Fairness is a concept of justice. Various definitions exist, some of them conflicting with each other. In the absence of an uniformly accepted notion of fairness, choosing the right kind for a specific situation has always been a central issue in human history. When it comes to implementing sustainable fairness in artificial intelligence systems, this old question plays a key role once again: How to identify the most appropriate fairness metric for a particular application? The answer is often a matter of context, and the best choice depends on ethical standards and legal requirements. Since ethics guidelines on this topic are kept rather general for now, we aim to provide more hands-on guidance with this document. Therefore, we first structure the complex landscape of existing fairness metrics and explain the different options by example. Furthermore, we propose the"Fairness Compass", a tool which formalises the selection process and makes identifying the most appropriate fairness definition for a given system a simple, straightforward procedure. Because this process also allows to document the reasoning behind the respective decisions, we argue that this approach can help to build trust from the user through explaining and justifying the implemented fairness.


The present work shows a comprehensive methodology and design steps to recover energy from the automotive waste heat. A thermoelectric generator must be connected to a power converter in order to extract the maximum power from the generator and, also, satisfy different constrains to charge a battery. Starting from the electrical model of thermoelectric cells, it is evaluated their combination to realize a thermoelectric generator (TEG) comply with the automotive regulation, then considering input/output electric characteristics, it is evaluated the best converter topology to satisfy all constrains. Design steps and power dissipation estimation are deeply explained. TEG and power converter models are simulated in a model-based environment to allow the design of the control algorithms. The control system consists of nested control loops. Two maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are evaluated. The MPPT output is used as reference for a current control loop. The maximum power characteristic of a TEG has a quadratic behavior and working without the tracking of the maximum power point could drastically decrease the generated power from the TEG and the system efficiency. There are presented simulation results of the control algorithms and experimental data are shown in order to validate the design steps.


Urotensin II (UII) is a cyclic peptide that was originally extracted from the caudal neurosecretory system (CNSS) of fish. UII is well known to exhibit cardiovascular, ventilatory, and motor effects in vertebrates. Studies have reported that UII exerts mitogenic effects and can act as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor in mammals. However, similar information in fish is limited. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of UII and its receptor (UT) were cloned and characterized in the orange-spotted grouper. UII and UT were expressed ubiquitously in various tissues in grouper, and particularly high levels were observed in the CNSS, CNS, and ovary. A functional study showed that UT was coupled with intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in HEK293 cells. Studies carried out using i.p. injections of UII in grouper showed the following: i) in the hypothalamus, UII can significantly stimulate the mRNA expression of ghrh and simultaneously inhibit the mRNA expression of somatostatin 1 (ss1) and ss2 3 h after injection; ii) in the pituitary, UII also significantly induced the mRNA expression of gh 6 and 12  h after injection; and iii) in the liver, the mRNA expression levels of ghr1/ghr2 and igf1/igf2 were markedly increased 12 and 3  h after the i.p. injection of UII respectively. These results collectively indicate that the UII/UT system may play a role in the promotion of the growth of the orange-spotted grouper.


In this study, semiconducting organic polymer dots (Pdots) and inorganic quantum dots (Qdots) were first utilized to construct the organic-inorganic nanodots heterojunction for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) bioanalysis application. Specifically, n-type CdS Qdots, p-type CdTe Qdots, and tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP)-doped poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)- co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1',3}-thiadazole)] (PFBT) Pdots were fabricated, and their energy levels, that is, their valence band (VB)/conduction band (CB) or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)/highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) values, were also determined. Then, these nanodots were integrated to construct four types of p-n and p-p organic-inorganic nanodots heterojunctions, that is, CdS Qdots/TPP-doped PFBT Pdots, TPP-doped PFBT Pdots/CdS Qdots, CdTe Qdots/TPP-doped PFBT Pdots, and TPP-doped PFBT Pdots/CdTe Qdots, on the transparent glass electrode. Upon light irradiation, four heterojunctions exhibited different PEC behaviors with some having prominent photocurrent enhancement. With the model molecule l-cysteine (l-cys) as target, the proposed PEC sensor exhibited good performances. In brief, this work presents the first semiconducting organic-inorganic nanodots heterojunction for PEC bioanalysis application, which could be easily used as a general platform for future PEC bioanalysis building. Besides, it is expected to inspire more interest in the design, development, and implementation of various organic-inorganic heterojunctions for advanced PEC bioanalysis in the future.


With heart disease the leading killer in the United States and all Western countries, cardiology continues to be one of the most important services a hospital can offer. Cardiac catheterization laboratories can be one of the top revenue-producing programs if a hospital offers a competitive, comprehensive program that attracts respected cardiologists. Cardiac catheterization remains the best diagnostic tool for cardiovascular disorders and an important therapeutic method for treating heart disease through procedures such as PTCA. If a hospital doesn't offer these services, it is losing patients to hospitals that do. Cardiac catheterizations laboratories are key to a hospital's success and will remain so for years to come.


Appropriation and Reuse as Media Archaeology in Contemporary Swedish Poetry
This article deals with the practice in contemporary poetry of appropriation and recycling of extra-literary (or extra-aesthetic) materials, such as dictionaries, handbooks, user manuals, radio talks et cetera. The practice is situated within an avant-garde tradition of readymades, collages, and found poetry, which offers a historical context to the contemporary work. The analytical focus of the article is on three Swedish poets, who in various ways have explored this field of conceptually oriented writing during the last decade – Oskar Ponnert, Ida Börjel, and Ulf Karl Olov Nilsson. Even though their poetics vary, one might trace some common traits in their recycling of already existing textual, acoustic, and visual materials through concepts such as 'indexicality' and 'materiality'. The article also suggests that their work could be designated as a kind of media archaeology in poetry – as a way of discussing and reflecting upon the conditions of memory and representation in a contemporary media society.


ABSTRACT Purpose: We illustrate the effect of survival bias when investigating risk factors for eye disease in elderly populations for whom death is a competing risk. Our investigation focuses on the relationship between smoking and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in an observational study impacted by censoring due to death. Methods: Statistical methodology to calculate the survivor average causal effect (SACE) as a sensitivity analysis is described, including example statistical computing code for Stata and R. To demonstrate this method, we examine the causal effect of smoking history at baseline (1990–1994) on the presence of late AMD at the third study wave (2003–2007) using data from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Results: Of the 40,506 participants eligible for inclusion, 38,092 (94%) survived until the start of the third study wave, 20,752 (51%) were graded for AMD (60% female, aged 47–85 years, mean 65 ± 8.7 years). Late AMD was detected in 122 participants. Logistic regression showed strong evidence of an increased risk of late AMD for current smokers compared to non-smokers (adjusted naïve odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.74–5.13). Among participants expected to be alive at the start of follow-up regardless of their smoking status, the estimated SACE odds ratio comparing current smokers to non-smokers was at least 3.42 (95% CI 1.57–5.15). Conclusions: Survival bias can attenuate associations between harmful exposures and diseases of aging. Estimation of the SACE using a sensitivity analysis approach should be considered when conducting epidemiological research within elderly populations.


In this work, we introduce a system for real-time generation of drum sounds. This system is composed of two parts: a generative model for drum sounds together with a Max4Live plugin providing intuitive controls on the generative process. The generative model consists of a Conditional Wasserstein autoencoder (CWAE), which learns to generate Mel-scaled magnitude spectrograms of short percussion samples, coupled with a Multi-Head Convolutional Neural Network (MCNN) which estimates the corresponding audio signal from the magnitude spectrogram. The design of this model makes it lightweight, so that it allows one to perform real-time generation of novel drum sounds on an average CPU, removing the need for the users to possess dedicated hardware in order to use this system. We then present our Max4Live interface designed to interact with this generative model. With this setup, the system can be easily integrated into a studio-production environment and enhance the creative process. Finally, we discuss the advantages of our system and how the interaction of music producers with such tools could change the way drum tracks are composed.


Facial palsy is a neurological disorder triggered by dysfunction of the seventh cranial nerve, categorized as either central, between the cerebral cortex and brainstem nuclei, or peripheral, between the brainstem nuclei and peripheral organs. Central lesions cause impairment of the contralateral lower facial musculature with associated sparing of the forehead and ocular muscles. Conversely, peripheral lesions produce ipsilateral whole-sided facial hemiplegia including both forehead and ocular muscles. Facial palsy is diagnosed clinically, while imaging studies and additional subsidiary testing (e.g. electromyography, nerve conduction studies), serologies, and rarely biopsy can assist in confirming or refuting the working diagnosis. The differential diagnosis comprises Bell's palsy (idiopathic), HIV infection, Ramsey Hunt syndrome, Lyme, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, acoustic neuroma, parotid gland tumor, temporal bone biopsy, otitis media, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and brainstem infarct. Facial palsy is branded as Bell's palsy if one of the aforementioned etiologies is not identified as the root cause. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old male, who presented with left facial weakness involving both the upper and lower face, posterior circulation symptoms in the setting of hypertensive emergency. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unrevealing for any acute process, however given lack of improvement repeat imaging was ordered. The patient was ultimately confirmed to have an acute versus subacute pontine infarct where the seventh and eighth cranial nerve exits at the cerebellopontine angle. Ancillary laboratory studies were non-contributory. Subsequently, the patient's symptoms continued to improve, blood pressure control was achieved, and was consequently discharged on goal-directed medical therapy. J Neurol Res. 2019;9(1-2):14-17 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr524


This thesis research deals with the architectural project from an interdisciplinary point of view, integrating biomimetics, additive fabrication, computer vision, and robotics. The work focuses on the feedback interaction loop among robotic additive fabrication, a stigmergic agent-based system and the self-organizing properties of the material. The aim is to explore the morphological, constructive and expressive potentials generated by the mutual influence of computational design, construction behavioral rules, and physical material behavior (whose complexity exceeds current simulation capacity).The proposed approach leads to the creation of surface-based tectonics, enhanced with a fiberglass-coated dendritic ridge formation that integrates functional, ornamental and structural performances. The process can be extended to larger architectural scales with the creation of bespoke EPS molds via robotic hot wire cutting; the presented case study leverages the aforementioned process on ruled surfaces for the generation of translucent delimiters, used to create heterogeneous spatial organization.


