To understand the mechanisms by which glucocorticoids promote differentiation of fetal rat calvaria derived osteoblasts to produce bone‐like mineralized nodules in vitro, a panel of osteoblast growth and differentiation related genes that characterize development of the osteoblast phenotype has been quantitated in glucocorticoid‐treated cultures. We compared the mRNA levels of osteoblast expressed genes in control cultures of subcultivated cells where nodule formation is diminished, to cells continuously (35 days) exposed to 10 ‐7 M dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, which promotes nodule formation to levels usually the extent observed in primary cultures. Tritiated thymidine labelling revealed a selective inhibition of internodule cell proliferation and promotion of proliferation and differentiation of cells forming bone nodules. Fibronectin, osteopontin, and c‐fos expression were increased in the nodule forming period. Alkaline phosphatase and type I collagen expression were initially inhibited in proliferating cells, then increased after nodule formation to support further growth and mineralization of the nodule. Expression of osteocalcin was 1,000‐fold elevated in glucocorticoid‐differentiated cultures in relation to nodule formation. Collagenase gene expression was also greater than controls (fivefold) with the highest levels observed in mature cultures (day 35). At this time, a rise in collagen and TGFβ was also observed suggesting turnover of the matrix. Short term (48 h) effects of glucocorticoid on histone H4 (reflecting cell proliferation), alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and osteocalcin mRNA levels reveal both up or down regulation as a function of the developmental stage of the osteoblast phenotype. A comparison of transcriptional levels of these genes by nuclear run‐on assay to mRNA levels indicates that glucocorticoids exert both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional effects. Further, the presence of glucocorticoids enhances the vitamin D3 effect on gene expression. Those genes which are upregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 are transcribed at an increased rate by dexamethasone, while those genes which are inhibited by vitamin D3 remain inhibited in the presence of dexamethasone and D3. We propose that the glucocorticoid promote changes in gene expression involved in cell‐cell and cell‐extracellular matrix signaling mechanism that support the growth and differentiation of cells capable of osteoblast phenotype development and bone tissue‐like organization, while inhibiting the growth of cells that cannot progress to the mature osteoblast phenotype in fetal rat calvarial cultures. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Maqasid al-shariah or 'the objectives of Shariah' is known to preserve the five basic elements, namely religion, life, intellect, lineage and wealth. Last year, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had published a strategy paper entitled "Value-based Intermediation (VBI): Strengthening the Roles and Impact of Islamic Finance" which touched on how the Islamic banking industry could act as a tool to achieve maqasid al-shariah. The introduction of VBI by BNM was due to the lack of awareness and implementation of maqasid al-shariah by various Islamic banks. Generally, achieving maqasid al-shariah should be the primary focus of most if not all Islamic banks, yet, was not implemented as observed by BNM. It had also signified a concern regarding the operations of Islamic banks which did not represent or promote the true concept of maqasid al-shariah within their institutions. Thus, this study aims to highlight the concept of maqasid al-shariah that should be realized in Islamic banks. In addition, this study also aims to identify the efforts of Islamic banks in realizing the maqasid al-shariah through their products and services before and after VBI implementation. The last objective of this study is to determine the challenges faced by Islamic banks in the realization of maqasid al-shariah through VBI. Moreover, a qualitative method was adopted as the main research methodology for this study whereby information on the practices of three Islamic banks in Malaysia including Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), Maybank Islamic Berhad and Bank Pertanian Malaysia Berhad (Agrobank) was gained from semi-structured interviews conducted with bankers directly involved with VBI implementation in the Shariah department or division in each bank. Researchers found that the concept of maqasid al-shariah that had to be realized in Islamic banks was to provide products and services which could protect religion, life, intellect, lineage and wealth. This study also discovered that maqasid al-shariah had been realised in Islamic bank operations in the provision of Islamic banking products and services before and after VBI implementation, whilst being more structured after VBI implementation. There are altogether four challenges faced by the Islamic banks in implementing VBI which are structural issue, high risk segment, lack of awareness and demand and market competitiveness. In tandem, other Islamic banks are encouraged to implement VBI as it could give positive impacts on the application of maqasid al-shariah for the bank as well as to aid in further study of the reasons why some Islamic banks are not implementing VBI. The finding of this research could benefit the industry by enlightening the impacts of VBI to the Islamic finance industry


Using U.S. data from 1926 to 2015, I show that financial skewness?a measure comparing cross-sectional upside and downside risks of the distribution of stock market returns of financial firms?is a powerful predictor of business cycle fluctuations. I then show that shocks to financial skewness are important drivers of business cycles, identifying these shocks using both vector autoregressions and a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. Financial skewness appears to reflect the exposure of financial firms to the economic performance of their borrowers.


Abstract Without even knowing of their existence, Mendel discovered how genes operate when they are completely penetrant, although they rarely are, at least with respect to human personality and psychopathology; yet quantitative genetics results have conclusively demonstrated their substantial macrolevel influence. Now we need to understand just how incompletely penetrant genes make their contributions to psychopathology. Exciting new developments in molecular genetics and epigenetics provide new insight into gene action in principle but have been of limited value so far in understanding the emergence of psychopathology. Some of the most helpful postulates might come from evolutionary and developmental biology and agricultural breeding experiments. I describe the all but forgotten evolutionary mechanisms articulated by Schmalhausen, a Russian evolutionary biologist whose work was suppressed by Stalin in the 1940s. I focus on Schmalhausen's law, the observation that organisms living in conditions at the boundary of their tolerance in any one aspect of existence will be vulnerable to expression of genetic liabilities related to all other aspects of existence. I show how Schmalhausen's ideas are relevant to the results of a century-long corn-breeding experiment and the current concepts of facilitated variation and cryptic genetic variation. I then discuss the relevance of all of these to understanding genetic influences on personality and psychopathology.


Constraint acquisition systems assist the non-expert user in
modelling her problem as a constraint network. QUACQ is
a sequential constraint acquisition algorithm that generates
queries as (partial) examples to be classified as positive or
negative. The drawbacks are that the user may need to answer
a great number of such examples, within a significant waiting
time between two examples, to learn all the constraints. In
this paper, we propose PACQ, a portfolio-based parallel constraint
acquisition system. The design of PACQ benefits from
having several users sharing the same target problem. Moreover,
each user is involved in a particular acquisition session,
opened in parallel to improve the overall performance of the
whole system.We prove the correctness of PACQ and we give
an experimental evaluation that shows that our approach improves
on QUACQ.


Kidney transplant injury occurs with ischemia and alloimmunity. Members of the receptor interacting protein kinase family (RIPK1,3) are key regulators of "necroptosis," a newly recognized, regulated form of necrosis. Necroptosis and apoptosis death appear to be counterbalanced as caspase‐8 inhibition can divert death from apoptosis to necrosis. Inhibition of necroptosis in donor organs to limit injury has not been studied in transplant models. In this study, necroptosis was triggered in caspase inhibited tubular epithelial cells (TEC) exposed to tumor necrosis factor alpha in vitro, while RIPK1 inhibition with necrostatin‐1 or use of RIPK3−/− TEC, prevented necroptosis. In vivo, short hairpin RNA silencing of caspase‐8 in donor B6 mouse kidneys increased necroptosis, enhanced high‐mobility group box 1 release, reduced renal function and accelerated rejection when transplanted into BALB/c recipients. Using ethidium homodimer perfusion to assess necrosis in vivo, necrosis was abrogated in RIPK3−/− kidneys postischemia. Following transplantation, recipients receiving RIPK3−/− kidneys had longer survival (p = 0.002) and improved renal function (p = 0.03) when compared to controls. In summary, we show for the first time that RIPK3‐mediated necroptosis in donor kidneys can promote inflammatory injury, and has a major impact on renal ischemia–reperfusion injury and transplant survival. We suggest inhibition of necroptosis in donor organs may similarly provide a major clinical benefit.


We use a panel data set of about 1.7 million hospital records in 4,000 Dutch zip code regions for the years 2006-2009. We estimate the effect of physician fees and physician density on regional variation in hospital care for nine different treatments. Our results show that a 1 percent increase in the total number of physicians, if these extra physicians are all paid according to an output-based reimbursement scheme, would increase the number of treatments on average by 0.40 percent. For salaried physicians we find a significantly lower average effect of 0.15 percent. We find no or weak effects for hip fractures, which is included in the analysis as a control treatment. Our data allows us to deal with reverse causality, excess demand, border crossing, and availability effects. Our findings lend support to the existence of supplier induced demand for the majority of the analyzed treatments.


The Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is an emerging network communication model that focuses on what is being exchanged rather than who is exchanging information within a network. The named hosts make use of Named Data Objects (NDO) for data registration and name resolution. The Name Resolution System (NRS) is an element of the ICN that translates the object identifiers into network addresses. Distributing the NRS is an important and challenging issue for increased NDO registering, acquiring and storage. This study proposes a new NRS mechanism called the Distributed Name Resolution Mechanism (DNRM) to address the most significant issue of segregating the network and Balanced Binary Tree (BBT) structure to manage storage on the ever-increasing number of NDOs. The study formulates the proposed DNRM through the nearest neighbor algorithm by adding phases, means and methods, and probable outcomes. The stored NDOs are balanced with a balance factor to increase the scalability of NRS. The result shows that the overall NDO searching time is reduced by half for each iteration, and the proposed mechanisms are faster and more stable than the existing solutions in terms of better grouping NDOs. Both the mechanisms are simulated in the OMNeT++ simulation environment, a discrete event based simulator. The experimental results ensure that both the mechanisms have advantages in improving the network performance by minimizing the end-to-end delay and improving the network throughput.


