Regenerative development is a systemic approach that sees, for example, global challenges as the climate change hypotheses, as an opportunity to develop co-agency among several cultures and fields, toward a shared purpose that can reconcile the fragmented relationship of human and natural systems and multiple problems within a place. from this point of view, human systems (business, education, food and building industries, etc.) and natural systems (watersheds, rivers, forests, ocean, etc.) are aal seen as living systems. projects can be designed and redesigned as change agents that have the capacity to influence and develop the vitality and capacity for evolution of these living systems as a whole. Resilience and sustainability become by-products of a strong and better structured whole system. this is a review paper that aims to uncover the patterns that emerge from different fields of human endeavours were the Regenerative approach is being applied such as business, supply chains, agriculture, building industry and others. the intention is to bring concrete examples that can reveal the differences between regenerative and conventional sustainable approaches.


Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) is used as an alternative medicine in the Middle East to manage numerous human diseases. We recently reported that EA flower extract inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of human oral and HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Nevertheless, the outcome of EA extract on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells has not been explored yet. We herein investigate the effect of the aqueous EA extract (100 and 200 μl/ml) on two TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436) for 48 h and explore its underlying molecular pathways. Our data revealed that EA extract suppresses cell proliferation by approximately 50% and alters cell-cycle progression of these two cancer cell lines. Additionally, EA extract induces cell apoptosis by 40–50%, accompanied by the upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax and cleaved caspase-8) and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic marker, Bcl-2. Moreover, EA extract inhibits colony formation compared to their matched control. More significantly, the molecular pathway analysis of EA-treated cells revealed that EA extract enhances p53 expression, while inhibiting the expression of total and phosphorylated Signal Transducer and Activator Of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in both cell lines, suggesting p53 and STAT3 are the main key players behind the biological events provoked by the extract in TNBC cells. Our findings implicate that EA flower extract may possess an important potential as an anticancer drug against TNBC.


Organisations are increasingly impacted by employee failures to implement readily available systems security countermeasures that result in security lapses. An area where this is most intriguing is among those organisational members who know how to implement security measures but do not do so. Important suggestions have been made, but despite them, the problem continues, and even grows worse. Most of the research into these security behaviours have been either purely self-report perceptions (many with low response rates) or have consisted of theory and model building and testing. In addition, the extant research has concentrated on either individual or organisational factors. With our research, we were interested in addressing two literature gaps: (1) to determine how well perceptions of security behaviours translated into the world of practice, and (2) to understand the relationships between individual and organisational factors. Our study found that individual factors outlined in the threat control model amplified with high perceptions of organisational procedural justice on taking specified security countermeasures. Consequently, we make recommendations for research and practice.


This article aims to critically review the concept of resilience and to assess how it might be used both to understand and to evaluate local government responses to climate change. The relevance of the resilience agenda is located in the growing sense of uncertainty in the face of external economic and environmental "shocks". In the UK, in particular, the challenges of tackling climate change, responding to economic recession and introducing major cuts in public expenditure provide an appropriate context within which the utility of the resilience agenda can be examined. In emphasising the transformational view of resilience as "bouncing forward" – as opposed to that of recovery or "bouncing back" – the article highlights a number of features that could characterise a resilient local government approach to both mitigating and adapting to climate change. In acknowledging the emergence of a number of features of local resilience, the article concludes by considering how such an agenda can be further developed by local government. A key question that remains is the extent to which the local creativity, innovation and risk-taking needed for resilience can be developed given the economic and political constraints confronting local government in the UK.


member of the faculty of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS), was born in Topeka, Kansas and grew up in New Britain, Connecticut. He did his undergraduate work in sociology and mathematics at Dartmouth College and his graduate work in this department, receiving his degree in 1977. After leaving Harvard he did a one year post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin and a two-year fellowship at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. In 1980 he joined the Sociology Department at Northwestern University. During his twelve years at Northwestern he was Director of the Program in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and for four years chair of the Department of Sociology. He was a founding member of Northwestern's Department of Statistics, and held a courtesy appointment in Economics. From 1984 to 1986 he was Director of the Economics Research Center at NORC. He has been a member of the Harvard department since 1992. Since 1995 he has been the editor of Sociological Methods & Research (SMR). He is a faculty associate of the the Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science (IQSS) and Harvard Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, and is currently doing research on several topics: The Ten Point Coalition, a group of black ministers who are working with the Boston police to reduce youth violence; statistical models for causal analysis; the effects of education on mental ability; causes of the racial difference in performance in elite colleges and universities; changes in the racial differential in imprisonment rates over the past sixty years.


U.S. conservation policy, both in structure and in practice, places a heavy burden on conservationists to halt development projects, rather than on advocates of development to defend their proposed actions. In this paper, we identify this structural phenomenon in several landmark environmental policies and in practice in the contemporary debate concerning oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The burdens placed on conservation can be understood in terms of constraints—as conservation 'floors' (or minimum standards) and degradation 'ceilings' (or upper limits). At base, these floors and ceilings emerge out of underlying consequentialist commitments that assume that our environmental activity can be justified by appeal primarily to ends. A series of intuition pumps guides our argument to instead shift the conservation discourse away from these consequentialist commitments to more widely justify activities on our public lands.


Effect of constant magnetic field with the induction of 23 mT (non-homogeneity in the object region not higher than 0.5 mT) on the frequency of spontaneous impulse activity, resting potential and input resistance of neurons was studied. Results of studies of 7 silent and 16 spontaneously active neurons were presented as statistically processed data on silent giant neurons of the right pleural ganglion and giant spontaneously active neuron N5 of the right parietal ganglion. A reliable decrease of the frequency of spontaneous impulse activity and an increase of membrane resistance of spontaneously active neuron at magnetic field superposition were shown.


The aims of this study was to compare between the effect of Low level Laser and Biatain Ag non-adhesive dressing on healing of avulsion wound in rabbits. Eighteen adult healthy rabbits were used. It is divided in to two equal groups , Laser group , and Biatain Ag group, also each group divide into three equal sub group for histopathological study at 1 week , 2 week and 3 week post operation. The avulsion wound was done on the back(dorsal) after general anesthesia by blade 1 cm . post-operation ,  in laser group, the rabbits were exposed to low level laser for 5 minute/daily to period 1week, 2week ,3week continuously , but in Biatain Ag group, the avulsion wound was dressing by Biatain Ag non-adhesive dressing and it fixed on wound by blaster and continuous to 1week, 2week, 3week.The histopathological examination appear in first week, both groups showed ulceration but in biotin group showed more ulceration than laser group. In two week, laser group some animals showed absence of ulceration with dermal fibrosis. In two week, in biatain group showed reduce the size ulcer with dermal fibrosis. In three week, laser group showed complete healing with moderate thickening of epidermis and hyperkeratosis with dermal fibrosis. While biatain group showed complete healing with marked dermal fibrosis but presence of foci of hair folliculitis. Conclusion In two week, laser group all showed healing of ulcer except one animal while biatain group there was only reduce size of ulcer but not complete healing..


In this paper we describe the notion of a focal ring interface: an interface comprising a centrally-located graphical ring that provides a visual focus for interaction with respect to itself and its associated representation (such as a map, media collection, or information hierarchy). Our focal rings provide an opportunity to assign independent effects to the two dimensions of a display surface, creating implicit gestural modes (e.g. navigation versus scaling) that can be dynamically switched between in the context of a single continuous stroke. A focal ring can define the origin of a Polar or Cartesian frame of reference, interpreting touch gestures directed either through and around, or horizontal and vertical to itself. We illustrate the potential for such directed manipulation with respect to focal rings through the design and evaluation of ring-centric interfaces based on a variety of physical metaphors.


This lecture for the Foundation for Law, Justice and Society, at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, addresses the cost to society of pharmaceutical mass tort litigation, nearly 15 years after the withdrawal by Merck & Co., Inc. of Vioxx® (rofecoxib) from markets worldwide.

When Merck withdrew Vioxx based on an increased relative risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events seen in the APPROVe study in "the interests of patients" and "as the responsible course to take," the company's stock dropped nearly 27%; it took a charge of more than USD 726 million to effect the withdrawal; physicians prescribed alternative pain relievers in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) class such as celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen that did not have rofecoxib's gastrointestinal safety data; governments investigated the company; and lawyers launched more than 50,000 claims and class actions in the US and many jurisdictions across six continents. Although Merck won most of the cases heard in the United States and prevailed in jurisdictions around the world, the company spent more than USD 2 billion on its own legal defense and nearly USD 7 billion more for the resolution of Vioxx litigation and investigations through the end of 2016.

When the interim results of APPROVe were received, "no other non-aspirin NSAIDs or selective COX-2 inhibitors had been studied in this large a patient group for this duration," and no one knew whether a similar increased relative risk would be seen with other NSAIDs, such as diclofenac and ibuprofen. It now appears that all of the non-aspirin NSAIDs, with the possible exception of naproxen, have a similar cardiovascular safety profile to Vioxx.

Merck spent approximately USD 10 billion in connection with withdrawing Vioxx and defending and resolving litigation and investigations. Those funds were not available to fund the discovery and development of up to four or more new breakthrough medications.


