Little is known about the way developmental cues affect how cells interpret their environment. We characterized the transcriptional response to high salinity of different cell layers and developmental stages of the Arabidopsis root and found that transcriptional responses are highly constrained by developmental parameters. These transcriptional changes lead to the differential regulation of specific biological functions in subsets of cell layers, several of which correspond to observable physiological changes. We showed that known stress pathways primarily control semiubiquitous responses and used mutants that disrupt epidermal patterning to reveal cell-layer–specific and inter–cell-layer effects. By performing a similar analysis using iron deprivation, we identified common cell-type–specific stress responses and revealed the crucial role the environment plays in defining the transcriptional outcome of cell-fate decisions.


The relation between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer remains controversial. The authors of this 1984-2004 US study examined the association among 3,897 occupationally exposed participants in the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) for chemoprevention of lung cancer, followed prospectively for 10-18 years. When a Cox stratified proportional hazards model was used, risks of colorectal cancer were elevated among male heavy smokers exposed to asbestos. Their relative risk was 1.36 (95% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.93) when compared with that for CARET heavy smokers not exposed to asbestos, after adjusting for age, smoking history, and intervention arm. The presence of asbestos-induced pleural plaques at baseline was associated with a relative risk of 1.54 (95% confidence interval: 0.99, 2.40); colorectal cancer risk also increased with worsening pulmonary asbestosis (p = 0.03 for trend). A dose-response trend based on years of asbestos exposure was less evident. Nonetheless, these data suggest that colorectal cancer risk is elevated among men occupationally exposed to asbestos, especially those with evidence of nonmalignant asbestos-associated radiographic changes.


This study aims the validity of INJANA sandstone formation rocks exposed in the Sallahaddin government / shirqat district for building purposes and railway ballast stone. The study including sampling from three stations and prepared samples for laboratory tests which revealed that values of unconfined compressive strength, flexural strength, density, absorption and mechanical absorption ranges between (7.97-12.28) MPa, (3.71-4.74) MPa, (1.75-1.82) gm/cm3 , (1.13-1.16) %, and (82.3-89.2) % , respectively. The geotechnical test shows that the sandstone rocks are not suitable for dimensions stone purposes expected station (1) according to (ASTM, C-568-99,2004) and not suitable for railway ballast stone purposes according to (O.R.B.D 1999 Raymond1979).


We analyze more than 25 successful innovations and innovators and draw three principle lessons. First, innovation does not spring from systematic policy analysis nor is it generally a revolutionary breakthrough. Innovation more often depends upon evolutionary tinkering with existing practices. It results, therefore, from a process of trial and error and experimential learning in the field. Its novelty arises from the assemblage of familiar stuff in new ways. Second, analysis is more useful in shaping effective policy by evaluating it as it develops rather than in choosing between competing policies ahead of time. Third, innovative public managers are entrepreneurial; they take risks with this old stuff, with an opportunistic bias toward action and a conscious underestimating of the bureaucratic and political obstacles their innovations face. We conclude with prescriptions for how public managers ought to be trained and how they ought to behave.


Action of etomidate was studied in 219 albino rats 7, 12, 18, 25 days old and adult. Etomidate at the dose of 20 mg/kg i.p. led to a loss of the righting reflex in all age groups. Sleeping time increased with decreasing age up to the 12th day. Seven-day-old rat pups exhibited short sleeping time, approximately at the level of adult animals. Etomidate can be used for general anaesthesia even in young animals but the quantitative differences in its efficacy have to be taken into account.


This paper reviews the literature on the surgical treatment of refractory anorexia nervosa (AN) and examines how this literature can inform current circuit models of the disease. The literature contains reports of 35 patients undergoing a neurosurgical procedure for the specific treatment of refractory AN, with the first reported operation, a lobotomy, in 1950. All patients were deemed treatment resistant according to contemporary standards, with the nature of the procedure changing with evolving surgical techniques and methods. All procedures targeted the limbic system and, in a majority of cases, were associated with reported symptomatic improvement. Neurosurgery in AN has been, and continues to be, reserved for patients with chronic and life-threatening illness, for whom conventional treatment has failed. Early procedures, which were viewed as life-saving measures, were crude by today's standards but targeted anatomic structures and pathways implicated in modern models of AN. The last decade has seen a concerted effort in elucidating the neurocircuitry underlying prominent etiologic and maintaining factors in AN, including mood, anxiety and dysfunctional reward processing. This has translated into the development of novel, focused therapeutic options for patients with treatment-refractory AN.


Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with painful lesions in friction-prone areas, impacting patients' physical and mental well-being. Adults with HS experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. Children with HS may also face these challenges, but a comprehensive review of their mental health implications is lacking. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed and Ovid Medline databases to investigate the association between HS and anxiety or depression in pediatric populations. A total of 4498 pediatric patients from six studies were included in this study: six examined depression alone, and three also studied anxiety. Two studies found a significant correlation between HS and depression in pediatric patients (p < .001), while two reported statistical significance for anxiety (p < .001). Two studies comparing pediatric and adult populations also reported a higher prevalence and incidence of depression among pediatric populations (p < .05). Another study found no incidences of depression or anxiety in HS or control patients. Despite heterogeneity in control groups, methodologies, and health system databases, the included studies suggest that pediatric patients with HS have a higher likelihood of developing depression compared to healthy pediatric patients and exhibit higher depression rates and lower anxiety rates compared to adults. These findings and the limited availability of data regarding this topic underscore the imperative for increased screening, evaluation, and reporting of psychiatric disorders among pediatric populations. This can help understand the connection between HS and depression or anxiety and ultimately enhance the mental well-being and quality of life for affected children.


Sub-arcsec lensing statistics depend sensitively on the inner mass profiles of low-mass objects and the faint-end slopes of the Schechter luminosity function and the Press-Schechter mass function. By requiring the luminosity and mass functions to give consistent predictions for the distribution of image separation below 1 " , we show that dark matter halos with masses below 10 12 M ⊙ cannot have a single type of profile, be it the singular isothermal sphere (SIS) or the shallower " universal " dark matter profile. Instead, consistent results are achieved if we allow a fraction of the halos at a given mass to be luminous with the SIS profile, and the rest be dark with an inner logarithmic slope shallower than −1.5 to compensate for the steeper faint-end slope of the mass function compared with the luminosity function. We quantify how rapidly the SIS fraction must decrease with decreasing halo mass, thereby providing a statistical measure for the effectiveness of feedback processes on the baryon content in low-mass halos.


Background:

Tobacco addiction is associated with not only nicotine dependence but also mental dependence based on the habitual smoking situation (e.g. drink alcohol, after meal). The efficacy of substitute nicotineless non-pharmacologic tool (e.g. nicotineless electronic cigarettes) in these situations for smoking cessation was unclear.

Method:

This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the efficacy of non-pharmacologic alternative tool in patients who were treated with a 12-week outpatients smoking cessation program using varenicline. We screened 180 patients who were treated with the program from March 2010 to February 2012. Tobacco addiction in this study was defined as a condition with both at least five points of the Tobacco Dependence Screener (TDS; Kawakami, et al., 1999) and at least 10 pack year. At the first medical examination, we instructed all the patients to use the nicotineless alternative tool when they urge to smoke. We assessed the success rate of smoking cessation at 12 weeks.

Result:

Of 136 patients were eligible (35 were lost, 9 dropped). The success rate was 77.8%. Eighty patients (58.9%) used alternative tool as we instructed. The success rate of the patients who used alternative tool was significantly higher than that of the patients who didn't use the tool (p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of smoking cessation failure were untreatable side effect (p=0.05) and disuse of alternative tool (p=0.01).

Conclusion:

In outpatients smoking cessation program using varenicline, non-pharmacologic alternative tool was useful for patients who urge to smoke in the habitual smoking situations.


To evaluate the genetic relationship between hypertension and COVID‐19 and explore the molecular pathways linking hypertension to COVID‐19. We performed genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess potential associations between hypertension and hospitalized COVID‐19. We compared genome‐wide association signals to reveal shared genetic variation between hypertension and hospitalized COVID‐19. Moreover, hypertension‐driven molecular pathways were constructed based on large‐scale literature data to understand the influence of hypertension on COVID‐19 at the molecular level. Hypertension has a positive genetic correlation with COVID‐19 (rg = 0.19). The MR analyses indicate that genetic liability to hypertension confers a causal effect on hospitalized COVID‐19 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05, confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.09, p = 0.030). Hypertension and hospitalized COVID‐19 have three overlapping loci and share eight protein‐coding risk genes, including ABO, CSF2, FUT2, IZUMO1, MAMSTR, NPNT, RASIP1, and WNT3. Molecular pathway analysis suggests that hypertension may promote the development of COVID‐19 through the induction of inflammatory pathways. Our study suggests that genetically determined hypertension may increase the risk for severe COVID‐19. The shared genetic variation and the connecting molecular pathways may underline causal links between hypertension and COVID‐19.


