Importance Progression-free survival (PFS) has become a commonly used outcome to assess the efficacy of new cancer drugs. However, it is not clear if delay in progression leads to improved quality of life with or without overall survival benefit. Objective To evaluate the association between PFS and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in oncology through a systematic review and quantitative analysis of published randomized clinical trials. Eligible trials addressed oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intrapleural chemotherapy or biological treatments, and reported PFS or health-related quality of life. Data Sources For this systematic review and quantitative analysis of randomized clinical trials of patients with cancer, we searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 2000, through May 4, 2016. Study Selection Paired reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies. Data Extraction and Synthesis We examined the association of difference in median PFS duration (in months) between treatment groups with difference in global, physical, and emotional HRQoL scores between groups (standardized to a range of 0-100, with higher scores representing better HRQoL) using weighted simple regressions. Main Outcome and Measure The association between PFS duration and HRQoL. Results Of 35 960 records screened, 52 articles reporting on 38 randomized clinical trials involving 13 979 patients across 12 cancer types using 6 different HRQoL instruments were included. The mean (SD) difference in median PFS between the intervention and the control arms was 1.91 (3.35) months. The mean (SD) differences in change of HRQoL adjusted to per-month values were −0.39 (3.59) for the global domain, 0.26 (5.56) for the physical domain, and 1.08 (3.49) for the emotional domain. The slope of the association between the difference in median PFS and the difference in change for global HRQoL (n = 30 trials) was 0.12 (95% CI, −0.27 to 0.52); for physical HRQoL (n = 20 trials) it was −0.20 (95% CI, −0.62 to 0.23); and for emotional HRQoL (n = 13 trials) it was 0.78 (95% CI, −0.05 to 1.60). Conclusions and Relevance We failed to find a significant association between PFS and HRQoL in cancer clinical trials. These findings raise questions regarding the assumption that interventions prolonging PFS also improve HRQoL in patients with cancer. Therefore, to ensure that patients are truly obtaining important benefit from cancer therapies, clinical trial investigators should measure HRQoL directly and accurately, ensuring adequate duration and follow-up.


An isochronous stress-strain curve (ISSC) needs to be generated for a creep design application for high-temperature materials. To generate the ISSC for type 316LN stainless steel (SS), a series of creep data, which was obtained from creep tests with different stress levels at 600oC, was used. Creep curves were modeled by means of a nonlinear least square fitting (NLSF) of the Garofalo model. In the fitting of the creep curve, a secondary creep region was separated into first and second phases, and its fitting range was suitable to use for the first phase. The Garofalo model revealed a good agreement with the experimental creep data, and its parameters, P1, P2 and P3 revealed a good linear relationship as a function of a stress. The ISSCs for type 316LN SS at 600oC were successfully generated up to 300,000 hours.


Modeling and simulation is an important step of the MEMS design. The simulation of MEMS components consist of several iteration levels. The physical behavior of threedimensional continuums is described by partial differential equations which are typically solved by Finite Element (FE) methods. The method allows taking into account the complex geometry and interactions among different physical domains to obtain static, modal, frequency and transient responses. Simulations provide a deep understanding of the device behavior and lead to systems with optimized performance parameters. Drawback of existing FE techniques is that those algorithms can only analyze a single model configuration with specified dimensions and physical parameters. The application of Higher-Order Sensitivity (HOS) analysis to FE equations as a way to increase the efficiency and robustness was started in the 1990s. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the viability of the HOS method in terms of memory requirement, computational efficiency and accuracy to parametric simulation of MEMS in the static, modal, frequency response domains on the basis of the structural analysis and macromodeling.


A major collapse of a lava dome occurred at the Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat, Lesser Antilles), culminating late in the evening (11:35 PM local time) on July 12, 2003 (03:35 GMT on 13 July). This generated a tsunami, which was recorded on Montserrat 2-4 km from the generating area and Guadeloupe, 50 km from Montserrat. Results of field surveys are presented. Tsunami wave height on Montserrat may have been about 4 m according to the location of a strandline of charred trees and other floating objects at Spanish Point on the east coast of the island. The wave height on Guadeloupe according to "direct" witnesses was about 0.5-1 m at Deshaies and near Plage de la Perle. The tsunami at Deshaies caused the scattering of boats as confirmed by fishermen and local authorities. Data from the field survey are in agreement with the predicted tsunami scenario obtained by numerical simulation.


It is well known that algebra is a difficult topic in the school mathematics curriculum, and is often experienced as a stumbling-block. One of the directions in which solutions to the problems with the learning of algebra can be sought is the integration of information technology (IT) into mathematics education. Although originally not developed for educational purposes, a computer algebra system is an IT tool that seems promising because of its algebraic power. The basic aim of this study, therefore, is to investigate whether computer algebra use can contribute to the understanding of algebra. This leads to the following main research question:

How can the use of computer algebra promote the understanding of algebraic concepts and operations?

Chapter 1 contains the research questions and explains the aims and backgrounds of the study. In Chapter 2 the research design and methodology are described. Key words are design research and hypothetical learning trajectory. Chapters 1 and 2 together indicate what the research is about and how it is conducted.
Chapters 3, 4 and 5 form the theoretical part of the thesis. They treat the main themes of the study: algebra in general, the concept of parameter in particular and the possible roles of computer algebra. Chapter 3 concerns algebra in general. It sketches different views on algebra and describes the standpoint of this study. The theoretical issues of symbol sense, symbolizing, the process-object duality and Realistic Mathematics Education are addressed.
In Chapter 4, we zoom in on the concept of parameter. After a brief historical perspective, a conceptual analysis of the parameter is given. Then we describe what we consider a higher level understanding of the concept of parameter. This is connected to the theoretical notions from Chapter 3.
Chapter 5 deals with the tool that students use in this research project: computer algebra. Besides an overview of previous research in this domain, it contains a description of the theory of instrumentation that will be used in Chapter 10 in particular.
Chapters 6 - 10 form the empirical part of the dissertation. Chapters 6, 7 and 8 describe the development of the hypothetical learning trajectory and the classroom experiences during the three subsequent research cycles.
Chapter 9 concerns the contribution of computer algebra use to the understanding of the concept of parameter. In Chapter 10, the results concerning the instrumentation of computer algebra are presented.
Chapter 11, finally, answers the main research question. After that, we look back on the study and discuss the results and the methodology. Also, the relevance of the theoretical framework and the generalizability of the findings are evaluated. The chapter ends with recommendations for teaching, for software design and for further research


Abstract. \label{sec:abstract} This paper deals with the influence of artificial magnetic conductors (AMC), so-called Sievenpiper High Impedance Surfaces (HIS), on the MIMO and Diversity performance of a planar linear-polarized 2×2 dipole array in the ISM-band at 2.45 GHz. The characteristic performance criteria such as envelope correlation coefficient, spectral efficiency, Mean Effective Gain (MEG) and Diversity gain of a coupled 2×2 dipole array are investigated. By means of full-wave electromagnetic analysis as well as Monte-Carlo simulations applying statistical channel models the characteristic antenna pattern just as the MIMO and Diversity analysis is performed, respectively. The obtained results show that the application of Sievenpiper High Impedance Surfaces to planar antenna arrays enables good MIMO and Diversity performance compared to ideal configurations in free-space while offering the design of low profile antennas with simultaneously enhanced characteristics.


Background Increases in tobacco taxes are effective in reducing tobacco consumption, but because of the addictive nature of cigarettes, smokers often seek out less expensive sources of cigarettes. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of cigarette packs that are untaxed by the state in which the participant resides in a sample of US smokers at two time points. Methods Data for this study were taken from the 2009 and 2010 waves of the International Tobacco Control United States Survey. Members of this nationally representative cohort of smokers were invited to send us an unopened pack of their usual brand of cigarettes. Results In 2009, 318 packs were received from 401 eligible participants (79%). In 2010, 366 packs were received from 491 eligible participants (75%). In total, 20% of the packs in 2009 and 21% in 2010 were classified as untaxed by the participant's state of residence. The prevalence of untaxed cigarettes was higher in states with higher-excise taxes. Smokers who do not have a plan to quit were significantly more likely to have sent back a pack that was classified as untaxed by the participant's state of residence. Conclusions One in five packs were untaxed with rates higher in states with higher-excise taxes. It is unclear whether these estimates differ from the actual prevalence of cigarettes that are untaxed by a smoker's state of residence. Harmonisation of excise tax rates across all 50 US states might be one method of reducing or eliminating the incentive to avoid or evade these taxes.


The growth of 4H-SiC epilayers on 1.28o off-cut substrates is reported in this study and comparison when using standard 4o and 8o off-cut substrates is added. Growth at high temperature is needed for the polytype stability, whereas low C/Si is requested to decrease both triangular defects density and roughness of the grown surface. An in-situ etching with Si rich ambient allows the growth of epilayers with specular surface. The formation of Si droplets can be observed on the grown surfaces when lowering the growth temperature and appears first for the high off-cut angle.


We consider networks of chaotic maps with different network topologies. In each case, they are coupled in such a way as to generate synchronized chaotic solutions. By using the methods of control of chaos we are controlling a single map into a predetermined trajectory. We analyze the reaction of the network to such a control. Specifically we show that a line of one-dimensional logistic maps that are unidirectionally coupled can be controlled from the first oscillator whereas a ring of diffusively coupled maps cannot be controlled for more than 5 maps. We show that rings with more elements can be controlled if every third map is controlled. The dependence of unidirectionally coupled maps on noise is studied. The noise level leads to a finite synchronization lengths for which maps can be controlled by a single location. A two-dimensional lattice is also studied.