Primary sensory neurons of the C and Adelta subtypes express the vanilloid capsaicin receptor TRPV1 and contain proinflammatory peptides such as substance P (SP) that mediate neurogenic inflammation. Pancreatic injury stimulates these neurons causing the release of SP in the pancreas resulting in pancreatic edema and neutrophil infiltration that contributes to pancreatitis. Axons of primary sensory neurons innervating the pancreas course through the celiac ganglion. We hypothesized that disruption of the celiac ganglion by surgical excision or inhibition of C and Adelta fibers through blockade of TRPV1 would reduce the severity of experimental pancreatitis by inhibiting neurogenic inflammation. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a specific TRPV1 agonist that, in high doses, selectively destroys C and Adelta fibers. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgical ganglionectomy or application of 10 microg RTX (vs. vehicle alone) to the celiac ganglion. One week later, pancreatitis was induced by six hourly intraperitoneal injections of caerulein (50 microg/kg). The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by serum amylase, pancreatic edema, and pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. SP receptor (neurokinin-1 receptor, NK-1R) internalization in acinar cells, used as an index of endogenous SP release, was assessed by immunocytochemical quantification of NK-1R endocytosis. Caerulein administration caused significant increases in pancreatic edema, serum amylase, MPO activity, and NK-1R internalization. RTX treatment and ganglionectomy significantly reduced pancreatic edema by 46% (P < 0.001) and NK-1R internalization by 80% and 51% (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). RTX administration also significantly reduced MPO activity by 47% (P < 0.05). Neither treatment affected serum amylase, consistent with a direct effect of caerulein. These results demonstrate that disruption of or local application of RTX to the celiac ganglion inhibits SP release in the pancreas and reduces the severity of acute secretagogue-induced pancreatitis. It is possible that selectively disrupting TRPV1-bearing neurons could be used to reduce pancreatitis severity.


Watershed development involves conservation, regeneration, and judicious Day by day the natural resources which are highly essential in agriculture like water, land, animal, vegetation are being degraded, eroded and dwindling. It is high time that the farmers should be sensitized and empowered to judicially utilize these resources. Management of natural resources beyond watershed areas, particularly in irrigated areas, is equally important. In fact, all the natural resources and the veritable water regimes – irrigated and arid, semi-arid and wet rainfed areas are all interlinked and interdependent. Due to the non-availability of a proper test to measure the knowledge of watershed farmers towards Natural Resource Management practices, it was thought necessary to construct a test for the purpose. The study mainly contemplates to find out the knowledge of watershed farmers towards natural resource management practices. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to develop a test for measuring the knowledge of watershed farmers towards Natural Resource Management practices. Pertinent items were collected covering all aspects of Natural Resource Management practices. After getting jury opinion on the items of test index of item difficulty, index of item discrimination and index of item validity were worked out. To administer the knowledge test a respondent is given one mark for each correct answer and zero mark for each wrong answer. Thirty items were finally selected from 60 items. K e y w o r d s


Objectives: To evaluate whether supported standing can affect lower limb muscle length, spasticity, bone mineral density or the function of adults with upper motor neurone disorders. Data sources: A search was conducted of MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL and Cochrane library electronic databases; clinical trial registers via www.controlled-trials.com and complemented with citation tracking. Review methods: Two reviewers independently evaluated eligibility and methodological quality. Class I and II studies of assisted standing for adults with stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury were eligible. A domain-based risk of bias approach was used to assess quality. Results: Seventeen studies were included: 11 class I and 6 class II studies involving 540 participants, of whom 73% were non-ambulant. Quality was generally low, with only two high quality trials identified. High-quality evidence suggested tilt-table standing has a small effect on preventing loss of ankle dorsiflexion. One high-quality study found a low-dose standing programme did not alter bone loss early after spinal injury. Class II low-quality evidence suggested long-term, higher dose programmes may slow bone loss. Limited evidence for the effectiveness of standing on spasticity and function was inconclusive. Conclusion: Supported standing can prevent small losses of ankle mobility but the clinical importance of these effects is uncertain. Low-dose standing is unlikely to protect bone health.


This research has explored the thematic color preferences and the psychological effect of color within the interior design of healthcare interior spaces, particularly children's hospitals public spaces, in the context of Palestine. The literature indicates that research is needed to identify the colors that provide healing environments for all age ranges of children. The data collection was classified into prime sources and secondary sources. Primary research was carried out in Palestine to enable the collection of data that fits the exact purpose of this research and to increase the reliability of the information. In Palestine, qualitative data were collected during nine co-design and co-creation workshops, including art-based activities and semi-structured interviews. The secondary sources are related to the broad literature review focusing on empirical studies pertaining to design children's hospitals. The study uses a thematic analysis approach for analyzing the qualitative data. This research's key findings identify thematic colors that are appropriate for all age ranges of children (i.e., green, blue, yellow, brown/wood, and purple colors). In addition, the findings revealed a strong preference by all stakeholders to include colors connected to nature for the design of children's hospitals in the context of Palestine


An important factor in shaping future patterns of energy consumption is the understanding of the problem by younger generations and their willingness to address it. Teenagers are not the principal decision-makers within the household, but are a key population to consider in relation to present and future energy consumption. Teenagers' attitudes and behaviours will determine their current and future behaviour, and teenagers are well placed to have an impact, both by changing their own behaviour and by influencing others within the family, their social network and the public sphere (Larsson, Andersson & Osbeck, 2010). We know little about teenagers' understanding and behaviours in relation to energy consumption. Some studies involving teenagers have presented a negative picture of their behaviour (Thogersen & Gronhoj, 2010; BBC, 2006; Toth, Little, Read, Fitton and Horton, 2013). This chapter examines teenagers' understanding of and attitudes towards their personal energy consumption. The chapter presents findings from several studies, both quantitative and qualitative, that have investigated teenagers' attitudes towards their personal energy consumption, their understanding of its impact, and their attitudes towards reducing their consumption. The findings inform our understanding of current barriers that hinder teenage awareness of energy related impacts and challenges and teenage motivation to adopt changes in behaviour to mitigate these problems. This chapter contributes to the important area of understanding how to facilitate reduction in energy consumption.


Background and aims: Percutaneous implantation of pulmonary valve has been recently introduced in the clinical practice. Our aim was to analyze data of patients treated in Italy by using the Melody Medtronic valve. Methods: Prospective, observational, multi-centric survey by means of a web-based database registry of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology (SICP). Results: Between October 2007 and October 2010, 63 patients were included in the registry (median age: 24 years; range 11–65 years). Forty subjects were in NYHA class I–II while 23 were in NYHA class III–IV. Patients included had a history of a median three previous surgeries (range 1–5) and a median of one previous cardiac catheterization (range 0– 4). A cono-truncal disease was present in 39 patients, previous Ross operation in 9, and other diagnosis in 15. Indication to valve implantation was pure stenosis in 21 patients, pure regurgitation in 12, association of stenosis and regurgitation in 30. Implantation was performed in 61 subjects (97%). Pre-stenting was performed in 85% of cases. Median procedure time was 170 minutes (range 85–360). No significant regurgitation was recorded after procedure while the trans-pulmonary gradient reduced significantly. Early major complications occurred in seven subjects (11%). One death occurred in the early post-operative period in a severely ill subject. At a median follow-up of 30 months (range 12–48 months), three patients died due to underlying disease. Major complications occurred in six patients during follow-up (external electric cardioversion: one patient; herpes virus encephalitis: two patients; Melody valve endocarditis needing surgical explant: two patients; major fractures of the stent and need second Melody valve implantation: two patients). Freedom from valve failure at latest follow-up was 81.4% 6 9%. Conclusion: Early results of the SICP registry on transcatheter Melody pulmonary valve implantation show that the procedure is safe and successful. Major concerns are related to the occurrence of stent fracture and bacterial endocarditis. Longer follow-up and larger series are needed. VC 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


In the domestic fowl, angiotensin II (ANG II) decreases blood pressure in vivo and causes endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic smooth muscles in vitro. To characterize ANG II-induced vasorelaxation, we compared endothelium-dependent vasodilatory effects of [Asp1,Val5]-ANG II (fowl ANG II) and acetylcholine (ACh) with the endothelium-independent vasorelaxing effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on isometric tension of fowl aortic rings. Hemoglobin (Hb), gossypol, and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inhibitors for endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in mammalian blood vessels, partially inhibited vasorelaxation induced by ANG II and ACh in fowl. Hb also markedly attenuated SNP-induced vasorelaxation, but not 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-induced relaxation. 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester hydrochloride (TMB-8) or the removal of Ca2+ from the bathing medium attenuated the ACh-induced relaxation but did not significantly reduce vasorelaxation induced by ANG II or SNP. In the zero Ca2+ medium, aortic rings showed tachyphylaxis to ACh, while ANG II caused tachyphylaxis regardless of the presence or absence of external Ca2+. Furthermore, pretreatment of the ring with a high dose of ACh abolished the vasorelaxation response to ANG II, suggesting that ACh and ANG II may share a common Ca2+ pool. Calmidazolium, a calmodulin antagonist, abolished the vasorelaxation induced by ANG II and ACh but not that by SNP. Comparison of the vasodilatory effects of several ANG II analogues on fowl aortic rings showed an approximate potency order of [Asp1,Val5]-ANG II = [Asp1,Ile5]-ANG II > [Asn1,Ile5]-ANG II = [Sar1,Ile5]-ANG II > [Val5]-ANG III.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


SUMMARY The detailed structure of fault zones (FZs) plays an important role in problems related to fault mechanics, earthquake rupture, wave propagation and seismic hazard. FZs are thought to consist of an O(10‐100) m wide region of decreased seismic velocity but structural details such as their depth extent, lateral and vertical variations, etc. are elusive. The small spatial scales involved make such structures difficult to image with ray-theoretical methods such as tomography. However, seismic energy trapped inside FZ layers can provide dispersive wave trains that carry information on the FZ structure. These waves can travel many kilometres inside the FZ before reaching the surface and are therefore strongly altered by its properties. Candidate trapped waves have been observed above several active faults. Inversion algorithms exist that can model these observations in terms of planar fault zone structures. However, at present it is not clear how reliable these estimates are, as the effects of (even small) 3-D variations on trapped waves are not well understood. The goal of this study is to distinguish 3-D structures that do and do not significantly affect FZ waves. To achieve this, we perform numerical calculations of wave propagation in various FZ geometries and analyse the waveforms, spectra and envelopes of the synthetic seismograms. The main results are that (1) moderate changes of the shape of FZ or (2) small-scale heterogeneities or (3) depth-dependent properties do not strongly affect the observed FZ waves. In contrast, strong effects are to be expected from (4) breaks in the continuity of FZ structure (e.g. offsets), which may at some point allow imaging of such features at depth.


