This thesis introduces three new model-free tests for isotropy, equal distribution and random superposition in non-rectangular windows respectively. For isotropy, a bootstrap-type test is proposed. The corresponding test statistic assesses the discrepancy between the uniform distribution and the empirical normalised reduced second-order moment measure of a sector of fixed radius with increasing central angle. The null distribution of the discrepancy is then estimated by stochastic reconstruction, which generates bootstrap-type samples of point patterns that resemble the spatial structure of the given pattern. The new test is applicable for small sample sizes and is shown to have more robust powers to different choices of user-chosen parameter when compared with the asymptotic χ-test by Guan et al. (2006) in our simulation. For equal distribution, a model-free asymptotic test is introduced. The proposed test statistic compares the discrepancy between the empirical second-order product densities of the observed point patterns at some pre-chosen lag vectors. Under certain mild moment conditions and a weak dependence assumption, the limiting null distribution of the test statistic is the χdistribution. Simulation results show that the new test is more powerful than the permutation test by Hahn (2012) for comparing point patterns with similar structures but different distributions. The new test for random superposition is a modification of the toroidal shift test by Lotwick and Silverman (1982). The idea is to extrapolate the pattern observed in a non-rectangular window to a larger rectangular region by the stochastic reconstruction so that the toroidal shift test can be applied. Simulation results show that the powers of the test applied to patterns with extrapolated points are remarkably higher than those of the test applied to the largest inscribed rectangular windows, with only slightly increased type I error rates. Real data sets are used to illustrate the advantages of the tests developed in this thesis over the existing tests in the literature.


Much of international trade is coordinated by the lead firms of Global Value Chains (GVCs) and regulated through global standards. The way in which this global governance is exercised has a significant impact on the organisation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) clusters and their upgrading opportunities. This paper is particularly concerned with the global governance structures themselves – i.e. with GVCs, global standards and their interaction. The objective of the paper is to understand this public–private institutional context for international trade. To this end, the paper looks at the following questions: What is chain governance? When does it arise? How do chain governance and global standards interact? What are the likely trends in the global governance of value chains? What is the policy relevance of these governance structures? The paper sums up the literature on local industrial development and emphasises that understanding the changes at a local level requires an understanding of the changes in global governance.


The self-assembly mechanism of alkanethiol monolayers on the (111) surface of gold was discovered with the use of an ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope. Monolayer formation follows a two-step process that begins with condensation of low-density crystalline islands, characterized by surface-aligned molecular axes, from a lower density lattice-gas phase. At saturation coverage of this phase, the monolayer undergoes a phase transition to a denser phase by realignment of the molecular axes with the surface normal. These studies reveal the important role of molecule-substrate and molecule-molecule interactions in the self-assembly of these technologically important material systems.


Wastewaters generated from vegetable oil industries contain a high concentration of organic pollutants that are detrimental to the aquatic ecosystem. Electrochemical processes are gaining importance in the treatment of inorganic and resistant organic pollutants in wastewaters. In this study, electrocoagulation (EC) was applied to remove organic pollutants and oil and grease from canola oil wastewater using aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes. The application of EC in the wastewater achieved more than 80% removal of organic carbon and nearly 100% removal of suspended solids (SS). The effectiveness of EC is influenced mainly by current density, pH, electrolyte (NaCl), electrode contact time and electrode type. It was observed that Al electrode combination yielded better removal at a lesser time compared to that of Fe electrodes. However, varying current densities had its significance in terms of coagulation time only. Increase in current density achieved decrease in coagulation time. Both Al and Fe could remove between 52-59% of oil and grease from canola oil wastewater


Understanding how parents, and other primary caregivers, perceive and experience early childhood programs and services is essential for identifying family-centered facilitators and barriers to service utilization. Therefore, this paper aims to explore parent knowledge of and experiences with community efforts of an early childhood system in Illinois: the All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks (AOK Networks). Our research team conducted focus group interviews with 20 parents across four Illinois counties. A semi-structured interview guide was used to examine parent perceptions of an early childhood system's community efforts in promoting the health and well-being of children aged from birth to five. Thematic network analysis was used to analyze all focus group data. Parents indicated three salient themes, including: (1) comprehensive information sharing practices, (2) diverse service engagement, and (3) barriers to service access. Overall, parents reported general satisfaction with the quality of available services and provided feedback regarding identified areas of need to increase the accessibility and utilization of local services. Engaging parents as partners is essential to the effective implementation of family-centered early childhood services. Families are the experts of their lived experiences, and incorporating their voices in program development and evaluation efforts works to increase positive child and family outcomes.


The electromagnetic connection processes of Aluminum alloy pipes were studied in the paper. Experimental coil and poles were designed according to pipes' initial size. Some electromagnetic connection experiments were carried out under gap and the number of grooves. The influences of systematic technological parameter to connection strength were investigated with tensile test. The gap of connection have a best value and less than or greater than the value will decline the connection intensity. With the numbers of grooves increasing, the growth rate of the connection intensity increased at first and then decreased. It means an optimal value. In the experiment four grooves made connection intensity an enough strength which is even greater than the material ultimate strength. Too much grooves made no sense.


The paper presents the methodology currently used by the authors for the evaluation of flexible and rigid airport and highway pavements. Using this methodology, one can determine economically and accurately the elastic modulus of: (a) the subgrade; (b) the subbase and base materials, and (c) the asphalt layer of a flexible pavement. To improve the accuracy and to reduce the sensitivity of the calculated moduli of old pavements with nonuniform characteristics, the subgrade modulus is calculated, and then the combined modulus of the pavement structure is completed. In the third step the moduli of the asphalt and granular materials are determined. The alternative way of calculating the three moduli exactly and simultaneously is sensitive to minor changes in pavement performance in terms of either deflection basin or layer thicknesses. The Hogg model of a thin plate on an elastic foundation, the Burmister two-layer model, the Odemark-Ullidtz method of "equivalent thicknesses," and the theory of strength of materials are all used to calculate the elastic moduli of the subgrade and pavement layers. Comparison of the elastic moduli determined by the simplified methods and such "exact" computer programs as CRANLAY showed very good agreement. The Hertz-Westergaard models are used in the evaluation of rigid pavement. An expert system in airport and highway pavement evaluation projects is used to minimize the testing errors and to better calibrate the nondestructive testing (NDT) results with standard test pits. The NDT methodology presented in this paper is independent of equipment type and has been successfully used with the Pavement Profiler, the falling weight deflectometer, the 16-kip vibrator, and the Benkelman beam. This NDT methodology has been used worldwide as: (a) a design tool of pavement strengthening and rehabilitation, and (b) a quality control tool to analyze and predict the performance of adequate and marginal materials that do not meet standard specifications.


Poverty studies in the Third World, in general, and in Bangladesh, in particular, have been mostly concerned with the measurement of poverty, and far less with its explanation. In this study, the explicit concern has been to delineate the processes which cause, aggravate and maintain poverty in rural. Bangladesh. The analysis that follows has been conducted at three levels. It seeks, firstly, to delineate the forces within the agrarian structure responsible for rural poverty. Secondly, it examines the urban forces contributing to rural poverty. Finally, it tries to establish the international dimensions of rural poverty. For the first set of forces, primary data were generated through a single village intensive study (lasting for more than a year), while for the latter two levels, secondary data have been used. The analytical framework of the study has been based on the Marxist concepts of "mode of production" and "socio-economic formation". The major findings of the study are as follows: Firstly, natural disasters and lack of resources as causes of poverty are untenable. Secondly, there is no simple, one-way relationship between poverty and population growth. Thirdly, and most important, there is a strong convergence of interests among the rural rich, the urban rich and metropolitan forces; and it is this chain of forces, which, despite the expressed objectives of the Bangladesh state and its international aid donors, not only accounts for extremely inequitable distribution of the available social product but also militates against productive utilisation of the surplus generated. Finally, the existing superstructure, both local and central, also stands in the way of any change taking place in the existing economic relations in the rural society. The implications of the study axe quite clear, namely that without fundamental changes in the existing power and property relations and surplus extraction and utilisation characteristics, it is well-nigh impossible to eradicate poverty of the scale and dimensions that engulfs contemporary rural Bangladesh. However, it was found that the ingredients required to bring about such a change were lacking, and in particular, the consciousness and activities of the rural poor were as yet far removed from the idea and practice of such a change.


A moisture-measuring device for the determination of percentage moisture content of cassava particulate on dry basis during drying process was developed used to investigate the effect of pressure on the resistance of the cassava particulate sample. A thermo-gravimetric sample analysis was used for the calibration of the moisture measuring device. The device had four electrode cups, two of which were used as dummies to give a ½ Wheatstone bridge circuit used to measure the resistance. The resistance of the cassava samples increases with decrease in the %moisture content and decreases with increase in pressure.


