Ecological Risk Analysis may be used as an auxiliary method in making landscape planning and management decisions. However, both choosing the subject criteria of the analysis, and assigning values to such criteria are all left to the discretion of the decision-maker. Ecological Risk Analysis is therefore ranked as a qualitative mode of assessment. What was intended herein was to rule the Ecological Risk Analysis, which may significantly contribute to the assessment of a landscape, out of being a qualitative mode, and to turn it into a semiquantitative means of assessment. In order to turn the Ecological Risk Analysis into a semi-quantitative mode of assessment, Analytic Hierarchy Process was resorted. Main criteria (vegetation, soil, water, and bioclimatic comfort) to determine the "Ecological Value", and the sub-criteria to set forth these criteria were decided upon. These criteria were then overlaid by means of matrices within the scope of the Analytical Hierarchy Method, weight ratios thereof were determined, and the consistency ratios thereof were calculated. Risk maps of the main criteria further superimposed according to the weight ratios, which had been calculated to be consistent, the Ecological Risk Map was thereby attained. Areas with high ecological risk value are located at the west and northeast part of the research area. Regions were discussed in the frame of landscape planning and sustainability depending on risk levels.


The primary contribution of this dissertation is the presentation of a dynamic game-theoretic framework that is used as an analytical tool and unifying perspective for a wide class of problems in robot motion planning. The framework provides a precise mathematical characterization that can incorporate any of the essential features of decision theory, stochastic optimal control, and traditional multiplayer games. The determination of strategies that optimize some precise performance functionals is central to these subjects, and is of fundamental value for many types of motion planning problems.
The basic motion planning problem is to compute a collision-free trajectory for the robot, given perfect sensing, an exact representation of the environment, and completely predictable execution. The best-known algorithms have exponential complexity, and most extensions to the basic problem are provably intractable. The techniques in this dissertation characterize several extensions to the basic motion planning problem, and lead to computational techniques that provide practical, approximate solutions. A general perspective on motion planning is also provided by relating the similarities between various extensions to the basic problem within a common mathematical framework.
Modeling, analysis, algorithms, and computed examples are presented for each of three problems: (1) motion planning under uncertainty in sensing and control; (2) motion planning under environment uncertainties; and (3) multiple-robot motion planning. Traditional approaches to the first problem are often based on a methodology known as preimage planning, which involves worst-case analysis. In this context, a general method for determining feedback strategies is developed by blending ideas from stochastic optimal control and dynamic game theory with traditional preimage planning concepts. This generalizes classical preimages to performance preimages and preimage plans to motion strategies with information feedback. For the second problem, robot strategies are analyzed and determined for situations in which the environment of the robot is changing, but not completely predictable. Several new applications are identified for this context. The changing environment is treated in a flexible manner by combining traditional configuration space concepts with stochastic optimal control concepts. For the third problem, dynamic game-theoretic and multiobjective optimization concepts are applied to motion planning for multiple robots. This allows the synthesis of motion plans that simultaneously optimize an independent performance criterion for each robot. Several versions of the formulation are considered: fixed-path coordination, coordination on independent configuration-space roadmaps, and centralized planning.


We design a multi-unit descending-price (Dutch) auction mechanism that has applications for resource allocation and pricing problems. We address specific auction design choices by theoretically and experimentally determining optimal information disclosure along two dimensions. Bidders are either informed of the number of bidders in the auction, or know that it is one of two possible sizes; they also either know the number of units remaining for sale or are unaware of how many units have been taken by other bidders. We find that revealing group size decreases bids, and therefore revenue, if units remaining are not shown. When group size is unknown the price also falls if the number of units remaining is revealed. The most efficient and largest revenue outcome occurs when bidders are not provided information on either group size or units remaining. These laboratory results conform to some directional predictions from our theory, although overbidding is common.


Abstract. One of the fundamental factors contributing to the spatiotemporal inaccuracy in climate modeling is the mapping of solution field data between different discretizations and numerical grids used in the coupled component models. The typical climate computational workflow involves evaluation and serialization of the remapping weights during the pre-processing step, which is then consumed by the coupled driver infrastructure during simulation to compute field projections. Tools like Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF) Hill et al. (2004) and TempestRemap Ullrich et al. (2013) offer capability to generate conservative remapping weights, while the Model Coupling Toolkit (MCT) Larson et al. (2001) that is utilized in many production climate models exposes functionality to make use of the operators to solve the coupled problem. However, such multi-step processes present several hurdles in terms of the scientific workflow, and impedes research productivity. In order to overcome these limitations, we present a fully integrated infrastructure based on the Mesh Oriented datABase (MOAB) Tautges et al. (2004); Mahadevan et al. (2015) library, which allows for a complete description of the numerical grids, and solution data used in each submodel. Through a scalable advancing front intersection algorithm, the supermesh of the source and target grids are computed, which is then used to assemble the high-order, conservative and monotonicity preserving remapping weights between discretization specifications. The Fortran compatible interfaces in MOAB are utilized to directly link the submodels in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) to enable online remapping strategies in order to simplify the coupled workflow process.We demonstrate the superior computational efficiency of the remapping algorithms in comparison with other state-of-science tools and present strong scaling results on large-scale machines for computing remapping weights between the spectral-element atmosphere and finite-volume discretizations on the polygonal ocean grids.


vp2-4-3 gene of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus strain SH95 (vvIBDV) was double enzyme digested and cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pALTER-MAX by cohesive ends. The recombinant plasmid was identified by enzyme-digestion, which showed that the gese was cloned into pALTER-MAX vector with right orientation and in the downstream of CMV promoter. To express this recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid, Vero cells were transfected with the plasmids mediated by LipofectamineTM 2000 and specific proteins was detected in the cells by immuno- fluorescent assay of anti-IBDV antibody. 2-day-old chickens were intramuscularly injected with the plasmid pALTER-MAX-VP2-4-3, thigh muscles were collected at 1 week after injection. Protein expression was detected by immuno-fluorescent assay with antibody to IBDV. Expression of plasmid pALTER-MAX-V P2-4-3 in chorioallantoic membrane(CAM)of 11-day-old chicken embryo was detected by Dot-ELISA with antibody to IBDV.


ABSTRACT Background: Augmented sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension (HT) accompanied by chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oxidative stress in the hypothalamus increases SNA in HT. Administration of an angiotensin ΙΙ receptor blocker (olmesartan; OLM) or renal denervation (RDN) exerts an antihypertensive effect in HT with CKD; however, the precise mechanisms of the combination therapy are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined whether combination therapy with OLM and RDN reduces both SNA by decreasing oxidative stress in the hypothalamus and RAAS activity in hypertensive mice with CKD. Methods and Results: In 5/6-nephrectomized ICR-mice (Nx-mice) at 4-weeks after nephrectomy, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly increased, accompanied by increased SNA and albuminuria compared with control-mice. Nx-mice were orally administered OLM, vehicle, or underwent RDN during OLM administration, and divided into Nx-OLM, Nx-VEH, and Nx-OLM/RDN groups, respectively. In Nx-OLM and Nx-OLM/RDN compared with Nx-VEH at 8-weeks after treatment, SBP was significantly decreased and both SNA and oxidative stress levels in the hypothalamus were significantly suppressed, without worsened creatinine clearance. In Nx-OLM and Nx-OLM/RDN compared with Nx-VEH, albuminuria was also suppressed, and the heart per body weight was decreased. In Nx-OLM/RDN, but not in Nx-OLM, the plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly decreased compared with Nx-VEH. Conclusion: These findings suggest that combination therapy with OLM/RDN has antihypertensive effects in association with suppressing SNA by reducing oxidative stress in the hypothalamus and the plasma aldosterone concentration in hypertensive mice with CKD.


In 1993, Kamei et al. presented the "free thenar flap" based on the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery. In light of the microsurgical importance of this vessel, we decided to perform an anatomic study. 20 fresh upper extremity specimens were injected with 30 cc colored latex and examined. The superficial palmar branch of the radial artery was constantly found, originating on an average 23 mm proximal to the scaphoid tubercle with an average diameter of 0.8 mm. Normally, five cutaneous branches to the thenar skin and a branch of the antebrachial nerve, securing the sensibility of the flap, have been found. Based on this neurovascular pedicle, a thin sensory, fasciocutaneous flap can be tailored to reconstruct large palmar defects of the fingers. Primary wound closure is possible, provided the flap is not broader than 15 mm. In about half of the cases, the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery anastomoses with the superficial palmar branch of the ulnar artery, forming the superficial palmar arch. In these cases, the flap can be raised as a reversed pedicle thenar flap. To our knowledge, this flap has not yet been reported in the literature.


To draw informed conclusions from research studies, research consumers need full and accurate descriptions of study methods and procedures. Preregistration has been proposed as a means to clarify reporting of research methods and procedures, with the goal of reducing bias in research. However, preregistration has been applied primarily to research studies utilizing group designs. In this article, we discuss general issues in preregistration and consider the use of preregistration in single-case design research, particularly as it relates to differing applications of this methodology. We then provide a rationale and make specific recommendations for preregistering single-case design research, including guidelines for preregistering basic descriptive information, research questions, participant characteristics, baseline conditions, independent and dependent variables, hypotheses, and phase-change decisions.


