Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a mortal bovine disease. Epidemiologic studies have linked the disease to animal feed contaminated with infected protein. In Argentina, the feeding of bovines with components of animal origin is banned, except for fishmeal and bone ash. Nowadays, optical microscopy is used to analyze animal feed and its components. In this method, technical analytical expertise is very important. This is why the development of a methodology that produces results which can be rapidly and automatically compared is urgently needed. The specific infrared microscopy method presented in this work delivers qualitative results in terms of the presence or absence of animal particles by applying specific decision rules. The object of this work was to assess the methodology of near infrared microscopy for the qualitative determination of the presence of particles of animal origin in matrices of bone ash. The spectra were collected by an image microscope coupled to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer operating in the reflection mode. Four mappings were done per sample, obtaining 1000 spectra per mapping. They were selected from an area on the slide of 50 particles in the axis X and 20 particles in the axis Y. Spectra were automatically collected at these points. In order to find the fragments of animal origin in the samples, a specific software program was developed. The program analyzed the spectra and evaluated the presence of bone fragments. From the validation results, it could be inferred that 4000 spectra should be observed in order to achieve a detection limit of 0.05 g bone fragments 100 g−1 bone ash. Selectivity, intermediate precision and repeatability were also analyzed with satisfactory results. Therefore, the validated method can be easily applied in routine analysis of bone ashes.


VANET safety applications broadcast cooperative awareness messages (CAM) periodically to provide vehicles with continuous updates about the surrounding traffic. The periodicity and the spatiotemporal information contained in these messages allow a global adversary to track vehicle movements. Many privacy schemes have been proposed for VANET, but only few schemes consider their impact on safety applications. Also, each scheme is evaluated using inconsistent metrics and unrealistic vehicle traces, which makes comparing the actual performance of different schemes in the wild more difficult. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap and compare different privacy schemes not only in terms of the privacy gained, but also their impact on safety applications. A distortion-based privacy metric is initially proposed and compared with other popular privacy metrics showing its effectiveness in measuring privacy. A practical safety metric which is based on Monte Carlo analysis is then proposed to measure the QoS of two safety applications: forward collision warning and lane change warning. Using realistic vehicle traces, six state-of-the-art VANET privacy schemes are evaluated and compared in terms of the proposed privacy and safety metrics. Among the evaluated schemes, it was found that the coordinated silent period scheme achieves the best privacy and QoS levels, but fully synchronized silence among all vehicles is a practical challenge. The CAPS and CADS schemes provide a practical compromise between privacy and safety since they employ only the necessary silence periods to prevent tracking and avoid changing pseudonyms in trivial situations.


Traumatic brain INJURY is a significant problem in American health care which taps a tremendous number of resources. Neurosurgeons are an integral part of head injury care along with the trauma surgeon, particularly in those cases involving multi system trauma. The intensely trained neurosurgical practitioner dedicated to the care of a broad range of neurologically based conditions, including trauma, is in short supply. Furthermore, like their general surgical colleagues, they are being taxed not only by the glut of head injuries but also by the attendant social, financial and perceived legal disincentives associated with their care. That is why, together, we must find a way to share and reduce the burden of head injury care for both practitioner types and keep both engaged in this vitally needed service to society.
It is toward that end that this admittedly provocative and "tongue-in-cheek" essay is offered. Its purpose is not to single out neurosurgeons for castigation, but rather, the intent is to stimulate spirited, yet collegial, honest and productive debate of fundamental issues. It is crucial that these issues be resolved expeditiously in order to move forward and provide much needed access to quality care that is rendered by well trained, committed practitioners who draw pride and satisfaction from their work.


OBJECTIVE
Shift work is associated with circadian misalignment, sleep loss, and suboptimal health behaviors, which may contribute to longer term negative health outcomes. To inform future interventions for shift workers, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate the Health Belief Model for Shift Workers (HBM-SW) scale.

METHODS
The HBM-SW development involved a seven-step process, including a literature review, expert panel analysis, cognitive interviews with shift workers, and a trial with a pilot sample of shift workers (n = 153). Utilizing exploratory factor analysis for factor identification and item reduction, the developed scale loaded on seven factors in line with the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model: Perceived Threat, Perceived Severity, Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Cues to Action, Self-efficacy, and Health Motivation. Validation of the scale was conducted utilizing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Food Frequency Questionnaire.

RESULTS
The pilot sample had an average age of 34.0 (18.0) years, was majority female (54.2%), with an average of 8.0 (11.0) years shift work experience. The HBM-SW showed good - excellent (α = 0.74-0.93) internal consistency and moderate - good (ICC = 0.64-0.89) test re-test reliability. Using health behavior outcome measures, the HBM-SW scale showed meaningful correlations with sleep quality, sleep duration, diet quality and leisure time physical activity, and acceptable validity and reliability. Further testing should be conducted in a larger sample to facilitate confirmatory factor analysis.

CONCLUSIONS
The developed Health Belief Model for Shift Workers scale is likely beneficial for use in future studies of interventions for shift workers.


C57BL/6 mice injected with the 145-2C11 anti-CD3 mAb and grafted with MHC class II disparate bm12 skin develop a chronic rejection characterized by interstitial dermal fibrosis, a marked eosinophil infiltrate, and an obliterative intimal vasculopathy. Because these changes occur in the absence of alloreactive antibodies, we examined the contribution of cytokines in their pathogenesis. Chronically rejected grafts showed a marked accumulation of both IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA. Mixed lymphocyte reaction experiments established that mice undergoing chronic rejection were primed for IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 secretion. In vivo administration of anti-IL-4 mAb completely prevented allograft vasculopathy as well as graft eosinophil infiltration and dermal fibrosis. Injection of anti-IL-5 mAb or the use of IL-5-deficient mice as recipients also resulted in the lack of eosinophil infiltration or dermal fibrosis, but these mice did develop allograft vasculopathy. Administration of anti-IL-10 mAb did not influence any histologic parameter of chronic rejection. Thus, in this model, IL-4- and IL-5-mediated tissue allograft eosinophil infiltration is associated with interstitial fibrosis. IL-4, but not eosinophils, is also required for the development of obliterative graft arteriolopathy.


This study aims to determine the relationship of leadership with employee job satisfaction in the Election Commission of Mamasa Regency. This research is an explanatory research with a quantitative approach. Data collection is done through observation, questionnaires, and document review. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and inferential statistical techniques. The results showed that leadership was partially positively related to employee job satisfaction. Leadership influences employee job satisfaction with a level of influence of 90%, while 10% is influence by other variables outside the leadership variable.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the preliminary clinical outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for patient with upper lumbar disc herniation and failing to respond to conservative treatment.

METHODS
From December 2008 to June 2011, 12 patients with upper lumbar disc herniation and failing to respond to conservative treatment were treated, including 8 males and 4 females, aged from 28 to 82 years old (averaged, 50.67 years old). Duration of upper lumbar disc herniation was 3 to 10 months, with an average of 5.75 months. MRI exam revealed 12 "degeneration discs" low in signal on T2 image, including 1 discs of T12L1, 1 of L1,2, 3 of L2,3 and 7 of L3,4. Discography showed positive response, fluoroscopy confirmed annulus fibrosus tears of posterior intervertebral disc in 12 discs. PELD was performed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated before operation and after operation. The clinical outcome was determined by modified Macnab criteria at the final follow-up.

RESULTS
The average operation time of each patient was 1.45 h (ranged, 1.0 to 2.5 h), and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 5.83 days (ranged,4 to 9 days). There was no happening in ruptured meninges and nerve damage. Twelve patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 1 to 12 months (averaged, 5.5 months). The VAS score decreased from preoperative 8.00 +/- 1.21 to postoperative 1.92 +/- 0.79 (P < 0.01). The ODI decreased from preoperative (78.81 +/- 13.65)% to the final follow-up (16.19 +/- 3.52)% (P < 0.01). According to the modified Macnab criteria, 3 patients got an excellent result, 8 good, 1 fair.

CONCLUSION
PELD is effective in treating patient with upper lumbar disc herniation failing to respond to conservative treatment.


Inferring ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services through inspections of the species inventory is a major aspect of ecological field studies. Ecosystem functions are often stable despite considerable species turnover. Using metatranscriptome analyses, we analyse a thus‐far unparalleled freshwater data set which comprises 21 mainland European freshwater lakes from the Sierra Nevada (Spain) to the Carpathian Mountains (Romania) and from northern Germany to the Apennines (Italy) and covers an altitudinal range from 38 m above sea level (a.s.l) to 3110 m a.s.l. The dominant taxa were Chlorophyta and streptophytic algae, Ciliophora, Bacillariophyta and Chrysophyta. Metatranscriptomics provided insights into differences in community composition and into functional diversity via the relative share of taxa to the overall read abundance of distinct functional genes on the ecosystem level. The dominant metabolic pathways in terms of the fraction of expressed sequences in the cDNA libraries were affiliated with primary metabolism, specifically oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis and the TCA cycle. Our analyses indicate that community composition is a good first proxy for the analysis of ecosystem functions. However, differential gene regulation modifies the relative importance of taxa in distinct pathways. Whereas taxon composition varies considerably between lakes, the relative importance of distinct metabolic pathways is much more stable, indicating that ecosystem functioning is buffered against shifts in community composition through a functional redundancy of taxa.