Living Wage (LW) campaigns normally assume a prototype household configuration in setting their LW rate, comprised of number of dependent householders and the number of incomes. This information is used to calculate the hourly pay rate required to sustain their quality of life and work life. Real households are nonetheless diverse in terms of number of householders and incomes, rendering the living wage conceptually more of a continuous variable than a single constant, across a wage spectrum. We explored this spectrum and its links to job attitudes with a nationally representative sample of N = 1011 low-waged New Zealanders. We measured each participant's: hourly pay rate, number of household dependents and total household income, alongside individual job attitudes indicative of quality of work life (job satisfaction, work engagement, career satisfaction, meaningful empowerment, affective commitment, organizational citizenship behaviours and work-life balance). As a set, job attitudes consistently pivoted upwards into positive values approximating the campaign LW rate in New Zealand, regardless of either number of household dependents or household income (net of personal wage). However household income net of personal wage (unlike number of household dependents) buffered the gradient of the pivot upwards. The gradient was steeper (more clearly transformational and binary) among lowest-waged workers, in single-income households. To the extent that job attitudes as a set are already widely linked to individual and unit-level productivity, paying at or above the living wage threshold may bring productivity gains and thereby contribute toward decent work and economic development combined.


Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), which is native to China, has been cultivated as a nontimber forest tree species for 4000 years. This species has been found to display self-sterility, which results in a significantly lower seed set following self-pollination (SP) compared with that following cross-pollination (CP). Self-sterility can be induced by prezygotic or postzygotic late-acting self-incompatibility (LSI) or early-acting inbreeding depression (EID). To elucidate the causes of self-sterility in chestnut, we investigated pollen–pistil interactions, fertilization, and early ovule development following SP and CP by using a paraffin section technique and fluorescence microscopy. The fruit set percentage and seed characteristics also were evaluated among different pollination treatments. The results show that there were no significant differences in pollen tube behavior following SP vs. CP, regardless of the stigmatic or stylar level. Double fertilization was significantly greater following CP (18.09%) than SP (2.58%). The significantly lower percentages of ovule penetration and double fertilization in the selfed vs. crossed ovules support a prezygotic LSI mechanism in C. mollissima. The fruit set resulting from chase-pollination (CHP; 53.85% to 63.64%) was greater than that resulting from SP (12.12% to 14.00%). In addition, the distribution of aborted seed sizes after SP showed a widely clumped pattern. Abortion occurred at different stages during seed development rather than at a uniform stage, which supported the idea that EID was operating in C. mollissima. Levels of self-sterility in the chinese chestnut trees ranged from 88.2% to 90.5%. Thus, partial prezygotic LSI and EID contributed to self-sterility in the C. mollissima 'Yanshanzaofeng', with prezygotic LSI rejecting part of the self-pollen in the ovary and EID aborting part of the self-fertilized seeds.


The effect of altering uterine space available to developing conceptuses on placental and endometrial protein secretion and endometrial 3H-thymidine incorporation on Days 25 and 35 of gestation was tested. Gilts bred at estrus (Day 0) were laparotomized on Day 4, and the uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary with the most ovulations was ligated midway between the uterine tip and uterine bifurcation to create a crowded and a roomy uterine environment. On Day 25 (n = 7) or 35 (n = 6), gilts were killed and the reproductive tract was dissected from each. Each placenta and fetus was weighed, and a sample of endometrium adjacent to each placenta was collected. Within each uterine environment, tissues (500 mg) from the heaviest and lightest (by weight) placentae and adjacent endometrial tissue were cultured for 24 h at 37 degrees C in 15 ml Minimal Essential Medium having 0.1 times the normal amount of leucine plus 50 microCi 3H-leucine. Aliquots (2 ml) of dialyzed medium were subjected to two-dimensional PAGE and fluorography to examine proteins with molecular weight ranges of approximately M(r) 20,000-130,000, and a further aliquot was subjected to SDS-PAGE to examine low molecular weight proteins (M(r) 2000-20,000). In addition, endometrium (200 mg in duplicate) adjacent to the heaviest and lightest placentae within each uterine environment was incubated for 4 h in 5 ml MEM plus 1 microCi 3H-thymidine to measure DNA synthesis. After culture, 3H-thymidine incorporation and total DNA were determined. Fetal survival in the crowded uterine environment decreased (p < 0.05) on Day 35 compared to Day 25. On both days, the heaviest and lightest placentae from the crowded uterine environment weighed less (p < 0.01) than the heaviest and lightest placentae from the roomy uterine environment. The fetuses associated with the heaviest and lightest placentae from the crowded uterine environment also weighed less (p < 0.05) than fetuses associated with the heaviest and lightest placentae from the roomy uterine environment. Nondialyzable radioactivity in medium per gram of tissue cultured from placental cultures decreased (p < 0.05) and from endometrial culture increased (p < 0.05) between Days 25 and 35. Placental secretion of a protein with M(r) 46,000, pI 5, decreased between Days 25 and 35. Endometrial secretion of three proteins (M(r) 35,000, pI 6.2; M(r) 25,000, pI 4.9; and M(r) 14,000, pI unknown) increased, and secretion of three other proteins (M(r) 24,000, pI 6.5 doublet; M(r) 22,000, pI 7.5, and M(r) 7000, pI unknown) decreased from Day 25 to Day 35 of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Developing a trustworthy information system is a challenging task. The overall trustworthiness of an information system depends on trust relationships that are generally assumed without adequate justification. However, lack of appropriate analysis of such relationships and of appropriate justification of relevant trust assumptions might lead to systems that fail to fully achieve their functionalities. Existing literature does not provide adequate guidelines for a systematic process or an appropriate modeling language to support such trust-focused analysis. This paper fills this gap by introducing a process that allows developers to capture possible trust relationships and to reason about them. The process is supported by a modeling language based on a set of concepts relating to trust and control and a CASE tool. An illustrative example from the UK health care domain is used to demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the approach.


A four-time correlation function was calculated using a computer simulation of a binary Lennard-Jones mixture. The information content of the four-time correlation function is similar to that of four-time correlation functions measured in NMR experiments. The correlation function selects a subensemble and analyzes its dynamics after some waiting time. The lifetime of the subensemble selected by the four-time correlation function is calculated, and compared to the lifetimes of slow subensembles selected using two different definitions of mobility, and to the alpha relaxation time.


In this paper, we consider two fundamental full-duplex (FD) architectures, two-node and three-node, in the context of cellular networks where the terminals employ directional antennas. The simultaneous transmission and reception of data in non-orthogonal channels makes FD radio a potential solution for the currently limited spectrum. However, its implementation generates high levels of interference either in the form of loopback interference (LI) from the output to the input antenna of a transceiver or in the form of co-channel interference in large-scale multicell networks due to the large number of active links. Using a stochastic geometry model, we investigate how directional antennas can manage and control the co-channel interference. Furthermore, we provide a model which characterizes the way directional antennas manage the LI in order to passively suppress it. Our results show that both architectures can benefit significantly by the employment of directional antennas. Finally, we consider the case where both architectures are employed in the network and derive the optimal values for the density fraction of each architecture which maximize the success probability and the network throughput.


The problem of waste generation has rapidly become a serious issue of concern for many scholars. This study takes the problem of waste that is generated from construction fields, such as demolished concrete, glass and aims to reuse the construction and demolition debris for use as aggregates in construction purpose. Study involving reuse of demolition waste like demolished concrete, glass as partial replacement of coarse and fine aggregate up to 20% was performed before. But in those studies, either coarse aggregate is replaced with demolition waste or fine aggregate was replaced with glass. This study attempts to fully replace coarse aggregate with demolished concrete and crushed glass as partial replacement of fine aggregate to a content of 20, 25 and 30%, respectively. The main findings of this investigation revealed that using glass in lieu of sand at 30% replacement as fine aggregate gives maximum compressive strength which is significantly greater than M35 (35 MPa) grade concrete and nearing M40 (40 MPa) to M45 (45MPa) grade concrete, which indicates the suitability of use in various constructions. It also revealed that with increasing quantity of glass the corresponding strength increase doesn't occur linearly, but the rate of increase gradually slows down with increasing of the amount of glass in the concrete samples.


We point out that in the minimal left-right realization of TeV scale seesaw for neutrino masses, the neutral scalar from the right-handed $SU(2)_R$ breaking sector could be much lighter than the right-handed scale. We discuss for the first time the constraints on this particle from low-energy flavor observables, find that the light scalar is necessarily long-lived. We show that it can be searched for at the LHC via displaced signals of a collimated photon jet, and can also be tested in current and future high-intensity experiments. In contrast to the unique diphoton signal (and associated jets) in the left-right case, a generic beyond Standard Model light scalar decays mostly to leptons or jets. Thus, the diphoton channel proposed here provides a new avenue to test the left-right framework and reveal the underlying neutrino mass generation mechanism.


