Afforestation is among the most effective means of preventing and controlling desertification. Silver poplar (Populus alba) is commonly planted tree species for afforestation of the Horqin Sandy Land of China. However, this species has exhibited some drawbacks such as top shoot dieback, premature senescence and mortality, and soil and ecosystems degradation. In contrast, Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) rarely experiences these problems in the same regions. Ecological stoichiometry plays a vital role in exploring ecological processes and nutrient cycle relationships in plant–litter–soil systems. To explore the differences in the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) balance, the stoichiometry characteristics and stoichiometric homeostasis in elm and poplar plantations in the Horqin Sandy Land, we measured C, N, and P concentrations in leaves, branches, roots, litter, and soils and analyzed N and P resorption efficiencies in the two plantations. The results showed that soil C and N concentrations, C:P, and N:P were greater in the elm plantation than in the poplar plantation. The leaf and root C:P and N:P during summer and litter N and P concentrations were greater, whereas N and P resorption efficiencies were lower, in the elm plantation than in the poplar plantation. Generally, elm exhibited greater N:P homeostasis than poplar. N and N:P homeostasis were greater in roots than in leaves and branches in the elm plantation, but they varied with soil N concentration and N:P in the poplar plantation. These findings indicate that poplar exhibited more developed internal nutrient conservation and allocation strategies but poor nutrient accumulation in soil, which may contribute to degradation of poplar plantation. In contrast, elm tended to return more nutrients to the soil, showing an improved nutrient cycle in the plant–litter–soil system and increased soil C and N accumulation in the elm plantation. Therefore, compared with poplar, elm may be a more suitable afforestation tree species for the Horqin Sandy Land, in terms of promoting the accumulation of soil nutrients and enhancing nutrient cycling in the plant–litter–soil system.


As fields mature, they start depleting and require assistance to help extend production and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. The introduction of injector wells in producing fields is a commonly used pressure maintenance method which consists of injecting water or gas to maintain reservoir pressure and/or sweep hydrocarbons toward producer wells. Injector wells, requiring matrix injectivity, are typically drilled using reservoir drill-in fluids (RDIF) as they minimize near wellbore damage while drilling and lay down a high-quality acid-soluble filtercake (Dick et al. 2003). The slow and uniform dissolution of the filtercake is achieved by spotting a delayed breaker solution to allow time for pulling out the lower completion running string and closing the formation isolation valve (FIV) without causing losses.
 For two deepwater gas injector wells recently drilled in the Guyana Surinam Basin, a 11.9 lbm/gal RDIF was necessary and presented a design challenge of meeting both the deepwater reservoir drill-in and post-completion matrix injectivity requirements.
 A reversible non-aqueous RDIF system using a calcium bromide brine as the internal phase and formulated at 50/50 oil-water ratio (OWR) was selected to meet the drilling challenges. Such challenges included maintaining wellbore stability while drilling interbedded shale and controlling equivalent circulating density (ECD) below the fracture gradient at the desired rate of penetration (ROP). They also included depositing a thin, ultra-low permeability and acid-soluble filtercake. A newly developed breaker was customized to provide a 4-hour delay at bottom-hole temperature (250°F) permitting a safe pull out of the inner string above the FIV and then slowly dissolve the filtercake to restore near wellbore permeability and enable matrix injectivity.
 Both the recommended RDIF and delayed breaker formulations were d used in the field during reservoir drill-in and lower completion operations of the two deepwater gas injector wells. Post-completion well tests confirmed that the two wells have achieved maximum gas injectivity below fracture gradient, meeting customer expectations.
 This paper discusses the results of extensive laboratory tests that were necessary for the selection and the customization of both the RDIF and the delayed breaker and the field performance of the two fluids.


An experimental study has been carried out to explore the laminar hydrodynamic development length in the entrance region of adiabatic square microchannels. Flow field measurements are acquired through the use of micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (micro-PIV), a non-intrusive particle tracking and flow observation technique. With the application of micro-PIV, entrance length flow field data is obtained for two different microchannel hydraulic diameters of 500 μm and 100 μm, both of which have cross-sectional aspect ratios of one. The working fluid is distilled water, and velocity profile data is acquired over a laminar Reynolds number range from 0 to 200. The test sections were designed as to provide a sharpedged microchannel inlet from an infinitely sized reservoir, at least 100 times wider and higher than the microchannel hydraulic diameter. Also, all microchannels have a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 100, to assure fully developed flow at the channel exit. The micro-PIV procedure is validated in the fully developed region with comparison to Navier-Stokes momentum equations. Good agreement was found with comparison to conventional entrance length correlations for ducts, and no influence of scaling was observed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


Author(s): Worth, Danielle | Advisor(s): Wilson, Emma H | Abstract: The switch from tachyzoite to bradyzoite enables the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii to establish latency in its host, and the immune response to the cyst stage of the parasite remains largely unknown. The work presented in this dissertation aim to establish the immune response to bradyzoite and cyst wall antigens.Macrophages are critical for controlling cyst burden, yet the receptors involved are unknown. I investigated the PRR, dectin1, in macrophage-cyst recognition, due to its role in macrophage responses to chitin in vitro, and fungal pathogens in vivo. We find that dectin1 is not required to control parasite burden or induce an inflammatory response in vivo. Contrary to our hypothesis, dectin1-/- mice display no differences in cyst numbers in the brain, but rather, dectin1 plays an indirect role by regulating inflammation.The immune system contributes to the parasites developmental switch in vivo, but parasite-specific factors are unclear. AP2 transcription factors contribute to developmental switching in other apicomplexans, and here, we examined AP2IV- 4 during Toxoplasma infection to determine if misexpression of bradyzoite antigens influences infection and cyst formation. We find that ΔAP2IV-4 parasites do not encyst in the brain. High dose infection with wild-type parasites results in 100% mortality by day 6 post-infection, whereas the PruΔAP2IV-4 mice survive. The response to PruΔAP2IV-4 is driven by inflammatory monocytes, which are known for their ability to control parasite replication.Despite the progress in the field, we know little about the growth and development of Toxoplasma cysts, and the cues for bradyzoite differentiation. Studying this in vivo is difficult, and studies have used artificial means to generate cysts. Thus, we need a system for studying this in vitro, that will facilitate our understanding of cyst development and host-parasite interactions. Here, I validate that cysts form spontaneously within neurons in vitro and neurons actively respond to parasite infection, but are poor antigen presenting cells.In this dissertation, I demonstrate that expression of stage-specific antigens shape the outcome of the immune response. Understanding this developmental switch in vitro and in vivo will reveal novel vaccination strategies or treatments targeted to latent stages of infection.


In this study, the TiNbTaZr (TNTZ) alloys, which do not contain toxic and allergic elements, have been coated with hard ZrN physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings to increase their in-vitro corrosion resistance. In-vitro electrochemical behavior of the ZrN coating and uncoated TNTZ alloy was evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDS) techniques, respectively. The characterizations of the coatings were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM examinations showed that ZrN coating is homogeneous. Besides, ZrN coating had a higher corrosion resistance than uncoated TNTZ alloy in Hank's solution.


This special issue reports on approaches that apply the idea of separation of concerns to software evolution. In this context, separation of concerns allows us to separate parts of the software that exhibit different rates of change or different types of change. This makes it possible to provide better evolution support for those parts that have a higher change rate, or to provide different evolution techniques for different views on the software. Another common way to achieve separation of concerns is by raising the level of abstraction to the level of software architectures, business rules and metamodels. This makes software evolution more manageable. The above ideas emerged as important conclusions of the workshop on Formal Foundations of Software Evolution, which was co-located with the Conference on Software Maintenance and Re-engineering in Lisbon in March 2001. Of the 12 original position papers, five have been selected for revision and inclusion in this special issue of the Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution.


Abstract -Investigations of recent blackouts indicate that the root cause of almost all major power system disturbances is voltage collapse rather than the underfrequency conditions prevalent in the blackouts of the 1960s and 70s. This paper explores the nature of recent power system blackouts (2003 east coast, 1996 California and others) and explains why voltage is the leading edge indicator of impending power system collapse. The paper discusses the need to use voltage-as well as frequency-to decide when to separate from the utility system and transfer industrial system load to internal plant co-generation. Voltage relays have been used by industrial customers to determine that the utility circuit that supplies them has tripped. However, voltage relays at industrial sites have generally not been used to determine that the utility system lacks security and may collapse. This paper discusses the causes of voltage collapse as well as the design and security requirements for an undervoltage separation scheme. The paper addresses the current level of voltage load shedding on utilities' systems, NERC (North Electric Reliability Council) requirements and coordination of industrial undervoltage separation with utility undervoltage load shedding.