Objective: To determine the potentialities of Bacillus spp. isolates obtained from the bioproduct IHPLUS®, as plant growth promoters and with industrial purposes. Materials and Methods: For the inoculation, 10 mL of the product were inoculated in nutrient broth medium. Afterwards, through thermal shock at 80 oC during 12 minutes, the vegetative forms were eliminated. Seriated dilutions were carried out, and then planting was performed in nutrient agar medium. The isolates were purified and it was verified that they corresponded to Gram-positive, endospore-producer, bacillary forms. The production of indoleacetic acid and the capacity of the isolates to solubilize tricalcium phosphate were evaluated. The chitinolytic and/or 1,3-βglucanolytic, lipidic, proteolytic, amylolytic, cellulolytic and mannanolytic activity of such isolates. Results: Four Bacillus spp isolates were obtained. Isolates IH7 and IH5 showed biostimulator and biofertilizer properties, by producing indoleacetic acid (23,55 μg mL-1) and solubilizing tricalcium phosphate, respectively. Isolate IH7 showed potentialities as antagonist agent of phytopathogens, because it produced hydrogen cyanide. The production of 1,3-β-glucanase and/or chitinase (95,55 %) and proteases (43,98 %) was shown. IH5 showed amylolytic and mannanolytic activity; while IH7 produced amylases and cellulases. Conclusions: The biochemical activities shown by the isolates prove the importance of the bioproduct IHPLUS® as a source for obtaining Bacillus spp. strains, with applications in different agricultural and industrial sectors.


We consider a variant of Gamow's liquid drop model, with a general repulsive Riesz kernel and a long-range attractive background potential with weight [Formula: see text]. The addition of the background potential acts as a regularization for the liquid drop model in that it restores the existence of minimizers for arbitrary mass. We consider the regime of small [Formula: see text] and characterize the structure of minimizers in the limit [Formula: see text] by means of a sharp asymptotic expansion of the energy. In the process of studying this limit we characterize all minimizing sequences for the Gamow model in terms of "generalized minimizers".


Two-photon (2P) optical properties of cyanine dyes were evaluated using a 2P fluorescence spectrophotometer with 1.55 μm excitation. We report the 2P characteristics of common NIR polymethine dyes, including their 2P action cross sections and the 2P excited fluorescence lifetime. One of the dyes, DTTC, showed the highest 2P action cross-section (∼103 ± 19 GM) and relatively high 2P excited fluorescence lifetime and can be used as a scaffold for the synthesis of 2P molecular imaging probes. The 2P action cross-section of DTTC and the lifetime were also highly sensitive to the solvent polarity, providing other additional parameters for its use in optical imaging and the mechanism for probing environmental factors. Overall, this study demonstrated the quantitative measurement of 2P properties of NIR dyes and established the foundation for designing molecular probes for 2P imaging applications in the NIR region.


Researchers have been applying tional intelligence (AI/CI) methods to computer games. In this research field, further researchesare required to compare AI/CI methods with respect to each game application. In th our experimental result on the comparison of three evolutionary algorithms – evolution strategy, genetic algorithm, and their hybrid applied to evolving controller agents for the CIG 2007 Simulated Car Racing competition. Our experimental result shows that, premature convergence of solutions was observed in the case of ES, and GA outperformed ES in the last half of generations. Besides, a hybrid which uses GA first and ES next evolved the best solution among the whole solutions being generated. This result shows the ability of GA in globally searching promising areas in the early stage and the ability of ES in locally searching the focused area (fine-tuning solutions). Keywords—Evolutionary algorithm, autonomous agent, neuroevolutions, simulated car racing.


Today fiber laser is widely used due to their performances and flexibility. They replace old types of lasers in the industrial machines. To develop a family of laser machines it is the need of having standard laser source that could efficiently be used and replaced in the equipment, independently of the laser source or types of lasers. This paper presents the concept and development of a new fiber laser control unit developed to be used for CW, QCW or pulsed regime. Control unit could be used in multiple laser source and satisfy complex requirements. The control unit of the fiber laser source is able to be used in a different type of fiber laser like: Yb doped fiber, Erbium fiber, thulium fiber. Control unit is designed to be used direct or with minimum modifications in different laser processing applications like: marking, engraving, cutting, drilling, welding, etc. Main parameters of control unit are: 3 working regime, frequency - 1 KHz (QCW), frequency in pulsed regime : 15KHZ - 500 KHz, control seed laser, control pre amplifier and amplifier. Control unit allows commands for machine control: start/stop, interlock, system ready/ fault.


Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine carcinoma. It is one of the rare causes for primary hyperparathyroidism. It is very uncommon in individuals with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. We report a rare case of 53-year-old male, a known case of chronic kidney disease on dialysis, who presented with fatigue and muscle cramps. Lab reports revealed elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium levels. 99mTc-Sestamibi single-photon-emission computed tomography/computed tomography scintigraphy showed 4 foci of increased tracer uptake with retention, suggestive of parathyroid adenomas, including two ectopic foci in the mediastinum. At surgery, the enlarged bilateral superior, left inferior parathyroid gland, and two calcified left superior mediastinal lesions were removed. Histopathology revealed parathyroid adenomas in the right superior, left inferior, supernumerary ectopic left superior mediastinum lesion and PC in the left superior parathyroid lesion. Intraoperative serum PTH became normal, and the patient is asymptomatic now.


Abstract Vicarious liability was, and it remains, curiously unsatisfactory. After a period of stability from the Middle Ages into the early modern period in the late seventeenth into the early eighteenth century, the existing law of vicarious liability began to be challenged. The mid-nineteenth century saw another reappraisal coinciding with the rise of notions of fault. The period that follows, from the late nineteenth century until after the Second World War period has not attracted much comment. One key debate in this period and earlier which provides a useful lens to examine the doctrine was whether vicarious liability should be properly characterised as a master's or servant's tort theory. The history of the doctrine during this period goes some way to explaining why the modern law remains incoherent.


With the ascendance of the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the international community has struggled to adapt to the new international security context. Among the challenges that are currently being confronted are questions relating to how states may effectively facilitate international cooperation to counter ISIS (especially among countries in the Middle East and North Africa). Within this context, guidance from the United Nations on international cooperation posits that "[t]he universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols do not apply in situations of armed conflict" – a legal position that would serve to stymie important cooperative efforts throughout the Middle East and which, if accepted as accurate, would prevent those states and others from addressing terrorism and many problems associated with non-state armed groups within a rule of law framework.This article, therefore, examines that U.N. legal position and, concomitantly, the unfrequented legal realm that lies at the crossroads of transnational criminal law and the law of armed conflict – providing an analysis of the emerging field of transnational criminal law and exploring how this burgeoning area of international law interacts with the law of armed conflict. This, in turn, permits an illuminative discussion of how various areas of international law interact with one another and how conflicts between competing areas of law may be resolved. Drawing on international legal sources, comparative law, and relevant civil law scholarship, the analysis demonstrates that the terrorism suppression conventions as well as other similar conventions – both multilateral and bilateral – remain operative and are not muted by the fact of an armed conflict. The United Nations should, therefore, correct its analysis so that governments in the Middle East, North Africa, and elsewhere have clear and accurate legal guidance with regard to the applicability of the terrorism suppression conventions during a time of armed conflict. Such conventions, after all, are what provide the legal bases which permit states to adopt hybrid approaches to hybrid threats such as ISIS – enabling all elements of state power (including both military and law enforcement capabilities) to address an increasingly complex and malevolent phenomenon within a rule of law framework.


Sleep deprivation is known to exert detrimental effects on various cognitive domains, including attention, vigilance and working memory. Seemingly at odds with these findings, prior studies repeatedly failed to evidence an impact of prior sleep deprivation on cognitive interference in the Stroop test, a hallmark paradigm in the study of cognitive control abilities. The present study investigated further the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive control using an adapted version of the Stroop test that allows to segregate top–down (attentional reconfiguration on incongruent items) and bottom–up (facilitated processing after repetitions in responses and/or features of stimuli) components of performance. Participants underwent a regular night of sleep or a night of total sleep deprivation before cognitive testing. Results disclosed that sleep deprivation selectively impairs top–down adaptation mechanisms: cognitive control no longer increased upon detection of response conflict at the preceding trial. In parallel, bottom–up abilities were found unaffected by sleep deprivation: beneficial effects of stimulus and response repetitions persisted. Changes in vigilance states due to sleep deprivation selectively impact on cognitive control in the Stroop test by affecting top–down, but not bottom–up, mechanisms that guide adaptive behaviours.


Background Diagnosis and curative treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) often comes too late due to the lack of reliable tumour markers especially in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The authors recently introduced bile proteomic analysis for CC diagnosis. Nevertheless, bile collection depends on invasive endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The authors therefore evaluated urine proteomic analysis for non-invasive CC diagnosis. Methods Using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry the authors established a CC-specific peptide marker model based on the distribution of 42 peptides in 14 CC, 13 PSC and 14 benign biliary disorder (BBD) patients. Results In cross-sectional validation of 123 patients, the urine peptide marker model correctly classified 35 of 42 CC patients and 64 of 81 PSC and BBD patients with an area under the curve value of 0.87 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.92, p=0.0001, 83% sensitivity, 79% specificity). Evaluation of 101 normal controls resulted in 86% specificity. All 10 patients with CC on top of PSC were correctly classified. The majority of sequence-identified peptides are fragments of interstitial collagens with some of them also detected in blood indicating their extra-renal origin. Immunostaining of liver sections for matrix metallopeptidase 1 indicated increased activity of the interstitial collagenase in liver epithelial cells of CC patients. Conclusion The urine test differentiates CC from PSC and other BBD and may provide a new diagnostic non-invasive tool for PSC surveillance and CC detection.


