Consonant production after glossectomy was investigated by means of acoustic and articulatory analysis. Articulatory movements in the midsagittal plane were recorded by real-time MRI (8 images/sec). With this method, near-natural production of sounds embedded in real words could be observed. Relying on measurements between the tongue and alveolar-palatal-velar-pharyngeal contours, a typical distance diagram for normal articulation was compared with the postoperative recordings. We found that two factors have to be fulfilled for as ufficient /s/-production: a narrow constriction in the dental-alveolar region and a restriction of the contact surface to this area. Absence of these characteristics was directly related to the lowering of the centre of gravity measurements of the spectra. If the constriction site was changed towards the palatal direction, the centre of gravity was lowered from ca. 3.5 kHz by ca. 1k Hz. If no narrow constriction was achieved at all, the centre of gravity was even lower.


One hundred ninety patients were considered for surgical treatment of uncontrolled partial seizures. Twenty-seven (15%) had intracranial mass lesions detected during preoperative evaluation. Seizures were present for a mean of 10 years. Sixty percent of the patients had prior negative radiologic studies. The lesions included 19 neoplasms and 8 non-neoplastic structural (non-atrophic) lesions. Refractory simple partial seizures and a changing neurologic examination were more commonly associated with neoplasms. Treatment included biopsy and radiation, mass resection, or subtotal lobectomy. Although any form of treatment gave better seizure control, patients undergoing subtotal lobectomy had more than 95% reduction in seizures.


Meeting housing demands in normal times are difficult but it is even more challenging when resources are stretched thin in the aftermath of disasters and demands become greater. This exploratory research is aimed at finding the problems involved in the implementation of disaster housing programs in order to help improve upon delivery. Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), County Directors of Emergency Management Agencies in Ohio were asked to recall and retell their experiences with sheltering/housing in the aftermath of the last disaster that occurred in their county. The study found out that some of the barriers to successful implementation of shelters and housing programs in the aftermath of disasters were politics and bureaucracy; lack of adequate knowledge about laws governing recovery; lack of recovery plans for functional/special needs population; lack of back-up power to operate emergency operation centers; adoption of forward mapping approach instead of backward mapping approach to implementation and political interference in the hiring of personnel working for county EMAs leading to less qualified people being hired. Recommendation for success and directions for future research were also suggested.


Background: The role of IL-17 and neutrophils in the lung has been described as two intricate but independent players, IL-17 triggering downstream recruitment of neutrophils. Methods: A/J, C57BL/6, IL-17RA-/-, CX3CR1+/gfp mice were infected intranasally by B. anthracis Sterne 7702, its toxin-defective derivative mutant RP42 and the fully virulent 17JB strains. Cytokine productions were evaluated in the broncho-alveolar lavage and the population identified by intra-cellular staining. Results: Here, we identify neutrophils as the primary IL-17-secreting cell subset in an inhalation model of anthrax infection. Using IL-17RA-/- mice, we confirm that IL-17A/F signaling is instrumental in the self-recruitment of this population. Moreover, we show that IL-17A/F axis is critical for survival to pulmonary infection as IL-17RA-/- mice become susceptible to intranasal infection by anthrax Sterne spores. Eventually, by depleting neutrophils in wild type and IL-17RA-/- mice, we demonstrate the crucial role of IL-17-secreting neutrophils for mouse survival after anthrax infection in the Sterne strain model. In accordance, following intranasal infection with a fully virulent strain, neutrophils prove to be critical for survival. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the very intricate role of both IL-17 and neutrophils in the clearance of pathogen and survival to pulmonary anthrax.


Real-time detection of atrial fibrillation (AFib) is made possible by the quality assessment via a 1-D convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) in a processor of a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor patch and a 2-D convolutional neural network (2D-CNN) for AFib detection in cloud. The 1D-CNN is able to filter out the unqualified PPG that is contaminated by motion artifacts and/or ambient light interference. The remaining qualified PPG is then inputted to another built 2D-CNN for detecting AFib. This 1D-CNN consists of four layers of convolutions and max pooling, one long short-term memory (LSTM), and an output dense layer. The 2D-CNN is pretrained based on the electrocardiography (ECG) data from multiparameter intelligent monitoring in intensive care (MIMIC) III database, for which the RR-intervals (RRIs) of ECG data are first extracted in Poincaré images and then regarded as input features to the model for training. This 2D-CNN has also four layers of convolutions and max pooling and four output dense layers. The pretrained model is next fine-tuned based on peak-to-peak intervals (PPIs) of PPG measured from wearable devices as input features for detecting AFib effectively. The quality-assessment 1D-CNN model is implemented in the wearable device to transmit only qualified data to the 2D-CNN model in cloud for AFib detection, achieving power efficiency. Both models are trained by the Adam optimizer. To validate the models, the PPIs of PPG were collected to evaluate the performance of the established models in real time. Experimental results show that the fine-tuned 2D-CNN for AFib detection achieves the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 98.08%, 96.82%, and 98.86%, respectively, the most favorable as opposed to other reported works based on PPG. The models are able to not only assist clinicians in AFib detection but also provide a mechanism to detect AFib via wearable devices in real time.


This chapter discusses the principles that should govern the coordination of the taxes that are levied by the Community's member states. It examines main achievements in the field of tax harmonization since the Community was established in 1958. The chapter reviews some arguments for the preferability of tax diversity to tax uniformity. There may even be some reasons why a dose of tax competition among member states might do no harm. An important rule of "good" tax conduct that the member states of the European Community should adhere to is that their tax systems should have as few cross-border effects as possible. The prohibition on tax burden export cannot deal with the existing levies on natural resources that are charged to domestic as well as foreign users and the proceeds of which flow into the treasury of the source country. A number of additional complications will arise in a common market that increasingly acquires the characteristics of a domestic market.


ABSTRACT Hydroacoustics can be used to assess zooplankton populations, however, backscatter must be scaled to be biologically meaningful. In this study, we used a general model to correlate site-specific hydroacoustic backscatter with zooplankton dry weight biomass estimated from net tows. The relationship between zooplankton dry weight and backscatter was significant (p < 0.001) and explained 76% of the variability in the dry weight data. We applied this regression to hydroacoustic data collected monthly in 2003 and 2004 at two shoals in the Apostle Island Region of Lake Superior. After applying the regression model to convert hydroacoustic backscatter to zooplankton dry weight biomass, we used geo-statistics to analyze the mean and variance, and ordinary kriging to create spatial zooplankton distribution maps. The mean zooplankton dry weight biomass estimates from plankton net tows and hydroa-coustics were not significantly different (p = 0.19) but the hydroacoustic data had a significantly lower coefficient of variation (p < 0.001). The maps of zooplankton distribution illustrated spatial trends in zooplankton dry weight biomass that were not discernable from the overall means.


The leaf ultrastructure of Nicotiana glutinosa L., Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium L., and Physalis angulata L. inoculated with the tomato white necrosis virus (TWNV - Tymovirus) was analysed. Plants were kept in a greenhouse at 25 °C and inoculated with the virus when tree to four leaves were totally developed. Fifteen days after inoculation, samples were collected from the median third of the 3rd or 4th leaf from the apex. The samples were prepared for analysis using conventional transmission electron microscope techniques. The ultrastructural analysis of the chlorenquima cells showed vesiculation and vacuolation of the chloroplasts and mitochondria, presence of multivesicular bodies, and a slight dilation of the plasmodesmata in N. glutinosa and L. pimpinellifolium. In these two species, virus-like particles were seen in the cytoplasm and vacuoles. P. angulata plants did not show subcellular alterations. Macroscopic observations, retroinoculation tests, and ultrastructural analysis showed the presence of local and systemic symptoms in N. glutinosa, latency in L. pimpinellifolium, and immunity in P. angulata.


Abstract. Over the past half-century, drastically increased chemical fertilizers have
entered agricultural ecosystems to promote crop production on the Yangtze
Plain, potentially enhancing agricultural nutrient sources for
eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems. However, long-term trends of
nitrogen dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems and their impacts on
eutrophication changes in this region remain poorly studied. Using a
process-based ecosystem model, we investigated the temporal and spatial
patterns of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen leaching on the
Yangtze Plain from 1979–2018. The agricultural NUE for the Yangtze Plain
significantly decreased from 50 % in 1979 to 25 % in 2018, with the
largest decline of NUE in soybean, rice, and rapeseed. Simultaneously, the
leached nitrogen from cropland and natural land increased, with annual rates
of 4.5 and 0.22 kg N ha−1 yr−2,
respectively, leading to an overall increase of nitrogen inputs to the 50
large lakes. We further examined the correlations between terrestrial
nutrient sources (i.e., the leached nitrogen, total phosphorus sources, and
industrial wastewater discharge) and the satellite-observed probability of
eutrophication occurrence (PEO) at an annual scale and showed that PEO was
positively correlated with the changes in terrestrial nutrient sources for
most lakes. Agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus sources were found to
explain the PEO trends in lakes in the western and central part of the
Yangtze Plain, and industrial wastewater discharge was associated with the
PEO trends in eastern lakes. Our results revealed the importance of
terrestrial nutrient sources for long-term changes in eutrophic status over
the 50 lakes of the Yangtze Plain. This calls for region-specific
sustainable nutrient management (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus applications
in agriculture and industry) to improve the water quality of lake
ecosystems.


