The main purpose of this paper is to describe an exemplary professional development approach in technology learning and its outcomes for early childhood teachers in Head Start in the context of a technology project. The study utilized a collage of qualitative methods including case study, ethnography, and grounded theory. Research participants were selected using purposive sampling methods, and they include 23 people who participated in the technology project. Data collection techniques included multiple, face-to-face, telephone and focus group interviews, observations, and collection of documents and artifacts related to the technology project from the participants. NVIVO qualitative data management software was used for the analysis, and the coding procedures were applied that grounded theory offered. Findings suggest that the communities of learner model of professional development supported early childhood teachers' technology learning in Head Start. The learning curve experienced by the teachers in emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimensions indicates the importance of nature of learners and supportive learning contexts in technology learning.


Summary The objective of this paper was to present an original project titled "Sports 2014 – Multifactorial Environmental Model", designed to reinforce positive behavior and create a sense of community among urban youth. It evolved together with the subsequent phases of an urban health promotion program that began in 1994 in Wrocław, Poland. However, the basis of this model was in creating a health promotion initiative that included elements of the Mandala model of health, an ecological model, and the 'Your Neighborhood's Coach' health promotion and at-risk prevention program, begun in 2003 by the Sports Department of the City of Wrocław and continued to this day. This type of initiative was designed to include measures typical of a prevention program while also promoting an active lifestyle through constructive leisure activities. Its guiding philosophy was the 'get involved' rather than 'dissuade from' approach, which has found popularity in programs of a similar nature across the world. The presented "Multifactorial Environmental Model" is addressed to active counselors, coaches, psychologists, health promotion figureheads, and policymakers whose goal is to reduce negative and anti-social behavior in today's youth. It should also find value among the pedagogical community of physical education institutions, as the presented work may serve as a source of experience when deciding on any significant changes in the education of future physical education teachers, coaches, and recreation instructors working with adolescents.


Benzazolo (2,1-b)quinazolinones and triazolo(2,1-b)quinazolinones were synthesized in high yields by the condensation reaction of an aldehyde and a cyclic �-diketone with 2 - aminobenzimidazole, 2 - aminobenzothiazole or 1, 2, 4 - triazole derivatives in 1 - butyl - 3 - methylimidazolium bromide as an ionic liquid under classic heating conditions within 5-60 minutes.


Vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of slender structural elements (marine cables, pipes and risers) are very important aspects to be considered in the design stage of many offshore structures, because the fatigue life of risers installed in deep water are often dominated by VIV effects. Despite the relatively fundamental nature of the problem, a small amount is known about the nature of the fluid-structure interaction. The purpose of this paper is to develop a Fourier-Chebyshev collocation spectral method for computing unsteady two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow past a circular cylinder for moderate Reynolds numbers. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations (INSE) are formulated in terms of the primitive variables, velocity and pressure. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in curvilinear coordinates are spectrally discretized and time integrated by a second-order mixed explicit/implicit time integration scheme. This scheme is a combination of the Crank-Nicolson scheme operating on the diffusive term and Adams-Bashforth scheme acting on the convective term. The projection method is used to split the solution of the INSE to the solution of two decoupled problems: the diffusion-convection equation (Burgers equation) to predict an intermediate velocity field and the Poisson equation for the pressure, it is used to correct the velocity field and satisfy the continuity equation. Finally, the numerical results obtained for the drag and lift coefficients around the circular cylinder are compared with results previously published.


Two different nematodes were isolated from the bark of Albizia lebbeck trees; one from insect infested and another from noninfested, healthy tree. Based on the biological, morphological, and molecular evidences, the nematodes are described as Deladenus albizicus n. sp. and D. processus n. sp. (Nematoda: Hexatylina). Deladenus albizicus n. sp., isolated from insect-infested tree, multiplied on the fungus Nigrospora oryzae. Myceliophagous females of this nematode reproduced by parthenogenesis and spermathecae were indistinct. Infective females, readily produced in the cultures, are dorsally curved. Only one type of males containing small-sized sperms in their genital tracts were produced in the culture. Myceliophagous females: L = 0.75 to 1.71 mm, a = 32.3 to 50.8, b = 9.3 to 11.2, b' = 5.2 to 7.3, c = 27.2 to 35.6, V = 91.0 to 93.3, c' = 2.0 to 2.9, stylet = 11 to 12 µm, excretory pore in the region of median pharyngeal bulb, 43 to 47 µm anterior to hemizonid. Deladenus processus n. sp., isolated from bark of healthy A. lebbeck tree, was cultured on Alternaria alternata. Myceliophagous females reproduced by amphimixis and their spermathecae contained rounded sperms. Infective females were never produced, even in old cultures. Myceliophagous females: L = 0.76 to 0.99 mm, a = 34 to 49, b = 13.3 to 17.7, b' = 3.8 to 5.8, c = 19.6 to 22.8, V = 92.2 to 93.5, c' = 2.7 to 3.5, stylet = 6 to 7 µm, excretory pore in the proximity of hemizonid, tail conoid, tapering from both sides to a long pointed central process. It is proposed to classify Deladenus species in three groups: durus, siricidicola, and laricis groups based on female and spermatogonia dimorphism, mode of reproduction, and insect parasitism.


high sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction makes exclusion of specimen contamination very difficult.89 It is thus impossible on the basis of the evidence currently available to say whether the polymerase chain reaction can detect cytomegalovirus DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from people with latent infection. If the polymerase chain reaction is adequately sensitive for this purpose it may prove valuable in studying the nature of latent cytomegalovirus infection and screening patients for this infection.


The Ethiopian fruit fly (EFF), Dacus ciliatus, is a key, invasive pest of melons in the Middle East. We developed and implemented a novel decision support system (DSS) to manage this pest in a greenhouse environment in Southern Israel. Dacus ciliatus is commonly controlled in Israel with repeated calendar-sprayings (every 15 days) of pyrethroid pesticides. The current study compares the performance of a DSS against calendar-spraying management (CSM). DSS was based on EFF population monitoring and infestation. DSS took into consideration concerns and observations of expert managers and farmers. During 2014, EFF damage was concentrated in the spring melon production season. Fall and winter production did not show important damage. Damage during the spring of 2014 started to increase when average EFF/trap/day reached 0.3. This value was suggested as the threshold to implement pesticide spraying in DSS greenhouses. EFF/trap/day trends were derived from monitoring with conventional traps and a novel electronic remote sensing trap, developed by our group. CSM during the spring of 2015 included 3 EFF control sprays, while DSS-managed greenhouses were only sprayed once. At the end of the spring season, damage was slightly higher in DSS greenhouses (1.5%), but not significantly different to that found in CSM greenhouses (0.5%). Results support continuing DSS research and optimization to reduce/remove pesticide use against EFF in melon greenhouses. Interactions with farmers and managers is suggested as essential to increase adoption of DSS in agriculture.


The Stern J. Bramson Award for outstanding photographic achievement is presented each spring to a student graduating from a Louisville area high school. In 2016, the award includes a certificate recognizing the student's accomplishment and a check for $1


A pervasive healthcare monitoring system (PHCMS) is an intrusive technology designed to provide supports to assist people with health problems. PHCMS could eventually lead to a fully monitored and supervised life within a home and thus reduce dependency of people towards healthcare institutions. Following implementation of such monitoring devices, elements of privacy, emotions and personal values of users, caregivers and family members appear to be at risk. Although requirements elicitation is a relatively mature area of requirements engineering, techniques to elicit emotions and personal values in the context of pervasive healthcare are not formally discussed. This research will use a case study of a pervasive healthcare system. Various elicitation techniques will be applied to harness emotions and personal values that affect users of a PHCMS. The final aim of this research is to recommend a toolkit that consists of requirements elicitation techniques for requirements engineers that are suitable to harness non-functional requirements for such a PHCMS.


Synopsis : We have been studying the characteristics of ice as a dielectric or electrical insulation material at cryogenic temperature. IceXI, ferroelectric ice, exists at cryogenic temperature. It is very difficult to make iceXI. We applied direct-current voltage to ordinary ice at 253 K and cooled it to 77 K to obtain a polarized ice similar to iceXI. In this procedure, the protons move towards the cathode side under an electric field. The protons were stopped on the cathode side by cooling to 77 K, resulting in ice polarization. This polarized ice is called "ice electret". We have previously reported the amount of electrical charge calculated from an integral of the ice electret depolarization current observed. The amount of charge increased as voltage and application time increased. In this paper, the effect of voltage, application time and temperature on depolarization current properties of the ice electret is reported. The depolarization current of the ice electret was examined in detail. Two peaks were observed in the depolarization current. One peak appeared around 270 K. But this peak did not occur in the specimen with a voltage of 140 K applied. The other peak was observed around 130 K in any specimen. The electrical charge calculated from this 130 K peak increased only when a voltage was applied, and did not increase as time and temperature increased when voltage was applied.