Abstract Background Skin wound healing depends on the progress of different but overlapping stages of healing, including hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling. Failure of these stages to occur in a timely and gradual manner may result in non-healing pathological wounds. Macrophages and neutrophils have been shown to play an essential role in the inflammatory responses of wound tissue, and their active plasticity allows them to modulate tissue damage and repair functions. The ability of macrophages and neutrophils to regulate the occurrence and resolution of inflammatory processes is essential for the treatment of pathological wound healing. Methods Mice were categorized into negative control, streptozotocin, streptozotocin + puerarin and puerarin groups. The traditional Chinese medicine extract puerarin was selected to treat different groups of mice with a full-thickness skin defect wound. Cells of the RAW264.7 cell line were stimulated under different puerarin conditions. Then, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot, immunofluorescence and other assays were carried out to explore the effect of puerarin on wound healing and its molecular mechanism. Results Animal experiments found that the wound healing of diabetic mice treated with puerarin was significantly accelerated, and histological analysis found that puerarin treatment markedly decreased the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils in wound tissue. Through western blot, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence experiments, it was observed that puerarin treatment remarkably inhibited nuclear factor kinase B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and induced the M2 polarization of macrophages. At the cellular level, we also observed that puerarin improved M2 macrophage polarization and inhibited inflammatory pathway activation in a high-glucose culture. Conclusion Puerarin has a significant therapeutic effect on wound healing in diabetic mice. The therapeutic effect is achieved by regulating macrophage polarization through suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades.


A trend toward more hot and humid summers in the United States raises concern for the health of our elderly population. Older adults are more vulnerable to heat illness than younger people because of dysfunctional thermoregulatory mechanisms, chronic dehydration, medications, and diseases involving the systems that regulate body temperature. Heat exhaustion, if untreated, will lead to heat stroke, which is fatal if body temperature is not quickly lowered, and research shows that survivors may suffer long-term disabilities. Prevention requires strong knowledge and application of measures necessary to keep elders healthy in extreme heat. Should illness occur, careful monitoring and assessment will ensure early detection and prompt treatment. This article provides information for caregivers that will enable them to protect their patients from heat illness. It also discusses age-related changes in the thermoregulatory system's response to heat, risk factors, assessment criteria, preventive measures, and first aid for victims of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.


As an emerging multi-carrier transmission scheme, multiple-mode orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with index modulation (MM-OFDM-IM) conveys information through multiple distinguishable constellations (or modes, alternatively) and their full permutations, increasing the spectral efficiency of OFDM-IM and classical OFDM. However, both MM-OFDM-IM and its extension, that is, MM-OFDM with in-phase/quadrature index modulation (MM-OFDM-IM-IQ), cannot provide any transmit diversity gain, which may be critical for ultra-reliable communications. In this paper, aiming at enhancing the diversity gain of MM-OFDM-IM(-IQ) schemes, coordinate interleaved (CI-)MM-OFDM-IM and linear constellation precoded (LCP-) MM-OFDM-IM-IQ are proposed, both of which achieve a diversity order of two without loss of spectral efficiency. The optimal rotation angle for CI-MM-OFDM-IM and the optimal precoding matrix for LCP-MM-OFDM-IM-IQ, in the sense of maximizing their coding gains, are derived in closed form. Computer simulations corroborate the advantages of the proposed schemes in terms of diversity and bit error rate performance toward next-generation wireless networks.


It is shown that if a very high positive electric field is present at a metal surface then the dipole moments electrically induced in the surface atoms must give rise to a field-related negative work-function correction. At the high fields encountered at a field-ion emitter, approximately 50 V nm-1, the correction may be several electron-volts or more. It is also suggested that, in consequence of the Hellman-Feynman theorem, a discrete-charge model may in principle be a better classical model for a positively charged surface than a representation in terms of a continuous positive charge distribution.


A growing segment of event-based applications require both strict performance goals and support in the processing of complex event patterns. Event processing patterns have multiple complexity dimensions: the semantics of the language constructs (e.g., sequence) and the variety of semantic interpretations for each pattern (controlled by policies). We introduce in this paper a novel approach for pattern rewriting that aims at efficiently processing patterns which comprise all levels of complexity. We present a formal model for pattern rewriting and demonstrate its usage in a comprehensive set of rewriting techniques for comple pattern types, taking various semantic interpretations into account. A cost model is presented, balancing processing latency and event throughput according to user's preference. Pattern cost is then estimated using simulation-based techniques.
 This work advances the state-of-the-art by analyzing complex event processing logic and by using explicit means to optimize elements that were considered "black box." Our empirical study yields encouraging results, with improvement gain of up to tenfold relative to the non optimized solutions that are used in the current state-of-the-art systems.


This paper examines the linkages between US and Latin American stock markets during the 1995–2002 period using recently developed cointegration techniques that allow for structural shifts in the long-run relationship. Results suggest that when conventional cointegration tests are applied, a long-run relationship is found only in the cases of Brazil and Mexico for the Dow Jones (DJ) index, and in the case of Brazil for the Standard and Poor's 500 (SP500) index. In contrast, if the possibility of structural breaks is introduced, strong evidence is found in favour of such a relationship between the Argentine, Chilean and Venezuelan indices and the DJ index after the 1998 financial turmoil, and between the Brazilian and Mexican indices and the DJ index before such turbulence, while some marginal cointegration is detected between the Mexican and DJ indices from February 1998. Additionally, evidence is found of a cointegrating relationship between the Argentine, Chilean and Mexican indices and the SP500 index from August 1998, April 1999 and October 1999, respectively, and between the Brazilian and the SP500 indices before November 1997, as well as some marginal cointegration between the Mexican and SP500 indices before October 1999. The results suggest that the gains from international diversification for investors with long holding periods is limited.


In this study, the Bragg–Hawthorne equation (BHE) is extended in the context of a steady, inviscid and compressible fluid, thus leading to an assortment of partial differential equations that must be solved simultaneously. A solution is pursued by implementing a Rayleigh–Janzen expansion in the square of the reference Mach number. The corresponding formulation is subsequently used to derive a compressible approximation for the Trkalian model of the bidirectional vortex. The approximate solution is compared to a representative computational fluid dynamics simulation in order to validate the modelling assumptions under realistic conditions. The latter is found to exhibit an appreciable steepening of the axial velocity profile, which is accompanied by an axial dependence in the mantle location that is somewhat reminiscent of the radial shifting of mantles reported in some experimental trials and simulations. In this context, flows with a strong swirl intensity do not seem to be significantly affected by the introduction of compressibility. Rather, as the swirl intensity is reduced the effects of compressibility become more noticeable, especially in the axial and radial velocity components. It may also be realized that imparting a progressively larger swirl component stands to promote the axisymmetric distribution of flow field properties, and these include an implicit resistance to dilatational effects in the tangential direction. From a broader perspective, this study provides a viable approximation to the Trkalian motion associated with cyclonic flows, while serving as a limited proof of concept for the compressible Bragg–Hawthorne procedure applied to a steady, axisymmetric and inviscid fluid.


PURPOSE
Vaginal packing for gynecological brachytherapy is used to immobilize the applicator and reduce doses to the bladder and rectum by increasing the separation from the applicator. With the introduction of theRadiadyne Alatus™ balloon packing system, we evaluate further reductions in dose to these structures by increasing the concentration of contrast in the balloon, increasing its attenuation. This evaluation has been performed using the Acuros™ dose calculation algorithm.

METHODS
A patient with cervical cancer was treated with HDR Ir-192 by insertion of a tandem and ovoid applicator, with the Alatus™ balloon system used for vaginal packing instead of wet gauze. The balloons were filled with distilled water containing 10% Omnipaque contrast. Retrospectively, the balloons were contoured in the BrachyVision™ planning system, and the CT number of the structure set was adjusted to determine the effect of the concentration of the contrast in the balloons on bladder and rectal doses after heterogeneity correction using the Acuros™ algorithm.

RESULTS
Use of 10% Omnipaque solution reduced the bladder and rectal point doses by 6% and 9.5%, respectively, with similar reductions in the D2cc and D1cc for each structure. Overriding the density of the balloon showed that a 50% solution would reduce the doses by 8% and 30%, respectively, due to the positions of the balloons with respect to the applicator dwell positions.

CONCLUSIONS
Use of the Alatus™ balloon packing system allows reduction of the bladder and rectal doses both by increasing the distance between the bladder and rectum and the applicators and by increased attenuation of the dose by the use of contrast solution. Optimal dilution of the contrast should take into account both the positive protective effect of the solution as well as any negative artifact that the solution causes in the CT scan, which might obscure the patient's anatomy patient.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers treated with Total Contact Cast (TCC) in terms of percentage of ulcers healed and time to heal.

STUDY DESIGN
Analytical study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi Medical and Dental College, from April 2005 to March 2007.

METHODOLOGY
The study included diabetic patients with non-ischemic neuropathic foot ulcers of upto grade 2 of Wagner's classification. Ulcers were debrided off necrotic tissues and Total Contact Cast (TCC) was applied. TCC was renewed every 2 weeks till healing. Cases were labeled as cast failure when there was no reduction in wound size in 4 consecutive weeks or worsening to a higher grade. Main outcome measures were the percentage of ulcers healed and time to heal in the cast.

RESULTS
Thirty four (87.17%) patients were males and 5(12.82%) were females. The mean age was 62 +/- 13.05 years. All patients had NIDDM. Out of the 52 ulcers, 41(78.84%) healed with TCC in an average 2 casts duration (mean 32 days). There were 11(21.15%) cast failure. Majority (63.63%) of cast failure ulcers were located on pressure bearing area of heel. Most (90%) of the ulcers on forefoot and midsole region healed with TCC (p < 0.001). Longer ulcer duration (mean 57.45 +/- 29.64 days) significantly reduced ulcer healing (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION
Total contact cast was an effective treatment modality for neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers of Wagner's grade 2, located on forefoot and midsole region.


