Abstract The drilling specific energy (SEdrill) is a very significant measure of drilling performance. It is directly compatible with cost/metre, because it relates to the amount of energy required to penetrate rock. SEdrill can also be used to quantify the efficiency of rock working processes and to indicate bit conditions, rock strength and rock hardness during drilling. The focus of this study is to evaluate the optimum performance of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) and tungsten carbide (WC) bits using a criterion based on maximum feed rate at minimum SEdrill or vice versa . A variety of coal-measure rock types were drilled using PDC and WC bits using a fully instrumented and automatic drilling rig at six different rotational speeds (rpm) and an over range of thrust applied to the bit. The operating parameters of the drill bits were monitored on a computer-controlled logging system during the drilling trials. The control system is used to monitor the drilling speed, the thrust, the power developed at the bit, the feed rate, the distance penetrated and the presence of an adequate amount of drilling fluid. The strategy followed while drilling was to maintain a constant level of power at the bit in order to maximise the feed rate and minimise the rate of bit wear. Extensive laboratory tests have been carried out on the drilled rocks including mineralogical, physical and index properties analysis. Similarities between the rock strength and SEdrill are reported. The destruction specific energy (SEdes) was estimated from the area (integral) under the stress-strain envelope in an unconfined compression test. This method provides a better understanding of the relationships between drilling specific energy, drilling rate and the main mechanical rock character. The relationship of the SEdrill to operating parameters of the bits and the rock properties was evaluated using optimum drilling data.


Author(s): Hasan, Md Abid | Advisor(s): Lonardi, Stefano | Abstract: With the recent advancements in sequencing technologies, molecular biologists are producing ever-increasing amounts of biomolecular data. Extracting useful information from these massive data sets requires efficient and effective data mining and machine learning methods. In this dissertation, we explore the use of supervised machine learning (ML) to solve some challenging classification problems in molecular biology.First, we devise an ML model for classifying cancer types from very sparse somatic point mutation data. Accumulation of mutation and epigenetic modifications in somatic cells results in various cancer. For this purpose, we propose a method called mClass for efficient feature (gene) ranking that uses clustering, normalized mutual information and logistic regression. We show that somatic mutation data has sufficient discriminative power for cancer type classification.Next, we address the problem of gene essentiality prediction in microbes. Essential genes are significant to identify since their function is vital for the survival of the organism. Our proposed deep learning architecture called DeeplyEssential exclusively uses features extracted from the primary sequence of genes and their corresponding proteins, to maximize the utility and practicality of the tool. DeeplyEssential achieved state-of-the-art performance over previously proposed methods as well as expose and study a hidden performance bias affected previous models.Finally, we consider the problem of predicting the enhancer regions in the human genome from chromatin data. Enhancers contribute to the transcription of target genes. We propose a convolutional neural network framework named Epi2En that takes advantage of epigenetic ChIP-seq data. Epi2En's classification performance is not only very strong on cross-validation experiments, but also when testing across different cell-lines.


We have been investigating the possible advantages of a modular/ensemble neural network for acoustic modelling. We report experiments with ensembles of networks trained on data provided by different front-end preprocessing methods. As for previous work we train a network ensemble for each individual phone and combine the outputs of the ensemble using a further trained network. The combined system provides significant improvements for phone recognition and classification on the TIMIT corpus. Our results are now better than the best context-independent systems in the literature and close to the best context-dependent systems.


Abstract Student evaluations of teaching are widely adopted across academic institutions, but there are many underlying trends and biases that can influence their interpretation. Publicly accessible web-based student evaluations of teaching are of particular relevance, due to their widespread use by students in the course selection process and the quantity of data available for analysis. In this study, data from the most popular of these websites, RateMyProfessors.com, is analysed for correlations between measures of instruction quality, easiness, physical attractiveness, discipline and gender. This study of 7,882,980 RateMyProfessors ratings (from 190,006 US professors with at least 20 student ratings) provides further insight into student perceptions of academic instruction and possible variables in student evaluations. Positive correlations were observed between ratings of instruction quality and easiness, as well as between instruction quality and attractiveness. On average, professors in science and engineering disciplines have lower ratings than in the humanities and arts. When looking at RateMyProfessors as a whole, the effect of a professor's gender on rating criteria is small but statistically significant. When analysing the data as a function of discipline, however, the effects of gender are significantly more pronounced, albeit more complex. The potential implications are discussed.


Human rights have always been an important issue worldwide. It is an honor for National Taiwan University College of Law to have Professor Nowak, a former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, to provide an overview on the creation of the World Court of Human Rights. Based on the historical context, Professor Nowak discusses the rationale behind the creation of the World Court of Human Rights and provides eight reasons for the need for its creation. In response to the issues raised by Professor Mab Huang and other participants, Professor Nowak further explains the jurisdiction of this court and suggests ways in which Taiwan may participate in this regime if created in the future.


The vibration characteristics of flexural vibration disk in ultrasonic vibration system are studied through experiments. The results show that the resonant frequency of flexural vibration disk reduces with the reducing of its thickness and the resonant frequency increases with the reducing of its diameter. When designing the ultrasonic vibration system, because the transformer horn and the flexural vibration disk are designedly integrated, the defects caused by the way of threaded connection can be avoided. It is found that flexural vibration is dominating in the disk with some reflected ultrasonic through experiments, at the same time, there exist amplifying characteristics in the vibration of the disk and the maximal amplitude can reach 18 μm. The corresponding results provide certain reference value for the structure design of ultrasonic vibration system and the application in ultrasonic vibration deep-hole honing.


(1) The standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer is hormone therapy, based on medical castration (with an LH-RH agonist) or surgical castration (pulpectomy), possibly combined with an androgen antagonist. For patients with hormone-resistant disease the only cytotoxic agents approved in France, estramustine and mitoxantrone, have no proven impact on survival. (2) Docetaxel is now approved in Europe for the treatment of hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer, in combination with a steroid. (3) In an open-label comparative trial involving 1006 patients, docetaxel infusion at a dose of 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, in combination with prednisone (or prednisolone), significantly extended the median survival time by about 2.5 months as compared with a mitoxantrone-prednisone combination (18.9 versus 16.5 months). In another open-label comparative trial involving 674 patients, a combination of docetaxel + estramustine was significantly more effective than a mitoxantrone + prednisone combination in extending median survival time (17.5 versus 15.6 months). (4) The adverse effects of docetaxel + prednisone were the same as those seen with other indications (hair loss, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, neutropenia, nail disorders, neuropathies), and were severe in 25% of patients. (5) In France the cost of docetaxel therapy for hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer is more than 1000 euros every three weeks. (6) In practice, docetaxel is the first cytotoxic agent shown to prolong survival in men with hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. The benefit is limited, however, especially given the potentially severe adverse effects of docetaxel, which must be disclosed to patients.


In this work we study the problem of step size selection for numerical schemes, which guarantees that the numerical solution presents the same qualitative behavior as the original system of ordinary differential equations. We apply tools from nonlinear control theory, specifically Lyapunov function and small-gain based feedback stabilization methods for systems with a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium point. Proceeding this way, we derive conditions under which the step size selection problem is solvable (including a nonlinear generalization of the well-known A-stability property for the implicit Euler scheme) as well as step size selection strategies for several applications.


The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an interactive experience on music majors' perceptions of music experiences for deaf students. Twenty-three members of a pre-existing college brass ensemble served as subjects, and a 1-hour interactive concert/presentation for 10 deaf elementary children served as the independent variable. The interactive experience was designed to provide social, musical, and educational interactions between the college musicians and the deaf children. A pretest-posttest design was utilized, and the dependent variable was a questionnaire designed to examine the subjects' perceptions regarding music for deaf students, including how prepared, comfortable, and willing they felt to provide music experiences for deaf students. Results reveal that this single interactive experience had a significant effect on the subjects' perceptions of the value of music in the education of deaf children (p <.05). Although the pretest and posttest scores indicate that the subjects felt apprehensive about their preparedness to work with deaf students, the subjects felt significantly more positive about their preparedness following the interaction (p <.001). An analysis of open comments indicates that the subjects perceived the experience as (a) very positive, (b) increasing their knowledge and perception of music for deaf students, (c) helping them better relate to the deaf population, (d) promoting interest in similar experiences and in gaining more information, and (e) eliciting a feeling that future teachers should have similar experiences. Quotes from the subjects are given, and implications for teacher training/music therapy programs are discussed.


Numerical predictions of the migration velocity are presented for slightly non-uniform aqueous solutions of KCl or NaCl over a wide range of zeta potential (ζ) and particle radius divided by Debye length (κa). The characteristic speed of migration is comparable in magnitude to the ensemble mean diffusion velocity of ions forming the concentration gradient. In the absence of a macroscopic electric field induced by the gradient, the particle usually migrates toward higher salt concentration (the chemiphoretic contribution). However, for moderate values of κa, the particle reverses direction when |ζ| becomes sufficiently large. With an induced electric field, competition between electrophoresis and chemiphoresis can result in as many as four reversals in direction over the range of ζ. In some cases, the direction of migration was found to depend on the magnitude of the ionic drag coefficients, which seems to preclude predicting the direction on the basis of equilibrium thermodynamics.