This Research aims to study usage of four as fixative with appropriate concentration, until malong fishball obtain with appearance, aroma, taste and texture which can be accept by consumer. Applied treatment was addition of 25%, 50%, 75% tapioca flour and 25%, 50%, 75% sago flour. Observed parameter was proximate test and organoleptic test tards malong fishball. Research result show that malong fishball with different flour formulate favored by consumer. Malong fishball contains: 39,15 water, 3,16 ash, 29,15 protein, 2,44 fat, 42,03 carbohydrat.Keywords: Fishball, Malong Fish, Flour, Consumer Acceptance


CONTENTS Introduction § 1. Young diagram techniques in the theory of varieties § 2. Growth in varieties of algebras. Polynomial growth § 3. Varieties of exponential growth § 4. Superexponential growth § 5. Soluble varieties of almost polynomial growth § 6. The finite basis problem References


The mechanism of the first example of a palladium diene catalyzed asymmetric Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has been validated, with the key palladium intermediates captured and characterized. The identified species corresponding to each catalytic step were firmly associated with the diene ligand in our observations. In the ESI-MS/MS experiments by CID (collision-induced dissociation), the fragmentation of the gas-phase transmetalation species was consistent with the product-yielding process in the reductive elimination step and thus revealed the catalytically active species of the reaction system.


A 41-year-old man with a 13-year history of JI bypass for morbid obesity developed idiopathic cardiomyopathy. A pretransplant CsA pharmacokinetic profile demonstrated inadequate PO absorption with no appreciable enterohepatic recirculation. Inadequate levels occurred after three hours and became undetectable after 18 hours. The patient's status did not permit JI bypass reversal before transplantation. IV CsA was administered before cardiac transplantation, and a continuous IV CsA infusion was maintained for 72 days through episodes of CMV reactivation infection and complications common to the immunosuppressed patient. JI bypass reversal was subsequently performed and IV CsA converted to oral form as intestinal function improved. A repeat PO CsA pharmacokinetic profile demonstrated a threefold rise in peak concentration, delayed smaller peak concentrations representing enterohepatic recirculation, and a steady-state blood level that persisted for 23 hours. We have found that pretransplant CsA pharmacokinetic analysis predicts CsA bioavailability and serves as a guide for achieving optimal CsA serum concentrations; adequate PO absorption and enterohepatic recirculation of CsA depends on the anatomical and functional integrity of the jejunum and ileum; continuous IV CsA infusion can be precisely adjusted for optimal therapeutic efficiency; and long-term CsA infusion can benefit critically ill transplant patients without increased morbidity.


A complete understanding of the kinetic mechanism of fidelity requires comparison of correct and incorrect dNTP incorporation pathways in both the forward and reverse directions. The studies presented here focus on the dNTP-induced conformational step, which has historically been proposed by many to be the major determinant of fidelity. As it was recently highlighted [Tsai, Y. C., and Johnson, K. A. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 9675-9687], chemistry can be the slowest step in the forward direction of the correct dNTP incorporation pathway, yet the corresponding microscopic rate constant would not contribute toward fidelity in the case when the reverse rate of the conformational step is slower than chemistry. Here we use a stopped-flow technique to directly measure the reverse rate of the conformational step in the DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) kinetic pathway. Extensive pre-steady-state kinetic studies presented include the utilization of 2-aminopurine-labeled DNA substrates, 2-aminopurine nucleotide triphosphate, a nonhydrolyzable nucleotide analogue dAMPCPP, and a rapid sequential mixing reaction scheme. Additionally, the effect of mismatched dNTPs, various metal ions, and the presence of the 3'-terminal hydroxyl group of the primer on the rate of the reverse "opening" conformational step were analyzed. Our analyses indicate that reverse "opening" is drastically facilitated in the presence of mismatched ternary complexes, which is in agreement with the hypothesis that the ternary complex is destabilized by the presence of incorrect dNTP. By analysis of the relative magnitudes of chemistry and reverse "opening" in the presence of both matched and mismatched matched ternary complexes, this work further validates that, for Pol beta, fidelity is dictated by the differences in free energy required to reach the highest energy transition state of the chemical step.


. The generation of energy through renewable sources, including photovoltaics, has allowed Colombia to increase the indicators of clean generation, thanks to the fact that it is inexhaustible and increasingly competitive. The installation of solar farms occupies large areas of land, which are no longer useful for agricultural production or maintenance of the environment. This article proposes an agrivoltaic system that will allow to carry out technological, agricultural and environmental studies based on industry technologies 4.0, as well as the coexistence of electricity generation and agricultural activity in agricultural farms on the Colombian Caribbean coast.


Neural processing in the hippocampus (HPC) during sleep is important for declarative memory storage. Previously, we have shown that alternations of sleep‐like REM and non‐REM brain states that involve changing patterns of synchronized oscillatory network activity in the HPC [i.e., theta and the slow oscillation (SO), respectively] robustly and differentially influence excitatory synaptic transmission in a variety of hippocampal pathways. Given that state in the HPC is dependent on variations in cholinergic tone in both sleep and under urethane anesthesia, in the present study we induced theta and SO states via systemic cholinergic manipulations in urethane‐anesthetized rats to confirm similar changes in synaptic responsiveness. This was conducted using linear multiprobe recordings and current source density analysis of electrically evoked potentials in commissural and temporal ammonic inputs to CA1 and medial and lateral perforant path inputs to dentate gyrus (DG). Cholinergic agonism and antagonism induced theta and the SO, respectively, and similarly to the case with spontaneous states, also diminished and promoted, respectively, excitatory synaptic currents in all pathways (except for the medial perforant path input to DG which showed the opposite modulation). These results suggest that both state and cholinergic tone bias the hippocampal network during natural sleep across REM and non‐REM episodes and that this modulation may play an important role in the consolidation of declarative memories. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The use of legumes in a cropping system may provide a variety of benefits. In this study, the effectiveness of selected legume species in providing surface cover was examined. The legumes were interseeded into either conventional or no-till corn, with or without N fertilizer. Both maximum legume cover and maximum cover furnished by corn plus legumes were examined. Mean cover provided during the study period by both the cover crop, and corn plus cover crop was also determined.


Abstract The species composition, distribution, and bionomics of sand flies was investigated from January to December 2017 in four tehsils (20 villages) of district Bajaur (formally Bajaur agency), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In total, 4,173 adult specimens comprising of seven species of Phlebotomus (Diptera: Psychodidae) and three species of Sergentomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) were collected by oral aspirator, insecticide spray, and sticky traps from June to October. Highest numbers of flies were collected indoors in July and August when relative humidity and temperature were highest. Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot (Diptera: Psychodidae) was the most abundant species from all the collection sites, making approximately 70% of the total capture. Combined dwellings and chicken cages harbored the highest number of adult and immature flies (unrotated external genitalia). Abundance of P. sergenti had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive correlation with monthly average temperature, relative humidity, and average rainfall in indoor collections. On the other hand, P. papatasi Scopoli displayed similar correlation in the indoor and nighttime collections. Both the species were apparently abundant in the elevation range ≤ 419 m above sea level and on rangelands. Phlebotomus papatasi, however, also occurred on agricultural lands. The number of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases did not significantly correlate with the abundance of sand fly vectors across the villages surveyed. The results reported herein can serve as a baseline for an all-extensive future work in Bajaur. Our investigations will benefit the public health experts and medical entomologists for improved control and surveillance vectors of leishmaniasis.


All papers published in this volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing. • Type of peer review: Single-blind • Conference submission management system: submissions were received and handled via email • Number of submissions received: 26 • Number of submissions sent for review: 25 • Number of submissions accepted: 15 • Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted / Number of Submissions Received X 100): 60% • Average number of reviews per paper: 1.5 • Total number of reviewers involved: 7 • Any additional info on review process: • Contact person for queries: Jianglian Zhao, Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan, China(email@example.com)


About 10 years ago, a mathematician said that Vietnam did not yet have social science study works. The comment seemed to be a bit harsh, but it did make sense, especially when it comes to international publications.


Exacerbations are a common event in asthma patients and may result in severe symptoms. Typically, the inflammatory phenotype of acute asthma exacerbations is characterized by increased numbers of eosinophils together with large infiltration of neutrophils. Clinical studies revealed viral infections of the airways as the main trigger. Double stranded RNA is produced as an intermediate during replication of all major respiratory viruses that can be sensed via toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). Therefore, we propose a key role for TLR3 in the pathogenesis of acute asthma exacerbations. Our study aimed at i) establishing a mouse model of TLR3 trigged asthma exacerbation, ii) clarifying the underlying mechanisms, and iii) identifying the cell type(s) directing the inflammatory response in acute exacerbation. Intranasal application of synthetic TLR3 ligand poly(I:C) induced an exacerbation of experimental allergic asthma characterized by pronounced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), marked infiltration of neutrophils, mucus production, enhanced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased numbers of TH17 and IL-17 producing NK cells. All these characteristics were absent in IL-17A deficient mice, indicating an essential role of IL-17A in TLR3 triggered asthma exacerbation. In IL-23p19 deficient mice, which lack TH17 cells, local application of poly(I:C) again triggered asthma exacerbation. Interestingly, in mice with antibody depleted NK cells AHR, mucus production and number of eosinophils where ameliorated. Therefore, IL-17 producing NK cells and not TH17 cells play a major role in TLR3 triggered exacerbation of allergic asthma in mice.


