Background: The German research networks DescribePSP and ProPSP prospectively collect comprehensive clinical data, imaging data and biomaterials of patients with a clinical diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare, adult-onset, neurodegenerative disease with striking clinical heterogeneity. Since now, prospective natural history data are largely lacking. Clinical research into treatment strategies has been limited due to delay in clinical diagnosis and lack of natural history data on distinct clinical phenotypes. Methods: The DescribePSP network is organized by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. DescribePSP is embedded in a larger network with parallel cohorts of other neurodegenerative diseases and healthy controls. The DescribePSP network is directly linked to other Describe cohorts with other primary diagnoses of the neurodegenerative and vascular disease spectrums and also to an autopsy program for clinico-pathological correlation. The ProPSP network is organized by the German Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society. Both networks follow the same core protocol for patient recruitment and collection of data, imaging and biomaterials. Both networks host a web-based data registry and a central biorepository. Inclusion/exclusion criteria follow the 2017 Movement Disorder Society criteria for the clinical diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. Results: Both networks started recruitment of patients by the end of 2015. As of November 2020, N = 354 and 269 patients were recruited into the DescribePSP and the ProPSP studies, respectively, and N = 131 and 87 patients received at least one follow-up visit. Conclusions: The DescribePSP and ProPSP networks are ideal resources for comprehensive natural history data of PSP, including imaging data and biological samples. In contrast to previous natural history studies, DescribePSP and ProPSP include not only patients with Richardson's syndrome, but also variant PSP phenotypes as well as patients at very early disease stages, before a diagnosis of possible or probable PSP can be made. This will allow for identification and evaluation of early biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and progression.


This study aimed to describe the innovative ideas related to the concept of plant natomy and learning outcomes are achieved. This research was carried out by implementing a pattern of lecture-based problem solving. Through problem solving, students can develop the thinking process to find the problem and think about a solution, at the same time bring innovative ideas. Indicators of thinking skills that can be used to mark the emergence and possible feasibility of innovative ideas include learning outcomes (1) formulating the proposed study plant anatomy relevant to the phenomenon that is chosen as the background of the results of the appreciation of the performance problem resolution and (2) the visibility of innovative ideas, including ( a) formulation of the problem, (b) the formulation of objectives, (c) the formulation of temporary answer, (d) the definition of the factors or variables that were examined, (e) definition of factors or variables are equal, (f) the definition of the factors or variables were observed, (g ) formulation of outcome indicators, and (h) working draft. The results obtained showed the longer experience of student learning through problem solving, the more students are able to formulate innovative ideas. There is a link between the learning outcomes concept of plant anatomy with the achievements of thinking skills are realized through innovative ideas formulated.


The 2008 financial crisis is often addressed as the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression. Although the origin of this crisis, that led to the collapse and subsequent government 'bail-out' of the banking giants Northern Rock, RBS and HBOS, has been related to a mélange of macro-instabilities, micro-regulatory failures and growing financial innovations added to low interest rates causing rapid credit-growth and explosion of asset prices it can be argued that governance failures aggravated the financial meltdown. This paper discusses the corporate governance failures that can (partly) explain the UK financial crisis and provides possible remedies and recommendations.


In the JIBC, there is considerable discussion and articles that address Electronic Banking and Commerce in general, but very few that present information relative to specific products that may be available for consumers and businesses over the Internet. The purpose of this article is to address specifically one of those products, checks. Statistics indicate that check volume is at a peak and continues to grow. This trend is attributed to many factors. The question is, given that we will have to continue to deal with paper checks, at least in the near future, how might we integrate them into the non-traditional forms of banking? This article suggests transforming the paper checks into electronic information, or digitize them. Digital technology will not only offer integration of this traditional payment form with alternative delivery systems, but it will also enable more efficient processing of checks. The future of alternative forms of banking looks promising and checks appear to be in the equation for some time to come. Image technology provides the opportunity to integrate these two in a harmonious relationship for the banking customer.


ABSTRACT The assertion that productivity is declining in ,education, economists' work on educational production functions, and definitions of efficiency and productivity are discussed in three reports on the economics of education. The measurement and aggregation problems in the determination of productivity changes in education are explained, and three productivity studies are described. Productivity declines are attributed to the lack of incentive for efficiency improvement in public schools, and the fact that education is intrinsically high in labor intensity but low in capital. A report on the literature on educational production functions describes micro-level functions as the learning of relatively simple items, meso-level functions as simple regressions involving student achievement test scores and background variables, and macro-level functions as simulation models which project the number of enrollees, graduates, and dropouts as a function of budget levels, dropout rates, and repetition rates. Relevant articles listed for each level of production, and research directions based on level boundaries are described. In an evaluation of the efficiency and productivity of educational systems, production possibilities, economic efficiency, technical efficiency, and efficiency in the --ab-setrceof output prices are defined. Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses are described as a means for determining how gain and optimal levels of inputs and outputs vary with price. (Author/JAC)


Harvesting micro-droplets from fog is a promising method for solving global freshwater crisis. Different types of fog collectors have been extensively reported during the last decade. The improvement of fog collection can be attributed to the immediate transportation of harvested water, the effective regeneration of the fog gathering surface, etc. Through learning from the nature's strategy for water preservation, the hydrophobic/hydrophilic cooperative Janus system that achieved reinforced fog collection ability is reported here. Directional delivery of the surface water, decreased re-evaporation rate of the harvested water, and thinner boundary layer of the collecting surface contribute to the enhancement of collection efficiency. Further designed cylinder Janus collector can facilely achieve a continuous process of efficient collection, directional transportation, and spontaneous preservation of fog water. This Janus fog harvesting system should improve the understanding of micro-droplet collection system and offer ideas to solve water resource crisis.


ABSTRACT Social media is becoming one of the most common deployment methods for antidrug and risk message campaigns. This is largely due to the low cost and high distribution that social media affords. This article argues that the social media approach to antidrug messaging also results in greater attention to the message over time. This article reports results from a study that examined how the combination of a short gain-or-loss framed text message interacts with a subsequent pleasant or unpleasant antidrug video message to influence motivational activation and information processing. Based on previous work investigating how different emotional trajectories in public service announcements (PSAs) elicit different patterns of motivational activation and cognitive processing, it was predicted, and found, that emotionally incongruent combinations of the text frame and video content resulted in the coactivation of the motivational systems. Placing a gain frame before a video message affects the overall processing of the subsequent message such that even an unpleasant message is rated more positively and results in a pattern of resource availability more like what we see for pleasant messages. Motivational activation and the subsequent effects on cognitive and emotional reactions are discussed within the context of multi-modal anti-drug campaigns.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
A pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most common complication after total laryngectomy. In Germany, a traditional recommendation is to use a nasogastric tube for feeding for 10-14 days postoperatively because many surgeons believe that oral feeding after surgery contributes to fistula development. However, there is no international agreement about when to begin oral feeding after total laryngectomy. Some authors begin oral feeding between the 1st and 4th postoperative day without any nasogastric tube, while others using a nasogastric tube delay oral feedings until 7-14 days after surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the timing of oral feeding and the development of fistulas after total laryngectomy.

PATIENTS/METHODS
In a prospective trial with 42 consecutive patients who underwent laryngectomy, oral feeding was started on different postoperative days between the 1st and the 10th. Most patients were selected randomly for the different postoperative days. Furthermore, other potential risk factors predisposing to fistula formation were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS
Five fistulas occurred in the total group (12%). Early postoperative oral feeding does not increase the incidence of fistulas. The fistula rate was only 9% in patients fed orally in the 1st postoperative week. The analysis of further risk factors for fistula formation showed only a significant correlation between type of resection and fistula occurrence (extended laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy vs standard laryngectomy; p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that early oral feeding in the 1st postoperative week does not influence fistula formation after laryngectomy.


1) Fractionation of fibrinolytically active components of blood and tissue was carried out.2) There are two kinds of proactivators in the normal human plasma, proactivator A and proactivator B.3) Fibrinolytic components of blood may probably be dissociated to a smaller particle in urea solution, and the smaller one is yet fibrinolytically active.4) The amount of proactivator A in purified plasminogen is very small, which may be removed during the purification procedures.The authors wish to express their hearty thanks to Prof, S. Okamoto, Kobe University, for his advice and kind discussions.


Computing an n-attribute datacube requires the computation of an aggregate function over all groups generated by 2/sup n/ interrelated GROUP-BYs. In this paper, we focus on multi-cube computation. We extend the algorithms for single datacube computation to process multiple datacubes simultaneously. The issue we intend to explore is the memory utilization. We propose two multi-cube algorithms, namely, a sort-based algorithm and a hash-based algorithm. Different data skews and sparsities are investigated. Results from our extensive performance studies are reported.


Leiomyosarcoma is a type of a soft tissue sarcoma which is one of the rarest tumor found in the human mankind. It is predominantly localized either in stomach, small intestine or retroperitoneum and often metastasizes to the distant parts like the lungs or liver. The main route of the metastasis is via the bloodstream, however, the lymphatics could also be used as a medium. The etiology of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is yet unknown to men, but few studies has shown that genetic factors have an important role to play. The treatment options available for LMS metastasis (mets) in liver are very limited which ranges from chemotherapy, radiofrequency ablation and target therapy. Here I discuss a case of LMS mets to the liver managed by a combination therapy of Gemcitabine and Docetaxel.


