Metal nanoparticles have received great attention due to their unique optical properties and wide range of applicability. In this context, controlling the particle−particle interaction is a major challenge to generate programmable assembly of nanoparticles for application in device fabrication and detection systems. In this communication, we report a versatile solid phase synthesis of gold nanoparticle dimers using commercially available organic reagents in an asymmetric functionalization approach. The method provides the opportunity to synthesize gold nanoparticle dimers for a wide size range. In addition, dimers consisting of two particles of different sizes also were prepared. The yield of the dimers varies from ∼30 to ∼65%, depending on the particle sizes. The process could be generalized to fabricate metal−semiconductor conjugates and to control interparticle spacing by changing the chain lengths of the linker molecules.


The iron loss characteristics of silicon steel were studied using the iron loss estimation method previously proposed by the authors. The rate of increase of the square wave iron loss with respect to the sine wave iron loss was only slightly greater than predicted. It was found that this iron loss estimation method provides adequate precision for widespread application to excitation due to square wave voltages, such as occur in inverter transformers.


In the present study the interaction of Hydrogen Sulfide with inside and outside single-wall carbon nanotube of (5,0) and (5,5) was investigated. This study was conducted using DFT at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Computational calculations were performed in the gaseous phase in Gaussian 09. The geometry of all molecules under investigation was determined by optimizing all geometrical variables without any symmetry constraints. The harmonic fre-quencies were computed from analytical derivatives for all species in order to define the mini-mum-energy structures. The adsorption energies, the thermodynamic properties, HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and partial charges of the interacting atoms were also studied during two rotation kinds of H2S molecules vertical and horizontal to the main axes of nanotube.


PCR amplification of 16S rDNA was found to be highly biased, so that the rDNA from one species out of four was preferentially amplified. We present evidence that the observed PCR bias most likely occurs because the genomic DNA of some species contains segments outside the amplified sequence that inhibit the initial PCR steps. Attempts to overcome this bias by use of a 'touch down' PCR procedure or by performing PCR in the presence of denaturants or cosolvents such as acetamide, DMSO, or glycerol were unsuccessful. Since the PCR inhibiting interference from template flanking DNA segments evidently is dependent on the position of the primer sites, we suggest that community diversity analysis based on PCR amplification of 16S rDNA can be improved by extending the procedure from comparative analysis of 16S rDNA amplified by use of only one primer set to a procedure involving at least two different 16S rDNA PCR amplifications performed with different primer sets.


The study was designed to examine the relationship between business policy and strategy implementation on organizational effectiveness. Organizations of all sizes strive to adopt business policies and strategies to enhance operational survival but frequently such dreams are frustrated at the crucial implementation level. In the circumstance, there is need to refocus attention in these areas in the face of growing business failures despite the evolution of such management languages as strategic business units, strategic thinking, strategic balancing, experience curve, industry-wide strategy, strategic competitive advantage among others, that fail to reverse the trend. There is evidence in business and management academic research that organizations spend time on paper work, brainstorming, strategic planning and strategy formulation, only for such documents to find their way as mere pieces of ordinary paper in the CEOs waste basket, without implementation, and without any effect on the organization. The exploratory research design was adopted for this study and the result showed a positive correlation between business policy and strategy implementation on organizational effectiveness. The study was constrained by lack of current relevant literature and it was suggested that further research could examine the relationship between public policy and business policy to redress any significant differences to enhance economic and sustainable development. It was also recommended that business policy formulation should not take too much time at the detriment of implementation that would lead to organizational productivity and effectiveness.


Team science research has indicated that trust is a critical variable of teamwork, contributing greatly to a team's performance. Trust has long been examined in health care with research focusing on the development of trust by patients with their health care practitioners. Studies have indicated that trust is linked to patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, continuity of care, and improved outcomes. We explore the construct of trust using a case example of a patient who received a surgical procedure for a precancerous polyp. We apply the principle of trust to the case as well as present the literature on trust and key definitions for understanding trust. Additionally, we apply the definitions presented to the specific case example by highlighting moments where trust is developed or violated. Lastly, we offer insights to health care practitioners on the development of trust in their own patient interactions to improve care.


Liparis tanakae is a kind of fish in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and sometimes it is used for broth or frozen fish fillets on markets in Korea. A 45-year-old female patient visited Emergency Department because of facial edema, generalized urticaria, dyspnea, and hypotension after eating L. tanakae broth. She recovered after administration of epinephrine. Seven weeks later, she experienced generalized urticaria again after tasting a spoon of L. tanakae broth. In 2 months after recovery, the patient showed positive response to skin prick tests with L. tanakae extract. She also showed positive response to skin prick test with cod which did not induce any symptoms after oral ingestion. The patient was diagnosed as L. tanakae induced anaphylaxis based on the repeated clinical history and skin prick test results. We herein report the first case of L. tanakae induced anaphylaxis.


Teacher autonomy has been a popular topic of investigation over the past decades. This article contributes to the debate by casting light on Irish and Finnish teachers' perceptions of their professional autonomy, drawing from teacher interviews conducted in both countries. The intersection of newly introduced curriculum reforms, differing education governance models and differing control regimes make Ireland and Finland fertile points of comparison. Teacher autonomy is understood in this article as a multidimensional and context-dependent phenomenon, and the conceptualisation is presented in an analytical matrix applicable to comparative research. Findings indicate that teachers in both countries consider themselves very autonomous in their classroom practice and in their educational decisions overall. However, where much of the school-level decision-making in Finnish schools concerning educational, social and developmental issues tends to be in the hands of teachers (either collegially or as individuals), in Irish schools the senior management, and especially the principal, is reportedly more involved. Possibly the greatest difference is the ways in which teachers' work is controlled, and in how teachers perceive it; Finnish teachers report intensified external control from the civil society, whereas on top of parental pressures Irish teachers report also increasing pressures from the state agencies.


When Ian Macdonald's book Spherical functions on a group of p-adic type first appeared, it was one of a very small number of publications concerned with representations of p-adic groups. At just about that time, however, the subject began to be widely recognized as indispensable in understanding automorphic forms, and the literature on the subject started to grow rapidly. Since it has by now grown so huge, in discussing here the subsequent history of some of Macdonald's themes I shall necessarily restrict myself only to things closely related to them. This will be no serious restriction since, as I hope to explain, some of the most interesting problems in all of representation theory are concerned with p-adic spherical functions. Along the way I'll reformulate from a few different perspectives what his book contains. I'll begin, in the next section, with a brief sketch of the main points, postponing most technical details until later.


T. C. Lauenstein, C. A. Kühle, W. Ajaj, S. Massing, J. Barkhausen Department of Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany Introduction Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory pathology potentially affecting the entire GI tract. The terminal ileum and proximal colon are the parts of the intestine that are mostly affected. MRI both of the small and large bowel has become an established method for the assessment of inflammatory bowel diseases [1, 2]. A good distension of the intestine is crucial for bowel imaging. Regarding the colon it can be easily accomplished by the administration of a rectal enema consisting of liquid or gasiform contrast agents. For the visualization of the small bowel, several oral contrast agents have been introduced. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the practicability of combining an oral and rectal contrast agent for MR imaging in patients with Crohn ́s disease and to assess the accuracy of the method for the detection of inflammatory processes.


In the August 1994 issue of theArchives, Popli et al 1 make several points relevant to the interactions between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with which we must take issue. First, we believe it possible to make reasonable predictions of in vivo effects from in vitro data. Second, we believe more care must be taken in drawing conclusions about drug interactions from case reports. Four research groups, not just one, have made in vitro assessments of the extent to which the SSRIs (and some of their metabolites) inhibit cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6). 2-7 We have derived estimates of the corresponding in vivo relevance using the following strategy. All of the published in vitro assessments include a determination of the inhibition constant (K i ) of fluoxetine. If the K i of each SSRI is normalized to the K i of fluoxetine in the same study, averaging those


In the process of continuous urbanization construction, the construction scale of urban landscaping projects is getting larger. At the same time, the design and the maintenance of the management is becoming more important. Recently, the rocketing development of the ternary world of many people, machines, and things has triggered the generation of multisource fusion data and the development of artificial intelligence technology, and the world has entered the era of multisource big data intelligence. Multisource data refer to the fusion of multiple types of data with effective characteristic information, which has richer, more comprehensive, more detailed, and more effective information than a single data source, and can provide high-quality data sources for various complex problems. Therefore, more effective data can be provided for the definition of urban fringe areas. From the moment Google's AlphaGo defeated Go world champion Li Shishi, the chess game has been occupied by AI, setting off an upsurge in the study, research, and application of AI technology. Colleges and universities around the world have followed suit and set up AI-related majors. Deep learning is one of the cutting-edge technologies in the field of artificial intelligence. It is a method to solve complex real-life problems by extracting effective information from the data and mining key features on the basis of a large amount of learning and computing data.