The main purpose of this paper is to find a structure of consumer behaviour, especially regarding the preference for the newly-released products from the market. We intend to study the impact of the new, innovative products compared to the traditional ones. Empirical research is based on the selling mix of a company in Romania and Austria. The analysis of this case will be done with the support of an econometric model of simple regression. This research confirms the validation of the structure and the attitude of the consumers towards the new products, launched by that company. By applying this linear model, it is possible to identify the percentage of the increase or decrease in consumption of new products. The need of carrying out this study regarding the impact of the consumption of new products is to create a profile and to find the causes that influence their acquisition. The originality of this paper lays in studying some aspects of influence over the consumption of new products from McDonald's in Romania and Austria. Where does McDonald's stand regarding the digitalization? It is not enough to sell new products; it is also necessary to bring innovation in the organization. Nowadays consumers are more present in the online environment and retailers are adapting at a fast pace to their needs of direct communication and transparency. How does a company that faces Slow Food and Bio era, deal with consumers who are more preoccupied with the nutritive values of the nourishment act? Platforms for real-time communication with clients such as "Our food. Your question" redefined the term of transparency and helped McDonald's stop bad rumors. The results of the research will show us if there really is transformation in behaviour towards traditional products and in what degree consumers are influenced by innovation.


In-situ lithiated NiO has been manufactured as a conventional cathode material of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), however this material has a weakness for commercialization of MCFC because NiO is spontaneously dissolved into the electrolyte under MCFC operating conditions, resulting in short circuit between cathode and anode. In this research, therefore, -coated Ni powder was prepared by precipitation method with controlling pH at low temperature and atmospheric pressure. Modified cathode was fabricated by a conventional tape casting method and sintered at 700 in a atmosphere, Based on characterization result, Pore size distribution and porosity was suitable for the cathode of MCFC. According to the result of dissolution, Ni solubility of modified cathode was 33% lower than that of conventional cathode. In addition, modified electrode showed a good performance from the single cell operation.


In this paper, we prove a common random fixed point theorem for two pair of weakly compatible mappings in separable Banach spaces. A corollary of the theorem is obtained and an example is given to verify this corollary. An application is given to obtain the existence and unique solution of system of random nonlinear integral equations.


Hirschsprung's disease is characterized by colonic aganglionosis, affecting mainly newborns. The current treatment of this pathology is surgical, but several studies are underway to develop less invasive methods that could cause less comorbidities. These studies use congenital megacolon models, one of which uses benzalkonium chloride to cause neurogenic ablation. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of aganglionosis provided by this drug by describing the remaining cells after denervation in order to optimize studies that use this model later.


Background: Blood loss in spine surgery is an important issue, even though it has been understudied compared to hip and knee arthroplasty surgery. In this study we have evaluated the effect of oral clonidine as premedication on blood loss in lumbar spine fusion surgery under propofol and remifentanil anesthesia. Materials and Methods : In this prospective double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 30 patients undergoing lumbar spine posterior fusion surgery were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The study group (Clonidine group) received 200micg oral clonidine tablet 60-90 minutes before anesthesia and the control group received placebo at the same time. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia and the target mean arterial pressure for controlled hypotension with remifentanil were the same in the 2 groups. We compared the amount of blood loss, dose of remifentanil /hour administered, need for nitroglycerine to reach the target mean arterial pressure when remifentanil was not enough, duration of operation and surgeon's satisfaction of a bloodless field between the 2 groups. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups in demographic characteristics (age (p=0.115), sex (p=0.439), weight (p=0.899)); operation time (p=0.2) and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score of the patients (p=0.390). loss and remifentanil dosage administered per hour in the clonidine group were significantly less than the control group (p=0.002 and p=0.001 respectively). But there was no significant difference in surgeon's satisfaction between the two groups (p=0.169). Conclusion : Clonidine as an oral premedication can reduce surgical blood loss in lumbar spine posterior fusion surgery, even at the same levels of mean arterial pressure with the control group. Its use can be studied in more complicated spine surgeries such as scoliosis and spinal deformity surgeries.


The dark current, the current gain, and the recovery behavior of electron-beam controlled gallium arsenide bulk switches was measured for various contact configurations. With non-injecting contacts, the pulsed hold-off voltage and the threshold voltage for current lock-on was found to be higher by more than a factor of 3, compared to systems with injecting contacts. Additionally, the switch gain could be increased by a factor of 3 by doping the electron-beam irradiated face of the switch with zinc. >


The ferrite cores of transformers and inductors are commonly excited under dc bias conditions in power electronic circuitry. Results have previously been presented showing core losses increase significantly with dc bias, along with various explanations for the cause. This paper presents measurements showing a strong correlation between core losses, and the magnetostrictive vibration caused by the presence of a dc bias. The measurements are made on power grade material ferrite toroidal cores at frequencies equal to, and distant from magnetomechanical resonance. Based on this evidence it is proposed that a mechanism causing core losses to increase with dc bias is the increase in vibration with dc bias, with losses being dependent on the amplitude and nature of the vibration waveform. The means by which core losses increase with vibration are also described.


A linear receiver for digital communication over unknown dispersive and noisy channels obtained by jointly optimizing the prefilter and equalizer has been described by the authors in a recent paper [4]. An extension to incorporating a decision-feedback equalizer is made. Performance of the new receiver is evaluated by means of computer simulation. Comparison of the performance of the new receiver, the matched filter-equalizer receiver, and the fixed low-pass filter-equalizer receiver is made both with respect to convergence rate and error rate. It is conjectured that the new receiver exhibits performance superior to both the matched filter-equalizer receiver and the fixed low-pass filter-equalizer receiver.


Tear-stained cheeks, dishevelled hair, bloodied breasts and dark clothing transformed the body to give physical representation to the altered emotional state and societal position of the Roman mourner. The expression of grief affected not just the physical surfaces of the body, but also its voice. This chapter explores the soundscape of Roman mourning, one that ranged from silence to clamour, from inarticulate groaning to finessed speeches. Mourners could wail, moan, cry, speak, shout and sing. Yet the vocalization of grief was not an uncontrolled emotional process but an orchestrated performance, dictated by the status of the deceased and the status and gender of the mourners. The acceptable and unacceptable aspects of vocalizing grief are investigated through literary evidence of diverse genres in this chapter.


Synopsis In the present study, the percutaneous absorption of the essential oil of lavender from a massage oil was investigated. It was shown that lavender oil penetrates the skin of a male subject. Within five minutes of finishing, the massage traces of linalool (1) and linalyl acetate (2) as the main constituents of lavender oil could be detected in the blood. After 20 minutes, 100 ng/ml for 2 and 121 ng/ml for 1 showed up as the maximum concentration. Within 90 minutes, most of the lavender oil was eliminated. The sedative and relaxing effect of lavender oil after a massage may be based on two different ways of incorporation: the inhalation of fragrant molecules and the penetration through the skin.


The Na/Ca exchanger has been examined with respect to its molecular biology, its cellular function, and its role in excitation-contraction coupling. The Na/Ca exchanger plays a central part in excitation-contraction coupling, setting the level of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium and contributing to the triggering of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release. Functional biophysical studies with isolated single cells and caged calcium provide evidence that the Na/Ca exchanger works as a two step sequential transporter. In the heart there are about 250 exchangers.mu-2, operating at a turnover rate of up to about 2500.s-1, with the exchanger carrying -2.56 charges under normal conditions. The Na/Ca exchanger has been recently cloned from diverse mammalian species and several tissues and is largely conserved. It is clear, however, that the function of the Na/Ca exchanger is different in the different tissues. Thus work is in progress in several laboratories, including ours, to determine how the Na/Ca exchanger achieves its tissue specific function. Several modulatory motifs have been seen in studies of the exchanger that may explain some of the tissue specific differences. Interestingly the modulation of the Na/Ca exchanger (for example, by protons, sodium, calcium, ATP, calmodulin) seems to arise from interactions with the intracellular loop.


The purpose of this review is to introduce the reader to graph kernels and the corresponding literature, with an emphasis on those with direct application to chemoinformatics. Graph kernels are functions that allow for the inference of properties of molecules and compounds, which can help with tasks such as finding suitable compounds in drug design. The use of kernel methods is but one particular way two quantify similarity between graphs. We restrict our discussion to this one method, although popular alternatives have emerged in recent years, most notably graph neural networks.