In order to research the changing trend of TSNAs contents in burley tobacco in process of threshing and redrying, five modules of burley tobacco were taken in process of crude tobacco, first conditioning, second conditioning, threshing and redrying. Routine chemical components and TSNAs contents of the samples were analyzed using SPSS and MINITAB. The results showed that the contents of TSNAs increased significantly in the threshing, but decreased in the redrying. Among them, NNN, NAT and NAB increased significantly, and NNK increased slightly but without any significant difference compared with crude tobacco in this whole process. Test for correlation coefficient showed that the relationship between TSNAs and routine chemical components did not display notable linear correlation. Therefore,threshing is considered the most important period in TSNAs control.


The standard neoclassical method for building macroeconomics upon a microeconomic foundation has proven unable to anticipate and account for actual issues, especially the financial and economic crisis that burst in 2008. In this chapter we show that it would be appropriate to return to the method once used by classical writers, who considered the economy as a whole and referred to institutions and production conditions as the cornerstone of economic activity. This was also Keynes's method, in developing the concept of a monetary economy of production. We show that a renewed analysis of the economy as a whole would open up a range of new perspectives on macroeconomics.


Background and Objectives: Sarcococca species have a rich source of steroidal alkaloids that possess different biological and pharmacological activities. Hence, present research was design to isolate the steroidal alkaloid from Sarcococca saligna and to evaluate it for in-vitro antileishmanial activity. Materials and Methods: Compound Holaphylline and Saracodine were isolated through column chromatography followed by spectroscopic techniques for elucidation and were assayed against promastigotes of Leishmania tropica. Results: Saracodine compound eliminates 71.12%, 63.9%, 54.18% and 38.88% of the promastigotes at concentration 100 μM; 75 μM, 50 μM and (25 μM). While, the elimination of promastigotes with compound holaphylline were 82.5%, 76.68%, 65%, 47.22% respectively as compared to untreated group. Conclusion: In present study, compound Holaphylline and Saracodine exhibited inhibition against the promastigotes and justified the claimed medicinal importance of Sarcococca saligna as a remedy for leishmaniasis especially against Leishmania tropica.


Introduction:
 Survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with right ventricular (RV) function rather than pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). At present, RV function is not incorporated in current risk assessment models and studies evaluating RV function are generally limited to single-center studies. The aim was to identify novel RV function phenotypes using unbiased k-means clustering in patients with PAH.

 Methods:
 Baseline clinical and hemodynamic data in patients with PAH were harmonized data from 5 PAH clinical trials (COMPASS3: n=98, EARLY: n=176, GRIPHON: n=720, MAESTRO: n=44, and SERAPHIN: n=728). Pearson correlation analysis was used to select variables that reduce the co-linearity (|r| < 0.7) between hemodynamic variables used in the models. K-means clustering methods were applied to advanced RV hemodynamics including end-systolic pressure (ESP), arterial elastance (Ea), single-beat end-diastolic elastance (Eed), Pulse pressure (PP), stroke volume (SV) and RV stroke work (RVSW). Survival analysis was used to compare all-cause mortality among each cluster group.

 Results:
 Participants in the harmonized dataset (n=1766) had a mean PAP of 53 ± 17 mmHg, a cardiac output of 4.3±1.4 L/min, a wedge pressure of 9±4 mmHg and a PVR of 11.8±7.4 WU. K-means clustering identified four distinct RV cluster phenotypes that range from mild to severe RV dysfunction (Fig. A). Participants in RV cluster 1 (RV C1) have severe RV dysfunction with increased pressure/afterload, decreased cardiac function, and increased diastolic stiffness compared to RV cluster 4 (RV C4). (Fig. A) RV C1 had decreased six-minute walk distance compared to other clusters. RVC1 and RVC2 had increased risk of mortality compared to RV C4 (Fig. B).

 Conclusion:
 Applying K-means clustering to harmonized hemodynamic data from PAH clinical trial data identified 4 unique RV function phenotypes with different clinical outcomes.


Out of a population of 61 patients with sex chromosome aberrations we could examine 25 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and one female patient with triple X syndrome for taurodontism. Taurodontic molars were found in 6 out of 25 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and in the patient with triple X syndrome.


Abstract Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) is a variable that integrates many aspects of ecosystem functioning. Variability in ANPP is a key control for carbon input and accumulation in grasslands systems. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variability of ANPP of Uruguayan grasslands during 2000–2010. We used enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data provided by the MODIS-Terra sensor to estimate ANPP according to Monteith's (1972) model as the product of total incident photosynthetically active radiation, the fraction of the radiation absorbed by green vegetation, and the radiation use efficiency. Results showed that ANPP varied spatially among geomorphological units, increasing from the north and midwest of Uruguay to the east and southeast. Hence, Cuesta Basáltica grasslands were the least productive (399 g DM · m−2 · yr−1), while grasslands of the Sierras del Este and Colinas y Lomas del Este displayed the highest productivity (463 and 465 g DM · m−2 · yr−1, respectively). This pattern is likely related to differences in soil depth and associated variation in water availability among geomorphological units. Seasonal variability in ANPP indicated peak productivity in the spring in all units, but differences in annual trends over the 10-yr study period suggested that ANPP drivers are operating spatially distinct. Understanding the spatial and temporal variability of ANPP of grasslands are prerequisites for sustainable management of grazing systems.


To account for benzodiazepine-induced spinal analgesia observed in association with an inflammation-induced shift in the influence of the GABA(A) receptor antagonist gabazine on nociceptive threshold, the present study was designed to determine whether persistent inflammation is associated with the upregulation of high-affinity GABA(A) receptors in primary afferents. The cell bodies of afferents innervating the glabrous skin of the rat hind paw were retrogradely labeled, acutely dissociated, and studied before and after the induction of persistent inflammation. A time-dependent increase in GABA(A) current density was observed that was more than twofold by 72 h after the initiation of inflammation. This increase in current density included both high- and low-affinity currents and was restricted to neurons in which GABA increased intracellular Ca(2+). No increases in GABA(A) receptor subunit mRNA or protein were detected in whole ganglia. In contrast, the increased current density was completely reversed by 20-min preincubation with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and partially reversed with the Src kinase inhibitor PP2. Genistein reversal was partially blocked by the dynamin inhibitor peptide P4. Changes in nociceptive threshold following spinal administration of genistein and muscimol to inflamed rats indicated that the pronociceptive actions of muscimol observed in the presence of inflammation were reversed by genistein. These results suggest that persistent changes in relative levels of tyrosine kinase activity following inflammation provide not only a sensitive way to dynamically regulate spinal nociceptive signaling but a viable target for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of inflammatory pain.


Ozanimod (OZA) is an orally administered, selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator that has been evaluated versus placebo (PBO) in the phase 3 True North trial in the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). The objective of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of OZA versus other approved moderate-to-severe UC therapies via network meta-analyses (NMA).

 A systematic literature review was conducted to identify randomised clinical trials published from Jan 1, 2000 to Oct 21, 2020 that evaluated biological therapies (infliximab [IFX], adalimumab [ADA], golimumab [GOL], vedolizumab [VEDO], and ustekinumab [UST]) or an oral small molecule (tofacitinib [TOF]) for adults with moderate-to-severe UC. Bayesian NMAs were performed to determine the comparative efficacy of these therapies based on clinical remission, clinical response, and endoscopic improvement in the induction phase (6 to 14 weeks). Three populations were considered: all patients (overall), first-line (biologic-naïve), or those with exposure to or failure of prior biologic therapy (biologic-experienced). All six comparator therapies were included in the overall and biologic-naive populations, whereas the biologic-experienced population included ADA, VEDO, UST, and TOF due to lack of biologic-experienced data for IFX and GOL.

 Twenty-two RCTs examining 10,269 patients in the induction phase were included (Figure 1). All therapies offered significant improvement over PBO across networks apart from ADA in the analysis of clinical remission and clinical response in the biologic-experienced population and ADA, VEDO, and OZA in the analysis of endoscopic improvement in the biologic-experienced population. In the overall and biologic-naïve populations, OZA offered similar efficacy to all other therapies across endpoints except for a significant improvement in endoscopic improvement over ADA (overall: OR 2.01, 95% CrI 1.14, 3.66 [Figure 2]; biologic-naïve: OR 2.13, 95% CrI 1.02, 4.50 [Figure 3]). OZA also offered similar efficacy to all other therapies across endpoints in the biologic-experienced population except for an improvement in clinical remission (OR 4.16, 95% CrI 1.55, 11.24) and clinical response (OR 3.11, 95% CrI 1.40, 7.08) over ADA (Figure 4).

 This NMA suggests that OZA provides similar induction efficacy on clinical remission, clinical response, and endoscopic improvement versus other approved moderate-to-severe UC therapies regardless of prior biologic treatment status.


Health must be fought for by everyone because health is a primary need for every individual to be able to live productively. Healthy conditions will make a person able to achieve a high-quality life. Through this program, it is hoped that it can help students to increase social awareness and provide social assistance to the community at Desa Batok, Tenjo. It requires awareness, understanding, and proper insight to implement a healthy lifestyle and take preventive steps against health problems. This program is carried out from March to May 2022 and consists of three forms of events which are Open Volunteer, Open Donation, and Visitation. Volunteers will be provided with a material enrichment program that will mainly discuss health issues and the application of a healthy lifestyle that will be used to educate the society during pandemics. Donation will be used to give health necessities and medical equipment and medicines for the people at Desa Batok. Visitation are held volunteers share knowledge to local communities and also educate them about healthful living today. This program also did a disinfectant fogging for several public areas in Desa Batok.


