A previous report 1 summarized the results of treatment with staphylococcus toxoid in 57 cases of conjunctivitis in which toxinproducing staphylococci had been isolated. In 46 of these cases no other etiologic factors were found, but in the remaining 11 there were such associated factors as acne rosacea, cicatricial trachoma and allergy. In each case the conjunctivitis was long standing and had resisted local treatment for not less than two months. During the course of treatment with toxoid the local treatment which had previously failed was continued. Twenty-one of the 57 patients showed healing; 19 showed clinical improvement, and 17 showed no improvement. In only 24 of the 57 cases did the cultures become negative for toxin-producing staphylococci. Eight of the 21 patients in whom healing had occurred suffered a recurrence of symptoms; these symptoms disappeared after a second course of toxoid therapy. Recurrence appeared to be related to persistence


In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to produce a longitudinal controllable double-well optical dipole trap for cold atoms (or cold molecules), which is composed of a binary π-phase plate and a lens. The π-phase plate consists of two homocentric rings with equal area and opposite phase (0 and π), and its central region is opaque. When a plane light wave passes through the above optical system, a double-well optical trap will be formed at two sides of the focal point along the optical axis. The outer radius of the binary π-phase plate can be controlled by adjusting the radius of a diaphragm, so that a double-well optical trap will evolve and finally combined into a single-well, or vice versa. We briefly introduce the basic principle and derive several optimal parameters of the trap, and show the dependence of the optical parameters (including intensity distributions) on the geometrical parameters of the system. Our study shows that the proposed controllable optical trap can be used not only to trap cold atoms (or cold molecules) and realize all-optical, double-well or two species Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), but also to study the trapped-atom (-molecule) interference, or form a 2D array of double-layer optical traps for cold atoms (or molecules), even to prepare a novel 2D optical lattice, and so on.


The greatest challenges in building sophisticated open-domain conversational agents arise directly from the potential for ongoing mixed-initiative multi-turn dialogues, which do not follow a particular plan or pursue a particular fixed information need. In order to make coherent conversational contributions in this context, a conversational agent must be able to track the types and attributes of the entities under discussion in the conversation and know how they are related. In some cases, the agent can rely on structured information sources to help identify the relevant semantic relations and produce a turn, but in other cases, the only content available comes from search, and it may be unclear which semantic relations hold between the search results and the discourse context. A further constraint is that the system must produce its contribution to the ongoing conversation in real-time. This paper describes our experience building SlugBot for the 2017 Alexa Prize, and discusses how we leveraged search and structured data from different sources to help SlugBot produce dialogic turns and carry on conversations whose length over the semi-finals user evaluation period averaged 8:17 minutes.


Pineapple is a plant that is widely available in Indonesia and fruit favored by the public. Some areas in North Sumatra as langkat, Binjai, Berastagi, Siborong-borong many supply pineapples to the city field, so if at the time of pineapple fruit season arrives, the city became a flood pineapple field and consequently if the fruit is not sold will be rotten. Seeing this need to utilize technology in order not rotten pineapple and wasted, therefore there is need to do an experiment to make a pineapple into chips with technology liguid jet gas pump (LJGP) which method a way with a vacuum system. From the problems necessary to study to get the best vacuum LJGP tool is one of them by adding a Cyclone vortex diffuser models. The purpose of this study is to obtain the best vacuum as well as the efficiency of LJGP that can be used in frying applications pineapple crisps vacuum method along the vortex diffuser 30 mm. The research method with experiments involving fluid water and air, by adding a Cyclone vortex Diffuser models in LJGP tool as long 30 mm. The observed data is the primary flow rate (primary flow / motive flow) is 0.32 L / s, up to 0.44 L / s and discharge secondary flow (secondary flow) ranged from 0.04 L / s to 0.2 L / s. As for the water to circulate fluid LJGP, used types of centrifugal pumps with a capacity of 340 L / min. From the research that has been done shows that the more points cyclone vortex diffuser, the secondary pressure will increase. The maximum secondary pressure in the cyclone vortex diffuser length 30 mm which is 150 215 kPa, with secondary pressure maximum of 12 GPM is present in 1,367 kPa. This condition is informed that the use of models in the vortex of Cyclone Diffuser LJGP tool is in need to improve the vacuum system for LJGP.


A 38 years old female patient is presented who applied to our neurosurgery clinic due to symptoms such as headache, ataxia, vertigo, vomiting and complaints related to a mass at the back side of her head. The examination of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patient displayed a mass which obliterates the transverse sinus and extends from the scalp to the epidural space at a certain distance and to the occipital zone. The result of the biopsy report revealed an infiltration of malign lymphoma. The patient received cyclophosphamide, adriablastine, vincristine and prednisolone for 1 - 5 days, at 21 days interval and as 6 cures. A complete response was obtained at the end of the 3 rd cure. The patient was orientated for radiotherapy at the end of the sixth cure. This case is a rarely seen ovarian lymphoma and constitutes a sample for cerebral leptomeningeal metastasis which is a very rare condition.

 Key words: Cerebral leptomeningeal metastasis, primary ovarian lymphoma.


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the newly found virus in Indian population spreading all over the world through the seafood market of Wuhan, Hubei, China. Due to the spreading of coronavirus in Indian Government fac-ing difficulty after the lockdown of one month in two phases, the number of patients is increased day by day. This is a very challenging task for the Indian Government, people are not strictly following the guidelines of the World Health Organisation. In India reported 26585 confirmed cases and 833 deaths due to COVID-19 in 31 states and union territories when the first case was found on 30th January 2020. The Government decided immediately to lock-down and closed all international borders, as per the WHO guidelines for a pandemic. The future directions to choose for people can fight with such type of pandemic. The present reviewemphasis is strictlyon the WHO guideline's to prohibit spreading coronavirus in India. There is some gap of awareness in people which enhance spreading coronavirus even during the lockdown. This finding has cause to concern about the spread of coronavirus in thisscenari-oduring the lockdown, what farther primary prevention to be taken to avoid such transmission. The lockdown is already having a beneficial impact of flat-tening the epidemic curve for spreading this transmission and During Lock-down period in each state. Each state having sufficient time for finding COVID-19 Patient, people come in contact with the patient keeps them institutional isolation and declared that area infection hotspot at the district level.


Fuel cells have the potential to solve several major challenges in the global energy economy: dependence on petroleum imports, degradation of air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. Using catalyst-based reformer technology, hydrogen for fuel cells can be derived from infrastructure fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. Platinum is one catalyst that is known to be very effective in hydrogen reformers. Reformer size can be reduced when there is more efficient catalyst loading onto the substrate. In this experimental work, platinum was loaded onto /spl gamma/-alumina coated substrates by plasma-polymerization followed by heat treatment. Vapor from a platinum-containing organic precursor was converted to plasma and deposited onto the substrate. The plasma-polymerized film was then calcined to drive off organic material, leaving behind a catalyst-loaded substrate. The plasma-polymerized organic film and the final heat-treated catalyst-loaded substrate surface were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance spectroscopy. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to detect the presence of the catalyst on the substrate.


According to current regulation, millimeter wave links can only rely on low transmission power, which calls for high gain steerable antenna arrays to generate very directional beams bringing signals of detectable power to the intended receiver. However, beam directionality, jointly with the very limited scattering and diffracting capabilities of millimeter waves, implies high sensitivity to obstructions, which can cause link outage. This article proposes new analytical models for the estimation of the outage probability of millimeter wave indoor and outdoor links, based on the derivation of the distribution of the obstruction length along the beam. To derive the models, we use stochastic geometry and assume randomly located obstructions. The proposed models are used to explore the impact on millimeter wave link performance of a number of parameters such as distance between transmitter and receiver, obstruction shape and size, density of obstructions, carrier frequency and modulated bandwidth. The models can be used to study realistic 2D and 3D scenarios, and are shown to be quite accurate by comparing analytical predictions and simulation results in numerous cases.


Abstract Results are reported from two usability trials in which a total of 14 schemes for alphanumeric data entry on television screens were evaluated. The seven schemes in the first trial used only the navigation and select keys on the TV remote control unit. The second trial used the best scheme from the first trial (slightly modified), a further six schemes using different combinations of the navigation and alphanumeric keys and a portable, infra-red keyboard. In both trials task completion rates and times were measured together with the number of keystrokes. User preferences were measured using attitude questionnaires and explicit ranking of the schemes. As expected, the keyboard was, overall, the best scheme-though not the most accurate. Where only a limited range of input keys were available, grid display schemes were preferred over menus and dynamic displays. Where an alphanumeric keypad was available on the remote control unit, a multiple press scheme was marginally preferred.


Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an alphaherpesvirus that infects skin, lymphocytes, and sensory ganglia. VZV glycoprotein E (gE) has a unique N-terminal region (aa1-188), which is required for replication and includes domains involved in secondary envelopment, efficient cell-cell spread, and skin infection in vivo. The nonconserved N-terminal region also mediates binding to the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), which is proposed to be a VZV receptor. Using viral mutagenesis to make the recombinant rOka-ΔP27-G90, we showed that amino acids in this region are required for gE/IDE binding in infected cells; this deletion reduced cell-cell spread in vitro and skin infection in vivo. However, a gE point mutation, linker insertions, and partial deletions in the aa27-90 region, and deletion of a large portion of the unique N-terminal region, aa52-187, had similar or more severe effects on VZV replication in vitro and in vivo without disrupting the gE/IDE interaction. VZV replication in T cells in vivo was not impaired by deletion of gE aa27-90, suggesting that these gE residues are not essential for VZV T cell tropism. However, the rOka-ΔY51-P187 mutant failed to replicate in T cell xenografts as well as skin in vivo. VZV tropism for T cells and skin, which is necessary for its life cycle in the human host, requires this nonconserved region of the N-terminal region of VZV gE.