This paper presents a livelihood vulnerability assessment and compares the levels of exposure, sensitivity and adaptation to climate change of the local populations in mountains area and coastal plains in Tunisian arid regions. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change vulnerability index (LVI-IPCC) has been adapted and applied to assess this livelihood vulnerability, based on socio-economic surveys and semi-structured interviews with the local populations. Findings show that households in coastal plains are more vulnerable in terms of socio demographic profile, food security, social networks, access to water and climate variability. This territory is much more exposed to climate change, despite being slightly less sensitive. On the other hand, households in mountainous territory are more vulnerable in terms of livelihood strategies, land tenure and health, despite their adaptation capacity, which reduces their vulnerability to climate change. Based on this vulnerability assessment, this work suggests specific adaptation strategies and measures for livelihoods sustainability in each territory.


The Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) is a ubiquitous membrane-bound enzyme responsible for generating and maintaining the Na+ and K+ electrochemical gradients across the plasmalemma of living cells. Numerous studies in non-neuronal tissues have shown that this transport mechanism is reversibly regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the catalytic α subunit and/or associated proteins. In neurons, Na+/K+ transport by NKA is essential for almost all neuronal operations, consuming up to two-thirds of the neuron's energy expenditure. However, little is known about its cellular regulatory mechanisms. Here we have used an electrophysiological approach to monitor NKA transport activity in male rat hippocampal neurons in situ. We report that this activity is regulated by a balance between serine/threonine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Phosphorylation by the protein kinases PKG and PKC inhibits NKA activity, whereas dephosphorylation by the protein phosphatases PP-1 and PP-2B (calcineurin) reverses this effect. Given that these kinases and phosphatases serve as downstream effectors in key neuronal signaling pathways, they may mediate the coupling of primary messengers, such as neurotransmitters, hormones, and growth factors, to the NKAs, through which multiple brain functions can be regulated or dysregulated. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), known as the "Na+ pump," is a ubiquitous membrane-bound enzyme responsible for generating and maintaining the Na+ and K+ electrochemical gradients across the plasma membrane of living cells. In neurons, as in most types of cells, the NKA generates the negative resting membrane potential, which is the basis for almost all aspects of cellular function. Here we used an electrophysiological approach to monitor physiological NKA transport activity in single hippocampal pyramidal cells in situ. We have found that neuronal NKA activity is oppositely regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, and we have identified the main protein kinases and phosphatases mediating this regulation. This fundamental form of NKA regulation likely plays a role in multiple brain functions.


Bladder hernia is not a rare pathological condition, with a frequency between 0.3% and 3%, reaching the 10% between patients older than 50 years. Massive bladder hernia is less frequent and very rarely ureterohydronephrosis is associated with this pathology, given that the trigone is the only portion remaining fixed after herniation. Five cases have been described in the literature reviewed affecting ureters. The present paper represents the fourth case of bilateral ureterohydronephrosis in the literature. The treatment is surgical correction of the inguinoscrotal hernia.


Patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer often develop anemia, which can contribute to increased morbidity and reduced quality of life.[1] It is important for clinicians to be aware of current clinical studies in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia. In patients with nonmyeloid malignancies, chemotherapy-induced anemia can be successfully treated using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). The application of these agents has evolved from more frequent to less frequent administration and from weight-based to single, fixed doses. Emerging data show that ESAs can be given safely on the same day as chemotherapy without loss of efficacy,[2] and that these agents may be administered as infrequently as every 3 weeks.[3,4] The every-3-week schedule is convenient and may reduce the burden on patients and their caregivers by reducing the number of visits to the clinic.


Parental substance abuse in the home may negatively affect the health of their children. The purpose of this study is to better understand whether the impact of parental substance abuse on children persist into their adult lives. This study is a cross-sectional, exploratory study with quantitative methodology. Data was collected by SurveyMonkey, a web-based online survey tool. A total of 243 participants responded for the survey and the data was analyzed with the SPSS statistical software. Multivariate analysis (ANOVA) showed that regardless of age of children, there are significant main effects of mental and/or physical health issues in later life of children who experienced parental substance abuse. In addition, the young adult (18-30) group is more likely to have mental health issues than the middle-aged and older adult groups. The research findings indicate that those who have experienced family substance abuse are considerably likely to have mental health issues regardless of age. Key words: parental substance abuse, children, mental health, foster care


There exist several estimators of the memory parameter in long-memory time series models with mean µ and the spectrum specified only locally near zero frequency. In this paper we give a lower bound for the rate of convergence of any estimator of the memory parameter as a function of the degree of local smoothness of the spectral density at zero. The lower bound allows one to evaluate and compare different estimators by their asymptotic behaviour, and to claim the rate optimality for any estimator attaining the bound. The log-periodogram regression estimator, analysed by Robinson (1992), is then shown to attain the lower bound, and is thus rate optimal.


Fast 3D microscopic imaging methods have been playing a crucial role in many biological studies. In this Letter, we present a revolutionary way to design and build a two-photon excitation (TPE) microscope for 3D and random-access imaging based on a digital micromirror device (DMD), achieving a scanning speed of 22.7 kHz. When pairing with a 40× objective lens, the maximum scanning range in the x, y, z axes are 103, 206, 524 μm, respectively. The axial and lateral scanning resolution (i.e., minimum step size) are 270 nm and 130 nm, respectively. In the system, the focal point of the femtosecond laser can be arbitrarily positioned to any random point in space by switching the binary holograms stored in the DMD. Parametric models are derived to deterministically link the DMD parameters (i.e., pixel size and aperture) with the scanner characteristics, i.e., scan range and minimum step size, in each axis. In the experiments, we demonstrate conventional raster scanning, scanning along arbitrarily programmed surfaces, and random-access scanning on a pollen grain sample via the DMD-based TPE system. We also perform experiments to demonstrate the unique capability of selective optical stimulation, where selected locations within the specimen are photobleached by extending the laser dwell time. With its versatility and high scanning rate, the TPE microscope may find important applications in brain research, realizing in vivo random-access imaging and optical stimulation with tens of microseconds temporal resolution.


This article provides a review of the various statuses of the French language in Gabon, a French-speaking country in Central Africa. It reveals a process in which different generations of Gabonese people are increasingly learning, and thus conceptualising, French as a second language rather than a foreign language. Furthermore, some are also learning and conceptualising French as a mother tongue or initial language, rather than a second language. This process of reconceptualisation has somehow been encouraged by the language policy of the colonial administration and the language policy since the attainment of independence, the latter being a continuation of the former. The final stage of this process is that the language has been adopted among the local languages within the Gabonese language landscape.


Conformity assessment body (CAB) such as Certification body, inspection and laboratorium has role in quality assurance of goods or services. Application of SNI by CAB may describe development of standard application. At this time, data of SNI application and its constraint by CAB is not known for sure yet. The objective of the research is to know how many SNI has implemented by CAB and reasons and problems that faced CAB in order to implement SNI. Method of the study is a survey method. Discussion in this study using decriptive method, it describes about situation or factual condition. Data collecting tools is by quetioner. Questioner was distributed to CAB that was accredited by KAN, such as testing laboratory, quality system certification body, environmental quality system certification body, product certification body, calibration laboratory and inspection body. Applying of SNI by LPK is equal to 14.46% SNI applied to amount of total SNI. Amount of SNI applied by testing laboratory is 873 SNI, by calibration laboratory is 210 SNI, 31 SNI applied by inspection body, 134 SNI applied by product certification body, 52 SNI applied by quality management system certification body, 4 SNI applied by HACCP certification body and 5 SNI applied by EMS certification body. The first reason that CAB is not apply SNI that is SNI inappropriate with customer or market need. Cost of treatment and equipments and difficulty of the process accreditation is a major problem of CAB to apply SNI.


Here, we report for the first time parahydrophobic (high water adhesion) vertically aligned nanotubes by a one-step electropolymerization of naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[3,4-e][1,4]dioxine (NaphDOT) without surfactants and hard templates. The formation of nanotubes is probably due to the stabilization by the polymer of gas bubbles produced in situ during the electropolymerization process. The nanotubes are obtained by cyclic voltammetry or at constant potential, but their formation is highly dependent on the deposition method. From cyclic voltammetry it was found that the size of the nanotubes is extremely large (∅ ≈ 300 nm) and independent of the number of deposition scans, while only the density of nanotubes increases. At constant potential, all the seeds for the nanotube formation are created in the first moments, while the size of the nanotube increases with the deposition charge. Here, θw values up to 135° are obtained even if the polymer is intrinsically highly hydrophilic (Young's angle θY = 63.6°). Moreover, water droplets put on these substrates remain stuck even after an inclination of 90° revealing extremely high adhesion. Such materials could be used in water transportation and harvesting, energy systems and biosensing.


Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a population of pluripotent cells used for tissue engineering purposes. The main purpose of the present study was to transdifferentiate the ADSCs to Schwann-like cells and to determine the intensity of apoptosis in ADSCs during the transdifferentiation process. Methods: ADSCs were isolated from the inguinal adipose tissue of adult rats and the identity of the undifferentiated ADSCs was confirmed by the detection of specific cells surface markers. The ADSCs were transdifferentiated by sequential administration of beta mercaptoethanol, all-trans retinoic acid and a mixture of forskolin, beta fibroblast growth factor, platelet derived growth factor and hergulin. The immunocytochemical properties of transdifferentiated Schwann-like cells were examined at specified time point. RT-PCR was used to investigate the gene expression of the undifferentiated and transdifferentiated ADSCs. Cell apoptosis was assessed with annexin/propidium iodide staining and 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Expression of Schwann cell marker S100 was determined by immunocytochemical staining. RT-PCR analyses revealed that the induced ADSCs exhibited Schwann cellspecific markers such as S-100, P75, and glial fibrillary acidic protein on the 14th day. MTT assay and flow cytometry studies showed that of the total ADSCs in the differentiation medium, 50% of the cells died by apoptosis, but the remaining cell population remained strongly attached to the substrate and continued to differentiate.


