DC to DC converters are for generally used for intermediate power conversion processes in switched mode power supplies, battery chargers, electric vehicles, solar and wind power plants etc. The quality of current is a general issue when step-up converters are employed for power conversions. Cuk converter with inductors on both input and output sides reduces ripple on currents and improves the quality of source current. A Traditional Cuk Converter (TCC) is simulated and validated experimentally. But sharing of currents in inductors reduces ripples on source current further and also reduces peak current of the switch, improve the quality of input power of converters. Hence an Interleaved Cuk Converter (ICC) is proposed in this paper to share the source current in input inductors and to trim down the switch peak current hence to shrink ripples on source current. A Phase Shifted PWM (PSPWM) scheme is used in ICC and the switches are operated below 50% duty ratio to cancel the ripples on source and output sides. From the simulation and experimental results of TCC and ICC, it is observed that ICC reduces peak current of the switch, hence device rating and also delivers output power with better efficiency & improved transient performance. A modification on proposed ICC also provides boost operation with reduction in peak current of the switch.


The article reports the results of a Mokken Scale Procedure (MSP) developing a hierarchical cross-national scale gauging attitudes toward illegal immigration, and a subsequent qualitative cross-national assessment of this scale. Responses to a 20-item Likert-type-scale were collected in two national representative surveys in the Netherlands and New Zealand. The MSP analysis yielded a cumulative scale with the same four items for each with an acceptable 'scalability' in both samples, of H > .40. This cross-national four-item scale was evaluated by means of in-depth interviewing nine participants in the Netherlands and 15 participants in New Zealand. Analysis of the interviews shows that individually ranking the items of the scale is similar to the rank order generated by MSP, but the individual evaluation of the degree of negativity of items strongly depends on the way illegal immigrants are framed by subjects. The contribution of a mixed methods approach is discussed. It is suggested that the present quantitative measuring instruments measure a general average attitude, which may be likened to a measure of the average temperature of a country at a certain moment, while qualitative evaluations vary with the way illegal immigrants are framed by individuals, like variations in local temperature


Safe and reliable intelligent charging stations are imperative in an intelligent transportation infrastructure. Over the past few years, a big number of smart charging stations have been deployed, and most of them are online and connected, resulting in potential risks of threats. Although there exists related work on securing intelligent vehicles, very little work focused on the security of charging devices. Unlike traditional network systems, these power-related Industrial Control Systems (ICSs) use many different proprietary protocols and diverse interactions. Traditional anomaly detection methods based on network traffic are thus not suitable for these systems. In this work, we propose an anomaly detection method in real vehicle power supply systems based on a deep architecture model. In particular, we propose a novel traffic anomaly detection model based on Multi-Head Attentions (MHA) that take into account the inherent correlations of traffic generated by ICSs. The MHA model is employed to substitute the traditional feature extraction and rule making process with an acceptable computational cost for classifying traffic data. It is an attention-based model that employs Google Transformer encoder architecture to extract recessive features of traffic for anomaly detection. The effectiveness of the model is demonstrated by experiments on two real-world power ICS testbeds including a substation with a slave charging station and a power generation simulation platform based on a distributed control system. Comprehensive experimental results indicate that the MHA model outperforms the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)-based and classical machine learning detection models with an accuracy rate of 99.86%.


Control of sediment has become increasingly important as an element of many water quality improvement programs. An analytical method using the universal soil loss equation and linear programming to determine the cost-effectiveness of alternative sediment control practices is developed. Applications of this method to four case study farms and a hypothetical watershed are analyzed. The analyses illustrate the need for developing priorities so as to achieve greatest reduction in sediment losses per dollar of cost. The costs per unit of sediment reduction vary greatly with area, soil, and strategy or technique used.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: We found that cellular damage caused by calcium oxalate (CaOx) was repaired by the induction of autophagy using renal tubule cultured cells and CaOx crystal model mice, and the failure of the repair mechanism caused kidney stones. In this study, we focused on selective autophagy and upstream regulatory factors mTORC1 and transcription factor TFEB and tried to elucidate the mechanism of calculus formation. METHODS: In vitro: We exposed renal tubular cells to calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals at a concentration of 20 &mgr;g/cm2, and autophagy was examined by immunostaining and Western-blot. mTORC1 activity was examined by Western blotting of phosphorylated S6 kinase, and nuclear import of TFEB was examined by transfection of GFP-TFEB. In vivo: We used autophagy visualization (GFP-LC3) mice, and kidney crystal formation in mice was induced by daily intra-abdominal injection of 80 mg/kg−1 glyoxylic acid. We investigated autophagy by immunostaining and Western blotting. Finally, we examined the suppression effect of mTOR inhibitor, which can promote autophagy, on crystal formation. RESULTS: We found that autophagic activity was significantly decreased in mouse RTCs exposed to CaOx monohydrate crystals and in the kidneys of GFP-LC3 transgenic mice with CaOx nephrocalcinosis induced by glyoxylate. This caused accumulation of damaged intracellular organelles, such as mitochondria and lysosomes, the normal functioning of which is mediated by functional autophagy. An impairment of autophagy was also observed in the mucosa with plaques of CaOx kidney stone formers. We determined that the decrease in autophagy was caused by an upregulation of mTOR, which consequently resulted in the suppression of the upstream autophagy regulator transcription factor EB. Furthermore, we showed that an mTOR inhibitor could recover a decrease in autophagy and alleviate crystal-cell interactions and the formation of crystals associated with increased inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that autophagy compromised by mTOR deregulation is a fundamental feature in the pathology of kidney stone formation, and propose that chemical inhibition of mTOR could be a prospective strategy for disease suppression. Figure. No caption available. Source of Funding: None


Three flocks of broilers from the epizootiological region of South Banat,
 Serbia were chosen for examination, one flock with manifestation of
 respiratory disorders and two control flocks without respiratory disorders.
 In the flock with manifested respiratory disorders which was marked as flock
 number one (flock 1), high seroprevalence of specific antibodies for O.
 rhinotracheale (46%) was found in 30-dayold broiler chickens. The symptoms
 presented were: depression, reduction in feed consumption and water intake,
 sneezing, mucosal nasal discharge and facial edema. Production results were
 below technological standards due to increased mortality, decreased growth
 range and increased number of stunted chickens. Autopsy found frequent
 changes in the trachea, air sacs and lungs, which were manifested as:
 tracheitis catarrhalis, aerosacculitis fibrinosa and pneumonia fibrinosa. In
 control flocks marked as flock number two (flock 2) and flock number three
 (flock 3) where 4 % and 8 % of seropositive chickens were found, there were
 no clinical signs which would indicate illness, and production results were
 much closer to technological standards as compared with flock 1. Autopsy
 found lower number of chickens with changed respiratory organs as compared
 with flock 1; in addition intensity of changes was lower than in flock 1. No
 case of airsacculitis was found in flocks 2 and 3, which was a frequent
 finding in flock 1.


Matching pursuit (MP), particularly using the Gammatones dictionary , has become a popular tool in sparse representations of speech/audio signals. The classical MP algorithm does not however take into account psychoacoustical aspects of the auditory system. Recently two algorithms, called PAMP and PMP have been introduced in order to select only perceptually relevant atoms during MP decomposition. In this paper we compare this two algorithms on few speech sentences. The results suggest that PMP, which also has the strong advantage of including an implicit stop criterion, always outperforms PAMP as well as classical MP. We then raise the question of whether the Gam-matones dictionary is the best choice when using PMP. We thus compare it to the popular Gabor and damped-Sinusoids dictionaries. The results suggest that Gammatones always outperform damped-Sinusoids, and that Gabor yield better reconstruction quality but with higher atoms rate.


I recently gave a public lecture at a law school in Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. I had been invited to speak about the relationship between the law of armed conflict and international human rights law in situations of armed conflict or occupation. The audience was highly engaged and asked a number of pointed questions. Several attendees asked for my legal opinion about the situation in Sri Lanka, and in particular about the application of international law to the interaction between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the state's forces. In the midst of my comments, it suddenly occurred to me that I might be dangerously close to committing a federal crime. I remarked to the questioners that I assumed that they were not members of the LTTE, and explained why this was relevant. They, of course, were aghast at the notion that a U.S. citizen could be prosecuted for lecturing about international law, and especially while doing so outside the territory of the U.S. I then pointed out that the legislation was not limited to U.S. citizens, and that they would also be potentially criminally liable under U.S. law for teaching any subject to members of the LTTE. The federal crime of "providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations" is a criminal law of extraordinary breadth of scope, both in terms of the range of conduct it captures as well as its jurisdictional sweep. (1) The constitutionality of its criminalization of speech, and in particular, the teaching of international law to foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) was upheld in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project. (2) Can this be consistent with the international obligations of the United States? To what extent is the issue of its accordance with international law relevant to the interpretation and application of the law in the context of the U.S. legal system? The statute, as interpreted by the Court, is in tension with a number of international obligations binding on the United States. (3) This article focuses on two tensions in particular. The first is the tension between the scope of conduct captured by this law and the international legal obligation to respect the fight to freedom of expression under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The second is the tension between the statute's jurisdictional reach and the rules of international law pertaining to jurisdiction. This article examines these tensions and analyzes their implications with respect to the proper interpretation and application of the law, and to the international legal responsibility of the United States. I. OVERVIEW OF RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE STATUTE The criminalization of providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations is set forth in 18 U.S.C. [section] 2339B. The conduct criminalized by the statute consists of "[k]nowingly provid[ing] material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, or attempt[ing] or conspir[ing] to do so." (4) The statute stipulates that a person "must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization ... that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorist activity ... or that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorism...." (5) In addition to such conventional forms of support as funds and material goods, the definition of "material support or resources" includes a broad range of activities, including some consisting solely of speech. In particular, "training" and rendering "expert advice or assistance" are expressly criminalized. (6) Seemingly conscious of potential constitutional infirmities, the statute sets forth a rule of construction to prevent First Amendment conflicts. It states, "nothing in this section shall be construed or applied so as to abridge the exercise of rights guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. …


