The mechanisms of formation of the "open" and "closed" types of residual cholesteatoma were investigated in guinea pigs. An autogenous free skin graft taken from the posterior auricle (2x2mm, full-thickness) was transplanted into the dorsal otic bulla. In the left ear, a graft was placed on the bony surface following removal of the mucous membrane and drilling with a diamond burr (group A). In the right ear, another graft was placed directly on the intact mucosa (group B). After completion of these procedures, the opening of the bulla was closed with dental cement and the wound was sutured. The animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 32 weeks after transplantation for histological study. In group A, an epidermal cyst formed within two weeks of transplantation in 10 of 17 animals. In all 16 animals in group B, the graft adapted, retaining its original flat shape, and resembling the open type of residual cholesteatoma. Differences in the shape of the epidermal transplant are thought to be due to formation of granulation tissue around the graft.


Twenty-one patients with advanced Wilms' tumor entered a phase II study with high-dose ifosfamide (3 g/m2 over two days every 15 days). Mesna and hyperhydration were associated with minimal bladder toxicity. After two courses, five partial responses and six complete responses were observed. Ten patients did not respond. The median duration of response was 2 months (range, 1 to 7). Therapy was delayed because of leukopenia for 1 or 2 weeks in only three cases. Fever and infection were not observed. Seven patients presented with hematuria, three of whom were among the 17 patients coadministered mesna, which did not interfere with subsequent therapy.


The granulation process, which is determined by many factors like properties of the mixture and the operating parameters, is of very importance for getting a good permeability of the burden in the sintering strand. The prediction of the size distribution of the granules and the permeability of its bed by the artificial neural network was studied in this paper. It was found by the experiments that the order of significance in the granulation process is water content added into the mixture, the mass fraction of the particles of 0.7-3 mm, and the moisture capacity. The water content added in the mixture and the mass fractions of the particles of 0.7-3 mm have the positive relation to the permeability of granulation, While, the moisture capacity has the negative relation to the permeability of granulation. Both the moisture capacity and the water content added were used as the inputs in the model of artificial neural network, which can give a good prediction on the permeability and mass fraction of the granules of 3-8 mm, as well as the tendency of the samples under instable raw materials conditions. These two models can be used for optimization the granulation.


Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ expression in mucosal epithelial cells seems to be crucial for its anti-inflammatory effects with respect to experimental colitis, and for maintaining homeostasis of the mucosal barrier, at least in animal models

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is one of three members of the PPAR family (PPARα and PPARδ), which itself is a part of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily.1–5 Nuclear hormone receptors are transcription factors that are activated by the binding of small lipophilic ligands.6,7,8,9,10,11 They induce or repress transcription of a large number of different genes thereby influencing cellular functions.

PPARγ was initially identified for its role in adipocyte differentiation and regulation of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism.12–15 However, activation of PPARγ also can antagonise nuclear factor κB (NFκB) action in macrophages resulting in downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines.10,16–22 Implicated in these anti-inflammatory properties, PPARγ is not only expressed in adipocytes but also in a number of other cells types, such as macrophages,9 lymphocytes, hepatocytes, and skeletal muscle. Very high expression levels are found in the colonic epithelium.23

Interestingly, the proinflammatory genes that are repressed by PPARγ overlap but are not identical to the genes that are downregulated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), another member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily which intracellularly mediates the effects of endogenous cortisol and therapeutically administrated glucocorticoids.24 PPARγ mediated effects in the experimental setting of toll-like receptor stimulation were independent of NFκB and interferon regulatory factor, in contrast with GR action.24 This indicates that glucocorticoids and ligands of PPARγ could have additive therapeutic effects.

The eicosanoids 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid as well as 15deoxy-Δ12,14,-prostaglandin J2 have …


Platooning refers to a group of vehicles that—enabled by wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and vehicle automation—drives with short inter-vehicular distances. Before its deployment on public roads, several challenging traffic situations need to be handled. Among the challenges are cut-in situations, where a conventional vehicle—a vehicle that has no automation or V2V communication—changes lane and ends up between vehicles in a platoon. This paper presents results from a simulation study of a scenario, where a conventional vehicle, approaching from an on-ramp, merges into a platoon of five cars on a highway. We created the scenario with four platooning gaps: 15, 22.5, 30, and 42.5 meters. During the study, the conventional vehicle was driven by 37 test persons, who experienced all the platooning gaps using a driving simulator. The participants' opinions towards safety, comfort, and ease of driving between the platoon in each gap setting were also collected through a questionnaire. The results suggest that a 15-meter gap prevents most participants from cutting in, while causing potentially dangerous maneuvers and collisions when cut-in occurs. A platooning gap of at least 30 meters yield positive opinions from the participants, and facilitating more smooth cut-in maneuvers while less collisions were observed.


A restriction endonuclease (RE) is an enzyme that can recognize a specific DNA sequence and cleave that DNA into fragments with double-stranded breaks. This sequence-specific cleaving ability and its ease of use have made REs commonly used tools in molecular biology since their first isolation and characterization in 1970s. While artificial REs still face many challenges in large-scale synthesis and precise activity control for practical use, searching for new REs in natural samples remains a viable route for expanding the RE pool for fundamental research and industrial applications. In this paper, we propose a new strategy to search for REs in an efficient fashion. Briefly, we construct a host bacterial cell to link the RE genotype to the phenotype of β-galactosidase expression based on the bacterial SOS response, and use a high-throughput microfluidic platform to isolate, detect and sort the REs. We employ this strategy to screen for the XbaI gene from constructed libraries of varied sizes. In single round of sorting, a 30-fold target enrichment was obtained within 1 h. The direct screening approach we propose shows potential for efficient search of desirable REs in natural samples compared to the conventional RE-screening method, and is amenable to being adapted to high-throughput screening of other genotoxic targets.


Setting: Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is a chronic, often unrecognized form of the disease with a complicated clinical course and significant airway complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate common clinical features amongst individuals with bronchoscopic biopsy proven EBTB during a 20 year period in Serbia.

Design: An observational study of 212 patients with bronchoscopic biopsy proven EBTB between January 1993 and December 2012. Retrospective case note review was undertaken, including all clinical, microbiological and radiological evidence, at the University Hospital of Pulmonology, Belgrade.

Results: All patients were caucasian and HIV-negative, with a male to female ratio of 1.28:1. Every patient had an abnormal chest X-ray. The most common endoscopic features were oedematous hypereamic (39.2%) and nonspecific bronchitis (35.8%). Microbiological culture rate was 64.6%. Sputum culture was positive in 55.2%, bronchial washing culture positive in 36.8%, and both in 27.4%.

Conclusion: Most patients with EBTB have concurrent pulmonary lesions. Bronchoscopy is an essential diagnostic tool for EBTB. Early diagnosis and early onset of therapy is of crucial importance to prevent the development of bronchostenosis.


Protein bound serum fucose levels were measured in women with cancer of the breast and in normal women serving as controls. Thirteen healthy women gave a mean value of 13.9 plus or minus 2.4 milligrams per cent, which was not significantly different from the figure of 15.0 plus or minus 3.1 milligrams per cent obtained from 11 patients with operable cancer of the breast, Stage I and II. Only the serums from nine patients with disseminated cancer of the breast showed a significantly elevated fucose concentration of 18.8 plus or minus 3.6 milligrams per cent. It is concluded that serum fucose determination is of no diagnostic value in the early stages of cancer of the breast.


We carefully investigate the evolution of cosmological density perturbations through decoupling era in the baryon-photon universe by a gauge-invariant method. It is found that previous results on the same problem obtained by working in the synchronous gauge are inaccurate particularly on comoving scales greater than the horizon scale at equal time. Further, the anisotropy of microwave background radiation is estimated and the result is found to be in good agreement with previous works qualitatively but in disagreement by factors of a few. Also, an attempt is made to clarify physical processes which determine the evolution of both baryon and radiation density perturbations during decoupling era and the physical interpretation is discussed.


The importance of energy saving technology for managing greenhouse was recently highlighted. For practical use of energy in greenhouse, it is necessary to simulate energy flow precisely and estimate heating/cooling loads of greenhouse. So the main purpose of this study was to develope and to validate greenhouse energy model and to estimate annual/maximum energy loads using Building Energy Simulation (BES). Field experiments were carried out in a multi-span plastic-film greenhouse in Jeju Island (33.2N, 126.3E) for 2 months. To develop energy model of the greenhouse, a set of sensors was used to measure the greenhouse microclimate such as air temperature, humidity, leaf temperature, solar radiation, carbon dioxide concentration and so on. Moreover, characteristic length of plant leaf, leaf area index and diffuse non-interceptance were utilized to calculate sensible and latent heat exchange of plant. The internal temperature of greenhouse was compared to validate the greenhouse energy model. Developed model provided a good estimation for the internal temperature throughout the experiments period (coefficients of determination > 0.85, index of agreement > 0.92). After the model validation, we used last 10 years weather data to calculate energy loads of greenhouse according to growth stage of greenhouse crop. The tendency of heating/cooling loads change was depends on external weather condition and optimal temperature for growing crops at each stage. In addition, maximum heating/cooling loads of reference greenhouse were estimated to 644,014 and 756,456 kJ·hr, respectively. Additional key words : building energy simulation, energy loads, greenhouse


The Africa region has the highest burden of disease and lowest spending levels per capita on health care in the world. Achieving better health and protecting people against the impoverishing effects of illness requires both more money and better spending. Capacity building will be central to achieving these objectives. This report recommends an expanded definition of capacity building to include strengthening of the underlying institutions and organizations, in addition to the traditional focus on management and infrastructure. This includes ensuring that there is a strong government role in the stewardship function, that sustainable financing is channeled through risk sharing arrangements, that input generation takes full advantage of the drive and innovation of the private sector, and that service providers are allowed the autonomy and required accountability to provide high quality care for specified population groups. The also report analyzes activities undertaken through Bank operations, ESW and WBI since the beginning of 1990s, selected case studies, and focus group interviews; summarizes lessons learned (successes and failures); and makes recommendations on the way forward.