A computer code (acronym 5S) has been developed that allows estimation of the solar radiation backscattered by the Earth-surface-atmosphere system, as it is observed by a satellite sensor. Given the Lambertian ground reflectance, the apparent reflectance of the observed pixel is estimated by taking into account the effects of gaseous absorption, scattering by molecules and aerosols and, to some extent, inhomogeneity in the ground reflectance. The input parameters (observation geometry, atmosphere model, ground reflectance and spectral band) can be either selected from some proposed standard conditions (e.g. spectral bands of a satellite sensor) or user-defined. Besides the pixel apparent reflectance, the code provides the gaseous transmittance, the irradiance at the surface and the different contributions to the satellite signal according to the origin of the measured radiance. Some complementary results are also available; among others, benchmark calculations permit assessment of the code accuracy.


This dataset contains a unified GeoTiff with 30x30 meter cell size representing the slope (in degrees) of the 2006 multibeam bathymetry of the Charleston Bump off of the South Atlantic Bight, derived from data collected in August 2006. NOAA's NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch, in collaboration with the College of Charleston, as well as the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster , and private sector partners, acquired multibeam bathymetry data off the Charleston Bump from 08/28/2006 to 08/29/2006. Data was acquired with a hull-mounted Kongsberg Simrad EM 1002 multibeam echosounder (95 kHz). Data has all correctors applied (attitude, sound velocity) and has been reduced to mean lower low water (MLLW) using final approved tides and zoning from NOAA COOPS. Data is in UTM Zone 17 north, datum NAD83. The processed CARIS data was used to generate a CARIS BASE surface based on swath angle. The CARIS Export option "BASE Surface to Image" was then used to create a GeoTiff of the priority areas. Rugosity was derived from this surface using NOAA's Benthic Terrain Modeler extension.


For sophisticated background, a human body tracking algorithm using particle filter based on a 3D articulated body model is introduced. First, a high-fidelity biomechanical upper body model, which is accurate for representing varies complicated human poses and simple to be developed, has been built. Then sequences of images are obtained by using a stereo camera. After calibration, verification and background subtraction, depth map, foreground silhouette, arms skeleton are chosen to construct the likelihood function. The state vectors describing the human pose are computed by fitting the articulated body model to observed person using particle filter. In order to reduce the computational complexity and the number of particles, constraints are employed to restrict the state parameters. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can track human upper body with different poses, different person under different illumination conditions fast and accurately.


Effects of heat treatment on some physical properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood densified using a thermo-mechanical method were determined. Samples were densified in the radial direction with a specially designed hydraulic press machine with target compression ratios of 20% and 40%, and at 110 °C and 150 °C. Then, heat treatment was applied to the samples during 2 h at three different temperatures (190 °C, 200 °C, and 210 °C). In order to determine the changes occurring in physical properties, tests of actual compression ratio, spring-back, compression ratio recovery effect, swelling (TS 4084) in compression direction (radial), and density (TS 2472) were conducted. According to results of the research, at the same target compression ratio (20% or 40%), higher actual compression ratio and density increase were observed in the samples densified at 110 oC in comparison to those densified at 150 oC. While an increase of 42% in density was being obtained, small rates of decreases up to 4% were observed after heat treatment. Application of heat treatment and increase of treatment temperature significantly influenced dimensional stability of densified Scots pine. Furthermore in comparison to samples without heat treatment, effects of compression ratio recovery were reduced by 80%.


The health problems affecting the elderly in Spain over the last few years of the twentieth century have been complied and analyzed. Of outstanding important are the problems of a social nature, in the form of mandatory retirement, at time early retirement, insufficient economic means and the lack of esteem and love from which the elderly suffer. The aid of Health Education in different target groups to attempt to achieve changes in the amount of knowledge and the attitudes towards old age and death, which will lead to more kindly social conduct and behavior with regard to the elderly, is proposed.


Coroners and pathologists commonly evaluate unexpected deaths due to diseases of the adrenal glands and paraganglia, which are, unfortunately, not rare in their total-ity. Although cardiac causes are the main cause of sudden death, endocrine conditions can produce sudden, unexpected deaths that need further investigation, especially in younger patients. This chapter focuses on the issue of sudden death due to diseases involving adrenal glands and paraganglia. The main causes of sudden death due to adrenal gland pathology will be examined, paying particular attention to the pathophysiol - ogy of sudden death, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and their correlation with clinical features. These issues are of great interest, especially considering the clinical impact of sudden death and its rarity among patients with adrenal gland diseases. The forensic pathologist's examination is extremely important in determining the cause of death and findings not clinically observable and can contribute to the improvement of the clinical and surgical approach in treating such patients.


The MARCIVE Library System is a batch computer system utilizing both the MARC tapes and local cataloging to provide catalog cal'ds, book catalogs, and selective bibliographies for five academic libraries in San Antonio, Texas. The development of the system is traced and present procedures are described. Batch retrieval from the MARC 1·ecords plus the modification of these records costs less than twenty cents per title. Computer costs for retrieval, modification, and card production average sixty-six cents per title, between seven and ten cents per card. The attributes and limitations of the MARCIVE system are compared with those of the OCLC system.


Curcumin solid dispersions were prepared using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to enhance water solubility of curcumin. The particle size of curcumin solid dispersions was in range from 371 to 528 nm and particles were shaped as spherical with wrinkles. The encapsulation efficiency was over 93% for all samples, and water solubility of curcumin was significantly improved to 238 µg/mL when the ratio of curcumin to HPMC was 20:80. The results of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that crystalline form of curcumin changed to amorphous form. Curcumin solid dispersions showed improved dissolution behavior compared to pure curcumin and the curcumin release kinetic studies were applied to find best-fitting model. This study showed a great potential of solid dispersion using HPMC as curcumin delivery system with improved water solubility and oral absorption. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Curcumin has limited applications in the food industry because of low water solubility. Dongoh water-soluble curcumin (DW-CURs) were prepared by solid dispersion method with HPMC. Our results indicated that curcumin solid dispersions improved the water solubility of curcumin and showed a sustained release, demonstrating its possibility of body application. Therefore, DW-CURs are a promising formulation for application as a functional ingredient in the food industry.


Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as defined by the Stockholm convention may alter biological systems and lead to toxic effects. Computational studies appear to be a relevant approach to increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of POPs. We investigated the use of a systems toxicology approach to explore the effects of POPs on human health. A protein-protein association network (PPAN) was developed based on known POP-protein interactions. This model was used to predict protein complexes for several candidate POPs, including dicofol, methoxychlor and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), that are listed or proposed to be listed as POPs in the Stockholm convention. Integration of multi data sources (pathways, disease annotations, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs)) involving the identified protein complexes was performed independently in order to reveal putative risk factors for human health. This approach revealed that several systems may be disturbed by these candidate POPs, mainly the reproductive, metabolism and the nervous systems. This study highlights that computational systems toxicology approach may help to decipher putative biological mechanisms of poorly studied chemicals, and to link them to possible adverse effects with the aim to support regulatory assessment and trigger new epidemiological and experimental studies. In order to develop more accurate computational models as alternative methods to animal testing, the next challenge, will be to integrate more data that are available according to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) data principles.


Liz Lochhead has built an impressive reputation as poet, playwright and performer attracting a large and admiring public. Dreaming Frankenstein and Collected Poems stands as a monument to her early work: four collections Memo for Spring (1972), Islands (1978) and Grimm Sisters (1981) and the title volume together provide a complete record of her poetry from 1967 to 1984. In Dreaming Frankenstein human relationships, especially as seen from a woman's point of view, are central. Attraction, pain, acceptance, loss, triumphs and deceptions all are made immediate through her imagery and acute powers of observation and through her flair as a storyteller.


Context. At least a fraction of the atomic hydrogen in spiral galaxies is suspected to be the result of molecular hydrogen which has been dissociated by radiation from massive stars. Aims. In this paper, we extend our earlier set of data from a small region of the Western spiral arm of M 81 with CO observations in order to study the interplay between the radiation field and the molecular and atomic hydrogen. Methods. We report CO(1–0) observations with the Nobeyama 45 m dish and the Owens Valley interferometer array of selected regions in the Western spiral arm of M 81. Results. From our Nobeyama data, we detect CO(1–0) emission at several locations, coinciding spatially with H i features near a far-UV source. The levels and widths of the detected CO profiles are consistent with the CO(1–0) emission that can be expected from several large photo-dissociation regions with typical sizes of some 50 × 150 pc located within our telescope beam. We do not detect emission at other pointings, even though several of those are near far-UV sources and accompanied by bright H i. This non-detection is likely a consequence of the marginal area filling factor of photo-dissociation regions in our observations. We detect no emission in our Owens Valley data, consistent with the low intensity of the CO emission detected in that field by the Nobeyama dish. Conclusions. We explain the lack of CO(1–0) emission at positions farther from far-UV sources as a consequence of insufficient heating and excitation of the molecular gas at these positions, rather than as an absence of molecular hydrogen.