A new explanation to the magnetic force between two conductors due to their respective currents is proposed. It is based upon the strict usage of Coulomb 's original force law. It is shown that this purely electrostatic law is capable of explaining also the magnetic force between currents. The reason is the inhomogeneous propagation of the electric field from different parts of continuously distributed moving charges, thereby causing a net difference between the field from the moving electrons and the immobile ions respectively in a conductor. Within the scope of this investigation it was also found that a D.C. voltage source must have inherited a direct current at the poles, opposite to the direction of the current through the circuit. Using these concepts, experiments upon a set of Ampere 's Bridge, performed by Moyssides and Pappas [J. Appl. Phys. 59, 19 (1986)] can be satisfactoril y explained.


In recent years the design of portable electronic devices must incorporate thermal analyses to ensure the device can be adequately cooled to acceptable temperatures. Consumer demand for smaller, more powerful devices has lead to an increase in the heat required to be dissipated and a reduction in the surface area both of which result in an increased heat flux. In this paper, an experimental study is performed on one of the smallest commercially available miniature fans, suitable for cooling portable electronic devices, used in conjunction with both finned and finless heat sinks. Previous analysis has shown that due to fan exit angle, flow does not enter the heat sinks parallel to the fins or bounding walls. This results in a non uniform flow rate within the channels of the finned and finless heat sink along with impingement of the flow at the entrance giving rise to large entrance pressure losses. In this paper straightening diffusers were attached at the exit of the fan which resulted in aligning the flow entering the heat sinks with the fins and channel walls. In designing the finned heat sink current optimization criterion for finned heat exchangers has been applied to ensure maximum heat transfer rates; the finless heat sink was designed to the same specifications. The maximum overall footprint area of the cooling solution is 534 mm2 with a profile height of 5 mm. The thermal performance of each cooling solution was investigated by quantifying its thermal resistance over a range of fan speeds and comparing the results to cases without diffusers. In order to investigate the flow field, detailed velocity measurements were obtained using Particle Image Velocimetry, which provided a further insight into the physics of the flow in such miniature geometries and in designing the straightening diffusers. The thermal analysis results indicate that the cooling power of the solution is increased by up to 20% through the introduction of a diffuser. Hence, demonstrating the need for integrated fan and heat sink design of low profile applications.


Bisphosphonates are currently used to prevent bone complications and to treat malignant hypercalcemia in patients with multiple myeloma, or bone metastases from breast and prostate cancers [1]. Within the last year we observed 10 patients who developed jaw bone necrosis while on treatment with zoledronic acid (Zometa; Novartis) or pamidronate. All the patients had breast cancer with skeletal disease and received long-term treatment with bisphosphonates (range 14–48 months, median 30 months). Four patients developed this complication after tooth extraction or other odontostomatological procedures, and six had a spontaneous event. All patients but one had inferior mandibular necrosis. Patients started to complain of jaw pain, difficulty in masticating and in brushing teeth. The clinical appearance simulated dental abscesses or osteomyelitis. Biopsy of the involved area showed the presence of necrotic lacunae, with infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes. In six cases, histological or cytological diagnosis of suspicious osteomyelitis was done (Figure 1). This pathological feature, identified as 'jaw avascular bone necrosis', appears as a growing, painful, unilateral swelling of the jaw in patients receiving bisphosphonates [2–4]. Pain is frequently resistant to common anti-inflammatory drugs, causing severe impairment of quality of life. The definitive cure of avascular bone necrosis is controversial [4]. Surgical treatment and the use of hyperbaric oxygen seem to be partially effective. The removal of painful teeth may alleviate symptoms, but it eventually leads to further exposure of the bone [2]. In these cases discontinuation of bisphosphonates may be advocated, although the clinical benefit of this has not yet been proven. In our experience, four patients underwent curettage of the affected mandible, but in two patients the symptoms persisted. Subsequently, one patient experienced a mandibular fistula, with persistence of pain and purulent secretion, despite massive use of antibiotics. One patient with strong radiological suspicions of a jaw metastasis, was treated with local radiotherapy, but without clinical benefit. Afterwards, she developed a mandibular fistula. Another patient, after receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy with no benefit, underwent wide resection of the affected bone, with no results. Another patient was treated with partial resection of the mandible, with a mild clinical improvement. Pamidronate and zolendronate are nitrogen containing bisphosphonates and bind preferentially to sites of active bone resorption, exerting direct effects on osteoclastic activity through different mechanisms, including cytoskeleton changes, decreased liposomal function and inducing osteoclast apoptosis [1, 4, 5]. Normal osteoclasis is vital to bone turnover, while its inhibition halts bone resorption, leading to the accumulation of non-vital osteocytes, microfractures of mineral matrix and bone necrosis. The selective appearance of this process in the jaw may be due to the specific anatomical pattern of harboring teeth, thus uniquely exposing this part of the skeleton directly to the open environment [2] and to continuous trauma due to mastication or to odontostomatological interventions. The antiangiogenic effect attributed to bisphosphonates might play a role, together with microtrauma and inflammation, in causing ischemic changes [1, 4, 5]. Understanding the precise mechanisms involved in the process may lead to the prevention of this skeletal complication. Long-term routine use of drugs should take into account the risk of this relatively uncommon event.


This article aims to reflect on the role of myth in science fiction narrative, namely on the specific forms it may take in utopian/dystopian fiction, such as Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. The personal development of the main character, Guy Montag, constitutes the focus of this analysis, by which we aim to shed some light on the relation between the meaning of the novel and the Promethean features he evinces in the context of a dystopian novel. The symbolic power of fire and of books is also of core relevance to this study, not only because they highlight the hero's inheritance of the Promethean myth, but also because they provide a deeper insight into the exegetic possibilities of dystopian fiction.


This paper presents experimental results from a wave energy converter (WEC) that is based on a linear generator connected to a rectifier and filter components. The converter-filter system is installed onshore, while the linear wave generator operates offshore a few kilometers from the Swedish west coast. The power from the generator has been rectified with a diode bridge and then filtered using a capacitive filter. Performance of the whole conversion system was studied using resistive loads connected across the filter. The aim was to investigate the operational characteristics of the generator while supplying a nonlinear load. By changing the value of the resistive component of the load, the speed of the translator can be changed and so also the damping of the generator. The power absorbed by the generator was studied at different sea states as well. The observations presented in this paper could be beneficial for the design of efficient wave energy conversion systems.


Reports indicate that cancer of the prostate, soft tissue sarcomas, salivary gland tumors, and melanomas respond well to fast-neutron treatment. To better understand the action of fast neutrons on such tumor tissues, we have begun studies with the versatile Dunning rat prostate tumor system. In our initial studies with the R3327-AT1 subline we observed a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of approximately 3 for single doses of 14-meV fast neutrons. As a continuation of those studies the present report discusses our findings following fractionated treatments with 10 equal fractions of 14-MeV fast neutrons or 60Co gamma rays at several dose levels per fraction. After either fractionated neutron or photon treatment the volume of the tumors continued to increase for 2 weeks and then reached a plateau, the level of which was dose dependent. Tumor growth resumed and no local control was observed. Analysis of the data using growth delay as biological end point yielded an RBE of approximately 4.2 +/- 1.3.


The use of automated mapping/facilities management at the Detroit Edison power company is discussed. Faster operating and specific extraction software was needed to increase the processing capability of the graphic system. Run times of this specific software were measured against existing generic software. Several graphic and facility products were produced under controlled conditions to substantiate the results. Results confirm that investment in custom software for a specific purpose has the potential of being very cost effective and productive. >


The history of the Habsburg Empire in the post-Napoleonic era is frequently approached from the perspective of its various component nationalities. These were traditionally portrayed in the historiography as engaged in more-or-less open struggle with control from Vienna. This article argues that the over-privileging of such national categories can distort the picture. By looking at a number of case studies – the naming of Lombardy-Venetia, the Biblioteca italiana, the Panteon veneto – the relationship between Venice (and its Terraferma) and Habsburg rule during the second Austrian domination is examined. It will be argued that it is more profitable to see Venetian identities (municipal, local, Italian, and as part of a wider transnational European culture) as capable of working for as well as against the empire, and that Habsburg policy was as often concerned with managing potential local rivalries (notably between Lombards and Venetians) as with controlling a perceived Italian threat. It is also suggested that, while cultivation of local identity was often used to reinforce the national, the Austrian authorities were also happy to annex both to further imperial interests.


An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is composed of abnormal communications between arteries and veins without the normal intervening capillary bed. AVM of the head and neck is a rare vascular anomaly. We present here an unusual case of AVM with the size of 4x3 cm at the left posterior palatal area. Incisionel biopsy revealed AVM. Resection of the lesion following angiography was suggested to the patient however, he refused the treatment. The patient was considered to be under control. AVM should always be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of palatal swellings.