Background

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight threatening corneal infection and is a growing clinical problem in developing countries as well as developed countries. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a local infection of the eye and does not produce systemic illness. Proper diagnostic techniques and appropriate medical management are necessary for good prognosis.

Findings

We report a series of six cases of acanthamoeba keratitis diagnosed and managed at Biratnagar Eye Hospital in the year 2019. The patients age ranges from 28-58 years, with four males and two females. The mean duration of presentation to hospital was 19 days. Four patients had trauma with vegetative matter. All patients had redness, photophobia, decreased vision, pain among which only two had pain out of proportion. One patient had visual acquity of 2/60 whereas the rest had hand movement to perception of light at time of presentation. Ring infiltrate was noted in all the cases. Five patients had ulcer in central and paracentral regions, four had ulcer larger than 6mm and three showed presence of hypopyon. KOH stained smears revealed acanthamoeba cyst in all cases while Gram stain was positive in only one case. Non-nutrient agar overladen with Escherichia coli revealed feeding tracks in four cases and polymerase chain reaction revealed T4 genotype acanthamoeba in four cases. Amoebicidal treatment was started with Chlorhexidine 0.02% eye drop half hourly. Other drugs Natamicin 5% eye drop half hourly, Fluconazole 0.3% eye drop half hourly and antibiotic Moxifloxacin 0.5% eye drop half hourly were also used simultaneously. Pain was reduced in all patients. After treatment, only one patient had BCVA of 6/9 while others had visual outcome of hand movement.

Conclusions

Acanthamoeba keratitis can be severe and vision-threatening. Centrally located ulcer, size of the ulcer > 6mm and visual acuity Hand Movement/Perception of light at the time of presentation were associated with poor outcome. Clinically suspected lesions associated with microbiological assessment help in early diagnosis and prompt treatment.


In this paper, a novel parameter design approach of the PI controller used for individual DC voltage balancing control of cascaded H-bridge converter-based STATic synchronous COMpensator(STATCOM) is presented. By means of phase shift sinusoidal pulse width modulation, using two control loops(DC voltage control loop and phase angle shift control loop) to ensure DC voltage balance, the proposed approach can calculate parameters of the PI controller of the two control loops relative accurately by finding the relationship of the input and output of PI controller, The simulation and experimental results verify that the proposed method has good effects of balancing individual DC voltage, meanwhile, it makes the system a good dynamic performance. Key-Words: CHB inverter, Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), DC voltage controller, parameter design, Sinusoidal pulse width modulation


We prove the existence of a class of plane-symmetric perfect fluid cosmologies with a Kasner-like singularity of cigar type. These solutions of the Einstein equations depend on two smooth functions of one space coordinate. They are constructed by solving a symmetric hyperbolic system of Fuchsian equations.


Neural networks could misclassify inputs that are slightly different from their training data, which indicates a small margin between their decision boundaries and the training dataset. In this work, we study the binary classification of linearly separable datasets and show that linear classifiers could also have decision boundaries that lie close to their training dataset if cross-entropy loss is used for training. In particular, we show that if the features of the training dataset lie in a low-dimensional affine subspace and the cross-entropy loss is minimized by using a gradient method, the margin between the training points and the decision boundary could be much smaller than the optimal value. This result is contrary to the conclusions of recent related works such as (Soudry et al., 2018), and we identify the reason for this contradiction. In order to improve the margin, we introduce differential training, which is a training paradigm that uses a loss function defined on pairs of points from each class. We show that the decision boundary of a linear classifier trained with differential training indeed achieves the maximum margin. The results reveal the use of cross-entropy loss as one of the hidden culprits of adversarial examples and introduces a new direction to make neural networks robust against them.


OBJECTIVES
To develop a cognitive behavioral intervention for adolescents with bipolar disorders, test its feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

METHODS
Based on existing research, a manualized, individually delivered cognitive behavioral intervention was developed and tested with adolescents with bipolar disorders as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment. Using existing data, baseline characteristics and outcome were compared to a matched group of eight adolescents with bipolar disorders who did not receive any psychosocial intervention.

RESULTS
Preliminary results support the feasibility and efficacy of this manualized cognitive behavioral intervention.

CONCLUSIONS
Individually delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment is feasible and associated with symptom improvement in adolescents with bipolar disorders. Randomized controlled studies are needed.


Introduction: Survival after heart transplantation (HTx) has improved, while the attrition rate beyond the 1st year did not change substantially. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and cancer are the leading causes of death late after HTx. Significant morbidity/mortality derive from renal insufficiency and vascular complications. Hypothesis: Everolimus (Ev) and Micophenolate (MMF) were adopted due to better efficacy vs Azathioprine in de novo HTx. However, Ev and MMF have not been tested in a head to head comparison late after HTx. We assessed the effect of Ev and MMF on renal function late after HTx. Methods: BeTACTIC is a multicenter, randomized, Investigator-driven trial, funded by the National Health Service, comparing efficacy and safety of Ev and MMF in association with Cyclosporine (CyA) in pts with acute multiple/late rejection (3 or more episodes requiring steroids), CAV, worsening renal dysfunction, enrolled at least 1yr after HTx and followed-up for 3 yrs. The primary endpoint was a composite of hierarchical occurrence of death, retransplantation, hospitalization for cardiovascular causes, reduction of EF, progression of CAV detected with coronary angiography/IVUS, renal function worsening and cancer. Results and Conclusions: A total of 80 pts with a median age of 60 yrs, 84% men, were randomized in 9 Transplant Centers in Italy. Hypertension was present in 70% of pts, diabetes in 22.5%, CAD history CAD in 6.3%, and CHF in 7.6%. HTx was mainly due to dilated (47.4%) and ischemic (44.7%) cardiomyopathies. At 12 months, patients showing worsening of renal function accounted for the 32.5% of the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint (53.8%). We evaluated the changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 6 and 12 months from baseline. At 6 months the mean changes in eGFR did not differ between Ev and MMF (+1.25 vs 1.32, p=0.98); at 12 months there was a trend in favor of MMF, even if not statistically significant (+5.25 vs 0.92, p=0.18), stronger in patients assigned to MMF and enrolled in the trial after 5 years or more from HTx. We observed a significant reduction of CyA trough level in patients assigned to Ev. Results will be re-assessed at 3 years follow-up analysis.


The paper presents proposals concerned with research methodology in psychology of mathematical education. The expression "methodology" is used in a broad sense as an ensemble of elements which deal with the process of the human thinking in searching a systematic knowledge about the real world, in order to elaborate a body of explanations concerning the object of study of a certain area. After defining psychology of mathematical education as a scientific field, the fundamental steps that a researcher in the area must go through to perform an investigation are analyzed, according to the perspective that methodological choices to be made compose a system, with constant articulations and reciprocal interpenetrations of the following methodological poles: epistemological, theoretical, morphological and technical. In order to illustrate the process of decision making implied by those poles, two studies in the area are analyzed.


The Sector that has greatest impact on debt financing is Sector food and beverage company use imported raw material. In this case, company is required to be able to regulate the level of debt to the company. This study analysis examine the influence between debt financing option and Financial Performance. Analysis carried out using multiple linear analysis by taking sample data use sample proportion or with the specified criteria which has been specified and obtained as many as 11 companies with total observation of 55 in food and beverage companies listed on the Indonesian stock exchange 2014-2018. Based on hypothesis testing Short Term Debt and Long Term Debt does affect between Return On Asset. Than, Short Term Debt does affect between Return On Equity. However, Long Term Debt does not affect between Return On Equity.


The safety of powered two-wheelers riders (mopeds, scooters motorcycles) is of growing concern in many countries members of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Over the last decade, while road safety has in most countries significantly improved, the number of casualties among motorcyclists has not benefited from the same pace of progress and in many cases has either stabilized or increased. The Joint Transport Research Centre (JTRC) of the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD launched, in September 2010, a Working Group on ?Motorcycling Safety and Mobility? with the view to produce by the end of 2012 a report, based on most recent research analysis, with policy recommendations on measures to improve the safety of riders, applicable in the short to medium term.


The nascent literature on prison proliferation in the United States typically reveals negative impacts for communities of color. Given that Southern rural communities were the most likely to build during the prison boom (1970–2010), however, a more nuanced understanding of prison impact is warranted. Using a dataset matching and geocoding all 1663 U.S. prisons with their Census-appointed place, this study explores the countervailing consequences of the prison boom on rural towns across multiple periods. For example, locales that adopted prisons at earlier stages of the prison boom era received a short-term boom compared to those that did not, but these effects were not lasting. Furthermore, later in the boom, prison-building protected towns against additional economic decline. Thus, neither entirely pariah nor panacea, the prison functions as a state-sponsored public works program for disadvantaged rural communities but also supports perverse economic incentives for prison proliferation. Methodological, substantive, theoretical, and policy implications regarding the intersection of race and punishment are explored.


