The improved protection afforded by the Tactical Life Support System (TLSS) vs. other partial pressure ensembles has not been reported with respect to the cardiovascular effects of positive pressure breathing (PPB). Nine seated subjects wearing TLSS were exposed to 30, 50, and 70 mm Hg PPB (breathing air) with four times this pressure in the G-suit. Experiments were conducted at ground-level in order, separated by 4 min rest and preceded by a 1-min control period. Stroke volume and cardiac output (SV, CO) and indexes (SI, CI) were determined by impedance cardiography. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was directly related to PPB level, increasing by 23%, 32%, and 47% for each PPB level, respectively (p less than 0.01). HR, SV, and CO were unaffected after 4 min of 30, 50, and 70 mm Hg PPB. The results indicate that cardiovascular function decay is less severe than that reported using other PPB ensembles at similar PPB levels. Improved protection is most likely due to the greater pressurization of the G-suit and the 45% greater bladder volume in the leg bladders, leading to restored venous return and SV.


This dictionary supplies associations which have been evoked by plants, animals, gems, objects and concepts throughout the history of Western civilization, from the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt to the poetry of Dylan Thomas. It supplies background information from fields which may not be everyone's speciality, such as biology and mythology. It gives not one, but several meanings which may apply simultaneously, since indefiniteness is the mark of symbols. No fine distinction is made between symbols, allegories, metaphors, signs, types or images, since such subtle distinctions, however sensible from a scientific point of view, are useless to a person struggling with the deeper comprehension, and thus appreciation, of a particular 'symbol'. Important general entries are listed such as archetypes, ass, binary, bull, calendar, eagle, elements, Great Goddess, Sacred King, sun, etc., which it is advisable to read first. Information was gathered from primary sources: both famous and obscure classical authors; the Bible; the medieval scholar and musician Hildegard von Bingen; but also Donne, Shakespeare and Eliot. Lists of primary and secondary literature are included. From the many notes left behind by the late Ad de Vries, his son has gathered enough new material to enlarge the original 1974 edition more than 20 per cent. Included are many new entries taken from herbals and lapidaries as well as ancient books on medicine, architecture and dreams. This dictionary is an invaluable source of reference for students of many disciplines, as well as for writers and artists.


In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, much attention was given to the necessity for reforms. In contrast to the Bretton Woods era, the world economy has developed in a much more ad hoc and unplanned way, which from an institutional point of view involves high transaction costs, systemic uncertainty and coordination challenges. The key question we address is whether informal institutions like the Group of Twenty states, (G20), are likely to provide genuine mechanisms for the resolution of inadequacies in the provision of global public goods as well as instruments to face systemic crises. The main argument is that the G20 does not give expression to more explicitly political considerations that inevitably surround regulatory issues and for this reason it is not, (in its current form), a highly useful framework within which to examine the dynamics of international economic policy cooperation. The study uses the methodological tools of institutional theory, concentrating on the inefficiency of G20 to create new rules in the international financial system. The latter consists of a set of multilateral agreements, principles, norms, shared understandings and interconnected international groupings which shape transnational economic transactions. It is evident that the G20 targets the network qualities of current global financial governance and is not capable in implementing structural reforms in global economic decision-making. The paper is organised in the following way. First, it provides an overview of the academic literature on the logic of monetary cooperation. Second, it explores the pillars of G20's cooperation and its contribution in economic actors learning and adjustment process. Finally, the research turns to policy recommendations underlining the need for restructuring global economic policy and systemising the provision of global public economic goods.


Objective: To assess morphology and growth in infants and children with craniofacial anomalies based on comprehensive digitization of radiographic films in three, mutually orthogonal projections. Method: The method consists of (1) acquisition of radiographic films in a highly standardized three-projection (lateral, frontal, and axial) cephalometer, (2) marking and digitization of a total of 279 anatomical landmarks in the three projections, and (3) computation and presentation (tabular and graphical) of 356 linear and angular variables describing the craniofacial morphology, including soft tissue. Computation of statistical entities describing a patient, a group of patients, the differences between patients or groups of patients was carried out. Error assessment of the method involved investigation of error distribution among a number of error sources. Duplicate digitization of radiographic films from 30 randomly selected patients, and from 10 dry skulls, was carried out to determine the errors contributed by the procedure of landmark digitization and the distribution of error among landmarks and variables, as well as between projections. Results: The average error due to landmark digitization, s(i), determined by duplicate digitization and calculated by use of Dahlberg's formula was 0.8 mm for linear variables and 1.6 degrees for angular variables. Conclusion: This method of infant cephalometry has been shown to be highly accurate and reproducible, and it adds significant new potential for, e.g., asymmetry detection, population comparison, and growth measurements compared to other cephalometric techniques due to its standardized acquisition and digitization protocol, inclusion of an axial projection, and the large number of well-defined landmarks and variables involved.


This one-of-a-kind resource provides a very readable description of the methods used for image reconstruction in magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray computed tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography. The goal of this fascinating work is to provide radiologists with a practical introduction to mathematical methods so that they may better understand the potentials and limitations of the images used to make diagnoses. Presented in four parts, this state-of-the-art text covers (1) an introduction to the models used in reconstruction, (2) an explanation of the Fourier transform, (3) a brief description of filtering, and (4) the application of these methods to reconstruction. In order to provide a better understanding of the reconstruction process, this comprehensive volume draws analogies between several different reconstruction methods. This informative reference is an absolute must for all radiology residents, as well as graduate students and professionals in the fields of physics, nuclear medicine, and computer-assisted tomography.


In 2012, a referendum was held to insert a new Article on children's rights into the Irish Constitution. This amendment, according to its proponents, addressed problems that had emerged in Irish constitutional law where "parents rights" where held to be superior to "children's rights". In this chapter, we use the experience of this constitutional referendum to explore how processes of formal constitutional amendment can be used to alter intricate matters of constitutional law doctrine, and to illustrate the difficulties that such attempts encounter. We argue that the calls for this reform were based on a misunderstanding of this area of constitutional law, and that the changes wrought by the amendment were minimal. Despite this, interest groups that had called for the amendment insisted that it was a major change, leading to a confusing referendum campaign that failed to engage the public and resulted in the referendum passing by a surprisingly narrow margin. From this experience, several lessons can be drawn about the difficulties of amending constitutions to achieve changes in legal doctrine; about the role of legal academics in highlighting constitutional problems and correcting misunderstandings of constitutional issues; and about the underexplored role of interest groups in effecting constitutional change.


This paper studies how political competition can lead candidates to strategically increase the salience of specific issues, in order to influence voting decisions of marginal groups, with non trivial consequences for turnout rates. In my setup issues differ in their divisiveness, to be defined as the extent to which members within a coalition disagree. Political candidates face a trade-off; they can choose to increase the salience of cohesive issues which energize their own (but also their opponent) constituency or divisive issues which alienate the opponent (but also their own) supporters. Using a model of probabilistic voting, I derive equilibrium campaign strategies of the candidates and predictions on turnout. The results are relevant for the literature on political participation, pointing out that it is crucial to analyze campaign effects on different groups of voters, to explain turnout rates actually observed. We also show descriptive evidence on US Presidential campaigns, supporting the model.


Secure airport operations are an important part of the aviation safety, as about 20 percent of collisions between aircrafts and objects as well as about one third of fatal accidents occur on airfields. The older airports need to be modernized to better cope with increasing traffic and larger aircrafts. Determining proper separation distances or safety areas is part of the revision process. In addition, engineering, environmental and economic impacts have to be considered during such revisions. To support the redesign, statistically significant and representative data is needed, including driving patterns and various derived metrics, such as centerline deviations. Remote sensing technologies offer an effective way to collect large volume of data on aircraft movements at airfields. This study describes the initial results of a LiDARbased multi-sensor system that is deployed around runways and taxiways to remotely observe aircraft movement. The primary objective is to derive the centerline deviation of moving aircrafts from point clouds. Benefits from these derivations may allow for greater understanding of aircraft movements in the runway environment, and provide data for evaluating the operational safety of various runway design specifications. Keywords-component; laserscanning; feature extraction; mostion estimation; aircaft centerline deviation


The goal of this work is to investigate whether estimates of ease of part handling and part insertion can be provided by multimodal simulation using virtual environment (VE) technology. The long-term goal is to use this data to extend computer-aided design (CAD) systems in order to evaluate and compare alternate designs using design for assembly analysis. A unified, physically-based model has been developed for modeling dynamic interactions and has been built into a multimodal VE system called the Virtual Environment for Design for Assembly (VEDA). The designer sees a visual representation of objects, hears collision sounds when objects hit each other, and can feel and manipulate the objects through haptic interface devices with force feedback. Currently these models are 2D in order to preserve interactive update rates. Experiments were conducted with human subjects using a two-dimensional peg-in-hole apparatus and a VEDA simulation of the same apparatus. The simulation duplicated as well as possible the weight, shape, size, peg-hole clearance, and fictional characteristics of the physical apparatus. The experiments showed that the multimodal VE is able to replicate experimental results in which increased task completion times correlated with increasing task difficulty (measured as increased friction, increased handling distance, and decreased peg-hole clearance). However, the multimodal VE task completion times are approximately twice those of the physical apparatus completion process. A number of possible factors have been identified, but the effect of these factors has not been quantified.


