: The results of the investigations reported here show that contrary to expectations, the drop in mean arterial blood pressure (up to 57 mm Hg) during extracorporal circulation does not result in a simultaneous drop in intra-ocular pressure. Other factors, affect intra-ocular pressure during extracorporal circulation, causing it to rise. Postoperative studies of vision led to the conclusion that the elevations of intraocular pressure measured during extracorporal circulation with the heart-lung machine do not adversely affect ocular function.


High velocity impacts produce melts that solidify as ejected or in-situ glasses. We provide a review of their peculiar magnetic properties, as well as a new detailed study of four glasses from Siberia: El'gygytgyn, Popigai, urengoites, and South-Ural glass (on a total of 24 different craters or strewn-fields). Two types of behavior appear: 1) purely paramagnetic with ferromagnetic impurities at most of the order of 10 ppm; this corresponds to the five tektite strewn-fields (including the new one from Belize), urengoites, and Darwin glass. Oxidation state, based in particular on X-ray spectroscopy, is mostly restricted to Fe2+; 2) variable and up to strong ferromagnetic component, up to the 1 wt % range, mostly due to substituted magnetite often in superparamagnetic state. Accordingly, bulk oxidation state is intermediate between Fe2+ and Fe3+, although metallic iron, hematite, and pyrrhotite are sometimes encountered. Various applications of these magnetic properties are reviewed in the field of paleomagnetism, magnetic anomalies, recognition of glass origin, and formation processes.


1. In an effort to protect wanderers, nurses have overused physical restraints. Such practices have been reinforced by the potential for lawsuits charging negligence when wandering results in negative outcomes. 2. Wandering is movement changing over time and, thus, is a nonlinear ultradian rhythm, with locomoting and nonlocomoting phases. As a rhythm, an individual's wandering pattern is stable over a 1-week period. 3. Because most travel is direct, most ambulation, even for known wanderers, may not be wandering at all. Among inefficient travel patterns, lapping was the most frequently observed. 4. Behavior modification, grids, camouflage, and other environmental interventions are preferable to chemical or physical restraint in attempting to reduce unwanted or unsupervised exits by wanderers. These methods are not fail-proof, however, and do not replace careful supervision of wanderers by personnel.


Two hundred years after the pioneering clinical experiments of Edward Jenner, who inoculated humans with cowpox to prevent smallpox, we find ourselves at the threshold of a golden age of vaccinology. Much attention has recently been directed at the advances in modern biotechnology that are giving rise to exciting new vaccine candidates. Nevertheless, a long and arduous journey lies between being an innovative concept and becoming a licensed product that can serve as a public health tool. In fact, few concepts survive to become products. Less well appreciated are the advances in clinical vaccine testing that allow a vaccine to progress towards licensing; the epidemiological techniques devised to appraise its effectiveness after licensing, when the vaccine is used under real life conditions; and the tactics used to achieve high levels of vaccine coverage, particularly in less developed countries.

Biotechnology has opened entire new approaches to vaccine development, such as the rational and precise attenuation of bacteria and viruses to serve as live vaccines,1 the direct inoculation with plasmid DNA encoding protective antigens ("naked DNA" vaccines), and the microencapsulation of antigens to enhance immunogenicity and modulate the kinetics and type of immune response.2 Consequently, at various stages …


In order to establish titanium welding technology TIG arc weldability and MIG arc weldability were surveyed. For TIG arc weldability influence of arc length and thickness to proper region of welding condition became obvious. For MIG arc weldability a new method to defend wandering phenomenon was developed.


We propose a dimension-reduction method using supervised (multi-block) sparse (principal) component analysis. The method is first implemented through basis expansion of spatial brain images, and the scores are then reduced through regularized matrix decomposition to produce simultaneous data-driven selections of related brain regions, supervised by univariate composite scores representing linear combinations of covariates. Two advantages of the proposed method are that it identifies the associations between brain regions at the voxel level and that supervision is helpful for interpretation. The proposed method was applied to a study on Alzheimer ' s disease (AD) that involved using multimodal whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). For illustrative purposes, we demonstrate cases of both single- and multimodal brain imaging and longitudinal measurements.


Abstract

In economics, homothetic functions are generally used to represent production. Homogeneous production functions are a subset. A production function is homogeneous of degree α when all inputs are changed in the same proportion and resulting output changes by the αth power of the input change. Convention envisions homogeneity of degree 1, constant-returns-to-scale. Herein, we alter convention for increasing-returns-to-scale, α > 1. With aggregate increasing-returns-to-scale, symmetric regions, in a first-best Nash equilibrium, subsidize capital and overprotect the regional environment. Second-best fiscal structures are also examined.

JEL Classification numbers: H20, H71, H73
Keywords: Environmental federalism, Inter-jurisdictional competition, Increasing-returns-to-scale, Homothetic functions.


The signifi cantly higher incidence of COVID-19 on mortality and morbidity observed in the northern Italian regions as compared to the southern ones, could be partly explained by geographic variations of the prevalence of vitamin D defi ciency. The present opinion paper discusses this hypothesis. The immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D have been widely established and its benefi ts on viral and bacterial replication have been attributed to its ability to modulate gene expression by activating the vitamin D receptor in many target cells, including immune cells, and by promoting the expression of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidins and beta-defensins, which are also endowed with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. Recently, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, many studies have shown a high prevalence of very low levels of vitamin D in patients with severe manifestations of the disease, and that high dose vitamin D administration appeared able to favourably modify the evolution of the infection. Although these studies, mainly based on crosssectional analyses and small-scale randomized clinical studies, could not provide a defi nitive proof of a cause-effect relationship, it is possible to suggest that hypovitaminosis D might be considered "guilty by association" as one of the factors able to worsen the pandemic spread and its clinical impact.


Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome characterized by a defect in the glucose metabolism due to the decrease in the secretion of insulin or due to insulin resistance. The complications of diabetes mellitus in the eyes include many manifestations and one among them is the reduction of accommodative amplitude. People with diabetes have accelerated age-related biometric ocular changes compared with people without diabetes. This purpose of this study is to compare the accommodative amplitude in prepresbyopic diabetic patients with age related healthy individuals. The study was a case control hospital based study carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, Saveetha Medical College. The subjects in the study included 50 diabetic patients of age 30 to 40 (Case) and 50 non diabetic patients of the same age (control). The accommodative amplitude was measured by minus lens method. People who have had diabetic retinopathy, previous ocular surgeries and systemic diseases which have more ocular manifestations were excluded. The mean amplitude of accommodation is seen to be lower in diabetic patients when compared with the normal population and it was found to be statically significant. The incidence of accommodation insufficiency was also found to be higher in diabetic patients and was found to be statistically significant. Thus according to the findings there is a direct influence of diabetes on accommodative amplitude i.e, there is a decrease in accommodative amplitude in diabetic patients when compared with normal patients.


The Pennsylvania State University-NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) and a simplified simple biosphere (SSiB) scheme are modified and then coupled to study various regional climate and weather problems. These modifications include correcting the moisture and cloud hydrometeor fields to ensure the mass conservation; incorporating the effects of dissipative heating to ensure total energy conservation; decoupling soil and vegetation types in specifying various surface parameters; and eliminating the shortwave radiation reaching the surface at points where deep convection occurs. A 30-day integration of June 1998 over the Midwest states was used to examine the model's capability in capturing the observed wet regional climate and the passage of several mesoscale weather events. It is found that the coupled model reproduces the distribution and magnitude of monthly accumulated precipitation, the time series of area-integrated precipitation, surface pressures, and diurnal changes in surface temperatures, low-level winds and precipitation, as well as the evolution of precipitation systems across the central United States. In particular, the model reproduces well many daily weather events, including the distribution and intensity of low-level temperature and pressure perturbations and precipitation, even up to a month. The results suggest that the daily temperature, clouds, and precipitation events from the weekly to monthly scales, as well as their associated regional climate phenomena, could be reasonably simulated if the surface, boundary layer, radiation, and convective processes are realistically parameterized, and the large-scale forcing could be reasonably provided by general circulation models.


The effect of the nephrotoxic substance, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide, on the histological pattern and incidence of kidney tumors induced by streptozotocin in rats was studied. In groups administered streptozotocin alone or in combination with nicotinamide, the histological pattern and the incidence of kidney tumors in rats were similar; renal cell tumors developed in 1 of 9 rats (11.1%) and in 2 of 17 rats (11.8%), respectively. However, post-treatment with N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide increased the induction of epithelial tumors by streptozotocin, and embryonal cell tumors were also induced nearly as frequently. Administration of nicotinamide alone did not result in the development of kidney tumors.


If an unfavorable prognosis is suspected in neuroblastoma, decision on a treatment protocol should be based on the N-myc copy number (12). We already demonstrated that the newly developed competitive polymerase chain reaction (competitive PCR) is a promising method for the determination of the N-myc copy number (6), and have started to use this competitive PCR procedure in neuroblastoma patients, together with fine-needle biopsy in selected cases. Seven children were studied. In one infant of 5 months of age whose tumor was diagnosed before undergoing mass screening for neuroblastoma, the competitive PCR procedure was performed with a fine-needle biopsy, and after obtaining a negative report on N-myc amplification within 48 hours, a regular protocol of treatment could be started without delay. We report that competitive PCR is a rapid and accurate method for the determination of the N-myc copy number, requiring only a small amount of material, and anticipate that competitive PCR will become the procedure of choice for the determination of N-myc copy number in neuroblastoma.


