A photographic handbook called The Photographers Guide presents a systematic and quantitative method for selecting camera systems and their conditions of use. Its purpose is to ensure that the required level of object space resolution is successfully recorded. It features a unique nomagraph which relates: resolution in object space, object distance, lens focal length and image plane resolution. Typical field performance data is given for 35mm SLR camera systems. Other data tables cover effects such as handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds, motion, atmospheric effects and depth-of-field degradation. The handbook can be applied to the selection of surveillance systems as well as a broad range of photo-optical instrumentation tasks.


Nollywood, the second largest movie industry in the world after America's Hollywood, is Nigeria's movie industry. This ongoing study investigates how sexual messages and scenes are communicated to viewers and if there is correlation between the pattern of Nollywood movies exposure and sexual behaviour of inschool adolescents in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Data will be collected from the participants through questionnaire while content of popular Nollywood movies among the participants will be content analyzed. It is expected that this study will provide information about the frequency of sexual scenes and how risky sexual behaviours are portrayed in Nollywood movies. Secondly, it is expected that this study will show the types of relationships that exist between movie exposure behaviour and sexual behaviour in the study population.


In this article, two different architectures of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are proposed as an efficient tool for predicting and estimating software effort. Artificial Neural Networks, as a branch of machine learning, are used in estimation because they tend towards fast learning and giving better and more accurate results. The search/optimization embraced here is motivated by the Taguchi method based on Orthogonal Arrays (an extraordinary set of Latin Squares), which demonstrated to be an effective apparatus in a robust design. This article aims to minimize the magnitude relative error (MRE) in effort estimation by using Taguchi's Orthogonal Arrays, as well as to find the simplest possible architecture of an artificial Neural Network for optimized learning. A descending gradient (GA) criterion has also been introduced to know when to stop performing iterations. Given the importance of estimating software projects, our work aims to cover as many different values of actual efficiency of a wide range of projects as possible by division into clusters and a certain coding method, in addition to the mentioned tools. In this way, the risk of error estimation can be reduced, to increase the rate of completed software projects.


Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most widely recognized cardiovascular arrhythmia. Symptomatic AF can decrease quality of life, functional condition, and performance of the heart. In order to make a clinical decision strategy, the present study attempts to investigate the optimal number of cross val i- dation (CV) (NOCV) on the prediction of postoperative AF based on the several data mining and voting ensemble approaches. Material and Methods: The retrospective dataset included complete medical records of 2888 individuals after coronary artery bypass grafting. The subjects were divided into two groups: AF group (n=360) and non-AF group (n=2528), respectively. Data mining approaches including ar tificial neural networks (ANN), Naive Bayes (NB) and logistic regression (LR) were constructed for the prediction of the presence or absence of AF. Additionally, voting ensemble strategy was employed in order to improve pr e- dictive accuracy. NOCV was optimi zed by Grid search. For evaluating the predictive performance, accuracy and area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) graph were considered as eval u- ation index. Results: After removing the missing values and outliers, this rese arch consisted of 2694 subjects; 327 (12.1%) in AF group and 2367 (87.9%) in non-AF group, respectively. The largest accuracy of 87.8% for LR was observed in the 8-fold CV. Similarly, voting ensemble yielded the highest AUC value of 0.896 in the 10-fold CV . The highest accuracy and AUC were 87.2% and 0.896 for voting, 87.8% and 0.729 for LR, 87.1% and 0.668 for ANN, and 79.4% and 0.675 for NB, consecutively. Conclusion: The results of the current r e- search demonstrated that the constructed models yielded dif ferent results for predicting postoperative AF in the determination of the optimal NOCV. It is recommended to determine the optimal NOCV by optimiz a- tion techniques. The proposed voting was an acceptable and promising approach for predicting AF, and thence, can support clinicians in the clinical decision making.


Gravity and magnetic data resolve the Earth with variable spatial resolution, and Earth structure exhibits both discontinuous and gradual features. Therefore, model parametrization complexity should be able to address such variability by locally adapting to the resolving power of the data. The reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (rjMcMC) algorithm provides variable spatial resolution that is consistent with data information. To address the prevalent non-uniqueness in joint inversion of potential field data, we employ a novel spatial partitioning with nested Voronoi cells that is explored by rjMcMC sampling. The nested Voronoi parametrization partitions the subsurface in terms of rock types, such as sedimentary, salt and basement rocks. Therefore, meaningful prior information can be specified for each type which reduces non-uniqueness. We apply nonoverlapping prior distributions for density contrast and susceptibility between rock types. In addition, the choice of noise parametrization can lead to significant trade-offs with model resolution and complexity. We adopt an empirical estimation of full data covariance matrices that include theory and observational errors to account for spatially correlated noise. The method is applied to 2D gravity and magnetic data to study salt and basement structures. We demonstrate that meaningful partitioning of the subsurface into sediment, salt, and basement structures is achieved by these advances without requiring regularization. Multiple simulated- and field-data examples are presented. Simulation results show clear delineation of salt and basement structures while resolving variable length scales. The field data show results that are consistent with observations made in the simulations. In particular, we resolve geologically plausible structures with varying length scales and clearly differentiate salt structure and basement topography.


OBJECT
The goal of this study was to determine the tensile strength of cranial pia mater.

METHODS
Samples of isolated bovine cranial pia mater were subjected to quasistatic traction to evaluate its tensile strength. The experimental curves of physiological deformation that were obtained can be subdivided into three parts that represent different mechanical properties: the nonlinear initial part of the curve demonstrates increasing stiffness, followed by a quasilinear pattern of elastic behavior, and finally a negative relationship (slope) between force and elongation, which characterizes a progressive deterioration. These three steps precede final sample rupture. The stiffness of the pia mater was calculated for both the initial and the linear (elastic) parts of the mean curve. The initial part and the elastic part of the curve show a typical stiffness value of 0.024 N/mm and 0.19 N/mm, respectively. The maximal mean force and corresponding maximal deformation that were attained were 1.1 N and 0.19, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Although very thin and apparently fragile, pia mater exhibits an unexpectedly high level of stiffness and should have a significant influence on total brain mechanical properties in response to loading.


The Reka river is the widest known sinking stream of the Classical Karst area in Slovenia, and it has been studied since the Antiquity. The river sinks into the Skocjan Cave system, which was proclaimed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986. The Reka river basin is situated in the southern part of Slovenia and has an area of 442 km2 and a mean discharge of 8.2 m3/s. The basin has a unique geological structure; it is situated on the Brkini syncline Eocene flysch rocks surrounded by a large karstic region. The stream network density is about 1.696 km/km2. The water from the northern karstic formation belongs to the Danube River Basin, while the water from the southern part drains into the Adriatic Sea. There is an underground bifurcation from which the surface water flows to the Danube River and the underground water drains in the Bistrica Spring, a tributary of the Reka River.


ZnO-Cu2O composites were prepared by precipitation technique followed by calcination. The prepared composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Band gap energy of the composite was determined by UV-visible reflectance measurement. The absorption range of the ZnO-Cu2O composite was shifted to the visible region due to the doping of Cu2O. SEM image represented that composite nanoparticle was smaller in size compared to the pure ZnO. The EDX spectral analysis showed that no elements other than Zn, Cu and O were present in the sample. XRD showed that ZnO-Cu2O composite was made of hexagonal ZnO and cubic Cu2O. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO-Cu2O composite was studied by degrading MB under different experimental conditions. The molar ratios of the composites, amount of the composite, initial concentration of dyes were varied to optimize the conditions for degradation. The experimental result was compared with those of commercial ZnO. It was found that the ZnO-Cu2O composite is a better photocatalyst than ZnO under visible light.
Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 71(1): 42-48, 2023 (Jan)


We present an extension of the non-linear two-step estimation algorithm originally developed for the calibration of solid-state strapdown magnetometers. We expand the algorithm to include nonorthogonality within a sensor set for both two and three axis sensors. Non-orthogonality can result from manufacturing issues, installation geometry, and in the case of magnetometers, soft iron bias errors. Simulation studies for both two and three-axis sensors show convergence of the improved algorithm to the true values, even in the presence of realistic measurement noise. Finally the algorithm is experimentally validated on a low-cost solid state three-axis magnetometer set, which shows definite improvement post-calibration. We note that the algorithm is general and can be applied to any two or three-axis sensor set with an error model consisting of scale, offset, and non-orthogonality errors.


Psychometric functions are used to relate the responses of a subject to physical stimuli in a variety of psychophysical tasks. However, it is time consuming to obtain data to determine a psychometric function if many stimulus levels and many trials are required. A computer simulation was conducted to determine the minimum number of data points needed for such a determination. The computer simulation also determined the optimal placements of the stimuli and the number of trials per datum point for psychometric function determinations. Results indicate that a 2-point sampling method with 30-50 trials per point at optimal locations can produce a psychometric function with accurate spread and threshold estimates in a yes-no paradigm. However, the 4-point sampling method yields statistically smaller variances of the estimates. For the 2-alternative forced-choice paradigm, at least 120 trials per point are needed for the 2-point sampling method's estimated parameters to differ from the known parameter values by less than 5%. The simulation results suggest that 3-alternative or 4-alternative forced-choice is preferable to 2-alternative. Furthermore, when a criterion-free paradigm is not required, the yes-no paradigm is a better procedure than m-alternative forced-choice for obtaining the corresponding psychometric function because of smaller standard deviation of the estimates and smaller number of trials/point required.