The rapid manufacture of a great range of variant products is gaining importance in global competition. Customers are increasingly demanding products which are matched to their specific requirements. The production of these customized variants gives a competitive advantage, but also leads to higher production costs. Almost every step in the process of making a product is capable of generating variants. A key element in variant management is to make the variants as late as possible in order to exploit economies of scale in the earliest stages of production and to minimize the complexity of production [9], [6]. The technique of the highly flexible final production stage consists in achieving a late emergence of variants by integrating the variant-specific manufacturing processes into the assembly stage. This means abandoning the conventional distinction between manufacture and assembly in favour of a division into a preliminary, variant-neutral production stage and a final production stage where the variants take shape. The final production stage includes all the processes that yield variants. The complete manufacture of variant-neutral parts and subassemblies takes place in the preliminary production stage, as does the prefabrication of those parts and sub-assemblies which are to undergo final manufacture as variants in the final production stage. The result is a procedure capable of producing a broad spectrum of variants economically and with minimal throughput times. This paper describes the philosophy of this new approach and concludes with a practical case study.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


In treated HIV-infected patients, mortality is now dominated by non-AIDS-related causes in which tobacco smoking is a predominant risk factor. The implementation of tobacco smoking cessation programs is therefore warranted to increase survival but should consider the specificities of this population to be successful. All outpatients consulting in May to June 2004 within the ANRS CO3 Aquitaine Cohort of HIV-infected patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire including questions about tobacco and other drugs consumption, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), a visual scale to estimate motivation to stop smoking and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Among 509 patients included, mean age was 44 years, 74% were men, 19% were infected through injection drug use, and 257 (51%) were regular smokers (at least one cigarette per day). Among them, 60% had a medium or strong nicotine dependence (FTND = 5), 40% were motivated to quit smoking and 70% had already tried at least once. An FTND of 5 or more was more frequently reported in the 146 smokers (62%) with depressive symptoms compared to other smokers (70% versus 48%). Fifty-five regular smokers (23%) were codependent on cannabis and 31 (12%) to alcohol. Overall, only 35 (14%) regular smokers were motivated, non-codependent, without depressive symptoms, and could be proposed a standard tobacco cessation program. Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent in this representative population of HIV-infected patients. To be successful, smoking cessation interventions should be specifically built to take into account depression and codependencies in addition to nicotine dependence and motivation.


Several series of linear aromatic polyimide films have been synthesized and characterized with the objective of obtaining maximum optical transparency. Two approaches have been used as part of this structure-property relationship study. The first approach is to vary the molecular structure so as to separate chromophoric centers and reduce electronic interactions between polymer chains to lower the intensity of color in the resulting polymer films. A second and concurrent approach is to perform polymerizations with highly purified monomers. Glass transition temperatures of thermally cured polyimide films are obtained by thermomechanical analysis and thermal decomposition temperatures are determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Transmittance UV-visible spectra of the polyimide films are compared to that of a commercial polyimide film. Fully imidized films are tested for solubility in common organic solvents. The more transparent films prepared in this study are evaluated for use on second-surface mirror thermal control coating systems. Lightly colored to colorless films are characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy before and after exposure to 300 equivalent solar hours UV irradiation and varying doses of 1 MeV electron irradiation. The effects of monomer purity, casting solvent and cure atmosphere on polyimide film transparency are also investigated.


This paper analyses the effect of limits on fiscal deficits when fiscal policy outcomes depend on automatic stabilizers and when fiscal rules lack perfect credibility. The model developed, which includes interactions between monetary and fiscal policy, provides theoretical support for existing arguments that fiscal rules contracted on a structural deficit will be welfare-enhancing relative to rules written on the actual deficit. The latter rules would result in a procyclical bias in fiscal policy, as well as a contractionary bias in monetary policy. Contrary to existing arguments, the model also suggests that rules written on the structural deficit may ultimately be more credible than those written on the actual deficit. The reason for this is that rules written on the actual fiscal deficit risk running into a credibility trap; higher marginal penalties will be necessary when initial credibility of enforcement is imperfect, but announcing a higher penalty for violating a fiscal rule can actually reduce credibility if the penalty is disproportionately large relative to the violation.


Pentacene-based organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with SiO2 and HfON gate insulators have been fabricated, and the effect of gate insulator on the electrical properties of pentacene-based OFETs and the microstructures of pentacene films were investigated. It was found that the grain size for pentacene film deposited on HfON gate insulator is larger than that for pentacene film deposited on SiO2 gate insulator. Due to the larger grain size, pentacene-based OFET with HfON gate insulator shows better electrical properties compared to pentacene-based OFET with SiO2 gate insulator. Meanwhile, low-temperature (such as 140◦C) fabricated pentacene-based OFET with HfON gate insulator was also investigated. The OFET fabricated at 140◦C shows a small subthreshold swing of 0.14 V/decade, a large on/off current ratio of 4 × 104, a threshold voltage of −0.65 V, and a hole mobility of 0.33 cm2/Vs at an operating voltage of −2 V. key words: pentacene, OFETs, high-k, grain size, HfON


This article examines the historical, doctrinal and theoretical bases of shareholder rights in British company law. These rights are, and always have been, essentially the product of private bargains, subjected to regulation of various explicit and implicit forms. This legal framework has significant normative advantages: it facilitates the development of innovative and efficient corporate structures. That is demonstrated through empirical evidence and examples from British corporate practice. One key example is how so-called 'indirect investors' in a company — the large and economically significant group of people who invest in a company through intermediaries such as nominees and depositaries — can be accommodated within the governance structure of the company, even though they are not themselves shareholders in the company and so are not directly party to its internal governance mechanisms. With this domestic legal background in mind, the article finally addresses and assesses the impact and effect of the proposed EU Shareholder Rights Directive on British company law and practice.


: A modifying effect is established of amaranth's corn on lipid composition of pancreas and skeletal muscles of quail - content of cholesterol goes down, the level of triacylglycerols and ethers of cholesterol rises, while the quantity of general lipids and correlation of their separate fractions in egg's yolk did not change substantially.


Naturally occurring antioxidants are compounds that aid in the prevention of oxidative stress that leads to the onset of nutritionally-related chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer and coronary heart diseases. Reliable information on the antioxidant content of traditional South Pacific food is vital in reducing the level of chronic degenerative disorders amongst the local population. This paper describes, with examples from our laboratories, analytical procedures that are suitable for use in South Pacific regional laboratories for determining naturally occurring antioxidants in food and plant material. These include the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) for measuring the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), the Folin-Ciocalteu method for determining the total polyphenol (TPP) content and a spectrophotometric /pH difference method for determining the total anthocyanin (TAT) content. High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) is suitable for determining individual antioxidants present in food, e.g. carotenoids and flavonols, while high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) can be used to identify and quantify low levels of naturally occurring antioxidants, e.g. catechins, present in food and plant material. Keyword: Food, total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol content, total anthocyanin content, flavonols, carotenes, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry


System dynamic models are a tool to represent scientific, complex processes by modeling them in a time dependent, mathematical system. A method to prepare students for creating and exploring system dynamic models is to let them study models which are formulated in a system dynamic way.
The aim of this study is to improve the method of studying a systematic model. It is expected that prior knowledge about the modelled domain facilitates model reading. In the present study we investigate the role of prior knowledge. We expected that students with prior knowledge at first hand recognize more dynamic aspects of the model, second, achieve better learning outcomes and third that they are able to answer more dynamic questions of the test correctly. The study was conducted at a German school with classes 9 and 10 (n = 50). The students were randomly separated in two conditions: an experimental condition in which the students are provided with prior knowledge and a control condition in which there is no prior knowledge provided. Each student attended an individual session which took approximately 50 minutes. The pupils studied a system dynamic model while thinking aloud and subsequently answered questions on a test.
For the analysis the two conditions were compared in consideration of the scores of the test and the scores from studying the model. The analysis shows that prior knowledge had the expected effect on the learning outcomes. Both, the overall test scores and the scores on the dynamic aspects of the test were significantly higher in the experimental condition. The total scores of the think aloud data were significantly higher in the experimental condition. The expectation that the students in the experimental condition are able to recognize more dynamic aspects could not be confirmed. Additionally there was also no significant correlation between the dynamic aspects of the test and the dynamic aspects of the study scores.
This study has shown that prior knowledge plays an important role regarding the study of models as a method to prepare students for creating and exploring system dynamic models. Prior knowledge seems to help identify more correct relations in the model and to acquire a higher amount of knowledge and more complex knowledge. For further research it would be interesting to see how the conditions can be improved so that the pupils recognize more dynamic aspects during studying the model.


Background: We examined the sustained efficacy of a group-based cognitive—behavioural stress management (CBSM) intervention in comparison to a modified wait-list control condition on measures of mood, coping and social support in mildly symptomatic HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men. Participants were recruited largely during the era prior to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART; 1992—1997). Methods: Men were randomized to either a 10-week, group-based CBSM intervention (n=83) or a psycho-educational seminar group (n=46). All participants completed a battery of psychosocial questionnaires administered by a research assistant at baseline, immediately following the 10-week CBSM intervention period, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results: Men in the CBSM group maintained previously observed effects on depressive symptoms and perceived social support. These sustained effects of CBSM on depressive symptoms were mediated by 10-week increases in cognitive coping (i.e. positive reframing). Discussion: CBSM appears to be a potentially efficacious treatment that reduces and maintains lower levels of depressive symptoms and enhances social support in HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men. In particular, changes in positive reframing during the 10-week intervention period remain a crucial factor contributing to sustained reductions in depressive symptoms.


Research during the past several decades confirms the health benefits of regular physical activity, including improved cardiovascular function and quality of life, with reduced risks of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular heart disease (CHD). Health care professionals, including physical therapists, can assist the public by promoting physical activity and describing the type, quantity, and quality of activity that confers health benefits. Participation in vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day is recommended for cardiorespiratory fitness, but recent studies suggest that physical activity below this level can have benefits in reducing the risk for CHD. This article addresses the relationship between physical inactivity and the financial burdens on health care, the relationship between physical inactivity and the risks of developing CHD in different age groups, the health benefits associated with moderate levels of physical activity, and the amounts and types of physical activities that are needed to reduce the risk of CHD.