Aim Lotus japonicus is a herbaceous perennial legume that has been used extensively as a genetically tractable model system for deciphering the molecular genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our aim is to improve the L. japonicus reference genome sequence, which has so far been based on Sanger and Illumina sequencing reads from the L. japonicus accession MG-20 and contained a large fraction of unanchored contigs. Methods and Results Here, we use long PacBio reads from L. japonicus Gifu combined with Hi-C data and new high-density genetic maps to generate a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome assembly for L. japonicus. The assembly comprises 554 megabases of which 549 were assigned to six pseudomolecules that appear complete with telomeric repeats at their extremes and large centromeric regions with low gene density. Conclusion and Perspectives The new L. japonicus Gifu reference genome and associated expression data represent valuable resources for legume functional and comparative genomics. Here, we provide a first example by showing that the symbiotic islands recently described in Medicago truncatula do not appear to be conserved in L. japonicus.


Advertising in early 20th-century China played a central role in turning Chinese people into consumers. Advertisements between 1921 and 1929 in Shenbao, one of the most influential newspapers ever published in China, were studied to identify discourses of gender within the overarching discourse of Chinese people as a consumer population. Four discursive formations were identified: (1) female and male as ungendered categories of the consumer population, (2) woman and man as citizens of China, (3) one happy family as a consumption unit, and (4) women as a special group of consumers.


Critical infrastructures conduct important services for the countries where they are via help of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems/networks. Even little hitches in these services cause severe economic and environmental damage to countries where these systems are. When the SCADA systems used at the first time, unsecured communication protocols were not considered as a threat since these systems are in the isolated environment. When the protocols became public and standardized, SCADA systems started using TCP/IP technologies. This caused SCADA systems vulnerable to attacks come over TCP/IP. Conventional IDS (Intrusion Detection System)s which are used in IT sector are not enough to detect attacks in SCADA systems because of different structure of these systems. Generating true alarms depends on writing true rules. For this reason, structures and vulnerabilities of used protocols should be known. In this study, Modbus protocol which is often used in critical infrastructures is reviewed and how to write SNORT IDS rule for this protocol is explained and intended to improve SNORT IDS.


In the late 1980s, the future of the adult nurse practitioner (ANP) was less than certain. This study, conducted in 1987, explored the opinions of ANPs, physicians, and healthcare administrators regarding the future of the ANP in 1995. A sociological framework was used to identify factors potentially affecting the ANPs future and to assess the ANP's functionality vis-a-vis the healthcare delivery system. Findings are discussed within the context of the healthcare delivery system as it emerged by 1995, and recommendations are made for ensuring the future viability of the ANP role.


The fabrication of a conic surface begins with the grinding of a best-fit sphere. The desired conic surface can then be obtained by further grinding with a subaperture tool. Finally, the surface is polished. Normally the best-fit sphere is chosen so as to minimize the second grinding step. However, this method tends to produce mid-spatial frequency errors near the edge of the surface and can cause errors in the paraxial radius of curvature. This paper presents an alternative method of calculating the initial sphere so as to avoid these errors. It requires more grinding time but far less time for polishing.


Natural disasters and other emergencies can cause an increased risk of foodborne illness. We conducted a nationally representative survey to understand consumers' knowledge and use of recommended practices during/after extended power outages and other emergencies. Because older adults are at an increased risk for foodborne illness, this paper presents findings from a sample of older adults (n = 290). Only 17% of respondents reported they are fully prepared to keep food safe during an extended power outage. Respondents identified lack of cogitation (42%), storage space (19%), and concern (27%) as barriers to not being fully prepared. Of those who had experienced a recent power outage, less than 40% followed the recommended practices of discarding frozen foods that had thawed and discarding refrigerated, perishable foods. Additionally, 21% to 36% of respondents reported they tasted food to determine whether it was safe to eat. Awareness and likelihood of following recommended practices were higher among women than men. Many older adults are not following recommended practices to ensure food safety during/after extended power outages and other emergencies. Educational materials need to address barriers and be tailored to specific locations and subpopulations of older adults. Educators and public health officials can use the survey findings to address gaps in older adults' knowledge and practices and to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness among older adults.


A model of the subsurface irradiance distribution that is based on the two-flow equations and allows for variations of the concentrations of various water quality constituents with depth has been described by Bostater, Ma, and McNally. This model allows output of the irradiance spectra at various depths. By combining the two-flow model with the hydrodynamic model of Blumberg and Mellor, the effect of the absorption of irradiance as a function of wavelength and depth on water temperature, density, turbulent kinetic energy, pressure, and the resulting circulation in an idealized ocean basin is studied. The two-flow model is set up to allow variation of the water quality parameters to occur in three layers, any number of layers, or to be constant with depth and thus affect the absorption of the sun's energy. Three simulations were run using (a) clear water coefficients, (b) a vertical distribution of chlorophyll, and (c) a vertical distribution of suspended sediments. For comparison, coefficients and attenuation for various water types included in the Princeton Ocean Model were used for comparison.


A genetic-algorithm-based selective principal component analysis (GA-SPCA) method is proposed and tested using hyperspectral remote sensing data and ground reference data collected within an agricultural field. The proposed method uses a global optimizer, the genetic algorithms, to select a subset of the original image bands, which first reduces the data dimension. A principal component transformation is subsequently applied to the selected bands. By extracting features from the resulting eigenimage, the remote sensing data, originally high in dimension, will be further reduced to a feature space with one to several principal component bands. Subsequent image processing on the reduced feature space can thus be performed with improved accuracy. Experiments were conducted using three sets of ground reference data: corn chlorophyll content, corn plant population, and various corn hybrids. The results showed that with GA-SPCA, the number of original bands used for principal component analysis (PCA) could be reduced to 17, 26, and 25 from a 60-band hyperspectral image, respectively. In all cases, the correlation coefficients between image and ground reference data were greater when using GA-SPCA than that for PCA results with all original bands. This indicates that bands with no contribution to a specific application were removed prior to PCA. The variance related to a specific application within the image was transformed with more emphasis by using bands sensitive to that application. The selected bands can also provide useful information for future imaging sensor development.


Voltage source converter based HVdc (VSC-HVdc) systems are prone to high short-circuit current during transmission line faults. The situation for multiterminal HVdc (MTDC) systems is worse. The characteristics of superconducting material are ideal to limit the fault current in HVdc systems. This paper presents a novel use of the resistive type of superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) in the MTdc network with the function of limiting the high current. The working principles of fault current limiter and a three-terminal HVdc system are modeled in detail using PSCAD/EMTDC software. The hybrid operation of the SFCL in the three-terminal HVdc system is tested in this paper for the fault response of the MTdc system. The performances of SFCL under different fault conditions are analyzed. The simulation results show that the fault current is effectively restrained and the SFCL can act as an efficient protective device for VSC-based multiterminal HVdc systems.


In this study, taking die-cast magnesium alloy AZ91D as investigation objects, the process characteristics of electron beam welding (EBW) was studied. The microstructure and familiar defects in the welded joints were analyzed. The main reasons of these defects were discussed. The experimental results showed that boundary surface between fusion zone and heat affected zone in the joint of AZ91D magnesium alloy by electron beam welding is obvious, the fusion zone (FZ) consisted of fine-equiaxed grain. Pore and crack are the main defects in AZ91D magnesium alloy joints. Magnesium has higher hydrogen solubility in liquid than in solid. The difference in the solubility between the solid and liquid phase is the major reason of the pore of magnesium alloys during welding. The crack was caused because of α + β-Mg17Al12 phase with low melting point and pores in the fusion zone. There were other defects found in the joints such as incomplete fusion and penetration.


Are the associations between muscle strength, lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) genetically determined? Based on within-pair differences in 56 monozygotic (MZ) and 56 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs, mean age 45 yr (range 24-67), BMD was associated with lean mass, independent of fat mass and height (P < 0.05). A 10% increment in femoral neck (FN) BMD was associated with a 15% increment in lean mass (approximately 6 kg). BMD was associated with muscle strength (measured in 35 pairs) before, but not after, adjusting for lean mass. Based on age-adjusted cross-sectional analyses, same-trait correlations (+/- SE) in MZ pairs were double those in DZ pairs: FN BMD (0.62 +/- 0.08, 0.33 +/- 0.12) and lean mass (0.87 +/- 0.03, 0.30 +/- 0.11; all P < 0.001), consistent with a genetic hypothesis. The cross-trait correlation (r) between lean mass and FN BMD in the same individual was 0.43 +/- 0.06. The cross-trait cross-twin correlation between lean mass in one twin and FN BMD in the other was 0.31 +/- 0.07 in MZ pairs, approximately 75% of the cross-trait correlation (r) and 0.19 +/- 0.09 in DZ paris (P < 0.001). After adjusting for height and fat mass, the MZ and DZ cross-trait cross-twin correlations were no different (0.16 +/- 0.08 and 0.13 +/- 0.09, respectively). Therefore, genetic factors account for 60-80% of the individual variances of both FN BMD and lean mass, and > 50% of their covariance. The association between greater muscle mass and greater BMD is likely to be determined by genes regulating size.