Learn to Navigate has been the bestselling introduction to navigation for almost 20 years. With its refreshingly new approach, it introduces the basics in non-technical language, and takes the reader through each step with explanatory illustrations, chart extracts, screenshots and photographs. It is the ideal handbook for anyone wanting to learn the elements of navigation and how to put them into practice on the water. Recent developments in GPS and electronic charts have changed the way people navigate, and this book has been completely revised and updated to take that into account, equipping readers with both the traditional and modern skills they need to work out where they are and where they want to go. Brief and user-friendly, this non-scary guide covers: - the essentials of reading a chart (paper and electronic) - understanding tides - using traditional and electronic navigation instruments - plotting a position and planning a passage, both on paper and using a chartplotter Navigation can be a daunting subject, but this introduction brings it to life and shows that boaters of all ages can grasp the basics. 'A book that takes the reader a long way in a short space' Sailing Today


The reaction of the USA after the September 11, 2001 attacks, including its invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent unilateral military campaign in Iraq, and various executive and legislative actions has been not merely a quiet abandonment of the Rule of Law, but through its so-called -War on Terror-, a concerted attack on the Rule of Law. In this paper we shall examine that attack on those principles, through an examination of cases, executive actions, legislations, and international law. While the authors recognize the mythical nature of the Rule of Law, they maintain that it is a useful myth in that it helps actors predict with reasonable certainty, the actions what will be accepted internationally (as between nations), help make good policy decisions and anticipate the actions of others. Furthermore, it operates as an ideal to aim for and a standard against which states' actions can be judged.


For the study, documentation and conservation of architectural heritage, it is required to use all the available techniques, classic and new, that may contribute to provide a correct idea about the present condition of the construction, and tackle the possible actions for its appropriate maintenance. This paper describes the usage of a terrestrial laser scanner for the recording and documentation of the 'Mas del Noi' at the Campus of Vera, Universitat Politècnica de València. First, classical techniques are used for the graphical recording, sketches and topographic radiation. Afterwards, it is shown the indirect process implemented for the massive 3D data acquisition from laser scanning and photogrammetry, modelling of the point cloud and 3D printing to materialize the final results. The detection of alterations by multispectral and thermal imagery is also included.


67 patients were studied by pulmonary function and heart catheterization at rest, during exercise and after 20min 100% oxygen breathing. 14 patients were diagnosed as having COLD without chronic respiratory insufficiency (CRI). 45 patients were considered to be suffering from pulmonary emphysema (COLD + CRI). In this group, 23 patients had normal hemoglobin concentrations (CHb), 14 patients demonstrated decreased values and 8 had secondary polycythemia. All groups of patients had a normal cardiac output (CO), oxygen consumption (VO2) and pulmonary wedge pressure (Pw) at rest and after oxygen breathing. In the group with COLD and CRI high values for pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) were found, most pronounced in those with polycythemia. All groups of patients except the polycythemia group demonstrated a significant decrease of Rp during oxygen breathing, but only a slight decrease of pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa)· It can be concluded that a normal quantity of oxygen transport to peripheral tissues in patients with arterial hypoxemia can be achieved by maintaining normal values for arterial mixed venous oxygen content without a shift of the oxygen dissociation curve.


BACKGROUND
 In remote areas, connected health (CH) is needed, but as local resources are often scarce and the purchasing power of residents is usually poor, it is a challenge to apply CH in these settings. In this study, CH is defended as a technological solution for reshaping the direction of health care to be more proactive, preventive, and precisely targeted—and thus, more effective.

 OBJECTIVE
 The objective of this study was to explore the identity of CH stakeholders in remote areas of Taiwan and their interests and power in order to determine ideal strategies for applying CH. We aimed to explore the respective unknowns and discover insights for those facing similar issues.

 METHODS
 Qualitative research was conducted to investigate and interpret the phenomena of the aging population in a remote setting. An exploratory approach was employed involving semistructured interviews with 22 participants from 8 remote allied case studies. The interviews explored perspectives on stakeholder arrangements, including the power and interests of stakeholders and the needs of all the parties in the ecosystem.

 RESULTS
 Results were obtained from in-depth interviews and focus groups that included identifying the stakeholders of remote health and determining how they influence its practice, as well as how associated agreements bring competitive advantages. Stakeholders included people in government sectors, industrial players, academic researchers, end users, and their associates who described their perspectives on their power and interests in remote health service delivery. Specific facilitators of and barriers to effective delivery were identified. A number of themes, such as government interests and power of decision making, were corroborated across rural and remote services. These themes were broadly grouped into the disclosure of conflicts of interest, asymmetry in decision making, and data development for risk assessment.

 CONCLUSIONS
 This study contributes to current knowledge by exploring the features of CH in remote areas and investigating its implementation from the perspectives of stakeholder management. It offers insights into managing remote health through a CH platform, which can be used for preliminary quantitative research. Consequently, these findings could help to more effectively facilitate diverse stakeholder engagement for health information sharing and social interaction.


The most common type of rotator cuff lesion is a tear of the supraspinatus tendon, with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair representing an established treatment option1-3. Several double-row techniques have been described to achieve complete coverage of the rotator cuff footprint. Among these is the bridging, double-row, transosseous-equivalent rotator cuff repair, which has become one of the most popular techniques for its maximized contact area and initial fixation strength4-9. However, medial cuff failure is a common complication following this procedure9-14. To reduce medial strangulation and overall surgical time, all-knotless anchor repair has been introduced as an alternative technique15. The arthroscopic knotless, bridging, double-row, transosseous-equivalent technique is performed with the patient in the beach-chair position via lateral operative and viewing portals. A medial row of suture anchors is placed in the usual fashion. The tendon is then perforated twice per anchor with use of a suture-passer device, after which the suture limbs are bridged over the tendon and fixed in a lateral row of anchors. Excellent functional outcomes as well as satisfaction in >90% of patients have been reported with the supraspinatus knotted double-row, bridging, transosseous-equivalent repair4,9,11,13,16-19. No significant differences have been reported for clinical results and tendon integrity on magnetic resonance imaging when comparing knot-tying and knotless double-row transosseous-equivalent rotator cuff repair; however, the rate of medial cuff failure was lower among knotless procedures1,12,16,17,20-25. The major steps of the procedure, which are demonstrated in this video article, include (1) diagnostic arthroscopy; (2) supraspinatus tear visualization and debridement; (3) decortication of the footprint on the greater tuberosity; (4) placement of the medial row of anchors loaded with nonabsorbable suture tape; (5) separate suture passage of each limb, perforating the tendon with use of a suture passer; (6) fixation of the tape in the lateral row of anchors, creating a bridging configuration; and (7) anterolateral acromioplasty with use of an arthroscopic burr. Complications are rare following this procedure. As postoperative rehabilitation is essential for tendon healing, the operative arm should be placed in an abduction brace for 6 weeks, with only passive mobilization.


The Geophysical Section of the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile of the University of Pisa has been active in researches on the application of non-pervasive geophysical surveys on the masonry structures of historical buildings for more then ten years.


Microbial diversity in extreme habitats, e.g. the deep subsurface, polar regions, salt lakes, hot springs, solfataric field and alklaine lakes, is very broad and delivers a valuable resource of unique enzymes (extremozymes) and chemical compounds. The study of these extremophiles will provide new keys to the understanding of life processes under stress conditions and will unravel the mechanisms developed by biological systems to cope to harsh conditions. This gained knowledge will be used to develop new biobased products and bioprocesses in various fields such as fine chemicals, feed, food, cosmetics, textile, paper and pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords:

extremophiles;
extremozymes;
industrial biotechnology;
biorefinary;
Archaea


Understanding the effects of induced-polarization (IP) effects on time-domain electromagnetic data requires the ability to simulate common survey techniques when taking chargeability into account. Most existing techniques preform this modeling in the frequency domain prior to transforming their results to the time domain. Even though this technique can allow for chargeable material to be easily incorporated, its application for some problems can be computationally limiting. We developed a new technique for forward modeling the time-domain electromagnetic response of chargeable materials in three dimensions. The frequency dependence of Ohms' law translates to an ordinary differential equation when considered in the time domain. The system of ordinary-partial differential equations was then discretized using an implicit time-stepping algorithm, that yielded absolute stability. This approach allowed us to operate directly in the time domain and avoid frequency to time-domain transformations. Although this approach can be applied directly to materials exhibiting Debye dispersions, other Cole-Cole dispersions resulted in fractional derivatives in time. To overcome this difficulty, Pade approximations were used to represent the frequency dependence as a rational series of integer order terms. The resulting method was then simplified to generate a reduced time-domain model that can be used to forward model the IP decay curves in the absence of any electromagnetic coupling. We found numerical examples in which the method produced accurate results. The potential application of the method was demonstrated by modeling the full time-domain electromagnetic response of a gradient array IP survey, and the occurrence of negative transients in airborne time-domain electromagnetic data.


The Reynolds-Orr energy equation is generalized to include the velocity slip effect at the walls, for investigating the energy gain or loss in the disturbed slip flow. Taken the Poiseuille flow, typical prototype of parallel shear flows as an example, it is found that for the very weak effect of wall slip, the disturbance energy being transferred from the basic flow overcomes the viscous dissipation, resulting in the growth of disturbance energy and the destabilizing role of wall slip. Otherwise, the viscous dissipation overcomes the energy production resulting in the decay of the disturbance energy and the stabilizing role of wall slip.


