INTRODUCTION
we report the clinical, radiological and pathological features of a spinal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, an unusual neoplastic entity in a really rare location, establish an appropriated management of these lesions and review the short available english literature.

CASE REPORT
a 60 years old woman consulted with doctor because she felt progressive clumsiness accompanied by occasional paresthesias on her left hand. Neurological examination showed up weakness and slight propioceptive disturbances. The differential imagine diagnosis was established between intramedullary astrocytoma and ependimoma. Patient underwent surgical gross total remove. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pleomorfic xanthoastrocytoma. We performed MRI controls at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months that did not reveal recurrence. Nowadays, the patient has regained her previous quality of life.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
comparing to published cases about intracranial pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas, spinal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (SPXA) present different epidemiological characteristics. The known SPXAs affected to cervical and/or high thoracic levels. The hypothesis about a more aggressive behaviour of PXA in spinal cord may be corroborated after literature review. Extension examination is mandatory since dissemination along the neuroaxis has been described. Removal extension is crucial in the prevention of tumour recurrence. Adyuvant radiotherapy should only be considered when there is postoperative residual tumour and/or anaplastic features. Randomized clinical trials or databases are necessary to know all the aspects of this pathological entity.


This paper proposes that the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a corporate collective of the architectural profession, if it wishes to be more than a professional trade organization speaking to the economic self-interest of its members (and being perceived as such), has available to it two ethical courses to pursue: 1) That of improving the knowledge, skills and judgment of architects – defining and working on the virtues of the architect; and 2) That of participating in public policy decision-making and speaking out with regard to environmental design, whether proposals be public or private. Both of these concepts are embedded in the AIA's Objects. The reasoning developed here draws parallels between personal professional responsibility and collective responsibility with respect to the essentially ethical condition of architecture as explored in three themes: What Could Be, What Ought to Be, and the Architect's Virtue. When we first make conjectures about a change in the environment, we cast about for what could be, the potential for a good change. Specific design proposals define what ought to be, an ethical imperative of the right thing to do. The architect must possess certain qualities of virtue to merit the title and the responsibility to be one of the leaders in shaping the environment.


The authors analyze the technical condition of objects of railroad communications with modern bridges, tunnels, stations, overpasses, crossings and power installations. It is noted that, based on the specific features of such objects, control of their technical condition in most cases is carried out at certain intervals. At the same time, existing continuous control systems do not always adequately assess the technical condition of rail infrastructure objects due to the presence of additional noises in the processed signals at the time when a malfunction occurs. In this regard, one of the possible options is proposed for "continuous" monitoring of the beginning of changes in the technical condition of railroad tracks by means of noise technologies. It is pointed out that when the technical condition of rail infrastructure changes, vibration signals caused by the impact of rolling stock contain noises in addition to the useful component. The use of correlation and spectral analysis technologies, as well as other traditional methods does not allow ensuring the adequacy of the control results, due to the influence of the noise on useful vibration signals. Therefore, technologies are proposed for split analysis of the useful signal and the noise received from vibration, as well as for forming informative attributes of identification of the technical condition of rail infrastructure. In this case, the estimates of the characteristics of the useful signal and the noise are used as the main carrier of diagnostic information. Due to the simplicity and reliability of the developed theoretical algorithms, the implementation of the technical equipment and its installation in all objects of the railroad track present no particular difficulties. At the same time, the implementation of the Noise system will ensure real-time control of the beginning of changes in the technical condition of railroad tracks during the movement of the rolling stock. This, in turn, will allow timely detection of malfunctions, significantly enhancing the safety of passenger and cargo rail transportation.


Live streaming platforms such as Twitch and Periscope have become some of the most popular synchronous social networking services. To attract viewers, streamers are motivated to broadcast exciting video content while actively interacting with viewers. The emerging stream of research on the live streaming community has examined streamers' motivations and how the viewers react to streamers. However, few studies have focused on understanding the characteristics of popular streamers. Popular streamers create tremendous business value for social media influencer investors, as they have high potential to create persuasive advertisements and endorsements for firms by promoting their products and services. We aim at examining the key characteristics associated with streamers' viewer base, namely their personality, professionalism, and streaming affordance. Based on text mining and analyses of video content, our results show: (1) certain personality traits (such as openness) are negatively associated with both cumulative and current popularity, (2) professional players are more likely to attract a larger viewer base, and (3) social affordance, including profile building affordance, social connectivity, and social interactivity, is positively associated with both cumulative and current popularity. Our results provide useful insights into measuring and evaluating streamers' popularity, which can, in turn, generate actionable strategies for social media influencer investors and platform operators.


Sharpening filters increase the depth of digital images by adding a fraction of their gradient. This portion is tuned by a coefficient which is usually selected according to rules of thumb or subjective evaluation. This paper proposes statistical measures for designing such a parameter in a nearly automatic way, avoiding subjective evaluations. The proposed measures are based on the distance between sharpened and equalized images, which serve as an early reference, and test statistics of uniformity of the luminance histogram. More complex measures, based on the trade‐off between skewness and kurtosis, and variance and autocovariance of the sharpened image, are also studied. Numerical applications to various kinds of digital images show that the proposed measures provide similar and acceptable solutions.


Inactive constraints do not contribute to the solution but increase the problem size and burden the numerical computations. We present a novel strategy for handling inactive constraints efficiently by systematically removing the inactive constraints and redundant constraint sets under a mesh refinement framework. The method is tailored for interior point-based solvers, which are known to be very sensitive to the choice of initial points in terms of feasibility. In the example problem shown, the proposed scheme achieves more than 40% reduction in computation time.


Introduction: Two large placebo-controlled phase III trials demonstrated that bezlotoxumab when combined with antibiotics had lower recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) rates compared to placebo. Patients with one or more of these: age $65 years, an immunocompromised state, severe CDI or a prior history of CDI in the last 6 months benefit the most. Those with 3 or more risk factors have the greatest recurrence reduction. We report differences in recurrence rates in patients with recurrent CDI receiving bezlotoxumab stratified by these prespecified risk factors. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients treated with bezlotoxumab from 2017-2021 at Mayo Clinic. Patient demographics, CDI diagnostics, number of CDI episodes, antibiotics received and the number of prespecified risk factors were analyzed. Recurrence was defined as a subsequent CDI episode within 56 days of the previous episode. A Kaplan Meier survival curve and Cox model was constructed to generate hazard ratio (HR) and confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 47 patients treated with bezlotoxumab, of which 59.6% (28/47) were female, with median age 62 years (range 23-94) were included. Patients had a median of 3 prior CDI episodes (range 1-10) (Table). Of these, 34 patients (72.3%) had CDI resolution and the other 13 patients recurred (27.6%). Recurrence rates with different number of risk factors is displayed in Table. Kaplan Meier survival curve analysis showed that after treatment with bezlotoxumab, there was a significantly higher probability of recurrence in groups of patients with 1, 2 or 3 risk factors (log-rank test, p50.018) (Figure). With an increase in the total number of risk factors, there is also an increase in the risk of recurrence (HR 3.97, 95% CI 1.37-11.50) (p50.010). Conclusion: The benefit of bezlotoxumab treatment is lower in CDI patients with a greater number of risk factors. More studies are needed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of bezlotoxumab in patients with a higher number of prespecified risk factors.


Today, I would like to talk about developments and perspectives in the European competition policy against the background of a slow emergence from the worst economic and financial crisis in 70 years. This crisis will leave its mark for many years to come. But the other factor to be taken into account is that markets are evolving fast thanks to technological change. I realize that the typical features of a good enforcement authority are continuity and predictability. However, I believe that it is also our duty to keep our doctrine and operations constantly up to date with changes in the markets and in business practice.


AbstractWith attention to high public concern to dietary intakes of heavy metals from various foods and rice as one of the main food of the people in the Iran, the aim of this study was to survey heavy metals in rice samples of Iran. Based on obtained results, among the metals in some Iranian cultivated rice samples, cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) concentrations were higher than national standard of Iran. But, totally in Iran, average weekly intake for Cd, As, Pb, cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) were lower than the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO. However, the average weekly intake amount for Hg from rice in Iran is higher than the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO.


Early detection of cascading failures phenomena is a vital process for the sustainable operation of power systems. Within the scope of this work, a preventive control approach implementing an algorithm for selecting critical contingencies by a dynamic vulnerability analysis and predictive stability evaluation is presented. The analysis was carried out using a decision tree with a multi-parameter knowledge base. After the occurrence of an initial contingency, probable future contingencies are foreseen according to several vulnerability perspectives created by an adaptive vulnerability search module. Then, for cases identified as critical, a secure operational system state is proposed through a vulnerability-based, security-constrained, optimal power flow algorithm. The modular structure of the proposed algorithm enables the evaluation of possible vulnerable scenarios and proposes a strategy to alleviate the technical and economic impacts due to prospective cascading failures. The presented optimization methodology was tested using the IEEE-39 bus test network and a benchmark was performed between the proposed approach and a time domain analysis software model (EMTP). The obtained results indicate the potential of analysis approach in evaluating low-risk but high-impact vulnerabilities in power systems.


