Introduction Since the presence of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in the blood has been reported more than twenty years before, high serum level of Lp(a) has been suggested to be closely related to the development of arteriosclerotic diseases, especially ischemic coronary artery disease. However, a few literatures are available regarding the distribution of the serum Lp(a) level and relationship with sex, age, and other clinical parameters in the healthy Japanese population. Therefore, by using Lp(a) assay kit, we tried to clarify the normal range of serum Lp(a) level and correlation with various clinical parameters in the healthy Japanese male subjects.


There has been progressive improvement in computational drug design from last decade. Numerous computer aided compounds have been reported against neurodegenerative disorders. Wilson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in humans associated with ATP7B that encodes a transmembrane copper-transporting ATPase which induces the copper export from hepatic cells into bile and supplies copper for the functional synthesis of Ceruloplasmin. Almost, 150 mutations of ATP7B have been identified lead to cause Wilson's disease having symptoms of cancers, loss of memory and postural instability. In this research article, 3D structure of ATP7B was predicted by using comparative modelling approaches. The predicted structures were evaluated by utilizing numerous evaluation tools and 98.50% of overall quality factor was observed for the final selected structure. ATOX1 was predicted as the interacting partner of ATP7B and molecular docking analyses of ATP7B and ATOX1 were conducted by using PatchDock. The least global energy of -35.45 Kcal/mol was observed having the interacting residues in the binding pocket. The reported interacting residues may help to target the specific drug development against ATP7B. This research article can be a major initiative to predict the therapeutic drug targets against Wilson's disease.


This book is an informational source for professional voice users on how to care for and maintain the longevity of their voice. The authors are doctors and nurses whose medical practice specializes in the care for voice professionals. This is not a book on vocal pedagogy or training, but rather a guide to common medical problems that can affect the voice and to common vocal difficulties that can develop from ineffective voice use. This book also serves as a resource guide for finding and recognizing appropriate voice care.


This paper proposes a new kind of reconfigurable robotic model which is of a tree-type structure.First,the model and structural change of the reconfigurable tree-type robot are studied.Secondly,the structuralcharacterization and the kinematic and dynamic equations of tree-type robot are investigated,which is thebase for investigating the reconfigurable robot.Then,the structural change of the reconfigurable robot ischaracterized by a structural matrix and an auxiliary structural change matrix.Finally,the kinematic and dy-namic equations of the reconfigurable robot are established.


At the previous FOGA workshop, we presented some initial results on using Markov models to analyze the transient behavior of genetic algorithms (GAs) being used as function optimizers (GAFOs). In that paper, the states of the Markov model were ordered via a simple and mathematically convenient lexicographic ordering used initially by Nix and Vose. In this paper, we explore alternative orderings of states based on interesting semantic properties such as average tness, degree of homogeneity, average attractive force, etc. We also explore lumping techniques for reducing the size of the state space. Analysis of these reordered and lumped Markov models provides new insights into the transient behavior of GAs in general and GAFOs in particular.


Nowadays, growth of industry can be seen as a nature of the world. Each company race again each other to increase productivity to produce new, high quality and product that fulfill customer demand. One can achieve the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) or targeted goal but without considering the cost, manpower, time or others elements is inefficient toward productivity. In this paper, we studied the effectiveness of production line that equipped with automation to determine whether the return of investment for automation is worth compare to output obtained. We apply Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure efficiencies of production line where DEA is one of excellent tool that can evaluate efficiencies and have been use widely in many sectors.


The invention discloses a multiple-boride-based superhard bimetal screw and a preparation method thereof. According to the bimetal screw, an alloy structure steel bar containing chromium and molybdenum serves as a mandrel, the surface of the mandrel is wrapped by a multiple-boride-based metal ceramic layer, and then the finished screw is prepared through finish machining. Multiple-boride-based metal ceramic is high in fracture toughness and good in machinability, the thermal expansion coefficient of the screw is similar to that of steel, the screw can be well combined with the chromium-molybdenum alloy structure steel, friction abrasion performance, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance are excellent, use performance of the screw can be greatly improved, and the service life of the screw is prolonged. Compared with a screw which is widely used at present and subjected to nitriding, spray welding and the like, the bimetal screw has good application prospects and economic benefits.