This article aims to quantify to what extent collaborative strategies are more effective than internal or organization‐level actions to green supply chains. In this regard, the impact of decisions made at different stages of a supply chain in a product's carbon footprint is quantified. Organizational and product carbon footprints are calculated using the Compound Method Based on Financial Accounts (MC3). The results underline that concentrating reduction efforts in some stages of the supply chain is more effective than implementing individual actions by the participants. Collaboration among the participants is needed to decide what practices are implemented, at what stage they are needed and how they are to be implemented. This article adds to the literature on supply chains and sustainability. Previous research suggests that collaborative strategies have great potential for reducing the carbon footprint of products, while indicating the need for empirical research to support this statement. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment


This report describes a case of spontaneously developing bilateral perirenal fluid accumulation in a patient under monitoring for tetralogy of Fallot. The causal pathophysiology of perirenal fluid accumulation in patients with tetralogy of Fallot is unidentified. As a result of comprehensive examinations we establish that perirenal fluid develops due to high hematocrit. Perirenal fluid did not relapse after repeated phlebotomy treatment. Our case is the first to describe the combination of tetralogy of Fallot and perirenal fluid accumulation in the literature


BACKGROUND
Congress established the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program to reduce unnecessary advanced imaging studies. Organizations that wish to develop AUC can apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to qualify as provider-led entities (PLEs) under this program. Variable methods, content, and formatting of PLE-generated AUC could lead to clinician uncertainty about whether an advanced imaging test is appropriate or not.

PURPOSE
To review AUC published by CMS-qualified PLEs focused on advanced imaging tests for coronary artery disease (CAD), a "priority clinical area" identified by CMS.

DATA SOURCES
Publicly available data from the worldwide web searched on 29 August 2022.

STUDY SELECTION
Approved AUC with recommendations related to testing for CAD.

DATA EXTRACTION
Manual review of published AUC by all authors.

DATA SYNTHESIS
Among the 17 CMS-qualified PLEs, only 7 had published AUC related to CAD. Substantial variation in the methods and formatting of these AUCs was observed. The number of clinical scenarios covered ranged from 6 to 210, and the number of advanced imaging methods covered ranged from 1 to 25. When specifically applied to clinical scenarios, many AUC offered no guidance on appropriateness; those that did conflicted with respect to appropriateness.

LIMITATION
Other CMS-identified priority clinical areas were not evaluated.

CONCLUSION
CMS-qualified AUC for imaging of CAD are heterogeneous and sometimes discrepant, creating substantial potential for uncertainty among clinicians seeking to provide their patients with appropriate imaging tests.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE
No funding was received for this study.


The complex geography and climatic changes occurring in subtropical China during the Tertiary and Quaternary might have provided substantial opportunities for allopatric speciation. To gain further insight into these processes, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of Quercus spinosa, a common evergreen tree species mainly distributed in this area. Forty-six populations were genotyped using four chloroplast DNA regions and 12 nuclear microsatellite loci to assess genetic structure and diversity, which was supplemented by divergence time and diversification rate analyses, environmental factor analysis, and ecological niche modeling of the species distributions in the past and at present. The genetic data consistently identified two lineages: the western Eastern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains lineage and the eastern Central-Eastern China lineage, mostly maintained by populations' environmental adaptation. These lineages diverged through climate/orogeny-induced vicariance during the Neogene and remained separated thereafter. Genetic data strongly supported the multiple refugia (per se, interglacial refugia) or refugia within refugia hypotheses to explain Q. spinosa phylogeography in subtropical China. Q. spinosa population structure highlighted the importance of complex geography and climatic changes occurring in subtropical China during the Neogene in providing substantial opportunities for allopatric divergence.


To test whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in microglial activation, pure microglia prepared from 1- to 3-day-old rat brains were activated with either 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 5 nM synthetic beta-amyloid (Abeta) (25-35). The patterns of MAPK activation following LPS and Abeta treatment were very similar. Three MAPK subtypes, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) were activated within 15 min and the activities of p38 and ERK were rapidly reduced to background level within 30 min while that of JNK was maintained for over 1 h. Both inhibitors of p38 (SB203580) and ERK pathway (PD098059) reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) release and Abeta-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release. Furthermore, co-treatment of SB203580 and PD098059 additively reduced NO and TNF-alpha release. These results suggest that MAPK, at least p38 and ERK, mediate LPS-, and Abeta-induced microglial activation.


This study aims to develop a new drifting snow model that solves two transport equations of drifting snow densities of the snow particles falling from the sky and those coming from the ground surface. Because the shape of snow particles falling from the sky is completely different from that of snow particles lifted up from the snow surface which are broken apart by repeated collision with the surface. CFD prediction of snowdrift around a cubic shaped building model using the developed new model was carried out and its accuracy was examined based on the comparison with field measurement conducted by Oikawa et al. Furthermore, the mechanism of snowdrift formation around the building model was clarified by estimating the contribution ratio of the snow particles from the air and those from the surface to snow coverage distribution.


【To investigate temporal and spatial variations of hydrodynamics and environmental conditions in Gyeonggi Bay, including Han River estuary, numerical experiments were performed using 3-dimensional fine grid numerical ocean model. The model successfully reproduced the physical phenomena already known in Gyeonggi Bay where tide and fresh water discharge are dominant forcings. The calculated harmonic constants of tide and tidal current agreed well with those of observations at nine tide stations and two tidal current stations. Tidal asymmetries along the Yeomha Waterway, mainly caused by non-linear effect, were well reproduced and agreed well with observations. Time series of salinity at four stations(A, B, C and D) and horizontal distributions of monthly averaged salinity show that Gyodong and Seokmo Waterways play an important role in fresh water discharge into the Gyeonggi Bay rather than Yeomha Waterway.】


Yu-Bo Liu,1, ∗ Yongyou Zhang,1, ∗ Wei-Qiang Chen,2, 3 and Fan Yang1, † School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Quantum Functional Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China (Dated: January 19, 2022)


Quality and safety of foods are often influenced by the presence and growth of microorganisms. Microorganisms in foods can be divided into two groups: pathogenic organisms, causing illness, and microorganisms that are not harmful to health, but that can spoil a product. Presence and growth of pathogenic organisms should be avoided as much as possible. Growth of spoilage organisms is allowed to a certain extent. Presence and growth of pathogenic microorganisms largely influences food safety, whereas growth of spoilage organisms, generally determines shelf life of a food product, Food quality is assumed to be influenced by both pathogenic organisms and spoilage organisms. A method to predict microbial safety and quality of foods is presented. The construction of a food product from its ingredients is simulated, following a recipe. Food processing heuristics are combined with models developed in predictive microbiology. Parameter values of ingredients of foods, such as water activity and acidity, and models for microbial growth and decay are used for prediction. The values of these parameters are collected and present in databases. If required information is lacking, methods to make reliable guesses of the parameters are developed. Furthermore, expert knowledge in production and development of foods can be applied to improve the quality of prediction. Shelf life can be calculated as a function of fluctuating temperature in time. Several food distribution chains can be simulated to assess the influence of distribution chains on food quality. The described methods are implemented into a computerised decision support system. Mathematical models for microbial growth, implemented in the decision support system, are given more attention to. Microbiological food quality is examined by modelling bacterial growth of a spoilage bacterium; Lactobacillus curvatus. Microbiological food safety is modelled by assessing growth behaviour of a pathogenic bacterium; Listeria monocytogenes. Models that describe the effect of acidity, temperature, and the combined effect of these variables on the growth parameters of Lactobacillus curvatus are developed and validated. Growth parameters (lag time, specific growth rate, and maximum population density) are calculated from growth data at various temperature-acidity combinations. The effect of acidity is monitored at several constant temperature values. Models are set up and fitted to the data. The same procedure is used at constant acidity values to model the effect of temperature. For lag time, specific growth rate, and maximum population density, the effect of temperature can be multiplied with the effect of acidity. The models are equipped with parameters suggesting that organisms cease growing at minimal or maximal values for controlling variables (Temperature, pH, a w ). Evidence is presented for the existence of a lower and upper acidity boundary value for bacterial growth. The effect of temperature, acidity, and water activity on bacterial growth rate of Lactobacillus curvatus is modelled in an extended model. The model is based on two, earlier developed models, one for growth rate as a function of temperature and water activity and the earlier mentioned model. It is assumed that combinatory effects between acidity and water activity do not exist. Therefore, the two models are multiplied to result into one model. The resulting model is fitted to data sets measured earlier, and the parameters of the model are determined. A new data set with values for controlling variables outside the data range where the model is developed, is used to validate the developed model. The model is found very well able to predict outside the measured data range. Bacterial growth rate of Listeria monocytogenes is modelled as a function of temperature, acidity and water activity, for which two equations are developed. The first equation predicts growth rate at sub optimal acidity values, sub optimal temperatures and sub optimal water activities, the second model predicts growth throughout the entire acidity range. The models are validated statistically and by comparing model predictions with values reported in literature. Finally, a computerised system for the identification of bacteria is developed. The system is equipped with a key to the identification of lactic acid bacteria. The identification is carried out in two steps. The first step distinguishes classes of bacteria by following a decision tree with general identification tests. The second step in the identification is the distinction of species within a class on the basis of biochemical fermentation patterns. During group classification, probabilities for test failure are used. These probabilities can be used for assessing the quality of a given test answer. The probabilities are also used to select the most probable test answer in case of an inconclusive test result. The probabilities of test failure are determined by a group of experts and a group of potential users of the identification system. During species identification, similarity indices are calculated for all bacteria in a class. The described identification system is able to "learn" from different sessions in the species identification step, improving both identification speed and accuracy. Because of the versatile way in which the system is set up, it can very easily be expanded with identification keys to other organisms. Structured models and modelling methods are used to predict changes in quality and safety of foods. This thesis shows that even complex problems such as the prediction of the quality of foods, can be modelled through the combination of several models. Model systems are developed giving insight into the processes that are of importance in the determination of food quality and safety.