The present study implements long-term surface observed radiation data (pyranometer observed global flux and sky radiometer observed spectral zenith transmittance data) of multiple SKYNET sites to validate water cloud optical properties (cloud optical depth COD and effective radius Re) observed from space by MODIS onboard TERRA and AQUA satellites and AHI onboard Himawari-8 satellite. Despite some degrees of differences in COD and Re between MODIS and AHI, they both showed common features when validated using surface based global flux data as well as cloud properties retrieved from sky radiometer observed zenith transmittance data. In general, CODs from both satellite sensors are found to overestimated when clouds are optically thin. Among a number of factors (spatial and temporal variations of cloud, sensor and solar zenith angles), the solar zenith angle (SZA) is found to have an impact on COD difference between reflectance based satellite sensor and transmittance based sky radiometer. The Re values from the sky radiometer and satellite sensor are generally poorly correlated. The difference in Re between the sky radiometer and satellite sensor is negatively correlated with COD difference between them, which is likely due to the inherent influence of Re retrieval precision on COD retrieval and vice versa in transmittance based sky radiometer.


"The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the medicare law on a particular hospital: Flow Memorial Hospital, Denton, Texas. The scope of this study is limited to an analysis of changes in hospital car at Flow Memorial Hospital resulting from medicare. These changes are examined on the basis of 1. number of patients and days of care; 2. hospital services by department; 3. the means of payment; and 4. social characteristics of the aged patient group. A detailed examination of aged patient care was made for the fiscal years 1966 and 1967. The 1966 year was the year immediately preceding medicare. The 1967 year was the first year of medicare. Longer time periods were used where the data were available and pertinent."-- leaf 1.


BACKGROUND
Malaysia, a South East Asian country, legally permits general medical practitioners in private clinics to dispense medicines. This possibly can dilute the pharmacist role in the provision of healthcare and pharmaceutical care and deprive patients to benefit from these services.

OBJECTIVE
This study explored, assessed and compared the current status of medicines labeling, patient's counseling, and symptomatic diagnosis by general practitioners and community pharmacists.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study used trained Simulated Patients (SP), who participated in a scenario of common cold symptoms at private clinics and community pharmacies. SPs explored medication labeling, patients counseling and symptomatic diagnosis undertaken by general practitioners and community pharmacists. Later, study authors assessed and compared these practices. The study was conducted during June 2011 in Penang, Malaysia.

RESULTS
The study used descriptive statistics and Fisher-exact test to analyze data. Regarding patients counseling standard, among 100 visits by simulated patients, 64 (64%) from community pharmacists provided information about the medicine name, its indication, dosage and route of administration versus 17 (42.5%) general practitioners during 40 visits (p=0.024). Concerning adherence to labeling standard, for instance, only in one pharmacy visit, (1%) the pharmacist wrote the name of the patient on the medication label versus in 32 (80%) of doctors' visits, the doctors adhered to this labeling standard (p<0.001). In all doctors' visits (n=40, 100%), SPs were asked about symptoms, whereas in 87 (87%) CPs' visits, pharmacists fulfilled this counseling standard (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION
Although pharmacists showed less compliance to medicine labeling and symptomatic diagnosis compared to doctors, their counseling of patients was better. Separation will definitely contribute to more concentration of each provider on his/her roles and improve and direct the experiences and skills towards being more patient oriented.


Context: Bibliometrics are now considered as an established practice to assess the academic output of research. Publication productivity is expressed by the number of papers published by a selected unit in a given time. In Kerala, although higher education and research have much wider importance and the publication productivity is also increasing, no systematic attempt has been made to analyze the pattern of this literature productivity. In this context, it is relevant to examine the productivity patterns of the faculty members of the universities. Materials and Methods: This study is based on the data collected from the publications of teachers pertaining to physics department of the three universities of Kerala that is, University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University and University of Calicut collected from annual reports and the university websites. Analysis is based onbibliometric techniques: To find out authorship pattern, degree of collaboration (DC), fitness of Lotka′s law, year-wise and designation-wise distributions. Results: It is found that the DC among the teachers is high among the physics faculties of Universities. Lotka′s law seems to be satisfactory in UoC only. Nonopen access journals are preferred by the physics teachers, but seem a slight shift in the use of open access journals is also there. Designation-wise distribution shows that professors are the major contributors to the physics literature. Conclusion: It can be concluded that universities can attain visibility, prestige, and credibility in the broader academic community by producing high-quality research and this in turn enhance the reputation of the universities and provide a greater opportunity for attracting better students and faculty.


As a non-homogenous force stresses during incremental forming, sheet metal easily tended to instability, and some defects, such as deposition, wrinkle and fracture, would appear. If the vibration technique was combined the incremental forming process, its deformation mechanism would be different from that of the old process, and sheet metal deformation quality was also risen. Then some mechanical equations were built by force analyzed on element in local contact zone of die head forcing down. According to reasonable hypothesis and simplified, the equations were solved. Some stress-time curves of the element were obtained by given process parameters, vibrational parameters and time parameters. It is shown from analysis that stress variety of the element is closely related to amplitude, frequency and forming angle, effect of sheet metal vibration incremental forming with high frequency vibration is more superior than that of with low frequency vibration; only when vibrational parameters are reasonably matching technical parameters, the effective vibration incremental forming can be obtained.


Optical fiber sensors offer advantages over traditional electromechanical sensors, making them particularly well- suited for certain measurement applications. Generally speaking, optical fiber sensors respond to a desired measurand through modulation of an optical signal's intensity, phase, or wavelength. Practically, non- contacting fiber optic displacement sensors are limited to intensity-modulated and interferometric (or phase- modulated) methodologies. Intensity-modulated fiber optic displacement sensors relate target displacement to a power measurement. The simplest intensity-modulated sensor architectures are not robust to environmental and hardware fluctuations, since such variability may cause changes in the measured power level that falsely indicate target displacement. Differential intensity-modulated sensors have been implemented, offering robustness to such intensity fluctuations, and the speed of these sensors is limited only by the combined speed of the photodetection hardware and the data acquisition system (kHz-GHz). The primary disadvantages of intensity-modulated sensing are the relatively low accuracy ([mu]m-mm for low-power sensors) and the lack of robustness, which consequently must be designed, often with great difficulty, into the sensor's architecture. White light interferometric displacement sensors, on the other hand, offer increased accuracy and robustness. Unlike their monochromatic- interferometer counterparts, white light interferometric sensors offer absolute, unambiguous displacement measurements over large displacement ranges (cm for low- power, 5 mW, sources), necessitating no initial calibration, and requiring no environmental or feedback control. The primary disadvantage of white light interferometric displacement sensors is that their utility in dynamic testing scenarios is limited, both by hardware bandwidth and by their inherent high-sensitivity to Doppler-effects. The decision of whether to use either an intensity-modulated interferometric sensor depends on an appropriate performance function (e.g., desired displacement range, accuracy, robustness, etc.). In this dissertation, the performance limitations of a bundled differential intensity-modulated displacement sensor are analyzed, where the bundling configuration has been designed to optimize performance. The performance limitations of a white light Fabry-Perot displacement sensor are also analyzed. Both these sensors are non- contacting, but they have access to different regions of the performance-space. Further, both these sensors have different degrees of sensitivity to experimental uncertainty. Made in conjunction with careful analysis, the decision of which sensor to deploy need not be an uninformed one


Despite over thirty years of rape law reform, rape remains too prevalent, and successful convictions of rapists remain too rare. I argue in this Article that we continue to fail rape victims because we are too quick to give in to our instinct to blame and less willing to engage in the careful reflection that would lead us to see more profoundly our collective responsibility for this failure.The Article proceeds in five sections. In Section I, I review a number of studies and argue that rape reforms to date, while significant, have nonetheless been inadequate. I then discuss the pervasiveness of rape myths about blame, both over time and in the present day. In Section II, I extend my analysis to rape in the tort system. Drawing on a recent empirical analysis of jury verdicts and settlements, as well as interviews with practicing plaintiffs' attorneys, I argue that unless harm is concrete and visible, we tend to devalue it.In Section III, I turn my attention to policymaking. Based on a series of empirical studies, I discuss the role of the media and legislators in shaping policy response to sex crimes. I argue that the policy response has often been driven by moral panic rather than careful reflection. In Section IV, I evaluate why reform has failed and suggest that the impulse to blame all men or all men in fraternities is overly simplistic. In Section V, I conclude the paper with a reflection on the deeper meanings of rape myths and rape law reform. I argue that to find lasting solutions for the problems of sexual violence we must first look inward. Reflection, leading to collective responsibility and collective action, is the best path to reform.


