The fundamental problem of Christology (as Richard Cross famously coined it) is the apparent contradiction of Christ as recorded at Chalcedon. Christ is human (with everything entailed thereby) and Christ is divine (with everything entailed thereby). Being divine entails (among many other of God's properties) being immutable. Being human entails (among many other of our essential properties) being mutable. Were Christ two different persons (viz., a human person, a divine person) there'd be no apparent contradiction. But Chalcedon rules as much out. Were Christ only partly human or only partly divine there'd be no apparent contradiction. But Chalcedon rules as much out. Were the very meaning of 'mutable' and/or 'immutable' (or other such predicates) other than what they are, there'd be no apparent contradiction. But the meaning is what it is, and changing the meaning of our terms to avoid the apparent contradiction of Christ is an apparent flight from reality.What, in the end, is the explanation of the apparent contradiction of Christ? Theologians and philosophers have long advanced many consistency-seeking answers, all of which increase the metaphysical or semantical complexity of the otherwise strikingly simple but radical core of Christianity's GodMan. In this paper, I put the simplest explanation on the theological table: namely, Christ appears to be contradictory because Christ is contradictory (i.e., some predicate is both true and false of Christ, and hence some logical contradiction is true of Christ). This explanation may sound complicated to the many who are steeped in the mainstream account of logic according to which logic precludes the possibility of true contradictions. But the mainstream account of logic can and should be rejected. Ridding theology of the dogma of mainstream logic illuminates the simple though striking explanation of the apparent contradiction of Christ — namely, that Christ is a contradictory being. Just as the simplest explanation to the apparent roundness of the earth has earned due acceptance, so too should the simplest explanation of the apparent contradiction of Christ.


Isolates of ascochyta blight fungi, two of Ascochyta pisi , four of Mycosphaerella pinodes and four of Phoma pinodella were stored: A - on slants under mineral oil, B - on CN's medium agar disks, and as conidial suspension: C - in glycerine, D · in water. Viability and pathogenicity of recovered cultures after each consecutive year were assesed from 1991 to 1999. The compared parameters were first of all strongly influenced by the preservation method, but fungus species and number of years had a minor importance. The best for longer storage was method "A" because after 9 years the isolates were viable, highly pathogenic, and cultures recovered from them were clean. Thc method "C'' is good for short keeping (2-3 years), as conidia in vials need only small space and gave clean cultures.


Abstract Quality of teaching is increasingly important for the success of educational institutions. In this context, gamification is a tool often used to improve the teaching-learning process by helping both teachers and students reach their goals in the short, medium and long term. Given the importance of the topic both in academia and society, this article presents a systematic review of the literature on the use of gamification as a tool to enhance the quality of the teaching process in general, and, in particular, the teaching of management. The study searches the most relevant literature on the application of gamification to educational contexts and describes gamification's main themes and constructs based on a systematic literature review of scholarly articles available in ISI Web of Science and Scopus databases. One of the main results of this study is to describe theoretical approaches to gamification and provide a conceptual model that gathers the contribution of various studies and paves the way for future research.


The fracture of polymeric sheets is one of the practical problems occurring during plug-assisted vacuum thermoforming. This defect can occur during both the plug-assist and vacuum-forming stages. This article focuses on two issues: (1) the origins of fracture creation and (2) the determination of the process parameters needed for removal of the defect. The results of our work not only lead to an understanding of the cause of this problem but also enable us to calculate the parameters that affect the fracture of polymeric sheets during plug-assisted vacuum thermoforming. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010


Hi Reddit! I'm Teun Bousema and I'm an epidemiologist in the Department of Medical Microbiology at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. My research focuses on understanding the transmission of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) – that is, how malaria-infected humans are able to infect mosquitoes. I lived and worked for many years in Kenya, Tanzania and the United Kingdom before moving to Radboud University Medical Center. One of the unique achievements of my department is the development of a safe controlled human infection model for malaria. In our current publication in eLife, we utilized this model to study the biology and transmission potential of controlled P. falciparum infections in Dutch volunteers who were exposed to malaria-infected mosquitoes. Our volunteers received treatment that controlled the pathogenic forms of malaria (and thus kept them safe) but stimulated the production of non-pathogenic transmissible stages of malaria parasites – the so-called gametocytes. We successfully induced gametocytes in all volunteers in sex ratios that resemble those observed in natural infections, and found that parasites start producing gametocytes immediately upon appearing in the bloodstream. Our model provides a new way to investigate malaria infection, and could help to test the impact of drugs and vaccines on gametocytes in the future. I look forward to talking more about our findings and anything related to my area of expertise more broadly. Together with Isaie Reuling, a clinician researcher and first author on the eLife manuscript, I'll start answering questions at 2pm EDT. You can read the full eLife paper, and use the annotation tool to make notes and discuss the findings further. A plain-language summary is also available here. AMA!


It is well established that the central nervous system (CNS) stabilizes the head using reflexive feedback and cocontraction. The major reflexive pathways in the neck are through muscle spindles generating the cervicocollic reflex (CCR) and through the vestibular organ generating the vestibulocollic reflex (VCR). The CNS modulates the contribution of the different pathways and the level of cocontraction to change the system dynamics in an effort to optimally withstand motion disturbances. Predetermined groups of muscles, called synergies, are used to generate stabilizing forces, but it is not clear how the CNS modulates the reflexive pathways and how the muscle groups are chosen. To understand the function of the different reflexive pathways and the responses of the different muscles musculoskeletal models are necessary. To date, a neck model with sufficient detail to simulate vertebral injury and reflexive control of individual muscles does not exist. There are a number of reasons why the behavior of the CNS in neck muscle control should be investigated. Cervical dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary activity of the neck muscles leading to debilitating abnormal postures and twisting movements. Current evidence points towards changes in the neuronal circuitry in the brain, but the underlying pathology remains for the most part unclear. The understanding of normal and aberrant control of muscles is an important key to finding a solution for this disorder. The current treatment involves injecting the dystonic muscles with botulinum toxin. Although this treatment is generally quite successful, it often remains difficult to distinguish dystonic muscles from healthy compensatory activation. Improvements in the protocols to select aberrant muscles in patients would improve the effectiveness of the treatment and could be an asset when treating more difficult cases. Two aims were set out in this thesis. The first was to establish how the CCR and VCR pathways activate individual muscles to ensure head and neck stabilization and how their gains modulate under different loading conditions. To this end a detailed neuromuscular model was developed containing reflexive neuromuscular feedback and cocontraction. The second aim was to understand the pathology behind cervical dystonia by quantifying aberrance of individual muscle activation in patients, and to develop a protocol to improved muscle selection for possible diagnostic use. In total, five studies were performed to achieve these goals. The first aim of this thesis was achieved by investigating neuromuscular control of healthy subjects using a dynamic experiment and a detailed neuromuscular model. First, we wanted to establish a relationship between the modulation of reflexes and the amplitude and bandwidth of a disturbance to the head and neck (Chapter 2). This was determined by perturbing seated subjects in an anteriorposterior direction with varying amplitudes and frequency content. We found a substantial attenuation of both vestibulocollic and cervicocollic reflexes as the frequency content of the perturbation increased, but only small changes with amplitude. The subjects performed these tasks with the eyes open and closed, and it was observed that with the eyes open subjects were able to further reduce the head motion in space. To investigate how and why the reflex pathways modulate with bandwidth a neuromuscular model was developed. A model including eight vertebrae and the skull and full joint motion was extended with a detailed set of 258 muscle segments. The spinal stiffness, muscle moment arms, instantaneous axes of rotation, and cervical strength were validated in its neutral position (Chapter 3). The importance of a mechanical equilibrium in the neck when estimating model strength was also addressed. The model was able to predict isometric muscle activation patterns of healthy subjects, and the study demonstrated that model strength will be overestimated particularly in flexion and axial rotation the equilibrium over all the neck joints is ignored. Neuromuscular control of the model was then implemented to enable dynamic simulations, which included the vestibulocollic and cervicocollic reflexes and cocontraction. Nonlinear sensory and muscle activation dynamics were implemented along with neural delays for the different feedback pathways. Muscle synergies defined in isometric conditions to generate directional forces under joint equilibrium were used to convert the reflexive vestibulocollic feedback of the semicircular canals and otoliths to individual muscle activations. A similar muscle synergy was used to generate cocontraction over a predefined set of muscles. The cervicocollic reflex was modelled such that each muscle element contained its stretch reflex (muscle length and velocity). The neuromuscular model was subsequently used to investigate the modulation changes with bandwidth observed in Chapter 2 by optimizing reflexive gains and cocontraction of the model to experimental subject data. A possible strategy involved in reflex modulation was also investigated by estimating muscle energy consumption (strategy to minimize effort) and head motion (strategy to stabilize the head). In this study, reflexive gains semicircular and muscle spindle gains were modulated in congruence with our hypothesis, showing gain reductions with increasing bandwidth. However, in contrast to the hypothesis cocontraction was also found to steadily increase with bandwidth. The primary strategy of the CNS appeared to be a suppression of resonant oscillations of the head between 1-3 Hz and, if necessary, between 6-8 Hz. When the perturbation bandwidth increased the reflexes and cocontraction were modulated to dampen the higher frequencies as they were being excited. To investigate aberrant activity of dystonic muscles a standardized protocol was developed by fixing the head of subjects in an isometric device. This ensured a similar position of the head and neck and allowed for controlled task instructions using head force measurements and visual feedback. Individual muscle electromyography (EMG) of 10 cervical dystonia patients and 10 healthy subjects were compared in different loading directions. To addresses a possible worsening of dystonic responses due to an increase in voluntary muscle contractions, activity was evaluated at different contraction levels. Increased levels of mean and minimum (cocontraction) EMG were found in clinically diagnosed dystonic muscles (Chapter 5) and the spectral content of these muscles was shifted (Chapter 6), likely indicating an altered control of the muscles by the central nervous system. The abnormal activity was found during submaximal contractions and in rest, but no differences were observed during maximal contractions. Also, no evidence was found of an exacerbation of dystonic activity related to an increase in muscle contraction when the head was fixed. These results seem to indicate that dystonic muscles are controlled during submaximal contractions much like healthy muscles are activated during maximal contractions. The identified aberrant activity in patient muscles was then evaluated as an identifier of dystonic muscles. The protocols were able to distinguish dystonic activity on a group level, but were not yet sufficiently accurate to be used as a diagnostic tool. Currently, a study is being performed with an improved setup and including patients not previously treated with botulinum toxin to further investigate the applicability of these methods for diagnostics. The contents of this thesis can be summarized with the following main conclusions: I. The central nervous system modulates reflex gains and cocontraction with the frequency content of perturbations with the goal to suppress resonant frequencies of the head while minimizing effort. II. Dystonia patients show increased mean and altered spectral muscle activity during submaximal contractions and rest, but not during maximal contractions. In addition, a higher level of muscle activation does not exacerbate dystonic activity. A neuromuscular model with full joint motion and reflexive control of individual muscles was developed, which is a valuable tool for future investigations into neuromuscular disorders and injury of the neck. The protocols for the identification of aberrant muscle activity in dystonia patients that were established in this thesis have the potential to be used for dystonic muscle selection in the future.