Introduction: Since 1970, natural disasters have led to both temporary and permanent closures of multiple medical centers and outpatient clinics at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nationwide. Access to care during such events is critical for vulnerable populations, especially homeless veterans. As such, facility closures may disproportionately affect homeless veteran patients who are both more likely to experience adverse effects from disasters and face multiple barriers to care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to a probability sample of 2000 homeless VA patients living in and receiving VA health care in the Northeast United States. The survey was completed by 383 respondents (20% adjusted response rate). This pilot study examines predictors of difficulty accessing care in the event that the VA facility that homeless VA patients routinely use is forced to close because of a natural disaster. Results: In a multivariate logistic regression, homeless VA patients who had Medicaid were less likely (OR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.18-0.78; P < .01) to report that they would have difficulty obtaining care elsewhere if their normal VA facility was closed in a future natural disaster. Conclusions: Findings suggest that Medicaid coverage has the potential to facilitate access to care for homeless veteran VA patients during disasters. Policy changes that decrease Medicaid coverage could limit access to care for homeless veterans during closures of VA medical facilities.


These proceedings contain the papers presented at the 12th Annual Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO-2010), held in Portland, USA, July 7-11, 2010.

This year, we received 373 submissions, of which 168 were accepted as full eight-page publication with 25 minute presentation during the conference. This corresponds to an acceptance rate of 45%. In addition, 110 submissions (29%) have been accepted for poster presentation with two-page abstracts in the proceedings.

GECCO works according to the motto one conference, many mini-conferences. This year, there were 15 separate tracks that operated independently from each other. Each track had its own track chair(s) and individual program committee. To ensure an unbiased reviewing process, all reviews were conducted double blind; no authors' names were revealed to the reviewers. About 560 researchers participated in the reviewing process. We want to thank them for all their work, which is highly appreciated and absolutely vital to ensure the high quality of the conference.

In addition to the presentation of the papers contained in these proceedings, GECCO-2010 also included free tutorials, workshops, a series of sessions on Evolutionary Computation in Practice, various competitions, and late-breaking papers.


Parasitic diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in livestock. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to July 2019 to estimate the prevalence, investigate potential risk factors and characterize hepatic lesions of bovine fasciolosis in Adaba abattoir, Ethiopia. There were 450 samples collected and processed in total. A simple random sample strategy was used to choose the study animals. An ante- mortem examination was used to investigate potential risk factors. Post mortem examination was done by careful examination through palpation and incision of each liver and bile duct. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis and Chi-square (X2) test was applied to compare the infection status with regard to the hypothesized risk factors and (P<0.05) was set for statistical significance. The overall prevalence of bovine fasciolosis was 35.77% (95% CI: 31.46-40.33). Fasciola hepatica was found to be the predominant Fasciola species affecting cattle slaughtered in the study area with 90 (20%), while 42 (9.3%) livers had Fasciola gigantica and 29 (6.4%) were infected by both species (Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica). Among the positive livers for the parasite, 79 (49.1%), 48 (29.8%) and 34 (21.11%) of the livers had slight, moderate and severe gross lesions, respectively. The disease was statistically significantly associated (P<0.05) with age and body condition scores, but statistically insignificantly associated (P>0.05) with sex. In conclusion, the disease is ubiquitous in slaughtered cattle and is a major cause of liver condemnation at the Adaba abattoir; further extensive investigations on the disease's epidemiology and planned strategies to reduce the disease should be undertaken.


Full field measurement methods require digital image processing algorithms to accomplish centroid identification of components of the image of a deforming structure and track them through subsequent video frames in order to establish displacement and strain measurements. Unfortunately, these image processing algorithms are the most computationally expensive tasks performed in such methods. In this work we present a set of new algorithms that can be used to identify centroids of image features that are shown to be orders of magnitude faster than conventional algorithms. These algorithms are based on employing efficient data structures and algorithmic flows tailored to optimally fit in shared memory parallel architectures.© 2014 ASME


In this paper, the excitation of surface waves in the presence of interface charges is discussed. Interface charges affect the dispersion of surface waves, and therefore they can be used in various applications such as optical modulators, switches, sensors and filters. These waves can be superior to surface plasmon waves since they are not lossy. The lossless property is satisfied in a limited range of millimetre waves to far infrared.


AIM
Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a crucial event in atherosclerosis and vascular repair. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) infiltrated in the vessel wall become aggregated (agLDL) and internalized by VSMC through the LDL receptor-related protein LRP1, deriving in lipid-loaded cells with reduced motility capacity. The urokinase-plasminogen activator (UPA)/UPA receptor (UPAR) system plays a relevant role in vascular remodelling. Here, we investigated whether UPA-ligand binding is involved in the detrimental effects of lipid loading in VSMC migration.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Animals fed a high-fat diet had 10-fold higher cholesterol-LDL plasma levels, >60% decrease in aortic UPA-protein expression, and VSMC showed impaired outgrowth from aortic explants. Angiotensin II infusion significantly increased aortic UPA expression and accelerated VSMC migration. Using an in vitro model of wound repair, we showed that agLDL inhibits UPA-mediated VSMC migration. UPA silencing reduced migration in control cells to levels observed in lipid-loaded VSMC. UPA silencing did not affect migration in lipid-loaded VSMC. UPA expression was significantly decreased in agLDL-exposed VSMC. agLDL also induced changes in the subcellular localization of UPA, with a reduction in colocalization with UPAR strongly evident at the front edge of agLDL-treated migrating cells. Rescue experiments showed that UPA acting as UPAR ligand restored migration capacity of agLDL-VSMC to control levels. The effects of UPA/UPAR on migration of lipid-loaded cells occurred through the binding to LRP-1.

CONCLUSION
UPA-ligand binding regulates VSMC migration, a process that is interfered by LDL. Thus, tissue infiltrated LDL through the abrogation of UPA function reduces VSMC-regulated vascular repair.


Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is gaining momentum in its use as an immunosuppressant and in the field of heart transplantation because of its efficacy and ease of use without a reported need to monitor plasma levels. We describe a case in which standard dosage of MMF (initially 1.5 g twice daily) produced elevated trough levels of mycophenolic acid (MPA). Although organ rejection was eradicated by the use of MMF, the patient developed severe anemia, which required repeated blood transfusions while the patient was on therapy. This case illustrates the potential value of monitoring MPA concentrations.


We analyse typical indoor propagation scenarios with respect to the capacity gain made available through the use of multiple transmit and receive antennas. In particular, we investigate propagation channels with a strong line of sight component, as evident when the transmit array is in the same room as the receive array. It is found that the capacity gain for the pure LOS component depends highly on the array geometry and the receiver location, such that the capacity gain vanishes rapidly with receiver distance. We show that the existence of stochastic scattering components is beneficial to obtain the maximum capacity gain, thus reducing the dependence on the array geometry and the receiver location. This benefit exists even for a strong LOS component. Quantitative results are provided for wireless LAN systems operating at carrier frequencies around 5 GHz.


The Humantype Chimera PCR Amplification Kit contains 12 polymorphic loci (ACTBP2 (= SE33), D18S51, D4S2366, D6S474, D8S1132, D12S391, D2S1360, D3S1744, D5S2500, D7S1517, D10S2325, D21S2055), of which the latter 10 loci have not been used extensively for human identity testing. The sex determinant locus amelogenin is also included in the kit. Amplification was successful on a variety of thermal cyclers and the amplicons could be analyzed on both the ABI PRISM 310 and 3100 Genetic Analyzers. Complete genotyping results from single source samples were possible between 0.25 and 2 ng of DNA template. Heterozygote imbalance (< 60% peak height balance) caused by stochastic effects was observed at a rate of around 5%. No deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed. Thus, there were no detectable significant deviations from the expected genetic independence of alleles.


In this paper, the intermediates 2'-hydroxybiphenyl-2-amine ( I1 ) and 2'-methoxybiphenyl-2-amine ( I2 ) were first synthetized via Suzuki reaction of 2-bromoaniline and arylboronic acid under 80 ℃ . Meanwhile, organic dyes benzidine fragments (( E )-2'-(2-nitrobenzylideneamino)-biphenyl-3-ol ( C1 ) and ( E )-2'-(2,4-dinitrobenzylideneamino)-biphenyl-3-ol ( C3 )) which could undergo intermolecular proton transfer in excited states were synthetized via aminoaldehyde condensation of the intermediates biphenyl-2-amine and corresponding aldehyde. In addition, the dyes without proton transfer segments (( E )-2'-methoxy- N -(2-nitrobenzylidene)biphenyl-3-amine ( C2 ) and ( E )-2'-methoxy- N -(2,4-dinitrobenzylidene)biphenyl-3-amine ( C4 )) were also synthesized to act as references for comparisons experiment. The chemical structures of organic dyes were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, infrared spectra (IR), high resolution mass spectrom-etry (HR-MS) as well as elemental analysis. The analysis of X-ray single crystal diffraction and H NMR spectra suggest the presence of internal hydrogen bond with different strength in the target dyes C1 and C3 . It indicated that the type of substituents has an effect on the chemical shift of hydroxyl groups, with the electron-withdrawing ability of substituents increases, the hydroxyl shift to higher field. Then the UV/visible spectra also confirm that the target dyes have intermolecular hydrogen bond, while there is no intermolecular hydrogen bond in the reference dyes C2 and C4 . The excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (ESPT) properties of the organic dyes were further studied by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. It was found that target dye C3 could occur excited state intermolecular proton transfer (ESPT) via intermolecular hydrogen bonding in non-protonic solvents. In contrast, ESPT properties cannot be processed through hydrogen-bonding interaction of the studied target dye C1 no matter in protonic solvents, non-protonic solvents or in solid state. The target dye C1 and reference dyes ( C2 and C4 ) only show the normal fluorescence emission peaks. It was worth mentioning that with the increasing concentration of C3 in solution, the ESPT reaction ability could be enhanced. Meanwhile, C3 can also occurs ESPT in solid state.


