Although brain imaging evidence accumulates to suggest that the amygdala plays a key role in the processing of novel stimuli, only little is known about its role in processing expressed novelty conveyed by surprised faces, and even less about possible interactive encoding of novelty and valence. Those investigations that have already probed human amygdala involvement in the processing of surprised facial expressions either used static pictures displaying negative surprise (as contained in fear) or "neutral" surprise, and manipulated valence by contextually priming or subjectively associating static surprise with either negative or positive information. Therefore, it still remains unresolved how the human amygdala differentially processes dynamic surprised facial expressions displaying either positive or negative surprise. Here, we created new artificial dynamic 3-dimensional facial expressions conveying surprise with an intrinsic positive (wonderment) or negative (fear) connotation, but also intrinsic positive (joy) or negative (anxiety) emotions not containing any surprise, in addition to neutral facial displays either containing ("typical surprise" expression) or not containing ("neutral") surprise. Results showed heightened amygdala activity to faces containing positive (vs. negative) surprise, which may either correspond to a specific wonderment effect as such, or to the computation of a negative expected value prediction error. Findings are discussed in the light of data obtained from a closely matched nonsocial lottery task, which revealed overlapping activity within the left amygdala to unexpected positive outcomes.


The thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans of 11 patients with entrapped intra-articular fragments secondary to dislocation or fracture dislocation of the hip are studied. The effects of CT bone and soft-tissue contrast manipulation on the visibility of the intra-articular fragments are demonstrated in both patients and in vitro. When the mechanism of injury and clinical features raise the possibility of entrapped fragments, as in hip dislocation and fracture dislocation, special magnification and image-enhancement techniques are available for re-examining the acetabulum, especially when raw CT data are saved. Thus, index of suspicion and appropriate CT planning can ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment of entrapped intraarticular fragments in the hip joint.


An optical transceiver design for an all passive POF portable optical access-card system is presented. The portable optical access-card system includes a portable device with an optical code generating device and a transmitter/receiver system that generate the light signal and de-codes the transmitted codes. The portable optical access-card system will utilized Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) waveguide coupler device that is embedded in the portable device itself. The optical card uses a simple coding technique of light signal transmitted from a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or laser, where the light signal is coded using a 1 X N POF waveguide coupler. The Transmitter circuit utilize simple LED circuit together and a receiving circuit using light-to-frequency converter chip.


Morphological analysis of smears of the gingival epithelium by computer-aided morphometry was carried out in women during the secretory and proliferation phases of the menstrual cycle. During the secretory phase the cell ratio was characterized by higher percentage of epitheliocytes in the terminal stages of differentiation. Size of the nuclei and cytoplasm of intermediate cells, concentration of total protein in them, number of the nucleolar organizer zones, and degree of bacterial contamination of epitheliocytes is higher during the secretory phase than during the proliferation phase.


CT perfusion (CTP) imaging is increasingly used for routine evaluation of acute ischemic stroke. Knowledge about the different types of CTP software, imaging acquisition and post-processing, and interpretation is crucial for appropriate patient selection for reperfusion therapy. Conventional vendor-provided CTP software differentiates between ischemic penumbra and core infarct using the tiebreaker of critically reduced cerebral blood volume (CBV) values within brain regions showing abnormally elevated time parameters like mean transit time (MTT) or time to peak (TTP). On the other hand, RAPID automated software differentiates between ischemic penumbra and core infarct using the tiebreaker of critically reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) values within brain regions showing abnormally elevated time to maximum (Tmax). Additionally, RAPID calculates certain indices that confer prognostic value, such as the hypoperfusion and CBV index. In this review, we aim to familiarize the reader with the technical principles of CTP imaging, compare CTP maps generated by conventional and RAPID software, and discuss important thresholds for reperfusion and prognostic indices. Lastly, we discuss common pitfalls to help with the accurate interpretation of CTP imaging.


This study used the descriptive method of research to determine the perceived adaptation of the students and faculty members of the College of Education, Polytechnic University of the Philippines regarding Academic Calendar Shift, School Year 2013-2014. The researcher used a semi sub-system paradigm that involved the input, process and output approach, with a five-point Likert Scale questionnaire to gather data on the perception of quota samples of both students and faculty. The survey was conducted on a room-to-room basis reaching a quota of 218 respondents subcategorized by the year level of the student respondents, and 11 of the faculty. The statistical tools used were frequency, percentage, and Pearson Correlation Test. Results show that the students' overall assessment on the eight items for the concept of Academic Calendar Shift yielded a mean rating of 3.63 showing that they "Agree" in favor of the academic shift's advantages; the faculty's overall assessment for Academic Calendar Shift is 4.49 (mean rating) showing that they "Strongly Agree" with the benefits of academic shift; the students' perception on academic shift in PUP context is 3.08 (mean rating) showing their "Neutrality" on the issue; the faculty response has an overall mean rating of 4.06 with regard to Academic Calendar Shift in PUP showing that they "Agee" to it; and there is a significant difference in the perception of the students and faculty with regard to the Academic Calendar Shift and to the Academic Calendar in PUP. PUP administrators should welcome the idea of academic calendar shift and propose a study of its possible recommendations.


Understanding how sustainable preference change can be achieved is of both scientific and practical importance. Recent work shows that merely responding or not responding to objects during go/no-go training can influence preferences for these objects right after the training, when people choose with a time limit. Here we examined whether and how such immediate preference change in fast choices can impact choices without time limit one week later. In two preregistered experiments, participants responded to go food items and withheld responses toward no-go food items during a go/no-go training. Immediately after the training, they made consumption choices for half of the items (with a time limit in Experiment 1; without time limit in Experiment 2). One week later, participants chose again (without time limit in both experiments). Half of the choices had been presented immediately after the training (repeated choices), while the other half had not (new choices). Participants preferred go over no-go items both immediately after the training and one week later. Furthermore, the effect was observed for both repeated and new choices after one week, revealing a direct effect of mere (non)responses on preferences one week later. Exploratory analyses revealed that the effect after one week is related to the memory of stimulus-response contingencies immediately after the training, and this memory is impaired by making choices. These findings show mere action versus inaction can directly induce preference change that lasts for at least one week, and memory of stimulus-response contingencies may play a crucial role in this effect.


Wireless communication systems play an increasingly integral role in society. Currently underground sensor networks are used in many applications for security purposes, environmental applications, infrastructure maintenance etc. The major problem, associated with sensor networks, is in providing the power supply to enable the networks to work for long durations. This paper presents a novel technique to wirelessly, supply power to the underground sensor networks using the magnetic induction principle. In addition, using the resonating principle further ensures maximum efficiency of this proposed system. Experimental results to prove the feasibility of this novel technique for supplying wireless power are presented.


Microbial keratitis is affecting approximately 4 to 5 per 10,000 contact lens wearers worldwide and the severity of the disease depends on the type of microbial species contaminating the contact lens. As the number of contact lens wearer increases globally, including Malaysia, in the past ten years, there is a need to identify the type of microbial species that contaminates contact lenses among Malaysians, especially among college students. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate microbial contamination on contact lenses among university students and the habits of the contact lens wearers within the university facility. A total of 67 pairs used contact lens samples were collected. CFU/ mL was calculated based on colonies grown on nutrient agar to represent the microbial population density. Gram staining was performed for all pure cultures with different morphologies. Two major groups of contaminants with different morphologies were subjected to identification using biochemical tests. Our results suggested that 41.79 % of the samples collected were contaminated with microbes and the contamination status was significantly different between genders and duration of contact lens wearing per usage (p < 0.05). Besides, monthly disposable contact lenses had the highest contamination rate with a mean of 2.41 x 103 CFU/ mL when compared to daily and quarter-yearly (3 months) contact lenses. Gram staining showed that 88.47 % of microbial contamination was Gram negative, mainly represented by Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp.. Our study unexpectedly found that contact lenses among university students were contaminated with microbes that might be found in the tap water used to wash their hands.


The learning organization is a strategic process for every university as a public service institution to improve its performance. Learning organizations have an essential role in linking past experiences to future improvements in changing State Islamic Universities in Indonesia to achieve international standards. This study aimed to describe the State Islamic University's learning organization profile in Indonesia and reveal its readiness towards international standards. This study used a survey approach, collecting data through closed questionnaires and open-ended questions involving 300 respondents consisting of lecturers and employees of the State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. The data analysis technique used descriptive statistics with a benchmark scale and explanations. The results showed that the average score on all learning organization variables was low, below the benchmark scale. This result was in line with lecturers and employees' perception that most of them (68%) expressed pessimism about universities' readiness to achieve international standards. In conclusion, the State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga has not fully become a learning organization as a bridge of change towards an international standard. benchmark score. These results indicate that this university has not fully implemented the pillars and characteristics of the learning organizations. This learning organization profile is in line with the perception of most lecturers and employees who are pessimistic about the university's readiness to achieve


The possible dialectic between fathers and institutions is inseparable from concepts of identity and filiation in their relation to culture. In Africa and/or the East, for example, it is regular practice to designate an individual by his or her bond of filiation (that handed down by the parents or acquired after the arrival of children) in so far as that bond ties the person concerned to ancestors or descendents. While, since its characterisation by Freud, the Oedipus complex has encountered such a success, this is not simply due to its universality, but also since it refers to transmission through filiation. Now even recent events have reminded us that filiation lies at the heart of any culture and communication, beyond the individual languages concerned, and is the main vector for such various ways of doing and saying. What relations exist between migrant fathers and institutions? Transcultural consultation is a privileged space for analysis and mediation in situations where this bond is jeopardised.


