1505 The purpose of this study is to test whether a unique recombinant cell-penetrating viral protein can transport DNA intercalating drugs by non-covalent interaction via a tiny nucleic acid carrier, and target such drugs to HER2+ breast cancer cells. Targeted conjugates were assembled by mixing the recombinant protein, HerPBK10, with a double-stranded oligonucleotide, and the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (Dox) at room temperature, then purified by size exclusion chromatography. Stability over time during different storage temperatures was tested by ultrafiltration through molecular weight limiting spin columns. Targeted toxicity was tested on separate and mixed cultures of HER2+ and HER2- human breast cancer cell lines by 4 hour exposure to conjugates (0.5 uM, with respect to Dox concentration) in cell media, then exchanging for fresh media, and measuring cytotoxicity by metabolic assay up to 3 days post-treatment. Receptor specificity was tested by competitive inhibition with excess free ligand. In vivo targeting was tested by IV injection in a mouse xenograft model of HER2+ human breast cancer and monitoring Dox fluorescence in live mice. The conjugate, called HerDox, exhibited undetectable Dox release under high speed centrifugation and high pressure chromatography conditions, as well as under storage at 4°C, 25°C, and 37°C for up to 12 days. In separate wells of HER2+ and HER2- human breast cancer cells, HerDox reduced HER2+ cell survival by over 75% whereas HER2- cells were unaffected. Dox alone reduced both cell types by the same order of magnitude. In mixed cultures of HER2- and HER2+ cells, HerDox nearly completely inhibited HER2+ cell proliferation whereas HER2- cells were little to modestly affected. Free heregulin ligand at 10x molar excess (compared to HerDox) completely inhibited HER2+ cell killing by HerDox. IV injection of HerDox in tumor-bearing nude mice exhibited widespread Dox fluorescence by 10 min, followed by fluorescence accumulation in the tumors by 20 min, which persisted up to 100 min after injection. Tissues harvested at 4h after injection showed that tumors exhibited the highest intensity of Dox fluorescence while residual fluorescence was observed in the liver and kidneys. Fluorescence was undetectable in the heart, lung, spleen and skeletal muscle. Targeting ligand alone showed similar biodistribution. These studies indicate that a stable non-covalent conjugate can assemble and deliver a well-established chemotherapy drug to target cells in serum-containing media. Toxicity can be targeted to HER2+ cells in a mixed cell culture, and is mediated via the heregulin receptor. HerDox exhibits preferential accumulation in HER2+ human breast cancer tumors in vivo, and appears to avoid other tissues including the heart, lung, spleen, and skeletal muscle, while exhibiting relatively low to negligible levels of delivery to the liver and kidney.


Background and Objective The clinical effect of renal impairment on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. This study sought to assess whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) affects clinical outcomes or modifies the efficacy of intensive systolic blood pressure (BP) control (target, 110–139 mm Hg) against the standard (target, 140–179 mm Hg) among patients with ICH. Methods We conducted post hoc analyses of ATACH-2, a randomized, 2-group, open-label trial. The baseline eGFR of each eligible patient was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The outcome of interest was death or disability at 90 days. Multivariate logistic regression models were used for analysis. Results Among the 1,000 patients randomized, 974 were analyzed. The median baseline eGFR was 88 (interquartile range, 68, 99) mL/min/1.73 m2; 451 (46.3%), 363 (37.3%), and 160 (16.4%) patients had baseline eGFR values of ≥90, 60–89, and <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Compared with normal eGFR (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2), higher odds of death or disability were noted among those with eGFR values of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–3.26) but not among those with eGFR values of 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.70–1.46). The odds of death or disability were significantly higher in the intensive arm among patients with decreased eGFR; the ORs were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.55–1.44), 1.13 (0.68–1.89), and 3.60 (1.47–8.80) in patients with eGFR values of ≥90, 60–89, and <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p for interaction = 0.02). Discussion Decreased eGFR is associated with unfavorable outcomes following ICH. The statistically significant interaction between the eGFR group and treatment assignment raised safety concerns for the intensive BP-lowering therapy among patients with renal impairment. Trial Registration Information Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01176565. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class II evidence that in spontaneous ICH, decreased eGFR identifies patients at risk of death or disability following intensive BP control.


Globally, Food security main threaten by abiotic stress like salinity and levels amongst the majority serious environmental stressors which reduce crop yield mass production. Biochar application has received much attention in agricultural practices as it enhances crop quality and production. The present study was carried out to analyze the role of lysine zinc and biochar on growth enhancement of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. PU-2011) under saline stress (EC 7.17 dSm-1). Seeds were sown in pots containing saline soil with and without 2% biochar, and foliar application of Zn-lysine (0, 1.0, and 2.0 mM) was made at different time intervals during plant growth. A combined application of biochar and Zn-lysine 2.0 mM highly improved the physiological attributes such as chlorophyll a (37%), chlorophyll b (60%), total chlorophyll (37%), carotenoids (16%), photosynthesis rate (Pn) 45%, stomatal conductance (gs) 53%, transpiration rate (Tr) 56%, and water use efficiency (WUE) 55%. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) 38%, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) 62%, and electrolyte leakage (EL) 48% were decreased with the combined application of biochar and Zn-lysine 2.0 mM as compared with other treatments. The activities of catalase (CAT) 67%, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 70%, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) 61% as well as catalase (CAT) 67% were regulated with the combined biochar and Zn-lysine 2.0 mM treatment. Similarly, the combined application of biochar and zinc-lysine (2.0 mM) enhanced the growth and yield attributes such as shoot length (79%), root fresh weight (62%), shoot fresh weight (36%), root dry weight (86%), shoot dry weight (39%), grain weight (57%), and spike length (43%) as compared with untreated control. The concentrations of sodium (Na) decreased whereas potassium (K), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were enhanced in plants with the combined application of Zn-lysine and biochar. Overall, results showed that the combined application of Zn-lysine (2.0 mM) and biochar significantly inhibited the negative effect of salinity and improved the growth and physiological performance of wheat plants. The combined use of Zn-lysine and biochar might be a practical solution to tackle salt stress in plants, but field studies by growing various crops under varied environmental conditions are needed before any recommendation to farmers.


The author reports on a symposium on the concept of the unconscious held in Tbilisi, U.S.S.R., in October 1979 to which Western scientists, including psychoanalysts, were invited. He provides a brief historical review of Soviet psychology, then describes the more recent emergence of two distinct groups--"psychologists" and "antipsychologists." The "psychologists" are aware of the need for improved understanding of unconscious motivations; the "antipsychologists" maintain the physiology-oriented tradition of Pavlov. The author contrasts current Soviet views of the unconscious with those of Freud and his followers and provides an up-to-date report on current Soviet attitudes through January 1981.


Two experiments were carried out to study the effects of magnetic field on two types of Mites.Broad Mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) and two Spotted spider mites Tetranychus urticaeKoch. In the first experiment Tomato infected leaves were passed through500 gauss magnetic fieldfor different time intervals. In the second experiment the infected leaves were sprayed withmagnetic water (500 Gauss) for three repeated sprays. The results in both experiments revealed thatthe mite s number reduced as the experiment was carried out, however the eggs number wereincreased as the experiment was passed. This may be due to the effect of magnetic field on someenzymes inside the mites or the eggs which make them hyper active to lay down more eggs


Exponential rise in aging population in China projects that the country will be facing an upsurge in the dementia population in next few decades. It is pertinent to improve public knowledge through better understanding of the epidemiology, impact on financial and health system and family, and intervention strategies. This review was conducted to collect Chinese journal publications, government policies, and project documents of Alzheimer's or dementia over past two decades, as well as to consult Chinese psychiatrists and neurologists with expertise in the field. The results showed that the emerging prevalence of dementia in China is rising far faster than thought, and it has been imposing tremendous challenge to the health and financial system, as well as the community and family members. However, the public awareness is poor, basic and clinical researches are paucity, national supportive strategies are lacking, and the availability of social benefit is inadequate.


Circadian activity was compared among four strains of Culex pipiens molestus Forskal from Iran, Egypt, two localities (Ebira and Yanagawa) in Nagasaki, Japan, and one strain of Cx. p. pallens Coquillett from Japan. Under a 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod, all the strains showed peaks of activity at lights on and off, with additional activity during both light and dark periods; Egyptian females and both sexes of Cx. p. pallens were inactive during the photophase. Under 0:24 (L:D) h, the length of the free-running activity period was significantly shorter in the "Iran" (21 h) than in the other three Cx. p. molestus strains (range, 21-23 h) and Cx. p. pallens (approximately 24 h). Under 24:0 (L:D) h, the activity rhythm was obscured. The length of the period was shorter in 24:0 (L:D) h than in 0:24 (L:D) h, violating Aschoff's circadian rule. Furthermore, the circadian peak did not always occur every day under 24:0 (L:D) h but rather exhibited "day-skipping."


Objective This study aimed to confirm the accuracy of a machine-learning-based model in predicting the 30-day mortality of patients with pneumonia and evaluating whether they were required to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods The study conducted a retrospective analysis of pneumonia patients at an emergency department (ED) in Seoul, Korea, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. Patients aged 18 years or older with a pneumonia registry designation on their electronic medical record were enrolled. We collected their demographic information, mental status, and laboratory findings. Three models were used: the pre-existing CURB-65 model, and the CURB-RF and Extensive CURB-RF models, which were machine-learning models that used a random forest algorithm. The primary outcomes were ICU admission from the ED or 30-day mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for the models, and the areas under these curves were compared. Results Out of the 1,974 pneumonia patients, 1,732 patients were eligible to be included in the study; from these, 473 patients died within 30 days or were initially admitted to the ICU from the ED. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves of CURB-65, CURB-RF, and extensive-CURB-RF were 0.615 (0.614–0.616), 0.701 (0.700–0.702), and 0.844 (0.843–0.845), respectively. Conclusion The proposed machine-learning models could predict the mortality of patients with pneumonia more accurately than the pre-existing CURB-65 model and can help decide whether the patient should be admitted to the ICU.


