In this article, the culture of publication that prevailed in the 19th century Joseon will be examined, by studying some books published by the government. It was not an easy job to come up with a responsible claim, that there have indeed been some problems in the scholars' perspective viewing the history of the 19th century, especially in terms of the publication culture of the time. Compared to the 18th century, when publication was a highly invigorated practice, and the government was more than eager to produce books that would reflect the information and knowledge accumulated at the time, publication was interestingly showing somewhat of a downfall, in the 19th century. And even the books that were published, were mere reiterations of what people were already aware of, the general knowledge of Neo-Confucian, which was no longer able to provide solutions for the people and the era. Yet at the same time, some of the nobility houses located in the capital region were starting to exhibit some 'highly decorated' publications(at least in their exteriors), by using personally created printing blocks, or publishing personal anthologies before one even died. And under the influence of the Chinese Qing culture, not only paper, but also document formats of China were imported from the outside as well. The state's capability of accumulating and processing information was indeed deteriorating, yet the capital aristocracy class was more actively engaging themselves in private and "high-class" publication, thus creating a new kind of 'publication culture.' The government at the time did try to expand its windows for the absorption of information, especially not only from China but also from Japan, and official publication concerning diplomatic relationships with other countries in the world actually increased, as contacts with those countries were being subsequently made. Yet it should also be noted that such phenomena was accompanied by another trend of publication mentioned above, which was concentrated too much upon publishing books related to Chinese classics(經書) and ritual protocols(禮書). With the publication increase since the 17th century, and even with the temporary decline in the 19th century, publication was still serving as a method of distribution, for knowledge and information. Knowledge was spreaded throughout the public, information became more and more secularized, and people started to own those knowledge as 'the knowledge of the Joseon people(朝鮮化).' Not only the nobility houses, but also people of the commoner class, started to generally practice Confucian-style memorial services, and some of them even tried to officialize themselves as descendants of some Yangban houses, by committing forgeries to existing genealogical records of certain prominent lineages. Publication was no longer the sole privilege of the upper class. Even the people who pursued the preservation of orthodox Neo-Confucianism attempted to adapt their learning to the Joseon condition. 『Gukjo Daehak Yeon'eui/國朝大學衍義』 was a book that replaced all the Chinese episodes originally inserted in 『Daehak Yeon'eui/大學衍義(published to enlighten the emperors)』, with 'Joseon episodes.' And 『Geunsa-sok'rok/近思續錄』 was a book that replaced the 'Five Masters of the Northern Sung period' originally described in 『Geunsa-rok/近思錄(the primary manual of Neo-Confucianism)』, with 'Joseon' Confucian scholars. Joseon was now able to provide its own citizens with historical knowledge and solutions for current dilemmas.


This paper examines an iterative decoder for reproducing transmitted data correctly and executing cancellation of interference channel signals accurately in convolutionally encoded MIMO (multi-input multi-output) systems. We propose the iterative decoder equipped with VIP (varying interleave patterns) for each transmission channel, and demonstrate the decoder can obtain a gain value close to full diversity gain in the MIMO systems. The results in a computer simulation indicate clearly that, due to mutual random interleave effect; a gain value near full diversity gain can be obtained under Rayleigh fading channels.


Companies are increasingly focusing on customer participation to create value for the firms and their customers. To date, evidence regarding the effects of customer participation as a marketing tool has been primarily anecdotal. Relying on customer behavior theory and marketing theory, we develop a framework that explores the effects of customer participation on service quality, customer satisfaction and customer value. On the basis of which, an SEM analysis was conducted on the personal development industry. The results show that information exchange, cooperative behaviors and personal interaction have positive effects on service quality, customer satisfaction and customer value. Based on the results, this study explains the practical and academic implications for companies promoting customer creative participation.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to analyze the features of realization mechanism of the rights of convicted persons suffering from a serious illness to release from serving a sentence in order to receive the necessary treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Materials and methods: this study uses a set of methods of scientific knowledge. The empirical basis of the study is the statistics of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine for 2015-2019 on convicts released from punishment due to their serious illness, statistical materials and case law of Turkey, Georgia, Great Britain, Germany and Greece, generalization of judicial practice of Ukraine, and the personal experience of one of the co-authors of more than 20 years as a lawyer and for 3 years as a judge of the Supreme Court.

CONCLUSION
Conclusions: in order to protect the persons; interests serving sentences and suffering from serious illness, government mechanisms should provide flexibility in the approach to assessing the health of each person, and not just the detection of disease; the authorities assessing the convict's state of health must be independent, and a prisoner must be able to choose physicians not only for treatment but also for assessment of his/her state of health.


ABSTRACT Cryptosporidium parvum infection of T-cell receptor alpha (TCR-α)-deficient mice results in a persistent infection. In this study, treatment with a polyamine analogue (SL-11047) preventedC. parvum infection in suckling TCR-α-deficient mice and cleared an existing infection in older mice. Treatment with putrescine, while capable of preventing infection, did not clear C. parvum from previously infected mice. These findings provide further evidence that polyamine metabolic pathways are targets for new anticryptosporidial chemotherapeutic agents.


As known, high-strength compressed concrete elements have brittle behavior, and elastic-plastic deformations do not appear practically up to their ultimate limit state (ULS). This problem is solved in modern practice by adding fibers that allow development of nonlinear deformations in such elements. As a rule, are applied steel fibers that proved high efficiency and contribute ductile behavior of compressed high-strength concrete (HSC) elements as well as the desired effect at long-term loading (for other types of fibers, the second problem is still not enough investigated). However, accurate prediction of the ULS for abovementioned compression elements is still very important and current. With this aim, it is proposed to use transverse deformations in HSC to analyze compression elements' behavior at stages close to ultimate. It is shown that, until the appearance of nonlinear transverse deformations (cracks formation), these deformations are about 5-6 times lower than the longitudinal ones. When cracks appear, the tensile stress-strain relationship in the transverse direction becomes nonlinear. This fact enables to predict that the longitudinal deformations approach the ultimate value. Laboratory tests were carried out on 21 cylindrical HSC specimens with various steel fibers content (0, 20, 30, 40, and 60 kg/m3). As a result, dependences of transverse deformations on longitudinal ones were obtained. These dependences previously proposed by the authors' concept of the structural phenomenon allow proper estimation of the compressed HSC state up to failure. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical results forms a basis for further development of modern steel fibered HSC theory and first of all nonlinear behavior of HSC.


Insects are the earliest and most diverse taxon of animals accounting for more species than all other animals put together because of their high reproductive potential and varied niche. Though cellular reactions like phagocytosis, nodulation and encapsulation and humoral reaction through secretion of antibacterial proteins are known for fungus and bacterial invaders, little is known about insect defence against insect virus infection. This review provides a brief outline of the current state of knowledge on the various aspects of insect defence mechanisms through their innate, i.e. non-specific reactions, and how the various microbial control agents, viz. entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes try to overcome the insect host defence. The need for basic studies on molecular characterization of major lepidopteran insect pests along with their associated pathogenic microbes has been stressed for better understanding and disarming of insect defence system for further exploitation of insect pathogens for microbial control of insect pests.


In post-operative patients it is sometimes necessary to push morphine-like analgesics to their limits for pain relief. Unfortunately, this can sometimes bring a significant risk of disrupting the control of breathing, and of precipitating life-threatening conditions. A possible way of monitoring patients is by studying the correlation between analgesia, airway obstruction and hypoxia. The first step towards achieving this objective is by visualising the relationship between different pairs of signals involved in respiratory mechanics. Based on previous work, where self-organising maps (SOMs) were used for representing these relationships on a breath by breath basis, it is demonstrated how it is now possible to automatically label nodes in the SOMs based on classification of the signals by a clinician. The use of a majority voting configuration of SOMs enables results to be presented with a confidence measure which enhances the medical applicability of the system. In addition, the ability to now visualise the transition between categories will enable further research into the significance of transition between the categories and the presence of possible new sub-categories.


Both, games in a game theoretic sense and protocols in an informational sense describe rule based interactions between systems. Some similarities and differ- ences of both approaches are explored and illustrated with the example of the well known game tic tac toe. The main thesis of this article can be roughly states as "protocols, enriched by de- cisions are games without payoff evaluation". Introducing decisions as an additional input alphabet to determine the usually nondeterministic transition relation of a proto- col leads to a classification of decisions as being either spontaneous (or inducing) or selection decisions. Relating protocols and games, the complementarity of the focus of current game theory and informatics becomes better visible: the focus of current game theory to find distinguished strategies within single interactions requires the introduction of some often quite arbitrary payoff function for optimization purposes. The focus of current informatics to solve the coordination problem for finite systems, that is to determine the nondeterminacies of single interactions by other interactions may contribute to an inappropriate disregard of the decision and thereby the strategy concept of game theory.


If there is one thing that describes the trajectory of American education, it is this: more high-stakes testing. In the United States, the debates surrounding this trajectory can be so fierce that it feels like we are in uncharted waters. As Christopher Bjork reminds us in this study, however, we are not the first to make testing so central to education: Japan has been doing it for decades. Drawing on Japan's experiences with testing, overtesting, and recent reforms to relax educational pressures, he sheds light on the best path forward for US schools. Bjork asks a variety of important questions related to testing and reform: Does testing overburden students? Does it impede innovation and encourage conformity? Can a system anchored by examination be reshaped to nurture creativity and curiosity? How should any reforms be implemented by teachers? Each chapter explores questions like these with careful attention to the actual effects policies have had on schools in Japan and other Asian settings, and each draws direct parallels to issues that US schools currently face. Offering a wake-up call for American education, Bjork ultimately cautions that the accountability-driven practice of standardized testing might very well exacerbate the precise problems it is trying to solve.