One of the major features of hypermedia learning is its non-linear structure, allowing learners, the opportunity of flexible navigation to accommodate their own needs. Nevertheless, such flexibility can also cause problems such as insufficient navigation and disorientation for some learners, especially those with Field Dependent cognitive styles. As a result students learning performance can be deteriorated and in turn, they can have negative attitudes with hypermedia learning systems. It was suggested that visual elements can be used to compensate dilemmas. However, it is unclear whether these visual elements improve their learning or whether problems still exist. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of student's cognitive styles and visual elements on student's learning performance and attitudes in hypermedia learning environment. Cognitive Style Analysis (CSA), Learning outcome in terms of pre and post-test, practical task, and Attitude Questionnaire (AQ) were administered to a sample of 60 university students. The findings revealed that FD students preformed equally to those of FI. Also, FD students experienced more disorientation in the hypermedia learning system where they depend a lot on the visual elements for navigation and orientation purposes. Furthermore, they had more positive attitudes towards the visual elements which escape them from experiencing navigation and disorientation dilemmas. In contrast, FI students were more comfortable, did not get disturbed or did not need some of the visual elements in the hypermedia learning system. Keywords—Hypermedia learning; cognitive styles; visual elements; support; learning performance; attitudes and perceptions.


Deep drilling in the exploration for oil during the past few years has revealed the northern Montana Paleozoic section in the plains of southern Alberta. Records of the Paleozoic of the deep wells in the Kevin-Sunburst field, especially the Adams No. 1, on the Potlatch lease, are compared with those of southern Alberta. Distance from exposures and type localities impose difficulties on correlations, because great lithologic changes occur in the intervals. Most notable are those strata assigned to the Three Forks, composed mostly of a thick massive anhydrite zone. The thin widespread sheet of black shale is chosen as the upper member of the Three Forks formation.


Human needs of technology and the availability of adequate infrastructure are evidences that the technology currently becomes part of the human beings' basic necessities. Growing multitude of journals and scientific papers makes choosing and sorting become more selective though there have been many online journals service providers and portals. Research on search engines, plagiarism and recommendation system has been carried out with various methods to improve the performance of the system itself, this paper aims to calculate similarities between one article with other articles by implementing n-gram and tanimoto cosine. The number of articles tested were forty-three titles and abstracts, tests were carried fifty times with random selected keywords, by separating each sentences of the title and abstract into n characters (n = 2) including spaces and punctuation, then calculating similarity to the query or keywords used to test the system. Testing was done using several variation of the thresholds. After observing the fifty times-testings, the threshold value of 0.30, produced accuracy = 0.86, precision = 0.37 and recall = 0.44.


In this paper, we present 3DLoc: an integrated system of hardware and software toolkits for locating an 802.11-compliant mobile device in a three dimensional (3D) space. 3DLoc features two specialized antennas: an azimuth antenna and an elevation antenna, for detecting the azimuth and elevation angles of a mobile device respectively in real time. To improve positioning accuracy in real-world urban settings, we propose various signal processing techniques such as clustering and wavelet-transform based denoising, and present theoretical analysis of the accuracy of these techniques. With different antenna configurations, 3DLoc is able to track single or multiple targets in one round of azimuth scanning and elevation scanning. We conduct extensive experiments to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of 3DLoc. 3DLoc can be used in various applications, including wireless network forensics for locating anonymous criminal mobile devices.


Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% in vitiligo and to evaluate the effects of age of the patients, age of onset and duration of disease on response rate. Materials and methods: Twenty‐three patients with vitiligo were enrolled in our study; 19 patients (seven male, 12 female) completed the 6‐month study period. Patients were treated with topical pimecrolimus 1% cream once daily. The response was evaluated as excellent (76–100%), moderate (51–75%), mild (26–50%), minimal (1–25%), or no response. Results: The mean age of the 19 patients was 29.3±16.6 (range 7–62 years) and the mean duration of vitiligo was 68.4±81.3 months. Three patients demonstrated an excellent response to the therapy. Four patients had moderate, six patients had mild and five patients had minimal responses; one patient had no response to the treatment. Side effects were noted as a burning and stinging sensation in only three patients. The correlations between response rate and duration of the disease (r = 0.02, p = 0.95), onset age (r = −0.17, p = 0.48), and age of the patients (r = −0.16, p = 0.53) were not significant. Conclusions: Pimecrolimus has a mild therapeutic effect on vitiligo without significant side effects and can be an alternative therapy agent.


Polystictus superciliaris (Wied, 1831) is a small tyrant-flycatcher endemic to mountaintops in the highlands of eastern Brazil. In this paper we present the first description of the breeding biology of P. superciliaris and estimate its reproductive success from a population inhabiting rocky outcrops. This study was conducted during 2005 in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola Moca, municipality of Nova Lima (20°03'S, 44°00'W), state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Fourteen pairs of P. superciliaris were banded and monitored. The onset of the breeding season in 2005 was assumed to have been sometime before the 26th of July, while it was assumed to have ended on the 23rd of November based on the last observation of a successful brood. Clutch size was invariably two eggs (N = 21), the incubation period averaged 17.7 ± 1.3 days (N = 9), and the nestling period averaged 16.4 ± 1.3 days (N = 8). We estimated the probability of reproductive success for P. superciliaris to be 41.3%, during this particular breeding season. Of the 12 (57.1%) unsuccessful nests, eight (66.7%) had eggs and four (33.3%) had nestlings when they failed. In nine (42.8%) of these cases, the nests were lost to predation, two to parasitism by botflies, and one due to abandonment. This study suggests that the reproductive success of P. superciliaris is intermediate compared to the other species of Tyrannidae that have been studied and closer to the lower limit of the 40%-80% range which is characteristic of tyrant _ flycatcher species that breed in temperate regions.


We address the problem of modeling the far-infrared (FIR) spectrum and deriving the star-formation rate (SFR) and the dust mass of spiral galaxies. We use the realistic physical model of Popescu et al. (2000) to describe the overall ultra-violet (UV), optical and FIR spectral energy distribution (SED) of a spiral galaxy. The model takes into account the 3-dimensional old and young stellar distributions in the bulge and the disk of a galaxy, together with the dust geometry. The geometrical characteristics of the galaxy and the intrinsic optical and near-infrared spectra are determined by the galaxy's observed K-band photometry. The UV part of the spectrum is assumed to be proportional to the SFR through the use of population synthesis models. By solving the radiative transfer equation, we are able to determine the absorbed energy, the dust temperature and the resulting FIR spectrum. The model has only three free parameters: SFR, dust mass, and the fraction of the UV radiation which is absorbed locally by dense dust in the HII regions. Using this model, we are able to fit well the FIR spectra of 62 bright IRAS galaxies from the "SCUBA Local Universe Galaxy Survey" of Dunne et al. (2000). As a result, we are able to determine, among others, their SFR and dust mass. We find that, on average, the SFR (in absolute units), the star-formation efficiency, the SFR surface density and the ratio of FIR luminosity over the total intrinsic luminosity, are larger than the respective values of typical spiral galaxies of the same morphological type. We also find that the mean gas-to-dust mass ratio is close to the Galactic value, while the average central face-on optical depth of these galaxies in the V band is 2.3. Finally, we find a strong correlation between SFR or dust mass and observed FIR quantities like total FIR luminosity or FIR luminosity at 100 and 850 µm. These correlations yield well-defined relations, which can be used to determine a spiral galaxy's SFR and dust-mass content from FIR observations.


This study aims to investigate the effect of Astragali Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma(AC) combination on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer HT-29 cells based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT). HT-29 cells were respectively treated with 0, 3, 6 and 12 g·kg~(-1) AC-containing serum for 48 h. The survival and growth of cells were measured by thiazole blue(MTT) colorimetry, and the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cells were detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU) test and Transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. The BALB/c nude mouse model of subcutaneous colon cancer xenograft was established, and then model mice were classified into blank control group, 6 g·kg~(-1) AC group, and 12 g·kg~(-1) AC group. The tumor weight and volume of mice were recorded, and the histopathological morphology of the tumor was observed based on hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The expression of apoptosis-associated proteins B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein(Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3(caspase-3), and cleaved caspase-3, and EMT-associated proteins E-cadherin, MMP9, MMP2 and vimentin in HT-29 cells and mouse tumor tissues after the treatment of AC was determined by Western blot. The results showed that cell survival rate and the number of cells at proliferation stage decreased compared with those in the blank control group. The number of migrating and invading cells reduced and the number of apoptotic cells increased in the administration groups compared with those in the blank control group. As for the in vivo experiment, compared with the blank control group, the administration groups had small tumors with low mass and shrinkage of cells and karyopycnosis in the tumor tissue, indicating that the AC combination may improve EMT. In addition, the expression of Bcl2 and E-cadherin increased and the expression of Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, MMP9, MMP2, and vimentin decreased in HT-29 cells and tumor tissues in each administration group. In summary, the AC combination can significantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT of HT-29 cells in vivo and in vitro and promote the apoptosis of colon cancer cells.


3D hierarchical flower-like TiO2 nanostructures were synthesized via a facile solvothermal method combining a calcination process. A series of electron microscopy characterization results suggest that the growth of 3D hierarchical flower-like TiO2 nanostructures is governed by a nucleation and nuclei growth–dissolution–recrystallization growth mechanism from time-dependent morphology evolution. The influence of the experimental parameters such as reaction species, temperature, and time on the morphology growth was systematically studied. Importantly, the prepared 3D hierarchical flower-like TiO2 nanostructures showed enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with Degussa P25 for the degradation of phenol under UV light irradiation, which is attributed to its special hierarchical porous structure, good permeability, high light-harvesting capacity and more surface active sites. Electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of active oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals) and the total organic carbon (TOC) changes are also investigated to evaluate the degradation efficacy.