When applications require high I/O performance, solid-state drives (SSDs) are often preferable because they perform better than traditional hard-disk drives (HDDs). Therefore, database system response time can be improved by moving frequently used data to SSDs. However, because capacity is both more limited and more expensive for SSDs than it is for HDDs, there is a need to determine which data are most appropriate to migrate from HDDs to SSDs. In this paper, we propose a data management method for databases using SSDs by considering an integrated mechanism and a migration rule for performing migrations between HDDs and SSDs. The proposed method can provide database systems with high I/O performance by properly moving high-priority data to SSDs with fast access capabilities while maintaining the low-priority data on HDDs, which have lower costs. The results of experiments show that the proposed method can achieve the goal while requiring only small amounts of SSD capacity.


The purpose of this paper is to show the qualities, methodology and characteristics of an EFL textbook. To do this, a detailed bibliographic review was carried out that served as the foundation to obtain the vision and background necessary to face, in the most objective way and with the broadest possible vision, the main objective  —to show the qualities, methodology and characteristics of a EFL textbook— of research. The approach of the present work has been carried out in such a way that it can be easily understood not only by professors and researchers who are experts on the subject but also by the general population  —due to the importance of the involvement of families in the teaching-learning process—


7 8 9 10 ABSTRACT In Egypt, the current widely used external walls are preferred in practice to minimize the project's initial cost, regardless of the negative impacts of the thermal comfort on the inhabitants, as well as the impact on the running cost of the energy consumption later. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of external walls with different specifications� on� the� project's� initial� cost� and� running� cost for achieving internal thermal comfort in the present time and under climate change. This work extends our earlier experiments on the same topic by running dynamic thermal simulations on three different climatic zones in Egypt, and for three current and predicted (future) weather data files. The recommendations resulting from the energy analysis suggest different types of walls according to location, to optimise for thermal comfort and financial benefits.


The study was designed to investigate potential ameliorative effect of methanolic leave extract of Buchholzia coriacea on carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicities in male Albino rats. Thirty adult male Albino Rat were divided into five groups: each comprising 6 animals, Group (I) the controls received only vehicles; olive oil (0.5 ml/kg bw) and DMSO, Group II (induction controls) received single dose of CCl4 (CCl4 + Olive oil in 1:1 ratio; 2 ml/kg bw; i.p, Group ІІІ, IV and V received 200mg/kg bw ,400mg/kg methanolic extract of Buccholzia coriacea and 200mg/kg , Silymarin (50 mg/kg, o.p) as standard reference drug respectively after induction with a single dose of CCl4 for seven days. Evaluations were made for Lipid perioxidation and antioxidant activities, enzyme activities and some other biochemical parameters, haematology and pathology profile using standard methods. The methanolic leave extract of Buchholzia coriacea at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg reduced the levels of AST and ALT, however, there was a significant (P<0.05) reduction of ALP when 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg dose of the leaves extract were administered. The treatment with 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg methanolic extract of Buccholzia coriacea was able to reduce the levels lipid peroxide with corresponding increase in activity of antioxidant GR, CAT, GPX, GSH compared with group treated with single dose of CCl4 only. The histopathology results revealed restoration of the normal or near normal histo-architecture and haematological toxicities were reversed at the doses of the plant extract tested. In conclusion, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and concomitant increase of the endogenous antioxidant defence systems in serum and organ studied with subsequent restoration of the normal or near normal histo-architecture of the these organs aver or demonstrate the significant ameliorative and protective role of methanolic extract of Buccholzia coriacea at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. Keyword: Antioxidant activities, Buccholzia coriacea, Carbon tetrachloride, Lipid perioxidation and Toxicities


Abstract The jasmonic acid (JA) pathway plays crucial roles in plant defence against pathogens and herbivores. Rice stripe virus (RSV) is the type member of the genus Tenuivirus. It is transmitted by the small brown planthopper (SBPH) and causes damaging epidemics in East Asia. The role(s) that JA may play in the tripartite interaction against RSV, its host, and vector are poorly understood. Here, we found that the JA pathway was induced by RSV infection and played a defence role against RSV. The coat protein (CP) was the major viral component responsible for inducing the JA pathway. Methyl jasmonate treatment attracted SBPHs to feed on rice plants while a JA‐deficient mutant was less attractive than wild‐type rice. SBPHs showed an obvious preference for feeding on transgenic rice lines expressing RSV CP. Our results demonstrate that CP is an inducer of the JA pathway that activates plant defence against RSV while also attracting SBPHs to feed and benefitting viral transmission. This is the first report of the function of JA in the tripartite interaction between RSV, its host, and its vector.


Gold contained in the structure of the common sulfide. minerAls and that present as discrete inclusions smaller than 1000 A are collectively termed "invisible gold", not detectable by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Concentrations of invisible gold range from less than 0.5 ppm to greater than 1000 ppm in sulfide grains from 12 ore deposits, as determined by ion-probe microanalysis (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry). Concentrations vary considerably from deposit to deposit, and between discrete ore facies within a single deposit. Minerals that most readily act as hosts are arsenopyrite and arsenic-rich varieties of pyrite. There is a positive correlation between the concentrations of arsenic and gold in pyrite' suggesting that sub-stitution of gold into that structure is facilirated by the presence of arsenic. Where two or more distinct populations of arsenopyrite coexist, abundances of "invisible gold" are greater in the finer-grained type. Pyrrhotite, chal-copyrite, bornite, galena and tetrahedrite generally contain minor concentrations of "invisible gold"'


Seventy-eight patients, all over 10 years of age, with clinical signs of acute otitis media, received either phenoxymethyl penicillin or erythromycin stearate, in a randomized manner, and the clinical, bacteriological and immunological effects were studied. Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the major pathogens isolated from the nasopharynx in 30 and 28 patients, respectively. Increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected in 53 (68%) of the patients. There was no statistical difference in the CRP-levels depending on species of bacteria isolated. The highest incidence was observed in cases with Branhamella catarrhalis and H. influenzae. Persistence of H. influenzae during antibiotic therapy was demonstrated in 70% and after therapy in 63% compared to 4% and 11% persistence of S. pneumoniae. The type of antibiotic treatment did not influence persistence. An immune response to H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae was detected significantly more often in patients treated with erythromycin stearate than with phenoxymethyl penicillin.


BACKGROUND
A 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with muscle fasciculation, reluctance to move, profuse sweating, tachycardia, tachypnoea and a localised, unilateral swelling on the muzzle. History and physical examination were suggestive of snake envenomation.

METHODS
A sandwich ELISA for the detection of snake venom was performed on serum and urine samples.

RESULT
The test performed on urine confirmed a diagnosis of tiger snake envenomation.

CONCLUSION
The response to treatment with antivenom and supportive medical therapy was excellent.


On the part of his associates, M. de Verneuil and Count Keyserling, and himself, Mr. Murchison has previously explained in the Proceedings of the Geol. Soc. the nature of the various deposits which constitute the subsoil of European Russia. As in all other parts of the world which have been adequately examined, the Silurian rocks are those which contain the earliest forms of animal life, and in Russia they are overlaid by Devonian and carboniferous deposits, each of which is there singularly well defined by its organic remains and regular superposition. In common with many other geologists, Mr. Murchison was formerly of opinion that the above-mentioned three systems constituted the whole Palæozoic series, but the examination of Russia and Germany has led him to include also therein the next group in ascending order, or that to which he had assigned the name of Permian. When two or more conterminous formations are shown to have a community of fossils, it has recently been deemed essential to group them under one name; and following the practice of assigning to any such newly classed group a geographical name derived from the region where the strata are best developed, the term "Permian" was employed. This system was first proposed to embrace the deposits known in Germany as the Rothe-todteliegende, Zechstein, Kupferschiefer, &c., and in England as Lower New Red Sandstone, Magnesian limestone, &c.


This paper suggests a new approach to perform the laboratories sessions in engineering courses using remote laboratory. Our approach is that for each laboratory session, there are sets of user interfaces designed as services available for the learners. Each service allows applying some inputs (if any) to the physical equipment and returns some selected output signals from the equipment. These outputs signals can be measured and/or saved. In order to obtain the required results formulated by the teacher in his/her learning scenario, the remote learner has to select the services that match the best, and be able to perform all necessary calculations and analysis We refer to this approach as constructional, since, to achieve a given task, the user has to search and choose the appropriate user interfaces designed as services among many others available. The teacher is also able to assess whether the learner has understood the theoretical concepts previously studied in class. The proposed approach is used in a Control System Laboratory session using a DC motor remotely controlled and in Electric circuit analysis course.