Background: Tuberculosis is an important cause of death in some countries. The world health organization estimates that if stronger measures are not taken up to control the prevalence of this disease, from 2000 to 2020 a billion people will be infected by the bacterium. According to time consuming of common detection methods of Mycobacterium tuberculosis such as culture, it is necessary to evaluate a rapid detection tests such as PCR . Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis may have profound effects in patients' care According to importance of rapid detection and treatment of tuberculosis and for determine of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PCR by using IS6110 this study was done in Kashan university of medical science. Methods: A total of 248 sputum samples from patients suspected of mycobacterial diseases were studied. DNA was extracted by boiling method. IS6110 PCR method by a specific pair of primers designed to amplify 123 bp and 245 bp sequences of the insertion sequence, 6110 , in the M. tuberculosis genome was used to analyze sputum samples. Results: 32 out of 248 (12.9%) of samples had positive culture. PCR yielded a sensitivity of 93.8 % and specificity of 99.1% for the diagnosis of TB patients with TB confirmed by culture. There were two out of 32 (6.3%) PCR -positive cases among the patients with non- TB disease. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that Multiplex PCR may provide a faster method of detecting tuberculosis, thus enhancing diagnostic procedures and we conclude that the performance of an IS6110 PCR assay is valuable in the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. Abstract


Hurricanes and other extreme precipitation events can have devastating effects on population and infrastructure that can create problems for emergency responses and evacuation. Projected climate change and associated global warming may lead to an increase in extreme weather events that results in greater inundation from storm surges or massive precipitation. For example, record flooding during Hurricane Katrina or, more recently, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, led to many people being cut off from aid and unable to evacuate. This study focuses on the impact of severe weather under climate change for areas of Harris County, TX that are susceptible to flooding either by storm surge or extreme rainfall and evaluates the transit demand and availability in those areas. Future risk of flooding in Harris County was assessed by GIS mapping of the 100-year and 500-year FEMA floodplains and most extreme category 5 storm tide and global sea level rise. The flood maps have been overlaid with population demographics and transit accessibility to determine vulnerable populations in need of transit during a disaster. It was calculated that 70% of densely populated census block groups are located within the floodplains, including a disproportional amount of low-income block groups. The results also show a lack of transit availability in many areas susceptible to extreme storm surge exaggerated with sea level rise. Further study of these areas to improve transit infrastructure and evacuation strategies will improve the outcomes of extreme weather events in the future.


We propose a continuous-time stochastic model for the dynamics of a limit order book. The model strikes a balance between three desirable features: it can be estimated easily from data, it captures key empirical properties of order book dynamics, and its analytical tractability allows for fast computation of various quantities of interest without resorting to simulation. We describe a simple parameter estimation procedure based on high-frequency observations of the order book and illustrate the results on data from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Using simple matrix computations and Laplace transform methods, we are able to efficiently compute probabilities of various events, conditional on the state of the order book: an increase in the midprice, execution of an order at the bid before the ask quote moves, and execution of both a buy and a sell order at the best quotes before the price moves. Using high-frequency data, we show that our model can effectively capture the short-term dynamics of a limit order book. We also evaluate the performance of a simple trading strategy based on our results.


PurposePeople are responsible for their wellbeing, yet whether they take ownership of their own or even others' wellbeing might vary from actor to actor. Such psychological ownership (PO) influences the dynamics of how wellbeing is co-created, particularly amongst actors, and ultimately determines actors' subjective wellbeing. The paper's research objective pertains to explicating the concept of the co-creation of wellbeing and conceptualizing the dynamics inherent to the co-creation of wellbeing with consideration of the influences of all involved actors from a PO perspective.Design/methodology/approachTo provide a new conceptualization and framework for the dynamics of wellbeing co-creation, this research synthesizes wellbeing, PO and value co-creation literature. Four healthcare cases serve to illustrate the effects of engaged actors' PO on the co-creation of wellbeing.FindingsThe derived conceptual framework of dynamic co-creation of wellbeing suggests four main propositions: (1) the focal actor's wellbeing state is the intangible target of the focal actor's and other engaged actors' PO, transformed throughout the process of wellbeing co-creation, (2) PO over the focal actor's wellbeing state is subject to the three interrelated routes of exercising control, investing in the target, and intimately knowing the target, which determine the instigation of wellbeing co-creation, (3) the level of PO over the focal actor's wellbeing state can vary, influence and be influenced by the extent of wellbeing co-creation, (4) the co-creation of wellbeing, evoked by PO, is founded on resource integration, which influences the resources–challenges equilibrium of focal actor and of all other engaged actors, affecting individual subjective wellbeing.Originality/valueThis article provides a novel conceptual framework that can shed new light on the co-creation of wellbeing in service research. Through the introduction of PO the transformation of lives and wellbeing can be better understood.


At approximately the same time in March, the coauthors of this communication found themselves in similar situations with the need to teach their students online. The educational crisis caused by Covid-19 required more focused attention on communication, technology, and assessment/academic integrity with students. As members of a coach/teacher team in the Science Coaches American Association of College Teachers program, immediate contact was critical. Challenging times such as the impact of Covid-19 on education required the need to adapt to an online environment for teaching. The two teachers, one who taught chemistry at the university level and an AP Chemistry teacher who taught high school, used the time to continue to work together, support each other, and brainstorm ways to maintain meaningful contact with students. The article addresses education during a crisis, the AACT coach/team program, the hybrid nature of the coach/teacher team with suggestions/questions to be considered, what contributed to the success of the team, and a comparison of student communication, use of technology, and assessment/academic integrity of the coach/teacher team.


Abstract Performance discourse in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries (i.e., writing about interpretative performance in treatises, reviews, dictionaries, articles, and philosophical works) is distinct from that in both earlier and later periods. Although a full early Romantic paradigm of interpretative performance, as articulated in Hegel9s Aesthetics , came about piecemeal and was instantiated in different ways in different kinds of sources, the texts examined in this essay communicate two particularly salient features. These are, first, the idea that interpretative performance involves a profound spiritual transformation on the part of the performer, requiring the merging of his own soul with that of the composer; and second, the idea that performance both establishes and collapses apparently intractable dualisms. This structural feature of performance discourse, as well as its content, links the idea of performance to contemporary discussions of consciousness in such a way that performance emerges as a simulacrum of early Romantic subjectivity. At the same time, this discursive structure also finds its way into the more mundane world of pedagogy. Performance thus emerges as more central to the intellectual milieu of Romanticism than has previously been recognized. The structures of discourse established at the turn of the nineteenth century persist in classical music culture today, but devoid of their historical underpinnings.


In this article we present, in an expository manner, an approach to the sustainable management of a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) based on concepts from both engineering and ecology. Our perspective leads us to express the sustainability of CELSS in terms of constraints imposed on its subsystems. These constraints are of two types: static and operational. Static constraints capture the basic sustainability requirements of the individual subsystem components--they represent the absolute limits (bounds) on the operating range of these subsystems. Operational constraints, on the other hand, represent a response to global changes in the availability of system resources. They are imposed as the system evolves dynamically to avert shortages or surpluses in resources in various subsystems. As well as having implications on design, our perspective, termed the constraint perspective, leads naturally to a management hierarchy. The second article (this issue) in this series will explore the feasibility of this approach and demonstrate some of its consequences based on a simple CELSS model.


Sandstone aquifers are common worldwide: they contain a significant proportion of the Earth's fresh water supplies. However, because of their textural complexity and the frequent occurrence of both matrix and fracture flow, prediction of flow and pollutant migration is still a considerable challenge. This volume contains a collection of papers summarizing current research on an example sandstone aquifer: the UK Permo-Triassic Sandstone sequence. These red bed, organic-poor sandstones are of fluvial and aeolian origin, are often strongly textured, and are cut by discontinuities of a wide range of permeabilities. Matrix flow often dominates, but fracture flow also occurs. The papers in the volume deal with research on saturated and unsaturated flow, and solute and non-aqueous-phase liquid movement. They cover investigations from laboratory to regional scale, and involve a wide range of approaches, from petrophysical through geophysical and hydrochemical to modelling.

The book is intended to be of interest to researchers and practitioners involved in water resources and groundwater pollution, and to hydrogeology, water engineering, and environmental science students.


Over the last twenty years Cracow has been experiencing changes associated with the dynamic spatial development. Together with the demographic growth, mobility patterns, change as well as defining the size and volume of transport. As a result of the process, they are often transformed into the space of the city. Attractive public spaces forming logical, continuous sequences could contribute to a more harmonious, sustainable development and rehabilitation of previously neglected neighborhoods. The article will be presented in the case of the transport infrastructure. These areas will be subject to the availability of the pedestrian public space.


HDD heads have various interaction mechanisms with thermal asperities (TAs), and protection mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure the head-disk interaction (HDI) resulting from them is eliminated or minimized to the highest extent possible. It is straightforward to not allow the head sit-on-track on cylinders that have such TAs on them, and the same principle can be extended to so-called high TAs (HTAs), whose height is more than the fly height of the head, so heads do not inadvertently interact with the TA even when motion is triggered on another head, since the entire head stack moves together.
 Similar TA interactions also occur when the head seeks across the tracks. Typical short seeks have thermal fly-height control (TFC) turned on while it is turned on during long seeks, which is greater than a few hundred tracks. Heads can also interact with TAs during retract and arrival of the head during such long seeks. Finally, background media scan (BGMS), which is an industry standard, when the drive enters an idle state. Interaction with HTAs can also occur when the drive enters such a state.
 Typical seek avoidance attempts to eliminate TA interaction during seeking, however it is not straightforward to determine which of the seek mechanism: TFC On during short seeks, retract/arrival during long seeks, HTA interaction during long seeks with TFC off, or idle TA interaction causes the greatest HDI. Through theoretical analysis and experimental corroboration, this paper intends to rank the various modes of TA interaction, so by developing features for eliminating or minimizing them in that order could help bring the maximum benefit for achieving minimum lifetime reduction of the head due to such interaction.


