A segmented network thermofluid model for the simulation of a loop heat pipe (LHP) operating under steady-state conditions is presented, with special emphasis on quasi one-dimensional models and semi-empirical correlations for the related multiphase phenomena. Attention is focused on an LHP with one flat-evaporator, a vapor transport line, one condenser, a liquid transport line, and a compensation chamber. The evaporator consists of the following parts: An upper piece, machined out of a stainless steel plate, with vapor-transport grooves of rectangular cross section on its bottom face; a lower piece, also machined out of a stainless steel plate, with a cavity of rectangular cross section that serves as the liquid pool in the evaporator during the operation of the LHP; and a rectangular wick sandwiched between the upper and lower pieces. The wick is a sintered powder metal plate made of stainless steel. The condenser is a horizontal tube that is fitted with excellent thermal contact inside a large high thermal conductivity metallic sleeve that is maintained at a fixed sink temperature. The vapor-transport line, the condenser, and the liquid-transport line are divided into control volumes or cells. Quasi one-dimensional models are used to impose balances of mass, momentum, and energy on each of these cells. The variation of fluid thermophysical properties and multiphase phenomena, such as the change in quality and pressure drops in the two-phase regions, are suitably accounted for in this model. Four different working fluids, ammonia, distilled water, ethanol and isopropanol, are considered, and the results obtained for a representative range of steady-state operating conditions of the LHP are presented and comparatively discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been studied in a prospective group of 92 female patients in the generative period, undergoing thyroid surgery. In a subgroup of 47 examinees we analyzed PONV incidence according to the surgery time within the frame of their menstrual cycle. The highest number was observed in periovulatory and premenstrual periods (p < 0.02). In the formal trial, 24 patients that randomly received ondansetron (8 mg in 4 mL i.v.) and significantly less PONV than their 21 placebo controls (4 mL saline i.v.): 4 or 16.8% vs. 11 or 53.6% (p < 0.04).


As part of an ongoing effort to characterize the high temperature phase of QCD, in a numerical simulation using the staggered fermion scheme, we measure the quark baryon density in the vicinity of a fixed test quark at high temperature and compare it with similar measurements at low temperature and at the crossover temperature. We find an extremely weak correlation at high temperature, suggesting that small color singlet clusters are unimportant in the thermal ensemble. We also find that at [ital T]=0.75 [ital T][sub [ital c]] the total induced quark number shows a surprisingly large component attributable to baryonic screening. A companion simulation of a simple flux tube model produces similar results and also suggests a plausible phenomenological scenario: As the crossover temperature is approached from below, baryonic states proliferate. Above the crossover temperature the mean size of color singlet clusters grows explosively, resulting in an effective electrostatic deconfinement.


Buccal smears were obtained from 2 groups of women to study the percentage of Barr bodies. The first group comprised of normal women with regular menstrual cycle between the age group 18-22 years. The second group comprised of Menopausal women in the age group 47-55 years. A definite variation in percentage of barr bodies was observed in the first group whereas the percentage remained normal in the second group.


Most mortgages in the U.S. are securitized in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Yield spreads on these securities are thus a key determinant of homeowners' funding costs. We study variation in MBS spreads over time and across securities, and document a cross-sectional smile pattern in MBS spreads with respect to the securities' coupon rates. We propose non-interestrate prepayment risk as a candidate driver of MBS spread variation and present a new pricing model that uses "stripped" MBS prices to identify the contribution of this prepayment risk to the spread. The pricing model finds that the smile can be explained by prepayment risk, while the time-series variation is mostly accounted for by a non-prepayment risk factor that co-moves with MBS supply and credit risk in other fixed income markets. We use the pricing model to study the MBS market response to the Fed's large-scale asset purchase program and to interpret the postannouncement divergence of spreads across MBS.


Abstract Crop residues acting as mulches can influence weed seedling emergence and weed biomass. A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rice residue amounts (0, 3, and 6 t ha−1) on seedling emergence of eight weed species in zero-till dry-seeded rice. The highest seedling emergence of spiny amaranth, southern crabgrass, crowfootgrass, junglerice, eclipta, goosegrass, and Chinese sprangletop was observed in the absence of residue. Seedling emergence of these weeds declined with increasing residue amounts; however, the greatest and most substantial reductions in emergence occurred with 6 t ha−1 of residue. The presence of residue also resulted in less weed biomass than with the no-residue treatment. The emergence and biomass of threelobe morningglory seedlings, however, were not influenced by residue amounts. The use of residue also increased the time taken to reach 50% of maximum emergence for some species, for example, spiny amaranth and Chinese sprangletop. The results of our study suggest that the use of residue at high rates can help suppress seedling emergence and growth of many weeds. However, there is a need to integrate other weed management strategies with residue retention to achieve season-long weed control. Nomenclature: Spiny amaranth, Amaranthus spinosus L. AMASP; crowfootgrass, Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. DTTAE; southern crabgrass, Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel. DIGSP; junglerice, Echinochloa colona (L.) Link, ECHCO; eclipta, Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. ECLAL; goosegrass, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. ELEIN; threelobe morningglory, Ipomoea triloba L. IPOTR; Chinese sprangletop, Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees. LEFCH; rice, Oryza sativa L.


Previous studies about synchronization of Kuramoto oscillators in complex networks have shown how local patterns of synchronization emerge differently in homogeneous and heterogeneous topologies. The main difference between the paths to synchronization in both topologies is rooted in the growth of the largest connected component of synchronized nodes when increasing the coupling between the oscillators. Nevertheless, a recent study focusing on this same phenomenon has claimed the contrary, stating that the statistical distribution of synchronized clusters for both types of networks is similar. Here we provide extensive numerical evidences that confirm the original claims, namely, that the microscopic and mesoscopic dynamics of the synchronized patterns indeed follow different routes.


This paper presents two analytical procedures for estimating passenger car fuel economy over the Federal Urban, Highway, and Combined driving cycles as functions of basic vehicle and engine characteristics. The first procedure is based on algorithms developed by regressing fuel economy test results from 1059 Model Year 1984/1985 certification vehicles. The second procedure is based on a detailed computer simulation of vehicle and engine operation over these driving cycles. In this manner, changes in specific parameters of spark ignition and diesel-engined vehicles are related directly to changes in fuel economy. From the computed data, an equation is generated by regressing the fuel economy results.


OBJECTIVES: This article reports on the progress made in addressing pediatric medical device needs through the establishment of the Pediatric Device Consortia Grant Program. Pediatric practitioners should be aware of both the imperative for well-studied devices for children and the existence of recently created resources to help foster the development of such products. METHODS: This article discusses some of the challenges associated with pediatric device development and describes the implementation of section 305 of the Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act of 2007. This statute called for the creation of nonprofit consortia to facilitate the development, production, and distribution of pediatric medical devices. RESULTS: A summary of the accomplishments of the pediatric device consortia is presented. Eleven million dollars have been awarded to 5 consortia since 2009. As of July 2012, they have collectively assisted in the development of 219 pediatric device ideas. The consortia provide innovators with both mentorship and services to help advance proposed pediatric device projects, including assistance with prototyping, identification of potential funding sources, preclinical and clinical trial design, and introductions to potential manufacturers. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, 5 federally funded pediatric device consortia exist to help advance the development of potential pediatric devices. These consortia serve as a national resource for those with ideas for medical devices that may advance the health and well-being of children.


The process of designing the control strategy for mobile robots may turn into a difficult task as
can appear difficult dynamisms on a mechanical an electronic level that are difficult to model
and, besides, its testing can mean a lot of time and high costs. In this project, it is introduced
a simulator environment based on Gazebo to fulfil the need of implementing robot behaviours
and control algorithms in a more efficient and productive way.
Gazebo is one amongst several software platforms for simulation and robot control. It has an
open source program distributed by Apache 2.0 and is being used widely by the robotics
community. It has an easy-going interface, a learn-by-doing program and a growing
community.
Its easy programming interface has been very useful for most of the project development,
which has been focused on the implementation of a line follower robot developed by other
ETSEIB student within their Final Grade Project. The challenge has been to reproduce in a
virtual level the vehicle navigation and performance and the environment conditions. For this
reason, has been required a global vision of the robot's functionality.
This project is organized with a first part of Gazebo software description, followed by the robot
implementation to the simulator, the control design and architecture, and a final part with the
experimental results of the simulation.


Background: Multi-tasking is usually impaired in older people. In multi-tasking, a fixed order of sub-tasks can improve performance by promoting a time-structured preparation of sub-tasks. How proactive control prioritizes the pre-activation or inhibition of complex tasks in older people has received no sufficient clarification so far. Objective: To explore the effects of aging on neural proactive control mechanisms in a dual task. Methodology: To address this question, the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm was used. Two 2-alternative-forced-choice reaction tasks with a predefined order (T1 and T2) signaled by a cue had to be executed simultaneously or consecutively by young (mean age 25.1 years, n = 36) and old subjects (mean age 70.4 years, n = 118). Performance indices of dual-task preparation were used to assess the focused preparation of T1 and T2. To compare preparatory mechanisms at the neurophysiologic level, multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded and negative slow cortical potentials (SCPs) were analyzed as objective markers of the amount and localization of cortical pre-activation before sub-task presentation. Results: Dual-task performance was significantly slower in old adults. T1 performance was facilitated in both age groups, but T2 processing in old adults was not optimized by the temporal structure as efficiently as in young adults. Also, only young adults manifested a stable pattern of focused of negative slow-wave activity increase at medial frontal and right-hemisphere posterior regions, which was associated with a coordinated preparatory T1 pre-activation and T2 deferment, while old adults manifested a broad topographic distribution of negative SCPs associated with a pre-activation of sensory and motor processes. Conclusions: These observations demonstrate that the proactive preparation for dual tasking is altered with aging. It is suggested that in young adults, attention-based pre-activation of working memory and inhibitory networks in the right hemisphere synchronizes the simultaneous preparation of the two sub-tasks, whereas in old adults, sensory and motor networks appear to be non-specifically pre-activated for subsequent deferred mode of processing.