In Changing the Subject Srila Roy maps the rapidly transforming terrain of gender and sexual politics in India under the conditions of global neoliberalism. The consequences of India's liberalization were paradoxical: the influx of global funds for social development and NGOs signaled the co-optation and depoliticization of struggles for women's rights, even as they amplified the visibility and vitalization of queer activism. Roy reveals the specificity of activist and NGO work around issues of gender and sexuality through a decade-long ethnography of two West Bengal organizations, one working on lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues and the other on rural women's empowerment. Tracing changes in feminist governmentality that were entangled in transnational neoliberalism, Roy shows how historical and highly local feminist currents shaped contemporary queer and nonqueer neoliberal feminisms. The interplay between historic techniques of activist governance and queer feminist governmentality's focus on changing the self offers a new way of knowing feminism—both as always already co-opted and as a transformative force in the world.


Prevalence rates of anxiety and depression have increased among adolescents in recent years. The etiology of these internalizing symptoms is complex, but mothers can play a role in the mental health of their adolescent children. Using data from Year 15 of the fragile families and child well-being study, we analyzed associations between adolescent-reported maternal engagement, mother-adolescent relationship closeness, and adolescent depression and anxiety in a sample of 3146 mother-adolescent dyads. Using structural equation modeling, the four areas of engagement, closeness, anxiety, and depression were all modeled as latent variables to test the associations between these constructs. Higher levels of maternal engagement were significantly associated with higher levels of closeness between mother and adolescent, and higher levels of closeness were significantly associated with adolescents' lower levels of both depression and anxiety. Bootstrapped indirect effects were identified. Implications and future directions are discussed.


This article aims to analyze the concept of profit-sharing ratio muḍārabah in Islamic economics that is in harmony with the concept of distributional justice. The methodology used is descriptive analysis with literature study and documentation study techniques. However, in the course of their business, Islamic banks have not been able to make a maximum contribution to support the progress of the real sector, particularly in optimizing muḍārabah financing products, among others, triggered by asymmetric information and administrative problems. The advantages of profit-based financing, can move the real sector because it is productive, channeled to the needs of investment and working capital so that the possibility of a financial crisis will be reduced.


We report the development of a comprehensive safety monitoring solution for coal mines. A number of fibre optic sensors have been developed and deployed for safety monitoring of mine roof integrity and hazardous gases. The FOS-based mine hazard detection system offers unique advantages of intrinsic safety, multi-location and multi-parameter monitoring. They can be potentially used to build expert systems for mine hazard early detection and prevention.


The effects of carbonation on structure and properties of steel slag specimens are evaluated by some different testing technologys in this paper. The experimental results of strength and soundness show that the compressive strength of samples is improved 6-8 times due to carbonation, and carbonated specimens have qualified autoclave soundness. Also the carbonation reactions of steel slag and the reason that why strength and soundness improved are analyzed by chemical titration, XRD, TG, SEM and MIP etc. Experimental results indicate that in steel slag specimens, f-CaO, f-MgO, partial C2S and C3S minerals could be carbonated, and 105~110 gram CO2 gas could be sequestrated after carbonating per kilogram of steel slag specimens.


OBJECTIVE
To describe hemidystonia and hemichoreoathetosis in an adult patient with moyamoya disease without a previous history of cerebrovascular accident.

DESIGN
Case report.

SETTING
Tertiary care center.

PATIENT
A 22-year-old woman suddenly developed dystonic spasms in her left hand and left foot after a severe emotional stress. The dyskinesia gradually subsided over the next 4 months. Five months after the onset, she suddenly developed choreoathetoid movement in her right hand and right foot.

MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS
The patient had both somatic and cortical sensory deficits in the right hand and right foot. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed an infarction at the right putamen and lesions involving the right frontal lobe and the left frontotemporoparietal lobe. Magnetic resonance cerebral angiography showed severe stenoses of both internal carotid arteries at the supraclinoid portion and numerous collateral vessels, compatible with moyamoya disease. Single photon emission tomography of the brain showed hypoperfused areas at the right frontal and left frontotemporoparietal lobes. The choreoathetosis of the right limbs improved markedly, along with improvement of sensory deficits.

CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first report of an adult patient presenting with hemidystonia and hemichoreoathetosis as the initial manifestations of moyamoya disease. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1510-1512


Follow-up studies of relatively large groups of patients with mitral stenosis, after treatment by mitral commissurotomy, demonstrate that there is a gradual deterioration of good results with the passage of time. 1-4 Although a number of factors may be responsible for this steady deterioration, most of the late failures reflect an initially incomplete operation, true restenosis of a completely opened valve occurring less commonly. 5 It is hoped that the current widespread use of the transventricular dilator will reduce the percentage of patients requiring reoperation; yet the fact remains that increasing numbers of patients operated on by other techniques are now presenting themselves with recurrent symptoms and are again candidates for operation. The widening scope of open-heart surgery and the availability of other procedures make it desirable that the role of each technique in the management of patients with acquired lesions of the mitral valve be clarified. Accordingly, we have


Objective: To further understand the relationship between body image and sexual attitudes among men and women, whites and nonwhites, an exploratory study was conducted on undergraduate students. Method: Participating in this study was 305 females and 184 males, among the participants were 110 African Americans and 379 Caucasians. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), which measures body image, and the Sexual Attitudes scale, which measures sexual attitudes, was distributed in a questionnaire to students ((Brown, Cash, & Mikulka, 1990; Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987). Results: Significant differences were found among both women and men, and African Americans and Caucasians. Women were more invested in their appearance, more preoccupied with being overweight, more apparent about being overweight, and more reactive to becoming ill. As for sexual attitudes, women showed more permissive attitudes towards sex than men. Men felt more positive satisfaction with their appearance, felt their bodies were more physically fit, they invested more time to enhance or maintain their fitness, they felt their bodies were in better health, and they were more satisfied with areas of their body. Caucasians were more likely to take an active part in maintaining their physical fitness, and feel good about their health. Also, Caucasians were more likely to be preoccupied with being overweight. Overall, African Americans felt more satisfied with their appearance, invested more time in their appearance, and were more satisfied with their body areas. In addition, they were more likely to react to being or becoming ill.


SYNOPSIS The auditor change literature has generally concluded that clients from whom an audit firm resigns are risky clients, yet little is known about the period after a predecessor auditor has resigned from an engagement. We investigate a sample of resignations to determine why an audit firm chooses to accept the role of successor auditor on a presumably risky engagement and whether this decision is associated with a future adverse outcome. Consistent with prior studies, our results indicate that, relative to Non-Big N firms, Big N firms are more selective in accepting the successor auditor role when the predecessor auditor has resigned. Incremental to these prior studies, we find that Big N firms factor in two variables to help mitigate their potential risk—the timing of the predecessor audit firm's resignation and their own firm's expertise. Our analysis of future outcomes indicates that the resigned clients engaged by Non-Big N successor auditors are associated with weaker long-term financial ratios...


In times of isolation or confinement, making regular natural history observations can not only represent a source of enjoyment, but generates insights into local avian ecology. Here we present an account of the urban bird diversity of Stellenbosch, South Africa, derived from daily observations of species presence collected during the initial two stages of the country's nationwide COVID-19 lockdown period (66 days). A total of 38 bird species were observed during this time, including sightings of urban hunting behavior for birds of prey and greenspace foraging in general. The most commonly seen taxa were typical human-commensal species, including sparrows and doves. Many species were encountered far less frequently, with 21 of the 38 species being observed on less than 10 days. This was most notable for birds of prey (n = 6 species from Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) or African swifts (n = 2 species from Apodiformes), which were recorded only a few times for any given species. Our account provides some relatively niche information regarding the presence of birds from a single city block in South Africa and notes interesting observations of urban foraging behaviour, but also underscores the value of birdwatching during times of uncertainty.


The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different plant species, phosphorus sources, and liming on the total microbial and phosphate-solubilizing population. In order to achieve that, bacteria and fungi capable of solubilizing hydroxyapatite providing available P were isolated. An experiment was carried out in a randomized factorial block design 3x3x2. The factors evaluated were plant species (control, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Cajanus cajan), fertilizers (control, simple superphosphate and rock phosphate, both at the dose of 400 kg ha-1 of P205) and liming (with and without lime). While the bacterial population increased due to the effect of liming, the fungal population also increased independently of liming in the soil cultivated with B. ruziziensis and fertilized with superphosphate. An increase of the microbial biomass-P compared to the control was observed under the influence of B. ruziziensis (23.9%), superphosphate (30.9%) or liming (46.9%). The number of solubilizing bacteria was favored by liming and by the planting of C. cajan fertilized with rock phosphate or with unfertilized B. ruziziensis. The solubilizing fungi increased in the absence of plants or fertilization and in the presence of C. cajan fertilized with rock phosphate. Finally, liming enhanced more the growth of solubilizing fungi than did the control in the treatments using rock phosphate, B. ruziziensis or C. cajan.


Capturing photographs with wrong exposures remains a major source of errors in camera-based imaging. Exposure problems are categorized as either: (i) overexposed, where the camera exposure was too long, resulting in bright and washed-out image regions, or (ii) underexposed, where the exposure was too short, resulting in dark regions. Both under- and overexposure greatly reduce the contrast and visual appeal of an image. Prior work mainly focuses on underexposed images or general image enhancement. In contrast, our proposed method targets both over- and underexposure errors in photographs. We formulate the exposure correction problem as two main sub-problems: (i) color enhancement and (ii) detail enhancement. Accordingly, we propose a coarse-to-fine deep neural network (DNN) model, trainable in an end-to-end manner, that addresses each sub-problem separately. A key aspect of our solution is a new dataset of over 24,000 images exhibiting the broadest range of exposure values to date with a corresponding properly exposed image. Our method achieves results on par with existing state-of-the-art methods on underexposed images and yields significant improvements for images suffering from overexposure errors.