The purpose of this guide is to describe library services to alumni; direct alumni to free sources of information on professional health sciences websites; and suggest alternative avenues to licensed resources.


medullated and finely medullated like those coming from the skin. Mr. Kinsella quotes John Hunter very aptly" for distinct sensation, two things are necessary, namely, time and space." To arouse a sensation an adequate number of impulses must reach the brain in enough fibres over a given time to permit of "central spatial and temporal summation." In testing visceral sensibility one must therefore stimulate an adequate portion of a viscus sufficiently vigorously. There is also a great difference between the sensibility of a normal and an inflamed viscus. These considerations may account for the discordant findings about visceral sensibility. Thus, squeezing with fingers or forceps, or stitching, cutting, or clamping the healthy appendix or caecum arouses no pain. When the appendix is inflamed squeezing it along a considerable part of its length produces pain. Wolf and Wolff similarly found that pinching the gastric mucosa or rubbing it with the blunt end of a glass rod is painless except when the stomach is inflamed and oedematous. Other observations by Kinsella on the large intestine and cervix uteri seem -to prove that afferent impulses arising from certain viscera may give rise to pain-i.e., there is so-called true visceral pain. The pain fibres in the mesentery arise mainly in the gut wall itself; it is easier to produce pain by stimulating the mesentery than the gut, because in the former the fibres are concentrated in the vicinity of blood vessels while in the latter they are sparse and widely distributed. A localized stimulus applied to the gut will stimulate fewer fibres than one suitably applied to the mesentery, especially in the neighbourhood of its blood vessels. From what is known about the properties of pain fibres elsewhere it is likely that the visceral pain fibres will respond to a wide range of stimuli having in common the property of nociception. In states of inflammation the altered blood supply, oedema, and the presence of abnormal chemical products may facilitate the reaction of the pain fibres to appropriate stimuli. Evidence is produced that the posterior pelvic peritoneum, especially over the right iliac fossa, is less sensitive than the anterior peritoneum to painful stimuli. This observation helps to explain why a retrocolic or retrocaecal inflamed appendix commonly gives rise to less pain than the normally placed organ. Mr. Kinsella discusses the mechanism of pain in peptic ulcer at some length, but no convincing conclusion emerges. It would be well if clinicians bore in mind the limitation of physiological knowledge about pain mechanisms in general. Some account can be given of the properties of pain fibres and the course of the pain impulses from the periphery as far as the thalamus, but beyond that point our knowledge is meagre. We do not know what part of the brain is responsible for mediating either the sensation of pain or its emotional accompaniment. Stimulation of the postcentral cortex, or for that matter of any other part of the cortex, is painless. There is, however, some evidence from the results of prefrontal leucotomy that the prefrontal cortex or prefrontal-subcortical areas may be somehow concerned with the feeling-tone. Nothing is known with certainty about the way in which skin pain is normally localized with considerable accuracy. It is hardly surprising, then, that we should not know why pain of visceral origin is inaccurately localized, projected to somatic areas, or sometimes accompanied by cutaneous hyperalgesia. It is to be hoped that Mr. Kinsella and other surgeons with similar gifts and opportunities will continue to collect and record accurate studies of patients-perhaps leaving the grand generalizations to emerge gradually in their own good time in thie future. SMO RGT THE FUNCTIONS OF PSYCHIATRY


An explicit analysis of an important passively mode locked lasers class with a parabolic gain profile is derived, using a recently developed statistical mechanics approach. Mode locking occurs when the normalized inverse noise power /spl gamma/ = 9.


Abstract: Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), a circovirus, is the etiologic agent of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), a progressive and often fatal disease in Psittaciformes. Even though neotropical psittacine species are more resistant to clinical infection than Old World species, BFDV is recognized as a threat to immunologically naïve wild psittacine flocks and its epidemiologic control is paramount for conservation efforts in Neotropical species. Samples were collected from multiple psittacine species, including Ara species, Amazona species, and the white-crowned parrot (Pionus senilis) from the only rescue center in Guatemala with formal psittacine rehabilitation and reintroduction programs. A total of 117 birds, with 101 adults and 16 juveniles of unknown sex, were tested for BFDV by means of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The BFDV prevalence found in this study was 0%, (95% confidence interval, 0%–6.0%). Seven 2–8-year-old scarlet macaws (Ara macao cyanoptera) with positive results from previous surveys by conventional PCR yielded negative results in this study, suggesting complete infection resolution.


The effect of active and passive antibacterial immunization on transplantation immunity was investigated in rabbits. Immunization with dead bacterial vaccines prepared from E. coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudmonas aeruginosa had no effect on skin allograft survival, whereas immunization with vaccines prepared from streptococcal and staphylococcal strains shortened allograft survival. Similar results were obtained with specific antisera against individual microbial species. Skin allografts survived in rabbits treated with antisera against E. coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the same manner as in untreated controls, whereas allograft survival was shortened with antisera against streptococci or staphylococci. The possible mechanism of the stimulatory effect of Gram-positive cocci on transplantation immunity is discussed and the possibilities of using active and passive antibacterial immunication in clinical transplantation are considered.


Techniques are described for translating an ASM chart or table directly into a variety of synthesis forms. These include PROM-, FPLA- and multiplexer-based implementations. A method for improving the circuit economy based on the preselection of qualifiers by means of multiplexers is presented. An algorithm for the simplification of multiplexer networks is also included.


This is a well-written and very useful addition to the body of literature on regulation, and is part of Palgrave's excellent series on public management. The introduction situates the book firmly in the context of 'the rise of the regulatory state' (p. 2), taking a thoroughly modern stance on the interface between the state, public regulators and private actors. More importantly, it also argues forcefully for approaching the subject in a more holistic fashion. It challenges the notion of regulation as 'a technocratic and apolitical process' (p. 8), and the consequent implication that the 'exciting' debates all occur during the preceding legislative phase. Rather, it sets out to expose the many subtle trade-offs, unintended consequences, pressures, problems and remedies that exist in this activity. In short, it encourages the reader to 'think like a regulator' (p. 9) – an exercise in which the reader is ably assisted during the remainder of the book. An excellent chapter then lays out four theoretical perspectives on regulation, taking the reader through Stiglerian interest group politics to a more sociological account focusing on 'ideas and world-views' (pp. 36–9). From there, the authors deftly cover a series of key theoretical and practical debates: alternatives to command-and-control regulation, difficulties in regulating across borders, and the complexities of managing network industries and handling financial risk. Each chapter explains the complexities of these debates via a series of practical scenarios, and in a refreshing approach Lodge and Wegrich take various examples of regulation, or regulatory shortcomings, and transport them to a fictional realm – 'Amnesialand'. This alternative reality then suffers a financial crisis, experiences problems in regulating its monopoly water supplier and its prison sector, and so on. The guiding principle ('thinking like a regulator') runs through these analytical narratives, helping bring together theory, practical problems and empirical cases. This approach sums up the book's great strength. For the student of public administration its range and analytical rigour offer very useful entry points into many aspects of regulation. Meanwhile, one can imagine an exasperated professional, wanting to know quite why the regulatory regime she experiences is so ineffective, finding in this book a pithy and engaging explanation; ditto – for the other side of the regulatory fence: the under-resourced and equally exasperated practitioner. For both audiences – the academic and the professional – the fluent tone makes light work of often very complex issues of policy making.


Smart systems, including smart grid (SG) and Internet of Things (IoT), have been playing a critical role in addressing contemporary issues. Taking full advantage of the big data generated by the smart grid can enhance the system stability and reliability, increase asset utilization, and offer better customer experience. To better support the data-driven smart grid, the machine learning technologies such as cluster analysis can be applied to process the massive data generated in smart grid. However, the process of cluster analysis may cause the disclosure of personal private information. In this paper, to achieve privacy-preserving cluster analysis in smart grid, we propose IDPC, a Differentially Private Clustering algorithm based on the Infinite Gaussian mixture model (IGMM). IDPC uses a combination of nonparametric Bayesian method and differential privacy. The nonparametric Bayesian method allows certain parameters to change along with the data and it is usually adopted in a clustering algorithm without a fixed number of clusters. The Laplace mechanism is used in data releasing process to make IDPC differentially private. We present how to make the nonparametric Bayesian clustering algorithm differentially private by adding Laplace noise. By security analysis and performance evaluation, IDPC is proved to be privacy-preserving as well as efficient.


Magnetotransport measurements on two-dimensional electrons confined to wide GaAs quantum wells reveal a remarkable evolution of the ground state at filling factor $\nu=1/2$ as we tilt the sample in the magnetic field. Starting with a compressible state at zero tilt angle, a strong $\nu=1/2$ fractional quantum Hall state appears at intermediate angles. At higher angles an insulating phase surrounds this state and eventually engulfs it at the highest angles. This evolution occurs because the parallel component of the field renders the charge distribution increasingly bilayer-like.


The study was aimed to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from myrtle (Mrtus communis) leaves and study their extracellular enzymes activity. Results revealed isolation of 99 species or ioslated of endophytic fungi obtained from 500 leaves fragment, which represented colonization frequency (CF) of 20.4%. Those fungi were related to 23 species or isolates, Aspergilli were dominated over all species (11 species) with CF 14%. Moreover A. niger and A. flavus showed the higtest CF values over all. Other isolated fungi were related to the genera: Penicillium spp., Cladosporium sp., Cunninghamella sp., Derchslera sp., Alternaria sp. Paecilomyces sp. and sterile fungi (mycelia sterilia). Extracelluar enzymes activity showed varation in type and activity of secreting these enzymes in solid media. The percentage of 91.3% of these fungi were able to secrete anylase, while 69.5% produced lipase and 86.9% produced pectinase, as well as 82.6%, 73.9% and 13% were able to secrete cellulase, protease and laccase respectively. Some isolated showed a high affinity to secret some of tested enzymes which give indication of the possibility of using these enzymes in many applications after isolation and characterization .


This thesis deals with information modelling within the scope of the manufacturing system life cycle, i.e. the development phase and the operation phase. Information modelling defines and structures information that needs to be managed, and is thereby an important step towards realising efficient information management throughout the manufacturing system life cycle. The research goal of this work was to find a modelling approach that simplifies management and integration of manufacturing system information, both within and between the development and operation phases. The starting point was an assumption that information integration requires a common information model for the manufacturing system life cycle. The approach was to evaluate the usefulness of the STEP standards AP214 and AP239 (PLCS) regarding how they meet the information requirements. Case studies within the automotive industry were carried out for gathering test data. Modelling experience showed that PLCS has the most suitable scope since it can represent the manufacturing system from a life cycle perspective. However, the generic character of PLCS introduced other issues, such as how to ensure consistent instantiation. Further guidance is needed regarding how to use PLCS for representing domain-specific objects such as machining centres. As a response to the inconsistency issue, a concept model of a machining centre was developed to guide the instantiation of PLCS. However, it was found that there are multiple ways to translate the concept model to PLCS depending on viewpoint. Moreover, the characteristics of information management within the operation phase were found to be notably different compared to characteristics of the development phase. For these reasons, it is discussed whether or not a common modelling format for the whole manufacturing system life cycle is appropriate or even realisable. From a practical viewpoint, it is concluded to be both inevitable and necessary to find appropriate delimitations and interfaces between complementary information models. A promising step towards information integration is to classify the information concepts of different models according to terms defined in concept models.