The single-particle electron Green's function and the charge-fluctuation Green's function for the spin-polarized fermion lattice gas are calculated within the framework of the high-density expansion up to the first order in 1/z. Violation of some conditions of consistency of diagrammatic perturbation expansion approximation schemes are discussed. Relations between the Green's functions and corresponding approximate free energy are established. Two kinds of approximations for Green's functions for the charge ordered phase are constructed and applied to determine the band structure of the spinless fermion model. The Green's functions for the nonordered phase are used to study the phase diagram of the model for finite temperatures and arbitrary band filling.


The aerobic biodegradation of high liquid phase concentrations of 2-propanol (IPA) by a previously enriched solvent-tolerant bacterial consortium within a 1.9 l fed-batch three phase fixed bed bioreactor was investigated. Solvent concentrations of up to 7.9 g l−1 were investigated. Previously enriched solvent-tolerant bacterial cells were immobilised onto porous glass cylinders as a means of bioprocess intensification. Bioreactor start-up and acclimation was studied and acetone concentration tracked as an indicator of IPA utilization, as the sole carbon source within a minimal salts medium (MSM). The initial batch treatment of IPA exhibited a biodegradation rate of 0.11 g l−1 h−1 prior to biofilm formation. Biofilm growth during the second batch treatment was consistent with an increase in metabolic activity and an IPA biodegradation rate of 0.34 g l−1 h−1, followed by a reduction of biodegradation rate to a constant value of 0.078 g l−1 h−1 after 650 h. A maximum acetone generation rate of 1.3 g l−1 h−1 was obtained during the fourth IPA addition although the maximum acetone biodegradation rate of 0.38 g l−1 h−1 was observed during the initial IPA addition. It is proposed that the metabolic lag resulting from switching from alcohol dehydrogenase to acetone carboxylase is a major rate-limiting step in the deep oxidation of IPA to acetone. The results demonstrate the potential of a previously enriched solvent-tolerant bacterial consortium in fixed bed bioreactor systems, for the aerobic treatment of concentrated solvent-containing wastestreams.


It was recently shown [1] that EMPA-WDS (Electron Probe MicroAnalysis by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) can be used to detect and to accurately quantify monolayer surface and grain boundary segregation. This paper presents the last developments of this application. It focuses on the measurement of sulphur grain boundary segregation in nickel on fractured surfaces. A special attention was paid to the quantification of the sulphur coverage, taking into account the non-normal incidence of the electron beam on a fracture surface. Sulphur grain boundary segregation kinetics was measured at 750°C in nickel to document the quantitative possibilities of the technique.


Inoculation of 64-10 or Raji cultures with Epstein-Barr virus derived from the HRI-K clone of the P3J Burkitt's lymphoma line caused abortive infections in most of the lymphoblastoid cells with synthesis of "early antigens" but few, if any, capsids. Antibodies to early antigens were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in serums of many patients with infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma, or nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These antibodies were rarely present in other serums even though some of them showed high titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus when assayed on EB3 Burkitt tumor cells; they also prevented synthesis of early antigens, provided the serums were mixed with the virus prior to inoculation. Antibodies to early antigens possibly reflect current or recent disease processes that are associated with the virus.


In the UK, the development of integrated children's services over the past six years has led to an increased need for public sector managers to attend strategic, interagency meetings. However, there is little research in this field that can be used to support managers in ensuring positive outcomes from such meetings. The aim of this research was to identify the main concerns of managers attending strategic, interagency meetings and to develop a theoretical framework that can account for the ways in which they resolve these concerns. The research used classic grounded theory, an inductive methodology that results in a set of integrated, conceptual hypotheses that are grounded in the data. Data were obtained primarily from interviews and observation of meetings. The main concern of managers attending interagency meetings was identified as being to achieve the maximum personal value from engagement with the meetings. This main concern is resolved via the core category of 'advancing agendas', which accounts for most of the variation in the behaviour of the participants. The grounded theory of Advancing Agendas explains the social strategic process by which meeting participants: identify a personal agenda, that is, an understanding of what they want to get out of their engagement with the meetings; plan a strategy with which to advance this agenda; engage in the meetings and evaluate the outcomes of their actions. Advancing Agendas provides a framework that can be used by those who are chairing or attending interagency meetings, to support them in achieving the desired outcomes. Specifically, it can be used to understand the impact of meeting participants' differing motivations for attending meetings, to recognise situations in which group members' personal agendas conflict with the intended function of the meetings, and to identify ways of enabling full participation and engagement.


Context. It is now possible to distinguish between two main models describing the mechanisms responsible for eruptive flares : the standard model, which assumes that most of the energy is released, by magnetic reconnection, in the region hosting the core of a sheared magnetic field, and the breakout model, which assumes reconnection occurs at first in a magnetic arcade overlaying the eruptive features. Aims. We analyze the phenomena observed in NOAA 10486 before and during an X17.2 flare that occurred on 2003 October 28, to study the relationship between the pre-flare and flare phases and determine which model is the most suitable for interpreting this event. Methods. We performed an analysis of multiwavelength data set available for the event using radio data (0.8–4.5 GHz), images in the visible range (WL and Hα), EUV images (1600 and 195 A), and X-ray data, as well as MDI longitudinal magnetograms. We determined the temporal sequence of events occurring before and during the X17.2 flare and the magnetic field configuration in the linear force-free field approximation. Results. The active region was characterized by a multiple arcade configuration and the X17.2 flare was preceded, by ∼ 2h , by the partial eruption of one filament. This eruption caused reconnection at null points located in the low atmosphere and a decrease in magnetic tension in the coronal field lines overlaying other filaments present in the active region. As a consequence, these filaments were destabilized and the X17.2 flare occurred. Conclusions. The phenomena observed in NOAA 10486 before and during the X17.2 flare cannot be explained by a simple scenario such as the standard or breakout model, but instead in terms of a so-called domino effect, involving a sequence of destabilizing processes that triggered the flare.


emerged as crucial requirement of many industries including microelectronic devices, engine cooling systems, nuclear power system, chemical reactors, refrigeration systems and etc. Recent experimental results show the potential of the thermal behavior for the suspended nanometallic in conventional fluids; nanofluid. In this study, one dimensional delafossite CuAlO2 nanowires will be synthesized via easy microwave hydrothermal approach. A novel type of nanofluid consisting of CuAlO2 nanowires suspended in distilled water at various volume fractions of (0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 wt%) will be fabricated using an easily scalable sonication approach. The structure and microstructure of as synthesized CuAlO2 will be examined in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Furthermore, the thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of water based nanofluid will be measured at different volume fractions and temperatures. With all of these data, the delafosite CuAlO2 nanowires loaded water base nanofluid can be a promising composite to fabricate new type nanofluid for industrial applications.


Modern remote sensing instruments, mounted on a modern aerial platform and assisted through the use of automated procedures are now capable of acquiring data over a vast area in a short timeframe. Thanks to innovative processing methods and algorithms it is then possible to rapidly deliver results with a high detail and accuracy. The discussed thesis provides a detailed overview, through different case studies and examples, on the evolving complete pipeline required to survey, process, store, integrate, analyze and deliver data in the form of a 3D city model and GIS in the urban environment. A comprehensive 3D city model is, in fact, the necessary multi-disciplinary backbone for the ubiquitous sensors of a Smart City.


Ultra-high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (7T MRI) has been shown to be a valuable tool to assess focal and diffuse pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, both in grey- and in white-matter. In this work, we developed and evaluated a method to automatically assess MS lesion load using magnetization-prepared two inversion-contrast rapid gradient-echo (MP2RAGE) MRI at 7T. The validation was conducted in a cohort of twenty MS patients from two research centers through a ground truth based on manual segmentations performed by a radiologist. Our single-sequence segmentation accurately detects visible white-matter and cortical lesions.


The IC industry continues to find ways to improve the ability to correlate the electrical failure signature of devices with the physical failure location using different techniques. The purpose of this work is to show that improved transmission line pulse (TLP) testing technique of ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) protection structures can provide accurate identification of leakage current to better identify where ESD stress testing should stop and failure analysis should begin. Besides the traditional current and voltage measurements at the Device Under Test (DUT), this new TLP testing technique includes the ability to correct for the measurement system losses for improved accuracy. The pulse width of the TLP is chosen to provide the same current amplitude damage level (electrical) as is found in the Human Body Model (HBM) ESD stress testing. This allows a one to one correlation between the two methods and hence the means to correlate the electrical damage of the device and the physical location of the failure site. An SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier) device is used as an example.


. In the present work we used the sol-gel process to prepare Y2SiO5 precursor sols suitable for electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The sol synthesis was performed through the controlled hydrolysis of alkoxide solutions of tetraethoxysilane and yttriumoxoisopropoxide. During sol development emphasis was put on characterization of particles size and zeta potential of the formed aggregates. We succeeded in synthesizing a clear sol containing polymeric aggregates with acceptable particle charge. The electrophoretic deposition on glassy carbon or C/C-SiC slabs led to homogenous layers. At low sol concentrations micro cracks in the deposited layers were observed whereas higher concentrations led to thin and dense layers. During constant current EPD a constant voltage was recorded indicating that the deposited layer does not lead to an increase in resistivity in this kind of EPD system.