Understanding the consequences of exotic diseases on native forests is important to evolutionary ecology and conservation biology because exotic pathogens have drastically altered US eastern deciduous forests. Cornus florida L. (flowering dogwood tree) is one such species facing heavy mortality. Characterizing the genetic structure of C. florida populations and identifying the genetic signature of adaptation to dogwood anthracnose (an exotic pathogen responsible for high mortality) remain vital for conservation efforts. By integrating genetic data from genotype by sequencing (GBS) of 289 trees across the host species range and distribution of disease, we evaluated the spatial patterns of genetic variation and population genetic structure of C. florida and compared the pattern to the distribution of dogwood anthracnose. Using genome‐wide association study and gradient forest analysis, we identified genetic loci under selection and associated with ecological and diseased regions. The results revealed signals of weak genetic differentiation of three or more subgroups nested within two clusters—explaining up to 2%–6% of genetic variation. The groups largely corresponded to the regions within and outside the eastern Hot‐Continental ecoregion, which also overlapped with areas within and outside the main distribution of dogwood anthracnose. The fungal sequences contained in the GBS data of sampled trees bolstered visual records of disease at sampled locations and were congruent with the reported range of Discula destructiva, suggesting that fungal sequences within‐host genomic data were informative for detecting or predicting disease. The genetic diversity between populations at diseased vs. disease‐free sites across the range of C. florida showed no significant difference. We identified 72 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 68 loci putatively under selection, some of which exhibited abrupt turnover in allele frequencies along the borders of the Hot‐Continental ecoregion and the range of dogwood anthracnose. One such candidate SNP was independently identified in two prior studies as a possible L‐type lectin‐domain containing receptor kinase. Although diseased and disease‐free areas do not significantly differ in genetic diversity, overall there are slight trends to indicate marginally smaller amounts of genetic diversity in disease‐affected areas. Our results were congruent with previous studies that were based on a limited number of genetic markers in revealing high genetic variation and weak population structure in C. florida.


This study examines upper extremity skin contamination of nuclear medicine and radiation safety staff during 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) therapy. Utilizing retrospective data, a methodology for performing a rapid assessment of the radiation dose to the skin of the upper extremities is presented. Using the skin contamination measurements and calculated skin dose for each contamination incident at our facility, a conversion factor (XE) was derived that estimates skin dose (DE) based on the initial contamination measurement. This methodology yields an estimate of the final skin dose accounting for radioactive decay, decontamination and other factors, such as skin sloughing. As a standard practice multiple time-point measurements from initial contamination to background should be used to calculate the total attributable skin dose. However, to provide an early projection of the expected skin dose, the dose can be reasonably estimated to be <0.10% mSv cpm-1 (10% mrem cpm-1) of the initial contamination measurement.


The focus of this book is ad hoc wireless networks.
A correct efficient operation of such networks
depends on the interaction of several protocols
dealing with routing, medium access control, power
control and many other issues. This book is
primarily concerned with the development and
evaluation of such protocols. It is shown how
flooding can be adopted as a reliable and efficient
routing scheme in ad hoc wireless networks. It turns
out that, with the assistance of some tunable
heuristics, flooding is not necessarily inferior to
sophisticated point-to-point forwarding schemes. A
broadcast-based route-less routing protocol is
developed in which flooding exhibits a tendency to
converge on a narrow strip of nodes along the
shortest path. A MAC-assisted minimum-energy path-
preserving topology control algorithm is also
devised to maintain connectivity using minimal
power. Routing protocols use another important
service called 'broadcasting' for different
purposes. By adjusting the stochastic component of
the popular class of contention resolution schemes
based on IEEE 802.11, a broadcast scheme is devised
to significantly reduce broadcast latency.


Antibacterial and antifungal activities of 32 organic and 14 peptidic extracts obtained from twelve endophytic fungi of the Collection of Endophytes Quito-Catolica were tested against the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis, and against the fungal oomycete Pythium ultimum. It was observed that the extracts of Marasmiellus candidus (CEQCA-O1113), Xylaria laevis (CEQCA-O1399), Fusarium solani (CEQCA-O1393), Diaporthe helianthi (CEQCA-O1394) and Xylaria sp. (CEQCA-O1400) partially or totally inhibited the microorganisms tested. The extracts CEQCA-O1399.P1 and CEQCA-O1113.D1 showed fungistatic and fungicidal effects against P. ultimum, respectively. Six extracts strongly inhibited S. aureus, and E. coli was strongly inhibited by the extract CEQCA-O1113.E2. Based on a bioassay-guided approach, the extracts with strong bioactivity in the antibacterial assays by an agar diffusion method were also tested by a disk diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by a microdilution assay. The most bioactive extract, CEQCA-O1113.D1, was also purified by high performance liquid chromatography. The extract recovered its initial bioactivity against S. aureus in two fractions after the purification. Overall, the results of this study highlight the potential of the fungal endophytes as producers of bioactive compounds.


We aimed to determine the performance of the 2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) in a cohort of Chilean patients. This single-center retrospective study included 151 patients with a clinical diagnosis of IIM. Patients were classified according to the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for IIM, and its performance was compared to the Bohan & Peter (B&P) classification criteria. A total of 135 patients (89.4%) met the EULAR/ACR criteria, and 140 (92.7%) patients met the B&P criteria. A total of 130 patients had IIM according to both the criteria; concordance rate was 29.2% for definite IIM, 6.2% for probable IIM, and 1.5% for possible IIM. The kappa coefficient of agreement was weak between the 2 classification criteria (κ = 0.39, SD 0.15–0.64). Against gold standard expert physician's diagnosis, sensitivity, and specificity of EULAR/ACR criteria was 0.86 and 0.85 to diagnose dermatomyositis, respectively, and 0.73 and 0.87 to diagnose polymyositis. The EULAR/ACR criteria showed good sensitivity and identified more patients with probable or definite IIM than the B&P criteria in a single-center cohort of patients with IIM in South America. The sensitivity of the EULAR/ACR criteria was slightly higher in patients with dermatomyositis, but lower in patients with polymyositis, than that of the B&P criteria.


Recent months have witnessed dramatic progress in our understanding of short γ-ray burst (SGRB) sources. There is now general agreement that SGRBs – or at least a substantial subset of them – are capable of producing directed outflows of relativistic matter with a kinetic luminosity exceeding by many millions that of active galactic nuclei. Given the twin requirements of energy and compactness, it is widely believed that SGRB activity is ultimately ascribable to a modest fraction of a solar mass of gas accreting onto a stellar mass black hole or to a precursor stage whose inevitable end point is a stellar mass black hole. Astrophysical scenarios involving the violent birth of a rapidly rotating neutron star, or an accreting black hole in a merging compact binary driven by gravitational wave emission are reviewed, along with other possible alternatives (collisions or collapse of compact objects). If a black hole lies at the center of this activity, then the fundamental pathways through which mass, angular momentum and energy can flow around and away from it play a key role in understanding how these prime movers can form collimated, relativistic outflows. Flow patterns near black holes accreting matter in the hypercritical regime, where photons are unable to provide cooling, but neutrinos do so efficiently, are discussed in detail, and we believe that they offer the best hope of understanding the central engine. On the other hand, statistical investigations of SGRB niches also furnish valuable information on their nature and evolutionary behavior. The formation of particular kinds of progenitor sources appears to be correlated with environmental effects and cosmic epoch. In addition, there is now compelling evidence for the continuous fueling of SGRB sources. We suggest here that the observed late flaring activity could be due to a secondary accretion episode induced by the delayed fall back of material dynamically stripped from a compact object during a merger or collision. Some important unresolved questions are identified, along with the types of observation that would discriminate among the various models. Many of the observed properties can be understood as resulting from outflows driven by hyperaccreting black holes and subsequently collimated into a pair of anti-parallel jets. It is likely that most of the radiation we receive is reprocessed by matter quite distant to the black hole; SGRB jets, if powered by the hole itself, may therefore be one of the few observable consequences of how flows near nuclear density behave under the influence of strong gravitational fields. The Progenitors of Short Gamma-Ray Bursts 2


Abstract There is a difference between technologically-important adhesion or practical adhesion, and fundamental or basic adhesion. What is important in the understanding of fundamental adhesion may be of insignificant interest to technology. A manufacturer is interested in how to improve the reliability of the structure being built should an interface problem exist, rather than knowing the precise value of the fundamental adhesion. It is not possible to measure fundamental adhesion for technologically-important structures due to the inability to account for all energy dissipating processes during the test. Adhesion measurements are plagued with the mode of interface loading issue: the resemblance of test interface loading to that of the actual manufactured part. What technology needs is a simple adhesion test method that is practical for product development, giving reliable information about the interface integrity. The present paper compares the value of two adhesion tests for microelectronics applications and emphasizes the importance of locus of failure analyses. A realignment of structure reliability modeling is suggested by the usage of effective fundamental adhesion instead of the standard undeterminable fundamental adhesion.


The endocrine basis of reproductive failure in red fox vixens was examined over two breeding seasons in a total of 11 animals. Weekly blood samples were assayed for progesterone, prolactin, LH and cortisol. Vaginal smears taken every 2 days over the oestrous period indicated that all vixens had mated. Vixens that successfully gave birth to a litter of cubs demonstrated significantly higher plasma progesterone and prolactin concentrations but significantly lower cortisol concentrations than did females that had ovulated, but then failed to whelp. There were no significant differences in plasma LH concentrations. These data suggest that reproductive losses could result from lowered plasma progesterone concentrations, possibly resulting from inadequate luteotrophic support by prolactin. A stress-induced mechanism of reproductive failure is implicated and is discussed in relation to social suppression of reproduction.


