The most efficient method of replacement of major internal components such as steam generators in nuclear power plants may require the creation of a construction opening in the side of the containment building. For repairing post-tensioned concrete containment buildings, a major design challenge is to develop the most efficient scheme for tendon detensioning and subsequent re-tensioning. Stresses and displacements must be monitored in the containment wall and liner throughout the repair sequence. Nonlinear finite element analysis using the ANSYS general analysis package can be used to simulate the entire construction process and thus assure an adequate design margin of safety at all stages. Recent developments in computer CPU speed and RAM advancements have made it possible to perform complex nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on an entire containment building overnight on a desktop machine. The nonlinear analysis technique discussed in this paper includes explicit modeling of the tendons and concrete including the tendon-concrete load interaction. Tendon tensioning and de-tensioning is modeled using an initial strain approach where link elements are coupled to the containment building wall. The wall is modeled with 3-D brick elements. Element birth and death is used to simulate the process of cutting the construction opening and subsequent patching of the wall in a stress-free state. This modeling method is critical to capture the local bending response in the patch that is often neglected in simplified models. This paper presents the details while illustrating the importance of explicitly modeling the construction and hole-patch-wall interaction.


The composition of the gaseous emissions of two fumaroles at the summit of Kilauea Volcano was monitored for m�re than 2 years. Magma was released from the summit reservoir on three occasions during this period; prior to or during each event the ratios of helium to carbon dioxide in the fumarole gases decreased substantially from that observed during periods of quiescence.


Industrialisation in developed country has left many type of pollution during the last 150 years, The end of pollutants course is generally soil and groundwater. In the main part of west countries, authorities must list the contaminated sites and have to consider their clean-up. In the same time, the use of biotechnology for the removal of organic pollution from soil and groundwater is in progress and offer new possibilities of cost savings, The main characteristics of bioremediation processes are their capacity to be implemented in-situ, that is to say to avoid great civil engineering works. Nevertheless before to choose this innovative technology, it is necessary to define the best treatment strategy, which is in close relation with local conditions. In this paper we will investigate some specific cases for which it is possible to implement an effective bioremediation process. In addition, the main process variables will be identified in order to keep the competitive price of this biotechnological approach. In this way, it will be emphasised particularly about the whole knowledge of the quality and quantity of the pollutants to be treated and both physical and biological factors active on the bioprocess in the first stage, Secondly, pilot lab experiment will be conducted to identify the different parameters of oxidizer and nutriments supplementation and micro-organisms growth kinetics, This strategy appears surprising, because the real evaluation of bioremediation cost cannot be established without the two steps described above, and this fust operation could represent 5 to 15 0/0 of the global cost of rehabilitation,


CONTEXT
  Concussions remain misunderstood, underreported, and undiagnosed. Although most concussion symptoms resolve within 2 weeks, some patients experience persistent symptoms that adversely affect physical, emotional, social, or cognitive functioning or a combination of these. Minimal evidence delineating the effect of concussions on recently retired collegiate athletes currently exists.

OBJECTIVE
  To examine the lived experiences of retired collegiate athletes with a history of 1 or more concussions to discern individual concussion histories, knowledge and perceptions of concussions, and postconcussion quality of life.

DESIGN
  Qualitative study.

SETTING
  Telephone interviews.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS
  Former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes (n = 14) with a history of 1 or more concussions and retired from 1 to 5 years.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
  Fourteen semistructured telephone interviews (8 men and 6 women) were audiotaped. Interviews were transcribed and inductively analyzed by 3 athletic trainers with 34 combined years of professional experience. Themes were negotiated through consensual review. Participant checks were completed to ensure trustworthiness of the findings.

RESULTS
  Participants sustained their first concussion during adolescence and often experienced difficulties transitioning back into the postconcussion academic environment. Judgments of injury severity were clearly evident in participants' knowledge and perceptions of concussions. Participants experienced an array of emotional, physical, cognitive, and social challenges during the immediate postconcussion period but did not feel their concussion history decreased their current quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent exposure to concussions is of concern due to the risk imposed on the developing brain and the potential for adverse outcomes later in life. Although a graduated return to play is heavily emphasized in concussion management, researchers need to investigate barriers inhibiting the implementation of return-to-learn protocols. Concussion education should aim to modify indifferent attitudes toward concussive injuries. Additionally, investigators should continue to assess how a history of concussion affects quality of life in recently retired collegiate athletes.


We have cloned a novel human mixed-lineage kinase gene, MLK4. Two alternatively spliced forms, MLK4α (580 aa) and MLK4β (1036 aa), have been identified and mapped to chromosomal band 1q42. MLK4 shows high amino acid homology to the kinase catalytic domain of MLK3 (72%), MLK1 (71%) and MLK2 (69%). Strong expression of MLK4 was detected in the human pancreas and kidneys. pCMV-MLK4β c-myc-tagged protein (human) was expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of transiently transfected COS-1 cells, while pCMV-MLK4α c-myc-tagged protein (human) was expressed in cytoplasm only. Both MLK4 isoforms reduced the colony formation ability of MCF7 cells by 85%–95% and almost totally suppressed cell proliferation in the CyQUANT cell proliferation assay. Human pCMV-MLK4β transgenic mice expressed the MLK4β in all tissues examined but no phenotypic abnormalities were observed. Thus, in this work, we present the cloning and sequencing of MLK4α and MLK4β for the first time; the data obtained suggest that MLK4 may function as a MAP kinase.


This paper presents the basic concepts in industrial video acquisition boards evaluation. The testing procedure is focused on real accuracy test (SNR measurements) and was applied to evaluate two main chipsets used in modern applications: Philips SAA713x and Conexant (Bt8xx and CX2338x). Simple programs developed to evaluate the accuracy performance are presented, with final conclusions regarding video chips implementation


We examine the relationship between o¤shoring and the labour market in an occupational choice model of trade and endogenous growth where workers are employed on the basis of their individual skill levels. Trade liberalization leads to o¤shoring and reduces employment in the manufacturing sector. Displaced workers move into the traditional and innovation sectors ac- cording to their skill levels, shaping real wages and aggregate productivity in the manufacturing sector. The paper aims to show how inter-sectoral labour market adjustments, highlighted by skill heterogeneity, could be a possible explanation for the simultaneous rise in productivity and reduction in real wages that have coincided with the sharp escalation of o¤shoring activities in the US manufacturing sector since 2004.


Arginine metabolism plays an important role in many aspects of inflammation and wound healing. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that steroids and vitamin A have differential effects on arginine metabolism and thereby may provide a mechanism by which steroids impair wound healing, and vitamin A improves this impairment. Rats were treated with subcutaneous corticosterone pellets 2 days prior to wounding. Intraperitoneal injections of all-trans retinoic acid in peanut oil were administered at the same time and repeated 2 and 4 days later. Polyvinyl alcohol sponges were implanted subcutaneously through a dorsal incision. On Postwounding Days 1, 5, 10, and 15, wound fluid was recovered from the sponges and assayed for nitrite/nitrate (NOx), citrulline, arginine, and ornithine concentrations as well as arginase activity. Steroid treatment decreased the metabolism of arginine to nitric oxide in the early phase of wound healing, and retinoic acid did not change this relationship. Corticosterone also decreased metabolism of arginine to ornithine in the later wound. This depression was inhibited by concomitant administration of retinoic acid. Considering the importance of nitric oxide in host defense and ornithine as a precursor for polyamine and proline synthesis, these data provide a mechanism by which vitamin A improves wound strength, but does not improve wound infection rates in steroid-treated animals.


Certain weak versions of the Shepherdson's condition for open induction in a discretely ordered ring are given, and their relationships to each other and to the underlying group structure of the ring are studied.


The modern geometrical approach to nonlinear PDEs is the outcome of a nontrivial synthesis of differential calculus over commutative algebras and cohomological algebra in the context of infinite jet spaces. In this paper we propose a very natural generalization of the notion of a jet space, which allows to treat the space of initial data of a nonlinear PDE on the same footing as the space of its solutions.


Background: Talazoparib is a novel PARP inhibitor (PARPi) in clinical development. Synergistic anti-tumor effects of PARPi and chemotherapy have been observed in preclinical models. This Phase 1 trial evaluates the tolerability, dose limiting toxicities (DLT) and efficacy of talazoparib in combination with carboplatin in patients with or without germ line DNA repair mutations. We hypothesize that talazoparib may overcome carboplatin resistance but induce greater toxicity in patients with DNA repair defects. Methods: Talazoparib and carboplatin pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and anti-tumor activity were evaluated in a 3+3 dose escalation design. Genetic testing, PK, pharmacodynamic effects (PD), biomarkers, and alternate dose modeling were evaluated to better understand the interaction of carboplatin and talazoparib. Results: 24 patients (median age 59y) were enrolled in 4 cohorts and treated with talazoparib 0.75 or 0.1 mg/day and carboplatin AUC 1 or 1.5 for 3/3 or 2/3 weeks. Tumor types included: breast (n = 11), prostate (n = 5), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 2), ovarian (n = 2), bladder (n = 1), adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 1) and adenocarcinoma of unknown origin (n = 2). Germline mutations were noted in BRCA1 (n = 3), BRCA2 (n = 3), BRIP1 (n = 1), and MSH6 (n = 1) and germ line variants of uncertain significance in BRIP1 (n = 1) and BRCA2 (n = 1). Somatic mutations were found in BRCA2 (n = 1), BAP1 (n = 2) and PALB2 (n = 1). DLTs included fatigue and thrombocytopenia; other non-DLT grade 3/4 toxicities included fatigue (13%), neutropenia (33%), thrombocytopenia (33%), and anemia (58%). Post cycle 1 hematological toxicities required dose delays and reductions in almost all patients. One complete response occurred in a patient with germline BRCA1 (gBRCA1) breast cancer and a partial response (PR) in a gBRCA2 bladder cancer patient; 11 patients (pts) had stable disease (SD) for ?3 months. 5 pts had progressive disease (PD) and 6 pts are not yet evaluable. Of those with PD, 83% had prior platinum therapy, whereas in those with SD or disease response, 46% had prior platinum therapy. Effects of talazoparib/carboplatin on platelet (-11.4% vs. -1.1% P Conclusions: Mutation carriers in BRCA or other DNA repair genes responded better to this combination than non-carriers. Progression with prior platinum or PARPi did not exclude response or clinical benefit. Talazoparib and carboplatin showed significant hematologic toxicity in those with gBRCA or other germ line DNA repair mutations. Lower dosing frequencies of carboplatin when given with PARPi may be required in gBRCA mutation carriers. Citation Format: Mallika S. Dhawan, Rahul Aggarwal, Imke Bartelink, Jim Leng, Scott Thomas, Nela Pawlowska, Laurie Stevenson, Amy Jo Chien, Robin Kate Kelley, Pamela N. Munster. Carboplatin and talazoparib combination therapy results in differential efficacy and hematologic toxicity in BRCA-mutated patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr CT051.