The study was carried out keeping in view the recently emerging concern of adulteration of natural milk with various illegal substances to increase its marketability. This study explains in detail the hygienic status of milk supplied to various cafes, small hotels and other public and educational institutions. A total of 50 samples were collected from different localities in Hyderabad, India and tested for determination and extent of adulteration. Qualitative analyses were carried out on 50 milk samples; a standard milk adulteration kit manufactured by Himedia laboratories, Mumbai, India was used. Following are the significant observations of the study: - Sucrose and skim milk powder were present in 22% and 80% of the milk samples respectively. Urea, neutralizers and salt were present in 60%, 26% and 82% of the milk samples respectively. Formalin, detergents and hydrogen peroxide were present in 32%, 44%, and 32% of the milk samples obtained. All percentage values are indicative of presence of these adulterants (trace, moderate and high amounts combined). This qualitative analysis which has unfolded proved that the milk procured did not conform to the legal standards and was adulterated with toxic chemicals which are injurious to health.


The atmospheric ground level water vapors (GLV) were collected during 2008-10 on daily basis by condensation method in Indo-Gangetic plains at sites: Roorkee (Uttarakhand) and Sagar (Madhya Pradesh). The two sites are located a few hundred kilometers away along the southwest monsoon track. Isotopic composition of GLV collected at both the sites is compared and it is found that the two isotopic spectra grossly correlate at most part of the spectrum indicating that although rainout process take place locally, its effect on the atmospheric water vapors can be observed over long distances. This opens up possibility of monsoon prediction through monitoring of atmospheric water vapor.


Remains of 17th century cabinets of curiosity collections are held at the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Sweden. Some of the oldest date back to the 1650s, and were included in the collection of Archiater, i.e. physician to the Crown, von Bromell (1679–1731). He is also known for publishing the first series of papers in Sweden to exclusively deal with palaeontology. Throughout his life he acquired specimens by collecting, buying or receiving in exchange to add to those he inherited from his father Olaus Bromelius, a famous botanist and physician. Information on the labels gives a glimpse of his network of friends, colleagues and fellow collectors, such as Kilian Stobaeus, Lars Roberg, Emanuel Swedenborg, Elias Brenner and Johan Döbelius. When Bromell died, his vast collections of books, coins, furniture, conchs, stuffed animals, minerals and fossils were sold off. The minerals and fossils were split up and owned by various persons during the following century. Parts owned by A. Lagerberg between the years 1746 and 1776 were bought in 1796 by Johan Afzelius and donated to Uppsala University at his death. Fossils and minerals earlier described by Bromell were in the care of The Royal Society of Science in Uppsala at least by 1791. Through the Institute of Geology, fossils accumulated over the centuries at Uppsala University eventually came together under the same roof in 1932, under professor Carl Wiman's care at the then newly erected Palaeontology museum building. Today, about 300 fossils from the Bromell collection are preserved at the museum.


The weather and climate on Earth are generally determined by the amount and distribution of incoming solar radiation. This must be balanced in equilibrium by the emission of thermal radiation from the surface and atmosphere, but the precise routes by which incoming energy is transferred from the surface and within the atmosphere and back out to space are important features that characterize the current climate. This has been analysed in the past by several groups over the years, based on combinations of numerical model simulations and direct observations of the Earth's climate system. The results are often presented in schematic form[1] to show the main routes for the transfer of energy into, out of and within the climate system. Although relatively simple in concept, such diagrams convey a great deal of information about the climate system in a compact form, and are especially valuable pedagogically at school and undergraduate level.

Such an approach has not so far been adopted in any systematic way for other planets of the Solar System, let alone beyond, although quite detailed climate models of several planets are now available, constrained by many new observations and measurements. Here we analyse the global transfers of energy within the climate systems of a range of terrestrial planets within the Solar System, including Mars, Titan and Venus, as simulated by relatively comprehensive numerical circulation models of such planets. These results will then be presented in schematic form for comparison with the 'classical' global energy budget analysis of Trenberth et al.[1] for the Earth, highlighting the important similarities and differences. We also consider how to extend this approach towards other Solar System and extra-solar planets, including Jupiter, Saturn and hot Jupiter exoplanets.

[1] Trenberth, K. E., Fasullo, J. T. and Kiehl, J.: Earth's global energy budget, BAMS, Vol. 90, 311-323, 2009.


In the laboratory condition, a series of experiments were carried out in a sintering pot when Hamersley, Niuman and Hainan lump iron ore were used as sintering hearth layer instead of the recycled sinter. The results show that the sintering productivity is increased by 1.3%, 2.6 % and 13.2 %, and the fuel consumption is decreased by 4.4%, 2.0 % and 6.6 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the tumbler strength and the reduction disintegration index of sinter are also improved. During sintering experiments, the crack of two lump iron ores used as hearth layer didn't happen. Through using the new technology, the combined water and the sulfur impurity were effectively decreased in the sintering products. Furthermore, the micro-porosity of the sintering products was found to increase, which will contribute to improve the metallurgical properties of sinter.


One of the paradigm-shifting phenomena triggered in laser-plasma interactions at relativistic intensities is the so-called relativistic transparency. As the electrons become heated by the laser to relativistic energies, the plasma becomes transparent to the laser light even though the plasma density is sufficiently high to reflect the laser pulse in the non-relativistic case. This paper highlights the impact that relativistic transparency can have on laser-matter interactions by focusing on a collective phenomenon that is associated with the onset of relativistic transparency: plasma birefringence in thermally anisotropic relativistic plasmas. The optical properties of such a system become dependent on the polarization of light, and this can serve as the basis for plasma-based optical devices or novel diagnostic capabilities.


VeriNet Web is a software system that allows Web site resources to be protected using speaker verification. Speaker verification is the most practical biometric technology available for Internet security since the required collection hardware is readily available on most personal computers (PCs) being distributed today. VeriNet Web employs a three-tier client server architecture that distributes verification processing across multiple components. It integrates into a Web application by supplying standard extensions to a commercial Web server and browser. These components work together to manage the authentication process, maintain a user's authentication status, and ensure that protected resources are only accessed by authenticated users. When developing this multimedia Internet application, there were numerous implementation issues regarding the user interface, secure data transmissions, and user PC configuration that affected the success of the system. The paper discusses these issues. In addition, the paper examines the verification performance of VeriNet Web for a trial conducted with company employees. For experiments in this environment, the system yielded very good performance, and the equal error rate was always less than 5%.


Color in fish is mostly genetically determined, but they are unable to produce red, orange, yellow, green, and some blue colors themselves. They get these colors from their food. Fish raised in aquariums or recirculating water systems without pigment supplementation in their diet will fade and lose their vibrant hues. Even in ponds, dietary pigment supplementation can make fishes brighter and more variably colored, just like their wild counterparts. This 6-page fact sheet written by F. A. Chapman and R. D. Miles and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, addresses how ornamental fish get their colors and provides a list of ingredient sources for diets that can be used to enhance and intensify fish colors.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa192


The aim of this study was to analyse long-term changes in the distribution of the offshore shrimp stock in Icelandic waters from 1988–2013 and to analyse whether recent warming had impacts on or shaped the distribution. The northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is distributed throughout the colder parts of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is found both inshore and offshore in Icelandic waters. The offshore population is in the deep waters north and east of Iceland, at depths of 200 m or more. In recent years, surface temperature on Icelandic fishing grounds has increased by 1 to 2°C and since 1996, temperature north of Iceland has been relatively high. Cod abundance on the shrimp grounds also showed a gradual increase in the study period, and at the same time, shrimp abundance in offshore waters declined, and reached a historically low level in 2004. In this study, the centre of gravity of the shrimp distribution was estimated for each year and its displacement examined in terms of main influencing factors which were the offshore shrimp catch and the cod biomass index from the annual offshore shrimp surveys. In addition, factors influencing the shrimp abundance were examined and the mean sea surface temperature was found to be the main negative influence. The results therefore indicate that besides ocean temperature, both predation and fishing effort may have influenced the distribution and/or abundance of the northern shrimp off Iceland.


Deceased antithrombin (AT) levels, signifying a hypercoagulative state, have been reported in women with preeclampsia. Randomized trials of AT treatment have demonstrated significant improvement in maternal symptoms and preservation of fetal weight gain. The present report is a subgroup re-analysis of a randomized controlled trial of AT, given at 24 to 35 weeks' gestation to women with severe preeclampsia, defined as a blood pressure exceeding 160/110 mm Hg despite bed rest and proteinuria greater than 2 g daily. Groups of 42 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 3000 IU of AT daily or an albumin placebo for 1 week. Fetal weight gain, heart rate, and biophysical profile scores were monitored up to the time of delivery. Nearly two-thirds of women in each group completed the assigned intervention. AT treatment significantly countered worsening of both the fetal biophysical profile and the fetal heart rate (relative risk [RR], 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07–0.8) and increased the frequency of an estimated fetal weight gain exceeding 15 g/day during the week of treatment (RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.0–9.9). In addition, gestational age was lengthened to at least 34 weeks of gestation more often in the AT group (RR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.05–12.6). Infant mortality rates were similar in the active treatment and placebo groups. No AT-related side effects were observed, and none of the women developed HELLP (eclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. These findings show that AT treatment can prolong pregnancy in women with early-onset preeclampsia without adversely affecting the biophysical state of the fetus.


