The need for e-learning systems that support a diverse set of pedagogical requirements has been identified as an important issue in web-based education. Until now, significant R&D effort has been devoted aiming towards web-based educational systems tailored to specific pedagogical approaches. The most advanced of them are based on the ADL Sharable Content Object Reference Model in order to enable sharing and reusability of the learning content. However, sharing of learning activities among different web-based educational systems still remains an open issue. In this paper we first examine the limitations of the current state-of-the art authoring tools and investigate the use of the Learning Design framework as a mean to address those limitations. Then, we propose a high-level architecture of a learning activities generator and the supporting SCORM compatible authoring system that utilizes the Learning Design principles to provide the means for designing web-based pedagogical scenarios. Finally, we introduce the ASK-LDT, an authoring system developed based on the proposed architecture.


We study the problem of answering questions about images in the harder setting, where the test questions and corresponding images contain novel objects, which were not queried about in the training data. Such setting is inevitable in real world–owing to the heavy tailed distribution of the visual categories, there would be some objects which would not be annotated in the train set. We show that the performance of two popular existing methods drop significantly (21–28%) when evaluated on novel objects cf. known objects. We propose methods which use large existing external corpora of (i) unlabeled text, i.e. books, and (ii) images tagged with classes, to achieve novel object based visual question answering. We systematically study both, an oracle case where the novel objects are known textually, as well as a fully automatic case without any explicit knowledge of the novel objects, but with the minimal assumption that the novel objects are semantically related to the existing objects in training. The proposed methods for novel object based visual question answering are modular and can potentially be used with many visual question answering architectures. We show consistent improvements with the two popular architectures and give qualitative analysis of the cases where the model does well and of those where it fails to bring improvements.


Distribution of plasmids and genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance was studied in 129 strains of Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Serratia and Enterobacter isolated from oncological patients. It was shown that 56 isolates contained the plasmids, 9 conjugative plasmids being plasmids with broad bacterial host spectrum. A significant part of the strains contained genes controlling production of APH (3"), type II APH (3'), type I and II DHPS and type type II DHFR. Genetic determinants of tetracycline resistance of classes D and E were detected for the first time in the strains of Klebsiella, Serratia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


This study presents a novel all-optical in-band optical signal-to-noise monitoring method based on degenerated four-wave mixing. The monitoring ability arises from the power transfer function (PTF) giving preferential gain to clean pulses when compared with noisy ones. By selecting appropriate phase-matching condition a much higher monitoring sensitivity can be achieved at a reduced input power compared to other methods based on PTF proposed before. An analytic expression to evaluate the sensitivity of the monitor is presented. Numerical simulations are then used to quantify the sensitivity enhancement for signals with different modulation formats.


Although researchers using a complex sample survey data need not understand the in-depth details of the process generating the survey weights, questions about why, when, and how to use weighting and which statistical packages to use are the most common during data analysis. Unfortunately, relatively little practical information is available about why, when, and how to use weights, which makes weighting a challenging subject in the analysis of the KFS data. As noted by Kish (1992), one cannot find textbooks or references that provide a reasonable and comprehensive explanation of the use of weights in complex sample data. Although the theory of design-based inference from probability sample design has been under development for the last hundred years and is still an evolving field, the question to weight or not to weight in driving statistical models is an ongoing debate; however, the consensus among design-based analysts is that using weights in the statistical analysis of complex sample survey is never a wrong thing to do. This paper is aimed at clarifying the complex design of the KFS, thereby providing a simple guide to weighting and introducing the statistical procedures by the major statistical packages that are designed for analyzing data derived from a complex sample survey.


Neural correlates of working memory, errors, and response choice were identified in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats performing a spatial delayed double alternation task. The mPFC of rats has been associated with attention, working memory, emotional control, and other executive functions. Lesioning or inactivation of mPFC, the prelim- bic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) areas in particular, have been shown to produce significance decreases in performance of delayed response tasks. Previous recording experiments have found examples of neurons in mPFC that have elevated and selective activity during the delay period. However, these experiments have been quite simple compared to experiments in monkeys. For instance, many experiments in rats have used spatial alternation tasks but none have been able to successfully separate coding for past spatial goals from coding for future spatial goals. The aim of the experiment reported here was to develop a task with complexity similar to what is found in primate research and to record from mPFC as the rats performed the task. We developed a delayed double alternation, in which rats must respond in a left-left-right-right pattern. This task requires the rats to store and recall at least two items of information to receive rewards. After training rats to perform the task, we recorded from mPFC of awake behaving rats using chronically implanted tetrodes. We found groups of neurons encoding past goals, future goals, switch-stay strategy, and response errors. Encoding for past goals and future goals are performed by two separate, but over- lapping, ensembles of neurons. Anatomically, the mPFC is involved in neural circuits which serve to integrate internal and external stimuli into behavioral actions. Our results reveal a functional integration of the past, present, and future into action.


Instructors are increasingly using videotaping in addition to written summarized feedback to develop oral presentation skills, but reviewing videotapes with students can be a time-consuming process. Moreover, students may find that summarized feedback, which is displaced from the video itself, is vague and unhelpful. This project investigated a new way for instructors to deliver targeted feedback within video recordings, and embedded the new approach within other best practices (e.g. rubrics, guided self-reflection). We compared two groups (N=31) across two presentations, with one group first receiving videotapes that included interjected feedback, much like subtitles, in their videos, while the other group first received raw videotapes and met face-to-face with their instructor to review their performance. Despite the significant student perception that face-to-face feedback was more useful, our results showed that interjected feedback was more helpful for developing students' style skills, and there was no difference in improvement across presentations for content, organization and response to audience. Across both groups, students reported great benefit of video feedback because it provided them with a third-party perspective of their own performance. Furthermore, interjected feedback provided instructors with a substantial time savings compared to the face-to-face meetings.


The weather-sensitive traffic estimation and prediction system (TrEPS) aims for accurate estimation and prediction of the traffic states under inclement weather conditions. Successful application of weather-sensitive TrEPS requires detailed calibration of weather effects on the traffic flow model. In this study, systematic procedures for the entire calibration process were developed, from data collection through model parameter estimation to model validation. After the development of the procedures, a dual-regime modified Greenshields model and weather adjustment factors were calibrated for four metropolitan areas across the United States (Irvine, California; Chicago, Illinois; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Baltimore, Maryland) by using freeway loop detector traffic data and weather data from automated surface-observing systems stations. Observations showed that visibility and precipitation (rain–snow) intensity have significant impacts on the value of some parameters of the traffic flow models, such as free-flow speed and maximum flow rate, while these impacts can be included in weather adjustment factors. The calibrated models were used as input in a weather-integrated simulation system for dynamic traffic assignment. The results show that the calibrated models are capable of capturing the weather effects on traffic flow more realistically than TrEPS without weather integration.


The 5-nitrothiazole, nitazoxanide, is a novel compound with a
broad
spectrum
of activity;
effective against anaerobic/microaerophilic
intestinal
protozoa
and
bacteria.
The
mechanism of nitazoxanide's anthelmintic activity
is
unknown.
This
study examined
the
mode of action of nitazoxanide and analogues against nematodes,
trematodes
and
cestodes.
Caenorhabditis elegans, a free living nematode, was used as a model.
Nitazoxanide
was
found to exert a transient spastic paralytic effect, particularly at
the
posterior
end of the
nematode, with 50% effect at 4.62µM. This
effect
is
similar
to that
of
levamisole
(a
neuromuscular agent) specific for nicotinic receptors.
An
effect of
nitazoxanide
at nicotinic
receptors was demonstrated using mutants of
C.
elegans
and the
specific neuroblockers,
mecamylamine and pempidine. A neuromuscular
effect
was
also seen
in
Ascaris
suum
at
higher concentrations using electrophysiological technique.
Nitazoxanide
had
no
effect on
L3 larvae of Nematodirus spathiger
and
Haemonchus
contortus.
Cestodes and trematodes in vitro
showed
high
sensitivity to
nitazoxanide with
<µM
causing rapid paralysis and tegumental damage in
Hymenolepis
diminuta
and
Schistosoma
mansoni. This was accompanied
by inhibition
of
α-bungarotoxin
binding to
nicotinic
receptors in S. mansoni, further suggesting an
effect
on neurotransmission.
Uptake
of
glucose by the schistosome was decreased, and tegumental
damage
was
found,
suggesting
that nitazoxanide can impair worm nutrition.
Analysis
of physicochemical
properties
of
nitazoxanide suggested it is a protonophoric uncoupler.
Consistent
with this,
synthesis
of
ATP was inhibited significantly by 33µM
nitazoxanide
in
C.
elegans
and
S.
mansoni.
In
mitochondria of H. diminuta an increase in
oxygen
uptake
was
observed
comparable to that
seen with known protonophores suggesting that
uncoupling of oxidative
phosphorylation
was occurring. In conclusion, nitazoxanide
is likely to
affect
helminths by
a
direct
effect
on
neurotransmission and protonophoric uncoupling.
Nematodes
are
less
sensitive than
trematodes and cestodes in vitro, possibly
due to
difficulty
of
drug
adsorption through the
cuticle.