It has been recently discovered that on an unreliable server, the job completion time distribution function (df) can be heavy-tailed (HT) even when job size df is light-tailed (LT) [1, 5]. A key to this phenomenon is the RESTART feature where if a job is interrupted in the middle of its processing, the entire job needs to restart from the beginning, i.e., the work that is partially completed is lost.

A standard mechanism for reducing the job completion
time in an unreliable service environment is checkpointing
[3, 4, 6]. We view checkpointing as a job fragmentation operation, where the server processes one fragment of the job at a time. If the server becomes unavailable, say due to failure, then only the work corresponding to the fragment being processed at the time of failure is lost. In this paper, we are motivated by the question: Can fragmentation 'lighten' the tail df of the completion time? In Section 3, we provide sufficient conditions on the fragmentation policy that gives rise to LT completion time so long as the job size df is LT. We then characterize the optimal fragmentation policy seeking to minimize the expected job completion time. This policy
requires a priori knowledge of the job size. We then describe a sub-optimal fragmentation policy that is blind to the job size and is provably very close to optimal. We also describe the asymptotic tail behavior of the job completion time df under both policies. Assuming the server unavailability periods are LT, both policies produce LT completion times when the job size df is LT. For the case of regularly varying job size df, the job completion time under both policies is regularly varying with the same degree - this is the lightest possible asymptotic tail behavior (in the degree sense).


Mathematical logic is a field of mathematics dealing with formalization and logical reasoning. At lower primary education level, logic is part of mathematics classes, mathematical after-school activities and logic competitions while at the higher primary education level logic is also offered as an elective class. Logical reasoning tasks are specific mathematical assignments that can rarely be found in textbooks; therefore, teachers hardly ever use them in classes.

The theoretical part of this undergraduate thesis deals with definitions, the knowledge of logic, mathematics and logic curricula, the history of logic, sentence (mathematical logic), logical reasoning and the solving of logical problems. The empirical part focuses on students' success in logical reasoning tests and whether there is a connection between test results and final overall mathematics grade.
The results indicate that pupils with a higher final mathematics grade also achieve a better grade in logical reasoning tests, more often take part in after-school activities and mathematics competitions and are more often encouraged by teachers towards after-school activities related to mathematics.


[1] Quantitative effects of incidence and emergence angles variations on the 1.9- and 3-μm H2O bands are experimentally investigated for two hydrated minerals: smectite and altered volcanic tuff. Near-infrared bidirectional reflectance spectra are measured with various incidence and emergence angles leading to phase angles varying between 10° and 140°. We observe a decrease of both band strengths when phase angle increases. The relationship between band strength and phase angle depends on both the absorption intensity, i.e., strong or weak band, and the particle size of the material. We compare experimental results with radiative transfer modeling with optical constants of a smectite. Numerical models can reproduce the changes in band strength with incidence and emergence angles if the value of the single particle scattering anisotropy varies over the absorption band. We attribute this wavelength-dependent scattering effect to enhanced surface scattering within the absorption bands compared to volume scattering outside the bands. Relative variations of band strength induced by measurement geometry variations can reach tens of percent at high phase angle. Therefore these effects have to be taken into account when mapping spectral parameters on a planetary surface or comparing spectral parameters between two surfaces if measurement geometries are subject to large variations.


The intention of this Article, and the brief presentation that accompanied it at the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Symposium on The Role of Contract in the Modern Employment Relationship, is to highlight the need for a more uniform and consistent application of contract principles to noncompete contracts in order to increase predictability in this field of law. Presently both employees and employers pay a heavy price due to increased uncertainty in this area. This is because courts use equitable concepts to circumvent basic contract law principles without recognizing the unseen price that is paid by others when contract-based predictability is eroded.
To illustrate this point, this Article will begin with six different scenarios that are very real possibilities under the current state of the law and highlight the practical cost to litigants in the current unpredictable environment. In addition to highlighting a significant problem created by the unpredictability in this area of employment contract law, this Article will also provide the practicing employment law attorney with a review of different contract options to consider when drafting noncompete contracts and similar protective agreements. In Part II, the nature of unpredictability in a number of key foundational concepts like protectable interests, consideration, and choice of law is examined. In Part III, an overview of advantages and disadvantages to the eight most common forms of restrictive contracts are covered to illustrate that no one contract option solves the present unpredictability problem and to provide the practicing attorney with a helpful checklist of contract options to consider. To conclude, a suggestion for a more balanced approach to improve predictability is provided.


A planar duct flow configuration with a cross-flow injected from a longitudinal slit close to the upper wall of the duct is studied by using a direct numerical simulation approach to explore the underlying flow mechanism in relation to the tip-leakage vortex (TLV), which is one of the most important flow phenomena in turbomachinery. Major characteristics of TLV in a rotor of turbomachinery are identified in the current flow model. The analysis of mean and instantaneous flow fields reveals that the interaction between the main (axial) flow and jet (cross) flow is the primary source of the generation of the TLV. The evolution of the TLV is then investigated, and a vortex breakup phenomenon is identified. The evolution of TLV can be divided into three phases, i.e., the formation phase, the breakup phase, and the diffusion phase. Mean streamlines and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) budgets are analyzed, showing that the high TKE central spot in the formation phase is due to the interaction between highly swirling vortex filaments and mean velocity gradient. In the outer part of the TLV, the TKE is mainly produced in the shear-layer and transported toward the center by the turbulence transport.A planar duct flow configuration with a cross-flow injected from a longitudinal slit close to the upper wall of the duct is studied by using a direct numerical simulation approach to explore the underlying flow mechanism in relation to the tip-leakage vortex (TLV), which is one of the most important flow phenomena in turbomachinery. Major characteristics of TLV in a rotor of turbomachinery are identified in the current flow model. The analysis of mean and instantaneous flow fields reveals that the interaction between the main (axial) flow and jet (cross) flow is the primary source of the generation of the TLV. The evolution of the TLV is then investigated, and a vortex breakup phenomenon is identified. The evolution of TLV can be divided into three phases, i.e., the formation phase, the breakup phase, and the diffusion phase. Mean streamlines and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) budgets are analyzed, showing that the high TKE central spot in the formation phase is due to the interaction between highly swir...


The Hilbert modular surface XD is the moduli space of Abelian varieties A with real multiplication by a quadratic order of discriminant D > 1. The locus where A is a product of elliptic curves determines a finite union of algebraic curves XD(1) ⊂ XD.  In this paper we show the lamination XD(1) extends to an essentially unique foliation FD of XD by complex geodesics. The geometry of FD is related to Teichm¨uller theory, holomorphic motions, polygonal billiards and Lattès rational maps. We show every leaf of FD is either closed or dense, and compute its holonomy. We also introduce refinements TN(ν) of the classical modular curves on XD, leading to an explicit description of XD(1).


AIM
To conduct the proteomic analysis of human colorectal carcinoma cell line, SW480 by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption /ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS).

METHODS
The total proteins of human colorectal carcinoma cell line, SW480 were separated with 2-DE by using immobilized pH gradient strips and visualized by staining with silver nitrate. The gel images were acquired by scanner and 2-DE analysis software, Image Master 2D Elite. Nineteen distinct protein spots were excised from gel randomly and digested in gel by TPCK-trypsin. Mass analysis of the tryptic digest peptides mixture was performed by using MALDI-TOF MS. Peptide mass fingerprints (PMFs) obtained by the MALDI-TOF analysis were used to search NCBI, SWISS-PROT and MSDB databases by using Mascot software.

RESULTS
PMF maps of all spots were obtained by MALDI-TOF MS and thirteen proteins were preliminarily identified.

CONCLUSION
The methods of analysis and identification of protein spots of tumor cells in 2-DE gel with silver staining by MALDI-TOF MS derived PMF have been established. Protein expression profile of SW480 has been obtained. It is demonstrated that a combination of proteomics and cell culture is a useful approach to comprehend the process of colon carcinogenesis.


The presence of Amadori compounds in commercial dehydrated fruits has been shown through HPLC analysis of the corresponding 2-furoylmethyl-amino acids obtained by acid hydrolysis. Furosine (2-furoylmethyl-lysine) was the main 2-furoylmethyl derivative observed in dried figs and apricot samples, whereas in prunes and dates similar amounts of furosine and 2-furoylmethyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid were detected. A considerable variation of 2-furoylmethyl-amino acid contents among commercial raisin samples was observed. 2-Furoylmethyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid and 2-furoylmethyl-arginine, the most abundant 2-furoylmethyl-amino acids, ranged between 9.9 and 75.8 mg/100 g sample and 10.0 and 62.5 mg/100 g sample, respectively. Most of the Amadori compounds present in raisins seem to have originated during the commercial shelf life period rather than during processing. Determination of 2-furoylmethyl-amino acids could be used as a method of controlling commercial dehydrated fruit and selecting storage conditions.