In tissues that closely approximate bone, sufficient heat may be transferred to the bone during laser surgery to cause damage and/or necrosis. To date, there have been few studies examining the temperatures elicited at the bone surface as a result of laser application to the overlying soft tissues. The purpose of this investigation was to determine, under in vitro conditions, temperature changes at the bone/soft tissue interface during laser ablation with CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers used with and without (w/wo) air/water coolant. Experimental specimens consisted of 5 mandibles from freshly sacrificed hogs; laser treatment sites were the buccal and lingual attached gingiva of the molars and the lingual keratinized mucosa of the incisor region. CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers were used w/wo coolant at power settings of 4 to 8 W and 5 to 9 W, respectively. Temperature changes were measured with a copper constant thermocouple contained within a 21 gauge hypodermic needle. In comparing the lasers at comparable energy densities w/wo coolant, temperature increases at the bone/soft tissue interface ranged from 8.0 to 11.1 degrees C with the Nd:YAG and 1.4 to 2.1 degrees C with the CO2. Similarly, in comparing the times required for the interface to return to baseline temperature following removal of the laser, values ranged from approximately 143 to 205 and approximately 119 to 139 seconds for the Nd:YAG and CO2, respectively. Results from this study suggest that, at energy densities equal or above those reported here, the increase in temperature at the bone surface as a result of periodontal soft tissue surgery with the Nd:YAG laser could be damaging, especially if the exposure is prolonged.


It is important to analyze the transient characteristics of large synchronous generators according to the trend of the extension of wind turbines. The fabricated field coil of a synchronous generator using high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire is somewhat influenced by the external magnetic field of the stator in a real environment. This paper describes the electromagnetic analysis of an HTS field coil of a 10-MW superconducting synchronous generator during stator winding faults. The real-time digital simulator is used to simulate a fault condition of the 10-MW SCSG. Also, the finite-element method is used in each operating condition, including normal and transient conditions, to analyze the influence of the HTS field coil. Based on the simulation results discussed here, there do not appear to be any significant problems regarding the electromagnetic operation of the HTS field coil during transient conditions of the stator. This paper will be used in the analysis of the transient characteristics of a large superconducting synchronous generator during stator winding faults.


Studies in Costa Rica and the Philippines analyze the underlying mechanisms that have led to resource degradation: land tenure policies population growth and narrow economic policies advanced during the debt crisis. In both countries migration patterns are also involved in the interaction between economic crisis demographic change legal institutions and ecological problems. The linkages are multiple and complex. Both countries have seen a rapidly growing population migrating out of cities to easily degraded forest slopes due to poverty. Land management and tenure policies mitigate the effect of migration on the environment. In the Philippines economic growth has been only moderate compared to rapid population growth. The family planning program has not reached sufficient number of poor and rural households. Population and economic policies have failed to reduce poverty. Land tenure policies have given leases on forest land to large-scale timer companies. In Costa Rica population density is not as great as in the Philippines but migration into marginal lands has resulted due to government incentives and tenure policies. The policy implications are that policy in each sphere (migration economy resources family planning) must not be made in isolation but at multiple points of intervention. Economic policies must be gender neutral; policies must reflect wider access to education and health services security of land tenure equitable distribution of agricultural land holdings. In the case study of the Philippines discussion focuses on the population trends and policies growth in the uplands upland population density expanding cultivation and soil loss demand for fuelwood and deforestation as issues which show the effect of population pressure on resources. The issues of increased landlessness inadequate access to arable lands and insecure tenure are discussed in terms of their impact on degradation. Migration has been spurred on by settlement programs. Commercial logging which is allowed for 25-year periods to concessionaires encourages the cut-and-run approach; the barren land is then accessible to migrants. The economic crisis of the 1980s and the shift in migration patterns is then described. The case study for Costa Rica follows a similar pattern in the discussion of population pressure poverty economics and migration. Policy change is needed very badly in both countries.


The diagnosis of basosquamous cell carcinoma is controversial. A review of cases of basal cell carcinoma showed 23 cases that had conspicuous areas of squamous cell carcinoma. This was distinguished from squamous differentiation and keratotic basal cell carcinoma by a comparative study of 40 cases of compact lobular and 40 cases of keratotic basal cell carcinoma. Areas of intermediate tumour differentiation between basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma were found. Basal cell carcinomas with areas of squamous cell carcinoma may be called basosquamous carcinoma.


Introduction Pancreatic fluid collections (PFC) are a common local complication of pancreatitis with incidences of 5–16% and 20–40% in acute and chronic pancreatitis, respectively.1 Classification of PFC includes acute peripancreatic fluid collection, pancreatic pseudocyst, acute necrotic collection and walled-off necrosis (WON). A new lumen-apposing, covered self-expanding metal stent on a catheter-based delivery system (Hot AXIOS, Boston Scientific) may have higher technical success rates, easier deployment and lower migration than plastic stents. We present the first multicentre prospective case series from the UK and Ireland to assess success and complication rates associated with Hot AXIOS stent for the drainage of PFC. Methods All adult patients who had Hot AXIOS stent placement for PFC from July 2015-February 2016 were included. Eight centres participated (London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, Dublin and Leeds). All patients had CT of the PFC prior to placement. Data including technical success, resolution of collection, complications and stent migration were collected. Results Forty patients were treated with a single Hot AXIOS stent in each case. The median age was 57 years (range 31–78). 25 were male and 15 female. Indications were WON (24), pseudocyst (15) and abscess.1 The median size of the PFC was 11 cm (4–20 cm). Thirty-eight patients (95%) had trans-gastric stents, 1 had trans-duodenal and 1 had a trans-oesophageal stent. Procedures were technically successful in all patients. Of 22 patients with available follow-up data to date, the collection resolved in 19 (86%) and reduced in size in 3 (14%). The median time to resolution was 36 (7–208) days. Twelve patients (30%) had 33 necrosectomies and/or endoscopic lavage following stent insertion. Stents migrated out in 2 patients and was displaced during necrosectomy in 1. Serious adverse events occurred in 1/40 (2.5%): a small bowel obstruction resulting from stent migration, managed surgically. There was no procedure related or 30 day mortality (data available in 27 patients). Conclusion This multicentre case series demonstrates that the Hot AXIOS system is safe and effective in draining PFC with a technical success rate of 100% and low serious adverse event rate. Reference 1 Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, et al. Classification of acute pancreatitis—2012: Revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut 2013. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


A dual-channel sigma-delta ( Sigma Delta ) voice-band codec meeting AT&T/CCITT specifications is described. Its digital signal processing section has a bit-slice architecture which can be expanded to accommodate higher bit resolution. The active area per channel is 13 mm/sup 2/ in a 1.5- mu m CMOS process. It has only one power supply and the maximum power dissipation is 90 mW per channel. The crosstalk between channels is less than -71 dB. >


The current stage of development of forensics is described by an active search for the latest cognitive methods and tools, which fully include forensic diagnostics. The relevance of the subject matter is conditioned by the need to form a modern terminology of the forensic science, further development of the scientific concept of forensic diagnostics, and prospects for creating an appropriate forensic teaching. The purpose of the study is to analyse modern scientific approaches to understanding the concept of forensic diagnostics, its features, structure, integrative functions, and differences from other paired forensic categories. To achieve this goal, such general scientific and special research methods as dialectical, historical, Aristotelian, system-structural, sociological, statistical, the method of legal forecasting and modelling, system and semantic analysis were used. It is proved that the term «forensic diagnostics» should be considered in practical and theoretical terms. In practical terms, forensic diagnostics is a method of recognising the state of objects, cognition of phenomena and processes related to the circumstances of the crime event, determined by the latter. This is a kind of tool at the disposal of an expert, investigator, detective, judge to know the object (event, phenomenon) by its reflection. In the theoretical sense, forensic diagnostics is considered as a separate forensic teaching, which constitutes a system of theoretical provisions on the regularities of recognising objects (situations) by their features and properties, based on the analysis of changes that occurred in them under the influence of the circumstances of the crime event and its participants, in order to carry out evidence in criminal proceedings. It is noted that the theoretical basis of forensic diagnostics comprises information on the patterns of occurrence of diagnosed objects, data on typical models of event reflection (action, behaviour). It is noted that forensic diagnostics as a separate forensic teaching (theory) is at the stage of its development, constantly increasing its scientific potential and expanding the scope of practical implementation. Further development of the theory and practice of diagnostic research involves systematisation and classification of diagnostic features and sets of features of objects, events, phenomena in accordance with the solution of diagnostic problems, classification of typical situations, development of methods and techniques of diagnostic research


Prior works on the hidden terminal problem in wireless networks often assume that the SNR requirement and the transmission range in a networks are fixed. In fact they are rate dependent. Because of this assumption many of the prior conclusions about the hidden terminal are not accurate. A new analysis of the hidden terminal problem is presented in the paper. The new insights provided by the analysis lead to a IG-MAC scheme for tackling the hidden terminal problem in multi rate ad hoc networks. The key point is to model the interference information by means of Interference Graph and send busy tone with encoded communication information to prevent the potentially interfering nodes from initiating new transmissions. Through the simulations our protocol can solve the hidden terminals problem caused by 802.11 and improve the network performance substantially.