It is important to teach risk-factor counseling skills to medical students, primary care residents, and fellows in cardiovascular medicine. To do this, it is necessary to teach assessment and intervention skills based on the theory and techniques of preventive and behavioral medicine. Physicians should be taught to think in terms of the patient in the context of his or her lifestyle and other interacting factors affecting health and disease, and should develop a new medical "culture" within which the risk-factor and lifestyle antecedents and correlates of illness can be recognized, discussed, and approached therapeutically. In this approach to physician training, risk-factor intervention skills training is integrated into existing teaching vehicles to minimize the burden on the curriculum and maximize the extent to which the material can be incorporated into the daily practice of medicine. The objectives associated with training in behavioral medicine skills and examples demonstrating how specific teaching vehicles that are already established in most institutions can be used to accomplish this training are presented. Strategies for motivating physicians to practice prevention with their parents also are discussed.


Thermal inactivation of a new recombinant Phlebia radiata manganese peroxidase (rPr-MnP3) in the presence and absence of additives (CaCl2 and EDTA) is described for the first time. The influence of temperature and melting points (Tm) on the stability of rPr-MnP3 and its mutant (E40H/E44H) were determined. There was no significant inactivation at 25 – 40°C. However, we observed rapid inactivation of rPr-MnP3 at 50°C and above. Addition of CaCl2 to the enzyme mixture resulted in a marked increase in the half-life (533 min) of the wild-type enzyme compared to E40H/E44H with the half-life of 92 min. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) increased the rate of rPr-MnP3 thermal inactivation as shown by the decay constant (kd) of 0.070 ± 0.007 min-1 and half-life of 10 min. The decay constant (kd) 0.029 ± 0.002 min-1 and half-life of 24 min were obtained for the control (untreated sample). Calcium ion had protective effect on the inactivation of the wild-type enzyme but not for mutant. The mutant (E40H/E44H) was observed to be more stable with a higher melting point of 58°C than the wild-type (Tm =54°C).The inactivation effect of EDTA on the E40H/E44H was lower than that of the wild-type. Calcium ions were found to be important structural elements responsible for the enzyme stability. Our findings showed that rPr-MnP3 is a highly stable enzyme and may be of significant industrial applications.

 Key words: Peroxidase, Phlebia radiata, thermal stability, thermal inactivation, reactivation, melting point, additives.


A prototype cooperative multi-robot control architecture suitable for the eventual construction of large space structures has been developed. In nature, there are numerous examples of complex architectures constructed by relatively simple insects, such as termites and wasps, which cooperatively assemble their nests. The prototype control architecture emulates this biological model. Actions of each of the autonomous robotic construction agents are only indirectly coordinated, thus mimicking the distributed construction processes of various social insects. The robotic construction agents perform their primary duties stigmergically i.e., without direct inter-agent communication and without a preprogrammed global blueprint of the final design. Communication and coordination between individual agents occurs indirectly through the sensed modifications that each agent makes to the structure. The global stigmergic building algorithm prototyped during the initial research assumes that the robotic builders only perceive the current state of the structure under construction. Simulation studies have established that an idealized form of the proposed architecture was indeed capable of producing representative large space structures with autonomous robots. This paper will explore the construction simulations in order to illustrate the multi-robot control architecture.


Considering the features of underwater shield tunnel with large cross-section, a prototype test of segmental lining structure for Nanjing Changjiang Tunnel (Φ14.5m) is carried out by using a new loading test method. And with "Multi-function Shield Tunnel Structure Test System" developed according to this test method, the effect of high hydraulic pressure can be equivalently imposed upon the structure by hoop, and then the earth pressure can be equivalently applied to the structure by radial concentrated force. The structures were loaded by the device according to a certain hydraulic and earth pressure. Meanwhile, the mechanical characteristics can be further studied. In a word, it can provide reliable test means for research, design and construction of underwater shield tunnel project.


The construction sector is a key enabler for social and economic development worldwide. In Tanzania, the sector growth rate is well above the general economy and has maintained positive growth in response to the country's investments in commercial and residential buildings and infrastructure projects. Despite the promising growth, the sector encounters bottlenecks and challenges in the areas of access to land, construction permits, skills, and availability of materials and equipment that hinder the potential of the sector as a contributor for achieving the vision of reaching middle-income country status. The structure of the sector, underlying policies, challenges, and recommendations are at the centre of discussion in this paper.


Twenty patients with chronic bronchitis were given incremental dosages of a new slow release preparation of theophylline and observed for its effect on lung function and exercise tolerance. Measurements were made subjectively by using visual analogue scales and objectively using six minute walking distances and spirometry. The study was placebo controlled and had a double blind randomised design. In the dosages used (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg) theophylline produced no significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second or forced vital capacity, and there was no overall improvement in peak expiratory flow rate. Similarly, neither effort tolerance nor degree of breathlessness appeared to be influenced by the drug, even when unacceptably high dosages were used. By contrast, placebo yielded a 7% increase in the six minute walking distance. From these results it seems difficult to justify the routine, indiscriminate use of theophylline for chronic bronchitis.


"Speaking bitterness" is the dominant narrative pattern of modern Chinese history. We argue here that it also structures historical fiction. "Speaking bitterness" transforms local stories of personal suffering into collective narratives of blood and tears. It is a discursive practice that may simultaneously construct Nation and Subject, blending individual stories into collective memory that claims – or counterclaims – to be "truth written in blood".We focus on various "texts": four film versions of the Opium War, the trial of Jiang Qing as part of the Gang of Four, and Hou Hsiao-hsien's film, City of Sadness.The films of the Opium War speak bitterness against Western imperialism in China. But there are significant differences in the four versions that relate to current Chinese politics and ideology: Eternal Flame (directed under Japanese occupation in China in 1943), Lin Zexu and the Opium War (directed by Zheng Junliu and Cen Fan in the PRC in 1959), The Opium War (directed by Li Quanxi in Taiwan in 1963) and The Opium War (directed by Xie Jin in the PRC to mark the 1997 handover of Hong Kong).The trial of Jiang Qing was also a state-run media event. Televised excerpts of the court room drama, contemporary cartoons and published reminiscences all emphasized "past bitterness and present sweetness". The bitterness relates to the ten years of chaos during the Cultural Revolution; the sweetness refers to the opening-up of China under Deng Xiaoping. Whereas Jiang Qing is demonized in the trial and in public memory, her husband, Mao Zedong (who launched the Cultural Revolution) is variously remembered as a tyrant, god and hero. Finally, we turn to Hou Hsiao-hsien's 1989 film on the so-called February 28 Incident, City of Sadness. Unlike the previous examples, Hou's film serves as counter-history beyond the nation-state.We conclude from these examples, that while a modern phenomenon, speaking bitterness retains traditional elements of history-fiction. As in traditional China, history and fiction interweave, narrating an intelligible and inherently moral universe. Yet there are fundamental changes. First, the form of history and "fiction" in most cases becomes linear, progressive and future-directed, not episodic and cyclic. Second, the primary audience is the citizenry as "people" or "masses", not a scholarly elite. Third, history is told using mass media suited to reaching these "people", such as cartoons, film, radio and television, none of which are literacy-dependent. Fourth, dominant historical narratives at any one time rely on media control by elites who have the capacity to block, blunt, blur or erase counter-narratives as national narratives. All these elites narrate the construction of China (and Taiwan) as a modern nation-state, characterized by a people bound by (amongst other things) a shared history and a sense of historical collective agency. That agency is often dependent on a "logic of the wound" , inscribed as cultural memory that both defines China as a nation and its motivation for future action.


Splitting measurements of teleseismic shear waves, such as SKS, have been used to estimate the amount and direction of upper mantle anisotropy worldwide. These measurements are usually made by approximating the anisotropic regions as a single, homogeneous layer and searching for an apparent fast direction (φ~) and an apparent splitting time (Δt~) by minimizing the energy on the transverse component of the back-projected seismogram. In this paper, we examine the validity of this assumption. In particular, we use synthetic seismograms to explore how a vertically varying anisotropic medium affects shear wave splitting measurements. We find that weak heterogeneity causes observable effects, such as frequency dependence of the apparent splitting parameters. These variations can be used, in principle, to map out the vertical variations in anisotropy with depth through the use of Frechet kernels, which we derive using perturbation theory. In addition, we find that measurements made in typical frequency bands produce an apparent orientation direction that is consistently different from the average of the medium and weighted towards the orientation of the anisotropy in the upper portions of the model. This tendency of the measurements to mimic the anisotropy at the top part of the medium may explain why shear wave splitting measurements tend to be correlated with surface geology.

When the heterogeneity becomes stronger, multiple scattering reduces the amplitude of the tangential-component seismogram and the associated splitting time, so that a null result may be obtained despite the fact that the waves have travelled through a strongly anisotropic medium. Regardless of the amount of vertical heterogeneity, we find that there is very little dependence on backazimuth for the measured fast-axis direction or splitting time if the top and bottom halves of the medium average to similar fast-axis directions. If, however, the average fast-axis direction in the top half of the model differs from that in the bottom half, splitting-time measurements will show a significant dependence on backazimuth, but fast-axis direction measurements will remain relatively constant.