The United States has altered its copyright laws to be more in conformity with the European Union and the WIPO. In doing so, the laws of the United States have brushed against the Constitution. Most of the constitutional challenges to the laws have been unsuccessful. In the case of the "anti-bootlegging" statutes, however, the courts have been all over the place with their constitutional analysis. While the "anti-bootlegging" statutes were promulgated under the Copyright Clause, and included in Title 17, courts have upheld them under the Commerce Clause - despite no mention of the Commerce Clause at all in the legislative history. Commerce Clause authority for what is a copyright type legislation sets up a bizarre precedent, for it can render the commerce clause superfluous, or even worse, have perpetual protection for non-copyrightable works. The Supreme Court should get one of the cases eventually, but for now we have Commerce Clause authority for granting perpetual protection to live musical performance.


The voice plays a crucial role in expressing emotion in popular music. However, the importance of the voice in this context has not been systematically assessed. This study investigates the emotional effect of vocal features in popular music. In particular, it focuses on nonverbal characteristics, including vocal melody and rhythm. To determine the efficacy of these features, they are used to construct a computational Music Emotion Recognition (MER) system. The system is based on the circumplex model that expresses emotion in terms of arousal and valence. Two independent studies were used to develop the system. The first study established models for predicting arousal and valence based on a range of acoustical and nonverbal vocal features. The second study was used for independent validation of these models. Results show that features describing rhythmic qualities of the vocal line produce emotion models with a high level of generalizability. In particular these models reliably predict emotional valence, a well-known issue in existing Music Emotion Recognition systems.


We present a unified and hardware efficient architecture for two stage voice trigger detection (VTD) and false trigger mitigation (FTM) tasks. Two stage VTD systems of voice assistants can get falsely activated to audio segments acoustically similar to the trigger phrase of interest. FTM systems cancel such activations by using post trigger audio context. Traditional FTM systems rely on automatic speech recognition lattices which are computationally expensive to obtain on device. We propose a streaming transformer (TF) encoder architecture, which progressively processes incoming audio chunks and maintains audio context to perform both VTD and FTM tasks using only acoustic features. The proposed joint model yields an average 18% relative reduction in false reject rate (FRR) for the VTD task at a given false alarm rate. Moreover, our model suppresses 95% of the false triggers with an additional one second of post-trigger audio. Finally, on-device measurements show 32% reduction in runtime memory and 56% reduction in inference time compared to non-streaming version of the model.


This paper describes motivations and techniques to extend the expressive grammar of dance and theatrical performances. We first give an outline of previous work in performance, which has inspired our research, and explain how our technology can contribute along historical directions of exploration. We then present real-time computer vision based body tracking and gesture recognition techniques which is used in conjunction with a Media Actors software architecture to choreograph digital media together with human performers. We show applications to dance and theater which augment the traditional performance stage with images, video, music, text, able to respond to movement and gesture in believable, esthetical, and expressive manners. Finally, we describe a scenario and work in progress, which allow us to apply our artistic and technological advances to street performance.


Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is related to stress, but few studies have evaluated the influence of stress on factors affecting colon contractility in rats with UC. Also, there have been no studies investigating beneficial effects of linalyl acetate (LA), the major component of lavender essential oil, in repeatedly stressed-ulcerative colitis rats. Therefore, we investigated the differences in factors affecting colon contractility of UC rats with or without repeated restraint stress (RRS) and the effects of LA on these parameters in repeatedly stressed-UC rats. Methods Rats were assigned to following groups: control, RRS, UC, RRS+UC, and RRS+UC treated with LA or sulfasalazine. To induce UC, rats were administered 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) water on days 1–5, followed by tap water on days 6–15 and DSS water on days 16–20. RRS was induced by immobilizing rats for 2 hr/day on days 1–20. LA or sulfasalazine were daily administered on days 16–20. Results Disease activity index (DAI) was markedly increased in RRS+UC. Serum interleukin-6 levels and acetylcholine-induced colon contraction were higher in RRS+UC than in control, RRS and UC. Colon nitrite levels also significantly increased in RRS+UC compared to the control and RRS. Blood pressure (BP) was higher in RRS+UC than in the control and UC. Both LA and sulfasalazine was effective in decreasing DAI, colon nitrite levels, acetylcholine-induced colon contraction in RRS+UC. Sulfasalazine significantly reduced serum IL-6 levels in RRS+UC with decreasing tendency in RRS+UC treated by LA. Only LA significantly reduced BP in RRS+UC. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the importance of stress management in UC patients. Also, LA may be beneficially used in repeatedly stressed-UC patients with high BP.


Abstract The external morphology and its variability, myocardinal apparatus, and shell structure of both valves of the radiolitid rudist Eoradiolites plicatus (Conrad) are described, based on the examination of about one hundred well-preserved, fairly complete specimens that are free of sediment matrix, found in a single bed of an ammonite-bearing Albian succession ('Knemiceras beds', Zebbag Formation) in central Tunisia. This study provides the most nearly complete knowledge of any Eoradiolites species to date. With this background, all previous records of E. plicatus, as well as the taxonomic status of the other Albian species of the genus, are revised considering both original material, when available, and published papers. As a result, the systematics of Eoradiolites is simplified.


Rat foetuses from intra-uterine days E13 through E22 (day before parturition) and adults were used for a qualitative electron-microscopic investigation of the development of ciliated/microvillous surfaces of the olfactory epithelium. In the E13 and most of the E14 embryos the epithelial surface is not yet characteristically olfactory. Apical cell profiles show primary cilia. These can arise at the epithelial surface or below. From E14 onwards the epithelial surface acquires olfactory characteristics. Dendritic endings of the olfactory receptor cells can be found amidst microvillous profiles of supporting cells. Either cell type may bear primary cilia. From E16 onwards the receptor cells sprout multiple olfactory cilia, but cells with primary cilia are found throughout pre-natal development. These primary cilia are, at least for a while, retained during the formation of the secondary cilia. Primary cilia always have distinct necklaces at their base. Otherwise, especially with respect to their tips, their morphology can vary. Originally they have expanded tips (up to E14); later on such wide tips are no longer encountered (E16 and E17). Primary cilia of receptor cells never have wide tips. Appreciable numbers of endings with tapering olfactory cilia are discerned around E18 and especially E19. Throughout pre-natal development posterior/superior parts of the septal olfactory epithelium are more precocious than anterior/inferior parts, in particular in the region of transition with the respiratory epithelium. This advance in development includes total densities of dendritic endings of olfactory receptor cells, densities of multiciliated endings alone and lengths of supporting cell microvilli. This difference is discussed with respect to the topography of the olfactory epithelial surface in adult animals. In addition to the systematic topographic variation, a number of more local, apparently not-systematically distributed, topographic variations present during development are described. Most of these also occur in adult animals and they include heterogeneity in length of supporting cell microvilli and the presence of patches of supporting cells with rounded apical protuberances, of patches displaying dendrites with polyaxonemes rather than individual cilia and of scattered atypical cells (neither typical olfactory receptor nor olfactory supporting cells). At their surfaces such atypical cells can resemble inner-ear hair cells. Relative to olfactory receptor and supporting cells there are only very few atypical cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Objective: To collect data on the practices of molecular genetic testing (MGT) laboratories for the development of national and international policies for quality assurance (QA). Methods: A web-based survey of MGT laboratory directors (n = 827; response rate 63%) in 18 countries on 3 continents. QA and reporting indices were developed and calculated for each responding laboratory. Results: Laboratory setting varied among and within countries, as did qualifications of the directors. Respondents in every country indicated that their laboratory receives specimens from outside their national borders (64%, n = 529). Pair-wise comparisons of the QA index revealed a significant association with the director having formal training in molecular genetics (p < 0.005), affiliation with a genetics unit (p = 0.003), accreditation of the laboratory (p < 0.005) and participation in proficiency testing (p < 0.005). Research labs had a lower mean report score compared to all other settings (p < 0.05) as did laboratories accessioning <150 samples per year. Conclusion: MGT is provided under widely varying conditions and regulatory frameworks. The data provided here may be a useful guide for policy action at both governmental and professional levels.


Text data are an important source of detailed information about social and political events. Automated systems parse large volumes of text data to infer or extract structured information that describes actors, actions, dates, times, and locations. One of these sub-tasks is geocoding: predicting the geographic coordinates associated with events or locations described by a given text. I present an end-to-end probabilistic model for geocoding text data. Additionally, I collect a novel data set for evaluating the performance of geocoding systems. I compare the model-based solution, called ELECTRo-map, to the current state-of-the-art open source system for geocoding texts for event data. Finally, I discuss the benefits of end-to-end model-based geocoding, including principled uncertainty estimation and the ability of these models to leverage contextual information.