Does working time affect workers' health? We study this question in the context of a French reform which reduced the standard workweek from 39 to 35 hours, at constant earnings. Our empirical analysis exploits variation in the reduction of working time across employers, which was driven by the institutional features of the reform and thus exogenous to workers' health. We find that longer working hours increase smoking and decrease self-reported health, and that these impacts are concentrated among bluecollar workers. In contrast, white-collar workers' body mass index increases with hours worked.


textabstractParallel with the increasing liberalisation of the Congolese economy since the turn of the century has been the increasing delegation of previously state-held functions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to corporate actors, and in particular transnational mining corporations (TNMCs). This has been theoretically justified by an understanding of the collapse of the Congolese state in the 1990s as due primarily to government corruption and mismanagement. Grounded in an alternative historical interpretation of this collapse, and based on interviews and a review of the literature which reveals the limited impact of this shift on local development in the main mining regions of the DRC, this chapter explores the possibilities for harnessing the presence of TNMCs to support the reinstitution of processes of state-led local development. It is argued that achieving this will require maximising state capture of the surplus created by industrial mining and the redistribution of this surplus to local government structures, or the 'decentralised territorial entities'. The main challenges and opportunities surrounding these processes are identified and discussed. Findings are based on research conducted between January and March 2016 in Kinshasa and six of the DRC's major mining provinces.


The water management of crop is different according to the area as well as climate condition and growth stage, however it is the most important and difficult problems for the farmers. The optimum irrigation manual those irrigation interval and amount of irrigation as water saving, are developed based on the lysimeter experiments carried out by the RDA for 11 years about PET (Potential Evapo-Transpiration), crop coefficient (Kc). The average PET (Potential Evapo-Transpiration) during 30 years of 45 regions for the autumn chinese cabbage cultivation was a 2.17 mm day -1 .


We describe research enabling the rapid creation of digital musical instruments and their publication to the Internet. This research comprises both high-level abstractions for making continuous mappings between audio, interactive, and graphical elements, as well as a centralized database for storing and accessing instruments. Published instruments run in most devices capable of running a modern web browser. Notation of instrument design is optimized for readability and expressivity.


Aiming at different ground surfaces of hardened bearing steel GCr15, this paper made experimental research on assessment method of surface roughness based on computer vision technology. Firstly, some pre-processing of the ground images should be carried out to eliminate noise and get more detail information, including image enhancement and median filtering. Then the method of power spectrum analysis transformed representation of processed image from spatial domain to frequency domain by adopting two-dimensional Discrete Fourier Transform. Gaining the mean power spectrum named E and its corresponding radius r, we made efforts to seek the direction in which the arithmetic average surface roughness Ra varied according to E and r. After that the variation rule can be regarded as an assessment basis of ground surface roughness.


The feasibility of photochemically fractionating the actinides in nuclear waste processing is evaluated on a preliminary basis. The data indicate that there are potentially useful photoredox reactions. However, there is a serious lack of data on photochemical parameters for the solution conditions existing in nuclear waste processing. The problem areas relevant to photochemical processing are identified. The experimental areas that must be investigated in order to further evaluate the photochemistry are defined. A research and development program is outlined to determine whether these photochemical reactions can be successfully modified and adapted to a functional actinide fractionating process.


A concept of intracavity nonlinear wave mixing using modes generated in semiconductor injection lasers as an intracavity optical pump for the mixing is developed. This approach utilizes very high nonlinear susceptibilities of III-v semiconductors that cannot be used as a passive externally pumped crystal because of the strong absorption of the optical pump and the absence of a convenient phase-matching scheme. In particular, it opens prospects for mastering the terahertz frequency range on the basis of a standard heterolaser technology. We review recent theoretical and experimental investigations in the field and discuss applications.


Panoramic photo stitching is the process of combining multiple photographic images with overlapping fields of view to produce a panorama. The process to generate a panoramic view can be divided into three main components image acquisition, image registration, and blending. In this paper, a robust algorithm called Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) used to extract the features from the images and matching them which is a part of image registration. SIFT features are invariant to rotation, translation, image scaling and partially invariant to 3D viewpoint, illumination changes and image noise. Image transformation is estimated using homography. Image blending technique is used to blend the images together to get a panoramic view. Main applications of panoramic view include creating virtual environment for virtual reality, modeling the 3D environment using images acquired from the real world.


Low informant agreement is of particular concern in clinical settings, since diagnoses and interventions are largely based on reports from parents and/or youths. This study explores youth-parent consistencies in an at-risk sample of youths (n = 42), several from immigrant and refugee families, all with stressful background experiences. Data from a community sample (n = 165) was used to contrast the clinical results. Results showed that correlations between clinical youths and parents were within the same range as those in the community sample. Consistencies concerning absolute level of behavior were higher in the clinical sample. However, interesting differences in informant consistencies were found on difficulties and resources between the two samples. This study adds to the picture that there is no simple relationship between severity of behavior deviance and informant agreement. Asking about behavioral resources as well as difficulties may provide valuable additional information regarding differences in the perspectives of at-risk youths and parents.


1. Concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine from 10-8 to 10-5 M had the effect of starting quiescent ventricles, with a slow slight depolarization followed by the onset of beating, with hyperpolarization between beats.

2. Concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine from 10-7 to 10-3 M had the effect of prolonging the cardiac action potential and increasing force. Over the entire range, an increase in concentration led to an increase in the duration and amplitude of the plateau phase of the action potential, and an increase in force of contraction.


dynamic switching bias circuit, which enables low power consumption, high gain stably, and a relatively wide dynamic range in low power supply voltages, is proposed. Through simulations, it was shown that the OP amplifier is able to operate at a 10 MHz dynamic switching rate and a dissipated power of 71 % of that observed in continuous operation. It also showed an open loop gain of 51 dB and a 0.996 V output dynamic range which is wider than that in a telescopic OP amplifier. The 10 MHz high-speed switching operation, allowing processing video signals, was confirmed by applying to a switched capacitor non-inverting amplifier with a gain of below 2. The simulation results showed that the output inaccuracy for a switched capacitor amplifier with a gain of below 2 is below 1.5 %, which is practicable. This inaccuracy was caused by the static nonlinearity of the OP amplifier, determined on its limited open loop gain.


The Objective was to improve the results of diagnostics of the severity of patients with complications of cholelithiasis, occurring in the form of mechanical jaundice, against the background of comorbidity.Methods and Materials. 537 patients admitted in the clinic of hospital surgery of Kabardino-Balkar State University named after H. M. Berbekov in the period from 2010 to 2019 were examined. The terms of admission to the hospital were different. 25 (4.6 %) people were admitted in a short period of time up to 6 hours. A day after the onset of the disease – 82 (15.3 %) people. More than half – 277 (51.6 %) people were hospitalized a week after the onset of the disease. We analyzed the data of comorbidity scales of CIRS, Kaplan–Feinstein and Mary Charlson Index, as well as biochemical criteria reflecting the severity of calculous cholecystitis, jaundice and concomitant diseases.Results. As a result of their analysis and comparison, we found that comorbidity in patients of this kind is the main aggravating factor and worsens the пeneral condition as the stages of jaundice develop.Conclusion. We found out that a common biochemical tests as for characterizing changes of the hepatocyte in nontumor obstructive jaundice, and for evaluating the degree of impact of comorbidity are the content of blood alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase and transaminases. Intoxication syndrome in patients with cholangitis and comorbidity so negatively affect all organs and systems of the body that it can lead to inoperability.


A method for enhancing the local contrast of a noisy image using sliding discrete transforms is proposed. A minimum mean-square error estimator in the domain of a sliding transform for noise removal is derived. This estimator is based on a fast inverse sliding transform. Local contrast enhancement is performed by a nonlinear modification of denoised local spectrum coefficients. To provide image processing in real time, a fast recursive algorithm for computing the sliding transform is utilized. The algorithm is based on a recursive relationship between three subsequent local spectra. Computer simulation results using a real image are provided and discussed.


There were 4 Acinetobacter lwoffii obtained from soil samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains to 16 antimicrobial agents was investigated using K-B method. Three isolates showed the multi-drug resistance. The presence of resistance genes and integrons was determined using PCR. The aadA1, aac(3')-IIc, aph(3')-VII, aac(6')-Ib, sul2, cat2, floR, and tet(K) genes were detected, respectively. Three class 1 integrons were obtained. The arr-3-aacA4 and blaPSE-1 gene cassette, which cause resistance to aminoglycoside and beta-lactamase antibiotics. Our results reported the detection of multi-drug resistant and carried resistant genes Acinetobacter lwoffii from soil. The findings suggested that we should pay close attention to the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacterial species of environment.


The k-nearest-neighbour classifiers (k-NN) have been one of the simplest yet most effective approaches to instance based learning problem for image classification. However, with the growth of the size of image datasets and the number of dimensions of image descriptors, popularity of k-NNs has decreased due to their significant storage requirements and computational costs. In this paper we propose a vector quantization (VQ) based k-NN classifier, which has improved efficiency for both storage requirements and computational costs. We test the proposed method on publicly available large scale image datasets and show that the proposed method performs comparable to traditional k-NN with significantly better complexity and storage requirements.