Short term load forecasting is very essential to the operation of electricity companies. It enhances the energy-efficient and reliable operation of power system. Artificial neural networks are employed for nonlinear short term load forecasting owing to their powerful nonlinear mapping capabilities. These are generally trained through back-propagation, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and artificial immune system (AIS). All these algorithms have specific benefits in terms of accuracy, speed of convergence and historical data requirement for training. In this paper a hybrid AIS is proposed, which is a combination of back-propagation with AIS to get faster convergence, lesser historical data requirement for training with a little compromise in accuracy.


In our clinics in 1992-2002 89 girls with anorectal developmental anomaly underwent modified perineal proctoplasty. In 65 (73.3%) patients the rectal atresia with vestibular fistula was revealed, in 17 (19%)--vaginal fistula, 7 (7.7%)--perineal fistula. After modified perineal proctoplasty carry out the good result is achieved in 37 (85%) patient, satisfactory one--in 6 (13%), nonsatisfactory (incontinence of feces)--in 1 (2%).


Abstract While hybridization has recently received a resurgence of attention from systematists and evolutionary biologists, there remains a dearth of case studies on ancient, diversified hybrid lineages—clades of organisms that originated through reticulation. Studies on these groups are valuable in that they would speak to the long‐term phylogenetic success of lineages following gene flow between species. We present a phylogenomic view of Heuchera, long known for frequent hybridization, incorporating all three independent genomes: targeted nuclear (˜400,000 bp), plastid (˜160,000 bp), and mitochondrial (˜470,000 bp) data. We analyze these data using multiple concatenation and coalescence strategies. The nuclear phylogeny is consistent with previous work and with morphology, confidently suggesting a monophyletic Heuchera. By contrast, analyses of both organellar genomes recover a grossly polyphyletic Heuchera,consisting of three primary clades with relationships extensively rearranged within these as well. A minority of nuclear loci also exhibit phylogenetic discord; yet these topologies remarkably never resemble the pattern of organellar loci and largely present low levels of discord inter alia. Two independent estimates of the coalescent branch length of the ancestor of Heuchera using nuclear data suggest rare or nonexistent incomplete lineage sorting with related clades, inconsistent with the observed gross polyphyly of organellar genomes (confirmed by simulation of gene trees under the coalescent). These observations, in combination with previous work, strongly suggest hybridization as the cause of this phylogenetic discord.


Chemometric or multivariate techniques were applied to identify the spatialvariation and pollution sources of Jakara River Kano-Nigeria. Thirty water sampleswere collected: twenty three along River Getsi and seven surface water samples alongthe main channel River Jakara. Twenty three water quality parameters namely: pH,temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, dissolve oxygen, biochemical oxygendemand, Fecal Coliform, total solids, nitrates, phosphates, cobalt, iron, nickel,manganese, copper, sodium, potassium, mercury, chromium, cadmium, lead,magnesium, and calcium were analyzed. Hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) groupedthe sampling points into three clusters based on the similarities of river water qualitycharacteristics into industrial, domestic and agricultural water pollution sources.Forward and backward Discriminant analysis (DA) effectively discriminate five andfifteen water quality variables respectively with 100% each correct assigning from theoriginal twenty three variables. PCA/FA were used to investigate the origin of eachwater quality parameters due to various land use activities, seven principalcomponents were obtained with 77.5% total variance, in addition PCA identify threelatent pollution sources convinces to support CA.


Linear perspectivecues deriving from regularities of the built environment can be used to recalibrate both intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters online, but these estimates can be unreliable due to irregularities in the scene, uncertainties in line segment estimation and background clutter. Here we address this challenge through four initiatives. First, we use the PanoContext panoramic image dataset [27] to curate a novel and realistic dataset of planar projections over a broad range of scenes, focal lengths and camera poses. Second, we use this novel dataset and the YorkUrbanDB [4] to systematically evaluate the linear perspective deviation measures frequently found in the literature and show that the choice of deviation measure and likelihood model has a huge impact on reliability. Third, we use these findings to create a novel system for online camera calibration we call fR, and show that it outperforms the prior state of the art, substantially reducing error in estimated camera rotation and focal length. Our fourth contribution is a novel and efficient approach to estimating uncertainty that can dramatically improve online reliability for performance-critical applications by strategically selecting which frames to use for recalibration.


Boron release from six arid-zone soil samples from the San Joaquin Valley of California was investigated as a function of reaction time, solution pH, and suspension density. A multiple batch extraction experiment was performed for 362 d to distinguish B desorption from B released from mineral dissolution. Amounts of B released decreased rapidly and reached a low constant value after about 6 mo of reaction time. Slopes of the B release curves for the last eight extractions approached zero (constant release rate), indicating that this B release was from mineral dissolution. We also did a shorter term experiment that contained added Mg and silicate in solution. These experiments were conducted to evaluate the contribution of B release from dissolution of B-containing Mg silicate minerals. We determined that most of the B released from the soils can be attributed to release from sorption sites rather than resulting from dissolution of B-containing Mg silicates. Various B soil tests were evaluated for their ability to measure native extractable adsorbed B. The diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–sorbitol extract was the best measure of available adsorbed B but still only extracted 48% of the amount of B released in the long-term experiment. The greatest amount of B was extracted at the lowest suspension density for DTPA–sorbitol (92%) and phosphate buffer pH 6.6 (95%). These extractants are recommended for quantifying native extractable adsorbed B, which must be considered in application of chemical speciation transport models to describe B movement in soils. Incorporation of our results will allow improved predictions of soil solution B concentrations under diverse agricultural and environmental conditions.


Relation extraction in the biomedical domain is challenging due to the lack of labeled data and high annotation costs, needing domain experts. Distant supervision is commonly used to tackle the scarcity of annotated data by automatically pairing knowledge graph relationships with raw texts. Such a pipeline is prone to noise and has added challenges to scale for covering a large number of biomedical concepts. We investigated existing broad-coverage distantly supervised biomedical relation extraction benchmarks and found a significant overlap between training and test relationships ranging from 26% to 86%. Furthermore, we noticed several inconsistencies in the data construction process of these benchmarks, and where there is no train-test leakage, the focus is on interactions between narrower entity types. This work presents a more accurate benchmark MedDistant19 for broad-coverage distantly supervised biomedical relation extraction that addresses these shortcomings and is obtained by aligning the MEDLINE abstracts with the widely used SNOMED Clinical Terms knowledge base. Lacking thorough evaluation with domain-specific language models, we also conduct experiments validating general domain relation extraction findings to biomedical relation extraction.


It is argued that the physiologic anemia of midpregnancy is beneficial in terms of the associated hypervolemia and improved pregnancy outcome. Vigorous treatment of normal pregnant women having physiologic anemias with large doses of medicinal iron is discouraged because higher hematocrits are reported to be less efficient in terms of cardiac work and oxygen delivery, because lower serum iron levels protect against infection and because of the hazards of infant iron poisoning. Pharmacologic doses of iron also obscure the decline in hematocrit seen from the plasma volume expansion in normal pregnancy, removing a simple diagnostic sign of maternal hypovolemia.


BACKGROUND
The total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma level, which is partly determined by the MTHFR 677C-->T genotype, may be associated with vascular disease. We prospectively examined the influence of MTHFR genotypes (677C-->T, 1298A-->C) and tHcy plasma concentration on all cause mortality and graft outcomes of renal transplant recipients.

METHODS
Baseline tHcy plasma levels of 189 patients (three groups with either the MTHFR 677CC, CT or TT genotype, including 63 patients in each group, were matched for age, gender, body mass index and creatinine clearance at baseline), were obtained between September 1996 and May 1997. Follow-up data (time until return to dialysis therapy, time and cause of death) were collected from April to June 1999. Kaplan-Meier survival estimations were calculated and plotted, the groups (three MTHFR 677C-->T genotype groups, or three MTHFR 1298A-->C genotype groups, or two groups with tHcy plasma levels above/below 15 micromol/L) were compared by log-rank test. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), time since transplantation, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, combined MTHFR 677C-->T/1298A-->C genotypes, tHcy, folate and vitamin B12 plasma levels were evaluated with regard to graft and patient survival in a multivariate Cox-proportional hazard regression model.