Abstract. The shallower oxygen-poor water masses of the ocean confine a majority of the microbial communities that can produce up to 90 % of
oceanic N2. This effective N2-yielding section encloses a
suspended small-particle layer, inferred from particle backscattering
(bbp) measurements. It is thus hypothesized that this layer (hereafter,
the bbp-layer) is linked to microbial communities involved in
N2 yielding such as nitrate-reducing SAR11 as well as sulfur-oxidizing, anammox, and denitrifying bacteria – a hypothesis yet to be evaluated. Here, data collected by three BGC-Argo floats deployed in the Black Sea are used to investigate the origin of this bbp-layer. To this end,
we evaluate how the key drivers of N2-yielding bacteria dynamics impact
the vertical distribution of bbp and the thickness of the bbp-layer. In conjunction with published data on N2 excess, our results
suggest that the bbp-layer is at least partially composed of the bacteria
driving N2 yielding for three main reasons: (1) strong correlations are
recorded between bbp and nitrate; (2) the top location of the
bbp-layer is driven by the ventilation of oxygen-rich subsurface waters, while
its thickness is modulated by the amount of nitrate available to produce
N2; and (3) the maxima of both bbp and N2 excess coincide at the same isopycnals where bacteria involved in N2 yielding coexist. We thus
advance that bbp and O2 can be exploited as a combined proxy to
delineate the N2-yielding section of the Black Sea. This proxy can
potentially contribute to refining delineation of the effective
N2-yielding section of oxygen-deficient zones via data from the growing
BGC-Argo float network.


Background:Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments are one of the major sources of financial support for hospitals providing care to low-income patients. However, Medicaid DSH payments will be redirected from hospitals to subsidize individual health insurance purchase through US national health reform. Objectives:The purpose of this study is to examine the association between Medicaid DSH payment reductions and nursing-sensitive and birth-related quality of care among Medicaid/uninsured and privately insured patients. Methods:Economic theory of hospital behavior was used as a conceptual framework, and longitudinal data for California hospitals from 1996 to 2003 were examined. Hospital-fixed effects regression models were estimated. The unit of analysis is at the hospital level, examining 2 aggregated measures based on the payer category of discharged patients (ie, Medicaid/uninsured and privately insured). Principal Findings:The overall study findings provide at best weak evidence of an association between net Medicaid DSH payments and hospital quality of care for either Medicaid/uninsured or the privately insured patients. The magnitudes of the effects are small and only a few have significant DSH effects. Conclusions:Although this study does not find evidence suggesting that reducing Medicaid DSH payments had a strong negative impact on hospital quality of care for Medicaid/uninsured or privately insured patients, the results are not necessarily predictive of the impact national health care reform will have. Research is necessary to monitor hospital quality of care as this reform is implemented.


Tomography is a technique used to reconstruct cross-sectional image of a pipeline for flow monitoring applications. There are several types of tomography system such as X-ray tomography, ultrasonic tomography, and electrical resistance tomography (ERT). ERT has many advantages compared to other types of tomography such as low cost, robust and no radiation. Thus, it becomes particularly suitable for industrial applications. However, it has been observed that the conventional practice of ERT through invasive sensing technique has exposed the ERT metal sensor to corrosion and limited its application because of inaccurate measurement of the data. Consequently, non-invasive ERT has also been introduced in low frequency (in kHz) applied to the ERT system. The low frequency ERT makes use of the phase-sensitive demodulation (PSD) approach and is a complicated technique to implement. Hence, the goal of this research is to design and develop a non-invasive ERT system with a high frequency (2 MHz) source. A total impedance of coupling capacitances (between metal electrode and conductive medium) series with resistance (conductive medium) for each pair of electrodes was assumed in the research. Based on the mathematical equation of the total impedance, the real part is the resistance (conductive medium) must be larger than the imaginary part (capacitances), so that it can easily detect the concentration profile of the conductive medium. Therefore, the minimum frequency needed to ensure that the real part is bigger than the imaginary one is 2 MHz. Simultaneously, the independent and flexible sixteen ERT electrodes designed for the system make it easier to replace and troubleshoot any problems with the sensor. In addition, the experiment was carried out on a two-phase static liquid–solid regime for a linear back-projection algorithm using online configuration, with MATLAB as a software platform. It was also able to detect and visualize the non-homogenous system of the two-phase regime. Later, the reconstructed image was improved using a global threshold technique through offline configuration. The experiment results indicate that it could detect obstacles in a vertical pipe with minimum 12 mm in diameter and 4.5 cm in height.


In this abstract, we develop and evaluate a deep learning model to identify completely normal screening breast MRIs for triage to an abbreviated interpretation worklist, a workflow that misses no cancers and markedly reduces radiologist interpretation times. In our held out test set, the algorithm triaged 20% of all screening exams to the abbreviated worklist and 80% to full interpretation worklist for radiologist without missing any cancer exams (100% sensitivity), which reduced the total projected reading time for exams from 148 hours to 119 hours.


The low survival rate of Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients is largely attributed to cisplatin resistance. Rather than focusing solely on individual proteins, exploring protein-protein interactions could offer greater insight into drug resistance. To this end, a series of in silico and in vitro experiments were conducted to identify hub genes in the intricate network of cisplatin resistance-related genes in KIRC chemotherapy. The genes involved in cisplatin resistance across KIRC were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database using search terms as "Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma" and "Cisplatin resistance". The genes retrieved were analyzed for hub gene identification using the STRING database and Cytoscape tool. Expression and promoter methylation profiling of the hub genes was done using UALCAN, GEPIA, OncoDB, and HPA databases. Mutational, survival, functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and drug prediction analyses of the hub genes were performed using the cBioPortal, GEPIA, GSEA, TIMER, and DrugBank databases. Lastly, expression and methylation levels of the hub genes were validated on two cisplatin-resistant RCC cell lines (786-O and A-498) and a normal renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) using two high throughput techniques, including targeted bisulfite sequencing (bisulfite-seq) and RT-qPCR. A total of 124 genes were identified as being associated with cisplatin resistance in KIRC. Out of these genes, MCL1, IGF1R, CCND1, and PTEN were identified as hub genes and were found to have significant (p < 0.05) variations in their mRNA and protein expressions and effects on the overall survival (OS) of the KIRC patients. Moreover, an aberrant promoter methylation pattern was found to be associated with the dysregulation of the hub genes. In addition to this, hub genes were also linked with different cisplatin resistance-causing pathways. Thus, hub genes can be targeted with Alvocidib, Estradiol, Tretinoin, Capsaicin, Dronabinol, Metribolone, Calcitriol, Acetaminophen, Acitretin, Cyclosporine, Azacitidine, Genistein, and Resveratrol drugs. As the pathogenesis of KIRC is complex, targeting hub genes and associated pathways involved in cisplatin resistance could bring a milestone change in the drug discovery and management of drug resistance, which might uplift overall survival among KIRC patients.


Regulation of membrane receptor mobility is important in tuning the cell's response to external signals. This is particularly relevant in the context of immune receptor signaling. The binding of B cell receptors (BCR) to antigen induces B cell receptor activation. While actin dynamics and BCR signaling are known to be linked, the role of actin dynamics in modulating receptor mobility is not well understood. Here, we use single molecule imaging to examine BCR movement during signaling activation and examine the role of actin dynamics on BCR mobility. We use a novel machine learning based method to classify BCR trajectories into distinct diffusive states and show that the actin regulatory protein N-WASP regulates receptor mobility. Constitutive loss or acute inhibition of N-WASP, which is associated with enhanced signaling, leads to a predominance of BCR trajectories with lower diffusivity and is correlated with a decrease in actin dynamics. Furthermore, loss of N-WASP reduces diffusivity of CD19, a stimulatory co-receptor of the BCR but not that of unstimulated FcγRIIB, an inhibitory co-receptor. The effect of N-WASP is mirrored by inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex and formins. Our results implicate the dynamic actin network in fine-tuning receptor mobility and receptor-ligand interactions, thereby modulating B cell signaling.


The main objective of this project was to develop a set of procedures and recommendations regarding the design of steel offshore structures so as to limit the extent of damage arising from accidental collisions. In order to achieve this main objective the following steps were taken: (1) development of an analytical theory for predicting the energy absorbing capability of typical steel tubular members of offshore structures (FY 81/82); (2) study and derivation of the structural layouts and the combination of structural parameters that can provide the best overall energy absorbing capability for the structure (FY 82); and (3) development of an appropriate fender systems for the protection of offshore installations (FY 83). In this paper, the force deflection curve for a rigid-plastic circular cylinder subjected to transverse loading applied by a sharp wedge is derived following an energy approach. A local deformation field is assumed and global deformation of the cylinder acting as a beam is neglected. The concept of the moving hinge with no slope discontinuity is used. The effects of the global deformation of the cylinder are then taken into consideration, and the overall force-deflection curve of the member acting as a beam is calculated. The above obtained force-deflection curve, in combination with the equivalent curve for a ship's bow, and also the foundation stiffness of a platform are used as spring data for a simplified two-mass dynamic model with linear and nonlinear springs. This model is then used to determine numerically the plastic deformation on one platform member (leg or brace) due to a collision with a ship. Finally, a method is outlined for a cost-benefit analysis of a minor collison vs. strength of a platform, using probabilistic data on the risk of such a collison, and the platform's damage calculation method presented above.