The goal of this paper is to empirically examine the relation between management compensation and project life. Prior theoretical research suggests that short-term compensation, in the form of bonus plans, have a tendency to induce managers to invest in projects with short lives. Initially, we develop a model that relates management compensation, earnings announcement and project life defined in terms of duration. Our testable hypothesis states that a greater weight placed on short-term compensation induces managers to invest in projects with shorter duration and is reflected in a lower earnings response coefficient (ERC) for a concurrent earnings announcement. We empirically examine whether there is a relation between type of managerial compensation and ERC. After controlling for the firm's investment opportunity set and other variables known to affect the ERC, we find strong evidence indicating a negative relation between project life and the fraction of short-term compensation in the total compensation package. This result provides evidence that managers with greater proportionate earnings-based compensation tend to invest in shorter-term projects.


Problem statement: The incidence of infectious diseases is increased in patients with chronic renal failure. Chronic renal failure severely influences the immune functions of the host. Diphtheria is of great epidemiological concern. Although mainly observed during childhood, unvaccinated adults and relatively immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for acquiring diphtheria. Approach: To evaluate the anti-Diphtheria immunity level in southern Iranian patients with end stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis and to find its association with sex, age, blood hemoglobin, serum albumin and duration of dialysis. This cross sectional study was carried out on a total of 52 patients, who were on hemodialysis and 52 age and sex matched healthy individuals with without any underlying renal disease as a control group. Subjects in the both groups receiving antidiphtheria toxoid vaccine or immunoglubins a year prior to the study were excluded. The serum antidiphtheria IgG antibody levels were measured by an ELISA method. Results: Diphtheria protected individuals in the patients and the control groups were 34.6 and 63.30% respectively. Of the evaluating factors just hemodialysis duration found to affect on diphtheria immunity. Conclusion: Diphtheria protected individuals in the patients group were significantly less than diphtheria protected individuals in the control group (p = 0.011). Hemodialysis duration has significant effect on anti-diphtheria immunity level.


A novel architecture of 3D graphene growth on porous Al2O3 ceramics is proposed for thermal management using ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition. The formation mechanism of graphene is attributed to the carbothermic reduction occurring at the Al2O3 surface to initialize the nucleation and growth of graphene. The graphene films are coated on insulating anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates and porous Al2O3 ceramic substrates. The graphene coated AAO possesses one‐dimensional isolated graphene tubes, which can act as the media for directional thermal transport. The graphene/Al2O3 composite (G‐Al2O3) contains an interconnected macroporous graphene framework with an extremely low sheet electrical resistance down to 0.11 Ω sq−1 and thermal conductivity with 8.28 W m−1 K−1. The G‐Al2O3 provides enormous conductive pathways for electronic and heat transfer, suitable for application as heat sinks. Such a porous composite is also attractive as a highly thermally conductive reservoir to hold phase change materials (stearic acid) for thermal energy storage. This work displays the great potential of CVD direct growth of graphene on dielectric porous substrates for thermal conduction and electronic applications.


PurposeBig data analytics capability (BDAC) is the ability of a firm to capture and analyze big data toward the generation of insights. The literature has mainly focused on analyzing the direct effects of BDAC on different aspects related to firm performance such as finances and innovation. However, the lack of works analyzing the intermediation role BDAC could play is noticeable, particularly in organizational situations that pose great challenges in terms of data processing. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze BDAC mediation in the relationship between open innovation (OI), particularly customer involvement, and firm performance (financial and non-financial).Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model with survey data from a sample of 112 firms.FindingsThe results show that BDAC has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between OI and financial performance, and between OI and non-financial performance. Nevertheless, this mediation is greater in the first relationship.Originality/valueThe main contribution of the study is to offer a broader research perspective regarding the role of BDAC in the relationship between OI and firm performance. This study ultimately questions that research tradition in which this role has been reduced to that of a simple application of data analytics techniques. Instead, the results show BDAC is primarily an organizational skill that should be articulated with key processes, such as customer involvement, to maximize the financial and non-financial use of the large flow of data coming from the main OI activity of low and medium-technology companies.


Abstract: Landscapes and other natural scenes are easy to photograph but difficult to model and render. We present a proxy-guided pipeline which allows for simple 3D proxy geometry to be rendered with the rich visual detail found in a suitably pre-annotated example image. This greatly simplifies the geometric modeling and texture mapping of such scenes. Our method renders at near-interactive rates and is designed by carefully adapting guidancebased texture synthesis to our goals. A guidance-map synthesis step is used to obtain silhouettes and borders that have the same rich detail as the source photo, using a Chamfer distance metric as a principled way of dealing with discrete texture labels. We adapt an efficient parallel approach to the challenging guided synthesis step we require, providing a fast and scalable solution. We provide a solution for local temporal coherence, by introducing a reprojection algorithm, which reuses earlier synthesis results when feasible, as measured by a distortion metric. Our method allows for the consistent integration of standard CG elements with the texture-synthesized elements. We demonstrate near-interactive camera motion and landscape editing on a number of examples.


The regulation of cytoplasmic DNA synthesis by the metabolites ATP and citrate has been demonstrated. Other ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates as well as alpha,beta-methylene- and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP and alpha,beta-methylene-ADP are able to partially substitute for ATP in stimulating the rate of DNA synthesis with the cytoplasmic DNA polymerase (DNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 126.96.36.199) from bone marrow. The fact that the methylene analogs of ATP and ADP are effective in stimulating DNA synthesis indicates that the mechanism of stimulation does not involve ATP hydrolysis. The nucleotide activators have been shown by kinetic analysis to affect the V(max) of the enzyme and not the apparent K(m)s for the substrates. The curve that results when the rate of DNA synthesis is plotted as a function of ATP concentration is sigmoidal, suggesting that more than one site on the enzyme interacts with ATP and that these sites are acting cooperatively. The concentration of ATP required for maximal velocity is dependent on the Mn(++) concentration. At pH 7.0 maximal activity is obtained when the molar ratio of ATP to Mn(++) is 1.6:1. When either ATP or Mn(++) is present in relative excess, DNA synthesis is inhibited. The mechanism of ATP activation has been shown to be associated with an alteration in the sedimentation behavior of the DNA polymerase. In the presence of ATP, there is an increase in the fraction of the enzyme that sediments at 8 S with a corresponding decrease in the 11.6S enzyme fraction. Thus, ATP activation corresponds to the dissociation of an 11.6S dimer into 8S monomers. In addition to ATP and other nucleotides, citrate also stimulates DNA synthesis. At present it is not clear whether the stimulatory effects of ATP and citrate are due to their ability to chelate Mn(++), which is inhibitory at high concentrations, or whether an ATP-Mn(++) or citrate-Mn(++) complex is the activator.


The feature extraction is an important step to achieve multifunctional prosthetic control based on surface electromyography (sEMG) pattern recognition. In this study, we propose a new sEMG feature extraction method which is based on autoregressive power spectrum (ARPS). An experiment with a task containing thirteen motion classes was developed to examine the effectiveness of this method. The results show that the new feature, ARPS, has better performance comparing with other two frequently used features, the time domain set (TDS) and autoregressive coefficients (ARC). The ARPS obtains the highest separability index (SI)-a metric measuring the discriminative ability of the sEMG feature. And the average classification errors of ARPS, TDS and ARC are 5.00%, 8.43% and 6.39% respectively. This suggests that the ARPS is suitable for the sEMG pattern recognition.


A 53-year-old man presented with lower urinary tract symptoms and recurrent urinary tract infections since last 3 years without being investigated or treated properly. Examination revealed a hard mobile lump in the pelvis, and blood investigations showed raised serum creatinine of 2.9 mg/dL. Subsequent urgent ultrasound scan showed a large urinary bladder stone with bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, and X-ray kidney, ureter and bladder demonstrated a 9 cm×6 cm elliptical radio-opaque shadow in the pelvis. He underwent emergency admission followed by open cystolithotomy on the next day. He was discharged after 48 hours with a urethral catheter. After 2 weeks, his renal function recovered completely; repeat ultrasound scan revealed complete resolution of hydronephrosis. Urethral catheter was removed following a normal cystogram. Uroflowmetry after 6 weeks revealed underlying bladder outlet obstruction, and he was started on alpha blocker which improved his urinary flow.


Neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)-derived pesticides have been used
against a wide range of agricultural pests including tetranychid mites.
Approaches combining lethal and sublethal toxicity studies of neem
pesticides towards tetranychid mites are necessary to a comprehensive
evaluation of such products. Here, we evaluated the lethal and
sublethal toxicity of the neem oil Bioneem to the cassava green mite
Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) by integrating lethal concentration
(LC) with population growth and biological parameter studies. According
to Probit analyses the concentration of neem oil Bioneem which kills
50% of the population (LC50) of M. tanajoa was 3.28 μL cm-2, which
is roughly twice the field concentration recommended of this
biopesticide to control pest mites (1.7 μL cm-2). The growth rate
of the cassava green mite steadily decreased with dosages of neem oil.
Furthermore, sublethal concentrations of the neem oil corresponding to
the LC50 reduced the periods of the immature stages of M. tanajoa
resulting in a shorter developmental time. Similarly, the number of
eggs per day and the number of eggs per female per day, a proxy for
fecundity, were drastically reduced in M. tanajoa females exposed to
the LC50 of neem oil. Based on our comprehensive approach we conclude
that the neem oil showed lethal as well as sublethal toxicity on growth
rate and biological parameters such as duration of immature stages and
fecundity of the cassava green mite M. tanajoa and it could be used as
an ecological alternative for the management of this pest.