New U-Pb data from leucogranites in the High Himalayan slab in the western Himalaya of Zanskar reveal that crustal melting occurred at 21–19.5 Ma and that anatexis occurred along the Himalaya at least from Kashmir-Zanskar to eastern Nepal at (Approx.)24–19.5 Ma. High-U monazites from leucogranitic melt pods in migmatites within the 35-km-wide sillimanite + K-feldspar zone at the deepest structural levels exposed (Umasi-la) have U-Pb ages of 20.6–19.5 Ma. Higher-level migmatitic melt pods from Shafat in the Suru valley also contain magmatic monazites with U-Pb ages of 20.8 ± 0.3 Ma. Zircons from the leucogranites contain an (Approx.)460 Ma inherited component, as do some Umasi-la monazites, showing that the protoliths were at least Ordovician in age.


Analytical flow cytometry (AFC) is a novel technique for the rapid (more than 103 s-1) analysis and sorting of single cells based upon simultaneous, multiple measurements of laser-induced particle fluorescence, light scatter and impedance. Originally developed for biomedical use, AFC is now being adapted to analyse single-celled organisms such as phytoplankton and bacteria which are present as trace but functionally important components in seawater. Marine AFC has been used to analytically differentiate and sort these organisms from the heterogeneous assemblage of particles present in seawater. Chlorophyll autofluorescence is an unique biomarker for photosynthetic organisms and has been used to analyse phytoplankton cytometrically both in the laboratory and at sea. A theoretical and practical framework for the cytometric quantitation of cellular chlorophyll in phytoplankton based on autofluorescence is presented. Other subcellular constituents such as enzymes, lipids, nucleic acids and toxins in phytoplankton have recently been analysed by AFC using immuno-, induced or applied fluorescent labelling techniques. Examples are presented together with novel developments in fringe areas of cytometry that are likely to influence AFC of single marine cells in the near future.


This paper introduces an algorithm for the detection of change-points and the identification of the corresponding subsequences in transient multivariate time-series data (MTSD). The analysis of such data has become increasingly important due to growing availability in many industrial fields. Labeling, sorting or filtering highly transient measurement data for training Condition-based Maintenance (CbM) models is cumbersome and error-prone. For some applications it can be sufficient to filter measurements by simple thresholds or finding change-points based on changes in mean value and variation. But a robust diagnosis of a component within a component group for example, which has a complex non-linear correlation between multiple sensor values, a simple approach would not be feasible. No meaningful and coherent measurement data, which could be used for training a CbM model, would emerge. Therefore, we introduce an algorithm that uses a recurrent neural network (RNN) based Autoencoder (AE) which is iteratively trained on incoming data. The scoring function uses the reconstruction error and latent space information. A model of the identified subsequence is saved and used for recognition of repeating subsequences as well as fast offline clustering. For evaluation, we propose a new similarity measure based on the curvature for a more intuitive time-series subsequence clustering metric. A comparison with seven other state-of-the-art algorithms and eight datasets shows the capability and the increased performance of our algorithm to cluster MTSD online and offline in conjunction with mechatronic systems.


Objective: Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease are a growing group. The main symptom is dyspnoea and subsequent disease is long, often marked by anxiety and reduced quality of life. The literature indicates a link between anxiety, dyspnoea and quality of life, and that non-pharmacological actions have an effect on these symptoms. Non-invasive ventilation NIV is a non-pharmacological intervention given to patients in hospitals as well as in homes when stable. This article therefore raises the following questions: Is there evidence that NIV has an effect on anxiety and dyspnoea, and thus on Health Related Quality of Life HRQL? Methods: A systematic review including search strings in PubMed, Cochrane and CINAHL. Results: - Moderate evidence indicates that NIV has significant effect on dyspnoea. - Low evidence indicates that NIV has significant effect on HRQL measured by the difference between the intervention and control groups. -There is no evidence of the effect of NIV on anxiety. Significance of results: The conclusion is interesting with regard to the perspective of mainstreaming NIV as a palliative part of future pulmonary rehabilitation because the relief of dyspnoea may provide patients with a better opportunity to actively participate in rehabilitation and thereby increase HRQL.


Background In many endemic regions, serological tests for dengue are unavailable and diagnosis relies solely on clinical signs and basic laboratory workup. Objective To identify clinical signs and basic haematological laboratory results potentially useful to distinguish dengue from other febrile illnesses. Methods Prospective study in an outpatient setting in Rio de Janeiro from 2005 to 2008. Subjects included patients >12 years of age referring fever with duration ≥7 days (acute fever) and without evident focuses of infection. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify symptoms, physical signs and haematological features accurate for the dengue diagnosis in patients evaluated between days 0–3 and days 4–7 from fever outset. Results Based on serological tests and virus genome detection by PCR, 202 patients were classified as dengue and 103 as non-dengue. For patients evaluated on days 0–3, a model including conjunctival hyperaemia and leucopenia achieved a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 71% for dengue diagnosis, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.82. In patients evaluated on days 4–7, a model including rash and thrombocytopaenia achieved an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 83%, with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 87.5% for dengue diagnosis. Conclusions Predictive models including clinical and simple laboratory tests data achieved moderate accuracy for diagnosing dengue in ambulatory febrile patients. In our population, these models were more accurate than currently used WHO dengue case definition (1997) and could be potentially useful for surveillance.


The paper presents the experimental attempt to apply the shift-share decomposition technique, mainly used in the economic field to analyse regional differentials, to the growth dynamics of infections during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a partial readjustment of the initial formulations of this technique, the regional patterns of the spread of the infections in Italy are analysed, taking into account the influence exercised by the demographic characteristics (age composition) of the region. In this reformulation, the shift-share analysis (SSA) allows to break down the daily variation of COVID-19 cases according to four effects resulting from: the distribution of the population by age groups (measured through the demographic and allocative effects), the tendency of the regional dynamics to follow the trend of the nation (measured by the national effect) and the rising of specific local dynamics (measured by the local effect). The application of our proposed reformulation studies the diffusion of infections in the Italian regions between March 9 and May 20, 2020, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of the methodology, offering ideas for further development and refinements to use SSA for applications in extra-economic realms (demographic, epidemiologic etc.), fruitfully. For example, the choice of the Italian case study was detrimental to the quality of the results obtained, since in Italy the population's age distribution tends to be similar. For this reason, at the end of our study, it is suggested the opportunity to test the robustness of the proposed method using as case study other European nations (for example, France, Spain or Germany) characterised by more significant heterogeneity of the regional population than Italy.


Under the Sentencing Act 2002, a court may impose a sentence of reparation if an offender has, "through or by means of an offence of which the offender is convicted, caused a victim to suffer loss of or damage to property, emotional harm or loss or damage consequential on any emotional or physical harm or loss of, or damage to, property." When reparation was first introduced as a sentence in its own right in the 1983 Criminal Justice Bill, it was promoted as being "consistent with both reformative and deterrent theories of the purpose of punishment", compensating victims and holding offenders to account. Reparation is determined by reference to the loss or harm suffered by the victim and the offender's financial means. Over time, this has developed to include the capacity for third parties (including insurers and family members) to pay. In such cases reparation is not dependent on the offender's personal financial circumstances, the offender does not personally pay, and the victim receives compensation where they may otherwise not do so. However, it is arguable that by shifting the cost of reparation from the offender to a third party, the original policy reasons for the sentence of reparation are undermined. The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact of third party payment of reparation on prosecution decisions and sentencing.


Deadbeat-direct torque and flux control (DB-DTFC) significantly improves the torque response performance compared with the conventional direct torque control. However, the existing DB-DTFC algorithm suffers from a relatively heavy computational burden due to its intricate derivation. Thus, two simplified DB-DTFC algorithms for permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) are proposed in this article to relieve the burden. The first one is based on the stator flux differential, and the second one is based on the complex power of PMSM. Furthermore, the performance of DB-DTFC highly relies on the accuracy of machine parameters. Thus, modified stator flux observer and electromagnetic torque observer are designed to enhance parameter robustness based on disturbance observer theory. The theoretical derivation of the proposed methods is investigated in-depth. Finally, both simulation and experimental results verify that the proposed deadbeat methods can maintain the deadbeat performances with a reduced computational burden. Meanwhile, the modified observer can help the deadbeat algorithms work well when machine parameters change.


Retinal detachment is a rare complication in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. A case is reported of tractional retinal detachment in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and sensorineural hearing loss, which was diagnosed as Usher syndrome type II. Because of the poor visual prognosis, the patient refused surgery in that eye. Tractional retinal detachment should be added to the differential diagnoses of visual loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of significant enterococcal isolates from urine and determine what factors are associated with the increased prevalence, with particular reference to antibiotic susceptibilities.

METHODS
Retrospective analysis over an 8-year period of hospital laboratory records of urinary isolates of enterococci was done. Species were identified via colony morphology, growth in 6.5% sodium chloride and their ability to hydrolyze esculin in the presence of 40% bile salts. Susceptibility testing via the disc diffusion technique with 9 commonly used antibiotics was also done as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

RESULTS
From 39,881 urine specimens, 9116 (22.9%) were culture positive. Of this 9116, 1001 (11.0%) were enterococci, the 4th most common urinary isolate. E. coli was the most common (36.2%). Most enterococci were from pediatric patients (28.4%) and the urology unit (24.5%). All enterococci were fully sensitive to ampicillin and augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). Sensitivity to gentamicin decreased significantly from 79% in 1990 to 58% in 1997 (P < 0.005). Sensitivity to the cephalosporins and nitrofuratoin were relatively stable, but sensitivity to nalidixic acid varied. No resistance to vancomycin was detected during the study, and no cases of bacteremia complicated bacteriuria were seen.

