Introduction Obesity is common after spinal cord injuries (SCI)1 and it is associated with chronic nutrition related complications. We previously reported that a simple dietetic-intervention can help SCI patients to lose weight without compromising lean body mass.2 Methods The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a dietitian led weight management clinic. Thirty-one individuals (52.4±11.5 years; body mass index (BMI): 32.9 kg/m2; 41% female) with SCI were referred for consultation to include nutritional advice and cognitive behaviour therapy in three consultations over 4 months. Outcomes measures included body composition from anthropometric measurements of BMI, mid upper-arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), sitting blood pressure and dietary assessment of nutrient intake by 7-d food diary. Results Of the thirty-one individuals, 15 (48.4%) reported one or more co-morbidities. Mean weight loss was 4.5 kg (SD 6.2) at week 16. Analysis of the pre- to post-intervention difference (using paired t-test) showed a significant reduction in weight (104.2 vs 100.4 kg, p=0.001), BMI (34 vs 33.1 kg/m2, p=0.004), total energy intake (6.84 vs 5.62 MJ/d, p=0.029), total fat (p=0.005), saturated fat (p=0.001) and alcohol (p=0.003). No significant changes were found in MUAC, TSF, MAMC and sitting blood pressure post intervention. We noted a significant reduction in MAMC at 1-year follow-up (30.2 vs 27.1 cm, p<0.001). The 7-d food diary showed an average energy intake of 7.65 MJ/d, which is 15% below the estimated requirement. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that current guidance overestimates nutritional requirements in the SCI population, and that simple dietetic-intervention could help overweight SCI patients to achieve weight loss, but that it may not be sufficient to stimulate/maintain muscle mass long term. Further research is warranted to test whether combining lifestyle and intensive physical therapy could reduce long-term muscle wasting. Competing interests None declared. References 1. Gupta N, et al. Spinal Cord 2006;44:92–4. 2. Wong S, et al. Food Nutr Sci 2011;2:901–7.


Abstract Fieldwork carried out recently in the southeastern branch of the Iberian Range (Valencia Province, Spain) has led to the collection of a large volume of dinosaur eggshell fragments of unusual thickness. These specimens, up to 4.9 mm thick, were recovered from palustrine grey marls of the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian Sierra Perenchiza Formation, which comprises a wetland paleoenvironment deposit. These eggshell fragments have a characteristic compactituberculate ornamentation, dinosauroid-spherulitic organisation, and exhibit a complex canaliculate respiratory system. The external tuberculate surface of the shell as well as the internal microstructure enable referral to Megaloolithus aff. siruguei, the most common megaloolithid oospecies known from the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. The biostratigraphic range of M. siruguei matches the temporal distribution of titanosaurid dinosaurs across the Iberian Range, tentatively considered to be potential producers.


This article adheres to the theorizing on narrative as dialogue and communication. It attempts to wed the notions of narrative and narrative identity — the words given to the self in time — to Luce Irigaray's writings on dialogue and difference. In this frame, identity is regarded as a continuous becoming of an embodied self in relation to another self. The words that are needed in this becoming express the bodily self and touch the other at the same time. By emphasizing narrating as poiesis and creative work of imagination, it is possible to weave Irigaray's ideas into a notion of narrative identity that moves between gathering the self in terms of emplotting on the one hand, and talking to the other in poetic words and rhythms that can express the identity as bodily and relational, on the other.


Even though most of the Earth's area is sheltered by the hydrosphere, the underwater world is nonetheless a challenging puzzle that has drawn the attention of scientists and researchers around the globe. Numerous theoretical and experimental research has been conducted to attain a safe and effective means of communication. This is crucial to facilitate the implementation of critical industrial, military and security applications and to guarantee the management of marine resources sustainably. Underwater communication technologies have come a long way as they have been implemented either utilizing wired and wireless techniques, through employing acoustic waves or electromagnetic waves (in the radio-frequency spectrum or the optical spectrum). Even though acoustic communication realizes long communication ranges in Km, its limited data rate, its low speed, and its undesirable impact on the aquatic environment have all led to the realization of electromagnetic waves-based communication. Electromagnetic waves offer a high data rate and high-speed communication. Moreover, underwater radio frequency communications maintain a smooth transition between water and air, and they are unaffected by the turbidity properties of water. However, they come at a huge cost. Intriguingly, wireless communications in the optical spectrum have outperformed all the above techniques. This is owing to its high bandwidth and low cost. For that reason, we focus this review on the different facets of the underwater optical wireless communications (UOWC) field, where we present an overview of the most important communication techniques and highlight their drawbacks and advantages. We also review the most basic physical processes that influence the light propagation and modulation underwater along with the coding techniques. We then discuss the link configurations and the system design, and we provide a summary of the most prominent studies from 1992 to the present.


This article focuses on the issues currently facing people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) in the criminal justice system in the state of Victoria, Australia and, in particular, the impact of this condition on people suffering various forms of social disadvantage. This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, such as service providers working in the system, court personnel including Magistrates and Judges, legal practitioners and persons living with an ABI and their carers. The aim was to determine the advantages and limitations of current policy and practices, and to identify possible actions which could lead to improved outcomes for this cohort. This paper responds to our research findings in relation to two key areas: first, the awareness of ABI amongst legal practitioners and service providers, prompting the need for better education, training and professional development; and second, the requirement to improve processes for identification, assessment and support, for people involved in the criminal justice system with ABI. A number of systemic modifications and educational initiatives are recommended to address the unreasonable and unacceptable impacts on persons living with an ABI in the criminal justice system.


The cryopreservation of noctuid eggs in liquid nitrogen has proved be a promising tool in the mass production of Trichogramma, however studies into this technique have only just begun. This study evaluated the response of different densities of the female of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley to the parasitism of Mythimna sequax eggs stored and not stored in liquid nitrogen, and the performance of females reared only in cryopreserved eggs. The study evaluated the influence of the number of T. pretiosum females (4, 8 and 12) released to parasitise 40 M. sequax eggs, stored and not stored for 15 days in liquid nitrogen, as well as the performance of T. pretiosum females reared in eggs stored for three generations and females reared in non-stored eggs. Parasitism by T. pretiosum in stored eggs was 84%, twice the value obtained in previous studies. The emergence of parasitoids was greater than 95% in both experiments. The performance of females raised in stored eggs did not differ from that of females raised in non-stored eggs. The data show that the technique of cryopreservation of M. sequax eggs may be a viable alternative in the mass production of T. pretiosum.


To the Editor.— In the February 1986 issue of theArchives, Kinney et al1speculate that President Grover Cleveland may have had necrotizing sialometaplasia (NS). They recount the President's major surgery for an ulcer on the hard palate, believed to be malignant, and his survival for 15 years without the benefit of radiotherapy. This suggests to the authors that the palatal lesion may actually have been benign. Kinney et al are not alone in their thinking. Grillon and Lally,2in 1981, suggested that Cleveland's lesion may have been NS, based on the presence of a painless palatal ulcer that exposed bone, the absence of regional lymphadenopathy, and clinical evidence of partial healing after conservative therapy. Lynch et al,3in 1979, went so far as to state that President Cleveland's condition "may have been the most notable case of misdiagnosis of NS." They viewed surgical therapy of the


This thesis argues that the counterintuitive decision by some U.S. states to adopt significant climate-friendly policies in the absence of federal leadership on the issue can be explained as the result of a successful (re-)framing of the debate on climate and energy policy by policy change advocates. Critiquing mainstream theoretical accounts of policy change, the thesis advances a model of change that both builds on existing insights into change and goes beyond them by emphasising the crucial role of strategic framing in persuading target audiences of the benefits of policy proposals. It does so by introducing the concept of "framing coalitions" understood as coalitions of convenience assembling around shared frames rather than shared interests and values. The first part of the thesis locates the research within the scholarly literature on global environmental governance and, more specifically, the extant literature on multilevel climate governance focussed on subnational units of political authority. It shows that although low-carbon, climate-friendly policies have been mapped and compared, the reasons for why these policies were pursued in the first place have not been thoroughly explained and have thus remained elusive. The second part of the thesis tests the proposed model by closely tracing policy processes in the energy and climate field in three case studies: Pennsylvania, Florida and West Virginia. In each case, policy advocates strategically drew on change frames to reorient the state's energy policy. However, this thesis argues that the differences in outcome between the states can best be explained with differences in the size and diversity of in-state framing coalitions. The thesis concludes with a brief discussion of how elements of the proposed model of change lend themselves to further empirical and theoretical research.


Bang's Disease in man is that due to an infection with Br. abortus (Bang). This term distinguishes it from the undulant fever due to Br. melitensis. Though the two organisms and the diseases are much alike, it is well to make the distinction.
Very few cases of this disease have been reported from Austria. The author has studied several and, in addition, reports some examples of latent infection discovered in persons associated with the clinical cases at the time the infection was incurred. He gives a short summary of the literature, particularly reports from Europe.
The non-technical side of the bacteriology and epidemiology of the disease is briefly presented. The clinical manifestations of the infection are set forth in greater detail. The author uses excellent judgment in evaluating the observations of others as well as his own experiences with the disease. His language is clear and the monograph, as a whole, is an excellent presentation of the disease in man due to Bang's bacillus.


