: In a randomized study, 300 patients with cervical erosion were allocated to either MTC(154) or CO2 Laser(146). The patients were treated on an outpatient basis without anesthesia. In the case of initial treatment failure the same method was to be used for retreatment. All the patients were followed-up for an average of 11 weeks (8-12). 142 of 154 microwave-coagulated patients (92.20%) and 116 of 146 Laser-evaporated patients (79.45%) were cured after one treatment, and there was significant difference between MTC and Laser group (P < 0.005). Bleeding during operation occurred in 5 of 154 MTC group (3.25%) and 32 of 146 Laser group (21.92) (P < 0.005). The result suggested that MTC had higher cure rate and less complications. It is easy to handle, safe and economic.


INTRODUCTION :
Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) and its sequelae form a major part
of gastroenterological workload in any large hospital. As well known, it is a
disease with very high degree of morbidity and mortality. In the past, CLD was
broadly divided into alcoholic and post hepatitis varieties. Over the years, with
the advent of newer techniques for identification of viruses, biochemical
markers, and newer histopathological methods, it is now possible to enlarge the
classification and attach more informative labels to such cases. Even among
virus related CLD, a large group so far labeled as Non A, Non B, identification
of Hepatitis C has become an established practice. Transfusion associated
NANB hepatitis has a new perspective now. Despite these transformations, a
small proportion of patients fail to demonstrate any known viral marker raising
further questions.
There are now well documented studies on the beneficial
effects of antiviral agents in the management of chronic hepatitis B and C.
Hence it becomes almost mandatory to determine if a given case of CLD is
virus related or not, so that a decision regarding the use of such antiviral agents
can be made. Another problem, which is assuming importance, is co-existence
of more than one hepatotropic virus. While the co-infection or superinfection of
HBV and Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) is well studied, the significance of the
presence of viral makers of HBV and HCV in the same patient is not yet clear.
Which agent is responsible for the observed liver damage and how the presence
of one virus alters the biological behavior of other, are questions which have
already caught the attention of hepatologists worldwide.
AIM :
To study about the various clinical, biochemical and pathological
presentations of chronic liver disease and to estimate their relative frequencies.
1. To estimate the contribution of hepatitis virus B & C in causing chronic
liver disease in an urban setup
2. To find out the relative prevalence of NASH in patients diagnosed to
have chronic liver disease (CLD)
OBJECTIVES :
The study was conducted with following specific objectives in mind.
1. What is the relative frequency of clinical, biochemical, pathological
abnormalities found in chronic liver disease of various etiologies
2. What is the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV in patients with CLD
3. Should NASH be considered to be an emerging risk for CLD in urban population?
PATIENTS & METHODOLOGY :
The study was conducted in Government General Hospital, Chennai,
during the period September 2003 to August 2004.
100 consecutive adult patients admitted to the male and female wards of
Medical Gastroenterology ward diagnosed to have CLD (by criteria given
below) were included in the study.
CONCLUSIONS :
1. Chronic liver disease is a major health problem in this area.
2. 60 out of 100 patients with CLD were related to Ethanol and
HBV either singly or in combination.
3. The incidence of HCV infection is very low in this part of the
world (4%).
4. A sizeable proportion (28%) belongs to the group of cryptogenic
cirrhosis which calls for a lot of research in this sphere to detect
new viruses or environmental factors responsible.
5. The prevalence of NASH in patients with CLD is 3%
6. Obesity, Hypertriglyceredemia and Diabetes were present in
patients with NASH either singly or in combination.
7. Coexistence of HBV and Alcoholic liver disease does not alter
the histopathology or clinical severity of the illness .
8. In view of the too small number of HCV cases, we could not
document the histopathological characteristics claimed to be
distinctive of HCV infection.


A theoretical exploration about hydrogen bonding in a series of synthetic regioisomeric antitumor tricyclic hydroquinones is presented. The stabilization energy for the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) formation in four structurally different situations were evaluated: (a) IHB between the proton of a phenolic hydroxyl group and an ortho-carbonyl group (forming a six-membered ring); (b) between the oxygen atom of a phenolic hydroxyl group and the proton of an hydroxyalkyl group (seven membered ring); (c) between the proton of a phenolic hydroxyl group with the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group of a hydroxyalkyl moiety (seven-membered ring); and (d) between the proton of a phenolic hydroxyl group and an oxygen atom directly bonded to the aromatic ring in ortho position (five-membered ring). A conformational analysis for the rotation around the hydroxyalkyl substituent is also performed. It is observed that there is a correspondence between the conformational energies and the IHB. The strongest intramolecular hydrogen bonds are those involving a phenolic proton and a carbonyl oxygen atom, forming a six-membered ring, and the weakest are those involving a phenolic proton with the oxygen atom of the chromenone, forming five-membered rings. Additionally, the synthesis and structural assignment of two pairs of regioisomeric hydroquinones, by 2D-NMR experiments, are reported. These results can be useful in the design of biologically-active molecules.


BACKGROUND: Public education is considered as one of the most important methods for preventing and coping with natural disasters. So, providing a model for designing and implementation of these trainings is of great importance. This study aimed to do this. METHODS: This was an applied research with a combined method of gathering the data. In qualitative part of the survey, the research tools were organizational documentations and semi-structured interviews with focus groups while in quantitative part, it was a questionnaire. Research population consisted of experts in public education, administrators and population planners. Purposive sampling was used to reach theoretical saturation of the data. To validate the model, 17 participants answered the questionnaire. In qualitative part, validity was confirmed by the participants and in quantitative part, content validity method was used. The reliability was approved obtaining Cronbach's alpha of 0.98. RESULTS: Public education was imperfect in terms of organization, regulations, structure and process. A public education model based on components such as need assessment, design, implementation, evaluation and motivational mechanisms in both aspects of conventional and distance training was provided. Using t-test showed validity of the model in both aspects of conventional (t = 0.25; P < 0.05) and distance (t = -0.17; P < 0.05) training. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, a comprehensive, holistic and systematic public education model in both conventional and distance is presented. To make the education more effective, some subsystems such as needs assessment, design, implementation, evaluation and motivational mechanisms should to be considered.


The publishing of Roman books has long and often been misrepresented by false analogies with modern publishing. This comprehensive new study examines, by appeal to what Roman authors themselves tell us, both the raw materials and aesthetic criteria of the Roman book (a papyrus scroll) and the process of literary composition. What was the 'scribal art' of the time? What was the role of bookshops and libraries? What control did an author have over his creation? How were new books received and used by readers? To answer these questions Roman publishing is placed firmly in the context of a society that, despite the omnipresence of writing, was still predominantly oral. This context helps to explain how some books and authors became politically dangerous, and how the Roman book could be both a cultural icon and integral part of the self-definition of Rome's governing elite and a direct contributor to popular culture through the mass medium of the Roman theatre.


rorehabilitative treatment is to prevent or decrease contractures. The medicinal antispastic treatment also helps prevention and decrease of contractures. According to our examinations, if we use Mydocalm/Tolperizon in an adequate dose we can achieve a good result. In moderately serious cases we can influence the movement ability well. In serious contracture we can decrease the pain, so we can apply the different physiotherapeutic methods more easily. Significant improvement of movement ability and the modificated rates of Ashworth Scale proved a successful Mydocalm treatment in 86% of the cases. The side effects, which occurred at the beginning of treatment, reduced or disappeared dunng the treatment, so we did not have to stop the antispastic treatment, which proved a good toleration of Mydocalm.


before they caused symptoms. The main reasons for the high mortality for tumours in childhood were therefore, it seemed, because they were reticulo-endothelial in origin or else arose in a situation where removal was impossible or where symptoms occurred late. If surgery and irradiation were the only possible forms of treatment, the future for these patients would be very poor. However, the increasing success of chemotherapy in leukaemia was very encouraging. The fact that on rare occasions some tumours in children might regress spontaneously suggested that there was a natural resistance to their growth. Dr. Steward demonstrated a retinoblastoma which had regressed in this way. DEC. 27, 1958 TO-DAY'S DRUGS M,DncBRmn¶ wA., 1591


Endwall total pressure losses downstream of a low-speed turbine cascade have been measured at several planes in order to determine the changes in secondary flow loss coefficients and the growth of the mixing loss with distance downstream. The results obtained are compared with various published secondary flow loss correlations in an attempt to explain some of the anomalies which presently exist. The paper includes some new correlations including one for the important gross secondary loss coefficient YSG with loading and aspect ratio parameters as well as the upstream boundary layer parameters.


Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1alpha (HNF1alpha) and Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) are two liver-enriched transcription factors coexpressed in specific tissues where they play a crucial role through their involvement in a complex cross-regulatory network. HNF1alpha down regulates HNF4alpha-mediated activation of transcription via a direct protein-protein interaction. Here we show that HNF4alpha enhances the transcriptional activity of HNF1alpha in a DNA binding independent manner, thus indicating that it behaves as a HNF1alpha coactivator. Using mutations in the ligand binding domain (LBD) of HNF4alpha, we confirmed the involvement of the Activation Function 2 module and demonstrated the requirement of the integrity of the LBD for the interaction with HNF1alpha. Moreover, we show that HNF4alpha cooperates with p300 to achieve the highest HNF1alpha-mediated transcription rates. Our findings highlight a new way by which HNF4alpha can regulate gene expression and extend our knowledge of the complexity of the transcriptional network involving HNF4alpha and HNF1alpha.


