The transfer of various nano-scale fullerenes into lipid bilayers has been studied using all-atom (AA) and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The free energy change, when C60, C180, and C540 fullerenes are transferred from water to the interior of a lipid [dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)] bilayer, has been calculated. Upon entering the lipid bilayer, the largest (2.4 nm diameter) fullerene causes local distortions in the bilayer surface, which were previously observed in carbon nanotube simulations. These local distortions, however, do not lead to any free energy barriers to bilayer entry. The free energy profiles confirm spontaneous absorption of all three fullerenes. Qualitative agreement was observed when comparing fullerene partitioning in water/bilayer systems to water–hexane systems. In contrast to these nonspecific single fullerene properties, extensive CG-MD simulations of fullerene rich lipid bilayers reveal substantial impact of fullerene-size on the bilayer stability. While previous CG-MD simulations indicated that bilayer bound C60 aggregates have little effect on the bilayer structure, the present MD simulations indicate that C540 aggregation has drastic effects. Specifically, the observed destabilization likely has implications for understanding the cytotoxic mechanisms of nano-carbon particles upon uptake by biological cells.


Plasma‐based ion implantation and deposition (PBII&D) technology has been developed rapidly in the past decade. This technique is especially promising for modifying three‐dimensional components. In PBII&D, plasma is generated in the entire processing chamber and then surrounds the components. When a train of negative voltage pulses are applied to the parts, ions are drawn to all the surfaces exposed to the plasma. At a high energy, ions are implanted to the surfaces, but at a low energy and with a proper precursor gases, ions are deposited to form a film. This technology has found applications in many areas including semiconductors, automotive, aerospace, energy and biomedical. This article reviews PBII&D fundamentals, describes features of various PBII&D systems and plasma sources, and discusses implantation and deposition techniques. The paper will also present application examples of this technology.


This paper is concerned with the interplay between vulnerability, resistance and agency for forced migrants. Such concepts are yoked together as soon as the vulnerability inherent in the life-worlds of many migrants is seen to align not solely with victimhood, but also potentially to act as a springboard for agentic resistance, mobilisation and activism. As such, this paper is oriented towards a critical theoretical, and empirically insightful, engagement with the concept of resistance. Most particularly, we ponder the possibilities for resistance in situations of subjugated unfreedom within realms of forced labour. The backdrop for this paper is a broader research project that aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of severe labour exploitation and unfree labour among asylum seekers and refugees living in the UK (see http://precariouslives.org.uk/ ). The lives of many refugees and asylum seekers are widely recognised as characterised by poverty, social exclusion and destitution (Crawley 2001; Phillips 2006), yet there is little research documenting their experiences of exploitation and unfree labour and the reasons why they may be engaged in it. It was such a research gap that spurred our broader project, together with concern that government policy is potentially influential in propelling asylum seekers and refugees into severely exploitative working conditions including unfree elements (see fuller discussion in Lewis et al 2014a). This paper homes in on the particular issue of whether, and how, resistance may manifest for asylum seekers and refugees in landscapes of extreme labour precarity.


A joint data and interference transmission scheme based on a new distributed asynchronous cyclic delay diversity (dACDD) technique is proposed for cooperative communication systems. Without any perfect channel state information from a legitimate user (LU) and an eavesdropping user (EU), joint remote radio head (RRH) selection for the data and jamming signal transmissions is proposed for dACDD to achieve the maximum diversity gain at the LU, while degrading the receive signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at the EU. The proposed dACDD is the extension of distributed cyclic delay diversity, which requires a tight synchronization among the central control unit and RRHs. Thus, processing at each RRH causing no intersymbol interference at the LU is developed. Then, the selection scheme for a data RRH is proposed, which selects a single RRH connected with the channel having the greatest channel magnitude as the data RRH to transmit a desired confidential message and controls the remaining RRHs to transmit an artificial interference sequence to the LU and EU. For the proposed distributed system, the marginal secrecy outage probability and marginal probability of non-zero achievable secrecy rate are analyzed by deriving closed-form expressions, whose correctness is verified via link-level simulations over non-identically distributed frequency selective fading channels.


Issue:
 The Affordable Care Act, ACA Section III, encourages development of new transitional care models linking hospital reimbursements to improved quality, efficiency, and transparency in care delivery. Unplanned readmissions, a quality indicator, are costly under ACA and on the forefront of the Joint's Commission effort to advance data utilization and improve care to stroke patients through the Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) certification requirements. Follow- up phone calls to patients discharged home from the hospital within seven days are embedded in the above requirements and can be a valuable tool in reducing unplanned readmissions and in improving support to stroke patients with complex psychosocial and medical needs.

 Purpose:
 Phone calls initiated by a Nurse Practitioner (NP) to stroke patients after discharge to home in our CSC aimed at increased medication compliance, avoidable readmission rate monitoring, and comparison of outcomes to those reported in the literature. In investigating trends we pursued opportunities to enhance care delivery, establish long-term relationship with patients, and empower them to involve actively in their care.

 Method:
 We utilized descriptive statistics in retrospective and prospective hospital data analysis extending our focus on development of quality improvement initiatives. Inclusion criteria consisted of age >18, primary diagnosis, and discharge disposition.

 Results:
 Between June 2014 and June 2015, after the calls introduction, we achieved an absolute risk reduction of 4.1% in short-term readmissions within 30 days. Compared to the year before readmission rates decreased by 60% with number needed to treat of 25 and preventative fraction of 40%, similar to reduction rates cited in current literature. Patients expressed satisfaction with care and in discussions with the NP helped identify improvement areas for our program. Limitations of the study include single center observations and specific characteristics of our regional population.

 Conclusion:
 When implemented as part of a transitional care model, telephone calls to stroke patients post hospital discharge to home conducted by an NP can be an effective tool in reducing unplanned readmissions and improve patient satisfaction with care.


The expression of the vitamin D 24-hydroxylase is highly regulated in target tissues for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D), where it may modulate the action of 1,25(OH)2D. In UMR106 osteoblastic cells, 1,25(OH)2D and PTH synergistically induce 24-hydroxylase expression. The purpose of these studies was to characterize the interaction between 1,25(OH)2D and PTH with regard to the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the cytochrome P450 component of the 24-hydroxylase (CYP24). PTH alone had no effect on CYP24 mRNA levels, and 1,25(OH)2D alone produced only a modest increase. However, 1,25(OH)2D and PTH together synergistically increased CYP24 mRNA levels 3-fold compared with 1,25(OH)2D alone. PTH also increased the sensitivity of UMR cells to 1,25(OH)2D from 10(-8) to 10(-10) M. PTH worked through the cAMP signaling pathway as evidenced by the lack of effect of PTH (3-34) and by the full activity of 8-bromo-cAMP. PTH in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D increased CYP24 gene transcription as shown by nuclear run-on studies and by activation of a CYP24 promoter-reporter construct after transfection. PTH also increased vitamin D receptor number in UMR cells, but this occurred at times later than the increase in transcription. These studies demonstrate that PTH in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D works through the cAMP-dependent signaling pathway to increase transcription of the CYP24 gene, to increase CYP24 protein levels, and to increase 24-hydroxylase activity.


Aim: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate  the  assessment,  management  and referral practices of South African optometrists in  the  care  of  patients  with  diabetic  retinop-athy  (DR)  and  to  recommend  strategies  to improve  and  standardize  patient  management as required.  Methods:  The  study  design  incorporated quantitative,  qualitative  and  clinical  measures that were administered to fourteen experienced optometrists from the Durban area. The quan-titative measure, the questionnaire in appendix I, evaluated the optometrists' management pro-tocols of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).  These  included  the  optometrists'  referral  and co-management practices, their awareness and usage  of  appropriate  guidelines  in  the  man-agement  and  referral  of  these  patients,  their perceived levels of competence and confidence in their education, levels of service offered to the patients and finally the role of Continuous Professional  Development  (CPD).  This  self-report information was supplemented by a set of clinical measures where the study sample grad-ed levels of DR, chose appropriate management options  and  indicated  prognosis  for  disease progression based on a set of slides presented to  them.  Finally  the  fourteen  optometrists,  as well as two ophthalmologists, were interviewed using tailored, semi-structured interview sched-ules. These interviews were used to elaborate and corroborate information obtained from the other two research approaches.  Results:  Descriptive  analysis  was  used  to analyse  the  data  from  the  quantitative  and clinical  measures,  whilst  the  interviews  were analysed  thematically.  Although  86%  of  the sample routinely screened for ocular manifesta-tions of DM, there was no standardization in the criteria used by the fourteen optometrists. Only  15%  of  the  sample  reportedly  assessed their  patients  using  dilated  fundus  examina-tions  (DFE),  which  is  the  internationally  rec-ommended standard of care. The results of the clinical measures indicated that there was a lack of standardization in the management and refer-ral of patients with DR by the study sample, contrary  to  their  own  levels  of  confidence  in their  educational  competencies  regarding  DR and their perception of the level of service that they  offered  to  their  patients.  The  interviews with the optometrists provided crucial insights into this lack of standardised care of patients with DR, with the ophthalmologists confirming the  urgent  need  for  CPD  aimed  at  enhancing clinical  skills  and  ensuring  standardization  in the  management  and  referral  of  patients  with DR.  This finding was particularly relevant for co-management models.Conclusion: This  pilot  study  indicates  that the  performance  of  the  optometrists  (albeit  a relatively small group) in the assessment, man-agement and referral of patients with DR was inconsistent  and  not  in  keeping  with  interna-tionally recommended guidelines. It is recom-mended  that  CPD  programmes  focus  on  the improvement of clinical skills and on the imple-mentation of existing standardised management protocols  for  patients  with  DR.  This  should result in improved patient care, patient confi-dence and loyalty with regard to care received, efficient and effective models of management and  co-management  and  decreased  costs  to patients and the health care system.