Dental diagnosis of the disease must consider not only the presence of lesions afflicting the teeth, but other factors including the nature of the oral flora,dietary habits,salivary flow and oral hygiene habits.Current methods for the clinical diagnosis of dental caries involve visual-tactile-radiographic procedures that have been described on numerous occasions and have been in routine use for more than half a century with very little change. It is also widely recognized that carious lesions cannot be detected with conventional methods until they are relatively well advanced and may involve one-third or more of the thickness of enamel. As a result, it is often necessary to restore the lesion rather than attempt alternative measures to reverse or arrest the lesion. This compiled literature attempts to bring various recent advances in diagnosis and treatment planning in the field of Pediatric, Conservative and Endodontic Dentistry under a single roof and thus enables the dentist to review all the methods to judiciously diagnose and thus plan the treatment accordingly.


In this paper I will review literature concerning shame and distinguish it from other similar emotions such as embarrassment and guilt. Shame and guilt are emotional reactions that often occur in response to transgressions, and concern perceived evaluations by others and/or the self. It has been proposed that shame and guilt have very different effects, and that guilt acts as a mediator, whereas shame acts as a barrier to the experience of empathy. Shame and guilt and their relationship to empathy will be explored, and key studies demonstrating their inter-relationships will be critically evaluated. The latter part of this review will focus on sex offenders, and will discuss the relevance of considering and incorporating an understanding of self-conscious emotions in the treatment of sex offenders. The emerging findings concerning shame, guilt and empathy will be explored in light of the fact that empathy training is a significant feature of most sex offender treatment programmes. There is a dearth of research about shame in sex offenders, and its relationship to guilt and empathy in this population, although there is much speculation and some evidence that shame is prevalent within this population. If high levels of shame hinder the experience of empathy, then for those sex offenders who may be unable to, or have great difficulty experiencing empathy due to excessive shame, empathy training as part of their treatment might render them a greater risk. Such training might have the effect of teaching individuals who lack empathy to some degree skills in acting empathically, but may not necessarily enhance the genuine experience of it. Thus, teaching empathy to some sex offenders may have the effect of improving their grooming skills as being able to feign empathy might be useful when it comes to securing victims. Attribution theory is outlined and considered in terms of the treatment of sex offenders, and the view that guilt but not shame should be encouraged when working clinically with sex offenders will be explicated against the backdrop of what is currently known about shame and guilt, and their effects on empathy.


Collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) such as massive multi-user 3D games and military training environments can place strict requirements on network when participating users are sharing the 3D virtual environment through mobile devices in an ad hoc network. This paper describes the proposal and evaluation of a peer-to-peer network over mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) in order to support large-scale CVEs. We show how a CVE application can be efficiently deployed on the Gnutella peer-to-peer network over an ad-hoc network. The overlay network manages the mobile device resources with a fair workload by using mobile ultrapeers and a node gateway. The overlay also handles tolerance to mobility and routing recovery, which is based on a novel discovery technique, in which mobile nodes are found through both their state and position in the CVE


A POPULATION and budget survey of the Southern Rhodesia African urban population, the first census of this kind to be carried out in Central Africa, was launched in April 1957 and is expected to be completed in three years. African enumerators will be employed on the survey, after an intensive course of training under the Statistical Office. The census is expected to yield information which will be of great importance for government planning and development policy.


VMP is an experimental multiprocessor being developed at Stanford University, suitable for high-performance workstations and server machines. Its primary novelty lies in the use of software management of the per-processor caches and the design decisions in the cache and bus that make this approach feasible. The design and some uniprocessor trace-driven simulations indicating its performance have been reported previously.
In this paper, we present our initial experience with the VMP design based on a running prototype as well as various refinements to the design. Performance evaluation is based both on measurement of actual execution as well as trace-driven simulation of multiprocessor executions from the Mach operating system.


The paper focuses on the reciprocal influences between visual arts and literature from the end of the 19th century up to the 1930s, notably with regard to geometric abstraction. Considering the statement of «the end of scientific perspective» (F. Novotny), Abstract Art and the Constructivism as well as Concrete Art and poetry, this essay examines the question of geometry and perspective within the scope of art and literature, thereby analysing two works of prose by Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948), Auguste Bolte (1922) and Horizontale Geschichte (1926), as well as some of his aesthetic works. Schwitters pushes the experimentation with geometric abstraction to the extreme, oriented by the Romantic Movement and the technical and scientific discoveries from the 17th to the 19th century. He takes an interest in the invisible logics within matters which will be the subject of the so-called «fractal geometry» in the second half of the 20th century. The way Schwitters deals with these issues and uses them as material for his literary works is a very interesting case study.


This study was developed to evaluate the effects of different compositions of plywood of Pinus maximinoi, Pinus oocarpa e Pinus tecunumannii. Were manufactured in laboratory plywood composed by seven veneer with 3,0 mm thickness, with standard composition, longitudinal reinforced composition and transversal reinforced composition. Were used for veneer gluing the phenol- formaldehyde resin with the following formulation in parts of weight: resin = 100, extender = 10 and water = 10. The amount of glue spread was 160 g/m² (one side layer). The boards were pressed at temperature of 150oC, specific pressure of 15 kgf/ cm² and press time of 15 minutes. Were realized static bending tests in the parallel and cross direction. The boards of Pinus maximinoi showed better results in MOE and MOR, parallel and cross direction in comparison to boards of Pinus oocarpa and Pinus tecunumannii. The boards made from three species showed satisfactory results of MOE and MOR, parallel and cross direction, in comparison to commercial plywood of Pinus taeda. The veneer reinforced in to parallel and cross direction not influenced significantly in the results of MOE and MOR parallel direction. The longitudinal veneer reinforced plywood affects poorly the results of MOE and MOR in the cross direction.


An accurate technique for the extraction of region of interest (ROI) is an integral process in the objective quantification of single-leg separation (SLS) In the 60/spl deg/ and 70/spl deg/ Bjork-Shiley Convexo-Concave heart valves. The authors have developed a fully automated technique to detect the region of interest (ROI) where SLS would most likely occur from sequential valve images. The technique employs a modified version of Kundu's (1990) method for segmentation and principal aids transformation for the alignment of the images. These methods were chosen for ease of implementation, speed, and accuracy. The first step of the technique is to extract the inner contour of the outlet strut. The second step involves a distance analysis where a set of points characterizing the ROI is extracted. This technique has been successfully applied to 480 radiographic images from 32 subjects.


Isosurfacing, by itself, is a common visualization technique for investigating 3D vector fields. Applying texturebased flow visualization techniques to isosurfaces provides engineers with even more insight into the characteristics of 3D vector fields. We apply a method for producing dense, texture-based representations of flow on isosurfaces. It combines two well know scientific visualization techniques, namely iso-surfacing and texture-based flow visualization, into a useful hybrid approach. The method is fast and can generate dense representations of flow on isosurfaces with high spatio-temporal correlation at 60 frames per second. The method is applied in the context of CFD simulation data, namely, the investigation of a common swirl flow pattern and the visualization of blood flow.


In metal–organic framework (MOF) chemistry, polar functionalities greatly affect the gas adsorption properties. However, synthesis of MOFs with desired functionality is very challenging because many chemical functionalities cannot be achieved under the conditions for MOF assembly. Herein, a facile synthesis of new functionalized two-dimensional MOFs with preferential CO2 capture is presented, which uses two successive synthesis steps: 1) rational design and template-free synthesis of the parent MOF with designated pendant amino groups and 2) postsynthetic modification of the active amino groups with acetic acid and trimesoyl chloride functionalities. The only variation in structure arises from the functional groups of these materials. Experimental results demonstrate that the three 2D layered MOFs have remarkable thermal stability and moisture resistance, which are particularly advantageous for practical CO2 capture. Although their surface areas are moderate (270–340 m2 g−1), they still have excellent CO2 adsorption capacity (up to 2.9 mmol g−1 at 1 bar and 273 K) comparable to that of previously reported MOFs with much higher surface areas. Based on first-principles calculations, it is shown that the acidic carbonyl functionalities in addition to the amino groups are also favorable to bind CO2 molecules. The adsorption sites generated from polar functionalities are key factors leading to high CO2 uptake.


