The main purpose that should be put in the first place on residential constructions in the rural areas is how to guide the consumers to build residential buildings that are energy effective, comfortable, cost effective, and with construction techniques that are appropriate for the local conditions. Before investigating residential buildings that are suitable for local conditions, we have to discover the local economic status and their living habit in depth. This article puts emphasis on to survey the relationship between dwelling habits and energy consumption in the rural areas, also, space heating and cooling method, the use of solar energy, marsh gas and any other renewable sources of energy, as well as the thermal environment of residential buildings are investigated and analyzed. we conclude that, in the rim of Xi'an city, most of the fuel sources for space heating in winter used in the rural areas are fireweed and cornstock. Most of the energy sources are crops waste materials that are not environmental friendly, thus, it's necessary to popularize the use of solar energy and marsh gas.


PURPOSE
Standard therapies for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are associated with an increased risk of developing treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia (tMDS/AML). However, there is considerable debate over the incidence or risk of tMDS/AML in NHL patients treated with any particular modality and the factors that contribute to malignant transformation.

DESIGN
Conclusions were based on thorough analysis of data reported in the peer-reviewed literature and careful examination of the statistical methodology and methods for identifying cases of tMDS/AML. Unless noted, data are reported only for NHL patients, excluding Hodgkin's disease patients.

RESULTS
Despite differences in methods used to identify cases and to estimate the cumulative incidence over time (actuarial v cumulative calculations), up to 10% of NHL patients treated with either conventional-dose chemotherapy or high-dose therapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation may develop tMDS/AML within 10 years of primary therapy. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the actuarial incidence, which are based on censoring of patients who died without developing tMDS/AML, can lead to artificially high estimates with large confidence intervals at later time points. Although there is much debate about the cause(s) of tMDS/AML, there is compelling evidence that alkylating agents, certain other leukemogenic agents, and total-body irradiation (TBI) cause chromosomal damage that can lead to tMDS/AML.

CONCLUSION
Limiting exposure to alkylating agents and eliminating TBI from transplantation conditioning regimens may reduce the relative risk of tMDS/AML.


Abstract Objectives. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) treatment is effective among long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients at a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Previous studies show that the international guidelines are not always followed, and that risk stratification may be based on genotype rather than individual risk profile. We analysed data from the Swedish ICD & Pacemaker Registry and medical records to examine how international guidelines were followed with regards to phenotype and genotype. Methods and results. ICD treatment was used in 150 Swedish LQTS patients from 1989–2013. The annual number of implantations increased over the study period. A total of 109 patients were included in the analysis. Most patients (91%) were symptomatic before the implantation. Seventy percent of patients who received ICD treatment met the 2006 Class I or Class IIa recommendations for LQTS treatment. Thirty-one percent of the LQT3 patients received ICD treatment despite being asymptomatic. Among LQT1 patients, 45% received ICD treatment after syncope despite beta-blockers. Conclusions. Thirty percent of Swedish LQTS patients with ICD received the treatment without a strong indication based on international guidelines. LQT3 patients were over-represented among asymptomatic patients. Many LQT1 patients received ICD despite the known effect of beta-blockers in this group.


To determine whether more rangeland weeds could be susceptible to low-volume highconcentration herbicide applications (e.g., splatter guns), trials were initiated on gamba
grass (Andropogon gayanus), rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora), prickly acacia
(Vachellia nilotica), and Chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana). For gamba grass, a rate
response trial (0, 9, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54 g a.i./L of mixture) of glyphosate has shown that
100% mortality can be achieved at rates ≥ 36 g a.i./L of mixture. A rubber vine trial is
comparing the effect of timing of applications (between December and May) of two
herbicides. Six months after treatment (MAT), Grazon™ Extra
(triclopyr/picloram/aminopyralid) recorded the highest (i.e. December application) but most
variable efficacy (0-80%) compared to 40-70% for Brush-off® (metsulfuron-methyl). The
optimum way to spray plants using Hotshot™ (aminopyralid/fluroxypyr) is being
investigated in a prickly acacia trial. Preliminary results, six MAT suggest that more severe
damage occurs if the amount applied is calculated on the basis of the whole surface area
of plants (i.e. both sides), but spraying from one side appears to be sufficient. For Chinee
apple, a screening trial of five herbicides and two rates is showing that Brush-off®
(metsulfuron-methyl) and Stinger™ (aminopyralid/metsulfuron-methyl) are the best
performing herbicides, but only on smaller plants (< 2 m high) and at the highest applied
rates 12 MAT. While promising, the variability in results indicates that many factors may
affect efficacy, including the health, size and density of plants, herbicide choice and
mixture/application rate, presence/absence of biological control agents and climatic
conditions.


Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) plays an important role in the metabolic and immunological aspects of tumors. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the alteration of tumor microenvironment influences recurrence and metastasis. We extracted G6PD-related data from public databases of HCC tissues and used a bioinformatics approach to explore the correlation between G6PD expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of immune cell infiltration in HCC.Methods: We extract G6PD expression information from TCGA and GEO databases in liver cancer tissues and normal tissues, validated by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between G6PD expression and clinical features is analyzed, and the clinical significance of G6PD in liver cancer is assessed by Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression and prognostic line graph models. Functional enrichment analysis is performed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, GO/KEGG, GSEA and G6PD-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). TIMER and ssGSEA packages are used to assess the correlation between expression and the level of immune cell infiltration.Results: Our results show that G6PD expression is significantly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues (P < 0.001). G6PD expression is associated with histological grade, pathological stage, T-stage, vascular infiltration and AFP level (P < 0.05); HCC patients in the low G6PD expression group had longer overall survival and better prognosis compared with the high G6PD expression group (P < 0.05). The level of G6PD expression also affects the levels of macrophages, unactivated dendritic cells, B cells, and follicular helper T cells in the tumor microenvironment.Conclusion: High expression of G6PD is a potential biomarker for poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and G6PD may be a target for immunotherapy of HCC.


Background Medicines reconciliation in intensive care units (ICU) is essential in preventing medicines errors. Medicines reconciliation errors have been found to occur mainly in the transition of care. Purpose To develop and evaluate a medicines reconciliation programme in critically ill patients. Materials and Methods Prospective study. Discrepancies between chronic treatment and treatment prescribed by the hospital physician in patients admitted to the ICU were analysed. Medicines histories were obtained from the medical history and patient interview. If discrepancies were found, the ICU physician was contacted. Results A total of 50 patients were studied (mean age 62.7 years, SD 13.2). 60% of patients showed at least one reconciliation error. The average number of drugs involved in reconciliation errors was 1.8 (SD 1.2) per patient. A total of 54 (17%) drugs discrepancies were found. The most common error was omission of a regularly used medicine (74%), followed by discrepancies in the frequency (9%), incorrect drug (9%) and incorrect dose (8%). Antihypertensive drugs represented 37% of all discrepancies. Pharmacists made interventions in 98% of discrepancies. Most pharmacist interventions consisted of the addition of an omitted drug (66%) and dosage adjustment (9.4%). 81% of recommended interventions were accepted by ICU physicians. Most rejected interventions were due to the patient's clinical status (70%). Conclusions Critically ill patients showed a high incidence of medicines reconciliation errors. Most reconciliation errors consisted of omissions of chronic medicines and involved antihypertensive drugs. 81% of pharmacist interventions were accepted. Medicines reconciliation could reduce medicines errors in critically ill patients and should be incorporated into the daily routine of the pharmacist responsible for the unit. No conflict of interest.


This book contains the national reports and a comparative synthesis regarding the employment privacy law in the European Union. It reflects the background research that has been undertaken to prepare a European study conducted with the support of the European Commission, DG Employment, and Social Affairs. The main purpose of this research has been to undertake a comparative study in the European Union on the issue of the protection of workers' personal data, more in particular concerning the case of surveillance and monitoring. The study has focused on the situation in the various Member States of the European Union and has aimed to focus on the extent of the Member State laws and guidelines in this area, on whether such laws or existing guidelines adequately protect the worker, and on suggestions or recommendations or appropriate guidelines that would ensure suitable protection for the worker in relation to his or her monitoring and surveillance by the employer. The research has been undertaken under the supervision of the editor with the cooperation of the contributors who are all specialists in the field of employment privacy. Each expert has prepared a country study regarding the situation in the relevant Member State. The national research activities have resulted in a general discussion at a closed expert meeting on 4 and 5 October 2001, organised at the Law Faculty of the University of Leuven (Belgium). During this seminar, country surveys have been further explained and discussed, and policy options or suggestions have been looked upon in the examined field of study. The comparative overview departs from the horizontal approach of comparativism. This means that it integrates all relevant information regarding Member States horizontally, throughout the general theme and its appropriate subthemes.


Progress of Ferrous Nano-Metal Project is introduced in the present paper. In the project, maximum use of copper clusters and precipitates is pursued for achieving better strength-ductility balance than that of conventional high-tensile strength steels. Fundamental aspect of clustering and precipitation of Cu in Fe-Cu alloys was studied using Optical Tomographic Atom-Probe (OTAP). It was found that Cu precipitation during aging was enhanced by plastic deformation. The observed Cu precipitation behavior was well related to the age-hardening behavior, that is, aging started at lower temperature and maximum hardness was higher for plastically deformed and aged ferrite. Aging behavior and associated tensile properties were further examined for Fe-C-Mn-Cu martensitic steel. Higher value of tensile strength times elongation was achieved in FeC-Mn-Cu steel than Fe-C-Mn steel. Finally, effect of Cu precipitation on grain-refinement of ferrite was studied for Fe-C-Mn-Cu steel. Ferrite grain smaller than 1 mm was obtained in both processes of strain-assisted ferrite transformation from heavily deformed austenite and dynamic recrystallization of heavily deformed ferrite. Ferrite grain size was found to decrease by addition of Cu at the both processes. It was suggested that a simple additivity rule does not hold in terms of the strengthening by grain-refinement and that by precipitation, especially at grain-size range less than 1 mm.