This report presents the results of an investigation to determine (1) the magnitude and distribution of aerodynamic loads over the wings and tail surfaces of a pursuit-type airplane in the maneuvers likely to impose critical loads on the various subassemblies of the airplane structure. (2) To study the phenomenon of center of pressure movement and normal force coefficient variation in accelerated flight, and (3) to measure the normal accelerations at the center of gravity, wing-tip, and tail, in order to determine the nature of the inertia forces acting simultaneously with the critical aerodynamic loads. The results obtained throw light on a number of important questions involving structural design. Some of the more interesting results are discussed in some detail, but in general the report is for the purpose of making this collection of airplane-load data obtained in flight available to those interested in airplane structures.


In the Open Data approach, governments and other public organisations want to share their datasets with the public, for accountability and to support participation. Data must be opened in such a way that individual privacy is safeguarded. The Privacy Funnel is a mathematical approach that produces a sanitised database that does not leak private data beyond a chosen threshold. The downsides to this approach are that it does not give worst-case privacy guarantees, and that finding optimal sanitisation protocols can be computationally prohibitive. We tackle these problems by using differential privacy metrics, and by considering local protocols which operate on one entry at a time. We show that under both the Local Differential Privacy and Local Information Privacy leakage metrics, one can efficiently obtain optimal protocols. Furthermore, Local Information Privacy is both more closely aligned to the privacy requirements of the Privacy Funnel scenario, and more efficiently computable. We also consider the scenario where each user has multiple attributes, for which we define Side-channel Resistant Local Information Privacy, and we give efficient methods to find protocols satisfying this criterion while still offering good utility. Finally, we introduce Conditional Reporting, an explicit LIP protocol that can be used when the optimal protocol is infeasible to compute, and we test this protocol on real-world and synthetic data. Experiments on real-world and synthetic data confirm the validity of these methods.


Digital traces that people leave behind in our digitalized society can be useful evidence in criminal courts. The central question of this article (how is the use of data as evidence in Dutch criminal courts regulated and, considering how these courts deal with such data as evidence in practice, what is needed?) is answered by analyzing the relevant legal frameworks for processing data in Dutch criminal courts: criminal law and data protection law. Next, current court practices are examined, by looking at typical case law and current developments in society and technology. Comparing the legal framework and actual practices, we conclude that the existing legal framework in the Netherlands does not obstruct the collection of data for evidence, but that regulation on collection (in criminal law) and regulation on processing and analysis (in data protection law) are not integrated. Remarkable is the almost complete absence of regulation of automated data analysis – in contrast with the many rules for data collection.


With increasing human population and energy consumption, it is obvious that we need to find alternative sources of energy. Of all renewable energy sources, solar power is one of the most easily exploitable. It is abundant and adaptable to a wide variety of applications that produce energy. To be able to use the sun as an energy source, an effective photosensitizer will play a critical role.
We find that polypyridine complexes of Ru(II) show excited state characteristics that are favorable for certain photoredox behavior. In this dissertation we will consider two applications of this property:
1. Use of Ru(II) polypyridine complexes as sensitizers for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photoexcited complex can inject an electron into the conduction band of a semi-conductor as the critical step in a possible solar cell.
2. The use of the excited state properties Ru(II) polypyridine complexes to facilitate the bond breaking and bond making steps in the decomposition of water into its elements, thus accomplishing artificial photosynthesis.
The incorporation of an additional non-coordinating nitrogen into the 4-position of 2,2'-bipyridine is anticipated to lower the π* level of the ligand, causing a red-shift of the MLCT band which might increase the light-harvesting efficiency. To this purpose, a series of alkyl substituted 4-(pyrid-2'-yl)-pyrimidines and 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)-quinoxalines and their ruthenium polypyridyl complexes were synthesized. To extend the absorption spectrum further into the IR region [Ru(48)(NCS)3] was synthesized as an analog to the "black dye". The operating principles of the DSSC, design, synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of the studied dyes are discussed in Chapter 3.
The 2,2'-polymethylene-3,3'-bi-4-azaacridines 76a-d and [Ru(76a-d)(tpy)(H2O)]2+ and [Ru(76a-d)(bpy)2]2+ complexes were synthesized to study possible excited-state proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions. An additional benzo ring fused to the 6,7-position of the 1,8-naphthyridine unit extends the π-conjugation and is expected to help stabilize an intermediate radical anion that might be formed in the excited state. The synthesis, characterization and properties of these complexes are discussed in Chapter 4.
The ruthenium complexes of [Ru(84-85,102)(4-pic)2(H2O)]2+ have been studied for water oxidation. The synthesis, characterization, properties, and catalytic activity of these complexes are discussed in Chapter 5.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
A transpulmonary thermal-dye dilution (TDD) technique using cold indocyanine green dye was utilized to monitor cardiac index (CI) and preload in patients after heart transplantation. Preload, determined by intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) and global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), was compared to central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and was correlated with stroke volume index (SVI).

DESIGN
Prospective study.

SETTING
Cardiac surgery ICU at a university hospital.

PATIENTS
Forty patients (34 men, 6 women) with a mean (+/- SD) age of 54.4+/-8.5 years after orthotopic heart transplantation.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
CI and preload measurements were performed with TDD and pulmonary artery catheters in the ICU at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. The femoral artery CI was compared with the pulmonary artery CI. Changes in the ITBVI, GEDVI, CVP, and PAOP were correlated with changes in the SVI. No difference was found between the femoral and pulmonary arterial CIs (r = 0.98 [bias, 0.35 L/min/m(2)]; p<0.01). There was no statistically significant correlation between changes in the SVI and changes in CVP (r = -0.23,) and PAOP (r = -0.06). However, the ITBVI (r = 0.65; p<0.01) and the GEDVI (r = 0.73; p<0.01) were significantly correlated to changes in the SVI. Changes in the same direction occurred between the SVI and the GEDVI as well as between the SVI and the ITBVI in 76.3% and 71.9% of patients, respectively, while CVP and PAOP also changed in the same direction as SVI in only 35.1% and 36.9% of patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION
ITBVI and GEDVI are more reliable preload parameters than CVP and PAOP. Even in denervated hearts, ITBVI and GEDVI show significant correlations with SVI. The transpulmonary indicator dilution technique is promising and should be investigated further.


The book provides a diachronic analysis of the origins and development of the main theoretical-political categories in Gramsci's Prison Notebooks.


The non-breeding period of pelagic seabirds, and particularly the moulting stage, is an important, but understudied part of their annual cycle as they are hardly accessible outside of the breeding period. Knowledge about the moulting ecology of seabirds is important to understand the challenges they face outside and within the breeding season. Here, we combined stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) signatures of rectrices grown during the non-breeding period of two pairs of storm-petrel species breeding in the northern (European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus, ESP; Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous, LSP) and southern (black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica, BBSP; Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus, WSP) hemispheres to determine differences in moulting ranges within and between species. To understand clustering patterns in δ13C and δ18O moulting signatures, we examined various variables: species, sexes, years, morphologies (feather growth rate, body mass, tarsus length, wing length) and δ15N. We found that different factors could explain the differences within and between the four species. We additionally employed a geographical distribution prediction model based on oceanic δ13C and δ18O isoscapes, combined with chlorophyll-a concentrations and observational data to predict potential moulting areas of the sampled feather type. The northern species were predicted to moult in temperate and tropical Atlantic zones. BBSP was predicted to moult on the southern hemisphere north of the Southern Ocean, while WSP was predicted to moult further North, including in the Arctic and northern Pacific. While moulting distribution can only be estimated on large geographical scales using δ13C and δ18O, validating predictive outcomes with food availability proxies and observational data may provide valuable insights into important moulting grounds. Establishing those, in turn, is important for conservation management of elusive pelagic seabirds.


Understanding hunter satisfactions can lead to improved wildlife management policy and practice. Whereas previous work has suggested that hunters often seek multiple satisfactions (achievement, affiliation, appreciation), little is known about how satisfactions might vary with target species. Additionally, past research has mostly gathered data using interviews and surveys, which might limit scope as well as introduce strategic bias for potentially provocative subjects such as hunting. To address these gaps, we analyzed data from online hunting forums, which provide an open-access source of peer-to-peer discussion that is geographically and taxonomically broad. We used directed qualitative content analysis to analyze hunting narratives for satisfactions by coding 2,864 phrases across 455 hunting "stories," and compared patterns of dominant (most frequent) and multiple satisfactions between target species type (ungulates and carnivores) using forums from 3 regions: British Columbia, Canada; Texas, USA; and North America-wide. We found that achievement was the dominant satisfaction in 81% of ungulate and 86% of carnivore stories. Appreciation was nearly absent as a dominant satisfaction in carnivore stories.We found that 62% of ungulate and 53% of carnivore stories had multiple satisfactions present, indicating that appreciation and affiliation play important secondary satisfaction roles even when achievement is dominant. If these data are broadly representative of hunters on a larger scale, management policy instruments that ignore achievement may not evoke change in hunter behavior, particularly involving carnivore target species. Despite limitations associated with online forums (e.g., nonrepresentative of all hunters), they provide a new and valuable resource for wildlife management research. 2017 The Authors.Wildlife Society Bulletin published byWiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.


OBJECTIVE
Despite the rising number of patients with diabetes and hypertension in India, there is a dearth of nationwide, comprehensive prevalence data on these diseases. Our study aimed at collecting data on the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and the underlying risk factors in various outpatient facilities throughout India.