In an era in which doctors and patients aspire to personalized medicine, detecting and modeling interactions between covariates or between covariates and treatment is becoming increasingly important. In observational studies, for example, in epidemiology, interactions are known as effect modifiers; their presence can substantially change the understanding of how a risk factor impacts the outcome. However, modeling interactions in an appropriate and interpretable way is not straightforward. In our talk, we consider three main topics. The first topic is the nuts and bolts of factor variables and interactions in Stata. We outline how Stata's parameterizations of interactions between factor variables work in regression models. The second topic is modeling interactions in observational studies that involve at least one continuous covariate, an area that practitioners apparently find difficult. We introduce a new Stata program, mfpigen, for detecting and modeling such interactions using fractional polynomials, adjusting for confounders if necessary. The third topic is modeling interactions between treatment and continuous covariates in randomized controlled trials. We outline a Stata program, mfpi, designed for this purpose. Key themes of our talk are the vital role played by graphical displays of interactions and the importance of applying simple plausibility checks.


Several preparations of crystalline trypsin hydrolyze RNA because of contaminating ribonuclease activity. Filtration of these materials through Sephadex G-50 yields a trypsin devoid of ribonuclease activity and having a proteolytic specific activity about 70 percent of the starting material.


Beginning in the mid 1980s the practices of Soviet youth became a scene of heightened academic interest as western scholars eagerly turned their attention to the changing 'subcultural' realities of youth in the wake of the relaxations introduced under Perestroika and Glasnost. Unfortunately, despite this growing interest, the Russian punk community has remained, predominantly on the periphery of scholarly inquiry. One can surmise, however, that a dominant reason for this has been the over-reliance on New Subcultural Theory, which marks many of these studies and which seeks to understand 'subcultures' in terms of their homogeneous values and symbolic resistance to a socio-structural Other within a rigid and vertical cultural model. This paradigm, when coupled with prominent western themes exhibited in the behaviour of Russian punks, has led to a somewhat anomalous understanding of this group's existence and has championed the apparent drive within the academy to discredit both the punk community and its membership as little more than cultural mimics. By drawing on data collected from a Russian punk internet forum located at http://offtop.ru/punkforum, this exploratory grounded theory study investigates (1) how the community exists as a discursive space (2) how individual participants construct and put forward their selfpresentation and, (3) to what extent may we consider that these presentations of self both construct, and are constructed by the community? The overall concern of the study is to consider whether a conceptual break from the notion of 'subculture' permits


Drooling (or sialorrhoea) is common in children with neurodisability and a range of adult neurological disorders. As with much symptomatic treatment in chronic neurological disease, for too long the management of sialorrhoea has been guided by expert opinion and historical local practice. The work by Reid et al. is, therefore, important as it has begun to develop an evidence base to help clinicians make informed choices about how best to manage sialorrhoea and the complex challenges it poses in individuals with chronic neurological disorders. Sialorrhoea in neurological diseases results from weakness or poor coordination of facial and bulbar musculature, rather than excess production of saliva. The most common associated condition in childhood is cerebral palsy, with a reported prevalence of 20% to 58%. In adults, it is particularly associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The impact of sialorrhoea is both physical and psychological; individuals can experience skin breakdown, dehydration, and speech and sleep disturbance, with embarrassment and avoidance of social situations as part of the wider consequences. Management of sialorrhoea is ideally a stepwise approach following assessment of the likely cause, coexistence of thick secretions, timing and impact of the sialorrhoea, and the presence of comorbidities. Conservative measures, which include improving head position, speech therapy, and oro-rehabilitation should be considered, although it is likely that in those with other than minimal sialorrhoea further interventions will be needed. Medications with significant anticholinergic properties are the usual first-line drug therapy; commonly used preparations include scopolamine/hyoscine patches, benzhexol/trihexyphenidyl, atropine eye drops (administered sublingually), amitriptyline, and glycopyrronium. Choice as to which to use as first-line therapy varies, but, as described by Reid et al., this appears to have more to do with local practice and formulary restrictions than any evidence as to efficacy. There is a tendency to select the easiest treatment (e.g. scopolamine patches) which can be applied topically for 3 days at a time, or the cheapest treatment (e.g. benzhexol). However, there is increasing evidence that first-line anticholinergic therapy should be glycopyrronium. In a number of studies, including the current one, glycopyrronium is the most effective anticholinergic treatment and has a much-reduced side effect profile, in large part because it does not cross the blood– brain barrier. There have been few attempts to collect systematically prospective outcome data from patients receiving anticholinergic therapy. The choice of a patient reported outcome rather than an objective measure of saliva volume is welcome, as the latter has been shown to not correlate with the burden and impact of saliva related symptoms. The main tool used in this paper, the Drooling Impact Scale, is designed for the paediatric population and the authors have previously demonstrated it to be a responsive and reliable measure of the impact of drooling on individuals and their carers. It is also important to use outcome measures, such as the amended clinical saliva scale scale, that explore the balance between thick and thin secretions that can coexist. Future work should explore the role of other therapies such as botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) injections in this population. Complications such as dysphagia resulting from BoNT-A injection may be much less common than originally thought, meaning this could be an effective option for those who fail first-line anticholinergic therapy.