Primary healthcare as a decentralized medical service at the community area in Nigeria is bedeviled with challenges. In other words, this study takes a critical look at the challenges militating against primary health care delivery at the local levels in Nigeria regarding Enugu East local government of Enugu state. The study examines the efforts and challenges of Enugu East local government in improving the health care service in Enugu East rural communities. About the methodology of this study, it adopted a survey design with reference to primary source (structured questionnaire) as an instrument of data collection, the quantitative liket scale of data analysis and Easton's political system framework for empirical analysis. This study further revealed that primary health care delivery is fraught with challenges (such as inadequate funding, drugs, quality service) which stem from the abysmal failures of Enugu East local government. This work, therefore, recommends measures such as improved budgetary allocation, strengthening the supply chain of drugs, enhanced clinical service as conditions imperative for improved health care service in Enugu East rural communities.


According to impedance mismatch and wave conversion in non-homogeneous structure, the characteristics of vibration wave propagation from typical hull link structures are analyzed through wave theory. Furthermore, elastic interlayer are introduced into L-typed hull structure with blocking mass, the main factor of hull structure-borne sound can be reduced by structuring multi impedance mismatch. On this basis, the structure acousitic design of power cabin with integrated wave impeding technique is verified through numerical calculation. The results show that combination of finite scale of polyurethane elastic interlayer with rigid vibration isolation can enhance the vibration isolation performance and expand isolation frequency band, which has a high cost-effective ratio.


Background: Syphilis testing may be a useful strategy to provide data for implementation of Sexually transmitted disease (STD) control programme. Serological surveys continue to be the best source of information on the prevalence of syphilis.  Aims: The aim of study was to estimate the seroprevalence and to determine diagnostic performance of treponemal TPHA (Treponemapallidum hemagglutination assay) and nontreponemal RPR (Rapid plasma regain) test for syphilis. Materials and Methods: To assess the prevalence rate Total 13115 serum samples of patients with clinically suspected syphilis infection and antenatal screening were analyzed by using either RPR test or by TPHA in tertiary care hospital, western India during time periods of March 2014 to April 2015. To assess the reactivity of RPR test in comparison with TPHA test, serum samples from 148 patients with high clinical suspection of syphilis infection were investigated by both above mentioned methods.  Results: Among tested 13115 serum samples of patients, overall seroprevalence was 0.930% (13115/122). Highest seroprevalence (6.21%) was seen in STD clinic attendees. Among 148 samples which were tested by both assays, 98 were truly reactive by TPHA while 92 were by RPR. Thus TPHA was found to be more sensitive and specific while comparing the results with RPR test. Conclusion: Serological surveys need to be continuously done to avoid the adverse consequences from missed diagnosis. TPHA should be performed along with RPR test as no single serological test can act as the marker of acute infection. Keywords: Rapid plasma reagin test, Syphilis, Seroprevalence, Treponemapallidum hemagglutination assay


Ethane-1,2-sultam has a pKa of 12.12 ± 0.06 at 30 C and its rate of alkaline hydrolysis shows a pH-dependence reflecting this so that the observed pseudo first-order rate constant at pHs above the pKa are pH independent. There is no evidence of neighbouring group participation in the hydrolysis of either N-α-carboxybenzylethane-1,2-sultam or N-(hydroxyaminocarbonylmethyl)-2-benzylethane-1,2-sultam. Oxyanions, but not amines or thiols, react with N-benzoylethane-1,2-sultam in water by a nucleophilic ring opening reaction confirmed by product analysis and kinetic solvent isotope effects. A Bronsted plot for this reaction has two distinct correlations with βnuc = 0.52 and 0.65 for weak and strong bases, respectively, although a statistically corrected plot may indicate a single correlation.


Plaque erosion, one of the primary causes for coronary thrombosis, is responsible for about one third of the patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [1]. Histological studies characterized the eroded plaque as a plaque with following morphological features: 1) plaque intima having direct contact with intraluminal thrombus due to the absence of endothelium or endothelial injury; 2) without rupture in the fibrous cap; 3) abundance of proteoglycans and smooth muscle cells on the luminal surface under the thrombus [2]. These characteristics has been applied in in vivo diagnosis of plaque erosion using  optical coherence tomography (OCT) image technology and specific treatment strategy has also been developed for plaque erosion related ACS [3]. However, The pathogenesis mechanisms that cause plaque erosion are not fully understood [2]. It is postulated that plaque erosion has close association with biomechanical conditions in the coronary vessel [2]. In this work, a patient-specific OCT-based modeling approach was develop 3D fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models to investigate the biomechanical conditions in eroded plaque and investigate the impact of erosion-induced inflammation on plaque stress/strain conditions.
Patient-specific OCT data of eroded coronary plaque were acquired from one male patient (age: 64) with frequency-domain OCT C7XR system and the Dragon Fly catheter (Lightlab Imaging/St. Jude Medical). Erosion sites were identified as the luminal surface having direct contact with intraluminal thrombus on the OCT images. Biplane X-ray angiographic data (Allura Xper FD10 System, Philips, Bothel, WA)  were also acquired with the information of the location of the coronary artery stenosis and vessel curvature. OCT images were segmented manually with external elastic membrane (EEM) contour assumed to have positive remodeling ratio 1.1 for this plaque. The trailing edge of the lipid-rich necrotic core (lipid) was also assumed since it cannot be seen on the OCT images.  Co-registration of OCT and angiographic data were performed to reconstruct the 3D coronary geometry. Our FSI modeling procedures with pre-shrink–stretch process and anisotropic material properties were previously developed. Blood flow was assumed to be laminar, Newtonian and incompressible, with arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations used as the governing equations. The governing equations of the structure models included equations of motion, the nonlinear Cauchy–Green strain–displacement relation and Mooney–Rivlin material properties. To reflect tissue weakening caused by erosion-induced inflammation, the material stiffness of plaque intima at the erosion site was adjust to one tenth of un-eroded fibrous plaque tissue [2]. Three FSI models were constructed to investigate the impacts of erosion-induced inflammation and lipid component on plaque stress/strain conditions: M1, without erosion (this means plaque intima at the erosion sites were not softened)  and without inclusion of lipid component; M2, with erosion but no lipid component; M3, with erosion and inclusion of lipid component. Pulsating pressure conditions were prescribed at the inlet and outlet of the vessel segment. Fluid–structure interaction boundary conditions including force balance and no-slip conditions were imposed to the fluid–structure interface between blood flow and vessel lumen surface. Results for plaque wall stress/strain (PWS/PWSn) and flow wall shear stress (WSS) from the FSI models corresponding to peak blood pressure were extracted for analysis.
Table 1 summarizes the average values of the biomechanical factors both at erosion sites and fibrous cap overlaying lipid component for 3 models. By comparing M1 and M2 at the erosion sites, Mean PWS value decreases from 49.98 kPa to 18.83 kPa (62.32% decrease) while Mean PWSn value increases from 0.1231 to 0.1384 (12% increase) as the material stiffness becomes 10 times soft. At the fibrous cap, M3 (with inclusion of lipid) will elevates mean PWS and PWSn values by 48.59% and 16.09%, respectively. The impacts of erosion and lipid on flow shear stress were limited (<2%).
Table 1: Average values of three biomechanical factors over erosion sites and fibrous cap overlaying lipid core.

Average values of biomechanical factors over Erosion sites for 3 Models

M1

M2

M3

Mean PWS (kPa)

49.9759

18.8318

18.8298

Mean PWSn

0.1231

0.1384

0.1384

Mean WSS (dyn/cm2)

101.0637

99.9383

99.4303

Average values of biomechanical factors over fibrous cap overlaying lipid for 3 Models

M1

M2

M3

Mean PWS (kPa)

68.3209

68.3199

101.5173

Mean PWSn

0.0870

0.0870

0.1010

Mean WSS (dyn/cm2)

18.5260

18.4634

18.1910

To conclude, erosion-induced inflammation on blood vessel would lead to lower stress distribution but larger strain distribution, while lipid component would elevate both stress and strain conditions. This shows the influence of erosion and lipid component has impacts on stress/strain calculations which are closely related to plaque assessment.


Background: The electronic Personal Health (ePHR) Record is a health information system for newly arriving migrants that has been implemented in seven European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Slovenia). This is a cross-sectional study of all migrants who attended as part of the health assessment programme established in the reception centres between 2016 and 2019 that provides a comprehensive overview of illness and health in the migrant cohort.

Methods: Data were collected on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings and diagnostics performed, including medical records.  We classified all diseases using pre-specified algorithms according to information on prespecified variables from the ePHR questionnaire, ICD-10 codes, positive laboratory findings that identified a health condition or review of medical records using natural language processing. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios or adjusted proportions were estimated using logistic regression modelling.