This paper presents a state‐of‐the‐art review of the Web privacy and anonymity enhancing security mechanisms, tools, applications and services, with respect to their architecture, operational principles and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, to facilitate a detailed comparative analysis, the appropriate parameters have been selected and grouped in classes of comparison criteria, in the form of an integrated comparison framework. The main concern during the design of this framework was to cover the confronted security threats, applied technological issues and users' demands satisfaction. GNUnet's Anonymity Protocol (GAP), Freedom, Hordes, Crowds, Onion Routing, Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P), TRUSTe, Lucent Personalized Web Assistant (LPWA), and Anonymizer have been reviewed and compared. The comparative review has clearly highlighted that the pros and cons of each system do not coincide, mainly due to the fact that each one exhibits different design goals and thus adopts dissimilar techniques for protecting privacy and anonymity.


Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are thought to exert immunologic selection pressure in infected persons, yet few data regarding the effects of this constraint on viral sequence variation in vivo, particularly in the highly variable Env protein, are available. In this study, CD8+ HIV type 1 (HIV-1) envelope-specific CTL clones specific for gp120 were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of four HIV-infected individuals, all of which recognized the same 25-amino-acid (aa) peptide (aa 371 to 395), which is partially contained in the CD4-binding domain of HIV-1 gp120. Fine mapping studies revealed that two of the clones optimally recognized the 9-aa sequence 375 to 383 (SFNCGGEFF), while the two other clones optimally recognized the epitope contained in the overlapping 9-aa sequence 376 to 384 (FNCGGEFFY). Lysis of target cells by the two clones recognizing aa 375 to 383 was restricted by HLA B15 and Cw4, respectively, whereas both clones recognizing aa 376 to 384 were restricted by HLA A29. Sequence variation, relative to the IIIB strain sequence used to identify CTL clones, was observed in autologous viruses in the epitope-containing region in all four subjects. However, poorly recognized autologous sequence variants were predominantly seen for the A29-restricted clones, whereas the clones specific for SFNCGGEFF continued to recognize the predominant autologous sequences. These results suggest that the HLA profile of an individual may not only be important in determining the specificity of CTL recognition but may also affect the ability to recognize virus variants and suppress escape from CTL recognition. These results also identify overlapping viral CTL epitopes which can be presented by HLA A, B, and C molecules.


Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a negative prognostic factor associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of DM and it can be fatal. We present a 48-year-old woman with DM and ILD complicated by pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema.


Mentoring is an old idea that works. Research has shown that mentoring is one of the five short-term imperatives for reversing the high dropout rate of high school students. Mentoring is a powerful way to provide adult contacts for youths who receive little guidance in their schools, homes, communities, and workplaces. Supportive one-on-one relationships provide youths with the opportunity to explore career paths and broaden their horizons. Adult mentors serve as beacons of hope for young people adrift in an uncertain world.


OBJECTIVE To study whether meningeal collagen synthesis under normal conditions is reflected in the CSF and whether a meningeal fibroproliferative reaction or fibrosis after subarachnoid haemorrhage can be detected by measuring markers of collagen synthesis in the CSF. METHODS Serum samples and CSF were collected from 56 patients with various neurological symptoms and from nine patients with a recent subarachnoid haemorrhage. The concentrations of the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) were measured using radioimmunoassays. RESULTS The mean(SD) concentration of PICP was 75.2 (SD 13.6) μg/l and that of PIIINP 3.56 (SD 0.91) μg/l in the CSF of the controls, and the CSF/serum ratios were 0.74 (SD 0.24) for PICP and 1.34 (SD 0.48) for PIIINP. A 1.4-fold increase in both the PICP (p=0.001) and the PIIINP (p=0.001) concentration was found in patients with a neurological disease and with an abnormal CSF leucocyte count or protein concentration. In eight patients with a recent subarachnoid haemorrhage the PICP was 5.9-fold higher (p<0.001) and the PIIINP concentration 7.7-fold higher (p<0.001) than that in the controls, whereas no difference was found in the serum values. Similar high concentrations were also found in a patient from whom the CSF sample was obtained before operation for aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS The intrathecal compartment is a site for active collagen synthesis under normal conditions. The synthesis rate is markedly increased in patients with a recent subarachnoid haemorrhage, suggesting a fibroproliferative reaction or fibrosis. Assays of procollagen propeptides may be useful in the clinical diagnosis of meningeal fibrosis and their use may enable the identification of diseases and symptoms aetiologically related to meningeal fibrosis.


The research reported on in this paper concerns the role of television in the lexical acquisition of a foreign language. Twenty higher educated adult learners of Dutch as a foreign language watched a 15-minute compilation of the educative television programs Klokhuis and Lucht. By means of a pre-post-test-design, it was examined whether the subjects learned words by watching and listening to the television programs.The results indicated a significant learning effect, which persisted after a one-week time interval. There was also a tendency for the learning effect in the ten students who watched with explicit word-learning instruction (intentional learning) to be stronger than the learning effect in the students who watched without instruction (incidental learning). The learnability of a word was neither positively influenced by the visual support as extra contextual cue, as offered by television, nor by the number of times a word was offered in the television fragments.It was concluded that television could play an important role in the lexical acquisition of Dutch as a foreign language.


The aim of this study was to highlight the in situ hydrolysis of proteins to peptides on a muscle tissue section. In this context, a bovine muscle was incubated in a pepsin solution, cryofixed and sectioned. MALDI (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) Mass spectrometry imaging was used to obtain the ionic map of proteins directly on the muscle section. This method allowed us to localize the appearance and disappearance of proteins or fragments of proteins. The results give new insights into the mechanisms of enzyme action within muscle structure.


We read with interest the article by Merrett et al1 on young doctors' attitudes towards a career in general practice and have collated complementary data from students. We surveyed all final-year medical students at Newcastle University, on completion of their rotation in general practice, over the last 2 academic years. Responses were received for 578 students (response rate = 85%). Students were asked whether they intended to pursue a career in general practice and which factors influenced their decision. Onehundred-and-ten (19%) reported an intention to become GPs and 189 (33%) stated it was one of their options. We identified a range of themes that positively influenced career intention: specific practice-related factors such as good general practice role models ('Dr X has shown me how important a good GP can be'); career-related factors such as work– life balance; and specialty-related factors such as variety of presentations encountered ('Find general practice an interesting career with good opportunity to see a large variety of patients and build up a good rapport. However, main benefit for me was also the work–life balance'). Negative influences on GP career intention included stress among GPs, lack of procedural skills, and lone working ('I feel general practice is slightly exhausting, and there is not as much interaction with other professionals during the day'). Negative comments from hospital doctors were also cited ('General practice has appealed to me in the past. However, the berating they get from hospital doctors (for reasons varied and often unsubstantiated) put me off'). We believe these studies add to the crucial contemporary literature into why an individual may choose to pursue a career in general practice.2 In addition to the recommendations raised by Merrett et al1 around funding, workload, and respect, we would emphasise the key aspect of positive GP role models3 and the need to explore the perception of general practice as a lonely career. Finally, we must take seriously the recommendation in the Health Education England/Medical Schools Council report, quoted in the editorial of the same BJGP issue,4 that '[w]ork should take place to tackle undermining of general practice as a career across all medical school settings'.5 That work must start now.


Abstract. Liquid water path (LWP) is one of the most important cloud parameters. The knowledge on LWP is critical for many studies including global and regional climate modelling, weather forecasting, modelling of hydrological cycle and interactions between different components of the climate system: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the land surface. Satellite observations by the SEVIRI and AVHRR instruments have already provided the evidences of the systematic difference between the LWP values derived over the land surface and over the Baltic Sea and major lakes in Northern Europe during both cold and warm seasons. The goal of the present study is to analyse the phenomenon of the LWP horizontal inhomogeneities in the vicinity of various water bodies in Northern Europe making focus on the temporal and spatial variation of LWP. The objects of investigation are water bodies and water areas located in Northern Europe which are different in size and other characteristics: Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Riga, the Neva River bay, lakes Ladoga, Onega, Peipus, Pihkva, Ilmen, and Saimaa. The input data are the LWP values of pure liquid-phase clouds derived from the space-borne observations by the SEVIRI instrument in 2011–2017 during daytime. The study revealed that in general the mean values of the land-sea LWP gradient are positive during all seasons (larger values over land, smaller values over water surface). However, the negative gradients were also detected over several relatively small water bodies during cold (winter) season. The important finding is the positive trend of the land-sea LWP gradient detected within the time period 2011–2017. The analysis of intra-seasonal features revealed special conditions on the territory of the Gulf of Finland where in June and July large and moderate positive LWP gradients prevail over negative ones while in August positive and negative gradients are much smaller (in terms of absolute values) and occur with equal frequency. This result can lead to the conclusion about possible common physical mechanisms that drive the land-sea LWP difference in the Baltic Sea region at small distances from the coastline. The diurnal cycle of the LWP land-sea gradient has been detected in June and July while there was no evidence for it in August. For several specific cases, atmospheric parameters over the mesoscale domain comprising Gulf of Finland and several lakes have been simulated with the numerical model ICON in limited area and weather prediction mode. These simulations have clearly demonstrated the LWP land-sea gradient and have pointed out less stability of the atmosphere over land surfaces.


