We present two new eclipsing binary stars: HD 189735 (EB, P = 0.78154d) and HD 116274 (EW, P = 0.60471d). Light curves, periods, classifications, and Wilson-Devinney models are presented and discussed. Results for HD 189735 were originally presented at the Spring Meeting of the AAVSO in Tucson, Arizona in April of 2003.


UNLABELLED
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breathing 100% oxygen or 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen on the indices of cerebral autoregulation derived from the transient hyperemic response (THR) test in human volunteers. Data were analyzed from nine healthy subjects. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (FV) was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and the THR test was performed using 10-s compression of the common carotid artery. Continuous measurement of P(ETCO2) and expired fractions of oxygen (F(ETO2)) and nitrous oxide (F(ETN2O)) was established, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded at 2-min intervals. All measurements were performed while the volunteers were breathing room air and were repeated 10 min after achieving F(ETO2) >0.95 and 10 min after achieving F(ETN2O) 0.48-0.52. Two indices derived from the THR test, the transient hyperemic response ratio (THRR) and strength of autoregulation (SA), were used to assess cerebral autoregulation. P(ETCO2) and mean arterial pressure did not change significantly throughout the study period. Breathing 100% oxygen did not change MCA FV, THRR, or SA. Inhalation of nitrous oxide resulted in a marked and significant increase in the MCA FV (from 48+/-9 to 72+/-8 cm/s; mean +/- SD) and a significant decrease in the THRR (from 1.5+/-0.2 to 1.2+/-0.1) and the SA (from 1.0+/-0.1 to 0.8+/-0.1) (P<0.05 for all). We conclude that breathing 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen results in both a significant increase in MCA FV and impairment of transient hyperemic response.

IMPLICATIONS
Our study suggests that nitrous oxide impairs cerebral autoregulation and may have implications for its use in neurosurgical anesthesia and for interpretation of the results from studies of anesthetics in which nitrous oxide is used in the background.


A robotic solution for the unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to execute the highly complex task of object manipulation in an autonomous mode is presented. This paper primarily focuses on developing an autonomous robotic system capable of assembling elementary blocks to build the large 3D structures in GPS-denied environments. The key contributions of this system paper are i) Designing of a deep learning-based unified multi-task visual perception system for object detection, part-detection, instance segmentation, and tracking, ii) an electromagnetic gripper design for robust grasping, and iii) system integration in which multiple system components are integrated to develop an optimized software stack. The entire mechatronic and algorithmic design of UGV for the above application is detailed in this work. The performance and efficacy of the overall system are reported through several rigorous experiments.


The aim of the paper is to investigate adverbial clauses of time, cause, condition and concession in spontaneous private communication. The study explores semantic relations between the main and subordinate clauses, grammatical features and predominant conjunctions.The data for the research was collected from the morphologically annotated Corpus of Spoken Lithuanian, namely, its sub-corpus of spontaneous private speech which is used at home, at friends' place, or which is produced by close friends.The analysis of spontaneous private communication shows that the finite adverbial clauses of time, cause, condition and concession are related to a set of conjunctions, but other indicators such as the use of verbal categories (especially tense, aspect and mood), contextual lexical markers as well as pragmatic inference also help to determine the semantic relationship between the main and the subordinate clause.In a spoken language, temporal clauses are usually combined with the conjunctions kai, kaip 'when', kol 'while', less frequently – with kada 'when'; causal clauses are combined with the conjunction nes 'because; since', less frequently – with kad and kadangi 'because'; conditional clauses are typically combined with the conjunction jeigu 'if', less frequently – with jei 'if', concessive clauses – with the conjunction nors 'though'. The conjunctions kai 'when', kol 'while', kadangi 'because', jeigu and jei 'if' correlate with the particle tai that is very frequent in a spoken language, while the conjunction nors 'though' – with the contrastive conjunction bet 'but'.In the natural language flow, the structure of adverbial sentences is modified: other sentential and discourse units can intervene between the main and the subordinate clauses, and the adverbial conjunction moves from the initial to the medial position.Traditional Lithuanian grammars emphasise that the position of adverbial clauses is undefined: they can appear before or after the main clause. However, the analysis of spontaneous speech shows that the position of a subordinate clause is influenced by the semantic relationship between the clauses. If a subordinate clause refers to a previous action or event, then it dominates in a preposition. Besides, the position of an adverbial clause is also influenced by correlative conjunctions: the main clause with the correlative particle tai dominates in the postposition.The research also revealed that Lithuanian adverbial clauses could function at the discourse level: in dialogues, the structure of a complex sentence is broken down and subordinate adverbial clauses can acquire additional – discourse – functions. Adverbial conjunctions, in their turn, can indicate relations with a previous discourse.


In this paper, we propose an efficient blood vessel segmentation method for the eye fundus images using adversarial learning with multiscale features and kernel factorization. In the generator network of the adversarial framework, spatial pyramid pooling, kernel factorization and squeeze excitation block are employed to enhance the feature representation in spatial domain on different scales with reduced computational complexity. In turn, the discriminator network of the adversarial framework is formulated by combining convolutional layers with an additional squeeze excitation block to differentiate the generated segmentation mask from its respective ground truth. Before feeding the images to the network, we pre-processed them by using edge sharpening and Gaussian regularization to reach an optimized solution for vessel segmentation. The output of the trained model is post-processed using morphological operations to remove the small speckles of noise. The proposed method qualitatively and quantitatively outperforms state-of-the-art vessel segmentation methods using DRIVE and STARE datasets.


Although several cases and case-control studies reported the prevalence of JC polyomavirus (JCV) and BK polyomavirus (BKV) in tumor tissues of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients as well as in control samples; however, many recent studies did not show the prevalence of these viruses in the CRC patients. A total of 50 clinical biopsies samples were collected from patients with and without CRC in the General surgery department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt, with the approval of the research ethics committee. Current results showed the absence of the genomic DNA of both JCV and BKV in the tumor tissue samples, adjacent-tumor normal mucosa samples from CRC patients, and also in the normal mucosa samples collected from the non-CRC patients. Moreover, results of the semi-nested PCR and real-time PCR are similar, and confirmed that JCV and BKV are not prevalent in the Egyptian CRC patients. There are no promising results for further investigation of the expression of the large T-Ag protein, and any other related proteins in the tumor cells. Based on the present results, no evidence supports the association between the JCV, BKV and CRC in the Egyptian patients. For the best of our knowledge, this is the first case-control study on the prevalence of JCV and BKV in the Egyptian CRC patients. The aim of the current study was to detect the presence of JCV and BKV genomic DNA in the tissue samples, to support further studies on the role of these viruses in the CRC etiology and development.


To identify risk factors for spontaneous rupture of liver abscess (SRLA), a retrospective study on patients with liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae was performed. Of the 140 enrolled patients with liver abscess caused by K. pneumoniae, 8 (5.7%) experienced SRLA. In comparison to those with nonruptured liver abscess (NRLA), patients with SRLA were found to have significantly higher proportions of diabetic mellitus (100% versus 62.1%, P = 0.003), larger abscess size (mean of maximal diameter 7.8 versus 6.1 cm, P = 0.043), gas formation in abscess (87.5% versus 23.5%, P b 0.001), and left hepatic lobe involvement (50.0% versus 16.5%, P = 0.018). K. pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2 were the predominant microorganisms isolated in both patients with NRLA and SRLA. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis– generated fingerprinting of K. pneumoniae isolates from patients with SRLA revealed that these pathogens were nongenetically related.


Given a set of empirical observations, conditional density estimation aims to capture the statistical relationship between a conditional variable $\mathbf{x}$ and a dependent variable $\mathbf{y}$ by modeling their conditional probability $p(\mathbf{y}|\mathbf{x})$. The paper develops best practices for conditional density estimation for finance applications with neural networks, grounded on mathematical insights and empirical evaluations. In particular, we introduce a noise regularization and data normalization scheme, alleviating problems with over-fitting, initialization and hyper-parameter sensitivity of such estimators. We compare our proposed methodology with popular semi- and non-parametric density estimators, underpin its effectiveness in various benchmarks on simulated and Euro Stoxx 50 data and show its superior performance. Our methodology allows to obtain high-quality estimators for statistical expectations of higher moments, quantiles and non-linear return transformations, with very little assumptions about the return dynamic.


In this paper we explore and contrast different forms of dispute representation from the present and past literature. In particular, we examine the Zeno Framework, which represents disputes as dialectical trees, and compare this to other abstract systems for argument representation. We discuss the merits of each method and show how the example argument first represented in Zeno can be transformed into a more concise representation whilst retaining its desirable features.


The carbon concentration in the air has increased by 50 percent since pre-industrial times and continues to increase every year. Climate change is, therefore, a significant challenge today. The purpose of this paper is to study how the stringency of the environmental policies affect carbon dioxide emissions, and what factors play the most important part in influencing different countries' carbon emissions trajectory. Built on the environmental policy stringency index constructed by OECD, this paper applies a panel data model with fixed effects to a sample with 33 countries between 1990 and 2014. The results show that higher stringency of environmental policies does not have a significant impact on carbon dioxide emissions, while fossil fuel consumption and gasoline price influence carbon dioxide emissions the most. The results imply that lowering fossil fuel consumption by increasing gasoline prices could be a solution in an attempt to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.