: Although Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) are increasingly used as a containment policy to promote contiguous and compact urban forms, little is known about how UGBs affect development within the designated area or how development is displaced to other cities. This study analyzes the UGB's containment and spillover effects, focusing on the case of the Portland metropolitan area where UGBs have long been implemented. This is accomplished by employing a spatial market disequilibrium framework in which explicit consideration is given to the containment and spillover processes when under the influences of UGBs. The findings suggest that UGBs can promote development within the boundaries, but that cooperation with neighboring municipalities is necessary to effectively attain the policy goals.


This paper proposes a new concise mathematical model of gear transmission dynamics with asymmetric load-dependent friction. It is of the form of a differential-algebraic inclusion (DAI) characterized by some parameters, including input-side and output-side asymmetry coefficients. The presented model properly captures the static friction and even the non-backdrivability. It is applicable to different classes of transmissions, such as leadscrew transmissions, worm gear transmissions, and spur gear transmissions. The DAI representation is extended into a multi-dimensional representation for articulated rigid-body systems driven through joint transmissions. Moreover, simulation algorithms are derived through the implicit Euler discretization. Some simulation examples illustrate the validity of the presented representations.


Advanced glycation end products play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Cognitive impairment is one of the central features of schizophrenia; however, the association between advanced glycation end products and cognitive impairment remains unknown. This study investigated whether advanced glycation end products affect the cognitive domain in patients with schizophrenia. A total of 58 patients with chronic schizophrenia were included in this cross-sectional study. Plasma advanced glycation end products were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neuropsychological and cognitive functions were assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Version, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Keio-FS version. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, educational years, daily dose of antipsychotics, and psychotic symptoms revealed that processing speed was significantly associated with plasma pentosidine, a representative advanced glycation end product (standardized β = -0.425; p = 0.009). Processing speed is the cognitive domain affected by advanced glycation end products. Considering preceding evidence that impaired processing speed is related to poor functional outcome, interventions targeted at reducing advanced glycation end products may contribute to promoting recovery of patients with schizophrenia as well as cognitive function improvement.


Measurements of subsurface movement and temperatures from a 17-m bore hole in R.G, II, a rock glacier overlooking Kluane Lake. Yukon Territory, suggest that it is becoming inactive. Present movement appears to be intermediate between a Newtonian viscous flow and one in which velocity decreases exponentially with depth. An older surface has been identified beneath a lobe indicating that the rock glacier has been subject to periods of different rates of activity. Between 1971 and 1976 the internal summer temperatures of all but 1.5 m of the middle section of the bore hole rose to above freezing, and evidence of new thermokarstic development appeared. Although the terminal area of R.G. II appears to have little ice remaining in it, movement is expected to continue by creep until stability is achieved because of the relatively steep bedrock slope on which the rock glacier is situated.


Wangunsari Village is a pioneer village that initiated a vegetable nursery as a business unit. In developing vegetable nurseries, nursery farmers face various problems. To solve problems, nursery farmers rely only on personal experience and information they have. With regard to information, communication is very much needed for the development of vegetable nursery farming. To strengthen the communication of vegetable nursery farmers in Wangunsari Village, this study uses social network analysis to find out community features and key actors. The measurements used are density, efficient clustering, degree centrality, closeness centrality, betweeness centrality, and eigenvector centrality. In the measurement of density, the strength of the network is 11.5% with 129 bonds. Clustering measurement coefficient with a value of 0.569. As for the degree centrality measurement, namely InDeg and Outdeg by 10% for actor H. Closeness centrality, namely InCloseness is 66 and InFarness 50 is owned by actor H. Betweenness centrality is highest at 682.35 for actor H. value 0.4. The existence of this social network analysis can be the first step for agricultural extension workers and other institutions in agricultural development efforts regarding the development of vegetable nurseries in Wangunsari Village.


In many dioecious plant populations, males and females appear to be spatially segregated, a pattern that is difficult to explain given its potentially high costs. However, in asexually propagating species, spatial segregation of the sexes may be indistinguishable from superficially similar patterns generated by random establishment of a few genets followed by extensive clonal spread and by gender‐specific differences in rates of clonal spread. In populations where a significant fraction of individuals are not flowering and gender cannot be assigned to this fraction, apparent spatial segregation of the sexes may be due to differential flowering between the sexes. We confirm reports that flowering ramets of the clonal, perennial grass Distichlis spicata are spatially segregated by sex. We extend these studies in two fundamental ways and demonstrate that this species exhibits true spatial segregation of the sexes. First, using RAPD markers, we estimated that at least 50% of ramets in patches with biased sex ratios represent distinct genotypes. Second, we identified a RAPD marker linked to female phenotype (eliminating the possibility that gender is environmentally determined) and used it to show that the majority of patches exhibit significantly biased sex ratios for both ramets and genets, regardless of flowering status.


South Africa's Women's Budget Initiative (WBI) is a pilot project spearheaded by the commonwealth secretariat in its endeavor to promote gender issues in the macroeconomic policies of its member countries. The WBI assesses the national, provincial, and local budgets from a gender perspective by tracking the impact of the budget on women. Many South African ministries have now accepted the concept of analyzing their budget from a gender perspective. Civil society agencies and women's groups at the local level can participate in project activities through collaborative workshops with organizations such as GETNET (the Gender Education and Training Network) and UNIFEM (the United Nations Fund for Women). As follow-up to one of these meetings, a simplified version of the workshop findings was published for the general public, particularly for women's groups. A strong alliance between civil society activists and government departments is one of the key features of the project. An important point to note is that the concrete impact of such projects, which have a national scope, usually is observable over time after a slow and gradual process.


Abstract Is it possible for God both to create a deterministic world and to act specially, to realize his particular purposes within it? And if there can be such 'particular providence' or 'special divine action' (SDA) in a deterministic world, what form can it take? In this article I consider these questions, exploring a number of different models of SDA and discussing their consistency with the proposition that the world is deterministic; I also consider how the various consequences of each model accord with traditional theistic assumptions about God's action in the world. I argue that, although SDA is possible in a deterministic world, none of the models that have been offered are entirely unproblematic, but accepting any of them commits one to certain consequences that may be found objectionable; thus the potential benefits of each model of SDA must be weighed against the costs of accepting such consequences.


Medial collateral ligament injury of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint is rare. If it is missed, chronic instability and traumatic hallux valgus develop, requiring surgical treatment. Different methods have been reported in the limited available literature aiming to restore the balance between the lateral and medial stabilizers by tightening the medial joint capsule with or without additional tendon graft. Our described method utilizes a suture button device (Mini TightRope, Arthrex, Naples, Florida) for reconstruction. This device applies tension to hold the hallux in the correct position, providing stability. Relevant diagnostic regimen, surgical technique, and postoperative care are described, along with a case of a handball player who underwent this procedure. He continues to perform at the same level 38 months postoperatively. Mini TightRope fixation for chronic medial first MTP instability has not been reported. It does not require postoperative immobilization and allows faster return to sport, so it seems superior to other methods when treating athletes.


Carnap's reinvention of the Ramsey-sentence approach to scientific theories has been at the center of a new debate in recent years. Following Grover Maxwell, Psillos (2000a) argued that Carnap's re-invention of the Ramsey-sentence had failed to lead to the desired neutral stance in the realism-instrumentalism debate, and ended, instead, to a form of structural realism which happened to be liable to Newman's objection to Russell's version of structural realism. The objection held that without putting suitable restrictions on the range of the variables of the Ramseysentence, a Ramsey-sentence approach to theories renders trivial and a priori true all ontological commitments to unobservable entities issued by scientific theories. By arguing that Carnap achieved the neutral stance, Friedman (2011) counter Psillos claim. He denied that any form of realism could be attributed to Carnap. In this paper, I provide a middle ground, where an unorthodox form of structural realism could be attributed to Carnap. I highlight parts of Carnap's work which deal with the problem of designation of abstract terms and the relation of the language to the facts of the matter (in Carnap 1934; 1950; 1966), to argue that it was Carnap's view about the practical methodological considerations, being at work in the construction (or choice) of the linguistic systems, which led him to the unorthodox form of structural realism. I also claim that the same practical considerations constitute the nub of a viable Carnapian answer to Newman's objection.


A single, small (< 20 mm), ring or disc shaped contrast enhancing lesion located at the cortical-subcortical junction with minimal or no surrounding edema on computed tomography is the commonest mode of presentation of neurocysticercosis in the Indian subcontinent. Serum samples of 37 patients with these single, small enhancing lesions (SSEL's) and five patients with typical multilesional parenchymal neurocysticercosis were tested by the electro-immunoblot transfer (EITB) assay and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). EITB was positive in 18 patients (48.64%) and ELISA was positive in 21 patients (56.76%) with SSEL's. On the other hand EITB was positive in all five patients (100%) and ELISA was positive in four patients (80%) with multilesional neurocysticercosis. The low sensitivity of the EITB in the SSEL's is probably linked to an insufficient immune stimulation provided by a single cysticercus cyst.