Classification under streaming data constraints implies that training must be performed continuously, can only access individual exemplars for a short time after they arrive, must adapt to dynamic behaviour over time, and must be able to retrieve a current classifier at any time. A coevolutionary genetic programming framework is adapted to operate in non-stationary streaming data environments. Methods to generate synthetic datasets for benchmarking streaming classification algorithms are introduced, and the proposed framework is evaluated against them. The use of Pareto archiving is evaluated as a mechanism for retaining access to a limited number of useful exemplars throughout training, and several fitness sharing heuristics for archiving are evaluated. Fitness sharing alone is found to be most effective under streams with continuous (incremental) changes, while the addition of an aging heuristic is preferred when the stream has stepwise changes. Tapped delay lines are explored as a method for explicitly incorporating sequence context in cyclical data streams, and their use in combination with the aging heuristic suggests a promising route forward.


The main concerns relating to the IMF's policies are relatable to intrusive conditionalities without due regard to the needs of and impact on the borrowers, with expanding scope of surveillance applied asymmetrically between borrowers or programme countries and others with no financial accountability except that of reputational risks. The response of the Fund has been to attune its policies to meet these concerns, emphasise aspects such as national ownership, leaving culture, transparency in its operation, independent evaluation and wider consultations. However, the basic limitations of resources, instruments and mandate in meeting the problems arising from volatile financial markets explain some of the persisting concerns. Three major issues are posed here for discussion to meet these concerns and improve the quality of resolving some of the tradeoffs and judgments involved. The first suggestion is to separate the surveillance function from lending, making the former somewhat independent of political processes as well as the weighted voting structure. The second suggestion is to remove the distortion in current voting strength by recognising intra-monetary union trade as not amounting to international trade since neither currency nor trade restrictions are in place and by accepting the Purchasing Power Parity basis of GDP computation. The third suggestion proposes that the Fund be given some authority to create limited but temporary liquidity under certain circumstances, to be "a lender of some resort".


Although perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have recently achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of over 23.6%, one major bottleneck for further improving the PCE is the lack of suitable hole transport materials. To further understand the structure–property relationship of hole transport materials and design new materials, we calculated the energy levels and optical properties of a series of thienothiophene derivatives by using density functional theory, and their hole transfer behaviors were also described by the Marcus charge transfer theory. It is found that the HOMO energies gradually decrease as the number of thiophene rings (n) increases when n is less than 4. However, when n is more than 4, the HOMO energy is a constant value of −5.23 eV. As for the LUMO energy and energy gaps, they show a similar change trend, that is, a gradual decrease with growing n. Optical calculations showed that thienothiophene extension cannot affect the Stokes shifts of thienothiophene derivatives. Importantly, it is found that the hole mobility of thienothiophene molecules is co-determined by the molecular size and odd or even number of thiophthene units, and all investigated thienothiophene molecules show higher hole mobility than Sprio-OMeTAD due to the face-to-face packing model. These results provide useful information to further develop suitable HTMs used in PSCs.


We present a binocular active vision system that can attend to and fixate a moving target. Our system has an open and expandable design and it forms the first steps of a long term effort towards developing an active observer using vision to interact with the environment, in particular capable of figure-ground segmentation. We also present partial real-time implementations of this system and show their performance in real-world situations together with motor control. In pursuit we particularly focus on occlusions of other targets, both stationary and moving, and integrate three cues, ego-motion, target motion and target disparity, to obtain an overall robust behavior. An active vision system must be open, expandable, and operate with whatever data are available momentarily. It must also be equipped with means and methods to direct and change its attention. This system is therefore equipped with motion detection for changing attention and pursuit for maintaining attention, both of which run concurrently.<<ETX>>


Summary
1.
A spirochaete closely resembling the Spirochaeta morsus muris, was demonstrated in the blood of guinea pigs and white mice injected with the blood taken from a typical human case of rat-bite fever.
2.
White mice and rats are readily infected with the spirochaete. These animals show no symptoms but harbor the organism in the blood for a long time.
3.
Guinea pigs inoculated with the spirochaete, after an incubation period of six to fifteen days, develop fever, enlargement of the lymph glands, inflammation, and later induration of the external genitals and loss of hair.
4.
Rabbits were infected by subcutaneous, intradermal, and intratesticular injection of blood containing the spirochaetes. About half of the animals used developed no symptoms, but their blood was infected for guinea pigs for three weeks after inoculation.
5.
In the serum of infected rabbits strong spirochaeticidal properties are developed.


Clinical epidemiology is going to be the Discipline par excellence of the next century, if not the millennium. Coming as it does from one who has spent decades in clinical medicine and therapeutics, this is a bold statement. Clinical epidemiology answers the questions what? Where? How? When? Who? Why? And Which? In matters of health and disease. It is because these questions have come to be answered effectively with respect to bancroftian Filariasis that it has been included in the world's six "potentially eradicable" diseases. In his impressive Review Article on page (), Dr. Gyapong takes us through answers to these epidemiology questions [1]. Filariasis occurs in 38 African countries where the mere presence of a hydrocele affords "a rapid diagnostic index" for infection [2], while the so-called "filarial dance sign" is known to be present in intrascrotal lymphatics of microfilaraemic patients [3]. That the social and economic consequences of filarial morbidity are enormous on community preventive measures. People must be told that the mosquito, not juju or other "supernatural factors: [1] is the culprit. I am old enough to remember the "Town council Man" in colonial Gold Coast. He would visit every house assigned to him, enforcing environmental sanitation and destroying pools of water and mosquito breeding places. If but one cocoanut shell was found in the compound with water in it,whether or not it contained a mosquito larva, the head of the household was given summons to go to court and pay a fine. Came independence and the community also became independent of the "Town Council Man" with the result that there are infinitely more mosquitoes now in independent Ghana than there were in the colonial Gold Coast. "The WHO", it is widely held, "will do it for us". Today, a vaccine is awaited for most things while the insects flourish. Deal with mosquito, and both malaria and Filariasis will be dealt a death blow. Fortunately, ivermectin will reduce the parasitic reservoir from which transmission occurs, and diagnosis of subclinical cases no longer has to rely on blood sampling at night or on Diethyl Carbamazine provocation tests [4], but is reliably achieved using finger prick to detect Og4C3 circulating antigens day or night [5,6]. Mosquito nets reduce nocturnal bites and hence incidence of both malaria and Filariasis. Doctors should keep long-term records and ascertain whether insecticide impregnanted nets lead to pesticide resistance or not. Spraying should never be abandoned as it had often been on the rumour that "it does no good, and produces insecticide resistance". These preventive measures are best supervised through decentralised programmes [1,7] and are most effectively conducted in the mother tongue of the community at the grassroots [8]. Local businessmen and market women should be encouraged to assist chiefs and community leaders in giving monthly prizes in environmental sanitation while public health experts chart the effect of such sanitation on morbidity of Filariasis and mortality from malaria. We should go back to the "Sanitary Branch" institutions of the colonial days[9] when clinical epidemiology did much to protect the health of the community. Central government should fund trips to Japan, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, South Korea and some parts of China [1] for African health workers to learn first hand how those communities managed to eradicate lymphatic Filariasis. Even with the current AIDS problem, I remain convinced that clinical epidemiology is the answer [10]. Vaccines have achieved much this century, but to "wait for WHO to give us vaccines" while we neglect ourselves and our environment is wholly irresponsible.


The idea for this app came to me when I was reading an article about a young girl who had come up with the idea for nail polish that would change in colour if the person wearing it had been spiked. The article got me thinking, how can we use people's mobile phones to make them in some way safer when going about daily life, I specifically thought mobile phones because it's something people nearly always have on them where ever they go. Further I thought, it's got to be something that users don't consciously have to be using for it to function correctly, something they can have set before they go about their day and not have to worry about remembering while already out. The main reason and focus behind the idea of this app is based around the user's security and personal safety.

The aim of the project is to develop a mobile messenger application that utilizes an Auto Message feature where the user can allow for, and set a location to a specific WI-FI network or multiple networks. For example, a user's home WI-FI network can have a location set to "home." When the user's phone automatically connects to an activated WI-FI network the app will implement the Auto Message feature and send out a templated message, the message will be sent to chosen groups or individuals. The message will be based on the locations that have been set for the specific Wi-Fi networks, and what Wi-Fi network the phone has connected to ("work" "home" "college" "Johns house") the templated message may look like this ("user-name" has arrived at "set location" or "Paul" has arrived at "home"). As specified in the background, the main overall goal of this app is to achieve something that positively contributes towards the safety of the person using it.


