified with Nafion gel for [Re(DMPE)3]CF3S03, a nonradioactive radiopharmaceutical analog for heart imaging. Voltammetric peak currents for oxidation of the Re complex at the Nafion modified electrode show an enhancement of up to 100 compared to the bare electrode. Another type of sensor which is being developed is a fiber optic absorbance sensor. Since some radiopharmaceuticals de not fiuoresce, an absorbance sensor will be used to monitor the oxidation State and the concentration of candidate radiopharmaceuticals. In this approach the optical spectrum of the radiopharmaceutical can be measured over a broad wavelength ränge thus identifying the chemical form of the radiopharmaceutical and its concentration. The potential use of fiber optic sensors is demonstrated with the heart imaging agent analogue ?rani-[Re(p-SC6H4CH3)2(DMPE)2]PF6.


The integration of scheduling flow of water resources and knowledge management (KM) makes the assumption realized that the proper knowledge could reach the very people promptly in right way, thereby improves the management level and standard of water scheduling. This paper analyzes the features of knowledge management in water scheduling, and integrates the scheduling flow with the knowledge management upon the integration of contexts and knowledge. Additionally, it discusses the key technology adopted in the fulfilling of such integration. On this basis, the knowledge management framework upon water scheduling flow is proposed.


High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with worse oncological outcomes. No current therapies target this emergency myelopoiesis-driven (EM) phenotype. EM, driven by retinoic-acid orphan receptor gamma (RORy), is the phenomenon where cancer cells secrete various factors, skewing normal hematopoiesis towards increased production of pro-tumour RORy+ neutrophils. These neutrophils correlate with advanced stage disease. Additionally, RORy ablation reduces tumour burden in vivo. Our study explores the undescribed roles and therapeutic potential of RORy+ neutrophils in GEA.
 Methods: Peripheral blood collected from treatment-naïve GEA patients were lysed and stained for flow cytometry for the following markers: CD66b, CD11b, RORy, interleukin-17 (IL-17) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1).5x106 YTN16-GFP cells, a murine gastric cancer cell line, were injected in the flank of C57Bl/6 mice. 7 days post-tumour inoculation, 25 mg/kg of a novel experimental RORy inhibitor (Compound #10) was injected subcutaneously on a daily basis till endpoint. Tumour size and circulating NLR were monitored on a weekly basis throughout the experiment. Blood and tumour were also collected at endpoint and stained for flow cytometry.

 Our data demonstrate that: Treatment-naïve GEA patients with a high NLR (NLR > 4) have increased prevalence of circulating RORy+ neutrophils compared to low NLR (NLR < 4) GEA patients and healthy volunteers.Circulating RORy+ neutrophils have a higher expression of PD-L1 and IL-17 compared to RORy (−) neutrophils, hinting towards a pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive phenotype.Anti-RORy treatment in a murine gastric cancer model results in reduced tumour burden and reduced percentage of intratumoural RORy+ neutrophils. Treated mice also exhibited a less immunosuppressive intratumoural microenvironment.

 We are the first to associate a high circulating NLR with higher prevalence of circulating RORy+ neutrophils in GEA, thus demonstrating evidence of emergency myelopoiesis in those patients. Additionally, we show that RORy+ neutrophils are a major player in cancer progression. More importantly, these results define a novel therapeutic target that can be utilized to improve patient outcomes, namely GEA patients with a high NLR, a patient subgroup known to have worse outcomes.


A bedside method of measurement of the whole-blood thrombin time for the determination of heparin activity was used in 300 dialyses. It was easily performed by the whole staff despite the absence of previous training in laboratory work. This test, using a clot timer with an automatic pipette device, gives a minimum risk of exposure to hepatitis virus. An increase of the thrombin time of 50-100 per cent above the starting value (3.7-6.6 sec) was aimed at during the heparin infusion. Bleeding complications, which were minor, were seen only on 18 and fibrin formation only on 26 occasions out of 1500 observations. Within the 50-100 per cent limits bleeding complications were observed on 2 and fibrin formation on only 13 occasions. No protamine was given.


Biomarkers enable early diagnosis, guide molecularly targeted therapy and monitor the activity and therapeutic responses across a variety of diseases. Despite intensified interest and research, however, the overall rate of development of novel biomarkers has been falling. Moreover, no solution is yet available that efficiently retrieves and processes biomarker information pertaining to infectious diseases. Infectious Disease Biomarker Database (IDBD) is one of the first efforts to build an easily accessible and comprehensive literature-derived database covering known infectious disease biomarkers. IDBD is a community annotation database, utilizing collaborative Web 2.0 features, providing a convenient user interface to input and revise data online. It allows users to link infectious diseases or pathogens to protein, gene or carbohydrate biomarkers through the use of search tools. It supports various types of data searches and application tools to analyze sequence and structure features of potential and validated biomarkers. Currently, IDBD integrates 611 biomarkers for 66 infectious diseases and 70 pathogens. It is publicly accessible at http://biomarker.cdc.go.kr and http://biomarker.korea.ac.kr.


In order to deposit fine structures such as nanoscale multilayers using a pulsed cathodic arc, it is necessary to ensure that the deposition per pulse is stable over a large number of pulses. We compare the deposition rate using centre and edge triggering in a pulsed cathodic arc system by determining the rate of change of thickness of a growing film. Three arc currents were used and the results indicated that the centre triggering configuration provides a constant deposition rate when compared to edge triggering. It was also observed that the highest arc current in the centre mode showed the most uniform deposition rate. The erosion profile of the cathodes for the two different triggering types were examined and used to explain the differences in terms of uniformity of erosion. We also measured the discharge voltage and found that there was an increase with increasing arc current.


During embryonic development, endothelial cells (ECs) undergo vasculogenesis to form a primitive plexus and assemble into networks comprised of mural cell-stabilized vessels with molecularly distinct artery and vein signatures. This organized vasculature is established prior to the initiation of blood flow and depends on a sequence of complex signaling events elucidated primarily in animal models, but less studied and understood in humans. Here, we have developed a simple vascular differentiation protocol for human pluripotent stem cells that generates ECs, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells simultaneously. When this protocol is applied in a 3D hydrogel, we demonstrate that it recapitulates the dynamic processes of early human vessel formation, including acquisition of distinct arterial and venous fates, resulting in a vasculogenesis angiogenesis model plexus (VAMP). The VAMP captures the major stages of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and vascular network formation and is a simple, rapid, scalable model system for studying early human vascular development in vitro.


AN INJURY to the dura which permits cerebrospinal fluid to escape into the wound during the course of a mastoidectomy might seem alarming because of the serious implication of impending meningitis. Such an incident, however, seldom has been of great significance in our experience. It actually has been of no more importance than has been an injury of the sigmoid sinus. Neither complication is desired and should be avoided. This, however, is not always possible, especially when extensive pathologic changes involving the dura or the wall of the sinus are encountered. Fortunately, both incidents are of rare occurrence, but when such injuries occur, unless a precedent has been established for management, the surgeon could be expected to feel considerable anxiety. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE In the cases reported in the literature the cerebrospinal fluid escaped through the ear or the adjacent mastoid structure chiefly in consequence of trauma and fracture


This study examines a relationship between inflation and stock prices for Zambia, over the period 1999–2011, using monthly all share stock prices and inflation rates. The study employed Augmented-Dickey-Fuller and Phillip-Perron for testing the stationarity of the series, Granger-causality test is used to determine the causality relationship between the variables, VAR and Cointegration techniques are employed to determine the short run and long run relationship respectively between the two variables. The unit root test results show that the series are non-stationary at level form but after differentiating they become stationary, the causality test results show a one way causal relationship running from inflation to stock prices and not vice-versa. There was no cointegration found among the variables meaning that there exists only a short run relationship. In general the results support the economic theory which suggests a negative relationship between inflation and stock prices.


We study the dynamics of unidirectionally coupled linear arrays of chaotic oscillators in star configuration, and find that if the central driving oscillator is different from the oscillators come off from it in the linear arrays, then the oscillators in different linear arrays with the same position with respect to the central one are synchronized but no chaotic synchronization occurs in any one linear array. Such a synchronization, called layered synchronization, severely depends on the dynamical coupling symmetry. Numerical calculation shows that, for the Lorenz oscillator, the strange attractor spiralling around two focus points will become a strange attractor spiralling around one focus point down the linear arrays. The stabilities of the synchronized states are enhanced by chaos, and degraded when the oscillators are far from the central driving oscillator.