In response to growing research and policy interest in the developmental contexts of early literacy, this study examined relations between neighborhood socioeconomic well-being, home literacy (parent–child shared reading and number of books at home), and directly assessed early literacy outcomes among 551 Head Start students in the fall of preschool. In Structural Equation Models, neighborhood socioeconomic well-being predicted home literacy, which in turn predicted early literacy (a latent variable derived from receptive vocabulary, letter-word identification, and concepts about print). Implications for future research concerning parent involvement at home in the context of neighborhoods and the early literacy of at-risk preschoolers is discussed.


Subarcsecond radio continuum observations of the Galactic center region at λ = 6 and 2 cm reveal a 0.″5 diameter source with a shell-like morphology. This source is linearly polarized at a level of 16% at 6 cm and has a steep nonthermal spectrum with a spectral index of 1.6 between 6 and 2 cm. The distance to this source is not known, but the large rotation measure value of 3000 rad m−2 suggests that G359.87+0.18 is likely to be located in the inner Galaxy or at an extragalactic distance. We discuss possible interpretations of this object as a recent supernova, a very young supernova remnant, a nova remnant, or an extragalactic source. All possibilities are highly problematic.


Two patients are reported who demonstrated disconjugate eye movements associated with raised intracranial pressure. This physical sign has not previously been recorded in association with raised intracranial pressure.


ABSTRACT Assessment of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) quality and suitability requires detail and reliable information on roofs. Characterization of roof surface conditions affects the quality of harvested rainwater. Nevertheless, the implementation of the system requires improvement in terms of the roof detection techniques to ensure the roof of the building is selected appropriately. Thus, the classification techniques need to be optimized to detect roof materials and roof surface conditions (new or old) with high accuracy. This study aimed to produce high precision detailed roof materials and roof surface conditions map with using high-resolution remote sensing imagery, WorldView-3 (WV3) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Three different fusion methods; layer stacking (LS), Gram-Schmidt (GS) and principal components spectral sharpening (PCSS) were explored and their performances were compared to improve the spatial and spectral richness of the image. Subsequently, the roof materials and roof surface conditions classes which include old concrete, new concrete, old metal, new metal, old asbestos and new asbestos had been discriminated by employing support vector machine (SVM) and the rule-based technique known as a decision tree (DT). Generally, generated rule-sets present a higher overall accuracy with 87%, 72% and 66% for LS, GS and PCSS, respectively. For SVM classifier, the maximum accuracy recorded for LS, PCSS and GS were 70%, 63% and 43% respectively. Therefore, rule-based classification via LS fusion technique was utilized to identify suitable rooftops for the development of harvested rainwater system in the urban area. Findings indicate that the degradation status of a roof in heterogenous urban environments could be determined from satellite observation and the quality of roof-based harvested rainwater affected by roofing materials and roofing surface conditions can be analysed effectively.


Spinal cord injury (SCI) in mammals not only damages the focal area, but also leads to wallerian degeneration (WD) of axons and myelin distal to the injury. In the present study, we investigated cellular responses within areas of WD of a sensory pathway, the fasciculus gracilis, after a T8-9 lateral spinal hemisection in the adult monkey Macaca fascicularis. Spinal cord segments rostral and caudal to the injury at two clinically-relevant time points, 1 week and 4 weeks post-SCI, representing subacute and chronic stages, respectively, were examined. We observed marked axon degeneration in the areas of WD at the subacute stage, and minimal axonal neurofilament staining at the chronic stage. At the ultrastructural level, however, many degenerating axonal profiles remained at the chronic stage. Myelin breakdown was a much-delayed process. A large number of residual myelin sheaths was observed at the chronic stage. In contrast to rodents, a substantial astrogliotic response was not found in the WD regions up to 4 weeks post-injury. Microglia activation was evident in the WD areas at the subacute stage, and was enhanced at the chronic stage. However, the lack of round reactive microglia/macrophages in these regions suggests that microglial activation was either delayed or incomplete. Thus it appears that many pathological characteristics of WD in monkeys are much delayed compared to those in rodents, but are similar to those in humans. Our results suggest that non-human primate SCI models are useful for evaluating repair strategies before they are translated to clinical trials of human SCI.


Two identical direct repeats of a 1275 bp sequence, designated IS1246, encompass the xyl genes, which determine the catabolism of toluene, m- and p-xylenes to central metabolites, on the TOL catabolic plasmid pWW0. IS1246 has a terminal inverted repeat of 12 bp (5'GGGCACCTCGAA3') and contains a major open reading frame of 280 codons. This ORF shows significant homology with ORFs encoded by a number of bacterial insertion sequences from Bacteroides, Neisseria and Escherichia coli.


Benacerraf has presented two problems for the philosophy of mathematics. These are the problem of identification and the problem of representation. This paper aims to reconstruct the latter problem and to unpack its undermining bearing on the version of Ontic Structural Realism that frames scientific representations in terms of abstract structures. I argue that the dichotomy between mathematical structures and physical ones cannot be used to address the Benacerraf problem but strengthens it. I conclude by arguing that versions of OSR that do not rely on mathematical frameworks for representational purposes need not be vulnerable to Benacerraf's second problem.


The purpose of the study was to describe: the application of the ARCS model of learning mathematics using STAD and NHT in SMP Negeri 3 Malang Ampelgading, activities of teachers and learning activities of students during the learning process, as well as student learning outcomes and student motivation. The approach taken in this study is a qualitative and quantitative approach. The experiment was conducted in the first semester of 2013-2014 academic year on 28 October to 16 November 2013 in which the application of the ARCS model of learning using STAD and NHT to see the activities of the teacher and student learning activities as processes of learning, student learning outcomes are seen from individual tasks and daily test as well as the student's motivation to learn the subject while in the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 3 Malang Ampelgading as objects. Instrument used is the observation sheet to see the activities of teachers and students' learning activities, individual assignments and daily test to look at student learning outcomes and questionnaire to see the students' motivation . The results showed that: 1) the application of the ARCS model of learning mathematics using STAD and NHT in SMP Negeri 3 Malang Ampelgading accomplished in accordance with the RPP planned despite having some problems at the beginning of the meeting, 2) the activities of teachers and students' learning activities always have improvement in every meeting, in which the first meeting activities better teacher in class VIII-A, the second meeting better in class VIII-B and the third meeting has the same score, while for student activities, class VIII-B is always more better than VIII-A, 3) there is no difference in learning outcomes between students of class VIII-A that is taught using STAD and the ARCS model of class VIII-B are taught using a model ARCS and NHT, 4) there is no difference between the learning motivation of class VIII-A students who are taught using STAD and the ARCS model of class VIII-B are taught using a model ARCS and NHT .


Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) occurs in a small but significant proportion of children who present with impaired body–eye coordination and show poor acquisition of motor skills. This study investigated the visual–proprioceptive mapping ability of children with DCD from a small selected group, with particular reference to the use of vision in matching tasks. The children with DCD in this study were significantly poorer than control children on all matching tasks. They seemed to have particular difficulty in cross‐modal judgements that required the use of visual information to guide proprioceptive judgements of limb position. A distinction is drawn between tasks that can be achieved purely through sensory matching and those that require body‐centred spatial judgements, suggesting that it is the latter that posits a particular difficulty for children with DCD.


Aims Sugarcane intercropping with soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.), mung bean (Vignaradiata (Linn.) Wilczek) and peanut (Arachishypogaea Linn.) as well as a sugarcane monoculture were conducted to study the impacts of intercropping on soil biological characteristics and bacterial diversity. Methods The soil samples were collected from twelve random sites and mixed well at the experimental farm of the Guangxi South Sub-tropical Agricultural Science Research Institute, Longzhou, China. Traditional analysis methods and modern high-throughput sequencing technology was used to compare and analyze the soil enzyme activity, microbial biomass, soil cultivable microorganisms and other biological traits and bacterial diversity.Results The results showed that soil cultivable microorganisms, the activities of soil enzymes and microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were all significantly improved by intercropping with soybean and mung bean. Additionally, soil bacterial diversity and richness in sugarcane fields were also significantly enhanced by intercropping with soybean and mung bean. In addition, soil bacterial community structures in sugarcane fields can be altered by intercropping with different legumes. Proteobacteria, a high-nutrient-tolerant bacterial assemblage, became the dominant bacteria in the sugarcane-soybean and sugarcane-mung bean intercropped soils. Twenty four, 28, 26 and 27 dominant soil bacterial genera were found after the sugarcane-soybean, sugarcane-mung bean, sugarcane-peanut and sugarcane monoculture treatments, respectively.Conclusions Sugarcane-mung bean intercropping suggested to be the most promising system for regaining and improving soil fertility and soil heath and facilitate agriculture intensification of sugarcane.


Abstract : Mathematical modeling of biological systems is crucial to effectively and efficiently developing treatments for medical conditions that plague humanity. Systems of differential equations are the traditional tools used to theoretically describe the spread of disease within the body. In this project we consider the dynamics of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in vivo during the initial stages of infection. Both mathematical and biological results support the idea that contact with the HIV retrovirus does not automatically imply permanent infection. Given factors such as the CD4+ T-cell growth rate, infection rate, and viral clearance rate, it is possible to correctly predict the end viral state in a deterministic model. While this is useful, such a model lacks the randomness inherent in physical processes and parameter estimation. To account for this, our project examines both discrete and continuous stochastic models for the early stages of HIV infection. These models use the knowledge of biological interactions and fundamental mathematical principles. We also examine the well-known three-component deterministic model in greater detail, proving existence and uniqueness of the solutions. Furthermore, we prove that the solutions remain biologically meaningful, and perform a thorough stability analysis for the equilibrium states of the system. Finally, we develop two new stochastic models and obtain extensive numerical results to measure the probability of infection given the transmission of the virus to a new individual. To simulate the dynamics of the virus, we employ Runge-Kutta methods and the Euler-Maruyama scheme.