We used externally applied transmitters to study movements of female grass snakes (Natrix natrix) during the egg-laying period in a near-urban landscape in Sweden. Half of the studied snakes were residents while the other half were translocated individuals with no previous experience of the area. As predicted, resident females moved more goal-oriented and shorter distances than did translocated individuals. Habitat use did not differ between resident and translocated snakes; they were typically found in bushes, reeds, and tall vegetation. Habitat preference (use in relation to availability) showed that bushy habitats, tall grassy vegetation and reedbeds were over-used in proportion to availability, whereas forest and open grass lawns were used less than expected based on availability. Our study highlights the importance of preserving and restoring linear habitat components providing shelter and connectivity in conservation of grass snakes. We suggest that externally applied transmitters are a better option than surgically implanted ones in movement studies of grass snakes, and that translocation as a conservation method for snakes has drawbacks.


In October 2014, JET completed a scoping study involving high power scenario development in preparation for DT along with other experiments critical for ITER. These experiments have involved intentional and unintentional melt damage both to bulk beryllium main chamber tiles and to divertor tiles. This paper provides an overview of the findings of concern for machine protection in JET and ITER, illustrating each case with high resolution images taken by remote handling or after removal from the machine. The bulk beryllium upper dump plate tiles and some other protection tiles have been repeatedly flash melted by what we believe to be mainly fast unmitigated disruptions. The flash melting produced in this way is seen at all toroidal locations and the melt layer is driven by j × B forces radially outward and upwards against gravity. In contrast, the melt pools caused while attempting to use MGI to mitigate deliberately generated runaway electron beams are localized to several limiters and the ejected material appears less influenced by j × B forces and shows signs of boiling. In the divertor, transient melting of bulk tungsten by ELMs was studied in support of the ITER divertor material decision using a specially prepared divertor module containing an exposed edge. Removal of the module from the machine in 2015 has provided improved imaging of the melt and this confirms that the melt layers are driven by ELMs. No other melt damage to the other 9215 bulk tungsten lamellas has yet been observed.


The estrogen-dependent inflammatory and neuroangiogenic activities that drive endometriosis can be suppressed by estrogen receptor ligands in mice. Endometriosis is a disorder characterized by collections of tissue that normally line the uterus appearing outside the uterus. These aberrantly located tissue deposits cause inflammation and pain, and often also decrease fertility. Current treatments usually involve reducing estrogen, but they are not always effective, have numerous side effects, and reduce fertility. Zhao et al. tested two estrogen receptor (ER) ligands—chloroindazole (CLI), which has ERβ-dependent activity, and oxabicycloheptene sulfonate (OBHS), which exhibits preferential binding toward ERα—in a mouse model of endometriosis. Administration of either drug reduced the establishment of ectopically engrafted uterine tissue. When given with E2 estrogen, the drugs reduced markers of estrogen-stimulated proliferation and vascularization and the abundance of proangiogenic proteins at the site of engraftment. Administration of either drug also produced regression of lesions from established engrafted tissue along with similar effects on proliferative markers and neovascularization markers without compromising fertility. Either drug reduced the abundance of inflammatory cytokines and the prostaglandin biosynthesis enzyme COX2, reduced the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB, and reduced the recruitment of T cells and macrophages to and sensory innervation at sites of the engrafted tissue lesions. Recipient mice in which macrophages were depleted exhibited less effective inhibition of lesion growth in response to either drug. Consistent with their ER specificities, CLI was least effective in inhibiting growth of ectopic lesions in ERβ-knockout recipient mice and OBHS was least effective in ERα knockout recipient mice. Thus, these data suggest that, although estrogen stimulates growth of the lesions, estrogen-dependent inflammatory responses are important for the disease. Y. Zhao, P. Gong, Y. Chen, J. C. Nwachukwu, S. Srinivasan, C. Ko, M. K. Bagchi, R. N. Taylor, K. S. Korach, K. W. Nettles, J. A. Katzenellenbogen, B. S. Katzenellenbogen, Dual suppression of estrogenic and inflammatory activities for targeting of endometriosis. Sci. Transl. Med. 7, 271ra9 (2015). [Abstract] W. B. Nothnick, Endometriosis: Bright future for a cloudy past? Sci. Transl. Med. 7, 271fs2 (2015). [Abstract]


In this study the book talk is examined as a communicative act with a purpose to convince according to an under-lying intention to promote reading. I follow the book talk's way from an idea of the book talker (and the library) to the reception of the audience, with the aim to understand how to talk about books in an engaging manner. More specifically, the rhetorical situation and the purpose of a book talk, the performance and the means to arouse and retain interest in the book talk as a speech and in the books themselves are examined and the impact of the book talk on the audience.The empirical material consists of observations of two different book talks (both directed to children) and interviews with the two different book talking librarians and a few of the children from the audiences to both book talks. The theoretical framework consists of rhetorical theories from both antique and modern times and I perform a rhetorical analysis of both book talks. As a complement to the rhetorical theories I use concepts from Readers' Advisory such as "book appeal" and "reading appeal" to talk about what in the books themselves and in reading as an activity can be used as an argument.The results of the study show that in principle all children wanted to read one or more of the books presented in the book talk. To achieve this interest from the children the librarians know how to use the stories in the books and to draw on the arguments from the books themselves. This involves different appeal-elements from the books as plot summary, characters, genre, style and atmosphere. The book talking librarians also used different rhetorical techniques including evidentia, identification, pathos and ethos. Ethos especially in the form of the benevolence or goodwill the book talker shows the audience by including them in the book talk and trusting them to share what they think about the books. This study is a two years master's thesis in Archive, Library and Museum studies.


ABSTRACT During acute and early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection (AEI) more than 50% of CD4+ T cells are preferentially depleted from the gastrointestinal (GI) lamina propria. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we studied virological and immunological events within the peripheral blood (PB) and GI tract during AEI. A total of 32 AEI subjects and 18 uninfected controls underwent colonic biopsy. HIV-1 viral DNA and RNA levels were quantified in CD4+ T cells derived from the GI tract and PB by using real-time PCR. The phenotype of infected cells was characterized by using combinations of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Markers of immunological memory, activation, and proliferation were examined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and the host-derived cytotoxic cellular response was examined by using immunohistochemistry. GI CD4+ T cells harbored, on average, 13-fold higher HIV-1 viral DNA levels and 10-fold higher HIV-1 RNA levels than PB CD4+ T cells during AEI. HIV-1 RNA was detected in both "activated" and" nonactivated" mucosal CD4+ T cells. A significantly higher number of activated and proliferating T cells were detected in the GI tract compared to the PB, and a robust cytotoxic response (HIV-1 specificity not determined) was detected in the GI tract as early as 18 days postinfection. Mucosal CD4+ T-cell depletion is multifactorial. Direct viral infection likely accounts for the earliest loss of CD4+ T cells. Subsequently, ongoing infection of susceptible CD4+ T cells, along with activation-induced cellular death and host cytotoxic cellular response, are responsible for the persistence of the lesion.


In this paper, an energy-efficient estimation and detection problem is formulated for low-power digital filtering. Building on the soft digital signal processing technique proposed by Hegde and Shanbhag, which combines algorithmic noise tolerance and voltage scaling to reduce power, the proposed minimum power soft error cancellation (MP-SEC) technique detects, estimates, and corrects transient errors that arise from voltage overscaling. These timing violation-induced errors, called soft errors, can be detected and corrected by exploiting the correlation structure induced by the filtering operation being protected, together with a reduced-precision replica of the protected operation. By exploiting a spacing property of soft errors in certain architectures, MP-SEC can achieve up to 30% power savings with no signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss and up to 55% power savings with less than 1-dB SNR loss, according to the logic-level simulations performed for an example 25-tap frequency-selective filter.


The Draft Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2008, ("Draft RLAB - 08") introduces amendments to various acts. In this article I highlight some of the proposed amendments affecting individuals and their employers.
At the outset I must mention that the entire Draft RLAB - 08 consist of more than 100 pages. It will be understood that this article only scratches the surface of some of the proposed amendments. It is in the interest of both employers and employees to review their payroll and remuneration practices on a regular basis to ensure that these changes have been dealt with properly and that the benefits are passed onto the employees.
I this article I cover some of the changes effecting employees and employers as well changes surrounding certain retirement issues.


Mobile game and advertising are evolving rapidly and becoming the key of mobile contents market. More powerful mobile devices have enabled the creation of better and richer mobile games and advertising. This paper proposes a framework, called Ubitem, which addresses many of the issues that are characteristic of mobile gaming and advertising. Ubitem facilitates time and location-sensitive, interactive marketing by enabling users with the location-aware technology capability to collect nearby items such as m-coupons and redeem the items in the close participating stores. We believe that mobile advertising within location-based gaming will most likely enable much richer entertaining experiences as well as the advertisers get superior responses from the users by linking a virtual game play and real-life action.


ABSTRACT The sharing economy has fundamentally changed the way many individuals work. In this paper, we study the impact of the entry of a major ridesharing platform into U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), on the supply and demand sides of the labor market. Leveraging the difference-in-differences (DID) research design and a data set combining multiple U.S. Census archival sources, we exploit the variation in labor market metrics before and after Uber's entry into the MSAs. Our empirical findings reveal that the introduction of the ridesharing platform has an empowering effect on workers (the supply side of the labor market) and a competition effect on traditional jobs (the demand side of the labor market). Specifically, Uber's entry into the MSAs increases labor force participation, decreases the unemployment rate of residents living below the poverty level, and improves the employment and financial status of low-income workers. In addition, Uber's entry reduces the employment number and increases wages of conventional low-skill and/or low-wage jobs. This paper provides empirical evidence of the impact of a digital sharing economy platform on the labor market and suggests that policymakers and platform operators should account for this broader impact when they devise policies and make strategic decisions.


