Miniaturized devices and complex design features with advanced materials have been in demand in recent years. There is also an increasing interest in the integration of mechanics with electronics and computing to create simple and smart microsystems. Hence, this special issue aims to provide research input on advances in micromanufacturing methods to realize the development of new mechatronic devices and related systems. The content of the special issue will be useful to the researchers, scholars and engineers working in the interdisciplinary areas concerning mechatronics and micromanufacturing. This special issue on "Micromanufacturing for Mechatronic Systems'' consists of the selected articles which were presented at the 11th International Conference on Precision, Meso, Micro and Nano Engineering (COPEN-11) Conference held at IIT Indore during December 12-14, 2019 (http://copen2019.iiti. ac.in). These selected articles were substantially expanded and re-reviewed as per the JMF policy. The topics of this issue are (i) Mechatronic devices, (ii) Microsystems, (iii) Micromanufacturing and finishing techniques, and (iv) Modelling of micromanufacturing processes. This special issue contains articles as follows.


Electrochemical measurements have been performed on polished and mill scaled steel samples. The solutions investigated have included carbonate bicarbonate mixtures of varying pH as well as solutions of neutral pH such as NS4. Results indicate that the mechanism of corrosion associated with the carbonate bicarbonate environments involves passive film formation. No such passivation is observed for solutions associated with neutral pH SCC. Electrochemical corrosion rates measured on polished steel specimens exposed to NS4 solutions in the pH range 5 to 6.8 were in the region of 5 x 10e-1 to 1 x 10e-2 mm/s. However, rates obtained on mill scaled surfaces went much lower and in the region of 5 x 10e-10 mm/s. Field determined crack propagation rates are estimated to be in the region of 2 x 10e-8 mm/s. Whilst the laboratory determined corrosion rates are lower than the field propagation rate it should be remembered that the laboratory rates were obtained on unstressed specimens. The application of load would be expected to increase the corrosion rate and may indicate that stress focused dissolution process may be sufficient to explain the propagation of neutral pH stress corrosion cracks. However, as hydrogen evolution is the most likely cathodic reaction involved in the mechanism of neutral pH SCC the role of hydrogen in the crack propagation mechanism may also be important.


Background: Depression is a common mental health condition in the general population. Whereas various neuroimaging studies have reported altered activity and structural impairments in depression, several recent meta-analyses only found small or inconsistent effects of depression. Different operational inclusion criteria and processing methodologies may contribute to these discrepancies. We addressed these issues by systematically testing for the effects of different criteria of lifetime exposure to depression on functional and structural neuroimaging measures in the UK biobank cohort. Methods: We included 36,359 participants (20,794 lifetime depression and 15,565 healthy individuals) from the UK biobank. Six increasingly conservative groups of lifetime depression were defined based on the six available depression criteria from meeting only one to more restrictive meeting all six criteria. We tested the effect of these definitions on voxel-wise measures of local functional activity, global connectivity and gray matter volume. Results: Across all depression definitions, individuals with lifetime depression displayed regionally consistent decreases in local functional activity alterations in sensorimotor cortex but not in global connectivity and gray matter volume alterations. More restrictive definitions and antidepressant usage resulted in most pronounced alterations. Conclusion: Lifetime exposure to depression is associated with robust functional changes with more restrictive criteria revealing more pronounced alterations. Different inclusion criteria of depression may strongly contribute to the substantial variation of imaging findings reported in the literature.


In this article we look at the well-studied upper bounds for $|A|$, where $A\subset{\Bbb N}$ is a $B_h$ sequence, and generalise these to the case where $A\subset{\Bbb N}^d$. In particular we give $d$-dimensional analogues to results of Chen, Jia, Graham and Green.


Purpose – To anticipate science and technology (S&T) changes and shifts in the competitive environment for the preparation of strategic development in an organization, this paper aims to address a structured analysis method for future technology trajectories and interactions by mapping and associating the future technology themes in foresight reports with a state‐of‐the art technology classification system. The objective of this paper is to develop an integrative method for systematically clustering, analyzing and visualizing the path for technology development and transformation.Design/methodology/approach – Delphi topics related to sustainable energy were collected from strategic foresight reports of Japan, South Korea and China, and used as sources for future technology themes analysis. A standard mapping taxonomy based on international patent classification system was used to map out the technology concept described in these future technology themes. Technology interactions can be identified through a...


Abstract
 Many thousands of archaeological sites are threatened by coastal erosion around the globe. The problem is particularly grave in Scotland, where a number of management strategies have been developed. Much of this work has been undertaken by Historic Scotland working in partnership with the SCAPE Trust and the University of St Andrews. This paper outlines the scale of the problem presented by coastal erosion, using recent work in the Western Isles to provide examples. It shows how action has developed over the years, with heritage managers often requiring a different approach to other coastal managers. The effectiveness of desk-based assessment and coastal survey is reviewed, and the results of two desk-based assessments in areas that were subsequently surveyed are analyzed. The paper outlines how prioritized lists of sites requiring future action have been produced and describes the important role that community groups can play in heritage management, giving examples of practical projects that include the community excavation of a site threatened with destruction.


The current study was conducted in Najaf governorate within the Kufa district to measure the percentage of pollution (TSS) in the Euphrates River (Shatt Kufa) and the length of about 25 km. he purpose of this study is to determine the estimated concentration of total suspended solid in the Shat Kufa by Landsat 8 OLI. The data was distributed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and downloaded from Earth Explorer website (2018-12-15) using remote sensing data, the study samples were collected from (10)(2018 -12-22) starting from the north of Kufa - Zarka area to the south of Kufa bridge cement plant and a length of about 14.5 km. Most of the concentration of TSS spread across the northern and southern parts of the Shatt al-Kufa, as a result of cesspits, as well as the drainage of a number of waterways (the northern Kufa and Buhadi districts) directly to the Shat al-Kufa. The results of the analysis of correlation between reflectivity (r) for the degrees of remote sensing and TSS) in the laboratory of the Department of Environment \ Faculty of Sciences \ University of Kufa band (4) Highest correlation and accuracy reached: ((r=0.917,R2=0.840,RMSE=4.5225,MRE=1.1649) While the band (1) less coherent and accurate as it reached:( (r=0.562,R2=0.316,RMSE=5.4683 mg/l,MRE=1.5739%).


Fine's influential Canonicity Theorem states that if a modal logic is determined by a first-order definable class of Kripke frames, then it is valid in its canonical frames. This article reviews the background and context of this result, and the history of its impact on further research. It then develops a new characterization of when a logic is canonically valid, providing a precise point of distinction with the property of first-order completeness. The ultimate point is that the construction of the canonical frame of a modal algebra does not commute with the ultrapower construction.


Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can enhance and accelerate the economic advancement by raising the productivity of the labour forces through the inception of modern and sophisticated technology especially for the emerging economy. Several studies found there have been positive relation between the manifold factors like market size, agglomeration, human capital, infrastructure, financial development and geographic location with FDI, however, the role of corporate governance at a national level has been highly neglected because of a lack of comprehensive information. This paper mainly focuses on to explore the relationship between the corporate governance and FDI in the emerging economy. For accomplishing the pertinent tasks we used a panel data set of 48 countries between 1999 to 2014 and for this work we used different tools like Augmented-Dickey Fuller, Ordinary least squares (OLS), Generalized least squares (GLS) and Phillips-Perron unit root test. The major finding of this paper is that there is a positive and significant relationship between corporate governance and FDI. Furthermore, the host country governments should undertake lucid and substantial policies and programs that stimulate inward FDI flows. Aus. Aca. Acc & Fin. Rev Vol 2(2), Apr 2016, P 136-165


Automation and robotics in Germany are concentrated on concrete and asphalt mixing, concrete block and pipe making, precast concrete units and masonry prefabrication, control of mobile construction machinery, tunneling and renewing of buildings and sanitation. The development has been going at a measured pace, because not all prerequisites to the introduction of these new technologies are fulfilled in the construction industry. But extensive need for construction works, lack of workers and new demands and tasks stimulate the development performed by manufacturers, construction companies,


The English version of Zhouyi by James Legge and the version by Richard Wilhelm and Cary F.Baynes are important English translations of Zhouyi.Out of different motivations and processes of translation,the translators have adopted different angles of interpretation to the source text and taken different styles in translation.


Abstract— The eosin‐sensitized photooxidation of tyrosine and a number of compounds related to tyrosine (substituted phenylalanines) was studied by steady‐state kinetic and flash photolysis techniques. In particular, the role of the phenolic group and the amino and carboxyl groups of the alanyl side chain in the photooxidation mechanism was investigated in detail. Several relationships between substrate structure and susceptibility to photooxidation as well as effects of substrate structure on photooxidation mechanisms were found.


The article deals with the political cartoon as a creolized text consisting of two parts (verbal and visual) and identifies the potential of verbal and visual means to express text categories in messages under study. The author comes to a conclusion that political cartoons are characterized with the same text categories as a homogeneous verbal text. The text categories of a political cartoon are expressed with verbal and visual means organized in personal, local, temporal and modal structures of the message. Analysis of Walter Hanel's cartoons proves the following: (1) the cartoonist expresses his own opinion using constituents of the personal structure; (2) narration perspective of the message causes its emotional tinge and subjective evaluation (the artist uses verbal means, which have certain connotations or develop ones in connection with the picture, and advantages of visual means, constituents of the modal structure); (3) constituents of the local structure function as direct and indirect local references, indicate place of action and create space of a cartoon; (4) using advantages of both codes and appealing to addressee's background knowledge, the cartoonist can specify time actual for the message, introduce traces of the past into the present and look into the future. The author of the article inclines to the opinion that verbal and visual means are equal in their contribution to the message in the form of a political cartoon


In order to fitting the user's information retrieval needs under the Web2.0 and making the OPACs more competitive,this paper has surveyed four major domestic OPACs from four facets.Based on the survey results,the author analyzed the existing major problems of the OPACs and put forward the corresponding innovative approach.