RESULTS
During the follow-up period of 2.26 +/- 0.66 years, 9 patients died (5 in the TT, 2 in the CT and 2 in the CC genotype group; P = 0.34) and 22 returned to dialysis treatment (7 in the TT, 9 in the CT and 6 in the CC genotype group; P = 0.65). There was also no influence of MTHFR 1298A-->C genotypes (AA genotype, 114 patients; AC genotype, 64 patients; CC genotype, 11 patients) on patient or graft survival (P = 0.7087 and P = 0.1633, respectively). Two of 93 patients with a tHcy plasma level < or = 15 micromol/L died, in contrast to 7 of 96 patients in the tHcy > 15 micromol/L group, P = 0.0778. Two patients in the low tHcy group had to return to dialysis, in contrast to 20 patients in the high tHcy group (P = 0.0001). In the multivariate model there was no significant predictor of patient survival, and the serum creatinine was the only predictor of graft survival (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS
In summary, our study shows that neither MTHFR 677C-->T/1298A-->C genotypes nor hyperhomocysteinemia are independently associated with patient or graft survival following kidney transplantation.


Biofortification is the process of improving the bioavailability of essential nutrients in food crops either through conventional breeding or modern biotechnology techniques. Rice is one of the most demanding staple foods worldwide. Most global population live on a diet based on rice as the main carbohydrate source that serve as suitable target for biofortification. In general, polished grain or white rice contains nutritionally insufficient concentration of iron (Fe) to meet the daily requirements in diets. Therefore, iron biofortification in rice offers an inexpensive and sustainable solution to mitigate iron deficiency. However, understanding on the mechanism and genes involved in iron uptake in rice is a prerequisite for successful iron biofortification. In this chapter, the overview of iron uptake strategies in plants and as well as different iron-biofortified approaches used in rice will be outlined. Then, the challenges and future prospects of rice iron biofortification to improve global human health will also be discussed.


American cities expanded during the late 19th century, as industrial growth was fueled by the arrival of millions of immigrants and migrants. Poverty rates escalated, overwhelming existing networks of private charities. Progressive reformers created relief organizations and raised public awareness of urban poverty. The devastating effects of the Great Depression inspired greater focus on poverty from state and federal agencies. The Social Security Act, the greatest legacy of the New Deal, would provide a safety net for millions of Americans. During the postwar era of general prosperity, federal housing policies often reinforced and deepened racial and socioeconomic inequality and segregation. The 1960s War on Poverty created vital aid programs that expanded access to food, housing, and health care. These programs also prompted a rising tide of conservative backlash against perceived excesses. Fueled by such critical sentiments, the Reagan administration implemented dramatic cuts to assistance programs. Later, the Clinton administration further reformed welfare by tying aid to labor requirements. Throughout the 20th century, the urban homeless struggled to survive in hostile environments. Skid row areas housed the homeless for decades, providing shelter, food, and social interaction within districts that were rarely visited by the middle and upper classes. The loss of such spaces to urban renewal and gentrification in many cities left many of the homeless unsheltered and dislocated.


Downstream processing of virus particles for vaccination or gene therapy is becoming critical as upstream titers keep improving. Moreover, the growing pressure to develop cost-efficient processes has brought forward new downstream trains. This review aims at analyzing the state-of-the-art in viral downstream purification processes, encompassing the classical unit operations and their recent developments. Emphasis is given to novel strategies for process intensification, such as continuous or semi-continuous systems based on multicolumn technology, opening up process efficiency. Process understanding in the light of the pharmaceutical quality by design (QbD) initiative is also discussed. Finally, an outlook of the upcoming breakthrough technologies is presented.


The demographics of the United States are changing daily and the foreign population has increased with numerous languages currently spoken in the country. African refugees are one of the fastest growing populations of the U.S. many of whom have been displaced from their country due to civil unrest. An example of an immigrant population that is growing rapidly in the U.S. is the Somali Bantu whom like other immigrant ethnic populations do not have adequate access to health care because of their economic status, lack of health insurance, and cultural and language barriers. Due to these circumstances and lack of knowledge on health related issues, Somali immigrant women will choose to neglect their health over their children and spouses ignoring the importance of preventive, maternal, or reproductive health.The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and many health care providers have observed that the root causes for disparities in ethnic groups are multifactorial and complex and exist due to a range of barriers such as language, education levels, geography, and cultural familiarity. Healthy People 2010 address the health concerns of the future of the nation and in order to meet the goals and eliminate health disparities, public health practitioners must reach out to immigrant populations.This research paper presents an analysis of findings from a community-based assessment regarding the resettlement challenges and health care needs of the Somali Bantu immigrant population in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which is a public health issue that needs to be addressed. This research paper will also propose steps to help improve the knowledge and quality of health care for the immigrant Somali Bantu in Pittsburgh through an intervention program with the focus on women and maternal health.


Rosalind Krauss remembers a trip to the caves of Ruffignac, Les Combarelles, and Pech Merle in France with Annette Michelson, made to celebrate the tenth anniversary of October magazine, which the two had founded in 1976. Krauss describes the significance of Michelson's interest in paleontology and her important translation of two chapters of André Leroi-Gerhoun's Prehistory of Western Art (published in October 37).


Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important pig diseases worldwide. The causative PRRS virus (PRRSV) is rapidly evolving and there is an urgent need for the development of safer and more efficacious vaccines to improve PRRS control. Immunity to PRRSV is not well understood but there are data suggesting that virus-specific T cell IFN-γ responses play an important role.
Therefore, this project focussed on characterising the T cell response PRRSV and applied this knowledge to develop a novel vaccine strategy. The first part of the
project aimed to identify the antigenic targets of the T cell response to PRRSV by utilising a proteome-wide synthetic peptide library and a cohort of PRRSV immune animals. The T cell IFN-γ response was directed at a range of viral proteins but the M and NSP5 proteins stood out as major antigens. Further experiments confirmed M and NSP5 as well conserved targets of in many instances dominant T cell responses. Characterisation of the responding T cell populations showed NSP5-specific responders to be CD8 T cells with a predominant CD44highCD62LlowCD27lowCD25- phenotype. The majority of cells were polyfunctional as assessed by co-expression of TNF-α and mobilisation of the cytotoxic degranulation marker CD107a. Both CD8 and CD4 T cells responded to M with a comparable phenotype to that observed for NSP-specific T cells. In addition, conserved antigenic regions of each protein were identified and specificity shown to associate with major histocompatibility complex haplotype, rather than PRRSV strain. Finally, a vaccine study was conducted using M and NSP5 proteins as T cell antigens formulated as a particulate vaccine with a molecular adjuvant. Vaccination primed antigen-specific CD4 but not CD8 T cell responses and did not confer significant protection of animals from viraemia upon challenge infection. Analysis of the lungs during the resolution of infection showed high levels of virus and M/NSP5 specific CD8 T cell IFN-γ responses, suggesting that vaccine priming of a CD8 T cell response is required for protection from PRRSV infection. It is hoped that this work will inform future PRRSV vaccine design, as well as contributing to the wider field of T cell vaccinology.


to 30 + 0) weeks + days in the TPTL group. Mean (SD) cervical length was similar in the control (36.1 (2.9) mm) and PPROM (36.6 (16.6) mm) groups, but shorter in the TPTL group (20.4 (9.2) mm; P = 0.01). Mean (SD) FMBV was lower in controls (9.4 (6.4)%) than in the PPROM (21.2 (10.0)%) and TPTL (18.9 (6.9)%) groups (P = 0.01). The median time between the first examination and delivery was 2 (range, 1–4) weeks in the PPROM group and 4 (range, 1–14) weeks in the TPTL group. In PPROM, 7/10 cases delivered within the 2 weeks after the first examination, and 6/7 had a FMBV above 18% in spite of a cervical length within normal values. In TPTL, there was a significant association between the cervical length and the time to delivery (r = 51, P = 0.001), but in most cases FMBV was similarly increased. Conclusions: In TPTL the cervical length correlated well with the time to delivery and FMBV did not improve this information. However, in PPROM an increment in FMBV appears to be independently associated with an earlier delivery.


In order to enhance the chances to rotate the herbicide molecules, the effectiveness of a new molecule, pinoxaden, was tested, comparing it with other herbicides used in wheat weed control. The trial was carried out comparing the following herbicide mixtures: 1) no weed control treatment; 2) Tribenuron Methyl (TM); 3) Clodinafop (C); 4) Tribenuron Methyl + Clodinafop (TM+C); 5) Pinoxaden + clodinafop + propargile (PCP); 6) Pinoxaden + clodinafop + propargile + Triasulfuron (PCP+T); 7) Pinoxaden + clodinafop + propargile + absolute Ioxinil and Mecoprop (PCP+IM). The new PCP+T herbicides mixture didn't differ statistically from the traditional TMC treatment in terms of effectiveness, but the agronomic result of the new mixture was totally satisfactory, even taking into account that the marketing of this mixture is not aimed to compete with other existing herbicides but to widen the chance to rotate active principles in time and space, in order to control the onset of resistance phenomena.


Background: Aggression and violent behaviour are often regarded as a threat to society. Therefore, understanding violent behaviour has high social relevance. We performed a study with transcranial magnetic stimulation on a sample of violent offenders in order to measure cortical inhibition in the motor neuron system that is part of the frontal cortex. Methods: To investigate intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation, we conducted paired-pulse stimulation according to the technique of Kujirai and his group (see Method). The investigation sample comprised 62 right-handers: 32 prisoners who had committed severe violent crimes and 30 controls with no history of violence. All subjects were male and matched for age. Results: Using the paired-pulse paradigm with interstimulus intervals (ISI) of 1–15 ms, a reduced cortical inhibition (ISI: 3 ms) was found in the left cortex of violent offenders compared with control subjects. Conclusions: These findings corroborate the hypothesis of inhibition deficits and frontal cortex dysfunction in violent offenders when compared with non-violent control subjects.