METHODS
This cross-sectional study was planned to be conducted in 10 Indian states, one state at a time. It was targeted to enroll about 2,000 patients from 100 centers in each state. Each center enrolled the first 10 patients (≥18 years of age, not pregnant, signed consent) per day on two consecutive days. "Diabetes" and "hypertension" were defined by the 2008 American Diabetes Association and the Joint National Committee's 7(th) Report guidelines, respectively. Patient data (demographics, lifestyle factors, medical history, and laboratory diagnostic results) were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS
During 2009-2010, in total, 15,662 eligible patients (54.8% males; mean age, 48.9±13.9 years) from eight states were enrolled. Diabetes was prevalent in 5,427 (34.7%) patients, and 7,212 (46.0%) patients had hypertension. Diabetes and hypertension were coexistent in 3,227 (20.6%) patients. Among those whose disease status was not known at enrollment, 7.2% (793 of 11,028) and 22.2% (2,408 of 10,858) patients were newly diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, respectively; additionally, 18.4% (2,031 of 11,028) were classified as having prediabetes and 60.1% (6,521 of 10,858) as having prehypertension. A positive association (P<0.05) was observed between diabetes/hypertension and age, familial history of either, a medical history of cardiovascular disorders, alcohol consumption, and diet.

CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that the substantial burden of diabetes and hypertension is on the rise in India. Patient awareness and timely diagnosis and intervention hold the key to limiting this twin epidemic.


The authors have developed an improved assay for von Willebrand factor (VIIIVWF) utilizing 4% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to freeze formalin-fixed washed platelets. A platelet aggregometer is used to conduct the assay. The platelets are thawed and an activity curve is established using normal pooled plasma to support ristocetin-induced agglutination. The VIIIVWF level in unknown plasma can then be measured. The platelet preparation is stable for more than a year. Correlation of VIIIVWF measured by this system and Factor VIII antigen (VIIIAg) measured by electroimmunodiffusion was excellent. This is evidence that these two properties reside on the same molecule. Neither VIIIVWF nor VIIIAg correlates well with Factor VIII antihemophilic factor (VIIIAHF).


Millimeter wave therapy has been reported to reduce the toxic side effects of chemo- and radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer. In order to understand the mechanisms involved in this reduction, the effect of millimeter electromagnetic waves (MWs) on catalase activity was examined in mouse blood. SKH-1 hairless mice were irradiated on their midbacks with 42.2±0.2 GHz millimeter waves. The incident power density used was 31±5 mW/cm2 and the peak SAR was 622±100 W/kg as measured using infrared thermography. The animals were irradiated before or after administration of cyclophosphamide (CPA), an anticancer drug. The sham control groups were treated in a similar manner, but not irradiated. MW irradiation, before or after administration of CPA did not significantly reduce the toxic effect of CPA on catalase activity in mouse blood.


Competency Mapping is an important and an essential exercise for the sustenance and development of the organization. Every firm should have well defined roles and list of competencies required to perform each role effectively. Such list should be used for recruitment, placements and training needs identification, performance management, and promotions. In performing or carrying out work, it is essential that the required job skills sets first be articulated. This information not only helps to identify individuals who have the matching skills for doing the work but also the skills that will enhance the successful performance of the work. Yet often to perform well, it is not enough just to have these skills. It is also critical to complement the skills with the necessary knowledge and attitudes. The intent of this project report is to understand the concept of competency mapping and its impact on HR practices, in particular and the organization as a whole in general.


Degradation of mitochondrial translation products in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria was studied by selectively labelling these entities in vivo in the presence of cycloheximide and following their fate in isolated mitochondria. One-third to one-half of the mitochondrial translation products are shown to be degraded, depending on the culture growth phase, with an approximate half-life of 35 min. This process is shown to be ATP-dependent, enhanced in the presence of puromycin and inhibited by chloramphenicol. Further, the proteolysis is suppressed by detergents and is insensitive to antisera against yeast proteinases A and B when measured in mitochondria or 'inside-out' submitochondrial particles. It is concluded that the breakdown of mitochondrial translation products is most probably due to the action of endogenous proteinase(s) associated with the mitochondrial inner membrane. This proteinase is inhibited by phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride, leupeptin, antipain and chymostatin.


: Four healthy, fully conscious, 50- to 80-kg Yucatan miniature swine were fitted with carotid artery and jugular, portal, and hepatic vein catheters and hepatic artery and portal vein flow cuffs to determine transhepatic kinetics and insulin secretion. Three days later, after a 3-hour control period, the pigs were given IV sodium dichloroacetate (30 mg/kg of body weight as a bolus and 30 mg/kg/hr, as an infusion) for 6 hours. Arterial lactate concentrations decreased during the dichloroacetate infusion, but pyruvate concentrations were unaltered. The whole body rate of appearance and disappearance of glucose decreased, but plasma glucose concentrations did not change markedly. Limb skin surface temperatures increased, indicating a peripheral vasodilatory effect. Dichloroacetate had little effect on mean arterial pressure and hepatosplanchnic blood flow. Dichloroacetate may be effective as a hypolactatemic agent for lactic acidosis in pigs.


The search of methods to ease the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as early as possible is in the center of attention. Such methods (biomarkers) are a range of blood or CSF tests on one hand, and several types of neuroimaging scans on the other. Biomarkers are going to be included not only in the neuroscience research area but also in the diagnosis process with a practical application in the next years. The potential for these biomarkers to serve diagnostic purposes of AD has been highlighted in the proposed diagnostic criteria for preclinical AD from an NIH/NIA working group (Sperling et al., 2011). In these criteria, biomarkers are defined in terms of whether they reflect Aβ deposition, tau deposition, or signs of neuronal injury. Markers of Aβ deposition include both positron-emission tomography (PET) evidence of Aβ deposition and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures of lower Aβ42 levels, using a variety of specific ligands. Markers of tau accumulation include CSF measures of increased total tau or phosphorylated-tau (p-tau). Together with low CSF Aβ42, elevated CSF tau provides a high likelihood of progression to AD in patients with MCI (mild cognitive impairment). A third group of biomarkers reflect biochemical changes related to processes such as cell death, synaptic damage, oxidative stress, or inflammation that may be part of the cascade of events that mediate damage, or the response to damage, in AD. This is a field, as many others in science, that suffers a quick evolution every year; and the moment of apply biomarkers in clinical practice is coming. It is necessary to make the clinical community aware of these scientific advances in a clear and concise manner, as well as counting with references that can guide our clinical practice with a consensus point of view.

Many of the images coming both from laboratory and neuroimaging studies are very illustrative. These images, accompanied by a short description, can perfectly explain the main results and usefulness of each biomarker. And this is just what the Atlas created by Dr Manuel Menendez does (Menendez Gonzalez, 2011). The objective of this book is to summarize the most important studies made in this field. Few publications have systematically compiled results on this topic and none as an atlas. The book starts clarifying concepts as "biomarker", "mild cognitive impairment" and other preclinical conditions, and then focus on classification and description of all biomarkers for AD. A collection of imagines selected from outstanding research studies are provided for both laboratory and neuroimaging biomarkers. Finally the author finishes with a chapter on the rational use of biomarkers for AD in the clinical setting.

Readers will be interested in this publication because it allows reviewing the current status of research at the time that visualizing outstanding results easily. The possibility of coming across an optimal and well done review of biomarkers for AD is crucial not only for expertees, but also for the large public seeking to make a first approach to the world of biomarkers for AD. Such an easy to use manual, with the purpose to make the broad and often confusing biomarkers discussion surrounding AD accessible to a wider audience, notably in the clinic, is invaluable. The contents seem adequate, and Dr. Menendez has a well-established track record in this field that ensures the quality of the final product, and therefore I am certain the scientific contents are solid. Overall it is a solid and timely proposal, at a competitive price range, which I am sure will make an impact where it matters the most, in the clinic with patients.


BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular and supraventricular complexes (PVC and PsVC) are frequent and often symptomatic. The magnesium (Mg) ion plays a role in the physiology of cell membranes and cardiac rhythm. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether the administration of Mg Pidolate (MgP) in patients with PVC and PsVC is superior to placebo (P) in improving symptoms and arrhythmia frequency. METHODS: Randomized double-blind study with 60 consecutive symptomatic patients with more than 240 PVC or PsVC on 24-hour Holter monitoring who were selected to receive placebo or MgP. To evaluate symptom improvement, a categorical and a specific questionnaire for symptoms related to PVC and PsVC was made. Improvement in premature complex density (PCD) per hour was considered significant if percentage reduction was >70% after treatment. The dose of MgP was 3.0 g/day for 30 days, equivalent to 260mg of Mg element. None of the patients had structural heart disease or renal failure. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 33 were female (55%). Ages ranged from 16 to 70 years old. In the MgP group, 76.6% of patients had a PCD reduction >70%, 10% of them >50% and only 13.4% <50%. In the P group, 40% showed slight improvement, <30%, in the premature complexes frequency (p < 0.001). Symptom improvement was achieved in 93.3% of patients in the MgP group, compared with only 16.7% in the P group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Oral Mg supplementation decreases PCD, resulting in symptom improvement.


Application of legume green manure (GM) is suggested to be effective in increasing the availability of native soil phosphorus (P) and the dissolution and utilization of phosphate rock (PR)-P by food crops.

