Observing conditions at the South Pole have probably been better characterised than at any other site on earth. The benefits are now well established, and include greatly reduced nearand mid-infrared sky brightness, improved atmospheric transmission, and a unique atmospheric turbulence profile with almost zero turbulence above the lowest 200 metres of the atmosphere. The site testing work is still in progress, with a view to better understanding the residual infrared sky emission and the nature of the atmospheric turbulence. Autonomous experiments are now also currently operating at Dome C. Plans are well advanced to extend these experiments, and to study even higher altitude sites such as Vostok and Dome A. In this paper, we report the recent results from UNSW. More comprehensive reviews can be found in the literature.


This article is available for purchase or by subscription from the Maney Publishing website. Please note that a print copy is held in the Special Collections at Flinders University.


In this paper we describe a method to classify online sleep/wake states of humans based on cardiorespiratory signals for wearable applications. The method is designed to be embedded in a portable microcontroller device and to cope with the resulting tight power restrictions. The method uses a Fast Fourier Transform as the main feature extraction method and an adaptive feed-forward Artificial Neural Network as a classifier. Results show that when the network is trained on a single user, it can correctly classify on average 95.4% of unseen data from the same user. The accuracy of the method in multi-user conditions is lower (89.4%). This is still comparable to actigraphy methods, but our method classifies wake periods considerably better.


The aim of this study was to characterize the cardiorespiratory and motor performance characteristics of blind 5-a-side footballers from the Brazilian Paralympic Team. Seven male athletes were evaluated at before and after 14-week in-season training (weekly volume between 6.5 hours to 10.8 hours), through cardiorespiratory fitness test, Agility test (5x10), Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) and Standing Long Jump Test (SLJT). The VO2max ranged from 51.9 (±3.8) to 54.3 (±5.0) mL.kg-1.min-1.VO2 at ventilatory threshold ranged from 48.4 (±4.4) to 41.1 (±6.8) mL.kg-1.min-1. Heart rate at ventilatory threshold ranged from 94.7 (±2.3) to 89.9 (±3.7) bpm. Regarding motor performance the values of medium Power Output ranged from 442 (± 63) to 421.9 (±66) Watts and Fatigue Index ranged from 63.1 (±9.4) to 53.9 (±14.8) W/s. Overall, our results show that while the performance of these athletes is inferior to that of professional players, their cardiorespiratory and motor performance is superior to that typical of semi-professional futsal athletes and, this study which can potentially suggest and contribute to the prescription of future training programs.


Abstract The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, with rapidly increasing cases in most countries. A wide range of research is urgently needed for understanding the COVID-19 pandemic, such as transmissibility, geographic spreading, risk factors for infections, and economic impacts. Reliable data archive and sharing are essential to jump-start innovative research to combat COVID-19. This research is a collaborative and innovative effort in building such an archive, including the collection of various data resources relevant to COVID-19 research, such as daily cases, social media, population mobility, health facilities, climate, socioeconomic data, research articles, policy and regulation, and global news. Due to the heterogeneity between data sources, our effort also includes processing and integrating different datasets based on GIS (Geographic Information System) base maps to make them relatable and comparable. To keep the data files permanent, we published all open data to the Harvard Dataverse (https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/2019ncov), an online data management and sharing platform with a permanent Digital Object Identifier number for each dataset. Finally, preliminary studies are conducted based on the shared COVID-19 datasets and revealed different spatial transmission patterns among mainland China, Italy, and the United States.


Author(s): Mare, Robert D.; Bruch, Elizabeth E. | Abstract: This paper is concerned with stability and change in neighborhoods in large metropolitan areas. During the past 20 years, economic inequality among neighborhoods has grown and may be a source of widening inequality in other realms as well (e.g., Reich 1991; Jargowsky 1996). Numerous studies have focused on the possible effects of residential neighborhoods on a variety of social and economic outcomes (e.g., Brewster 1994; Brooks-Gunn, Duncan, and Aber 1997). Likewise, persistent residential segregation among racial and ethnic groups is implicated in enduring racial and ethnic inequality (e.g., Massey and Denton 1993). Yet our understanding of the dynamics of how neighborhoods are formed and how they change remains limited. A long tradition of research has documented trends in economic and racial segregation in American cities, relying on cross section census data (e.g., Duncan and Duncan 1957, Taeuber and Taeuber, Frey and Farley 1996, Massey and Denton 1993, Jargowsky 1996; 1997). While descriptively valuable, these studies have not revealed the causal mechanisms behind neighborhood change. Inasmuch as change occurs through residential and socioeconomic mobility, a dynamic approach is required. More recently, others have examined survey data on residential preferences in an effort to understand the attitudinal underpinnings of residential segregation (e.g., Farley, Fielding, and Krysan 1997; Frey and Farley 1996; Charles 2000). The rationale for these studies is that segregation is, at root, the result of individual choices about where to live which are determined in part by individuals' attitudes and preferences about the characteristics of neighborhoods. Although these studies are informative, lacking a model of how individual attitudes lead to residential mobility and how mobility leads to neighborhood change, they provide limited insight into how change occurs. As Schelling (1971; 1972) observed 30 years ago, the dynamic links between individual preferences and residential segregation are by no means intuitive. Another promising line of research has been to use panel survey data on geographic mobility to measure mobility among neighborhoods of varying economic and racial composition (e.g., Gramlich, Laren, and Sealand 1992; Massey, Gross, and Shibuya 1993; Quillian 1999a; 1999b). While providing valuable information on patterns of neighborhood turnover, this work has not yet yielded plausible models of neighborhood dynamics. The neighborhood changes implied by the turnover rates estimated in these studies are unrealistic because they assume fixed mobility rates across neighborhood types. This assumption is unsatisfactory because it ignores a crucial feature of residential mobility, namely that changes in the characteristics of neighborhoods bring about changes in rates of movement in and out of these neighborhoods. In sum, the study of residential segregation and inequality remains a lively area of research in which many of the core analytic issues are unresolved.


Reaction 2-{2,3-dichlorophenylcarbonyl}-benzoic aci d 1 with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in boiling pyridi ne afforded 4-(2,3dichlorophenyl)-1H-2,3-benzoxazin-1-one 2 which on condensation with ethyl glycinate in the presence of sodium acetate gave ethyl[ 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-oxopht halazin-2(1H)-yl)]acetate 3. The sulphonamide derivative 5 was prepared via the reaction of acid hydrazide 4 with p- toluene sulfonyl chloride in refluxing gla cial acetic acid. Also, oxadiazole 6 was preformed through the reaction of the acid hyd razide 4 with ethyl chloroformate under reflux in nbutanol. N-amino 4-(2, 3-dichlorophenyl)-2-[5-oxo-4 , 5-dihydro1, 3, 4-triazol-2-yl) methyl] phthalazin -1-(2H)-one 7 was prepared via condensation of oxadiazole 6 with hydrazine hydrate in boiling n-butanol. Thiad iazole drevative 10 was prepared by stirring the dithiacarbazate 8 with conc. H 2SO 4 at room temperature while on refluxing 8 in absolute ethanol afforded the oxadiazole 11 . Each of 8, 10 and 11 on hydrazinolysis with hydrazine hydrate gave 2-(4 -amino 5-thioxo-4, 5dihydro-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-yl) 4-(2, 3 dichloroph enyl)-phthalazin-1-(2H)-one 12 . Thiourea derivative 15 was prepared by the reaction of 12 phenyl isothiocyanate in refluxing DMF. The struct ure of all compounds was confirmed from their correct analytical and spectral data.


This paper models the situation where the attacker's resources are unknown to the defender. Protecting assets presupposes that the defender has some information on the attacker's resource capabilities. An attacker targets one of two assets. The attacker's resources and valuations of these assets are drawn probabilistically. We specify when the isoutility curves are upward sloping (the defender prefers to invest less in defense, thus leading to higher probabilities of success for attacks on both assets) or downward sloping (e.g. when one asset has a low value or high unit defense cost). This stands in contrast to earlier research and results from the uncertainty regarding the level of the attacker's resources. We determine which asset the attacker targets depending on his type, unit attack costs, the contest intensity, and investment in defense. A two stage game is considered, where the defender moves first and the attacker moves second. When both assets are equivalent and are treated equivalently by both players, an interior equilibrium exists when contest intensity is low, and a corner equilibrium with no defense exists when contest intensity is large and the attacker holds large resources. Defense efforts are inverse U shaped in the attacker's resources.


Concentration polarization is one of the main challenges of membrane-based processes such as power generation by reverse electrodialysis. Spacers in the compartments can enhance mass transfer by reducing concentration polarization. Active spacers increase the available membrane surface area, thus avoiding the shadow effect introduced by inactive spacers. Optimizing the spacer-filled channels is crucial for improving mass transfer while maintaining reasonable pressure losses. The main objective of this work was to develop a numerical model based upon the Navier–Stokes and Nernst–Planck equations in OpenFOAM, for detailed investigation of mass transfer efficiency and pressure drop. The model is utilized in different spacer-filled geometries for varying Reynolds numbers, spacer conductivity and fluid temperature. Triangular corrugations are found to be the optimum geometry, particularly at low flow velocities. Cylindrical corrugations are better at high flow velocities due to lower pressure drop. Enhanced mass transfer and lower pressure drop by elevating temperature is demonstrated.