Well-functioning 'liveable' cities should be sustainable and their consumption of natural resources and production of waste must fit within the capacities of the local, regional and global ecosystems. It is increasingly becoming suggested that an Urban Metabolism (UM), approach could help city decision-makers (e.g. planners) take account of numerous critical influencing factors related to the inward outward flow(s) of natural resources (e.g. food, water and energy) and accumulation of waste. The paper identifies the precursory step for any UM study (Mass Flow Analysis - MFA) and applies it to a case study (Birmingham, UK) in order to show how it could contribute to the measurement, assessment and understanding of liveability, defined as 80% reduction in carbon (from 1990 levels); resource secure (an ethos of One planet living); with maintained or enhanced wellbeing. By provided focus upon an individual resource stream (i.e. water) at multiple scales (city to individual) it is shown that MFA can be used as a starting point to develop realistic and radical engineering solutions. However further work is required for it to be truly reflective of broader aspects of urban liveability.


Melatonin is a secretory product of the pineal gland that regulates circadian rhythm. It is also well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties against the damaging influences of reactive oxygen species. To improve its therapeutic efficacy, a new formulation with melatonin loaded in a stimuli-responsive polymeric nanocapsule has been prepared following an inverse mini-emulsion technique. The colloidal stability of the melatonin-loaded nanocapsules (MNCs) is studied using dynamic light scattering, while the morphology of these MNCs is characterized using various electron microscopies. These MNCs have an inner diameter of 80-120 nm with a cell wall thickness of 29 ± 11 nm. The emission band maximum for melatonin appears at 350 nm following excitation at 305 nm (quantum yield, Φ350 = 0.13). The self-quenching nature of the entrapped melatonin molecules inside the nanocapsules attributes to a lower Φ350 value for the MNCs. The controlled release of melatonin from MNCs in an in vitro condition is achieved by inducing a rupture of the polymeric backbone through maintaining a certain media pH (∼2.0-4.0) as an external stimulus, and this accounts for a significant enhancement in its characteristic luminescence. The H,K-ATPase, an integral membrane protein, maintains this specific pH range in the interior of the gastrointestinal tract. This methodology is adopted for developing an efficient drug delivery process in the gastric environment. A significant improvement in the AGS cell survival under oxidative stress conditions is observed during preincubation with MNCs compared to free melatonin. In a murine model of the stress-induced gastric ulcer, MNCs outperformed free melatonin in terms of drug efficacy. The value for the gastric ulcer index is reduced from ∼30 to ∼15 by free melatonin and from ∼30 to ∼8 by MNCs treatments, respectively. Such formulation could be a step forward for developing more efficient melatonin-based gastroprotective supplements.


Abstract. Contiguous continental high-pressure terranes in orogens offer insight into deep recycling and transformation processes that occur in subduction zones. These remain poorly understood, and currently debated ideas need testing. The approach we chose is to investigate, in detail, the record in suitable rock samples that preserve textures and robust mineral assemblages that withstood overprinting during exhumation. We document complex garnet zoning in eclogitic mica schists from the Sesia Zone (western Italian Alps). These retain evidence of two orogenic cycles and provide detailed insight into resorption, growth, and diffusion processes induced by fluid pulses in high-pressure conditions. We analysed local textures and garnet compositional patterns, which turned out remarkably complex. By combining these with thermodynamic modelling, we could unravel and quantify repeated fluid–rock interaction processes. Garnet shows low-Ca porphyroclastic cores that were stable under (Permian) granulite facies conditions. The series of rims that surround these cores provide insight into the subsequent evolution: the first garnet rim that surrounds the pre-Alpine granulite facies core in one sample indicates that pre-Alpine amphibolite facies metamorphism followed the granulite facies event. In all samples documented, cores show lobate edges and preserve inner fractures, which are sealed by high-Ca garnet that reflects high-pressure Alpine conditions. These observations suggest that during early stages of subduction, before hydration of the granulites, brittle failure of garnet occurred, indicating high strain rates that may be due to seismic failure. Several Alpine rims show conspicuous textures indicative of interaction with hydrous fluid: (a) resorption-dominated textures produced lobate edges, at the expense of the outer part of the granulite core; (b) peninsulas and atoll garnet are the result of replacement reactions; and (c) spatially limited resorption and enhanced transport of elements due to the fluid phase are evident along brittle fractures and in their immediate proximity. Thermodynamic modelling shows that all of these Alpine rims formed under eclogite facies conditions. Structurally controlled samples allow these fluid–garnet interaction phenomena to be traced across a portion of the Sesia Zone, with a general decrease in fluid–garnet interaction observed towards the external, structurally lower parts of the terrane. Replacement of the Permian HT assemblages by hydrate-rich Alpine assemblages can reach nearly 100 % of the rock volume. Since we found no clear relationship between discrete deformation structures (e.g. shear zones) observed in the field and the fluid pulses that triggered the transformation to eclogite facies assemblages, we conclude that disperse fluid flow was responsible for the hydration.


Introduction Constipation is common in the community, and may affect survival adversely. An association between constipation and development of colorectal cancer (CRC) could be one possible explanation for this association. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining this issue. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EMBASE Classic (through July 2012). Eligible studies were cross-sectional surveys, cohort studies, or case-control studies reporting the association between constipation and CRC. For cross-sectional surveys and cohort studies, we recorded number of subjects with CRC according to constipation status, and for case-control studies number of subjects with constipation according to CRC status. Study quality was assessed according to published criteria. Data were pooled using a random effects model, and the association between CRC and constipation was summarised using an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The search strategy identified 2282 citations, of which 28 were eligible. In eight cross-sectional surveys, presence of constipation as the primary indication for colonoscopywas associated with a lower prevalence of CRC (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.36–0.89). There was a trend towards a reduction in odds of CRC in constipation in three cohort studies (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.61–1.04). The prevalence of constipation in CRC was significantly higher than in controls without CRC in 17 case-control studies (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.29–2.18), but with significant heterogeneity, and possible publication bias. Conclusion Conclusions: Prospective cross-sectional surveys and cohort studies demonstrate no increase in prevalence of CRC in patients or individuals with constipation. The significant association observed in case-control studies may relate to recall bias. Disclosure of Interest None Declared.


In this paper, 1.5-stage high-speed compressor stator was studied using numerical computation method. Four gap cases were calculated under the condition of the hub being stationary or rotating, and the characteristic curves of the 1.5-stage compressor was obtained. Firstly, the influence of the change of the gap on the total pressure ratio and the efficiency curve was studied when the state of the hub is fixed. Then, the influence of the rotation of the hub on the total pressure ratio and the efficiency curve was discussed when the tip clearance is fixed. Finally, the total pressure loss of the stator channel would be analyzed. The above research would make people understand that the relative motion of the end wall has an important influence on the performance of the axial-flow compressor; when hub is stationary, the optimal gap is greater than 0, while when hub was rotating, the optimal gap was 0; and recognize that the variation of clearance and the motion state of the hub have an important influence on the distribution of total pressure loss along the span.


Sago industries effluent containing large amounts of organic content produced excess sludge which is a serious problem in wastewater treatment. In this study ozonation has been employed for the reduction of excess sludge production in activated sludge process. Central composite design is used to study the effect of ozone treatment for the reduction of excess sludge production in sago effluent and to optimise the variables such as pH, ozonation time, and retention time. ANOVA showed that the coefficient determination value (R 2) of VSS and COD reduction were 0.9689 and 0.8838, respectively. VSS reduction (81%) was achieved at acidic pH 6.9, 12 minutes ozonation, and retention time of 10 days. COD reduction (87%) was achieved at acidic pH 6.7, 8 minutes of ozonation time, and retention time of 6 days. Low ozonation time and high retention time influence maximum sludge reduction, whereas low ozonation time with low retention time was effective for COD reduction.


We present a fast, novel image-based technique for reverse engineering woven fabrics at a yarn level. These models can be used in a wide range of interior design and visual special effects applications. To recover our pseudo-Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF), we estimate the three-dimensional (3D) structure and a set of yarn parameters (e.g., yarn width, yarn crossovers) from spatial and frequency domain cues. Drawing inspiration from previous work [Zhao et al. 2012], we solve for the woven fabric pattern and from this build a dataset. In contrast, however, we use a combination of image space analysis and frequency domain analysis, and, in challenging cases, match image statistics with those from previously captured known patterns. Our method determines, from a single digital image, captured with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera under controlled uniform lighting, the woven cloth structure, depth, and albedo, thus removing the need for separately measured depth data. The focus of this work is on the rapid acquisition of woven cloth structure and therefore we use standard approaches to render the results. Our pipeline first estimates the weave pattern, yarn characteristics, and noise statistics using a novel combination of low-level image processing and Fourier analysis. Next, we estimate a 3D structure for the fabric sample using a first-order Markov chain and our estimated noise model as input, also deriving a depth map and an albedo. Our volumetric textile model includes information about the 3D path of the center of the yarns, their variable width, and hence the volume occupied by the yarns, and colors. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach through comparison images of test scenes rendered using (a) the original photograph, (b) the segmented image, (c) the estimated weave pattern, and (d) the rendered result.


Measurements of the distribution of surface pressures were made on two wing-body combinations employing a triangular wing having an aspect ratio ratio of 2. The first of these combinations had a wing with the NACA 0008-63 section parallel to the air stream while the wing of the second had the NACA 0005-63 section in the stream direction. The measurements were made for Mach numbers from 0.11 to 0.95 at a constant Reynolds number of 3.0 million. Data were also obtained for Reynolds numbers up to 15.0 million at the lower Mach number. A summary of data obtained from previously published force tests of these same models is also included for completeness of the presentation of the effect of wing thickness.