One way of designing a robust machine learning algorithm is to generate authentic adversarial images that can trick the algorithms as much as possible. In this study, we propose a new method to generate adversarial images which are very similar to true images, yet, these images are discriminated from the original ones and are assigned into another category by the model. The proposed method is based on a popular concept of experimental psychology, called, Just Noticeable Difference. We define Just Noticeable Difference for a machine learning model and generate the least perceptible difference for adversarial images which can trick a model. The suggested model iteratively distorts a true image by gradient descent method until the machine learning algorithm outputs a false label. Deep Neural Networks are trained for object detection and classification tasks. The cost function includes regularization terms to generate just noticeably different adversarial images which can be detected by the model. The adversarial images generated in this study look more natural compared to the output of the state of the art adversarial image generators.


A significant number of adolescent athletes throughout the world participate in various throwing-dominant sports, including but not limited to baseball, cricket, handball, softball, track and field throwing events, and water polo. Due to the unique stresses placed on the throwing arm and entire body in these sports, a robust volume of literature has highlighted concerns about sport specialization in these athletes and an associated increased risk of injury, particularly to the dominant shoulder and elbow, with sport specialization. This review will highlight the evidence-based literature for this athletic niche, focusing on risk factors for injury, national and international organizations' recommendations for limiting overuse injuries, principles of conditioning and rehabilitative programs, and potential future areas of research to curb the growing incidence of throwing-related injuries among adolescent throwing athletes.


The predominant view regarding Asian rice domestication is that the initial origin of nonshattering involved a single gene of large effect, specifically, the sh4 locus via the evolutionary replacement of a dominant allele for shattering with a recessive allele for reduced shattering. Data have accumulated to challenge this hypothesis. Specifically, a few studies have reported occasional seed-shattering plants from populations of the wild progenitor of cultivated rice (Oryza rufipogon complex) being homozygous for the putative "nonshattering" sh4 alleles. We tested the sh4 hypothesis for the domestication of cultivated rice by obtaining genotypes and phenotypes for a diverse set of samples of wild, weedy, and cultivated rice accessions. The cultivars were fixed for the putative "nonshattering" allele and nonshattering phenotype, but wild rice accessions are highly polymorphic for the putative "nonshattering" allele (frequency ∼26%) with shattering phenotype. All weedy rice accessions are the "nonshattering" genotype at the sh4 locus but with shattering phenotype. These data challenge the widely accepted hypothesis that a single nucleotide mutation ("G"/"T") of the sh4 locus is the major driving force for rice domestication. Instead, we hypothesize that unidentified shattering loci are responsible for the initial domestication of cultivated rice through reduced seed shattering.


Graph neural networks (GNNs) have shown high potential for a variety of real-world, challenging applications, but one of the major obstacles in GNN research is the lack of large-scale flexible datasets. Most existing public datasets for GNNs are relatively small, which limits the ability of GNNs to generalize to unseen data. The few existing large-scale graph datasets provide very limited labeled data. This makes it difficult to determine if the GNN model's low accuracy for unseen data is inherently due to insufficient training data or if the model failed to generalize. Additionally, datasets used to train GNNs need to offer flexibility to enable a thorough study of the impact of various factors while training GNN models. In this work, we introduce the Illinois Graph Benchmark (IGB), a research dataset tool that the developers can use to train, scrutinize and systematically evaluate GNN models with high fidelity. IGB includes both homogeneous and heterogeneous academic graphs of enormous sizes, with more than 40% of their nodes labeled. Compared to the largest graph datasets publicly available, the IGB provides over 162× more labeled data for deep learning practitioners and developers to create and evaluate models with higher accuracy. The IGB dataset is a collection of academic graphs designed to be flexible, enabling the study of various GNN architectures, embedding generation techniques, and analyzing system performance issues for node classification tasks. IGB is open-sourced, supports DGL and PyG frameworks, and comes with releases of the raw text that we believe foster emerging language models and GNN research projects. An early public version of IGB is available at https://github.com/IllinoisGraphBenchmark/IGB-Datasets.


As the human technology moved further, the risk of natural and man induced catastrophes increase exponentially. One of the most dangerous disasters is fires. In addition to its direct danger on human's lives, fire consumes forests where trees that provide humans with oxygen are destroyed. The risk of fire has increased due to the problem of global warming which appeared in the 1980s. Forest fires represent a constant threat to ecological systems, infrastructure and environmental aspects of a community. This gives rise to the urgent need to detect forest fires as fast as possible. This paper highlights the powerful feature of wireless sensor networks as a potential solution to the challenge of early detection of forest fires. The device presented makes use of various sensors attached, solar recharging mechanism, and wireless data transmission, to fulfill the task in question. These collected data are transmitted to a near central unit where they are analyzed and then uploaded to an online website which contacts the Civil Defense unit if necessary. This website is accessible by the specific authorities in order to take early actions in case of any alert. It is worth mentioning that this system is efficient and green; thus, enforcing the need for its creation.


INTRODUCTION The previous chapter outlined the general features of human cognitive architecture relevant to learning. According to this architecture, our schematic knowledge base in long-term memory represents the major critical factor influencing the way we learn new information. In the absence of a relevant knowledge base for a specific situation or task, we apply random search processes to select appropriate actions. Any modifications to our knowledge base for dealing with novel situations occur only under certain restrictive conditions on the amount of such change. Based on these general characteristics of learning within a cognitive load framework, it is possible to formulate general instructional principles that support processes of schema acquisition and enable understanding and learning. This chapter suggests a number of such Cognitive Load Theory (CLT)–generated principles for efficient instruction aimed at acquisition of an organized knowledge base: a direct initial instruction principle, an expertise principle, and a small step-size of change principle. To substantiate these principles, it is necessary first to describe in more detail the concept of schematic knowledge structures and analyze sources of cognitive load that are irrelevant to learning processes. LEARNING AS SCHEMA ACQUISITION Schemas represent knowledge as stable patterns of relationships between elements describing some classes of structures that are abstracted from specific instances and used to categorize such instances. Multiple schemas can be linked together and organized into hierarchical structures.


Diffuse-type neurofibroma, an uncommon variant of neurofibroma, is associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 in ∼60% of cases. Typically presenting in young adults as ill-defined plaque-like dermal/subcutaneous thickening, most cases are located on the trunk or the head and neck region. Malignant transformation is extremely rare. Nine cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) arising in diffuse-type neurofibroma (identified in consult files) are described, including clinicopathologic features and follow-up. Five patients were male and 4 female, aged 31 to 59 years (median 49 y). All diffuse-type neurofibromas contained Meissner corpuscles, with tumor sizes ranging between 3.6 and 45 cm (median, 7.4 cm). Five patients had a clinical history of neurofibromatosis type 1, and 1 had Klippel-Trénaunay-Weber syndrome. Six tumors arose on the trunk and 1 each on the leg, arm, and scalp. Increased cellularity, nuclear atypia, and mitoses (range, 1 to 63/50 high-power fields) indicated transition to MPNST, classified as low grade in 5, intermediate to high grade in 1, and high grade in 3 cases, 1 of which exhibited heterologous angiosarcomatous differentiation. S-100 expression was quite strong and diffuse in the neurofibroma components and less extensive or weaker in MPNST. Follow-up, available for all patients (median, 80.5 mo, except 1 recent case), revealed that 1 patient developed local recurrence after 9 months; 1 with metastases at the time of initial diagnosis died 1 month after tumor resection. All other patients were alive without evidence of disease at 15 to 145 months (median, 83 mo). Diffuse-type neurofibroma may show transformation to MPNST in very rare instances. It is important to be aware of possible malignant change, requiring thorough sampling of resection specimens and long-term clinical follow-up of patients with unexcised lesions.


Introduction: An abnormal course of the Umbilical Vein (UV) is a rare anomaly and this can be associated with the congenital absence of the Ductus Venosus (DV), cardiac and extra-cardiac anomalies. The major clinical importance of these anomalies is the need to recognize them during prenatal and postnatal diagnostic studies and at the time of cannulation or catheterization of the umbilical vein in sick neonates. Through targeted examination of the fetal heart and the venous system, a correct prenatal diagnosis is possible.

Case Report: A 25-year-old gravida 1 para 0 with type 1 diabetes mellitus at 21+6 weeks gestation referred for fetal echocardiogram because abnormal vessel was noted connecting the UV to the right atrium on the obstetric ultrasound by her maternal fetal medicine specialist. A diagnosis of drainage of the UV directly into the right atrium with absent DV and other minor cardia defects were made on the fetal echocardiogram. Preterm delivery occurred at 31+3 weeks gestation and had a favorable clinical course.

Conclusion: An abnormal course of the umbilical vein is a rare anomaly and this can be associated with the congenital absence of the Ductus Venosus (DV), cardiac and extra-cardiac anomalies. Through a thorough and meticulous ultrasonographic assessment, the diagnosis can be made and that will be helpful in guiding the management of the rest of the pregnancy and counsel the family what to expect.