A resonant subharmonic interaction between two axisymmetric travelling waves was induced in the shear layer of an axisymmetric jet by controlled sinusoidal perturbations with two frequencies separated by one octave. Wherever the two excited waves are non-dispersive and the fundamental is close to its linear neutral point the two waves may interact in a manner that enhances the amplification rate of the subharmonic wave train. The amplified subharmonic will exceed the fundamental's level to become the dominant instability component. The initial phase difference between the subharmonic and the fundamental plays an important role in the amplification of the subharmonic. For specific phase angles between the two excited waves a suppression of the subharmonic may be observed. The influence of other initial parameters such as amplitude ratio, overall forcing level, excitation frequency and flow conditions at the nozzle (i.e. the initial turbulence level and the initial momentum thickness) was also investigated. An increase in the combined forcing level reduces the effect of the initial phase difference on the amplification of the subharmonic. Stronger excitation moves the location at which the two waves are locked in space further upstream while the effect of the initial phase difference decreases. The energy transfer to the subharmonic wave has been analysed by estimating the production terms. The results clearly indicate that most of the energy for the resonant growth of the subharmonic comes directly from the mean flow. The fundamental wave acts as a catalyst, as long as the resonance conditions are satisfied, enhancing the rate of energy transfer from the mean flow to the subharmonic.


We consider the evolution of cosmological magnetic fields in FRW models and outline a geometrical mechanism for their superadiabatic amplification on large scales. The mechanism operates within standard electromagnetic theory and applies to FRW universes with open spatial sections. We discuss the general relativistic nature of the effect and show how it modifies the adiabatic magnetic evolution. Assuming a universe that is only marginally open today, we estimate the main features of the superadiabatically amplified residual field. PACS numbers: 98.80.Jk, 41.20.-q, 98.80.Cq


This paper analyzes electroless Ni/immersion Au (ENIG), with and without Pd, as an alternative UBM structure. Wafers were fabricated with these UBM structures, solder applied with C4NP, and chip level stressing performed to determine the robustness of these alternative stack-ups. Analysis of these structures following multiple reflows and thermal cycling is presented. In addition, the paper also reviews production cost analysis for various UBM stackups and solder bump processes, based on a specifically developed cost model. The ENIG UBM structures in combination with C4NP solder bumping provide a significant cost reduction over alternative structures.


Many types of social media metadata come in forms of temporal networks, networks where we have information about not only who is in contact with whom but also when contacts happen. In this paper, we review methods to analyze temporal networks developed in the last few years applied to social media data. These methods seek to identify important spreaders and, in more generality, how the temporal and topological structure of interaction affects spreading processes.


Abstract An experimental investigation has been conducted to demonstrate the utility of active flow control as a disturbance generator for vortex body interaction studies. The technique is used to explore the flow physics of parallel vortex body interaction between two NACA 0012 airfoils in series. Experiments were carried out at a chord-based Reynolds number of 740,000 relative to the first airfoil. Active flow control in the form of nanosecond pulse-driven dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuation, originating close to the leading edge, was used to produce vortex shedding from the upstream (disturbance) airfoil at various frequencies ( $$0.038 \le F^+ \le 0.762$$ 0.038 ≤ F + ≤ 0.762 ). These vortices were characterized, showing reduced circulation and diameter with increasing frequency, before examining the downstream wake-airfoil interactions. Time-resolved pressure and phase-locked PIV measurements were taken on the downstream (target) airfoil for multiple angles of attack. For $$F^+ \le 0.5$$ F + ≤ 0.5 , the target airfoil is subject to strong oscillations from the wake of the disturbance airfoil that lead to large fluctuations in lift and pitching moment. However, a further increase in $$F^+$$ F + reattaches the flow over the disturbance airfoil and no major vortex body interactions are observed on the target. Governing parameters for this type of vortex body interaction are explored, and differences between isolated and non-isolated encounters as well as the presence of a viscous response are examined. Finally, means to alleviate loads caused by the incident vortex are explored. Graphic abstract


We previously developed a workplace-based tool for assessing point of care ultrasound (POCUS) skills and used a modified Delphi technique to identify critical items (those that learners must successfully complete to be considered competent). We performed a standard setting procedure to determine cut scores for the full tool and a focused critical item tool. This study compared ratings by 24 experts on the two checklists versus a global entrustability rating. All experts assessed three videos showing an actor performing a POCUS exam on a patient. The performances were designed to show a range of competences and one included potentially critical errors. Interrater reliability for the critical item tool was higher than for the full tool (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.99] vs. 0.78 [95% CI 0.25–0.99]). Agreement with global ratings of competence was higher for the critical item tool (κ = 0.71 [95% CI 0.55–0.88] vs 0.48 [95% CI 0.30–0.67]). Although sensitivity was higher for the full tool (85.4% [95% CI 72.2–93.9%] vs. 81.3% [95% CI 67.5–91.1%]), specificity was higher for the critical item tool (70.8% [95% CI 48.9–87.4%] vs. 29.2% [95% CI 12.6–51.1%]). We recommend the use of critical item checklists for the assessment of POCUS competence.


The paper takes the improvement of the performance for an OWC converter from the mechanical side. A FEM model of the OWC conversion structure was proposed, studied and simulated using a CFD simulator. A novel wave generation method was applied through the RWMD method (Real Wave Model Simulator) instead of using an ordinary sin wave generator on the tank to make the waves the closest possible to the real sea waves. A mechanical prototype was built for this purpose to get an oscillated wave model. On the electrical side, a pitch angle control system based on fuzzy set was applied on the turbine to be auto-adapted for the fast variation of the airflow speed to establish and maximize the extracted power from the OWC device. The model have been studied, simulated, implemented and tested to validate the obtained results.


Bears (Ursus spp.) that become conditioned to anthropogenic food sources pose a risk to human safety and generally need to be relocated, rehabilitated, or destroyed. Identifying food-conditioned bears may be difficult if the animal is not captured or killed while immediately engaged in the nuisance behavior. Fatty acid signature analysis has been used to examine the dietary habits of bears and other carnivores and is based on the predictable incorporation of ingested fatty acids into the consumer's fat stores. Unusual fatty acids that are available in only a few food types may be particularly useful dietary markers. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that trans fatty acids present in many processed foods could serve as markers of anthropogenic foraging by black bears (Ursus americanus). Among 13 bears that were killed in western and central Colorado, trans fatty acids were more abundant in conflict bears than in non-conflict bears. Further, the abundance of trans fatty acids in bear fat appeared to be correlated with the intensity of bear–human conflict. We conclude that the trophic transfer of trans fatty acids can provide valuable insights into the ecological, demographic, and anthropogenic factors that contribute to bear–human conflict.


Chitin is a naturally occurring fibre-forming polymer that plays a protective role in many lower eukaryotes similar to that of cellulose in plants. Chemically it is a long-chain unbranched polysaccharide made of N-acetylglucosamine residues; it is the second most abundant organic compound in nature, after cellulose. Taking into account the structural role played by chitin, its metabolism (synthesis and degradation) is essential for different morphogenetic events. Absent in vertebrates and plants, chitin represents a parasite-specific target for chemotherapeutic attack and also plays a role in host immune responses. Because of its abundance in nature and its properties, biotechnological application of chitin derivatives is currently an expanding area.

Key concepts

Chitin is a long-chain unbranched polysaccharide made of β-1,4-linked anhydro-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose (GlcNAc) which forms crystalline fibrillar structures following association of adjacent chains through hydrogen bonds between the N–H and the CO groups.

Nascent chitin is a growing chitin chain which is being synthesized by the chitin synthase and it represents a good substrate for chitinolytic enzymes.

Microfibrillar chitin is a crystalline structure formed by chains of the polysaccharide which associate through hydrogen bonds between adjacent chains and it is responsible for the physico-chemical properties of the polymer.

The fungal cell wall is a supramolecular network outside the plasma membrane, formed by structural polysaccharides, including chitin, and proteins and glycoproteins, that protects the fungal cell and determines morphology, similarly to cuticle (exosqueleton) in insects.

Insect cuticle (exosqueleton) is an extracellular matrix covering the epidermis and trachea, composed mainly by chitin (and proteins), which protects the animal and confers morphology.

The peritrophic membrane (matrix) is an extracellular layer that covers the midgut in most arthropods and it is made of chitin, proteins and proteoglycans, and provides protection to the underlaying digestive cells.

Chitin biosynthesis is a strongly regulated process, both spatially and temporally, as chitin deposition is essential for fungal growth and development (moulting) in arthropods.

Chitin synthases are membrane bound enzymes that incorporate the substrate (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine) from the cytosol to the nascent chitin chain that is extruded outside the membrane.

Chitinases are chitin-hydrolysing enzymes that play important roles in the physiology of chitin-containing eukaryotes, and chitinolytic bacteria are active in a scavenging role by degrading massive amounts of chitin in marine and soil biomass, avoiding its accumulation and favouring the utilization of chitin as a renewable source.

The absence of chitin in vertebrates and plants makes the chitin metabolism a potentially useful parasite-specific target for chemotherapeutic attack.

Owing to their abundance in nature and properties, chitin, chitosan and their derivatives have gained potential interest for a wide range of areas, including biopharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Keywords:

polysaccharide;
chitosan;
chitinase;
chitin synthetase;
structural biopolymers


This article analyses developments in the labour market and incomedistribution in Argentina between 2002 and 2007, using data from thePermanent Household Survey and econometric estimates. Following the2001 crisis the employment situation improved in the aggregate and therewas initially a marked decline in income concentration. This reduction latertailed off, however, apparently because of differences in the opportunitiesfor different types of households to reap the benefits of growth. Membersof resource-poor households had less chance of finding work and faceddisadvantages in terms of pay and labour market participation. The isolationand social homogeneity of the neighbourhoods in which these householdswere located appear to have influenced the distributive outcome.


