The purpose of this study was to examine the implications of a gendered website production and preference aesthetic for the teaching of computer studies. Thirty male and thirty female personal websites produced by students at a UK university were rated against 23 factors. The home pages of sites that were deemed to be typical of their gender were then used in preference tests conducted amongst 67 students. Statistically significant differences emerged on 13 of the 23 factors against which the 60 websites were rated. These results were suggestive of a website aesthetic continuum with male and female production aesthetic tendencies at either end. The preference tests revealed a tendency for preferences to be in tune with production aesthetics such that men had a statistically significant tendency to prefer home pages produced by men, and women to prefer home pages produced by women. The tendency for the latter was even higher than the male tendency to prefer male-produced sites. The finding of gendered differences in website production and preference aesthetics has important implications for teaching and assessment. Teachers selecting or assessing websites, whether commercial or produced by pupils and students, need be mindful of the aesthetics employed in those websites. When selecting websites for educational purposes, a match should ideally be made between the website and the likely preferences of the end-user. Assessment of students' work should ideally be mindful of the potential for positive bias on the part of the assessor in the direction of work displaying their own favoured aesthetic.


A mutant of Neurospora crassa with an altered repressible acid phosphatase has been isolated. The enzyme is much more thermolabile than that of wild type, and has an increased Michaelis constant. Tests of allelic interactions (in partial diploids) and in vitro mixing experiments were consistent with the mutation being in the structural gene for the enzyme. This gene, pho-3, was found to be located in the right arm of Linkage Group IV (LGIV). Thus, pho-3 and the structural gene for repressible alkaline phosphatase, pho-2 (LG V), map in separate linkage groups and cannot be part of the same operon. Neither of these structural genes is linked to the known regulatory genes, nuc-1 (LG I), nuc-2 (LG II), and preg (LG II).


Describes an approach to probabilistic roadmap planners (PRMs). The overall theme of the algorithm, called Lazy PRM, is to minimize the number of collision checks performed during planning and hence minimize the running time of the planner. Our algorithm builds a roadmap in the configuration space, whose nodes are the user-defined initial and goal configurations and a number of randomly generated nodes. Neighboring nodes are connected by edges representing paths between the nodes. In contrast with PRMs, our planner initially assumes that all nodes and edges in the roadmap are collision-free, and searches the roadmap at hand for a shortest path between the initial and the goal node. The nodes and edges along the path are then checked for collision. If a collision with the obstacles occurs, the corresponding nodes and edges are removed from the roadmap. Our planner either finds a new shortest path, or first updates the roadmap with new nodes and edges, and then searches for a shortest path. The above process is repeated until a collision-free path is returned. Lazy PRM is tailored to efficiently answer single planning queries, but can also be used for multiple queries. Experimental results presented in the paper show that our lazy method is very efficient in practice.


HIGH FREQUENCY FIELD POTENTIALS OF THE CEREBELLAR CORTEX by Jonathan David Groth The cerebellum plays a crucial role in motor coordination along with basal ganglia and the motor areas of the cerebral cortex. Both somatosensory and the cerebro-cerebral pathways bring in massive amounts of neural information to the cerebellum. The output of the cerebellar cortex projects to various motor cortices as well as down to the spinal cord to make its contributions to the motor function. The origin and function of the field potential oscillations in the cerebellum, especially in the high frequencies, have not been explored sufficiently. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the spatio-temporal characteristics of high frequency field potentials (150-350Hz) in the cerebellar cortex in a behavioral context. To this end, the paramedian lobule in rats was recorded using micro electro-corticogram (μ-ECoG) electrode arrays while the animal performed a lever press task using the forelimb. The phase synchrony analysis shows that the high frequency oscillations recorded at multiple points across the paramedian cortex episodically synchronize immediately before and desynchronize during the lever press. The electrode contacts were grouped according to their temporal course of phase synchrony around the time of lever press. Contact groups presented patches with slightly stronger synchrony values in the medio-lateral direction, and did not appear to form parasagittal zones. Spatiotemporal synchrony of high frequency field potentials has not been reported at such large-scales previously in the cerebellar cortex. HIGH FREQUENCY FIELD POTENTIALS OF THE CEREBELLAR CORTEX by Jonathan David Groth A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering Joint Program in Biomedical Engineering


THIS paper is a study of 15 cases of perforative appendicitis with peritonitis or abscess formation in which the appendix was removed, sulfathiazole was employed intraperitoneally, the incision was closed without drainage and spinal anesthesia and early ambulation were used. There were no deaths; a secondary intraperitoneal abscess requiring drainage occurred in 1 case. There were no other complications and no purulent wound infections. Penicillin was administered in the last 7 cases. From this small series of cases the following conclusions have been deduced: Nondrainage in cases of perforative appendicitis with peritonitis is preferable to drainage. It is safe, and is desirable because it eliminates prolonged drainage and wound infection and minimizes the hazard of such postoperative sequelae as adhesions, hernia, fistula and obstruction. It shortens the stay in the hospital, saves dressings and bandages, lessens expense to the patient and lowers mortality. It is, moreover, impossible to drain the


Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) may be involved in the regulation of mineralization. The cell surface enzyme, ecto‐NTP pyrophosphatase, could be a major source of extracellular PPi in bone, and agents that influence its activity in osteoblasts may modulate bone mineralization. We studied the effects of serum on the ecto‐NTP pyrophosphatase activity of cultured human osteoblast‐like cells. Enzyme activity was lowered when the concentration of fetal calf serum (FCS) was reduced from 10 to 2.5% (vol/vol) for 48 h, and a further decrease in activity was observed after 96 h. Relative to enzyme activity in cells cultured in serum‐free medium for 96 h, adult human platelet‐poor plasma (HPPP; 2.5–10% vol/vol) induced a small increase, similar concentrations of adult human serum (HS) induced much larger increases, and charcoal‐depleted FCS was ineffective. In an attempt to identify the factor(s) present in serum that influence ecto‐NTP pyrophosphatase activity, we examined transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGFs AA, AB, and BB (0.1–10 ng/ml) were ineffective, but both TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β2 increased enzyme activity. The increase was dose dependent between 0.001 and 10 ng/ml, was enhanced in the presence of 2% vol/vol FCS, and was not potentiated by PDGF or by 1,25‐(OH)2D3. Furthermore, the increase was independent of cell density and was blocked by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis. Ecto‐NTP pyrophosphatase of subject‐matched human dermal fibroblasts was unaffected by TGF‐β (10 ng/ml), suggesting that modulation of activity by the growth factor may be tissue specific. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) probably serves to hydrolyze extracellular PPi in bone. In contrast to effects on NTP pyrophosphatase activity in osteoblast‐like cells, TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β2 (0.001–10 ng/ml) decreased ALP activity dose dependently after 72 h. By inducing opposing changes in ecto‐NTP pyrophosphatase and ALP activities, TGF‐β may increase extracellular PPi concentrations in osseous tissues and consequently modulate bone mineral properties in vivo.


Background and Objectives : Improving the drug usage pattern and moving through a community with appropriate, safe, with doses that meet individual requirements and for an adequate period of time is pivotal and recommended by World Health Organization. In this study, we investigate the drug prescription patterns in the Kerman province in Iran. Materials and Method s : Prescription indices in Kerman prescription database of Food and Drug deputy in 2008, which includes prescription of 245 general practitioners and 455 physicians, were extracted. Selected WHO drug use indicators including number of prescribed medicines and their cost, maximum number of prescribed medicine, number of prescribed antibiotics, injection and corticosteroids were investigated in this cross-sectional study design. Results: Average number of medicines prescribed per patient was 3.15±0.49 and 2.85±0.61 for general practitioners and physicians, respectively (p=0.001). Mean for maximum number of prescribed medicines were 6.67±1.20 and 6.57±1.67 for general practitioners and physicians, respectively. For general practitioners, 16.8% of prescriptions encountered with an injection, 17.7% encountered with a corticosteroid prescription and 51.9% encountered with an antibiotic. For physicians, 12.8% of prescriptions encountered with an injection, 15.4% with a corticosteroid prescription and 39.0% encountered with an antibiotic. The difference in prescribing these categories was significant between practitioners and physicians (p=0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.016, respectively). Experienced practitioners were more cautious in the number of prescribed medicines (p=0.001), however, the price of their prescriptions were higher than the young practitioners (p=0.001). Conclusion: Despite the educational programs for the rational use of drugs, prescribing indicators are far from international recommended criteria. Hence, it is necessary to promote prescribing practices through establishing more comprehensive training courses related to the rational use of medicines. Besides, exerting surveillance systems is a useful way to monitor and control drug usage in the community. :


Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) obtained from Z-β-[N-(ω-acetylsulfanylalkyl)-3-methyl-4-pyridinium]-α-cyano-4-styryldicyanomethanide (1), a pyridinium analogue of the extensively studied rectifying dyes, C16H33–Q3CNQ (T. Xu, I. R. Peterson, M. V. Lakshikantham and R. M. Metzger, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 2001, 40, 1749; N. Okazaki, J. R. Sambles, M. J. Jory and G. J. Ashwell, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2002, 81, 2300 [] and G. J. Ashwell, A. Chwialkowska and L. R. H. High, J. Mater. Chem., 2004, 14, 2389 []) and Au–S–CnH2n–Q3CNQ ( and G. J. Ashwell, R. Hamilton and L. R. H. High, J. Mater. Chem., 2003, 13, 1501 []), exhibit asymmetric current-voltage (I–V) characteristics. Protonation of the C(CN)2 group disrupts the molecule's donor–acceptor structure and the rectification is switched off and on by exposure to acid and base respectively. Molecular dimensions within the films are consistent with the chromophores being closely packed and upright: the cross-sectional area is 0.29 ± 0.03 nm2 molecule−1 and the monolayer thickness increases from 1.7 ± 0.1 to 2.2 ± 0.1 nm as the linking group is lengthened from C3H6 to C10H20. The different insulating links have no significant effect on the electrical asymmetry, the rectifying behavior being attributed to the donor–(π-bridge)–acceptor moiety, which is sterically hindered and non-planar. This inhibits through-molecule orbital overlap of the electroactive end groups. Rectification is suppressed in SAMs obtained from Z-β-[N-(ω-alkylsulfanylalkyl)-4-pyridinium]-α-cyano-4-styryldicyanomethanide (2) where the D–π–A moiety is rendered less sterically hindered by eliminating the 3-methyl group of 1.