This article in Foreign Affairs exemplifies the common perception that in the Netherlands "anything goes" with respect to drugs, and that it is a virtual heaven for drug users, where drug dealers are allowed to openly import huge amounts of cocaine and heroin undisturbed by nosy customs officials. This is the image of the "Dutch model" that is portrayed by some foreign media, government officials, and politicians, in particular in the United States. The best representative of this conservative viewpoint is without a doubt Barry R. McCaffrey, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in Washington. He sees the Dutch policy as the example of a misguided"soft" approach. In his opinion, the poor results of the Dutch drug policy are the best proof that the tough American approach is superior (McCaffrey"). Of course, this "anything goes" image did not just develop out of the clear blue sky; it is based-partly at least-on reality. But it also reflects an oversimplified, impressionistic, and outdated understanding of Dutch drug policy. Myths, distortions, and half-truths about Dutch drug policy go both ways: whereas the conservatives tend to emphasize the negative side of the Dutch model, the more liberal thinkers tend to argue that there are virtually no problems related to the "soft" Dutch approach. The "Dutch model" is typically depicted in black-and-white terms: either it represents all the despicable and dangerous elements of a much too soft drug policy gone wrong, or it embodies all the virtues and benefits of a rational and thoughtful approach to a manageable problem. The reality, as always, lies somewhere in between these two extreme views.


Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging techniques provide a promising approach to detect amyloid structures which are of paramount importance in early-stage diagnosis of conformational diseases. Here, we report a combined molecular dynamics and density functional theory/molecular mechanics computational scheme for evaluation of the binding mechanism between a multifunctional spin label and the target amyloid protein. In addition, we consider evaluation of EPR spin Hamiltonian parameters with the aim of providing a better microscopic understanding and interpretation of EPR spectroscopy. The results from molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the oligothiophene conjugate part of the spin label interacts with hydrophobic residues of the amyloid protein through hydrophobic attraction and that both the N-O bond length and the N-O out-of-plane tilt angle in the nitroxide group are slightly diminished after complexation with the protein. The translational and rotational motions of the protein-bound spin label are considerably slowed compared to those of the free spin label in aqueous solution, but interestingly, hydrogen bonds formed between the nitroxide oxygen group and the surrounding water molecules are hardly affected by the presence of the amyloid protein. First-principles calculations suggest that EPR spin Hamiltonian parameters including the nitroxide nitrogen hyperfine coupling tensor A(N) and electronic g tensor suffer noticeable changes upon complexation with the protein. The magnitude of the A(N) tensor is found to be closely related to the nitroxide N-O out-of-plane tilt angle, while the g tensor is affected by both the nitroxide N-O bond length as well as the interaction between the spin label and the amyloid protein. With this work we show that state-of-the-art simulation techniques represent a promising way of providing a detailed understanding of the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the formation and stability of a spin label complexed with amyloid structures as well as the magnetic properties of the free and protein-bound spin label.


Tomato consumption and production have been rapidly increasing. With most of the U.S. tomatoes produced being processed, tomato imports for the fresh market are significantly greater than tomato imports for the processed market. Consequently, it is critical and increasingly valuable for fresh-market producers who sell directly to grocery chains, farmers' markets, and food service providers to analyze emerging consumption trends as well as the substitution patterns among different types of tomatoes and vegetables. This study uses the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) to estimate the demand parameters for fresh tomatoes in the Dallas/Fort Worth grocery market using AC Nielsen Homescan data for the year 2012. Unlike previous fresh fruit and vegetable studies, the study reports disaggregated tomato elasticities, including Hicksian and Marshallian price elasticities and expenditure elasticities. The analysis identifies tomato types that are highly marketable in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area and provides insight on tomato varieties that could be grown for the region.


We investigate how an optical squeezed chaotic field (SCF) evolves in an amplitude dissipation channel. We have used the integration within ordered product of operators technique to derive its evolution law. We also show that the density operator of SCF can be viewed as a generating field of the squeezed number state.


Objectives: Echogenic and/or dilated bowel is often encountered on prenatal ultrasound and may represent a feature of gastrointestinal pathology, chromosomal abnormality or sign of prenatal infection. Prenatal differentiation between transient, physiological versus pathological manifestation is often difficult and remain uncertain. As a consequence, patients' counselling and timely involvement of pediatric surgeons is challenging. We aimed to review prenatal cases with echogenic or/and dilated bowel and analyse their neonatal outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. All ultrasound scans demonstrating fetal echogenic and/or dilated bowel were retrieved from the viewpoint and grouped into three categories: 1. echogenic; 2. dilated and 3. combined cases. Bowel echogenicity has been defined as grade 1 to 3, in relation to the surrounding liver or bone echogenicity. Bowel dilatation is defined as the largest diameter measuring >7mm during second and third trimester. Results: Out of 26,353 screened prenatal ultrasound scans: 30, 3 and 8 cases were identified with bowel echogenicity (grade 2 or 3), dilatation and their combination respectively. 9/41 (21%) neonates had confirmed gastrointestinal related pathologies; 5 with echogenic and 2 from each, dilated and combined bowel abnormalities group. 3/30 (10%) cases with echogenic and 1/8 (13%) case with dilated bowel required postnatal intestinal surgery. None among neonates with combined echogenic and dilated bowel exhibited structural intestinal abnormality that needed surgical correction. Conclusions: Prenatal diagnosis of isolated echogenic and/or dilated bowel carries overall favourable neonatal outcomes. However, still minority of cases with fetal echogenic or dilated bowel may elucidate of possible gastrointestinal abnormalities that require thorough parents' counselling, prenatal work up and multidisciplinary team involvement. Further research is needed to more precisely define prenatal ultrasound features of severe gastrointestinal abnormalities that require neonatal interventions.


Total RNA was extracted from 105 individual postmortem human brain samples representing a range of postmortem conditions. To improve upon parameters currently used to screen for RNA quality, electropherogram patterns generated by the Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100 were compared to the average score in random hexamer-primed reverse transcription real-time PCR for four housekeeping genes in each RNA sample. The ribosomal ratio (28S to 18S) was found to be unrelated to the housekeeping gene score (r = -0.06; P = 0.50), and there was no threshold value in the ratio that could be applied to effectively categorize the RNA degradation. Although the housekeeping gene score correlated significantly with the percentage of area in the electropherogram corresponding to moderate to high molecular weight intact mRNA (r = 0.41; P = 0.0001), the best discriminator was determined to be the ratio of the 18S peak height to the highest peak in the tRNA to 18S rRNA baseline. Applying a lower boundary of 2.12 for the ratio allowed for the screening out of samples with the lowest housekeeping gene scores without excluding better-quality samples. This measure represents a marked improvement over the 28S to 18S ratio, which proved to be a misleading indicator of the state of the mRNA for use in random hexamer-primed reverse transcription PCR.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The presence of specific chromosomal translocations in acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) plays an important role in determining the prognosis of the patients. Our aim is to develop a highly sensitive and specific method to screen simultaneously for the four most frequent translocations in ALL: t(9;22), t(1;19), t(4;11), t(12;21).

DESIGN AND METHODS
Our approach uses a multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, which involves two rounds of PCR using fluorescence-labeled nested primers. The chimeric transcripts resulting from these translocations can be identified by agarose gel electrophoresis or by fluorescence analysis. To validate this method we carried out the analysis in 42 pediatric ALL samples previously studied by cytogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques.

RESULTS
In all samples with a known translocation detected by cytogenetic or FISH techniques, the same translocation was identified by the multiplex-PCR assay. Moreover, with this method we detected rearrangements in five patients in clinical remission and in two patients at diagnosis for whom karyotypes were normal and rearrangements had not been detected. The application of this multiplex-PCR assay was also useful in cases without cytogenetic results.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the multiplex-PCR method allows reliable, sensitive and rapid detection of the prognostically significant translocations in ALL. We believe that this assay combined with cytogenetic analysis should be the strategy of choice for the initial diagnostic phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and that it could be used not only at diagnosis but also to follow-up these alterations in remission samples without previous controls.


Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) gene expression was assessed in abdominal fat tissues of five commercial meat-type chicken hybrids (Aviagen, Arbor Acre, Hubbard, Cobb and Ross) at of 37 days old. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction was used. The relative A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was calculated with 2-ΔΔCt method using males as calibrators for their target females. The meat type hybrids were diverse in their genetic makeup and response. Aviagen females recorded significant 2.176 more than their males. Hubbard females recorded non-significant 0.6533 fold, same as their males. Arbor acres females are lower than their males by significant 0.1243 fold. Both Cobb and Ross genotypes scored significant 0.3723 and 0.3951, respectively, fold than their males. Hierarchical clustering analysis dendograme method merged Cobb and Ross genotypes to the first closest cluster. Both Arbor Acres and Hubbard had joined into a further cluster. Aviagen genotype was much closer to Arbor Acres and Hubbard nest. Lower abundance of A-FABP gene expression for Arbor Acres was significantly associated with growth and most of carcass parameters retardation. Lower expression of A-FABP gene for Cobb genotype had a unique elevation response for both growth and most of carcass parameters and strong positive association with abdominal fat deposition, especially for males. So, the A-FABP gene could be linked to major gene(s) that influence the abdominal fat content in case of Cobb broilers. FABP4 may provide useful information for further studies on its roles in growth, carcass traits and fatness for both Arbor Acres and Cobb hybrids.


