Background The demand for regional blocks from both patients and surgeons has significantly increased in anesthesia practice during the last 30 years. Although the studies show that the complications are rare, regional blocks still have serious difficulties which can be prevented by training programs. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting the educational methods, attitude and practice of the Turkish anesthesiologists in regional blocks during and following residency programs. Patients and Methods Anesthesiologists were asked to answer a questionnaire. Educational proficiency was determined by at least 50 spinal, 50 epidural and 50 peripheral block applications during residency. Specialists were asked for the numbers of spinal, epidural and peripheral blocks (PBs) they applied in 2009. The mean and median values were calculated. Results One hundred and eighty-eight anesthesiologists (84.3 %) agreed to participate in the study. While all participants had made their first attempts in neuraxial blocks (NBs) when they were residents, this ratio was detected as 96.8% for PBs. All participants learned neuraxial and PBs on patients in the operating theater. Education proficiency ratios for spinal, epidural and PBs were 98.1 %, 92.5 % and 62.3 %, respectively. Age, perception of adequate training, nerve block rotation, adequate application in education, following innovations were the factors which significantly affected the number of PBs in practice according to univariate analysis. The participants who consider their applications on NBs were adequate (P = 0.029) and the ones working in state or private hospitals (P = 0.017), applied NBs significantly above the median number. Conclusions Anesthesiologists had adequate education and practice of NB applications but a significant proportion of participants (51.8%) lacked both in PBs applications. We believe that NBs are more easily learned than PBs during residency training program.


Chromite from the Outokumpu Mine in Finland as described by Vahatalo (1953) has an anomalous composition, ostensibly with RO:RzO: ratio of 0.80 or less. Re-examination by the authors shows that the original analysis apparently overlooked 5 8 per cent ZnO in the chromite; counting this as RO brings the ratio to a more satisfactory 0.96. This zinc content is the highest by far for any chromite reported. Chemical and spectrographic analyses, and e-ray powder data are presented; the cell constant is a:8.345 A. The presence of eskolaite, with abundance of chromium-bearing silicates, and the corrosion of the chromite are believed to be more consistent with hydrothermal alteration of relict chromite stringers in place, than with hydrothermal emplacement of chromite in "dikes" at Outokumpu.


Only rarely have polyoxometalates been found to form core-shell nanoclusters. Here, we succeeded in isolating a series of rare giant and all-inorganic core-shell cobalt polyoxoniobates (Co-PONbs) with diverse shapes, nuclearities and original topologies, including 50-nuclearity {Co12Nb38O132}, 54-nuclearity {Co20Nb34O128}, 62-nuclearity {Co26Nb36O140} and 87-nuclearity {Co33Nb54O128}. They are the largest Co-PONbs and also the polyoxometalates containing the greatest number of Co ions and the largest cobalt clusters known thus far. These molecular Co-PONbs have intriguing and atomically precise core-shell architectures comprising unique cobalt oxide cores and niobate oxide shells. In particular, the encapsulated cobalt oxide cores with different nuclearities have identical compositions, structures and mixed-valence Co3+/Co2+ states as the different sized Co-O moieties of the bulk cubic-spinel Co3O4, suggesting that they can serve as various molecular models of the cubic-spinel Co3O4. The successful construction of the series of the Co-PONbs reveals a feasible and versatile synthetic method for making rare core-shell heterometallic PONbs. Further, these new-type core-shell bimetal species are promising cluster molecular catalysts for visible-light-driven CO2 reduction.


Introduction Prognosis of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer is poor with a median survival of 12 to 36 months. Bone metastasis is common, and bone marrow metastasis occurs later in the disease course. The median survival in these patients after bone marrow involvement is less than six months. We report a case of castrate-resistant prostate cancer patient presented with severe pancytopenia due to bone marrow involvement of prostate cancer, treated successfully with docetaxel chemotherapy. Post chemotherapy, the patient became transfusion independent and prostate-specific antigen improved to 0.1 ng/ml from 1051 ng/ml. Case report A 70-year-old gentleman with a history of metastatic prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy and polycythemia vera presented to emergency room with dizziness and melena. Workup revealed severe pancytopenia with platelet count of 12k and hemoglobin of 4.5 gm/dl. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed diffuse involvement of bone marrow with prostate cancer. Prostate-specific antigen was 1051 gm/dl. Management and outcome: The patient received 14 units of packed red blood cell, 10 units of platelet transfusion within one week. Docetaxel chemotherapy was started along with thrombopoietin agonist romiplostim and pegylated filgrastim. He received five cycles of docetaxel treatment. Post chemotherapy, the patient became transfusion independent and prostate-specific antigen improved to 1.17 ng/ml from 1051 ng/ml. The patient is still alive one year after the presentation with good quality of life and the prostate-specific antigen further improved to 0.1 ng/dl. Conclusion This case suggests that selected patients with severe pancytopenia, due to bone marrow infiltration of prostate cancer, can be treated with docetaxel chemotherapy and romiplostim support with significant response. Docetaxel treatment may be beneficial to unpack the marrow and for quicker response in patients with good performance status.


Abstract. Knowing where and when rice is grown is essential for planning and decision-making in relation to food security, as well as in research wherein crop area and calendar are important inputs in crop production simulations, assessment of biotic and abiotic stresses, and analysis of the effect of climate change on crop production, among others. Remote sensing allows for efficient mapping and characterization of rice areas. In this study, we derived the rice planting window in all rice growing regions in the Philippines from 2016 to 2018 using multi-temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), specifically TerraSAR-X and Sentinel-1. Using a rule-based method, rice area and Start of Season (SoS) were mapped based on the unique backscatter behaviour of rice corresponding to the initial deliberate agronomic flooding followed by rapid biomass increase. We defined the planting window per year and semester as the 15th and 85th percentile and the peak of planting as the dominant planting date. The accuracy of the rice map was 93% and the SoS was strongly correlated with the actual planting dates reported by farmers (R2 = 0.71) based on 482 ground observations in the Philippines in 2018 Semester 1. From this analysis, the planting window in the Philippines for the Semester 2 (wet season) is April-August (peak in June-July), and for Semester 1 (dry season) is September-February (peak in November-December) with large differences across regions. In majority of the regions, the planting window spans more than 100 days, which can have implications on incidence of pests and diseases.


The most widely used peritoneal function test is the peritoneal equilibration test (PET), developed and described by Twardowski in 1987. The test was originally performed using a 2.27% glucose solution and focused on transport of small solutes. With the test, categorization of patients was possible into high, average and low transporters. However, to detect clinically significant ultrafiltration failure and to make an evaluation of the cause, the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) committee on ultrafiltration failure advised to perform the test with a 3.86% glucose solution. Since then, reference values for this test were assessed and further possibilities of utilizing the results were tested. In this review, the new developments in monitoring peritoneal function are described and a guideline proposal for this monitoring is given.


Present study was conducted to investigate spoil characteristics under 5-yr old high-density plantations of three native trees ( Albizia lebbeck A . procera and Tectona grandis ) and one fast growing woody grass ( Dendrocalamus strictus ) species on coal mine spoils and same age unplanted mine spoil dump at the same area. We examined physical characters such as soil bulk density, water holding capacity, soil texture (sand, clay and silt) and chemical characters such as pH, total nutrients (C, N and P) and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K and Na) in chronosequence of spoil depth (0-50 cm) at 10 cm interval under planted stand of each selected species and unplanted dump. A significant effect of plantations on physico-chemical characteristics (except soil bulk density) of mine spoils was found. Among species, A . lebbeck exhibited substantial improvement in mine spoil soils followed by D . strictus , A . procera and T . grandis plantation. Although, chemical characteristics especially total concentrations of soil C, N and P and their ratios were significantly different due to species and spoil depth, indicating plantations of all species have abilities to improve soil chemical qualities at young stage of establishment. Compared to unplanted dump, plantation of A . lebbeck showed highest concentrations of total nutrients (C, N and P) and exchangeable cations with respect to spoil depth followed by D . strictus , A . procera and T . grandis , which confirms that some species have suitable qualities for the modification of spoil characteristics during rehabilitation process.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the beneficial effect of miR-20a mimic against diabetic angiopathy (DA) in rats by regulating intracellular antioxidant enzymes and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg). Rats were then treated with miR-20a mimic (250 nmol/kg orally) for 8 weeks after STZ administration. The effect of miR-20a mimic against DA in rats was evaluated by estimating serum glucose concentration, lipid profile, Lp-a, kidney function test, inflammatory mediators, and markers of endothelial cell function. Markers of oxidative stress in the aortic tissue were estimated in rats treated with miR-20a mimic. Western blot assay, RT-PCR, and histopathology of kidney and myocardial tissues were also performed.

RESULTS
Serum levels of blood glucose and markers of renal function were significantly lower, and the lipid profile improved in the miR-20a mimic group compared to the DA group. Treatment with miR-20a mimic ameliorated the altered markers of endothelial function and oxidative stress, as well as mediators of inflammation, in the DA rats. Protein expressions of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, as well as mRNA expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, in aortic tissues were lower in the miR-20a mimic group than in the DA group. The miR-20a mimic group had fewer histopathological changes in kidney and myocardial tissues than the DA group.

CONCLUSIONS
MiR-20a mimic can protect against DA in rats by regulating vascular endothelial function and oxidative stress.


As unemployment continues to rise to near-record levels, the reductions in child poverty seen under Labour may now be reversing. New research from Kate Bell and Jason Strelitz finds that previous welfare reforms did not go far enough in reforming work itself. They argue that to really tackle poverty, policy makers must focus on improving working conditions and help people to find a better balance between paid employment and childcare.