Bacterial vaginosis, earlier termed nonspecific vaginitis (anaerobic vaginosis) because of the absence of recognized pathogens, is most common vaginal syndrome of women of childbearing age affecting 15-30%. This syndrome, whose aetiology and pathogenesis remains unknown, is characterized by significant changes in the vaginal ecosystem. These changes consist of a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and a large increase in the number of anaerobic organisms. The bacteria adhere to desquamated epithelial cells with a distinctive appearance of clue cells The main complaints of women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis include vaginal discharge and odour. However, a significant number of all women who have bacterial vaginosis deny symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with a number of gynaecologic and obstetric complications including cervicitis, cervical neoplasia, pelvic inflammatory disease, postoperative infections, and preterm labour.The diagnosis is most frequently made based on vaginal smear stained according to Gram (Nugent scoring method). Metronidazole and clindamycin are the drugs of choice for treatment of women with bacterial vaginosis. Which women should undergo treatment? According to the prevailing attitude, it should include women with symptoms. Symptomatic women with frequent relapses of bacterial vaginosisas, as a rule, have poor response to the applied therapy. To achieve better efficiency in the treatment of such women, it is necessary to have more extensive understanding of all factors in the pathogenesis of the syndrome.


Background Supra-pharmacological doses of corticosteroids (pulse therapy) are used in various autoimmune disorders. Methylprednisolone and dexamethasone pulse therapy have demonstrated similar efficacy for some diseases;[1] therefore, differences in their adverse effects can help the selection of any of them. Objectives To evaluate changes in glycemia and blood pressure in patients who received pulse therapy with dexamethasone or methylprednisolone. Methods We evaluated the charts of patients who received corticosteroid pulse therapy with dexamethasone (200 mg/day) or methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day). We included patients who received at least three days of pulse therapy and who had records of glycemia and blood pressure four times at day. We evaluated the blood pressure and glycemia measurements before the first pulse therapy and the next three-day measurements each six hours. We evaluated through linear mixed models the factors associated with an increase in glycemia or blood pressure (systolic or diastolic) in the program R 3.0.2. For the glycemia analysis we excluded patients with diabetes history and patients having glycemia >180 before the pulse therapy. Results We included 117 patients, 83 received pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and 34 with dexamethasone. Multivariate mixed models showed a statistically significant increase in glycemia and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) from the first measurement after the initial dose of pulse therapy (Figure 1); factors associated with hyperglycemia (adjusted for creatinine levels, sex and units of insulin received) were higher glycemia before the pulse therapy (p=0.0016) and the use of methylprednisolone (p=0.0098). Factors associated with an increase of systolic or diastolic blood pressure were: higher blood pressure before the first pulse therapy (p<0.0001) and higher creatinine levels (p=0.0099 and 0.0031) but not the type of corticosteroid (dexamethasone or methylprednisolone).Figure 1. Mean and standard error of glycemia according each measurement. Conclusions Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone showed a higher increase in glycemia than dexamethasone. Susceptible patients to an increase of glycemia are who have initial hyperglycemia; patients susceptible to an increase in blood pressure are who have elevated serum creatinine levels and who have initial hypertension. References Sinha A, Bagga A. Pulse steroid therapy. Indian J Pediatr 2008;75:1057–66. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The etiology of the disease has remained elusive, but mutations causing aberrant RNA splicing have been considered one of the significant factors in various cancer types. The association of aberrant RNA splicing with drug/therapy resistance further increases the importance of these mutations. In this work, the impact of the splicing factor 3B subunit 1 (SF3B1) K700E mutation, a highly prevalent mutation in various cancer types, is investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. Based on our results, K700E mutation increases flexibility of the mutant SF3B1. Consequently, this mutation leads to i) disruption of interaction of pre-mRNA with SF3B1 and p14, thus preventing proper alignment of mRNA and causing usage of abnormal 3' splice site, and ii) disruption of communication in critical regions participating in interactions with other proteins in pre-mRNA splicing machinery. We anticipate that this study enhances our understanding of the mechanism of functional abnormalities associated with splicing machinery, thereby, increasing possibility for designing effective therapies to combat cancer at an earlier stage.


The paper focuses on impoliteness dealt with from a historical pragmatics perspective (Jucker [ed.] 1995; Culpeper and Kádár [eds] 2010; Jucker and Taavitsainen [eds] 2010; etc.). The approach adopted in this study favours a first-order im/politeness view (Watts et al. [eds] 1992; Eelen 2001; etc.), which is mainly concerned with the evaluation of behavioural elements by the participants in a communicative event. As im/politeness in Romanian is under-researched from a historical sociopragmatic perspective, this analysis tries to fill a gap exploring the seventeenth to early-eighteenth century cultural patterns and their characteristics in only two main Romanian provinces, Moldavia and Wallachia (separate states from the Middle Ages until their union in 1859).
 My analysis is limited to the understanding and practices of "impoliteness" in official settings (court and diplomatic interactions), aiming to capture the production and evaluation, as well as some self-reflexive aspects (Eelen 2001; Kádár 2013) and emotional effects of "impoliteness". The corpus consists of Moldavian and Wallachian chronicles from the second half of the seventeenth-century and first half of the eighteenth-century, presenting local court life and also scenes at the Ottoman court.


Brigetio, along the Danube limes, was one of the four legionary bases of Pannonia and, thus, one of the most important settlements of the province. The excavations conducted by the Eötvös Loránd University and the Klapka György Museum of Komárom lasted 25 years (1992–2016) and yielded unparalleled information about the spatial structure and the temporal setting of the Roman municipium. Numerous high-standard domestic buildings with hypocaust heating systems and figurative wall paintings were brought to light by the excavations. Besides, traces of several workshops were discovered, including a metal and a secondary glass workshop and a bakery. Based on the countless small finds collected during the excavations, the civil town seems to have existed from the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD to after the mid-3rd century AD when the inhabitants abandoned the municipium. The heyday of the settlement can be dated to the first half of the 3rd century AD; most findings and building remains came from this period. This paper summarizes the results of each excavation season with drawings and references to the most important small finds.


This degree project was given by company Eventus Design AB. This project is related to optimizing a computer cabinet that produced by this company. It is unnecessary big for current computer monitor so the company desired to reduce the size to make more profit.This project begins with defining the problem and the planning of the whole project. After that, the functional requirements were defined to make the product function clearer. The conceptual design was made after that and the finally concept was selected. The embodiment design was based on the requirements from the company and the manufacturing cost was calculated in this step. An analytical prototyping was made to show the optimized product and finally the design was verified, as well.


By rising of the Sassanids, this empire attempted to create gradually a central government dominated by the integrity of religion and government, hence, despite of existence of an emerging religion such as Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism dominated in this government. Considering the attitude towards religious minorities during the Sassanid Empire, although there was some laxity during the reign of emperors such as Shapour the First, oppression and rigor was reported in certain periods of this dynasty which to some extent were provoked by Zoroastrian priests. On the other hand, based on the evidence from written historical references, despite of stressing on Zoroastrianism, the Sassanid emperors had some Jewish and Christian women in their seraglio. In the present study, it was assumed that most of these women were involved in the power. The main question was that who were these non-Zoroastrian women of the Sassanid court and did they play any role in the government's policies towards the religious minorities of their age? To do this research, the descriptive-analytical method was used. The findings indicated that the presence of powerful non-Zoroastrian queens or the ones supporting religions other than Zoroastrianism on power top led to the improvement of the religious minorities' situations in the Sassanid community. It seemed that these queens played an important role in improvement of the situation of their coreligionists or the followers of the religions they supported through imposing on emperors and dignitaries of the state.


Background: Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) assessed using changes in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) to free range exercise is a relatively cheap way of screening for asthma in resource-poor centres where children with asthma are often undiagnosed and poorly managed. This study sets out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with EIB among rural schoolchildren in Ilesa, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Children aged 8–16 years from two middle schools in rural Ilesa were selected by multistage sampling. Their sociodemographic characteristics and personal/family history of asthma and allergies were obtained. The children had their PEFR measured before, 5, 10 and 15 min after 6–8 min of free running exercise to achieve 80% of their maximal pulse rate. EIB was defined as change in PEFR expressed as a percentage of the pre-exercise value ≥15%. The prevalence and factors associated with EIB were determined. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of the 250 study participants was 12.5 (1.5) years (M: F 0.9:1) None of the children had previously been diagnosed with asthma. The prevalence of EIB was 9.2%, 6.4% and 4.0% at 5, 10 and 15 min post-exercise, respectively. Household poultry birds, personal history of allergies, wheeze in the past 12 months and family history of asthma were associated with EIB (P < 0.05); only wheezing in the past 12 months independently predicted EIB (odds ratio = 6.343; 95% confidence interval = 2.040–8.798; P= 0.020). Conclusion: The prevalence of EIB among rural schoolchildren in Ilesa was 9.2%. EIB was associated with the history of allergies and wheeze and presence of household poultry birds. We recommend routine screening of these children for early diagnosis and good asthma symptom control.


Radiotherapy is commonly used in treating many kinds of cancers which cannot be cured by other therapeutic strategies. However, radiotherapy also induces the damages on the normal tissues. Radiation-induced fibrosis is frequently observed in the patients undergoing radiotherapy, and becomes a major obstacle in the treatment of intrahepatic cancer. Hedgehog (Hh) that is an essential in the liver formation during embryogenesis is not detected in the healthy liver, but activated and modulates the repair process in damaged livers in adult. The expression of Hh increases with the degree of liver damage, regulating the proliferation of hepatic progenitors and hepatic stellate cells (HSC). In addition, Hh induces epithelial-to-mesencymal transition (EMT) and activation of myofibroblasts. In the irradiated livers, up-regulated expression of Hh signaling was associated with proliferation of progenitors, EMT induction, and increased fibrosis. Female-specific expression of Hh leaded to the expansion of progenitors and the accumulation of collagen in the irradiated livers of female mice, indicating that gender disparity in Hh expression may be related with radiation-susceptibility in female. Hence, Hh signaling becomes a novel object of studies for fibrogenesis induced by radiation. However, the absence of the established experimental animal models showing the similar physiopathology with human liver diseases and fibrosis-favorable microenvironment hamper the studies for the radiation-induced fibrosis, providing a few descriptive results. Therefore, further research on the association of Hh with radiation-induced fibrosis can identify the cell and tissue-specific effects of Hh and provides the basic knowledge for underlying mechanisms, contributing to developing therapies for preventing the radiation-induced fibrosis.