The article presents proposals for the possible use of secondary Fund units and aggregates as an Autonomous drive for multifunctional control and diagnostic stands, which will improve the quality of repair of transmission and hydraulic drive units.


The block graph of a graph $G$, written $B(G)$, is the graph whose vertices are the blocks of $G$ and in which two vertices are adjacent whenever the corresponding blocks have a cut-vertex in common. We study the properties of $B(G)$ and present the characterization of graphs whose $B(G)$ are planar, outerplanar, maximal outerplanar, minimally non-outerplanar, Eulerian, and Hamiltonian. A necessary and sufficient condition for $B(G)$ to have crossing number one is also presented.


In order to develop constructed wetlands for treating hydroponic wastewater in greenhouse, actual constructed wetlands were used the obtained optimum condition in previous study, and the removal rate of pollutant in the water according to 4 kinds connection method of piping such as system A (UP-UP stream), system B (UP-DOWN system), system C (DOWN-UP stream) and system D (DOWN-DOWN stream) were investigated. Removal rate of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) by system A (UP-UP stream) connection method in actual constructed wetlands were slightly higher than other systems. At the system A, the removal rate of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P were 88, 77, 94, 54 and 94%, respectively. Under different hydroponic wastewater loading, the removal rates of pollutants were higher in the order of 75 L m -2 day -1 ≒ 150 L m -2 day -1 ?300 L m -2 day -1 . Therefore, optimum connection method was system A for treating hydroponic wastewater in greenhouse.


Ultrasonic tomography is an emerging technology that shows promise for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) during construction, or for making rehabilitation decisions in concrete pavements. However, the benefits of this emerging technology have not yet been fully captured for widespread use in highway infrastructure management. Verification of a state-of-the-art ultrasonic tomography device (MIRA) is presented through multiple field trials involving typical pavement constructability and rehabilitation issues. Field trials indicate that, while the device is a useful portable pavement diagnostic alternative capable of consistent thickness measurement, reinforcement location, and distress evaluation, significant efforts and user expertise are required for measurement and data interpretation of large scale application. Thus, software was developed for a more productive, objective signal interpretation method with automated analysis of reinforcement location in continuously reinforced concrete pavement. This type of automation for multiple applications shows promise for the use of ultrasonic tomography to improve large scale pavement QA/QC and rehabilitation projects in the future. Nevertheless, the research in the paper shows ultrasonic tomography to be an accurate, reliable, and convenient alternative or supplement to traditional techniques that can be utilized for a wide variety of small scale pavement diagnostics applications.


In some sense, viable photometric systems are rather like the MK spectral classification system: They depend a great deal on the usage of standard stars. What makes a system good is in many ways dependent on the quality and quantity of the s tandard stars used to help define the system. We can (and should) do the best we can in the choice of spectral wavelengths and bandwidths for the filters and in our choice of detectors and reduction procedures, but the final quality and value of the system will depend a lot on the quality of the s tandard stars used to help define the system and on the choice of s tandards used for any observing program with the system. Such s tandards must span the range of stellar types (or spectral types) tha t will be observed with the system or on the specific observing program. One must interpolate over all the relevant parameters. Naturally, the s tandards must be observed and tabulated with high precision and high accuracy. Many examples exist in the literature of problems tha t arise when these obvious guidelines are not followed. Considerable effort should be made by all photometrists to insure that an adequate set of s tandard stars exist for the most used s tandard photometric systems. A viable GNAT (global network of small telescopes) may be the best way to accomplish this goal.


A case-control study was performed to identify perinatal events associated with intraparenchymal echodensity on cranial ultrasonography--an important antecedent of cerebral palsy in very-low-birthweight infants. Forty-eight infants with birthweight < 1500 g and intraparenchymal echodensity on cranial ultrasound examination and 90 controls with normal cranial ultrasounds were identified within a cohort of 1791 consecutive very-low-birthweight infants born at a regional obstetric referral centre. Data about potential risk factors were obtained from medical records of cases and controls. Among prenatal factors, chorioamnionitis (odds ratio[OR]: 3.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 8.1) and placental abruption (OR 2.6 [1.0, 6.6]) were associated most strongly with an increased risk of intraparenchymal echodensity and pre-eclampsia (OR 0.3 [0.1, 0.8]) was associated most strongly with a decreased risk. When controlling for gestational age, multiple gestation was also associated with an increased risk (OR 2.7 [1.0, 7.5]). Neonatal factors independently associated with an increased risk included low systolic blood pressure (< 33 mmHg in the first 12 h of life; odds ratio 8.0 [2.0, 31.3]), receipt of a fluid bolus in the first 12 h of life (OR 19.7 [4.6, 84.3]), need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the first 72 h (OR 6.9 [1.5, 31.3]) and pneumothorax in the first 72 h of life (OR 27.0 [4.3, 167.2]). When analyses were restricted to infants who were not given a fluid bolus, the associations with chorioamnionitis and placental abruption were attenuated. When excluding infants who had a pneumothorax, the associations with placental abruption and multiple gestation were attenuated. Restriction of infants with systolic blood pressure < 33 mmHg resulted in attenuation of associations with pre-eclampsia and multiple gestation. These analyses suggest the possibility that potentially modifiable postnatal events may be involved as intervening factors linking chorioamnionitis, placental abruption and multiple gestation with subsequent intraparenchymal echodensity.


As spinal care transitions from individual practitioners working in a volume-based reimbursement system toward multidisciplinary health care organizations working in a population-based model with value-based reimbursement, it is critical that insurance companies, administrators, and spine care provider have a clear understanding of how incentives change physician behavior. This article will introduce the concept of behavior economics, and discuss 9 principles relevant to physician decision-making.


BACKGROUND
Nearly half of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients were classified into cytogenetic normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML). The expression level of Trophinin associated protein (TROAP) was proven to be associated with the prognosis of several cancers, but it is still unclear in the prognosis of patients with CN-AML.

METHODS
We integrated CN-AML patients samples from 4 datasets to analyze the relationship between TROAP expression and the survival of CN-AML. In addition, we investigated 92 AML patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to analyze the relationship between TROAP expression and the survival of AML patients received chemotherapy. We investigated the relationship between the expression of TROAP and drug sensitivity in AML cell lines.

RESULTS
CN-AML patients with high TROAP expression were related to good event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). In AML patients received chemotherapy, high TROAP expression was associated with good survival prognosis. Additionally, the expression of TROAP gene in leukemia stem cells (LSC) + group was lower. Among multiple drugs, the lower the expression of TROAP, the lower the IC50.

CONCLUSION
TROAP could serve as an independent predictor of CN-AML patients and could act as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of CN-AML. TROAP expression levels were closely correlated with the drug sensitivity of multiple drugs.


We present the theoretical and experimental results of water surface wave in a trough with periodical topographic bottom under parametric excitation. There are 19 steps of the same size periodically inserted into the trough. It is found that waveforms observed in the experiment are consistent with theoretical ones. Moreover, some complex and interesting phenomena arise in the experiment due to nonlinearity.


Character formation is one of the national educational goals as set out in article I.UU Sisdiknas year 2003. During this time at the formal level of school tends to character education only transformed through a particular lesson such as religion, Pancasila and character only. Though Character education can be integrated with other subjects such as Mathematics and Science. This literature review aims to describe the integration of character education in Mathematics and Science lessons. This literature review provides a formulation of how character education can be integrated in Mathematics and Science lessons. With the integration of character education to some of these lessons support the achievement of our naisonal education is the development of the potential of learners to have intelligence, personality and noble character.


Simulation can be an important conceptual and practical tool to support the engineering of multi-agent systems (MAS), in different ways —testing in particular. In this paper we consider the case in which simulation is applied and exploited directly upon a MAS developed using an existing agent programming/MAS programming platform. That is: without requiring to model and simulate agents and their environment using a different platform (e.g., an agent-based simulation one). In particular, we describe the design and prototype implementation of JaCaMo-sim, an extension of the JaCaMo platform that makes it possible to both run and simulate the execution of MAS programs based on BDI agents written in Jason, situated in artifact-based environments developed in CArtAgO. The tool can be useful for different aspects that concern MAS engineering, from MAS testing at development time to – in perspective – agent decision making support at runtime.


PURPOSE
Quantitative imaging analysis has great potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of cancer research, but the lack of software infrastructure prohibits progress from developing and using its methods. We have developed a software platform to flexibly support common quantitative imaging analysis tasks such as multimodality image data import and review, feature algorithm development, predictive model design, and consistent data sharing among multi-institutions.