In this thesis parameters characterising electrostatic discharges such as the current, the magnetic fieldand the optical radiation are investigated. Optical radiation and magnetic fields generated by ESD aremeasured together with their current signatures in the time domain. Observations show that during theinitial growth, the temporal variation of the optical pulse is similar to that of the current. The peakcurrent is linearly correlated to the peak optical radiation, with a correlation coefficient of about 0.9.The results show that both the optical radiation and the magnetic fields can be used to remote sense thecurrents in electrostatic discharges, which is difficult to measure directly.It is shown that magnetic fields very close to an ESD can be predicted by modelling theradiating discharge current path as a sequence of electric dipoles. Time domain measurements of thecurrent and the magnetic fields generated by human-metal electrostatic discharges produced by an ESDgenerator are used for verification. An ESD current with a peak of 28 A and a risetime of 10 ns cancreate magnetic flux density derivative of about 105 T/s at a distance of 10 mm from the discharge. Current generated by ESD events between metal electrodes and a finitely conducting mediumwere measured simultaneously with their magnetic fields and optical radiation in the time domain.Finitely conducting water was used as the medium. The conductivity of water was changed by addingsalt (NaCl) and an ESD was applied through a point plane electrode configuration with a fixed gapdistance. For a given voltage, the peak current and the peak magnetic field derivative increases withincreasing conductivity. The duration of the ESD current also varies with the conductivity of water. Itincreases with decreasing conductivity initially but reaches a maximum and then starts to decreaseagain. It is shown that an RLC model canpredict the general features of the experimental results. Magnetic fields and optical radiation generated by ESD from metal objects held by peopletogether with their current signatures are also measured in the time domain. The peak measured currentwaveforms are between 25-50 A and the risetime is about 10 ns for a 10 kV discharge, which wassimilar to the current measured from the human body model ESD generator (IEC 801-2). The resultscan be used to estimate the RLC circuit components of the human body model ESD generator.


Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus that infects 100 million people and causes severe disease in ~500,000 people annually. DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted by infected cells and found at high levels in patient sera during the acute illness. To investigate the potential for NS1 as a vaccine candidate, we examined the protective efficacy of immunization with recombinant NS1 protein against lethal DENV infection in a mouse model. Interferon α/β receptor-deficient mice were injected intraperitoneally 3 times over an 8-week period with 20 ug recombinant NS1 with different adjuvants, including alum, Sigma adjuvant system (SAS), CpG DNA, MF59 and/or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA). Two weeks after the third immunization, vaccinated mice were infected with a lethal dose of DENV2. Vaccination with NS1 combined with SAS and CpG DNA provided complete protection against mortality along with reduced morbidity whereas mice immunized with NS1 combined with alum and/or CpG DNA displayed little or no protection against DENV2 challenge. All vaccination groups demonstrated comparable levels of total anti-NS1 IgG; however, mice immunized with SAS+CpG had higher levels of anti-NS1 IgG2b as compared to alum (p=0.057). Data comparing mice immunized with NS1 together with MPLA and MF59 will also be presented. Thus, immune responses to a DENV nonstructural protein can provide protection against severe disease and NS1 may provide an alternative vaccine against dengue.


The Concentrate Questions and Answers series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, diagram answer plans, suggested answers, author commentary, and advice on study skills. This introductory chapter provides an overview of the nature and complexities of the criminal law and the common features of all crimes such as actus reus, mens rea, and the defences. It outlines some techniques for achieving success in criminal law examinations. The chapter notes that to achieve success it is important to exercise good study skills from the outset and learn how to manage your time well. Relevance and structure are vital. Planning answers carefully, and providing critical analysis of the issues raised are essential.


Basing on the carried out investigations it has been shown that the fluoride water from the spring "Zdzisław" from Ladek Zdrój and the aqueous solution of NaF in the F concentration like that in the curative water, used in rats intragastrically in a single daily dose of 14.3 ml/kg of body weight or ad libitum for a period of 20 days, brought about a statistically significant decrease of whole cholesterol, of the HDL fraction of cholesterol, of whole lipids, triglycerides, sodium and magnesium and about an increase of potassium and calcium in the blood serum as compared with the control group of animals. Observed at the same time were changes that testified to the occurrence of respiratory decompensated acidosis and alkalosis. No essential influence of the investigated waters on the protein, carbohydrate metabolism, smear and the morphological composition of the peripheral blood and on the bone marrow smear could be stated. The investigated waters acted spastically on the smooth muscles of the small intestine of the rabbit, they were showing diuretic action in the rats and caused an increased water turnover in the organism.


Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) have similar absorption and disposition characteristics. Absorption after oral administration is good, extensive plasma protein binding results in a small volume of distribution, and excretion of metabolites occurs mainly in the urine after hepatic biotransformation of the active drug. The main clinical indications for use of NSAID's are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, and an increasing list of new indications are continually being found. The disposition, pharmacokinetics and clinical indications of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in domestic animals are reviewed.


How to control excessive water production in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs has always been a challenge, which has been facing many oil reservoirs in Tarim Basin (China), such as Y2 reservoir with an average temperature of 107 ℃, salinity of 213900 mg/L (Ca2++Mg2+>11300mg/L), and permeability from 2 to 2048 mD. In this work, we present experimental studies to determine the potential EOR process for Y2 reservoir from foam flooding, polymer gel/foam flooding, and microgel/surfactant flooding.
 To simulate the permeability heterogeneity of Y2 reservoir, a 2-D sand-pack model was used for flooding experiments. Vertically, three layers (first 0.6cm, second 0.8cm and third 1.6cm from top to bottom, respectively) were packed with different size sand to simulate permeability heterogeneity (permeability increases from first to third layer). A 0.3 cm higher permeability zone was also filled inside third layer. Horizontally, permeability gradually decreases from middle to two sides. In this model, injection well was vertical, and production well was horizontal. The effect of impermeable interlayer was also studied by isolating the second and third layer.
 The results show that conformance treatments using in-situ crosslinked gel or micro-gel are necessary before foam or surfactant injection under a high permeability heterogeneity. When an impermeable interlayer existed between the second and third layer, the additional oil recovery of N2 foam flooding, in-situ crosslinked gel/N2 foam flooding, and microgel/surfactant flooding was 16.34%, 20.37%, 17.50%, respectively, which was much higher than that without impermeable interlayer (9.84%, 13.62%, 12.07%). This implies that when multiple layers exist, crossflow between layers is unfavorable for improving oil recovery, which should be paid extra attention in EOR process. Foam flooding has not only a good mobility control capacity but also a good oil displacement ability (verified by visual observations of washed sand after experiments), which, together with the strong conformance control ability of crosslinked gel, makes in-situ crosslinked gel/N2 foam flooding yield the highest displacement efficiency. Generally, for high-temperature and ultra-high-salinity reservoirs with strong heterogeneity like Y2 reservoir, in-situ crosslinked gel/foam flooding can be a good candidate for EOR.
 This work provides a potential EOR method with high efficiency, i.e. in-situ crosslinked gel assisted N2 foam flooding, for the development of similar reservoirs like Y2 with high temperature, ultra-high salinity, high heterogeneity and multiple layers. Moreover, this work also highlights that, despite that foam has the ability of mobility and profile control, a conformance treatment is necessary to block high permeability zone before foam injection when the reservoirs has a strong heterogeneity.


The nanocrystalline molybdenum oxide embedded Zr-doped HfO 2 high- k nonvolatile memory device has been fabricated using the one pumpdown sputtering process and a rapid thermal annealing step. The majority embedded molybdenum existed in the MoO 3 nanocrystal form but a small amount of metallic molybdenum was also detected. The memory function of this device was based on the hole trapping-and-detrapping mechanism. The embedded nanocrystals retained charges after the breakdown of the high- k stack. The charge storage capacity was influenced by light exposure, especially the wavelength. The silicon/high- k interface was also affected by the exposed light. This study provided an insight of the function of the embedded nanocrystals and the light effects on the device.


This paper presents a new method for computation of the nonlinear flux linkage in 3-D finite-element models (FEMs) of electrical machines. Accurate computation of the nonlinear flux linkage in 3-D FEM is not an easy task. Compared to the existing energy-perturbation method, the new technique introduced in this paper is much easier to use and is computational faster. This method is derived based on the "apparent energy." Calculation of the nonlinear flux linkage from this energy avoids numerical differentiation, which is sensitive to numerical errors but is required in the traditional energy-perturbation method. The new method proposed is validated using experimental results on two different permanent magnet machines.


Autoreactive B cells and plasma cells appear to be of central importance in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by a plethora of autoantibodies. Recent insights into abnormalities of B cell and plasma cell compartments in human SLE have identified a number of cellular disturbances within these compartments that in part correlate with the disease activity. This review discusses these findings and the potential underlying extrinsic and/or intrinsic influences apparently driving general B cell activation in this entity.


Swift GRB 100418A is a long burst at z = 0.624 without detection of any associated supernova (SN). Its light curves in both the prompt and afterglow phases are similar to GRB 060614, a nearby long GRB without an associated SN. We analyze the observational data of this event and discuss the possible origins of its multi-wavelength emission. We show that its joint light curve at 1 keV derived from Swift BAT and XRT observations is composed of two distinguished components. The first component, whose spectrum is extremely soft (Γ = 4.32), ends with a steep decay segment, indicating the internal origin of this component. The second component is a slowly-rising, broad bump which peaks at ∼ 105 s post the BAT trigger. Assuming that the late bump is due to onset of the afterglow, we derive the initial Lorentz factor (Γ0) of the GRB fireball and find that it significantly deviates from the relation between the Γ0 and isotropic gamma-ray energy derived from typical GRBs. We also check whether it follows the same anti-correlation between X-ray luminosity and the break time observed in the shallow decay phase of many typical GRBs, which is usually regarded as a signal of late energy injection from the GRB central engine. However, we find that it does not obey this correlation. We propose that the late bump could be contributed by a two-component jet. We fit the second component with an off-axis jet model for a constant medium density and find the late bump can be represented by the model. The derived jet half-opening angle is 0.30 rad and the viewing angle is 0.315 rad. The medium density is 0.05 cm-3, possibly suggesting that it may be from a merger of compact stars. The similarity between GRBs 060614 and 100418A may indicate that the two GRBs are from the same population and the late bump observed in the two GRBs may be a signal of a two-component jet powered by the GRB central engine.