Elderly cancer survivors report difficulty with attention, concentration, and memory. This study tested the effectiveness of the Cognitive Behavioral Model of Everyday Memory, an efficacy-based intervention designed to improve memory performance, memory self-efficacy, and metamemory in older adult cancer survivors and those with other chronic conditions. The study provides interesting new evidence that the responses of a group of elders to training varies depending on their health status. (Geriatr Nurs 2001; 22:18590)


Intestinal T/NK-cell lymphomas include enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL), indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the GI tract (ITCLPD), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), and intestinal T-cell lymphoma NOS (ITCL-NOS). Here we describe a case of surface CD3-negative MEITL. A 63-year-old Japanese female had a tumor located in the conglomerated ileum, which formed multiple mass lesions. The resected tissue showed a diffuse infiltration of monomorphic medium-sized lymphocytes with epitheliotropism. Flowcytometry using a fresh specimen of the tumor revealed positivity for CD7, CD8, CD38, and CD56, but not surface CD3. On immunohistochemistry, the tumor showed positivity for cytoplasmic CD3, CD8, CD56, TIA-1, Granzyme B, and perforin. EBER with in situ hybridization was negative. Moreover, H3K36me3, which is negative in MEITL with SETD2-mutation, was positive. This is an important case of MEITL due to its oncogenesis.


Iminoacetonitriles participate as reactive dienophiles in stereoselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reactions which afford substituted quinolizidines. The cycloadduct with exo-oriented cyano group is obtained as the major or exclusive product of the reaction as a consequence of the alpha-amino nitrile anomeric effect The alpha-amino nitrile moieties incorporated in the cycloadducts constitute latent iminium ions, which upon exposure to mild protic or Lewis acids are unmasked, setting the stage for further useful synthetic transformations. For example, reductive decyanation with NaBH3CN excises the cyano group, while Bruylants reaction with Grignard reagents and acetylides lead to alpha-substituted amines. The substrates for these [4 + 2] cycloadditions are prepared from readily available alcohols via a Mitsunobu coupling reaction with the previously unknown, easily prepared reagent HN(Tf)CH2CN followed by cesium carbonate promoted elimination of trifluoromethanesulfinate.


INTRODUCTION: Frailty and sarcopenia are common complications of advanced liver disease. Owing to associated morbidity/mortality, there have been targeted efforts to prevent and/or improve both by enrolling these patients in focused exercise programs. This review systematically analyzes the data of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on anthropometric, physical fitness, quality-of-life, and safety outcomes of exercise interventions in patients with advanced liver disease. METHODS: Two authors independently searched trials on PubMed and EMBASE from inception up to November 18, 2021. A third independent arbitrator adjudicated all disagreements. We qualitatively summarized these outcomes as follows: (i) muscular fitness (maximal inspiratory/expiratory pressures, muscle size, muscle strength, and bioimpedance testing), (ii) cardiorespiratory fitness (cardiopulmonary exercise testing and 6-minute walk distance), (iii) quality of life, and (iv) others (safety or frailty indices). RESULTS: There were 11 RCTs (4 home-based interventions) with 358 participants. Interventions ranged from 8 to 14 weeks and included cycling, walking, resistance exercises, balance and coordination training, and respiratory exercises. All described outcomes compared preintervention with postintervention measurements. Nine studies showed statistically significant improvements in at least 1 physical fitness variable. Ten studies showed statistically significant improvements in at least 1 muscular fitness variable. Six studies showed statistically significant improvements in at least 1 quality-of-life variable. Attrition rates ranged from 5% to 36%, and adherence rates ranged very widely from 14% to 100%. Only 1 study reported frailty indices. Notably, no complications of portal hypertension were seen in intervention groups in the 9 studies that reported these data. DISCUSSION: A review of 11 RCTs with 358 participants with advanced liver disease demonstrates that exercise interventions can have favorable outcomes on muscular/cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life. Although attrition and adherence varied, these interventions seem to be safe in patients with cirrhosis and are well tolerated.


We analyze global equity market co-movement during the last 25 years using a dynamic spatial model. Based on a generalized autoregressive score model, we analyze the co-movement among global, European, American, and Asian equity markets during various crises including the Asian, the financial, the European sovereign debt crisis, as well as the economic turmoil due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show an increase in the co-movement prior to the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, a generally higher co-movement among European countries compared to American and Asian-Pacific countries, while the highest level of co-movement is reached during the current pandemic. When accounting for time-varying variances, however, we find evidence for global contagion only during the COVID-19 pandemic which induces an economic downturn in the first quarter of 2020.


In the initial stage, the status quo of aquatic products industry in Taiwan and Zhoushan is analyzed. The aquatic products industry in Taiwan is characterized by high input, high output, advanced fishery import and export trade, refined and specialized fishery organizations and the dominant role played by the government. However, in Zhoushan, there are many problems in the development of aquatic products industry, featuring weak brand consciousness, inadequate famous brand and pillar industries, frequently restricted by green trade barrier and disordered competition of aquatic products market. The comparative advantages of aquatic products Cross-Straits are measured by using revealed comparative advantage index (RCA) and trade specialized index (TSC), the results show that the aquatic products in both the mainland and Taiwan have certain market share and competitiveness. The revealed comparative advantage index i¼ˆRCAi¼‰of Taiwan' aquatic products is higher than that in the mainland, while the RCA index in the mainland and Taiwan all shows descending trend; the trade specialized index(TSC) cross straits is positive, which indicates specialized export, but this specialization also shows descending trend. Taiwan has advanced aquaculture technology and the mainland owns cheap labor cost and low price, but due to the limited resources in the Taiwan Island and the backward processing technology of aquatic products in the mainland, the comparativeness of aquatic products in the mainland and Taiwan has slid slightly. Therefore, I probe into the cooperation modality between Zhoushan and Taiwan in terms of mutual investment in aquatic industry, exchange and training for personnel cross straits and establishing experimental point of aquatic industry of the Zhoushan Island and Taiwan Island. Besides, countermeasures for enhancing the international comparativeness of aquatic industry in Zhoushan Island are put forward.


AIM
To examine the clinical significance of preoperative urine cytology in patients with low-grade bladder cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We retrospectively investigated the records of 155 patients diagnosed with primary low-grade (Ta) urothelial carcinoma of the bladder between January 2000 and September 2014.

RESULTS
Patients with class III or greater cytology had significantly higher-grade (G2) (p=0.01), larger tumors (≥15 mm, p=0.0009) and significantly shorter recurrence-free survival compared to patients with class II or lower cytology (p<0.0001). However, Cox proportional hazards analysis for recurrence-free survival only identified tumor size (≥15 mm) (hazard ratio=5.97, 95% confidence interval=2.39-17.29; p<0.0001) as a predictor of poor prognosis, although patients with class III or higher preoperative cytology showed a tendency towards frequent intravesical recurrence (hazard ratio=1.98, 95% confidence interval=0.96-4.2; p=0.063).

CONCLUSION
Preoperative urine cytology, in addition to tumor size, might be a useful predictor of intravesical recurrence of bladder cancer.


Insufficient attention has been given to the relationship between sport video games and sport consumer behaviors even though sports and sport video games are popular, multi-billion dollar industries. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, examine the effects of sport video gamer identification on sport consumption behaviors. Second, investigate the extent which sport fan identification moderates the relationship between identifying as a sport video gamer and sport consumption behaviors. A structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that sport video gamer identification had a positive impact on sport consumption behaviors, but sport fan identification did not moderate the relationship between sport video gamer identification and sport consumption behaviors. Though the results were mixed, connecting sport organizations with sport video gamers does appear worthwhile because playing sport video games and identifying as a sport video gamer may lead to sport consumption behaviors.

 Key words: Sport video gaming, sport consumption behaviors, sport fan identification.


Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) such as 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIQx,), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) are found in meats cooked at high temperatures. In rodents, MeIQx induces lung tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate lung cancer risk posed by different HCAs in the diet. A population-based case-control study of 593 cases and 623 frequency-matched controls including both nonsmoking and smoking women was conducted in Missouri. An administered food frequency questionnaire with detailed questions on meat consumption, degrees of internal doneness, surface browning/charring, and cooking technique was linked to a database that provided exposure estimates of three HCAs. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression. When comparing the 90th and 10th percentiles, significant excess risks were observed for MeIQx (OR, 1.5; CI, 1.1-2.0), but not for DiMeIQx (OR, 1.2; CI, 0.9-1.6) or PhIP (OR, 0.9; CI, 0.8-1.1). MeIQx consumption was associated with increased risk of lung cancer for nonsmokers (OR, 3.6; CI, 1.3-10.3) and light/moderate smokers (OR, 2.1; CI, 1.3-3.3), but not for heavy smokers (OR, 1.0; CI, 0.7-1.5). There was elevated risk with MeIQx intake for subjects with squamous cell carcinomas (OR, 1.9; CI, 1.2-3.1) and "other histological cell types" (OR, 1.6; CI, 1.1-2.5), but not for subjects with small cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Neither DiMeIQx nor PhIP showed an association with smoking categories or lung cancer histology. In conclusion, MeIQx may be associated with lung cancer risk, but DiMeIQx and PhIP are probably not associated with lung cancer risk.