Edge grouping methods aim at detecting the complete boundaries of salient structures in noisy images. In this paper, we develop a new edge grouping method that exhibits several useful properties. First, it combines both boundary and region information by defining a unified grouping cost. The region information of the desirable structures is included as a binary feature map that is of the same size as the input image. Second, it finds the globally optimal solution of this grouping cost. We extend a prior graph-based edge grouping algorithm to achieve this goal. Third, it can detect both closed boundaries, where the structure of interest lies completely within the image perimeter, and open boundaries, where the structure of interest is cropped by the image perimeter. Given this capability for detecting both open and closed boundaries, the proposed method can be extended to segment an image into disjoint regions in a hierarchical way. Experimental results on real images are reported, with a comparison against a prior edge grouping method that can only detect closed boundaries.


A comprehensive modeling study of the Krafla geothermal field in Iceland has been carried out. The study consists of four tasks: the analysis of well test data, modeling of the natural state of summary of the the field, the determination of the generating capability of the field, and modeling of well performance. The results of all four tasks are consistent with field observation. ABSTRACT. behavior (flow rates and fluid enthalpy) and over- all reservoir depletion under various reservoir management schemes. A comprehensive modeling study of the Xrafla -geothermal field in Iceland has been carried out. The study consists of four tasks: The present article gives a rather brief well test data, modeling of the natural state of summary of the modeling work; a more complete t h e field, the determination of the generating description w i l l be given i n a forthcoming report capability of the field, and modeling of w e l l (Bodvarsson e t al., 1983a). performance. consistent with field observations. with the State Power conducted a carnprehensive modeling study of the Krafla geothermal field in Iceland. consisted of four tasks, the analysis of w e l l test data, modeling of the reservoir system i n its natural (unucploited) state, determination of the gen-wells erating capacity of the different reservoir regions, and modeling of w e l l performan exploitation schemes.


Emerging distributed and collaborative network applications like grid services demand an intelligent and user-centric infrastructure. There has been lots of effort in both network control plane layer and application layer interfaces to provide dynamic on demand service provisioning with desirable requirements. In this paper a novel solution towards an intelligent and ubiquitous photonic grid network taking advantages of recent development in optical networking technologies is proposed. The proposed approach makes the optical networks more application aware by extending control plane modules. This has been presented and simulated by integrating applications resources information into the routing and signaling modules of GMPLS as the optical control plane over optical burst switching transport network interconnected according to CA*net4 topology. The results show the affects on control channel traffic, the successful rate of link setup due to the synchronization in service resource reservation and allocation and network resources as the transport media


The quantification method of hydrophilic food additives in meat products was confirmed using an ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Nitrate and nitrite (food coloring), sorbate (food preservative) and other hydrophilic food additives in meat products were extracted by water, and separated from the matrix by using a gradient eluent (10-55 mmol L –1 KOH). For confirming food additives extracted from meat products, a single quadrupole mass spectrometer was used after a suppressed conductivity detector. The recovery of formate, nitrate, nitrite, sorbate and malate in sausage were 92-105 % . Lactate and acetate, succinate and malate which could not be discerned and were presented as one peak by conductivity detector, were separated by a mass spectrometry detector in the selected ion monitoring mode.


Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean has raised in acute form the question of wildlife conservation in Antarctica: what will be the effect on the ecosystem? how much krill can be taken? who can take part? what regulations are needed? The author, a scientist of the British Antarctic Survey, considers the answers in the light of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and the Canberra Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources of 1980, and looks at some criticisms of the latter put forward in a recently published book. He suggests that the Convention, while not ideal, is to be welcomed because it provides a framework for conservation and rational exploitation that can be made to work – if the nations that signed it are determined to make it do so.


Purpose

This study aims to investigate the use of deceptive negotiation tactics to explain why teams can attain higher negotiation profits than individual negotiators. The study distinguishes deception by commission (i.e. active misrepresentation of preferences) from deception by omission (i.e. passive misrepresentation of preferences).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample used to test the mediation hypothesis was made up of data from two electronically mediated negotiation simulations encompassing 75 negotiation dyads with 278 participants. The methodology involved coding deceptive negotiation tactics from the log files by counting utterances related to indifference options that enabled negotiation parties to deceive.

Findings

The results show that teams do apply deceptive negotiation tactics more frequently than individual negotiators and that this behavior helps them increase their negotiation profits.

Originality/value

The findings are valuable for two reasons. First, the study included controls for other important antecedents of deceptive behavior and negotiation outcome (e.g. negotiators' nationalities, first bids). Consequently, the empirical results underline the importance of considering team size to understand its impact on profits through the use of deceptive tactics. Second, although this study does show that deception increases negotiation profits, the absolute level of deception is rather small (on average just one deceptive statement per negotiation).


In this paper, the effectiveness of stress grading coatings (SGCs) on form wound stator coil groundwall insulation under fast rise time pulses is analyzed. The combined performance of the stress grading coating and the semiconductive slot coating is studied under fast rise time transient voltages. During the rapid rise of voltage, the high stress moves from the stress grading coating to the semiconductive coating at the end of the slot. According to the results, it is evident that the design of both the stress grading and semiconductive slot coatings must be done together for effective stress relief. The use of materials with varistor behavior in the stress grading coating, combined with a high conductivity semiconductive slot coating, is analyzed as a solution to the high stress that develops at the slot end of form wound stator coil groundwall insulation of inverter fed drive (IFD) motors.


The starting point of this paper is the classical well-known theorem due to G. BIRKHOFF, P. HALL, and J. SCHMIDT which establishes a one-to-one correspondence between compact closure operators, inductive closure operators, inductive closure systems, and closure operators generated in universal algebras (and generated in deductive systems, respectively). In the paper presented we make first steps in order to generalize this important theorem to the fuzzy set theory and fuzzy algebra (and fuzzy deductive systems, respectively).


A fiber-optic chemical sensor for the detection of cocaine has been developed, based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) containing a fluorescein moiety as the signalling group. The fluorescent MIP was formed and covalently attached to the distal end of an optical fiber. The sensor exhibited an increase in fluorescence intensity in response to cocaine in the concentration range of 0 - 500 μM in aqueous acetonitrile mixtures with good reproducibility over one month. Selectivity for cocaine over others drugs has also been demonstrated.


Endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs) mobilized from postsynaptic cells activate presynaptic cannabinoid receptors and thereby inhibit synaptic transmitter release. The inhibition can be either brief (seconds) or long-lasting (minutes to hours). Recent studies provide insight into the presynaptic mechanisms responsible for long-lasting, eCB-mediated long-term depression. Among these, the proteins PKA and RIM1alpha appear to be crucial, although other possibilities are emerging.


Amylase and glucosidase enzymes are the primary harmful source in the development of the chronic condition known as diabetes mellitus. The main function of these enzymes is to break the macromolecules into simple sugar units which are directly involved in the solubility of blood, hence increasing blood glucose levels. To overcome this effect, there is a need for a potent and effective inhibitor that inhibits the conversion of macromolecules of sugar into its smaller units. In this regard, we synthesized thiazolidinone-based indole derivatives (1–20). The synthesized derivatives were evaluated for α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Different substituted derivatives were found with moderate to good potentials having IC50 values ranging, for α-amylase, from 1.50 ± 0.05 to 29.60 ± 0.40 μM and, for α-glucosidase, from IC50 = 2.40 ± 0.10 to 31.50 ± 0.50 μM. Among the varied substituted compounds, the most active analogs four (1.80 ± 0.70 and 2.70 ± 0.70), five (1.50 ± 0.05 and 2.40 ± 0.10, respectively) of the series showed few folds better inhibitory activity than standard drug acarbose (IC50 = 10.20 ± 0.10 and 11.70 ± 0.10 μM, respectively). Moreover, structure–activity relationship (SAR) was established and binding interactions were analyzed for ligands and proteins (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) through a molecular docking study.


Adequate nutrition is a key component of the health and optimal growth of a newborn child. The article presents recommendations on support of breastfeeding in healthy newborns, as well as clinical experience in terms of organization of breastfeeding, maintenance of lactation in the mother in case of birth of sick and prematurely born child, indications for breast milk expression. Experience and effectiveness assessment of clinical and individual breast pumps is described. The issues of differentiated consultation on feeding premature infants with various pathologies and optimal conditions of breast milk expression are considered.


Transition metals (in particular Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) present as solutes give rise to highly anomalous thermo-electric powers and unusual resistive behaviour at very low temperatures. Following an outline of the theories which have been proposed to account for this behaviour, experimental data are presented on alloys of gold as parent metal with transition element solutes down to very low temperatures, and the results compared broadly with the conclusions of present theory. It is generally believed that the fundamental origin of the anomalous thermo-electric behaviour lies in the spin-dependent scattering of conduction electrons by the magnetic solute ions. Experimental data are also presented of the thermo-electric behaviour down to very low temperatures of alloys of the transition metals Pd and Pt with both transition elements and non-transition elements as solutes.