Model-Driven Development employs models as core artifacts of the software development process. This requires ensuring the correctness of models, an analysis which is computationally complex. However, models may evolve over time and these changes usually require re-checking models from scratch. To this end, this paper proposes techniques for the incremental verification of a fundamental correctness property: internal consistency of UML class diagrams annotated with OCL constraints. These techniques allow modelers to significantly reduce (or even avoid altogether) the cost of re-verifying a class diagram after


The rural maternity center at Touba Toul Senegal was established at the end of 1975 with government encouragement and assistance. The villages traditional birth attendants received 3 weeks training from regular midwives and nurses at a neighboring village. Costs of training were covered by UNICEF. Training in developing areas generally is aimed at extending the function of traditional birth attendants so that they can contribute to higher standards of hygiene for mothers and children including pre- and postnatal care. The contribution of this center in Senegal may be measured by the fact that the formerly high infant mortality rate due to tetanus was reduced to only 1 death from that cause in 1977.


We have studied about drive performance of E-bike such as energy consumption efficiency and maximum speed. These measurements have been performed by testing the drive motor on motor dynamometer. Road load occurred during drive are applied to drive motor as braking force of powder brake in motor dynamometer. Through experimental results, we have found that energy consumption and maximum speed of E-bike is about 0.15 km/Wh, 23.0 km/h, respectively. We expect that this test method for electric vehicle including E-bike will be necessary to test and evaluate performance and reliability of vehicles in case of severe and time-continuous environments.


Superfluid transitions in liquid helium mixtures are studied in a continuum model including concentration and pressure gradients induced by the walls. The localization and growth of the new phases are obtained using the bulk phase properties. Relaxation times have been measured and they yield the onset superfluid temperature T03BBs for several mixtures above 0.9 (K). These results and others found in the literature are analysed in the model. We find a characteristic onset length which increases with the temperature.


An increasing focus on quality and safety in colonoscopy has led to broader implementation of competency-based educational systems that enable documentation of trainees' achievement of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for independent practice. The meaningful assessment of competence in colonoscopy is critical to this process. While there are many published tools that assess competence in performing colonoscopy, there is a wide range of underlying validity evidence. Tools with strong evidence of validity are required to support feedback provision, optimize learner capabilities, and document competence.

 We aimed to evaluate the strength of validity evidence that supports available colonoscopy direct observation assessment tools using the unified framework of validity.

 We systematically searched five databases for studies investigating colonoscopy direct observation assessment tools from inception until April 8, 2020. We extracted data outlining validity evidence from the five sources (content, response process, internal structure, relations to other variables, and consequences) and graded the degree of evidence, with a maximum score of 15. We assessed educational utility using an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education framework and methodological quality using the Medical Education Research Quality Instrument (MERSQI).

 From 10,841 records, we identified 27 studies representing 13 assessment tools (10 adult, 2 pediatric, 1 both). All tools assessed technical skills, while 10 assessed cognitive and integrative skills. Validity evidence scores ranged from 1–15. The Assessment of Competency in Endoscopy (ACE) tool, the Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) tool, and the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Competency Assessment Tool (GiECAT) had the strongest validity evidence, with scores of 13, 15, and 14, respectively. Most tools were easy to use and interpret and required minimal resources. MERSQI scores ranged from 9.5–11.5 (maximum score 14.5).

 The ACE, DOPS, and GiECAT have strong validity evidence compared to other assessments. Future studies should identify barriers to widespread implementation and report on use of these tools in credentialing purposes.

 None


Chronic, interpersonal traumas within the caregiving system are associated with a range of symptoms, functional impairments, and trauma history profiles. This study utilized data from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Core Data Set (CDS) to examine the role of child sexual abuse in combination with other types of caregiver-related trauma (physical abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, neglect, and impaired caregiving). These trauma composites were assessed in relation to clinical profiles, including mental health symptoms, risk behaviors, and functional difficulties. Groups included multiply traumatized youth with a documented history of: (a) 3 or more caregiver-related traumas with co-occurring sexual abuse (CR CSA group, N 501); (b) 3 or more caregiver-related traumas without co-occurring sexual abuse (CR group, N 1,108); and (c) 3 or more noncaregiver-related traumas (e.g., medical trauma, natural disaster, physical/sexual assault; non-CR group, N 142). Youth with caregiverrelated traumas had significantly earlier onset and longer duration of traumas compared to other traumatized youth. Child sexual abuse had an additive and potent predictive effect on clinical profiles, even in combination with other caregiver-related traumas. Although youth with caregiver-related traumas exhibited significant attachment problems, youth with sexual abuse in particular had higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and received higher ratings for symptoms of depression, suicidality, and sexualized behaviors in comparison with the other 2 groups. Findings suggest that careful mapping of trauma history, including age of onset, duration, and co-occurrence of trauma exposure in childhood, can provide a foundation for a more refined developmental approach to the scientific investigation, clinical assessment, and treatment of children with complex histories of trauma in childhood.


This paper deals with the line-start permanent magnet synchronous motor for the aircraft systems. Permanent magnet machine with a short-circuited winding on the rotor is proposed for the use as a fuel pump of an aircraft. Proposed machine is calculated by FEM methods taking into account the requirements of the aerospace industry and compared with conventionally used machines. Particular attention was paid to the optimization of the short-circuited winding of the rotor and of the height of permanent magnets. The main goal was to achieve the maximum resultant torque during the starting. The prototype of a line-start permanent magnet synchronous motor is created and tested as part of an aviation fuel pump. It is shown that developed prototype has 2 times lower energy consumption, a lower mass (by 10%) and a higher overload capacity in comparison with traditional machine.


I wish to thankand congratulate the authors of "Theheterogeneity of viral bronchiolitis: A lack of universal consensus definition" on their thorough review of how we have gone astray in our attempts to understand bronchiolitis. I agree fully with most of their criticism of the status quo, with the fundamental core being the lack of a universally accepted definition. Despite at least three decades of active research, when an infant presents to the emergency department with the most common respiratory reason for hospitalization, the number of active treatment options approved by North American societies is now officially zero. Although I applaud the authors' attempt to set us in a more productive direction, I fear their suggestions may not be as helpful as we all hope. The authors correctly state that the relative ineffectiveness of bronchodilators has supported the traditional view that bronchiolitis is fundamentally different from viral-triggered childhood asthma. As recently summarized however, past studies demonstrating a poor and inconsistent bronchodilator response in bronchiolitis have been significantly compromised by many factors, including the heterogeneity of the inclusion criteria, the arbitrary exclusion of up to 80%of subjects because of a questionable past history of wheezing, the notorious difficulty in delivering inhaledmedications to the lower airwayof distressed infants, as well as the unintentional use of an active therapeutic agent (nebulized normal saline) in the control arm. In summary, the apparent lack of bronchodilator response in bronchiolitis, and hence the dogmatic approach that this is not asthma, should remain open for debate. The authors speculate that, armedwith a new consensus definition, bronchiolitis research may progress and facilitate the use of clinical characteristics augmented with molecular and/or cellular markers to identify different endotypes—analogous to the evolution of our (still incomplete) understanding of preschool asthma. It seems unlikely, however, that this approach will soon provide clinicians with the practical bedside tools needed to bridge our current dilemma: does this wheezing infant have "bronchiolitis" (and hence should receive supportive care only) or "preschool asthma" (warranting aggressive pharmacotherapy). Asthma in preschoolers is a very common spectrum illness that overlaps with virtually all traditional definitions of bronchiolitis and has recently been reviewed. Although not a perfect approach, it seems much more reasonable to accept bronchiolitis as simplywhatpreschool asthma looks like in infants, asopposed to looking for increasingly complex ways to distinguish why it is different. Viraltriggered wheezing usually responds very well to standard asthma therapies in older children, less well in preschoolers, and least well in infants. There are many anatomical and physiologic reasons why this may be sowithout resorting to an endless search formultiple endotypes of a unique illness to explainwhy treating acute viralwheezing in infants is so difficult. Perhaps if we just called this asthma and directed more research into the challenges of dosing and delivery of standard asthma medications to these wheezing infants we may find that the next 30 years will provide many more answers than the last 30. If it quacks like a duck . . .


The reaction of different 1-chloro-n-phenylsulfanylalkanes 5 with 2 equivalents of lithium naphthalene at -78 oC followed by addition of a carbonyl compound (Bu t CHO, Et2CO, (CH2)5CO) leads, after hydrolysis with water, to the expected sulfanyl alcohols 8 through a selective lithiation of the carbon-chlorine bond. When an excess of lithium (1:4 molar ratio) is added to the reaction mixture before the hydrolysis and the system is allowed to reach -50 oC during 1.5 h, lithiation of the remaining carbon-sulfur bond takes place. The addition of a second carbonyl compound (Bu t CHO, PhCHO), followed by hydrolysis, gives differently substituted diols 3.


This study develops a simple theoretical model by combining a collective wage-bargaining model and an orthodox offshoring model with firm heterogeneity to examine the threat motivation for offshoring. The theoretical analysis shows that firms may have an incentive to offshore and explore their ability to use plant moving as a threat and suggests that highly productive and offshorable firms pay lower wages based on such threats.