CONTEXT
Vascular complications of pancreatitis are more common in alcohol- rather than gallstone-induced pancreatitis. Such complications are an important cause of mortality and morbidity, although peripancreatic vessel obstruction is a rare consequence. Patients with peripancreatic arterial obstruction can present with sudden and unexplained clinical deterioration requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention.

CASE REPORT
A 42-year-old woman with a proven pancreatic pseudocyst presented with acute abdominal pain. Initial investigations were non-diagnostic. A gastroscopy revealed patchy necrosis of the proximal stomach. Following sudden clinical deterioration, a contrast-enhanced CT scan was performed. The CT scan demonstrated a thickened gastric wall with intramural gas. The decision was taken to proceed to laparotomy, which revealed both gastric and splenic infarction. A total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction and splenectomy was performed. She made a successful recovery.

CONCLUSION
Arterial thrombosis should be considered in any patient with chronic pancreatitis who presents with an acute clinical deterioration. Successful outcomes can be achieved with prompt diagnosis using contrast-enhanced CT scanning and early surgical intervention.


Dioxins and furans are classified highly contaminating toxic chemicals having serious effect on human health. This chapter begins with a brief summary on the formation, occurrence and toxicity of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlori- nated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) with their potential health effects, mitigation measures of these harmful compounds. Depending on position of chlorine atoms on aromatic rings, about 210 chemically different PCDD/PCDFs known as "congener" are present in the environment. The expected biological activity of PCDD/PCDFs is expressed relatively to the activity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) using a common metric. TCDD is the most biologically potent among all the congeners. Toxic level of a mixture of PCDD/PCDFs is therefore expressed in TCDD toxicity equivalents or TEQs. There are two mechanisms for the formation of dioxins and furans, one from precursors and other by de novo synthesis. PCDD/PCDFs followed a mechanism which uses macromolecule carbon and chlorine in fly ash to form dioxins at low temperature. There are various sources of the formation of PCDD/PCDFs like hospital waste incinerators, industrial combustion and burning of domestic waste. Dioxins and furans have very harmful effects on the human health causing cancer, diabetes, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and chloracne. It has been experienced that hybrid method secure a sustainable future for the incinerators and PCDD/PCDFs removal technologies. This chapter will help the researchers and practitioners for better understanding and decision making for future research to establish a sustainable PCDD/PCDFs free life.


Herein, we present a facile strategy to controllably build up dendrimicelles by self-assembly of anionic PAMAM dendrimers with cationic-neutral diblock copolymers. We present a systematic study incorporating a full decade (0-9) of dendrimer generations, tracing the gradual variation from aggregates (G0 and G1) to self-assembled micelles (G2-G8), and an unidendrimer micelle structure (G9) by different scattering techniques (light and X-ray). The formed micelles (G2-G9) are spherical in shape with a hydrodynamic radius of about 25 nm. Interestingly, the micellar size, structure and number of incorporated block copolymers are independent of the dendrimer generation (for G2 to G9), while the aggregation number of the dendrimers decreases from 108 to 1, and the stability of the micelles increases upon an increase in the dendrimer generation. Moreover, the micelles with lower generation dendrimers transform from spherical into worm-like structures upon an increase in the positive charge fraction (excess polymers) or ionic strength, while micelles with higher generation dendrimers do not show such a transition. This differential behavior is in-line with a change from a flexible configuration into rigid globular nanoparticles with increasing dendrimer generation. The reported systematic investigation of dendrimicelles comprising a full decade of dendrimer generations provides the basis for versatile strategies focused on building up new (multi)functional materials, e.g. by packing multiple types of dendrimers with different functional groups or encapsulated cargos controllably within one micelle.


A pilot study was carried out in a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) to recover phosphorous by Struvite precipitation from anaerobic digester centrate by means of Ostara's Pearl technology with the objective to assess technically and economically the performance and reliability of this process treating sidestreams with different concentrations of phosphorous and also to assess the quality of the fertilizer obtained. Different scenarios were studied: phosphorous inlet ranged from 31 to 150 mg PO4-P/L. The phosphorous removal varied from 60 to 81% depending on the influent, and the quality of the Struvite obtained was suitable to be used as a fertilizer. The economic assessment of implementing Struvite Pearl recovery process at full scale in WWTPs with anaerobic digestion (AD) and P-physicochemical or bio-P removal was carried out, taking into account investment (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX) of the Struvite recovery process and the economic savings due to phosphorous and ammonium removal in centrates. The results showed that with the current reagent strategies and investment costs, the Struvite recovery process was not economically feasible for WWTPs with AD and P-physicochemical removal. However, in the case of bio-P removal WWTPs with AD, the process can be an economic solution (pay back between 5 and 10 years, OPEX recovered due to the selling Struvite) which creates a high value re-cycled fertilizer and saves the environment due to the higher efficiency of the fertilizer usage.


In 1789 the world stood at the threshold of the modern age. While the French Revolution and the election of George Washington seemed to herald a new global order, Britain stood shocked at the new world unfolding before her. Two documents were drafted which would change the very meanings of citizens and statehood: the US Bill of Rights and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. The age of royal despotism had ended. But beneath this veneer of progress, darker forces were at work: the French Revolution spiralled out of control, American slavery expanded and the armed forces of the British Empire were unleashed in India. From 'mad' King George III to J.J. Rousseau and Thomas Paine, from Pitt the Younger to Robespierre, David Andress illuminates a world on the brink through the men who held its future in their hands.


Background Mental health issues have been reported after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, comparison to prevalence in uninfected individuals and contribution from common risk factors (eg, obesity and comorbidities) have not been examined. We identified how COVID-19 relates to mental health in the large community-based COVID Symptom Study. Methods We assessed anxiety and depression symptoms using two validated questionnaires in 413148 individuals between February and April 2021; 26998 had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We adjusted for physical and mental prepandemic comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), age and sex. Findings Overall, 26.4% of participants met screening criteria for general anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression were slightly more prevalent in previously SARS-CoV-2-positive (30.4%) vs SARS-CoV-2-negative (26.1%) individuals. This association was small compared with the effect of an unhealthy BMI and the presence of other comorbidities, and not evident in younger participants (≤40 years). Findings were robust to multiple sensitivity analyses. Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety and depression was stronger in individuals with recent (<30 days) versus more distant (>120 days) infection, suggesting a short-term effect. Interpretation A small association was identified between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety and depression symptoms. The proportion meeting criteria for self-reported anxiety and depression disorders is only slightly higher than prepandemic.


BACKGROUND
Dysfunctional hyperarousal is suspected to be a neurophysiological determinant of relapse in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients. In the present study, we used spectral power analysis of the sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) to quantify brain activity during sleep in patients during subacute withdrawal as well as in control subjects. Our hypothesis was that the subgroup of patients who relapsed within the 3 months to follow-up would exhibit-increased dysfunctional arousal manifested by higher-frequency (beta) EEG power during sleep.

METHODS
Twenty-six alcohol-dependent in-patients were examined with polysomnography over 2 nights 2 to 3 weeks after withdrawal. At the 3-month clinical follow-up assessment, 12 of them had relapsed and 14 abstained. The control group consisted of 23 healthy subjects similar to the patients with alcohol dependence in age and gender distribution. Spectral sleep EEG analysis was performed on both nights (adaptation and baseline) of all subjects. Logarithmic artifact-controlled spectral band power of sleep stage 2 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was analyzed for Group, Gender, and Age effects using multiple analyses of covariance. Three groups were compared with the Group factor: relapsers, abstainers, and controls.

RESULTS
Generally, both Group and Age effects were significant for the second, baseline night for the visually scored sleep parameters, while spectral EEG parameters showed significant differences in the adaptation night. In the adaptation night, a significant enhancement in the beta2 band (24-32 Hz) was seen in REM sleep in relapsers relative to both abstainers and controls.

CONCLUSIONS
The beta2 increase could be interpreted as a sign of dysfunctional arousal during REM sleep "unmasked" by the additional stressor of sleep environment adaptation. Its determinants are likely to be both premorbid and drinking history related.


We have examined the actions of Zn2+ ions on Shaker K channels. We found that low (100 microM) concentrations of Zn2+ produced a substantial (approximately three-fold) slowing of the kinetics of macroscopic activation and inactivation. Channel deactivation was much less affected. These results were obtained in the presence of 5 mM Mg2+ and 4 mM Ca2+ in the external solution and so are unlikely to be due to modification of membrane surface charges. Furthermore, the action of 100 microM Zn2+ on activation was equivalent to a 70-mV reduction of a negative surface potential whereas the effects on deactivation would require a 15-mV increase in surface potential. External H+ ions reduced the Zn-induced slowing of macroscopic activation with an apparent pK of 7.3. Treatment of Shaker K channels with the amino group reagent, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), substantially reduced the effects of Zn2+. All these results are qualitatively similar to the actions of Zn2+ on squid K channels, indicating that the binding site may be a common motif in potassium channels. Studies of single Shaker channel properties showed that Zn2+ ions had little or no effect on the open channel current level or on the open channel lifetime. Rather, Zn2+ substantially delayed the time to first channel opening. Thus, K channels appear to contain a site to which divalent cations bind and in so doing act to slow one or more of the rate constants controlling transitions among closed conformational states of the channel.