Graphs are universal modeling tools. They are used both to represent objects and to formalize problems in several domains such as pattern recognition, scheduling, etc. One of the strengths of this modeling tool is its graphic and visual representation that can greatly help to see the intricacies and peculiarities of represented objects or the special cases of the modeled problem. This work is a collection of contributions based on graph representations in two domains:

1. Comparison of complex objects that becomes, in this context, a problem of graph comparison or graph matching. Graph matching has been the subject of several investigations, especially in pattern recognition and in applications where the notion of graph is used as an abstract representation of a data model: database schema, semantic web, service-oriented architectures (ontologies and process models), etc. We first studied the classes of graphs manipulated by these data models to find the most efficient matching algorithms. We worked on approaches based on graph partitioning to define similarity measures suitable for this type of graphs. We also searched specific structures in these graphs that may increase the accuracy of the matching. We used the concept of functional module as a matching unit. We also focused on the scalability problem of graph comparison within two directions: (1) the size of graphs by considering the problems related to large graph comparison for which almost all matching methods are powerless in terms of scalability. We have shown that with modular decomposition, we can obtain a compact encoding of graphs called prime graphs. Simple and small, these graphs are a very good representation of large graphs inmatching. Thus one can apply directly comparison algorithms on the prime graphs, without decompressing them, to obtain an approximation of the distance between the original graphs. (2) the number of graphs mainly within the project IMU-kite whose core interest is the processing of a large number of graphs representing images. For this, we have developedmulti-level approaches with the aimof reducing the number of candidates at each level using criteria that consume less computing time and memory space in the first levels of the approach.

 2. The logical organization of wireless communication networks especially mobile ad hoc networks and wireless sensor networks. These organizations such as logical topologies have multiple applications. They help the design of communication protocols without worrying about the constraints related to the real physical network topology. They are also used in scheduling and resource assignment problems such as the assignment of communication channels (frequencies or timeslots), etc. We studied several clustering criteria such as trust relationships between nodes, graph alliances, etc., with applications in group communication and packet aggregation in sensor networks. We also looked at graph coloring as a main graph clustering method. We studied several types of coloring and proposed solutions, both on the number of colors, coloring algorithms and graph classes. We have therefore provided solutions for the problem of distance edge coloring, set coloring and edge coloring by total labeling with applications in timeslot assignement


BACKGROUND
Dysregulation of DNA damage response and altered DNA methylation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been reported, but the impact of methylation of DNA repair genes has not yet been researched. We aimed to predict the prognosis of non-APL AML patients based on the known CpG site methylation levels of DNA repair genes through The Cancer Genome Atlas AML project (TCGA-LAML).

METHODS
We utilized TCGA-LAML cohort (174 non-APL AML) for the methylation data of 22 DNA repair genes.

RESULTS
In univariate analysis among 174 non-APL AML patients of the TCGA-LAML cohort, the hypermethylation of MLH1, RAD51, and ATM showed superior overall survival (OS) than non-hypermethylated groups, while hypermethylation of RAD23A, RAD23B, MLH1, MSH2, BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD50, and PARP1 was associated with poor OS. We demonstrated that CpG hypermethylation levels of DNA repair genes differed according to the AML cytogenetic risk groups. In multivariate analysis, hypermethylation of MLH1 and RAD51 showed better OS than non-hypermethylated patients, but hypermethylation of MSH2 and RAD50 showed worse OS than non-hypermethylated patients.

CONCLUSION
Methylation of 4 DNA repair genes, such as MLH1, RAD51, MSH2, and RAD50, have the potential to be independent risk factors in non-APL AML patients.


Cell shrinkage is an incipient hallmark of apoptosis in a variety of cell types. The apoptotic volume decrease has been demonstrated to attribute, in part, to K+ efflux; blockade of plasmalemmal K+ channels inhibits the apoptotic volume decrease and attenuates apoptosis. Using combined approaches of gene transfection, single-cell PCR, patch clamp, and fluorescence microscopy, we examined whether overexpression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic oncoprotein, inhibits apoptosis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) by diminishing the activity of voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels. A human bcl-2 gene was infected into primary cultured rat PASMC using an adenoviral vector. Overexpression of Bcl-2 significantly decreased the amplitude and current density of Kv currents (I(Kv)). In contrast, the apoptosis inducer staurosporine (ST) enhanced I(Kv). In bcl-2-infected cells, however, the ST-induced increase in I(Kv) was completely abolished, and the ST-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited compared with cells infected with an empty adenovirus (-bcl-2). Blockade of Kv channels in control cells (-bcl-2) by 4-aminopyridine also inhibited the ST-induced increase in I(Kv) and apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of Bcl-2 accelerated the inactivation of I(Kv) and downregulated the mRNA expression of the pore-forming Kv channel alpha-subunits (Kv1.1, Kv1.5, and Kv2.1). These results suggest that inhibition of Kv channel activity may serve as an additional mechanism involved in the Bcl-2-mediated anti-apoptotic effect on vascular smooth muscle cells.


Pyrin is a cytosolic immune sensor that nucleates an inflammasome in response to inhibition of RhoA by bacterial virulence factors, triggering the release of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β. Gain-of-function mutations in the MEFV gene encoding Pyrin cause autoinflammatory disorders, such as familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and Pyrin-associated autoinflammation with neutrophilic dermatosis (PAAND). To precisely define the role of Pyrin in pathogen detection in human immune cells, we compared initiation and regulation of the Pyrin inflammasome response in monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDM). Unlike human monocytes and murine macrophages, we determined that hMDM failed to activate Pyrin in response to known Pyrin activators Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) toxins A or B (TcdA or TcdB), as well as the bile acid analogue BAA-473. The Pyrin inflammasome response was enabled in hMDM by prolonged priming with either LPS or type I or II interferons and required an increase in Pyrin expression. Notably, FMF mutations lifted the requirement for prolonged priming for Pyrin activation in hMDM, enabling Pyrin activation in the absence of additional inflammatory signals. Unexpectedly, in the absence of a Pyrin response, we found that TcdB activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in hMDM. These data demonstrate that regulation of Pyrin activation in hMDM diverges from monocytes and highlights its dysregulation in FMF.


Mr. McLeskey and Ms. Waldron take exception to the conclusions reached by Naomi Zigmond and her coauthors in a March 1995 Kappan article on the effectiveness of model elementary school programs for the inclusion of students with learning disabilities. Recently the Kappan published an article titled "Special Education in Restructured Schools," by Naomi Zigmond, Joseph Jenkins, Lynn Fuchs, Stanley Deno, Douglas Fuchs, Janice Baker, Linda Jenkins, and Martha Couthino. The authors addressed the effectiveness of model inclusive elementary school programs for students with learning disabilities. They reported the results of three major, federally funded research and development projects, from which they concluded that restructured, inclusive elementary schools produce unacceptable and undesirable achievement outcomes "for a significant proportion of students with learning disabilities."(1) We take exception to their conclusion, as well as to the general tenets that guided them as they judged the effectiveness of inclusive school programs for students with learning disabilities. Are Inclusive Programs Effective? The fundamental guiding question for Zigmond and her colleagues was, Are inclusive programs for students with learning disabilities effective? To investigate the effectiveness of such programs across three sites, the authors administered a standardized reading test, the Basic Academic Skills Samples (BASS),(2) at the beginning and end of the 1990-91 school year to students with learning disabilities, as well as to their nonclassified classmates. BASS scores were then analyzed, using multiple methods to evaluate the students' reading progress. The authors concluded that 54% of the students with learning disabilities made "real growth," which was characterized as gains over the course of a school year that exceeded the standard error of measurement of the BASS. The authors also used an analysis of test score gains to determine if students with learning disabilities improved their test standing relative to their peers without disabilities in the inclusive classrooms. Results revealed that 61% of the students with learning disabilities gained ground on their peers without disabilities over the course of the school year. Zigmond and her colleagues called these results "unacceptable" and "disappointing." In sharp contrast, we find the reported outcomes very encouraging and strongly supportive of the effectiveness of inclusive programs for students with learning disabilities. We are perplexed that anyone could think otherwise. Let us explain. The authors offered the conclusion that students with learning disabilities made unacceptable gains, even though they did not compare these students with other students with learning disabilities who were educated in separate, special class settings. Such a comparison is the most basic requirement for sound experimental research.(3) Certainly a comparison group is a necessity if the authors are to draw any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of inclusive programs for students with learning disabilities relative to other possible program options. Indeed, Zigmond and her colleagues admit that "these models did not answer the question of how best to provide services for students with serious learning problems."(4) This admission and the shortcomings of their research, however, do not prevent them from speculating about the acceptability of the gains made by students with learning disabilities or from making assertions that go well beyond their data concerning the purported need to provide alternative programs for some of these students in settings outside of the general education classroom. While restructured inclusive elementary programs are recent phenomena, and research exploring the efficacy of these programs has only begun to appear, early investigations have revealed that students with learning disabilities who have been educated in inclusive settings have made gains at least as great as, if not significantly greater than, those made by students with learning disabilities who have been educated in separate classes. …


Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to engage in abstract reasoning, which is independent of life experiences and knowledge. Brain studies have associated fluid intelligence with resting-state electroencephalograms (EEGs). This study investigated the relationship between resting-state EEG band power and fluid intelligence. The resting-state EEGs of 39 healthy volunteers were recorded from 32 scalp locations with a linked ears reference while the subjects were positioned in a Faraday cage for 15 min (10 min, eyes open; 5 min, eyes closed). The same participants completed the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) test. Brain electrical activity was divided into delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands, and correlation coefficients were calculated to identify associations between the resting-state EEG powers and RSPM scores. The mean RSPM score of the participants was 49.31 (females=50.43, males=48). No correlation between the resting-state EEG power values (delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands) and fluid intelligence was found. The results of correlation analyses showed no relationship between EEG data and intelligence scores. These results indicate that data on resting-state EEG power values do not contribute to an understanding of fluid intelligence. However, brain network studies may deepen our understanding of the neural mechanisms underpinning intelligence.