1519 Background: Although risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is a standard management option for women with BRCA1/2 mutations, the lack of large, prospective cohort studies makes estimating the prevalence of cancer at RRSO problematic. Methods: GOG-199 is a large, non-randomized multi-center trial which enrolled women at high-risk (due to BRCA mutations or strong family history) of ovarian cancer, comparing surgery at enrollment with serial transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 screening. RRSO specimens were processed according to a standardized tissue processing protocol including 2-3mm sectioning of both ovaries and tubes. Results: 2,605 participants were accrued to GOG-199. Of the 1 030 enrolled in the baseline RRSO cohort, 28 were ineligible and 36 declined surgery after enrollment, resulting in 966 baseline RRSO. Pathology review demonstrated 4 tubal intraepithelial carcinoma and 20 serous pelvic cancers, of which 12 were identified only microscopically. Among the 20 serous cancers, the predomin...


Introduction The supercooling ability of insects is an important factor in the cold-hardiness of many species (Salt 1961). The usual technique of determining supercooling points (see, for example, Salt 1936), is based on measurement of the insect's temperature with a thermocouple as the insect is cooled and detection of the "rebound" in the temperature record caused by liberation of latent heat when the insect freezes. The "supercooling point" depends on several experimental parameters, and notably on the rate of cooling (Salt 1!?66a, pp. 118-120; 1966b). Ideally, therefore, apparatus with cooling rate control should be used for supercooling work, but such apparatus is expensive. Adequate cooling rate performance can, however, be obtained using non-rate-controlled systems, but orthodox refrigeration systems with the capability to maintain -50°C, the temperature at which the supercooling points of some insects lie (see, for example, Sdmme 1963, table 2), are expensive also. This paper describes a simple inexpensive cold chamber designed for supercooling studies, undertaken as part of more extensive work on overwintering biology. The small experimental chamber can be maintained at temperatures from ambient down to -70°C and may be used to give an almost linear rate of cooling of the experimental insect material over a wide range of temperatures.


Carotenoids are hydrophobic compounds that exhibit excellent bioactivity and can be produced by recombinant S. cerevisiae. Irradiating microorganisms with ultrasonic waves increase the productivity of various useful chemicals. Ultrasonic waves are also used to extract useful chemicals that accumulate in microbial cells. In this study, we aimed to improve the carotenoid production efficiency of a recombinant S. cerevisiae using an ultrasonic‐irradiation based two‐phase extractive fermentation process. When isopropyl myristate was used as the extraction solvent, a total of 264 mg/L of carotenoid was produced when batches were subjected to ultrasonic‐irradiation at 10 W, which was a 1.3‐fold increase when compared to the control. Transcriptome analysis suggested that one of the reasons for this improvement was an increase in the number of living cells. In fact, after 96 h of fermentation, the number of living cells increased by 1.4‐fold upon irradiation with ultrasonic waves. Consequently, we succeeded in improving the carotenoid production in a recombinant S. cerevisiae strain using a ultrasonic‐irradiated two‐phase extractive fermentation and isopropyl myristate as the solvent. This fermentation strategy has the potential to be widely applied during the production of hydrophobic chemicals in recombinant yeast, and future research is expected to further develop this process.


We present a simple phenomenological method for detrending of raw Kepler and MOST photometry, which is illustrated by means of photometric data processing of two periodically variable chemically peculiar stars, KIC 6950556 and HD 37633. In principle, this method may be applied to any type of periodically variable objects and satellite or ground based photometries. As a by product, we have identified KIC 6950556 as a magnetic chemically peculiar star with an ACV type variability.


Since IT projects have been the key to success in today's competitive environment, the adoption of most appropriate tools for managing these projects is essential. Social media, such as wikis, blogs and microblogs, have emerged to facilitate knowledge management in new ways, and subsequently contribute to project success. However, companies underexploit these tools as support in project management. Some of the challenges faced by project managers are organizational culture, lack of familiarity with the tools and with data storage solutions. The objective of this paper is twofold: 1. analyze the use of social media in project management, specifically in IT projects; and 2. provide a research agenda for the use of social media in project management. This is an exploratory qualitative study based on hermeneutic approach. The literature review is based on academic papers published in the last 10 years and searchable by Google Scholar. The literature review shows that despite the potential of social media in project management, most of the empirical evidence presented in the literature so far involves adoption of a single tool or separate tools. The research agenda provides guidance for further research on the application of social media in IT project management (ITPM). This paper contributes to practice by offering project managers a broad view of how social media are being used and how they can be adopted in ITPM in the coming years.


The generation of multiple four-wave mixing products in ultra-flattened dispersion photonic crystal fibers is presented. We obtained more than 200 products spanning over 170 nm by launching 3 lasers at ITU-T grid specification.


India is the fastest growing economy in the world since past few decades its tourism has increased drastically, one of the major contributor of GDP is liquor market, India has its our culture of preparing Liquor which is directly, indirectly connected to the cultural ,climatic inheritance of the country however restrictive government policies continuous to keep Indian local liquor out of the economic importance. The purpose of this paper is to contribute authors thoughts on how local liquors can effect tourism including GDP and economy of the nation. Many different factors determine the performance of the tourism industry in addition to the contribution of the local drink industry .These include cost competitiveness, other competitiveness factors such as management, quality of services, product, international economic conditions, promotion and marketing ,access and competing location and last but not the least government policies. This policy paper will offer an analysis on Indian local liquor policies, importance and its significance on Indian tourism. This paper examines the issues facing the local liquor industries in India and suggesting liberalizing the sector for specific advantages to various stakeholders.


This paper constructs a net benefit model of enterprise environmental technology adoption to study the optimal adoption time using principle of maximum net present value after analyze the motivation that why enterprises will adopt the environmental technology.The results of model simulation show the relations between optimal adoption time and different variables that the industrial average adoption speed,decrement of variable costs,price of tradable permit,decrement of emission costs and elasticity of technology emission change in the same direction with technology adoption time,while technology investment cost and discount rate change in the opposite direction with technology adoption time.


The research was mainly aimed to analyze the proposal of polygons teaching in the collection of textbooks commonly used in Sao Vicente Ferrer municipality of Pernambuco, having as theoretical support the model proposed by van Hiele. To achieve the objective of the research was necessary identify initially by the Municipal Department of Education, textbooks commonly used in primary education II cycle. The completion of the analysis of these books was instrumental in identifying the relationship between the authors of these books and the theoretical model adopted by Van Hiele. We take also into account the recommendations of Mathematics NCPs for these education cycles. The choice of this teaching resource was considering a relevant tool and reference for teachers, especially in the activities developed in the classroom. Our theoretical foundation was supported by the model proposed by Van Hiele Adopting levels 1-5 of development of geometric thinking that can be used in the organization of various geometry content and at various levels of education. It is therefore a qualitative study based on the geometry of content analysis, especially polygons. From the analysis we found that the author, in general, proposes the study of polygons sequenced manner, ie, sets, exemplifies and only then, presents the activities.


Superbursts are thermonuclear flashes of carbon on neutron stars. In low-mass binaries, neutron stars may accrete hydrogen/helium from a companion. This material undergoes nuclear burning on the surface, powering the frequently observed Type I X-ray bursts, and leaving behind carbon-rich ashes. Runaway carbon burning produces a superburst. The above light curve of 4U 1636-536 shows typical features: the fast rise with a brief precursor (shown at higher time resolution), and a tail lasting several hours.


The article, based on the perspective of private capital, gave full consideration to changes of pivotal factors during transportation projects implementation, established a new investment prediction model, and analyzed this type of investment with statistics and probability. The purpose was to avoid or reduce losses of private investors. At the same time, the article researched security of investment income; found out risk factors in the scheme of transportation project and gave analysis on their natures, influences and results; and forecast the possibility of investors obtaining their anticipated profits or losses, which provided a basis for private investors making decision and presented a new perspective to analyze the importance of investment in transportation projects for investors.


The term "diversity" appears regularly in American telecommunications statutes, so promoting that principle is a prominent policy goal. However, the term has never been defined in any statute. Without a working definition of "diversity," and with many statutory requirements to promote it, lawmakers and regulators have inaccurately conflated the principle with other political buzzwords and have subjected it to the winds of politics and ideology. This article analyzes the regulatory history of the term "diversity" in media and telecommunications and covers the underlying legal issues in finding a working definition of the term. The article then discusses the poor judicial record of diversity regulations in light of equal protection and established communication law. Policymakers must not avoid these problems and must not assume that diversity does not need a working definition.


Objective To optimize the purification technology of Rhizoma Panzcis Majoris crude polysaccharide.Methods The main purpose is to optimize the way of deproteinization and decolorization. Chiefly,we compares two methods which are Sevage and TCA,in order to find out the best way to optimize removing proteins.Secondly,we control one variable to get the best usage amount.Then,in order to find the best technology of decolorization we compare three decolored approachs as follows resin,hydrogen peroxide and absorbite.Conclusion Using Sevage and TCA together with pronase to remove proteins and using 7.5%~8% hydrogen peroxide to decolor is the best way to optimize purification technology of Rhizoma Panzcis Majoris polysaccharide.Results The method can be used effectively to decolor and remove proteins from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris crude polysaccharide as well as an effective purification method.