As a part of our teams' efforts in developing ultra-high resolution PET systems, this paper investigates the performance of 1 mm resolution Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors capable of positioning the 3-D coordinates of individual 511 keV photon interactions. The detectors are 40 mm × 40 mm × 5 mm monolithic CZT crystals that employ a novel cross-strip readout with interspersed steering electrodes to obtain high spatial and energy resolution. The study found the best-case single anode FWHM energy resolution of 2.7±0.2% at 511 keV, and neighborsummed FWHM energy resolution of approximately 4.64±0.35% at 511 keV. Improved resolution is expected with properly shielded front-end electronics. Measurements made using a collimated beam established the efficacy of the steering electrodes in facilitating full charge collection across anodes, as well as a spatial resolution of 1 mm in the direction perpendicular to the electrode planes. Finally, measurements based on coincidence electronic collimation demonstrated a spatial resolution of 1 mm transverse to the anodes -as expected from the 1 mm anode pitch. These findings indicate that the CZT-based detector concept has excellent performance and shows great promise for a high resolution PET system.


We studied the relationships between the acoustic fluctuation properties of music and the emotional evaluations of music as a component technology for an automated song selecting system based on instinct and human emotion. When people listen to music, they select songs reflect their own feelings at the time, and then they emotionally evaluate the song. We believe that our emotional evaluation of songs are influenced by the fluctuation properties of both the volume and pitch of songs. Thus, we focused on the fluctuation properties containing dynamic ideas concerning music, and extracted thirty six fluctuation properties concerning both the volume and pitch from each song using the Fast Fourier Transform. We also prepared a subjective evaluation experiment for plural songs using the Semantic Differential method, and obtained an emotional evaluation of the songs. Then, we studied the relationships between the extracted properties and the emotional evaluations of the songs by conducting a multiple discriminant analysis. As a result, a high percentage of the questions were answered correctly and low discriminant errors were shown, and therefore, we suggested that the fluctuation properties of the songs influenced the emotional evaluations of them. Furthermore, we confirmed the especial properties related with the emotional evaluation of the music by taking into consideration the coefficients of the liner discriminants of the canonical variates that describe the discriminant spaces.


The educational challenges faced today are driving us toward a new step in the evolution of educational theory and practice. Educators are called to go beyond simply presenting alternatives, to integrating the best of mainstream and alternative approaches and taking them to the next level. Integral Education accomplishes this by bringing together leading researchers and practitioners from higher education who are actively exploring the frontiers of education from an integral perspective. It presents an overview of the emerging landscape of integral education from a variety of theoretical and applied perspectives. Key characteristics of integral education include exploring multiple perspectives, employing different pedagogical techniques (e.g., reflective, dialogical, empirical), combining conceptual rigor with embodied experience, drawing on developmental psychology, and cultivating a reflective and transformative space for students and teachers alike. Integral Education provides the most comprehensive synopsis of this exciting new approach and serves as a valuable resource for any integral effort within education.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the response of human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes, in terms of collagenase 3 production, to growth factors and cytokines involved in the anabolism and catabolism of articular cartilage, and explored the major signaling pathways leading to its up-regulation.

METHODS
Human OA chondrocytes were treated with the following factors: the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), the growth factors basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), parathyroid hormone (PTH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor gamma1 (TGFbeta1), and TGFbeta2, the protein kinase (PK) activator antagonists for PKC, PKA, and PKG pathways, and phospholipase A2 and tyrosine kinases, as well as the antiinflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13. Collagenase 3 expression and synthesis were determined. Comparison was made with collagenase 1.

RESULTS
The human OA chondrocyte population could be divided into 2 categories: the L chondrocytes, showing low collagenase 3 basal synthesis levels and high sensitivity to IL-1beta stimulation; and the H chondrocytes, high collagenase 3 basal synthesis levels and low IL-1beta inducibility. In L chondrocytes, all growth factors stimulated collagenase 3 production. In H chondrocytes, PTH, IGF-1, and TGFbeta had little or no impact; bFGF slightly stimulated it and PDGF-BB showed the same pattern as in the L chondrocytes. The effects of all growth factors, except TGFbeta, on collagenase 1 synthesis followed those of collagenase 3, albeit to a higher degree. Interestingly and unlike collagenase 3, the effects of TGFbeta on collagenase 1 could not be related to the state of the cells, but rather, depended on the isoform. Indeed, TGFbeta2 did not induce collagenase 1 synthesis, whereas TGFbeta1 stimulated it. Among the PK activators tested, phorbol myristate acetate was the strongest inducer, suggesting a major involvement of the PKC pathway. IL-13 inhibited collagenase 3 production, IL-4 had little effect, and IL-10 had none.

CONCLUSION
This study shows that collagenase 3 production in human OA chondrocytes depends on the physiologic state of the cell. TGFbeta might be responsible for the change in cells from the L to the H state. Importantly, our in vitro data implicate TGFbeta2 as a possible in vivo agent capable of specifically triggering collagenase 3 production over that of collagenase 1 in OA cartilage.


Chitosan was widely known as natural food preservative such as noodle, meat ball, soy-tofu, wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish products, etc. Chitosan is a non-toxic substances, has no side effect as human food and was made from the shell of shrimps (Penaeidae), or swimming crabs (Portunus pelagicus). Chitosan is primarily a polysacharids, with β -1,4-2 amino-2-deoxy- β - D-glucopyranose. The biopolymer has various noble functional characters such as anti-moth, anti-bacterial, coagulating agent for suspension, or heavy metals. This substance had been examined in the Lab of Natural Product, Diponegoro University and give a significant effect as bacteriostatic and bactericides for pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonela.sp; Pseudomonas, E.coli, B.subtilis, S.aureus, P.aeruginosa. In the study, liquid chitosan (200 ppm) was used as anti- harmful/ pathogenic bacteria in the brackish water pond so that can eliminate and control the bacterial or virus outbreak which so far is the main problems in the fish and shrimp culture activities. The use of chitosan in the brackish water ponds was carried out at a semi-traditional ponds at Mangkang Kulon north Semarang coastal area. The experiment had significantly decrease the suspended solid or increase water transparency, and the organic content ( by 5 %) of the bottom susbtrate. Increase the abundance of important macro-benthic organism such as Polychaeta (7-fold) as important natural feed for the cultured fish and shrimp as well as increase the diversity index of total macro-benthic organism. Decrease the growth of disease vector benthic organism such as Cherithidae (Gastropods) by 24.5% . With the application of chitosan had significantly prevent the outbreak of fish and shrimp disease and increase up to 80 % the survival rate of Vanamae, as well as tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon, and polkadot grouper (Cromileptes,sp) in another field application.


Silicalite-1 (structure type MFI) is an important zeolite that, in addition to conventional applications such as adsorption and catalysis and emerging applications such as thin films and membranes, is often used as a model system in studies of zeolite crystal growth. The surface structure of silicalite-1 crystals with two different morphologies (hexagonal prismatic and leaf-shaped platelike crystals), synthesized in the presence of two different structure-directing agents (SDAs) (tetrapropylammonium (TPA) cation and the trimer of TPA, respectively), is elucidated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The differences and similarities in crystal shape and external surface termination are interpreted based on SDA fitting in the crystal structure and adsorption kinetics of the SDAs on the external surfaces of the growing crystals.


In recent years, the industrial field and the academic circles attach importance to E-learning unceasingly. Proposing many standards E-learning teaching material specifications likes SCORM. Although many E-learning all have evaluative works that start the learning as the new student be improvement basis. However these evaluation all is only the pure feedback, is unable to achieve lets the new student have the adaptive learning environment to obtain the best study result. This research is taking the learners use Dreamweaver teaching study manufacture homepage as an example. Discussing and analyzing different characteristic learners which choice as obtained as result in study process. Diagnoses the different learnerpsilas characteristic which teaches materials using the Bayesian networks and calculates its weight. This teaching material conforms to the SCORM standard E-learning material system. So the teaching material system might defer to recently the different characteristic learners diagnosis result, accumulate and analyze a set of adaptive learning teaching material, could enable the new learner fast to find the suitable teaching material, solved the problem and enhanced the learning efficiency.


Introduction Classification of endoleak is determined by the mechanism by which the endograft fails to exclude the aneurysm. In some instances, the endoleak may be very subtle or not visible; yet, the aneurysm continues to expand. This report presents our experience in identifying unstable abdominal aortic aneurysm sacs associated with endoleaks or endotension in early and late monitoring using color duplex ultrasound (CDU) in a series of more than 1000 endograft patients. Aims We sought to (1) describe ultrasound features of atypical endoleaks and endoleaks from unusual sources and (2) characterize other CDU features that may be associated with endotension. Methods Philips HDI 5000 and IU22 machines were used during routine post-endograft surveillance scans of the abdominal aorta. Color, spectral, and power Doppler analysis were also performed to identify evidence of perigraft flow, graft stenosis, thrombus, kink, or migration. Secondary diagnostic maneuvers were conducted in the presence of perigraft flow to characterize the type of endoleak. Particular attention was also paid to the abdominal aortic aneurysm sac contents, size, and pulsatility. Correlation was made to angiography and computed tomography imaging in a series of 22 patients who underwent secondary endograft procedures or open conversion. Results Technically satisfactory studies were achieved in approximately 90% of patients. We detected type II endoleaks in 10% of patients assessed and graft migration in 12 cases. Endotension was characterized by sac enlargement and/or shape change without identifiable perigraft flow and correlated highly with device migration. Suggestive features of graft/sac instability included increased sac pulsatility, prominent areas of echolucency within the sac, and occasional low-amplitude atypical color signals within the sac thrombus close to the graft wall. Conclusion Reliable CDU assessment for late endograft follow-up requires careful scrutiny of the aneurysm sac contents and wall, as well as the graft device. Endoleak may not always be obvious yet CDU features can assist in identifying the source of endoleak or the presence of endotension. There are suspicious ultrasound features that may alert one to graft/sac instability and potentially dangerous outcome.