There is a need for evidence to guide alcohol harm reduction programs at the population, system or community level. Such evidence should be derived from methodologically rigorous intervention research. Furthermore, overviews of research output indicate that while interventions are occurring in this field, the dominance of descriptive research continues. Here we present suggestions regarding the most important facilitators of producing high-quality intervention research aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm at the population or community level. These suggestions are guided and supported by researchers in the field, whose perceptions were sought through a Web-based survey. Routine collection of relevant data, publication of negative results and reconsideration of funding priorities were ranked highest in terms of their importance in increasing intervention research. The importance of the strategies is marred by limitations of feasibility, clearly acting as a barrier to their adoption. It is likely to be necessary to overcome these limitations in order to achieve change.


Semi-solid slurry with fine solid granules for rheocasting was made from lead-free bismuth bronze by passing the low-superheat melt through an opening between a rotating regular octagonal rotor and a circumscribed chill block. We mainly investigated the effect of rotational speed on the structure of a solidified small ingot. The ingot structures changed from the dendrite of rotor-free condition to the rosette at the rotational speed of 50rpm and to the granular with a mean grain size of about 50m at higher than100 rpm. If the slurry made at 100rpm was rheocast to a disk shape by the use of a high pressure casting machine, the disk had almost uniform granular structures from the center to the edge regions.


Two anaerobic fungal strains, Neocallimastix sp. 71 and Piromonas sp. 12, were isolated from cattle rumen. Their motile zoospores have either one (strain 12) or several (strain 71) flagella. The spores get attached to a substrate, germinate and form a branched rhizoid with one sporangium within which a new generation of zoospores appears after 24 h, on the average. Both fungi have a temperature optimum at 39 degrees C and a pH optimum at 6.5-6.7. They can utilize a wide spectrum of mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides. Strain 71 produces acetate, formate, ethanol and lactate while strain 12 forms acetate, formate, lactate and traces of ethanol as main products accumulated upon the fermentation of wheat straw, filter paper and cellobiose in a liquid semidefined medium. Both strains exert the activities of CMCase, Avicelase, cellobiase, amylase and xylanase.


Many products and services can be described as mixtures of ingredients whose proportions sum to one. Specialized models have been developed for linking the mixture proportions to outcome variables, such as preference, quality and liking. In many scenarios, only the mixture proportions matter for the outcome variable. In such cases, mixture models suffice. In other scenarios, the total amount of the mixture matters as well. In these cases, one needs mixture- amount models. As an example, consider advertisers who have to decide on the advertising media mix (e.g. 30% of the expenditures on TV advertising, 10% on radio and 60% on online advertising) as well as on the total budget of the entire campaign. To model mixture-amount data, the current strategy is to express the response in terms of the mixture proportions and specify mixture parameters as parametric functions of the amount. However, specifying the functional form for these parameters may not be straightforward, and using a flexible functional form usually comes at the cost of a large number of parameters. In this paper, we present a new modeling approach which is flexible but parsimonious in the number of parameters. The model is based on so-called Gaussian processes and avoids the necessity to a-priori specify the shape of the dependence of the mixture parameters on the amount. We show that our model encompasses two commonly used model specifications as extreme cases. Finally, we demonstrate the model's added value when compared to standard models for mixture-amount data. We consider two applications. The first one deals with the reaction of mice to mixtures of hormones applied in different amounts. The second one concerns the recognition of advertising campaigns. The mixture here is the particular media mix (TV and magazine advertising) used for a campaign. As the total amount variable, we consider the total advertising campaign exposure.


The microbial priming effect - the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) induced by plant inputs - has long been considered an important driver of SOC dynamics, yet we have limited understanding about the direction, intensitiy, and drivers of priming across ecosystem types and biomes. This gap hinders our ability to predict how shifts in litter inputs under global change can affect climate feedbacks. Here, we synthesized 18,919 observations of CO2 effluxes in 802 soils across the globe to test the relative effects (i.e., log response ratio; RR) of litter additions on native SOC decomposition, and identified the dominant environmental drivers in natural ecosystems and agricultural lands. Globally, litter additions enhanced native SOC decomposition (RR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.32 ~ 0.38), with greater priming effects occurring with decreasing latitude, and more in agricultural soils (RR = 0.43) than in uncultivated soils (RR = 0.28). In natural ecosystems, soil pH and microbial community composition (e.g., bacteria:fungi ratio) were the best predictors of priming, with greater effects occurring in acidic, bacterial-dominated, sandy soils. In contrast, substrate properties of plant litter and soils were the most important drivers of priming in agricultural systems, as soils with high C:N ratio and those receiving large inputs of low quality litter had the highest priming effects. Collectively, our results suggest that while different factors may control priming effects, the ubquitious nature of priming means that alterations of litter quality and quantity owing to global changes will likely have consequences for global C cycling and climate forcing.


Introduction Periodic organ arrangements occur during growth and development and are widespread in animals and plants. In bilaterian animals, the organs can be interpreted as being periodically arranged along the two-dimensional space and defined by two body axes; on the other hand, in radially symmetrical animals and plants, organs are arranged in the three-dimensional space around the body axis and around plant stems, respectively. The principles of periodic organ arrangement have primarily been investigated in bilaterians; however, studies on this phenomenon in radially symmetrical animals are scarce. Methods In the present study, we combined live imaging, quantitative analysis, and mathematical modeling to elucidate periodic organ arrangement in a radially symmetrical animal, Coryne uchidai (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). Results The polyps of C. uchidai simultaneously formed multiple tentacles to establish a regularly angled, ring-like arrangement with radial symmetry. Multiple rings periodically appeared throughout the body and mostly maintained symmetry. Furthermore, we observed polymorphisms in symmetry type, including tri-, tetra-, and pentaradial symmetries, as individual variations. Notably, the types of radial symmetry were positively correlated with polyp diameter, with a larger diameter in pentaradial polyps than in tetra- and triradial ones. Our mathematical model suggested the selection of size-correlated radial symmetry based on the activation-inhibition and positional information from the mouth of tentacle initiation. Discussion Our established quantification methods and mathematical model for tentacle arrangements are applicable to other radially symmetrical animals, and will reveal the widespread association between size-correlated symmetry and periodic arrangement principles.


Nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems frequently appear in practice and are typically extremely hard to solve. In this paper we discuss a class of primal heuristics that are based on a reformulation of the problem as a mathematical program with equilibrium constraints. We then use different regularization schemes for this class of problems and use an iterative solution procedure for solving series of regularized problems. In the case of success, these procedures result in a feasible solution of the original mixed-integer nonlinear problem. Since we only rely on local nonlinear programming solvers the resulting method is fast and we further improve its robustness by additional algorithmic techniques. We show the strength of our method by an extensive computational study on 662 MINLPLib2 instances, where our methods are able to produce feasible solutions for 60% of all instances in at


The article is an attempt to summarise the achievements of local government in Poland reactivated in 1990, and the topics discussed in the article focus on development and functioning since 1808 Prussian urban reform, which is the organisational model for contemporary local government units in Europe. Much of the article is also devoted to the functioning of Polish local governments in the 1990s and early 2000s, preceding Poland's accession to the European Union. The issue of the use of pre-accession funds and funds available after 2004 by local governments, which had a significant impact on infrastructure investments in Polish communes, districts and voivodship, was discussed in detail. On the basis of available reports, the article also presents an assessment of the achievements of local government in Poland over thirty years, with its successes and failures. The author also refers to the possibility of using this legacy by local governments of neighbouring countries aspiring to EU membership, mainly Ukraine.


The use of today's multicluster grids exhibits periods of submission bursts with periods of normal use and even of idleness. To avoid resource contention, many users employ observational scheduling, that is, they postpone the submission of relatively low-priority jobs until a cluster becomes (largely) idle. However, observational scheduling leads to resource contention when several such users crowd the same idle cluster. Moreover, this job execution model either delays the execution of more important jobs, or requires extensive administrative support for job and user priorities. Instead, in this work we investigate the use of cycle scavenging to run jobs on grid resources politely yet efficiently, and with an acceptable administrative cost. We design a two-level cycle scavenging scheduling architecture that runs unobtrusively alongside regular grid scheduling. We equip this scheduler with two novel cycle scavenging scheduling policies that enforce fair resource sharing among competing cycle scavenging users. We show through experiments with real and synthetic applications in a real multicluster grid that the proposed architecture can execute jobs politely yet efficiently.


The changes that have taken place in recent years in Brazil have affected the structure of families, allowing children to play an important role in the purchasing decisions of the family group. Thus, the children's public has become a significant influence on the acquisition of goods and products, as well as the brands and models acquired by the families. Faced with this reality, the present study sought to identify the influence of the child on the family consumption decision in shopping at supermarkets in the city of Sant'Ana do Livramento / RS. For that, a quantitative approach was carried out, with descriptive character and Survey method. The data were collected with 115 parents of children aged between two and twelve years, with the collection of supermarkets and state schools in the city of Sant'Ana do Livramento. The results show that the children accompany their parents in shopping at the supermarket and participate in them, influencing the acquisition of certain products. In the same way, one can perceive the influence of the media in deciding what the children want to consume.