Objective: This research aimed to compare the duration of labor in phase 1, 2, and 3 of primiparous women who have a natural childbirth and those who have a normal labor. Research design: Quasai-experimental design Materials and methods: The subjects of this research were 80 primiparous women. They were divided into two groups: 40 in an experimental group and 40 in a control group. The experimental group received natural childbirth program in 6 aspects: 1) humanized health care, 2) psychosocial and emotional support, 3) avoiding routine interventions, 4) not disturbing the natural process of birth, 5) use of non-pharmacological pain relief methods, and 6) strong promotion of the natural process of birth. A questionnaire regarding the duration of labor in phase 1, 2, and 3 was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and independent t-test. Results: The average scores of the duration of labor in phase 1, 2, and 3 of the experimental group with the natural childbirth were significantly shorter than those of the control group with normal labor (p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Natural childbirth is beneficial to primiparous women in terms of the duration of labor. Natural childbirth is an efficient type of labor and it should be widely promoted.


While I was a PhD reciprocal exchange student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in 2011, I had the pleasure to meet great names in international Orthodontics. I was introduced to Dr. Greg Huang, a brilliant professor and an extraordinary human being. In addition to having a brilliant clinical and academic career, Dr. Huang is also chair of one of the most renowned Orthodontics programs worldwide: at the University of Washington. Undoubtedly, thanks to Dr. Huang, Orthodontics has followed scientific evidence-based guidelines, therefore leaving a number of merely clinical assumptions behind. Once our honored guest has been duly introduced, I express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues Steven Lindauer, Luciane Menezes, Weber Ursi and Marcos Janson for accepting my invitation to participate actively in this interview. I am also thankful for having been given the honor by Dental Press to conduct such an experience. I wish readers have a reading experience as pleasing and valuable as the scientific path that brought us here.


Are you having difficulty finishing your dissertation? Are you feeling stuck after trying various approaches, or panicky about the entire enterprise? If so, it is unlikely that your cognitive abilities are to blame. More likely, the culprits are anxiety, self-doubt, procrastination, perfectionism, and the thoughts, feelings, and behavior that accompany these difficulties. This book was written to help you overcome these problems and finish your dissertation once and for all.Combining psychological support with a project management approach that breaks tasks into small, manageable chunks, experienced dissertation coach Alison Miller shows you how to overcome negativity and succeed beyond your own expectations. You will learn how to plan and structure the dissertation process, work effectively with dissertation chairpersons and committees, and take care of yourself on the dissertation journey. Tips for mastering all of these skills are presented along with exercises to reinforce key lessons, ideas, and strategies. By the end of the process, you will not only have finished your dissertation - you will also have learned the self-confidence that comes from knowing how to stay engaged when difficulties arise and the joy that comes from accomplishment in pursuit of your personal values.


Both commercial and scientific workloads benefit from concurrency and exhibit data sharing across threads/processes. The resulting sharing patterns are often fine-grain, with the modified cache lines still residing in the writer's primary cache when accessed. Chip multiprocessors present an opportunity to optimize for fine-grain sharing using direct access to remote processor components through low-latency on-chip interconnects. In this paper, we present Adaptive Replication, Migration, and producer-Consumer Optimization (ARMCO), a coherence protocol that, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to exploit direct access to the L1 caches of remote processors (rather than via coherence mechanisms) in order to support fine-grain sharing. Our goal is to provide support for tightly coupled sharing by recognizing and adapting to common sharing patterns such as migratory, producer-consumer, multiple-reader, and multiple read-write. The protocol places data close to where it is most needed and leverages direct access when following conventional coherence actions proves wasteful. Via targeted optimizations for each of these access patterns, our proposed protocol is able to reduce the average access latency and increase the effective cache capacity at the L1 level with on-chip storage overhead as low as 0.38%. Full-system simulations of 16-processor CMPs show an average (geometric mean) speedup of 1.13 (ranging from 1.04 to 2.26) for 12 commercial, scientific, and mining workloads, with an average of 1.18 if we include 2 microbenchmarks. ARMCO also reduces the on-chip bandwidth requirements and dynamic energy (power) consumption by an average of 33.3% and 31.2% (20.2%) respectively. By evaluating optimizations at both the L1 and the L2 level, we demonstrate that when considering performance, optimization at the L1 level is more effective at supporting fine-grain sharing than that at the L2 level.


The Agricultural employment of digestates from biomethanation can be used as an alternative to peat. The solid digestate poultry (called Poultry Methacompost: PMC) can be used as a partial substitute in the manufacture of culture substrates. The humified Organic Matter (OM) of mature substrates can be adopted only with the presence of necessary conditions for the development of the plant especially: respect of pH, percentage favorable of aeration, good sanitation, balanced contents of minerals. The present work aims to evaluate three different PMC from an industrial biomethaniser; one is obtained from the digester and the other two from the decanter (during two different periods). It appears from the physico-chemical characterization undertaken the following key results: In general, the PMC has a high bulk density, insufficient porosity of aeration, while the porosity of retention largely meets the standard. The phosphor and potassium are also eligible. The warranty of quality of PMC ensures greater acceptability and facilitates the incorporation with peat for soilless horticultural plants. Keywords: Poultry manure; Industrial biomethaniser; Poultry Methacompost; Physico-chemical characterization; Nursery aboveground


SIR,-Dr D S Selsby's editorial on chest physiotherapy raises a number of points.' Chartered physiotherapists have long acknowledged that "chest physiotherapy in the form of postural drainage, percussion, and vibrations" may be harmful in some cases. At each treatment the patient is carefully assessed and therapy is given balancing the benefits against any possible detriment. Postural drainage, percussion, and vibrations, together with the "forced expiratory manoeuvre," are but a few of the procedures used by physiotherapists. It is notable that no mention is made of the manipulation of posture to correct the ventilation-perfusion mismatch that occurs in lung disease. This can cause hypoxaemia and hypercarbia and may lead to respiratory failure.'4 There is no mention of the use of manual hyperinflation in conjunction with vibrations and endotracheal suction for the ventilated patient with a collapsed lobe due to sputum plugging.' This technique is potentially more hazardous yet it is carried out in many intensive care units by therapists with the support of their anaesthetist colleagues, who are confident of physiotherapists' abilities to aid the recovery process. Too often "chest physiotherapy" in the form described by Dr Selsby is prescribed like a drug by often overworked and sometimes undersupervised junior medical staff with no thought of the disease process-for example, the number of treatment referrals and requests for sputum specimens in the early stages of acute lobar pneumonia. We would recommend open referral for all admissions to hospital, so that therapists assess the patients and discuss their findings with the medical staff and the treatment schedules are planned together. This ensures good communication and the opportunity to learn from each other while rendering an efficient and clinically effective service. S HARDING


In this paper tip leakage flow structure of a transonic axial compressor rotor in different performance conditions will be simulated. Results have been presented according to a 3D numerical simulation of the viscous flow and solving Navier-Stokes, Continuity and energy equations using AnsysCFX software. Initially, performance curves have been derived and compared with experimental results and have shown good agreement. Then, results have been obtained from three mass flow rates including design, choke and near stall conditions. The results have indicated that reduction of mass flow rate from chock to stall condition leads to increase in the tip leakage flow strength. This phenomena causes to more loss, especially in the blade tip region. In addition, position of shock line moves to upstream when the mass flow rate decreases. The tip leakage flow, shock and main flow contact cause a complicated flow structure near stall condition which leads to increase in entropy, vortex flow and blockage. Review History: Received: 21 January 2018 Revised: 25 May 2018 Accepted: 24 June 2018 Available Online: 6 July 2018


Migraine is the most popular neurological condition which affects virtually everybody during their lifetime minimally once. Globally, migraine has a high prevalence among medical college students. This research aimed to determine whether there is an association between learning from electronic devices and migraine prevalence between medical students at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 398 students (both sexes) in different academic years at the faculty of medicine, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire. The results revealed that more than half of the participants (52.5%) suffered from migraine in earlier periods of their lives. The key indicators of migraine were female (60.8%), school days (90.9%), positive family history (76.6%), adolescence (54.1%), an electronic source in studying (52.2%), and screen exposure for more than 4 hours daily (61.3%). Furthermore, there was a significant association between migraine and gender, family history, electronic source of study, duration of screen exposure, and adolescence. The findings of this research revealed that students of the medical school who suffer from migraine could be attributed to the usage of digital study methods such as a laptop, a computer, or a tablet in studying with screens exposure for long periods.