In Reply.— Since OCD is generally characterized by only partial improvement with effective treatment, we agree with Tamimi and Mavissakalian that the choice of initial and subsequent pharmacotherapy represents a particularly important issue. However, we believe their letter is an attempt to "slice too small a pie into too many pieces" in that our study and their observations require further study and replication. We certainly agree, and have already suggested in our article, that comparative data from more patients are required before guidelines for preferred treatment choices can be promulgated. Tamimi and Mavissakalian express concern regarding our suggestion that clinicians consider performing a trial of fluoxetine in patients with OCD who do not respond to clomipramine, and vice versa. Instead, they suggest that our study, and another study by Jenike and coworkers 1 that also compared clomipramine to fluoxetine in patients with OCD, indicated that nonresponders to clomipramine are not likely to


The author first states his views respecting the changes which had taken place in the physical features of New Zealand during the later geological periods. He considers that, after the deposition of the Pliocene strata of those islands, the country emerged, its chief physical feature being a high mountain-range, but with depressions which existed before the previous subsidence, though now partly obliterated, and which in most cases ran either on the junction-line of two formations or along faults, or else on the break of bold anticlinals. It is then observed that several causes had combined to produce a great accumulation of nevés as soon as the higher portions of the country had risen above the snow-line, especially the equatorial north-west and polar south-east winds coming, charged with moisture, in directions at right angles to the principal mountain-range of the islands, which runs from north-east to south-west. The sequence of changes effected by the glaciers is then traced, and attention is called to the fact that they soon formed for themselves channels in the plateau-like mountains, and that, running in these channels, they gradually became narrower and deeper; the specific gravity of the ice became greater, and consequently its scooping and triturating power much more considerable; thus, a constantly increasing quantity to detritus would be furnished for the formation of moraines. The loose Tertiary strata lying in the course of the advancing glaciers would soon be removed, unless protected by favourable circumstances. The existing depressions were widened and made straighter by


Enterprise Application System success is a subject that has attracted the interest of many experts. There is a general scarcity of models and frameworks for evaluating the Fusion Banking Essence System (FBE) in many financial institutions globally, much less in Belize. Whether traditional information systems success models can be extended to investigating FBE system is yet to be investigated. This paper proposes the first empirical test and specification of the Delone and Maclean model of IS success to the FBE system. The model consists of eight components: information quality, system quality, service quality, use, user satisfaction, perceived net benefit, self ef icacy measure and complementary technology. Structural equation modelling techniques are applied to data collected by questionnaires from 30 employees from several sectors of the largest financial Institution in Belize for a representative sample. The hypothesized relationships between the thirteen success variables are significantly supported by the data. The findings provide several important implications for ES research and practice complementing the FBE System. The results proved that across all demographics, on average, the banking system utilized improved business decision making and ef iciency, cultivating trust and confidence gaining added value and competitive advantage both locally and internationally. The overall results show that the proposed model can be beneficial for decision makers in organizations on evaluating the implementation of information systems. Further research into developing and empirically testing the model is required for reliability and validity.


We consider the problem of classifying all positive-definite
integer-valued
quadratic forms that represent all positive odd integers. Kaplansky
considered
this problem for ternary forms, giving a list of 23 candidates, and
proving
that 19 of those represent all positive odds. (Jagy later dealt with a
20th
candidate.) Assuming that the remaining three forms represent all
positive
odds, we prove that an arbitrary, positive-definite quadratic form
represents
all positive odds if and only if it represents the odd numbers from 1 up
to
451. This result is analogous to Bhargava and Hanke's celebrated
290-theorem.
In addition, we prove that these three remaining ternaries represent all
positive odd integers, assuming the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. This
result is made possible by a new analytic method for bounding the cusp
constants of integer-valued quaternary quadratic forms $Q$ with
fundamental
discriminant. This method is based on the analytic properties of
Rankin-Selberg
$L$-functions, and we use it to prove that if $Q$ is a quaternary form
with
fundamental discriminant, the largest locally represented integer $n$ for
which
$Q(\vec{x}) = n$ has no integer solutions is $O(D^{2 + \epsilon})$.


AIM
To study changes of inflammation-associated cytokine expressions during early phase of endotoxic shock in macaque.

METHODS
Experiments were performed in Macaque mulatta treated with LPS 2.8 mg/kg in shock model group or with normal saline in control group. Blood samples were collected before, or 60 min, or 120 min after LPS injection, respectively. Liver and spleen tissues were obtained at 120 min after LPS injection. The plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-10 and IL-12P40 were determined by double-antibody sandwich ELISA with antibodies against human cytokines. The mRNA levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-18 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), liver and spleen were examined by real-time fluorescence semi-quantitative RT-PCR with the primers based on human genes.

RESULTS
Mean systemic arterial pressure (MAP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and left ventricular work index (LVWI) of macaques were significant declined in shock model group on average 60 min after LPS injection. The plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were significantly increased 60 min after LPS injection and then decreased. The plasma levels of IL-1beta and IL-12P40 were significantly increased at 120 min after LPS injection. The mRNA levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were significantly increased 60 min after LPS stimulation in PBMCs and 120 min after LPS stimulation in livers. The mRNA level of IL-18 was significantly increased 120 min after LPS stimulation in PBMCs and livers. But in spleen, only TNF-alpha mRNA level in LPS group was significantly higher 120 min after LPS stimulation, compared with that in control group.

CONCLUSION
An endotoxic shock model of Macaque mulatta was successfully established. Both antibodies for ELISA and PCR primers based on human cytokine assays were successfully applied to detect macaque cytokines. In the model, inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-12 and IL-18 as well as anti-inflammation cytokine IL-10, were released at very early phase of endotoxic shock within 120 min after LPS injection. PBMCs and liver cells might be the important sources of these cytokines.


People who identify themselves as foodies may do so for vastly different reasons. From interests in sustainable agriculture to gardening they differ in their lifestyles and behaviors. These interests can be grouped into foodie activity dimensions. Through a tourism lens someone with a strong interest in one of these dimensions may travel longer or spend more money during their travels.  This study looks at potential tourists to Minneapolis Minnesota. Using the theory of involvement travelers' travel habits and demographics will be studied based on their interest in foodie activity dimensions. These dimensions are segmented based on factor analysis of their enjoyment of food-related activities. The travel habits dimensions are investigated to learn more about their effect on the destination. This information is valuable for destination marketing organizations in order to know which foodie activity dimensions should be targeted through destination marketing efforts or which food-related activities they may want to advertise to potential tourists based on their food-related interests.


This study presents a concept to fabricate micro-lens devices using high-aspect-ratio lithography, extra-hardness electroplating, and hot embossing processes. A bath of electroplating electrolyte will be formulated to fabricate micro-optics mold inserts with extra-hardness Ni-Co alloy. It is a novel method to increase the life of the mold insert during fabricating micro-lens devices. With this high hardness, the mold inserts can resist high abrasiveness and wearness so as to extend the mold cycle life and reduce the idle time of replacing mold plates during fabrications. Therefore, the process of fabrications of micro-lens can be more cost-effective. In this study, parametric effects of reflow time, and temperature on micro-lens profiles will be characterized and discussed. Finally, the optical properties such as focal length of developed micro-lens will be measured and tested.


Bifidobacterium is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria, which is important in the absorption of nourishment from the human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). We present here the detailed simulation of the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2'-fucosyllactose catalyzed by 1,2-α-L-fucosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum using the combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and free energy profiles support that the overall reaction is a stepwise mechanism. The first step is the proton transfer from N423 to D766, and the second step involves the hydrolysis reaction via the inversion mechanism catalyzed by the amide group of N423. Assisted by D766, N423 serves as the general base to activate the water molecule to attack the anomeric carbon center. E566 is the general acid to facilitate the cleavage of glycosidic bond between L-fucose and galactose units. The intrinsic resonance structure for the side chain amide group of the asparagine residue is shown to be the origin to the catalytic activity, which is also confirmed by the mutagenesis simulation of N423G.


Background & Aim: Nursing by its very nature is subject to high degrees of stress and is very important because of its relation with human's life. The aim of the present study is determining job stressors from within clinical nurses' perspective. Material & methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants were 68 nurses working in two public hospitals in Tehran that were recruited by convenience sampling. Data was collected by nurses job stress Questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS-PC. Results: The highest mean score in four dimensions of nurses' job stressors were determined. In managerial dimension it was related to low salaries (3.40 ± 0.83); in work place conditions dimension, it was related to ward noise and overcrowding (3.38 ± .93), and in patient care dimension, it was related to presence of visitors out of official time(3.29 ± 0.89). Among four dimensions the mean score for managerial dimension was the highest (2.49±0.76) Conclusion: regarding the importance of managerial stressors, nurse managers need to consider and modify these stressors in clinical settings of Tehran.