Sustainable economic growth with a low and stable inflation rate is one of the goals of macroeconomic policy in improving people's welfare. High inflation can be detrimental to economic growth in the medium and long term, while a certain level of inflation is needed to move the economy. Therefore, the question arises about the level of inflation that does not have a negative impact on economic growth. This study aims to estimate the inflation threshold level and identify its effect on Indonesia's economic growth 1981-2019. The research begins by determining the best model among the models that regress inflation on economic growth with quadratic regression, Hansen's (2000) threshold regression, and Mubarik's (2005) threshold regression (2005). The best model is the Mubarik threshold regression model (2005) with an inflation threshold of 6.85 percent. Mubarik's (2005) threshold regression analysis was reused in the model involving the FDI variable, the inflation threshold was 7.11 percent, and FDI had a positive effect. Inflation below the inflation threshold encourages economic growth, while inflation above the inflation threshold is detrimental to economic growth. The result of the estimated threshold level is higher than the inflation target by BI, so that inflation targeting can be increased.


Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) links were first introduced to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) generation in 1999. These TWSTFT links were calibrated by alignment with the corresponding GPS time links, of which the nominal uncertainty was 5 ns. In the past decade, the primary calibration technique for TWSTFT link calibrations was based on a TWSTFT mobile ground station (MS) with uncertainty at the level of 1 ns. The use of an MS for TWSTFT link calibration is limited by the availability of an MS, a common satellite transponder, transportation, and high cost. For example, due to the lack of a common transponder, a MS cannot be used for a stand-alone calibration of the NIST-PTB link (the link between the National Institue of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)). Therefore, alternative techniques have been proposed and validated in recent years. Investigations for improving GPS time link calibrations have been performed since 2008. In 2011 this triggered the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) to carry out a pilot study on using GPS link calibrations for the UTC TWSTFT time links. The study concluded that a link calibration uncertainty of 1.5 ns is attainable. Based thereon, the 'TWSTFT Calibration Guidelines for the UTC Time Links' recognize the GPS link calibration as an alternative technique for the calibration of TWSTFT links. In this paper, we first outline the new TWSTFT Calibration Guidelines for UTC Time Links (v3.0), which was approved at the 23 meeting of the Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency (CCTF) Working Group on TWSTFT. It authorizes several techniques, including the GPS link calibration and the Triangle Closure Calibration (TCC). Then we discuss the attainable uncertainty of the GPS calibration. Finally we provide in the Annex an example report of using a GPS calibrator for a typical UTC time link calibration based on the US Naval Observatory (USNO) and PTB, UTC(USNO)-UTC(PTB) TWSTFT link calibration. Here we describe the characteristics of BIPM's Measurement of Total Delay (METODE) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) calibrator, its setup at a UTC laboratory, Lab(k), measurements, and its results. In this calibration, the GPS result differs from that of the TWSTFT MS by 0.9 ns with an uncertainty of 1.5 ns.


BACKGROUND
Pulsed dye laser treatment and other cosmetic procedures result in significant bruising. Claims have been made regarding the efficacy of topical vitamin K in both preventing and speeding the clearing of bruising; however, well-controlled studies are lacking.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical vitamin K versus placebo in the prevention and clearing of laser-induced purpura.

METHODS
A total of 22 patients were enrolled in this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. The patients were divided into pretreatment and posttreatment groups; the 11 patients in the former group applied vitamin K cream to half of their face and vehicle alone to the other half of their face twice daily for 2 weeks before laser treatment. The latter group followed the same procedure for 2 weeks after laser treatment. On day 0, all subjects underwent laser treatment for facial telangiectases using a 585-nm pulsed dye laser. Bruising was rated by the both the patient and physician by means of a visual analogue scale on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17.

RESULTS
The side of the face treated with topical vitamin K before laser therapy showed no significant difference in bruising as compared to placebo. However, the side of the face treated with vitamin K cream after laser treatment had significantly lower scores of bruising severity when compared with the side treated with placebo.

CONCLUSION
Although pretreatment with vitamin K did not prevent bruising after laser treatment, use of vitamin K cream after laser treatment did reduce the severity of bruising, particularly in the initial days of application.


In this paper, we study a version of the static Jain-Mirman (2002) model in which competition in the real sector is introduced. In this paper, we add competition in the stock sector to the Jain-Mirman (2002) paper. We show that the linear equilibrium structure is affected by this competition in the financial sector. Specifically, we show that the stock price set by the market maker reveals more information and that the behaviour of the profits of the manager depends on the parameters of the model. Moreover, we prove that the level of output produced by the manager is less than in Jain-Mirman (2002). Finally, we also study the case in which the market maker receives only one signal and analyze the comparative statics of this model when the market maker receives either one or two signals.


Experimental results and simulations based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) with temperature effects on kinetics were used to evaluate rate limiting steps in sludge bed anaerobic digestion (AD) during load and temperature variations. Simulations were carried out in Aquasim. The model is compared to data from a pilot experiment in a 220 liter AD sludge bed reactor treating diary manure for 16 months of various loads; 0–13 kg COD L−1 d−1 and various temperatures; 25°C, 30°C and 35°C. Methane and CO2 production were monitored on-line while soluble and particulate organic carbon, pH and volatile fatty acids were measured on regularly collected inlet and effluent samples. Simulated overall soluble and particulate organic carbon removal, methane and CO2 production, pH and acetate are close to measured values while propionate is underestimated during some transitions. The fit is mainly sensitive to the composition of the feed in terms of relative amounts of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates especially at simultaneously high load and low temperature. During such conditions, the model predicts accumulation of long chained fatty acids (LCFA), suggesting that the degradation of LCFA is the rate-limiting step at low temperatures. This effect is not explained by reduced LCFA solubility at lower temperature. The model predicts that sludge bed AD efficiency on substrates with little or no LCFA is independent of temperature between 25°C and 35°C while LCFA degradation is favoured by higher temperature.


Norwegian Constitution Day parades are annual occasions for public demonstrations of belonging to the Norwegian community. Simultaneously they are events that mark social statuses and categories by including them in different ways or by excluding them from participation. This article discusses three kinds of contemporary Constitution Day parades, inviting participants in their capacities of schoolchildren, teenage students or citizens. Examining their composition and focussing particularly upon the citizens' parade, the article shows how parades, partly against their overtly stated intentions, come to support a narrowly defined Norwegian normality and ascribe to modern subcultural and ethnic minorities a controversial character.


Black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) mergers are promising candidates for the progenitors of short-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). With the right initial conditions, the neutron star becomes tidally disrupted, eventually forming a dense, accreting disk around the black hole. The thermal energy of this black hole-disk system can be extracted via neutrino processes, while the spin energy of the black hole can be extracted via magnetic processes. Either (or even a combination of these) processes could feasibly power a relativistic jet with energy & 1049 erg and duration . 2 s, hence producing a short-duration GRB. In this thesis, we investigate BH-NS mergers with three-dimensional, pseudo-Newtonian simulations. We use the simulation code Charybdis, which uses a dimensionally-split, reconstruct-solve-average scheme (i.e. using Riemann solvers) to solve the Euler equations of hydrodynamics. Although the code is based on a Newtonian framework, it includes pseudoNewtonian approximations of local gravitational wave effects and the innermost stable circular orbit of the BH, which are both general relativistic phenomena. The code also includes the effects of global neutrino emission, shear viscosity and self-gravity. This thesis comprises two main projects. The first project is a parameter study of the equation of state, which encapsulates the relationship between the pressure of a fluid and its other thermodynamic properties. Although the EOS is well understood at low densities, it is yet to be constrained at supranuclear densities, and so must be treated as a parameter in numerical studies of BH-NS mergers. We present simulations using three existing EOSs, in order to investigate their effect on the merger dynamics. We find that the EOS strongly influences the fate of the NS, the properties of the accretion disk, and the neutrino emission. In the second project, we begin upgrading Charybdis to include magnetic field effects, in order to investigate the magnetic processes described above. We implement existing reconstruction and Riemann solver algorithms for the equations of magnetohydrodynamics, and present 1D tests to compare them. When modelling magnetic fields in more than one dimension, we must also deal with the divergence-free condition, ∇ · B = 0. We develop a new constrained transport algorithm to ensure our code maintains this condition, and present 2D tests to confirm its accuracy. This algorithm has many advantages over existing ones, including easier implementation, greater computational efficiency and better parallelisation. Finally, we present preliminary tests that use these algorithms in simulations of BH-NS mergers.


Abstract The Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System includes several Miocene chronostratigraphic (sub)stages mostly characterized by weak permeable clastic sediments. They are often also mature source rocks at depths of more than 2500 m, from Late Badenian to Early Pannonian ages, represented by marls and calcitic marls, and kerogene Types II and III. The other types of weakly permeable sediments are tight sandstone mostly of Badenian age. Those two lithotypes are potential unconventional reservoirs described in the Bjelovar Subdepression, regarding their age, geological evolution, lithology, porosity and permeability. Domination of kerogene Type III and low total organic carbon defined marls as gas-bearing source rocks. Both marls and tight sandstones mostly have porosity less than 10 % and permeability less than 10-3 µm2. It is about 10-100 times lesser permeability than in conventional reservoirs. Weakly permeable zones are highly stochastically distributed and fluid flows are relatively short (several meters), which could be enhanced only by the using hydraulic or other fracturing techniques.