Infection with HIV results in progressive immunodeficiency and renders the infected person increasingly vulnerable to wide range of pathogens. The immune defects produced by HIV influence the natural history of tuberculosis infection. Study aimed to determine incidence of HIV in case of tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra pulmonary) and to compare our data with the studies carried out in different parts of India. Total 129 patients of tuberculosis studied out of them 17 were reported seropositive for HIV. Highest incidence were among males 16(17.5%), whereas age group at most affected were of 31-40 years. Maximum cases of TB with HIV seropositive belonged to Urban Population 12 (13.9%) than the rural 05 (11.6%). While occupation did not showed any significant relation with the seropositive HIV, however highest incidences were among truck drivers, followed by businessmen, service person etc.


Phase transitions not only occur in physics but also in many problems in computer science. Among the problems from computer science, there are many NP-complete ones. An especially important problem is the satisfiability problem, SAT, for Boolean formulas. When phase transitions of SAT problems are studied, the corresponding formulas are usually restricted to conjunctive normal form, i.e., the formula is a set of clauses. K-SAT is the problem, where all clauses consists of exactly K literals. When the density of clauses (i.e., the ratio between the number of clauses and the number of variables) is increased in random K-SAT problems, there is an abrupt change in the probability from being satisfiable to being unsatisfiable. Numerous experimental results are available, but the exact location of the phase transition is not known for the random KSAT problem with K > 2. There are only lower and upper bounds which are rigorously proven. In this thesis, we consider formulas with more structure, namely the model of fixed balanced shapes introduced by Navarro and Voronkov in 2005. They experimentally studied different shapes and provided first upper bounds for the critical value, i.e., the location where the phase transition occurs. These upper bounds were obtained by using the first moment method (FMM). We uniformly improve their upper bounds by a method which is based on locally maximal solutions. This method has been proposed by Creignou and Daudé in 2007. Since this method requires a sensitivity polynomial as an input, we show how such polynomials can be computed for shapes, and how the upper bounds are obtained. We discuss the limitations of the method by comparing the upper bounds computed with the FMM with the upper bounds computed by the new method for shapes with increasing size or depth.


Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a modern sampling/sample preparation method, used for isolation and preconcentration of organic molecules from a variety of matrices. SPME uses a short piece of a fused silica fiber coated with a polymeric stationary phase. The fiber is mounted in a device resembling a syringe. During transport, storage and manipulation, the fiber is retracted into the needle of the device. During extraction and desorption of the analytes, the fiber is exposed. Analytes present in a sample partition into or onto the coating, depending on its type. The process continues until equilibrium is reached between the coating and the sample. From then on, longer extraction times do not result in larger amounts of analyte extracted. Once the extraction is finished, the fiber is retracted back into the needle, and the device is transferred to a gas or liquid chromatograph for analyte separation and determination. When gas chromatography (GC) is used, the analytes are thermally desorbed from the fiber in a GC injector. Coupling of SPME with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) requires a special interface.

Two distinct SPME coating types are available commercially. Coatings of the first type, including poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(acrylate) (PA), extract analytes by absorption. This process is non-competitive, therefore in most cases the amount of an analyte extracted by such coatings from a sample is independent of the matrix composition. No saturation or displacement effects occur. The amount of an analyte extracted from a sample is linearly dependent on its initial concentration, provided that several important variables, including (but not limited to) temperature, extraction time and mass transfer conditions, are kept constant. Coatings of this type usually perform very well for compounds of medium to low volatility.

Coatings of the second type, including poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB), Carbowax™/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB) and Carboxen™/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (CX/PDMS), extract analytes by adsorption. This process is limited to the surface of the coating. It is competitive, which means that a molecule with higher affinity to the coating can displace a molecule with lower affinity. Since the number of active sites on the surface of any coating is limited, a linear response for those coatings can be expected only when the concentrations of all the compounds that can be extracted by the coating from a sample are low. Adsorption-type coatings are particularly suitable for volatile analytes, for which they offer much better sensitivity than PDMS or PA.

SPME is very well suited for field applications, especially when the analysis is carried out on site. The fiber can be exposed directly to the medium analyzed, for example lake water or ambient air, without the need to collect a sample and without knowing the exact volume of the sample the fiber is exposed to. Analysis can then be performed using field portable instrumentation. Manual operation of the device is very simple. The fibers are reusable, which makes the cost of analysis low. Separation of volatile components sampled by SPME can be very fast when a dedicated system (available commercially from SRI Instruments) is used.

Alternatively, SPME can be used to sample in the field, and then transported for the analysis to the laboratory. Modified devices have to be used for this purpose to avoid analyte losses during transport and storage, as well as contamination of the samples. Transporting fibers is much easier than transporting glass or metal containers with water or air samples.

The main disadvantage of SPME in the field is its lack of robustness. The needle can be easily bent, and the fiber can be broken when handled without sufficient care. New designs of field portable SPME devices address those issues. Also, it might be difficult to accurately control in the field all the experimental parameters that affect the amount of analyte extracted.


Estrogen deficiency leads to rapid bone loss and skeletal fragility. Sclerostin, encoded by the sost gene, and a product of the osteocyte, is a negative regulator of bone formation. Blocking sclerostin increases bone mass and strength in animals and humans. Sirtuin1 (Sirt1), a player in aging and metabolism, regulates bone mass and inhibits sost expression by deacetylating histone 3 at its promoter. We asked whether a Sirt1-activating compound could rescue ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss and biomechanical deterioration in 9-week-old C57BL/6 mice. OVX resulted in a substantial decrease in skeletal Sirt1 expression accompanied by an increase in sclerostin. Oral administration of SRT3025, a Sirt1 activator, at 50 and 100 mg/kg·d for 6 weeks starting 6 weeks after OVX fully reversed the deleterious effects of OVX on vertebral bone mass, microarchitecture, and femoral biomechanical properties. Treatment with SRT3025 decreased bone sclerostin expression and increased cortical periosteal mineralizing surface and serum propeptide of type I procollagen, a bone formation marker. In vitro, in the murine long bone osteocyte-Y4 osteocyte-like cell line SRT3025 down-regulated sclerostin and inactive β-catenin, whereas a reciprocal effect was observed with EX-527, a Sirt1 inhibitor. Sirt1 activation by Sirt1-activating compounds is a potential novel pathway to down-regulate sclerostin and design anabolic therapies for osteoporosis concurrently ameliorating other metabolic and age-associated conditions.


Congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) is a rare and severe disease, is inherited as an autosomally recessive trait. CNS occurs predominantly in families of Finnish origin and manifests shortly after birth but now it has been observed in all countries and races with an estimated incidence of 1.2 cases per 10,000 live births. CNS patients have gradually impaired renal function, renal failure occurred ascending, and rapidly progressed to end-stage renal disease. Untill now, the disease has had without specific treatment, medical mostly corticosteroid therapy to anti-inflammatory and immuno suppressive and await a kidney transplant. Mutations in NPHS1 gene, which encodes nephrin protein, are known to be the main causes of congenital nephrotic syndrome in the patients. The NPHS1 protein plays an important role in ensuring glomerular filtration activities and mutation analysis in NPHS1 gene becomes the gold standard for diagnosis for CNS. In this study, for the first time in Vietnam, we performed mutational analysis of NPHS1 in a patient. The patient was admitted in the Department of Pediatrics, Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics and was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome. All 29 exons and exon/intron boundaries of NPHS1 gene of patient and his parents were analyzed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Genetic analysis of the NPHS1 gene revealed compound of one heterozygous variant p.E117K (exon 3), one heterozygous missense mutation p.D310N (exon 8) and one heterozygous frame-shifting mutation (c.3250_3251insG causing p.V1084GfsX12 in exon 24) in patient. Mutation analysis in NPHS1 gene in parents showed that polymorphism p.E117K and mutation p.D310N were found in healthy father and mutation p.V1084GfsX12 was found in healthy mother.


The inefficiencies of current intrusion detection system against fraudulent cyber activities attracts the attention of computer gurus, also known as "hackers" to exploit known weakness on a particular host or network. These hackers are expert programmers who mainly focus on how the Internet works, and they interact with each other to know its strengths and weaknesses. Then they develop advanced tools which an average attacker with little background can use to know the liveness, reachability and running service on the network. Once an attacker identifies these details, he can accurately launch an effective attack and get maximum benefit out of it with less probability of attack detection. In this paper, a system that opens ports on a firewall by generating a connection attempt on a set of pre-specified closed ports is established. Once a correct sequence of connection attempts is received, the firewall rules are dynamically modified to allow the host that sent the connection attempts to connect over specific port(s). This conceals and protects network services which are running on the computer.


Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is characterised by a rapid reduction in the kidney function and gets effected to varying degrees based on the aetiology. An AKI increases the chances of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) if not treated properly or assessed timely.Aim: To identify the common aetiologies and to assess the prognosis and outcomes of AKI in a tertiary care centre in southern India.Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, in a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of six months (August 2015 to February 2016), upon receiving approval from Institutional Ethics Committee (KH IEC 392/2015). Data of patients aged ≥18 years admitted during January-December 2012 was collected from the medical records using the ICD10 code for AKI, unspecified (N17.9). Patients with renal transplantation and chronic dialysis were excluded. Age, gender, aetiology, management, and association between treatment and outcome were analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic regression and chi square test.Results: Among 528 patients, with AKI, male predominance of 72.7% (n=384) and median {Interquartile Range (IQR)} age of 56 (20) years was observed. Prevalence of AKI was found to be 8.36/1,000 people. Community Acquired-AKI (CA-AKI) and Hospital Acquired-AKI (HA-AKI) accounted for 35% (n=185) and 65% (n=343) respectively. CKD 23% (n=79) and sepsis 22.4% (n=77) were the major aetiologies among CA-AKI whereas sepsis 49.2% (n=91) and CKD 11.9% (n=22) were the majorities among the HA-AKI. Chi square test for association between treatment and outcomes (recovery) showed a statistically significant relationship with dextrose normal saline (χ2=10.96, p<0.05), sodium bicarbonate (χ2=7.63, p<0.05), dopamine (χ2=112.14, p<0.05), calcium gluconate (χ2=17.20, p<0.05) and haemodialysis (χ2=12.13, p<0.05). Complete recovery in 64% (n=341) whereas 16% (n=82) of patients died. Conclusion: Sepsis and CKD were seen to be the leading aetiologies. Male gender with AKI is more likely to develop CKD. AKI with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), sepsis or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) might worsen the prognosis. Fluid replenishment shows to improve the prognosis.