The development of highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline media is of great importance due to its sluggish water dissociation kinetics. In this work, ultrafine Rh nanoparticle decorated MoSe2 nanoflowers have been synthesized through a colloidal synthetic method. When further used as electrocatalysts for HER in alkaline media, the experimental results demonstrate that 8.2% Rh–MoSe2 nanoflowers exhibit excellent catalytic activity with a small overpotential of 73 mV to obtain the current density of 10 mA cm−2 with good stability, which is much higher than that of MoSe2 (264 mV) and even close to 20% commercial Pt/C (48 mV). The improved HER performance of Rh–MoSe2 nanoflowers may be ascribed to the synergistic catalytic effects between Rh and MoSe2 and strong electronic interactions among Rh, Mo and Se at the atomic level.


Background: The aim of this study is to describe a new primary flexor tendon repair technique using absorbable suture, followed by early active/passive mobilization. Methods: Nineteen patients (13 fingers, 7 thumbs) with complete flexor digitorum profundus (zone II) or flexor pollicis longus (zone II-III) rupture were retrospectively evaluated. Mean age: 36 years. Tendon repair: 4-strand double-modified Kessler core suture technique in vertical position and circumferential suture using absorbable polydioxanone, followed by combined active/passive mobilization. Comparative total active motion (TAM) and pulp-palm distance were evaluated. Function was calculated using Strickland-Glogovac criteria (fingers), and Buck-Gramcko system (thumbs). Results: Mean follow-up: 23 months (7-47 months). One tendon repair ruptured. Mean TAM: 146° in fingers and 44° in thumbs (contralateral: 174° and 62°). Functional results: excellent in 9 fingers, good in 10, and poor in 1 finger. Mean pulp-palm distance: 0.1cm. All were satisfied. Conclusions: Advantages: technically simpler than others, preserves biomechanical properties of dorsal suture, avoids problems associated with foreign body implantation, and may decrease intratendinous vascular damage. Preliminary results suggest that this new tech


Fine-grained concurrent data structures are crucial for gaining performance from multiprocessing, but their design is a subtle art. Recent literature has made large strides in verifying these data structures, using either atomicity refinement or separation logic with rely-guarantee reasoning. In this paper we show how the ownership discipline of separation logic can be used to enable atomicity refinement, and we develop a new rely-guarantee method that is localized to the definition of a data structure. We present the first semantics of separation logic that is sensitive to atomicity, and show how to control this sensitivity through ownership. The result is a logic that enables compositional reasoning about atomicity and interference, even for programs that use fine-grained synchronization and dynamic memory allocation.


The content of spermidine and spermine polyamines in the rat brain under hyperoxic convulsions and four hours after convulsions decreases sharply. The intraperitoneal administration of polyamines before hyperbaric oxygenation decreased the rate of development of hyperoxic convulsions in rats. In the model experiments polyamines prevented changes in the acid peptide-hydrolase activity in the lysosomal and soluble fractions, which occur under hyperoxia.


A new class of modified theories of gravity, consisting of the superposition of the metric Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian with an f(R) term constructed a la Palatini was proposed recently. The dynamically equivalent scalar-tensor representation of the model was also formulated, and it was shown that even if the scalar field is very light, the theory passes the Solar System observational constraints. Therefore the model predicts the existence of a long-range scalar field, modifying the cosmological and galactic dynamics. An explicit model that passes the local tests and leads to cosmic acceleration was also obtained. In the present work, it is shown that the theory can be also formulated in terms of the quantity X≡κ{sup 2}T+R, where T and R are the traces of the stress-energy and Ricci tensors, respectively. The variable X represents the deviation with respect to the field equation trace of general relativity. The cosmological applications of this hybrid metric-Palatini gravitational theory are also explored, and cosmological solutions coming from the scalar-tensor representation of f(X)-gravity are presented. Criteria to obtain cosmic acceleration are discussed and the field equations are analyzed as a dynamical system. Several classes of dynamical cosmological solutions, depending on the functional form of the effective scalarmore » field potential, describing both accelerating and decelerating Universes are explicitly obtained. Furthermore, the cosmological perturbation equations are derived and applied to uncover the nature of the propagating scalar degree of freedom and the signatures these models predict in the large-scale structure.« less


Background: Majority of the neonates have a transient deficiency of vitamin K dependant coagulation factors like II, VII, IX and X by 48-72 hours of life. This transient deficiency is resolved by the age of 7-10 days. This transient Vit K dependant coagulation factor deficiency may cause spontaneous bleeding in neonates such bleeding if occurs in between 2nd to 7th day of life is called classical HDN. The other 2 forms of HDN are early onset HDN (Manifesting within 24 hours) and late onset HDN (Occurring between 1-6 months of life). We conducted a prospective study of neonates admitted to our neonatology unit with hemorrhagic disease of newborn to know risk factors and outcome in neonates with HDN.
Aims and Objectives: To study the clinical features and outcome of neonates with hemorrhagic disease of newborn.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study comprising of 30 neonates admitted in NICU with the diagnosis of hemorrhagic disease of newborn. HDN associated risk factors, age at presentation, Demographic profile, clinical features, complications and outcomes were studied. Appropriate statistical analysis was done. P-Value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
Results:  In this study out of 30 neonates diagnosed with hemorrhagic disease of newborn there were 18 (60%) males and 12 (40 %) females with a M:F ratio of 1:0.66. The most common type of HDN was found to be classical type (53.33 %) followed by early onset (12 %) and late HDN (34.77 %). Majority of the infants (83.33%) with HDN were exclusively breastfed and most common site of bleeding were intracranial (23.33 %) and GI bleeding (23.33%). Outcome of neonates showed that 43.33 % babies recovered without any sequele, 13.33 % infants expired and remaining 43.34 % infants had some sequele at the time of discharge.
Conclusion: Hemorrhagic disease of newborn is a common cause of bleeding in a well looking baby. Any well looking baby with bleeding manifestations should be considered to be having HDN (early onset, classical or late onset) unless proved otherwise. Appropriate treatment has an excellent outcome in these babies.


Prep for graduate school, a professional certification, or find resources to increase your leadership skills, ethical understanding of business, and more. This research guide is intended for current students in the Quinlan School of Business and alumni.


Synthesizing primary and technical data, this book focuses on the legal and political aspects of Israeli administration in the West Bank and the international attempt to resolve the dispute over the territories. The author assesses the present situation and provides guidelines for future action.


This thesis deals with distributed control strategies for cooperative control of multi-robot systems. Specifically, distributed coordination strategies are presented for groups of mobile robots.
The formation control problem is initially solved exploiting artificial potential fields. The purpose of the presented formation control algorithm is to drive a group of mobile robots to create a completely arbitrarily shaped formation. Robots are initially controlled to create a regular polygon formation. A bijective coordinate transformation is then exploited to extend the scope of this strategy, to obtain arbitrarily shaped formations. For this purpose, artificial potential fields are specifically designed, and robots are driven to follow their negative gradient.
Artificial potential fields are then subsequently exploited to solve the coordinated path tracking problem, thus making the robots autonomously spread along predefined paths, and move along them in a coordinated way.
Formation control problem is then solved exploiting a consensus based approach. Specifically, weighted graphs are used both to define the desired formation, and to implement collision avoidance. As expected for consensus based algorithms, this control strategy is experimentally shown to be robust to the presence of communication delays.
The global connectivity maintenance issue is then considered. Specifically, an estimation procedure is introduced to allow each agent to compute its own estimate of the algebraic connectivity of the communication graph, in a distributed manner. This estimate is then exploited to develop a gradient based control strategy that ensures that the communication graph remains connected, as the system evolves. The proposed control strategy is developed initially for single-integrator kinematic agents, and is then extended to Lagrangian dynamical systems.


The effect of optical nonlinearities on the fiber transmission of differential polarization-phase-shift keying (DPolPSK) signals is analyzed. For single-channel transmission, the effect of self-phase modulation depends on the order of the DPolPSK. In dense wavelength-division multiplexing, the dominant nonlinear effect is cross-phase-modulation-induced polarization scattering, which exists even if there is no intensity noise. It is found that differential detection greatly reduces the effect of polarization scattering in DPolPSK. Unlike in conventional polarization-division-multiplexed intensity-modulated direct-detection systems, the effect of polarization scattering strongly depends on the channel spacing and bit rate.


The K_n-complement of a graph G, denoted by K_n-G, is defined as the graph obtained from the complete graph K_n by removing a set of edges that span G; if G has n vertices, then K_n-G coincides with the complement overlineG of the graph G. In this paper we extend the previous notion and derive determinant based formulas for the number of spanning trees of graphs of the form K_n^m #x00b1 G, where K_n^m is the complete multigraph on n vertices with exactly m edges joining every pair of vertices and G is a multigraph spanned by a set of edges of K_n^m; the graph K_n^m + G (resp. K_n^m - G) is obtained from K_n^m by adding (resp. removing) the edges of G. Moreover, we derive determinant based formulas for graphs that result from K_n^m by adding and removing edges of multigraphs spanned by sets of edges of the graph K_n^m. We also prove closed formulas for the number of spanning tree of graphs of the form K_n^m #x00b1 G, where G is (i) a complete multipartite graph, and (ii) a multi-star graph. Our results generalize previous results and extend the family of graphs admitting formulas for the number of their spanning trees.