The oral cavity is a complex environment, where hard and soft tissue exists in close proximity and all within bacteria laden salive. All oral tissue are receptive to laser treatment. LASER is an acronym of Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. According to the clinical use in dentistry we know soft-tissue, hard tissue, and so called all-tissue lasers. Another classification is based on laser wavelenght in the electromagnetic sprectrum of light: ultraviolet, visible, near, mid, and far-infrared laser. The basic component of laser are: the optical cavity, the active medium which characterizes the wavelenght of specific laser, the pumping source, the controller, the delivery system that transport the laser energy to a terminal handpiece and tips and finaly to the tissue. Most of the laser wavelenght used in dentistry fall in the visible and infrared spectrum. The medium-infrared laser represent the all-tissue lasers, for application on both the mucosa and gingiva, tooth, and bone. The visible, near and far-infrared laser are mainly used for soft-tissue application, some of them are use for caries detection and biostimulation. The interaction of laser light with tissue follows the rules of optical physics. Laser beam can be reflected, absorbed, diffused, and transmitted. The selectivity of action depended on the affinity between a wavelenght and a target tissue.

While most dental lasers are relatively simple to use, certain precautions should be taken to make sure their safe and effective operation. First and foremost is protective eyewear by anyone within the vicinity of the laser, while it's in use. This includes the doctor, chairside assistants, patient, and any observers like family or friends. it's critical that each one protective eyewear worn is wavelength-specific. Additionally, accidental exposure to the non-target tissue are often prevented through the utilization of warning signs posted outside the nominal hazard zone, limiting access to the surgical environment, minimizing the reflective surfaces, and ensuring that the laser is in good working order, with all manufacturer safeguards in situ . With reference to prevention of possible exposure to infectious pathogens, high volume suction should be wont to evacuate any vapor plume created during tissue ablation, and normal infection protocols should be followed. Each office should have a delegated Laser Safety Officer to supervise the right use of the laser, coordinate staff training, oversee the utilization of protective eyewear, and be conversant in the pertinent regulations.

Conservative soft tissue surgery with a dental laser is taken into account within the scope of accepted practice and typically considered a covered procedure under most professional insurance policies designed for dental specialists. consent must be routine and is best handled as a part of the overall consent form that each one patients read and sign before the initiation of dental treatment. it's highly recommended that every clinician take a course from a reputable provider.

Laser technology for hard tissue application and soft tissue surgery is at a high state of refinement, having had several decades of development, up to this time, and further improvements can occur. the sector of laser-based photochemical reactions holds great promise for extra applications, particularly for targeting specific cells, pathogens, or molecules. an extra area of future growth is predicted to be a mixture of diagnostic and therapeutic laser techniques. Looking to the longer term it's expected that specific laser technologies will become essential components of up to date practice over subsequent decade.


The excessive use of pesticides in Indonesia during the 1970s and 1980s caused serious environmental problems such as acute and chronic human pesticide poisoning, animal poisoning and contaminated agricultural products, destruction of both beneficial natural parasites and pest predators, and pesticide resistance in pests. To overcome these environmental problems, since 1989 the Indonesian government has actively adopted a strategy of integrated pest management (IPM). During the first few years of the IPM program's implementation, the program has been able to help farmers reduce the use of pesticides by approximately 56 percent, and increase yields by approximately 10 percent. However, economic literature that analyzes the impact of the IPM program on household incomes and national economic performance is very limited. The general objective of this research is to analyze the impact of the IPM program on Indonesian economic growth and household incomes for different socioeconomic groups.


The effectiveness, in prioritizing suspects, of six geographical profiling methods are compared by determining the rank to which each of 92 prolific burglars was assigned, from the total of 400 known burglars, who were selected from a large metropolitan database because they resided in the borough in which the crimes occurred. Using mean and median ranked prioritization of actual offenders, as well as the percentages that appeared in the top 5% of rankings and the area under the curve of a specially developed 'Ranked Prioritization Function,' RP (f), it was found that Dragnet using a logarithmic decay function and the distance from the centre of gravity produced the lowest average ranks, with 72% of the actual offenders in the top 5% of prioritized rankings. The implications of the findings are discussed.


Online monitoring is the task of identifying complex temporal patterns while incrementally processing streams of events. Existing state-of-the-art monitors can process streams of modest velocity in real-time: a few thousands events per second. We scale up monitoring to higher velocities by slicing the stream, based on the events' data values, into substreams that can be independently monitored. Because monitoring is not data parallel in general, slicing can lead to data duplication. To reduce this overhead, we adapt hash-based partitioning techniques from databases to the monitoring setting. We implement the resulting automatic data slicer in Apache Flink and use the MonPoly tool to monitor the substreams. We empirically evaluate this setup, demonstrating a substantial scalability improvement.


British missionary Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998) was a highly influential missionary theologian, a bishop in the Church of South India, and a leader in the twentieth century ecumenical movement. His writings regarding the missionary nature of the church, the engagement of the post-Christendom West as a mission field, and the theological understanding of mission from a Trinitarian perspective have been foundational for both the missional and emerging church movements. This article presents an overview of one aspect of Newbigin's thought, which, though constituting a key element of his Trinitarian theology of mission, has often been overlooked—his grasp of the role of the Holy Spirit in mission. This author asserts that Newbigin's pneumatology of mission can help the church, particularly in the West, to understand more clearly how it is to relate to the Holy Spirit as it seeks to participate with God in His mission.


For Part I see ibid., vol.47, no.3, p.1072-80 (1998). In Part I of this paper, the possibility of using an AC (alternating current) electrical system instead of the present DC system in the automobile was discussed. The various possible architectures were described in Part I. Part II continues with the issues of various tradeoffs related to cost, size, and overall system reliability/robustness and simplicity when compared to the existing DC system in the automobile. The components primarily discussed in this paper are the inverter and induction motors. Comparison between single- and three-phase systems is also done. The benefits of the AC system are not based on only the cost, but reliability and robustness too, and it seems that a replacement of the present automotive electrical system with a three-phase AC system is a reasonable step toward alternative electrical system selections.


Jupiter's great sodium nebula represents the largest visible structure traversed by the Ulysses spacecraft during its encounter with the planet in February 1992. Ground-based imaging conducted on Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, revealed a nebula that extended to at least �300 Jovian radii (spanning ∼50 million kilometers); it was somewhat smaller in scale and less bright than previously observed. Analysis of observations and results of modeling studies suggest reduced volcanic activity on the moon lo, higher ion temperatures in the plasma torus, lower total plasma content in the torus, and fast neutral atomic clouds along the Ulysses inbound trajectory through the magnetosphere. Far fewer neutrals were encountered by the spacecraft along its postencounter, out-of-ecliptic trajectory.


OUT OF THE IVORY TOWER: Feminist Research for Social Change Andrea Martinez and Meryn Stuart, eds. Toronto: Sumach Press, 2003; 360pp. Out of the Ivory Tower: Feminist Research for Social Change is a collection of 14 essays in an anthology of feminist research conducted by scholars primarily connected with the University of Ottawa's Institute of Women's Studies (IWS). The book is the culmination of an initiative of that Institute "to consolidate feminist research at the University of Ottawa and to promote the dissemination of feminist knowledge to a wider audience outside our walls" (p. 11). The editors describe how this initiative emerged in response to the "Worldwide March for Women" in the fall of 2000 and from a desire that this consolidation of research into a published anthology build on what they perceived as an energizing momentum in the activities of the march. In particular, their stated hope is that such an anthology would build on that momentum by increasing awareness of feminist work being done within IWS and by facilitating links with wider political agendas in a broader community. In their introduction, editors Andrea Martinez and Meryn Stuart suggest that the anthology was not intended to be shaped by a particular theme; rather, it was "a general call without specific boundaries" (p. 12), other than the shared element of feminist work associated with the IWS that the editors have gathered and offer for dissemination to a broader audience of scholars and activists. Within this broad scope, the editors helpfully organize the contributions under a shared topic of "women's relationships to their bodies, history, public and private spaces and new technologies" (p. 12), and identify in the collected essays four research themes which in abbreviated form are: recovering histories and meanings; "negotiating" the female body; shaping equity for women; and, negotiating the new technologies of cyberspace. The book covers a diverse terrain of disciplines, methodology, histories and geographies. Individual essays offer much that would be of use to scholars and activists engaged in the particular fields and contexts to which they are directed (histories of science, nursing, lesbian community; Aboriginal women's leadership, bioethics, employment equity, communication technologies, and more). The introduction to the four research themes is a means to link the research with political agendas beyond the academy. The collection would be enhanced by more detailed analyses of disparities, connections, and tensions among the various contributions and the implications of these for engaged feminist practice in various contexts. For example, several of the essays raise questions about "which women? …


The Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) and mixed-radix conversion (MRC) are two classic theorems used to convert a residue number to its binary correspondence for a given moduli set {P n,...,P 2, P 1}. The MRC is a weighted number system and it requires operations modulo P i only and hence magnitude comparison is easily performed. However, the calculation of the mixed-radix coefficients in the MRC is a strictly sequential process and involves complex divisions. Thus the residue-to-binary (R/B) conversions and residue comparisons based on the MRC require large delay. In contrast, the R/B conversion and residue comparison based on the CRT are fully parallel processes. However, the CRT requires large operations modulo M = P n,...,P 2 P 1. In this paper, a new mixed-radix CRT is proposed which possesses both the advantages of the CRT and the MRC, which are parallel processing, small operations modulo P i only, and the efficiency of making modulo comparison. Based on the proposed CRT, new residue comparators are developed for the three-moduli set {2n - 1, 2n, 2n + 1}. The FPGA implementation results show that the proposed modulo comparators are about 20% faster and smaller than one of the previous best designs.