Intensive crop cultivation in greenhouses results in insufficient light to plants, which decreases plant photosynthesis and growth and results in reduced crop productivity and reduced economic benefit. Foliar supplemental lighting to leaves in the lower canopy is considered an effective method to cope with the stress of insufficient light on plants. Leaf photosynthesis, stomatal regulation, and growth of tomato plants were examined to estimate the effect of supplemental lighting from underneath the canopy (USL) with light orientation to the abaxial side and from the inner canopy (ISL) with light orientation to the adaxial side. Both treatments significantly improved light irradiation conditions in the lower canopy and promoted growth and photosynthesis of tomato plants. USL maintains a relatively steady light irradiation level in the lower canopy and promotes better photosynthetic and morphologic enhancement than ISL. The improved photosynthesis in plants treated with ISL resulted from larger stomatal pore area and higher stomatal conductance which enhanced carbon dioxide supply promoting photosynthetic electron transport activity. Meanwhile, USL enhanced carbon dioxide assimilation efficiency rather than stomatal morphology regulation to improve plant photosynthesis.


Wireless power transfer using strongly coupled electromagnetic resonators is a recently explored technology. Although this technology is able to transmit electrical energy over a much longer distance than traditional near field methods, in some applications, its effective distance is still insufficient. In this paper, we investigate a relay effect to extend the energy transfer distance. Theoretical analysis is performed based on a set of coupled-mode equations. Experiments are conducted to confirm the theoretical results and demonstrate the effectiveness of the relay approach. Our results show that the efficiency of power transfer can be improved significantly using one or more relay resonators. This approach significantly improves the performance of the present two-resonator system and allows a curved path in space to be defined for wireless power transfer using smaller resonators.


[1] We report the 762 nm emissions in sprites recorded by the ISUAL experiment onboard the FORMOSAT-2 satellite. The 762 nm imager filter is centered at 763.3 nm with a 7 nm bandwidth at 50% transmittance. Sprite emissions in this passband include the N2 first positive (1PN2) bands, (2, 0) and (3, 1), the O2 atmospheric (atm) band (0, 0), and the hydroxyl (4, 0) emissions. Because these mixed emissions cannot be resolved in the 762 nm narrowband filter, a zero-dimensional plasma chemistry model is used to estimate the expected relative intensities of these emission bands in sprites. The computed 1PN2 brightness in a single streamer is 1.4 MR and 2.6 kR for the O2 atm band emissions at frame integration times of 30 ms. In the 762 nm passband, the 1PN2 emissions are the dominant emissions in sprites, and the ratio of 1PN2 to O2 atmospheric emissions is ∼500, while the hydroxyl emissions can be neglected. In this ISUAL 762 nm campaign, the brightest sprite out of the four recorded events has possible O2 atm band emissions that lasted more than 90 ms, and its observed brightness is consistent with the model prediction. Even though the lightning 762 nm emissions are strongly absorbed by O2 below 60 km, the ISUAL observed parent lightning emissions in this passband are still more than a factor of two brighter than those from ISUAL observed sprites. Hence for spacecraft nadir TLE detection missions, 762 nm bands may not be used as the sole signature to identify sprites, and auxiliary emission bands are needed.


Our study investigates the reasons for hospitalization in patients with low-risk (CURB65 score 0-1) community acquired pneumonia (CAP), with a view to identify the potential for increasing outpatient management. As a part of a prospective observational study of CAP, we evaluated reasons for hospitalization in these low-risk patients. 565 patients had low-risk CAP. 420 of these were admitted (>12 hours). 39.3% had additional markers of severity justifying admission. 29.5% of the admissions were required for further management that could not be provided rapidly in the community. 11.9% had unsafe social circumstances. 19.3% had no clinical reason justifying hospitalization. 30-day mortality markers (6.7%), significantly higher compared to 0% for patients awaiting investigations and 0%, without a clear indication for hospitalization (p=0.04). In a


Introduction: Abdomen, a closed compartment, is prone to raised intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in the postoperative period. After a critical value of ≥ 15 cm of water, IAP produces abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). ACS leads to reduced venous return, reduced cardiac output, and domino effect of organ dysfunction, leading to death. Hence, it is the need of hour to monitor IAP to pick up intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and ACS. This routine facilitates early institution of treatment measures. Aims and Objectives: To study IAP in abdominal operations in neonates, infants, and older children and to promote concept of routine measurement of IAP as standard care. Materials and Methods: Intravesical route was used to measure IAP in this prospective observational study. Seventy-nine pediatric abdominal surgeries met with criteria of availability of complete data for analysis and formed the cohort of the study. All major, infective, traumatic, tumor-related abdominal surgeries were included in the study. Outcome, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, platelet counts, Simplified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score were the parameters analyzed. The World Society of ACS grading was adopted in the study with subdivision of normal into low-normal and high-normal subgroups. Results: Extended Mantel–Haenszel Chi-square statistical tool when applied for linear relationship showed a linear relationship with outcome (P < 0.05), CRP (P < 0.05), procalcitonin (P < 0.05), Simplified Sequential organ failure Assessment Score, and APACHE II. Platelet counts (P > 0.05) were not significantly correlated. Decision for laparotomy was delayed in cases of ACS. Conclusion: Routine measure of IAP facilitates early recognition of IAH. This facilitates therapeutic measures to be initiated to reduce IAP. Early decision to decompress by laparotomy/laparostomy saves lives. Hence, routine IAP measurement should be a part of standard care in pediatric abdominal surgery.


Development of intelligent systems with the pursuit of detecting abnormal events in real world and in real time is challenging due to difficult environmental conditions, hardware limitations, and computational algorithmic restrictions. As a result, degradation of detection performance in dynamically changing environments is often encountered. However, in the next‐generation factories, an anomaly detection system based on acoustic signals is especially required to quickly detect and interfere with the abnormal events during the industrial processes due to the increased cost of complex equipment and facilities. In this study we propose a real time Acoustic Anomaly Detection (AAD) system with the use of sequence‐to‐sequence Autoencoder (AE) models in the industrial environments. The proposed processing pipeline makes use of the audio features extracted from the streaming audio signal captured by a single‐channel microphone. The reconstruction error generated by the AE model is calculated to measure the degree of abnormality of the sound event. The performance of Convolutional Long Short‐Term Memory AE (Conv‐LSTMAE) is evaluated and compared with sequential Convolutional AE (CAE) using sounds captured from various industrial manufacturing processes. In the experiments conducted with the real time AAD system, it is shown that the Conv‐LSTMAE‐based AAD demonstrates better detection performance than CAE model‐based AAD under different signal‐to‐noise ratio conditions of sound events such as explosion, fire and glass breaking.


Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been introduced by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and is poised to dominate the 4th generation (4G) of mobile telecommunication networks. In this article, we present an in-depth analysis of the LTE physical layer's characteristics and its performance. Our work is unique in providing a detailed performance study based on Release 8 of the 3GPP standard. Several works have discussed the LTE performance; however, most have been restricted to limited scenarios. Our work shows a more comprehensive investigation of the maximum data throughput under different conditions and scenarios. Our performance study includes TDD and FDD operational modes for uplink and downlink transmissions in different antenna diversity schemes, data modulation, and code rates. Our results show that LTE (3GPP-Release 8) supports downlink throughputs of up to 300Mbps and for the uplink a throughput of up to 75 Mbps.


The recent enactment of the transportation barrier-free law in Japan emphasizes the importance of incorporating a barrier-free approach for any new road facility construction and for improvements to existing road facilities in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to develop barrierfree maps for people with various types of disabilities to help public agencies plan a barrier-free transportation system environment. Statistics show that technological progress and the explosive proliferation of cellular phone use in Japan has reached the level of two phones for every three people. In particular, new advanced cellular phones equipped with additional features such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) and digital cameras are gaining in popularity. The focus is on GPS cellular phones with digital cameras as a tool to collect barrier-free information on the streets. The digital photos and location information generated by the GPS are sent to a personal computer by e-mail. The gathered information is then stored in a geographic information system (GIS) database to display hazardous barrier locations with pictures and messages on a map. Actual field surveys were conducted in the central business district of Utsunomiya City using this method, and information was collected about various barriers for people with different types of disabilities. Barrier-free maps for different types of disabilities were then developed using the multilayer feature of GIS. By comparing hazardous locations for each group of disabilities, both common and differential characteristics were found and summarized in the form of a barrier-free map. Such barrier-free maps are expected to be useful to public agencies for providing a barrier-free transportation environment for people with all types of disabilities.


Ensuring electricity coverage for rural areas in Malaysia is still a big challenge due to the houses are in deep forest and scattered locations. The estimated coverage in 2015 is only 94% and still depending on conventional fossil-fuel generators. Considering full utilization of renewable source is highly recommended. Therefore, this paper proposes optimal design of full solar powered system for long houses in one selected area in Sarawak, Malaysia. Interestingly, the work has been started with evaluation and estimation of loads with site survey done to the selected area, which is Kampung Sungai Merah. The site visit has been conducted to survey and estimate the loads at the site. The design considers meteorological and climate data, specifications of system, and simulation configuration. HOMER tool is used in this work which comes with the optimization algorithm to search for the least cost system. The simulation results reveal the outcomes by considering three discount rates of 3%, 6% and 12%, and the system is presented with the best design for each rate. Lower discount rate contributes to higher PV and lower battery architectures as compared to higher discount rates. In short, it can be concluded that the system is optimally designed to be fully depended on utilization of solar as solid renewable source, which affects PV and battery architectures as two key design elements. Finally, this work should be able to provide the designer an opportunity to fully consider various options in developing the best renewable and full solar powered system for rural electrification.