This article aims at putting in context and at pursuing the concept elaborated by the later Putnam of an ethics without ontology, which I associate with certain other contemporary philosophers like Stanley Cavell and Cora Diamond; and in general of a philosophy without ontology. Putnam's ambition is to get rid of ontology by refocusing reflection on ethics in a realistic spirit. This calls for a reappraisal of the entirety of Putnam's evolution after the 1980s, especially his "Wittgensteinian turn," which has sometimes been underappreciated. To say that ethics has nothing to do with ontology is to make a claim not only about ethics, but also about realism. That is why Putnam's later work matters today, especially his radical break with the fact/value distinction (reflected in his claim that facts and values are entangled together in our statements and in our lives). This does not only concern ethics, for as Diamond has said and as Putnam reiterates in his own style and culture, we must refocus reflection on ethics and on the place of ethics in our forms of life and of language.


Governments are imposing new rules and restrictions on businesses and their leaders in the wake of the recent economic crisis, attempting to address the regulatory failure and corporate avarice frequently blamed for the global recession. The ever-present incentive for leaders to show profitability, coupled with the inability of governments or private industry to support continuous controls or monitoring, condemns these new rules, restrictions, and enforcement mechanisms to relative ineffectiveness.

Scandal can ruin an organization and a leader's reputation, and cosmetic or even actual compliance with new rules and restrictions will not always insulate corporate harm from unethical conduct. This article suggests that a leader wishing to avoid fines or business failure should prevent abusive or improper business conduct not by adoption of codes of conduct and periodic rules-based ethics training, but by establishing and maintaining a values-based organizational culture supportive of ethical behaviour, largely through the principles of ethical leadership.

Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


OBJECTIVE
To identify cases of coccidioidomycosis in the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina.

METHODS
We performed clinical surveillance across multiple medical disciplines and among three major teaching hospitals in the greater NOLA area in the posthurricane period. Each case involved a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory evaluations, and, in the two fatal cases, a comprehensive postmortem examination.

RESULTS
We identified four cases of coccidioidomycosis during the posthurricane period: three with disseminated disease and one with disease limited to the respiratory tract. Two patients were co-infected with HIV and died during hospitalization; one was only diagnosed at autopsy. The two immunocompetent patients responded well to antimicrobial therapy.

CONCLUSIONS
A heightened awareness of non-endemic disease is warranted in the practice of postdisaster clinical medicine and public health, as demonstrated by the appearance of coccidioidomycosis in the traditionally nonendemic NOLA area following Hurricane Katrina.


BACKGROUND
We undertook a systematic review and literature-based meta-analysis to determine whether the timing of chest radiotherapy may influence the survival of patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).

MATERIALS
Eligible randomised controlled clinical trials were identified according to the Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines, comparing different timing of chest radiotherapy in patients with LS-SCLC. Early chest irradiation was defined as beginning within 30 days after the start of chemotherapy.

RESULTS
Considering all seven eligible trials, the overall survival at 2 or 5 years was not significantly different between early or late chest radiotherapy. When only trials were considered that used platinum chemotherapy concurrent with chest radiotherapy, a significantly higher 5-year survival was observed when chest radiotherapy was started within 30 days after the start of chemotherapy (2-year survival: OR: 0.73, 95% CI 0.51-1.03, P = 0.07; 5-year survival: OR: 0.64, 95% CI 0.44-0.92, P = 0.02). This was even more pronounced when the overall treatment time of chest radiotherapy was less than 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS
There are indications that the 5-year survival rates of patients with LS-SCLC are in favour of early chest radiotherapy, with a significant difference if the overall treatment time of chest radiation is less than 30 days.


Methods to detect resistance to methicillin in Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied in order to find a rapid screening test suitable for routine use. One hundred and forty-nine clinical isolates, 16 isolates from skin of healthy people and two reference strains were studied. Hypersecretion of beta-lactamase as a cause of methicillin resistance was eliminated in the strains studied. Tube and microtitre breakpoint, agar breakpoint and disc diffusion methods were compared. The breakpoint for methicillin resistance used was 16 mg/L in broth and 10 mg/L in agar. The discs used contained 1 and 5 micrograms oxacillin and 5 and 10 micrograms methicillin. Turbidimetric measurements in broth during incubation were carried out using the Bioscreen analysing system. The skin strains were founf to be susceptible in all tests. Using an inoculum of 10(7) cfu/mL 111/149 clinical isolates were classified as resistant after incubation for 24 h at 35 degrees C using the tube and microtitre breakpoint tests, incubation for 72 h did not increase this rate. When an inoculum of 10(5) cfu/mL was used 73% of these strains were identified within 24 h and all within 72 h with the tube breakpoint test. Using the microtitre breakpoint test, with an inoculum of 10(5) cfu/mL or lower, all resistant strains were not detected within 48 h. All agar breakpoint tests required 48 h incubation for reliable results. Only the 1 microgram oxacillin disc always separated strains found to be resistant or susceptible in the tube breakpoint test. The zone of inhibition was clearly readable after 16 h of incubation at 35 degrees C.


To the Editor. —The purpose of this brief letter is to give preliminary information about a laboratory technique that may prove to be of clinical importance to corneal surgeons. The experiments themselves will be published in detail at a later time, but I believe that the work has sufficient interest to present as a communication in this form. As experience with keratoprostheses evolves, attention is being focused upon posterior corneal prostheses in distinction to ones which occupy a full thickness of the central cornea. The reason is that an implant exposed to the body surface is almost always extruded within weeks, months, or years after the original operative procedure. Posterior (buried) keratoprostheses have been developed by Thomas 1 ; Cardona et al 2 ; and Brown and Dohlman. 3 More recently, impermeable silicone membranes have been sutured to the posterior surface of corneas and donor grafts by Dohlman et al. 4 Whereas


The development of an efficient technology for removing fine particles in flue gas is essential as the haze is becoming more and more serious. To improve agglomeration effectiveness of fine particles, a dual zone electric agglomeration device consisting of a charging chamber and an agglomeration chamber with bipolar barb electrodes was developed. The bipolar barb electric agglomerator with a polar distance of 200 mm demonstrates good agglomeration effectiveness for particles with a size less than 8.0 μm under applied AC electric field. An optimal condition for achieving better agglomeration effectiveness was found to be as follows: flue gas flow velocity of 3.00 m/s, particle concentration of 2.00 g/m3, output voltage of 35 kV and length of the barb of 16 mm. In addition, 4.0–6.0 μm particles have the best effectiveness with the variation of particle volume occupancy of −3.2.


The Nyk High comprises the area of study in this Master Thesis. This structural high is found in the northern part of the Voring Basin and consists of rotated fault blocks. The Voring Basin is located in the deep-water areas of the Norwegian Sea outside Mid-Norway and was opened for exploration in 1996. The objective in the Master Thesis is to do an evaluation of the prospectivity of the Nyk High. Three prospects named Prospect (1), Prospect (2) and Prospect (3) are studied and they make up considerable structures. If they contain hydrocarbon accumulations they will add significant importance to the gas discoveries already done in this area. The Nyk High is a highly faulted area and its structures and large faults are results of the last major rifting event that took place in the Voring Basin from Campanian/Maastrichtian to Paleocene-Eocene when the Eurasia plate and the Greenland plate experienced continental separation. The reservoir sandstones belong to the Nise Formation of Santonian to Campanian age and were deposited in a deep-water fan system. Potential hydrocarbon accumulations rely on sealing faults and shales of the Springar Formation as top seal. Well shave targeted distinct seismic flat spots in this area and proved the presence of gas in the Luva, Haklang and Snefrid South discoveries. The recoverable gas volumes are estimated to 44.4×109 Sm3 for Prospect (1), 189×109 Sm3 forProspect (2) and 21.1×109 Sm3 for Prospect (3). The corresponding values for the recoverable oil reserves are 96.5×106 Sm3 for Prospect (1), 416.2×106 Sm3 for Prospect (2) and 46.4×106Sm3 for Prospect (3). These hypothetical volumes are high and Prospect (2) is the closure estimated to contain the largest hydrocarbon accumulation. In this context, it should be mentioned that greater risk is connected to the possibility of discovering oil accumulations compared to gas accumulations. Uncertainties are connected to some of the geological factors in the Upper Cretaceous play in the Norwegian Sea. The probabilities of making technical discoveries in each prospect are estimated to 7.5% for Prospect (1), 10.5% for Prospect (2) and 4.5% for Prospect (3). These results indicate that the possibility of discovering hydrocarbon accumulations is associated with high risk. High risk is connected to geological factors such as source and migration, trapintegrity and retention after accumulation. The source rock's age, quality and distribution are presently uncertain because a source is unproven in this area. High risk is also connected to the timing of maturation and migration relative to trap formation. The probability of having a reservoir is, on the other hand, set equal to one, meaning that no risk is connected to this factor.