The article substantiates the existence of three types of poetic creativity: technimatic (gaming), social-confessional and sophian. The personal-subjective aspirations of poet and playing with the language are the sources of technimatic poetry. The social-confessional line in the world poetry originates from the Chinese "Shijin" ("The Book of Songs"). The source of this type of poetry is a deeply personal reaction on the events taking place in the world, and the need to inform other people about personal experiences, contemplations and thoughts. Particular attention in the article is paid to the sophian line in world poetry. Its source is the eidetic super-personal reality. The poet creatively "connects" himself with this reality and introduces the reader to it through artistically revealed word. The feeling of the super-personal status of the created verses is one of the important attributes of sophian poetry. Homer, Dante, Avicenna, Rumi, V. von Eschenbach, Li Bo, Goethe, Tagore, Rilke, D. Andreev and Iqbal can be attributed to it. In Russian poetry of the 19th – 20th centuries Pushkin and Lermontov, Tyutchev and V. Solovyov, Blok and Gumilyov adjoin the sofian poetic line; Leopardi and Hesse –in the eastern and western poetic tradition. Sophian poetry performs important functions in culture. It is able to return to the words their original living meanings, familiarizing themselves with the essence of things and with the super-empirical reality of Cosmos. It also opens up new evolutionary horizons for language and national literature. The position of the sofian poet is twofold, which gives his work intense dynamism, and his life a tragic character. He simultaneously lives in two worlds: earthly and super-mundane, sensual-bodily and eidetic-semantic. From the eidetic layers of world existence, he is forced to convey knowledge to other people in the words, images and metaphors available to them. At the same time the inspirations and insights of the sofian poet are always preceded by intense professional work, the humility of one's pride and vain passions.


Existing vehicle re-identification methods mainly rely on the single query, which has limited information for vehicle representation and thus significantly hinders the performance of vehicle Re-ID in complicated surveillance networks. In this paper, we propose a more realistic and easily accessible task, called multi-query vehicle Re-ID, which leverages multiple queries to overcome viewpoint limitation of single one. Based on this task, we make three major contributions. First, we design a novel viewpoint-conditioned network (VCNet), which adaptively combines the complementary information from different vehicle viewpoints, for multi-query vehicle Re-ID. Moreover, to deal with the problem of missing vehicle viewpoints, we propose a cross-view feature recovery module which recovers the features of the missing viewpoints by learnt the correlation between the features of available and missing viewpoints. Second, we create a unified benchmark dataset, taken by 6142 cameras from a real-life transportation surveillance system, with comprehensive viewpoints and large number of crossed scenes of each vehicle for multi-query vehicle Re-ID evaluation. Finally, we design a new evaluation metric, called mean cross-scene precision (mCSP), which measures the ability of cross-scene recognition by suppressing the positive samples with similar viewpoints from the same camera. Comprehensive experiments validate the superiority of the proposed method against other methods, as well as the effectiveness of the designed metric in the evaluation of multi-query vehicle Re-ID. The codes and dataset are available at: https://github.com/zhangchaobin001/VCNet


Intransitive choices are generally held to be the mark of irrationality. When a set of rules engenders such choices it is usually held to be irrational and in need of reform. Many legal arguments involve showing the deficiency of a doctrine, a theory, or an argument, by showing that it leads to intransitivity. In this essay we try to show that rule-based reasoning is by its very nature certain to lead to intransitivity, not just here and there but widely. This raises difficult questions as to what should count as a valid logical objection in legal argumentation. Along the way, it casts new light on the controversy about rights-based legal theories, Kaplow and Shavell's "anti-fairness" theorem, and Sen's liberal paradox.


Purpose
The conceptualization of the Base of Pyramid (BOP) proposes that low-income markets can lead to profitable opportunities for businesses. The purpose of this study is to identify key success factors of a BOP business strategy based on a case study of the discount retailer, Dollar General, in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
The research design used in this research is an in-depth case study of Dollar General in the USA. Qualitative methods are applied in both the primary and secondary data collection and during the follow-on data analysis of Dollar General.

Findings
Dollar General's strategic profile is achieved through the combination of the following four actions which are tailored to compete effectively at the BOP in the USA: creating the neighborhood discounter, raising aspirational appeal, reducing service and eliminating internationalization.

Research limitations/implications
The case is specific to Dollar General in a US cultural context.

Practical implications
The case of Dollar General demonstrates how a discounter retailer should not only follow a low-cost strategy to compete at the BOP. Its ability to craft a distinctive strategy is coherent with meeting the logistical, rational and emotional needs of the low-income consumer in the USA.

Social implications
Many businesses have neglected rural areas of the USA as being unprofitable. The ability for businesses such as Dollar General to serve the BOP segment can foster the socio-economic well-being of communities.

Originality/value
The overwhelming body of the BOP literature is based on emerging markets. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the few studies to investigate BOP business strategy in the USA.


Research related to the optimization of cow performans is done through concentrate feed and reproduction technology. This research was conducted in 2018 in Musi Village, Gerokgak Sub-district, Buleleng Regency, Bali. The study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 feed treatments and used 7 pregnant cows as replicates. The treatment is carried out when the cows enters 7 months pregnancy. Treatments tested: P0 cows given forage + rice bran 1 kg /cow/day + Bio Cas 5 ml/cow/day (mating with males), P1 = P0 cows mated with Artificial Imsemination (IB), P2 cows given forage + concentrates 1 kg/cow/day + bio cas 5 ml/cow/day (mating with a male), and P3 = P2 cattle mated with IB. Parameters observed that the parent body weight, weight gain calf, calf birth weight, weaning weight, calving interval, dry matter intake and feed rations convertions ratio. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance, if there are significant differences (P <0.05), followed by LSD 5%. The results showed that cows given feed concentrates and mated with IB (P3) result in weight gain of 0.52 kg/calf/ day was significantly higher (P <0.05) of P0 (0.40 kg/calf/day). Consumption of dry matter ration for P3 (2.59 kg) was significantly less (P <0.05) than P0 (2.87 kg) and resulted in the highest weight gain causing P3 FCR value of 4.98 was significantly lower than P0. Calf birth weight of all treatments showed no significant difference (P>0.05), but calf weight gain for P3 0.57 kg/calf/day was highest (P <0.05) compared to treatments P0 and P1 so that weaning weight calves P3 to 121.43 kg was significantly higher (P <0.05) than treatments P0 and P1. Estrus post partus for P3 is 2.87 months and calving interval is 12.36 months shorter than other treatments. This shows that the cows whose given concentrate feed mated through artificial insemination / males cattle produces the highest birth weight and calf weaning and short calving intervals.


Objective Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are known to be involved in the generation of absence seizures (ASs), and there is evidence that cortical and thalamic HCN channel dysfunctions may have a pro-absence role. Many HCN channel blockers are available, but their role in ASs has been investigated only by localized brain injection or in in vitro model systems due to their limited brain availability. Here, we investigated the effect on ASs of orally administered ivabradine (an HCN channel blocker approved for the treatment of heart failure in humans) following injection of the P-glycoprotein inhibitor elacridar, that is known to increase penetration into the brain of drug substrates for this efflux transporter. The action of ivabradine was also tested following in vivo microinjection in the cortical initiation network (CIN) of the somatosensory cortex and in the thalamic ventrobasal nucleus (VB) as well as on cortical and thalamocortical neurons in brain slices. Methods We used EEG recordings in freely moving Genetic Absence Epilepsy from Strasbourg Rats (GAERS) to assess the action of oral administration of ivabradine, with and without elacridar, on ASs. Ivabradine was also microinjected in the CIN and VB of GAERS in vivo and applied to Wistar CIN and GAERS VB slices while recording patch-clamped cortical layer 5/6 and thalamocortical neurons, respectively. Results Oral administration of ivabradine markedly and dose-dependently reduced ASs. Ivabradine injection in CIN abolished ASs and elicited small-amplitude 4-7 Hz waves (without spikes), whereas in the VB it was less potent. Moreover, ivabradine applied to GAERS VB and Wistar CIN slices selectively decreased HCN-channel-dependent properties of cortical layer 5/6 pyramidal and thalamocortical neurons, respectively. Significance These results provide the first demonstration of the anti-absence action of a systemically administered HCN channel blocker, indicating the potential of this class of drugs as a novel therapeutic avenue for ASs.


Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have increased bone marrow angiogenesis, a low plasma cell labeling index, and multidrug resistance (the primary cause of chemotherapy failure). MM patients receiving the vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD) regimen develop resistance and cardiac and steroid toxicity. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®/CAELYX™) could potentially extend the duration of malignant plasma cell exposure to therapeutic levels of doxorubicin. This Phase II study evaluates combination pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, vincristine, and reduced‐dose dexamethasone in MM patients.


ABSTACT Background: From the perspective of older adults, the assistive technology application process is complex and their perceived involvement varies. Occupational therapists find it challenging to satisfy their clients' needs while complying with the eligibility criteria of the service provision system. Research has shown that, from the perspective of both clients and occupational therapists, the application process is perceived to be challenging. However, little is known about which specific actions and experiences during the application process give rise to this perceived complexity. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate older adults' and occupational therapists' actions and experiences of their encounters during the assistive technology application process. Material and method: Data were generated using repeated participant observations and informal interviews. Ricoeur's theory of interpretation was used to interpret and discuss the data generated. Results: Two themes emerged: Expressing needs and translating needs. Conclusion: Older adults express their needs in different ways. When the older adults' expression of needs does not correspond with the service provision system's conditions of eligibility, the occupational therapists act as mediators, by translating experienced needs so that they are expressed in a way that corresponds to the expression of the eligibility criteria.