Non-human primates (NHPs) remain the most relevant challenge model for the evaluation of HIV vaccine candidates; however, discrepancies with clinical trial results have emphasized the need to further refine the NHP model. Furthermore, classical evaluation of vaccine candidates is based on endpoints measured systemically. We assessed the mucosal responses elicited upon vaccination with ALVAC and AIDSVAX using ex vivo Rhesus macaque mucosal tissue explant models. Following booster immunization with ALVAC/AIDSVAX, anti-gp120 HIV-1CM244-specific IgG and IgA were detected in culture supernatant cervicovaginal and colorectal tissue explants, as well as systemically. Despite protection from ex vivo viral challenge, no neutralization was observed with tissue explant culture supernatants. Priming with ALVAC induced distinct cytokine profiles in cervical and rectal tissue. However, ALVAC/AIDSVAX boosts resulted in similar modulations in both mucosal tissues with a statistically significant decrease in cytokines linked to inflammatory responses and lymphocyte differentiation. With ALVAC/AIDSVAX boosts, significant correlations were observed between cytokine levels and specific IgA in cervical explants and specific IgG and IgA in rectal tissue. The cytokine secretome revealed differences between vaccination with ALVAC and ALVAC/AIDSVAX not previously observed in mucosal tissues and distinct from the systemic response, which could represent a biosignature of the vaccine combination.


This paper explores the status of language and suffering in recovery from psychosis from a transcendentally-informed phenomenological perspective. We suggest that each of these concepts can apply both to the illness itself and to the person with the illness. The relationship between the two will be one focus of this discussion. The other focus will be on the various ways in which phenomenological approaches to psychopathology have understood the nature of this relationship; a relationship characterized by different meanings of the term "immanence." Drawing inspiration from a Borges poem and from Husserl's debate with Heidegger over the content of his "Phenomenology" article for the Encyclopedia Britannica, we argue that it is misleading, as well as unhelpful, to continue to focus on deficits and dysfunction while ignoring the person's hopes, strengths, assets, and agency. As long as there remains no cure for psychosis, we conclude that it is more effective to promote recovery among people with psychosis than to remain focused on reducing, minimizing, or eliminating their disorder.


ABSTRACT A voluminous literature has documented the importance of emotion regulation for health and well-being. The studies in this literature, however, have generally focused on the down-regulation of negative affect. Few studies have examined the down-regulation of positive affect. In Study 1, we constructed a scale, the revised Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (r–RESE), which assesses both the down- and up-regulation of positive affect, in addition to the traditional down-regulation of negative affect. In Study 2, we conducted an extensive validation of the r–RESE scale, using a multimethod approach with informant ratings, to illustrate that the down-regulation of positive affect represents a process independent of each of the other forms of emotion regulation. In Study 3, we provided evidence that the ability to down-regulate positive emotions provides added predictive utility when predicting indexes of impulsivity and adjustment. Across the studies, we illustrate the potential importance of the down-regulation of positive emotions as a topic of study for the field of emotion regulation.


The characteristics of 36 isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans originating from cv. Picra were investigated using cultural, pathogenicity and isozyme analyses in comparison with six known isolates of A- and B-groups. Picra-related isolates were similar to the three known B-group isolates from Brassica napus using a cultural test. Two known B-group isolates and 29 of the 36 Picra-related isolates tested were aggressive on cv. Picra, whereas all the three known A-group isolates were not. All the 42 isolates tested were aggressive on the B. napus-B. juncea recombinant line MX and on B. napus cv. Westar. Phosphoglucose isomerase analysis showed two different patterns, separating A-group known (fast band) from B-group known isolates (slow band). All cv. Picra isolates displayed the slow band. Considerable differences in isoesterase patterns were found between known A- and B-group isolates. Isolates recovered from cv. Picra displayed six different electrophoretic patterns, including that of the known B-group isolates. Clusters of the 42 isolates, generated by UPGMA analysis based on similarity coefficients of electrophoretic types, matched the previous classification into A- and B-groups, although two atypical Picra-related isolates with a singular pattern clustered with the A-group. The importance of these isolates for blackleg epidemiology and resistance breeding is discussed.


Although ophthalmoplegia following snake bites is not indicative of a serious neurotoxic complication, symptoms of diplopia, dizziness and ocular discomfort can be emotionally devastating for patients. The authors experienced two cases of ophthalmoplegia following snake bites in Korea. The patients complained of diplopia that had developed several hours after the snake bites. The diplopia did not improve with antivenom treatment, but resolved completely after several injections of neostigmine.


This study investigated apology strategies used in Jordanian spoken Arabic. The main purpose was to find whether gender plays a role in selecting apology strategies related to different situations. A modified version of Harb's discourse questionnaire was employed for collecting the data. The participants included 20 males and 20 females. The data were codified and classified using Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Patterns (CCSARP), by Blum-Kulka and Olshtain (1984). Both qualitative and quantitative approach was used in analysing the collected data. The findings of the study demonstrate that there are more similarities than differences between females and males in the use of apology strategies. In addition, it was found that both groups tend to use multiple apology strategies in the same utterance; however, their strategies vary in frequency. The results demonstrated that there is no substantial quantitative difference in the use of apology strategies between Jordanian males and females. Further research employing a multi-factor framework (age, gender, education) of addressees is needed.


The purpose of this work is to study the suitability of the CAT S60 smartphone with built-in thermal camera to be used in self and home care to detect the risk level of wound appearance in advance. The purpose was to clarify different conditions where thermal imaging might act as a resource in detecting changes in limb circulation before visual signs even occur. The purpose is to detect early incipient tissue damage in foot usually occur in diabetic patients. Thermal images were acquired from voluntary domesticated elderly people. Thermal pictures from limbs of 3 persons were studied in order to find thermal differences indicating possible changes in limb circulation.
Noteworthy thermal differences between limbs were found in elderly people. A smartphone having built-in thermal camera enables to detect plantar and limb thermal differences with a sufficient accuracy. This may support home monitoring for elderly people and thus reduce foot ulcers and possible foot amputations due to earlier detection and identification of harmful changes in limb circulation. Earlier detection of circulatory insufficiency via thermal imaging makes possible for nurses to intervene and enable medical assistance.


This article explores what an eighteenth-century case of adultery in an elite family tells us about the status of Confucian marriage and challenges to it in the mid-Qing. The case illustrates the problematic nature of conjugal love in this period, which puts emotions in conflict with ritual propriety, the marital relationship in conflict with the interests of the patriline, and subjective desires in conflict with social duties. The case also offers insights into the emotional world of the period, providing intimate details of the emotional texture of three interwoven marital or quasi-marital relationships. Each represents a deviation from the ideal of Confucian marriage and presents a different configuration of self, sentiment and ritual propriety. Together they offer a rich picture of the intimate realm of family life and the forces that worked to destabilize it.


Butgenbach Reservoir is situated in the High Ardennes plateau in eastern Belgium (50°25′N; 6°13′E). It is used principally for flood control and for production of hydroelectric energy. It has been subjected to a previous series of studies because of its eutrophication problems and their impacts on the local economy. Butgenbach Reservoir was emptied during spring 2004 for dam restoration, being refilled in mid-September of the same year. Selected physicochemical and biological parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, inorganic and organic nutrients, chlorophyll-a) were measured fortnightly during the lake's productive season (mid-April to mid-October 2005) at three sampling sites throughout the water column. The water quality conditions after refilling of the lake were compared to previous studies accomplished at the same sampling sites (prior to emptying the lake). The actual trophic status was mesotrophic to eutrophic, based on the combination of total phosphorous and chlorophyll-a concentrations, as well as water transparency. Butgenbach Reservoir generally exhibits good water quality, based on the French water quality system SEQ-eau. A longitudinal decrease in water quality was observed from upstream to downstream, because mainly of the differences in lake bottom morphology and water residence time, and their impacts on nutrient distribution in the lake.


Uranium estimation studies on muscovites occurring as pegmatites in the Bhilwara area, Rajasthan State (India) give an evidence of second-phase intrusions of uranium in the mica matrix. The uranium content of mica varies from 10−10 atom/atom to 10−5 atom/atom. The mean fission track age for this region was found to be 1069±51 m. y. The pegmatites are of Precambrian origin but the uranium inclusions belong to a much later stage in the geothermal history of the samples.


The run-up of long, strongly nonlinear waves impinging on a vertical barrier can result in remarkable amplification of the far-field amplitude of incoming waves [1,2]. Such an extreme run-up is the result of an evolution process in which long waves experience strong amplification under the action of nonlinear steepening followed by the formation of undular bores, consisting of nonlinearly dispersive wave trains.Rather than addressing the genesis of such extreme run-ups in any detail, this article describes a specific aspect of the problem; the associated pressure fluctuations at the wall. Numerical computations of the near-wall pressure field show that non-hydrostatic effects can strongly affect the dynamic loads exerted on the wall, and consequently, the high-frequency component of the pressure loads results is significantly enhanced with respect to that of the wave spectrum itself. This observation suggests that also long oceanic waves, at least in some conditions, can be a source of seismic noise.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Empirical theology offers fresh and stimulating insights into the concerns of both the Church and the academy. It does this by accessing relevant empirical evidence using the tools of the social sciences, and placing this evidence in the context of theological critique and contemporary debate. In this pioneering collection of focused essays, leading experts of empirical theology illustrate key perspectives within this rapidly expanding discipline. The first section of this book explores theoretical issues underpinning the main methods of obtaining empirical data, and the use of these data within theology. The other two sections displaying the role both of qualitative studies, and of the analysis of quantitative data, in exploring a range of theological beliefs and religious, social and educational concerns.


Abstract The paper will present the journal/magazine of the Croatian Association for the Protection of Animals Živobran (1894–1904) and explore its contribution to the development of social awareness on natural, cultural and ethical values of animal species with special reference to their educational role in the promotion of animal rights among the Croatian school population at the turn of the 20th century. Namely, by carrying out the cooperation with school institutions, the magazine of the Croatian Association for the Protection of Animals directly affected the formation of students' thinking, standpoints and relations toward the animal world. The research corpus encompasses texts published in the journal/magazine of the Croatian Association for the Protection of Animals Živobran in the period from 1894 to 1904. The paper is a contribution to the research of Croatian cultural zoology and literary ecology.