Purpose To determine the contribution of pneumolysin and autolysin, two putative pneumococcal virulence proteins, to the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae endophthalmitis. Methods Endophthalmitis was established in Lewis rats by intravitreal injection of pneumococcal strains at an inoculum of 102 organisms. The virulence of three closely related type 2 S. pneumoniae strains were compared: a pneumolysin-deficient derivative (PLN-A), an autolysin-deficient derivative (AL-6), and their isogenic wild-type parent (D39). Clinical and histologic inflammation scores were compared 24 hours and 48 hours after inoculation. Results Eyes infected with PLN-A and AL-6 strains showed less anterior segment inflammation clinically at 24 hours than did eyes infected with the wild-type strain. Histologic examination at 24 hours showed significantly less corneal infiltration and vitritis and more relative preservation of retinal tissue in eyes infected with PLN-A and AL-6 strains than in eyes infected with the wild-type strain. At 48 hours, no observable differences between PLN-A and wild-type strains were present clinically or histologically. Histologically, however, the AL-6 strain caused less retinal damage than did the wild-type strain. Conclusions Intraocular infection with pneumolysin-deficient S. pneumoniae results in less severe tissue damage in the first 24 hours of disease compared with infection with pneumolysin-producing S. pneumoniae. Autolysin-deficient S. pneumoniae shows a similar degree of attenuated virulence. Pneumolysin and autolysin may contribute to the early pathogenesis of pneumococcal endophthalmitis.


As a social science cultural anthropology shares the problems of all preparadigmatic sciences. Cultural anthropology textbooks primarily aim to overcome the traditional division to natural and social sciences, and they see anthropology as an ideal space for uniting the two. However, this aspiration does not remove doubts about the subject and methods of cultural anthropology. Rene Girard, a French-American theoretician, tried to solve the aporias of the science about man by deliberating on the origin of man and his culture. For that purpose, he created so-called fundamental anthropology, whose basic theoretic idea is the mimeticity of a human being resulting by violence. By repressing the true nature of the so-called founding murder, and by its ritualization, a man defers his violence and creates culture. Girard's inspiring theory, though widely accepted, is still not completely recognized among professional anthropologists. However, all prerequisites for that have been created, and this short review endeavors to provide evidence for that.


Over 6.2 million people worldwide suffer from moderate to severe vision loss due to corneal disease. While transplantation with allogenic donor tissue is sight-restoring for many patients with corneal blindness, this treatment modality is limited by long waiting lists and high rejection rates, particularly in patients with severe tissue damage and ocular surface pathologies. Hydrogel biomaterials represent a promising alternative to donor tissue for scalable, nonimmunogenic corneal reconstruction. However, implanted hydrogel materials require invasive surgeries and do not precisely conform to tissue defects, increasing the risk of patient discomfort, infection, and visual distortions. Moreover, most hydrogel crosslinking chemistries for the in situ formation of hydrogels exhibit off-target effects such as cross-reactivity with biological structures and/or result in extractable solutes that can have an impact on wound-healing and inflammation. To address the need for cytocompatible, minimally invasive, injectable tissue substitutes, host–guest interactions have emerged as an important crosslinking strategy. This review provides an overview of host–guest hydrogels as injectable therapeutics and highlights the potential application of host–guest interactions in the design of corneal stromal tissue substitutes.


This paper provides a brief review of the (mainly in-situ) electrochemical methods that have been applied to coatings to assess corrosion protection ability. It discusses particularly the electrochemical noise measurement (ENM) which although still being developed has shown considerable promise as a method for assessing coatings in a laboratory situation. Results are presented and compared with results from other electrochemical methods particularly electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The challenge of how best to apply ENM and other methods to monitoring in a practical situation is addressed


Language is a means of communication. Communication takes place not
only with two or more speakers, but also between a speaker and a text. There
should be a kind of interaction between the learner
(
reader
)
 and the text which is
being read in order to be good readers.
Reading is a necessary skill that any learner needs. Unfortunately, how to
teach reading has not been given due care in some schools. In the past, according
to the traditional view, reading begins with the child's mastering the names of the
letters, mastering the letter-sound relationships, then, learning some easy words in
isolation, and, finally, reading simple stories with highly controlled vocabularies

(
Harp and Brewer, 1996: 17
)
. Researchers and teachers as well complain that
most learners are not able to understand what they read.
Reading cannot be separated from comprehension. That is why there
appear a lot of problems dealing with reading comprehension. Many English
learners find it difficult to understand the English text. Very often, they get stuck
because of some problems, such as unfamiliar words, their inability in
understanding the context, being reluctant, and so forth.
Reading is not an easy skill to master. It is a complex process that requires
specialized skill of the reader
(
Dechant, 1977: 21
)
. Besides, it is also
comprehension process as well as writing. According to Nunan
(
1998: 33
)
,
reading needs identification and also interpretation processes which require the
reader's knowledge about the language structure used in the text and his
knowledge about a given topic. It is the complexity that makes some students less
interested in this kind of activity. They find it difficult to understand what is on
the reading passage since they do not know the technique which can help them to
read more effectively and efficiently. This phenomenon happens in almost every
language class.
Reading comprehension skills separate the "passive" unskilled readers
from the "active" readers. Skilled readers do not just read, they interact with the
text. Skilled readers, for instance, predict what will happen next in a story using
clues presented in text, create questions about the main idea, message, or plot of
the text, and monitor understanding of the sequence, context, or characters

(
Sanders, 2001: 26
)
.
To be able to achieve the purposes of reading comprehension, one should
have some basic reading skills as follows;
(
1
)
literal skills
(
getting the central
thought and main idea, recalling and recognizing of facts and information, finding
answer to specific questions
)
;
(
2
)
 interpretive skills
(
drawing conclusions,
generalizing, deriving meaning from context
)
;
(
3
)
critical skill
(
determining the
writer's purpose
)
; and
(
4
)
creative skills
(
applying information into daily life
)
.
Based on the preliminary observation on the teaching-learning process in
SMP Negeri 1 Sine, the writer found that there are some problems that arise in
students' reading comprehension. The students still encounter some difficulties in
comprehending English texts. In the interview with some students, they said that they got difficulties in identifying the implicit and explicit information of the text.
Besides, many students have low motivation in reading class.
The students' lack of understanding on reading lesson is mainly caused by
an inappropriate teaching technique used when the teachers attempted to explain
reading materials. The teacher only uses one technique namely, conventional
technique. In the reading class, the teacher presents a subject in the text book and
asks students to read whether silently or loudly, and then students have to answer
the questions that follow. Consequently, the reading lesson becomes monotonous
and boring, students lack motivation to read, even if they read, they show negative
attitudes. As a result, the students are not able to get good scores in their reading
achievement.
Permendiknas no. 24, 2006 at seventh article in point b states that the
teachers under Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Departemen Pendidikan
Nasional can develop KTSP curriculum innovatively. It means that the teacher
has the right in using method or technique in a teaching process as long as the
technique can achieve instructional goals. The teacher has to be able to make an
interesting material and to use an interesting technique. One of the ways that may
have a significant impact on the teaching reading process is the semantic mapping
strategy.
Semantic mapping strategy can be used for, at least, several different
instructional purposes. This strategy can assist teachers in planning the instruction
by helping them identify the patterns of organization of ideas and the concepts.
A semantic mapping strategy can be useful for introducing the important
vocabulary in a selection to be read. It shows students how the terms are
interrelated. Teachers can use a semantic mapping to activate and tap student's
background knowledge. Also, it can be a helpful reference for students to use in
clarifying confusing points as they are reading. Once students are familiar with the
nature of the semantic mapping strategy, they can create their own mapping
during-reading or post-reading activity.
Steps in the creation of semantic mapping strategy, particularly; the
concept and word mapping strategies are: Analyze the concepts and vocabulary in
the text. Arrange the words in a map that depicts the interrelationships between
the concepts. Add to the diagram the words or concepts that are already
understood by the students in order to depict the relationships between what they
know and the information in the text.
The semantic mapping strategy or Structured Overview, as it is sometimes
called, is a schematic diagram of the major concepts in a portion of text. The
researcher of this study uses the semantic mapping strategy in teaching reading at
SMPN 1 Sine because it can develop the students' thinking skills and reading
comprehension. This strategy can easily be taught and implemented for the
students. The researcher believes that semantic mapping strategy can improve the
students' reading comprehension.


A patient who had aortic and mitral valves replaced by Carpentier porcine heterografts for bacterial endocarditis developed severe heart failure 18 days after operation. A second emergency operation revealed that the mitral prosthesis had become severely stenosed and calcified. A loud Graham Steell murmur had developed during the 12 hours before reoperation but no distinct murmurs of mitral stenosis had been detected.


A practical oxide thermoelectric module consisting of 12 pairs of p-NaCo2O4 and nanostructured n-ZnO sintered materials was successfully fabricated by using a diffusion welding technique. By applying a nanostructure using a void forming agency (VFA), the electrical conductivity of the n-ZnO sintered materials were drastically enhanced, leading that the power factor of the materials were dramatically improved. It is revealed that the oxide module can be operated up to 930 K on the hot side temperature. A maximum power output of 52.5 mW was achieved at the temperature condition of TH/TL=934/479 K, where TH and TL are temperatures at the hot and cold sides of the module, respectively. The details of the power generation characteristics of the present oxide module will be presented and the performance will be discussed with those of our previous and other oxide modules.