METHODS
The IBEX(Imaging Biomarker Explorer) software package was developed under Matlab and C/C++. The software architecture deploys the modern Model-View-Controller (MVC) and unit testing programming concepts to isolate each task and to validate if their relevant data and algorithms are fit for use. The View component represents multimodality images with delineated structures (if available), which are imported using DICOM, CERR, or other native formats. Non-image data, such as patient performance status can also be entered. The Controller component represents image pre-processing and feature extraction algorithms. The Model component represents the predictive model formula and coefficients. Thanks to the unit testing implementation, the user has the option of reviewing the corresponding result to check the quality of data and algorithms at each stage. While IBEX itself is self-contained and has implemented typical algorithms and models, it is an open system and additional algorithms and models can be easily added by defining them in library files. Also, a complete external model can be imported, including necessary data about pre-processing algorithms, feature algorithms, model formula, and model coefficients. This greatly helps maintain data consistency when institutions attempt to validate external models.

RESULTS
Testers found the IBEX software to be intuitive and easy to use. All import, pre-processing algorithms, and feature algorithms were fully validated.

CONCLUSION
We have successfully implemented an open software infrastructure platform to accelerate work on quantitative imaging analysis and collaborative research activities. This work was funded by the NCI(1R03CA178495-01).


Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) is the first and rate limiting catabolic enzyme in the degradation pathway of the essential amino acid tryptophan. By cleaving the aromatic indole ring of tryptophan, IDO initiates the production of a variety of tryptophan degradation products called "kynurenines" that are known to exert important immuno-regulatory functions. Because tryptophan must be supplied in the diet, regulation of tryptophan catabolism may exert profound effects by activating or inhibiting metabolism and immune responses. Important for survival, the regulation of IDO biosynthesis and its activity in cells of the immune system can critically alter their responses to immunological insults, such as infection, autoimmunity and cancer. In this review, we assess how IDO-mediated catabolism of tryptophan can modulate the immune system to arrest inflammation, suppress immunity to cancer and inhibit allergy, autoimmunity and the rejection of transplanted tissues. Finally, we examine how vaccines may enhance immune suppression of autoimmunity through the upregulation of IDO biosynthesis in human dendritic cells.


Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be an alternative to conventional autopsy. However, it is unclear how confident radiologists are in reporting such studies. We sought to determine the confidence with which radiologists report on various fetal organs by developing a scale to express their confidence of normality and abnormality, and to place this in the context of a pathological diagnosis of whether the organ was in fact normal or abnormal.


Transfer learning for partial differential equations (PDEs) is to develop a pre-trained neural network that can be used to solve a wide class of PDEs. Existing transfer learning approaches require much information of the target PDEs such as its formulation and/or data of its solution for pre-training. In this work, we propose to construct transferable neural feature spaces from purely function approximation perspectives without using PDE information. The construction of the feature space involves re-parameterization of the hidden neurons and uses auxiliary functions to tune the resulting feature space. Theoretical analysis shows the high quality of the produced feature space, i.e., uniformly distributed neurons. Extensive numerical experiments verify the outstanding performance of our method, including significantly improved transferability, e.g., using the same feature space for various PDEs with different domains and boundary conditions, and the superior accuracy, e.g., several orders of magnitude smaller mean squared error than the state of the art methods.


Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system of the patient starts attacking healthy tissues of the body. Lupus Nephritis (LN) refers to the inflammation of kidney tissues resulting in renal failure due to these attacks. The International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) has released a classification system based on various patterns observed during renal injury in SLE. Traditional methods require meticulous pathological assessment of the renal biopsy and are time-consuming. Recently, computational techniques have helped to alleviate this issue by using virtual microscopy or Whole Slide Imaging (WSI). With the use of deep learning and modern computer vision techniques, we propose a pipeline that is able to automate the process of 1) detection of various glomeruli patterns present in these whole slide images and 2) classification of each image using the extracted glomeruli features.


Desertification is an escalating concern in global drylands, yet assessments to guide management and policy responses are limited by ambiguity concerning the definition of "desertification" and what processes are involved. To improve clarity, we propose that assessments of desertification and land transformation be placed within a state change–land-use change (SC–LUC) framework. This framework considers desertification as state changes occurring within the context of particular land uses (eg rangeland, cropland) that interact with land-use change. State changes that can be readily reversed are distinguished from regime shifts, which are state changes involving persistent alterations to vegetation or soil properties. Pressures driving the transformation of rangelands to other types of land uses may be low, fluctuating, or high, and may influence and be influenced by state change. We discuss how the SC–LUC perspective can guide more effective assessment of desertification and management of drylands.


In this paper, we quantify the performance analysis of PingPong-128 keystream generator for wireless sensor networks. Although, PingPong-128 is not a standard stream cipher but still PingPong-128 keystream generator is an idea for resource constrained WSNs and can be widely used in the applications of secure communication, where the communication nodes have limited computation processing and storage capabilities while requiring sufficient levels of security. We present a performance comparison of PingPong-128 with other stream ciphers selected in European Project Ecrypt called eSTREAM project, namely Dragon, HC-128, and Rabbit. Apart from that, we are also considering RC-4 stream ciphers for comparison with pingpong-128 for wireless sensor networks.


Disparities in health care are pervasive, but the patterns vary substantially across the nation. Solutions to eliminate health care disparities associated with patient race, ethnicity, income, education, geography, and other factors must be customized to address the specific circumstances of each community. The urgency of addressing disparities exceeds the available evidence to do so. In this context, community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers an appealing strategy to develop the requisite evidence while improving care.Using case studies from their experience, Moreno and colleagues convey a thoughtful, realistic account of the University of California, Los Angeles Family Medicine CBPR experience focused on addressing disparities in health and health care among racial/ethnic minority immigrant populations in a Los Angeles County community. This report highlights both the potential for community transformation and the challenges encountered by medical student researchers in the quest to establish meaningful partnerships that promote and value community members' contributions to the research areas under study, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing health care disparities.The authors of this commentary believe that the ongoing national debate addressing the need to reform the health care system in the United States and reduce health and health care disparities for underserved populations will bring increased focus on applying the tenets of CBPR. Sustaining relevant health care services research that engages community partners, researchers, and funders is a promising model of community engagement with potential for replication and sustainability.


Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) comprise a large proportion of work-related illnesses in the USA. Physical risk factors including manual force and segmental vibration have been associated with UEMSDs. Reduced sensitivity to vibration in the fingertips (a function of nerve integrity) has been found in those exposed to segmental vibration, to hand force, and in office workers. The objective of this study was to determine whether an association exists between digital vibration thresholds (VTs) and exposure to ergonomic stressors in automobile manufacturing. Interviews and physical examinations were conducted in a cross-sectional survey of workers (n=1174). In multivariable robust regression modelling, associations with workers' estimates of ergonomic stressors stratified on tool use were determined. VTs were separately associated with hand force, vibration as felt through the floor (whole body vibration), and with an index of multiple exposures in both tool users and non-tool users. Additional associations with contact stress and awkward upper extremity postures were found in tool users. Segmental vibration was not associated with VTs. Further epidemiologic and laboratory studies are needed to confirm the associations found. The association with self-reported whole body vibration exposure suggests a possible sympathetic nervous system effect, which remains to be explored.


1. Owing to the increase of boat-traffic in the ocean many studies have been conducted to determine the response of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) to this kind of disturbance. This species is affected by boats in various ways and the response depends on the behavioural state of the dolphin but also on the kind of vessel. 2. This study aimed to determine the effect of motorboats and trawlers on dolphins' presence, permanence in the area and whistle parameters in Lampedusa waters (Italy). Sampling was carried out between May and December 2006 and between July and September 2009, using experimental passive acoustic monitoring systems (PAM); a total of 300 h of recordings and 3000 whistles were analysed. 3. The dolphins' behavioural strategies depend on the kind of boats: in the case of motorboats, dolphins preferred to leave the area as the disturbance became too heavy to be tolerated; in the case of trawlers, dolphins changed their acoustic behaviour to compensate for the masking noise. 4. The study highlighted the efficacy of PAM to detect the behavioural response of dolphins, suggesting a novel approach to assessing anthropogenic influences on marine mammal vocalizations in the absence of visual observations. Copyright # 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 24 July 2012; Revised 26 February 2013; Accepted 03March 2013


OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible asbestos contamination of paraffin and migration by asbestos fibers during the tissue-embedding process.