The mapping or binding of IP addresses to host names became a major problem in the rapidly growing Internet and the higher level binding effort went through different stages of development up to the currently used Domain Name System (DNS).The DNS Security is designed to provide security by combining the concept of both the Digital Signature and Asymmetric key (Public key) Cryptography. Here the Public key is send instead of Private key. The DNS security uses Message Digest Algorithm to compress the Message(text file) and PRNG(Pseudo Random Number Generator) Algorithm for generating Public and Private key. The message combines with the Private key to form a Signature using DSA Algorithm, which is send along with the Public key.The receiver uses the Public key and DSA Algorithm to form a Signature. If this Signature matches with the Signature of the message received, the message is Decrypted and read else discarded. Keywords—name resolution, name server, DNS security, public key infrastructure, PRNG(Pseudo random number generator).


A novel high-performance computing algorithm, developed in response to the next generation of computational challenges associated with burning plasma regimes in ITER-scale tokamak devices, has been tested and is described herein. The Lorentz-orbit code for use in stellarators and tokamaks (LOCUST) is designed for computationally scalable modelling of fast-ion dynamics, in the presence of detailed first wall geometries and fine 3D magnetic field structures. It achieves this through multiple levels of single instruction, multiple thread parallelism and by leveraging general-purpose graphics processing units. This enables LOCUST to rapidly track the full-orbit trajectories of kinetic Monte Carlo markers to deliver high-resolution fast-ion distribution functions and plasma-facing component power loads. LOCUST has been tested against the prominent NUBEAM and ASCOT fast-ion codes. All codes were compared for collisional plasmas in both high and low-aspect ratio toroidal geometries, with full-orbit and guiding-centre tracking. LOCUST produces statistically consistent results in line with acceptable theoretical and Monte Carlo uncertainties. Synthetic fast-ion D-α diagnostics produced by LOCUST are also compared to experiment using FIDASIM and show good agreement.


Linkage groups, as defined by chromosome arms in Drosophila melanogaster, appear to have remained largely intact within the genus Drosophila and, possibly, within the higher Diptera per se. We hypothesized that linkage group conservation might have a functional basis (possibly related to interphase chromosome arrangement). To test this hypothesis, a series of autosomal 2-3 translocations were synthesized, creating many new linkage groups. A total of 167 2-3 translocations were recovered, cytologically analyzed to determine their polytene chromosome breakpoints, and tested for homozygous viability and fertility. The breakpoints associated with homozygous viable translocations were randomly distributed throughout the genome, indicating that the linear continuity of the linkage groups could be disrupted quite extensively. Inter se complementation crosses between homozygous lethal translocations having similar breakpoints further confirmed this result, documenting that, at least with respect to homozygous viability, the linear integrity of the autosomal linkage groups was not of major functional significance. Fertility analysis of the homozygous translocations also indicated that sterility could not be a single major factor. Having concluded that linkage group conservation is not based on important functional interactions between specific linked chromosomal segments, or due principally to the sterility of new linkages, the problem of linkage group conservation remains unsolved. Several possible selective factors are discussed, principally segregational load and inbreeding depression, which may contribute to the elimination of new linkage rearrangements.


Pulmonary rehabilitation is now regarded as an evidence-based treatment for symptomatic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It has been shown to enhance exercise tolerance, improve symptoms and health-related quality of life, and reduce exacerbations in patients with recurrent exacerbations. In this article we review the mechanisms through which exercise training results in beneficial effects. We also review three challenges that currently remain: 1) the fine tuning of exercise training and multidisciplinary programmes; 2) the timing of rehabilitation; and 3) efforts to enhance the accessibility and adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. Further research is needed in order to apply the now well-established principles of pulmonary rehabilitation to unusual patient populations, or patient populations that are unlikely to participate in conventional outpatient programmes.


ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming bacillus that produces toxin-mediated enteric disease. C. difficile expresses two major virulence factors, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). Human and animal studies demonstrate a clear association between humoral immunity to these toxins and protection against C. difficile infection (CDI). The receptor binding-domains (RBDs) of TcdA and TcdB are known to be immunogenic. Here, we tested the immunoadjuvant properties of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium flagellin (FliC) subunit D1 as an innate immune agonist expressed as a recombinant fusion vaccine targeting the RBDs of TcdA and TcdB in mice. Intraperitoneally immunized mice developed prominent anti-TcdA and anti-TcdB immunoglobulin G in serum. The protective efficacy of the recombinant vaccines, with or without an adjuvant, was tested in a mouse model of CDI that closely represents the human disease. Following intraperitoneal immunization equivalent to two doses of toxoid A and toxoid B vaccine adjuvanted with alum and oral challenge with C. difficile VPI 10463, C57BL/6 mice were able to mount a protective immune response that prevented diarrhea and death compared to mice immunzed with alum alone. These results are significantly different from those for control mice (P < 0.001). These results provide evidence that a recombinant protein-based vaccine targeting the RBDs of the C. difficile toxins adjuvanted with S. Typhimurium flagellin can induce rapid, high-level protection in a mouse model of CDI when challenged with the homologous strain from which the vaccine antigens were derived and warrant further preclinical testing against clinically relevant C. difficile strains in the mouse and hamster models of CDI.


In the recent past years, Tunisia pursued a national policy on health which was directed towards the performance. Although the lack of adequate resources presents the most important constraint, efficiency in the utilization of available resources is another challenge that cannot be overlooked. The objective of this study aims to assess the technical efficiency (TE) of a sample of Tunisian public hospital using the non-parametric approach of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In this perspective, we started with measuring, comparing and analyzing the TE of the three categories of the Tunisian public hospitals, then to investigate the difference in the level of efficiency by district and finally to Guide the decision and the policy makers in their decision making process through the developed decision making tools. The data were gathered from a sample of 134 public hospitals throughout Tunisia. These would cover about 80% of the total number of Tunisian public hospitals. The model estimates the technical efficiency for the whole sample as well as for each hospital. The entire sample was operating on average at 0, 78 level of technical efficiency. Only 28% of the total hospitals were found to be technically efficient in relative term while the remaining were inefficient. The Public Health Establishment (PHE), the regional hospital (RH) and the District Hospital (DH) were operating on average at 0,9; 0,74 and 0,76 level of technical efficiency respectively. Only 45% of the PHE, 23% of the RH and 25% of the DH were technically efficient while the remaining were inefficient. The study identifies the inefficient hospitals and provides the magnitudes by which specific input per inefficient hospital ought to be more managed or to be reduced. It emphasizes also the disparity by districts in term of percentage of efficient and inefficient hospitals. Therefore, the highest percentage of efficient hospitals is also in the districts of North East (NE) and Center East (CE).


This paper presents a novel signal processing approach for computing thickness of ferromagnetic cast iron material, widely employed in older infrastructure such as water mains or bridges. Measurements are gathered from a Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) based sensor placed on top of the material, with unknown lift-off, as commonly used during non-destructive testing (NDT). The approach takes advantage of an analytical logarithmic model proposed in the literature for the decaying voltage induced at the PEC sensor pick-up coil. An increasingly more accurate and robust algorithm is proven here by means of an Adaptive Least Square Fitting Line (ALSFL) recursive strategy, suitable to recognize the most linear part of the sensor's logarithmic output voltage for subsequent gradient computation, from which thickness is then derived. Moreover, efficiency is also gained as processing can be carried out on only one decaying voltage signal, unlike averaging over multiple measurements as is usually done in the literature. Importantly, the new signal processing methodology demonstrates highest accuracies at the lower thicknesses, a circumstance most relevant to NDT evaluation. Experiments that verify the proposed method in real-world thickness assessment of cast iron material are presented and compared with current practices, showing promising results.


The characterization of herbal materials is a significant challenge to analytical chemists. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.), which has been chosen for toxicity evaluation by NIEHS, is among the top 15 herbal supplements currently on the market and contains a complex mixture of indigenous components ranging from carbohydrates and amino acids to isoquinoline alkaloids. One key component of herbal supplement production is botanical authentication, which is also recommended prior to initiation of efficacy or toxicological studies. To evaluate material available to consumers, goldenseal root powder was obtained from three commercial suppliers and a strategy was developed for characterization and comparison that included Soxhlet extraction, HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS analyses. HPLC was used to determine the weight percentages of the goldenseal alkaloids berberine, hydrastine, and canadine in the various extract residues. Palmatine, an isoquinoline alkaloid native to Coptis spp. and other common goldenseal adulterants, was also quantitated using HPLC. GC-MS was used to identify non-alkaloid constituents in goldenseal root powder, whereas LC-MS was used to identify alkaloid components. After review of the characterization data, it was determined that alkaloid content was the best biomarker for goldenseal. A 20-min ambient extraction method for the determination of alkaloid content was also developed and used to analyze the commercial material. All three lots of purchased material contained goldenseal alkaloids hydrastinine, berberastine, tetrahydroberberastine, canadaline, berberine, hydrastine, and canadine. Material from a single supplier also contained palmatine, coptisine, and jatrorrhizine, thus indicating that the material was not pure goldenseal. Comparative data for three commercial sources of goldenseal root powder are presented.


Backcalculation of pavement moduli through the utilization of the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is used for pavement monitoring and evaluation. The performance and structural condition of nine flexible pavement test sections built in Bedford County, Virginia, have been monitored over the past 5 years using FWD. The nine sections include three groups with aggregate base layer thicknesses of 100, 150, and 200 mm, respectively. Sections 1, 4, and 7 are control, whereas Sections 2, 5, 8 and 3, 6, 9 are stabilized with geotextiles and geogrids, respectively. The FWD testing used five double-load drops ranging from 26.5 to 58.9 kN. The deflection basins obtained from the testing have been analyzed using the ELMOD backcalculation program to find the pavement structural capacity and to detect changes in the aggregate resilient modulus. The analysis shows a reduction in the backcalculated resilient modulus of the 100-mmthick base layer. The reduction was 33 percent over 5 years for the nonstabilized section compared with the geosynthetically stabilized section. The reduction in base layer resilient modulus may have resulted from subgrade fine migration into this layer as confirmed by excavation. The study confirms the effectiveness of using woven geotextile as a separator in a pavement system built over weak subgrade. This supports the continuous rutting measurements and ground truth excavation conducted in late 1997.