【Objective】 To analyze and evaluate preschool children's dietary supply situation in first level of first class kindergartens in Beijing city.【Method】 A total of 1 199 children from 3 first level of first class of kindergarten were investigated by cluster random sampling method for 5 consecutive days of dietary survey.【Results】 Zinc and retinol equivalent intake of Kindergarten children were inadequate,while energy and other nutrient uptake were up to the standard reference intake.【Conclusion】 Children's food supply in first level of first class of kindergartens in Beijing city was good,but some micronutrients and energy were in short supply.We should further strengthen scientific and reasonable diet guidance for childcare institutions.


We explore how belief aggregation in the fuzzy framework can be molded into an optimization problem which helps avoid paradoxical outcomes without the fear of indecision. We further illustrate that depending on the choice of t -norm and fuzzy implication, we can find aggregation functions that produce collectively rational outcome without compromising on systematicity.


ABSTRACT Bioleaching, in the scope of biotechnology, is one of the promising technologies, which can be utilized for extracting valuable radioactive metal (uranium) from other radioactive ones. Also, it considered as an economical way to recover uranium from low-grade ores after the depletion of high grade uranium deposits. The aim of the work is to explore the formation and composition of the bioprecipitate from low-grade uraniferous rock sample through the bioleaching process using fungi. Furthermore, to identify the radionuclides distribution during work stages using the Hyper Pure Germanium detector. The results showed that; Aspergillus niger accomplished 71.4% of uranium recovery, as well as, formation of stable organo-uranyl complex. The obtained bioprecipitate, composed of ″uranyl acetate hydrate,″ asserted that the uranium is nearly free from other radionuclides present in the original sample without any subsequent purification processes, whereas could not achieved by the conventional process of uranium recovery.


The Swedish excavations at the Carian sanctuary of Zeus at Labraunda were conducted mainly between 1948 and 1953; their publication seems now to be gaining momentum. The Ionic temple of Zeus, to which the present volume is devoted, must have been a focal point in the sanctuary, but does not at first sight seem a very notable building, being small and not particularly well preserved. And the passage of 30 years since its excavation has washed off the' indelible' marking paint from the blocks, so abolishing many of the archaeological contexts. Nevertheless there are two special features which make it worth the attention it has received. First, it carries a dedicatory inscription of Idrieus (351-344 B.C.), so although it may, as the authors argue, have been begun somewhat earlier, under Mausolus, it comes closer to having a fixed date than most other fourth-century buildings. And second, it reached its present size (still meagre for a royal undertaking) by the addition of a colonnade to a pre-existing temple in antis, built perhaps in the early fourth century. Thus the architect was more or less constrained to produce an unusually short plan (6x8 columns), even though he took the opportunity to lengthen the cella building at the same time by the addition of an opisthodomos. The book consists of a careful description of the building and its techniques, a detailed catalogue of the surviving blocks, and full illustration in photographs and drawings of the present state and the proposed reconstruction. Among the technical details it is interesting to note the use of visible clamps (pi-clamps in dovetail cuttings) in the krepis, and the lewis cuttings of the East Aegean type (with a large hole from which the lewis iron is slid sideways into the tapered part), rather than the better known mainland version. The reconstruction can be reliably based on the surviving material, although there is some doubt about the column height and the proposed paving pattern between the columns is surprising. Noteworthy stylistic features are the horizontal curvature of the krepis, the two-fascia architrave (a simplification found also in Macedonian and S. Italian Ionic), and the very low-level ceiling. There is no frieze, and the treatment of the Ionic order is in general very similar to that in the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos and the temple of Athena at Priene. It seems to fall stylistically between these two larger projects, and the authors suggest that Pytheos may have been involved in this project too. The difficulties of such an assertion are well recognised, and there are sane remarks on the possible contributions of patron, architect and mason to a project, and on the improbability of stable Bauhiitte moving from project to project. In general, there is little to criticise in format and presentation clear description, full illustration, and intelligent discussion. We look forward to the publication of other buildings at Labraunda by the same authors.


Background IMPROVE‐IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial) showed that adding the nonstatin ezetimibe to statin therapy further reduced cardiovascular events in patients after an acute coronary syndrome. In a prespecified analysis, we explore results stratified by sex. Methods and Results In IMPROVE‐IT, patients with acute coronary syndrome and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol of 50 to 125 mg/dL were randomized to placebo/simvastatin 40 mg or ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40 mg. They were followed up for a median of 6 years for the primary composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, coronary revascularization ≥30 days, and stroke. Among 18 144 patients in IMPROVE‐IT, 4416 (24%) were women. At 12 months, the addition of ezetimibe to simvastatin significantly reduced low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol from baseline compared with simvastatin monotherapy in men and women equally (absolute reduction, 16.7 mg/dL in men and 16.4 mg/dL in women). Women receiving ezetimibe/simvastatin had a 12% risk reduction over those receiving placebo/simvastatin for the primary composite end point (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.99) compared with a 5% reduction for men (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.90–1.01; P=0.26 for interaction). When the total number of primary events was considered, women had an 18% reduction with the addition of ezetimibe (relative risk, 95% confidence interval, 0.81; 0.71–0.94) and men had a 6% reduction (relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.87–1.02; P=0.08 for interaction). The addition of ezetimibe did not increase the rates of safety events in either women or men. Conclusions IMPROVE‐IT demonstrated that the benefit of adding ezetimibe to statin is present in both women and men, with a good safety profile supporting the use of intensive, combination, lipid‐lowering therapy to optimize cardiovascular outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00202878.


The specific heat of several salts in this series of canted antiferromagnets, where A is 4‐halopyridinium and X is chloride, bromide or a mixture of the two, is reported over the temperature interval 1.6–40 K.1 All contain the monomeric tetrahedral [FeX4]− ions. The substances include 2[4‐Br(py)H] [FeCl4]⋅[4‐Br(py)H]Cl (Tc=2.28 K), [4‐Cl(py)H]3Fe2Cl9 (2.685 K), [4‐Cl(py)H]1.1[4‐Br(py)H]1.9Fe2Br9 (7.52 and 7.80 K) and (pyH)3Fe2Cl9 (2.12 K). Odd behavior is observed with several compounds such as [4‐Br(py)H]3Fe2Br9, which exhibits two λ features in the specific heat (at 5.23 and 7.635 K) but only one ordering temperature in the ac susceptibility (at 7.70 K). The ordering phenomena are largely three dimensional in nature. The magnetic properties will be correlated with the structures and the likely superexchange paths.


As countries worldwide struggled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April of 2020, observers often remarked that countries with higher levels of regime legitimacy, state capacity, and political trust were more likely to curtail the spread of the virus. Remarkably, using quantitative data from 10 different sources, this article finds that this generalizable theory runs counter to expectations. Countries with higher levels of political legitimacy, trust, and capacity experienced greater increases in COVID cases during the onset of the pandemic, albeit the strength of these relationships is modest. To develop generalizable theories predicting virus containment, researchers should turn their attention to unique factors characterizing industrialized democracies that make a virus much harder to contain and expand their scope by using transdisciplinary approaches to understanding the pandemic


The study presents the kinds of bullying experienced by students of a rural elementary school as well as the effects noticed by teachers and their parents. A total of 55 bullying victims, bully-victims, bullies, their parents, teachers, and friends were the participants of this study. Data gathered through FGD and face to face interviews. Results of the study showed that bullying in the rural communities is similar to those in the urban areas except the absence of cyberbullying. Most of what the pupil experience is under the category of verbal bullying and fewer cases of physical bullying. The relational type was also observed. Little has been done to manage effects of bullying or to minimize it. The school has no trained personnel to handle such issue and is left to the management of the teacher who is also unqualified to treat the problem specifically the serious cases of bullying. There is no psychologist or guidance counselor in the school. Except to few parents, many do not see it as a major issue and find it normal as the child grows. Effects include the reluctance of the bullied student to go to school or becoming a bully themselves to protect them or prevent others from bullying him.


The deeply penetrated WiFi signals not only provide fundamental communications for the massive Internet of Things devices but also enable cognitive sensing ability in many other applications, such as human activity recognition. State-of-the-art WiFi-based device-free systems leverage the correlations between signal changes and body movements for human activity recognition. They have demonstrated reasonably good recognition results with a properly placed transceiver pair, or, in other words, when the human body is within a certain sweet zone. Unfortunately, the sweet zone is not ubiquitous. When the person moves out of the area and enters a dead zone, or even just the orientation changes, the recognition accuracy can quickly decay. In this paper, we closely examine such spatial diversity in WiFi-based human activity recognition. We identify the dead zones and their key influential factors, and accordingly present WiSDAR, a WiFi-based spatial diversity-aware device-free activity recognition system. WiSDAR overshadows the dead zones yet with only one physical WiFi sender and receiver. The key innovation is extending the multiple antennas of modern WiFi devices to construct multiple separated antenna pairs for activity observing. Profiling activity features from multiple spatial dimensions can be more complicated and offer much richer information for further recognition. To this end, we propose a deep learning-based framework that integrates the hidden features from both temporal and spatial dimensions, achieving highly accurate and reliable recognition results. WiSDAR is fully compatible with commercial off-the-shelf WiFi devices, and we have implemented it on the commonly available Intel WiFi 5300 cards. Our real-world experiments demonstrate that it recognizes human activities with a stable accuracy of around 96%.


Classical methods for measurements and analysis in Musical Acoustics (and also Acoustics) rely on Fourier transforms, linear excitation superposition assumption, and monochromatic excitation or noise equivalents. It is shown that classical methods using measurements at a single point (input impedance measurement, for instance) may not be physically relevant. Indeed, only a time sampling and related time Fourier transforms are performed while physical phenomena are spatio‐temporal. Even if one considers a monochromatic forward traveling wave excitation, the use of the dispersion relation is not valid in spatio‐temporal or spatio‐frequency parameter space. It is shown that measurements need to be performed using also a spatial mapping to be physically relevant which implies at least Fourier bi‐transforms (plane case). Then, it may be more simple and physically relevant to perform measurements with the whole complex excitation and use a frequency subband analysis tool, with a perceptive frequency subband map...