We conducted a comparative ecosystem analysis to understand environmental and biological drivers of production dynamics of 2 common species groups, cod (Gadus morhua and G. macrocephalus) and herring (Clupea harengus and C. pallasii), across 13 large marine ecosystems. For all 4 species, we fit a hierarchy of nested surplus production models with terms for trophodynamic and biophysical covariates; models were then compared using an informationtheoretic framework. Across ecosystems, models including terms for biophysical covariates exhibited stronger fits to the data and were often included in the top set of selected models. However, the numerical effects of covariates differed among systems and species. For example, surplus production in several ecosystems was significantly affected by sea surface temperature, but to differing degrees (i.e. direction and magnitude of effect). Similarly, surplus production of cod was positively associated with herring biomass in 4 of the ecosystems examined, whereas negative trophodynamic interactions alluded to complex cultivation-depensation food-web dynamics in 5 other systems. Importantly, no single covariate emerged as the most important predictor of surplus production nor were biological reference points from models with covariates always more conservative than those without covariates. This suggests that inclusion of tropho dynamic and biophysical covariates in simple production models has the potential to increase model fit, but the relative benefit will be stronger for systems and species where trophodynamic and biophysical processes are tightly coupled to species productivity.


Alcohol use, and misuse, has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. In the modern medical era a great deal of attention has been justifiably focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying the psychological and biological addiction to alcohol. However, a significant percentage, if not the majority, of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality occurs in individuals who do not meet the formal diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. For example, many serious medical consequences of chronic alcohol ingestion can occur in individuals who do not have signs or symptoms of alcohol dependence. There is now clear evidence that even in otherwise healthy-appearing individuals who chronically consume excessive amounts of alcohol that alveolar macrophage immune capacity is impaired and, as a consequence, these individuals are at significantly increased risk of pneumonia. This brief review summarizes some of the key mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and proposes a hypothetical scheme by which alcohol interferes with zinc bioavailability within the alveolar space and thereby dampens macrophage function.


This article examines the return characteristics of a portfolio of U.S. "vice stocks"—firms that manufacture and sell socially irresponsible products such as alcohol, tobacco, gaming services, and national defense. The author constructs a portfolio comprising the daily returns of 41 vice stocks from May 1995–May 2015 and computes the riskadjusted returns by using the Carhart four-factor model and Sortino ratio. Full-period results show a positive and significant alpha for the entire portfolio and positive, yet insignificant, alphas for each vice industry. Down market results show a negative, yet insignificant, alpha for the entire portfolio. Bull market results show a significant alpha for the entire portfolio, as well for the alcohol and defenseindustry securities.


. Computational Thinking (CT) has become popular in recent years and has been recognised as an essential skill for all, as members of the digital age. Many researchers have tried to define CT and have conducted studies about this topic. However, CT literature is at an early stage of maturity, and is far from either explaining what CT is, or how to teach and assess this skill. In the light of this state of affairs, the purpose of this study is to examine the purpose, target population, theoretical basis, definition, scope, type and employed research design of selected papers in the literature that have focused on computational thinking, and to provide a framework about the notion, scope and elements of CT. In order to reveal the literature and create the framework for computational thinking, an inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted on 125 papers about CT, selected according to pre-defined criteria from six different databases and digital libraries. According to the results, the main topics covered in the papers composed of activities (computerised or unplugged) that promote CT in the curriculum. The targeted population of the papers was mainly K-12. Gamed-based learning and constructivism were the main theories covered as the basis for CT papers. Most of the papers were written for academic conferences and mainly composed of personal views about CT. The study also identified the most commonly used words in the definitions and scope of CT, which in turn formed the framework of CT. The findings obtained in this study may not only be useful in the exploration of research topics in CT and the identification of CT in the literature, but also support those who need guidance for developing tasks or programs about computational thinking and informatics.


Impacts from future security trends on industry have been derived from the work performed in the scenario foresight for alternative futures, and for embedded scenarios of security research in the FOCUS project.1,2 For each FOCUS theme, and for each scenario found in project reports, changes from the current situation have been analyzed and their impacts for different industries and activity sectors have been assessed. Trends have been grouped by industry/activity in each theme and those with significant ground in each scenario have been selected. According to scenario analysis, public services, ICT and technology, and critical infrastructure sectors are those which are more impacted by detected security trends from the scenarios analyzed. Specifically ICT has some cross cutting trends impacting in more than one theme, like information integration; intelligent knowledge based monitoring of new social media and other open information sources, information management and common situational pictures. Natural disasters, global environmental change and comprehensive approach are the most impacted FOCUS themes by future industry security trends. The analysis presented here may be useful for the assessment in the development of new research tracks or new products in the industry.


We motivate and propose an alternative criterion for the dynamical control of regularization in the context of the standard RLS algorithm. The proposed criterion explores the fact that in finite precision the numerical solution of a regularized linear system of equations may be closer to the analytical (unknown) solution of the original (unregularized) system than the numerical solution of the latter. We develop a measure of accuracy for such solutions and use it to automatically adjust the regularization parameter via a simple feedback mechanism. In order to keep computational complexity low, regularization is implemented indirectly via dithering of the input signal. Simulations show that the proposed criterion can effectively react, and compensate for large condition numbers, the precision available and unnecessarily large levels of regularization.


: In this paper, the preparation and compare of some mechanical and physical properties of two groups of polymer blends consisting of polyvinyl chloride with polypropylene (PP-PVC) and poly-vinyl chloride with high-density polyethylene (HDPE-PVC). Using a twin-screw extruder, three weight percentages of PP and HDPE (5, 10 and 15%) were used to prepare the polymer blends. Experimental investigation was carried out for analyzing the mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, compression, impact, and hardness and physical properties (thermal characteristics and melt flow index) for the polymer blend samples. The results show that the polymer blend (HDPE-PVC) get higher values than polymer blend (PP-PVC) in fracture strength, young´s modulus, elongation, flexural strength, creep resistant and maximum shear stress and thermal characteristics, whereas the polymer blends (PP-PVC) get higher values in impact strength, fracture toughness, hardness and compression and melt flow index. Besides, the increment in PP or HDPE content weak the properties of the polymer blends and the samples with (5%PP:95%PVC) and (5%HDPE:95%PVC) were the best among the other polymer blends samples.


Future exascale systems will be based on multi-core processors, but even today's multi-core processors can be asymmetric and exhibit limitations and bottlenecks that are different from those found on a symmetric multiprocessor. In this paper we investigate the performance of a cluster node based on the Intel Xeon E5345 quad-core processor and note that despite the symmetry implied by the programming model, the available memory bandwidth is not shared equally among the cores. Consequently, applications experience substantial performance variance and slow-downs when the tasks (threads) are mapped to cores in a naive manner. An operating system scheduler could mitigate these effects by taking into account the memory bus structure but needs accurate information from the performance monitoring unit as the asymmetry is not directly exposed in the processor's instruction set manual. Current performance monitoring units are quite inflexible and change from one processor to the next, so higher levels of the software tool chain are discouraged to use them. The next generation of Nehalem-based multicore systems poses similar challenges, and the development of portable performance monitoring units will be crucial if applications want to use the performance potential of exascale systems. We expect this situation to remain unchanged as long as memory is slow relative to the processor.


Objective To develop a female barrier to, first, prevent pregnancy and, second, protect against sexually transmitted diseases.Design The contraceptive is made of inert, soft material and is an anatomical design that utilizes the physiology of the vagina. It incorporates the use of microbicidal spermicide to kill sexually transmitted disease organisms.Results FemCap has been proven in clinical trials to be safe, and has no systemic or local side-effects, and does not increase the risk of urinary tract infections. Effectiveness in pregnancy prevention is 86.5% in typical use and 98% if used properly with emergency contraceptives as back-up. FemCap is highly acceptable to women and to their partners.Conclusions A new method of birth control has arrived that is safe, effective, highly acceptable and may protect against sexually transmitted diseases of the upper female genital tract.


A B S T R A C T In this research, 11 yeast strains with ability to grow on petroleum sludge were isolated from effl uent of a petroleum refinery. Based on growth on mineral media contaminated petroleum sludge, two isolates were selected as the super strains. Meanwhile, results based on biochemical and morphological experiments on the strains indicated that the two selec ted isolates belonged to Candida and Prototheca genus. Optimization with Taguchi Statistical Method (TSM) indicated that appropriate conditions for both isolates considering sludge concentrations, nitrogen source, pH, temperature and shaking rate (rpm) are equal to 10%, 2 g/l sodium nitrate, 6.5, 25°C and 190 rpm, respectively. Biomass production in optimal growing conditions for Candida and Prototheca were 1.54 g/l and 2.3 g/l, respectively. Gas Chromatography analyses of extracted fatty acids from superna tants and surface portions after methyl esterifies with methanol: KOH solvents, indicated that content quantity of fatty acids on the surface was more than other portions and mainly in the forms of 16 and 18 saturated carbons and in the forms of palmitic a cid and stearic acid. Therefore, these isolates can be used for recycling of petroleum sludge in production of yeast biomass and cell oil.