: Principlist Bioethics by Beauchamp and Childress has reached a prominent status in contemporary Bioethics. Nevertheless, it includes some important theoretical problems: some lacks when defining some concepts, a tendency to ethical relativism, etc. Among the ethical alternative approaches from which such problems can be solved, we think that the most appropiate is the Natural Law theory. It offers a reasoned reflection on the concept of good and on human basic goods and their relation with moral general principles. From such goods, this ethical theory supports the existence of actions that are always maleficent acts, that is, intrinsically and universally evil acts. The article applies the Natural Law theory to issues related to the protection of human life (abortion, euthanasia, self-defense and genetic manipulation)..


A whole body skeletal muscle [(SM); kg] mass estimation model, based on total body potassium [(TBK); mmol] measured by whole body (40)K counting (WBC) was developed (SM = 0.0082.TBK) and validated in adults in a previous study. It is unknown whether the adult TBK SM prediction model is applicable for pediatric use. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a pediatric TBK SM prediction equation. SM measured by MRI was used as the criterion and TBK was measured by WBC. The protocol was completed in 116 healthy children, 66 males and 50 females, 11.7 +/- 3.5 y (mean +/- SD, range = 5-17 y). A strong linear correlation was observed between TBK and SM (r = 0.984; P < 0.001). The SM:TBK ratio was 0.0071 +/- 0.0008 kg/mmol in the children studied, much lower than the corresponding value of 0.0082 kg/mmol in adults. An empirical SM prediction equation was developed using TBK alone: SM = 0.0085.TBK - 2.83, r(2) = 0.97, SEE = 1.39 kg. Bland-Altman analysis did not disclose a significant bias in the prediction of SM. When biological factors entered along with TBK in the general linear model, another prediction equation was developed: SM = 5.52 + 0.001.TBK (mmol) + 0.081.weight (kg) - 0.049.height (cm) + 0.00004.TBK . height + race (-0.60 for Caucasian, 0.49 for African-American, and 0 for Hispanic). Because the adult TBK SM prediction model is not applicable for pediatric use, this study provides new empirical TBK SM prediction equations that should prove useful for studies on nutrition, growth, and development in children.


Why has xDSL suddenly achieved its present status as potentially the most promising of the broadband access technology options for both residential and business users? This article attempts to shed light on this question from both the technical and market perspectives. An overview of the family of xDSL technologies is provided, and a comparison is made to cable modem technologies. The evolution of xDSL regarding aspects of price, standardization, and interoperability is explored-demonstrating a strong technology push. Key factors of the ADSL business case are discussed-demonstrating a strong market pull. An overview of xDSL trials, applications, and network models is provided. The conditions are right for xDSL to advance rapidly to mass market adoption.


The polarization of radiation scattered by an electronic system in a magnetic field is worked out on the classical theory. It is shown that it is improbable that the experimental facts can be accounted for on a classical analogy. Instead, a quantum hypothesis is made which appears to account for the phenomena more satisfactorily.


A series of engine/dynamometer tests was conducted to assess the effects of three types of uncatalyzed diesel particulate filters (DPFs), a diesel oxidation catalytic converter (DOC) and three types of high temperature disposable filter elements (HT DFEs) on the concentrations and size distribution of diesel aerosols and concentration of nitric oxides in underground mine air. Tests were conducted in the NIOSH Diesel Laboratory at the Lake Lynn Laboratory experimental mine, a facility developed to allow evaluation of these and other control technologies directly in an underground environment. The aforementioned technologies are evaluated by comparing the aerosol and gas measurements in the mine air 60 m downstream of the exhaust from a naturally aspirated, mechanically controlled engine fitted with the tested systems or muffler and operated at four steady-state engine speed and power modes. The tested DPF and HT DFE systems caused a 10-fold reduction in total mass concentrations of aerosols. The size distribution and number concentration measurements showed that all tested DPF systems and HT DFE elements effectively removed accumulation mode aerosols (D50>30 nm) for all test modes. An increase in peak number concentrations of nucleation mode (D50>30 nm) diesel aerosols is evident for some of tested DPF systems when engine was operated at highload modes. The effects of uncatalyzed DPFs on nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations are found to be minor. A four-fold increase in percentages of NO2 in total nitrogen oxides (NOx) over baseline case was observed for the DOC when the engine was operated at high-load modes. The findings from this study should contribute to better understanding the potential for various control technologies to reduce exposure of underground miners to nano and ultrafine aerosols. In addition, detailed physical characterization of diesel aerosols made directly in occupational setting should foster a better understanding of the health risks associated with exposure to nano and ultrafine diesel aerosols.


This article examines American perceptions of Chinese herbalism as natural medicine in the Progressive Era. In doing so, it uses the lens of environmental history to consider three meanings of nature for Chinese medicine in the United States: First, as a material, trans-Pacific environment where medicinal ingredients were procured, distributed, and consumed; second, as part of the evolving distinction between modern, scientific "regular" medicine and anti-modern, unscientific "irregular" medicine that reached a moment of crisis at the turn of the twentieth century; and third, as a reflection of the racialization of Chinese health practices co-created by Asian practitioners and their American patients, who were conditioned by Orientalist stereotypes to perceive Chinese culture as close to a pastoral or primitive nature. The close association between herbs and nature enabled Chinese doctors to thrive as "irregular" or "alternative" practitioners in the American medical marketplace. While American patients may have perceived Chinese medicine as closer to nature, the many meanings of nature reveal the extent to which the association was a deliberate strategy for survival and success adopted by Chinese doctors in the United States.


Ethiopia is a tropical country with tropical, subtropical and temperate types of vegetations. However, many vegetation types are not described and characterized. The aim of this study was to assess the floristic composition and structure of the protected Gergeda Anfillo Forest vegetation. The forest was located in Kellem Wollega Zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Stratified sampling method was used for vegetation data collection. Samples were taken from 40 quadrats of 20 m x 20 m (for woody species) that were laid along transect laid about 200 m apart. 120 subplots (1 m x 1 m) were used for herbs in the main plots. A total of 134 (11 endemic) species, 116 genera, and 61 families were recorded. The five most dominant tree species with highest importance value index were Schefflera abyssinica, Ekebergia capensis, Albizia gummifera, Croton macrostachyus , and Olea welwitschii . The most abundant families were Fabaceae (14 species), Poaceae (11 species), Asteraceae (10 species), and Euphorbiaceae (7 species). Moreover, the forest housed 10 of the 24 national priority tree species and four plant communities were identified by cluster analysis. Structural analysis revealed that the forest is dominated by small sized trees and shrubs. This indicates that the forest is facing selective cutting and/or it is in secondary stage regeneration. Given the   non-seasonal climate, less differentiated communities, and high plant diversity, it is possible to conclude that the forest can be categorized as tropical rainforests of western Ethiopia. Thus, protection of the forest is highly recommended. Key words : Ethiopia, Floristic, Tropical Forest, Vegetation Structure


Managers increasingly realize the importance of involving the sales force in new product development. However, despite recent progress, research on the specific role of the sales force in product innovation-related activities remains scarce. In particular, the importance of a salespersons' internal knowledge brokering has been neglected. This study develops and empirically validates the concept of internal knowledge brokering behavior and its effect on selling new products and developing new business, and explores whether a salesperson's internal brokering qualities are determined by biological traits. The findings reveal that salespeople with the DRD2 A1 gene variant engage at significant lower levels of internal knowledge-brokering behavior than salespeople without this gene variant, and as a result are less likely to engage effectively in new product selling. The DRD4 gene variant had no effect on internal knowledge brokering. Management and future research implications are discussed.


Background: Interventions to address burnout include mind-body skills training (MBST), but few studies have evaluated the feasibility of MBST for busy pediatric residents. Objective: In this pilot study, we tested the feasibility of a brief MBST intervention, using in-person peer-led training supported by online modules, to decrease stress and burnout in pediatric resident physicians. Methods: Of 99 (10%) residents, 10 residents at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio participated in up to four 90-minute MBST sessions more than 1 month, led by a co-resident with 5 years of informal training in mind-body skills. Participants were offered 8 assigned online modules through OSU Center for Integrative Health and Wellness. Measures including Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Cohen's Perceived Stress, Smith's Brief Resilience, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, and Neff's Self-Compassion Scale (NSS) were administered before (T1) and after (T2) the course. Participants were offered optional monthly "maintenance" sessions for 6 months and completed a third set of measures at this follow-up (T3). Results: The residents completed an average of 4.3/8 online modules and attended an average of 2.8/4 in-person sessions. There was significant improvement in positive attitude, perceived stress, and resilience post intervention (T2). Follow-up evaluation (T3) also demonstrated significant improvement in burnout (depersonalization) and mindfulness. More than 75% of participants found the course worthwhile. Conclusions: A short mixed-method mindfulness-based skills course may be a practical way to offer resilience and stress management training to busy resident physicians.