Integrated environmental modeling in general and specifically Multi-agent-based modeling and simulation approach are increasingly used in decision-support systems with, as a major consequence, to manipulate and generate a huge amount of data for their functioning (parametrization, use of real data in the simulation, ...). Therefore there is a need to manage efficiently these data being either used or generated by the simulation. Practically, existing general-ist simulation platforms lack database access and analysis tools and simulation outputs are usually stored as text files or spreadsheets to be manipulated later by dedicated tools. In this paper, we propose a solution to handle simulation models data, i.e. their outputs as well as corresponding real data. We designed a conceptual framework based on a combination of two components, a Business Intelligence (BI) solution and a multi-agent platform. Such a framework aims at managing simulation models data throughout the lifespan of the simulation, from its execution and its coupling with real data to the generation of simulation results order to use the simulation model as an effective decision-support sys-tem with what-if scenarios.


Participation in exercise has been linked with positive results on the cardiovascular system, metabolism, musculature etc. Some of these benefits are linked with reductions in blood pressure, increases in resting energy expenditure, changes in lipid profile, reductions in fat mass, increases in fat free mass etc. (Evans, 1999). There are different types of exercise that someone can participate in, i.e. walking, running, lifting weights, participating in organized sports which involve different muscular contractions. Isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle actions are the main muscular contractions involved in all exercise activities. Eccentric muscular contraction is this type of contraction where the length of the muscle is increased while tension is developed. Unaccustomed eccentric exercise has been linked with greater muscle damage compared to isometric or concentric muscular contractions. However this phenomenon is temporary and perturbations in functional and biochemical indices are back to normal within a week from the initiation of the trauma. Furthermore, the damage works as a protective mechanism since data indicates that the muscle damage is attenuated when a subsequent exercise bout of the same intensity is performed even a few months later. Eventhough eccentric exercise leads to greater muscle damage, recent data indicates that eccentrically induced muscle damage is related with positive changes in lipid profile that are evident for a few days following the initial event. Furthermore, the limited data from eccentric training studies indicate that this type of exercise is linked with positive changes in strength as well as in the metabolic profile of the exercise participant. Oxidative stress indicates a condition where the cellular production of pro-oxidant molecules exceeds the ability of the antioxidant system to reduce reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (RONS). There are several studies that indicate that oxidative stress is evident following muscle damaging exercise. Its role has been related to cleaning the debris from the damaged tissue and providing the means for biochemical adaptations that lead to a stronger and more resistant to muscle damage muscular tissue. This phenomenon is transient and existing evidence suggests that oxidative stress indices are attenuated when a


Background Despite technological advances in cardiac imaging, accurate phenotyping of the right ventricle (RV) remains challenging. Current cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) methods have poor through-plane resolution limiting the accuracy of modelling the complex RV shape and dynamics. RV function and mass are increasingly recognised as pivotal in guiding treatment and establishing prognosis in cardiomyopathies and pulmonary hypertension. Here we acquire high resolution 3D cine imaging of the RV and exploit the advantages of this approach with automated segmentation. Methods We used a 1.5 T Philips Achieva system with a 32 element cardiac phased-array coil. 26 healthy volunteers from the GenScan (Genetic Studies of the Heart and Circulation) study were imaged. Short axis SSFP images were acquired: 2D: voxel size 2.0×2.2×8 mm, 12 sections, two sections per breath-hold, slice thickness 8 mm with 2 mm gap, 30 cardiac phases. 3D: single breath-hold 3D b-SSFP volumes: voxel size 2×2×4 mm (reconstructed to 2×2×2 mm), 48 sections, 20 cardiac phases, SENSE factor 4. Right ventricular 2D volumes were measured using CMRtools software. For the creation of the atlas each voxel in the 3D cine sequences obtained from five volunteers was manually labelled using ITKsnap software. Datasets from 21 other volunteers were non-rigidly registered to the 3D atlas. Images were segmented automatically using multi-atlas simultaneous segmentation and registration. Results Presentation is confined to RV end-diastolic volumes (RVEDV) here. Data were log-transformed due to positive skewing (Normal plots, Shapiro-Wilk). 3D automated volumes were correlated with 2D manual volumes (rs=0.83, p<.001, figure 1A). RVEDV (geometric means and 95% CIs) was greater when measured by 2D manual techniques (157, 144–172 ml) than by 3D automated techniques (144, 131–160 ml). One sample t test demonstrated a small, but statistically significant difference between transformed values (mean difference=−0.037, t=−4.256, p=.0004). As a percentage of the mean absolute value, 3D volumes were 8% smaller than 2D manual volumes. Figure 1 Discussion The 8% underestimation of RVEDV compared to manual volumetry represents a volume of 13 ml which we believe is of limited clinical significance. Furthermore visual assessment of 3D and 2D models derived from source data (figure 2) suggests that our approach tracks regional variations more accurately, which may indicate indicate clinically significant subtypes in RV disease. We conclude that near-isotropic, whole heart, single breath-hold 3D cine imaging is a feasible approach for parametric modelling of the RV. This method is robust, quantitative and automated and suited to high-throughput population studies. Figure 2


The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomics, physiological and biochemical characteristics of different peanut seeds and plant genotypes. The procedures have been performed during the secondary crop in the agricultural year 2013 to 2014, after the peanut harvest in Barbalha, Ceara – Brazil. The experiment was laid out in split-plot in randomized complete block design with  four replicates, constituting scheme 4×5 factorial analysis, providing four levels of replacement of ET0 (40, 70, 100 and 130%) and five genotypes of peanut (BRS Perola Branca, L7 Beje, Runner, BRS Havana, BR 1), which were measured: number of leaves, total phytomass, and total chlorophyll content was performed, as well as hundred-seeds weight, pods weight per plant, number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant oil yield and fatty acid composition. It is shown herein that the interaction between peanut genotypes and water restriction levels promote a decrease in plant growth, physiological factors, and biochemical production of oil, possibly due to a decrease in the photosynthetic metabolism, whereas the plants exposed to water stress conditions modulated all ecophysiological responses in favor of a better performance in the harsh environment. The significant differences exhibited by different cultivars in this study for oil content, some productive characteristics and fatty acids compositions could be attributed to the genetic make-up of a particular cultivar (BR 1), its place of the environmental to reach high oil quality. Knowing better combination effects of climatic fluctuations and botanical types on fatty acid composition would be useful in designing management practices to obtain a specific oil quality and improving predictions of crop models in northeastern Brazil.

 Key words: Arachis hypogaea L., water deficiency, adaptability, tolerance.


Chromium in its hexavalent state is a water-soluble and toxic element to living organisms present in the environment. However, some organisms are resistant and reduce the toxic forms of Cr(vi) to less toxic or non-toxic forms. A global proteomic analysis of Staphylococcus sp. #NIOSBK35 under different chromate concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1) at different time points in its growth stages (6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 h) resulted in the identification of 878 proteins. Of all the proteins expressed, 13 proteins [23 rDNA (uracil-5-) methyltransferase RumA, multidrug ABC transporter ATP binding protein, dihydroxy acid dehydratase, polysaccharide biosynthesis protein, etc.] were expressed only in the presence of chromium. 14 proteins were up-regulated in response to chromium(vi), namely, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, ATP-dependent Zn metallopeptidase, hsp90- like protein, NAD (P)-dependent oxidoreductase, etc. Most of the proteins involved in normal cell functioning like 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase, ribosomal proteins (30S ribosomal protein S11, 30S ribosomal protein S2, and 50S ribosomal protein L32), aconitate hydratase, DNA primase, serine-tRNA ligase, phosphoenolpyruvate-protein phosphotransferase, enolase, sulfur transferase FdhD, etc. were found to be down-regulated. On grouping these proteins into their COG (cluster of orthologous groups) functional categories, they were found to be involved in translation, carbohydrate metabolism, stress proteins, amino acid transport and membrane transport mechanisms. The proteomic response given by Staphylococcus sp. #NIOSBK35 did not show expression of Cr-specific proteins, indicating a different mechanism of Cr-tolerance as the organism was able to survive and grow at high concentrations of Cr(vi).


The research work presented in this paper addresses issues related to ship inspection and maintenance through the development of a novel platform as part of the INCASS (Inspection Capabilities for Enhanced Ship Safety) project. INCASS addresses ship safety including structural and machinery monitoring, data gathering, reliability analysis and decision support. As part of the above, a case study on the machinery monitoring will be presented in this paper. The analysis involves ship's main engine, lubrication and starting sub-systems and various components and failure modes. The case study presents the working state reliability performance on system, sub-system and components levels.


The aim of the study presented in this paper was to compare the usability of a user driven and a mixed initiative user interface of a multimodal system for train timetable information. The evaluation shows that the effectiveness of the two interfaces does not differ significantly. However, as a result of the absence of spoken prompts and the obligatory use of buttons to provide values, the efficiency of the user driven interface is much higher than the efficiency of the mixed initiative interface. Although the user satisfaction was not significantly higher for the user driven interface, by far most people preferred the user driven interface to the mixed initiative interface.