CONCLUSION
Isolation of enterococci was relatively stable during the 8-year period, and all isolates were fully sensitive to the older beta-lactams, ampicillin, cefaclor and augmentin, but displayed varying degrees of multi-resistance to other commonly used urinary agents such as nalidixic acid and co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Because of the emergence of multi-resistant enterococci in many countries, and the high cost of drugs in our society, it is imperative that vigilance be maintained in monitoring enterococcal infections in hospitals.


Appendix D is a complete set of figures illustrating the detailed calculations necessary for designing the heater experiments at the Near Surface Test Facility (NSTF) at Hanford, Washington. The discussion of the thermal and thermomechanical modeling that yielded these calculations is presented in Volume 1. A summary of the figures and the models they illustrate is given in Table D1. The most important figures have also been included in the discussion in Volume 1, and Table D2 lists the figure numbers in this volume that correspond to figure numbers used there.


Research was conducted to evaluate the utilization of coconut meat waste and water by-product in the diets related with pigs performances. The treatments involving 30 growing pigs were arranged in a 3*2 factorial design based on completely randomized design. The treatments of factor A were including levels of coconut meat waste product equivalent to 0% (A0), 22.5% (A1) and 45% (A2) substituting the rice bran in ration meal. The treatments of factor B were applying levels of coconut water equivalent to 0% (using fresh water = B0) and 100% (using coconut water = B1) substituting the fresh drinking water of animals. Each experimental unit of factor A and factor B was repeated using 5 pigs of crossbred castrated males (Yorkshire*Landrace*Local), each maintained individually in a pen with initial weight of 59.4±1.33 kg. Ration and drinking water were daily given ad libitum to the animals. Animals were weighed on each period of 14 days for data collection of animal growth rate. The result showed that proportions of coconut meat waste product were less than planned for treatments of 22.5% and 45%, while total of 100 percents of coconut drinking water were less than planned for 100% of fresh drinking water. Results also showed that utilization of coconut meat waste product up to 50% substituting rice bran in ration with the level of 22.5% was able to yield the optimum growth rate


A method is proposed which accomplishes a whole task consisting of plural subtasks by coordinating multiple behaviors acquired by a vision-based reinforcement learning. First, individual behaviors which achieve the corresponding subtasks are independently acquired by Q-learning, a widely used reinforcement learning method. Each learned behavior can be represented by an action-value function in terms of state of the environment and robot action. Next, three kinds of coordinations of multiple behaviors are considered; simple summation of different action-value functions, switching action-value functions according to situations, and learning with previously obtained action-value functions as initial values of a new action-value function. A task of shooting a ball into the goal avoiding collisions with an enemy is examined. The task can be decomposed into a ball shooting subtask and a collision avoiding subtask. These subtasks should be accomplished simultaneously, but they are not independent of each other.<<ETX>>


An investigation was made of the characteristics of a corona discharge in He—Xe—HCl mixtures (close in composition to the active media of XeCl* lasers) at pressures of 100–300 kPa. Studies were made of the ignition regimes and of the characteristics of a corona discharge used in the systems for preionisation of the active media of excimer lasers and of selective high-pressure excimer lamps. A study was also made of the influence of λ = 337.1 nm laser radiation on the average current—voltage characteristics of a corona discharge in an He—Xe—HCl mixture. The conditions were found for the formation of a stable negative corona, which could be used for electrical circulation of active media of pulse-periodic XeCl* lasers, and also in preionisation systems of atomic Xe* and long-pulse XeCl* lasers.


We study a Dirichlet boundary value problem for Langevin equation involving two fractional orders. Langevin equation has been widely used to describe the evolution of physical phenomena in fluctuating environments. However, ordinary Langevin equation does not provide the correct description of the dynamics for systems in complex media. In order to overcome this problem and describe dynamical processes in a fractal medium, numerous generalizations of Langevin equation have been proposed. One such generalization replaces the ordinary derivative by a fractional derivative in the Langevin equation. This gives rise to the fractional Langevin equation with a single index. Recently, a new type of Langevin equation with two different fractional orders has been introduced which provides a more flexible model for fractal processes as compared with the usual one characterized by a single index. The contraction mapping principle and Krasnoselskii's fixed point theorem are applied to prove the existence of solutions of the problem in a Banach space.


Paper and prints on it are analyzed as composite materials. Printing, varnishing and lamination are described in terms of the formation of the composite material. The article discusses why and how the properties of a print should differ from the properties of paper.


AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are very promising for high power applications at microwave frequencies. The heterostructures are usually grown on SiC or sapphire substrates. Sapphire substrates are relatively cheap, but their low thermal conductivity is a major disadvantage. To improve the thermal performance, a hybrid integration of the HEMT onto an AlN carrier substrate is proposed. In this study we compare two different hybrid integration schemes for multi-finger HEMTs : a flip-chip integration and an integration where the sapphire substrate is removed by laser lift-off.


Abstract Background/Objective: To determine whether 9 weeks of locomotor training (LT) results in changes in muscle strength and alterations in muscle size and activation after chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Study Design: Longitudinal prospective case series. Methods: Five individuals with chronic incomplete SCI completed 9 weeks of LT. Peak isometric torque, torque developed within the initial 200 milliseconds of contraction (Torque200), average rate of torque development (ARTD), and voluntary activation deficits were determined using isokinetic dynamometry for the knee-extensor (KE) and plantar-flexor (PF) muscle groups before and after LT. Maximum muscle crosssectional area (CSA) was measured prior to and after LT. Results: Locomotor training resulted in improved peak torque production in all participants, with the largest increases in the more-involved PF (43.9% ± 20.0%), followed by the more-involved KE (21.1% ± 12.3%). Even larger improvements were realized in Torque200 and ARTD (indices of explosive torque), after LT. In particular, the largest improvements were realized in the Torque200 measures of the PF muscle group. Improvements in torque production were associated with enhanced voluntary activation in both the KE and ankle PF muscles and an increase in the maximal CSA of the ankle PF muscles. Conclusion: Nine weeks of LT resulted in positive alterations in the KE and PF muscle groups that included an increase in muscle size, improved voluntary activation, and an improved ability to generate both peak and explosive torque about the knee and ankle joints.


This study examines the contribution of international mediation to the successful termination of conflicts. In particular, we look at what exactly can mediation do, and what do we mean by success in mediation? We identify a short-term definition of success that relates only to the signing of an agreement, and a long-term definition of success that relates to the duration of peace following an agreement. We discuss the factors that may contribute to the failure of peace agreements, and use a contingency framework to argue that a settlement is only one aspect of a dynamic conflict, rather than a defining termination point. Within this framework we study how mediation can help with achieving peace agreements and ensuring they remain viable and are adhered to. We examine our ideas in the context of three conflicts, Angola, Sri Lanka, and Sierra Leone.


This work aims to enhance thermal conductivity of thin film without compromising the other properties of polymer. In this study, three types of fillers in nano size with high thermal conductivity properties were studied; silicon nitride, boron nitride and synthetic diamond. The contents of fillers were varied between 0-2 vol. %. Epoxy nano-composite solution filled with high thermal conductivity fillers was spun at 1500-2000 rpm to produce thin film in the thickness of 40-60 µm. Thermal conductivity properties were measured by using hot disc technique. It was found that the thermal conductivity increases as filler loading increases. The mechanical properties of the thin film epoxy composites were determined by using tensile test (ASTM D882). As predicted, the tensile modulus was found increasing with the addition of fillers and reasonable agreements were obtained from the SEM images of the fracture surfaces.


We showed previously that two genes, fl bA and fadA, have a major role in determining the balance between growth, sporulation, and mycotoxin (sterigmatocystin; ST) production by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. fadA encodes the alpha subunit for a heterotrimeric G-protein, and continuous activation of FadA blocks sporulation and ST production while stimulating growth. fl bA encodes an A. nidulans regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) domain protein that antagonizes FadA-mediated signaling to allow development. To better understand FlbA function and other aspects of FadA-mediated growth control, we have isolated and characterized mutations in four previously undefined genes designated as sfaA, sfaC, sfaD, and sfaE (suppressors of flbA), and a new allele of fadA (fadAR205H), all of which suppress a fl bA loss-of-function mutation ( fl bA98). These suppressors overcome fl bA losses of function in both sporulation and ST biosynthesis. fadAR205H, sfaC67, sfaD82, and sfaE83 mutations are dominant to wild type whereas sfaA1 is semidominant. sfaA1 also differs from other suppressor mutations in that it cannot suppress a fl bA deletion mutation (and is therefore allele specific) whereas all the dominant suppressors can bypass complete loss of fl bA. Only sfaE83 suppressed dominant activating mutations in fadA, indicating that sfaE may have a unique role in fadA- fl bA interactions. Finally, none of these suppressor mutations bypassed fl uG loss-of-function mutations in development-specific activation.