High pressure die casting is the most common method in making magnesium alloys for both auto parts and 3C products. Pressure variations in the mold during mold filling and solidification process have direct influences on the quality and properties of die castings. In this paper, a cylinder head cover was produced to experimentally study pressure variations in the mold during magnesium alloy die-casting process in real time for the first time. Pressure varies at different positions in the mold during die casting process. This study indicates that mold filling and solidification process of magnesium alloy die castings can be described by pressure curves obtained by pressure measurement at different test positions in the cavity in real time.


A layer-by-layer assembly method was employed to fabricate multilayered films containing the terbium heteropolyanions K6[Tb(BW11O39)(H2O)3]·32H2O and Ky[Tb(XW11O39)2]·nH2O (X = Si and P) and the polyelectrolytes poly(4-styrenesulfonate) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride). A comparative study on the optical properties of the films containing distinct polyoxometalates and different types of multilayers was carried out. The photoluminescence of the solid polyoxometalates and of the resulting films was investigated.


Combustion knock detection and control in internal combustion engines continues to be an important feature in engine management systems. In spark-ignition engine applications, the frequency of occurrence of combustion knock and its intensity are controlled through a closedlooped feedback system to maintain knock at levels that do not cause engine damage or objectionable audible noise. Many methods for determination of the feedback signal for combustion knock in spark-ignition internal combustion engines have been employed with the most common technique being measurement of engine vibration using an accelerometer. With this technique single or multiple piezoelectric accelerometers are mounted on the engine and vibrations resulting from combustion knock and other sources are converted to electrical signals. These signals are input to the engine control unit and are processed to determine the signal strength during a period of crank angle when combustion knock is expected. As the accelerometer detects a number of sources of vibrations in addition to the desired vibration from knock, the signal quality varies significantly from engine to engine, cylinder to cylinder, and over the operating conditions of the engine. To evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of knock detection via accelerometers, a reference system is commonly employed. One of the most common reference metrics is the signal strength of the combustion pressure over the appropriate frequency range as measured with in-cylinder pressure transducers. This analysis examines both cylinder pressure and accelerometer-based knock intensity metrics, where the pressure-based knock intensity metric is used as the reference measure. Distributions of the knock metrics over a number of engine cycles for various engine speeds, loads, cam timings, and knock levels are measured and fit to a log-normal model distribution. The lognormal model is shown to provide a good fit to the measured distribution and also captures the characteristics of the distribution to include skewness and peakness. In addition the accelerometer intensity metric is correlated to the reference pressure intensity metric. The result of this correlation provides the coefficient of determination, which is used as a measure of the accelerometer intensity metric's ability to indicate knock. The effects of the distribution of the pressure intensity metric on the coefficient of determination are examined by analyzing subsets of the distribution


In contrast with the model Escherichia coli Clp protease, the ATP-dependent Clp protease in higher plants has a remarkably diverse proteolytic core consisting of multiple ClpP and ClpR paralogs, presumably arranged within a dual heptameric ring structure. Using antisense lines for the nucleus-encoded ClpP subunit, ClpP6, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana Clp protease is vital for chloroplast development and function. Repression of ClpP6 produced a proportional decrease in the Clp proteolytic core, causing a chlorotic phenotype in young leaves that lessened upon maturity. Structural analysis of the proteolytic core revealed two distinct subcomplexes that likely correspond to single heptameric rings, one containing the ClpP1 and ClpR1-4 proteins, the other containing ClpP3-6. Proteomic analysis revealed several stromal proteins more abundant in clpP6 antisense lines, suggesting that some are substrates for the Clp protease. A proteolytic assay developed for intact chloroplasts identified potential substrates for the stromal Clp protease in higher plants, most of which were more abundant in young Arabidopsis leaves, consistent with the severity of the chlorotic phenotype observed in the clpP6 antisense lines. The identified substrates all function in more general housekeeping roles such as plastid protein synthesis, folding, and quality control, rather than in metabolic activities such as photosynthesis.


The General Formal Ontology (GFO) is a top-level ontology that has been developed by the Onto-Med Research Group since the early 2000s. Since that time several new theoretical results have been achieved as well as numerous projects have utilized the ontology, especially in complex domains such as bioinformatics and medical computer science. This leads to the need for an up-to-date overview of GFO and access to its applications. This paper represents the first step towards introducing the GFO 2.0 framework, which aims at the integration of the work that is already present, but scattered in various publications, and its provision as a ready-to-use and reusable framework. For this purpose we summarize key features of GFO so far, outline a novel modular architecture and survey first modules for GFO 2.0, linking to applications. Finally, a rigorous and systematic development process is indicated.


Ensuring adequate nutrition among vulnerable children has been a serious challenge in Zambia. Chronic child malnutrition is more predominant at 45 per cent while underweight and wasting are at 15 and 5 per cent respectively. This study tested the effectiveness of spirulina on malnourished children in Zambia. The study took place from June 2012 to February 2013. Sixty children were divided into spirulina treatment and control groups. The outcome of taking spirulina was analysed by collecting anthropometric data. The fixed-effect regression result showed that 10g of spirulina dairy intake leads to improvement by producing 0.29 higher points in the height-for-age z-score (HAZ); confidence interval (CI)(0.0404, 0.535). On the contrary, the weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and the mid-upper arm circumference z-score (MUACZ) did not show a significant difference, although treated children showed a larger improvement by 0.09 points and 0.38 points, respectively. This study implied the validity of spirulina in reducing chronic malnutrition.


Named entity classification is the task of classifying text-based elements into various categories, including places, names, dates, times, and monetary values. A bottleneck in named entity classification, however, is the data problem of sparseness, because new named entities continually emerge, making it rather difficult to maintain a dictionary for named entity classification. Thus, in this paper, we address the problem of named entity classification using matrix factorization to overcome the problem of feature sparsity. Experimental results show that our proposed model, with fewer features and a smaller size, achieves competitive accuracy to state-of-the-art models.


Similar to humans, plants are populated with different sets of microorganisms with potential roles on host and ecosystem functions. Endophytic microorganisms colonize root tissues interand/or intracellularly producing a wide range of compounds useful for plants growth as well as for protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Clonally propagated crops such as banana are frequently multiplied by using tissue culture techniques in order to get uniform, pathogen-free plants. This process, however, also eliminates the endophyte beneficial microbiota and might have their fitness altered. To understand the microbial functional diversity of Musa spp., and its potential application in banana production systems, root-associated endophytic microorganisms (360 bacteria and 143 fungal) were isolated from 20 Musa spp. genotypes of the ex situ collection in CORBANA, Guapiles, Costa Rica. Analyses of specific genome regions (16S rDNA for bacteria and tefa-1α or ITS for fungi) revealed 21 different bacterial genera, with Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Burkholderia as the most frequent. Trichoderma spp. and Fusarium oxysporum prevailed among the 12 genera of fungi identified. Most isolates are known to be associated with banana, but genera such as Sphingobacterium, Grimontella, Providencia, Pleosporaceae have not been reported previously. Microorganisms with no significant similarities to the analysed database (04 bacteria and 03 fungi) were found and will probably constitute new descriptions. Some endophytes were more frequent or uniquely found on certain banana genotypes, but endophyte-host specificity needs to be further verified. Partial characterisation of the collection showed that T. asperellum isolates from cv. Yangambi Km5 (AAA) can significantly inhibit (up to 80.5 %) the mycelial growth of the banana pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. When a set of selected bacteria was inoculated in the tissue culture plants of the commercial cultivar Cavendish, three bacterial isolates (Bacillus aryabhattai, Burkloderia spp. and unknown) significantly increased the dry root weight. These results revealed a high and multifunctional diversity of culturable endophytes from Musa spp. roots, with a strong potential for new product developments and methods to enhance productivity in banana. Opportunities also exist to explore Musa genotypes in their native habitat and to characterise non-culturable microorganisms.


Digital physics seeks to help answer problematic open questions in quantum gravity by bringing to bear techniques from computer science. One approach to this endeavor is the creation of a toolbox of algorithms that can reliably simulate basic quantum phenomena. To facilitate this goal, we explore the extent to which set-based, pseudo-particle algorithms and dense, irregular graphs can be made to emulate the behaviors of naturally occurring fundamental particles. We investigate the relation between dense graphs and pseudo-particles traversing them, which has profound implications for limits on particle information and may provide an experimental tool for testing the geometric properties of quantized space. We also show that behaviors with properties such as particle polarization are easy to generate with this approach.


We present a semi-supervised approach to improve dependency parsing accuracy by using bilexical statistics derived from auto-parsed data. The method is based on estimating the attachment potential of head-modifier words, by taking into account not only the head and modifier words themselves, but also the words surrounding the head and the modifier. When integrating the learned statistics as features in a graph-based parsing model, we observe nice improvements in accuracy when parsing various English datasets.


To determine whether increased intakes of fat and protein or particular drinking habits are associated with the development of alcoholic pancreatitis, a dietary study has been conducted. Patients with clinically evident alcoholic pancreatitis were compared with individuals with clinically evident alcoholic cirrhosis with respect to dietary and drinking habits before the onset of clinical illness. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding intake of nutrients, drinking habits or type of alcoholic beverage consumed.