Free energies of the alpha(r)beta and betabeta conformations of 14 tetrapeptides, based on the sequence SALN and protein X-ray structures, were calculated using molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations. The alphaalpha conformations of five of the tetrapeptides were also studied. SALN has been earlier shown by molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy to have a tendency to form an alpha(r)beta turn. The gas-phase energy of the molecular mechanical force field (CHARMM), the electrostatic and non-polar solvation free energies and solute entropies were used to explain the free energy differences of the alphaalpha, betabeta and alpha(r)beta conformations of the peptides. The alpha(r)beta conformation of SALN and SATN was predicted to be slightly more stable than the extended conformation (betabeta), in agreement with experimental results. The SALN mutants SAIN, SAVN, SATN, SSIN and MSHV, were also predicted to be potential alpha(r)beta turn-forming peptides. We report also revised positional potentials for the type VIII turn, based on a non-homologous set of protein structures. This protein databank analysis confirms the main results of the earlier analyses and reveals several new amino acid residues with a significant positional preference. The results of this work led us to suggest that the alpha(r)beta turn may be the most common turn type in peptides. Such turns may be readily formed in aqueous solution and thereby play important roles in the protein folding process by serving as an initiation point for structure formation.


Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population, because of the frequent face to face contact or potential exposure to TB through shared air or space with infectious patient(s), regardless of economic setting and local TB incidence. Information on the burden of active TB disease among HCWs will help guide control measures, can be utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of TB infection prevention programs in the health care setting, and guide necessary actions. However, data on TB among HCW in Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of active TB disease among healthcare workers and support staff in healthcare settings in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit a total of 580 randomly selected study participants in the Amhara region. Data were collected over four months in selected hospitals and health centers. Implementation of TB prevention and control measures was evaluated using a standardized checklist. The main outcome indicator was active TB as measured by a laboratory diagnosis using GeneXpert technology. Results A total of 580 study participants were enrolled. The mean age was 31.3 (±7.8 standard deviation) years, with about two-thirds (65.3%) aged between 18–24 years. A total of 9 (1.6%) MTB cases were detected, 4 (1.4%) in HCWs and 5 (1.7%) in support staff, which did not significantly differ (P = 0.50). About 90% of the participants had not received TB infection prevention and control training ever. More than half (54%) of the study participants worked in poorly ventilated rooms. Triage of coughing patients was not practiced in 32% of the studied facilities (health centers and hospitals). Conclusions The magnitude of TB among healthcare workers and support staff in healthcare settings was higher than in the general population (140 per 100000 population). The status of implementation of tuberculosis prevention and control measures indicated missed opportunities. Hence, strict implementation of developed infection control plans of TB in healthcare settings needs to be improved.


Self-incompatibility and compatibility of 65 citrus accessions were determined by pollen tube growth in the style. Lemon was self-compatible whereas the six pummelos and seven out of 11 its relatives were self-incompatible. Furthermore, among sour oranges and their relatives, two out of six accessions were, likewise, self-incompatible as were one out of five sweet orange and their relatives. Every yuzu and its relatives, except hyuga-natsu, were self-compatible. Of the mandarin and its relatives, 14 out of 28 accessions were self-incompatible, whereas calamondin, a kumquat relative, and Hedzuka daidai of diverse origin were self-compatible. Thirty-one out of 65 accessions used in this study were self-incompatible. Of the self-incompatible accessions, clementine and 'Ariake', a hybrid of navel orange and clementine, were cross-incompatible. Thus, the incompatible genotypes of those two accessions were considered to be identical.


Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of alpha-fetoprotein levels, HBsAg, IgG anti-HBc, anti-HCV and HIV antibodies among patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma at KNH. Study design & setting: The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey, done at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: Patients with a histological diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma were recruited. History was obtained, physical examination done, and blood taken for determination of alpha-fetoprotein level, hepatitis B, C and HIV seropositivity. Results: 62 patients were studied, 39 males and 23 females, with an age range of 21 to 79 years and a mean of 49.7 years (median 50.0.SD 13.4). The prevalence of various viral markers was as follows: HBsAg 56.5%, IgG Anti-HBc 57.9%, HIV 17.7% and Anti-HCV 9.7%. 43.5% had associated liver cirrhosis. HCV positivity was significantly associated with cirrhosis (p= .039). HBsAg and anti-HBc positivity were significantly associated with higher AFP levels (p= .0008). Higher AFP levels were also significantly associated with age below 50 years (p= .021). Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among PHC patients was (71%). All patients that had positive alpha-fetoprotein levels were positive for hepatitis B markers, and in this same group of patients, age played a role in that those below 50 years had higher levels. Hepatitis C accounted for 9.7% of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. 17.7% of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were positive for HIV (ELISA I & II). This figure was slightly lower than that expected for KNH in-patients (20%) but significantly higher than that of the general population (12%). 43.5% of the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma had associated liver cirrhosis.


The performance of Hall effect current transducers (HECTs), under distorted waveform conditions, is usually characterized by means of a frequency response test. In this paper, it was investigated if frequency response is able to correctly evaluate the ratio and the phase errors under distorted conditions. Two HECTs, with the accuracy class level of 1% and 0.5%, respectively, were experimentally characterized under two conditions: 1) sinusoidal excitation with frequencies ranging from 50 to 750 Hz, which is the well-known frequency response test, and 2) nonsinusoidal excitation using fundamental frequency and one harmonic with adjusted amplitude and phase shift. It was found that ratio and phase errors are weakly affected by the harmonic amplitude and phase shift, with respect to the fundamental in the accuracy level of 0.1% and 0.05°. They have, instead, a strong dependence from conductor location in the HECT window. These results suggest that the frequency response approach for the evaluation of HECT performance, under distorted waveform conditions, can be used for an error compensation method only if the position of the primary conductor is known. An error compensation method, based on the frequency response, was implemented and tested with a distorted waveform composed of fundamental and many harmonics. For each of the harmonic components, the errors were reduced to one tenth of the measured ones.


Institutional and organizational measures contribute to the development of production. In the article the method of calculating the non-linear economic performance efficiency of the organization of production, using known rules of elementary mathematics and the principles of the "golden section" segment and the "golden rectangle" for the construction of the "golden square" division of the parties on the principle of the "golden section". The most important stage of production activities on planning service equipment is consideration of possible changes in the market situation. As company plan is a system of indicators of the values that the company intends to achieve in the future, performance will contingent on many factors (organization and technical, economic).


This article criticises current BoP approaches for under-appreciating two issues that play vital roles in projects targeting the poor at the BoP: heterogeneity among the poor, and the intricacies of participatory partnerships between TNCs, the non-profit sector (NGOs) and local poor communities in the global south. Our main contention is that the extant BoP literature has a naive view of what working with the poor really involves, which grossly underestimates adverse power relationships and disregards the hierarchies between the poor and outsiders who administer development interventions. To unpack the hidden complexities associated with heterogeneity and partnership dynamics, we draw on extensive knowledge from the field of development studies, which has accumulated key insights about working in and with poorer communities over several decades.


Inflammation and oxidative and nitrosative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative retinopathies (PR). In PR, a loss of balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors favors the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This vascular change results in alterations in the blood–retinal barrier, with extravasation of plasma proteins such as α2-macroglobulin (α2M) and gliosis in Müller glial cells (MGCs, such as MIO-M1). It is well known that MGCs play important roles in healthy and sick retinas, including in PR. Nitro-fatty acids are electrophilic lipid mediators with anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. Our aim was to investigate whether nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA) is beneficial against oxidative stress, gliosis, and the pro-angiogenic response in MGCs. Pure synthetic NO2-OA increased HO-1 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, which was abrogated by the Nrf2 inhibitor trigonelline. In response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), NO2-OA prevented the ROS increase and reduced the gliosis induced by α2M. Finally, when hypoxic MGCs were incubated with NO2-OA, the increase in VEGF mRNA expression was not affected, but under hypoxia and inflammation (IL-1β), NO2-OA significantly reduced VEGF mRNA levels. Furthermore, NO2-OA inhibited endothelial cell (BAEC) tubulogenesis. Our results highlight NO2-OA's protective effect on oxidative damage, gliosis; and the exacerbated pro-angiogenic response in MGCs.


Current study findings concerning changes in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in cases of hyperoxic acute lung injury (HALI) have shown conflicting results. This study aimed to detect the angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in a rat HALI model. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups: the control group, HALI group and hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO₂-PC) group. HALI was induced by exposure to pure oxygen at 250 kPa for six hours. In the HBO₂-PC group, rats were exposed to oxygen at 250 kPa for 60 minutes twice daily for two consecutive days; HALI was induced at 24 hours after the last oxygen exposure.=After HALI, the lung, spleen and liver were harvested for HE staining and pathological examination. At one hour and 18 hours after HALI, the blood, liver, lung and spleen were collected for the detection of Ang II and ACE contents by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological examination showed the lung was significantly damaged and characteristics of HALI were observed, but there were no significant pathological changes in the liver and spleen. After HALI, Ang II and ACE contents of different tissues increased progressively over time, but the HBO₂-PC group showed reductions in the Ang II and ACE contents to a certain extent, especially at 18 hours after injury. These findings suggest prolonged hyperoxia exposure may activate the RAS, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of HALI. HBO₂-PC has a limited capability to inhibit RAS activation.