Objectives: To evaluate effects of permissive hypercapnia (PHC) on pulmonary mechanics and hemodynamics in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: We observed the influence of different tidal volumes (V T ) on pulmonary mechanics and hemodynamics in 10 patients with severe ARDS. Results: PHC was induced by decreasing V T from 10 - 12 ml/kg (routine V T ) to 6 - 8 ml/kg (small V T ). Arterial oxygen pressure and saturation remained unchanged, but pulmonary venous admixture was increased (p < 0.05). Airway plateau pressure and mean pressure were also decreased markedly. C 20 /C, which reflects lung overdistention, was increased significantly. Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and pulmonary arterial pressure were not changed, while systemic vascular resistance index was decreased markedly (p < 0.05). Cardiac index (CI) and oxygen delivery (DO 2 ) were increased (p < 0.05), while oxygen consumption remained unchanged. Conclusions: PHC, which was induced by small V T , might prevent lung overdistention and led to an increase in CI and DO 2 .


Summary Somatic cell hybrids were made from mouse myeloma cells and spleen cells derived from BALB/c mice immunized with homogenized epithelial fractions of BPH. The screening by immunoperoxidase staining on human prostate and non‐prostate tissue resulted in one monoclonal antibody identifying a prostate specific antigen. Upon SDS‐PAGE and Western blot this antigen exhibited a single band at the position of 34 kDa molecular weight. The immunoreactivity of the prostate antigen was found to be localized excluxsively in the epithelial lining of ducts and secretions of normal prostate, BPH and prostate cancer. Anti‐p34 antibody reacted with an antigenic determinant on the PSA molecule and inhibited the binding of Anti‐PSA antibody to PSA by about 80 to 90% in the RIA.


The purpose of this thesis was to find whether the abstraction of dialogue responses in computerized role-playing games could affect role-players' immersion, PC control, and the meaningfulness of play. Two versions of the same role-playing scenario were created and tested by a group of eight players who all had role-played previously. Though results show that both interfaces come with pros and cons neither interface was found to be superior for role-playing. Rather it was a question of players favoring different ways of being presented with information. A more extensive study with more respondents is necessary to find out if role-players in general prefer either.


The mesocarp of pawpaw fruits ( Carica papaya ) is a delicacy in the Tropics but the seeds are known to contain toxic substances (Carpine, Papain). However, there have been very few studies on the toxicity of these substances to organisms. First part of the present study determines the toxicity of an aqueous extract of pawpaw ( Carica papaya ) seed powder to catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) fingerlings using static bioassay. The second part investigates the haematological effects. 400 healthy catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) fingerlings 10.5 ± 3.2 cm (total length), 15.5 ± 6.4 g (body weight) were exposed to triplicate concentrations of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 mg/l in eighteen 30 L glass tanks, each with 22 fish in 20 L aerated rain water. 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC 50 values were 19.0 ± 3.3, 13.0 ± 2.8, 12.8 ± 1.6 and 12.9 ± 2.1 mg/L, respectively. There was significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the value of blood parameters [Blood cell count (erythrocytes and leucocytes) and basic erythrocyte indices (mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)] of C. gariepinus fingerlings after exposure to 96 h in aqueous extract of C. papaya seed powder. Toxic reactions include; erratic movement, air gulping, loss of reflex, molting and discoloration. Maximum admissible toxicant concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 1.29 mg/L (confidence level: 22 - 78.8%). The results showed that concentrations of pawpaw seed powder in excess of 1.29 mg/L can be potentially harmful to C. gariepinus fingerlings.


Enteric bacteria of 1,335 individual strains were studied for serological cross-reactions with Neisseria meningitidis groups A and C and Diplococcus pneumoniae types I and III. Enterobacterial antigens cross-reactive with the capsular polysaccharides of these four bacteria were found. Bacteria cross-reactive with noncapsular antigens of meningococci and pneumococci were also observed. Since some enteric bacteria possess antigens with serological specificities similar to those of meningococci, the possibility that enteric bacteria cross-reactive with meningococcal antigens provide an antigenic stimulus for the observed age-related "natural" immunity to this pathogen is discussed.


Filarial nematodes cause chronic and profoundly debilitating diseases in both humans and animals. Applications of novel technology are providing unprecedented opportunities to improve diagnosis and our understanding of the molecular basis for host-parasite interactions. As a first step, we investigated the presence of circulating miRNAs released by filarial nematodes into the host bloodstream. miRNA deep-sequencing combined with bioinformatics revealed over 200 mature miRNA sequences of potential nematode origin in Dirofilaria immitis-infected dog plasma in two independent analyses, and 21 in Onchocerca volvulus-infected human serum. Total RNA obtained from D. immitis-infected dog plasma was subjected to stem-loop RT-qPCR assays targeting two detected miRNA candidates, miR-71 and miR-34. Additionally, Brugia pahangi-infected dog samples were included in the analysis, as these miRNAs were previously detected in extracts prepared from this species. The presence of miR-71 and miR-34 discriminated infected samples (both species) from uninfected samples, in which no specific miRNA amplification occurred. However, absolute miRNA copy numbers were not significantly correlated with microfilaraemia for either parasite. This may be due to the imprecision of mf counts to estimate infection intensity or to miRNA contributions from the unknown number of adult worms present. Nonetheless, parasite-derived circulating miRNAs are found in plasma or serum even for those species that do not live in the bloodstream.


Nanotechnology has become by far the fastest growing area and the shooting star in materials science. Carbon is a fascinating element observed in a large variety of morphologies and atomic structures owing to its chemical ability to form different hybridizations. Carbon nanotechnology has gained significant attention, energized by discoveries such as fullerenes, followed by carbon nanotubes, and, of course the latest addition to the carbon family, graphene. Graphene, a two-
dimensional honeycomb lattice of sp2-bonded carbon atoms, possesses a wealth of exceptional

properties that has resulted in intense research activities. Although graphene's prospect for applications in wide areas is attractive, making and manipulating graphene is a daunting task. The most fruitful and cost-effective way to synthesize graphene in huge scale from bulk graphite is by reduction of Graphene oxide. Graphene oxide is nothing but a corrugated carbon sheet with over half of the carbon atoms functionalized with hydroxyl and epoxy groups, and edges partially occupied by hydroxyl, carboxyl, ketone, ester and even lactol structures. It has recently emerged as a new carbon-based nanoscale material that provides an alternative path to graphene due to its own alluring properties.

In the present study, carbon nanomaterials are derived from hydrocarbon precursors- kerosene, camphor and liquid paraffin by thermal decomposition. Graphene oxide is then synthesized from these carbon nanostructures by modified Hummers' technique. The as-prepared soot nanostructures and graphene oxide nanosheets are investigated by various experimental techniques viz. Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV- Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-Ray
Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of ultrasonication on the samples is also studied.


Recent advances in the domains of social and life artificial intelligence have constituted the basis for a new discipline that studies cooperation in multi-robot systems and its utility in applications where some tasks cannot be carried out by a single robot. This paper introduces a trajectory generator which is used for determination of the most appropriate trajectory which a robot needs to track in order to perform different tasks specific to cooperative robots, such as moving in a given formation or pushing an object to a given destination. Different algorithms are described in this paper, starting from simple polyline and circular paths to complex Bezier trajectories. Simulation results of the proposed path generation system are also provided, along with the description of its implementation on real mobile robots. An implementation of real robots is also presented in this paper.


As social and collaborative technologies emerge, educators and scholars continue to explore and experiment with how these tools might impact pedagogy. For over a decade, educators experimented with the use of blogs in academic settings, a tool that allows for students and instructors to enter into a rich dialogue. With most technology tools, users often leave 'digital footprints' throughout the environment. These footprints, in combination with other sources of data, allow researchers to explore relationships between the tool itself and the different types of end users. This study examines two years of institutional blog data, combined with demographic data to help describe the users of a blog platform. Different clusters of users are uncovered, and various use cases are explored, illustrating how different instructors choose to leverage blogs in the flow of a course. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare different blogging groups, results show a strong correlation between entry-dominant bloggers and growth in Grade Point Average (GPA) over time. With the rise in popularity of learning analytics, the results of this study might influence future learning analytics tools and systems


Competition over mates is a powerful force shaping trait evolution. For instance, better cognitive abilities may be beneficial in male-male competition and thus be selected for by intrasexual selection. Alternatively, investment in physical attributes favoring male performance in competition for mates may lower the resources available for brain development, and more intense male mate competition would coincide with smaller brains. To date, only indirect evidence for such relationships exists, and most studies are heavily biased toward primates and other homoeothermic vertebrates. We tested the association between male brain size (relative to body size) and male-male competition across N=30 species of Chinese anurans. Three indicators of the intensity of male mate competition—operational sex ratio (OSR), spawning-site density, and male forelimb muscle mass—were positively associated with relative brain size, whereas the absolute spawning group size was not. The relationship with the OSR and male forelimb muscle mass was stronger for the male than for the female brains. Taken together, our findings suggest that the increased cognitive abilities of larger brains are beneficial in male-male competition. This study adds taxonomic breadth to the mounting evidence for a prominent role of sexual selection in vertebrate brain evolution.


According to Juslin (2001), final ritardandi constitute part of the acoustic code employed by musicians to communicate two distinct emotional states: sadness and tenderness. To test this proposition, in two experiments, participants were exposed to a set of hymns that were modified in mode and/or tempo to primarily express either happiness, sadness, or tenderness. In addition, the inclusion of final ritardandi was experimentally manipulated such that these timing variations were either present or absent in the hymn stimuli. Participants were then asked to rate the emotions expressed by each variant of the hymns. In line with Juslin (2001), results revealed that when final ritardandi were included, expressively sad music was perceived as conveying more sadness, whereas expressively tender music was perceived as conveying more tenderness. Inclusion of ritardandi did not heighten the expression of happiness in music that was in a major key nor promote the expression of tenderness in music that was in a minor key. This suggests that final ritardandi do not generally heighten emotional expressivity and only amplify the emotional message already established by other cues, particularly those based on mode and overall tempo.