This article analyzes the political influence of business in the context of international environmental cooperation. Locating the sources of business power in three distinct factorsorganizational strength, structural privilege, and informational advantagethe article evaluates the contributions of these factors to explanations of states' ratification of, and compliance with, international environmental agreements. Using data on 35 advanced industrialized democracies, the results suggest that business influence can be best explained by reference to informational asymmetries. While countries whose economies are exposed to international trade tend to participate less in international regimes, strong domestic environmental movements can counteract incentives for non-participation by providing political decision-makers with alternative information about the costs and benefits of participation. Regime compliance also increases with the availability of independent information through environmental groups, as well as with the degree of politico-economic integration found in neocorporatist systems of interest intermediation.


A systematic search of the Cambridge structural database was undertaken to quantify the trans influence in square planar and octahedral transition metal compounds. For square planar geometry, d8 metal centers were studied, while octahedral searches focused on low-spin d6 complexes. Two probe ligands (PL) were used to measure the effect of the trans ligand (TL), chloride, and triphenylphosphine (PPh3). For the TLs O=CX2, NR3, pyridine, and Cl− (X = any non-metal, R = H or hydrocarbon), the effects on the metal–probe ligand (M–PL) distance were statistically equal and were taken as essentially no trans influence. The other ligands studied showed significant decrease in the mean M–PL bond order, relative to the above ligands: SR2 = 0.941; S=CX2 = 0.887; PPh3 = 0.825; phenyl = 0.743; CR3 = 0.719; hydride = 0.685. Some variation in the trans influence is observed, based on the geometry of the metal center and the PL. In general, electron-donating, σ-bonding ligands lead to a larger trans influence, but π-bonding effects can also be important, particularly when the probe ligand also has π-bonding properties.


Oncogenic activation of the BRAF serine/threonine kinase has been associated with initiation and maintenance of melanoma tumors. As such, development of pharmacologic agents to target RAF proteins or their effector kinases is an area of intense investigation. Here we report the biological properties of GDC-0879, a highly selective, potent, and orally bioavailable RAF small-molecule inhibitor. We used extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)-1/2 phosphorylation as biomarkers to explore the relationship between tumor outcome and pharmacodynamic inhibition of the RAF-MEKERK pathway. In GDC-0879–treated mice, both cell line– and patient-derived BRAF V600E tumors exhibited stronger and more sustained pharmacodynamic inhibition (>90% for 8 hours) and improved survival compared with mutant KRAS–expressing tumors. Despite the involvement of activated RAF signaling in RAS-induced tumorigenesis, decreased time to progression was observed for some KRAS-mutant tumors following GDC-0879 administration. Moreover, striking differences were noted for RAF and MEK inhibition across a panel of 130 tumor cell lines. Whereas GDC-0879– mediated efficacy was associated strictly with BRAF V600E status, MEK inhibition also attenuated proliferation and tumor growth of cell lines expressing wild-type BRAF (81% KRAS mutant, 38% KRAS wild type). The responsiveness of BRAF V600E melanoma cells to GDC-0879 could be dramatically altered by pharmacologic and genetic modulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway activity. These data suggest that GDC-0879–induced signaling changes are dependent on the point of oncogenic activation within the RAS network. Taken together, these studies increase our understanding of the molecular determinants for antitumor efficacy resulting from RAF pathway inhibition and have implications for therapeutic intervention in the clinic. [Cancer Res 2009;69(7):3042–51]


To achieve online Cartesian space trajectory planning, the authors present methods for approximating Cartesian paths by recursive joint trajectories. Systematic procedures are proposed for approximating an arbitrary smooth Cartesian path by concatenated line segments and for selecting intermediate knot points along the line segments. Two recursive joint trajectory planning algorithms are derived using quartic spline interpolation. The proposed approach is illustrated by a numerical example. >


We present a parallel implementation of Lagrangian relaxation for solving stochastic unit commitment subject to uncertainty in renewable power supply and generator and transmission line failures. We describe a scenario selection algorithm inspired by importance sampling in order to formulate the stochastic unit commitment problem and validate its performance by comparing it to a stochastic formulation with a very large number of scenarios, that we are able to solve through parallelization. We examine the impact of narrowing the duality gap on the performance of stochastic unit commitment and compare it to the impact of increasing the number of scenarios in the model. We report results on the running time of the model and discuss the applicability of the method in an operational setting.


Viruses have been historically defined as viral particles (virions). The virocell concept has been proposed to put instead emphasis on the intracellular cycle of virus reproduction. In that view, viral infection transforms the infected cells (either a bacterium, an archaeon or a eukaryote) into a novel type of cellular organism, a virocell, whose aim is to produce virions. The virocell concept has several implications for the question of the origin and nature of viruses. It emphasises that viruses originated after ribosome-encoding cells (ribocells) and can be considered as bona fide, cellular, living organisms. Notably, the virocell concept helps to realise that novel proteins could originate in two different cellular contexts (either ribocell or virocell) during genome replication/recombination. Considering the diversity, ubiquity and abundance of viruses, a huge proportion of proteins in the biosphere have therefore probably a bona fide viral origin. Many of them were later on transferred to genomes of ribocells by viral/plasmid integrations. The concept of virocell thus helps to understand the fundamental role that viruses have played in biological evolution.

Key Concepts:

Virocells correspond to infected cells producing virons.

Ribovirocell are Infected cells that produce virions but can still divide.

The virus is a living entity during the intracellular phase of its life cycle.

Different organisms (archaea, bacteria, eucaryote or virus) can share the same cell, each one being defined by its own evolutionary trajectory.

The ancestors of modern viruses appeared after the invention of the ribosome and modern proteins but before the divergence of modern cells from their last common ancestor.

Viruses are a huge source of new genes that originated during replication/recombination of viral genomes.

Keywords:

virocell;
ribocell;
ribovirocell;
virus;
virion;
lysogeny;
bacteriophage;
viral factory;
Mimivirus


Context. Nothing is known as yet about the physical properties of the putative Planet Nine (P9), which is hypothesized to orbit at the fringes of the solar system. Two groups of observers are using the eight-meter Subaru telescope to search for P9. Early estimates and predictions are important to characterize this hypothetic planet. We here predict some properties to compare them with the observed physical properties when Planet Nine has been unambiguously detected comparisons between the predicted and observed physical properties. Aims. We estimate the size, apparent observable brightness, shortest rotation period, and extension of the stable orbital region of possible satellites of P9. Methods. Using the predicted mass and adopting a possible mean bulk density range of P9, we computed its radius and assumed a domain for its geometric albedo. We then determined the apparent magnitude along its elliptic orbit. By testing different plausible physical models of a sub-Neptune class planet, we estimated the regions of stability and destruction versus rotational breakup in the radius–rotational period plane. In this plane the shortest rotational period is constrained by the possible size range of P9 and the separation curves. We applied quantitative measures of the stability domain of possible satellites orbiting P9 to quantify the search region in which to find possible satellite companions of the putative trans-Neptunian giant planet of our solar system. Results. Its predicted apparent magnitude even near aphelion allows discovering P9 with eight-meter class telescopes. P9 is stable against rotational breakup for stronger material if the period is longer than ~6 h, and for weaker material if the period is longer than ~13 h. The Szebehely stability domain for possible satellites of the hypothetical P9 is very large: for a small satellite it extents to ~1.7 au from the planet, and the longest orbital period of the satellite in this orbit is ~396 yr. For a possible twin planet configuration, the radius of the Szebehely stability domain is 1.3 au and the corresponding orbital period is ~280 yr. A twin planet would be brighter by about 0.25 mag than a single planet.


ABSTRACT The Ukrainian-American community represents a unique acculturating community with respect to sociohistorical context, as well as specific demographic and cultural characteristics. The Ukrainian immigrant experience reflects the identity formed in relation to its challenges faced during the twentieth century and its complex relationship with the former Soviet Union. The purpose of this study was to examine the process of acculturation within the Ukrainian community in the United States and to examine how acculturation processes are related to attitudes on childrearing and traditional family formation. The participants for this sample included 188 participants drawn from the Ukrainian diaspora in Central New York. Analyses demonstrated the unique influence of religious beliefs and the simultaneous unique influence of both American identity and Ukrainian identity on attitudes towards traditional marriage formation and parenting. American identity was associated with more liberal attitudes towards divorce while both Ukrainian and American identity were associated with childrearing beliefs. Higher Ukrainian identity predicted more traditional parenting beliefs, while higher American identity predicted more progressive (less traditional) parenting beliefs. These results describe the distinctive features of the Ukrainian-American community in the United States that contribute to attitudes regarding marital behaviour as well as parenting beliefs.


INTERCEPT is the previously untold - and previously highly classified - story of the melding of technology and espionage. Gordon Corera's compelling narrative, rich with historical details and characters, takes us from the Second World War to the internet age, with astonishing revelations about espionage carried out today. The computer was born to spy. Under the intense pressure of the Second World War and in the confines of Britain's code-breaking establishment at Bletchley Park, the work of Alan Turing and others led to the birth of electronic espionage. It was a breakthrough that helped win the war. In the following decades, computers transformed espionage from the spy hunting of the Cold War years to the data-driven pursuit of terrorists and the industrial-scale cyber-espionage against corporations in the twenty-first century. Together, computers and spies are shaping the future, and from the rise of China to the phones in our pockets, what was once the preserve of a few intelligence agencies now matters for us all. Drawing on unique access to Western intelligence agencies, on the ground reporting from China and insights into the most powerful technology companies, Corera has gathered compelling stories from heads of state, hackers and spies of all stripes. INTERCEPT is a ground-breaking exploration of the new space in which the worlds of espionage, geopolitics, diplomacy, international business, science and technology collide.