This work focuses on the design and implementation of a new model of trust. The new model of trust is based on the formalizations of reputation, self-esteem, and similarity within an agent. Our previous work establishes the formalization of reputation within an informationsharing Multiagent System. The previous work claims that reputation cannot be universalized. This work universalizes reputation through the use of values within all Multiagent Systems. The following values are shown to be manifested within Multiagent Systems: responsibility, honesty, independence, obedience, ambition, helpfulness, capability, knowledgability, and cost-efficiency. Manifestations of these values result in a more universalized approach to formalizing reputation. Self-esteem is formalized as the reputation an agent has with itself. Lastly, similarity is formalized as the difference in the importance of the values previously mentioned. Combined, the weighted components of self-esteem, similarity, and reputation form a new model of trust. This new model of trust is examined within the context of an e-commerce framework. The multiagent system is comprised of buyers and sellers that wish to conduct business. Sellers can engage in untrustworthy business behavior at the buyer's expense. It is the job of the model to decide whether a selling agent is trustworthy enough to engage in business. The trust model is analyzed with respect to stability, scalability, accuracy in attaining e-commerce objectives, and general effectiveness in discouraging untrustworthy behavior. Based on the experiments, the model appears to be scalable dependent upon the agent population of buyers and sellers. It achieves its primary objective of discouraging untrustworthy behavior as measured through the acceleration of Gross Domestic Product growth over time. Within the simulator, a high degree of random outcomes is possible. Stability is used to examine the predictability of the model (on average) given a fixed set of given data about the simulations. Based on the simulations, the model appears to be quite stable.


The paper presents a model and a support system prototype for scheduling in time and space the beehive emplacement to different melliferous crops and different melliferous tree species. A general model specifies the data structures (inputs / outputs), the data processing for obtaining the beehive movement schedules, and different melliferous balances at territorial levels, based on the melliferous capability of the commune crops and forest bodies and the number of the existing beehives at commune level. The algorithm of the beehive movement schedules aims at the minimisation of the movement distances taking into consideration a large territory of the country. A reduced version of the scheduling model was implemented into a computerised support system prototype, "PaSPas-1.1". It refers to rapeseed crops and to robinia trees, and provides beehive movement schedules at commune level and forest body level, respectively, localised within eight districts ("judets") of South Romania.


Excessive proliferation and inflammation of synovial fibroblasts accelerate and decorate the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sigesbeckia orientalis L. (SO) is one of the main plant sources for Sigesbeckiae Herba (SH) which has been used traditionally in treating various forms of arthritis and rheumatic pain. However, the anti-arthritic mechanisms of SO are still not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms of SO against collagen type II (C II)-induced RA in rats as well as the interleukin (IL)-1β–induced human synovial SW982 and MH7A cells. For the in vivo studies, thirty-six Wistar male rats were randomly arranged to six groups based on the body weight, and then C II-induced to RA model for 15 days, followed by treatment with the 50% ethanolic extract of SO (SOE, 0.16, 0.78, and 1.56 g/kg) for 35 days. The results suggested that SOE significantly inhibited the formation of pannus (synovial hyperplasia to the articular cavity) and attenuated the cartilage damaging and bone erosion in the CIA-induced rats' hind paw joints. Moreover, SOE decreased the production of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the serum and the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β in the joint muscles, as well as recovered the decreased regulatory T lymphocytes. The results obtained from the in vitro studies showed that SOE (50, 100, and 200 µg/ml) not only inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human synovial SW982 cells but also decreased the IL-1β–induced expression of IL-6 and IL-8 both in SW982 and MH7A cells. Besides, SOE reduced the expression of COX-2, NLRP3, and MMP9, and increased the expression of MMP2 in the IL-1β–induced SW982 cells. Furthermore, SOE blocked the activation of NF-κB and reduced the phosphorylation of MAPKs and the expression of AP-1. In conclusion, SOE attenuated the C II-induced RA through inhibiting of MAPKs/NF-κB/AP-1–mediated synovial hyperplasia and inflammation.


AD\lIIRABLE HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH. I ' Miss Charlotte I. Poyner, head of t~ department of English in the Houghton (Mich.) high school, secures results, that we have rarely· seen equaled and never excelled.T "Specimens, of the Regular Work in First-Year, Englis§' is a reo, markable collection of articles mostly escriptlve.. Here are some of the topics: "A Summ r Storm," "The (lid Farm," "A Hollander." "Stuck in the Mnd," "Bnying' a New Spring i lat," "Ralph·s Tem"t;l!i:~n,". .. ,~, ~now .. ,~t(:~lIl:" .., "A 'Wint~r I ragedy, 'A l'lshmg I Til'. I he work J' natural, graceful, and effective. A. E. W. Of75S cities, ;1:17 have system" of medical inspection. In seventy-five per cent. of the cities work is under the board of education. • Three -hpndred and' one cities have inspection for the detection of contagious diseases. One hundred and sixty-seven cities have j,hysical examinations of school children, In 189 cities vision and hearing' tests are con-' ducted bv doctors.• In 3H9',cities vision and hearing tests are conducted' bv teachers. I One (thousand one hundred and ninety-four school doctors are employed as ~maneni( members 'of educational forces. "'" (\ Three hundred and seventy-one nurses 'arc employed in seventy-six cities. Forty-eight cities have school dentists.-Sage Foundation. 8\" JOHN L. SHROV.


The Geometric Modulus Principle, developed by Bahman Kalantari, provides a powerful geometric means for understanding the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Given a complex polynomial and any point in the complex plane, the principle gives a complete characterization of directions of ascent and descent for the modulus of the polynomial at that point. This characterization has a simple and compelling visual representation. By making a contour plot of the modulus of the polynomial, and including only those level curves that pass through the polynomial's critical points, the Geometric Modulus Principle comes to life. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra is a straightforward consequence, and the visualizations stand on their own as portraits of the polynomials in question.


Abstract Objectives. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic multi-systemic inflammatory rheumatic disorder. Several studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization and that increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular repolarization by using Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with AS, and to assess the relation with inflammation. Methods. Sixty-two patients with AS and 50 controls were included. Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were measured from a 12-lead electrocardiogram, and the Tp-e interval corrected for heart rate. The plasma level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured. These parameters were compared between groups. Results. In electrocardiographic parameters analysis, QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QTd were significantly increased in AS patients compared to the controls (31.7 ± 9.6 vs 28.2 ± 7.4 and 35.8 ± 11.5 vs 30.6 ± 7.9 ms, P = 0.03 and P = 0.007, respectively). cTp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were also significantly higher in AS patients (92.1 ± 10.2 vs 75.8 ± 8.4 and 0.22 ± 0.02 vs 0.19 ± 0.02 ms, all P values <0.001). cTp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were significantly correlated with hsCRP (r = 0.63, P < 0.001 and r = 0.49, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. Our study revealed that Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were increased in AS patients. These electrocardiographic ventricular repolarization indexes were significantly correlated with the plasma level of hsCRP.


We present a case of a 75-year-old gentleman with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting with acute onset expressive dysphasia and right hemi-paresis with no prior history of seizure. He developed clusters of stereotypical complex partial seizures which were refractory to anti-epileptic agents. He was not known to have diabetes and his brain MRI was normal. His random blood sugar measurement on admission to hospital was 30 mmol/L with HbA1c measurement of 14.8%. His seizures terminated completely when his hyperglycemia was corrected with insulin and rehydration therapy.


Jewish musical practices stemming from Kabbalah and Hasidic mystical traditions are currently the object of growing attention among a variety of different Jewish communities in Europe and North America, as well as in non-Jewish spiritual circles. This article focuses on contemporary practices of niggunim – the (mostly) wordless melodies with roots in Hasidic Jewish traditions, sung, chanted and sometimes danced in preparation for, or as a form of, ardent prayer. The practice is seen as an example of the expressive, engaging, emotional and embodied forms of prayer that currently attract many Jews of different institutional attachments. As niggunim travel into new contexts, they are reframed and reconsidered in order to meet the needs and expectations of contemporary religious communities, characterised by a liberal and egalitarian, global and transformative religiosity. The article seeks to explore the different functions niggunim are put to today and the motives which drive different people to engage in the practice. The analysis is based on ethno-graphic material in the form of in-depth interviews conducted among progressive Jews in the London area. As a conclusion, the article suggests an approach to contemporary niggunim practices that incorporates perspectives from both literature and ethnography in order to deepen the understanding of the motives for and functions of singing niggunim today.