This article focuses on the study of the mass transfer involved in the application of a bacterial antifouling technique for membrane bioreactors (MBR), via the addition of solid media. These alginate objects can contain a biological system capable of producing an enzyme that degrades the signal molecules responsible for membrane fouling. The objective of this article is to quantify the mass transfer by distinguishing two main types: the transfer from the liquid to the solid media and the transfer from solid media to the liquid phase. For this purpose, a model molecule was chosen, and experiments were specifically developed with an optical device to track the concentration of the dye in the liquid phase, considering three different shapes for the particles (beads, hollow cylinders, and flat sheets). The experiments were first performed in jar tests and then in a lab-scale reactor. The results of this study revealed that the total amount of dye transferred into the sheets was greater than that transferred into the cylinders or the beads, which was attributed to the sheets having a larger exchange area for the same volume. When the dyed media were implemented in the MBR (loading rate of solid media: 0.45% v/v—no biomass), the global transfer coefficient from the sheets to the liquid was found to be greater than for the other shapes, indicating a faster transfer phenomenon. The effect of aeration in the MBR was investigated and an optimal air flowrate for fostering the transfer was found, based on the highest transfer coefficient that was obtained. This study provided key information about mass transfer in MBRs and how it is affected by the particle shapes and the MBR operating conditions.


The aim of this article is to address the regulatory framework as one of the key factors determining the success of creation of single market for renewable energy. No one could possibly argue that non-discriminative and consistent legal regulation plays a big role in the creation of a single market. Therefore, the question of legal capability to create the single market for renewable energy and the overall quality of present regulatory framework is at the centre of this article. Our objective is to analyse whether the single market for energy produced from renewable sources can be created under current legal regulation of the European Union Therefore, the first part of the article analyses the competence of the European Union to regulate the renewable energy sector and division of legislative powers between the Member States and the European Union. The goal of the first part is to answer the question whether the European Union has the competence to regulate renewable energy market. The second part Agnė Tikniūtė, Saulė Milciuvienė. Legal Regulation of Renewable Energy Market 1496 of the article analyses the legal framework of measures for the promotion of renewable energy production used in each Member State. The goal of the second part of this article is to answer the question – whether all renewable energy producers are in equal competitive position, notwithstanding different legal frameworks of the Member States.


Don't Forget the Edges Reef-building corals are highly diverse, and many are threatened with extinction. In order to make predictions about coral survival, Budd and Pandolfi (p. 1558) examined morphological changes occurring over the evolutionary history of Caribbean corals. Long-term evolutionary patterns, including hybridization between species and diversification into new species (so-called lineage fusion and splitting) differed depending on the geographical location within the colony, with higher change occurring at a species' geographic margin relative to those in central locations. Thus, edge zones, which often experience limited gene flow, are responsible for the predominance of evolutionary innovation. If conservation strategies are biased toward biodiversity hotspots, which represent centers of high species richness, they may miss important sources of evolutionary novelty during global change. Caribbean coral morphology documents that most coral evolution did not occur at the center of diversity of a species' range. Conservation priorities are calculated on the basis of species richness, endemism, and threats. However, areas ranked highly for these factors may not represent regions of maximal evolutionary potential. The relationship between geography and evolutionary innovation was analyzed in a dominant complex of Caribbean reef corals, in which morphological and genetic data concur on species differences. Based on geometric morphometrics of Pleistocene corals and genetically characterized modern colonies, we found that morphological disparity varies from the center to the edge of the Caribbean, and we show that lineages are static at well-connected central locations but split or fuse in edge zones where gene flow is limited. Thus, conservation efforts in corals should focus not only on the centers of diversity but also on peripheral areas of species ranges and population connectivity.


High-voltage switching stations, consisting of numerous distributed actuators and sensors, are used to connect, disconnect and protect the high-voltage lines of national and international power distribution networks. A dependability analysis performed already during development allows to influence the distributed control system design into a direction of cost-effective fault-tolerance. The vast variety of configurations considering all combinations of different degrees of redundancy at sensor, PISA (Process Interface for Sensors and Actuators), PB (Process Bus) and IBB (Interbay Bus) level, cannot be handled manually any more. This article presents a consistent strategy which has successfully been applied to the configuration-variant dependability analysis in the optimization of switchgear station design. At the end of the analysis, the dependability results (MTTF, availability, etc.) of the various configurations are displayed versus hardware costs.


Cellular senescence is the cessation of the process of division of the cells. Aging is an insidious definite decline in a cell's functionality, vigor, and vitality. Recent advances in biomedical research, cytogenetic and molecular studies have brought forth fascinating theories to expatriate aging and, more importantly, to tame aging to modulation by genetic and pharmacological manipulations. This article focuses on the effect of cellular senescence and stem cell exhaustion on aging and the subsequent clinical implications.


Our aim was to analyze law no. 3.298/99 and course plans in undergraduate nursing programs in order to confirm the inclusion of the item for participation of nurses in the Handicapped People (HP) integration process. We read the plans of courses from four universities; indentified the courses in common and distributed them according to the level of health care. The proposals of the law are universal, equal, and democratic; the plans of courses analyzed adopt most of the actions recommended by the Ministry of Health in order to prevent deficiencies. Nevertheless, academic practice exercises prevention/ treatment of diseases, silencing concern over the insertion of nurse in the HP integration process.


▸ Bergsbaken T, Bevan M. Proinflammatory microenvironments within the intestine regulate the differentiation of tissue-resident CD8 T cells responding to infection. Nat Immunol 2015;16:406–14. Effector CD8+ T cells produced during bacterial or viral infection undergo an activation phase. This allows entry into a number of peripheral tissues, including the GI tract. CD8+ T cells then acquire a tissue-resident memory T cell (TRM cell) phenotype. Intestinal CD8+ TRM cells remain in the tissue to provide local protection against future infections. The control of TRM cell development, specifically during local infection, is not well defined. In this study, the recruitment of CD8+ Tcells to the intestine and the role that distinct microenvironments within the infected intestine can play in regulating cell development was investigated. The authors used Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Yptb) infection as a model to study the CD8+ T cell response to a pathogen that causes severe intestinal disease. Yptb is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that stimulates a robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response; however, this has not been characterised. The authors showed that Yptb induced a robust intestinal CD8+ T cell response, resulting in the development of a mixed population of intestinal CD8+ TRM cells. Some of the antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were dependent on transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βR) signalling, expressed CD103, and were evenly distributed throughout the intestinal epithelium and lamina propria. The remaining cells were CD103− and localised near areas of Yptb infection in the lamina propria, where they controlled bacterial replication. The CD103−CD8+ T cells in the lamina propria did not require TGF-βR signalling like the CD103+ cells but were dependent on CXCR3 for recruitment to areas of bacterial infection and inflammation for their differentiation. Overall, the authors' findings indicate that the localisation of CD8+ TRM cells to distinct microenvironments within the infected intestine regulates their phenotype and function.


Since the first strain related to Thermicanaceae was reported in 1999, almost no literature on Thermicanaceae is available, particularly its genomics. We recently isolated a novel pathogenic bacterium, the △ strain DYY3, from the blood sample of a critically ill patient. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of △ strain DYY3 were presented in this study, and the virulence factor genes and antibiotic resistance of DYY3 were also determined. Interestingly, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and core-genes average amino acid identity (cAAI) analysis indicated that △ strain DYY3 was genus novel and species novel. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis based on both 16S rRNA gene and whole genomic core gene sequences suggested that △ strain DYY3 belonged to the family Thermicanaceae, and this novel taxon was thus named Haemobacillus shengwangii gen. nov., sp. nov. Besides, both the whole genome-based phylogenetic tree and amino acid identity analysis indicated that Thermicanus aegyptius, Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii, Brockia lithotrophica, and the newly discovered species H. shengwangii should belong to Thermicanaceae at the family level, and T. aegyptius was the closest species to H. shengwangii. We also constructed the first high-quality genome in the family Thermicanaceae using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technologies, which certainly contributed to further genomics studies and metagenomic-based pathogenic detection in the future.


: Results of a pathohistological investigation of bronchoscopy bioptic specimens in 523 patients, including 422 patients with cancer of the lungs, 7--with benign tumours of the lungs, 83,--with chronic nonspecific afflictions, and 11--with pulmonary tuberculosis, are discussed. A histological diagnosis of bronchogenic cancer was established in 210 out of 422 observations. In central cancer positive results of bronchobiopsy (i. i. revealing of tumour) were obtained in 198 (52.1%) out of 380 cases, in peripheral cancer - in 12 (28.5%) out of 42 cases. Investigations of bronchobiopsy specimens made it possible to establish: epidermoid cancer in 123 (58.6%) cases, microcellular anaplastic cancer in 58 (27.6%) of cases, adenocarcinoma in 15 (7.1%) of cases, macrocellular cancer in 1 (0.5%) case. In 13 observations (6.2%) the histological type of cancer was not identified. The specific gravity of epidermoid cancer was consistently greater than in investigations of operation and section material. Analysis of the background changes in bronchobiopsies in which no tumour tissue was observed showed a substantially lower incidence (P less than 0.01) of atypical metaplasia of the bronchial epithelium in chronic nonspecific diseases than in the bronchogenic cancer.