The scenario of neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly evolving. As already happened for the advanced disease, also early stages have entered the era of precision medicine, with molecular analysis and Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) evaluation that by now can be considered a routine assessment. New treatment options have been recently approved, with osimertinib now part of clinical practice for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mutated (EGFRm) patients, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) available after FDA approval both in the adjuvant (atezolizumab) and neoadjuvant (nivolumab) setting. No mature data on overall survival benefits are available yet, though. Several clinical trials with specific-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and ICIs are currently ongoing, both with and without concomitant chemotherapy. As therapeutic strategies are rapidly expanding, quite a few questions remain unsettled, such as the optimal duration of adjuvant targeted therapy or the effective benefit of ICIs in early-stage EGFRm or ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) rearranged patients, or the possibility to individuate high-risk patients after surgical resection assessing minimal residual disease (MRD) by ctDNA evaluation. We hereby report already available literature data and summarize ongoing trials with targeted therapy and immunotherapy in early-stage NSCLC, focusing on practice-changing results and new perspectives for potentially cured patients.


The 1-[3′,4′,6′-tn-O-acetyl-2′-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyloxy], 1-[2,′,3′,4′-tri-O-acetyl-6′-O-(t-butyldimethylsily)-α-D-glucopyranosyloxy], 1-(3′,4′,6′-tri-O-acetyl-2′-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyloxy), and 1-(2′,3′,4′-tri-O-acetyl-α-D-xylopyranosyloxy) derivatives of (E-)3-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)buta-1,3-diene, i.e.(6d-g), and their β-anomers, i.e.(11c-f), have been prepared and their diastereofacial reactivities towards N-phenylmaleimide assessed. Whereas the 2′-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-α-diene (6d) gave a 20 : 80 mixture of thecycloadducts (9d) and (10d), its β-anomer, i.e.(11c), afforded a 66 : 34 mixture of the cycloadducts (12c) and (13c)[the major cycloadducts having the (1R,2R,3S)-configuration]. The 6′-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-α-diene (6e) gave a 71:29 mixture of the cycloadducts (9e) and (10e)[the major cycloadduct having the (1S,2S,3R)-geometry]; its β-anomer, i.e.(11d), afforded an 89:11 mixture of the cycloadducts (12d) and (13d)[the major-product possessing the (1R,2R,3S)-stereochemistry]. Although no stereoselection was observed with, the 2′-deoxy-α-diene (6f), an 80:20 mixture of the cycloadducts (12e) and (13e)[the major product having the (1R,2R,3S)-geometry] was formed in the case of its β-anomer, i.e.(11e). The diastereofacial reactivities of the α- and β-D-xylopyranosyldienes, i.e.(6g) and (11f), were found to be equal and opposite; thus, the α-diene (6g) yielded an 81:19 mixture of the cycloadducts (9g) and (10g)[the major product having the (1S,2S,3R)-configuration]. The stereostructure of the cycloadduct (9g)[(1S,2S,3R)-5-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)-N-phenyl-3-(2′,3′,4′-tri-O-acetyl-α-D-xylopyranosyloxy)-cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboximide] was confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic analysis.


The dental world was introduced to a revolutionary and esthetically pleasing adhesive-retained fixed partial denture for the replacement of anterior missing teeth in the early 1980s.1, 2 Patient comfort was enhanced along with minimal pulpal trauma to adjacent teeth that may occur with the extensive cutting of tooth structure with the use of full coverage crowns. Proffered by faculty from the University of Maryland, this tooth replacement was ultimate known as the Maryland Bridge, and it has been used extensively to the benefit of many patients. However, as with anything in history, especially the history of dentistry, the evolution of these types of improvements often comes from information buried in the vaults of the numerous dental publications that arose in the 1700-1800s, vaults that are only too often never opened to the riches within. So it was also with this prosthetic replacement as significant evidence exists in 1887 that this prostheses was used routinely by restorative dentists.3 Dr. Allison R. Lawshee from Trenton, NJ, USA provided the dental world with this replacement prosthesis almost 100 years prior to the what we know today at the Maryland Bridge. While not possessing the properties of contemporary etching and adhesion, minimal tooth damage was highlighted and sound principles of cementation were advocated Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Historical evidence and enlightenment for today's generation at its finest.


This paper describes a new development in plate reconstruction techniques: the use of gridded data sets. Rotation poles that summarize the evolution of an ocean are used to transform data grids to the reconstruction framework. In this way, information contained in the gridded data is retained for the correlation of features from one side of the ocean to the other. The method is illustrated by a reconstruction of the bathymetry in the Labrador Sea and part of the North Atlantic.


The present studies evaluate the in vivo prophylactic radioprotective effects of 1-bromoacetyl-3, 3-dinitroazetidine (RRx-001), a phase III anticancer agent that inhibits c-myc and downregulates CD-47, after total body irradiation (TBI), in lethally and sublethally irradiated CD2F1 male mice. A single dose of RRx-001 was administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection 24 h prior to a lethal or sublethal radiation dose. When irradiated with 9.35 Gy, the dose lethal to 70% of untreated mice at 30 days (LD70/30), only 33% of mice receiving RRx-001 (10 mg/kg) 24 h prior to total body irradiation (TBI) died by day 30, compared to 67% in vehicle-treated mice. The same pretreatment dose of RRx-001 resulted in a significant dose reduction factor of 1.07. In sublethally TBI mice, bone marrow cellularity was increased at day 14 in the RRx-001-treated mice compared to irradiated vehicle-treated animals. In addition, significantly higher numbers of lymphocytes, platelets, percent hematocrit and percent reticulocytes were observed on days 7 and/or 14 in RRx-001-treated mice. These experiments provide proof of principle that systemic administration of RRx-001 prior to TBI significantly improves overall survival and bone marrow regeneration.


As part of constructing the NINJAL Parsed Corpus of Modern Japanese (NPCMJ), a web-accessible language resource, we are adding frame information for predicates, together with two types of semantic role labels that mark the contributions of arguments. One role type consists of numbered semantic roles, like in PropBank, to capture relations between arguments in different syntactic patterns. The other role type consists of semantic roles with conventional names.Both role types are compatible with hierarchical frames that belong to related predicates. Adding semantic role and frame information to the NPCMJ will support a web environment where language learners and linguists can search examples of Japanese for syntactic and semantic features. The annotation will also provide a language resource for NLP researchers making semantic parsing models (e.g., for AMR parsing) following machine learning approaches. In this paper, we describe how the two types of semantic role labels are defined under the frame based approach, i.e., both types can be consistently applied when linked to corresponding frames. Then we show special cases of syntactic patterns and the current status of the annotation work.


The integrated management is a requirement of the European Community (CE) which demands rigorous quality product and sustainability, which is emphasized primarily on the environment protection, food safety, work conditions, human health and economical viability. In this context, the use of organic amendments for soil management is one of the strategies that brings the most benefits to soil biodiversity and conservation. This practice is known since the beginning of the civilization. Nevertheless, an effective use still depends on the knowledge of the many interactions in the agro-ecosystem. This review presents some studies of its use in integrated management of plant parasitic nematodes, validation perspectives focused in banana and use possibilities to assist the sustainability demand.


An endoscopic resection is performed widely and has been established as a standard therapeutic modality for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) without lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, the selection of suitable patients by a thorough pre-procedural evaluation is mandatory for the successful management of EGC. Moreover, a clear and unified interpretation of a resected specimen and the definition of a curative resection is the mainstay for decision-making of an additional surgical resection and post-procedural surveillance schedule. This paper summarizes the key statements of Eastern (Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society) and Western (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) guidelines for an endoscopic resection of EGC, regarding the clinical staging and indication; pre-operative evaluation; definition of a curative resection; and post-procedural surveillance, focusing on the similarities and differences between the two guidelines. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2018;72:79-82)


"THIOPENTONE is a well tried and reliable drug . . . to displace such a drug, a new compound must have clear cut advantages and should be assessed in the light of the hazards inherent in thiopentone". (Dundee, 1958.) Since its introduction into clinical use 25 years ago, thiopentone has held pride of place amongst intravenous anaesthetics. However, during this time a search has gone on for more satisfactory compounds and judging by the number of reports in the literature, this search has been intensified in recent years. Much attention has been focused on nonbarbiturate compounds which, up to the present, have not offered serious competition to the barbiturates. In this publication it is proposed to review the barbiturates which have been recently introduced into anaesthetic practice and those compounds which have been subjected to clinical trial, even though they have not proved suitable for everyday use. It is first necessary to consider how thiopentone falls short of the ideal intravenous anaesthetic and then to see if any of the newer compounds overcome these deficiencies. It is also important to compare the toxicity of the newer compounds with that of thiopentone with awareness that any possible advantages they may have over the standard drug must not be "bought at too great a price".


Photodetectors are used in many applications of everyday life. Among the available photodetectors, MSM photodetectors are preferred as they provide good electrical bandwidth, fast response, small capacitance, a large active area and are easy to fabricate. MSM photodetectors have low quantum efficiencies and high dark current as compared to other available commercial photodetectors, which can further be improved. In this work, it has been shown that the. NPDR (normalized photocurrent to dark current ratio) of MSM photodetectors could be raised further with the incorporation of different metals to provide higher asymmetry. Asymmetric MSM-PD is used to suppress the dark current further by modifying the schottky barrier heights preferentially. The plots of NPDR for different metals on silicon substrate are compared and the Ti-SiGe-Ni structure has been shown to have better NPDR than other MSM Structures.


