In this case report, we discuss a case of a now 23-year-old athlete, diagnosed with mild hemophilia who successfully played varsity soccer throughout high school and continued to play intramural and club soccer while in college. A prophylactic protocol was developed by the athlete's hematologist to allow his safe participation in contact sports. Similar prophylactic protocols have been discussed by Maffet et al, that successfully allowed an athlete to participate in high level basketball. However, there still exist significant barriers to the athlete with hemophilia participating in contact sports. We discuss how athletes with adequate support networks can participate in contact sports. Decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis and involve the athlete, family, team and medical personnel.


Solids of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are semiconductors in which the band gap can be controlled by changing the size of the constituent NCs. To date, nontrivial dependencies of the carrier mobility on the NC size have been reported. We use the time-of-flight (TOF) technique to measure the carrier mobility as a function of the NC size and find that the hole mobility of the NC solid increases dramatically with decreasing NC radius. We show that this result is in agreement with an analytic model for carrier mobility in NC solids. We further implement Monte Carlo simulations to aid in understanding the transient measurements in the context of models of dispersive transport. This work highlights that changing NC size in a device has important implications for charge transport.


2,4-Dichlorophenyl methacrylate (2,4-DMA) and vinyl acetate (VAc) were copolymerized with different feed ratios using dimethyl formamide (DMF) as a solvent and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator at 70°C. The copolymers were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Copolymer compositions were determined by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios were evaluated by the Fineman–Ross method. Average molecular weight and polydispersity index were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and the intrinsic viscosities of polymers were also discussed. Thermogravimetric analyses of polymers were carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere. The homo- and copolymers were tested for their antimicrobial activity against selected microorganisms. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 895–900, 2003


In recent days, Web 2.0 has become a popular tool including free digital programs which is utilized to create and share student‐created projects and products. They are cooperative, multipurpose, easier to utilize digital platforms which boost students for interacting with others or generate and share individualized response products. At the same time, web accessibility checking tools play a vital role in Web 2.0. Therefore, this article aims to investigate the performance of the accessibility checker (AChecker) tool for education and learning websites in Web 2.0. The AChecker validates HTML content for web accessibility issues by providing the location of the web page, uploading an HTML file, or pasting the whole HTML source code from a website. It generates a report of every web accessibility problem for the chosen guidelines for the known, likely, and potential problems. In addition, the AChecker tool is used to examine a set of 25 websites related to education and learning. Brief performance analysis of the AChecker tool takes place using WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0 guidelines. The experimental outcome indicated that the websites are required to be improved for accessibility by everyone.


We present a 3D semi-analytical model of self-gravitating discs, and include a prescription for dust trapping in the disc spiral arms. Using Monte Carlo radiative transfer, we produce synthetic ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) observations of these discs. In doing so, we demonstrate that our model is capable of producing observational predictions, and able to model real image data of potentially self-gravitating discs. For a disc to generate spiral structure that would be observable with ALMA requires that the disc's dust mass budget is dominated by millimetre- and centimetre-sized grains. Discs in which grains have grown to the grain fragmentation threshold may satisfy this criterion; thus, we predict that signatures of gravitational instability may be detectable in discs of lower mass than has previously been suggested. For example, we find that discs with disc-to-star mass ratios as low as 0.10 are capable of driving observable spiral arms. Substructure becomes challenging to detect in discs where no grain growth has occurred or in which grain growth has proceeded well beyond the grain fragmentation threshold. We demonstrate how we can use our model to retrieve information about dust trapping and grain growth through multiwavelength observations of discs, and using estimates of the opacity spectral index. Applying our disc model to the Elias 27, WaOph 6, and IM Lup systems, we find gravitational instability to be a plausible explanation for the observed substructure in all three discs, if sufficient grain growth has indeed occurred.


Copper sulphide crystallizes in a variety of phases that exhibit distinct optical properties including different optical band gaps in the visible region. The crystalline phases are associated with unique properties shown by semiconductor nanocrystals that could be exploited to produce new photocatalysts with tuned optical behavior. This research reports on the use of ionic liquids as a reaction medium to produce copper sulphide nanocrystals whose crystalline phase depends on the synthesis conditions. Noteworthy, these solvents allow the production of water dispersible copper sulphides following the thermal treatment of Cu(II) alkyldithiocarbamates complexes, used here as single-molecule precursors, thus improving their potential for heterogeneous photocatalysis in the aqueous phase. Finally, the ensuing copper sulphides have been preliminarily assessed for their photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The results indicate that the ionic liquid route described here has an impact on the copper sulphides produced and thereby on their performance as photocatalysts.


The VCore [1](*) based design methodology, which has been developed at the VCDS (**) Project, is a SoC design methodology using VCores. A VCore is a reusable, high level abstracted design component. We have developed the VCore based design methodology and the VCDS tool prototype. We used the developed tool and did a trial SoC design. The design result showed that SoC design productivity improved using the proposed methodology.VCDS: Virtual Core based Design SystemVCore: Virtual Core


It is probable that this disease has been observed under some name or form more frequently than has been reported. Prior to Reclus' publication and report, in 1893, of five cases which he denominated ligneous phlegmon of the neck, nothing seems to have been known of this severe, protracted and still little understood disease. Since that time professional interest has been enlisted and broadened, and in the last five or six years, especially, substantial additions have been made to the subject in case reports and contributions. Still the literature, though it is interesting and instructive, is not replete in quantity, nor entirely satisfactory as to etiology, bacteriologic findings and treatment. These reports and investigations lead the way to a final explanation of the disease, which at the present time is the most interesting and unusual, if not curious and erratic, manifestation of infection, or inflammation, with which we have to


This paper proposed an image denoising technique that can enhance the quality of image by using a variational approach and image gradient distribution. First, in order to remove the noise, we consider the variational approach for the energy functional that satisfies an edge-preserving regularization property. Here, we propose a new variational functional that can be implemented by adding a new gradient distribution term in a given energy functional that locally controls the extent of denoising over image regions according to their gradient magnitudes. And by using the fundamental lemma for the calculus of variations, we derive the Euler-Lagrange equation for true image that can achieve the minimum of a devised functional. Next, we considered the procedure that this equation can be solved by using a gradient decent method, which is one of the dynamic approximation techniques. Through various experiments, we can demonstrate that the proposed method can preserve the edges while removing noise better than existing techniques.


Diary of Miss Shafei, Ding Ling's major work, as everyone knows, have shared its fate with the praise and the censure on Ding Ling. The ways of reading this work have been diverse from the political viewpoint to the feministic viewpoint since its publication. This article analyzes the narrative surface/deep structure for the reinterpretation of this work. To analyze the narrative surface structure, I devide this work into three stages and take note of Shafei's narcissistic personality, the conflict structure of 'desire-suppression' and suppressing mechanism of desire. Before realization of Ling Jishi's snobbery, the suppressing mechanism of sexual desire is the sociocultural norm and expectation internalized by Shafei. In this stage, Shafei believes ego's desire accords with that of other and mistakes sexual desire for LOVE. But after realization of Ling Jishi's snobbery, Shafei's ego is devided into ego who desires him and ego who refuses him and the suppressing mechanism of sexual desire is changed into personal level of self-respect. In this stage, Shafei realizes difference between the abstract demand and the concrete desire for love and experiences the process of 'separation-accordance-separation' between the two. This work shows us the growth and fruition of Shafei who is 20 years old and get a lung disease. Shafei's sexual desire increases steadily and is suppressed continuously. This work, in general, has the structure of 'desire - suppression - desire - suppression …… desire - gratification - death'. Only if Shafei has desire and her desire is not gratified, she can get along. As Freud said, the only object to gratify desire is a death. However, this death is not a physical extinction but a spiritual rebirth. Now a girl die and is reborn as a lady. The lung disease and the death is the symbol of the rite of passage from a girl to a lady. A lady doesn't mistake sexual desire for LOVE any more and can objectify her LOVE. Then this work is the author's own experimental report and a Bildungsroman about Love, sex and sexual desire.


The performance of acoustic image measurement technique will be affected badly by coherence interference, even unable to get the noise targets image at all. A null weight constrained by zero and first derivative based on focused beam forming is proposed in this paper. The weight can put null on the given positions which are only decided by the interferences positions. The weight also has advantages in high robustness and low computation account which doesnt have to be calculated on real time. Simulations about single and multiple interferences on the condition of different SIR are proposed in the paper. And the results show that the new weight proposed in this paper can get targets image while putting nulls on the coherent interferences position.


Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are major contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Several studies aimed to test the effects of low-dose aspirin (ASA) in the prevention of preeclampsia concluded that the beneficial effects of such treatment outweigh adverse ones. Such benefits have not been fully corroborated by larger randomized trials usually carried out in low-risk women, testing a dose of 60 mg/d ASA presumably ingested in the morning, and including women randomized as late as at 26–32 wks of gestation. The authors conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, chronotherapy trial on 350 high-risk pregnant women (183 nulliparous), 30.7 ± 5.3 (mean ± SD) yrs of age, and 13.5 ± 1.4 wks of gestation at the time of recruitment. Women were randomly assigned to one of six groups, defined according to treatment (placebo or ASA, 100 mg/d) and time of treatment: upon awakening, 8 h after awakening, or at bedtime. Intervention started at 12–16 wks of gestation and continued until delivery. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by ambulatory monitoring (ABPM) for 48-h at baseline, every 4 wks until the 7th month of gestation, every 2 wks thereafter until delivery, and at puerperium. The effects of ASA on ambulatory BP were markedly dependent on administration time: there was no effect on BP, compared with placebo, when ASA was ingested upon awakening, but the BP reduction was highly statistically significant when low-dose ASA was ingested 8 h after awakening and, to a greater extent, at bedtime (p < .001). At puerperium, 6–8 wks after discontinuation of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in 24-h BP means between the groups of women who ingested ASA at different circadian times. Women ingesting low-dose ASA, compared with placebo, evidenced a significantly lower hazard ratio (HR) of serious adverse outcomes, a composite of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and stillbirth (.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .22–.56; p < .001). The HR of individual outcome variables, i.e., preeclampsia, preterm delivery, IUGR, and gestational hypertension, were also significantly lower with ASA versus placebo (p always < .041). There were small and nonsignificant differences in outcomes between placebo and low-dose ASA ingested upon awakening. These four groups combined showed highly significant greater event rate of serious adverse outcomes than women ingesting ASA either in the evening or at bedtime (HR: .19, 95% CI: .10–.39; p < .001). There was no increased risk of hemorrhage, either before or after delivery, with low-dose ASA relative to placebo (HR: .57, 95% CI: .25–1.33; p = .194). Results indicate that (i) 100 mg/d ASA should be the recommended minimum dose for prevention of complications in pregnancy; (ii) ingestion of low-dose ASA should start at ≤16 wks of gestation; and (iii) low-dose ASA ingested at bedtime, but not upon awakening, significantly regulates ambulatory BP and reduces the incidence of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm delivery, and IUGR. ABPM evaluation at the first trimester of pregnancy provides sensitive endpoints for identification of women at high risk for preeclampsia who might benefit most from the cost-effective preventive intervention with timed low-dose ASA. (Author correspondence: email@example.com)


BACKGROUND
Despite the research supporting adequate enteral nutrition (EN) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, underfeeding is still common. This quality improvement (QI) project was done to determine the effect of "volume-based" feeding on adequacy of EN delivery and provision of calories and protein in a surgical/trauma ICU (STICU).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mechanically ventilated STICU patients (n = 111) fed at least 72 hours after achieving their target goal of EN during their first week of admission were reviewed retrospectively in a QI project. Data were obtained before (n = 54) and after (n = 56) initiation of a "volume-based" feeding protocol (FEED ME - Feed Early Enteral Diet adequately for Maximum Effect).

RESULTS
The proportion of EN volume and calories delivered increased significantly (rate based, 63% ± 20%; FEED ME, 89% ± 9%; P < .0001), as did grams of protein/kg actual body weight (1.13 ± .29 to 1.26 ± .37; P = .036) using the FEED ME protocol. Groups were similar in patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and nutrition practices. Only slightly more diarrhea (rate based, 0; FEED ME, 6; P = .046) in gastric-fed patients was noted. The incidence of gastric residual volume >350 mL (rate-based, 20 episodes; FEED ME, 11 episodes; P = .34) and emesis (5 vs 2 episodes; P = .22) was similar.

CONCLUSION
A change in standard of practice to an EN volume-based feeding approach in a STICU led to a significant improvement in adequacy of calories and protein delivered, with only a slight increase in diarrhea.


Diagnosis of porphyria is a clinical and biochemical procedure. Acute hepatic porphyrias are molecular regulation diseases which are characterized by a relative enzyme deficiency of the ferro-chelatase chain and an induction of hepatic delta-aminoacid synthase. There are indistinct clinical and pathobiochemical transitions between the three acute hepatic types of porphyria: acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria and porphyria variegata. They develop a similar acute clinical syndrome. The differential diagnosis is made possible by a differentiation of porphyrins and porphyrin precursers in the urine and the porphyrines in the stool and by the determination of uroporphyrinogen synthase activity in the erythrocytes.


While a substantial body of literature exists on film tourism, there is a lack of research attention bridging the potential of Japanese anime on real-world destination marketing. The implications of anime tourism can extend far beyond geographic boundary as the worldwide anime market is diversifying, providing novel opportunities for destination marketing organizations in other countries. To address this research gap, this paper first defines anime versus animated films to clarify the definition of anime for the tourism literature, and then draws out theoretical differences between the two types of entertainment within a cinematic perspective to highlight their conceptual boundaries across place, protagonist, and production. This paper suggests that the ways in which these three aspects are manifested in anime versus films are very different: anime settings are more fantasy-orientated than most films; viewers develop their self-identity (i.e. as an 'otaku') during childhood and adolescence; and anime productions can be extended with new series to create more enduring engagement to develop the kidult segment. This paper contributes to the literature by connecting the aforementioned cinematic aspects as a basis for elaboration of how differences among the three dimensions could be directly related to potential destination marketing activities.


Findings from recent research about the relationship of teacher empowerment to other school reform objectives of interest, such as classroom practices or student academic performance, are mixed. This study investigates teacher empowerment in schools that have at least four years of experience with some form of decentralized or school-based management. Based on the assumption that participation in school decisionmaking can enhance teachers' commitment, expertise, and, ultimately, student achievement, we hypothesize a positive relationship between empowerment and student performance through the linkages of school organization for instruction and pedagogical quality. The data we use to examine empowerment are drawn from a sample of 24 restructuring elementary, middle, and high schools—8 schools at each grade level. Most of the schools are urban, representing 16 states and 22 school districts. Data sources include teacher surveys, ratings of pedagogical quality, assessments of student academic performance, and case studies based on interviews and observations; the primary method of analysis is hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The results suggest: (1) Overall, empowerment appears to be an important but not sufficient condition of obtaining real changes in teachers' ways of working and their instructional practices; (2) The effects of empowerment on classroom practice vary depending on the domain in which teacher influence is focused; (3) Teacher empowerment affects pedagogical quality and student academic performance indirectly through school organization for instruction.


OBJECTIVES The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on vaccination coverage, critical to preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, has not been assessed during the reopening period. METHODS Vaccine uptake and vaccination coverage for recommended vaccines and for measles-containing vaccines at milestone ages were assessed in a large cohort of children aged 0 to 18 years in Southern California during January to August 2020 and were compared with those in the same period in 2019. Differences in vaccine uptake and vaccination coverage (recommended vaccines and measles-containing vaccines) in prepandemic (January to March), stay-at-home (April to May), and reopening (June to August) periods in 2020 and 2019 were compared. RESULTS Total and measles-containing vaccine uptake declined markedly in all children during the pandemic period in 2020 compared with 2019, but recovered in children aged 0 to 23 months. Among children aged 2 to 18 years, measles-containing vaccine uptake recovered, but total vaccine uptake remained lower. Vaccination coverage (recommended and measles-containing vaccines) declined and remained reduced among most milestone age cohorts ≤24 months during the pandemic period, whereas recommended vaccination coverage in older children decreased during the reopening period in 2020 compared with 2019. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric vaccine uptake decreased dramatically during the pandemic, resulting in decreased vaccination coverage that persisted or worsened among several age cohorts during the reopening period. Additional strategies, including immunization tracking, reminders, and recall for needed vaccinations, particularly during virtual visits, will be required to increase vaccine uptake and vaccination coverage and reduce the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.


Introduction . Screens often surround openings in the floor slabs of atrium buildings to prevent the spread of fire hazards to higher floors and to improve the efficiency of smoke ventilation systems. In this article, the co-authors assess the expediency of installing screens around openings in the floor slabs and identify the best screen height values. In this article, the co-authors perform a quantitative analysis of the ability of screens to prevent the propagation of hazardous fire factors, to identify general regularities typical for a multi-level space, and to develop recommendations for the installation of screens inside public buildings. The co-authors suggest that screen height should be a solution to the following tradeoff problem: the use of screens reduces acceptable evacuation time for the floor that has screens installed and rises the evacuation time for higher floors. Rational screen height selection algorithm . The co-authors propose the following algorithm for the two-stage selection of the rational screen height. At the first stage, the evacuation problem is resolved. As a result, evacuation completion time is determined for emergency exits. Further, acceptable evacuation time and the time needed to block emergency floor exits are identified for a particular type of a fire alarm system. At the second stage, the dynamics of hazardous fire factors in building rooms is assessed for various screen heights. As a result, the rational height of screens is established for the evacuation time to remain positive. Conclusions . Screen height values cannot be determined in advance. Each case requires an individual approach that entails the resolution of evacuation problems and the tracking of the dynamics of hazardous fire factors in buildings that have multi-height spaces. These ideas are in line with the concept of flexible regulation of fire protection systems designated for construction facilities.