Abstract This investigation is a large-scale comparative corpus study of the oppositive contrast domain (also called "semantic opposition") based on parallel texts. Oppositive contrast is established as a fuzzy region of the similarity space of contrast ('but'), a domain also characterized by the occurrence of selectives ("topic markers") and of initial non-predicative phrases in VSO/VOS-languages. Major findings are that many languages have special oppositive contrast markers and that there is a continuum between oppositive contrast markers and selectives, although truly intermediate markers are rare. The gradualness between oppositive and counterexpectative contrast is explained by semantic fuzziness and by emphasis, with strong emphasis being dependent on scales. Contrast is a rhetorical discourse relation and strong oppositive contrast can be used as a persuasive strategy aiming at establishing new common ground stepwise. The fuzziness of oppositive contrast has major theoretical and methodological implications. The encoding of the domain neither follows strict universals nor is it maximally diverse (diversity is strongly constrained). Due to its syntactic properties, oppositive contrast cannot be conceived of merely as a preestablished extralinguistic semantic domain. Furthermore, contrast exhibits a high degree of language-internal variability. General trends are reflected both by stable and by emergent grammar.


Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the gross, histology and morphometric changes of the adrenal gland during the foetal developmental period of the White Fulani (zebu) cattle in Nigeria, using slaughter house foetal waste. Study Design: Experimental morphological study was carried out using slaughter house foetal specimens. Methodology: Gross dissection, routine histology (HE) techniques and measurements of the adrenal gland were employed in this study. Results: It showed that the topographical position of the foetal adrenals cranial to the kidneys was maintained throughout the foetal age. The weight, length, width and thickness increased with advancing gestation and the differences across the age group were significantly different at p<0.05. Histologically, rudiments of foetal cortical zonation were evident at 70-80 days of gestation and became more distinct with increased age. By 180 days and thereafter, the features of the adrenal zones comprising the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and medulla resembled adult adrenal Original Research Article Igbokwe and Jacobs; JALSI, 7(3): 1-10, 2016; Article no.JALSI.27994 2 gland. The medulla in all age occupied the greater portion of the organ. The measured histometrical parameters of the capsule, cortex and medulla increased with gestational age and were significantly different at p<0.05. The features observed in this study suggested a strong endocrine function during the foetal growth that could support the stressful environment of the pastorally reared breed of cattle.


This study examined the prevalence of depression of the students at the University of Ghana, the perceived causes and the coping strategies they use. Three hundred and twelve students were drawn from Legon and Accra City Campuses of the University of Ghana through stratified sampling. A self designed questionnaire and Beck's Depression Inventory was used to collect the data. MANOVA, ANOVA, t-test and Regression Analyses were used to analyze the results which revealed that students had mild depression and their major stressors were related to the academic load. The stressors affected mostly Level 300 students and those on Study leave. The stressors accounted for 43% of the signs of depression in them. Females had more signs of depression whilst level 400 students had the least signs. The commonly used coping strategy was the cognitive. The recommendations centred mainly on addressing academic problems and organizing stress management workshops for them.


A new stable isotope approach was used to determine the total dissolved solids concentration and stable isotope composition for oil sands drill core extracted porewater at the Suncor–Firebag oil sands field in northeastern Alberta, Canada. A stable isotope mixing approach was used to correct for contamination by drilling fluids in the porewater samples. The mean isotopic compositions of oxygen () and hydrogen () in water for fluid samples from 12 wells at Firebag were −20.5 ± 1.4‰ and −157 ± 11‰, respectively. The mean total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the reservoir formation water in 12 sampled wells was 1100 ± 400 mg/L (1σ). These results suggest that the McMurray Formation water at Firebag is primarily derived from Holocene groundwater recharge, and that the water within the bitumen reservoir is similar to groundwater well samples obtained within the McMurray Formation at Firebag. The results obtained in this study are consistent with regional trends and previously proposed local hydrogeological flow conditions.


The capture and storage of CO2 is gaining attention as an option for limiting CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels. CO2 capture is premised on the safe long-term storage of CO2 in geological formations. Naturally occurring CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery in the USA, Trinidad, Turkey, Hungary, Brazil and Croatia. Industrially produced CO2 has been used for enhanced oil recovery at the Rangely field in Colorado, USA since 1986 and at the Weyburn field in Saskatchewan, Canada since 2000. Large-scale CO2 storage in geological formations to avoid CO2 emissions was first undertaken offshore in Norway in 1996 and onshore in Algeria in 2004. CO2 delivered for EOR in the USA averaged around USD 11/tonne CO2 during the 1990s. The cost of CO2 capture from low concentration industrial sources varies with a number of factors, but will certainly be very much higher than the recovery of naturally–occurring CO2. Adequate knowledge exists in the oil and gas industry for the application of CO2 capture and storage. Widespread implementation of fully-integrated CO2 value chains will nonetheless depend on achieving public acceptance and regulatory approval for CO2 storage, cost reduction for CO2 capture and sufficient economic incentives for the key actors involved. This article discusses the most important research directions for CO2 capture and storage projects that have been initiated around the world. The adequacy of economic incentives will strongly influence how quickly producers and users of fossil fuels are able to close the knowing-doing gap for CO2 capture and storage.


We considered EM scattering from N conducting circular cylinders as a simple example of many body and large body scattering, and discussed the efficiency of Greengard-Rokhlin's fast multipole algorithm (GRFMA) for the two cases in the range of NM < 1,100,000. GRFMA has the floating point operation of O(NM) theoretically. We confirmed that the floating point operation is O(NM) both for the many body case and for the large one body case as M/spl rarr//spl infin/, and showed that the amount of used memory is O((NM)/sup 2/3/) for the many body case and O(NM) for the large body case as M/spl rarr//spl infin/. However, both the net computation time and the net amount of used memory are larger for the many body case than for the large one body case.


In the present study, surface and interface characterization of magnesium oxide (MgO) thin film is carried out by using non‐destructive soft X‐ray reflectivity and absorption technique. To get a further insight about the in‐depth and surface composition, secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurement is also carried out. The analysis of the reflectivity data indicates the presence of Mg‐Si‐O layer between the principal layer (MgO) and Si substrate interface. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy spectra corroborate well with the model assumed in the analysis of the reflectivity data. Combined soft X‐ray reflectivity‐total electron yield result confirms the presence of low‐density MgO on top of principal MgO layer. Total electron yield result confirms the rocksalt structure of the film and provides a glimpse of the electronic structure near the O‐K absorption edge.


Background Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder worldwide. Studies on the prevalence of hypothyroidism in different geographical territories of India are sparse. Data on the prevalence of hypothyroidism in India's coal mine areas are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the adult population living in the coal mine areas of West Bokaro, Jharkhand, India. Methods In total, 1484 individuals of both sexes attending the outpatient department (OPD) of Tata Central Hospital, West Bokaro, Jharkhand, with varied symptoms were screened for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels from January 2021 to February 2022. The age of the study participants ranged from 15 to 80 years. Results In total, 366 participants had hypothyroidism (subclinical as well as overt). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was greater in women than in men. Among the 366 patients with hypothyroidism, 311 were women and 55 were men, and the ratio was 5.5:1. The percentage of the population having hypothyroidism was 24% in this study, which is higher than that reported in other parts of India; however, our results are similar to those of a study conducted in Assam in 2017. Among patients with high TSH levels, 47%, 25%, and 19% had TSH in the range of 5.6-7.5, 7.6-10.6, and 10.6-20 μU/mL, respectively. Conclusions Subclinical and overt hypothyroidism are common in eastern India. Patients with undiagnosed fatigue and weight gain must be screened for TSH levels. Hypothyroidism is no longer a rarity, and coal mine areas are no exception to this phenomenon. A population‑based epidemiological study of thyroid disorders in coal mine areas is an urgent need.


PURPOSE
To determine whether neonatal cardiomyocytes grafted into the aortic wall contract, develop pressure, and can be paced.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Medium only (n = 9) or neonatal cardiomyocytes (n = 12, 5 x 10(6) cells each) were injected into the outer aortic wall in adult female Fischer rats. At 6 weeks after implantation, 11 out of 12 cardiomyocyte-treated aortas showed spontaneous rhythmic beating at the grafted site following excision of the heart. The spontaneous beating rate changed with pacing frequency. Five out of the 11 beating aortas had intra-aortic pressure generated by the spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes. The pulse pressure generated by the grafted cardiomyocytes was 0.36 +/- 0.05 mmHg without pacing; during pacing it was 0.78 +/- 0.21 mmHg with systolic pressure up to 3.8 mmHg. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed viable grafts in the outer wall of the cardiomyocyte-treated aortas in 12 out of 12 aortas. Neonatal cardiomyocytes in the graft matured with cross striations. Immunohistochemical staining of the aorta for sacromeric actin was positive in 12 out of 12 aortas. Staining of connexin 43 showed that some grafted cardiomyocytes formed gap junctions. The above examinations were negative in nine out of nine medium-treated aortas.

CONCLUSION
The results show for the first time that cardiomyocytes engrafted into the foreign environment of an extracardiac vascular structure can be paced and generate measurable intravascular pressure. This study may serve as a useful model for studying the growth and response of the grafted cardiomyocytes to various stimuli in an extra-cardiac environment in vivo.


1. Bovine kidney pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex is inactivated by elastase in a similar manner as described earlier for papain. The core component, lipoate acetyltransferase, is cleaved by elastase into an active fragment (Mr 26000) and a fragment with apparent Mr of 45000 as analyzed by dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis. Due to the fragmentation of the core, the enzyme complex is disassembled into its component enzymes which retain their complete enzymatic activities as assayed separately. 2. A different mechanism was found for the inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with trypsin and some other proteases (chymotrypsin, clostripain). In these cases, the pyruvate dehydrogenase component is inactivated rapidly by limited proteolysis. More slowly, the enzyme complex is disassembled simultaneously with fragmentation of the lipoate acetyltransferase which again results in an active fragment of Mr 26000 and another fragment of apparent Mr 45000. Upon prolonged proteolysis, the latter fragment is cleaved further to give products of Mr 36000 or lower. 3. The enzyme-bound lipoyl residues of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex have been labelled covalently by incubation with [2-14C]pyruvate. After treatment of this [14C]acetyl-enzyme with papain, elastase, or trypsin, radioactivity was associated exclusively with the 45000-Mr and 36000-Mr fragments but not with the active 26000-Mr fragment. 4. It is concluded that the bovine kidney lipoate acetyltransferase core is composed of 60 subunits each consisting of two dissimilar folding domains. One of these contains the intersubunit binding sites as well as the active center for transacylation whereas the other possesses the enzyme-bound lipoyl residues.