In December 1949, Commager reported a survey in the New York Times to determine the most important contributions made to society during the first half of the 20th century, from 1900 to 1950, from the Victorian to the Atomic Age. Of the six most important contributions reported in that study, the work of Sigmund Freud led all the rest. It was followed by Henry Ford with mass production of the automobile making every person a neighbor; Einstein with the relativity theory came next; then Gandhi with passive resistance; Marconi with the radio; and finally Waiter Reed for the control of yellow fever. It was Sigmund Freud who first described how all human behavior is designed to gratify personal needs, and how hidden unfulfilled needs deep in the unconscious often command the fullness of one's attention, and then prevent any semblance of gainful employment (Cassel, 1985, and 1988). Using psychoanalysis he was able to reveal the presence and nature of unconscious hurts which thereby become master of self through dominant brain cognitive direction. Freud's Psychoanalysis Freud introduced "free association," the greatest contribution to society during the first half of the 20th century, as the basis for psychoanalysis; which quickly became a much used health care mode; largely for wealthy people, because it was an expensive mode (Mosak, 1974). Men and women alike sought to have a psychoanalysis on self largely as the basis to achieve a better and improved life style. Typically, it entailed a weekly one-hour session during which time laying in a prone position he/she would reveal anything that came in mind to a psychiatrist who was conducting the sessions, and who would then interpret the nature and degree of hidden unconscious feelings. The psychiatrist was trained to use the new "projective" theory where "manifest content" meant what the patient actually said, and "latent content" would be the psychiatrist's interpretation as to what the patient really meant. For example, if the elderly lady indicated fear of some male hiding under the bed, the psychiatrist would interpret whether it was really "fear", or maybe "wish fulfillment." The goal always was to provide individuals in psychoanalysis with a full and complete knowledge of their hidden and unconscious feelings; so that they in turn could use conscious controls to deal more effectively with problem areas of their lives. Seldom was a psychoanalysis completed in less than six months, and sometimes it would last a year or longer, of weekly sessions that were costly and became a kind of a much coveted life style for the wealthy (Horney, 1945). Second Force Psychology Second Force Psychology is presently the theory underlying the use of psychoanalysis throughout the health care facilities of the world, and serves as the principal means for health care with individuals displaying psychiatric disorders (Taylor, 1962). It derives directly from the early work of Sigmund Freud where "free association" is the technique for revealing areas and nature of hurts lying deep in the unconscious. Such hurts are believed to be directly associated with different areas of one's life space where personal needs have not been gratified. The theory in Second Force Psychology follows that when the individual is fully aware of such areas of one's life space that foster such unconscious hurts, the individual on a conscious level can seek to find personal ways to relieve the hurts that are present. Today, around the world psychoanalysis based on Second Force Psychology serves as the basis for treatment of psychiatric disorders and mentally sick people (Cassel, 1998). The Cognitive Dissonance Test It was Leon Festinger of Stanford University (1957) who introduced "Cognitive Dissonance" as a substitute for "Free Association" and defined it as "feelings of unpleasantness" which an individual possesses lying deep in the unconscious, and where the individual seldom if ever realizes the reasons for such feelings. …


The New Economy increased U.S productivity sharply after 1995. The latest economics literature on the topic, which generally forecasts a secure future for the information economy, is reviewed. The down side of the New Economy were the strategies, especially the pricing strategies of NASDAQ and virtual firms. The critique of Michael Porter regarding the non-strategic price cutting common to those firms is reviewed. Traditional models by Sweezy and Baumol, which focus on pricing in imperfectly competitive industries, are applied to provide a cogent theory as to why those firms made mistakes that were once viewed as common for neophyte industries.


The sustainability of the European Regions, in terms of society and economy and environment, is strongly based on renewable energy and resource efficiency. This implies the large scale deployment of nearly Zero – Energy Buildings (nZEBs). As well as the technology is already available and proven. However the diffusion of nZEB in Mediterranean areas is a challenge for the local market actors considering the short time. In this direction our research is oriented, proposing the case study of the first passive building in Putignano (Apulia). The goal is to observe the impact of the comfort setting on energy demand during the everyday life. This new approach aims at simultaneously considering both the energy performance and the comfort and health of the inhabitants. The case study includes the simulation model and the measuring campaign. It aims to verify if occupants of nZEB will be aware of the qualities of their home and learn to manage and monitor energy consumption independently. The concept is to observe the impact of comfort setting on energy demand during the everyday life in heating season of the passivhaus tenants.


In this paper we study a simple learning paradigm for iterated normal form games in an evolutionary context. Following the decision theoretic concept of satisscing we design players with a certain aspiration level. If their payoo is below this level, they change their current action, otherwise they repeat it. We consider stochastic generalizations of this win stay { lose shift principle that average the received payoo over several rounds of the game before comparing it to their aspiration level and allow the strategies to adapt their aspiration level in the course of the play. Our analysis is twofold. On the one hand we study the evolution of such strategies for the Prisoner's Dilemma; on the other hand we consider contexts where a randomly selected game is assigned to the players. In the presence of such high uncertainty win stay { lose shift strategies turn out to be very successful. Using computer simulations we address questions as: what is a favorable aspiration level? How many rounds should one observe before updating the current action? What is the impact of noise?


Past derivations of a priori relationships among speed, flow, and concentration (such as the fundamental relationship and the speed-flow-occupancy relationship) have involved unrealistic assumptions of uniformity in at least one traffic flow characteristic. Several relationships are derived for which these assumptions of uniformity are relaxed. For relationships involving both time- and distance-based variables, this requires that the relationship be understood in probabilistic terms; where all variables are time-based, deterministic relationships are also possible. The fundamental relationship can be shown to be strictly true in the limit where the time and distance intervals over which measurements are taken approach 0. Where the order of arrival of vehicles with particular speeds is random, the fundamental relationship is found to hold for average values of the variables in question; this is also true if the section over which density is measured is empty at the beginning and end of the time interval used for averaging. Relationships derived under various other assumptions involve covariance terms, so that if particular variables are not correlated, simple relationships continue to hold. Where these variables are correlated, biases may be expected. Under certain conditions, these biases may be quite serious. Comparison of the relationships derived here with those of past empirical studies results in good agreement for the relationship between density, as estimated from the fundamental relationship, and occupancy. On the other hand, previously reported discrepancies between measured speeds and speeds calculated from flows and occupancies cannot be explained fully by the covariance terms in the relationships derived here.


Objective Although an exaggerated systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise is a predictor of future hypertension and cardiovascular mortality, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that an exaggerated SBP response is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional study of 9073 healthy men (aged 47.8 ± 8.8 years). Methods Exaggerated SBP response was defined as an SBP of 210 mmHg or greater during a maximal treadmill test. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as stenosis greater than 25% or intima–media thickness greater than 1.2 mm using B-mode ultrasonography. Results An exaggerated SBP response was present in 375 men (4.1%). The proportion of individuals with carotid atherosclerosis in the group with an exaggerated SBP response to exercise was higher than in the group with a normal SBP response (14.4 versus 5.3%, P < 0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, individuals with an exaggerated SBP (≥ 210 mmHg) response to exercise had a 2.02 times [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33–3.05] increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis compared with individuals with an SBP response of less than 210 mmHg. The highest quartile (> 61 mmHg) group of relative exercise-induced increases in SBP showed a 1.57 (95% CI 1.18–2.08) greater risk of carotid atherosclerosis compared with individuals in the lowest quartile (< 38 mmHg) in the adjusted model. Conclusions These results suggest that an exaggerated SBP response to exercise is strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis, independent of established risk factors in healthy men. It may be an important factor in evaluating hypertension related to target-organ damage.


In the ocean, waves are produced by variety of forces. Based on the criteria of origin, water depth and apparent shape, the ocean waves are classified as deep water, intermediate and shallow water waves. In this paper an attempt is made to simulate the ocean conditions by designing the wave generator which is housed in a wave flume of 58cm long, 44cm wide and 11cm depth. The wave generator which is used here to generate the wave is a flap type structure. The structure is hinged at both the ends of the flume and was driven by a DC motor to generate sinusoidal deep water wave with relative water depth d/L (ratio of water depth and wavelength of the generated wave) is of 2.5, which is greater than 0.5 and intermediate water wave with relative water depth in the range of 0.05<d/L<0.5. This experimental set up is used to find the wave parameters such as wavelength, wave height, time period and wave celerity of both waves. The frequency of the generated, deep water and intermediate water waves are found to be in the range of 3Hz to 10 Hz. The values of wave parameter which were found experimentally are compared with that of values obtained by applying wave theory and are found to be closely matching. Emphasis is given to the selection of proper kinematic model and wave model based on Airys theory, which is outlined for the evaluation of wave kinematics such as velocity potential, wave particle displacement, particle velocity, particle acceleration and dynamic pressure exerted by the wave. Subsequently an attempt is made to analyse the behavior of wave kinematics for various water depths varying from SWL (Surface Water Level) till the sea bed. At the end, wave kinematic was applied in Morison equation for the evaluation of forces exerted on offshore structure and dynamic response of the structure is analysed for the same. © 2019 SERSC.