An accurate technique for mapping the two-dimensional microwave potential in microwave circuits has been developed and tested. Using the direct electooptic sampling technique and a de-embedding algorithm to remove substrate-variation-induced measurement errors, accurate two-dimensional potential maps with a dynamic range of 50 dB and spatial resolution of 10 mu m are obtained. De-embedding of the microwave potential from the measured, electrooptically modulated signal is achieved by deducing the substrate parameters from the measured average reflected optical power. Once the substrate is characterized, the microwave potential can be calculated from the electrooptic signal. The de-embedding procedure technique was successfully tested on a through-line and an open-end line of a through-reflect-line (TRL) microstrip calibration standard. >


The German Insurance Association (GDV) has continued and completed the accident research program ,,Vehicle Safety 90". Based on a data base of 15,000 car-to-car crashes, about 1,000 car crashes with serious injuries (MAIS3+) have been analyzed in depth. The results are presented, especially analysis regarding collision types and injury criteria. On the basis of a comprehensive injury description. using AIS, ISS and Scales showing long term disability, social economic cost factors are outlined which show the requirements of further injury reduction strategies. Parallel to the research program ,,Vehicle Safety 90 VS90" two other data bases have been completed. Accident material of 600 motorcycle-to-car crashes shows both the accident circumstances as well as the crash characteristics and the injury pattern of motorcyclists. A representative data base of 1,200 car-to-pedestrian accidents will be finished by mid 1998. The collision types and crash/injury characteristics are the focal areas of this research program. These data bases are described in their structure and the accident parameters covered, the focal results concerning collision types, crash and injury data are outlined, which form the basis for continued analysis within GDV research. Finally, proposals for data bases of the next research period ,,Vehicle Safety 2000" will be made which should assist a continued and intensified international cooperation.


The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of processing forest residues by chemical delignification preceded by mild steam explosion. The focus was on using soda pulping, due to its simplicity. Kraft cooking was used for comparison to improve the understanding of the separation of the complex yet promising resource. The raw material consisted of chipped branches, bark, and twigs of mixed hardwood and softwood. Analysis of the raw material proved to be challenging due to the presence of a substantial fraction of extractives. Analysis of the pulps showed that the forest residue delignification was faster than that of wood. The effects of steam explosion were evaluated with the help of composition analysis, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for the molecular weight of lignin, and NMR for the changes in its structure. The impact of steam explosion was found to be limited, possibly due to the relatively small size of the material.


Abstract Brachycephalus didactylus, a leaf litter frog endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest, is considered the world's smallest tetrapod. Currently, there is little information about the ecology of this species. In this study, we estimated the population density and analyzed the diet, sexual dimorphism, and some reproductive aspects of two populations of B. didactylus in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The estimated density was 4.0 and 1.2 ind/100m2, suggesting that this is not a locally rare species. However, collecting these frogs may be difficult because of their very small body size (< 11.0 mm SVL) and cryptic color pattern. Individuals from the two populations did not differ in body size, but females from one population were significantly larger than were males. In both populations, the most important food items consumed were Acari and Collembola, most of them measuring less than 1.0 mm in length. Females of the two populations had 3.6 ± 1.3 and 2.5 ± 0.8 mature oocytes averaging 1.6 ± 0.5 mm and 1.4 ± 0.5 mm in diameter, respectively. Frogs with direct-development generally deposit a relatively small number of eggs, and this trend is even more extreme in miniaturized species, such as B. didactylus, which probably lays one egg per clutch. Because the body size of females significantly influenced the mean diameter of oocytes, but not the number of oocytes per female, reproductive success is probably associated with the production of relatively large eggs and, consequently, larger froglets, which may confer an adaptive advantage.


The Duffing equation ẍ+αx+βx3 = F cosωt (α>0) is known to possess periodic solutions with frequency ω/n for all integral n, provided that β is sufficiently small. For n=1 and n≠1, these solutions are designated in the literature as harmonic and subharmonic solutions respectively. In this paper, a classification of the various types of periodic solutions is given, in which it is shown that there are two types of harmonic solutions and two types of subharmonic solutions for sufficiently small β. The perturbation method is employed to find the approximate response curves for each of the four types of periodic solutions. A comparison is made between the response curves obtained in the non‐linear case (β≠0) and linear case (β=0) and some properties of the solutions in the non‐linear case are discussed. A comparison is then made between the perturbation method and the Rauscher method, which is an iteration method that assumes F small instead of β. This comparison is not made in all generality, but only for one ...


Based on recent studies, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been considered a tool to aid in language learning on account of its distinctive interactional features. However, most studies have referred to synchronous CMC and neglected to investigate how asynchronous CMC contributes to language learning. Asynchronous CMC possesses features distinguishable from synchronous CMC (e.g., more accurate, complex, formal, and longer utterances than those in synchronous interactions). The discourse structure in such interactions should be different from that in synchronous interactions, and it is necessary to investigate how such features can facilitate second language acquisition. This study investigates task-based email interactions among 24 native speaker–non native speaker (NS-NNS) dyads with respect to the negotiation structure and strategies followed in asynchronous CMC. The findings underscore the potential of syntactic development, the necessity of instruction in effective feedback strategies, and the distinguishable negotiation structure of asynchronous CMC.


The diaphragm stepped thrust pad (l)† operating at low rotor surface speeds is simulated on the PDP-6 digital computer according to a numerical procedure involving the solution of the Reynolds equation and the elasticity equation respectively by the finite element method and the finite difference method. The computed results compare very well with the experimental results. Multiple regression analysis is then applied to the computed data of the simulated pad to obtain design relationships between parameters affecting the performance of the pad.


Customer experience has been acknowledged as an important factor affecting positive customer behaviors such as loyalty and recommendation. The hospitality industry is also considered to be among the experience-intensive services. This study aims to explore hospitality experiences from guests' and managers' perspectives through a qualitative study. A total of 33 luxury hotel guests and 14 hospitality managers in Istanbul, Turkey, were interviewed to determine factors affecting guest experiences. The content was then analyzed according to two major factors—physical environment and social interactions—under which eight major categories were grouped. The findings imply that ambiance, space/function/amenities, design, and signs/symbols/artifacts may be considered main themes under the physical environment factor, whereas under the social interactions factor, the guests' experiences can be grouped under interactions with staff (professionalism, attentiveness/customization, attitude) and interactions with other guests. The results offer valuable insights to managers regarding dimensions of guest experiences and possible misperceptions. The study also suggests various implications and directions for future research.


We created a comprehensive atlas of breast tumor-immune ecosystem by collecting a dataset of over 50,000 single immune cell transcriptomes from different types of human breast cancer, normal breast tissue, peripheral blood, and the lymph node using single-cell RNA-seq, and analyzed with novel computational clustering and normalization techniques. Our analyses revealed remarkably increased heterogeneity of intratumoral cells of both lymphoid and myeloid cell lineages, which occupy significantly expanded contiguous phenotypic space in comparison to normal breast tissue. The observed continuum of cell states is associated with their progressive cellular activation and differentiation and argues strongly against the notion of few discrete states of differentiation or activation of individual cell types shaping the tumor microenvironment. The substantial heterogeneity of cell states within major cell types and across patients is also driven by complex coexpression relationships between genes, and by extension their potential suitability as therapeutic cotargets. Citation Format: Dana Pe'er. An atlas of the tumor immune ecosystem [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2017 Oct 1-4; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2018;6(9 Suppl):Abstract nr IA14.


examination of the nervous system before the diagnosis of neurosis was made. Dr. McDonald remembered a conversation with a colleague who said that a certain patient was hysterical and subject to explosions of temper. Bromides helped, but did no real good, and the patient continued to quarrel with everyone. Finally she was sent to a psychiatrist. His colleague asked Dr. McDonald what he thought happened to this patient, and. he replied: "She died of a tumour of the frontal lobe." His reason for this reply was first that, knowing his friend, he had expected the story to have a dramatic ending, and, secondly, that he had had a similar experience himself. Dr. McDonald spoke of another patient whose physical examination revealed nothing abnormal beyond a grasp refiex and slight choking of the disks just prior to death. She fell into coma and died. No autopsy was performed, but there was no doubt that a frontal lobe tumour was the cause. The only principle that could be laid down was that in old persons psychical symptoms almost always had an organic basis. Finally, while there was a tendency in modern neurology to swing to the organic side in diagnosis, they should beware of swinging too far. The number of purely psychogenic cases outweighed those of physical origin. While congratulating Professor Dawson on his sound judgement and conservatism, Dr. McDonald wished to challenge two points: First, the statement that essential hypertension could be the result of emotion. There was no sound evidence for that. And second, the statement that the emotional outburst of hysteria was of the same order as the mass reflex of paraplegia. Dr. McDonald did not understand this, because he could not understand the mechanism of an hysterical fit or of glove and stocking aneesthesta: it could not be judged in terms of precise function of the nervous system. Until the mechanism of the hysterical stigmata was understood, it was impossible to compare them with the signs of physical disease of the nervous system.


The introduction of flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) in a power system improves the stability, reduces the losses, reduces the cost of generation and also improves the loadability of the system. In the proposed work, a non-traditional optimization technique, genetic algorithm is used to optimize the various process parameters involved in introduction of FACTS devices in a power system. The various parameters taken into consideration were the location of the device, their type, and their rated value of the devices. The simulation was performed on a 30-bus power system with various types of FACTS controllers, modeled for steady state studies. The optimization results clearly indicate that introduction of FACTS devices in a right location increases the loadability of the system and genetic algorithm can be effectively used for this kind of optimization.