The cytotoxicity of many antineoplastic agents is due to their capacity to damage DNA and there is evidence indicating that DNA repair contributes to the cellular resistance to such agents. DNA strand breaks constitute a significant proportion of the lesions generated by a broad range of genotoxic agents, either directly, or during the course of DNA repair. Strand breaks that are caused by many agents including ionizing radiation, topoisomerase I inhibitors, and DNA repair glycosylases such as NEIL1 and NEIL2, often contain 5'-hydroxyl and/or 3'-phosphate termini. These ends must be converted to 5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxyl termini in order to allow DNA polymerases and ligases to catalyze repair synthesis and strand rejoining. A key enzyme involved in this end-processing is polynucleotide kinase (PNK), which possesses two enzyme activities, a DNA 5'-kinase activity and a 3'-phosphatase activity. PNK participates in the single-strand break repair pathway and the non-homologous end joining pathway for double-strand break repair. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of PNK renders cells more sensitive to ionizing radiation and camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor. Structural analysis of PNK revealed the protein is composed of three domains, the kinase domain at the C-terminus, the phosphatase domain in the centre and a forkhead associated (FHA) domain at the N-terminus. The FHA domain plays a critical role in the binding of PNK to other DNA repair proteins. Thus each PNK domain may be a suitable target for small molecule inhibition to effectively reduce resistance to ionizing radiation and topoisomerase I inhibitors.


One of the most toxic and hazardous elements affecting human health is lead, which is known to be a carcinogenic factor, causing harmful effects on human metabolism. Our study deals with the preparation of a novel and selective magnetic ion-imprinted polymer (Fe3O4@SiO2@IIP) with the application of isatin as a ligand and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) as a functional monomer for the selective and efficient extraction of Pb(II) ions from various fruits and vegetable samples. A Box–Behnken design was applied with several variables for optimization of the extraction and elution steps. In the selected conditions, the detection limit, preconcentration factor, and sorption capacity of this new polymer were 0.13 ng mL−1, 324.3, and 83 mg g−1, respectively. Finally, the feasibility of Fe3O4@SiO2@IIP nanoparticles was evaluated by extraction and determination of Pb(II) ions in different fruits and vegetables such as apples, kiwis, carrots, cantaloupes, peaches, cucumbers, and tomatoes.


Abstract Aim: A massive flood due to exceptional rainfalls devastated the town of Genoa on 9 October 2014. Media reports focused on the disaster, its causes and the political accountabilities. Reading facts after the event is commonly biased by the hindsight perspective and the aim of the paper is to investigate the amount and the potential effects of hindsight bias in terms of citizens risk perception and community resilience. Method: We performed a qualitative analysis of the narratives in the national and local news reports during the aftermath to investigate occurrences of a blaming attitude and cognitive biases. Results: The results showed a considerable amount of sentences that were focused on blaming the forecasters, the Civil Protection System, and the local administration. Many narratives were affected by hindsight bias and described the events as simple and linear chain reactions. This led to counterfactual biases, assuming that a simple intervention on a single factor could have prevented the tragic outcome. Conclusion: We claim that the biased nature of the media narratives could affect the citizens' risk perception and their attitude towards the institutions, increasing their exposure to future flood-related threats. We propose the appropriate language would generate correct cognitive frames and, therefore, safer behaviour.


We combine samples of nearby galaxies with Herschel photometry selected on their dust, metal,
Hi, and stellar mass content, and compare these to chemical evolution models in order to discriminate
between different dust sources. In a companion paper, we used a Hi-selected sample of nearby
galaxies to reveal a sub-sample of very gas rich (gas fraction > 80 per cent) sources with dust masses
significantly below predictions from simple chemical evolution models, and well below Md/M∗ and
Md/Mgas scaling relations seen in dust and stellar-selected samples of local galaxies. We use a chemical
evolution model to explain these dust-poor, but gas-rich, sources as well as the observed star
formation rates (SFRs) and dust-to-gas ratios. We find that (i) a delayed star formation history is
required to model the observed SFRs; (ii) inflows and outflows are required to model the observed
metallicities at low gas fractions; (iii) a reduced contribution of dust from supernovae (SNe) is
needed to explain the dust-poor sources with high gas fractions. These dust-poor, low stellar mass
galaxies require a typical core-collapse SN to produce 0.01−0.16 M� of dust. To match the observed
dust masses at lower gas fractions, significant grain growth is required to counteract the reduced
contribution from dust in SNe and dust destruction from SN shocks. These findings are statistically
robust, though due to intrinsic scatter it is not always possible to find one single model that successfully
describes all the data. We also show that the dust-to-metals ratio decreases towards lower
metallicity.


Background: Antithrombotic therapy is recommended in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients due to high risk of stroke. However, antithrombotic therapy is often underutilized due to adverse effects and limited data available in Indian population. Aims: Primary objective was to study usage pattern of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in AF patients. Secondary objective was to assess the risk of stroke and compare usage pattern of antithrombotic drugs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with application of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Materials and Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted in outpatient department for period of one year in patients > 35 years of either gender diagnosed with AF due to any established cause. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score were used to assess risk of stroke among NVAF patients. Results: 111 patients diagnosed with AF (mean age 54 years; 54.96% female) were analyzed and out of these, 78 patients were valvular AF patients and 33 were NVAF patients. Anticoagulants were predominantly prescribed in 60 valvular AF patients. Out of 33 NVAF patients, 19 (57.57%) patients had CHADS2 score 1 while as per CHA2DS2-VASc score 28 (84.84%) patients had score ≥ 2. Out of 33 NVAF patients, 15 (45.45%) patients were prescribed warfarin, aspirin in 12 (36.36%) patients and no antithrombotic therapy in 6 (18.18%) patients. Conclusion: Oral anticoagulant drugs are most commonly prescribed antithrombotic drugs in valvular AF and NVAF patients for stroke prevention. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score are easy, simple schemes to assess stroke risk in NVAF patients and helps physicians and patients to choose most suitable antithrombotic therapy.


Business and business schools, at least in the United States, have tended to maintain an arm's-length relationship. Recent evidence suggests that this arm's-length model may have expanded the gulf between business and business schools, making them increasingly irrelevant to one another. This article argues for a new kind of executive education program that can provide the platform for building a very different partnership between business and business schools. Instead of viewing research and teaching as independent or sequentially linked activities, such programs can make them simultaneous outputs from a shared learning experience. Grounded in the specific case of one such partnership between Digital Equipment Corporation and INSEAD, such learning alliances can be just as useful for broadening the perspectives of business school faculty and for building new theory as they are for educating managers and for managing corporate change.


Students with disabilities are a specific group of the student population that are guaranteed rights that allow them to receive a free and unbiased education in an environment with their nondisabled peers. The importance of this study relates to providing students with disabilities with the opportunity to receive instruction from the most efficient and prepared educators. The purpose of this study is to determine how specific factors influence special education belief systems. In particular, educators who provide science instruction in whole group or small group classrooms in a large metropolitan area in Georgia possess specific beliefs about their ability to provide meaningful instruction. Data was collected through a correlational study completed by educators through an online survey website. The SEBEST quantitative survey instrument was used on a medium sample size (approximately 120 teachers) in a large metropolitan school district. The selected statistical analysis was the Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney in order to determine if any correlation exists among preservice training and perceived self-efficacy of secondary special education teachers in the content area of science. The results of this study showed that special education teachers in the content area of science have a higher perceived self-efficacy if they have completed an alternative certification program. Other variables tested did not show any statistical significance. Further research can be centered on the analysis of actual teacher efficacy, year end teacher efficacy measurements, teacher stipends, increased recruitment, and special education teachers of multiple content areas.


Purpose: The main aim of this study is to determine the antibiotic profile of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from fin-fishes collected from three major fish landing sites in Chennai, India.
Methods: Antibiotic profiles of Gram-negative halophilic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from skin surfaces of a total of 112 fin-fish samples, consisting of 30 Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), 40 Indian sardine (Sardinella longiceps) and 42 Rohu (Labeo rohita) fishes were determined by disc diffusion method, using commonly used antibiotic discs, doxycycline, ofloxacin, cefazolin, clindamycin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol. Kanagawa reaction was further performed, to detect the pathogenicity of the identified Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains.
Results/Findings: Thirty two samples were found to be positive. Among 32 isolates, 5 were found to be positive for kanagawa reaction. The isolated Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains showed significant in vitro susceptibility to doxycycline and ofloxacin.


Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease mainly affecting the respiratory system, the virus is transmitted from person to person through large droplets from coughing, sneezing or rhinorrhea, it remains viable for at least 24 hours on a hard surface and up to eight hours on a soft surface If it enters into the human respiratory system it attacks the lungs and induces serous fluid, fibrin exudates, and leads to hyaline membrane formation in the alveoli which highly affects the respiratory system The aim of this review is to collect the present evidence on effect of Acupuncture-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Acu-TENS) on pulmonary function which can help the clinicians to do further clinical trials and recommend the usage of Modality TENS which can significantly improve lung function among COVID-19 patients Till now, it is found that few breathing techniques improve lung function among hospitalised COVID-19 patients but yet no study has been found which shows the effect of modality like TENS on lung function among COVID-19 patients TENS is a non-invasive and inexpensive peripheral stimulation technique that markedly improves lung function after a single session of 30-45 minutes Hence, usage of TENS can be recommended for COVID-19 patient treatment


The Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS) is a prospective adoption design consisting of 360 linked sets of birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children followed from 3 months postpartum through child age 7 years, and an additional 200 linked sets for whom recruitment is underway. The EGDS brings together the study of genotype-environment correlation (rGE) and Genotype x Environment (GxE) interaction to inform intervention development by examining mechanisms whereby family processes mediate or moderate the expression of genetic influences. Participants in the EGDS are recruited through domestic adoption agencies located throughout the United States of America. The assessments occur at 6-month intervals until child age 4-½ years and at ages 6 and 7, when the children are in their 1(st) and 2(nd) years of formal schooling (kindergarten and first grade). The data collection includes measures of child characteristics, birth and adoptive parent characteristics, adoptive parenting, prenatal exposure to drugs and maternal stress, birth parent and adopted child salivary cortisol reactivity, and DNA from all participants. The preliminary analyses suggest evidence for GxE interaction beginning in infancy. An intervention perspective on future developments in the field of behavioral genetics is described.


The works is relied on the mass prestressed sewage tank, the tendon loss of prestress is calculated. Value of equivalent load of tensions applied on the pool wall is gained using elastic mechanics. The stress of the concrete section is tested when prestressing tendon is stretching and during the process of feeding water. To verify the accuracy of the measurement, calculating results are compared with the measured values by using FEM model analysis software, both are relatively approach. The paper specifically gives the differences between the measured data and theoretical data and analyzes the cause. The aim is accumulating relevant test data and providing reference for the similar project.


PID controllers have found extensive industrial applications for several decades. Recently, mixed H2/H∞ optimal control problems have received a great deal of attention from the viewpoint of theoretical design. Mixed H2/H∞ control design approaches are useful for robust performance for systems under parameter perturbation and uncertain disturbance. In this paper, a design procedure is proposed to tune PID controller parameters to achieve mixed H2/H∞ optimal performance. Since the criterion that must be optimized is of integral type, and the constraints are imposed by the robust control, the problem to be solved is a highly nonlinear minimization problem, in which many local minima may exist. Genetic algorithms are parallel, global search techniques that emulate natural genetic operators. Because a genetic algorithm simultaneously evaluates many points in the parameter space, it is more likely to converge to the global solution. MATHEMATICA is powerful symbolic calculus software, which also will be used in the paper to illustrate better the results. An illustrative example confirms that good performance can be achieved by the proposed method.


We consider the type IIB Green–Schwarz superstring theory on AdS2 × S2 × T6 supported by homogeneous Ramond–Ramond 5-form flux and its type IIA T-duals. One motivation is to understand the solution of this theory based on integrability. This background is a limit of a 1/4 supersymmetric supergravity solution describing four intersecting D3-branes and represents a consistent embedding of AdS2 × S2 into critical superstring theory. Its AdS2 × S2 part with corresponding fermions can be described by a classically integrable PSU(1, 1|2)/SO(1, 1) × U(1) supercoset sigma model. We point out that since the RR 5-form field has non-zero components along the 6-torus directions one cannot, in general, factorize the 10D superstring theory into the supercoset part plus six bosons and six additional massless fermions. Still, we demonstrate that the full superstring model (i) is classically integrable, at least to quadratic order in fermions, and (ii) admits a consistent classical truncation to the supercoset part. Following the analogy with other integrable backgrounds and starting with the finite-gap equations of the PSU(1, 1|2)/SO(1, 1) × U(1) supercoset, we propose a set of asymptotic Bethe ansatz equations for a subset of the quantum string states.


The purpose of the research is to know the effect of CAR, NPF, and FDR on profitability in Islamic Bank in Indonesia. This research examined nine Islamic banks in Indonesia: Bank Muamalat, Bank Syariah BRI, BJB Syariah, Bank BNI Syariah, Bank Syariah Mandiri, Bank Mega Syariah, Bank Panin Syariah, Bank Syariah Bukopin and Bank BCA Syariah. Performance of Islamic Banking can be measured using financial ratios. The method that used in this study is regretion analysis. Results from this study showed that the CAR and NPF effect on ROA, while FDR had no effect.
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Keywords: Regretion analysis, Islamic Bank, Profitability, financial ratio


Aesthetic perception of music has been extensively researched in the last decades. Numerous studies suggest that listeners find a piece of music more or less pleasant according to its complexity. Experimental results show that complexity and liking have different relationship
according to the musical genre examined, and that these two variables are also affected by other factors such as familiarity to the music and
expertise of the listener. Although previous experiments have examined several genres such as jazz, pop, rock and bluegrass, surprisingly, no study has focused on contemporary music.
In this paper, we fill this gap by studying the relationships between complexity, liking, musical training and familiarity in the case of
contemporary music. By analysing this genre – which is usually underrepresented in music cognition – it is possible to shed some light
on the correlation between liking and complexity in the case of highly complex music. To obtain data, a multifactor experiment was designed in which both music experts and novices had to provide scores of subjective complexity and liking for four 30-second long excerpts of contemporary music with different degrees of complexity.
Empirical results suggest that liking and complexity are negatively correlated in the case of contemporary music and that listeners'
expertise does not influence the perceived complexity of musical pieces, but it can significantly affect liking. This possibly indicates that experts have the musical knowledge needed to appreciate extremely complex music, while novices do not.


In this paper a polynomial time heuristic algorithm developed for the assignment optimization problem is introduced, which leads to an improved usage of field programmable gate array (FPGA) resources for hardware-based fault injection using an FPGA-based logic emulator. Logic emulation represents a new method of design validation utilizing a reprogrammable prototype of a digital circuit. In the past years various approaches to hardware-based fault injection using a hardware logic emulator have been presented. Some approaches insert additional functions at the fault location, while others utilize the reconfigurability of FPGAs. A common feature of each of these methods is the execution of hardware-based fault simulation using the stuck-at fault model at gate level.


Crustaceans are important members of marine benthic communities. In addition to the value of the larger and more abundant species for human consumption, a tremendous variety of smaller species contribute to the complexity and functioning of ecosystems (Hamed et al., 2012). Among decapod crustaceans, the infraorder Brachyura is prominent because of its great diversity, comprising about 1271 genera and 6793 species worldwide (Ng et al., The study, estimated to contribute to generate information to elucidate morphometrics and length-weight relationship and the relative growth of some body parts of the mud crab Scylla serrata. A total of 100 crabs were collected, from January 2018 to January 2019, from Sudanese Red Sea coast of the commercial catch land at Port Sudan. Each specimen was sexed and measured. Regression equations were calculated assuming an allometric growth equation, to determine relations between different morphometric characters in males and females, the carapace width/ length -weight relationship was estimated using the log form of the allometric growth equation. The values of the correlation coefficient (R 2 ) were calculated to know the accuracy of the dependent variable and the coefficient of determination. The study has shown that males are marginally heavier than females. Right chela propodus length and height are bigger in males than females, the right chela propodus length of males ranged from 7.83 to 15.44 mm. But the crabs length and width, Abdomen length and width are bigger in females than males. The carapace width of males ranged from 11.64 to 19.95 mm, while in females ranged from 12.73 to 20.86 mm, and the Abdomen width of females ranged from 7.4 to 10.47mm, while in males ranged from 2.94 to 5.7 mm. The right chela Propodus length and height in male and females are bigger than the left one. The results are shown that the allometric equations between the set of characters studied suggested that in most cases the relationship was negative. Growth was negatively allometric in both sexes. Carapace length against Carapace width was positively allometric for both males and females. These results of this study will make useful information, needed for the effective management and utilization of this resource in the Red Sea area. K e y w o r d s


Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential value of three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (3D-US) in the diagnosis of unicornuate uterus with hysteroscopy as the reference standard. Methods: In this prospective study 136 women with suspected of uterine anomalies on 2-D ultrasonography were evaluated by 3D-US and hysteroscopy. Stored 3D volumes were then examined using multiplanar reformatted sections. We classified the uterus as unicornuate if there was an elongated curved shape showing a single cavity with or without rudimentary horn. The sensitivity, specificity positive and negative predictive values of 3D-US were calculated using hysteroscopy as reference standard. Results: A unicornuate uterus was sonographically diagnosed in 9 women (6.6%) of the 136 included in the study group while the hysteroscopy confirmed unicornuate uterus in 8 patients (5.9%) and revealed normal uterus in one patient. Three-dimensional sonography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100%, 99.22%, 88.89% and 100% respectively. The Kappa value between two methods was 0.937 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Three-dimensional ultrasound is an accurate method for the diagnosis of unicornuate uterus with a very good agreement with the hysteroscopy results.