The main points from the evidence summarised in this briefing are from 5 non-UK studies (1 prospective cohort study, 2 retrospective cohort studies, 1 randomised parallel pilot study and 1 systematic review with a meta-analysis) including a total of 4,708 patients. They show that Fungitell has the potential to safely rule out invasive fungal disease, avoid unnecessary prescriptions and to stop antifungal treatment.


In the last two decades, populist radical right (PRR) parties have been electorally very successful in Western Europe. Various scholars have argued that these parties share an ideological core that consists of a specific form of nationalism (nativism), in combination with two other attitudes (authoritarianism and populism). The aim of this research note is to assess whether this ideological core also exists as a consistent attitude among citizens. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the attitudes of Dutch citizens indicate that we can indeed speak of a consistent PRR attitude among the public. I also show that this attitude is strongly related to the probability of voting for the PRR Freedom Party (Partij voor de Vrijheid) of Geert Wilders


Based on a data set obtained in a dental longitudinal study, conducted in Flanders (Belgium), the joint time to caries distribution of permanent first molars was modeled as a function of covariates. This involves an analysis of multivariate continuous doubly-interval-censored data since: (i) the emergence time of a tooth and the time it experiences caries were recorded yearly, and (ii) events on teeth of the same child are dependent. To model the joint distribution of the emergence times and the times to caries, we propose a dependent Bayesian semiparametric model. A major feature of the proposed approach is that survival curves can be estimated without imposing assumptions such as proportional hazards, additive hazards, proportional odds or accelerated failure time.


Using GPRS network and Zigbee wireless communication technology, a wireless meter reading system was developed. The concentrator based on the technology of Zigbee wireless communication was designed. It could avoid long distance layout and complex route disturbance, realized to read real time data quickly and transmit data reliably.


Aberrant DNA methylation is commonly associated with transcriptional alterations in cancer cells. However, the primary role of this defect in the genome-wide gene deregulation is not clear. Here, we evaluated the relative contribution of DNA methylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms to transcriptional alterations at CpG-island/promoter-associated genes in adult glioma. Extensive molecular analyses found DNA hypermethylation only in a minority of genes showing loss or gain of expression. Specifically, in aggressive glioma samples, about 75% of aberrantly repressed genes did not display DNA methylation defects. Conversely, altered H3K27me3 was the predominant molecular defect at deregulated genes. Moreover, the presence of a bivalent chromatin at CpG-island promoters in stem cells might not only predispose to hypermethylation but more generally to all types of transcriptional alterations in transformed cells. In addition, the gene expression strength in healthy brain cells influences the choice between DNA methylation- and H3K27me3-associated silencing in glioma. Our study provides a comprehensive and updated description of the epigenetic deregulations in glioma that could be useful for the design of drugs to target cancer related epigenetic defects.


Under the impact of rapid consumerism, technological boom and changing social contexts, teenager's life style has undergone vulnerable shifts. However, despite of media attention and awareness, academic research on adolescent life style is lacking. Therefore, the present sequel of three studies, using insights from psychological theories and Vedic wisdom, explores paradox of teenagers' life style, examines its' value for their health, provides comprehensive model of life style, and develops and evaluates life style counseling for effective promotion of adolescent health and well-being. It also imparts fascinating insights of ancient spiritual sages of India for transforming physique, psyche and soul and summarizes recent psychological strategies for changing life style. In the context of recent global challenges for wellness and climate change, the study reflects major implications for school health education and life style changes for cure and prevention of illnesses, promoting wellness and demoting climate change. This book is immensely useful for research scholars, policy makers, school counselors, parents, teenagers and the general public too.


One of the bad services in Indonesia is the building permit or IMB and other related permits. In general, the One Stop Integrated Service Investment Service serves various permits, such as: IMB, Advertising Permit, Disturbance Permit, Construction Service Business Permit, and Trade Permit. In reality, there are still various criticisms and complaints from the public regarding public services provided by the One Stop Integrated Licensing Service Agency, which of course will greatly affect the image of the government in the eyes of the community. People always want to get fast, easy and cheap service. The reality is that in Bogor Regency, building permit services are still a public complaint. The fact that is happening at this time, there are still weaknesses which in general, in this case in the form of government apparatus services that have not been effective. The analysis knife used is the service theory according to Denhardt and Denhardt. This research method uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The results showed that the quality of the One Stop Building Permit (IMB) Integrated Service in Bogor Regency has been running quite well, starting from adequate facilities and infrastructure starting from the strategic location of the building and can be reached by public transportation, providing satisfactory services from employees, there is an online permit arrangement and a special room for breastfeeding mothers, as a whole, the infrastructure is sufficient for the convenience of the community, but there are still shortcomings especially in the time the permit processing process is too long,


The intracellular bacterial pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum have evolved to infect leukocytes and hijack biological compounds and processes of these host defensive cells. Bacterial type IV secretion (T4S) system transports macromolecules across the membrane in an ATP‐dependent manner and is increasingly recognized as a virulence factor delivery mechanism that allows pathogens to modulate eukaryotic cell functions for their own benefit. Genes encoding T4S system homologous to those of a plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens have been identified in E. chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum. Upon interaction with new host cells, E. chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum genes encoding the T4S apparatus are upregulated. The delivered macromolecules are referred to as T4S substrates, or effectors, because they affect and alter basic host cellular processes, resulting in disease development. Recently, A. phagocytophilum 160‐kDa AnkA protein was to be delivered by T4S system into the host cytoplasm. Thus, dynamic signal transduction events are likely induced by T4S substrates in the host cells for successful establishment of intracellular infection. Further studies on Ehrlichia and Anaplasma T4S effectors cognate host cell molecules will undoubtedly advance our understanding of the complex interplay between obligatory intracellular pathogens and their hosts. Such data can be applied toward treatment, diagnosis, and control of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.


Chronic i.v. administration of a competitive antagonist of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Et)-VAVP, in Sprague-Dawley rats induced only a transient diabetes insipidus (DI)-like state. Water excretion and intake were markedly increased on the first day of administration but subsequently reverted to normal. A similar response to the antagonist was observed upon continuous i.v. infusion in Brattleboro rats, homozygous for hereditary hypothalamic DI, which had been substituted with exogenous AVP. This excludes the possibility that increased secretion of endogenous AVP had overcome the blocking effect of the competitive antagonist in Sprague-Dawley rats. However, when AVP was withdrawn from chronically AVP-treated DI rats, water intake increased to values higher than those observed after the antagonist. Subsequently, water intake also decreased but remained elevated compared to that of AVP-substituted rats receiving the antagonist. This suggests that the antagonist might have AVP-like agonistic properties that limit its efficacy and allow compensatory mechanisms to restore normal water balance despite continuous blockade of AVP receptors. The agonistic properties of d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Et)VAVP were verified upon chronic i.v. administration in nonpretreated DI rats. Thus, the normalization of water balance in Sprague-Dawley rats chronically receiving d(CH2)s-D-Tyr(Et)VAVP is probably due to the activation of compensatory mechanisms and to the agonistic effects of d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Et)VAVP.


The authors discuss the architecture and protocol for broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) based on the CCITT standards. The discussion attempts to address the general concept of B-ISDN architecture and protocol and, whenever possible, present alternatives and the rationale for decisions in the selection of the protocol. B-ISDN is presented as a network evolution, and the impact of the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) on the network is described. The role of virtual channel and virtual path in B-ISDN is discussed. The B-ISDN protocol structure and lower layer functions comprising the physical, ATM, and adaptation layers are presented, and the tentative trends of signaling and traffic control for the B-ISDN are delineated. >


Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) wastes are often disposed of in landfill, incinerated or processed into powders. GRP waste powders can be recycled as filler in virgin polymers and should be characterised before they are added to avoid processing problems. A GRP waste powder was characterised using advanced measuring and analytical techniques. These included, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, particle size analyser, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser. The results showed that the waste powder consisted of irregular shaped particles and glass fibre fragments up to 700 m in size. Moreover, the waste powder was a thermoset polyester resin and its chemical constituents were calcium, oxygen, aluminium, silica, chlorine, bromine and carbon. When up to 25 parts per hundred rubber by weight of the GRP waste powder was mixed with a sulphur curebased styrene-butadiene rubber, the viscosity, scorch and optimum cure times increased, and the rate of cure decreased. The tearing energy, elongation at break, tensile strength, stored energy density at break, and Young's modulus of the vulcanisate improved as the loading of the waste powder was raised.


Many problems in information processing involve some form of dimensionality reduction. In this paper, we introduce Locality Preserving Projections (LPP). These are linear projective maps that arise by solving a variational problem that optimally preserves the neighborhood structure of the data set. LPP should be seen as an alternative to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) – a classical linear technique that projects the data along the directions of maximal variance. When the high dimensional data lies on a low dimensional manifold embedded in the ambient space, the Locality Preserving Projections are obtained by finding the optimal linear approximations to the eigenfunctions of the Laplace Beltrami operator on the manifold. As a result, LPP shares many of the data representation properties of nonlinear techniques such as Laplacian Eigenmaps or Locally Linear Embedding. Yet LPP is linear and more crucially is defined everywhere in ambient space rather than just on the training data points. This is borne out by illustrative examples on some high dimensional data sets.