Abstract : New car assessment program (NCAP) originated from USNCAP in 1979 has been implemented in several countries or markets, for instance USA, Europe, Korea, Japan, China and Australia. NCAP has contributed greatly to reduce accidental tolls. But recently, NCAP performance has no distinction between cars because manufacturer have been continuously developed to improve NCAP performance. Therefore, NHTSA announced new USNCAP protocol becoming effective from MY2011. NHTSA had carried out many NCAP tests based on the new test protocol and announced these test results.In this paper, USNCAP test results were reviewed by statistical method. This review was focused on passenger cars and frontal crash test results in order to investigate effect of changes in new NCAP protocol. There are two key changes, one is sited female dummy in passenger position, the other is enlarged to 4 scoring body regions in each dummy. Results of this review were summarized as followings. Performance in Passenger (12.5%) is lower than Driver's (50%) for number of 5 star vehicle. Neck injury criterion is dominant to NCAP star rating for both dummies in the mean sense. For standard deviation, chest deflection is showed largest value in driver dummy but neck injury criterion is showed for passenger's. DKAB and PKAB were equipped 28.1% and 6.2%, respectively. Consequently, the countermeasure for new USNCAP frontal crash test is essential to control well dummy kinematics with some safety features including KAB to reduce neck injuries.


The effects of antiepileptic drugs on cognition are difficult to delineate, yet of critical importance for children with epilepsy. We investigated the cognitive and behavioral effects of carbamazepine in children with benign rolandic epilepsy. Ten subjects with benign rolandic epilepsy were evaluated with and without carbamazepine treatment. Fourteen unmedicated subjects with migraine headache evaluated twice served as a control group. Subjects were 6 to 12 years of age, fluent in English, and not mentally retarded. We found that children with benign rolandic epilepsy were quicker on a visual-search task and recalled stories better when not treated than when treated with carbamazepine. After correction for multiple comparisons only the memory fmding remained significant. Higher carbamazepine serum level was associated with slower performance on the same visual-search task. This latter finding did not meet multiple comparison criteria. Numerous significant practice effects were found within the control group. Comparisons with reliable change indices identified two subjects with benign rolandic epilepsy with particularly poor scores while receiving carbamazepine. These findings suggest some effects on memory from carbamazepine; however, they do not support meaningful dosage-related effects, within the recommended range. Significant practice effects confirmed the need to control for such effects when evaluating treatments. Finally, identification of two subjects who performed more poorly while on carbamazepine suggests that some children might experience particular difficulties while receiving this medication and highlights the need to investigate individual subject responses to treatment. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:716-723).


OBJECTIVE
Subjective promontory stimulation is used to evaluate cochlear implant (CI) candidacy, but the test reliability is low. Electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR) can verify the function of the auditory system objectively. This study's procedure uses a trans-tympanic rounded bent-tip electrode to perform pre-operative EABR under local anaesthesia (LA-TT-EABR) using MED-EL Software and Hardware. This study aimed to determine usability and effectiveness for CI candidates.

DESIGN
We hypothesised that LA-TT-EABR waveforms of good quality would be related to successful hearing outcomes. We assumed that the duration of hearing loss/deafness was a confounding factor to study outcomes.

STUDY SAMPLE
19 borderline CI candidates.

RESULTS
Positive LA-TT-EABR results were confirmed in 14 patients. LA-TT-EABR's mean latency was 2.05 ± 0.31 ms (eII/eIII) and 4.24 ± 0.39 ms (eIV/eV). Latencies weren't statistically different from intra-operative EABR elicited by basal CI contacts. All positive LA-TT-EABR patients benefitted from CI and speech performance improved one year after implantation. One patient with negative LA-TT-EABR was cochlear-implanted and had no hearing sensation.

CONCLUSIONS
LA-TT-EABR is a tool in the frame of pre-operative objective testing the auditory pathway. It seems useful for clinical testing CI candidacy. Based on this study's outcomes, LA-TT-EABR should be recommended for uncertain CI candidates.


5006 The human single-stranded DNA binding protein, replication protein A (RPA), is essential for DNA repair and DNA replication. RPA is a viable target in the treatment of cancer as many chemotherapeutic agents act by blocking DNA replication. Furthermore, inhibition of RPA and its role in DNA repair could prove useful in treating cancers that have acquired resistance to DNA damaging agents through enhanced DNA repair mechanisms, as has been observed with certain cisplatin resistant carcinomas. In an effort to identify inhibitors of RPA, we established a homogeneous high-throughput screening assay to measure RPA's DNA binding activity. Using this assay, we initiated a large scale screening effort of the DTP library of pure and synthetic compounds. Following initial screening, secondary assays were performed using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, fluorescence polarization analyses and in vitro NER catalyzed excision of a single cisplatin-lesion in a duplex DNA. The identification and development of potential lead compounds and structure/activity relationships will be presented. The identification and use of RPA inhibitors may aid in inhibiting NER activity, which could potentially circumvent resistance to certain chemotherapeutic agents, as well as be useful in the characterization of RPA and its interaction with DNA.


Resume Fauconneau B., M. Laroche. In: The biology and culture of catfishes. M. Legendre, J.-P. Proteau eds. Aquat. Living Resour., 1996, Vol. 9, Hors serie, 165-179. Specificities of the structural, chemical, physical and sensory characteristics of the flesh are revicwed and related to different aspects of flesh quality. Potential for processing of catfish is high in terms of mechanization but rather low in terms of processing yields. The variability observed in body conformation traits supports the possibility to improve processing yiclds by genetic sclection. Little is known on the structure of catfish flesh but a higher cohesiveness due both to greater connective tissue strength and probably a greater homogeneity of muscle tissues is observed, compared to other freshwater species. Although the presence of adipose tissues has not been demonstrated, intermuscular adipose tissues contributes with red muscle to lipid deposits in commercial sizc. Lipid content in catfish flesh increases with age but even at commercial size it is still lower than what is reported in other cultured fish. There is however a tendency in recent years for an increase in lipid content in catfish flesh due to increased lipid content in the diet. Thus, further information on the control of lipid deposits is required in future especially in a view to improve taste and processing yields. The lipid composition of neutral lipids reflects that of the diet with high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and a low w31w6 ratio. Flesh colour is very subtle but it could be controlled either by the use of pigment supplemenrution in the diet or by rearing non pigmented catfish. Other physical characteristics of the flesh are very stable during the cooking process. Cooked flesh has a relatively low water-holding capacity and a low resistance to mechanical stress (compression, extrusion) thus contributing to the juiciness and tendemess of the flesh. The sensory characteristics of the flesh are somewhat neutral but consuiners are able to detect the specific characteristics of different species such as Channel catfish, African catfish and European catfish. Significant efforts to standardize the sensory evaluation of Channel catfish have been made in the USA but flavor and aroma of catfish seem to be more related to the fish itself than to other factors such as the diet composition. New data is available on off-flavors related to geosmin and methyl-iso-borneol. Specific control of the phytoplankton species which produce these compounds appears to be possible. Storage on ice affects the flesh acceptability as it does for other fish species, but catfish flesh seems to be stable at least physically during freezing. Traditional processing is used for preservation of the flesh. New processing methods have been tested for the diversification of catfish products or to produce substitutes for other animal products. Catfishes are generally shown to be suitable for processing.


Over the past decade Indian Railways is the biggest public sector enterprise in India. Market is becoming more users oriented these days and customers' feedbacks have taken a central place. Thus, in this paper sentimental analysis has been performed on the commuters' feedback by using the concepts of polarity dictionary and sentimental orientation calculation. Each sentence has been allotted with a score calculated by mappings from the polarity dictionary, with the scores varying within a fixed pre-defined range. Thus the score gives an insight into the feedbacks of the customers and hence, the experience of commuters and railway industry revenue generation can be improved by using this study.


Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and measurement agreement of a smartphone pedometer application and a traditional pedometer, both compared to manual step count, in six environments. The study also examined the relative reliability of two positions of the smartphone pedometer application in the six environments. Twenty participants carried two smartphones (iPhone 4S) with the same pedometer application (Pedometer FREE GPS+) in two device positions together with a traditional pedometer (Yamax LS2000) while walking in six environments. The pedometer application in the chest position (app chest) differed significantly from the manual step count when walking uphill (p = 0.003), the application in the trouser (pants) position (app pants) differed for downhill (p = 0.001) and the traditional pedometer (trad ped) differed upstairs (p = 0.007). The measurement agreement was high for app pants uphill, app chest downhill and trad ped downstairs. The relative reliability was fair for app chest, but poor for app pants. In conclusion, the pedometer application and traditional pedometer were valid for step self-monitoring in some environments, and the measurement agreement compared to manual step count was mainly medium to high. The relative reliability for the smartphone pedometer application was partly acceptable. Smartphones could be useful in some environments for physical activity self-monitoring.