Introduction: IPF is a rare disease with dismal prognosis. International guidelines suggest early referring patients to specialized centers.

Aim: To investigate whether physicians identify and treat IPF patients appropriately.

Methods: 114 patients visited our outpatient clinic between January 2012 and December 2013 and were diagnosed with IPF (ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT, 2011). Their demographics, smoking habit, comorbidities and clinical feature were recorded.

Results: We studied 93 male and 21 female patients, 88 ex-smokers, 14 smokers and 12 non-smokers, of mean (SD) age 65.9 ± 10.52. Symptoms initiated even 3 years prior to presentation (range 3 months- 3 years) and included dyspnea (MRC 1: 24, MRC 2: 22, MRC III: 52, MRC IV: 16), non-productive cough (n=87, 76%), GER (n=96, 84%), fatigue (n=44, 38.5%) and depression (n=12, 10.5%). Comorbidities included arterial hypertension (n=52, 45.6%), cardiac failure (n=21, 18.4%), diabetes mellitus (n=19, 16.6%), osteoporosis (n=8, 7%) and emphysema (n=46, 40.5%). All had "Velcro" crackles (100%), 56 digital clubbing (49%) and 17 ankle edema (14.9%). Medication was in most cases inappropriate and even harmful; 35 patients were on corticosteroids (30.7%) and 12 on azathioprine (10.5%), while 67 patients (58.8%) were on inhaled bronchodilators/corticosteroids.

Conclusions: Despite the publicity IPF has received during the last decade, it is still under-recognized by many physicians. Even when diagnosis is correct, treatment may be inappropriate. Physicians should be vigilant for "Velcro" crackles that could indicate lung fibrosis and refer patients to specialized centers.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that hinder the implementation of government policies against the elimination of minimal capital of legal entities as an effort to develop MSME to improve the regional economy in Palu of Central Sulawesi. This research was an empirical research method using a qualitative descriptive approach. The results showed the factors inhibiting the implementation of government policy on the elimination of minimal capital of legal entity making is the lack of information about Government Regulation Number 29 of 2016 concerning Changes in The Basic Capital of The Establishment of Limited Liability Companies, Constraints on the requirements of making Limited Liability Companies both due to large capital constraints for the manufacture of Limited Liability Companies and Due to Administrative System Constraints that are quite difficult, and the latter is the Orientation of Individualist Thinking.


This paper examines the importance of buyer-supplier relationships for firm performance. We develop a model in which firms outsource tasks and search for suppliers. Lower search and outsourcing costs lead firms to search more and find better suppliers, which in turn drives down marginal costs. We test the theory by exploiting the opening of a high-speed train line in Japan, which lowered the cost of passenger travel but left shipping costs unchanged. Using an exhaustive data set on firms' buyer-seller linkages, we find significant improvements in firm performance as well as creation of buyer-seller links, consistent with the model.


OVERVIEW
Intrinsic motivation is a well-established concept in psychology, yet different types of intrinsic motivation have not been thoroughly investigated. We examined covariates associated with three types of intrinsic motivation from self-determination theory within the education context: IM to know, IM to accomplish, and IM to experience stimulation.

METHOD
A meta-analysis was conducted on samples examining the tripartite model of intrinsic motivation between 1989-2019. In total, 78 samples met the inclusion criteria, representing 41,633 participants across multiple nationalities. The average age of participants across samples was 19 years, and 58.2% of participants were female. Path analysis and relative weight analysis were applied to meta-analytically derived correlations.

RESULTS
Results indicated that IM to know and IM to accomplish were moderately strong predictors of adaptive student outcomes. However, results also indicated a large degree of redundancy including indistinguishable antecedent pathways. IM to experience stimulation was positively, yet less strongly associated with adaptive outcomes. However, it did appear to be empirically distinct from the remaining intrinsic motivation types in respect to its outcomes and antecedents.

CONCLUSION
Intrinsic motivation appears to be a relatively homogeneous construct within educational psychology. Specification of different types of intrinsic motivation is likely to provide only marginal benefit.


Ottoman Tomb Furnishings of Silk and GoldThe use of precious textiles to cover and adorn the remains of the dead is a custom that bridges over gaps between cultures, religions and ages. Funeral palls and different kinds of tomb furnishings are present in both the Islamic and Christian tradition. The aim of this article is to investigate the use of textile tomb furnishing in the Ottoman Empire. Comparisons with Christian traditions are also made.The graves of the Sultan's and their family and other prominent members of society were often marked and revered by the building of a doomed mausoleum (Turk. turbe). As the dead was buried underground, the grave was marked by a symbolic coffin, a cenotaph. Various materials were used for decorating the cenotaph and among these precious textiles played a large part. Three types of textiles are present in this article: 1. The personal clothes of the deceased, such as the caftan and the turban, 2. Funeral palls and cenotaph covers with a striped zig-zag pattern inscribed with bands of calligraphy and 3. Tailor-made cenotaph covers decorated with inscriptions and floral motifs in metal thread embroidery, so called puside.


The paper's suggestion is Web based Tele-Medicine System will be open to public, low-budget featuring high quality of extensive medical services. It will keep a log of personal medical history to allow doctors to share information on patients and their families. This will result in the reduction of erroneous diagnosis and ensure successful e-business. On top of this, the new system will provide a solution for membership (client) management. It will combine online and offline medical services and be available 24 hours a day to anywhere users have Internet access, setting itself apart from the existing distance medical services system. Specially, The paper's suggestion is sharing medical treatment information between family members is suggested. This approach makes possible understanding physical constitution and environment between family members, and can result in bringing a faster treatment effect if some family member suffers from a similar disease.


INTRODUCTION:Laza K. Lazarevic was born on the 13th of May, 1851 in Sabac. He died on the 11th of January, 1891 in Belgrade. Laza K. Lazarevic was a Serb, lawyer, warrior, doctor and writer. He spoke Russian, German and French. Laza Lazarevic's road to the title of doctor of medicine. He studied law in Belgrade and graduated in 1871 and he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Berlin on the 28th of January, 1879. He took his doctor's degree in Berlin on the 8th of March, 1879 at the same Faculty. His road to the title of doctor of medicine was thorny and complicated. LAZA K. LAZAREVIC AS A WARRIOR: He took part in the Serbian-Turkish war and the Serbian-Bulgarian war. During the Serbian-Bulgarian War (1885) he was first given the rank of reserve medical major and later the rank of active medical colonel and then he was appointed assistant chief of the Supreme Command of Health Care with the task to establish the Great reserve military hospital in Nis. PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC WORK OF DR. LAZA K. LAZAREVIC: He had seventy two professional and scientific medical papers published, a great number of which referring to nervous diseases, such as paralysis agitans, sclerosis of medulla spinalis, aphasia and others. Therefore, it can be rightly said that Dr. Laza K. Lazarevic was the first Serbian neurologist. The very first operation of cataract in Serbia was performed by Dr. Laza K. Lazarevic in aseptic conditions, when cocaine was applied for anesthesia. He was the first doctor to be sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Vienna in 1884 to learn how to prepare animal lymph. In 1879 he was appointed the physician of the Belgrade District and in 1881 he was promoted to the position of head doctor and Chief of Internal Department of the General State Hospital in Belgrade. He was the personal doctor of King Milan Obrenovic. LAZA K. LAZAREVIC AS A WRITER: Laza Lazarevic is considered to be the originator of psychological stories in Serbian realistic literature and had nine stories published, while eight remained unfinished. CONCLUSION:Thanks to his intelligence, hard work, determination and persistence and the financial help of Serbia Medical Colonel Dr Laza K. Lazarevic gained the best of knowledge across Europe, having studied at the most prestigious school in Europe - the fact that can be admired and envied even today.


Smart grids provide an excellent opportunity to improve the performance and the power quality of distribution system. This paper addresses a simple and effective approach to improve the quality of electric power in smart grids with high penetration of smart appliances such as plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). Assuming a typical daily load curve, decupled harmonic load flow (DHLF) formulation is used to model the distorted grid, identify the worst bus and calculate the total harmonic distortion (THD) over a period of 24 hours. The possibility of reducing THD (e.g., to 5%, as recommended by IEEE-519) by optimal dispatch of LTC and shunt capacitors is first investigated. Otherwise, for systems with high penetration of smart appliances, passive filter banks are placed at the worst buses and the switching devices are rescheduled to improve the overall quality of electric power. This approach is demonstrated for the IEEE 30-bus 23 kV distribution system and case studies are presented to demonstrate its effectiveness.


This paper studies the problem of detecting the information source in a network in which the spread of information follows the popular Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model. We assume all nodes in the network are in the susceptible state initially except the information source which is in the infected state. Susceptible nodes may then be infected by infected nodes, and infected nodes may recover and will not be infected again after recovery. Given a snapshot of the network, from which we know all infected nodes but cannot distinguish susceptible nodes and recovered nodes, the problem is to find the information source based on the snapshot and the network topology. We develop a sample path based approach where the estimator of the information source is chosen to be the root node associated with the sample path that most likely leads to the observed snapshot. We prove for infinite-trees, the estimator is a node that minimizes the maximum distance to the infected nodes. A reverse-infection algorithm is proposed to find such an estimator in general graphs. We prove that for g-regular trees such that gq > 1, where g is the node degree and q is the infection probability, the estimator is within a constant distance from the actual source with high probability, independent of the number of infected nodes and the time the snapshot is taken. Our simulation results show that for tree networks, the estimator produced by the reverse-infection algorithm is closer to the actual source than the one identified by the closeness centrality heuristic.