Background: Because many of our movements of daily living are multi-joint movements and lower limb performance decreases with aging, it is important to understand the influence of aging on muscle functions of lower limb multi-joint movements. Objective: To investigate aging-related differences in the maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of muscles that control leg multi-joint movements. Methods: 285 recreationally active men (n = 142) and women (n = 143) aged between 18 and 82 years volunteered for the study. Lower limb muscle function was measured with a servo-controlled dynamometer and the maximum isometric force (Fmax), unloaded velocity (Vmax) and power (Pmax) were determined by the force-velocity and force-power relations. Results: With increasing age, Fmax/body mass significantly declines in both men (r = –0.400, p <0.001) and women (r = –0.587, p < 0.001), while Vmax/leg length does not change with age in either men (r = –0.033, p > 0.05) or women (r = –0.040, p > 0.05). Pmax significantly declines with age in both men (r = –0.370, p < 0.001) and women (r = –0.446, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Aging does not have effects on the shortening velocity, although it causes a decrease in maximum force and power of leg multi-joint movements. This finding suggests that decreases in muscle force-generating capacity and power may primarily lead to the loss of mobility and a reduced capability of accelerating and decelerating the body mass during the movements in elderly individuals.


A simplified model for a time‐dependent plasma‐assisted chemical vapor deposition reactor was developed based on transport and reaction principles. The model equations were solved by the method of lines using collocation on finite elements for the spatial discretization. Emphasis was placed on the deposition rate and uniformity as a function of reactor operating conditions. A pulsed‐plasma reactor was analyzed, and compared to a continuous‐wave (CW) plasma reactor. Under conditions which would result in high depletion of the precursor gas in the CW reactor, the pulsed‐plasma reactor yielded improved uniformity, albeit the deposition rate was reduced. The effect of a recycle stream on both the CW and pulsed‐plasma reactors was also studied. For the CW reactor, recycle was most beneficial under conditions of low depletion of the precursor gas. For cases of intermediate depletion of the precursor gas, a CW reactor with recycle or a combination of pulsed‐plasma and recycle can result in nearly uniform deposit without sacrificing the deposition rate. Analytic solutions were derived for the CW reactor with recycle, and for a well‐mixed pulsed‐plasma reactor. The results apply equally well to pulsed‐plasma etching reactors conforming to the model assumptions and operating under corresponding conditions.


Introduction: One important factor of fatigue occurrence among athletes, following heavy sport activities, especially sports activities with short time and the maximum speed and intensity, is the accumulation of lactic acid in blood. The need for athletes to achieve natural conditions and to prepare for the next activities, methods of disposal lactic acid are very important. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of passive and active recovery with a severity of 55, 60 and 65 percent of maximum heart rate, on levels of blood lactic acid. Material and Methods: This semi-experimental study was carried by 60 male athletes' students who were divided randomly to four groups. The first group included 15 subjects of group programs for passive recovery and the second, third and fourth groups off the state quarter program for active recovery with highly active 55, 60 and 65 percent of maximum heart rate, respectively. Groups acting Cunningham test began to test blood lactic acid in four stages (before the activity, immediately after the activity, 5 and 20 minute period recovery). The measurement was done by a hand lacto – meter. Results: The mean amount of blood lactic acid during resting time in four groups and also immediately after the activity was not significant, but 5 minutes after recovery as well as 20 minutes after recovery difference between groups was significant (P<0.001). Mean blood lactic acid 20 minutes after recovery of passive group was significantly higher and that of group with 60 percent maximum heart rate was significantly lower (P<0.001) than other groups. Also the rate of the decrease in lactic acid level within 5 to 20 minutes after recovery in group with 60% maximum heart rate was significantly more than group 55%. The rate of decrease with group 65% maximum heart rate was shown to be significantly more than group 55% with maximum heart rate (p <0.001). Conclusion: Our findings showed that active recovery from supramaximal exercise had a better effect than passive mode in reducing blood lactate levels in male athletes. Moreover, active recovery with a rate of 60 percent of maximum heart rate had a better effect than those of 55 or 65% maximum heart rat.
Keywords: Lactic acid, Rrecovery, Passive recovery, Active recovery, Athletes


With the rapid development of various multimedia technologies, more and more multimedia data are generated and transmitted in the medical, commercial, and military fields, which may include some sensitive information which should not be accessed by or can only be partially exposed to the general users. Therefore, security and privacy has become an important issue. Many researchers have proposed various methodologies to maintain security and privacy before digital video transmission. Hence the digital videos are encrypted by using various encryption methods. For the purpose of content notation and/or tampering detection, it is necessary to perform data hiding in these encrypted videos. For data hiding there is a need of better data hiding algorithm that will work on encrypted media. This paper focuses on the interoperability of video encryption & data hiding method with existing processes for the video streams. In this survey we present an overview and classification of the various encryption and data hiding methods for video streams.


Dynamical chiral symmetry breaking is a nonperturbative phenomenon that may be studied using QCD's gap equation. Model-independent results can be obtained with a nonperturbative and symmetry preserving truncation. The gap equation yields the massive dressed-quark propagator, which has a spectral representation when considered as a function of the current-quark mass. This enables an explication of the connection between the infrared limit of the QCD Dirac operator's spectrum and the quark condensate appearing in the operator product expansion.


This paper addresses the problem of sharing person-specific genomic sequences without violating the privacy of their data subjects to support large-scale biomedical research projects. The proposed method builds on the framework proposed by Kantarcioglu et al. [1] but extends the results in a number of ways. One improvement is that our scheme is deterministic, with zero probability of a wrong answer (as opposed to a low probability). We also provide a new operating point in the space-time tradeoff, by offering a scheme that is twice as fast as theirs but uses twice the storage space. This point is motivated by the fact that storage is cheaper than computation in current cloud computing pricing plans. Moreover, our encoding of the data makes it possible for us to handle a richer set of queries than exact matching between the query and each sequence of the database, including: (i) counting the number of matches between the query symbols and a sequence; (ii) logical OR matches where a query symbol is allowed to match a subset of the alphabet thereby making it possible to handle (as a special case) a "not equal to" requirement for a query symbol (e.g., "not a G"); (iii) support for the extended alphabet of nucleotide base codes that encompasses ambiguities in DNA sequences (this happens on the DNA sequence side instead of the query side); (iv) queries that specify the number of occurrences of each kind of symbol in the specified sequence positions (e.g., two 'A' and four 'C' and one 'G' and three 'T', occurring in any order in the query-specified sequence positions); (v) a threshold query whose answer is 'yes' if the number of matches exceeds a query-specified threshold (e.g., "7 or more matches out of the 15 query-specified positions"). (vi) For all query types, we can hide the answers from the decrypting server, so that only the client learns the answer. (vii) In all cases, the client deterministically learns only the query's answer, except for query type (v) where we quantify the (very small) statistical leakage to the client of the actual count.


: It has been shown in rat experiments that polypeptides from the prostate exert no essential influence on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis but increase antiaggregation activity of the vessel wall.


The environmental problems caused by human interventions, such as the consumption of non-renewable resources and the emission of greenhouse gases are well-recognised. Calls have been made for immediate measures to develop more sustainable society worldwide. Attention has also been devoted to the quest for sustainability within the field of chemistry. The concept of "green chemistry" is being introduced into the production of chemicals in order to reduce the impact on the environment through replacing petroleum-based resources with renewable feedstock and by making chemical processes more efficient.
Surfactants constitute one of the most abundant groups of chemicals used in everyday life. Most the products on the market contain some kind of surfactant, which acts as an emulsifier, a texture enhancer, detergent, softener or stabiliser. In this research the focus was on developing a route for the synthesis of alkyl glycosides with oligomeric head groups that can be used as excipient in pharmaceuticals or as emulsifiers in cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Alkyl glycosides are bio-based nonionic surfactants that have been shown to be completely biodegradable and to have low toxicity. Today, these types of alkyl glycosides are produced on a small scale using traditional organic chemistry using a protection/deprotection strategy, sometimes involving activated substrates. This leads to the considerable amounts of toxic waste such as catalysts, hazardous solvents and chemicals. Enzymes, on the other hand, are well adapted to perform these stereospecific reactions. In this work two different model reactions have been studied: (I) the synthesis of alkyl glycosides by alcoholysis catalysed by different glycoside hydrolases, and (II) the synthesis of alkyl glycosides with oligomeric head groups catalysed by CGTase.
In the first part of this work, the aim of the synthesis of alkyl glycosides using the alcoholysis strategy was to find alternative enzymes and means of adding one or several glucose units to an alcohol, to produce suitable material for the extension of the sugar part by CGTase. In the first study, an α-amylase from Aspergillus oryzae was used to catalyse the transglycosylation of different alcohols (nucleophile/acceptor) using starch as the glycosyl donor. It was found that in the degradation of starch, the alcohols were able to compete with water as the nucleophile, producing a variety of alkyl glycosides. Methanol was found to be the best acceptor among the alcohols, generating 3.6 mM of methyl glycosides (methyl maltoside and methyl maltotrioside) in the presence of 45 g/l soluble starch and 30 % (v/v) methanol. With larger alcohols, such as ethanol, propanol and butanol, alkyl maltosides and alkyl maltotetraoside were formed, and the maltoside, maltotrioside and maltopentaoside of benzyl alcohol were also detected. No products were seen when using hexanol or octanol.
In the next study, a novel thermostable β-glucosidase from Thermotoga neapolitana, belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 3 (TnBgl3B), was investigated, which showed promising performance in the synthesis of alkyl glycosides. TnBgl3B was able to efficiently catalyse the transglycosylation between p-nitrophenyl-β-glucopyranoside (pNPG) (the donor) and hexanol and octanol, producing hexyl glucoside and octyl glucoside, respectively. Interestingly, the enzyme was found to have an apparent optimum for hydrolysis at 90 °C, while a more favourable alcoholysis/hydrolysis ratio was observed at 60 °C. The selectivity towards alcoholysis was shown to be influenced by the water content and pH, giving optimal reaction conditions at 16 % (v/v) water, and a pH of 5.8 at a temperature of 60 °C in the synthesis of hexyl glucoside. Under these conditions, a total initial rate of 153 µmol min-1mg-1, a yield of 80.3 % and an alcoholysis/hydrolysis ratio of 5.1 were obtained at full conversion of pNPG after 180 minutes' reaction. When octanol was used, the initial reaction rate was 5 times slower, and the alcoholysis/hydrolysis ratio by 6.3 times. This is probably the result of the 17 times lower solubility of octanol in water compared with hexanol.
In the second part of this work the synthesis of alkyl glycosides with oligomeric head groups, catalysed by CGTase, was investigated using primarily the model coupling reaction between alpha-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and dodecyl-β-(1,4)-maltoside (DDM) to produce dodecyl-β-(1,4)-maltooctaoside (DDMO). Due to the novelty of the enzymatic route, it was necessary to investigate the effects of substrate specificity, enzyme origin and reaction parameters. It was found that CGTase was highly dependent on the presence of an efficient donor such as α-CD. However, the acceptor specificity was somewhat promiscuous, accepting alkyl chains at least up to C16. The enzymes prefer alkyl maltoside, but are willing to accept alkyl glycosides with at least one glucose unit, although the reaction rate is reduced. Since the reaction is under kinetic control, the choice of enzyme is important to maximise the yield of the pure coupling product (DDMO) since it is dependent on the enzyme selectivity. When catalysing the model reaction, the CGTase from Bacillus macerans (BmCGTase) favoured the coupling reaction whereas the Thermoanaerobacter CGTase (TsCGTase) catalysed predominantly disproportionation. Moreover, a high donor-to-acceptor ratio favoured the product yield, and yields up to 80 % were obtained.
To further prove the applicability of CGTase in synthesising alkyl glycosides, the acceptor specificity of BmCGTase was further investigated using a technical grade alkyl polyglycoside (APG), which mainly contained glucosides of C12 and C14 of both binding isomers (α- and β-1,4). The main products were confirmed to be those of alkyl glucopyranosides extended by either 6 or 12 glucose residues, being the primary and secondary coupling products, respectively. Thus APG can be used as an acceptor in the CGTase-catalysed extension of alkyl glycosides, making this enzymatic route more economically feasible.
It was further demonstrated that when using immobilised BmCGTase in a packed-bed reactor, the product distribution could easily be controlled simply by altering the flow rate over the reactor. However, due to the propensity of the reaction mixture to precipitate, a high temperature (≥55 °C) had to be applied. Consequently, due to the poor enzyme stability (half-life 132 min at 60 °C and 18 min at 70 °C), the potential of immobilisation could not fully be utilised.
The work presented in this thesis gives an idea of the inherent advantages of the enzymatic synthesis of specialty chemicals. The route developed is superior to previously described organic chemical methods, in that it allows the single-step addition of six glucose residues without the use of toxic catalysts or organic solvents.