We investigated bear-bear, wolf-wolf, and bear-wolf interactions in a 2-ha enclosure, which was occupied by 13 brown bears (Ursus arctos) and a wolf (Canis lupus) pack. The hierarchy of bears and wolves was determined by behavioral observation and rank order analysis. All behavioral interactions between bears and wolves were systematically videotaped for 1 month and analyzed. Bears and wolves had a hierarchical organization similar to that found in nature, although we found a relatively low position in the rank order of blind bears. Social interactions between wolves appeared to be very serious at times. Bear-wolf interactions were mostly playful, but were sometimes agonistic. Young bears were more often victims of wolf harassment than other bears and were sometimes seriously bitten. However, no deaths were recorded, contrary to descriptions from natural bear-wolf interactions. We concluded that bears and wolves could be kept safely together in a single enclosure with apparently few consequences. Interactions we observed were comparable to interactions between bears and wolves under natural conditions and concerned mainly competition over food or a den (wolf or bear). The size of the food (large prey carcasses in the wild vs. chicken in the enclosure) probably plays a role in the severity and the eventual solution of the bear-wolf conflict. Ursus 13:85-93 (2002)


Developing technology has always had an impact on cartography, the art and science of making maps. This impact has been particularly noticeable in recent centuries. The expanded use of copper engraving plates in the 17th century added immeasurably to the ability of the cartographer to add more clear detail to his maps. In the last century the introduction of photoprocessing coupled with existing offset printing techniques added much more efficiency to the process as well as reduced the cost of map production. It is no wonder, then, that computer driven machinery has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the field of cartography.


Optimal power flow (OPF) is the fundamental mathematical model to optimally operate the power system. Improving the solution quality of OPF can help the power industry save billions of dollars annually. Typical applications of OPF include economic dispatch, locational marginal pricing (LMP), power loss minimization, maximizing renewable energy penetration and network planning. Past decades have witnessed enormous research efforts on OPF since J. Carpentier firstly published the fully formulated alternating current OPF (ACOPF) model which is nonlinear and nonconvex. These research efforts lead to promising developments regarding modelling techniques, solution algorithms and expanding applications.
This thesis firstly proposes three convex OPF models based on SOCP (SOC-ACOPF). Conic relaxations and McCormick envelopes are used to derive our SOC-ACOPF models. The underlying idea of the proposed SOC-ACOPF models is to drop assumptions of the original SOC-ACOPF model by convex relaxation and approximation methods. Feasible region relationships between the proposed SOC-ACOPF models are analytically proved. A heuristic algorithm to recover feasible OPF solution from the relaxed solution of the proposed SOC-ACOPF models is developed. The proposed SOC-ACOPF models are examined through several IEEE case studies under various load scenarios. The quality of solutions with respect to global optimum is evaluated using MATPOWER and LINDOGLOBAL. A computational comparison with other SOC-ACOPF models in the literature is also conducted. The numerical results show robust performance of the proposed SOC-ACOPF models and the feasible solution recovery algorithm. We then propose to speed up solving large-scale SOC-ACOPF problem by decomposition and parallelization. Firstly, we use spectral factorization to partition large power network to multiple subnetworks connected by tie-lines. Then a modified Benders decomposition algorithm (M-BDA) is proposed to solve the SOC-ACOPF problem iteratively. Taking the total power output of each subnetwork as the complicating variable, we formulate the SOC-ACOPF problem of tie-lines as the master problem and the SOC-ACOPF problems of the subnetworks as the subproblems in the proposed M-BDA. The feasibility of the proposed M-BDA is analytically proved. A GAMS grid computing framework is designed to compute the formulated subproblems in parallel. The numerical results show that the proposed M-BDA can solve large-scale SOC-ACOPF problem efficiently. Accelerated M-BDA by parallel computing converges within few iterations. The computational efficiency can be improved by increasing the number of partitioned subnetworks. Finally, various applications of our SOC-ACOPF models and M-BDA are demonstrated by real power network test cases and numerical results. These applications include distribution locational marginal pricing (DLMP), stochastic optimal operation of voltage-source converter based multi-terminal DC transmission (VSC-MTDC) and flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) to integrate wind power, and coordinated energy dispatch in European super grid.


We present results of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations for the spin asymmetry, ), of the triple differential cross section. Spin-polarized lithium atoms were ionized by spin-polarized electrons of 54.4 eV incident energy. The geometry was coplanar with one detector at a fixed angle ( or ). Three data sets were obtained for ratios of shared energy = 8.8, 2.4, and 1. For the most asymmetric set the convergent close-coupling method gives best agreement, whereas for the symmetric set the distorted-wave Born approximation seems to be in better agreement.


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to define the association between the medical utilization of osteoarthritis patient and its related factors.

METHODS
We used the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey data and we enrolled 2833 participants who were forty or older and who were diagnosed as having osteoarthritis by a doctor within 1 year and who had suffered from osteoarthritis for more than 3 months. The Andersen behavioral model was used as the analytic framework, and the variables were categorized into predisposing, enabling, and need factors. To determine the influence of each variable on the medical utilization of osteoarthritis patient, we applied hierarchical logistic regression analysis with two stages: the first stage included the predisposing and enabling factors and the second stage included the need factors.

RESULTS
On the hierarchical logistic analysis, the variables of personal income, the type of medical security, the duration of arthritis related symptoms within 1 month, the subjective health status and the duration of osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant difference between whether the medical utilization in men patients. And the variables of age, limitation activity due to osteoarthritis, arthritis related symptoms within 1 month, and the subjective health status had a statistically significant difference between whether the medical utilization in women patients.

CONCLUSIONS
The patients who tend to receive less care are those suffer less from symptoms of osteoarthritis, those who are within the initial phase, or those with a low-level severity of osteoarthritis. It is necessary to encourage patients to receive the treatment in the initial phase.


A non-Sinusoidal oscillator based on integrating the diode-switched currents and Regenerative Comparator is presented. The Implementation is derived from a known circuit with operational amplifiers where these are replaced by current conveyors. The circuit contains grounded resistances and capacitance and is suitable for high frequency square and triangular signal generation and frequency can be accurately controlled by voltage that is applied to a high-impedance input. The Circuit functionality has been verified by Computer simulation with a Spice model of manufactured sample of Universal current conveyor.


In principle, gene therapy is the introduction of a nucleic acid sequence(s) into target cells to prevent or cure a wide range of diseases. Such a therapeutic approach was initially directed toward the correction of inherited disorders. For example, one strategy involves introduction of a corrected gene into cells followed by transplantation of the genetically modified cells into patients. But technological hurdles such inadequate transfer of genetic materials into cells, thus leading to low transgene integration, and safety concerns with gene transfer methodologies have limited the use of gene therapy. However, significant improvements in gene delivery systems that are both efficient and safe have now directed the growth of gene therapy, as evidenced by several hundred gene therapy-based clinical trials being conducted worldwide. Advancements in all areas of gene therapy now allow for the development of genetically engineered immunocompetent cell-based therapies for cancer. The therapeutic role of immune cells to control malignancies has been well established. For example, immunocompetent hosts frequently reject transplanted tumors while tumors can easily be established in immunosuppressant hosts. In vitro studies have demonstrated that immunocompetent cells exhibit powerful cytotoxicity toward a broad range of cancer cells and tumorigenic animal models have shown that these cells can infiltrate tumors resulting in tumor regression. Tumor infiltration by immunocompetent cells indicates favorable prognosis in various cancers, such as melanoma, colon, ovarian cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and lung cancer (Haanen et al., 2006; Halliday et al., 1995; Inoue et al., 2000; Kerr et al., 1998; Pages et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2003). These observations have led to the development of cell based immunotherapy strategies to target cancer. However, intensive chemotherapy regimens, the frontline therapy to treat patients with advanced cancer, frequently lead to non-specific cellular toxicity to adoptively transferred immunocompetent cells and to hematopoietic stem cells. One strategy to combat druginduced toxicity is to genetically engineer immune cells to make them drug resistant. Several genes, such as methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), cytidine deaminase (CD), and multidrug resistant protein (MDR-1) have been identified that can confer drug resistance to anti-cancer immune cells, and advances in gene therapy techniques have made it possible to test the feasibility of using the cDNAs encoding these sequences in drug resistant gene therapy studies. The ability to generate chemo resistant immune cells can be exploited to test novel anti-cancer therapies, such as "Drug


Femur fracture plates are applied using cortical bone screws. Surgeons do this manually by subjective 'feel' without monitoring torque. Few studies have quantified stripping torque in human bone. No studies have measured stripping torque in the artificial bones from Sawbones (Vashon, WA, USA) that are frequently used in biomechanical studies. The present aim was to measure stripping torque of cortical screws in human versus artificial femurs. Sixteen fresh-frozen human femurs and eight artificial femurs were used. Using a digital torque screwdriver, each femur had a 3.5-mm diameter unicortical screw manually inserted into the anterior midshaft until failure of the screw–bone interface. Results were normalized by cortical thickness and the screw–bone interfacial area. There were no statistical differences in human versus artificial data, respectively, for stripping torque (1741 ± 442 N.mm, 2012 ± 176 N.mm, p = 0.11), stripping torque/thickness (313 ± 59 N, 305 ± 30 N, p = 0.74), and stripping torque/area (28.5 ± 5.3 N/mm, 27.8 ± 2.8 N/mm, p = 0.74). Artificial unicortical thickness (6.6 ± 0.3 mm) was greater than human thickness (5.6 ± 1.1 mm) (p = 0.02). For human specimens, there was a moderate linear correlation of absolute and normalized stripping torque versus standardized bone mineral density (R ≥ 0.32) and clinical T-score (R = 0.29), but not with age (R ≤ 0.29). Surgeons should be aware of the stripping torque limits for human femurs and potentially take steps to monitor these values during surgery. The artificial femurs being increasingly used in research accurately replicate human cortical properties during screw insertion. To date, this is the first series of human femurs evaluated for cortical screw stripping.