There exists a great untapped potential for the use of intelligent robots as therapeutic social partners for children. However, enabling a robot to understand social behavior, and do so while interacting with the child, is a challenging problem. Children are highly individual and thus technology used for social interaction requires recognition of a wide-range of social behavior. This argues for data-driven methods that capture the relevant range of interactions. This work addresses the challenge of designing data-driven behaviors for socially assistive robots in order to enable them to recognize and appropriately respond to a child's free-form behavior in unstructured play contexts. The focus on free-form behavior is inspired by and grounded in the DIR/Floortime approach to therapeutic intervention with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This approach emphasizes fostering engagement through play, recognizing social behavior and using "engagements" to bolster social interactions.
This research presents a data-driven methodology and a validated experimental framework for enabling fully autonomous robots to interact with both typically developing children and children with ASD in undirected scenarios using socially appropriate behavior, especially where spatial interaction is concerned. Autonomous robot operation as a critical aspect of the methodology; save for safety interventions by a human operator, the robot acts of its own accord. The robot and child engage in free-form interaction, in part though distance-oriented behaviors; the robot must be able to recognize the child's behaviors and respond to them appropriately. This dissertation presents the following computational contributions with therapeutic potential:
• Detection and mitigation of a child's distress: This work presents methodology for learning and then applying a data-driven spatio-temporal model of social behavior based on distance-based features to automatically differentiate between typical vs. aversive child-robot interactions. Using a Gaussian Mixture Model learned over distance-based feature data, the developed system is able to detect and interpret social behavior with sufficient accuracy to recognize child distress. The robot uses this model to change its own behavior so as to encourage positive social interaction.
• Encouragement of human-human and human-robot interaction: This work demonstrates a global and local motion planner that uses the above spatio-temporal model as part of the determination of a motion trajectory that maintains the robot's spatial relationship with the child and sustains interaction while also encouraging the child to move toward another proximal interaction partner. The desired spatial interaction behavior is achieved by modifying an established trajectory planner to weight candidate trajectories based on conformity to a trained model of the desired behavior.
• Data-Driven Approach For Providing Graded Cueing Feedback: A methodology for robot behavior that provides autonomous feedback for a robot-child imitation and turn-taking game. This is accomplished by incorporating an established therapeutic model of feedback along with a trained model of imitation behavior. This is used as part of an autonomous system that can play a turn-taking game, recognize breeches in imitation behavior, and interpret a breech in order to provide appropriate feedback. The approach is validated in a spatial imitation game, used to gauge the presence of imitation behavior.
The three main contributions above: averse behavior detection, model-based trajectory planning, and data-driven feedback, have been instantiated and validated in several SAR systems using autonomous person sensing, behavior interpretation, and action selection, for the purposes of detecting, provoking, and encouraging both human-human and human-robot social interaction. The validated systems were tested in experiments that evaluatedthe system design, the accuracy of the robot's ability to interpret observed behavior, the appropriateness of the robot's responses, and the quality of the child-robot and child-parent social behavior interaction. The evaluation experiments were conducted with both children with ASD and typically developing children. The systems were also used to explore the therapeutic potential of socially assistive robots facilitated by the developed models, architecture, and experiment framework.


Most common cause of brisk hematochezia is diverticular bleeding in Western countries. It occurs in 15% of patients with diverticulosis and one-third of them appear to be massive. Most of diverticulosis in Western countries occur in the left colon but the right colon is more common in Korea. Especially, the reports of diverticular bleeding on left colon are rare in Korea. We report a case presenting with multiple diverticuli complicated by recurrent massive bleeding restricted to the left colon. 75-year-old female was admitted due to hematochezia and dizziness. On past history, two years and two weeks ago respectively, she was treated of diverticular bleeding with and without diverticulitis. Hemoglobin level was 9.8 g/dL. On Colonoscopy, numerous diverticuli were seen at sigmoid colon upto splenic flexure which showed fresh blood clots in the lumen. We diagnosed her as recurrent massive diverticular bleeding on the sigmoid colon. She received elective laparoscopic left hemicolectomy.


The great interest in smart light-responsive materials has led to the development of hybrid star-shaped nanostructures combining organic azobenzene dyes with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (Azo-POSSs). Herein we present two approaches to fabricating azo-functionalized POSS compounds with the desired characteristics: (1) the synthesis of branched Azo-POSS structures based on azo dyes possessing flexible spacers of different chemical natures and lengths between the inorganic POSS core and the azobenzene branches, and (2) an approach that was first applied to Azo-POSS systems – the synthesis of Azo-POSS conjugates with isolation groups (they minimize undesired chromophore–chromophore interactions) in the azobenzene fragments and the constant short spacer between the azo dyes and the medium. The first one was synthesized from azo dyes containing hexenyloxy-, allyloxy-ethoxypropoxy- and tetramethyl-disiloxanyl-propoxy substituents, while the second one was prepared from allyl-functionalized azo-based chromophores with changeable isolation groups (hydroxymethylene-, trimethylsiloxymethylene- and pentafluorophenoxymethylene-groups). According to DSC analysis the Azo-POSS based on the hexenyloxy-substituted dye has crystalline domains whereas all other Azo-POSS compounds are amorphous. We found that robust and ultrathin films with a thicknesses of around 60 nm and low refractive indices (ca. 1.46) can be fabricated from all Azo-POSS branched conjugates. It was demonstrated that the surface roughness of the Azo-POSS films can be significantly minimized by the attachment of azo dyes having side isolation groups into the POSS core. Moreover, for Azo-POSS molecules with isolation groups in the azobenzene units, we observed a significant decrease in the trans–cis photoisomerization rate in solution compared to other obtained star-shaped Azo-POSS systems. At the same time, the photoisomerization rates of the synthesized Azo-POSS conjugates in films are almost the same. These results indicate that the presence of the isolation groups effectively prevents inter- and intramolecular aggregation of azobenzene chromophores attached to the POSS core in the solid state.


Carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, the major genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), harbor an increased load of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque burden that is felt to be a major instigator of AD development. Data has suggested that lifestyle factors may reduce AD risk by directly mitigating Aβ pathology, which could be particularly beneficial in APOE ε4 carriers. We therefore examined the interaction between lifetime cognitive activity and the APOE ε4 allele in relation to brain Aβ burden. We obtained measures of lifetime cognitive activity in 118 cognitively normal human individuals (mean age: 76.13 ± 5.56 years, 70 women) using a validated questionnaire that included measures over early, middle, and current age epochs. Hierarchical regression models (adjusted for age, gender, and years of education) were conducted to examine effects of APOE ε4 carrier status, lifetime cognitive activity, and the interaction of the two factors with cortical Aβ deposition, quantified using [11C] Pittsburgh-compound-B (PIB)-PET. As expected, the ε4 carriers exhibited higher PIB retention compared with noncarriers. Lifetime cognitive activity moderated the APOE genotype effect such that cortical PIB retention was diminished in ε4 carriers that reported higher cognitive activity over the life course. The findings suggest that greater lifetime cognitive activity may forestall AD pathology, specifically in genetically susceptible individuals. The effect could imply that cognitive training promotes increased neural efficiency that might retard the lifelong neurally mediated deposition of Aβ.


A grid system is a set of independent computers that enables sharing, selection and aggregation of resources for application programs. In such system, computers and resources are distributed geographically. Once the resources are expanded in terms of hardware, software, etc., there is a need to a grid that responds to various requests more quickly. In this study, we present the idea of resource grouping based on Quality of Services (QoS) criteria such as delay, band width and semantics in order to select the resources more quickly and appropriately. The results indicate that our proposed method is much better than existing approaches.


Distributed key-value stores have become indispensable for large scale low latency applications. Many cloud services have deployed in-memory data grids for their enterprise infrastructures and support multi-tenancy services. But it is still difficult to provide consistent performance to all tenants for fluctuating workloads that need to scale out. Many popular key-value stores suffer from performance problems at scale and different tenant requirements. To this front, we present our study with Hazelcast, a popular open source data grid, and provide insights to contention and performance bottlenecks. Through experimental analysis, this paper uncovers scenarios of performance degradation followed by optimized performance via end-point multiplexing. Our study suggests that processing increasing number of client requests spawning fewer number of threads help improve performance.


Hypothalamic connections with the brain stem in lizard (Ophisaurus apodus) were studied by means of local injection of HRP and WGA-HRP into the mamillary complex and massive injections into the hypothalamotegmental area. Reciprocal direct connections were shown between the mamillary complex nuclei and hypothalamotegmental structures, on the one hand, and following structures in the brain stem, on the other hand: griseum centrale, n. parabrachialis, n. lemnisci lateralis, n. raphae and reticular formation of caudal mesencephalic tegmentum, pons and medulla oblongata. It was concluded that direct reciprocal hypothalamo-brainstem connections, as a basis for autonomic-emotional and probably nociceptive and antinociceptive reactions in mammals were formed already in reptiles.