IN 1963 we became interested in gastrostomy as a method for delivering formula feedings to tiny premature infants. We observed that infants below 1,500 gm (3 lb 6 oz) body weight at birth not only did not suck well as a general rule, but often tolerated intermittent gavage or retention nasogastric feeding tubes poorly. An exploratory study was embarked upon to ascertain whether such small infants could tolerate the required surgery and perhaps benefit from some advantages which feeding gastrostomy appears to offer. Our first elective gastrostomy on a premature infant was performed in November 1963. Ten more premature infants had gastrostomies during the following year. This report details our experience and summarizes what was learned in a pilot study. Selection and Preoperative Management Patients for the study were selected from infants weighing 1,500 gm (3 lb 6 oz) or less and surviving for 72 hours. The 72-hour age-limit was


Non-relativistic versions of the AdS/CFT conjecture have recently been investigated in some detail. These have primarily been in the context of the Schrodinger symmetry group. Here we initiate a study based on a different non-relativistic conformal symmetry: one obtained by a parametric contraction of the relativistic conformal group. The resulting Galilean conformal symmetry has the same number of generators as the relativistic symmetry group and thus is different from the Schrodinger group (which has fewer). One of the interesting features of the Galilean Conformal Algebra is that it admits an extension to an infinite dimensional symmetry algebra (which can potentially be dynamically realised). The latter contains a Virasoro-Kac-Moody subalgebra. We comment on realisations of this extended symmetry in a boundary field theory. We also propose a somewhat unusual geometric structure for the bulk gravity dual to any realisation of this symmetry. This involves taking a Newton-Cartan like limit of Einstein's equations in anti de Sitter space which singles out an AdS2 comprising of the time and radial direction. The infinite dimensional Virasoro extension is identified with the asymptotic isometries of this AdS2.


This paper presents a self-reconfigurable channel data buffering scheme and circuit design for next-generation network-on-chips (NoCs). The design is optimized for power efficiency and data throughput, from system to circuit level. During network congestion, the buffering scheme realizes adaptive flow control by reconfiguring the channel buffers for online data storage. Once congestion is alleviated, data transmission resumes from the foremost buffer stage, thereby improving NoC throughput. It also achieves system-level power optimization through an integrated hardware-software codesign approach. Using software techniques such as dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, optimal voltages and frequencies are provided to the system through a hardware-based single-inductor multiple-output dc-dc converter platform. Meanwhile, power dissipation is further minimized through switched-capacitor delay control modules. A CMOS IC prototype has been fabricated, with 16-bit data transmission capability. It demonstrates 58.9% power saving over conventional designs. To achieve the same throughput, it consumes only 45.4% power of the best prior art. The flexibility of the buffering scheme, along with the integrated power management solution, allows it to be applied to most existing commercial NoC architectures.


The original idea that each protein follows a particular proteolytic pathway for its degradation is no longer supported. Instead, different proteolytic systems can simultaneously contribute to the degradation of a particular protein, or they can alternate in this task depending, for the most part, on the cellular conditions. It is thus reasonable to expect that some level of communication exists among different proteolytic systems to orchestrate these coordinated activities. Direct cross-talk between two forms of autophagy, macroautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) has been recently demonstrated. Cells respond to blockage of CMA by upregulating macroautophagy. Although macroautophagy cannot completely substitute for the lack of CMA, the partial redundancy between both pathways allows some level of compensation, enough to maintain protein degradation and preserve cell homeostasis. Understanding the cross-talk among different autophagic pathways and with other proteolytic systems is important to predict the type of compensatory mechanisms that could be elicited in response to failure of one of these systems, and to understand the consequences that manipulating one of these pathways for therapeutic purposes could have on the activity of the other pathways. Addendum to: Consequences of the Selective Blockage of Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy A.C. Massey, S. Kaushik, G. Sovak, R. Kiffin and A.M. Cuervo Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006; 103:5805-10


Background The country of Kiribati is a small Pacific island nation which had a new case detection rate of 191 per 100,000 in 2016, and is one of the few countries yet to reach the WHO leprosy elimination goal. Chemoprophylaxis of household contacts of new cases, or to the whole population in a highly endemic areas have been found to be effective in reducing new case rates. This study investigated the potential impact of different chemoprophylaxis strategies on future cases in South Tarawa, the main population centre of Kiribati. Methodology The microsimulation model SIMCOLEP was calibrated to simulate the South Tarawa population and past leprosy control activities, and replicate annual new cases from 1989 to 2016. The impact of six different strategies for delivering one round of single dose rifampicin (SDR) chemoprophylaxis to household contacts of new cases and/or one or three rounds of SDR to the whole population was modelled from 2017 to 2030. Principal Findings Our model predicted that continuing the existing control program of high levels of public awareness, passive case detection, and treatment with multidrug treatment would lead to a substantial reduction in cases but this was less effective than all modelled intervention scenarios. Mass chemoprophylaxis led to a faster initial decline in cases than household contact chemoprophylaxis alone, however the decline under the latter was sustained for longer. The greatest cumulative impact was for household contact chemoprophylaxis with three rounds of mass chemoprophylaxis at one-year intervals. Conclusions The results suggest that control of leprosy would be achieved most rapidly with a combination of intensive population-based and household chemoprophylaxis. These findings may be generalisable to other countries where crowding places social contacts as well as household contacts of cases at risk of developing leprosy.


Purpose: To evaluate and correlate the functional treatment response using microperimetry (MP3) with the morphological findings on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in wet AMD pre- and post-treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This was a single-centre prospective, interventional study. Methods: Patients with wet AMD were treated with 3 injections of intravitreal anti-VEGF at monthly intervals for 3 months and followed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months postinjection. Using "overlay" features, morphologic characteristics of OCTA at the site of choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) lesion were analyzed and correlated functionally with MP3. Data were collected including visual acuity at presentation and follow-up with multimodal imaging features, treatment details, complications (if any), and treatment given for that complication. Descriptive observational analysis and paired t-test was used to compare the appearance of the neovascular network on OCTA imaging with retinal sensitivity on MP3. Results: OCTA in the pretreatment phase revealed CNVM as an abnormal vascular network arising from the choroid and invading the subretinal space. On MP3, decreased retinal sensitivity was observed corresponding to the area of CNVM. Post-treatment, OCTA revealed reduction in abnormal vascular network in 51 (91.07%) eyes that correlated with increased retinal sensitivity at the corresponding area on MP3. Statistical analysis showed baseline mean retinal sensitivity at the site of CNVM as 320.07 dB, which improved to 521.53 and 730.20 dB at 1 and 3 months postinjection follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: Combining the findings of OCTA and MP3 using "overlay" features gives us precise information of structure–function correlation at presentation and also in response to treatment. It also helps to improve patient's compliance, confidence to treatment, and their understanding of the disease process as well.


AIMS
The importance of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) as an immune regulatory cytokine in atherosclerosis has been established. However, the role of TGFβ signalling in dendritic cells (DCs) and in DC-mediated T cell proliferation and differentiation in atherosclerosis is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Here, we investigated the effect of disrupted TGFβ signalling in DCs on atherosclerosis by using mice carrying a transgene resulting in functional inactivation of TGFβ receptor II (TGFβRII) signalling in CD11c(+) cells (Apoe(-/-)CD11cDNR). Apoe(-/-)CD11cDNR mice exhibited an over two-fold increase in the plaque area compared with Apoe(-/-) mice. Plaques of Apoe(-/-)CD11cDNR mice showed an increase in CD45(+) leucocyte content, and specifically in CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, whereas macrophage content was not affected. In lymphoid organs, Apoe(-/-)CD11cDNR mice had equal amounts of CD11c(+) cells, and CD11c(+)CD8(+) and CD11c(+)CD8(-) subsets, but showed a subtle shift in the CD11c(+)CD8(-) population towards the more inflammatory CD11c(+)CD8(-)CD4(-) DC subset. In addition, the number of plasmacytoid-DCs decreased. Maturation markers such as MHCII, CD86 and CD40 on CD11c(hi) cells did not change, but the CD11cDNR DCs produced more TNFα and IL-12. CD11c(+) cells from CD11cDNR mice strongly induced T-cell proliferation and activation, resulting in increased amounts of effector T cells producing high amounts of Th1 (IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4, IL-10), Th17 (IL-17), and Treg (IL-10) cytokines.

CONCLUSION
Here, we show that loss of TGFβRII signalling in CD11c(+) cells induces subtle changes in DC subsets, which provoke uncontrolled T cell activation and maturation. This results in increased atherosclerosis and an inflammatory plaque phenotype during hypercholesterolaemia.


Hospital markets are becoming increasingly consolidated despite mixed evidence regarding the desirability of hospital mergers. This study seeks to advance the understanding of hospital mergers by studying both their perceived and measured effects on quality of care. We used a mixed-methods approach to study hospital mergers in the Netherlands. In the quantitative stage we tested the effect of hospital mergers (approved between 2008 and 2014) on 82 quality indicators (11 at hospital level, 28 at department level, and 43 at disease level) using a difference-in-difference approach. Qualitatively, three case studies were conducted to study how hospital executives, hospital managers, and healthcare professionals perceive a merger to have impacted quality of care. Fifteen quality indicators proved significantly worse in merged hospitals (three after applying Bonferroni correction) and two quality indicators proved significantly better in merged hospitals (none after applying Bonferroni correction). The majority...


REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY
Admission L-lactate concentration is a useful and commonly measured biomarker not previously prospectively evaluated in a large multicentre study of critically ill neonatal foals.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate overall outcome and the association of survival and L-lactate concentration at admission ([LAC]ADMIT) by periparturient history, presenting complaint and clinicians' major diagnosis for ill neonatal foals.