The research problem underpinning this study concerns the paucity of research examining teacher beliefs about the teaching of writing and associated classroom practices. Consequently, the evidence is elusive concerning what contributes to the enactment of teaching writing and how teachers engage students and foster writing development. This research explores writing pedagogy with a focused exploration of teacher beliefs, practices and influences relating to the teaching of writing in the early years of schooling. Three contributing research questions focus the conduct of the study: 1. What do teachers believe about the teaching of writing in the early years of schooling? 2. What practices do teachers employ in the teaching of writing in the early years of schooling? 3. What influences teacher writing pedagogy in the early years of schooling? This doctoral research is significant because: • It contributes to the limited research in the domain of writing by documenting teacher beliefs and practices, providing important insight into what happens at the micro-level of the classroom; • It contributes to the quantum of knowledge about writing practices from the perception of the classroom teacher; • It contributes to the pedagogical understandings about what promotes students' writing development; and • It contributes to an understanding of what influences teachers' writing pedagogy. An epistemological framework of constructionism underpins this study, as it explores teacher beliefs and practices about the teaching of writing in a context in which teachers reflected on their own understandings and the meanings they constructed (Crotty, 1998). An interpretivist design is adopted to interpret and understand both how the teachers construct their practice and the meanings they attach to their actions in the teaching of writing (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011). Symbolic interactionism is adopted, allowing the research to be conceptualised within these contexts, to comprehend how teachers understand their writing pedagogy within their worlds (Charon, 2007). Case study (Miles & Huberman, 1994) is the methodology chosen to orchestrate the data gathering strategies of teacher interviews; participant observation including writing lesson observations, field notes and teacher interviews; and teacher artefacts. Participants in this study included primary school teachers from Catholic primary schools in the archdiocese of Brisbane who were teaching early years classes during the time of this study. Purposive selection (Patton, 1990) was employed to select teachers purposively for their specialist knowledge and experience concerning writing pedagogy in the early years of schooling. Therefore, a number of purposive processes were adopted in order to engage with informed participants. Constant comparative analysis (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was employed to examine the data. Further, Approaches to Writing Pedagogy: A Conceptual Lens (Graham, 2009), was utilised in further analysis and synthesis of the data within this study. The conceptual lens identifies four approaches that inform teachers' writing pedagogy, including pragmatic, eclectic, philosophical and epistemological approaches. The conceptual lens and subsequent discussion about the six teacher participants' approaches are presented in this thesis, illuminating important influences on teachers' writing pedagogy. This research generates conclusions that contribute new knowledge and understandings about the teaching of writing in the early years. This study concludes that: 1. there are a multiplicity of beliefs underpinning an individual teacher's writing pedagogy. These beliefs are informed by teachers' own education, teaching experience and their understandings about how children learn to write and how children learn more generally; 2. teachers believe students are the primary influence on their writing pedagogy and and differentiate writing instruction to respond to the needs, interests and abilities of their students; 3. there are multiple influences informing teachers' writing pedagogy. These influences include personal beliefs, knowledge of theory, systemic influences, their personal journey, students, and personal approaches; 4. similar influences inform teachers' pedagogical choices, but they do so differently; 5. teachers are influenced by their own individual approaches to teaching writing and these approaches are underpinned by a complex dynamic of personal beliefs, knowledge, self-knowledge and vision. Teachers may be categorised according to their approach using Approaches to Writing Pedagogy: A Conceptual Lens (Graham, 2009). The teachers in this study identify as being pragmatic, eclectic, philosophical or visionary in their approaches to teaching writing; and 6. teachers make sophisticated pedagogical choices which include engaging in multiple practices that they believe are fundamental for teaching writing in the early years of schooling. Teachers: • cater for individual differences by offering children opportunities to write at their developmental levels and considering varying abilities when teaching writing; • engage children in writing as a social practice; • employ the learning environment creatively to foster writing development; • teach writing as an integral part of literacy; • teach explicitly the skills and strategies needed to write; • employ a functional approach to teach grammar; • employ a multifaceted and functional approach to teach spelling; and • teach children to write digitally alongside print literacy through engagement with new technologies and new literacies. The collective orchestration of each of these practices increases student motivation, fosters writing development and contributes to students being successful writers.


This paper introduces a novel method to simultaneously super-resolve and colour-predict images acquired by snapshot mosaic sensors. These sensors allow for spectral images to be acquired using low-power, small form factor, solid-state CMOS sensors that can operate at video frame rates without the need for complex optical setups. Despite their desirable traits, their main drawback stems from the fact that the spatial resolution of the imagery acquired by these sensors is low. Moreover, chromatic mapping in snapshot mosaic sensors is not straightforward since the bands delivered by the sensor tend to be narrow and unevenly distributed across the range in which they operate. We tackle this drawback as applied to chromatic mapping by using a residual channel attention network equipped with a texture sensitive block. Our method significantly outperforms the traditional approach of interpolating the image and, afterwards, applying a colour matching function. This work establishes state-of-the-art in this domain while also making available to the research community a dataset containing 296 registered stereo multi-spectral/RGB images pairs.


ABSTRACT The informal folklore of observational studies claims that if an irrelevant observed covariate is left uncontrolled, say unmatched, then it will influence treatment assignment in haphazard ways, thereby diminishing the biases from unmeasured covariates. We prove a result along these lines: it is true, in a certain sense, to a limited degree, under certain conditions. Alas, the conditions are neither inconsequential nor easy to check in empirical work; indeed, they are often dubious, more often implausible. We suggest the result is most useful in the computerized construction of a second control group, where the investigator can see more in available data without necessarily believing the required conditions. One of the two control groups controls for the possibly irrelevant observed covariate, the other control group either leaves it uncontrolled or forces separation; therefore, the investigator views one situation from two angles under different assumptions. A pair of sensitivity analyses for the two control groups is coordinated by a weighted Holm or recycling procedure built around the possibility of slight attenuation of bias in one control group. Issues are illustrated using an observational study of the possible effects of cigarette smoking as a cause of increased homocysteine levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.


Concepts of nature and the 'natural' order of things form a central anchor in public debate and controversy about developments in genetic research and in human, animal and plant biotechnology. 'Nature', as Raymond Williams observed, 'is perhaps the most complex word in the language', and it is precisely from this complexity that its discursive and ideological power is derived. While it is widely accepted that 'nature' is a social construct, it is perhaps its characteristic appearance of not being so that makes it a powerful ideological anchor. This article examines how nature and appeals to what is 'natural' are invoked in media discourse on genetics. Starting with a review of research on the representation of genetics and on 'nature' in a range of public discourses and media genres, the article explores the changing uses of nature in British newspaper coverage of genetics and biotechnology from 1986/7 to 2002/3.


Duo-ethnography is a collaborative methodology in which participants juxtapose their experiences around a topic to parse multiple perspectives. It explicitly positions ethnographers as sources of information, not data collectors. This method has been used to explore racial identities, class dynamics, decolonizing pedagogies, and gender in academic life. Building on previous work, we consider our contribution to be articulating duo-ethnography as an explicitly feminist methodology that allows for mutual exploration of difference as well as reciprocal care and support. As part of a larger collaboration, we used duo-ethnography to create explicit dialog spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic to talk about differences in our experiences related to sexuality, race, class, tenure position, and seniority. Duo-ethnography is one method we used to challenge junior/senior relations and transform how we related to one another.


Example digital wallet applications support secure P2P mobile cash transactions and alleviate point-of-sale confusion for consumers using multiple payment, discount, and loyalty cards.


Diagnosis of rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) poses a complex medical challenge that requires an exhaustive evaluation. Although prion diseases, in particular Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), are often suspected, many other nonprion diseases may present as RPD. Our aim was to review the causes of RPD in our center to better understand the underlying conditions. We reviewed clinical, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid data from patients with RPD admitted to our hospital from 1994 to 2009. Forty-nine patients (mean age at onset 72.4 y) with RPD were admitted to our center during the study period. The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and admission was 4.6 months. The final clinical diagnoses were as follows: nonprion neurodegenerative diseases (36.8%), CJD (30.6%), vascular dementia (8.2%), toxic-metabolic conditions (8.2%), and other disorders (16.2%). Among cases with informed death (n=19), the average survival time was 8.6±9.5 months. Survival was shorter among patients with prion disease (n=10) than in those with other diagnoses (n=9, P=0.004). In conclusion, nonprion neurodegenerative diseases are the most common cause of RPD in our center. Our results suggest that although CJD is often suspected as a cause of RPD, its frequency depends on the referral differences across specialized centers


Peterson [3] described a variety of techniques to implement a spelling checker for plain-language documents and discussed the central importance of the structure and size of the dictionary used by such a program. The technique presented here can produce a compact, easily accessed and modified dictionary. This is done by exploiting two characteristics of the spelling checker: the sole use of the dictionary is to determine whether given strings are, or are not, in the dictionary; and a small, but nonzero probability of error is acceptable in many applications. Many other types of programs have similar characteristics and could use this concept equally well.