Nude mice given antigen before being given congenic T cells are specifically tolerant to that antigen and recovery of the ability to respond takes at least 2 weeks. If, after giving antigen, spleen cells are transferred to irradiated congenic recipients together with normal congenic thymocytes, the recipients usually remain unresponsive. Treatment of the spleen cells with supernatant from lysed cells renders them responsive in transfer. Spleen cells from unresponsive mice do not suppress normal spleen cells in transfer and the unresponsiveness is not broken by allogeneic cells. It is therefore probable that this is a case of reversible blocking of the B cell receptors and that T cells are not involved.


In this paper, a novel approach combining kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) and least square support vector machine (LSSVM) is proposed for HVAC fan machinery status monitoring and fault diagnosis, which combines KPCA for fault feature extraction and multiple SVMs (MSVMs) for identification of different fault sources. KPCA is used as a preprocessor of LSSVM, which maps the original input feature into a higher dimension feature space through a nonlinear map, the principal components are then found in the higher dimension feature space. Then the hyperparameters of LSSVM are optimized by particle swarm optimization. Then we compared the accuracies of the hybrid KPCA-LSSVM mode with other artificial intelligence (BPNN and fixed-SVM). The experimental results showed that KPCA based on LS-SVM has a higher correct recognition rate, and a faster computational speed.


The aim of modern energy systems is to be independent of fossil fuels and to minimize their impact on the environment. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are a common solution for renewable electric energy generation, but the volatility caused by the fluctuation of solar irradiation challenges the the electrical power grid. The aim of this paper is to explore the influence of different orientations of PV panels on the buildings self-sufficiency and self-consumption. This paper is based on a mixed integer-linear programming approach aiming at optimizing the installed size of a range of energy conversion technologies. Compared to conventional building energy system optimization research, the proposed approach offers a more detailed modelling of the energy generated by PV panels that considers the azimuth and the tilt of roof surfaces and PV panels, also including the shading effects between different panels. The proposed methodology is applied to a case study building in the area of Rolle, Switzerland. The results of this paper suggest that the tilt and azimuth of PV panels and of the roof they are installed on should not be neglected: not considering these aspects generates an error in the estimation of the energy generated by the PV panels, and not including the choice of the roof (and, in case of flat roofs, the choice of PV panel tilt and orientation) where the panels should be installed on as design variables generates a sub-optimization of the system. This is particularly true since the most optimal choice is not necessarily that of filling first flat surfaces and South-oriented ones, a consequence of the better match between generation and demand offered by West-oriented panels, with a higher tilt angle.


Aim: This study aims to find the association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (N-L ratio) of COVID-19 patients admitted in an Indian setting with clinical profile and disease outcomes. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 with the presentation of varied severity of acute respiratory illness. This study tries to use N-L ratio as a predictor of adverse outcome. Methodology: The prospective single-center study considered adults patients of both the gender, diagnosed with COVID-19 infection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Necessary demographic and clinical data were collected, and selected subjects were followed up until discharge or death. Individuals were classified as those who survived and those who succumbed to death. t-test was used for comparing continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical data for comparing different parameters between the groups. Results: The study included 1977 patients with a male:female ratio of 1:0.62. Fever, dyspnea, and cough were noted as the major symptoms prevalent among patients who succumbed to death when compared to those who survived (P < 0.00001). Statistically significant variables noted between the groups were age, total leukocytes count (TLC), neutrophil, lymphocytes, all the comorbidity variables, and the asymptomatic status. Variables identified as significant predictors of disease outcomes were TLC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and N-L ratio. Most of the subjects belonging to the mortality group required oxygen and other intensive care unit facilities when compared to the survival group (P < 0.00001). Conclusion: TLC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and N-L ratio are noted as significant predictors of COVID-19 outcome. The mean days of viral clearance noted in COVID subjects is around 8.98 ± 3.54 days.


Purpose of review Lymph node dissection (LDN) at the time of a primary malignant resection varies in therapeutic and staging outcomes between organs of origin. The purpose of our review is to provide new updates and a key summary on the developments in lymphadenectomy templates in kidney, prostate and bladder cancer. Recent findings There are still evolving definitions for LDN templates, means of pathologic diagnosis of lymph nodes, as well as implications on staging/cancer-free survival after LND though trends are still emerging. Summary Routine lymphadenectomy does not appear to yield benefit in kidney cancer but maybe helpful in those with grossly identifiable disease. For high-risk prostate cancer as well as bladder cancer, extended lymphadenectomy with resection of external and internal iliac and obturator nodes as well as some common iliac nodes can yield survival benefit.


The study was designed to meet the need for a reliable and valid instrument for measurement of Senior School Students' Interest in Agricultural Science. Using stratified random sampling, 13 (out of 45) Senior Schools were selected from Federal, Model and Public Senior Secondary Schools in Owerri and Ahiazu Local Government Areas of Imo State and Umuahia North and South Local Government Areas of Abia State. One stream of Senior School One (SS1) Students was selected in each of the 13 sampled schools. Thus, the sample comprised of 407 students made up of 132 males and 269 females. Development of the scales passed through six identifiable stages, namely: (1) Identification of salient individual dimensions of the concept, "Agricultural Science Interests" (2) Writing a pool of initial items, their face-validation and editing based on the results of trial-testing and comments from Test, Measurement and Evaluation Experts. (3) Preliminary trail-testing of the instrument. (4) Final administration of the instrument on the study sample (5) Estimation of psychometric properties of the Scale. (6) Provision of guidelines for effective utilization of the Agricultural Science Interest Scales. It was found (1) that all the 11 subscales in the instrument are appropriate for measurement of students' interests in Agricultural. (2) that 10 out of 11bipolar adjectives in the initial scale which exhibited Discrimination Indices of 0.4 and above are the best for measurement of students' interests in Agriculture. It was recommended that Teachers, Science Educators, Extension Agents, Guidance Counsellors and Researchers make effective use of the instrument for monitoring of young peoples' interests in Agricultural Science as a valuable basis for planning intervention programmes that will bring about sustainable agricultural development in the Tropics. The use of this instrument, provided by this research, should be preferred to the usual subjective assessment of the affective domain outcomes in most Nigerian Schools.


This study compared the protein, lipid, and glycogen reserves in recently emerged unfed female and male Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to those in 5- and 10-day-old wasps fed honey. Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were used as host species. The mean level of protein in both sexes increased significantly from emergence to day 5, and then returned to emergence levels on day 10 in females, but remained constant in males during the same period. In honey-fed females glycogen levels increased significantly during the first 10 days of life; however, there was no significant increase in males. High levels of lipid were observed in 1-day-old females and males, and levels declined with age in wasps that were fed; the decrease in lipid levels was more pronounced in females than in males.


Abstract : Reaction rate constants for a rapid conformational rearrangement of aqueous 18-crown-6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) and its slower complexation of potassium ions at 25C in aqueous solutions have been determined from ultrasonic absorption data covering the 9-340 MHz frequency range. A concentration independent absorption with a maximum at about 100 MHz occurs in aqueous solutions of 18-crown-6 with no alkali metal cations present. This relaxation was attributed to a conformational rearrangement of the crown ether. Complexation of aqueous potassium ion by the polyether was then investigated kinetically at various polyether and potassium ion concentrations. These data, together with the conformational rearrangement data, were analyzed in terms of two step mechanism.


A planar microtransformer for use in microswitching converters of portable equipment is described. This microtransformer, consisting of planar coils and CoZrRe amorphous magnetic layers on a Si substrate, is fabricated by a dry process. It is about 0.3-mm thick, and 3*4 mm/sup 2/. Its coils provide a relatively high inductance of 33 nH/mm/sup 2/. This microtransformer is implemented in a forward converter, which operates well at 32 MHz. >


Background: Visit-to-visit variability (VVV) in blood pressure values has been reported in clinical studies. However, little is known about VVV in clinical practice and whether it is associated with patient characteristics in real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to quantify VVV in systolic blood pressure (SBP) values in a real-world setting. We included adults (age ≥18 years) with at least 2 outpatient visits between January 1, 2014 and October 31, 2018 from Yale New Haven Health System. Patient-level measures of VVV included SD and coefficient of variation of a given patient's SBP across visits. We calculated patient-level VVV overall and by patient subgroups. We further developed a multilevel regression model to assess the extent to which VVV in SBP was explained by patient characteristics. Results: The study population included 537 218 adults, with a total of 7 721 864 SBP measurements. The mean age was 53.4 (SD 19.0) years, 60.4% were women, 69.4% were non-Hispanic White, and 18.1% were on antihypertensive medications. Patients had a mean body mass index of 28.4 (5.9) kg/m2 and 22.6%, 8.0%, 9.7%, and 5.6% had a history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease, respectively. The mean number of visits per patient was 13.3, over an average period of 2.4 years. The mean (SD) intraindividual SD and coefficient of variation of SBP across visits were 10.6 (5.1) mm Hg and 0.08 (0.04). These measures of blood pressure variation were consistent across patient subgroups defined by demographic characteristics and medical history. In the multivariable linear regression model, only 4% of the variance in absolute standardized difference was attributable to patient characteristics. Conclusions: The VVV in real-world practice poses challenges for management of patients with hypertension based on blood pressure readings in outpatient settings and suggest the need to go beyond episodic clinic evaluation.