A shape coefficient is introduced to quantify droplet shape by measuring its similarity to a desired shape to enable the study of droplet shape evolution upon impingement on a solid surface. Parametric simulations are performed with an experimentally validated numerical model to determine the impact conditions to maximize the shape coefficient. Results show that the Weber number is the controlling factor that determines the maximum achievable shape coefficient and the time instant when it is achieved for small Ohnesorge numbers, whereas the Reynolds number becomes the key parameter defining the optimal shape when the Ohnesorge number is large. A regime map is also developed to define the regions where a desired droplet shape can be achieved without splash. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3071–3082, 2013


The solvent activity of aqueous and alcoholic liquid solutions of calcium chloride have been determined at ambient pressure, under vapor-liquid equilibrium conditions, and critically analyzed over a wide range of temperature (from ambient to ~368 K) and salt concentrations (from very dilute to nearly saturated solutions). The results are generally in good agreement with those reported or obtainable from a variety of literature data sources. In addition, for the alcoholic salted solutions, new T-concentrations regions have been explored. A solvation-dissociation based model was first parametrized and then used to establish the behavior of the activity of the solvents and to quantify the equilibrium vapor pressure lowering and the osmotic pressure of the solutions for any temperature and salt concentration. It was found that: a) activity of the solvents decreases when salt concentration increases, while it increases with temperature; b) osmotic pressure of concentrated solutions, is a function of both solvent activity and volumetric properties of the solutions, and is much higher (up to hundred-fold MPa for the aqueous solutions) of that calculated with the van't Hoff equation; c) the behavior of the osmotic pressure with the temperature is opposite to that predicted by the van't Hoff equation, coherently with the exothermic nature of the dilution process and the literature values of the heat of dilution.


Ultrasound is widely used in the US and continental Europe in the immediate assessment of patients after blunt abdominal trauma. There are also now other recognised "primary" indications for ultrasound in emergency medicine. In this paper current evidence supporting the implementation and use of emergency ultrasound in these primary conditions and possible other indications are assessed. The issues surrounding introduction of the technology into the practice of emergency medicine in this country are considered. It is accepted that further debate is necessary but the establishment of a robust evidence base in the UK will help to clarify the place of ultrasound.


We consider a setting where a system learns to rank a fixed set of m items. The goal is produce good item rankings for users with diverse interests who interact online with the system for T rounds. We consider a novel top-1 feedback model: at the end of each round, the relevance score for only the top ranked object is revealed. However, the performance of the system is judged on the entire ranked list. We provide a comprehensive set of results regarding learnability under this challenging setting. For PairwiseLoss and DCG, two popular ranking measures, we prove that the minimax regret is Θ(T 2/3 ). Moreover, the minimax regret is achievable using an efficient strategy that only spends O(mlogm )t ime per round. The same efficient strategy achieves O(T 2/3 ) regret for Precision@k .S urprisingly, we show that for normalized versions of these ranking measures, i.e., AUC, NDCG & MAP, no online ranking algorithm can have sublinear regret.


We investigate the dynamical evolution of magnetic fields in closed regions of solar and stellar coronae. To understand under which conditions current sheets form, we examine dissipative and ideal reduced magnetohydrodynamic models in Cartesian geometry, where two magnetic field components are present: the strong guide field B0, extended along the axial direction, and the dynamical orthogonal field b. Magnetic field lines thread the system along the axial direction that spans the length L and are line-tied at the top and bottom plates. The magnetic field b initially has only large scales, with its gradient (current) length scale of the order of ℓb. We identify the magnetic intensity threshold b/B0 ∼ ℓb/L. For values of b below this threshold, field-line tension inhibits the formation of current sheets, while above the threshold they form quickly on fast ideal timescales. In the ideal case, above the magnetic threshold, we show that current sheets thickness decreases in time until it becomes smaller than the grid resolution, with the analyticity strip width δ decreasing at least exponentially, after which the simulations become underresolved.


The present study investigated the physiological characteristics of eight world‐class (WC) and eight national‐class (NC) Norwegian sprint cross country skiers. To measure the physiological response and treadmill performance, the skiers performed a submaximal test, a peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) test, and a peak treadmill speed (Vpeak) test in the skating G3 technique. Moreover, the skiers were tested for G3 acceleration outdoors on asphalt and maximal strength in the lab. The standard of sprint skating performance level on snow was determined by International Ski Federation points, and the training distribution was quantified. WC skiers showed 8% higher VO2peak and twice as long a VO2 plateau time at the VO2peak test, and a higher gross efficiency at the submaximal test (all P<0.05). Furthermore, WC skiers showed 8% higher Vpeak (P<0.05), but did not differ from NC skiers in acceleration and maximal strength. WC skiers performed more low‐ and moderate‐intensity endurance training and speed training (both P<0.05). The current results show that aerobic capacity, efficiency, and high speed capacity differentiate WC and NC sprint skiers and it is suggested that these variables determine sprint skiing performance.


The structures of Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium etli lipid A are distinct from those found in other Gram-negative bacteria. Whereas the more typical Escherichia coli lipid A is a hexa-acylated disaccharide of glucosamine that is phosphorylated at positions 1 and 4′, R. etli and R. leguminosarum lipid A consists of a mixture of structurally related species (designated A–E) that lack phosphate. A conserved distal unit, comprised of a diacylated glucosamine moiety with galacturonic acid residue at position 4′ and a secondary 27-hydroxyoctacosanoyl (27-OH-C28) as part of a 2′ acyloxyacyl moiety, is present in all five components. The proximal end is heterogeneous, differing in the number and lengths of acyl chains and in the identity of the sugar itself. A proximal glucosamine unit is present in B and C, but an unusual 2-amino-2-deoxy-gluconate moiety is found in D-1 and E. We now demonstrate that membranes ofR. leguminosarum and R. etli can convert B to D-1 in a reaction that requires added detergent and is inhibited by EDTA. Membranes of Sinorhizobium meliloti and E. coli lack this activity. Mass spectrometry demonstrates that B is oxidized in vitro to a substance that is 16 atomic mass units larger, consistent with the formation of D-1. The oxidation of the lipid A proximal unit is also demonstrated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the positive and negative modes using the model substrate, 1-dephospho-lipid IVA. With this material, an additional intermediate (or by product) is detected that is tentatively identified as a lactone derivative of 1-dephospho-lipid IVA. The enzyme, presumed to be an oxidase, is located exclusively in the outer membrane of R. leguminosarum as judged by sucrose gradient analysis. To our knowledge, an oxidase associated with the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria has not been reported previously.


Objectives: Understanding the psychological reasons underlying childrens emotional and behavioural problems can guide appropriate interventions. This study examined emotional and behavioural problems in Australian children and unhealthy family functioning as a psychological factor associated with development of these emotional and behavioural problems. Methods: The study utilised stratified surveys conducted by the New South Wales, Ministry of Health, during the years 2005-2008. A computer assisted telephone interviewing method was employed. The surveys collected information on demographics, family functioning measured by the General Functioning Scale, and emotional and behavioural problems measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children aged 4-15 years (n=7,210 children) were included. Logistic regression analyses were used for the emotional and behavioural problem outcomes. Results: Analyses adjusting for demographics revealed that unhealthy family functioning increased substantially the risks of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.36-4.69), peer problems (OR = 6.26; 95% CI = 4.43-11.42), conduct problems (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 1.88-7.84), and the overall emotional and behavioural problems (OR = 5.06; 95% CI = 2.42-10.58). Conclusions: Children from unhealthy family functioning backgrounds have a potential risk factor for emotional and behavioural problems. Mental health interventions aiming at improving the quality of parent-child relationships may reduce this potential risk for emotional and behavioural problems among the children.


The authors propose a number of pre-distorted mask design techniques for binary and phase-shifting masks. Their approach is based on modeling the imaging mechanism of a stepper by the Hopkins equations and taking advantage of the contrast-enhancement characteristics of photoresist. Optimization techniques such as the branch and bound algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm are used to systematically design pre-distorted masks under incoherent and partially coherent illumination. Computer simulations are used to show that the intensity contour shapes and developed resist shapes of their designed mask patterns are sharper than those of conventional masks. The designed phase-shifting masks are shown to result in higher contrast as well as sharper contours than binary masks. An example of phase conflicting masks designed with the algorithm is shown to outperform a simple intuitive design. This example indicates that a fairly general design procedure consisting of alternating phase shifts and their optimized phase-shift masks is a viable candidate for future phase-shifting mask design. >


Several different mechanical models of double-helical nucleic-acid structures that have been presented in the literature are reviewed here together with a new analysis method that provides a reconciliation between these disparate models. In all cases, terminology and basic results from the theory of Lie groups are used to describe rigid-body motions in a coordinate-free way, and when necessary, coordinates are introduced in a way in which simple equations result. We consider double-helical DNAs and RNAs which, in their unstressed referential state, have backbones that are either straight, slightly precurved, or bent by the action of a protein or other bound molecule. At the coarsest level, we consider worm-like chains with anisotropic bending stiffness. Then, we show how bi-rod models converge to this for sufficiently long filament lengths. At a finer level, we examine elastic networks of rigid bases and show how these relate to the coarser models. Finally, we show how results from molecular dynamics simulation at full atomic resolution (which is the finest scale considered here) and AFM experimental measurements (which is at the coarsest scale) relate to these models.


The book presents the latest findings in experimental plasticity, crystal plasticity, phase transitions, advanced mathematical modeling of finite plasticity and multi-scale modeling. The associated algorithmic treatment is mainly based on finite element formulations for standard (local approach) as well as for non-standard (non-local approach) continua and for pure macroscopic as well as for directly coupled two-scale boundary value problems. Applications in the area of material design/processing are covered, ranging from grain boundary effects in polycrystals and phase transitions to deep-drawing of multiphase steels by directly taking into account random microstructures.


The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between Effective Communication and Staff Commitment in the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali - Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey design was used with the target sample size of 97 out of 130 parent population. The total number of questionnaires that were filled and returned was 78, giving a high response rate of 80.5 percent. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the population, the researchers used stratified sampling and random sampling. Descriptive analysis involving frequencies, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient for inferential statistics were carried out. The correlation between the two variables was weak at 0.355, and significant at 0.001 value. The results were linearly correlated and this implied that Effective Communication is positively correlated with staff commitment; whenever employers are effective in communication, staff are likely to be more committed and vice versa.