Several minority languages are on the verge of extinction in Nepal, especially when they don't have a generally accepted writing system and occur in an area where Nepali (the official language) is predominantly used. Lohorung is an example, which is spoken among the Lohroung Rai communities of Sankhuwasabha, a hilly district of eastern Nepal. Older generations of Lohorung are experts in Lohorung but they have limitations in reading and writing English or Nepali. The documentation of Lohorung and other similar endangered languages is important. If the right tools and techniques are used, we believe that self documentation is one of the best ways, to document a language. We have developed an online platform which community members can use to collaboratively self document their language. The platform is a multimodal dictionary authoring and browsing tool and it has been developed with a focus on usability, ease of use and productivity.


Context. The motion of small particles in planetary rings is affected in the long-term by radiation forces. While the Poynting-Robertson effect has been extensively discussed and applied to the dynamics of micron-sized ring particles, studies of thermal self-acceleration of particles are only in their infancy. Aims. We extend the pioneering work of Rubincam (2006, Icarus 184, 532) by a more thorough analytical formulation of both planetary and solar thermal forces on ring particles. Methods. Within a sparse disk model we analytically compute both seasonal and diurnal variants of the thermal forces and we demonstrate that the diurnal effect components vanish for a sample of rapidly rotating particles with randomly oriented spin axes. For sufficiently slowly rotating ring particles, though, these diurnal components might significantly modify the expected planetocentric secular drift rates of their orbits. We also take into account the orbital effects of Poynting-Robertson drag that begin to dominate the thermal forces for particles with sizes <5 mm. Our formulation of the Poynting-Robertson drag is the first to account properly for the influence of the planetary shadow. Results. We critically review the previous suggestion that Saturn's A and B ring boundaries might correlate with radiative null-torque orbits of small particles. Using the best estimates of optical and thermal parameters of Saturn's ring particles, we show that the millimetre to several centimetre size particles mostly drift inward to the planet with a characteristic radial speed ν r ∼ 3 × 10 -6 cm/s, corresponding to drift across the whole main ring system in ∼(1-5) x 10 8 years if the effects of inter-particle collisions are neglected. The radial speed is comparable to, or even larger than, the effective radial drift rate of small particles due to redistribution of collisional ejecta from micrometeoroid impacts. Therefore, radiation forces may be important for estimating the evolution timescales of Saturn's rings as derived from the ballistic transport theory. We propose that, in addition to collisional coagulation, radiation forces may efficiently remove centimetre-sized particles and thus help explain the observed paucity of these particles in Saturn's rings. A population of particles with spin axes aligned with normal to the disk plane, if it exists, would experience a net outward drift provided their rotation rate is larger than their orbital frequency.


Despite the fast progress in lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals (UCNCs), the preparation of ultra-small, monodisperse and uniform UCNCs with intense high-order ultraviolet upconversion luminescence (UV UCL) is still a challenging issue. Here we report on a method for the controlled synthesis of β-NaYF4:18%Yb,0.5%Tm,X%Gd NCs, with sizes ranging from 8 nm to 25 nm in diameter. We show that under 980 nm excitation, the 5-photon UCL (291 nm and 345 nm) from the 1I6 level of Tm3+ is more intense than the 4-photon UCL (363 nm and 451 nm) from the 1D2 level and the 3-photon UCL (474 nm) from the 1G4 level of Tm3+. Specifically, when the particle size decreases to 8 nm, intense UV UCL from Tm3+ and high-order UV UCL from Gd3+ are still observed. Moreover, core–shell β-NaYF4:18%Yb,0.5%Tm,20%Gd@NaGdF4 NCs of 12 nm diameter were also synthesized, exhibiting more efficient UCL than the 8 nm diameter core NCs. Ultra-small UCNCs with intense UV UCL are promising for biomedical applications.


The research paper discusses and analyzes the Wireless Mobile Spectrum Assignment in India during the recent spectrum auction held in March 2021. India is today the second largest and the fastest growing telecom industry in the world in terms of number of wireless connections and is steering towards technological advancements in wireless mobile communications. With the introduction of Digital India Programme, the Wireless Mobile Communications Industry promises to place India on a strong footing with other developed economies of the world in the near future. However, the Industry has been facing several roadblocks on its way to the future growth due to inefficient spectrum management. In this paper, the Researchers have discussed the significance and contribution of the Wireless Mobile Spectrum in the economic growth of India and have critically analyzed the Wireless Spectrum Assignment process. The Researchers have also highlighted the performance indicators of Wireless Cellular Mobile Communications Industry in order to emphasize on the importance of spectrum management in the growth and development of this industry. The researchers have highlighted the various issues and challenges in Spectrum Allocation of India and have given suggestions for efficient spectrum management before the next 5G Auction in the Year 2022 that can further accelerate India towards 'Digitalization' and Globalization.


In this article, I investigate the politicisation of the Caesarean-section (C-section) in Turkey as an anti-natalist procedure. In 2012, the Turkish state began to implement a series of interventions to lower the high rates of birth by C-section, which culminated in an attempted ban on elective C-section. In a previously unseen way, I argue that this intervention was based on the logic that because women are not medically recommended to undergo several C-sections, this surgical procedure limits the number of children a woman can give birth to, causing a concomitant decrease in population growth rates. This article traces the ways in which pronatalist discourses and interventions become meaningful in the medical setting by addressing the politicisation of C-sections. It examines how the C-section reflects a particular population discourse, which is marked by a moral language that stigmatises the fertility of Kurdish women.


The high-temperature requirement (HtrA) family of stress response proteins are induced by different environmental stress conditions in a variety of bacteria and have been shown to contribute to the pathogenicity of some of these species. In this study, the htrA gene from Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence predicted that the putative HtrA homolog contains a serine protease active site and a catalytic triad characteristic of trypsin-like serine proteases, structural features characteristic of previously described HtrA proteins. In order to evaluate the biological functions of Y. enterocolitica HtrA, an isogenic mutant was constructed by a reverse-genetics PCR-based approach. Characterization of the mutant provided evidence supporting a stress response function for the Y. enterocolitica htrA gene product. In contrast to the parent strain, the mutant showed increased sensitivity to killing by H2O2, O2- and temperature stress (50 degrees C). The mutant was avirulent in the murine yersiniosis injection model and offered partial protection to mice challenged with the parent strain. Further studies with the Y. enterocolitica htrA mutant should increase our knowledge of the host-pathogen interactions which occur during Yersinia infections.


This thesis identifies key criteria of how immersion can be promoted and induced through musical functions within soundtracks of video-games. The thesis is the primary component of the research offering a usable framework tool for composers and researchers when composing, or analysing, a video-game soundtrack.

Popular and well supported immersion theories are presented to identify similarities and differences between approaches to immersion. Links between the most suitable theories are outlined whilst forming an immersion framework, used for the analysis of the case study: Journey (2012). Two scenes from Journey are examined in detail and analysed through the created framework, identifying the successful compositional techniques that aid the induction and promotion of immersion, through the soundtracks support of the narrative, controls and game design. This designed framework helps structure the analysis, as well as provide a more insightful method of dissecting the phenomenology of the player's response.

The thesis is accompanied with an original composition, scored for Limbo (2010), and was created with the framework to act as proof of concept. The score is self-analysed, identifying its effectiveness whilst expanding on compositional and technical strategies employed.


As principal degrading enzymes of the extracellular matrix, metalloproteinases (MPs) contribute to various pathologies and represent a family of promising drug targets and biomarker candidates. However, multiple proteases and endogenous inhibitors interact to govern MP activity, often leading to highly context-dependent protease function that unfortunately has impeded associated clinical utility. We present a method for rapidly assessing the activity of multiple specific proteases in small volumes (<20 μL) of complex biological fluids such as clinical samples that are available only in very limited amounts. It uses a droplet-based microfluidic platform that injects the sample into thousands of picoliter-scale droplets from a barcoded droplet library (DL) containing mixtures of unique, moderately selective FRET-based protease substrates and specific inhibitors and monitors hundreds of the reactions thus initiated simultaneously by tracking these droplets. Specific protease activities in the sample are then inferred from the reaction rates using a deconvolution technique, proteolytic activity matrix analysis (PrAMA). Using a nine-member DL with three inhibitors and four FRET substrates, we applied the method to the peritoneal fluid of subjects with and without the invasive disease endometriosis. The results showed clear and physiologically relevant differences with disease, in particular, decreased MMP-2 and ADAM-9 activities.


BN/CC isosterism has emerged as a viable strategy to increase the structural diversity of carbon-based compounds. We present the first synthesis and characterization of the parent 1,2-BN cyclohexane, the BN-isostere of cyclohexane. 1,2-BN cyclohexane is an air- and water-stable compound that cleanly forms a trimer with release of dihydrogen when thermally activated. We also demonstrate that 1,2-BN cyclohexane has a lower activation barrier for ring inversion than cyclohexane due to BN/CC isosterism.