Virtual bronchoscopy is emerging as a means for assessing high-resolution 3D CT images of the chest. The central axes, or paths, of the airways can provide virtual-bronchoscopic systems with a logical reference frame for quantitation and navigation. Unfortunately, the manual and automatic methods proposed to date for determining these axes are either time- consuming, error prone, or provide imprecise results. We give a preliminary presentation of an adaptive automated approach for finding smooth central axes through the major airways. Using this method, we are able to extract multiple axes through a 3D image in only a few minutes for a typical 512 by 512 by 25 CT image. The method works on anisotropically sampled gray-scale images and requires no prior segmentation. We describe the method and present initial validation results for phantom, animal, and human images. Visual results are also provided using a virtual bronchoscopic system.


Arytenoid cartilage dislocation is not a common complication, but its delayed diagnosis reduces the therapeutic effect of treatment. A male patient underwent reversed total shoulder replacement surgery in the beach chair position under general anesthesia. The patient experienced postoperative hoarseness, and it was revealed that he had right arytenoid dislocation. Voice restoration was accomplished with closed reduction. We discussed changes in patient position during the operation and how they may contribute to the arytenoid dislocation. Flexion and a slight rotation of the neck during the operation can lead to an increase in intracuff pressure of the endotracheal tube. It is necessary to check neck position and monitor intracuff pressure in patients undergoing operations in the beach chair position. Also, the anesthesiologist should suspect arytenoid dislocation in the case of persistent hoarseness after surgery in the beach chair position.


We track the lineage of tuples throughout their database lifetime. That is, we consider a scenario in which tuples (records) that are produced by a query may affect other tuple insertions into the DB, as part of a normal workflow. As time goes on, exact provenance explanations for such tuples become deeply nested, increasingly consuming space, and resulting in decreased clarity and readability. We present a novel approach for approximating lineage tracking, using a Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technique; namely, word embedding. The basic idea is summarizing (and approximating) the lineage of each tuple via a small set of constant-size vectors (the number of vectors per-tuple is a hyperparameter). Therefore, our solution does not suffer from space complexity blow-up over time, and it"naturally ranks"explanations to the existence of a tuple. We devise an alternative and improved lineage tracking mechanism, that of keeping track of and querying lineage at the column level; thereby, we manage to better distinguish between the provenance features and the textual characteristics of a tuple. We integrate our lineage computations into the PostgreSQL system via an extension (ProvSQL) and extensive experiments exhibit useful results in terms of accuracy against exact, semiring-based, justifications, especially for the column-based (CV) method which exhibits high precision and high per-level recall. In the experiments, we focus on tuples with \textit{multiple generations} of tuples in their lifelong lineage and analyze them in terms of direct and distant lineage.


Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach for the treatment of superficially localized tumors. This review starts with a summary of the basic principles of PDT, in which the current practice, the photochemical mechanisms, cellular and subcellular targets, as well as the most prominent photosensitizers are discussed. Next, the clinical results obtained with PDT for the treatment of a variety of tumor types are outlined. Unfortunately, most of these studies revealed a lack of tumor selectivity of the photosensitizers, which resulted in prolonged skin photosensitivity and severe normal tissue toxicity. The last section of this review, therefore, focuses on novel strategies designed to improve the tumor selectivity of photosensitizers.


A model describing the sieving and transmembrane pressure behavior of plasma filtration is developed and numerically simulated. The model assumes a mechanistic criteria for particle passage through a membrane with cylindrical pores. The initial pore diameter distribution and porosity are assumed to be known. Model inputs include the particle diameter distribution, concentration and total flow rate of the permeate plasma solution. Outputs of the model include transmembrane pressure, the time-averaged sieving coefficients, and size distributions of the deposited particles and accumulated filtrate particles. Optimal filtration is characterized by high, stable sieving coefficients for desired particles, high retention of larger particles and relatively small increases in transmembrane pressure. These characteristics are realized for membranes with mean pore diameters equal to or slightly larger than mean permeate particle diameters. Simulations demonstrate that the incorporation of membrane properties into models of plasma filtration is both significant and readily possible. © 1998 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


Bacterial strains (CrT-11, CrT-12, Bravibacterium sp. CrT-13, CrT-14) were isolated from the effluents of tanneries. All strains could resist very high concentration of K 2 CrO 4 that is up to 40 mg ml -1 on nutrient agar and 25 mg ml -1 in nutrient broth. They have wide pH (5 to 9) and temperature (24 to 42˚C) growth range. They exhibited multiple metals (Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co, Pb) and antibiotics (streptomycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, kanamycin, chloramphenicol) resistances. All the strains were able to reduce Cr (VI) in to Cr (III) aerobically. Bravibacterium sp. CrT-13 accumulates and reduce more Cr (VI) at all the concentrations applied in comparison to the other strains. These bacterial strains also take up and reduce Cr (VI) present in industrial effluents, and their reduction potential was not significantly affected in the presence of different metallic salts. Key Words: Cr (VI) reduction, bacteria, industrial effluent, heavy metals. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(11) 2004: 610-617


[Objective] The aim of this study was to analyze the sequence characteristics and molecular evolution of ubiquitins encoded by baculoviruses.[Methods]Clustal W software was used for multiple sequence alignment analysis,and neighbor-joining method(NJ)and maximum parsimony method(MP)were used for the construction of phylogenetic tree.[Results]The baculoviral ubiquitins showed 73%-86% sequence identity to eukaryotic ubiquitin.Two heterogeneous regions of baculoviral ubiquitins were observed:one was the residues from 15-32,the other was located from residues 53 to 60.The else parts were conserved,where many functional amino acids were also observed.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that baculoviral ubiquitins could be divided into three sub-families,including sub-family GV,sub-family I and sub-family II.The molecular evolution of baculoviral ubiquitins might be under negative selection to maintain their functional and structural stability.[Conclusion]The analysis had provided reference for the researches on functional characterization of baculoviral ubiquitins.


The selectin family, which mediates adhesion of activated leukocytes to the vascular endothelium, plays an important role in inflammation. Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (SLAM-1) is expressed on activated vascular endothelium and mediates the special leukocyte rolling phenomenon seen when leukocytes adhere to vascular endothelium. We investigated changes in skin flap survival / necrosis due to treatment with the monoclonal antibody (Mab) to ELAM-1. Twenty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats (225-250 g) were used in the experiment. A 45 •~ 30 mm pedicled skin flap with superficial epigastric vessels was designed in the right inguinal region and prepared. Animals in the treated group received anti-ELAM-1 Mab intravenously 15 minutes prior to reperfusion ; those in the control group received normal saline. By tracing the outline of viable and nonviable areas skin flap viability was assessed. Data were collected for the subsequent 7 days. These data corroborated with histological evidence on comparable areas of the flap. Tracing analysis revealed an average flap survival area of 91.7% in the treated group and 18.3% in the control group (P < 0.005). Histopathologically, few inflammatory changes were observed in the treated group, while marked damage was observed in the control group. We conclude that treating skin flaps with anti-ELAM-1 was effective in reducing ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury after 9 hours of warm ischemia.