A new construction of Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation systems with Iterative Decoding (BICM-ID) is proposed to achieve the best performance over white additive Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels, assuming that the ideal feedback (IF) holds for iterative decoding. For a class of so-called regular IF mappings, new upper bounds for error probabilities are presented for both cases of BICM-ID systems using overall and in-line interleaving. Search results for component Recursive Systematic Convolutional (RSC) codes with and without puncturing are reported for 4-PSK and 8-PSK signal sets.


Recently Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been gaining an important role in the analysis of complex power cycles, since they have the potential to reduce the computational effort in designing and control of power plants operating conditions compared to rigorous thermodynamic models.
 This paper presents a novel methodology for the prediction and optimization of the performance of thermoelectric power plants at design conditions using ANNs. The methodology involves a preliminary study to randomly generate the dataset of input variables (i.e., power plant operating conditions) and evaluate the dataset of output variables (i.e., energy and economic performance indicators) via thermodynamic simulation. Using these datasets, ANNs are trained and validated. Finally, the ability of ANN algorithms to replicate thermodynamic models is assessed in terms of absolute relative errors and coefficient of determination. The proposed methodology is flexible with regard to the type of power plants to be replicated and the extent of the investigation, that can be easily adapted by properly selecting the set of input and output variables.
 To prove its feasibility, the methodology is applied to a coal-fired power plant and a triple-pressure reheat combined cycle. In both case studies, the methodology provided a very good accuracy in predicting the power plant behavior and optimizing their energy or economic performance.


Hinton-Bayre (2000) raises a point that may occur to many readers who are familiar with the Reliable Change Index (RCI). In our previous paper comparing four models for detecting significant change in neuropsychological performance (Temkin et al., 1999), we used a formula for calculating Sdiff, the measure of variability for the test–retest difference, that differs from the one Hinton-Bayre has seen employed in other studies of the RCI. In fact, there are two ways of calculating Sdiff—a direct method and an approximate method. As stated by Jacobson and Truax (1991, p. 14), the direct method is to compute "the standard error of the difference between the two test scores" or equivalently [begin square root](s12 + s22 − 2s1 s2 rxx′)[end square root] where si is the standard deviation at time i and rxx′ is the test–retest correlation or reliability coefficient. Jacobson and Truax also provide a formula for the approximation of Sdiff when one does not have access to retest data on the population of interest, but does have a test–retest reliability coefficient and an estimate of the cross-sectional standard deviation, i.e., the standard deviation at a single point in time. This approximation assumes that the standard deviations at Time 1 and Time 2 are equal, which may be close to true in many cases. Since we had the longitudinal data to directly calculate the standard error of the difference between scores at Time 1 and Time 2, we used the direct method. Which method is preferable? When the needed data are available, it is the one we used.


Dyeing properties of cotton and ramie fabrics with pine needles colorants were studied by investigating the analysis of pine needles colorants, the effect of dyeing conditions (such as dye concentration, dyeing temperatures and times on dye uptakes), effect of mordants, and color change. The various colorfastness of dyed fabrics were evaluated for practical use; in addition, the antimicrobial ability, ultraviolet-cut ability, and deodorant ability were estimated. In the UV-Visible spectrum, the wavelength of the maximum absorption for pine needles extract was 285nm, and pine needles colorants produced a yellow color. From FT-IR and GC-MS results, it was assumed that chromophoric substance from pine needles extracts were mixed with flavonol tannin and flavanol tannin. An increased dyeing concentration resulted in a larger dye uptake and a Freundlich absorption isotherm was obtained. A larger dye uptake occurred as the dyeing time and temperature increased. Post-mordanting was more effective than pre-mordanting and the dye uptake of fabrics improved by mordanting. The colorfastness of dyed fabrics showed a low rating; however, colorfastness to washing and dry cleaning of cotton fabrics mordanted with N.Cu, and friction fastness of ramie fabric mordanted with Cu improved. The dyed fabrics showed very good antimicrobial abilities of 99.9%. In addition, the ultraviolet-cut ability and deodorant ability improved in fabrics dyed with pine needles extracts.


Molecular dynamics is used to investigate the thermocapillary motion of a water nanodroplet suspended in benzene subjected to a constant temperature gradient. This framework lets us identify the average behavior of the fluid particles by revealing their mean evolution. We connect such statistics to the behavior of the temporally evolving nanodroplet, thereby providing a microphysical foundation to existing macroscopic models that rely on the assumption of continuum. It is shown that, despite the significant Brownian effects, the droplet exhibits the macrophysical expected behavior, i.e., it migrates toward the direction of the imposed temperature gradient. Thermophoretic effects are negligible and the functional relationships involved in such a process well resemble those of available analytical results. Additionally, we provide molecular dynamics calculations of the viscosity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial tension of benzene [using the Optimized Potentials for Liquid Simulations—All Atom (OPLSAA) molecular model] and water using the Transferable Intermolecular Potential with 4 Points (TIP4P) model at different temperatures and pressures. These findings will serve as a good reference for future simulations of similar molecular models.


Objective To establish a new method for determination of aluminum content in flours and dried noodles.Methods In our experiment,samples were analyzed by microwave digestion and aluminum contents in 35 samples of flours and dried noodles from 11 cities in Shaanxi were determined by ICP-AES.Results The detection limit of this method was 0.145mg/kg.In nearly half of the samples the aluminum content exceeded the temporary limit standard set by EU,and along with the difference of each area in Shaanxi,the content showed certain distribution features and trend characteristics.Results Compared to GB/T5009.182-2003,this method is more simple,rapid and accurate.Moreover,it is easier to handle which has been satisfactorily applied to determine aluminum content in flours and dried noodles.


Educators have an ongoing challenge as they strive to stay up-to-date with new technology. One emerging technology, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, has the potential to impact information systems in businesses as well as in our lives. Educators responsible for planning curriculum need to consider how to incorporate topics pertaining to RFID technology into a wide variety of technology courses. Therefore, one purpose of this manuscript is to give curriculum planners and teachers a summary of RFID by: presenting an overview of RFID technology; exploring RFID limitations and possible solutions; and examining the future outlook of RFID. An additional purpose further assists educators in considering how to incorporate this new course topic into the curriculum by providing some teaching resources, objectives and suggestions pertaining to RFID.


To meet todays challenges in ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) defense coalitions Systems of Systems (SOS) architectures are needed that are flexible, function in a networked environment and support relevant operational doctrine and processes. To enable the distributed production of intelligence in networked operations the Intelligence Cycle and Joint ISR (JISR) provide process descriptions that adhere to multinational and multisystem collaboration. An interoperable SOS architecture supporting those processes needs to make use of standards for data/information management with a special focus on dissemination. The NATO ISR Interoperability Architecture (NIIA) and supportive standards (STANAGS- standardization agreements) have been specified to provide a solution to these needs. In terms of data distribution, STANAG 4559 is the core standard of relevance here. It defines a concept, data- and information models, interfaces and services to support information dissemination according to JISR. The current specification for synchronization of JISR results however has some deficiencies in terms of implementation complexity, flexibility, robustness and performance. Thus, there is a need for a new approach to data dissemination in networks implementing STANAG 4559 that enables the usage of all aspects currently supported by this standard but seeks to solve the known issues. Thereupon this paper presents requirements for data dissemination in a JISR enterprise, derives key performance indicators (KPIs), identifies possible technical approaches and finally defines a new solution based on the concept of Hash Tries. Here a tree-based data structure is organized based on hashes of nodes, which allows a quick identification of changes in replicated data.


The direct combustion of recyclable metals has the potential to become a zero-carbon energy production alternative, much needed to alleviate the effects of global climate change caused by the increased emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2. In this work, we show that the emission of CO2 is insignificant during the combustion of pulverized sponge iron compared to that of pulverized coal combustion. The emissions of the other harmful pollutants NOx and SO2 were 25 and over 30 times lower, respectively, than in the case of pulverized coal combustion. Furthermore, 96 wt % of the solid combustion products consisted of micrometer-sized, solid or hollow hematite (α-Fe2O3) spheres. The remaining 4 wt % of products was maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. According to thermodynamic calculations, this product composition implies near-complete combustion, with a conversion above 98%. The results presented in this work strongly suggest that sponge iron is a clean energy carrier and may become a substitute to pulverized c...


The geometric and spin-resolved electronic structure of a graphene-adsorbed Ni(111) surface has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations without and with a semiempirical long-range dispersion correction (DFT-D). DFT calculations with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional cannot predict well about the adsorption properties of graphene to the Ni(111) surface. While DFT-D calculations with the same GGA functional give reasonable values of the adsorption energy and layer distance from graphene to the substrate. The geometry of top_fcc is the most energetically favorable in all geometries. Strong hybridization of graphene with the ferromagnetic Ni substrate induces significant shift partially in graphene π states towards the Fermi level yielding spin polarization. The spin polarization is positive at the shallow levels of modified π states and slightly negative at the deeper levels of fundamental π states, which is indicated by the calculated spin density distributions and plane-averaged density of states at the vacuum side. The opposite spin polarization is consistent with our experimental result of spin asymmetry obtained by spin-polarized metastable-atom de-excitation spectroscopy measurements.