Various examinations of sealant joints show that there are many problems with leakage, even in fairly new buildings. Two main reasons have been that the sealant properties are overrated and that the joint design or workmanship is poor due to lack of knowledge about the basic requirements and the material properties. The failure mechanism of an elastic sealant is described. This serves as a basis for a suggested engineering approach for designing sealant joints. A methodology is described by which aging and durability properties of a sealant can be evaluated. Examples of test results for various sealants are given. Today there are sealants on the European market with excellent durability and high movement capability. The conditions are therefore good for a service life of at least 25 years for many selants. The problem is to get these sealants designed and used in the proper way. (Less)


It is commonly argued that music originated in human evolution as an adaptation to selective pressures. In this paper we present an alternative account in which music originated from a more general adaptation known as a Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM allows an individual to recognise the mental and emotional state of conspecifics, and is pivotal in the cultural transmission of knowledge. We propose that a specific form of ToM, Affective Engagement, provides the foundation for the emergence of music. Underpinned by the mirror neuron system of empathy and imitation, music achieves engagement by drawing from pre-existing functions across multiple modalities. As a multimodal phenomenon, music generates an emotional experience through the broadened activation of channels that are to be empathically matched by the audio-visual mirror neuron system.


This paper examines the relationship between downsizing, outsourcing and employment relations (ER) in the Australian and New Zealand telecommunications sectors following deregulation. It uses transaction cost economics (TCE), strategic management and institutional economics theories to analyse and compare the organisational restructuring and ER strategies of the two incumbent firms - Telstra and the Telecom Corporation of New Zealand (TCNZ) - as they reacted to this changing external context. It further considers and contrasts union responses to these strategies, focusing on the decade from 1990 to 2000. Management strategies at both firms aimed to reduce costs. However firms do not operate in a vacuum. Rather, management strategies at Telstra and TCNZ were influenced by external operating environments that impacted on the relative transaction costs associated with outsourcing production and the introduction of new ER practices. External variables that influenced Telstra and TCNZ's changing strategies, included: ownership, ER legislation and relative union strength. The paper discusses the usefulness of TCE theory in explaining management strategies. This research suggests that TCE may help explain the behaviour of 'rational organisations' if they engage in strategic downsizing or outsourcing. In practice, however, it shows that firms are political organisations that do not always behave rationally. Managerial strategies are further influenced by market-driven short-term profit considerations that may lead to strategies that do not accord with a TCE analysis. However TCE predicts some of the longer-term costs that these strategies may incur. These include the loss of firm-specific skills and the associated potential loss of core knowledge to competitors and quality control. Therefore firms shifting from hierarchical to market based subcontracting arrangements need to balance short-term profit considerations against the longer-term sustainability of such strategies.


Traditional high-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters for motor drives have several problems associated with their high switching frequency which produces high voltage change (dv/dt) rates. Multilevel inverters solve these problems because their devices switch at the fundamental frequency. The concept of multilevel voltage source inverter is explained. In this paper the cascade inverter is a natural fit for induction motor drives because of the high VA ratings possible and it uses several levels of separate equal dc voltage sources which would be available from batteries or fuel cells. The switching angles of switch devices are determined by optimized harmonic stepped waveform (OHSW) technique to reduce the output harmonics of cascade multilevel inverter (CMLI) for induction motor is proposed, as a result the efficiency of system has improved. Simulation results show the superiority of this inverter over 2-level inverter and were carried out using ORCAD package


FAROMA ice cream is made from guyabano fruit. It is a nutritious dessert or snack and a good source of Vitamin A which is good for the eyes and a good source of calcium for the bones. The proposed project aimed to be recognized not only in Los Banos but also in nearby towns and cities. It also aimed to expand the business if it becomes successful in the next five years. The proposed business' initial investment would only take 1 year. The average return of investment in terms of accounting income is 332% every year. The proposed business is desirable because the profitability index is more than Php 1.00. It means that for every Php 1.00 invested, there would be a return of Php 10.04. Because the net present value is positive, the decision is to accept the project. This will lead to the profitability of the business.


This report on New Zealand provides, from an international perspective, an independent analysis of major issues facing the educational evaluation and assessment framework, current policy initiatives, and possible future approaches.


Objective To determine the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hypertension among asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Methods Data were obtained from the Dutch national electronic database of the Community Health Services for Asylum Seekers (MOA) from 2000 to 2008. Asylum seekers aged ≥18 years at arrival in the reception facilities were included in this study (N=105 180). The diagnosis of hypertension was coded according to the Dutch list of the International Classification of Primary Care, while PTSD was diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Results People with PTSD were more likely than those without PTSD to have hypertension even after adjusting for age, sex, world region of origin, length of stay in the Netherlands, and obesity (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.50 to 1.96). There was an interaction between PTSD and co-morbid depression (p=0.006), indicating that the effect of PTSD and depression on hypertension were independent. When the analyses were stratified by depression status, among non-depressed group, individuals with PTSD had higher odds of hypertension than those without PTSD (OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.59). However, among the depressed individuals, there was no association between PTSD and hypertension even after adjustment for other factors: 1.09 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.53). Conclusions Our findings suggest that there is a positive relationship between PTSD and hypertension among asylum seekers in the Netherlands; and this relationship is independent of comorbid depression. Clinicians and policy makers need to take history of PTSD into account when screening and treating asylum seekers for hypertension.


In criticality safety evaluation, effective multiplication factor and its corresponding source distribution are often evaluated by the Monte Carlo method. For source convergence diagnostics a kind of information entropy (Shannon entropy) has, sometimes, been used. In the last conference (2009), we proposed new type information entropy in which the source distribution is expressed on an eigen-function space in order to evaluate the convergence not only of the effective multiplication factor but also of source distribution without increasing computing resources requirements. However, there arose questions concerning our entropy. Here, we answer some of the questions : (1) how to estimate expansion coefficients, (2) how to estimate the difference between the effective multiplication factor and the corresponding maximum eigenvalue, and (3) how to estimate the deviations of expansion coefficients due to the power iteration method using source distribution calculated by Monte Carlo methods. By applying our entropy to power iteration method, more effective source convergence diagnostics method combined with the "Sandwich Method" is attained.


Evidence that even very brief writing exercises can change the way people see themselves and promote more positive mental and physical health has led to increased interest in their use in school settings and elsewhere. To date, however, research designs rely heavily on samples of college students and experimental studies of writing tasks carried out in the lab. There has been less investigation of the potential impact of more naturally occurring expressive writing exercises that exist in places like schools and that focus on adolescents. The current study was a process evaluation of the Laws of Life Essay, a values-based narrative program that was part of participants' secondary school experience. It examined participants' views of the impact of the program on their personal growth and, given the age range of participants, allowed for process evaluation of its perceived short- and long-term effects. Qualitative, semistructured interviews with 55 adolescent and adult participants were collected. Themes in participants' responses included the importance of reflection and reappraisal of values, adversity, and relationships. Participants also discussed the importance of an audience for their writing, a novel finding that suggests one possible way to increase the impact of other narrative programs. Participants described variability in their engagement with expressive writing. This is one of the few studies that examined participants' own views of the value of expressive writing and their responses suggest directions for future research and implications for designing expressive writing tasks to support social emotional learning and character education in schools and promote well-being at key developmental moments.


We describe two cases of adenocarcinoma occurring in a closed rectal stump approximately 30 years after subtotal colectomy for ulcerative colitis, respectively, Cohn's disease. After many years disease-free, the patients presented with rectal secretions, including blood, and were diagnosed with metastasizing rectal cancer. Since malignant degeneration of a closed rectal stump may not give rise to symptoms until late in the disease process, it is suggested that the rectum should be controlled endoscopically every 2nd year following a subtotal colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease to enable radical surgery.


Temporal variation in selection is typically evaluated by estimating and comparing selection coefficients in natural populations. Meta-analyses of these coefficients have yielded important insights, but selection coefficients are limited in several respects, including low statistical power, imperfect fitness surrogates, and uncertainty regarding consequences for trait change. A complementary approach without these limitations is to examine temporal variation in adaptive traits themselves, which is mechanistically easier and more directly relevant to evolutionary consequences. We illustrate this approach by analyzing the colour patterns of male guppies, Poecilia reticulata, from each of six sites in Trinidad in each of 6 years. This system is particularly appropriate for our study because key aspects of colour variation are genetically-based and responsive to selection. However, although spatial patterns of colour variation have been extensively considered in this system, no study has yet formally assessed annual temporal variation in non-manipulated populations. Matching previous conclusions for the guppy system, we find that guppies from different sites manifest different colour patterns in association with different predation regimes. We here add the new finding that, although some temporal variation is present, spatial patterns of colour variation are generally consistent across years. These results suggest that, when considering adaptive traits, spatial variation is more important than temporal variation, although our study system might be exceptional in this regard. Additional studies examining spatiotemporal variation in adaptive traits could help to improve our understanding of the role that spatiotemporal variation in selection plays in the evolutionary process. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 112, 108–122.


Drosophila neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) represent a powerful model system with which to study glutamatergic synapse formation and remodeling. Several proteins have been implicated in these processes, including components of canonical Wingless (Drosophila Wnt1) signaling and the giant isoforms of the membrane-cytoskeleton linker Ankyrin 2, but possible interconnections and cooperation between these proteins were unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the heterotrimeric G protein Go functions as a transducer of Wingless-Frizzled 2 signaling in the synapse. We identify Ankyrin 2 as a target of Go signaling required for NMJ formation. Moreover, the Go-ankyrin interaction is conserved in the mammalian neurite outgrowth pathway. Without ankyrins, a major switch in the Go-induced neuronal cytoskeleton program is observed, from microtubule-dependent neurite outgrowth to actin-dependent lamellopodial induction. These findings describe a novel mechanism regulating the microtubule cytoskeleton in the nervous system. Our work in Drosophila and mammalian cells suggests that this mechanism might be generally applicable in nervous system development and function.