MR imaging provides excellent spatial and contrast resolution to stage locally advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC) for tumor and nodal evaluation in order to facilitate the planning of treatment. Although there are no standard indications for how to estimate the clinical stage of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics at diagnosis, MR imaging can depict the tumor and its extension to the vulvar region and adjacent organs, such as the vagina, urethra, and anus. Optimizing the MR imaging protocol and technique is fundamental for correct staging. The aim of this overview was to focus on the role of MR imaging in LAVC staging. We define vulvar anatomy and corresponding MR imaging findings, MR imaging protocol, and technique. Moreover, we describe the MR imaging findings of LAVC with example cases stage by stage. Key imaging findings based on signal intensity, diffusion restriction, and enhancement are portrayed to correctly identify and stage vulvar cancer. A structured report for LAVC staging is reported in order to give all necessary information to the clinicians and to facilitate MR imaging comprehension.


Many researches and studies have dealt with the importance of planning services in the city mainly for the development and growth of the urban environment, as a minimum of these services must be provided, which is considered a place of stability for the population, who consider the most important dimension in the development of modern and human settlements. It highlights the seriousness of the disparity and inconsistency in the distribution of (private hospitals) and their services provided to the population between the different neighborhoods of the city in size and density, which transcend to the districts and areas of Babel Governorate. This research deals with the study of the efficiency of private hospitals services in the city of Hilla, knowing the factor are which  affecting on  the level of service provided, with the development of a comprehensive database for private hospitals and their multiple services, using (GIS) technology. Which contributes to building a base capable of continuously updating according to health and population variables, and by relying on a questionnaire form to determine the efficiency of the services provided in each of them.


A high-sensitivity blood test, known as a troponin test, could predict the risk of heart attack and death and patients' response to statins, say researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.


High quality neuroscience research requires accurate, reliable and well maintained neuroinformatics applications. As software projects become larger, offering more functionality and developing a denser web of interdependence between their component parts, we need more sophisticated methods to manage their complexity. If complexity is allowed to get out of hand, either the quality of the software or the speed of development suffer, and in many cases both. To address this issue, here we develop a scalable, low-cost and open source solution for continuous integration (CI), a technique which ensures the quality of changes to the code base during the development procedure, rather than relying on a pre-release integration phase. We demonstrate that a CI-based workflow, due to rapid feedback about code integration problems and tracking of code health measures, enabled substantial increases in productivity for a major neuroinformatics project and additional benefits for three further projects. Beyond the scope of the current study, we identify multiple areas in which CI can be employed to further increase the quality of neuroinformatics projects by improving development practices and incorporating appropriate development tools. Finally, we discuss what measures can be taken to lower the barrier for developers of neuroinformatics applications to adopt this useful technique.


This study aims to find out the use of seaweed ( Sargassum polycystum ) as a liquidfertilizer and its effect on N , P , K , Ca , Mg Ultisol and mustard (Brassica juncea L. )growth organically. The study was carried out in the Screen House and Laboratory ofChemical and Soil Fertility , and Central Laboratory , Faculty of Agriculture ,University of North Sumatra , Medan since January until March 2012. This researchused Randomized Block Design( RBD ) non factorial of nine treatments with tworeplication so there are two eighteen experimental unit . The treatment consists of P0(control) , P1 (application of liquid seaweed fertilizer A-type every two days) , P2(application of liquid seaweed fertilizer A-type every three days ), P3(application ofliquid seaweed fertilizer A-type every four days), P4 (application of liquid seaweedfertilizer A- type every five days), P5 (application of liquid seaweed fertilizer B-typeevery two days), P6 (aplication of liquid seaweed fertilizer B-type every three days ), P7( application of liquid seaweed fertilizer B-type every four days ) , P8 (application ofliquid seaweed fertilizer B-type every five days ). A-type of fertilizer use EM-4 20 ccand B-type use EM-4 40 cc. The results showed that application of liquid seaweedfertilizer did not differ significantly affected soil total P, available P, soil total K , Kexchangeable,Ca-exchangeable, Mg- exchangeable and plant dry weight. Butsignificantly different on the soil N, plant height, leaf area, number of Leaf, chlorophyllcontent, plant mass weight, plant fresh weight for market. The highest weight of plantmasss achieve on the treatment P4 that is weighing 149.1 g.Keywords: polyscystum sargassum, seaweed fertilizer, mustard (Brassica juncea L)


Torque characteristics of a turbopump turbine was analyzed using the turbine performance test result. Specific torque of the subject turbine could be expressed as a linear function of corrected rotor speed at a fixed pressure ratio and it has been confirmed by the test result. It also found that corrected rotor speed-specific torque characteristics does not change anymore if the turbine pressure ratio is set bigger than a certain value. Using the turbine torque characteristics and pyro-starter performance test results, rotational speed development behavior of the turbopump was predicted. Prediction revealed that the lap time reaching 50% of turbopump design speed is less than 0.7 second. Effect of the thermal loss between pyro-starter and turbopump was negligible.


Long arm splints are used in a variety of settings for immobilization of both bony and soft tissue injuries to the upper extremities. This type of splint provides immobilization to the elbow and the wrist. As a result, elbow flexion and extension and wrist flexion, extension, forearm supination/pronation can be restricted. Long arm splints are often the initial form of immobilization placed on an injured limb to accommodate soft tissue swelling before more definitive treatment with a cast or surgical fixation.[1][2][3]


Objective: Hooked-nail deformity results from loss of bony and soft tissue support of the nail bed. Various treatment methods have been described for soft tissue support with inconsistent results. Methods: Eleven patients (mean age 21 years old, 10 male, 1 female) with hooked-nail deformities on twelve of their fingertips were treated by using homodigital reverse flow island flap. Mean follow-up period was 6 months. Results: All treated fingers gained nearly normal appearances and all patients were satisfied. None fef the patients had experienced recurrence of the deformity. 2 patients complained of cold intolerance. Conclusion: The described method is a one- stage procedure. Ample flap tissue taken from the same finger is applied to the fingertip. A short period of immobilization is necessary avoiding any joint stiffness. Homodigital reverse flow island flap was considered an effective method for correcting hooked-nail deformities resulting from inadequate soft tissue support of nail bed. Key Words: Hook nail, Homodigital reverse flow island flap.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether or not allografted olfactory mucosa gliacytes could repair peripheral nerve injure.

METHODS
Olfactory mucosa gliacytes had been cultured in vitro for 2 weeks, then purified and condensed for later transplantation.Sixty adult female Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups of 30 rats each, A (control) and B (test). Rats' left sciatic nerves were excised 25 mm long axons and retained epineurium lumen anastomosed to proximal ends. Culture mediums, and olfactory mucosa gliacytes were transplanted into epineurium lumen of A and B groups respectively. At 3 months postoperatively, the regenerations of injured sciatic nerves were evaluated by methods of macroscopy, photomicroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, retro-marked fluorescence red, the condensation of glial fibre acid protein (GFAP) and nerve growth factors (NF) assayed by immunofluorescence, and the concentration of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilament protein (NF) assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS
The regenerations of injured sciatic nerves were superior in B group to in A group; the transportation distance of retro-marked fluorescence red were longer in B group than in A group (P < 0.01). The condensations of GFAP and NGF were more dense in B group than in A group. The concentrations of MBP and NF were more high in B group than in A group (P < 0.01). The function scores of injured limbs were superior in B group to in A group (P < 0.01). The quantifications of nerve fibers and myelin fibers of injured sciatic nerve were larger in B group than in A group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
Allografted olfactory mucosa gliacytes could repair injured nerve defect.


Background The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has been increasing in Western countries, and some populations, including Asians, have a higher incidence. Delayed diagnosis and early treatment influence the outcome of CH. We investigated the incidence and clinical characteristics of CH in Taiwan. Methods In this retrospective database study we identified cases of CH diagnosed during 1997–2008 in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients who had a Serious Accidents and Diseases certificate were included in the incidence calculation. We focused on CH patients who were born during 1997–2003 and determined their age at diagnosis and CH-related clinical features. Mental retardation and physiological delays were evaluated with respect to age at diagnosis. Results A total of 1482 cases were identified. Incidence during the 12-year period was 5.02 per 10 000 births. Among 1115 patients, the most common clinical features of CH were developmental delay (9.6%), constipation (11.6%), and delayed physiological development (9.1%). Congenital anomalies of the heart (7.7%), epilepsy (2.7%), and infantile cerebral palsy (3.2%) were also noted. Survival analysis showed that the risks of mental retardation (hazard ratio [HR], 3.180) and delayed physiological development (HR, 1.908) were greater when age at diagnosis was greater than 1 year. Conclusions CH incidence was higher in Taiwan than in Western countries. Early diagnosis may decrease the risk of mental and physiological delay.


ABSTRACT This study explores the challenges in supporting and assessing action research projects related to bachelor's theses for research-based initial teacher education in Norway. The data consist of two types of texts – the official information about the bachelor's thesis from the university and 10 theses where the students complained about the assessment. The results are considered by using a theoretical framework of assessment as a process of communication and by applying the concept of boundary crossing. The results show the lack of communication and tripartite collaboration among students, practicum teachers and university teachers as presupposed. Communication and democratic dialogue are crucial elements of action research, and the findings suggest that the assessment process should focus on 'feedforward' in an open dialogue more than 'feedback' through written texts or marks. Our research findings add to the knowledge on the design of research-based programmes of study in general and assignments based on action research in particular.