This paper presents a new topology for current fed push-pull-based DC-DC converters employing a low-voltage Fuel Cell (FC) as energy source. This DC-DC converter can be used in Single-Phase Distributed Generation (DG) systems. The work aims presenting new solutions for two important issues regarding fuel cells in DG applications. The first issue is related to the low-frequency ripple in the FC output current when the FC supplies a single-phase power conditioner. It is strongly recommended to minimize the low-frequency FC current ripple in order to increase its lifecycle and performance. Therefore, a simple and effective control strategy has been applied to sharply attenuate such current ripple. The second issue concerns the operation of the current fed push-pull DC-DC converter. An auxiliary circuit is proposed to protect the power switches against the overvoltage due to the transformer's leakage inductance. The auxiliary circuit regenerates also the energy stored in a clamping capacitor, thus improving the overall converter efficiency. Moreover, the auxiliary circuit allows implementing the DC-DC converter soft-start. Simulation and experimental results are provided for a 5 kW converter prototype, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed solutions.


The paper reports a preliminary investigation of the use of of modern data mining tools for mortgage scoring. Using IBM's Intelligent Miner (a data mining toolbox), the authors built a model of serious delinquency on a sample of data from Mortgage Information Corporation's Loan Performance System, which contains over 20 million loans with a volume of over $1.6 trillion. Currently, two technologies prevail in mortgage scoring: logistic regression, a very old and very simple method, and neural networks, newer and more complex types of models that can be extremely difficult to interpret. The radial basis function (RBF) algorithm in Intelligent Miner combines the mathematical complexity and generality of neural networks with a comprehensible visualization that explains the RBF model. Due to the performance and understandability of the RBF model, as well as other unique technologies not described, the Intelligent Miner should be a useful tool for mortgage bankers, facilitating development of customized systems for mortgage scoring and other mortgage banking applications.


In this paper, the case study will be 3 rd order sigma delta modulator which will be designed using MATLAB SIMULINK. It will be analyzed by performance and parameter that affect the performance of sigma delta modulator where these parameters will be optimized using GENETIC ALGORITHM. The performance will be evaluated on SNR and ENOB. Keywords— sigma delta modulator, genetic algorithm, SNR, ENOB


This paper describes an implementation of narrowing, an essential component of implementations of modern functional logic languages. These implementations rely on narrowing, in particular on some optimal narrowing strategies, to execute functional logic programs. We translate functional logic programs into imperative (Java) programs without an intermediate abstract machine. A central idea of our approach is the explicit representation and processing of narrowing computations as data objects. This enables the implementation of operationally complete strategies (i.e., without backtracking) or techniques for search control (e.g., encapsulated search). Thanks to the use of an intermediate and portable represen tation of programs, our implementation is general enough to be used as a common back end for a wide variety of functional logic languages.


Abstract Extension (industry training) and VET (the formal Vocational Education and Training system), each vital to Australia's education and training for agriculture, have developed as separate domains. Recent research suggests that the potential of closer alignment should be further explored. Extension provides usually non-certified courses to primary producers. The VET sector involves accredited training in a quality-assured national framework. Despite subsidy incentives for producers to access VET, they are increasingly interested in the short courses and flexible delivery offered by extension. This paper explores implications for improving outcomes from investment in training and for rural capacity building from a project in which a sample of management level extension courses across Australia was analysed for the extent of alignment with VET. Eighty-four per cent of these extension courses are mapped to training package competencies. The potential is there for VET to capture new enrolees for its diploma and advanced diploma courses. Closer alignment between sectors would facilitate this process.


A TEM half-horn antenna has been designed and constructed for the detection impulsive noise. The particular application of interest is the recording of partial discharge and/or sferic radiation in a 400 kV electricity transmission substation. The characteristics and performance of the half-horn are presented. Laboratory verification of the antenna's utility for the detection partial discharge has been carried out using a partial discharge simulator.


The major developments in thought regarding regional economic growth and development are traced over the last two decades. The supply‐side micro‐foundations of regional growth have come under scrutiny in a manner which has previously not been evident. In particular, an examination of the elements of industrial clustering, regional industrial structure, and place characteristics which may promote innovation, have become a central focus of modern regional growth analysis. The micro‐foundations of these arguments are analysed, and the links between innovation and clustering explored within a transactions‐costs framework. This allows us to point to areas in which our understanding has grown over recent years, and to identify further areas of analysis which are required.


With good reason, physics education research has focused almost exclusively on student difficulties and misconceptions. This work has been productive for curriculum development as well as in motivating the physics teaching community to examine and reconsider methods and assumptions, but it is limited in what it can tell us about student knowledge and learning. This article reviews perspectives on student resources for learning, with an emphasis on the practical benefits to be gained for instruction.


Background: Outcomes following meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) are an evolving topic. Purpose: To review clinical outcomes in younger, previously active patients who underwent an isolated MAT or MAT plus any osteotomy. Concurrent surgeries, complications, and graft survivorship are presented. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Inclusion criteria included having undergone MAT with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up with at least 1 of the following patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures collected pre- and postoperatively: visual analog scale for pain, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and overall satisfaction. From patient records, we recorded descriptive data, side (medial/lateral), previous or concurrent procedures, perioperative complications, revisions, and conversion to arthroplasty. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in age and body mass index (BMI). A 2 × 2 chi-square test was used to determine if the spectrum of procedures performed on our study's patient group was representative of the entire population. PRO results were analyzed using a multivariate ANOVA. Results: From a total of 91 eligible patients, 61 (63 knees) met our inclusion criteria. Mean presurgery age was 25.5 ± 9.2 years, and mean BMI was 26.7 (range, 18.5-38.4). At follow-up (mean, 4.8 years; range, 1.0-13.6 years) overall PROs were statistically and clinically improved at final follow-up (P ≤ .003); effect sizes were moderate and large. KOOS Pain and KOOS Activities of Daily Living showed some main or interaction effects that were trivial or small. Patient satisfaction with the treatment was ≥7 out of 10 in 85% of patients. A minimum of 1 subsequent surgery for various concerns was necessary in 23% of the 93 knees. Graft survival in the included patients was 100%. Conclusion: Complications (conditions requiring at least 1 subsequent surgery) affected about one-quarter of the patients who underwent MAT. Nevertheless, MAT seemed to provide our patients with adequate pain relief and improved function.


Endotoxin is one of the principal biological substances that cause gram-negative septic shock. Lack of clinical success with antiendotoxin or anticytokine therapy has shifted interest to extracorporeal therapies to reduce circulating levels of the mediators of sepsis. Direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin-B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) is a promising treatment of gram-negative sepsis in critically ill patients. Because of the high affinity of polymyxin B for endotoxin, the rationale underlying extracorporeal therapy would be to remove circulating endotoxin by adsorption, thus preventing progression of the biological cascade of sepsis. In a systematic review of 28 studies (pooled sample size 1,390 patients), the preliminary results of which are described here, PMX-F therapy appeared to significantly lower endotoxin levels, improve blood pressure, and reduce mortality. However, publication bias and lack of blinding need to be considered. These encouraging results need to be verified with large-scale controlled clinical trials.


Betulinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in many plant species, among others, in the bark of white birch Betula alba. Betulinic acid was reported to display a wide range of biological effects, including antiviral, antiparasitic, antibacterial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The effects of betulinic acid (50, 5, 0.5 mg/kg) administered orally five times at 24 hours intervals to non-immunized and red blood cells (SRBC)-immunized mice were determined. The present study examined the total number of lymphocytes in the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, and the percentage of subsets of T cells (CD4+CD8+, CD4CD8, CD4+, CD8+) in thymus,T (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and B (CD19+) lymphocytes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well as white blood cell (WBC) and differential leukocyte counts in non-immunized mice, and humoral immune response in SRBC-immunized mice. SRBC was injected 24 hours after administration of the last dose of betulinic acid. It was found that betulinic acid administered orally five times at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg increased the total number of thymocytes, splenocytes, lymphocytes of mesenteric lymph node cells, and the weight ratio of the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes in non-immunized mice. Betulinic acid also changed the percentage of T cell subsets in the thymus and T and B lymphocytes in peripheral lymphatic organs. The effects of betulinic acid on T and B cell subpopulations depended on the dose applied. The strongest stimulating effect of betulinic acid was observed when the drug was administered at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Five exposures to betulinic acid (0.5 mg/kg) decreased the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ thymic cells with corresponding increases in the percentage and absolute count of mature, single-positive CD4+ thymocytes and decreased the percentage and total count of CD3+ splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells with corresponding decreases in the percentage and absolute count of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Multiple administration of betulinic acid at the investigated doses augmented the percentage and absolute count of CD19+ cells in the peripheral lymphatic organs. Moreover, betulinic acid at the dose of 5 mg/kg administered prior to SRBC immunization increased the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) but decreased the production of anti-SRBC antibodies on day 4 after priming. Thus, betulinic acid is a potential biological response modifier and may strengthen the immune response of its host.


To apply the Classification of Service Organization in Rehabilitation (ICSO-R) classification of services to different target groups, include the user perspective, identify missing categories, and propose standardized descriptors for the categories from a Norwegian perspective. Expert-based consensus conferences with user involvement. Health professionals, stakeholders and users. Participants were divided into 5 panels, which applied the ICSO-R to describe the habilitation and rehabilitation services provided to children with cerebral palsy and people with Huntington's disease, acquired brain injuries (traumatic brain injuries and stroke) and painful musculoskeletal conditions. Based on the Problem/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) framework, the services were described according to the ICSO-R. Missing categories were identified. The ICSO-R was found to be feasible and applicable for describing a variety of services provided to different target groups in Norway, but the user perspective was lacking, categories were missing, and a need for standardized description of the categories was identified. The present work supports the need to produce an updated version of the ICSO-R and to encourage national and international discussion of the framework. The ICSO-R has the potential to become a tool for the standardized assessment of rehabilitation services. For such purposes, more standardized descriptions of subcategories are necessary.