Results: The data set contained a total number of 19,564 clinical episodes in 14,440 individuals, recorded between 5 January 2016 to 4 October 2019.  Most individuals (75%) were refugees or asylum seekers (22%) from 92 different nationalities.  In total 811 (5.6%) individuals presented with cardiovascular disease and 1083 (8·2%) presented with a neurological condition. Having Diabetes Mellitus (OR 4, [95%CI 2·4-6·6], p<0.001), and neurological disorders (3·6, [95%CI 2·5-5·2], p<0.001) being older (OR 1·07 [95% CI 1·06-1·08]; p<0·001) and being male (OR 0·7, [95% CI 0·5-0·9]; p<0·001) was associated with cardiovascular disorders in the multivariable logistic regression model.  Mental health problems were reported in 627 (4·4%) and were associated with older ages. There were 2,531 episodes of infectious diseases reported during the study period; 1283, (47·9%) pharyngo-tonsillitis, 529 (19·8%) scabies, 158 (6·2%) viral hepatitis and 156 (6·1%) lower respiratory infections.

Conclusions: We demonstrated that infectious diseases were common, particularly among children, with a significant minority having a range of chronic diseases. Our findings show an important and less known disease burden, making a strong case for the improvement of accuracy and quality of data to improve the efficiency of the health care delivery and the monitoring and surveillance of migrant health needs.

Funding: This work has been supported by a grant from the European Commission (N. 20175101).\

Conflict of Interest: All authors declare no competing interest.

Ethical Approval: Internal IOM approval was granted, no external approval was
needed, as this study is a service evaluation of routine systems and care. The reporting of this study conforms to the STROBE statement


Shear banding is widely observed in natural fault zones as well as in laboratory experiments on granular materials. Understanding the dynamics of strain localization under different loading conditions is essential for quantifying strength evolution of fault gouge and energy partitioning during earthquakes and characterizing rheological transitions and fault zone structure changes. To that end, we develop a physics-based continuum model for strain localization in sheared granular materials. The grain-scale dynamics is described by the shear transformation zone (STZ) theory, a nonequilibrium statistical thermodynamic framework for viscoplastic deformation in amorphous materials. Using a finite strain computational framework, we investigate the initiation and growth of complex shear bands under a variety of loading conditions and identify implications for strength evolution and the ductile to brittle transition. Our numerical results show similar localization patterns to field and laboratory observations and suggest that shear zones show more ductile response at higher confining pressures, lower dilatancy, and loose initial conditions. Lower pressures, higher dilatancy, and dense initial conditions favor a brittle response and larger strength drops. These findings shed light on a range of mechanisms for strength evolution in dry sheared granular materials and provide a critical input to physics-based multiscale models of fault zone instabilities.


Background: Several rodent models are available to study obesity and obesity associated diabetic problems. We developed an obese mutant rat model viz., WNIN/GR-Ob from our existing WNIN (Inbred Wistar) stock of rats, which exhibit hyperglycemia on challenge with oral glucose. Since such impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a fore runner to frank diabetes status, we carried out a study to challenge the animals with different purified carbohydrate sources (glucose, sucrose, starch) and see the outcome. Methods: 48 obese rats of both genders and equal number of lean littermates of 35 days of age were taken for the study and were divided in to four groups, A, B, C, and D. A group received purified glucose based diet, B, received purified sucrose, C, received purified starch and the D, served as the control, receiving standard laboratory rat chow developed at our centre, containing roasted bengal gram as the source of carbohydrate. All diets were isocaloric in nature and contained 56% carbohydrate in principle. Animals were fed for 8 weeks and parameters like food intake, body weights, and plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured in experimental and control rats at initial, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Results: As expected, food intake, body weight and feed efficiency ratio were significantly higher in obese rats of all groups as compared to their lean littermate controls and also higher in stock diet, compared to purified diets. Both lean and obese animals showed higher values of glucose and insulin on purified diets compared to control diet. But amongst lean and obese animals, the latter showed sexual dimorphism in their response, the situation being worse in starch fed (C) group. Amongst the obese animals, the males seem to suffer more, compared to females, in starch fed group, followed by glucose and sucrose fed in that order. Conclusions: WNIN/ GR-Ob rats thus seem to be a useful animal model, vulnerable to diet manipulations, especially to carbohydrates. This has the potential to be used as a diabetic model, more akin to human systems, where diet is the major trigger for precipitating diabetes.


The objective of the paper is to contribute to the understanding of the knowledge economy in Portugal, presenting data and revealing specific characteristics of the Portuguese business R&D, using a framework of available tools such as international comparisons, technology intensity and sectors of the economy. This study concludes that Portuguese business R&D expenditures reveals strong elements of economic terciarization, and an important presence of foreign direct investment in knowledge intensive industries. Furthermore, the study revealed less significant determinants such as the existence of skill labour in pharmaceutical industries and the role of the state in some sectors (wealth and rail transportation).


Microstructured silicon doped with selenium beyond the equilibrium solid solubility limit was formed by picosecond pulsed laser mixing of a 20‐nm Se film with the underlying p‐Si wafer. The effects of pulse fluence varying from 0.40 to 0.72 J cm−2 on the structural and electronic properties of this material were investigated. It was found that the surface roughness in the laser‐irradiated regions increases with increasing pulse fluence, and a phase transition from the crystalline to the amorphous occurs at a pulse fluence of 0.72 J cm−2. Silicon microstructures were doped with selenium of the order of 1018 cm−3 within a depth of 100 nm below the surface, and n+p junctions were formed between the Se‐doped layers and the silicon substrates. The current–voltage as well as spectral response characteristics of the photodiodes fabricated from microstructured silicon were also analyzed and discussed. The leakage currents and responsivities of these photodiodes strongly depend on the pulse fluence, presumably due to the effects of picosecond laser modification on the crystal structure and electronic structure of the surface Se‐doped layers.


Radioactive waste systems and structures (RWSS) are safety-critical facilities in need of monitoring over prolonged periods of time. Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an emerging technology that aims at monitoring the state of a structure through the use of networks of permanently mounted sensors. SHM technologies have been developed primarily within the aerospace and civil engineering communities. This paper addresses the issue of transitioning the SHM concept to the monitoring of RWSS and evaluates the opportunities and challenges associated with this process. Guided wave SHM technologies utilizing structurally-mounted piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) have a wide range of applications based on both propagating-wave and standing-wave methodologies. Hence, opportunities exist for transitioning these SHM technologies into RWSS monitoring. However, there exist certain special operational conditions specific to RWSS such as: radiation field, caustic environments, marine environments, and chemical, mechanical and thermal stressors. In order to address the high discharge of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and the limited space in the storage pools the U.S. the Department of Energy (DOE) has adopted a "Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste" (January 2013). This strategy endorses the key principles that underpin the Blue Ribbon Commission's on America's Nuclear Future recommendations to develop a sustainable program for deploying an integrated system capable of transporting, storing, and disposing of UNF and high-level radioactive waste from civilian nuclear power generation, defense, national security, and other activities. This will require research to develop monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis tools that can aid to establish a strong technical basis for extended storage and transportation of UNF. Monitoring of such structures is critical for assuring the safety and security of the nation's spent nuclear fuel until a national policy for closure of the nuclear fuel cycle is defined and implemented. In addition, such tools can provide invaluable and timely information for verification of the predicted mechanical performance of RWSS (e.g. concrete or steel barriers) during off-normal occurrence and accident events such as the tsunami and earthquake event that affected Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The ability to verify the conditions, health, and degradation behavior of RWSS over time by applying nondestructive testing (NDT) as well as development of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) tools for new degradation processes will become challenging. The paper discusses some of the challenges associated to verification and diagnosis for RWSS and identifies SHM technologies which are more readily available for transitioning into RWSS applications. Fundamental research objectives that should be considered for the transition of SHM technologies (e.g., radiation hardened piezoelectric materials) for RWSS applications are discussed. The paper ends with summary, conclusions, and suggestions for further work.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Normal mode and total field analysis techniques for calculating the fields generated by a polarization source are discussed. The amplitudes of the normal modes are evaluated using a Green's-function approach and the results are compared to a previous treatment by Yariv. The generated fields are also calculated by solving the polarization driven wave equation subject to the usual electromagnetic boundary conditions at all of the pertinent interfaces. It is shown that these two approaches yield equivalent results for a simple case, and their relative merits for solving problems in different regions of a waveguide are discussed.


Firms in more concentrated industries earn lower returns, even after controlling for size, book-to-market, momentum, and other return determinants. Explanations based on chance, measurement error, capital structure, and persistent in-sample cash flow shocks do not explain this finding. Drawing on work in industrial organization, we posit that either barriers to entry in highly concentrated industries insulate firms from undiversifiable distress risk, or firms in highly concentrated industries are less risky because they engage in less innovation, and thereby command lower expected returns. Additional time-series tests support these risk-based interpretations. Copyright 2006 by The American Finance Association.


The present paper addresses several topics in regard to the sustainable design and use of concrete and the role of nanotechnology. First, major features concerning the sustainable aspects of the material concrete are summarized. Then the major constituent, from an environmental point of view, cement is discussed in detail, particularly the hydration and application of slag cement. The intelligent combining of mineral oxides, which are found in clinker, slag, fly ashes etc., is designated as mineral oxide engineering. It results among others in environmentally friendly binders, recipes for soil stabilization (new building products), and impermeable/durable concretes. Subsequently, the mix design of concrete is treated, whereby distinction is made between self-compacting concrete and earth-moist concrete. By combining the particle sizes of all components, so including the powders (cement, fillers), optimum mixes in regard to workability/compactability and hardened state properties are obtained. This so-called particle size engineering results in concretes that meet all technical requirements, but that also make optimum use of the cement it is containing. This paper concludes with summarizing the opportunities and challenges involved with the introduction of both approaches, viz. mineral oxide engineering and particle size engineering, in the construction industry.


Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to deduce the common origin of trace contaminants in a slightly contaminated, strongly seasonal river of low-average discharge, aiming to ascertain the type of the pollution. Splitting of data into categories according to specific conductance was essential to reach conclusions. Dry-season data allowed the pinpointing of polluting sites by means of the biplots resulting from the representation of the scores on the components. Concentrations corresponding to the wet seasons yielded no useful results probably due to the high percentage of data below detection limits for 2 of the 6 variables. The Arenales River in North-West Argentina was monitored by means of 19 sampling campaigns between 2003 and 2005 comprising two hydrological cycles, at seven locations along a 25 km section of the river course across the city of Salta. Pollution of the river was not severe, overall mean values in μg/l being: As 1.2; B 490; Cu 4; Fe 92; Pb 13; Zn 83. Simple correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation between these elements. The high positive loadings of variables B and As concentrations on the first principal component and the biplots indicate that their main common point sources are boron mineral deposits still existing in the urban area. Interpretation of the biplots shows that Cu, Fe and Zn contamination also originated at point sources, the contribution of the sewage treatment plant being negligible. Keywords: trace element contamination, water quality, principal component analysis, Arenales River, Salta, Argentina


The multiyear, root zone soil moisture redistribution characteristics in a semiarid rangeland in southeastern Arizona were evaluated to determine the magnitude and variability of deep‐profile, wintertime soil moisture recharge. Intermittent observations from 1990 to 1998 of average volumetric soil moisture under shrub and grass cover showed that significant recharge beyond 0.30 m principally occurs only in the wintertime when the vegetation is senescent and does not use the infiltrating water. Using the physically based, variably saturated flow model HYDRUS, wintertime observations were modeled to determine the recharge of soil moisture at different depth intervals in the vadose zone. Two approaches were carried out to estimate the soil model parameters. The first was to use basic soils data from detailed profile descriptions in conjunction with pedotransfer functions. The second parameter estimation strategy was to use an automatic parameter search algorithm to find the optimal soil parameters that minimize the error between the model‐computed volumetric water content and observations. Automatic calibration of the model was performed using the shuffled complex evolution algorithm (SCE‐UA), and it proved possible to satisfactorily describe the vadose zone observations using a simplified description of the soil profile with optimal model parameters. Simulations with the optimized model indicate that significant recharge of vadose zone does occur well beyond 0.30 m in winter but that such recharge is highly variable from year to year and appears correlated with El Niño episodes. This water could serve as a source of plant water for deeper‐rooted plants that are active during the subsequent spring season, thereby exploiting a niche that the more abundant, shallower‐rooted plants that are active during the summer rainy season do not. However, the year‐to‐year variability of the winter precipitation and consequent deep soil moisture recharge indicates that the deeper‐rooted vegetation in this region must retain the ability to obtain moisture from the near surface in order to meet its water demands if necessary.


Customers often face multiple choices when purchasing a product or service. After making a choice, they sometimes have to wait for a while before receiving their purchased item due to the firm's limited capacity<br>to process orders. This paper incorporates the anticipated wait for receiving purchased products or services into customers' choice behavior. The resulting choice model shares the same spirit of the rational expectation equilibrium, and captures the effects of negative externality caused by the anticipated wait, because all orders may be processed by a common facility. Our analysis shows that the anticipated wait may change the substitution patterns dramatically. We further investigate the effects of the anticipated wait on the decisions of capacity investment, product pricing and assortment planning. We establish the one-to-one mapping between the price vector and the choice probability vector, and show that the equivalent profit function of the choice probabilities is explicitly defined and more tractable. We characterize the multi-product price optimization problem under the MNL model with waiting. In addition to price competition, we also study the Cournot competition, in which the decision is the choice probability for each firm, and show that there exists a Nash equilibrium. For the assortment optimization, we identify the conditions under which the optimality of the revenue-ordered assortment still holds. Because the assortment problem with waiting is generally NP-hard, we develop efficient approximations with performance guarantee and also provide an easy-to-compute tight upper bound. The new model has the potential to increase prediction accuracy for customers' choice behavior especially when customers faced with multiple choices are aware of the possible waiting for their purchased products. Failure to take into account the effects of the anticipated wait in customers' purchase behavior may result in substantial losses to firms.


Two three-layer artificial neural network (ANN) models were respectively developed to predict biogas and methane production rates in a pilot-scale mesophilic up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating molasses wastewater. Eight process-related variables such as volumetric organic loading rate (OLR), influent and effluent pH, operating temperature, influent and effluent alkalinity, effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were selected for the implementation of an artificial intelligence-based approach. A tangent sigmoid transfer function (tansig) at the hidden layer and a linear transfer function (purelin) at the output layer were conducted for the proposed ANN models. Several benchmark comparisons were conducted to obtain an optimal algorithm for training the network. After backpropagation training combined with principal component analysis (PCA), the scaled conjugate gradient algorithm (trainscg) was found as the best of the 11 training algorithms. The number of neurons in the hidden layer was optimized as nine and 12 with the minimum mean squared errors (MSE) of 0.06238 and 0.06488, respectively, for the estimation of biogas and methane production rates. ANN-predicted results were also compared to the outputs of two non-linear regression models by means of several statistical indicators, such as determination coefficient (R2), unsystematic root mean-square error (RMSEU), index of agreement (IA), and fractional variance (FV). Computational results clearly demonstrated that, compared to the conventional multiple regression-based methodology, the proposed ANN-based models produced smaller deviations and exhibited superior predictive accuracy with satisfactory determination coefficients of about 0.935 and 0.924, respectively, for the forecasts of biogas and methane production rates.


This paper presents positron lifetime results which give information on the nature of vacancy defects induced by electron irradiation in bulk nitrogen doped (nD-nA= 2.3x1017 cm-3) Cree 6H-SiC. The electron irradiations have been performed at different energies and with different fluences from 51017 e-cm-2 to 31018 e-cm-2. Positron lifetime have been measured with a 22NaCl source as a function of temperature between 15 and 300 K. The lifetime spectra were analyzed as sums of two exponential lifetime components i weighted by the intensities Ii, convoluted with the resolution function. From the temperature dependence of the lifetime spectra we can infer that several vacancy defects exist in the electron irradiated n-type 6H-SiC. The nature of detected vacancy defects depends on the electron energy.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

It has been suggested that NF-κB triggers both the onset and resolution of inflammation by governing the expression of genes essential in activating malignancy-promoting signaling pathways. Members of the NF-κB activation pathway include tumor necrosis factor (TNF), several interleukins (IL), TNF receptor associated factors (TRAFs), and toll-like receptors (TLR). These molecules are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and response to proinflammatory cytokines and mediating the production of cytokines necessary for the development of effective immunity. Common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in TNF, IL, TRAF, TLR and the main units of NF-κB genes were assessed for the association with prostate cancer (PrCA) risk in a clinic-based study of Caucasian and African-American cases and controls. A total of 709 tagSNPs (with minor allele frequency > = 5% and r2>=0.8) in 54 genes were genotyped in 903 Caucasians (552 cases and 351 controls) and 174 African-Americans (74 cases and 100 controls) using a custom Illumina Infinium II ® assay. Logistic regression models were used to examine each tagSNP with PrCA (adjusting for age and family history of prostate cancer and using an additive model for the SNP). Empirical p-values were generated by permutation (using 10,000 replicates) to correct for multiple comparisons. Statistically significant associations were observed in Caucasians at the NFkBIL1 and IL1R1 genes. The strongest evidence for association came at a polymorphism in the promoter region of the NFkBIL1 gene (rs3219184) (OR = 0.51 [95% CI 0.35-0.74], p = 0.0005), and a polymorphism in the 3' flanking region of the IL1R1 gene (rs3917332) (OR = 1.60 [95% CI 1.23-2.09], p = 0.0005). We conclude that common variations in NFkBIL1 and IL1R1 might play important roles in PrCA susceptibility.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2771. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2771


This study was designed to determine the effects of pomegranate peel on various antioxidiants measurements in liver cirrhosis of rats induced by thioacetamide.Fifty-seven male rats aged 13–15 weeks were randomly divided into 15 categories containing 5 rats per category, and were treated with either TAA, PP, or PP plus TAA or Selenium plus TAA or administered with 0.9% physiological saline solution as a control. The hepatoprotective effect of herbs was evaluated by measuring levels of antioxidiant marker enzymes such as Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and measurement Malondialdehyde (MDA). The histological studies were also carried out to support the above parameters by using special stain Haemotoxlin & eosin and using immunofluorescent staining to examine the distribution of DDR2 in the liver. The study found that the supplementation of pomegranate peel significantly (p< 0.05) reduced the damaging effects on the liver by TAA. GSH, SOD increased in the treatment group, but serum MDA level was declined due to the hepatic injury induced. A comparative histopathological research of the liver between different groups demonstrated that pomegranate peel, drive to normal liver architecture suggesting they may use as a hepatoprotective alternative medication


Abstract The history of geological travels usually focuses on the study of individuals or groups of travellers, but it should also consider in detail some essential aspects of the meaning of geological travel, such as the beginnings of this particular kind of scientific travel, the emergence of a 'conscious' geological traveller, the concept of 'field' and fieldwork for a geologist and finally the first attempts to codify the style and the method of a geological travel. The aim of this paper is to look at possible answers to some of these questions by presenting a short outline, based on some significant examples in the historical development of a particular kind of scientific literature still little known and open to further investigation: the instructions for geological travellers, including writing by those people, generally scientists, who wanted to organize their experiences to instruct others on how to undertake geological observations methodically. From the early eighteenth century, these texts may be found within private diaries or official reports, in journals or periodicals, scholarly monographs or textbooks, and also as articles, pamphlets, booklets or even books on their own, especially in the late nineteenth century.