Background

There is no evidence for the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Methods

Twelve patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and previously treated with TKIs were enrolled in the study.
Results

The treatment lines ranged from second line to sixth line. HCC staging was Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B in four cases and BCLC stage C in eight cases. The overall response rate and disease control rate according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) were 18.1% and 54.4%, respectively. Progression-free survival was 2.7 months, indicating that early response to treatment may differ depending on the type of previous therapy. The side effects profile also differed from that observed in IMbrave150, a phase 3 trial of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, with many adverse events related to liver reserve.
Conclusions

The therapeutic effects and side effects differed from those previously reported during the treatment course of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line therapy.


Asian American students are frequently stereotyped to be hardworking and academically talented. To what extent are teacher appraisals of Asian students influenced by such racial stereotypes? This article investigates this question through a quantitative analysis of high school students from the Educational Longitudinal Study. I find that even when controlling for a wide range of student and family characteristics, including standardized test scores, and comparing students within the same school, high school teachers express more favorable appraisals of Asian students relative to academically comparable White students along three dimensions. First, teachers report more positive assessments of Asian students' attentiveness and performance in their classrooms. Second, they hold higher expectations for Asian students' future educational attainment, typically expecting a college degree or more. Third, they are more likely to recommend Asian students for Advanced Placement and honors courses, signaling one concrete action by which teachers may act as gatekeepers to further reify Asian students' academic success. Importantly, I find that math teachers remain more likely to engage in such behaviors net of their own subjective evaluations of student attitudes and behaviors, lending suggestive evidence to the claim that Asian youth benefit from racialized teacher expectations. The results more broadly suggest that differential teacher appraisals are a source of educational inequality across racial groups in the United States.


C underthe reductive atmosphere. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements indicated that the pure and highperformance YAG phosphors were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that the phosphor particlesare well dispersed and nearly spherical with a homogeneous particle size. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurementrevealedthattheproposedmethodcouldprompttheCe


Captcha is widely used in modern websites in order to hinder illicit tasks. It provides a mechanism through which a robot and human can be differentiated. It is akin to a security system which aims at deterring fraud and automatic attack. Advanced technologies such as deep learning is capable of recognising captcha without human intervention. Needed to walk through how this security breach can happen. In addition to complex object detection and segmentation tasks, our work analysed how encoder and decoder models can be used in this task. Also,experimented with various encoders and decoders to contrast their efficiencies and to propose the best model. Typically, a convolutional neural network is an encoder and sequential model such as recurrent neural network acts as decoder. Our work proved that a combination of Resnet and Long short term memory has yielded higher accuracy. In the case of object detection approach, YOLO (achieved 0.710 mean average precision) performed better than Faster RCNN is observed. Grey scale images have also been considered as captcha recognition task is concerned with extraction of shapes rather than colours.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of tumor size and different treatment method on the prognosis of primary vaginal malignant melanoma.

METHOD
The clinical data of 25 patients with primary malignant melanoma of the vagina admitted to our hospital from Dec. 1964 to Oct. 1997 were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS
The overall 2-year and 5-year survival rate were 21.4% and 5.4%, respectively. The mean survival time for patients with tumor diameter < or = 2 cm was 27.7 months and for patients with tumor > 2 cm, 9.7 months (P < 0.05). The mean survival time was 19.5 months for the 17 cases treated with surgery and 8.3 months for another 8 cases who did not received surgery (P < 0.05). Multi-variate Cox regression with tumor size, surgical treatment, chemotherapy and immunotherapy also showed that tumor diameter and surgery were significant variables statistically for survival time (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The prognosis of the primary malignant melanoma of vagina is poor and can be improved if the disease could be diagnosed early and combined modality therapy with emphasis on surgery be given.


OVERVIEW | A group of diploma master brewer students from two different brewing courses at Scandinavian School of Brewing (SSB), Copenhagen, presented the results of their studies on the most common flavours and off-flavours found in beer in a two part series. The first part (BRAUWELT International no. 4, 2014, pp. 204-207) dealt with flavour development during the individual steps of the brewing process. This second part gives an overview of off-flavours, their causes and remedies.


BACKGROUND
Microalbuminuria and hypertension have long been associated with a guarded prognosis in human patients with a variety of diseases. In veterinary medicine, tests for microalbuminuria have been used for detecting early kidney damage, but there is little information regarding its association with high blood pressure in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate albuminuria and its association with arterial hypertension in dogs with CKD.

METHODS
Urinary albumin:creatinine (UAC) ratio, urinary protein:creatinine (UPC) ratio, and systolic blood pressure were determined in 39 clinically healthy dogs and 40 dogs with CKD.

RESULTS
UAC in dogs with CKD (range, 0.002-7.99; median, 0.38) was statistically different from that of control dogs (range, 0.0005-0.01; median, 0.002). Microalbuminuria (UAC 0.03-0.3) and macroalbuminuria (UAC>0.3) were detected in 32.5% and 50% of dogs with CKD, respectively. Sixty percent (24/40) of dogs with CKD had systolic pressure > or =180 mmHg; in these dogs, UAC ratio (range, 0.006-7.99; median, 1.72) was significantly higher than in dogs with CKD and systolic pressure<180 mmHg (range, 0.002-4.83; median, 0.10). Of hypertensive dogs with CKD, those with UPC>1.0 usually had macroalbuminuria, those with UPC 0.5-1.0 usually had microalbuminuria, and those with UPC<0.5 usually lacked albuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS
UAC ratio was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive dogs with CKD. Tests designed to detect microalbuminuria may be useful for hypertensive dogs with CKD and a UPC < or = 1.0 to detect the onset and magnitude of albuminuria. Once macroalbuminuria is overt, the UPC ratio itself can be used for the same purpose.


This exploratory study shows that the contributions of cognitive, metacognitive awareness, performance avoidance, test anxiety, and socioeconomic family background factors to SAT scores (i.e., overall SAT, SAT-V, SAT-M) may vary as a function of ethnicity (i.e., European-American, Hispanic). Four hundred and fifty-seven students, 282 European-American and 175 Hispanic, completed multiple measures of cognitive, metacognitive awareness, social/personality (i.e., test anxiety, performance avoidance, academic self-efficacy), and socioeconomic family background factors, which were used in regression analyses predicting overall SAT, SAT-V, and SAT-M scores. The results show that most factors contributed significantly to overall SAT, SAT-M, and SAT-V scores. In addition, the ethnicity X test anxiety interaction was significant for all three SAT measures, a finding that suggests ethnic differences in the contributions of test anxiety to overall SAT, SAT-M, and SAT-V scores. For European-American students, test anxiety had no influence on overall SAT and SAT-M scores, whereas for Hispanic students test anxiety had a negative influence on overall SAT and SAT-M scores. For SAT-V scores, interpreting the ethnicity X test anxiety interaction was more complicated because both the significant main effect of test anxiety and the ethnicity X test anxiety interaction must be interpreted together. Whereas test anxiety negatively influenced European-Americans' SAT-V scores, this negative influence was less than the influence it had on Hispanic students' SAT-V scores. Indeed, for Hispanic students with high test anxiety, this negative influence was profound. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that any theory explaining the SAT may need to take into account multiple predictors as well as the possibility that the contributions of these predictors may vary as a function of ethnicity.


ABSTRACT In 2011, we published an article in SEAJ [Gibbon, J., and C. Dey. 2011. "Developments in Social Impact Measurement in the Third Sector: Scaling Up or Dumbing Down?" Social and Environmental Accountability Journal 31 (1): 63–72] that explored various issues surrounding the measurement of social impact in Third Sector Organisations. In the little over five years since it was published, we have been surprised to discover that our article has emerged as one of SEAJ's most cited (and downloaded) publications. This prompted us to take a closer look at where our paper was being cited and obtain further insight as to why and how the paper has been used across a variety of fields, within both theoretical and empirical studies, by both academics and practitioners. Relevant to both researchers and practitioners, our review provides a useful snapshot that brings together a broad literature to explore how and where social impact measurement for social enterprise and values-based organisations is developing.


After graduation in 2001, Tran Trong Minh Khoa started his career as a software developer for FPT Software Development Company – one of the subordinate companies of FPT Corporation, the largest information communications technology (ICT) Corporation in Vietnam. He successfully transitioned from new graduate computer engineer to IT professional despite some early pitfalls. Since this milestone, Khoa's career had steadily progressed. In 2008, he was appointed a Deputy Director of Software Development Centre No.5, focusing on software applications for E-government management.


Loops are typically the most computation intensive sections for embedded applications. Therefore, it is important to minimize the overall schedule length for loops during the compilation process. Register allocation and instruction scheduling are two key activities during a compilation process. These two activities exhibit a phase ordering problem: Instruction scheduling before register allocation could lengthen live ranges of variables which will create more conflicts and more costly spills, Register allocation before scheduling may result in the same register assignment to two independent variables which will limit the choices available for scheduling. This paper proposes a cooperative re-scheduling register allocation technique for loops that combines these two critical stages together to minimize the schedule length. The novelty of the proposed approach is that the responsibility for balancing the phase ordering problem lies within the register allocator, which can re-schedule the aggressive initial scheduling to minimize the schedule length. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can reduce overall schedule length by 12% on average compared to previous techniques.