A new parallel cascade control program of multiple degrees of freedom is proposed for chemical and industrial cascade processes. Firstly, the two degree of freedom IMC structure is adopted in the secondary control loop, and the set-point tracking and disturbance rejection are decoupled, therefore, the influence on performance of primary loop because of the coupling between the set-point tracking and disturbance rejection in the secondary loop is reduced. Then, based on a modified structure of the Smith predictor control, the primary loop realizes the decoupling control between set-point tracking and disturbance rejection, and simple and effective analytical method is adopted to devise the controllers. Finally, simulations example demonstrates the validity of the proposed control scheme.


The article considers the relevance of the use of two-layer structures of spherical plugs of ball valves as well as the advantages of technology for their manufacture process-based on stamping over traditional methods. The experimental study showed the technological capability of manufacturing processes by metal forming billets and it also gives recommendations on the correlation of the outer and inner layers of the spherical shell plug ball valve.


Cultural competence and evidence-based medicine are two powerful discourses that have become core components of contemporary psychiatry. Evidence-based medicine has particularly influenced psychiatry by spawning the enthusiastic creation and adoption of evidence-based practices. Despite their prominence, these paradigms have stood somewhat in isolation from each other. This Open Forum explores the relationship between these two conceptual paradigms, paying particular attention to implications for evidence-based practices. The author aims to stimulate a greater degree of mutual engagement and integration of these paradigms by examining epistemological, philosophical, and methodological overlap and discrepancy. Both paradigms can stretch and enrich each other in a positive manner. This could help achieve a situation where cultural competency becomes more evidence based and evidence-based medicine becomes more culturally competent. Such action would help bring to fruition a shared aim of both discourses-more humane, just, and effective patient-centered care.


Erythroxylum cuneatum (EC) is locally known as the 'Chinta Mula' plant. Its leaves are
used by the native traditional healers as an anti-addiction treatment. However, its effects
were not fully explored scientifically, resulting in lack of documented information on its
therapeutic anti-addiction effects. The objectives of this study are to produce a standard
extract of EC, examining the efficacy of alkaloid extract of EC on cyclic adenosine
monophosphate (cAMP) production in SK-N-SH cell after chronic morphine treatment
and to investigate the effect of EC extract on anti-withdrawal properties in the morphineaddicted
rats. The alkaloid crude extract of EC underwent two extraction processes,
namely the Soxhlet and the acid-base extraction. The alkaloid crude extract of EC was
obtained using acid-base extraction and the yield was 0.19% from 1 kg leaves. The invitro
studies was performed separately as two different tests (co-treatment and pretreatment)
whereas in-vivo study used 6 groups (n=8) of Wistar rats (male: 180-220 g)
which were treated with morphine at 10-30 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. Withdrawal
signs exhibited by the morphine-dependent rats were measured by 9 counts and checking
of parametric signs. The rats were then treated with two different interventions which are
Methadone (5 mg/kg), and crude alkaloid extract of EC (5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) respectively
and the withdrawal signs were re-evaluated again. Co-treatment for 24 h between
morphine sulphate with alkaloid extract of EC significantly reduced (p<0.05) the
production of cyclic AMP at lower concentration (0.1 mg). Similarly pre-treatment with
morphine sulphate for 24 h then treated with alkaloid extract of EC for 6 h significantly
reduced the production of cyclic AMP (P<0.05). In-vivo results also showed that
administration of alkaloid extracts of EC caused significant reduction (p<0.05) in all
withdrawal signs. The results obtained from the study suggested that the administration
alkaloid extract of EC caused significant decrease in the withdrawal signs of morphine
addicted both in vitro and in vivo studies.


The Marine Seismic System (MSS) was deployed during Leg 91 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project in order to assess the reduction in noise levels achievable through burying a seismic inertial sensor within the basaltic crust. The noise levels were significantly reduced and the usual coupling problems experienced by ocean bottom seismographs were essentially eliminated. This contribution reports on the results of early analyses of data collected while shooting two roughly orthogonal refraction lines. The data were processed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and topographic corrections were applied to reduce the effects of roughness in the seafloor topography. The data were first corrected to the seafloor and the remaining correlations with topography were attenuated by a correction for the height of the seafloor above a datum. The corrections reduced traveltime scatter and significantly tightened extremal envelopes on acceptable velocity functions. The best constrained solutions were achieved over moderate topography while the presence of substantial seamounts always introduced scatter presumably due to unknown features off the ship's track. Velocity anisotropy was discovered within the oceanic upper mantle and the velocity structure of this old crust was found to be rather "normal."


The management of a syphilitic patient presents greater problems than are encountered in the treatment of patients with other infectious diseases. In order to achieve a cure, the patient must submit to a form of treatment which is unpleasant, more unpleasant usually than the symptoms that he presents, and which must be continued long after the last visible signs of the disease have disappeared. Furthermore, because of the highly communicable nature of the infection, the patient must impose many restrictions on himself, at least during the first months of treatment. If he already has exposed his family to the infection, they must be examined, and treated if necessary. Such a procedure requires the patient's unquestioning acceptance of the diagnosis, a realization of the serious condition implied by that diagnosis and a high degree of cooperation over a period of months or years. THE PATIENT'S REACTION TO THE DIAGNOSIS Every syphilologist


During the rise from sunspot minimum to maximum, the observed value of smoothed monthly mean sunspot number at maximum RM is found to correlate with increasing strength against the current value of smoothed monthly mean sunspot number R(t), where t is the elapsed time in months from minimum. On the basis of the modern era sunspot cycles (i.e., cycles 10-22), the inferred linear correlation is found to be statistically important (i.e., at the 95-percent level of confidence) from about 11 mo past minimum and statistically very important (i.e.. at the 99-percent level of confidence) from about 15 mo past minimum; ignoring cycle 19, the largest cycle of the modern era, the inferred linear correlation is found to be statistically important from cycle onset. On the basis of R(t), estimates of RM can be gauged usually to within about +/- 30 percent during the first 2 yr and to within about +/- 20 percent (or better) after the first 2 yr of a cycle's onset. For cycle 23, because controversy exists regarding the placement of its minimum (i.e., its onset), being either May 1996 or perhaps August 1996 (or shortly thereafter), estimates of its RM are divergent, being lower (more like a mean size cycle) when using the earlier epoch of minimum and higher (above average in size) when using the later-occurring minimum. For smoothed monthly mean sunspot number through October 1997 (t = 17 or 14 mo, respectively), having a provisional value of 32.0. the earlier minimum date projects an RM of 110.3 +/- 33.1, while the later minimum date projects one of 137.2 +/- 41.2. The projection is slowly decreasing in size using the earlier onset date, while it is slowly increasing in size using the later onset date.


Abstract Twenty adult hypertensive patients classified as having `low', `medium' and `high' baseline values, underwent plasma lipids and lipoproteins assessment after 12 weeks treatment with amlodipine. For the patients with low baseline values, the mean triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increased after amlodipine therapy. No significant variation was observed in the mean values of the lipids and lipoproteins before and after amlodipine therapy for the patients with `medium baseline values', while in patients with `high baseline values', mean low density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased after amlodipine therapy. These findings therefore suggest that the levels of the baseline lipid and lipoprotein profiles may have a significant influence on the lipid altering actions of amlodipine pharmacotherapy.


The reproductive performance of 482 multiparous ewes, with growth characteristics of 585 lambs from Dorper rams and ewes: 3/4 Texel x 1/4 Corriedale (TXC, n = 68); 1/2 Romney Marsh x 1/2 Corriedale (RMC, n = 64); 3/4 Poll Dorset x 1/4 Corriedale (PDC, n = 68); 1/2 Finnish Landrace x Australian Merino (FLAM, n = 183) and Australian Merino pure ewes (AM, n = 202) and kg of lamb produced/kg of sheep used in the service (as an indicator of efficiency), grazing natural and sown pastures, were studied. The TXC and FLAM sheep had the highest lambing percentage (167.89 and 174.36%, respectively) compared to the rest of the other crosses, and did not differ from each other (121.43 and 125.49%, PDC and RMC respectively, P>0.05), but were higher than AM (88.99%), due to the greater number of lambs born / ewe calving rather than their higher fertility. The type of ewe also affected (P<0.0001) lamb growth until its sale at 41.6±6.7 kg to 206±7.25 days of age, showing mothers of TXC lambs, PDC and RMC had higher daily gains than the FLAM and these more than those of MA. However, in all crosses tested, only FLAM was more efficient than MA.


PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To describe how mailing fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits prior to office appointments rather than distributing the kits at office visits affects the return rate of completed tests and to describe the demographic characteristics of those who returned the tests and those who did not.

DESIGN
Retrospective chart review.

SETTING
An urban, community hospital cancer screening program.

SAMPLE
631 people; 382 returned the FOBTs; 128 did not return the tests; 121 refused all colorectal screening including fecal occult blood testing.

METHODS
Charts were reviewed and abstracted using a form; data were entered and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Completion and return of the FOBT and FOBT results.

FINDINGS
The return rate when the FOBT was mailed prior to appointments was 85% compared to 32% for patients who received test kits in the office. Of those who completed the test, 80% also underwent digital rectal examinations and 26% underwent flexible sigmoidoscopies. Nine people demonstrated positive FOBT results, but no colorectal cancers were detected.