This study was conducted to investigate the application of extrusion cooking in the production of snacks containing soybean (SB) and Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves as inexpensive sources of micronutrients. The specific objectives were to examine effects of barrel temperature, residence time and moisture content of feed on selected physical properties of extruded snacks (extrudates), namely water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI) and expansion ratio (ER). The extrudates were obtained by blending different levels of input ingredients of maize flour (MF) (55 to 80%), full fat soybean flour (FFSF) (10 to 30%), and Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) (5 to 15%). Extrusion process variables in a twin-screw extruder were at three levels for temperature (100, 130 and 160°C), feed moisture content (15, 22.5 and 30%), and residence time (60, 75 and 90 s). The performed study revealed that the level of incorporation of both FFSF and MOLP, and feed moisture content have significant effects on the expansion ratio, water solubility index and water absorption index of the extrudates. It was concluded that the role of processing conditions and blending levels have a significant contribution to the quality characteristics of the soy-moringa expanded snacks.


Abstract. The sensing characteristics and long-term stability of different
kinds of CO  ∕  HC gas sensors (non-Nernstian mixed potential type) during
in situ operation in flue gas from different types of low-power
combustion systems (wood-log- and wood-chip-fuelled) were investigated. The
sensors showed representative but individual sensing behaviour with respect to
characteristically varying flue gas composition over the combustion process.
The long-term sensor signal stability evaluated by repeated exposure to
CO  ∕  H 2 ∕  N 2 ∕  synthetic air mixtures showed no sensitivity loss
after operation in the flue gas. Particularly for one of the sensors
(Heraeus GmbH), this high signal stability was observed in a field
test experiment even during continuous operation in the flue gas of the
wood-chip firing system over 4 months. Furthermore, it was experimentally
shown that the signals of these CO  ∕  HC sensing elements yield important
additional information about the wood combustion process. This was
demonstrated by the adaptation of an advanced combustion airstream control
algorithm on a wood-log-fed fireplace and by the development of a combustion
quality monitoring system for wood-chip-fed central heaters.


Allergies and atopic diseases constantly increase over the last decades. Genetic predisposition alone does not explain this epidemic rise. Consequently environmental factors have to play an important role. Especially early infant nutrition is thought to have a great impact on atopy development and its clinical manifestations. Human milk is broadly recommended as the best nutrition for infants. This indicates that in cases where breast-feeding is not an option infant formula should match human milk as close as possible. Therefore beneficial components of human milk should not be absent in infant formula. As important factors among, human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) have been identified. HMO are almost absent in bovine milk and therefore in bovine milk based infant formula. Broadly accepted are the prebiotic functions of HMO. Increasing evidence suggests various other beneficial functions of HMO like inhibition of pathogens upon competitive binding. The specific functions of HMO are thought to be determined by their various structures. HMOs are promising modulators of allergy and atopic disease development. Currently artificial synthesized oligosaccharides (GOS/FOS) are added to infant formula in order to mimic properties of HMOs. The molecular structures of enzymatically synthesized GOS and plant-derived FOS are much simpler and differ significantly from the highly complex structures of HMOs thus, it is unlikely that they can mimic all of the structure dependent functions of HMOs.
The aim of this thesis is to investigate if and how artificially synthesized oligosaccharides can mimic functions of naturally occurring HMO especially in regard to allergy and atopic disease development. General factors that possibly contribute to the atopy epidemic, mechanisms of the pathophysiology of atopy and its clinical manifestations as well as the role of some human milk components herein will be discussed first.


The levels of plasma HDL cholesterol and apoA-I in NFkappaB p50 subunit-deficient mice were significantly higher than those in wild-type mice under regular and high fat diets, without any significant difference in the level of total cholesterol. To examine the role of NFkappaBin lipid metabolism, we studied its effect on the regulation of apoA-I secretion from human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of NFkappaB reduced the expression of apoA-I mRNA and protein, whereas adenovirus-mediated expression of IkappaBalpha super-repressor ameliorated the reduction. This IkappaBalpha-induced apoA-I increase was blocked by preincubation with MK886, a selective inhibitor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), suggesting that NFkappaB inactivation induces apoA-I through activation of PPARalpha. To further support this idea, the expression of IkappaBalpha increased apoA-I promoter activity, and this increase was blocked by preincubation with MK886. Mutations in the putative PPARalpha-binding site in the apoA-I promoter or lack of the site abrogated these changes. Taking these results together, inhibition of NFkappaB increases apoA-I and HDL cholesterol through activation of PPARalpha in vivo and in vitro. Our data suggest a new aspect of lipid metabolism and may lead to a new paradigm for prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic disease.


Cascaded inverters are widely applied in applications where elevated ac voltages are required while using semiconductor devices with lower voltage ratings. Here, we focus on structures that require localized power transfer between low-voltage sources/loads dispersed across inverter dc links and the inverter ac-sides are series-connected across a three-phase medium-voltage ac grid. To date, decentralized controllers that allow for bi-directional power transfer in such systems are limited. To fill this gap, we propose a virtual oscillator controller which modulates the power processed by each inverter in a purely decentralized manner. The proposed controller uses only locally measured current, provides communication-free synchronization of the inverter modules, and enables control of power transfer in both directions. Moreover, it is implemented purely in time domain as opposed to phasor-domain based droop controllers. Stability is analyzed and a design procedure for the oscillator parameters is provided alongside relevant simulation and experimental results for a system of five series-connected inverters.


A method for assay of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase (24-hydroxylase) activity in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes was applied to determine whether vitamin D-dependent rickets type II (VDDR II) is hereditary. In normal lymphocytes incubated with PHA for 3 days, maximal and half-maximal responses of 24-hydroxylase were observed after exposure to 10(-8) mol/L and (1.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(-9) mol/L 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3], respectively. These responses were similar to those of cultured skin fibroblasts. In contrast, after exposure to 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) mol/L 1,25-(OH)2D3, no 24-hydroxylase activity was detected in cells from patients with VDDR II, and intermediate activity was observed in cells from their parents. These findings indicated the presence of an intracellular receptor-effector system for 1,25-(OH)2D3 in peripheral lymphocytes. Heterozygotes of VDDR II could be identified, and autosomal recessive inheritance of the disease was demonstrated. Detection of heterozygotes of this disease was not possible by assay of inhibition of thymidine incorporation, another marker of the function of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes. Therefore, assay of 24-hydroxylase induction reflected the receptor status more closely than assay of inhibition of DNA biosynthesis. The assay of 24-hydroxylase activity in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes described here will be useful for diagnosis of VDDR II and study of families of patients with this disease.


Rwanda is experiencing rapid development and urbanization in the Post-genocide perpetrated against Tutsi (1994) period. Kigali as the capital and the leading city is undergoing remarkable changes in the process of modernization. This is being done through the rejuvenation of commercial areas, building of new business offices and quality infrastructure, improvement of urban service delivery, tourism and industrial development (Kigali Special Economic Zone). Together with a clean city policy, the City of Kigali is now known to be one of the cleanest cities in Africa. This has been effectively achieved through consistent and integrated urban policies. However, the city has been facing challenges related to informal settlements and equitable provision of urban services to all residents. In this paper, data from secondary sources, mainly official reports, policy documents and academic papers, are presented and discussed through various perspectives related to the urban growth of Kigali. Likewise, the implications of existing policies on the implementation of strategic initiatives have also been highlighted.


An IEEE P1500 compatible test scheme, TESTLINE, for modular SoC testing is presented in this paper. The test scheme consists of wrappers, TAM and User Defined Controller (UDC). For a given SoC, with specified parameters of modules and their tests, TESTLINE can optimize the testing time for the whole SoC using Integer Linear Programming (ILP). The ILP can efficiently determine the width of TAM and the assignment of modules to TAM. Experimental results for the 'ITC'02 SOC Test Benchmarks' show that TESTLINE is an effective and efficient test scheme for SoC testing.


BACKGROUND
There is a dearth of scientific data on anal intercourse in heterosexual relationships. Likewise, anal sex within marital relationships has yet to be fully explored.

OBJECTIVES
Among a representative sample of married women in the Iranian capital, Tehran, we aimed to determine the association of self-reported coerced anal sex with: (i) self-reported coerced vaginal sex; (ii) self-reported non-sexual violence; (iii) psychopathology; and (iv) marital attitude.

METHOD
The data presented here were obtained from the Family Violence Survey conducted in Tehran in 2007. A total of 230 married Iranian women were selected via a multi-cluster sampling method from four different randomized regions. The subjects' sociodemographic data, psychological distress (Symptom Check List; SCL-90-R), personality, and relationship characteristics (Personal and Relationships Profile), and marital attitude (Marital Attitude Survey) were gathered. In addition, the participants' self-reported histories of lifetime victimization through all types of violence by the husband, including coerced anal and vaginal sex as well as psychological and physical assault (Conflict Tactic Scales-Revised; CTS-2), were collected.

RESULTS
There were associations between self-reported victimization through coerced anal and vaginal sex (P < 0.001), psychological (P < 0.001), and physical aggression (P < 0.001). Those reporting to have been forced into anal intercourse cited higher rates of paranoid and psychotic features, jealousy, attribution of problems to one's own behavior, conflict, and male dominance, as well as lower expectations of improvement in one's marital relationship.

CONCLUSION
In marital relationships, women are at a higher risk of coerced anal sex if subjected to other types of sexual or non-sexual violence. Higher rates of psychopathology and poorer marital relationships are also allied to self-reported anal sexual coercion.