Background— The underlying electrophysiological mechanism that causes an abnormal ECG pattern and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with the Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains unelucidated. However, several studies have indicated that the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is likely to be the site of electrophysiological substrate. We hypothesized that in patients with BrS who have frequent recurrent VF episodes, the substrate site is the RVOT, either over the epicardium or endocardium; abnormal electrograms would be identified at this location, which would serve as the target site for catheter ablation. Methods and Results— We studied 9 symptomatic patients with the BrS (all men; median age 38 years) who had recurrent VF episodes (median 4 episodes) per month, necessitating implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge. Electroanatomic mapping of the right ventricle, both endocardially and epicardially, and epicardial mapping of the left ventricle were performed in all patients during sinus rhythm. All patients had typical type 1 Brugada ECG pattern and inducible VT/VF; they were found to have unique abnormal low voltage (0.94±0.79 mV), prolonged duration (132±48 ms), and fractionated late potentials (96±47 ms beyond QRS complex) clustering exclusively in the anterior aspect of the RVOT epicardium. Ablation at these sites rendered VT/VF noninducible (7 of 9 patients [78%]; 95% confidence interval, 0.40 to 0.97, P=0.015) and normalization of the Brugada ECG pattern in 89% (95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.99; P=0.008). Long-term outcomes (20±6 months) were excellent, with no recurrent VT/VF in all patients off medication (except 1 patient on amiodarone). Conclusions— The underlying electrophysiological mechanism in patients with BrS is delayed depolarization over the anterior aspect of the RVOT epicardium. Catheter ablation over this abnormal area results in normalization of the Brugada ECG pattern and prevents VT/VF, both during electrophysiological studies as well as spontaneous recurrent VT/VF episodes in patients with BrS.


Undergraduates from diverse academic backgrounds and medical trainees were assessed regarding their attitudes about and familiarity with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We explored whether different names given to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, myalgic encephalopathy, or Florence Nightingale disease) were associated with differences in attributions regarding its cause, nature, severity, contagion, prognosis, and treatment. Participants' attributions toward the illness varied with the names used to characterize it. Participants prompted with the myalgic encephalopathy name were more likely to attribute a biomedical cause to the illness, and less likely to consider patients as candidates for organ donation than those prompted with the CFS name. Although the medical trainees were less likely to consider the patient as malingering, and more likely to view the illness as leading to poorer quality of life and a poorer prognosis, they were also more likely to consider the illness a form of primary depression, more likely to think the patient would attempt suicide, and less likely to consider associated cognitive symptoms as severe. The implications are discussed.


Underactuated control offers fault-tolerance for satellite systems, which not only enables the position and attitude control of a satellite with fewer thrusters, but also can reduce the number of thrusters equipped on the satellite even when considering the need for backups. Due to having fewer thrusters, the coupling effect between the translational motion and rotational motion of the satellite cannot be avoided, and the coupled motion must be considered in control procedures. This paper presents a global trajectory design procedure required for the position and attitude control of an underactuated satellite. The satellite has four thrusters with constant thrust magnitudes on one plane of the satellite body. Then, an analytical solution for coupled motion between the rotation and translation of the satellite is obtained using three-step maneuvers of attitude control. The trajectory design based on the analytical solution is shown for the control of translational and rotational motion in three dimensions. Finally, a numerical simulation is performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design procedure.


Four series of tests were performed in an accelerated deposition test facility to study the independent effects of particle size, gas temperature, and metal temperature on ash deposits from two candidate power turbine synfuels. The facility matches the gas temperature and velocity of modern first stage high pressure turbine vanes while accelerating the deposition process. This is done by matching the net throughput of particulate out of the combustor with that experienced by a modern power turbine. In the first series of tests, four different size particles were studied by seeding a natural-gas combustor with finely-ground coal ash particulate. The entrained ash particles were accelerated to a combustor exit flow Mach number of 0.25 before impinging on a thermal barrier coated (TBC) target coupon at 1183°C. Particle size was found to have a significant effect on capture efficiency with larger particles causing significant TBC spallation during a 4-hour accelerated test. In the second series of tests, different gas temperatures were studied while the facility maintained a constant exit velocity of 170m/s (Mach = 0.23–0.26). Coal ash with a mass mean diameter of 3 μm was used. Particle deposition rate was found to decrease with decreasing gas temperature. The threshold gas temperature for deposition was approximately 960°C. In the third and fourth test series impingement cooling was applied to the backside of the target coupon to simulate internal vane cooling. Ground coal and petcoke ash particulates were used for the two tests respectively. Capture efficiency was reduced with increasing massflow of coolant air, however at low levels of cooling the deposits attached more tenaciously to the TBC layer. Post exposure analyses of the third test series (scanning electron microscopy and x-ray spectroscopy) show decreasing TBC damage with increased cooling levels. Implications for the power generation goal of fuel flexibility are discussed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


Abstract
 Manukjanová, A., Kouteckí, P., Štechová, T. & Kučera, J. 2019. Insights into the distribution patterns, habitat and morphologic differentiation of cryptic species of the moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus in the Czech Republic. – Herzogia 32: 183–199. We studied local distribution, morphological and ecological differences between the two cryptic species of Hamatocaulis vernicosus in the Czech Republic. Distribution was assessed at both regional scale and within localities using several barcoding methods including direct sequencing and PCR-RFLP of ITS region of nrDNA, as well as amplification of clade-specific SSR markers. The lineage known as clade 1 occurs on more than 90 % of the 70 investigated Czech localities, while clade 2 occurs at only about 10 % of localities, which moreover mostly support plants of both clades. Analysis of ITS sequences from Czech samples showed considerable variability in clade 1, while plants of clade 2 were invariable. Comparison of climatic characteristics did not reveal any significant differences in mean annual temperature, precipitation and frost days between localities of both clades, although clade 2 plants tends to grow at higher elevations. Statistical evaluation of morphometric data has not revealed any character which would morphologically distinguish plants of both clades.


In 2003 and 2006, investigations were made on the age structures of Spodiopogon sibiricus populations as well as the matter productivities and vegetative reproduction capacities of different age-class modules of the populations on the weedy meadow and elm woodland in Songnen Plain of northeast China. At the two habitats, the tillers of S. sibiricus all consisted of 2-3 age classes, and the rhizomes all composed of 4 age classes. Both the tillers and the rhizomes had the greatest proportion of 1- or 2-year-old, and the age structures were of expansive or stable. The 1- or 2-year-old tiller-node buds were dominant, and the rhizome topmost buds occupied 29.4%-45.0%, being of significance to the population regeneration in the next year. The 1- or 2-year-old modules of the tillers and rhizomes had the highest matter productivity and vegetative reproduction capacity, and the rhizomes had higher vegetative reproduction capacity than the tiller-nodes.


MNK1 and MNK2 are MAP kinase-interacting kinases involved in regulation of translation. Both kinases phosphorylate translation initiation factor eIF4E on a conserved serine 209. eIF4E can contribute to the oncogenic transformation both in vitro and in vivo and is highly expressed in diverse types of cancer. Interestingly, mice that lack both MNK1 and MNK2 do not have any apparent phenotype and therefore represent interesting possibility to develop targeted and safe anticancer therapies. Herewith, we report the development of first selective small molecule inhibitors of MNK1 and MNK2 kinases and their in vitro cellular activity. Selvita developed a series of small molecule type I, ATP-competitive inhibitors targeting both MNK1 and MNK2 with mid nM activity range. Selected compounds were tested on a panel of 456 kinases and showed very high selectivity. Additionally, in cellular models such as serum stimulated SW480 cells, synthesized MNK1/2 inhibitors caused dose dependent inhibition of phosphorylation of eIF4e at Ser209 in line with the kinase activity profile. The observed cellular activity on biomarker inhibition was more potent than observed for reported in the literature MNK1/2 inhibitors such as cercosporamide and CGP57380. High activity of MNK1/2 inhibitors on in vitro biomarkers correlated with efficacy on cancer cells challenged with various stress conditions, typical for tumor microenvironment. These initial findings confirm that selective inhibition of MNK1/2 may repress major tumor survival pathways induced under stress and support further development of this class of compounds as a novel anticancer therapy with a promising therapeutic window. Citation Format: Tomasz Rzymski, Agnieszka Dreas, Mariusz Milik, Katarzyna Kucwaj, Adrian Zarebski, Malgorzata Szajewska Skuta, Anna Cierpich, Charles Fabritius, Krzysztof Brzozka. Repression of tumor survival pathways by novel, selective inhibitors of MNK1 and MNK2 kinases. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A49.


Psychiatric diseases are genetically complex and consequently, altered programs of gene expression have been hypothesized as the molecular basis of psychopathology. Since transcription factors represent the final communicative link between receptor activation and the orchestration of programs of gene expression, they are prime targets for studies on both the pharmacotherapy and the etiology of depression. The cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are altered by chronic treatment with antidepressants. Since it is phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) that determines its transcriptional activity, it is pertinent that some antidepressants have been shown to reduce pCREB in brain in vivo and in tissue culture in vitro. Moreover, pCREB is downregulated in human fibroblasts from patients with major depression and in postmortem brain of suicide victims with a history of depression. With regard to GR, its mRNA, immunoreactivity, density and cytoplasmic-nuclear translocation are increased by antidepressants. While transcription factor mediated programs of gene expression relevant to either the pharmacotherapy or the etiology of depression are still largely elusive, studies utilizing modern technologies such as differential display and cDNA microarrays promise to lead eventually to the identification of structure and function of psychophathologically relevant target genes.