Lately, an electrical network in microgrid system becomes very important to rural or
remote areas without connection from primary power grid system. Higher cost of
fuels, logistic, spare parts and maintenance affect the cost for operation microgrid
generation to supply electrical power for remote areas and rural community. This
project proposes an Improved Firefly Algorithm (IFA), which is a improvement of
classical Firefly Algorithm (FA) technique using characteristic approach of Levy
flights to solve the optimal microgrid operation. The IFA has been used for
optimizing the cost of power generation in microgrid system where daily power
balance constraints and generation limits are considered. The microgrid system for
this case study considered both of renewable energy plant and conventional generator
units. There are two test systems that have been considered as case study. The first
test system is a simple microgrid system which consists of three generators. The
second test system consists of seven generating units including two wind turbines,
three fuel-cell plants and two diesel generators. The IFA method has been
implemented using MATLAB software. The results obtained by IFA was compared
to FA and other algorithms based on optimal cost, convergence characteristics and
robustness to validate the effectiveness of the IFA. It shows that the IFA obtained
better results in terms of operating costs compared to FA, Differential Evolution
(DE), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA).


High-purity limestone in the UAE
Clive Mitchell, Industrial Minerals Specialist, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
High-purity limestone can be defined as carbonate rock that contains greater than 97% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Limestone is thought to have the largest number of commercial uses of all industrial minerals; including as construction material, mineral fillers (paper, paint, plastic, rubber and pharmaceuticals), adhesives, abrasives, fertilisers and soil conditioners, the production of cement, lime and calcium chemicals.
Exploration for high-purity limestone involves a detailed examination of known deposits as defined by existing geological information. National geological surveys are usually responsible for reconnaissance-scale mineral resource assessments which have a national or regional focus.
BGS reconnaissance surveys of limestone make use of a classification scheme, whereby their 'purity' is based on the calcium carbonate content (CaCO3) as follows: very-high purity (>98.5%), high purity (97-98.5%), medium-purity (93.5-97%), low-purity (85-93.5%) and impure (<85%). In addition, the magnesia (MgO), silica (SiO2) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) are also used as quality criteria. Laboratory evaluation of limestone includes chemical and mineralogical analysis, and physical property testing. The evaluation is informed by the needs of industry and relies on the availability of technical data sheets and specifications.
A reconnaissance survey was carried out in the UAE (2009-10) to identify high-purity limestone. Large resources were identified in the northern Emirates that have the potential to be used for high value industrial uses such as mineral fillers, ceramics, glass, food, pharmaceuticals, calcium chemical and lime production. Further to this initial survey, a more detailed assessment of the high-purity limestone resources of the northern Emirates will be carried out over the next 2 years. The development of these resources has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the economic diversification of the UAE.


Maladaptive eating attitudes have been vastly observed as leading cause of obesity and mental health problems among women. In current era, respective to the trends of fashion, media and society, when the physique (body shape) of women is not in shape, depression anxiety and stress occupy their mental health. This leads to maladaptive eating attitudes among women who are physically inactive while others adopt fitness plans like joining fitness centers for physical exercise. The research intended to examine the difference in co-occurrence of maladaptive eating attitudes, depression, anxiety and stress between two groups of women. Five hundred women (N = 500) were approached. 250 from fitness centers with exercise regularity and 250 from residences and academic institutes of Pakistan who never had any exercise. Scales applied were Beck's Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Commonly accepted Body Mass Index (BMI) ranges, overweight: 25 to 30 and obese: over
30, weight machine and BMI formula were considered for data collection. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21st version). Findings suggested that there was strong positive correlation between irregular eating attitudes and depression, anxiety and stress among women who had never done any physical exercise. Results prominently indicated that women who had been physically inactive (M = 1.45, SD = .254) scored higher on EAT-26 scale t = 12.6, as compared to women who exercised regularly (M = 1.09, SD = .374). Maladaptive eating attitudes, depression, anxiety and stress reveal higher levels of interrelatedness with each other. Physical exercise had positive impact on reducing symptoms of all ailments and maladaptive attitudes among women. Physical exercise thus cures long-term negative consequences of depression anxiety and stress like "sitting disease" and help women stay healthier.


Many behavioral traits and most brain disorders are common to males and females but are more evident in one sex than the other. The control of these subtle sex-linked biases is largely unstudied and has been presumed to mirror that of the highly dimorphic reproductive nuclei. Sexual dimorphism in the reproductive tract is a product of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), as well as the sex steroids. Males with a genetic deficiency in MIS signaling are sexually males, leading to the presumption that MIS is not a neural regulator. We challenge this presumption by reporting that most immature neurons in mice express the MIS-specific receptor (MISRII) and that male Mis−/− and Misrii−/− mice exhibit subtle feminization of their spinal motor neurons and of their exploratory behavior. Consequently, MIS may be a broad regulator of the subtle sex-linked biases in the nervous system.


Cancer is the second leading cause of death and morbidity in the world among noncommunicable diseases after cardiovascular ailments. With the advancement in science and research, a number of therapies have been developed to treat cancer, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Chemo and radiotherapy have been in use since the last two decades, however these are not devoid of their own intrinsic problems, such as myelotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and immunosuppression. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop alternative methods for the treatment of cancer. An increase in the cases of various cancers has encouraged the researchers to discover novel, more effective drugs from plant sources. In this review, fifteen medicinal plants alongside their products with anticancer effects will be introduced and discussed, as well as the most important plant compounds responsible for the anticancer activity of the plant. Several phenolic and alkaloid compounds have been demonstrated to have anticancer effects on various types of cancers. The most fundamental and efficient role exhibited by these secondary plant metabolites against cancer involves removing free radicals and antioxidant effects, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of angiogenesis. Moreover, recent studies have shown that plants and their metabolites may provide an alternative to the existing approaches, including chemotherapies and radiotherapies, in the treatment of cancer. In this review, a brief overview of important secondary metabolites having anticancer activity will be given, along with the major molecular mechanisms involved in the disease. In addition to this, recent advances in secondary metabolites from various medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of cancer will be explored.


This study investigated the efficacy of the Metaphoric Case Drawing (MCD) method of counsellor supervision. The context of the study was intensive small group supervision in a crisis intervention and suicide prevention setting. Five core counselling areas were under investigation. These were client dynamics, the counsellor's role, the client-counsellor relationship, counselling goals, and case presentation effectiveness. With the Metaphoric Case Drawing method, supervisors and counsellor-trainees reported a substantial increase in understanding compared with the more traditional Verbal Case Debriefing (VCD) method. Statistical and qualitative data further confirmed the effectiveness of the MCD method. The Metaphoric Case Drawing method was found to be particularly effective for case presentations including themes of depression, suicide, relationship problems, and manipulative clients.


retical insights—not supplementary, not explicatory, but parallel strands of visual arguments, points of tension and intensity. Such diagramimages are operational in the sense of not depicting a stable reality but becomings involved in the surfacing of dynamic spatialization: We speak of space but in the trajectories and potentials of its transformation. On the surface of the diagram, a plethora of earth forces emerge as they carve out a space of problematics. As the authors write, "Each model considers a specific question, a problem that it unfolds in space, sometimes in time, using a borrowed and inflected archetypal figure: the globe is turned inside out like a glove, the grid of coordinates of Euclidian geometry deforms and evolves depending on the actors who cross its space, while the division of urban time bends into spirals of space-time" (p. 17). Variation becomes primary, fixity an aftereffect, implying how the authors try to move beyond the subject-object freeze-frames to a more ecological dynamic, asking thus also what this ecological dynamic means for architecture, design, and visual composition of such worlds— or more accurately, in such worlds. The book functions as a very convenient manual, useful for teaching and the already voiced connection between theory and design. It prompts consideration of other locations, other situations, other geographies that could be modeled in this vein. In a manner like some other (speculative) designers such as Design Earth (for example, their Geostories book and various exhibition projects), Terra Forma's pedagogically useful and discursively interesting take resonates with several educational and research-driven design approaches of recent years. Here, the most obvious to mention is the Terraforming program that ran at the Strelka Institute (2022), as well as the Politics of Atmospheres studio by Elise Misao Hunchuck, Marco Ferrari, and Jingru (Cyan) Cheng that ran for three years within the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art and was also invited to participate in the Critical Zones project led by Latour and Peter Weibel. Now translated into English a couple of years after the original French edition, Terra Forma is a great reference point for particular kinds of environmental humanities that work with architectural and design methods. It also establishes further bridges in this sort of an expanded humanities alongside questions of experimental practices of "data visualization."


Abstract:The main purpose of this paper is to discuss parrhesia (literally "free speech"), in the rhetorical theory of Bartholomew Keckermann (Systema rhetoricae, Hanau 1608) with particular attention to its nature, forms, and functions. For Keckermann, parrhesia is not only one of the rhetorical figures related to expressing or amplifying emotions, but also may be considered as a regulative idea of speech best epitomized in the postulate, to speak "everything freely and sincerely," since the term includes the Greek notion. Aside from such ancient authors as Quintilian, the major source of theoretical inspirations for Keckermann are the textbooks written by Melanchthon (on the relations between parrhesia and flattery), Ramus (on parrhesia as a kind of exclamation) and Sturm (on the critical power of parrhesia). With a firm grounding in this contextual background, this analysis elucidates Keckermann's contribution to the Renaissance debate on this rhetorical schema.