Studies have shown that some Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems encode and replicate harmful biases with potential adverse ethical effects in our society. In this article, we propose an approach for identifying gender and racial stereotypes in word embeddings trained on judicial opinions from U.S. case law. Embeddings containing stereotype information may cause harm when used by downstream systems for classification, information extraction, question answering, or other machine learning systems used to build legal research tools. We first explain how previously proposed methods for identifying these biases are not well suited for use with word embeddings trained on legal opinion text. We then propose a domain adapted method for identifying gender and racial biases in the legal domain. Our analyses using these methods suggest that racial and gender biases are encoded into word embeddings trained on legal opinions. These biases are not mitigated by exclusion of historical data, and appear across multiple large topical areas of the law. Implications for downstream systems that use legal opinion word embeddings and suggestions for potential mitigation strategies based on our observations are also discussed.


SUMMARY: L-Asparaginase was formed in the culture filtrates of a number of Fusarium species, as well as in those of ascomycetous fungi having a Fusarium imperfect state, such as species of Hypomyces and Nectria. Species of Gibberella, though having a Fusarium state, formed little L-asparaginase. The distribution of the ability to form the enzyme was related to taxonomic position.


Abstract
In 2008, in a field survey on mites associated with poplar trees in Razavi Khorasan province (NE.Iran), specimens of an eriophyid were collected. The specimens were sent to Dr Xia-Yue Hong for identification. As result, the eriophyid Aculus dimidiatus (Hall) is recorded from Iran for the first time. The eriophyid reported here was found vagrant on under surface of leaves of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) (Salicaceae). Samples of this mite are held in the author's collection at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran and in Dr Hong's collection at Nanjing University, China.

Key words: New record, Fauna, Eriophyidae, Iran


Organometallic rhenium(I) complexes (I-VI) using substituted 5-(2-butyl-5-chloro-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1,3-diaryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole have been synthesized and characterised by spectroscopic method. For evaluation of HOMO-LUMO energy gap, estimation of bond angle, bond length data and Mulliken charge analysis DFT studies were performed. The complexes (I-VI) can be generated by bis-heterocyclic ligand followed by metal chelation. The interactions between synthesised compounds and double stranded DNA (HS DNA) was carried out by viscosity measurements, absorption titration, and gel electrophoresis gives information about modes of binding and the nucleolytic efficiency of compounds. Groove binding was suggested as the most possible mode and the DNA-binding (Kb) constants of the complexes were calculated. Electronic spectra and conductivity measurement confirm the different transition, and non-electrolytic nature of the metal complexes. Thermodynamic parameter ΔG0 value ranging from -7227.0 to -9463.0 J/moleoK. According to the thermodynamic parameter, the main binding force could be judged. In vivo and In vitro cytotoxicity against the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells gives toxic nature of the synthesised compounds. An antimicrobial study was carried out by estimating MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) against two Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. All compounds found effective against S. cerevisiae which is confirmed by enhancing ROS production and DNA damage show by gel electrophoresis as compared to untreated yeast cell culture and DMSO.


To translate natural language questions into executable database queries, most approaches rely on a fully annotated training set. Annotating a large dataset with queries is difficult as it requires query-language expertise. We reduce this burden using grounded in databases intermediate question representations. These representations are simpler to collect and were originally crowdsourced within the Break dataset (Wolfson et al., 2020). Our pipeline consists of two parts: a neural semantic parser that converts natural language questions into the intermediate representations and a non-trainable transpiler to the SPARQL query language (a standard language for accessing knowledge graphs and semantic web). We chose SPARQL because its queries are structurally closer to our intermediate representations (compared to SQL). We observe that the execution accuracy of queries constructed by our model on the challenging Spider dataset is comparable with the state-of-the-art text-to-SQL methods trained with annotated SQL queries. Our code and data are publicly available (https://github.com/yandex-research/sparqling-queries).


Scirtothrips dorsalis adults generally immigrate to citrus orchards after propagation on suitable host plants that grow near the orchards; however, it is not clear when these thrips immigrate. In this study, the time of S. dorsalis adult immigration to citrus orchards was examined in relation to their occurrence on surrounding host plants. The investigation was carried out in citrus orchards and the surrounding fields of the following three plants: tea groves, bigleaf podocarp trees, and Japanese pear trees. The average number of adults emerging from these four plant fields gave six or seven peaks from May to early September, notwithstanding the small number of adults emerging from the citrus orchards. The peak periods of trap catch in citrus orchards coincided with those of adult emergence from the fields of four plants. The peak periods of adult S. dorsalis density on citrus fruits and shoots coincided with those of trap catch in citrus orchards. These results demonstrated that S. dorsalis adults immigrated to citrus orchards immediately after emerging from other suitable host plants surrounding the orchards.


Tomato and cucumber seedlings were grown in a growth chamber to evaluate the effects of different cycles of light–dark exposure conditions (T0 (control treatment) (1 cycle of 24 h distributed in 18 h of light exposure and six hours of dark), T1 (two cycles of 12 h distributed in nine hours of light exposure and three hours of dark) and T2 (three cycles of eight hours distributed in six hours of light exposure and two hours of dark) on growth, nutrient status, pigment concentration and physiological changes. Total dry weight showed different behaviors in both species, since in tomato the total dry weight remained unchanged under varying light–dark cycles, whereas in cucumber seedlings there was a clear decrease compared to the control treatment. In both species, plants grown under T2 showed the best water content. Nitrogen, P and K content—as well as partitioning in the different organs of the plants—displayed different patterns under varying cycles of light–dark conditions in both species. Chlorophyll (b and a + b) concentration decreased significantly in both species in T1 and T2 compared to the control treatment (T0). At physiological level, the concentration of total soluble sugars and proline in leaf showed the highest value in the control treatment with 18 h of light and six hours of dark.


Epicondylitis will remain a problematic condition until we better understand the nature of the degenerative condition. Nonoperative management still is the most common treatment, but those patients who are disabled when this fails can expect improvement after surgery.


Spermatozoa were recovered from the uterine horns or vagina of mated rabbit does 12-20 hr p.c. and their fertilizing capacity tested in an in-vitro system. Uterine spermatozoa gave consistently high fertilization (93-100%) throughout. Vaginal spermatozoa gave good results (81-85%) 12-14 hr p.c. but fertilization then declined with time. Vaginal spermatozoa recovered from mated females with or without ligation of the uterine horns were equally able to fertilize eggs. Fragmentation of uncleaved eggs was noted in experiments with vaginal spermatozoa, but never with uterine spermatozoa. The former were slower in penetrating eggs and the zygotes were correspondingly slower in cleaving. Triploidy, possibly due to ageing, was found in approximately 15% of the embryos fertilized by vaginal spermatozoa.


BACKGROUND
Noncompliance with a prescribed therapy is a common problem in ambulatory pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE
To establish a nationwide status quo of compliance of German ambulatory pediatric patients with oral antibiotics prescribed for various bacterial infections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this study, organized and financed by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 42 pediatricians in private practice who were selected to represent the 3 main regions of Germany and residence in large cities or small towns, respectively, enrolled consecutive patients who had bacterial infections that required therapy with oral antibiotics. Choice of agent and duration of treatment were left to the study physicians. Compliance was measured by a standardized telephone interview on the penultimate day and a urine bioassay for antibacterial activity on the last day of the planned treatment period. Parents did not know the true purpose of the study.

RESULTS
Five hundred eight-four patients were fully evaluable. The most frequent diagnoses included tonsillopharyngitis (n = 231), otitis media (n = 170) and lower respiratory tract infections (n = 114). Most frequently prescribed antibiotics included amoxicillin (n = 102), potassium penicillin V (n = 81) and clarithromycin (n = 67). Overall compliance (positive urine test) on the last day of therapy was 69.5% (406 of 584 patients). Compliance was not significantly influenced by the region of residence or the underlying bacterial infection. It was significantly associated with the antibiotic used (macrolides, 89.0%; penicillins, 62.2%; cephalosporins, 66.4%; P = 0.0001 for macrolides vs. the others). Best compliance was found with clarithromycin (94.0%) and erythromycin estolate (89.8%). Compliance was also significantly better in patients > or =6 years old (77.7%; P = 0.016); with a treatment duration of < or =7 days (77.6%; P = 0.014); when the drug package contained a dose-taking reminder (79.7%; P = 0.003); and when the pediatrician's behavior toward the patient was assessed by the parents as "very sympathetic" or "sympathetic" (72.6%; P = 0.017). Subjecting all variables to logistic regression analysis, we found 3 variables to be significant predictors of treatment compliance: choice of antibiotic (P = 0.0001); patient age (P = 0.0008); and residence in town or city (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS
A noncompliance rate of >30% is unsatisfactory. Whereas some variables significantly associated with compliance cannot be influenced (patient age; place of residence in town or city), others are amenable to modifications. These include the physician-patient interaction and the choice of antibiotic. Agents should be preferred that are well-accepted by patients, that enable short-term therapy with few daily doses and with a package that contains a dose-taking reminder.


We report on a mother who had been treated for a ganglioneuroblastoma and her daughter who had a long segment aganglionosis. Review of the relevant literature and recent molecular findings warrant the conclusion that most likely, there is a causal relation between these two neurocristopathies.