Fifty-three persons wearing soft-lined mandibular dentures and heat-cured acrylic-resin maxillary dentures were studied, using imprint cultures, to determine the isolation frequency and density of colonization of denture and mucosal surfaces by yeasts. Yeasts were isolated from 35 (66%) of the persons studied. Nine species of Candida and one each of Trichosporon and Saccharomyces were identified. Candida albicans, occurring either alone or together with another strain, was identified in 66% of the isolates and was associated with a higher mean density/cm 2 than that of other strains. An association between the method of denture cleaning, denture hygiene, and smoking habits and the isolation of yeasts was demonstrated, but a similar association could not be demonstrated with the sex of the person, denture-wearing habits, type and condition of the soft lining, or the clinical appearance of the mandibular denture-bearing mucosa. Although yeasts are more likely to colonize soft-lining materials than the fitting surface of conventional lower dentures, their presence did not significantly affect the soft-lining material. Further, the increased isolation of yeasts on the fitting surface of the soft-lined mandibular denture was not associated with an increased incidence of inflammatory changes in the mandibular denture-bearing mucosa.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to explore the influence of exudative age-related macular degeneration on the quality of life of patients from urban and rural areas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The retrospective study included 144 Polish Caucasians with exudative age-related macular degeneration, treated with anti-VEGF, recruited from Department of Medical Retina in Lublinbetween March and June 2017. Clinical assessment included age, gender, visual acuity, complete ophthalmic examination, fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, medical history and the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire.

RESULTS
The mean age of the study group was 76.73±12.3 years, average time of AMD was 4.24±4.1 years. 21.5% of patients reported comorbidities such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus. 99 (68.75%) lived in a city, while 45(31.25%) in a village. There was a tendency of females to complain more than males about moderate and severe discomfort and pain (p = 0.09). Most of the patients did not drive a car before the onset of the disease (female vs.male: 81% vs 62.9%; p = 0.01). 62.8% males and 25.8% females gave up driving (p = 0.003), whereas significantly more males gave up driving' and 25% of villagers gave up driving (p = 0.07). The parameter because of the eyesight - female vs. male: 50% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.03. There was a tendency of village respondents to complain more often about extreme difficulty in reading newspapers, street signs or the names of stores than (p = 0.08). 44.2% city residents. Rural patients felt to achieve much less because of their eyesight, which was not observed in patients from the city (p = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS
The place of residence and gender influenced perception of the disease in exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.


The purpose of the paper is to study the notion of CR-submanifold and the existence of some structures on a hypersurface of a quarter symmetric non metric connection in a quasi-Sasakian manifold. We study the existence of a Kahler structure on $M$ and the existence of a globally metric frame $f$-structure in sence of Goldberg S.I., Yano K. We discuss the integrability of distributions on $M$ and geometry of their leaves. We have tries to relate this result with those before obtained by Goldberg V., Rosca R. devoted to Sasakian manifold and conformal connections.


This paper aims to investigate free convection heat transmission in hybrid nanofluids across an inclined pours plate, which characterizes an asymmetrical hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer behavior. With an angled magnetic field applied, sliding on the border of walls is also considered with sinusoidal heat transfer boundary conditions. The non-dimensional leading equations are converted into a fractional model using an effective mathematical fractional approach known as the Prabhakar time fractional derivative. Silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are both considered nanoparticles, with water (H2O) and sodium alginate (C6H9NaO7) serving as the base fluids. The solution of the momentum, concentration, and energy equation is found by utilizing the Laplace scheme, and different numerical algorithms are considered for the inverse of Laplace, i.e., Stehfest and Tzou's. The graphical analysis investigates the impact and symmetry of significant physical and fractional parameters. Consequently, we surmise that water-based hybrid nanofluid has a somewhat higher velocity than sodium alginate-based hybrid nanofluid. Furthermore, the Casson parameter has a dual effect on the momentum profile. Furthermore, the memory effect reduces as fractional restriction increases for both the velocity and temperature layers. The results demonstrate that increasing the heat transmission in the solid nanoparticle volume fractions enhanced the heat transmission. In addition, the numerical assessment examined the increase in mass and heat transmission, while shear stress was increased with an increase in the Prabhakar fractional parameter α.


While drilling well in the Pre-Caspian basin, a presumably technogenic nature zone of influx was exposed, which did not fit into the model of the geological structure of the section. Attempts of influx management were unsuccessful. The well had to be abandoned without reaching the target. This article describes the experience of Managed Pressure Drilling and Cementing technologies deployment, process features and equipment hookup in unconventional wellhead configuration and Slim Drill type of rig.
 Application of MPD technology made reaching target depth successful in the condition of constant water influx. Drilling proceeded in complicated geological conditions: simultaneous crossflow between influx and losses zones, as well as drilling mud gradual replacement by formation fluid. Bottomhole pressure was controlled by Surface Back Pressure made by MPD choke and sealed wellhead using a Rotary Control Device (RCD). The compact set of MPD equipment was rigged up as ergonomically as possible due to space restriction of slim hole drilling techniques.
 The MPD technology made it possible to complete the construction of the section without curing losses and weighting the drilling fluid up to control technogenic influx, safely and effectively control bottomhole pressure and achieve geological targets. MPD tests were performed at various depths to determine formation pressure and formation integrity, which made it possible to determine the drilling window for successful construction of the section. After finishing drilling, a pull out of hole and well logging was carried out in an open hole on a drilling pipe with pressure control, which was previously impossible due to the high intensity of influx.
 Running 4-1/2" (114 mm) casing with pressure control, as well as cementing in MPC mode were applied. The surface backpressure was gradually reduced during cementing as heavy cement was pumped to minimize the risk of cement loss while controlling formation fluid influx. As a result, cement was lifted through the annulus to the wellhead, which finally eliminate the complication associated with the presence of incompatible zones of loss and influx, and to eliminate behind-the-casing flows. The economic feasibility of well construction was maintained by set of equipment adapted to non-standard conditions The first application of MPD technology on the Slim Drill (small-sized drilling rig) project successfully revitalized previously abandoned well. It shows the validity of using MPD technology by the help of optimized set of equipment. The work reveals broad prospects for replication on a previously inaccessible wells due to economic reasons.


Pavement deterioration is a serious problem for road and traffic highway sector in Jordan. The allocated cost for construction of new roads, replacement and rehabilitation, and maintenance was 292.1 M JD in the implementation program (2007-2009) and 192. 2 M JD in (2011-2013). The current research aims to describe the most affecting causes for road deterioration in Jordan by a questionnaire designed and directed to contractors in road construction and maintenance. A list of causes was prepared through conducting literature review, consulting and interviewing a group of 15 managers from contractors and experts in the field, they advised to study 51 of expected causes for road deterioration. Then a questionnaire was prepared and directed to 150 of contractors in road construction and maintenance. The mission was involving to give a scale (rank) from 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (disagree), 3 (do not know), 4 (agree), and 5 (strongly agree) to the expected causes. 38 (25.33%) responses were received and analyzed. The criterion (defects caused during construction due to poor construction quality) takes the highest rank of 4.15, while the lowest factor is (Inadequate resistance to polishing of surface aggregate) of 2.73. Also, the causes for deterioration were reorganized into 11 consistent groups of relevant causes. The first group (Effect of Cracks and Structural Failure) ranks 3.96 and the last group (Effect of Pavement Width) ranks 2.93 in group comparison. The research is helpful in highlighting the causes for road deterioration in Jordan, and in avoiding of these causes or mitigating their effect during design, construction, and maintenance through operation. Keywords : Deterioration, defects, road construction, road maintenance, highway


One of the present authors (B. T.) previously made studies on the colloid-chemical and rheological properties of the concentrated suspension of sericite, one of the common clay minerals produced in Japan, in water, aqueous salt solution and organic solvent (Ref. 2). The present paper reports a study of flow properties, namely, viscosity and streaming double refraction under various velocity gradients, of the dilute suspension of the same mineral in water and aqueous salt solution. For the viscosity measurement a COUETTE-type rotational viscometer is used and for the measurement of streaming double refraction an EDSALL-type apparatus is applied.The suspension of the mineral in water or in aqueous salt solution exhibits anomalous viscosity as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The relative viscosity is remarkably increased by adding salt. Moreover, a hysteresis phenomenon is observed in the course of the viscosity measurement for the suspension in salt solution. The angle of extinction is found to be indendent of the sericite concentration in the range of 0.001-0.03% as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, while the double refraction increases with the concentration and it becomes almost constant for each concentration, when velocity gradient reaches the value of 500sec-1, as indicated in Fig. 5.These experimental results suggest that the sericite particles behave almost independently to each other and orientate in the direction of the shear force in the above concentration range. However, the effect of the added salt is very remarkable, and for the suspension in salt solution a regular relation between angle of extinction and velocity gradient can not be obtained as shown in Fig. 6. This may be due to a partial aggregation of the particles.From electron microscopic measurement the sericite particle is known to have a blade-like shape (Photo. 1). Assuming an oblate ellipsoide model for the particle, the rotational diffusion coefficient and accordingly, the longer axis of the particle is calculated from the value of dχ/dG. The result obtained is found in good agreement with that of the electron microscopic measurement.The flow properties determined for dilute sericite suspensions are further discussed in relation to the rheological properties of concentrated suspensions. The rheological properties of the sericite suspension are compared with those of suspensions of other clay minerals (Table 1).