Among the maritime states of India, Kerala with
a coastline of 590 km and 39,139 sq km of continental
shelf area enjoys the distinction of being the foremost
marine producer and exporter. The potential yield of
the area up to 200 m depth has been estimated to
be about 8 lakh tonnes.


In the Semantic Web vision of the World Wide Web, content will not only be accessible to humans but will also be available in machine interpretable form as ontological knowledge bases. Ontological knowledge bases enable formal querying and reasoning and, consequently, a main research focus has been the investigation of how deductive reasoning can be utilized in ontological representations to enable more advanced applications. However, purely logic methods have not yet proven to be very effective for several reasons: First, there still is the unsolved problem of scalability of reasoning to Web scale. Second, logical reasoning has problems with uncertain information, which is abundant on Semantic Web data due to its distributed and heterogeneous nature. Third, the construction of ontological knowledge bases suitable for advanced reasoning techniques is complex, which ultimately results in a lack of such expressive real-world data sets with large amounts of instance data. From another perspective, the more expressive structured representations open up new opportunities for data mining, knowledge extraction and machine learning techniques. If moving towards the idea that part of the knowledge already lies in the data, inductive methods appear promising, in particular since inductive methods can inherently handle noisy, inconsistent, uncertain and missing data. While there has been broad coverage of inducing concept structures from less structured sources (text, Web pages), like in ontology learning, given the problems mentioned above, we focus on new methods for dealing with Semantic Web knowledge bases, relying on statistical inference on their standard representations. We argue that machine learning research has to offer a wide variety of methods applicable to different expressivity levels of Semantic Web knowledge bases: Ranging from weakly expressive but widely available knowledge bases in RDF to highly expressive first-order knowledge bases, this paper surveys statistical approaches to mining the Semantic Web. We specifically cover similarity and distance-based methods, kernel machines, multivariate prediction models, relational graphical models and first-order probabilistic learning approaches and discuss their applicability to Semantic Web representations. Finally, we present selected experiments which were conducted on Semantic Web mining tasks for some of the algorithms presented before. This is intended to show the breadth and general potential of this exiting new research and application area for data mining.


The Covid-19 pandemic was a great challenge for society. The introduction of emergency measures has completely changed our world and shaped a "new reality". The sphere of education and science has moved into the digital space. Distance education is a forced measure for the continuation of the educational process and the training of qualified specialists. Teachers around the world began to test all sorts of tools, platforms, and devices. One of the methods was to move to the platform Moodle, which is now the most popular system for distance education. In this article, the author aims to study the peculiarities of using Moodle system in higher education. The following methods are used to obtain the results: testing, questionnaire, interview, hermeneutic and comparative methods. The author takes two experimental groups (one of which - future teachers of humanities disciplines, and the second - future teachers of mathematics), which take their training in the system Moodle for five months (one semester). The results showed that the quality of learning has not changed significantly. But students are dissatisfied with the introduction of distance education. Students and teachers note the quality of reproduction of courses on the platform Moodle, with the addition of tests and a variety of additional material, but it does not replace the live communication with the teacher. The system is more suitable for teachers of the exact sciences than for the humanities. They need live discussions in seminars, lectures, and tests that are not suitable at all. The author concluded that the system Moodle perfectly disciplines and structures courses that can be consistently passed and performed tasks, and conduct organizational communication with students, but it is impossible to completely translate the training. Even for students who will become teachers of exact sciences.


The development of large-scale lettuce production in California's Salinas Valley illustrates the tensions between technology and nature and provides a starting point for understanding the complexities of supplying vast quantities of quality fresh produce to consumers in distant markets. The case of iceberg lettuce shows that the industrialization of agriculture was largely idiosyncratic, and the level of industrialization possible for any specific crop varied, depending equally on the nature of the commodity and the willingness of consumers to purchase it. The emergence of lettuce cultivation in the Salinas Valley during the inter-war period highlights how early growers harnessed organizational techniques, transportation infrastructures, and technological and scientific knowledge to transcend both the ephemeral nature of lettuce and consumer taste. Yet, these very same factors also limited the success of valley growers after World War II, despite the best efforts of growers and agricultural researchers to improve lettuce quality.


Ethnopharmacological relevance: Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. (Anacardiaceae) is a medicinal plant known for the treatment of several diseases such as epilepsy, hypertension, inflammation and memory disorders in Cameroonian folk medicine. Aim of the study: The aim of this work is to evaluate the memory improvement and neuroprotective effects of Sclerocarya birrea aqueous root bark extracts and investigate it antioxidant properties. Materials and methods: T-maze and the object recognition test in an open field were used for behavioral testing to detect its neuroprotective and memory improvement properties. The DPPH test was used to predict antioxidant activities in vitro. The in vivo antioxidant activities of the aqueous extracts were investigated using the Monosodium glutamate induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity mouse model. After the behavioral testing, animals were decapitated and the brains were removed for oxidative stress biomarkers determination. Results: Sclerocarya birrea decreased the preferred arm choice latency and the time spent in the discriminated, in the T-maze. It increased exploration time and recognition index, and decreased the latency to explore the new object B. In addition, Sclerocarya birrea increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and reduced glutathione level. Conclusion: These results suggest that Sclerocarya birrea possess neuroprotective and mnemonic activities in mice that might involve by its free radicals scavenging properties


Graphene supported transition metal clusters are of great interest for potential applications, such as catalysis, due to their unique properties. In this work, a simple approach to deposit Au101(PPh3)21Cl5 (Au101NC) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via an ex situ method is presented. Reduction of graphene oxide at native pH (pH ≈ 2) to rGO was performed under aqueous hydrothermal conditions. Decoration of rGO sheets with controlled content of 5 wt% Au was accomplished using only pre-synthesised Au101NC and rGO as precursors and methanol as solvent. High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy indicated that the cluster size did not change upon deposition with an average diameter of 1.4 ± 0.4 nm. It was determined that the rGO reduction method was crucial to avoid agglomeration, with rGO reduced at pH ≈ 11 resulting in agglomeration. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to confirm the deposition of Au101NCs and show the presence of triphenyl phosphine ligands, which together with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, advocates that the deposition of Au101NCs onto the surface of rGO was facilitated via non-covalent interactions with the phenyl groups of the ligands. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the gold loading and both agree with a gold loading of ca. 4.8–5 wt%. The presented simple and mild strategy demonstrates that good compatibility between size-specific phosphine protected gold clusters and rGO can prevent aggregation of the metal clusters. This work contributes towards producing an agglomeration-free synthesis of size-specific ligated gold clusters on rGO that could have wide range of applications.


The temporal and spatial distributions of tropospheric ozone and its precursors (NO2, CO, HCHO) are analyzed over Guangxi (GX) in South China. We used tropospheric column ozone (TCO) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) onboard the Aura satellite (OMI/MLS), NO2 and HCHO from OMI and CO from the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument in the period 2005–2016. The TCO shows strong seasonality, with the highest value in spring and the lowest value observed in the monsoon season. The seasonal variation of HCHO is similar to that of TCO, while NO2 and CO show slightly different patterns with higher values in spring and winter compared to lower values in autumn and summer. The surface ozone, NO2 and CO observed by national air quality monitoring network sites are also compared with satellite-observed TCO, NO2 and CO, showing good agreement for NO2 and CO but a different seasonal pattern for ozone. Unlike TCO, surface ozone has the highest value in autumn and the lowest value in winter. To reveal the difference, the vertical profiles of ozone and CO from the measurement of ozone and water vapor by airbus in-service aircraft (MOZAIC) observations over South China are also examined. The seasonal averaged vertical profiles of ozone and CO show obvious enhancements at 2–6 km altitudes in spring. Furthermore, we investigate the dependence of TCO and surface ozone on meteorology and transport in detail along with the ECMWF reanalysis data, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3BV42 dataset, OMI ultraviolet index (UV index) dataset, MODIS Fire Radiative Power (FRP) and back trajectory. Our results show that the wind pattern at 800 hPa plays a significant role in determining the seasonality of TCO over GX, especially for the highest value in spring. Trajectory analysis, combined with MODIS FRP suggests that the air masses that passed through the biomass burning (BB) region of Southeast Asia (SEA) induced the enhancement of TCO and CO in the upper-middle troposphere in spring. However, the seasonal cycle of surface ozone is associated with wind patterns at 950 hPa, and the contribution of the photochemical effect is offset by the strong summer monsoon, which results in the maximum surface ozone concentration in post-monsoon September. The variations in the meteorological conditions at different levels and the influence of transport from SEA can account for the vertical distribution of ozone and CO. We conclude that the seasonal distribution of TCO results from the combined impact of meteorology and long-term transport.


BACKGROUND
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are inflammatory biomarkers. No studies have yet assessed the suPAR levels in relation with TNF-α in the peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) among cigarette smokers and non-smokers with peri-implantitis.

OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate PISF levels of suPAR, and TNF-α among cigarette smokers and non-smokers with and without peri-implantitis.

METHODS
Sixty male patients with peri-implantitis were included. There were 20 cigarette smokers and 20 and non-smokers with peri-implantitis (Groups 1 and 2), and 20 non-smokers without peri-implantitis (Group 3). Demographic data and information related to cigarette smoking was recorded. Peri-implant clinicoradiographic parameters (plaque index [PI], gingival index [GI], probing depth [PD] and crestal bone loss [CBL]) were assessed. The PISF samples were collected and levels of suPAR and TNF-α were measured. Sample-size estimation was performed and all parameters were statistically assessed. Level of significance was set at P< 0.05.