4‐(2‐Hydroxy‐3‐isopropylaminopropoxy)indole (LB46) is a competitive β‐adrenoreceptor blocking drug with a potency of between 4 and 7 times that of propranolol on the guinea‐pig isolated trachea and atria (chronotropic effects). LB46 itself produces tracheal relaxation which may result from an indirect sympathomimetic action. The influence of uptake into adrenergic nerves on pA2 and pA10 values for LB46 and propranolol, when using noradrenaline as agonist drug, has been assessed from results obtained on trachea in the presence and absence of cocaine (10−5m). In the absence of cocaine the slopes of the regression of log (dose ratio —1) against negative log molar concentration of antagonist were less than the theoretical value of —1·0. In the presence of cocaine the slopes of these regressions approached —1·0. Thus values of (pA2‐pA10) also deviated from the theoretical value in the absence of cocaine but approached it if cocaine was present in the bath fluid.


Since fall event has become the most common accident occurred among elderly persons, the development of fall detection system has received much attention in recent years. With the help of such a system, elderly persons can be delivered to a hospital to receive timely medical care. This study aims to implement a fall detection system by using an Android-based watch (the WIMM one) equipped with a tri-axial gravity accelerometer. Six young persons (3 males and 3 females) were invited to conduct the experiments. By simultaneously considering the detections for linear and non-linear movements, the proposed system achieves an accuracy of 92.5%, which is an improvement of 12% as compared to the previous scheme.


Goicochea C, Wosnitza-Mendo C. 2012. Growth of Peruvian hake (Merluccius gayi) and key conversion table for age/size. Inf Inst Mar Peru. 39(1-2): 136-137.- Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were recalculated for Peruvian hake, being necessary since the formation of two annual growth rings was confirmed by Goicochea et al. (2010). The new values found for the two sexes combined are: L ∞ = 92.3, K= 0.185, y t 0 = - 0.213. Maximum age in the samples was 10 years (84 cm). In order to safe time, personnel and money, a conversion table for the series of age/lengths keys is presented.


of Higher Learning Institutions,Shanghai 200234)Abstract: In the Tang Dynasty,the system of official retirement became gradually complete,and the officials' conception of retirement grew steadily mature.Considering the national interests,personal physical condition,ethics and morals,and ceremony and norm,most officials in the Tang Dynasty thought retirement to be a reasonable conduct and would actively produce a retirement application at the age of 70.Many officials applied repeatedly to retire,and the few who refused to retire would be severely criticized by the public.After retirement,most officials would turn away from politics and go home,recuperating quietly,or building ponds and academies,or traveling and sightseeing,and live a light and restful life.This attitude towards life showed the choice of living value of the officials in the Tang Dynasty.


The present investigation is aimed to identify the presence of the ganoderic acids A, C2 and H from the methanolic extract of dried fruiting bodies of indigenous Ganoderma lucidum, performing High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The results showed that retention time for standard Ganoderic acids A, C2 and H were 4.2, 3.9 and 4.4 minutes, respectively. The patterns obtained on HPLC analysis of the methanolic extracts of the fruiting bodies of wild and cultivated isolates of Ganoderma lucidum revealed the presence of all the three medicinally important terpenoids, namely, Ganoderic acid A, C2 and H comparing with their respective standards.


Magnetic compensation in ferrimagnets plays an important role in spintronic and magnetic recording devices. Experimental results have demonstrated a thickness dependence of the compensation temperature (Tcomp) in amorphous TbFeCo thin films. It was speculated that this thickness dependence originated from a variation in the short-range order. In this work, we have investigated the depth-resolved compositional and magnetization profiles using polarized neutron reflectometry. We find that although the composition is uniform across the film thickness, near the substrate interface, the magnetization exhibits a different temperature dependence from that of the rest of the sample. Monte Carlo simulations show that it is this difference in interfacial magnetization that causes the aforementioned thickness dependence of the compensation. These results demonstrate the critical role of the substrate interface in determining the magnetic properties of amorphous ferrimagnetic thin films for spintronic applications.Magnetic compensation in ferrimagnets plays an important role in spintronic and magnetic recording devices. Experimental results have demonstrated a thickness dependence of the compensation temperature (Tcomp) in amorphous TbFeCo thin films. It was speculated that this thickness dependence originated from a variation in the short-range order. In this work, we have investigated the depth-resolved compositional and magnetization profiles using polarized neutron reflectometry. We find that although the composition is uniform across the film thickness, near the substrate interface, the magnetization exhibits a different temperature dependence from that of the rest of the sample. Monte Carlo simulations show that it is this difference in interfacial magnetization that causes the aforementioned thickness dependence of the compensation. These results demonstrate the critical role of the substrate interface in dete...


This chapter examines the mob in the city(Renaissance Florence) and the role of the preacher in relation to it. It argues that the role of the preacher was to transform the mob into an orderly crowd of citizens concerned with the common good. This is the implication of the passage from Alberti. The word which author has translated as "mob" is multitudo. The figure of the preacher, no matter how ridiculous, provided the moment of convergence and the possibility of the transformation of both individual and community into something more noble. This accords with the overall humanist belief, emerging in this period and evinced by Alberti, that urban spaces, were civilizing: they created people of noble temperament, working together for the common good, the bonum commune. Author then discusses the nature of the preacher's mob, before discussing the space the mob occupied, and finally what preaching achieved with the mob. Keywords:Alberti; Mob; orderly crowd; Preaching; Renaissance Florence; Space


Fund-movement accounting theory was theorized and developed by the accounting predecessors in China. In comparison with the present accounting, Fund-movement accounting theory has its own characters. It has obtained great success of researching on the accounting object, accounts and the way of duplex keeping-books from the view of accounting object. Fund-movement accounting theory has great importance of researching the logical starting point of accounting theory, accounting essence and accounting education mission.


Benzenoid ethers/thioethers are prepared by reacting an activated halobenzene with an anionic reactant, RA-M+, in the presence of at least one tertiary amine sequestering agent having formula: N-CHR1-CHR2-O-CHR3-CHR4-O-nR5]


We study the interaction of two Quantum Dots with a single light mode and a magnetic field. The effects of magnetic field in the ground state energy are determined, as well as the dependence of the number of photons on the number of polaritons.


This guide lists resources to support the "Making It Irish Class," which explores the relationship between visual, literary and material culture particularly during the time of the Arts and Crafts movement in Ireland. Books about the Arts and Crafts Movement in General and About the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement


This study focused on China's railway network topology issue from a robustness measure perspective. Relative entropy is used in the study as a measurement of robustness of railway network topology. It is found that the entropy-based measure provides more informative analyses compared to a traditional graph measure. The results indicate that the railway network in the 12th five-year plan has improved robustness when compare to 2008 with respect to deliberate and random attacks.


Combined endoscopic-lapaoscopic procedures offer an interesting therapeutical option in cases of benign lesions and early T1 carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract when endoluminal resection is not feasible, but oncological resection is not (yet) required. Combined procedures can be performed either as lapa-roscopically assisted endoscopic resection, or the endoscopically assisted laparoscopic wedge or transluminal resection, or the segmental resection. Experience with this technique is favourable and has shown that the invasiveness of a therapeutic procedure can be reduced by endoscopically guided local excision. However, combined procedures are technically demanding. The close collaboration between surgeons and gastroenterologists has to be provided.


This study aims to compare the social performance of children with deep deafness, who attend three specialized institutions of the city of Cordoba (Argentina) and to evaluate the information taken from different point of views (teachers - students) about the social competence of children. A non probabilistic sampling was used. Participants were 32 children aged between 7 and 12 years old, and their parents and professionals/ teachers ( n = 15). Children attended institutions with particular characteristics: A (public oral, n = 10), B (public bilingual, n = 9) and C (private bilingual, n = 13). Data was obtained from the MESSY scale and students' self reports. The findings determine that children who attend the A institution have higher scores on aspects such as overconfidence, jealousy and arrogance, compared to the other two institutions ( B and C). On the other hand, the relation between children and teachers' reports was only evident with regard to the appropriate social skills dimension.


A short GW/BASIC program for the automatic calculation of equilibrium concentrations is presented. This program can be used to solve problems with an arbitrary number of reactants and products. The program uses an iterative algorithm. Common and sometimes hard to understand simplifications are avoided. Once the calculation have been carried out, the equilibrium concentrations of reactants and products are shown and a Kc is computed from these concentrations.


In order to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizers and legumes on improving the quality of soil chemical properties, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the year 2016 in Ardabil.in this experiment, three organic fertilizers (cow's compost,cow's vermicompost and chicken manure)and two types of legums Peaand Lentilwere used in the main plots.labratory data was analyzed using the SAS Ver9.1 software.the results showed that three types of organic manures caused a significant increase in soil quality characteristics.in general, he results showed the simultaneous application of legumes and organic fertilizers and the occurrence of interactions between them,while improving the soil fertility, produced a good performance in this experiment.the results of analysis of variance and comparision of meanings showed that the highest amount of soil phosphorus was observed in cow's compost and the highest amount of calcium and chlorine in the soil was associated with chicken manure.according to these results, it can be said that the application of organic fertilizers has a significant and positive effect on the quality of soil characteristics, and the legume cultivation is also due to reactions occurring in their rhizosphere with these fertilizers. It improves the physicochemical properties to the soil.