Oral metastasis from distant organ cancer is very rare and the diagnosis is a challenge to both surgeon and pathologist. Although all types of cancer have the potential to metastasize to any organs, there are some specific types of cancer which metastasize to oral cavity. The most common primary sites of oral metastasis are lung, kidney, liver and prostate for male;breast, female genital organs, kidney and colo-rectum for female. Oral metastasis could be divided into two parts. One is soft tissue and the other is jaw bone metastasis. Oral soft tissue metastasis resembles pyogenic granuloma, irritating fibroma or gumboil. The common symptom of soft tissue metastasis is bulging mass, ulceration or bleeding. Jaw bone metastasis looks similar to the osteomyelitis. And the common symptom of the bone metastasis is numbness and pain. The diagnosis of oral metastasis necessitates biopsy and comparison of the histopathologic features with primary cancer. The treatment choice of oral metastasis with single oral cavity cancer is surgical excision. However, the approach in multiple involvements of other organs is usually concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. In most cases, the prognosis is poor with an average survival time of less than 1 year after the first detection of oral metastasis. No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted commercially in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services. Kang-Min Ahn and Jong-Ho Lee 250


Under the high house price's background,the massive credit fund are delivered in the real estate domain,this easy to cause the big risk.These risks stem from borrower's risk,the property developer's risk,bank own risk,the risk initiated by the loan agreement and the risk initiated by the pawn.Regarding this,We must take the positive measures to keeping Mortgage away from risk,such as controlling the loan,expanding the real estate financing channel,and strengthening credit risk management.


As the Lion said to the Man, "There are many statues of men slaying lions, but if only the lions were sculptors there might be quite a different set of statues." - Aesop Commensurate with Aesop's message of the sculptor matters, so does the communicator, the language and surprisingly, business context. The evolution from the experientially-based Cultureactive to the theoretically-based ICE, from first-generation to second-generation, this paper underscores the marriage of cross-cultural research and transnational education. Both Cultureactive and ICE serve at the pleasure of Globalization, and more importantly, Academic Globalization and Transnational Education. The impetus for this paper derives from two pivotal questions: Does one's professional lens create similarities more dominant than culture; and does English evoke responses significantly different from those of one's native language. ICE emerged from Cultureactive when validity and reliability research issues became noteworthy. Known as the ABC research team, Adair, Buchan and Chen [1] & [2] capitalized upon both Hall's low context/high context communication tool and Triandis' model of subjective culture to result in the theoretical underpinnings for ICE. This conceptual reconfiguration is also