A drive signal frequency-lock method for quartz angular-rate sensor is presented. The calculation result obtained by the equivalent volume force analytic method indicated that when taking the inherent frequency of the drive tines as the drive signal frequency the phase of the reference vibration is 90° behind that of the drive signal, and the square of amplitude is less than that of the maximal amplitude by 1/(4Q2d) merely. The curves derived from the finite element analytic method proved that near the inherent frequency the phase shift of the feedback voltage is identical to that of the reference vibration, and the amplitude is proportional to that of the reference vibration, and the phase shift is linear approximatively with the frequency shift. The frequency shift could be calculated according to the phase shift obtained by quadrature correlation detection, so the drive signal frequency could be locked at the inherent frequency of the drive tines by means of iteration.


Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (Vorner's keratoderma) is an autosomal dominant disorder of keratinization characterized by diffuse, non-transgredient thickening of palms and soles, without associated ectodermal features. It is generally associated with mutations of the keratin 9 gene (KRT9), and rarely with the keratin 1 gene (KRT1). We herein report a 16-month-old female patient (index case), born to nonconsanguineous parents, presenting with thick, yellow and diffuse hyperkeratosis confined to the palms and soles since her second month of age. An erythematous band was evident at the edges of the keratosis. Nails, teeth, hair and mucosae were normal, and there were no anomalies in other organ systems. A thorough investigation revealed a total of 15 family members presenting similar clinical features, being the common ancestor an Italian great-great-grandfather of patient's mother. A lesional skin biopsy obtained from the mother revealed marked orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis with epidermolysis of upper and mid-epidermis. Both the inheritance pattern and the clinical-histological findings were consistent with hereditary palmo-plantar keratoderma of Vorner type. The patient and her mother were treated with 20% and 30-50% urea-containing creams, respectively, with satisfactory response.


: Established as a widespread problematic behavioral and a stable individual tendency across time and different contexts, procrastination is harmful to the procrastinator's psychological, physical, and financial well-being. Given the cognitive mechanism of procrastination is unclear and methodologies in previous studies was dated, we are developing studies from a behavior-brain-gene perspective, using a multi-modal MRI (Task, Resting, VBM and DTI) methodology and considering HTR2B gene as a breakthrough direction, to reveal the cognitive mechanisms, neural mechanisms and hereditary basis of procrastination systematically. In addition, we intended to design interventions for procrastination as well. Our studies will includes four aspect: (1) from a behavioral perspective, we are exploring the cognitive mechanism of deciding to procrastinate by combining paradigm of dread studies with intertemporal choice task; (2) from a neural perspective, we are using a multi-modal MRI methodoloty to reveal the neural mechanism of procrastination; (3) from a genetic perspective, we are utilizing molecular genetic methods and taking the HTR2B gene as our targeted gene to disclose the genetic mechanism of procrastination and test a mediating role of neural structure or function between hereditary basis and procrastination; (4) Considering intervention for procrastination and malleability of brain, we also intend to design training program to reduce procrastination and test procrastination related neural plasticity.


At least in its early stages, health care reform is not likely to signal the end of concerns about retiree health benefits. Employers may want to explore prefunding as a practical approach to the problem.


A sensitive procedure for the determination of nitrate based upon the enzymatic reduction of nitrate to nitrite is described. The radical cation of 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (MV./sup +/), which is generated by Na/sub 2/S/sub 2/O/sub 4/ acting upon MV/sup 2 +/, reduces nitrate in the presence of the enzyme nitrate reductase. The production of nitrite is monitored with the sulfanilamide N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dichloride azo dye reaction. A detection limit of 17 ppB NO/sub 3//sup -/ using a 1-cm cell in a continuous-flow analyzer was achieved. The major contributor to the noise was derived from the flow system when an optical feedback stabilized photometer was employed. The detection limit using a nonflow system should be about 2 ppB NO/sub 3//sup -/ using a 1-cm cell. Use of an immobilized enzyme resulted in quantitative reduction of nitrate and the method is, therefore, relatively free of interferences. Sample concentrations in the range 17 ppB to 7 ppM NO/sub 3//sup -/ can be measured. At a concentration of 0.2 ppM, a precision of 1 percent can be obtained in a continuous flow analyzer. A variety of real samples were analyzed; correlation with the accepted Cu--Cd reductor method was excellent.


Simplified neuronal models capture the essence of the electrical activity of a generic neuron, besides being more interesting from the computational point of view when compared to higher-dimensional models such as the Hodgkin-Huxley one. In this work, we propose a generalized resonate-and-fire model described by a generalized Langevin equation that takes into account memory effects and colored noise. We perform a comprehensive numerical analysis to study the dynamics and the point process statistics of the proposed model, highlighting interesting new features such as (i) nonmonotonic behavior (emergence of peak structures, enhanced by the choice of colored noise characteristic time scale) of the coefficient of variation (CV) as a function of memory characteristic time scale, (ii) colored noise-induced shift in the CV, and (iii) emergence and suppression of multimodality in the interspike interval (ISI) distribution due to memory-induced subthreshold oscillations. Moreover, in the noise-induced spike regime, we study how memory and colored noise affect the coherence resonance (CR) phenomenon. We found that for sufficiently long memory, not only is CR suppressed but also the minimum of the CV-versus-noise intensity curve that characterizes the presence of CR may be replaced by a maximum. The aforementioned features allow to interpret the interplay between memory and colored noise as an effective control mechanism to neuronal variability. Since both variability and nontrivial temporal patterns in the ISI distribution are ubiquitous in biological cells, we hope the present model can be useful in modeling real aspects of neurons.


Personality factors have been shown to be related to accident prone behavior, and generic profiles and regression equations have been developed to identify those more likely to experience behaviors associated with accidents events. Using the 16PF, the ultimate purpose of this study is to assess differences between a group of F-4 Phantom fighter pilots who "crashed" (N=47) versus another deemed to be "safe" (N=44). Several subsidiary objectives were estab lished using comparative profiles of four pilot groups: airline, airline/military . fighter, general military, and F-4 fighter. The study reveals that: (a) pilot personality in general differs substantially from that of the general population; (b) there are both striking similarities.and dissimilarities between the four pilot groups; (c) there is only minimal consistency or agreement between pilot personality profiles and the prediction equation for generic "freedom from accidents:" the airline pilots show the greatest consistency and the F-4 pilots the least; and (d) most important, five significant personality factor differences discriminate the "safe" from the "crashed" F-4 pilot group. Using set correlation techniques, it is shown that 27% (33% attenuated) of the variance in "crashing" is explained by personality differences and that over 70% of the pilots are correctly classified.


The modern audio compression techniques and increased bandwidth in the Internet has dramatically changed the music industry. Music in the 19th century was a service. In the 20th century music became an industrial product. In the 21st century music will be a service again. Illegal sharing services like KaZaA are widely spread. Legal online music services like iTunes from Apple or Napster 2 from Roxio already have been started successfully. Using these systems PC users have access to a huge music database. In contrast to this users of home HiFi systems still miss such online services. The authors give an impression of the future HiFi system they dream of. Like a modern PC the dreamed system, which is currently under development has Internet access and operates with a hard disk. Unlike a PC the HiFi system has a simple user interface. The connection of HiFi system to a special peer-to-peer network provides easy browsing through numerous music titles. The introduced automatic mode allows the user to listen to his favorite music with a one button interaction. Technologies like audio fingerprinting and melody transcription are necessary for future HiFi systems. Some other technologies like recommendation engines and light weighted digital rights management systems are currently under development. The core component of the HiFi system is the content manager. It tries to match the user profile with other existing profiles to send song requests to the connected peer-to-peer network automatically. The described system is closely related to a European research project called semantic HiFi, which is lead by the famous music/acoustic research institute IRCAM. The sharing system is the main contribution of Fraunhofer lDMTand 4FriendsOnly.com AG.


Self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows through densely steel reinforced elements and consolidates under self-weight without need for vibration or compaction. This helps in complex and densely reinforced structures. The integration of fibers and fillers in concrete improves its general properties. The addition of fibers in particular can regulate the flow and workability of the concrete; hence, the high workable nature of SCC can be an ideal mix for the incorporation of fibers. This research investigates the effect of bamboo fibers and limestone powder on the fresh properties of self-compacting concrete. Bamboo fibers of an aspect ratio of 50 and varied volumes of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% were adopted for this research. The workability of the mix was assessed by slump flow test and V-funnel test. For fiber volumes of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, it was observed that the coarse aggregate was evenly distributed across the spread, indicating good viscosity and stability of the mix. The presence of 10% percent limestone powder improved the workability of the concrete mix. This can be attributed to filler properties of limestone powder, which, affecting the cement particle system, changed the ordinary distance between them and modified the water quantity available for the hydration process. These results proved that the bamboo fiber and limestone powder can be sustainably adopted to regulate the flow-ability of SCC without compromising desired properties.


Love relationships between black South African women and immigrant men have not been given adequate attention by researchers of migration, refugee studies, and those concerned with anti-immigrant attitudes and violence. In this paper, based on ethnographicr esearch conducted in the Alexandra township of Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2009, I argue that cross-border love relationships provoke sexual and racial jealousies between the two sets of manhood: South African and black African immigrant. These are eventually expressed in anti-immigrant violence, such as the events that occurred in May 2008 mainly perpetrated by men, exhibit characteristics of masculinisation, racialisation and sexualisation. Intermittent poverty and unemployment also play a role in this drama. Incidents of hatred based on competition for women and resultant resentment by men who lose out deepen. I contend that in order to fully comprehend this kind of violence, one needs to understand the dynamics of love relationships between black South African women and black African immigrant men and pervasive myths like immigrants stealing jobs and taking women, that are common in the community.