Recently, a new method for sub-band based ASR has been introduced which approximates the ideal 'full combination' (FC) approach. We show how this ideal approach can be set up as a nonlinear combination function and how it can be approximated by estimating the posteriors for each combination as a function of the posteriors from the individual sub-bands alone [Hagen98:SBS,Morris99:TFC]. Sub-band based ASR is especially promising in stationary and time-varying band-limited noise as long as the remaining clean sub-bands supply sufficiently reliable information. For the first time, experiments will be presented which compare the FC approach and its approximation on these noise characteristics. They were carried out on PLP [Hermansky90:PLP] and J-RASTA-PLP [Hermansky94:RPO] features in the framework of HMM/ANN Hybrid systems.


Aiming at mastering WNS monitoring status, controlling node devices in wireless sensor network, a WSN location monitoring terminal system is proposed. Using B/S website architecture, the real time response, the serial communication, the data storage realization mechanism and so on is studied on. A data server to storage WSN monitoring messages and an ASP.NET sever to run sever program correlated is established at the control center. According to the WSN location monitoring terminal system, the function of serial initialization, location monitoring messages displaying, node parameters configuring, user information and network information management can be realized. Experimental results show that the WSN location monitoring terminal system has a good real time, stability and accuracy performance, which can be extended to different WSN application fields.


Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a breathing technique introduced by Poojya Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar, Founder of Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, Bangalore. This study was aimed to examine the effect of SKY practice and antioxidant enzymes activities on menopausal women. One hundred and ninety subjects of age group 45-60 years, non-smokers and nonalcoholic were selected and divided into three groups. Group 1 consisting of 40 out of 190 subjects received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The group 2 of 40 subjects received 500mg/day of vitamin E orally for 30 consecutive days.The group 3 of 60 subjects were on daily practice of SKY for cosecutive 30 days. The remaining 50 menopausal women acted as controls. Plasma MDA, erythrocyte SOD and GSHpx concentrations were assessed in all the subjects before and after 30 days of respective treatment. Serum MDA levels were significantly decreased in all the 140 subjects; whereas SOD and GSHpx were significantly elevated in the subjects of all 3 groups after 30 days of respective treatment compared to controls. However, a high significant increase in SOD and GSHpx levels with a corresponding decrease in serum MDA were evident in the subjects who were exposed to SKY compared to the subjects who had HRT or vitamin E. Our study demonstrates that practice of SKY could be beneficial to the menopausal women by increasing in vivo levels of antioxidant.


In 12 patients (aged 64 +/- 10 years) with femoropopliteal occlusions (1-27 cm; average, 8.4 cm length) that could not be recanalized by standard guidewire-balloon angioplasty techniques, percutaneous laser-assisted balloon angioplasty was performed by use of a new fluorescence-guided dual-laser system. Plaque detection by 325-nm laser-excited fluorescence spectroscopy provided real-time feedback control to a 480-nm pulsed dye laser (2-microseconds pulses) for atheroma ablation. By means of a common 200-microns optical fiber, after diagnostic fluorescence sensing, computer algorithms directed a fire or no-fire signal (5 Hz) to the treatment laser for selective plaque removal. Laser recanalization (15-50 mJ/pulse) was successful in 10 of 12 patients; this procedure was followed by definitive balloon angioplasty in seven of 12 patients with increased ankle/arm indexes (from 0.60 +/- 0.12 at baseline to 0.84 +/- 0.11 after treatment, p = 0.0043). In laser and balloon angioplasty failures, all femoropopliteal occlusions were heavily calcified, and there were two mechanical guidewire perforations without clinical sequelae. Ablation of calcified lesions required higher pulse energies and greater total energy per centimeter of recanalized tissue (1,837 +/- 1,251 mJ/cm vs. 90 +/- 39 mJ/cm, p = 0.0036). Fluorescence spectroscopy (n = 219 sites) was helpful in flush occlusions and correctly identified plaque, underlying media, and thrombus by changes in fluorescence intensity, shape, and peak position. Thus, when fluorescence-guided laser angioplasty was used in a subgroup of patients refractory to standard angioplasty techniques, primary recanalization and subsequent balloon angioplasty of femoropopliteal occlusions was successful in 83% and 58% of the patients, respectively. Importantly, treatment of heavily calcified lesions accounted for all of the failures and will require modified delivery systems to create larger primary channels and to increase catheter-tip control, which should improve clinical results in the future.


In this paper we propose an approach to the design optimization of fault-tolerant hard real-time embedded systems, which combines hardware and software fault tolerance techniques. We trade-off between selective hardening in hardware and process re-execution in software to provide the required levels of fault tolerance against transient faults with the lowest-possible system costs. We propose a system failure probability (SFP) analysis that connects the hardening level with the maximum number of re-executions in software. We present design optimization heuristics, to select the fault-tolerant architecture and decide process mapping such that the system cost is minimized, deadlines are satisfied, and the reliability requirements are fulfilled.


Background: Stress urinary incontinence is one of the most common types of incontinence in premenopausal women, accounting for almost 50% of such cases. Mid-urethral slings are currently the most widely used surgical method for stress urinary incontinence. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy, complications, urodynamic changes and the sexual function status between mini-sling surgery and transobturator tape to help us select the best method in such patients. Method: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 cases were studied and randomly assigned to either the mini-sling or transobturator tape group (n = 40). A full medical history was taken and the Q.tip and cough tests were performed for each patient to record their urinary incontinence and hypermobility. Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound study was requested by specifying PVR and urodynamic testing. The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-6 was filled by the patients and the Female Sexual Functioning Index questionnaire by the physician. The patients were followed-up 8 weeks after discharge by urodynamic tests, ultrasound study, and the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire test. Results: The mean age, body mass index, and parity were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean surgical time, amount of bleeding, hospitalization period, and pain index were significantly less in the mini-sling group. The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire and Female Sexual Functioning Index indices before and after surgery showed no significant difference between the two groups. The difference in urodynamic test parameters was also insignificant. Conclusion: In the mini-sling method which is a less invasive method compared to transobturator tape, the intraoperative bleeding, surgical time, hospitalization period, pain, and surgical complications were far less while its efficacy was similar to transobturator tape; therefore, it is recommended in treating stress urinary incontinence among women.


This study aims to disclose how the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuroimaging approach has been applied in education studies, and what kind of learning themes has been investigated in the reviewed MRI neuroimaging research. Based on the keywords "brain or neuroimaging or neuroscience" and "MRI or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or white matter or gray matter or resting-state," a total of 25 papers were selected from the subject areas "Educational Psychology" and "Education and Educational Research" from the Web of Science and Scopus from 2000 to 2019. Content analysis showed that MRI neuroimaging and learning were studied under the following three major topics and nine subtopics: cognitive function (language, creativity, music, physical activity), science education (mathematical learning, biology learning, physics learning), and brain development (parenting, personality development). As for the type of MRI neuroimaging research, the most frequently used approaches were functional MRI, followed by structural MRI and DTI, although the choice of approach was often motivated by the specific research question. Research development trends show that the neural plasticity theme has become more prominent recently. This study concludes that in educational research, the MRI neuroimaging approach provides objective and empirical evidence to connect learning processes, outcomes, and brain mechanisms.


The efficacy of calcium chloride dips on the storage ability of 'Julie' mangoes and of polyethylene film wrapping or the storage ability of 'Jaffa' oranges are reported. Ripening as determined by peel colour development and textural softening was retarded in calcium treated versus untreated 'Julie' mangoes, and an organoleptic evaluation indicated an improvement in consumer satisfaction of calcium treated fruit. Calcium chloride treatment extended the shelf life of fruits to 14 days compared to a 5 day shelf life in untreated fruit. Film wrapping retarded the commercial deterioration and fresh weight loss of 'Jaffa' oranges held at 15 °C and under ambient conditions and thus improved the storage life and marketability of fruits. Juice quality was not adversely affected by film wrapping. Despite the improvement in the commercial quality, marketability and storage life of film wrapped versus unwrapped fruits, the data indicated that storage temperature is of greater importance in the keeping quality of 'Jaffa' oranges than film wrapping in polyethylene. The longest storage life of 126 days was observed in film wrapped fruit held at 15 °C compared to a storage life of 16 days in unwrapped fruit held under ambient conditions.


Carleton University and Sander Geophysics are developing an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for aeromagnetic surveying. As an early indication of the performance to expect from the UAS, a simulated UAS (sUAS) was built. The sUAS is a T-shaped structure suspended beneath a helicopter which has the same magnetometers and sensor geometry as planned for the UAS. A test survey was conducted using the simulated UAS and the total magnetic intensity (TMI) data recorded were compared to that obtained during a conventional regional fixed-wing survey and a ground survey. Transverse magneto-gradiometric data were also recorded by the sUAS.


Libraries provide access to large amounts of library metadata. Unfortunately, many libraries only offer textual interfaces for searching and browsing their holdings. Visualisations provide simpler, faster, and more efficient ways to navigate, search and study large quantities of metadata. This paper presents GlamMap, a visualisation tool that displays library metadata on an interactive, computer-generated geographic map. We provide detailed discussion of how GlamMap benefits the work of librarians and researchers. We show how geographic representations help librarians to perform tasks such as collection assessment and how geographic information helps researchers to identify important scientific resources.