The present investigation was carried out at Research Farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The experimental material consisted of three genotypes of resistant mungbean and urdbean donor each viz., HUM-16, TMB-37, Samrat and Pant U-31, Uttara, Sekhar, respectively; with a susceptible donor of LGG 450 and Barabanki local for mung and urd, respectively. Six intraspecific and four interspecific crosses were made and P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 BC 1 , BC 2 population were grown in RBD design with three replications. The observations were recorded for thirteen different quantitative as well qualitative traits viz., Days to 50 flowering, Plant height (cm), Number of primary branches, Cluster per plant, pods per cluster, Number of pods per plant, Days to maturity, Pod length (cm), Grains per pod, 100 seed weight (g), Harvest index, Phenol content (mg) and Grain yield per plot (kg).n Basedon the joint scaling test few intraspecific combinations showed the presence of epistasis; whereas in most of the interspecific crosses epistasis was observed. As per the three parameters model additive and/or dominant components seems to play an important role in the inheritance of most of the yield attributing traits in intra and interspecific crosses. As evident from the six parameter model, preponderance of significant reducing (-ve) additive gene effects in intraspecific crosses were observed, whereas additive and dominance components were equally important in interspecific crosses for the expression of most of the yield attributing traits. Among epistatic interactions additive x additive gene effects for days to 50 per cent flowering and dominant x dominant gene effect for 100 seed weight in four intraspecific crosses, whereas in interspecific crosses all three types of epistatic interactions were observed for the expression of most of the yield attributing traits. In most of the intra as well as interspecific crosses, duplicate type of epistasis was observed.


AIMS
This study represents the first report on the distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotype among recurrent tonsillitis patients. We recruited 34 Lebanese pediatric patients diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis and had their DNA typed using sequence-specific primer technique for the presence of 16 KIR loci.

RESULTS
We observed that 25 different KIR genotypes were present similar to the general control population with the same KIR gene content. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of the activating and inhibitory KIR genes between the two categories. Like in the general control population, we noted a predominance of the AB genotype; however, the KIR genotypic distribution among the tonsillitis patients was much more heterogeneous with even new genotypes not reported in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
Although the sample size is small, this first study observes an interesting heterogeneous KIR gene profile in recurrent tonsillitis that warrants larger and further research in the area for the true biological and clinical significance of this observation.


COVID-19 has posed a significant threat to the global education system. Rethinking alternative classes for continuing education is the central issue for coping with the new-normal system. The study aims to seek the preparedness and practicality of online education in developing countries from Bangladesh's perspective. The study examined primary data collected through a survey. In line with the descriptive analysis of the collected data, a logistic regression model has been applied to justify the hypotheses. Among sixteen variables, we have found seven variables that significantly impact the students' opinion regarding conducting classes in online. The findings show a positive association of lack of high internet speed, frequent disconnection issues during class time, mental stress about COVID-19, lack of engaging course contents, and deteriorating family financial condition with students' unwillingness towards online class during COVID-19.The study also revealed that students who have technical expertise in online classes are more interested in this type of class format. In this changing circumstance, online class format is an alternative channel to maintain the continuity in higher studies in Bangladesh. Thus the educational institutions can arrange training programs for teachers to improve the course contents. The institutions can also support the students by providing financial assistance for purchasing devices, internet data packages, guidelines for joining in online class and consulting to relieve mental stress. The government can also play a significant role by ensuring nationwide high-speed internet service and subsidy to purchase internet data for the students.
Journal of Business Studies, Vol. XLII, No. 1, April 2021 Page 133-150


Are the sleep-dependent offline performance gains of visual perceptual learning (VPL) consistent with a use-dependent or learning-dependent model? Here, we found that a use-dependent model is inconsistent with the offline performance gains in VPL. In two training conditions with matched visual usages, one generated VPL (learning condition), while the other did not (interference condition). The use-dependent model predicts that slow-wave activity (SWA) during posttraining NREM sleep in the trained region increases in both conditions, in correlation with offline performance gains. However, compared with those in the interference condition, sigma activity, not SWA, during NREM sleep and theta activity during REM sleep, source-localized to the trained early visual areas, increased in the learning condition. Sigma activity correlated with offline performance gain. These significant differences in spontaneous activity between the conditions suggest that there is a learning-dependent process during posttraining sleep for the offline performance gains in VPL.


Summary In presenting a broad review of motorway foundation problems, the paper deals not only with bridges and other structural works but also with embankment and carriageway construction. The site investigation requirements are indicated and the design processes outlined. Reference is made to mining and the special difficulties encountered where motorways are located through the coalfields. Illustrations of design and construction problems are given from various motorways in England and Wales.


According to the Efficient Market Hypothesis, greater firm specific stock price variation reflects higher intensity firm specific information capitalization in stock price. In this study we propose that higher firm specific price variation maybe an indicator of greater functional-form market efficiency. We regress PER (Price to Earning Ratio) as a proxy of efficiency of investment as a function of Y (Firm Specific Stock Price Variation) as a proxy of firm specific information capitalization in stock price. We provide new evidence that Indonesian Capital Market does not efficient yet because the result at 2003 and 2004 does not consistent. With coefficient determination (IV) only 25.27% show that we should include another explanatory variable to explain about investment efficiencyKeywords: Firm-Specific Stock Price Variation, Investment Efficiency, Efficient Market Hypothesis


Interest in powerful, nanosized tools to analyze in detail glycan-protein interactions has increased significantly over recent years. Here, we report two complementary approaches to characterize such interactions with high sensitivity, low sample consumption, and without the need for sample labeling, namely, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and an approach that combines limited proteolysis and mass spectrometry. Combination of these two approaches to investigate glycan-protein interactions allows (1) to characterize interactions through kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, (2) to capture efficiently the carbohydrate-binding protein, and (3) to identify the interacted protein and its carbohydrate binding site by mass spectrometry. As a proof of principle, the interaction of the galactose-specific legume lectin Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin with several sugars has been characterized in-depth by means of these two approaches.


Abstract A conducive regulatory environment is crucial for ensuring the safety and effective promotion of insects for direct and indirect human consumption. In this review, national and regional policies, regulations, and relevant publications in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) were examined for their take on the use of insects as food and feed. Majority of the SSA countries (91.7%) lacked food safety policies, and of the four countries (8.3%) that had, only one considered the 'risk-based approach' for assessing food safety. Two policies, one in Malawi and the other in Tanzania respectively, recognized insects' use. The lack of regulatory frameworks in most SSA countries is partly attributed to inadequate scientific data regarding insects' biological, chemical and physical safety. This potentially exposes consumers to health hazards and limits income from insect and insect-based food and feed operations. However, some information and/or data to inform policy, and in a few cases to develop standards, has been generated by several research and development projects in the region. The need for supportive regulations toward the use of insects has been recognized and is being acted upon in a number of SSA countries. For effective promotion of insects as food and feed in SSA, countries need to generate risk assessment data as recommended by Codex Alimentarius and develop and implement relevant standards.


In 1991, Canadian Institute for Radiation Safety (CAIRS) conducted a radon screening program in all Metropolitan Toronto public schools. Birch Cliff Public School had a radon progeny level higher than the action level of 4.16 x 10(-7) Jm-3 (20 mWL). Follow-up radon testing was carried out at the school. Locations on the ground floor and in the basement were tested. All locations on the ground floor had radon progeny levels below the action level. Six locations in the basement had readings above the action level. All cracks and openings in the basement were sealed and a new heating/ventilating (HV) system for the basement was designed and installed. Then, the basement was tested again. Radon progeny levels are now well below the action level with an average of 7.43 x 10(-8) Jm-3 (3.57 mWL). This is about one fifth of the average radon progeny level found in the first stage of follow-up testing.


A degraded oak savanna in southwestern Wisconsin is being restored using intensive cutting of undesirable shrubs buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)-and selective removal of trees that are crowding the open-grown bur (Quercus macrocar/Ja) and white (Q. alba) oaks. Land use records and historic aerial photographs have been used to guide the restoration process. Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), black walnut Uuglans nigra), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and black oak (Q. velutina) are being removed by cutting and burning or by converting to lumber or firewood. Hundreds of aspen (Po/Julus tremuloides and P. grandentata! have been killed by girdling with subsequent cutting and burning. Management involves controlled burns and extensive weed control. Removal of invasive shrubs and trees has exposed the ground layer to higher light intensities and stim ulated the growth of savanna forbs and grasses. A number of typical herbaceous savanna species have reappeared after clearing or have been successfully introduced from local sources. However, control of brambles (Rubus spp.) and regrowth of buckthorn and honeysuckle remain principal problems. One savanna species endangered in Wisconsin purple milkweed (AsclelJias purpurascens }-was first seen in the savanna after a single controlled burn, and appears to be spreading. The redheaded woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), a typical savanna bird, was first seen after shrub and canopy clearing in the savanna. Tree removal is a slow and expensive operation, and strategies for preventing damage to the groundlayer during tree removal had to be devised. About 70 acres (Z8 hectares) of savanna have been restored during nine years. ma.crocarpa, Quercus alba, Asclepias purpurascens, invasive plant removal, MelanerlJes erythro cephalus


S-glutathionylation, the post-translational modification forming mixed disulfides between protein reactive thiols and glutathione, regulates redox-based signaling events in the cell and serves as a protective mechanism against oxidative damage. S-glutathionylation alters protein function, interactions, and localization across physiological processes, and its aberrant function is implicated in various human diseases. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of S-glutathionylation and describe the changing levels of expression of S-glutathionylation in the context of aging, cancer, cardiovascular, and liver diseases.