METHODS
Thirteen university and private equine referral hospitals enrolled 643 foals over the 2008 foaling season. Case details, historical, clinical and clinicopathological data were entered into standardised spreadsheets then unified for analysis.

RESULTS
Overall survival was 79% (505/643). Risk of nonsurvival increased with each 1 mmol/l increase in [LAC]ADMIT (odds ratio 1.14, P < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure had a small (r2 = 19.1) but significant (P < 0.001) association with [LAC]ADMIT. Foals experiencing known dystocia or premature placental separation had increased [LAC]ADMIT (P < 0.001). Single umbilical problems (excluding uroperitoneum), meconium impaction only and failure of passive transfer of immunity only had 100% survival. Six clinicians' major diagnoses had increased odds of nonsurvival for each 1 mmol/l increase in [LAC]ADMIT: 'sepsis'; 'unspecified enterocolitis'; 'unspecified colic'; 'unspecified trauma'; 'immune related (not failure of passive transfer of immunity)' and 'respiratory only'.

CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE
Survival of critically ill foals is good but varies with peripartum history, presenting complaint and clinicians' major diagnosis. L-lactate concentration at admission proves its utility as a valuable prognostic biomarker in neonatal foals and its utility appears to vary with peripartum history and clinicians' major diagnosis.


Compressed monodisperse emulsions in confined space exhibit highly ordered structures. The influence of the volume fraction and the confinement geometry on the organized structures is investigated and the mechanism by which structural transition occurs is studied. Based on the understanding of ordering behavior of compressed emulsions, a simple and high-throughput method to fabricate monodisperse polyhedral microgels using the emulsions as the template is developed. By controlling the geometry of the confined spaces, a variety of shapes such as hexagonal prism, Fejes Toth honeycomb prism, truncated octahedron, pyritohedron, and truncated hexagonal trapezohedron are implemented. Moreover, the edge sharpness of each shape is controllable by adjusting the drop volume fraction. This design principle can be readily extended to other shapes and materials, and therefore provides a useful means to create polyhedral microparticles for both fundamental study and practical applications.

publisher-specific, author manuscript: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#am


Purpose. To compare toxicity profiles and biochemical tumor control outcomes between patients treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) and non-IGRT intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for clinically localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods. Between 2009 and 2012, 65 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated with IG-IMRT. This group of patients was retrospectively compared with a similar cohort of 62 patients who were treated between 2004 and 2009 with IMRT to the same dose without image guidance. Results. The median follow-up time was 4.8 years. The rectal volume receiving ≥40 and ≥70 Gy was significantly lower in the IG-IMRT group. Grade 2 and higher acute and late GI and GU toxicity rates were lower in IG-IMRT group, but there was no statistical difference. No significant improvement in biochemical control at 5 years was observed in two groups. In a Cox regression analysis identifying predictors for PSA relapse-free survival, only preradiotherapy PSA was significantly associated with biochemical control; IG-IMRT was not a statistically significant indicator. Conclusions. The use of image guidance in the radiation of prostate cancer at our institute did not show significant reduction in the rates of GI and GU toxicity and did not improve the biochemical control compared with IMRT.


The institutional technologies needed to sustain the rule of law, such as systems of property rights, corporate governance structures and judicial systems, are relatively well-known but most developing countries have proven resistant to the rule of law and good governance in general. This paper addresses the paradox through a framework that divides today's societies into two different types of social orders: (1) the natural state, which solves the problem of violence through rent-creation and granting powerful individuals/groups valuable rights and privileges so that they have incentives to cooperate rather than fight, and (2) the open-access state, which relies on competition, open access to organizations, and institutions to control violence, and is characterized by rent-erosion and long-term economic growth. Most developing countries fall within the first category and the paper argues that such states cannot create the rule of law by simply adopting certain institutions and government structures of open-access states. Instead, natural states must begin a complete transition to open-access orders. The transition is partly institutional and involves the creation of institutions to establish the law and a set of credible commitments that protect them. Such a transition ensures that political actors have an incentive to honor constitutional rules, which in turn ensures that, to exist, state institutions are independent of those who create them. Historically, the shift from limited to open access orders has proven difficult and only a little over two dozen states have succeeded in the transformation, with most clustered in Europe.


Members of EUKOPAC (EUropean research network on KOrean Political ACtors), were able to provide papers about various subjects such as studies about North Korea or South Korea, the Korean diaspora and Korean Art. This workshop has been fully recorded in English.


The design of automatic control system mounted on the suspended access platform is put forward. With advantages of the microcontroller in real time data acquisition and data processing, PIC16F877A is applied as controller of the system. Angle sensor and pull sensor are applied as measuring elements of the system. The control system can implement functions of automatic leveling and overload protection. The new automatic control device is tested to be easy to operate and high reliability. It completely meets requirements and suits for multi-series specifications suspended access platforms, worth to be widely extended in applications.


Reliable prediction of drainage flow rate and drainage chemistry is essential to the treatment of drainage from waste rock storages at mine sites. The traditional predictive models require simplification and assumption of geo-bio-chemical processes followed by intensive characterization, and sometimes lead to poor prediction accuracy. In the big data era, various sensors are installed in field to constantly monitor mine sites, which enables machine learning to utilize the generated monitoring data and study the underlying pattern behind the data. This chapter describes an approach to use artificial neural network to predict the drainage flow rate and drainage chemistry based on weather monitoring data collected at mine sites. The advantage of this approach is that generally no additional characterization are required to make prediction because the relevant geo-bio-chemical mechanisms are embedded naturally in the monitoring data, which can be captured through machine learning process.


Anterior shoulder dislocations commonly result in predictable patterns of osseous injury on both the glenoid and humeral side. The presence of bone loss contributes to the risk of recurrent dislocations, as well as the success of surgical intervention. For example, in patients with glenoid lesions comprising >25% of the glenoid surface or Hill-Sachs lesions that "engage" the glenoid rim, the recurrence rate has been reported to be as high as 67% after soft tissue Bankart repair. The range of injury severity and anatomic variations in soft tissue and bony injury patterns associated with anterior shoulder instability makes identification and quantification of these lesions critical prior to surgical intervention. Historically, bony lesions on the glenoid and humeral side were considered independently. More recently, the interaction between the two and their summative effects on recurrence and operative outcomes has become better understood. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the historical methods of identifying bony lesions, as well as an update on current concepts in quantifying bone loss in anterior shoulder instability.


The yellow-nonyellow pattern of the tortoiseshell guinea pig is presented as a model for the distribution of mutant and nonmutant neural-crest cells in von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF-1). The following hypotheses are offered to explain the developmental genetics of the variable phenotype. (1) The gene for NF-1 is somatically unstable; reverse somatic mutation occurs at a high frequency among the stem cells of clones of neural-crest cells in all affected individuals. (2) The normal reverted cells suppress the proliferation of residual mutant cells when both types are in close proximity. (3) At puberty, proliferation of normal cells decelerates, but proliferation in islands of residual mutant cells accelerates and results in the development of neurofibromas. (4) Plexiform neurofibromas occur when reverse mutation fails to occur or takes place relatively late within a large clonal population of mutant cells.


Abstract National and international researches have shown how students and teachers face the teaching of writing. Nevertheless, the pandemic has created new needs of pedagogical research on topics like the teaching of writing in distance learning processes. The research aims to compare pedagogical experiences and practices a group of Chilean and Spanish teachers had during distance learning in the COVID-19 pandemic times. This is a qualitative study that approaches from a digital ethnographic perspective, and it is circumscribed by the socio-critical paradigm. 20 Chilean and 20 Spanish primary school teachers volunteered to participate. They all confronted distance learning after the pandemic started in March 2020. A semi structured interview was conducted to gather data. The obtained information has been processed with the qualitative data analysis software NVivo 12. The answers of the teachers indicate a general change in the pedagogical practices after the pandemic, particularly in the teaching of writing. However, on the one hand, Chilean teachers are especially concerned about the students, on the other hand Spanish teachers are about training. The need of further training in distance teaching of writing can be detected in both contexts.


Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death and therapies specifically targeting metastasis are highly needed. Cortical cell polarity (CCP) is a pro-metastatic property of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) affecting their ability to exit blood vessels and form new metastases that constitutes a promising point of attack to prevent metastasis. However, conventional fluorescence microscopy on single cells and manual quantification of CCP are time-consuming and unsuitable for screening of regulators. In this study, we developed an imaging flow cytometry (IFC)-based method for high-throughput screening of factors affecting CCP in melanoma cells. The artificial intelligence (AI)-supported analysis method we developed is highly reproducible, accurate, and orders of magnitude faster than manual quantification. Additionally, this method is flexible and can be adapted to include additional cellular parameters. In a small-scale pilot experiment using polarity-, cytoskeleton-or membrane-affecting drugs, we demonstrate that our workflow provides a straightforward and efficient approach for screening factors affecting CCP in cells in suspension and provide insights into the specific function of these drugs in this cellular system. The method and workflow presented here will facilitate large-scale studies to reveal novel cell-intrinsic as well as systemic factors controlling CCP during metastasis.


Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of injury as well as patient-reported health system responsiveness following injury and how this compares with non-injured patient experience, in older individuals in rural Burkina Faso. Design Cross-sectional household survey. Secondary analysis of the CRSN Heidelberg Ageing Study dataset. Setting Rural Burkina Faso. Participants 3028 adults, over 40, from multiple ethnic groups, were randomly sampled from the 2015 Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance Site census. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcome was incidence of injury. Secondary outcomes were incidence of injury related disability and patient-reported health system responsiveness following injury. Results 7.7% (232/3028) of the population reported injury in the preceding 12 months. In multivariable analyses, younger age, male sex, highest wealth quintile, an abnormal Generalised Anxiety Disorder score and lower Quality of Life score were all associated with injury. The most common mechanism of injury was being struck or hit by an object, 32.8%. In multivariable analysis, only education was significantly negatively associated with odds of disability (OR 0.407, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.997). Across all survey participants, 3.9% (119/3028) reported their most recent care seeking episode was following injury, rather than for another condition. Positive experience and satisfaction with care were reported following injury, with shorter median wait times (10 vs 20 min, p=0.002) and longer consultation times (20 vs 15 min, p=0.002) than care for another reason. Injured patients were also asked to return to health facilities more often than those seeking care for another reason, 81.4% (95% CI 73.1% to 87.9%) vs 54.8% (95% CI 49.9% to 53.6%). Conclusions Injury is an important disease burden in this older adult rural low-income and middle-income country population. Further research could inform preventative strategies, including safer rural farming methods, explore the association between adverse mental health and injury, and strengthen health system readiness to provide quality care.


The factsheets use graphical representations of 14 key indicators linked to the larger macro fiscal environment in which a health system operates. The definition of each indicator as well as a guide for interpreting them in the context of fiscal space for health is provided in all factsheets. The factsheets are available for 188 countries covering a period from1995-2010. The data used in the factsheets is from the World Development Indicators (World Bank); Word Economic Outlook (IMF); and World Health Statistics (WHO) of November 2012. Gross National Income (GNI) is based on the atlas method (current US$).


Background: Photoluminescent materials have been used for diverse applications in the
fields of science and engineering, such as optical storage, biological labeling, noninvasive imaging,
solid-state lasers, light-emitting diodes, theranostics/theragnostics, up-conversion lasers, solar cells,
spectrum modifiers, photodynamic therapy remote controllers, optical waveguide amplifiers and
temperature sensors. Nanosized luminescent materials could be ideal candidates in these applications.

Objective: This review is to present a brief overview of photoluminescent nanofibers obtained
through electrospinning and their emission characteristics.

Methods: To prepare bulk-scale nanosized materials efficiently and cost-effectively, electrospinning
is a widely used technique. By the electrospinning method, a sufficiently high direct-current voltage
is applied to a polymer solution or melt; and at a certain critical point when the electrostatic force
overcomes the surface tension, the droplet is stretched to form nanofibers. Polymer solutions or melts
with a high degree of molecular cohesion due to intermolecular interactions are the feedstock. Subsequent
calcination in air or specific gas may be required to remove the organic elements to obtain
the desired composition.

Results: The luminescent nanofibers are classified based on the composition, structure, and synthesis
material. The photoluminescent emission characteristics of the nanofibers reveal intriguing features
such as polarized emission, energy transfer, fluorescent quenching, and sensing. An overview of the
process, controlling parameters and techniques associated with electrospinning of organic, inorganic
and composite nanofibers are discussed in detail. The scope and potential applications of these luminescent
fibers also conversed.

Conclusion: The electrospinning process is a matured technique to produce nanofibers on a large
scale. Organic nanofibers have exhibited superior fluorescent emissions for waveguides, LEDs and
lasing devices, and inorganic nanofibers for high-end sensors, scintillators, and catalysts. Multifunctionalities
can be achieved for photovoltaics, sensing, drug delivery, magnetism, catalysis, and
so on. The potential of these nanofibers can be extended but not limited to smart clothing, tissue
engineering, energy harvesting, energy storage, communication, safe data storage, etc. and it is
anticipated that in the near future, luminescent nanofibers will find many more applications in diverse
scientific disciplines.


OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with latent syphilis after treatment, who had persistent positive results of test for rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and remained infectious.

METHODS
T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood were measured with flow cytometry (FCM) in these 43 patients and 30 normal subjects served as controls.

RESULTS
Peripheral blood CD3, CD4 and NK cells exhibited no significant difference between the latent patients and the controls (P>0.05), but CD8 cells were higher in these patients (P<0.05). The treated patients with persistent positive RPR within two years had elevated levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes (P<0.05), but NK cells appeared to be lowered (P<0.05); in patients with positive RPR for over two years, CD3, CD4 and NK cells were comparable with those in the controls (P>0.05), but CD8 cells was elevated (P<0.05). Patients with RPR positivity within two years had higher CD3 and CD4 lymphocytes, but lower NK cells in comparison with the patients with more than two years' of positivity (P<0.05); CD8 cells were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Cellular immunity imbalance and immune suppression can be present in treated syphilis patients with persistent positive RPR and the risk to transmission, which may lower the host ability to resist and clear Treponema pallidum and is associated with the difficulty in treating syphilis patients and the persistence of positive RPR even after treatment.


Aim/Purpose: The main objective of this study was to check e-skills, access to and modern ICTs usage among selected small-scale farmers who are major contributors/stakeholders in former Transkei Homeland rural economies

Background: The role of agricultural information system to support agricultural development cannot be over emphasis. Demiryurek et al., (2008) explains the importance of agricultural information to be that it interacts with other production factors such as land, labor, capital, and managerial ability which can be improved by relevant, reliable, and useful information supplied by extension services, research institutions and other agricultural organizations to help farmers make better decisions. ICT application in agriculture has become inevitably due to its potential in improving agricultural productivity by serving as a platform to access vital agricultural information.
As highlighted by Diekmann et al, (2009) that for agricultural extension educators, agricultural professionals, and any other agricultural agency to effectively disseminate agricultural information to farmers, it is critical for that organisation to identify the medium used by farmers to search for information. Considering Diekmann et al, (2009) assertion, one cannot overlook the variables of access and ability/skills in terms of using a medium because of its potential to affect the choice of medium to use.

Methodology: The research design used was a case study since this method enables researcher to closely examine the data within a specific context from a small geographical area. Quantitative (descriptive analysis) and qualitative (thematic analysis) approaches were used to collect data using a structured questionnaire from the small-scale farmers. Participants were selected using purposive sampling approach where the researchers first visited the selected towns to identify the farmers, and then arranged a suitable time to meet them individual to administer and assist the farmers to answer the questionnaire. This made the effective sample of 46 farmers.

Findings: In this study to survey small scale farmers in former Transkei Homelands Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, found that while access to modern ICTs tools was established at Smartphone (100%), Tablets (6.52%), Laptop (10.87%), PC (4.35%), Facebook (1.30%), Google or any Internet explorer (93.48%), WhatsApp (91.30%), You Tube (82.61%) there were less used of these mediums with only 4.95%, 8.91% and 7.89% using Internet to acquire their agricultural information needs. The findings also revealed a shortcoming in the area of the surveyed farmer's e-skills with high percentage indicating "I can't do this" as reported in Table 3. With regards to challenges encounter by respondents in terms of using modern ICT tools to support their day to day farming activities, respondents cited cost of ICT gadgets and Internet data, lack of ICT skills, unreliability of networks.

Impact on Society: In view of the findings it is recommended that developmental agencies charged with developing policies to uplift rural people livelihood include key interventions of provide training to improve e-skills, reduce the data cost and improve internet, network connectivity. It is expected that the results of the study will positively influence the development of rural economies in the Eastern Cape Province and other rural economies in other provinces of South Africa.


Multi-modal image registration is a challenging problem in medical imaging. The goal is to align anatomically identical structures; however, their appearance in images acquired with different imaging devices, such as CT or MR, may be very different. Registration algorithms generally deform one image, the floating image, such that it matches with a second, the reference image, by maximizing some similarity score between the deformed and the reference image. Instead of using a universal, but a priori fixed similarity criterion such as mutual information, we propose learning a similarity measure in a discriminative manner such that the reference and correctly deformed floating images receive high similarity scores. To this end, we develop an algorithm derived from max-margin structured output learning, and employ the learned similarity measure within a standard rigid registration algorithm. Compared to other approaches, our method adapts to the specific registration problem at hand and exploits correlations between neighboring pixels in the reference and the floating image. Empirical evaluation on CT-MR/PET-MR rigid registration tasks demonstrates that our approach yields robust performance and outperforms the state of the art methods for multi-modal medical image registration.


Revision with unchanged content. The large collection of Brazilian researcher`s curricula vitae held on the Lattes Platform provides a formidable base for the discovery of information about people`s skills, abilities and knowledge which is referred to as competencies. Results from the analysis of competencies can be applied in human resources, project management and the planning of on-the-job training in terms of how to enforce collaboration, how to build or modify teams and how to direct resources. The study builds on Knowledge Discovery in Textual Database (KDT) in order to analyze each step from data selection, term extraction and weighting to clustering and the interpretation toward knowledge management. For the division of an input dataset into a priori unknown competency-based groups two clustering algorithms have been implemented, namely the k-means algorithm and Kohonen Self-Organizing Maps (Kohonen- SOM). Two illustration techniques for competency-based groups as well as decision rules for the application of both algorithms will be presented.