Background Previous studies suggested that visual evoked potential (VEP) was impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), but the results were inconsistent. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore whether the VEP was significantly different between PD patients and healthy controls. Case-control studies of PD were selected through an electronic search of the databases PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We calculated the pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between individuals with PD and controls using the random-effects model. Results Twenty case-control studies which met our inclusion criteria were included in the final meta-analysis. We found that the P100 latency in PD was significantly higher compared with healthy controls (pooled WMD = 6.04, 95% CI: 2.73 to 9.35, P=0.0003, n=20). However, the difference in the mean amplitude of P100 was not significant between the two groups (pooled WMD = 0.64, 95% CI: −0.06 to 1.33, P=0.07) based on 10 studies with the P100 amplitude values available. Conclusions The higher P100 latency of VEP was observed in PD patients, relative to healthy controls. Our findings suggest that electrophysiological changes and functional defect in the visual pathway of PD patients are important to our understanding of the pathophysiology of visual involvement in PD.


Resampling techniques are widely used in statistical inference and ensemble learning, in which estimators' statistical properties are essential. However, existing methods are computationally demanding, because repetitions of estimation/learning via numerical optimization/integral for each resampled data are required. In this study, we introduce a computationally efficient method to resolve such problem: replicated vector approximate message passing. This is based on a combination of the replica method of statistical physics and an accurate approximate inference algorithm, namely the vector approximate message passing of information theory. The method provides tractable densities without repeating estimation/learning, and the densities approximately offer an arbitrary degree of the estimators' moment in practical time. In the experiment, we apply the proposed method to the stability selection method, which is commonly used in variable selection problems. The numerical results show its fast convergence and high approximation accuracy for problems involving both synthetic and real-world datasets.


Background: Gastrointestinal failure accounts for death in critically ill patients. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in intestinal barrier function in critically ill patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: Patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were randomized into a DEX group (n=21) or an MID group (n=21). Sufentanil was used in both groups for analgesia. In the DEX group, DEX was loaded (1 µg/kg) before sedation and was infused (0.7 µg/kg/h) during sedation. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), borborygmus resumption time (BRT), �rst defecation time (FDT), stay of ICU and hospital were observed. The DAO, D-LAC, TNF-α, IL-6 and α7nAChR levels in plasma or haemocytes were detected before the start of the sedation (0 h) and after the sedation (24 h). Results: There were no signi�cant differences in age, sex, BMI, APACHE II score, SOFA (P>0.05). The MAP between 0 and 24 h presented no signi�cant difference between the groups (P > 0.05), but HR was signi�cantly slower in the DEX group (P=0.042). The recovery time of bowel sounds was signi�cantly earlier in the DEX group (P=0.034). Both of the stay of ICU (P=0.016) and hospital (P=0.031) were signi�cantly shorter in the DEX group. The expression of α7nAChR in the DEX group was signi�cantly higher at 24 h than at 0 h (P=0.002). The D-LAC decreased signi�cantly in the DEX group than MID group at 24 h (P=0.016). Conclusions: DEX maintained the integrity of the intestinal barrier in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery through the cholinergic anti-in�ammatory pathway.


This paper discusses the practices associated with Japanese Manufacturing Management (JMM) which can yield a superior competitive advantage in terms of productivity, quality and provide overall successful business performance. To examine the transfer of the best practices of the JMM locally and obtain the impact of the adoption and adaptation of the JMM, an in-depth case study was conducted in a Malaysian automotive company. This paper also discusses the changes in terms of the philosophy and practices undertaken by the automotive company and ascertain the impact of the JMM on its manufacturing and financial performances. The elements of business performance from the viewpoint of manufacturing based on safety, quality, cost and delivery were quantified and examined. All elements were quantified since the first year of the adoption and viewed over time to track the trend of achievement. The results show a positive impact to the automotive plant manufacturing performance. The results of the financial performance also show the profitability of the plant. The revenue has increased up to 92% after the JMM adoption whilst the net profit has increased from 5.33% to 8.15%.


Recent discoveries suggest that ovarian cancer has its origins in the oviducts (Fallopian tubes) and may exist as intraepithelial carcinoma for up to 6 years. One route of access to the oviducts and ovaries is through the wall of the vagina. We have developed an approximately 3.8 mm diameter rigid salpingoscope for surveillance of high-risk women and early detection of ovarian cancer. The salpingoscope contains multiple advanced imaging modalities, as well as a channel for instillation of saline or dyes, and another channel for introduction of biopsy forceps. The single optical channel combines the modalities of multispectral fluorescence and reflectance wide-field imaging, multiphoton microscopy (MPM), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Multiple modalities through a single channel are achieved by a novel lens system with dichroic coatings which create separate optical paths for visible wavelengths (low numerical aperture (NA) imaging) and near-infrared wavelengths (high NA imaging). A quartered piezoelectric tube actuator scans a dual-clad fiber with added mass to facilitate both relatively slow (OCT) and fast (wide field and MPM) scanning. Visible wavelength laser diodes are the source for wide field reflectance and fluorescence imaging, with remitted light collected through 12 high NA multimode fibers. A novel femtosecond laser with near-infrared output provides the source for OCT and MPM, with remitted light collected through the core and inner cladding of the dual-clad fiber, respectively. Detectors include high sensitivity photodiodes for wide field, a linear array with spectrometer for OCT, and photomultiplier tubes to collect twoand three-photon signals for MPM imaging.


The miniconization by carbon dioxid laser is a non-destructive method for treatment of mild and moderate dysplasia of the uterine cervix permitting an adequate histopathological interpretation of the whole transformation zone. The risk of postoperative haemorrhage is minimal which enables ambulant care. 413 patients have hitherto been treated and we have found carcinoma in situ in 16.7%, micro-invasive carcinoma in 1.2% and invasive carcinoma in 0.25%.


Tracking a high-velocity object through a cluttered environment is daunting for even the human-observer. Vision-based trackers will frequently lose their lock on the object as features on the object become distorted or faded as a result of motion-blurring imparted by the high-velocity of the object. Moreover, the frequent occlusions as the object passes through clutter only serves to compound the issue. To boot, the usual difficulties associated with most vision-based trackers still apply such as: nonuniform illumination, object rotation, object scale changes, etc... Inertial-based trackers provide useful complementary data to aid the vision-based systems. The higher sampling rates of the inertial measurements gives invaluable information to be able to track high-speed objects. With the IMU attached to the object, the inertial measurements are immune to occlusions unlike their visual counterparts. Efficient combination of visual as well as inertial sensors into a unified framework is coined visual-inertial sensor fusion. Visual-inertial sensor fusion is a powerful tool for many industries: it allows the medical practitioners to better understand and diagnose illnesses; it allows the engineer to design more flexible and immersive virtual reality environments; and it allows the film-director to fully capture motion in a scene. The complementary nature of visual and inertial sensors is well-toted throughout these industries, the faster sampling rate of the inertial sensors fits lock-and-key with the higher accuracy of the visual sensor to unlock the potential for algorithms capable of tracking high-velocity objects through cluttered environments. Inevitably, sensor fusion is accompanied by higher algorithmic complexity and requires careful understanding of the components involved. For this reason, the approach taken in this thesis is a ground-up approach towards a complete visual-inertial system: from camera calibration all the way to handling of asynchronous sensor measurements for sensor-fusion.


Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis is characterised by acute ophthalmoplegia and ataxia with progressive consciousness disturbance.1 Although Bickerstaff described rigidity in the recovery phase,1 rigidity in the clinical course of Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis has rarely been reported.2 We encountered a case in which the initial diagnosis was tetanus, because of the progression of severe rigidity and risus sardonicus, but which turned out to be Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis owing to the presence of anti-GQ1b IgG antibody.

A 23 year old man who had had no prior apparent infectious episode began to show dysaesthesia, clumsiness, and slight weakness of all limbs (day 1). Due to rapid exacerbation of these symptoms he was admitted to a hospital the next day. On day 3, he became irritable because of increased anxiety, although he was alert and completely oriented. He was transferred to another hospital for further treatment. There he required assistance in walking because of new severe rigidity in all his limbs. Oral haloperidol (maximum dose 20 mg/day) was given for 10 days to reduce his anxiety, but his symptoms did not lessen. Treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day) from day 14 to 16, as well as acyclovir (1500 mg/day) given …


Introduction: Cryoresistance of snow algae and lichens
surviving at extreme environments (i.e. freezing temperature)
includes ice nucleation activity. However, interspecific
differences in cryoresistance exist according to physiological
adjustment of the species to in situ conditions. Objectives: We
focused on differences in freezing temperatures of snow
(Chlamydomonas nivalis, Chloromonas nivalis) and lichen
symbiotic algae (Trebouxia erici, T.assymetrica, T.glomerata).
The green mesophilic flagellate Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was
used as an inner standard. We also focused on growth
temperature optimum. Methods: Ice nucleation spectrometry (INS)
was used to quantify the number and activity of ice nucleating
agents. Temperature optimum was measured using a cross gradient
cultivator (temperature x light). Results: Pooled data showed
that snow algae had higher value of freezing temperature (minus
9.8 deg C) than lichen symbiotic algae (minus 14.7 deg C).
Surprisingly, the freezing temperature of a mesophilic
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (minus 12.6 deg C) did not differ
significantly from the snow algae. The INS analysis showed that
snow algae had lower capacity of ice nucleation than lichen
symbiotic algae. Growth optima were 18.5 deg C (Trebouxia sp.),
and below 10 deg C (Chlamydomonas and Chloromonas).
Conclusions: From the results follows that snow algae are bad
ice nucleators with the exception of Chloromonas nivalis in
which the fungal contamination cannot be excluded. However,
these algae tolerate low temperatures and survive repeated
freezethaw cycles. Therefore, other mechanisms preventing ice
crystal formation must be involved. The mechanisms likely
include either decrease of the freezing temperature by
antifreeze proteins or osmoticly active compound synthesis.
Acknowledgements: GAAV KJB601630808, GAAV KJB60050708, CAREX
Knowlege Grants