Background A multicenter, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled study of golimumab (GLM) was performed in Chinese pts with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Objectives To assess efficacy and safety of golimumab (GLM) through wk56 in Chinese pts with active AS. Methods Chinese pts aged≥18yrs with a diagnosis of active AS (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]≥4, and a visual analogue scale [VAS] for total back pain≥4, each on a scale of 0-10cm) for ≥3 months prior to screening were eligible. Pts with prior exposure to anti-TNF agents and those with complete ankylosis of the spine were excluded.213 pts were randomized to q4wk SC injections of PBO from wks 0 to 20, followed by GLM 50mg from wks 24 to 48 (Group1, n=105) or GLM 50mg from wks 0 to 48 (Group2, n=108). Group1 pts with <20% improvement from baseline in both total back pain and morning stiffness at wk16 were switched to SC GLM 50mg SC q4wks in a blinded fashion (early escape). At wk24, all remaining PBO pts in Group1 crossed over to SC GLM 50mg q4wks. The primary endpoint for efficacy was the proportion of patients who achieved ASAS20 response (≥ 20% improvement in the ASsessment in AS [ASAS] criteria) at wk14. Major secondary endpoints included ASAS20 response at wk24, changes from baseline at wk14 in Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI). Other efficacy assessments included health-related quality of life (SF-36 PCS and MCS scores), and sleep (Jenkins Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, JSEQ) measures. Antibodies to GLM were evaluated at wk52. The last GLM injection was at wk48; final efficacy assessments were at wk52. Safety was monitored through wk56. Results Baseline demographics were comparable in the 2 groups; median age was 29yrs, median weight of 62.0kg, and 83.1% were males. ASAS20 at wk14 was achieved by 49.1% of pts in Group2 vs. 24.8% in Group1 (p<0.001). GLM treatment also elicited a significantly better response than PBO in other efficacy parameters assessed, including ASAS20 response at wk24 (50.0% vs. 22.9%; p<0.001) and mean improvements in BASFI (-1.26 vs. 0.113; p<0.001) and BASMI (-0.42 vs. -0.19; p=0.021) scores at wk14 and SF-36 PCS and MCS and JSEQ at wk14 and wk24. These improvements in clinical symptoms, physical function, range of motion, as well as significant improvements in SF-36 MCS and PCS were further enhanced through the final efficacy assessment at wk52. Through wk16, 31.4% and 30.6% of pts had adverse events (AEs) in Groups1 and 2, respectively. Through wk56, 41.2% of GLM-treated patients reported AEs, and 2.8% reported serious AEs. Through wk56, infections were reported in 20.9% of all GLM-treated pts. One SAE of tuberculosis pleurisy was reported, and the pt recovered. No opportunistic infections or deaths were reported. Antibodies to GLM were not detected in GLM-treated patients through wk52. Conclusions GLM significantly reduced AS symptoms/signs and functional limitations and improved health-related quality of life in Chinese pts with active AS. Treatment with GLM was well tolerated and without unexpected safety concerns. Disclosure of Interest C. Bao Grant/research support from: Janssen R&D, LLC, F. Huang Grant/research support from: Janssen R&D, LLC, M. Khan Grant/research support from: Janssen R&D, LLC, K. Fei Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC, Z. Wu Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC, Y. Zhuang Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC, T. Gathany Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC, C. Han Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC, E. Hsia Shareholder of: Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Janssen R&D, LLC


We simulate the sedimentation of single charged and single uncharged elliptic cylinders in a Newtonian fluid by using the lattice Boltzmann method. Due to the polarizing effects and non-axial symmetry shape, there are the Coulomb force and corresponding torque exerted on the charged elliptic cylinder during the sedimentation, which significantly change the horizontal translation and rotation of the cylinder. When the dielectric constant of the liquid is smaller than that of the wall, the direction of the Coulomb force is opposite to that of the hydrodynamic force. Therefore there appears to be a critical linear charge density qc at which the elliptic cylinder will fall vertically off the centreline.


This is fashion designer Christian Lacroix's own account of his life and career. He recalls his childhood in Arles, his "vie de boheme" as a student in Montpellier, his arrival in Paris, and his rise from Patou to his own label within only six years. Hundreds of colour and monochrome illustrations from his sketchpads, diary, pinboard and family albums, are interspersed with vividly remembered impressions that were the sources of his creativity.


Background In Ghana, attempts to control malaria through antimalarial medications are currently threatened by the emergence and spread of drug resistant malaria parasites. This, together with the increasing incidence of malaria, has heightened the need for a more effective method of controlling the spread. The use of Insecticide Treated Bed Net (ITN) has been recognised as an effective measure in the prevention of malaria. Objective/Purpose In this study, we examined the utilisation of ITN among caregivers of children under five years in Ho municipality of Ghana. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 283 household representatives through a multistage sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and was analyzed using STATA version 14. Descriptive and inferential statistics were adopted in presenting the data. Results Ownership of ITN was higher (80.7%) than its utilisation (41.7%). The age of caregiver was strongly associated with the utilisation of ITN (AOR=2.00, 95% CI=0.00, 0.02, p<0.001) among children less than five years. Caregivers aged 26-35 were 49% times less likely to use an ITN as compared to those aged between 17 and 25 and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion In order to ensure a high ITN coverage and utilisation, there is the need for continuous distribution of ITNs to households. Households should be sensitized to use the nets to prevent the continuous spread of malaria.


This study examines possible redistributional effects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), using a nationwide database of flood insurance policies and claims between 2001 and 2013 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Applying methods from the tax and transfer progressivity literature, we use the departure from per capita income proportionality at the zip code level as our measure of progressivity. Our findings indicate that premiums as a percentage of coverage purchased are regressive: premium shares are larger than income shares for lower-income zip codes. Payouts, however, also as a percentage of coverage purchased, are progressive, meaning lower-income zip codes receive a larger portion of claims paid. Overall net premiums (premiums – payouts) divided by coverage are also regressive. Our findings are driven by certain aspects of the current rate structure of the NFIP, as well as how income is related to risk. We discuss potential policies to provide assistance to lower-income households in purchasing flood insurance.


Maternal-to-fetal transfer of the thyroid hormone T4 is essential for prenatal neurodevelopment, but the transporter facilitating trans-placental T4 transport is unknown. Mutations in the thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 cause a neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorder which key clinical features can be ameliorated by the T3 analogue TRIAC. The placenta has defective MCT8 if the fetus has MCT8 deficiency as the placenta is a fetal tissue. Should placental MCT8 be physiologically relevant, defective T4 transport across the placenta could represent a hitherto unrecognized mechanism underlying MCT8 deficiency. We investigated the importance of MCT8 and the trans-placental transport of TRIAC using an ex vivo human placental perfusion setup. Our study (i) showed that MCT8 has a major role in maternal-to-fetal T4 transport, (ii) implies that disrupted placental transport of thyroid hormones could be the culprit in the early cascade of events in MCT8 deficiency and (iii) indicated that the T3 analogue TRIAC is efficiently transported across the placenta, independent of MCT8, holding potential in mothers carrying fetuses with MCT8 deficiency.


A ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) modified electrode was developed. Hydrodynamic voltammetry was employed to demonstrate the remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine. The RuOHCF modified electrode was used as amperometric detector for 2'-deoxyguanosine determination in a FIA apparatus. The influence of various experimental conditions was explored for optimum analytical performance, and at these experimental conditions, the method exhibited a linear response range to 2'-deoxyguanosine extending from 3.8 to 252 micromol L(-1) with detection limit of 94 nmol L(-1). Applications in DNA samples were examined, and the results for determination of 2'-deoxyguanosine were in good agreement with those obtained by HPLC analysis. Studies on the kinetics of the in vitro consumption of 2'-deoxyguanosine by acetaldehyde were also performed.


Ensemble analysis is a widely used meta-algorithm for many data mining problems such as classification and clustering. Numerous ensemble-based algorithms have been proposed in the literature for these problems. Compared to the clustering and classification problems, ensemble analysis has been studied in a limited way in the outlier detection literature. In some cases, ensemble analysis techniques have been implicitly used by many outlier analysis algorithms, but the approach is often buried deep into the algorithm and not formally recognized as a general-purpose meta-algorithm. This is in spite of the fact that this problem is rather important in the context of outlier analysis. This talk discusses the various methods which are used in the literature for outlier ensembles and the general principles by which such analysis can be made more effective. A discussion is also provided on how outlier ensembles relate to the ensemble-techniques used commonly for other data mining problems.


Abstract Differing life histories contribute to difficulties establishing perennial grasses on lands dominated by exotic annual grasses. In a greenhouse study, we investigated to what extent allowing the perennial grass bluebunch wheatgrass to emerge before the exotic annual grass downy brome would increase its competitive ability and whether modifying nitrogen (N) would affect competition. We conducted an addition-series factorial experiment. In three cohort treatments, the two species were seeded concurrently or bluebunch wheatgrass was at the two- or four-leaf stage when downy brome was planted. N treatments were low (ambient) or high (N added to maintain 10 mg kg−1 [0.1286 oz lb−1]). Larger bluebunch wheatgrass avoided suppression by downy brome regardless of N. Under concurrent sowing, doubling downy brome density decreased bluebunch wheatgrass biomass by 22.6% ± 2.38 SE. In contrast, when bluebunch wheatgrass had a four-leaf size advantage, the same increase in downy brome density decreased bluebunch wheatgrass biomass by 4.14% ± 2.31. Larger bluebunch wheatgrass also suppressed downy brome more effectively, but N enrichment decreased the suppressive ability of bluebunch wheatgrass. Nomenclature: Bluebunch wheatgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve; downy brome, Bromus tectorum L. Management Implications: This study demonstrated the importance of both order of emergence and nitrogen (N) availability in the competitive relationship between bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve] and downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.). First, we found that larger bluebunch wheatgrass seedlings avoided suppression by downy brome more effectively and that they did so regardless of N availability. However, although larger bluebunch wheatgrass also suppressed downy brome more effectively, N enrichment decreased the ability of bluebunch wheatgrass to suppress downy brome. Our results suggest that order of emergence for desired perennial vs. exotic annual grasses may be an important aspect of revegetation planning and that avoiding conditions that lead to N increases, such as soil disturbance, could allow perennial grasses to better suppress downy brome. To establish an initial size difference that favors seeded species, managers could modify the standard timing of revegetation practices to ensure that perennial species receive a sufficient head start. Another way to promote an initial size difference would be to use transplants or plugs to restore critical sites.