During the last three decades the stock of government debt has increased in most developed countries. During the same period we also observe a significant liberalization of international financial markets. In this paper we propose a multi-country model with incomplete markets and show that governments may choose higher levels of debt when financial markets become internationally integrated. We also show that public debt increases with the volatility of uninsurable idiosyncratic income (risk). To the extent that the increase in income inequality observed in some industrialized countries during the last three decades has been associated with higher idiosyncratic risk, the paper suggests another potential mechanism for the rise in public debt.


There have been major changes in the delivery of services to patients with coronary disease over the last two decades. These include primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and an early invasive strategy for those with non-STEMI acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In these settings patients undergo angiography with a view to immediate angioplasty (so-called "follow-on" or "ad-hoc" angioplasty) or early coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Chest pain clinics identify patients who need early angiography and these and other elective patients are frequently listed for a potential follow-on procedure. These changes have made revascularisation units more efficient, with greater patient throughput and reduced hospital bed-days. In the United Kingdom they have played a major part in significantly reducing waiting times for procedures.

However, this increased efficiency has its challenges. One of the most important is the issue of obtaining informed consent. Decisions should be based on an estimate of the risk of a procedure followed by the risk of the condition as modified by treatment, compared with the risk of the condition on medical treatment alone.1 Estimates of risks and benefits are dependent on a very complex amalgam of many clinical variables and not just the extent of ventricular dysfunction and pattern of coronary disease. The patients cannot be fully advised before coronary angiography but they should at least be introduced to the concepts behind decision-making and the possible outcomes following the angiogram.

We perform revascularisation procedures to improve symptoms or improve prognosis. In the emergency setting PCI is usually the first-line approach as it is effective in a situation where the risks of CABG are high. After presenting with a non-STEMI ACS, patients stabilised on medical therapy are willing to undergo angiography as they understand that the effort is to try and prevent …


Neurogenic inflammation in the dura mater caused by trigeminal nociceptive activation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a powerful neuroprotective neuropeptide that can modulate mast cell behavior. Migraine is also associated with sympathetic insufficiency. This study investigates the effects of VIP on the number of mast cells in the dura mater and on c‐Fos expression in the trigeminal nucleus of sympathectomized rats. Experiments were carried out with 32 Sprague‐Dawley male rats with body weights of 200–250 g. In the sympathectomized group, the left superior cervical sympathetic ganglion was removed. In the sympathectomized + VIP group, postoperative VIP 25 ng/kg/day (0.2 ml) was administered for 5 days. In the sham group, the ganglion and nerves were exposed but not dissected. Dura maters were stained with toluidine blue, and brainstems were labeled by indirect immunohistochemistry for c‐Fos. Sympathectomy significantly increased the number of mast cells in both the ipsilateral and the contralateral dura mater (P < 0.001). VIP decreased the number of mast cells in both sides of the dura mater in sympathectomized rats. VIP also decreased c‐Fos expression in the ipsilateral trigeminal nucleus of sympathectomized rats (P < 0.001). In the context of an experimental superior cervical ganglionectomy model of migraine, VIP is an efficient modulator of neurogenic inflammation of the dura. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


This study evaluates the state of SUBEB libraries/Learning resource centres (LRCs) in three selected states of the South-West region on Nigeria. The study aimed at ascertaining the adequacy and relevance of learning resources, infrastructural facilities and services to the needs of teachers, pupils and other users of the library. Data for the study was collected with the aid of questionnaire administered on both the teachers and library staff as well as interview with both pupils and heads of SUBEB libraries. Also, the researcher visited some of the libraries to observe the collection and resources. The study revealed that most of the SUBEB libraries contain only print based materials as oppose to multimedia materials which now form the major components of school library media collection. However, the study revealed that the SUBEB libraries/LRCs collection and facilities are relevant and adequate to users needs, hence the frequent use of SUBEB libraries/LRCs by teachers. The study revealed government as major source of funding for SUBEB libraries/LRCs as revealed by the study. The study recommends the development of a multimedia collection as well as extension of opening hours beyond school hours in SUBEB libraries/LRCs to attract pupils to using the library. Also, it is recommended that there is need for public - private partnership to ensure adequate funding of SUBEB libraries/LRCs as government alone cannot fund the libraries. Proper evaluation of the SUBEB libraries should be seen as very important to ensure that the SUBEB libraries/LRCs are serving the purpose(s) for which they are established.


Human and animal fecal wastes and urine contain a large number of different viruses that can enter the environment through the discharge of waste materials from infected individuals. Despite the high diversity of viruses that are introduced into the environment by human fecal pollution, only a few have been recognized to cause disease in association with consumption of contaminated shellfish. Viruses are present in shellfish in very low numbers. Nevertheless, they are present in sufficient quantities to pose a health risk as presented above. This low level of contamination has made it necessary to develop highly sensitive viral extraction methods to ensure virus recovery from shellfish tissues. The aim of this paper is to outline the importance of human enteric viruses in bivalve molluscs, describes of shellfish contamination and describes processing methods to reduce or eliminate enteric viruses in shellfish and summarize the advantages and limitations of current detection methodologies. Recommendations are also provided on the need for new research directions to address shellfish-borne viruses.


Whether supernovae are major sources of dust in galaxies is a long-standing debate. We present infrared and submillimeter photometry and spectroscopy from the Herschel Space Observatory of the Crab Nebula between 51 and 670 μm as part of the Mass Loss from Evolved StarS program. We compare the emission detected with Herschel with multiwavelength data including millimeter, radio, mid-infrared, and archive optical images. We carefully remove the synchrotron component using the Herschel and Planck fluxes measured in the same epoch. The contribution from line emission is removed using Herschel spectroscopy combined with Infrared Space Observatory archive data. Several forbidden lines of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen are detected where multiple velocity components are resolved, deduced to be from the nitrogen-depleted, carbon-rich ejecta. No spectral lines are detected in the SPIRE wavebands; in the PACS bands, the line contribution is 5% and 10% at 70 and 100 μm and negligible at 160 μm. After subtracting the synchrotron and line emission, the remaining far-infrared continuum can be fit with two dust components. Assuming standard interstellar silicates, the mass of the cooler component is 0.24+0.32− 0.08 M☉ for T = 28.1+5.5− 3.2 K. Amorphous carbon grains require 0.11 ± 0.01 M☉ of dust with T = 33.8+2.3− 1.8 K. A single temperature modified blackbody with 0.14 M☉ and 0.08 M☉ for silicate and carbon dust, respectively, provides an adequate fit to the far-infrared region of the spectral energy distribution but is a poor fit at 24–500 μm. The Crab Nebula has condensed most of the relevant refractory elements into dust, suggesting the formation of dust in core-collapse supernova ejecta is efficient.


OBJECTIVE
Given the known risks of alcohol use and sexual behavior for college students on Spring Break, this study was designed to document the behaviors and correlates associated with being on a Spring Break trip on a given day (controlling for average time on a trip).

METHOD
Participants were undergraduate students (n = 261; 55% women) who reported that they planned to go on a Spring Break trip. Web-based survey responses before and after Spring Break documented perceived norms, intentions, and actual behavior on each of the 10 days of Spring Break.

RESULTS
Students who went on longer trips, who previously engaged in more heavy episodic drinking, or who had greater pre-Spring Break intentions to drink reported greater alcohol use during Spring Break. Similarly, students with greater pre-Spring Break intentions to have sex, greater perceived norms for sex, or more previous sexual partners had greater odds of having sex. On days students were on trips, they had a greater likelihood of having sex, drinking to higher estimated blood alcohol concentrations, consuming more drinks, and reporting perceived drunkenness than on nontrip days, especially if they had intentions to have sex and drink alcohol (and, for models predicting sexual behavior and drunkenness, had greater perceived norms for sex and drinking).

CONCLUSIONS
Students who went on Spring Break trips engaged in more risk behaviors. In addition, the context of being on a trip on a given day was associated with increased risk, especially if they had stronger intentions and, in some cases, higher perceived norms. Further research is needed to describe the contexts of Spring Break trips and how to intervene effectively.


A \(2\)-rainbow dominating function of a graph \(G\left(V(G),E(G)\right)\) is a function \(f\) that assigns to each vertex a set of colors chosen from the set \(\{1,2\}\) so that for each vertex with \(f(v)=\emptyset\) we have \({\textstyle\bigcup_{u\in N(v)}} f(u)=\{1,2\}\). The weight of a \(2\)RDF \(f\) is defined as \(w\left( f\right)={\textstyle\sum\nolimits_{v\in V(G)}} |f(v)|\). The minimum weight of a \(2\)RDF is called the \(2\)-rainbow domination number of \(G\), denoted by \(\gamma_{2r}(G)\). The vertex criticality index of a \(2\)-rainbow domination of a graph \(G\) is defined as \(ci_{2r}^{v}(G)=(\sum\nolimits_{v\in V(G)}(\gamma_{2r}\left(G\right) -\gamma_{2r}\left( G-v\right)))/\left\vert V(G)\right\vert\), the edge removal criticality index of a \(2\)-rainbow domination of a graph \(G\) is defined as \(ci_{2r}^{-e}(G)=(\sum\nolimits_{e\in E(G)}(\gamma_{2r}\left(G\right)-\gamma_{2r}\left( G-e\right)))/\left\vert E(G)\right\vert\) and the edge addition of a \(2\)-rainbow domination criticality index of \(G\) is defined as \(ci_{2r}^{+e}(G)=(\sum\nolimits_{e\in E(\overline{G})}(\gamma_{2r}\left(G\right)-\gamma_{2r}\left( G+e\right)))/\left\vert E(\overline{G})\right\vert\), where \(\overline{G}\) is the complement graph of \(G\). In this paper, we determine the criticality indices of paths and cycles.