Congenital metabolic diseases are considered as rare diseases because of their low incidence and their clinical symptoms at onset. Sometimes they can just begin in the neonatal period. Their progressive knowledge and the availability of specific and sensitive biochemical procedures allow us to diagnose many congenital metabolic diseases, which were not recognized some years ago. We reviewed the 52 patients with congenital metabolic diseases diagnosed during the last 25 years in our centre, evaluating the clinical presentation, neurological symptoms, complementary exams and clinical evolution. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 5 days and the mean age at diagnosis was 88 days of age. We considered a first group of 36 patients with inborn errors of intermediary metabolism, in whom hypotonia, weight loss and seizures are the main symptoms. The second group was composed of 8 patients with defective energy metabolism, who showed abnormal respiratory rhythm and hypotonia. Finally, we considered 8 patients with diseases of the complex molecules, who presented with hypotonia and cataracts as common symptoms at onset. The more common neurological symptoms in this period were hypotonia (60%), sensorial deficit (35%) and refractory seizures (23%). The complementary laboratory tests in the first phases of the diseases allowed us to suspect a congenital metabolic disease especially among intermediary and energy defects. EEG and CSF samples were important to diagnose some inborn errors of intermediary metabolism. In the first steps, the neuroimaging was less orientative, even if it allow the exclusion of other diseases. More than half of the patients with inborn errors of metabolism with onset in the neonatal period died within the first two years of life. It is really important to suspect these diseases in the neonatal period so as to achieve an early diagnosis and prompt therapy, specially with cofactors, that can reduce the morbimortality.


Background: A substantial amount of antibiotic use in hospitals may be inappropriate, leading to an increase in antibiotic resistance, adverse effects, mortality and increased costs. This can be reduced by documenting and understanding current utilisation patterns to instigate appropriate measures. Objective: To assess antibiotic use patterns and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the biggest national referral hospital in Kenya; subsequently identify opportunities for quality improvement. Methodology: A point prevalence survey (PPS) was carried out with data abstracted principally from patient medical records supplemented by interviews from physicians, using the global PPS data collection tool and methodology. Patients were selected using universal sampling. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the pattern of antibiotic use. Differences in antibiotic use and indications between the selected wards were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact tests. Results: Among the patients surveyed (n=269), 67.7% (n=182) were on antibiotics. The most common classes of antibiotics prescribed were third generation cephalosporins (55%), imidazole derivatives, e.g. metronidazole (41.8%), and broad spectrum penicillins (41.8%). Most common indication for antibiotic use was medical prophylaxis (29%). Dosing of antibiotics was seen as typically optimal when assessed against current recommendations. Among gram positive organisms, Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole (90%), amoxicillin (69%), co-amoxyclav (67%) and cefaclor (67%). Among gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to piperacillin (90%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were resistant to imipenem (100%). Conclusion: Whilst the dosing of antibiotics seemed adequate, there was high use of antibiotics, exacerbated by the high proportion being prescribed without reference to current guidelines. Antibiotic resistance also seems to be very high especially against the broadest spectrum antibiotics, which is a real concern and imposes sever negative clinical implications. Programmes are currently being instigated to address these concerns.


ABSTRACT This article examines the issue of peace and restraint within ongoing conflicts. While the vast majority of the literature on civil wars in Africa concentrates on drivers of conflict and instances of violence, there are zones of peace where locally peace processes have developed despite conflicts around them. These spaces have been neglected in both the academic literature and the major data sets on conflict and war, which mostly focuses on the belligerent, or sometimes the victims. The literature that does exist is concentrated in Latin America (especially Colombia) rather than Africa. This paper records six different episodes in Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone and seeks to understand the reasons why these spaces were able to maintain some level of peace. The paper discusses the practicalities of exercising peace on the ground and the implications for subsequent peacebuilding, along with drawing conclusions about differences in the nature of warfare regionally.


France has a historical tradition of codifying rules and regulations into an elaborate corpus of public law applied by a powerful administration. However the nuclear industry seems to have long been spared this tradition. This analysis of the development and operation of the French system for regulating nuclear risks between 1960 and 1985 brings to light a suppleness of the first rules, standards and orientations for risk-management. This French exception has two explanations: the structure of the network of the institutions involved in regulations; and the political, industrial and social context in which the "small world" of nuclear safety evolved. This analysis stimulates thought about how the French risk-regulation regime is evolving in the current context.


Functional results of ileal pouch Background: Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch and posterior pouch anal anastomosis is the treatment of choice of severe ulcerative colitis and polyposis. Aim: To evaluate the functional results of ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Material and Methods: Retrospective assessment of all patients subjected to an ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Pouch function was evaluated using Oresland score that goes from 0 or perfect to 15 or bad. Results: During a 10 years period, 35 patients were operated. Ten patients aged 19 to 67 years were treated for an ulcerative colitis and nine, aged 18 to 54 years for a familial adenomatous polyposis. Global complication rate of the procedure was 20%. Late complication rate was 17%. Specifi c complication rate of the rectal- ileal pouch anastomosis was 6%. Specifi c late complications of the technique were only observed in six of 20 patients with ulcerative colitis. Pouch failure was observed in two patients (6%). Global Oresland score was 3.2. Seventeen of 22 patients with ulcerative colitis and seven of eight patients with polyposis had a satisfactory or acceptable score. Patients had a mean of 4.4 bowel movements per day (range 1 to 15) without differences according to the underlying disease. Conclusions: Eighty percent of patients subjected to an ileal pouch anal anastomosis reported an Oresland score of less than seven, that is satisfactory in terms of quality of life.


In a recent editorial, Awoyemi (2008) highlighted the positive impact of Christianity on HIV/AIDS intervention in Africa and called on conservation scientists to promote wildlife conservation through religious media. Prior to this, Nadkarni (2004) proposed that conservation knowledge is more effectively communicated to public audiences when scientists and nonscientists collaborate. To date, however, examples of scientists working with spiritual leaders to raise public awareness through religious channels are scarce, and their effectiveness is hardly ever quantified. Here we present preliminary results from the first known entry–exit survey that assessed levels of concern and awareness of turtle conservation among mosquegoers exposed to an Islamic sermon infused with relevant environmental messages. In 1999 a turtle sanctuary was established in the coastal town of Ma' Daerah in the Malaysian state of Terengganu to protect important turtle nesting grounds. Since 2003 an environmental nongovernmental organization (World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia [WWFMalaysia]) initiated various turtle conservation awareness programs in Ma' Daerah and helped establish Malaysia's first community-based organization to champion turtle conservation (MEKAR). In Islam the teachings of Qur'an and Hadiths contain numerous texts encouraging Muslims to protect the nonhuman world. For example, the Prophet said, "A good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being." Nevertheless, instances (see Dickinson 2005 for additional information) in which religious leaders have harnessed this medium to spread awareness of conservation issues are relatively uncommon. Recognizing that Islamic teachings could potentially effect turtle-friendly behavioral changes among Muslim coastal communities, both organizations facilitated Malaysia's inaugural workshop for Islamic leaders to infuse turtle conservation messages into a sermon that was simultaneously read out across 482 mosques statewide on 21 November 2008. The scale of this unprecedented event received substantial local and international publicity (Brouwer 2008), but can Islamic sermons function as effective conduits to raise conservation awareness? To test this, we designed a questionnaire modeled after Balmford et al. (2004), who demonstrated that Hollywood movies can potentially raise public concern on climatechange issues. Four questions were posed to different groups of people entering (n = 34) and exiting (n = 35) 4 of the 482 mosques in Terengganu. Remunerators first asked two questions to compare entry–exit levels of concern: how much out of a hypothetical RM1000 would they allocate for turtle conservation, community development, and disaster relief, and would they participate in turtle conservation activities? The other two questions ascertained whether knowledge was gained from the sermon text: whether the Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is endangered, and which of four known threats to turtles (egg consumption, incidental bycatch, coastal development, and pollution) were perceived as threats. Results from the survey indicated the sermon raised some levels of concern. The proportion (Pr) of people who prioritized funding for turtle conservation in the exit group was significantly higher than that of the entry group (Pr = 0.57 vs. 0.35, binomial test, p < 0.01), with the former allocating a mean of RM438.47 (SE 52.18) versus the latter's RM377.94 (SE 53.16). For the other three questions, levels of concern and knowledge among people entering the mosques were already high, and there were no significant differences in entry–exit answers regarding willingness to participate in turtle conservation initiatives (Pr = 0.94 vs. 1.00, binomial test, not significant); knowledge that the Leatherback turtle is endangered (Pr = 0.91 vs. 0.80, binomial test, not significant); and correct score (out of four) for knowledge of threats to turtles (3.62 [SE 0.13] vs. 3.51 [SE 0.11], Mann– Whitney U = 523.5, n = 69, not significant). From these preliminary results, it appears that regular outreach activities over the last 5 years in Ma' Daerah have largely familiarized coastal communities with turtle conservation issues. Although the sample size and questionnaire length were constrained by the need to respect prayer rituals, our findings suggest that Islamic sermons can elevate public concern on conservation issues. Because it is mandatory for male Muslims to attend Friday prayers (Qur'an. Sura Jumu'ah 62:9), it appears worthwhile to replicate this endeavor and further quantify its effectiveness in other predominantly Muslim areas with different conservation contexts (e.g., human–wildlife conflict and poaching hotspots). Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ascertain whether local communities can eventually translate heightened