RESULTS
Sixty individuals were included in Groups 1, 2 and 3 (20 in each). Peri-implant PI (P< 0.01), PD (P< 0.01) and mesial (P< 0.01) and distal (P< 0.01) CBL were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. The PISF volume (P< 0.01) and suPAR (P< 0.01) and TNF-α levels (P< 0.01) were significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2 than in Group 3. There was no difference in PISF volume and suPAR and TNF-α levels between patients in Groups 1 and 2. In Group 2, there was a statistically significant correlation between peri-implant PD and PISF suPAR and TNF-α levels (P< 0.01). The suPAR and TNF-α levels are expressed in high concentrations in the PISF of smokers and non-smokers with peri-implantitis compared with non-smokers without peri-implantitis.

CONCLUSION
In non-smokers, PISF suPAR and TNF-α levels are correlated with peri-implant PD.


The chapter addresses the questions surrounding the politics of the academe as a reflective process. The three authors' experiences are very different – spanning from tenured professor to sessional instructor to professor in an African university. The narratives from the authors inform the readers of their goals to join the academy as faculty; their job search; being members of the staff and then; their experiences as members of the teaching force at various universities. The chapter is based on their experiences of navigating the politics of the academe. This chapter provides their narratives of what it means to be a professor, mentor, colleague, and researcher. Each story is told from their particular standpoint: two females and one male teaching in North American universities and Africa, respectively, two Black and one racialized female who can pass, but cannot because of her name. The analysis will address numerous complications involved in addressing expectations, establishing common grounds as educators from an international perspective, and providing narratives of how we have managed to maintain our goals and aspirations as members of the academe. The tensions involved will be problematized and explored from within the context of the academy and the associated constraints therein (Tatum, 1999). The objective of this chapter is to theorize the significance of navigating the politics of the academe to deflate arising tensions that may delay your passion for teaching. The chapter is informed by an anticolonial theoretical framework in light of converges and divergences of varying colonial contexts embedded in colonial Canadian society. The anticolonial framework draws on the specific settler-colonial Canadian context (Tuck & Yang, 2012). The chapter is divided into six parts: (1) introduction that provides a general overview of what it means to be faculty at a university, (2) situating ourselves, (3) theoretical framework, (4) Universities in general and more specifically, Canadian system and Kenyan, (5) discussion that provides an analysis or synthesis of our experiences, and (6) conclusion.


Temperatures in the range of 0.05 to 80 K are required for most applications of superconductors. Refrigeration powers range from fractions of a watt for many electronic applications to kilowatts for some large magnet and power applications. This paper reviews the various types of refrigeration methods currently available to meet the needs of various applications of superconductors. The methods covered include mainly the gas cycles, which are divided into the recuperative types (steady flow), such as the Joule-Thomson, Brayton, and Claude cycles, and the regenerative types (oscillating flow), such as Stirling, Gifford-McMahon, and pulse tube cycles. Methods for reaching millikelvin temperatures are briefly mentioned as well. The operating principles of the various methods are described, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are given to help the user understand which approach may work best for a particular application. All cryogenic refrigeration methods have a common set of problems that have hindered many applications of superconductors. These problems and recent developments to overcome some of these problems are discussed.


The aim of this paper is to reveal and explain the geographical distribution of the largest international hotel groups in Latin America and the Caribbean, at the beginning of the Twenty-first century. To do this, first, we present a typology of the countries in the region based on the consideration of three major variables: number of international visitors, number of hotel rooms and foreign exchange income generated by tourism. Then, after defining what a hotel chain and a hotel consortium are, the spatial distribution of the top ten international hotel groups in Latin America and the Caribbean is presented. Our research findings reveal a tendency, among these groups, to locate their hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean fringe, and in some of the largest cities, like Sao Paulo, Brazil.


Radio compass called automatic direction finder (ADF) is a basic navigation equipment. The traditional radio compasses were implemented with analog circuit, which suffered low precision. The development of software radio technology and DSP technology has made the software radio compass (SRC) possible. The existed SRC needs to convert three input signals to a fixed frequency at the same time and it's hard to synchronize. In this paper, a new method to implement the carrier synchronization is presented and simulated. The simulation results shown the proposed approach can meet the specified radio compass performance.


The short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and its squared magnitude, the spectrogram, are classical tools for linear and quadratic time-frequency signal representation. The choice of the STFT window entails a well-known duration-bandwidth tradeoff. Multi-window methods, as originally introduced by Thompson for spectrum estimation, help to overcome this tradeoff at the cost of a more complicated concept. The present paper extends multiwindow methods from spectral estimation to filtering of nonstationary processes. By using the Kohn-Nirenberg correspondence, new results about STFT-based filter design are obtained. For quasistationary processes with small product of temporal and spectral correlation width (underspread processes), it is shown that one and the same set of orthogonal windows is appropriate for both the estimation and the nonstationary Wiener filtering. This fact makes the present theory suitable to a numerically efficient, parallel concept for on-line signal enhancement.


Renal injury is a common complication of multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with adverse outcome. Despite this, the natural history of renal injury in patients with MM remains uncertain especially in the context of intensive therapy and novel therapies. To address the lack of data, we evaluated the renal function of 2334 patients from the UK National Cancer Research Institute Myeloma XI trial at baseline and at 12 months to assess renal function over time and the factors associated with change. Patients who had severe acute kidney injury or a requirement for dialysis were excluded. At 12 months of the 1450 evaluable patients planned for autologous transplantation; 204 (14%) patients had a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥25% from baseline, 341 (23.5%) had an improvement and 905 (62%) had no significant change in eGFR. Renal outcome at 12 months for the 884 evaluable patients who were not planned for transplant was similar. Improved renal function was more likely if patients were <70 years old, male, had an average eGFR <60 mL per minute per 1.73 m2 and a higher baseline free light chain level >1000 mg/L, and/or a free light chain response of >90%. It did not correlate with monoclonal-protein response, transplantation, or use of a bortezomib-based regimen. We show that with current therapies the proportion of patients who have a significant decline in renal function in the first 12 months is small. The greatest relative improvement in eGFR is seen in patients with high free light chain at baseline and a high light chain response. This trial was registered at http://www.isrctn.com as #49407852.


Aims Research evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications of gametes in obese or diabetic parents may contribute to metabolic disorders in offspring. In the present study, we sought to address the effect of diabetic uterine environment on the offspring metabolism. Methods Type 2 diabetes mouse model was induced by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) administration. We maintained other effect factors constant and changed uterine environment by zygote transfers, and then determined and compared the offspring numbers, symptoms, body weight trajectories, and metabolism indices from different groups. Result We found that maternal type 2 diabetes mice had lower fertility and a higher dystocia rate, accompanying the increased risk of offspring malformations and death. Compared to only a pre-gestational exposure to hyperglycemia, exposure to hyperglycemia both pre- and during pregnancy resulted in offspring growth restriction and impaired metabolism in adulthood. But there was no significant difference between a pre-gestational exposure group and a no exposure group. The deleterious effects, no matter bodyweight or glucose tolerance, could be rescued by transferring the embryos from diabetic mothers into normal uterine environment. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that uterine environment of maternal diabetes makes critical impact on the offspring health.


A conflict between rational and autonomous agents is considered. The paper addresses a differential game of protecting a target in the 3-D space. This problem highlights the strong correlation between the highly dynamic scenario, the uncertainty on the behavior of the adversary, and the online and robust computation of state-feedback strategies which guarantee the required level of performance of each player. This work significantly expands previous results around this problem by providing the players' state-feedback saddle-point strategies. Additionally, the continuously differentiable Value function of the multi-agent differential game is obtained and it is shown to be the solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs equation. Finally, the Barrier surface is explicitly obtained which defines the winning team according to the current state of the game.


BACKGROUND
In the general population, sleep problems have an impact on daytime performance. Despite sleep problems being common among children with Down syndrome, the impact of sleep problems on daytime behaviours in school-age children with Down syndrome is an understudied topic. Our study examined the relationship between parent-reported and actigraphy-measured sleep duration and sleep quality with parent and teacher reports of daytime behaviour problems among school-age children with Down syndrome.

METHOD
Thirty school-age children with Down syndrome wore an actigraph watch for a week at home at night. Their parent completed ratings of the child's sleep during that same week. Their parent and teacher completed a battery of measures to assess daytime behaviour.

RESULTS
Parent reports of restless sleep behaviours on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, but not actigraph-measured sleep efficiency, was predictive of parent and teacher behavioural concerns on the Nisonger Child Behaviour Rating Form and the Vanderbilt ADHD Rating Scales. Actigraph-measured sleep period and parent-reported sleep duration on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was predictive of daytime parent-reported inattention. Actigraph-measured sleep period was predictive of parent-reported hyperactivity/impulsivity.

CONCLUSION
The study findings suggest that sleep problems have complex relationships to both parent-reported and teacher-reported daytime behaviour concerns in children with Down syndrome. These findings have implications for understanding the factors impacting behavioural concerns and their treatment in school-age children with Down syndrome.


Values of m-which are equal to ( alpha /eK+K-)1/2 where alpha is the recombination coefficient, e the charge per ion, K+ the mobility of positive ions and K- that of negative ions-were measured using a double X-ray beam method. By this method, one value for m is obtained from a set of data on currents at each polarisation voltage. Values obtained are for a recombination region 2.65 cm wide. It was shown that these values decrease from 1.85*106 to 1.65*106 V s1/2 C-1/2 cm-1/2 with an increase in electric field strength from 4.8 to 48 V cm-1. This means that the value of m increases with ion age.


Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is common and is associated with serious consequences of cardiovascular diseases and quality of life. Objective: This study aim to compare the intervention with an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in relation a SHAM in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Clinical, controlled and randomized trial. Subjects will be submitted to analyses before and after period of 3 months to: polysomnography, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) measurement, Pittsburgh scale questionnaires for sleep quality assessment, Epworth scale for daytime sleepiness assessment, Short Form-36 for health quality of life assessment and Berlim questionnaire for assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Intervention group will perform IMT with an initial load of 40% of the MIP, increasing 10% each week until achieve 60% of MIP, performed daily with 30 inspiratory exercises, for 12 weeks on the POWERbreathe® medic (POWERbreathe, UK). Statistical significance was P Results: With 53 subject selected (31 intervention group and 22 SHAM) there was a tendency to increase MIP (P Conclusion: Preliminaries data showed that IMT with POWERbreathe® medic can reduce daytime hypersonness signs, improve the quality of sleep impacting on apneia and hypopneia index of polysomnography and may become a new alternative treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.


The genus and species Physopyxis lyra was originally described based on only one very distinctive specimen. Analysis of a larger number of specimens provided a more precise characterization of the genus and the type species. Additionally, two new species are described based on material already available in museums and new collections. Physopyxis lyra is characterized by having a well developed coracoid process with divergent tips, and only one series of spines on the lateral plates. Physopyxis ananas, new species, has a thin coracoid process, convergent, and more than one series of spines on the lateral plates. Physopyxis cristata, new species, is a slender species, characterized by an incomplete series of lateral plates and the presence of a middorsal series of spines formed by the tips of the vertebral neural spines. The poorly known geographic distribution of the genus Physopyxis is vastly enlarged to include various drainages of the Amazon and Essequibo basins.


It has been widely held that gastric lavage is more unpleasant than ipecac-induced emesis. In fact, patients are occasionally threatened with large rubber tubes in order to persuade them to drink ipecac. To confirm that this assumption exists, we asked 41 emergency physicians and nurses who had never personally undergone either procedure to estimate the discomfort of each using a 10 cm unsegmented visual analog scale. This "naive" group thought that gastric lavage would be significantly more unpleasant than ipecac-induced emesis (mean scores: lavage = 6.46, emesis = 4.94; P less than .001, paired t-test). Using the same methods, we asked 16 health professionals who had undergone both procedures as part of another study to score the recalled unpleasantness of each procedure. Among these who had actually experienced both, there was no significant difference between the mean scores for lavage (4.09) and emesis (4.62) (P greater than 0.5, paired t-test). The mean score difference (lavage minus emesis) for the "naive" group was significantly greater than for the experimental group (1.52 vs -.53, P less than .001, unpaired t-test). Among normal volunteers, ipecac-induced emesis and gastric lavage are equally unpleasant gastric emptying procedures.


delta 4-3-Oxosteroid 5 beta-reductase catalysing reduction of delta 4-3-oxosteroids to give A/B cis-conformation was intraperitoneally injected into BALB/c strain mice with Ribi adjuvant. Monoclonal antibody specific for this enzyme was prepared from their spleen cells. Using this monoclonal antibody as a probe the enzyme was further purified using reversed phase liquid chromatography to determine amino-acid sequence protein-chemically. Attempts to determine the N-terminal amino acid failed, indicating that the N-terminal amino acid is blocked. The protein was therefore subjected to digestion with lysyl endopeptidase after alkylating with iodoacetate. The peptides thus formed were isolated and purified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and their amino-acid sequences were determined. Using antibodies and oligonucleotides as probes a cDNA which contained a 978 bp long open reading frame encoding 326 amino-acid residues (Mr 37376) was isolated from rat liver cDNA libraries and the entire sequence of the protein was deciphered from its nucleotide sequence. The COS cells transfected with this cDNA revealed a versatile activity to reduce varied kinds of delta 4-3-oxosteroids, i.e. 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, androstenedione and cortisone as postulated by Okuda and Okuda (1984, J. Biol. Chem. 259, 7519-7524) and Furuebisu et al. (1987, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 912, 110-114. With a newly established immunoblotting assay method several tissues and organs were surveyed and it was found that the enzyme exists only in the liver and there is an apparent difference between sexes as to the content of this enzyme. However, there was little if any difference in the amount of mRNAs between both sexes, which may indicates that the sexual difference of rat liver cytosol 5 beta-reductase is due to a posttranslational modification and/or degradation.


A theory based on dual dynamics (propagation and confinement) is proposed in a mathematical framework including a redefinition of quantum states, creation and annihilation operators, fermions and bosons distinction but also of colored charges and spins. Particles interactions are found to be either direct (fermion-fermion) or indirect (mediated by bosons), as a consequence of a revisited wave-particle duality. Fundamental interactions as well as elementary particles naturally emerge from the dual driving equations applied to vector potential states. They are qualitatively compared to the content of the Standard Model, evidencing some interesting features such as confinement, hierarchy, and parity violation. Introducing nonlinear coupling terms further allows the appearance of a photon wave function and a " composite graviton field " and is foreseen to produce generations of particles through a self trapping mechanism. In the last part, cosmology is analyzed in the framework of the dual dynamics theory. The non-linearities generate Bose-Einstein condensates leading to black-holes through attracting potentials. Quasars and blazars also emerge with the introduction of " jet-particles " originating from the Legendre function of the second kind. Non-baryonic matter finally shows up in the present theory. It can form " dark " Bose-Einstein condensate creating halos around black-holes. A new definition of the equivalence principle between inertial and gravita-tional masses is proposed allowing anti-particles to have negative gravitational masses without violating the usual test experiments. This renews the concept of anti-gravity, which plays the role of dark-energy in the present theory. Finally the universe time-line is envisioned in the context of the coupled and nonlinear dual equations (propagation and confinement), requiring to revisit the Big-Bang and inflation mechanisms, the latter being attributed to a superluminal expansion, which is allowed by the nonlinear terms.


This contribution focuses on the legal aspects of raw grey literature that is understood as yet to be published, interim or incomplete scientific results (e.g. raw primary data or drafts of scientific papers). Specifically the contribution deals with the limits of further re-use of such scientific results, when these were offered for publication in traditional publishing houses, and when these results should available under Open Access conditions.


Much of Advanced level teaching is dominated by didactic methods. We question whether these can adequately match the variety of needs of students in the contemporary context, and offer a framework for promoting a style of teaching which is responsive and versatile.


Background Patients with eye-related chief complaints could be diagnosed not only with eye diseases but also with noneye diseases. This study determines rates and characteristics of patients with eye-related chief complaints at the Emergency Department of Thammasat University Hospital. Methods The study design is a descriptive retrospective observational study of patients with eye-related chief complaints at the Emergency Department of Thammasat University Hospital in 2017. Demographic data, diagnosis, management, consultation, and disposition were recorded by chart review. Categorical data were reported by percentage. Results Of the 52081 patients, 704 (1.3%) presented with eye problems. 60% of the patients were males. Patients were classified into three groups which are traumatic eye disease, nontraumatic eye disease, and noneye disease. 75.9% of the patients suffered traumatic injuries. The most common diagnoses of the traumatic eye injuries were foreign bodies at the cornea and conjunctiva and minor trauma to the conjunctiva. The most common mechanisms were foreign bodies in the eyes, cuts, or pierces. The most common causes of the injuries were from metals and housewares. The most common nontraumatic eye diagnoses were conjunctivitis and corneal ulcer. The most common noneye diagnoses were exposure of healthcare providers to secretions from patients, angioedema, and hypertensive crisis. Conclusions Most of the patients who came to the ER with chief complaints of the eyes could be treated by doctors in the emergency room without consulting ophthalmologists. Chief complaints of the eyes could be the leading symptoms of many organ systems. Emergency physicians should be differentially diagnosed to cover neurologic, cardiovascular, and immunologic problems.


Practical difficulty in the HDDR (hydrogenation - disproportionation - desorption - recombination) processing of Nd-Fe-B-type alloy is a poor reproducibility of coercivity of the HDDR-treated material. In an attempt to improve the reproducibility of coercivity of the HDDR-treated Nd 12.5 Fe 80.6 B 6.4 Ga 0.3 Nb 0.2 alloy, the hydrogen decrepitation was carefully controlled so as to induce more extensive micro-cracks in the particle. Prior to the hydrogenation and disproportionation reaction of HDDR processing, an additional hydrogen degassing was carried out at an elevated temperature of 600℃ under vacuum for the previously hydrogen decrepitated particle. During the additional hydrogen degassing the lattice of hydrogen absorbed Nd₂Fe 14 B phase was further shrunken, hence more microcracks were introduced in the particle due to its brittle nature. Particles with more micro-cracks had more homogeneous hydrogen absorption and desorption reaction during the HDDR-treatment. The improved reproducibility of coercivity of the HDDR-treated material was attributed to the improved homogeneity of the HDDR reactions due to the presence of more micro-cracks.


In computing actuarial measurements, such as the moments of present value functions for insurance and annuities, the stochastic nature of the interest rate is commonly ignored. In this paper we treat the interest rate as a normal random variable and present general formulas for the mean and variance of the present value function for insurance and annuities. An example demonstrating these formulas is presented. It is found that taking the force of interest to be fixed at a mean value results in slightly under estimating the actuarial present value along with the variance for both insurance and annuities.