This work aims to investigate the impact of the cutting direction on the transfer properties of both the native cork and the treated by an optimized cycle at high temperature and boiling for the purpose to improve its mechanical characteristics in all three orthotropic directions. The study of the insulation performance is based on tracking the apparent mass diffusion coefficient (Dapp) variation in order to evolve a new material with the thermal, mass, acoustic and vibratory properties needed for various applications. TGA, IR and SEM analyzes are used to confirm the enhancement of the treated cork. The Dapp of the diffusing chemical species, NaCl (0.7M), is determined by conductimetric method. In transient mode, a mathematical model of mass transfer, which includes the diffusion parameters of the chemical species, is developed. Through the calibration of the model with the experimental measurements the Dapp values were determined and then refined numerically by optimization using the Bat-Algorithm. The obtained results showed that the treatment improves the diffusion property of the native (DN) compared to the treaty (DA) with the values in the order of 10-12 and 10-13 m2.s-1 respectively with a relative uncertainty of 10-7. In addition, this investigation reveals that the radial diffusion coefficient (DR) is significantly higher than the tangential diffusion (DT) and longitudinal (DL) diffusion coefficients which both are almost of the same.


We present (f OWL), a minimalistic, functional programming style ontology editor that is based directly on the OWL 2 Structural Specification. (f OWL) is written from scratch, entirely in Clojure, having no other dependencies. Ontologies in (f OWL) are implemented as standalone and homogeneous data structures, which means that the same exact functions written for single axioms or expressions often work identically on any part of an ontology, even the entire ontology itself. The lazy functional style of Clojure also allows for intuitive and simple ontology creation and modification with a minimal memory footprint. All of this is possible without ever needing to use a single class, except of course in the Ontologies one creates!


The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics for eye examinations of premature infants are based on the following criteria: an age of gestation less than 35 weeks for infants having received oxygen or a birthweight under 1300 g with or without supplemental oxygen. The first examination should take place between the 5th and the 7th week of extra-uterine life, or prior to discharge of the hospital and repeated according to the first observations. It is specified that the examination must be done by a person experienced in neonatal ophthalmology and indirect ophthalmoscopy. In Zurich, following these recommendations, the criteria of the CRYO-ROP study, and our experience, we examine the infants with following features: (1) all premature infants with birthweight less than 1500 g independently of oxygen exposure, (2) neonates who have less than 35 gestational weeks and who were exposed in a FIO2 > 0.4 during more than 24 h. And (3) the first eye examination is done between the 5th and the 6th weeks of extra-uterine life. The follow-up of these children will depend on the primary state. The infants with ROP will be followed by the neonatal ophthalmologist as long as retinal complications can persist. Afterwards these infants will be controlled by the general ophthalmologist for the amblyopie prophylaxis (by anisomyopia or strabismus). Two controls during the first year, then one per year are advised in these cases. For children who had a cryocoagulation or an retinal detachment operation, the follow-up will be assured by the general ophthalmologist for the prevention of the amblyopia and by the neonatal ophthalmologist for the retina.


Objective: To estimate the risk of ozone concentration and hospitalizations for asthma. Method: This is an ecological time series, which included individuals from 0 to 10 years old who lived in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (Brasil), from 2008 to 2010. The data on hospitalizations for asthma were obtained online from DATASUS website. Data from environment levels of ozone were obtained from Instituto de Fisica of UFMS and temperature and humidity from Centro de Monitoramento de Clima e Recursos Hidricos (CEMTEC). Gap designs were made from 0 to 6 days and analyzed by generalized additive Poisson's regression model and its 95% confidence intervals. Results: There were 5850 admissions, presenting daily changes from 2 to 13. The relative risks and their respective confidence intervals were obtained for each parameter: ozone-RR 0.9965 (0.9467-1.0463); precipitation RR-0.9975 (0.9476-1.0474); RH RR-0.9948 (0.9450-1.0455); RR-speed winds 1.0036 (0.9535-1.0538) and RRtemperature 0.9679 (0.9195-1.0163). Conclusion: It was possible to identify association of ozone as in the same day of exposure as in the days ahead after the admissions. Thus, this study showed an association between ozone and hospitalizations for asthma in a medium-sized city.


Aspergillosis is recognized as an opportunistic infection in human and animals often occuring in association with other chronic diseases (immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, long-term antibiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, etc.). Over 95% of human aspergillosis are produced by A.fumigatus, A.flavus and A.niger commonly found in the environment. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis with A.flavus has been rarely reported in human, mainly in immunocompromised and diabetic patients after surgery. Aspergillus infections have been more less reported in cat than dog, with two clinical forms: nasal and systemic. Early detection and treatment are important factors in infection control. This paper illustrated a primary cutaneous aspergillosis of the tail in a spayed mixed-breed female cat, 10 years old, with no general symptoms. The samples prelevated from tail lesions were submitted to bacteriological, mycological and cytological investigation. The results demonstrated the infection with a strain of A.flavus. The case is still under investigation and represent a real therapeutic challenge for us considering the chronic infection and the age of patient.


The high cost of the raw materials and non-recycling use are the two main problems which restrict the development and extension of the SLS rapid prototyping. Firstly this paper did some theoretical analysis on the characteristics of wood flour, hot melt adhesive and other components. Then, through experimental comparison, using SEM to do microcosmic study and actual processing in laser shaper, this paper got a new formula of WPC for SLS. It is proved by the experiments, the WPC according to this formula is green environmental protection, degradable and can be recycled. Also, it can meet the processing requirements of SLS. The shape precision of the formed parts is high, the relative warping rate is only 0.26%~0.45%, the roughness is less than 0.03mm, and the parts reached a certain mechanical index. The tensile strength can reach a maximum of 0.014MPa and shock strength can reach a maximum of 0.954kJ/m . It provides the basis for the further post-processing to enhance the mechanical properties.


Abstract The expression 'safeguarding intangible cultural heritage' was formed within the context of transformations in the instruments and strategies for protecting cultural elements usually designated 'folklore and traditional (and popular) culture'.1 The adoption of a 'cultural heritage approach' to this subject was a somewhat turbulent process that drew, since the mid-twentieth century, a winding path of dialogues with, and divergences from, common sense notions and mainstream preservationist culture. Throughout this process, political and conceptual possibilities for social engineering were envisaged, some were discarded, choices were legitimized and, no less importantly, networks were formed of agents and narrators of the political and legal negotiations that eventually lead to designing UNESCO ICH Convention as officially adopted. This path will be explored in the following comments on the formation of safeguarding as a cultural heritage policy dispositive2 and significant contrasts to other instruments, in relation to which it has acquired specificity, meaning and scope.


A mean dose of 249.58 Grays (Gy) 60Co irradiation caused greater than 99.9968% mortality of 99 817 irradiated Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) eggs and larvae which infested 'Ruby Red' (also called 'Webb Red Blush') grapefruit (Citrus paradisi MacFayden). Determination was based on estimated larval populations (number of pupae in control fruit) and pupal mortalities (number of adults that eclose). Both 137Cs and 60Co required >15% dose of irradiation to kill 99.9968% of 21-25 days-old larvae in the fruit compared to the dose required to kill eggs and larvae up to 17 days old. The LD50s of eggs and larvae up to 17 days of age and 21-25 days-old larvae were statistically similar based on estimated larval and pupal mortalities. The LD50s were 93 and 82% less for early stage and mature larvae, respectively, than doses required for 99.9968% mortality.


Abstract Electronic networks of practice (ENPs) have become an important mechanism for knowledge exchange among loosely connected individuals who share common knowledge interests. While prior research has explored factors that influence knowledge contribution in such networks, less is understood about the process by which individuals evaluate and ultimately adopt knowledge from ENPs. This study examines the process of knowledge filtering in online ENP forums. Drawing from dual process and information-evaluation theories, we hypothesize that performance on a knowledge-filtering task will be influenced by the constancy and directionality of search patterns employed by knowledge seekers. Hypotheses are tested in an experiment that utilized an eye tracker to record gaze data from professional software developers using an experimental ENP forum. By combining information-evaluation and dual process theory perspectives, our results deepen the insights offered in extant information-processing literature by showing that higher filtering accuracy is associated with (a) constant evaluation of some types of information attributes (solution content) but not others (peripheral cues), and (b) increasing attribute-based processing over time.


This paper studied the mechanical behavior of the filament/staple fiber composite yarn and the pure cotton yarn under the isostress and isostrain of cycling tensile strength with the conditions of small deformation. And it also analyzed the elastic recovery rate, creep rate and stress relaxation rate under the different deformation rate and load. The results show that the mechanical properties of elastic recovery rate, stress relaxation and creep all keep in good range in the experiment of cycling tensile strength with low certain elongation and constant load; as the increase of certain elongation and constant load, the mechanical properties of elastic recovery rate, stress relaxation and creep have much difference, just in terms of the conformality under the cyclic tensile strength, PET/PU/cotton composite yarn shows the best, next is the PU/cotton composite yarn, and then next is the PET /cotton composite yarn, and the pure cotton yarn shows the worst.


Abstract Increasing demand for energy efficiency places new requirements on energy use in historic buildings. Efficient energy use is essential if a historic building is to be used and preserved, especially buildings with conventional uses such as residential buildings and offices. This paper presents results which combine energy auditing with building energy simulation and an indoor environment survey among the occupants of the building. Both when comparing simulations with measurements as well as with survey results good agreement was found. The two efficiency measures that are predicted to increase energy and thermal performance the most for this group of buildings were reduced infiltration and increasing heat-exchanger efficiency.


A method of designing the profile of an asymmetric floodlight reflector for illuminating semicircular vaults with a constant illuminance is described. Only directional reflector surface reflection was assumed, and the location of the floodlight with respect to the illuminated surface was explicitly defined. In the calculations the effect of the cover on the luminous flux distribution is taken into account.