The global trade order that has been in place since the end of the Second World War is now in crisis. Populism has broken out around the world. It is embraced by powerful forces in the United States and Europe, and it is at the root of Brexit and other challenges to the established international economic order.
The crisis in trade and the pushback against globalization is often blamed on misguided theories of economic nationalism but that is only a symptom, not the source of the crisis. Changes in the nature of the global constitutional order and the domestic markets of the participating States are the reason why the global trade order is in crisis. This Article identifies these changes and proposes structural reforms to address the needs of the 21st century globalized markets.
We proceed in four parts. We begin by articulating the concept of a global economic constitution. We then review the history of successive iterations of the global economic constitution, starting with the Industrial Revolution and continuing through the rise of today's globalized, integrated markets. In that historical context, we analyze the factors that explain the current crisis of legitimacy of the international economic order and that require a transition to a new global economic order. Those include: the rise of a new class of disadvantaged members of the middle class, whom we call the "chronically excluded"; fundamental changes in the global supply chain; the rise of a global middle class competing for existing opportunities, which exceeds 3 billion members and which disproportionately grows in emerging markets; changes in the nature of work, the corporation, and the scope and effectiveness of the governmental regulation.
In the fourth and final part, we propose policy and institutional reforms, accounting for those changes. Our proposals address both domestic and international trade policy and institutions, and include fundamental changes to the way the State provides for the economic welfare and security of its citizens. These proposals will, we argue, usher in a new global economic constitution, one that restores the legitimacy of the global economic order.


Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) are being conducted at an unprecedented rate in population‐based cohorts and have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of many complex diseases. Regardless of the context, the practical utility of this information ultimately depends upon the quality of the data used for statistical analyses. Quality control (QC) procedures for GWAS are constantly evolving. Here, we enumerate some of the challenges in QC of genotyped GWAS data and describe the approaches involving genotype imputation of a sample dataset along with post‐imputation quality assurance, thereby minimizing potential bias and error in GWAS results. We discuss common issues associated with QC of the GWAS data (genotyped and imputed), including data file formats, software packages for data manipulation and analysis, sex chromosome anomalies, sample identity, sample relatedness, population substructure, batch effects, and marker quality. We provide detailed guidelines along with a sample dataset to suggest current best practices and discuss areas of ongoing and future research. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.


We report a transport study of exfoliated few monolayer crystals of topological insulator Bi2Se3 in an electric field effect geometry. By doping the bulk crystals with Ca, we are able to fabricate devices with sufficiently low bulk carrier density to change the sign of the Hall density with the gate voltage V(g). We find that the temperature T and magnetic field dependent transport properties in the vicinity of this V(g) can be explained by a bulk channel with activation gap of approximately 50 meV and a relatively high-mobility metallic channel that dominates at low T. The conductance (approximately 2×7e2/h), weak antilocalization, and metallic resistance-temperature profile of the latter lead us to identify it with the protected surface state. The relative smallness of the observed gap implies limitations for electric field effect topological insulator devices at room temperature.


Organic mulch may provide favourable soil conditions e.g. soil moisture or organic matter content, which may enhance the number of enchytraeids. However, there is no sufficient information about the relationship between plant-based mulch and this beneficial soil animal group. Therefore, an open-field experiment was conducted with tomato as a test plant to examine the effect of different types of organic mulch materials on the natural occurence of enchytraeids. Our study microplots received the following treatments: 1) yard-waste compost, 2) walnut leaf litter, 3) mixed leaf litter without walnut and 4) wheat straw. Control microplots were left unmulched. Randomized block design was used with eight replications to the treatments and four to the control. At the end of the growing season, three soil samples were taken from the root zone of each plant with a split soil corer, and enchytraeids were extracted by the wet funnel method. Living enchytraeids were counted under a dissecting microscope, and their density values were estimated. Worms were identified in five randomly selected samples of each treatment. In addition, soil moisture was determined by oven-drying as well. Mulch material types had significantly different effects on both Enchytraeid density and soil moisture. Under walnut leaf litter, mixed leaf litter and straw cover, higher numbers of individuals were found. In the case of soil moisture content, straw mulching had the highest value, while compost and uncovered surfaces the lowest. It appears that mulch materials serve as food source and provide favourable conditions for enchytraeid communities as well.


Heartworm disease is a serious cardiovascular and potentially fatal condition characterized by the presence of nematode Dirofilaria immitis in different developmental stages, found both in peripheral circulation, represented by microfilariae, and pulmonary artery and the right heart, represented by adult parasites. Diagnosis and identification of Dirofilaria species is complex involving antigen detection and microfilarial recognition. Therefore it is important for both animals and humans, improvement of rapid and efficient diagnostic protocols being a really powerful objective for epidemiological study progress.The purpose of the present study was to determine the exposure to D. immitis infection and other arthropod-borne pathogens of dogs living in Bucharest' adjacent area. For this we used modified Knott's technique and a point-of-care immunochromatographic test SNAP®4Dx® Plus. The modified Knott test is a concentration test that relies on lysing red blood cells and fixation of microfilariae for morphological examination, while, SNAP®4Dx® Plus represents an in-clinic diagnostic test that simultaneously screens dogs for 4 vector-borne diseases, including - Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. A total of 175 dogs from Bucharest's adjacent area were included in the study. Of them, 21.14% were positive for D. immitis antigens. However, the modified Knott technique revealed a total of 16.57% samples positive for microfilariae of which 10.28% were D.immitis mf, 4.57%, D.repens mf. and 1.71% Acanthocheilonema mf. Additionally, 3.42% of dogs were positive for Anaplasma spp. antibodies, 1.14% for Ehrlichia spp, and 0.57% respectively, for B. burgdoferi. In conclusion D.immitis infection in dogs from the greatest area of Bucharest is threatening high and therefore treatment and prophylaxis are needed to decrease the risks of disease since apparently healthy dogs harboring parasite serve as a reservoir of infection for other animals.


Today's autonomous and heterogeneous information systems have an increasing necessity of exchanging data. As widely known, middleware systems have been successfully adopted as infrastructure for communicating those systems. In addition to provide basic communication services, however, the necessity of bringing together business services to the middleware is apparent in many domain-specific applications. In this context, we propose a MOM (message oriented middleware)-based solution for remote monitoring of equipment for maintenance of mines. This solution is actually under operation and has been developed with the sponsorship of Modular Mining System/spl copy/, world's leader in mine management technology, and incorporates particular requirements of the communication between mining companies and equipment manufacturers, whilst it takes advantages of the communication model of MOM.


Strong seedling vigor is desirable trait in dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) for enhancing crop establishment and the ability to compete against weeds. A set of 253 BC3F4 lines derived from cross between Swarna and Moroberekan was phenotyped for early vigor (EV) and 8 related traits viz., early uniform emergence (EUE), shoot length (SHL), stem length (SL), shoot fresh weight (SFW), total fresh weight (TFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total dry weight (TDW), and root dry weight (RDW). Composite interval mapping analysis using genotypic data from 194 SNP markers identified six genomic regions associated with traits on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, and 6 with phenotypic variance ranging from 2.5 to 18.6%. Among them 2 QTL regions; one on chr3 (id3001701-id300833) and the other on chr5 (wd5002636-id5001470) were identified as QTL hotspots A and B respectively and expressed consistently in field as well as glasshouse condition. The majority of QTLs identified for early vigor, and related traits were clustered in the QTL hotspots A (qEV3.1, qEUE3.1, qSHL3.1, qSL3.1, qSFW3.1, qTFW3.1, qRDW3.1) and QTL hotspot B (qEV5.1, qEUE5.1, qSHL5.1, qSL5.1, qSFW5.1, qSDW5.1, qTDW5.1). Ten putative candidate genes viz., 1-alpha-amylase precursor, 2-glutamate decarboxylase, 1-ethylene-insensitive 3, 3-expansin precursor, and 3-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase associated with the target traits were identified in the selected QTL regions. Mutations were identified in the coding region of alpha-amylase precursor and ethylene-insensitive 3 gene between the parents which can be utilized in marker assisted breeding. Trait relationships among the agro-physiological traits were examined to select the best genotypes for the given traits for use in future breeding programs.


s : This study was carried out during the Agricultural season 2016 -2017 in the College of Agriculture/ University of Dohuk /Kurdistan region/ Iraq to study the effect of spraying Humic acid at three concentrations i.e. (0, 9 and 18ml.L -1 on four cultivars of potato( Solanumtuberosum L .) i.e.(Sifra, Ravila, Silvana and Fabyoula ) that grown under plastic houses conditions. The results indicated that the all cultivars was good in vegetative growth, quality and yield characteristic especially cultivars Rvillo that gave high yield per plant and per square meter significantly, compared with other cultivars. Also spraying plant with a concentration 18ml.L -1 of humic acid with all cultivars gave goodresults especially in Ravillo cultivars compared with unsparing plant that gave the lower yield and less tuber number per plant.