CD24high CD38high transitional B cells represent a key stage in the developmental pathway of B cell peripheral tolerance and functional maturation. These B cells have been widely ascribed regulatory functions. However, the phenotypic and functional overlap between these cells and regulatory B cells remains controversial. In this study, we use multi-colour flow cytometry with bioinformatic analyses and functional studies to show that CD24high CD38high B cells can be differentiated into multiple subsets. The study also reveals for the first time that human transitional B cells encompass transitional type 1 (T1) and T2 B cells but also distinct anergic T3 B cells as well as IL-10-producing CD27+ transitional B cells. Interestingly, the latter two subsets differentially regulate CD4+ T cell proliferation and polarisation towards Th1 effector cells. Additional analyses show that the percentage of T3 B cells is reduced while the frequency of CD27+ transitional B cells is increased in patients with autoimmune diseases compared with matched healthy individuals. This study provides evidence for the existence of different transitional B cell subsets each displaying unique phenotypic and regulatory functional profiles. Furthermore, the study indicates that altered distribution of transitional B cells subsets highlights different regulatory defects in autoimmune diseases


Companies are increasingly more and more dependent on distributed web-based software systems to support their businesses. This increases the need to maintain and extend software systems with up-to-date new features. Thus, the development process to introduce new features usually needs to be swift and agile, and the supporting software evolution process needs to be safe, fast, and efficient. However, this is usually a difficult and challenging task for a developer due to the lack of support offered by programming environments, frameworks, and database management systems. Changes needed at the code level, database model, and the actual data contained in the database must be planned and developed together and executed in a synchronized way. Even under a careful development discipline, the impact of changing an application data model is hard to predict. The lifetime of an application comprises changes and updates designed and tested using data, which is usually far from the real, production, data. So, coding DDL and DML SQL scripts to update database schema and data, is the usual (and hard) approach taken by developers. Such manual approach is error prone and disconnected from the real data in production, because developers may not know the exact impact of their changes. This work aims to improve the maintenance process in the context of Agile Platform by Outsystems. Our goal is to design and implement new data-model evolution features that ensure a safe support for change and a sound migration process. Our solution includes impact analysis mechanisms targeting the data model and the data itself. This provides, to developers, a safe, simple, and guided evolution process.


In order to improve the thermal performance of polymeric materials, they can be filled with intrinsically high thermal conductivity fillers that provide heat-conducting paths through the resulting composite. The thermal performance of polymers loaded with platelet-shaped fillers was modeled using finite element analysis in order to provide a prediction of thermal conductivity as a function of variables such as filler thermal conductivity, orientation, and polymer matrix thermal conductivity. Modeling results were compared to experimental data. An unexpectedly strong effect that the matrix conductivity has on the conductivity of the polymer-ceramic composite was predicted by modeling and confirmed experimentally.


In this paper the signal intensity and parameter-weighting zones of spin echo and gradient echo sequences (FLASH) have been analysed. Using information available in the literature, with additional analytical and numerical techniques, it is possible to determine parameters which maximise tissue contrast for T1, T2 and proton-weighted images. The technique is equally applicable to spin echo and FLASH sequences. The advantages of optimised gradient echo sequences compared with spin echo sequences with respect to its signal to noise ratio for short repetition times are analysed quantitatively. T2-weighted images can be generated as rapid as T1-weighted images, using the FLASH sequences when using a small angle of spin and relatively long echo. Illustrations are shown to demonstrate the numerical results (field strength 1.5 tesla). This is followed by a discussion of possible opposing effects.


Management and control of infectious disease is complicated by a number of variables. This paper reviews factors in choosing an antibiotic; the pharmacokinetic principles of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; duration of therapy; and major causes of failure of antibiotic therapy.


Background and purpose — The recommended optimal duration of the thromboprophylaxis treatment in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients has been a matter of debate for years. We examined the association between short (1–5 days), standard (6–14 days), and extended (≥ 15 days) duration of thromboprophylaxis, with regards to the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), major bleeding, and death in unselected THA patients. Patients and methods — We performed a cohort study using prospectively collected data from the population-based hip arthroplasty registries, prescription databases, and patient administrative registries in Denmark and Norway. We included 55,540 primary THA patients with osteoarthritis Results — The 90-day cumulative incidence of VTE was 1.0% for patients with standard treatment (reference), 1.1% for those with short-term treatment (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] of 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.5) and 1.0% for those with extended treatment (aHR of 0.9, CI 0.8–1.2). The aHRs for major bleeding were 1.1 (CI 0.8–1.6) for short and 0.8 (CI 0.6–1.1) for extended vs. standard treatment. In addition, patients with short and extended treatment had aHRs for death of 1.2 (CI 0.8–1.8) and 0.8 (CI 0.5–1.1) vs. standard treatment, respectively. Patients who started short treatment postoperatively had an aHR for death of 1.8 (CI 1.1–3.1) and absolute risk difference of 0.2%, whereas patients who started short treatment preoperatively had an aHR for death of 0.5 (CI 0.2–1.2) and absolute risk difference of 0.3% compared with patients who had standard treatment with post- and preoperative start, respectively. Interpretation — In routine clinical practice, we observed no overall clinically relevant difference in the risks of VTE and major bleeding within 90 days of THA with respect to thromboprophylaxis duration. However, our data indicate that short-term thromboprophylaxis started postoperatively is associated with increased 90-day mortality. The significance of these data should be explored further.


Staphylococcus aureus is carried by up to one third of the general population; about 2% are carriers for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Infections caused by the antibiotic-resistant form include skin and soft tissue infections, as well as pneumonia, sepsis, and wound infections. Although the risks of hospital-associated systemic infections have decreased with attention to infection control procedures, serious obstetric illness remains a concern. This article describes the range of MRSA infection in the setting of pregnancy and discusses risks to both mother and newborn associated with active MRSA infection during pregnancy and childbirth. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus remains a risk to mothers and newborns, requiring prompt identification and appropriate management.


Objectives
Ultrasound-guided wire (USGW) localisation for small non-palpable tumours before a revision head-and-neck surgery is an attractive pre-operative option to facilitate tumour identification and decrease potential complications. We describe five cases of pre-operative USGW localisation of non-palpable head and neck lesions to facilitate surgical localisation and resection.

Methods
All patients undergoing pre-operative USGW localisation for non-palpable tumours of the head-and-neck region at London Health and Sciences Center, London, Ontario, Canada, were included. All the USGW localisations were performed by the same interventional radiologist, and the surgeries were performed by fellowship trained Head-and-Neck surgeons.

Results
Five patients were included. All patients were undergoing revision surgery for recurrent or persistent disease. All successfully underwent a pre-operative USGW localisation of the non-palpable lesion before revision surgery. All lesions were localised intra-operatively with no peri-operative complications.

Conclusions
USGW localisation is a safe and effective pre-operative technique for the identification of small non-palpable head and neck tumours.


A novel composite phase change material (PCM) was prepared with phase change material (paraffin), storage medium (expanded perlite) and coating material (VAE emulsion), which was added to the gypsum to prepare the gypsum-based energy storage material(GESM). The microstructure and thermal properties of samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the expanded perlite had good adsorption of paraffin, and the best adsorption capacity was 50%. The prepared samples had good thermal physical properties.


Under the learning automaton frame a bionic self-learning automaton which has autonomous learning mechanism is constructed based on conditioned reflex theory. The bionic self-learning automaton is a 5-tupe and mainly contains: 1) inner set, mainly are perception state set and operant set; 2) oriented core, guide the direction of autonomous learning; 3) learning core, the primitives of learning unit; 4) autonomous learning unit, implement learning computation; 5) operant entropy, measuring the self-organized degree of bionic self-learning automaton. Theory analysis is made for the designed bionic self-learning automaton in the thesis, which theoretically proves the convergence of autonomous learning mechanism in bionic self-learning automaton, namely the operant entropy will converge to minimum with the learning process. And then the designed bionic self-learning automaton which used as the mathematical abstraction and formal tool of robot and used to describe the self-learning behavior of robot is applied to motion control of two-wheeled self-balanced robot. The state sets of bionic self-learning automaton is described by tilt angle and tilt angle rate of robot, and the operant sets is described by control signal of left motor and right motor. Robot doesn't have t motion balanced skill in initial state, and with the learning proceeding the operant entropy will gradually decrease. After about twenty-five rounds training, the operant entropy gradually tends to minimum. So robot gradually learned the motion balanced skill.