The ability of whey protein concentrate (WPC) (1% w/v) and/or honey (2% and 4% w⁄v) to improve lactic acid bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) growth and viability in yoghurt during a 21 day period of storage was investigated. Another focus of this study was to examine fermentation kinetics and post-acidification rates through pH and lactic acid content measurements over the 21 day period. The addition of WPC and acacia honey accelerated fermentation and improved lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth over the 21 days, but honey proportion did not significantly affect the viability of LAB. Moreover, adding honey and WPC did not support the overproduction of lactic acid, which positively influenced yoghurt stability during the 21 day storage period.


OBJECTIVES: Both renal function and immune system function decline with age. Although controversial, a significant number of studies have shown that the decline in kidney function is associated with the worsening of the immune system. These findings are reinforced by the increased susceptibility to infections and deficient immunization coverage after vaccination both in patients with chronic renal disease and in elderly individuals. Our objective was to evaluate a non-institutionalized elderly population from São Paulo City and correlate the estimated glomerular filtration rate with the percentage of lymphocytes in circulation. METHODS: A random population of 237 individuals (107 men and 130 women), ranging in age from 60 to 101 years, who were enrolled in the Health, Well-Being and Aging Study was evaluated for renal function (Modification on Diet in Renal Disease formula) and lymphocyte percentage (flow cytometry). RESULTS: Aging was associated with a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate in both male and female individuals. We did not identify a significant correlation between the estimated glomerular filtration rate and either the percentage of CD4, CD8, and B cells or CD4/CD8 ratio. The median percentage of CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in individuals with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, no statistical correlation was found between the estimated glomerular filtration rate and either the lymphocyte phenotype (CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells) or the CD4/CD8 ratio in blood.


An injector liner packed with a plug of glass wool is compared with a laminar and a mini laminar liner for large volume (20-50 microL) splitless injection with concurrent solvent recondensation (CSR-LV splitless injection). Videos from experiments with perylene solutions injected into imitation injectors show that glass wool perfectly arrested the sample liquid and kept it in place until the solvent had evaporated. The sample must be transferred from the needle to the glass wool as a band, avoiding 'thermospraying' by partial solvent evaporation inside the needle. The liquid contacted the liner wall when the band was directed towards it, but from there it was largely diverted to the glass wool. In the laminar liners, part of the liquid remained and evaporated at the entrance of the obstacle, while the other proceeded to the center cavity. Vapors formed in the center cavity drove liquid from the entrance of the obstacle upwards, but the importance of such problems could not be verified in the real injector. Some liquid split into small droplets broke through the obstacle and entered the column. Breakthrough through the laminar liners was confirmed by a chromatographic experiment. An improved design of a laminar liner for large volume injection is discussed as a promising alternative if glass wool causes problems originating from insufficient inertness.


INTRODUCTION
There is debate over whether a normal-looking appendix should be removed at diagnostic laparoscopy performed for right iliac fossa (RIF) pain. Faecaliths are associated with appendicitis. This study assessed whether there was an association between the removal of normal appendices containing faecaliths and improvement of symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Analysis of the histology database for all appendicectomies during 2003-2007 with normal histology, noting presence of a faecalith. Retrospective study using a telephone questionnaire for frequency/duration of pre-operative symptoms, postoperative symptom recurrence, re-admission rates and complications. The faecalith-positive (f(+)) group was compared to a similar control group of patients who had a normal appendix removed which did not contain a faecalith (f(-)). RESULTS Out of 203 appendicectomies performed with normal histology, 26 (13%) were f(+). Of these, 21 responded to the questionnaire. Thirty-one consecutive patients with normal histology and no faecalith were identified. A similar proportion in each group presented with three or more episodes of pain prior to appendicectomy (38% f(+); 39% control). Only one (5%) of the f(+) patients had recurring symptoms after the operation, compared with 14 (48%) of the control group (P = 0.0016). Only one (5%) of the f(+) patients underwent further investigations, compared with 11 (36%) of the control group (P < 0.02). None of the f(+) patients were re-admitted, compared to 19% of the control population. There were no significant postoperative complications in either group.

CONCLUSIONS
Appendiceal faecaliths may be a cause of right iliac fossa pain in the absence of obvious appendiceal inflammation. In this study, the policy of routine removal of a normal-looking appendix at laparoscopy in the absence of any other obvious pathology appeared to be an effective treatment for recurrent symptoms in those cases with a faecalith. Further studies are needed to assess this putative association.


Abstract Questions: What is the contribution of the seed bank to restoration of species-rich vegetation in oligotrophic wet dune slacks? Does the restoration management affect the seed bank? Location: Calcareous coastal dune slacks at the west coast of The Netherlands. Methods: Species composition of the seed bank and the above-ground vegetation was sampled in dune slacks that had a variable extent of groundwater level rise in combination with either topsoil removal or mowing. Results: The seed bank had a high potential for restoration of species-rich vegetation: 60 species were found in the seed bank of which 14 were characteristic of oligotrophic, wet dune vegetation. While topsoil removal almost completely removed the seed bank, groundwater level rise did not permanently submerge the seed bank of species of oligotrophic, wet conditions. Changes in abundance in the established vegetation were unrelated to species abundance in the seed bank. Of all new species establishments in the vegetation relevés, 76% occurred where the species was not found in the seed bank. The chance that presence of a species in the seed bank led to establishment the following year was only 11%. Conclusion: The seed bank was not the dominant source for newly establishing species following the large disturbance that was induced by restoration management. Changes in species abundance after the restoration impact were not related to species abundance in the seed bank, but to ongoing succession and current year dispersal. To attain a high number of new establishments, restoration projects should preferably be planned in the proximity of refuge populations, rather than relying on the seed bank alone. Nomenclature: van der Meijden (1996).


We report a systematic analysis of chloroplast high-molecular mass protein complexes using a combination of native gel electrophoresis and absolute protein quantification by MSE. With this experimental setup, we characterized the effect of the tic56-3 mutation in the 1-MDa inner envelope translocase (TIC) on the assembly of the chloroplast proteome. We show that the tic56-3 mutation results in a reduction of the 1-MDa TIC complex to approximately 10% of wildtype levels. Hierarchical clustering confirmed the association of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) with an envelope-associated FtsH/FtsHi complex and suggested the association of a glycine-rich protein with the 1-MDa TIC complex. Depletion of this complex leads to a reduction of chloroplast ATPase to approx. 75% of wildtype levels, while the abundance of the FtsH/FtsHi complex is increased to approx. 140% of wildtype. The accumulation of the major photosynthetic complexes is not affected by the mutation, suggesting that tic56-3 plants can sustain a functional photosynthetic machinery despite a significant reduction of the 1-MDa TIC complex. Together our analysis expands recent efforts to catalogue the native molecular masses of chloroplast proteins and provides information on the consequences of impaired accumulation of the 1-MDa TIC translocase for chloroplast proteome assembly.


Foreground and background cues can assist humans in quickly understanding visual scenes. In computer vision, however, it is difficult to detect salient objects when they touch the image boundary. Hence, detecting salient objects robustly under such circumstances without sacrificing precision and recall can be challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel model for salient region detection, namely, the foreground-center-background (FCB) saliency model. Its main highlights as follows. First, we use regional color volume as the foreground, together with perceptually uniform color differences within regions to detect salient regions. This can highlight salient objects robustly, even when they touched the image boundary, without greatly sacrificing precision and recall. Second, we employ center saliency to detect salient regions together with foreground and background cues, which improves saliency detection performance. Finally, we propose a novel and simple yet efficient method that combines foreground, center, and background saliency. Experimental validation with three well-known benchmark data sets indicates that the FCB model outperforms several state-of-the-art methods in terms of precision, recall, F-measure, and particularly, the mean absolute error. Salient regions are brighter than those of some existing state-of-the-art methods.


Recently, aggressive hepatectomies or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from gastric or colorectal carcinoma have been performed, and the number of successful studies of liver metastasis have increased. However, there have been few successful cases of liver metastasis from esophageal carcinoma by surgery or chemotherapy. Herein, we show the benefits of radiation therapy for the treatment of liver metastasis from esophageal carcinoma. A 60-year-old woman with a 5-cm solitary liver metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was treated with radiation therapy. The treated volume was encompassed by the anteroposterior and right lateral opposing fields, shaped by a multileaf collimator. The daily fraction size was 1.8 Gy, 5 days per week, for a total dose of 54 Gy. During the course of treatment, the patient did not experience any complications. After radiotherapy, abdominal computed tomography showed that the enhanced solid tumor had changed to a very low-density mass lesion with a clear margin, and the size was decreasing gradually between the 6 months. Radiotherapy could be a treatment of choice in patients with liver metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.