For the prediction for future climate, it is required to enhance our understanding of the Holocene climatic change. By estimating paleo-temperature, we attempted to examine the relationship between climatic changes and human activities in northern Japan. The alkenone SSTs showed a variation of 8.7 °C (14.5 °C to 23.2 °C). Jomon people living around Funka Bay were more dependent on marine products than in Honshu due to cooler climatic conditions. There are two Hypsithermal environments at Funka Bay around 4.6 cal. kyr BP and 1.2 cal. kyr BP. Sea levels for the last 7 kyrs have been controlled mainly by local/regional tectonic vertical movement. Therefore, the highstand never always corresponded to Hypsithermal environments. More than one driving forcing, rather than one, may control climatic/environmental change. The 4.2ka event in northern Japan could be characterized by cooling by a few degrees by the combination of reduced ESAM and El Niño mode. Another notable cooling event occurred in 1.0-0.8 cal. kyr BP due to the La Niña condition and reduced solar activities, which means that the Japanese archipelago never experienced Medieval Warm Event: instead, there was a Medieval Cold Event in Japan. The Okhotsk culture in Hokkaido prospered only under the Hypsithermal condition during the 5 th - 9 th centuries and subsequently it declined and was incorporated into the Satsumon culture under the cooler environmental conditions. For the Yayoi-era (2.9 cal. kyr BP-) and the following periods, our results are consistent with the previous results from Hiroshima Bay, western Japan, that cold periods (6 th - 7 th century BC, 3 rd century BC, 6 th century AD, 10 th -12 h century AD and 16 th century AD) coincided with major shifts in social systems in Japan.


The purpose of this research was conducted to find out the results of the cognitive skill, especially in the subjects of Arabic language. This research analysed before and after cognitive skill using the model of cooperative learning, and identified the activites with the approach in grade III Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Nurul Huda Bandung, West Jawa, Indonesia. This research uses Classroom Action Research (CAR), that have been implemented in two cycles.  Based on the results of the data processing, obtained mean of cognitive learning skill of students before using the model of cooperative learning is 54.09 (27%).  The application of cooperative learning in cycle I gained an average rating of teacher's activities amounted to 72% and students is 67%, respectively. Furthermore, teacher and students activities in cycle II witnessed to increase dramatically, the former is 94% and later is 92%, respectively. The cognitive skill of students in MI after using cooperative learning on cycle I gained an average rating of 75 (86%), and in cycle II derived to 95 (87.7%). This indicate that model of cooperative learning is able to enhance cognitive skill of students on Arabic subject in MI Nurul Huda Bandung.


The major factors determining the mechanical milieu of a healing fracture are the rigidity of the selected fixation device, the fracture configuration, the accuracy of fracture reduction, and the amount and type of stresses occurring at the bone ends dictated by functional activity and loading at the fracture gap. Of the effects of these factors on fracture healing and remodeling in the canine tibia under unilateral external fixation, the two most significant factors in promoting periosteal callus formation were the amount of physiologic loading as dictated by the body weight and the presence of a significant fracture gap. Uniform axial loading and motion, performed at two or four weeks, did not increase callus formation but did reduce the existing fracture gap. The time-related diminution of periosteal callus (external remodeling) was related to the progress of cortical healing. Cortical reconstruction was fast in stable transverse fractures and delayed in unstable oblique fractures. Motion with loading tended to promote external callus maturation in secondary bone healing. Intracortical new bone formation and porosity were related to the healing pattern and not to the loading magnitude. Endosteal new bone formation showed a strong correlation with the presence of a fracture gap. In terms of torsional strength and energy absorption at failure, the fractures healing through a combination of primary and secondary bone union mechanisms showed the mechanical strength of the healing bone closest to intact bone.


This special issue is a collection of articles that emerged from a series of symposia on praxis in higher education, aimed at critically exploring challenges and possibilities for educational praxis, including its role in the contemporary university. The collection highlights the need for asking critical and uncomfortable questions about what is and what could be in higher education. It calls for more focused attention on the consequences of what we do as teachers and university communities, both intentionally and inadvertently, so that higher education can be more socially just and responsive to student and societal needs amidst contemporary challenges. In explicating the concept of 'educational praxis', the editorial introduces the metaphor of 'walking on the edge' to illustrate the concept's 'uncomfortable dimension' in terms of academics' responsibility to engage critically with challenging issues in endeavours to address educational concerns.


This is the first report on. rice black-streaked dwarf virus in Korea. The occurrence of this virus in Korea was confirmed by symptoms On rice Plants, Vector transmission and microscopic Observation in 1975. The smaller brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus FALLEN, transmits this virus which is spherical with a diameter of about 60 nm. Higher infection was observed in earlier transplanted rice with higher levels of fertilizer than in normal and standard cultivation fields.


Deregulated inflammation is a serious complication of life-threatening microbial infections, including tuberculosis (TB). The pathological hallmark of TB, the granuloma, is an inflammatory structure crucial for containing infection. However, excessive inflammation in granulomas can cause tissue damage and promote bacterial proliferation and dissemination. The assembly of multiprotein inflammasome complexes is an important trigger of inflammation, but it remains unknown how inflammasome activation impacts TB granuloma progression. Here, by in vivo imaging using the zebrafish TB model, we found that inflammasomes and ensuing pyroptotic cell death of infected macrophages drive granuloma expansion and disease progression. We show that different types of inflammasomes are activated during granuloma formation, with host-protective roles for Asc-dependent inflammasome activation and Il1b secretion. In contrast, an Asc-independent pathway induces macrophage pyroptosis and impairs host resistance. Complementary research in ASC-deficient murine macrophages reveals that extracellular bacterial DNA induces CASP11-dependent pyroptosis in a manner dependent on phagosome permeabilization. Finally, we show that mycobacteria induce pyroptosis to escape from cell-in-cell structures that form within granulomas when living infected cells are engulfed by newly attracted macrophages. This study provides new insights into the role of pyroptosis in TB pathogenesis and unravels a novel link between nucleic acid sensing and CASP11-dependent pyroptosis.


Tremendous growing demand for high data rate services is the main driver for increasing traffic in wireless cellular networks. Device-to-Device (D2D) communications have recently been proposed to offload data via direct communications by bypassing cellular base stations (BSs). Such an offloading schemes increase capacity and reduce end-to-end delay in cellular networks and help to serve the dramatically increasing demand for high data rate. In this paper, we aim to analyze inband full- duplex (FD) D2D performance for the wireless video distribution by considering imperfect self-interference (SI) cancellation. Using tools from stochastic geometry, we analyze outage probability and spectral efficiency. Analytic and simulation results are used to demonstrate achievable gain against its half-duplex (HD) counterpart.


In this study, DNA local structures with bulged bases and mismatched base pairs as well as ordinary full-matched base pairs by using (19)F NMR spectroscopy with (19)F-labeled oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were monitored. The chemical shift change in the (19) F NMR spectra allowed discrimination of the DNA structures. Two types of ODNs possessing the bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene unit (F-unit) at specified uridines were prepared and hybridized with their complementary or noncomplementary strands to form matched, mismatched, or bulged duplexes. By using ODN F1, in which an F-unit was connected directly to a propargyl amine-substituted uridine, three local structures, that is, full-matched, G-U mismatch, and A-bulge could be analyzed, whereas other structures could not be discriminated. A molecular modeling study revealed that the F-unit in ODN F1 interacted little with the nucleobases and sugar backbone of the opposite strand because the linker length between the F-unit and the uridine base was too short. Therefore, the capacity of ODN F1 to discriminate the DNA local structures was limited. Thus, ODN F2 was designed to improve this system; aminobenzoic acid was inserted between the F-unit and uridine base so the F-unit could interact more closely with the opposite strand. Eventually, the G-bulge and T-U mismatch and the three aforementioned local structures could be discriminated by using ODN F2. In addition, the dissociation processes of these duplexes could be monitored concurrently by (19)F NMR spectroscopy.


abstract Forty-five earthquakes were detected and six were located during an 11-day reconnaissance of microearthquake activity in southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee. These are some of the smallest magnitude earthquakes ever identified in this region, although seismic activity there has been observed from permanent stations for many years. In this program, four high-gain portable seismographs were used to occupy 12 recording sites in the Ozark Uplift in southeastern Missouri and the New Madrid seismic zone of the Upper Mississippi River Embayment. Although our data are sparse, observed microearthquake activity in the New Madrid seismic zone was found to be much greater than on the Ozark Uplift in agreement with long-term observations in both areas. Earthquakes as shallow as 1 km were confirmed in the New Madrid seismic zone. There, also, a b -value of 0.6 for a range of 6 magnitude units was determined from the microearthquake data of this investigation and Saint Louis University9s macroseismic data for the period 1950 to 1964.


Abstract : This paper presents an assessment of the Soviet-Warsaw Pact forces in the Central Region (i.e., German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia) facing the NATO forces. Emphasis is on the improvements made in Soviet ground and air forces during the past ten years. The discussion is qualitative and quantitative, and includes changes in organization, with the emphasis being on trends. As appropriate, comparisons are given between forces of the Soviet Union and the United States, and of Warsaw Pact and NATO forces in the Central Front area. Although there has been a limited change in the number of Soviet divisions assigned to the Central Region, there has been a significant increase in non- divisional troops. Similarly, there have been major qualitative improvements in Soviet division equipment and weapons and in the additional non-divisional units that are not readily apparent in most comparative efforts. This assessment has provided a vehicle for focusing attention on improvements in NATO organization and operations, and on those existing and future technologies that can make a significant contribution to improving the combat potential of U.S. and NATO forces on the Central Front.