We re-examine and extend the findings from the recent paper by Dumitrescu, Quenez and Sulem (2018) who studied American and game options in a particular market model using the nonlinear arbitrage-free pricing approach developed in El Karoui and Quenez (1997). In the first part, we provide a detailed study of unilateral valuation problems for the two counterparties in an American-style contract within the framework of a general nonlinear market. We extend results from Bielecki and Rutkowski (2015) and Bielecki, Cialenco and Rutkowski (2018) who examined the case of a European-style contract. In the second part, we present a BSDE approach, which is used to establish more explicit pricing, hedging and exercising results when solutions to reflected BSDEs have additional desirable properties.


Brokenhomeisaconditionthat isnotharmoniousfamily. One reason for thebroken homebecause of adivorcebetweena husbandandwife .These conditionsaffecttheir children,such as lack ofaffection, do not getpropercareandacademicfailure.However,inthe field founda fewstudentswhohavehigh academicachievement.The purposeof thisstudyiscomparingthe factorsthatallow fordifferences inthe academicachievementof childrenwhocome froma broken home. The research was conductedinSMK 2Gunung Talang.The studyusedform of case studies. Capturingsubjectsin this studyusingpurposive sampling technique. Analysis ofthe datausingMilesandHubermaninteractive model.The conclusion ofthis studyisthedifference inacademicachievementexperienced bystudentsis causedby abroken home: (1) the relationshipwith their parents; students with high achievement have good relationship, students with low achievementhave not good enough in their  relationship, (2) the relationshipwiththeirteachers; student with high achievement have good relationship, student low achievementhave not good enough in their relationship, (3) the  relationshipwiththeir friends ; students with high achievement have good relationship, students with low achievementhave not good enough in their relationship, ( 4) studentsattitude to themselves and family; student with high achievement have goodattitude with open behavior,  students with low achievementhave introvert behavior , ( 5) ways of studentslearning; students with high achievement payfull attention  on in learning and routine schedule, students with low achievement  payless attention to the teachers explanationand routine in learning schedule.


Temporal lobe epilepsy with distributed hippocampal seizure foci is often intractable and its secondary generalization might lead to sudden death. Early termination through spatially extensive hippocampal intervention is not feasible directly, due to its large size and irregular shape. In contrast, the medial septum (MS) is a promising target to govern hippocampal oscillations through its divergent connections to both hippocampi. Combining this 'proxy intervention' concept and precisely timed stimulation, we report here that closed-loop MS electrical stimulation can quickly terminate intrahippocampal seizures and suppress secondary generalization in a rat kindling model. Precise stimulus timing governed by internal seizure rhythms was essential. Cell-type-specific stimulation revealed that precisely timed activation of MS GABAergic neurons underlay the effects. Our concept of phase-targeted proxy stimulation for intervening pathological oscillations can be extrapolated to other neurological and psychiatric disorders, and its current embodiment can be directly translated into clinical application.


For application to military and civilian needs, Defence Research and Development Canada—Toronto contracted Queen's University, Kingston to develop a suite of biomechanical assessment and analytical tools to supplement human-based load carriage system assessment methods. This suite of tools permitted efficient objective evaluation of biomechanical aspects of load-bearing webbing, vests, packs and their components, and therefore contributed to early system assessment and a rapid iterative design process. This paper is a summary of five assessment and analytical tools. A dynamic load carriage simulator was developed to simulate cadence of walking, jogging and running. The simulator comprised a computer-controlled pneumatic platform that oscillated anthropometrically weighted mannequins of varying dimensions from which measures of skin contact pressure, hip reaction forces and moments and relative pack-person displacements were taken. A stiffness tester for range of motion provided force-displacement data on pack suspension systems. A biomechanical model was used to determine forces and moments on the shoulders and hips, and validated using a static load distribution mannequin. Subjective perceptual rating systems were used gather soldier feedback during a standardized mobility circuit. Objective outcome measures were validated by means of other objective measures (e.g., Optotrak®, video, Instron®, etc.) and then compared to subjective ratings. This approach led to development of objective performance criteria for load carriage systems and to improvements in load carriage designs that could be used both in the military and in general.


Background Different studies showed that the use of telemedicine is effective in reducing hospital burden, suffer from patients, need of transports, hospital fear, save the money and time, and increasing the quality of healthcare. However, the implementation of telemedicine countenances different challenges in developing countries generally and in Ethiopia, particular.Objective This review aims to evaluate barriers which affecting sustainable telemedicine implementation in Ethiopia through analyses of the published works since 2010.Methods We conducted this review by extracting data from different databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Academic Search Ultimate, and Africa-Wide Information. We analyzed finally 12 articles from the above databases based on our eligibility criteria and identified different barriers found in studies. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRSIMA 2009) checklist for this review.Results We identified 23 barriers through 11 articles and classified barriers into organizational, users, and staff and programmers' barriers. Accordingly, organizational, users', and staff and programmer barriers were 11 (48%), 7 (30%) and 5 (22%), respectively with the frequency of occurrence through 11 articles and the results organized into table and figureConclusions Infrastructure and cost were the most frequently reported barriers, and staff resistance to change was also the critical factor. Inadequate availability Infrastructure and resistance to change could be overcome through training, creating awareness, strengthening Medicare reimbursement regulations and health care insurance programs, allocating budget for new technology and purchase, strong support and follow up, change management techniques.


Assuming given externally applied magnetic fields and given velocities, we calculate the currents induced in moving conductors of arbitrary conductivity, and the net magnetic field. Three of the four conductors are solid, and the fourth is fluid. We find that, in these examples, the net magnetic field is either unaffected by the moving conductor, or distorted downstream, or distorted upstream. In all cases the net magnetic field is static.


The tri-Service Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, commonly known as AFCAS, was introduced in 2007 to coherently assess and monitor the attitudes of Regular Service personnel in key policy and management areas and is used by groups internal and external to the Ministry of Defence. It is a statistically valid and robust survey which is annually distributed to almost 28 000 regular serving personnel. AFCAS data have been used to inform the development and evaluation of a wide range of personnel policies, including remuneration, accommodation, flexible working, career management and training. AFCAS allows for the tracking of attitudes over time, as well as the analysis of differences between respondent cohorts. AFCAS is well regarded as it is a one-stop shop survey for strategic personnel issues. This article describes the purpose, content, conduct and use of the survey to inform Armed Forces personnel policy.


Abstract Universities seek innovation by designing and implementing professional development initiatives (PDI) for their teachers. Here it is expected that teachers will apply their learning to the workplace. However, such transfer does not always occur. To address this problem, we analyse the PDI design process of 12 universities in terms of how they consider the main variables influencing transfer: intervention design, work environment, and characteristics of the learner. Qualitative data from 16 interviews suggest that programme designers tend to focus mainly on variables related to the intervention design and work environment, but struggle to address the needs of the teacher. These findings can help universities realign their focus, by emphasising teacher-centred PDI to improve the transfer of learning.


The Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, located along the Chenier Plain in Southwest Louisiana, was the location of the sequential landfall of two major hurricanes in the 2020 hurricane season. To protect the rapidly retreating coastline along the Refuge, a system of breakwaters was constructed, which was partially completed by the 2020 hurricane season. Multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary rapid response deployments of wave gauges, piezometers, geotechnical measurements, vegetation sampling, and drone surveys were conducted before and after Hurricanes Laura and Delta along two transects in the Refuge; one protected by a breakwater system and one which was the natural, unprotected shoreline. Geomorphological changes were similar on both transects after Hurricane Laura, while after Delta there was higher inland sediment deposition on the natural shoreline. Floodwaters drained from the transect with breakwater protection more slowly than the natural shoreline, though topography profiles are similar, indicating a potential dampening or complex hydrodynamic interactions between the sediment—wetland—breakwater system. In addition, observations of a fluidized mud deposit in Rollover Bayou in the Refuge are presented and discussed in context of the maintenance of wetland elevation and stability in the sediment starved Chenier Plain.


Molecular electronics such as silicon nanowires (NW) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) demonstrate great potential for continuing the technology advances toward future nano-computing paradigm. However, excessive defects from bottom-up stochastic assembly have emerged as a fundamental obstacle for achieving reliable computation using molecular electronics. In this paper, we present an information-theoretic approach to investigate the intrinsic relationship between defect tolerance and inherence redundancy in molecular crossbar systems. By modeling defect-prone molecular crossbars as a non-ideal information processing medium, we determine the information transfer capacity, which can be interpreted as the bound on reliability that a molecular crossbar system can achieve. The proposed method allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of redundancy-based defect tolerance in a quantitative manner. Employing this method, we derive the gap of reliability between redundancy-based defect tolerance and ideal defect-free molecular systems. We also show the implications to the related design optimization problem.


Postmodern scholarship poses significant challenges to pivotal assumptions of individual knowledge, objectivity, and truth. In their place, an emphasis is placed on the communal construction of knowledge, objectivity as a relational achievement, and language as a pragmatic medium through which local truths are constituted. Although these developments in understanding may seem opposed to psychological science, they are not. Rather, they invite a new range of questions about the potentials of traditional research. These questions are vitally concerned with the significance of such inquiry in cultural life. More importantly, this emerging view of psychological science opens new and exciting vistas of theoretical, methodological, and practical significance. Increasing manifestations of movement in these directions suggest the possibility of profound change in the profession.


This paper describes a study of User Interface Design (UID) principles and requirements by utilizing mobile device as an instrument for Mobile learning purpose. Thus, methods for designing and developing a learning prototype that are compatible with small screen interfaces and limited capabilities of mobile devices are planned to ensure the learners are able to grasp the concepts of a mobile learning prototype. We also highlight ARCS learning design strategy, which is appropriate for a mobile-based learning application. The mobile learning prototype was developed using Adobe Flash CSS for learning Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm as a technical subject on a touch-screen iPhone 4, operated on iPhone Operating System (iOS). We present discussions on the UID principles and guidelines used for designing and developing the mobile-based learning prototype. Finally, a survey was conducted to evaluate the usability of this prototype among 20 Computer Science undergraduate students who had previously studied or are still taking the subject. The findings show that the learners perceived the mobile application as usable and the application has contained UI principles and requirements.