Color is commonly used to convey information in digital environments, but colors can be difficult to distinguish for many users -- either because of a congenital color vision deficiency (CVD), or because of situation-induced CVDs such as wearing colored glasses or working in sunlight. Tools intended to improve color differentiability (recoloring tools) exist, but these all use abstract models of only a few types of congenital CVD; if the user's color problems have a different cause, existing recolorers can perform poorly. We have developed a recoloring tool (SSMRecolor) based on the idea of situation-specific modeling -- in which we build a performance-based model of a particular user in their specific environment, and use that model to drive the recoloring process. SSMRecolor covers a much wider range of CVDs, including acquired and situational deficiencies. We evaluated SSMRecolor and two existing tools in a controlled study of people's color-matching performance in several environmental conditions. The study included participants with and without congenital CVD. Our results show both accuracy and response time in color-matching tasks were significantly better with SSMRecolor. This work demonstrates the value of a situation-specific approach to recoloring, and shows that this technique can substantially improve the usability of color displays for users of all types.


As the survival of cancer patients continues to improve, physicians in the 21st century face the challenge of early detection of metastatic spinal cord compression. Prompt diagnosis and intervention increase the likelihood of functional recovery. Because the epidural space is the most common site of spinal cord metastasis from solid tumors, this article will review the epidemiology, relevant anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and prognosis for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. Special attention will be given to the various modalities available for management of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression to maintain or restore normal spinal cord function and relieve pain. These treatment options will be considered according to patients' disease burden, life expectancy, and values. Intramedullary metastasis will be briefly discussed.


We studied association between the frequencies of gamma-induced (1 Gy in vitro) chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes and polymorphism of 45 repair candidate genes, detoxification and oxidative stress genes (53 sites) for 99 healthy volunteers. The levels of chromosome-type aberrations correlated with carriage of the minor alleles of the genes OGG1 Ser326Cys, ABCB1 Ile1145 = and NQO1 Pro187Ser (p = 0.0002). We have shown that all the revealed genetic associations were less effective in predicting chromosomal radiosensitivity as compared to the correlations between spontaneous and gamma-induced aberrations (p = 1.0 x 10(-6)). The addition of genetic markers to cytogenetic predictors improved the predictive accuracy for chromosomal radiosensitivity with the multiple correlation coefficient reaching R = 0.58 (p = 3.1 x 10(-8)). Thereby we were able to explain more than 30% of the population variability in chromosomal radiosensitivity.


This paper presents the design analysis of a photovoltaic (PV) system to power the CAD/CAM Laboratory at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. Life cycle cost and break-even point analyses are also carried out to assess the economic viability of the system. The unit cost of electricity for the designed PV system is high compared to the current unit cost of the municipally supplied electricity, but will be competitive with lowering cost of PV system components and favourable government policies on renewable energy. The approach and data provided are useful for designing solar systems in the area. The automated MS Excel spreadsheet developed could be used for the design and economic analyses of PV system in any other geographical region once the input data are sorted. Since about 90% of businesses in Nigeria currently own diesel generators, it is expected that future work should be devoted to the optimum combination of PV-Battery-Diesel system in electricity generation for optimum economic benefits to the country.


A study of the development of spontaneous tumours in dogs gives many benefits in oncology research due to the similarity between dog and human cancer in terms of epidemiologic, biologic and clinical features. There is evidence that the complement component 5 anaphylatoxin (C5a) and its receptor are involved in the development of many types of tumour due to its inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of C5a on several types of canine spontaneous tumour i.e. mammary tumour, lung tumour, testicular tumour and melanoma. The expression of C5a in these tumours was compared with normal tissue from the breasts, lungs, testes and skin. The total of eight post-mortem canine tissues were collected from University Veterinary Hospital (UVH), University Putra Malaysia and stored in a preservative solution (RNAlater) to keep the RNA from degrading. The RNA was extracted using the Qiagen RNA Extraction Kit and a cDNA synthesis was carried out using a one-step PCR kit (Promega, USA). The expression of C5a was determined using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) techniques. The results showed that all types of tumour gave higher expression of C5a compared to normal tissue. This means that the CT value for the tumours was below 30 cycles except for melanoma and the expression of C5a of normal tissues was above 30 cycles. This finding suggests that C5a and its receptor may be involved in the development of tumours in dogs and can be used as a tumour biomarker for both animals and humans in the future. Nevertheless, further studies investigating the mechanisms of C5a and its receptor in canine spontaneous tumour are necessary.


An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department in hemodynamically stable condition, 12h after the beginning of severe retrosternal chest pain of 1h duration, not influenced by changes in body position, nor aggravated by breathing and no more repeated. The ECG showed a typical pattern of acute pericarditis with diffuse concave upward ST-segment elevation >1 mm. Cardiac troponin levels, 12h after chest pain, were in the normal range, excluding the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. Chest X-ray displayed significant mediastinal enlargement. Transthoracic echocardiography documented mild anterior pericardial effusion (10 mm) and severe aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta (antero-posterior diameter of 7 cm, measured 5 cm above the aortic valve plane) with significant wall thickening and no evidence of intimal flap. In addition, both left and right ventricles showed normal morphology and systolic function; pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 28 mmHg. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the significant dilatation of the ascending aorta, with a typical pattern of aortic penetrating ulcer (observed 5 cm above the aortic valve plane) associated with an intramural hematoma of the anterior wall, extended from the level of the sino-tubular junction to 9 cm above the aortic valve plane (acute aortic syndrome, Svensson type II). A diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome was made and, considering the risk for acute aortic dissection or aortic rupture, the patient was quickly transferred to the nearest Cardiac Surgery Center. Computed tomography confirmed the echocardiographic findings and the patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with a tubular prosthesis. The present case underlines the great utility of portable echocardiography in the emergency department, for the clinical evaluation of patients with different patterns of chest pain and, particularly, in the differential diagnosis of acute aortic syndromes.


Automated perimetry allows examination of the visual field for diagnostic purposes. Location, shape and size of defects in the visual field detected during a perimetric examination are characteristic hints for the underlying disease of the visual system. Thus a reliable identification of defect types is essential for the proper treatment. We present a classifying system based on cluster analysis and Self-Organizing Maps for the automatic classification of visual field defects. The classifying system distinguishes between eight defect classes and was evaluated on over 8.800 perimetric examinations with a mean classification success of 78%. The classification algorithm is integrated into a software package that can be run on common computers using minor resources; its output can be considered as a suggestion for the physician. As the classification framework is decoupled from the perimetric hardware, it can also be used for the remote classification of perimetric examinations, e.g. in tele-medicine.


BACKGROUND: Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is increasing as an element of health care reform in the United States. By comparing drugs against other drugs or other therapies instead of just to placebo, CER has the potential to improve decisions about the appropriate treatment for patients. But the growth of CER also brings an array of questions and decisions for purchasers and policy makers that will not be easy to answer and which require significant dialogue to fully understand and address. OBJECTIVES: To describe some of the impact, both positive and negative, that comparative effectiveness research (CER) may have on the pharmaceutical industry. SUMMARY: As CER data proliferate, questions are being raised about who can access the data, who can discuss it, and in what forums. Regulations place different communication restrictions on the pharmaceutical industry than on other health care stakeholders, which creates a potential inequality. Another CER consideration will be the tendency to apply average results to individuals, even if not every individual experiences the average result. Policy makers should implement CER findings carefully with a goal toward accommodating flexibility. A final impact to consider is whether greater expectations for CER will have a negative or positive effect on incentives for drug innovation. In some cases, CER may increase development costs or decrease market size. In other cases, better targeting of trial populations could result in lower development costs.Conclusion: The rising expectations and growth in CER raise questions about information access, communication restrictions, flexible implementation policies, and incentives for innovation. Members of the pharmaceutical industry should be cognizant of the questions and should be participating in dialogues now to pave the way for future solutions.


Lifestyle entrepreneurship is associated with entrepreneurs who operate businesses primarily for reasons associated with non-economic motives such as pursuit of passion, work-life balance, quality of life, and/or achieving other personal goals and objectives. Although non-economic motives are usually assumed to take precedence in such businesses, economic objectives are also important to lifestyle entrepreneurs, as they provide the means to sustain the business and support the lifestyle sought by the entrepreneur. This study aims to examine two key aspects of lifestyle entrepreneurship. Firstly, it investigates the challenges encountered by lifestyle entrepreneurs in their pursuit of economic and non-economic motivations simultaneously. And secondly, it looks at the strategies employed by lifestyle entrepreneurs to cope with those challenges.  Data for this study were collected qualitatively, through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. A set of open ended questions were used to explore the perceptions and experiences of entrepreneurs. All interviews were conducted face-to-face and were averaged 60 minutes in duration. The sample comprised of 14 lifestyle entrepreneurs from the wine industry of New Zealand, a sector which has been associated with lifestyle entrepreneurship in previous literature. The participants were purposefully selected from three wine regions, namely Nelson, Martinborough and Waiheke Island, to add to the generalizability of the findings depending on whether regional differences were apparent.  This study indicates that the main challenges encountered by the selected sample were issues pertaining to simultaneously growing the business, as well as their ability to achieve or maintain desired work-life balance. The strategies adopted by the respondents to cope with these challenges included maintaining their business small-scale, diversification of the business operations, addressing seasonality in business operations, personal engagement with the customers, delegating responsibility and re-prioritizing economic over non-economic objectives. More specifically, the respondents' activities covered a range of business operations including grape growing, winemaking, domestic wine sales, international wine exports, cellar-door sales, providing accommodation on the vineyard (holiday house), and restaurant/cafe facilities. All wineries had achieved some form of growth over time, but most of them still remained small-scale. This was mainly due to reasons such as the desire to retain control and hands-on involvement. For a few wineries, the lifestyle orientation had changed over the course of time. Even though maintaining lifestyle objectives were still important to them, economic motivations now took precedence in their business. This was mainly due to factors such as having stimulated significant growth, changing market environment, increase in competition, or the need to ensure the viability of the business.