This study presents the isolation of influenza A(H5N8) virus clade 22.214.171.124b from a poultry worker during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) among chickens at a poultry farm in Astrakhan, Russia in December 2020. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected from seven poultry workers were positive for influenza A(H5N8), as confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing. The influenza A(H5N8) virus was isolated from one of the human specimens and characterised. Sporadic human influenza A(H5)188.8.131.52. infections represent a possible concern for public health.


The oxidation states of structural Fe in clay minerals often reflect the paleo-redox conditions of the depositional environments. It is inevitable to utilize the high resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the mechanism of mineral transformation at nano-scale. The applications of TEM- electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) for quantification of Fe(III)/ΣFe from the K-nontronite formation associated with structural Fe(III) reduction in nontronite under deep subseafloor environment were demonstrated. In particular, quantification of the changes in Fe-oxidation state at nanoscale is essential to understand the mechanisms of minerals formation. The procedure of EELS acquisition, quantitative determination of Fe-oxidation states, and advantages of EELS techniques were discussed.


Metal-induced-lateral-crystallization (MILC) followed by high temperature annealing has been used for the first time to form, large single grain silicon from amorphous silicon. Polysilicon with grain size ranging from ten to hundred of microns can be formed by this method. By individually crystallizing the active area of a TFT, the entire transistor can be formed on a single or a small number of silicon grains with good controllability, thus similar to SOI structure. Test devices with thin t/sub ox/=120 /spl Aring/ have been fabricated and the performance is verified to be comparable to SOI MOSFETs. The scaling property of the grain enhanced TFTs has also been studied. The minimization of the device dimension results in smaller probability for the channel region of a TFT to cover multiple grains, which leads to better device performance.


Climate change, and especially the associated acceleration of sea-level rise, forms a serious threat to the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea contains the world's largest coherent intertidal flat area and it is known that these flats can drown when the rate of sea-level rise exceeds a critical limit. As a result, the intertidal flats would then be permanently inundated, seriously affecting the ecological functioning of the system. The determination of this critical limit and the modelling of the transient process of how a tidal basin responds to accelerated sea-level rise is of critical importance. In this contribution we revisit the modelling of the response of the Wadden Sea tidal basins to sea-level rise using a basin scale morphological model (aggregated scale morphological interaction between tidal basin and adjacent coast, ASMITA). Analysis using this aggregated scale model shows that the critical rate of sea-level rise is not merely influenced by the morphological equilibrium and the morphological time scale, but also depends on the grain size distribution of sediment in the tidal inlet system. As sea-level rises, there is a lag in the morphological response, which means that the basin will be deeper than the systems morphological equilibrium. However, so long as the rate of sea-level rise is constant and below a critical limit, this offset becomes constant and a dynamic equilibrium is established. This equilibrium deviation as well as the time needed to achieve the dynamic equilibrium increase non-linearly with increasing rates of sea-level rise. As a result, the response of a tidal basin to relatively fast sea-level rise is similar, no matter if the sea-level rise rate is just below, equal or above the critical limit. A tidal basin will experience a long process of 'drowning' when sea-level rise rate exceeds about 80% of the critical limit. The insights from the present study can be used to improve morphodynamic modelling of tidal basin response to accelerating sea-level rise and are useful for sustainable management of tidal inlet systems.


Knowledge Base (KB) completion, which aims to determine missing relation between entities, has raised increasing attention in recent years. Most existing methods either focus on the positional relationship between entity pair and single relation (1-hop path) in semantic space or concentrate on the joint probability of Random Walks on multi-hop paths among entities. However, they do not fully consider the intrinsic relationships of all the links among entities. By observing that the single relation and multi-hop paths between the same entity pair generally contain shared/similar semantic information, this paper proposes a novel method to capture the shared features between them as the basis for inferring missing relations. To capture the shared features jointly, we develop Hierarchical Attention Networks (HANs) to automatically encode the inputs into low-dimensional vectors, and exploit two partial parameter-shared components, one for feature source discrimination and the other for determining missing relations. By joint Adversarial Training (AT) the entire model, our method minimizes the classification error of missing relations, and ensures the source of shared features are difficult to discriminate in the meantime. The AT mechanism encourages our model to extract features that are both discriminative for missing relation prediction and shareable between single relation and multi-hop paths. We extensively evaluate our method on several large-scale KBs for relation completion. Experimental results show that our method consistently outperforms the baseline approaches. In addition, the hierarchical attention mechanism and the feature extractor in our model can be well interpreted and utilized in the related downstream tasks.


Home care clinicians frequently lack access to a health sciences library. Nevertheless, they require ongoing access to current evidence-based nursing literature. Learning to use PubMed efficiently will enable home care clinicians striving to provide high-quality care to identify and, in some cases, access the full text of peer-reviewed articles that support evidence-based practice.


Background. Dual-kidney transplantation, where two usually aged adult kidneys are placed into an adult recipient, is one way to help alleviate the continuing disparity between the number of patients on the kidney transplant waiting list and those who receive kidney transplants each year. The Dual Kidney Registry was developed to analyze donor and recipient data and outcomes at several centers. Methods. Two hundred eighty-seven patients who have undergone transplantation since 1994 have been entered into the relational database. The patients were followed yearly after initial entry into the database. Results. The mean donor age was 58±13 years and the mean terminal creatinine clearance was 77±40 mL/min. The mean glomerular sclerosis on procurement biopsy was 16±13%. Delayed graft function (DGF), defined as dialysis in the first 7 days after transplantation, was a predictor of poor outcome, and increased cold storage time was a predictor of DGF. The overall incidence of DGF was 27%. In recipients with prompt graft function (PGF), the mean cold storage time was 22±9 hr versus 29±10 hr in recipients with DGF (P <0.001). The overall 1- and 5-year graft survival was 86% and 69%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year graft survival rates were significantly better in recipients with PGF (90% and 74%) versus DGF (79% and 54%) (P <0.002). Conclusions. Cold storage time and DGF have a significant impact on the 1- and 5-year graft survival in recipients of dual-kidney transplants. The 5-year graft survival in recipients of dual-kidney transplants is excellent.


The linear viscoelastic properties of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) melts having different molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were studied. Some linear viscoelasticity parameters, including the plateau modulus and zero shear viscosity of PPC, were evaluated. The entanglement molecular weight of PPC was estimated to be 5.9 kg/ mol, which is considerably lower than that previously reported for PPC with a broad molecular weight distribution.


In this paper we use the Activity diagram of the System Modeling Language (SysML) in combination with the new UML profile for Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time and Embedded systems (MARTE) in order to validate functional, timing and low power requirements in early phases of the embedded system development life-cycle. However, SysML lacks a formal semantics and hence it is not possible to apply, directly, mathematical techniques on SysML models for system validation. Thus, a novel approach for automatic translation of SysML Activity diagram into Time Petri Net with Energy constraints (ETPN) is proposed. In order to depict the practical usability of the proposed method, a case study is presented, namely, pulse-oximeter. Besides, the estimates obtained (execution time and energy consumption) from the model are 95% close to the respective measures obtained from the real hardware platform.


We determined T-cell cytokine profiles in the epidermis, dermis, and blood of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma to differentiate whether unique cytokine profiles were associated with mycosis fungoides (MF) versus Sezary syndrome. Punch biopsy specimens from plaque stage MF (n = 7) were compared to Sezary skin (n = 3) after undergoing rapid heat-saline separation of epidermis from dermis. Normal adult skin (n = 11), neonatal foreskin (n = 4), untreated psoriatic plaques (n = 6), and normal donor peripheral blood leukocytes (n = 3) were studied as controls. Total RNA was extracted from all skin specimens, as well as peripheral blood leukocytes from MF (n = 3) and Sezary patients (n = 7), and was converted to cDNA by reverse transcriptase. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNAs using interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and interferon gamma-specific primers was used to differentiate Th1-type responses (IL-2+ and interferon gamma +) from Th2-type responses (IL-4+, IL-5+, and IL-10+). beta-actin specific primers were included as a positive control for mRNA integrity. All MF specimens contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon gamma limited to epidermis but not IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10. In contrast, Sezary skin and blood showed a cytokine mRNA pattern dominated by IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. MF blood showed a pattern similar to normal peripheral blood T cells with mixed detection of all T-helper cell cytokine mRNAs. All psoriasis samples contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon gamma in both epidermis and dermis with no IL-4 or IL-10 in either compartment. These findings demonstrate that the cutaneous lesions of MF are characterized by an epidermal Th1-type cytokine profile, whereas both the blood and skin of patients with Sezary syndrome is characterized by a Th2-type profile. This work suggests that differences in cytokine production may be related to the pathophysiology and clinical presentation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.