Despite the known influence of DNA methylation from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation, data on the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT, a DNA suicide repair enzyme) in macrophages is still lacking. The transcriptomic profiling of epigenetic enzymes from wild-type macrophages after single and double LPS stimulation, representing acute inflammation and LPS tolerance, respectively, was performed. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing of mgmt in the macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and mgmt null (mgmtflox/flox; LysM-Crecre/−) macrophages demonstrated lower secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 and lower expression of pro-inflammatory genes (iNOS and IL-1β) compared with the control. Macrophage injury after a single LPS dose and LPS tolerance was demonstrated by reduced cell viability and increased oxidative stress (dihydroethidium) compared with the activated macrophages from littermate control mice (mgmtflox/flox; LysM-Cre−/−). Additionally, a single LPS dose and LPS tolerance also caused mitochondrial toxicity, as indicated by reduced maximal respiratory capacity (extracellular flux analysis) in the macrophages of both mgmt null and control mice. However, LPS upregulated mgmt only in LPS-tolerant macrophages but not after the single LPS stimulation. In mice, the mgmt null group demonstrated lower serum TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 than control mice after either single or double LPS stimulation. Suppressed cytokine production resulting from an absence of mgmt in macrophages caused less severe LPS-induced inflammation but might worsen LPS tolerance.


This Resource Is the first Special Collection of a planned new SERIES of similiar pages called 'THE WAR ON PAIN SUFFERERS' which will detail major cases in the War on Drugs, the War on Doctors, and the Pain Crisis in America. This document, entitled: 'Special Collection #1: Montana, 2005 - the War on Sick People' will be updated ongoingly. It focuses on the vindictive prosecution of Dr. Nelson and the horrific consequences of this wrongful DEA action. It contains the complete journalistic record; PLUS expert commentary from the docs, patients and lawyers of the PRN; PLUS relevant articles from the peer-reviewed medical literature and official reports.


The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the HIV‐1 envelope protein gp120 and its peptide fragments on the function of N‐methyl‐ d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors mediating release of cholecystokinin (CCK) and somatostatin (SRIF). These are nonconventional NMDA receptors recently found to be activated by glycine or d‐serine 'only'. The release of cholecystokinin‐like immunoreactivity (CCK‐LI) and of somatostatin‐like immunoreactivity (SRIF‐LI) elicited by 12 mm K+ from superfused rat neocortex synaptosomes was potently increased by gp120, its cyclic V3 loop and the linear V3 sequence BRU‐C‐34‐A, but not by RP‐135 (a central portion of BRU‐C‐34‐A). The EC50 values of gp120 were 0.02 nm (CCK‐LI release) and 0.01 nm (SRIF‐LI release). The releasing effect of gp120 was prevented by blocking the glycine site or the ion channel of NMDA receptors, but not the glutamate recognition site; in addition, the gp120 effect was strongly inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of Zn2+ ions and by low micromolar concentrations of ifenprodil. It is concluded that gp120 acts as a very potent agonist at the glycine site of NMDA receptors sited on CCK‐ and SRIF‐releasing nerve endings; the protein is able to activate the receptor channel in the absence of glutamate. Gp120 activates the receptors through its V3 loop as peptide fragments related to V3 retain near‐maximal activity. The sensitivity of the gp120 effect to both Zn2+ and ifenprodil would not be incompatible with the idea that these NMDA receptors contain the triple subunit combination NR1/NR2A/NR2B.


Adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a clean cooking solution is lagging behind Kenya's 2030 development goal, despite several government initiatives along the LPG value chain. Until now, the government's strategy focused on reducing the cost of LPG and increasing its use among lower-income Kenyans. Sustainable uptake may be accelerated by taking vigorous regulatory steps to reduce the consumer price and minimize unlicensed LPG sales. Some measures include reviewing the economics underpinning the intervention, creating an enabling environment for LPG adoption by upper- and middle-income groups, developing annual uptake targets, and devising a better metric to measure progress.


The quality of biospecimens and associated data must be consistent and collected according to standardized methods in order to achieve international harmonization and coordination among biobanking networks. Sharing successful strategies between the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Cancer Center and Breast Center Buenos Aires (BCBA) is the driving force for the creation of an Argentinean Breast Cancer oriented Biobank with a shared data management system. Objective: To create a bilingual web-based tool for biospecimen management, inventory, clinical and breast cancer data registration according to international standards of data security quality assurance (ISO 27001). Methods/System Characteristics: The system permits users to enter and retrieve data concerning the collection, storage, quality assurance and distribution of biospecimens, and provides clinical and other patient data for samples while maintaining strict patient confidentiality. It has a multi-tier architecture, developed using Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) software design principles in .net 4.0, and uses a SQL server database backbone. The system allows multidimensional data analysis trough On Line Analytical Processes (OLAP) and operates with standard web clients, such as Internet Explorer. User Profiles/Access Levels: Clinical staff (e.g., clinical research coordinator, phlebotomist, pathologist, PA, MD) conduct participant and consent registration and preregistration, epidemiological questionnaire data entry, barcode label generation, form printing, and clinical and pathological cancer data entry. Biospecimen resource staff (e.g., lab technicians) track and store data about biospecimen collection, inventory, tracking and distribution, generate sample barcode labels, and maintain sample allocation and freezer maps for the system. Scientists have the ability to search for biospecimens and associated data for their own translational research projects. Breast Cancer Database: Detailed clinical, pathological, treatment and follow-up breast cancer information are captured for each patient, including TNM, biopsy and definitive surgery of primary tumor and events, systemic and radiation treatment, recurrences and metastasis, follow-up. A summary screen provides a snapshot of these data to the viewer. Pathology reports and sample collection forms are attached in each corresponding biopsy or surgery screen for easy viewing and quality assurance. Conclusion: This Biobank Management System was designed by a multidisciplinary team to improve and streamline the workflow for each member of the biobank by: allowing preregistration capabilities before consenting individuals or collecting samples, automatic generation of clinical and sample ID labels, and real-time statistics with certified secure sensible information confidentiality. This system9s value is its wide range of uses, from the day-to-day management of a multicenter biobank to the storage of detailed clinical cancer-related data in a user-friendly and intuitive data entry environment. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-16-02.


We have evaluated how changes in nuclear medicine (NM) techniques over the last twenty-year period have modified radiation exposure to the patient and population. For this purpose, we estimated the variations in the mean effective dose to the patient, and both the collective and the per capita effective dose to the population of the province of Varese, derived from radioisotope examinations carried out in the four NM Centers of this province in the years 1972, 1981, and 1991. Dosimetric calculations were based on ICRP Publication 53 for most of the radiopharmaceuticals used, and tissue weighting factors were based on ICRP Publication 60. The total number of NM exams carried out was 19,744 in 1972, 31,973 in 1981, and 23,623 in 1991. Between 1972 and 1991 there has been a substantial decrease in the effective irradiation to the patient and to the general population (mean effective dose to the patient: from 21.2 to 6 mSv; per capita mean effective dose: from 0.58 to 0.18 mSv), and in the per capita equivalent dose to some target organs, such as the thyroid (9.6-->1.5 mSv) and liver (0.51-->0.07 mSv). At the same time, there has been a significant increase in the per capita equivalent dose to the bladder (0.05-->0.48 mSv), skeleton (0.08-->0.36 mSv), and testes (0.02-->0.15 mSv), and a less marked increase to the ovaries (0.03-->0.06 mSv). The per capita equivalent dose to red marrow (0.13-->0.1 mSv) and to the large intestine (0.1-->0.12 mSv) did not change significantly.


The role of vitamin A and its analogs (retinoids) in the prevention and therapy of neoplastic diseases is discussed. Epidemiological data showing a relationship between vitamin A deficiency and increased frequency of tumors in man and animals are examined and the experimental models demonstrating the protective action of retinoids in the respect of both spontaneous and induced neoplasias of animals are reviewed. Among the possible mechanisms responsible of the antineoplastic activity, the immunopotentiating effect is underlined. Some toxicological aspects of retinoids administration and the consequent application of the experimental results in human medicine are finally discussed.


Physical Internet (PI) was introduced as a global standardised and interconnected logistics system based on PI-nodes, PI-movers and PI-containers as a mean toward global logistics sustainability. One important issue regarding PI-nodes concerns the planning and scheduling of operations and the management of PI-containers, both in a deterministic and a perturbed environment. This research considers the Road-Rail PI-hub sustainable truck scheduling and PI-containers grouping problem. In our research we consider the weighted sum of the number of used wagons, the internal distance travelled by PI-containers from PI-docks to wagons as well as the trucks' tardiness, which translate the search for sustainable logistics. In this paper, an effective and reactive multi-agent system based model (MAS) is developed for the resolution of the trucks scheduling and PI-containers grouping. To ensure the efficiency of the MAS and improve the quality of each of its solutions, three concurrent hybrid meta-heuristics are embedded within three parallel scheduling agents. Then, a mixed integer linear programming model (MILP) is proposed to evaluate the performance of the MAS. Finally, the MAS is also evaluated under internal perturbations. The obtained results show the ability of the MAS to provide alternative sustainable solutions by rescheduling trucks in case of disruptions.