Mixing of two or more materials (i.e. heavy density metal powder in the fluid) is very difficult. In conventional method of mixing the metal powder and fluid mixing is carried out on unidirectional stirring machine. This paper investigates the limitations of the conventional mixer. The stirrer of conventional mixer rotates in one direction only which create a particular flow pattern in the fluid hence particles tend to stick to the wall of container due to centrifugal force. Most of the materials are settle down below the container due to high density. In conventional mixer, the other prominent issue is the vibrations, thrust and bending forces that create noise and high maintenance of machine. The research work is based on the Schatz geometry shaker mixer which is used for a homogeneous mixing of powdery substances with differing specific weights and particle sizes. The product is mixed in its own closed container. The mixing container is set into a three dimensional movement that use of rotation, translation and inversion according to the Schatz geometric theory. It is design, development, and analysis of driving system of Schatz mechanism with 3D-motion mixer to produce desired motion pattern, mixing rate and quality. Index Terms -conventional mixer, inversion, Schatz mechanism.


This paper presents storage implementations that utilize the Lustre file system for CMS analysis with direct POSIX file access while keeping dCache as the frontend for data distribution and management. We describe two implementations that integrate dCache with Lustre and how to enable user data access without going through the dCache file read protocol. Our initial CMS analysis job measurement and transfer performance results are shown and the advantages of different implementations are briefly discussed.


A painting by Gillis Coignet of I596 (fig. I) which recently appeared on the art market shows an allegory whose explicit meaning is unclear, there being no text in the cartellino in the lower left-hand corner. The representation is based on a type derived from Democritus of Time releasing Truth from oblivion, vainly obstructed by negative forces such as envy and falsehood. The type, which was illustrated previously by Coignet (fig. 4) is based on the vignette of the Venetian publisher Francesco Marcolini ("Veritas filia temporis") (fig. 3). In Coignets painting there can however be no question of Time, for the depicted figure, a winged grey-haired man, in goat-footed legs, which identifies him as Pan, who stands for the revealed universe but in Platos Kratylos 408 BC is interpreted as the language which indicates everything ("TO IIâν") both for good and evil, so that he is pictured from above as a human being and at the bottom as a goat. Although the two figures cannot be identified precisely, Coignet has evidently transformed an existing theme with the aid of mythographical interpretations into an allegory which may be understood in this sense: the naked female figure symbolises a pure principle (truth, righteous judgement, vita contemplativa), Pan, his head glowing golden from the sky above, indicates human understanding, i.e. human endeavour. Small scenes in the background indicate a religious context, which may be connected with the fact that Coignet had just moved house for the second time, probably for religious reasons.


The taxonomic position of an actinomycete, designated SCSIO 00231(T), isolated from a sediment sample collected from the northern South China Sea, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism formed fragmented substrate hyphae and sparse aerial mycelium on modified ISP 2 medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain SCSIO 00231(T) fell into the family Pseudonocardiaceae, in which it formed a distinct lineage and was loosely associated with Thermocrispum municipale DSM 44069(T), with 93 % similarity. The other closest phylogenetic neighbours were Saccharopolyspora erythraea NRRL 2338(T) (92.6 % similarity) and Amycolatopsis sacchari DSM 44468(T) (93.1 % similarity). The isolate had cell-wall type IV (meso-diaminopimelic acid and whole-cell sugars arabinose, galactose and glucose) and phospholipid type III. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H(4)). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69 mol%. Based on these data, strain SCSIO 00231(T) can be readily distinguished from previously described organisms and represents a new genus within the family Pseudonocardiaceae. The name Sciscionella gen. nov. is proposed, with the novel species Sciscionella marina sp. nov. The type strain of Sciscionella marina is SCSIO 00231(T) (=KCTC 19433(T) =CCTCC AA208009(T)).


Background: Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection. Recent studies have suggested that endotheliopathy may be the common basis for multiple organ failure in sepsis. Under septic conditions, accumulation of proteases accelerates shedding of proteoglycans, such as syndecan-1, from the endothelial surface, resulting in augmented leukocyte adhesion to the vascular wall, enhanced vascular permeability, and intravascular coagulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential utility of syndecan-1 as a biomarker linking endotheliopathy to organ failure. Methods: One hundred patients with suspected infections who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Kagoshima University Hospital were consecutively enrolled in the study. Serum syndecan-1 levels were measured using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The difference between serum syndecan-1 levels in 28-day survivors and non-survivors was analyzed by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis with area under the curve calculation was used to quantify the predictive performance of serum syndecan-1 for 28-day mortality. The correlations between serum syndecan-1 and coagulation markers were analyzed by Spearman's rank correlation test. Results: Serum syndecan-1 levels in non-survivors were significantly higher than those in survivors on Day 1 and Day 3 (P < 0.01). Among multiple organ failures, coagulation failure and renal failure were significantly correlated with serum syndecan-1. Spearman's rank correlation test indicated that serum syndecan-1 was weakly but significantly correlated with disseminated intravascular coagulation score (rho = 0.33, P < 0.01). Patients with serum syndecan-1 ≥21.4 ng/mL showed delayed recovery from thrombocytopenia relative to patients with serum syndecan-1 <21.4 ng/mL. Conclusions: Elevated circulating syndecan-1 on the first day of ICU admission was associated with persistent thrombocytopenia and lethal outcome in patients with suspected sepsis.


Jurnal EECCIS Vol. 9, No. 2, Desember 2015 Abstract2The Setting of a single-phasemotor rotationcan beperformed in various ways, such asby adjustingthe frequency ofthe motor,the voltage,motor resistororincreasing the numberof motorpoles. By using astable oscillator circuit, setting a single-phase motor rotation frequency parameters can be done by setting the value variabel resistor. Thyristor trigger circuit can be used to control a single-phase motor rotation. Thyristor trigger phase angle changes, caused changes in the frequency, followed by the change of motor rotation. Changes in the value of the variable resistor in PSIM simulation produced the single-phase motor rotation frequency changes. PSIM simulation is used to analyze single-phase motor rotation of the model simulation results of the transformer output voltage. PSIM simulation can visualize electronic basic circuit and minimize the failure of real circuit.


Someone reading the Management, Spirituality, and Religion (MSR) literature for the first time could readily conclude that spirituality is a "good" thing and that religion is a "bad" thing. This supposed polarity, and other definitional "muddiness," represent a lifecycle stage of academic literature that can be transcended by the introduction and explication of starting axioms by MSR scholars. For example, one's "religion," as the word is commonly defined, is simply the collection of beliefs that she accepts that cannot be derived from other established elements of her belief system. In other words, everyone chooses a starting set of axioms or assumptions, and that choice can be said to be that person's religion. This article next analyzes some starting axioms of a number of common religions such as atheist objectivism, Christianity, secular humanism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Although none of these sets of starting assumptions can be proven to be more fundamental than any other, these religions can be compared using criteria such as logical consistency and empirical adequacy. When interpreted using a standard definition of religion, all spirituality-at-work (SAW) can be seen has having a religious base. Finally, as a strategy for more effectively and rapidly advancing the field of MSR, this paper proposes that the MSR community elevate the scholarship to MSR 2.0, a markedly "upgraded" literature that would include definitional clarity and explicit starting axioms, an evidence-based approach. The MSR community should consider embracing the evidence-based management (EBM) approach which allows for a wide range of methodologies, provided that evidence is presented.


Background/introduction Female sex workers (FSWs) are often considered as a vector for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections entering the general communities. Aim(s)/objectives This study investigated the effectiveness of a resilience-promoting intervention that targets at psychological well-being to facilitate adaptation and safe sexual practices among FSWs which could be an innovative strategy in controlling the spread of these infections. Methods Using resilience framework, this intervention consisted of six-weekly sessions focused on awareness, expression and management of emotions, identifying roles and personal strengths, and effective problem-solving skills. The primary outcome of resilience and reduction of sexual risk behaviour were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-ups through self-administered questionnaires. Difference of the differences between the two groups and intention-to-treat analysis were adopted in the analysis. Results 127 FSWs were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or usual care (control) groups in a multi-centred randomised controlled trial. There were significant differences on the score on resilience, self-esteem and general mental health status between the two groups at post-intervention and 3-month follow-ups. The rate of condom use improved with time but significant difference between groups was only observed at 3-month follow-ups. Regression models showed that, after controlling for marital status and family size, intervention group assignment (OR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.19–7.35) and self-efficacy (t = 2.48, p < 0.05) was significantly associated with improved resilience scores. Discussion/conclusion The results suggest that the programme was effective in promoting resilience, self-esteem and the mental health status but with less obvious effect on sexual health among FSWs in Hong Kong.


This paper aims at demonstrating how the material approach questions conventional hierarchies of photographic value, showing a way to deal with large quantities of photographs accumulated by scientific and scholarly disciplines in their archives.,For generations, these photographs have been considered as pure documentations of the objects represented in them (from artworks in museums to snowflakes under a microscope). Documentary photographs have been understood as mere working tools that can now be easily replaced by digital duplicates. Overcoming the long-established reduction of photographs to their visual content, the material approach shifts attention to masses of anonymous photographs that are often disregarded within institutions because they do not match museum systems of value based on uniqueness and authorship.,Focussing on photographic and archival practices in art history, this paper aims at demonstrating how conceptual and methodological tools such as "agency" and "materiality" can be made fruitful for theory and practice of photo archives able to explore their epistemological potential. A case study from the Photothek of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz allows an insight into historical and contemporary dynamics and practices of photographic archives.,With its interwoven strands of archival practice and academic research, the Photothek unboxes itself as a laboratory for the international, cross-disciplinary debate on the role and function of photographs and photographic archives in scholarship, suggesting a methodological path for the entire field. In conclusion, the paper shows that the first necessary step for a long-term conservation of photo archives is promoting research on the photographic objects.