The purpose of this study is to offer a critical consideration of instructional software designed particularly for children. Since the early 1990s computer applications integrating education with entertainment have been adopted on a large scale by both educators and parents. It is expected that through edutainment software the process of learning is going to be colorful and fun and that learners can acquire information without work and serious study. The aim of this article is to draw attention to possible harmful effects of this wholesale adoption of edutainment software, particularly to introducing learning "as a bitter medicine that needs the sugar-coating of entertainment to become palatable" (Resnick, 2004). It argues that it may be time to examine critically the educational potential of such software together with the advantages and disadvantages it might bring to the instructional process. The discussion focuses, after a brief definition of edutainment, on five English language teaching software packages for kids which are randomly selected from the market. They are examined through McKenzie's (2000) Assessment Chart to see to what extent the implementation of edutainment software has been able to match their promises. The study calls for critical awareness of how instructional software is impacting education and at the same time for the engagement of teachers in exploring the computer applications that shape classroom learning and teaching.


A 15-year-old girl with severe factor VII deficiency and chronic arthropathy showed an excessively prolonged bleeding time. Further studies demonstrated low platelet adhesiveness and abnormal platelet aggregation with ADP, collagen and epinephrine. Release of 14C-serotonin was deficient after aggregation with ADP and epinephrine, but was normal with thrombin. Transfusion of plasma or prothrombin complex concentrate resulted in a partial or complete correction of the bleeding time, respectively, but had no effect on in vitro platelet function tests. Both parents and the only sister had factor VII activities of 42%-72% and factor VII antigen levels of 45%-66% of normal and may thus be heterozygotes with respect to factor VII deficiency. All three had normal bleeding times in spite of abnormal in vitro platelet functions. The observations are interpreted to mean that in this family with factor VII deficiency and abnormal platelet release reaction the platelet abnormality as such was not sufficiently severe to prolong the bleeding time unless the factor VII activity was also very low.


This chapter provides an overview of the Satoyama Initiative and findings from the Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Peru, held in June 2016. The Satoyama Initiative is a global effort with the vision of realizing "society in harmony with nature", focusing on the revitalization and sustainable management of so-called "socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes". A global network, the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), was founded through cooperation between the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the United Nations University in 2010 to facilitate implementation. IPSI provides more than 200 member organizations with opportunities to collaborate and share their information and experiences. The Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Peru was organized by IPSI to bring together people involved with various related activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, and to investigate issues facing production landscapes and seascapes in the region.


OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection.

DESIGN
Cross sectional study.

SETTING
School children of the Autonomous Community of Madrid.

PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS
560 school children of 4 and 17 years-old.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
ELISA II the anti-HCV appeared in 0,36% of population.

CONCLUSIONS
Our prevalence is the same a other studies and we think that it haven't different factors in our community different of others with a similar prevalence in adults population.


The Supreme Court ruled that regarding unregistered buildings or buildings under construction that do not have a building register because they have not received approval from the proper licensing authorities, the execution of corporeal movables according to the civil enforcement law article 189, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1 does not apply. However, because these building cannot have preservative registration of title or seizure registration, the execution of real estate is also not permitted. Thus, even though the properties belong to the debtor, the creditor has no way of carrying out forcible execution regarding those buildings. This can only be described as a dereliction of the judicature, which runs counter to the constitutional principles that must safeguard the property rights of citizens. Objectively, it is proper in terms of private law justice that all property rights of debtors that have economic value should clearly come under the execution rights of creditors. Of course, there needs to be limits to the execution rights according to the needs of public interest that must guarantee a minimum level of living standard to debtors, but in case of unregistered buildings or buildings under construction, their property values are very significant, and for the debtors to use the method of intentionally not applying for approval but using them illegally, thus stripping the creditors' execution rights, or not pay the bills for the construction of the building and thus incur tremendous economic loss to creditors such as construction companies, for them to thus block forcible execution is highly improper. Accordingly, there is a need to introduce such things as sign registration adopted by Japanese Law of Real Estate Registration and, if there is an application of execution regarding an unregistered building or building under construction, register it through the official authority and publicly announce it. In such case, the auction will be carried out according to the method of compulsory real estate execution, so there will not be any problem. It would also be preferable to auction surface rights or lease rights at the same time along with buildings under construction and unregistered buildings, to carry out compulsory execution using a block sale method. Moreover, according to existing laws, there is a need to change the above precedent and allow compulsory executions using the method of execution of corporeal movables, and in case a current bailiff is in charge of carrying out the execution of corporeal movables, to make a judicial clerk take over the charge according to real estate execution laws. Changes in the precedents or revisions in related laws are needed to acknowledge the legal surface rights of those who have purchased buildings under construction, and, during the process of guaranteeing land purchase claim or executing corporeal movables regarding an unregistered building, if the building is completed, it is preferable to acknowledge its identity and guarantee the creditor's compulsory execution rights regarding unregistered buildings or buildings under construction through such things as revising the laws and regulations for recognizing conversions to real estate execution procedures and strengthening public regulations against illegal buildings.


Tourism industry is one of the most prominent and largest industries nowadays. In the global tourism market that is vastly expanding and getting more competitive with the break through and the presence of new tourism destinations, the mature destinations gain more popularity through repeated visits. This is clearly depicted by Malacca, a historical tourism destination that takes pride in being the initiator of Malaysia's historical and cultural legacy. Malacca's reputation as the centre of trading empire during circa 1300 to 1500 is made possible by its strategic location along the Strait of Malacca. This study aims to find out the destination attributes that become the catalyst for repeating visits to Malacca. On the other hand, this study's objective is to analyze the correlation between the tourists' satisfaction and the destination attributes that encourage the repeating visit, and also the correlation between the destination attributes and tourists repeating visits to Malacca. The study sample is 358 domestic tourists that have visited Malacca at least once and the instrument used in the study takes the form of survey. The data was analyzed by using 'Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.0' software by obtaining the percentage value and the total mean score. The findings of this study could conclude that historical attraction is the attribute that gets the highest mean score which is 4.37. In addition to that, the correlation between the tourists' satisfaction with the destination attributes which are recreational tourism attraction, cleanliness and spending (RM) during their stay in Malacca show a strong connection. On the other hand, destination attributes such as historical tourism attraction, food diversity, accessibility, accommodation, road signage, quality of frontline workers, infrastructure, safety, food price and the intimacy of Malacca's people portray an intermediate correlation. Next, the correlation between destination attribute (ranking) with repeating visit to Malacca shows an insignificant value.


The duality cascade, and its dual description as string theory on the warped deformed conifold, brings together several sophisticated topics, some of which are not widely known. These lectures, which contain a number of previously unpublished results, and are intended for experts as well as students, seek to explain the physics of duality cascades. Seiberg duality is carefully introduced, with detailed attention to the physical implications of duality away from the far infrared. The conifold is briefly introduced and strings on the conifold (the Klebanov-Witten model) are discussed. Next, fractional branes are introduced. The duality cascade is then constructed in field theory and in its dual supergravity description. Among the newly published results: it is shown why supergravity sees the cascade as smooth; how the two holomorphic couplings (dilaton and integrated two-form in supergravity) are related to the three physical couplings in the gauge theory; that there are actually twice as many approximate fixed points in the cascade as might be naively expected. These notes are based on lectures given at TASI 2003 and at the 2003 PIMS Summer School on Strings, Gravity & Cosmology.


Medullary interneurons of the preBötzinger complex assemble excitatory networks that produce inspiratory-related neural rhythms, but the importance of somatodendritic conductances in rhythm generation is still incompletely understood. Synaptic input may cause Ca2+ accumulation postsynaptically to evoke a Ca2+-activated inward current that contributes to inspiratory burst generation. We measured Ca2+ transients by two-photon imaging dendrites while recording neuronal somata electrophysiologically. Dendritic Ca2+ accumulation frequently precedes inspiratory bursts, particularly at recording sites 50–300 μm distal from the soma. Preinspiratory Ca2+ transients occur in hotspots, not ubiquitously, in dendrites. Ca2+ activity propagates orthodromically toward the soma (and antidromically to more distal regions of the dendrite) at rapid rates (300–700 μm/s). These high propagation rates suggest that dendritic Ca2+ activates an inward current to electrotonically depolarize the soma, rather than propagate as a regenerative Ca2+ wave. These data provide new evidence that respiratory rhythmogenesis may depend on dendritic burst-generating conductances activated in the context of network activity.


The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) is implicated in enhancing inflammatory reactions of skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. To determine whether 5-HT acts, in part, through mast cells (MC), we first established that mouse bone marrow-derived MC (mBMMC) and human CD34+-derived MC (huMC) expressed mRNA for multiple 5-HT receptors. We next determined the effect of 5-HT on mouse and human MC degranulation, adhesion, and chemotaxis. We found no evidence that 5-HT degranulates MC or modulates IgE-dependent activation. 5-HT did induce mBMMC and huMC adherence to fibronectin; and immature and mature mBMMC and huMC migration. Chemotaxis was accompanied by actin polymerization. Using receptor antagonists and pertussis toxin, we identified 5-HT1A as the principal receptor mediating the effects of 5-HT on MC. mBMMC from the 5-HT1A receptor knockout mouse (5-HT1AR−/−) did not respond to 5-HT. 5-HT did induce accumulation of MC in the dermis of 5-HT1AR+/+ mice, but not in 5-HT1AR−/− mice. These studies are the first to demonstrate an effect of 5-HT on MC. Furthermore, both mouse and human MC respond to 5-HT through the 5-HT1A receptor. Our data are consistent with the conclusion that 5-HT promotes inflammation by increasing MC at the site of tissue injury.