ZnO were rapidly synthesized using different zinc salts (Zn(NO3)2, Zn(CH3CO2)2, ZnCl2 and ZnSO4) by an aqueous solution method at 90°C. The products were characterized by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the anions have remarkable effects on the morphologies of ZnO. When Zn(NO3)2, Zn(CH3CO2)2 or ZnCl2 was used, ZnO was obtained with ellipsoidal, under-developed ellipsoidal and nano-particles morphologies, respectively. In the case of ZnSO4, layered basic zinc sulfate was obtained. The remarkable effects of anions on ZnO can be ascribed to the adsorption of the anions on the surface of ZnO, which hinders the further growth of ZnO nuclei. The effect of SO42- was further investigated by changing the mole ratio of SO42- to NO3-.


The purpose of this study was to identify the perception of students enrolled in an initial early field experience (EFE) in relation to the components of the agricultural education model. The students enrolled in the initial field experience were freshmen and sophomore students. The initial field experience course consisted of four face-to-face class meetings and a 12-hour initial field experience observation. Students' photographed their perceptions of each component in the agricultural education model (classroom, SAE, FFA). The coding of reflective captions led to themes in three areas of the agricultural education model: (a) classroom themes were active learning, collaboration and facilities, (b) FFA themes were activities and opportunities, and (c) SAE themes were school based projects, awards/degrees, and the smallest circle. Overall, the EFE students used their photographs and descriptions to describe the learner-centered nature of the program. The EFE students described how the three components of the agricultural education model worked together to help schoolbased agricultural education (SBAE) students gain knowledge and experience. It is recommended that teacher educators incorporate photovoice in EFE programs to facilitate discussion of the initial perceptions of students.


Rickets has become so uncommon that many experienced pediatricians have never been personally responsible for its diagnosis or management. Of the few cases still seen, the majority in Europe and North America are due to hereditary metabolic aberrations. Nevertheless, some children still suffer from deformity and growth retardation as a result of calciferol deficiency. In their behalf the following outline presents predisposing factors that define high-risk groups. A complex and fascinating sequence has been defined by recent research in calciferol metabolism. 1 As a result of this work, the term "vitamin D," though persistent, is obsolete, and calciferol is clearly recognized as a member of the family of steroid hormones. The family resemblance has always been striking; only close inspection distinguishes cholecalciferol from its relatives, estradiol, cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. Vertebrates synthesize 7-dehydrocholesterol in the liver and intestinal mucosa by slight modification of the cholesterol framework common to all steroid


The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using a
Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) in treating PDH wastewater, to determine the effect of
various organic loading rates on SBR performance and lastly, to determine the optimum
operating conditions for the SBR. Industrial wastewaters commonly contain high organic
loads as well as toxic and inhibitory substance such as sulphide. Therefore, the
conventional activated sludge process is inefficient in treating wastewater of this nature.
The wastewater sample was collected from a Propane Dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in
Kuantan, Pahang. The initial wastewater characteristics of the sample before treatment
were determined. Biomass obtained from the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Universiti
Teknologi Petronas (UTP), which was cultured for three months in a reactor in the
Environmental laboratory, was used to inoculate the wastewater in the SBR. The
performance of the SBR in treating the PDH wastewater was investigated with a
suspended biomass configuration and operating under the following sequence: fill, react,
settle and decant. The effects of four different organic loading rates were investigated.
Two sequencing batch reactors were operated simultaneously, each initially having a total
cycle period of 24 hours and respective organic loading rates of 0.7 kgCOD/m3/day and
1.5 kg COD/m3/day, which were respectively reduced to 0.35 kgCOD/m3/day and 0.183
kgCOD/m3/day after 30 days of operation. The performance of the SBR was assessed by
measuring the COD, BOD and sulphide concentrations after each cycle, among other
parameters. It was determined that the optimum operating conditions for the SBR were a
0.35 kgCOD/m3/day organic loading rate with a subsequent HRT of 20 days and a 24
hour cycle period, where the COD, BOD and sulphide removal efficiencies of up to
96%, 98% and 97% respectively were achieved. Results showed that a high organic
loading rate inhibited the SBR performance. The sulphide concentration was sufficiently
reduced to meet the Environmental Quality (sewage & industrial effluent) Regulations,
1979 under the 3`d schedule Environmental Quality Act, 1974, where the sulphide limit is
0.5 mg/L for both standard A and B.


The Online Post Baccalaureate Program is described along with indicators of how well the program met the goals of its developers during two years of implementation. Faculty aimed to develop a program that would satisfy students, offer a more accessible path into teaching for post baccalaureate candidates and compare favorably in quality to its nationally accredited baccalaureate program for secondary teacher candidates. Research indicates success of the online program in (a) effecting statistically significant increases in the number of diverse candidates entering teaching, including career changer and minority candidates; (b) significantly increasing the number of candidates prepared by University of North Texas (UNT) in the critical shortage areas of science and mathematics; (c) achieving candidate performance at least equal to that of traditional program candidates on teacher quality indicators including GRE, state certification tests, and portfolio ratings; and (d) assuring candidate satisfaction with the online program. ********** The 2000 Census confirmed that American schools are serving an increasingly diverse population of students. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2003) student enrollments are projected to rise in the western and southern US through 2013. Simultaneously, looming teacher shortages in many urban and rural schools will increase the demand for teachers with a sophisticated skill set necessary to create an environment where all students can learn irrespective of gender, ethnicity, disability, or English language acquisition. Attempts to address the demand for teachers since the 1970s have produced a trend away from undergraduate teacher preparation and toward post baccalaureate programs as the preferred route to teacher certification (Turner, 1998). Concurrently, the opportunity to offer programs online introduces variables that have the potential to increase access to teacher education. In this article, the literature related to post baccalaureate certification is reviewed. The University of North Texas (UNT) Online Post Baccalaureate Program is described and compared to UNTs traditional undergraduate program for secondary candidates. Programs are compared in terms of promoting candidate diversity, increasing the number of candidates in the high need areas of science and mathematics, candidate proficiency as measured by state licensure examinations and self-assessments, and satisfaction with the program and its clinical experiences. Based on these indicators, the success of the online program is discussed. POST BACCALAUREATE, ALTERNATIVE, AND ONLINE PROGRAMS Candidates entering post baccalaureate teacher education programs typically have completed degrees in their content fields and are often employed full time as teachers while completing the pedagogy requirements of their programs. Development of this sort of program requires that teacher educators change their thinking about a number of program development key issues. Some of the issues raised by Fenstermacher (1990) included the physical location of the preparation, the definition of subject mastery, and the balance in the curriculum between teaching theory and practice. Post baccalaureate certification has the effect of moving teacher preparation to the school site, reducing the control over the site of preparation exercised by colleges and universities that prepare teachers as undergraduates. In addition, entities offering post baccalaureate programs typically do not control the undergraduate content majors of their candidates who enter with completed bachelor's degrees. Beyond this, post baccalaureate curriculum is typically structured to meet the immediate needs for survival of teacher candidates, setting aside the results of years of work by teacher educators to define the critical balance between teaching theory and practice in the curriculum. Today, almost every state has post baccalaureate (alternative or alternative like) certification programs offered in universities and colleges, state supported organizations, or by private providers (Feistritzer, 2005). …


Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate shock response of a model Cu nanofoam with cylindrical voids and a high initial porosity (50% theoretical density), including elastic and plastic deformation, Hugoniot states, shock-induced melting, partial or complete void collapse, nanojetting, and hotspot formation. The elastic-plastic and overtaking shocks are observed at different shock strengths. The simulated Hugoniot states can be described with a modified, power-law P−α (pressure–porosity) model, and agree with shock experiments on Cu powders, as well as the compacted Hugoniot predicted with the Gruneisen equation of state. Shock-induced melting shows no clear signs of bulk premelting or superheating. Voids collapse via plastic flow nucleated from voids, and the exact processes are shock strength dependent. With increasing shock strengths, void collapse transits from the "geometrical" mode (collapse of a void is dominated by crystallography and void geometry and can be different from that of one another) to "hydrodynamic" mode (collapse of a void is similar to one another); the collapse may be achieved predominantly by flow along the {111} slip planes, by way of alternating compression and tension zones, by means of transverse flows, via forward and transverse flows, or through forward nanojetting. The internal jetting induces pronounced shock front roughening, leading to internal hotspot formation and sizable high speed jets on atomically flat free surfaces.


This paper presents a manually annotated spelling error corpus for Amharic, lingua franca in Ethiopia. The corpus is designed to be used for the evaluation of spelling error detection and correction. The misspellings are tagged as non-word and real-word errors. In addition, the contextual information available in the corpus makes it useful in dealing with both types of spelling errors.