ABSTRACT There is a great deal of research that forgiveness therapy shows positive impacts on one's mental health in the general sample. However, there is still not much research on forgiveness therapy for inmates. This pilot study aimed to investigate the influence of forgiveness therapy on improving self-acceptance in Indonesian inmates. The participants in this study were seven adult inmates (M = 33 years, SD = 7.5). A quasi-experimental method, using the one-group pretest-posttest design, was employed, with measurements were taken three times (i.e., before, after, and one week after the intervention). The research instruments were the Heartland Forgiveness Scale and the Self-Acceptance Scale. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the score of self-acceptance before and after being given forgiveness therapy, with the score being t(6) = −2,764; p = 0,033 (p < 0,05). The qualitative data also supported the quantitative analysis that forgiveness therapy could increase the self-acceptance of the inmates. Results were expected to be used as the basis of treatment and the development of mental health programs in Indonesian correctional institutions.


Aiming at the failure of path planning in complex three-dimensional terrain, a path planning algorithm based on Hopfield neural network is proposed. According to the three-dimensional terrain, the undulating terrain and obstacles are transformed into a calculable regular figure, and the terrain function model is established according to the flow field control equation; the terrain function model is effectively integrated with Hopfield neural network algorithm. The algorithm is applied to complex three-dimensional terrain environment, can avoid undulating terrain and obstacles, and find an optimal path, which lays an important foundation for the navigation vehicle path planning.


ABSTRACT The present work aims at the comparative assessment of specific fuel consumption ( ) and carbon dioxide ( ) emissions of combined power cycle plant ( ) with and without gas turbine blade cooling. The open loop air film cooling has been employed to cool the turbine blades. In this work, the irreversibility of components of is estimated. The effect of gas turbine inlet temperature (GTIT) and compressor pressure ratio (CPR) on exergy efficiency and mass flow rate of the coolant are evaluated. The coolant flow requirement was 0.03579 kg/kg of gas. The exergy efficiency was decreased by 0.3%, SFC and emissions were increased by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively (GTIT = 1473 K, CPR = 12) for cooled gas turbine based when compared with un-cooled one. Since the increment in and emissions were marginal, it is recommended to use open loop air film cooling for to ensure a longer life of blades.


Heat shock proteins, particularly Hsp70, are produced in response to a number of cellular stresses. The most well known example is exposure to heat, but conditions of oxidative stress have also been shown to induce HSP70 [1; 2; 3] . GSH is one of the most important low molecular weight antioxidants in the cell. Depletion of GSH is known to increase the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a cell thus exposing the cell to oxidative stress [4]. A number of groups have found that modulating the concentration of GSH in the cell alters the Hsp70 protein levels [5; 6; 7; 8]. It has also been shown, in some circumstances, that exposure to a magnetic field alters levels of HSP70 [9]. However, this effect has not been consistently reproduced. More consistency has been achieved when a magnetic field was combined with a primary stress such as heat exposure. The aim of this study was to analyze the amount of bioluminescence produced by a Hsp70/luciferase reporter system to evaluate the possibility of a synergistic effect of exposure to pulsed magnetic fields (PMF) with frequencies ranging from 0.05 Hz to 50 Hz following A) cellular GSH depletion, B) exposure to heat or C) a combination of GHS depletion and heat.


INTRODUCTION At the moment the use of food waste disposers is prohibited in the Netherlands [Sdu 2002, CECED 2003]. This prohibition originated from the 1960 ́s and was based on the fear for the obstruction of the sewer system and deteriorated treatment of wastewater. Several studies have already shown that obstruction of the sewer system is not very likely and that the deterioration of the treatment of wastewater is either very small or negligible. Most of the studies to the effects of the use of food waste disposers on the treatment of wastewater were case studies with pilot projects [e.g. Nilson et al. 1990, Karlberg et al. 1999]. However, a pilot project was never conducted in the Netherlands. For the Dutch situation only some desk studies have been carried out to the effects of the use of food waste disposers on the treatment of wastewater. In these studies the effects have been calculated based on the yearly loads for the Netherlands as a whole [de Koning 2003]. Research on the level of an individual wastewater treatment plant (wwtp) has not been carried out yet. The former Minister of Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment, Mrs. de Boer, has recognized already in 1998 "that a food waste disposer as such is not necessarily an environmental unfriendly device" [VROM 1998]. Previous research of the Delft University of Technology has concluded [de Koning 2003]: • There is no proof for clogging of the sewer system caused by the use of food waste disposers. • The use of food waste disposers does not lead to an increase of the hydraulic load of the sewer system. • The increase of the load to the biological waste water treatment processes caused by the use of food waste disposers is negligible and therefore a deterioration of effluent quality is not expected (in the case of the installation of food waste disposers in 10% of Dutch households). • The increase of the load to the final sludge treatment (drying, incineration and land fill) is approximately 5% (with installation in 10% of Dutch households). The existing sludge treatment capacity is high enough to treat this extra amount of sludge.


ABSTRACT This paper revisits the ideas of Julian Diaz III that were expressed in his journal article titled, "Science, Engineering, and the Discipline of Real Estate" that appeared in the inaugural volume of Journal of Real Estate Literature in 1993. In this article, Julian Diaz III made a bold attempt to use ontological constructs to help define conceptual boundaries of the real estate discipline. The paper begins by reviewing Diaz III's key conceptualizations of real estate in terms of real estate as applied science and real estate as a bundle of activities. It then proceeds to evaluate these conceptualizations and use them to develop the theory of dualism in real estate discipline. Two dualistic models are identified: the Physical Model of Real Estate and the Business Model of Real Estate. Thereafter, the paper uses this dualistic realization to repudiate the conceptualization of real estate as an appendage of engineering or business profession. Finally, the paper advocates for the conceptualization of real estate as an independent discipline.


Objectives: To investigate the frequency of and reasons for readmissions to acute care (RTAC) during inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) after non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NT-SCI). To develop a predictive model for RTAC using identified risk factors. Design: Retrospective case-control. Setting: Academic IPR hospital. Participants: Individuals with NT-SCI admitted to an academic SCI rehabilitation unit from January 2014-December 2015. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Readmissions to acute care services from IPR. Results: Thirty-seven participants (20%) experienced a RTAC for a total of 39 episodes. Thirty-five experienced 1 RTAC, while two had 2. The most common medical reasons for RTAC were infection (27%), neurological (27%), and noninfectious respiratory (16%). Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop a model to predict RTAC. Paraplegia was associated with 3.2 times increase in the odds of RTAC (P = 0.03). For every unit increase in FIM-Motor, there was a 5% reduction in the odds of RTAC (P = 0.03) Body mass index less than 30 decreased odds of RTAC by 61% (P = 0.004). Conclusion: RTACs were associated with body mass index greater than 30, decreased FIM-Motor subscore on admission, and paraplegia. Physiatrists caring for the non-traumatic SCI patient need be more circumspect of individuals with these parameters to potentially prevent the problems necessitating acute care transfer.


BACKGROUND. The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is based on bone marrow blast count, cytogenetic features and number of peripheral cytopenias. Transfusion requirement has been recently proposed as an important risk factor (Malcovati et al JCO23, 7594, 2005), and a new prognostic system (WPSS) has been suggested, based on WHO diagnostic subgroups, cytogenetic abnormalities and transfusion requirements (2005 ASH meeting abs.789). AIM OF THE WORK. To confirm the prognostic role of transfusion requirement and to compare the prognostic value of WPSS to that of IPSS. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The Piedmont MDS register is active since 1999. Clinical and laboratory data of patients were centrally recorded through our web site. Transfusion requirement data were retrospectively obtained from blood banks when possible. IPSS was calculated according to Greenberg et al. (Blood 89, 2079Blood 89, 1997). WPSS was calculated according to Malcovati et al. (2005 ASH meeting abst 789) by summing the score values of the following three variables: cytogenetic abnormalities scored according to the IPSS: 0 for good; 1 for intermediate; 2 for poor; transfusion requirement: 0 for absent; 1 for regular; WHO category: 0 for RA, RARS, 5q-, and unclassifiable; 1 for RCMD and RCMD-RS; 2 for RAEB-I; 3 for RAEB-II. WPSS score values were stratified into the proposed five risk groups: very low (score 0), low (1); intermediate (2); high (3–4); very high (5–6). RESULTS. From June 1999 to December 2004, 762 MDS patients were registered from 37 different institutions. Transfusion information was available for 376 patients. Data on both cytogenetics and transfusion requirements were available for 202 patients who are the object of the present analysis. 132 patients (65 %) needed regular transfusions, while the remaining 70 ones (35 %) did not. In univariate analyses all variables of both IPSS and WPSS scoring systems statistically influenced overall survival (OS). The time from diagnosis to the first transfusion was variable: less than six months in 97 cases (48 %); 6 to 12 months in 15 (7 %); more than 12 months in 20 (10 %). The OS of the 132 transfused patients was significantly worse than that of the 70 non-transfused ones, but the OS of patients who began to require transfusions more than 12 months after diagnosis was not significantly worse than that of not transfused patients. Only patients with an early transfusion requirement (within the first 12 month) had a poor outcome. When considering the prognosis of WHO subgroups the difference in OS between the subgroups 0 and 1 did not reach a significant level (p>0.05). In stepwise multivariate analysis the best prognostic factors were blast count, peripheral cytopenias and cytogenetic abnormalities. When the IPSS variables were included into the Cox model, neither WHO subgroups nor transfusion requirement retained an independent prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS. The prognostic value of transfusion requirement was confirmed, but only patients requiring transfusion within the first 12 months since diagnosis showed a poor outcome. In our experience IPSS model fits prognosis better than WPSS.