We propose GAN-Supervised Learning, a framework for learning discriminative models and their GAN-generated training data jointly end-to-end. We apply our framework to the dense visual alignment problem. Inspired by the classic Congealing method, our GAN gealing algorithm trains a Spatial Transformer to map random samples from a GAN trained on unaligned data to a common, jointly-learned target mode. We show results on eight datasets, all of which demonstrate our method successfully aligns complex data and discovers dense correspondences. GANgealing significantly outperforms past self-supervised correspondence algorithms and performs on-par with (and sometimes exceeds) state-of-the-art supervised correspondence algorithms on several datasets-without making use of any correspondence supervision or data augmentation and despite being trained exclusively on GAN-generated data. For precise correspondence, we improve upon state-of-the-art supervised methods by as much as 3 ×. We show applications of our method for augmented reality, image editing and automated pre-processing of image datasets for downstream GAN training.


This suburban hospital has succeeded in improving the quality of patient care while cutting costs for both personnel and equipment. The traditionally separate pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, and neurologic services have been combined into a single department. A key element in its success is the training of personnel in multiple job functions.


Multiple choice questions are a tool medical physicists encounter throughout their careers. They are a commonly used method of assessment during our early didactic training (graduate school, residency and board certification). They are used throughout our MOC process both in SAMs and online CE. And they are used for the MOC exam every 10 years. While we have significant training in answering these multiple choice questions, we rarely receive training in how to construct effective multiple choice questions. This is important too, as it is medical physicists who are creating the exams at academic institutions, for the AAPM SAMs and online CE as well as for the ABR exams (both initial and MOC). While there are rigorous scientific methods for evaluating the quality of questions in an exam that has been taken, creating good questions (stem) and multiple choice answers (distractors) requires skill and practice. This talk will cover some of the do's and don'ts for creating good multiple choice questions. Item analysis of answers to multiple choice questions can reveal a great deal about the quality of the questions. Questions can be measured in terms of their difficulty and ability to discriminate between examinees. The distractors themselves can be evaluated for their ability to discriminate as well. And finally the overall test can be evaluated for reliability. We will discuss some of the specifics of item analysis as well as provide guidelines for constructing good tests items.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand rules for writing a good stem 2. Understand rules for writing good distractors.


This collection of seven essays reviews vascular laboratory diagnosis, arteriography, thoracic outlet syndrome, venous and arterial occlusive disease, digital gangrene, and the vasculitides as they apply to upper-extremity vascular disease. Sumner details at extreme length the electronic technology that is available to aid in the laboratory diagnosis of upper-extremity occlusive and vasospastic conditions. Although of interest to the academician, it is a little tiresome for the practitioner. Gomes' chapter on arteriography and venography mixes clinical features with helpful angiograms, and Roos presents his extensive personal experience with thoracic outlet syndrome, discussing origin, diagnosis, and treatment. Three of the best chapters are Porter's on digital gangrene, Machleder's on arterial and venous obstruction, and that of Paulus and Kono on systemic vascular disorders. This volume includes a staggering 500-reference, 40-page bibliography. Machleder summarizes the current status of fibrinolytic therapy for occlusion in this era of invasive roentgenology, cardiology, and chemotherapy. The style


Purpose: To determine the functional properties of antigen- specific T cells that accumulate in lymph nodes following injection of antigen into the anterior chamber (AC). Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA)- specific, CD4 + transgenic T cell receptor (Tcr) T cells (KJ-126 + ) from DO11.10 mice were adoptively transferred into unirradiated syngeneic BALB/c mice who then received an injection of OVA in the AC or subcutaneously (SC). Three days later, KJ126 + T cells in draining and non-draining lymph nodes were analyzed for clonal expansion, activation, and cell-cycle status by flow cytometry. In addition, the cells' functional phenotype was assessed in vitro by proliferation assays and cytokine production by ELISA. Results: Tcr T cells localized exclusively to draining lymph nodes after injection of OVA into the AC (neck) and SC (neck, axilla, brachial). In both cases, the KJ-126 + T cells displayed evidence of in-vivo activation and proliferation. T cells from AC-injected donors when stimulated in vitro with OVA produced small amounts of IL-2, but no IFN-?, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, or TGFß. By contrast, T cells from SCinjected animals displayed a Th1-like phenotype (IL-2, IFN-?). The draining lymph nodes of mice that received systemic or intraocular administration of exogenous IL-12 at the time of the AC injection of OVA also contained KJ-126 + T cells that secreted IFN-? and IL-2. Conclusion: Antigen attracts antigen-specific T cells to lymph nodes that drain the injection site. Whereas responding T cells in nodes draining SC-injection sites differentiated into Th1-like cells, T cells in nodes draining AC injection failed to differentiated beyond the capacity to secrete IL-2 in response to antigen. Since the failure was reversed by exogenous IL-12, we propose that orderly differentiation of antigen-specific T cells down the Th1 pathway is aborted by the eye, because of a deficit in IL-12 production.


In this research project, we engage with the misconception that all people in the United States enjoy water security by examining the case of people experiencing homelessness in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. People who experience homelessness are disproportionately at risk of dehydration and heat-related illness as they spend significantly more time outdoors, and many have limited access to an adequate quantity of acceptable quality water. Our data were collected by using archival data, participant observation, surveys with people experiencing homelessness, focal follows with water distributors that serve homeless populations, phone and internet surveys with social service providers, and expert interviews with 14 diverse service providers. In this analysis, we focus on people living in three situations: (1) shelters, (2) encampments, and (3) with no roof. For those in the shelter category, the major problem is exposure to extreme heat and the financial barriers to coping with it. For those in encampments, the major problem is increasing physical and social isolation as a product of encampment raiding. For those with no roof, the major problem is inconsistent and uncertain access to water fountains and water trucks. We find that the sources of water vary across the economic sectors of the population and water sources become more unconventional the more socially marginalized a group is. Bottled water is a common source of water that plays a role as both a driver for and an inhibitor of water access. Individuals do not always have the means to purchase bottled water, yet it is also commonly shared throughout the community. We find that although the barriers to water acquisition vary, major coping strategies revolve around sharing. Finally, we find that there are a number of health impacts associated with water insecurity—coupled with extreme heat—that may lead to a cycle of homelessness or water insecurity.


The Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) conducts pioneering research into interconnectedness in order to promote global coherence, consciousness and health through heart-focused care (Institute of HeartMath, 2013). A global network of ultrasensitive magnetic field detectors are being installed strategically around the planet, one of which is established on a private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, which provides various local research opportunities. Southern African indigenous knowledge themes on interconnectedness are discussed in order to provide a relevant, local and conceptual grounding for the initiative. As this knowledge is invested with human spirituality, communality, mutuality and other local meaning, the presentation speaks of relationships. Although certain themes have been singled out for instructional purposes in this presentation, as local indigenous knowledge represents a coherent whole that is continuously changing. These themes should be considered from an integrative and transformational perspective.


Introduction Inflammatory bowel disease is classified into 2 main types; Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Differentiation can prove clinically challenging. Metabolomic profiling is an emerging science that is utilised for biomarker discovery. We aimed to use metabolomic profiling to differentiate between patients with CD, UC and healthy controls (HC). Method Serum and urine samples were collected from 40 UC patients, 43 CD patients, 1 patient with indeterminate colitis and 62 HCs. Gas chromatography (GC) and reverse phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph (RP-UHPLC) were employed as separation techniques of choice coupled with time-of-flight or orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) serving as detector, respectively. Chemometric and statistical analysis was carried out using partial least square models (cross-validated via bootstrapping). Classification was visualised with confusion matrices and classification tables. Metabolite data was subjected to univariate analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test with p-values corrected for groups). Results GC-MS and LC-MS analysis of urine showed that samples can be classified using their metabolic profiles for borderline differentiation between UC and CD but may be prone to false positives. LCMS data showed a slightly better classification for HC but weaker for UC and CD. The serum samples showed acceptable classification of UC and CD but poor classification of HC, with the GC-MS being the more favourable platform. Univariate analysis was performed to identify significant metabolite variables between the three groups (p < 0.05). Combined analyses revealed 343 significant analytes (serum GC-MS 263, serum LC-MS 16, urine GC-MS 15 and urine LC-MS 49), of which 47 robust analytes were significant after correcting for groups.Abstract PTU-093 Figure 1 Conclusion This study highlights the potential for metabolomic profiling to differentiate between HC, UC and CD. Of those metabolites identified hippuric acid (p = 0.02), ethylbenzene (0.049), and octanoeic acid (p = 0.001) have previously been identified as potential biomarkers in IBD. Disclosure of interest None Declared.