Location based applications exploits the focusing capabilities of mobile device to determine the current position of user, and specifies the query results to capture the neighboring points of interest. As Location knowledge is truly recognized as personal information, One of the immediate issues hampering the wide reception of location-based applications is the defect of appropriate methodologies that gives grain privacy controls to user without affecting the usability of service. In this paper the propose system is an innovative approach that simultaneously ensures both the privacy and the integrity. This is achieved by using space encryption as the basis of our approach and then devising techniques that enable the data users to audit the integrity of the query result for the most important spatial query types: range queries and k -nearest-neighbor queries (k NN). And it can be done by using the MR-tree, an index based on the R*-tree, capable of authenticating arbitrary spatial queries. We can show, analytically and experimentally, that the MRtree is considerably faster to build and consumes less space. The MR-tree combines concepts from MB and R*-trees.


Stabilized soil is widely used as road base and sub-base materials, and is sometimes used as covering for waste matter in China. In soil stabilization, the property of a locally available soil are usually modified though chemical stabilization[1]. Cement stabilization and lime stabilization are the two most commonly used methods. Lime-fly ash stabilized soil has been widely applied in road engineering due to its good integrity, great bearing capacity, high stiffness, and water-proofing quality[2-4]. One disadvantage of lime-fly ash stabilized soil is that without any additives, its inherent low initial strength makes it inappropriate for use under low-temperature conditions. Researchers have found that the pozzolanic reactivity among lime, fly ash, and soil contributes to the strength of lime-fly ash stabilized soil. To increase the initial strength of lime-fly ash stabilized soil, many approaches have been used to accelerate the pozzolanic reaction. Sulfate activation is one of the methods that has been widely investigated, specifically, Na2SO4 and CaSO4[5]. PG, another sulfate, has also been investigated. However, existing studies have limited to the investigation of the development of strength of the stabilized soil as road base and sub-base materials. The effect of PG on the durability of stabilized soil has rarely been implicated. This work aims to study the effect of thermally treated PG (400°C) on the properties of durability, in addition to other aspects, of lime-fly ash stabilized soil. Lime-fly ash stabilized soil with different proportions of calcined PG were prepared and cured at normal conditions for 7 d and 28 d. Mass loss and strength loss under different treatments were determined. X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) photos were examined to gauge whether improvements in the performances of the stabilized soil can be obtained by use of thermally treated PG.


Load representation has a significant impact on power system analysis and control results. Currently, static load models are still popular in power industry for transient stability analysis. Dynamic load models are recommended in both industry and academia for possible improvement in analysis accuracy. The accuracy of using static (nonlinear) load models with suitably identified parameters for transient stability analysis is examined. Numerical studies conducted using on-line measurement data indicate that static load models, as compared with induction motor load models, are acceptable for modelling real power behaviours during disturbances and hence are adequate for transient stability analysis. Using multiple sets of on-line measurements, representative model parameters of five static nonlinear load models are derived and their performance in modelling dynamic behaviours of both real and reactive powers is compared. A method is presented to determine a representative set of parameters of static (nonlinear) load models for each loading condition.


A critical review is presented of the results obtained by spectroscopic observations on flames. The objective of the survey is to examine the status, promise, and deficiencies of combustion spectroscopy in its relation to (a) elucidation of the mechanism of combustion and (b) the solution of technical combustion problems. Since important spectroscopic studies have been carried out on low-pressure flames, a discussion of the probable effects of pressure on laminar flame propagation is also included.


Given the post-2008 'evolution' of the term 'terrorist' to incorporate more domestic threats, such as protesters/activists/dissidents, in the West (particularly with reference to the US and UK respectively), the author seeks to question the utility of this development for the purposes of reducing violent conflict. Consideration is given to the Minerva Initiative and the relationship between the security and scholarly community, towards the aim of the United States to manage future security challenges. It is suggested that the increasing militarization of knowledge production, coupled with the militarization of police and civic spaces, is in fact counter-productive to efforts to reduce such (domestic) violent conflict. Considering the recent context of post-2016, 'post-truth' events and the Trump Presidency, along with the 'black propaganda', 'fake news' and hybrid security threat of Russia; the author highlights significant areas of Cold War-esque concern raised from the analysis. In the ongoing Information War context, scholar-activists are needed more than ever. Furthermore, the author suggests an alternative theoretical and methodological approach, incorporating Critical (Feminist) Security scholarship, a radical approach to Peace Economics, and alternative critical (artistic) methods. This ultimately resulted in the author choosing an 'immersive', 'scrap-booking' style for the format of the thesis. The author suggests that critical (feminist) security scholars are best placed to utilise Peace Economics, engaging empathy via concepts such as Sylvester's (1994) 'empathetic cooperation'; developed further by 'CS' scholars such as Sjoberg (2006, 48), who suggest it can be understood as a 'feminist security ethic'. This approach should improve the prospects for a reduction in political violence (often referred to as 'terrorism'). It is suggested the hermeneutic cycle, reflexivity and autobiographical counter-narrative methodological approach, enables the scholar-activist to negotiate a path through the current political and intellectual landscape in academia, whilst also remaining true to activist ideals and aims. In seeking solutions to the problems of today, the author suggests we look to the past...and the Presidency, for 'A (feminist) 'Strategy of Peace' (Economics)'.


Background: Phase 3 studies involving a new asthma therapy combining fluticasone (FLUT) and formoterol (FORM) in a single aerosol inhaler (FLUT/FORM; flutiform ®) either used a spacer or did not. This is the first comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with or without the use of a spacer device.

Methods: Adults and adolescents with mild, moderate or moderate-severe asthma were treated with FLUT/FORM 100/10μg or 250/10μg b.i.d. delivered either with (N=195) or without (N=532) a spacer in 6 randomised, double-blind and open-label, parallel group studies. The endpoint was non-inferiority between spacer and non-spacer groups (concluded if the lower bound of the 95% CI was ≥-0.2L) in terms of changes in morning pre-dose FEV1 and morning pre-dose to 2h post-dose FEV1 over 12 weeks. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was analysed over 8 weeks.

Results: FLUT/FORM was consistently as effective when delivered with or without a spacer at all dose strengths and asthma severities. From baseline to end of study, the LS mean treatment difference in morning pre-dose FEV1 was 0.067L greater without spacer (95% CI: -0.149, 0.015) and in morning pre-dose to 2h post-dose FEV1 was 0.015L greater with spacer (95% CI: -0.051, 0.081). AEs were reported with similar frequency both with and without a spacer (nasopharyngitis: 14 (2.1%) vs 34 (3.2%); asthma: 12 (1.8%) vs 17 (1.6%) patients; cough: 4 (0.6%) vs 10 (0.9%); dysphonia: 5 (0.7%) vs 7 (0.7%)).

Conclusions: Pooled analysis showed that fluticasone/formoterol may be given with or without a spacer device with both approaches providing similar efficacy and tolerability.


Abstract Politically and botanically diverse, the Caribbean region is a biodiversity hotspot. Current estimates for seed plant species richness are nearly 11,000 indigenous taxa, of which approximately 72% are endemic to the region. Politically, the region comprises independent countries as well as overseas territories and countries of the European Union member states and the United States. Success in implementing the 2010 targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) across the region was mixed, and a lack of capacity was consistently cited as a major impediment to full implementation. Several regional initiatives promote coordinated conservation activities and disseminate key information needed for GSPC implementation, including the Caribbean Botanic Gardens for Conservation, whose last meeting in Cuba identified capacity gaps needed for achieving GSPC success. This echoed an earlier regional GSPC workshop held in Montserrat and coordinated by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD). RBG Kew has an active regional training program and is working with international partners to respond to needs identified locally. This coordinated approach, together with the development of the GSPC Toolkit, can provide a roadmap to meet the challenges of building capacity to achieve the revised 2020 targets in this biodiverse region.


Western depictions of Turkish politics have finally begun to catch up with the authoritarian reality. As late as May 2012, Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, could state [1] confidently that "the Justice and Development Party has done everything that it can" to forge "a more democratic, open country." A year-anda-half later, Cook would bemoan [2] Turkey's "democratic mirage," citing Erdogan's penchant for "using the institutions of the state for retribution and political intimidation" and manipulating the judiciary for "his own political ends."


Abstract. Obtaining regional volume changes from a deformation field is more precise when using simplex counting (SC) compared with Jacobian integration (JI) due to the numerics involved in the latter. Although SC has been proposed before, numerical properties underpinning the method and a thorough evaluation of the method against JI is missing in the literature. The contributions of this paper are: (a) we propose surface propagation (SP)—a simplification to SC that significantly reduces its computational complexity; (b) we will derive the orders of approximation of SP which can also be extended to SC. In the experiments, we will begin by empirically showing that SP is indeed nearly identical to SC, and that both methods are more stable than JI in presence of moderate to large deformation noise. Since SC and SP are identical, we consider SP as a representative of both the methods for a practical evaluation against JI. In a real application on Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative data, we show the following: (a) SP produces whole brain and medial temporal lobe atrophy numbers that are significantly better than JI at separating between normal controls and Alzheimer's disease patients; (b) SP produces disease group atrophy differences comparable to or better than those obtained using FreeSurfer, demonstrating the validity of the obtained clinical results. Finally, in a reproducibility study, we show that the voxel-wise application of SP yields significantly lower variance when compared to JI.


Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the nipple area is extremely rare and can be mistaken for Paget's disease. Case Report: A 47-year-old woman complained of a slowly growing, scaly erythematous plaque around her right nipple which had developed over several years. Paget's disease of the breast was suspected. Biopsies revealed a superficial BCC. The maximum tumor thickness was measured as 1 mm. Considering the superficial character of the tumor, photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a non-invasive approach was performed. Complete remission (CR) with an excellent cosmetic result was achieved after 4 PDT sessions. In the follow-up, CR with no signs of a local recurrence was evident after more than 24 months. Conclusion: In similar superficial cases of BCCs, non-invasive procedures such as PDT can be discussed as an alternative option to radical surgery or radiotherapy, with an excellent aesthetic outcome in carefully selected cases.


Palpable endometriotic nodules deep in the cul-de-sac and vagina represent the extension of intraperitoneal disease. Although such nodules used to be excised with vaginal colpotomy and by tracing the endometriosis to the peritoneum, the dissection of these lesions under laparoscopic visualization had aided in their removal. Of seven patients who were approached with a plan for combined laparoscopic and vaginal excision, five underwent the procedure. The last two required laparotomy due to bowel muscularis involvement.


OBJECTIVE
The electronic health record (EHR) data deluge makes data retrieval more difficult, escalating cognitive load and exacerbating clinician burnout. New auto-summarization techniques are needed. The study goal was to determine if problem-oriented view (POV) auto-summaries improve data retrieval workflows. We hypothesized that POV users would perform tasks faster, make fewer errors, be more satisfied with EHR use, and experience less cognitive load as compared with users of the standard view (SV).

METHODS
Simple data retrieval tasks were performed in an EHR simulation environment. A randomized block design was used. In the control group (SV), subjects retrieved lab results and medications by navigating to corresponding sections of the electronic record. In the intervention group (POV), subjects clicked on the name of the problem and immediately saw lab results and medications relevant to that problem.

RESULTS
With POV, mean completion time was faster (173 seconds for POV vs 205 seconds for SV; P < .0001), the error rate was lower (3.4% for POV vs 7.7% for SV; P = .0010), user satisfaction was greater (System Usability Scale score 58.5 for POV vs 41.3 for SV; P < .0001), and cognitive task load was less (NASA Task Load Index score 0.72 for POV vs 0.99 for SV; P < .0001).

DISCUSSION
The study demonstrates that using a problem-based auto-summary has a positive impact on 4 aspects of EHR data retrieval, including cognitive load.

CONCLUSION
EHRs have brought on a data deluge, with increased cognitive load and physician burnout. To mitigate these increases, further development and implementation of auto-summarization functionality and the requisite knowledge base are needed.


Three strictly anaerobic, methanogenic strains JH1(T), JH4 and JH8 were isolated from rumen of the Korean native cattle (HanWoo; Bos taurus coreanae) in South Korea. The colonies were circular, opaque, and slightly yellowish. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene and mcrA (encoding α subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase) sequences confirmed the affiliation of the novel strains with the Methanobacteriales, and Methanobrevibacter wolinii SH(T) was the most closely related species. The 16S rRNA gene and mcrA sequence similarities between strains JH1(T), JH4 and JH8 and M. wolinii SH(T) were 96.2 and 89.0 % respectively, and DNA-DNA hybridization of the isolates and M. wolinii DSM 11976(T) showed a 20 % reassociation. Strain JH1(T) exhibited 92 % DNA-DNA relatedness with strains JH4 and JH8, and their 16S rRNA gene and mcrA sequences were identical. Cells stained Gram-positive and were non-motile rods, 1.5-1.8 µm long and 0.6 µm wide. The strains were able to use H2/CO2 and formate. The optimum temperature and pH ranges for growth were 37-40 °C and pH 6.5-7.0. The DNA G+C content of strain JH1(T) was 28 mol%. Based on data from this study using a polyphasic approach, the three strains represent a novel species of genus Methanobrevibacter, for which the name Methanobrevibacter boviskoreani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JH1(T) ( = KCTC 4102(T) = JCM 18376(T)).


There are many methods to manage plant pests and diseases. One method that is always used by farmers is chemical control using synthetic pesticides. Utilization of synthetic pesticides inappropriately in terms of kind, target, dose/concentration, technique and time can be unsafe to the environment as well as the consumers. The objective of this research was to determine pesticide residues on fresh vegetables in the central market of Ambon city.  The vegetables being sampled were spinach ( Amarantus indica ), water cresant ( Ipomoea aquatica ), green mustard ( Brassica juncea ) and  long bean ( Vigna sinensis ) collected from Mardika and Passo local markets, Ambon City. Residue analysis was conducted at the Testing Laboratory of the Agricultural Post Harvest Research and Development Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bogor (Laboratorium Pengujian, Balai Besar Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pasca Panen Pertanian, Kementrian Pertanian, Bogor).  The results showed that the residues of Organochlorine (Chlorinated Hydrocarbons), Organophosphate, Carbamate and Pyrethroid were detected on sampled vegetables from central marketing at Ambon City. The residues of these classes of synthetic pesticides were detected in the form of Heptachlor, Aldrin, Endosulfan, Lindane, Chlorpyrifos, Profenofos, Diazinon, Monocrotophos, Parathion, Carbofuran, and Cypermethrin.  The residues detected were below Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) based on SKB of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture (Menteri Kesehatan dan Menteri Pertanian) No. 881/MENKES/SKB/VIII/1996 and No. 711/Kpts/TP270/8/96, and The Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture (Peraturan Menteri Pertanian) No.27/Permentan/ PP.340/5/2009


Anesthetics modify regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion but their effects on global function in this setting are less clear. Aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that xenon would limit global LV dysfunction as caused by acute anterior wall ischemia, comparable to ischemic preconditioning. In an open-chest model under thiopental anesthesia, 30 pigs underwent 60-minute left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. A xenon group (constant inhalation from previous to ischemia through end of reperfusion) was compared to control and ischemic preconditioning. Load-independent measures of diastolic function (end-diastolic pressure-volume relation, time constant of relaxation) and systolic function (end-systolic pressure-volume relation, preload-recruitable stroke work) were determined. Heart rate, arterial pressure, cardiac output, and arterial elastance were recorded. Data were compared in 26 pigs. Ischemia impaired global diastolic but not systolic function in control, which recovered during reperfusion. Xenon limited and preconditioning abolished diastolic dysfunction during ischemia. Arterial pressure decreased during reperfusion while arterial elastance increased. Tachycardia and antero-septal wall edema during reperfusion were observed in all groups. In spite of ischemia of 40% of LV mass, global systolic function was preserved. Deterioration in global diastolic function was limited by xenon and prevented by preconditioning.


We develop a recursion for hidden Markov model of any order h, which allows us to obtain the posterior distribution of the latent state at every occasion, given the previous h states and the observed data. With respect to the well-known BaumWelch recursions, the proposed recursion has the advantage of being more direct to use and, in particular, of not requiring dummy renormalizations to avoid numerical problems. We also show how this recursion may be expressed in matrix notation, so as to allow for an efficient implementation, and how it may be used to obtain the manifest distribution of the observed data and for parameter estimation within the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. The approach is illustrated by an application to financial data which is focused on the study of the dynamics of the volatility level of log-returns.


Gaussian time-series models are often specified through their spectral density. Such models present several computational challenges, in particular because of the nonsparse nature of the covariance matrix. We derive a fast approximation of the likelihood for such models. We propose to sample from the approximate posterior (i.e., the prior times the approximate likelihood), and then to recover the exact posterior through importance sampling. We show that the variance of the importance sampling weights vanishes as the sample size goes to infinity. We explain why the approximate posterior may typically be multimodal, and we derive a Sequential Monte Carlo sampler based on an annealing sequence to sample from that target distribution. Performance of the overall approach is evaluated on simulated and real datasets. In addition, for one real-world dataset, we provide some numerical evidence that a Bayesian approach to semiparametric estimation of spectral density may provide more reasonable results than its frequentist counterparts. The article comes with supplementary materials, available online, that contain an Appendix with a proof of our main Theorem, a Python package that implements the proposed procedure, and the Ethernet dataset.


Pistachio nut cream was produced by using pistachio nut, powdered sugar, defatted milk powder, margarine, lecithin and vanilla. Spreadable pistachio nut creams were stored at 4 and 20 °C up to 240 days. Curve fittings of color variables (L, a, b) and moisture content (%), 2-tiobarbutric acid, browning indices, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b values of spreadable pistachio nut cream were investigated during the storage period. Different mathematical expressions investigated for the curve fittings as exponential, logarithmic, rational, polynomial, Peleg, Weibull, Gaussian, power, Fourier and sin functions. Exponential and cubic polynomial equations gave the best fitting results due to the high regression coefficient (r), and lower RMSE (%) and SSE (%) values.