CONCLUSIONS
In this retrospective chart review, mailing FOBT kits prior to office appointments appeared to be related to increased return rates.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Findings are preliminary in nature, but nurses must consider various methods of distributing FOBTs in order to increase return rates.


In this paper, an intelligent navigation system for autonomous land vehicles (ALV) using hierarchical terrain representation has been developed which can successfully negotiate an obstacle and threat-laden terrain, even if nothing is known beforehand about the terrain. The ALV stores new information in its memory as it travels, has the ability to backtrack out of unexpected dead ends, and performs spontaneous decision-making in the field based on local sensor readings. The optimal global route of the ALV journey is obtained using dynamic programming, and decision-making is accomplished via a production rule-based system. Execution examples demonstrate the power of the prototype system to solving navigation problems. This establishes the feasibility of constructing a valid ALV by combining search techniques with artificial intelligence tools such as production


Recent discovery of a compound BC5, whose structure is most likely diamond, invoked intensive interests in the superconductivity research. Little is known not only for its properties but for the preparation methods. For synthesizing BC5, it is very important to know under what conditions this compound can be obtained. In this paper, density-functional-theoretic study has been made on the stability of BC5 relative to a mixture of BC3 and graphite as a function of pressure. It is shown that BC5 becomes stable above 2 GPa. Therefore, high pressure synthesize is very useful.


This technical research article investigated the changes in the hemato-biochemical profile in Barki ewes during the transition period. A total of 15 healthy pregnant Barki ewes (age, 4.9 ± 0.7 years old; weight, 38.5 ± 4.9 Kg) were randomly selected for the current study. Blood samples were collected from the selected ewes via jugular vein puncture during the transition period at five different time points; 4 and 2 weeks prior the estimated date of delivery (EDD), at the parturition time, then at 2 and 4 weeks post-partum. Red blood cells (RBCs) count and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased 2 weeks before the EDD and at the parturition time. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly (P<0.05) decreased 4 weeks post-partum. The neutrophil count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) increased 2 weeks post-partum. The level of β-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA) and concentration of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) in the serum were significantly (P<0.05) increased 2 weeks before EDD, at the parturition time, and 2 weeks post-partum. Both cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased significantly (P<0.05) 2 weeks before EDD and at the parturition time. Leptin level was significantly (P<0.05) decreased at 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-partum. Glucose level increased significantly (P<0.05) at the parturition time then decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 2 weeks post-partum, after which it increased again 4 weeks post-partum. Total protein level was significantly (P<0.05) increased 2 weeks post-partum. The level of both calcium and inorganic phosphorus was significantly (P<0.05) decreased at the parturition time and 2 weeks post-partum. The results revealed that Barki ewes showed profound physiological alterations during the transition period which are not necessarily indicative of a disease, but reflect physiological variations. Therefore, metabolic profile test was needed to determine the nutritional status of Barki ewes, and to take the possible preventive measures that increase ewes' productivity and predict health disorders.


Autophagy is a catabolic process whereby autophagosomes engulf damaged organelles and proteins and deliver these contents to the lysosome for degradation and subsequent recycling. Proper autophagosome fusion with lysosomes depends on movement along intact microtubules, which are organized by centrosomes in human cells. We have discovered that autophagy is activated by centrosome amplification (CA), a numerical increase in centrosome number. CA is common in human cancers, particularly high-risk cancers, and higher autophagy is predicted to sensitize cancer cells with CA to autophagy inhibition. To test this hypothesis, we first evaluated autophagy in 341 human breast cancers with known CA status by quantifying p62/SQSTM1. Cancers with CA demonstrated a decrease in p62 expression, consistent with elevated autophagy. Next, we evaluated autophagy using western blot and immunofluorescence in two model cell lines of CA: doxycycline-inducible expression of polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), an enzyme required for centrosome duplication. Cells with CA demonstrated elevated levels of autophagy by LC3 and p62 immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Third, we tested autophagy inhibitors in our cell models of CA. Our results show that cells with CA are sensitized to the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. Taken together, our results suggest that autophagy is upregulated by CA. We hypothesize that CA induces autophagy by increasing the number of lysosomal hubs (lysosomes tend to cluster around centrosomes) and facilitating transport to these hubs. These findings suggest CA as a biomarker for autophagy inhibition in high-risk cancers. Citation Format: Ryan A. Denu, Mark E. Burkard. Centrosome amplification induces autophagy and sensitizes to chloroquine. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Targeting the Vulnerabilities of Cancer; May 16-19, 2016; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(1_Suppl):Abstract nr A01.


The sera of patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis and iron-overload have been found to contain low-molecular-weight iron complexes detectable in the 'bleomycin assay'. These complexes stimulate both the peroxidation of membrane lipids and the formation of the highly reactive and damaging hydroxyl radical. The iron chelator desferrioxamine interferes with these reactions. We suggest that oxygen radical reactions stimulated by iron salts are important in the pathology of idiopathic haemochromatosis.


The construction of national values has been the highest priority for the Russian Federation (RF) into and during the post-communist era. In this transition period this democratic process shifted focus from central government to regional authorities, and the centrally planned economic system simultaneously transferred to a largely market economy. A struggle for authority arose between the centre and the periphery, regional leaders endeavouring to gain more political autonomy and economic power within the federation. Those with strong economic ties attempted to expand their spheres of influence through a political and legal agenda, believing that the regions should be the main implementers of their own social and economic development. In this context, my research specifically focuses on analysing issues of the political agenda in the Russian Far East (RFE) in the post-Soviet era (1991-1997), drawing upon, but also extending, the methodology developed by Tarschys (1979) and other scholars. I do this in the light of present market development, treating both domestic and international agendas. I utilise content analysis, exploring these agendas and discussing possible future trends. Of primary significance are questions raised by regional leaders and their public on both domestic and international political issues in the RFE. It can be clearly seen from the results of content analysis that the following issues are accorded most weight in their press coverage. In the domestic sphere, my thesis explicates the changing forms of regional autonomy in the RFE and the relationship between the centre and the periphery in the process of economic transformation. I also explore the level of regional environmental problems affecting public health, and the related issues of ethnic identity and mortality. I draw attention to the differing socio-economic situations within the RFE and also compare the region as a whole with other regions of the federation. On the international front, improvement of political conditions in Northeast Asia coupled with decentralisation and growing regional autonomy in the RFE have developed a favourable environment for international economic relations with the closest countries, China, Japan and the two Koreas. I examine ways in which the RFE has reformulated its political and economic interest in the context of a changing international environment. In each cases, the construction of the political agenda is found to result from a complex interaction of local, federal, and (in some cases) international interests.


wise comparisons of fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts were performed between high and low-risk groups. Results: Bayley-III gross motor scaled scores at 12 months correlate with STEP scores at term (rs=0.698, p=0.001) and 3 months (rs=0.621, p=0.005). A ROC Curve determined STEP cutoff scores for motor performance between high and lowrisk groups (Term CGA: 16.5; 3 months CGA: 22.5). BayleyIII cognitive scaled scores at 12 months also correlated with STEP at term (rs=0.687, p=0.002) and 3 months CGA (rs=0.798, p=0.000042). Additionally, neuroimaging parameters of NAA ratios in the white matter and basal ganglia positively predicted STEP scores and correlated with Bayley-III cognitive scores [WM NAA/Cr (rs=0.55, p=0.032) and NAA/ Cho (rs=0.577, p=0.024)]. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were significantly different in the corpus callosum, left internal capsule, and left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus between high and low-risk infants. Conclusions/Significance: STEP is related to Bayley-III gross motor and cognitive outcomes at 12 months. The gross motor scores can be used to categorize infants into high and low-risk groups. Additionally, white matter NAA metabolite ratios are strongly related to future outcomes on Bayley-III. White matter tract integrity by FA is lower in infant with poorer STEP scores. These relationships demonstrate the use of both STEP and neuroimaging to measure neonatal development.