Hypertension is a global health problem and a leading factor in severe and life-threatening cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and stroke. The onset is dependent on individual lifestyle choices, and no single root cause of the condition exists. Various machine learning solutions are proposed for the early diagnosis of hypertension and its prediction, but they are based on standard guidelines and do not provide personalized solutions. Current models mainly rely on batch learning methods and do not readily learn the new incoming data. There is also a lack of an intelligent technique for handling anomalies in data, which leads to unreliable prediction results. In this paper, an integrated multi-agent-based hypertension risk prediction system is proposed that detects and computes missing values in the time series and provides personalized hypertension risk predictions. The proposed solution incorporates Gaussian mixture models for enhancing the input data, and an Online Infinite Echo State Gaussian Process (OIESGP) is used to obtain real-time prediction distribution of blood pressure. The prediction system readily absorbs new incoming data, and the model is updated to learn any new patterns in the data. The hypertension risk score is estimated using the Framingham hypertension risk estimator, and a 4-year hypertension risk is computed. The prediction performance of the proposed model is evaluated on blood pressure data gathered from the Malaysian population using mean absolute error, mean square error, and root-mean-square errors. The experimental results indicate that the proposed prediction model exhibits greater prediction accuracy than existing state-of-the-art online prediction methods.


This paper analyzed the relationship between the rice yields of Vietnam and Thailand, and global monthly average temperature of the sea surface and the height of 500 hPa. To separate the trends yield and meteorological yield, eleven different statistical methods were adopted. According to relevant widespread investigations, the regression models of different meteorological yield and the sea surface temperature and the circulation were built up by using step regression method based on the coefficient. The result of the tendency yield and meteorological yield estimated through growth curve method of Vietnam and Thailand are preferable by statistical testing. Based on the physical significance of the regression model, the yield in 2002 was predicted and the error was only 2%-5%. The results may be applied in practice.


Market conditions change continuously. However, in portfolio's investment strategies, it is hard to account for this intrinsic non-stationarity. In this paper, we propose to address this issue by using the Inverse Covariance Clustering (ICC) method to identify inherent market states and then integrate such states into a dynamic portfolio optimization process. Extensive experiments across three different markets, NASDAQ, FTSE and HS300, over a period of ten years, demonstrate the advantages of our proposed algorithm, termed Inverse Covariance Clustering-Portfolio Optimization (ICC-PO). The core of the ICC-PO methodology concerns the identification and clustering of market states from the analytics of past data and the forecasting of the future market state. It is therefore agnostic to the specific portfolio optimization method of choice. By applying the same portfolio optimization technique on a ICC temporal cluster, instead of the whole train period, we show that one can generate portfolios with substantially higher Sharpe Ratios, which are statistically more robust and resilient with great reductions in maximum loss in extreme situations. This is shown to be consistent across markets, periods, optimization methods and selection of portfolio assets.


Many applications with real-time demands are composed of mixed sets of tasks with a variety of requirements. These can be used in the form of standard timing constraints or flow of data. Therefore you need real time multitasking operating system to guarantee within a fixed amount of time. Scheduling Algorithm for real-time multitask operating system is implemented according to the priority of tasks depending on nature of their jobs and need to resource or time. The Scheduling algorithm which used here is event driven, not clock driven. It is necessary in data communication system which is an example of real time system to record the received messages for documentation and for further use like for simulation or computation or reply them. The time which saved with each message is important to be close to the real situation. The system is written in C++ programming language under DOS environment.


A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been developed based on a simple and sustainable strategy for the selective determination of citalopram (CTL) using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). The MIP layer was prepared by electrochemical in situ polymerization of the 3-amino-4 hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA) functional monomer and CTL as a template molecule. To simulate the polymerization mixture and predict the most suitable ratio between the template and functional monomer, computational studies, namely molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, were carried out. During the experimental preparation process, essential parameters controlling the performance of the MIP sensor, including CTL:AHBA concentration, number of polymerization cycles, and square wave voltammetry (SWV) frequency were investigated and optimized. The electrochemical characteristics of the prepared MIP sensor were evaluated by both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Based on the optimal conditions, a linear electrochemical response of the sensor was obtained by SWV measurements from 0.1 to 1.25 µmol L−1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.162 µmol L−1 (S/N = 3). Moreover, the MIP sensor revealed excellent CTL selectivity against very close analogues, as well as high imprinting factor of 22. Its applicability in spiked river water samples demonstrated its potential for adequate monitoring of CTL. This sensor offers a facile strategy to achieve portability while expressing a willingness to care for the environment.


Different perturbation theory treatments of the Ginzburg‐Landau phase transition model are discussed. This includes a criticism of the perturbative renormalization group (RG) approach and a proposal of a novel method providing critical exponents consistent with the known exact solutions in two dimensions. The usual perturbation theory is reorganized by appropriate grouping of Feynman diagrams of φ4 model with O(n) symmetry. As a result, equations for calculation of the two‐point correlation function are obtained which allow to predict possible exact values of critical exponents in two and three dimensions by proving relevant scaling properties of the asymptotic solution at (and near) the criticality. The new values of critical exponents are discussed and compared to the results of numerical simulations and experiments.


Purpose: To describe a simple technique for involutional entropion correction and to present the findings of a pilot study. Methods: Consecutive case series of 42 procedures. Patients presenting with involutional entropion in the absence of lateral canthal tendon laxity (lateral canthus could be distracted 1 cm or more medially) underwent a modified full-thickness eyelid shortening combined with retractor plication. Main outcome measures were correction of entropion and cosmesis of the surgical site at final follow up. Results: At final follow up, 92% of patients had a satisfactory eyelid position with no recurrence of entropion and a cosmetically satisfactory scar. Conclusions: This is a useful technique with a higher success rate than everting sutures and is particularly suitable for patients for whom rapid surgery is needed or a lateral canthotomy is best avoided.


We present a rare and
unusual complication of cervico-facial soft tissue emphysema with
pneumo-mediastinum which occurred in a 30-year-old female Jordanian patient in our
hospital in October 2010 in Abu Dhabi following FESS. CT scan
evaluation of aero-digestive tract in the immediate post-operative period was
done to ascertain the cause pertaining to any surgical trauma or anaesthesia
related complications. Such a case previously unreported has been included in
this study. A simple close monitoring after establishing the cause is usually
sufficient in management of such related or unrelated complications during FESS
which in our case was likely to be anaesthesia related. Published data of such
a complication assists in building up a good and effective medical audit based
on ethical practice. This paper stresses the importance of immediate CT scan of
aero-digestive tract in evaluating the cause.


Ductopenia is often regarded as a chronic process where ≥50% of portal tracts lack bile ducts, which is also known as vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS). One aetiology is drug‐induced liver injury. Cloxacillin, an antistaphylococcal penicillin, typically causes "bland" cholestasis. We present the first case of cloxacillin‐induced acute ductopenia or VBDS and a review of published cloxacillin‐induced liver injuries. A 66‐year‐old woman with no prior liver disease, but known penicillin allergy, was treated for postcarotid angioplasty staphylococcal infection with 6 weeks of cloxacillin. She presented with a 2‐week history of weakness and jaundice. Laboratory work‐up showed elevated liver enzymes with a cholestatic pattern, hyperbilirubinemia and eosinophilia. She required ICU transfer for hypotension and was started empirically on prednisone. Liver biopsy revealed severe centrilobular cholestasis, mild necroinflammation and ductopenia with epithelial injury, but no ductular reaction. Two months later she was discharged on hydrocortisone and ursodiol with persistently elevated alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. She was considered for liver transplantation but died of liver failure 4 months later. Four additional articles were found with histopathologic descriptions of cloxacillin‐related liver injury. These included portal inflammation, cholestasis and mild necroinflammation. Clinical features were reported in two cases; both had mild symptoms with cholestatic liver enzymes and hyperbilirubinemia. Both patients recovered completely within 10‐60 days. Cloxacillin‐induced cholestasis can be secondary to acute ductopenia, which can result in worse clinical outcomes than previously described "bland" cholestasis. Liver biopsy is recommended to identify cases with acute VBDS.


Corporations rarely prioritize healthy communities over healthy profit margins, but their profits depend on community acceptance. This article reveals that in their quest to be perceived as legitimate citizens, some corporations co-opt the rhetorical tactics typically associated with social movement organizations to frame their profit-maximizing practices as the solution to the problem of childhood obesity. In this framing, explored here in an ethnography of the activities of two organizations called the Partnership for a Healthier America and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, obesity is the result of communities' failure to work together and the cumulative effect of individuals' bad choices. By framing corporations as vital community partners poised to "work together" across sectors to solve the childhood obesity "crisis," these organizations hope to inspire the public to participate in this imagined community in one predominant way: by buying their products. Despite the apparent power and reach of their framing, though, these corporations implicitly acknowledge that they are not and cannot be legitimate members of communities unless the public lets them.