The dynamic capabilities, representing the organization's competence to integrate, create and reconfigure internal and external competencies to ensure compliance with constantly changing environmental conditions, allow the organization to achieve a competitive advantage in the long term. The assumption of the background about the importance of dynamic capabilities for understanding the phenomenon of competition raises the question of the variables, affecting the effectiveness of the processes of formation of dynamic capabilities. The aim of this paper is discussion of the results of studies on the impact of resources on the effectiveness of the processes of formation of dynamic capabilities of Polish enterprises. The nature and essence of dynamic abilities of enterprises have been characterized in the article, the value of resources in the processes of formation of dynamic abilities of Polish enterprises has been noted, which subsequently allowed to formulate conclusions about the relationship between resources and efficiency of processes of formation of dynamic abilities of Polish enterprises have been formulated. The results of the research resources in the processes of formation of dynamic capabilities of Polish enterprises, presented in the paper, are fragment of the research project, whose goal is to develop a paradigm concept of dynamic capabilities from the perspective of strategic management, identification and analysis of dynamic capabilities of Polish enterprises. According to respondents in the process of questioning, sources of efficiency should be sought in external variables (customer loyalty, market share, sales growth), but not in internal variables (employment growth). Such a state, indicating the orientation of the organization outward, should be considered correct from the point of view of the logic of the dominant ways of constructing a strategy, since it indicates an understanding of the needs of the environment, while dynamically comparing with the expectations of this environment and the resources available to the organization.


'Synthetic biology and healthcare' explains how synthetic biology can be applied to medicine: it can be used to produce drugs and new vaccines; improve monitoring and diagnosis; and it is just starting to be used to modify human cells with properties designed to help patients. In a research context, it is being applied to building new tissues. For most medical applications, there is no risk of the engineered organisms 'running wild' in the general environment; risk is restricted to specific patients who already have a problem that needs to be solved. In general, therefore, medicine is a field in which synthetic biology may make its earliest significant real-world contributions.


Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas, characterized by complex karyotypes. The molecular bases of such malignancy are poorly understood and efficient targeted molecular therapies are currently lacking. Here we describe a novel zebrafish model of MPNSTs, represented by the transgenic mutant line Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP) ia2. ia2 homozygous animals displayed embryonic lethality by 72 hpf, while the heterozygotes develop visible tumor masses with high frequency in adulthood. Histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed aggressive tumors with either mesenchymal or epithelial features. The former (54% of the cases) arose either in the abdominal cavity, or as intrathecal/intraspinal lesions and is composed of cytokeratin-negative spindle cells with fascicular/storiform growth pattern consistent with zebrafish MPNSTs. The second histotype was composed by polygonal or elongated cells, immunohistochemically positive for the pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The overall histologic and immunohistochemical features were consistent with a malignant epithelial neoplasm of possible gastrointestinal/pancreatic origin. With an integrated approach, based on microsatellite (VNTR) and STS markers, we showed that ia2 insertion, in Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP) ia2 embryos, is associated with a deletion of 15.2 Mb in the telomeric portion of chromosome 1. Interestingly, among ia2 deleted genes we identified the presence of the 40S ribosomal protein S6 gene that may be one of the possible drivers for the MPNSTs in ia2 mutants. Thanks to the peculiar features of zebrafish as animal model of human cancer (cellular and genomic similarity, transparency and prolificacy) and the GFP tag, the Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP) ia2 line provides a manageable tool to study in vivo with high frequency MPNST biology and genetics, and to identify, in concert with the existing zebrafish MPNST models, conserved relevant mechanisms in zebrafish and human cancer development.


The purpose of this paper is to examine on the one hand, the importance of the effect of cultural negotiating in an international marketing strategy. This side covers cultural elements such as language, religion, social factors, and how these impact on an international marketing strategy. On the other hand it covers on (Bangladesh side), how culture influences of marketing strategy, what is the main cultural business organization of Bangladesh, how they are doing their business following the cultural strategy and also Bangladesh business environment. The main purpose of this research paper is how culture impacts on an international marketing strategy. In addition, the study also provided insights into the process, as well as direction for progression of the research stream dealing with the behavioural aspect of the international marketing of any organization. The methodology demonstrates that a systematic approach was used in planning the investigation. Various key cultural factors are considered in international business strategy negotiation, with example and suggestions as how to these can be used to achieve success. The findings and analysis chapter presents the qualitative results of the research as outlined in the methodology. The conclusion presents a summary of the work and the conclusions drawn from it. It outlines the strengths and limitations of the study, together with suggested areas for further research.


We derive a finite slip model for the 2013 Mw 8.3 Sea of Okhotsk Earthquake (Z = 610 km) by inverting calibrated teleseismic P waveforms. The inversion shows that the earthquake ruptured on a 10° dipping rectangular fault zone (140 km × 50 km) and evolved into a sequence of four large sub‐events (E1–E4) with an average rupture speed of 4.0 km/s. The rupture process can be divided into two main stages. The first propagated south, rupturing sub‐events E1, E2, and E4. The second stage (E3) originated near E2 with a delay of 12 s and ruptured northward, filling the slip gap between E1 and E2. This kinematic process produces an overall slip pattern similar to that observed in shallow swarms, except it occurs over a compressed time span of about 30 s and without many aftershocks, suggesting that sub‐event triggering for deep events is significantly more efficient than for shallow events.


Palladio's heritage has aspects that are interrelated with the vernacular
 architectural heritage of the Mediterranean, and it entails a collective
 knowledge. The aim of this research is to analyse his work and its evolution
 over time, paying specific attention to three architectural design elements:
 the patio, the portico and the atrium in relation to their proportions and
 ratios. This work will highlight how geometry shapes the space and the form
 of these three elements, producing architecture for well-being. The main
 results may constitute a possible new frontier of research where these three
 design elements make a connection between interior and exterior spaces,
 strengthen a greater visibility of the geometry, create "intermediate
 spaces" and enhance the idea of a "Continuous Monument". The paper will
 underline how mathematical factors such as proportions, ratios and
 constructive geometry, together with climatic reasons, are important in
 architecture for both its configuration and geometry and they are a constant
 in Palladio's heritage and his Mediterranean cultural influence.


The results from Table 2 indicate there are significant moderate to strong positive correlations between a majority of the scales of the K-ABC and the subscales of the WISC-R when both tests are administered to learning disabled students. When compared to the K-ABC, the Verbal subscale of the WISC-R correlated very strongly with the Achievement scale (r= .71) and much lower with the individual mental processing subscales and their composite (r=.42 to .58). On the other hand, the Performance subscale of the WISC-R correlated most strongly with the Simultaneous scale of the K-ABC (r=.82) and only moderately with achievement (r=.32). The full scale of the WISC-/-R correlates most strongly with the Simultaneous, Mental Processing and Achievement scales of the K-ABC (r= .63 to .75) but very much lower with the K-ABC Sequential scale (r=.33). The pattern of correlation between the PPVT-R and the K-ABC was similar to the correlational pattern between the Verbal subscale of the WISCR and K-ABC. That is, the PPVT-R correlates most highly with the Achievement scale of the K-ABC (r=.79) but much lower with the individual mental processing subscales and their composite (r= .43 to .54).


Separating among the theory, practice, and 2 social transformation in the context of science and movement is extremely dangerous and will only create significant imbalances. In the Islamic context, this separation is clearly contrary to the mission of Islam. Islam always links among faith, science, charity, and welfare in the creation of human life that is fair and humane. In other words, Islam links among the ideological belief, theory, practice, and social foundation, it is expected to further develop IHE to become religious and scientific laboratory by borrowing the term from Prof. Harun Nasution—as a creator of"modern mujtahid ." In the context of campus politic, the students can join the lecturers in a row of politicial interest, but it does not occur in rank of academic, research, and community empowerment. It is ironic, isn't it!  Further impact of the "crisis" of this academic community, IHE does not have proudly intelectualism icon, whether in the aspects of thought or movement. The scientific nuances of PTAI are nearly alike, there is no academic character that stands out as its strength (uniqueness). ... a fact that we should admit that the academic climate and tradition at the IHE is still fragile, or we can infer that there is still unclear developed fundamental roots and science vision. The lecturers' expertise cannot also academically be proven by the scientific work and authoritative thinking. The fragile academic tradition and vague science vision are called the "hanging intellectualism." Due to the lacking research routines and rarely new findings in IHE, they considerably can challenge the advance of science and implementation of religious values which eventually leads IHE to be just like as "speech institution" aimed to provide information and expand knowledge among university students, and promote the "truth" regarding religious doctrines among the society.


Attempted pulmonary artery catheterization via the left internal jugular vein resulted in a misdiagnosis of pulmonary hypertension before transesophageal echocardiography revealed the catheter positioned in the ascending aorta. Inadvertent aortic cannulation through an unusual type of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was confirmed with transcatheter fluoroscopy and later at autopsy. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection describes one or more of the pulmonary veins draining into the right atrium or its tributaries instead of the left atrium.


Management policies for influenza outbreaks balance the expected morbidity and mortality costs versus the cost of intervention policies. We present a methodology for dynamic determination of optimal policies in a completely observed stochastic compartmental model with parameter uncertainty. Our approach is simulation-based and searches the full set of sequential control strategies. For each time point, it generates a policy map describing the optimal intervention to implement as a function of outbreak state and Bayesian parameter posteriors. As a running example, we study a stochastic SIR model with isolation and vaccination as two possible interventions. Numerical simulations based on a classic influenza outbreak are used to explore the impact of various cost structures on management policies. Comparisons demonstrate the realized cost savings of choosing interventions based on the computed dynamic policy over simpler decision rules.