Background and research question
This research is conducted at KNVB Expertise, the knowledge and research centre for the Dutch professional football clubs. Many of these clubs find it difficult to manage the club before and after relegation, because of the uncertainty and short response time involved. Relegation has an enormous impact on the club, both emotional and financial. This thesis is especially focused on the financial component, because of the financial impact and challenges relegation implies. This thesis explores the options scenario planning as a management tool offers clubs coping with this problem to better handle it.
The main research question to be answered is;
"In which ways can scenario planning contribute to the management of Dutch professional football clubs in the specific case of a possible relegation?"
Literature study
A formal framework is found to display the challenges of managers in the field of football. The business value model of Grundy (1998) is used, where match performance is the central factor that affects all the value that is being created in a football club, such as sponsorship or merchandising. In this model, relegation can be seen as a result of a series of bad sportive performance or match performance.
Relegation thus implies managerial challenges and according to the model of Grundy (1998) it has an effect on the value being created in a club. Data from KNVB Expertise shows an average decline of 25,4% in revenues after relegation, but only a 14,1% decline in costs. Adjusting costs to the new reality of lower revenues after relegation is found to be difficult and therefore implies managerial challenges.
There are reasons to believe that scenario planning as a tool from the 'normal' business world could be useful in preparing for relegation. Scenario planning establishes future thinking and enables better preparation, by having considered the circumstances and consequences in advance. The scenario development model of Mahmoud et al. (2008) is used to check activities of football clubs on scenario planning with a formal framework.
Research method
In this explorative research, data has been gathered by interviewing five managers from five different clubs who have experience with (preparing for) relegation. In a semi-structured interview, introductory questions were asked on general experiences on relegation and more specific questions were asked on consistency with the models found in the literature study. These models are used to monitor the current activities of clubs on scenario planning and to see were improvements or recommendations are possible.
Results
Clubs find it difficult to estimate the declines in revenues and costs after relegation. Estimating is difficult, because of the many factors involved. These are among others commitment of stakeholders, match performance and communication of the club. Clubs feel more confident in estimating declines by using data from other clubs and KNVB Expertise, own research and experience with earlier relegation.
Because of the financial component being the most important, clubs make scenarios in the form of budget plans. Clubs make a Eredivisie budget plan and a Jupiler League plan. It differs from club to club to which extent these plans are elaborated. Making budget plans have showed and learned clubs that they need to take precautions to handle the consequences of a possible relegation. The interviews showed that these precautions can be clauses in player contracts, dismissing personnel in case of relegation, making costs more variable and income more stable. The budget plans also give a clear vision of how future will look like in case of relegation and in staying in the Eredivisie, so any internal or external confusion can to a certain extent be ruled out.
Conclusions and discussion
The interview results have led to an answer on the research question. Experience with (preparing for) relegation is found to be useful in predicting the decline more accurate and to reduce the uncertainty to a minimum. Scenario planning teaches management of clubs what the effects of a certain situation will be and it can learn from experiences of other clubs.
Scenario planning in the form of budget plans shows the management the expected decline in income and the challenge to adjust the costs to the declining income or weaken the decline. By knowing or having learned what the consequences will be, clubs implement risk management strategies or precautions to handle the effects of relegation if it would occur.
Using scenario planning will help clubs giving clarity about the consequences of relegation to the internal organization. Having considered the consequences of relegation before and communicating these with personnel within the club will help the management of clubs explaining the effects of relegation to the organization. The management of the club can also plan or prepare the communication to the different stakeholders upfront to handle the intense emotional feelings involved.
One might ask the question why not all clubs are well prepared for a possible relegation. The answer may lie in the model of Grundy (1998). We found that management of clubs succeeding in playing a few consecutive years in Eredivisie tend to make extra value creating activities to expand the business (investments and long-term contracts). The focus is here on the long-term growth of the business, instead of a focus to be variable and reducing risks to potential relegation.
Not only scenario planning could reduce the problems occurring during relegation. Also the KNVB can play an important role, without using scenario planning. The KNVB could make adjustments to lower the gap between both divisions and obligate clubs to prepare for relegation in terms of making budget plans or save funds. Also clubs can do more than solely using scenario planning. Commitment of stakeholders should always be at the highest point. KNVB Expertise could facilitate the demand for more knowledge on obligations of the different divisions and facilitate knowledge sharing between clubs.
Recommendations
The most important recommendations for clubs are
- Ensure a process in the organization that is continuing over years that considers the possibility of relegation.
- One of the important aspects in that continues process is making realistic budget plans for two scenarios, which includes relegation, in which assumptions of trends in revenues and costs are based on earlier experience with relegation, experience of other clubs and data and research. Clauses in for example sponsorships and player contracts may help to come to better assumptions.
- Continuous try to make costs variable and revenues stable.
- Be always aware of the impact of relegation on the internal and external organization. Try to keep the commitment of stakeholders at the highest possible level, to prevent or weaken declines. Clear and true communication is at all time a useful instrument in maintaining commitment.
Not only clubs itself, but also the KNVB and KNVB Expertise can help the football business with the uncertainties and problems that surround relegation. KNVB could implement strategies to decline the enormous (financial) gap between the two divisions. KNVB Expertise needs to facilitate in the demand for accurate and detailed information on the contractual obligations that arise in the different divisions. Also, facilitating the knowledge sharing of the effects on relegation on clubs would be a task for KNVB Expertise


SOME CVIL RIGHTS lawyers look at the growth of employment arbitration and see the end of workplace justice. Others see an exciting opportunity to create workplace justice. How can this be possible? How can attorneys with the same values see the same development in diametrically opposite ways? The heart of the answer lies less in these attorneys' different perceptions of alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") than in their different perceptions of the civil justice system. Different attorneys have conflicting opinions on how well the civil justice system provides workplace justice and these opinions shape their attitudes regarding arbitration in the workplace. Part I of this article examines civil rights lawyers' views on employment arbitration. It finds that most civil rights lawyers see the civil justice system as successful because they are generally successful in achieving justice for their employee clients. This section also explains that those lawyers who view the civil justice system as a failure tend to focus on the vast majority of employees with legitimate claims who receive no justice because financial obstacles prevent them from accessing the courts. For the latter type of lawyer, employment arbitration is seen as a great opportunity for those employees who have been denied access to courts to be heard and have a chance to be made whole. Part II examines the empirical data concerning the outcomes of employment arbitration and employment litigation proceedings. This


The frost heaving pressure can be a problem for weakening of the railway roadbed material. This study was initiated to investigate the soils frost heaving pressure and physical characteristics(Liquid limit, permeability, SEM analysis) resulting from freezing and freezing-thawing cycle process. Therefore, upon freezing a saturated soil in a closed-system from the top, a considerable pressure was developed. Weathered granite soils, sandy soil were used in the laboratory freezing test which sometimes subjected to thermal gradients under closed-systems. The frost heaving pressure arising within the soil samples and the temperature of the samples inside were monitored with elapsed time. The degree of saturation versus heaving pressure curve is also presented for weathered granite soil and the maximum pressure is closely related to this curve. Based on the laboratory test results, fine-grained soils with strong attractive forces between soil grains and water molecules, and additional water is attracted into the pores leading to further volume changes and ice segregation.


Thinning trials with lime sulphur in comparison to other products were carried out for 4 years in an 'Elstar orchard' at the OVB Jork in Northern Germany. Beside the yield, the influence on fruit size, colour, russet-ting and return bloom of treated trees were observed. Mechanic thinning was too strong and had other negative effects. Thinning with potato meal and coconut soap had no effect. Organic oil (Telmion) reduced the yield between 0 and 20%. Lime sulphur reduced the yield 0 – 40% in comparison of the concentration and the number of applications. There were great fluctuations from year to year. In conclusion lime sulphur gives the best results, but the variation from year to year is not acceptable for a practical advising in the northern area of Germany.


Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) infection-associated multiple antibiotic resistance has raised serious public health concerns. Recently, nanosponges (NSs) have been expected to provide innovative platforms for addressing antibacterial and drug-resistant challenges by targeting various pore-forming toxins (PFTs). In the present study, we constructed NSs to explore the effects and possible mechanism of recombinant V. vulnificus hemolysin (rVvhA)-induced injuries. In vitro, NSs significantly reversed rVvhA-induced apoptosis and necrosis, and improved toxin-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, and apoptosis signaling pathway disruption. To explore the clinical translation potential of NSs, we established VvhA-induced septicemia and wound infection mouse models, respectively, and further found NSs could notably attenuate rVvhA-induced acute toxicity and septicemia-associated inflammation, as well as local tissue damage. In a conclusion, NSs showed excellent protective effects against rVvhA-induced toxicity, thus providing useful insights into addressing the rising threats of severe V. vulnificus infections.


Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) rely on wireless communications, which is by nature a broadcast medium and is more vulnerable to security attacks than its wired counterpart due to lack of a physical boundary. Anybody with an appropriate transceiver can eavesdrop on, intercept, inject, and even alter the transmitted data. Security services are, therefore, urgently needed to ensure effective access control and information confidentiality. WSNs are severally energy constrained since many sensor networks are designed to operate unattended for a long time and battery recharging or replacement may be infeasible or impossible. To optimize the limited capability of the sensor nodes, security requirements are generally abandoned. This leaves WSNs under security attacks, which could cause more battery power consumption and reduced lifespan of the WSNs. In the worst case, an adversary may be able to undetectably take control of some sensor nodes, compromise the cryptographic keys and reprogram the sensor nodes. In this paper, a power efficient link-layer security protocol (LLSP) is proposed. LLSP provides node authentication, message integrity check, and message semantic security at a minimal cost by minimizing the security overhead in data packet and applying only symmetric security algorithms. The security analysis and performance analysis show that LLSP is secure and computationally efficient


Criminological literature and statistics show that African Americans are comparatively overrepresented in the United States criminal justice system. This study explores whether African American athletes are similarly overrepresented as criminally involved sports figures. Data abundantly illustrate that African Americans fare worse in all phases of criminal justice compared to whites. It has been speculated that African Americans, perhaps due to cultural influences or blocked opportunities, do commit more crime than other racial categories. There is equally strong reason to believe that the representation of African Americans in the criminal justice system is largely a result of racial bias on the part of social control agencies. Crime among athletes, regardless of race, can be explained through social forces, such as collective behavior, organizational influences, and social process. We conclude that African American athletes are socially expected to be engaged in crime and suggest a new approach to this area of study.


Evidence for passive choice for near males in Pteronarcella badia was demonstrated by comparing female answering rates to near males (30 cm distance) versus distant males (60 cm distance). Though statistically different, female answering rates were high to both near and distant males suggesting that males may engage in a form of scramble competition to locate the female before another competing male(s). Evidence for mate guarding in P. badia is presented and discussed. The possibility of purposeful interference signaling between near and distant males was considered, but the data gave no indication of this behavior.