Heavy disturbances caused mainly by wind and friction in the mount drive system greatly impair the pointing accuracy of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST). To overcome this negative effect, a third order Higher Order Sliding Mode (HOSM) controller is proposed. The key part of this approach is to design an appropriate observer which obtains the acceleration state. A nonlinear adaptive observer is proposed in which a novel polynomial model is applied to estimate the internal disturbances of the mount drive system. Theoretical analysis demonstrates the stability of the proposed observer. Simulation results show that this nonlinear adaptive observer can obtain a high precision acceleration signal which completes the HOSM controller. Furthermore, the HOSM approach can easily satisfy the position tracking requirements of the LAMOST mount drive system.


Widely famous for its economic dynamism, ASEAN is not well known as a region of intellectual property creation. Patented assets owned by regional entities have remained very small in volume, notwithstanding the fast-paced, electronics-based transformation in regional production and trade from the 1990s. This is a matter for significant concern because inventions and innovations are the foundation of durable comparative advantage, higher value addition, and high value-added activities. Inevitably, the technological creativity and capabilities of ASEAN have to be shifted upwards for better synergy with the greatly intensified global competition, the accelerating technological progress, the more sophisticated and exacting market requirements, and the stronger and broader protection of intellectual property rights. The transition process will be highly demanding on resources, imagination, and perseverance, not least because capacity- and institutional-building requires lumpy investment, changed mindsets, and long periods of gestation. Nevertheless, the outstanding and speedy transformation in microelectronics capabilities among the East Asian developing economies gives grounds for guarded optimism as regards the prospects for transitional success among the miracle economies in Southeast Asia.


The spectrum of the soft–x-ray emission of a Mg-micropinch plasma in a vacuum spark device has been recorded as a function of time, by employing a streak camera. The emission from the He-like ions occurs in two bursts—a very intense one of ∼ 200 ps duration and a second one of lower intensity but with a duration of ∼ 400 ps. The observations support the radiative-collapse model as explanation of the micropinching process and of the formation of the tiny hot plasmas of subnanosecond lifetimes.


A cross-sectional survey was conducted .using a modified questionnaire for the study of cigarette smoking prevalence in Khalkhal city, Iran, during may-¬June 1999. A simple random sample with size 260 was selected for this study. All of the students in the sample completed a questionnaire. The results showed among 260 students, 104 of them (40%) experienced at least once cigarette smoking and 156 (60%) never smoked cigarette. Also from 104 students who experienced smoking, 26 (25%) persons now are non smoker, 48 (46.2%) sometimes use cigarette, 18(17.3%) often use and 12 (11.5%) always use cigarette. Thus, in comparison with other studies, cigarette smoking prevalence in this study is relatively high. The high prevalence of the cigarette smoking in this population is a warning to the government; parents; families; teachers; health staffs, behavioral scientists, psychologists, socioeconomic and other related specialists for planning and implementation for cigarette smoking control programs.


Abstract 4796

We have previously demonstrated the presence of very small (smaller than erythrocytes) Oct-4+SSEA-1+Sca-1+Lin-CD45- VSELs in bone marrow (BM) and in several murine adult organs ( Leukemia 2006;20:857 and Cytometry 2009;73:1116). These small cells i) have large nuclei that contain primitive open chromatin, ii) express Oct-4 gene (as confirmed by our recent promoter methylation and chromatin structure analysis studies), and iii) posses bivalent domain-marked promoter regions of homeodomain-containing developmental master transcription factors, such as Dlx-, Irx-, Lhx-, Pou-, Pax-, and Six-family proteins. Furthermore, the epigenetic changes in selected somatic-imprinted genes (e.g., Igf2-H19 and RasGrf1) involved in insulin-factor signaling (Igf-1, Igf-2, and Insulin) govern their quiescent state, thus preventing them from unleashing proliferation and spontaneous growth of teratomas ( Leukemia 2009;23:2042). O other hand it is well known that i) Igf-1 signaling negatively regulates lifespan in worms, flies, and mammals ( Cell 2005;120:449) and that ii) Igf-1 and insulin levels in blood are positively regulated by caloric uptake. Indeed, we found that the pool size and pluripotentiality of VSELs decreases during aging. Accordingly, in our studies performed on young (4-week-old) and old (2-year-old) mice we found that i) the number of VSELs and their pluripotentiality decreases with age, ii) VSELs from old mice show lower expression of Oct-4, Nanog, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc, iii) the Oct-4 promoter becomes hypermethylated with age and has a closed chromatin structure, iv) VSELs from old mice show somatic methylation in both Igf2-H19 and Rasgrf1 loci, and v), as a result, VSELs from these mice have increased sensitivity to insulin/insulin factors signaling. This suggests that chronic insulin receptor/Igf-1 receptor signaling in VSELs may contribute to age-related depletion of these cells. To explain better the role of insulin signaling in VSELs, we measured by FACS the number of VSELs in murine Laron dwarfs, which exhibit chronic Igf-1 deficiency and, as a result, live 30–40% longer than their normal littermates. We report here, for the first time, that the number of VSELs in the BM of Igf-1–deficient Laron dwarfs is 3–4 fold higher and is maintained at a higher level during aging compared to normal wild type (wt) littermates. Molecular analysis studies will confirm whether or not the molecular signature of VSELs in aging Laron dwarfs is somehow protected from age-related changes (e.g., by the methylation status of the Oct-4 promoter and/or genomic imprinted genes). Based on our data, we postulate novel linkages between Igf-1 level, aging, and the stem cell compartment. According to our hypothesis, early in development a population of VSELs would be deposited in developing organs as a backup for tissue-committed stem cells and play a role in rejuvenation of tissues and organ regeneration after damage. These cells would be protected from uncontrolled proliferation and age-related depletion by changes in imprinted genes that regulate insulin signaling. We further hypothesize that in the adult body the pool of VSEL cells is regulated by the circulating Igf-1 level. An increase in Igf-1 level (e.g., resulting from a chronically high calorie diet) would accelerate an age-dependent decrease in VSELs and their potential to rejuvenate tissues. By contrast, a low Igf-1 level (e.g., as seen in Laron dwarf mutants or due to caloric restriction) would have a protective effect on the overall pool of these cells. Thus, we present for the first time a hypothesis that reconciles aging, longevity, Igf-1 signaling, and caloric uptake and negative effect of Igf-1 and high calorie uptake on number/function of pluripotent VSELs deposited in adult tissues.

Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


BACKGROUND
After its formation in 1991, the Lung Cancer Task Force of the Spanish Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery Society (SEPAR) wrote a list of Spanish research priorities as a basis for future multi-center studies.

OBJECTIVES
1) To obtain information on ways of diagnosing, treating and making decisions regarding patients with bronchogenic carcinoma; 2) to identify different attitudes toward bronchogenic carcinoma with homolateral mediastinal adenopathy (N2); 3) to sound out thoracic surgeons regarding their participation in nationwide collaborative studies on bronchogenic T3 and T4 carcinoma and obtain their views on concrete surgical questions; and 4) to study protocols for postoperative surveillance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The Executive Committee took into consideration the contributions of Task Force members in writing four survey questionnaires. Survey 1: "Ways of studying, treating and coming to decisions about patients with bronchogenic carcinoma." Survey II: "Diagnostic and therapeutic attitudes toward N2." Survey III: "Bronchogenic T3-T4 carcinoma." Survey IV: Postoperative assessment in bronchogenic carcinoma." Forty-seven, 43, 35 and 42 replies, respectively, were received. Analysis of evaluable replies provide the basis of the results.

RESULTS
Survey I: The 47 replies came from 32 hospitals; 21 also sent copies of their diagnostic-therapeutic protocols, revealing 19 different models for clinical use (17) or research (2). SURVEY II: X-rays and computed tomography (CT) of the thorax are the non-invasive procedures used by most of the respondents (39 or 95%). Mediastinoscopy is indicated selectively according to 32 (78%) and routinely according to 7 (17%). Twenty-eight (68%) respondents confirm N2 X-rays histologically and 9 (22%) resort immediately to surgery. Five (12%) exclude from surgery any N1 found by mediastinoscopy or mediastinotomy, while the others may exclude such patients depending on histological type, number and location of ganglia and type of mediastinal involvement. After induction chemotherapy in patients excluded from surgery, 24 (59%) may restore eligibility if some form of remission is observed. If N2 is found during thoracotomy, 25 respondents (61%) follow with pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymphadenectomy, although they first take into account mainly patient operability, likelihood of a complete resection, tissue type, invasion of the gangliar capsule and the number of malignant nodes found. SURVEY III: Twenty-seven, or a 98% majority of the 29 evaluable respondents, said that they would be in favor of a national register of T3-T4 carcinoma, would use a computerized system for recording case histories and would follow a standard therapeutic protocol. All believe that resection of the pleura and the costal wall and intercostal space is useful; slightly more than half believe that it would be useful to extend resection to the trachea and carina, superior vena cava or atrium. Eight (30%), 11 (41%) and 12 (44%) favor resection of the vertebral body, muscle wall of the esophagus and the pulmonary artery, respectively. Twenty-four (83%) place no faith in partial surgery in cases of T3 and T4. SURVEY IV: Thirty (96%) of the 31 thoracic surgeons who answered the questionnaire follow their patients after surgery, while only 7 (63%) of the 11 pneumologists do so. Thirty-four (80%) use a postoperative follow-up protocol and 29 (69%) note the tumor-free interval. Twenty-three (54%) make a functional assessment of the patient and 26 (62%) order blood and biochemical work-ups. There is little agreement on the use of tumoral markers and only 6 (14%) do immunological studies occasionally. All use simple chest X-rays routinely; CT, abdominal sonograms and bone gammagrams may be used, depending on clinical data and physical examination. Most (36 or 85%) believe that collaboration on a postoperative protocol for nationwide use would be useful. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)


This paper describes a follow-up study of 31 suicidal people who contacted Klinic (a crisis intervention centre in Winnipeg) during a 28-day period, and who gave their names and addresses. The suicidal persons were classified as either 'chronically suicidal' (those having a history of psychological instability and/or suicide attempts) or 'acutely' suicidal (those having fairly stable lives with no previous psychological instability or suicide attempts). The majority were classified as chronically suicidal, and they reported that they were still experiencing suicidal feelings with little improvement in their life situations. In contrast, none of the acutely suicidal persons were still experiencing suicidal feelings and all felt that their life situation had improved considerably. The majority of suicidal contacts was made by chronically suicidal persons and crisis intervention had a negligible impact on their suicidal feelings and psychological problems. Alternative treatment approaches for this group are recommended.