Abstract. In this paper, we analyse the calving activity of the Bowdoin Glacier, north-western Greenland, in 2015 by combining satellite images, UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) photogrammetry and ice flow modelling. In particular, a high-resolution displacement field is inferred from UAV orthoimages taken immediately before and after the initiation of a large fracture, which induced a major calving event. A detailed analysis of the strain rate field allows us to accurately map the path taken by the opening crack. Modelling results reveal (i) that the crack was more than half-thickness deep, filled with water and getting irreversibly deeper when it was captured by the UAV and (ii) that the crack initiated in an area of high horizontal shear caused by a local basal bump immediately behind the current calving front. The asymmetry of the bed at the front explains the systematic calving pattern observed in May and July–August 2015. As a corollary, we infer that the calving front of the Bowdoin Glacier is currently stabilized by this bedrock bump and might enter into an unstable mode and retreat rapidly if the glacier keeps thinning in the coming years. Beyond this outcome, our study demonstrates that the combination of UAV photogrammetry and ice flow modelling is a promising tool to horizontally and vertically track the propagation of fractures responsible for large calving events.


Introduction: On January 11, 2009, Taiwan initiated a new anti-smoking law - smoking is not permitted at any public place with more than three people. No studies regarding cigarette smoking have been conducted after the implementation of the new policy. The objective of the study was to examine cigarette smoking among a sample of Taiwanese adults and correlates of its use.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenient sample of willing adults 18 years or older in Taipei, Taiwan, from January 2011 to May 2011. Survey questions included: socio-demographic characteristics, health status and mental health, tobacco use history, attitudes and intentions of tobacco use, and factors associated with tobacco use. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine predictors of ever-use (model 1) and past 30- day use (model 2) of cigarette.
 Results: A total of 926 participants completed the survey. More than half of the study sample had previously smoked a cigarette (54.4%), and approximately 42% in the past 30 days. Male gender (OR=2.02 in model 1), having lower grades (OR=4.11 in model 1, OR=4.19 in model 2), having seen an anti-smoking advertisement on TV (OR=1.96 in model 2), used betel nuts before (OR=11.27 in model 1, OR=3.78 in model 2), drank alcohol in the last 30 days (OR=1.86 in model 1, OR=3.10 in model 2), having a brother or sister who smokes cigarettes (OR=1.97 in model 1), having more than half of friends who smoke (OR=2.24 in model 2), and having more than one close friend who smokes (OR=4.70 in model 1, OR=5.92 in model 2) were significant predictors of cigarette smoking. Participants older than 25 years (OR=0.61 in model 2) and those who previously heard an anti-smoking message from their teacher (OR=0.54 in model 1, OR=0.44 in model 2) were less likely to smoke.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated high rates of cigarette smoking in Taiwan. These findings underscore the magnitude of the smoking problem in the Taiwanese population and the urgent need for effective interventions. Future research should focus on developing interventions that incorporate the predictors identified.


Type 2 Diabetes is a progressive disease with an insidious onset, including decreased first-phase insulin secretion and mild forms of hyperinsulinemia caused by heterogenous factors such as genetic make-up, obesity and lifestyle. Decreased insulin secretion may already be a first sign of beta-cell damage, which is expected to develop into insulin resistance later and to result in progressive beta-cell deterioration and death. The disease has become highly prevalent in Western countries and is rapidly reaching epidemic proportions in the developing world. While the molecular mechanisms involved in the etiology of this disease remain relatively poorly understood, the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) has clearly demonstrated in several investigations that the adoption of insulin therapy in early phases of the disease is capable of attenuating or even preventing massive beta-cell loss and thus the severe metabolic syndrome and its late complications. This report aims to highlight the common psychological obstacles healthcare professionals are faced with when they are attempting early introduction of insulin therapy. Many patients typically underrate early signs and repress the fact that the disease is developing while they are vainly attempting to keep to lifestyle changes like New Year's resolutions. However, there is also reluctance on the part of the healthcare professionals. At the same time, patients' reservations about needles and fear of hypoglycemia can be removed simply by educating patients about the relatively low risk of hypoglycemia. Coupled with enhanced healthcare services, this strategy can overcome psychological insulin resistance and contribute to the maintenance of good metabolic control.


Objective: To test Iranian patients with primary torsion dystonia to determine the frequency of 904–906 del GAG mutation in the DYT1 (TOR1A) gene and to investigate the genotype-phenotype association for this disease. Subjects and Methods: Sixty-three patients with primary dystonia were investigated. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and these samples were subjected to PCR-sequencing for exon 5 of the DYT1 gene. Results: Of the 63 patients, 10 (15.9%) carried the triplet GAG deletion mutation; this is a high DYT1-positive rate in comparison with other populations and the type of dystonia in this positive group was generalized in all except 1. In our patients, limbs were the most severely involved site at the time of onset and in most cases it developed to generalized form. The majority of DYT1-positive cases showed higher leg onset (5 patients, 62.5%) in comparison with higher arm onset in negative patients (20 patients, 50%). Also, the progression to generalized dystonia in DYT1-positive patients was significantly higher than in DYT1-negative patients. The mean age at onset was 8.6 ± 1.6 years (7–12 years) in DYT1-positive patients, while mean age at onset in patients with no GAG deletion mutation was higher (15.7 ± 11.5 years). Conclusions: The DYT1 904–906 del GAG mutation is responsible for some of Iranian dystonia patients, and screening for the DYT1 deletion is significant in cases with the generalized type of primary dystonia. Also, patients with leg or arm onset at a younger age are more likely to be DYT1-positive among primary torsion dystonia cases.


Self-oscillating gel is designed by copolymerizing the catalyst for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction with thermosensitive polymer. The cylindrical-shaped specimens of NIPAAm-co-(Ru(bpy)3 gel were prepared by copolymerizing (Ru(bpy)3) monomer as catalyst with NIPAAm as thermosensitive polymer. Swelling behavior during self-oscillating of gel by BZ reaction was observed using CCD camera and the force due to this reaction was evaluated using semiconductor gauge. Self-oscillating swelling-deswelling behavior in samples with different swelling ratio was evaluated by this apparatus, and mechanical parameters such as Young's modulus, stress amplitude and oscillating period were quantitatively estimated.


Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Network (WDM-PON) introduces high data rate and large bandwidth. A bidirectional WDM-PON system based on a Fabry-Perot laser diode (FP-LD) with two cascaded array waveguide gratings (AWGs) has been demnstrated. The downstream data rate equals to 10 Gbps and the upstream data rate equals to 2.5 Gbps. This network is classified to 10GPON Standard. FP-LD will be used at optical network unit (ONU) as transmitter, so it can re-modulate the downstream signal with upstream data and then re-sent upstream towards the central office (CO). The main idea for using AWGs in the system is to increase the capacity, security and privacy. AWGs will be used to multiplex and demultiplex different wavelengths in wavelength division multiplexing PON (WDM-PON). Our proposed system is an effective low cost system and the injection locked FP-LD is used as low cost colourless transmitters for high-speed optical access exploiting WDM technology


Background Health related quality of life incorporates physical function and independence which are high priorities for patients with advanced cancer. These two inter-related domains can be compromised through the experience of cancer-related pain. Patient-held meanings of cancer pain may have potential to influence behaviours which determine functionality and quality of life. Study aim To explore the meanings of pain among patients living with advanced cancer and to understand how these influence functional behaviours, with the aim of developing clinical recommendations to inform patient care. Design Participants underwent in-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to identify emergent themes. Setting/Participants: Ten patients with advanced stage cancer experiencing cancer–related pain were recruited from an Inner-London hospice palliative care service. Results Meaning of pain in advanced cancer is inextricably linked with loss and bereavement. Meaning of pain is a dynamic, temporal process underpinned by the following themes: (i) nature of cancer-related pain, (ii) multidimensional impact of pain on patients' function and behaviour, (iii) 'Web of Loss': a complex network of losses that perpetuates cycles of further loss and (iv) hope and appreciation of life. The data suggests meaning of pain has an indirect influence on behaviour mediated by the coping strategies patients adopt. Meaning of pain has potential to promote both constructive and maladaptive responses in functional behaviour. Conclusions Findings further our understanding of the experience of cancer-related pain and inform bio-behavioural approaches to pain management in palliative care. Recommendations include (i) tailoring pain management to dedicate greater attention to the behavioural dimension of cancer-related pain (ii) timely identification and management of preparatory grief in patients with advanced cancer and (iii) promotion of constructive coping strategies to support patients to make sense of their pain and maintain functionality within the limitations of advancing disease.


Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass) has recently demonstrated itself to be poorly controlled with glyphosate in cereal crops of South Chile. The concentration of glyphosate necessary to reduce shoot length by 50% (ED50) in seedlings, after eight days of root contact was 7.3-fold in the resistant Vil-1 than in the susceptible (S) biotype. The obtained spray retention values were higher on S than the resistant (Vil-1) biotype. Contact angles measured on the adaxial surface of S and Vil-1 were similar. However, on the abaxial surface contact angles were of 63 degrees on Vil-1 as compared to 42 degrees on S. A greater glyphosate uptake was observed through the abaxial surface of S. Regarding translocation, glyphosate accumulated mainly in the tip of the treated leaf of Vil-1, 24 h after treatment. It was afterwards also well distributed to the rest of the leaves and roots, as in the susceptible biotype. Nevertheless, 14C-glyphosate remained higher in the foliar apex of Vil-1. Hence, resistance to glyphosate by the Vil-1 Lolium multflorum biotype seems to involve a lower uptake through the abaxial leaf surface and a different migration pattern.