The rheology and thermodynamical evolution of magma, either in reservoirs, conduits, or at the surface, are governed by temperature. To determine the field temperature, remote-sensing methods based on measuring the infrared radiance are widely applied, but they are subject to assumptions and caveats that can propagate into large uncertainties. This is related to the poor knowledge of one of the most critical parameters, namely the spectral emissivity. In this work, we aim at filling this gap through in situ spectral emissivity measurements performed over wide temperature (700-1600 K) and spectral ranges (1.25-25 μm) on two representative phonolitic compositions from Erebus (Antartica) and Teide (Spain) volcanoes. The laboratory spectra allow to determine precisely spectral emissivity in the thermal infrared (TIR), middle infrared (MIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR) ranges. The results reveal the complexity and contrasted behavior of the radiative properties of the two rocks melts, despite their broadly similar composition. The spectral emissivity varies significantly as a function of temperature, composition, crystallinity, thickness, and thermal history. Altogether, the data reveal that emissivity cannot be considered as a constant value and question previous arguments that active lava always has lower emissivity than frozen lava. Finally, the laboratory-measured values of spectral emissivity were used to refine the temperature of Erebus lava lake gathered from previous remote-sensing methods.


Tension has long existed in the social sciences between quantitative and qualitative approaches on one hand, and theory-minded and empirical techniques on the other. The latter divide has grown sharper in the wake of new behavioural and experimental perspectives which draw on both sides of these modelling schemes. This book works to address this disconnect by establishing a framework for methodological unification: empirical implications of theoretical models (EITM). This framework connects behavioural and applied statistical concepts, develops analogues of these concepts, and links and evaluates these analogues. The authors offer detailed explanations of how these concepts may be framed, to assist researchers interested in incorporating EITM into their own research. They go on to demonstrate how EITM may be put into practice for a range of disciplines within the social sciences, including voting, party identification, social interaction, learning, conflict and cooperation to macro-policy formulation.


Results of the functional "cut off" of the kidneys in 9 patients with the terminal stage of chronic renal insufficiency for refractory hypertony are reported. Besides, this procedure was fulfilled in 2 patients in different terms after renal transplantation. Total embolization of the renal arteries is believed by the authors to result in normal or reduced arterial pressure in 85% of cases. No hypotensive effect was noted in incomplete "cut off" of the renal vessels.


Perforation of coronary arteries is a relatively rare yet life-threatening complication of percutaneus coronary interventions and is encountered in approximately 0.5% of these procedures. According to the type of coronary perforation, various methods of correction are employed, ranging from conservative approach to emergency cardiac surgery. Coronary stent-grafts are composed of two metal stents and a polytetrafluoroethylene layer between them. Advent of such stents enabled efficient endovascular repair of coronary artery perforation. We present a case of coronary artery perforation which had occurred during stent implantation for the treatment of a bridged segment in the distal portion of the left anterior descending artery. This perforation was successfully managed by implanting a stent-graft.


Background Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography (FA) was introduced to provide real-time intraoperative evaluation of the vascular perfusion of the gastric conduit during esophagectomy. However, its efficacy has not yet been proven. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of ICG-FA in the reduction of the rates of anastomotic leakage (AL) in McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Methods From June 2017 to December 2019, patients aged between 18 and 80 years with esophageal carcinoma were enrolled in the study and each patient underwent McKeown MIE. Patients were divided into two groups, those with or without ICG-FA. The patient demographics and perioperative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. The primary outcome was the rate of AL. Results A total of 192 patients were included: 86 in the ICG-FA group and 106 in the non-ICG-FA group. Overall, 12 patients (6.3%) had AL; the rate of AL was 10.4% in the non-ICG-FA group, which was significantly higher than the 1.2% in the ICG-FA group. Conclusions ICG-FA has the potential to reduce the rate of AL in McKeown MIE.


A fundamental task in machine learning and related fields is to perform inference on Bayesian networks. Since exact inference takes exponential time in general, a variety of approximate methods are used. Gibbs sampling is one of the most accurate approaches and provides unbiased samples from the posterior but it has historically been too expensive for large models. In this paper, we present an optimized, parallel Gibbs sampler augmented with state replication (SAME or State Augmented Marginal Estimation) to decrease convergence time. We find that SAME can improve the quality of parameter estimates while accelerating convergence. Experiments on both synthetic and real data show that our Gibbs sampler is substantially faster than the state of the art sampler, JAGS, without sacrificing accuracy. Our ultimate objective is to introduce the Gibbs sampler to researchers in many fields to expand their range of feasible inference problems.


In this position paper I present my PhD project dealing with the relation between technology (ICTs and ATs) and older people – from a temporal perspective. In my research, a temporal perspective is useful both in the study of the process of aging and in the studies of gerotechnologies. In particular, in this position paper I take into account two concepts proposed by Barbara Adam (1990, 2004, 2009): timescape and futurescape. Timescapes identifies the combination of the irreducible elements involved in "time." Amongst these, my analysis is focused on three elements: timing, tempo, temporal modalities. Futurescape is a useful theoretical tool to account for the social and historical features of our lives. In the paper I consider this concept from two different standpoints: present future and future present (Luhman, 1981; Adam and Groves, 2007). At the end, I propose to study the role played by ICTs and ATs as objects linking past, present and future.


Abstract. Assessment and management of risks in the aviation sector is a difficult problem. There are many variables and uncertainties that affect aviation risk process. Implementing verbal security systems are not enough for today's world security level and there are requirements to apply qualitative methods in order to deal with problems. Also bureaucrats, who use airports much more than civilian population, must deal with their own safety issues as airport safety, transportation safety, etc. For this reason, in this paper the evaluation of airport safety risks for bureaucrats using fuzzy numbers is studied. Besides ensuring bureaucrats' safety, the aim of this paper is to determine the interdependency among main criteria and subcriteria, the nonlinear relationship among them and the environmental uncertainties. Multi criteria-decision making techniques, fuzzy Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Choquet integral methods are used for evaluation and the results of both algorithms are compared. As a result, it is fair to say that selecting Alternative A3 is the most reasonable and the most feasible outcome among 3 alternative location. The main advantage of the proposed model is to indicate the impact of the interactivity. The main contribution of this paper is to determine the interdependency, the nonlinear relationship and the environmental uncertainties. To the author's knowledge, this will be the first study for airport safety risk evaluation for bureaucrats which compares the results of fuzzy ANP and Choquet integral methods.


INTRODUCTION
Hypotension is common following spinal anesthesia. Various vasopressors have been indicated to prevent it. The study compares three such agents namely phenylephrine, ephedrine and mephentermine.

METHODS
The study included 90 patients undergoing elective and emergency cesarean section who developed hypotension following subarachnoid blockade. Parturient were randomly divided into three groups each group had 30 patients. Group P received bolus of Phenylephrine 25 microgram, where as group E received Ephedrine 5mg and Group M received Mephentermine 6mg.

RESULTS
It was found that rise of blood pressure was significantly higher in case of phenylephrine group in first six minutes, after the bolus, there was significant reduction in the heart rate in phenylephrine group, but there was tachycardia following administration of bolus ephedrine and mephenteramine. Neonatal APGAR score were similar in all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS
All three drugs maintained hemodynamics within 20 percent of the baseline values on intravenous administration.


Abstract This study presents the test results of Ti-46Al-7Nb-0.7Cr-0.1Si-0.2Ni alloy isothermal oxidation with regard to a coating of SiO2 deposited by the sol-gel method. The oxidation test was carried out in air at 900°C. The SiO2 coating is not an effective and stable diffusive barrier, which would considerably improve oxidation resistance of Ti-46Al-7Nb-0.7Cr-0.1Si-0.2Ni alloy.


Purpose: the paper is an attempt to examine the effect of COVID-19 on workplace adjustments/decentralization. In doing this, teleworking in the new normal was taken as a major focus. Our interest is to find out the nature of workplace adjustments/decentralization that the COVID-19 has brought in the workplace by focusing on teleworking/telecommuting in the new normal. Design/ methodology/ approach: the paper adopts a descriptive research design and content analysis. The data of the paper are in qualitative and quantitative form and were sourced from secondary sources like textbooks, journals articles, and government reports and online published materials. In gathering the data used in articulating the ideas of the paper, their reliability and validity were enhanced by ensuring that the sources were reputable outlets and the data gathered reflect the variables of interest as contained in the topic of the paper. Findings: Findings of the study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about compelling adjustments in the workplace. Work processes and practices are increasingly decentralised and adjusted with greater number of workers working from home (WFH). The global workplace is also witnessing a decongesting trend with a few staff in most organizations directed to work from office while others are to work from home. Hours put in by employees of financial institutions have been reduced to 6 hours as against 9-10 hours per day. Furthermore, sectors like the health and caregiving are under pressure for greater recruitment of hands to meet up with the pressure on the sector. Originality/contributions: the study is original by the emphasis on workplace adjustments occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of such specific workplace adjustments is the emerging attention that teleworking and telecommuting has attracted in the public and private sector in the emerging new normal. The argument of the paper is that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis that has impacted negatively on organizational life and functions necessitating adjustments in the workplace for organisational, workers and societal benefits. As a way of managing the workplace crisis generated by the COVID-19, technological advancement by way of teleworking/ telecommuting offers the window for escape. The study has both theoretical and policy relevance in the new normal.


Mindfulness and self-compassion are reported to have a preventive effects on depression and anxiety disorders. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of mindful self-compassion intervention on preventing postpartum depression in a group of symptomatic pregnant women. Participants were screened and assigned to the intervention and control groups randomly. A 6-week Internet-based Mindful Self-Compassion Program was used to train the participants. Multiple scales were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, self-compassion, and mother and infant well-being. All assessments were performed at three time points: baseline, 3 months, and 1 year postpartum. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in depressive and anxiety behaviors. In addition, the intervention group became more mindful and self-compassionate at 3 months and 1 year postpartum. More importantly, both mothers and infants experienced substantial improvement in well-being. Our findings indicate that mindful self-compassion intervention is effective in preventing postpartum depression and promoting mother and infant well-being.