This study was conducted to determine changes in overall costs associated with conversion to powder-free gloves including cost of workers' compensation cases for natural rubber latex (NRL)-related symptoms and health care workers' glove satisfaction. The study, a 2–year, longitudinal design with retrospective and prospective aspects, was developed to determine health care worker use of powder-free, low-protein NRL gloves, sensitization, cost, and glove satisfaction. Informed consent was obtained from 103 health care workers. Prior to glove conversion, nearly one-half (44%, 36 of 82) of the operating room staff reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. At the end of the 14–month data collection period, only 27% (22 of 82, McNemar test = .007) reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. Additionally, a cost savings of $10,000 per year for gloves was evident with reports of increased user satisfaction. This study demonstrated that conversion to the use of powder-free, low-protein NRL gloves not only reduces health care worker NRL symptoms, but also positively affects the costs of glove purchases and workers' compensation.


We study the existence of a boundary trace for minorized solutions of the equation Δu + K (x) e2u = 0 in the unit open ball B2 of R2. We prove that this trace is an outer regular Borel measure on ∂B2, not necessarily a Radon measure. We give sufficient conditions on Borel measures on ∂B2 so that they are the boundary trace of a solution of the above equation. We also give boundary removability results in terms of generalized Bessel capacities.


Despite the large volume of research on attachment over the past three decades based on work with children and young adults, there has been scant attention to later life. As such, Bowlby's claim that attachment theory has implications for the entire lifespan remains relatively untested. In this paper we present exploratory data documenting the relations between attachment and emotion in older adults. A sample of 1118 community-dwelling adults ranging in age from 65 to 86 years completed measures of attachment and Izard's (1972) Differential Emotions Scale. Consistent with a developmental-functionalist theory of emotions, different dimensions of attachment were associated with different emotion profiles, even when background variables were controlled. Attachment security was associated with less guilt, contempt, and shame, and with greater joy, sadness interest, fear and anger. Dismissingness, in contrast, was associated with greater interest and with less joy, shame, and fear. Finally, fearful avoidance was associated with greater joy, disgust, shame and anxiety. Taken together, our data suggest that the later life relations between emotion and attachment are similar to those documented in younger samples, although there appear to be some important developmental differences. The data are interpreted in the context of developmental-functionalist theories of emotions and implications for how emotions function within attachment systems and moderate social relations across the lifespan are discussed.


TUNCUR codes are aimed at a self-consistent calculation of both equilibrated structures and electronic properties of a sample and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) tip altogether with the tunneling current between them in the framework of the same computational scheme. Both objects are modeled by atomic clusters. Quantum chemical calculations in TUNCUR codes are provided by sequential programs, CLUSTER-Z1 and CLUSTER-Z2, which perform Hartree–Fock self-consistent field semiempirical calculations in the valence sp- and spd-basis, respectively. TUNCUR consists of three main blocks that provide calculations of STM recordings in two modes of operation as well as computing local density of states. All calculations are performed over a grid of variable parameters. There are two additional blocks for calculations of both the current Z-dependence and volt-ampere characteristic of the tunneling gap. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004


Abstract This paper contains a summary of the results from some laboratory and theoretical studies on the diffusive interface in double diffusive convection, paying particular attention to the recent work of Fernando. A simple model is developed which predicts the thickness of the convecting layers in a thermohaline staircase structure. The laboratory buoyancy-flux measurements and the model results are extrapolated for oceanic situations and comparisons are made with field measurements.


The social scientist who studies a program of planned change as vast as India's Community Development Program is likely to be overwhelmed by its complexity. As a result, he may take refuge in minute local details or in gross generalizations, either of which may be of little interest to those responsible for carrying out the program. At the risk of the latter fault, I will attempt to generalize on the basis of local details in such a way as to point up a major problem inherent in the Commuity Development Program as it has functioned in India; one which seems not to have received adequate attention by planners. This is the problem of realizing a democratic program designed to improve standards of living in a rigidly stratified society.


The green nanoparticles (NPs) are widely accepted as their synthesis is inexpensive and eco-friendly. In the present study, this approach was applied to synthesise nanoscale particles with transition (copper and zinc) and post-transition (iron) metals and aqueous latex of Allamanda cathartica. The selected metals are safe for human use. The experiments were carried out on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) isolated from leftover blood sample collected from diagnostic laboratory. The ratio of latex and metal solutions used to prepare NPs was 3% and 1 millimolar respectively. Ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transmission infra-red, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to characterise the NPs. The particles were spherical, hexagonal, aggregated and rectangular and the diameter was ranged from 20.5 to 38.6 nm (zinc oxide), 17.9 to 59.2 nm (copper chloride), 29.2 to 55.4 nm (iron sulphate). Fragmentation and/or shearing took place with all the metal NPs, but clear DNA ladder pattern appeared when hPBMCs were treated with latex ZnO NPs. The order of dead cell percentage was CuCl2 (86%) > FeSO4 (87%) > ZnO (95%) after 72 h of treatment with a concentration of 100 μg. These findings indicate that the synthesised NPs are selectively damaging the DNA. Further studies need to be carried out on cancer cell lines to control the cell proliferation.


Excerpt] The main focus of this paper is the growth of non-standard employment over the last decade. It finds that, apart from part-time work, there has not been an increase in non-standard employment during this time. However, both temporary contracts and self-employment grew, quite strongly in some Member States, in the long economic boom from the mid-1990s and up to the onset of the recession in 2007. It is, of course, primarily when times are bad that the need for employment and social protection is made manifest.


Neurons of the avian cochlear nucleus, nucleus magnocellularis (NM), are stimulated by glutamate, released from the auditory nerve, and GABA, released from both interneurons surrounding NM and from cells located in the superior olivary nucleus. In this study, the Ca2+ indicator dye Fura-2 was used to measure Ca2+ responses in NM stimulated by glutamate- and GABA-receptor agonists using a chicken brainstem slice preparation. Glutamatergically stimulated Ca2+ responses were evoked by kainic acid (KA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). KA- and AMPA-stimulated changes in [Ca2+]i were also produced in NM neurons stimulated in the presence of nifedipine, an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, suggesting that KA- and AMPA-stimulated changes in [Ca2+]i were carried by Ca2(+)-permeable receptor channels. Significantly smaller changes in [Ca2+]i were produced by NMDA. When neurons were stimulated in an alkaline (pH 7.8) superfusate, NMDA responses were potentiated. KA- and AMPA-stimulated responses were not affected by pH. Several agents known to stimulate metabotropic receptors in other systems were tested on NM neurons bathed in a Ca2+ free-EGTA--buffered media, including L-cysteine sulfinic acid (L-CSA), trans-azetidine dicarboxylic acid (t-ADA), trans-aminocyclo-pentanedicarboxylic acid (t-ACPD), and homobromoibotenic acid (HBI). The only agent to reliably and dose-dependently increase [Ca2+]i was HBI, an analog of ibotenate. GABA also stimulated increases in [Ca2+]i in NM neurons. GABA-stimulated responses were reduced by agents that block voltage-operated channels and by agents that inhibit Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Whereas GABA-A receptor agonist produced increases in [Ca2+]i GABA-B and GABA-C receptor agonists had no effect. There appear to be several ways for [Ca2+]i to increase in NM neurons. Presumably, each route represents a means by which Ca2+ can alter cellular processes.


Plant-derived phenolic compounds possess antioxidant activity that may be applicable to such diverse areas as human health and the preservation of food lipids. The potential antioxidant activities of a variety of plant phenolics were investigated using human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) to mediate the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid, present in rosemary extract, and thymol, carvacrol, and zingerone, present in thyme, origanum, and ginger, were individually incubated with HAEC and LDL for 12 h. The extent of oxidation was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance (at 234 nm) of conjugated dienes. All antioxidants produced dose-dependent inhibition of LDL oxidation. Their relative antioxidant activities decreased in the order carnosol > carnosic acid ≈ rosmarinic acid >>> thymol > carvacrol > zingerone. The antioxidant activity of these plant phenolics in the HAEC system suggests that they may have potential benefits in human health...


This discussion provides a brief commentary on each of the papers presented in the symposium on the conceptual foundations of field theories in physics. In Section 2 I suggest an alternative to Paul Teller's (1999) reading of the gauge argument that may help to solve, or dissolve, its puzzling aspects. In Section 3 I contend that Sunny Auyang's (1999) arguments against substantivalism and for "objectivism" in the context of gauge field theories face serious worries. Finally, in Section 4 I claim that Gordon Fleming's (1999) proposal for hyperplane-dependent Newton-Wigner fields differs importantly from his previous arguments about hyperplane-dependent properties in quantum mechanics.


Background: The last decade has witnessed several advances in the management of HIV/AIDS with the development of potent and safe antiretroviral drugs and new HIV prevention technologies. Objective: This review summarizes the recent advances in the management of the HIV infection. Methods: Medline via PubMed and Google search engine were searched for articles dealing with antiretroviral therapy and new prevention technologies. Results: The understanding of the lifecycle of the HIV was a turning point that provided researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to prosecute drug discovery efforts focused on targeted inhibition with specific pharmacological agents. New prevention technologies continue to expand the current toolbox, transforming HIV/AIDS from an inevitable lethal disease into a manageable condition. The integration of behavioral, biomedical and structural interventions will likely reduce the incidence of HIV while promising new leads for an effective HIV vaccine keep the hope of a world free of HIV alive. Conclusion: Although the fight against HIV has been long and arduous, many signs seem to suggest that ending HIV epidemic is not only possible; it is well in our reach.