Ultisol is a soil type with the widest distribution in Indonesia. However, ultisol is characterized with acid reaction and low content of organic matter and nutrients. Ultisol contains a high concentration of Al at a level that can interfere plant growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lime and crop residue composts application on the activities of exch-Al and the soybean yield. A greenhouse experiment using Vertic Hapludult from Gajrug, Banten was conducted in a completely randomized design. Liming treatments with 0.0 and 20.7 tons/ha (equals to 1x exch-Al) were combined with the application of different crop residue compost from upland rice, corn, soybean and peanut. The dose of the compost at 0, 1 and 2% organic-C. In this study, soybean was used as the indicator plant.  The results of this experiment indicated that the application of lime equal 1x exch-Al significantly decreased exch-Al  and resulted in good plant growth and soybean yield. Application of different types of crop residue compost decreased exch-Al. On the unlimed and limed soils the application of upland rice residue compost at dose of 2% organic-C (D 2 ) increased soybean yield (23.21 g/pot and 25.67 g/pot), 72.53% and 1.87% respectively. Key words :  Liming, crop residue compost, exchangeable aluminum (exch-Al), soybean


The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is a self-report measure designed to assess the two most widely studied strategies of Gross' model: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Even though there are two Spanish adaptations of the ERQ, region-specific linguistic factors and dialects must also be considered when adapting a test for another country in order to ensure equivalent evaluations across cultures. The present work developed an Argentinean adaptation of the ERQ. Additionally, the study evaluated its psychometric properties and associations with theoretically related constructs. Study 1 consist of the translation the ERQ into Argentinean Spanish and the analysis of its internal structure and reliability in a sample of 2957 participants. The results supported a two-factor structure with good data fit, adequate factor loadings, and good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Expected age and gender differences in the use of reappraisal and suppression were also observed. Study 2 analyzed the external validity (concurrent and convergent) of the ERQ adaptation in a sample of 2160 participants. Theory-consistent associations were found with emotion regulation mechanisms, anxiety, depression, and personality traits. In summary, the findings support the validity of a new ERQ adaptation and its use in Argentina.


Public history sites like the West Indian Museum of Panama and the Miraflores Visitors Center have different approaches to narrating the Panama Canal story, ranging from tales of man's triumph over nature and celebratory discourses of nationalist victories, to testimonies of the racial histories silenced by official renderings of the past. Given the important role of museums as educational institutions, sites that inform public opinion, and representational platforms for national tourism, this article explores the relationship these institutions forge between visitors and canal history. Through a comparative analysis of the narratives and experiential strategies at each site, I evaluate the degree to which Panamanians are cast as spectators in grandiose histories of triumph, or as agents, responsible for shaping the past, present and future. In contrast to these physical sites, I consider how The Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama constructs a living past through memory practices that challenge the petrified histories traditionally found in museums.


Universities worldwide have recognized the significance of assessing students' language abilities to ensure they can actively participate in academic discourse. However, many universities do not have institution-based English proficiency test yet. The aim of the research is to explore the significances of developing university-based English proficiency test, the essential steps involved in crafting it, and challenges in developing a robust institution's English proficiency test. The method used in this research is library research. The results underscore the critical role of an English proficiency test in ensuring academic excellence, promoting global communication, and preparing students for success in an increasingly interconnected world.  Developing a well-structured and reliable English proficiency assessment tool starts with a decision to provide a test, developing the test, and followed by those stages connected with test use. Nevertheless, defining test objective and ensuring test validity, choosing the right format, ensuring fairness and inclusivity, preparing substantial cost and resources, adapting for specific contexts are challenges in developing it. In sum, universities can develop a robust English proficiency test by having collaboration with language experts, assessment specialists, and educators, as well as adherence to established principles of language testing and assessment .


Since Amitsur's discovery of noncrossed product division algebras more than 35 years ago, their existence over more familiar fields has been an object of investigation. Brussel's work was a culmination of this effort, exhibiting noncrossed products over the rational function field k(t) and the Laurent series field k((t)) over any global field k — the smallest possible centers of noncrossed products. Witt's theorem gives a transparent description of the Brauer group of k((t)) as the direct sum of the Brauer group of k and the character group of the absolute Galois group of k. We classify the Brauer classes over k((t)) containing noncrossed products by analyzing the fiber over χ for each character χ in Witt's theorem. In this way, a picture of the partition of the Brauer group into crossed products/noncrossed products is obtained, which is in principle ruled solely by a relation between index and number of roots of unity. For large indices the noncrossed products occur with a "natural density" equal to 1.


Abstract In Chinese primary EFL classrooms, translanguaging between English and Chinese is commonly used by teachers and students out of need for efficient communication, however, this practice has been and is still widely believed to hinder students' English development. Although recent studies have revealed the benefits translanguaging offers for teaching and learning, little has been done to understand teachers' perceptions and use of a translanguaging pedagogy in their formative assessment practices, which is expected to play a more important role than before in China's primary education due to recent policy reform. To close this gap, this exploratory study conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 Chinese primary EFL teachers, who are varied in their geographical location and teaching experience. Adopting an abductive thematic analysis approach, data analysis aimed at understanding how translanguaging was used to facilitate the implementation of formative assessment. Through the lens of creativity, three essential types of translanguaging practices – translanguaging for meaning-making (through preparation and expansion), collaboration, and empowerment – were identified, which have the potential to facilitate different procedures of formative assessment by accelerating understanding and expression, stimulating critical thinking and exploration, maintaining interest and engagement, and promoting autonomy and peer learning.


The stimulation of the plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase by boric acid was studied on a microsomal fraction (MF) obtained from ungerminated, boron-dependent pollen grains of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. which usually need boron for germination and tube growth. ATP hydrolysis and H+ transport activity increased by 14 and 18%, respectively, after addition of 2-4 mM boric acid. The optimum of boron stimulation was at pH 6.5-8.5 for ATP hydrolysis and at pH 6.5-7.5 for H+ transport. No boron stimulation was detected when vanadate was added to the MF, whereas an increase of 10-20% in ATP hydrolysis and H+ transport was still measured in the presence of inhibitors specific for V -type ATPase (nitrate and bafilomycin) and F-type ATPase (azide), respectively. A vanadate-sensitive increase in ATP hydrolysis activity was also observed in partially permeabilized vesicles (0.001%[w/v] Triton X-100) suggesting a direct interaction between borate and the PM H+-ATPase rather than a weak acid-induced stimulation. Additionally, we measured the effect of boron on membrane voltage (Vm) of ungerminated pollen grains and observed small hyperpolarizations in 48% of all experiments. Exposing pollen grains to a more acidic pH of 4 caused a depolarization, followed in some experiments by a repolarization (21%). In the presence of 2 mM boron such hyperpolarizations, perhaps caused by an enhanced activity of the H+-ATPase, were measured in 58% of all tested pollen grains. The effects of boron on Vm may be reduced by additional stimulation of a K+ inward current of opposite direction to the H+-ATPase. All experiments indicate that boron stimulates an electrogenic transport system in the plasma membrane which is sensitive to vanadate and has a pH optimum around 7, i.e. the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. A boron-increased PM H+-ATPase activity in turn may stimulate germination and growth of pollen tubes.


Sharply demarcated homogeneously hyperdense renal lesions have been found to be benign renal cysts, with hemorrhage or a high protein content the most common etiology of the high density. A similar hyperdense renal lesion is presented that was found to be a renal adenocarcinoma. This lesion showed mild contrast enhancement on CT and was found by ultrasound to be a solid mass. The malignant nature of this lesion suggests that further evaluation, such as ultrasound, fine needle aspiration biopsy, or surgery may be needed.


Abstract Solitons are structurally stable solitary waves that propagate in a nonlinear medium. In this paper, solitons will be considered as the basis for solving many classical nonlinear equations of motion. Some classical solutions that were modeled through the application of Wolfram Mathematica System and MATLAB programming language. In this paper some soliton solutions will also be compared and some types of solitons were modeled.The dynamics of solitons was studied in consideration of solutions of some equations, such as the Korteweg - de Vries equation and as a particular solution for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation provided that the nonlinearity parameter R>0 in the equation. We concluded by showing solitons in more detail which are often used in practice as a simpler method for explaining complex phenomena and solving non-classical equations


Medium-voltage direct-current (MVDC) distribution is a possible replacement due to the advancements in power electronic technologies, for existing medium-voltage ac distribution on ships. The new systems based on MVDC are expected to increase fuel efficiency, remove bulky low-frequency transformers used for voltage coordination, and integrate storage technologies. These expected benefits of MVDC come with challenges such as stability and reliability of the new distribution system. In this paper, the effect of three different source-side converters, based on commercially available technology, on the MVDC distribution grid and their interactions with the constant power loads (propulsion drives) are investigated. Additionally, the effect of variations in the filtering effort and the distribution lengths on the system stability is analyzed using the impedance-based stability assessment.