This research belongs to qualitative research. The aims of this research are to identify the types of correlative conjunction and to explain their functions in students' research articles. The data source of this research is students' research articles written by undergraduate students of English Language Education Program at Purworejo Muhammadiyah University in the academic year of 2018/2019. In collecting the data, the researcher checked all the research articles published from August 2019 until December 2019. In analyzing the data, the researcher organized the data from the first correlative conjunction until the last correlative conjunction found in research articles; gave code for each of the correlative conjunctions; classified the correlative conjunctions based on the types: both__and, not only__but also, either__or, and neither__nor; classified the correlative conjunctions based on their functions in joining sentence elements such as words, phrases, and clauses; counted the data; discussed the finding; and drew conclusion and suggestion based on the data in this research. The result of this research shows that there are 91 correlative conjunctions found in 46 research articles: 39 both__and (42.86%), 40 not only__but also (43.96%), 8 either__or (8.79%), and 4 neither__nor (4.39%). There are 25 conjunctions connecting words (27.47%), 65 conjunctions connecting phrases (71.43%), and 1 conjunction connecting clauses (1.10%).


The intention of this paper is to describe the organizational principles and indicate the results already achieved in the identification of war victims in Croatia. By 25 February 1993, 6, 493 victims had been identified. A model is proposed that could be used in the course of identification processes, examining the methods and principles of identification which have been complicated by the time interval of more than a year from the time of death, for a presumed number of several thousand (up to 14, 000) unidentified victims, possibly in mass graves. Identification is further complicated by the lack of ante-mortem medical and dental records and the incapacity to utilize more expensive methods of identification. Attention is drawn to a group of more complex cases examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Criminology.


We have read with interest the recent paper published by Schouw et al. [1] in IJSEM (Vol 66, pp. 1724–1734) entitled: 'Abyssivirga alkaniphila gen. nov., sp. nov., an alkane-degrading, anaerobic bacterium from a deep-sea hydrother-mal vent system, and emended descriptions of Natranaero-virga pectinivora and Natranaerovirga hydrolytica'. We disagree with the proposal of Abyssivirga as a new genus due to phylogenetic considerations as shown below. Indeed, we noticed that a BLAST analysis of the Abyssivirga alkani-phila 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated 99.4 % similarity with Vallitalea guaymasensis isolated from sediments of the Guaymas Basin, and 96.1 % with Vallitalea pronyensis isolated from a hydrothermal chimney in Prony Bay. Both Val-litalea species have been fully characterized in IJSEM [2, 3]. Based on phylogenetic analyses, we believe that the proposal of the new genus Abyssivirga should be reconsidered. A. alka-niphila should be reassigned to the genus Vallitalea, and possibly as a novel species, 'Vallitalea alkaniphila', if demonstrated by significant DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic differences. With the aim to clearly establish the phylogenetic position of A. alkaniphila and its effective affiliation to the genus Vallitalea, a phylogenetic tree is reconstructed here (Fig. 1).


A change in the national government of Australia in 2007 lead to a process of review and reform in healthcare which is now being implemented. The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) ran a simulation exercise to model the likely impact of the planned reforms. This paper describes the background to these changes, the process of consultation and implementation of the reforms, and the results of the reforms, and the results of the simulation exercise. The process identified the risks inherent in the reform and the need to address long term structural issues in the Australian health care system in order to ensure optimal patient-centred care.


*Corresponding Author Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Tel.:+2348036762802 This paper examined the continuing challenges confronting Mortgage Valuation in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Accordingly, this paper critically analyzed the nature, causes and types of challenges faced while carrying out Mortgage Valuation. It also tries to draw out solutions from theory and practice for implementation by three major stakeholders; the academia, practitioners and the regulatory institutions.Questionnaire was administered to (30) estate surveying firms randomly selected in the study area, while 27(90%) was retrieved and used for the study. Presentation and analysis of data was done using frequency tables and percentages.The findings of the study revealed that there is total neglect of valuation guidelines by valuers' is major challenge that confronts mortgage valuation. Furthermore, the study revealed that most estate surveyors assigned for valuation inspections are not properly supervised. On the strength of the findings, the study recommends that estate surveyors and valuers' should have updated property vending desks in their offices.


ABSTRACT Interleukin-21 (IL-21) plays important roles in regulating the immune response. IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) mRNA is expressed at a low level in human resting T cells but is rapidly induced by mitogenic stimulation. We now investigate the basis for IL21R gene regulation in T cells. We found that the −80 to −20 region critically regulates IL-21R promoter activity and corresponds to a major DNase I-hypersensitive site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, DNA affinity chromatography followed by mass spectrometry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Sp1 binds to this region in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mutation of the Sp1 motif markedly reduced IL-21R promoter activity, and Sp1 small interfering RNAs effectively diminished IL-21R expression in activated T cells. Interestingly, upon T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, T cells increased IL-21R expression and Sp1 protein levels while decreasing Sp1 phosphorylation. Moreover, phosphatase inhibitors that increased phosphorylation of Sp1 diminished IL-21R transcription. These data indicate that TCR-induced IL-21R expression is driven by TCR-mediated augmentation of Sp1 protein levels and may partly depend on the dephosphorylation of Sp1.


Soft robotic systems offer benefits over traditional rigid systems through reduced contact trauma with soft tissues and by enabling access through tortuous paths in minimally invasive surgery. However, the inherent deformability of soft robots places both a greater onus on accurate modelling of their shape, and greater challenges in realising intraoperative shape sensing. Herein we present a proprioceptive (self-sensing) soft actuator, with an electrically conductive working fluid. Electrical impedance measurements from up to six electrodes enabled tomographic reconstructions using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). A new Frequency Division Multiplexed (FDM) EIT system was developed capable of measurements of 66 dB SNR with 20 ms temporal resolution. The concept was examined in two two-degree-of-freedom designs: a hydraulic hinged actuator and a pneumatic finger actuator with hydraulic beams. Both cases demonstrated that impedance measurements could be used to infer shape changes, and EIT images reconstructed during actuation showed distinct patterns with respect to each degree of freedom (DOF). Whilst there was some mechanical hysteresis observed, the repeatability of the measurements and resultant images was high. The results show the potential of FDM-EIT as a low-cost, low profile shape sensor in soft robots.


The study was undertaken to: (1) provide a model of learning English which can be used to improve the adaptive
English competence of vocational technical students and (2) to produce its required instruments.
The method used is research and development (R & D), to pursue a particular product and to test the
effectiveness of the product. The stages of development consists of four phases: (1) pre-insvestigation, (2)
design, (3) validation, test, revision, and (4) the final product. The research subjects were the first semester
students and teachers of the class XI, from 4 vocatioanal technical schools and one of technical industry school.
The findings of the research-development are as follows. (1) The model is significantly contribute to the
development of English vocational technical competency-focused on Spoken and Writing Skills, (2) The
instrumentative model produced in the learning instruments (handbook/the manual model, lesson plan, model
materials, evaluation tools) is contextual-effectively able to demonstrate comprehensive and optimal result, (3)
The model meets the valid, practical, effective criteria, (4) The responses of students and teachers are very
positive; they objectively state that this model is effective and works well as an alternative model of
development of the above skills of English. Data judging the results of the learning process by quasi experiment
show that Group Model is significantly faster growing than the Conventional One. Meanwhile, the qualitative
data confirms that the students through this model can develop their own potential in an integrated and total
progress. The model provides motivational opportunities for students to master not only knowledge but also the
soft skills and maturity to be creative in accordance with the orientation of the competence of acting out; and
meets the relevant conditions (real world) with a miniature world of work -going into.
Keywords: Development, Model, Task, English, Learning, Integrated, PBTT


The system and experience of home care for patients with chronic lung disease in Urasoe Sougou hospital was reviewed from nursing points of view. Home oxygen care was started in October, 1984. The Health Care Department (HCD) was established in July, 1988 to provide both various home cares and daycare services for the aged. The number of personnel (public health nurses, registered nurses) were increased year by year to 15, include one physician as a medical director. They worked on a full-time basis in home care. The roles of the HCD in home oxygen care are 1) direct nursing services, medical and psychological assessment, consultation, education for patients in the home. 2) exchange informations, coordination and scheduling among physicians, in-hospital care team and durable medical equipment companies. Quality of care on 65 patients between before and after the establishment of the HCD were compared to assess the efficacy of system. Quality of care were measured by several items; 1, frequency of home visit. 2, medical, psychological assessment. 3, patient's ability to understand and accept the disease state and home care, to do self-responsible procedures (bronchial hygiene, medication, bathing, etc.), and to handle the equipment. 4, assessment on patient's daily activities and environments. After the establishment of the HCD, quality of care has been improved. On 10 patients in the remote locations or islands, the HCD exchanged informations and coordinated with the community public health nurses and local practitioners. These experience suggests full-time home care team like the HCD contribute to improve both quality of care and quality of life of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Author(s): Canillas, Jennifer | Advisor(s): Echeverria, Begona | Abstract: When students learning English cannot successfully master the knowledge and skills required to perform the academic tasks necessary to advance to the next proficiency level, their academic achievement suffers and they cannot move on to more advanced classes; they remain in English language development programs for the long term. The official classification "Long Term English Learner" (LTEL) was recently recognized in both policy and research literature. In order to avoid the creation of Long Term English Learners, it is necessary to study students who are, as the State of California says, "at risk of becoming Long Term English Learners," to ascertain how to help them reach and maintain the expected trajectory for proficiency in English and prevent a new generation of LTEL. The goal of this qualitative case study was to counter deficit-informed research on what language minority students lack by highlighting the abundant, yet unrecognized resources English learners bring to school and use as funds of identity. The participants were students and educators at a small public charter school, including ten English learners in grades four and five, three teachers, and one school administrator. For this case study, I asked each of the ten focal students to complete art projects, and I conducted interviews with focal students, their teachers, and the school principal. I used identity as an analytical lens to examine the cultural and linguistic resources students possess and use as funds of identity. The results of the study indicate that familial resources constitute the most influential funds of identity in students' lives, followed by what I have termed "Spiritual Capital," or spiritual resources that contributed to students' identities, sense of well-being, and motivation, as an unexpected finding. In addition, students' linguistic resources were depleted and deemed irrelevant by adults to the current school context, and students' main orientation toward school involved social connections to friends rather than academics. This study implies the need for further research on facilitating connections between students' linguistic resources and English literacy practices, and investigating ways that spiritual resources support students' academics and social-emotional well-being and motivation.