The new legislation, in particular the General Regulation on Personal Data Protection (GDPR), constitutes relatively demanding criteria on healthcare. However, the institute of medical secrets, which is an ancient medical practice and is part of various legal and professional regulations, contains many elements of today's protection of personal data and is not new among the professional medical public. Under the GDPR, however, there are steps that can be labelled as at least controversial. Such disputable measures have recently been to introduce electronic queue management systems, as we know from post offices. They are not a necessary measure for the protection of personal data in the waiting rooms of ambulances, they are not required by law, even with regard to GDPR and from the point of view of medical ethics are even at least problematic. If GDPR is applied in a similar way, it does not really benefit from the protection of personal data, and a useful tool like GDPR will be undoubtedly discredited. Keywords: electronic queue management systems, GDPR, medical ethics, personal data protection, patient.


This study aims to determine community structure and composition of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) against visiting insects in block Refuge and to determine the public perception of the block Refuge and insect's conservation. Analysis of insects data are obtained from the important of index value, diversity ( index's Shannon Wienner ). Insect abundance spring that treatment total 298 individuals and control 168 individuals. Insect abundance spring that treatment total 262 individuals and control 116 individuals. Insect diversity during flowering season given treatment was 2,11 andcontrol 1,49. Diversity during fruiting season was similar, given treatment it was 1,87 and control 1,42. Abundance of insect on both seasons with treatments and control had a significance of P=0,004. Similarities between insects on flowering season treatments between fruiting season treatments between organic fertilizers of different seasons 0,94 and control 0,80. Analysis on abiotic factors correlated with insect abundance with R-square value of 15%. Local perception towards refugia blocks was found to be low (46%) and medium (48%). Local perception towards convservation was found to be low (34%) and medium (63%). Local perception is affected by knowledge and non responsive actions towards insect conservation. Key words : Insect, Liquid Organic Fertilizer, Refugia


Background : Medical Laboratory plays a critical role in maintaining and promoting health. Increasing wide applications of laboratory medicine in clinical practice have highlighted specific topics in the areas of social, professional and ethical issues in the laboratory. Despite the important role of clinical lab in health system, ethical issues have been rarely discussed for clinical labs. Considering the need to provide efficient training program for students, this study was designed and conducted to assess the views of laboratory science educators about offering a professional ethical course in laboratory science curriculum. Methods: The study population was 28 laboratory science educators at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. A questionnaire was designed to assess instructors' views about the importance, quantity, quality, and the need to provide a professional ethical course for medical laboratory students. Results: The majority of respondents (82.15%) evaluated the importance of offering an ethical course for laboratory medicine to be at a very high level. Most educators (75%) believed that good clinical laboratory practice is extremely related to moral issues. Many lecturers (85.7%) completely agreed with the addition of professional ethical course for laboratory science students. Respondents (89.3%), also,  believed that the educating professional ethical issues to medical lab students will enhance service quality and performance of the future laboratories. In addition, most professors suggested offering two credit points to cover such issues for the students (85.7%). Conclusion: We recommend offering a separate course in laboratory science curriculum to cover the clinical ethical issues, such as modality of taking samples, interaction with patients, the way of giving information about genetic tests, viral and malignancies, the way of storing data and access to medical records, the diagnosis of infertility, prenatal diagnosis, legal issues in poisonings, and the way of interacting with the doctor and medical private issues.


Purpose: This study aimed to systematically present application situation and therapeutic effect of proton therapy (PT), heavy ion therapy, and helical tomotherapy (TOMO) for gastric cancer (GC), and to find gaps of existing studies. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biological Medical Database were searched. Tables, bubble plot, and heat map were conducted to display results. Results: Fourteen studies were included. About PT, 7 single-arm studies showed median overall survival (OS) within 2–66 months and 1 study reported 40% of patients happened moderate degree of radiation gastritis. About TOMO, 1 study reported longer median OS and progression-free survival, lower occurrence of Grade III toxicity, and late toxicity compared to 3D-CRT, while another study remained neutral. About heavy ion therapy, there was no clinical study was found. Conclusions: Existing studies presented good clinic treatment effect about PT and TOMO for GC, and furthermore clinical studies are needed.


In this work, it is shown that, the exceptionally large and expanding volume of the Indian informal sector and its growing (intra-sectoral) dualities/fissures are actually a consequence of the very growth process of the Indian economy, driven by the formal/modern sectors. Therefore, the answer to the problem of informality may not lie within this growth. Only a minor part could gain out of it; but, a much larger segment needs to organize itself as a clustered entity for its own survival.
The dominant discourses consider that, either:
(a) the prevalence of the informal sector could be mitigated through economic growth complemented by some institutional reforms or,
(b) this sector could be induced and transformed into a dynamic development engine.
But, our preliminary observations on India contradict both these propositions. Curiously, the Indian informal sector is expanding in tandem with her overall economic expansion; and only a part of it is showing evolutionary tendencies, while a much larger segment is languishing.
Subsequently, a macro-model is presented which tries to provide an explanation for these typical trends. It is shown that, instead of the weakness of the formal sector, rather its expansion engenders the spread of the informality along with its diverse/dual (intra-sectoral) tendencies of evolution as well as involution. Finally, the hypotheses derived from this macroeconomic framework are tested with the help of Indian state- and firm-level data. This empirical exercise establishes that, it is the expansion of the formality that itself is inducing the volume of Indian informality and also creating deep fissures within it (and thereby producing a dualism).
Given these findings, it is proposed that, as the expansion of the formality itself creates a fissured informality, the latter has to organize and pose itself against the former; and a suitable method for that could be a cluster formation.


OBJECTIVE
With the incorporation of real-time image guidance on the Gamma Knife system allowing for mask-based immobilization (Gamma Knife Icon [GKI]), conventionally fully fractionated (1.8-3.0 Gy/day) GKI radiation can now be delivered to take advantage of an inherently minimal margin for delivery uncertainty, sharp dose falloff, and inhomogeneous dose distribution. This case series details the authors' preliminary experience in re-irradiating 7 complex primary intracranial tumors, which were considered to have been previously maximally radiated and situated adjacent to critical organs at risk.

METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed all patients who received fractionated re-irradiation using GKI at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, between 2016 and 2021. Patients with brain metastases, and those who received radiotherapy courses in 5 or fewer fractions, were excluded. All radiotherapy doses were converted to the equivalent total dose in 2-Gy fractions (EQD2), with the assumption of an α/β ratio of 2 for late normal tissue toxicity and 10 for the tumor.

RESULTS
A total of 7 patients were included in this case series. Three patients had recurrent meningiomas, as well as 1 patient each with ependymoma, intracranial sarcoma, pituitary macroadenoma, and papillary pineal tumor. Six patients had undergone prior linear accelerator-based conventional fractionated radiotherapy and 1 patient had undergone prior proton therapy. Patients were re-irradiated with a median (range) total dose of 50.4 (30-63.4) Gy delivered in a median (range) of 28 (10-38) fractions with GKI. The median (range) target volume was 6.58 (0.2-46.3) cm3. The median (range) cumulative mean EQD2 administered to the tumor was 121.1 (107.9-181.3) Gy, and the median (range) maximum point EQD2 administered to the brainstem, optic nerves, and optic chiasm were 91.6 (74.0-111.5) Gy, 58.9 (6.3-102.9) Gy, and 59.9 (36.7-127.3) Gy, respectively. At a median (range) follow-up of 15 (6-42) months, 6 of 7 patients were alive with 4 having locally controlled disease. Only 3 patients experienced treatment-related toxicities, which were self-limited.

CONCLUSIONS
Fractionated radiotherapy using GKI may be a safe and effective method for the re-irradiation of complex progressive primary intracranial tumors, where the aim is to minimize the potential for serious late effects.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Progesterone (Pg) promotes normal breast development during pregnancy and lactation and increases the risk of developing basal-type invasive breast cancer. However, the mechanism of action of Pg has not been fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the mRNA and protein expression of Klf5, a pro-proliferation and pro-survival transcription factor in breast cancer, was dramatically up-regulated in mouse pregnant and lactating mammary glands. Pg, but not estrogen and prolactin, induced the expression of KLF5 in multiple Pg receptor (PR)-positive breast cancer cell lines. Pg induced the KLF5 transcription is through PR in the PR-positive T47D breast cancer cells. Importantly, Pg failed to promote T47D cell proliferation when the KLF5 induction was blocked by siRNA. In addition, KLF5 overexpression was sufficient to induce the cytokeratin 5 (CK5) expression and the induction of CK5 by Pg was partially abrogated by KLF5 siRNA. Consistently, the expression of KLF5 was positively correlated with that of CK5 in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Taken together, we conclude that KLF5 is a Pg-induced gene that contributes to Pg-mediated breast epithelial cell proliferation and de-differentiation. This work was supported by a grant from the American Cancer Society (RSG-08-199-01) and a grant from the Department of Defense (W81XWH-07-1-0191).