Thermopower waves convert chemical energy into electrical power using nanostructured thermal conduits like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by taking advantage of their high thermal conductivity to propagate the heat released by an exothermic reaction of a fuel layer coated around the conduit. Electron–phonon coupling in the CNTs then leads to an electrical output. Previous work using cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine coated around multiwalled CNTs has shown electrical output as high as 7 kW kg. This phenomenon has potential to aid the manufacture of nanoscale power sources capable of releasing large power pulses for specific applications. Researchers have studied the effects of other system properties, including the conduit thermal conductivity, the chemical properties of the fuel, and the coupling of the reactions to inorganic thermoelectric materials. An analytical solution for the governing heat and mass balance equations has also been derived. Here, we review the progress made in the field of thermopower waves. VC 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3333-3341, 2013


The growing demands on protein producers and the dwindling available resources have made Hermetia illucens (the black soldier fly, BSF) an economically important species. Insights into the genome of this insect will better allow for robust breeding protocols, and more efficient production to be used as a replacement of animal feed protein. The use of microRNA as a method to understand how gene regulation allows insect species to adapt to changes in their environment, has been established in multiple species. The baseline and life stage expression levels established in this study, allow for insight into the development and sex-linked microRNA regulation in BSF. To accomplish this, microRNA was extracted and sequenced from 15 different libraries with each life stage in triplicate. Of the total 192 microRNAs found, 168 were orthologous to known arthropod microRNAs and 24 microRNAs were unique to BSF. Twenty-six of the 168 microRNAs conserved across arthropods had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) differential expression between Egg to Larval stages. The development from larva to pupa was characterized by 16 statistically significant differentially expressed microRNA. Seven and 9 microRNA were detected as statistically significant between pupa to adult female and pupa to adult male, respectively. All life stages had a nearly equal split between up and down regulated microRNAs. Ten of the unique 24 miRNA were detected exclusively in one life stage. The egg life stage expressed five microRNA (hil-miR-m, hil-miR-p, hil-miR-r, hil-miR-s, and hil-miR-u) not seen in any other life stages. The female adult and pupa life stages expressed one miRNA each hil-miR-h and hil-miR-ac respectively. Both male and female adult life stages expressed hil-miR-a, hil-miR-b, and hil-miR-y. There were no unique microRNAs found only in the larva stage. Twenty-two microRNAs with 56 experimentally validated target genes in the closely related Drosophila melanogaster were identified. Thus, the microRNA found display the unique evolution of BSF, along with the life stages and potential genes to target for robust mass rearing. Understanding of the microRNA expression in BSF will further their use in the crucial search for alternative and sustainable protein sources.


ABSTRACT In 1996 the US Congress enacted welfare reform legislation. In addition to new lifetime time limits and work requirements for those receiving cash and other forms of social assistance, the states could impose policies pertaining to reproductive-related behaviors of poor women. One such policy is the so-called "family-cap," which denies additional income support to poor women who have a baby while receiving cash assistance; 24 states have implemented such policies. The ostensible goal of the policy is to limit fertility among current cash assistance recipients. This pilot study sought to explore whether poor women in a family-cap state (NJ) base their reproductive decisions on welfare policies and/or economic factors. We conducted combined quantitative and qualitative interviews with 32 current and former welfare recipients in both urban and rural sections of the state. The main questions were whether women knew about the family-cap policy, if it influenced their reproductive decision-making, and, if so, in what direction? We found that most women were not aware of the policy and did not view it as relevant to their reproductive-related decisions. These findings raise the issue as to whether the family-cap is working as policymakers intended, and support further examination of the consequences of potentially increased economic hardship on already-poor families.


OBJECTIVE To study prognosis after a first-ever myocardial infarction (MI) in type 1 diabetes, as well as how different MI- and diabetes-related factors affect the prognosis and risk of secondary cardiovascular events. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this observational follow-up study of 4,217 individuals from the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study with no prior MI or coronary revascularization, we verified 253 (6.0%) MIs from medical records or death certificates. Mortality from cardiovascular or diabetes-related cause was our main end point, whereas hospitalization due to heart failure, coronary revascularization, and recurrent MI were secondary end points, while accounting for death as a competing risk. RESULTS Of the individuals studied, 187 (73.9%) died during the median post-MI follow-up of 3.07 (interquartile range 0.02–8.45) years. Independent risk factors for cardiovascular and diabetes-related mortality were estimated glomerular filtration rate categories grade 3 (G3) (hazard ratio [HR] 3.27 [95% CI 1.76–6.08]), G4 (3.62 [1.69–7.73]), and G5 (4.03 [2.24–7.26]); prior coronary heart disease diagnosis (1.50 [1.03–2.20]); and older age at MI (1.03 [1.00–1.05]). Factors associated with lower mortality were acute revascularization (HR 0.35 [95% CI 0.18–0.72]) and subacute revascularization (0.39 [0.26–0.59]). In Fine and Gray competing risk analyses, kidney failure was associated with a higher risk of recurrent MI (subdistribution HR 3.27 [95% CI 2.01–5.34]), heart failure (3.76 [2.46–5.76]), and coronary revascularization (3.04 [1.89–4.90]). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with type 1 diabetes have a high cardiovascular and diabetes-related mortality after their first-ever MI. In particular, poor kidney function is associated with high mortality and excessive risk of secondary cardiovascular events.


Although still commonly used in clinical practice to screen and diagnose prostate cancer, there are numerous weaknesses of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, including lack of specificity and the inability to distinguish between aggressive and indolent cancers. A promising prostate cancer biomarker, alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), has been previously demonstrated to distinguish cancer from healthy and benign prostate cells with high sensitivity and specificity. However, no accurate clinically useful assay has been developed. This study reports the development of a single use, disposable biosensor for AMACR detection. Human blood samples were used to verify its validity, reproducibility and reliability. Plasma samples from 9 healthy males, 10 patients with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), and 5 prostate cancer patients were measured for AMACR levels. The average AMACR levels in the prostate cancer patients was 10 fold higher (mean(SD) = 0.077 (0.10)) than either the controls (mean(SD) = 0.005 (0.001)) or HGPIN patients (mean(SD) = 0.004 (0.0005)). At a cutoff of between 0.08 and 0.9, we are able to achieve 100% accuracy in separating prostate cancer patients from controls. Our results provide strong evidence demonstrating that this biosensor can perform as a reliable assay for prostate cancer detection and diagnosis.


COVID-19 cases are still rising globally in the middle of the tuberculosis epidemic. Several countries have reported TB-COVID-19 coinfection that could pose a double burden in the health care facilities in developing countries. We reported two pulmonary tuberculosis patients coinfected with COVID-19 with an overlapping clinical manifestation of tuberculosis and COVID-19 with a good prognosis at the end of COVID-19 treatment. This paper aims to discuss TB patients' susceptibility against SARS-COV-2 infection, the clinical profile of TB-COVID-19 coinfection, and the disease's prognosis. The clinician should be aware of both common disease symptoms that appear in a patient and should be confirmed and treat promptly.


Few studies have examined the associations between dietary patterns and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or whether they differ by race. This was evaluated using data from a population-based case-control study (2002-2006) including 1,176 cases of head and neck SCC and 1,317 age-, race-, and gender-matched controls from central and eastern North Carolina whose diets had been assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis identified 2 patterns of intake: 1) high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein and 2) high consumption of fried foods, high-fat and processed meats, and sweets. Associations were estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for matching factors and confounders. Heterogeneity by tumor site (oral/pharyngeal vs. laryngeal) and effect-measure modification were also evaluated. Reduced odds of head and neck SCC were found for the fruit, vegetable, and lean protein pattern (for highest quartile vs. lowest, odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 0.71). The fried foods, high-fat and processed meats, and sweets pattern was positively associated only with laryngeal cancer (odds ratio = 2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 3.72). These findings underline the importance of a dietary pattern rich in fruits and vegetables and low in high-fat and processed meats and sweets for prevention of head and neck cancer.


This paper describes our solution to the IEEE VAST 2013 Mini Challenge 11. The task of the challenge was to create a visual and interactive tool to predict the popularity of new movies in terms of viewer ratings and ticket sales for the opening weekend in the U.S. The data usage was restricted by the challenge organizers to data from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)2 and a predefined set of Twitter3 microblog messages. To tackle the challenge we designed a system together with an analysis workflow, combining machine learning and visualization paradigms in order to obtain accurate predictions. In Section 2 we describe the machine learning components used within the analysis workflow. Next, in Section 3, we describe where and how the human analyst is enabled to enhance the prediction with her/his world knowledge. Finally, Section 4 concludes the paper providing an evaluation of the prediction accuracy with and without human intervention.


In this paper, a rate adaptive convolutional coding method for multicarrier direct sequence code division multiple access (DS/CDMA) systems is considered In order to accommodate a number of coding rates easily and make the encoder and decoder structure simple, we use the rate compatible punctured convolutional (RCPC) code. We obtain data throughputs at several coding rates by choosing the coding rate which has the highest data throughput in the SINR sense. To achieve maximum data throughput, a rate adaptive system based on the channel state information (the SINR estimate) is proposed. The SINR estimate is obtained by the soft decision Viterbi decoding metric. We show that the proposed rate adaptive convolutionally coded multicarrier DS/CDMA system can enhance spectral efficiency and provide frequency diversity.