Abstract Verticillium wilt of sugar beet is a disease that has received very little attention, but which has been reported to reduce sugar quality. A survey of sugar beet fields with wilt symptoms was conducted in 2007 (5 roots from each of 40 fields) and 2008 (5 roots from each of 45 fields) in Idaho. Verticillium dahliae was isolated from all root samples. From a collection of 106 V. dahliae sugar beet isolates, all were of the MAT1-2 mating type. The vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) was evaluated for 93 of these isolates and 95, 3, 1 and 1% were VCG 4A, VCG 2B, VCG 4B and non-compatible, respectively. All the VCG 4A isolates had the same mitochondrial haplotype based on sequencing of cox3 to nad6 and cox1 to rnl loci, while the VCG 2B isolates had two haplotypes. Pathogenicity tests on sugar beet cultivar 'Monohikari' revealed that the VCG 4A isolates produced more foliar symptoms (P < 0.0001) than VCG 1, 1A, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4B isolates, but none of the VCGs consistently reduced root and foliage weight. Since V. dahliae VCG 4A isolates have also been reported as a pathogen of potato in North America, rotating sugar beet fields with potato could be a concern.


In this era of tweets and blogs, it is easy to assume that the self-obsessive recording of daily minutiae is a recent phenomenon. But Americans have been navel-gazing since nearly the beginning of the republic. The daily planner - variously called the daily diary, commercial diary, and portable account book - first emerged in colonial times as a means of telling time, tracking finances, locating the nearest inn, and even planning for the coming winter. They were carried by everyone from George Washington to the soldiers who fought the Civil War. And by the twentieth century, this document had become ubiquitous in the American home as a way of recording a great deal more than simple accounts. In this appealing history of the daily act of self-reckoning, Molly McCarthy explores just how vital these unassuming and easily overlooked stationery staples were to those who used them. From their origins in almanacs and blank books through the nineteenth century and on to the enduring legacy of written introspection, McCarthy has penned an exquisite biography of an almost ubiquitous document that has borne witness to American lives in all of their complexity and mundanity.


Many exoplanetary systems containing hot Jupiters are found to possess significant misalignment between the spin axis of the host star and the planet's orbital angular momentum axis. A possible channel for producing such misaligned hot Jupiters involves Lidov-Kozai oscillations of the planet's orbital eccentricity and inclination driven by a distant binary companion. In a recent work (Storch, Anderson & Lai 2014), we have shown that a proto-hot Jupiter undergoing Lidov-Kozai oscillations can induce complex, and often chaotic, evolution of the spin axis of its host star. Here we explore the origin of the chaotic spin behavior and its various features in an idealized non-dissipative system where the secular oscillations of the planet's orbit are strictly periodic. Using Hamiltonian perturbation theory, we identify a set of secular spin-orbit resonances in the system, and show that overlaps of these resonances are responsible for the onset of wide-spread chaos in the evolution of stellar spin axis. The degree of chaos in the system depends on the adiabaticity parameter $\epsilon$, proportional to the ratio of the Lidov-Kozai nodal precession rate and the stellar spin precession rate, and thus depends on the planet mass, semi-major axis and the stellar rotation rate. For systems with zero initial spin-orbit misalignment, our theory explains the occurrence (as a function of $\epsilon$) of "periodic islands" in the middle of a "chaotic ocean" of spin evolution, and the occurrence of restricted chaos in middle of regular/periodic spin evolution. Finally, we discuss a novel "adiabatic resonance advection" phenomenon, in which the spin-orbit misalignment, trapped in a resonance, gradually evolves as the adiabaticity parameter slowly changes. This phenomenon can occur for certain parameter regimes when tidal decay of the planetary orbit is included.


A series of substituted (6-chloropyridine-3-yl)methyl heterocyclic thioether derivatives were prepared by indium mediating in water. The preliminary biological tests showed that compound 3d exhibited good antiviral activity.


Kobresia pygmaea meadow community diversities in relation to altitude gradients (4200, 4300, 4400, 4450) on free grazing grassland was studied in the range of Chenduo county, Yushu prefecture, Qinghai province. Species richness and diversity index of vegetations in the four altitudes were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the shape of species richness responsive curves to altitude gradient is "Bell-shape". There were the same 11 common species in the four communities. The relative abundance of K. pygmaea decreased along increasing altitude. Moreover, the fuzzy membership functions were used to calculate the degree of stability, showing medium altitude > high altitude > low altitude, which suggested that grass land vegetation in low altitude of the sampling site had lower diversity, and the grade of species vulnerability risks may be decided with the help of the degree of stability. Key words : Alpine meadow, Yangtze, Yellow and Yalu Tsangpo river source region, altitude gradient, species diversity, membership functions.


From forest to finished product, wood is moved from one processing stage to the next, subject to the decisions of individuals along the way. While this process has worked for hundreds of years, the technology exists today to provide move complete information to the decision makers. Virginia Tech has developed this technology, creating a machine vision prototype for wood products manufacturing.


Introduction: The study aimed to assess the impact of fractionated radiation on push-out bond strength of sealer to dentin interface and on marginal adaptation of the sealer (Adseal, MTA Fillapex, and EndoSequence BC sealer) to irradiated dentin. Materials and Methods: Ninety maxillary central incisors were randomly divided into two groups: with irradiation (n = 45) and without (n = 45). All the samples to be radiated were exposed to fractionated dosage (60 Gy) through Co-60 gamma (1.17 and 1.33 Mev) photons. Specimens were prepared and subdivided into three subgroups (n = 15 each) according to assigned sealer Adseal, MTA Fillapex, and EndoSequence BC sealer. Later, the samples were sectioned into a 1 mm thick segment at each root third for bond strength and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. SEM micrographs were analyzed with an ORION version 6 image analyzer. The percentage of failure mode after debonding was evaluated with a stereomicroscope. Bond strength data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Bond strength was significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased after radiotherapy (0.76 ± 0.12 Mpa) versus without radiation (0.93 ± 0.18 Mpa). Furthermore, when the pooled average of sealers was compared, significantly highest bond strength was perceived in Adseal (0.98 ± 0.18 Mpa) followed by EndoSequence BC (0.84 ± 0.13 Mpa). Coronal sections showed significantly (P < 0.0001) higher bond strength (0.99 ± 0.16 Mpa) compared to the middle (0.81 ± 0.14 MPa) and apical third (0.74 ± 0.12 Mpa). Qualitative SEM revealed a higher interfacial gap between sealer and irradiated radicular dentin. The percentage of mean change was recorded significantly high in MTA Fillapex (52%), then in EndoSequence BC (31%), and least was in Adseal (17%). Conclusions: Irradiated teeth resulted in consequential decreased adhesiveness and bond strength of dentin to root canal filling material. In addition, the highest bond strength was noticed in Adseal.


This paper deals with Magneto-Rheological (MR) damper modelling and identification. The effect of the frequency and current is analysed through a database of four experimental datasets with different displacement and current. The benchmarking of modified models of a literature model approach is done. It is clarified the linearity of the current with the maximum damping force and its effect on the hysteresis; and if the displacement and current have persistent magnitude variation, the model parameters can be frequency independent. A resultant model based on these findings has realistic behaviour with a simple structure, two non common model features for this device.


It is generally understood that that there is a direct correlation between civilized society and a propensity for cooperation and peace over confrontation and violent conflict, both in domestic affairs and in international relations. Under the influence of democratic and liberal theories of perpetual peace, this leads to the assumption that the spread of civilization around the globe will hasten the cause of international order and world peace. This article challenges that orthodoxy on the back of a misunderstanding about the nature of the relationship between civilization and war. Turning the generally accepted "civilization equals peace" equation on its head, this article demonstrates a dramatically different relationship between civilizing processes and war, or civilization and war.


Indices of both platelet serotoninergic system and the system of nerve growth factor (NGF) were examined in children with neurofibromatosis (15 patients), polygenic oligophrenia (24 patients) and Rett's syndrome (14 ones). There was an increase of both the level of blood serum autoantibodies (aAB) to NGF and the value of specific binding of 3H-imipramine (Bmax) in platelets of patients with oligophrenia. For this group of patients a significant negative correlation exists between the rate of platelet uptake of serotonin (Vmax value) and the degree of mental retardation (r = -0.425, p < 0.03). Decrease of both Vmax and activity of platelet NGF receptors was revealed in patients with neurofibromatosis. In such patients there was positive correlation between sensitivity of platelet NGF receptors to NGF (during their stimulation by test dose of purified NGF) and the degree of mental retardation (r = 0.697, p < 0.04). In patients with Rett's syndrome a significant increase of activity of platelet NGF receptors to NGF was observed. The conclusion was made on the existence of some general mechanism of intellectual defect development. Autoimmune processes considered to be such mechanism.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) for post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (PPI) has become the gold standard treatment. Precision Medical Devices (PMD) has developed a new AUS. The Politano-Sayet-Sutherland Flow Control Device (PSS-FCD) has undergone 6 previous prototypes before establishing this current model. The current working model is composed of 3 elements: 1) Control/Battery Pack (CBP) 2) Valve assembly with separate Anvil Cap piece; 3) Remote Master Control Module (MCM). METHODS: The CBP consists of electronic and drive components. A printed circuit board, stepper motor and a lithium cell array are contained in the fully, hermetically-sealed waterproof titanium casing. The valve assembly consists of a cable link, a plunger and two shell halves. The cable link connects the cuff and plunger to the CBP. The CBP opens and closes the plunger via the drive assembly and has the ability to adjust the magnitude of closure force with 10 different settings based on commands made to the CBP using the Bluetooth telemetry system. Closure pressure of the FCD was determined from the device clamp force measured using a strain gauge load cell and amplifier in a bench top test stand. The typical closure pressure of a healthy human urethra ranges from 75 to 100 cm of water. The typical human urethra external size is approximately 24Fr or a 8mm diameter. The PSS-FCD has a clamp pad with two flexible silicone ridges of 4mm in width resulting in a total clamping area at urethra closure of 75mm2. The FCD produced an average clamp force of 3.67N resulting in a closure pressure of 0.057N/mm2 or ∼584 cm of water at the PSS-FCD clamp stroke setting of 08. The clamp force can be adjusted by changing the clamp stroke within the range of 04 to 10 during or after implant surgery as required to occlude fluid flow. At Phase IIb we implanted an additional 6 animals and performed subsequent full device replacement procedures in 3. RESULTS: The successful Phase I, Phase IIa and Phase IIb implants (and bench tests) have allowed the development of the newest Bluetooth telemetrically controlled AUS/valve. We have demonstrated biologic tissue compatibility without urethral trauma or erosion in all animals during survival experiments lasting more than 1 year. We demonstrated the easy feasibility of performing full FCD replacement on 4 animals without complications. CONCLUSIONS: The successful development of a remotely controlled AUS that allows for post-implant adjustable settings and remote telemonitoring capabilities is possible. Source of Funding: Precision Medical Devices


In the 1990s, thanks to digital convergence, many disciplines centrally concerned with the mediated uses of sound from a variety of different orientations—communication, musicology, speech, ethnography, history of technology, journalism, theater and drama, and art, to name a few—began to recognize the need for a new term to indicate their shared focus. Here I propose soundwork as that term, laying out the reasons why we need it, how it can change our thinking across a broad range of cultural forms, the kind of cultural and political work it can perform, and how linking sound to our understanding of lived experience changes the way that we perceive the world around us.