Experiments were conducted to study the dynamics of extractable P (P extracted by Bray-1-extracting solution) of an Ultisol amended with or without GM residues of contrasting P concentrations in the absence of growing plants. In two separate experiments, GM residues of Aschynomene afraspera (a flood-tolerant legume) and of Crotalaria micans (upland) with varying P concentrations were added to an acidic soil amended with PR-P or triple superphosphate (TSP) in plastic bottles. Soil moisture was brought to field capacity of the soil in the upland experiment and saturated with distilled water in the lowland setup. This was done to simulate aerobic upland and anaerobic lowland soil conditions in the relevant plastic bottles. Only P concentration of the residues added varied, while lignin and C : N ratios were similar. A temperature of 25°C was maintained throughout the experiment.

Changes in soil extractable Bray-1-P were measured at the end of the incubation period (60 or 80 d). In the aerobic soils, extractable P in the combined PR+GM or TSP+GM treatments was significantly lower than in the PR- or TSP- treated soils. The amendment with GM residues alone significantly increased Bray-1-P over the unamended control in the case of the inorganic P-fertilized GM residues. The trend in extractable P was similar in the soils incubated under anaerobic conditions. However, in the case of PR, concentrations of P extracted by Bray-1 solution did not significantly change in the presence or absence of GM.

The results suggest that the incorporation of GM residues with low P concentration does not lead to a net P release in upland or lowland soils. These results have implications for nutrient cycling in farming systems in W Africa as most of the soils are poor and very low in available P.


SUMMARY Trichomonas gallinae is an emerging pathogen in wild birds, linked to recent declines in finch (Fringillidae) populations across Europe. Globally, the main hosts for this parasite are species of Columbidae (doves and pigeons); here we carry out the first investigation into the presence and incidence of Trichomonas in four species of Columbidae in the UK, through live sampling of wild-caught birds and subsequent PCR. We report the first known UK cases of Trichomonas infection in 86% of European Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur sampled, along with 86% of Eurasian Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto, 47% of Woodpigeons Columba palumbus and 40% of Stock Doves Columba oenas. Birds were more likely to be infected if the farm provided supplementary food for gamebirds. We found three strains of T. gallinae and one strain clustering within the Trichomonas tenax clade, not previously associated with avian hosts in the UK. One T. gallinae strain was identical at the ITS/5.8S/ITS2 ribosomal region to that responsible for the finch trichomonosis epizootic. We highlight the importance of increasing our knowledge of the diversity and ecological implications of Trichomonas parasites in order further to understand the sub-clinical impacts of parasite infection.


Let $N$ and $H$ be groups, and let $G$ be an extension of $H$ by $N$. In this article we describe the structure of the complex group ring of $G$ in terms of data associated with $N$ and $H$. In particular, we present conditions on the building blocks $N$ and $H$ guaranteeing that $G$ satisfies the zero-divisor and idempotent conjectures. Moreover, for central extensions involving amenable groups we present conditions on the building blocks guaranteeing that the Kaplansky-Kadison conjecture holds for the reduced group C*-algebra of $G$.


A common method in training neural networks is to initialize all the weights to be independent Gaussian vectors. We observe that by instead initializing the weights into independent pairs, where each pair consists of two identical Gaussian vectors, we can significantly improve the convergence analysis. While a similar technique has been studied for random inputs [Daniely, NeurIPS 2020], it has not been analyzed with arbitrary inputs. Using this technique, we show how to significantly reduce the number of neurons required for two-layer ReLU networks, both in the under-parameterized setting with logistic loss, from roughly $\gamma^{-8}$ [Ji and Telgarsky, ICLR 2020] to $\gamma^{-2}$, where $\gamma$ denotes the separation margin with a Neural Tangent Kernel, as well as in the over-parameterized setting with squared loss, from roughly $n^4$ [Song and Yang, 2019] to $n^2$, implicitly also improving the recent running time bound of [Brand, Peng, Song and Weinstein, ITCS 2021]. For the under-parameterized setting we also prove new lower bounds that improve upon prior work, and that under certain assumptions, are best possible.


This report provides input for the evaluation of the State aid rules related to environmental protection and energy, with a particular focus on the EU Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy (EEAG) applicable in 2014-2020 and on the provisions applicable to aid for environmental protection and energy (Section 7) of Commission Regulation (EU) 651/2014 (GBER). The overall objective of the report is to provide background information for the review of these provisions. The topics covered in the report are related to the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of the State aid rules.


The aim of the project is to increase the productivity of Danfoss' assembly lines across the manufacturing facility at Ames, Iowa by continuously monitoring the performance with the help of a real-time tracking tool. The efficiency of the employees at each of the stations in the assembly lines, the time taken to procure the products or parts, the test time and the paint time, all impact the performance and production rate within the facility. Also, keeping few attributes constant, the time taken for the machines to pass a particular station within an assembly line determines the health of the assembly line and requires continuous monitoring. Minute errors on the assembly lines could stall production for hours resulting in an immense loss to the giant manufacturing companies like Danfoss. Therefore, the project is about implementing an algorithm that will monitor both the number of workers per shift per day at the assembly lines and the status of the machines on the line as they pass through each station on the assembly lines. On the other hand, a user-interactive dashboard allows the workers to monitor their progress versus the expected progress for the day. The live dashboard is scalable to other Danfoss assembly lines as a daily monitoring system.


Objective:This work establishes an animal model for nonadjustable gastric banding and characterizes the effect of gastric banding on esophageal physiology. Summary Background Data:Obstruction at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) results in esophageal dilation and aperistalsis. Although laparoscopic gastric banding as a primary treatment of morbid obesity has been widely accepted, the effects of this therapy on esophageal function remain unknown. Methods:Twenty-five opossums were randomly divided into sham (n = 5), EGJ band (n = 5), and gastric band (n = 15) groups. Gastric and EGJ bands were surgically placed, and esophageal manometry was performed prebanding, at 2-week intervals during the banding period (up to 14 weeks), and 2 and 4 weeks after band removal. Results:Manometric measures were equivalent prior to banding in all groups. There were no changes in LES or esophageal pressures during the study period in the sham group. During banding, there was a 36% decrease in baseline mean resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure in the gastric band group (P = 0.003). Mean distal esophageal peristaltic pressure decreased from baseline by 36% in gastric band animals (P < 0.001). The incidence of esophageal motility disorder during the study period for sham, EGJ band, and gastric band groups, was 2.9%, 42.1%, and 31.3%, respectively (P = 0.001, P = 0.381, pairwise comparisons of gastric band vs. sham and gastric band versus EGJ groups, respectively). Immediately prior to band removal, the probability of an abnormal peristaltic sequence with each swallow was 1%, 38%, and 16% for sham, EGJ, and gastric band groups, respectively (P < 0.005, pairwise comparisons of band groups with sham). Conclusions:Nonadjustable gastric banding results in impaired esophageal body motility, a reduction in esophageal peristaltic pressure, and a reduction in resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure. These findings suggest that gastric banding causes esophageal outlet obstruction and subsequent decompensation of peristaltic function as well as a compromise of the native antireflux mechanism.


People living with chronic illness experience impairment in various ways, not the least of which is how they are sometimes marginalised by the people with whom they interact. Over the last few decades, as social science research has moved away from the biomedical model, research methodologies have been developed to allow the voices of people with illness or disabilities to be heard and not only to be represented by others. However, these methodologies may not go as far in redressing power imbalances as was hoped, and participants' voices are often still mediated and subjugated to the researcher's requirements. As a person who has lived with a chronic condition all my life, I am concerned about how I am heard and by whom, as this has often affected my self-perception and sometimes even my safety. I am also concerned about doing violence to those about whom I speak and disempowering them further. My doctoral research concerned the problematic of writing about my own experience of a chronic illness. I chose a methodology, autoethnography, that allowed me to write solely about my own experience. In so doing, I was able to consider the complexity of my own academic and narrative voices, individually and in combination. In this paper I explore the methodological and epistemological concerns around my decision to use autoethnography, as well as the sometimes surprising issues I navigated when doing so. One of these issues was the juxtapositioning of different types of texts I had written. In isolation, some of the texts show a clear influence of the very discourses to which I was trying to provide counter-narratives. When read together with other texts, they reveal a complex web of paradoxes, tensions, and silences, which allowed me to generate new narratives and to question assumptions – my own and other people's.


The core-shell CdTe/ZnS quantum dots were prepared with an improved process in aqueous phase. CdTe QDs were synthesized under conditions of pH 9.1, 96 °C, refluxing for 5h, and which was used as core material; ZnS was formed as shell material to enhance the optical properties. Optical properties were characterized with fluorescence spectrum (FS), and morphology of QDs was investigated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method. Moreover, composition and formation of CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs was characterized via x-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Optimum conditions were investigated to obtain the qualified CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs, the results indicated QDs with high quantum yields and fluorescence intensity were achieved under conditions of pH 9.0, 45 °C, refluxing for 1h, and v/v/v ratio of CdTe/Na2S/ZnSO4 is 4/1/1. The TEM data indicated that average size of 5 nm CdTe core was prepared, and CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs with average size of 11 nm were achieved under the optimum conditions. ca 30nm of red shift of a maximum emission wavelength from ca 530 nm (CdTe) to 560 nm (CdTe/ZnS) was observed via FS under the optimum conditions, which inferred the growth of QDs and formation of ZnS shells. Furthermore, the enhanced fluorescence intensity of CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs was detected and over two times of fluorescence intensity was increased after formation of ZnS shell. The obtained QDs will have great potential application in biological researches and biosensing system based on fluorescence resonance energy transition (FRET).