This paper approaches the problem of optimizing energy consumption onboard hybrid vehicles in a general way, considering the main issues to be solved in their conceptuality and, therefore, that are often abstracted from the actual structure of the particular drive train that the authors considered. The methods that were described are a harmonization of those used by the authors over the last several years; therefore, although being rather general, they are far from describing the state of the art of scientific literature on this topic. Both parallel and series structures are covered; for either structure, the effect of different functions on management strategies (e.g., pure-electric drive and plug-in recharge capabilities) are discussed. Some more details are supplied in the Case Studies section of this paper, where some of the authors' past experiences are reconsidered in terms of the general approach proposed in this paper.


Automation of surgical subtasks using cable-driven robotic surgical assistants (RSAs) such as Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK) is challenging due to imprecision in control from cable-related effects such as backlash, stretch, and hysteresis. We propose a novel approach to efficiently calibrate a dVRK by placing a 3D printed fiducial coordinate frame on the arm and end-effector that is tracked using RGBD sensing. To measure the coupling effects between joints and history-dependent effects, we analyze data from sampled trajectories and consider 13 modeling approaches using LSTM recurrent neural networks and linear models with varying temporal window length to provide corrective feedback. With the proposed method, data collection takes 31 minutes to produce 1800 samples and model training takes less than a minute. Results suggest that the resulting model can reduce the mean tracking error of the physical robot from 2.96mm to 0.65mm on a test set of reference trajectories. We evaluate the model by executing open-loop trajectories of the FLS peg transfer surgeon training task. Results suggest that the best approach increases success rate from 39.4% to 96.7% comparable to the performance of an expert surgical resident. Supplementary material, including 3D-printable models, is available at https://sites.google.com/berkeley.edu/surgical-calibration.


The synthesis of pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside library using solid-phase parallel synthesis methodology is described. Glycosylation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of 1- and 2-(methyl)-1H and 2H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine-5,7-(4H,6H)-dione (5) with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranose in the presence of TMS triflate provided two novel protected nucleosides 6 and 7. The structures of 6 and 7 were assigned by 1H and 2D NMR experiments. Nucleosides 6 and 7 were then transformed to the key intermediates 12 and 15 respectively. Reaction of 12 and 15 with MMTCl resin in the presence of 2,6-lutidine afforded the necessary scaffolds B and C. Different amines (96) were introduced selectively by nucleophilic substitution on scaffolds B and C using solid-phase parallel semi-automated synthesizer. Cleavage of the products from the solid support with 30% HFIP in a parallel fashion yielded nucleoside libraries simultaneously, and they were analyzed and characterized by high-throughput LC-MS.


The structure of G,T-parallel-stranded duplexes of DNA carrying similar amounts of adenine and guanine residues is studied by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and UV- and CD spectroscopies. In addition the impact of the substitution of adenine by 8-aminoadenine and guanine by 8-aminoguanine is analyzed. The presence of 8-aminoadenine and 8-aminoguanine stabilizes the parallel duplex structure. Binding of these oligonucleotides to their target polypyrimidine sequences to form the corresponding G,T-parallel triplex was not observed. Instead, when unmodified parallel-stranded duplexes were mixed with their polypyrimidine target, an interstrand Watson-Crick duplex was formed. As predicted by theoretical calculations parallel-stranded duplexes carrying 8-aminopurines did not bind to their target. The preference for the parallel-duplex over the Watson-Crick antiparallel duplex is attributed to the strong stabilization of the parallel duplex produced by the 8-aminopurines. Theoretical studies show that the isomorphism of the triads is crucial for the stability of the parallel triplex.


Media plays a very important role in disseminating and promoting new lifestyles to the community. The frequency of a new lifestyle appearing in the print and electronic media causes new cultures to be easily accepted. This study analyzes the role of the media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, film and the internet in disseminating transsexual lifestyles among male university students. 30 male crossdressed students from a public institution of higher learning were studdied using face to face questionnaires, in-depth interviews, participant observations, chatting on the internet and diary writing. This study found that the majority of respondents gained information to dress and appear as women through magazines, televisions and the internet. Dramas and films that are attentive and sympathetic to the transsexual characters are of interest to them, while the transsexual characters that are portrayed as successful become their role models. In addition, famous female artists and models that regularly appear in the media become their idols in their attempt to appearbeautiful and stylish. This study concludes that the media is able to allow and promotenew cultures, including those opposed to the established, local socio-cultural values.This study contributes to the knowledge on the importance of the media in the spatialdiffusion of culture and lifestyles, or in this case, the transsexual lifestyle.


Adolescents and young adults are getting to becoming full-fledged adults, along with the maturity of physical bodies, the mentality is going to be matured. Adolescents and young adults are prone to unsafe sexual conducts which may lead to higher risks of HIV. The number of HIV newly reported cases has been increasing in adolescents and young adults and has attracted attention by people from all walks of life. This paper reviews the current status of HIV infection, routes of transmission, ways of case-finding and risk factors related to the susceptibility of HIV etc.,aiming to provide evidence for reducing the risk of HIV infection in adolescents and young adults.


【An approximate weight function technique using the indirect boundary integral equation has been presented for the analysis of stress intensity foactors(SIFs) of a thick pipe. One-term boundary integral was introduced to represent the crack surface displacement field for the displacement based weight function technique. An explicit closed-form SIF solution applicable to symmetric cracked pipes without any modification of the solution including both circumferential and radial cracks has been derived. The necessary information in the analysis is two or three reference SIFs. In most cases the SIF solution were in good agreement with those available in the literature.】


This paper proposes and investigates Stochastically Resonant Spectrum Sensing (SRSS) in order to expedite Dynamic Spectrum Access and TV White Space (TVWS) communications. SRSS adds noise to a signal in order to enhance its Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and can be useful in sensing and detecting weak signals, e.g. weak Primary User or even Secondary User activity in TVWS. We demonstrate that SR is a useful Spectrum Sensing technique and can improve SNRs by ∼8–10 dB using MATLAB simulations. Typically, SRSS uses only Additive SR Noise and we include and also investigate Multiplicative SR Noise effects, showing that in certain instances the latter can also improve SNRs by ∼2 dB. We compare the Additive versus the combined Additive and Multiplicative cases using Uniform and Normal/Gaussian distributions and present our results. Our ultimate goal is to include SRSS in an IEEE/DySPAN-SC 1900.∗ Standards based Interference Managing Ontological Cognitive Radio, Intelligent Radio or Policy Based Radio for Ad-Hoc and Heterogeneous i.e. Composite Wireless Networks.


My research investigates and analyses the four published works (between 1888-1896) of South Australian Policeman, Mounted Constable William Willshire (1852-1925). This Masters by Research thesis project will include a theoretical exegesis, based on the written works of Mounted Constable William Willshire, as well as a creative, fiction component based on Willshire's life, his writings and history.
Previous research on this colonial character almost exclusively focuses on Willshire the rogue policeman, the murderer, however there is little understanding of the role Willshire played as an early contact figure, observer of Aboriginal people, or novice anthropologist; nor is there clarity around his relationships with the Aboriginal men, women, and the clans he worked and fraternised with. I have focussed my research and energy on the cultural information Willshire compiled in written form, in conjunction with structures connected with Aboriginal Law, traditional culture, kinship and Country. Through these filters I evidence and speculate on the traditional roles and responsibilities Willshire adopted, the new technology and materialism that came with him, as well as the need for Aboriginal colleagues to culturally respond to the presence of Willshire, the stranger, the policeman, the male, the writer. It is vital to acknowledge that Willshire learned culture and language on-Country as an initial black-white contact point and in somewhat reciprocal relationships, over significant periods of time and on datelines that predate anthropologists Walter Baldwin-Spencer, Frank Gillen and Carl Strehlow. Using Willshire's texts as a central focus I explore other actors and enablers connected to Aboriginal cultures and Country common to Willshire within the study timeframe. Taking note of Willshire's haphazard methodologies in approaching the collection of anthropological information and storytelling I will enquire into his contemporaneous influences, and the overarching frameworks that manifested in his attitudes to the Aboriginal and political world he enters as a policeman. This will support a sense of environment and dimension belonging to the study period, as well a sense of public thought and understanding about Aboriginal people in a time where Social Darwinism was as much an enabler for a brutal colonisation as it was an influencer of government policy, fuelling grass roots racial stereotyping that is still pervasive. I provide three likely, public, literary figures of the study period and compare their written work, their impact, and their influence on Willshire and mainstream culture. It will also be important to explore the operation and behaviour of early Australian anthropologists such as Baldwin-Spencer, Gillen and Strehlow. These men were peers and fellow Central Australian community members at one time or another with Willshire. They had relationships within Aboriginal clans and cultures well known to Willshire. The trends, themes, and narratives in Australian literature and writing, in the lead-up to and during the study period are also important factors in shaping this timeline, as they assist in fuelling Willshire's fantasies of becoming a writer, a legend, a man of importance, and this mindset accompanies Willshire throughout his adventures, journeys and relationships with Aboriginal women.
The creative exegesis element of my thesis will allow me to explore and speculate on the mental state of characters, their actions, dreams, experiences, motivations, and emotions as they respond to, and exert, the pressures of invasion and radical cultural change. Importantly the fiction element of the project adds another creative process to the breadth of the thesis.
As a white writer and researcher, I am sensitive to my place in the ongoing life of a modern colonial society. At no time will I be assuming an Aboriginal standpoint. Willshire will be the vessel for the fiction, yet the Willshire character remains a strong conduit to and from Aboriginal actors, as well as an imposing, deadly symbol of settler colonial society. Whilst based on historical fact, and on Willshire's rambling writings, I note the variables and fallibilities involved in fictional speculation such as interpretation and assumption. These are counterbalanced however with a detailed historical archive that demands respect for Indigenous epistemology, and documented frontier lives. The complexities at the heart of this fictional element revolve around defining and rebuilding the relationships between Willshire and his Aboriginal colleagues; and reimagining and applying them in a way that engages, and weaves a strong narrative about an important period on the Aboriginal timeline.