[1] Four distinct meteorological regimes in the Amazon basin have been examined to distinguish the contributions from boundary layer aerosol and convective available potential energy (CAPE) to continental cloud structure and electrification. The lack of distinction in the electrical parameters (peak flash rate, lightning yield per unit rainfall) between aerosol-rich October and aerosol-poor November in the premonsoon regime casts doubt on a primary role for the aerosol in enhancing cloud electrification. Evidence for a substantial role for the aerosol in suppressing warm rain coalescence is identified in the most highly polluted period in early October. The electrical activity in this stage is qualitatively peculiar. During the easterly and westerly wind regimes of the wet season, the lightning yield per unit of rainfall is positively correlated with the aerosol concentration, but the electrical parameters are also correlated with CAPE, with a similar degree of scatter. Here cause and effect are difficult to establish with available observations. This ambiguity extends to the "green ocean" westerly regime, a distinctly maritime regime over a major continent with minimum aerosol concentration, minimum CAPE, and little if any lightning.


The development of free-electron lasers and new generation light sources is enabling the realisation of high intensities and short pulse durations exceeding the currently attainable ∼ 1023 W cm−2 and attosecond time scale limits. These extreme laser limits should make it possible to unravel new science which is not yet feasible at the current laser parameter regimes. The very high intensity of radiation sources and the short pulse duration is anticipated to enhance imaging of tiny structures with very high resolution, filming of ultra-fast processes, and studying matter under extreme conditions. Besides the new frontiers likely to be unfolded, significant challenges exist in the theoretical simulation of these non-linear processes. In the weak-field intensity regime, the electric dipole approximation has been quite successful in describing the light-matter interaction dynamics reproducing many of the experimentally observed features. But at the unprecedented intensities and x-ray wavelengths produced by the new light sources, the electric dipole approximation is likely to break down. The role of higher multipole-order terms in the interaction Hamiltonian, associated with the radiation pressure, is then expected to become important in the accurate description of the interaction dynamics. This study extends the solution of the non-relativistic time dependent Schrödinger equation for a single active electron system interacting with short intense laser pulses beyond the standard dipole approximation. This is realized using both the Taylor and the Rayleigh plane-wave multipole expansion series of the spatial retardation term. The inclusion of higher multipole-order terms of the interaction is expected to increase the validity and accuracy of the calculated observables relative to the experimental measurements. In addition, it is shown that for equivalent laser parameters the Rayleigh multipole expansion series is more accurate and efficient in numerical convergence. The investigated non-dipole effects manifest in both differential and total ionization probabilities in form of the increased ion yields, the distorted above-threshold-ionization structure, and asymmetry of the photoelectron angular distribution in both polarization and propagation directions. The non-dipole effects are seen to increase with intensity, wavelength, and pulse duration. The results for hydrogen as well as helium atom are presented in this study. A new model potential for helium, and any other two-electron atomic system, yielding reasonably accurate results within the frozen core approximation is also developed.


Noncovalent interactions are known to play a key role in biochemistry. The knowledge of stabilization (relative) energies and their components is very important for understanding the nature of these interactions. Accurate and benchmark data on interaction (relative) energies and structures can be obtained from coupled‐cluster with single and double and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] calculations with extended basis of atomic orbitals or even at the complete basis set limit. These methods cannot be, however, used for systems larger than about 50 atoms. In this contribution, the applicability and performance of various recently introduced wavefunction and density functional methods are examined in detail. It is shown that a very good performance by some of these methods is obtained only by introducing empirical parameters fitted mostly to CCSD(T) benchmark data. Among the methods described, special attention is paid to two techniques. First, the symmetry‐adapted perturbation technique that allows obtaining not only accurate values of total interaction energies but also their components. Results of these calculations reveal a key role of dispersion energy in stabilizing the structures of biomolecular systems. Second, the semiempirical quantum chemical parameterized model 6 method (PM6) augmented by empirical terms describing the dispersion and H‐bonding energies. The method is suitable for much extended systems having several thousands of atoms and can be thus used, e.g., in the drug design. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2011 1 3‐17 DOI: 10.1002/wcms.8


A Meta‐Analysis on the Relationship between Pneumoconiosis and Lung Cancer: Toshihide Tsuda, et al. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Okayama University Medical School—An excess of lung cancer deaths among pneumoconiosis patients has been noted for many years but there has not been agreement on the excess of lung cancer deaths among pneumoconiosis patients in Japan. A meta‐analysis on the relationship between silicosis/pneumoconiosis and lung cancer mortality was conducted, by using 36 mortality studies published from 1980 to 1994. MEDLINE and other information sources were used for the information retrieval. After the critical appraisal, 32 eligible studies were identified. Study estimates were then pooled by using both the fixed effect model and the random effect model. An excess of lung cancer mortality among people with silicosis/pneumoconiosis was shown in all 32 studies. Although homogeneity among the studies was rejected (p<0.05) because the shape of the funnel plots assumed a symmetrical pyramidal shape, the summary rate ratio was estimated. The estimated rate ratio was 2.74 (95 percent confidence interval 2.60‐2.90) in all 32 studies, and 2.77 (2.61‐2.94) in 25 cohort studies. The random effect model results were almost the same as the fixed model results. The estimates in the Japanese studies were a little higher than the overall estimates, which indicated that lung cancer mortality was about three times higher among silicotic patients than among people in the control. This indicated a causal‐relationship between silicosis and lung cancer. This means that lung cancer should be regarded as one of the important complications of silicosis/pneumoconiosis. We recommend further research on the relationship between silica exposure and lung cancer.


The basal ganglia (BG) are a set of interconnected subcortical nuclei involved in voluntary motor control. External globus pallidus (GPe) is located centrally in the BG, but its precise contribution to BG function is not fully understood. GPe has long been regarded as a simple relay nucleus within the BG, but recent evidence suggest that it may act as an integrative hub for shaping motor and non-motor aspects of behavior. Here, we used an optogenetic approach to investigate the contribution of GPe neurons to motor behavior in normal and Parkinson's disease (PD) mice. Global GPe photostimulation and selective photostimulation of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons were achieved by expressing channelrhodopsin-2 variants using respectively AAV5-HSyn-ChR2(H134R)-eYFP vector in BL6 mice and AAV2-EF1aDIO-ChR2(E123T/T159C)-eYFP vector in PV-Cre mice. Optical stimulation of GPe with laser-generated green light pulses produced a contralateral circling in normal BL6 mice. Similar locomotor asymmetry was elicited by selective stimulation of PVexpressing neurons. In both cases, the locomotor asymmetry effects were reversible and dependent on the stimulation parameters (light intensity/frequency). We next studied the effects of GPe photostimulation on motor deficits induced by unilateral 6hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the substantia nigra. As expected, hemiParkinson mice displayed a range of motor deficits, spontaneous ipsilateral circling, forelimb akinesia and locomotor hypoactivity. GPe stimulations improved the various motor deficits in lesioned mice. These beneficial effects were reversible and observed with stimulation parameters ineffective in sham mice, thus supporting the view that reduced GPe activity contributes to the development of parkinsonian motor impairments. Together, these findings suggest that GPe stimulation may represent a potential therapeutic target for PD. This work was funded by H2020-EU (Grant agreement ID: 767092).


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the grade distributions of proctored and unproctored exams in an online learning environment. The authors statistically compared exam scores and time to complete exams for proctored and unproctored exams in two online courses. Student data were collected from an online section of introductory financial accounting and an online section of introductory managerial accounting. The findings suggest that proctored and unproctored exams are not equivalent. Accordingly, instructors should approach online testing thoughtfully if the intention is to maintain grade equivalency with traditional proctored examinations. These results have implications related to a range of topics including online pedagogy, online course design, grade inflation, and online grade equivalency.


Herpes zoster (HZ), or shingles, is a common neurocutaneous disease caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster-virus that often includes vesicular rash and neuropathic pain, the latter which may last for months or years. Several studies suggest that type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may represent an important risk factor for the development of HZ. This retrospective claims database analysis assessed the incidence of HZ in patients with T2DM in the U.S. and measured the impact of HZ on T2DM treatment. Marketscan family of databases from 2013-2018 (Commercial, Medicare) or 2013-2017 (Medicaid) for adults aged 18 years and older was utilized. Crude rate incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR) adjusted for age, gender, and payer type were calculated. Diabetes Complications Severity Index (DCSI), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores and observed treatment usage (e.g., number of prescriptions, number of covered days) were determined before and after an HZ episode. The overall crude rate incidence of HZ in patients with T2DM was 1.01% or 0.010 per person per year; in comparison, the overall crude rate incidence of HZ among patients without T2DM was 0.5%. The adjusted IRR was 1.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.67-1.70). Patients with T2DM and HZ had a mean age of 62 years, and 86% were commercially insured. An episode of HZ did not change either the DCSI or the CCI score. Regardless of HZ status, the most common T2DM complications were hypertension (78.9% in patients with T2DM only, 81.2% with T2DM and HZ), chronic pulmonary disease (20.1% and 24.3% respectively) and depression (14.1% and 16.3% respectively). Finally, an episode of HZ did not impact T2DM treatment usage. In conclusion, patients with T2DM had 1.68 times the risk of having an HZ episode compared to patients without T2DM. An episode of HZ among patients with T2DM does not appear to specifically impact T2DM complications/severity or its treatment. Acknowledgements: Business and Decision Life Sciences platform for publication coordination. Disclosure J. Poirrier: None. S. Nagar: Consultant; Self; GlaxoSmithKline plc. J. Meyers: Research Support; Self; GlaxoSmithKline plc. L. Glasser: Employee; Self; GlaxoSmithKline plc. S. Jabbour: None. Funding GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA (HO-19-19748)


In chronic ulcerative colitis, the object of surveillance is prevention of cancer or at least prevention of death from cancer by diagnosis at an early curable stage or by detection at a pre-malignant phase. Patients must be informed about their cancer risk as well as the limitations of endoscopic surveillance and the availability ofsurgical alternatives. Physicians must bear in mind the risks, benefits and costs ofsurveillance procedures. Patients at greatest risk of cancer for whom endoscopic surveillance is warranted are those with extensive colitis of greater than 8 years duration. Colonoscopy should be performed every 1 to 2 years at which time multiple biopsies are obtained from every 10-12cm of normal-appearing mucosa. Targeted biopsies should also be obtained from areas where the surface appears raised as a broad-based polyp, low irregular plaque or villiform elevation, or from an unusual ulcer, particularly one with raised edges, or from a stricture. Typical inflammatory polyps need not be sampled. Colectomy is recommended in the presence of multifocal high-grade dysplasia if confirmed by an experienced pathologist. The identification of a mass lesion associated with any degree of overlying dysplasia is also a generally accepted indication for colectomy, while persistent low-grade dysplasia without a mass is somewhat more controversial. Recently introduced biomarkers may replace or supplement dysplasia in surveillance programmes as well as provide new information about malignant transformation.