A copper-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of electron-rich olefins into their corresponding carbonyl derivatives is described as an alternative to ozonolysis. The scope includes various precursors to aryl ketone derivatives, as well as oxidations of enol ethers bearing atypical alkyl and dialkyl substitution, the first of their kind among such metal catalyzed alkene cleavage reactions. The use of an inexpensive copper salt, room temperature conditions, an aerobic atmosphere, and water as the global reaction medium highlight the green features of this new method. Associated mechanistic investigations are also presented.


PURPOSE
This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Self-Efficacy Reinforcement Stretching Exercise Program to improve osteoarthritis (OA)-related symptoms in older women with OA.

DESIGN
A quasi-experimental design was used in this study.

METHODS
The experimental group participated in the Self-Efficacy Reinforcement Stretching Exercise Program, a 6-week program composed of stretching exercises and self-efficacy reinforcement strategies, whereas the control group did not. All participants were assessed on pain; joint stiffness; physical function disability; body mass index; depression; and quality of life at the beginning, end, and 4 weeks after the program ended.

FINDINGS
After participation, the experimental group had significantly less joint stiffness, physical function disability, and depression scores and significantly higher self-efficacy and quality of life than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
This intervention program led to an improvement in OA-related symptoms, self-efficacy, and quality of life in older women with OA.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The sustained effects of acquired exercise behaviors that persisted up to 4 weeks after the program ended could be of interest to rehabilitation nurses and other healthcare professionals.


Thalidomide is perhaps one of the most notorious drugs ever to have been used in clinical practice. The distressing teratogenicity resulted in sudden withdrawl of the drug about 55 years back. Recently, thalidomide has revoked the interest of researchers due to demonstrable significant improvement in certain clearly defined disorders. Because of its salient antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic potential, the drug has become extensively significant even in dental clinical practice. Currently, thalidomide is being used as therapeutic entity in severe aphthous stomatitis, Behcet's syndrome, Erosive lichen planus, and oral features of HIV infection, Marshal Syndrome, orofacial granulomatosis and certain malignancies.


Two experiments were conducted to evaluate various ingredient combinations in a 28% or 32% protein diet for optimum performance of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. All diets contained soybean meal and corn, but with or without cottonseed meal, wheat middlings or fish meal (FM). Channel catfish fingerlings were stocked into 0.04 ha earthen ponds at 18 530 fish ha−1. Fish were fed one of eight diets once daily to apparent satiation for two growing seasons. Results demonstrated that the dietary ingredient composition used had significant effects on fish performance, but magnitude of differences was relatively small. Overall, diets containing FM resulted in greater weight gain (Experiments 1 and 2) and lower feed conversion ratio (Experiment 1) than fish fed all-plant diets. However, certain combinations of plant ingredients provided the similar fish growth as some diets containing FM. There were no significant differences in weight gain between fish fed soybean meal–corn or soybean meal–corn–wheat middlings-based diets with cottonseed meal or FM. The use of wheat middlings in the diet had no significant effects on fish production characteristics.


The first rare-earth metal telluride chlorides, RTeCl with R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, were obtained as single crystals and/or powder samples by the reaction of anhydrous rare-earth trichlorides, RCl3, with the respective rare-earth metals R and elemental tellurium (Te) in sealed tantalum containers at temperatures as high as 1050 °C. All four telluride-chlorides crystallize with the so-called tetragonal PbFCl type of structure but according to RTeCl = PbClF, with, for the example of LaTeCl-I, a = 451.7(1), c = 827.4(2) pm, VE/Z = 84.5(1) A3, tetragonal, P4/nnm (No. 129). LaTeCl and CeTeCl are dimorphic, the second modification crystallizes with the PbCl2 type of structure with, for LaTeCl-II, a = 795.2(1), b = 450.8(1), c = 940.4(1) pm, VE/Z = 84.3(1) A3, orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62). In both structures, La3+ is nine-coordinate, [LaTe5Cl4], with similar mean La–Te and La–Cl distances in both modifications, 333.2 vs. 333.1 pm and 302.9 vs. 301.8 pm, respectively.


This paper describes the process of formulation of National Drinking Water and Sanitation Policies in Pakistan. The process, which was led by the Ministry of Environment and supported by UNICEF, involved evidence based advocacy for policy development; preparation of a working paper; development of background papers for stakeholder consultation; preparation of provincial papers on the basis of stakeholders' workshops; development of draft policies on the basis of provincial papers; circulation of the draft policies among relevant federal ministries, provincial departments and other stakeholders; and finalization in light of stakeholders' comments. The National Sanitation Policy has been approved by the Federal Cabinet and is currently under implementation. The Drinking Water Policy, however, is still in the draft form due to delays mainly attributable to fragmentation of the responsibility of water resource conservation, management and control across several Ministries and line departments.


In the UK, the 1990s have seen the creation and honing of government generated discourses on social exclusion and lifelong learning. To a remarkable extent these discourses are discrete. The Social Exclusion Unit's recent report 'Bringing Britain together: a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal' addresses various educational issues yet fails to include the phrase 'lifelong learning'. Government publications on lifelong learning dedicate similarly negligible space to social exclusion. The Green Paper 'The Learning Age: a renaissance for a new Britain' suggests that learning 'contributes to social cohesion and fosters a sense of belonging, responsibility and identity' and 'builds local capacity to respond to change' (Uden 1998). Yet in spite of rhetoric espousing 'joined up thinking' to 'joined up problems', the potential of adult education approaches to combatting social exclusion still has to be identified and analysed. As McNair recently observed 'we have not yet got the role of adult learning firmly enough into the minds of those shaping broader social policy as the Social Exclusion Unit's report ... demonstrates' (McNair 1999). Recently completed research which we undertook at a voluntary sector family resource centre situated in a deprived neighbourhood presents some key ideas from which educators could design initiatives grounded in familiar transformatory praxis yet innovatory in the current social exclusion context. In this paper we explore the issues affecting policy and draw on the research findings to show how community education presents a means of reconfiguring the established problem/solution welfare nexus.


Manuscript type: Research paper
Research aims: This paper examines whether the firms' leverage deviation (i.e., actual leverage minus target leverage) and leverage adjustment speed are influenced by information asymmetry.
Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve research goals, this paper uses archival data from firms listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange for the period of 2004-2017 and applies the static and dynamic panel data approach.
Research Findings: The research results show that an increase in information asymmetry increases the firms' leverage deviation. Furthermore, results indicate that firms with a higher (lower) level of information asymmetry tend to adjust their actual leverage toward the target, slower (faster) than that of other firms. These results are robust to different sample periods, an alternative set of leverage determinants, and various estimation methods.
Theoretical contributions/Originality: This is the first study that investigates the effect of information asymmetry on leverage deviation and leverage adjustment speed. The outcome of this study is useful for policy implication in the context of financing decisions.
Keywords Information Asymmetry, Leverage Adjustment Speed, Leverage Deviation


Live attenuated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines have been used widely to protect chickens against Newcastle disease. However, the vaccine issues caused by genome mutations can seriously affect poultry health. In this study, the authors demonstrate the use of nanopore sequencing technology for rapid genome determination and variation analysis from a live attenuated NDV vaccine. NDV-specific reads were detected immediately after sequencing, and 24× genome coverage was obtained within 10 min. Variation analysis revealed 19 variant sites across the vaccine genome compared to the NDV clone 30 reference sequence . The sequencing and data analysis workflow employed enables all basic molecular biology laboratories to perform detailed genome sequencing in live attenuated vaccine, providing an effective means of quality control for vaccine production.


The factor structure and external validity of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) were examined in a sample of 303 male alcoholics in an inpatient treatment program. Confirmatory factor analyses did not support either the original tridimensional structure or the factor structures obtained in a nonclinical sample by Cloninger, Przybeck, and Svrakic (1991). An exploratory factor analysis suggested the TPQ comprises 5 factors: Subjective Distress, Detachment, Disinhibition, Relaxed Confidence, and Orderliness/Persistence. Each of the original scales was round to be multidimensional in terms of the 5 factors. The Novelty Seeking (NS) scale included most of the items of the Disinhibition factor scale, and the construct validity of both scales was supported by correlations with external measures of antisocial behavior and a measure of Cloninger 's Type 2 alcoholism


Objective: While the implications of social support are increasingly well understood, no meta-analytic review to date has examined the intersection of the social support and sleep literatures. The aims of this meta-analysis were primarily to review the association between social support and sleep and additionally to test several proposed moderators from prior work. Method: Using a literature search and the ancestry approach, the review identified 61 studies with a total of 105,437 participants. Results: Random-effects modeling showed that greater social support was significantly related to improved sleep outcomes (Zr = −.152). These results were not moderated by the operationalization of support, study design, or chronic conditions. Conclusions: These data indicate a robust association between social support and favorable sleep outcomes.