This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 299 patients visiting outpatient department (OPD) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) between November 2005 and April 2006 (6 months) to assess their satisfaction of OPD services. Majority of the patients was male (54.85%) with mean age of 36 years, married (75.92%) with a family size of 5-7; of education level from illiterate to below SSC (71.91%) and from lower (46.44%) and lower middle (38.20%) income group. 53.18% patients visited OPD with medical, followed by surgical (26.76%) and gynaecological (20.06%) problems. The main reasons for choosing DMCH were effective (32.78%), free (24.41) and/or low cost (18.73%) treatment. There was long waiting time (32 minutes). However majority of the patients (81.14%) expressed satisfaction (ranging from fair to good) with respect to adequacy of space, sitting arrangement and cleanliness of the waiting rooms, but were dissatisfied (75.31%) with respect to toilet facilities and supply of drinking water. 74.90% patients were satisfied (ranging from fair to good) with OPD staffs with respect to their availability and readiness to register and make appointment with doctors. However 41.06% were dissatisfied with respect to their willingness to listen with compassion and reassure the patients with their problems. Only 65.1% patients received prescribed drugs from hospital pharmacy and majority of them were dissatisfied with respect to information provided about medication use (58.80%) and side-effects (98.70%). Of the patients advised to have laboratory investigations only 37.61% got them done at OPD laboratory and 59.75% of them were satisfied with the laboratory services. Women were more satisfied with OPD services compared to their male counterparts (χ2, p<0.05). Patients' satisfaction was inversely related to monthly income (χ2, p<0.05) and level of education (χ2, p<0.05). To improve patients' satisfaction, most of the patients suggested for more doctors and supporting staff, improvement of waiting room facilities, drug supply and laboratory investigations. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2008; 2(2): 55-57 Key Words: Patients' satisfaction, OPD services, socio-economic variables, DMCH doi: 10.3329/imcj.v2i2.2938


In this study, we show that both all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) are potent inducers of tissue transglutaminase (TGase II), an enzyme involved in apoptosis, at the level of both enzyme activity and mRNA in the human myeloma cell line RPMI 8226. RPMI 8226 cells were shown to express mRNAs for all the retinoid receptors subtypes, ie, RARα, RARβ, RARγ, RXRα, RXRβ, and RXRγ. To identify which of these receptors are involved in regulating TGase II expression, several receptor-selective synthetic retinoids were used. Neither CD367, a very potent retinoid that selectively binds and activates receptors of the RAR family, nor CD2425, an RXR-selective agonist, induced TGase II when used alone. However, combination of CD367 and CD2425 resulted in nearly full induction of the enzyme. Moreover, when used in combination with atRA, CD367 partially inhibited the atRA-dependent induction of TGase II, whereas CD2425 enhanced it. The effects of Am 580, CD417, and CD437, three synthetic retinoids selective for the RARs subtypes RARα, RARβ, and RARγ, respectively, were also investigated. None of these compounds was able to induce TGase II when used alone; however, the combination of each of them with CD2425 resulted in strong induction of the enzyme activity, reaching 30% to 50% of the values obtained in the presence of retinoic acid and suggesting functional redundancy between the RAR subtypes. Finally, treatment with atRA or the combination of CD367 and CD2425, but not with CD367 or CD2425 alone, was also shown to trigger apoptosis in RPMI 8226 cells, with prominent accumulation of TGase II immunoreactivity in apoptotic cells. Taken together these data suggest that the induction of TGase II expression and apoptosis in the RPMI 8226 myeloma cell line required ligand-dependent activation of both the RAR and RXR receptors.


The vertical component P -wave receiver function is an important source of data in studies of the crust/mantle transfer function for determining Earth structure under isolated receivers or under receiver arrays. This waveform illuminates a missing aspect of the wave propagation in receiver function studies that employ only the horizontal components of motion, and yields complementary constraints on near-receiver heterogeneity and P -wave propagation. The vertical component P -wave receiver function is formed using an array estimate for the effective teleseismic source function that is then deconvolved from all the vertical and horizontal components of ground motion at each station in the array. One-dimensional, three-dimensional, and stochastic wave-propagation models are used to test the robustness of the technique. Breakdown of single-station receiver function deconvolution occurs because of high levels of noncorrelated noise between the ground-motion components. Receiver functions for stations of the southern California TERRAscope array are investigated using the array technique. Vertical receiver functions for stations in the Los Angeles Basin and Long Valley Caldera show high-amplitude secondary arrivals that cannot be explained by simple 1D structures but probably reflect wave propagation in 3D basin structures. Three-component receiver functions from the station at Mammoth Lakes, California, show pathological behavior where the horizontal components of ground motion exceed the amplitude of the vertical components, suggesting extreme topographic and 3D velocity heterogeneity. Use of all three components of the receiver function in modern passive array experiments is encouraged to reduce the problems of nonuniqueness in determining Earth models.


The characteristics of a computational method addressing the description of solvent effects are here presented in a concise way, by selecting for the presentation a topic of large interest, i.e., the electronic, electric, and magnetic properties of molecules. The selection of these properties imposes a choice on the computational methods. They must be of quantum ab initio nature, and possibly treated at a high level of the quantum theory. In such a framework, continuum models are more adequate than the alternative models based on a discrete description of the solvent, because of the high computational cost associated with discrete models coupled to high quantum mechanics levels. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2011 1 855–867 DOI: 10.1002/wcms.54


Experimental results are presented for SiC epitaxial layer growth employing a large-area, up to 8x100-mm, warm-wall planetary SiC-VPE reactor. This high-throughput reactor has been optimized for the growth of uniform 0.01 to 80-micron thick, specular, device-quality SiC epitaxial layers with low background doping concentrations of <1x1014 cm-3 and intentional p- and n-type doping from ~1x1015 cm-3 to >1x1019 cm-3. Intrawafer layer thickness and n-type doping uniformity (σ/mean) of ~2% and ~8% have been achieved to date in the 8x100-mm configuration. The total range of the average intrawafer thickness and doping within a run are approximately ±1% and ±6% respectively.


Previous research identified three important issues of relevance to forest people's roles in sustain- able forest management which we address here: the presence of a Conservation ethics, a feeling of closeness to the forest, and a significant forest-culture link. In this paper we examine a method (the Galileo), recently pre-tested for this purpose in West Kalimantan, which we hope can help us to assess such issues quickly, reliably and in a quantitative manner amenable to use by would-be assessors of various educational and experiential levels. We describe the method, suggest improvements for future tests, and present some of our findings from West Kalimantan. We conclude with questions that emerged during our pre-test, and others that remain for subsequent research.


Objective. Although breast cancers (BCs) in young women often display more aggressive features, younger women are generally not screened for early detection. It is important to understand the characteristics of young onset breast cancer to increase awareness in this population. This analysis includes all ages, with emphasis placed on younger onset BC in Egypt as compared to the United States. Methods. BC cases in the Gharbiah cancer registry (GCR), Egypt, were compared to those in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. This analysis included 3,819 cases from the GCR and 273,019 from SEER diagnosed 2004–2008. Results. GCR cases were diagnosed at later stages, with <5% diagnosed at Stage I and 12% diagnosed at Stage IV. 48% of all SEER cases were diagnosed at Stage I, dropping to 30% among those ≤40. Significant differences in age, tumor grade, hormone receptor status, histology, and stage exist between GCR and SEER BCs. After adjustment, GCR cases were nearly 45 times more likely to be diagnosed at stage III and 16 times more likely to be diagnosed at stage IV than SEER cases. Conclusions. Future research should examine ways to increase literacy about early detection and prompt therapy in young cases.


The video highlights a challenging case of bilateral vertebral artery dissection presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patient was found to have a critical flow-limiting stenosis in his dominant right vertebral artery and a ruptured pseudoaneurysm in his left vertebral artery. A single-stage endovascular treatment with stent reconstruction of the right vertebral artery and coil embolization sacrifice of the left side was performed. The case highlights the rationale for treatment and potential alternative strategies.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/e0U_JE2jISw.


The paper presents collocations of the noun wojna 'war' from the diachronic perspective. Gathered from historical dictionaries of the Polish language, the collocations amply illustrate four different meanings of the lexeme: 'conflict', 'fight', 'military expedition' and 'army'. In respect of grammar, the collocations with verbs decidedly predominate, adequately reflecting the dynamic nature of war and a metaphorical way of its representation as the elements of fire and storm, the manner recorded by the collocations with nouns as well. A vast repertoire of the collocations documents beginning, waging and ending of war. Various parameters of war, such as time, space, strategy, are described by the collocations with adjectives, which also linguistically reflect emotions determined by war and bear testimony to its values from a relative point of view. Many of the collocations are characterized by considerable durability, therefore they have been preserved in the contemporary language.


The Process Industry Practices (PIP) initiative is the successful effort of a group of twenty-three process industry companies and eight engineering and construction companies to produce voluntary recommended practices for engineering, procurement, and construction of equipment and facilities in the continuous process industries. PIP's defined goal is to harmonize the technical requirements from the existing standards of major industrial users, contractors, and standards organizations into a single set of practices. This article gives a general overview of the organization's history, structure, and vision as well as the various technology areas currently developing PIPs. Here, we also address and describe some of the practices that have been developed specifically by the Electrical Function Team, providing examples of how taking the best ideas from many individual company specifications can result in standardization and savings to all users.


Tourism nowadays has a vital role in the development and growth of the local economy. However, the development of tourism insfrastuktur regarded as one of one of the causes of environmental damage. Ampelgading Malang as the area has a wealth of natural and cultural treasures which wasbiasah, also have the potential for conversion to agro-ecotourism. Geographical location consisting of mountains and sloping ground into the unique potential for the implementation of agro-tourism village. The concept of agro-ecotourism could be an alternative in tourism development policies. The concept of agro-ecotourism links between natural wisdom, wisdom and social wisdom. The purpose of this research is to pegambilan policies in the context of development in the field of pariwasata to form regional economic independence. The method used in the agro-ecotourism concept uses a qualitative approach, with the aim of implementing the model village agro- based tourism and socio-cultural tourist farms. With models that have been formulated expected in the future the government can make pendomanpegambilan policy formulation and development in the field in order to establish economic independence pariwasata area.