Bayesian model based approaches for Phase I dose-finding studies are popular procedures to implement due to the efficiency of updating information sequentially after accruing information. Traditionally dose-finding studies for cancer treatments focus on the occurrence of a patient's first dose limiting toxicity in the first cycle of therapy. This thesis develops a Bayesian decision procedure featuring an Interval-Censored Survival model to incorporate information from multiple cycles of therapy. The use of data from multiple cycles of therapy should produce more precise estimates of target doses to recommend for further investigation in later phases of drug development, in a shorter amount of time. An increasingly desired approach in dose-finding procedures is to provide personalised procedures to target therapy to individual tolerances. Features such as allowing intra-patient dose adjustments and incorporating baseline characteristics to investigate the underlying drug tolerance of population subgroups are investigated within the use of the Interval-Censored Survival Decision Procedure (ICSDP). The inclusion of time-varying covariates is also possible when using the ICSDP, which is investigated through including lower grade toxicities as a marker for tolerance. Individual target doses can be estimated, but the analysis of dose limiting toxicities alone provides a population target dose to recommend for further investigation. Results show the ICSDP as an efficient approach to use when observing a patient's first dose limiting toxicity. Target doses are estimated with good precision, comparable to or better than existing designs for dose-finding, and are generally obtained in a shorter amount of time. Multiple target doses can be produced for different subgroups of the population when baseline characteristics are used and intrapatient dose adjustments are possible between cycles. When using intra-patient adjustments based on observation of lower grade toxicities, personalised dose-escalations lead to estimates of individual target doses and a population target dose with good precision in a reduced amount of time.


A man in his 60s presented with asymptomatic peeling of the hands and feet. The patient stated that this had occurred "for as long as he could remember." The patient stated the peeling skin occurred predominately on his hands and feet but also occurred, less frequently, on his knees. The patient denied pruritus or burning sensation. He complained of hyperhidrosis, which seemed to exacerbate the condition, as well as mechanical trauma, including activities such as long walks when wearing shoes. The patient denied any change in the condition with seasonal variation. He denied having any other family members with similar findings. Physical examination revealed fine scaling, bilaterally, on the dorsal surface of the hands and erythematous erosions with peripheral desquamation located on the dorsal and lateral aspects of the hand and digits. (Figure, A and B) A punch biopsy was performed on a blister found on the right palmar surface, and the specimen was processed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (Figure, C). What is your diagnosis?


It is often desired to analyze and process continuous-time signals using a computer. However, in order to process a continuous-time signal, it must first be digitized. This means that the continuous-time signal must be sampled and quantized, forming a digital signal that can be stored in a computer. Analog systems can be converted to their discrete-time counterparts, and these digital systems then process discrete-time signals to produce discrete-time outputs. The digital output can then be converted back to an analog signal, or reconstructed, through a digital-to-analog converter. Figure 1 illustrates an example, containing the three general components described above: a sampling system, a digital signal processor, and a reconstruction system. When designing such a system, it is essential to understand the effects of the sampling and reconstruction processes. Sampling and reconstruction may lead to different types of distortion, including low-pass filtering, aliasing, and quantization. The system designer must insure that these distortions are below acceptable levels, or are compensated through additional processing.


332 pages $114 For various reasons, it may be necessary to determine the composition of a coating, plastic, adhesive, or ink. This book provides a systematic approach for analyzing the components of these materials in order to identify them and determine their relative amounts. The first third of the book describes analytical methods, including the operating principles, equipment, sample preparation, and applications. Although the coverage of each technique is only a few pages, any method is that is commonly available is discussed for both surface and bulk analysis. These include: optical and electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, microprobe, Auger, secondary ion mass spectrometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, infrared analysis of surfaces and bulk, contact angle, atomic absorption and emission spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance methods, thermal analysis, viscometry, X-ray microscopy, mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The remainder of the book is directed at particular types of materials, including paints, plastics, adhesives, and inks. Each material is discussed in a set of three chapters. The first describes the formulation of the particular class of material and types of components commonly used. The second chapter describes specific examples of each of the various components. The final chapter in each set describes the deformulation process, including a process flow chart, analytical methods to be used to identify the various components, and sketches of specialized apparatus, where appropriate. In all, this book should be a useful reference for anyone involved in characterizing materials of these types. -K. E Schoch,]r. (800) 221-9369 IPNs Around the World edited by S. C. I(lm and L. H. Sperling J. Wdey and Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 htt p ://www.wile y. com


The force balance in plate tectonics is fundamentally important but poorly known. Here, we show that two prominent and seemingly unrelated observations—trench-parallel gravity anomalies along the Nazca–South America margin that coincide with the rupture zones of great earthquakes, and a rapid slowdown of Nazca–South America convergence over the past 10 m.y.—provide key insights. Both result from rapid Miocene-Pliocene uplift of the Andes and provide quantitative measures of the magnitude and distribution of plate coupling along the Nazca–South America margin. We compute the plate-tectonic force budget using global models of the faulted lithosphere coupled to high-resolution mantle circulation models and find that Andean-related plate-margin forces are comparable to plate-driving forces from the mantle, and they have sufficient magnitude to account for pronounced bathymetry variations along the trench. Our results suggest that plate coupling, gravity anomalies, and bathymetry variations along a given trench are all controlled by long-term stress variations in the upper portion of plate boundaries and that an explicit budget of driving and resisting forces in plate tectonics can be obtained. For the convergent margin considered here, spatial variations in the effective coefficient of friction associated with the distribution of lubricating sediments entering the trench are, by comparison, of minor importance.


Background Sensitivity and robustness are essential properties of circadian clock systems, enabling them to respond to the environment but resist noisy variations. These properties should be recapitulated in computational models of the circadian clock. Highly nonlinear kinetics and multiple loops are often incorporated into models to match experimental time-series data, but these also impact on model properties for clock models. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we study the consequences of complicated structure and nonlinearity using simple Goodwin-type oscillators and the complex Arabidopsis circadian clock models. Sensitivity analysis of the simple oscillators implies that an interlocked multi-loop structure reinforces sensitivity/robustness properties, enhancing the response to external and internal variations. Furthermore, we found that reducing the degree of nonlinearity could sometimes enhance the robustness of models, implying that ad hoc incorporation of nonlinearity could be detrimental to a model's perceived credibility. Conclusion The correct multi-loop structure and degree of nonlinearity are therefore critical in contributing to the desired properties of a model as well as its capacity to match experimental data.


It is essential to explore Japanese concepts in Japanese languages as intellectual tools for future studies in Asia. In order to develop Asian theories of communication, therefore, Asian communication scholars ought to engage in this important task. This paper presents such an attempt by conceptualizing the concept of omoiyari for a Japanese theory of relational communication. In social psychology, the Japanese concept of omoiyari has been examined in terms of altruism, sympathy, empathy, and prosocial behavior, and a variety of cognitive models of prosocial behavior arousal have been proposed. In the field of communication studies, however, the concept of omoiyari has not attracted much scholarly attention, although aspects of harmonius Japanese communication are well documented. By synthesizing the relevant literature on omoiyari across disciplines, then, this paper formulates a definition of omoiyari for Japanese communication research, lays out its basic assumptions, and characterizes it in light of four major semantic areas of omoiyari: (1) prayer, (2) encouragement, (3) help, and (4) support. Introduction "Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return to you." --a saying reflecting omoiyari When Japanese people feel another's kindness toward them and see someone's warm-hearted feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, they appreciate that person's omoiyari. The primary meaning of omoiyari is "an individual's sensitivity to imagine another's feelings and personal affairs, including his or her circumstances" (Shinmura, 1991, p. 387, translated by Hara). Omoiyari has attracted non-Japanese scholars' attention as one of the most important ideas in Japanese cultural value and communication (e.g., Lebra, 1976; Travis, 1998; Wierzbicka, 1997). The word omoiyari is often seen on signs bearing a school motto and at police stations. In many surveys of public opinion, Japanese people have listed omoiyari as a key concept on which they put high value. Although omoiyari -based behavior and activity are seen across cultures, Japanese people are the ones who put the highest value on omoiyari all over the world (Kikuchi, 1988; Akanuma, 2004). This humane omoiyari concept has been emphasized in moral education at schools in Japan as the guiding principle to communicate with others (Ito, 1998a; 1998b). In educational psychology in Japan, the importance of omoiyari has been emphasized with its developmental views of children (e.g., Kikuchi, 1988). Recent inhumane crimes such as ill-treatment bullying or indiscriminate murder on the street are caused by the lack of omoiyari, and the importance of omoiyari has undergone a reevaluation in terms of education in the schools (Kanno, 1988). Psychological aspects of omoiyari such as empathy and sympathy have been studied,