Abstract. Over the past years, novel parameter regionalisation techniques have been developed to predict streamflow in data-scarce regions. In this paper, we examined how the choice of gridded daily precipitation (P) products affects individual catchment calibration and verification, as well as the relative performance of three well-known regionalisation techniques (spatial proximity, feature similarity, and parameter regression) over 100 near-natural catchments with diverse hydrological regimes across Chile. We configured and calibrated a conceptual semi-distributed HBV-like hydrological model for each catchment, using four P products (ERA5, MSWEPv2.8, RF-MEPv2, and CR2MET), and two objective functions. The three regionalisation techniques were applied and evaluated for each combination of P product and objective function, using a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure. Despite differences in the spatio-temporal distribution of P quantities, all P products provided good performance during calibration (median KGE's > 0.77), two independent verification periods (median KGE's > 0.70 and 0.61, for near normal and dry conditions, respectively), and regionalisation results (with median KGE's for the best method ranging from 0.56 to 0.63). Our results suggest that model calibration is able to compensate, to some extent, differences between forcing datasets, and that the spatial resolution of P products does not substantially affect the regionalisation performance. Overall, feature similarity provided the best results, followed closely by spatial proximity, while parameter regression performed the worst, thus reinforcing the importance of transferring complete parameter sets to ungauged catchments. Our results suggest that: i) merging P products and ground-based measurements does not necessarily translate into an improved hydrological modelling performance; ii) a P product that provides the best individual model performance during calibration and verification does not necessarily provide the best performance in terms of parameter regionalisation; and iii) the hydrological regime affects the performance of regionalisation methods, with rain-dominated catchments with a snow component performing the best over Chile for spatial proximity and feature similarity.


The differential matrix Riccati equation for the multi-input-multi-output linear quadratic optimal regulator problem is considered. Two methods are presented, successive and parallel, that decompose this equation into a set of Riccati equations that correspond to optimal regulator problems of possibly reduced dimensions. The additivity of the solutions to the equations obtained by the successive sequential decomposition method (SDM) and the additivity of the inverses of the solutions to the equations obtained by the parallel SDM are established. Some duality relations between the successive and the parallel methods are presented via the use of the adjoint Riccati equation. The theory developed is extended to the algebraic matrix Riccati equation as a limiting case. The application of the SDMs in the infinite-time linear quadratic regulator problem is investigated. Special attention is paid to the partially 'cheap' problem where the cost of some of the regulator controls or of their combinations tends asym...


The internal structure of a composite fermion is investigated for a two dimensional parabolic quantum dot containing three electrons. A Yukawa screened Coulomb interaction is assumed, which allows us to discuss the evolution of the electron-vortex correlations from the Coulomb interaction limit to the contact potential limit. The vortex structure approaches the Laughlin limit non-monotonically through the formation of intermediate composite fermions in which a flip of the spatial orientation of the vortices with respect to the position of the electrons is observed. Only when we limit ourselves to the lowest Landau level (LLL) approximation the flip appears through the formation of an intermediate giant vortex at specific values of the screening length. Beyond the LLL approximation antivortices appear in the internal structure of the intermediate composite fermions which prevent the nucleation of giant vortices. We also studied the system of five electrons and show that the mechanism of the flip of the vortex orientation found for three-electron system is reproduced for higher number of electrons.


The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme is responsible for increased prostaglandin formation in inflammatory states and is the major target of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Normally COX-2 expression is tightly regulated, however, constitutive overexpression plays a key role in colon carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms controlling COX-2 expression, we examined the ability of the 3′-untranslated region of the COX-2 mRNA to regulate post-transcriptional events. When fused to a reporter gene, the 3′-untranslated region mediated rapid mRNA decay (t 1 2 = 30 min), which was comparable to endogenous COX-2 mRNA turnover in serum-induced fibroblasts treated with actinomycin D or dexamethasone. Deletion analysis demonstrated that a conserved 116-nucleotide AU-rich sequence element (ARE) mediated mRNA degradation. In transiently transfected cells, this region inhibited protein synthesis approximately 3-fold. However, this inhibition did not occur through changes in mRNA stability since mRNA half-life and steady-state mRNA levels were unchanged. RNA mobility shift assays demonstrated a complex of cytoplasmic proteins that bound specifically to the ARE, and UV cross-linking studies identified proteins ranging from 90 to 35 kDa. Fractionation of the cytosol showed differential association of ARE-binding proteins to polysomes and S130 fractions. We propose that these factors influence expression at a post-transcriptional step and, if dysregulated, may increase COX-2 protein as detected in colon cancer.


Background: The experimental use of cultured endothelial cells derived from the microvasculature such as glomerular endothelial cells possesses many problems, including limited growth rates, heterogeneity and loss of specific cell properties dependent on culture passage. In this study, we attempted to establish immortalized, human glomerular endothelial cell (HGEC) lines. Methods: HGECs of up to 5 passages were transformed by infection with simian virus (SV)-40. After 4–6 weeks the surviving, foci-forming cells were harvested and cloned. Each cell line obtained was examined by immunofluorescence with antibodies to antigens specific for vascular endothelial cells. The expression of adhesion molecules on cells incubated with or without TNF-α was also examined by cellular ELISA. Results: Three of twelve cell lines obtained expressed SV40 large T-antigen and von Willebrand's factor, as well as endothelial cell adhesion molecules including ICAM-1 (CD54), PECAM-1 (CD31) and E-selectin (CD62E). In these cells, ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression was up-regulated by TNF-α, as in native cultured HGEC. Conclusions: These cell lines maintain the morphologic and functional characteristics of HGEC even after 60 passages. Immortalized HGEC will be useful for research on glomerular cell biology and provide a standardized substrate for anti-endothelial cell antibody detection.


By comparing a recently discovered rare petition sent to Istanbul in 1890 by the Bedouins of Khirbat Duran to protest the establishment of the Jewish colony of Re ovot, some 25 kilometres south-east of Jaffa on Palestine's central inner coastline, to accounts written by Re ovot's first colonists, the article explores claims of land ownership rights by the two sides. Beyond this unique perspective on the early Zionist–Arab encounter, these differing accounts highlight some of the underlying reasons for strains in the relationships between the two populations in Palestine at the end of the nineteenth century. Agrarian and social developments in Palestine in the decades preceding the beginning of Zionist activity in the 1880s ought to be examined in order to better contextualise both the source materials and the events involving the two populations. We understood that after we had bought the land, paid its price, and received title-deeds from the government, we were the land's sole owners and no one else had a say [on this matter]. Thus, we did not want the Bedouins, they and their wives, children and herds, to come and occupy our land. (Eliyahu Levin-Epstein, the head of the colony of Re ovot in 1890) The farm, which was in our hands from [the time of our] fathers and forefathers was taken from us by force, and the foreigners do not want to treat us according to the accepted norms among the farmers and according to human norms. (The Bedouins of Khirbat Duran in a petition to Istanbul, 1890)


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a mentoring program designed to help middle school girls from low income families cope with stress and improve self-esteem. Methods: A non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used. The independent variable was the mentoring program, in which the mentors were nursing students and the mentees were middle school girls. The dependent variables were stress and self-esteem scores. The program was conducted using group activities and personal approaches through the mentor-mentee relationship. The program was conducted from September 1 to December 11, 2010 in a middle school in A city, South Korea. Results: At follow-up, the stress and mental health scores had improved significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group. The self-esteem scores in the intervention group were significantly higher after the intervention than scores before the intervention. However there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that mentoring programs have the potential to be developmentally appropriate interventions for stress management and self-esteem improvement in adolescents from vulnerable families and also enable nursing students as mentors to gain confidence in their professional capability.


Date Presented 04/05/19
 This study was conducted to compare the BIMS to alternate screening measures in the identification of individuals with functional cognition and IADL impairment that may compromise community independence post-hospital-discharge. Findings demonstrate that the BIMS, along with a brief performance-based screening measure and self-report, could better identify individuals who are at risk for poor outcomes in acute or postacute settings.
 Primary Author and Speaker: Timothy Marks
 Additional Authors and Speakers: Brittany Nguyen, Courtney Smith, Erika Hoffman, Hayley Engel, Muhammad Al-Heizan, Gordon Giles, Dorothy Farrar Edwards


Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE) is a type of Public-Key Encryption (PKE) that provides an additional re-encryption functionality. Although PRE is inherently more complex than PKE, attack models for PRE have not been developed further than those inherited from PKE. In this paper we address this gap and define a parametric family of attack models for PRE, based on the availability of both the decryption and re-encryption oracles during the security game. This family enables the definition of a set of intermediate security notions for PRE that ranges from "plain" IND-CPA to "full" IND-CCA. We analyze some relations among these notions of security, and in particular, the separations that arise when the re-encryption oracle leaks re-encryption keys. In addition, we discuss which of these security notions represent meaningful adversarial models for PRE. Finally, we provide an example of a recent "CCA1-secure" scheme from PKC 2014 whose security model does not capture chosen-cipher text attacks through re-encryption and for which we describe an attack under a more realistic security notion. This attack emphasizes the fact that PRE schemes that leak re-encryption keys cannot achieve strong security notions.


Human Joint paints exhibit abnormal motion and vise versa during movements. Most of the patients were suffering from joint paints. This joint paints like Hip joints, Knee joints, Foot joints, Shoulder joints Elbow joints, and Wrist joints. Patients suffering from joint disorders visit a therapist. The therapist must correlate all these information sources regarding joint Problems. Most probable one third of all jobs in industry involve Manual Material Handling (MMH). This Manual Material Handling of human poses risk to many and cause back pain, joint pains and other problems like Knee joints, wrist joints, Shoulder joints, etc. A finite element model is used to study about the stress of human joints. Image processing techniques using soft computing like MAT Lab and ANSYS are used. A Biomedical model has been used for optimizing the lifting posture for minimum efforts. This model is also used to predict the lifting material in every individual human being. This study can be extended for loading of muscles.