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4544. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4544


Throughout the years, crime analysts continue to regard the incorporation of spatial analytics in crime analyses. This interest, alongside various technological advancements with geographic information systems (GIS), in crime visualization plays a vital role in understanding crime dynamics with the intention of aiding in strategic planning. Utilizing Empirical Bayes smoothed crime rates (per 100,000 population) in 2010, this paper aims to identify the presence of spatial autocorrelation within index crime rates observed in the National Capital Region (NCR) using Moran's I. Spatial units were taken to be the 16 cities and one municipality in NCR. Results revealed that among the seven index crimes, only two, murder and physical injury, were able to exhibit significant spatial autocorrelation. Accounting for the presence of spatial autocorrelation, a regression model which takes spatial dependence into account was used. In particular, spatial lag models were fitted to study the relationships of murder and physical injury with certain demographic variables across cities. It was observed that population density and percentage of male individuals aged 15-24 are found to be positively correlated to the incidence of both of these crimes. On the other hand, factors such as the percentage of married adult population, percentage of foreign immigrants, percentage of the population with a high school diploma, and the crime solution efficiency correlate negatively to the incidence of these crimes. These observed factors could serve as indicators of crime incidences and, thus, monitoring them could aid in crime prevention and security management.


This article draws from the vast literature on stress in nursing and discusses the preoccupation that researchers and specialists have with this area. It asks the reader to take a moment to reflect on the types of stressful situations that nurses face on a daily basis. The authors focus on the potential tensions that can ensue following exposure to stress and the resulting psychosomatic, psychological, behavioral and organizational consequences. The authors challenge legislators, governments, administrators, members of the multidisciplinary team and nursing organizations to tackle the issue of stress in nursing and make it a priority. Research conducted during the last 20 years provides overwhelming evidence that nurses work in a high-stress environment. The sources of stress vary and their consequences are significant. However, it is recognized that certain personal factors such as type "A" personality can influence the way nurses deal with stress. Ultimately, the authors conducted their literature review with the aim of proposing anti-stress strategies.


Electronic commerce Customer Relationship Management (e-CRM) has emerged to be a fundamental research area as business-to-customer (B2C) e-commerce is growing at a phenomenal rate. Among the many issues e-CRM concerns, one question is often asked, "what makes customers shop online?" Rich understanding of this issue will help an electronic store to become more competitive. A good number of studies have been conducted to answer this question. These studies seem to take diverse perspectives and investigate various aspects of the phenomena. Yet few studies have drawn coherent pictures of the collective understanding of the dynamics. The objective of this paper is to draw such a picture. To fit the advances in MIS theme, we conduct an analytical review on the IS literature on B2C online shopping behavior at individual level. A classification of research variables and a framework are developed to provide an overview of the state-of-the art of this area and to point out limitations and directions for future research. The results show that one's online shopping intention, behavior, and satisfaction are significantly associated with one's beliefs about/affective reactions to e-commerce/e-stores and attitudes toward online shopping behavior. In addition, external environment, demographics, personal characteristics, and e-store characteristics have significant impacts on customers' shopping intention, behavior, and satisfaction. These impacts are either direct or mediated by beliefs, affect, and attitudes. For future research, common theoretical framework, widely-accepted instruments, and consistency in terminology are much needed to compare results across studies and to accumulate knowledge. We also call for more research effort in customer satisfaction and affective reactions since they have not been paid enough attention despite their fundamental roles in understanding customers' online shopping phenomena.


The iron and steel industry is the largest energy-consuming sector in the world. It is responsible for emitting 4–5% of the total anthropogenic CO2. As an energy-intensive industry, it is essential that the iron and steel sector accomplishes important carbon emission reduction. Carbon capture is one of the most promising alternatives to achieve this aim. Moreover, if carbon utilization via power-to-gas is integrated with carbon capture, there could be a significant increase in the interest of this alternative in the iron and steel sector. This paper presents several simulations to integrate oxy-fuel processes and power-to-gas in a steel plant, and compares gas productions (coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, and blast oxygen furnace gas), energy requirements, and carbon reduction with a base case in order to obtain the technical feasibility of the proposals. Two different power-to-gas technology implementations were selected, together with the oxy blast furnace and the top gas recycling technologies. These integrations are based on three strategies: (i) converting the blast furnace (BF) process into an oxy-fuel process, (ii) recirculating blast furnace gas (BFG) back to the BF itself, and (iii) using a methanation process to generate CH4 and also introduce it to the BF. Applying these improvements to the steel industry, we achieved reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 8%, and reductions in coal fuel consumption of 12.8%. On the basis of the results, we are able to conclude that the energy required to achieve the above emission savings could be as low as 4.9 MJ/kg CO2 for the second implementation. These values highlight the importance of carrying out future research in the implementation of carbon capture and power-to-gas in the industrial sector.


Surface and subsurface soil samples of Muzaffarnagar district were collected to characterize their chemical properties and accordingly to develop optimum land use plan to realize maximum agricultural productivity. The pH value of study area varied from 6.02 to 8.39 and 6.35 to 8.50 for surface and sub surface, respectively, electrical conductivity from 0.069 to 0.390 and 0.073 to 1.10 dSm-1, organic matter content 7.241 to 15.221 and 3.695 to 10.179 g kg-1, available nitrogen (N) 131.53 to 348.97 and 99.32 to 217.44 kg ha-1, Phosphorus (P) 15.67 to 52.61 and 11.17 to 45.40 P2O5 kg ha-1, potassium (K) 79.16 to 436.8 and 47.04 to 399.84 K2O kg ha-1for surface (0-15 cm ) and subsurface soil (15-30 cm). Cationic micronutrients Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn varied from 1.636 to 6.164, 1.024 to 4.282, 0.672 to 5.802 and 0.332 to 2.652, and 113.13 to 11.232, 10.33 to 79.326, 10.272 to 38.572 and 29.578 to 77.882 mg kg-1 in surface (0 -15 cm) and subsurface soil (15-30 cm) respectively. As per soil nutrient index (SNI), the soils of study area were found in low fertility category for nitrogen and medium with respect to phosphorus and potassium. A positive and significant correlation of NPK and micronutrients was found with organic matter content while significant and negative correlations exist between micronutrients and soil pH.

 Key word: Soil fertility, organic matter, NPK, micronutrients, surface soil, soil nutrient index.


[1] A numerical simulation of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) using the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) is used to identify the pathways by which fresh water discharged by major rivers in the northern Gulf is exported away from the region. The NCOM, a new primitive equation ocean model with a hybrid sigma/geopotential level vertical coordinate, is described along with its application to the GoM region. Trajectories from surface drifters are analyzed to show evidence of the seasonally shifting alongshore and cross-shelf transport in the region. The model results are used to determine the preferred locations and times of year for cross-shelf and along-shelf export of low-salinity water from the northern GoM. The annual cycle of local wind stress plays an important role in shifting the export pathway of the fresh water discharged from the major rivers (primarily the Mississippi River) toward the east in the spring/summer, where it can be transported offshore by the currents associated with deep ocean mesoscale eddies, and toward the west in the fall/winter, where it is transported southward along the Mexican coastline as a coastally trapped current.


Acremonium species are saprophytic molds widely distributed in nature, existing in soil and decaying vegetation. Penetrating wounds, intravascular catheters and immunosuppression are risk factors for invasive infections of Acremonium. The fungus can also cause cutaneous infections and mycetoma in the immunocompetent; such infections occur in extremities open to trauma. In this paper, a female patient with skin infection due to Acremonium strictum in both legs is described.


The effect of antithyroid treatment on the disturbed calcium-phosphorus metabolism in hyperthyroidism was studied in 16 patients. Elevated serum concentrations and urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus were almost normalized 4 weeks after the start of medical treatment. Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone was decreased in the hyperthyroid state and became normal after medical treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were elevated throughout the study with an increase to a maximum peak after 8 weeks of antithyroid treatment. Urinary hydroxyproline excretion was initially markedly increased and fell rapidly during therapy. The observed changes suggest decreased bone resorption and increased bone formation with deposition of bone mineral after antithyroid treatment. Alterations in the serum albumin concentration during the investigation period influenced the total serum calcium concentration. Using albumin adjusted serum calcium values no hypocalcaemia was found during medical treatment or after a subsequent subtotal thyroidectomy.


Abstract The fossil record of Marsilea is challenging to assess, due in part to unreliable reports and conflicting opinions regarding the proper application of the names Marsilea and Marsileaceaephyllum to fossil leaves and leaflets similar to those of modern Marsilea. Specimens examined for this study include material assigned to Marsileaceaephyllum johnhallii, purportedly the oldest fossil record of a Marsilea-like sporophyte from the Lower Cretaceous of the Dakota Formation, Kansas, U.S.A.; leaves and leaf whorls of the extinct aquatic angiosperm Fortuna from several Late Cretaceous and Paleocene localities in western North America; and leaves and leaflets resembling Marsilea from the Eocene Green River Formation, Colorado and Utah, U.S.A. Literature on the fossil record of Marsilea was also reviewed. As a result, several taxonomic changes are proposed. Marsileaceaephyllum johnhallii is reinterpreted as an aquatic angiosperm that shares some architectural features with the genus Fortuna, although Marsileaceaephyllum is here maintained as a distinct genus with an emended diagnosis; under this reinterpretation, the name Marsileaceaephyllum can no longer be applied to sporophyte organs with affinities to Marsileaceae. Three valid fossil Marsilea species are recognized on the basis of sporophyte material that includes characteristic quadrifoliolate leaves and reticulate-veined leaflets: Marsilea campanica (J. Kvaček & Herman) Hermsen, comb. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Grünbach Formation, Austria; Marsilea mascogos Estrada-Ruiz et al., from the Upper Cretaceous Olmos Formation, Mexico; and Marsilea sprungerorum Hermsen, sp. nov., from the Eocene Green River Formation, U.S.A. The species are distinguished from one another based on leaflet dimensions. Leaves from the Eocene Wasatch Formation, U.S.A., are transferred from Marsileaceaephyllum back to Marsilea, although not assigned to a fossil species. Finally, an occurrence of Marsilea from the Oligocene of Ethiopia is reassigned to Salvinia. A critical evaluation of the fossil record of Marsilea thus indicates that (1) the oldest fossil marsileaceous sporophytes bearing Marsilea-like leaves are from the Campanian; (2) only four credible records of sporophyte material attributable to Marsilea are known; and (3) the oldest dispersed Marsilea spores are known from the Oligocene.