Early childhood education (PAUD) is a social institution that serves to instill cultural, national, and religious values in children. While the existing literatures on PAUD are more focused on the role of social institutions and formal educational institutions in the formation of children (school environment, learning process and community supporting the process), this article focuses on the process of enculturation in applying "Islamic" values in the learning process at TK Wihdatul Ummah.
This study was conducted at TK Wihdatul Ummah. Using ethnographic approach, data was collcted using in-depth interview ansd observation. The study involved ten informants who are varied on the basis of age (between 27 and 69 years), and status, consisting of a school principals, three teachers, five parents and a student' guardian.
The study shows that TK Wihdatul Ummah has succeeded in carrying out Wahdah Islamiyah's main mission in the field of education, mainly in developing young generation from an early age by fostering faith (aqidah), monotheism (tauhid), faith (iman) and good deeds (amal sholeh). Character building based on "Islamic" values is the main orientation that is encultured by TK Wihdatul Ummah to early childhood and still refers to the PAUD National Curriculum. TK Wihdatul Ummah has been able to transmit an "Islamic" curriculum that focuses on two core competencies, namely to love the Qur'an and the Hadith and practice Islamic values as the character of pious children. Achievement of competence to love the Qur'an and the Hadith is shown in basic competency activities, namely: memorizing the surahs in juz 30 and reciting the Hadiths of the Prophet, taddabur Al-Qur'an and Hadith, studying hijaiyyah letters, and knowing practical worship according to the guidance of the Prophet. While the attainment of the "Islamic" values as the character of pious children, is shown by Islamic behaviour in daily life, and Islamic independent behavior. Students' learning achievements at TK Wihdatul Ummah include discipline, independence and self-confidence; trust and closeness to the teacher; able to socialize; able to appreciate and understand others; able to understand rewards and punishment; and able to practice Islamic values as sholeh children character. From the emic point of view based on emic perspective (teachers and parents), the achievement in terms of children character building at TK Wihdatul Ummah focuses on religious values (praying independently and according to guidance, worshiping and remembrancing) and morals values (getting used to behaving well, polite, honest, like to give/help and respect) and social emotional values (independence, self-confidence able to socialize, respect and understand others, control themselves naturally, understand the rules and discipline). By studying at TK Wihdatul Ummah, it is not only students, but also parents show significant changes in their everyday behaviour.


Retiform hemangioendothelioma is recently defined, a distinctive variant of low-grade angiosarcoma of the skin. It has a potential of high local recurrence but low distant metastasis. Because there have been no tumor-related deaths and only two case of regional lymph node metastasis; wide surgical excision is the most suggested treatment method. We document a case of retiform hemangioendothelioma that is originated from the capillary malformation of the left arm skin of an 8-year-old girl. Our case is discussed in the background of previously reported cases concerning retiform hemangioendothelioma in English-written literature. As far we know this is the first case of the retiform hemangioen dothelioma originating from the capillary malformation and she is the youngest case.


Abstract. Currently, dual-energy x-ray phase contrast imaging is usually conducted with an x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer. However, in this system, the two adopted energy spectra have to be chosen carefully in order to match well with the phase grating. For example, the accelerating voltages of the x-ray tube are supposed to be, respectively, set as 40 and 70 kV, with other energy spectra being practically unusable for dual energy imaging. This system thus has low flexibility and maneuverability in practical applications. Here dual energy x-ray phase-contrast imaging is performed in a grating-based noninterferometric imaging system rather than in a Talbot-Lau interferometer. The advantage of this system is that, theoretically speaking, any two separated energy spectra can be utilized to perform dual energy x-ray phase-contrast imaging. The preliminary experimental results show that dual-energy x-ray phase-contrast imaging is successfully performed when the accelerating voltages of the x-ray tube are successively set as 40 and 50 kV. Our work increases the flexibility and maneuverability when employing dual-energy x-ray phase-contrast imaging in medical diagnoses and nondestructive tests.


In Kafka's parable 'Before the Law' the man from the country waits his entire life before the border, represented as the Law. In this article, the act of waiting before the Law is analysed in the context of a geopolitical border. More particularly, the question of why we b/order ourselves is investigated. And when do we dare to enter/ open the gate? I discuss how this act of b/ordering can be understood as balancing the desire to flee, migrate, move, escape — in short, to be freed (psychoid desire) and the desire to be, to be-long, to home oneself, to be bordered (paranoid desire). The border then is a dynamic result of our desires and of the reverse, our fears. More than a line in space, therefore, b/ordering is a strategic socio-political practice that will vary over time and space. A border is not an answer, it is a constant interrogation, for ourselves as well as others.


We construct an ultra-stable external-cavity diode laser via modulation transfer spectroscopy referencing on a hyperfine component of the 87Rb D2 lines at 780nm. The Doppler-free dispersion-like modulation transfer signal is obtained with high signal-to-noise-ratio. The instability of the laser frequency is measured by beating with an optical frequency comb which is phase-locked to an ultra-stable oven controlled crystal oscillator. The Allan deviation is 3.9 × 10−13 at 1s averaging time and 9.8 × 10−14 at 90s averaging time.


Purpose: This paper explains how proponents of biodiversity offsetting have sought to produce an ecologically defensible mechanism for reconciling economic development and biodiversity conservation. Methods: The paper analyses a case study biodiversity offsetting mechanism in New South Wales, Australia. Michel Callon's framing and overflowing metaphor is used to explain how new accounting devices are brought into the mechanism, to (re)frame a space of calculability and address anxieties expressed by conservationists about calculations of net loss/gain of biodiversity. Findings: The analysis shows that the offsetting mechanism embeds a form of accounting for biodiversity that runs counter to the prevailing dominant anthropocentric approach. Rather than accounting for the biodiversity of a site in terms of the economic benefits it provides to humans, the mechanism accounts for biodiversity in terms of its ecological value. This analysis, therefore, reveals a form of accounting for biodiversity that uses numbers to provide valuations of biodiversity, but these numbers are ecological numbers, not economic numbers. So this is a calculative, and also ecocentric , approach to accounting for, and valuing, biodiversity. Originality/value: This paper contributes to extant literature on accounting for biodiversity by revealing a novel conceptualisation of the reconciliation of economic development and biodiversity conservation, producing an ecologically defensible form of sustainable development. The paper also makes a methodological contribution by showing how Callon's framing and overflowing metaphor can be used to enable the kind of interdisciplinary engagement needed for researchers to address sustainable development challenges.


A gap in research on the violation of the rights of refugee children to well-being and education – both prerequisites for living a good life – has been recognised internationally as well as nationally. This article endeavours to partially fill this gap by (a) presenting a background to the situation of refugees in South Africa in general and refugee children in particular, (b) delineating relevant concepts, (c) explaining the international and national legislative framework applicable to refugee children, (d) clarifying the role of education in the life of refugee children, (e) identifying the various challenges such children present for an inclusive education system, as well as (f) drawing conclusions and making recommendations on overcoming these challenges.South Africa has experienced an overwhelming growth in refugees since its transition to democracy in 1994. In contrast to the 1951 Convention,1 which defines a refugee as someone who is incapable or reluctant to return to their country of origin owing to a justified fear of being oppressed on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, studies found that refugees and their children from the rest of the African continent, as well as from as far afield as China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, mainly flee to this country to escape conditions of poverty, civil discord and even war in search of a better life. Instead of being welcomed, however, refugee children are often met with intimidation, hate, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, exclusion and discrimination by South Africans on a daily basis.By concentrating on refugee children and probing the results of significant studies indicating the persistent challenges facing the realisation of inclusive education in South Africa, the author advocates a humanitarian approach to refugee children in order to respect their dignity whilst recognising their rights to life and a basic education within the borders of South Africa.


This study was undertaken in response to the current lack of research identifying organizational routine influences that are exerted on organizations, including in relation to digital transition. Digital transformation refers to the integration of digital technologies, such as data analytics and automation, into an organization, engendering changes in its work routines, processes, structure, and culture. However, digital transition is a strategic process involving significant structural and procedural changes in the shift from one technology to another. Therefore, understanding the effect of organizational routines is essential for understanding how digital transformation impacts an organization, and how best to manage this transition. This study explores the impact of organizational routines on digital transition, in order to understand how they can facilitate a successful digital transformation. It employs a single case study of a university that recently implemented digital technologies, including big data analytics and automation, in some of its managerial services for its employees. It marked a significant technological shift for this public university, and the study specifically explores how the organizational routines affected this digital transition, particularly in terms of managerial and administrative issues. In modern times, many universities worldwide have undergone significant changes, and it is therefore essential to document the impact of organizational routines on digital transition, especially in developing countries where universities play a crucial societal role. The complexity of universities as organizations, and the interaction between organizational routines and digital transition highlight the importance of a case study approach for understanding this complexity. The university with which this study is concerned is a leading public university that holds considerable influence and a leadership role within the higher education sector, and which has adopted various technologies and information systems. The success of the digital transformation at this university may have a significant impact on other universities in the region and encourage them to adopt similar approaches to digital transition and digital transformation in the future, if they understand the impact of organizational routines in such transitions. The results show that organizational routines play a leading role in digital transformation transition; moreover, some aspects can explain the ways in which these routines influence digital transformation transition, such as inherited status, the adaptation of technology and changes to current organizational settings, and power. This study can contribute toward the successful implementation of digital transformation and influence the strategies adopted for the transitions required by digital technologies.


Photovoltaic systems are a widespread form of green energy, that is becoming increasingly considered also as a form of economical investment. Their reliability is consequently becoming a concern. In this paper we focus on the reliability of the DC-AC converters (inverters) of photovoltaic (PV) systems. We analyze the effects of the faults likely to affect their operation in the field. We show that such faults can impact catastrophically the power delivered to the load. We then propose a self-checking monitor, that is able to detect the occurrence of such faults in the field, as well as faults possibly affecting itself. Our monitor can therefore be adopted to guarantee the concurrent on-line test of faults affecting the inverters of PV systems. Moreover, if used together with suitable recovery strategies, for instance based on proper hardware reconfiguration, it can provide PV systems with fault tolerance ability, thus meeting the increasing demand for reliable PV systems.