DESIGN
Three sample categories were included in the study: (1) commercially available paraffin samples; (2) procedural control samples, which were prepared by processing the paraffin through the use of standard solvents and instruments; and (3) samples taken from areas adjacent to embedded tissue and evaluated for migration of asbestos from the tissue into the surrounding paraffin. The analysis of collected material from all samples was performed with analytical transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS
Only one extremely small tremolite fiber was found in any of the commercially available samples of paraffin. No asbestos fibers were found either in the procedural control samples or in the samples taken adjacent to the embedded lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONS
First, it was extremely unlikely that any of the commercial paraffin samples would have skewed data due to embedded tissue. Second, the processing and instrumentation was not found to contribute asbestos material to the paraffin during the preparations. Finally, embedded tissue that contained high numbers of fibers, both uncoated fibers and asbestos bodies, did not contribute asbestos to the adjacent paraffin.


The ATM performance over fiber-optic terrestrial networks is known to achieve high quality-of service (QoS) classes supporting different traffic types, and very low probability of bit errors, A probability of cell-loss on the order of 10/sup -10/ and a bit-error-rate (BER) on the order of 10/sup -8/ for data services are made possible on fiber-optic links. In contrast to the fiber-optic case, satellite transmission is often subjected to a large number of channel errors due to atmospheric noise and channel interference. Therefore, in order to achieve a fiber-optic like performance on the satellite channel, forward-error-correction (FEC) codes are essential for both the header and data fields of the ATM cell. This paper discusses two different FEC coding schemes for the ATM cell header. In addition, a FEC code design for data services (corresponding to AAL5) is presented. In the analysis we assume that there are no significant burst errors problem on the SATCOM link, and errors due to channel transmissions are mostly random errors.


ABSTRACT We examined how population structure affects seed set and recruitment in the dioecious plant Antennaria dioica, which is a declining species inhabiting semi-natural grasslands in Sweden. Flowering and sex ratio in A. dioica were studied over 4 y at a local (1.2 km2) scale and over 1 y at a regional (742 km2) scale in southern Sweden. Antennaria dioica was also hand-pollinated during 2y to examine whether sex ratios, male abundance, and distance to nearest male influence the degree of pollen limitation. Seed-sowing experiments were conducted to assess whether recruitment is limited by seed or microsite availability. There was a considerable spatio-temporal variation in both flowering and sex ratios. The regional scale survey showed that patch size and number of patches per site were positively correlated, and small patches of A.dioica tended to have biased sex ratios. Experimental hand-pollinations showed that the degree of pollen limitation increased with increasingly female-biased sex ratios in the closest vicinity of the experimental plants. Thus, even though A. dioica is pollinated by many different insects, a fragmented population structure has a large influence on reproductive performance of A. dioica. The seed-sowing experiments showed that recruitment is limited by a combination of seed and microsite availability. It is therefore plausible that reduced seed production due to pollen limitation translates into reduced recruitment. The results from the local and the regional scale indicate that a large fraction of local patches and populations of A. dioica have decreased sexual reproduction. The conclusion is that A. dioica is likely to be particularly sensitive to habitat fragmentation.


Traditional optimization methods for decison-making under uncertainty assume perfect model information. In practice, however, such precise knowledge is rarely available. Thus, optimal decisions coming from these approaches can be very sensitive to perturbations and unreliable. Stochastic optimization programs take into account uncertainty but are intractable in general and need to be approximated. Of late, distributionally robust optimization methods have shown to be powerful tools to reformulate stochastic programs in a tractable way. Moreover, the recent advent of cheap sensing devices has caused the explosion of available historical data, usually referred to as "Big Data". Thus, modern optimization techniques are shifting from traditional methods to data-driven approaches. In this thesis, we derive data-driven tractable reformulations for stochastic optimization programs based on distributionally robust optimization. In the first part of this work we provide our theoretical contributions. New distributionally robust probability bounds are derived and used to reformulate uncertain optimization programs assuming limited information about the uncertainty. Then, we show how this information can be derived from historical data. In the second part of this work, we compare the developed methods to support vector machines in a machine learning setting and to randomized optimization and in a control context.


The course of natural disasters is hard to forecast. Especially, these events do not stop at man-made borders between countries. In order to achieve a high resilience, it is important to overcome language and culture barriers and thereby to fasten the information and capacity exchange. Hence, a scenario-based simulation of cross-border communication and cooperation in crisis management yields a high potential to analyze different trajectories of a crisis and to find strategies for fast and robust reactions. Thereby, it can lead to a significant improvement of the resilience in a cross-border region. To this purpose, the paper outlines the scope for an agent-based simulation of cross-border cooperation in the case of a power blackout. For selected scenarios the simulation illustrates the dynamic evolution of the crisis where the failure of critical infrastructure together with people behavior directly affect the coping capacity of the health system. Taking an event-based perspective, it is possible to identify the root cause or first order effects of cascade failures which makes it possible to propose appropriate preventive measures. A second type of analysis refers to the interoperability of authorities. It can be analyzed how communication and coordination among actors of different nationalities can be improved such that delays in information flows are minimized. The mentioned multi-agent system is developed as part of the INCA-project, a decision framework for improving cross-border area resilience. Apart therefrom, the project comprises behavioural studies, expert interviews and workshops, which lead to a deeper understanding of the character of a cross-border area. By finding a robust strategy for the optimal intervention to dampen cascading effects in critical infrastructure and to minimize delays in information flows, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of the border region.


A 43-year-old man came to our hospital for further examination of a thoracic abnormality pointed out on a check-up examination. Chest X-ray revealed a protruding tumor shadow on the right diaphragm. The patient had a history of right precordial contusion due to a traffic accident about 2 years previously, and after the injury a shadow appeared which gradually became larger, suggesting traumatic right diaphragmatic rupture-induced hernia. Chest CT scan revealed middle hepatic vein within the tumor without changes such as deviation and/or stenosis and hepatoparenchymatous tumor. Ultrasonography revealed the tumor to comprise a part of the liver (S4, S8) with the normal internal echo and the right diaphragm dividing the liver parenchyma in two, intrathoracically and intraperitoneally. The above led to the diagnosis of right diaphragmatic hernia, which probably was caused by the traffic injury and gradually increased during approximately 2 years. In cases of suspected traumatic right hemidiaphragmatic hernia, ultrasonography is regarded as useful.


To identify alternative rainy season crops that fit into the production zone of Northern Telangana, 11 lines of extra-short duration pigeonpeas (ESDP) [Cajanus cajan] which mature in 110-120 days were evaluated at research stations and farmers' fields during 1990-93. Yields ranged from 1.4 to 1.7 t/ha for the lines ICPL85010, ICPL88034 and ICPL84031. A further trial of ICPL85010 and other local crops confirmed that ESDP were the most profitable rainy season crop, and that they fitted into existing cropping systems and avoided Helicoverpa armigera infestation. Prolonged drought during flowering and pod development, pre-harvest sprouting and damage caused by Maruca testulalis [Maruca vitrata] may provide constraints to their adoption.


Laser diodes with the p-substrate buried-crescent structure have been fabricated for the 1.2-1.55- mu m wavelength region. The dependence of laser characteristics on wavelength has been measured. Up to 70 degrees C, the increasing rates of the threshold current with temperature are similar, while, above 70 degrees C, a shorter-wavelength laser shows a larger increasing rate. At the same full width at half maximum of the far-field pattern perpendicular to the junction plane, the external differential quantum efficiency of the 1.55- mu m laser diode is only 10% smaller than that of the 1.3- mu m laser. The absorption loss coefficients in the active layer of the 1.2-, 1.3-, and 1.55- mu m laser are estimated to be 26, 34, and 73 cm/sup -1/, respectively. >


The basic concept of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is that both the developed and developing countries benefit from this mechanism. Contributing two objectives; sustainable development to developing countries and emission reduction credit to developed countries, CDM is also expected to contribute to the developing countries' national development goals. In addition, CDM has potential to support "technological leapfrogging" for the developing countries to bypass the inefficient technological choices, adopted by the developed countries during their industrial period (Philbert, 2004). Hence beyond its primary objectives, CDM is considered as a Technology Transfer (TT) tool to boost technology transfer and diffusion between the developed and developing countries. However, with the increase in the number of CDM projects in developing countries, there are increasing concerns on the geographic distribution of CDM projects (e.g. Nelwamondo 2008, Dechezlepretre et al. 2008) , the benefits between the countries (Ellis et al. 2007), and the perceived lack of technology transfer within the CDM (Nelwamondo 2008). This paper begins with description of the CDM as a TT tool with some contemporary scenarios in present CDM projects and analyses some factors affecting TT among different developing countries. Some issues as sustainability and distributive issues of the CDM projects are also dealt to find whether there are some gaps or limitations in present CDM scenario with respect to the technology transfer. Finally the paper tends to make some conclusions and recommendations for improving the technology performance of the CDM projects.