In the industrial world nowadays, natural fiber has been widely developed as an important part in the preparation of composite material. Lontar Fruit is a natural commodity enriched with fiber but still less maximally utilized. Lontar Fruit fiber is then composed with polyester matrix to be an alternative material to the preparation of polymer-based helmet and gas tube. Research attempts to examine the tensile and impact strengths of this application. In this research, therefore, polyester resin is composed with Lontar Fruit fiber and this composite is treated with alkali 5 % NaOH for 30 minutes. Preliminary test has indicated that the tensile strength of genuine single fiber (without treatment) is 33.3 N/mm2 and the maximal tensile strength of single fiber is 36.96 N/mm2 after treatment with alkali 5 % NaOH for 30 minutes. After this preliminary test, the composite is then tested by treating Lontar Fruit fiber with alkali 5 % NaOH for 30 minutes upset time against various volume fractions of Lontar Fruit fiber, respectively at 0 %, 5 %, 15 %, 25 % and 35%. It is then by the results, the favorable mechanic attributes, precisely the tensile strength and impact strength of the polyester matriculated composite with Lontar Fruit fiber as the reinforce, can be explained as follows. The best tensile strength of the composite is 47.7 MPa found at volume fraction variation of 15 %. The best impact strength of the composite is 30.1519179 J observed at volume fraction of 35 %. Keywords: Lontar Fruit Fiber,Tensile Strenght, Impact Strenght, Composite


Flexure spring suspensions have demonstrated the ability to provide long operating lifetimes for cryocoolers. The good flexure spring need high radial stiffness and high fatigue life. The profile curves are very important for flexure spring. In this paper, based on the finite element analysis software (ANSYS), geometrically nonlinear static structural analysis and nonlinear dynamics structural analysis were made to several different flexure springs. The fatigue strength, axial and radial stiffness, modal frequency were calculated and listed. The different performance between linear flexure spring and spiral flexure spring were discussed, which would provide an advisory opinion for the design and application of flexure spring in space cryocooler.


BACKGROUND: Mental health is of great importance in childhood and the foundation of personality of every individual is laid during this period. Moreover, behavioral problems are common in children, and a lot of the individual, familial, and social disorders originate from the fact that these problems are not treated at the right time. More important is that the behavioral problems of children are rooted in the behavior and upbringing of parents. Therefore, we carried out the present study to investigate the role of community health nurses in modifying the behavior of parents whose children have behavioral problems. METHODS: This research was a pre- and post-training quasi-experimental study. The study was carried out with the participation of the parents of 44 first-grade primary school children with reported behavioral problems. The instrument used in the study was a self-made questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS software, using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (t-test and repeated ANOVA). RESULTS: The mean scores of parents' behavior before, immediately after, and one month after training exhibited a significant difference in both fathers and mothers (p = 0.04 in fathers and p < 0.001 in mothers). Moreover, the mean scores of mothers before and immediately after training and also before and one month after training showed a significant difference (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, the mean scores of mothers immediately after and one month after training were not significantly different (p=0.53). Furthermore, the mean scores of fathers before and immediately after training and also before and one month after training were significantly different (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). But, the mean scores of fathers immediately after and one month after training did not show a significant difference (p = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Since the group training of parents led to a change in their behavior towards children, it is advisable to prepare and implement such programs.


Autophagy is a survival mechanism that can take place in cells under metabolic stress and through which cells can recycle waste material. Disturbances in autophagic processes appear to be associated with a number of human pathologies, including viral infections. It has been hypothesized that viruses can subvert autophagy in order to penetrate the host cell and replicate. Because it has been suggested that autophagy is involved in influenza A virus replication, we analyzed the effects of two inhibitors of lysosomal proteases on the cellular control of influenza A virus replication. In particular, we used biochemical and morphological analyses to evaluate the modulation of influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 virus production in the presence of CA074 and Pepstatin A, inhibitors of cathepsin proteases B and D, respectively. We found that Pepstatin A, but not CA074, significantly hindered influenza virus replication, probably by modulating host cell autophagic/apoptotic responses. These results are of potential interest to provide useful insights into the molecular pathways exploited by the influenza in order to replicate and to identify further cellular factors as targets for the development of innovative antiviral strategies. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 3368–3377, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The current development of electronic products towards miniaturization and multifunction is leading to an increase in the power density of chip and IC. The high power consumption and corresponding heat dissipation are two of the most serious limitations for high performance electronics. The combination of the carbon nanotube (CNT) with outstanding thermal properties with an air jet cooling provides a promising option for the heat dissipation of high-powered components and devices. In the present paper, the CNTs are utilized to manufacture the pin-fins for the micro-cooler, and the performance and evaluation of this CNT-based micro-pin-fin cooler are investigated both experimentally and numerically. The effects of various parameters, such as the jet velocity and height, the fin size and shape, and so on, on the flow field and temperature distribution characteristics are comprehensively considered and analyzed. The obtained results indicate that the CNT-fins are of quite good strength and thermal performance in the jet impingement cooling environment.


Several hypotheses have been proposed that SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists may have additional mechanisms to further reduce risks of cardiovascular complications unexplained by traditional risk factors control. This study aimed to examine and quantify the magnitude of additional protective effects of these two drugs on cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) . Patient characteristics were extracted from four cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) of SGLT2 inhibitors and four CVOTs of GLP-1 receptor agonists completed before Nov 2021. We used the BRAVO simulation model to translate risk factors reductions from the newer drugs into risk reductions in cardiovascular complications, assuming the simulated risk reductions are only driven by traditional risk factors (i.e., A1c, SBP, LDL, and BMI) . We then derived the relative risk (RR) between observed risk reductions and simulated risk-factor-driven risk reductions in study outcomes to determine whether additional cardiovascular benefit of the newer drugs exist that can be explained by improvement of traditional risk factor control. Controlling for effect from traditional risk factors, SGLT2 inhibitor was associated with an additional risk reduction of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) (RR: 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.59-0.94) , and a meaningful but not significant reduction in all-cause mortality (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.77-1.03) , but an increased risk of stroke (RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62) . No additional benefit was observed in preventing MI or CVD mortality from SGLT2 inhibitors. No additional benefit in preventing any study outcomes was associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Except for the benefit on HHF by SGLT2i, improvement in traditional CVD risk factors largely account for all the benefit associated with GLP-1 and SGLT2i to reduce CVD.

 S.Niu: None. D.Guan: None. N.Singh ospina: None. K.Cusi: Consultant; Altimmune, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Fractyl Health, Inc., Genentech, Inc., Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd., Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk. V.Fonseca: Consultant; Abbott, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Bayer AG, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Research Support; Fractyl Health, Inc., Jaguar Gene Therapy, Stock/Shareholder; Abbott, Amgen Inc., BRAVO4Health, Mellitus Health. L.Shi: None. H.Shao: Board Member; BRAVO4HEALTH, LLC.


Low methane (CH4) emissions from sheep fed forage rape (Brassica napus) might be related to low ruminal pH value. In this study, sodium carbonate (Na2CO3: SC) was supplemented to the diet to alter ruminal pH for evaluation of its role in CH4 emissions from sheep fed forage rape. Fourteen intact and eight fistulated Romney sheep were adapted to forage rape over 32 days and then randomly allocated to one of two groups: diets supplemented with SC or not (control). Methane emissions were measured from intact sheep in seven experimental periods. In parallel, ruminal pH and fermentation characteristics were assessed using the fistulated sheep. In the first (P01) and the second (P02) periods, none of the sheep received SC to examine the baseline CH4 emissions. The P01 period was used as a covariate for analysis of gas emission measurements in subsequent measurement periods. Sodium carbonate was offered at 5% of the forage DM in P03 and P04, increased to 8% in P05 and P06 to assess the effect of pH increase on CH4 emissions and stopped in P07 to assess if the CH4 emissions reverted to values similar to those measured before the supplementation started. Methane yield (g/kg forage DM intake) was similar for the sheep in both groups during P02 and P03, but sheep supplemented with SC in the diet emitted 36%, 49% and 30% more CH4 per unit of forage DM intake than those in the control group during P04, P05 and P06, respectively. Emissions returned to similar levels when SC supplementation was ceased in P07. Ruminal pH was 0.412 to 0.565 units higher in SC supplemented sheep than for the control group during the SC treatment periods. Based on the lack of an immediate response in CH4 emissions to the supplementation of SC in P03, the positive responses in P04 to P06 and the rapid disappearance of the response after supplementation with SC stopped in P07, we propose a new hypothesis that ruminal pH effects on CH4 emissions are possibly through medium-term changes in microbial and methanogenic communities in the rumen, rather than a direct, short-term impact on methanogens per se. In conclusion, SC supplemented to the forage rape diet of sheep increased rumen pH, leading to an increase in CH4 emissions. Low ruminal pH in sheep fed forage rape explains, at least partially, the reported low CH4 emissions from sheep fed with this forage crop.


This chapter describes the emergence of the EFD and reviews its development against the background of major trends in the continuing evolution of federal antitrust law. It then analyzes recent Supreme Court cases that have questioned and thereby undermined EFD, even though lower courts claim to derive the doctrine from the Court's earlier precedents. The main focus is on the emerging recognition by the Court that ongoing economic regulation of a monopoly business under the guise of antitrust is neither consistent with the fundamentals of the federal antitrust statutes, nor with basic institutional capacities of courts and antitrust enforcement agencies, as distinct from legislatures and the purpose-built agencies that engage in economic regulation pursuant to statute. The conclusion suggested by this analysis is that EFD is no more useful as a response to concerns about access to digital platforms than to the other situations that have led to the Court's profound doubts regarding EFD. The asserted competitive problems targeted by EFD claims may change as technology and business practices evolve, but the fatal weaknesses of EFD persist. If and to the extent digital platforms can be objectively shown to demonstrate any need for mandatory access by customers, competitors or others, mandatory access remedies should be addressed—if justified by responsible and conscientious policy analysis—through rules and institutions distinct from those of antitrust.