The 'unmet' need for reproductive health care in India requires a wide demand net. Besides 'supply' of oral contraceptives, condoms and IUDs, the 'non-supply' approach for increasing contraceptive prevalence is recommended through education about the variety of safe contraceptives and awareness in the use of traditional methods. Expansion of education is partly responsible for the recent decline in fertility in India, however, gender inequality still prevails with poor sex ratio in urban regions, and deficit of around 35 million girls and women from higher mortality compared to males till the age of 30. The community can become a key force in knowledge sharing for greater contraceptive prevalence and also to support its service sector. Practice of women's reproductive health involves complex socio-cultural-b iological interaction in accessing modern contraceptive technologies. A number of interactive factors have been suggested to operate at different hierarchical levels to provide homeodynamic stability to the central event of reproductive health care under a central controller action, the government. While guidelines of the World Health Organization for quality care in family planning should be implemented in rural and urban sectors, efforts should also be made to translate recent advances in contraceptive technology from laboratory to service sector for improving women's reproductive health.


A few years ago, the " Industry 4.0 " programs have been launched in several European countries and USA to support the development and the innovation of SMEs. The common goal of these programs is to innovate SMEs in terms of automation (of machines), integration (of lines), and interconnection (of the production system with its management). For SMEs, it would be a great opportunity. However, SME managers (who usually are at the same time, owners, operations managers, and technicians) face great difficulties in accessing funding from an " Industry 4.0 " plan, due to lack of information and limits on their knowledge of new information technologies. This chapter aims at guiding a manager/technician toward the opportunities offered by " Industry 4.0 " by presenting some formal models on which managers can base their decisions of innovating their SMEs.


A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a collection of wireless mobile nodes communicating with each other using multi-hop wireless. One of the main challenges of MANET is the design of robust routing algorithms that adapt to the frequent and randomly changing network topology. A variety of routing protocols have been proposed and several of them have been extensively simulated or implemented as well. In this paper, we compare and evaluate the performance metrics of two types of routing protocols Ad-hoc On-demand Multipath Distance Vector (AOMDV) routing protocol , which is a multipath routing protocol and Destination sequence distance vector (DSDV) routing protocol based on various simulations like varying pause time and varying maximum speed of the moving nodes. KeywordsAd-hoc networks; routing protocols ; AOMDV; DSDV; Simulation


Elastomer is a widely used seal material in oil and gas wells. Seal components in wellhead and completion equipment are important barrier elements for maintaining well integrity. In general, unlike metallic seals, it is believed that elastomer seal's performance is not highly dependent on its surface characteristics. However, there are some evidences that suggest that elastomer surface quality or defects like wear, blistering, etc. can impact fluid penetration risk and leakage.
 The effect of elastomer surface quality on sealability is difficult to investigate using macroscopic (equipment level) finite element models. This paper presents a novel modelling approach that can simulate fluid penetration and predict leakage rates considering surface topography/characteristics of the elastomer sealing interface. The leakage model consists of a contact mechanics model and a fluid flow model. Deterministic contact-mechanics model can take surface topographical measurements as an input and simulate actual contact area, and microscopic gaps at different loads. This contact gap information is then used by the fluid flow model to predict flow path and calculate leakage rates.
 To represent elastomer seal surface and apply the developed model, different types of rough surfaces were generated. Various operational, design, and failure scenarios were simulated to investigate the effects of surface characteristics, elastomer material properties, fluid properties, etc. on the elastomer sealability. Preliminary results demonstrate that elastomer surface characteristic such as degree of finishing can have notable influence on the seal quality as measured by contact pressure required to achieve zero leakage rate. As expected, harder elastomer seal material exhibited more sensitivity to surface quality than softer material. High fluid pressure and low viscosity were observed to increase the leakage rates for similar contact pressure distribution.
 Finite element modelling based seal design is typically limited to the analysis of contact pressure distribution at the sealing interface. Presented leakage model helps further extend the design workflow by enabling consideration of surface characteristics of the seal. With further refinement and experimental validation, the model could be used to create lookup tables of contact pressures. These values can be used as target for finite element analysis of seal equipment design.


The "z-drugs" zopiclone, zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zaleplon were introduced in the 1980s for the treatment of insomnia, as it was observed that the side effect profile associated with these medications were more benign than those related to the benzodiazepines. This meta-analysis set out to ascertain which domains of cognitive function, if any, were affected by the ingestion of these medications. A total of 20 studies met the study inclusion criteria. Results revealed medium effect sizes for zopiclone and zolpidem on measures of verbal memory. An additional medium effect size was observed for zolpidem on attention. Finally, smaller effect sizes were observed for zolpidem speed of processing and for zopiclone on working memory. It is clear from these data that the use of a single dose of the z-drugs in healthy adults as measured in the morning following the exposure does produce a specific rather than a generalized negative effect on cognitive function. However, there were only enough studies to evaluate the individual cognitive effects of the zolpidem and zopiclone medications; the specific effects of zaleplon and eszopiclone cannot be ascertained because only one study met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the review.


Quality-adjusted life years or QALYs are used to combine, in a single measure, information about the quantity and quality of life produced by a health intervention. They have been used as outcome measures in clinical trials and in cost-effectiveness analyses. This paper describes how QALYs are assessed and how they are used. Methodological and theoretical problems are discussed as are ethical objections to the utilitarian ethos underlying their use. It is concluded that QALYs are part of a technology that is still in development but, because of the lack of alternatives, they will certainly continue to be used. It is important to resolve the outstanding methodological issues and reach an ethical consensus to ensure that QALYs truly reflect community goals.


Machine learning-based systems are rapidly gaining popularity and in-line with that there has been a huge research surge in the field of explainability to ensure that machine learning models are reliable, fair, and can be held liable for their decision-making process. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods are typically deployed to debug black-box machine learning models but in comparison to tabular, text, and image data, explainability in time series is still relatively unexplored. The aim of this study was to achieve and evaluate model agnostic explainability in a time series forecasting problem. This work focused on proving a solution for a digital consultancy company aiming to find a data-driven approach in order to understand the effect of their sales related activities on the sales deals closed. The solution involved framing the problem as a time series forecasting problem to predict the sales deals and the explainability was achieved using two novel model agnostic explainability techniques, Local explainable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) which were evaluated using human evaluation of explainability. The results clearly indicate that the explanations produced by LIME and SHAP greatly helped lay humans in understanding the predictions made by the machine learning model. The presented work can easily be extended to any time


Environmental conditions exert strong selection on animal behavior. We tested the hypothesis that the altered behavior of hosts due to parasitic manipulation is also subject to selection imposed by changes in environmental conditions over time. Our model system is ants manipulated by parasitic fungi to bite onto vegetation. We analyzed the correlation between forest type (tropical vs. temperate) and biting substrate (leaf vs. twigs), the time required for the fungi to reach reproductive maturity, and the phylogenetic relationship among specimens from tropical and temperate forests in different parts of the globe. We show that the fungal development in temperate forest is longer than the period of time leaves are present and the ants are manipulated to bite twigs. When biting twigs, 90% of the we examined dead ants had their legs wrapped around twigs, which appears to provide better attachment to the plant. Ancestral state character reconstruction suggests that the leaf biting is the ancestral trait and that twig biting is a convergent trait in temperate regions of the globe. These three lines of evidence suggest that changes in environmental conditions have shaped the manipulative behavior of the host by its parasite.


The nuclear industry has seen an increased use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology as a high-fidelity tool for design-basis and beyond-design-basis accident simulations. Among its applications, CFD modeling of fire and smoke propagation in confined zones (e.g., a main control room (MCR)) is a promising approach, since detailed experimental investigation under various accident scenarios would be difficult. Egress analysis considering human behaviors is of significant importance to an effective accident mitigation strategy, and high-fidelity analysis tools now encompass these parameters in the simulation and design of emergency evacuations. In this study, the fire and smoke propagation in a MCR is modeled using the large eddy simulations (LES) code fire dynamics simulator (FDS), along with an evacuation module, EVAC to simulate the emergency egress under an electrical cabinet fire scenario. The FDS results presented in this paper constitute the first step at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) in advancing the CFD modeling of fire and evacuation for nuclear applications.


First published by Wiley in 1978, this book is being re-issued with a new Preface by the author. The roots of the book lie in the writings of RA Fisher both as concerns results and the general stance to statistical science, and this stance was the determining factor in the author's selection of topics. His treatise brings together results on aspects of statistical information, notably concerning likelihood functions, plausibility functions, ancillarity, and sufficiency, and on exponential families of probability distributions.


This research would like to see the patterns of Social Development Empowerment Through Islamic Philanthropy Movement. The main problem in philanthropy is the lack of proper strategy in implementing Lembaga Amil Zakat (LAZ) and Badan Amil Zakat (BAZ) in Indonesia. In particular the philanthropy movement undertaken by Lazismu does not run evenly in every region. There are only certain Lazismu such as Lazismu Central Java, Lazismu East Java, and Lazismu Yogyakarta. One example of Lazismu Central Java in the month of Ramadan managed to collect money of 37 billion. This figure is a fantasy number that can be collected in just 1 month by this newly established philanthropic institution. The results of this study produce relationships with others. Islamic philanthropy and eminent empowerment strategy became a better philanthropic movement of Islam.