This study has used mainly the UNEP Risoe Center CDM Pipeline database and some literatures as the main information sources. Since searching data from the Project Design Documents (PDDs) would be time consuming, and also the required data for the analysis were already synthesized in some literatures as Coninck et al. 2007, Dechezlepretre et al. 2007 and Dechezlepretre et al. 2008; the analyzed data are used for the study of the section – CDM as a technology transfer tool. For the sections – factors affecting technology transfer and emerging concept in CDM, literature review was conducted to arrive to the conclusion.


The study was conducted at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Chillicothe, in the northern Texas Rolling Plains for four years from 1997 to 2000. The objective was to determine the relationship between nonstructural carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose) in cotton leaves and change in cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, numbers during late summer. The two whole plot treatments were cotton grown without irrigation (dryland) and irrigated cotton with last irrigation in late August. The two subplot treatments within each whole plot were an untreated check and a plot treated twice during the growing season with lambdacyhalothrin to stimulate aphid population increase. The sugar ratio (glucose + fructose/sucrose concentrations) was higher in irrigated plots compared with levels in dryland plots. Regression analysis indicated that change in aphid numbers was influenced by numbers of aphids per leaf, temperature, leaf moisture, and sugar ratio. A negative linear relationship was observed between change in aphid numbers and sugar ratio; population growth was limited by high levels of glucose and fructose in cotton leaves, especially when temperatures were high and leaf moisture low.


High availability and performance are two desirable properties for the execution of long-running parallel scientific applications on software DSM based clusters. Global resource management in the operating system is a way to achieve these properties. To illustrate this approach, a system integrating a paged-based shared virtual memory and a parallel file system for global management of memory and disk resources is presented. Main design issues include the optimization of disk accesses in the context of a single level storage system and fault tolerance.


Cluster validity indexes aim at evaluating the degree to which a partition obtained from a clustering algorithm approximates the real structure of a data set. Most of them reduce to the search of the right number of clusters. This paper presents such a new validity index for fuzzy clustering based on the aggregation of the resulting membership degrees with no additional information, e.g. lite geometrical structure of the data. It exploits the tendency for a data point to belong to a unique cluster, i.e. both the tendency to belong to one cluster and the tendency not to belong to the others clusters.


One hundred and ninety-one cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were entered in a trial in which, for five months, all received cytotoxic therapy with prednisolone, vincristine, mercaptopurine, L-asparaginase, and methotrexate (the latter in high dosage followed by folinic acid). Patients were then randomized to receive immunotherapy (B.C.G.), twice-weekly methotrexate, or no further treatment. One hundred and seventy-seven patients (93%) achieved full remission and at the time of analysis, 26 months from the beginning of the trial, 143 were still alive, including 70 in their first remission. Median "post-intensive" remission lengths were 17 weeks (no treatment), 27 weeks (B.C.G.), and 52 weeks (methotrexate). The prolongation of remission by methotrexate was most evident in those patients with low initial white cell counts. B.C.G. seemed to cause lymphocytosis but was without other conspicuous effect. The incidence of toxic reactions is reported, including an unusually low rate of anaphylaxis with L-asparaginase. These preliminary results are discussed and compared with those of similar trials.


The psychoanalytic references to embarrassment are reviewed. Embarrassment, in the literature, is seen largely as an affect involving exhibitionistic and scopophilic conflicts and defenses against these. A case in which embarrassment was prominent is discussed. Embarrassment in the patient was an ego response which implied an external object for its manifestation. It involved exhibitionistic and scopophilic conflicts and projective defenses, but also operated in ego-gratifying and adaptive ways. Her embarrassment was understood through the analysis of an initial embarrassing dream of nakedness and other dreams and associated material as the defensive out-grouth of repeated exposures to the primal scene. Embarrassment was a resistance to remembering in the analysis, and the primal-scene experiences were partially reconstructed. The analytic situation was, in many ways, a symbolic re-creation of the primal scene, including the patient's response of embarrassment. The development of embarrassment in the patient's childhood was furthered and confirmed by its being an identification with the attitudes of both parents. Finally, some reflections on embarrassment and shame in its various forms are set forth.


An adaptive phase-locked loop (PLL) architecture for high-performance tuning systems is described. The architecture combines contradictory requirements posed by different performance aspects. Adaptation of loop parameters occurs continuously, without switching or loop tilter components, and without interaction from outside of the tuning system. The relationship of performance aspects (settling time, phase noise, and spurious signals) to design variables (loop bandwidth, phase margin, and loop filter attenuation at the reference frequency) are presented, and the basic tradeoffs of the new concept are discussed. A circuit implementation of the adaptive PLL, optimized for use in a multiband (global) car-radio tuner IC, is described in detail. The realized tuning system achieved state-of-the-art settling time and spectral purity performance in its class (integer- N PLL's): a signal-tonoise ratio of 65 dB, a 100-kHz spurious reference breakthrough signal under -81 dBc, and a residual settling error of 3 kHz after 1 ms, for a 20-MHz frequency step. It simultaneously fulfills the speed requirements for inaudible frequency hopping and the heavy signal-to-noise ratio specification of 64 dB.


The growth of the Internet has increased multi-folds in recent years. The Internet has become the medium of communication since the Covid-19 pandemic had started. The usage of communication via online means that the audio and visual content has also increased rapidly. Though it has been a boon for the major section of the people, differently-abled like the hearing-impaired people have limited resources to make use of. This project is aimed to design an application that converts the speech and text input into a sequence of sign language visuals. Speech recognition is used to convert the input audio to text and it is further translated into sign language. Natural Language Processing algorithms are used for word segmentation and extraction of root words. The translation happens to the Indian Sign Language in an effort to make this project more regional to the people of India.


Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is diagnosed by the presence of ❑ 250 polymorph nuclear cells (PMN) per milliliter (ml) in ascitic fluid. However, the procedure is time-consuming, operator-dependent, and not always readily available. Calprotectin is a cytosolic protein in neutrophilic leukocytes that is released in response to inflammatory processes. In the GI tract calprotectin in feces is considered a valid marker of intestinal inflammation. Aims and Methods: The study aimed to assess the role of calprotectin concentrations in ascites for the diagnosis of SBP. Forty patients [mean age 50±2 years, 10 (25%) females] with HCV liver cirrhosis. Who were referred for paracentesis were included in this study; the following investigations were performed: Serum-ascites albumin gradient, ascitic PMN cell count (microscopic hand-count), bacterial cultures and cytological analysis. In addition, ascitic calprotectin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Ascitic calprotectin values measured by ELISA correlated well with PMN cell count (p-value=0.001, rho—F0.729). Calprotectin levels of patients with PMN ❑ 250/m1 (N=8, 20%) were higher than in patients with PMN <250/ml (N=32, 80%). Ascitic calprotectin values correlated well with albumin level (p-value=0.001, rho=-0.716). Conclusion: Measurement of calprotectin in ascites might be a valuable surrogate marker for PMN cell count. It might be valuable for the rapid diagnosis of SBP.


Genetic markers have recently been found to be much more polymorphic than expected. Such extensive human polymorphisms may be partly explained by a number of genetic and environmental factors, including infectious diseases. Malaria, which was very widespread in the past and still poses a problem in many countries today, is a good candidate for research. The association between malaria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is well-known, but more should be done to determine the mechanisms responsible for this positive correlation and to confirm that malaria is a strong selective factor for many other genotypes also. The present paper refers to a WHO project on genetic markers and susceptibility to infectious diseases, which is concerned mainly with G6PD deficiency and the following genetic markers: haemoglobinopathies, including the beta-thalassaemia trait and ABO, Rh, MN, Duffy, secretory types (Ss), and human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Since malaria was eradicated in Bulgaria many years ago, human populations from this country, living at different altitudes above sea-level, were used as a model for analysis of the malaria hypothesis. The data for G6PD deficiency confirm that malaria was a selective factor in lowland areas where malaria infection was more frequent in the past. It is, moreover, apparent that in addition to malaria some other factors also play a selective role.