Objectives In both science and media, the adverse effects of a long duration of computer use at work on musculoskeletal health have long been debated. Until recently, the duration of computer use was mainly measured by self-reports, and studies using more objective measures, such as software-recorded computer duration, were lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the association between duration of computer use at work, measured with software and self-reports, and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms. Methods A 2-year follow-up study was conducted between 2004 and 2006 among 1951 office workers in The Netherlands. Self-reported computer duration and other risk factors were collected at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Computer use at work was recorded continuously with computer software for 1009 participants. Outcome questionnaires were obtained at baseline and every 3 months during follow-up. Cases were identified based on the transition within 3 months of no or minor symptoms to severe symptoms. Results Self-reported duration of computer use was positively associated with the onset of both arm–wrist–hand (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.1 for more than 4 h/day of total computer use at work) and neck–shoulder symptoms (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.0 for more than 4 h/day of mouse use at work). The recorded duration of computer use did not show any statistically significant association with the outcomes. Conclusions In the present study, no association was found between the software-recorded duration of computer use at work and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms using an exposure window of 3 months. In contrast, a positive association was found between the self-reported duration of computer use at work and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms. The different findings for recorded and self-reported computer duration could not be explained satisfactorily.


During the last 20 years Moldavian and Ukrainian societies have been developing inclusive infrastructures, being under complicated transformative changes. There are two main tendencies of the current situation for children with disabilities. The first one is that the inherited system of internat special schools is rapidly changing its functions, expanding, due to work with children from marginal families. In this case economic polarization forms a specific family strategy to protect their children from family economic problems, "intentionally putting" their children in these special school internats. The second strategy is directed towards deinstitutionalization of the system of special school internats, the development of inclusive infrastructure and involvement the non-profit organizations etc. The article is discussing these tendencies, through a case study approach.


This case study explains how social media was used in the pilot year of a student-led peer mentoring initiative. The University of Southampton, faculty of Humanities, peer mentoring scheme was launched in September 2014 with a cohort of 750 undergraduate students across seven subject areas. The scheme is part of the wider, student-led, careers activity across all year groups within the faculty, otherwise known as the 'mission employable' project. Social media, including Facebook and Twitter, was used to engage mentors and mentees and to communicate with students throughout the scheme. Facebook groups were introduced to help maintain contact, initially between the student peer mentoring coordinator and the student mentors, then between the mentors and their mentees. The familiarity of Facebook was a deciding factor in the selection of appropriate media for use within the scheme. At the mid- and end- point evaluation reviews, mentors praised the inclusion of social media platforms and asked that greater use be made of them in future. The case study concludes that social media led to an increase in student engagement and an enhanced student experience within the faculty.


Plasma levels of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2, a stable derivative of PGE2, are elevated in rats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and decrease in response to insulin therapy. In patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type I (IDDM) the plasma levels of this derivative also rise in response to insulin withdrawal and then fall in response to insulin replacement. We wished to determine whether the level of this substance is elevated acutely when patients present with DKA and to determine whether the levels fall during treatment. We also wished to identify the origin of the circulating 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 in patients with DKA and in normal fasting subjects. We measured the plasma level of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 in five patients with DKA and in six normal subjects during a 24-h fast. In the patients with DKA before treatment, the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level was threefold above normal. During therapy, the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level fell toward normal. There was a significant direct correlation between the plasma free fatty acid (FFA) level and the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level before and during treatment. In addition, the inverse correlation between the plasma free-insulin level and the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level approached significance (P = .06). In contrast, in the normal fasting subjects the plasma FFA level rose to values comparable to those observed in the patients with DKA, but there was no significant increase in the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level. There was no quantitatively important correlation between the plasma FFA level and the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level. We conclude that 1) the plasma level of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 is elevated in DKA and decreases during treatment, 2) the adipocyte is an important source of the circulating 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 in this disorder, and 3) insulin inhibits the production of PGE2 by the adipocyte and perhaps other cells in patients with DKA. The increased production of PGE2, a potent antilipolytic substance, may moderate the accelerated lipolysis that occurs in DKA but is probably not of sufficient magnitude to produce systemic effects. The rise in the plasma FFA level without a concomitant rise in the plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 level in normal fasting subjects suggests that cells other than the adipocyte may be the source of the circulating 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 in normal subjects.


Various efforts are needed to create an excellent organization. One of the steps to achieve that goal is to understand technology changes and flows of information, have quality and productivity in work, mastery of science and technology that will make them able to compete for both in the era of globalization. The purpose of this study is to describe how an organization builds cendekia human resources to create a superior organization. This type of research is descriptive qualitative with data collection methods using literature studies. The results of this study need efforts to build cendekia human resources so that organizations excel through 1) developing a literacy culture (reading, writing, and good communication culture); 2) improving self-quality by competence improvement; 3) building good working relationships between colleagues inside and outside of the organization; 4) collaborating between organizations; 5) building a vision (visionary), and 6) being fair, caring, and being a role model for others.


The possible changes of breaking wave heights, breaking wave angles, and associated longshore sediment transport along a resort strip from Virginia Beach to Sandbridge, Virginia, caused by a possible dredging at a shoal about 5 km offshore, were studied. This preliminary study revealed that the possible physical impact of waves on adjacent coasts resulting from the modeled dredging at Sandbridge Shoal, Virginia, is insignificant. The purpose of this dredging is to provide about 1.5 X 10 6 m 3 of beach-quality sand for beach nourishment. Because the minimum water depth at the shoal is about 9 m and the ambient water depth varies from 12 to 15 m, only large waves with long periods would be affected. In this study, three wave conditions (1. wave height, H = 1.9 m and wave period, T = 11.8 sec; 2. H = 3 m and T = 14 sec; and 3. H = 6.2 m, T = 20 sec) with six possible directions were studied to check the change of breaking wave conditions as well as the longshore-sediment-transport rates. The calculated changes of breaking wave height along this coast vary from 2 to 7% which is about the same as the accuracy of the wave measurement system, 5%. Accordingly, the possible changes of longshore sediment transport rates would be altered slightly. This study also demonstrates a significant wave energy convergence near Sandbridge for long period waves coming from NE. This natural phenomenon may be responsible for the severe beach erosion in the vicinity of Sandbridge.


This study examines the impact of flood hazard zone location on residential property values. The study utilises data from over 2,000 private residential property sales occurred during 2006 in North Shore City, New Zealand. A spatial autoregressive hedonic model is developed to provide efficient estimates of the marginal effect of flood prone risks on property values. Our results suggest that a property located within a flood hazard zone sells for 4.3% less than an equivalent property located outside the flood hazard zone. Given the median house price, estimated discount associated with flood risks is approximately NZ$22,000.


This paper presents a novel system design that considerably improves the entrapment of terrestrial ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in a customized honeycomb structure to produce hydrogen at a standard rate of 7.57 slpm for places with a UV index > 11. Thermolysis of high salinity water is done by employing a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC), which comprises three customized, novel active optical subsystems to filter, track, and concentrate terrestrial UV solar irradiance by Fresnel lenses. The output of systems is fed to a desalinator, a photovoltaic system to produce electrical energy, and a steam generator with modified surface morphology to generate the required superheated steam for the SOEC. A simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics ver. 5.6 has shown that a customized honeycomb structure, when incorporated on the copper–nickel surface of a steam generator, improves its absorptance coefficient up to 93.43% (48.98%—flat case). This results in generating the required superheated steam of 650 °C with a designed active optical system comprising nine Fresnel lenses (7 m2) that offer the concentration of 36 suns on the honeycomb structure of the steam generator as input. The required 1.27 kW of electrical power is obtained by concentrating the photovoltaic system using In0.33Ga0.67N/Si/InN solar cells. This production of hydrogen is sustainable and cost effective, as the estimated cost over 5 years by the proposed system is 0.51 USD/kg, compared to the commercially available system, which costs 3.18 USD/kg.