ANIMAL STUDIED
A 6-year-old, pregnant female llama experienced a 6-month history of epiphora, buphthalmos, and acute loss of vision in the left eye. The condition was unresponsive to topical antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy and progressed to corneal rupture.

PROCEDURES
Transpalpebral enucleation was performed and an intraorbital silicone prosthesis was implanted. The eye was fixed in formalin and processed according to routine paraffin technique. Sections of a mass were immunohistochemically prepared routinely and stained for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S-antigen, and rhodopsin.

RESULTS
Gross, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed a retinal tumor consistent with a retinoblastoma. The neoplastic tissue formed Flexner-Wintersteiner and Homer-Wright rosettes, originated from the retina, and demonstrated photoreceptor differentiation with S-antigen and rhodopsin expression. Neoplastic cells were negative for GFAP. Four years after enucleation, the llama showed no signs of recurrent neoplasia.

CONCLUSIONS
This report describes the diagnosis and successful treatment of the first known retinoblastoma in a llama.


This paper outlines experience with a 3 axis pneumatic Cartesian robot that was constructed from commercially available valves and cylinders. Experiments demonstrate that a linear PVA controller is suitable for step tracking applications. However, acceptable performance was achieved only after extensive trial and error tuning of the controller gains. Preliminary gain estimates were obtained for PVA with a Linear Quadratic (LQ) design and a linear model of the robot. Sliding Mode Control (SLM) was found to be superior to PVA in that it provided acceptable performance with minimal tuning effort. The relay nature of SLM was also found to provide a measure of friction compensation. Preliminary results for SLM as applied to circle tracking are presented.


Learning node-level representations of heterophilic graphs is crucial for various applications, including fraudster detection and protein function prediction. In such graphs, nodes share structural similarity identified by the equivalence of their connectivity which is implicitly encoded in the form of higher-order hierarchical information in the graphs. The contrastive methods are popular choices for learning the representation of nodes in a graph. However, existing contrastive methods struggle to capture higher-order graph structures. To address this limitation, we propose a novel multiview contrastive learning approach that integrates diffusion filters on graphs. By incorporating multiple graph views as augmentations, our method captures the structural equivalence in heterophilic graphs, enabling the discovery of hidden relationships and similarities not apparent in traditional node representations. Our approach outperforms baselines on synthetic and real structural datasets, surpassing the best baseline by $16.06\%$ on Cornell, $3.27\%$ on Texas, and $8.04\%$ on Wisconsin. Additionally, it consistently achieves superior performance on proximal tasks, demonstrating its effectiveness in uncovering structural information and improving downstream applications.


Background Good communication during consultations is important for patient satisfaction, understanding and compliance with treatment. Rheumatology patients often have multisystem diseases with multiple co-morbidities. This is particularly true of elderly patients. Common problems in the outpatient consultations are that patients are not well prepared for their appointments in terms of being examined or bringing a list of their medications. Patients can leave feeling that questions that are important to them have not been answered. Providing patients with information leaflets prior to their clinic appointments has been shown to improve their levels of satisfaction(1,2). Objectives This study aimed to explore this area by addressing the following questions: Do rheumatology patients find written information helpful prior to their appointments? Does it help them to prepare for their appointment in terms of what to bring, what they may be asked? In particular, does it help to ask patients to write down their medications and questions that they want to ask? Methods An information leaflet was designed for new patients attending the rheumatology outpatient department in conjunction with the rheumatology multi disciplinary team. It provided information on the clinic experience and how to prepare for it. It included spaces for patients to write questions that they would like to ask at their appointment and a space to record their medications. Leaflets were sent to 23 new patients several weeks before their appointment. Patients filled out a questionnaire following their appointment. Results 13 out of 23 questionnaires were completed. 1. Please rate how helpful you found the information provided before attending clinic Not at all helpful 1 2 3 4 5 very helpful The mean rating on this question was 4.8 out of 5. 2. Did you feel that you knew what to expect from your clinic appointment and what you should bring with you? 92% of patients answered yes. 3. Did you use the space on the back of the leaflet to write down any questions that you had before attending clinic? 31 % of patients answered yes 4. Please rate your overall level of satisfaction with your experience in clinic Not at all satisfied 1 2 3 4 5 very satisfied The mean rating on this question was 4.8 out of 5. Patient comments: Information leaflet helped to focus on what I wanted to ask and my medication; helpful advice; very good. Conclusions This small study showed that the vast majority of patients found the information leaflets helpful and had a high level of satisfaction with their clinic appointments. They knew what to expect from their appointment and what to bring with them. A third of patients used the provided space to write down questions. Patients felt that it helped them to focus on what they wanted from their appointments. The results will inform further study of the effect of patient preparation before outpatients on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. References Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2006; 88:557-561 Rheumatology (2010) 49(suppl 1): i143-i147 doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq732 Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Although there is abundant evidence that plant phenology is shifting with climatic warming, the magnitude and direction of these shifts can depend on the environmental context, plant species, and even the specific phenophase of study. These disparities have resulted in difficulties predicting future phenological shifts, detecting phenological mismatches and identifying other ecological consequences. Experimental warming studies are uniquely poised to help us understand how climate warming will impact plant phenology, and meta‐analyses allow us to expose broader trends from individual studies. Here, we review 70 studies comprised 1226 observations of plant phenology under experimental warming. We find that plants are advancing their early‐season phenophases (bud break, leaf‐out, and flowering) in response to warming while marginally delaying their late‐season phenophases (leaf coloration, leaf fall, and senescence). We find consistency in the magnitude of phenological shifts across latitude, elevation, and habitat types, whereas the effect of warming on nonnative annual plants is two times larger than the effect of warming on native perennial plants. Encouragingly for researchers, plant phenological responses were generally consistent across a variety of experimental warming methods. However, we found numerous gaps in the experimental warming literature, limiting our ability to predict the effects of warming on phenological shifts. In particular, studies outside of temperate ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere, or those that focused on late‐season phenophases, annual plants, nonnative plants, or woody plants and grasses, were underrepresented in our data set. Future experimental warming studies could further refine our understanding of phenological responses to warming by setting up experiments outside of traditionally studied biogeographic zones and measuring multiple plant phenophases (especially late‐season phenophases) across species of varying origin, growth form, and life cycle.


This study conducted a meta-analysis on the outcome indicator of body mass index from published school-based childhood obesity interventions done in the United States and the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2007. Electronic databases were searched for school-based childhood obesity interventions and a total of five studies were analyzed. The results of the pooled estimate of reviewed studies were not significant for the outcome measure body mass index at p < 0.05 level for fixed (effect estimate –0.0649 (95% CI: –0.29, 0.16)) as well as random effects (effect estimate 0.179 (95% CI: –0.38, 0.72)) models. In conclusion, it can be said that current school-based childhood obesity interventions do not seem to modify body mass index.


When building a knowledge base, one frequently repeats similar versions of general theories in multiple, more specific theories. For example, when building the Botany Knowledge Base[1], we embedded a theory of production in representations of photosynthesis, mitosis, growth, and many other botanical processes. Typically, a general theory is incorporated into more specific ones by an inheritance mechanism. However, this works poorly in two situations: when the general theory applies to a specific theory in more than one way, and when only a selected portion of the general theory is applicable. We address this problem with a knowledge engineering technique based on the explicit representation of knowledge patterns, ie. general templates denoting recurring theory schemata, and their transformation (through symbol renaming) to import into specific theories. This technique provides considerable flexibility. A knowledge pattern may be transformed in multiple ways, and each resulting theory can be imported in whole or in part. We describe an application built using this technique, then critique its strengths and weaknesses. We conclude that this technique enables us to better modularize knowledge-bases and to reuse their general theories. 1 The Limitations of Inheritance Consider the following fragment of a hypothetical knowledge-base about computers, expressed in Prolog: % Basic facts about myComputer, an instance of the class of computers: isa(myComputer,computer). speed(myComputer,400). /* MHz */ ram_size(myComputer, 128). /* MB */ disk_space(myComputer,2000) /* MB */ expansion_slots(myComputer,4). % "Available RAM space is the total RAM minus the occupied RAM." available_ram(Computer,A) :isa(Computer,computer), ram_size(Computer,S), Variables start with upper-case letters and are universally quantified; ':-' denotes reverse implication (←); ',' denotes conjunction; and is denotes arithmetic computation.


In the last decade, the study of methodologies for heating biological tissue has been an area of most interest in biology and medicine. As a result, the number of electrode solutions has grown in the past years. In this work, we study the capability of using a tubular electrode for heating biological tissue. To test this possibility, liver samples ex-vivo were used and numerical simulations were made. The final results were compared and revealed satisfactory and promising use of tubular electrodes for this kind of application.