An eight-month-old infant ingested at least 3.5 g of methanol when he accidentally received 5 mL of amoxicillin suspended in 70% methanol. The serum methanol concentration 8 h later was 9.7 mmol/L (310 mg/L) and the formate concentration 23 mmol/L (1.0 g/L). At 18 h after the ingestion, total CO2 had decreased to 6.8 mmol/L. Throughout the second day, 21-32 h after the ingestion, the methanol concentration was 2.8-3.4 mmol/L (90-110 mg/L) and that of formate was 31-33 mmol/L (1.4-1.5 g/L). On the third day, 46 h after the ingestion, methanol was not detected and the formate concentration had declined to 16 mmol/L (720 mg/L). The patient was treated with activated charcoal 7 h after the ingestion and with ethanol, administered both orally and intravenously, 21 h after the ingestion. No abnormalities of the infant's eyes were noted upon ophthalmological examination approximately 55 h after the incident.


both inside and outside the medical profession which was to be waged by Wakley and his pseudonymous correspondents, such as the Dubliner, Erinensis (see Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1980, 73, 314). At its birth the journal was primarily intended to provide 'reports of the Metropolitan Hospital Lectures', notably those of Sir Astley Cooper which were published without his permission. A lively introductory lecture launches the first issue, and is followed by 'Medical and Surgical Intelligence' and then a remarkable miscellany of news from Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres, after-dinner jokes and non-medical gossip. This is certainly a bizarre inauguration of one of the most revered and venerable medical journals in the world. Only Wakely's promise that 'we will fearlessly discharge our duty' gives a hint of the sterner stuff to come over the next 150 or so years.


Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and, currently, there is no standard of care for the treatment of metastatic disease. Treatment options are based on a number of tumor- and patient-related factors. This review explores some of these options, including the use of hormonal manipulation in the treatment of hormone-positive disease, current chemotherapy options and the use of targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab.


Islamic centers emerged when Muslims in the West had difficulties to build a mosque. As a majority, Indonesian Muslim communities do not need to adopt the concept of Western Islamic Center.  Nevertheless, establishing Islamic Center is quite popular among Indonesian Muslims. This paper argues that the establishment of Islamic Center is a practice of post-Islamism in Indonesia, in which Islam is interpreted in a specific way that juxtaposes religiosity and leisure, mixes between 'the sacred' and 'the profane'. Taking the Mataram Islamic Center as a case study, this study explores how discourse of the Islamic Center shapes its establishment. Applying critical discourse analysis, this study takes several units of analysis, i.e. the mediation practices of the center and the visiting practices of the visitors. This study finds that there are two prominent discourses, namely the center as a religious space and the center as a tourist space, both of which do not defeat each other. Keywords: Islamic center, critical discourse analysis, post-Islamism, space mediation.


The changes in some biochemical and haematological parameters in three cows with post-parturient haemoglobinuria were described. The animals were 4, 6, and 7 years of age. These cows had calved in the autumn. Post-parturient haemoglobinuria in the cattle occurred at a post-partum of about 3 weeks. The cows received phosphorus supplementation and supportive treatment. The mean serum phosphorus level in the affected cows was significantly lower compared with healthy cows. In the meantime, the blood RBC, PCV, MCHC, and Hb values were also significantly lower compared with healthy cows. In conclusion, the deficiency of phosphorus could be responsible for the development of post-parturient haemoglobinuria in the cows.


The role of the development of operational management concepts in order to pro-vide systematic support for the organization's innovation activities has been considered. It has noticed, that each concept is an organizational innovation for the implementation of oper-ational activities, with each subsequent does not contradict the previous one, which makes possible simultaneous application of several in order to improve the efficiency of the organ-ization. It has concluded, that the integrated application concept allows you to create an or-ganizational environment for creating and implementing innovations on an ongoing basis. The combination of elements of different concepts, methodological recommendations of op-erational management and innovation management is reflected in the integration approach based on digital technologies.


Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 48 Phytophthora infestans isolates, collected in five provinces in Northern China between 1997 and 2003, were determined and compared with reference isolates. Characterisation included mating type, virulence, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype and DNA fingerprinting patterns based on simple sequence repeats (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). All isolates had the A1 mating type, mtDNA haplotype IIa and an identical SSR genotype (designated as SG-01-01) that differed from SSR genotypes found in the reference isolates, including those representing the 'old' US-1 lineage that dominated the P. infestans population worldwide prior to 1980. In contrast, the virulence spectra were highly variable and virulence to all resistance genes present in the standard differential set (R1 to R11) was found. AFLP analysis revealed some diversity; eight different AFLP genotypes were found that could be grouped into two major clusters. This study shows that there is very little genotypic diversity in the P. infestans population in Northern China. The occurrence of many different races within this rather uniform population is discussed in the framework of recent insights into the molecular determinants of avirulence in potato-P. infestans'gene-for-gene' interactions.


Contemporary differences of opinion among leading authorities about dimensions are numerous and often extreme. It is sometimes overlooked that the use made of the theory of dimensions is purely algebraic, and mistakes in elementary algebra are the cause of several of the more extreme opinions. When these have been excluded, it is shown that dimensional quantity appears as a synonym for independent variable, although considerations of convenience demand the arbitrary exclusion from dimensional equations of many independent variables. It is shown that the difference between rationalized and unrationalized units depends on the value of the unit given to a quantity that appears sometimes as an independent variable. This quantity has not always been recognized as such and has not received a name, but it might be called a `configuration measure'.


A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was successfully developed for the determination of L-proline. The ECL signal was generated by a sensitive reaction between Ru(bpy)32+ and L-proline on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with samarium oxide nanoparticles. The presence of Sm2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) in the carbon paste was found to enhance the electrochemiluminescence signal. Under optimized conditions, a linear relationship between the ECL intensity and the concentration of L-proline was observed in the linear range of 1.00 × 10−9 to 1.65 × 10−7 mol L−1 (R2 = 0.996) with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10−10 mol L−1 (S/N = 3) and a relative standard deviation of 3.3%. The method was sensitive, selective, simple and successfully applied to the analysis of L-proline in human serum and urine samples.


Background and Aims: Tolerance to the chronic administration of opioids such as morphine reduces the utility of these drugs in pain management. Despite significant investigation, the precise cellular mechanisms underlying opioid tolerance and dependence remain elusive. It has been indicated that tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine is associated with apoptosis in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of minocycline (a second-generation tetracycline) on morphine-induced apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and lumbar spinal cord of rats after morphine-induced tolerance. Methods: Different groups of rats received either morphine (ip) and distilled water (icv) or morphine and different doses of minocycline (icv) or minocycline alone once per day. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to analyze apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic factors, Bcl-2 and HSP 70 and the pro-apoptotic element caspase-3 were evaluated by immunoblotting. Results: The results indicated that minocycline attenuated the number of apoptotic cells in both the cerebral cortex and lumbar spinal cord. Immunoblotting findings showed that the amounts of anti-apoptotic agents (Bcl-2 and HSP 70) were greater in the treatment groups than in the controls in both regions. Conclusions: In conclusion, minocycline decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells and increased the amount of anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and HSP 70), but did not change the caspase-3 content.


Background Attention is essential to daily life and cognitive functioning, and attention deficits can affect daily functional and social behaviour, such as falls, risky driving, and accidental injuries. However, attention function is important yet easily overlooked in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and evidence is limited. We aimed to explore the pooled effect of cognitive training on domains of attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia using a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to 3 November 2022. We included participants aged ≥50 years diagnosed with cognitive impairment, with various cognitive training interventions as the intervention measures. The primary outcome was overall attention and the secondary outcomes were attention in different domains and global cognitive function. We calculated the Hedges' g and confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model to evaluate the effect size of the outcome measures and evaluated heterogeneity using the χ2 test and I2 value. Results We included 17 RCTs and found that cognitive training interventions improve overall attention (Hedges' g = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.70), selective attention (Hedges' g = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.55), divided attention (Hedges' g = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.72), and global cognitive function (Hedges' g = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.58) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, but with relatively low effectiveness. Conclusions Cognitive training intervention can improve some attention functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Attention function training should also be incorporated into routine activities and long-term sustainability planning to delay the deterioration of attention function in older adults. Besides reducing their risk of abnormal events in daily life (such as falls), it can also improve their quality of life and help reduce the progression of cognitive impairment, achieving early detection of secondary prevention. Registration PROSPERO (CRD42022385211).