In the article the method of identification of 2D→3D structure phase transition developed for differential reflection spectroscopy is presented. This phase transition was shown to be accompanied by non-linear dependence of differential reflectance ∆R/R versus deposited film thickness h. Formulas were derived for calculation of optical function of 2D and 3D structures involved in phase transition. Use of method for Cr/Si(111) system resulted in obtaining new information about Cr film growth. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2009.186]


Reducing excess sludge production induced by Oligochaete is carried out in a pilot scale of conventional activated sludge (CAS) reactor for 345 days. Worms occurred for nearly whole operating period except for the first 20 days, and continuously maintained at high density (over 30 total worms/mgVSS in aeration tank) for 172 days. Three types of worm were found, Aeolosoma hemprichicii and Nais elinguis alternatively dominated, but Pristina aequiseta occasionally presented. High worm density greatly contributes to both reducing sludge production and improving the sludge settling characteristics, and Nais elinguis had more potential for sludge reduction than Aeolosoma. Worm growth had impacts on effluent quality, and Nais elinguis growth affected effluent quality much more than Aeolosoma. Worm growth does not disturb the nitrification process, but PO4(3-) -P release into effluent occurres as Nais elinguis dominated. Analysis of factors affecting worm growth show that only SRT has no any impact on neither Aeolosoma nor Nais, however, both temperature and HRT can affect their growth very much.


A classification of one-mode Gaussian channels is given up to canonical unitary equivalence. A complementary to the quantum channel with additive classical Gaussian noise is described providing an example of one-mode Gaussian channel which is neither degradable nor anti-degradable.


Nowadays, the synthetic biodegradable polymeric scaffolds were widely utilized for skin tissue engineering applications. The usage of nanofibrous scaffold manufactured through textile technologies has gained a widespread cynosure in wound healing applications. In this study, an electrospun textile scaffold based on polyurethane polymer incorporated with ginger extracts is hypothesized to possess unique properties facilitating wound healing. The fabricated electrospun membranes were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements. Coagulation assays such as activated prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and hemolysis assay were performed for the electrospun membranes to determine their antithrombogenicity nature. Further, the cytocompatibility studies were evaluated using human dermal fibroblast cells to determine the toxicity of the electrospun polyurethane and their blends. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the reduced fiber (615 ± 154.31 nm) and pore (706 ± 90.07 nm) than the control (fiber diameter 1159 ± 147.48 nm and pore diameter 1087 ± 62.51 nm). Upon ginger incorporation, the wettability (80.33° ± 4.51) and surface roughness (389 nm) of the polyurethane was improved revealed in the contact angle and atomic force microscopy analysis. Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis study revealed the interaction of ginger with polyurethane by showing hydrogen bond formation and leaving an excess residue. The fabricated nanocomposites exhibited faster blood clotting time indicated in the activated prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. Further, hemolytic index and cytocompatibility studies revealed that the fabricated nanocomposites (Hemolytic index—0.96% and proliferation rate—159 ± 5.57%) showed nontoxic nature to the red blood cells and enhanced proliferation rate of human dermal fibroblast cells compared to the pristine polyurethane (hemolytic index—2.56% and proliferation rate—132 ± 3.61%). Our findings showed that polyurethane-based fibrous scaffolds comprising ginger exhibited desirable characteristics suitable for skin tissue engineering applications.


Broadband dielectric measurement methods based on vector network analyzer coupled with coaxial transmission line cell (CC) and open-ended coaxial probe (OC) are simply reviewed, by which the dielectric behaviors in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz of two practical geomaterials are investigated. Kaolin after modified compaction with different water contents is measured by using CC. The results are consistent with previous study on standardized compacted kaolin and suggest that the dielectric properties at frequencies below 100 MHz are not only a function of water content but also functions of other soil state parameters including dry density. The hydration process of a commercial grout is monitored in real time by using OC. It is found that the time dependent dielectric properties can accurately reveal the different stages of the hydration process. These measurement results demonstrate the practicability of the introduced methods in determining dielectric properties of soft geomaterials.


Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the authors' attention by an interested reader that Fig. 6D contained images featuring overlapping data, which reportedly had been derived under different experimental conditions. Subsequently, further issues of data duplication were brought to light by another interested reader concerning the above article; first, certain of the images showing colony‑forming assays in Fig. 4D were strikingly similar to images that had appeared in a previous publication by the same research group, and secondly, a couple of instances of data duplication were identified among the histopathological images presented within Fig. 7D. After having considered the various issues that have been brought to light with this paper, together with an appeal from the authors that a Corrigendum be published, the Editor of Oncology Reports has ruled that the article should be retracted from the publication on account of a lack of overall confidence in the presented data. Note that the authors were not in agreement that the number of errors reported and identified were sufficient to merit the retraction of the article. Additionally, the authors carefully checked the raw data and drew a conclusion that the final scientific conclusions were not affected. The Editor and the authors apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [the original article was published in Oncology Reports 39: 2114‑2126, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/or.2018.6297].


Significant research challenges must be addressed in the cleaning, transformation, integration, modeling, and analytics of Big Data sources for finance. This article surveys the progress made so far in this direction and obstacles yet to be overcome. These are issues that are of interest to data-driven financial institutions in both corporate finance and consumer finance. These challenges are also of interest to the legal profession as well as to regulators. The discussion is relevant to technology firms that support the growing field of FinTech.


Abstract: This study aims to determine the implementation of some data fallout on the UIM data management system, to find out the causes of some data fallout on the UIM Data Management system, to know the process of working on data validation, and to find out the process of working on Feasibility. The method used in this study was qualitative and carried out several experiments in its manufacture. The results of this study are that Fallout has several codes in the form of numbers, where each code has a different meaning and handling. At the same time, data validation (Valdat) is needed to ensure that the data meets the criteria set by PT. Indonesian Telecommunications. In conclusion, this industry practice report describes several steps for dealing with Fallout and data validation (Valdat).

Keywords: Fallout Code 1030 and 1060, UIM System, Data Validation


Hypercholesterolemia is a condition of elevated cholesterol levels in the blood that exceeds the normal limit, which is 240 mg / dl. Hypercholesterolemia cano beotreatedbwith pharmacologicalnandnnon-pharmacologicalnntherapies. Pharmacologicalm therapy of hypercholesterolemia can be carried out by taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, taking cholesterol-lowering drugs in the long term can cause adverse effects on the body, which can aggravate the work of the kidneys, myopathy, liver damage, and kidney failure. So that non-pharmacological therapy or traditional medicine is needed in reducing cholesterol levels, one of which is by consuming star fruit juice. This study aims to determine the effect of star fruit juice on decreasing cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia patients. The design used in this study is aopre-experimentalmdesign. By using the onengroupnpretestlposttestmapproach. The results of the statistical test using the Paired T Test obtained a p value of 0.000 (sig > 0.050) meaningnthatnHIi waslaccepted and H0 was rejected. In conclusion, there is an influence of star fruit juice on reducing cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia patients in the Kabawo Health Center Working Area, Muna Regency. Advice is expected for health workers to apply non-pharmacological therapy, especially the use ofo sta fruitojuice as aodecrease inm cholesterol levels in people with hypercholesterolemia


Background College students and working adults are particularly vulnerable to stress and other mental health problems, and mental health promotion and prevention are needed to promote their mental health. In recent decades, mindfulness-based training has demonstrated to be efficacious in treating physical and psychological conditions. Objective The aim of our study was to examine the efficacy of an Internet-based mindfulness training program (iMIND) in comparison with the well-established Internet-based cognitive-behavioral training program (iCBT) in promoting mental health among college students and young working adults. Methods This study was a 2-arm, unblinded, randomized controlled trial comparing iMIND with iCBT. Participants were recruited online and offline via mass emails, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, announcement and leaflets in primary care clinics, and social networking sites. Eligible participants were randomized into either the iMIND (n=604) or the iCBT (n=651) condition. Participants received 8 Web-based sessions with information and exercises related to mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral principles. Telephone or email support was provided by trained first tier supporters who were supervised by the study's research team. Primary outcomes included mental and physical health-related measures, which were self-assessed online at preprogram, postprogram, and 3-month follow-up. Results Among the 1255 study participants, 213 and 127 completed the post- and 3-month follow-up assessment, respectively. Missing data were treated using restricted maximum likelihood estimation. Both iMIND (n=604) and iCBT (n=651) were efficacious in improving mental health, psychological distress, life satisfaction, sleep disturbance, and energy level. Conclusions Both Internet-based mental health programs showed potential in improving the mental health from pre- to postassessment, and such improvement was sustained at the 3-month follow-up. The high attrition rate in this study suggests the need for refinement in future technology-based psychological programs. Mental health professionals need to team up with experts in information technology to increase personalization of Web-based interventions to enhance adherence. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR-TRC-12002623; https://www2.ccrb.cuhk.edu.hk/ registry/public/191 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6kxt8DjM4).