While it has become commonplace to discount British novelist Kingsley Amis as a "naive realist," a mere comedic novelist, even a misogynist and failed moralist, Andrew James argues that Amis was seriously concerned with the role of the artist in society and explored this subject in many of his novels. Throughout the first twenty years of his career, Amis used bad artists as whimsical characters, or antimodels, that helped identify his artistic preferences and fictional techniques. He became convinced that the relationship between an artist and his audience was reciprocal and that both the outer audience and the artist's inner circle must be held accountable for the production of bad literature. During the last twenty years of his career, Amis no longer concerned himself with satirizing bad artists, but instead explored ways of ameliorating them. James shows that the development of antimodels as fully drawn characters and Amis's insistence upon reciprocity in the writer-reader relationship demonstrate that he was more than just a comedic writer, and was aware of himself as an artist with social responsibilities. The first study of Amis to analyze manuscript revisions in all of his novel drafts, Kingsley Amis: Antimodels and the Audience shows the more serious side of a complex writer who has yet to receive the critical recognition he deserves.


Background: Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumor. It is composed of varying proportions of epithelial and myoepithelial cells that are arranged in a great variety of morphological patterns. Therefore, it has a diverse histological presentation that may cause diagnostic problems with other salivary gland tumors. Purpose of Study: The objective of this study was to assess the different histopathological features of pleomorphic adenoma in salivary glands. Materials and Methods: Fifty specimens of pleomorphic adenoma were analyzed. All the cases were primary neoplasms and excisional biopsies. The tumors were classified as stroma-rich, cell-rich and classic (balanced amount of epithelial and stromal component).The mesenchymal component was divided into myxoid, chondroid, hyaline, fatty and calcified tissue. The parenchymal component was analyzed according to presence of spindle, plasmacytoid, basaloid, squamous, cubic, mucous and oncocytoid cells. The architectural pattern was divided in to ductal, solid and trabecular. Presence of capsule was also analyzed. Results: The most common pattern was cell-rich (38%). Myxoid (78%) and Hyalinized (56%) stroma were the most frequent mesenchymal tissues. Spindle shaped (92%) and plasmacytoid (86%) cells were also the most common cell types. Ductal (72%) and solid (66%) structures were the most frequent patterns. All specimens had capsule. There was no evidence of cellular atypia or necrosis in all cases. Conclusion: The knowledge about various microscopic patterns of pleomorphic adenoma is essential and helps to have a proper diagnosis and better treatment. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA


We address the problem of estimating the motion of a wide-band source from single passive sensor measurements, for example, estimation of the speed and position of a car moving on a road from the recording of its acoustic signature at a microphone located next to the road. We present a new computationally efficient method based on a time-varying ARMA model for Doppler-shifted random processes. Unlike previously proposed approaches which rely on a "local" periodicity hypothesis for the signal source, or a cyclostationary assumption, our method assumes only that the source is stationary and admits a rational (ARMA) model. The method is tested on synthetic and real acoustic data.


Data and observations from a site in the mountainous humid tropics of Puerto Rico show the occurrence of dry spells even during the wet seasons. It is postulated that dry spells of more than 3 to 5 days of duration might induce considerable moisture stress particularly on soils of low moisture retention capacity. The recognition of this fact and the use of rainfall data in conjunction with appropriate soil data can be of paramount importance in timing planting and other farming operations. A graphic model that is very simple and practical and can be prepared and interpreted easily by agriculturists is proposed to appraise the occurrence of dry spells.


Aims. We aim to further explore the small-scale evolution of coronal hole boundaries using X-ray high-resolution and high-cadence images. We intend to determine the fine structure and dynamics of the events causing changes of coronal hole boundaries and to explore the possibility that these events are the source of the slow solar wind. Methods. We developed an automated procedure for the identification of transient brightenings in images from the X-ray telescope on-board Hinode taken with an Al Poly filter in the equatorial coronal holes, polar coronal holes, and the quiet Sun with and without transient coronal holes. Results. We found that in comparison to the quiet Sun, the boundaries of coronal holes are abundant with brightening events including areas inside the coronal holes where closed magnetic field structures are present. The visual analysis of these brightenings revealed that around 70% of them in equatorial, polar and transient coronal holes and their boundaries show expanding loop structures and/or collimated outflows. In the quiet Sun only 30% of the brightenings show flows with most of them appearing to be contained in the solar corona by closed magnetic field lines. This strongly suggests that magnetic reconnection of co-spatial open and closed magnetic field lines creates the necessary conditions for plasma outflows to large distances. The ejected plasma always originates from pre-existing or newly emerging (at X-ray temperatures) bright points. Conclusions. The present study confirms our findings that the evolution of loop structures known as coronal bright points is associated with the small-scale changes of coronal hole boundaries. The loop structures show an expansion and eruption with the trapped plasma consequently escaping along the "quasi" open magnetic field lines. These ejections appear to be triggered by magnetic reconnection, e.g. the so-called interchange reconnection between the closed magnetic field lines (BPs) and the open magnetic field lines of the coronal holes. We suggest that these plasma outflows are possibly one of the sources of the slow solar wind.


As local governments seek to address growing financial challenges, many will consider a variety of cost-cutting measures, including joint service provision with other localities. This policy brief examines the potential savings from large-scale service-sharing arrangements, using the specific example of emergency call handling and dispatch in Massachusetts. The analysis finds that consolidation can significantly reduce costs, and recommends that state policymakers consider options to encourage local consolidation. ; This policy brief builds on the Center's 2013 research report, "The Quest for Cost-Efficient Local Government in New England: What Role for Regional Consolidation?"which shows that other services, such as public health and pension administration, and other states, such as Connecticut, could also achieve significant savings through regional consolidation.


The infectious diseases of the central nervous system in children continue to retain the status of a current clinical and scientific problem. The leading place in the structure of the central nervous system nosology of infectious lesions occupies bacterial purulent meningitis (BPMs), characterised by severe, high mortality rate and the risk of the formation of neurological deficiency in the residual period of the disease. BPMs occupy the tenth place in the structure of mortality rate from infectious diseases. The aim To investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of bacterial purulent meningitis in children registered in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. We have analysed the etiologic and age structure, the degree of the severity, the course and outcome of the disease in 142 children aged 0 to 14 years old who were hospitalised in the infectious hospital of Krasnoyarsk in the period 2011–2016. We used the methods of laboratory diagnostics (PCR, reaction of latex agglutination, bacterial inoculation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood for aetiology evaluation) that allowed deciphering the aetiology in 59.8% of patients observed. Based on the laboratory tests results, 38% (54 patients) were diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis (MM), while in 57.4% of cases the disease was associated with meningococcemia. In 12.9% (11 patients) the pneumococcal aetiology of meningitis and in 9.4% (8 patients) the hemophilic aetiology of meningitis was confirmed. The babies of the first month of life (18.58%) had demonstrated the BPME clinical picture; in 33.3% of cases Streptococcus group B was a leading causative factor. The aetiology of BPMs has not been established in 40.2% (57 patients). The largest part of the patients with BPMs was represented by the children aged from 0 to 3 years – 79.6% (113 patients). BPMs usually developed in children with altered premorbid background: hypoxic-ischaemic injury of the central nervous system (55.8%), frequent SARS in anamnesis (10.6%), and congenital malformations (4.2%). It is known that the BPM can be both primary and secondary due to the generalisation of the primary site of infection. Thus, the analysis of the cases revealed that in 37.6% (53 patients) the development of meningitis was preceded by acute inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, otitis, and sinusitis. Post-traumatic injury of the CNS occurred in 5.6% of cases (8 patients). Depending on the severity of general infections, general cerebral and meningeal symptoms, the character of the CSF and peripheral blood changes, severe BPMs developed in 71.2% of the patients, while 28.8% had demonstrated moderate BPMs. The attention is drawn to a large percentage of complications that developed in the acute period of BPMs, with prevailing septic shock (27.5%) with the development of Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (3.5%), oedema of the brain (37.3%), and impaired consciousness (23.9%). The lethal outcome occurred in 9.8% of cases (14 patients). In 31% of patients, severe residual effects occurred: hypertensive hydrocephalus syndrome (21%), paresis and paralysis (4.7%),- convulsions (1.56%), and strabismus (14%). Thus, the analysis shows that BMPs are characterised by a predominance of severe, complicated forms of the disease, a possible development of lethal outcome, which in turn requires searching for new highly sensitive markers of severity assessment and prognosis.


In Yeesan, Ampawa, SamutSongkram province has produced the mangrove coal for a long time, inherited the techniques and has been making charcoal from Chinese. Yeesanproduces a lot of the mangrove coal because there aremore mangrove forests from reforestation which is the villager's concession. Yeesan is far 6 kilometers from the gulf of Thailand, thus the environment is suitable for growing the mangroves. The perfect age of mangrovefor making charcoal is about 12-15 years old, and the villager will grow 100,000 mangroves per year for reforestation.They will grow the mangroves by switching the area and ranking the area which one is the first for growing one by one,so that they can make the mangrove coal all the whole year. Each production of mangrove coal is around 4-5 tons, it takes 10-12 days for production, moreover they will transport to the middleman.The lack of the mangrove coal is used for the footpath, therefore the author thinks that the mangrove coal bits should bedeveloped into the designing product of value. The sample group for this study is 5 professors about Mangrove coal in Yeesan, Ampawa,SamutSongkram province. For collecting information analyzed by questionnaire, presented by the descriptive statistics, percentage and mean. From study 1. The mangrove coal affects to absorbing color, smell and the dirtiness in the water. The quantity of the mangrove coal affectsto absorbing color, smell and the dirtiness in the water. 2. The process of making the mangrove coal shape uses the same process of charcoal but change the shape from cylinder into the mackerel shape. Using the mangrove coal bits combines with water and tapioca flour. The villager can make it on their own. 3. The development product from the mangrove coal bits increases the value and income to the villager in Yeesan, Ampawa, SamutSongkram province.