by contrast they consider that other symptoms are basic to the disease process of depressive illness and are not modified by personality. In the latter group are insomnia, changes in appetite and weight, decrease (or increase) of libido and diurnal mood variation. Unfortunately for their case, the authors selected the Maudsley Personality Inventory as the measure of personality. This questionnaire is a very poor mdi cator of personality when completed by a sick person, for its component scales are constructed from a mixture of trait and state items, and the manner in which these items are completed is heavily influenced by illness. The almost universal finding offalling N scores and rising E scores on recovery from depressive illness attests to this, as does the finding in the authors' own paper of a high correlation between the MPI scores and the severity of illness as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory. The finding of lower, but still significant, correlations between the N and E scores and the various sub-groups of the Beck Inventory which deal with psychological symptoms merely reflects a coincidence of items. Conversely, the lack of significant correlations between the MPI and the authors' †̃¿ functional shift' symptoms is related to the virtual absence of such items in the MPI. The authors state : †̃¿ These findings as a whole suggest that the Beck Depression Inventory may be measuring personality factors reflecting the under lying illness process rather than estimating the illness itself.' With probably greater justification this state ment could be inverted to read that the Maudsley Personality Inventory, far from measuring underlying personality, is a measure of the sickness itself. The production of personality trait measures based upon self-rating and unaffected by illness has so far defeated all who have attempted it, possibly because they have failed to consider the methodological problems involved. Spielberger, in his State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, probably comes nearest to a solution to the problem by the technique of repeated rating of much the same set of items to indicate the individual's view of his present state as opposed to his usual (pre morbid) state; however, even this refinement will fail to distinguish basic personality from illness in a large proportion of the chronically sick. Until better instruments are devised, research of the type undertaken by the authors must rely upon techniques for assessing personality other than those based upon self-rating. Finally, I wish to point out that the authors have misrepresented my own contribution to this field of inquiry (Snaith etal, 1971, Psychological Medicine,i, pp 239—47). In that paper we studiedpatientswho had recovered from depressive illness, and using a battery of self-rating questionnaires, including the MPI, we found no significant correlations between the scores and any of the features of the illness which we were considering.


In the article there are considered problems of formation of the humanistic world outlook of schoolboys on an example of studying of subjects of a natural-science cycle. There are described stages of formation of the humanistic world outlook; it is shown the role of ecological and valeological education in development of tolerant consciousness of the pupil's personality.


Amylase A from Dictyoglomus thermophilum is a thermophilic enzyme and has about 40% identity with 4-α-glucanotransferase (GTase) from Thermococcus litoralis, and both of these enzymes belong to family 57 glycosyl hydrolase. Since the transglycosylation activity of T. litoralis GTase has been well characterized, the substrate specificity and reaction products of amylase A from D. thermophilum were examined. α-1,4 Glucan was produced from maltooligosaccharides, and glucoamylase-resistant molecules (cycloamyloses) were produced from longer chain amylose (average molecular mass 200 kDa). It has been reported that amylase A from D. thermophilum hydrolyzes starch, but in this study it was found that the enzyme was also able to use maltooligosaccharides and long chain amylose as substrate and has transglycosylation activity.


Background Iliac vein stenting has emerged as a therapeutic option in chronic venous disease. The optimal stent size is unknown but should match normal caliber at a minimum. Methods Teleology: The iliac-femoral outflow caliber was measured by Duplex in healthy volunteers to determine normal caliber. Patient IVUS data: The distribution curve of IVUS planimetry data in 345 chronic venous disease limbs was analyzed: values at the right tail end of the curve should approach normal values according to distribution theory. The optimal stent size was also projected using Poiseuille equation and Young's scaling rule. Results The optimal stent sizes in the common iliac, external iliac, and common femoral vein segments are: 16, 14, and 12 mm diameters, respectively. Conclusion Stent correction of iliac vein stenosis should aim to restore the lumen to the minimum recommended caliber during the initial procedure and later re-interventions.


The Pan-African Investment Code (PAIC) is the first continent-wide African model investment treaty elaborated under the auspices of the African Union. The PAIC has been drafted from the perspective of developing and least-developed countries with a view to promote sustainable development. The PAIC contains a number of Africa-specific and innovative features, which presumably makes it today a unique legal instrument. Written in a time where the international investment community is still debating the future of international investment law, this article seeks to present and contextualize this first African model investment treaty. The article highlights the most innovative features of the PAIC, such as the reformulation of traditional investment treaty provisions and the introduction of direct obligations for investors.


Overview Useful For Carrier detection and diagnosis of Tay-Sachs disease Recommended test for carrier detection of Tay-Sachs disease Carrier detection and diagnosis of Sandhoff disease Genetics Test Information Testing for Tay-Sachs Disease and Sandhoff Disease The following tests are available for diagnostic and carrier testing for Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. NAGR / Hexosaminidase A and Total, Leukocytes/Molecular Reflex: -This is the recommended test for carrier testing for Tay-Sachs disease. -Testing begins with hexosaminidase A and total enzyme analysis. If the results are consistent with an affected or carrier individual, Tay-Sachs mutation analysis will automatically be performed on the original specimen. -This is not the recommended test for Sandhoff disease; however, if the results are suggestive of Sandhoff disease or carrier status, this will be indicated in the interpretive comment along with recommendations for additional testing. Follow-up testing for Sandhoff must be ordered separately. -This test is appropriate for males and pregnant or nonpregnant females. NAGW / Hexosaminidase A and Total Hexosaminidase, Leukocytes: -This test can be used for diagnosis and carrier testing for Tay-Sachs disease or Sandhoff disease. -Results for hexosaminidase A and total enzyme analysis are reported with recommendations for additional testing when appropriate. All follow-up testing must be ordered separately on new specimens. -This test is appropriate for males and pregnant or nonpregnant females. NAGS / Hexosaminidase A and Total Hexosaminidase, Serum: -This is the recommended test for diagnosis and carrier testing for Sandhoff disease. This test also can be used for diagnosis and carrier testing for Tay-Sachs disease. -Results for hexosaminidase A and total enzyme analysis are reported with recommendations for additional testing when appropriate. -If results indicate normal, indeterminate, or carrier status and the suspicion of Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) remains high, MUGS / Hexosaminidase A (MUGS), Serum for TSD-B1 variant can typically be added and performed on the same specimen. -With the exception of MUGS, all follow-up testing must be ordered separately on new specimens.


In this paper, we propose a new de-noising algorithm for 2 dimensional image using discrete wavelet transform. The proposed algorithm consists of edge detection in spatial domain, zero-tree estimation, subband estimation, and shrinkage algorithm. The results from it shows that the denoised image which is damaged by 20% gaussian noise has 28㏈ quality for the original one.


Recently Postnikov gave a combinatorial description of the cells in a totally-nonnegative Grassmannian. These cells correspond to a special class of matroids called positroids. There are many interesting combinatorial objects associated to a positroid. We introduce some recent results, including the generalization and proof of the purity conjecture by Leclerc and Zelevinsky on weakly separated sets.


Privacy-preserving cross-domain recommendation (PPCDR) refers to preserving the privacy of users when transferring the knowledge from source domain to target domain for better performance, which is vital for the long-term development of recommender systems. Existing work on cross-domain recommendation (CDR) reaches advanced and satisfying recommendation performance, but mostly neglects preserving privacy. To fill this gap, we propose a privacy-preserving generative cross-domain recommendation (PPGenCDR) framework for PPCDR. PPGenCDR includes two main modules, i.e., stable privacy-preserving generator module, and robust cross-domain recommendation module. Specifically, the former isolates data from different domains with a generative adversarial network (GAN) based model, which stably estimates the distribution of private data in the source domain with ́Renyi differential privacy (RDP) technique. Then the latter aims to robustly leverage the perturbed but effective knowledge from the source domain with the raw data in target domain to improve recommendation performance. Three key modules, i.e., (1) selective privacy preserver, (2) GAN stabilizer, and (3) robustness conductor, guarantee the cost-effective trade-off between utility and privacy, the stability of GAN when using RDP, and the robustness of leveraging transferable knowledge accordingly. The extensive empirical studies on Douban and Amazon datasets demonstrate that PPGenCDR significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art recommendation models while preserving privacy.