This paper presents a new technique for estimating a multi- view reconstruction given pair-wise Euclidean reconstructions up to rotations, translations and scales. The partial reconstructions are glued by the following three step procedure: (i) Camera rotations consistent with all reconstructions are estimated linearly, (ii) All the pair-wise reconstructions are modified according to the new rotations and refined by bundle adjustment while keeping the corresponding rotations same. (Hi) The refined rotations are used to estimate both camera translations and 3D points using Second Order Cone Programming by minimizing the Linfin- norm. We introduce a new criterion for evaluating importance of an epipolar geometry in influence on the overall 3D geometry. The estimated importance is used to reweight data in the above algorithm to better handle unequiponderantly captured images. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated on difficult wide base-line image sets.


The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Toxcast™ program has the stated goal of predicting hazard, characterizing toxicity pathways and prioritizing the toxicity testing of environmental chemicals through the use of in vitro high‐throughput screening (HTS) assays. This analysis integrates data from biomonitoring and from in vivo toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies to examine the physiological relevance of the tested and responding in vitro concentrations for five case study chemicals: triclosan, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, monobutyl phthalate and mono‐2(ethylhexyl)phthalate. This analysis also examines the ToxCast™ phase 1 data set for approximately 50 chemicals belonging to four 'common mechanism groups' which have been the subject of cumulative risk assessments by the US EPA for both the pattern of key responses and the relative potencies of included chemicals compared with the in vivo relative potencies. Responding concentrations in vitro were generally in the range of serum or plasma concentrations associated with no‐observed to lowest‐observed effect levels for the case study chemicals, while available biomonitoring data demonstrating actual exposures were generally lower. ToxCast™ assay endpoints related to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition had low sensitivity for detecting organophosphate pesticides but good sensitivity for detecting N‐methyl carbamates. However, in vitro relative potencies did not correlate with in vivo potency. Both qualitative and quantitative predictive power is probably affected by the lack of comprehensive metabolic activity in most current in vitro systems explored in the ToxCast™ program, and this remains a fundamental challenge for high‐throughput toxicity screening efforts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


We report a two-dimensional platinum monolayer (Pt-ML) sheet for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity using first-principles calculations. Unlike previous reports of a supported hexagonal planar monolayer, the Pt-ML exhibits an orthorhombic buckled structure, where each Pt atom is coordinated with six Pt atoms. State-of-the-art calculations show that the Pt-ML is energetically, thermally, dynamically and mechanically stable and thus can be synthesized. An orbital mixing between an in-plane σ-orbital and out-of-plane π-orbital helps in stabilizing the buckling pattern. We find that the dz2 orbitals of the out-of-plane Pt atoms tilt themselves (by 30°) toward the dyz orbital of the in-plane Pt atoms to gain the maximum overlap, which in turn stabilizes the buckled structure. The potential applicability of the Pt-ML towards ORR activity has been investigated and we find that the ORR rate determining step (OH formation) is significantly improved when catalyzed by the Pt-ML compared to any other catalysts reported to date. Our potential dependent study shows that the ORR is thermodynamically favourable at 0.38 V and thus lowers the overpotential for the ORR. Besides, the Pt-ML is much more selective towards H2O formation over H2O2 formation.


Many new emerging applications involving real-time multimedia communications require sufficient bandwidth, as well as limited delay and minimized packet loss. In special, video streaming, that accounts for a large portion of the traffic in future networks, poses a difficult challenge to wireless networks, due to their strong requirements as well as to the great variability of channel conditions and contention based access commonly present in the wireless transmission medium.

When considering an infrastructured WLAN, a performance anomaly is inherent to the use of the different versions of the IEEE 802.11 standard: when stations operate at different rates, the lowest rate station penalizes the higher rate stations, producing a degradation of the performance of the network. Moreover, the instability in the transmission rates and a low tolerance to noises and interferences lead to a difficulty of these nets to support delay sensitive traffics. These aspects make clear the strong need of development of QoS techniques to provide an effective resources management.

In this paper we propose a new mechanism, to be implemented at Access Points, that involves a classification of stations based on the control of CTS and a limitation on the time the stations can use the media to accomplish their transmissions. Then, considering specific network requirements of video transmission as well as objective and subjective metrics of video quality, we conduct several discrete event based simulations with the use of NS-2 [3] and the Evalvid toolset [4][20], which prove the efficiency of the solution.


Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism has been described in several human genetic diseases. Congenital isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is classified into two categories: one that is associated with anosmia (Kallmann syndrome) and one that is apparently isolated. Mutations and deletions of the KAL1 gene, which encodes for a protein involved in cell adhesion, have been observed in many cases of the X-linked form of Kallmann syndrome. Recently, loss-of-function mutations of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) were associated with an autosomal dominant form of Kallmann syndrome. Genotype-phenotype correlations confirm the large spectrum of the phenotype due to FGFR1 mutations. Cases of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were considered to be idiopathic until the description of mutations of the gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone genes. However, defects in these genes only account for a small percentage of familial cases, which suggests that other proteins may be involved in regulation of the gonadotropic axis. We recently described GPR54 as one of these proteins by genome mapping in a very informative family. In vivo studies and genotype-phenotype correlations indicate that gonadotropic axis regulation by GPR54 occurs mainly at the level of the hypothalamus.


Using panel data for 189 economies from 2004 to 2016, we show that regulatory reform is associated with periods of fiscal imbalances. This association is significant in advanced economies and in post-communist countries. The presence of IMF programs in developing countries, a consequence of fiscal pressures, encourages regulatory reform. However, the effect of fiscal imbalances on reform weakens when governments can rely on low borrowing costs. Fiscal imbalances spur political change too, though the latter also has a significant independent effect on the proclivity for regulatory reform. JEL classification: H12; H62.


During the past few years significant progress has been made in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. These developments often involve the use of interferon-α (IFNα). Promising results have been reported in high risk patients using adjuvant treatment with high dose IFNα. A confirmatory trial of high dose IFNα and several adjuvant trials using low or intermediate dose IFNα are ongoing, and currently a standard regimen cannot be defined. High response rates have been reported in patients with metastatic disease with combination chemoimmunotherapy schedules. Randomized trials have to be performed in order to demonstrate a survival benefit over less toxic regimens. In this paper the current status of IFNα in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma is reviewed.


Australia and the USA are major international meat exporting countries. Both countries conduct programs to monitor and survey for antibacterial residues. Australian programs use a urine screening test, whereas the US programs use tissue fluids as the test medium. The development of surveillance programs to provide rapid feedback to producers is a feature of the Australian programs. The programs in each country compare favourably with regard to numbers of animals tested, results and action taken to prevent residues. The results of the Australian programs justify the promotion of a 'clean food' image for Australian meat products with respect to antibacterial drugs.


In The Right to Narcissism: A Case for Im-Possible Self-Love , Pleshette DeArmitt opens the space for an alternative to origin story so popular with political philosophers, namely, the social contract, which assumes a rational and self-identical subject.  She does this obliquely by deconstructing narcissism as love of the self-same, or, love of what Kristeva might call "the clean and proper self."  Like Echo interrupting Narcissus's soliloquy of deadly self-absorbed pleasure and his solitary auto-affection upon seeing his own reflection, Pleshette interrupts the seeming proximity of self-same, the closeness of near, and the propinquity of proper by deflecting the image of Narcissus onto the voice of Echo, who comes into her own by repeating his words.  How, asks Pleshette, can Echo's reiteration of the words of another be anything more than mere repetition or reduplication?  Echoing Derrida, she answers that it is through a declaration of love.  Echo's repetition of the words of Narcissus take on new meaning, and allow her to express herself, and her love, through the words of the other.  After all words are words of the other.  Language comes to us from the other.  Echo becomes a self, a "little narcissist," through an address from and to the other, through the appropriation and ex-appropriation of the other's words.


Author(s): Kim, Kanguk | Advisor(s): Sirbuly, Donald J | Abstract: Piezoelectric materials are one of the most important components in various applications including energy harvesting platforms, sensors, and actuators due to their ability to directly convert mechanical energy to electrical energy or vice versa. The typical requirements for piezoelectric materials are low processing costs, high piezoelectric coefficients for sensitivity, mechanical resilience, as well as simple processing strategies. Over the past decade, nanostructured piezoelectric materials have been rigorously studied and energy conversion efficiencies and power outputs of piezoelectric materials have steadily increased. In spite of recent advancements there are still serious limitations for these materials including inefficient means of harnessing non-mechanical energy sources, extreme difficulties in fabricating complex piezoelectric structures, poor mechanical flexibility for integration into non-planar configurations, and an incomplete understanding on the underlying factors that influence piezoelectric performance.To address some of the aforementioned limitations of piezoelectric materials, this dissertation is divided into two parts. In the first part, a novel piezoelectric energy conversion platform will be presented that can harness mechanical and/or non-mechanical energy sources (e.g., heat) The device geometry leverages an array of vertically aligned ZnO nanowires embedded in an environment-responsive polymer matrix to generate direct current outputs. It is found that the interface between the polymer matrix and piezoelectric element is a key parameter to tune the performance of the device and funnel stress more efficiently to the piezoelectric crystal. This stress management concept within the composite material is supported both by experimentation and simulations. In the second part, a new optical fabrication tool is described that allows exceptional control over size and shape of piezoelectric materials. The technique relies on a colloidal solution that contains piezoelectric nanoparticles suspended in a photoliable polymer and exposing to user-defined digital optical masks. Initial experiments were carried out on barium titanate (BaTiO3 – BTO) nanoparticles in a polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) polymer, but the process is general for other piezoelectric nanomaterials and photoactive polymers. By dynamically altering the digital optical masks and controlling the focal plane of the masks, 3D microstructures can be fabricated in mere seconds. To enhance the piezoelectric properties of the printed nanocomposites, the piezoelectric nanoparticles can be chemically modified with linker molecules that cross-link with the polymer chains under light exposure. This nanoparticle-polymer interface is critical for boosting the efficiency of stress transfer from the polymer matrix to the piezoelectric crystal and is a key parameter in understanding the limits of piezoelectric performance.