The aim of the study - the development of textile screen printed sensor for enuresis alarm system, using different concentrations of graphite in paste and various width of traces (3, 5, 7 mm). The most optimal parameters of concentration (22%) and width (7 mm) of traces, which were printed on sateen weave cotton fabric, are found by measuring the resistivity and the change of voltage in time during dropping the salty dilution. The more graphite concentration and width, the less resistivity is observed.


Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a difficult tumor to diagnose and treat. It is often diagnosed as advanced by reason of the anatomical structure of the deep retroperitoneal layer of the pancreas, lack of typical symptoms and effective screening methods to detect this malignancy, resulting in a low survival rate. Emodin (EMO) is an economical natural product with effective treatment and few side effects of cancer treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can achieve multiplexed imaging and targeted therapy by loading a wide range of functional materials such as fluorescent dyes and therapeutic agents. Purpose The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform for PC diagnosis and treatment. Methods In this study, we successfully developed EMO-loaded, Cy7-functionalized, PEG-coated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO). Characteristics including morphology, hydrodynamic size, zeta potentials, stability, and magnetic properties of Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO were evaluated. Fluorescence imaging (FI)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and therapeutic treatment were examined in vitro and in vivo. Results Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO nanoparticles had a core size of 9.9 ± 1.2 nm, which showed long-time stability and FI/MRI properties. Bio-transmission electron microscopy (bio-TEM) results showed that Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO nanoparticles were endocytosed into BxPC-3 cells, while few were observed in hTERT-HPNE cells. Prussian blue staining also confirmed that BxPC-3 cells have a stronger phagocytic ability as compared to hTERT-HPNE cells. Additionally, Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO had a stronger inhibition effect on BxPC-3 cells than Fe3O4-PEG and EMO. The hemolysis experiment proved that Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO can be used in vivo experiments. In vivo analysis demonstrated that Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO enabled FI/MRI dual-modal imaging and targeted therapy in pancreatic tumor xenografted mice. Conclusion Fe3O4-PEG-Cy7-EMO may serve as a potential theranostic nanoplatform for PC.


Introduction Unsuccessful TB treatment outcome is a serious public health concern. It is compelling to identify, and deal with factors determining unsuccessful treatment outcome. Therefore, study was aimed to determine pattern of unsuccessful TB treatment outcome and associated factors in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A case control study was used. Cases were records of TB patients registered as defaulter, dead and/or treatment failure where as controls were those cured or treatment complete. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to derive adjusted odds ratios (OR) at 95% CI to examine the relationship between the unsuccessful TB treatment outcome and patients' characteristics. Results A total of 990 sample size (330 cases and 660 controls) were included. Among cases (n = 330), majority 212(64.2%) were because of death, 100(30.3%) defaulters and 18(5.5%) were treatment failure. Lack of contact person(OR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.14-2.9, P, .024), sputum smear negative treatment category at initiation of treatment (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-5.5,P, .028), smear positive sputum test result at 2nd month after initiation treatment (OR = 14; 95% CI 5.5-36, P,0.001) and HIV positive status (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.34-5.7, P, 0.01) were independently associated with increased risk of unsuccessful TB treatment outcome. Conclusion Death was the major cause of unsuccessful TB treatment outcome. TB patients do not have contact person, sputum smear negative treatment category at initiation of treatment, smear positive on 2nd month after treatment initiation and HIV positive were factors significantly associated unsuccessful treatment outcome. TB patients with sputum smear negative treatment category, HIV positive and smear positive on 2nd nd month of treatment initiation need strict follow up throughout DOTs period.


Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of maxillofacial trauma in a regional trauma center in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy, during the first wave of the pandemic and comparted it to an equivalent period from 2015 to 2018. The authorshave retrospectively analyzed personal data, site of trauma, etiology, and mechanism of injury. Statistical analysis has been carried out utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and significance was accepted for P values of <0.05. From January 2015 to December 2020, a total of 296 were analyzed. In Pre-COVID era, 195 patients were evaluated, 130 males (66.6%) and 65 females (33.4%). Zygomatic-malar complex fractures were the most common site of trauma in both genders (53%), followed by mandibular fractures (23%) and orbital ones (15%). The highest incidences of injuries were recorded between 15 and 34 years (21%) with the most common etiology attributed to road accidents traumas (49%). In COVID19 era, the authors recorded 101 traumas, 58 males (57.4%), 43 females (42.6%). Zygomatic-malar complex fractures were confirmed as the most common ones in both genders (41%). The most common etiology was related to casual domestic accident and assaults (37% and 30%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of incidence in the comparison of Pre-COVID19 and COVID19 periods (P > 0.05) as opposed to the etiology in which the road traffic accidents decreased in favor of domestic accidents and interpersonal assaults (P < 0.05). Our scientific study represents the first epidemiologic study related to the impact of COVID-19 on maxillo-facial trauma in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. A decrease in the number of Maxillofacial injuries related to road traffic accidents can be demonstrated as the benefit of lockdown, however, a significant increase in the number of physical assaults shows how isolation and restrictions have had a highly negative psychological impact on society.


Foreign Object Damage (FOD) to compressor airfoils is a common problem in operating aircraft engines that occurs when objects or debris are sucked into the engines. Especially small surface defects or impact damage (100μm – 300μm depth) can be problematic, as it only becomes noticeable during engine maintenance process, but can have a strong influence on the fatigue strength and service life of individual airfoils.
 Usually the blade and vane inspection during maintenance is carried out by visual examinations. The inspection findings are individually assessed and as a result the airfoils are accepted, repaired or replaced. This manual inspection process has a significant optimization potential by the means of automatization. This paper presents a novel methodology to automatically detect FOD on compressor airfoils. For the investigation and validation, numerous used compressor blades and vanes were digitized on site with a high precision optical 3D scanning system.
 A first approach is based on a machine learning algorithm. The idea is the surface segmentation of the digitized airfoil into typical affected areas such as the leading edge (LE), trailing edge (TE), pressure side (PS) or suction side (SS), wherein irregularities during the segmentation can be an indication for FOD. For a second approach, the surface curvature of the airfoil is considered. Locally limited regions with high curvature and concave shapes are sought as an indication for FOD. The required parameters position and depth associated to the individual FOD are calculated in both approaches. The results of both approaches are compared to each other and are validated against the results of a commercial software tool, which uses the approach of digital stoning to create surface defect maps. Furthermore, the results are verified by manually examining the airfoil scans.
 In the case of relatively small FOD, both approaches generate meaningful results. In terms of larger damages and deformations, both approaches have difficulties detecting it. This problem can be compensated by parametrization of the scanned airfoils with a section based approach using NACA like profile parameters. Unusual changes of specific airfoil parameters (e.g. stagger angle and chord length) over the airfoils height can indicate large FOD or deformation.


BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas' disease, is often transmitted by transfusion in Latin America. Previous studies showed that at least 1 in 1000 eligible blood donors at the Los Angeles County+University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center Blood Bank had specific antibodies to T. cruzi. In June 1993, serologic screening of prospective allogeneic donors at epidemiologic risk for T. cruzi infection was begun voluntarily. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The risk of T. cruzi infection in all eligible donors was assessed by questionnaire. At‐risk donors were screened serologically for antibodies to T. cruzi with an enzyme immunoassay, and confirmatory testing was done with a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: During the 29‐month study period 1311 (39.5%) of 3320 donors were judged to be at risk for T. cruzi infection. Seven donors (1/475) were reactive by an enzyme immunoassay, and six of these seven (1/ 553) were positive in a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. All radioimmunoprecipitation assay‐ positive donors had been born in countries in which Chagas' disease is endemic. One person in this group had received a transfusion in his homeland. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that a substantive proportion of eligible blood donors at our institution have antibodies specific for T. cruzi and that a commercially available assay can be used to detect these antibodies. Our data suggest that the risk of transmission of T. cruzi by transfusion could be eliminated by serologic testing limited to persons born in or transfused in countries in which Chagas' disease is endemic.