Background: Persephone is a phase III randomised controlled trial comparing six months of trastuzumab to the standard 12 month duration in patients with HER2 positive early breast cancer in respect of disease free survival, safety and cost-effectiveness. A Persephone sister study, the PHARE trial run by the National Institute for Cancer, successfully closed to recruitment in 2010. A prospective meta-analysis is planned once each trial has reported individually. Methods: A total of 4000 patients will be randomised into each of the two treatment groups. Eligible participants must be Her2 positive with a histological diagnosis of invasive breast cancer and no evidence of metastatic disease. Patients will receive neo-adjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and have no previous diagnosis of malignancy unless managed by surgical treatment only and disease-free for 10 years. Patients can be randomised at any time prior to receiving their 10th cycle of trastuzumab. The power calculations assume that the disease-free survival (DFS) of the standard treatment of 12 months trastuzumab will be 80% at 4 years. On this basis, with 5% 1-sided significance and 85% power, a trial randomising 2000 in each arm will have the ability to prove non-inferiority of the experimental arm defining non-inferiority as 'no worse than 3%' below the control arm 4 year DFS. Primary outcome is disease-free survival non-inferiority (equivalence) of 6 months trastuzumab compared with 12 months in women with early breast cancer. Secondary outcomes are overall survival non-inferiority (equivalence); expected incremental cost effectiveness; cardiology function and analysis of predictive factors for development of cardiac damage. Two mandatory sub-studies are: Tumour block collection to discover molecular predictors of survival with respect to duration of trastuzumab treatment and blood sample collection, used to discover single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as genetic/pharmaco-genetic determinants of prognosis, toxicity and treatment outcome. A third optional sub-study is the quality of life questionnaires. Results: Persephone opened to recruitment in October 2007. To date, 2152 patients (54%) of its total have been randomised from 147 UK sites. Recruitment is due to complete by December 2013 and the first planned interim analysis of the primary outcome will be mid-2016. Conclusion: The IDSMC last reviewed the trial in December 2011 and congratulated the Trial Management Group on the conduct of the trial and the quality of the data. No safety concerns were identified, and the IDSMC proposed that the trial continue to planned recruitment. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-1-03.


Abstract Various types of structures that enable a group of individuals to pool their mortality risk have been proposed in the literature. Collectively, the structures are called pooled annuity funds. Since the pooled annuity funds propose different methods of pooling mortality risk, we investigate the connections between them and find that they are genuinely different for a finite heterogeneous membership profile. We discuss the importance of actuarial fairness, defined as the expected benefits equalling the contributions for each member, in the context of pooling mortality risk and comment on whether actuarial unfairness can be seen as solidarity between members. We show that, with a finite number of members in the fund, the group self-annuitization scheme is not actuarially fair: some members subsidize the other members. The implication is that the members who are subsidizing the others may obtain a higher expected benefit by joining a fund with a more favorable membership profile. However, we find that the subsidies are financially significant only for very small or highly heterogeneous membership profiles.


Baboons, unlike many other species of nonhuman primates, rarely have spontaneous renal diseases of clinical or morphologic significance. The most common renal lesions in captive baboons were minor interstitial lymphoreticular infiltrates and hyalinization of occasional glomeruli. Embolic pyelonephritis associated with septicemia contributed to the deaths of several young baboons. One adult male had acute myoglobinuric nephrosis (Meyer-Betz disease) with extensive skeletal muscle necrosis.


Whether microbial interactions are predominantly cooperative or competitive is a central question in microbial ecology, and determines the composition and stability of microbial communities. The secretion of iron chelators called siderophores is a model system for cooperative interactions, even though these chelators can also mediate competition by depriving competitors of iron. Using a genetically engineered experimental system based on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophore pyochelin, we found that secreting siderophores to inhibit a competitor can lead to higher benefits than secreting siderophores to make iron available. Based on thermodynamic modeling, we propose that competitive inhibition by siderophores is efficient in kinetically controlled saturated systems, where dissolution of precipitated iron phases is slow. Under these conditions, met in many natural environments, secreted siderophores temporarily reduce the concentration of available iron and can thus induce growth inhibition in a competing strain, even at high iron concentrations. These findings give insight into the function of siderophores: In addition to its cooperative nature, siderophore secretion could also be a widespread mechanism for mediating competitive interactions. Our functional investigation reveals a complexity in microbial interaction networks that would remain hidden when focusing on genomic information alone.


The article discusses possible ways of implementing the course of General Surgery when teaching English-speaking students in terms of ECTS. Building an effective educational process, while teaching propaedeutic course of general surgery to English-speaking students, has certain difficulties. They are caused by both lack of practical and academic medical experience and the language barrier when communicating with patients. At the Department of General Surgery and Military Medicine in ONMU the organizational, informational and methodological work were carried out to improve the provision of the quality and efficiency of learning involving primarily students' independent work expecting a teacher to organize the educational process effectively and create the conditions aimed at student's motivation to educate themselves. At the department there are available many textbooks and other teaching and learning materials prepared by our staff in English. When providing the students with the tasks to prepare, the teacher emphasizes the important aspects of the topic and recommends additional literature for in-depth study of an issue. Thus, the organization of educational process at the Department of General Surgery according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulative System (ECTS) contributes to more adequate and thorough study of the subject and practical skills. Working with the teacher using individually optimized format of cooperation "student and teacher", especially in small groups, allows us to use the study time more efficiently.


Abstract We present a language model that combines a large parametric neural network (i.e., a transformer) with a non-parametric episodic memory component in an integrated architecture. Our model uses extended short-term context by caching local hidden states—similar to transformer-XL—and global long-term memory by retrieving a set of nearest neighbor tokens at each timestep. We design a gating function to adaptively combine multiple information sources to make a prediction. This mechanism allows the model to use either local context, short-term memory, or long-term memory (or any combination of them) on an ad hoc basis depending on the context. Experiments on word-based and character-based language modeling datasets demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed method compared to strong baselines.


We have examined a method to address the defocusing problem on target samples in a microfluidic pathway by an optical approach and report our experiment. An imaging optics has been constructed for extension of the depth of focused field. This system consists of four parts: (1) a low numerical aperture (NA; i.e., large depth of field) objective lens; (2) a zoom lens; (3) a light-emitting diode (LED) illumination source; and (4) a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. As a low NA objective lens contributes to the extension of the depth of field and a zoom lens contributes to the optimization of pixel resolution on an image sensor of a camera, the same resolution as that of a 40× objective lens was acquired by the combination of a 10× objective lens and a 4× zoom lens as the spatial resolution of the latter combination was within the size of pixels of the CCD camera. As a result, improved depth of field was obtained at any magnification from 10× to 40×, and it was indicated that an extended depth of field optics for image-based microfluidic pathways such as in flow cytometry can be constructed using a low NA objective lens and a zoom lens.


Monocrystalline ([100], [110], [111] and [123]) and nanocrystalline (grain size 70 nm) tantalum were subjected to shock compression generated by high energy laser (up to 850 J), creating pressure pulses with initial duration of 3 ns and amplitudes of up to 145 GPa in the Omega facility (LLE, U. of Rochester). The laser beam, with a spot radius of 1 mm, created a crater of significant depth ( 200 [mu]m). Twins were observed beneath the crater surface ( 42 [mu]m) by back-scattered SEM in monocrystalline Ta. Transmission electron microscopy revealed profuse mechanical twinning within about 1.5 mm from the energy deposition surface at 684 J laser energy, corresponding to an approximate pressure of 35 GPa. Profuse omega (HCP) phase structures also been observed in [110] and [123] monocrystalline Ta at approximate pressure of 70 GPa. For nanocrystalline Ta, TEM revealed few dislocations within the grains and an absence of twins at the highest shock pressure (842 J). The decay of the pulse through the specimens was accompanied by an attendant decrease in the density of shock-generated dislocations. Dislocation densities as a function of pressure were calculated for the case of homogeneous nucleation and for Orowan hardening. The observed results are compared with predictions. Constitutive models for both homogeneous dislocation generation and Orowan dislocation multiplication were used. Nanocrystalline tantalum was prepared by severe plastic deformation (high pressure torsion) from [001] monocrystalline Ta. Hardness measurements were conducted and show a rise as the energy deposition surface is approached, evidence of shock-induced defects. The grain size was found to increase as a result of thermally- induced grain growth. The experimentally measured dislocation densities and threshold stress for twinning are compared with predictions using analyses based on physically-based constitutive models, and the similarities and differences are discussed in terms of the mechanisms of defect generation. The predicted threshold pressure for twinning increases from 24 GPa for monocrystalline to 150 GPa for nanocrystalline tantalum. Calculations using the Hu-Rath analysis show that grain growth induced by the post shock-induced temperature rise is consistent with the experimental results: grains grow to 800 nm.