Marine Conservation![Figure][1]

Herbivores are needed to keep the macroalga Sargassum from replacing corals.

CREDIT: WATERFRAME/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Coral reefs worldwide face many challenges. One of these, brought on by declines in herbivore populations on reefs, is a tendency to shift from dominance by live corals to dominance by macroalgae. Loffler and Hoey, in a study of the leathery brown macroalga Sargassum on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, show how hard it is to reverse this regime shift. Physical removal of the Sargassum canopy, simulating the activity of storms, had a negligible effect, and even removal of the alga's "rooting" holdfasts was only a temporary setback to the Sargassum community. To improve the likelihood of restoring the coral community, physical removal needs to be accompanied by herbivore activity.

J. Ecol. 10.1111/1365-2745.12875 (2017).

 [1]: pending:yes


58 apparently healthy Polynesian Wuchereria bancrofti carriers were randomly allocated to 5 treatment groups: 1) two annual doses of ivermectin 100 mcg/kg, 2) three semi-annual doses of ivermectin 100 mcg/kg, 3) two annual doses of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 3 mg/kg, 4) semi-annual doses of DEC 3 mg/kg, 5) two annual doses of DEC 6 mg/kg. Results observed during the 12-month period which followed last treatment have confirmed that efficacy of ivermectin is higher than that of DEC in terms of immediate clearance or complete negativation of microfilaremia, but not in terms of sustained reduction and that efficacy of repeated single doses of either DEC 3 mg/kg or ivermectin 100 mcg/kg is much higher when given semi-annually than annually. They also have indicated that (i) 6 months after last treatment: 3 semi-annual doses of 100 mcg/kg of ivermectin have resulted in high reduction of microfilaremia (85%) and, 2 annual doses of 6 mg/kg and 3 semi-annual doses of 3 mg/kg of DEC have resulted in even greater reduction (96 and 98% respectively) and (ii): 12 months after last treatment, the greatest reductions of microfilaremia (95 and 92%) have been observed in carriers treated, respectively, with 3 semi-annual doses of 3 mg/kg or with 2 annual doses of 6 mg/kg of DEC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Background: Soil chemical properties have changed under different land-use systems and soil depth layers either by increasing or decreasing. Hence, scientifically information on the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems and soil depths are crucial for best land management practices, and to avoiding ecological negative impacts of it for sustainable development. The study aimed to evaluate the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems and soil depths in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The land-use systems included natural forest, four exotic tree plantation species (Eucalyptus globules, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta, and Pinus patula), grassland, grazing land, and cropland. Results: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the majority of soil chemical properties of OC, TN, Avial. P, soil pH, EC, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were showed that significant variations among land-use systems (P<0.0001). The highest mean values of OC (3.49 % DM ), TN ( 0.31 % DM) , Avail.P (31.52 mg/kg of soil ), CEC ( 33.63 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (17.13 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. Mg (5.37 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. K ( 3.60 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under natural forest than others of land-use systems. The results also showed that the lowest mean values of OC (1.47 % DM), TN (0.13 %DM), soil pH (5.38), CEC (18.98 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (9.93 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. K (1.20 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. Na (0.22 cmol(+)/kg soil) were recorded under cropland than other land-use systems. The highest mean values of EC (3.47ds/m), and Exch. Na (0.60 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under Eucalyptus globulus plantation forest. The overall mean values of OC, TN, Avail.P, CEC, Exch. Mg, Exch. Ca, Exch. K, and Exch. Na accumulation at the topsoil layer was higher than that of the subsoil layer except for soil pH and EC. Conclusion: In general, the majority of soil chemical properties under cropland and Eucalyptus globulus plantation forest were poorer than the soils subjected to other land-use systems which indicated that changes in land use systems were significantly affected soil chemical properties.


Imaging in poor weather is often severely degraded by scattering due to suspended particles in the atmosphere such as haze, fog and mist. Poor visibility becomes a major problem for most outdoor vision applications. In this paper, we propose a novel fast defogging method from a single image of a scene based on a fast bilateral filtering approach. The complexity of our method is only a linear function of the number of input image pixels and this thus allows a very fast implementation. Results on a variety of outdoor foggy images demonstrate that our method achieves good restoration for contrast and color fidelity, resulting in a large improvement in image visibility.


In 2012, 8.6 million persons developed tuberculosis (TB) and 1.3 million of them died. Some 5.7% of TB patients were infected with bacteria resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin (multidrug-resistance; MDR-TB). Among TB patients on treatment, MDR-TB is associated with increased risk of dying. We estimated the global number of deaths due to MDR-TB. Deaths attributed to MDR-TB in a given year are a product of the total TB deaths that year, the overall % MDR-TB among TB cases, and the risk ratio (RR) of dying among MDR-TB vs. non-MDR-TB patients. Data from vital statistics (sparse), mortality surveys, drug-resistance surveillance, and a meta-analysis of published estimates of RR of death in MDR-TB patients were used for the estimation. A literature review of Medline, EMBASE, Global Health, and LILACS identified 25 articles out of 6,231 from 1999 to 2013 which cited an exploitable value of the RR of mortality in MDR-TB cases. Studies had broad geographical coverage and included countries with both high and low burden of TB, MDR-TB and HIV. The meta-estimate of global RR of MDR-TB mortality was 2.36 (95% range, 1.67-3.05). Using TB data for 2012 collected by WHO it was estimated that 170,000 (95% range, 100,000-240,000) deaths from MDR-TB occurred in the world that year. MDR-TB causes a sizeable proportion of TB deaths in the world. Available data precluded the differentiation of RR by geographic region or patient subgroups (eg, children).


Altered metabolism has been shown to exist in the settings of surgical stress, cancer, cirrhosis, sepsis, and trauma. Each condition is characterized by varying degrees of alteration in metabolic processes, and within a given patient, these metabolic alterations will change as the patient's status changes. Nutrition support is an integral part of the metabolic management of critically ill patients. Metabolic changes impact nutritional substrate requirements and utilization. As the patient's clinical condition deteriorates, clinical signs and symptoms become less reliable in predicting or assessing the existing physiologic state. Objective measurements are needed to define the metabolic status during these physiologic changes. The purpose of this article is to review selected indices that have been used to identify abnormalities in nutritional substrate metabolism. Although some of these tests are readily available and inexpensive, many have not been used outside of the research setting and, therefore, their clinical utility has yet to be determined. However, their use as research tools for defining metabolism warrants their inclusion in order to assist the clinician in interpreting research studies. The biochemical markers discussed include glucose, lactate, pyruvate, triglycerides, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, urinary nitrogen, acute phase proteins, visceral proteins, 3-methylhistidine, plasma amino acids, oxygen consumption, and resting energy expenditure. Each marker is defined in terms of its biochemical significance, and the literature describing changes that occur in various stress states is cited.


Railway carbon emissions reduction is of great significance. In this study, carbon emission efficiency in railway transportation in China's 31 provinces is measured for 2006–2019 based on an unexpected output slack-based measure (SBM) model. A gravity matrix of the spatial correlation network for carbon emission efficiency is constructed using the modified gravity model, the spatial network structure is explored using social network analysis, and the factors influencing the spatial network are analyzed using the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) model. Based on the results, several conclusions can be drawn: (1) the carbon emissions efficiency of railway transportation in China increased periodically during the study period, but there are still great differences between regions. (2) The carbon emission efficiency in railway transportation shows significant characteristics of spatial correlation networks. (3) The inter-provincial associations gradually increased, while there are still large regional differences in the spatial correlation network. (4) Differences in spatial adjacency, economic development and scientific and technological advancement have significant positive impacts on the spatial correlation network. This research will help policy makers formulate relevant policies to promote the regional coordinated development of low-carbon railway transportation.


ABSTRACT We proposed that civility norms would strengthen relationships between management commitment to safety and workers' safety motivation, safety behaviors, and injuries. Survey data were obtained from working adults in hazardous jobs—those for which physical labor is required and/or a realistic possibility of physical injury is present (N = 290). Results showed that management commitment positively related to workers' safety motivation, safety participation, and safety compliance, and negatively related to minor injuries. Furthermore, management commitment to safety displayed a stronger positive relationship with safety motivation and safety participation, and a stronger negative relationship with minor worker injuries when civility norms were high (versus low). The results confirm existing known relationships between management commitment to safety and worker safety motivation and behavior; furthermore, civility norms facilitate the relationships between management commitment to safety and various outcomes important to worker safety. In order to promote an optimally safe working environment, managers should demonstrate a commitment to worker safety and promote positive norms for interpersonal treatment between workers in their units.


Electric field-induced magnetization switching through magnetization precession is investigated as a function of in-plane component of external magnetic field for a CoFeB/MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction with perpendicular easy axis. The switching probability is an oscillatory function of the duration of voltage pulses and its magnitude and period depend on the magnitude of in-plane magnetic field. Experimental results are compared with simulated ones by using Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Langevin equation, and possible factors determining the probability are discussed.