PURPOSE
To assess the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) for treatment of liver metastases in an animal model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
All experiments were approved by the German government and the institutional animal research review board. After subcapsular liver implantation of colorectal cancer cells in 30 WAG rats (on day 0), the animals were randomly assigned to three interventional treatment groups. In the 10 rats in group A, TACE was performed: Fourteen days after cancer cell implantation and within 20 minutes after laparotomy and retrograde placement of a microcatheter into the gastroduodenal artery, these rats were injected with mitomycin (0.1 mg), iodized oil (0.1 mL), and degradable starch microspheres (5.0 mg). In the 10 rats in group B, LITT was performed: Also on day 14, the tumors in these animals were exposed to Nd:YAG laser light of 1064 nm at 2 W for 5 minutes. In the 10 rats in group C, combined treatment was administered: TACE was performed on day 14, and LITT was performed on day 21. Tumor volumes were measured before (on day 13) and after (on day 28) treatment with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the mean tumor growth ratio (day 13 tumor volume divided by day 28 tumor volume) was calculated.

RESULTS
The mean tumor volumes measured before and after the treatments were, respectively, 0.11 and 0.60 cm(3) in group A, 0.11 and 0.68 cm(3) in group B, and 0.11 and 0.35 cm(3) in group C. The mean tumor growth ratio was 5.42 in group A, 6.14 in group B, and 3.15 in group C. According to Bonferroni test results, compared with the rats in groups A and B (controls), the group C rats had significantly inhibited tumor growth (P < .01 for both comparisons).

CONCLUSION
Use of combined TACE-LITT treatment, compared with the use of TACE or LITT alone, significantly inhibits tumor growth.


1 Eric P. Kukula, Biometric Standards, Performance, and Assurance Laboratory, Room 242, 401 N. Grant St, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA, email@example.com 2 Nathan C. Sickler, Biometric Standards, Performance, and Assurance Laboratory, Room 242, 401 N. Grant St, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA, firstname.lastname@example.com 3 Stephen J. Elliott, Ph.D., Biometric Standards, Performance, and Assurance Laboratory, Room 242, 401 N. Grant St, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA, firstname.lastname@example.com Abstract  Biometric research centers on five fundamental areas: data collection, signal processing, decision-making, transmission, and storage. Traditionally, research occurred in subsets of the discipline in separate departments within universities such as algorithm development in computer science, and speech and computer vision in electrical engineering. In the fall semester of 2002, a class in Biometric Technology and Applications was developed to encourage cross-disciplinary education, where all areas of the biometric model would come together and address issues such as research methodologies and the implementation of biometrics in society at large. The course has been modified to accommodate a wider audience, incorporate graduate student research, which is the foundation for modular mini-courses tailored to specific majors and issues. Having an interdisciplinary group of student's better mirrors the makeup of jobs involved in biometrics, such as management, marketing, or research. The challenge lies in providing a course that accounts for these diverse needs.


Abundant sand-sized mud aggregates in the Cooper and Diamantina Rivers, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia are attributed to bedload transport of aggregates formed in deeply-cracked floodplain soils. The conditions required for formation of pedogenic mud aggregates are: (i) abundant clay containing at least minor swelling clay, and (ii) a climate with at least seasonally hot dry periods. The worldwide distribution of these soils (Vertisols) suggests that a significant amount of mud is transported as pedogenic aggregates by modern rivers.

Ancient analogues in which mud aggregates and Vertisol profiles have been recognized are the Jurassic East Berlin Formation (Connecticut, USA) and the Carboniferous Maringouin Formation (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada). The dominant red mudstones of these formations are interpreted as mainly bedload sediments deposited by sheet floods in semi-arid palaeoclimates. The Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone (NSW, Australia) also contains sand-sized mudstone aggregates, thought to be pedogenic, but its paleosol and other facies point to formation in a wetter palaeoclimate. The indications are that bedload transport of mud as pedogenic aggregates was as significant a process in ancient rivers as it is at present.


Greater petrosal and deep petrosal nerves unite in foramen lacerum to form vidian nerve which innervate lacrimal, buccal, nasopharynx, and nasal glands. Moreover, the superior part of this foramen transmits lacerum part of internal carotid artery which irrigates major part of brain. Change in the morphology of foramen lacerum may result in compression of neurovascular structures creating neurovascular complications which at times may be fatal/morbid. In addition to this, there is paucity of literature elucidating the morphology of foramen lacerum. So, the aim of the study is to describe the morphology of foramen lacerum and associated clinical significance.The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India using 26 half skulls. The skulls were observed for morphological variations of foramen lacerum besides carrying out morphometry of these foramina.Complete obliteration of foramen lacerum culminating into circular opening at its superior part bilaterally was observed in 5 skulls (19.2%). Incomplete ossification of foramen was detected in 7 skulls (26.9%). The mean diameters of carotid foramina in cases of complete obliteration were 6 mm and 7 mm on right and left sides respectively. The mean antero-posterior diameters of anterior and posterior apertures on right side were 7 and 6 mm respectively while these dimensions on left sides were 7 mm.Due to morphological variations in foramen lacerum through partial/complete obliteration, the neurovascular structures passing through it may be squeezed leading to neurovascular complications. Thus, the study is of paramount importance to neurovascular surgeons, neuro-interventionists, and anatomists.


Renal artery embolization without subsequent nephrectomy was used to treat renal adenocarcinoma in 25 patients. The tumour had metastasized in 15 cases, and was locally advanced in six cases and localized in four. The aim was palliation of local symptoms in 20 cases. It was achieved in 11 of 14 patients with gross haematuria and in three of six with severe local pain. No prolongation of survival time was evident, and all the patients died of renal adenocarcinoma within 38 months. Regression of metastases was not seen. In one patient, embolization with absolute ethanol was followed by infarction of the left colon and death.


The authors reported the results of investigation of 70 patients with osteoarthrosis deformans followed up for 3-10 yrs. They defined 3 variants of a course of the disease: with rapid progression, slow progression, without noticeable progression. These variants differed in disease spreading, the frequency of arthrotic synovitis and the presence of hereditary predisposition. Signs of erosive arthrosis of the distal and proximal digital hand joints were noted in 12 patients with nodular polyosteoarthrosis. A characteristic signs in this group of patients was hereditary predisposition combined with local vegetative-vascular disorders and a strain on the digital hand joints, and degenerative affection of the cervical spine with the radicular syndrome.


The high performance of Microwave ablation (MWA) is measured by the successful coagulate of the target tissues with less effect on the surrounding healthy tissues. To achieve this goal, the precious porous liver model is used for simulation to investigate how the performance improves when two key properties, thermal and electrical conductivity, have been changed. The investigation of selected nanoparticle, Carbon Nanotube (CNT), also has been included. The result has shown that increased thermal and electrical conductivity of target tissue in the porous liver promotes a higher heating rate and lower maximum temperature when compared with the normal porous liver tissue condition. The MWA performance improved when the selected nanoparticle CNT was included, producing an improved lesion shape with a short tail when compared with normal tissues. In summary, this study gives the necessary aspect for knowledge of enhancing the MWA process and can be used as a guideline to enhance the MWA efficacy.


We study the shear flow of active filaments confined in a thin channel for extensile and contractile fibers. We apply the Ericksen-Leslie equations of liquid crystal flow with an activity source term. The dimensionless form of this system includes the Ericksen, activity, and Reynolds numbers, together with the aspect ratio of the channel, as the main driving parameters. We perform a normal mode stability analysis of the base shear flow. For both types of fibers, we arrive at a comprehensive description of the stability properties and their dependence on the parameters of the system. The transition to unstable frequencies in extensile fibers occurs at a positive threshold value of the activity parameter, whereas for contractile ones a complex behavior is found at low absolute value of the activity number. The latter might be an indication of the biologically relevant plasticity and phase transition issues. In contrast with extensile fibers, flows of contractile ones are also found to be highly sensitive to the Reynolds number. The work on extensile fibers is guided by experiments on active filaments in confined channels and aims at quantifying their findings in the prechaotic regime.


No historian of ancient Rome in this century has had a greater influence on historical research or won greater international acclaim than Sir Ronald Syne (1903-89). His outstanding position was due mainly to his first two books, The Roman Revolution, which appeared in 1939, and Tacitus (two volumes, 1958) - although he went on to produce many more monographs, and seven volumes of his Roman Papers have so far appeared. The long gap between his first two books is partly explained by the war, which took him on official duties to Belgrade and Ankara; and he spent the years 1943-5 at Istanbul as Professor of Classical Philology. It was known that in spite of the war, Syme had continued to write in these years, in particular 'Strabonia', investigations into the famous ancient Geography composed by Strabo, a native of Asia Minor in the time of Augustus. After Syme's death, the manuscript was discovered among his papers: he had not quite completed the work, but what he had written, with almost complete annotation, represents a substantial and fascinating study of the historical geography of Anatolia in the Hellenistic and early Roman period. Syme ruthlessly dissects the often incoherent and inconsistent text of Strabo, at the same time providing rich detail on client kings, Roman generals and emperors, writers and travellers. Above all, he shows unequalled ability to understand the landscape and settlement of Anatolia; and the work is composed in the same forceful and elegant style that made his other books classics of historical literature.


Organic electronics are used in traditional solar cells and also in flexible electronics. Unfortunately, the conductivities of organic semiconductors are significantly lower than their inorganic counterparts. This project examines crystallization by directed self assembly of the organic molecules via a surface reconstruction as a method to increase conductivity. The crystallization is characterized by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). In order to achieve optimal STM images, this work examined: (1) noise isolation, (2) etching sharp STM tips and (3) achieving reconstructed Si surface. The STM is housed in a glovebox to keep the surface reconstructions and organic molecules from degrading. However, acoustical noise of the glovebox circulation pump makes achieving atomic resolution impossible. Introducing a foam-lined acoustical shell around the microscope significantly reduced acoustic noise and atomic resolution is achieved. We also determined optimal PtIr tip etching procedures, demonstrating that an alternating current of 40 V in a 1M CaCl2 solution results in a tip with an ~ 13μm radius of curvature, comparable to other PtIr tips found in literature. Finally, we demonstrated a Si(001) surface with 20nm terrace widths and two atomic height steps achieved by cleaving inside the N2 environment.