Intrusion of Mesozoic batholiths in California and the western North America Cordillera began in the Late Triassic 210 m.y. ago and ended in the Late Cretaceous 80 m.y. ago. Emplacement of granitic rocks was apparently not continuous but was accomplished during five major epochs of intrusion at approximately 30 m.y. intervals, each epoch taking 10 to 20 m.y. to complete. A progressive transgression of epicontinental seas onto the midcontinent occurred during the same interval of time as the batholithic emplacement to the west. A penecontemporaneous deformation near the loci of granitic emplacement and a temporary regression during the major progressive transgression of seas onto the midcontinent are correlated with each intrusive epoch. The locus of Mesozoic granitic rocks was a source of sediments during most of the period of time required to emplace the batholiths; the origin of the batholithic magmas cannot be related only to localized down-warping of geosynclines. The source of the major proportion of the mobile granodioritic magmas of the Sierra Nevada was within the mantle, as is indicated by Sr isotope data. All plutons now exposed in the Sierra Nevada, whether of Cretaceous age or older, were emplaced at depths of a very few kilometers, the shallowest having been emplaced at depths of 4 km or less. The spatial relationships among these synchronous geologic phenomena and the geochemical and geophysical data from the same region are accounted for by a northwestward drift of North America in the region of the western Cordillera of the United States onto and across a Mesozoic feature that had characteristics like present-day oceanic rises.


Deep History brings together anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians to ponder the challenges of studying the remote past that extends back long before writing. A series of co-authored essays attempt to remove the barriers that separate what the editors call deep and shallow history, studied by seemingly different and distinct methodologies. The chapters form "a master narrative" in four parts. Part I, "Problems and Orientation," comprises two chapters. An introduction stresses the importance of deep history, arguing that historians have not yet adjusted to the reality of such a past. Chapter 2, "Imagining the Human in Deep Time," develops four fundamental metaphors and orientations that can be used as links to the remoter past—kinshipping, exchange, extensions, hospitality, and genealogy. This thought-provoking chapter sets the stage for the three parts that follow. Part II examines three topics. Chapter 3, "The Body," connects us to the past through the human form, shaped for most of our existence by culture, more recently by the epigenetic forces of the modern world. Chapter 4, "Energy and Ecosystems," argues that feedback loops and conjoined patterns of cause and effect, which can be traced far back into the past, are effective devices for deep history. Language receives emphasis, because of both the genealogical relationships between languages and the notion of a web or net; exchanges between languages were crucial to the development of human speech. Four chapters explore "Shared Substance," among them food and deep kinship, on the argument that sharing is a highly adaptable process that can reveal striking transformations in human behavior. Unlike our primate cousins, we have used food and kinship to create worlds that are highly aware of past and present. Networks of relationship and exchange are also shared substances that represent kinshipping, which allows us to communicate over distance and also to reconnect, a basic tool for creating history. The anal set of essays, "Human Expansion," takes a broad perspective. Migration discusses the movements of humans around the world, which is made possible by cultural toolkits and mobility. Changes in social networks, different food ways, and adaptations resulted from the settlement of different continents. "Goods" refers to material objects that connected distant populations and built complex exchange networks, the effects of which changed deep history. "Scale" ably dissects the assumption that human development is progressive, cumulative, and directional. Herein lies the central argument of this book: Deep time is visible in the structure of our minds and bodies and in our created material and social world—"the storehouse of the human experience" (272). Deep History attempts to decipher the challenges of melding the remote and more recent past into a uniaed history of humankind. The chapters are perceptive, if at times esoteric in their arguments. They are Reviews


Relationships between objects constitute our notion of space. When these relationships change we interpret this as the passage of time. Observer interpretations are essential to the way we understand these relationships. Hence observer semantics are an integral part of what we mean by spacetime.
Semantics make up the essential difference in how one describes and uses the concept of space in physics, chemistry, biology and technology. In these notes, I have tried to assemble what seems to be a set of natural, and pragmatic, considerations about discrete, finite spacetimes, to unify descriptions of these areas.
It reviews familiar notions of spacetime, and brings them together into a less familiar framework of promise theory (autonomous agents), in order to illuminate the goal of encoding the semantics of observers into a description of spacetime itself. Autonomous agents provide an exacting atomic and local model for finite spacetime, which quickly reveals the issues of incomplete information and non-locality. From this we should be able to reconstruct all other notions of spacetime.
The aim of this exercise is to apply related tools and ideas to an initial unification of real and artificial spaces, e.g. databases and information webs with natural spacetime. By reconstructing these spaces from autonomous agents, we may better understand naming and coordinatization of semantic spaces, from crowds and swarms to datacentres and libraries, as well as the fundamental arena of natural science.


Antibiotic resistance is an increasingly serious threat to human health that needs an urgent action. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacteria isolated from patient ear discharges suspected of otitis media. A retrospective analysis was performed using culture and antibiotic susceptibility test results of 1225 patients who visited Dessie Regional Health Research Laboratory from 2001 to 2011. Results showed a strong association (P < 0.001) between age and the risk of acquiring middle ear infection. The predominant bacterial isolates were Proteus spp. (28.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.7%), and Pseudomonas spp. (17.2%). Most of the isolated bacteria showed high resistance to ampicillin (88.5%), ceftriaxone (84.5%), amoxicillin (81.9%), and tetracycline (74.5%). About 72.5% of Proteus spp. and 62.2% of Pseudomonas spp. have developed resistance to one and more antibiotics used to treat them. This retrospective study also revealed the overall antibiotic resistance rate of bacterial isolates was increased nearly twofold (P = 0.001) over the last decade. Relatively, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were the most effective antibiotics against all the isolates. In conclusion, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are alarmingly increasing in Wollo area, northeastern Ethiopia, and becoming a major public health problem in the management of patients with middle ear infection.


The reliability of the homotopy analysis method (HAM) and reduction in the size of the computational work give this method a wider applicability. In this paper, HAM has been successfully applied to find the approximate solutions of Caputo fractional Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential equations. Also, the behavior of the solution can be formally determined by analytical approximation. Moreover, the study proves the existence and uniqueness results and the convergence of the solution. This paper concludes with an example to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed technique.


In this study, to reduce the side effects of anticancer drugs and also to increase the efficiency of current drug delivery systems, a pH and temperature-responsive polymeric nanogel was synthesized by copolymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL) and acrylic acid (AA) monomers (P(VCL-co-AA)) with a novel cross-linker, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), as a biocompatible and nontoxic component. The structural and physicochemical features of the P(VCL-co-AA) nanogel were characterized by FT-IR, DLS/Zeta potential, FE-SEM, and 1HNMR techniques. The results indicated that spherical polymeric nanogel was successfully synthesized with a 182 nm diameter. The results showed that the polymerization process continues with the opening of the carbon-carbon double bond of monomers, which was approved by C-C band removing located at 1600 cm−1. Doxorubicin (Dox) as a chemotherapeutic agent was loaded into the P(VCL-co-AA), whit a significant loading of Dox (83%), and the drug release profile was investigated in the physiological and cancerous site simulated conditions. P(VCL-co-AA) exhibited a pH and temperature-responsive behavior, with an enhanced release rate in the cancerous site condition. The biocompatibility and nontoxicity of P(VCL-co-AA) were approved by MTT assay on the normal human foreskin fibroblasts-2 (HFF-2) cell line. Also, Dox-loaded P(VCL-co-AA) had excellent toxic behavior on the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cell line as model cancerous cells. Moreover, Dox-loaded P(VCL-co-AA) had higher toxicity in comparison with free Dox, which would be a vast advantage in reducing Dox side effects in the clinical cancer treatment applications.


Background Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common musculoskeletal problem, which is defined as a separation of the inter-recti distance between the two bellies of the rectus abdominis muscle at the linea alba.1 Due to the hormonal, postural and musculoskeletal changes, and mechanical strain, the anterior abdominal wall becomes stretched and elongated during pregnancy. Studies have shown that DRA may occur between 27% and 100% in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy2. Although it has been reported that imbalance in the strength of the abdominal wall muscles altered with the facial tension, the role of abdominal muscle strength on DRA has not been clarified yet. Objectives The present study assessed the relation between the severity/amount of DRA and the degree of abdominal muscle (rectus abdominis (RA), external and internal oblique muscles) strength in pregnant women. Methods A total of 153 pregnant women between 14 and 35 weeks of a singleton pregnancy were included in the present study. The finger width method was used to measure the amount of DRA. The amount of separation was determined by the palpation of the medial sides of RA at three reference points: on the umbilicus, 4.5 cm above and 4.5 cm below of the umbilicus. After the subject contracts RA in hook lying position when her arms were in extended position, the size of the diastasis was measured by the number of finger.3 The strength of abdominal muscles was assessed by the manual muscle test in supine hook lying position. The correlation between the amount of DRA and the degree of abdominal muscle strength was analyzed by the Spearmans correlation. Results The mean age was 28.40±3.69 years, mean Body Mass Index was 27.01±1.26 kg/m2, and mean gestational age was 28.12±5.03 weeks. A negative correlation was found between the amount of the diastasis at 4.5 cm below of the umbilicus and the strength of the RA (r=0.219, p=0.007), right (r=0.296, p=0.015) and left external oblique muscles (r=0.293, p=0.017). Conclusion Based on the findings of the present study, the separation of RA on the lower level of umbilicus may be negatively associated with the strength of RA and oblique abdominal muscles. Therefore, to decrease the severity of DRA, abdominal strengthening programs should be provided to pregnant women. References [1] Van de Water, A. T. M., & Benjamin, D. R. (2016). Measurement methods to assess diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM): a systematic review of their measurement properties and meta-analytic reliability generalisation. Manual therapy, 21, 41-53. [2] B, K., Hilde, G., Tennfjord, M. K., Sperstad, J. B., & Engh, M. E. (2017). Pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis recti abdominis: prospective cohort study. Neurourology and urodynamics, 36(3), 716-721. [3] Michalska, A., Rokita, W., Wolder, D., Pogorzelska, J., & Kaczmarczyk, K. (2018). Diastasis recti abdominisa review of treatment methods. Ginekologia polska, 89(2), 97-101. Disclosure of Interests None declared


Spatial data are ubiquitous, massively collected, and widely used to support critical decision-making in many societal domains, including public health (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic control), agricultural crop monitoring, transportation, etc. While recent advances in machine learning and deep learning offer new promising ways to mine such rich datasets (e.g., satellite imagery, COVID statistics), spatial heterogeneity – an intrinsic characteristic embedded in spatial data - poses a major challenge as data distributions or generative processes often vary across space at different scales, with their spatial extents unknown. Recent studies (e.g., SVANN, spatial ensemble) targeting this difficult problem either require a known space-partitioning as the input, or can only support very limited number of partitions or classes (e.g., two) due to the decrease in training data size and the complexity of analysis. To address these limitations, we propose a model-agnostic framework to automatically transform a deep learning model into a spatial-heterogeneity-aware architecture, where the learning of arbitrary space partitionings is guided by a learning-engaged generalization of multivariate scan statistic and parameters are shared based on spatial relationships. We also propose a spatial moderator to generalize learned space partitionings to new test regions. Experiment results on real-world datasets show that the spatial transformation and moderation framework can effectively capture flexibly-shaped heterogeneous footprints and substantially improve prediction performances.