Previous studies have shown that mid‐trimester maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels are significantly higher and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels significantly lower in women with male compared with female fetuses. We have evaluated whether triple‐screen criteria are more likely to identify women with female fetuses as at risk for Down syndrome. From the Georgetown University genetics database we obtained the absolute values and corresponding multiples of the median (MoM) for AFP, hCG and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) in singleton gestations for the period database November 1992–July 1996. A Down syndrome risk of 1/270 or greater at mid‐trimester was considered as high risk. A total of 977 patients with triple screen and outcome information were identified, including 502 female and 475 male fetuses. Patients with female fetuses were significantly more likely to have lower serum AFP (p=0.003) and a positive triple screen for Down syndrome (72 (14 per cent) versus 45 (9 per cent), p<0.02) than those with male fetuses. The gestational age at triple screen, maternal serum hCG and uE3, race and diabetes were not significantly different between the two groups. Since Down syndrome is less common in female than male fetuses, and the rates of female and male Down syndrome fetuses detected by triple screen and subsequent amniocentesis are not significantly different, the excess of positive mid‐trimester maternal serum triple screen in women with female fetuses is likely due to false‐positive results. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The hemocyanin of the keyhole limpet, Diodora aspera, shows no Bohr effect within the pH range 6.88 to 7.84. At 10�C the pressure of half-saturation is 5 mm-Hg of oxygen pressure. A moderately positive interaction occurs among the oxygen-combining sites during oxygenation. The heat of oxygenation is calculated to be approximately -12.6 kcal/mole of oxygen. The pH of normal blood of Diodora is lower than that of many other marine molluscs.


People with severe physical disabilities may experience psychosocial problems. Boccia is one sport that athletes with severe disability can engage in, but no information on the effects of Boccia on psychosocial outcomes for participants with severe disability is available. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of Boccia on psychosocial outcomes in persons with severe disabilities. The study included two competitive Boccia groups: independent competitive (IC) (n = 9) and nonindependent competitive (NIC) (n = 7), as well as a recreational Boccia group (n = 14) and control subjects (n = 13) (mean age = 46.46 +/- 10.75). All participants underwent a rehabilitation program. Between-group differences in change scores were assessed using analysis of variance/multivariate analysis of variance. Within-group differences were compared using t-tests and effect sizes (ESs). Change in psychosocial parameters was not significantly influenced by study group (p > 0.05). All groups presented moderate-to-large ESs in physical and psychological quality of life (ES > 0.51). In comparison to the control group, who presented small-to-trivial ESs in General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Profile of Mood States-Tension, the IC and recreational group presented moderate ESs in GHQ-28, whereas the NIC group presented moderate ESs in anxiety and tension. In conclusion, the rehabilitation program had a general positive effect on the psychosocial status of individuals with severe physical disabilities. However, the competitive Boccia groups demonstrated a greater number of favorable changes, suggesting an added value of participation in Boccia.


During bacterial cell division, synthesis of new septal peptidoglycan (sPG) is crucial for successful cytokinesis and cell pole morphogenesis. FtsW, a SEDS (Shape, Elongation, Division and Sporulation) family protein and an indispensable component of the cell division machinery in all walled bacterial species, was recently identified in vitro as a new monofunctional peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase (PGTase). FtsW and its cognate monofunctional transpeptidase (TPase) class B penicillin binding protein (PBP3 or FtsI in E. coli) may constitute the essential, bifunctional sPG synthase specific for new sPG synthesis. Despite its importance, the septal PGTase activity of FtsW has not been documented in vivo. How its activity is spatiotemporally regulated in vivo has also remained unknown. Here we investigated the septal PGTase activity and dynamics of FtsW in E. coli cells using a combination of single-molecule imaging and genetic manipulations. We show that FtsW exhibits robust activity to incorporate an N-acetylmuramic acid analog at septa in the absence of other known PGTases, confirming FtsW as the essential septum-specific PGTase in vivo. Notably, we identified two populations of processive moving FtsW molecules at septa. A fast-moving population is driven by the treadmilling dynamics of FtsZ and independent of sPG synthesis. A slow-moving population is driven by active sPG synthesis and independent of FtsZ's treadmilling dynamics. We further identified that FtsN, a potential sPG synthesis activator, plays an important role in promoting the slow-moving, sPG synthesis-dependent population. Our results support a two-track model, in which inactive sPG synthase molecules follow the fast treadmilling "Z-track" to be distributed along the septum; FtsN promotes their release from the "Z-track" to become active in sPG synthesis on the slow "sPG-track". This model explains how the spatial information is integrated into the regulation of sPG synthesis activity and suggests a new mechanistic framework for the spatiotemporal coordination of bacterial cell wall constriction.


Introduction Charcot joints are considered to be chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Although it is not a common disease, due to its progressive character, it can lead to permanent immobility and reduces quality of life in these patients. It is known that evolution of Charcot joints has three stages and the best results of therapy can only be achieved in the first stage. Later, only surgical treatment can be considered with very poor results. Case report This is a case report of a young patient with a very severe form of diabetic arthropathy and other complications of diabetes. This 27-year old woman suffered from diabetes for 10 years and her family history showed that her grandfather and uncle had diabetes too. During physical examination severe deformities of the foot and malleolus were detected. Detection of chronic complications required evaluation of the level of neuropathy. Discussion Chronic complications of diabetes are very frequent. A severe form of complications are Charcot joints that can lead to permanent immobility. That is why it is important to recognize the early signs and symptoms of these changes in order to treat them in the early phase when best results are expected.


In my dissertation, I trace the representation of drug use, globalization, social marginality, and violence in the two well-known films by the Colombian director Victor Gaviria. My approach is framed by Walter Benjamin's critical-theoretical work on the notions of "experience" and "intoxication", Gilles Deleuze's idea of "double becoming", and Giorgio Agamben's concept of "bare life." I am also concerned with what might be called the "ethical" dimension that is inherent in Gaviria's strategy (the use of "natural actors," the question of pornomiseria, etc.). These films involve what I call the "paradox of drug euphoria," this paradox, I argue, means that for those whose existence have become "bare life," in Agamben's sense of the term, using drugs is an opportunity to reassert their lives. Drugs help the central characters in Gaviria's films create a collective experience and give value to themselves and their social environments. On the other hand, global accumulation, deterritorialization (the specter of Medellin as a kind of chaotic postmodern megalopolis), and frenetic stimulation are also effects of drugs, once productive of "bare life." These destructive effects are interrupted by the utopian desire of the characters in the films, who are also "real people," not only actors representing the urban "poor". However, these fleeting moments of utopian plenitude—not unlike what Benjamin meant by "illuminations" -are interrupted in turn by the force of capitalist deterritorialization and dehumanization. Gaviria's films exist in and portray the dialectic relation between these two forces. In short, I develop the paradox of euphoria into a critique of contemporary society and a new understanding of collective experience.


Over a period of several decades, D.W. Winnicott evolved a personal way of relating to and communicating with children, offering them a live professional setting in which to discover themselves. He believed that, in the right case, a full and free use of the first interview can yield rich rewards, and he claimed that the right cases for this are common. He hoped that, by presenting these case studies, he would introduce the reader to the exciting potential of his approach, which depends as much on selection (of therapist) as on training. Here is his presentation - seventeen case histories whose significance for child psychiatry is in the tradition of Freud's case histories of the treatment of adult neurotics. Therapeutic Consultations in Child Psychiatry provides a fruitful feedback to psychoanalysis itself. This indeed was Winnicott's purpose: to help establish a creative dialogue between psychoanalysis and child psychiatry.


In this paper, we present an approach to bounded optimal planning and flexible execution for a robot team performing a set of spatially distributed tasks related by temporal ordering constraints such as precedence or synchronization. Furthermore, the manner in which the temporal constraints are satisfied impacts the overall utility of the team, due to the existence of both routing and delay costs. We present a bounded optimal offline planner for task allocation and scheduling in the presence of such cross-schedule dependencies, and a flexible, distributed online plan execution strategy. The integrated system performs task allocation and scheduling, executes the plans smoothly in the face of real-world variations in operation speed and task execution time, and ensures graceful degradation in the event of task failure. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach on a team of three pioneer robots operating in an indoor environment. Experimental results demonstrate that the approach is effective for constrained planning and execution in the face of real-world variations.


The evolutionary conserved NEAT1-MALAT1 gene cluster generates large noncoding transcripts remaining nuclear, while tRNA-like transcripts (mascRNA, menRNA) enzymatically generated from these precursors translocate to the cytosol. NEAT1-/- and MALAT1-/- mice display massive atherosclerosis and vascular in�ammation. Here, we identify the tRNA-like molecules as critical components of innate immunity. They appear as prototypes of a new class of noncoding RNAs distinct from others (miRNAs, siRNAs) by biosynthetic pathway and intracellular kinetics. CRISPR-generated human ΔmascRNA and ΔmenRNA monocytes/macrophages display defective innate immune sensing, loss of cytokine control, imbalance of growth/angiogenic factor expression impacting upon angiogenesis, and altered cell-cell interaction systems. Antiviral response, foam cell formation/oxLDL uptake, and M1/M2 polarization are defective in ΔmascRNA/ΔmenRNA macrophages, de�ning the tRNA-like molecules' �rst described biological functions. menRNA and mascRNA represent novel components of innate immunity arising from the noncoding genome. Their NEAT1-MALAT1 region of origin appears as archetype of a functionally highly integrated RNA processing system.


Ytterbium-169 is being considered as a new radiation source for brachytherapy applications. This radioisotope emits photons with energies ranging from 50 to 308 keV (average energy 93 keV) and decays with a half life of 32 days. For these reasons, it is believed to offer radiological and radiobiological advantages over some other isotopes currently in use. One impediment to widespread clinical use of this isotope is the determination of source strength in units of air kerma rate [cGy h-1]. The source strength can be measured directly with an ion chamber or calculated indirectly from the source radioactivity [Bq] with corrections for encapsulation. Our attempts to reconcile these two approaches have led to the development of a spectrometric technique for determining the radioactivity of ytterbium-169 brachytherapy seeds. A High Purity Germanium (HPGe) spectrometer is used to count the 307.7 keV photon emitted within a defined solid angle. The intrinsic photopeak efficiency of the detector was determined by Monte Carlo simulation followed by experimental verification with an activity-calibrated europium-152 source. Finally, the HPGe system has been used to calibrate a re-entrant ionisation chamber, allowing routine of Ytterbium source activity for clinical applications.