The modern hospice movement had its formal beginnings in the United Kingdom with the 1967 opening of the St. Christopher's Hospice in London by Dame Cicely Saunders. Global uptake of the hospice principles and, more recently, palliative care, is widespread. However, the movement has shifted from charismatic, charity-based, and independent hospices to routinized and increasingly bureaucratized palliative care. Global differences exist around the degree to which hospice and palliative care are established components of the health care system. Access appears to increase with the integration of services into mainstream health funding. The downside of this is increased regulation, competition, and a potential loss of specificity for those who are dying. This article explores the changing face of palliative care, with particular emphasis on palliative care delivery in the developing world. These issues for developing countries include access to services, access to morphine, and professional access to information and education.


REDTOP is a novel experiment proposed at the Delivery Ring of Fermilab with the intent of producing more than 1013 η mesons per year to detect possible rare η decays which can be a clear evidence of the existence of Physics Beyond the Standard Model. Such statistics are sufficient for investigating several discrete symmetry violations, searching for new particles and interactions and to perform precision studies. One of the golden processes to study is the η → π+π−π0 decay [7], where π0 decays promptly into two photons. In the context of the Standard Model, the dynamics of the charged pions is symmetric in this process. Thus, any mirror asymmetry in the Dalitz plot would be a direct indication of C and CP violation. We present a study on the performance of the REDTOP experiment detector by reconstructing the invariant mass of the final state π+π−γγ using Monte Carlo samples.


Background The Covid-19 pandemic is proof that without being healthy, the entire joint sector of the world's development will be destroyed with just one outbreak of a disease. This article is intended to analyze the scientific literature on the issue of structuring global health management in order to re-implement the goals of the World SDGs with a new global health management architecture frame and at the same time create high hopes for the recovery of world conditions after the Covid-19 Pandemic through the G20 Meeting which will be held in Indonesia.
Methods This study uses the traditional literature review method with the role of researchers looking for and combining the essence and analyzing facts from scientific sources according to valid and accurate criteria.
Results There are six pillars of the global health management architecture that must stand upright including standardized global health protocols, digitization of health services and access justice, local wisdom complementary medicine and strengthening collaboration across countries and across scientific disciplines.
Conclusions The establishment of standardized global health protocol standards, efforts to digitize health services from a public health and economic perspective, open access to diagnostic tools, drugs, and vaccines in a fair manner and strengthen innovation of health products based on local wisdom are the pillars of global health management that currently must stand to build a world of peace and prosperity based on the goal of SDGs 3 Health.


The light curve of Pluto is analyzed in terms of a geometrical model consisting of bright and dark areas which are assumed to exhibit either a diffuse or a geometrical type of reflectivity. A Fourier analysis method is used to invert the observed light curve to obtain the longitudinal distribution of bright and dark areas for any combination of albedos selected for the two types of terrain. The analysis indicates that the light curve of Pluto can be readily understood in terms of a surface consisting of bright and dark areas. However, on the basis of the presently available photometric data, the existence or absence of limb-darkened material cannot be established.


Alternating copolymerization of 9,9-dihexyl-2,7-dibromofluorene, N-hexyl-2,7-dibromocarbazole (HCz) with diethynyldimethylsilane, diethynyldiphenylsilane, has been investigated using Sonogashira coupling reaction. Photophysical properties of the resulting copolymers were investigated with UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. All the copolymers in chloro-form solution showed absorption peaks at 270 - 280 nm with shoulder peaks at around 380 nm derived from π-π* transition or intra-molecular charge transfer through σ-π moiety, respectively. The chloroform solutions of the copolymers showed broad emission peaks at 415 - 425 nm. The emission wave lengths of the copolymers in the solid state (cast film) detected at 360 - 385 nm were remarkably blue-shifted in comparison with those in the chloroform solutions. Hydrosilylation reaction of the copolymers with 1,4-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene yielded networked copolymers soluble in chloroform, indicating formation of branching polymers. The chloroform solutions of the HCz-based networked copolymers showed bimodal emission derived from new highly energy states in the σ-π conjugation.


In this study, we test whether regional growth in 11 European countries depends on financial development and suggest the use of cost- and profit-efficiency estimates as quality measures for financial institutions. Contrary to the usual quantitative proxies for financial development, the quality of financial institutions is measured in this study as the relative ability of banks to intermediate funds. An improvement in bank efficiency spurs five times more regional growth than does an identical increase in credit. More credit provided by efficient banks exerts an independent growth effect in addition to the direct quantity and quality channel effects.


This study was conducted to explore hippocampal structural changes and their possible associations with clinical characteristics, emotional status, and treatment regimens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without major neuropsychiatric manifestations (non-NPSLE). Eighty-five non-NPSLE patients with normal conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and seventy-seven matched healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. All participants underwent the standard high-resolution volumetric MRI. The bilateral hippocampal volume (HIPV) and hippocampal density (HIPD) were calculated, respectively, for each participant. We found that the bilateral HIPV and HIPD of the SLE patient group were significantly less than those of the HC group. The bilateral HIPV of female patients were significantly less than those of male patients. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was negatively correlated with the bilateral HIPV and the right HIPD. Urine protein quantity was negatively correlated with the bilateral HIPV and HIPD. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) showed a protective effect on right HIPV. In conclusion, we found that the early hippocampal atrophy could occur before obvious neuropsychiatric manifestations and might be associated with SLE disease activity and organ damages. Early detection and intervention of hippocampal damage might prevent the progression to NPSLE. More studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of hippocampal atrophy in SLE.


Template for Form 25--Notice of Examination Before the Official Receiver (Individual Bankrupt). Notice to bankrupt of his or her duties under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, including details of examination with official receiver.


Cold stress is a major threat to the sustainability of rice yield. Brassinosteroids (BR) application can enhance cold tolerance in rice. However, the regulatory mechanism related to cold tolerance and the BR signaling pathway in rice has not been clarified. In the current study, the seedling shoot length (SSL), seedling root length (SRL), seedling dry weight (SDW), and seedling wet weight (SWW) were used as the indices for identifying cold tolerance under cold stress and BR-combined cold treatment in a backcross recombinant inbred lines (BRIL) population. According to the phenotypic characterization for cold tolerance and a high-resolution SNP genetic map obtained from the GBS technique, a total of 114 QTLs were identified, of which 27 QTLs were detected under cold stress and 87 QTLs under BR-combined cold treatment. Among them, the intervals of many QTLs were coincident under different treatments, as well as different traits. A total of 13 candidate genes associated with cold tolerance or BR pathway, such as BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (OsBZR1), OsWRKY77, AP2 domain-containing protein, zinc finger proteins, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein, and auxin-induced protein, were predicted. Among these, the expression levels of 10 candidate genes were identified under different treatments in the parents and representative BRIL individuals. These results were helpful in understanding the regulation relationship between cold tolerance and BR pathway in rice.


A series of nanocomposites based on polyurethane matrix (PU) have been synthesized using 1,2-propanediolisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as functionalized nanofiller. The effect of POSS content (0–10% by weight) on the structure and properties of the created nanocomposites have been investigated. The polymer matrix (PU network) was synthesized from adduct of  trimethylolpropane (TMP) and toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), and oligoetherglycol with Mw = 5000 g/mol -1 . FTIR analysis was used for investigation of 1,2-propanediolisobutyl-POSS incorporation possibility into PU matrix. The FTIR spectra of neat POSS, neat TDI-TMP adduct and model system adduct+POSS before curing and after curing were analyzed. The FTIR-ATR data obtained evidence that the POSS structure is chemically incorporated into the PU matrix during process of nanocomposites preparation. The thermal behaviour of POSS-containing nanocomposites by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was investigated. From the DSC data the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposites was found to be increased with increasing of POSS content. Overall the results of thermal properties investigation of POSS-containing nanocomposites demonstrate that the created nanocomposites are significantly more thermally stable in compare with native matrix. The morphology of POSS-containing nanocomposites by SEM was analyzed. The incorporation of the POSS nanoparticles into PU matrix was found results in the formation of more ordered structure. Consequently the POSS introduced into PU matrix acts as nanostructuring agent. As a result the nanocomposites with more ordered structure are formed, so leading to obtaining of materials with improved thermal stability.


The West Spitsbergen Current, which flows northward along the western Svalbard continental
slope, transports warm and saline Atlantic water (AW) into the Arctic Ocean. A combined analysis of highresolution
seismic images and hydrographic sections across this current has uncovered the oceanographic
processes involved in horizontal and vertical mixing of AW. At the shelf break, where a strong horizontal
temperature gradient exists east of the warmest AW, isopycnal interleaving of warm AW and surrounding
colder waters is observed. Strong seismic reflections characterize these interleaving features, with a negative
polarity reflection arising from an interface of warm water overlying colder water. A seismic-derived
sound speed image reveals the extent and lateral continuity of such interleaving layers. There is evidence of
obliquely aligned internal waves emanating from the slope at 450–500 m. They follow the predicted trajectory
of internal S2 tidal waves and can promote vertical mixing between Atlantic and Arctic-origin waters.