PURPOSE: To measure in vitro geometric-mechanical characteristics of balloon-expandable peripheral stent systems for determining suitability for specific vascular regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balloon-expandable stents including their delivery systems manufactured by Guidant (OTW Megalink trade mark ), Inflow Dynamics (Antares), Medtronic (AVE Bridge trade mark ), Biotronik (Peiron trade mark ) and Cordis (Corinthian IQ trade mark ) were selected for this study. When expanded, all stents had a nominal diameter of 8 mm. The length was 38 - 40 mm. Stent profile, trackability, length change on expansion, stiffness, elastic recoil, and radio-opacity in the crimped and expanded state of these stent systems were determined with specially developed test methods. RESULTS: The Corinthian IQ trade mark, Megalink trade mark and Peiron trade mark required the smallest force to pass through the vascular model. While the Bridge trade mark system had the largest profile with a diameter of 2.430 mm, all other stent systems had a significantly smaller diameter ranging from 1.970 mm for the Peiron trade mark to 2.078 mm for the Corinthian IQ trade mark. In the distal region of the stent delivery system, the Megalink trade mark was the most flexible and the Bridge trade mark system the stiffest. Elastic recoil for all stents was in the range of 2.5 % to 3.5 %, with the exception of the Bridge trade mark stent, which had an elastic recoil of 4.79 %. The Corinthian IQ trade mark stent had noticeably the highest radial stiffness. In the expanded condition, the Peiron trade mark was the most flexible while the Corinthian IQ trade mark and the Antares trade mark were found to be the stiffest. Length change (shrinkage on expansion) ranged from 0.54 to 6.57%, with the exception of the Corinthian IQ, which shrunk > 7mm (18.5%) on expansion. All stent systems in the crimped and expanded state were readily visible radiographically. CONCLUSION: Specific data of significant parameters are available to aid in the selection of balloon expandable stents systems to be deployed in complex vascular regions. All examined stent systems showed adequate mechanical properties, but clinically relevant differences were found in stent trackability, bending stiffness and shrinkage on expansion.


Glacial geological evidence from throughout the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen is examined to determine the timing and extent of late Quaternary glaciation in this region and its relation to similar changes on a global scale. The evidence summarised here supports the existence of expanded ice caps and extensive valley glacier systems throughout the region during the late Quaternary. However, it cannot yet be determined whether the timing of the extent of maximum glaciation was synchronous throughout the entire region or whether the response was more varied. The lack of organic material needed for radiocarbon dating has hindered past progress in glacial reconstruction; however, application of optically stimulated luminescence and terrestrial cosmogenic radionuclide methods has recently expanded the number of chronologies throughout the region. Limits to the precision and accuracy available with these methods and, more importantly, geological uncertainty imposed by processes of moraine formation and alteration both conspire to limit the time resolution on which correlations can be made to Milankovitch timescales (several ka). In order to put all studies on a common scale, well‐dated sites have been re‐evaluated and all the published terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide ages for moraine boulders and glacially eroded surfaces in the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen have been recalculated. Locally detailed studies indicate that there are considerable variations in the extent of glaciation from one region to the next during a glaciation. Glaciers throughout monsoon‐influenced Tibet, the Himalaya and the Transhimalaya are likely synchronous both with climate change resulting from oscillations in the South Asian monsoon and with Northern Hemisphere cooling cycles. In contrast, glaciers in Pamir in the far western regions of the Himalayan–Tibet orogen advanced asynchronously relative to the other regions that are monsoon‐influenced regions and appear to be mainly in phase with the Northern Hemisphere cooling cycles. Broad patterns of local and regional variability based on equilibrium‐line altitudes have yet to be fully assessed, but have the potential to help define changes in climatic gradients over time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Carcinogenic risk of small doses of precursors of nitroso compounds, i.e. sodium nitrite (total dose in 0.2-2.0 g/mouse in drinking water) and morpholine (total dose is 0.23 g/mouse in bread) was studied in 520 CBA and 290 C57Bl mice during 96 weeks. It is shown that under these conditions the carcinogenic effect was more pronounced in CBA mice: there was a significant increase in general incidence of tumours, particularly liver tumours and hemoblastoses in CBA females and malignant liver tumours in CBA males.


DC motors are one of the most widely used actuators in industry applications. In its use, the reliability of DC motor performance becomes an important prerequisite that must be met. Therefore, a control scheme is required to meet the above performance demands, especially in the transient, steady state, and system stability aspects. The main problems in DC motor control system, especially in terms of speed control, are the occurrence of changes in system parameters and the presence of disturbances such as load changes. This study offers an Adaptive-Fuzzy-PID (AFPID) control scheme equipped with Disturbance Observer (DOb). AFPID scheme plays a role in handling the change of system parameters, while DOb serves to estimate the occurrence of disturbance. The AFPID control scheme was verified experimentally on a DC motor test-rig that was subjected to load-bearing disturbance. The results of the experiments show that the AFPID control scheme with DOb has a better transient response performance than AFPID without DOb, as well as in the ability to compensate the load changes. The combination of AFPID with DOb offers a more stable performance to DC motor has and is more insensitive to disturbance.


We present a catalogue of 39 multiple mergers, found using the mergers catalogue of the Galaxy Zoo project for z < 0.1, and compare them to corresponding semi-analytical galaxies from the Millennium Simulation. We estimate the (volume-limited) multimerger fraction of the local Universe using our sample and find it to be at least 2 orders of magnitude less than binary mergers – in good agreement with the simulations (especially the Munich group). We then investigate the properties of galaxies in binary mergers and multimergers (morphologies, colours, stellar masses and environment) and compare these results with those predicted by the semi-analytical galaxies. We find that multimergers favour galaxies with properties typical of elliptical morphologies and that this is in qualitative agreement with the models. Studies of multimergers thus provide an independent (and largely corroborating) test of the Millennium semi-analytical models.


Abstract Peptide inhibitors of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) accelerate spatial learning and facilitate memory retention and retrieval by binding competitively to the catalytic site of the enzyme and inhibiting its catalytic activity. IRAP belongs to the M1 family of Zn2+-dependent aminopeptidases characterized by a catalytic domain that contains two conserved motifs, the HEXXH(X)18E Zn2+-binding motif and the GXMEN exopeptidase motif. To elucidate the role of GXMEN in binding peptide substrates and competitive inhibitors, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on the motif. Non-conserved mutations of residues G428, A429 and N432 resulted in mutant enzymes with altered catalytic activity, as well as divergent changes in kinetic properties towards the synthetic substrate leucine β-naphthalamide. The affinities of the IRAP inhibitors angiotensin IV, Nle1-angiotensin IV, and LVV-hemorphin-7 were selectively decreased. Substrate degradation studies using the in vitro substrates vasopressin and Leu-enkephalin showed that replacement of G428 by either D, E or Q selectively abolished the catalysis of Leu-enkephalin, while [A429G]IRAP and [N432A]IRAP mutants were incapable of cleaving both substrates. These mutational studies indicate that G428, A429 and N432 are important for binding of both peptide substrates and inhibitors, and confirm previous results demonstrating that peptide IRAP inhibitors competitively bind to its catalytic site.


Climatically sensitive tropical ecosystems provide important information that may help us to fill the gaps in our knowledge concerning the evolution of rainforests during periods of full glaciation. Small changes in precipitation in the Amazon Basin have immediate consequences for the survival of the Andean cloud forest, because its dominant source of moisture today is the Atlantic Ocean. A 40 k.y. lacustrine record from the Eastern Cordillera in Bolivia in an endemic species‐rich and ecologically threatened region shows a dry Last Glacial Maximum, indicating a drastic decrease of the Amazonian moisture source. To explain this aridity, we infer steep temperature gradients between the pole and equator in both hemispheres that would have reduced considerably the size and displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the austral summer precipitation. This major change in water supply induced a dramatic reduction in species diversity and suggests that the Andean cloud forest did not provide refugia for tropical lowland taxa during full glacial times.


BACKGROUND
Acetic and propionic acids are produced by colonic bacterial fermentation of unabsorbed carbohydrates and are absorbed into the portal circulation. From there, they travel to the liver, where acetate is a lipogenic substrate and propionate can inhibit lipogenesis. The extent to which peripheral blood short-chain fatty acid concentrations reflect differences in colonic fermentation is uncertain. The unabsorbed sugar lactulose produces mainly acetate when fermented in vitro, whereas L-rhamnose yields propionate.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to ascertain whether ingestion of L-rhamnose and lactulose would have different acute effects on peripheral acetate and propionate concentrations and on breath hydrogen and methane concentrations.

DESIGN
Twenty-two subjects were fed 25 g L-rhamnose, lactulose, or glucose on 3 separate occasions in a randomized crossover design. Blood and breath samples were collected hourly for 12 h.

RESULTS
Serum propionate was significantly higher with ingestion of L-rhamnose than with that of lactulose or glucose (P < 0.001). The area under the curve for serum acetate was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of glucose (P < 0.03). The ratio of serum acetate to propionate was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of glucose or L-rhamnose (P < 0.01). Breath hydrogen was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of L-rhamnose or glucose (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS
The selective increases in serum acetate and propionate concentrations in humans were obtained by feeding specific fermentable substrates. Presumably, these changes in serum concentrations reflect changes in colonic production. Selective alteration of colonic fermentation products could yield a new mechanism for modifying blood lipids.