This Chapter reviews the key jurisprudential developments in relation to the division of powers in Canada, exploring how the shared jurisdiction over the "environment" created by sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution has historically and continues to shape environmental law and policy. In addition to this federal-provincial struggle, the chapter considers the current trend towards local regulation of environmental matters according to the principle of 'subsidiarity', and the growing recognition of the 'inherent jurisdiction' of Indigenous peoples. The contemporary dynamics are explored through two critical policy case studies highlighting barriers to environmental justice: safe drinking water on reserves, and climate change mitigation. The review reveals that Canada's Constitutional framework, while not solely responsible, has contributed to our collective failure to achieve a coordinated and effective set of environmental laws and policies, which translates to unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens on the ground. Finally, recent movements to overcome these weaknesses are explored, including recent Charter litigation attempting to define "environmental rights" in Canada, and other attempts to establish a constitutional right to a healthy environment.


We study a mechanism underlying the attraction between nucleosomes, the fundamental packaging units of DNA inside the chromatin complex, by introducing a simple model of the nucleosome: the eight-tail colloid, a negatively charged sphere with eight oppositely charged, flexible, grafted chains that represent the terminal histone tails. We demonstrate that our complexes are attracted via the formation of chain bridges and that this attraction can be tuned by changing the fraction of charged monomers on the tails. This suggests a physical mechanism of chromatin compaction where the degree of DNA condensation can be controlled via biochemical means, namely the acetylation and deacetylation of lysines in the histone tails.


Examines the geographical distribution of various forms of teleworking, and differentiates between 'prosperous rural' and 'peripheral rural' areas on grounds of accessibility, income levels and local economies. The concept of teleworking is broken down into four main subcategories (partly office based, exclusively home based, freelance and relocated back-office) to better understand its distribution. The impacts and opportunities of various forms of teleworking on rural areas are assessed, including the kinds of infrastructure, training and marketing support that will be required.


Entre Ciencia e Ingeniería Abstract One of the education challenges in microelectronics is to convey students the basic steps for electronic devices fabrication. This article introduces how rapid prototyping of planar coils combines photo-mask fabrication, photolithography and wet etching, and how it can be used for training at the undergraduate level. Low cost photo-masks are generated using printing master layouts of coil patterns designed with Inkscape and Adobe InDesign and transferred onto a photographic KODAK paper using a DeVere reduction copy camera. Three parameters are analyzed for transferring the layout onto the photomask and then onto an Al substrate: the camera's reduction factor, the grain size of the Kodak paper and the quality of the InkJet photo-printer. Fabrication of submicron aluminum coils is achieved with optimization of these parameters. The hands-on experience on device fabrication impacts the students' ability to comprehend interactions between mask designs, fabrication and devices layout.


In this paper we characterize the commutants of two classes of analytic Toeplitz operators. We show that if F in H' is univalent and nonvanishing, the (TF2)' = (TZ}'. When g is the product of two Blaschke factors, we characterize { Tp }' in terms of algebraic combinations of Toeplitz and composition operators. Introduction. Let H2 denote the Hilbert space of functions f analytic in the open unit disk D which satisfy sup Ifl(rei)12 dO< x< . 0< r< I Let H denote the algebra of bounded analytic functions on D. For p in H??, T is the analytic Toeplitz operator defined by Tqf = pf. Let { T }' denote the commutant of T , i.e. the algebra of operators which commute with T ,. The study of analytic Toeplitz operators has been extensive and many of their properties are well known [2], [4]. In [6], Nordgren gave a sufficient condition for an analytic Toeplitz operator to have no nontrivial reducing subspaces. Since the projection onto a subspace commutes with an operator if and only if the subspace reduces the operator, the problem of finding reducing subspaces can be generalized to that of determining the commutant of an analytic Toeplitz operator. In a recent paper [3], Deddens and Wong study this latter problem. One of their results is that p univalent implies { T T,}'= {Tz}', the algebra of analytic Toeplitz operators. We extend that result to the case where p is the square of a nonvanishing univalent function. The extension generalizes and simplifies Nordgren's Example 2 in [6]. In certain special cases [1], [3], [8], analytic Toeplitz operators induced by inner functions play a significant role in commutant problems. Since these are unilateral shifts, their commutants can be characterized matricially [3]. On the other hand, the problem of finding more revealing function theoretic characterizations of their commutants is difficult. Our main result is a function theoretic characterization of { T4,}' when p is the product of two Blaschke factors. Received by the editors September 5, 1974 and, in revised form, November 5, 1974. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 47B35, 47B20, 30A76.


An understanding of the anesthesiologist's concerns during pediatric plastic surgical procedures can facilitate the coordination of efforts between the multiple services involved in the care of these children. Prior to surgery, the child's history is obtained and physical examination is performed. The condition of the airway is the primary concern. Preoperative medication is usually given by oral routes to avoid injections. Induction intubation, maintenance, and emergence are discussed. Specific postanesthesia care is described. Special precautions are given for children having surgical repair of craniofacial anomalies. Cleft lip and palate and mandibular advancement are described.


Molds are ubiquitous throughout the biosphere of planet earth and cause infectious, allergic, and toxic diseases. Toxic diseases arise from exposure to mycotoxins produced by molds. Throughout history, there have been a number of toxic epidemics associated with exposure to mycotoxins. Acute epidemics of ergotism are caused by consumption of grain infested by fungi of the genus Claviceps, which produce the bioactive amine ergotamine that mimics the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Acute aflatoxin outbreaks have occurred from ingestion of corn stored in damp conditions that potentiate growth of the molds of the species Aspergillus. Contemporary construction methods that use cellulose substrates such as fiber board and indoor moisture have caused an outbreak of contaminated buildings with Stachybotrys chartarum, with the extent of health effects still a subject of debate and ongoing research. This article reviews several of the more prominent epidemics and discusses the nature of the toxins. Two diseases that were leading causes of childhood mortality in England in the 1970s and vanished with changing dietary habits, putrid malignant fever, and slow nervous fever were most likely toxic mold epidemics.


Pu can be loaded with H forming complicated continuous solid solutions and compounds, and causing remarkable electronic and structural changes. Full potential linearized augmented plane wave methods combined with Hubbard parameter U and the spin-orbit effects are employed to investigate the electronic and structural properties of stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric face-centered cubic Pu hydrides (PuHx, x = 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3). The decreasing trend with increasing x of the calculated lattice parameters is in reasonable agreement with the experimental findings. A comparative analysis of the electronic-structure results for a series of PuHx compositions reveals that the lattice contraction results from the associated effects of the enhanced chemical bonding and the size effects involving the interstitial atoms. We find that the size effects are the driving force for the abnormal lattice contraction.


This study aims to assess the adequacy of temperature control during transport of patients referred for therapeutic hypothermia at our centre and to evaluate the occurrence of complications when temperature control is not adequate. Transport data of patients (n = 37) referred during a period of 30 months was reviewed retrospectively, as well as our prospectively collected database of infants treated with hypothermia. We evaluated duration of transport, incidence of excessive cooling on admission and associated complications. Distance from the referring hospital and duration of the transport were not associated with excessive cooling. We then divided patients into two groups according to adequacy of temperature control during transport depending on the presence or absence of regular temperature recordings and compared study variables between the groups. A significant correlation was found between the lack of adequate temperature records during transport (n = 19) and excessive hypothermia on admission (42% vs. 11% for the group with adequate temperature monitoring). There was a trend towards increased incidence of coagulation problems for infants who had admission temperatures below 32.0°C. Passive cooling is simple and effective to ensure early achievement of neuroprotective temperature, but continuous temperature monitoring during transportation is mandatory in order to avoid excessive cooling.


enhance QoL. The conclusion is therefore that this is a field that needs to take a closer look at QoL only then will we be able to monitor, predict and improve QoL.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006

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Purpose : To investigate the cytotoxic effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in combination with disulfiram (DSF) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on metastatic melanoma cells. Method s: Cell growth was measured using the XTT assay. Dose-response of multiple drugs was analyzed using Chou's method for synergy analysis. Tietze's enzymatic recycling method was used to determine cellular glutathione levels in drug-treated A375, M14, and c81-61 metastatic melanoma cells. Results : All three cell lines exhibited dose-dependent response to ATO, DSF, and BSO. The c81-61 cells were the least sensitive to the three agents tested. For A375 cells, the greatest synergy was observed for the combinations of 1.25uM ATO/0.25uM DSF, 1.25uM ATO/65.6uM BSO. For c81-61 cells, synergy was observed at 0.625uM ATO/0.125uM DSF and 0.3125uM ATO/15.625uM BSO. An enhanced anti-melanoma effect was observed for prolonged 6-day exposures. Total glutathione levels in ATO-treated A375 cells decreased from 48 hours to 72 hours. Conclusion s: The synergistic cytotoxicity of ATO combination with DSF or BSO on A375, M14, and c81-61 cells may be associated with changes in intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels.