We study the order statistics of one dimensional branching Brownian motion in which particles either diffuse (with diffusion constant $D$), die (with rate $d$) or split into two particles (with rate $b$). At the critical point $b=d$ which we focus on, we show that, at large time $t$, the particles are collectively bunched together. We find indeed that there are two length scales in the system: (i) the diffusive length scale $\sim \sqrt{Dt}$ which controls the collective fluctuations of the whole bunch and (ii) the length scale of the gap between the bunched particles $\sim \sqrt{D/b}$. We compute the probability distribution function $P(g_k,t|n)$ of the $k$th gap $g_k = x_k - x_{k+1}$ between the $k$th and $(k+1)$th particles given that the system contains exactly $n>k$ particles at time $t$. We show that at large $t$, it converges to a stationary distribution $P(g_k,t\to \infty|n) = p(g_k|n)$ with an algebraic tail $p(g_k|n) \sim 8(D/b) g_k^{-3}$, for $g_k \gg 1$, independent of $k$ and $n$. We verify our predictions with Monte Carlo simulations.


A mathematical model of oxygen uptake by bacteria in agricultural soils is presented with the goal of predicting anaerobic regions in which denitrification occurs. In an environment with a plentiful supply of oxygen, micro-organisms consume oxygen through normal respiration. When the local oxygen concentration falls below a threshold level, denitrification may take place leading to the release of nitrous oxide, a potent agent for global warming. A two-dimensional model is presented in which one or more circular soil aggregates are located at a distance below the ground level at which the prevailing oxygen concentration is prescribed. The level of denitrification is estimated by computing the area of any anaerobic cores, which may develop in the interior of the aggregates. The oxygen distribution throughout the model soil is calculated first for an aggregated soil for which the ratio of the oxygen diffusivities between an aggregate and its surround is small via an asymptotic analysis. Second, the case of a non-aggregated soil featuring one or more microbial hotspots, forwhich the diffusion ratio is arbitrary, is examined numerically using the boundary-elementmethod. Calculations with multiple aggregates demonstrate a sheltering effect whereby some aggregates receive less oxygen than their neighbours. In the case of an infinite regular triangular network representing an aggregated soil, it is shown that there is an optimal inter-aggregate spacing which minimises the total anaerobic core area.


The objective of this study was to develop proliposomal formulation for a poorly bioavailable drug, tacrolimus. Proliposomes were prepared by thin film hydration method using different lipids such as hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HEPC), soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), distearyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol sodium (DMPG) and cholesterol in various ratios. Proliposomes were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, in vitro permeability, and in vivo pharmacokinetics. In vitro drug release was carried out in purified water using USP type II dissolution apparatus. In vitro drug permeation was studied using parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) and everted rat intestinal perfusion techniques. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Among the different formulations, proliposomes with drug/DSPC/cholesterol in the ratio of 1:2:0.5 demonstrated the desired particle size and zeta potential. Enhanced drug release was observed with proliposomes compared to pure tacrolimus in purified water after 1 h. Tacrolimus permeability across PAMPA and everted rat intestinal perfusion models was significantly higher with proliposomes. The optimized formulation of proliposomes indicated a significant improvement in the rate and absorption of tacrolimus. Following a single oral administration, a relative bioavailability of 193.33% was achieved compared to pure tacrolimus suspension.


In a double-blind study 10 patients with chronic asthma received beclomethasone dipropionate 400 μg daily in a Freon propellant from a pressurized dispenser, and 10 patients received the Freon propellant alone. At the start of the trial each patient was receiving long-term maintenance treatment with oral prednisolone in a dose of 7·5 to 15 mg daily. The daily dose of prednisolone was reduced by 1 mg every four weeks and the patient's progress followed by regular clinical assessment and studies of pituitary-adrenal function. The trial was continued until the dose of prednisolone was reduced to zero or until asthmatic symptoms increased to an unacceptable level. In the 10 patients who received beclomethasone the mean maintenance dose of oral prednisolone was reduced by 5·6 mg/day but in only two cases could this drug be withdrawn completely. In the placebo group the mean reduction in dose was only 1·3 mg, thus there was a significant difference between the two groups (P <0·01). Studies of pituitary-adrenal function showed that a normal adrenal response to tetracosactrin stimulation returned only in the two patients from whom prednisolone was withdrawn. Hence the addition of beclomethasone dipropionate by inhalation to systemic corticosteroid therapy allows useful reductions to be made in the oral maintenance doses of corticosteroid. Reductions must be made with caution since there is wide individual variation in response to beclomethasone and in only a minority of patients can oral treatment by completely withdrawn.


This course will teach attendees how to design and evaluate interaction with online video and television. It provides attendees a pragmatic toolset, including techniques and guidelines, which can be directly applied in practice. The different tools will be contextualized based on current developments, giving participants a complete overview of the state of the art and industry.


Hippocampal neurogenesis is the lifelong production of new neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), and affects many physiological and pathophysiological conditions, including neurobehavioral disorders. The early postnatal stage is the most prominent neurogenesis period; however, the functional role of neurogenesis in this developing stage has not been well characterized. To understand the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in the postnatal developing period, we analyzed secretin, a neuropeptide, which is expressed significantly higher in the development stage. Secretin is a pleiotropic neuropeptide hormone that belongs to the secretin/VIP/glucagon peptide family. Although secretin was originally isolated in the gastrointestinal system, it has been found that secretin itself acts as a neuropeptide in the CNS. Here, we report a new function of secretin as a survival factor for neural progenitor cells in the hippocampus. We found that secretin-deficient mice exhibit decreased numbers of BrdU-labeled new neurons and dramatically increased apoptosis of doublecortin-positive neural progenitor cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG) during the early postnatal period. Furthermore, we found that reduced survival of neural progenitor cells leads to decreased volume of DG, reduced long-term potentiation and impaired spatial learning ability in adults. Our studies demonstrate that secretin has important implications for neurogenesis in postnatal development, and affects neurobehavioral function in the adult mouse.


Abstract The influence of lateral heterogeneities on alluvial deposits is a topic of particular interest in the field of urban planning and engineering design of structures and infrastructures. This work focuses on the effects of such heterogeneities on the shear strains produced within the recent alluvial deposits of the Tiber River in the historical center of Rome in case of the worst expected earthquake scenario. To this aim, a 3D engineering‐geology model of the subsoil is used to derive four geological sections across the Tiber River valley as well as 48 soil columns to perform numerical simulations. Various models are considered: a viscoelastic equivalent linear rheology in a 1D finite‐difference model for one‐component horizontal input, a nonlinear elastoplastic model in a 1D finite‐element scheme for three‐component input, and a nonlinear viscoelasto‐plastic rheology in a 2D finite‐difference model under one‐component horizontal input. After comparing these different simulations, results have shown that lateral heterogeneities play a key role with respect to the expected shear strains within multilayered soils. To this aim, some specific indexes are introduced to estimate the maximum shear strain (MSS) concentration within the soil layers as well as to highlight their effect due to the stratigraphic position of the layers, within the soil column, independently from its depth. A final differential index leads to the evaluation of the lateral heterogeneity effect on the estimated MSS, demonstrating their prevalent role with respect to the bedrock shape (i.e., the angle of inclination of the buried valley slopes). From these results, an MSS zoning map is obtained for the historical center of Rome, showing that the local seismic response should be modeled by assuming 1D or 2D conditions depending on the location considered.


This letter presents a practical method for landscape imperviousness estimation through the synergistic use of Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and high-resolution imagery. A 1-m resolution color-infrared digital orthophoto was used to calibrate a stepwise multivariate statistical model for continuous landscape imperviousness estimation from medium-resolution ETM+ data. A variety of predictive variables were initially considered, but only brightness and greenness images were retained because they were account for most of the imperviousness variation measured from the calibration data. The performance of this method was assessed, both visually and statistically. Operationally, this method is promising because it does not involve any more sophisticated algorithms, such as classification tree or neural networks, but offers comparable mapping accuracy. Further improvements are also discussed.


We demonstrate the large scale effects of the interplay between shape and hard core interactions in a system with left- and right-pointing arrowheads ~$\textless ~~ \textgreater$~ on a line, with reorientation dynamics. This interplay leads to the formation of two types of domain wall, diffusive ($A$) and static ($B$). The correlation length in the equilibrium state diverges exponentially with increasing arrowhead density, with an ordered state of like orientations arising in the limit. In time, the approach to the ordered state is described by a coarsening process governed by the kinetics of domain wall annihilation $A+B\rightarrow 0$, quite different from $A+A \rightarrow 0$ kinetics pertinent to the Glauber-Ising model. The survival probability of a finite set of walls is shown to decay exponentially in time, in contrast to the power law decay known for $A+A \rightarrow 0$. In the thermodynamic limit with a finite density of walls, coarsening as a function of time $t$ is studied by simulation. While the number of walls falls as $t^{-\frac{1}{2}}$, the fraction of persistent arrowheads decays as $t^{-\theta}$ where $\theta$ is close to $\frac{1}{4}$, quite different from the Ising value. The global persistence too has $\theta=\frac{1}{4}$, as follows from a heuristic argument. In a generalization where the $B$ walls diffuse slowly, $\theta$ varies continuously, increasing with increasing diffusion constant.