In this work weak ion association was used to effect selectivity and detection of inorganic anions with environmental or health significance by capillary electropheresis, CE. Tetrabutylammonium ion was used as a pairing anion to separate mixtures containing closely or co-migrating inorganic anions at pHs 3.8 and pH 7. Despite taking a longer analysis time, better resolution is achieved at pH 7 than 3.8. Trace level of bromate and iodate present in drinking water were determined after online pre-concentration by field enhanced sample injection (FESI) technique. Consequently an internal standard (SCN - ) was employed, which entailed the use of tetrabutylammonium ion as a pairing cation to resolve the internal standard from a co-migrating broad peak. The LODs (S/N = 3) were 7.8 x 10 -10 M (10 ppb) and 1.2 x 10 -9 M (0.21 ppb) for bromate and iodate, respectively. The method was subsequently used to determine bromate and iodate levels in drinking water. KEY WORDS: Weak ion association, Selectivity, Capillary electrophoresis, Tetrabutylammonium ion, Bromate, Iodate, Drinking water Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2008 , 22(1), 1-9.


Abstract The Nanga Parbat massif lies in the core of the major north-south trending, broadly upright antiform that marks the NW syntaxis of the Himalayan arc. However, this antiformal structure is not evident in the trend of foliation and banding within the central and southern parts of the massif. Reconnaissance field studies in this region (Astor, Rama and Rupal areas) have delineated an important shear zone with top-to-the-south overthrust kinematics. This Rupal Shear Zone carries the migmatitic core of the massif onto nonmigmatitic metasediments locally termed the Tarshing Group. The shear zone traces north into a broad high strain zone of steep foliation with gently plunging mineral elongation lineations with no consistent sense of shear. A tentative model is proposed whereby top-to-the-south overshear in the Rupal area passes northwards into a steep belt of apparently constrictional N-S elongation. This type of large-scale transpression may record the early growth of the syntaxis. However, relating these structures to Himalayan orogenesis and the amplification of the NW syntaxis is problematic. The Nanga Parbat massif displays a long and complex history of polyphase deformation, metamorphism and magmatism, as might be expected of a terrane derived from the basement of the Indian sub-continent. Although at least the later part of the constrictional steep belt developed with syn-kinematic leucogranite intrusions (< 10 Ma), the old age limit on the Rupal Shear Zone remains unconstrained.


Thirty minutes of MVPA in bouts of at least 10 minutes is a commonly-used target to distinguish active from inactive subjects. Since MVPA data are frequently analyzed without bouts, we aimed to propose a MVPA non-bout target equivalent to 30 min. (bouts) and to validate this target in subjects with and without COPD. Hundred-thirteen subjects with (62±6 yrs, FEV 1 65±27%) and 110 without COPD (62±5 yrs, FEV 1 111±18%) wore an activity monitor for 7 days. MVPA was defined as the time spent >3 METs. We randomly divided our healthy population into a calibration sample (CS, n=73) and a cross-validation sample (CV-S, n=37). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to determine a MVPA non-bout target (CS) and to (cross-)validate this target by comparing sensitivity and specificity in subjects with and without (CV-S) COPD. Using the criterion of 30 minutes MVPA per day (bouts), a daily target of 80 min. MVPA provided the best combination of sensitivity (83(58 to 96)%) and specificity (85(73 to 93)%) with an area under the ROC curve of 0.89 (0.81 to 0.98). This target revealed a high balance of sensitivity and specificity in both the healthy CV-S sample (n=37) and patients with COPD (n=113). Accelerometry measured MVPA (non-bouts) of 80 min. per day corresponds to 30 min. of MVPA per day in bouts and is valid to discriminate active from inactive subjects.


This dissertation consists of four chapters and the conclusions. In the conclusions the main findings of the previous analysis are summarized. In the first chapter, certain concepts of Political Science (''political behavior", ''political participation", ''political culture'', ''political socialization") are clarified. Next, the term "youth" is analyzed and the range of ages the dissertation focuses on is specified. The second chapter presents theoretical and empirical data which are relevant to the political participation of young people in Greece and Europe in our days. Following, the theory of post-materialism is analyzed. In the academic bibliography post materialism is presented as a significant factor contributing to the emergence of new forms of political participation. Especially interesting is the data which is presented regarding the level of post-materialism in modern Europe. The third chapter focuses on the alienation of young people from the traditional types of political participation and their preference to extra-institutional forms of participation. Consequently, the most popular of these forms of participation (political consumerism, signing a petition, participation in a protest march or in Nongovernmental Organization) are analyzed in detail. The fourth and final chapter analyses the meaning of electronic participation and presents the reason why the European Union considers electronic participation significant for contemporary democracies. The hypothesis that the Internet influences the political behavior of the young by providing them with increasingly new possibilities and opportunities of participation and expression is investigated.


Too often individuals with long-term-care needs are placed in nursing homes when they might well be better served at a lower level of care. The uneven distribution of residents across settings stems from interacting factors of supply and demand: clinical need; lack of consensus among physicians about what constitutes the best setting for their patients; regulations restricting services in personal care homes. Three sets of clinical criteria identify nursing-home residents according to their appropriateness for lower levels of care. Factors like cost and ability of the patient's family to make informed decisions affect placement as well. Policies for shifting patients to lower levels of care must be carefully designed in order to save costs and ensure that quality of care is retained.


Some specific curves and surfaces have been used by engineers in the aerospace and automotive industries to design parts, such as car-body panels, for the last three decades. In this study, a method is developed for 3D solid computer representation of warp knitted structures using a similar technique. For this purpose, a three-dimensional cylindrical uniform solid yarn model was developed, such that the central axis is a space curve, by using the Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surfaces. Then this model was applied to warp knitted fabrics using a CAD program written in C++ on a Silicon Graphics (SGI) workstation, which has an Open Inventor graphical library. The computer generated images of some structures are also given as examples in the study. This paper describes the methodology and mathematics used to create the three-dimensional solid yarn model and apply this model to textile structures.


The maximum-entropy method is well established for the analysis of scattering data [Bricogne (1993). Acta Cryst. D49, 37-60]. For this method, prior structure knowledge can be included in the structure determination. This prior estimate is an essential element for a successful application of the maximum-entropy method. The most likely prior estimate can be found by maximization of the entropy. With the assumption a priori of a special type of structure model, the unknown parameters can be calculated from real-space functions. For practical use, analytical expressions for the Fourier transform of model scattering curves, the distance-distribution function of the models, are of interest. Formulas are presented for rotational ellipsoids, Gaussian chains and two-phase spheres, and a parameter estimation by the program MAXENT is demonstrated for the ellipsoidal shape of cytochrome c using theoretical Xray scattering curves calculated from atomic coordinates. The calculated dimensions of prolate and oblate ellipsoids agree within the error limits with the direct structure-related inertia-equivalent ellipsoid of the molecule. Furthermore, error limits have been determined from the a posteriori probability or 'evidence' function for the model parameters. To avoid overinterpretation of the scattering data, the real number of degrees of freedom is calculated for noisy data. This measure of information content is almost independent of the collimation distortion but strongly influenced by the statistical noise in the scattering data. The numerical value is smaller than the ideal number of degrees of freedom provided by the information theory.


Organocatalysts immobilized on inorganic porous substrates possess fundamental benefits, e.g., a high catalyst/reactant ratio, easy scalability as well as work-up, and continuous processing. Here we report the development of a heterogeneous (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) catalyst immobilized on mesoporous SiO2 and demonstrate its feasibility in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Our catalyst system is based on commercially available mesoporous silica particles that are optimized for flow applications (LiChrospher® Si 100 from Merck). The transition from well-known silica materials like MCM-41 and SBA-15 to specialized high-performance materials such as the used LiChrospher® particles is of great value for getting closer to industrial applications on large scale. We functionalized the material by applying click-chemistry and employed a packed HPLC column for the investigation of the catalyst performance and stability in continuous flow. The material shows the best performance with low catalyst loadings. The catalytic activity can be improved significantly by conversion of the TEMPO radical to an oxoammonium salt prior to the reaction. The material is well suited for applications in continuous flow syntheses, as the spherical shape of the particles results in low back pressures. The organic catalyst produces yields up to 89% with a flow rate of 0.05 mL min−1. The mild reaction conditions allow the use of the material in multi-step reactions. This option was demonstrated by combining the TEMPO-functionalized column with an aminopropyl-functionalized column and performing a TEMPO-mediated oxidation followed by a Knoevenagel condensation in a continuous flow setup for the first time. Long-term tests and post-catalytic analysis show a previously neglected decomposition pathway of TEMPO due to the co-catalyst.


This essay examines the role of geometry in military theory around 1700 and its critical reception in Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy . Juxtaposing literature, maps, and war games, the essay outlines a poetics of war in the eighteenth century and traces the decline of the geometrical order that governs it. A forged continuation of Sterne's novel written in the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars reveals the development of a new poetics and the installment of a military order based on topography and chance.


The main aim of the present work is to study the relation between microstructural features – such as local misorientations, grain orientation gradients and grain boundary structures – and thermomechanical treatment of hexagonal zirconium (Zr702α). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) topological maps are used to analyze the aforementioned material parameters at the early stages of plastic deformation imposed by channel-die compression, as well as at a partial recrystallization state achieved by brief annealing. The evolution of local misorientations and orientation gradients is investigated using the so-called kernel average misorientation (KAM) and grain orientation spread (GOS) statistics implemented in the TSL OIM data analysis software [TexSEM Laboratories (2004), Draper, UT, USA]. In the case of grain boundaries (GBs) a new method of analysis is presented. As an addition to the classical line segments method, where the grain boundary is represented by line segments that separate particular pairs of neighboring points, an approach that focuses on grain boundary areas is proposed. These areas are represented by sets of EBSD points, which are specially selected from a modified calculation procedure for the KAM. Different evolution mechanisms of intragranular boundaries, low-angle grain boundaries and high-angle grain boundaries are observed depending on the compression direction. The observed differences are consistent with the results obtained from KAM and GOS analysis. It is also concluded that the proposed method of grain boundary characterization seems to be promising, as it provides new and interesting analysis tools such as textures, absolute fractions and other EBSD statistics of the GB areas. This description may be more compatible with a real deformed microstructure, especially for grain boundaries with very small misorientation, which are indeed clustered areas of lattice defect accumulation.