Observations on seedlings of 18 species of Agalinis Raf. indicate a diversity of seedling types based on variation in shape and size of cotyledons, presence or absence of hairs on the hypocotyls, and types of trichomes present on the adaxial surface of cotyledons. Three major trichome types occur repeatedly among numerous species, while other hair types are restricted to one or a few taxa. Seedling features are often distinctive at the species level and correlate well with data from other sources with regard to sectional and subsectional placement of species within the genus.


Querying and managing structured data in natural language is a challenging task due to its ambiguity (syntactic and semantic) and its expressiveness. On the other hand, querying, for example, a database is a well-defined and unambigous task, namely, that of evaluating some formal query of a limited expressiveness over the instance of a database schema. This problem can be tackled, we believe, by defining a controlled fragment of English, Lite English, whose declarative sentences compositionally translate into a description logic, DL-Lite, and whose questions likewise translate into a simple relational query language, conjunctive queries (CQs). The query answering problem (QE) for DL-Lite knowlege bases is equivalent to that of relational databases, a property preserved by Lite English. Lite-English is thus capable of performing the same tasks DL-Lite can accomplish (declaring, specifying and querying data), but in a manner more intuitive to the end-user.


Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer with high morbidity and mortality in women. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of costunolide inducing MCF‐7 cells apoptosis by multi‐spectroscopy, molecular docking, and cell experiments. The results manifested that costunolide interacted with calf thymus DNA (ct‐DNA) in a spontaneous manner, and the minor groove as the preferential binding mode. Furthermore, costunolide inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. Hoechst 33258 staining showed that cell apoptosis induced by costunolide might be related to DNA damage. The apoptosis mechanism relied on regulating the protein expression of Bax, Bcl‐2, p53, Caspase‐3 and the activation of p38MAPK and nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) pathways. This study will provide some experimental basis and potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.


Using optical sensor array, a precision motion control system in a conveyer follows the irregular shaped leather sheet to measure its surface area. In operation, irregular shaped leather sheet passes on conveyer belt and optical sensor array detects the leather sheet edge. In this way outside curvature of the leather sheet is detected and is then feed to the controller to measure its approximate area. Such system can measure irregular shapes, by neglecting rounded corners, ellipses etc. To minimize the error in calculating surface area of irregular curve to the above mentioned system, the motion control system only requires the footprint of the optical sensor to be small and the distance between the sensors is to be minimized. In the proposed technique surface area measurement of irregular shaped leather sheet is done by defining velocity and detecting position of the move. The motion controller takes the information and creates the necessary edge profile on point-to-point bases. As a result irregular shape of leather sheet is mapped and is then feed to the controller to calculate surface area.


In this study, the emmission of the Bacterial bioaerosols in the different respiratory system in a neonatal intensive care unit (ICU). In this study, a six-stage Andersen impactor was used for the sampling of bioaerosols with a flow rate of 28.3 L / min. The concentrations obtained from bacterial bioaerosols ranged between 67 and 423 CFU / m3, with an average value of 110.13 CFU / m3, which can represent a possible threat to the health of the workers and neonates in the ICU. The results indicated than Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis predominated, especially in the fifth and sixth stages, which means second bronchi and alveoli. While Staphylococcus was the most prevalent genus, Alloiococcus otitidis, Bacillus subtiles, Bacillus thuringiensis, Kocuria rosea and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligene occurred in the alveoli.


PurposeChina's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious investment strategy for infrastructural development belonging to the significant potential for stimulating regional economic growth in Asia, Europe and Africa. This study aims to investigate the impact of infrastructure on spurring inward foreign direct investment (FDI) within the purview of human capital, GDP per capita, foreign aid, trade, domestic investment, population and institutional quality in BRI countries.Design/methodology/approachIn doing so, the authors analyze panel data from 2000 to 2019 within the framework of the system generalized method of movement (GMM) approach for 66 BRI countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.FindingsThe investigated results demonstrate that aggregate and disaggregate infrastructure indices, e.g. transport, telecommunications, financial and energy infrastructures, are the driving forces in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the BRI countries. In addition, control variables (i.e. institutional quality, human capital, trade, domestic investment, foreign aid and GDP per capita) play an essential role in spurring FDI inflows.Originality/valueThe authors' study uniquely investigates both the pre- (2000–2012) and post- (2013–2019) BRI scenarios using the aggregate and disaggregate infrastructural components from the perspectives of full and clustered sample regions, such as Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The study provides several policy implications.


Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces photo‐damage of the skin, which in turn causes depletion of the dermal extracellular matrix and chronic alterations in skin structure. Skin wrinkle formations are associated with collagen synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. The production of type I procollagen is regulated by transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) expression; the activation of MMP is also correlated with an increase of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Aloe barbadensis M. (Aloe vera) is widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. In this study, we examined whether baby aloe shoot extract (BAE, immature aloe extract), which is from the one‐month‐old shoots of Aloe vera, and adult aloe shoot extract (AE), which is from the four‐month‐old shoots of Aloe vera, have a protective effect on UVB‐induced skin photoaging in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). The effects of BAE and AE on UVB‐induced photoaging were tested by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species, MMP‐1, MMP‐3, IL‐6, type I procollagen, and TGF‐β1 after UVB irradiation. We found that NHDF cells treated with BAE after UVB‐irradiation suppressed MMP‐1, MMP‐3, and IL‐6 levels compared to the AE‐treated cells. Furthermore, BAE treatment elevated type I procollagen and TGF‐β1 levels. Our results suggest that BAE may potentially protect the skin from UVB‐induced damage more than AE. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Background: Brief therapy centers (BTCs) are outpatient mental health units based initially on a psychodynamic model of crisis intervention, and evolving later into a global care approach. The main objective of BTC is to provide mentally ill patients with a viable alternative to hospitalization.
Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of 323 patients admitted to a BTC in Geneva in order to understand the evolution of our patients care over the changes in psychiatry over the last 2 decades. To this end, we considered predictive factors of relapse for 160 individuals with repeated "revolving door" admissions compared to 163 patients with a single admission to the BTC. To analyze data, we mainly use analysis of variance and logistic regression with SPSS software.
Results: Living alone, lower socio-educational levels, unstable working conditions, crisis factor of professional trouble, and preexisting psychiatric conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders or borderline personality disorder, that required multiple social and systemic interventions, and medical treatments (such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers) increase probability that patients relapse and require multiple BTC admissions.
Conclusions: The results of the present study that are considered as preliminary, support the development of ambulatory mental health units that attempt to adapt their intervention practices to different populations in order to prevent the revolving door phenomenon and therefore contribute to improve the global system of mental health.


BACKGROUND
DNA repair is a crucial phenomenon that maintains the chromosome integrity of genome which are continuously damaged by endogenous and exogenous alkylating agents. If the damaged DNA is not repaired, it may lead to mutation, chromosomal aberration, aging and cancer. N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG), a ubiquitous DNA repair enzyme, removes N-methylpurine and other damaged purines in DNA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
MPG mRNA expression was revealed at various stages of mouse development from day 7.5 p.c. (post coitum) embryo to day 400 mature adult by Northern blot hybridization or RT-PCR.

RESULTS
MPG transcripts were abundant in the mouse embryo during pregnancy and in adult testis and ovary. The MPG mRNA level in the testis was low in 1-week-old mice, but the level showed its maximum among the organs tested in 4-week-old young adults. In placenta, the level of MPG mRNA continuously decreased from day 7.5 p.c. to day 17.5 p.c.

CONCLUSIONS
The spatial expression of MPG gene is highly regulated. Transcription of MPG is maximum in rapidly dividing and growing tissues during development. These data suggest that an elevated rate of MPG transcription is required for DNA replication.


This paper investigates the predictive power of technical analysis, sentiment analysis and stock market analysis coupled with a robust learning engine in predicting stock trends in the short term for specific companies. Using large and varied datasets stretching over a duration of ten years, we set out to train, test and validate our system in order to either contradict or confirm efficient market hypothesis. Our results reveal a significant improvement over the efficient market hypothesis for majority companies and thus strongly challenge it. Technical parameters and algorithms operating upon them are shown to have a significant impact upon the end-predictive power of the system, thus bolstering claims of their efficacy. Moreover, sentiment analysis results also show a strong correlation with future market trends. Lastly, the superiority of supervised non-shallow learning architectures is illustrated via a comparison of results obtained through a myriad of optimization and clustering algorithms.


The present invention relates to a technique for preventing an afterimage occurs to reduce the stress of the driving transistor to drive the organic light emitting diode (OLED). The present invention, driver transistors and storage capacitors for driving the organic light emitting diode; A switching transistor for delivering the driving voltage supplied through a data line to the gate side of the driving transistor; It is achieved by the ground terminal to the voltage control unit so as to adjust the voltage between the source-separation by controlling the earth terminal voltage supplied to the driving transistor and the ground terminal and the voltage used in the data driving the gate of the driving transistor.


Cancelation of acoustic echoes has been proven to be a challenging application for adaptive filters with a large number of coefficients. The typical shape of a room impulse response can be used to speed up convergence of the adaptive filter by weighting the adaptation step-size parameter exponentially. In this contribution we show that the exponential step-size NLMS algorithm loses performance when implemented in fixed point arithmetic. In order to improve its behavior scaling of the filter coefficients can increase the precision of most filter coefficients, so that the degradations caused by fixed point arithmetic in conjunction with the exponentially weighted step-size parameter can be reduced. We also show that filter scaling and exponentially weighted step-size parameter can be easily combined with low overhead, since both algorithms are closely related.