Abstract We studied the linearity and detection limits of the capillary zone electrophoresis system Capillarys ® in the measurement of serum monoclonal protein. Three monoclonal proteins with different isotypes and electrophoretic migrations were diluted with a hypo-γ-globulinemic polyclonal serum pool. Mathematical linearity was observed for all monoclonal protein isotypes in the ranges studied without removing the polyclonal γ-globulin background. Theoretical concentrations of 0.43, 0.89 and 0.33g/L for monoclonal proteins immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA and IgM, respectively, gave a discernible spike by Capillarys ®, although they were measured as 0.76, 1.09 and 0.76g/L, respectively. We observed overestimation of monoclonal protein inversely correlated to concentrations below 15g/L. All these limitations have to be taken into account when monitoring monoclonal proteins, because the loss of linearity and the protein background may hide an increase in concentration at low levels.


Abstract : This report presents the results of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) measurements conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory in June of 1991. This study examined a number of potential sites for the location of the proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) transmitter facility. The proposed HAARP facility will consist of a large planar array of antennas excited by phased high power transmitters operating in the lower portion of the HF band (2.8 to 8 MHz). Several candidate locations were identified for study in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska. The magnitude of EMI in the population centers and on other commercial and public facilities in the vicinity of Fairbanks from the high power transmitter is a major factor in the site selection process for HAARP. The EMI investigations were conducted in two phases. For Phase I of the study, EMI measurements were conducted at two receiver locations using an airborne transmitter at thirteen potential HAARP sites. The results from the Phase I measurements were examined and the two most promising candidate transmitter locations were selected for more comprehensive measurements during Phase II. For Phase II, comprehensive EMI measurements were made for each of the two candidate transmitter sites. Field strengths were measured at a variety of receiver locations that are representative of the impact area for the EMI from HAARP. The results for both the Phase I and Phase II measurements are presented in this report.


Water for agriculture is critical for food security. However water for irrigation may be threatened by rapidly increasing nonagricultural uses in industry households and the environment. New investments in irrigation and water supply systems and improved water management can meet part of the demand. But in many arid or semiarid areas--and seasonally in wetter areas--water is no longer abundant. The high economic and environmental costs of developing new water resources limit supply expansion. Therefore even new supplies may be insufficient. Whether water will be available for irrigation so that agricultural production can provide for national and global food security remains an urgent question for the world. This brief examines the relationship between water and food production over the next 30 years using IFPRI?s IMPACTWATER model. This global model simulates the relationships among water availability and demand food supply and demand international food prices and trade at the regional andglobal levels. The baseline scenario incorporates our best estimates of the policy investment technological and behavioral parameters driving the food and water sectors. We then look at how faster growth in municipal and industrial (M&I) demand and slower investments in irrigation and water supply infrastructure would affect food production. (excerpt)


The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) routinely observes magnetic field deflections in the solar wind at distances less than 0.3 au from the Sun. These deflections are related to structures commonly called "switchbacks" (SBs), whose origins and characteristic properties are currently debated. Here, we use a database of visually selected SB intervals—and regions of solar wind plasma measured just before and after each SB—to examine plasma parameters, turbulent spectra from inertial to dissipation scales, and intermittency effects in these intervals. We find that many features, such as perpendicular stochastic heating rates and turbulence spectral slopes are fairly similar inside and outside of SBs. However, important kinetic properties, such as the characteristic break scale between the inertial to dissipation ranges differ inside and outside these intervals, as does the level of intermittency, which is notably enhanced inside SBs and in their close proximity, most likely due to magnetic field and velocity shears observed at the edges. We conclude that the plasma inside and outside of an SB, in most of the observed cases, belongs to the same stream, and that the evolution of these structures is most likely regulated by kinetic processes, which dominate small-scale structures at the SB edges.


Objective: To investigate the prosthetic and service satisfaction in cycling and non-cycling adults with a lower limb amputation in Thailand and to analyze factors associated with satisfaction.
Materials and Methods: Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey questionnaire was given to 424 adults with uni or bilateral lower limb amputation in five public hospitals and mobile units. Associated variables in univariate analysis were entered into a multiple linear regression.
Results: Forty-five percent of participants were from the Veterans General Hospital, Bangkok. Cyclists were slightly more satisfied with the prostheses than non-cyclists, but no differences were reported for service satisfaction. In general, all participants were satisfied with the service received. Factors associated with higher prosthetic satisfaction were not using gait aids, being employed or retired, being amputated below the knee, no or basic education, and hospital delivering the prosthesis. The factor associated with higher service satisfaction was not using gait aids.
Conclusion: The results suggested that mobility independence, use of the prosthesis, and socioeconomic status may influence prosthetic and service satisfaction. Communication between people with a lower limb amputation and prosthetists, as well as follow-up after delivery may improve the prosthetic and service satisfaction. Satisfactory prostheses may increase activity participation, as seen in cyclists.
Keywords: Satisfaction, Prosthesis, Service, Cycling, Amputation, Lower limb, Transfemoral amputation, Transtibial amputation


Background Based on the growing number of families and young children with a refugee background in Germany, day-care teachers face enormous challenges regarding culturally informed practice. The project "Gemeinsam stark durch den Start" (Stronger together by starting together) addresses these challenges on various levels. At the level of day-care teachers, training in culturally informed and sensitive education is combined with reflection sessions about their own attitudes and prevailing intercultural norms, thus contributing to the professionalization of day-care teachers. Aim This paper focuses on mechanisms of action that contributed to the effectiveness of the training from two perspectives: the day-care teachers' perspective and the trainers' perspective. Methods Staff members of 11 German day-care centers underwent graded online training sessions (team and in-depths trainings) addressing intercultural topics. All participants were presented with a questionnaire for their training evaluation before and after the training sessions. Also, participants of the in-depths trainings participated in semi-structured interviews on the training. Furthermore, qualitative interviews were conducted with all trainers (N = 4) of the workshops. Results Day-care teachers evaluated the online training positively, especially the improvement of professionalization and the implementation of training elements. Results reveal that (work-related) reflexive sessions as well as sessions dealing with the implementation of exercise tools into daily practice were rated as fundamental parts in the training. Teachers from high-risk day-care centers estimated the trainings' effectiveness lower than those working in low-risk day-care centers. Qualitative data shows that the day-care teachers are in need of (theoretical) knowledge about all training elements and hands-on advice for dealing with specific situations. Especially day-care teachers within a high-risk environment, who already report having an elevated level of intercultural knowledge and skills, may need a higher dose training while low-risk day-care teachers may profit more from a low threshold training. Conclusion The introduced training sessions focusing on intercultural sensitivity and competence present an important contribution to the professionalization of day-care teachers in working with children from different cultural backgrounds. Trainings should focus on reflexive elements as well as exercises in perspective taking and provide hands on materials for daily work.


We study $\mathfrak{gl}(2|1)$ symmetric integrable models solvable by the
nested algebraic Bethe ansatz. Using explicit formulas for the Bethe vectors we
derive the actions of the monodromy matrix entries onto these vectors. We show
that the result of these actions is a finite linear combination of Bethe
vectors. The obtained formulas open a way for studying scalar products of Bethe
vectors.


To suite the need of today's existing, software engineering can choose from wide array of different project methods or even design their own. In any type of methods of software engineering models, a lot of design and requirement are analyzed in the beginning of the project and then it is written down in a project design and implemented and tested. But the common major problem is misunderstanding the requirement and formulates the requirement in poorly, the customer order a product is delay to delivery with productivity cost and risk is increase to industry, in such way the developer creativity and effort is decrease in a team. Agile methods are becoming so acceptable to software industry are much more flexible and changing customer requirement ideas even at end of the process of the project by team member, these type of bendable facility available in agile methodology through scrum process, which one of the methods of agile. So, Scrum is best example, as most of the software industry are using today.


Abstract A new fossil flower, Kajanthus lusitanicus gen. et sp. nov, is described from the Early Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian) Chicalhão site near the village of Juncal, western Portugal, based on a single coalified specimen. The flower is small, actinomorphic, trimerous and bisexual, slightly compressed and with floral organs tightly adhering. The perianth is organised in more than two whorls. The inner two whorls consist of six bulky, apparently fleshy parts. The outer perianth whorls consist of narrow parts. There are six stamens, arranged in two whorls. The filaments are thick and anthers tetrasporangiate. The pollen sacs are protruding with extrorse dehiscence. Pollen observed in situ is tricolpate, tectate, finely punctate-perforate, compressed and more or less spherical in polar view with a diameter of about 15 µm. The gynoecium is superior and composed of three free carpels. Non-destructive virtual sectioning of the single flower using synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy revealed the presence of several curved ovules in each carpel, arranged in two longitudinal rows on marginal placentae. The character suite of the Kajanthus flower is only found in extant Lardizabalaceae (Ranunculales), where it is particularly close to Sinofranchetia, a monotypic genus that is now endemic to China.


Research into the effects of rotating shift work on health, social, and performance indices suggests significantly more health concerns and judgement errors and poorer sleep patterns in shift workers on rotating versus nonrotating schedules. 31 male and 7 female law-enforcement officers voluntarily participated in a training session on sleep hygiene practices. On the Sleep Hygiene Awareness and Practice Scale administered prior to and after training were significant increases in awareness of sleep hygiene and knowledge of nicotine, caffeine, and hypnotics. We predicted that use of this knowledge would increase sleep satisfaction. However, 1-mo. follow-up scores on the Post-sleep Inventory of Webb, et al. reflected no change. It appears that scheduling demands, coupled with feelings of low self-efficacy toward managing those demands, resulted in little or no practice of sleep hygiene. A more productive approach may be to incorporate a comprehensive behavioral program within departments to instill and reinforce better practice of sleep hygiene.