The often-used A(C)E model that decomposes phenotypic variance into parts due to additive genetic and environmental influences can be extended to a longitudinal model when the trait has been assessed at multiple occasions. This enables inference about the nature (e.g., genetic or environmental) of the covariance among the different measurement points. In the case that the measurement of the phenotype relies on self-report data (e.g., questionnaire data), often, aggregated scores (e.g., sum–scores) are used as a proxy for the phenotype. However, earlier research based on the univariate ACE model that concerns a single measurement occasion has shown that this can lead to an underestimation of heritability and that instead, one should prefer to model the raw item data by integrating an explicit measurement model into the analysis. This has, however, not been translated to the more complex longitudinal case. In this paper, we first present a latent state twin A(C)E model that combines the genetic twin model with an item response theory (IRT) model as well as its specification in a Bayesian framework. Two simulation studies were conducted to investigate 1) how large the bias is when sum–scores are used in the longitudinal A(C)E model and 2) if using the latent twin model can overcome the potential bias. Results of the first simulation study (e.g., AE model) demonstrated that using a sum–score approach leads to underestimated heritability estimates and biased covariance estimates. Surprisingly, the IRT approach also lead to bias, but to a much lesser degree. The amount of bias increased in the second simulation study (e.g., ACE model) under both frameworks, with the IRT approach still being the less biased approach. Since the bias was less severe under the IRT approach than under the sum–score approach and due to other advantages of latent variable modelling, we still advise researcher to adopt the IRT approach. We further illustrate differences between the traditional sum–score approach and the latent state twin A(C)E model by analyzing data of a two-wave twin study, consisting of the answers of 8,016 twins on a scale developed to measure social attitudes related to conservatism.


This study assessed the differential effects of sex of pressuring confederates and perception of ability on conforming behavior of males and females. Varying male and female sources of the communication to influence subjects' views of their ability was expected to produce less conformity in females receiving the information from a male rather than a female. Data on undergraduates showed 64 females did not conform significantly more than 64 males, but male subjects conformed more in the presence of male confederates while females conformed significantly more when led to believe that males were more accurate on the task. Only the male source influencing females to believe they were superior on the task resulted in significantly less conformity in female subjects. Considering sex differences is essential due to the finding that the sexes responded to different variables present in most conformity experiments. The decrease in conformity produced in females when told by a male that females do better than males has implications for the use of male sources of communication to increase independent behavior of women.


*Correspondence: firstname.lastname@example.com

Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to quantify the impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge using the 3D numerical-based HydroGeoSphere (HGS) model in the Ubar/ Shisr Agricultural region in South of Oman. This region has multi-million US dollar irrigated agriculture project purposely developed for the food security of the country. Excessive abstraction of groundwater for irrigation use (using the center pivot irrigation system) has contributed to the “drying-up” of several groundwater wells located in this area. Therefore, there is an urgent need to characterize the long-term sustainability of this agricultural project under a changing climate. HGS model was calibrated on both steady and transient states using selected monitoring wells located within the study area (approximately 980-km2). The coefficient of determination (R2) for the steady-state performance was 0.93 while the transient state performances correctly reproduced the seasonality for each monitoring well. A transient-based calibrated version of the HGS model, using 30-year historical observations (1980-2018) was termed “Reference” while model configurations were developed for the immediate climatic projection (period: 2020 – 2039) based on two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP): - RPC4.5 and RCP8.5 extracted from the World Bank Knowledge portal. These two configured models (scenarios) were evaluated for monthly transient simulations (2020-2039). From the total hydraulic head (THH) fluctuations standpoint, there were reductions when compared with “Reference” for all the scenarios with up to 20% THH reductions for groundwater well levels under persistent seasonal agricultural activities. This study is very important in quantifying the trade-offs and synergies involved between sustainable water management and food security initiatives, especially for an arid climate.

Keywords: groundwater recharge; climate change, hydrogeologic modeling; Sultanate of Oman


National policy recommends intensive support teams for all areas of England for adults with intellectual disabilities who display challenging behaviour. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has not been a systematic evaluation of intensive support teams to date.

 Our objectives were to identify and describe the geographical distribution and characteristics of intensive support teams in England; to create a typology of intensive support teams; to investigate clinical and cost outcomes of intensive support team models and factors associated with those outcomes; and to explore professionals', service users' and carers' experiences and describe the wider system context in which they operate.

 This was a two-phase mixed-methods study. In phase 1, a national survey examined the intensive support team models in operation in England. In phase 2, an observational study of adults with intellectual disabilities investigated the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the two intensive support team models. Semistructured interviews with intensive support team managers and professionals, carers, and adults with intellectual disabilities explored their experiences of intensive support team care. In parallel, we examined service-level outcomes related to the function of intensive support teams.

 Phase 1 included 80 intensive support teams serving 242 community intellectual disability services in England. Phase 2 included 21 intensive support teams, half of which were in the enhanced intensive support teams model and half of which were in the independent model.

 In phase 1, a total of 73 intensive support team managers provided data. In phase 2, a total of 226 participants with intellectual disabilities from 21 intensive support teams (enhanced: teams, n = 11; participants, n = 115; independent: teams, n = 10; participants, n = 111) were enrolled in the study. A total of 42 stakeholders were interviewed.

 The main outcome measure was the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Community, version 2, total score. Additional data sources were the carer and self-reported questionnaires, qualitative interviews and focus groups.

 Two intensive support team models were identified in England – enhanced and independent. Challenging behaviour at 9 months was reduced in both intensive support team models (β 3.08, 95% confidence interval –7.32 to 13.48; p = 0.561), but the observed Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Community, version 2, score reduction appeared larger in the independent model than in the enhanced model (21% vs. 13%, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in the secondary outcomes [Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Clinical Interview organic condition (odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.39 to 3.02), affective or neurotic disorder (odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.32 to 2.59), or psychotic disorder score (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 5.50); risk score (β 1.12, 95% confidence interval –0.44 to 2.68); or quality of life questionnaire score (β –2.63, 95% confidence interval –5.65 to 0.40)]. Similarly, no differences were observed between models in relation to cost-effectiveness (health and social care costs mean difference £3409.95, 95% confidence interval –£9957.92 to £4039.89; societal costs mean difference –£4712.30, 95% confidence interval –£11,124.85 to £2106.36). The experiences of stakeholders did not differ between the intensive support team models, with carers and adults with intellectual disabilities valuing service accessibility, person-centred care and engagement. All stakeholders reported a range of barriers to intensive support team care. Service-level data and the operational policies from intensive support teams showed variation in organisational function and the roles of intensive support teams. The most commonly delivered intervention was positive behaviour support.

 The study describes the operation of intensive support teams in England and identified two distinct models. We did not find advantages or disadvantages associated with clinical outcomes between models, nor did we find cost differences. On this basis, we recommend that local services decide which model best suits their circumstances.

 This was not a randomised controlled trial. It is possible that confounding factors have not been controlled for as there was no matching between intensive support teams. Last, there was no comparison with usual care.

 There is need to develop model fidelity and investigate clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in a randomised controlled evaluation of intensive support teams against treatment as usual.

 This study is registered as ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03586375, Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) 239820 and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) 38554.

 This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 10, No. 33. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.


SIR,-We read with interest the papers of Mr M K D Benson and others and Dr M W Elves and others (15 November, pp 374 and 376 respectively). We can confirm that since our paper on the subject of cobalt toxicity in relation to McKee hip arthroplastyl was published we also have found that approximately one-third of patients with a metal to metal (cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy) prostheses in situ will give a positive reaction to one of the metals of skin testing. Of 20 patients so far reviewed, four are cobalt-positive, two nickel-positive, and one cobaltand nickel-positive. The significance of a positive patch test remains unproved, however, and neither of the articles you have published have provided sufficient histological, immunological, or radiological evidence to permit any firm conclusion. Of the patients reviewed by us, there have been several with a positive skin patch test and yet perfect hip function. This is also the experience in at least one other centre. There are at least two points arising which merit further discussion. Firstly, metallic cobalt and cobalt salts are not only irritants but are directly toxic and this in itself may be significant in the production of any necrotic reaction around the joint. Also, polymethacrylate cement is not beyond suspicion as a possible cause of necrotic reaction. It is important that conclusions such as that of Mr Benson and his colleagues that "it therefore seems advisable to use Charnley or other forms of metal-to-plastic prostheses in preference to metal-to-metal ones" should not be made on the basis of a statistical relationship between skin sensitivity and loosening of the prostheses, particularly when only two cases of loosening are mentioned, neither of which is described nor is the orthopaedic evidence for loosening presented. We are more in agreement with Dr Elves and his colleagues and the guarded conclusion in their paper. Secondly, we feel it is of great importance that authors on this subject state clearly which metal is used in the metal-to-plastic joints. Thus the femoral component of the Charnley prostheses is produced in stainless steel (for example, Thackray) and cobalt chrome alloy (for example, Down Bros). It may be thait it is the use of stainless steel articulating with high-density polyethylene that leads to a low rate of increased metal sensitivity rather than the fact that it is a metal-to-plastic joint. We would therefore ask all orthopaedic surgeons who use the metal-to-plastic prostheses to document clearly in their case notes the particular material used in the femoral component as this may be of great significance at a later date. In this centre the information is being documented in the theatre register.