A review is presented of the history of subterranean fauna exploration, the nature of the subterranean environments of Christmas Island and the biogeographical significance of members of the subterranean and spring- dependent species. The island, which has probably been emergent since the mid-Miocene, has a basalt core largely covered by Tertiary carbonates which have undergone intense karstification owing to the high rainfall on tropical forest, and through mixing corrosion as relative sea level changed and marine terraces formed as a result of tectonic uplift of the island. As a result, surface water is largely absent and drainage is largely as submarine groundwater discharge, however, there is a perched underground stream tapped for water on the plateau and some spring discharge on lower terraces where basalt intercepts the carbonate surface. Together these provide a range of subterranean habitats including terrestrial, freshwater streams and anchialine systems, in addition to springs and spring rills. Terrestrial caves shelter glossy swiftlets that support a rich guano-based community. Sediment banks and the tree root mats spreading over them support a community, thus far not rich, but containing troglobitic species, including the cockroach Metanocticola (Blattodea), scorpion (Ischnuridae), pseudoscorpions (Chthoniidae), microwhipscorpion (Hubbardiidae), spiders (from families Symphytognathidae; Trochanteriidae; Ochyroceratidae; Oonopidae; ?Desidae) and a variety of oniscoid isopods. As expected on an isolated seamount, it supports a procaridiid-type anchialine fauna characterised by an endemic species of Procaris (Procarididae). Unexpectedly, it is the only seamount supporting, in addition, representatives of a remipede-type anchialine fauna, namely Humphreysella (formerly Danielopolina) (Myodocopa: Thaumatocyprididae) and Halosbaena (Thermosbaenacea). In addition, the anchialine system supports the only known extant population of Microceratina (Podocopida: Cytheruridae). The freshwater subterranean stream and spring outlets support an extraordinary diversity of Darwinulidae (Ostracoda). A number of invasive species of fish have been introduced to freshwater areas and if established in springs could have a detrimental impact of stygiofauna and potentially invade anchialine waters. Direct anthropogenic impacts on caves is low owing to minimal caving activity on the island but the most sensitive to trampling are root mats and sediment banks in some caves, and especially guano piles, the disturbance to which could extend to glossy swiftlet colonies. Indirect impacts on fauna may occur owing to changes to the spring discharges as a result of water abstraction which could also impinge on the anchialine system by changing the hydrodynamic relationships between freshwater outflow and seawater, and through contaminants arising from land or sea.


Elevation of the systemic arterial blood pressure represents one of the most common problems in clinical medicine. In contrast to the experience in adults, the incidence of hypertension in children is quite low.The objective of this study was to see the pattern of BP in school aged children and its relation to age, sex, weight and height. All children, age 6 through 12 years in Abadir Elementary School, Lideta Sub-City, A.A, formed the study population. Blood pressure measurements were made according to recommendations made by the second task force on Blood pressure control in children the mean systolic and mean diastolic BP for both sexes combined was 97.86 ± 9.73 and 70.51 ± 8.60 mmHg, respectively. There was no significant difference between both the mean systolic (p = 0.201) and diastolic (p = 0.750) of boys and girls. The blood pressure of boys increased with age (p = 0.001) while there was no significant increment or change of BP of girls with age (p > 0.3). from this study it was observed the height – for –age did not show an effect on BP but the effect of weight for age was significant only on boys (p = 0.001). Though the study had its own limitations the findings are worth to be taken up as a base line for future more conclusive studies.


Oral biofilms are a prominent cause of a wide variety of oral infectious diseases which are still considered as growing public health problems worldwide. Oral biofilms harbor specific virulence factors that would aggravate the infectious process and present resistance to some traditional therapies. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been proposed as a potential approach to eliminate oral biofilms via in situ-generated reactive oxygen species. Although numerous types of research have investigated the effectiveness of aPDT, few review articles have listed the antimicrobial mechanisms of aPDT on oral biofilms and new methods to improve the efficiency of aPDT. The review aims to summarize the virulence factors of oral biofilms, the progress of aPDT in various oral biofilm elimination, the mechanism mediated by aPDT, and combinatorial approaches of aPDT with other traditional agents.


Aim: Acetaminophen (APAP) can change to toxic metabolites at high dose; if these metabolites are in high amounts, the body will be unable to neutralize them, and several tissues including liver will be damaged. In the present study, the effect of vanadium was compared with deferoxamine on hepatotoxicity and also kidney function during APAP administration in rats. Material and Methods: The study was done in 5 groups (5 rats in each group): group I to V, respectively, received normal saline, APAP, APAP + deferoxamine, APAP + vanadium, and vanadium. At the end of the study, blood was collected and serum was separated for laboratory tests. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, and potassium were determined. The liver of the rats were separated for tissue processing and light microscopic examination. Results: APAP significantly increased; ALT level and deferoxamine and vanadium prevented its elevation. Also, deferoxamine and vanadium prevented increase of AST by APAP. The change of factors, which are related to the kidney function, i.e., BUN, creatinine, sodium, and potassium were not considerable. Conclusion: Thus, it was observed that vanadium had better effect than deferoxamine in the prevention of hepatotoxicity induced by APAP.


This article is an application of the Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Girls and Women to psychological issues faced by Women with Disabilities. It includes culture-specific issues faced by Women with Disabilities, the multiple roles of Women with Disabilities, the importance of informal support systems, and the intersection between feminism and disability. The voices of Women with Disabilities from a variety of cultures are included to demonstrate the breadth of disability as it impacts women. Attention is given to the impact of worldview on understanding disability (medical condition, limitation due to socially constructed barriers, gap between individual resources and demand for ability, or segregation by ability status) and development of theories, services, and laws. Perspectives of health professionals, disability advocates, and family members are provided to identify issues that need to be included in a comprehensive psychology of Women with Disabilities.


This paper deals with the problem of delay dependent stability for both ordinary and large-scale time-delay systems. Some necessary and sufficient conditions for delay-dependent asymptotic stability of continuous and discrete linear time-delay systems are derived. These results have been extended to the large-scale time-delay systems covering the cases of two and multiple existing subsystems. The delay-dependent criteria are derived by Lyapunov's direct method and are exclusively based on the solvents of particular matrix equation and Lyapunov equation for non-delay systems. Obtained stability conditions do not possess conservatism. Numerical examples have been worked out to show the applicability of results derived.


We perform a computational study on 0-1 knapsack problems generated under explicit correlation induction. A total of 2000 100-variable test problems are solved. We use two solution methods : (1) a well known heuristic and (2) a representative branch and bound type algorithm. Two different performance measures are considered : (1) the number of nodes needed to find an optimal solution and (2) the relative error of the heuristic solution. We also examine the effect of different joint probability mass functions (pmfs) for the coefficient values on the performance of the solution procedure.


Consider a principal who hires an agent, e.g., a broker is hired to fill stock orders. The outcome may be good or bad, e.g., the orders may be filled at favorable or unfavorable prices. A bad outcome may simply reflect bad luck or it may result from the agent defrauding the principal. How is the agent's incentive to defraud the principal restrained? With a dynamic costly-stateverification model we examine two possibilities: (i) reputational penalties, meaning that principals can choose not to transact with an agent who has a bad history even if there is no evidence of fraud; and (ii) investigations, meaning that at a cost, an agent's performance can be directly checked for fraud. Reputational penalties have no direct cost but they are imprecise in the sense that an agent can be penalized even if it was just bad luck. Investigations are costly but precise in the sense that an agent is penalized only if he is found to have committed fraud. We examine how principals would balance the two ways of controlling an agent's incentives. Then we examine the incentives of agents to form a self-regulatory organization to conduct its own investigations of agent performance and to penalize agents who are caught cheating. We show that the threat of SRO investigations can enhance agents' welfare but reduce the welfare of principals. In effect, SRO investigations can inefficiently – from the principal's perspective – crowd out reputational penalties.


In this paper, we investigate the use of logic implications for the online detection of intermittent faults and hard-to-detect manufacturing defects. We present techniques to efficiently identify the most powerful circuit implications that can be checked for violations so that the fraction of errors detected can be maximized while minimizing the additional hardware overhead. Importantly, our approach does not require re-synthesis of the targeted logic; the checker logic is added off the critical path and is run in parallel with the regular control logic. Trade-offs can be easily made between additional coverage of errors and additional area overhead. Our results show that significant error detection is possible - even with only a 10% area overhead.


A field theoretic representation of the classical partition function is derived for a system composed of a mixture of anisotropic and isotropic mobile charges that interact via long range Coulomb and short range nematic interactions. The field theory is then solved on a saddle-point approximation level, leading to a coupled system of Poisson–Boltzmann and Maier–Saupe equations. Explicit solutions are finally obtained for a rod-like counterion-only system in proximity to a charged planar wall. The nematic order parameter profile, the counterion density profile and the electrostatic potential profile are interpreted within the framework of a nematic–isotropic wetting phase with a Donnan potential difference.


Background: The extract of Citrullus colocynthis is consider as a source of drug or adjuvant to other therapeutics agents as the pharmacological activities of Citrullus colocynthis studied previously for this plant as antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.
Aims: To better understand the biochemical and cytotoxic effect of ethanolic raw extract of Egyptian Citrullus colocynthis in Sprague Dawley rat short term of toxicity bioassay.
Methodology: Ethanolic extract of fruits of Citrullus colocynthis was investigated for its sub chronic toxicity on sprague Dawley rats, in order to develop safe doses, we use 30 male rats gavage with 0, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg of Citrullus colocynthis extract twice per week for 8 weeks.
Results: The raw extract of fruits of Citrullus at dose of 12.5 mg and 25 mg/kg induced significant increase in level of creatinine and total protein and increased non-significantly levels of glucose and blood urea while reduced level of triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly when compared with control group. Histopathological examination revealed that kidney of rat treated with Citrullus colocynthis at dose of 12.5 mg/ kg show interstitial chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate while Kidney of SD-rat treated with Citrullus colocynthis at dose of 25 mg/kg show interstitial fibrosis stained with mallory trichrome stain. While liver show lytic necrosis replaced by leukocyte infiltration at dose of 12.5 mg/kg of raw extract and rat treated with Citrullus colocynthis at dose of 25 mg/ kg show interstitial fibrosis stained with mallory trichrome stain.
Conclusion: Raw extract of fruits of Citrullus had adverse effect on liver and kidney while in improving lipid profile and hematology in a novel manner in Sprague Dawley rats at selected dosed.