Analysis of trace elements in blood serum can be an important tool for monitoring micronutrient supply in stallions in order to maintain reproductive health. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in the blood serum of stud stallions with the qualitative characteristics of fresh sperm and sperm after cryopreservation and thawing. The studies were carried out on purebred Arabian stallions (n=50). As a biomaterial for studies, we used blood serum, fresh and thawed sperm after cryopreservation. The elemental composition of seminal plasma was determined by 25 chemical elements Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Se, Zn Ca, K, Mg, P, B, Li, Si, V Na, Ni, Sn, Hg, Sr, Al, As, Cd, Pb) by ICP-DRC-MS methods. It was found that the concentrations of Mg and Co in the blood serum positively correlate with the qualitative characteristics of the sperm of Arabian purebred stallions. Wherein, the optimal range of concentrations of Mg in the blood serum, typical for stallions with relatively high indicators of sperm quality, is 22.64 to 27.05 μg/g; Co – 0.001 to 0.0015 μg/g.


For pt.I see ibid., vol.44, no.5, p.1080-90 (1996). Using the method developed in Cohen (1996) (Part I), the concepts of instantaneous frequency and group delay are generalized to arbitrary variables; in addition, new expressions for mean values and bandwidths are obtained. The kernel method is used to define a general class for arbitrary variables. As in the time-frequency case, the general class generates all possible distributions. The method is also formulated in terms of the local autocorrelation function.


Heterogeneous multi core processors can offer diverse computing capabilities. The efficiency of Market Basket Analysis Algorithm can be improved with heterogeneous multi core processors. Market basket analysis algorithm utilises apriori algorithm and is one of the popular data mining algorithms which can utilise Map/Reduce framework to perform analysis. The algorithm generates association rules based on transactional data and Map/Reduce motivates to redesign and convert the existing sequential algorithms for efficiency. Hadoop is the parallel programming platform built on Hadoop Distributed File Systems(HDFS) for Map/Reduce computation that process data as (key, value) pairs. In Hadoop map/reduce, the sequential jobs are parallelised and the Job Tracker assigns parallel tasks to the Task Tracker. Based on single threaded or multithreaded parallel tasks in the task tracker, execution is carried out in the appropriate cores. For this, a new scheduler called MB Scheduler can be developed. Switching between the cores can be made static or dynamic. The use of heterogeneous multi core processors optimizes processing capabilities and power requirements for a processor and improves the performance of the system.


Each user of modern information and communication systems faces the procedures of identification and authentication several times a day. There are some methods of identification and authentication which differ in complexity, reliability, cost and other parameters. The range of problems connected with application of methods of information protection is researched in the work. These methods are based on using portable devices (tokens, electronic keys), passwords, biometric characteristics, determination of user coordinates. Advantages and disadvantages of considered methods, prospects of their further development are defined. The choice of specific protection method is determined by industrial, financial and other means, volume of confidential information and its significance. But it is necessary to remember that there is no absolutely reliable protection. Measures for protection of information should be complex, systematic and should combine different methods and means


Tokuro Matsuo (Ph.D., M.S., and B.Edu.) is an associate professor at Graduate School of Science and Engineering in Yamagata University since 2006. He graduated from School of Culture and Education of Saga University in 2001 and from School of Knowledge Science of Japan Advanced Institute of Technology in 2003. He received his Ph.D. from Department of Computer Science at Nagoya Institute of Technology in 2006. He is a visiting researcher in University California, Irvine (2010-2011) and a research fellow of Software Engineering and Information Technology Institute of Central Michigan University (2010-2012). His current research interests include career service system, safety service for disaster recovery, designs on secure electronic commerce systems and robust e-auction protocols, qualitative reasoning and simulations, polymer chemical material design system, and travel support systems. Some of his researches are presented in top-leveled international conference including AAAI, IEEE CEC, AAMAS, and WWW. He created and organized 26 international conferences and workshops including Pacific Rim International Workshop on E-Commerce 2006, Conference on Software Engineering, Network, Parallel and Distributed Computing 2009, IEEE/ACIS International Conference on Computer and Information Science 2010, IEEE International Workshop on e-Activity 2007-2011, and International Workshop on Automated Complex Agent-based Negotiation 2005-2011. He received over 40 awards and research grants from research foundations, company, and government. He is commissioned as Adviser of Information Promotion from the Japanese Government. He also is a chairperson of the Investigation Committee on Tourist Information System in the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan from 2011.


Introducing a small dose of electrolyte additive in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) is an appealing strategy for improving the quality of solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) layer formed on lithium metal (Li°) anode, thereby extending the cycling life of solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs). In this work, we report a new type of SPEs comprising a low-cost, fluorine-free salt, lithium tricyanomethanide (LiTCM), as main conducting salt, and a fluorinated salt, lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), as electrolyte additive for enhancing the performance of SPE-based SSLMBs. Our results demonstrate that a homogeneous and stable SEI layer is readily formed on the surface of Li° electrode through the preferential reductive decomposition of LiFSI, and, consequently, the cycle stabilities of Li° || Li° and Li° || LiFePO4 cells are significantly improved after the incorporation of LiFSI as additive. The intriguing chemistry of salt anion revealed in this work may expedite the large-scale implementation of SSLMBs in the near future.


The aim of the work – to analyze the effectiveness of a fixed combination of amlodipine and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (lisinopril) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (valsartan) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), post-infarction cardiosclerosis (PIC), arterial hypertension (AH) regarding the blood pressure (BP) control and impact on a composite endpoint.
Materials and methods. General clinical examination of 108 patients with PIC and AH was done at the Cardiology Department of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine within 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group patients (n = 50) were assigned to receive a fixed combination of valsartan and amlodipine (160 mg and 5 mg, respectively), and the second group patients (n = 58) were treated with a fixed combination of lisinopril and amlodipine (10 mg and 5 mg, respectively). Patients were followed-up for 12 months, including general clinical examination, office BP measurements, 24-hour BP monitoring, echodopplerography, monitoring of the composite endpoint. Exclusion criteria were hemodynamically significant heart valve lesions, permanent or temporary cardiac pacing, acute heart failure and implanted cardioverter-defibrillator, permanent form of atrial fibrillation, acute cerebrovascular disorder, decompensation of severe somatic pathology. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was performed using Microsoft Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics v. 23. Descriptive data were presented as arithmetic mean ± standard deviation (M ± SD) in the case of normal distribution of variables, data with distribution other than normal were presented in Me format (Q25; Q75), where Me was the median, Q25, Q75 – lower and upper quartiles (Q25; Q75), or as a percentage for categorical values with Pearson's Chi-square (χ2) calculation. Differences in mean values were considered statistically significant at a level of Р < 0.05.
Results. According to all statistical criteria, BP indicators did not differ in both patient groups. Systolic office BP in the first group was 133.00 (123.00; 140.25) mm Hg., in the second group – 130.00 (122.00; 140.00) mm Hg. In the first group, diastolic office BP was 81.00 (79.50; 81.00) mm Hg and in the second group – 80.00 (75.00; 86.00) mm Hg. No statistically significant differences were found in the study groups when assessing mean BP levels during the 24-hour monitoring. In the assessment of index values, systolic BP load was higher than normal in 58 % of patients in the first group and in 56.9 % of patients in the second group (χ2 = 0.01; P = 0.53). The assessment of diastolic BP load indices revealed increased diastolic BP index in 72 % of patient in the first group and in 75.9 % – in the second group (χ2 = 0.2; P = 0.4). The number of patients with BP higher or less than 130/80 mm Hg was compared. Systolic BP was above and below 130 mm Hg in 56 % and 44 %, respectively, of the first group patients; the distribution was 37.9 % and 62.1 % in the second group. Therefore, the percentage of patients with target systolic BP was higher in the second group (χ2 = 3.52; P = 0.046). Analyzing the composite endpoint, a statistically significant difference in the Kaplan–Meier curves via the statistical criterion using a log-rank test (P = 0.007) was detected.
Conclusions. No statistically significant differences were found in the analysis of office blood pressure and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring between amlodipine with lisinopril and amlodipine with valsartan groups. The detailed analysis revealed a greater percentage of patients with target blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg among those under 65 years of age receiving amlodipine with lisinopril (χ2 = 3.52; P = 0.046). The better prognostic value of the fixed combination of amlodipine with lisinopril compared to the combination of amlodipine with valsartan (P = 0.007) was demonstrated by the endpoint analysis.


This paper discusses fiscal responsibility laws in Latin America, with special attention to their provisions for fiscal discipline by subnational governments. It discusses why and when such laws might be useful-to help resolve the coordination problem in getting diverse governments to avoid overusing the common national credit market and to help individual governments make a time-consistent commitment for fiscal prudence. It examines the cases of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina, as well as the case of Mexico where other types of laws and regulations aim to achieve the same objectives of solidifying incentives for fiscal discipline at all levels of government. Fiscal responsibility laws are found to be useful in some cases, although the experience is not long enough to be certain, but they are clearly not necessary in every case, nor always sufficient to assure fiscal stability.


The Systematization of Nursing Assistance gains more importance in the health scenario every day. Keeping in mind the relevance of the use of the nursing process, the description of the experience implementation of the Systematization of Nursing Care in an Intensive Care Unit was carried out. For that we chose a qualitative approach with emphasis on action research. Three nurses and eight nurse technicians of the Intensive Care Unit of a referral hospital in in Crato-CE participated in the experience. Data was collected from the observation guide. There was readiness, including the opening of the institution for the introduction of the nursing process, and also difficulties, such as the opposition of the Nursing technician to the introduction of new instruments. Despite the obstacles, the results showed viability of this practice in implementing the Nursing Process, with consequent professional growth, recovery and greater autonomy to nursing. Descriptors: Nursing Care; Intensive Care Units; Nursing Process.