Recent years have seen profound changes in country risk and its components, in the context of crises multiplication and diversification; the sovereign risk, a main country risk component, has undergone important changes, mainly given by mutations in its determining factors; the economy of "indebtedness" represents a reality of the recent years. In this context, our paper aims to capture new issues related to sovereign risk and its manifestations, and to bring to the fore a number of relevant indicators concerning the indebtedness problems. Currently, the increasing sovereign obligations, the Greece 2010 episode and the real sovereign debt crisis testify the important implications that the national economic policy decisions have on entire nations. In general, the countries with servicing difficulties present a total external or public debt that overcomes the average of the emerging states; however, we can not accurately identify a threshold beyond which we can say that a state is overly indebted. Therefore, questions such as "Starting from what point is a state overly indebted?" or "What is the cause of the excessive debts of a state?" are fully justified and the answer or answers deserve being sought. Studies on the relationship between various economic variables and the countries ability to deal with external debt problems are present in the country risk literature since the 1970s; beginning with authors such as Frank and Cline (1971), which gave priority to external debt service indicators such as Exports, Imports / GDP, Imports / Reserves, and continuing with other specialists, among whom we mention Saini and Bates (1978), Abassi and Tafler (1982), Haque, Brewer and Rivoli (1990), North (2001) Bouchet (2003), Meunier (2005), Longueville (2010) and many others, many ratios and indicators were carefully analyzed. In our short study, we also present a number of recent aspects concerning sovereign risk, and we analyze some relevant indicators, using statistical data, for four countries: Romania, Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria. We underline the fact that, even if sovereign risk indicators are in the good intervals, the crisis risk remains present, especially because of the liquidity issues. For us, this brief paper opens the way for a much broader study, which aims to develop a model of sovereign risk analysis, the dependent variable, the probability of default, being explained by the evolution of the selected relevant indicators.


Abstract. Mefenamic Acid is one type of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug that works to relieve pain by blocking an enzyme that produces prostaglandins. The quality requirements that must be met by pharmaceutical preparations are levels contained must meet the level requirement as listed in the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia or other standard books. The purpose of this study was to conduct a validation test of ultraviolet spectrophoto metry methods for determination of the Mefenamic Acid level in the suspension preparation. The sample consisted of three suspensions preparation under the trade name obtained from a pharmacy in the Medan city. The solvent used is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 0,1 N solution and the measurement was done at a wavelength of 286 nm. Validation parameters determined were A ccuracy, Precision, Linearity, Range, Limit of Detection and Limit of Quantitation. The results of the determination of the Mefenamic Acid suspension preparation under the trade name Pondex ® was 100,39±0,21%, trade name Omestan ® was 99,98±0,33% and trade name Novastan ® was 103,21±0,83%. All the suspension preparations were determined meet the general level requirement, that contain not less than 90,0% and not more than 110,0% of the amount stated on the label. The results meet the requirements of the validation test of analysis methods with the parameter percent recovery 100,08% for accuracy, relative standard deviation 0,04% for precision, the correlation coefficient 1,0000 for linearity, range 8 μg/mL to 12 μg/mL, limit of detection limit 0,0118 μg/mL, limit of quantitation 0,0356 μg/mL. Keywords : Validation, Spectrophotometry, Determination, Suspension, Mefenamic Acid


The role of liver biopsy (LB), the traditional gold standard for assessing liver disease, continues to evolve1-4. Fewer biopsies are being done for diagnosis as noninvasive tests such as new imaging techniques and accurate serological tests can now be done instead in many cases2-4. Most biopsies are currently performed for parenchymal disease not to make specific diagnosis but to assess the liver damage (the degree of inflammation, fibrosis) or the response to therapy5. In contrast to past when nearly all biopsies were done for diagnostic purpose, presently more than 50% are being done for staging versus 15% for diagnosing the parenchymal liver disease5. In addition, biopsies are often done to help in guiding the management of hepatitis C and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and to assess the response to therapy2, 3. The increased use of liver transplantation as standard treatment of end stage liver disease of diverse etiologies has led to more biopsies being performed to differentiate the cause of graft dysfunction and to assess the suitability of potential liver donors for transplantation1-3. The dramatic increase in obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension (the metabolic syndrome) in western societies and its accompanying fatty liver problems are requiring liver biopsy for histological assessment2. Evaluation of liver histology remains very important as LB is reported to change the clinical diagnosis in 8-14%, management in 12-18% and frequency of liver test monitoring in 36% of cases5. Hence the main indication are a) chronic hepatitisfor grading, staging, establishing a therapeutic strategy and monitoring therapy, b)unexplained abnormal liver function tests or hepatomegaly and c) follow up of patients after liver transplantation. However no liver biopsy is free of risk as it is an invasive procedure. Rational assessment of overall risk in LB however is hampered by the wide variation in the indication and its outcome reported in the existing literature.


The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), is a major pest of potatoes in Uzbeksitan and many other parts of the world. Decreasing crop losses aused by the Calorado Potatoes Bettle and larvae feed on the foliage and stems of potato plants, resulting in poor yields and plant death. We observed the Efficiency of biological in Antibac Uz of biopesticide against Colorado potato beetles on Potatoes. Determination the Efficiency of biological inAntibac Uz of biopestiside against Colorado potato beetles a field and laboratory experiments have been conducted "Agro farmer family Shalola Abdurakhim Yusupov", disrtict Qibray, Province Tashkent. We use Antibac Uz bioinsecticide 5.0 liter per hectare spending in the days of 3, 7, 14, 21 against Colorado potato beetles after inoculation showed effect of 6,6; 31,6; 44,8; 37,5%. The against to larvae was better in fact 35,4; 54,7; 56,7; 68,8%. Once we use Antibac Uz biopesticide 6.0 liter per hectare in the days of 3, 7, 14, 21 pesticide showed effect of 38, 2; 41, 9; 56,0; 48,1%.


By heating fuel-air mixtures to higher temperatures than usually employed in gasoline engines, it is possible to run the engine on lean mixtures. With regard to efficiency and air pollution, mixture and heat control can be considered as an alternative to stratified combustion in gasoline engines. /GMRL/


The Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) is a group of Mesozoic marine reptiles known from abundant material, with specimens described from all continents. The group originated very near the Triassic–Jurassic boundary and persisted to the endCretaceous mass extinction. This study describes the results of a specimen-based cladistic study of the Plesiosauria, based on examination of 34 taxa scored for 166 morphological characters. The Pliosauroidea is found to by polyphyletic due to the inclusion of the Polycotylidae; this second clade is instead a member of the Plesiosauroidea, and thus more closely related to elasmosaurs than to other 'pliosaurs'. Characters of body proportion such as neck length and head size are very labile, with the 'pliosauromorph' body plan evolving three times, while extremely long necks evolved in two clades. Characters from the entire skeleton support these relationships, although characters of the skull roof and palate are especially useful. Lastly, a new genus and species, Hauffiosaurus zanoni, is named based on German material of Toarcian age.


In a note to his 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, H.G. Wells writes: "Strange as it may seem to the unscientific reader, there can be no denying that, whatever amount of credibility attaches to the detail of this story, the manufacture of monsters—and perhaps even quasi-human monsters—is within the possibilities of vivisection". Wells has been proven right about the possibility of producing interspecies hybrids. Moreau is a late-Victorian text that remains relevant today, in part at least, because it anticipates certain key developments in late-twentieth-century molecular biology. In this essay, I relate Wells' novel to current human-chimera research, in which human tissue is genetically blended with animal tissue. Moreau is relevant to any discussion of scientific chimeras, I argue, not just because it anticipates their development, but also because it speculates upon the possible consequences of this type of scientific research. While orientating us towards a posthuman future, Wells also uses the ancient form of the folktale to demonstrate that humans are irreducibly animals. He blends science fiction and folktale anachronistically in his novel so that his reader might recognise in Moreau's vivisections a form of anthropomorphism that is monstrous or grotesque for being literalised. This, then, is perhaps the supreme anachronism of Moreau: the future will have been animal.


The human DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) gene family on the Y chromosome and an autosomal DAZ-like gene, DAZL1, encode RNA-binding proteins that are expressed exclusively in germ cells. Their role in spermatogenesis is supported by their homology with a Drosophila male infertility gene boule and sterility of Daz11 knock-out mice. While all mammals contain a DAZL1 homologue on their autosomes, DAZ homologues are present only on the Y chromosomes of great apes and Old World monkeys. The DAZ and DAZL1 proteins differ in the copy numbers of a DAZ repeat and the C-terminal sequences. We studied the interaction of DAZ and DAZL1 with other proteins as an approach to investigate functional similarity between these two proteins. Using DAZ as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system, we isolated two DAZAP (DAZ-associated protein) genes. DAZAP1 encodes a novel RNA-binding protein that is expressed most abundantly in the testis, and DAZAP2 encodes a ubiquitously expressed protein with no recognizable functional motif. DAZAP1 and DAZAP2 bind similarly to both DAZ and DAZL1 through the DAZ repeats. The DAZAP genes were mapped to chromosomal regions 19p13.3 and 2q33-q34, respectively, where no genetic diseases affecting spermatogenesis are known to map.