The invention pertains to a method for providing a metallic or concrete surface of a chemical installation with a coating, which comprises the steps of -providing a two-pack coating composition wherein the first pack comprises an epoxy resin and the second pack comprises an amine curing agent for the epoxy resin, the coating composition further comprising an organoboron compound of the formula BX1 X2X3, wherein X1, X2, and X3 are independently selected from -Y1 and -OY2, wherein Y1 is independently selected from monovalent C1-C12 alkyl groups and monovalent C6-C12 aryl groups, and Y2 is independently selected from monovalent C1-C12 alkyl groups and monovalent C6-C12 aryl groups, and wherein at least one of X1, X2, and X3 is an -OY2 group, -combining the first pack and the second pack to form a coating composition, -applying the coating composition to the surface of a chemical installation to form a coating layer, and - allowing the coating layer to cure at a temperature in the range of 0 to 50 DEG C. A chemical installation provided with a lining of a cured coating composition as specified above, and a suitable coating composition, are also claimed. It has been found that the coating composition as specified herein has a wide application spectrum, and a high chemical resistance.


To gather recipes for traditional sourdoughs used to bake traditional bread, a survey was conducted in Figuig, a town located in the southeast of Morocco. The data of this survey is collected from a random sample of 100 rural women using a structured questionnaire. The data shows a total of 17 different traditional recipes mentioned by the interviewed women. Among the ingredients used in these recipes, whole wheat flour and warm water had the highest percentage of citations (31 %). It was also observed that 9 local products were used in these sourdough recipes, including whey, locally called "leben" (19 %), dried beans (16 %) and dates (15 %). Lemon, garlic, dried figs, raisins, flax seeds and carob flour were also mentioned as ingredients (1%). The participants also stated that the sourdoughs
are transferred to different shapes and types of utensils for incubation and were alive for a variable amount of time depending on climatic conditions.


Due to lack of intervention studies in the introduction of new, integrated and
trauma focused therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder in Iran, this research was conducted to study
the efficacy of holographic reprocessing therapy on arousal and intrusion symptoms in veterans with
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Materials & Methods: This single-case experimental study used A-B plan with different subjects that
were conducted during 9 sessions on three patients with one month follow-up. The data were analyzed
with visuals inspection, improvement percentage and reliable change index (RCI) strategies. Instruments
used in this research included the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I disorders and the impact of
Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).
Results: The findings showed that the holographic reprocessing therapy reduced the severity of arousal
and intrusion symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and follow-up period of therapy
indicating the consistency of therapy.
Conclusion: This therapy with providing reprocessing facilitates a change in clients' perceptions of a
traumatic event, themselves, and others. It is through this perceptual shift they are able to gain new
insight. This kind of therapy created significant changes in symptoms of all three patients and therapeutic
achievements were maintained over follow-up.


Model predictive control (MPC) facilitates online optimal resource scheduling in electrical networks, thermal systems, water networks, process industry to name a few. In electrical systems, the capability of MPC can be used not only to minimise operating costs but also to improve renewable energy utilisation and energy storage system degradation. This work assesses the application of MPC for energy management in an islanded microgrid with PV generation and hybrid storage system composed of battery, supercapacitor and regenerative fuel cell. The objective is to improve the utilisation of renewable generation, the operational efficiency of the microgrid and the reduction in rate of degradation of storage systems. The improvements in energy scheduling, achieved with MPC, are highlighted through comparison with a heuristic based method, like Fuzzy inference. Simulated behaviour of an islanded microgrid with the MPC and fuzzy based energy management schemes will be studied for the same. Apart from this, the study also carries out an analysis of the computational demand resulting from the use of MPC in the energy management stage. It is concluded that, compared to heuristic methods, MPC ensures improved performance in an islanded microgrid.


the G20 took up food security in 2010, many were optimistic that it could bring about positive change by addressing structural problems in commodity markets that were contributing to high and volatile food prices and exac- erbating hunger. Its members could tighten the regulation of agricultural commodity futures markets, support multilat- eral trade rules that would better reflect both importer and exporter needs, end renewable fuel targets that diverted land to biofuels production, and coordinate food reserves. In this article, we argue that although the G20 took on food security as a focus area, it missed an important opportunity and has shown that it is not the most appropriate forum for food security policy. Instead of tackling the structural economic dimensions of food security, the G20 chose to pro- mote smoothing and coping measures within the current global economic framework. By shifting the focus away from structural issues, the G20 has had a chilling effect on policy debates in other global food security forums, especially the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS). In addition, the G20 excludes the voices of the least developed coun- tries and civil society, and lacks the expertise and capacity to implement its recommendations.


Management is the process of reaching organizational goals by working with people and other resources. Or knowing what you want people to do, and then getting them to do it the best way. Management is not only practiced in organization and business entities, but management plays an important role in our daily lives and is practiced by every individual is some or the other way. Management is a continuing process, and managers are always involved in it. It helps them to accomplish their objectives. Man is a social being. But within each social group there may be heterogeneous traits and features. So each organization can be thought of as pluralistic and need social harmony for peaceful co-existence. Management can contribute towards social harmony by building- up cordial industrial relationships, ensuring better life and welfare to employee's increasing employees' participation over decisions within the workplace. Consequently, employees will take more interest and initiative in the work assigned. They will feel that they are the vital element of the organization and the organization belongs to them. This will generate the sense of belongingness and loyalty towards the organization. The peaceful co-existence of people from different levels of management can create pleasant and harmonious atmosphere in the organization. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the strong and efficient top level management of the organization can contribute in encouraging social harmony in the workplace. The paper took into account the positive strategies adopted by top management for promoting social harmony in the organization and its implication on the employees, productivity and the economy of the organization. The research methodology is based on the secondary data which include compilation of research article of the experts in the field and the reflections of the essays and article published in the websites. The approach of the study is exploratory in nature.


Intensive care unit (ICU) patients may experience ceftriaxone underexposure, but clinical outcomes data are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of ceftriaxone dosing on clinical outcomes among ICU patients without central nervous system (CNS) infection. A retrospective study of ICU patients receiving intravenous, empirical ceftriaxone for non-CNS infections was conducted. Patients ≥18 years of age who received ≤2 g of ceftriaxone daily for ≥72 h were included and categorized as receiving ceftriaxone 1 g or 2 g daily. ABSTRACT Intensive care unit (ICU) patients may experience ceftriaxone underexposure, but clinical outcomes data are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of ceftriaxone dosing on clinical outcomes among ICU patients without central nervous system (CNS) infection. A retrospective study of ICU patients receiving intravenous, empirical ceftriaxone for non-CNS infections was conducted. Patients ≥18 years of age who received ≤2 g of ceftriaxone daily for ≥72 h were included and categorized as receiving ceftriaxone 1 g or 2 g daily. The primary, composite outcome was treatment failure, defined as inpatient mortality and/or antibiotic escalation due to clinical worsening. Propensity score matching was performed based on the probability of receiving 2 g of ceftriaxone daily. Multivariable logistic regression determined the association between ceftriaxone dose and treatment failure in a propensity-matched cohort. A total of 212 patients were included in the propensity-matched cohort. The most common diagnoses (83.0%) were pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Treatment failure occurred in 17.0% and 5.7% of patients receiving 1 g and 2 g daily, respectively (P = 0.0156). Overall inpatient mortality was 8.5%. Ceftriaxone 2 g dosing was associated with a reduced likelihood of treatment failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.190; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.059 to 0.607). Other independent predictors of treatment failure included sequential organ failure assessment score (aOR = 1.440; 95% CI = 1.254 to 1.653) and creatinine clearance at 72 h from ceftriaxone initiation (aOR = 0.980; 95% CI = 0.971 to 0.999). Therefore, ceftriaxone at 2 g daily, when used as appropriate antimicrobial coverage, may be appropriate for ICU patients with lower mortality risk.


BACKGROUND
Bile acids have been used for treating primary sclerosing cholangitis, but their beneficial and harmful effects remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of bile acids for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group's Trials Register, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Chinese Biomedical Database generally from inception through to May 2002.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised clinical trials comparing any dose or duration of bile acids versus placebo, no intervention, or another intervention were included. Trials were included irrespective of blinding, language, or publication status.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers extracted the data. The methodological quality of the trials was evaluated with respect to the generation of the allocation sequence, allocation concealment, double blinding, and follow-up. The results were reported by intention-to-treat analysis. The outcomes were presented as relative risks (RR) or weighted mean differences (WMD), both with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

MAIN RESULTS
We identified six randomised clinical trials, all with low methodological quality. Patients were treated for three months to six years (median two years). Five trials (183 patients) compared ursodeoxycholic acid versus placebo, and one trial (40 patients) compared ursodeoxycholic acid versus no treatment. Ursodeoxycholic acid did not significantly reduce the risk of death (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.27 to 2.73); treatment failure including liver transplantation, varices, ascites, and encephalopathy (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.42); liver histological deterioration (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.45 to 1.74); or liver cholangiographic deterioration (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.18 to 1.02). Ursodeoxycholic acid significantly improved serum bilirubin (WMD -14.6 micro mol/litre; 95% CI -18.7 to -10.6), alkaline phosphatases (WMD -506 IU/litre; 95% CI -583 to -430), aspartate aminotransferase (WMD -46 IU/litre; 95% CI -77 to -16), and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (WMD -260 IU/litre; 95% CI -315 to -205), but not albumin (WMD -0.20 g/litre; 95% CI -1.91 to 1.50). Ursodeoxycholic acid was well tolerated.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS
Ursodeoxycholic acid leads to a significant improvement in liver biochemistry, but there is insufficient evidence to either support or refute its clinical effects in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Large scale, high-quality randomised clinical trials are needed.