We evaluated the leaching of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC, respectively) from leaf litter of plant species of the native Atlantic Forest and of Pinus elliottii (Engelm.) and Eucalyptus grandis (Hill ex Maiden) forests. We carried out experiments in which leaves from each forest system (native, E. grandis, and P. elliottii) were placed in reactors with sterile water. After 1/4 h, 1 h, 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h of incubation, we quantified the concentrations of DIC and DOC of each leachate. The greatest quantity of DIC was leached in the native forest system, whereas the greatest quantity of DOC was leached in the E. grandis forest system. With respect to the period of year, the greatest quantity of DIC was leached in autumn, whereas that of DOC was leached in the summer. Our results demonstrated that the replacement of native species in riparian zones, by non-native forest monocultures, could alter the chemical composition of the water. Finally, the results presented in this paper reinforce the need for a more careful look at ecological processes.


Due to the advent of computer technology image-processing techniques have become increasingly important in a wide variety of applications. This is particularly true for medical imaging such as Computer Tomography (CT), magnetic resonance image (MRI), and nuclear medicine, which can be used to assist doctors in diagnosis, treatment, and research. In this paper, hybrid algorithm for segmentation of color images is presented. The segments in images are found automatically based on adaptive multilevel threshold approach and FCM algorithm. Neural network with multisigmoid function tries to label the objects with its original color even after segmentation. One of the advantages of this system is that it does not require a past knowledge about the number of objects in the image. This Fuzzy-Neuro system is tested on Berkley standard image database and also attempts have been made to compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with other currently available algorithms. From experimental results, the performance of the proposed technique is found out to yields better extraction of salient regions with high resolution as nearly same as the original image and better than the existing techniques. It can be used as a primary tool to segment unknown color images. Experimental results show that its performance is robust to different types of color images.


The unique combination of high strength and low temperature toughness on heavy wall thickness coils allows higher operating pressures in large diameter spiral welded pipes and could represent a 10% reduction in life cycle cost on long distance gas pipe lines. One of the current processing routes for these high thickness grades is the thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) route, which critically depends on the austenite conditioning during hot forming at specific temperature in relation to the aimed metallurgical mechanisms (recrystallization, strain accumulation, phase transformation). Detailed mechanical and microstructural characterization on selected coils and pipes corresponding to the X80M grade in 24 mm thickness reveals that effective grain size and distribution together with the through thickness gradient are key parameters to control in order to ensure the adequate toughness of the material. Studies on the softening behavior revealed that the grain coarsening in the mid-thickness is related to a decrease of strain accumulation during hot rolling. It was also observed a toughness detrimental effect with the increment of the volume fraction of M/A (martensite/retained austenite) in the middle thickness of the coils, related to the cooling practice. Finally, submerged arc weldability for spiral welded pipe manufacturing was evaluated on coil skelp in 24 mm thickness. The investigations revealed the suitability of the material for spiral welded pipe production, preserving the tensile properties and maintaining acceptable toughness values in the heat-affected zone.The present study revealed that the adequate chemical alloying selection and processing control provide enhanced low temperature toughness on pipes with excellent weldability formed from hot rolled coils X80 grade in 24 mm thickness produced at ArcelorMittal Bremen.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Composite flower strips were established in 2006 in three commercial apple orchards in Quebec. Strips were composed of the Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and the common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), two native plants known to attract beneficial organisms. The aim of the project was to reduce pesticide application treatments directed against orchard pests, more specifically the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi), the twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), the green apple aphid (Aphis pomi), the European apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea), the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) and the white apple leafhopper (Typhlocyba pomaria). In the present trial, populations of potential natural enemies of these pests were monitored in 2008, using sticky white traps, in both control and managed areas. The most common predator species were Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Neuroptera (Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae) and Aranea. Results varied according to the species of natural enemy, the treatment (control versus floral strip) and the distance to the flower strip.


ABSTRACT Transport vehicles consume a large amount of fuel with low efficiency, which is significantly affected by drivers' behaviors. An assessment system of eco-driving pattern for buses could identify the deficiencies of driver operation as well as assist transportation enterprises in driver management.This paper proposes an assessment method regarding drivers' economic efficiency, considering driving conditions. To this end, assessment indexes are extracted from driving economy theories and ranked according to their effect on fuel consumption, derived from a database of 135 buses using multiple regression. A layered structure of assessment indexes is developed with application of AHP, and the weight of each index is estimated. The driving pattern score could be calculated with these weights. Meanwhile, allowing for the impact of vehicles and roads, the system trains an artificial neural network with excellent drivers' driving data in order to predict the ideal fuel consumption of specific maneuvers. The driving pattern score can be validated with the fuel score that is obtained from the comparison between actual and ideal fuel consumption. Finally, an assessment system of eco-driving patterns for transport vehicles is established. The results show potential of this system to be used in big-data from connected vehicles in the future.


Background Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) are a group of heterogeneous rare disorders, whereby the immune system is missing or not functioning adequately. For patients requiring treatment, the most common option is immunoglobulin replacement therapy (Ig). Treatment of PIDs is simultaneously associated with both improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased treatment burden. Objectives This review sought to review studies investigating the burden of Ig treatment, synthesize evidence in relation to administration routes (subcutaneous or intravenous) and instruments used, as well as make recommendations for clinical and research applications in this area for patients aged 16 years and older. Methods We searched Medline, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. Sifting of titles was performed by two reviewers, and the assessment of full-text articles by three. From a database which contained 3,770 unique results, 67 full texts were reviewed. Eventually, 17 studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria, and included in this review. Due to data heterogeneity, a narrative, descriptive synthesis of the evidence was undertaken. Results Most studies were carried out in the USA/North America, used a prospective observational design and involved patients with common variable immune deficiency. Four studies measured the burden of receiving IVIg therapy and 13 measured SCIg therapy. A wide range of measures, primarily designed to measure aspects of treatment satisfaction (e.g., life quality index or a slightly modified version) and HRQoL (e.g., The Short Form-36) had been used. Conclusion Lack of a parallel control group in most studies meant that changes in outcomes could be due to factors other than changes in the treatment regimen. However, overall, PID patients appeared to report little Ig treatment burden and were satisfied with either modality. However, patient preference appeared to be the delivery of the Ig treatment in the patient's home and SCIg was preferred after switching from IVIg therapy. Individual differences appeared to affect treatment preference and therefore understanding the decision support needs of PID patients facing IG treatment choices would be valuable. Using a questionnaire specifically designed to measure the burden of Ig treatment from the patient's perspective is recommended in future research.


Nursing Care 2020 will be held in Toronto, Canada during May 08-09, 2020. Nursing Care 2020 aims to provide a platform where academics and practitioners from cross-disciplinary fields from education, nursing and health care, and business can come together and collaborate. The event will encourage the exploration of the potential synergies that may arise from pooling the different perspectives. We invite you to submit papers on Nursing and Nursing Care. Poster and oral presentations, and thesis presentations will be included in the Conference Program. Nursing Congress covers all aspects of Nursing, and broadly encompasses Nursing Education, Nursing practice, Healthcare Management, and Healthcare Studies.


C.R. Gillis, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.F.P.H.M. West of Scotland Cancer Surveillance Unit, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, UK Abstract As part of a project on quality of life in patients with lung cancer, an investigation was carried out to examine how patients reacted to the study. A group of 82 patients attending a chest clinic were interviewed by means of a short questionnaire. They were asked to indicate whether an interview was preferable to filling in a questionnaire and whether a home visit was preferable to a clinic interview, and their feelings about interviews. In addition, we documented our observations during the study period. All patients agreed to participate in the study, of whom, 56 patients (68%) preferred to be interviewed, 8 (10%) preferred to fill in a questionnaire by themselves, and the remaining 18 (22%) expressed no preference. Forty-one patients (50%) preferred to be interviewed at their homes, 13 (16%) in the clinic, and 28 (34%) expressed no preference. Nearly all patients (96%) indicated that they found being interviewed very or quite comfortable. Our observations indicated that patients were pleased to talk about and discuss their perceived cultural and social values or daily life experiences. The findings suggest that, despite the strenuous attempts by clinicians to deliver effective health care, proper communication with patients remains limited. The finding has some implications for community care.