There are many erroneous assumptions in contemporary science. The paper describes the origins of the two of them: dark energy and neutrinos. All errors are due to the Theory of Relativity. It must be thrown out and forgotten. The electromagnetic interaction accurately describes the force that depends on the distance and velocity. For exact calculation of gravitational interactions it has created the Galactica system, which is freely available on the Internet.


We have studied the effect of Fe addition on the structural and magnetic transitions in the magnetic shape memory alloy Ni-Mn-Ga by substituting systematically each atomic species by Fe. Calorimetric and AC susceptibility measurements have been carried out in order to study the magnetic and structural transformation properties. We find that the addition of Fe modifies the structural and magnetic transformation temperatures. Magnetic transition temperatures are displaced to higher values when Fe is substituted into Ni-Mn-Ga, while martensitic and premartensitic transformation temperatures shift to lower values. Moreover, it has been found that the electron per atom concentration essentially governs the phase stability in the quaternary system. However, the observed scaling of transition temperatures with e/a differs from that reported in the related ternary system Ni-Mn-Ga.


Background: Higher prevalence of stress in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients may have a critical role in their altered body composition. Aims: The aim is to study the correlation of perceived stress with waist-hip ratio (WHR), lipid profile, and fasting sugar in newly diagnosed patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in an urban population of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional pilot project was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Burdwan Medical College, in a time span of 1 year after taking institutional ethical clearance and informed consent of the participants. One hundred newly diagnosed PCOS patients and 100 age-, dietary habit-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were included in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores of the participants were assessed. Fasting blood samples were drawn from participants for analysis of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile. Height, weight, BMI, WHR, resting pulse rate (measured after 15 min of rest with participants in supine posture), and blood pressure (measured by mercury manometer) were measured. The computer software "Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16" was used to analyze the data, and unpaired t-test was used to compare different parameters of the two groups. Correlation of PSS with other parameters was assessed. Results: There was a significant difference in PSS, WHR, pulse, blood pressure, FBS, and lipid profile between the two groups. There was a significant positive correlation between PSS and WHR, FBS, and lipid profile, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was negatively correlated with PSS. However, no difference in BMI was observed. Conclusion: PCOS patients with higher PSS in spite of having equivalent BMI, dietary habits, and age may have higher WHR, dyslipidemia, and fasting sugar as compared to normal individuals. Stress management programs are need of the day for the highly stressed modernized global population.


Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM) or Final Year Project is an academic research regarding research field that is compulsory for each of final year student of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), before being awarded a degree. The purpose of PSM is to enhance student's knowledge and capability to complete the task given within academic research in order to produce a productive and competent engineer. In this paper, a Light Weight Manual Lifting Robot has been designed and fabricated. Lifter robot is used in wide variety of material for purpose of transfer and lifting applications. It lifts a product from one spot in the manufacturing process, traveling through the following line and drops it into another location, automatically. This robot is being manufactured in order to eliminate the use of human strength in order to lift things for the manual transfer application. Conceptually, for this project, the robot used manual system that includes a handling device which is hand hold controller, actuated by an operator. The hand hold controller will function as a link between the robot operator and the robot controller circuit which determined the robot movements. The robot is designed so that it is light weight and developed with steady base support and well function of lifting mechanism in order to enhance the performance of the robot. The construction of this robot can be divided into two different areas which are electrical and electronic component, and mechanical part. The electrical constructions consist of motor driver unit, PIC controller unit, hand hold controller, and the wiring to the robot, while the mechanical constructions consist of robot base and lifting mechanism. At the end, the robot which consists of an electrical circuit to control the robot operations using hand hold controller, can be fully integrated with light weight and stable mechanical structure. The robot also includes a smooth operation of lifting mechanism.


We present a study of exclusive production of $\pi^{0}$ meson in proton-proton collisions at high energies. Both diffractive bremsstrahlung (Drell-Hiida-Deck type model), photon-photon, photon-omega and photon-odderon exchange mechanisms are included in the calculation. The $\pi^{0}$-bremsstrahlung contribution dominates at large (forward, backward) pion rapidities and contributes at small $\pi^0 p$ invariant mass and could be therefore misinterpreted as the Roper resonance $N^{*}(1440)$. Large cross sections of the order of mb are predicted. We predict strong dependence of the slope in $t$ (squared four-momentum transfer between ingoing and outgoing proton) on the mass of the supplementary excited $\pi^{0} p$ system. At high energy and midrapidity, the photon-photon contribution dominates over the diffractive components, however, the corresponding cross section is rather small. The photon-odderon and odderon-photon contributions are included in addition and first estimates (upper limits) of their contributions are presented. We suggest a search for the odderon contribution at midrapidity and at $p_{\perp,\pi^{0}} \sim$ 0.5 GeV. Our predictions are ready for verification at LHC. The bremsstrahlung mechanisms discussed here contribute also to the $pp \to p(n \pi^{+})$ reaction. Both channels give a sizable contribution to the low-mass single diffractive cross section and must be included in extrapolating the measured experimental single diffractive cross section.


Family context has been identified as a central domain in the study of delinquency, particularly during early childhood. As youth enter adolescence peer associations become a much stronger influence. Using a sample of preadolescent youth, this research examines the effect of family and peer relationships on delinquency. Specifically, path analysis is used to test the effects of family structure, parental supervision, and parental attachment on serious delinquent behavior to determine if a youth's family life has a unique effect on serious delinquent behavior, or if familial relationships are mediated by peer associations. Findings suggest that parental variables are indirectly related to subsequent, serious delinquency, whereas delinquent peer association exerts a strong, direct effect. The study offers insight into the roles that a youth's family life and peer associations play in explaining delinquent behavior. In addition, the findings highlight the need for interventions that encourage pro-social relationships among youth.


AIMS
Patients with symptomatic heart failure following acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) received transendocardial application of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMC) to improve left ventricular (LV) function and clinical outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Patients (n=12) with LV ejection fraction (EF) <45% and NYHA Class ≥II received NOGA-guided transendocardial injection of BMC into the infarction border zone 17.5±0.8 days following successful interventional revascularisation after STEMI. A matched control group (n=11) was generated from the source data of the previously published LIPSIAbciximab-STEMI trial. Primary and secondary endpoints were derived from comparisons of baseline vs. six-month follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) measurements and clinical assessments. Following cell therapy we observed a significant increase of EF (+7.9±1.5%, p=0.001) while the control group showed no change. This effect was driven by a reduction of LV end-systolic volume (ESV) by -27.5±6.5 ml (p=0.001); LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and scar volu-me remained unchanged. A significant decrease of NYHA Class was found only in the cell therapy group (-0.75 vs. -0.18, p=0.04). Findings were also translated into enhancement of clinical assessments (rehospitalisation for decompensated heart failure, six-minute walk test, NT-proBNP levels).

CONCLUSION
The data suggest transendocardial injection of BMC can be used safely in patients with sympto-matic heart failure following acute STEMI. These prospective, preliminary data of a well-characterised, small cohort suggest efficiency compared to routine treatment.


Recent research has pointed at Millennials as individuals who engage in consumption experiences based on access, dematerialization and discontinuity. That has the potential to dramatically affect the nature and the dynamics of their relationships with brands. This study aims to explore how the relationship between Millennials and their brands is changing in the digital environment and how the solid, hybrid, or digital nature of the brand is shaping this relationship. Drawing on the literature body focused on liquid modernity and liquid consumption, this qualitative study develops a narrative approach based on digital diary collection and interpretive analysis. Findings reveal how the spatial dimension seems to organize the different trajectories of the relationship between Millennials and their brands. While solid brands intertwine private and intimate spaces with foreign ones that Millennials traverse and conquer in their continuous relocations to affirm their life projects, hybrid brands emerge as enablers of assemblages that variously connect objects, products, people in places both real and fantastic. Digital brands, instead, emerge as stateless and spaceless in that their utility gets actualized always and everywhere, in total synchrony with the multiple facets of Millennials' performative ethos. This research offers a contribution to the theoretical domains of liquid consumption and digital object consumption and stimulates a critical reflection for brand decision-makers.


The drawback in today's computational analysis in structural engineering is that design and analysis are not integrated in a unified platform. A majority of the time spent in structural analysis is used to transform a design model into an analysis suitable model. Furthermore, this process can induce a geometry which is based on approximations. Isogeometric analysis (IGA) was developed to remedy this loss of efficiency as it aims to unify the geometrical representation in both design and analysis. NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) are the most widespread mathematical basis in computer-aided design (CAD) as they are able to depict the geometry in an exact manner, which makes NURBS a suitable basis for an IGA. The purpose of this thesis is to implement the isogeometric rotation-free Kirchhoff-Love thin shell element proposed by Kiendl et al. [16], for both geometrically linear and nonlinear analyses within an object-oriented environment. The element is integrated into the open-source software IFEM Elasticity developed by SINTEF Digital, which is part of a research project devoted to merging design and analysis in computational mechanics. To verify the implementation and the element's performance, a set of both linear and nonlinear benchmark problems have been simulated. The performance has been evaluated through a convergence study for the linear cases, while the nonlinear cases have been compared to results obtained by Lagrange-based finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. The results of the implemented shell element yielded a coherence with the reported results in relevant scientific publications.