This article summarizes the results of a previously published two-volume investigation on the biblical meaning and the historical development of these two fundamental concepts, including a further discussion on contributions to this subject which have appeared in this journal (see below section 4). In contradistinction to K. McDonnell a different catholic position is given here: The term 'Spirit-baptism' as used within the Pentecostal-charismatic movement means neither the sacramental grace of initiation nor the setting-free of it, but is a term on the experiential level denoting a special kind of infilling with the Holy Spirit in our time. It is not 'normative', but— although very widespread—something that the Holy Spirit 'distributes as he wills'. Thus, the early Pentecostal two-stage model is far more appropriate than the sacramentalistic interpretation. In that sense Spirit-baptism— normally with the gift of tongues—is a special grace of God.


This paper is an exploratory study analysing the communication models underlying Swedish civil servants' and scientists' views of how to communicate uncertainty related to progress towards public environmental quality objectives. Their lines of reasoning are illustrated by quotations from in-depth and focus group interviews. Two communication models are discussed: the separation model, in which experts discuss uncertainties among themselves and subsequently present a clear-cut message to practitioners and politicians, and the integration model, in which policy makers and civil servants take part in discussions about how to interpret and handle the uncertainties involved. The paper identifies the importance of acknowledging the existence of uncertainty and of consciously reflecting on what communication model to use in communicating goal achievement. It also emphasizes the need for further discussion of the consequences of each communication model. Moreover, the paper highlights a need for further research into the sense-making processes occurring as actors in the policy and practitioner arenas interpret expert messages. Finally, it is argued that the integration model for communicating uncertainties could be used to encourage reflection and learning within and across societal sectors.


Machine learning classifiers are used in security applications such as fraud detection or intrusion detection in computer networks. In applications of this kind the classified entities tend to evolve in time attempting to avoid detection. However, classical machine learning methods fail to address the issue, assuming that future observations would follow the same distribution as training data. Based on related work we analyze possible attacks against a classifier arising due to this limitation and survey existing approaches to deal with the attacks. We discuss that rather than ignoring the adaptivity and repairing the damage once it occurs, it is more advantageous to model the adversary by means of game theory and mitigate his ability to cause the damage in a predictive manner. Yet, we identify a gap between practical requirements on adversarial classifiers and properties of the present methods for game theoretic optimization of detecting malicious behavior. In this thesis we develop an approach filling the gap. Practical applicability of the method was enforced by the collaboration with the Security Division of O2 Czech Republic telecommunications company: the novel method was developed as an improvement for the company's internal fraud detection system. As a result, the devised method can be applied to any binary classifier as a black box, not limiting the modeling power of the used machine learning algorithm. Moreover, the approach enables restricting a false alarm rate, satisfying a crucial requirement in the security domain. Furthermore, the model takes into consideration the fact that there are different types of adversaries. In addition, both variability of the adversary types and utilities in the model are derived based on collected data, minimizing hypotheses unfounded with observations. The model also addresses the bounded rationality of adversaries. As part of the approach, we develop efficient algorithms for computation of several solution concepts: Nash equilibrium, Stackelberg equilibrium and Stackelberg equilibrium under the restriction on false alarm rate. Thanks to the algorithms efficiency the approach is expected to remain applicable in case of large datasets. Finally, the efficacy of the developed approach is demonstrated via extensive experimental evaluation. Using data from real-world intrusion detection classifiers, it is shown that the developed algorithms are superior compared to available alternatives. Next, on the case of O2 Czech Republic fraud detection it is demonstrated that the developed method preserves out-of-sample performance of the classifier without the game theoretic optimization, while improving robustness of the classification when the attacker behaves in accordance with the model.


The authors outline the Basle-based field trial BASKOM and give a system description showing the structure and functions of the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) switching and transmission system. Besides full ISDN capability, the network supports broadband (140 Mb/s) dialogue and retrieval services. Comprehensive terminal equipment for optimal accommodation of user requirements is offered. Further functional and technological aspects of the high-speed subscriber loop electronic circuits used are presented.<<ETX>>


This thesis presents the proofs developed to demonstrate correctness of a case study within the Access Control Evaluation Framework (ACEF). ACEF is a theoretical framework developed at the University of Illinois at Chicago, aimed at creating application-sensitive implementations of access control policies, using well-known access control systems, while preserving some desirable properties. As the formal proof of these properties, including correctness, is usually a tedious process prone to error, a mixed approach was used, which relies on both human high-level abstraction and insight for the outlining of the proof sketches, and then verifies their formal correctness using a formal prover system. To achieve this, a generic template for ACEF for the Prototype Verification System formal prover was developed. The process of generating the proofs for this specific case study was also a benchmark for the validity of the template, as a first step towards the realization of a more automated approach to ACEF. In the conclusions, the validity of the approach is analyzed and possible future steps to
improve it are outlined.


True randomness is critical to secure communication in both quantum and classical regimes. We propose an approach of true random number generation based on the intrinsic randomness of spontaneous emission. In this approach, a method of random bit extraction was employed to extract true random bits simultaneously as the measurement of the physical entropy source. The random bits generated by the true random number generators have been statistically verified to be bias-free and mutually independent. With the current experimental setup, 7 random bits can be generated in parallel at a rate up to 40 GHz.


The METland® concept constitutes a hybrid concept for treating wastewater where microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) are integrated with constructed wetlands (CW) to enhance pollutant removal. Although electroactive bacteria (EAB) were thought to be restricted to anaerobic environments, we decided to explore alternative aerobic conditions like those found in down flow vertical CW. Two electroconductive (EC) biofilters fed with real urban wastewater were operated under downflow (aerobic) and upflow (anaerobic) conditions. The objective was to evaluate the impact of the operational mode on both the removal of pollutants and the microbial community profile. Surprisingly, despite the aerobic nature of the downflow EC biofilter, our results revealed an abundance of EAB from the Geobacter genus, opening a new scenario for treating wastewater based on stimulating extracellular electron transfer. Furthermore, the co-presence of Geobacter and Thiobacillus suggests the existence of interspecies electron transfer leading to nitrate respiration in our system. Moreover, the downflow EC biofilter outperformed the anaerobic upflow one in terms of COD, BOD5 and nitrogen removal.


Purpose: To compare the toxicological, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of three sources of Xuedan, viz, Hemsleya omeiensis (HO), Hemsleya giganth (HG) and Hemsleya dolichocarpa (HD) in mice, and to study their rapid identification based on electronic tongue (E-tongue). Methods: After 7 days of administration, the median lethal doses (LD 50 ) of the three xuedan decoctions in mice were determined. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the three xuedans were evaluated in mice using xylene-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced pain. Furthermore, Etongue technology was used to identify HO, HG and HD. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA) were used to analyze the data acquired by E-tongue. Results: The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) values of H. omeiensis , H. gigantha and H. dolichocarpa were 32.3, 17.4 and 13.7g/kg, respectively. Compared with normal control group, the anti-inflammatory effects of Xuedan were obvious in xylene-induced ear edema ( p < 0.05), and pain sensation was significantly inhibited in acetic acid-induced writhing test ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, E-tongue technology effectively identified HO, HG and HD. Conclusion: H. omeiensis exhibits the highest LD50 value and best analgesic effect among the three sources of xuedan. E-tongue technology is effective and rapid in identifying HO, HG and HD. Keywords: Xuedan, Hemsleya omeiensis , Hemsleya gigantha , Hemsleya dolichocarpa , Antiinflammation, Analgesia, Electronic tongue


The use of water resources is constantly growing in agriculture industry and the reduction of the this resource is due by both anthropogenic and climate factors. Under this perspective it is necessary to develop monitoring systems able to forecast the consumption of water. The knowledge of the actual water demand of a crop is therefore strategic for the rational use of resources and to improve the quality of the crop production. Recent applications of remote sensing in agriculture provide a valuable contribution to release this purpose [3,4,6], besides the integration of remotely sensed data with measures retrieved by meteorological stations allows the development of models able to estimate the actual evapotranspiration (ETact) for a given crop. The purpose of this work was to calculate ETact in a vineyard, placed in Napa Valley (California, USA), by a energy balance model based on the analysis of remote sensed data from the Landsat 5 satellite during the 2008 wine production season (fig. 1). Fig. 1 Napa Valley (California, USA). TM Landsat 5 (RGB Composit)


Fas (Apo-1, CD95), a member of the TNFR family, is expressed on a variety of cell types and transduces an apoptotic signal. Since Fas does not possess known enzymatic activities, proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic domain of Fas regulate the death signal. Several proteins have been identified, primarily using the yeast two-hybrid system, that associate with the death domain of Fas. One of these proteins, FADD/MORT1, can be phosphorylated, although the kinase that is responsible has not been identified. Furthermore, direct signaling connections between Fas and its known activation of sphingomyelinase or NF-kappaB have not been made, suggesting that other proteins may associate with Fas. In this study, a series of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins was constructed that contained the cytoplasmic domain of murine Fas. These proteins were used to search for additional proteins that associate with Fas. Novel proteins, including kinases, were identified that associated specifically with the membrane-proximal, cytoplasmic tail of Fas but not with the death domain. One of these kinases phosphorylates FADD/MORT1. Moreover, the membrane-proximal region of Fas itself was phosphorylated by one of the associating kinases. These findings suggest that, similar to the Fas-related p55 TNFR, the membrane-proximal region of Fas likely participates in signaling.