The need for vehicle tracking system in real time is growth continues due to increase the cases of theft. This type of system in real time needs to transmit large data with huge number of HTTP request to the server to keep tracking and monitoring in real time, thus causes spend extremely high cost every month for transportation the information on tracking vehicles to server therefor the needs for reducing the number of transportation and data size that transmits in each HTTP request to save expenses. This paper designed and implement an integrated vehicle tracking system in real time to track vehicle anywhere and anytime. This system is divided into two parts: vehicle tracking part and monitoring part. Tracking part is represented by installation the electronic devices in the vehicle using modern Global Positioning System (GPS), microcontroller Arduino UNO R3 and SIM800L GSM/GPRS modem. GPS is determined location of the vehicle via received coordinates from satellites such as latitude and latitude with accuracy ranging approximately 2.5 meters; the coordinates faked to add a type of protection to information on vehicles without effecting on characterizing real time tracking before sending it via a General Packet Radio service (GPRS). The monitoring part is in the cloud and will receive the coordinates and displays it on a map in a web page. The main contribution of this system is it reduced data size that sent from in-vehicle device via selected only necessary data for tracking vehicle from NEMA sentences of GPS and reduced number of HTTP request that sent to remote server via constrain the transmission of information with the movement of vehicles, since when vehicle moved the coordinates each 10s and did not send anything when the vehicle stopped thus will reduce the cost of expenses every month. This system can be utilized to track and monitoring the vehicles of large universities, companies, organization and also can be used in army vehicles and police vehicles.


This study examined whether the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA) in the US provides more home accessibility features and reduces the home accessibility problems of senior residents with physical disability. The 2011 American Housing Survey data with a sample of 2,326 senior residents age 55 and over with physical disability and living in multifamily housing built between 1970 and 2011 were analyzed. We compared senior residents living in multifamily before (1970-1990) and after (1991-2011) the FHAA. The results show that senior residents living in multifamily housing before the FHAA were at a greater disadvantage because they were more likely to live in older buildings located in urban areas, yet paid lower rent and received government subsidies. This study confirmed that the FHAA enabled residents of multifamily housing to have more home accessibility features. However, there was no significant difference in perceived home accessibility problems between the two groups, indicating that senior residents in multifamily housing have experienced home accessibility problems both before and after the FHAA. This study has important implications for housing policy makers to consider home accessibility features for multifamily housing buildings before the FHAA, and to revisit if the FHAA sufficiently compensates physical disability of senior resident living in multifamily housing after the FHAA.


Comparisons are made between firms in five business service industries located in the two parts of Ireland. The focus is on explaining the differential performance of the business services sector in the two areas. Matched comparisons show independent offices grow at the same rate though Rol sample firms are characterised by higher charge-out rates and higher sales per head. Comparisons of supply-side characteristics show few differences in the basic capability of firms. Attention is drawn to the dependence of the industry on Irish demand and the low level of cross-border trade. Consideration is given to how to increase trade between NI and the Rol and to increase the competitive advantages of firms in order to penetrate markets outside Ireland. Future opportunities for the sector are considered in the light of the outbreak of peace and deeper cross-border integration.


This paper aims to review the role of farm households and the agro-food sector in the economy of rural areas in Korea. It discusses definition of rural area, share of agricultural and agro-food sectors in Korean economy, the income situation of farm households and non-farming activities, and multiplier effects of agriculture in Korea. Rural areas mean Eup and Myeon, whereas Dong means urban area. Rural population in Korea has continued to decrease over the years. In 2005, 18.3% of total land area, or 1,824thousand ha, was used for paddy and dry fields. The share of GRDP of agricultural, forestry, and fishing sectors was about 10% in 1985, but dropped to slightly over 3% in 2005. Thirty seven percent of farmers have a second employment in the non-farm sector and 67.2% of part-time farmers are more devoted to their non-farm activities than farming for farm household income. Rural tourism provides diverse opportunities for rural and urban residents to exchange products, services, information, and culture. New demands are arising toward rural areas: leisure and relaxation spaces, rural tourism, nature and ecology, rural amenity, and safe and fresh local foods.


expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in experimentally induced neurologic diseases. Proc NatI Acad Sci USA 1993; 90:3024-3027. 4. lalenti A, Laiiaro A, Moncada S, et al. Modulation of acute inflammation by endogenous nitric oxide. Eur J Pharmacol 1992; 211:177-182. 5. McCartney-Erancis N, Allen HB, Mizcl DE, et al. Suppression of arthritis by an inhibitor of nitric oxide syntbase. J Exp Med 1993; 178:749-754. 6. Eari-ell AJ, Blake DR, Palmer RMJ, et al. Increased concentrations of nitrite in synovial fluid and serum samples suggest increased nitric oxide synthesis in rheumatic disease. Ann Rheum 1992; 51:1219-1222.


In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records and histopathology findings of 135 patients who underwent renal biopsies at two special hospitals affiliated to Kermanshah medical university during a six-year period (2003-2007). All were performed using Tru-Cut needle under ultrasound guidance. Twenty four specimens were unsatisfactory. There were 38 males (34.2%) and 73 females (65.7%) in 111 patients with adequate specimens (each specimen has more than 5 glomeruli); the mean age was 16.5 years (range 2-64 years). Side effects of the renal biopsies included pain at the site of biopsy in 2 (2.7%), gross hematuria in 1 (0.9%). Nephrotic syndrome was the most common indication for biopsy followed by acute renal failure of unknown etiology and nephritic syndrome. Primary glomerular disease was reported in 78 patients (70.2%) and also secondary glomerular disease in 33 patients (29.7%). Among the primary glomerulonephritis disease, minimal change disease and membranous glomerulonephritis were the commonest findings in children below the age of 16 years. Minimal change disease ranked first in adults whole membranous glomerular disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were more common in the elderly. In all patients lupus glomerular disease was the commonest secondary glomerular disease. We conclude that study on renal biopsy makes final diagnosis which is associated with an acceptably low rate of complications in our practice, and in all, the patterns of renal histology in our study vary slightly from those reported from other countries.


Author(s): Harris, Audrey A. | Advisor(s): Calder?n, H?ctor | Abstract: This dissertation examines the influence of Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges on the writings of twenty-first century Mexican American author Sandra Cisneros, as well as how reading her work helps us better understand overlooked elements of his writings, including marginality, gender roles, sexuality and the rights to self-definition, agency and self-expression of women and women writers. Though Cisneros is one of the most popular women writers in the United States, the first Chicana writer to be published by a major New York publishing house and an important influence for a new generation of writers, she has been dismissed by many critics as not a serious writer, or primarily a testimonial writer. By linking her writing with Borges, I present her as a United States descendent of the Latin American literary tradition that gained worldwide acclaim during the so-called Latin American literary boom of the 1960s. This dissertation departs from representations of Cisneros as solely a Chicana writer linking her instead to a north-south transnational, transborder literary tradition. As we shall see in this dissertation, for decades Borges has been a literary companion at Cisneros's side. From Cisneros's interviews, we know that she had first read Borges beginning in high school in the late 1960s; her most recent publication, a collection of essays entitled A House of My Own (2015) features references to Borges as a major influence on her work. In a 2015 interview, Cisneros said that Borges "me dio permiso para combinar mitos y sue?os y cuentos de hadas en mis cuentos." T.S. Eliot, speaking on literary relationships across time in "Tradition and the Individual Talent," asserts, "the past should be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past" (Sacred Wood 50). This dissertation will also examine how reading Cisneros—both her fictions and essays in which she directly references her readings of Borges's work—in turn alters the way we read Borges. Additionally, it considers how themes raised in this early twentieth-century Argentine male writer's work develop and change in Cisneros's late twentieth and early twenty-first century Mexican American female imagination. These themes include gender role reversal during the advent of feminism and the emergence of women in the workplace in the twentieth century; popular and marginalized cultures; personal and collective identities; cultural hybridity and bilingualism. This dissertation is comprised of four thematic comparative chapters that contribute to new understandings of both Borges and Cisneros. CHAPTER ONE begins the dissertation with the influence of the poetry and prose in Borges's Dreamtigers (1964) on Cisneros's highly acclaimed The House on Mango Street (1984). CHAPTER TWO has an urban studies focus through the literary representations of two Latin American capitals, Buenos Aires in Borges's "Fundaci?n m?tica de Buenos Aires" (1923) and Mexico City in Cisneros's Caramelo (2002). CHAPTER THREE is a reconsideration of Borges's female-centered writings, including his translations of Virginia Woolf's Orlando (1928) and A Room of One's Own (1929), through Sandra Cisneros's writings and feminism. CHAPTER FOUR assesses elements of Buddhist spirituality in Cisneros's twenty-first century writings gained in part through Borges's writings on Buddhism near the end of his life. The dissertation will demonstrate that Borges remains Cisneros's most important literary maestro with his influence felt in her poetry, fiction, and essays from adolescence in the 1960s through her recent A House of My Own (2015).