The shortest path tour problem (SPTP) is the abstract model of many practical applications, such as network function virtualization (NFV) and warehouse management. The aim of SPTP is to find the shortest path that passes multiple disjoint node subsets in a given order. The challenging part is the computational redundancy of existing decomposition-based algorithms, which is caused by determining the shortest paths from all pairs of sources and destinations in each subproblem. Inspired by the ripple spreading motions on water surface, a ripple-spreading algorithm (RSA) is proposed to solve SPTP in this paper. RSA outperforms other algorithms by forming connections among subproblems, and each subproblem can be solved in a single run to determine the shortest paths to every destination node. The time complexity is irrelevant to node quantities, so RSA is more efficient on large scale networks with sparse connections theoretically. Comparative experiments were conducted on fully random networks, and RSA was validated to be the most powerful algorithm by promoting the efficiency several times. Additionally, layered graphs were designed to simulate the topology of NFV. The computational efficiency of RSA also surpassed other algorithms on layered graphs with various parameters. This brand new algorithm should help to endow the SPTP-related problems with excellent solving efficiency and scalability.


In his own words, the author has attempted to balance the "widely held view" that China's political "authority structure is rapidly fragmenting and the entire Chinese political system may be on the verge of disintegration." In the present reviewer's opinion, he has not quite succeeded in achieving his aim and may even have gone a bit too far in the opposite direction by repeatedly stressing the "integrative" and "reconciliatory" aspects of the general office system. Still, his labours have resulted in an informative booklet that most every student of Chinese politics will find well worth reading and owning.


Objective To investigate the effects of specific immunotheraphy(SIT) using allergens for children atopic dermatitis(AD) to find an efficacious method to treat AD. Methods 148 children with AD were divided into SIT group and control group. All patients were given allergen intradermal tests. The patients in SIT group received SIT using positive aero-allergens for 8 to 18 months. The patients in control group received the treatment of antihistamine drugs and drugs for external use. Results Total effective rate and curative rate of SIT group were 93.2% and 68.9% respectively, and those of control group were 68.9% and 17.6% respectively, which had a significant difference between the two groups(P0.01). Conclusion The data showed that specific immunotheraphy for atopic dermatitis in children was effective.


Through peer mentoring, in the Jacksonville University Honors Program, sophomore, junior, and senior Honors students are developing leadership skills as they mentor new Honors students (both new to college and transfer). The mentoring is a high impact opportunity for growth and support as Honors mentors and Honors mentees interact throughout the new students' first semester at Jacksonville University. In their partnerships, experienced and novice Honors students influence each other and collaborate in success strategies. Social engagement furthers the outreach goals, positively affecting both Honors students involved in the partnerships.


This paper discusses the approach taken in the implementation of an improved operational control system and the resulting operational performance within a small specialist clothing manufacturer. The development and implementation of a suitable manufacturing information system is discussed and it is shown that the subsequent competitive position of the enterprise has improved due to the efficient management of information resources from two operational strategic levels of this firm.

The approach taken is to map the information using the IDEF methodology, looking at the requirements of different functions within the group in order to ascertain the roles and software requirements of the new system. This approach has identified where information is lost, misused or not processed efficiently or effectively. The development and implementation of a suitable manufacturing information system is discussed and it is shown that the subsequent competitive position of the Company has improved due to the enhanced management of the information resource. The paper will appraise the current and future status of information flows and the resulting feedback enhancements provided to staff.

One of the areas of interest is the idea of moving away from the current sales-led approach to a more highly organised production approach and the subsequent implications of this on the Company. There is a common failing regarding production; the sales vs. production and the retail vs. contract conflict. The Company now sees that moving from a sales oriented environment to a stance where production will always meet customer requirements, whether this be retail or contract, is of the greatest importance. This has entailed further issues including the culture and motivation of staff towards organisational objectives and further improvement.


In 2014, the City of St. Albert launched the Safe Journeys to School Initiative. This consisted of the formation of a Joint Public Steering Committee to oversee the review of traffic safety at all of its 26 exiting and two planned schools. The Steering Committee included representatio from the City, the four School Boards, the RCMP, and members of the general public. TranSafe Consulting was retained to conduct engagement of parents, students and the general public through a series of open houses, survey questionnaires, focus groups and on-site engagement tools. Engineering reviews were conducted at each school, covering the site, the street frontage and the surrounding neighbourhood, and observations were conducted at each school during the peak pick-up and drop-off periods. Collisions involving pedestrians, cyclists and school buses were analyzed. Research of best practices in Alberta and elsewhere was also conducted. This extensive research, observation and analysis led to the identification of opportunities for enhancements to City policies, programs, standards and practices, as well as specific engineering interventions at each school. Key opportunities included the acommodation of active travel modes, crosswalk safety, speed management, improved efficiency in pick-up/drop-off operations, effective management of winter conditions, and the implementation of student education emphasizing respectful behaviours.