Clime change represents an important issue for the scientific community regardless of the specific field of study due to the environmental effects and impacts on the economy (especially agriculture) and human communities. The environmental impacts include the loss of biodiversity (species and ecosystems), while agricultural impacts include the exposure to heat, changes of the precipitation regime, and dispersion of diseases and pests. The assessment of particular scenarios related to changes of temperature and precipitations plays a central role among clime change studies, including predicted impacts on the ecosystems. This study addresses the exposure to clime change in the Romanian part of the Tisza river basin, using a novel approach based on the Geographical Information Systems modeling in conjunction with factor analysis to pinpoint the most affected counties based on clime data reflecting the current situation and 2100 predictions by generalizing the micro-scale situation at the county level. The results suggest that the actual precipitations explain 85% of the clime variability, the counties most affected by predicted clime change (Arad and Timis) are situated in the western part of the region, and the economic sector most affected by predicted clime changes is agriculture, provided the predominance of agricultural areas in the most affected counties. While consistent with other studies, the results benefit upon the strength of the statistical tools, and could be used by the local authorities from the territorial units at risk to elaborate strategies resulting into the mitigation of effects and diminishing the agricultural loss. The methodological limitations of the study are first of all due to the fact that it relies on predictions, which in their turn assume the climatic response to increased greenhouse gases of the National Center for Atmospheric Research climate model, CCM3, at T42 and T170 resolutions, and due to the over- generalizing effects of GIS modeling.


King, K. P., & Cranston-Gingras, A. (2014). 147 Practical Tips for Emerging Scholars: From Publishing to Time Management, Grant Seeking, and Beyond. Madison, WL Atwood Publishing. 134 pp. ISBN 9781891859892 (paperback) Faculty members in higher education must effectively manage numerous priorities for success in their roles. Kathleen King and Ann Cranston-Gingras (2014), tenured professors at the University of South Florida, provide a roadmap for success in 147 Practical Tips for Emerging Scholars: From Publishing to Time Management, Grant Seeking, and Beyond. In the "Introduction," King and Cranston-Gingras (2014) identify the text as a resource to address a compelling question in the field: How can faculty members succeed in developing scholarly careers? Drawn from their experiences and those of others they have mentored, the book offers relevant strategies for doctoral students, new and emerging scholars, and experienced faculty members in mentoring and advising roles. Some tips will, of course, be more useful or relevant than others for faculty at different points in their careers. The book is structured with two opening text chapters. Chapter 1 frames the content by addressing two salient concerns for scholarly development: managing one's time for maximum effect and the lack of guidance or "operating instructions" often missing in graduate training and new faculty induction. Through accessible examples, King and Cranston-Gingras (2014) utilize the first chapter to present the dimensions of their "R-Plan" (or Prescription) for success. Subheading categories in the plan advise scholars to "Review and Reflect," "Work Your Plan," "Reflect on Challenges," "Continue to Network," "Rejoice for the Success," "Revise and Implement," and "Enjoy the Journey." Category sections are accompanied by descriptive content related to each topic area. A key takeaway, especially relevant for new and emerging scholars, is the importance of negotiating what the authors term the tyranny of the urgent--the myriad demands on faculty that can derail the goals of even the most committed scholars. Chapter 2 presents an overview of how scholars might strategically approach and envision the academic career path in a more systematic way. Highlights include advice on planning strategies, conceptualizing role domains, and identifying the evidence sources appropriate for success in one's institutional context. …


Intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) increases rapidly after heat shock (HS) in the Ca(2+)/calmodulin (Ca(2+)/CaM) HS signal transduction pathway: a hypothesis proposed based on our previous findings. However, evidence for the increase in Ca(2+) after HS was obtained only through physiological and pharmacological experiments; thus, direct molecular genetic evidence is needed. The role of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) is poorly understood in the plant response to HS. In this work, atplc9 mutant plants displayed a serious thermosensitive phenotype compared with wild-type (WT) plants after HS. Complementation of atplc9 with AtPLC9 rescued both the basal and acquired thermotolerance phenotype of the WT plants. In addition, thermotolerance was even improved in overexpressed lines. The GUS staining of AtPLC9 promoter:GUS transgenic seedlings showed that AtPLC9 expression was ubiquitous. The fluorescence distribution of the fusion protein AtPLC9 promoter:AtPLC9:GFP revealed that the subcellular localization of AtPLC9 was restricted to the plasma membrane. The results of a PLC activity assay showed a reduction in the accumulation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) in atplc9 during HS and improved IP(3) generation in the overexpressed lines. Furthermore, the heat-induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+) was decreased in atplc9. Accumulation of the small HS proteins HSP18.2 and HSP25.3 was downregulated in atplc9 and upregulated in the overexpressed lines after HS. Together, these results provide molecular genetic evidence showing that AtPLC9 plays a role in thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.


The good capability of zinc-tolerant probiotic of Lactobacillus plantarum tolerating high concentrations
of Zinc+2 and producing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles highlights the unique characteristics of these
bacteria as a natural microbial cell nano-factory for a more efficient and environmentally friendly
process of biosynthesis of these nanoparticles. The morphological and structural properties of Zinc Oxide
Nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction, Atomic Force Microscope and Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscope showed that the synthesized nanoparticles were crystalline, moderately stable, roughly
spherical, hexonal in shape and pure
We examined the antibacterial activity of the Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles/
Poly-?- hydroxybutyrate bionanocomposite on some pathogenic bacteria .It is clear in this the study that
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles/Poly-?-hydroxybutyrate bionanocomposite has stronger inhibitory effect on
pathogenic bacteria compared with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles only because the bionanocomposites exhibited
reduced water uptake and superior gas as well as vapour barrier properties and causes increasing damage of
the pathogenic bacteria.


Title of dissertation: MATERNAL EXPERIENCES OF PARENTING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS Melissa Sandra Duchene, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015 Directed by: Brenda Jones Harden, Associate Professor Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology Despite the increased prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the last two decades (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015), little is known about the parenting of children with ASD, including parenting behaviors, parent-child interactions, and how the specific characteristics of children with ASD affect parenting practices. The goals of this qualitative study were: (1) To explore parenting practices and behaviors among mothers of children with ASD; and (2) To illuminate the unique experiences of mothers raising children with ASD. Three research questions guided the inquiry: 1) What are the parenting practices and behaviors that mothers use with their preschool age children with ASD?; 2) What are the beliefs and experiences of mothers relative to raising preschool aged children with ASD?; and 3) What facilitates or hinders mothers' parenting of their preschool aged children with ASD? In this qualitative inquiry, six mothers and their preschool-age children with ASD were recruited from the Autism Center in a metropolitan children's hospital. Each mother participated in three 1-1 1⁄2 hour long semi-structured audio-recorded interviews that entailed a series of open-ended questions about the unique experiences associated with raising a child with ASD. Two home observations and one public observation of mother-child interactions lasting 1-2 hours in length were conducted per family. Eleven themes emerged during the coding process: 1) positivity within the mother-child relationship, 2) schedules and routines, 3) strategies encouraging child cooperation, 4) crisis management, 5) perspectives on child's maladaptive behavior, 6) perspectives on child's abilities, 7) perceptions and experiences around public interfacing, 8) stress associated with caring for a child with ASD, 9) maternal resources, 10) interpersonal supports, and 11) ecological factors. These results shed light on factors that contribute to the everyday realities and experiences of parents who have children with ASD, thereby allowing for a more accurate understanding of their parenting approaches and behaviors. Findings from this study can be considered in the context of developing interventions focused on parenting children with ASD. MATERNAL EXPERIENCES OF PARENTING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS


Interspecific hybridisation creates new phenotypes within several ornamental plant species including the Campanula genus. We have employed phenotypic and genotypic methods to analyse and evaluate interspecific hybridisation among cultivars of four Campanula species, i.e. C. cochleariifolia, C. isophylla, C. medium and C. formanekiana. Hybrids were analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), flow cytometry and biometrical measurements. Results of correlation matrices demonstrated heterogeneous phenotypes for the parental species, which confirmed our basic premise for new phenotypes of interspecific hybrids. AFLP assays confirmed the hybridity and identified self-pollinated plants. Limitation of flow cytometry analysis detection was observed while detecting the hybridity status of two closely related parents, e.g. C. cochleariiafolia × C. isophylla. Phenotypic characteristics such as shoot habitus and flower colour were strongly influenced by one of the parental species in most crosses. Rooting analysis revealed that inferior rooting quality occurred more often in interspecific hybrids than in the parental species. Only interspecific hybrid lines of C. formanekiana 'White' × C. medium 'Pink' showed a high rooting level. Phenotype analyses demonstrated a separation from the interspecific hybrid lines of C. formanekiana 'White' × C. medium 'Pink' to the other clustered hybrids of C. formanekiana and C. medium. In our study we demonstrated that the use of correlation matrices is a suitable tool for identifying suitable cross material. This study presents a comprehensive overview for analysing newly obtained interspecific hybrids. The chosen methods can be used as guidance for analyses for further interspecific hybrids in Campanula, as well as in other ornamental species.