The background of the article is historical and cultural neuropsychology, which proposes analysis of learning activity from the level of its functional brain organization. Qualitative assessment of difficulties and functional analysis of syndromes permits to determine brain cortical and subcortical factors or mechanisms, which participate in fulfillment of different actions and operations of learning activity at school age. The objective of the present article is to contribute to consideration of ways and methods of neuropsychological assessment in cases of adolescents with learning disabilities and to share the opinion about the advantages of neuropsychological approach for the understanding of neuropsychological nature of learning disabilities in adolescents. Two cases of female adolescents with learning disability were included in the study. The scheme for neuropsychological assessment created for Spanish speaking patients was applied. Such kind of assessment permits to detect unique brain mechanism or factor responsible for pupil's difficulties. Original Research Article Solovieva et al.; JESBS, 26(4): 1-14, 2018; Article no.JESBS.43737 2 The results have pointed out systemic difficulties in factors of motor sequential organization and regulation and control. Identification of concrete functional mechanism responsible for difficulties helps to obtain precise neuropsychological diagnostic of learning disabilities. The functional deficit of motor sequential organization and regulation and control and voluntary activity might be identified as possible reasons of learning disabilities and problems for realisation of intellectual actions in secondary school. We conclude that the methodology of qualitative analysis of neuropsychological syndrome proposed by Luria might serve as an example of usage of systemic approach for cases of learning disabilities in children and adolescents.


Measurement of the serum concentration of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) provides an useful objective marker in clinical practice, both in screening for diseases and in monitoring disease activity and response to therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of the assay in the concentration range from 0.2 to 15 mg/L, and to determine a reference interval for serum CRP in healthy blood donors using the Dade Behring N Latex CRP mono assay on the Dade Behring Nephelometer II. The assay is a particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay with a measuring range of 0.2-1100 mg/L. The sample volume is 40 microL, and the assay time is 6 min. The coefficients of variation for within-run and between-run imprecision studies were between 2.2 and 5.4% in serum pools with CRP concentrations between 1.29 and 11.98 mg/L. Linearity studies showed excellent correlation between the theoretical and the measured values. No interferences were detected from hemoglobin <1.0 mmol/L, bilirubin <512 micromol/L and Intralipid <20 g/L. Blood samples were collected from 268 healthy blood donors (107 females and 161 males) between 20 and 65 years old. The non-parametric reference intervals for serum CRP was calculated to be <0.2-14.7 mg/L in females and <0.2-9.16 mg/L in males. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed no gender-related difference for serum CRP (p-value=0.72). A common reference interval for serum CRP for both genders was calculated to be <0.2-10.5 mg/L (median 0.98 mg/L, range <0.2-17.3 mg/L).


Donor blood is a limited resource and its transfusion is associated with significant adverse effects. Therefore, alternatives have been searched, the ultimate being artificial oxygen (O2) carriers. There are two main groups of artificial O2 carriers: hemoglobin based and perfluorocarbon emulsions. The hemoglobin molecule in hemoglobin based artificial O2 carriers needs to be stabilized to prevent dissociation of the alpha2beta2-hemoglobin tetramer into alphabeta-dimers in order to prolong intravascular retention and to eliminate nephrotoxicity. Other modifications serve to decrease O2 affinity in order to improve O2 off-loading to tissues. In addition, polyethylene glycol may be surface conjugated to increase molecular size. Finally, certain products are polymerized to increase the hemoglobin concentration at physiologic colloid oncotic pressure. Perfluorocarbons are carbon-fluorine compounds characterized by a high gas dissolving capacity for O2 and CO2 and chemical and biologic inertness. Perfluorocarbons are not miscible with water and therefore need to be brought into emulsion for intravenous application. Development, product specification, physiologic effects, efficacy to decrease the need for donor blood in surgery and side effects of the following products are described: Diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (HemAssist), human recombinant hemoglobin (rHb1.1 and rHb2.0), polymerized bovine hemoglobin-based O2 carrier (HBOC-201), human polymerized hemoglobin (PolyHeme), hemoglobin raffimer (Hemolink), maleimide-activated polyethylene glycol-modified hemoglobin (MP4) and perflubron emulsion (Oxygent). In addition, enzyme cross-linked poly-hemoglobin, hemoglobin containing vesicles (nano-dimension artificial red blood cells) and an allosteric modifier (RSR13) are discussed. The most advanced products are in clinical phase III trials but no product has achieved market approval yet in the US, Europe or Canada.


Auctions often involve goods exhibiting a common-knowledge ex-post risk. In such auctions, precautionary bidding predicts that under expected utility, DARA bidders reduce their bids by more than the appropriate risk premium. Because the degree of riskiness of an auctioned good and bidders' levels of risk aversion are difficult to observe in field settings, we conduct experimental auctions that allow us to identify the precautionary premium directly. We find strong evidence for precautionary bidding. The effect is robust to changes in experimental design features. Our experiment provides the first empirical demonstration of precautionary motives in a strategic setting.


Preface. Acknowledgments. SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION. What Has Changed? Fund Categories. Global Funds. Investors Need to Be Better Informed. Benefits of Visual Investing. Structure of the Book. CHAPTER 1: What Is Visual Investing? Why Market Analysis? The Trend Is to Blend. What's in a Name? Why Study the Market? Chartists Are Cheaters. It's Always Just Supply and Demand. Charts Are Just Faster. Charts Do Look Ahead. Pictures Don't Lie. Picture Anything You Want. The Market's Always Right. It's All About Trend. Isn't the Past Always Prologue? Timing Is Everything. Summary. CHAPTER 2. The Trend Is Your Friend. What Is a Trend? Support and Resistance Levels. Role Reversal. Short Versus Long Term. Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Charts. Recent versus Distant Past. Trendlines. Channel Lines. Retracing Our Steps by One-Third, One-Half, and Two-Thirds. Weekly Reversals. Summary. CHAPTER 3: Pictures That Tell a Story. Chart Types. Time Choices. Scaling. Volume Analysis. Chart Patterns. Measuring Techniques. Even the Fed Is Charting. The Triangle. Points and Figure Charts. Chart Pattern Recognition Software. SECTION TWO: INDICATORS. CHAPTER 4 Your Best Friend in a Trend. Two Classes of Indicators. The Moving Average. The Simple Average. Weighting the Average or Smoothing It? Moving Average Lengths. Moving Average Combinations. Summary. CHAPTER 5: Is It Overbought or Oversold? Measuring Overbought and Oversold Conditions. Divergences. Momentum. Welles Wilde's Relative Strength Index. The Stochastics Oscillator. Combine RSI and Stochastics. Summary. CHAPTER 6: How to Have the Best of Both Worlds. MACD Construction. MACD as Trend-Following Indicator. MACD as an Oscillator. MACD Divergences. How to Blend Daily and Weekly Signals. How to Make MACD Even Better-The Histogram. Be Sure to Watch Monthly Signals. How to Know Which Indicators to Use. The Average Directional Movement (ADX) Line. Summary. SECTION THREE: Linkage. CHAPTER 7 Market Linkages . The Asset Allocation Process. The Relative Strength Ratio. 2002 Shift from Paper to Hard Assets. Commodity/Bond Ratio also Turned up. Turns in the Bond/Stock Ratio. 2007 Ratio Shifts Back to Bonds. Bonds Rise as Stocks Fall. Falling U.S. Rates Hurt the Dollar. Falling Dollar Pushes Gold to Record High. Commodity-Related Stocks. Foreign Stocks Are Linked to the Dollar. Commodity Exporters Get Bigger Boost. Global Decoupling Is a Myth. Rising Yen Threatens Global Stocks. Review of 2004 Intermarket Book. Summary. CHAPTER 8: Market Breadth. Measuring Market Breadth with NYSE AD Line. NYSE AD Line Violates Moving Average Lines. Advance-Decline Shows Negative Divergence. Where the Negative Divergences Were Located. Retail Stocks Start to Underperform During 2007. Retailers and Homebuilders Were Linked. Consumers are also Squeezed by Rising Oil. Dow Theory. Transports Don't Confirm Industrial High. Percent of NYSE Stocks above 200-Day Average. NYSE Bullish Percent Index. Point-and-Figure Version of BPI. Summary. CHAPTER 9: Relative Strength and Rotation. Uses of Relative Strength. Top-Down Analysis. Relative Strength versus Absolute Performance. Using Relative Strength between Stocks. Comparing Gold Stocks to Gold. How to Spot New Market Leaders. Where the Money Came from. Spotting Rotation Back into Large Caps. Trend Changes Are Easy to Spot. Rotation within Market Sectors. Chinese Stocks Lose Leadership Role. Summary. SECTION FOUR: MUTUAL FUNDS AND EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS. CHAPTER 10 Sectors and Industry Groups. Difference between Sectors and Industry Groups. Performance Charts. Sector Carpets. Using Market Carpet to Find Stock Leaders. Industry Group Leader. Sector Trends Need to Be Monitored. Information on Sectors and Industry Groups. Spotting Natural Gas Leadership. Natural Gas Components. CBOE Volatility (VIX) Index. Summary. CHAPTER 11: Mutual Funds. What Works on Mutual Funds. Open-versus Closed-End Funds. Charting Adjustments on Open-End Funds. Blending Fundamental and Technical Data. Relative Strength Analysis. Traditional and Nontraditional Mutual Funds. Keep It Simple. 200-Day Moving Average and Housing. Natural Gas Breakout. Consumer Discretionary Breakdown. Bear Crossing Sinks Chips. Negative ROC Hurts Technology. Consumer Staples Hold Up Okay. Retail Ratio Plunges. Energizing a Portfolio. Latin America Leads. Real Estate Is Global. Profunds Rising Rates Fund. Profund Falling U.S. Dollar Fund. Commodity Mutual Funds. Inverse Stock Funds. Summary. CHAPTER 12: Exchange-Traded Funds. ETFs versus Mutual Funds. Using ETFs to Hedge. Using a Bear ETF. Trading the Nasdaq 100. Using Sector ETFs. Inverse Sector ETFs. Using Technology as a Market Indicator. Commodity ETFs. Foreign Currency ETFs. Bond ETFs. International ETFs. Summary. Conclusion. Why It's Called Visual Investing. The Media Will Always Tell You Why Later. Media Views Keep Shifting. Visual Analysis Is More User Friendly. Keep It Simple. Visual Tools Are Universal. The Stock Market Leads the Economy. Prices Lead the Fundamentals. Sector Investing. Exchange-Traded Funds. A Year After the 2007 Top. Warning Signs were Clearly Visible. APPENDIX A: Getting Started. Find a Good Web Site. Use the Readers Choice Awards. StockCharts.com. ChartSchool. Online Bookstore. Investor's Business Daily. Stock Scans. Bullish Percent Indexes. DecisionPoint.com. McClellan Breadth Indicators. APPENDIX B: Japanese Candlesticks. Candlestick Patterns. Bullish Engulfing Pattern. Stock Scan Candlestick Patterns. Recommended Reading. APPENDIX C: Point-and-Figure Charting. Triple and Quadruple Signals. How to Vary P&F Charts for Sensitivity. There's No Doubt about P&F Signals. Recommended Reading. Index.