After nerve-crush injury to a muscle nerve the afferent and efferent axons regenerate and reinnervate their peripheral targets. This process has been examined in the muscle spindles of the peroneus brevis muscle of the cat hindlimb. Following reinnervation there was a rapid restoration of the ending structure which clearly demonstrated the presence of a powerful guidance system enabling a high degree of specificity in the reinnervation process. Although the sensory endings never achieved the full complexity and extent of innervation that characterises the endings of normal spindles, the process of reinnervatlon was highly successful and the specicifity of reinnervation is explained in terms of physical guidance by the basal laminae of the endoneurial tubes and the muscle fibres. During the early stages of recovery the spindles responded abnormally to ramp=and hold stretch, often only firing during the rising phase of the ramp. As recovery progressed, so the responses became more normal and this pattern is explained in terms of a gradual reduction in the threshold of the pacemaker site. Variation of the denervation period showed that on the whole the muscle spindle is resistant to denervation atrophy for at least seven weeks. After all the denervation periods the regenerated endings were fully functional and there was only a slight trend towards slower recovery with increasing denervation period. The morphological appearance of the endings showed a reduction in the regional specificity of reinnervatlon which is attributed to shrinkage of the intrafusal fibres allowing axons to grow between the basal lamina and the muscle fibre.


The transcription factor CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) modulates pleiotropic functions mostly related to gene expression regulation. The role of CTCF in large scale genome organization is also well established. A unifying model to explain relationships among many CTCF-mediated activities involves direct or indirect interactions with numerous protein cofactors recruited to specific binding sites. The co-association of CTCF with other architectural proteins such as cohesin, chromodomain helicases, and BRG1, further supports the interplay between master regulators of mammalian genome folding. Here, we report a comprehensive LC-MS/MS mapping of the components of the switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex co-associated with CTCF including subunits belonging to the core, signature, and ATPase modules. We further show that the localization patterns of representative SWI/SNF members significantly overlap with CTCF sites on transcriptionally active chromatin regions. Moreover, we provide evidence of a direct binding of the BRK-BRG1 domain to the zinc finger motifs 4–8 of CTCF, thus, suggesting that these domains mediate the interaction of CTCF with the SWI/SNF complex. These findings provide an updated view of the cooperative nature between CTCF and the SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, an important step for understanding how these architectural proteins collaborate to shape the genome.


Parents often underestimate their children's susceptibility to unintentional injuries, which may lead to non-use of prevention measures. To correct this perception, we exposed parents of small children to computer-generated short animations of five typical injurious situations in Japanese home environments and information about injury susceptibility and severity. Animations depicted: falling from a chair; electrical shock at an outlet; bathtub drowning; accidental ingestion of a button battery; and thermal injury by a rice cooker. Animations were created based on injury surveillance data, and motion capture data and body size data of average Japanese children. A total of 91 parents, including seven males, with children between 0.5 and 2 years old participated in the study through the Internet. (There were no statistically significant differences between genders in responses.) Half of the participants (n=44) watched only the five animations (Animation-only). The other half (n=47) watched the five animations and information about injury susceptibility and severity (animation + information). No difference was observed between the two groups in perception toward severity of injuries. However, the Animation + information group perceived their own children's susceptibility to the injuries higher than the Animation-only group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant in three of the five situations; fall, thermal injury, and drowning. Results suggest that animation is useful to get parents attention to childhood injury and severity by showing the moment of injury; however, adding information about injury consequences may be more effective in increasing parental feelings of injury susceptibility of own children.


PurposeThis research aims to identify and measure the correlations between building information modelling (BIM) and lean construction (LC) principles at the design and construction phases.Design/methodology/approachThe study investigates BIM-LC principles correlations using the Istanbul Grant Airport (IGA) as a case study. The Delphi technique, performed quantitatively, contributes to the identification and quantification of a set of correlations between 11 selected BIM uses and 13 LC principles, which are supported with practical examples from the case study.FindingsTogether, the two research methods provide an evidence-based approach to understand the correlations between BIM and LC. The correlation analysis results in 46 correlations, and the correlations between the LC principles and BIM uses are intensified with the LC principles.Practical implicationsA quantitative understanding BIM use and LC principles correlations and appreciation of their specific uses can guide the practical implementation of BIM and LC, especially in large and mega projects.Originality/valueBIM and LC practices represent approaches to improve performance in construction projects. While BIM has both information technology (IT) and process perspectives, the LC approach is mainly a process and product-oriented philosophy for project efficiency, effectiveness and the elimination of non-value-adding activities and waste. Many studies have investigated how the two approaches complement each other and concluded that their combined implementation in projects can improve efficiency and effectiveness. However, to date an analytical and granular investigation identifying and measuring correlations between BIM and LC based on empirical data is lacking. This paper fills that gap with an evidence-based analysis of the tightness of coupling and correlations between BIM uses and LC principles.


Abstract Background A better understanding of long-term health effects after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has become one of the health care priorities in the current pandemic. We analyzed a large and diverse patient cohort to study health effects related to SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring >1 month postinfection. Methods We analyzed 17 487 patients who received diagnoses for SARS-CoV-2 infection in a total of 122 health care facilities in the United States before April 14, 2022. Patients were propensity score–matched with patients diagnosed with the common cold, influenza, or viral pneumonia from March 1, 2020, to April 1, 2021. For each outcome, SARS-CoV-2 was compared with a generic viral respiratory infection (VRI) by predicting diagnoses in the period between 30 and 365 days postinfection. Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and VRI patients were propensity score–matched with patients with no record of COVID-19 or VRI, and the same methodology was applied. Diagnoses where COVID-19 infection was a significant positive predictor in both COVID-19 vs VRI and COVID-19 vs control comparisons were considered COVID-19-specific effects. Results Compared with common VRIs, SARS-CoV-2 was associated with diagnoses of palpitations, hair loss, fatigue, chest pain, dyspnea, joint pain, and obesity in the postinfectious period. Conclusions We identify that some diagnoses commonly described as "long COVID" do not appear significantly more frequent post–COVID-19 infection compared with other common VRIs. We also identify sequelae that are specifically associated with a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Post-press freedom in Indonesia (the passing of Law No. 40/1999) gave rise to a variety of new problems, ranging from widespread violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics (KEJ) to violence against journalists. In fact, the Press Law No. 40/1999 was actually born to provide fresh air for press freedom in the country and to provide the widest possible space for press operations that were previously locked in the shackles of power. The results of the discussion found that violations of the journalistic code of ethics tended to be committed by young journalists who were still raw with the articles of the code of ethics and the Press Law No. 40/1999. Forms of violation are sometimes reluctant to confirm sources, using fictitious anonymous sources, do not keep the identity of victims of immoral crimes secret, use bar language, and tend to attack individual privacy, and harass SARA - things that were previously very sacred. The results of the study prove that between press freedom and violations of journalistic code of ethics and violence against journalists have a significant relationship, while violations of journalistic codes of ethics with violence against journalists also have a significant relationship, but between press freedom and violence against journalists have a relative relationship during the conflict. Aceh does not have a causal relationship, but after the peace of GAM Aceh - RI there is a very significant relationship, in fact it was carried out by former fighting elements in Aceh GAM and the TNI / Polri. To avoid continuing victims, journalists in Indonesia, especially Aceh is expected to be able to apply the Proportional and Professional Concept (2P); Professional as a basic competency in journalistic and proportional operations is a provision to face various threats and dangers in fieldo perations.


In order to implement the power counting obtained in the Wilsonian renormalization group (WRG) analysis of nuclear effective field theory (NEFT) including pions, we propose a practical calculational scheme in which the short-distance part of one-pion exchange (S-OPE) is removed and represented as contact terms. A distinctive feature of our scheme is that two regularization schemes are used in combination. The dimensional regularization (DR) is used for diagrams consisting only of contact interactions and a momentum cutoff is implemented for diagrams containing the long-distance part of one pion exchange (L-OPE) by introducing a Gaussian damping factor(GDF). The sole purpose of the use of the dimensional regularization is that it considerably simplifies the treatment of nonperturbative part of the scattering amplitude. In the calculation the L-OPE is treated as perturbation and a part of the S-OPE is treated nonperturbatively along with a contact interaction without derivative nonperturbatively. We show the results of the next-to-nextto-leading order(NNLO) calculations for nucleon-nucleon elastic scattering in the S-waves that are fitted to Nijmegen partial wave analysis data.