In this work, I examine the impact that breach notification laws have had on the incidence rate of breaches of consumer data. Since 2003, every US state has passed some form of breach notification requirement. In doing so, the stated goal has been to create a market for consumer privacy, wherein consumers may select into interacting with firms that are more responsible stewards of their data. However, limited empirical work has been devoted to determining the impact of these legislative efforts. Results from a multi-site difference in difference estimation indicate no significant change in the number of breaches or the number of breached records after the passage of such statutes. Results further suggest no demonstrable long-term change in the number of identity thefts or claims of fraud, i.e., a precisely estimated null. This absence of effect persists when considering legislative efforts that create private rights of action, require notification of the attorney general, and more; and suggests the need to consider different ways to approach consumer privacy. I propose one such alternative, standards setting by an administrative agency which creates safe harbors for conforming firms.


Background
While sleep disturbances and their impact on functioning are well-established in adults with bipolar disorder (BD), little is known about this topic in youth.

Objective
This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbance among youth with BD.

Methods
The study included 103 youth (72 BD, 31 healthy controls [HC]), ages 14-20 years. Study measures included a semi-structured diagnostic interview and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). PSQI yields a global score and 7 subscale scores. Analyses examined between group differences in PSQI scores, and correlates of PSQI within BD.

Results
BD youth had significantly higher (worse) global sleep scores, and higher scores on 5/7 subscales (quality, latency, disturbance, sleep medication use, daytime dysfunction). In univariate analyses, poorer sleep quality was associated with higher lifetime and current depression severity, mixed mood state, self-reported affective lability, and borderline personality traits. Lifetime lithium treatment and euthymic mood state were associated with better sleep scores. In multivariate analyses, greater current depression severity and self-reported affective lability were most robustly associated with poor sleep quality.

Conclusions
Converging with data from adults, present findings indicate greater sleep disturbance among youth with BD versus HC. Also convergent with adults with BD, mood disturbance, whether depression severity or emotional lability, comprised the predominant correlates of sleep disturbance among youth with BD. Future research is warranted to better understand the temporal association between sleep disturbance and its correlates in youth with BD. Relatedly, interventions that address both mood and sleep disturbances may help improve overall functioning.


Effective family problem solving was studied in 97 families of elementary-school-aged children, with 2 definite-solution tasks--tower building (TWB) and 20 questions (TQ), and 1 indefinite-solution task--plan-something-together (PST). Incentive (for cooperation or competition) and task independence (members worked solo or jointly) were manipulated during TWB and TQ, yielding 4 counterbalanced conditions per task per family. On TQ, solo performance exceeded joint performance; on TWB, competition impaired joint performance. Families effective at problem solving in all conditions of both definite-solution tasks tried more problem-solving strategies during TWB and deliberated longer and reached more satisfactory agreements during PST. Family problem-solving effectiveness was moderately predicted by 2 parents' participation in the study. Parental education, parental occupational prestige, and membership in the family of an academically and socially competent child were weaker predictors. The results indicate that definitions of effective family problem solving that are based on directly observed measures of group interaction are more valid than definitions that rely primarily on family characteristics.


Along the visual pathway, neurons generally become more specialized for signaling a limited subset of stimulus attributes and become more invariant to changes in the stimulus position within the receptive fields (RFs). One of the likely mechanisms underlying such invariance appears to be pooling of detectors located at different positions. Does such spatial pooling occur for disparity-selective neurons in primary visual cortex? To examine whether the three-dimensional (3D) binocular RFs are constructed by pooling detectors for binocular disparity, we investigated binocular interactions in the 3D space for neurons in the cat striate cortex. Approximately one-third of complex cells showed the spatial pooling of disparity detectors to a significant degree, whereas the majority of simple cells did not. The degree of spatial pooling of disparity detectors along the preferred orientation axis was generally larger than that along the axis orthogonal to the orientation axis. We then reconstructed 3D binocular RFs in their complete form and examined their structures. Disparity tuning curves were compared across positions along the orientation axis in the RFs. A small population of cells appeared to show a gradual shift of the preferred disparity along this axis, indicating that they can potentially signal inclination in the 3D space. However, the majority of cells exhibited a position-invariant disparity tuning. Finally, disparity tuning curves were examined for all oblique angles in addition to horizontal and vertical. Tunings were broadest along the orientation axis as the disparity energy model predicts.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Up regulation of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme of de novo lipogenesis, is associated with metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanisms of regulation of metastasis by FASN are elusive. The induction of angiogenesis is crucial for metastasis. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was (i) to determine the role of FASN in regulation of secretion of angiogenic factors by CRC cells, (ii) to evaluate the effect of tumor-specific expression of FASN on endothelial cells, and (iii) to assess the role of FASN in regulation of tumor vasculature.

METHODS: The effect of FASN inhibition on secretion of angiogenic factors was analyzed using the Human Angiogenesis Antibody Array 1 (RayBiotech). Co-culture of CRC and HMVEC-L cells was used to assess the effect of FASN expression on growth, migration, and tube formation of endothelial cells. To evaluate the effect of FASN on vasculature, we utilized murine colonoscopy, the orthotopic colon cancer model, the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, and the Matrigel plug assay.

RESULTS: We found that inhibition of FASN is associated with an evident change in the profile of secreted angiogenic factors by CRC cells and this change is associated with a significant decrease in microvessel density as determined by analysis of CD31 staining (Aperio Image Scope) in orthotopic colon tumors. A decrease in expression of FASN is also associated with "normalization" of tumor vasculature in the CAM model. The mechanisms of inhibition of angiogenesis by knockdown of FASN included down regulation of VEGF189, an isoform associated with aggressive CRC, up regulation of anti-angiogenic isoform VEGF165b, and a decrease in expression and activity of MMP-9. Furthermore, medium conditioned on FASN-knockdown CRC cells inhibited proliferation, migration, and tube formation of endothelial cells via inhibition of VEGFR-2 activation and its downstream signaling as compared to control medium.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that FASN promotes angiogenesis via alteration of the profile of secreted angiogenic factors by CRC cell and stimulation of endothelial cell proliferation. Furthermore, the regulation of angiogenesis by FASN, at least in part, is mediated by up-regulation of VEGF189, a VEGF-A isoform that tightly correlates with poor prognosis in CRC, and by an increase in activity of MMP-9. Together, these findings suggest that inhibition of FASN upstream of VEGF-A and other angiogenic pathways can be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or inhibit metastasis in CRC.

Citation Format: Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, Victoria Elliott, Piotr Rychahou, William Mustain, Ji Tae Kim, Joseph Valentino, Tianyan Gao, Kathleen O'Connor, Janna Neltner, Heidi Weiss, B. Mark Evers. Tumor-specific expression of fatty acid synthase promotes angiogenesis in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1009. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1009


The purpose of this work is to calculate the scattering behavior of a non-coplanar ionization collision of an electron with a helium atom. Relativistic distorted waves were used to describe the wave functions of the incident and scattered electron, and at large distances from the ionized atom the distorted waves for the outgoing electrons are a linear combination of relativistic coulomb waves. The T-matrix and scattering cross section were calculated with the assumptions that the incident electron impacted the atom perpendicularly to the scattering plane, defined by the trajectories of the two outgoing electrons which were assumed to have equal energies.


Abstract Objective: To review data on selected risk factors related to the emergence of non communicable diseases (NCDs) in the black population of South Africa. Methods: Data from existing literature on South African blacks were reviewed with an emphasis placed on changes in diet and the emergence of obesity and related NCDs. Design: Review and analysis of secondary data over time relating to diet, physical activity and obesity and relevant to nutrition-related NCDs. Settings: Urban, peri-urban and rural areas of South Africa. National prevalence data are also included. Subjects: Black adults over the age of 15 years were examined. Results: Shifts in dietary intake, to a less prudent pattern, are occurring with apparent increasing momentum, particularly among blacks, who constitute three-quarters of the population. Data have shown that among urban blacks, fat intakes have increased from 16.4% to 26.2% of total energy (a relative increase of 59.7%), while carbohydrate intakes have decreased from 69.3% to 61.7% of total energy (a relative decrease of 10.9%) in the past 50 years. Shifts towards the Western diet are apparent among rural African dwellers as well. The South African Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 1998 revealed that 31.8% of African women (over the age of 15 years) were obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kgm−2) and that a further 26.7% were overweight (BMI ≥ 25 to <30 kgm−2). The obesity prevalence among men of the same age was 6.0%, with 19.4% being overweight. The national prevalence of hypertension in blacks was 24.4%, using the cut-off point of 140/90 mmHg. There are limited data on the population's physical activity patterns. However, the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic will become increasingly important. Conclusions: The increasing emergence of NCDs in black South Africans, compounded by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, presents a complex picture for health workers and policy makers. Increasing emphasis needs to be placed on healthy lifestyles.