Abstract : An engineering design study program was performed to investigate new camera concepts and configurations for an Advanced Low Altitude Panoramic (ALAP) camera. The effort was divided into two phases. The initial phase was concerned with conceptual studies of various photosensor and film-storage techniques, both conventional and unconventional. The conceptual study resulted in selecting the one photosensor concept that would meet all the specification requirements for further detailed design and analysis. The system chosen for the second or detail design phase was the Dual Focal Length Split Scan Panoramic Camera System. The main features of this camera are a unique 'Zoom' type lens with a movable rear group of elements that results in two distinct focal length positions; continuous film motion with uniform velocity for both focal lengths; modular 'building block' construction which allows the user flexibility of configuration.


Heat stress specifically affects fertility by impairing pollen viability but cotton wild relatives successfully reproduce in hot savannas where they evolved. An Australian heat-tolerant cotton (Gossypium robinsonii) was exposed to heat events during pollen development, then mature pollen was subjected to deep proteomic analysis using 57,023 predicted genes from a genomic database we assembled for the same species. Three stages of pollen development, including tetrads, uninucleate and binucleate microspores were exposed to 36°C or 40°C for 5 d and the resulting mature pollen was collected at anthesis (p-TE, p-UN and p-BN, respectively). Using SWATH-MS proteomic analysis, 2,704 proteins were identified and quantified across all pollen samples analyzed. Proteins predominantly decreased in abundance at all stages in response to heat, particularly after exposure of tetrads to 40°C. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that extreme heat increased the abundance of proteins that contributed to increased mRNA splicing via spliceosome, initiation of cytoplasmic translation and protein refolding in p-TE40. However, other functional categories that contributed to intercellular transport were inhibited in p-TE40, linked potentially to Rab proteins. We ascribe the resilience of reproductive processes in G. robinsonii at temperatures up to 40°C, relative to commercial cotton, to a targeted reduction in protein transport.


For the purposes of the research, we developed a concept of structural reasons that we theoretically assume appear as typical structural reasons for violence in schools. With empirical research, we determined how primary school teachers recognise violent behaviour and how they execute moral education in the areas of the specific structural reasons for violence. We found that the majority of teachers have appropriate pedagogical knowledge to recognise the specific structural reasons for violence and are able to identify the appropriate moral education or support strategy to address the identified violent or disruptive behaviour. However, even in cases of repeating acts of violence, teachers only begin to engage with the factors or reasons behind violent incidents in individual cases, and not systematically. We therefore suggest that schools introduce the systematic differentiation of structural reasons for violence and incorporate this approach in the school moral education plan and the work of teachers. Within such frameworks, violence and disruptive behaviour would be eliminated through moral education and/or support strategies appropriate to the specific structural reasons.


Water treeing phenomenon has an important and effective role in the service life of polymeric insulators used in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Water trees can be described as permanently localized degradations or damages that can occur in the presence of electric field and humidity. XLPE is widely used as a polymeric insulator material in medium and high voltage cable applications. An experimental setup was prepared to initiate and grow water trees artificially in a laboratory environment and the tests were performed in accordance with the actual values. The electrical and dielectric values of the test material were used for a detailed analysis with high accuracy. The magnitude of the electric field, which was defined by varying the distance between the water needles formed in the XLPE material and the aluminium plate electrode, has been analyzed for various conditions. After laboratory experiments, electric field and potential distribution were simulated and analyzed by FEM (Finite Element Method) using FEMM (Finite Element Method Magnetics) software package. Experiments revealed clearly, that even small changes in the shape of water needle can dramatically affect the electric field and hence the lifetime of the insulator. By using FEMM, both of these parameters (electric field and potential distribution) can be calculated rapidly with high accuracy. HVDC power cables play a significant role in electric power transmission, hence by using the previously described experimental setup, electric field and potential distribution were simulated and analyzed under DC voltage.


Background: Medicinal plants have been a good source of drugs for humans, but chronic and prolong use of medicinal plants like Phyllanthus amarus for the treatment of malaria and other disorders are issues of concerns. This study evaluated the effect of Phyllanthus amarus on reproductive organs and sperm parameters in albino rats.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy male albino rats of 12 weeks old were assigned into four groups with six rats in each group using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The experimental animals were orally treated with Phyllanthus amarus. Group A served as the control and was given only water and feed; Group B, C and D  received 100 mg/kgBW, 200 mg/kgBW and 300 mg/kgBW of Phyllanthus amarus respectively. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The treatments lasted for a period of 65 days after two weeks of acclimatization.
Results: The results showed statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in weight of testes and epididymes, sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm count and sperm head abnormalities in male  rats treated with Phyllanthus amarus when compared to the control. The sperm pH was not significantly (p>0.05) affected by Phyllanthus amarus among the different treatment groups in the experimental animals.
Conclusion: Findings from the present study indicate that Phyllanthus amarus possesses a dose-dependent anti-fertility activity in amale albino rats under a sub-chronic course of administration.


As part of a complete Level I probabilistic safety analysis of the K Production Reactor, three traditional importance measures-risk reduction, partial derivative, and variance reduction-have been extended to permit analyses of the relative importance of groups of basic and initiating events. None of the group importance measures require Monte Carlo sampling for their quantification. The group importance measures are quantified for the overall fuel damage equation and for dominant accident sequences using the following event groups: initiating events, electrical failures, instrumentation failures, common-cause failures, human errors, and nonrecovery events. Additional analyses are presented using other event groups. Collectively, these applications indicate both the utility and the versatility of the group importance measures.


Parallel program visualization and debugging require new techniques for gathering and displaying execution trace and profile data. Interaction with the program during execution is also required to facilitate parallel debugging. We discuss the difficulties associated with runtime user/program interaction and how the data-parallel programming paradigm facilitates much more liberal runtime interaction than typical MIMD-based models. We present a model for data-parallel program visualization that addresses both data collection/interaction and visualization issues. We follow our model presentation with the design and implementation of a subset of our visualization model. We discuss our preliminary findings and propose future research directions.


Study Design. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess and synthesize the current evidence on the association between the rs1256120 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the estrogen receptor beta gene (ESR2) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of Background Data. Hormonal disturbance has been postulated as a potential etiological factor in the development of AIS. As estrogen receptors are important mediators of estrogen response, mutations in these genes, including rs1256120 of ESR2, have been chosen as susceptibility candidates for AIS predisposition. The association of rs1256120 with AIS has been investigated in several recent studies, but showed conflicting evidence. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the strength of this body of evidence and quantitative synthesis to examine sources of heterogeneity. Methods. This study conformed to PRISMA guidelines. Using a sensitive search strategy, PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and HuGE Literature Finder databases were searched to identify relevant studies for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The inverse variance model was used to calculate summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the allelic (C vs. T) and genotypic comparisons. Planned subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results. Three studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis (n = 1264 AIS cases and n=1020 controls). A null relationship was found between rs1256120 and AIS (allelic OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.81–1.78, P = 0.36, I2 = 84.9%), with the first reported association likely to be false-positive and contributing substantially to heterogeneity. Conclusion. Findings from the systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that rs1256120 of ESR2 is unlikely to be a predisposing or disease-modifying genetic risk factor for AIS. Level of Evidence: 2


Cognitive support for ship Damage Control-Design and evaluation of a prototype user interface", INEC Proceedings, 2002. Abstract Recently, four cognitive support concepts were developed, that should help to handle high-demand situations. These concepts are based on a cognitive task load model and can be realised with a specific method for cognitive task load analysis. The model and method describe task load in terms of three behavioural factors: the percentage time occupied, the level of information processing and the number of task-set switches. This paper shows the design and evaluation of a prototype user interface providing the proposed support concepts. Application of the design method proved to be possible for the chosen maritime domain (the bridge of an icebreaker) and resulted in an interface that contains an information handler, a task scheduler, a diagnosis guide and a rule provider. The resulting prototype user interface was evaluated with navy cadets, to study the effects of cognitive support, under high and low task load, on task performance, mental effort and out of the loop effects. The use of support functions leaded to a substantial increase in performance, especially at high task load. Costs on out of the loop effects, like the not reacting on an implemented wrong advice and a decrease in understanding of performed actions, could not be found.


Intracellular bacterial pathogens have evolved sophisticated infection strategies, including the release and secretion of virulence factors to interfere with host cell functions and to perturb immune responses. For Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), the type III secretion systems encoded on Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI) 1 and 2 mediates invasion of the bacterium into innate immune cells and regulates bacterial replication and survival within the hostile environment of the host, respectively. Here, we explore the temporal and strain-specific dual perspective response of both the host and pathogen during cellular infection via quantitative proteomics. We report time- and pathogenicity island-specific expression and secretion of infection-associated proteins (i.e., SL1344_1263, SL1344_3112, SL1344_1563, and YnhG) and regulated immune response proteins in macrophage, including Cd86, Cd40, Casp4, C3, IL-1α, and Cd69). Through intracellular macrophage and in vivo murine models of infection, we reveal a role in virulence for three of the bacterial proteins (SL1344_1263, SL1344_1563, and YnhG), defining their importance as novel T3SS effectors. We characterize the temporal intra- and extracellular production of the effectors and identify their interaction networks in host cells, representing inhibitory and stimulatory pathways mounted by invading bacterial pathogens. Author Summary The relationship between a host and pathogen is intricate, and regulation of the host immune response correlates with the progressive timing of infection and tailored responses to the pathogen. Relying on detection and quantification of protein-level changes using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we explore the production of known and novel effectors by Salmonella during intracellular survival within macrophage. Our results portray a role for these effectors in bacterial virulence using an in vivo murine model of infection, and we define a dynamic network of interaction between the effectors and host proteins. These interactions reveal opportunity for drug design to disrupt modulation of the host by the invading bacterium as a new strategy for combatting infection. Our approach is dynamic and universal, with the power to alter therapeutic discovery against infectious diseases.