The crystal structure of 1,1-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichlorocyclopropane, (I), was determined from three-dimensional diffractometer data with 2019 observed reflections by direct methods. Z= 8 in the monoclinic unit cell, space group P21/a, with dimensions, a= 1735·1(3), b= 1570·1(3), c= 1111·1(2) pm, and β= 97·09(1)°. The refinement was halted at R 0·061. The x and z projections of the cyclopropane moiety in the molecule are 648 ± 5 pm long, with the projected area at 0·282 ± 5 nm2. The height of the y projection is 880 pm. The crystal structure of 1,1-bis-(p-ethoxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropane, (II), was determined from three-dimensional diffractometer data with 947 observed reflections by application of the tangent formula. Z= 4 in the orthorhombic unit cell, space group Pca21, with dimensions, a= 2291·2(2), b= 1042·4(1), and c= 786·9(1) pm. The refinement was halted at R 0·035. The main difference with the previous compound is that the ethoxy-groups take up a non-symmetrical trans-configuration. The x and y projection diameters of the neopentane group are 633 pm, projected area 0·288 nm2, and height of y, 890 pm.


This study examined semantic satiation in a flanked-category verification task. In the experiment, a target pair (FRUIT grape) was flanked by a distractor (i.e., flanker). There were three conditions; compatible condition in which flankers were semantically related to a target category word (FRUIT grape vs. apple), incompatible condition in which flankers were not related (FRUIT grape vs. coffee), baseline condition in which flankers were not presented. Seventy-three college students participated in the experiment and judged whether or not a instance word was related to a category word in the target pair. As a result, the semantic satiation effect was found regardless of flanker conditions. Additionally, the influence of flanker was not attenuated by prime repetitions. These results were elucidated in terms of decision criterion based on a semantic relatedness of prime and target instance words. A possibility indicated that the locus of decision criteria was shifted to a more careful one by prolonged prime repetitions. Finally, one explanation was discussed that an influence of satiation would be emerged from the process which suited semantic information to the context.


Energy harvesting (EH) module for wireless sensor network has become a promising feature to prolong the conventional battery inside the devices. This emerging technology is gaining interest from sensor manufacturers as well as academicians across the globe. The concept of employing EH module must be cost effective and practical. In such, the use of EH module type besides RF is more realistic due to the size of the scavenger module, the availability of the resources and conversion efficiency. Most of the oil and gas plants have some drawbacks in scavenging RF from surrounding (i.e. router, Wi-Fi, base station, cell phone) due to its placement in remote area and thus limited energy sources could be a threat in this application. Multiple sources, including co-channel interference (CCI) in any constraint nodes is a feasible way of scavenging several wastes from ambient RF energy via wireless mesh topology. In this paper, a 3-node decode-and-forward (DF) model is proposed where the relay node is subject to an energy constraint. Multiple primary sources and CCI are added in the system model known as Multiple-Source and Single-Relay (MSSR). A mathematical model is derived in Time Switching Relaying (TSR) and Power Splitting Relaying (PSR) schemes to obtain an average system throughput at a destination. Numerical simulation with respect to the average throughput and EH ratio was performed and compared with the Single-Source and Single-Relay (SSSR) and ideal receiver. By applying multiple sources and CCI as an energy enhancement at the constraint node, the optimal value of EH ratio for TSR can be reduced significantly by 10% as compared to the ideal receiver whereas the optimal value of EH ratio for PSR is outweigh TSR in terms of overall system throughput.


BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study was to determine if platelet-activating factor is an important mediator that produces vasospasm during reperfusion after ischemia in skeletal muscle.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A vascular isolated cremaster muscle in male Sprague-Dawley rats was coupled with local intraarterial drug infusion as a model to study microcirculation responses to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Arteriole diameters and capillary perfusion were measured using intravital microscopy. Group 1: platelet-activating factor dose response. Group 2: Effects of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor; indomethacin, and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, imidazole, on the response to platelet-activating factor. Group 3: Effects of nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor; N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, on the response to platelet-activating factor. Group 4: Effects of a platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist, CV-3988, indomethacin, and imidazole after 4 h of warm ischemia and reperfusion.

RESULTS
Intraarterial infusion of platelet-activating factor produced a dose-related but mild vasoconstriction. Pretreatment with indomethacin or imidazole resulted in significant vasodilation actually emanating from platelet-activating factor infusion. Nitric oxide inhibition (with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) enhanced the vasoconstriction produced by platelet-activating factor. Pretreatment with CV-3988, indomethacin, or imidazole significantly attenuated ischemia/reperfusion-induced vasospasm and capillary no-reflow in the cremaster muscles.

CONCLUSIONS
Ischemia/reperfusion-induced vasoconstriction is at least in part mediated by platelet-activating factor and thromboxane A(2).


Socio-economic status is commonly conceptualised as the social standing or well-being of an individual or society. Higher socio-economic status has long been identified as a contributing factor for mortality improvement. This paper studies the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations (having GDP as a proxy) on mortality for nine most populous Eurozone countries. Based on the statistical analysis between the time-dependent indicator of the Lee and Carter (1992) model and GDP, and adaptation of the good features of the O'Hare and Li (2012) model, a new mortality model including this additional economic-related factor is proposed. Results for male and female from ages between 0-89, and similar for unisex data are provided. This new model shows a better fitting, and more plausible forecasts among a significant number of Eurozone countries. An in-depth analysis of our findings is provided to give a better understanding of the relationship between mortality and GDP fluctuations.


Transparency has become a key sales pitch for companies! It enables them to show their product and tell the consumers they do not have nothing to hide. But from a technical point of view, transparency implies many risks for product's quality such as photooxidation and other reactions leading to colour change and decrease of product's quality. The objective of this master thesis, conducted within the French company Danone, was to study the impact of transparency on the sensitive molecules present in fermented dairy and plant-based products. The final aim was to propose packaging solutions and to provide design guidelines to integrate transparency into Danone's packaging. The current light test protocol used in Danone was thus assessed to define a new one. Organoleptic evaluation, gas chromatography, pH and Dornic degree, colour and headspace gas composition measurements. (Less)


Autonomous migration is essential for the function of immune cells such as neutrophils and plays an important role in numerous diseases. The ability to routinely measure or target it would offer a wealth of clinical applications. Video microscopy of live cells is ideal for migration analysis, but cannot be performed at sufficiently high throughput (HT). We have developed ComplexEye, an array microscope with 16 independent aberration-corrected glass lenses spaced at the pitch of a 96-well plate to produce high-resolution movies of migrating cells. With the system, we enable HT migration analysis of immune cells in 96-and 384-well plates with very energy-efficient performance. We demonstrate that the system can measure multiple clinical samples simultaneously. Furthermore, we screened 1,000 compounds and identified 17 novel modifiers of migration in human neutrophils in just 4 days, a task that requires 60-times longer with a conventional video microscope. ComplexEye thus opens the field of phenotypic HT migration screens and enables routine migration analysis for the clinical setting.


INTRODUCTION
Seven priority areas were recently identified for research into primary health care. We report on the relevance of research funded under the previous General Practice Evaluation Program (GPEP) to the areas identified.

METHOD
We analysed reports of 52 projects completed between January 1999 and September 2001.

RESULTS
Projects related to the priority areas as follows: quality of care (n = 20, 38%), evidence based practice (n = 11, 21%), models of organisation and care delivery (n = 9, 17%), integration (n = 8, 15%), economic issues (n = 3, 6%), prevention and health promotion (n = 1, 2%) and health inequalities (n = 4, 8%). Thirty-two projects (57%) have implications for further research in quality of care, models of organisation and care delivery, integration, economic issues, and prevention and health promotion.

CONCLUSION
Completed GPEP projects have relevance to the identified priority areas. They provide information to support research applications in the primary health care area funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council, and identify areas for further research.


With smart buildings becoming popular, it is important to track the wastage of energy in public shared buildings to save energy. Current monitoring systems do not provide real-time visibility into the impact of occupants' actions on energy consumption of a building. We propose a system that tracks the energy consumed by users in shared spaces such as offices thereby making them aware and accountable for the energy they consume. Our system combines energy monitoring with localization techniques to generate real-time energy footprints for every occupant in a shared space and provides actionable feedback to them in the form of visualization.


We monitored the plasma and urine osmolalities, fractional excretion of sodium, fractional excretion of chloride, plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH, AVP), aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) before and after acute water ingestion in 12 patients with overt hypothyroidism. The ability of the patients to dilute and concentrate urine was found impaired and the ability of excretion of water load decreased and delayed. Acute water load test was proved to be effective in evaluating the urinary excreting function for the patients. We hypothesize that inappropriate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone and elevated plasma ANP may be homeostatic factors for abnormal urinary excretion in patients with hypothyroidism.


In 1984, a hypertension screening programme was carried out on 13,772 adult subjects in conjunction with a radiological tuberculosis project in the Hungarian town of Csongrád. Among other factors, the effects of a long-lasting and heavy alcohol intake on blood pressure levels were investigated. 21.4% of the men and 2.3% of women admitted to being regular alcohol consumers. Direct and significant relationships were found between the quantity of alcohol consumed and both the systolic (p less than 0.001) and diastolic (p less than 0.05) blood pressures. The prevalence of hypertension (WHO criteria) was higher in heavy drinkers (29.9%) than in abstinent subjects (20.5%, p less than 0.001). When participants were subgrouped according to age groups only the men provided sufficient data. The systolic blood pressure of heavy drinkers was elevated as compared with that of non-drinkers.


This paper investigates the estimation problem for a spatially distributed process described by a partial differential equation with missing measurements. The randomly missing measurements are introduced in order to better reflect the reality in the sensor network. To improve the estimation performance for the spatially distributed process, a network of sensors which are allowed to move within the spatial domain is used. We aim to design an estimator which is used to approximate the distributed process and the mobile trajectories for sensors such that, for all possible missing measurements, the estimation error system is globally asymptotically stable in the mean square sense. By constructing Lyapunov functionals and using inequality analysis, the guidance scheme of every sensor and the convergence of the estimation error system are obtained. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed estimator utilizing the proposed guidance scheme for sensors.