Approximately half of all people with diabetes develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and half experience pain. Guidelines recommend pregabalin, gabapentin, and duloxetine (a selective norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SNRI]) due to their demonstrated efficacy and safety. Topical analgesics, tricyclic anti-depressants (TCA), and anti-convulsants may also be used. Opioids are discouraged due to lack of effectiveness, risk of addiction, and safety concerns. To promote safe evidence-based pain management, we examined pain medication use by adults diagnosed with DPN between 2002-2019 in an integrated healthcare system across 5 states. We identified 13,815 adults with newly diagnosed DPN; mean age 66 (SD, 13) years, 42% female, 93% white, 29% insulin-treated. Overall, 56% received a pain medication from DPN diagnosis (1 month prior or continued from baseline) to 2 years later. Limiting to treatment pathways observed in ≥1% of cases, opioids were the most used 1st line medication, followed by gabapentin and others (Figure). Opioids and gabapentin were also the most prevalent 2nd line drugs. High rates of opioid use by patients with DPN, a life-long pain syndrome, are concerning particularly as safer effective treatment options are available. Further research is needed to identify drivers of opioid use and barriers to evidence-based alternatives, and develop interventions to improve DPN management in clinical practice. Disclosure J. Fan: None. M.M. Jeffery: None. W. Hooten: None. N. Shah: None. R.G. McCoy: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (K23DK114497)


The creep crack growth behavior of 1Cr-1 1/4Mo-1/4V steel was investigated at 565°C using center-notched plate specimens with proportional geometry in order to identify the most probable governing mechanical parameter of the phenomenon. It was found that even for this low ductile material the creep crack growth rate could successfully be correlated with modified J-integral J', regardless of the specimen size, while the stress intensity factor KI and the net section stress σnet gave poor correlation with the crack growth rate. This result was quite consistent with those obtained in previous papers using SUS 304 stainless steel which has a relatively high ductility. It was concluded that J' was the most probable mechanical parameter which governed the creep crack growth behavior.


Objective: The role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) as a direct immune regulator has not yet been clarified, and more work is needed to assess its involvement in the immunoneuroendocrine network. In the present study, the effects of neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy (NIL) and desmopressin (DP), an agonist of AVP, on acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in female Lewis rats were evaluated. The activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis was also assessed. Methods: Five groups of rats were used, as follows: (1) sham-operated (SHAM) rats, (2) SHAM + DP rats, (3) NIL rats, (4) NIL + DP rats and (5) untreated normal control rats. DP treatment started 2 weeks after surgery, and immunization to induce EAE was carried out 1 week later. Results: SHAM rats developed full-blown clinical and histological signs of EAE and activation of the HPA axis. SHAM + DP animals had mild clinical signs of EAE, inflammatory infiltrations in the spinal cord and an activated HPA axis. NIL animals developed minimal EAE, scanty spinal cord inflammation and no changes in HPA axis activity. NIL + DP rats developed severe clinical signs of EAE, extensive spinal cord inflammatory infiltrations and marked activation of the HPA axis. Conclusions: NIL decreased the cell-mediated immune response, while DP in NIL animals restored the immune response. AVP is directly involved in the maintenance of immune competence.


We present the design, implementation, and application of several families of fast multiplierless approximations of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) with the lifting scheme called the binDCT. These binDCT families are derived from Chen's (1977) and Loeffler's (1989) plane rotation-based factorizations of the DCT matrix, respectively, and the design approach can also be applied to a DCT of arbitrary size. Two design approaches are presented. In the first method, an optimization program is defined, and the multiplierless transform is obtained by approximating its solution with dyadic values. In the second method, a general lifting-based scaled DCT structure is obtained, and the analytical values of all lifting parameters are derived, enabling dyadic approximations with different accuracies. Therefore, the binDCT can be tuned to cover the gap between the Walsh-Hadamard transform and the DCT. The corresponding two-dimensional (2-D) binDCT allows a 16-bit implementation, enables lossless compression, and maintains satisfactory compatibility with the floating-point DCT. The performance of the binDCT in JPEG, H.263+, and lossless compression is also demonstrated.


Case reports of women presenting with symptoms due to underlying endometrial ossification were traced to countries as diverse as Hong Kong, USA, The Netherlands, Spain, India, Tunisia, and Cote d'Ivoire. Therefore, it seems worthwhile to compare such data with the 19 cases gathered over the years personally in a developing community comprising of a large Ethnic Group, the Ibos. Furthermore, following the example of a Birmingham (UK) group, this was achieved by establishing a histopathology data pool, observing that it is suitable for epidemiological analysis. On the macroscopic side, the findings included patient who was able to handle the bone nestling on her cervix. On the microscopic side, it was the formation of fatty marrow in bone itself. In all possibility, previous infected abortion(s) constituted the precursors of the ossifications.


High speed real time data acquisition technology is receiving increasing attention due to exponentially expanding industrial control and measurement usage. Among high speed industry bus, PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus is one of the most widely used. The main objective of this paper is to enhance the speed of PCI bus for the application of data acquisition on the premise of real time data transfer. A kind of implementation solution based on FPGA and PCI bus is carried out, the application program is completed through SDK and LabWindows/CVI, and data transmission is realized by DMA mode and the ping-pong control of double SDRAMs, some factors which may influence the speed of data transfer are analyzed. Experimental results show that the proposed system has achieved a very high data transfer speed which is 86.9MB/s, it is especially suitable for real time and high speed applications.


Several attempts have been made to assess the ultimate capacity, and sometimes the overall response, of cemented mine fill barricades. Many of these have incorporated elastic-plastic constitutive models which are known to be inferior when modelling non-linear plain or reinforced concrete behaviour. Furthermore, virtually all such studies have not systematically considered the surrounding host rock's stiffness. This paper considers barricades with boundaries of both infinite and finite stiffness using advanced numerical analysis tools developed at the University of Toronto which have been specialised for reinforced concrete design in a civil engineering context. These peer-reviewed tools are internationally considered to be state-of-the-art.
The first case considers the problem of modelling reinforced concrete barricades with infinitely stiff boundary conditions. A set of relevant, carefully controlled laboratory studies is reviewed and the numerical analysis technique is shown to be appropriate. Modelling is then carried out for the case of a barricade at Cayeli Mine where the loading was believed to be essentially fluid, and therefore the modelled boundary condition easily represented. The pre-peak load-deformation relationships are correlated between field monitoring and numerical model results with excellent agreement.
The second case considers the problem of barricade boundaries with finite stiffness. Equations based on Timoshenko and Boussinesq solutions were developed to represent equivalent end restraints for the modelled barricade. A wide range of stiffness encompassing virtually all possible rock conditions was considered. Practicing mining engineers can use standardised underground mapping and rock mass classification techniques to determine what an appropriate end stiffness value would be for their mining conditions. It will be shown that barricade capacity varies significantly with host rock stiffness, and that the commonly made design assumption of a fully rigid boundary can result in unconservative over-prediction of barricade strength.


Business process (BP) analysis represents a first key phase of information system development. It consists in the gathering of domain knowledge and its organization to be later used in the software development, and beyond (e.g., for Business Process Reengineering). The quality of the developed information system largely depends on how the BP analysis has been carried out and the quality of the produced requirement specification documents. Despite the fact that the issue is on the table for decades, business process analysis is still a critical phase of information systems development. One promising strategy is an early and more important involvement of business experts in the BP analysis. This paper presents a methodology that aims at an early involvement of business experts while providing a formal grounding that guarantees the quality of the produced specifications. To this end, we propose the Business Process Analysis Canvas, a knowledge framework organized in eight knowledge sections aimed at supporting the business expert in carrying out the analysis, eventually yielding a BP analysis Ontology.


Introduction Most physicians are against active euthanasia. Very little is known about the possible changes in the attitudes of physicians. Methods A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 1003 Finnish physicians of working age. A similar questionnaire had been sent to a random sample of Finnish physicians also in 1993 and 2003. The questionnaire consisted of statements about euthanasia, for which the participants were asked to express their agreement or disagreement on a 5-point Likert scale. Results In general, Finnish physicians' attitudes towards active euthanasia have become considerably more positive. In 2003, 61% of the respondents were against the legalisation of euthanasia and 29% supported it. In 2013, both groups were of equal size (46%). The willingness to perform active euthanasia has not, however, increased significantly, even in a legalised setting. Conclusions The attitudes of Finnish physicians towards active euthanasia became considerably more positive between 2003 and 2013. There was no significant change, however, in the willingness to practice euthanasia if it became legal.


OBJECTIVES: A lack of attention has been given to hearing health in primary care in developing countries. A strategy involving low-cost screening tools may fill the current gap in hearing health care provided to children. Therefore, it is necessary to establish and adopt lower-cost procedures that are accessible to underserved areas that lack other physical or human resources that would enable the identification of groups at risk for hearing loss. The aim of this study was to develop and analyze the efficacy of a low-cost screening tool to identify and classify hearing loss in children. METHODS: A total of 214 2-to-10 year-old children participated in this study. The study was conducted by providing a questionnaire to the parents and comparing the answers with the results of a complete audiological assessment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and discriminant analysis techniques were used to classify each child based on the total score. RESULTS: We found conductive hearing loss in 39.3% of children, sensorineural hearing loss in 7.4% and normal hearing in 53.3%. The discriminant analysis technique provided the following classification rule for the total score on the questionnaire: 0 to 4 points – normal hearing; 5 to 7 points – conductive hearing loss; over 7 points – sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the questionnaire could be used as a screening tool to classify children with normal hearing or hearing loss and according to the type of hearing loss based on the total questionnaire score.