Disaster reduction should begin in school that demands raising level of awareness among both students and teachers. The objective of the present study was to  develop and evaluate the information booklet on Disaster Management in Earthquake for secondary school teachers after assessing their knowledge and practice on Disaster Management in earthquake The methodology adopted for this purpose was that an intervention pre-test post-test design was used among 60 teachers of the senior secondary school of West Delhi. A semi-structured validated knowledge and practice questionnaire was developed and utilized for the data collection. The post-test was administered on 8 th day. A structured opinionnaire was used to gather opinion on acceptability and utility of the booklet. Data obtained were analyzed and interpreted in the light of objectives and hypothesis, using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results obtained from the study revealed that the difference in the mean pre-test and post-test knowledge scores was statistically significant in all the areas. There was significant positive correlation between post-test knowledge and practice scores. The information booklet was found highly acceptable and usable by the senior secondary school teachers. They expressed the need to have a Hindi version of the booklet with all the senior secondary school teachers. It was concluded from the study that awareness about disaster risk and its management can be improved using information booklet among school teachers.


The magnetization reversal in stripelike exchange-bias-patterned ${\text{Ni}}_{81}{\text{Fe}}_{19}/\text{IrMn}$ thin films was investigated by complementary inductive and high-resolution magneto-optical magnetometry, magneto-optical Kerr microscopy, and polarized neutron reflectometry to clarify the effects of competing interfacial exchange-bias and lateral interface contributions. Structures of varying ferromagnetic layer thickness and stripe period were analyzed systematically at the frozen-in domain state of oppositely aligned stripe magnetization. For all samples the mean magnetization of the magnetic hybrid structures was found to be aligned nearly orthogonally with respect to the stripe axis and the set exchange-bias direction. Due to the interaction of interfacial coupling, exchange, and magnetostatic energy contributions, the opening angle of neighboring stripe magnetizations increases with decreasing ferromagnetic layer thickness and increasing stripe period. The experimental observations are in agreement with an earlier proposed model for designing micropatterned exchange-bias films.


Interactions between fungi and plant roots affect community dynamics and diversity. Tropical trees in Panama have shown to be negatively affected by soil from conspecific trees, apparently because of shared susceptibility to pathogens. Here, we test the hypothesis that root microbiomes that establish in Virola surinamensis seedlings vary depending on relatedness to the soil inoculum source and affect seedling growth performance. In a greenhouse experiment, seedlings were grown in: mother, male, other female (conspecific) and heterospecific. We isolated and sequenced fungal RNA from the ITS2 region in roots of 158 V. surinamensis seedlings using QIIME, MOTHUR and other bioinformatics tools in a custom pipeline, we assigned fungal taxonomy and relative abundance values. The abundance of specific fungal taxa within the community including Rhizophagus clarus, Chaetothyriales and Sordariomycetes were significantly elevated in particular source inocula. Abundances of some possibly pathogenic fungi (e.g., Sympoventuriaceae, Fusarium sp.,) were positively associated with maternal soil and hence candidates for negative effects of growing near a parent tree. Multiple fungal species were identified as being transmitted in a species-specific and/or sex-specific fashion. Abundance of certain fungal taxa was positively associated with the microbiome diversity and seedling growth performance (as was microbiome diversity itself), but there were no clear negative associations between particular fungal taxa and seedling growth. This work in conjunction with haplotyping of resistance genes in the same seedlings and mother is revealing mechanisms underlying important components of the community ecology and dynamics of tropical trees.


This study addresses the structure, nature and composition of stakeholder networks related to rural tourism in a Portuguese National Park (Peneda-Geres National Park). In particular, it examines their interactions along the following dimensions: marketing information (marketing exchanges such as flyers, tourism information and information on specific events), administrative resources (logistic and technical support), human resources (allocation of human resources), training (training of local stakeholders in the area of promotion) and financial resources (financial support). In terms of methodology, it uses both qualitative and quantitative techniques.

The analysis of the type and nature of interactions among different stakeholders within a specific rural tourism destination is the main focus of this study. Among these, the marketing information network shows both a high number of connections and high centrality indices, which may indicate that there is a significant share of information about common projects, products and services among stakeholders. In contrast, the training network evidenced the opposite behavior pattern. The study also contributes to a better understanding of how different local stakeholders are positioned in a complex structure of interactions that are critical in providing useful directions to maximize potential opportunities that may contribute to promote rural tourism and local development efficiently. Several limitations and implications are offered in the final section. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Transnational migration is a striking feature of our tentatively postcolonial world, whether in contemporary Europe, Australia or the United States. When immigrants bring with them a different religious heritage or ethnic background and insist on maintaining an identity that contrasts with the secular, liberal and individualistic value systems of the Western world, immigration poses distinct challenges to contemporary multicultural societies. The history of hybrid Asian-European immigrants from the former Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in Australia adds yet another layer of complexity to these issues of cultural integration and social cohesion. In her discussion of a book edited by Joost Cote and Loes Westerbeek, entitled Recalling the Indies: Colonial Culture & Postcolonial Identities, Frances Gouda explores the (dis)continuities between the colonial past and the postcolonial present and the ways in which nostalgia and historical memory influence the ambivalences and in-between identities of Indo-Dutch immigrants in contemporary Australia.


A series of hydrothermal experiments was performed to determine the effect of fluid abundance on the reaction of smectite to illite. Experiments were conducted on K-saturated montmorillonite (<0.1-µm fraction) in a closed system at 250° to 400°C using run times of 1, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days at 100 MPa (1 kbar) pressure. In fluid-deficient systems (pore spaces not saturated), the rate and extent of illitization was significantly inhibited. A rock: water ratio of 20:1 (mass: mass) produced an R0 illite/smectite (I/S) having 82% smectite layers after 60 days at 250°C, whereas a rock: water ratio of 1:1 produced an I/S having 57% smectite layers under the same conditions. The effect became less pronounced at higher temperatures, with the 20:1 and the 1:1 experimental products differing by only 11% expandability at 400°C after 60 days. In addition, the low-fluid experiments produced fewer crystalline byproducts (quartz, cristobalite, chlorite) than did the fluid-rich runs, and the I/S was more difficult to disperse and orient in the fluid-deficient samples, suggesting enhanced cementation at grain contacts or the production of particle morphologies that did not lend themselves to orientation. The difference in reactivity of the smectite and I/S as a function of water content appears to be attributable to the reduced capacity for low volumes of water to mediate the dissolution, solute transport, and precipitation reactions that make up the series of reactions collectively termed illitization. Of these variables, solute transport is likely to be affected most by reduction of fluid.


The existence of two degrees of jurisdiction, the use of a single way of attack, the recourse, and the suppressing of the attack path of the appeal in the matter of labour conflicts, does not constitute unconstitutional dispositions. They have as finality only the assurance of the rapidity in solving such conflicts, without breaching the constitutional disposition according to which no law can restrict access to justice. Prior Work: I've tried to find the new regulation in this domain very important for those who practice labour law. Results: In the Romanian legislation, the enforcement of the court decisions in the matter of labour conflicts is viewed by the lawmaker with great care, in certain cases the non-execution of a court decision being considered a felony. Value: We think this article is a small step in the disclosure of the problem raised by the labour jurisdiction.


Pigging of Once Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) indicated various types of scales, the most predominant of these being silicates of hardness causing ions. It was noted that scaling propensity can potentially go up with higher Steam Quality (SQ) as the reject stream gets concentrated with ions. However, models suggested that there are benefits of higher SQ in enhancing fuel savings (8%) and electricity savings (2%) when SQ was increased by 20%. The challenges of higher SQ were noted in terms of increased scaling tendency and therefore the need for improved softening. In Field D, the service cycle, the backwash cycle, and the brining cycle were optimized leading to a gain in throughput and reduction in salt consumption. Service cycle improvement gained 30 % to 130 % in throughput between two regenerations, backwash cycle improvement by fluidizing the bed to nearly 35% helped gain 10% in throughput, and reduction of brining cycle from 75 minutes to 48 minutes helped reduce salt consumption by 56% without impacting the throughput. In Field B, a six month pilot revealed that shallow shell resins where ion-exchange is more efficient due to inert core (better intra particle diffusion control) can enhance the throughput by 30% - 80% and simultaneously reduce the number of regenerations by 15 – 30%. Resin fouling is still a major challenge to contend with as oil can foul the resin and throughput can decline by 0.5 – 3 folds. In a plant operation, where there are multiple softener and brine vessels, there is a need to optimize them as a system. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) Models are used in Field C to a) Address equipment configuration optimization with impact on capital capacity expansion project scope b) Understand how net softwater delivery capacity was affected by increases in inlet hardness and c) Assess through a comparison scenario, if the large cost of addressing the valve issue in an upstream nutshell filter was worth the lost production opportunity related to unplanned downtime.


The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 allows universities to patent and exclusively license federally funded inventions. With dramatic growth in university licensing, the Act has become controversial and the subject of policy review. In this
 Policy Forum
 we examine the available evidence on the intended and unintended effects of the Act.