In this study, accurate identification of the location of the acetabular teardrop and ilioischial line on the cadaveric pelvis was attempted using computerized tomographic (CT) scanning and conventional roentgenographic techniques. The acetabular teardrops and ilioischial lines of four whole pelvic anatomic specimens were outlined with barium impregnated latex strings utilizing conventional roentgenograms, fluoroscopy, and stereoscopic control. Computed tomographic scanning was then performed, and axial and coronal CT reformations were created. Roentgenograms, CT scans, and magnetic resonance images of the pelves of ten patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head were also reviewed to correlate the cadaveric study with specific clinical cases. The acetabular teardrop is a U-shaped figure on roentgenograms taken in a neutral anteroposterior projection. It is a complex geometric structure found to be in a constant position in the anteroinferior aspect of the acetabular wall. Its appearance changes with rotation of the pelvis or incident beam, as the teardrop represents a two-dimensional image of the tangents of a series of curves of varying radii. The ilioischial line is located posterior to the acetabulum and corresponds to tangents on the cortex of the posterior column. Computed tomography imaging with reconstruction identifies acetabular anatomy most clearly and allows precise measurements to be made.


Mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear genes have to operate in a coordinated manner to maintain organismal function, and the regulation of this homeostasis presents a substantial source of potential epistatic (G × G) interactions. How these interactions shape the fitness landscape is poorly understood. Here we developed a novel mitonuclear epistasis model, using selected strains of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) and mitochondrial genomes from within Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans to test the hypothesis that mtDNA × nDNA interactions influence fitness. In total we built 72 genotypes (12 nuclear backgrounds × 6 mtDNA haplotypes, with 3 from each species) to dissect the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Each genotype was assayed on four food environments. We found considerable variation in several phenotypes, including development time and egg-to-adult viability, and this variation was partitioned into genetic (G), environmental (E), and higher-order (G × G, G × E, and G × G × E) components. Food type had a significant impact on development time and also modified mitonuclear epistases, evidencing a broad spectrum of G × G × E across these genotypes. Nuclear background effects were substantial, followed by mtDNA effects and their G × G interaction. The species of mtDNA haplotype had negligible effects on phenotypic variation and there was no evidence that mtDNA variation has different effects on male and female fitness traits. Our results demonstrate that mitonuclear epistases are context dependent, suggesting the selective pressure acting on mitonuclear genotypes may vary with food environment in a genotype-specific manner.


A method was designed to evaluate the resistance of amalgam mixes to condensation forces. For the purpose of classification with respect to the plasticity of amalgam, the optimum test condition was to apply 40 or 50 lb of static load at 30 sec after trituration.


Abstract : The relative yield of Cerenkov radiation from extensive air showers and its angular distribution were measured as a function of the shower size in the range 40,000 to 2,000,000 particles. It was found that the larger showers are not as efficient in producing Cerenkov light signals as the smaller ones. The effect can be understood in light of the results on the angular distribution of Cerenkov radiation near the shower axis which was found to be more peaked fowards in larger showers. This result also leads to the conclusion that the angular distribution of electrons with energy > 21 mev near the axis of extensive air showers is dependent on the shower size. (Author)


It is recommended that women of all ages, and regardless of whether they attend mammographic screening, are aware of how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new or unusual changes promptly to their general practitioner. No one method for women to use when checking their breasts is recommended over another. It is recommended to reduce the risk of death due to breast cancer that women aged 50–74 years attend the BreastScreen Australia Program for free two-yearly screening mammograms having considered the benefits and downsides. Mammographic screening is not recommended for women younger than 40 years of age. Women aged 40–49 years and 75 years and over are eligible to receive free screening mammograms through the BreastScreen Australia Program but they do not receive an invitation to attend. In deciding whether to attend for screening mammography, women in these age groups should balance the potential benefits and downsides for them. For women of all ages who are at increased risk† of developing breast cancer it is recommended that an individualised surveillance program be developed in consultation with the woman's general practitioner and/or specialist.


We present a human-guidable and general tabu search algorithm. Our work expands on previous interactive optimization techniques that provide for substantial human control over a simple, exhaustive search algorithm. User experiments in four domains confirm that human guidance can improve the performance of tabu search and that people obtain superior results by guiding a tabu algorithm than by guiding an exhaustive algorithm.


This paper studies the path tracking control of four-wheel steering autonomous vehicles. A robust and adaptive fault-tolerant tracking control strategy is proposed to simultaneously counteract modeling uncertainties, unexpected disturbances, coupling effects, as well as actuator failures. By exploiting a state transformation, together with the introduction of virtual points in the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, a special feature of the control gain matrix is revealed, which allows for the development of structurally simple and computationally inexpensive robust and adaptive control algorithms. The closed-loop stability issues of the control scheme are analyzed using a Lyapunov-based method. A complex nonlinear dynamic model of a passenger vehicle is developed to simulate the dynamic motion performance and for controller design. The controller is tested and verified via computer simulations in the presence of parametric uncertainties and severe driving conditions.


Serverless computing has rapidly grown following the launch of Amazon's Lambda platform. Function‐as‐a‐Service (FaaS) a key enabler of serverless computing allows an application to be decomposed into simple, standalone functions that are executed on a FaaS platform. The FaaS platform is responsible for deploying and facilitating resources to the functions. Several of today's cloud applications spread over heterogeneous connected computing resources and are highly dynamic in their structure and resource requirements. However, FaaS platforms are limited to homogeneous clusters and homogeneous functions and do not account for the data access behavior of functions before scheduling. We introduce an extension of FaaS to heterogeneous clusters and to support heterogeneous functions through a network of distributed heterogeneous target platforms called Function Delivery Network (FDN). A target platform is a combination of a cluster of homogeneous nodes and a FaaS platform on top of it. FDN provides Function‐Delivery‐as‐a‐Service (FDaaS), delivering the function to the right target platform. We showcase the opportunities such as varied target platform's characteristics, possibility of collaborative execution between multiple target platforms, and localization of data that the FDN offers in fulfilling two objectives: Service Level Objective (SLO) requirements and energy efficiency when scheduling functions by evaluating over five distributed target platforms using the FDNInspector, a tool developed by us for benchmarking distributed target platforms. Scheduling functions on an edge target platform in our evaluation reduced the overall energy consumption by 17× without violating the SLO requirements in comparison to scheduling on a high‐end target platform.


SETTING
Hlabisa Tuberculosis Programme, Hlabisa, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE
To determine trends in and risk factors for interruption of tuberculosis treatment.

METHODS
Data were extracted from the control programme database starting in 1991. Temporal trends in treatment interruption are described; independent risk factors for treatment interruption were determined with a multiple logistic regression model, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves for treatment interruption were constructed for patients treated in 1994-1995.

RESULTS
Overall 629 of 3,610 surviving patients (17%) failed to complete treatment; this proportion increased from 11% (n = 79) in 1991/1992 to 22% (n = 201) in 1996. Independent risk factors for treatment interruption were diagnosis between 1994-1996 compared with 1991-1993 (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.4); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity compared with HIV negativity (OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.4-2.4); supervised by village clinic compared with community health worker (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.4-2.6); and male versus female sex (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.1-1.6). Few patients interrupted treatment during the first 2 weeks, and the treatment interruption rate thereafter was constant at 1% per 14 days.

CONCLUSIONS
Frequency of treatment interruption from this programme has increased recently. The strongest risk factor was year of diagnosis, perhaps reflecting the impact of an increased caseload on programme performance. Ensuring adherence to therapy in communities with a high level of migration remains a challenge even within community-based directly observed therapy programmes.


It is well known that zero-dimensional internal ballistics codes have serious limitations for the prediction of the phenomena that occur in dual-chamber high-low pressure guns. In this paper, pressure-time calculations within the stabilizer of a 120 mm mortar bomb are performed by using an analytical model based on conservation laws. These theoretical results are compared with experimentally obtained pressure-time curves and applied to structural analysis carried out by using ANSYS software in order to evaluate the influence of pressure in dual-chamber high-low pressure guns. Under firing conditions, the material undergoes big pressure rises in very short time periods. The dynamic stress sustained by the material is simulated. As a result, it is found that the material has a very different behavior to that shown by the action of static strains.


Ependymal cells have an essential role in regulating the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid flow by the movement of their multiple cilia. Impaired generation or function of cilia could cause hydrocephalus due to the disordered dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid flow. However, molecular bases regulating differentiation of the ependymal cells and their ciliogenesis have not been fully elucidated. We report here that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), growth factors orchestrating tissue architecture throughout the body, inhibit ciliogenesis during ependymal cell differentiation in primary cell culture. Previous in vitro study has reported that ectopic expression of Smad6 and Smad7 promotes differentiation of embryonic stem cells into multi-ciliated ependymal-like cells. Since Smad6 and Smad7 have been known as the intracellular inhibitory factors of the BMP signaling pathway, the activation of the pathway could cause a deficit in ciliogenesis of ependymal cells. To examine whether activation of the pathway affects ciliogenesis, we investigated the effects of two BMPs, BMP2 and BMP4, on the ependymal differentiation of the primary cultured cells prepared from the neonatal mouse brain. Supplementation of BMP2 or BMP4 in culture media significantly reduced the number of cells with multiple cilia among the total cells, while most of the cells expressed FoxJ1, a master regulator of ciliogenesis. Activation of the pathway was confirmed by the phosphorylation of intracellular Smad1/5/8, downstream factors of the BMP receptors. These in vitro results suggest that inhibition of the BMP signaling pathway might be essential for ciliogenesis during the ependymal cell differentiation in vivo.