Over the two centuries since the arrival of European settlers in Austmlia, the material culture and lifestyle of the indigenous Aboriginal people of Australia ha< undergone dramatic change. Based on qualitative fieldwork in three remote Aboriginal communities in north-western Australia, this study examines the emergence of unique consumer cultures that appear to differ significantly from mainstream Australia and indeed from other societies. The study finds that the impact of non-indigenous goods and external cultural values upon these communities has been significant. However, although anthropologists feared some fifty years ago that Aboriginal cultural values and traditions had been destroyed, this study concludes that they are still powerful modemting forces in each of the communities studieC', The most powerful are non-possessiveness, immediacy in consumption, and a strong· sharing ethos. Unlike findings in the so-called Second and Third Worlds, these Fourth World consumer cultures have not developed an unquenchable desire for manufactured consumer goods. Instead, non-traditional consumption practices have been modified by tmdition oriented practices. The consumer cultures that have emerged through a synthesis of global and local values and· practices have involved Aboriginal adoption, adaption and resistance practices. This process has resulted in both positive and negative impacts on the Aboriginal people of these communities. Ways of dealing with the negative effects have been suggested, while the positive effects have been highlighted as examples of what can possibly be learned from Aboriginal culture. The study also finds differences between the emerging consumer cultures of each community, concluding that this can be attributed to historical and cultural differences. The main conclusion is that the development of a global consumer culture is by no means inevitable.


n Choose the candidate's wife, means choosing someone who is expected to become a friend of life, someone who can be associates to become a mother of a child in the future. The selection of a wife who undertaken by the male, usually defined by choosing a candidate who can be thanks to all and accept any deficiencies, based on an idea that a male would choose a spouse who can complete the necessary requirements. There is currently no benchmark in selecting prospective wife sholihah making it difficult to determine the criteria for prospective wife sholihah. Therefore, it needed a decision support system that would later help parties concerned in determining the spouse, so the results are effective and efficient. In the design of decision support system required a method used for calculating the value of the value of the desired criteria. The methods that will be used in this system is a method of Technique For Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Based on the research that has been done by the author, shows that the system provides convenience for the user to choose a prospective wife sholihah, and this system is capable of helping the user to specify criteria for the candidate's wife sholihah. TOPSIS method for testing showed that of the 10 samples, the highest ranking value Basmah Nur Habibah 0.8683 value using TOPSIS method.
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Keywords: the candidate's wife, wife's election, decision support system, TOPSIS


One hundred and twelve esophageal cancer patients underwent esophagus resection with neck anastomosis of esophagus and reduced tubular stomach raised from the stomach bed and back of the aortic arc. Twelve (10.8%) cases developed early complications and 2 (1.8%) died. The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 48.7% (19/39) and 33.3% (3/9), respectively. The operative procedure, its advantages and points to be noted are discussed.


BACKGROUND
Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting autosomal recessive disorder with a highly variable clinical presentation. The classic form involves characteristic findings in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, male reproductive tract, and sweat glands and is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR ) gene. Nonclassic forms of cystic fibrosis have been associated with mutations that reduce but do not eliminate the function of the CFTR protein. We assessed whether alteration in CFTR function is responsible for the entire spectrum of variant cystic fibrosis phenotypes.

METHODS
Extensive genetic analysis of the CFTR gene was performed in 74 patients with nonclassic cystic fibrosis who had been referred by 34 medical centers. We evaluated two families that each included a proband without identified mutations and a sibling with nonclassic cystic fibrosis to determine whether there was linkage to the CFTR locus and to measure the extent of CFTR function in the sweat gland and nasal epithelium.

RESULTS
Of the 74 patients studied, 29 had two mutations in the CFTR gene, 15 had one mutation, and 30 had no mutations. A final genotype of two mutations was more common among patients who had been referred after screening for common cystic fibrosis-causing mutations identified one mutation than among those who had been referred after screening had identified no such mutations (26 of 34 patients vs. 3 of 40 patients, P<0.001). Comparison of clinical features and sweat chloride concentrations revealed no significant differences among patients with two, one, or no CFTR mutations. Haplotype analysis in the two families revealed no linkage to CFTR. Although each of the affected siblings had elevated sweat chloride concentrations, measurements of cyclic AMP-mediated ion and fluid transport in the sweat gland and nasal epithelium demonstrated the presence of functional CFTR.

CONCLUSIONS
Factors other than mutations in the CFTR gene can produce phenotypes clinically indistinguishable from nonclassic cystic fibrosis caused by CFTR dysfunction.


Scaling-up the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) strategy, Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) and improved infant feeding practices have contributed to a decline in child mortality in Zambia. Despite this progress, documentation on EPI and common childhood illnesses that are addressed in IMCI in the two districts where the study was conducted are scanty. The report below highlights findings on immunization and health status of children aged from birth-23 in two districts of Zambia, Kafue and Mazabuka. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 634 caretakers of children. Proportions were compared using the Chi-squared test at the 5% significance level. A total of 634 caretakers of children less than 2 years (from birth 23 months) were interviewed: 270 from Mazabuka and 364 from Kafue. The commonest symptoms reported in Mazabuka and Kafue were diarrhoea (50.6 vs. 37.7%), fever (48.2 vs. 33.1%), and cough (45.0 vs. 48.2%), respectively. Majority (95.4% in Mazabuka and 91.0% in Kafue) were reported sleeping with the children under the ITNs. From the cards, 70.9% of the children had received all the vaccines. Majority of children were not malnourished. Thirty percent were exclusively breastfed up to six months. This study showed a high prevalence of diarrhoea, fever and pneumonia. These common causes of illnesses in children in the two districts are those addressed in the IMCI strategy. Access to at least one vaccine was found to be optimal, but continuous utilisation for the national immunization schedule fell below the national targets and this gap needs to be addressed.


Coupled resonator optical waveguides (CROWs) are widely considered promising building blocks for the on-chip processing of wideband data-streams. The performances of these structures are much sensitive to disorder effects, affecting both losses and the maximum achievable slowing ratio. To date, how and how much disorder influences the slow-wave propagation regime is still an open issue. In this contribution, an analytical model is presented, showing the relation between the back-reflected power due to random variations in the resonant frequencies of the CROW resonators, referred to as phase disorder, and the actual group velocity of the disordered structure. The model can be applied to any CROW, independently of the architecture and technology, and is supported by numerical simulations and experimental results. The effects of an increasing phase disorder were observed in the frequency response of ring-resonator (RR) CROWs, where the resonance frequency of each RR is independently controlled by a thermal activation of the optical waveguide.


We present the simulation, fabrication, and characterization of a metallic slot grating on a silicon waveguide (30 nm slot width for a period of 500 nm). According to the simulation, the experimental measured spectrum of the structure exhibits a dip in the near-infrared region. Moreover, the finite-difference time-domain simulation shows that this device can be used as a sensor, due to its high sensitivity to the refractive index variation of the medium above and inside the cavity (η=Δλ/Δn=750 nm/refractive index unit).


Chronic myelopathy associated with T-lymphotropic virus type I (HAM) has been described as an endemic disease in several areas of the world mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The involvement of the central and the peripheral nervous system by HTLV-I observed in South America and Africa points out that this disease is a leukoencephalomyeloneuropathy. Several authors reported involvement outside the nervous system (as uveitis, lymphocytic alveolitis and arthritis, among others) in patients with HAM. In this paper we emphasize that HAM is a systemic disease whose cofactors determine the clinical picture in each patient.


Distributed computation in artificial life and complex systems is often described in terms of component operations on information: information storage, transfer and modification. Information modification remains poorly described however, with the popularly-understood examples of glider and particle collisions in cellular automata being only quantitatively identified to date using a heuristic (separable information) rather than a proper information-theoretic measure. We outline how a recently-introduced axiomatic framework for measuring information redundancy and synergy, called partial information decomposition, can be applied to a perspective of distributed computation in order to quantify component operations on information. Using this framework, we propose a new measure of information modification that captures the intuitive understanding of information modification events as those involving interactions between two or more information sources. We also consider how the local dynamics of information modification in space and time could be measured, and suggest a new axiom that redundancy measures would need to meet in order to make such local measurements. Finally, we evaluate the potential for existing redundancy measures to meet this localizability axiom.


Kingston University and St George's, University of London are running an exciting new Foundation Degree in Long Term Conditions within the framework of the new South West London Academic Network (SWan) Interprofessional Institute. Based at the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, the course is ideal for heath and social care staff working with people who may be living with a long-term condition such as the effects of a stroke, diabetes or heart problems. Colin-Thome (2007) has identified that over 15million people in this country report living with a long-term condition. They are conditions that cannot currently be cured, but can be managed by medication and other therapies; they can limit an individual's ability to cope with everyday activities (Colin-Thome, 2007). This foundation degree aims to educate healthcare support workers (HCSWs) to take on a new associate practitioner role with a unique skills set and specifically to enable them to care effectively for people living with long-term conditi...


. This paper presents a heuristic Learning-based Non-Negativity Constrained Variation (L-NNCV) aiming to search the coefficients of variational model automatically and make the variation adapt different images and problems by supervised-learning strategy. The model includes two terms: a problem-based term that is derived from the prior knowledge, and an image-driven regularization which is learned by some training samples. The model can be solved by classical (cid:34) -constraint method. Experimental results show that: the experimental effectiveness of each term in the regularization accords with the corresponding theoretical proof; the proposed method outperforms other PDE-based methods on image denoising and deblurring.


Image fusion is used to reduce the redundancy and increases the needed information in the processed image from two or more input images that have different information generated by different sources. The output image has more information and is more suitable for visual perception or processing tasks like medical imaging, remote sensing, concealed weapon detection, weather forecasting, biometrics etc. Image fusion methods basically accept only registered images to produce a high quality fused single image with spatial and spectral information. The fused image with more information will improve the performance of image analysis algorithms used in medical applications. In this paper, we proposed an image fusion algorithm based on decision approach and NSCT to improve the future resolution of the images. In this, images will be segmented into regions and decomposed into sub-images and then processed using Fuzzy Logic, the information fusion is performed using these images under the certain criteria such as non subsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) and certain fusion rules such as Fuzzy Logic, and finally these sub-images are reconstructed into the resultant image with plentiful information. The various metrices entropy, mutual information (MI) and Fusion Quality are calculated to compare the results. The proposed method is compared both subjectively as well as objectively with the other image fusion methods. The experimental results show that the proposed method is better than other fusion methods and increases the quality and PSNR of fused image.