INTRODUCTION: The presence of acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation directly effects COPD related mortality. In this study we aimed to evaluate the yield of serum levels of acute phase reactants for predicting hospital mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure due to COPD exacerbation.

METHODS: Patients hospitalized for acute repiratory failure due to COPD exacerbation between January 2011 and 2013 were retropectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to hospital mortality (dead/alive) and serum acute phase reactants (C-reactive protein [CRP], ferritin, albumin and prealbumin) on admission were evaluated.

RESULTS: A total of 38 patients (27 male, 11 female, median age 71.5 years) were included into the study. All patients received mechanical ventilation support (30 patients noninvasive, 8 patients invasive mechanical ventilation), median length of hospital stay was 15.5 days, hospital mortality was 26.3% (n=12). When serum acute phase reactants were compared, dead patients had lower albumin and prealbumin levels (median albumin levels were 3.1 and 3.5 g/dl respectively, [p=0.03]; median prealbumin levels were 7.9 and 11.6 mg/dl respectively, [p<0.01]).

CONCLUSION: In this study we found an association between low serum albumin and prealbumin levels and hospital mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure due to COPD exacerbation. Low levels of albumin and prealbumin levels on admission may be related with malnutrition or severe systemic inflammation. Monitoring albumin and prealbumin levels on admission and during follow-up may be helpful.


ABSTRACT Purpose: To review the current literature regarding variant (non-clear) histology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the clinical management of these renal tumors. Material and Methods: A PubMed database search was performed in May 2020 focusing on variant RCC, its diagnosis and associated syndromes, tumor characteristics, and options for management. Results: A broad range of pathological, clinical and diagnostic characteristics amongst non-ccRCC variants were found to have an impact on the overall management of these tumors. The imaging modalities, frequency of surveillance, and timing for intervention were found to be dependent on the type of genetic alterations, type of histology, and tumor growth rates. The timing and type of surgery as well as the systemic therapy are tailored to the specific tumor type and patient. Conclusion: The findings of this review suggest that clinical management should be considered and adjusted for patients with non-ccRCC histological variants based on tumor subtype and genetic alterations.


The earlier search at HERMES for narrow baryon states excited in quasireal photoproduction, decaying through the channel pKS0→pπ+π-, has been extended with improved decay-particle reconstruction, more advanced particle identification, and increased event samples. The structure observed earlier at an invariant mass of 1528 MeV shifts to 1522 MeV and the statistical significance drops to about 2σ for data taken with a deuterium target. The number of events above background is 68-31+98(stat)±13(sys). No such structure is observed in the hydrogen data set.


1 Relations Among Rainstorm Runoff, Streamflow, pH, and Metal Concentrations, Summitville Mine Area, Upper Alamosa River Basin, Southwest Colorado, 1995–97 By Michael G. Rupert Abstract The upper Alamosa River Basin contains areas that are geochemically altered and have associated secondary sulfide mineralization. Occurring with this sulfide mineralization are copper, gold, and silver deposits that have been mined since the 1870's. Weathering of areas with sulfide mineralization produces runoff with anomalously low pH and high metal concentrations; mining activities exacerbate the condition. Summer rainstorms in the upper Alamosa River Basin produce a characteristic relation between streamflow and pH; streamflow suddenly increases and pH suddenly decreases (commonly by more than 1 pH unit). This report evaluates changes in pH in the upper Alamosa River Basin during July, August, and September 1995, 1996, and 1997 to examine possible adverse environmental effects due to rainstorm runoff. Ninety-three percent of the rainstorms occurring during 1995–97 produced runoff throughout the entire basin. Out of 54 storms, only 3 storms were isolated to the river reach upstream from the streamflow-gaging station Alamosa River above Wightman Fork, and only 1 storm was isolated to the river reach between the streamflow-gaging stations Alamosa River below Jasper and Alamosa River above Terrace Reservoir. Although most rainstorm runoff events occurred throughout the entire basin, pH changes were highest in parts of the basin that receive runoff from hydrothermally altered areas. The three principal altered areas within the basin are the Jasper, Stunner, and Summitville areas. Only limited mining occurred in the Stunner altered area, and yet significant decreases in pH values occur due to runoff from this area. Even after environmental restoration activities are completed at the Summitville Mine, the main stem of the Alamosa River may continue to be adversely affected by runoff from the Stunner and Jasper altered areas. A comparison of measured pH with Federal and State of Colorado water-quality standards and Toxicological Reference Values indicates pH was too low to support aquatic life in many parts of the basin for extended periods of time. Added stresses from sudden decreases in pH due to rainstorm runoff compound the adverse effects. Discharge of effluent from the Summitville Mine impoundment can significantly decrease pH in the Alamosa River downstream to Terrace Reservoir. A release of only 3 cubic feet per second from the impoundment decreased pH by at least 1 standard unit at all downstream sites. Low-flow years may pose a substantial risk to aquatic organisms within and downstream from Terrace Reservoir. During 1996, the basin had a low-flow year, and water storage and pool size of Terrace Reservoir were significantly reduced. The pH of water discharging from Terrace Reservoir was anomalously low during late August and September 1996, possibly due to geochemical


Saliva is one of the vital fluids secreted by the human body; it can be deposited on the human skin or other materials through biting, sucking, licking and kissing. Saliva stains encountered in forensic casework is an important source of DNA; so, it is considered an important evidence for personnel identification. The rapid Stain Identification of Human Saliva (RSIDTM-Saliva) bioassay is designed to detect specifically the presence of human salivary µ-amylase enzyme. Test development is completed within 10 minutes and can detect as little as 1ml of human saliva. The detection protocol can be completely integrated into the procedures for DNA extraction and analysis.
Aim: Assess the efficacy of RSIDTM-Saliva strip test for the detection of human saliva under some different variables (different surfaces & different time intervals).Evaluate the quality of DNA extracted from unpreserved saliva and the possibility of its usage as evidence in forensics.
Methodology:Fifty two saliva samples were collected from four volunteers. Forty eight of them were deposited over surfaces of different nature (plastic bottles, glass cup and cigarette butts) at the same time. Four saliva samples were collected directly from the floor of the mouth of each participant by a cotton swab (positive control group). All samples were left to dry for 10 min at room temperature then extracted and analyzed according to the protocol designed for (RSIDTM-Saliva). Collected samples were studied as three tested groups and as control groups. Saliva samples collected from each participant were categorized into four subgroups according to the time interval of saliva extraction [zero (on the spot), 10, 20, and 30 days].Positive samples for saliva identification were subjected to DNA extraction and typing; as three autosomal primers short tandem repeats (STRs) specific to human genomic DNA (D21S11, D18S51 and CSF1PO) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); then subjected to separation and analysis of fragments size by agarose gel electrophoresis to determine their allelic size through comparison to the standard allelic 100 bp ladder.
Results: Saliva could be identified in 100% of tested samples as well as for the positive control samples, which were subjected to successful DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification of the chosen three STRs. Results of agarose gel revealed that the sizes of these PCR products were in accordance with the 100 bp DNA ladder; validating the good quality and quantity of the extracted DNA
 Conclusion: the current study demonstrated that non-stored saliva deposited over different surfaces for up to 30 days presents an ideal source for DNA which may be used for forensic identification. The study also evidenced that the new RSID-saliva strip test is a fast, easy, sensitive and reliable method for saliva identification over different surfaces.


Studies in Western contexts suggest that religiosity is in conflict with rationality since it relates to paranormal beliefs and distrust in science. East Asian cultures, known to be holistic and tolerant of contradictions, may, however, not experience this conflict. Using the International Social Survey Program, we analyzed data from Buddhists, Protestants, and Catholics in South Korea (Ns = 358; 391; 135), as well as Catholics and Protestants in Austria and Denmark (Ns = 715; 1,545). Results confirmed a positive association between religiosity and paranormal beliefs among dominant religious group but not among Korean Christians. Moreover, whereas religiosity in the West correlated positively with distrust in science, the opposite held for religious Korean groups. Religiosity mediated the relationship between paranormal beliefs and distrust in science among all dominant religious groups but in opposite directions in East and West. These findings bring a new cross-cultural perspective on the religion-science relationship.


The solid material from electroplating wastewater treatment was used as raw material in synthesis of ceramic pigments, once the formation of ZnCr2O4 and FeCr2O4 crystalline phases can be considered as a process of heavy metals inertization, such as chromium, zinc and iron. To reach the purpose of this paper, the techniques of elementary chemical analysis (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and X-Ray Fluorescence, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) and X-Ray Diffraction were applied in samples of waste with the aim of physical and chemical characterization. After the characterization of residue were incorporate metallic oxides for correction of composition and obtaining of inorganic pigment. Pigment formation was followed through X-ray diffraction, where the formation of spinel phases containing the metals Fe, Cr and Zn were observed. The pigment was characterized through scanning electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry. The 8 hours cycle calcinated pigments formed crystalline spinel phases, where we can say that the present metals in the sludge became inert. It was possible to incorporate up to 20% of the galvanic waste in the production of Fe, Cr and Zn based inorganic pigments.