Focal adhesion (FA) turnover has been demonstrated to play an important role in cell migration; however, the mechanism of FA turnover is complicated and requires further investigation. In this study, Rab11, which is involved in endosome recycling, was examined in terms of a direct regulatory function in FA formation during cell migration. Wild-type and dominant negative (DN) Rab11 or shRab11 were transfected into human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells; the cell motility and migration abilities were determined, and localization of Rab11 and FA molecules was monitored by confocal microscopy. The results showed that Rab11 deficiency or the DN form inhibited sarcoma cell migration. Rab11 was also found to be co-localized with recycled β1 integrin and affected FA formation. We further employed immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation to examine the physical interaction between Rab11 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and the results suggested that Rab11 affected cell migration by regulating FAK recycling to aid formation of an FA complex on the cell membrane.


Student disengagement in lectures is a global issue in higher education. Our approach is to apply a student-centred collaborative learning pedagogy into classrooms through a mobile real-time collaborative note-taking application GroupNotes, which allows a small self-selecting group of students to proactively keep each other engaged without requiring the lecturer to change the existing pedagogy. This paper presents the design principles behind the application interface, which enables students to follow principles identified as good practice in undergraduate education while still allowing for the individual to contribute and interact with regard to their own ability and preferred learning style. It provides an individual workspace to each group member, which is shared with and may be viewed and edited by other members in real time. The preliminary test results show that students are more engaged in the lecture with collaborative than with individual note-taking and more satisfied with sharing individual workspaces than with sharing a common workspace.


Abstract In the upper Ohio Valley, Adena mounds and their burials are less complex than, but essentially similar to, those of the major Adena centers of Ohio and Kentucky. Chronologically, they belong in the middle and late Adena periods. Two Adena sites much farther east have been found on Chesapeake Bay; they are closer in trait inventories and in radiocarbon dates to upper Ohio Valley sites than to Adena sites farther west. A reappraisal of evidence from the Northeast, particularly the Middlesex focus of New York, strongly suggests the movement of Adena people as far as the St. Lawrence River, although the proportion of Adena traits diminishes as distance from the Ohio Valley increases. Still another Adena dispersal, probably contemporaneous with this one, has previously been postulated to account for the Copena complex of Tennessee and Alabama. The cause of these rapid and far-reaching movements was probably the arrival or growth of Hopewell people in Illinois and Indiana and soon after in Ohio.


A detailed understanding of flows in thin liquid films is important for a wide range of modern engineering processes. This is particularly so in chemical and process engineering, where thin liquid films are encountered in heat-and-mass-transfer devices (e.g. distillation columns and spinning-disk reactors), and in coating processes (e.g. spin coating, blade coating, spray painting and rotational moulding). In order to design these processes for safe and efficient operation it is important to build mathematical models that can predict their performance, to have confidence in the predictions of the models, and to be able to use the models to optimise the design and operation of the devices involved. Thin liquid films also occur in a variety of biological contexts, including the thin liquid linings of the airways in the lung and the thin tear films that coat the eyes, and greater understanding of these films should lead to improved treatment of diseases in these organs.


The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of fungal organisms (especially Aspergillus species) in feeds used in poultry farms in Sokoto metropolis. During a period of 12 months (from April 2010 to March 2011), a total of 239 poultry feed samples comprising of 204 commercially prepared feeds and 35 self-compounded feeds were collected from 76 identified poultry farms in Sokoto and environs. Of the total 80 questionnaires administered, 76 (95.00%) were responded to. Out of the total samples, fungal species were isolated from 198 (82.9%) comprising of commercially prepared 163 (79.9%) and self-compounded 35 (100.0%) feed samples. A total of 258 fungal isolates were identified out of which 136 (52.7%) were Aspergillus species. The most prevalent species were Aspergillus fumigatus 80 (58.8%) followed by Aspergillus flavus 56 (41.2%). Since Aspergillus species are among the leading mycotoxigenic fungi, this study reveals that a potential exists for the production of mycotoxins that may be of both veterinary public health significance and its attending economic losses.


The software industry is a multibillion industry today .All organizations, individuals and businesses use software today for a variety of purposes that range from paying bills online to managing aerospace systems. However, software by itself is prone to errors and bugs leading to disastrous results at times. This has caused many software agencies to look for standardized software engineering processes which result in increased reliability, less debugging and improved quality control. Six Sigma has taken the manufacturing world by storm with its proven results in increasing quality and reducing defects. It is therefore natural that in the past few years, software corporations and firms are now looking to see how Six Sigma methods can be incorporated into the software engineering process. Many companies have tried and successfully implemented Six Sigma methods in the software development , design and testing processes in Software Engineering. However there is still a lot of skepticism with regard to the application of the Six Sigma process to software .There is also a lack of academic research in this area. This paper is an attempt to clear the misconceptions and demonstrate that Six Sigma can be successfully applied to the software engineering scenario with the help of real time cases. This study was conducted as part of a research project sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology(DST) ,Govt of India.


Trichodina kamchatika Konovalov, Shevlyakov et Krasin, 1970 is redescribed based on specimens obtained from the gills and body surface of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada and its taxonomic history briefly reviewed. This is the first report of T. kamchatika from North America.


With the development of new undergraduate degree programmes within Murdoch University's School of Engineering, the decision was made to offer courses, as much as practical, online. This provides numerous challenges to be addressed including considerations of curriculum design and learning issues. Within the software engineering program, an infrastructure has been developed to address these issues and to enable students to exercise a measure of control over their learning experiences.


In various Mesoamerican cultures, i.e. civilisations of Middle America, a calendar name is part of the antroponym. Besides having conventional personal names, both human beings and deities carry day-names from the 260-day calendar. In addition, world ages or world periods, periods of the traditional 365-day calendar and the 52-year calendar as well as the cardinal directions of the quadripartite world were categorised by day-names of the 260-day calendar. Thus not only human and divine beings but also space and time received designations from this calendar. Moreover, this onomastic practice of giving personal names from day signs of the 260-day calendar - called "tonalism" (from Nahuatl) - is related to the Mesoamerican concepts of destiny and to what is known in history of religions as the "freesoul". Consequently, this anthropnymic tradition provides identity to human, divine beings and spatial-temporal phenomena.


Performance appraisal systems have become usual practice both in private and in the public sector, where they have been made compulsory. Unfortunately, the way such systems are set up and run is very often self-defeating, because on the one hand final users will get messages contrasting with the real reason of creation, and on the other performance appraisal systems tend to favour opportunistic behaviours and, hence, distortions in the reward systems. This paper compares the features of the "sensemaking" process available in literature to the methods through which performance appraisal systems are usually applied; particular emphasis has been given to the analysis of the conditions of effectiveness supporting performance that need constant adaptation to complex environment. This approach is also applied to the analysis of the relation among individual performance appraisal, human resources management, planning and control systems, and their capability of creating or destroying "sense " in organizations.


Photoacoustic (PA) technique has important applications for material characterization and nondestructive evaluation of opaque solid materials. PA microscopy allows the acquisition of information of samples with inhomogeneous structures as agricultural seeds. A determining factor for seed safe storage is their moisture content. Seeds stored at high moisture content exhibit increased respiration, heating, and fungal invasion resulting in poor seed vigor and viability. Low moisture content, in the seed to be stored, is the best prevention for these problems. In this study, Photoacoustic Microscopy (PAM) was used to characterize seeds with different moisture content. In the PAM experimental setup the photoacoustic cell and its sensor, an electret microphone, are mounted on an x-y stage of mobile axes, with spatial resolution of 70 μm. The excitation light source is a fiber coupled laser diode, at 650 nm wavelength, modulated in intensity at 1 Hz of frequency, by the reference oscillator of a lock-in amplifier. By using a microscope objective the laser beam was focused on the seed surface. The resolution was enough to obtain differences in the obtained images, which are dependent on the moisture content. This method, to study differences in the seed moisture content, is nondestructive and could be useful for a sustainable Agriculture.


It's difficult to understand how in 2018, artists took home only about 11.6% of the total industry revenue; the same industry that could not exist without them. This article explores the current state of the music industry and where it will go. It also aims to shed light on the issues plaguing musicians in the 21st century music industry, and how to help those being taken advantage of. Part I of this paper will explore the history of music distribution, to understand how the industry has changed over the years. This includes the transition from physical to digital medium distribution, and the leading figures throughout the music industry. Part II will look at copyright law's effect on revenues and innovation from the perspective of different actors in the industry: Record Labels, Streaming Companies, and Producers. It will examine recent industry data to show how much and where the revenue is going, as well as who it is going to. Part III offers possible remedies and suggestions to the thriving, yet unfair and inequitable industry. These include producer-centered actions such as a public rights awareness campaign, lobbying, and more.


Nowadays, as data becomes increasingly complex and distributed, data analyses often involve several related datasets that are stored on different servers and probably owned by different stakeholders. While there is an emerging need to provide these stakeholders with a full picture of their data under a global context, conventional visual analytical methods, such as dimensionality reduction, could expose data privacy when multi-party datasets are fused into a single site to build point-level relationships. In this paper, we reformulate the conventional t-SNE method from the single-site mode into a secure distributed infrastructure. We present a secure multi-party scheme for joint t-SNE computation, which can minimize the risk of data leakage. Aggregated visualization can be optionally employed to hide disclosure of point-level relationships. We build a prototype system based on our method, SMAP, to support the organization, computation, and exploration of secure joint embedding. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with three case studies, one of which is based on the deployment of our system in real-world applications.