ABSTRACT Bias may be introduced in survey data collection when participants answer questions differently depending on interviewer gender. This could affect the validity of collected data, especially sensitive data. Using sexual behavior data collected in a 2017–2018 cross-sectional survey of Haitian women (n = 304), we evaluated the associations between interviewer-gender and three different outcomes: (1) question-specific response rates, (2) total number of non-responses, and (3) differences in reported answers. We observed higher item response rates for sensitive sexual behavior questions when the interviewer was female and more item non-responses (Don't know/Refuse) when the interviewer was male. Among those who did respond, participants were more likely to report some sensitive sexual behaviors to women and others to men. We conclude that researchers should consider the sociocultural norms of the study population and the potential for interviewer gender bias in the planning and analysis phase of studies using self-reported data.


Congenital hydrocephalus results from diverse causes which could be developmental, genetic, infective and haemorrhagic in nature; aqueductal stenosis being the most common of all. Altered fluid dynamics results in loss of brain substance and enlargement of CSF spaces with the resultant sequelae. The present article reviews the multifaceted problems of congenital hydrocephalus from the standpoint of its pathophysiology, clinical ramifications & treatment.


Objectives: To assess the diagnostic value of serum KLK6 and KLK10 in patients with ovarian tumor in comparison to serum CA125. Methods: Based on clinical and sonographic findings, 90 patients were consecutively recruited at the Gynecological Oncology Unit, Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. Preoperative serum KLK6 and/or KLK10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The patients' final diagnoses were those of the histopathological reports. Results: There were 27 malignant versus 63 benign cases. Serum markers' diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were 80.3/72.7, 56.8/64.0, and 39.53/58.3 for CA125, KLK6, and KLK10, respectively. Combination of CA125 with either of the other 2 markers revealed diagnostic enhancement with KLK10 (85.37/73.00) but not with KLK6 (42.86/86.36). Conclusions: In ovarian cancer, serum KLK6 and KLK10 may have much lower overall sensitivities than serum CA125. However, whereas serum KLK6 may improve the sensitivity of CA125, serum KLK10 may have the highest specificity among the 3 markers.


Presents a VLSI chip for realtime implementation of a motion estimator in an HDTV encoder for the purpose of transmission and/or broadcasting. Using this chip, it is possible to implement the estimator of HDTV signals based on SMPTE-260M, a HDTV digital interface standard. The search area can be easily expanded to the required range also at high system clock-rate upto 80 MHz. >


The purpose of this case series was to evaluate peri-implant tissues in 10 patients at 1 year after placement of a tapered 3.0-mm laser-microtextured dental implant (Laser-Lok, BioHorizons) using a two-stage approach. Clinical and radiographic measurements were assessed. Keratinized tissue at the facial surfaces of each implant had a slight increase of 0.73 mm (95% confidence interval [CI], P = .058), and marginal bone levels had significant increase of 1.85 mm (95% CI, P = .005) at 1 year compared to baseline. These data suggest that 3.0-mm laser-microtextured implants demonstrate stable or improved soft and hard tissue parameters at 1 year postloading.


OBJECTIVES
To assess whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and DM2 complications are associated with presence and severity of depression among Alaska Native and American Indian people (AN/Als).

DESIGN
Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of medical records.

SETTING
Southcentral Foundation Primary Care Center (SCF-PCC) in Anchorage, Alaska.

PARTICIPANTS
Total of 23,529 AN/AI adults.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) scores (0-9 negative, 10-14 mild, 15-19 moderate, 20+ severe) and DSM-IV depression diagnosis.

RESULTS
DM2 prevalence was 6% (n=1,526). Of those with DM2, 19% (n = 292) had one or more DM2 complications and average HbAlc was 7.1%. Prevalence of depression diagnosis was similar between AN/Als with and without DM2 (P = .124). Among those screened for depression (n = 12,280), there were similar rates of PHQ severity between those without and with DM2; respectively 4% (n = 452) vs 4% (n = 42) mild, 4% (n = 404) vs 3% (n = 29) moderate, and 4% (n = 354) vs 4% (n = 38) severe. In multivariable logistic regression, DM2 was not associated with PHQ severity (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.81-1.27) or depression diagnosis (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.62). Increased odds of depression and higher depression severity were associated with female sex, younger age, being unmarried, substance abuse/dependence, and increased ambulatory visits. Depression was associated with number of other chronic conditions among AN/Als with DM2 but not with number of complications.

CONCLUSIONS
Presence and severity of depression among AN/Al primary care patients was not significantly associated with DM2 nor DM2 complications, despite a slightly higher rate of depression diagnosis among those with DM2.


Modern American physicians and public health professionals perceive illness and the condition that we call "health" in ways different from those of our forebears. Medical education short-changes medical history, and, as a consequence, we risk forgetting the lessons of the past. This excellent collection of historical vignettes provides useful and captivating reading for health professionals at all levels. It is not a collection of accolades to a few prominent physicians but rather a series of descriptions of important ideas, movements, and concepts in the evolution of modern medicine and public health. In the overview, the editors emphasize that food and filth are as important as physicians and hospitals in the decline of illness and the prolongation of life. The essays, therefore, describe lay and professional successes and failures ranging from "physicians to patent medicines, from masturbation to smallpox, from birthing to bacteriology." The book further affirms that "to understand sickness


Greenhouse grown tomatoes (cvs 'Durinta', 'Favorita' and 'Liberto') were harvested green and vine ripe. Colour measurements and chemical analyses were performed on green, post-harvest red and vine-ripe fruits. Partial least square (PLS) regression was applied to predict the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) by means of colour measurements (L*, a* and b*). The PLS showed that 78% of the variation in colour were able to predict 74% of the variation in FRAP value. Chemical variables and colour variables together were able to predict 88% of the variation in FRAP by means of PLS regression. Linear regression showed a high negative correlation between high values of L*, b* and FRAP, and a high positive correlation between titratable acidity, a*, hue, a*/b*, soluble solids, vitamin C, dry matter and FRAP values. Thus, colour measurements of intact tomatoes can be used as a non-destructive method to assess total antioxidant capacity of tomatoes.


Two optically brightened commercial papers were subjected to 72 hours continuous exposure to graphic arts daylight simulating fluorescent lamps at 1.4 and 4.4 klux. At the higher illuminance level, a CIELAB colour difference of 1.0 was reached in approximately 3 and 50 hours for the two papers. The colour differences produced by the 1.4 klux exposure were greater than that predicted by assuming a linear relationship between intensity and colour change, by a factor of 1.8.


Background To date, no head-to-head trials have been conducted comparing the efficacy of biologic treatments for early active rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of tocilizumab (TCZ) compared with other traditional and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tDMARDs and bDMARDs), alone and in combination, in adult patients with moderate to severe ERA who have not been treated with methotrexate (MTX) or bDMARDs. Methods A literature review was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of tDMARDs and bDMARDs in patients with ERA (duration, <3 years) that reported efficacy outcomes, including the proportions of patients achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) scores of 20, 50, 70, and 90 and disease activity score (DAS28)–defined remission (DAS28<2.6). Study data were pooled using Bayesian network meta-analysis techniques. For ACR response, data were analyzed using a fixed-effects (FE) ordered probit model, which makes efficient use of ordered categorical data and guarantees coherent prediction of multinomial response probabilities. For DAS remission, data were analyzed with an FE binomial logit model. The analysis included only results for treatments in licensed doses. Sensitivity analyses tested the effects of grouping treatments by class and broadening and narrowing inclusion criteria. Results We included 16 RCTs of tDMARDs (MTX, sulfasalazine [SSZ], hydroxychloroquine [HCQ]), bDMARDs (abatacept [ABT], adalimumab [ADA], etanercept [ETN], infliximab [IFX], golimumab [GOL], and TCZ), and tofacitinib (Tofa). Results indicate that all bDMARDs+MTX, triple tDMARD therapies, and TCZ and Tofa in monotherapy significantly increased response across all ACR categories versus MTX (Figure). Probabilities of ACR response to bDMARDs+MTX were broadly similar, with no significant differences between agents. Probabilities of ACR response to bDMARDs in monotherapy were more varied, with a trend toward higher values for Tofa and TCZ than ETN or ADA. Only a subset of studies reported DAS remission. Results show that treatment with Tofa or any bDMARD (± MTX) except ADA alone improved the likelihood of DAS remission versus MTX. TCZ (± MTX) generated the highest probability of remission among bDMARD agents and was significantly more effective than all other bDMARDs (± MTX) and Tofa. Results across both outcomes were robust to alternative grouping of interventions and to change in the inclusion criteria. Figure 1. Median relative treatment effects vs MTX (95% credible interval). PRD, prednisone/prednisolone. Conclusions Based on ACR response, the expected efficacy of bDMARDs+MTX, Tofa and TCZ monotherapy, and triple tDMARD therapy appears comparable in early RA. TCZ and Tofa in monotherapy are more effective than ADA alone and likely to be more effective than ETN alone. TCZ ± MTX is expected to have the highest probability of generating DAS remission and is significantly better than other bDMARDs ± MTX and Tofa. Disclosure of Interest L. Sawyer Consultant for: Roche, S. Chang Consultant for: Roche, A. Diamantopoulos Consultant for: Roche, F. Dejonckheere Employee of: Roche DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.2177


A traffic control problem can be formulated as a decision-making problem for a stochastic dynamic system. Optimal traffic signal settings at intersections can minimize the vehicle delay time or the queue length at a stop line. In this paper, a new adaptive control strategy for signalized intersections is developed and tested by simulation. The simulation results show significant improvement over the traditional fully actuated control algorithm, especially for the case of high volume traffic demand.