We study the effect of a change in property rights on employee behavior in the industry for financial advice. Our identification comes from staggered firm-level entry into the Protocol for Broker Recruiting. The agreement waived non-solicitation clauses for advisor transitions among member firms, effectively transferring ownership of client relationships from the firm to the advisor. After the shock, advisors appear to take better care of client relationships by investing in client-facing industry licenses, shifting to fee-based advising, and garnering fewer customer complaints. Our findings support property rights-based investment theories of the firm and document offsetting costs to restricting labor mobility.


K-shell emission from copper target was observed by focusing femtosecond laser pulses very close to the target surface-air interface. It was shown that mechanism of X-ray emission is connected with generation of fast electrons in the air plasma area. Experiments demonstrated that moderate intensity of laser radiation ( I L 15  W/cm 2 ) was enough to produce considerable flux of X-ray photons of at least 10 keV energy. The parameters of generated X-ray emission were studied. It was found that after propagation through 40 cm thick air layer X-ray spectra consisted of pronounced K α and K β characteristic lines and relatively small Bremsstrahlung continuum. Since transversal source size has an order of a few tens of micrometers, such a source can be used for absorption imaging of micro-objects in standard laboratory conditions. That can be particularly important for diagnostic of medical and biological samples in vivo .


Objectives: To explore attitudes toward circumcision among men who have sex with men (MSM) in London and the feasibility of conducting research into circumcision and HIV prevention in this population. Methods: A convenience sample of MSM visiting central London gyms completed a confidential, self-administered questionnaire between May and June 2008. Information was collected on participants' demographic characteristics, self-reported HIV status, sexual behavior, circumcision status, attitudes toward circumcision, and willingness to participate in research on circumcision and HIV prevention. Results: Of 653 MSM, 29.0% reported that they were circumcised. Overall, HIV prevalence was 23.3%; this did not differ significantly between circumcised and uncircumcised men (18.6% vs. 25.2%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.50–1.26). A similar proportion of circumcised and uncircumcised men reported unprotected anal intercourse in the previous 3 months (38.8% vs. 36.7%, adjusted odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.72–1.55). Uncircumcised men were less likely to think that there were benefits of circumcision than circumcised men (31.2% vs. 65.4, P < 0.001). Only 10.3% of uncircumcised men said that they would be willing to participate in research on circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy. Conclusions: Most uncircumcised MSM in this London survey were unwilling to participate in research on circumcision and HIV prevention. Only a minority of uncircumcised men thought that there were benefits of circumcision. It is unlikely that circumcision would be a feasible strategy for HIV prevention among MSM in London.


The recent major seismic events in South East Asia have led the Oil & Gas Companies to reevaluate the design of their offshore platforms with sometimes more stringent seismic conditions than original ones. The Yadana offshore platforms located in a high seismic activity area in the Andaman Sea, operated by TOTAL E&P MYANMAR, were part of this important work. DORIS Engineering and GDS have developed specific seismic analyses to validate the design under new conditions.
 This paper will present the different engineering challenges which were faced to revalidate the structural integrity of the different jacket type platforms under new seismic conditions. It will describe the methodology specifically developed for this project and how were identified and defined the necessary site modifications. These analyses were developed to assess more accurately the maximum relative displacements of jacket type platforms connected by bridges and to validate the stresses in foundation piles. It will also address the offshore works performed on the platforms with a maximization of SIMOPS works and limited shut down periods.
 Insufficiencies in the conventional design approach required to develop specific methods to validate the integrity of the jacket foundations and the platforms displacement (bridges). This paper will address, in particular, the design methodology used to verify the integrity of the jacket foundations and to define the required topsides and jacket reinforcements. A time domain approach, based on the "ASN" guidance used for nuclear facilities, was developed to verify the pile stresses and assess more accurately the maximum relative displacement of the platforms connected by bridges. The offshore works were afterwards performed in a timely and cost-effective manner. The detail engineering and the operation offshore had to include risky and unconventional operation such as bridges pot bearings replacement or piping modifications on bridges. SIMOPS works were maximized allowing the shutdown to be limited to the shortest duration.
 This paper presents the different engineering challenges which were faced to revalidate the design of existing platforms. It presents the specific methods which have been successfully developed by engineering to validate the design. This project is a good example of a "brownfield" project, from a challenging situation through development of a reliable and efficient engineering solution to successful completion of offshore works.


Abstract Background: This study was undertaken to identify factors that influence follow-up for patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Methods: One hundred and ninety-nine consecutive inpatients diagnosed with MTBI at a Trauma Centre (or TC) were monitored for establishment of care with a brain injury specialist after discharge. Bivariate statistics were calculated to determine subject characteristics impacting the decision to pursue TBI-related specialty care. Results: One hundred and nineteen patients (59.8%) followed up with the TC for routine post-injury care. Patients who followed up were older (age >40: OR = 2.48, p = 0.01, 95% CI = 1.03–8.96) and had longer hospital lengths of stay (LOS > 3 days: OR = 2.99, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.33–7.67). Upon follow-up, providers identified 20 patients (16.8%) with persistent neurologic symptoms, seven (3.5%) of whom saw a brain injury specialist. Lack of insurance significantly decreased the likelihood of follow-up with the TC and/or establishment of care with a TBI specialist. (OR = 0.76, p = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.62–0.95). Conclusions: Being insured was strongly predictive for follow-up at the TC and for establishing with a brain injury specialist post-MTBI. The TC post-injury visit identified MTBI patients with persistent symptoms, suggesting post-acute TC follow-up is an important venue for MTBI sequelae screening and referral.


Objective: To determine the rate of incident cancer in a large cohort of stroke survivors.
Background: Subclinical cancer can manifest as a thrombo-embolic event and may be detected at a later interval in stroke survivors.
Methods: An analysis of the VISP trial was performed which was a randomized, double-blind trial conducted in 3680 adults with nondisabling cerebral infarction. The primary intervention was best medical/surgical management plus a daily vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid supplementation. The incidence of new cancer was identified using Kaplan Meir analysis over a mean (±SD) period of 24 (±1.4) months. Unadjusted survival probabilities were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method for patients with and without incident cancer.
Results: A total of 3247 patients (mean age (±SD) of 66 (±11); 2013 were men) were cancer free at the time of enrollment. The incidence of new cancer was 0.15, 0.80, 1.2, and 2.0 per 100 patients at 1 month, 6 month, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. Patients with incident cancer had lower body mass index (27.8±5.0 vs. 28.4±5.8, p=0.02), high density cholesterol (42.4±12.5 vs. 45.4±15.2, p=0.007) and triglyceride levels (160.1±88.4 vs. 175.6±162.3, p<0.0001) at baseline evaluation. The unadjusted 2 year survival was significantly lower in patients with incident cancer than those without incident cancer (85% versus 95.3%, p=<.0001). The rate of combined endpoint of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and death was higher among those with incident cancer (24.6% versus 16%, p=0.01).
Conclusions: Incident cancer is not uncommon and is associated with lower survival among stroke survivors. Disclosure: Dr. Suri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Malik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rodriguez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nickles has nothing to disclose. Dr. Qureshi has nothing to disclose.


The evolution of the rotational inhomogeneities is investigated in the specific framework of four-dimensional pre-big bang models. While minimal (dilaton-driven) scenarios do not lead to rotational fluctuations, in the case of non-minimal (string-driven) models, fluid sources are present in the pre-big bang phase. The rotational modes of the geometry, coupled to the divergenceless part of the velocity field, can then be amplified depending upon the value of the barotropic index of the perfect fluids. In the light of a possible production of rotational inhomogeneities, solutions describing the coupled evolution of the dilaton field and of the fluid sources are scrutinized in both the string and Einstein frames. In semi-realistic scenarios, where the curvature divergences are regularized by means of a non-local dilaton potential, the rotational inhomogeneities are amplified during the pre-big bang phase but they decay later on. Similar analyses can also be performed when a contraction occurs directly in the string frame metric.


In order to isolate subpopulations of cells with differing metastatic capacity, a spontaneously metastatic human lung carcinoma cell line was cloned in vitro, using limiting dilution methods. The karyotypic profile, in vitro and in vivo growth as subcutaneous xenotransplants in athymic mice of 11 randomly selected clones were very similar. No consistent differences were seen in the adhesion to a variety of substrates or in the integrin profile of the few subunits examined. However, the in vivo metastatic capacities differed. Most of the isolated cell lines, in spontaneous metastasis assays, formed variable numbers of microscopically visible metastatic foci in only the lungs and lymph nodes of these animals. One of the 11 cell lines examined, TV9, was observed to form grossly visible metastases in the lungs as well as in the ovaries, pancreas and omental lymph nodes. Immunoprecipitation analyses detected a decrease in the expression of the previously described low-metastasis-associated H7 molecule within the high metastatic TV9. The low and high metastatic subpopulations thus isolated will provide a means to dissect the metastatic mechanisms of this human lung carcinoma cell line.