We consider pricing and selection with fading channels in a Stackelberg game framework. A channel server decides the channel prices and a client chooses which channel to use based on the remote estimation quality. We prove the existence of an optimal deterministic and Markovian policy for the client, and show that the optimal policies of both the server and the client have threshold structures when the time horizon is finite. Value iteration algorithm is applied to obtain the optimal solutions for both the server and client, and numerical simulations and examples are given to demonstrate the developed result.


Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) offer great machine learning performance over a range of applications, but their operation is hard to interpret, even for experts. Various explanation algorithms have been proposed to address this issue, yet limited research effort has been reported concerning their user evaluation. In this paper, we report on an online between-group user study designed to evaluate the performance of "saliency maps" - a popular explanation algorithm for image classification applications of CNNs. Our results indicate that saliency maps produced by the LRP algorithm helped participants to learn about some specific image features the system is sensitive to. However, the maps seem to provide very limited help for participants to anticipate the network's output for new images. Drawing on our findings, we highlight implications for design and further research on explainable AL In particular, we argue the HCI and AI communities should look beyond instance-level explanations.


This paper examines the contemporary problem of serial and multiple homicide. To test whether rates for serial homicide and multiple homicide have increased significantly in the 1980's as compared to the 1950's, a newspaper index search was conducted for these two decades. The data indicate that the numbers of both types of homicide were considerably higher for the 1980's, even when adjusted for population size. However, the serial and multiple homicide rates have increased only as much as have overall homicide rates. There is no indication in the data of a specific swing toward serial and multiple murder, which appear today as a part of general increasing lawlessness. The observed general pattern of case material suggests that serial and multiple homicide show generally opposite characteristics.


The placenta and umbilical cord play important roles in the development of the growing fetus. The placenta can be clearly identified by the 14th gestational week and should be evaluated during each obstetric ultrasound examination. This article reviews the formation of the placenta and its expected sonographic appearance throughout gestation along with its normal variants. Expected findings in a singleton pregnancy are primarily addressed. The next portion of the article covers placental abnormalities of clinical consequence, including anomalies of appearance, location, and function. The umbilical cord is also discussed, focusing on the relevance of the location of the umbilical cord's insertion into the placenta.


Through researching textually the name, alias, life story, family tree, and medical thought, medical activities and unearthed culture relics etc. of an imperial doctor, Gu Dingfang, his remarkable contribution to the reservation of ancient classic medical editions and the reality of a new creative theory on psychological therapy put forward by him are shown. His outstanding achievements not only complement the blank of medical history of the Ming dynasty, but also occupy a position in the world's medical history.


It has been determined that there is no study on the use of maps in the social studies curriculum (2018) and textbooks. Thus, this study prioritizes the analysis of students' acquired facility and skills related to the field of maps in the 2018 social studies curriculum. The secondary analysis involves interpreting the usage of maps in social studies textbooks of Grades 5, 6, and 7 from a cartographic perspective. The focus here is on spatial perception skills, map literacy skills, and location analysis skills that are defined suitable of the map and that lead to the definition of text–map correlations. A qualitative research method was used, and the findings were obtained through document analysis. Data were evaluated through descriptive analysis, and a purposeful sample was used. The study investigated the social studies curriculum (2018); the Grade 5 social studies textbook (Anadolu Yayıncılık 2018); and the Grade 6 and Grade 7 social studies textbooks published by the Ministry of National Education. It was found that there were four gains related to map at Grades 5, 6, and 7. As a result some maps are inadequate which the legend of the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula maps to be inaccurate in the Grade 6 textbook. Another situation is that a migration map of Turkey in 2017 is convenient for map reading. It is suggested social textbook maps that have references are essential.


One of the key issues for conveying the modern normative structure of jus ad bellum, i.e. the international law norms governing the use of force, is the mutual relations of the treaty regulation under the United Nations Charter (the UN Charter) regime and the relevant customary law. Contrary to as it may seem prima facie, this relationship remains highly ambiguous. Obviously, it is strictly and inextricably linked with all the dilemmas and challenges of jus ad bellum regulation under the UN Charter regime in all its ambiguity. Thus, addressing the character of this relationship firstly demands referring to the mentioned dilemmas and challenges. Keywords: jus ad bellum, UN Charter, customary international law


In this paper, the utility grid is integrated with hybrid photovoltaic (PV)/wind/fuel cells to overcome the unavailability of the grid and the single implementation of renewable energy. The main purpose of this study is smart management of hydrogen storage tanks and power exchange between the hybrid renewable energy and the grid to minimize the total cost of the hybrid system and load uncertainties. PV and wind act as the main renewable energy sources, whereas fuel cells act as auxiliary sources designed to compensate for power variations and to ensure continuous power flow to the load. The grid is considered a backup system that works when hybrid renewable energy and fuel cells are unavailable. In this study, the optimal size of the components of the hybrid energy system is introduced using two methods: the marine predators' algorithm (MPA) and the seagull optimization algorithm (SOA). The optimal sizing problem is also run accounting for the uncertainty in load demand. The results obtained from the proposed optimization are given with and without uncertainty in load demand. The simulation results of the hybrid system without uncertainty demonstrate the superiority of the MPA compared with SOA. However, in the case of load uncertainty, the simulation results (the uncertainty) are given using the MPA optimization technique with +5%, +10%, and +15% uncertainty in load, which showed that the net present cost and purchase energy are increased with uncertainty.


Here we report for the first time, a novel method of low temperature vapor phase hydrolysis for the production of nano-structured silica particles. Silica nanoparticles were obtained by the hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride vapor with water vapor at a low temperature range (150–250 °C). The effects of reaction temperature and residence time on the specific surface area and size distribution were determined to obtain optimal synthesis conditions. Silica nanoparticles with a specific surface area of 418 m2 g−1 and an average size of 141.7 nm were obtained at a temperature of 150 °C and with a residence time of 5 s. The particle morphology, phase composition, chemical composition, thermal analysis, and chemical functional groups present were determined by TEM, XRD, XRF, TGA, and IR methods, respectively. Results indicated that silica synthesized by low temperature vapor phase hydrolysis method is an amorphous mesoporous material, with an approximately spherical shape, a mass friction demission of 2.29, and a high hydroxyl density of 13.03 nm−2. This method provides a simple and environmentally benign way for the mass production of silica nanoparticles, as well as a quick method for the preparation of functional silica materials.


1. The effects of animal companions on people can be of therapeutic benefit. Using pet facilitated therapy with the chronically mentally ill as a treatment modality offers great potential for positive patient care outcomes. 2. Initiating a pet facilitated therapy program involves establishing policy and procedures regarding animals at the facility. The personality and animal experiences of the patient must be taken into consideration for pet selection. 3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the pet facilitated therapy program. Assess your patient care outcomes to design further interventions.


A detailed experimental investigation was conducted into the interaction of a convected wake and a separation bubble on the rear suction surface of a highly loaded low-pressure (LP) turbine blade. Boundary layer measurements, made with 2D LDA, revealed a new transition mechanism resulting from this interaction. Prior to the arrival of the wake, the boundary layer profiles in the separation region are inflexional. The perturbation of the separated shear layer caused by the convecting wake causes an inviscid Kelvin-Helmholtz rollup of the shear layer. This results in the breakdown of the laminar shear layer and a rapid wake-induced transition in the separated shear layer.


Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requires multiple drug regimens, because of its chronic, progressive disease nature. Drug adherence is defined as patients take medications as prescribed. Previous studies have reported that adherence of RA patients was about 30% to 80%. However, factors affecting nonadherence has not been well documented. Objectives The current study aimed to assess adherence in RA patients and to identify risk factors for nonadherence. Methods Rheumatoid arthritis patients over the age 18 who satisfied the 1987 ACR criteria were included from the KORean Observational study Network for Arthritis (KORONA). We selected 3,523 patients who answered the self-report questionnaire at enrollment. We classified patients into two groups. Patients who failed to take their medications for more than 5 days in total over the preceding 60 days were included in the nonadherence group and their reasons for nonadherence was investigated. T-test and Chi-square were used to compare two groups and logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. Results The adherence rate was 90.4% (3,184 out of 3,523 patients). The reasons for nonadherence were: forgetfulness (36.9%), feeling asymptomatic (23.3%), side effects (12.4%), and taking alternative treatment (10.3%). Nonadherence patients were younger (50.9 years vs. 54.6 years, p≤0.01), reported side effects (44.2% vs. 33.3%, p≤0.01) and had lower Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score (0.57 vs. 0.68, p<0.01). Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for nonadherence (n=3,094). It showed that young age (OR =1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03), having experience of side effects (OR=1.82, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.34) and lower HAQ score (OR=1.48, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.90) were associated with nonadherence. We did subgroup analysis to identify risk factors for nonadherence due to forgetfulness, young age (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.06), having experience of side effects (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.60) and low HAQ score (OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.89) were found to be also associated with forgetfulness. Conclusions In this study, relatively low proportion of 9.6% of the RA patients showed nonadherence. The major reason of nonadherence was forgetfulness. Young age, experience of drug side effects, and low HAQ score were commonly associated with nonadherence and forgetfulness. To improve adherence for RA treatment, further studies for impact of adherence and patient-physician communication on improving outcomes of RA should be conducted. Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI10C2020). Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3965


Purpose: Despite the high prevalence of gastric cancer (GC), drug resistance is a major problem for effective chemotherapy. B7-H7 is a novel member of the B7 superfamily and is expressed in most common cancers. However, the role of B7-H7 on the aggressiveness of GC and chemosensitivity has remained unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the effect of B7-H7 suppression using small interference RNA (siRNA) in combination with docetaxel on GC cells. Methods: MTT test was applied to determine the IC50 of docetaxel and the combined effect of B7-H7 siRNA and docetaxel on the viability of the MKN-45 cells. To determine B7-H7, BCL-2, BAX, and caspase-3-8-9 genes expression, qRT-PCR was performed. Furthermore, flow cytometry was applied to evaluate apoptosis and the cell cycle status. Finally, to evaluate the effect of this combination therapy on migratory capacity and colony-forming ability, wound healing assay and colony formation test were employed, respectively. Results: B7-H7 suppression increased the chemo-sensitivity of MKN-45 cells to docetaxel. The expression of B7-H7 mRNA was reduced after using B7-H7 siRNA and docetaxel in MKN-45 GC cells. Also, B7-H7 suppression alongside docetaxel reduced cell migration and colony formation rate, arrested the cell cycle at the G2-M phase, and induced apoptosis by modulating the expression of apoptotic target genes. Conclusion: B7-H7 plays a significant role in the chemo-sensitivity and pathogenesis of GC. Therefore, B7-H7 suppression, in combination with docetaxel, may be a promising therapeutic approach in treating GC.