Desert locust Schistocerca gregaria outbreaks consistently start in the same places, suggesting that certain landscapes are particularly favourable for outbreaking. Outbreaks are generated by multiplication, concentration and gregarisation of locust populations. Previous research has shown how small-scale vegetation patterns in desert ecosystems influence locust gregarisation; the present study examines the effects of large-scale landscape structure on locust multiplication and concentration. NOAA/ AVHRR satellite imagery was used to relate abundance and spatial distribution of resources at the landscape scale to the historical record of locust outbreaks. Threshold NDVI values were investigated to define what constitutes 'resource' for locusts. The first part of the study showed that abundance and spatial distribution of resource were not sufficient to distinguish between outbreak and non-outbreak areas in the western part of the locust distribution area. Thus, outbreak danger zones cannot be identified by landscape structure at this spatial resolution. The second analysis investigated spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation growth in two locust breeding areas with very different landscape structure; in both cases, the patterns differed significantly between outbreaking and non-outbreaking years. In Mauritania, a flat homogeneous desert landscape, both resource abundance and fragmentation were higher in outbreaking years. On the Red Sea coast, a fragmented landscape, resource spatial distribution was consistent between years, and abundance alone was a significant predictor of outbreaking. High resource abundance promotes locust multiplication, and contraction of resource into small patches increases locust concentration; these two mechanisms explain how landscape structure influences locust outbreaking.


Cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors probably play the main role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. The metastasis process need external proteolytic activities that pass several barriers which are membranous structures of the connective tissue which includes, the basement membrane of blood vessels. Activities of the proteinases are regulated by endogenous inhibitors and activators. The imbalance between cysteine proteinases and cystatins seems to be associated with an increase in metastatic potential in some tumors. It has also been reported that proteinase inhibitors, specific antibodies for these enzymes and inhibition of the urokinase receptor may prevent cancer cell invasion. Some proteinase inhibitor could serve as agents for cancer treatment.


A colossal electroresistance effect is found in Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3-δ polycrystalline ceramics with a very slight oxygen deficiency δ = 0.05. The electroresistance behaviour of Nd0.67 Sr0.33MnO3-δ (δ = 0.05) displays the striking similarity to its counterpart magnetoresistance. It reveals that the boundary effect plays an important role in electroresistance and the same physical origin is likely responsible for both magnetoresistance and electroresistance effects in Nd0.67 Sr0.33MnO3-δ polycrystals.


Abstract A series of small chemical explosions were conducted in May 2012 at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, as a part of the HUMBLE REDWOOD III experiments. Two charges of 111 kg of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil were detonated at 7 m depth in limestone. The second explosion was detonated in a small asymmetric cavity produced by the first explosion at the same working point as the first explosion. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) was used to image the cavity and to determine an equivalent spherical radius of 0.82 m. The seismic amplitudes for the cavity shot were reduced by a factor of 3–4 compared to the confined shot in limestone. In this article, we quantify the generation of the small cavity and the seismic decoupling it produced.


In a single institution, 31 patients affected with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in 1st Complete Remission (CR) received autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Mafosfamide was employed in a non-randomized fashion to purge marrows, in 15 cases bone marrow cells were purged, while in 16 they were left unpurged. Dose of infused Total Nucleated Cells (TNC) was an important factor for myeloid engraftment (P=0.02). LFS was 58% in purged and 40% in unpurged groups (P=0.26). Patients having a good prognosis cariotype had a LFS of 100% while the group of all other patients had a LFS of 37.5%. Patients receiving a dose of TNC below to median had a LFS of 65% and those receiving a dose of TNC>median had a LFS of 28% (P=0.017). Purging significantly improved LFS in patients "not harbouring good cytogenetic abnormalities" (53% LFS in purged group versus 18% in unpurged group, P=0.05). In conclusion, ABMT is associated with excellent results in "good prognosis cytogenetic". Purging may improve results in patients belonging to "intermediate cytogenetic group". A high number of infused TNC produces a fast myeloid engraftment but a poor LFS.


Based on knowledge from traditional Arabic and Islamic herbal medicine, this study aims to examine the ef- fects of extracts from Ferula assa-foetida L on male fertility and sexual functioning in rats and in man. Therefore, ethanol extract from seeds and 50% water-ethanol extracts from roots were prepared into so-called "Masculine" tablets and as- sessed for their safety and efficacy in enhancing male libido. Results obtained show that Masculine exhibit high levels of safety in both cultured human fibroblasts and in experimental studies on rats with a LD50 of 5 g/kg. Antioxidant properties were substantial both in rat liver cells and in human sperm cells at a concentration of 50μg/ml. Experiments with rat arte- rial rings with and without their endothelial tissue revealed, that Masculine is a potent vasodilator due to an endothelia- mediated effect rather than a direct effect on smooth muscle cells. Episodes of penile erection were studied in two groups of rats and were significantly augmented in the Masculine treated group. Furthermore, two groups of healthy young men were studied and followed for 3 months while consuming one Masculine tablet daily. Masculine was well tolerated by all men and no side effects were reported. Both groups were recruited from fertility clinics, the first group (n = 60) was re- cruited due to incomplete azospermia that was medically untreatable, and the second group (n = 25) was recruited due to erectile dysfunction and impotence of no treatable cause. Quantitative and qualitative improvements of sperm counts were reported after two months of treatment in 17% and 60%, in the first and second group, respectively. In addition, 60% of the second group reported remarkable improvements in both their libido and erectile function. Taken collectively, our re- sults indicate that Masculine is a safe sexual tonic enhancing male sexual functioning in animals and in man.


We determined the electric form factor of the neutron $G_E^n$ via the reaction ${\vec{d}(\vec{e},e'n)p}$ using a longitudinally polarized electron beam and a frozen, polarized $^{15}ND_3$ target at Jefferson Lab. The knocked out neutrons were detected in a segmented plastic scintillator in coincidence with the quasi-elastically scattered electrons which were tracked in Hall C's High Momentum Spectrometer. To extract $G_E^n$, we compared the experimental beam--target asymmetry with theoretical calculations based on different $G_E^n$ models. We report the preliminary results of the fall 2001 run at $Q^{2}=0.5$ and $1.0 (GeV/c)^{2}$.


Administrators, school nurses, and informed parents (N = 113) were queried by means of the Delphi Technique to determine priority health needs and barriers in two midwestern counties. Needs of health education and school nurses and barriers of restricted resources received top ranking by all participant groups. Descriptive measures were computed by using Kendall's tau.


This study deals with a newly-conceived voltage control method for three-phase four-leg voltage source inverters (VSIs) which are being required in autonomous power generating units devoted to supply both three-phase and single-phase electrical loads in four-wire electric power distribution systems. To deal with VSI operating conditions providing three-phase voltage supply of both unbalanced loads and non-linear loads, an integral + resonant (I + R) voltage control structure is discussed and experimentally verified by means of a 25 kVA rated power converter prototype. It is shown that the proposed voltage control allows simplifying the overall control configuration, achieving zero-overhead power factor regulation and fast compensation of load unbalances. Further to that, a complete current limiting strategy is described and tested under different load conditions.


Efficient organic solar cells (OSCs) based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene):fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61butyric acid methyl ester composites have been fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates by a radio frequency (RF) sputtered and ultraviolet ozone (UVO) treated MoS2 film as the hole-transport layer (HTL). With the help of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission spectra and the Hall-effect system, we find that the deposition temperature can modulate the contents of the various valence states of molybdenum, which can result in changes of the energy level, and the optical and electrical properties of the MoS2 films. MoS2 has been oxidized to a double-layered MoO3–MoS2 film by UVO treatment. Due to the presence of the molybdenum oxidation states Mo5+ and Mo6+, the MoS2 film shows p-type conductive behavior, and its smaller electron affinity can effectively block electron from exciton dissociation. By optimizing the HTL thickness and sputtering deposition temperature, a power conversion efficiency up to 4.15% has been achieved for an OSC that used a double-layered MoO3–MoS2 film as the HTL. Its JSC is bigger than that of the OSC with a pure MoO3 film as the HTL. This shows that this double layer MoO3–MoS2 interface is more favorable for hole-transfer.