Paralysis of the deltoid muscle is probably the most common disability in the upper extremity following infantile paralysis. The disability may be permanent. Several procedures have been designed for its relief, the most satisfactory of which is arthrodesis of the scapulohumeral articulation. Bradford, Legg, Mayer and others have advocated muscle transplants, some of which were attended with fair functional improvement. In these operations, either the trapezius or the pectoralis major muscle has been utilized. In children arthrodesis is not particularly satisfactory, because the weight of the arm causes the humerus to bend downward either at the joint or at the epiphyseal line. If there is complete paralysis of the deltoid and good to normal power in the biceps and triceps, I use these two muscles in the following manner: A saber incision is made over the shoulder, the anterior leg extending down over the anteromedial aspect of the arm for


Turbulent Jet Ignition is an advanced spark initiated pre‐chamber combustion system for otherwise standard spark ignition engines. Combustion in the main chamber is initiated by jets of partially combusted (reacting) pre‐chamber products which provide a high energy ignition source. The resultant widely distributed ignition sites allow relatively small flame travel distances enabling short combustion durations and high burn rates. Demonstrated benefits include ultra lean operation (λ>2) at part load and high load knock limit extension. Previous jet ignition experimental results have highlighted high thermal efficiencies, high load capability and near zero engine out NOx emissions in a standard contemporary engine platform. Although previous results of this system have been very promising, the main hurdle has been the need for a dual fuel system, with liquid gasoline used in the main combustion chamber and small fractions of gaseous propane in the pre‐chamber. Initial attempts in replacing the pre‐chamber gaseous propane with liquid gasoline were problematic, although engine operation was successful at some operating conditions. The poor mixture preparation with liquid gasoline inside the small pre‐ chamber cavity due to the limited production injector hardware somewhat compromised the thermal efficiency, resulting in slight elevations in NOx emissions. Since specialized pre‐chamber injector hardware was not available for evaluation, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that this combustion system can operate robustly using gasoline, with vaporized gasoline found to be a successful pre‐chamber fuel substitute. With this concept at part load, the test engine recorded a 41.4% peak thermal efficiency, ultra lean operation past lambda 2.1, single digit engine out NOx emissions and a 20% peak fuel economy improvement over the baseline spark ignition system.


The current study is to determine variation in vitro antioxidant activities and chemical contents of different extraction solvents in aerial parts of wild M. longifolia subsp. typhoides var. typhoides taxons from Turkey. The chemical and volatile compounds of M. longifolia were investigated with HPLC-TOF/MS and GC/MS. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were found as 28.27 and 25.42 mg from R6W, respectively. Hesperidin, neohesperidin, taxifolin, fumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, naringin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid and syringic acid were determined in all extracts. The linalool, menthone, isomenthone, piperitoneoxide, pulegone, thymol, caryophyllene and caryophylleneoxide were major components in volatile compounds. The highest activities were observed significantly ( p < 0.01) from R6M, R6W, R10EA and R5M in total antioxidant, superoxide-scavenging, metal-chelating and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities, respectively. The isolated menthone (96.00%) was exhibited the higher inhibition of lipid peroxidation than standards. The results validate that M. longifolia possesses as a source of antioxidant potential for medicinal and foods.


Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are expected to enable reliable and efficient transportation systems. Most motion planning algorithms for multi-agent systems are not completely safe because they implicitly assume that all vehicles/agents will execute the expected plan with a small error. This assumption, however, is hard to keep for CAVs since they may have to slow down (e.g., to yield to a jaywalker) or are forced to stop (e.g. break down), sometimes even without a notice. Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) defines a set of safety rules for each driving scenario to ensure that a vehicle will not cause an accident irrespective of other vehicles' behavior. RSS rules, however, are hard to evaluate for merge, intersection, and unstructured road scenarios. In addition, deadlock situations can happen that are not considered by the RSS. In this paper, we propose a generic version of RSS rules for CAVs that can be applied to any driving scenario. We integrate the proposed RSS rules with the CAV's motion planning algorithm to enable cooperative driving of CAVs. Our approach can also detect and resolve deadlocks in a decentralized manner. We have conducted experiments to verify that a CAV does not cause an accident no matter when other CAVs slow down or stop. We also showcase our deadlock detection and resolution mechanism. Finally, we compare the average velocity and fuel consumption of vehicles when they drive autonomously but not connected with the case that they are connected.


This paper examines the nature of the interaction of rapidly scanning, coherent light beams with linear dispersive optical elements. The analytical technique used is to represent a scanning beam by a sum of plane waves of different frequencies, traveling in different directions. The response of the optical element to each component plane wave is computed and then the responses are added. It is found, for example, that a dispersive element can transform a scanning beam into an amplitude-modulated plane wave, or conversely, transform an amplitude-modulated plane wave into a scanning beam.


An 18-year-old man presented with a spontaneously occurring radial nerve palsy that spared the triceps muscle. At surgery, the portion of the radial nerve located at the midarm level had an hourglass-like appearance. Under magnification, an external-internal neurolysis of the narrowed portion of the hourglass-shaped portion revealed nerve torsion. Straightening of the twisted nerve and fixation accomplished using epiperineurium-fascia stitches to avoid a new torsion resulted in complete functional recovery of the radial nerve.


Abstract For many years, operative dentistry has been using regenerative approaches to treat dental disease. The use of calcium hydroxide to stimulate reparative or reactionary dentin is clearly an example of such a therapeutic strategy. The advent of tissue engineering is allowing dentistry to move forward in the use of regeneration as an underlying principle for the treatment of dental disease. Tissue engineering is a multi-disciplinary science that brings together biology, engineering and clinical sciences with developing new tissues and organs. It is based on fundamental principles that involve the identification of appropriate cells, the development of conducive scaffolds and an understanding of the morphogenic signals required to induce cells to regenerate the tissues that were lost. This review is focused on the presentation and discussion of existing literature that covers the engineering of enamel, dentin and pulp, as well on the engineering of entire teeth. There are clearly major roadblocks to overcome before such strategies move to the clinic and are used regularly to treat patients. However, existing evidence strongly suggests that the engineering of new dental structures to replace tissues lost during the process of caries or trauma will have a place in the future of operative dentistry.


A centrifugal pump with a unique structure has been developed for chronic support. The pump is driven by a magnetic coupling and has no rotating shaft, no seal around the rotating part, and a balancing hole at the center of the impeller and the thrust bearing. The pump was improved in stepwise fashion to realize good antithrombogenicity and low hemolysis. The first pump, the National Cardiovascular Center (NCVC)-O, had an impeller with 4 rectangular and curved vanes; 6 triangularly shaped curved vanes were employed in the second model, the NCVC-1, to reduce trauma to the blood. In the third design, the NCVC-2, the central hole was enlarged, and the thrust bearing shoulder was rounded so that blood washing was enhanced around the impeller; stream lines also were smoothed for improved antithrombogenicity. The hemolytic property of the device was evaluated in vitro with heparinized fresh goat blood; hemolysis indexes of the NCVC-0, -1, and -2 were 0.05, 0.01, and 0.006 g per 100 L, respectively. Antithrombogenicity of the pumps was examined in animal experiments as a left heart bypass device in goats weighing 52-75 kg. Six NCVC-0 pumps were driven for 14 to 33 (22.0 ± 7.6) days in goats receiving the antiplatelet drug cilostazol orally. Four NCVC-I pumps ran for 1 to 80 (28.5 ± 30.6) days with the same drug regimen in 2 cases and with no anticoagulation therapy in 2 cases. After 3 preliminary 1-week tests of NCVC-2 pumps in animals, the pump was installed in 3 goats; 2 pumps were still running on the 182nd and 58th pumping day. Intracorporeal implantation also was attempted successfully. The results indicate that this pump has promising features for chronic support although longer term and additional evaluations are necessary.


Large corporations can achieve significant cost savings by developing and employing a sophisticated and continuously updated, billing and credit policy. Days of sale outstanding (DSO) is a major cost driver for corporations with large revenues, as this leads to an increased risk of default, increased dunning and collection costs, a non-optimal billing procedure with attendant costs and perhaps most importantly, an increase in the order-to-cash cycle time and the significant increase in hidden costs this implies. Segmentation of the customer base according to behavior and risk combined with the design of bespoke billing and credit policies suited to the behavior and risk associated with each segment, can lead to a significant decrease in the costs mentioned above. This paper illustrates the work done at Norway's largest telecommunication operator, Telenor, to address these issues using the continuous simulation methodology as well as other econometric tools.


The radiation dose exposure measured at the eye lens of the examinating radiologist has been determined for a digital subtraction angiographic unit by experimental registration. A radiation dose of 15 mSv per month could be registered.


Bioenergy, including biofuels, could become a substantial tool for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, locally and globally, possibly providing a large fraction of global primary energy supply by 2020. Exactly how large that share will be is not possible to predict with any precision, being dependent on a complex array of physical, social, economic, technical (innovation) and environmental factors. In addition, there will be competition for biomass resources between the different bioenergy sectors (electricity, heat, transport) and alternative uses e.g. for chemical feedstocks and materials. There will be synergies too, particularly arising through advanced polygeneration and biorefinery supply chains that could help to raise primary productivity and raise resource-use-efficiencies. However, assessing the actual environmental impacts of increased bioenergy and in particular, biofuel usage, will depend sensitively on the scale and mix of technology options employed and on the location. Location is important the fundamental factors that govern biomass productivity vary significantly according to site e.g. soil type, climate, including water availability and temperature. Across a range of indicators, one biofuel may not be the same as another, even where the final fuels are chemically and physically identical e.g. anhydrous ethanol derived from wheat, sugarcane, sugar beet, cassava or from residues.


A Sn-SnO2/C nanocomposite was synthesized using the electrospinning method. Thermal analysis was used to determine the content range of Sn and SnO2 in the composite. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, and the particle size and shape in the Sn-SnO2/C composite were determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the Sn-SnO2/C composite takes on a nanofiber morphology, with the diameters of the nanofibers distributed from 50 to 200 nm. The electrochemical properties of the Sn-SnO2/C composite were also investigated. The Sn-SnO2/C composite as an electrode material has both higher reversible capacity (887 mAh x g(-1)) and good cycling performance in lithium-anode cells working at room temperature in a 3.0 V to 0.01 V potential window. The Sn-SnO2/C composite could retain a discharge capacity of 546 mAh/g after 30 cycles. The outstanding electrochemical properties of the Sn-SnO2/C composite obtained by this method make it possible for this composite to be used as a promising anode material.