The firing process for clay-brick production in traditional kilns generates atmospheric pollution when industrial and domestic scrap is used as fuel. An alternative is presented here, using the solar energy for clay-brick firing. We are developing a system for clay-brick firing to reach temperatures between 900°C and 1050°C; these temperatures are sufficiently high to fire bricks or similar ceramic products. The present paper describes the design and characterization of the components of a solar furnace for clay-brick firing with inner chamber dimensions of 0.48 × 0.61 × 0.64 m. To convey the sunlight to the firing chamber, a heliostat with nine 1 × 1 m mirrors is used to send the rays of the sun to an off-axis parabolic concentrator that focuses the light on the entrance of the firing chamber. The heliostat has a solar-tracking system which makes primary and secondary adjustments to assure that the reflected solar radiation always arrives at the concentrator. The firing chamber contains a prismatic cavity that absorbs the solar radiation to generate the heat which is needed for baking the bricks inside the firing chamber.


A dendroid is the disjoint union of the set of centers and the set of shore points. We show this is also true for λ-dendroids and use this fact to show that the finite union of shore continua in a λ-dendroid is a shore set.


A classical tool for approximating integrals is the Laplace method. The first-order, as well as the higher-order Laplace formula is most often written in coordinates without any geometrical interpretation. In this article, motivated by a situation arising, among others, in optimal transport, we give a geometric formulation of the first-order term of the Laplace method. The central tool is the Kim-McCann Riemannian metric which was introduced in the field of optimal transportation. Our main result expresses the first-order term with standard geometric objects such as volume forms, Laplacians, covariant derivatives and scalar curvatures of two different metrics arising naturally in the Kim-McCann framework. Passing by, we give an explicitly quantified version of the Laplace formula, as well as examples of applications.


Background: Obesity among pregnant women is common, and their offspring are predisposed to obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. The circulating metabolites that are related to insulin resistance and are associated with this decreased tissue-specific uptake are unknown. Here, we assessed metabolite profiles in elderly women who were either female offspring from obese mothers (OOM) or offspring of lean mothers (OLM). Metabolic changes were tested for associations with metrics for insulin resistance. Methods: Thirty-seven elderly women were separated into elderly offspring from obese mothers (OOM; n = 17) and elderly offspring from lean/normal weight mothers (OLM; n = 20) groups. We measured plasma metabolites using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and insulin-dependent tissue-specific glucose uptake in skeletal muscle was assessed. Associations were made between metabolites and glucose uptake. Results: Compared to the OLM group, we found that the docosahexaenoic acid percentage of the total long-chain n-3 fatty acids (DHA/FA) was significantly lower in OOM (p = 0.015). DHA/FA associated significantly with skeletal muscle glucose uptake (GU) (p = 0.031) and the metabolizable glucose value derived from hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique (M-value) in the OLM group only (p = 0.050). Conclusions: DHA/FA is associated with insulin-dependent skeletal muscle glucose uptake and this association is significantly weakened in the offspring of obese mothers.


BACKGROUND
To determine the lifetime prevalence and characteristics of non-specific back pain (low back pain, upper back pain) and neck pain in adolescents living in urban areas of Poland. We also studied the impact of back/neck pain on adolescents' daily activity as well as the association of back pain with computer use, watching TV, physical work, and physical activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A school-based questionnaire survey of back pain and physical activity, computer use, watching TV and functional disorders was distributed among 1475 randomly selected adolescents aged 13 to 20 years attending lower and upper secondary schools in Poznań, Poland.

RESULTS
A total of 986 (67%) teenagers reported having experienced one or more episodes of back/neck pain in their lives. Low back pain was the most common presentation. Back/neck pain symptoms appeared mostly between the 14th and 16th year of life. The daily activities mostly impaired by back/neck pain were physical activity, learning/concentration and lifting objects. No significant differences were found in computer use and physical activity between adolescents with and without a history of back/neck pain. Pain-free teenagers watched TV significantly longer. Boys with back/neck pain performed physical work more frequently than pain-free boys.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Compared to adolescents and adults in other European countries, the lifetime prevalence of back/neck pain in Polish adolescents living in urban areas is similar. 2. The findings support the hypothesis that physical activity, computer use and watching TV cannot be regarded as risk factors for back/neck pain. 3. Back/neck pain may have a negative influence on the daily activities of adolescents. Nevertheless, this impact is probably temporary and adolescents seem to develop strategies for coping with pain in order to participate normally in daily activities. More detailed studies of these coping strategies are recommended.


We present a novel three-step modified-signed-digit optical computing system based on the discrete correlation of space-coded input matrices that are multiply imaged by using optical fan-out elements. The advantages of our method over other approaches include a larger throughput, more flexible operation, and an easier optical implementation.


Iron is one instrumental micronutrient to any healthy pregnancy. Its deficiency (with or without overt anaemia) remains a significant risk factor to gestational complications. In the present study, 307 pregnant women were prospectively recruited from Northern zone of Ebonyi State to assess their gestational iron status. The iron status of the subjects was determined with serum iron level and heamoglobin concentration, using atomic absorption (flame) spectrometric and Drabkin's methods respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the computer software: "Statistical Program for Social Sciences" (SPSS for windows version 15.0). The result showed that 177 (59.8%) of the pregnant women were iron deficient, while 45.6% of them was at the risk of iron deficiency anaemia. Parity, educational level, occupation and living accommodation showed significant (p < 0.05) influence on the iron status of the subjects. It could be concluded that gestational iron deficiency with its related anaemia was yet to be effectively brought under control in our society; with parity and economic status implicated as risk factors.


We present a set of expressions for the determination of the activation energy of a thermoluminescence peak recorded with a hyperbolic heating scheme. It is demonstrated that the order of kinetics can be estimated from the fractional intensities at the points of inflection of the peak.


With a multi-phase transport (AMPT) model, a γ-jet with known production point and momentum is triggered to search for the origin of double-peak structure in di-hadron azimuthal correlation in central Au+Au collisions at RHIC energy. The different configurations of triggered γ-jet produce different shapes of medium responses. The key of the double-peak structure is found to be a strong shadowing effect of dense core, which is related to transverse expansion and radial flow of partonic matter.


Results of treatment of 32 Graves disease patients with fixed activity of I131 in an outpatient mode were analyzed. 131 acitivty was 15 mCi (555 MBq). Mean age of patients was 48.5 years (20–70 years). Mean thyroid volume – 23 ± 13.9 ml. In 5 (15.6%) patients relapse of thyrotoxicosis was observed. Stable euthyroid state was revealed in 1 (3.1%) patient (follow up period 18 months). In 26 (81.3%) patients hypothyroidism occurred after the treatment. Total effectiveness of the treatment was 84.4%. In a group of patients with thyroid volume less than 50 ml total effec tiveness of the treatment was 93.1%.


In this paper%2C existing innovation models are reviewed. The influence of technology and market-driven schools of thought on the creation and diffusion of innovation is examined. Incremental vs. radical models and autonomous vs. systemic models are considered in the context of the construction industry. The concept of %93technology adoption life cycle%94 is investigated to understand better the acceptance of new technology by key parties. A new model of innovation is proposed. In this model%2C the transformation process of invention into adoption flows through a cyclical mechanism encompassing six phases%3A 1%29 need%2C 2%29 creation%2C 3%29 invention%2C 4%29 innovation%2C 5%29 diffusion%2C and 6%29 adoption. This model clearly shows the interaction of the three most influential domains%3A users%2C changes%2C and the environment. The model also takes into consideration the influence of technology and market-driven forces on the creation and diffusion of innovation. As a consequence of their particular function in the construction activity%2C construction management firms should perform as catalysts in the generation and diffusion of technological advances in the Abstract in Bahasa Indonesia : Innovation%2C+invention%2C+innovation+models%2C+technology+adoption+life+cycle%2C+construction+management.+


The authors explain the clinical aspects presented by the arterial intracranial aneurisms. They base their classification in their own experience which is of 30 aneurisms and present 9 typical cases which they describe clinically and arteriographically, and the surgical method used. The diagnostic of the arterial aneurismas and its localization is always accurately obtained by the arteriography (the authors have made 400 arteriographies without a serious accident). They consider the classification that follows as previous and susceptible of being modified or enlarged according to experience: 1) form with meningeal hemorrhages; 2) form with paralysis of the extrinsic muscle of the eyes; 3) pseudo-tumoral form; 4) pseudo-encephalitic form; 5) form with epilepsy, clinically essential.


The epidemic situation in the area is assessed. In 1988, 3587 persons have been examined for alveococcosis, using immunological tests. In 322 of them (9%) indirect hemagglutination tests turned out to be positive. Successful prevention of alveococcosis in the area is associated with complex measures on the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease and the improvement of the material basis of the Centre for alveococcosis control.


With the metamorphosis of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU) the legal framework of the continent also underwent drastic change. The Constitutive Act and the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (PSC Protocol) are the two most progressive instruments of the continent. The latter is essential to the causes of peace, security and human rights in Africa. Although it is commendable that the Constitutive Act and the PSC Protocol have already acquired 53 and 43 ratifications respectively, it is also important to note that certain parts of the latter instrument have application on third party African States. There are many ways by which the Protocol applies (binds) the ten African countries that have not ratified it. (1) The textual reading of the Protocol simply engulfs third parties and an argument can be made to the effect that African leaders intended the Protocol to bind all AU members without the need for their consent. Indeed, this argument is plausible because to a large extent, the Protocol is an implementation mechanism of grand principles accepted by all African countries under the Constitutive Act. (2) The exception principles of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) (VCLT), under which circumstance a treaty binds a third party State, seem to apply to PSC Protocol. (3) The Protocol also embodies customary international and African law which binds all African States independent of their consent.