In recent years, the application of ceramic end mill has been studied for the purpose of improving the efficiency of end milling of difficult-to-cut materials such as Ni-base heat resistant alloys. However, although there are cases of application in simple shape and continuous cutting, there are few cases of application in groove shape and intermittent cutting. Because ceramic end mill is not recommend for interrupted cutting. On the other hand, the tool path for actual part machining, such as impeller machining by a conventional carbide end mill, often changes the tool direction by air cutting. In addition, because there are restrictions on the shape of actual parts, air cut may be unavoidable. Therefore, it is important to clarify the effect of intermittent cutting, and to understand the effects and issues when using a continuous cutting tool path.
 In this study, the relationship between the tool path and the tool edge condition was verified by the cutting test of the groove shape of Inconel 718 with a ceramic end mill. As a result, it was clarified that the tool path with intermittent air cut has an effect on the cutting edge. In addition, the relationship with the damage to the cutting edge when the number of cutting tooth and the cutting action in the axial direction were changed in a continuous cutting tool path was clarified.


This paper outlines and formulates a compact and effective simulation model, which predicts the performance of single and double glaze flat-plate collector. The model uses an elaborated iterative simulation algorithm and provides the collector top losses, the glass covers temperatures, the collector absorber temperature, the collector fluid outlet temperature, the system efficiency, and the thermal gain for any operational and environmental conditions. It is a numerical approach based on simultaneous guesses for the three temperatures, Tp plate collector temperature and the temperatures of the two glass covers Tg1, Tg2. A set of energy balance equations is developed which allows for structured iteration modes whose results converge very fast and provide the values of any quantity which concerns the steady state performance profile of any flat-plate collector design. Comparison of the results obtained by this model for flat-plate collectors, single or double glaze, with those obtained by using the Klein formula, as well as the results provided by other researchers, is presented.


Unification of the screening protocols for a wide range of doping agents has become an important issue for doping control laboratories. This study presents the development and validation of a generic liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOFMS) screening method of 241 small molecule analytes from various categories of prohibited substances (stimulants, narcotics, diuretics, beta(2)-agonists, beta-blockers, hormone antagonists and modulators, glucocorticosteroids and anabolic agents). It is based on a single-step liquid-liquid extraction of hydrolyzed urine and the use of a rapid-resolution liquid chromatography/high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometric system acquiring continuous full scan data. Electrospray ionization in the positive mode was used. Validation parameters consisted of identification capability, limit of detection, specificity, ion suppression, extraction recovery, repeatability and mass accuracy. Detection criteria were established on the basis of retention time reproducibility and mass accuracy. The suitability of the methodology for doping control was demonstrated with positive urine samples. The preventive role of the method was proved by the case where full scan acquisition with accurate mass measurement allowed the retrospective reprocessing of acquired data from past doping control samples for the detection of a designer drug, the stimulant 4-methyl-2-hexanamine, which resulted in re-reporting a number of stored samples as positives for this particular substance, when, initially, they had been reported as negatives.


Objective: To compare the efficiency and safety profile of conventional monopolar, bipolar plasmakinetic and holmium laser techniques for transurethral resection of bladder tumour.Method: The prospective comparative study was conducted from July 2019 to May 2021 after approval from the ethics review committee of Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt, and comprised patients of either gender with primary nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer who qualified for transurethral resection of bladder tumour. The patients were stratified into low-risk group A, intermediate risk group B and high-risk group C in accordance with the guidelines of the European Association of Urology. Comprehensive cystoscopy and panendoscopy were done in all cases. Once panendoscopy was done, tumour resection was performed with monopolar resectoscope in group A, plasmakinetic resectoscope in group B and holmium laser in group C). Data was collected at preoperative, peroperative, postoperative and follow-up stages. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.Results: Of the 84 patients, 67(79.76%) were males and 17(20.23%) were females. There were 27(32.14%) patients in group A; 21(77.8%) males and 6(22.2%) females withy mean age 60.63±11.76 years. Group B had 32(38%) patients; 26(81.2%) males and 6(18.8%) females with mean age 65.34±7.55 years. Group C had 25(29.76%) patients; 20(80%) males and 5(20%) females with mean age 59.48±12.6 years. The mean follow-up period was 12.97±2.70 months in group A, 12.81±2.75 months in group B and 13.48±3.3 months in group C. Visualised complete resection was done in 23(85.8%) group A patients, 29(90.6%) group B patients and 24(96%) group C patients (p=0.018). Visualised completeresection, tumour multiplicity, tumour size, catheter duration, and hospital stay were significant predictors (p<0.05). Survival analysis showed 26(96.3%), 30(93.75%) and 25(100%) cases in groups A, B and C, respectively.
Conclusion: Bipolar plasmakinetic and holmium laser techniques were found to be more effective and safer than the conventional monopolar technique for transurethral resection of bladder tumour in patients with primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.Keywords: Bladder neoplasms, Lasers, Prognosis, Urology, Catheters


6H-SiC single crystalline substrates were implanted at room temperature with 2 MeV Al2+ ions to fluences from 2×1014 Al2+ cm-2 to 7×1014 Al2+ cm-2 and with different current densities (from 6.6 to 33×1010 Al2+ cm-2 s-1). The depth profile of the damage induced by the Al2+ ions was determined by Backscattering Spectrometry in channeling geometry (BS/C) with a 3.5 MeV He2+ beam. The BS/C spectra were evaluated using the RBX code. The samples were subsequently annealed at 1100°C in N2 for one hour, in order to analyze their structural recovery by BS/C and the amount of the remaining defects by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The results from the BS/C spectra corresponding to the as-implanted samples indicate that the damage depends strongly on the total fluence but also, although to a lesser extent, on the beam current density. The BS/C measurements reveal that all the samples, except the one implanted with the highest fluence, recover completely their original crystalline structure after the annealing. Furthermore the angular anisotropy of the EPR spectra indicates that the implanted region recovered a good crystallinity, although some residual defects were observed.


The human being had been busy with mostly agricultural economy for a long history when the steam was considered as a resource of kinetic energy. Using the steam machine in textile industry for the first time in the UK at the beginning of the 18th century, would be called as "Industrial Revolution" many decades later. Respectively, second industrial revolution with the invention and utilizing of electricity, then third industrial revolution with the rise of electronics and automation followed this period. And today, we have been facing with the fourth industrial revolution via internet of things, augmented reality, learning machines, etc. One of the key technologies that are improved in this period is virtual commissioning. The aim of this contribution is to suggest a definition to the Industry 4.0 with its historical precursors, and to give a focus on virtual commissioning technology as an output of the fourth industrial revolution.


Who sleeps with their baby, and why?
More babies bed-share in the first few weeks of life than at any other age. On any given night between 20
and 25% of babies under 3 months of age spend some time sharing a bed with a parent and during their first
3 months up to 70% of babies in Euro-American households will have bed-shared once or more.2,3,4 When
parents are interviewed about sleeping with their baby they give various reasons for doing so.5,6,7 Their
answers express deeply rooted cultural or religious beliefs and parenting philosophies, invoke the
physiological links between lactation and night-time breastfeeding, and reflect the biological compulsion that
drives bonding and the urge for close contact. On a practical level they also explain that sleeping with the
baby makes night-time care easier, helps them to monitor the baby, provide comfort, and yet obtain sleep.
Other parents report having nowhere else to put their baby at night, or that they have fallen asleep with their
baby unintentionally. For breastfeeding mothers all of these reasons may apply, and so it is unsurprising that
the largest group of bed-sharers around the globe are breastfeeding mothers.


One of the biggest challenges in the study of biological regulatory mechanisms is the integration, americanmodeling, and analysis of the complex interactions which take place in biological networks. Despite post transcriptional regulatory elements (i.e., miRNAs) are widely investigated in current research, their usage and visualization in biological networks is very limited. Regulatory networks are commonly limited to gene entities. To integrate networks with post transcriptional regulatory data, researchers are therefore forced to manually resort to specific third party databases. In this context, we introduce ReNE, a Cytoscape 3.x plugin designed to automatically enrich a standard gene-based regulatory network with more detailed transcriptional, post transcriptional, and translational data, resulting in an enhanced network that more precisely models the actual biological regulatory mechanisms. ReNE can automatically import a network layout from the Reactome or KEGG repositories, or work with custom pathways described using a standard OWL/XML data format that the Cytoscape import procedure accepts. Moreover, ReNE allows researchers to merge multiple pathways coming from different sources. The merged network structure is normalized to guarantee a consistent and uniform description of the network nodes and edges and to enrich all integrated data with additional annotations retrieved from genome-wide databases like NCBI, thus producing a pathway fully manageable through the Cytoscape environment. The normalized network is then analyzed to include missing transcription factors, miRNAs, and proteins. The resulting enhanced network is still a fully functional Cytoscape network where each regulatory element (transcription factor, miRNA, gene, protein) and regulatory mechanism (up-regulation/down-regulation) is clearly visually identifiable, thus enabling a better visual understanding of its role and the effect in the network behavior. The enhanced network produced by ReNE is exportable in multiple formats for further analysis via third party applications. ReNE can be freely installed from the Cytoscape App Store (http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/rene) and the full source code is freely available for download through a SVN repository accessible at http://www.sysbio.polito.it/tools_svn/BioInformatics/Rene/releases/. ReNE enhances a network by only integrating data from public repositories, without any inference or prediction. The reliability of the introduced interactions only depends on the reliability of the source data, which is out of control of ReNe developers.