A cell cycle-analysis method based on morphological recognition of cytokinesis and sul- cal list regeneration was chosen to estimate in situ division rates (µ) of 4 dinoflagellate species of the genus Dinophysis, associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), following 2 different models. Sampling over 24 h was conducted on 4 mini-cruises in the Galician rias during spring and autumn proliferations of these species. Frequencies of paired and recently divided cells in integrated water samples (0 to 20 m) were measured at 30, 60, or 120 min intervals. Cellular division was phased in D. acuminata, D. acuta, D. caudata and D. tripos, but the shape of the phase fraction curves and the values of estimated division rates varied considerably between seasons and cruises for the same spe- cies. Frequencies of paired plus recently divided cells were maximal at dawn in D. acuminata, and 2 to 3 h later in the other species. The results presented here confirm that the cytokinetic (paired) phase can be very fast in Dinophysis spp. (0.3 to 2.7 h), but sulcal list regeneration was shown to be a more stable process and an unambiguous marker of cellular division. This 'postmitotic index' allowed esti- mates of µat low field concentrations (10 2 to 10 3 cell l -1 ) of the target species and required a short time for sample processing (1 to 2 h per sample). Moderate (0.24) to high (0.57) values of µ were found under oceanographic conditions considered unfavourable for growth of Dinophysis spp., and the phase in the population growth season seemed to be a key factor affecting this value. A critical revi- sion of previous results of asynchronous division obtained in cell cycle studies of Dinophysis spp. is presented. It is suggested that monitoring the content of DNA per cell through the cell cycle in Dino- physis spp. is not a reliable method until a reasonable knowledge on the nuclear behaviour during sexual processes and other nonmitotic processes is available for these species, and that even accept- ing that mitosis is a non-return process, cell division may be arrested in one of its phases, adding further inconsistencies to µ measurements based on quantification of DNA per cell.


A twin rotor multi-input multi-output system (TRMMS) is a high-order nonlinear system with a significant cross-coupling effect. The control of TRMMSs is considered a markedly challenging topic in the field of robust control. This study proposes a novel feedback linearization and feedforward neural network controller design for a TRMMS with almost disturbance decoupling (ADD) capabilities. The proposed composite controller achieves exponentially global stability and ADD performance without applying any traditional parallel learning algorithms. This study proposes an organization of the feedforward neural network and the weights among the layers to guarantee the stability of the overall system. A number of nonlinear systems, which are too complex to be solved by general ADD studies, are proposed in this study to demonstrate that the proposed methodology can effectively achieve the tracking and ADD performances through Matlab. Moreover, an efficient algorithm is proposed for designing the feedback linearization and feedforward neural network control with ADD and tracking capabilities.


The stress on our water environment as a result of increased industrialization, which aids urbanization, is becoming very high thus reducing the availability of clean water. Polluted water is of great concern to the aquatic organism, plants, humans, and climate and indeed alters the ecosystem. The preservation of our water environment, which is embedded in sustainable development, must be well driven by all sectors. While effective wastewater treatment has the tendency of salvaging the water environment, integration of environmental policies into the actor firms core objectives coupled with continuous periodical enlightenment on the present and future consequences of environmental/ water pollution will greatly assist in conserving the water environment.


Thixoforming or Semi-Solid Metal Forming offers many advantages in comparison with casting and conventional forging. The purpose of the present study is to provide the basic microstructure and deformation data for austenitic and ferritic stainless steel under mushy state. As well known, the stainless steels solidify in different modes according to the different chemical compositions. In this paper, microstructural evolution of austenitic stainless steel type 304 which solidifies in FA mode ( L → L +δ → L +δ +γ →δ +γ →γ ),austenitic stainless steel type 310S which solidifies in A mode ( L → L +γ →γ ), and ferritic stainless steel type 430 which solidifies in F mode ( L → L +δ →δ )are investigated during partial remelting by way of SIMA (Strain Induced Melted Activation). The results show that A and F mode of stainless steels melt directly at the grain boundary without phase transformation during reheating. A banded structure, originating from the primary dendritic segregation of the original ingots, is observed in type 310S steel during further heating. On the other hand, a perfect globular and insegregative two-phase semi-solid structure L +δ can be obtained while heated beyond the banded three-phase L +δ +γ semi-solid state in FA mode austenitic stainless steel type 304. This spheroidization can be attributed to the peritectic reaction occurred in the L +δ +γ semi-solid state. In addition, simple compression tests of these alloys in semi-solid state for varied combination of deformation rate and deformation temperature are conducted to examine the deformation behavior of stainless steel. Flow stress curves exhibit abrupt change in various alloys, even though in the same alloy such as type 304, various flow stresses are observed according to the difference in inner microstructure or morphology. Stress of type 310S steel shows the most reduction as the deformation temperature increasing at the same strain rate condition. The Liquid is centralized to periphery by the compression force in all deformed test pieces. Fracture, observed in all alloys except type 304 steel in globular L +δ semi-solid state, should be resulted from the lack of liquid in L +δ +γ state of type 304 steel and solidification crack in type 310S and type 430 steel. Deformation of solid particles occurs only in L +δ +γ state of type 304 steel. Last in this paper, various deformation mechanisms are proposed for various microstructures.


Abstract : There are many ways of programming an actuator or effector for movement between the same two points. In the interest of efficiency it is sometimes desirable to program that trajectory which requires the least amount of energy. This paper considers the minimum energy movement for a spring-like actuator abstracted from muscle mechanics and energetics. It is proved that for this actuator a bang-coast-bang actuation pattern minimizes the energy expenditure. For some parameter values this pattern is modified by a singular arc at the first switching point. A surprising limitation on the duration of coast is demonstrated. Some relaxations of the restrictions underlying the spring model are shown to preserve the bang-coast-bang solution. (Author)


Griffiths, Chater, Norris, and Pouget (2012) argue that we have misunderstood the Bayesian approach. In their view, it is rarely the case that researchers are making claims that performance in a given task is near optimal, and few, if any, researchers adopt the theoretical Bayesian perspective according to which the mind or brain is actually performing (or approximating) Bayesian computations. Rather, researchers are said to adopt something more akin to what we called the methodological Bayesian approach, according to which Bayesian models are statistical tools that allow researchers to provide teleological explanations of behavior. In our reply we argue that many Bayesian researchers often appear to be make claims regarding optimality, and often appear to be making claims regarding how the mind computes at algorithmic and implementational levels of descriptions. We agree that some Bayesian theorists adopt the methodological approach, but we question the value of this approach. If Bayesian theories in psychology and neuroscience are only designed to provide insights into teleological questions, we expect that many readers have misunderstood, and hence there is a pressing need to clarify what Bayesian theories of cognition are all about.


The incorporation of 32P-phosphorus into marine bacteriophage nucleic acid was studied in culture experiments to investigate the source of nucleotides used by the phage. We consistently found that the 32P-specific activity in the phage genome increased during the 11 h incubation and was low relative to the specific activity in the medium, averaging 21% (±SD 5.9) for the three phage isolates. This was in accordance with a mathematical model where most of the nucleotides for phage DNA synthesis were derived from the host cell nucleic acid rather than de novo synthesis. We propose that this metabolic strategy may be common among marine phages, as an adaptation to a nutrient poor environment. Consequently, the contribution of free DNA to the dissolved fraction through phage lysis of bacteria, may be less that previously thought. Also during radiolabelling of bacteriophages in natural water samples, isotope dilution may be dependent on the specific growth rate of the bacterial host.


ABSTRACT
 The expression 'anti-gender campaigns' has rapidly made its way to describe a new and specific wave of activist and policy initiatives against gender and sexual equalities. The goals of this article are twofold: to offer a close examination of the current state of anti-gender campaigns in Europe, and to look back at the scholarship produced in the last decade. Following the historical unfolding of these campaigns, this article explores four scenes that are crucial to contemporary anti-gender politics: churches, social movements, political parties and states. By emphasising that anti-gender campaigns encompass a wide diversity of political projects, it insists on the need to consider this plurality as constitutive of the phenomenon, a goal that requires to pay more attention to the actors who use them and the ways they do it. Rather than a discussion of new empirical material, this article invites scholars to reflect on the ways to approach these developments and offers a critical overview of existing scholarship. It shows that these campaigns are a transnational kit highly adaptable to local circumstances, and that these campaigns are simultaneously about and not about gender, gender being – following Joan W. Scott's seminal reading – 'a primary way of signifying relationships of power'. Using the novel Frankenstein, this article finally argues that anti-gender campaigns are no longer under the control of their creator – the Catholic Church – but, like the creature invented by Mary Shelley, they live an emancipated and autonomous life.


Pirgozliev, V., Rose, S. P., & Ivanova, S. (2019). Feed additives in poultry nutrition, Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 25(Suppl 1), 8–11 The use of feed additives to improve the effi ciency of growth and/or eggs production, prevent disease and improve feed utilization is a strategy to improve the effi ciency of the poultry industry. Feed additives may not enter the market in Europe unless authorisation has been given following a scientifi c evaluation. The use and development of enzymes, phytogenics, prebiotics and probiotics has gained momentum in poultry feeding. The enzymes widely used by the industry are the non-starch polysaccharidases that cleave the non-starch polysaccharides in viscous cereals, microbial phytases that target the phytatecomplexes in plant ingredients. Proteases are of interest to improve protein and amino acid digestibility, particularly in very young animals. Phytogenics are an alternative to in-feed antibiotics to prevent the risk of developing pathogens and also to satisfy consumer demand for a food chain free of drugs. Probiotic feed additives generally consist of one single strain or a combination of several strains of bacteria, Bacillus spores or yeasts species. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients, such as fructo-oligo-saccharides, xylo-oligo-saccharides, mannan-oligo-saccharides and galacto-oligosaccharides that are also used in feeds to protect poultry against pathogens. Future research needs to be directed towards understanding how combinations of these additives can be used to improve the effi ciency of poultry production.