In the aftermath of World War II, twelve million Germans were forced to seek refuge elsewhere in their country. Their sort attracted the attention of Catholic charities such as the Eastern Priests Relief Organization, which provided material and spiritual assistance through a fleet of mobile chapels. This paper claims that this action was a genuinely 'modern' form of missionary work in the sense that both its method and message were a child of its time: dwelling on a culture of generalized mobility and mass communication, it spread the word of a triumphalist church claiming moral superiority over other world views, in particular communism. Moreover, the chapel trucks anticipated a fundamental paradigm shift in pastoral care, bringing the church to the people rather than the other way around.


In this paper the variability of supercapacitor fractional-order model parameters are explored when extracted using a non-linear least squares optimization applied to their constant current discharging behaviour. The variability of parameters extracted 1000 different times applying the optimization process to multiple sets of simulated and experimental data are presented to validate this approach. The experimental results were collected from 4 samples of Panasonic EEC-SSR5H105 supercapacitors (1 F rating) acting as a secondary power source for an Arduino Uno system. Simulations using the average extracted parameters show less than 5% error compared to the experimental results, with all parameters from each sample also showing mean absolute deviations in the micro (10−6) range for the majority of cases.


The present paper embodies the results of studies on the protozoan parasites from 389 individuals of Aristichthys nobillis and Hypophthalmichthys molithrix.Apart from the species of Myxosporidia 20 species have been re- corded,among them,14 species are previously known,namely,Euglenosoma branchialis Davis,Cryptobia branchialis Nie,Costia necatrix Henneguy, Glugea hertwigi Weissenberg,Dermocystidium percae Reichenbach-Klinke, Hemiophrys macrostoma Chen,Chilodonella cyprini Moroff,Glaucoma pyriformis Schew.,Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet,Trichodina pediculus Mueller,T.bulbosa Davis,T.oviformis Chen,Glossatella cylindriformis Chen and Trichophrya sinensis Chen.The remaining 6 species are new to the science,their diagnosis are now summarised as follows: 1.Trypanosoma aristichthysi sp.nov.(Pl.Ⅰ,Figs.5—8)is found from the circulatory system.It has a breadth of 1.2 μ and total length of 31.6 μ The free flagellum is 8.3 μ long.There is a well developed undulating mem- brane which exhibits 5—6 folds.An oval or ellipsoidal nucleus is situated 38% of the total length from the anterior extremity.The cytoplasm contains a few vacuoles.The kinetonucleus is ovoid or ellipsoid in shape,and situated 8% of the body length from posterior end.The blepharoplast is hardly discernible. 2.Cryptobia agitata sp.nov. (Pl.Ⅱ,Figs.9—14)often occurs in enormous numbers on the gill filaments or body surface of the hosts,especially in the case of young fishes.It is triangular or elongated in shape.A blepharoplast is situated at the left side,and about one third of the body length from the anterior extremity.The two flagella,arising from the btepharoplast,are of unequal length.One is anteriorly directed and about the same length as the body,while the posteriorly directed one,which may be attached to the surface of the body for a short distance,is about 1.5 of the length of the body.A rounded nucleus is located near the right side of the middle of the body and contains spherical granules of chromatin,attached to the nuclear membrane. A club-shaped kinetonucleus,which is located at the front of the nucleus, is especially characteristic to this species.The body measures from 4.6 to 7.7 μ (average 6.7μ)in length and 3.2 to 4.6μ in width(average 4.1μ). 3.Eimeria sinensis sp.nov.(Pl.Ⅱ,Figs.15—20)has a spherical oocyst measuring 10.4μ(9.2—10.7μ)in diameter,and with a thick,smooth and transparent wall.The cytoplasm has a coarsely granulated appearance. In mature oocyst,the spore is ellipsoidal in shape and contains two club-shaped sporozoites and a large spore residual body.No oocystic residual body and micropyle are present.There is one small,dark,irregularly shaped polar inclusion. 4.Hemiophrys disciformis sp.nov.(Pls.Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Figs.21—28)was found both on gill filaments and gill rockers.It occurres normally in an enclosed condition or cyst,which appears to be continous with the cuticular membrane of the gill epithellium of the host.Within the cyst the parasite rotates actively.It is round or ovoid in shape.The mouth or cytostome is a slipt-like structure and very difficult to be discerned.Two large oval macro- nucleus are always present.Only one micronucleus is observed between the two macronuclei.The contractile vacuoles are small,ten to fifteen in number.The right side of the body is distinctly ciliated,while the left side is deprived of cilia. 5.Trichodina lieni sp.nov.(Pl.Ⅳ,Figs.29—32)is found from the gills of both two hosts.The denticulated ring is well-developed and consists of 21—25 denticles,the usual number being 22.The hooks are sickle-shaped. The rays are slender and sharply pointed at the end.The striated band has 7 to 8 bars between each two denticles,the usual number being 7.Although the macronucleus has the usual horseshoe-shaped outline,the middle region of the "shoe" is often larger than the portions of two arms.A spherical micro- nucleus is located near the end of one arm. 6.Trichodina minuta sp.nov.(Pl.Ⅴ,Figs.33—38)was found from the gills of both two hosts.The denticulated ring contains from 20 to 25 denticles, the usual number being 22 to 24.The hooks are paddle-shaped and the rays are very short or even lacking.The striated band has 3 to 4 bars between each two denticles, the usual number being 4.The macronucleus is not of the usual type of horseshoe-shaped,but it is often in twisted or fragmentary condition.A spindle or ellipsoidal micronucleus is located near the end of one arm. In addition to the above mentioned species,there is an undetermined intestinal flagellate,Hexamitus sp.


We present Undercover, a primal heuristic for mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP). The heuristic constructs a mixed-integer linear subproblem (sub-MIP) of a given MINLP by fixing a subset of the variables. We solve a set covering problem to identify a minimal set of variables which need to be fixed in order to linearise each constraint. Subsequently, these variables are fixed to approximate values, e.g. obtained from a linear outer approximation. The resulting sub-MIP is solved by a mixed-integer linear programming solver. Each feasible solution of the sub-MIP corresponds to a feasible solution of the original problem. Although general in nature, the heuristic seems most promising for mixed-integer quadratically constrained programmes (MIQCPs). We present computational results on a general test set of MIQCPs selected from the MINLPLib.


Background Psychological support was provided by the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) within the hospitals in the Northern Italy in favor of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in terms of (a) symptomatology reduction related to peri- and post-traumatic stress; (b) clinical improvement over time; and (c) the maintenance of the achieved outcome over time. Methods The population was composed of healthcare workers who spontaneously requested psychological intervention in both the first and the second emergency waves. Statistical analyses were carried out to highlight the differences in Impact of Event-Revised (IES-R) and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) before and after the group intervention. Results In both the first and the second waves, pre-treatment values are higher than post-treatment values for all dimensions of the IES-R. The results show that there are no significant differences between the first and the second wave with regard to the treatment effect. Healthcare workers maintained positive changes over time despite their prolonged exposure to an emergency and the possibility of retraumatization at the onset of a new emergency phase, irrespective of their working place. Healthcare workers who were treated in the first wave showed at the beginning of the second emergency wave less vulnerability and more resilience than those who were treated only in the second wave. Pre-treatment scores of healthcare workers affected by COVID-19 are discussed. Conclusion COVID-19 had a significant impact on the well-being of healthcare workers who were working in hospitals. Psychological support in case of emergency is needed.


Abstract High-resolution bathymetry surveys of Egmont Channel were conducted in 1999 and 2001 using a Kongsberg Simrad EM 3000 multibeam bathymetric system. These data were supplemented with other bathymetry data, seismic profiles, underwater scuba observations, and current velocity data, in order to investigate the geologic and hydrodynamic characteristics of Egmont Channel. Bounded to the north by a linear steep scarp (∼38°) and by a more gradual slope (>10°) to the south Egmont Channel is an asymmetric tidal inlet and the main shipping channel for Tampa Bay, Florida. The cross sectional area (17,964 m2) and the tidal prism (6×108 m3) for Egmont Channel were derived in this study. Currents measured at Egmont Deep and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (∼11 km away) with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, have a high correlation (97%) indicating the current velocities at Sunshine Skyway Bridge can be used as a proxy for current velocities at Egmont Deep. Seismic profile data indicate that both the mouth of Tampa Bay and the bay proper contain many stratigraphically controlled depressions. Egmont Deep is located at one of these depressions. Bathymetry and seismic data indicate that the main ebb jet for Egmont Channel is deflected northward by a local stratigraphic high located at the north end of Egmont Key. The repeated high-resolution multibeam bathymetric surveys document sediment bedform migration. The bottom characteristics of the deep fluctuate due to the erosion and deposition of gravelwaves. Analysis of seismic data and SCUBA observations suggest that the most likely origin for Egmont Deep is a combination of erosion-resistant limestone strata interspersed with pockets of dissolution which is overlain by an irregular bed of mobile sediments. The strong tidal current scour maintains the depth of the feature and assures that any sediment that becomes incorporated in the deep is short-lived.