The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States and in particular its immediately past chairman, Christopher Cox, has been actively promoting an upgrade of the EDGAR system of disseminating filings. The new generation of information provision has been dubbed by Chairman Cox, "Interactive Data" (SEC, 2006). In October this year the Office of Interactive Disclosure was created(http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-213.htm). The focus of this paper is to examine the way in which the non-professional investor has been constructed by various actors. We examine the manner in which Interactive Data has been sold as the panacea for financial market 'irregularities' by the SEC and others. The academic literature shows almost no evidence of researching non-professional investors in any real sense (Young, 2006). Both this literature and the behaviour of representatives of institutions such as the SEC and FSA appears to find it convenient to construct this class of investor in a particular form and to speak for them. We theorise the activities of the SEC and its chairman in particular over a period of about three years, both following and prior to the 'credit crunch'. Our approach is to examine a selection of the policy documents released by the SEC and other interested parties and the statements made by some of the policy makers and regulators central to the programme to advance the socio-technical project that is constituted by Interactive Data. We adopt insights from ANT and more particularly the sociology of translation (Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987, 2005; Law, 1996, 2002; Law & Singleton, 2005) to show how individuals and regulators have acted as spokespersons for this malleable class of investor. We theorise the processes of accountability to investors and others and in so doing reveal the regulatory bodies taking the regulated for granted. The possible implications of technological developments in digital reporting have been identified also by the CEO's of the six biggest audit firms in a discussion document on the role of accounting information and audit in the future of global capital markets (DiPiazza et al., 2006). The potential for digital reporting enabled through XBRL to "revolutionize the entire company reporting model" (p.16) is discussed and they conclude that the new model "should be driven by the wants of investors and other users of company information,..." (p.17; emphasis in the original). Here rather than examine the somewhat illusive and vexing question of whether adding interactive functionality to 'traditional' reports can achieve the benefits claimed for nonprofessional investors we wish to consider the rhetorical and discursive moves in which the SEC and others have engaged to present such developments as providing clearer reporting and accountability standards and serving the interests of this constructed and largely unknown group - the non-professional investor.


Abstract:
 Viruses are generally considered an important agent of bacterial loss in diverse marine environments. However, the impact of viruses on bacteria is unknown in the western equatorial Pacific, where surface waters are warm and phytoplankton biomass is low (i.e., oligotrophic). Further, little is known about their importance in the mesopelagial, where bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates are known to be metabolically active. To elucidate the ecological characteristics of viruses in the western equatorial Pacific, abundances of bacteria and viruses were measured, along with frequencies of visibly infected cells (FVIC) and frequencies of dividing cells (FDC) in epipelagic and mesopelagic samples at three stations near the equator from August to September 2002. Measurements of Secchi depth (20 m) and chlorophyll a concentrations (0.07– 0.4 µg chl a liter-1) indicated that the study area was oligotrophic during the investigation. FVIC ranged from 0.4% to 1.8% and 0.5% to 1.8% in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones, respectively. Virally induced bacterial mortality was inferred to range from 4.5% to 20.8% in the epipelagic zone, suggesting that viruses contribute substantially to bacterial mortality in oligotrophic seawaters. In addition, these values were similar to those estimated for the mesopelagic zone (5.0%–21.2%). Overall, viruses appear to be an important factor in the loss of bacterial production in both oligotrophic epipelagic and mesopelagic zones in the study area.


Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus of domestic cats that occurs throughout the world. Persistent infection in the animals and persistently infected cats are at risk for developing of fatal diseases such as: lymphoma, leukemia, haematopoietic malignancies and anemia. In this study as the first time in Iran the serologic prevalence of feline leukemia virus was determined with commercial ELISA method. Sampling was performed randomly from 103 domestic and stray cats. Positive serologic result was diagnosed in five cases (4.8%). All the positive cats belonged to domestic group. There wasn't any significant differences depend on sex or age, but most Positive cases were less than 3 years old. With respect to some difficulties in vaccination protocols against feline leukemia virus, detection of the infected animals and prevention of their contact with healthy cats is considered as best method in prevention of the disease.


The recent framework of compressive statistical learning proposes to design tractable learning algorithms that use only a heavily compressed representation—or sketch—of massive datasets. Compressive K-Means (CKM) is such a method: It aims at estimating the centroids of data clusters from pooled, nonlinear, and random signatures of the learning examples. While this approach significantly reduces computational time on very large datasets, its digital implementation wastes acquisition resources because the learning examples are compressed only after the sensing stage. The present work generalizes the CKM sketching procedure to a large class of periodic nonlinearities including hardware-friendly implementations that compressively acquire entire datasets. This idea is exemplified in a quantized CKM procedure, a variant of CKM that leverages 1-bit universal quantization (i.e., retaining the least significant bit of a standard uniform quantizer) as the periodic sketch nonlinearity. Trading for this resource-efficient signature (standard in most acquisition schemes) has almost no impact on the clustering performance, as illustrated by numerical experiments.


The present work was carried out to study the effect of some safety compounds, e.g. plant guard & Rhizo-Nbiocide, Ocimum & Eucaliptus plant extracts, salicylic acid & ascorbic acid antioxidants compared to Rizolex-T in controlling root and charcoal rots of sunflower plants (Giza 102). Growth, and quality parameters in greenhouse and open field during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons were determined. Most treatments significantly protected sunflower plants from diseases and increased growth parameters compared to control plants. Under field conditions, naturally infected sunflower plants with Macrophomina phaseolina were significantly decreased compared to infected control. Vegetative growth parameters as plant height, head diameter, 1000 seed weight, percentage oil, protein of sunflower were increased significantly. The results provide an alternative and safe measures for control of sunflower root and charcoal rots.. Further trials with other safe compounds may be recommended


We use a new modelling approach to predict the cumulative impact of Phytophthora ramorum on the dynamic distribution of tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) and other tree species in coastal-Californian forest-communities. We explore the effectiveness of disease-management strategies for the conservation of tanoak at stand level. Forest resources are increasingly threatened by emerging pathogens such as P. ramorum, a generalist that kills hosts and has altered ecosystems in the USA and Europe. In coastal California, P. ramorum has the greatest impact on tanoak through leaf sporulation and lethal bole infections, but also sporulates on the common overstory-tree bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) without significant health impact. Such epidemiological differences impede host-species coexistence and challenge pathogen management. For most disease-impacted natural systems, however, empirical evidence is still insufficient to identify effective and affordable pathogen-control measures for retaining at-risk host populations. Yet, landscape-scale tree mortality requires swift actions to mitigate ecological impacts and loss of biodiversity. We apply a mathematical model of the feedback between disease and forest-community dynamics to assess the impacts of P. ramorum invasion on tanoak under stand-scale disease-management strategies by landowners aiming to retain tanoak and slow disease progression: (1) removal of inoculum through reduction of bay laurel abundance; (2) prevention of tanoak infection through chemical protection (acting epidemiologically like a vaccine); and (3) a combination strategy. The model results indicate that: (1) both bay laurel removal and tanoak protection are required to help maintain tanoak populations; (2) treatment effectiveness depends on forest composition and on threshold criteria; (3) sustainable tanoak conservation would require long-term follow-up of preventive treatments; (4) arresting basal sprouting upon tree removal may help to reduce inoculum. These findings suggest potential treatments for specific forest conditions that could be tested and implemented to reduce P. ramorum inoculum and disease and to conserve tanoak at stand level.


This report describes a method for structuring dynamic Bayesian networks so that word and sentencelevel models can be constructed from low-level phonetic models. This ability is a fundamental prerequisite for large-scale speech recognition systems, and is well-addressed in the context of hidden Markov models. With dynamic Bayesian networks, however, subword units cannot simply be concatenated together, and an entirely di erent approach is necessary.


Cloud motion is a cause of direct irradiance variations at ground level and determines significant fluctuations of PV generation. In this work, we investigate on how integrating information on clouds motion extracted from all-sky images into a time series-based forecasting tool for global horizontal irradiance (GHI) to enhance its prediction performance. We consider three different cloud motion algorithms: heuristic motion detection (HMD), particle image velocimetry (PIV), and a persistent model. The HMD method is originally proposed in this paper. It consists in choosing the cloud motion vector leading to the best cloud map prediction considering the most recent sky images. Results show that integrating the information of the predicted cloud coverage in the circumsolar area leads to a decrease of the width of the GHI prediction intervals up to 2 % for prediction horizons in the range 1 to 10 minutes.