Financial Literacy is how much well versed people are about basic concept of Finance. To achieve objective of financial inclusion, people must be financially literate first. To rank the financial literacy of the respondents of Rajkot, particular study is undertaken. The study is confined to salaried employees of Government, Public and Private sectors of Rajkot. Keywords: Rank-wise, financial literacy, Government Employees, Public Sector Employees, Private Employees and Rajkot.


OBJECTIVE To identify the characteristics associated with glycemic response to newly initiated insulin therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We identified 1,139 type 2 diabetic patients who initiated insulin therapy between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2010. Outcomes of interest were the proportion of patients achieving A1C <7% and mean change in A1C within 3–9 months. RESULTS Mean A1C at insulin initiation was 8.2 vs. 9.2% among those who did and did not attain A1C <7% (P < 0.001). Within a mean of 5 months, 464 (40.7%) patients attained A1C <7%. In multivariable analyses controlling for insulin regimen, dose, and oral agent use, preinsulin A1C was responsible for nearly all the explained variance in A1C change. Each one percentage point of preinsulin A1C reduced the probability of attaining <7% by 26% (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.68–0.80]). CONCLUSIONS Insulin initiation at lower levels of A1C improves goal attainment and independently increases glycemic response.


Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was incorporated into the surface of Dacron (PET) vascular prosthetic material (crimped Bionit I, BNl) followed by covalent attachment of an endothelial cell (EC) adhesion peptide; Gly-Arg-Glu-Asp-Val-Tyr (GREDVY). This procedure provides the possibility of a surface selective for EC adherence. Optimal PEO incorporation with minimal fiber damage was achieved from 78% (vol) trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, bromphenol blue staining, and tensile testing. By weight, there was 4.4 times as much 18.5kD PEO as 1.5kD PEO incorporated into PET, but there were 2.8 times as many molecules of low molecular weight PEO. Attachment of 125I-GREDVY to substrates increased as follows: BNJ < BNI - 18.5 kD PEO < BNI - 1.5 kD PEO. Polyethylene oxide size affected EC binding with high molecular weight material decreasing binding and low molecular weight PEO increasing attachment. GREDVY modification of BNI or either of the two BNI-PEOs gave small but consistently increased EC binding compared with the same preparation without GREDVY. In contrast, human fibroblasts cultured from umbilical vein showed decreased binding when GREDVY was attached to BNI or PEO modified BNI. These results indicate that selective EC binding to PET vascular prostheses can be achieved.


We investigate a family of generalized Fokker-Planck equations that contains Richardson and porous media equations as members. Considering a confining drift term that is related to an effective potential, we show that each equation of this family has a stationary solution that depends on this potential. This stationary solution encompasses several well-known probability distributions. Moreover, we verify an H theorem for the generalized Fokker-Planck equations using free-energy-like functionals. We show that the energy-like part of each functional is based on the effective potential and the entropy-like part is a generalized Tsallis entropic form, which has an unusual dependence on the position and can be related to a generalization of the Kullback-Leibler divergence. We also verify that the optimization of this entropic-like form subjected to convenient constraints recovers the stationary solution. The analysis presented here includes several studies about H theorems for other generalized Fokker-Planck equations as particular cases.


In this paper, a new model based on kinetic theory of gases and longitude oscillations of metallic nanocluster on single carbon nanotube (CNT) in addition to phonon vibrations of CNT on substrate is presented to describe the growth mechanism of ultra-long CNT in chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Interaction between CNT and catalyst is investigated by Lennard-Jones potential. Simulations demonstrate that metal nanocluster makes and keeps the carbon atoms at tip end reactive. So carbon nanotube can grow more than 1 cm. In addition, results show carbon nanotubes with larger diameter grow less owing to higher damping factors. Furthermore, effect of temperature and type of catalyst on growth is discussed and it is shown that there is an optimum temperature and an optimum catalyst for growth process. Also, it is shown that the optimum temperature is changed by using different catalysts. Finally, effect of the partial pressure of decomposed hydrocarbons on the growth is also discussed. It is demonstrated that increasing partial pressure leads to the longest CNTs and influence of partial pressure on CNTs with smaller diameter is stronger. All results from the model are in good agreement with reported experimental results.


Many companies have development sites around the globe. This inevitably means that development work may be transferred between the sites. This paper defines a classification of software transfer types; it divides transfers into three main types: full, partial and gradual transfers to describe the context of a transfer. The differences between transfer types, and hence the need for a classification, are illustrated with staffing curves for two different transfer types. The staffing curves are obtained through a combination of interviews with both high-level management and a group of experts, and an industrial case study. From the empirical work, it is concluded that the distribution of personnel differs for different types of transfer, which means that it is crucial to be clear about different classes of software transfers. If not, it is easy to underestimate the effort needed to transfer software work as well as additional costs related to the transfer as such.


Background: Nitrox II, associated with higher oxygen partial pressure, induces an increase in reactive oxygen species, which can interfere with endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOSs), causing endothelial dysfunction and lower flow-mediated dilation (FMD). This study aimed to determine the influence of nitrox II on eNOS expression and FMD as markers of endothelial function. Materials and Methods: A double-blind approach was used with 39 trained male divers who were divided using randomized block design into a control group (the air group) that used compressed air or an intervention group that used nitrox II (the nitrox II group). Both the groups underwent a single decompression dive to 28 m sea water (msw) with a bottom time of 50 min in a hyperbaric chamber. Pre- and postdive eNOS expression was measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and FMD by laser Doppler flowmetry on the regio brachii. Results: eNOS (P = 0.029) and FMD (P = 0.001) decreased in the air group, whereas eNOS (P = 0.018) and FMD (P = 0,023) increased in the nitrox II group. The average difference in eNOS and FMD in the nitrox II group was greater compared with the air group (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between eNOS and FMD. Conclusion: Nitrox II prevents endothelial dysfunction during a single decompression dive to 28 msw with a bottom time of 50 min, as indicated by divers' increased FMD from increased eNOS expression.


This work aims to analyze, from a psychosocial perspective, positions and arguments built by professionals working in the network to deal with violence against women, about the possibilities and modalities of attention to the men reported. Interviews were conducted with 55 professionals working in services directly related to the complaint and monitoring cases of violence in the metropolitan area of Recife. The analysis methodology was qualitative, based on the analysis of categorical content. The results show an order of positions organized in three axes (punishment, prevention and support measures) that refer to a polysemy of meanings on violence and a complex set of arguments. The study highlights the need to broaden studies focused on men involved in violence episodes against women as well as investments in processes of gender awareness and symbolic reinterpretation of the professionals themselves.


Business intelligence techniques and tools are used more and more in all the domains of human activity, being able to bring to light new information from the volumes of data that are gathered from the activities carried on. In the educational domain, as in other fields of activity, business intelligence tools can be employed with success.
The current paper aims to analyze the impact of learning activities, based on data available related to a number of courses that were carried on over a period of three years (October 2010 - September 2013).
The large majority of the courses was carried on through a European funded project and was aimed to develop the entrepreneurship competences of the participants through relatively short term trainings (24 hours spread over several days - 20 hours theoretical activities and 4 hours practical activities).
Related to these courses, the available database consists of information related to the participant's background and the courses followed by them, with the outcomes of the courses (for example businesses started after graduation).
Among the analysis that can be performed based on the available database are: participants starting a business by age; participants starting a business by field of study / level of education; participants starting a business by region / county of residence/ place of residence; participants starting a business by status on the labor market.
The conclusions of the study can be useful to different learning organizations that carry on entrepreneurship and other training courses in order to optimize their activities and better select the participants to maximize the impact of the learning programs they are offering.


Background The assessment of left atrial (LA) function by 2‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) holds important clinical implications in human medicine. Few similar data are available in dogs. Objectives To assess LA function by STE in dogs with and without myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), analyzing LA areas, systolic function, and strain. Animals One hundred and fifty dogs were divided according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine classification of heart failure: 23 dogs in class A, 52 in class B1, 36 in class B2, and 39 in class C + D. Methods Prospective observational study. Conventional morphologic and Doppler variables, LA areas, and STE‐based LA strain analysis were performed in all dogs and results were compared among groups. Correlation analysis was carried out between LA STE variables and other echocardiographic variables. Results Variability study showed good reproducibility for all the tested variables (coefficient of variation <16%). Left atrial areas, fractional area change, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), peak atrial contraction strain, and contraction strain index (CSI) differed significantly between groups B2 and C + D and all the other groups (overall P < .001), whereas only PALS differed between groups B1 and A (P = .01). Left atrial areas increased with progression of the disease, whereas LA functional parameters decreased. Only CSI increased nonsignificantly from group A to group B1 and then progressively decreased. Thirty‐one significant correlations (P < .001, r > .3) were found between conventional left heart echocardiographic variables and LA areas and strain variables. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Left atrial STE analysis provides useful information on atrial function in the dog, highlighting a progressive decline in atrial function with worsening of MMVD.