Marker assisted selection (MAS) in potato breeding is the most developing area at present time. Methods of DNA markers are developed in all top world potato research institutes and universities oriented on plant production. This paper presents results obtained from the testing of gene resources encompassing different resistance genes against Phytophthora infestans potentially exploitable for Czech potato breeding. Three different DNA markers were studied that are linked to R1 locus in the potato chromosome V operating as a resistance against some races of P. infestans. Markering capability and frequencies of these markers was evaluated with respect to their usage in practical Czech plant breeding that has vital importance in finding the tools as a prerequisite for creating new varieties efficiently.


The liquid argon dewar and the three cryostats which contain the modules of the D-Zero detector are cooled and maintained at a low pressure equilibrium by the use of liquid nitrogen cooling loops. The dewar has one vacuum jacketed valve at the inlet of the cooling loop and one at the outlet. Each cryostat has two inlet valves, one for the cooldown loops and one for the operating loops. in addition to an outlet valve. The flow rate of the liquid nitrogen, and hence the valve sizes and corresponding flow coefficients (C{sub v}), is deter mined by the required cooling rate of each system. The large variance between the cooling rate required for cooldown and that required for operation, and the high control resolution required, makes the selection of a valve seat and plug difficult. The liquid valve coefficient calculations do not specifically consider the size affect of gas generated within the valve by adiabatic pressure drop. See Appendix I for a calculation of the magnitude of this effect. The figures and a graphical and tabular summary of the papers conclusions are presented in Appendix II.


ABSTRACT In this paper we describe little-studied exposures of the Upper Cretaceous Cardium Formation in the northern Foothills and Peace River Plains, located north of Twp. 58. We correlate sixteen principal outcrop sections along the Foothills and across the northern escarpment of the Cardium as far east as the Smoky River. Correlations are based on tracing bounding erosion surfaces, initially observed in well logs and cores, and later extended into outcrop. The Kakwa Member is conglomeratic in many of these sections. The member displays a spectrum of conglomerate types, of both shallow marine and fluvial origin. Depositional environments are differentiated on the basis of stratigraphic context, conglomerate texture, sedimentary structures, stratification style and paleogeographic setting. We describe in detail four localities exemplifying the main paleoenvironments. At Bay Tree, a 12 m thick section consists primarily of clast-supported conglomerates representing a wave-dominated shoreface and beachface. This environment is dominated by broadly horizontal stratification with horizontal facies heterogeneity on a metre scale. At Cutbank Lake, swaley-stratified shoreface sandstones contain pebble-lined scours that show an upward increase in thickness and lateral continuity and represent rip current deposits. At Mount Niles, conglomerate forms a 2-6 m thick, >200 m wide, channelized body consisting of heterolithic matrix-supported conglomerates and pebbly sandstones capped by gravel wave ripples. Deposition may have been in a river-mouth setting. At 'Horseshoe Mountain', the upper part of the Kakwa Member consists of metre-scale crossbedded pebbly sandstone and matrix-supported conglomerate deposited in a pebbly fluvial system lacking marine influence. For the entire study area, paleocurrent observations indicate a strong NW to SE alongshore transport of gravel, with storm waves approaching from the NE. Fluvial crossbedding is directed towards the NE. Some of the outcrop facies can also be recognized in core from the adjacent subsurface. Our descriptions of conglomerate facies in outcrop facilitate interpretation of the depositional environment of comparable units in subsurface. Unfortunately, the limited extent of exposures does not allow us to determine with precision the geometry of conglomeratic units. However, a broad conglomerate-rich zone >90 km in dip extent and 10-20 km in strike extent can be traced across the northern outcrop belt and probably records the position of a major and long-lasting pebbly fluvial system. Subsurface analogs would be "exploration fairways". At the reservoir scale, conglomerate bodies showing greater influence of wave reworking would tend to be more elongate, and have greater facies continuity/permeability, in a shore-parallel direction. The outcrops display lateral textural heterogeneity at scales of metres to 10s of metres. This heterogeneity would affect reservoir performance, but could not be captured (for reservoir modeling) using typical development well spacing. End_Page 437------------------------


A three-dimensional electrode system for electrochemical oxidation was developed in which Cu-Ce composite oxides supported on gamma-Al2O3 and granular activated carbon were packed between the main electrodes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize the particle electrode. The results showed that the particle electrode had good electrocatalytic activity and stability for the degradation of landfill leachate. When pH value of landfill leachate was 7, the voltage was 10 V, and air-flow was 0.04 m3/h, the removal rate of COD and NH4+-N can reach 87.8% and 45.4%, respectively. The treatment effect of electro-heterogeneous catalytic process was greatly higher than that of electrochemical oxidation process in two dimensional flat reactor and bipolar packed bed cell. In addition, CuO-CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 was active even after it was reused twenty times. It was found that landfill leachate degradation followed a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetic model, and the removal of pollutants under these operating conditions could be mainly attributed to the direct oxidation effect in the electro-heterogeneous catalytic reactor.


Abstract Lateralization of one or both vocal folds is a generally accepted surgical principle for the relief of the airway obstruction caused by bilateral vocal fold paralysis. A modified, entirely endoscopic method of lateralization has been developed, employing a carbon dioxide laser to reduce the bulk of the fold, and fibrin glue to maintain the lateral position. The results of 18 operations on 15 patients, including six who had unsatisfactory results after previous surgery, were analyzed and compared retrospectively with the results from 22 patients operated on before the introduction of the method. The patient's ability to perform everyday activities improved in 12 cases, which paralleled the results of the previous, more cumbersome methods. The incidence of re-operation was comparable, given the shorter follow-up after the more recent method.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To explore the processes neonatal intensive care nurses used in their child protection role with preterm infants.

BACKGROUND
Neonatal nurses' screening for family violence is important in identifying at-risk preterm infants requiring protection upon discharge from neonatal intensive care settings. We know little about neonatal nurses and their role in child protection.

DESIGN
A qualitative research design using Glaserian grounded theory.

METHODS
Ten in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with New Zealand neonatal intensive care nurses. Data were simultaneously analysed using constant comparative analysis and theoretical sampling to develop a substantive grounded theory.

RESULTS
Dancing around families is the substantive grounded theory explaining how neonatal intensive care nurses respond to and manage an infant needing child protection. Knowing at-risk families is the process these nurses used, which draws on their personal and professional knowledge to identify an infant's child welfare requirements. A tension exists for neonatal nurses in shaping and framing the baby's safety and protection needs between their role of nurturing and protecting an at-risk infant and it belonging to the family.

CONCLUSIONS
Child protection is a source of conflict for neonatal intensive care nurses. A lack of education, dodgy families and lack of confidence in child welfare services all compromise effective child protection. Their reality is tension between wanting the best possible outcomes for the baby, but having little or no control over what happens following its discharge.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Neonatal intensive care nurses are ideally positioned to identify and respond to those preterm infants at risk of child maltreatment. They need education in child maltreatment, and protection focused on preterm infants, collegial support and clinical supervision.


The extracting method of the effective permittivity and permeability of split-ring resonator (SRRs for short) of metamaterials is described based on the extraordinary electromagnetic properties of metamaterials. Simulations are made to three types of symmetric SRRs by CST software. Comparison and analysis indicate that SRRs with short metal rod can regulate the resonating frequency of the SRRs. It is also verified that the transmission zero points of the new type of SRRs-based filter can be controlled by changing the distance between the short metal rod and the side of SRRs with mouth.


Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin was described by Toker in 1972 as trabecular carcinoma [1]. Although the entity is widely known as Merkel cell carcinoma because of its ultrastructural similarity to the normal Merkel cell, the term neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin is more appropriate because of the histologic and histochemical features of the malignant cells. Many hundreds of cases have been described in the literature but the biological behavior and treatment of this aggressive tumor have not been precisely defined. NCS tends to metastasize to regional lymph nodes and to spread hematogenously to other organs, primarily liver and bone. Moreover, the appearance of NCS in regional lymph nodes without an apparent primary site has been reported only rarely [2±4]. This report adds another two cases to the 13 documented in the literature.


Yakov Grot (1812–1893) was professor of Russian literature and history at Alexander University in Helsinki, 1841–1853. He became vice-rector of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1889. He published several important academic works on Russian etymology, lexicography, and grammar. He supervised work on the Russian Academic Dictionary. In Helsinki, Grot was a mediator between the two countries. He translated Swedish literature published in Finland and wrote essays about Finnish and Swedish literature, folk poetry, and history. An invaluable source is Grot's correspondence, in three volumes, with the editor of the literary journal Sovremennik Pëtr Pletnëv. Grot received invitations to all the best aristocratic and bourgeois houses in Helsinki to participate in balls, dinners, and amateur performances. He partook in social gatherings and masquerades at the Society House and private houses. His favorite pastime was the theater. Helsinki was the playground of visiting opera and drama companies who performed mostly in Swedish and German. Some famous musicians stopped over in Helsinki on their way to and from Saint Petersburg–Stockholm–Revel. Grot's years in Helsinki coincided with the rise of national culture. Studying Grot's circle of friends and acquaintances, as well as the theater and cultural entertainments, provides deeper insight into social life in the 1840s, as well as Finnish-Russian relations.


Four valid species of trionychine trionychid turtles are recognized from the Upper Cretaceous (mid-Campanian; Judithian) Judith River Group, western North America. Cladistic analysis of extant and Judith River Group trionychines supports referral of three fossil species to Aspideretoides gen. nov. and one fossil species to Apalone, the genus of extant North American trionychines. The taxonomic diversity of Judith River Group trionychids is less than that of younger Maastrichtian and Paleocene assemblages from the Western Interior, largely because of the absence of plastomenine trionychids in the Judith River Group assemblage.