Neogene constriction in the northern chilean Coastal Cordillera: Neotectonics and surface dating using cosmogenic 21Ne. This work documents fault activity and the Neogene's strain fi eld in northern Chilean Coastal Cordillera. Fault activity is expressed as a group of fault scarps and fault-bend fold scarps whose orientation defi nes three main domains WNW-ESE, N-S and NNW-SSE. The WNW-ESE and N-S faults show reverse kinematics, and NNW-SSE faults shows dextral-reverse kinematics. Exposure ages using cosmogenic Ne show that the faults disrupt an Oligocene-Miocene landscape preserved at the Coastal Cordillera. Inactive valleys incised in this landscape are offset by the faults showing that faults were active after 4 and 2 Ma. Ar/Ar chronology of displaced volcanic tuffs and the deformation of Late Pleistocene sediments indicate that fault activity remain still active during the Quaternary. The deformation regime is constrictional and characterized by subhorizontal shortening in all directions, that is explained by oblique convergence along an active curved continental margin.


Evidentialism is the thesis that all reasons to believe p are evidence for p. Pragmatists hold that pragmatic considerations –incentives for believing –can also be reasons to believe. Nishi Shah, Thomas Kelly and others have argued for evidentialism on the grounds that incentives for belief fail a 'reasoning constraint' on reasons: roughly, reasons must be considerations we can reason from, but we cannot reason from incentives to belief. In the first half of the paper, I show that this argument fails: the claim that we cannot reason from incentives is either false or does not combine with the reasoning constraint to support evidentialism. However, the failure of this argument suggests an alternative route to evidentialism. Roughly, reasons must be premises of good reasoning, but it is not good reasoning to reason from incentives to belief. The second half of the paper develops and defends this argument for evidentialism.


ABSTRACT Rapid erosion has occurred on the beaches of the Nile Delta in response to dam construction that has cut off the river sediment supply. This erosion is greatest adjacent to the two distributary mouths, with shoreline retreat rates up to 60 m per year. The eroded sand is carried alongshore away from the river mouths, and deposited in areas of shoreline accretion. These patterns of shoreline erosion and deposition are reflected in the mineralogy of the beach sands. On a delta-wide scale, high-density opaques, garnet and zircon are concentrated in the erosion areas to form black-sand placers. Lower-density hornblende, as well as quartz and feldspars, are preferentially transported out of the erosion areas and deposited in the stretches of accreting shoreline. A detailed analysis of these sorting patterns has been undertaken with beach samples from Abu Quir Bay at the western end of the delta. Concentrations of opaques, zircon, rutile and garnet decrease exponentially with longshore distance from the river mouth, while augite and hornblende increase exponentially. The coefficients in the exponential equations are found to be a function of mineral density, demonstrating the importance of this grain property in mineral sorting leading to the observed compositional variations along the shores of the Nile Delta.


The molecular instructions that govern gene expression regulation are encoded in the genome and ultimately determine the morphology and functional specifications of the human brain. As a consequence, changes in gene expression levels might be directly related to the functional decline associated with brain aging. Small noncoding RNAs, including miRNAs, comprise a group of regulatory molecules that modulate the expression of hundred of genes which play important roles in brain metabolism. Recent comparative studies in humans and nonhuman primates revealed that miRNAs regulate multiple pathways and interconnected signaling cascades that are the basis for the cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders during aging. Identifying the roles of miRNAs and their target genes in model organisms combined with system-level studies of the brain would provide more comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of brain deterioration during the aging process.


The spectrum of clinico-electrical characteristics of epileptic spasms associated with cortical malformation was studied in detail. The subjects were 15 patients suffering from spasms and cortical malformation demonstrated by MRI. The types of cortical malformation causing spasms were various, including hemi-megalencephaly, diffuse pachygyria, focal cortical dysplasia, and polymicrogyria. Ohtahara syndrome was diagnosed in 3 patients, and West syndrome in 8. Symptomatic localization-related epilepsy preceded West syndrome in 4 patients, and a transition from Ohtahara syndrome to West syndrome was observed in one. West syndrome was followed by symptomatic generalized epilepsy including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in 4 patients. Nine patients showed a condition which was labeled "epilepsy with partial seizures and spasms" (EPS) and characterized by the co-existence of partial seizures and spasms, and multifocal epileptic discharges on EEG. Spasms occurred only as EPS in 5 patients. EPS appeared following Ohtahara syndrome or West syndrome in 4 patients, and showed a transition to symptomatic localization-related epilepsy in 4. However, EPS did not evolve into generalized epilepsy, and persisted until the time of last follow-up in 5 patients. Therefore, the clinico-electrical pictures of patients with spasms and cortical malformation were diverse and not always limited within those of typical generalized epilepsy.


Purpose To evaluate the capacity of OCT angiography (OCTA) for detecting infraclinical lesions in parafoveal capillaries in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods This prospective observational cross-sectional case-control study analyzed the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) on macular OCTA scans (3 × 3 mm) centered on the fovea. We compared 22 diabetic patients (34 eyes included) without DR diagnosis on color fundus photographs, with 22 age- and gender-matched nondiabetic controls (40 eyes included). Qualitative analysis concerned morphological ischemic capillary alterations. Quantitative analysis measured foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size, parafoveal capillary density, and enlargement coefficient of FAZ between SCP and DCP. Results Neither the qualitative nor quantitative parameters were significantly different between both groups. No microaneurysms or venous tortuosity was observed in any of the analyzed images. On the SCP, the mean FAZ area was 0.322 ± 0.125 mm2 in diabetic patients and 0.285 ± 0.150 mm2 in controls, P = 0.31. On the DCP, the mean FAZ area was 0.444 ± 0.153 mm2 in cases and 0.398 ± 0.138 mm2 in controls, P = 0.20. Conclusion OCTA did not detect infraclinical qualitative or quantitative differences in parafoveal capillaries of diabetic patients without DR in comparison with nondiabetic controls.


This article outlines the initial stages of an ongoing experiment to evaluate the comparative efficacy of two different therapeutic interventions--behaviour modification and gentle teaching--in the management of challenging behaviour in children who have learning disabilities. Using a workshop approach, parents are taught the principles and practice of one of these two interventions to enable better management of their child's challenging behaviour. A range of intervention outcomes are then compared with those of a control group. Preliminary analysis of data has been conducted on information gathered from those parents (n = 24) who attended the gentle teaching workshop only. The results indicate that brief intervention training in gentle teaching can have a positive impact upon the challenging behaviour of the child.


A fully hybrid computer-aided circuit design to achieve a first-pass on-board CMOS LNA fabrication is studied. The LNA is implemented in 0.13-μm CMOS process. A post-layout die-level electromagnetic-field analysis, to extract the interconnection and interaction parasitic between on-chip components, is used. The extracted touchstone model is integrated with circuit model of board including the microstrip lines and surface-mounted passive elements as well as the electromagnetic-field extracted model of radio-frequency coaxial connectors. The hybrid electromagnetic-circuit simulation results are compared with the measurement results for evaluation. The comparison presented an excellent correlation between the simulated and measured results. The connector's effects can be de-embedded using its developed electromagnetic model. This method of simulation and optimization is targeted to achieve first-pass run instead of optimization using costly prototypes.


Entropy generation of fully developed turbulent flow in a transition duct is investigation in this study. Air was used to study as working flow on entropy generation, flow passing from a rectangular to square channel in turbulent flow conditions, experimentally. Entropy generation was increased according to the equivalent conical angle of the transition duct. The lateral side angle of the duct was varied to investigate its effect on the entropy generation.


Rare inherited disorders have long provided a unique window on the genetic basis of disease. Individuals inherit two copies of a gene; one from each parent. In a recessive disorder, if one copy is defective (a mutant allele), the alternate copy is usually sufficient to maintain normal function of the encoded protein. If an individual inherits two defective copies, protein function is disrupted, leading to disease. Often, two different mutant alleles of the same gene are present in one person, a phenomenon called compound heterozygosity. Whether these still cause disease depends on the gene in question.

The potential for recessive genes to interact has rarely been studied in human disease largely because distinguishing the effects of environment and genetic background from "biallelic" effects is very difficult in humans. In a new study, Jaan-Olle Andressoo, James Mitchell, and colleagues circumvent this problem by using a compound heterozygous mouse model of a severe human syndrome called trichothiodystrophy (TTD) that allowed them to link physical traits (or phenotype) to specific combinations of mutant alleles.

TTD belongs to a class of rare, clinically distinct XPD-related recessive disorders. XPD, a DNA-unwinding enzyme, is essential for both gene transcription and DNA repair of sun-induced damage as a component of the transcription/repair factor IIH (TFIIH) complex. In addition to TTD, XPD mutations cause xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS). XP results in dramatically elevated cancer risk from extreme sun sensitivity—though, surprisingly, sun sensitivity does not necessarily cause skin cancer—and, in severe cases, primary neurodegeneration. Neither CS nor TTD increase cancer risk but lead to accelerated aging, reduced stature, and degeneration of the nerves' protective myelin sheath. TTD also causes scaly skin and brittle hair. As its name implies, the even rarer XP combined with CS (XPCS) combines cancer predisposition with neurodevelopmental problems.

In the current model, which Andressoo et al. refer to as the "monoallelic" paradigm of XPD-related disease, "causative" mutations are linked to a specific XPD syndrome. Mutations that aren't linked to a particular disorder are considered biologically inactive, or null. But the appearance of patients with causative mutations and a rare combination of TTD and XP symptoms has revealed the limitations of this paradigm. To explore the potential role of what the researchers call "biallelic effects" in human recessive disorders, Andressoo et al. asked whether different allele combinations of the enzyme XPD influence the diverse phenotypes associated with XPD-related recessive disorders. They discovered that combinations of XPD recessive alleles produced a variety of biallelic effects, from alleviating the severity of various disease symptoms to improving the function of the interacting genes.