We compared the efficacy of two different soft catheters on pregnancy rates and designed this study to
remove factors that could interfere in the results, i.e., oocyte/embryo quality, endometrial preparation and operator interference. A total of 68 patients undergoing fresh embryo transfer, in oocyte donation cycles were prospectively studied. Every two patients received oocytes from the same donor and were sequentially allocated to either the Frydman or Sidney IVF catheter. Duration of endometrial preparation, number of oocytes, fertilization rate and transferred embryos were similar in both groups. The overall pregnancy rate was 45.5% (31/68), 10 in the Frydman catheter group (29.4%) and 21 in the Sidney IVF catheter group (61.7%). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in patients who used Sidney IVF catheter compared to those who used Frydman catheter. Out of the 34 pairs of patients, there were 19 discordant pairs. In four cases pregnancy occurred only in the Frydman catheter group and in 15 cases only in the Sidney catheter group. The other 6 pregnancies occurred in patients of both groups (p = 0.02). The choice of embryo transfer catheter may affect the outcome of ART cycles as our study suggests that some soft catheters have better results than others.


This paper gives an analytical insight about the influencing impact of marketing mix 5 P's (Product, Price, Promotion, Packaging, and Placement) on sales of UPS industry for Karachi market from a buyer's point of view. Since all P's of marketing mix have its own level of impact on sales but vary from product to product and market to market. Pakistani UPS market is to huge extent undocumented and untouched having very high level of competition and low profit margin. We have the 5 P's as our independent variables whereas sales as dependent variable. Collection of primary data have been done through a questionnaire comprising of mixed questions like 5-likert scale, MCQs, open ended, and rating scale based on the buyers' opinions. The collected data were analyzed through multiple regressions to know the significance of relationship of individual P of marketing mix with sales by using t-test and the strength and nature of relationship by Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The overall significance of model was tested through ANOVA. The descriptive statistics were also used to determine average level of point of views as well as the variation in the buyers' opinions. The final result of this study reveals that out of 5 only 4 P's (product, price, placement, and promotion) have positively significant impact on sales whereas the packaging has negative and very low level of impact on sales. It does imply that product, placement, promotion, price have descending level of impacts on sales in UPS market, respectively.


Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the dimorphous selenite minerals chalcomenite, cobaltomenite and clinochalcomenite. Selenite minerals are characterised by the position of the symmetric stretching mode which is observed at higher wavenumbers than the antisymmetric stretching mode. The selenite ion has C3v symmetry and four modes, 2A1 and 2E. These modes are observed at 813, 472 cm-1 (A1) and 685, 710, 727 and 367 and 396 cm-1 (E). Bands assigned to the water stretching vibrations are observed for chalcomenite at 2953, 3184 and 3506 cm-1 and for clinochalcomenite at 2909, 3193 and 3507 cm-1. A comparison of the Raman spectra of chalcomenite, clinochalcomenite and cobaltomenite is made. The position of these bands enabled hydrogen bond distances in the selenite structure to be estimated. Hydrogen bond distances for chalcomenite and clinochalmenite were determined to be similar.


Young people aged 15–24 years account for half of all new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. The aim of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations of factors linked to STIs among US young adults (18–25 years). This study used the 2015–2018 pooled National Survey on Drug Use and Health data on 55,690 young adults. Almost 3.4% of the respondents reported having an STI in the past year. Among the participants, 38.4% used illicit drugs and 3.7% reported a history of delinquency in the past year. In the survey-weighted logistic regression model, odds for contracting STIs in the preceding year was higher among adults aged 22–25 versus 18–21 years (OR:1.26, 95%CI:1.12–1.42); male versus female (OR:2.44, 95%CI:2.11–2.82); non-Hispanic African American versus non-Hispanic White (OR:1.77, 95%CI:1.55–2.02); widowed/separated/divorced (OR:1.93, 95%CI:1.36–2.75) and never married (OR:1.29, 95%CI:1.07–1.55) versus married; full-time/part-time employed (aOR:1.17, 95% CI:1.04–1.31) compared to unemployed/other; history of delinquency (OR:2.31, 95%CI:1.89–2.83); and use of illicit drugs in the last year (OR:3.10, 95%CI:2.77–3.47). High incidence of illicit drug use by the young adults and its strong association with STI incidence in recent years warrant special attention. Tailored preventive measures should be focused on key predictors.


BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who receive high-dose aminoglycosides can acquire inner ear damage and subsequent hearing loss. There is no current standard protocol for assessing ototoxicity in CF centers in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a pharmacist-implemented routine hearing screening for ototoxicity among pediatric patients using a clinically validated tablet audiometer to allow for earlier detection of hearing loss in an exploratory analysis. METHODS: A Markov decision-analytic model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of implementing routine screening with monthly cycles over a 3-year time horizon. The model measured the difference in promptly detected hearing loss, delayed detected hearing loss, and undetected hearing loss, compared with current screening practices. Model inputs were obtained through a comprehensive literature review. Primary model outcomes included total health care costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained with a 3% yearly discount. One-way, two-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate model uncertainty. RESULTS: In a hypothetical cohort of 100 patients, routine screening using a tablet audiometer increased promptly detected hearing loss by 8 patients. There was an incremental gain of 3.2 QALYs at an increased cost of $333,826 compared with current screening practices. This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $103,771 per QALY. In the 1-way sensitivity analysis, the ICER ranged between $64,345 and $258,830 per QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Using a tablet audiometer for routine hearing screening appears to be a cost-effective option at a $150,000 per QALY willingness-to-pay threshold when only considering the immediate benefits gained. This analysis did not examine the long-term effects of early detection in language development for pediatric patients.


In the era of mass agriculture to keep up with the increasing demand for food production, advanced monitoring systems are required in order to handle several challenges such as perishable products, food waste, unpredictable supply variations and stringent food safety and sustainability requirements. The evolution of Internet of Things have provided means for collecting, processing, and communicating data associated with agricultural processes. This have opened several opportunities to sustain, improve productivity and reduce waste in every step in the food supply chain system. On the hand, this resulted in several new challenges, such as, the security of the data, recording and representation of data, providing real time control, reliability of the system, and dealing with big data. This paper proposes an architecture for security of big data in the agricultural supply chain management system. This can help in reducing food waste, increasing the reliability of the supply chain, and enhance the performance of the food supply chain system.


Introduction: Combination of therapies is a promising strategy for the treatment of NASH and liver fibrosis. Here we evaluated whether the Farnesoid X Receptor agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) combined with the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (SEMA) would show superior effects than weight loss induction with time-restricted feeding (TRF) in mice.
 Methods: Mice were fed a 60% high fat/2% cholesterol diet with 10% fructose supplemented drinking water (HFCF diet) for 25 weeks to induce obesity and NASH/liver fibrosis. After the diet-induction period, mice were kept on HFCF diet and treated with vehicle (control) or OCA 30mg/kg p.o. QD + SEMA 0.06mg/kg s.c. QD, or placed on TRF from the last 3 hours of the dark cycle till the end of the light cycle, without access to food, but free access to normal drinking water (i.e. without fructose) every day, for 6 weeks.
 Results: OCA+SEMA induced a 20% lower caloric intake, which led to a 27% lower body weight (p<0.0vs. control) . TRF had a weaker effect on caloric intake (-9%) but also reduced body weight (-11%, p<0.vs. control) . Both OCA+SEMA and TRF reduced the HOMA-IR index of insulin resistance and significantly reduced plasma ALT and AST levels, but these effects were more pronounced with OCA+SEMA. TRF, and to a greater extent OCA+SEMA, significantly reduced liver weight, hepatic fatty acids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels. Both OCA+SEMA and TRF led to significantly lower NAFLD activity score. However, OCA+SEMA did not alter liver fibrosis, while TRF showed a clear anti-fibrotic effect in the liver, with lower % Sirius Red labelling (p<0.vs. control) .
 Conclusion: OCA+SEMA combination reduced body weight and NAFLD activity score but did not improve hepatic fibrosis, while TRF improved both NASH and liver fibrosis. These TRF benefits should be further investigated in obese NASH patients.

 F.Briand: None. E.Grasset: None. N.Breyner: None. T.Sulpice: None.


We give a 0.5368-competitive algorithm for edge-weighted online bipartite matching. Prior to our work, the best competitive ratio was 0.5086 due to Fahrbach, Huang, Tao, and Zadimoghaddam (FOCS 2020). They achieved their breakthrough result by developing a subroutine called online correlated selection (OCS) which takes as input a sequence of pairs and selects one item from each pair. Importantly, the selections the OCS makes are negatively correlated. We achieve our result by defining multiway OCSes which receive arbitrarily many elements at each step, rather than just two. In addition to better competitive ratios, our formulation allows for a simpler reduction from edge-weighted online bipartite matching to OCSes. While Fahrbach et al. used a factor-revealing linear program to optimize the competitive ratio, our analysis directly connects the competitive ratio to the parameters of the multiway OCS. Finally, we show that the formulation of Farhbach et al. can achieve a competitive ratio of at most 0.5239, confirming that multiway OCSes are strictly more powerful.


Novel sub-microsized graphitic carbon shells embedding nanometric Gd(III) oxidic phases feature thermal and chemical inertness with enhanced T2 relaxation in aqueous dispersions, thus representing potential candidates for dual diagnostic (magnetic resonance imaging) and therapeutic (neutron capture therapy) applications.