Authenticity as an ideal is construed in general as an expression of existentialist unhappiness with the perceived dehumanization of man in modern society. Existential journalism can be seen as rejection of the demands of conformism and compromise of personal convictions that many journalists face. Ethically, existential journalism calls on journalists to live authentic lives, as private individuals as well as in their profession. This means to resist external pressures and to choose to follow a path that can be defended by the individual journalist's inner conscience. Existential journalism, in general, has been more debated in the field of mass media ethics than authenticity. Authenticity is, however, a contested concept, and this essay applies a critical discussion about authenticity as an ethical guide to the field of journalism. Weaknesses in the idea of existential authenticity problematize the existential construal of authenticity as a route to heightened ethical awareness for contemporary journalists.


Introduction: Pancytopenia is a clinical condition, which refers to a combination of anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. It often poses diagnostic challenge to physician and the knowledge of accurate etiologies of this condition is crucial in the management of the patient. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective study done over a period of October 2011 to December 2011 and 50 patients were evaluated clinically along with haematological parameters, bone marrow aspiration and wherever required, a trephine biopsy was performed in Haematology department of Armed forces institute of pathology (AFIP), Dhaka cantonment, Dhaka. In all patients, a detailed relevant history along with a physical examination was done and data was collected using pre designed proforma. Results: Among the 50 cases studied, age of the patients ranged from 3 to 80 yrs with a mean age of 37.5 yrs and male predominance. Fever and generalized weakness were the most common symptoms. The commonest physical findings were pallor followed by splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Anisopoikilocytosis and relative lymphocytosis was the most prominent peripheral blood findings in patients. The commonest cause of pancytopenia was Aplastic anaemia (36%), followed by Myelodysplastic syndrome (18%), visceral leishmaniasis (12%), Megaloblastic anaemia (8%), Acute leukaemia (6%), Myelofibrosis (4%), Multiple myeloma (4%), Hypersplenism (4%), Malaria (2%). Conclusion: As a large number of pancytopenic patients have a reversible aetiology, early & proper diagnosis may be life saving. Maximum diagnostic yield can be achieved by correlation with clinical findings & laboratory parameters.


Over the past decades, traditional hard transition metal nitride films, such as Ti N, have been widely used as machining and metal-forming tools coating materials due to their high hardness and chemical stability.With the rapid development of modern industrial technology, Ti N has been unable to meet the requirements of modern industry, nanocomposite films because of its excellent comprehensive performance have attracted more and more scholars' attention. Ti WN film as one of the Ti N-based films has become a better substitute material. However the room temperature tribological property of Ti WN film is not ideal, which limits its use of performance. According to the published experimental studies, C can well improve the room temperature tribological property because of its self- lubricating performance. However the effects of C content on the hardness of Ti WN film is still not clear. The effects of C on mechanical property and the friction and wear property of Ti WN film remain to be investigated. A series of Ti WCN composite films with various C contents have been synthesized by magnetron sputtering technique. The microstructures, mechanical properties and the friction and wear property were investigated by XRD, SEM, nano-indentation, high temperature ball-on-disc tribo-meter, respectively. The results show that TiWCN composite films consist of fcc structure Ti WCN phase and hcp structure Ti2 N phase. With the increase of C content, the hardness of Ti WCN films increases first and then decreases, the wear rate decreases first and then increases, while the friction coefficient gradually decreases. The maximum hardness of 35.97 GPa and the minimum wear rate value of 1.26×10-5mm3· N-1· m-1are obtained when C content is 11.25%. The minimum friction coefficient of 0.32 is obtained when C content is 13.68%. The friction coefficient and wear rate of Ti WCN composite films are lower than that of Ti WN films when the temperature is below 370 ℃; while the values are higher than that of Ti WN films when the temperature exceeds 370 ℃. C added to the Ti WN films improves mechanical properties and the room temperature friction and wear properties of the films though does not enhance the high temperature friction and wear properties of the films.


Successful production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was achieved via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with the following four new polyoxometalate (POM)-based metal–organic compounds (MOCs) as catalyst precursors: {(4-H2bptzb)2[HPMo12O40]2}·H2O (1), {Ag(4-H2bptzb)(H2O)[PMo12O40]} (2), {Ag3(3-bptzb)2[PMo12O40]} (3), and {Ag4(3-bptzpe)3(H2O)2[HPMo12O40]2} (4) (3-bptzb = 1,4-bis(5-(3-pyridyl)tetrazolyl)-propane, 4-bptzb = 1,4-bis(5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazolyl)-propane, and 3-bptzpe = 1,4-bis(5-(3-pyridyl)tetrazolyl)-pentane). The Mo2C nanoparticles transformed from the POM-based MOCs 1–4 acted as catalysts for the synthesis of CNTs 1–4. The different specific surface areas of CNTs 1–4 can be attributed to the content of Mo2C nanoparticles, which may be due to the diverse components and structures of compounds 1–4. The as-grown CNTs exhibit a high adsorption activity towards the organic dyes methylene blue (MB), safranine T (ST) and methylene orange (MO).


The issue of moral considerability, or how much moral importance a being's interests deserve, is one of the most important in animal ethics. Some leading theorists—most notably David DeGrazia—have argued that a principle of "equal moral consideration" is compatible with "unequal moral status." Such a position would reconcile the egalitarian force of equal consideration with more stringent obligations to humans than animals. The article presents arguments that equal consideration is not compatible with unequal moral status, thereby forcing those who would justify significantly different moral protections for humans and animals to argue for unequal consideration.


Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between the methods used to generate radiology reports and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among radiologists. Additionally, we investigated the factors associated with the use of such methods. Methods An online survey was sent to radiologists practicing in hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The survey addressed demographic characteristics, work environment, and methods used to generate radiology reports and included an evaluation of musculoskeletal symptoms using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results were analyzed descriptively using the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results The survey was completed by 198 radiologists (111 men and 87 women), including residents (40.9%), specialists (27.3%), and consultants (31.8%). Most participants (71.2%) were aged below 40 years. In total, 140 (70.7%) participants had experienced musculoskeletal symptoms in the week preceding the survey. The most popular method used to generate radiology reports was typing using a keyboard, with 64.1% of participants using this method, followed by a handheld dictation device (49.5%). Radiologists with limited years of practice more frequently generated reports via keyboard typing, particularly those with <1-year of experience (35.8%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that radiologists who used handheld dictation devices were at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions Musculoskeletal symptoms are common among radiologists. Radiologists who use handheld dictation devices were particularly likely to report experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms. These devices were less commonly used among radiologists with fewer years of experience.


In the last two decades, tourism has been contributing 6% of world output, one in 15 jobs and 7% of capital investment. According to UNWTO, it can double its contribution to worlds output, increases job by 33% and capital investment can jump by 80%. India has a distinctive culture and way of life, there is amazing cultural diversity throughout the country. Every state has carved out its own cultural niche. Unlike other export industries, there is comparatively little investment needed for promoting tourism. The scope for its expansion is unlimited. It is an industry, a source of income, especially of foreign exchange and an exercise in national image building. Government of India felt the importance of hospitality education and under the umbrella of ministry of tourism set up IHMs and ITTMs. IHMs were set up to cater the manpower demand in the field of catering and hotels. Similarly, ITTMs were dealing with manpower requirement in travel and tourism. Values and culture are inculcated in normal Indian since childhood hence automatically becomes inbuilt component of hospitality education. This gives Indian hospitality graduates broader horizon towards the trade and opens scope of their employment globally. Institute-industry interface existed in form of industrial exposure and other short term training programs as part of curriculum. There is a need of educational and administrative reforms in hospitality institutes, teaching and research. Teacher's perks and pays are to be made comparable to other sector to attract better talent in hospitality education. There is lot of scope of research and projects on various aspects of hotels. There could be very innovative, meaningful and useful for society as well as Industry. So, Higher education and research bodies are required to recognize it as important and potential area for study. Accordingly, encouragement in form of financial-funding and support is the need of the hour.


Precise (in order) estimates of the Kolmogorov widths in the space , , of the classes and  and also of the trigonometric widths of the classes in  for and  satisfying certain relations are obtained.


Objectives: To compare assignment of occupational pesticide and solvent exposure using self-reported data collected by a computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) with exposure based on expert assessment of job codes. To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a CAPI to collect individual occupational exposure data. Methods: Between 2001 and 2004, 1495 participants were interviewed using a CAPI for a case-control study of adult brain tumours and acoustic neuromas. Two types of occupational data were collected: (1) a full history, including job title from which a job code was assigned from the Standard Occupational Classification; and (2) specific details on pesticide and solvent exposure reported by participants. Study members' experiences of using the CAPI were recorded and advantages and disadvantages summarised. Results: Of 7192 jobs recorded, the prevalence of self-reported exposure was 1.3% for pesticides and 11.5% for solvents. Comparing this with exposure expertly assessed from job titles showed 53.6% and 45.8% concordance for pesticides and solvents respectively. Advantages of the CAPI include no data entry stage, automatic input validation, and a reduction in interviewer bias. Disadvantages include an adverse effect on study implementation as a consequence of resources required for programming and difficulties encountered with data management prior to analysis. Conclusions: Different methods of exposure assessment derive different exposure levels for pesticide and solvent exposure at work. Agreement between self-reported and expert assessment of exposure was greater for pesticides compared to solvents. The advantages of using a CAPI for the collection of complex data outweigh the disadvantages for interviewers and data quality but using such a method requires extra resources at the study outset.