The Tensilon (intravenous edrophonium chloride) test is a frequently used and frequently useful office test for myasthenia gravis (MG). The main controversies concerning the test are the reasons for administering it and the style in which it is administered. Tensilon testing is useful as a diagnostic test for ocular MG but not as a means of adjusting medical treatment for this condition. Myasthenic extraocular muscles, especially the eyelids, usually respond dramatically in the untreated patient. Similarly, ocular movement, although often not restored completely to normal, is generally improved with the administration of Tensilon. In contrast, Tensilon administration as a means of judging drug dosage is far less useful. The real question with therapy in ocular MG is not whether the eyes will wiggle a little bit more with an intravenous cholinesterase inhibitor but whether a satisfactory (to the patient) response to oral cholinesterase inhibitors can be achieved. This determination


The monitoring of human rights performance is increasingly a measurement exercise. This is true for the UN institutions whose role is to monitor compliance with human rights treaties; governments who fulfil their obligations to report to those institutions regarding their performance; NGOs which are engaged in applying pressure to States Parties to the relevant treaties; and human rights-interested academia. The international human rights system, to put it another way, is increasingly concerned with statistical 'outcomes' such as the number of children in primary education, the number of victims of domestic violence, or the number of people enrolled in public nutrition programmes - quantitative measures which are purported to demonstrate whether obligations are being fulfilled. This is part of a broader phenomenon which sees human rights success as something that can be measured through statistical techniques, and it is in turn part of a wider movement in many fields which privileges the quantifiable and measurable over the tacit or subjective.

It is predicated on a given: that it is within our power to identify the causes of measured human rights outcomes. This article argues that, in fact, that given must be treated with great scepticism and suspicion, as it does not take due account of the complexity of the subject matter concerned. In fact, since human societies are areas of such great complexity, it may be impossible to properly understand what causes the great majority of what we refer to as human rights outcomes.

The acuteness of the problem of credible causal inference is poorly acknowledged in much of the academic literature on human rights measurement. This paper argues that a greater degree of epistemic humility is crucial.


We demonstrate an approach to prepare nitrogen-rich hard carbon (N-HCS) from biomass as a robust anode material for sodium-ion batteries. A reversible capacity of ∼520 mA h g−1 at a current density of 20 mA g−1 along with an excellent rate performance was obtained. When cycled at a high current density of 1 A g−1, the N-HCS was stable for over 1000 cycles delivering a capacity of ∼204 mA h g−1. Density functional theory (DFT) computations verified that nitrogen doping enhances the interaction of sodium ions with the carbon, leading to a significantly improved storage capacity. This work provides new physical insights into the relationship between sodium-ion storage and nitrogen-containing hard carbon materials.


Student investment funds are currently in operation globally at many large business schools and even small liberal arts colleges. Their management follows a wide variety of processes, from unsupervised to highly professional. While all investment managers labor to deliver alpha in a diversified portfolio, there are additional challenges to implementing a fully professional approach within a university setting, the largest being the constraint on time due to the school curriculum. This paper explores whether it is realistic to expect value-added from student analysts, and what training and infrastructure are required to increase the odds of successful active portfolio management inside an educational institution. The key goal of a student fund is education, not investment performance, but the more professional the investment operation, the more enlightened will be its graduates. A case study of one ten-year-old student fund illustrates a unique approach which seeks to successfully address these challenges. The fund's management is formally integrated within a graduate finance program and has generated over 200 basis points of alpha per annum.


CASE DESCRIPTION
Two 6-year-old male dogs were evaluated for removal of midline occipito-temporal multilobular osteochondrosarcomas.

CLINICAL FINDINGS
Physical examination revealed mild ataxia in 1 dog and large masses of the central occipitotemporal portion of the skull in both dogs. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or both revealed large bone-origin occipitotemporal masses with impingement of the brain and the sagittal and transverse venous sinuses. Three-dimensional contrast magnetic resonance image reconstruction delineated collateral venous circulation around the tumor and venous sinus occlusion in 1 dog.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
Tumors in both dogs were surgically removed and the skull defects repaired with polymethyl methacrylate prostheses. Twenty-four hours after surgery, 1 dog had normal mentation, cranial nerve function, and conscious proprioceptive responses, whereas the other dog had depressed mentation but no neurologic deficits. Both dogs were discharged 4 days after surgery with normal mentation and no neurologic deficits.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Findings suggested that MRI and computed tomography can play a key role in assessment of essential cortical collateral circulation when surgical removal of tumors is likely to result in bilateral disruption of transverse venous sinuses. Without robust collateral circulation and proper preoperative planning, removal of massive skull tumors in the midline occipitotemporal region will likely result in substantial morbidity or death. However, results in the 2 dogs reported here indicate the feasibility of removing such tumors with good outcomes in the presence of well-developed collateral venous drainage.


The article examines a specific situation that is emerging in Russia and is associated with the erosion of the state monopoly of the legitimate use of violence. With the example of a seemingly routine private event that looks like a single failure in the system, the authors show that it represents one of the most significant practices of power holders, the essence of which they define as "forced enforcement" and analyze its origins and possible implications. In a gigantic country, the regions of which vary significantly in the level of their socio-economic development, enforcement of rules is associated with costs that exceed the amount of the resulting benefits. Therefore, the state limits its function as an enforcer to the control only over the key industries and does not encroach on the rest. However, under the contemporary conditions this tactic stops working. Since key industries are no longer able to meet the needs of the enlarged state, it begins to extend its control to the new social and economic spheres. The dramatic expansion of the area of application of the enforcement tools and complicated procedures associated with the need to control these tools themselves make them more and more costly. Thus, the task is to make them less costly, while maintaining, or even increasing, the volume of work. The very fact of intentionally setting such an insurmountable task makes the corresponding organs look for non-trivial solutions that are outside the state-imposed rules. Created as "enforcement machines", they acquire their own mind and interests, and thus their own subjectivity. They no longer enforce the rules, but begin to form them, trying to shift the fulfillment of their functions to citizens and thereby pushing them to search for new enforcers that are not at all connected with the state.


: Various Muslim commentators have contributed to Qur'ānic exegesis ( tafsīr ) from the Eastern to the Western regions of the Muslim world. Besides the Middle East, other regions were also influential in the literature and scholarship of tafsīr , such as Khorasan and Transoxiana. Another example is Istanbul, the libraries of which hold examples of most of the surviving tafsīr works and super-commentaries. We do not have an extensive body of scholarship on tafsīr knowledge/production in other parts of the Muslim world in English as such studies are of particular significance for the full history of tafsīr . For this reason, this article focuses on tafsīr production in modern Turkey with reference to the Diyanet (the Turkish Presidency for Religious Affairs) Qur'ān commentary Kur'an Yolu (Path of the Qur'ān). First, the article provides a brief overview of tafsīr production and culture in the Ottoman period (1299–1922) and in the period of the Republic of Turkey (since 1923) to contextualise the Diyanet commentary. Then, it analyses the Diyanet Qur'ān commentary Kur'an Yolu as official/institutional tafsīr , its major characteristics and methodology. A particular focus is devoted to the commentary's Introduction (pp. 13-51). The article holds the view that, while the Qur'ān commentary Kur'an Yolu follows the classical mainstream Sunni framework and paradigm, it includes innovative perspectives, selections of alternative options along with critical engagement with the classical tafsīr and Islamic scholarship.


Thermal load prediction is a key part of energy system management and control in buildings, and its accuracy plays a critical role to improve building energy performance and efficiency. Regarding thermal load prediction, various types of prediction model have been considered and studied, such as physics-based, statistical, and machine learning models. Physical models can be accurate but require extended lead time for model development. Statistical models are relatively simple to develop and require less computation time, but they may not provide accurate results for complex energy systems with intricate nonlinear dynamic behaviors. This study proposes an artificial neural network (ANN) model, one of the prevalent machine learning methods to predict building thermal load, combining with the concept of nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous inputs (NARX). NARX-ANN prediction model is distinguished from typical ANN models because the NARX concept can address nonlinear system behaviors effectively based on its recurrent architectures and time indexing features. To examine the suitability and validity of NARX-ANN model for building thermal load prediction, a case study is carried out using the field data of an academic campus building at Mississippi State University (MSU). Results show that the proposed NARX-ANN model can provide an accurate and robust prediction performance and effectively address nonlinear system behaviors in the prediction.


ABSTRACT. Various products and regimens proposed for feeding infants when the mother's milk is not available have been evaluated intensively for capacity to achieve optimal nutrition. The immunologic consequences of feeding the foreign proteins contained in the various products have received much less attention and no systematic investigations have been done for comparable immunologic evaluation. Sera obtained at intervals from normal infants fed cow milk and soybean products from birth in different regimens were analyzed for antibodies to five major milk proteins and a soy protein isolate. Antibody levels increased slowly during the first 4 months, reaching a peak about 6 months of age. In infants fed cow milk products or a soy product from birth to 112 days of age and then given various cow milk products the following antibody responses were observed: The level of serum antibodies attained was highest with pasteurized cow milk and lower with heat‐treated cow milk or a milk base formula of lower protein content. Feeding a soy product from birth for 112 days did not prevent a brisk antibody response to cow milk introduced subsequently, comparable to or greater than the antibody response seen when cow milk products were fed from birth. Clinically no immunologic disorders were detected in association with antibody responses to the various products and regimens. The implications of the findings for infant feeding and immunologic disorders are discussed.