We study the relation between accretion rate (in terms of L/L_(Edd)) and shape of the hard X-ray spectral energy distribution (namely the photon index Γ_x) for a large sample of 228 hard X-ray-selected, low-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGNs), drawn from the Swift/BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS). This includes 30 AGNs for which black hole mass (and therefore L/L_(Edd)) is measured directly through masers, spatially resolved gas or stellar dynamics, or reverberation mapping. The high-quality and broad energy coverage of the data provided through BASS allow us to examine several alternative determinations of both Γ_x and L/L_(Edd). For the BASS sample as a whole, we find a statistically significant, albeit very weak correlation between Γ_x and L/L_(Edd). The best-fitting relations we find, Γ_x ≃ 0.15 log L/L_(Edd) + const., are considerably shallower than those reported in previous studies. Moreover, we find no corresponding correlations among the subsets of AGN with different MBH determination methodology. In particular, we find no robust evidence for a correlation when considering only those AGN with direct or single-epoch MBH estimates. This latter finding is in contrast to several previous studies which focused on z > 0.5 broad-line AGN. We discuss this tension and conclude that it can be partially accounted for if one adopts a simplified, power-law X-ray spectral model, combined with L/L_(Edd) estimates that are based on the continuum emission and on single-epoch broad-line spectroscopy in the optical regime. We finally highlight the limitations on using Γ_x as a probe of supermassive black hole evolution in deep extragalactic X-ray surveys.


This paper examins the question of revisiting the imposition of existing trade barriers in one case of an evolving marketplace – when a traditional food product is altered to provide, or discovered to have, human health benefits that increases their value to consumers. In other words, the food becomes a functional food. A functional food has the potential provide direct benefits to consumers as well as indirect benefits to society in the form of health care cost savings. If the trade barrier was put in place prior to these direct and indirect benefits of the food becoming apparent, then they would not have been considered when the decision to impose the trade barrier was taken. In these circumstances, policy makers may wish to revisit a decision to impose a trade barrier.


Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of chronicity with a high prevalence
 worldwide. The bacterial agent causing TB is an aerobic, non-capsulated,
 non-motile, and non-spore-forming strain of Mycobacteria, commonly
 referred to as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to the World Health
 Organization (WHO), one-third of the world's population is estimated to
 be infected with TB, with most cases reported in the developing countries
 owing to increased poverty, starvation, and human immunodeficiency virus
 (HIV) infection among others. A total of 22 countries have been listed as
 significantly affected by TB over the years. TB primarily affects children
 alone, but TB is preventable. The WHO has developed guidelines and
 operational handbooks for increased treatment coverage in countries.
 The WHO supports countries worldwide in preventing TB infections
 through guidance and implementation of infection prevention and control
 measures. In this article, we shall discuss the various measures advised by
 the WHO for preventing TB.


We dispel with "street wisdom" regarding the practical implementation of Strassen's algorithm for matrix-matrix multiplication (DGEMM). Conventional wisdom: it is only practical for very large matrices. Our implementation is practical for small matrices. Conventional wisdom: the matrices being multiplied should be relatively square. Our implementation is practical for rank-k updates, where k is relatively small (a shape of importance for libraries like LAPACK). Conventional wisdom: it inherently requires substantial workspace. Our implementation requires no workspace beyond buffers already incorporated into conventional high-performance DGEMM implementations. Conventional wisdom: a Strassen DGEMM interface must pass in workspace. Our implementation requires no such workspace and can be plug-compatible with the standard DGEMM interface. Conventional wisdom: it is hard to demonstrate speedup on multi-core architectures. Our implementation demonstrates speedup over conventional DGEMM even on an Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) coprocessor utilizing 240 threads. We show how a distributed memory matrix-matrix multiplication also benefits from these advances.


Network macroscopic fundamental diagram (NMFD) has provided practical convenience to simulate network-level traffic dynamics using NMFD-based models. Nevertheless, only a few works have been conducted on traffic dynamics in bi-modal urban networks. This paper provides a comparison of the application of outflow 2D-NMFD and 3D-NMFD through simulating different scenarios using accumulation-based model in a single reservoir system. The models are verified using micro-simulation data as ground truth performed on a Manhattan-style grid network and a real network. The results reveal the outflow 2D-NMFD can provide accurate traffic state evolution, while the goodness of fit is the main challenge in the application of outflow 3D-NMFD. Besides, the accumulation-based model needs modifications to construct the bus accumulation profile in the test-bed with a low share of buses. Last but not least, the accuracy of the existing network-level speed models in mixed-traffic condition and its effects on traffic dynamics simulation are validated and discussed.


The axis flow fanner commonly is not efficient and produces loud noise. In the paper, the axis flow fanner, which was widely used in the industry produce process, was selected as the study object. According to the analysis, an efficient and noise model of axis flow fanner was established, and then, based on this model, the aim function, which was used to integrative design the axis flow fanner′s pass by components, was obtained. At the same time, some restrictions conditions, such as wheel and hub ratio, impeller outer diameter, lamina number, lamina intension and so on, were brought forward and defined. The integrative aim function is non linear and has discrete variables. A highly efficient genetic arithmetic was used in the design. Finally, based on a typical model axis flow fanner, the integrative optimistic was applied to the pass by component parameters design. The theory analysis and experiments indicate that, with the integrative optimistic design, the axis flow fanner has evidently improved in efficiency and reduced noise.


Contexts play an important role in the saliency detection task. However, given a context region, not all contextual information is helpful for the final task. In this paper, we propose a novel pixel-wise contextual attention network, i.e., the PiCANet, to learn to selectively attend to informative context locations for each pixel. Specifically, for each pixel, it can generate an attention map in which each attention weight corresponds to the contextual relevance at each context location. An attended contextual feature can then be constructed by selectively aggregating the contextual information. We formulate the proposed PiCANet in both global and local forms to attend to global and local contexts, respectively. Both models are fully differentiable and can be embedded into CNNs for joint training. We also incorporate the proposed models with the U-Net architecture to detect salient objects. Extensive experiments show that the proposed PiCANets can consistently improve saliency detection performance. The global and local PiCANets facilitate learning global contrast and homogeneousness, respectively. As a result, our saliency model can detect salient objects more accurately and uniformly, thus performing favorably against the state-of-the-art methods.


Abstract The efficiency of utilisation of diets with different proportions of energy sources (starch, fat, lactose) was studied with three pairs of lactating Saanen goats; the animals were fed, in a Latin square design, 3 silage-based diets containing (on DM basis) the following energy sources: 32% maize meal (diet M); 4.7% rumen-protected fat (Megalac®) and 23.5% maize meal (diet F); 9.8% milk whey permeate powder and 22.3% maize meal (diet W). During each of the three experimental periods, 8 days of total collection balance trials were conducted during which goats were allocated for 72 h (three 24 h cycles) in open circuit respiration chambers to determine methane and heat production and, hence, the energy balance. Diet F, in comparison with diets M and W, significantly increased the milk fat content (4.13 vs 3.11 and 3.14%, P<0.001) and the 4%-FCM yield (3367 vs 2927 and 3055 g/d, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), while no relevant changes were observed for milk protein content and yield. Energy digestibility was equal in diets F and W. Megalac® did not decrease fibre digestibility. The partition of the gross energy intake (EI) differed significantly between diets: diet M had lower DE (72.4 vs 74.3 and 74.3%; P<0.01) and ME (62.1 vs 64.7 and 63.5%; P<0.05) in comparison with diets F and W, respectively. Energy lost as methane was not significantly decreased by the inclusion of rumenprotected fat in the diet, although a trend for a reduction of methanogenesis was observed. Heat production determined by treatment F was lower in comparison with the other treatments. This difference was almost significant (P=0.056) when expressed as a percentage of the ME. Milk energy output increased significantly (+12%, P<0.001) by including fat in the diet, as compared with treatments M and W: 21.4 vs 19.1 and 19.0% of the EI. The net energy content of the protected fat was 27.94 MJ NEl/kg DM (+340% vs maize meal); its kl value resulted 0.77. The corresponding values for whey permeate were 7.76 MJ NEl/kg DM (-5% vs maize meal) and 0.50, respectively. Summarizing, the efficiency of energy utilization in diet M was significantly lower in comparison with the other two diets in terms of digestibility and metabolisability, while its NEl content was similar to that of diet W. On the other hand, diet F had a significantly higher ME (P<0.01) and NEl (P<0.05) as compared to the other two diets. Diet F greatly influenced the fatty acid composition of the milk fat with less short (-30%) and medium (-33%) chain fatty acids and more (+18%) long chain fatty acids. In conclusion, whey permeate and even more Megalac® can be successfully used as feed ingredients in the diet of highly productive lactating goats, but the economical convenience of their utilisation must be evaluated based on the market values of feedstuffs.


For developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in healthy adults, a minimum of 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity or 20 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity per exercise day is recommended. However, many adults are still physically inactive because of the lack of time and facilities, bad weather, and other factors. Therefore, it is important to develop a type of exercise that is effective for health promotion and easy to do in daily life. An exercise with stairs is likely to satisfy this aim. Using data from previous studies, we produced the following formula to predict the intensity (oxygen consumption) during stair-ascending exercise. Oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min) = 2.03 x [moving speed for vertical direction in m/min] + 3.7. Previous intervention studies of exercise using stairs show that stair-ascending exercise improves fitness and health, but is too intense for unfit and/or elderly adults. Stair exercise can be performed more easily if it comprises ascending and descending stairs alternately using a short flight of stairs. Our data suggest that stair-ascending/descending exercise expands the availability of stair exercise for health promotion.