BackgroundLimb reduction defects (LRDs) refer to absence of either parts of a limb or entire limbs. They represent one of the most common visible phenotypic effects of several etiologies. The major causes of LRDs are abnormal genetic problems and intrauterine disruption. Many environmental risk factors have been implicated, such as teratogens. ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to identify environmental risk factors that may predispose to isolated LRDs. Patients and methodsForty-one Egyptian patients with isolated LRDs were studied. In addition to medical examination a detailed history was taken for each case, including parental exposure to different teratogens as a result of residence, occupation, special habits, or pregnancy history of the mother, including nutrition and maternal stress during pregnancy. ResultsMost studied cases were sporadic, without a positive family history for LRD. The results showed significant risk impact on LRD with maternal exposure to environmental hazards (pesticides, insecticides, radiation) (P=0.00) and maternal history of drug intake in the form of hormones and NSAIDs (P=0.001); the risk increased among mothers who did not take folic acid supplement during the first trimester (P=0.017). Finally, early maternal trauma played a role as a risk factor for LRD, with a P value of 0.005. ConclusionDelineation of the environmental risk factors could be the first approach to preventing isolated LRDs.


Abstract Importance: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition presenting with painful nodules and sinus tracts primarily in intertriginous regions. The persistent nature of HS and challenges in symptom management lead many patients to seek non-pharmacologic approaches due to the paucity and limited efficacy of conventional HS therapeutic options. Objective: To evaluate the existing evidence for non-pharmacologic modalities in treatment of HS. Findings: Discussed in this review are non-pharmacologic modalities with evidence of efficacy in HS treatment, including weight loss, vitamin B12, vitamin D and zinc supplementation, and dietary avoidance of brewer's yeast. Limitations of the available data on non-pharmacologic therapies in HS include the predominance of pilot and single-armed studies, as well as heterogeneity in study design, subject disease severity, concomitant treatment and comorbid conditions. Conclusions and relevance: HS patients are becoming increasingly interested in the use of non-pharmacologic approaches to augment conventional treatments. Strength of evidence for non-pharmacologic therapies in HS is limited by small study size and lack of randomized controlled trials. Future large-scale investigations should be pursued to better establish efficacy and dosing regimens for the use of non-pharmacologic treatments in HS.


Scholars have argued that informality is driven by the degree to which it is expensive or difficult to operate in the formal economy. In contrast, we argue that firms choose to be informal or formal partly driven by industry conditions. We examine informal firms that are not registered with a governmental authority. Based on a large data set of Brazilian businesses, we find that firm informality is positively associated with dynamism, yet negatively associated with munificence and concentration. Our findings suggest that informality is a decision driven by both cost of registering and risk reduction for entrepreneurs depending on industry conditions.


Background: The retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) by a designated protocol for patients with abdominal distention.Methods: Non-traumatic adult patients with abdominal distention were included at the emergency department (ED) of the National Taiwan University Hospital between July 2015 and July 2017. A sonographic scanning protocol (FASK, the focused assessment with sonography in trauma plus the renal US) was included in the post-graduate year and residency US training. The primary outcome included the diagnostic accuracy of the FASK protocol. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the protocol were calculated that discharge/admission diagnosis was as the standard. The secondary outcomes included ED LOS and the rate of ED discharge using the FASK protocol.Results: A total of 512 patients were included. The accuracy of the FASK protocol was 99.0% (507/512), whatever the level of the performer. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 99.4% (95% CIs, 98.2-99.9%), 100% (95% CIs, 100%), 99.6% (95% CIs, 98.6-100%), and 99% (95% CIs, 97.7-99.7%), respectively. 397 patients (78%) were discharged with the median LOS of 126 minutes (IQR, 84-236 minutes) after receiving PoCUS and proper management. PoCUS was performed approximately 3 hours earlier than CT (median, 179 minutes; IQR, 90-468 minutes; p<0.0001).Conclusions: A simple FASK protocol could be an effective screening tool for non-critical patients with abdominal distention. Being an adjunct of physical examination and management, PoCUS exhibited characteristics of efficacy, timeliness, and safety.Trial registration: NCT04149041 at ClinicalTrials.gov.


Injuries involving knee luxation or subluxation generally result in damage to two or three out of the four major ligaments which stabilize this joint. Past treatment of this type of multiligament injuries, consisting in 6- to 12-week immobilization in a plaster cast, does not allow for restoration of the normal, anatomical course of these ligaments. A consequence of this type of healing, which involves the formation of random scars in place of ligaments, is mechanical and functional instability of the knee joint. The goal of this article is to present a classification of multiligament knee injuries and surgical treatment options. We also present our own technique of arthroscopic, concurrent reconstruction of knee joint ligaments. The study material consisted of 20 patients who underwent surgical treatment for multiligament knee injuries in the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology in Poznań. We performed concurrent arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL and PCL in all 20 patients. In addition, reconstruction of the medial complex was performed in 7 patients, and lateral complex was reconstructed in another 7 patients. In three cases we stitched the medial meniscus using a Smith & Nephew FasT-Fix system, and partial menisectomy was performed in 2 patients. The details of the proposed concurrent arthroscopic ACL and PCL reconstruction are extensively discussed. One of the advantages of this operating technique is the exclusive use of autogenous ST and GR tendon grafts for reconstruction of all damaged knee joint structures. The presented operating technique makes possible the reconstruction of all damaged knee joint ligaments in less than two hours, which in turn allows the surgery to be performed in an ischemic setting using an Esmarch band around the limb.


Dynamic light scattering from protein solutions can be applied to the detection of conformational changes and to the measurement of particle size. Because accurate results can be adversely affected by experimental perturbations, careful procedures are necessary both in data acquisition and in data analysis. Autocorrelation functions (ACF?s) of scattered light are simulated here to evaluate the role of the perturbations affecting measured signals from dilute protein solutions. The analysis of measured and simulated ACF?s has been performed both by cumulant expansion and by a nonlinear least-squares fit, thereby allowing the definition of criteria for the optimization of the fitting parameters and of the measuring conditions. Moreover, by comparing experimental data from hemoglobin solutions and computer simulations, we show how to evaluate the contributions of polydispersity and statistical noise affecting the measurements.


Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process, with the wound environment changing with the improving health status of the individual. The knowledge of the physiology of the normal wound healing trajectory through the phases of haemostasis, inflammation, granulation and maturation and provides a framework for the understanding of basic principles of wound healing. Studies reveal that it is difficult to achieve the complete aim of wound management with a single drug. In the present study Manjisthadi taila is selected from Sushruta Samhita. It consists of Tila Taila, Manjistha, Haridra, Bharangi, Tutha, Hulhula, Lodhra, Haritaki, Madhuyasthi, Vidanga, Priyal, Talispatram, Kash, Chandan, Padamkesar, Tinduk, Padamakam, Renukabeej & Ksheeripatra. These drugs possess Vrana shodhana & Ropana properties. It was used topically in patients of Shudha vrana formed after cut through of ligated Ksharasutra in different cases like piles, fissure, excised cyst, excised pilonidal sinus & excised corn for three months or till complete healing whichever is earlier. It is a single blind clinical study where forty patients were selected & divided randomly into two groups of twenty patients each. Trial group patients wound were treated with dressing of Manjishtadi taila and control group patients wound were treated with Povidone-Iodine dressing. Manjisthadi taila reduces pain, burning sensation, swelling, tenderness, discharge, color & odour, it helps in gradual improvement of granulation tissue as compared to control group. Hence it can be speculated that Manjishtadi taila possess sufficient efficacy in Vrana shodhana & Vrana ropana without producing any deleterious effects.


Aims: This study aims to investigate the distinctive characteristics between elderly with early-onset and late-onset major depression with respect to sociodemographic factors, selfperceived health, cardiovascular risk factors, MMSE scores, family history of depression, depressive symptoms, melancholic features, suicide risk and alcohol abuse/dependence. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study, with prospective data collection, in an random sample of 348 elderly people (≥60 years old) of the Family Heath Strategy, of which were identified 90 cases of DSM-IV unipolar major depression; subjects were divided according to early or late (≥60) age at onset of depression. Results: The prevalence of major depression in the whole sample was 25.86%. The elderly subjects with depression were mainly of early-onset (69.14%) and female (74.4%); the mean age in years was higher in the late-onset major depression group (p=0.028); the groups did not differ with respect to the other factors; after multivariate analysis there was a trend toward a negative association between suicide risk and late-onset depression. Conclusion: The early or late age at onset of depressive symptoms was not associated with different profiles. The results of this paper give support to the hypothesis that earlyand late-onset major depressive disorders are clinically undistinguishable and do not represent distinct pathologies or subtypes.