We present RePriv, a system that combines the goals of privacy and content personalization in the browser. RePriv discovers user interests and shares them with third parties, but only with an explicit permission of the user. We demonstrate how always-on user interest mining can effectively infer user interests in a real browser. We go on to discuss an extension framework that allows third-party code to extract and disseminate more detailed information, as well as language-based techniques for verifying the absence of privacy leaks in this untrusted code. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our model, we present RePriv extensions that perform personalization for Netflix, Twitter, Bing, and Get Glue. This paper evaluates important aspects of RePriv in realistic scenarios. We show that RePriv's default in-browser mining can be done with no noticeable overhead to normal browsing, and that the results it produces converge quickly. We demonstrate that RePriv personalization yields higher quality results than those that maybe obtained about the user from public sources. We then go onto show similar results for each of our case studies: that RePrivenables high-quality personalization, as shown by cases studies in news and search result personalization we evaluated on thousands of instances, and that the performance impact each case has on the browser is minimal. We conclude that personalized content and individual privacy on the web are not mutually exclusive.


Financial distress is a phase of the decline in the financial condition experienced by a company before the bankruptcy or liquidation occurs. One of the causes of financial distress is the company's operating losses, caused its operating cash flow to be negative. During 2014-2016, there was 24 percent of manufacturing companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) that has a negative pretax profit. The purpose of this study was to obtain empirical evidence of the effect of managerial ownership, institutional ownership, the proportion of independent commissioner board, and intellectual capital on financial distress. The population of this research is all of manufacturing companies listed on Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) on 2014-2016. The sample was taken using a non-probability sampling with a saturated sample technique. The numbers of samples analyzed were 423 financial reports of manufacturing companies published on IDX during 2014-2016. The analysis technique used in this research is multinomial logistic regression. It was found that managerial ownership has a negative effect on financial distress, institutional ownership has a negative effect on financial distress, proportion of independent commissioner has a positive effect on financial distress, and intellectual capital has a negative effect on financial distress.


A guide for the book artist - in their role of producer, publisher and distributor of their own artwork, to discuss some of the practical issues arising from this. There is a more direct link between the artist and the buyer in the field of artists' books than any other art discipline. Many book artists are unsure of the market potential of their work and this is particularly difficult when they are directly responsible for sales.

We have interviewed artists about producing and distributing their work, and the importance of artist's book fairs and events for building relationships with purchasers and other artists. This ranges from established to fledgling artists, curators, collectors (both institutional and private) bookshop and gallery owners, dealers, lecturers and instructors.

A series of 24 case studies explores artists' experiences of making and marketing their books in the UK, France, Germany, EIRE, Spain, Denmark, Japan, Argentina, Australia and the USA, and can be used as reference for newer artists and students wanting to find out more about producing and marketing their artists' books. We selected a range of artists with 2 - 30+ years experience of making and marketing artists' books, zines, multiples and unique books and asked them to share their working practice and experience of book fairs, interaction with purchasers, discuss any problems and offer advice.

We also asked private and institutional collectors to tell us about the ways in which they would prefer to interact with artists selling their books and any issues arising from their own collecting. Whilst travelling, we interviewed Max Schumann (Printed Matter), Cathy Chambers and Heather Cleary (Otis College of Art & Design Library) for some in depth accounts of selling, purchasing and collecting artists' books. Maria White (Tate Britain), Kristen Merola and Tate Shaw (Preacher's Biscuit Books), Mar Batalla (La Rara), Barrie Tullett and Philippa Wood (The Caseroom Press) also kindly participated for case studies of collectors, dealers and publishers.


Injury-induced repair of sensory cells does occur in mammals in the sense that partial replacement can transpire in sensory ganglion cells and in visual photoreceptors. In the somatosensory system, functional replacement of the peripheral processes of sensory cells can occur when the cell body is not severely damaged. In the visual system, the outer segments of photoreceptors are replaced under physiologic conditions, but complete replacement after injury occurs only in cold-blooded animals. In the olfactory system, complete replacement of sensory nerve cells has evolved as the means by which animals, including mammals, can retain olfactory function with a receptor apparatus that is highly vulnerable to injury. In the taste system, the sensory cells are also disposable and are completely replaced within less than 2 weeks. In the auditory and vestibular systems, replacement is not physiologic and when it does occur, appears to be injury-induced.


Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by impaired insulin secretion, insulin insensitivity and decreased beta‐cell mass. Multiple genes contribute to T2D. The chromosome 12q13.1 region is in linkage to T2D in different populations, including our Italian dataset. CHOP is a candidate gene for the linkage, as it is located in the chromosome 12q13.1 region, and may contribute to T2D by increasing beta‐cell apoptosis susceptibility and by impairing insulin sensitivity. Our goal was to identify any potential CHOP gene variants contributing to T2D in our Italian early‐onset T2D families, which show linkage to the CHOP region. We directly sequenced the CHOP gene in 28 Italian probands of the linked T2D families and in 115 control subjects. We performed genotype and haplotype association tests with T2D of the identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We performed model‐free and parametric association haplotype tests with T2D. We identified three SNPs [5′UTR‐c.279T > C, 5′UTR‐c.120A > G and + nt30C > T (F10F)] in CHOP. These SNPs are in complete linkage disequilibrium. The genotype association test showed an association trend with T2D of TT (F10F) and AG (‐c.120A > G). The haplotype association test provided significant results for the haplotypes T/C (frequency = 0.33) and C/T (frequency = 0.01) (at 5′UTR‐c.279T > C and + nt30C > T, respectively) under non‐parametric analysis (P‐value = 0.0000), recessive model (P‐value = 0.0000) and additive model (P‐value = 0.0014). Our data show that CHOP described haplotypes T/C and C/T, as an additive and as a homozygous variant, contribute significantly to T2D in our Italian early‐onset group. We conclude that the CHOP T/C and C/T haplotype contributes to our T2D linkage signal on chromosome 12q13.1. J. Cell. Physiol. 217: 291–295, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


[1] A three-dimensional (3-D) hydrodynamic model, Curvilinear-Grid Hydrodynamics in 3-D (CH3D), and observation data are used to investigate the effects of Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna in 2008 on the spatial structure of residual circulation and momentum balance inside the subtropical estuarine system of the Northern Coastal Basin and St. Augustine Inlet. During a typical tidal cycle, four residual eddies are formed: two strong eddies inside of the inlet and two weaker eddies outside of the inlet. During Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna the alongshore component of the northeasterly winds disrupted the ocean-side eddies first and forced the alongshore southeasterly current. Owing to not-so-strong local winds, residual flow at the mouth of the inlet never became complete inflow. However, following Tropical Storm Fay's landfall, flow inside the inlet became complete outflow owing to relaxing wind and the remote wind effect created by the alongshore component of the southeasterly wind. The residual circulation returned to its prestorm condition in 4 days owing to relatively short storm duration. Model results revealed that the cross-sectional residual flow pattern observed at the inlet mouth is highly variable with time and location of the cross section. Comparison of various terms in the horizontal momentum equations shows that the balance is primarily between the barotropic pressure gradient and nonlinear advection. Although the wind stress and bottom friction briefly become significant in the balance, they are still at least an order of magnitude smaller. Baroclinic pressure gradient is weak despite the increase in precipitation and river discharge.


Backprop is the primary learning algorithm used in many machine learning algorithms. In practice, however, Backprop in deep neural networks is a highly sensitive learning algorithm and successful learning depends on numerous conditions and constraints. One set of constraints is to avoid weights that lead to saturated units. The motivation for avoiding unit saturation is that gradients vanish and as a result learning comes to a halt. Careful weight initialization and re-scaling schemes such as batch normalization ensure that input activity to the neuron is within the linear regime where gradients are not vanished and can flow. Here we investigate backpropagating error terms only linearly. That is, we ignore the saturation that arise by ensuring gradients always flow. We refer to this learning rule as Linear Backprop since in the backward pass the network appears to be linear. In addition to ensuring persistent gradient flow, Linear Backprop is also favorable when computation is expensive since gradients are never computed. Our early results suggest that learning with Linear Backprop is competitive with Backprop and saves expensive gradient computations.


While many high energy experiments use track fitting software that is based solely on the Kalman Filter technique, the ATLAS offline reconstruction also has several global track fitters available. One of these is the GlobalChi2Fitter, which is based on the scattering angle formulation of the track fit. One of the advantages of this method over the Kalman fit is that it can provide the scattering angles and related quantities (e.g. the residual derivatives) to the alignment algorithms. The algorithm has been implemented in the new common tracking framework in ATLAS, the philosophy of which is to improve the modularity and flexibility of the tracking software. This flexibility has proven crucial for the understanding of the data from the testbeam and cosmic runs. An overview of recent results will be presented, in particular the results from the combined tracking with the inner detector and the muon spectrometer using the cosmics data.