The development of national transportation network includes land, sea and air transportation. This research aims to analyze the influence of new airport development in Kulonprogo named New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA) towards infrastructure development in Kulonprogo. The influence of NYIA on Kulonprogo infrastructure is massive, namely, the extension of national road to Kulonprogo Regency located in Milir Hamlet, Kedungsari Village, Pengasih Subdistrict, and bridge construction in Sentolo Subdistrict that connects between Bantul, Sleman and Kulonprogo districts. In addition to the construction of roads and bridges, the construction of infrastructure connects to Borobudur temple in Magelang regency under the term of Menoreh Surgery involving the land acquisition of Kulonprogo residents, investors and housing developers invest land in Kulonprogo to build hotel and housing near the new airport plan. The obstacles in the relocation of affected residents of this airport are the construction of public facilities and social facilities such as the availability of clean water, electricity network and household sanitation at the beginning of development that is important to support the basic needs. Public facilities and social facilities development are conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. The affected residents at Glagah Village, Palihan Temon Kulonprogo District refused to be relocated in case social facilities and public facilities are not available. The local government approach personally to the affected villagers by accelerating the relocation process and working with various stakeholders.


Myelodysplasia is characterized by a hypoproliferative anaemia with ineffective intramedullary erythropoiesis. We have used the novel technology of the Bayer H3 analyser to characterize reticulocytes (RNA containing red cells) from 32 MDS patients and 10 elderly normal subjects. In comparison with reticulocytes from normal subjects, those from MDS patients were larger with a lower haemoglobin concentration. Reticulocytes from sideroblastic patients had a lower haemoglobin content and concentration than for refractory anaemia patients but no other differences between FAB subtypes were found. H3 reticulocyte RNA content parameters correlated poorly with those derived by the Sysmex R-1000, particularly in the MDS group. On reticulocyte maturation to red cells MDS patients concentrated haemoglobin more than normal subjects and this was most evident in the sideroblastic group. Platelet depletion of whole blood suggested that large platelets in the sideroblastic group may have partly contributed to this observation. Prospective evaluation of changes towards normal reticulocyte cytometric parameters may assist in assessment of early erythroid response to therapy in MDS patients.


In this book, William O'Neill, SJ, offers an interpretation of the nature and scope of practical reasoning in light of postmodern philosophical criticism. He charts a via media between the abstract formalism of neo-Kantian morality and relativist interpretations of neo-Aristotelian ethics. The three parts of the book treat the eclipse of the classical Aristotelian conception of practical reason; the Kantian heritage in the modern moral theories of John Rawls and R.M. Hare; and, the hermeneutical retrieval of a moral interpretation of the world. Drawing upon the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer, modern analytical philosophy, and the discourse ethics of Jurgen Habermas, O'Neill offers a critical reconstruction of practical reason which upholds the primacy of moral community while recognizing the ethical import of historical and cultural difference. The final chapter applies the preceding hermeneutical critique to the question of the distinctiveness of Christian ethics in the writings of Karl Barth, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Josef Fuchs, and Bruno Schuller. This original contribution will be of special interest to students and teachers of moral philosophy and theology.


A solid-geometry-based approach is used to model nonuniform attenuation and Compton scattering in irregularly shaped objects for Monte Carlo simulated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging systems. The shape of an object is described by a combination of object primitives: ellipsoids, elliptical cylinders, tapered elliptical cylinders, rectangular solids, and their halves, quarters, and eighths, based on set union, intersection, and difference. The primitives are assigned density and energy-dependent photoelectric and Compton cross sections. This approach is validated in two steps. First, only nonuniform attenuation is included. The transaxial images of a simulated thorax phantom are reconstructed using a modification of Chang's technique for nonuniform attenuation. Second, detected Compton scattering is added to the model. Scatter fraction of a point source in a water cylinder is used to validate the scatter model for uniform scattering media. The difference between simulated and experimental results is on the order of 7%. For the model of nonuniform attenuation and detected Compton scattering, a thorax phantom is used for validation. Normalized profiles across the center of the sphere projections for simulation and experiment are observed to have insignificant difference.<<ETX>>


The patient was an 18-year-old man who had been diagnosed as having a bicuspid aortic valve and dilatation of the ascending aorta six years previously. As he grew up, aneurysmal change of the ascending aorta and hypertension in the upper body gradually progressed. Preoperative evaluation showed annulo-aortic ectasia and the following congenital abnormalities: bicuspid aortic valve, hypoplastic aortic arch, and coarctation of the aorta. Composite graft replacement and extended total aortic arch replacement were carried out.


Batch processes are flexible to meet the needs of the fluctuated market and have become very important in the modern chemical industry. Two-level control structure is widely adjusted in the operation of batch process. The higher level is the end-point property control and the low level tracks the time-varying reference trajectories designed by the high level. The two-level control structure does not take the dynamics of the low level into consideration in the high level that the low level cannot track the given trajectories perfectly because of model-plant mismatches. Also, this structure does not take the duration of the batch process into consideration which may lead to economic loss in the end. An integrated control structure is proposed in this paper to deal with the drawbacks of two-level structure. Also, different from the traditional objective of the high level, it is a pure economic objective in the integrated control structure using average profit criteria. In order to gain higher economic performance, the predictive horizon is relaxed here to achieve larger feasible region.


AbstractGreat Britain was the first of the major Powers that revised its unequal treaty with Japan, recognizing the success of Japan's modernization and its growing role in the international arena. However, British Columbia perceived Japanese residents as a threat to 'the British character' of this regions' population profile. After the movement against Japanese residents in British Columbia peaked during the anti-Japanese riots in Vancouver in September of 1907, Canadian Minister of Labor Rodolphe Lemieux headed a diplomatic delegation to Tokyo to negotiate the restriction of Japanese immigration to Canada. The dispatch of this mission revealed some of the complexities in relations between the Colonial and Foreign Offices in London on the one hand and the Dominion's and British Columbian governments on the other. Based on previously unused primary sources, this article will examine the interplay between the policy towards Japanese migrants in the British Dominion of Canada and the British policy towards ...


Although the presence of large window surfaces could be preferable during the heating season when solar gains through the glazed components can overcome heating losses from the same surfaces, during the cooling season more attention has to be paid in order to limit the inlet of solar radiation which causes the increment of cooling load. Generally the optimal tradeoff for energy optimization, as already underlined in a previous paper by the authors, is using low thermal transmittance and high solar factor glazing, even if higher solar transmittance considerably worsens the cooling performance. However, the choice of glazing type and the design of windows on a facade may depend on comfort consideration besides energetic evaluations. Thermal sensation of an individual is mainly related to the whole thermal balance of the human body. Comfort limits can in this case be expressed by two indexes proposed by Fanger in 1970: the Predicted Mean Vote, PMV, and the correlated Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied, PPD. The PMV depends on four environmental parameters (air temperature, air humidity, air velocity and mean radiant temperature) and two variables connected with human being (physical activity and clothing). The air temperature, the air humidity and the air velocity inside a building are directly under the system control. In contrast, the mean radiant temperature is strongly conditioned by the envelope surface temperature, and in particular, by the presence of glazed surfaces whose insulating performance is lower than the opaque components one. In this paper the study of heating and cooling energy needs of an open-space office with different windows' characteristics has been carried out controlling the internal comfort conditions with appropriate setpoint of the system. An office module with windows on a single facade, or on opposite facades, oriented towards 3 different orientations has been simulated, varying the glazed area (2 sizes), the glazing systems (4 types) and considering three localities of central and southern Europe. The PMV have been calculated for each hour of occupation of the whole year assuming two season as regards the setpoint conditions and clothing level. Calculations have then been repeated considering also the effect of the diffuse and beam solar radiation through the windows directly reaching the occupants. The evaluation of the long-term comfort conditions (on seasonal basis) has been conducted considering some statistical indicators of distribution (the median, minimum, maximum and the interquartile range) and the energy performance of the different glazing solution have been compared accounting for the comfort one.


he care of those affected by the coronavirus pandemic that erupted in December 2019 places a significant burden on health. Not only because some patients require intensive therapeutic care, but because patients with any severity of the disease may also need surgical treatment. And solving this poses a significant challenge to anesthesiologists. This summary is intended to present the practical aspects of anesthesiological and perioperative care for patients requiring surgical treatment. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161 (17): 692-695.


John Stuart Mill's liberal vision included a notion of "civil advancement" whereby the free expression of a diversity of opinion would result not only in an initial collision of difference but also in an eventual consolidation as truth. The work of this article is to explore the ways and extents in which such liberalism can translate into a cosmopolitan anthropology. Is toleration of difference the appropriate anthropological ethic, or can one hypothesize a liberal "magnanimous" overcoming of difference? In a wide-ranging discussion, the voice of Mill is juxtaposed against those of C. P. Snow, Ernest Gellner, Stevie Smith, and Karl Popper. Much commentary would suggest that liberalism is passé. A political context dominated by renascent particularisms, militant religions, and resurgent ethnicities spells the collapse, it is told, of any Enlightenment project of liberal-humanist universalism. "Cultures are not options." Notwithstanding, the argument is made here that as "opinion" grades into "knowledge," so "culture" grades into "civilization" and local community (polis) into global society (cosmos). Difference may become a step along the way to a recognition of universal human truth.