BACKGROUND: Accurate detection of the intended movement direction of a patient plays an important role in the development of a training system for gait rehabilitation and enables to increase the effect of gait rehabilitation training. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the detection of the intended movement of a user to operate a ceiling rail-based rehabilitative training system with accurate timing. METHODS: To detect the movement direction intention of a user, two potentiometers were used to measure the movement direction in the anterior, posterior, and left and right directions of the user when operating the driving motor of the rehabilitative training system. A simple test mock-up with two potentiometers was fabricated, and the experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the direction of movement on the measured values of potentiometers. A direction measurement algorithm was developed to control the driving motor of the rail-based gait rehabilitative training system. RESULTS: The intended movement direction of the user could be predicted for eight directions by combining the "positive value, 0, negative value" of each measured value of the two potentiometers. Further, the developed algorithm was effectively used to control the driving function to assist the walking, sitting–standing, and climbing up–down the step activities in daily life. CONCLUSIONS: The movement intention detection function for users developed in this paper can be used to effectively control a rehabilitative training system for patients with hemiplegia to improve gait movement and posture balance, thereby improving their function of activities of daily living.


Hang gliding continues to grow rapidly despite an increasing awareness of inherent risks. This report describes 144 injuries and 37 deaths in California during the period 1973 through 1975. More accidents were caused by inflight errors of judgment than by equipment failure. Nonfatal injuries showed a surprising number of severe upper extremity and spine injuries, while fatally injured pilots had combined head, neck, and chest trauma. A distinction between pilot education and experience is important. Improved safety equipment and education are recommended.


The low temperature unitary Bose gas is a fundamental paradigm in few-body and many-body physics, attracting wide theoretical and experimental interest. Here we first present a theoretical model that describes the dynamic competition between two-body evaporation and three-body re-combination in a harmonically trapped unitary atomic gas above the condensation temperature. We identify a universal magic trap depth where, within some parameter range, evaporative cooling is balanced by recombination heating and the gas temperature stays constant. Our model is developed for the usual three-dimensional evaporation regime as well as the 2D evaporation case. Experiments performed with unitary 133 Cs and 7 Li atoms fully support our predictions and enable quantitative measurements of the 3-body recombination rate in the low temperature domain. In particular, we measure for the first time the Efimov inelasticity parameter $\eta$ * = 0.098(7) for the 47.8-G d-wave Feshbach resonance in 133 Cs. Combined 133 Cs and 7 Li experimental data allow investigations of loss dynamics over two orders of magnitude in temperature and four orders of magnitude in three-body loss. We confirm the 1/T 2 temperature universality law up to the constant $\eta$ *.


We prove existence of global minima in the loss landscape for the approximation of continuous target functions using shallow feedforward artificial neural networks with ReLU activation. This property is one of the fundamental artifacts separating ReLU from other commonly used activation functions. We propose a kind of closure of the search space so that in the extended space minimizers exist. In a second step, we show under mild assumptions that the newly added functions in the extension perform worse than appropriate representable ReLU networks. This then implies that the optimal response in the extended target space is indeed the response of a ReLU network.


The type species of Cyclococcolithus Kamptner, 1954, was originally described by Murray and Blackman, 1898, and placed in the then invalid genus Coccosphaera. The new species was named Coccosphaera leptopora, later to be designated type by Hay, 1966. Kamptner, 1954, erected the new genus Cyclococcolithus but failed to designate a type and included with it Umbilicosphaera mirabilis Lohmann, 1902, which was already the type species of that genus. Kamptners inclusion of the type of another genus in the new genus Cyclococcolithus resulted in the name Cyclococcolithus being nomenclaturally superfluous and, therefore, illegitimate and unavailable for use (I.C.B.N. Art. 63).


Naïve Bayes Classifier (NBC) is one of the methods for text or document classification. A common problem that often occurs on NBC method is data sparsity, especially when the size of training data is too small. One way to handle the sparsity problem is to use background smoothing technique. The aims of this research are to look at the background smoothing effect on short and long query, and to compare it with NBC on small training data. In this research, we use documents from the Agricultural Research Journal of horticultural domain. The results indicate that the accuracy of document classification on NBC+Background Smoothing is 92.3%, not significantly different from that obtained using only NBC. Improvement of the accuracy is only 1.78% from the results obtained on NBC. However, the results of the classification with NBC+Background Smoothing has been able to properly classify documents of Agriculture Research Journal at horticultural domain, so that it can be used to organize documents much easier for users to find information related to the documents.


ABSTRACT Parasitic protozoan infections represent a major health burden in the developing world and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. These infections are often associated with considerable variability in clinical presentation. An emerging body of work suggests that the intestinal microbiota may help to explain some of these differences in disease expression. The objective of this minireview is to synthesize recent progress in this rapidly advancing field. Studies of humans and animals and in vitro studies of the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to infectious disease are discussed. We hope to provide an understanding of the human-protozoal pathogen-microbiome interaction and to speculate on how that might be leveraged for treatment.


Bone marrow transplantation is an emerging therapeutic modality in aplastic anemia, immunodeficiency disease, and acute leukemia. 1 The total care of patients undergoing this procedure requires attention to and an appreciation of the multiplicity of stress-producing factors (technically called stressors 2 ), emotional issues, and responses associated with this procedure. An initial stressor is the decision to proceed with bone marrow transplantation. Though emotional acceptance may lag far behind, the patient and family are immediately thrust into a confrontation with the critical nature of the illness. In addition, environmental stressors are numerous. The current reliance on isolation techniques places the patient within an extreme environment for a protracted period. Physical contact is restricted; each day is highly regimented, and intense nursing care promotes infantilization. The ability of the patient to accept such "enforced regression" appears, in our judgment, to influence the efficacy of clinical treatment. This ability may be a function


Abstract.
 Chickadees and tits excel at identifying and exploiting novel food sources. One such food source in western North America is the larvae of Urophora gall flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), which were recently introduced to help control the spread of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa). In winter, Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) of many western populations spend much of their time foraging exclusively on this new and rich food source. Because the number of gall flies within knapweed seedheads varies, I examined whether chickadees preferentially selected seedheads with high densities of prey. In large, semi-natural, outdoor aviaries, I presented bouquets of knapweed seedhead to chickadees and allowed them to forage until approximately half of the seedheads were removed. Seedheads rejected by chickadees had significantly fewer larvae than did seedheads not exposed to chickadee predation, indicating that chickadees had selected and removed seedheads with high densities of gall flies. Seedhead size was positively correlated with the number of insects housed within, and chickadees preferentially removed larger than average seedheads while foraging. These results indicate that size is one reliable cue that chickadees might use to select seedheads with high gall fly density. However, chickadees were more successful at selecting seedheads with higher larval density than expected if they used size alone, which suggests that these birds may also use other cues to further increase their foraging efficiency. This study demonstrates the types of subtle decisions chickadees and other birds make even when foraging on relatively novel food sources.


The H2-NMR technique is used to monitor the orientational behaviour of short, deuterated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains dissolved in an unlabelled silicone rubber matrix. When the host matrix is uniaxially stretched, an orientational order is induced at the segmental level of the PDMS probe chain (Mn = 10.500). This stress-induced orientation of the probe chain demonstrates that short-range orientational correlations take place in the deformed network. A comparison with previous results obtained on cross-linked chains suggests that these interchain effects may be the dominant contribution to the segmental orientation of the effectively elastic chains.


: Drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is a highly variable process. Floating microspheres are promises to be a potential approach for gastric retention enhances the bioavailability and controlled delivery of various therapeutic agents. Significant attempts have been made worldwide to explore these systems according to patient requirements, both in terms of therapeutic efficacy and compliance. Floating microspheres as gastro retentive dosage forms precisely control the release rate of target drug to a specific site and facilitate an enormous impact on health care. These systems also provide tremendous opportunities in the designing of new controlled and delayed release oral formulations, thus extending the frontier of futuristic pharmaceutical development. Furthermore, recent innovations in pharmaceutical investigation will surely provide real prospects for establishment of novel and effective means in the development of these promising drug delivery systems.


* Livestock production and marketing has the potential of improving the smallholder farmer's livelihood, but small herd size limits smallholder livestock commercialization. Thus understanding the herd dynamics is a pragmatic initial step in addressing this problem and providing solutions to building and maintaining the herd size. Births are the primary source of building the herd size while deaths as reflected by high mortality rates are the major outflow channel. It is encouraging that cattle mortality rates have reduced and the population growth rates increased between 2012 and 2015 though more still needs to be done.


Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a chronic inflammation in the middle ear and mastoid space that repeatedly secretes through the perforated membrane of tympanic disease over three months. This disease is a critical cause of hearing in developing countries. The prevalence of CSOM in Indonesia is 3.8%. Improper use of antibiotics leads to germicidal incidence. Understanding the pattern of germs and their antibiotic sensitivity will lead to a rational choice of antibiotics to prevent the emergence of resistance. Aim: to report the microbiological profile and sensitivity patterns in CSOM patients in our department. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted on 45 patients from September 2019 - March 2020 at the ENT-KL Department of Dr Soetomo Surabaya Indonesia. Forty-five samples were collected from CSOM patients who underwent mastoidectomy. Specimens were collected from these patients, examination, isolation, examination and isolation antibiogram were carried out according to standard procedures. Results: A total of 45 samples were obtained from this study, and all (57.77%) of the patients were identified as CSOM cases with cholesteatoma. The number of women is 62.3% more than men, and the age group 12 to 16 (20.0%) is the most reported. There were 75.6% perforations in the tympanic membrane, and a central perforation was primarily found (35.6%). Most of the Schuller mastoid X-ray results showed sclerotic features in 29 patients (59.2%). Of the 45 ear swabs, about 68.89% of the surgical materials gave positive culture results, the remaining 31.11%. There was no microbial growth, where most of the growth of monomicrobial bacteria (57.8%). Of the isolates that grew, 70.58% were identified as the group of gram-negative bacteria, with Pseudomonas Aerogenosa isolates being the most common (44.11%). Conclusion: The sensitivity test showed the most sensitivity to Meropenam, Amikacin, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Ceftasidim and Cefoperazone-Sulbactam Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone showed lower sensitivity.


SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. L'adozione delle misure di contenimento tra uguale tempestività e diversità procedurale - 3. Sostanziale uniformità dei provvedimenti - 4. Reazioni diverse alle misure restrittive da parte dei gruppi religiosi e delle associazioni filosofiche non confessionali - 5. Osservazioni conclusive.
Freedom of worship in the time of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Standard of protection in Italy, France and Belgium
ABSTRACT: the contribution intends to analyze, through a comparative key, the operational strategies adopted by the Belgian, French and Italian governments and the responses of religious groups affected by the restrictive measures of freedom of worship. The choice of these three States - Belgium, France, Italy - is motivated by the specificity of their models of relations between the State and the religious phenomenon; it allows a perspective view able to offer constructive food for thought. The analysis does not claim to be exhaustive, since the pandemic situation is, unfortunately, still evolving, which makes crisis management policies susceptible to sudden changes and adaptations.


Thinking suicide as an existential continuous with different degrees (first degrees - unconscious fantasies; intermediate degrees - suicide attempts; extreme degrees - fatal suicide), this article aims primarily at discussing the approaches of Freud and Jung on the subject. Moreover, it attempts to associate suicide to psychological processes, centered on bonding. These are basically seen as a bonding pattern initiated within the family group (primary socialization). Therefore, a pattern characterized by disruption (a difficulty to allow its members to differentiate themselves) at this first level tends to be repeated during the secondary socialization events: conjugal, work, education, religion relationships, etc. Thus, without proper support, in some cases, this difficulty can lead to attempts or fatal suicides. This issue as well as its psychosocial processes will be discussed particularly through the institutional approach of Bastos (2001b), Bleger (1984), Guirado (2004).


Tunneling spectroscopy is a rapidly developing method for obtaining vibrational spectra of monolayers of materials incorporated in tunneling junctions. To date, tunneling spectroscopy has been restricted to observing spectra of junctions that have been warmed to room temperature and exposed to the atmosphere prior to immersion in liquid helium. Here, we report on a method for the in situ preparation of tunneling juncions at low temperatures. This technique avoids questions about atmospheric contamination, and allows the observations of systems too volatile to be otherwise observed. Most of all, due to the low temperature at which the junction is prepared, important mechanisms regarding the change from physiadsorption to chemiadsorption of monolayers on catalytic surfaces may be observed as a function of temperature. In the work discussed here, differential tunneling spectra are shown for the first time on junctions prepared in situ. This has permitted the observation of physioadsorbed CO on aluminum suppo...


Received on November 2018. Accepted on December 2018. ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to obtain the monetary value of ecosystem services provided by the Turia Natural Park (TNP). This paper proposes the use of the Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method (AMUVAM) by replacing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Analytic Network Process (ANP), since the ANP method allows to analyze interdependence relationships between the services provided by a system. The results express that the economic value of the ecosystem services associated to the TNP ranges between 163,946,752 € and 481,549,597 €. The results reveal distinct patterns in the valuation of the existing services due to ethical issues.


In this paper an iterative scheme of first order is developed for the purpose of solving linear systems of equations. In particular, systems that are derived from boundary integral equations are investigated. The iterative schemes to be considered are of the form Ex(k+1) = Dx(k) + d, where E and D are square matrices. It will be assumed that E is a lower matrix, i.e. the coefficients above the central diagonal are zero. It will be shown that by considering matrix D embedded in a vector space and reducing its size with respect to a chosen metric, that convergence rates can be substantially improved. Equation ordering and parameter matrices are used to reduce the magnitude of D. A number of examples are tested to illustrate the importance of the choice of metric, equation ordering and the parameter matrix. Computation times are determined for both the iterative procedure and Gauss elimination indicating the usefulness of iteration which can be orders of magnitude faster.


Is it estimated that between 3 - 12% of preschool children snore. The majority of these children is healthy, without other symptoms and has primary snoring. But, about 2% of snoring children have obstructive sleep apneoa syndrome (OSAS), a sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) characterized by upper airway obstruction that disrupt normal ventilation during sleep leading to serious health morbidity. The differentiation of primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is difficult on clinical grounds. Full polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard procedure in the diagnosis of OSAS, however it's used in clinical setting is limited by several factors. The procedure required trained personnel in the paediatric sleep medicine, is labour intensive, time-consuming and very costly. Selection of snoring patients who require further investigation is based on the evaluation of detailed sleep symptoms, clinical findings and associated risk factors related to SDB. Other screening modalities will be discussed.


EMU was a major step towards deeper financial integration among member states. However, diversification of equity portfolios remained limited while banking integration surged. We argue that the nature of banking integration is of first-order importance for understanding the patterns and channels of risk sharing. While EMU was associated with the creation of an integrated interbank market, as witnessed by an explosion in cross-border interbank flows, "real" banking integration (in terms of cross-border bank-to-real sector flows or banking-consolidation) remained limited. But we find that real banking integration is associated with more risk sharing, while indirect integration via interbank flows is not. Further, indirect banking integration proved to be highly procyclical, which contributed to the freeze in risk sharing after 2008. Based on this evidence, and a stylized DSGE model that allows us to explain these patterns in the data, we discuss implications for banking union. Our results show that real banking integration and capital market union are complements and robust risk sharing in the EMU requires both.


In this paper we try to find a computational interpretation for a strong form
of extensionality, which we call "converse extensionality". Converse
extensionality principles, which arise as the Dialectica interpretation of the
axiom of extensionality, were first studied by Howard. In order to give a
computational interpretation to these principles, we reconsider Brouwer's
apartness relation, a strong constructive form of inequality. Formally, we
provide a categorical construction to endow every typed combinatory algebra
with an apartness relation. We then exploit that functions reflect apartness,
in addition to preserving equality, to prove that the resulting categories of
assemblies model a converse extensionality principle.


There are few data regarding the adverse effects of radiotherapy on skeletal muscle. This tissue is considered to be radioresistant. Muscle toxicity of radiation is unfrequent and does not represent a limiting factor for dose escalation.


A pest control model with multiple treatments is presented. Population dynamics and damage rates are temperature dependent with predation affected by pesticide application. Pesticide tolerance distribution is used for constructing the estimated kill function. Mathematical-numerical optimization is applied, selecting frequency and dosage which minimize control costs and crop damage.


Abstract The Queen's University Belfast Brain Society was set up in September 2018 to promote interest in the human brain. There were three main goals: firstly to provide opportunities for medical students to learn from neurologists and neurosurgeons outside their formal curriculum; secondly the Brain Society aimed to organise events that included students from other disciplines and to members of the general public who were interested in learning about aspects of neuroscience; thirdly to tackle neurophobia. In the last two years, there have been 14 events, ranging from formal lectures, to practical sessions and to patient-focused information evenings. We have sold over 1,600 tickets. This article covers how the Brain Society was set up, to inform students in other universities about the Belfast experience.


Background
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using tendon or ligament autograft is the current gold standard surgical technique for acute ACL ruptures. However, ACL repair surgical procedures are reappearing as an optimistic treatment alternative for acute proximal ruptures. The purpose of this annotation is to review the current role of primary repair of the ACL.

Methods
A Cochrane Library and PubMed (MEDLINE) search related to the role of ACL repair in acute ACL rupture was analyzed.

Results
Arthroscopic ACL repair can accomplish good short-run outcomes with knee stability and resumption of sport activity in children, with proximal ACL avulsion tear. Reported results of open primary repair in adult patients with proximal tears are excellent, which ratifies there may be a possible role for primary repair as management for proximal ACL tears.

Conclusion
Recent reports suggest that refixation of the ACL is a possible treatment alternative in selected patients. Only time will tell whether the long-run results are similar to those obtained following ACL reconstruction.

Level of evidence
III.


A case of a 72-year-old man with abdominal pain and ileus is reported. Previous surgery for Ogilvie's syndrome had been performed. Despite conservative therapy, the occlusive symptoms worsen. Therefore the patient was submitted to surgery. At laparotomy two abdominal adhesions were found and sectioned. The differential diagnosis between mechanical ileus and pseudoobstruction for neuro-mechanics dissociation (Ogilvie's syndrome) is difficult, particularly in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.


Background IL13–1112C/T and +2044A/G polymorphisms have been reported to be correlated with pediatric asthma susceptibility, but study results were still debatable. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted. Material/Methods PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the strength of association in the random-effects model or fixed-effects model. Results Fourteen case-control studies with 4710 asthma cases and 6086 controls were included in this meta-analysis. IL13–1112C/T and +2044A/G polymorphisms were significantly associated with an increased risk of pediatric asthma (OR=1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28, P=0.04, I2=0%; OR=1.20, 95% CI 1.09–1.32, P<0.01, I2=0%), respectively. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, IL13–1112C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with pediatric asthma risk in whites (OR=1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.63, P=0.03, I2=16%). IL13 +2044A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with pediatric asthma risk in Asians (OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.10–1.34, P<0.01, I2=24%). Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis suggest that IL13–1112C/T and +2044A/G polymorphisms contribute to the development of pediatric asthma.