Atrazine and lindane are widely employed as pesticides in agriculture, which by wash off, could contaminate the aquatic environment. In this study, they were tested in vitro on the replication of the virus of Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) in Epithelioma Papulosum Cyprini cell line. They were dissolved first in DMSO and then in medium at their solubility limit in water (28 and 10 mg/l). The results of the kinetic titers after 72 h showed no statistically significant difference between control and contaminated cells.


Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUASs) are fostering novel approaches to marine mammal research, including baleen whale photogrammetry, by providing new observational perspectives. We collected vertical images of 89 gray and 6 blue whales using low cost sUASs to examine the accuracy of image based morphometry. Moreover, measurements from 192 images of a 1 m calibration object were used to examine four different scaling correction models. Results indicate that a linear mixed model including an error term for flight and date contained 0.17 m less error and 0.25 m less bias than no correction. We used the propagation uncertainty law to examine error contributions from scaling and image measurement (digitization) to determine that digitization accounted for 97% of total variance. Additionally, we present a new whale body size metric termed Body Area Index (BAI). BAI is scale invariant and is independent of body length (R = 0.11), enabling comparisons of body size within and among populations, and over time. With this study we present a three program analysis suite that measures baleen whales and compensates for lens distortion and corrects scaling error to produce 11 morphometric attributes from sUAS imagery. The program is freely available and is expected to improve processing efficiency and analytical continuity.


The present work aims to give insight into the effect that metal coordination has on the room-temperature conductance of molecular wires. For that purpose, we have designed a family of rigid, highly conductive ligands functionalized with different terminations (acetylthiols, pyridines, and ethynyl groups), in which the conformational changes induced by metal coordination are negligible. The single-molecule conductance features of this series of molecular wires and their corresponding Cu(I) complexes have been measured in break-junction setups at room temperature. Experimental and theoretical data show that no matter the anchoring group, in all cases metal coordination leads to a shift toward lower energies of the ligand energy levels and a reduction of the HOMO-LUMO gap. However, electron-transport measurements carried out at room temperature revealed a variable metal coordination effect depending on the anchoring group: upon metal coordination, the molecular conductance of thiol and ethynyl derivatives decreased, whereas that of pyridine derivatives increased. These differences reside on the molecular levels implied in the conduction. According to quantum-mechanical calculations based on density functional theory methods, the ligand frontier orbital lying closer to the Fermi energy of the leads differs depending on the anchoring group. Thereby, the effect of metal coordination on molecular conductance observed for each anchoring could be explained in terms of the different energy alignments of the molecular orbitals within the gold Fermi level.


There now follows a synthesis of the main results of this study. We interpret the observations in terms of the interplay between magmatic, tectonic and volcanic processes and place these processes within a global context. Santorini has displayed a wide variety of igneous and volcanic phenomena over a period of at least 650 000 years of almost continuous and focused volcanism. Perhaps the most intriguing issues are the causes of volcanic and magmatic cyclicity, the secular variations in magma composition and the way in which magmatic processes have influenced the style of volcanism. Santorini is part of a continental volcanic arc that developed in the late Pliocene on thinning continental lithosphere (Chapter 2; Jackson 1994). The exposed Aegean crust is composed principally of Mesozoic metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, Tertiary plutonic rocks, and late Tertiary to Quaternary volcanics. There are also local remnants of Hercynian basement of Precambrian to Palaeozoic age, which may be widely present at depth, providing the crystalline foundation to the Mesozoic cover. The Mesozoic rocks were strongly deformed and metamorphosed during the Alpine orogeny, with at least two major episodes of deformation and metamorphism, namely an Eocene high-pressure blueschist-facies event and Miocene greenschist-facies event. The tectonic regime became extensional towards the end of the Miocene, with emplacement of post-collisional granitoids followed by development of the modern arc system in the late Pliocene. The crust roughly halved in thickness during extension and collapse of the Aegean region (Jackson 1994). The deeper unexposed parts of the Aegean crust are


The purpose of the monography is to elaborate the concept of the development of inter-regional investment cooperation by identifying the trends and features of its impact on the economic growth potential of the macro-region. The monography consists of the introduction, three chapters, conclusion and applications, as well as a list of references. The first chapter substantiates theoretical approaches to the essence, conditions and factors of regional development and the content of interregional investment cooperation in the current socio-economic conditions, analyzes the features of institutional design and the mechanisms for regulating regional cooperation for economic growth and development purposes, taking into account the Russian and foreign experience on the example of the European Union. The second chapter, basing on the economic analysis, identifies the trends in the development of the regions of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation in terms of emerging macro-regions. A model has been proposed to assess the extent of the region's economy's involvement in inter-regional relations, which would allow to determine the dependence of variables such as interregional exchange, investment and gross regional product. Using mathematical modeling tools, the impact of these factors on the growth of the gross regional product of the Central Federal District of Russia, as well as its two regions — Moscow and Belgorod region — was evaluated. The third chapter identifies the prospects for the development of interregional investment cooperation in the Central Black Earth macro-region of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation. The concept of developing inter-regional investment cooperation in the macro-region within the framework of the creation of a network of territories ahead of socioeconomic development (PSEDA) has been developed. The mechanism of inter-regional investment cooperation in the framework of the creation and development of the territories ahead of socio-economic development (PSEDA) has been adapted in order to form the points of economic growth in the macro-region. The main text of the monography is laid out on 234 pages and is illustrated with 21 drawings and 40 tables. The monography contains 4 applications. The references list includes 144 units.


Thuringiensin is a thermostable secondary metabolite in Bacillus thuringiensis and has insecticidal activity against a wide range of insects. Until now, the regulatory mechanisms and genetic determinants involved in thuringiensin production have remained unclear. Here, we successfully used heterologous expression-guided screening in an Escherichia coli–Bacillus thuringiensis shuttle bacterial artificial chromosome library, to clone the intact thuringiensin synthesis (thu) cluster. Then the thu cluster was located on a 110-kb endogenous plasmid bearing insecticide crystal protein gene cry1Ba in strain CT-43. Furthermore, the plasmid, named pBMB0558, was indirectly cloned and sequenced. The gene functions on pBMB0558 were annotated by BLAST based on the GenBankTM and KEGG databases. The genes on pBMB0558 could be classified into three functional modules: a thuringiensin synthesis cluster, a type IV secretion system-like module, and mobile genetic elements. By HPLC coupling mass spectrometer, atmospheric pressure ionization with ion trap, and TOF technologies, biosynthetic intermediates of thuringiensin were detected. The thuE gene is proved to be responsible for the phosphorylation of thuringiensin at the last step by vivo and vitro activity assays. The thuringiensin biosynthesis pathway was deduced and clarified. We propose that thuringiensin is an adenine nucleoside oligosaccharide rather than an adenine nucleotide analog, as is traditionally believed, based on the predicted functions of the key enzymes, glycosyltransferase (ThuF) and exopolysaccharide polymerization protein (Thu1).


The intent of this chapter is to familiarize readers with the principles and constructs of an approach to learning and mental development known as Sociocultural Theory.1 Sociocultural Theory (SCT) has its origins in the writings of the Russian psychologist L. S. Vygotsky and his colleagues. SCT argues that human mental functioning is fundamentally a mediated process that is organized by cultural artifacts, activities, and concepts (Ratner, 2002).2 Within this framework, humans are understood to utilize existing cultural artifacts and to create new ones that allow them to regulate their biological and behavioral activity. Language use, organization, and structure are the primary means of mediation. Practically speaking, developmental processes take place through participation in cultural, linguistic, and historically formed settings such as family life and peer group interaction, and in institutional contexts like schooling, organized sports activities, and work places, to name only a few. SCT argues that while human neurobiology is a necessary condition for higher order thinking, the most important forms of human cognitive activity develop


RuO2 2D nanosheet electrodes are used for enhanced photosynthetic electron harvesting from thylakoids. The harvesting of photosynthetic electrons (PEs) directly from photosynthetic complexes has been demonstrated over the past decade. However, their limited efficiency and stability have hampered further practical development. For example, despite its importance, the interfacial electron transfer between the photosynthetic apparatus and the electrode has received little attention. In this study, we modified electrodes with RuO2 nanosheets to enhance the extraction of PEs from thylakoids, and the PE transfer was promoted by proton adsorption and surface polarity characteristics. The adsorbed protons maintained the potential of an electrode more positive, and the surface polarity enhanced thylakoid attachment to the electrode in addition to promoting ensemble docking between the redox species and the electrode. The RuO2 bioanode exhibited a five times larger current density and a four times larger power density than the Au bioanode. Last, the electric calculators were successfully powered by photosynthetic energy using a RuO2 bioanode.