Potent inhibitors of fucosyltransferases, and glycosyltransferases in general, have been elusive due to the inherent barriers surrounding the family of glycosyltransfer reactions. The problems of weak substrate affinity and low catalytic proficiency of fucosyltransferase was offset by recruiting additional binding features, in this case hydrophobic interactions, to produce a high affinity inhibitor, 24, with Ki = 62 nM. The molecule was identified from a GDP-triazole library of 85 compounds, which was produced by the Cu(I)-catalyzed [2 + 3] cycloaddition reaction between azide and acetylene reactants, followed by in situ screening without product isolation.


The relationships of guard cell ABA content to eight stress-related physiological parameters were determined on intact Vicia faba L. plants that were grown hydroponically with split-root systems. Continuous stress was imposed by the addition of PEG to part of the root system. The water potentials of roots sampled after the addition of PEG were 0.25 MPa lower than the water potentials of other roots of the same plant, which were similar to the roots of untreated plants. The leaflet water potentials of plants sampled within 2 h of stress imposition were similar to those of control plants. However, leaf conductance was lower in plants sampled after only 20 min of stress imposition, and the root- and leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations of these plants were higher than those of untreated plants. As the essence of this report, there was a linear relationship between guard cell ABA content and leaf conductance. Leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations <150 nM were also linearly related to leaf conductance, but higher leaflet apoplastic ABA concentration did not cause equally large further declines in leaf conductance. It is suggested that evaporation from guard cell walls caused ABA to accumulate in the guard cell apoplast and this pool was saturated at high leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations.


During the operation of trolley crane systems, the anti-sway control of the suspended load is always a key problem .Due to the uncertain properties of the trolley crane model, it is difficult for the conventional PID controller to tune its parameters online, so it can not reduce the swing effectively. In this paper, we design a control system based on single neuron controllers which using single neuron controllers to control the swing motion. The computer simulation results show that the single neuron controller has better adaptability and robustness than PID controller in term of different rope length and load.


Abstract With the introduction of newborn hearing screening, infants are being diagnosed with hearing loss during the first few months of life. For infants with a sensory/neural hearing loss (SNHL), the audiogram can be estimated objectively using auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing and hearing aids prescribed accordingly. However, for infants with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) due to the abnormal/absent ABR waveforms, alternative measures of auditory function are needed to assess the need for amplification and evaluate whether aided benefit has been achieved. Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) are used to assess aided benefit in infants with hearing loss; however, there is insufficient information regarding the relationship between stimulus audibility and CAEP detection rates. It is also not clear whether CAEP detection rates differ between infants with SNHL and infants with ANSD. This study involved retrospective collection of CAEP, hearing threshold, and hearing aid gain data to investigate the relationship between stimulus audibility and CAEP detection rates. The results demonstrate that increases in stimulus audibility result in an increase in detection rate. For the same range of sensation levels, there was no difference in the detection rates between infants with SNHL and ANSD.


Background: Blood bacterial infection is a cause of serious illness in children, especially the antibiotic resistant organisms. Since there is variation in the causative organisms with different location, there is need to determine the burden in our location aside the low data recorded. This study determined prevalence of bacteraemia, resistance pattern of implicated organisms and the role of Procalcitonin (PCT) in children with Community Acquired Bacteraemia (CAB) at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. It is to enhance focus on antibiotic stewardship in clinical practice. Methods: Children clinically suspected to have bacteraemia at presentation during 13 months of the period of study were recruited. Their blood samples were cultured and assayed for serum procalcitonin. Antibiotic resistance was determined on isolated bacteria, and polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm implicated genes. The data generated were analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 343 children ≤ 14-years were evaluated, and 94 (27.4%) had bacteraemia. The most common organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (n=66; 70.2%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n=7; 7.4%), and coagulase negative staphylococci (n=6; 6.4%). More than fifty percent of all the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Twenty-one of 21 Staphylococcus aureus had mecA gene and three Gram-negative isolates had at least one of blaCTX-M/blaSHV/blaTEM genes. Elevated serum procalcitonin level was significantly associated with bacteraemia (χ²=21.652, ρ =<0.001), sensitivity of 83.0% and negative predictive value of 87.3% (80.4-92.0). Congenital malformation was most associated with community acquired bacteraemia. Conclusion: Nearly 30% of children suspected with bacteraemia in the studied population had positive blood-culture. The most isolated pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus; and a third of the pathogens were multi-drug resistant. Procalcitonin assay is useful in excluding bacteraemia in febrile children. Resistant bacteria pathogens are not uncommon in the community.


The performance of quasi-experimental methods applied to changes in non-market goods depends on the ability of reduced form models to accurately measure willingness to pay. When exogenous changes are non-marginal, the accuracy of the reduced form approximations is not well understood. Further complicating the performance of reduced form models is that the true representation of the non-market good in household utility functions may differ from the perceptions of that good as captured in the reduced form model. This paper evaluates a series of before/after quasi-experiments where the true model is known and examines the performance of these methods under a variety of conditions. We find that performance is impacted by the scale of the change and that differences in perceptions of the amenity between the reduced form model and the underlying utility function play an important role in determining the performance of quasi-experimental applications. For researchers interested in non-market goods where the true representations of changes in relation to the underlying utility function are unknown, the notion of perceived measures of the non-market good in reduced form models should receive considerable attention.


Abstract : Multi-robot exploration and mapping studies have demonstrated that it is often more efficient to explore unknown areas in parallel rather than with a single agent. However, the question of how to integrate individual maps into a consistent global map remains an open research area. This problem, known as map merging, comprises the establishment of a frame of reference for multiple mobile robots, the identification of regions of map overlap, and the integration of individual maps to produce a global result. In this work, we build a hybrid map which integrates occupancy grid and feature data to solve this problem. This integrated representation permits fast and effective map merging. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate algorithm performance in a realistic scenario.


Using a method previously developed for determination of molecular weight distribution data, MSD, the distribution was determined on samples of low molecular weight heparin, approximate average molecular weight of 5000 daltons. The samples were prepared using the two available methods, namely, gel permeation chromatography or depolymerization with nitrous acid. The results showed that contrary to reported differences in the end, groups of the molecules prepared by the different methods the MSDs were very similar. The reproducibility of the depolymerization process was checked by MSD determinations and showed the method to be practical for production methodologies. Even at very low average molecular weights heparin preparations are still polydispersed.


Prolactinomas account for approximately 40% of all pituitary adenomas and are an important cause of hypogonadism and infertility. The ultimate goal of therapy for prolactinomas is restoration or achievement of eugonadism through the normalization of hyperprolactinemia and control of tumor mass. Medical therapy with dopamine agonists is highly effective in the majority of cases and represents the mainstay of therapy. Recent data indicating successful withdrawal of these agents in a subset of patients challenge the previously held concept that medical therapy is a lifelong requirement. Complicated situations, such as those encountered in resistance to dopamine agonists, pregnancy, and giant or malignant prolactinomas, may require multimodal therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy, or both. Progress in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of prolactinomas may enable future development of novel molecular therapies for treatment-resistant cases. This review provides a critical analysis of the efficacy and safety of the various modes of therapy available for the treatment of patients with prolactinomas with an emphasis on challenging situations, a discussion of the data regarding withdrawal of medical therapy, and a foreshadowing of novel approaches to therapy that may become available in the future.


The purpose of this paper is to draw the teachers' attention on the importance of gaining insight into the dynamic-energetic side of students' personality and using the most appropriate educational methods and strategies to help them achieve success in school. This research may constitute the future basis for certain investigations regarding the actual support that each type of temperament may offer in the process of education in order to build up a desirable character within society and to achieve school and career success. The method employed in the study was that of the psychological questionnaire focusing on establishing the type of temperament and the students' perception on the involvement of temperament awareness in school success. The value of this research does not reside in the increasing novelty of the subject, since starting with Hippocrates and Galen people had already known about the characteristics of temperaments, but in the redefining of this aspect in an educational, pragmatic context. The limitations of the research comprise a quota sampling of only 60 students, whereas the study may unfold on a larger scale to gain more statistic relevance. The results of the investigation under scrutiny emphasize the students' belief that personality and psychological potential constitute the basis of academic success to which the teacher contributes through knowledge application. Their view elicits the fact that there are deficiencies in using temperament as a learning pillar, claiming that some dominant types are at advantage compared to others in the process of acquisition. The study is useful mostly for teachers with a propensity for students' academic success through the efficient and favorable use of their dynamic energy potential. The paramount importance of the research in question resides in the motivation of teachers to gain insight into the different temperaments of pupils and use them to achieve an increased rate of efficiency in the process of education.


System computer engineering of Diponegoro University has a software engineering laboratory fonctioned to provide the learning and training activities in order to give the opportunity for the students, to examine and to apply the theory or the research and the verification scientifical subject study or a part of certain subject study. The probleme emerge in this training is less the information about the training accepted by the society who willing to attend the training at the software engineering laboratory. In propose, to solve all the problemes appear, the writer make a Management Trainee Developement Application System of Software Engineering Laboratory at Faculty of System Computer Engineering gave a complete information about the training and the registration in software engineering laboratory. Management Trainee Application of Software Engineering Laboratory at Faculty of System Computer Engineering is an application based on website, made by using the program language PHP in scope Framework Code Igniter, and also MySQL for database. The developement methode used the waterfall methode, while designing the application used the UML modele. The result from this application is the realization an application based on website which is abble to manage the trainee data in software engineering laboratory, for example to manage the participant training data, the list of training data, the time schedule training data, admin data, the participant traininh data along the completed training History data.