ABSTRACT There are many obstacles to screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), including the influence of various sociodemographic effects on screening measures. This study examined possible racial bias on the HIV Dementia Scale (HDS) in screening for HAND among 39 Black and 84 White persons living with HIV (PLWH). Black PLWH had significantly lower raw HDS scores than White PLWH, which was mediated by lower oral word reading scores. Nevertheless, HDS scores were comparably predictive of clinical HAND diagnoses for Black and White PLWH as determined by a comprehensive battery; overall, individuals who failed the HDS were three times as likely to have HAND as compared to those who performed within normal limits (sensitivity = .26, specificity = .94). Consistent with prior literature exploring race-group differences, findings suggest that lower scores among Black PLWH compared to White PLWH on a commonly-used screening measure for HAND are partly explained by reading scores, perhaps reflecting differences in educational quality and opportunities. However, race-group differences did not affect the classification accuracy of the HDS in detecting HAND, although overall diagnostic accuracy was modest in both groups. Future work should determine the optimal neurocognitive screening methods for Black PLWH and other under-represented ethnoracial groups.


Background Shortening the time-to-result for pathogen detection and identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for patients with Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated pneumonia (HAP-VAP) is of great interest. For this purpose, clinical metagenomics is a promising non-hypothesis driven alternative to traditional culture-based solutions: when mature, it would allow direct sequencing all microbial genomes present in a BronchoAlveolar Lavage (BAL) sample with the purpose of simultaneously identifying pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG). In this study, we describe a new bioinformatics method to detect pathogens and their ARG with good accuracy, both in mono- and polymicrobial samples. Methods The standard approach (hereafter called TBo), that consists in taxonomic binning of metagenomic reads followed by an assembly step, suffers from lack of sensitivity for ARG detection. Thus, we propose a new bioinformatics approach (called TBwDM) with both models and databases optimized for HAP-VAP, that performs reads mapping against ARG reference database in parallel to taxonomic binning, and joint reads assembly. Results In in-silico simulated monomicrobial samples, the recall for ARG detection increased from 51% with TBo to 97.3% with TBwDM; in simulated polymicrobial infections, it increased from 41.8% to 82%. In real sequenced BAL samples (mono and polymicrobial), detected pathogens were also confirmed by traditional culture approaches. Moreover, both recall and precision for ARG detection were higher with TBwDM than with TBo (35 points difference for recall, and 7 points difference for precision). Conclusions We present a new bioinformatics pipeline to identify pathogens and ARG in BAL samples from patients with HAP-VAP, with higher sensitivity for ARG recovery than standard approaches and the ability to link ARG to their host pathogens.


The Campo Alegre Basin is a volcano-sedimentary sequence covering an area of about 500 km2, located at the northeast portion of Santa Catarina state (Brazil), and formed during the late stages of the Neoproterozoic era. Three main stratigraphic units compose this basin, the lowermost of which is the Bateias Formation, corresponding to the pre-volcanic stage. It is characterized by the fanglomeratic sediments at the basin's northern boundary, which were deposited in a fluvial environment and progressively replaced by fluvial sandstones towards the south. Poorly sorted conglomerates and breccias compound the fanglomeratic facies, which comprises angular to subrounded fragments in a matrix ranging from sand fractions to fragments larger than gravel. The ubiquitous presence of volcanogenic and metamorphic fragments in the fanglomeratic facies strongly suggests that the Piên Magmatic Arc and a volcanic manifestation coeval with the earlier stages of the basin formation were important source areas, as well as the basin basement (the Luís Alves Terrane). In this sense, geological, petrographic, and detrital zircon geochronology data are combined in order to interpret the mechanisms that had acted during the deposition of these sedimentary rocks and to constraint the maximum depositional ages of Bateias Formation at ca. ~606 Ma.


Self-generating neural networks (SGNNs) have the features of simplicity of network design and fast processing by automatically constructing a self-generating neural tree (SGNT) from a given training data set. Though the prediction accuracy of SGNNs for chaotic time series prediction is improved by adopting the ensemble averaging method, the computation time increases in proportion to the number of SGNNs in an ensemble. We investigate the improving capability of the prediction accuracy and the parallel efficiency of ensemble SGNNs (ESGNNs) for three chaotic time series prediction problems on a MIMD parallel computer. We allocate each SGNN to each processor. Our results show that the more the number of processors increases, the more the improvement of the prediction accuracy is obtained for all problems.


Abstract This paper re-evaluates the job-shop scheduling problem by showing how the standard definition is far more restrictive than necessary and by presenting a new technique capable of tackling a highly generalized version of the problem. This technique is based on a massively parallel distributed genetic algorithm and is capable of simultaneously optimizing the process plans of a number of different components, at the same time a near-optimal schedule emerges. Underlying the evolutionary machinery is a specialized feature-based generative process planner.


BACKGROUND
University students are a high-risk group for stress, consumption of junk food and significant weight gain over a short period. Inadequate vitamin D intake has been linked to many health issues, including chronic headache, apathy, aggression and depression. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency led to dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The purpose of our study was to estimate the effect of 90-days healthy lifestyle programs along with gut microbiota modulation in university students with vitamin D3 deficiency.

METHODS
In this randomized controlled trial, 130 students (18-25 years old) with vitamin D deficiency were recruited. Both the standard care group (N.=65) and the intervention group (N.=65) received a 3-months course of individually selected nutrition program and physical activity (8000-10,000 steps daily). The intervention group received an additional treatment with synbiotic Acidolac and vitamin D3 for 3 months. The psycho-emotional status of the participants was assessed by a validated questionnaire that examined situational anxiety. In all students, blood pressure, anthropometric variables, as well as laboratory metabolic parameters, were recorded.

RESULTS
In both groups, vitamin D3 deficiency was associated with instability and lability of mental processes, mood swings, bad sleep, high rates of stuck and agitation for any problem. Combined therapy (diet, physical activity and synbiotic) induced a significant improvement in the psycho-emotional state of students. The 90-days therapy vitamin D3 increased the level of vitamin D3 in serum in the intervention group. Lastly, we observed a decrease in the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and fatty mass, only in students included in the interventional group.

CONCLUSIONS
Nutrition program, physical activity, vitamin D3 intake and gut microbiota modulation led to both the improvement in vitamin D levels in serum and emotional harmonization.


Lorentz pointed out in 1899 that a relativistic space-time transformation that leaves Maxwell's equations invariant could only be defined to within a common factor on the basis of then-existing experimental data. The present Note calls attention to the fact that Einstein's subsequent derivation of the Lorentz transformation (LT) is based on an undeclared assumption regarding the functional dependence of this factor. Consequently, many of the unconfirmed predictions of Einstein's special theory of relativity (SR), such as remote nonsimultaneity of events and Fitzgerald-Lorentz length contraction, would lose their validity if the above assumption is shown to be incorrect. At the same time, any other choice for Lorentz's common factor is seen to be consistent with the relativistic velocity transformation (VT). Accordingly, predictions of SR that are derived exclusively from the VT would not be affected by such a change in relativity theory. On this basis, an alternative Lorentz transformation (ALT) is defined that also satisfies Einstein's two postulates of relativity, but incorporates the strict proportionality of the rates of moving clocks assumed in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) rather than invoking the inextricable mixing of space and time coordinates predicted by the LT.


William F. Cook, III is Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, he serves as senior pastor at Ninth and O Baptist Church, Louisville, KY. Before coming to Southern he taught at the Baptist College of Florida for nine years. Dr. Cook has written a number of scholarly articles and has extensive ministry experience. Introduction The book of 1 Corinthians, written in the middle of the first century, is amazingly relevant. From the standpoint of pastoral ministry it may be the most contemporary of Paul's letters. Many pastors only think they have a difficult church until they read 1 Corinthians. How could a church started by the apostle Paul be fractured by divisions, filled with arrogance, seemingly supportive of immorality, involved in litigation, and struggling over whether sexual relations are appropriate within the husband-wife relationship? These are just a few of the problems facing Paul as he seeks to deal with his spiritual children in Corinth (not to mention abuses of the Lord's Supper, the abuse of Christian freedom, and doctrinal controversies over such issues as spiritual gifts and the future bodily resurrection of believers). The subjects Paul confronts are as relevant to the body of Christ today as when Paul wrote the letter. Although no church I know of is dealing with all of these problems simultaneously, every church faces similar difficulties. As the book is studied one observes how Paul—the consummate pastor and theologian—handles delicate issues with a spiritually immature people. He provides the contemporary church with a compass to guide her through the stormy seas of church discipline, internal conflict, and aberrant doctrine. What is clear throughout is that Paul loved the church and desired her to bring glory to God and be a source of light in the midst of a spiritually dark city. The world is looking for authenticity. They want to see individual believers and churches that practice what they preach— purity of life, brotherly love, and healthy relationships in the home. Paul's first century advice provides a healthy message to twenty-first century churches.


Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are sensory epithelial cells that transmit airway status to the brain via sensory neurons and locally via CGRP and GABA. Several other neuropeptides and neurotransmitters have been detected in various species, but the number, targets, functions, and conservation of PNEC signals are largely unknown. We used scRNAseq to profile hundreds of the rare mouse and human PNECs. This revealed >40 PNEC neuropeptide and peptide hormone genes, most cells expressing unique combinations of 5-18 genes. Peptides are packaged in separate vesicles, release presumably regulated by the distinct, multimodal combinations of sensors expressed by each PNEC. Expression of cognate receptors predicts an array of local targets, and we show the new PNEC signal angiotensin directly activates innervating sensory neurons. Many signals lack lung targets so may have endocrine activity like those of PNEC- derived carcinoid tumors. PNECs are an extraordinarily rich and diverse signaling hub rivaling the enteroendocrine system.