This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Joint Conference on E-Business and Telecommunications, ICETE 2012, held in Rome, Italy, in July 2012. ICETE is a joint international conference integrating four major areas of knowledge that are divided into six corresponding conferences: International Conference on Data Communication Networking, DCNET; International Conference on E-Business, ICE-B; International Conference on Optical Communication Systems, OPTICS; International Conference on Security and Cryptography, SECRYPT; International Conference on Wireless Information Systems, WINSYS; and International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia, SIGMAP. The 18 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 403 submissions. They cover a wide range of topics in the key areas of e-business and telecommunications.


Background Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently described respiratory pathogen of children. However, there have been no data available regarding the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of hMPV infection in our geographical region. Methods A prospective cross-sectional evaluation of children 0-18 years old presenting to our university hospital and clinics with symptoms of respiratory infection was conducted during the months of November-April 2004. Following informed consent, parents were interviewed and respiratory specimens collected by nasopharyngeal or endotracheal tube aspiration. The samples were screened for the presence of hMPV by RT-PCR. When possible, respiratory samples were also analyzed for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus by either rapid antigen detection or culture. Results Seventy-three patients, ages 7 days to 12 years, were enrolled. At the time of enrolment, 26% of study subjects were outpatients and 74% were hospitalized due to dehydration and complications of acute respiratory illness. hMPV was isolated from 15% (11/73) of patients. Additionally, 17% (9/54) patients were positive for RSV and 19% (8/42) patients were positive for influenza. All patients in which hMPV was detected were hospitalized at the time of enrolment. Seventy-two percent of patients from whom hMPV was isolated were younger than 3 years. Underlying chronic medical conditions were identified among 63% of patients with hMPV infection and included prematurity, congenital heart disease, and neuromuscular disease. Clinical manifestations among patients with hMPV infection were fever (54%), cyanosis (45%), subcostal retractions (36%), decreased oral intake (36%), wheezing (10%), rhinorrhea (10%), and cough (10%). Abnormal radiographic findings were present in 100% of subjects with hMPV including hyperinflation (100%), perihilar infiltrates (72%), consolidation (9%), atelectasis (9%), and pneumothorax (9%). Conclusion hMPV infection is a frequent cause of respiratory infections in our pediatric population. Abnormal radiographic examinations are common among hospitalized patients with hMPV in our institution. Underlying medical conditions may increase the risk of hospitalization among children infected with hMPV.


One narrow bandgap donor (PTB7-Th) and two ultra-narrow bandgap acceptors (COi8DFIC and IEICO-4F) were elaborately selected to fabricate semitransparent ternary polymer solar cells (PSCs). To find out the optimal content of IEICO-4F in the acceptors, a series of opaque PSCs were first fabricated with 100 nm of Ag as the electrode. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the optimized opaque ternary PSCs arrived at 11.94% by incorporating 15 wt% IEICO-4F in the acceptors. Then, the thickness of Ag was adjusted to balance its electrical conductivity and transmittance, and the 100 nm of Ag was replaced by 15 nm of Ag as a semitransparent electrode. The semitransparent electrode possesses high transmittance in the visible light range and low transmittance in the long wavelength range, which is propitious for photon harvesting of ternary active layers with two ultra-narrow bandgap acceptors. The optimized semitransparent ternary PSCs show a synchronously improved PCE of 8.23% and an average visible transmittance (from 370 nm to 740 nm) of 20.78% compared with COi8DFIC based semitransparent binary PSCs. This work suggests the potential of a ternary strategy for fabricating highly efficient semitransparent PSCs with narrow or ultra-narrow bandgap materials as active layers.


There is a growing need to replace kovar, the established material used for packaging microwave hybrid circuitry, with substitutes which are lighter, stiffer and offer superior heat-sinking. Novel, isotropic-grained silicon-aluminium (Si-Al) alloys, high in silicon and prepared by the Osprey spray deposition technique satisfy these application requirements. Si-Al alloys have the additional merits of being non-toxic and relatively easy to machine and electroplate. Demonstrator microwave amplifier modules designed for space and terrestrial communication applications have been produced employing Si-Al packages and these have been successfully tested. The fabrication technologies that has been developed for this type of application are described. Other promising electronic applications for the new Si-AI alloys include opto-electronic modules and microwave waveguide components.


BACKGROUND
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with increased peripheral vascular resistance. Exercise-induced shear stress may release endothelial relaxing factors, such as nitric oxide (NO), and inhibit the production of vasoconstrictors such as endothelin-1 (ET-1) thereby modulating vascular tone. We examined the effect of intensive training on ET-1 plasma concentrations and NO-metabolite elimination in patients with CHF after acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS
Seventeen patients with CHF after a myocardial infarction were randomized to an exercise group (n = 9), who performed physical training for 8 weeks, or a control group (n = 8) who received usual care. A physical examination, pulmonary function test, and a maximum exercise test were performed, and 24-hour urinary nitrate elimination and ET-1 in plasma were determined before and at the end of the study period.

RESULTS
Maximal oxygen uptake remained unchanged in controls (17.9 +/- 1.4 to 18.1 +/- 1.5 mL/(kg min) but increased in the exercise group (from 20.4 +/- 0.75 to 26.7 +/- 1.4 mL/(kg min). After 8 weeks the urinary nitrate elimination in controls was significantly decreased (1.25 +/- 0.20 to 1.03 +/- 0.22 mmol/24 hours; P < 0.001), while it was unchanged in the exercise group (1.26 +/- 0.23 to 1.39 +/- 0.28; P = 0.71). Plasma ET-1 levels did not change after 8 weeks (7.87 +/- 0.62 versus 7.57 +/- 0.75 and 7.13 +/- 0.6 versus 7.35 +/- 0.7 pg/mL for control and exercise groups, respectively).

CONCLUSION
In patients with CHF after acute myocardial infarction nitrate elimination decreases over the subsequent 2 months. This trend was reversed by training. Because nitrate elimination mirrors endogenous NO production, these results suggest that training may positively influence endothelial vasodilator function.


The subject of the dissertation is a theoretical discussion of the possibilities and limitations of reformist politics. Theories of social justice and democracy are discussed and assessed in relation to the argument that reformist politics, which underlie the welfare state program, is a contradictory politics. It is suggested that it is contradictory because reformism is constituted by a double relinquishment. Projects to set aside capitalism and the development of a radical-democratic conception of politics are both relinquished. The implications of this are discussed in relation to conflicts around the ideas of liberty and equality, the formulation of morality, and the role of ethical accounts of injustices, as well as the necessary relativization of law or the legal medium for a radical-democratic conception of politics. These discussions serve to to reveal both the problems within reformist politics as well as that of how to overcome them. In the last chapter a concept of social unfreedom is developed in order to account for situations when participants are not able to describe injustices as such and/or are not able to formulate what justice requires. This concept is developed in terms of a reconstruction of Marx' theme of alienation, which can be understood as an account of reification on the one hand, and as a form of rationality whereby reifications can be dissolved on the other. The former, it is argued, are inversions of freedom and equality characteristic for capitalist societies. The account of reification in terms of inversion reveals a displacement of the normative presuppositions for pratices or principles, and the circumstances for their realization. This inversion can neither be accounted for nor dissolved along the lines of theories of equal liberty or similar sorts of normative presuppositions but instead necessiates a simultaneous stress on a politics of need-interpretation and a politics for the satisfaction of needs whereby contradictions are followed up. Since such a politics will have to pursue contrary claims depending on the political conjuncture, it is important that the possibility to shift between various modes of problematizations is developed. The undifferentiated notion of rationality developed in the last chapter is supposed to allow for this. (Less)


Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of optic nerve head (ONH), RNFL, and GC-IPL parameters in differentiating eyes with PPG from normals. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study. We studied 73 eyes of 41 patients and compared them to 65 eyes of 34 normal persons. Each patient underwent detailed ocular examination, standard automated perimetry, GC-IPL, ONH, and RNFL analysis. PPG was defined as eyes with normal visual field results and one or more localized RNFL defects that were associated with a glaucomatous disc appearance (e.g., notching or thinning of neuroretinal rim) and IOP more than 21 mm Hg. Diagnostic abilities of GC-IPL, ONH, and RNFL parameters were computed using area under receiver-operating curve (AUROC), sensitivity and specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs). Results: All GC-IPL parameters differed significantly from normal. The ONH, RNFL, and GC-IPL parameters with best area under curves (AUCs) to differentiate PPG were vertical cup to disc ratio (0.76), inferior quadrant RNFL thickness (0.79), and inferotemporal quadrant GC-IPL thickness (0.73), respectively. Similarly, best LRs were found for clock hour 5, 6, and 12 thicknesses among RNFL; inferior sector and inferotemporal sector thicknesses among GC-IPL parameters. Conclusion: Diagnostic abilities of GC-IPL parameters were comparable to RNFL parameters in differentiating PPG patients from normals. The likelihood of ruling in a disease was greater with GC-IPL parameters.