Mozambique Basin is together with the Somali Basin the oldest rifted sedimentary basin developed along the eastern African margin in Jurassic times. The basin hosts a continuous record of sediments since Jurassic times, when Antarctica separated from Africa. The primary objectives of this study were to extend the regional stratigraphic framework north of the Zambezi Delta and to review geological events documented in the Mozambique Basin. Nine Multi-channel seismic reflection profiles are used to extend the regional stratigraphy in to the deep abyssal plains of the basin.
We identify six major stratigraphic units that correlate to Jurassic, Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods. Mesozoic sedimentation rates of 3-5 cm/kyr are observed in the deeper basin and 1-2 cm /kyr during Paleogene (neither compensated for compaction). The presence of Domo shales from existing wells point to a restricted circulation in the basin until mid-Cretaceous. Mesozoic sediments have a high velocity that exceeds 4.5 km/s with an exception of a distinct low-velocity zone of 3.7 km/s in the mid-Cretaceous that may indicate under-compacted overpressured shales. The higher sedimentation rate in Late Cretaceous can be attributed to rapid denudation of the African continent after a major tectonic uplift episode at approximately 90 Ma and simultaneous increase in the catchment area of the proto-Zambezi. Increased sediment influx into the basin from the Zambezi in Late Cretaceous resulted in the formation a submarine delta fan lobe progressing into the Mozambique Channel around the northern periphery of Beira High. Strong north-south bottom currents commenced within the channel in Late Cretaceous that forced the aggradation of sediments of the submarine fan lobe on the southern flank. In addition, we observe several current-controlled drift bodies in the deeper basin that are influenced by the north-south bottom current. Low sedimentation rates in Paleogene are attributed to a relative quiet tectonic phase onshore and erosion during global marine regression in mid-Oligocene.


Abstract This paper highlights the relationships between resource rights, governance practices and conflict in Nepal. The discussion is focused on policies, strategies, laws and regulations, and decisions and actual governing practices in natural resources. The good governance framework is used as a conceptual basis to analyse the relationships. This framework is for the purpose of this paper consensus oriented, participatory, guided by the rule of law, effective and efficient, accountable and transparent, responsive, equitable and inclusive. Within this framework, the paper examines the role of resource governance in creating or minimising scarcity and conflict in Nepal. It is based on my current research project on 'livelihood security, environmental security and conflict mitigation' in Nepal. It highlights power relations, feelings of injustice, mistrust, the intervention of new technologies, contradiction between customary practices and statutory laws as sources of research. Resource conflicts produce both positive and negative consequences and alter existing social relations, as they induce change in resource management regimes, policy process, livelihood strategies, land use patterns, gender relations, power structures, and individual and collective behaviour. This paper also establishes the linkages between resource conflict and the ongoing Maoist insurgency in Nepal.


Introduction Among the thousands of lakes in Canada there are hundreds that are apparently rock-rimmed, having their outlet over sills of solid rock and having shores of rock in most places; but generally there is some drift-covered point in the circumference of the basin where an old channel may be concealed. It is not often that one can actually trace the solid rock entirely round the shore with no point hidden. This is the case, however, with the two small lakes near the Helen mine which are to be described in this paper. The causes of rock inclosed basins are various, most of them in Canada being due to glacial action, the rock surface having been excavated by the ice unequally, probably because of preglacial decay having extended to unequal depths, though it was commonly believed in earlier times that undecayed rocks could be deeply eroded by ice, and that . . .


Obstetric patients requiring premature termination of pregnancy with low levels of surfactant in the amniotic fluid were given dexamethasone for 2 or 7 days to assess the effect of the duration of treatment on the total phospholipid content of the amniotic fluid. A significant rise in lung surfactant occurred in both groups, but dexamethasone administered for 7 days was not more effective than 2 days' administration. It is suggested that it is not the duration of treatment, but the stage of pregnancy or the functional maturity of the fetus at the time of administration of dexamethasone that affects the outcome.


SUMMARY: The insensitivity of Gram-negative bacteria towards different penicillins has been correlated with the inactivation of these compounds by the penicillinases produced by these bacteria. Penicillins such as phenethicillin, propicillin, methicillin, and cloxacillin were relatively inactive against Gram-negative bacteria, but resistance was not accompanied by inactivation of these compounds. With ampicillin and benzylpenicillin, however, bacterial resistance was associated with destruction of the penicillins. Ampicillin was more stable to the penicillinases produced by certain Gram-negative bacteria than was benzylpenicillin and was correspondingly more active against these organisms. Gram-negative bacteria which produced little or no penicillinase were two to four times more sensitive to ampicillin than to benzylpenicillin, but ampicillin was at least ten times more active than benzylpenicillin against several penicillinase-producing coliform organisms. All strains of bacteria which were resistant to both ampicillin and benzylpenicillin were capable of inactivating both compounds, but the insensitivity of these bacteria was not necessarily due solely to penicillinase production. Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and certain strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were able to grow in high concentrations of these antibiotics, whereas with the strains of Aerobacter aerogenes, Proteus morganii and Proteus vulgaris examined, the resistance appeared to be due solely to inactivation of the penicillins.


About 30 percent of individuals with permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus have mutations in the KCNJ11 gene. An additional 20 percent of people with permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus have mutations in the ABCC8 gene. These genes provide instructions for making parts (subunits) of the ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channel. Each K-ATP channel consists of eight subunits, four produced from the KCNJ11 gene and four from the ABCC8 gene.


Background: Oxidative stress is one of the important mechanisms underlying the patho-genesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Irisin is a type of myokine secreted from the muscle during exercise and acts against oxidative stress via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor with antioxidant properties. Here, we examined the emphysema suppressive effects of the exercise-irisin-Nrf2 axis in mice. Methods: Mice were divided into three groups, namely, the control, smoking, and exercise + smoking groups. All mice from the smoking and exercise + smoking groups were exposed to cigarette smoke once a day. The mice from the exercise + smoking group were adapted to a treadmill once a day. To investigate the Nrf2 cascade, after 12 weeks, serum irisin concentration and Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in the lung homogenate were determined. To evaluate cigarette smoke-induced COPD, the number of in fl ammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fl uid (BALF), mean linear intercept (MLI), and destructive index in the lung tissue were examined. Results: Serum irisin concentration and the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the lung homogenate were signi fi cantly higher in mice from the exercise + smoking group than in those from the control and smoking groups. The proportion of neutrophils in the BALF was signi fi cantly lower in the exercise + smoking group than in the smoking group. The MLI and destructive index were also signi fi cantly smaller in mice from the exercise + smoking group than mice from the smoking group. Conclusion: Irisin secreted from the muscle during exercise may exert protective effects against oxidative stress via Nrf2 and HO-1, and ameliorate emphysema of cigarette smoke-induced COPD. The exercise-irisin-Nrf2 axis may serve as a novel target for COPD treatment.


Comb jellies were a relatively obscure group of zooplankton, until Mnemiopsis leidyi invaded the Black Sea in the 1980's with cascading effects on several ecosystem levels including commercial fisheries. This native to the east coasts of America triggered large public and scientific attention as a result of this invasion and its ecological and economic impacts. In 2005, when M. leidyi was sighted in Northern Europe for the first time, similar consequences were feared. The aim of my PhD project was to understand the potential impact of M. leidyi on the Baltic Sea ecosystem and constrains on its dispersal. Specifically, the project investigated (i) direct and indirect effects of M. leidyi on the Baltic cod population in its most important spawning ground, (ii) factors governing the spatial and temporal distribution of M. leidyi eggs, larvae and adults in the Baltic and,
(iii) M. leidyi reproduction and its effect on population development. The approach involved 13 monthly monitoring cruises from high saline Skagerrak to low saline northern Baltic regions, in situ and laboratory controlled reproduction and feeding experiments, molecular analysis for species verification, and statistical modeling. The low feeding rates and passive negative selection of cod eggs in experiments demonstrate that M. leidyi does not pose a direct threat to the Baltic cod population at the environmental conditions characteristic for its spawning ground. Furthermore, the drastically reduced reproduction rates observed under low salinities suggest M. leidyi is not likely to compete with cod recruits prey. Spatial and temporal surveys show highest abundances during October, with a consistent absence of adult and larval M. leidyi in the northern Baltic. Abundances in the Kattegat were 60 times higher than in the central
Baltic, suggesting that the M. leidyi population in the central Baltic is dependent on advection from high saline areas. This interpretation is consistent with the low
reproduction rates measured and a low fraction of up-growing animals in the central Baltic. While adults were not observed from April to June in high saline areas, M. leidyi larvae were present throughout the year. It remains unclear where M. leidyi overwinters but high saline areas appear to be important in the annual establishment of the population. Laboratory and in situ reproduction experiments confirmed that fecundity is a major contributor to M. leidyi's invasion success, although salinity is regulating, and possibly restricting, its range expansion in Northern Europe. Maximum reproduction rates are shown to be attained at low food concentrations, helping reconcile the high population densities observed in localized areas despite low food concentrations. An unexpected discovery was that the arctic relict ctenophore Mertensia ovum,
thought to be restricted to the northern Baltic, also occurs in the high saline
Kattegat/Skagerrak during winter and spring. Interestingly, in the northern Baltic the M. ovum population consists exclusively of larval-sized animals that are actively reproducing and maintaining a self-sustained population. Natural selection can favor early maturation at small size when mortality rates are high, and our results are consistent with this hypothesis. Currently, M. leidyi has established itself permanently in high and intermediate saline areas in Northern Europe. While the ecological impact of M. leidyi in the central Baltic appears to be limited concern, the environment in other European waters should be more favourable to their populations. In these areas, it is suggested that M. leidyi
constitutes a potential threat to fisheries through resource competition with fishes


A way of scaffolding students to move back and forth between multiple meanings is the use of discussions that feature argumentation. Argumentation involves the evaluation of the worth, accuracy, and authenticity of various propositions. Middle years students (grade 7=28 students and grade 8=30 students) used the WebCourseTools (WebCT) "discussion board" as a platform to carry out argumentation when they studied a unit on particle theory of matter in the context of the Common Knowledge Construction teaching model (Ebenezer & Haggerty, 1999). Student postings were classified using Walton's (1996) argumentation schemes for presumptive reasoning. Twelve schemes of reasoning were observed in student postings: argument from sign (F=45), argument from cause to effect (F=25), argument from evidence to hypothesis (F=22), argument from position to know (F=14), argument from expert opinion (F=9), argument from example (F=6), argument from analogy (F=4), argument from consequences (F=3); argument from precedent (F=2), circumstantial argument (F=1), argument from commitment (F=1), and argument from waste (F=1). The three general categories based on the nature and circumstance for argument are: experiential, referential, and provisional. "Argument from sign" illustrates how Walton's schemes may be used to structure, interpret, and evaluate student dialogue for it's argumentative strength and validity. The study promotes the development of argumentative skills in the science class and suggests the use of inquiry-based conceptual change models such as the Common Knowledge Construction teaching model to facilitate argumentation.