To compare the probability of leg vein recanalization between carriers and non-carriers of thrombophilia after an episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities, we reviewed the clinical records of 472 patients with proximal DVT who were diagnosed with thrombophilia, and had long-term ultrasound scanning. One hundred and thirty-seven patients (29.0%) were carriers of thrombophilia. After adjusting for age, sex, DVT localization and modality of presentation, the hazard ratio of vein recanalization in thrombophilic compared with non-thrombophilic patients was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.38 to 0.63). These findings suggest that thrombophilia is an independent predictor of persistent residual vein thrombosis.


Topic Modelling (TM) is a widely adopted generative model used to infer the thematic organization of text corpora. When document-level covariate information is available, so-called Structural Topic Modelling (STM) is the state-of-the-art approach to embed this information in the topic mining algorithm. Usually, TM algorithms rely on unigrams as the basic text generation unit, whereas the quality and intelligibility of the identified topics would significantly benefit from the detection and usage of topical phrasemes. Following on from previous research, in this paper we propose the first iterative algorithm to extend STM with n-grams, and we test our solution on textual data collected from four well-known ToR drug marketplaces. Significantly, we employ a STM-guided n-gram selection process, so that topic-specific phrasemes can be identified regardless of their global relevance in the corpus. Our experiments show that enriching the dictionary with selected n-grams improves the usability of STM, allowing the discovery of key information hidden in an apparently "mono-thematic" dataset.


To date, there is a major effort in deciphering the role of complex microbial communities, especially the oral and gut microbiomes, in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Increasing evidence indicates a key role for the oral microbiome in autoimmune diseases. In this review article, we discuss links of the oral microbiota to a group of autoimmune diseases, that is, Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn's disease (CD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We particularly focus on factors that affect the balance between the immune system and the composition of microbiota leading to dysbiosis, loss of tolerance and subsequent autoimmune disease progression and maintenance.


This paper reports the estimation of transportation energy consumption based on the travel behaviour characteristics of the population in the Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The travel behaviour characteristics include the travel distance, travel speed, number of trips per day, and modal share of the transport, which only focused on the trips that were made inside the campus. The travel behaviour data were collected through online and penciland-paper questionnaire survey involving 1000 respondents including staffs and students, which is equivalent to 25% of the total population. The result from the survey showed that a total of 1897 trips per day were made by the motorised vehicle owners including car and motorcycle owners. The total trip length per day was 1056.29 km with an average speed of 45km/h. The average trip for each person was four trips per day. The estimate energy consumption from the motorised vehicles in this campus was reported to be 1.25E MJ.


Abstract. The authors offer methods for mapping nature, in particular, vegetation and relief maps using remote sensing data. These thematic maps are most often used by administrators of different levels for environmental and territorial management. In the Russian Federation administrative territories occupied large areas. The algorithm for constructing visual models using remote sensing data for large administrative areas differs from the algorithms for working with small territories. Automated mapping method includes the analysis of the territory by indicators of topography and dominant vegetation, the selection of satellite images, processing, composing mosaics, composites, classification of plant objects, post-processing. The authors offer to use a specific data source, because the quality of the materials is sufficient for working with large areas. Classifications – the most complicated section. At the moment, scientists have not proposed an unambiguous solution to the choice of algorithm. However, the authors of this study experimentally came to the most convenient algorithm, which we characterize as the main one precisely for the purposes of managing natural resources of large administrative structures (regions with legally fixed boundaries). Examples of the thematic maps fragments and results of intermediate versions of visual models built by automated methods are given. The potential use of methods by municipal employees, rather than narrow specialists, was taken into account. In this regard, the value of the study is an exclusively applied nature and can be used in the administrative structures of the executive authorities.


Hyponymy is the cornerstone of taxonomies and concept hierarchies. However, the extraction of hypernym-hyponym pairs from a corpus can be time-consuming, and reconstructing the hierarchical network of a domain is often an extremely complex process. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the French EcoLexicon Semantic Sketch Grammar (ESSG-fr), a French hyponymic sketch grammar for Sketch Engine based on knowledge patterns. It offers a user-friendly way of extracting hyponymic pairs in the form of word sketches in any user-owned corpus. The ESSG-fr contains three times more hyponymic patterns than its English counterpart and has been tested in a multidisciplinary corpus. It is thus expected to be domain-independent. Moreover, the following methodological innovations have been included in its development: (1) use of English hyponymic patterns in a parallel corpus to find new French patterns; (2) automatic inclusion of the results of the Sketch Engine thesaurus to find new variants of the patterns. As for its evaluation, the ESSG-fr returns 70% valid hyperonyms and hyponyms, measured on 180 extracted pairs of terms in three different domains.


STOCK DEFINITION AND GEOGRAPHIC RANGE The pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) appears to be distributed worldwide in temperate to tropical waters (Caldwell and Caldwell 1989; McAlpine 2002). Sightings of these animals in the western North Atlantic occur in oceanic waters (Mullin and Fulling 2003; SEFSC unpublished data), although there are no stranding records for the east Canadian coast (Willis and Baird 1998). Pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales (K. sima) are difficult to differentiate at sea (Caldwell and Caldwell 1989, Wursig et al. 2000), and sightings of either species are often categorized as Kogia sp. Diagnostic morphological characters have been useful in distinguishing the two Kogia species (Barros and Duffield 2003; Handley 1966), thus enabling researchers to use stranding data in distributional and ecological studies. Specifically, the distance from the snout to the center of the blowhole in proportion to the animal's total length, as well as the height of the dorsal fin in proportion to the animal's total length, can be used to differentiate between the two Kogia species when such measurements are obtainable (Barros and Duffield 2003). Duffield et al. (2003) propose using the molecular weights of myoglobin and hemoglobin, as determined by blood or muscle tissues of stranded animals, as a quick and robust way to provide species confirmation. Using hematological as well as stable-isotope data, Barros et al. (1998) speculated that dwarf sperm whales may have a more pelagic distribution than pygmy sperm whales, and/or dive deeper during feeding bouts. This may result in differential exposure to marine debris, collision with vessels and other anthropogenic activities between the two Kogia species. The western North Atlantic Kogia sp. population is provisionally being considered a separate stock for management purposes, although there is currently no information to differentiate this stock from the northern Gulf of Mexico stock(s). Additional morphological, genetic and/or behavioral data are needed to provide further information on stock delineation.


Strategies for work life reform amongs informal sector workers in developing countries are currently dominated by resource-based approaches such as the micro-credit movement. This policy framework is predicated upon certain liberal assumptions about individual human action and the relationship between human behaviour and economic development. This article contends that these assumptions are inappropriate when applied to informal sector workers and their economic activities. A focus on the intersubjective conditions of work and economic development, based on the work of Axel Honneth (1995), provides an alternative way of conceptualising the work life experience of marginalised workers and appropriate interventions for economic and social security. An example of a collective strategy implemented by the Self Employed Womens' Association (SEWA) in India, demonstrates the important role that interpersonal recognition plays in activating worker identity and agency to achieve development. The success of SEWA's methodology has implications for how we think about the meaning of development and work life reform in poor countries, suggesting that interventions for economic and social security must engage workers at both the economic and cultural levels at which insecurity, moral injury and social exclusion are produced.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Précis: Our retrospective study examined the use of neodymium laser in 53 eyes with high intraocular pressure (IOP) following Ex-Press filtration device implantation. We found a statistically significant immediate IOP-lowering effect in all eyes, with a mean IOP reduction of 13.34±8.99 mm Hg, and a posttreatment IOP of 14.30±8.57 mm Hg (P<0.0001). Of a subset of 43 eyes on which 6 months follow-up IOP data was available, 28 eyes achieved treatment success (IOP<18 without further surgical interventions) with a mean IOP of 11.39±4.03 mm Hg at 6 months. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report on the use of neodymium laser for treatment of eyes with IOP rise following Ex-Press glaucoma filtration device implantation. Methods: We retrospectively examined the medical records of 73 patients who underwent Ex-Press device implantation at 4 medical institutions between 2007 and 2015 and subsequently developed an IOP rise. Enrollment criteria included patients with POAG on whom posttreatment IOP data is available. Indications for treatment with neodymium laser were an IOP above target and a flat bleb. To disrupt the presumed microblockage, the neodymium laser was aimed at the axial and relief ports of the Ex-Press device. Applanation tonometry measurements were followed up after neodymium treatment for variable time intervals. Success was defined as an IOP <18 mm Hg at 6 months without further surgical or laser-based glaucoma interventions. Results: A total of 73 charts were reviewed. Twenty patients were excluded due to insufficient data or a diagnosis other than POAG. Data from 53 eyes of the remaining 53 patients was analyzed. The mean duration between Ex-Press implantation and rise in IOP requiring neodymium intervention was 34.2 months (range, 1.1 to 67.2). We found a statistically significant immediate IOP-lowering effect in all eyes, with a mean IOP drop of 13.34±8.99 mm Hg, and a mean posttreatment IOP of 14.30±8.57 mm Hg (P<0.0001). Of a subset of 43 eyes on which 6 months follow-up IOP data was available, 11 eyes required further glaucoma intervention (surgery or laser-based); 4 eyes had an IOP of ≥18 at 6 months. In the remaining 28 successful eyes, a sustained IOP<18 mm Hg was observed at 6 months, with a mean pressure of 11.39±4.03 mm Hg (P<0.0001). Hypotony (IOP<5) occurred in 3 eyes immediately following treatment and self-resolved by 1 week. Conclusion: Our retrospective case series suggests that neodymium laser is a potential consideration in eyes with sustained IOP rise after Ex-Press device implantation.