Abstract. Relatively little is known about the weightings that breeders consciously or subconsciously place on specific traits when selecting individual plants, or the weightings agronomists and producers use when evaluating the relative merits of alternative cultivars and their potential economic value in farm systems. This is despite the many active programs for breeding improved forage plants, and in contrast to most modern animal-breeding programs where the relative merits of novel genetics are assessed against index-based breeding objectives. There are many reasons why breeding objectives based on profit indices are not used when breeding pasture plants. The nature of pasture as an intermediate input to farm output and profit poses unique difficulties in developing breeding objectives based on profit. In this paper, we review the literature about methods to value genetic gain in perennial grasses. Various methods are canvassed for assessing the value of genetic gain for different pasture species across production systems. In the context of the complexity and cost of estimating the direct economic benefits of superior characteristics of pasture plants in farm systems via bio-economic simulation methods, we outline the use, and usefulness, of discrete choice techniques in the development of weightings for specific traits in forage plant improvement. There is a clear need to estimate the value of new pasture cultivars to producers, and although the differences between individual farms mean that one value or one 'best' cultivar is unlikely for any farm, the estimation of potential value of traits and cultivars will allow producers to make choices that are more informed.


Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are proposing a new way to process nuclear waste that uses a plasma-based centrifuge. Known as plasma mass filtering, the new mass separation techniques would supplement chemical techniques. It is hoped that this combined approach would reduce both the cost of nuclear waste disposal and the amount of byproducts produced during the process. This work was supported by PPPL's Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program.


Abstract Objective To systematically and meta-analytically investigate the efficacy and safety of vaginal dinoprostone versus placebo in pain relief during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were screened till 1 October 2020. Only randomised placebo-controlled studies were included and assessed for risk of bias. Main outcomes included IUD insertion related pain, patient satisfaction, provider ease of IUD insertion, and side effects. Pooled outcomes were summarised as standardised mean difference (SMD), weighted mean difference (WMD), or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results Five studies were included, comprising 862 patients; equally 431 patients received vaginal dinoprostone and placebo. All studies showed an overall low risk of bias. When compared to placebo, dinoprostone significantly correlated with decreased pain at tenaculum placement (SMD = −0.79, 95% CI [−1.43, −0.16], p = 0.01), decreased pain at uterine sounding (SMD = −0.88, 95% CI [−1.54, −0.22], p = 0.009), decreased pain at IUD insertion (SMD = −1.18, 95% CI [−1.74, −0.61], p < 0.001), decreased need for additional analgesia (RR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.22, 0.53], p < 0.001), increased patient satisfaction (SMD = 1.41, 95% CI [0.62, 2.20], p < 0.001), and increased provider ease of IUD insertion (SMD = −1.17, 95% CI [−1.62, −0.73], p < 0.001). Fever was statistically significantly higher in dinoprostone versus placebo group (RR = 3.73, 95% CI [1.47, 9.44], p = 0.006). All other side effects—including nausea, vomiting, shivering, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vasovagal attack, uterine perforation, and postprocedural bleeding—did not substantially differ between both groups. Conclusions This first ever meta-analysis advocates that dinoprostone compared with placebo is safe, effective, and yields favourable analgesic outcomes during IUD insertion.


A compress garment for application to a body generally includes a member sized and shaped for positioning onto a body when in position conforms to and supports a body shape. A least one, preferably a multiple number of access windows disposed in the garment member for enabling dermal application and removal of a medical electrode. The access windows are located on the garment member at positions enabling access to pre-selected dermal areas.


Interdroplet vapor pressure gradients are the driving mechanism for several phase-change phenomena such as condensation dry zones, interdroplet ice bridging, dry zones around ice, and frost halos. Despite the fundamental nature of the underlying pressure gradients, the majority of studies on these emerging phenomena have been primarily empirical. Using classical nucleation theory and Becker-Döring embryo formation kinetics, here we calculate the pressure field for all possible modes of condensation and desublimation in order to gain fundamental insight into how pressure gradients govern the behavior of dry zones, condensation frosting, and frost halos. Our findings reveal that in a variety of phase-change systems the thermodynamically favorable mode of nucleation can switch between condensation and desublimation depending upon the temperature and wettability of the surface. The calculated pressure field is used to model the length of a dry zone around liquid or ice droplets over a broad parameter space. The long-standing question of whether the vapor pressure at the interface of growing frost is saturated or supersaturated is resolved by considering the kinetics of interdroplet ice bridging. Finally, on the basis of theoretical calculations, we propose that there exists a new mode of frost halo that is yet to be experimentally observed; a bimodal phase map is developed, demonstrating its dependence on the temperature and wettability of the underlying substrate. We hope that the model and predictions contained herein will assist future efforts to exploit localized vapor pressure gradients for the design of spatially controlled or antifrosting phase-change systems.


From the Publisher:
War and Peace in The Global Village is a collage of images and text that sharply illustrates the effects of electronic media and new technology on man.

Marshall McLuhan wrote this book thirty years ago and following its publication predicted that the forthcoming information age would be "a transitional era of profound pain and tragic identity quest". Marshall McLuhan illustrates the fact that all social changes are caused by introduction of new technologies. He interprets these new technologies as extensions or "self-amputations of our own being", because technologies extend bodily reach. McLuhan's ideas and observations seem disturbingly accurate and clearly applicable to the world in which we live.

War and Peace in the Global Village is a meditation on accelerating innovations leading to identity loss and war.


Palatal rugae, also known as plicae palatinae transversae and rugae palatine, are situated in the anterior third of the hard mucosal palate in the roof of the mouth. While there is literature suggesting that the palatal rugae could be used for human identification, most of these studies use two-dimensional (2D) approach. Scanning three-dimensional (3D) technology could facilitate the computerized matching of palatal rugae patterns in a manner comparable to the current gold standard for assessing fingerprints.

The aims of this study were to evaluate palatal rugae patterns using three-dimensional (3D) digital models; to compare the most clinically relevant digital model conversion techniques for identification of the palatal rugae; to develop a protocol for overlay registration; to determine changes in palatal rugae individual patterns through time and following orthodontic treatment; and to investigate the efficiency and accuracy of 3D matching processes between different individuals' patterns.

Initially, the palatal rugae area for each digital impression was isolated as a separate 3D image, and two impressions were registered by manual alignment followed by global registration. Five cross sections in the anteroposterior dimension and four cross sections in the transverse dimension were computed which generated eighteen 2D variables. In addition, thirteen 3D variables were defined using the annotation function in the software: the posterior point of incisive papilla (IP), and the most medial and lateral end points of the palatal rugae (R1MR, R1ML, R1LR, R1LL, R2MR, R2ML, R2LR, R2LL, R3MR, R3ML, R3LR, and R3LL). The deviation magnitude for each variable was statistically analyzed in this study.

Five different data sets with the same thirty one different landmarks were evaluated in this study. The results demonstrated that two-dimensional (2D) images and linear measurements in anteroposterior and transverse dimension were not sufficient for comparing different digital model conversion techniques using the palatal rugae. 3D digital models proved to be a highly effective tool in evaluating different palatal rugae patterns. The 3D landmarks showed no statistically mean differences over time and as a result of orthodontic treatment. No statistically mean difference was found between different digital model conversion techniques, between OrthoCAD™ and Ortho Insight 3D™ and between Ortho Insight 3D™ and the iTero® scans, when using twelve 3D palatal rugae landmarks for comparison. Although all twelve palatal 3D landmarks could be used for human identification over time, certain landmarks showed more significant impact on the matching process and were arranged by strength and importance.

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) approach was developed and utilized for human verification and identification using the palatal rugae pattern. Proposed values for 3D palatal landmarks were introduced that could be useful in biometrics and forensic odontology for human verification or identification in cases of traffic accidents,…


In this paper we present an application of the model of Intellectual Capital to the world of the very rich and millionaires. It Is, we believe an important research topic, because in the last decade inequality grew, and Intellectual Capital became the most important economic asset. But no empirical studies exist to link the two phenomena. We applied our model to a set of football coaches, football being an industry that produces outlying incomes. We estimated the relation between a set of intellectual capital characteristics of those coaches and their incomes. We found that indeed, IC explains almost two thirds (63%) of the evolution of the very big salaries of those very rich people. Even if those results are interesting, and give an indication of the influence of IC in the success of rich people, they are only limited to a small sample of persons. Anyway, from our research we may infer that IC (social capital, human capital, and structural capital) plays a major role in defining the wealth of the top earners in the world. From this we may conclude that a policy of inequality reduction should take into account that intangible assets are at the base of those persons wealth. The study is original, because at least for our knowledge, It is the first in which the relation between IC and the wealth of millionaires has been tested. We hope to enlarge the study in the future in order to include the phenomenon of billionaires, as well.


Although researchers have debated whether a core deficit of nonsymbolic representation of magnitude underlies developmental dyscalculia (DD), research has mostly focused on numerosity processing. We probed the possibility of a general magnitude deficit in individuals with DD and asked whether sensitivity to size varied in contexts of depth ordering and size constancy. We measured full psychometric functions in size-discrimination tasks in 12 participants with DD and 13 control participants. Results showed that although people with DD exhibited veridical perceived magnitude, their sensitivity to size was clearly impaired. In contrast, when objects were embedded in depth cues allowing size-constancy computations, participants with DD demonstrated typical sensitivity to size. These results demonstrate a deficit in the perceptual resolutions of magnitude in DD. At the same time, the finding of an intact size constancy suggests that when magnitude perception is facilitated by implicit mandatory computations of size constancy, this deficit is no longer evident.