Spectral library searching is an emerging approach in peptide identifications from tandem mass spectra, a critical step in proteomic data analysis. Conceptually, the premise of this approach is that the tandem MS fragmentation pattern of a peptide under some fixed conditions is a reproducible fingerprint of that peptide, such that unknown spectra acquired under the same conditions can be identified by spectral matching. In actual practice, a spectral library is first meticulously compiled from a large collection of previously observed and identified tandem MS spectra, usually obtained from shotgun proteomics experiments of complex mixtures. Then, a query spectrum is then identified by spectral matching using recently developed spectral search engines. This review discusses the basic principles of the two pillars of this approach: spectral library construction, and spectral library searching. An overview of the software tools available for these two tasks, as well as a high-level description of the underlying algorithms, will be given. Finally, several new methods that utilize spectral libraries for peptide identification in ways other than straightforward spectral matching will also be described.


Because adjustment costs may make infrequent corrections preferable to partial continuous adjustment, microeconomic units often behave quite differently from representative agents in aggregate dynamic models. Idiosyncratic uncertainty precludes perfect coordination of microeconomic adjustment and explains the much smoother behavior of aggregate variables. This paper reviews and extends models of optimal adjustment under uncertainty and of dynamic aggregation, and argues that unsynchronized microeconomic adjustment can provide a sensible, structural interpretation of macroeconomic time series. A simple statistical representation of the process followed by aggregate variables in the presence of microeconomic adjustment costs and of idiosyncratic uncertainty is shown to satisfactorily explain the behavior of U.S. durable consumption data.


The field of cryptography has endeavored to solve numerous security problems. However, a common premise of many of those problems is that the encryptor always generates the ciphertext correctly. Around 10 years ago, this premise was not a problem. However, due to the rapid development and the use of the cloud, which has introduced various access policies and functionalities to provide higher security, it is not correct to assume that this premise is always applied. A "Fake Policy Attack", which we introduce in this article, is an attack that incorrectly sets the access policy of the ciphertext against the system rules so that users who do not meet the rules can decrypt the ciphertext. In other words, it is an attack that ignores the rules of the system and eventually breaks the security and leaks information. This attack can be more critical for the application environments that require strong security not to leak any related information about ciphertext. In this article, we demonstrate the possible threat of the Fake Policy Attack by providing two relevant examples. Then, we propose a scheme called Policy Authenticable ABE (PA-ABE) to resolve this issue. We provide a formal security analysis of the proposed scheme and performance evaluation results based on our implementation.


Breast cancer is a serious potential health problem for all women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The current screening procedures and imaging techniques, including x-ray mammography, clinical biopsy, ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging, provide only 73% accuracy in detecting breast cancer. This gives the impetus to explore alternate techniques for imaging the breast and detecting early stage tumors. Among the complementary methods, the noninvasive biomagnetic breast imaging is attractive and promising, because both ionizing radiation and breast compressions that the prevalent x-ray mammography suffers from are avoided. It furthermore offers very high contrast because of the significant electromagnetic properties' differences between the cancerous, benign, and normal breast tissues. In this paper, a hybrid and accurate modeling tool for biomagnetic breast imaging is developed, which couples the electromagnetic and ultrasonic energies, and initial validations between the model predication and experimental findings are conducted. VC 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3676430]


A standardized freeze-dried preparation of desiccated table grapes containing polyphenols (including flavanols, anthocyanins, flavonols, and stilbenes such as resveratrol) and other unidentified compounds with antioxidant activity. Standardized freeze-dried table grape powder increases serum antioxidant activity and reduces the macrophage-mediated oxidation and uptake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This agent has been shown to inhibit genes linked to the development of sporadic colorectal cancer and may exhibit chemopreventive activity for other human cancers.


This paper presents a double sided permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (DSPMLSM) with novel V-shaped hairpin plate windings and diagonally placed square magnets. Unlike the conventional stranded round wires, proposed winding type offers easy manufacturing and high current densities. Air cored structure eliminates problems related to cogging torque. In order to obtain fast results, analytical magnetic field model of the motor is derived using magnetic scalar potential and verified with finite element analysis. Optimization using genetic algorithm is executed with analytical model, and 1 kW, 150 N, and 30 A DSPMLSM is proposed.


Collaboration scripts are a powerful means to improve collaborative inquiry learning. More specifically, they can be designed to support argumentative knowledge construction, a core activity in inquiry learning. However, not only externally induced collaboration scripts but also the learners' internal scripts on collaborative argumentative knowledge construction influence the way they argue with scientific concepts and evidence, thereby affecting what kind of knowledge is acquired during collaboration. In this study, 98 students (49 dyads) from two German secondary schools participated. We implemented two versions (high vs. low structured) of an external collaboration script designed to support argumentative knowledge construction into a web-based collaborative inquiry learning environment called WISE. Further, we classified the learners' internal scripts as either high or low structured and composed homogeneous dyads, thereby establishing a 2x2-factorial design. We investigated how external and internal scripts as well as their interaction influenced the acquisition of both domain-general and domain-specific knowledge. Results suggest that for the acquisition of domain-general knowledge, web-based collaborative inquiry learning environments can be improved by implementing a high structured external script. For the acquisition of domainspecific content knowledge, however, the learners' internal scripts on collaborative argumentative knowledge construction appeared to be more influential. Results are discussed concerning their relevance for both theory and practice of learning with collaboration scripts in computer-supported collaborative inquiry learning environments.


Electron- and gas-temperature profiles for a stationary 250 Torr Na discharge are calculated. Local thermodynamic equilibrium is not assumed. The calculation shows that in the outer regions of the discharge, where more resonance radiation is absorbed than emitted, the electron gas is heated by inelastic collisions with excited atoms. The difference between electron and gas temperature is about 700 K at the tube wall for the case discussed. The present calculation is consistent with the deviation from equilibrium recently derived from the analysis of the profile of the Na resonance lines.


The aim of this study was to explore the contemporary application, inclusive of advantages and challenges, of mixed reality (MR) technology in the education of nursing students and, its contribution to enhanced learning. A descriptive evaluation design was undertaken to explore the learning experience of second year students enrolled in a 3 year Bachelor of Nursing programme. One hundred per cent of the students stated that the experience assisted them in their learning. The key themes of engagement in learning, and developing clinical judgement emerged from students' responses, and demonstrated ways in which students felt MR enhanced their learning. This emerging technology has the potential to assist in enhancing clinical judgement and developing skills in noticing physical cues in patients. The implementation of MR may also enhance student motivation and engagement with learning.


All firms in any mature product development industry are being pressured into performing 'better, faster, and cheaper' by both customers and competitors. In short, firms are being tasked with doing more, with less, faster. This leads to product development organizations being unrealistically tasked to deliver on these programs that often lead to projects falling behind schedule, over budget, and with inadequate quality. While striving to do the right actions to survive, the management of these firms may be leading their firms to disaster through over commitment, and short-term management actions to address the quality, budget, and schedule shortfalls. An understanding of the system dynamics associated with the program management of new product development (NPD) programs is essential to reversing this trend. Several corporations are instituting system dynamics in their management and executive training curricula to affect correct policies, procedures, and behaviors that lead to success. However, because the correct policies, procedures, and behaviors as revealed by system dynamics analysis are counter-intuitive and opposite those policies currently employed in program management, a method is needed to drive the learning of system dynamics so that it becomes ingrained in the program management thought processes. A management flight simulator (MFS) of the program management of a new product development project based on system dynamics provides the hands on experience that managers can learn the consequences of non systems-thinking policies on project performance and how system dynamics based policies can lead to greater success. This thesis provides an overview of the system dynamics of project management in new product development and insight into the correct policies, procedures, and behaviors that lead to success. Research on the role of MFSs in driving the learning of system dynamics principles is explored. A single-phase system dynamics model for a new product development program and a MFS is developed to teach the fundamental lessons of system dynamics applied to product development project management and is to be incorporated in the BP Project Academy. Insight from my own experiences in product development is incorporated in this MFS as well as in recommendations for further development. Thesis Supervisor: Professor Nelson Repenning


Prochelator tupuhi sp. nov. is the first record of the genus Prochelator Hessler, 1970 from Southern Hemisphere waters, and the first record of the family Desmosomatidae from New Zealand. The new species can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the following characters: body elongate, without spine-like ventral elongations on pereonites 1–4, pereonite 1 as high as pereonite 5, mesial lobe of the maxilla much shorter than in the other species of the genus, reaching only half the length of the lateral lobe, carpus of pereopod 1 distinctly produced at the base of the claw, propodus broadest at the articulation to the carpus, tapering distally.


Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the influence of hypertension and of long-term treatment with the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist isradipine on the morphology of the femoral artery in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Design: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight and morphology of the femoral artery were evaluated, and the ultrastructure of the endothelium was analysed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Methods: SHR were divided into three groups, a control group which was left untreated and two isradipine treatment groups, one at 0.01 mg/kg per day and the other at 0.1 mg/kg per day. Two age-matched groups of Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were included in the study; one group was left untreated and was used as a normotensive reference group and the other was treated with isradipine at 0.1 mg/kg per day. The study lasted 12 weeks. Results: SBP did not change in the WKY rats, whether treated with isradipine or not, but was significantly increased in SHR as a function of age. The lower dose of isradipine did not alter SBP in the SHR, but the higher dose brought SBP values into the normal range after the first week of treatment. Light microscopy of sections of the femoral artery did not reveal any structural differences in the five rat groups examined. Both transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed endothelial alterations in the SHR, together with thickening of the internal elastic lamina. Treatment with isradipine significantly improved the morphology of the endothelium in SHR. The higher dose was more effective, but the lower dose partly countered the hypertension-dependent changes in the morphology of the endothelium. No significant modifications to the structure of the endothelium were noticed in isradipine-treated WKY rats compared with untreated WKY rats. Conclusions: The results show that structural changes occur in the endothelium of the femoral artery of SHR and that isradipine treatment has a protective effect. This protective effect is probably only partly dependent on the antihypertensive properties of the compound.