The collection and utilization of urban rainwater is currently a substantial measure of ecological construction in the city which covers a variety of technologies used and reflected in the multi-dimensional overlap with the urban space. By analyzing the current trends in related technology in the world, the paper probes the organic integration of rainwater collected system with urban spatial structure and elements in a view of overall optimization. Then the paper proposes to set up the coupled design pattern for urban rainwater recycling system in a way of district division, facility grading and rainwater classification according to the characteristics of land use mode and urban planning frame.


The Chinese Central Bank decided on June 8 and July 6, 2012, on the duplication and consecutive cut of the deposit and loan interest rates, together with the simultaneous loosening of the interest rate floating range of their financial institutions. Unquestionably, these measures resulted in a drastic change of the operating strategies of the whole banking system, for both nationalized and the private commercial banks. The article follows up on the causes and effects of these decisions in the Chinese banking arena, predicting a higher possible level of bad loans and followed by a higher systemic risk due to the three major banks' reactions and copy-cat decisions in fixing interest rates. The research methodology uses the GARCH (1,1) model and the VaR to identify the way the interests are adjusted and study if this decision indicated a real liberalization or rather a controlled interest rate change by the authorities. Eventually, the Chinese interest rate liberalization brought good and bad news to the economy, while the essence remains in how such liberalization is handled and what is intended for the entire economy.


Background: Despite serious neonatal morbidity, the neurodevelopmental outcome of NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) graduates is often reasonably good. Infants with neurodevelopmental abnormality need to start therapy early, and hence, they should be detected as soon as possible. Therefore we need well designed follow-up services. Objectives: To study the outcome of growth and development till one year of age of NICU graduates from a tertiary care centre in eastern India. Design and setting: A prospective neurodevelopmental follow-up study on graduates from the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital NICU. Methodology: We selected a cohort of 177 consecutive NICU graduates according to high-risk criteria and followed them up at the high risk clinic of Paediatrics department up to 1 year of age on a predetermined schedule. Growth monitoring (weight, length, head circumference measurements), neurologic examination by Amiel-Tison method, developmental assessment using Denver Development Screening Test (DDST) as screening tool and Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII) as a definitive test, neuroimaging (cranial ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging of brain) and electrophysiological investigations visual evoked potential (VEP), brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER), and electroencephalogram (EEG) were done. Early stimulation and physiotherapy were advised as per need. Ongoing illnesses were identified and treated. Results: Out of 177 consecutive NICU graduates enrolled in the study, 155 were followed up to 1 year of age. There were no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of growth failure, and neurodevelopmental delay between term and preterm and between appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. However growth failure was significantly higher among infants with neurodevelopmental delay. (the word conclusion deleted here) Persistence of abnormalities in tone, BAER, EEG & neuroimaging strongly predicted adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Recurrent respiratory tract infection was found to be the most common morbidity among NICU graduates followed by seizure disorder.


ABSTRACT Viruses encode proteins that disrupt chemokine responses. The murine gammaherpesvirus 68 gene M3 encodes a chemokine binding protein (vCKBP-3) which has no sequence similarity to chemokine receptors but inhibits chemokine receptor binding and activity. We have used a panel of CXCL8 analogs to identify the structural requirements for CXCL8 to bind to vCKBP-3 in a scintillation proximity assay. Our data suggest that vCKBP-3 acts by mimicking the binding of chemokine receptors to CXCL8.


Cultural heritage performances such as the Kuru Dance Festival of the Basarwa (Bushmen/San) and the Sedibelo Festival of the Bakgatla in Botswana trade on indigenous performance traditions by translating rituals, culture and heritage into economic activities for the consumption of tourists. This article examines what the potentials and pitfalls of such an exchange might be, and provides insight into the way cultural performers re-enact their perceived 'authentic' memories of 'African-ness' through performative acts that attempt to resist the long history of mythologising Africa. It further discusses whether such performances might perpetuate Euro-American patterns of 'consuming Africa', and thereby reiterate colonial power dynamics. This paper addresses these issues as a way to interrogate the currencies of African cultural heritage performances. It gives insight into the development of Botswana cultural performance arts since Independence in 1966, using the tools of theatre and performance studies.


The rare earth elements are indispensible in modern technology, especially in the applications of permanent magnets. Very little quantitative information is available on rare earth elements used in permanent magnets, however. This study looks back to 1983, when neodymium‐iron‐boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets were first manufactured, and reaches to 2007, when the market of permanent magnets was well developed. We draw on the historical data on permanent magnets from China, Japan, the United States, and Europe to provide the first estimates of global in‐use stocks for four rare earth elements—praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and dysprosium (Dy)—in NdFeB permanent magnets. In‐use stocks amount to 62.6 gigagrams (Gg) Nd, 15.7 Gg Pr, 15.7 Gg Dy, and 3.1 Gg Tb; these stocks, if efficiently recycled, could provide a valuable supplement to geological stocks as they are almost four times the 2007 annual extraction rate of the individual elements.


The present study examined the effect of ACT-2, a K-vitamin group activator intensively applied to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), on the anatomy, morphology, and viability of tomato pollen from plants grown under greenhouse conditions. The activator was applied to tomatoes at the recommended dosage (150 cc/100 L of tap water) and double the recommended dosage (300 cc/100 L of tap water). Pollen width and length, exine and intine layer thickness, pore width and length, and crevice width and length were measured using an ocular micrometer. Reductions were observed in all the measured parameters in all application groups, except for pollen width and length values at the 150 cc/100 L dosage, as compared to the control group. The viability of the pollen, as determined by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, decreased in all the application groups as the dosage increased, as compared to the control group, and the toxic effect became more evident at the 300 cc/100 L dosage. In particular, non-viable pollen types, such as wrinkled pollen and abnormally shaped pollen, were observed in the fungicide groups. Additionally, the activator caused changes in the morphological structure of the tomato pollen. The morphological structures of some pollen, such as subprolate and suboblate, which were not observed in the control group, were seen in pollen in the polar view at the 150 cc/100 L ACT- 2 dosage.


Although a lot of investigations indicated that free radical scavengers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury, the precise mechanism including the sites of action are still controversial. The purposes of this study were to investigate the sites of action of SOD and catalase by assessing postischemic cardiac and endothelial cell function. Wistar rats (450-550g) were used as support animals to establish blood perfused circuit. A peristaltic pump controlled the femoral arterial supply at 3.0 ml/min and the venous return to the jugular vein with gravity. Hearts (n = 8/group) from the Wistar rats were perfused (Langendorff model) and paced at 350 beats/min. After assessing baseline functions, hearts were rendered ischemia at 37.5 degrees C for 20 min. Then hearts were reperfused for 35 min, at the end of which left ventricular functions were re-assessed. One group of hearts received a continuous infusion of SOD and catalase during the period of 10 min before ischemia to 20 min after the onset of reperfusion. Left ventricular functions were measured with a left intraventricular balloon. The end-diastolic pressure was fixed at 10 mmHg, which was equivalent to the normal left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The mean postischemic recovery of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure was increased from 55 +/- 3% in the control group to 67 +/- 2% in the SOD and catalase group (P less than 0.05). Similarly, the postischemic compliance was increased from 1.28 +/- 0.12 (microliters/mmHg) in the control group to 1.61 +/- 0.11 (microliters/mmHg) in the SOD and catalase group (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Based on the common marine buoy for non dynamic positioning, long-term fixed in a marine environment by way of offshore mooring, monitoring range is greatly reduced and the buoy role has not fully played out. in order to compensate for the limitations of fixed mooring buoy brings, a concept of mobile small carrying marine floating body is presented. This paper starts with the unmanned floating body frame system and the design of floating body is established as a rotary body and the motion response, stability and static water resistance of three typical revolving bodies are compared and analyzed. The optimum rotation parameters are combined with different scale parameters. Moreover, the main equipment parts are selected. The static water resistance and stability of different schemes are further analyzed. Finally, a preliminary scheme for small unmanned mobile carrying marine floating body is innovatively determined.


The variability of the solar corona, including flares and coronal mass ejections, affects the space environment of the Earth (heating and ionization of the atmosphere, magnetic field disturbances, and bombardment by high-energy particles). Electromagnetic emissions are the first signatures of a solar eruptive event which by modifying the electron density in the ionosphere may affect airborne technology and radio communications systems. In this paper, we present a new method to detect automatically radio bursts using data from the Nancay Decametre Array (NDA) in the band 10 MHz–80 MHz. This method starts with eliminating unwanted signals (Radio-Frequency Interference, RFI and Calibration signals) by analyzing the dynamic spectrum of the signal recorded in time. Then, a gradient median filter is applied to smooth and to reduce the variability of the signal. After denoising the signal, an automated solar radio burst detection system is applied. This system is based on a sequential procedure with adaptive constant-false-alarm rate (CFAR like detector) aimed to extract the spectra of major solar bursts. To this end, a semi-automatic software package is also developed to create a data base of all possible events (type II, III, IV or other) that could be detected and used for our performance assessment.


In this note, we present a method of computing monodromies of projective structures on a once-punctured torus. This leads to an algorithm numerically visualizing the shape of the Bers embedding of a one-dimensional Teichmüller space. As a by-product, the value of the accessory parameter of a four-times punctured sphere will be calculated in a numerical way as well as the generators of a Fuchsian group uniformizing it. Finally, we observe the relation between the Schwarzian differential equation and Heun's differential equation in this special case.