High efficiency microwave-optical transduction for quantum-state transfer remains an outstanding technical challenge. Resonant electro-optic transduction via three-wave mixing is an attractive solution, with a simple operating principle that does not rely on intermediate quantum states. However, the intrinsic optical and microwave losses of electro-optic materials with large Pockels coefficients have limited the conversion efficiency of existing devices. Here, we show that an optimal conversion efficiency can be achieved with a relatively weak linear electro-optic material, as long as both the optical and microwave quality factors are high. We then discuss specific designs for electro-optic quantum transducers based on superconducting microwave resonators coupled to SiGe/Si ring resonators. We theoretically show that applying an electric field to the SiGe/Si waveguides induces an effective Pockels effect, allowing three-wave mixing without introducing loss. Together with its excellent compatibility with superconducting qubit fabrication, these nonlinear optical properties promise to make the SiGe/Si platform an exciting avenue for quantum-state frequency conversion.


The paper is based on up to now studies of Polish and foreign literature in field of resistance of asphalt mixtures to low temperature cracking. The author presented different factors (material, environmental, pavement structure and others) affecting low temperature cracking. Distribution of temperature in asphalt layers was discussed. The laboratory testing methods used for determining of bitumen and asphalt mixtures behaviour in low temperatures were reviewed. The stress relaxation phenomenon and thermal cracking models were presented.


Background: Food-borne illnesses have a dramatic impact both in developing and developed countries. Food handling personnel take part in the transmission of pathogenic food born bacteria in the community. Shigella and E.coli 157:H7 are more significant and well-recognized food borne pathogens for reasons of their severe consequences of all age groups, high antibiotic resistance and their low infectious dose. Accordingly, food-handlers employing in meal serving facilities could be potential sources of infections of these enteric bacterial pathogens. Method: Community based cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2014 to June 2015 to assess the sero-group and antimicrobial resistance pattern of enteric bacterial pathogens in Wolaita Sodo town among 398 food-handlers working in selected food handling establishments. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect Socio-demographic characteristics and associated factors. Stool specimens were collected by a clean, dry, wide-mouthed container.  Stool culture was done using differential, selective and enrichment medium. Analytical Profile Index 20E biochemical panel was used for identification and differentiation of members of enteric bacterial pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by single disk diffusion technique. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS version 20. Result: 11 Shigella species and 24 E. coli O157:H7 isolates were detected. S. flexneri, S.sonnei, S.dysenteriae, and S.boydii isolates were isolated. A significant proportion of Ampicillin and Amoxicillin were noticed for all enteric bacterial pathogens. Multidrug resistances prevalence of 72.7%, and 58.3% were observed for Shigella, and E. coli O157: H7 respectively. Raw meat eating habit, hand washing after toilet and hand washing after touching dirty materials have shown significant association with enteric bacterial pathogens prevalence. Conclusions: Shigella and E. coli species were identified from fecal specimen. Significant proportion of multidrug resistances was detected in Shigella and E. coli O157: H7 respectively. Thus screening of food handles is important in order to prevent the transmission of enteric bacterial pathogens and treatment needs to be based on accurate laboratory detection of etiologic agents to mitigate the spread of drug resistant strains. Keywords: E.coli O157:H7, Shigella, Food handlers, Antibiotics


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of anti-PML-RAR alpha antisense (FUAS) on cell morphology, expression of PML-RAR alpha mRNA and PML-RAR alpha/PML protein localization of NB4 cells.

METHODS
PML-RAR alpha mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and PML-RAR alpha/PML protein localization by immuno-fluorescence.

RESULTS
NB4 cells were partially differentiated after 5 days of FUAS treatment and typical apoptosis was found after 7 days incubation with FUAS. The expression of PML-RAR alpha mRNA at 24 h was already down regulated in FUAS-treated cells. After 24 h, 72 h and 120 h incubation with FUAS, PML-RAR alpha mRNA showed 52.0%, 68.7% and 23.4% reductions, respectively, as compared with that of control. Immuno-fluorescence analysis with anti-PML monoclonal antibody showed disappearance of microgranules, residual granules becoming larger discrete dots at 24 h of FUAS treatment and almost disappearence of dots at 120 h.

CONCLUSION
FUAS specifically blocks the expression and translation of PML-RAR alpha gene, makes the production of PML-RAR alpha fusion protein decrease or disappear and prompts cell differentiation.


Protein kinase A (PKA) is a serine/threonine kinase whose activity depends on the levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP). PKA plays essential roles in numerous cell types such as myocytes and neurons. Numerous substrate screens have been attempted to clarify the entire scope of the PKA signaling cascade, but it is still underway. Here, we performed a comprehensive screen that consisted of immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, with a focus on the identification of PKA substrates. The lysate of HeLa cells treated with Forskolin (FSK)/3-isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX) and/or H-89 was subjected to immunoprecipitation using anti-phospho-PKA substrate antibody. The identity of the phosophoproteins and phosphorylation sites in the precipitants was determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). We obtained 112 proteins as candidate substrates and 65 candidate sites overall. Among the candidate substrates, Rho-kinase/ROCK2 was confirmed to be a novel substrate of PKA both in vitro and in vivo. In addition to Rho-kinase, we found more than a hundred of novel candidate substrates of PKA using this screen, and these discoveries provide us with new insights into PKA signaling.


The origin of tetraploids from 4x × 2x cyclamen crosses was examined by using the diploid pollen parents with and without giant pollen grains, and by pollinating tetraploid cultivars with sieved giant and normal-sized pollen grains borne on diploid plants. The developing pollen mother cells were observed after the second meiotic division in the diploids with and without the giant pollen grains. Tetraploid progeny production in the crosses was obviously related to the giant pollen grains. Tetraploid F1 progenies were produced in the crosses by using pollen from diploid plants that produce giant pollen ; no seed was obtained in the crosses by using pollen from diploids, which produce no giant pollen. More seeds were obtained when sieved giant pollen grains were used for the crosses than when non-sieved pollen grains with giant pollen were used, whereas no seed was obtained in the crosses using only normal-size pollen grains from diploids. Thirteen to 27% of pollen mother cells in the diploids with giant pollen grains formed pollen dyads or triads after the second meiotic division, whereas few pollen dyads and triads were formed in those without giant pollen grains. These observations suggest that most giant pollen grains in diploid cyclamen are unreduced male gametes. Therefore, the origin of tetraploids derived from 4x × 2x cyclamen crosses is the results of fertilization between an unreduced pollen grain from the diploid plant and a normally reduced egg cell from the tetraploid. Furthermore, the use of sieved giant pollen grains was efficient for the production of tetraploid progenies.


Katuri Medical College and Hospital is a tertiary Rural Medical Institution catering to the health needs of surrounding villages of Guntur, Prakasam and Krishna districts. Acute Pancreatitis presenting as acute abdomen is a common surgical emergency encountered in our hospital. Therefore a prospective study of 60 cases of clinically diagnosed acute pancreatitis was undertaken from August 2012 to July 2014. For each and every patient detailed clinical history was recorded and were subjected to serial hematological specific investigations like serum amylase and lipase as well as radiological tests like ultrasonography of the abdomen and contrast enhanced computed tomography in selected cases. Ultrasonography of abdomen is the most in valuable diagnostic test with accuracy of 81.6% in our series. Acute Pancreatitis is a common and challenging disease that can develop both local and systemic complications. The most common causes are alcoholic pancreatitis and gall stone pancreatitis which account for 80% of cases. In our study group, 59 cases were managed conservatively and 01 case had undergone cholecystectomy for gall stone pancreatitis with good post-operative recovery. 01 case had died due to severe gastrointestinal bleeding in spite of medical management in intensive care unit. Hence the main stay of management in Acute Pancreatitis is still conservative in majority of cases, while surgical intervention is required only in few cases of severe acute pancreatitis with complications. The objective of this research study was to correlate between various etiological factors, age and sex prevalence with special emphasis on its uniform and standardized management.


We have described a concise construction of the pentacyclic benz[f]indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine intermediate 3 (with an overall yield of 54% for three steps), featuring a tandem intermolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition/Pictet-Spengler cyclization. The present work can be considered as a formal synthesis of beta-carboline alkaloid (+/-)-tangutorine. Our strategy disclosed herein constitutes a new effective general synthetic approach toward the indoloquinolizidine family of alkaloids.


The cysteine residues involved in the class I disulfide bonds between the alpha subunits in the (alpha beta)2 dimer of the human insulin receptor have been identified by labeling with N-ethylmaleimide and by site-directed mutagenesis. Both cysteine 524 and cysteine 682 form interchain disulfide bonds; their conversion to serine residues results in the absence of receptor dimers and the presence of alpha beta monomers. The receptor monomers have a slightly lower affinity for insulin than the native receptor dimers. Insulin binding to the receptor monomers promotes their dimerization in the plasma membrane; at nanomolar concentrations of receptor, both unliganded and liganded receptors are monomers. Receptor monomers are stimulated by insulin to autophosphorylate and to phosphorylate exogenous subtrates with the same efficiency as the receptor dimers. The conclusion is that receptor dimerization is not required to activate the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor.


Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). It is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The optimal timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains unknown, resulting in a wide variation in observed current practices. There is a paucity of data on current practices within ICUs in South Africa. Objectives To describe current practices in the timing of RRT in patients with AKI admitted to the ICU. The secondary objectives were to describe the patient characteristics, severity of illness scores, staging at initiation of RRT, outcome at ICU discharge, and to estimate and describe delays in the initiation of RRT. Methods A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted in an adult academic ICU in Soweto from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015. Results There were 2 152 ICU admissions over the 2 years. Less than a tenth of the patients (3.5%; n=76) required RRT and the majority had sepsis (83%). The most common indication for RRT was oliguria/anuria (50%; n=38), followed by worsening urea/creatinine (29%; n=22), metabolic acidosis (11.8%; n=9), refractory hyperkalaemia (5.3%; n=4), fluid overload (2.6%; n=2) and other (1.3%; n=1). More than half of the patients (55%; n=42) had RRT instituted on admission day (D0 ), while 45% (n=34) had RRT initiated after D0 (D1-21). RRT was initiated at stage 3 AKI in 90% and 94% of D0 RRT group and D1-21 RRT group, respectively. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) time to starting RRT was 4 (4) hours once the decision to initiate RRT was made. The composite outcome of death, RRT dependence and diuretic dependence at ICU discharge was 21% and there was no difference between the two groups (p=0.22). The ICU mortality was 3%. Conclusion The sampled population was young, predominantly male and had post emergency surgery with a high burden of sepsis and HIV. The observed current threshold for RRT was late (stage 3 AKI with classic/emergent indications) with outcomes comparable with the reviewed literature. Contributions of the study The present study adds insight into the practice of initiating RRT in patients admitted to the ICU with AKI. These data have previously not been described in the South African context. The patient population differed from the literature in that they were young, predominantly male and had post-emergency surgery with a high burden of sepsis and HIV.


Compliance is a key challenge for adolescents with asthma, and valid and reliable measures of compliance behaviour and explanatory factors remain elusive, particularly in an Australian setting. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the chronic disease compliance instrument - asthma in an Australian sample of adolescents with asthma, as well as the relationship between compliance behaviour and explanatory factors. Participants were 132 adolescents (12-17 years) diagnosed with asthma, who voluntarily completed the self-report instrument. Upon logical modification of the instrument based on exploratory factor analysis and review of item content, the chronic disease compliance instrument - asthma was shown to have sufficient factor structure and internal consistency in an Australian setting. Further, findings provide a list of relevant factors for explaining compliance behaviour, which may be employed to guide the development of initiatives to increase the level of compliance with treatment among Australian adolescents with asthma.


In multi-server systems, a classical job assignment algorithm works as follows: at the arrival of each job, pick d servers independently and uniformly at random and send the job to the least loaded server among the d servers. This model is known as the powerof- d choices algorithm. In this paper, we analyze a variant of this algorithm, where d servers are sampled through d independent non-backtracking random walks on a k-regular graph. The random walkers are periodically reset to independent uniform random positions. Under some assumptions on the underlying graph, we show that the system dynamics under this new algorithm converges to the solution of a deterministic ordinary differential equation (ODE), which is the same ODE as the classical power-of-d choices. We also show that the new algorithm stablizes the system, and the stationary distribution of the system converges to the stationary solution of the ODE. The new scheme can be considered as a derandomized version of power-of-d choices as it reduces the use of randomness while maintaining the performance of power-of-d choices.


One can only applaud researchers embarking on the task of applying political science theories to policy research in health promotion. This is a much-needed effort, and not just for theories of the policy process. In the concluding chapter of their health promotion textbook, Keleher et al. observe that public health and health promotion continue to be a largely a-theoretical enterprise (Keleher et al., 2007). And as we found in the health promotion policy development and analysis literature, even when theories are applied they are often at odds with the more recent advances in the social and political science or being applied the wrong way (Breton and de Leeuw, forthcoming). We have profound concerns of a similar nature over the Gulbrandsson and Fossum article recently published in this journal (Gulbrandsson and Fossum, 2009). Praise is due to the attempt to apply a solid theory of the policy process to public health environments in Sweden. But there are two main problems with the study undertaken: (1) the lack of clear integration of the set of theories called upon by the authors to, it appears, supplement John Kingdon's multiple streams theory (Kingdon, 1984) and (2) the applicability of Kingdon's theory to policy-making at the local public health government level in Sweden. We will elaborate on the latter. The authors set out to evaluate whether the concepts of policy window and policy entrepreneur are applicable to the local public health arena. Although an interesting question, there is a more pressing one that needs to be answered first: Is Kingdon's theory relevant to the cases analysed in this paper? Kingdon built his theory upon extensive field work at the US federal government level. All cases investigated were about contentious public problems in the realms of transportation and health (i.e. health care services). The road to policy change in these policy domains was all but a smooth one. The number of people with a stake in the outcome of the policy debates was at times overwhelming, as were their diverging views on what the actual problems were and on the types of policy instruments (i.e. solutions) to address them. In most, if not all cases, there were stakeholders resisting every plan to significantly change the policies, seeing their interests or the one of their constituencies better served by the status quo. In fact, and beyond Kingdon's theoretical notions alone, the descriptions and analyses of policies in the political science literature entail conflicts, opposition, resistance and struggles (Sabatier, 2007). The study of policy development, not surprisingly, has some roots in studies of war and warfare (Lasswell, 1936). None of the cases analysed suggest that controversy existed, or significant debates took place prior to policy adoption. Were the 'policies' analysed merely functional components of broader institutional choices driving the Swedish policy 'world view' (Surel, 2000)? In this case, the 'policies' would only stand as mere non-contentious adjustments to already adopted policies; policies Health Promotion International, Vol. 25 No. 1 doi:10.1093/heapro/daq014 # The Author (2010). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: email@example.com


Coverage of positive Tuberculosis (TB) new case finding by health workers of TB program at Health Center level in Tasikmalaya city in the past three years had not satisfied (in year 2004 : 62%, in year 2005 : 30%, and in year 2006 : 62.5%). The program of TB eradication will not succeed without efforts of case finding and treatment.
Aim of this research was to identify factors related to health workers work performance of TB program concerning coverage of positive TB case finding in Tasikmalaya City.
This was observational research. Number of sample was 26 respondents who were all implementers of TB program and the laboratory officers at 13 Health Centers. Data were colletcted using a structured questionnaire and analyzed statistically using Rank-Spearman test.
Result of this research shows that most of the respondents have good knowledge (80.8 %), good training (57.7 %), good perception to job (73.1 %), good perception to reward (80.0 %), good perception to means (76.9 %), good motivation (80.8 %), good attitude (69.2 %), and good work performance (65.4 %). The factors that have significant relationship with health workers work performance in finding positive TB new case are knowledge (p value = 0.000), training (p value = 0.024), perception to job (p value = 0.002), perception to leadership (p value = 0.002), perception to means (p value = 0.004), and attitude (p value = 0.006).
To increase new case finding of positive TB, Tasikmalaya City Health Office should improve supervision for implements of TB program, involve health cadres, and form the Indonesia Tuberculosis Eradication Group. Beside that, the office should improve cooperation with other sectors especially that, the office should improve cooperation with other sectors especially private medical doctors and hospitals for recording and reporting of positive TB new case finding. Health Center should recruit the specific officer for implementing the TB program, improve promotion of TB program in community, make a group of TB care, and improve cooperation with health cadres, religion leaders, and community leaders in Tasimalaya City.

Key Words : Work Performance, New Case Finding, Tasikmalaya City
Bibliography : 54 (1966-2006)

Sumber Utama : www.mikm.undip.ac.id


Background and Aims: Different mechanisms have been developed for connecting abutment to implant. One of the most popular mechanisms is Tapered Integrated Screw (TIS), which is a Tapered Interference Fit (TIF) with a screw integrated at the bottom of that. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of TIS and effective factors in employing TIS during design and implementation processes using an analytic method. Materials and Methods: Relevant equations were developed to predict tightening and loosening torques, contact pressure and preloads with and without bone tissue in this analysis. The efficiency is defined as the ratio of the loosening torque to the tightening torque. The effects of the change in elastic modulus and thickness of the bone on operation of this mechanism were investigated. Results: In this study, 14 independent parameters such as taper angle, friction coefficient, abutment and implant geometry that are effective on performance of TIS mechanism were presented. The role of some factors was shown in the performance of ITI implant using sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: It was shown that friction coefficient, contact length, and implant radius play major roles on tightening and loosening torques and efficiency of the mechanism. Furthermore, the results revealed that the change in the elastic modulus and thickness of the bone influenced the efficiency of the mechanism less than 15%.


Electrochemical hydrogen adsorption and desorption, and the state of adsorbed hydrogen (*H) on metal surfaces are of fundamental interest as well as practical importance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and electrochemical hydrogenation reactions including CO2 and CO electroreduction. Here, we report a previously undiscovered phenomenon whereby *H desorbs as H2 during an anodic potential sweep at potentials anodic of (more positive than) the equilibrium potential of U0(H2/H+), hence at potentials where hydrogen desorption would be expected as H+. Using electrochemistry – online mass spectrometry, we observe, quantify, and characterize the phenomenon on two different materials in two different environments – Ru(0001) in acid and polycrystalline Cu in alkaline. For both Ru and Cu, the anodic H2 formation seems to coincide with *OH adsorption, which would be consistent with a displacement mechanism. We propose that a high barrier for the Volmer step causes some of the displaced *H to desorb as H2 (Tafel step) rather than the thermodynamically more favorable desorption as H+ (Volmer step).