A thermodynamically stable ultrafine (o/w) emulsion containing perphenazine for solubility and oral bioavailability enhancement using blends of long and medium chain triglyceride was developed. Formulation was prepared using low energy emulsification phase titration method. The optimized formulations consisted of blend of linseed and sefsol 218 (1:1), polysorbate 40, polyethylene glycol 400 and distilled water as an oil, surfactant, cosurfactant and dispersion phase respectively. The formulations were characterized on the basis of viscosity, refractive index, particle size distribution, spectral transmittance and surface morphology. Formulations were evaluated for release study by everted gut sac using intestinal mucosa. The ex vivo release data showed that nanoemulsions significantly increased the permeation rate of perphenazine over the simple suspension. Following oral administration of nanoemulsion in wistar rats, both AUC and C max of perphenazine increased by 2.9 fold and 2.54-fold respectively compared with the perphenazine suspension. The resultant bioavailability might be due to increased solubility, bypassing the first-pass metabolism through lymphatic absorption and enhanced permeation potential of perphenazine.


In this study, sulfnitriding treatments were performed to improve the properties of wear resistance of AISI4140 as steel for machine structural use. Prior to these plasma treatments, a thick compound layer, a thickness of 7 to 10 μm, was formed on the surfaces of the specimens, after which the sulfnitriding treatments were performed in the same chamber. Plasma nitriding was carried out at 813 K for 2 h in an atmosphere of 75 vol% N2 and 25 vol% H2 in addition to C2H2 flowing at 50 sccm. To form a sulphide layer of about 2 to 5 μm in thickness, we carried out plasma sulfnitriding at temperature of 723 K-813 K for 2 h in the plasma nitriding in addition to H2S flowing at 100 sccm. The friction coefficient of AISI 4140 steels was reduced to 0.4 by changing the process temperature during plasma sulfnitriding. The wear volume loss also were decreased with increasing sulfnitriding process temperatures.


Hydrocolpos should be considered systematically when an abdominopelvic cystic mass is diagnosed in a female fetus. Because the prognosis and neonatal management of isolated hydrocolpos with spontaneous resolution differs greatly from that of hydrocolpos associated with a cloacal malformation, it is important to ascertain prenatally whether there are associated anomalies. We report the prenatal characteristics of three fetuses with hydrocolpos; in two cases there was spontaneous resolution and one infant was born with digestive tract atresia. The principal ultrasound findings were an oblong anechoic pelvic mass with or without a sagittal septum, located behind a normal bladder. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the cervical imprint on the vagina confirmed the diagnosis of hydrocolpos and helped to diagnose cloacal malformation by demonstrating the absence of meconium beside the bladder on T1 sequences. Our cases show that MRI is useful for differentiating isolated hydrocolpos from hydrocolpos associated with cloacal malformation. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


ABSTRACT Trichosporon inkin is one of six pathogenic species of the genus Trichosporon and the etiologic agent of pubic white piedra. Trichosporon species have been reported as a cause of disseminated infections, particularly among immunosuppressed patients. We describe the third reported case of T. inkin peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis and the first to be treated with caspofungin.


In 2020, the German Federal Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional and void a 2015 criminal law penalising suicide assistance in a recurring fashion and called into existence a right to a self-determined death, including the use of suicide services, where available. Due to subsequent legislative inaction, no holistic assisted dying legislation offering protection for vulnerable individuals is currently in place in Germany. Calls have been made for law reform in this area. This article contemplates the possible scope of a future assisted dying framework in Germany. It does so by focusing on the method of administration and analyses whether such a framework should be limited to allowing eligible persons to self-administer relevant lethal medications, which have been prescribed to them by a medical practitioner or whether, and to what extent, practitioners should be able to administer relevant lethal substances to patients. This is comparatively analysed while also keeping in mind any stipulations made by the German Constitutional Court in its 2020 judgment on the requirements of future assisted dying legislation. The article concludes that an assisted dying framework allowing a free choice between self and practitioner administration in Germany best complies with the guidance provided by the Constitutional Court.


AIM
To examine therapeutic effects of hybrid liposomes (HL) composed of L-α-dimyristylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and polyoxyethylene (25) dodecyl ether (C12(EO)25) against human colorectal cancer (WiDr) cells in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
HL composed of 90 mol% DMPC and 10 mol% C12(EO)25 were prepared by the sonication method. Therapeutic effects of HL in the subcutaneous xenograft model mice of colorectal cancer were examined in vivo.

RESULTS
Inhibitory effects of HL on the growth of WiDr cells were obtained along with apoptosis measurement. Selective accumulation of HL, including a fluorescence probe (indocyanine green; (ICG)), was observed for WiDr cells using a fluorescence microscope. Remarkable reduction of tumor volume in xenograft model of mice topically HL-treated without drugs after the subcutaneous inoculation of WiDr cells was verified in vivo. Induction of apoptosis in tumor cells of xenograft mice topically administered with HL was observed in micrographs on the basis of terminal deoxynucleotidyl tranferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Accumulation of HL, including ICG, for long-term into the tumor was obtained in the xenograft model.

CONCLUSION
Therapeutic effects of HL without any drugs in the murine xenograft model after subcutaneous inoculation of human colorectal cancer were revealed for the first time in vivo due to long-term accumulation.


The main thrust of this study was to evaluate Agribusiness training skills acquisition programme on poverty reduction among women in Cross River State, Nigeria. Literature review was carried out accordingly. Survey research design was adopted for the study. This design was considered appropriate because it allows the researcher to make inference and generalization of the population by selecting and studying the sample for the study. A sample of seven hundred and thirty-six (736) respondents was used for the study. The sample was selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The reliability estimate of the instruments was established through test-retest reliability method. One Way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was the statistical technique employed to test the hypothesis under study. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that, agribusiness training skill acquisition programme significantly influenced poverty reduction among women in Cross River State – Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that training and development policies, goal and objectives should be carefully planned, drafted to capture the core values, culture of the organization and training needs of the individual staff and the industry in general.


This paper introduces a test system for resonator gyros for education. Two major purposes are to study the phenonmena of resonator gyros and to apply the systems engineering process for development. Resonator gyros have rich sources for engineering education: the Coriolis effect, resonating structures, vibrating mechanism, control algorithm, navigation, and so on. For the reasons, we have designed a resonator gyro system. We also have applied the systems engineering process for design: operational and system requirements are developed and those requirements derive architectural designs. A simulation program is coded by the LabVIEW to study the behaviors of resonator gyros.


The clinical, radiographic and microbiological data of 47 patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection admitted to three Norfolk hospitals during a 20-month period between 1982 and 1983 have been reviewed. Thirty-nine presented with pneumonia and eight with non-pulmonary infection. The M. pneumoniae specific IgM test was positive in 42 of 45 patients tested (89 per cent); in 39 the levels were diagnostic on admission. Cold agglutinins were detected in 27 (57 per cent) and a fourfold rise in complement fixation titre was demonstrated in 13 (29 per cent). Sputum culture was positive in 12 (26 per cent). The extrapulmonary manifestations observed were haemolytic anaemia (17 per cent), Stevens Johnson syndrome (4.1 per cent), neurological abnormalities (4.1 per cent), arthritis (2.1 per cent), hepatitis (2.1 per cent) and pericarditis (2.1 per cent). One patient with multilobe pneumonia, pericardial effusion and haemolytic anaemia died. Six patients presented with a history of illness longer than a month; in three the clinical and radiographic picture suggested chronic disease (pulmonary tuberculosis, lymphoma and unresolving pneumonia). There were no distinctive clinical or radiographic features of M. pneumoniae infection. Diagnosis, therefore, relies on serological tests of which the most useful is the rapid, specific IgM test, positive in 86 per cent of the admission sera.


More and more men are convincing their wives to use family planning in Bangladesh. In this conservative, Moslem country, women are not allowed to leave the homes so husbands must go to buy methods especially rural areas. 70% of women who use oral contraceptives (OCs), IUDs, or condoms report that their husbands obtain these method for them. many couples are poor peasants. Contraceptive prevalence is not 23.2%. Female sterilization and OCs are the 2 most popular methods (9% each) followed by condoms (2%), IUD (1.7%), and vasectomy (1.5%). The total fertility rate is 4.8 which is higher than the goal of 3.5 Bangladesh hoped to reach by 1995. In 1975, 30% of women believed fate determines family size but now only 8% think that. Attitude changes about family size have occurred despite illiteracy and poverty. Traditional religious beliefs are still prevalent in rural areas making it difficult for wives to speak to their husbands about family planning. Husband-wife communication is more open among urban, middle class couples. The long lasting hormonal implant, Norplant, holds promise as a means for Bangladesh to reach its goal. About 4500 women now have Norplant and government and nongovernment clinics plan to insert it into around 20,000 more women. A study of 2586 potential acceptors of Norplant at family clinics in Bangladesh 3 other developing countries shows that counseling diminishes the anxiety women and their husbands experience about Norplant and its side effects. A study in Bangladesh reveals higher continuation rates of Norplant for women whose husbands underwent counseling than for those whose husbands did not undergo counseling. Family planning advertisements on the radio, TV, and in newspapers have convinced couples to use family planning, but the advertisements tend to not explaining how to use family planning. Men are key to the changes in attitude about family planning in Bangladesh.