Evolutionary robotics relies upon techniques involving the evolution of artificial neural networks to synthesize sensorimotor control systems for actual or physically simulated robots. This paper is a comparative study of three principal types of artificial neural networks; the Continuous Time Recurrent Neural Network (CTRNN), the Plastic Neural Network (PNN) and the GasNet. An attempt is made to evolve networks capable of achieving locomotion with a physically simulated biped. Of the 14 distinct networks tested, GasNets were the only network to achieve cyclical locomotion, although CTRNNs were able to attain a higher level of average fitness.


Abstract Hermann Weyl was one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, with contributions to many branches of mathematics and physics. In 1918, he wrote a famous book, "Das Kontinuum", on the foundations of mathematics. In that book, he described mathematical analysis as a 'house built on sand', and tried to 'replace this shifting foundation with pillars of enduring strength'. In this paper, we reexamine and explain the philosophical and mathematical ideas that underly Weyl's system in "Das Kontinuum", and show that they are still useful and relevant. We propose a precise formalization of that system, which is the first to be completely faithful to what is written in the book. Finally, we suggest that a certain set-theoretical modern system reflects better Weyl's ideas than previous attempts (most notably by Feferman) of achieving this goal.


Background and Hypothesis: The sensitivity of LVH analysis by ECG voltage criteria in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has not yet been studied. LVH is expected in the TAVR population and would be reflected in voltage criteria by ECG. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in 176 consecutive TAVR patients without ventricular-paced rhythm. ECG data was collected and analyzed by Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell Voltage criteria. Results were compared to transthoracic echocardiogram. Analyses of variation, correlation, chi-square, and logistic regression were used. The study was approved by the institutional IRB. Results: Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell Voltage criteria for LVH were present and concordant in 19% (33 of 176) of patients; in 49% (86 of 176) of patients, neither criteria was suggestive for LVH. Only 19% (34 of 176) of patients had LVH by Cornell Voltage and 13% (23 of 176) by Sokolow-Lyon criteria, indicative of poor concordance between these two commonly used ECG criteria for LVH (p Ejection fraction, aortic valve gradient, aortic valve area, COPD, PVD, prior stroke, dyslipidemia, and hypertension did not affect the prevalence of LVH by either or both criteria. Women (p Conclusion: The presence of LVH by Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell ECG voltage criteria poorly correlates with the presence of LVH and critical aortic stenosis in TAVR patients. Women are more likely to have voltage criteria for LVH. Therefore, ECG may not be a suitable method of screening patients with severe aortic stenosis for LVH, especially in men.


Purpose: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has had poor prognosis compared with the luminal subtype. And there has been no benefit from doxorubicin. However, the addition of paclitaxel is known to improve both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The aim of our study was to assess the effect of the addition of paclitaxel after adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in TNBC. Methods: We randomly selected 87 women from 104 women with TNBC who had been randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin (60 ㎎ per square meter of body-surface area) plus cyclophosphamide (600 ㎎ per square meter) for four cycles, followed by four cycles of paclitaxel (175 ㎎ per square meter) or two more cycles of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide. Due to predictions of clinical outcomes in women who receive adjuvant paclitaxel based chemotherapy, immunohistochemical analyses of these tissue specimens for CK5/6 were used. Results: Among patients with TNBC, 24 patients (27.6%) were classified as CK5/6-positive triple negative type. Twelve patients were classified as paclitaxel chemotherapy group and 75 patients were classified as no paclitaxel group. No interaction was observed between DFS or OS and paclitaxel regimens. CK5/6 was, however, not associated with a significant benefit from paclitaxel in our study. Conclusion: In our study, the addition of paclitaxel after adjuvant treatment with doxorubicin (<60 ㎎ per square meter) is not associated with DFS or OS in TNBC.


Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) was one of the twentieth century's foremost students of religion and cultural environments. This book examines the emergence, function, and value of religion and myth in his work. Nicolae Babuts, Robert Ellwood, Eric Ziolkowski, John Dadosky, Robert Segal, Mac Linscott Ricketts, Douglas Allen, and Liviu Borda examine Eliade's views on the interaction between the sacred and the profane. Each explores Eliade's phenomenological approach to the study of religion and myth. They show that modern rites of initiation, cultural activities, and spectacles like bullfighting, film, and, perhaps surprisingly, reading and writing, all harken back to the archetypal structures of the mythical imagination. Perhaps the greatest achievement of Eliade's phenomenological approach is that it reveals what we have in common with pre-Socratic man: the mind's structural capacity to endow objects and events with spiritual values and meanings. As a study of Eliade's concept of the mythic imagination, the book posits an analogy between the myths of the past and modern imitations. The authors suggest that in spite of their differences and their separate historical sources, myths represent basic structures of human consciousness. This book is essential reading for all students of religion, philosophy, and literature.


Background - Strict isolation measures and interrupted healthcare services during the COVID 19 pandemic are contemplated to instigate stress universally, particularly in those with chronic illnesses such as Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).Objective- To evaluate perceived stress towards COVID-19 among T1D individuals.Study Design - A cross-sectional, observational study. Participants - Adolescents and young adults (aged 10 - 25), living with T1D; and age, gender matched controls.Interventions - An online, semi-structured survey including Perceived Stress Scale. Outcomes - Determinants of stress and its impact on glycemic control.Results - A total of 97 cases (49 males; mean age 18.8 ± 4.5 years), diagnosed with T1D (mean diabetes duration 8.0 ± 5.0 years; mean HBA1C 8.1 ± 1.5%) completed the survey. Among cases, 53.6% reported moderate stress; 41.2% low stress and 5.2% severe stress. No significant difference was observed in the mean PSS score between the cases and controls. Cases with higher PSS scores tracked pandemic-related updates with significantly lesser frequency than those with lower scores (mean rank 78.75; p = 0.01). High PSS score was significantly associated with HbA1C over last 6 months (r 0.276; p = 0.015) and worsened glycemic control (mean rank 63.97 p = 0.012). Conclusion- An increased apprehension was seen regarding the acquisition of optimal diabetes management and care during the current infectious outbreak. Tele-medicine could emerge as an effective tool and a promising initiative to manage T1D patients during the pandemic.


We present a variant of the stable flow problem. Instead of the traditional flow problem that obeys Kirchhoff's law, for each vertex, the outflow is monotone and piecewise linear to the inflow. In a directed and capacitated network, each vertex has strict preference over their incident edges. A stable flow assignment does not allow a group of vertices to benefit from privately rerouting along a path. In this paper, we first show the existence of flow stability by reducing this variant of stable flow problem to Scarf's Lemma, then introduce a path augmenting algorithm that runs in polynomial time to find such a stable flow.


Xenogeneic rabbit anti-mouse cell-mediated cytotoxic activity could be generated by culturing lymphoid cells from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleen, or peripheral blood of rabbits primed 2 to 8 weeks earlier with mouse tumor or spleen cells. MLN cells, which provided the best source of activity after being cultured with 5 to 10 X 10(6) mitomycin C-treated mouse spleen cells for 4 to 6 days, produced 30 to 90% specific isotope release after 4 to 7 hr incubation with 15Cr-labeled tumor target cells. Xenogeneic cytotoxic activity was primarily H-2 specific and could not be blocked by immune complexes but was abrogated by treatment with goat anti-rabbit thymocyte serum plus complement (ATS + C) before or after culture. Therefore, the activity appeared to be mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Furthermore, ATS without C abrogated cytotoxic activity when included in the CTL assay at concentrations of 5 to 15 microliter/10(7) effector cells. The inhibitory activity of ATS was directed to the rabbit effector population and could be absorbed completely by rabbit thymocytes. Antisera to mouse T cells with comparable cytolytic activity in the presence of C did not inhibit murine allogeneic CTL.


The objective of this study is to analyze Pakistan's bilateral export and import determinants and potential with major trading partners as well as border sharing countries. The study uses augmented gravity model and utilizes the panel data of thirty eight major trading partners of Pakistan from 2000 to 2013 at annual frequency. General to specific approach is used to determine the determinants with random effect model, while the final models are used to compute the trade potentials. Bilateral export determents of Pakistan are GDP of partner country, per capita GDP differential, distance, import openness of partner country, inflation rate in importing country, exchange rate, and common language. Pakistan has highest export potential with Switzerland and Hungary, while exhausted its potential with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and UAE. Bilateral import determinants of Pakistan are GDP of home country and partner country, distance, export openness of the partner country, trade openness of Pakistan, and inflation rate in Pakistan. Pakistan has highest import potential with Norway followed by Philippines, Portugal and Greece, while Pakistan has exhausted its import potential with Malaysia, Indonesia and Kuwait. In case of border sharing countries, Pakistan has exhausted both export and import potential with China, while with India import potential is exhausted but export potential exists, and large export and import potential exists with Iran. Government must tailor policies to utilize the untapped export and import potential of Pakistan with trading partners as well as border sharing countries.


We present a technique for low power realization of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters implemented using Distributed Arithmetic. In most applications, the distribution profile of input data values is known. The proposed technique uses a data encoding which can be tuned to the specific distribution profile so as to reduce toggles in the shift register chain. We present a generic Nega-Binary coding approach and show how a specific Nega-Binary scheme can be derived to achieve maximum power reduction. We also show how the binary to Nega-binary conversion can be performed bit-serially with minimal area (and hence power dissipation) overhead. The paper finally presents a shift-free implementation which uses memory array to store data values. We present a technique based on Gray coded addressing to reduce the power dissipation in such implementations.