In this article, we discuss findings from the National Assessment of Social Innovation Fund (SIF), an evidence-based national grant program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The goal of SIF was "finding what works, and making it work for more people." To achieve this goal, SIF required, as a condition of funding, that organizations demonstrate a track record of using evaluation to make programmatic decisions and commit to carrying out a rigorous evaluation that further strengthened the evidence base for the funded programs. A key SIF goal was to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations to conduct and use evidence from evaluations. In this study, we examine the effect of the SIF on the capacity and practices of its grantees, specifically the grantmaking intermediaries funded by CNCS to implement its grant program. The study findings provide evidence that sustained, intentional, and targeted efforts to improve organizational capacity, combined with accountability, can transform the supported organizations in lasting ways and strengthen their policies and practices. We also discuss practice implications for organizational capacity development and measurement for the nonprofit sector. Subscribe to JNEL


Recruitment of circulating cells towards target sites is primarily dependent on E-selectin receptor/ligand adhesive interactions. Glycosyltransferase (GTs) are involved in the creation of E-selectin ligands. A sialofucosylated terminal tetrasaccharide like glycan structure known as sialyl Lewis x (sLe x ), is the most recognized ligand by selectins. This structure is found on the surface of cancer cells and leukocytes but is often absent on the surface of many adult stem cell populations. In order to synthesize sLe x , GTs must be endogenously expressed and remain active within the cells. Generally, these stem cells express terminal sialylated lactosamine structures on their glycoproteins which require the addition of alpha-(1,3)-fucose to be converted into an E-selectin ligand. There are a number of fucosyltransferases (FUTs) that are able to modify terminal lactosamine structures to create sLe x such as FUT6. In this work we focused on expressing and purifying active recombinant FUTs as a tool to help create sLe x structures on the surface of adult stem cells in order to enhance their migration.


Consider a set of agents (receivers) whose payoffs depend on an underlying state of the world as well as each other's actions. Suppose that a designer (sender) commits to a signaling mechanism which reveals payoff-relevant signals to agents when the state is realized. The availability of such signals influences the agents' actions, and by choosing the signaling mechanism appropriately the designer can induce a desired outcome. Information design studies signaling mechanisms that maximize the pay- off of the designer. In this paper, we first present the classical information design framework and discuss different approaches for characterizing the optimal information structures. We then discuss various applications in the recent operations literature. The applications include signaling (i) content/product quality in networked systems, (ii) product availability in revenue management settings, and (iii) seller quality in two- sided markets. Finally, we present recent work that discusses the design of optimal information structures when some of the key assumptions in the classical information design problems (which may not hold in operational settings of interest) are relaxed.


Speech intelligibility is an essential though complex construct in speech pathology. It is affected by multiple contextual variables and it is often measured in different ways. In this paper, we evaluate various measures of speech intelligibility based on orthographic transcriptions, with respect to their reliability and validity. For this study, different speech tasks were analyzed together with their respective perceptual ratings assigned by five experienced speech-language pathologists: a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and two types of orthographic transcriptions, one in terms of existing words and the other in terms of perceived segments, including nonsense words. Six subword measures concerning graphemes and phonemes were derived automatically from these transcriptions. All measures exhibit high degrees of reliability. Correlations between the six subword measures and three independent measures, VAS, word accuracy, and severity level, reveal that the measures extracted automatically from the orthographic transcriptions are valid predictors of speech intelligibility. The results also indicate differences between the speech tasks, suggesting that a comprehensive assessment of speech intelligibility requires materials from different speech tasks in combination with measures at different granularity levels: utterance, word, and subword. We discuss these results in relation to those of previous research and suggest possible avenues for future research.


Acknowledgments Introduction: The Intersection of Culture, Gender, and Technology by Patrick D. Hopkins Part 1: Inventing Histories: Gender and Technological Development 1. Women Hold Up Two-Thirds of the Sky: Notes for a Revised History of Technology Autumn Stanley 2. The "Industrial Revolution" in the Home: Household Technology and Social Change in the 20th Century Ruth Schwartz Cowan 3. The Culture of the Telephone Mich le Martin 4. Femininity and the Electric Car Virginia Scharff 5. Does Technology Work for Women Too? Lilia Oblepias-Ramos Part 2: (Mis?)Conceptions: Morality and Gender Politics in Reproductive Technology 6. Bioethics and Fatherhood Daniel Callahan 7. Artificial Insemination: Who's Responsible? Ronald Munson 8. Sex Preselection: Eugenics for Everyone? Helen B. Holmes 9. The Ethics of Sex Preselection Mary Anne Warren 10. Surrogate Motherhood: The Challenge for Feminists Lori B. Andrews Part 3: (Re)Locating Fetuses: Technology and New Body Politics 11. Male Pregnancy Dick Teresi and Kathleen McAuliffe 12. Is Pregnancy Necessary? Feminist Concerns About Ectogenesis Julien S. Murphy 13. New Reproductive Technology: Some Implications for the Abortion Issue Christine Overall 14. Opinion in the Matter of Davis v. Davis Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee Part 4: Body Building: The (Re)Construction of Sex and Sexuality 15. The Medical Construction of Gender: Case Management of Intersexed Infants Suzanne J. Kessler 16. Women and the Knife: Cosmetic Surgery and the Colonization of Women's Bodies Kathryn Pauly Morgan 17. Facing the Dilemma Kathy David 18. Sappho by Surgery Janice G. Raymond 19. The Empire Strikes Back: A Posttranssexual Manifesto Sandy Stone 20. Reproductive Controls and Sexual Destiny Timothy F. Murphy Part 5: (Virtual?) Gender: From Computer Culture to Cyberspace 21. Computational Reticence: Why Women Fear the Intimate Machine Sherry Turkle 22. Excluding Women from the Technologies of the Future?: A Case Study of the Culture of Computer Science Bente Rasmussen and Tove Hipnes 23. Tinysex and Gender Trouble Sherry Turkle 24. In Novel Conditions: The Cross-Dressing Psychiatrist Allucquere Roseanne Stone Part 6: Our Machines/Our Selves: Gender and Cyborg Subjects 25. A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century Donna J. Haraway 26. Automating Gender: Postmodern Feminism in the Age of the Intelligent Machine Judith Halberstam 27. The Pleasure of the Interface Claudia Springer Contributors Index


Background This study is concurrent to a RCT of effectiveness for RA patients attending nurse-led Rheumatology clinics (NLC). Whilst the RCT compared patient outcomes (Ndosi et al. 2013), this abstract reports differences in perceptions of NLC and consultant-led clinics. Objectives The purpose of the analysis was to compare and contrast practitioner and patient perceptions of the consultation. Methods 31 semi-structured interviews were undertaken: 8 clinical nurse specialist (CNS); 8 consultant rheumatologists (CR) and their patients (8 and 7 respectively) at 9 rheumatology outpatient departments (UK). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed in verbatim and analysed (KV). Thematic analysis followed the recommendations of Braun & Clarke (2006). Patient and practitioner interviews were analysed separately and then compared and contrasted. This abstract reports on the comparisons made between patient and practitioner interviews where communality between themes was identified. Results Practitioner themes; "setup of clinics"; "running to time" and patient themes; "centre/structure factors"; "personal characteristics of practitioner" were compared. Both CNS and CR describe differences in clinics at an institutional level with CNS having more influence over "setup" such as booking patients' appointments themselves. Patients highly value this continuity in appointments showing that the "setup" described by practitioners impacts upon patients' perceptions. Patients describe the importance of "someone keeping an eye on things" which they attribute more to the CNS. The practitioner interviews offer insight that this is often due to "setup of clinics" but is perceived by patients as relating to the "personal characteristics of the practitioner". All participants acknowledge contextual factors as important to the quality of care given i.e. "running to time". However, patients' attribute this to "personal characteristics of practitioners" irrespective of role (CNS or CR) as demonstrating that they have "time for you". Thus whilst they appear to identify similar quality standards, in fact what is described is not the same as that described by practitioners, but of feeling valued and important within the consultation. Conclusions Seeing the same practitioner and familiarity with patients' personal circumstances are viewed highly by patients in establishing rapport and providing emotional support. What the practitioner interviews add is that many of the factors are dictated in "setup of clinics" and differs according to CNS or CR which consequently impacts upon the patients evaluation of practitioners. The findings relating to 'running to time' are consistent with those of Donovan & Blake (2000) that "it was the perception of having symptoms and problems acknowledged that seemed to matter, not time itself". References Ndosi, Mwidimi, et al. The outcome and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led care in people with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2013). Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology 3.2 (2006): 77-101. Donovan, Jenny L., and David R. Blake. Qualitative study of interpretation of reassurance among patients attending rheumatology clinics: "just a touch of arthritis, doctor?". BMJ 320.7234 (2000): 541-544. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4347


We present a user-friendly vision-augmented technique to carry out atomic simulation using hand gestures. The system is novel in its concept as it enables the user to directly manipulate the atomic structures on the screen, in 3D space using hand gestures, allowing the exploration and visualisation of molecular interactions at different relative conformations. The hand gestures are used to pick and place atoms on the screen allowing thereby the ease of carrying out molecular dynamics simulation in a more efficient way. The end result is that users with limited expertise in developing molecular structures can now do so easily and intuitively by the use of body gestures to interact with the simulator to study the system in question. The proposed system was tested by simulating the crystal anisotropy of crystalline silicon during nanoindentation. A long-range (Screened bond order) Tersoff potential energy function was used during the simulation which revealed the value of hardness and elastic modulus being similar to what has been found previously from the experiments. We anticipate that our proposed system will open up new horizons to the current methods on how an MD simulation is designed and executed.