We examine the embedding of dark energy in high energy models based upon supergravity and extend the usual phenomenological setting comprising an observable sector and a hidden supersymmetry breaking sector by including a third sector leading to the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. We find that gravitational constraints on the non-existence of a fifth force naturally imply that the dark energy sector must possess an approximate shift symmetry. When exact, the shift symmetry provides an example of a dark energy sector with a runaway potential and a nearly massless dark energy field whose coupling to matter is very weak, contrary to the usual lore that dark energy fields must couple strongly to matter and lead to gravitational inconsistencies. Moreover, the shape of the potential is stable under one-loop radiative corrections. When the shift symmetry is slightly broken by higher order terms in the Kähler potential, the coupling to matter remains small. However, the cosmological dynamics are largely affected by the shift symmetry breaking operators leading to the appearance of a minimum of the scalar potential such that dark energy behaves like an effective cosmological constant from very early on in the history of the universe.


The discovery of black-hole evaporation represented in many respects a revolutionary event in scientific world; as such, in giving answers to open questions, it gave rise to new problems part of which are still not resolved. Here we want to make a brief review of such problems and examine some possible solutions. Invited Talk at the "Workshop on String Theory, Quantum Gravity and the Unification of the Fundamental Interactions" Rome, September 21-26


From the Publisher:
This textbook is designed as a frst book on concurrent programming for computer science undergraduates, and provides a comprehensive introduction to the problems of concurrency. Concurrency is of vital importance in many areas of computer science, particularly in operating systems. It is also increasingly being taught in undergraduate courses. The book builds on the student's familiarity with sequential programming in a high level language which will make it very accessible to computer science students. The book is concerned mainly with the high level aspects of concurrency, which will be equally applicable to traditional time sliced or more recent truly parallel systems.


The influence of postharvest heat conditioning at 38 °C for 24, 48, or 72 hours on ripe 'Gialla' cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller] fruit produced by the spring flush was investigated during 21 days of storage at 6 °C and 90%-95% relative humidity (RH) followed by 7 days at 20 °C and 70%-75% RH (simulated marketing). Conditioning for 24 to 72 h reduced by 50% the severity of chilling injury (Cl) on cactus pears following exposure to cold storage. Treatment for 24 to 72 h was also effective in reducing decay, with conditioning for 24 h being the most effective. Overall visual quality was better in heat-conditioned compared with control fruit. Mass loss was significantly reduced by all heat conditioning treatments. Respiration rate was not affected by heat treatment. Ethylene evolution was lower in fruit heat-conditioned for 48 or 72 h than for 0 h. Conditioning for 72 h resulted in the highest fruit ethanol levels. The influence of conditioning on juice pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentration and ascorbic acid was negligible. Prestorage heat treatment provides some measure of CI and decay control without detrimental effects to visual quality of early ripening cactus pear fruit and may offer an alternative to fungicide treatments.


This article describes the Philippine foodway and craft form of pabalat-wrapped pastillas by examining the different communities involved in its practice and preservation. It analyzes how the participatory framework reshapes the authorized heritage discourse and argues for a more pragmatic conceptualization of community participation that recognizes the different kinds of communities involved in heritage work, shows sensitivity to the politics at play, and aims at parity among actors—not exclusion. Tracing the history of borlas de pastillas and assessing its uses in tourism demonstrations, festivals, training programs and museum exhibits reveals the problematic issues of disinheritance, dissonance, memory, and ownership that emerge when dealing with intangible heritage. KEYWORDS: Intangible heritage, community participation, heritage as process, cultural production, identity


ABSTRACT Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes bronchiolitis, the main cause of infantile hospitalization. Immunity against reinfection is poor, and there is great interest in boosting vaccine responses using live vectors expressing host cytokines. We therefore constructed a recombinant RSV expressing murine interleukin 18 (RSV/IL-18), a cytokine capable of inducing strong antiviral immune responses. In vitro RSV/IL-18 replicated at wild-type levels and produced soluble IL-18. In naïve BALB/c mice, RSV/IL-18 infection significantly increased both IL-18 mRNA and protein and attenuated the peak viral load 3-fold. Despite a reduced viral load, RSV/IL-18 infection caused a biphasic weight loss at days 2 and 6 postinfection that was not seen in wild-type infection. Day 2 disease was associated with enhanced pulmonary natural killer (NK) cell numbers and activity and was prevented by NK cell depletion during infection; day 6 disease was correlated with CD8 T-cell recruitment and was enhanced by NK cell depletion. IL-18 expression during priming also enhanced RSV-specific antibody responses and T-cell responses on secondary RSV infection. Therefore, while IL-18 boosted antiviral immunity and reduced the viral load, its coexpression worsened disease. This is the first recombinant RSV with this property, and these are the first studies to demonstrate that NK cells can induce pathology during pulmonary viral infections.


he aim of this study was to examine the employment status of the elderly over 60. A survey was carried out on the employment status of the elderly referring to the Social Security Organization in Tehran. A Questionnaire along with interview was used for data collection. The samples were chosen randomly and selected through the people referring to 30 social security offices in Tehran, 15 people from each office and totally 450. To analyse the data, descriptional statistics and Chisquare test were applied. Based on the results, 86 percent of the elderly are unofficially employed. Also, 95.7 percent of the questioned people are working after retirement and 7.2 percent have two jobs at the same time. 70.9 percent declared that their income is not sufficient for life expenses. 97.4 percent said that they are employed contract-based and temporary. 58.2 percent of them assumed that their main present problem is inability to cover the life expenses. Therefore, different needs of the T elderly should be studied to improve their living status by providing them necessary support. This subject can be implemented under social policy Plan and through compiling a comprehensive welfare act for the elderly and providing proper services adapted to their needs.


The Physical education in the educational organization is of importance because of educating students; its quality depends on teachers' Commitment and their efficiency. According to the performed research (Allen Mayer1196, Biorlee 2001, Somech Bogler 2002), there is a meaningful and positive relationship between the Organizational Commitment and the performance of staff. In this research, the relationship of Organizational Commitment of Physical education's male teachers in Ahvaz's high schools and the management of classroom were considered using Mack Kumark and Allen's questionnaire. All teachers of Ahvaz's high schools organized the statistical community of this research (N=131). It was observed that using t test and the correlation factor of Pearson (p≤0.5), there was a meaningful and positive relationship among the management of classroom of Physical education with students 'behavior, effective educational factors and how to organize. There was no meaningful difference among four areas of educational organization from the aspects of the management of classroom. Marital status and the passed coaching courses had a role in the management of the classroom; the Organizational Commitment of teachers was in a moderate level. In general, the results of research showed that there was a meaningful and positive relationship between students' behavior with the Organizational Commitment of teachers. In order to increase the Organizational Commitment of teachers, The Authorities of educational organization are advised to put more effort to


An experimental analysis was performed to calculate the local Nusselt number associated with the impingement of a jet of hot gases on a steel flat plate. A plate was subjected to a constant-rate propane torch, with a measured average temperature of the hot gases at approximately 896 °C. The jet was applied to the flat plate at different angles of 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees. The jet was horizontally located at 0.044m away from the flat plate and experiments were performed with two different vertical distances. The temperature distribution on the front and back sides of the plate were recorded by using 20 thermocouples. The plate reached steady-state conditions after 4100 seconds. The unheated side was cooled by combined natural convection and radiative effects. To perform the experiment, the steel plate was mounted on a tubular apparatus that holds the plate vertically, with a provision to change the angle of impingement. It was found that the combined effects of tilt angle and vertical switch reduce the local Nusselt number, by 51% for a tilt angle equal to 45 degrees. The maximum heat flux at the center of the plate was found to be 15.5 kW/m2 .Copyright © 2009 by ASME


Purpose: Nigella sativa oil possesses a well-known ability to protect certain organs from oxidative, neoplastic, and inflammatory damage. This study investigated the potential chondroprotective effects of intraarticular injections of Nigella sativa oil in a rabbit osteoarthritis model. Methods: Osteoarthritis models were created by performing anterior cruciate ligament transections in 20 New Zealand rabbits. Rabbits were randomly divided into two groups of 10 and given intraarticular injections in their right knees weekly for 5 weeks, beginning in the third week post-operation. Injections given to the first group contained whole Nigella sativa oil, whereas the second group was injected with a saline solution. Knee joints were harvested 8 weeks after surgery. Knee joint surfaces were examined macroscopically, and medial femoral condyle sections were examined microscopically. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the macroscopic grading results of the groups, with the Nigella sativa group having better results (p=0.001). The Nigella sativa group also received significantly better total Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores (p=0.035). Conclusions: Intraarticular administration of Nigella sativa oil has the potential to protect cartilage from degeneration in the early stages of osteoarthritis.