Architecture is proposed using redundancy BCD codes to reduce area and latency. The proposed architecture is a 2d-digit hybrid parallel prefix/carry-select adder. To improve the performance, partial products coded in Xs-3 are generated in parallel with the generation of multiplicand multiples. To reduce latency binary-carry save adders are used for efficient recoding of partial products from xs-3 to the ODDS. To show the advantages of our architecture, we have synthesized a RTL model for 16×16-digit and 34×34-digit multiplications and performed a comparative survey of the previous most representative designs. Actually in our project we are implementing 128x128 bit multiplication. So for better applications we can extend it to 256x256 bit multiplication. The proposed architecture improves the area around 20-35 percent for similar target delays of the previous methods.


We propose a model of computational semantic interpretation of comparatives which is based on a mechanism for semantic copying. While the treatment of phrasal and clausal forms of comparatives we give is in line with previous approaches to their semantic description, our model also incorporates the analysis of textual phenomena that interact with the interpretation of comparatives, viz. metonymies, tex-tual ellipses and omitted complements. In order to allow for eecient processing (non-)heuristic guidance from syntactic, semantic, contextual, and world knowledge sources is supplied. An empirical evaluation demonstrates the current scope of our proposal. Abstract We propose a model of computational semantic interpretation of comparatives which is based on a mechanism for semantic copying. While the treatment of phrasal and clausal forms of comparatives we give is in line with previous approaches to their semantic description, our model also incorporates the analysis of textual phenomena that interact with the interpretation of comparatives, viz. metonymies, textual ellipses and omitted complements. In order to allow for eecient processing (non-)heuristic guidance from syntactic, semantic, contextual, and world knowledge sources is supplied. An empirical evaluation demonstrates the current scope of our proposal.


Nurse-patient communication is a good way to set up a fine nurse-patient relationship,upgrade the hospital's social image and make the serving bland.The nurse resolve the nurse-patient trouble by applying linking artifice up,thereby structure harmony nurse-patient relationship,and improve the patient degree of satisfaction to the nurse.


Object detection Through-the-Walls enables localization and identification of hidden objects behind the walls. While numerous studies have exploited Channel State Information of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) WiFi and radar devices in association with Artificial Intelligence based algorithms (AI) to detect and localize objects behind walls, this study proposes a novel non-invasive Through-the-Walls human motion direction prediction system based on a Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) communication channel model and Shallow Neural Network (SNN). The motion direction prediction accuracy of SNN is highlighted against the other types of Machine Learning (ML) models. The comparative analysis of models in this study shows that unique human movement patterns, superimposed on received pilot radio signal, can be classified precisely by SNN, with an accuracy of approximately 89.13% compared to the other ML based models. The results of this study would guide scholars, active in developing human motion recognition systems, intrusion detection systems, or Well-being and healthcare systems, and in processes that innovate and improve processing techniques for monitoring and control.


The construction and principle of trains' anti-slide system and the design purpose of the simulation anti-slide device are presented. According to the diversity of the anti-slide strategies, an anti-slide simulation system is designed based on the semi-hardware simulation and embedded ARM embedded design platform. The detailed illustration of the overall construction of the anti-slide simulation system, which includes the hardware construction of the ARM embedded controller and the host PC, the human-computer interaction software programmed in LabVIEW and the embedded control software and procedure mainly in C programming language. In the meantime, tests were performed on the designed anti-slide device, which have indicated the effectiveness of the system. The stored data can be used to analysis the anti-slide strategy efficiently, which is supportive for trains' anti-slide system.


Seventy-eight isolates of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were obtained from different field outbreaks in China in 2009 and genotyped with 34 reference strains. Four genotypes of IBV and three new isolates were identified by phylogenetic analysis and BLAST searches of the entire S1 gene. The results showed that most IBV strains that have circulated in China in recent years belong to the genotype of QX-like strains, and that they could be grouped further into two clusters, regardless of the level of genetic variation displayed. A study of pathogenicity that used three QX-like strains—ck/CH/LSD/091003, ck/CH/LDL/091022 and ck/CH/LJL/090330—showed that the isolates caused the most severe lesions in the kidneys and were therefore nephropathogenic strains with various levels of virulence in specific pathogen free chickens. A vaccination–challenge test that was performed using the three QX-like strains showed that the commercially available H120 vaccine did not provide sufficient protection against challenge with the QX-like isolates, as demonstrated by comparison of the clinical signs, pathological lesions and virus recovery from the trachea and kidney of unvaccinated–challenged and vaccinated–challenged birds.


In order to increase multiple cropping index and achieve increase of yield and income for farmers,four crops a year demonstrations of efficient planting test were carried out in Xinzhou town of Zunyi county from 2004 to 2008 involving seedless watermelon-premature and heat resistant cabbage-normal heat resistant cabbage-potherb mustard.78 labors and 948 Yuan per 667 m2 were input into the demonstration each year.It is showed that 15500kg/667m2 of mean annual yield,11400 Yuan/667m2 of production value and 10452 Yuan/667m2 of direct income are obtained.


T he experience with high-volume treatment of neovascular agerelated macular degeneration with intravitreally injected inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor is approaching a decade. It is therefore time to assess whether the promising results found in the clinical trials that led to approval of the then new class of pharmaceutical products have lived up to their promise and delivered results that are detectable on a population level after their introduction in routine clinical practice. Documented declines in the incidence of blindness show a dramatic change over the past 10 years (Bloch et al. 2012; Skaat et al. 2012). The implementation of treatment with antivascular endothelial growth factor has been a great challenge. One of the means of tackling it, in addition to the massive use of optical coherence tomography as an alternative to fluorescein angiography, has been to use specially trained nurses to perform intravitreal injections. This innovation is controversial in some settings because it disrupts traditional barriers between professions and because the choice of practice is confounded by reimbursement and status issues. In this issue of Acta Ophthalmologica, Hasler and associates document the safety of the intravitreal injection procedure used at their clinic and show that it can be compared with large clinical trials (Hasler et al. 2014). The results are confirmed by an independent study, which is also reported in this issue (Asten et al. 2014), and the new studies lend support to two previously published studies from the United Kingdom (Dacosta et al. 2014; Michelotti et al. 2014). The verdict is clear: the safety of intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor by nurses or physicians in the early stage of ophthalmology training is as safe as injection by fully trained ophthalmology specialists. It should be noted that the documentation that it is safe to let nurses perform intravitreal injections was demonstrated for high-volume centres where the staff has been trained specifically for this purpose, where standardized procedures are strictly adhered to and where injections are given in dedicated injection rooms or operating theatres. Under these circumstances, it may indeed be safer to inject than in outpatient clinics and offices (Abell et al. 2012; Hasler et al. 2014). Surveys of clinical outcomes after one and 2 years in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with antivascular endothelial growth factors using a discontinuous regimen guided by optical coherence tomography in general show poorer efficacy than in clinical trials, which can largely be attributed a lower injection frequency (Bandukwala et al. 2010; Martin et al. 2012; Chakravarthy et al. 2013; Cohen et al. 2013; Finger et al. 2013; Asten et al. 2014). Thus, there is a definite need to consider how the treatment can be better implemented. We find that training nurses to perform intravitreal injections and assist in monitoring patients is an effective means of providing more time for physicians to diagnose disease and monitor treatment in busy medical retina clinics. A majority of the studies of daily clinical practice have a pragmatic relationship to treatment guidelines, are limited by retrospective designs and have different approaches to how they report patients that are lost to follow-ups. Consequently, a direct comparison between studies is made difficult by differences in design. Studies evaluating different treatment strategies have been and are being investigated (Fung et al. 2007; Abraham et al. 2010; Larsen et al. 2012; Ophthotech Corp 2013; Berg et al. 2015); furthermore, an alternative antivascular endothelial growth factor to the conventional and first approved drug (ranibizumab) has been approved to prolong the intervals between follow-ups and in between injections to meet the logistic burden of monthly examinations (Heier et al. 2012). The prevention of subretinal fibrosis and atrophic scars, shown to be amajor cause of vision loss in patients treated with antivascular endothelial growth factors, is also of interest in innovative experimental research to improve long-term outcomes in the treatment of neovascular AMD (Bloch et al. 2013; Ophthotech Corp 2013; Daniel et al. 2014). In summary, there is a pipeline of new drugs that target different growth factors in the eye when administered locally, all of which aim to improve and prevent visual impairment in


Book Review: Peter Altmann, Banned Birds. The Birds of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 (Archaeology and Bible 1; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 2019)


AIMS: To carry out a case-control clinical study in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, aiming at information about the topographical changes compared to age matched controls. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study is a comparative, observational case series of 100 patients of whom 50 cases with a clinical diagnosis of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and remaining 50 patients served as controls. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Patients  were divided into 2 groups,Group 1of 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of vernal keratoconjunctivitis and Group 2 with 50 controls. Patients were submitted to a complete examination and corneal topography. RESULTS: Our  study included 38 male and 12 females with mean age of presentation 13.88±4.83 years in VKC cases with age range of 6 to 15 years(70%).Significant number (43% eyes) of cases were found to have topographical abnormalities suggestive of initiation of keratoconus.In Group 2, no patient presented biomicroscopic, refratometric or topographic characteristics of keratoconus. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggested that VKC patients have more abnormal corneal topographic patterns than non-VKC controls