Background: For years stone quarrying and crushing have been known as highly hazardous work, whereby workers are affected by many debilitating occupational health hazards and diseases. In Nigeria, the majority of quarry workers comprise people who are employed for manual labor, often under-educated and hence are not well grounded in the knowledge of the occupational safety measures required for the job. Aim: The aim was to determine the level of awareness and compliance with use of safety protective devices and the patterns of injury among quarry workers in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 74 quarry workers who were randomly selected using the cluster-sampling technique in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area. A pretested semistructured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used as the tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19.0 and Epi-info 6.0. Results: All the 74 respondents interviewed were males, and majority (90.5%) of whom were between the ages of 15 and 44 years, with 25-34 years age group constituting 32.4%. More than one-third of them (39.2%) had Quranic education as their highest level of education, 29.7% and 27.0% of them had primary and secondary levels of education respectively. None of the respondents had tertiary education. On issues of work safety, 68.9% think their work is not safe. Majority of the respondents (97.3%) were aware of safety protective devices. A total of 89.2% use at least one safety protective device or the other at work. However, 71.6% of these use the devices always, showing a high level of compliance. Most of the respondents (81.1%) had experienced at least one workplace injury or the other in the past, most commonly was hand injury (80.0%), leg injury (30.0%), eye injury (11.7%), and facial injury (8.3%). The findings also showed a significant relationship between monthly income and use of safety protective devices at work (χ2 = 6.611, df = 2, P = 0.1) and between number of work-hours per day and stress at or after work (χ2 = 9.509, df = 2, P = 0.1). Conclusion: This study revealed that majority of the quarry workers in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area knew that their job exposes them to health hazards. They have a high level of awareness on safety protective devices and use several of these devices, though with varying levels of compliance. Intensive health education campaigns and provision of adequately subsidized safety protective devices for the workers by the relevant authorities will go a long way in improving awareness and compliance with use of safety protective devices and reduction of hazards.


This paper discusses the advantages of subthreshold logic for True Random Number Generators (TRNG). In this work, the entropy is modeled, and a lower bound of Shannon's entropy per output bit can quickly be estimated. Thanks to this model, sizing TRNGs in subthreshold logic is quite simple and defining design guidelines for low-energy and low-area TRNGs is straightforward. A TRNG in 180nm CMOS technology has been designed, demonstrating low complexity (305 gates) and energy efficacy (30pJ/bit) at 0.5 Kbit/s.


The application of antenna arrays has been suggested in recent years for mobile communications systems to overcome the problem of limited channel bandwidth, thereby satisfying an ever growing demand for a large number of high bit rate mobiles on communications channels. It has been shown by many studies that when an array is appropriately used in a mobile communications system, it helps in improving the system performance by increasing channel capacity and spectrum efficiency. It also extends the range of coverage, reduces multipath fading, and co-channel interference. These benefits are achieved by adjusting the antenna radiation pattern for a given wireless environment. The main objective of the adaptive antenna array is to reduce the received interference by forming nulls towards the co-channel interference sources, while tracking the desired signal by steering a beam towards it. The sensitivity pattern of the array is adjusted to suit these requirements by combining signals from different antenna elements with appropriate weighting. Here, the knowledge of a reference signal, a training signal, or the direction of the desired signal source is necessary to differentiate the desired signal from the interferers. The term adaptive antenna is used when the weights (gains and phases) applied to the signals induced on the array elements, are regularly updated before combining. The adaptation/updating is used to control the radiation pattern of the array dynamically, according to the requirements of the system. There are many adaptive methods and algorithms to modify the array weights, and to estimate the direction of arrival (DOA) of the desired and interference signals, each with its advantages and disadvantages. In an optimal adaptive antenna array system the gain and phase of each antenna element is adjusted to achieve the optimal performance of the array in some sense. For example, in steered beam adaptive arrays, the basis for adjusting gains and phases of each element is to obtain maximum output Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) by cancelling undesired interferences while receiving the desired signal. Such an arrangement is referred to as "optimal combining" in the literature. This thesis aims at developing novel analytical and simulation models for assessing the performance of a steered-beam adaptive antenna array with an arbitrary number of variably spaced dipole elements operating with incident narrow-band signals of various bandwidths and powers. The outline of the thesis is as follows: Chapter 1 presents a general overview of the usage of adaptive array antennas in wireless communication systems, including their adaptive algorithms, advantages/disadvantages and performance comparisons. In chapter 2, the performance of the uniformly and non-uniformly spaced adaptive array antennas is investigated. Analytical expressions for assessing their performance are introduced and then computer simulations are performed to illustrate the performance of the array under various operating conditions. In this chapter, the presence of mutual coupling between the array elements is ignored. Chapter 3 presents a treatment of direction-of-arrival estimation algorithms covering a review of many existing direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation methods, including their capabilities and limitations. Chapter 4 presents theoretical and experimental investigations into performances of narrowband uniformly and non-uniformly spaced steered beam adaptive linear dipole array antennas that are subjected to pointing errors and mutual coupling. It is shown that the array's tolerance to pointing errors can be enhanced by controlling the inter-element spacing. Chapter 5 describes the effect of polarized signals (desired and interference) on the performance of uniformly spaced steered beam adaptive array antennas. A comparison between adaptive arrays with single dipole and cross-dipole elements is conducted to show the effect of polarization on their behaviour. It is shown that the cross-dipole array antennas have better performance in terms of the output SINR than the single dipole antenna array antennas if the polarization of the desired signal is unknown, while the single dipole arrays give better performance if the polarization of the desired signal is known. In chapter 6, a new method for computing the parameters of the mobile fading channel is introduced. Investigations into the effect of the mobile fading environment on the performance of the uniformly and non-uniformly spaced steered beam adaptive array are presented. In chapter 7, a novel method of incorporating steered beam adaptive arrays in Direct Sequence-Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) spread spectrum systems is presented. The performance of the system is investigated in terms of Bit Error Probability (BER). Chapter 8 presents the conclusions of the thesis and suggestions for future work.


This work describes the designing and the implementation of microcontroller
to the control of an AGV. AGV is an acronym for Automatic Guided Vehicle and it's
apparently become more demanding nowadays especially in the manufacturing
industry due to its ability to self guided the transportation process. The main hardware
components consist of the microcontroller board, the sensor, the voltage regulator and
the motor driver circuits. The task of interfacing the hardware and the programming
of the software is challenging. The microcontroller will act as brain of the AGV to
control the action that should be taken by the AGV while moving under pre-defined
pathways. Basically, the sensors which are located at the front and both sides of the
AGV will sense the existence of black line at the bottom of the AGV. The sensor
provides the input signal to the microcontroller. The microcontroller will process the
input obtained and provide the appropriate instruction to the output to control the
motion of two motors. The output would results in the AGV to change the direction
of movement either to the right or left or may remain in the same direction depending
on the microcontroller' s decision. Several experiments and tests also have been
conducted to verify the operation of the circuits. The AGV prototype is successfully
designed, assembled, built and tested.


Micromachining of advanced ceramics has been growing tremendously especially in the MEMs industry. All the time, researchers and industrial engineers have strived to achieve the lowest production cost at possible highest quality in micromachining operations. In this paper, the micromachining operation by means of chemical etching of ceramics is discussed. Machinable glass-ceramic (MGC) is used as the substrate and the influence of various input factors of the etching process is analyzed. These factors include etching temperature, etching period and, etching solution. The etching rate is then analyzed by calculating the weight loss per minutes. In order to establish the relationship between these factors, central composite design (CCD) and artificial neural network are used. Additionally, a prediction model that can be used with a high level of confidence in the industry is created at the end of the analysis.


BACKGROUND
To address the major methodological issues of reverse causation and selection bias in epidemiologic studies of antibiotic use in early life and the development of asthma, we undertook a cohort study of this association in a complete population of children.

METHODS
Using the health-care and prescription databases of Manitoba, Canada, this longitudinal study assessed the association between antibiotic prescription use during the first year of life and asthma at age 7 years in a 1995 birth cohort of 13,116 children.

RESULTS
Independent of well-known asthma risk factors, asthma was significantly more likely to develop in children who had received antibiotics in the first year of life at age 7 years. The association with asthma was observed for antibiotic use in non-respiratory tract infections (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 3.37). The risk of asthma was highest in children receiving more than four courses of antibiotics (adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.88), especially among rural children, and in the absence of maternal asthma or a dog in the birth year. Broad-spectrum (BS) cephalosporin use was more common in these subpopulations of children.

CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic use in early life was associated with the development of childhood asthma, a risk that may be reduced by avoiding the use of BS cephalosporins.


Considering the difference between specimens and RD2 axle of C64A freight car, the extrapolated probabilistic fatigue S-N curves of LZ50 axle steel, which include the long life regime of material, are adjusted by introducing a probabilistic fatigue affecting factor, Kaffect. Based on the adjusted curves, fatigue reliability research on the axle at different operating speeds is carried out. It utilizes the fatigue stress spectrums of the axle in two different wheel set states, namely, normal state and scratched state. The fatigue operating life with arbitrary survival probability and confidence is obtained, and the failure rate with given confidence and design fatigue life is also achieved. Analysis results indicate that the unloading groove of existent RD2 axle is the most dangerous part. When the wheel set is in normal state, fatigue life of C64A freight car RD2 axle decreases with the increase of reliability. Furthermore, scratched wheel set shortens the fatigue life strongly. Therefore, inspection and administration of scratched wheel set are significant. The application of wheel set at relatively high scratch level and high operating speed should be restricted.


Several large scale transportation infrastructure projects have been proposed, with several already under construction, in Metro Manila by the current Administration such as the elevated expressway above the PNR line also known as the NLEx-SLEx connector, the NAIA expressway, the CALA and Lakeshore expressway projects as well as the proposed light rail transit (LRT) line 1 South Extension, bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, subway, among others. Some of these transportation infrastructure projects are for possible Public-Private Partnership (PPP) funding. Aside from the National Government's proposals, several private groups have also proposed transportation infrastructure projects in Metro Manila. This research analyzed and evaluated the impact of these proposed transport infrastructure projects on urban travel using the Transport Co-Benefit Analysis as developed by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). This research provides a macroscopic analysis regarding which proposed infrastructure projects would be beneficial to the people of Metro Manila.