Objective In contrast to the adult, neonatal mice regenerate their myocardium following injury, at least during the first week after birth.1 Macrophages (M&x0424;) contribute to vessel formation and scar removal following neonatal myocardial infarction (MI)2. In the kidney3 liver4,7 and gut5 M&x0424;-derived WNTs are required for scar free regeneration following injury. Secretion of WNTs is dependent on acylation by Porcupine (PORCN). In the present study it was hypothesised that neonatal cardiac regeneration would be impaired in mice with Csf1r-Cre driven M&x0424; specific Porcn deletion.5 Methods Csf1r-EGFP(MacGreen), Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve and Porcnfl/Csf1rCre+ve mice underwent coronary artery ligation at post-natal day 1 (P1). Functional loss 1 day after MI, and recovery by P21 were assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Heart sections were stained with isolectin B4 (vessel density) and picrosirius res (fibrosis). Myocardial gene expression was determined by PCR array in wild-type (WT) mice after injury. Results At day 1 and day 7 post-MI, Csf1r-expressing cells accumulated within the injured myocardium, consistent with a role in regeneration.2 At day 1 post-MI, fractional area change (FAC) decreased from 40.9% ± 1.6 to 18.0% ± 2.4% (p<0.0001) and from 41.0% ± 1.3 to 16.5% ± 2.7% (p<0.0001) in Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve and Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve mice respectively. By 21 days after MI, FAC had recovered to 47.4% ± 2.5% (p<0.0001) in Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve and 45.8% ± 1.9% (p<0.0001) in Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve littermates. Coronary vascularisation was restored in the infarct area by 21 days in both lines, but interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher in Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve (6.0 ± 0.9% LV) compared to Porcnfl/Csf1rCre-ve (3.8 ± 0.5% LV, p<0.05). In WT neonatal hearts, MI increased the expression of Wnt5b and Fzd2, genes associated with regulation of fibrosis.8 Conclusion M&x0424;-derived WNTs are not required for re-vascularisation or restoration of myocardial function after neonatal myocardial injury, but are necessary for scar removal during regeneration. References Porrello et al. PNAS 2013;110:p187–92. Aurora et al. JCI 2014;124:p1382–92. Lin et al. PNAS 2010;107:p4194–99. Boulter et al. Nat Med 2012;18:572–9. Saha et al. Nat Com 2016;7:1–16. Derlindati et al. PLoS ONE 2015;10:1–17. Irvine et al. Fibrogenesis Tissue Repair 2015;8:19–32. Laeremans et al. Cardiovascular Research 2010;87:514–523.


The performance of a generalized single-stream transmit beamforming scheme employing receive co-channel interference null-steering algorithms in slowly varying and flat fading channels is analyzed. The impact of imperfect prediction of channel state information (CSI) for the desired user spatially uncorrelated transmit channels is considered. Both dominant interference cancelation and adaptive arbitrary interference can-celation algorithms for closely spaced receive antennas are used. The impact of outdated statistical ordering of the interferers instantaneous powers on the effectiveness of dominant interference cancelation is investigated against the less complex adaptive arbitrary cancelation scheme. For the system models described above, new exact formulas for the statistics of combined signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) are derived, from which results for conventional maximum ratio transmission (MRT) and best transmit channel selection schemes can be deduced as limiting cases. The results presented herein can be used to obtain quantitative measure for various performance metrics, and in addition to investigate the performance-complexity tradeoff for different multiple-antenna system models.


Government and institutionally-driven 'good practice transfer' initiatives are consistently presented as a means to enhance construction firm and industry performance. Two implicit tenets of these initiatives appear to be: knowledge embedded in good practice will transfer automatically; and, the potential of implementing good practice will be capitalised regardless of the context where it is to be used. The validity of these tenets is increasingly being questioned and, concurrently, more nuanced knowledge production understandings are being developed which recognise and incorporate context-specificity. This research contributes to this growing, more critical agenda by examining the actual benefits accrued from good practice transfer from the perspective of a small specialist trade contracting firm. A concept model for successful good practice transfer is developed from a single longitudinal case study within a small heating and plumbing firm. The concept model consists of five key variables: environment, strategy, people, technology, and organisation of work. The key findings challenge the implicit assumptions prevailing in the existing literature and support a contingency approach that argues successful good practice transfer is not just adopting and mechanistically inserting into the firm, but requires addressing 'behavioural' aspects. For successful good practice transfer, small specialist trade contracting firms need to develop and operationalise organisation slack, mechanisms for scanning external stimuli and absorbing knowledge. They also need to formulate and communicate client-driven external strategies; to motive and educate people at all levels; to possess internal or accessible complementary skills and knowledge; to have 'soft focus' immediate/mid-term benefits at a project level; and, to embed good practice in current work practices.


It has become common in the last few years for doctors and the laity to refer to certain persons as being of the ulcer type. A number of articles and even a book have been written describing the ulcer personality. Yet we could not feel certain that the ulcer patients we saw belonged to a definite personality type and we found that others had also raised questions. Ivy, 84 for instance, stated "In reading in the psychosomatic literature I have been impressed with the rather wide range of personality type which have been described as 'typical' of the patients with peptic ulcer, as well as the absence of a control group." We, therefore, reviewed the literature on the subject to determine whether the methods used in studying the problem seemed reliable and whether the investigators agreed on one specific ulcer personality. TECHNIQUES USED IN STUDY OF THE ULCER PERSONALITY Articles that


Background: Mortality increases with hot weather, although the extent to which lives are shortened is rarely quantified. We compare the extent to which short-term mortality displacement can explain heat deaths in Delhi, São Paulo, and London given contrasting demographic and health profiles. Methods: We examined time-series of daily mortality data in relation to daily ambient temperature using Poisson models and adjusting for season, relative humidity, rainfall, particulate air pollution, day of the week, and public holidays. We used unconstrained distributed lag models to identify the extent to which heat-related excesses were followed by deficits (mortality displacement). Results: For each city, an increase in all-cause mortality was observed with same-day (lag 0) and previous day (lag 1) temperatures greater than a threshold of 20°C. At lag 0, the excess risk wasgreatest in Delhi and smallest in London. In Delhi, an excess was apparent up to 3 weeks after exposure, after which a deficit was observed that offset just part of the overall excess. In London, the heat excess persisted only 2 days and was followed by deficits, such that the sum of effects was 0 by day 11. The pattern in São Paulo was intermediate between these. The risk summed over the course of 28 days was 2.4% (95% confidence interval = 0.1 to 4.7%) per degree greater than the heat threshold in Delhi, 0.8% (−0.4 to 2.1%) in São Paulo and −1.6% (−3.4 to 0.3%) in London. Excess risks were sustained up to 4 weeks for respiratory deaths in São Paulo and London and for children in Delhi. Conclusions: Heat-related short-term mortality displacement was high in London but less in Delhi, where infectious and childhood mortality still predominate.


Micro-lending institutions, whether they are open to all microentrepreneurs or specialize in lending to women, are able to reach a large number of women if they establish simple premises and procedures, and train their staff to be accessible and friendly. This article describes the measures adopted by 12 leading micro-lending institutions to attract women borrowers. It also describes the moves by such institutions to increase their loan coverage and savings mobilization by strengthening linkages with the formal financial sector. The challenge is to reap the benefits of scaling-up, without compromising on the unbureaucratic approaches found to work in attracting women microentrepreneurs.


The effects of aging and IQ on performance were examined in 4 memory tasks: item recognition, associative recognition, cued recall, and free recall. For item and associative recognition, accuracy and the response time (RT) distributions for correct and error responses were explained by Ratcliff's (1978) diffusion model at the level of individual participants. The values of the components of processing identified by the model for the recognition tasks, as well as accuracy for cued and free recall, were compared across levels of IQ (ranging from 85 to 140) and age (college age, 60-74 years old, and 75-90 years old). IQ had large effects on drift rate in recognition and recall performance, except for the oldest participants with some measures near floor. Drift rates in the recognition tasks, accuracy in recall, and IQ all correlated strongly. However, there was a small decline in drift rates for item recognition and a large decline for associative recognition and cued recall accuracy (70%). In contrast, there were large effects of age on boundary separation and nondecision time (which correlated across tasks) but small effects of IQ. The implications of these results for single- and dual-process models of item recognition are discussed, and it is concluded that models that deal with both RTs and accuracy are subject to many more constraints than are models that deal with only one of these measures. Overall, the results of the study show a complicated but interpretable pattern of interactions that present important targets for modeling.


Abstract : This Final Report discusses the mathematical formulation, computer program implementation, and examples of the Vessel Navigation System Simulation (VNSS). The VNSS simulates piloting a vessel in a restricted waterway, with channel banks, current, and obstacles. The techniques of modern optimal control theory is used to derive the control history and resultant vessel trackline, using USCG supplied code definition for vehicle dynamics. (Author)


Get the most out of your Dell Axim with this step-by-step guide. How to Do Everything with Your Dell Axim Handheld, Second Edition has been fully revised to cover Microsoft's new operating system for Pocket PCs--Windows Mobile 5.0. Find out how to manage personal information, send and receive e-mail, synchronize with desktop computers, and go wireless. Get details on optimizing memory, conserving battery power, and using the security features to protect your valuable information. Enjoy videos, music, and eBooks, and use your Axim as a digital camera. This handy resource contains all of the expert advice you need to be more productive and have more fun with your Dell Axim.


A summary of Il simposio internacional para a pedagogia da historia da musica (International Symposium for Music History Pedagogy) held at Universidade de Sao Paulo, August 4–7, 2010 including a list of paper sessions, roundtables, and presenters. As the first international conference on music history pedagogy, the symposium featured speakers from South America and the United States. Highlights of the symposium included discussion of the role of socio-political theory (particularly Marxism) in music history teaching, music history teaching practices at various institutions, and the development of a Brazilian Association for Teachers of Music History.