Moments of restriction or impasse – situations that are seemingly intransigent, offering no alternatives or poor alternatives, predicaments leading to less than satisfactory resolutions or unhappy compromises – abound in the practice of educational research. This paper speculates on the possibilities offered by thinking with 'Trickster' – a shadowy, unconventional figure of myth and folklore – in such moments of impasse, and asks if this source of inspiration may allow for flashes of illumination and thus, room for newness to enter the world. Drawing on some 'difficult' moments from two rather different research projects, the paper reflects on what thinking with Trickster might have to offer to the praxis of educational research, especially in terms of methodology and ethics.


Abstract : This report documents the modification of a legacy human steering model with the addition of a new three-dimensional driving sensor model. The three-dimensional sensor model was developed to replace the two-dimensional sensor model in the original code. The report also covers the integration of the resulting modified human steering model with a vehicle dynamics model developed in commercial off-the-shelf(COTS) simulation software. The COTS software is called the Dynamic Analysis and Design System (DADS). In this study, the legacy model was adapted to interface with the current version of DADS. The modified human steering model was interfaced with a model of the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) in DADS. Experimental data exist for driving tests that use the HMMWV. These data were used to validate the integrated human steering model.


The effects of ambient pH on postmoult net fluxes of Ca, acidic/basic equivalents (H+, NH4+/OH-, HCO3-), Na and Cl-, total body Ca, haemolymph pH and electrolyte status were assessed in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard). Variables were monitored for 5 days postmoult in acidic (pH 5.2; H2SO4) or alkaline (pH 9.2; KOH) artificial tap water (ATW) and compared with those in control (pH 7.4) tap water. In control ATW there was an initial net influx of Ca (+2700 micromole kg-1 h-1) and titratable basic equivalents (+5000 micromole kg-1 h-1) that declined with time. Calcium uptake accounted for 40 % of total body Ca (0.49 mmol g-1); haemolymph Ca concentration remained constant. Haemolymph pH was initially relatively alkalotic (7.7) but recovered within 24 h. A 20 % haemolymph dilution by water uptake at ecdysis necessitated uptake of Cl- and Na for the first 2–3 days postmoult (+1000 micromole kg-1 h-1). In acidic ATW, Ca and basic equivalent uptake were both 60 % reduced during the first 3–4 days and total body Ca was reduced by 37 %. Chloride and Na uptake and haemolymph [Cl-] were decreased. In alkaline ATW, Ca and basic equivalent uptake were elevated by 30 % for the first 2 days and haemolymph alkalosis was maintained. Sodium and Cl- balance were unaffected. Thus, ambient pH affects Ca and basic equivalent fluxes associated with postmoult calcification. Regulation of Na and Cl- levels is also impaired in acidic ATW.


Free legal assistance is critically under-resourced, and many of those who seek legal help have their needs unmet. A major bottleneck in the provision of free legal assistance to those most in need is the determination of the precise nature of the legal problem. This paper describes a collaboration with a major provider of free legal assistance, and the deployment of natural language processing models to assign area-of-law categories to real-world requests for legal assistance. In particular, we focus on an investigation of models to generate efficiencies in the triage process, but also the risks associated with naive use of model predictions, including fairness across different user demographics.


Optical
trapping of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) at a glass/solution
interface initially generates a periodically aligned structure of
a few NPs along the direction perpendicular to a linearly polarized
laser. When the number of NPs was increased, this alignment was expanded
to the outside of the irradiated focus, forming a single large assembly
where the Au NPs dynamically fluctuated like a swarming of bees. The
morphology was dumbbell-shape, consisting of two swarms at both sides
of the focus, and its size reached about 10 μm. This optically
evolved assembling and swarming was studied in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) solution, where liquid–liquid
phase separation (LLPS) was induced by photothermal heating of the
trapped Au NPs forming a microdroplet of highly concentrated PNIPAM.
Dynamic coupling of the NPs assembling and swarming with the droplet
formation of PNIPAM leads to cooperative optical evolution, through
which the assembly was embedded in the single microdroplet.


Unbalance in the operation of AC/DC converters gives rise to abnormal or uncharacteristic current harmonics, in addition to the characteristic harmonics in the supply current waveforms. This paper concentrates on the analysis of uncharacteristic harmonics caused by unbalanced AC supply voltages. Attention is given to modified converter operation which uses thyristors connected to tapping points on the secondary windings of the transformer. Control of by-pass thyristor for reducing abnormal harmonic generation are discusses, and some experimental results supporting the theoretical calculations are also included.


In this article, we discussed the emerging informatics issues of high-throughput screening (HTS) using automated fluorescence microscopy technology, otherwise known as high-content screening (HCS) in the pharmaceutical industry. Optimal methods of scoring biomarkers and identifying candidate hits have been actively studied in academia and industry, with the exception of data modeling topics. To find candidate hits, we need to score the images associated with different compound interventions. In the application example of RNAi genome-wide screening, we aim to find the candidate effectors or genes which correspond to the images acquired using the three channels. Scoring the effectors is equivalent to scoring the images based on the number of phenotypes existing in those images. Our ultimate objective of studying HTS is to model the relationship between gene networks and cellular phenotypes, investigate cellular communication via protein interaction, and study the disease mechanism beyond the prediction based on the molecular structure of the compound. Finally, computational image analysis has become a powerful tool in cellular and molecular biology studies. Signal processing and modeling for high-throughput image screening is an emerging filed that requires novel algorithms for dynamical system analysis, image processing, and statistical modeling. We hope that this article will motivate the signal processing communities to address challenging data modeling and other informatics issues of HTS


In this paper we present volt-ampere-power characteristics of a plasma needle operating in the flow of helium at the atmospheric pressure. Also, we will present discharge images obtained by using ICCD camera. In addition, we show some examples of how such plasma affects plant tissues. In characterization of the plasma needle, current and voltage waveforms were recorded by two derivative probes. These two probes are similar to the probes previously used in measuring transmitted power in low pressure CCP rf discharge [1]. The instantaneous power was calculated from current and voltage waveforms and U-I characteristics of the discharge were determined. Regimes of operation with and without the grounding ring at the tip of the needle were considered. We have chosen two model systems to study the effect of plasma needle on plant cells and tissues: sweet fern gametophyte (prothallus) and calli produced in vitro.


Adhesion strength and solderability of a copper thick film on alumina substrate were studied. Films were prepared with three kinds of inorganic binders, i.e., glass frits, mixture of glass frits and metal oxides, and metal oxides. The effects of inorganic binders on the adhesion and solderability were examined by analyzing physical and chemical behavior of the inorganic binders in the copper thick film during firing. The films with an addition of glass frit or mixtures of glass frit and metal oxide did not provide good adhesion and solderability simultaneously. However, the copper thick film containing 10 wt.% bismuth oxide had excellent characteristics, i.e. high adhesion strength, good solderability, and low sheet resistivity. >


In this paper, we proposed a model to evaluate confidence and satisfaction of health information web-sites visited by general health consumers. In order to propose the evaluation model, lots of foreign and domestic researches are investigated and analyzed. Based on these analyses, confidence and satisfaction standards for the model are proposed. A process for evaluation and a method for calculation of evaluation value by the standards are proposed, too. The proposed model can be utilized as a tool for analyzing conventional health information web-sites and can be utilized as check lists for developments in case of health information web-sites under construction.


Hatano high-avoidance (HAA) and low-avoidance (LAA) animals were originally selected from Sprague-Dawley rats for good and poor active avoidance learning in a shuttle box. We studied the endocrinological profile in lactating rats to determine the effect of suckling during mid-lactation in HAA and LAA rats. The pups were separated from their mother rats 6 h before the onset of suckling and blood samples were drawn from unanaesthetized mother rats via a jugular cannula at 0, 5 and 15 min after the suckling stimulus and then 15, 45 and 105 min after pups were removed. Plasma concentrations of oxytocin in HAA rats were significantly higher than in LAA rats during the suckling period. Plasma concentrations of prolactin and ACTH in HAA rats were significantly higher than in LAA rats during the suckling period, and at 15 min and 45 min after the pups were removed. However, there were no strain differences in circulating corticosterone between the two lines, indicating that the response of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis to the suckling stimulus was greater in HAA rats than in LAA rats, whereas the ACTH-induced adrenal response of corticosterone release was higher in LAA rats than in HAA rats. Since dopamine from the median eminence inhibits prolactin secretion from the lactotrophs of the anterior pituitary, and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurones are partially regulated by the level of circulating prolactin, we evaluated the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine biosynthesis. TH, measured by the accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, was significantly higher in HAA rats than in LAA rats before the suckling stimulus. After the suckling stimulus, TH activity in HAA rats was significantly lower than before suckling, whereas TH activity in LAA rats was not changed. These findings clearly demonstrated that apparent differences between the two Hatano lines exist in endocrinological profiles during suckling. These strain differences probably originate from neurotransmitter changes, such as dopamine.