: To assess the time needed for ultrasound examinations for physicians and assistants we carried out a survey among members of the German Association of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) in hospitals and practices. The physician's examination time for the investigation of the upper abdomen and kidneys was 12.3 min with additional time for preparation (2.9 min), for work up (2.3 min) and written documentation (3.6 min), together 21.3 min. The examination times in practices (18.9 min) are shorter than in ultrasound labs in hospitals. Assistants in ultrasound laboratories need for organisation, upkeep of equipment, to filing the images in archives etc. medium 15.2 min per patient. Assistants with exclusive employment in the ultrasound laboratory need 17.6 min (4-57 min), whereas assistants employed in the ultrasound laboratory and other departments need 12.7 min (1.6-31 min). In internal practices the desired time is 7.9 min (3.5-20 min). Because of the different organisation in the ultrasound laboratories in several hospitals and in practices a comparison of times needed by assistant personnel (or, in many cases, by the physicians who perform such work themselves) is very difficult. The examination time really needed by physicians and the time for assistant personnel are shorter than presumed earlier, but are longer than estimated in the recent discussion about money saving in medicine.


The different applications make performance evaluation for data-intensive large-scale systems become a very important work. General test methods pursue the peak value as the final result without paying enough attention on resource utilization. However, the recent studies have proved that the behavior of resources can reflect the latent problems. In this paper we present a new method called POPE (process-oriented performance evaluation), which analyses the systems combined workload characterization with resource utilization based on different node roles. It simplifies the complex system environment and its result contains much more information than before. This method has been applied to the real system with tens of nodes and it has found several key problems in design and equipments in time


Based on the fact that symmetric coupler curve can have three different tangent points with given straight-line, the three symmetric points of coupler locus was specified, and they was made into symmetric tangent points to determine the position of instant centre method. The size of the hinged four-bar linkage straight-line mechanism is determined using the position of instant centre method. The results were shown that coupler locus curve is obtained with this approach that is approximated with the intended straight-line precisely, and the basis of this approach is simpler than other analytic approaches.


Blow flies are the first insect group to colonize on a dead body and thus correct species identification is a crucial step in forensic investigations for estimating the minimum postmortem interval, as developmental times are species-specific. Due to the difficulty of traditional morphology-based identification such as the morphological similarity of closely related species and uncovered taxonomic keys for all developmental stages, DNA-based identification has been increasing in interest, especially in high biodiversity areas such as Thailand. In this study, the effectiveness of long mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II (COI and COII) sequences (1247 and 635 bp, respectively) in identifying 16 species of forensically relevant blow flies in Thailand (Chrysomya bezziana, Chrysomya chani, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya nigripes, Chrysomya pinguis, Chrysomya rufifacies, Chrysomya thanomthini, Chrysomya villeneuvi, Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia papuensis, Lucilia porphyrina, Lucilia sinensis, Hemipyrellia ligurriens, Hemipyrellia pulchra, Hypopygiopsis infumata, and Hypopygiopsis tumrasvini) was assessed using distance-based (Kimura two-parameter distances based on Best Match, Best Close Match, and All Species Barcodes criteria) and tree-based (grouping taxa by sequence similarity in the neighbor-joining tree) methods. Analyses of the obtained sequence data demonstrated that COI and COII genes were effective markers for accurate species identification of the Thai blow flies. This study has not only demonstrated the genetic diversity of Thai blow flies, but also provided a reliable DNA reference database for further use in forensic entomology within the country and other regions where these species exist.


Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are known for their superior surface properties such as surface area and porosity. Thermal decomposition of MOFs may lead to nanoporous carbon composites. These composites can be further used in various application areas. Environmental remediation is one of the most popular areas for using these composites. Nowadays, nanoporous carbon composites are used generally in supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and sensors. Besides the aforementioned application areas, these materials can be used as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and nanomotors. In this review, the preparation methods of nanoporous carbon materials will be explained and their use in environmental remediation will be summarized. The future perspectives of nanoporous carbon composites will be also discussed.


Research aimed at correcting words in text has focussed on threeprogressively more difficult problems:1) non-word error detection;2) isolated-word error correction; and3) contextdependent word correction.In response to the first problem, efficient pattern matching andn-gram analysis techniques have been developed for detectingstrings that do not appear in a given word list. In response to thesecond problem, a variety of general and application-specificspelling correction techniques have been developed. Some of themwere based on detailed studies of spelling error patterns. Inresponse to the third problem, a few experiments using naturallanguage processing tools or statis tical language models have beencarried out. This article surveys documented findings on spellingerror correction techniques, reviews the state of the art ofcontext-dependent word correction techniques, and discussesresearch issues related to all three areas of automatic errorcorrection in text.
 (The Article on which the Talk was based appeared in the December1992 Issue of Computing Surveys)


In contrast to cars, route choices for cycling are barely influenced by the respective traffic situation, but to a large extent by the routes' comfort. Especially in urban settings with several alternatives, segments with many or long stops at traffic lights and badly maintained roads are avoided due to a low comfort and cyclists vary from the shortest route. This fact is only indirectly considered in common navigation applications. This work aims to integrate surface roughness measurements collected from diverse bicycles to a joint scale via a least-squares adjustment. Data was collected using smartphones, which were mounted to bike hand bars and measured positions and vertical accelerations on user's trips. As this way sensed roughness also depends on the bike setting and type, the resulting values would be different for different users. Thus, this paper presents a novel approach to harmonize observations from differing sensitive setups. The basic concept idea of bundle block adjustment is adapted to calibrate a basic scale model and in parallel adjust the observations of surface roughness to a common scale. This way a crowd-sourced roughness map can be generated. Such a map can be used to enrich bike focused routing services and thus encourage cycling in daily live. In addition, it can also be used to derive hints for infrastructure servicing.


Introduction: Impression technique plays a pivotal role in fixed prosthodontic treatments; one of the main steps of impression is selection and preparation of an appropriate tray. Impression technique with insufficient accuracy causes distortions and complications that consequently result in treatment failure. The present study compares the impression accuracy of special and prefabricated trays in a laboratory model. This article compares the accuracy of special and prefabricated impression trays for achieving better impression and finally better crowns with good adaptation. Materials and Methods: In this study, a laboratory-fabricated resin model, resembling a mandibular first molar, was used on a dental arch and prepared by standard method for full crown restorations with a finish line of 1-mm depth and 3° to 4° convergence angle. Impression was made from a laboratory-fabricated resin model, 40 times with monophase medium-body polyvinyl siloxane in special trays and 40 times with putty and light-body polyvinyl siloxane using double-mix impression technique without spacer in prefabricated trays. To measure marginal gap, distance between the restoration margin and preparation finish line was vertically determined on each die in the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual regions. Statistical analysis was performed and data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software using independent samples t-test. The data were significantly different at P < 0.05.Results: The mean value of special tray impression (72.72) was lower than that of prefabricated tray impression (91.27). No significant difference was observed between two techniques in the mesial and buccal regions (P > 0.05). However, a significant difference was reported between the techniques in the lingual and distal regions.Conclusion: The present study indicated a higher accuracy for the special tray impression than prefabricated tray impression.


In a precise ball screw feed drive system, the backlash caused either by the manufacturing clearance between ball and ball track or by the deflection backlash induced by the external force can be eliminated by a preload. In practice, the ball screw is deemed as expired and required to be replaced when the preload loss occurs. A technique based on the method of Angular Velocity Vold-Kalman Filtering Order Tracking (AV VKF-OT) for monitoring the change of the ball pass frequency (BPF) in order to determine the onset of preload loss of a ball screw in a feed drive system is proposed. The advantage is that the vibration caused by sources other than the ball screw itself can be excluded in the measurement. Moreover, the signal that correlates directly to the moving ball and thus the preload can be extracted with a better signal to noise ratio. Tests were conducted on ball screw feed drive systems with different temperature for the performance assessment of the proposed method. It concludes that the preload loss detection using AV VKF-OT can be implemented whenever the ball screw feed drive system is warming up or have been operated for some time if the temperature varies less than 10.8C.


A study, by immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion of the shared antigens in venom from 21 species of Viperinae and Crotalinae, representing 10 different genera, has produced a number of results of taxonomie significance which are summarized schematically in the dendrogram shown in fig. 1. For the most part these immunological data confirm the accepted classification of the Viperidae which is based on comparative morphology and biogeography. Some results, on the other hand, such as the isolated position of Atheris, need confirmation with more material. Some of the conclusions reached in this study, however, appear to be of significance for an understanding of the phylogeny of the group. Amongst the Viperinae, the genera Echis and Cerastes are apparently closely related to one another and more similar to the genus Bitis than to the genus Vipera. This latter genus is clearly composed of three groups of species with V. russelli occupying an isolated position. Amongst the Crotalinae, the genus Agkistrodon is quite distinct but Trimeresurus flavoviridis did not differ immunologically from the three species of Bothrops studied. It would appear that the study of the shared antigens in snake venom is of taxonomie value both at the species group and the family levels. Occasionally, however, antigenic proteins in snakes venom are known to evolve rapidly, especially in isolated populations, and consequently the presence of a relatively small proportion of shared antigens should not necessarily be taken as evidence of a lack of affinity between two taxa.