Delayed display of menu items is a core design component of marking menus, arguably to prevent visual distraction and foster the use of mark mode. We investigate these assumptions, by contrasting the original marking menu design with immediately-displayed marking menus. In three controlled experiments, we fail to reveal obvious and systematic performance or usability advantages to using delay and mark mode. Only in very constrained settings – after significant training and only two items to learn – did traditional marking menus show a time improvement of about 260~ms. Otherwise, we found an overall decrease in performance with delay, whether participants exhibited practiced or unpracticed behaviour. Our final study failed to demonstrate that an immediately-displayed menu interface is more visually disrupting than a delayed menu. These findings inform the costs and benefits of incorporating delay in marking menus, and motivate guidelines for situations in which its use is desirable.


It has been suggested by some observers of the condition known as ``trench-foot,'' which was so common among the soldiers in the trenches in Belgium and France, especially during the first winter of the war, that obstruction of the venous return by the puttees worn by the British troops was an important contributory factor. The observations which form the subject of this paper are concerned only with the effect of relatively short applications of the puttees. Having been made in a laboratory on a normal man, they do not reproduce what is probably an important condition for the development of trench-foot, if the pressure of the puttees has anything to do with the condition, namely, the swelling under an already tight, wet, and dirty bandage. So far as the technic of the observations is concerned, it would have been easy enough to study the circulatory changes


A laboratory study was made to investigate the time-course uptake of Na22 by intact plants. The time-course desorption of labeled sodium was also investigated after two exposure periods, while the uptake course in a bathing solution was going on. A significant relationship was obtained for the ratio of expected to actual values of uptake and desorption as a function of the root-to-shoot weight ratio. By expressing the activity on a per-gram fresh-weight root basis (specific activity) it appears that low values of root-to-shoot ratio are associated with greater than expected values of uptake and greater than expected values of desorption. The opposite is generally obtained with respect to extreme high values of the root-to-shoot ratio. The predominance of active transport as an accumulation mechanism is suggested when low root-to-shoot ratio values characterize the intact plants. High ratios would favor translocation by way of passive mass-flow along the transpiration stream.


Research in computer security issues has recently addressed the development of security policy specification languages. It has however omitted the need of formal validation. In this paper we try to remedy to this drawback by the proposition of an automated tool for security policies. Because we have found several similarities between security policies and software engineering, our approach is strongly inspired from the reasoning followed in the software engineering. First, it brings out a model inspired by Promela to enable the validation task. Secondly, it proposes a 3-step validation process that deals with consistency, completeness and preservation of safety and liveness properties.


Author(s): Mason, Jarad Adam | Advisor(s): Long, Jeffrey R. | Abstract: The work presented in this dissertation describes the design, synthesis, and characterization of metal-organic frameworks for applications in gas storage and gas separations, with a specific focus on natural gas and hydrogen storage for mobile applications and on post-combustion carbon dioxide capture from coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. A wide variety of techniques and spectroscopic methods are covered, including gas adsorption, x-ray diffraction, infrared and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies, and calorimetry. Chapter One provides a brief introduction to metal-organic frameworks as a new class of porous materials for gas adsorption-related applications. The potential of metal-organic frameworks for use in post-combustion carbon dioxide capture and natural gas storage is discussed, and the unique and promising properties of adsorbents with stepped adsorption isotherms for these applications are highlighted.In Chapter Two, two representative metal-organic frameworks, Zn4O(BTB)2 (BTB3- = 1,3,5-benzenetribenzoate; MOF-177) and Mg2(dobdc) (dobdc4- = 1,4-dioxido-2,5-benzenedicarboxylate; Mg-MOF-74, CPO-27-Mg), are evaluated in detail for their potential use in post-combustion CO2 capture via temperature swing adsorption (TSA). Low-pressure single-component CO2 and N2 adsorption isotherms were measured every 10 °C from 20 to 200 °C, allowing the performance of each material to be analyzed precisely. In order to gain a more complete understanding of the separation phenomena and the thermodynamics of CO2 adsorption, the isotherms were analyzed using a variety of methods. These results show that the presence of strong CO2 adsorption sites is essential for a metal-organic framework to be of utility in post-combustion CO2 capture via a TSA process, and present a methodology for the evaluation of new metal-organic frameworks via analysis of single-component gas adsorption isotherms.Chapter Three briefly discusses high-pressure adsorption measurements and reviews efforts to develop metal-organic frameworks with high methane storage capacities. To illustrate the most important properties for evaluating adsorbents for natural gas storage and for designing a next generation of improved materials, six metal-organic frameworks and an activated carbon, with a range of surface areas, pore structures, and surface chemistries representative of the most promising adsorbents for methane storage, are evaluated in detail. High-pressure methane adsorption isotherms are used to compare gravimetric and volumetric capacities, isosteric heats of adsorption, and usable storage capacities. Additionally, the relative importance of increasing volumetric capacity, rather than gravimetric capacity, for extending the driving range of natural gas vehicles is highlighted. Other important systems-level factors, such as thermal management, mechanical properties, and the effects of impurities, are also considered, and potential materials synthesis contributions to improving performance in a complete adsorbed natural gas system are discussed.Chapter Four discusses the design and validation of a high-throughput multicomponent adsorption instrument that can measure equilibrium adsorption isotherms for mixtures of gases at conditions that are representative of an actual flue gas from a power plant. This instrument is used to study 15 different metal-organic frameworks, zeolites, mesoporous silicas, and activated carbons representative of the broad range of solid adsorbents that have received attention for CO2 capture. While the multicomponent results provide many interesting fundamental insights, only adsorbents functionalized with alkylamines are shown to have any significant CO2 capacity in the presence of N2 and H2O at equilibrium partial pressures similar to those expected in a carbon capture process. Most significantly, the amine-appended metal organic framework mmen-Mg2(dobpdc) (mmen = N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine, dobpdc4– = 4,4′-dioxido-3,3′-biphenyldicarboxylate) exhibits a record CO2 capacity of 4.2±0.2 mmol/g (16 wt %) at 0.1 bar and 40 °C in the presence of a high partial pressure of H2O.In Chapter Five, the flexible metal-organic frameworks M(bdp) (M = Fe, Co; bdp2– = 1,4-benzene-dipyrazolate) are shown to exhibit methane adsorption isotherms that feature a sharp step, giving rise to unprecedented performance characteristics for ambient temperature methane storage. Adsorption measurements combined with in situ powder X-ray diffraction and microcalorimetry experiments performed on Co(bdp) demonstrate a new approach to designing adsorbents for gas storage, wherein a reversible phase transition is used to achieve a high deliverable capacity while providing intrinsic thermal management. Importantly, the energy of the phase transition, together with the adsorption and desorption step pressures, can be controlled through variations in the framework structure, such as replacing Co with Fe, or by application of mechanical pressure. This approach overcomes many of the challenges to developing adsorbents for natural gas storage discussed in Chapter Three and is also relevant to other gas storage applications.Chapter Six discusses the synthesis and characterization of a new Ti(III) metal-organic framework that is constructed from 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate bridged Ti3O(COO)6 clusters. While many metal-organic frameworks have been synthesized with exposed divalent metal cations, there are comparatively few examples of metal-organic frameworks with coordinatively unsaturated trivalent metal centers. Among other potential applications, frameworks with exposed trivalent metal cations are of particular interest for ambient temperature H2 storage. Additionally, there are also very few reported titanium-based metal-organic frameworks and none that contain all titanium(III). Through a combination of adsorption measurements, diffraction analysis, EPR, infrared, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies, and magnetic measurements, this framework is shown to contain five-coordinate Ti3+ cations that irreversibly bind O2 to form titanium(IV)-superoxo and -peroxo species.


A multiple faces tracking system was presented based on Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) and Boosting learning. At the first frame, a face detector based on AdaBoost is used to detect faces, and the face motion models and face color models are created. The face motion model consists of a set of RVMs that learn the relationship between the motion of the face and its appearance in the image, and the face color model is the 2D histogram of the face region in CrCb color space. In the tracking process, different tracking methods are used according to different states of the faces and the states are changed according to the tracking results. When the full image search condition is satisfied, a full image search is started in order to find new coming faces and former occluded faces.


To understand the status of fish communities in the Qixing Islands Provincial Marine Reserve, China, we carried out bottom trawl surveys during the autumn of 2014 and the spring of 2015. By using niche breadths and their overlaps, non-metric multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster dendrograms, we studied the composition of functional groups and niche characteristics of major fish communities. In terms of feeding habits, six functional groups were identified: planktivores, benthivores, piscivores, planktivores/benthivores, benthivores/piscivores and omnivores. Planktivores, benthivores and benthivores/piscivores were the major fish communities in autumn; whereas planktivores, piscivores and omnivores were the dominant fish communities in spring. Shannon-Wiener's niche breadth index (Bi) and the Pianka's niche overlap index were used to compare dominant fish species. The niche breadth of dominant fish species ranged from 0.28 and 3.84 in autumn and Harpodon nehereus, Polydactylus sexfilis, Thrissa kammalensis, Odontamblyopus rubicundus, Muraenesox cinereus, Chrysochir aureus and Johnius belengerii had wider niche breadths (Bi>1.0). The niche breadth of dominant fish species ranged from 0.36 and 3.16 in spring and •研究报告• 176 生 物 多 样 性 Biodiversity Science 第 24 卷 Trichiurus lepturus, Engraulis japonicus, Decapterus maruadsi, Psenopsis anomala, H. nehereus and Pampus argenteus had wider niche breadths (Bi>1.0). The niche overlap of dominant fish species in autumn and spring ranged from 0 to 0.94 and 0 to 0.92, respectively. Based on the square root of the abundance, and using non-metric multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis, fish communities during autumn and spring were divided into four and three groups, respectively. Through the analysis of functional group composition, niche breadth and niche overlap in the Qixing Islands Provincial Marine Reserve, we find improved fish community nutrition structure and spatial structure within the reserve.


Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a rare inherited autosomal dominant condition caused by a mutation in the tumor suppressor gene FLCN. This mutation predisposes the carrier to multiple pulmonary cysts, recurrent pneumothorax, renal tumors and benign skin tumors. Since the first description of BHD, additional clinical signs have been added to the syndrome and a large variety of benign tumors, such as rhabdomyomas (RM), have been linked with the FLCN gene mutation. RMs are rare tumors derived from striated muscle. The adult extracardiac rhabdomyoma occurs mostly in elderly patients, with a male predominance. It is most often located in the head and neck area and it has a potential of recurrence. We report a case of recurrent multifocal ARM in the oral cavity, present in an elderly woman with BHD and treated surgically. This could add support to RMs being linked to BHD.


The ability of macrophages to Influence the metabolism of native low density lipoprotein by arterial smooth muscle cells was evaluated using cultured human monccyte-derlved macrophages. Macrophage-condltloned medium stimulated the binding and degradation of low density lipoprotein by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells and skin fibroblasts. Sterol synthesis also was stimulated by macrophage-condltloned medium as was cholesterol esterlficatlon In the presence of high concentrations of low density lipoprotein. These findings suggest that macrophages secrete a factor that enhances the activity of the low density lipoprotein receptor. Low density lipoprotein degradation by arterial smooth muscle cells also was enhanced by macrophage-condltioned medium In the presence of high concentrations of low density lipoprotelns In the medium. The macrophage factor that stimulates low density lipoprotein metabolism Is stable to freezing, Is Inactivated by acid hydrolysis, tryptic digestion, and boiling, and Is of large molecular weight (> 12,000 to 14,000 daltons). Modulation of arterial smooth muscle cell metabolism of low density lipoprotein by a macrophage secretory product may be of Importance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.


Characteristics and requirements of systems for temporal data management in the areas of data and knowledge bases, artificial intelligence, and software engineering are investigated and discussed on the basis of a case study. Six representative approaches were selected for this analysis, with the goal of identifying particular features of systems proposed in different areas. The six approaches are: Allen's interval-based logic, Dean and McDermott's time map management, Kowalski and Sergot's event calculus, Maiocchi and Pernici's TSOS. Snodgrass' TQuel, and Hagelstein's ERAE. The characteristics of each system are classified and compared. On the basis of this analysis, a framework for the evaluation of temporal systems and for the specification of temporal data management systems is proposed. >


Tetraena mongolica Maxim, a relict originating from the Tertiary Period, is an endemic species of Zygophyllaceae in China. Three new monoterpenoids (1-3), two new phenols (4, 5) with unusual O-sulfoglucosyl groups, a new flavonoid (6), and nine known compounds were isolated from the leaves of T. mongolica. The structures of these compounds were determined by interpretation of NMR, MS, and ECD data. Some of the isolated compounds showed protective effects on HEK 293t cells damaged by CdCl2, with IC50 values being 55.7 and 80.3 μM for compounds 7 and 8, respectively, at the time point of 48 h after treatment.


Two thecate hydroids, Carpocladus fertilis Vervoort Watson, 2003 (family Aglaopheniidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890) and Gonaxia constricta (Totton, 1930) (family Gonaxiidae Maggioni, in Galea Maggioni, 2021), are recorded for the first time from off New Caledonia, thus outside their original area of distribution in New Zealand waters. Specimens of both sexes of C. fertilis occur in the present collection, allowing the first description of its so far unknown female gonothecae. The trophosome of G. constricta, the only known to date, is thoroughly redescribed, pending the discovery of its gonothecae.


This study intends to develop a design method of adding more stories on existing building by using a case study of construction project in Leidschendam where 9-stories are to be added on existing 6-storey residential building. A low riser building is to be changed into multistory building. The state-of-art of the project was designed by the Engineering office of SmitWesterman and implemented by demolishing a section of the existing building where additional stories were constructed. The initial idea was to add 9-stories on existing 6 stories to form a structure of 15 story-high without demolition. Even though this idea was abandoned during implementation but it was forwarded to the University to make further research and formulate possible design alternatives. This study is about searching a proper alternative to be used when adding storey on existing building by using lightweight materials (steel structures) without demolishing the existing structures, which are not at their maturity time. This is a proper method of changing an existing low riser into a multistory building with minimum waste. Therefore, this technique can be used in highly built environment. In this study, the major issue to be solved is to know how an existing low riser building can be changed into a multistory building. This study would have a significant effect on already built residential areas whereby more homes can be built in extremely limited place without demolishing the existing buildings. The major issues are to know the construction method to be used for this particular project, integration of the old and the new structures and the structural system to be used. This study will only cover the structural design of superstructure and foundation. As the new and old structure serve the same function, their function must be integrated but their structures may not be fully integrated. 1. Integrated design: The capacity of existing building will be checked for both superstructure and foundation. If the existing structure shows to be able to carry some loads acting on new structure, it can be mainly used to help new structure in carrying vertical and lateral loads 2. Separated design: If the capacity of existing structure cannot carry load from additional structure, the new structure will be designed differently from the existing one. 3. Partially integrated: This can be implemented in case the old building presents weakness in some structural aspects. The existing foundation is used at 40% but it cannot be used by the new structure since its weight exceeds the capacity of the existing foundation and it is impossible to add more piles. The super structure was designed to take safely only the design loads; no more floors were considered The existing building is stiff in lateral direction because all its 7 axes are filled with walls. Adding stories on existing building is possible with their function being integrated. However, their structures should be semi-integrated; they should be laterally connected for stability but the routes of vertical forces should be separated; the existing building should be bridged. Therefore, the new structure should have its own foundation; Fundex piles were chosen since they are free from vibration. To minimize the weight and to cover the long spans, steel structures should be used. The old and new structure should have the same shape since the cantilevers bring complications, but in case they are unavoidable continuous beam and columns should be used. In this study, dynamic behavior, influence of new to told foundation, thermal and sound comfort were not covered, they should be undertaken in future studies.


Exosomes play important roles in the regulation of various processes in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we explored the mechanisms of exosomal miR-149-5p in the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma. Raw data were downloaded and normalized using the R package. Significantly expressed exosomal miRNAs were subjected to co-expression network analysis. The proliferation and apoptotic abilities of tumor cells were assessed by the proliferation and apoptosis assays. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors of exosomal miR-149-5p and AMOTL2. Results showed that exosomal miR-149-5p was enriched in peripheral serum and tumor cells. The upregulation of exosomal miR-149-5p promoted the growth of tumor cells and inhibited apoptosis of tumor cells. Notably, AMOTL2, the target gene of exosomal miR-149-5p, was significantly downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and may be considered as an independent risk factor of poor survival. In lung adenocarcinoma cells, AMOTL2 downregulation reversed the promoting effect of miR-149-5p on A549 cells growth and the inhibition effect of miR-149-5p on A549 cells apoptosis. Collectively, these results provide specific insights for further mechanistic studies on lung adenocarcinoma.


Introduction: Neonates are very susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Single case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in preterm neonates is a sign for immediate action. Aim: To describe control of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections (PA-BSI) by being vigilant and by immediate intervention, that occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a teaching institution and hospital in Dewas, India. Materials and Methods: The outbreak investigations included hunt for additional cases, evaluation of patient's records, environmental and health care worker screening, immediate reporting to authority, and detection of source by minimal available aid i.e. quantitative antibiogram. Results: Health care worker screening samples were negative on culture for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and an environmental source was detected to be a curtain near washroom. Conclusion: This study described control of an outbreak of PA-BSI occurring over a week among neonates which was controlled following vigorous infection control measures. Quantitative antibiogram data should be routinely used for typing purposes as an essential part of hospital associated infection control procedure in source limited settings.


Ossicular injury is a frequent complication of head trauma and temporal bone fractures. An isolated fracture of the malleus with lateral dislocation of the manubrium is extremely rare. High-resolution computed tomography is the method of choice for evaluation of ossicular trauma. Virtual endoscopy (VE) is a novel technique that provides a realistic surface rendering of various organs that can be applied for the use of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. We report a case of malleus handle fracture and dislocation after head trauma with confirmation of the diagnosis by VE of the middle ear.


In this letter, we propose a low-complexity recursive decoding algorithm for rateless RaptorQ codes, the next generation error correction codes adopted by several standards such as DVB-H. Conventionally, the decoding of RaptorQ codes requires inverting a huge receive code generator matrix (RCGM). Instead of such costly matrix inversion, we propose to calculate the inverse of the transmit code generator matrix (TCGM) beforehand. Then, based on this pre-calculated inverse, the Sherman-Morrison formula is applied to recursively compute the inverse of the RCGM at run time. Most computations are thus shifted offline. Moreover, this recursive decoding distributes the computations among different time slots, thereby significantly shortening the decoding latency and improving the hardware utilization. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the computational complexity of the proposed recursive decoding is as low as 6.5% of that required by the conventional method using direct matrix inversion.