This study was a retrospective investigation about the indication and efficacy of artifical liver support for liver transplant recipients. Apheresis was performed in 16 of 41 patients subjected to living related liver transplantation (LRLTx) as articial liver support, including plasmapheresis (PP) in 13 cases, continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) in 7 cases, and plasma adsorption (PA) in 2 cases. One patient with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis was subjected to PP before the LRLTx, and the result was satisfactory. On the contrary, the results of PP and CHDF for graft, respiratory, or cardiac failure were not acceptable. Only 1 patient survived despite multiple organ failure. Both PP and PA for patients with hyperbilirubinemia were effective and improved their critical conditions. We conclude that apheresis for liver transplant patients is effective to treat hyperbilirubinemia, but it is not indicated for respiratory and cardiac failure nor for hepatic failure.


To improve the electrochemical performance of graphite felt (GF) electrodes in vanadium flow batteries (VFBs), we synthesize a series of ZrO2-modified GF (ZrO2/GF) electrodes with varying ZrO2 contents via a facile immersion-precipitation approach. It is found that the uniform immobilization of ZrO2 nanoparticles on the GF not only significantly promotes the accessibility of vanadium electrolyte, but also provides more active sites for the redox reactions, thereby resulting in better electrochemical activity and reversibility toward the VO(2+)/VO2(+) and V(2+)/V(3+) redox reactions as compared with those of GF. In particular, The ZrO2/GF composite with 0.3 wt % ZrO2 displays the best electrochemical performance with voltage and energy efficiencies of 71.9% and 67.4%, respectively, which are much higher than those of 57.3% and 53.8% as obtained from the GF electrode at 200 mA cm(-2). The cycle life tests demonstrate that the ZrO2/GF electrodes exhibit outstanding stability. The ZrO2/GF-based VFB battery shows negligible activity decay after 200 cycles.


1. Myxamoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum Ax-2 were grown on different media, and were harvested either in the stationary or exponential phases of the growth cycle to yield samples of myxamoebae differing in enzymic composition. 2. Morphogenesis and cell differentiation phenomena in D. discoideum appear to be similar in myxamoebae grown and harvested under different conditions. 3. The specific activity of the enzymes beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase have been determined during cell differentiation of myxamoebae grown and harvested under different conditions. 4. The pattern of synthesis of these enzymes, all of which have been claimed to be part of the ;developmental programme', either remains unaffected despite the origin of the myxamoebae (alkaline phosphatase) or is qualitatively similar but quantitatively affected (acid phosphatase, beta-glucosidase) or is both qualitatively and quantitatively affected by changes in the myxamoebae (alpha-mannosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase). 5. The implications of these results for the concept of a ;developmental programme' are discussed.


We studied the ecological characteristics of 45–50‐yr‐old subtropical dry forest stands in Puerto Rico that were growing on sites that had been deforested and used intensively for up to 128 yr. The study took place in the Guánica Commonwealth Forest. Our objective was to assess the long‐term effects of previous land use on this forest—i.e., its species composition, structure, and functioning. Previous land‐use types included houses, farmlands, and charcoal pits. Stands with these land uses were compared with a nearby mature forest stand. The speed and path of forest recovery after deforestation and land‐use abandonment depended on the conditions of the land. Study areas where land uses had removed the forest canopy and altered soil conditions (houses and farmlands) required a longer time to recover and had a different species composition than study areas where land uses retained a forest canopy (charcoal pits). Different forest attributes recovered at different rates. Crown area index, stem density, and litterfall rate recovered faster than stemwood and root, biomass, tree height, and basal area. Where previous land uses removed the canopy, Leucaena leucocephala, a naturalized alien pioneer species, dominated the regrowth. Native species dominated abandoned charcoal pits and mature forest. The change in species composition, including the invasion of alien species, appears to be the most significant long‐term effect of human use and modification of the landscape.


Cerebellum plays an important role in several key functions including control of movement, balance, cognition, reward, and affect. Imaging studies indicate that distinct cerebellar regions contribute to these different functions. Molecular studies examining regional cerebellar differences are lagging as they are mostly done on whole cerebellar extracts thereby masking any distinctions across specific cerebellar regions. Here we describe a technique to reproducibly and quickly dissect four different cerebellar regions: the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN), anterior and posterior vermal cerebellar cortex, and the cerebellar cortex of the hemispheres. Dissecting out these distinct regions allows for the exploration of molecular mechanisms that may underlie their unique contributions to balance, movement, affect and cognition. This technique may also be used to explore differences in pathological susceptibility of these specific regions across various mouse disease models.


1. Mainstream social administration/policy books the reviewer will be asked to suggest what a critical social policy might have to say about the topic/area the text covers as well as criticising the content, 2. Books not regarded as being traditional concerns of social policy but which are integral to the development of a critical social policy. The precise areas to be covered will presumably be a matter of some controversy and part of a continuing debate in the journal. Obvious candidates, though, are political strategy; ecology; ciime/deviance; imperialism; novels, 3. Books that are consciously trying to contribute to the development of a critical social policy, 4. Pamphlets/books/guides to legislation, etc by local tenants, community, anti-cuts, womens, trade union etc groups on general questions of welfare. The journal will be dependent on the producers of these alternative publications either to send in copies, or their own short reviews explaining content; place where it can be obtained, etc, 5. Government and semi-official publications and documents on welfare matters produced by other agencies/institutions. 6. Review articles on the areas above covering a number of different publications.


We compute how threshold effects obtained by integrating out a heavy particle localized on a codimension-2 brane influence the properties of the brane and the bulk fields it sources in D = d+2 dimensions. We do so using a recently developed formalism for matching the characteristics of higher codimension branes to the properties of the bulk fields they source. We show that although the dominant heavy-mass dependence induced in the low-energy codimension-2 tension has the generic size expected, T2∝Md, the very-low-energy effective potential governing the on-brane curvature once bulk KK modes are integrated out can be additionally suppressed, by factors of order κ2Md, where κ is the bulk gravitational coupling. In the special case of a codimension-2 brane in a 6D supersymmetric bulk we also estimate the size of the contributions of short-wavelength bulk loops near the brane, and find these can be similarly suppressed.


SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to develop a method for identifying newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) patients at risk for TB adverse events in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Surveillance data between 2006 and 2013 (8431 subjects) was used to develop risk scores based on predictive modelling. The final models revealed that TB patients failing their treatment regimen were more likely to have at most a primary school education, multi-drug resistance (MDR)-TB, and few to moderate bacilli on acid-fast bacilli smear. TB patients who died were more likely to be older males with MDR-TB, HIV, malnutrition, and reporting excessive alcohol use. Modified risk scores were developed with strong predictability for treatment failure and death (c-statistic 0·65 and 0·70, respectively), and moderate predictability for drug resistance (c-statistic 0·57). Among TB patients with diabetes, risk scores showed moderate predictability for death (c-statistic 0·68). Our findings suggest that in the clinical setting, the use of our risk scores for TB treatment failure or death will help identify these individuals for tailored management to prevent these adverse events. In contrast, the available variables in the TB surveillance dataset are not robust predictors of drug resistance, indicating the need for prompt testing at time of diagnosis.


In this study, we have analyzed the cost of korea high-speed rail project. The predicted cost in planning phase and adjustment data to 5th year are collected. Then, predicted cost is compared with adjustment in year/item/system base. We make a project history table for criteria to review project history and research & development activity. We have developed CBS(cost breakdown structure) and allocated adjustment data to them. It is shown that cost prediction related to research & development activity in planning phase is relatively correct.


39 biopsies from MCGN patients are studied using Avtandilov net. Parameters of the glomeruli and their percentage correlation were determined. Quantitative confirmation of the transformation of the MCGN type I into type IV via the intermediate type is given.


Heating of unburned fuel by attached flames and plume of a wildfire can produce high spread rates that have resulted in firefighter fatalities worldwide. Qualitative flow fields of the plume of a gas burner embedded in a table tilted to 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30° above horizontal were imaged using the retroreflective shadowgraph technique as a means to understand plume attachment and related behavior. Tilting of the plume in the uphill direction for all non-zero slopes was explained by an imbalance in the flow of air entrained into the plume. Reversal in direction of fluid flow uphill from the flame front was shown to occur when buoyancy forces overwhelmed entrainment flow momentum. Flame and plume attachment was explained as being caused by uphill flow of hot combustion gas driven by a combination of buoyancy and an uphill pressure gradient.


ABSTRACT Emerging canine coronavirus (CCoV) variants that are associated with systemic infections have been reported in the European Union; however, CCoV-associated disease in the United States is incompletely characterized. The purpose of this study was to correlate the clinicopathological findings and viral antigen distribution with the genotypic characteristics of CCoV in 11 puppies from nine premises in five states that were submitted for diagnostic investigation at Cornell University between 2008 and 2013. CCoV antigen was found in epithelial cells of small intestinal villi in all puppies and the colon in 2 of the 10 puppies where colon specimens were available. No evidence of systemic CCoV infection was found. Comparative sequence analyses of viral RNA extracted from intestinal tissues revealed CCoV-II genotype in 9 out of 11 puppies. Of the nine CCoV-IIs, five were subtyped as group IIa and one as IIb, while three CCoVs could not be subtyped. One of the CCoV-IIa variants was isolated in cell culture. Infection with CCoV alone was found in five puppies, of which two also had small intestinal intussusception. Concurrent infections with either parvovirus (n = 1), attaching-effacing Escherichia coli (n = 4), or protozoan parasites (n = 3) were found in the other six puppies. CCoV is an important differential diagnosis in outbreaks of severe enterocolitis among puppies between 4 days and 21 weeks of age that are housed at high population density. These findings will assist with the rapid laboratory diagnosis of enteritis in puppies and highlight the need for continued surveillance for CCoV variants and intestinal viral diseases of global significance.