Introduction. Back pain is an increasing health problem that significantly affects the feasibility of life goals of the individual. Back problems are the second most common cause of physical disability and absenteeism at work. Aim. Analysis of the most common reaction to the appearance of chronic pain in the population diagnosed with back pain syndrome. Material and Methods. The study included 187 patients diagnosed with back pain syndrome at the age from 20 to 83 years. The study was conducted in April and May 2013. A diagnostic survey method was used — the statistical analysis. The results were compared with studies nationwide that held a group of scientists under the direction of prof. J. Czapinski within the framework of the project "Social Diagnosis 2013 Conditions and Quality of Life Poles". Results. The study showed that the average duration of back pain in the study group was 14.93±9.11 years (from 1 to 40 years). Average time elapsed since diagnosis was 8.34±6.24 years (from 1 to 25 years). 80.75% of respondents received assistance from the family doctor, 80.21% conducted X-ray, 28.34% CT and MRI of the spine 29.5%, 40.73% were diagnosed with neurological consultation. 85.56% of respondents performed work increased back pain, 80.75% preferred the systematic physical activity, 19.25% rested passively more than two hours a day or more, 56.15% did not cope with stress, 24.06% was dependent on nicotine. Conclusions. 1. Back pain occasionally prompts respondents to resort to professional help. 2. 22.9% of all households used hospital treatments, while among those diagnosed with spinal pain syndrome only 16.04% has decided on this form of therapy. 3. Back pain has prompted the majority (80.75%) of respondents to a systematic physical activity. 4. People diagnosed with spinal pain syndrome spend significantly less time on passive leisure than individuals from the general population. 5. The share of smokers in the group of patients diagnosed with spinal pain syndrome is 24.06%, which is comparable with the percentage of smokers in the general population of Poles (25.8%). (JNNN 2014;3(1):4–9)


Methodologically this thesis employs a modified microhistorical approach to small social units alongside ethical reflection on historical events and persons. A critical theory method is also utilized in combination with situational analysis. Textual analysis is also used, particularly in relation to mission documents as sources of overlooked cultural, social, legal, and political information.

This research advances the study of religion in the form of the study of the missionary origins of U.S.-Iranian relations and fills a critical historical gap in the study of U.S.Iran relations before the 1953 coup d'etat. Using the above methodologies this thesis identifies the nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. missions in Iran as having been largely unreflective on their own intellectual entanglement with historical strands of Middle Eastern Christianity and holds that evangelical dependency upon Iranian dynastic power, while mediated by royal orders (farman) and enabled by the regional and relational politics resulting from a weak central government, formed an integral part of the Qajar strategy to contest the power of Shi'i ulama, before being largely eclipsed by Reza Shah's program of authoritarian modernization.

In the above context this work found the following: that the presence of U.S. missionaries in Iran had significantly detrimental effects on community cohesion across ethno-national lines, despite simultaneously standing as an early achievement in the intercultural relationship between the U.S. and Iran; that in the absence of understanding or admiration attempts at textually based minority/majority religious transmission, where correctness is a guiding value, are prone to conflict; that understanding is a key to navigating difference in environments where internationaldynamics place a primary accent on alterity; that a preference for integrative action and an epistemological dogmatic-normativity remained the organizing logic of U.S. missions in Iran, despite the meliorating influence of a motive force of compassion traceable to the intellectual roots of these missions; that the apparatus of U.S. foreign missions remains underappreciated in its importance as site of contention in QajarShi'i power politics, as a site of national formation in the development of Assyrian culture, and as a site of innovation in the larger history of Iranian educational and political reform; that a reciprocal relationship exists between the operation of zeal, with its capacity to act as a driver of political change, and the cultivation of solidarity; that U.S. missions in Iran historically demonstrated a marginal but persistent preference for pragmatic solutions to intercultural problems and that this was linked in positive terms to manifestations of intercultural solidarity; that the pragmatic preference of U.S. missions in Iran depended significantly upon the categories of work and education to access a state of transformative potential capable of cultural synthesis; that the model of cultural change organized around additive…


The top-k query has long been an important topic in computer science. Efficient implementation of top-k queries is the key for information searching. In this paper, we develop the Efficient algorithm for the Continuous Historical Top-k (ECHT) extraction, which is a novel algorithm that can effectively process the continuous historical top-k query. A simple top-k extraction algorithm based on aggregation is used for user query processing, and two additional steps on the filter setting by which individual nodes do not have to report all their readings are proposed to further reduce communication cost. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work for continuous historical top-k query processing in sensor networks, and our simulation results show that our schemes can reduce the total communication cost by up to two orders of magnitude, as compared with the centralized scheme or a straightforward extension from the previous top-k algorithm on a continuous monitoring query.


1. Pollution of mangrove ecosystems puts their future and that of local communities at risk. Only the use of informed and integrative approaches will successfully maintain and restore these valuable ecosystems. 2. Biochemical indicators of organism physiological condition have been widely used to evaluate habitat quality and for early detection of the impact of stressors. Mangrove crabs may be useful bioindicators of the quality of mangrove habitats, as they are characteristic and ecologically important organisms in mangrove environments. 3. The physiological condition (evaluated by the RNA/DNA ratio) of Perisesarma guttatum (Grapsidae) and Uca annulipes (Ocypodidae) was assessed to determine its potential as an indicator of habitat quality in one polluted and two relatively unpolluted Mozambican mangroves, during the rainy and dry seasons. 4. Both species showed seasonal effects on RNA/DNA ratio, but only U. annulipes was significantly affected by pollution. RNA/DNA ratio of U. annulipes may thus be a useful indicator of pollution and seasonality in mangrove habitats. There was a synergistic negative effect of the rainy season and pollution on the RNA/DNA ratio of U. annulipes. Due to higher DNA, rather than lower RNA contents, the RNA/DNA ratio of P. guttatum was always significantly lower than that of U. annulipes. 5. The knowledge gathered in this study can be used in integrative strategies, policies and programmes aiming to sustain, maintain and restore mangrove areas, and for the evaluation of mangrove habitat quality.


ABSTRACT Perturbation of spectrin-based membrane mechanics causes hereditary elliptocytosis and spinocerebellar ataxia, but the underlying cellular basis of pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we introduced conserved disease-associated spectrin mutations into the Caenorhabditis elegans genome and studied the contribution of spectrin to neuronal migration and dendrite formation in developing larvae. The loss of spectrin resulted in ectopic actin polymerization outside of the existing front and secondary membrane protrusions, leading to defective neuronal positioning and dendrite morphology in adult animals. Spectrin accumulated in the lateral region and rear of migrating neuroblasts and redistributes from the soma into the newly formed dendrites, indicating that the spectrin-based membrane skeleton is asymmetric and remodels to regulate actin assembly and cell shape during development. We affinity-purified spectrin from C. elegans and showed that its binding partner ankyrin functions with spectrin. Asymmetry and remodeling of the membrane skeleton might enable spatiotemporal modulation of membrane mechanics for distinct developmental events. Highlighted Article: Asymmetry and remodeling of the membrane skeleton might enable spatiotemporal modulation of membrane mechanics during distinct developmental events. C. elegans spectrin binds to ankyrin, and these proteins function to regulate neural development.


Breast cancer, globally the most common cancer among women and probably play one of the most formal role in the death by cancer among women around the globe. Slight variation does exist and is been contributed to lifestyle, but I guess the main concern is finding the etiology of such common cancer and this is being a challenge The involvement of infectious agents like viruses is under the microscope and the purpose of this editorial is to assess the literature and summarized the factor.


The dominant bacteriological and archaeal phyla of compounded soils  sourced from a commercial farm estate located in Amukpe town and a nearby control in Adavware community both in Delta State, were evaluated with the aid of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) protocols. The residual herbicide and pesticide composition of the bulked soils were also  determined using gas chromatography (GC) and electron capture detector (ECD). Total concentrations of the extracted DNA were 6.83 and 6.65 ng/μl for the control and experimental soils. Nine (9) bacterial phyla;  Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes Acidobacteria, and Elusimicrobia were  observed in the control soil. Thirteen (13) bacterial phyla; Elusimicrobia, Fibrobacteres Lentisphaerae, Armatimonadetes, Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria,  Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia were detected in the experimental soil. Two (2) archaeal phyla; Euryarchaeota, and Diapherotrites were detected both the experimental and control soil, whilst an additional archaeal phylum; Woesearchaeota was present in only the experimental soil. The total organochloride phosphate component of the experimental soil was 1.4μg/Kg and 0.4μg/Kg for the control soil  respectively. Keywords : Amukpe, Next Generation Sequencing, Adavware, bacterial and archaeal phyla


The highly polymorphic human cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of up to 25% of all marketed drugs and accounts for significant individual differences in response to CYP2D6 substrates. Because of the differences in the multiplicity and substrate specificity of CYP2D family members among species, it is difficult to predict pathways of human CYP2D6-dependent drug metabolism on the basis of animal studies. To create animal models that reflect the human situation more closely and that allow an in vivo assessment of the consequences of differential CYP2D6 drug metabolism, we have developed a novel straightforward approach to delete the entire murine Cyp2d gene cluster and replace it with allelic variants of human CYP2D6. By using this approach, we have generated mouse lines expressing the two frequent human protein isoforms CYP2D6.1 and CYP2D6.2 and an as yet undescribed variant of this enzyme, as well as a Cyp2d cluster knockout mouse. We demonstrate that the various transgenic mouse lines cover a wide spectrum of different human CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes. The novel humanization strategy described here provides a robust approach for the expression of different CYP2D6 allelic variants in transgenic mice and thus can help to evaluate potential CYP2D6-dependent interindividual differences in drug response in the context of personalized medicine.


This paper presents a method to measure the radar cross section of a disk (with known radius) at normal and oblique incidence in the Fresnel region and real environment. The proposed method relies both on the physical optics approach and averaging the field distribution over the transmitting and receiving antenna apertures. The ratio between the analytical expression of the radar cross section at far-field and Fresnel region results in a transformation factor between both field zones. The RCS obtained through scattering parameters measured at Fresnel region distances is corrected with the analytical transformation factor previously determined. The measurements are in a good agreement with simulations and theoretical far field radar cross section at normal and oblique incidence.