Aim: To determine recurrence rate of carcinoma breast after mastectomy in our population and to determine various risk factors associated with local recurrence which would help in management of new carcinoma breast patients in future. Methods: It was a descriptive study conducted on patients of carcinoma breast with stage II and III undergoing modified radical mastectomy with negative resection margins at Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore. Total of 59 patients were recruited in study using purposive sampling technique. Results: Mean age was 51.61±11.52 years with range from 26 to 78 year. Female 58(98.31%) predominated over the 1(1.69%) male. Recurrence rate was seen only in 5 (8.47%) female patients Conclusion: Proper surgical technique results in less chances of carcinoma breast recurrence. Menopause, positive axillary lymphnodes, lymphovascular invasion and necrosis on histology are associated factors of recurrence. MeSH: Carcinoma breast, recurrence, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI)


It is a well-known fact that people with Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) report a worse oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) than the general population. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a correlation between the subjective OHRQoL and the objectively measured oral health in people with EDS. To determine the subjective OHRQoL, the German version of the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire was used. Furthermore, all participants in the study were clinically examined, and the measured parameters were recorded using the Physical Oral Health Index (PhOX). Altogether, records of 46 participants were collected. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) of the OHIP-14 was 17 (23) points and the median of the PhOX was 73 (16) points. However, a statistically significant correlation could not be demonstrated (r = −0.240, p = 0.108). In the observed cohort, for participants who reported having pain often or very often, the OHIP score (median = 24, IQR = 18, p < 0.01) was higher than the score of the group given by participants who never or intermittently experienced pain (median = 8, IQR = 18). In conclusion, patients with EDS showed a reduced OHRQoL, although it was not possible to observe an association between the subjective OHRQoL and the objective oral health. However, participants who often or very often suffer from pain in their tooth, mouth, and jaw areas showed a reduced OHRQoL.


A GI system for protection of agricultural products and foodstuffs has been recently introduced in Japan aiming to provide a tool for: i) tapping into rural development; ii) increasing exports; iii) preserving the traditional products' heritage and iv) improve products' differentiation. Twelve registered GIs are analysed by grouping them in four categories according to their target market and consumer awareness. Our direct survey findings show that each product category is mainly focused on one of the above-mentioned targets, has specific SWOT factors, has different expectations from the GI recognition, its GIs' governance system works differently, and that specific well-tailored policies are needed.


In January 2007, Apple launched the first smartphone. Subsequently, smartphones that run the Android operating system were introduced in October 2008. Moreover in 2008 users of smartphones have the opportunity to run downloadable applications (apps) on their devices. Apps are software programs that have been developed to run on a computer or mobile device to accomplish a specific purpose. Mobile health, or 'mHealth', is the use of portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets, for medical purposes, including diagnosis, treatment, or support of general health and well-being. Close to 100 000 apps are now available to assist health care professionals. It is estimated that by 2015 smartphone users worldwide will be more than 500 million and by 2018 there could be 1.7 billion mHealth apps worldwide. The Manhattan Research/Google Physician Channel Adoption Study in June 2012 showed that 87% of physicians use a smartphone or a tablet device in the workplace. Physicians spend the majority (64%) of their online time looking for information to make or support clinical decisions, double the time spent reviewing print resources. Among physicians aged 55 and over, 80% own a smartphone. Apps provide many benefits for paediatricians, allowing them to make more rapid decisions with a lower error rate, increasing the quality of data management, and improving practice efficiency and knowledge. The aim of this article is to present the most popular apps which can be used to facilitate patient management. Some of these apps are Medscape, Epocrates, Bilicalc, Palmpedi, Derm101, Uptodate and Kidsdoc.


Surgeons commonly agree that nitrous oxid is the safest general anesthetic known. Bevan estimates the death rate to be one in fifty thousand. Hewitt was able to collect records of seventeen deaths only from 1860 to 1900. Ethyl chlorid has produced already thirty deaths in Great Britain alone. Nitrous oxid is used by dentists, who employ it with great facility for the extraction of teeth. Thomas, of Philadelphia, has administered it 271,940 times with only one death, which occurred five hours after the administration, and was due to apoplexy. This case is included in Hewitt's report of seventeen fatalities. Nitrous oxid has also been employed rather extensively to induce the anesthesia which is maintained later with ether. This method contributes greatly to the comfort of the patient in avoiding the disagreeable sensations of "going under" ether. The Bennett gas-ether inhaler popularized the method, but the plan has not yet come


The Rockefeller Foundation and the Birth of American
Universalism
This article examines the history of the development of
American universalism starting from the premise that the major philan~thropic foundations, having emerged early on the international scene, are a
locus where it crystallizes. Starting in the 1890s, the United States possessed
the means to achieve their international ambition. This is also when univer~salism was forged among the new elites, of which the large philanthropic
societies are an emanation, which is based on the certainty that the United
States held the key to the future of humanity. It matured between the 1890s
and the interwar period, to demonstrate its full force after 1945,due to the
superpower status the U.S. had then acquired. The action of foundations
should be resituated in this perspective: with the early 20th century, they
devised a world policy that closely combined the certainty of embodying the
general interest and a desire to spread the American model. The Rockefeller
Foundation demonstrates this in emblematic fashion.


Crisis intervention team (CIT) programs are partnerships between police and mental health community members developed with little involvement from psychiatrists. This article argues that psychiatrists should be one of the CIT program leaders to facilitate the transfer of persons in crisis from law enforcement to mental health care, make admission and civil commitment decisions, offer real-time telemedical support to officers or co-responders in the field, and collaborate with first responders in integrating responses to 911 and 988 calls.


The flow near the end of a shallow laterally heated cavity enters a nonlinear convective régime when the Rayleigh number R, based on cavity height, is of the same order of magnitude as the aspect ratio L (length/height). In the present work the asymptotic structure of the flow that develops in the limit as is R/L→∞ considered for the case where the horizontal surfaces of the cavity are thermally insulated. A model is discussed in which the formation of a vertical boundary layer on the end wall involves an unexpectedly large contribution to the local ambient temperature field. Expulsion of fluid from the base of the layer, and its subsequent return to the core through a horizontal boundary layer, maintains the necessary lateral heat transfer in the cavity. Implications of the model for the flow throughout the cavity are also discussed. The evolution of the end-zones leads to a change in the amplitude of the main Hadley circulation when R = O(L12/7). Various properties of the solution for this new régime are determined, including the Nusselt number for the lateral heat transfer, which is found to be proportional to L3/7. A comparison is made with both numerical and experimental results.


Distraction osteogenesis is a method of inducing new bone formation by applying mechanical strains on preexisting bone. The process of osteogenesis in the periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth movement is similar to the osteogenesis in the midpalatal suture during rapid palatal expansion. A new concept of "distracting the periodontal ligament" is proposed to elicit rapid canine retraction in two weeks. At the time of first premolar extraction, the interseptal bone distal to the canine was undermined with a bone bur, grooving vertically inside the extraction socket along the buccal and lingual sides and extending obliquely toward the socket base. Then, a tooth-borne, custom-made, intraoral distraction device was placed to distract the canine distally into the extraction space. It was activated 0.5 mm/day, immediately after the extraction. Canine was distracted 6.5 mm into the extraction space within two weeks.


We demonstrate a metamaterial superlens: a planar array of discrete subwavelength metamolecules with individual scattering characteristics tailored to vary spatially to create subdiffraction superoscillatory focus of, in principle, arbitrary shape and size. Metamaterial free-space lenses with previously unattainable effective numerical apertures – as high as 1.52 – and foci as small as 0.33λ in size are demonstrated. Super-resolution imaging with such lenses is experimentally verified breaking the conventional diffraction limit of resolution and exhibiting resolution close to the size of the focus. Our approach will enable far-field label-free super-resolution nonalgorithmic microscopies at harmless levels of intensity, including imaging inside cells, nanostructures, and silicon chips, without impregnating them with fluorescent materials.


The mission of the National Ignition Facility is to achieve ignition and gain in ICF targets in the laboratory. The facility will be used for defense applications such as weapons physics and weapons effect testing, and for civilian applications such as fusion energy development and fundamental studies of matter at high temperatures and densities. This paper reviews the design, schedule and costs associated with the construction project.


Ultra-High Field (UHF) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) advantages, including higher image resolution, reduced acquisition time via parallel imaging, and better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) have opened new opportunities for various clinical and research projects, including functional MRI, brain connectivity mapping, and anatomical imaging. The advancement of these UHF MRI performance metrics, especially SNR, was the primary motivation of this thesis. Unaccelerated SNR depends on receive array sensitivity profile, receiver noise correlation and static magnetic field strength. Various receive array decoupling technologies, including overlap/inductive and preamplifier decoupling, were previously utilized to mitigate noise correlation. In this dissertation, I developed a novel self-decoupling principle to isolate elements of a loop-based receive array and demonstrated, via full-wave electromagnetic/circuit co-simulations validated by bench measurements, that the self-decoupling technique provides inter-element isolation on par with overlap decoupling while self-decoupling improves SNR. I then designed and constructed the first self-decoupled 32 and 64 channel receiver arrays for human brain MR imaging at 10.5T / 447MHz. Experimental comparisons of these receive arrays with the industry's gold-standard 7T 32 channel receiver resulted in 1.81 times and 3.53 times more average SNR using the 10.5T 32 and 64 channel receivers I built, respectively. To further improve the SNR of accelerated MR images, I developed a novel data-driven model using a customized conditional generative adversarial network (GAN) architecture for parallel MR image reconstruction and demonstrated that, when applied to human brain images subsampled with rate of 4, the GAN model results in a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 37.65 compared to GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partial Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA)'s PSNR of 33.88.In summary, the works presented in this dissertation improved the SNR available for human brain imaging and provided the experimental realization of the advantages anticipated at 10.5T MRI. The insights from this thesis inform future efforts to build self-decoupled transmit arrays and high density, 128 channel loop-based receive arrays for human brain MRI especially at ultra-high field as well as future studies to utilize deep learning techniques for reconstruction and post-processing of parallel MR images.