Abstract Purpose: The aim of the study was to find out whether pre-operative radiochemotherapy had any survival advantage over postoperative radiochemotherapy for rectal carcinoma patients without distant metastasis or peritoneal carcinomatosis. Material and methods: Between January 1998 and December 2003, 51 rectal carcinoma patients without distant metastasis or peritoneal carcinomatosis were randomly divided into pre-operative (PRE) and postoperative (POST) radiochemotherapy groups. Twenty-six were assigned to the PRE group and were operated on 5 to 8 weeks after the completion of radiotherapy. The other 25 patients were operated on immediately and received radiotherapy post-operatively 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. The patients were followed up for between 4 to 51 months. Results: In the PRE group the rates of disease-free survival were 92%, 70%, 56% and 56% at the end of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, respectively. In the POST group those percentages were 83%, 68%, 51% and 51% at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, respectively (p = 0.707). One-year and 4-year overall survival rates in the PRE group were 100% and 86% respectively and 100% and 60% in the POST group (p = 0.520). Conclusion: No statistical difference was found between the survival rates of the rectal carcinoma patients receiving radiotherapy either pre-operatively or postoperatively. However, the disease-free survival rates of the PRE group were higher than the POST group's during each year and overall survival rates were higher after the third and fourth years. We conclude that pre-operative radiotherapy is at least as effective as postoperative radiotherapy.


The current investigations coordinate math cognition and cultural approaches to numeric thinking to examine the linkages between numeric and spatial processes, and how these linkages are modified by the cultural artifact of writing. Previous research in the adult numeric cognition literature has shown that English monoliterates have a spatialised mental number line which is oriented from left-to-right with smaller magnitudes associated with the left side of space and larger magnitudes are associated with the right side of space. These associations between number and space have been termed the Spatial Numeric Association Response Code Effect (SNARC effect, Dehaene, 1992). The current study investigates the spatial orientation of the mental number line in the following groups: English monoliterates, Arabic monoliterates who use only the right-left writing system, Arabic-English biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers who only read numerals. Current results indicate, for the first time, a Reverse SNARC effect for Arabic monoliterates, such that the mental number line had a right-to-left directionality. Furthermore, a weakened Reverse SNARC was observed for Arabic-English biliterates, and no effect was observed among Illiterate Arabic speakers. These findings are especially notable since left-right biases are neurologically supported and are observed in pre-literate children regardless of which writing system is used by adults. The broader implications of how cultural artifacts affect basic numeric cognition will be discussed.


Landscape planning is a tool that creates a balance between human and nature in terms of protection and improvement. With the use of landscape ecology based approaches in landscape planning process, from the point of structure, function and changes of the landscapes, planning decisions can be taken more easily and scientifically. Within this concept, it is important to examine the function of habitat and bio-diversity of the landscape in order to state the function of landscape in landscape planning. The purpose of this study is to state the habitat and bio-diversity function of landscape within the scope of landscape planning in Lake Sugla and its surrounding area and to develop planning decisions in terms of protection-utilization. The habitat and bio-diversity function of the landscape has been formed by using the patch corridor matrix model and field researches in geographical information system (GIS) environment. While habitat function is evaluated according to the measure and number of patch, the shape of patch, the side of patch and patch classifications in terms of core areas, species diversity is taken into consideration in bio-diversity function. As a result of the study in which data entry analysis and evaluation and geographic information system are used, it has been stated that the mixed patch class consisting of coniferous and leafy plants, is pointed as very high habitat function areas, leafy plants patch class is pointed as high habitat function areas, mixed coniferous patch class consisting of various coniferous plants is pointed as medium habitat function areas and single coniferous patch class is pointed as low habitat function areas. The bio-diversity function has been pointed with the use of books and articles and field studies that have been carried out at different times. The areas that have high habitat and bio-diversity function show parallelism with each other. Moreover, evaluation of both functions has shed light on the forest patches that should be given priority to be protected. The methodology approach which is the first landscape planning study that is based on landscape functions in our country, has been in use both in various regions of our country and various regions of different countries.


The purpose of this article is to describe jointly and cross-data the opportunities offered by the use, in the perspective of Evidence Based Education (EBE), of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) in research and instructional design as it emerged from the results of three surveys conducted by the University of Roma Tre. According to the ICF-CY conceptual framework and the EBE perspective, three studies have been designed to obtain a composite overview from which we can highlight: the current level of knowledge and use of this classification by the teachers of the Italian school; the possibility to implement such use by means of appropriate teachers' training activities; the possibility to collect, pre and post specific support activities, integrated data about activity and participation of all students. Data analysis is presented in order to give a contribute to the dissemination of information collected by a rigorous research design in the field of special education.


The objective of this work is to identify better metrics of exposure when comparing traffic crash risk across modes or across locations. The authors propose that total time traveled should be used for road user exposure to crash risk. The idea behind this is that travel time reflects the differences in speeds across different modes and hence should be used as the basic exposure metric from which crash risk based on other metrics, such as travel distance, can easily be derived. The authors also propose that when comparing crash risk of different modes across different locations the time-based mode share should be used as an explanatory variable. By using mode share the authors are generalizing the safety in numbers concept which focuses on absolute numbers. This work presents a discussion on why these two metrics were chosen and how they are different from the commonly used metrics. Quantitative evidence for the choice of time-based metrics is also presented using travel survey data to compare crash risk across modes and locations.


In this study five different non-linear models for estimating the growth curves of Holstein calves (Brody (B), Gompertz (G), Logistic (L), Richards (R) and von Bertalanffy (V)) were compared. All models estimated birth weights of the calves to be low. L model estimated weaning weight to be high and a difference of -1.38 kg was found between the actual live weight and the live weight estimated with this model. The closest estimations to the actual values of the post-weaning period were produced by G, L and R models. However, the most realistic estimations for 168 days of age were obtained from L, R and V models. At the end of the study it was concluded that the L model can be exclusively used for estimating the growth curves and live weights of the calves in their early periods of lives, and for post-weaning period also G and R models can be used. It was determined that for 168 days of age and older the use of L, R and B models will be convenient.


This is a description of a panel presentation on the subject of enabling renewable energy resources in power distribution systems. The main elements of the presentation relate to: control methods; fault current management; safety considerations; improvement of system reliability; energy management; and infrastructure issues. A discussion of multiobjective management is given, and a hierarchical control infrastructure is proposed for distribution systems with renewable resources.


Corruption is a universal problem which compromises people's quest for development, peace, democracy, and human rights though its degree of severity varies. Due to its universality, there was global campaign against corruption and has resulted in an international regime of law. Law is one of the strategies of combating corruption; however, there are other strategies which should be implemented to contain corruption. Nonetheless, the article focuses on the legal measures for the fight against corruption by excluding other measures. It explores the strategies provided by the United Nations and African Union anticorruption conventions with a view to evaluate the Ethiopian legal regime on corruption. Especially, it critically examines to what extent the legal regime of corruption in Ethiopia incorporate the measures provided by these conventions; to what extent the existing laws/institutions are adequate to prevent and combat corruption effectively; and the measures which should be taken. The article argues that the fight against corruption in Ethiopia is limited both in scope and design. It is suggested that revisiting the legal regime and incorporation of internationally accepted strategies are necessary to enhance the national fight against corruption. Key Words: Corruption, Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Ethiopia


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of financial ratios and non-financial factors of successful and failed corporations in the USA. Specifically, the authors provide evidence on whether financial ratios and non-financial factors can be jointly included as indicators to improve the predictive capacity of organisational success or failure in different countries and sectors.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper utilises a mixed method exploratory case study focussing on listed corporations in the US and Australian manufacturing, agriculture, finance and property sectors.

Findings
The financial ratio findings demonstrate that (with the exception of the failed Australian manufacturing sector) the integrated multi-measure (IMM) ratio approach consistently provides a higher classification rate for the failed and successful groups than those provided by an individual measure. In all cases the IMM method scored higher for US companies (with the exception of the failed Australian property sector). The findings also show that irrespective of the country location or sector, non-financial factors such as board composition and managements' involvement in organisational strategy impact on a corporation's success or failure.

Practical implications
The findings reveal that non-financial factors occur prior to financial ratios when attempting to predict organisational success or failure and the IMM approach enables a more thorough examination of the predictive ability of financial ratios for US and Australian organisations. This intuitively indicates that when combined with financial ratios, non-financial factors may be a useful predictor of corporate success or failure across countries and sectors.

Originality/value
Sound internal processes and the identification of both financial ratios and non-financial factors can be utilised to improve the reliability of financial failure models, enable corrective and preventative steps to be implemented by management and potentially reduce the costs of failure for US and Australian organisations.


Male and female telephone interviewers are compared on both administrative efficiency and data quality, using data from 24 replications of an attitudinal survey on personal and national economic prospects. The 40 male interviewers used over the two-year period are found to exhibit higher turnover rates and, because of that, lower response rates and higher training costs than the 80 female interviewers. However, there are no real differences on the total per minute interview costs by gender, in missing data rates, or on response distributions for factual questions. There does appear to be a systematic tendency for male interviewers to obtain more optimistic reports from respondents regarding their economic outlook. Multivariate models are constructed that attempt to explain these results and speculations are offered about causes of the impact of interviewer gender on response formation.