The block error probability of large decentralized wireless networks for fixed code length and rate is investigated. The network model consists of a large number of nodes, distributed according to a homogeneous Poisson point process, emitting their messages independently from the others. The transmitted signals are attenuated due to both path loss and fading. First, we show that in the asymptotic regime, when the code length is long enough, and users communicate with Gaussian codebooks, the error probability behaves as the well known outage probability. Here outage events are induced by fading and interference. Second, in the non-asymptotic regime, we bound the block error probability as a function of the code length and the rate. Applications of these results arise in the context of decentralized wireless networks, e.g. mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs).


This article deals with the fiscal and financial relations between the national government and the provincial governments in Argentina during the last 15 years, identifying the factors which help to explain the high degree of conflictivity of those relations. In view of the institutional roots of the conflict, a historical review is made in order to place the recent problems and future discussion in a long-term context. First of all, the development of federalism in Argentina and the evolution of the various forms of autonomy of the provinces is examined, followed, in the central section of the document, by a review of the options that have dominated the changes in the functions and incomes of the different levels of government in recent decades. Those options have to do not only with the distribution of taxes but also with the process of decentralization and the changes in functions among levels of government. /


Aims To primarily assess the value of troponin I to identify acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and second, to predict 1-month serious outcome or all-cause death in patients presenting with syncope to the Emergency Department (ED). Design Prospective cohort study of all adult patients presenting to the ED after an episode of syncope. Methods In admitted patients, plasma troponin I was measured 12 h after syncope, and in discharged patients, between 12 h and 7 days following discharge. Primary endpoints were the diagnosis of AMI, and the composite endpoint of serious outcome or all-cause death at 1 month. Results Over an 8-month period, 289 patients were recruited. Troponin I was obtained in 186 admitted patients and was elevated in 13 (7%), and obtained in 103 discharged patients and was raised in only one (1%). Four patients had an AMI (1.4%) and all had ischaemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes on their presenting ED ECG (ST segment deviation or pathological Q waves) that were 100% sensitive and 72% specific for AMI with a 100% negative predictive value. Seven of the 14 patients (50%) with a raised troponin I had a serious outcome that did not include AMI, or all-cause death compared with 16 of the 267 patients (6%) without a raised troponin (p<0.0001). Conclusions AMI is infrequent (1.4%), and estimation of troponin I provides little additional benefit to the presenting ED ECG in identifying patients with syncope due to AMI. Troponin I should not be used to rule out AMI in adult patients presenting with isolated syncope. Troponin I may predict 1-month serious outcome or all-cause death in syncope.


Numerous targeted nanotherapeutics have been described for potential treatment of solid tumors. Although attention has focused on antigen selection and molecular design of these systems, there has been comparatively little study of how cellular heterogeneity influences interaction of targeted nanoparticles with tumor cells. Antigens, such as HER2/ERBB2, are heterogeneously expressed across different indications, across patients, and within individual tumors. Furthermore, antigen expression in nontarget tissues necessitates optimization of the therapeutic window. Understanding the performance of a given nanoparticle under different regimens of antigen expression has the ability to inform patient selection and clinical development decisions. In this work, HER2-targeted liposomal doxorubicin was used as a model-targeted nanoparticle to quantitatively investigate the effect of HER2 expression levels on delivery of doxorubicin to the nucleus. We find quantitatively greater nuclear doxorubicin delivery with increasing HER2 expression, exhibiting a threshold effect at approximately 2 × 105 HER2 receptors/cell. Kinetic modeling indicated that the threshold effect arises from multiple low-affinity interactions between the targeted liposome and HER2. These results support previous data showing little or no uptake into human cardiomyocytes, which express levels of HER2 below the threshold. Finally, these results suggest that HER2-targeted liposomal doxorubicin may effectively target tumors that fall below traditional definitions of HER2-positive tumors, thereby expanding the potential population of patients that might benefit from this agent. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(9); 1816–28. ©2013 AACR.


Air cargo transportation is an essential component in the freight transportation market, primarily due to the transportation requirements of time-sensitive products. Air cargo transportation plays an increasingly important role alongside economic development. Cargo flight network design and fleet routing selection significantly affect the performance of the air cargo transportation. In this research, we propose an integrated model simultaneously considering cargo flight network design and the fleet routing selection for the air cargo transportation. Two transportation modes, the direct transportation mode in point-to-point networks and the transshipment mode in hub-and-spoke networks, are compared. In order to solve the proposed optimization problem, a swarm-intelligence-based algorithm is adapted. Numerical experiments were conducted to examine and validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm. The computational results suggest that the proper settings of hub and transshipment route selection in an air cargo transportation network can significantly reduce the transportation cost, which can provide practical managerial insights for the air cargo transportation industry.


Exposure of NIH 3T3 cells to 375 mM ethanol at 37 degrees C for 20 min could induce a rapid increase in the protein level and cellular activity of oncogenic proline-directed protein kinase FA/glycogen synthase kinase-3 alpha (PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha), up to approximately 300% of the control level, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The maximal inductive effect on PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha also occurred within 40 min when cells were treated with only 100 mM ethanol. Similarly, exposure of NIH 3T3 cells to 100 microM cadmium for 2 h could induce a rapid increase in the protein level and cellular activity of PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha, up to approximately 250% of the control level, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The maximal inductive effect on this kinase reached within 3 h when cells were treated with only 50 microM cadmium. The results demonstrate that PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha may not represent a constitutively active/mitogen-inactivated protein kinase as previously conceived. Taken together with the previous report that PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha is a heat-inducible protein kinase, the results further demonstrate that PDPK FA/GSK-3 alpha may represent a typical cellular stresses-inducible protein kinase subject to early induction by heat, ethanol and cadmium.


Broadcasting systems such as P2P streaming systems represent important network applications that support up to millions of online users. An efficient broadcasting mechanism is at the core of the system design. Despite substantial efforts on developing efficient broadcasting algorithms, the following important question remains open: How to achieve the maximum broadcast rate in a distributed manner with each user maintaining information queues only for its direct neighbors? In this work, we first derive an innovative formulation of the problem over acyclic overlay networks with arbitrary underlay capacity constraints. Then, based on the formulation, we develop a distributed algorithm to achieve the maximum broadcast rate and every user only maintains one queue per-neighbor. Due to its lightweight nature, our algorithm scales very well with the network size and remains robust against high system dynamics. Finally, by conducting simulations we validate the optimality of our algorithm under different network capacity models. Simulation results further indicate that the convergence time of our algorithm grows linearly with the network size, which suggests an interesting direction for future investigation.


Analyzes the performance of a statistical multiplexer for heterogeneous types of bursty traffic in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. The authors model each type of bursty traffic with a Markov-modulated Poisson process (MMPP), and represent the different burstinesses of traffic by changing the parameters of the MMPP. Then, they use a finite queue multi-server model for analysis of the statistical multiplexer with multiple output channels. In order to consider the slottized operation of the ATM channel, they also assume that transmission of the cells queued in the buffer occurs at discrete time instants. With these traffic and system models they obtain the cell delay distribution and the cell blocking probability for the superposed heterogeneous types of bursty traffic. They also investigate the performance of each traffic separately by obtaining the cell delay and the cell blocking probability. From numerical results, they show the effects of each traffic's characteristic on the performance of the statistical multiplexer. According to these results, it is noted that some efficiencies might be effected by dividing those types of traffic with comparable burstiness into segregated groups and allocate bandwidth to them exclusively. >


OBJECTIVE: to ascertain the level of knowledge, the perceptions and practice of dermatologists in the City of Havana with respect to Giardia lamblia infection. METHODS: with prior informed consent given by the dermatologists from the City of Havana, 50 dermatologistsa number very close to the universe of these experts in the provincewere administered a survey of their knowledge, perceptions and practice about this parasitosis. The survey was prepared in 4 phases; that is, interviews to physicians on diagnosis, treatment and control of giardiasis; drafting of a preliminary questionnaire based on the interview results; submission of this instruments to the experts, and finally its validation through its application to a small group of physicians. RESULTS: it was evinced that the dermatologists in the City of Havana had poor knowledge about giardiasis, particularly its cutaneous manifestations (out of 19 questions on cognitive aspects, the correct answer mean was 10,18), inadequate perceptions on this disease and practice was not good. CONCLUSIONS: with the aim of mitigating these difficulties, some academic intervention is needed to make emphasis on the formative aspects related to parasitic diseases in general and giardiasis in particular.


The densely functionalized graphene oxide (GO) surface and the two-dimensional carbon structure had provided a unique opportunity for supporting photocatalysts. Concerning GO-based photocatalysis, GO plays the role of an electron acceptor that accelerates the interfacial electron-transfer process, recombination retardant of charge carriers, fine-tuner for the electronic and chemical properties of the supported photocatalysts, and finally, a carrier transport between different active sites. Moreover, standalone GO is a p-doped semiconductor material with the π* orbital of the oxygen remains as the conduc - tion band minimum (CBM) while the valance band maximum (VBM) changes gradually from the p-orbital of carbon to the 2p orbital of oxygen upon oxidation. The outstanding features of the GO-based photocatalysis opened the way to serve the progress in many environmental applications including water treatment, air purification, water splitting, CO conversion, and sensing applications.