A World Bank long-term perspective study on Sub-Saharan Africa highlighted the need to build human and institutional capacity in virtually all sectors and countries. In South Africa, establishment of a democratic government in 1994 saw increased emphasis placed on capacity building. This led to the revision of policies and legislation directing human resources development. This emphasis on capacity development is reflected in procurement policies to the extent that it is increasingly difficult to successfully bid for funding from government and parastatal organisations unless there is both a plan and a commitment to capacity building in the previously marginalised sectors. There are currently no guidelines to support researchers in their attempts to support the intentions of legislation and policy. It has been assumed that researchers have the understanding and expertise to effectively promote capacity building. Under such conditions the expectations of research administrators are neither clearly structured nor are they understood by researchers. Not surprisingly, researchers often fail to meet the expectations of administrators. In an attempt to contribute towards developing a structured approach, this paper interprets what is meant by capacity building in the context of research projects. Based on this interpretation, reasonable and unreasonable expectations with respect to the extent to which capacity building can be achieved within a given project duration are discussed. A model is suggested, which would improve understanding and delivery and in doing so, achieve better congruence between expectations and outcomes. Key Words: Capacity building, Research, Change, Performance, Innovation WaterSA Vol.30(4) 2004: 429-434


With the maturing of nuclear industry, there is an added burden on the Back End of fuel cycle. Radioactive facilities are in the need for refurbishment. This paper describes the steps adopted for managing such alpha contaminated unserviceable Glove Boxes.The first step consisted of in-situ encasement of individual Glove Boxes, encountering the challenges of low head room and space congestion in these laboratories with cognizance to regulatory requirement related to radiation safety. The second step was removal, transfer and placement of encased Glove Boxes in a dedicated facility under continuous surveillance. The glove boxes will remain stored in this facility until arrangements are completed for dismantling and volume reduction in another facility dedicated for this purpose. The final step is the development of an appropriate technique for dismantling/cutting of Glove Boxes in an alpha-tight facility constructed to prevent spread of airborne activity, collection of cut pieces, subsequent decontamination of these metallic wastes and disposal. The paper describes the design scheme for dismantling of the glove box. The description also includes hands on evaluation of tools and gadgets in pilot set-up with a view to incorporating the most credible choice in an upcoming active facility.© 2013 ASME


The Ross Sea continental shelf and slope have a number of characteristics that make it an ideal candidate for a marine reserve, as evidenced by its inclusion in the list of 11 priority areas, which focuses efforts on MPA designation where there are high levels of biological heterogeneity. 1 With exceptional biodiversity and evolutionary significance, as well as its potential as a climate change reference area and refuge and its value for scientific research, the Ross Sea merits comprehensive protection of its entire continental shelf and slope. Much of the scientific and biological importance of the Ross Sea derives from its relatively pristine state, which will be irrevocably altered by the continuation of fishing. Preservation of the Ross Sea's unique qualities therefore requires the designation of a no-take MPA encompassing the shelf and slope. Scientific information presented to CCAMLR and the ATCM since 2002 has developed a clear case for the designation of the Ross Sea shelf and slope as a marine protected area (MPA) by CCAMLR. This paper summarizes the scientific basis for comprehensive Ross Sea protection.


This thesis paper is intended to analyze how people define themselves in social
interactions, how self-presentation takes place in different scenes of life. In
contemporary society effective image building of a person is one the core
requirements. Unpredictable trends both in private and professional fields of life
make it inevitable to equip ourselves with tools of effective impression management
in order to experience success instead of failure. In our disposable, plastic and
dangerously materialized world where people are mere products one has to make the
best commodity. The writer of this paper is trying to provide some theoretical
background on the topic in the first part leading the reader's attention to the most
important researches in social psychology. The writer argues that the educational
system has a huge responsibility in preparing future generations for the
unpredictable by helping them develop not only cognitive but social skills that will
enable them to adapt to their social environments and achieve successful
performance in life. 157 social media users and 25 actively practicing teachers
answered a questionnaire about whether current Hungarian school system is able to
prepare its students for the unpredicted. Results show that there is a major deficit in
teaching social competencies. Recent studies proved that those without being
trained for emotional and social skills in accordance with self-management
techniques will experience deficit later on their private and professional careers,
therefore traditional learning programs need to be converted into a composition of
teaching academic and social skills.


Historical estimates of productivity growth in. India's iron and steel sector vary from indicating an improvement to a decline in the sector's productivity. The variance may be traced to the time period of study, source of data for analysis, and type of indices and econometric specifications used for reporting productivity growth. We derive both growth accounting and econometric estimates of productivity growth for this sector. Our results show that over the observed period from 1973-74 to 1993-94 productivity declined by 1.71% as indicated by the Translog index. Calculations of the Kendrick and Solow indices support this finding. Using a translog specification the econometric analysis reveals that technical progress in India's iron and steel sector has been biased towards the use of energy and material, while it has been capital and labor saving. The decline in productivity was caused largely by the protective policy regarding price and distribution of iron and steel as well as by large inefficiencies in public sector integrated steel plants. Will these trends continue into the future, particularly where energy use is concerned? Most likely they will not. We examine the current changes in structure and energy efficiency undergoing in the sector. Our analysis shows that with the liberalization of the iron and steel sector, the industry is rapidly moving towards world-best technology, which will result in fewer carbon emissions and more efficient energy use in existing and future plants.


This case study looks at the Italian Public Administration's digital transformation. With 60 million people, 8,000 municipalities, and 23,000 local administrations, this digital transformation case highlights how a digital renaissance prefaces innovative disruption challenges. The digital transformation case uses Italy as the backdrop and Team Digitale, a team of talented individuals embarked on building public administration efficiencies and rebooting Italy's digital innovation footprint, as the protagonist. Digital transformation is rarely, if ever, a technical solution. Instead, digital transformation is a socio-technical and socio-political solution, especially in large and complex democracies or companies with diverse, contending stakeholders. In the process, the case surfaces best practices and challenges faced when trying to tackle a mega-project across an entire economy. The case offers digital transformation recommendations that one can generalize across any global democracy. This case surfaces best practices and challenges faced when trying to tackle a mega-project across an entire economy.


RETROPERITONEAL rupture of the duodenum due to blunt abdominal trauma unassociated with injury to any of the intraperitoneal viscera is uncommon. This, and the fact that it is easy to miss a perforation in the retroperitoneal portion of the duodenum, might explain the high mortality in such patients. There is ample truth in Cocke's1statement that such a lesion is a difficult one to handle and a dangerous one to mishandle. Two patients with such an injury have been recently treated at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and it seems worthwhile to present these cases and review the subject. Report of Cases Case 1 (CMCH-285865). —A 27-year-old woman was admitted with a 20-hour history of generalized abdominal pain, recurrent vomiting, and absolute constipation following blunt trauma to her right upper part of the abdomen sustained when she intervened in a fight between her husband and others.


Recent theoretical developments and case study evidence suggests a relationship between the military in politics and corruption. This study contributes to this literature by analyzing theoretically and empirically the role of the military in politics and corruption for the first time. By drawing on a cross sectional and panel data set covering a large number of countries, over the period 1984-2007, and using a variety of econometric methods substantial empirical support is found for a positive relationship between the military in politics and corruption. In sum, our results reveal that a one standard deviation increase in the military in politics leads to a 0.22 unit increase in corruption index. This relationship is shown to be robust to a variety of specification changes, different econometric techniques, different sample sizes, alternative corruption indices and the exclusion of outliers. This study suggests that the explanatory power of the military in politics is at least as important as the conventionally accepted causes of corruption, such as economic development.


The next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections to pp → tt̄bb̄ at the LHC reveal that the scale choice adopted in previous lowest-order simulations underestimates the tt̄bb̄ cross section by a factor two. We discuss a new dynamical scale that stabilizes the perturbative predictions and describe the impact of the corrections on the shape of distributions. We also account for the techniques employed to compute the six-particle one-loop amplitudes with high CPU efficiency.


We initiate the study of differentially private (DP) estimation with access to a small amount of public data. For private estimation of d -dimensional Gaussians, we assume that the public data comes from a Gaussian that may have vanishing similarity in total variation distance with the underlying Gaussian of the private data. We show that under the constraints of pure or concentrated DP, d + 1 public data samples are sufficient to remove any dependence on the range parameters of the private data distribution from the private sample complexity, which is known to be otherwise necessary without public data. For separated Gaussian mixtures, we assume that the underlying public and private distributions are the same, and we consider two settings: (1) when given a dimension-independent amount of public data, the private sample complexity can be improved polynomially in terms of the number of mixture components, and any dependence on the range parameters of the distribution can be removed in the approximate DP case; (2) when given an amount of public data linear in the dimension, the private sample complexity can be made independent of range parameters even under concentrated DP, and additional improvements can be made to the overall sample complexity.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to compare the short-term dental and skeletal effects of a face mask (FM) with those of skeletal anchorage (SA) therapy with intermaxillary elastics in prepubertal patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion.

METHODS
Fifty patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency were divided into two groups. In the FM group, an FM was applied by a bite plate with a force of 400g for each side. In the SA group, mini-plates were placed between mandibular lateral incisors and canines, and mini-implants were inserted between maxillary second premolars and first molars. A bite plate was inserted into the upper arch, and Class III elastics were applied with a force of 200g between each mini-plate and mini-implant.

RESULTS
Mean treatment durations were 0.52±0.09 years for FM and 0.76±0.09 years for SA. After the treatment, statistically significant increases in SNA°, ANB°, A-y, 1-NA, SnGoGn°, Co-A, Co-Gn, and A-Nperp, and reductions in SNB° and FH┴N-Pg were observed in both groups, and these changes were similar in both groups. In the FM group, 1-NB decreased significantly, and in the SA group, it increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
The undesired dentoalveolar effects of the FM treatment were eliminated with SA treatment, except with regard to lower incisor inclination. Favourable skeletal outcomes can be achieved by SA therapies, which could be an alternative to the extraoral appliances frequently applied to treat skeletal Class III patients with maxillary deficiency.


A five-level quantum system including two low-lying states and three excited states of the ladder type coupled with four laser fields is investigated as it relates to dressed-atom models, and a dressed state is found to be independent of the ionization decaying from the highest level. Under general conditions, half of the initial population of the two low-lying states is trapped in the dressed state, leading to a low probability of ionization. Based on the analytical results, two schemes are proposed for removing population trapping. For a five-level system with hyperfine structures, such as the system for ionizing 235U atoms, population trapping takes place when the laser fields are weak and can be gotten rid of by an increase in laser intensity.