In addition to their existing TTD mouse model (with the causative XPDR722W mutation), Andressoo et al. "knocked in" a mutation found in an XPCS "hemizygote" patient (XPDG602D), who had only one copy of the gene, suggesting that mice carrying two copies of this allele (homozygotes) should live. However, no XpdG602D homozygous mutants lived, and the XpdG602D allele was designated Xpd†XPCS or "lethal." Lethality was likely caused by the reduced expression of the mutant allele rather than by the mutation itself, the researchers concluded, because they found in a separate study that normalization of XPDG602D expression levels leads to viable homozygous animals. Thus, the XPDG602D protein is likely biologically active but its reduced expression in homozygous Xpd†XPCS animals causes lethality. Knocking in an Xpd mutation (encoding XPDR683W) associated with XP was also homozygous lethal (and designated Xpd†XP), probably for the same reason.

To see if these homozygous lethal alleles might interact with a different disease-causing allele, the researchers generated compound heterozygous mice with the Xpd homozygous lethal allele (Xpd†XPCS) and a TTD-causing allele (XpdTTD). Multiple skin, hair, and aging-related features of TTD were far less severe in the compound heterozygous animals than in animals carrying two copies of the TTD-causing allele. Beyond ameliorating these classic TTD symptoms, the homozygous lethal allele alleviated anemia and developmental delay and also extended lifespan in the compound heterozygotes. Similarly, generating compound heterozygotes from the homozygous lethal XP allele (Xpd†XP) and the TTD-causing allele attenuated the TTD-related skin and weight-loss symptoms. The researchers propose that, due to the low expression levels, the lethal alleles, when homozygous, lead to a transcriptional defect that proves fatal. But when either allele is combined with the TTD-causing allele, the latter steps in to perform the transcription task early enough to prevent embryonic lethality. Then, later, as the skin, hair, and blood cells develop, the lethal alleles recover the deficiencies of the TTD allele.

Combining one of the homozygous lethal alleles (Xpd†XPCS or Xpd†XP) with a TTD-causing allele also allowed the normally sun-sensitive XPCS and XP cells to better survive ultraviolet light. This finding suggests that interactions between the alleles produce an effect—resistance to sunlight—that neither has on its own, a phenomenon called "interallelic complementation." The researchers suspect that complementation occurs as different XPD molecules are plugged into the TFIIH complex at the site of DNA damage.

These results suggest that even though presumed-"null" alleles can't execute their transcription task, they may still influence disease outcome in compound heterozygous patients, as they have in the mouse model. The evidence that both alleles can contribute to disease phenotype, the researchers conclude, also suggests that it's time to adopt a biallelic paradigm for compound heterozygous patients with XPD-related disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the neuromechanism of trans-auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for treatment-resistant depression(TRD) based on functional brain network.

METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with TRD were recruited from the psychiatric clinic or by the advertisement. The patients were treated by taVNS (5 Hz/20 Hz, 4-8 mA) at the auricular concha for 30 min, twice daily for 8 weeks. The symptom severity was assessed by 17-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17, ranging from 0 to 54 points, higher score indicates more severe conditions). Resting state fMRI data of the brain were collected to analyze changes of the regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) before and after 8 weeks' taVNS by using DPARSF toolkit and the correlation between the rs-FC and clinical scale score was analyzed to assess the related brain mechanisms.

RESULTS
Twenty-four patients finished the clinical study, and 23 patients finished the fMRI tests. After the treatment, the average score of HAMD-17 was significantly decreased (P<0.01), with the reduction rate being 66.95%; the ALFF and ReHo values of the right insula and putamen, the ReHo values of the right caudate nucleus and thalamus, as well as the rs-FC values of the right insula, left superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus were all significantly decreased (P<0.05). The reduced ReHo value in the right insular lobe was negatively correlated with the HAMD score reduction (P=0.001, r=-0.633). The rs-FC values of the right insula lobe and the left superior frontal gyrus were significantly negatively correlated with the reduced HAMD score(P=0.012, r=-0.512).

CONCLUSION
TaVNS significantly relieves the symptoms of TRD patients, which may be related to its functions in regulating functional changes of the right insular and the left frontal gyrus network, and the limbic area and basal ganglia.


PlugSonic is a suite of web- and mobile-based applications for the curation and experience of 3D interactive soundscapes and sonic narratives in the cultural heritage context. It was developed as part of the PLUGGY EU project (Pluggable Social Platform for Heritage Awareness and Participation) and consists of two main applications: PlugSonic Sample, to edit and apply audio effects, and PlugSonic Soundscape, to create and experience 3D soundscapes for headphones playback. The audio processing within PlugSonic is based on the Web Audio API and the 3D Tune-In Toolkit, while the mobile exploration of soundscapes in a physical space is obtained using Apple's ARKit. The main goal of PlugSonic is technology democratisation; PlugSonic users—whether cultural institutions or citizens—are all given the instruments needed to create, process and experience 3D soundscapes and sonic narratives; without the need for specific devices, external tools (software and/or hardware), specialised knowledge or custom development. The aims of this paper are to present the design and development choices, the user involvement processes as well as a final evaluation conducted with inexperienced users on three tasks (creation, curation and experience), demonstrating how PlugSonic is indeed a simple, effective, yet powerful tool.


Abstract Background: The idea of product usability has been discussed in several research areas including product research and development. Usability, in telecare monitoring systems, determines how much the system is effective and efficient for the telecare users. Usability has been considered an important factor in the acceptance of telecare monitoring systems by individuals who encounter challenges in the use of such systems and who possess a limited knowledge of their use. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the relevant usability issues and identify possible solutions to improve the usability of telecare monitoring systems. Method: The study is based on eight research questions and to find the answers to those research questions, a systematic literature is performed. Results: The research findings highlight various usability issues, including the complexity of the interface, difficulty in reading the text, and insufficient provision of instructions. These studies have also suggested solutions to enhance the usability of systems, including development of the technical skills of users, explanations of usability evaluation techniques for telecare monitoring systems, and engaging the appropriate users during the development of telecare monitoring systems. Implications for rehabilitation Successful implementation of telecare monitoring systems can increase the chances of acceptance of telecare monitoring systems by the users. Implementing an efficient and effective system will make telecare users more independent at their homes. The development of usable telecare monitoring systems can significantly contribute to a basis for clinical and home-based implementation of the telehealth technology to promote remote monitoring for elderly and people with disabilities. Considering the usability issues and solutions identified in this study, it will go a long way towards aiding subsequent researchers and developers in the implementation of more usable and valid telecare monitoring systems.


BACKGROUND
Because increased age is a strong independent predictor of mortality and morbidity, surgery for octogenarians with Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD) may be avoided.Methods and Results:From 2005 to 2015, 158 patients underwent surgical repair for AAD via a median sternotomy. We compared 24 (15.2%) octogenarians (83±3 years) with 134 (84.8%) patients aged ≤79 years (62±13 years), based on retrospectively collected clinical data. Octogenarians were predominantly female (79.2% vs. 44.8%, P=0.0033). Ascending aortic replacement was more frequently performed in the octogenarians (95.8% vs. 65.7%, P=0.0015) and total arch replacement in the younger patients (4.2% vs. 26.9%, P=0.0165). There were 14 hospital deaths among the younger patients, none among the octogenarians (0% vs. 10.4%, P=0.1303), and major morbidity rates were comparable. There were 3 late deaths among the octogenarians and 9 deaths among the younger patients. The respective 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 94.4%, 81.5%, and 81.5% in the octogenarians and 86.9%, 85.6%, and 83.9% in the younger patients, with no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS
Surgical repair for AAD in octogenarians showed favorable results when compared with a younger patient cohort, with low hospital mortality rate and excellent late outcomes. Therefore, this technique should not be disregarded just because the patient is an octogenarian. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2468-2472).


The idea for this report was the seminar for civil society organizations organized by the IMF at the JVI in cooperation with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe took place in Vienna at October 31 – November 2, 2007. Mr. Mico Apostolov attended the seminar as a CEA member and he has prepared a report upon which this report to USAID was prepared. The seminar was organized on the bases of the constant effort of IMF to introduce as much as possible transparency into its work with the wider sector of the civil society. The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are in the core and in fact shape the civil society. Thus, it is a perfect target group for transmission of the already achieved, the present engagements and the future projects and intentions of IMF. The quality of presented / learned was at the highest level, knowing that all of the presenters are key decision-makers and policy-creators for IMF and the region of Southeast Europe. Hence, the output was of importance, setting up the foundations of the current macroeconomic policies and giving indicators that are important milestones for national governments and CSOs in their day-to-day work. In a conclusion, it is evident that the overall macroeconomic parameters of the Southeast Europe show that this region is in phase of rapid convergence and the national economies will continue to grow rapidly, as expected, in the years to follow. Although second-generation (structural and institutional) reforms are underway in Southeastern European economies, the unprecedented levels and large variations of external imbalances occupy relatively high positions on the policymakers agenda. Widening external imbalances reflect either rapid capital formation or private consumption booms, but there are country-specific thresholds beyond which market participants are unwilling to finance these deficits. Even if the growth potential of these economies justifies the large and persistent deficits, in case of sudden shift in the market sentiment, the inevitable adjustment could have devastating macroeconomic implications. The ensuing reduction of current account deficits could lead to a slowdown in medium term growth and reduction of long run per capita income. Hence, despite the strengthened macroeconomic management, SEE economies must continue their cooperation with the Fund, particularly in terms of regular surveillance of macroeconomic and financial market developments. This report was prepared under the contract provisions signed between CEA and USAID for nonexclusive services to USAID as part of a grant agreement.