This paper reports on a research project which aims at addressing one of the most crucial problems in clinical computing--the relation between clinical data and database design and their impacts on Clinical Information Systems. The discussion will focus on a research project that is currently being conducted in a number of acute care hospitals at Melbourne, Australia to investigate the database design for the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS), a subset of the Clinical Information System (CIS).


Evolutionary patterns of the internal structures of generative organs in angiosperms are considered in light of the idea on their close dependence on the appearance of angiospermy – formation of the ovary closed cavity by carpels– macrosporophylls. A characteristic feature of the sexual process in gymnoand angiosperms is the independency of water for fertilization, unlike all lower plants and pteridophytes. The main direction of the further evolution of the sexual process consisted in the modification for adaptations that ensure the successful fertilization in new conditions. The guidelines and levels of evolution include aromorphosis, allomorphosis, specialization and reduction which are considered to be concrete examples of microstructure of generative organs.


Background The limited involvement of audiologists in occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) management through hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) is a global issue. In low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries such as South Africa, this is also exacerbated by demand versus capacity challenges. Tele-audiology is an option requiring serious deliberation by the audiology community within HCPs in LAMI contexts. Objectives This scoping review explores if tele-audiology has a potential value in HCPs and reviews what has been documented in the literature on the use of tele-audiology in HCPs. Method A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley's framework. A search was conducted in five electronic bibliographic databases including Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus Medline, ProQuest and Google Scholar and the grey literature to identify publications presenting considerations around tele-audiology in the implementation of HCPs. Results Findings revealed significant dearth of evidence specific to the use or application of tele-audiology in ONIHL and/or HCPs both within the African context and internationally, despite the purported potential benefit of this service delivery model, particularly in resource-constrained contexts such as LAMI countries. Of the publications deemed potentially relevant to this scoping review, none were found that specifically investigated or addressed the use of tele-audiology in ONIHL or HCPs as their main objective. Nuanced analysis of publications revealed that in the last decade, indication for potential growth in the use of tele-audiology within occupational audiology is indicated. Conclusion Because of the significant demand versus capacity challenges in LAMI countries, and because of the need for scaling up audiology professionals' management of HCPs, careful consideration of teleaudiology as a platform to deliver services in these contexts is required.


The Fifty-Second Meeting of the Association was held in Glasgow from June 15 to 18, 1948. This annual provincial meeting was held at the invitation of the Scottish Group and was a success both in the merit of the scientific papers read and socially. The President, Dr. A. J. Amor, was in the Chair, and eighty-five members attended the various sessions. At the opening session on June 15, Prof T. Ferguson, Professor of Public Health at Glasgow University, read the paper entitled " Early Scottish Essays in Industrial Health," which appeared at p. 1IF of the October, 1948, issue of the British Journal of Indus.rial Medicine. Members then visited the University buildings and were conducted to the Hunterian Museum, and other parts of historical and architectural interest, and, by invitation of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Sir Hector Hetherington, were entertained to lunch in the University In the afternoon visits were paid to the following industrial establishments: (1) Port Medical Services (during this visit the Medical Services for the Clyde, as developed by the Clyde Trust, were seen); visits were also paid to the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. John Brown, and the shipbreaking yard of Messrs. Arnot Young at Clydebank; (2) Rolls Royce Factory, Hillington, at which Dr. Collier demonstrated photographs of cases of oil acne and chrome ulceration, and arranged for a tour of the factory; (3) Haven Products, -where Prof. Ferguson showed the attempt that had been made to employ seriously disabled persons. On June 16, seventy members and friends sailed down the Clyde to the Kyles of Bute. During the morning, Dr. J. D. P. Graham, I.C.I., Fellow attached to the Department of Pharmacology, Glasgow University, read a paper on hydrazoic acid. Dr. Graham said that hydrazoic acid, which was also known as azoimide, was a pungent explosive gas discovered by Curtis in 1890. Some of its biological properties were investigated by Smith and Wolf in 1904. Recently Dr. Graham had himself re-investigated the actions of the neutral, stable -water-soluble sodium salt of azoimide. This substance stimulated the central nervous system of animals and might cause death in violent convulsions, as did hydrazoic acid. Respiration was violently stimulated, there was a profound fall in blood pressure from a direct action on the blood vessels, and the heart was greatly stimulated. The motor activity of the bladder and gut was increased, with consequent evacuation, but the uterus was less sensitive. The coronary arteries were relaxed, and the bronchi were dilated by azide. Hydrazoic acid differed from azide in its actions in that it was more powerful and, being a corrosive substance, it produced pulmonary cedema and exudative pulmonitis .after a preliminary bronchial spasm. Dr. Graham said that cases of acute irritative reactions in the conjunctivw -and mucous membranes and collapse from hypotension had occurred as a result of deliberate or accidental inhalation of excessive concentrations of the gas, but no ill effects resulted in workmen exposed intermittently to lesser concentrations of azoimide fume over a period of many years. During inhalation the systolic and diastolic pressure of ten men investigated fell to very low levels, but recovered subsequently. There was accompanying headache, palpitation, and some dizziness. No evidence of blood dyscrasia, liver or kidney damage, or indeed any impairment of health attributable to the inhalation of azide gas was detected. Nevertheless such


During the past five years of medical school, I can recall facing numerous new but strange situations. One such occasion was during my first week of obstetrics as a medical student. I was just three months into my first clinical year and, having just completed six weeks of medicine and six weeks of surgery, had been given the challenge of mastering "obs and gynae." My ignorance at the time was such that I did not even know the difference between the two. On top of this, by some perverse twist of fate, I was to be the first medical student "on call" in the labour ward. Looking back, it is terrifying to think how I was thrown into the deep end, but at the time I didn't quite know what to expect.

I stepped into the labour ward for the first time and immediately noticed the moist, warm atmosphere. The heavy air around me soon filled my nose and …


In Liquid Rocket Engines, higher combustion efficiencies come at the cost of the propellants exceeding their critical point conditions and entering the supercritical domain. The term fluid is used because, under these conditions, there is no longer a clear distinction between a liquid and a gas phase. The non-conventional behavior  of thermophysical properties makes the modeling of supercritical fluid flows a most challenging task. In the present work, a RANS computational method following an incompressible but variable density approach is devised on which the performance of several turbulence models is compared in conjunction with a high accuracy multi-parameter equation of state. Also, a suitable methodology to describe transport properties accounting for dense fluid corrections is applied. The results are validated against experimental data, becoming clear that there is no trend between turbulence model complexity and the quality of the produced results. For several instances, one- and two- equation turbulence models produce similar and better results than those  of Large Eddy Simulation (LES). Finally, considerations about the applicability of the tested turbulence models in supercritical simulations are given based on the results and the structural nature of each model.
Keywords: Supercritial fluids, RANS turbulence modeling, Liquid rocket engines


Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been widely studied and used in the scientific community and in the industry. Various models were proposed to solve problems in different areas. However, all models deviate from reality. Uncertainty quantification (UQ) process evaluates the overall uncertainties associated with the prediction of quantities of interest. In particular it studies the propagation of input uncertainties to the outputs of the models so that confidence intervals can be provided for the simulation results. In the present work, a non-intrusive quadrature-based uncertainty quantification (QBUQ) approach is proposed. The probability distribution function (PDF) of the system response can be then reconstructed using extended quadrature method of moments (EQMOM) and extended conditional quadrature method of moments (ECQMOM). The method is first illustrated considering two examples: a developing flow in a channel with uncertain viscosity, and an oblique shock problem with uncertain upstream Mach number. The error in the prediction of the moment response is studied as a function of the number of samples, and the accuracy of the moments required to reconstruct the PDF of the system response is discussed. The approach proposed in this work is then demonstrated by considering a bubbling fluidized bed as example application. The mean particle size is assumed to be the uncertain input parameter. The system is simulated with a standard two-fluid model with kinetic theory closures for the particulate phase implemented into MFIX. The effect of uncertainty on the disperse-phase volume fraction, on the phase velocities and on the pressure drop inside the fluidized bed are examined, and the reconstructed PDFs are provided for the three quantities studied. Then the approach is applied to a bubbling fluidized bed with two uncertain parameters. Contour plots of the mean and standard deviation of solid volume fraction, solid phase velocities and gas pressure are provided. The PDFs of the response are reconstructed using EQMOM with appropriate kernel density functions. The simulation results are compared to experimental data provided by the 2013 NETL small-scale


The real useful energy loss can't be justified the first law of thermodynamics, because it does not differentiate between the quality and quantity of energy. Energy analysis presents only quantitative results while exergy analysis presents qualitative results about actual energy consumption. The exergy of a system is the maximum useful work possible during a process that brings the system into equilibrium with a heat reservoir. Exergy analysis is performed in the field of industrial ecology to use energy more efficiently. In the said experiment a detailed analysis of VARS (vapour compression refrigeration system) is done. Exergy analysis of window air conditioner using different refrigerant such as R22, R407C is calculated. Exergy analysis is carry out using 85% mechanical, electrical and compressor efficiency. Using this experimental set up it would be able to evaluate on different operating condition. The coefficient of performance, exergy destruction and exergentic efficiency for variable refrigerant will be calculated. Refpor will be used to calculate the properties of refrigerant at each state which will enable to find different parameters and understand the performance of window air conditioner Keywords— Energy, Exergy, Exergy Analysis, vapour compression system, window air conditioning system.