Bottom-loss measurements made in the East China Sea in May-June 2001 as part of the Asian Sea International Acoustics Experiment as a function of frequency (2-20 kHz) and seabed grazing angle (15/spl deg/-24/spl deg/) are presented. The measurements are interpreted as estimates of the modulus of the plane wave reflection coefficient and data are compared to predicted values using a reflection coefficient model, based on a two-layered sediment for which the sound speed in the surficial sediment layer is allowed to vary as a linear k/sup 2/ profile, where k is acoustic wave number. The region below this layer is modeled as a half-space with constant density and sound speed. The reflection coefficient model is driven by eight geoacoustic parameters; these are estimated from the data by minimizing the weighted squared error between the data and the model predictions for a candidate set of parameters. The parameter estimates for the sediment layer are thickness, 0.9/spl plusmn/0.5 m; density, 2.0/spl plusmn/0.1 g/cm/sup 3/; and attenuation, 0.25/spl plusmn/0.05 dB/m/kHz, with sediment layer sound speed increasing from 1557/spl plusmn/4 m/s at the water-sediment interface to 1625/spl plusmn/35 m/s at a depth of 0.9 m. The parameter estimates for the half-space are density, 2.0/spl plusmn/0.1 g/cm/sup 3/; attenuation, 0.25/spl plusmn/0.15 dB/m/kHz; and sound speed, 1635/spl plusmn/52 m/s. Variances for these estimates are derived using the Bootstrap method. This parameter set produced model curves that agreed reasonably well with the observations of bottom loss over the entire frequency range and is consistent with the range of independently measured geoacoustic variables. Since this mid-to-high-frequency data set does not provide detailed information about the sediment structure for depths beyond about 3 m, the geoacoustic parameter set is more properly viewed as description of the sediment layer and sediments in the underlying 2 m. Similarly, a self-consistent construction of a geoacoustic model for the East China Sea should necessarily amalgamate the mid-to-high-frequency results given here with results obtained at lower frequencies.


CHEN, BIN. Development and Application of the Light Triggered Emitter Turn-Off (LT-ETO) Thyristor. (Under the direction of Alex Q. Huang.) The performance of a power semiconductor device greatly determines the possible advancements of power electronics systems in regard to efficiency, volume, reliability, cost, cooling method, and even circuit topology. An advanced high power semiconductor device, the Emitter Turn-Off (ETO) thyristor, has been demonstrated to improve the performance of silicon thyristor-based high power devices. The Light Triggered Emitter Turn-Off (LT-ETO) thyristor was subsequently developed, which resulted in an optically controlled power device with excellent static and dynamic performance and expanded functionality through integrated sensors. This dissertation analyzes the design and verifies the performance of the LT-ETO. Conventional high power semiconductor devices require dedicated external power supplies with isolation capability. In contrast, the LT-ETO power switch is optically controlled, a capability not currently available in other commercial high power switches. Optical control greatly simplifies high power converter construction and lowers the overall cost of the system. The developed LT-ETO has been verified in converter circuits. If used in a pulse width modulation (PWM) voltage source converter (VSC), there is no minimum PWM carrier frequency or load current limitation for the LT-ETO if the VSC modulation frequency is greater than several Hz. The LT-ETO-based solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and solid-state fault current limiter (SSFCL)—which benefit greatly from the LT-ETO's high current interruption capability—optical control interface, and built-in sensors, are proposed. Comprehensive investigation of the LT-ETO as an AC switch is part of this research. A discussion of innovative methods to achieve complete sensor integration in the LTETO is also included in this research. The voltage, current, and temperature sensors are integrated in the device itself for the first time, another capability not currently available in other commercial high power switches. Conventional converters rely on expensive external sensors to gather the voltage, current, and temperature information; but the LTETO converter can utilize built-in sensors for protection and close-loop control. The experimental results show that the built-in sensors are very precise and the protection functions can effectively protect the LT-ETO and the converter in a timely manner. Through modeling and analysis, methods to improve the series operation of the LT-ETO are also proposed. Firstly, the static voltage balance is analyzed, and then a compensated gate driver is proposed to improve the dynamic voltage balance. Experimental results demonstrate excellent dynamic voltage balance of the LT-ETO in series operation using only a very small RC snubber. Finally, an active control gate driver method is proposed to automatically achieve dynamic voltage balance by utilizing the LT-ETO's built-in voltage sensor. Development and Application of the Light Triggered Emitter Turn-Off (LT-ETO) Thyristor by Bin Chen A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Electrical Engineering Raleigh, North Carolina


Twelve human eyes had central corneal thickness measurements made by two investigators with the Haag-Streit 900 slitlamp and standard pachometer. Two endpoint methods were used for the final corneal thickness measurement setting in the microscope viewing eyepiece. The two methods used were (1) a touching of the epithelium/endothelium corneal split images and (2) an overlapping of the split images. Although final thickness measurements of the two investigators were similar, the results reveal a statistically significant difference for the two measurement methods.


The paper presents the results of a rigorous calculation of processes involving giant pulse generation when variations of population and fields along the cavity are essential. It is shown that when the amplification factor of the active medium is high, the generation process is changed and new phenomena occur, which result in pulsations of the output radiation pulse. One of these phenomena is similar to population oscillations studied earlier for the case of an amplifier. The second phenomenon consists of "self-modulation" of the wave, and breaks the single-mode oscillation.


The observation of a strong and extended positron-electron line annihilation emission in the central regions of the Galaxy by INTEGRAL-SPI, consistent with the Galactic bulge geometry, without any counterpart in the gamma-ray range, neither at high energy nor in the 1809 keV $^{26}$Al decay line, is challenging. Leaving aside the geometrical question, we address the problem of the adequate positron sources, showing the potentiality of a new category of SN Ic, exemplified by SN2003dh, which is associated to a gamma-ray burst. This kind of supernova/hypernova/GRB event is interpreted as the result of a bipolar Wolf-Rayet explosion, which produces a large amount of $^{56}$Ni and ejects it at high velocity along the rotation axis. The bulk of positrons resulting from $^{56}$Co decay escapes in the surrounding medium due to the rapid thinning of the ejecta in the polar direction. We show that a rate of about 0.02 SN2003dh-like events per century in the central region of the Galaxy is sufficient to explain the positron flux detected by INTEGRAL-SPI. In order to explain this flux by SN Ia events alone, a rate of 0.5 per century is necessary, much higher than indicated by Galactic evolutionary models applied to the bulge. Further observations of late light curves of SNe Ia and SNe Ic in the bulge of spiral galaxies, together with 3D hydrodynamic calculations of anisotropic ejections of $^{56}$Ni in SN Ic/GRB events, will allow to estimate the separate contributions of SNe Ia and SNe Ic to positron injection.


We report a new, environmentally and economically friendly photocatalytic process with unprecedentedly high activity for partial cyclohexane oxidation. Mesoporous silicas containing isolated tetrahedrally coordinated Ti and Fe oxide nanoparticles immobilized on the pore surface were synthesized by reacting SBA-15 with Ti(IV) acetylacetonate and Fe(III) acetylacetonate successively. A variety of characterizations suggested that the grafted tetrahedrally coordinated Ti species were coupled with Fe oxide nanoparticles via Ti–O–Fe bonds. The SBA-15 photocatalysts showed a high yield (up to sub-mmol) and nearly 100% selectivity for the production of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone with molecular O2 under solar light. The unprecedentedly high activity could be explained by the lengthened lifetime of the active Ti species by electron delocalization over Ti–O–Fe bonds and the visible light (λ > 420 nm)-induced activity endowed by Fe oxide nanoparticles coupled to the Ti species.


With the commencement of the 21 st century, substantial initiatives have been taken by Member States of the United Nations regarding women's rights and concerns. United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) directed all states to formulate and implement strategies to develop gender equality and women empowerment by ensuring women's existence in decision-making structures. Pakistan also took various initiatives regarding women's rights and increased their ratio of representation in both Central and Provincial Bodies. It is a fact that interests of a community can be better represented and protected by their own community representatives. In this perspective, this paper intends to highlight the relationship between women empowerment and decision-making, with particular focus on the role of women legislators of Punjab Assembly, during the period of 2008-2013. To accomplish the mentioned task, the paper explores the ratio of women, appointed as decision-makers and analyzes their contribution in legislative process, while keeping focus on commencement of bills and resolutions regarding women's rights. The findings indicate that female members in Punjab Assembly are not getting fair representation on decision-making positions. Except for a few, most women legislators remained inactive and in-operative during the whole tenure. Collectively, they were unable to actively participate in the legislative process. They also remained inept in promoting the rights of their gender community.