We have integrated in situ stress, neotectonic, and Global Positioning System data to investigate the complex interactions among the South American, Caribbean, and Nazca plates and the Costa Rica–Panama microplate and to examine different seismotectonic models that have been proposed for the region. The resulting data set was used to generate an integrated stress map of the region that shows that the stress field in northern South America varies systematically in both orientation and relative magnitude. In the southwestern part of the study area, the Ecuadorian Andes stress province exhibits strong E-W compression resulting from the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate. In the North Andes stress province, the observed NW-SE compression may result from the convergence between the Caribbean and the South American plates and/or the negative buoyancy of the already subducted Caribbean plate beneath northwestern South America. Possible convergence between the Costa Rica–Panama microplate with respect to northwestern South America may also be a source of compression in this region. In north and northeastern Venezuela, normal and strike-slip faulting with a NE-SW direction of extension characterizes the San Sebastian–El Pilar stress province.


Background: Lower uterine compression suture (Cervical-Isthmic apposition suture technique) is a new but effective method to arrest postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The effectiveness of the suture is not only due to local compression of the anterior and posterior walls of the uterus but also related to the indirect compression of the intramyometrial vessels running from the lateral edge of the lower uterine segment to its media part.  Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of uterine compression sutures for the management of PPH due to placenta previa during cesarean section.
Materials and Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from January 2016 to December 2017. A total of 45 women who developed severe postpartum hemorrhage due to placenta previa during cesarean section were selected peroperatively or postoperatively as the study case. A lower uterine compression suture was given to all the patients. If the bleeding was not well controlled, then other adjunctive procedures were performed. Patients with a bleeding disorder, type I placenta previa, cases other than placenta previa, and morbid adherents of placenta were excluded from the study. The patients were examined postoperatively and again in 2nd week and 6th week after hospital discharge for evaluation of any complications. Data regarding history, physical findings, and investigation were collected from the patient and the patient's record.
Result: Among the total of 45 cases, PPH was controlled in 88.9%(40) cases with compression sutures in the lower uterine segment, and only 11.1% (5) cases required additional procedures. It was observed that higher age groups, multiparous women, patients with <37 weeks of pregnancy, and previous history of cesarean section were significantly associated with a higher amount of bleeding.
Conclusion: Lower uterine compressive compression suture is an effective and safe method to control PPH due to placenta previa during cesarean section and can preserve the uterus for further pregnancy and menstruation.
TAJ 2022; 35: No-2: 35-41


The catalytic performance of Rh/TiO2 catalyst was investigated for the reaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) steam reforming with respect to the operating conditions employed. The impacts of reaction temperature, steam/C ratio, Gas Hourly Space Velocity (GHSV), and time were examined and discussed both in the absence and presence of butane in the feed. It was found that the catalytic performance is improved by increasing the reaction temperature, steam content in the feed, and/or by decreasing GHSV. In the presence of butane in the feed, the effect of H2O/C ratio on catalytic performance is prominent, whereas the opposite was observed for the effect of GHSV. The propane conversion curve decreases by adding butane in the feed, indicating that the presence of butane retards propane steam reforming. The investigation of the dynamic response of Rh/TiO2 catalyst to variations of H2O/C ratio showed that neither catalytic activity nor product selectivity is varied with time following abrupt changes of the steam/C ratio between 2 and 7. The catalyst exhibited excellent stability with time-on-stream at 500 and 650 °C. However, a reversible catalyst deactivation seems to be operable when the reaction occurs at 600 °C, resulting in a progressive decrease of propane conversion, which, however, can be completely restored by increasing the temperature to 650 °C in He flow, respectively. The long-term stability of Rh/TiO2 catalyst in the form of pellets showed that this catalyst is not only active and selective but also stable, and therefore, it is a promising catalyst for the reaction of LPG steam reforming.


Conifer logs and branches of early Holocene age are common on the surface and in sediments above timberline at Castle Peak in the southeastern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. A study of this wood and associated peat and colluvium has shown that local timberline from 9.1 to 8.2 ka was at least 60 m, and perhaps more than 130 m, higher than today. Mean growing-season temperature at Castle Peak during this period thus may have been 0.4-0.8°C warmer than at present. This is consistent with theoretical considerations based on Milankovitch forcing of climatic change and is supported by other paleoecological data from the southern Canadian Cordillera and adjacent northwestern United States. A generally warm climate may have persisted until about 5-6 ka, followed by late Holocene cooling.


Non-enzymatic browning has been a wide and interesting research area in the food industry, ranging from the complexity of the reaction to its applications in the food industry as well as its ever-debatable health effects. This review provides a new perspective to the Maillard reaction apart from its ubiquitous function in enhancing food flavour, taste and appearance. It focuses on the recent application of Maillard reaction products as an inexpensive and excellent source of emulsifiers as well as superior encapsulating matrices for the entrapment of bioactive compounds. Additionally, it will also discuss the latest approaches employed to perform the Maillard reaction as well as several important reaction parameters that need to be taken into consideration when conducting the Maillard reaction. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.


Scully et al. reported that rituximab as an adjunct to plasma exchange and steroids for initial therapy of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) significantly reduces the risk of relapse compared with historical controls.1 In recent years increasing attention has been focused on improving our ability to identify patients at high risk for mortality or relapse. The recent results from the French TMA Reference Center (Benhamou et al., Haematologica 2012),2 where a predictive model for death has been proposed are interesting but one major consideration gives pause. Only patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency were included in the study. Although severe ADAMTS13 deficiency has high specificity for the diagnosis of TTP, its sensitivity is low, and as yet, undetermined. The Oklahoma TTP-HUS registry reported that only 13% of patients have severe ADAMTS13 deficiency and even in the category of idiopathic TTP this number was only 33%. Patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency were more likely to need more plasma exchanges to achieve remission, though they were also more likely to suffer relapses. Interestingly, this was a linear trend across all levels of ADAMTS13 activity and not merely a characteristic of patients with severe deficiency.3 By choosing this particular subset of patients for analysis, we run the risk of developing a model that is not applicable to the majority of patients with TTP, even idiopathic TTP. Also, several patients who are at risk for late mortality (>30 days) may elude identification by the proposed score. It is necessary to validate this score in a less selective group of patients before its utility can be established.


Alternatives to backpropagation have long been studied to better understand how biological brains may learn. Recently, they have also garnered interest as a way to train neural networks more efficiently. By relaxing constraints inherent to backpropagation (e.g., symmetric feedforward and feedback weights, sequential updates), these methods enable promising prospects, such as local learning. However, the tradeoffs between different methods in terms of final task performance, convergence speed, and ultimately compute and data requirements are rarely outlined. In this work, we use scaling laws to study the ability of Direct Feedback Alignment~(DFA) to train causal decoder-only Transformers efficiently. Scaling laws provide an overview of the tradeoffs implied by a modeling decision, up to extrapolating how it might transfer to increasingly large models. We find that DFA fails to offer more efficient scaling than backpropagation: there is never a regime for which the degradation in loss incurred by using DFA is worth the potential reduction in compute budget. Our finding comes at variance with previous beliefs in the alternative training methods community, and highlights the need for holistic empirical approaches to better understand modeling decisions.


The use of bundled bars in highly loaded concrete members instead of individual bars can reduce or even avoid reinforcement congestion, allowing easier placing and compaction of concrete, since bundles (with two or more side‐by‐side bars) are less obstructive to fresh‐concrete flow. However, there is still a lack in knowledge of the fundamental phenomena related to the bond behavior of bars in bundles. Therefore, design code rules for anchorages and splices differ significantly among International Standards (Eurocode 2, fib Model Code 2010, and ACI 318–19). The present paper reports the results of more than 100 pullout tests with short embedded length with the aim of comparing the local bond behavior of bundles with that of corresponding notional individual bars. Among the three criteria usually introduced to compare bundled and individual bars, based on the concepts of "equivalent sectional area," and "minimum or maximum sectional perimeter," the first and the second are introduced in this paper. Experimental results show that both criteria are suitable methods for evaluating the bearing capacity of bundled bar anchorages, even if equivalent area criterion seems to be slightly more conservative. The experimental results provide also information on the bursting forces generated by the wedge action of the ribs which clearly increases with bar diameter. Finally, experimental results are compared with design rules for anchorage strength of bundled bars as prescribed by fib‐Model Code 2010.


This study was done to examine the effects of mood state, resourcefulness, and health perception on health promoting behavior of hospital nurses. Methods: Convenience sampling was conducted for nurses working at three University hospital and 336 nurses were selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results: The results of the analysis showed that the score for nurses` mood state was 41.76±18.90; for resourcefulness, 11.30±20.63; for health perception, 3.32±.77, and for health promoting behavior, 111.55±17.76. Mood state, resourcefulness, and health perception were significantly correlated with health promoting behavior. The overall explanatory power of the effects of nurses` mood state, resourcefulness, and health perception on health promoting behavior was 27.8%. Conclusion: Study results indicate that better mood state, higher resourcefulness, and higher health perception result in more health promoting behavior.


Hot bands of Fe-3%Si steel containing 0.24%Cu were characterized to examine the precipitation of copper sulfides following different heat treatment schedules. It was found that copper sulfides were dominantly in a sphere shape. From 950°C to 1050°C, the precipitates were the complex of copper sulfides and aluminum nitrides. The size of the precipitates decreased and the distribution increased as the temperature increased. However, from 1050°C to 1150°C, the precipitates size increased and the distribution decreased with the rise of temperature. The precipitates were mainly complex copper-manganese sulfides. When the sample was annealed at 1050°C, air cooled to 900°C and boiling water quenched, the most fine and disperse precipitates were obtained. The average size and distribution of the precipitates was 37nm and 2.72μm-2, respectively.