The main aims of this qualitative study are to identify and categorise the types of lexical borrowings from the three main Malaysian languages which are the Malay language, Chinese dialects and Indian languages used by 203 ESL teachers, to what extent these lexical borrowings are used and for what reasons. This study has identified a new category known as prefixation and collected 483 lexical items over a period of one year that is, from December 2011 to November 2012. The findings of this study show that the ESL teachers mainly use the lexical items from the Malay language more frequently as it is the official language and has a prestigious placing. Since unity in diversity is encouraged, 1Malaysia English will further unite the Malaysians and thus accept the 1Malaysia concept with a more open and positive mind.


A series of experiments is performed in which a strake-covered rigid cylinder undergoes harmonic purely in-line motion while subject to a uniform "flow" created by towing the test rig along SINTEF Ocean's towing tank. These tests are performed for a range of frequencies and amplitudes of the harmonic motion, to generate added-mass and excitation functions are derived from the in-phase and 90° out-of-phase components of the hydrodynamic force on the pipe, respectively.
 Using these excitation- and added-mass functions in VIVANA together with those from experiments on bare pipe by Aronsen (2007), the in-line VIV response of partially strake-covered pipeline spans is calculated. It is found that as little as 10% strake coverage at the optimal location effectively suppresses pure in-line VIV.
 Further advantages of strakes rather than intermediate supports to suppress in-line VIV include: strakes are not affected by the scour which can lower an intermediate support (in addition to creating the span in the first place). Further they do not prevent self-lowering of the pipeline or act as a point of concentration of VIV damage as the spans to each side of the intermediate support grow again.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the illness experience of patients with pressure ulcer. Methods: A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. The data were collected by individual in-depth interview with seven participants with pressure ulcer during 2013~2014. All interviews were audio-taped and verbatim transcripts were made for the analysis. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi"s phenomenological method. Results: All participants had underlying disease, such as spinal paralysis and diabetes. Average period of having pressure ulcer was 18 months, ranged from 3 to 36 months. A total of seven theme clusters were derived from the analysis; unexpected wound, inherent vulnerability to infection, reversal of the treatment policy, unpleasant and strange feeling of wound, sweeping fear and helplessness, socioeconomic burden, and healing through specific actions and reflection. The participants faced various contradictory and paradoxical situations in managing their pressure ulcers as well as underlying diseases in their everyday life. However, they slowly overcome these situations by strictly practicing concrete action-oriented strategies that they have learned through suffering and appreciating miraculous wound healing. Conclusion: The results of this study can help developing a patient-specific intervention program with sufficient emotional support by providing insights of the paradoxical illness experience of patients with pressure ulcer.


The chemical composition and stratigraphy of the Black River Group in southwestern Ohio were studied. Chemical analyses were done on two cores of the Black River from Adams and Brown Counties, Ohio. These studies show that substantial reserves of high-carbonate rock (96% to 98 +% CaCO3 plus MgCO3 are present in the Black River at depths of less than 800 ft, in proximity to Cincinnati and the Ohio River.

Stratigraphic studies show that the Black River Group has eight marker beds in its middle and upper portions and three distinct lithologic units in its lower portion; these marker beds and units are present throughout southwestern Ohio. The Black River Group correlates well with the High Bridge Group of Kentucky. Depositional environments of the Black River are similar to those of the High Bridge and to present-day tidal flats in the Bahamas.


Abstract We applied quantitative 3D computed tomography to 50 complete articular AO type C fractures of the distal radius and tested the null hypothesis that fracture fragments can be divided according to Melone's concept (radial styloid and volar and dorsal lunate facet fragments) and that each fragment has similar (1) displacement and (2) articular surface area. Thirty-eight fractures fit the Melone distribution of fragments. Radial styloid fragments were most displaced, and volar lunate fragments were least displaced. Volar lunate fragments had the largest articular surface area. While these findings confirm Melone's concepts, the finding that volar lunate fragments are relatively large and dorsal lunate fragments relatively small suggests that alignment of the volar lunate fragment with the radial styloid may be the key element of treatment and the dorsal lunate fragment may not routinely benefit from specific reduction and fixation.


The anisotropic momentum distribution of photoexcited hot electrons on recombination with holes at the acceptor level produces linearly polarized luminescence. It is found that the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) of the luminescence over the whole width of the first heavy hole peak (0HH) is not constant. Calculations within the spherical approximation show that in bulk GaAs the DoLP over the 0HH peak should vary from zero, at the low energy side, to its maximum value (0.33), at the high energy side of the 0HH peak, for the electric vector of excitation e||[110] excitation geometry and vice versa for the e||[100] excitation geometry. This variation in the DoLP over the 0HH peak will be referred to as the anisotropy of the DoLP and arises as a direct result of the warping of the heavy hole sub-band. Experimental results were found in qualitative agreement with the calculations under spherical approximation. The calculations within the diagonal approximation could not account for the unexpectedly high value of the DoLP towards the low energy side of the 0HH peak.


A medical practitioner's role as adviser prior to treatment is crucial in providing the basis on which the patient consents to a procedure or not. In Sidaway v Board of Governors of the Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital [1985] A.C. 871, the House of Lords confirmed the applicability of the "Bolam" test, historically the province of treatment cases, to cases concerning the disclosure of risks. By a majority decision, although without a clear ratio, the question of what risks a practitioner should disclose was regarded as matter for clinical judgment. Where a practitioner could demonstrate that he had disclosed an amount of information that was in keeping with the practice of a responsible body of medical opinion, this would defeat a claim in negligence. Lord Bridge provided two exceptions: first where there was a substantial risk of grave adverse consequences, an example of which he gave as the 10% risk of a stroke, and, secondly, where the patient had specifically questioned the practitioner. In both circumstances, the risk ought to be disclosed regardless of settled medical practice. Lord Scarman dissented on the basis that the analytical starting point in disclosure cases was the patient's right to know what risks they would be subjected to; this was not a matter for clinical judgment.


. We used a continuous krypton ion laser to rapidly oxidize milligram-sized fragments of coniferous driftwood of known ages, and dated the resulting carbon dioxide by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). AMS 14C ages of non-pretreated young wood from different parts of two logs were within 10% of the ages of conventionally determined alkaline insoluble fractions. The age of the oldest whole wood measured after laser oxidation was within the error ranges of conventional values.


Orthognathic surgery is frequently undertaken to correct maxillary hypoplasia and mandibular deformity in both the cleft and non-cleft patient. These procedures lead to surgical disruption of the pterygoid fossa. Lying within this area is the auditory tube and the muscles of the soft palate. Hearing sensitivity testing methods, auditory tube function tests and middle ear pressure measurements show that in the early post-operative period the auditory tube is not functioning normally and that there is fluid collecting in the middle ear. For some patients these tests are still abnormal when repeated 6-8 weeks post-operatively and indicate that during the postoperative period auditory tube functioning tests may be required to prevent permanent hearing impairment.


Objective
To determine the effects of education on knowledge, attitude and practice status regarding cervical cancer, its prevention and screening among registered nurses working at tertiary care hospitals.

METHODS
The quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2016(15th June-15th July) at Civil Hospital, Karachi, and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised registered nurses enrolled through non-probability convenience sampling. Baseline demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude and practice levels of the nurses was gathered using a self-structured pretested and validated questionnaire. An education session on, "prevention and screening of cervical cancer" was conducted and its effectiveness was determined using the same questionnaire post-intervention. The difference in pre- and post-intervention values were determined. P<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS
There were 129 subjects with a mean age of 34.2±3.8 years, and 69(53.5%) had work experience of 5 years or less. There was significant mean difference between baseline and post-intervention scores in terms of knowledge and practice (p<0.05), while attitude scores were not significantly different (p>0.05). The difference in knowledge scores were significant in all age groups, marital status, work experience and education (p<0.05 each).

CONCLUSIONS
There was a highly significant impact of education on the knowledge level of the subjects.


Natural phenomena appear in almost every poem of Aigi and develop a specific semiotics that evolves over the course of his career. Aigi very often turns to trees. The trees are signatures of the speaker's mutually changing relationship with nature and God. The mystical path to the experience of God takes place in transformations that can be traced by the changes in the poetic representation of the trees. As the willow-poems demonstrates, the mystical path to the experience of God in Aigi's work leads from the pantheistic and immanent to the Christian and transcendent.


Aim: To systematically profile RNA m6A modification landscape after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Materials & methods: Expression of m6A-related genes was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression and location of METTL3, a key component of m6A methyltransferase complex, were determined by immunostaining. Genome-wide profiling of m6A-tagged transcripts was conducted by m6A-modified RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (m6A-RIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: METTL3 was downregulated after TBI. In total, 922 m6A peaks were differentially expressed as determined by m6A-RIP-seq, with 370 upregulated and 552 downregulated. In addition, we identified differentially expressed hypomethylated and hypermethylated mRNA transcripts. Conclusion: Our data provided novel information regarding m6A modification changes in the early period of TBI, which might be promising therapy targets.


We study the liquidity premium persistence in the Indonesia Stock Exchange employing Liu (2006) liquidity measure, LMx from 2006 to 2010. This research attempts to reveal the liquidity premium dynamics during the tranquil and volatile period in the Indonesia Stock Exchange. It is found that the liquidity premium exist only in the short period during 2008 crisis. The remaining period under investigation fails to provide significant evidence of liquidity premium in the Indonesia Stock Exchange.