Introduction: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is an emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) associated with cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women, yet little is known regarding its natural history. We conducted a secondary analysis of specimens collected from young women enrolled in a multi-centre study of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV) in order to determine the natural history of MG and associated factors with infection. Methods Sexually active women aged 15–25 years were recruited from 10 US clinical sites. Eligible women had asymptomatic BV at baseline, and >/=2 STI risk factors. Self-collected vaginal swabs were collected at enrollment, and by home-based testing at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months. MG nucleic acid amplification testing was performed using a transcription mediated assay (Hologic Inc, San Diego, California). Prevalent, incident and persistent MG were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Univariate analyses and logistic regression modelling were performed to assess associations between participants' baseline demographic, sexual, and clinical characteristics with prevalent MG infection. Results Specimens were tested for MG from 1365 predominantly Black (85.4%) women. At baseline, 233 women were MG+ (prevalence 20.5% [95% CI: 18.2–22.9]); among 204 participants with follow-up specimens, 42 (20.6%) had persistent MG, remaining MG+ on all follow-up testing. Among 801 women who were MG negative at baseline with follow-up testing, 220 had at least one subsequent MG+ test for an incidence of 27.5% (95% CI: 24.4–30.7). Black race (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.92, 95% CI: 1.09–3.38) and younger (15–21 years) age (AOR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03–1.91) were significantly associated with prevalent MG infection. Conclusions We identified high rates of prevalent, incident, and persistent MG infections among sexually active young women followed over 12 months. As national programs consider the impact of MG as an STI, the implications of asymptomatic infections should be considered among at-risk populations.


Two field experiments were conducted on simultaneous growing and incorporation of daincha ( Sesbania aculeata Pers.) in wet seeded rice in the humid tropics of Kerala, India. The objectives were to optimize the stage and method of incorporation of daincha, to evaluate N release pattern following green manure addition, and to assess its potential to supplement the nutrient requirement of rice crop, besides evaluating the cost effectiveness of in situ green manuring. Treatments consisted of two stages of incorporation of in situ grown daincha (20 and 30 days after sowing), three methods of incorporation (using cono weeder, spraying 2, 4-D at1.0 kg•ha–1, and spraying met sulfuron methyl at 5.0 g•ha–1), and two levels of N application (100 and 75% of the recommended N dose of 90 kg•ha–1). Wet sown rice without daincha, receiving 5 Mg•ha–1 farm yard manure and 90, 45, 45 kg N, P, and K ha–1 respectively, served as control. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized factorial design during 2004 and 2005 and was replicated thrice. Incorporation of daincha at 30 days added about 14 Mg•ha–1 of organic matter, reduced weed population by 70% and supplemented about 25% of the N requirement of rice. Peak release of NH4 - N from daincha coincided with panicle initiation stage of rice, signifying N availability at the most critical physiological stage (synchrony in the release of green manure held nutrients and nutrient uptake by the rice crop). Green manuring with intercropped daincha also enhanced rice yield by 544 kg•ha–1 and returns by Rs.10220 ha–1, implying the potential of integrated nutrient management systems to augment crop productivity and profitability.


There have been several studies that have shown that patients with beta thalassemia major are at a higher risk of thrombosis due to the procoagulant activity of thalassemic erythrocytes, decreased liver synthetic function, increased platelet activity and vascular endothelial activation attributed to chronic oxidative stress, although there are no established tests to predict thrombotic risk in TM patients. In this study, we evaluated whether or not the platelet function analyser (PFA-200) and thrombin generation test (TGT) would be useful tools to identify hypercoagulability and risk of thrombosis in thalassemia major patients. The study included 50 patients with thalassemia major and 104 healthy control group. Pretransfusion and posttransfusion PFA-200 and TGT results were compared with control group. We found that median C/ADP and C/EPI values in the thalassemia major group were greater in both the pre and posttransfusion samples than the C/ADP and C/EPI results from the control group. The TGT results showed there was no difference between control group and the results from the thalassemia major group. The TGT and PFA-200 testing did not identify hypercoagulability nor identify clear testing parameters to predict a thalassemia major patient's risk of thrombosis. There may be other mechanisms/causes yet unidentified that could better explain thalassemia major patient's increased risk from thromboembolic events.


We establish upper bounds for the $L^p$-quantization error, p in (1, 2+d), induced by the recursive Markovian quantization of a d-dimensional diffusion discretized via the Euler scheme. We introduce a hybrid recursive quantization scheme, easier to implement in the high-dimensional framework, and establish upper bounds to the corresponding $L^p$-quantization error. To take advantage of these extensions, we propose a time discretization scheme and a recursive quantization-based discretization scheme associated to a reflected Backward Stochastic Differential Equation and estimate $L^p$-error bounds induced by the space approximation. We will explain how to numerically compute the solution of the reflected BSDE relying on the recursive quantization and compare it to other types of quantization.


Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their smallest subset, exosomes, have been emerging as potentially promising biomarkers of cancer detection, prognosis and response to therapy. There are several reasons why EVs, and especially tumor-derived exosomes, have become of great interest as "liquid biopsies" to investigators engaged in monitoring cancer progression and treatments. Tumors produce a variety of EVs (exosomes, microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, collectively called "tEVs"), all of which carry tumor-derived molecular and genetic materials (1). However, the cellular mechanisms responsible for tEVs formation and release by the parent cell differ for different EV types (2). While microvesicles "pinch off" from the cell surface, exosomes originate from the endocytic compartment of the parent cell and are released into intercellular space upon fusion of the multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the surface membrane. Apoptotic bodies are large aggregates of dying cells.


Blood pressure at rest is not predictive of round-the-clock values. Blood pressure should therefore be measured during effort to evaluate hypertension and its response to treatment. The effect of sustained-release verapamil (240 mg taken once a day) on blood pressure at rest and during isometric effort was therefore investigated. Overall, verapamil reduced blood pressure significantly in 41 of 45 hypertensive patients: the mean systolic blood pressure at rest (+/- SD) fell from 151 +/- 35 mmHg to 137 +/- 13 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the diastolic blood pressure from 97 +/- 21 mmHg to 83 +/- 7 mmHg (P < 0.001), while the systolic blood pressure during isometric effort fell from 186 +/- 23 mmHg to 156 +/- 13 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the diastolic blood pressure from 118 +/- 14 mmHg to 95 +/- 8 mmHg (P < 0.001). The simple, inexpensive handgrip method described is cost-effective and strongly recommended as an integral part of the evaluation of hypertensive patients. The combination of a drug to which compliance is good and a simple method of blood pressure evaluation should result in improved effectiveness of treatment in the long term.


We present a software library that aids in the design of mobile ad hoc networks (MANET). The OMAN design engine works by taking a specification of network requirements and objectives, and allocates resources which satisfy the input constraints and maximize the communication performance objective. The tool is used to explore networking design options and challenges, including: power control, adaptive modulation, flow control, scheduling, mobility, uncertainty in channel models, and cross-layer design. The unaddressed niche which OMAN seeks to fill is the general framework for optimization of any network resource, under arbitrary constraints, and with any selection of multiple objectives. While simulation is an important part of measuring the effectiveness of implemented optimization techniques, the novelty and focus of OMAN is on proposing novel network design algorithms, aggregating existing approaches, and providing a general framework for a network designer to test out new proposed resource allocation methods. In this paper, we present a high-level view of the OMAN architecture, review specific mathematical models used in the network representation, and show how OMAN is used to evaluate tradeoffs in MANET design. Specifically, we cover three case studies of optimization. The first case is robust power control under uncertain channel information for a single physical layer snapshot. The second case is scheduling with the availability of directional radiation patterns. The third case is optimizing topology through movement planning of relay nodes.


Fascine objects can be applied in the process of emergency rescues in the Middle and Lower reaches of the Yellow River. Because fascine objects can improve the efficiency of rushing to deal with an emergency, adapt to changes in river bed conditions better, resist the erosion of water slide on riverbank and buttress and prevent the collapse of the embankment, they are applicable to rescuing grave dangerous situations such as river closure, advancing construction dams in waters, closing up levee breaches and so on. Based on the experimental study, the authors analyze the mechanical calculation results of fascine object's underwater falling, and draw the relevant mechanical properties of fascine object's underwater falling.


The conflict between security and testability is still a concern of hardware designers. While secure devices must protect confidential information from unauthorized users, quality testing of these devices requires the controllability and observability of a substantial quantity of embedded information, and thus may jeopardize the data confidentiality. Several attacks using the test infrastructures (and in particular scan chains) have been described. More recently it has been shown how test response compaction structures provide a natural counter-measure against this type of attack. However, in this paper, we show that even in the presence of response compactors the scan-based attack is still possible and it requires low complexity computation. We then give some perspectives concerning the techniques that can be used to increase the scan-based attack complexity without affecting the testability of the device.1