In Indonesia, implementation of the Law on Teachers and Lecturers in 2005 increased teacher salaries and led to an oversupply of students in teacher education programs, which might be due to no specific teacher education admission criteria. Consequently, limited teaching positions upon graduation result in more teacher education graduates undertaking non-teaching careers. Then, why do students enter teacher education? The study applies the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) theoretical framework. Over eight hundred final-year undergraduate teacher education students from four universities participated in the study. Primary education participants were more motivated by their perceived teaching ability, intrinsic value, job security, time for family, opportunities to have a second job, job transferability, make social contribution, work with children/adolescents, prior teaching and learning experiences, and social influences than all other programs of study. Early childhood and special education participants entered the program because they desire to enhance social equity. English language education participants were the least motivated among others. Improving selection criteria for teacher education admissions, strengthening teacher induction programs, as well as refining the quality of teacher training institutions are crucial to ensure high-quality teachers in Indonesia.


From the Publisher:
The complete software developer's guide to surviving projects that are "doomed to fail."

In the course of a career, practically every software developer and manager will encounter projects with outrageous staffing, scheduling, budgeting, or feature constraints: projects that seem destined to fail. In the wake of re-engineering, such "Death March" projects have become a way of life in many organizations.

Surviving projects that are "doomed to fail"!

Negotiating the best deal up-front.

Managing people and setting priorities.

Choosing tools and technologies.

When it's time to walk away.

Now, best-selling author Edward Yourdon brings his unique technology and management insights to the worst IS projects, showing how to maximize your chances of success--and, if nothing else, how to make sure your career survives them.

Yourdon walks step-by-step through the entire project life cycle, showing both managers and developers how to deal with the politics of "Death March" projects--and how to make the most of the available resources, including people, tools, processes, and technology.

Learn how to negotiate for the flexibility you need, how to set priorities that make sense--and when to simply walk away. Discover how to recognize the tell-tale signs of a "Death March" project--or an organization that breeds them.

If you've ever been asked to do the impossible, Death March is the book you've been waiting for.


Our patient was admitted to hospital with a 1-week history of an upper respiratory tract infection and a rapidly progressive encephalopathy dominated by brainstem features and widespread areflexia. Her antiganglioside antibodies and electroencephalography were consistent with Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE), and her postmortem examination revealed a predominantly florid brainstem encephalitis and myelitis. Her sputum and throat swabs isolated Haemophilus influenzae and Fusobacterium, respectively, the former being the most probable trigger of BBE. Our patient's death, despite the otherwise good prognosis of the disorder, may reflect the severity of the pathological changes at postmortem or the association of comorbid disorders such as sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Her poor outcome may also be an indication to treat rapidly progressive cases of BBE with more than one immune modulating drug.


More than half the general practitioners in the north of England, and all the health visitors, were sent questionnaires about the primary health care of children. Eighty per cent of general practitioners responded. Their qualifications and experience in paediatrics were poor, although this was less true for younger practitioners. The doctors differed widely in their management of hypothetical clinical problems, possibly owing to this lack of training. Health visitors were thought to have an important role in developmental screening within the primary health care team, but the teamwork itself seemed weak. Although 83% of general practitioners considered developmental screening should be primarily the responsibility of the primary health care team, 31% of practices did not do it and had no plans to start. Rather more than half of the doctors in these non-screening practices would accept a clinical medical officer to screen their patients on their premises. Suggestions are made for ways of encouraging general practitioners to carry out developmental screening.


Background: The specific threshold for prostate-specific antigen and density (PSA, PSAD) to delineate which patients are at the highest risk has been controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of PSA and PSAD in Iranian patients with prostate cancer. Methods: Three hundred men with the serum PSA greater than 4.0 ng/ml, abnormal digital rectal examination and/or suspicious transrectal ultrasound underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies. PSAD was calculated by dividing the serum PSA in ng/ml by the volume of the entire prostate in cm 3 . Correlation with Gleason grade of the tumor was also made. The patients were divided into three groups according to their PSA values. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was produced from the raw data on all patients. Results: One hundred and two patients showed a cancer rate of 34%. The mean PSA and PSAD of the cancer group were significantly higher than those of the non-cancer group with better performance of PSAD as confirmed by ROC curve. In patients with PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml, mean PSAD values in positive and negative biopsy groups showed a significant difference while mean PSA values between these biopsy groups revealed no significant difference. The PSAD cutoff of more than 0.1 had higher sensitivity than 0.15 at the expense of increasing the number of unnecessary biopsies. Among those the patients with PSA levels above 10ng/ml, both mean PSA and PSAD values of positive and negative biopsy groups had significant differences. The sensitivity of PSAD cutoff of 0.1 was not significantly higher than 0.15 while PSAD of 0.15 showed a higher specificity. PSAD >0.15 missed cancer in 18 out of 102 patients, nearly half of those with clinically significant mid and high grade cancers. Conclusion: Overall, PSAD is a better diagnostic tool for the detection of prostate cancer than PSA, especially in patients with PSA between 4 and 10ng/ml. PSAD cutoff of 0.15 is not inclusive enough in patients with PSA levels between 4 and 10ng/ml and we propose PSAD of 0.1 as a better threshold for prostate biopsy in men with PSA at this range to detect clinically important cancers. Also, we recommend transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy in any patient with PSAD greater than 0.15 and PSA more than 4 ng/ml.


Black limestone, also known as black "marble", was widely used in the Polish small-scale architecture and art of the 17th and 18th centuries. Besides the Devonian limestone from Debnik near Krakow, also popular were the Netherlandish (Wallonian), Devonian to Carboniferous limestones from the Meuse River and Schelde River valleys. This paper deals with the possibility of identifying the rocks imported to Poland. Macroscopic similarities between the Netherlandish rocks and some Debnik limestones have been highlighted for the oldest Carmelite quarry in Debnik, exploiting the best stones. The analyses include: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with EDS, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (13C and 18O stable isotopes). Carboniferous limestones from Netherlands can be identified within and distinguished from the Debnik limestone in the macroscopic observations. Differences, depending on the varieties, are associated primarily with the presence of white calcite fragments of fossils, calcite veins intersecting the rock in all directions or hardness of the limestones. Deeply black Devonian limestones from Wallonia and Debnik without macrofossils and calcite veins differ in microscopic observations considering their texture, type of microfossils and inventory of non-carbonate components. The characteristic graying and whitening of the black limestones has also been discussed as a possible feature of rock provenance.


This article has no abstract. The first 100 words appear below:
A 4-year-old boy presenting with constipation for 1 month of his age. He used to defecate 3-4 days interval with rectal stimulation. The stool was semisolid, ribbon-like, and not associated with abdominal or perianal pain. He had a history of delayed passage of meconium. There was no history of the delayed developmental milestones. He received several medications including lactulose, magnesium hydroxide but there was a poor response.
On examination, he was mildly pale, with no facial dysmorphism, anthropometrically well thrived. The back and spine were normal. There was no thyroid swelling. The skin was normal. The tone and jerk of lower limbs were normal.


A methodology and the operational framework for knowledge discovery from distributed and heterogeneous clinical data sources are presented. The methodology follows a multi-phase process for the integration, homogenization and intelligent processing of the distributed and heterogeneous data. Its realization is based on the coupling of multidisciplinary technologies ranging from, CORBA-based seamless access to distributed data, to semantic data homogenization operations, and to advanced DTD/XML operations. These operations, coupled with advanced and effective data representation models forms a framework in which effective knowledge discovery (KDD) operations are performed. The fundamental contribution of our work is the incorporation and customization of association rule mining (ARM) operations on top of appropriately generated XML documents. Based on the argument that future databases will use XML-like structures in order to store and retrieve data then, our work presents a promising direction towards internet-based epidemiology as realized by the respective knowledge-discovery from distributed clinical data sources operations.


Medical facilities in retirement residential areas provide diverse medical and health-related services to retirees, and they are equipped and programed with various medical services for enhancing retirees' daily activities. To find out the current status of using medical facilities by retirees, this study surveyed retirees in their fifties, sixties, and seventies, who live in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The survey data was sorted by the types of medical facilities they visit, reasons for their visit, and the types of medical facilities in a retirement residential area they would prefer to visit. The pros and cons of using private and general hospitals can be evaluated further to set up the right strategy to reconcile them; and each type of hospital can be improved by adding those missing elements that the interviewees mentioned. In the broad perspective, this indicates the need to suggest the direction of preparing residential areas that are technically planned for retirees on the basis of the analysis of Korean retirees' needs.


Logistic regression is perhaps the most widely used method for adjustment of confounding in epidemiologic studies. Its popularity is understandable. The method can simultaneously adjust for confounders measured on different scales; it provides estimates that are clinically interpretable; and its estimates are valid in a variety of study designs with few underlying assumptions. To those of us in practice settings, several aspects of applying and interpreting the model, however, can be confusing and counterintuitive. We attempt to clarify some of these points through several examples. We apply the method to a study of risk factors associated with periventricular leucomalacia and intraventricular hemorrhage in neonates. We relate the logit model to Cornfield's 2 x 2 table and discuss its application to both cohort and case–control study design. Interpretations of odds ratios, relative risk, and β0 from the logit model are presented.