Applications for space‐based GPS technology have extended to the atmospheric field during the last two decades. More recently, numerical weather prediction (NWP) centers started incorporating global positioning system (GPS) radio occultation (RO) soundings into their operational assimilation algorithms, resulting in a significant improvement in weather forecasting skill. The main reasons for such benefits are the unbiased nature of the GPS RO measurements, high accuracy and precision, all‐weather capability, and equal accuracy over either land or ocean. Profiles of refractivity or bending angle are typically used, owing to the relative simplicity of their forward operators and the computational economy this implies. Although the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are using refractivities in their operational configuration, a bending angle forward operator has been developed, tested, and implemented and was scheduled to replace the assimilation of refractivities operationally in May, 2012. Results from the NCEP's bending angle method (NBAM) show improvement over the assimilation of refractivities in all atmospheric fields being evaluated. A detailed description and evaluation of NBAM is presented in this article, as well as the advantages this code offers over the assimilation of refractivities and other existing algorithms that assimilate GPS RO bending angles.


In recent years, the field of evolutionary dynamic optimisation has seen significant increase in scientific developments and contributions. This is as a result of its relevance in solving academic and real-world problems. Several techniques such as hyper-mutation, hyper-learning, hyper-selection, change detection and many more have been developed specifically for solving dynamic optimisation problems. However, the complex structure of algorithms employing these techniques make them unsuitable for real-world, real-time dynamic optimisation problem using embedded systems with limited memory. The work presented in this thesis focuses on a compact approach as an alternative to population based optimisation algorithm, suitable for solving real-time dynamic optimisation problems. Specifically, a novel compact dynamic optimisation algorithm suitable for embedded systems with limited memory is presented. Three novel dynamic approaches that augment and enhance the evolving properties of the compact genetic algorithm in dynamic environments are introduced. These are: 1) change detection scheme that measures the degree of dynamic change 2) mutation schemes whereby the mutation rate is directly linked to the detected degree of change and 3) change trend scheme that monitors change pattern exhibited by the system. The novel compact dynamic optimization algorithm outlined was applied to two differing dynamic optimization problems. This work evaluates the algorithm in the context of tuning a controller for a physical target system in a dynamic environment and solving a dynamic optimization problem using an artificial dynamic environment generator. The novel compact dynamic optimisation algorithm was compared to some existing dynamic optimisation techniques. Through a series of experiments, it was shown that maintaining diversity at a population level is more efficient than diversity at an individual level. Among the five variants of the novel compact dynamic optimization algorithm, the third variant showed the best performance in terms of response to dynamic changes and solution quality. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that information transfer based on dynamic change patterns can effectively minimize the exploration/exploitation dilemma in a dynamic environment.


The increasing demand for market transparency and the growing number of real estate publications are evidence for the process of professionalization of both the real estate industry and the real estate media landscape. In order to meet the demand for rising quality standards, real estate journalists need to understand real estate markets and media systems not only in their home markets but in foreign markets as well. The knowledge and understanding of different market structures helps real estate journalists to improve working processes, the interaction with different market players and the output of their work. This paper provides insight into the structure of real estate journalism in Europe, especially in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Different types of newspapers and special interest literature are examined. Real estate journalism is analysed reflecting the general structure of the media landscape and the real estate market structure in each country.


The Shales-with-Beef Member of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation (Lower Jurassic) crops out in almost continuous cliff and
foreshore sections over a distance of c. 5 km between Pinhay Bay, east Devon and Charmouth, west Dorset. A fault-bounded
outlier, 3.5 km west of Pinhay Bay, exposes the lower part of the member. At its type section on the foreshore and in cliffs below
Black Ven, Charmouth, the member consists of c. 30 m of thinly interbedded organic-rich mudstones and calcareous mudstones
with numerous thin beds of fibrous calcite ('beef') and several beds of tabular and nodular limestone. Many of the individual beds
of mudstone are richly fossiliferous and this has previously been used, in combination with the lithological variations, to divide
the succession into over 100 numbered and lettered beds. However, as noted in the original study, many of the thinner beds are
laterally impersistent and few can be recognised with confidence away from the type section. In addition, the type section is
separated from the main Shales-with-Beef Member outcrop in the Lyme Regis area by a penecontemporaneously active fault belt
that had an effect on sedimentation. Other fault belts at Lyme Regis and westwards from there divide the outcrop into areas with
successions that differ in detail from the type section and from one another. As a result, few of the numbered beds can be traced
from one of these areas into the adjacent area. A simplified system of bed numbering is described here based on sections that crop
out on the west and east sides of Lyme Regis, supplemented by the successions proved in cored site-investigation boreholes drilled
at Lyme Regis. The proposed lithostratigraphy provides a framework that takes account of the lateral variations in the member over
its full outcrop distance, and enables material collected from any part of the exposure to be placed in its correct stratigraphical
context.


AIM: To investigate the effects of KAI1/CD82 on biological behavior of colorectal carcinoma cells. METHODS: KAI1 cDNA was transfected into highly malignant colorectal carcinoma cell line, LoVo, which had low level of endogenous KAI1 expression, and established stable transfectant clones with high KAI1/CD82 expression. The cell-cell adhesion, cell aggregation, cell-matrix adhesion and cell invasion assay were performed to determine whether KAI1 transfectant could have an effect on proliferation, adhesion and tumor metastasis in comparison with the control transfectant cells. RESULTS: KAI1 expression did not alter in vitro cell proliferation. But the KAI1 transfectant cells exhibited significantly increased homotypic cell-cell adhesion and cell aggregation in comparison with the control transfectant cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, KAI1 expression significantly suppressed the cell adhesion to extracellular matrix components and in vitro cell invasion in KAI1-transfected LoVo cells. The data indicated that KAI1 expression significantly suppressed the metastatic potential of KAI1transfected LoVo cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that KAI1 might function as a negative regulator of colorectal carcinoma metastasis. Liu L, Wu DH, Li ZG, Yang GZ, Ding YQ. Effects of KAI1/CD82 on biological behavior of human colorectal carcinoma cell line. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9(6): 1231-1236 http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/9/1231.asp


A communications experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of oceanographic fluctuations on high-frequency acoustic transmissions. Source transmissions containing broadband channel probes and phase-shift-keyed (PSK) communication sequences were carried out in 100-m water depth using a stationary 18-kHz source and a stationary 64-hydrophone receive array. Thermistor string data indicate the presence of high-frequency temperature fluctuations generated by the internal tide as it progresses along the continental shelf. Data are analyzed from three periods when the thermal activity is: (1) absent; (2) confined to the lower water column; and (3) confined to the mid-water column. Because of a downward refracting profile, ray paths are most dense near the bottom, which maximizes wavefront interaction with the fluctuating temperature field during period 2. Statistics of the individual ray paths indicate a strong dependence of the temporal correlation on the presence and location of the thermal activity. Ray paths interacting strongly with the portion of the water column exhibiting rapid temperature fluctuations have coherence times of a few tens of seconds, whereas the correlation remain high over the 60-s observation window when the temperature structure is stable. Because of calm sea surface conditions, surface interacting rays are also highly correlated over this time. Spatial coherence estimates and eigenvalue analysis of the array cross-spectral density matrix further indicate that the thermal activity decorrelates the signal in space. Binary PSK (BPSK) data are processed for each of the three periods using two receiver structures: (1) a multichannel decision feedback equalizer and (2) a single-channel decision feedback equalizer preceded by an eigenvector beamformer which projects the data onto the first empirical orthogonal function. Performance of the two receivers is comparable except during period 2. During this period, the eigenvector beamformer performance suffers due to the spatial decorrelation of the signal imposed by the temperature fluctuations.


We present a model to investigate the competitive implications of electronic secondary markets that promote concurrent selling of new and used goods on a supply chain. In secondary markets where suppliers cannot directly utilize used goods for practicing intertemporal price discrimination and where transaction costs of resales are negligible, the threat of cannibalization of new goods by used goods becomes significant. We examine conditions under which it is optimal for suppliers to operate in such markets, explaining why these markets may not always be detrimental for them. Intuitively, secondary markets provide an active outlet for some high-valuation consumers to sell their used goods. The potential for such resales leads to an increase in consumers' valuation for a new good, leading them to buy an additional new good. Given sufficient heterogeneity in consumers' affinity across multiple suppliers' products, the "market expansion effect" accruing from consumers' cross-product purchase affinity can mitigate the losses incurred by suppliers from the direct "cannibalization effect." We also highlight the strategic role that the used goods commission set by the retailer plays in determining profits for suppliers. We conclude the paper by empirically testing some implications of our model using a unique data set from the online book industry, which has a flourishing secondary market.