The creation narrative in Genesis 1 has historically presented a number of interpretive difficulties to Torah and Old Testament scholars. That this ancient account might correlate in a harmonious manner with physical reality seemed difficult to believe. It has been considered to be a myth, while some have adopted it to ideology. But these interpretive perspectives have proved to be insufficient and premature. When confirmation of a cosmic beginning was found in 1963, Gen. 1.1 and the ensuing account of the Spirit's role in Earth history became a topic of serious investigation. With the ongoing discoveries of many anthropic-looking aspects of cosmic history, giving the cumulative and substantial impression that the universe had been designed for humankind, a divine role in optimizing Earth for life became an attractive consideration. The ensuing abrupt appearance of diverse life-forms, eventually including humankind, as sequentially described in this creation narrative, now appears to be heuristically compatible and consistent with experimental scientific findings. These findings are increasingly unharmonious with the speculation of the non-existence of God and with the impossibility of divine action, from the cosmic to life's biochemical realm. The present study argues, against the background of ancient Near Eastern literary texts, that the Genesis creation narrative was specifically designed by the Spirit and composed by a firmly guided litterateur so as to be understood from within its contextual literary setting, and that it is a unique written prophecy, originating in a distinctive Sabbath-keeping culture. On this hypothesis the text serves originally to remind attentive like-minded readers of the cultural significance of Sabbath observance, while detailing a series of unobservable creative events. However, the text appears also designed to be read, still within the original cultural perception of literary-minded Sabbath-keepers, from a perspective that is aware of the Spirit's intentional transparent design of the universe for the benefit of humankind. Using the narrative techniques of point of view, resumptive repetition, and rhetorical or communicative intention, techniques found in ancient literature, the present study suggests that previous interpretive difficulties yield to a literary solution, which offers an explanation for the potentially mysterious features of this prophetic composition. In divine foreknowledge the current modern witness of this remarkable narrative to the Spirit's past creative deeds now becomes more visible as a testimony to the invisible God.


This study develops, implements, and evaluates a multi-label text classification algorithm called the multi-label categorical K - nearest neighbor (ML-CKNN). The proposed algorithm is designed to automatically identify 25 types of risk factors with specific meanings reported in Section 1A of SEC Form 10-K. The idea of ML-CKNN is to compute a categorical similarity score for each label by the K-nearest neighbors in that category. ML-CKNN is tailored to achieve the goal of extracting risk factors from 10Ks. The proposed algorithm can perfectly classify 74.94% of risk factors and 98.75% of labels. Moreover, ML-CKNN is empirically shown to outperform ML-KNN and other multi-label algorithms. The extracted risk factors could be valuable to empirical studies in accounting or finance.


A decade since its invention, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has become a mainstay technology for profiling transcriptional heterogeneity in individual cells. Yet, most existing scRNA-seq methods capture only polyadenylated mRNA to avoid the cost of sequencing non-messenger transcripts, such as ribosomal RNA (rRNA), that are usually not of-interest. Hence, there are not very many protocols that enable single-cell analysis of total RNA. We adapted a method called DASH (Depletion of Abundant Sequences by Hybridisation) to make it suitable for depleting rRNA sequences from single-cell total RNA-seq libraries. Our analyses show that our single-cell DASH (scDASH) method can effectively deplete rRNAs from sequencing libraries with minimal off-target non-specificity. Importantly, as a result of depleting the rRNA, the rest of the transcriptome is significantly enriched for detection.


The UK's devolution reforms were built on long-standing practices of differentiated territorial administration in the non-English parts of the UK. With devolution those practices became subject to new democratic processes, transforming territorial administration into territorial politics. The reforms were introduced in a piecemeal basis, lacking an overall conception of the impact of devolution on the UK state, and lacking consideration of how the government of the non-devolved unit of England can, through its size and weight within the UK, impact on and constrain devolved government. The combination of piecemeal reform and the 'English question' raises a number of open questions about the coherence and stability of the devolution arrangements, especially at the point when governments run by different parties import partisan considerations into territorial politics.


Mary Robinson's Vancenza (1792) has received almost no critical attention, despite its popularity at the time it was written. The Gothic framework of Vancenza is employed to explore the fact that female transgression in the eighteenth century was seen as so damaging to the social order that it can continue to inflict pain and suffering on a second generation. Robinson plays with the conventions of the Gothic novel, presenting a range of pseudo-villains and evaded acts of violence, only to reveal that the true Gothic narrative of the novel is a part of the novel's history, not its present. In displacing the Gothic narrative to the past, Robinson shields her heroine, Elvira, from the seduction narrative while emphasizing the impossibility of her escape from the tragic denouement of her mother's seduction narrative. Robinson allows Madeline Vancenza, the archetypal Gothic victim, a voice, uncovering her repressed story from concealment, only to emphasize women's utter powerlessness in the face of patriarchal power. Vancenza is a profoundly pessimistic novel in its representation of the social order—Robinson's bleakest statement on the lack of options available to women in a world where the stain of female transgression cannot even be washed away by death.


Nephrotic syndrome rarely occurs in the first year of life. There are some cases which share the pathological changes observed in older children or in adults, but two forms, the congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) and the diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS) show peculiar morphologic findings. CNF is characterized in its early phases by the focal dilation of the proximal tubules with formation of small cysts and by mesangial hypercellularity. With progression of the disease, tubular dilation spreads from the deep to the outer cortex and focal-segmental and global glomerulosclerosis become evident. DMS may be renal-limited or be associated with male pseudohermaphroditism and Wilm's tumor (Denys-Drash syndrome). It shows the increase of the mesangial matrix and mesangial hypercellularity in the early phases of the disease and extensive glomerulosclerosis in the later ones. Podocytes are hypertrophic around the sclerotic areas and form pseudocrescents. Tubular dilations and cysts may be present, but in lesser extent compared with CNF. Interstitial fibrosis occurs with increasing severity from the inner to the outer cortex. Apart from the negative reaction from nephrin in CNF, immunohistochemistry has no diagnostic relevance in both diseases. Electron microscopy shows in both diseases a diffuse effacement of the foot processes and microvillous transformation of the podocytes. Glomerular basement membrane may show changes recalling those found in Alport disease. Due to the rather similar changes in CNF and DMS, a pathological diagnosis may be difficult on small tissue specimens provided by needle biopsies. It follows that accurate clinical and genetic investigations are needed in addition to the pathological study. Proceedings of the International Course on Perinatal Pathology (part of the 10 th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 22 nd -25 th , 2014) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 25 th , 2014 ·  The role of the clinical pathological dialogue in problem solving Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Peter Van Eyken


Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for human physiology. In Brazil, vitamin C supplements are expensive and most of the population obtains vitamin C through its consumption of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the vitamin C assay in food is crucial in post-harvest studies to conserve and minimize losses of this highly sensitive nutrient. This study proposes a method for analyzing vitamin C by High Performance Liquid Chromatography using a hydrogen type ion exchange column, and demonstrates that it is more efficient than the traditional methods of reverse phase column (C18) for complex matrixes and low levels of this analyte. Chromatograms were baseline resolved and peak purity evaluation showed spectral homogeneity by photo diode array detector. This method was also tested using the best extraction solution to stabilize vitamin C, demonstrating that 0.05 M of superpure sulfuric acid (also the mobile phase) was the most efficient solution for this purpose.


. Betawi community is the local community in Jakarta, residing in the city since the 17 th century. Yet, since 1970s their number has declined significantly, and now it only remains 20% of the Jakarta total population. They have been displaced by several government urban development projects, and have moved to peripheral kampongs. Moreover, the displacement of this local community was triggered by gentrification due to the presence of middle-income class (gentrifiers), who come to Jakarta as professional workers, and further demand housing. Gentrifiers prefer to stay in the inner-city kampongs to save transportation cost even though the kampongs are not equipped proper infrastructures. Then, the gentrifiers renovate the house and shape the physical appearance of the neighbourhood differently. This has made the land price surge, and the competition to occupy house increase. Also, the standard of living has gone up. Many local communities could not adapt with the situation and consequently sold the house to get money; most of them consist of uneducated and unskilled informal workers, who can be included as poor-class. Living in kampongs, which are considered as informal settlements, the community do not get any government assistance to improve the neighbourhood quality; hence, the neighbourhood improvement only relis on the gentrifiers. As a result, the displacement continues to occur. Consequently, the Betawi community becomes the most vulnerable in the gentrification process, and are very sensitive to the neighbourhood transformation. Using a case-study research, his paper tries to reveal the relation between the gentrification process in the inner-city kampong and the Betawi community as the vulnerable community. This research focused on Kampong Kramat Asem, Matraman district as densely a populated district in DKI Jakarta Province. Furthermore, field observation and interview were conducted to the local community and gentrifiers to find out the community sensitivity factors and to picture the physical neighbourhood transformation. Moreover, an analysis of population trends was required to figure out displacement process.


Internet use and video game playing are experiencing rapid growth among both youth and adult populations. Internet gaming is one of the most popular sources of entertainment for people in all ages, but excess playing this game causes negative consequences including video game addiction. IGD is not currently a recognized diagnosis in the Dignostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5). However, IGD has been noted to warrant further research for possible future inclusion in the DSM. The excessive usage in the majority of cases was purely symptomatic and was highlighted how the subject used the internet or computer to counteract other problems. IGD strongly resembles substance and gambling addictions. Such characteristics include tolerance, withdrawal, and social and occupational neglect resulting from increased time invested in video game use and acquisition. We report a case of 20-year old student who used to addict internet video gaming to counteract his stress and social problem.


OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Feishuling on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) from hamster alveolar macrophages in vitro and investigate the mechanism of its preventive and therapeutic effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD).

METHOD
Alveolar macrophages were harvested through bronchoalveolar lavage and cultured, Feishuling were added to the culture medium with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) simultaneously or 6 h after LPS. TNF-alpha production in the culture supernatants was tested by ELISA assay and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in the cells was measured through in situ hybridization.

RESULT
After administration of Feishuling, the content of TNF-alpha in the supernatants and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in the cells were decreased more significantly than those in LPS stimulation group(P < 0.01), and there was a dose-effect relationship, but no significant differences were observed as compared with the simple culture medium group(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The effect of reducing the production of TNF-alpha from alveolar macrophages and inhibiting the damage mediated by TNF-alpha might be a part of the mechanism of Feishuling to prevent and treat COPD.