Kinetic flow reactor experiments have been carried out to study acetic acid hydrogenation on a Ru/C catalyst in both three-phase (catalyst, aqueous, and gaseous) and two-phase (catalyst and gaseous) regimes. In addition, density functional theory calculations have been performed and combined with microkinetic modeling to better understand the activity and selectivity observed in the experiments. Our experiments show that ethanol selectivity varies strongly from <10% to a maximum of ∼70% with increasing hydrogen partial pressure (pH2) at 185 °C in the three-phase reactor. Co-fed water also enhances ethanol selectivity, from ∼60% to ∼70% in the two-phase reactor and ∼40% to ∼65% in the three-phase reactor, at 185 °C, but only up to a certain concentration. The aqueous phase is not necessary for high ethanol selectivity. The first-principles microkinetic analysis is able to reasonably capture the apparent activation energy, ethanol selectivity, and reaction orders of acetic acid and ethanol with respect to pH2, providing a theoretical explanation for the crucial role that hydrogen plays in the selectivity of this reaction. Our findings provide insights into why high activity and selectivity for acetic acid hydrogenation to ethanol can be achieved on Ru, which may have general relevance to the catalytic hydrogenation of organic oxygenates on Ru and other metals.


The increasing number of health issues caused by obesity and lack of healthy and efficient fat substitutes require development on new fat substitute. This study proposes a new potential reduced-calorie structured triacylglycerol (TAG) of "1,3-medium-chain, 2-short-chain triglycerides (MSM)" configuration, and the fat substitution method is based on the suppression of 2-monoacylglycerol absorption into intestinal cells, which would decrease the recombination of TAG and reduce lipid absorption in the digestive tract. A molecular probe, 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-acetylglycerol, is offered for nutritionists to conduct further study on its metabolism in human body. The synthesis method for this structured TAG starts from the lipase-catalyzed esterification between glycerol and caprylic acid, yielding 1,3-dicapryloylglycerol, and is followed by direct esterification with acetic anhydride to form 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-acetylglycerol. Its structure is characterized by FTIR,1H NMR,13C NMR, and LC-ESI-MS.

Practical application: This kind of pure structured triglyceride can function as a molecular probe for nutritionists to test its metabolism in human body and conduct further evaluation on their fat substitute potential. The synthesis method can also be easily adopted by food industry since it involves only two simple reaction steps.


This paper discusses the mathematical description of propogation and growth of wave-type phenomena which may occur in many physical systems, such as, magnetohydrodynamic system, fluid flow system, electromagnetic field system. This work also discusses the statement of a maximum principle for this wave generating system. One dimensional version of this system with a quadratic cost function has been taken, and the method of gradients and quasilinearization techniques have been applied to derive the optimal control function.


Purpose of reviewFibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hormone secreted by osteocytes and osteoblasts that regulates phosphorus and vitamin D homeostasis. FGF23 levels increase progressively in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and FGF23 excess might be a causal factor of left ventricular hypertrophy, CKD progression and death. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms that control FGF23 production is critical to design therapies to lower FGF23 levels. The present review focuses on the role of inflammatory stimuli on FGF23 regulation and summarizes recent studies that support a novel framework linking inflammation to FGF23 regulation. Recent findingsInflammation and iron deficiency, which are common occurrences in CKD, have emerged as novel FGF23 regulators. Recent findings show that inflammation increases FGF23 production in bone through direct and iron-related indirect mechanisms. In these settings, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1&agr; orchestrates FGF23 transcription in response to inflammation and is primarily responsible for coordinating FGF23 production and cleavage. SummaryWe demonstrate that inflammation increases FGF23 production and may contribute to elevated FGF23 levels in CKD. Osseous HIF-1&agr; may represent a therapeutic target to lower FGF23 levels in CKD patients and minimize the negative consequences associated with FGF23 excess.


&NA; Advances in genomic research are changing the nature and focus of health care. All health professionals must be prepared with new knowledge and skill competencies to meet the social and scientific demands of clinical practice. Nurses can expect to take on new practice roles that involve family history assessments, screening, and case coordination for clients receiving genetic testing and gene‐based therapies. The authors report on successful initiatives since 1995 resulting from efforts of national organizations to advance the diffusion of genetic knowledge and genomics in nursing education and practice. Recommendations to strengthen these developments, along with strategies for nursing leadership in carving a new role, that of Genomics Nurse Case Coordinator, are presented.


The purpose of this document is summarized in the study of new integrated strategies in Algerian banks. This study is supported by a scientific discussion that helped us to test our suggested hypotheses in order to answer our central question. In this perspective, we focused on corporate social responsibility, as a new integrated strategy in the Algerian banking system, and then awareness of the types of investments for the bank's clients. In order to remedy this situation and to arrive at relevant results, we conducted our own survey of the regional directors of the banks in order to prove the existence of CSR in all the banks in Algeria (public and foreign). Our results have shown that foreign banks apply CSR in their home countries and also incorporate these new standards into their marketing strategies in Algeria, unlike the Algerian public bank, which is just beginning to become aware of these new strategic standards. Just some of them apply them. Let's go back to the client who is mostly unconscious and who remains indifferent to these new standards but rather who is just interested in banking (savings, investment) and above all the thing that interests him most is confidence, this is the reason why the Algerian client prefers to save in the public bank for his financial security, even if the foreign bank is more developed in terms of marketing strategies. Finally, the empirical study helped us gather more information to answer our questions and test our suggested hypotheses. The analysis of the results will be discussed in the presentation of this document.


Grobner basis calculation forms a key part of computational commutative algebra and many other areas. One important ramification of the theory of Grobner basis provides a means to solve a system of non-linear equations. This is why it has become very important in the areas where the solution of non-linear equations is needed, for instance in algebraic cryptanalysis and coding theory. This paper explores on a parallel-distributed implementation for Grobner basis calculation over GF(2). For doing so Buchberger algorithm is used. OpenMP and MPI-C language constructs have been used to implement the scheme. Some relevant results have been furnished to compare the performances between the standalone and hybrid (parallel-distributed) implementation. Keywords—Grobner basis, Buchberger Algorithm, DistributedParallel Computation, OpenMP, MPI.


Apparently homogeneous odorant binding protein purified from pig nasal mucosa (pOBP) exhibited subunit molecular masses of 17 223, 17 447, and 17 689 (major component) Da as estimated by ESI/MS. According to gel filtration, this protein, its truncated forms, and/or its variants are homodimeric under physiologic conditions (pH 6-7, 0.1 M NaCl). The dimer if monomer equilibrium shifts toward a prevalent monomeric form at pH <4.5. Velocity sedimentation reveals a monomeric state of OBP at both pH 7.2 and 3.5, indicating a pressure-induced dissociation of the homodimer. High-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (HS-DSC) shows that the unfolding transition of pOBP is reversible at neutral pH. It is characterized by the transition temperature of 69.23 degrees C and an enthalpy of 391.1 kJ/mol per monomer. The transition heat capacity curve of pOBP is well-approximated by the two-state model on the level of subunit, indicating that the two monomers behave independently. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) shows that at physiological pH pOBP binds 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) and 3,7-dimethyloctan-1-ol (DMO) with association constants of 3.19 x 10(6) and 4.94 x 10(6) M(-)(1) and enthalpies of -97.2 and -87.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The binding stoichiometry of both ligands is nearly one molecule of ligand per homodimer of pOBP. The interaction of pOBP with both ligands is enthalpically driven with an unfavorable change of entropy. The binding affinity of pOBP with IBMP does not change significantly at acidic pH, while the binding stoichiometry is nearly halved. According to HS-DSC data, the interaction with IBMP and DMO leads to a substantial stabilization of the pOBP folded structure, which is manifested by the increase in the unfolding temperature and enthalpy. The calorimetric data allow us to conclude that the mechanism of binding of the studied odorants to pOBP is not dominated by a hydrophobic effect related to any change in the hydration state of protein and ligand groups but, most likely, is driven by polar and van der Waals interactions.


In many European countries tensions have arisen between the demands of the labor market and the caregiving responsibilities workers must fulfill at home. Examining these tensions, Work and Care under Pressure focuses on two groups of people who must juggle work and caregiving: parents of young children who work nonstandard hours and working adults who care for older parents. Based on empirical evidence from six European countries, this volume sheds light on the social effects of national policies and the choices made by caregivers. It is an essential resource for researchers, scholars, and policy makers interested in social policy.


I have myself suffered four attacks of typical migraine in the last nine years. The first attack in November 1963 occurred quite spontaneously, but subsequent attacks in November 1964, November 1965, and November 1968, all occurred while playing rugby football. On each occasion the attacks were preceded by a blow to the face with hyperextension of the neck while making a tackle. Each attack started a few minutes after injury with a feeling of light-headedness, followed after about 15 minutes by homonymous hemianopia with fortification spectra, and tingling of the hand, side of the face, and tongue. Tiredness and nausea followed about two hours later lasting several hours. After the second attack, clinical examination by a neurologist proved negative, and no other investigations have been performed. I have not heard of any similar cases arising from playing rugby although the unexpectedness of the trauma in rugby might make its occurrence more likely.-I am, etc.,


The thermodynamic properties of several liquefied petroleum gases (with particular emphasis on propane) are discussed in detail. It is concluded that the widely used propane data by Stearns and George are too inconsistent and too inaccurate to be used for mass flow calculations of propane and propane mixtures through safety valves of rail tank cars. Accordingly, the thermodynamic properties of propane, propylene, n-butane, and a mixture of 65% (by mole) propane, 25% propylene, and 10% n-butane are recalculated using equations of states proposed by Benedict-Webb-Rubin (BWR) and by Starling. It is shown that Starling's equation results in thermodynamic properties which are more consistent and compare better with measured values than the BWR equation. Thermodynamic data for the four liquefied petroleum gases discussed above are calculated and presented in tabular form. In addition, predictions of pure propane mass flow rates (based upon isentropic), homogeneous equilibrium flow) are given. The influence of the thermodynamic data upon the predicted mass flow rates is demonstrated.