This paper documents the design of a laser/radio frequency (RF) Soldier Identification (ID) System developed by Dynetics, Inc., Harris, Corp., and the US Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM). The Soldier ID system includes an Interrogation Unit with a programmable activation code. The Interrogation Unit consists of a directive, eye-safe laser and a spread-spectrum RF transceiver. This allows for a low probability of intercept (LPI) interrogation, which is of interest during covert operations. A Responder Unit is worn, for example, by a soldier and transmits an LPI spread-spectrum RF response, only after receiving the proper interrogation codes. The basic subsystems for the identification system are a Laser Interrogation Unit, an RF Responder Unit, and an electronic Programming Unit. The operating principles for the subsystem are reviewed, and the design issues are discussed. In addition to the preliminary design performed under Phase I of the program, a breadboard system was developed to validate the proof-of-principle concept. Hardware implementation is reviewed and test results are presented. The brassboard development and engineering plans are also presented.


Study design. A controlled prospective blinded study. Objectives. To compare the diagnostic power of myelography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of low lumbar disc herniation. Methods. Eighty patients with monoradicular sciatica were examined by myelography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, and all underwent subsequent surgery. The images were evaluated twice in a blinded fashion, and the diagnostic power of the modalities was expressed by a decision-analytic regret function. Results. In 57 patients (71%) a disc herniation at the expected level was disclosed at surgery. The largest amount of diagnostic information was gained from computed tomography, followed by magnetic resonance imaging and myelography. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were significantly informative, whereas this was not the case for myelography. Conclusion. The results indicate that computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be the first choice for imaging in patients with suspected lumbar disc herniation.


On the basis of logico-historical methodology, the article reveals the peculiar features Ukraine's economic development since gaining independence. It is shown that the major historical collisions are determined by the logic of jointly-divided labor, which manifests itself in different historical relationship (market and state, capitalization and socialization, liberalism and socialism, globalization and localization), and at present takes the form of the problem of inclusion of certain elements of socio-economic system in the overall process of social development. The author specifies the factors that caused the peculiarities the market oriented transformation of Ukraine's economy, its inversion nature and basis distortions. Separated the systemic and fragmentary inclusivity, whose reverse side is the social exclusivity that emerges from precarisation. The author justifies the necessity to fill the idea of independence with positive achievements in the context of revealing and realizing this country's internal potential and transition to inclusive development.


The mean-square values of strain and particle size obtained from the Warren–Averbach analysis are strongly dependent on measurement errors affecting the line profiles. The method is particularly sensitive to errors in the choice of background level since the background level is easily overestimated thereby producing a truncation error in the line profiles. The effect is discussed of this error from truncation of the line profile on its Fourier transform, on the mean-square values of strain and particle size and on the plots relating the squared strain and particle-size coefficients to the column length. An `instrument' profile and two orders of reflexions from the total 'observable' profile, corresponding to a predetermined degree of deformation, were simulated. The Warren–Averbach analysis was applied to these two sets of reflexions, taking into account the effect of a symmetrical truncation of 3, 6 or 10% of the peak area on the two sets of reflexions, on the instrument profile, and on both.


In this study, the Republic of Reforms in the Ottoman geography of the Ottoman Te'lîf catechism books, manuscripts and printed copies are discussed in the light of the Catechism of the Ottoman literature and are disclosed. On the other hand the period is written in the issues covered by the needs and expectations in many places ilmihals shed light on the fact that in mind, what kind of issues that has been pointed out ilmihals in the Ottoman society forward.


The Mediterranean thermophilous woodlands were early affected by human activities, mainly for forage and fruits harvest. The recurring exchanges that followed between natural ecosystems and cultivated areas have constituted a pivotal aspect in the process of Mediterranean fruit tree domestication. Determining the native status of Mediterranean fruit tree populations is a challenging task for phylogeography because early human influences began just after post glacial migrations. Here we applied phylogeographic methods and new NGS markers to tackle this issue for the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L., Leguminosae). Carob tree has been widely exploited for food and forage since antiquity and is currently used for industrial, agricultural and soil restoration purposes. The origin of carob tree populations throughout the Mediterranean basin has been associated to an historical process of dissemination by humans since its domestication in the Middle-East around 6,000-4,000 BC. However, vegetation studies stated that carob tree is a widespread component of thermophilous forest vegetation and opened a debate about the native or feral status of its populations. We used ca. 1000 genotypes based on SNPs and SSR markers to infer the main geographical genetic pools and we used multiple regression analyses based on distance matrices to assess the relative contribution to genetic differentiation of geographical distance, environment and hypotheses on past environments (past climatic suitability and human dissemination routes). In parallel, we developed new historical hypotheses from a review of Ceratonia fossils and species distribution modelling projected into past scenarios and we compared them to a Middle East domestication origin hypothesis. Unexpectedly, our results did not support a recent expansion from the eastern to the western Mediterranean. By contrast, a western Mediterranean refugium hypothesis prevailed, underlining the conservation importance of thermophilous forests for genetic resources of semi-domesticated tree species.


Abstract The use of graphic symbols forms an integral part of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies, particularly for pre-literate children. Although some studies have indicated that typically developing children and those with autism are able to learn symbol meanings with multiple exposures to graphic symbols, little is known about how children with autism rate the degree to which the symbol represents its referent (translucency) with repeated exposures. The purpose of this study was to describe the translucency ratings of children with autism over three consecutive exposures. Twenty-two children with autism participated in a Blissymbol translucency task that included 40 symbols. The Blissymbol task was modified from 9, who explored the translucency of Blissymbols with typically developing children. Findings of this study indicated statistically significant differences in total translucency ratings of the Blissymbols by the children with autism between Day 1 and Day 3 (medium effect size) with Day 3 yielding more positive ratings than Day 1. No single Blissymbol showed statistically significant differences over the days. Findings are interpreted and further implications for research are discussed.


A method for the reduction of a manganese nitride to ammonia is reported, where light-driven proton-coupled electron transfer enables the formation of weak N-H bonds. Photoreduction of (saltBu)MnVN to ammonia and a Mn(II) complex has been accomplished using 9,10-dihydroacridine and a combination of an appropriately matched photoredox catalyst and weak Brønsted acid. Acid-reductant pairs with effective bond dissociation free energies between 35 and 46 kcal/mol exhibited high efficiencies. This light-driven method may provide a blueprint for new approaches to catalytic homogeneous ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions.


Through a faculty-wide program enhancement campaign implemented in a British Columbia university, we investigated sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) awareness and inclusion in a Canadian teacher education program. Comparing data from curriculum mapping of course outlines, close analysis of a departmental cross-section of 49 undergraduate syllabi, exit survey data, and 20 interviews with faculty and staff involved in the program, we observed how sustained conversation at all levels of program delivery is indispensable. Curriculum hours of formal SOGI-specific instruction were limited, yet most teacher candidates self-reported that they felt sufficiently prepared to support non-heteronormative students. Findings indicated that SOGI inclusion relies less on formal curriculum than the responsiveness of educators—under sway of progressive policy changes—to have informal, identity-inclusive conversations and to forge connections to curriculum content.
Keywords: teacher education, sexual orientation and gender identity, inclusive education, curriculum policy, classroom discourse


This work introduces predictive block matching, a method developed to track motion in video by exploiting the advantages of block motion estimation and adaptive block matching. The proposed method relies on a pure translation motion model to estimate the displacement of a block between two successive video frames before initiating the search for the best match of the block tracked throughout the frame sequence. The search for the best match relies on adaptive block matching, which employs an update strategy based on Kalman filtering to account for the changing appearance of the block. Predictive block matching was used to extract motor activity signals from video recordings of neonatal seizures.


This paper presents a novel control scheme for the multi-body semi-active suspension system. The proposed scheme is composed of two parts: a multi-body model of the semi-active suspension system and a genetic algorithm-based fuzzy logic controller. With the fast development of computers, multi-body model and multi-body systems dynamics are applied to a broad variety of engineering problems. In this work, ADAMS software is utilized to complete the multi-body model of a full car semi-active suspension system. In order to control the suspension system efficiently, a fuzzy logic controller is developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The kernel of the fuzzy logic controller is a set of linguistic control rules. The conventional fuzzy control rules are established by the knowledge and experience of expertise or skilled operator. In other words, the rules are dependent on the knowledge and the experience of expertise, and may not be optimal. So, in this paper, a fuzzy logic controller is developed to generate the rule table automatically based on the improved genetic algorithm. To verify the performance of the genetic algorithm-based controller, simulations were simulated with random road profile at two different speeds, 25m/sec and 35m/sec, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control system in comparison with the passive suspension response. It was shown that this developed fuzzy logic controller based on genetic algorithm enhances the performance of the full car suspension system significantly. This control system is suitable for the multi-body model and can be extended to other applications of the mechanical systems.


Acute gonorrhea/ urethritis in women has become rare, but chronic nonspecific granular urethritis is now frequent. Polyps are most often found associated with the latter, and may be responsible for the appearance of blood toward the end of each urination. Caruncles near the urethral meatus at times cause bleeding and pain, but they are usually symptomless and rarely undergo malignant degeneration. Obstruction of the urethra in children by folds of mucous membrane can cause symptoms of all degrees of severity including intractable enuresis and persistent infection; removal of such folds by fulguration or resection has often relieved these symptoms completely, but must be done with care to avoid producing incontinence and fistulas. The treatment of strictures is very difficult; scarring leads to rigidity of the urethral wall and incontinence at the sphincter, and the latter is not relieved by repeated dilatations. Urethral diverticula can be rendered visible by positive pressure urethrography; they sometimes afford an explanation of chronic or recurrent cystitis. Malignant tumors in and about the urethra are very difficult to treat surgically. Treatment by radiation has given better results in two series of malignant tumors in this location.