A component of a hydraulic shock absorber, a check valve, is analyzed using both numerical simulations as well as experimental testing. A uid-structure interaction (FSI) model is set up in ANSYSWorkbench and is validated through physical experiments - both steady state and transient. The uid eld is solved in ANSYS Fluent and the structural deformation is solved for in ANSYS Structural. The coupling is made using ANSYS System Coupling. The report covers the fundamentals of FSI analysis - methods of coupling uid and structure solution elds and methods for adapting the uid mesh to account for a changing geometry. A brief background on general moving/deforming mesh algorithms are presented but the emphasis lies on the methods available in ANSYS Fluent and how to apply these on the case of a shock absorber check valve. A moving/deforming mesh consisting of tetrahedral cells without ination layers on wall boundaries proves the most robust dynamic mesh setup. The exclusion of ination layers is shown to signicantly a ect the solution at low valve lift height. At full lift the exclusion of ination layers has no inuence on the solution. The check valve is 4-fold axisymmetric but is shown to exhibit asymmetrical displacement. This is due to an asymmetrical uid pressure distribution on the check valve. Steady state FSI simulations show satisfactory correlation to ow bench experiments at low ow rates. The opening pressure di erential of the check valve, determined by the spring preload, is accurately predicted by the FSI model. At flow rates above 10 l/min the di erential pressure is under predicted, due tosimplications to the computational domain. Transient simulations and experiments both show an oscillatory pressure di erentialacross the check valve as it opens, albeit with di erent frequencies.


In the paper base reactivity parameters of acetylene are considered. The terms of safe usage of acetylene are interpreted and related to their molecular structure. Unusual susceptibility of acetylene to exothermic self-decomposition is analysed. Chemical composition and parameters of acetylene decomposition at various initial states are estimated in thermodynamic calculations. Combustion and explosion of acetylene/air and acetylene/oxygen mixtures are estimated in full range of acetylene concentration.


The aim of this bachelor thesis is to evaluate the current level of marketing communications of selected company and its main rivals, and suggest possible improving measures on the basis of the results of marketing communications analysis. The thesis is divided into two parts - theory and analysis. The former part deals with the importance of marketing communications, the elements of marketing mix, the individual steps within realization of communications strategies, and finally the use of the internet as an advertising medium. In the latter part there is a short introduction of the selected company. The core part deals with the analysis and evaluation of marketing communications of the selected company and its competitors. Finally there are few improvement suggestions.


The yield losses caused by necrotic and non-necrotic strains of Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) were quantified in field experiments. Clover plants infected with either were introduced into plots to provide infection sources, and aphids spread infection to the lupin plants. When the effects of virus infection were examined in individual lupin plants infected with necrotic BYMV, they were killed by early infection so there was no seed production. With late infection, shoot dry wt, seed yield, and seed number were decreased by at least 55%, 80%, and 74%, respectively. With non-necrotic BYMV, shoot dry wt, seed yield, and seed number diminished with increasing duration of plant infection, these decreases ranging over 27-88%, 48-99%, and 35-98% for late to early infection, respectively. In partially infected stands in which both necrotic and non-necrotic BYMV were spreading, an additional incidence of 28% in plots with introduced non-necrotic strain foci over that in plots without introduced foci was sufficient to decrease overall seed yield significantly. However, an additional incidence of 10% was insufficient to do so in plots with introduced necrotic strain foci. In plots into which different numbers of clover plants infected with non-necrotic BYMV were introduced, subsequent incidence of infection depended on the magnitude of the initial virus source, and yield was decreased by 21-24%, 31-43%, and 64-66% with 4, 8, or 16 foci/plot, respectively. With both types of strain, yield loss in infected plants was mainly due to failure to produce any seed or to fewer seeds being produced, but smaller seed size also contributed. These results show that non-necrotic strains of BYMV have considerable yield-limiting potential in narrow-leafed lupin crops despite causing milder symptoms than necrotic strains. No evidence was obtained of seed-transmission of non-necrotic BYMV in narrow-leafed lupin, but a 0.2% seed transmission rate was detected in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus).


Various interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices have emerged, led by the intelligence of the IoT, to realize exceptional interaction with the physical world. In this context, UAV swarm-enabled Multiple Targets Tracking (UAV-MTT), which can sense and track mobile targets for many applications such as hit-and-run, is an appealing topic. Unfortunately, UAVs cannot implement real-time MTT based on the traditional centralized pattern due to the complicated road network environment. It is also challenging to realize low-overhead UAV swarm cooperation in a distributed architecture for the real-time MTT. To address the problem, we propose a cyber-twin-based distributed tracking algorithm to update and optimize a trained digital model for real-time MTT. We then design a distributed cooperative tracking framework to promote MTT performance. In the design, both short-distance and long-distance distributed tracking cooperation manners are first realized with low energy consumption in communication by integrating resources of sensing and communication. Resource integration promotes target sensing efficiency with a highly successful tracking ratio as well. Theoretical derivation proves our algorithmic convergence. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm can remarkably save 65.7% energy consumption in communication compared to other benchmarks while efficiently promoting 20.0% sensing performance.


Craft is often discussed from the perspective of the maker or artisan, but seldom addresses the assemblage of other agents involved, like materials and tools, and how they affect the outcome. One way to examine this issue could be to use a Deleuzoguattarian perspective in order to draw attention to the role of the various vibrating parts of an assemblage on an individual as well as an abstract level. This article argues that a musical interpretation of the process of craft can help render visible several agents involved in the shaping of a guitar, an assemblage composed of intentions, craftsmanship, material and tools. Juxtaposing David Pye's notions of 'workmanship of risk' and 'workmanship of certainty', the works of luthiers reveal several traits of what Deleuze and Guattari called the 'nomadic sciences', which, in turn, can point towards more polyphonic perspectives on research in the crafts. The text offers an associative application of the Deleuzoguattarian concepts to expose how several 'kinetic melodies' can help expose guitar building as a craft in resonance with contemporary technologies.


The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) has become an important and commonly used instrument to assess personality functioning. Several studies report significant changes on MCMI personality disorder scales after psychological treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate whether pre–post-treatment changes in 39-session psychodynamic group psychotherapy as measured with the MCMI reflect real personality change or primarily reflect symptomatic state changes. Pre–post-treatment design included 236 psychotherapy outpatients. Personality changes were measured on the MCMI-II and symptomatic state changes on the Symptom Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R). The MCMI Schizoid, Avoidant, Self-defeating, and severe personality disorder scales revealed substantial changes, which could be predicted from changes on SCL-90-R global symptomatology (GSI) and on the SCL-90-R Depression scale. The MCMI Dependent personality score was the only MCMI personality scale showing significant change when the SCL-90-R Depression change score was included as a covariate. Splitting patients into those with and without personality disorders did not change the results. Observed changes on MCMI-II personality disorder scales in short-term psychotherapy reflect change in symptomatic state. The MCMI-II Base Rate cut-off points probably include too many patients, justifying the introduction of new scoring procedures in the MCMI-III.


The principle and characteristics of the double-frequency mode-locked Ar+ laser are described. There are two light pulses in the Ar+ laser cavity at any time, and the mode spacing is doubled at about 210MHz. This leads to a factor of about two in average output power of the Ar+ laser. A theoretical explanation for the experimental phenomenon is given.


Carbonated soft drink (CSD) intake has been associated with various risk behaviors in adolescents in high-income countries, but there is lack of evidence of this association in cross-nationally representative samples of school adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the association between CSD intake, health risk behavior, and poor mental health behavior among school-going adolescents in six Southeast Asian countries. Cross-sectional national "Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)" data from 36173 school-going adolescents from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste were analyzed. Results indicate that across all six Southeast Asian countries, in the past 30 days 23.9% of study participants had consumed no CSD, 38.8% had consumed CSD <once/day, 19.9% once a day and 17.5% ≥ two times/day. In the final adjusted logistic regression model CSD intake was associated with increased odds of having been attacked, having sustained an injury, being in a physical fight, being bullied, school truancy, tobacco use, alcohol use, and lifetime drunkenness. In addition, the consumption of CSD ≥two times/day was associated with increased odds of ever used cannabis and ever used amphetamine. Higher intake of CSD was positively associated with a history of loneliness, anxiety, suicide ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts. CSD intake in low- and middle-income countries is associated with several health risk behaviors and poor mental health that are similar to those observed in high-income countries.


Much work remains to be done developing materials for a variety of civil engineering applications Materials are ever-present in our activities: without them we would have nothing to construct with. For many, though, they are means to ends, not subjects worthy of study in their own right. We tend be over-familiar with them and have little of the detailed understanding needed to address the concepts underlying existing and emergent materials. 'What new materials are available for designers and constructors?' is a temptingly simple question asked by engineer, architect or client, but it may not bring the straightforward response expected.


Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical educationOxidative stress is caused by an imbalance in production of reactive oxygen and the biological ability to detoxify the reactive intermediates or repair the resulting damage. Herbal medicines commonly fight these complications with their antioxidant properties. However, it should be noted that herbal drugs extracts are abundant sources of polyphenols and these compounds are unstable and might be subjected to polymerization. Thus, it is essential to check that the observed biological properties are not due to polymerization of phenolic compounds.


Signal processing of ultrasound has advanced from the analog system to the digital system, which provides improved images. Digital scan converter is one of the new advances and the recently developed full digital system is another. The recording system has also evolved. These techniques will contribute to the evolution of ultrasonic images.