The aim this paper is to study An Unsteady MHD free convection flow of casson fluid past an exponentially accelerated infinite vertical plate through porous media in the presence of thermal radiation and heat source or sink. Also the first order chemical reactions are taking into an account .At the same time, the plate temperature and concentration of the plate are raised to ∗ ∗ The system of partial differential equation are solved by the analytically by using Laplace Transform Technique procedure. The results for various fields like velocity, temperature, and concentration are displayed and discussed. Numerical values of the skin friction coefficient, the Nusselt number and the Sherwood number for different values of physical parameters are constructed and analyzed. The convergence of the series solutions is examined. The velocity profiles decrease with increases the values of magnetic parameter, Prandtl number, heat source, thermal radiation and Casson parameter.


D-Wave 2X with more than 1000 qubits was applied to the relatively rugged energy landscape of trained Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBMs). The D-Wave machine has a Chimera interconnect architecture. A native RBM restricted to the Chimera graph was found difficult to train for large number of RBM units. To overcome this difficulty, a RBM embedding that combined qubits in order to significantly increase the connectivity between hidden and visible units of the RBM was investigated. The results for the lowest-energy and some of the higher-energy states found by D-Wave 2X were compared with those of the classical simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. In many cases, the D-Wave machine successfully found the same RBM lowest energy state as that found by SA. In the relatively simple cases of training patterns investigated in this work, the lowest energy state also corresponded to one of the training patterns. Sometimes the D-Wave machine returned a state corresponding to one of the higher energy states found by SA. The inherently non-perfect embedding of the RBM into the Chimera lattice used in this work (i.e., multiple qubits combined into a single RBM unit were not guaranteed to have perfectly aligned qubits) and the existence of small bias fields in the D-Wave hardware were found to be responsible for the discrepancy in the D-Wave and the SA results. In some but not all of the investigated cases, introduction of a small bias field into the energy function or optimization of the chain-strength parameter in the D-Wave embedding successfully addressed difficulties of the particular RBM embedding.


All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) using sulfide solid electrolytes (SSEs) offer an attractive option for energy storage applications. Lithium anode is the ultimate goal for ASSLBs, but lithium-indium (Li-In) alloy anode is more widely utilized in lab testing owing to the quite stable interface and elimination for the risk of short circuit. However, vigorous growth of Li-In dendrites in SSE is discovered in the present work when a full cell (LiNbO3 coated LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2//Li6PS5Cl//Li-In) is cycled in high loading and high rate. Our study demonstrates that Li-In anode is unstable towards SSEs at high current, which induces Li-In dendrite growth enclosing electrolyte particles and eventually results in cell death after a long cycling. The morphology and growth mechanism of Li-In dendrites are revealed by scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) analysis and density function theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, the differences between Li and Li-In dendrites are systematically compared.


YA 13-1 gas field, the best gas field, is located in the west of Yanan depression. In the southeast, there lies YA 21-1 structure, which in general has "three poor" conditions, that is, source rock, reservoir and energy field. The natural gas of YA 13-1 comes from Yachen and Lingshui formation of Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basin. However, the source rock of YA 21-1 comes from Ledong depression, which is the first poor. The reservoir of YA 21-1 is worse than that of YA 13-1, which is the second poor. Regarding the energy fields, it is shown that the cap rocks and reservoirs have over-pressure, which is the third poor. So, the source rock, reservoirs and energy fields controlled the petroleum accumulation of YA 21-1.


INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF MULTIPLE REGRESSION Two recent articles in Communications have used multiple regression methods to elucidate observational data on topics such as job outcomes-"Impact of the Technological Enviranment on Programmer/ Analyst Job Outcomes" by I3aroudi and Ginzberg (Conzmun. ACM 29, G(June 1986), 546-555)-and user satisfaction-"What Makes Users Happy?" by Rushinek and Rushinek (Commun. ACM 29, 7(July 1986), 594-598). These methods are widely available through packaged statistical programs such as SAS, BMDP, SPSS, and Genstat, but interpretation of the output from these programs; is often less straightforward than it appears. Some of the output quoted is, to put it bluntly, statistically illiterate. Thus in Baroudi and Ginzberg's Table III there are several entries reading p < ****. These relate to the correlations of 1.0000 of each variate with itself. It is perhaps appropriate that the entry is meaningless since it is the result of a test of the hypothesis that this correlation is actually zero. In the same table there are also several entries of p < 0.0000. This too is nonsense since a probability must be nonnegative; presumably what is meant is p < 0.00005. More substantially, both articles do not distinguish between statistical significance and practical importance. Baroudi and Ginzberg call attention to the largest R* of Cl.111 in their Table VIII (R* of 0.31 is a misprint) and claim that it "suggests that technological environment plays an important role in determining [job statisfaction]." In fact, an 11 percent decrease in variance is seldom enough to be of practical importance. If job satisfaction for a random individual has a standard deviation of (say) +lO points, knowledge of the regression variables reduces this to f9.4, an unimpressive decrease. This is assuming that the R* is the true population value; in fact, the sample value, especially following model selection by a stepwise procedure, is liable to be exceedingly optimistic [l, 21. ,4 rather similar comment applies to the Rushinek and Rushinek: article. They claim as important standardized regression coefficients as small as 0.03, implying a change of no more than 0.12 or so over the whole range of the explanatory variable. It is not clear whether this relates to the raw data (standard deviation = 9.3) or to a standardized version (standard deviation = l.O), but in either case the change seems fairl:y trivial.


Indonesia is one of country that have a large number of rainfall days in a year. So, make any sense that forecasting is important to get any strategies to overcome the problem of erratic rainfall. There are a lot of method that can conduct forecast rainfall, the new one is Extreme Machine Learning. Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a new learning method of artificial neural networks. ELM is an easy-to use and effective learning algorithm of singlehidden layer feed-forward neural networks (SLFNs). Therefore, ELM has the advantages of fast learning speed and good generalization performance. This research conducted by using rainfall data in Sleman city to get forecasting in one year. It found that the ELM method has a smaller value compared to the GARCH method for all six rainfall station stations in Sleman region.


One of the main drawbacks of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography is its inability to differentiate between positive and negative locations relative to the zero-delay position. In the recently proposed B-M mode scanning technique, these artifacts are removed by introducing a transverse modulation between successive Ascans followed by a Fourier filtering in the transverse direction. This paper deals with the relation between the transverse step size and the efficiency of artifact removal. This relation is illustrated with measurements performed on an onion with different transverse step sizes and different focusing optics. These experimental results are used to support a proposed criterion for the transverse step. The criterion aims at insuring efficient artifact removal while limiting the amount of oversampling in the transverse scan.


Ensuring internal education quality is considered as one of the priority issues under the Albanian political agenda for integration. In college, the development of effective parent-teacher partnership is vital because optimises both teaching and learning. The level of parent's involvement depends significantly on the formats, methodology and philosophy of parent-teacher communication. An empirical survey undertaken in 2012 studied the reality family-school communication in Durres college schools. It is oriented towards parents' perspective for explaining why parents are withdrawn. The paper explores the findings, confronts them with the empirical data of the research literature. From the analysis and arguments are generated recommendations on potential forms of treatment and management with regard to parent communication in college schools. The gathered data indicated that the parent-teacher communication reality is far from being considered consistent and its efficiency is partial. The communication is seen with darker lens from parents of female students, parents with children in the margin grades of college, mothers, parents with college education, the unemployed and those who live in Durres from over a decade. The paper proposes a dimensioning of parent-teacher communication, which should be reviewed periodically. Despite backgrounds, positions and the limited resources can be shaped an interaction model built on strengths. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p339


A wide variety of immunologic mechanisms may be discoverable in an antigenantibody reaction system. There are alpha receptors, which may involve a guanosine monophosphate (GMP) system. There are beta receptors; these are part of a cAMP and an adenyl cyclase system which works through aderiyl cyclase located in the cell wall. This initiates the production of cyclic AMP, which is controlled on the one side by ATP-ase and on the other side by phosphodiesterase. Changes in cyclic AMP levels and GMP levels appear to control


Increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in smart grids (SG) has sparked a new movement to consumer-centric structure as marketplaces based on peer-to-peer (P2P) models. Participants can directly agree bilateral power transactions in P2P markets to balance producers and consumers. The trading mechanism should be well-designed to encourage participants to operate actively in the trading activity. This article proposes a trading strategy for P2P strategy in SG. The proposed framework is modeled using the Whale optimization algorithm (WOA). In order to evaluate the proposed optimization method, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and classical optimization methods are carried out. The compared results show that the convergency of proposed method is faster than PSO algorithm.


This study was conducted to assess the microbiological safety of locally-fermented, ready-to-eat cassava products, namely garri and 'fufu', in Lokoja. A total of sixty samples comprising; twenty white garri, twenty yellow garri and twenty fufu were subjected to microbial analysis. The samples were serially diluted to 10-4 and appropriate dilutions inoculated by spread plate method into Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Potato Dextrose agar plates which were used for total aerobic plate count (TAPC), coliform count (CC) and fungal count respectively. The TAPC for white garri ranged from 0.78 to 3.83 log cfu/g, the coliform count ranged from no growth (NG) to 3.80 log cfu/g, while the mean fungal count ranged from 1.96 to 3.39 log cfu/g. The TAPC for yellow garri ranged from 2.04 to 3.95 log cfu/g, the coliform count ranged from NG to 3.62 log cfu/g and the fungal count ranged from 2.08 to 3.44 log cfu/g. The TAPC of fufu was within the range of 1.07 to 3.70 log cfu/g, the coliform count ranged from NG to 3.48 log cfu/g and the fungal count ranged from 1.94 to 2.78 log cfu/g. The bacteria isolated include Bacillus spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. The fungi isolated from the study samples include Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp., Alternaria spp., Montospora spp., and Penicillium spp. The pH of the samples ranged from 4.02 to 4.96 in white garri, 4.02 to 4.99 in yellow garri, and 5.02 to 6.44 in fufu. Findings showed that these widely consumed fermented (ready-to-eat) cassava products presents (may represent) a serious risk and route for transmission of food borne pathogens to consumers and generally huge economic disadvantage to food handlers. Improving manufacturing, packaging and storage practices in garri production and for public health purposes are strongly encouraged.


Abstract : Pontiac's War began on 6 May 1763 when a pan-Indian movement attacked several British forts in the Great Lakes region, also known as the pays d'en haut. Pontiac's War emerged following the French defeat in the French and Indian War, as it was known in America. The Ottawa chief Pontiac rallied support from several different Indian tribes to fight in defiance of Major General Jeffrey Amherst's new Indian policies. The Indians' surprise attacks seized eight British forts and placed two others under siege. Amherst responded with enough British forces to maintain a foothold in the pay's d'en haut through the end of 1763. In 1764, the British dispatched Colonel John Bradstreet and Colonel Henry Bouquet into the pay's d'en haut to pacify the hostile Indians and reassert control. The war finally ended when Sir William Johnson, the Indian Superintendent representing George III, negotiated treaties with the major tribes of the pays d'en haut in 1765. This monograph explores Pontiac's War to find elements of operational art in a historical study of a brutal conflict in colonial America. Operational planners will be able to better understand how to apply operational art in future irregular conflicts.


Fan-shaped and box fold structures are not caused by tangential stresses but are due to vertical displacement of basement blocks and gravity creep in the range slope. Fan-shaped anticlinoria are represented by gravity sliding folds. Drag folds are the result of relative movement in rocks of different competence. Factors determining the asymmetry of primary tectogenesis folds lies in the sequence of basement block movement with respect to the fault and meganticlinal axis. Numerous examples of fan-shaped and related folds are given. C. E. Sears


Knowledge is power: the versatile expeditions of botanist Pieter Willem Korthals (1807–1892) The National Herbarium in Leiden houses a fascinating archive about one of the few botanists of the Committee for Natural History of the Netherlands Indies , Pieter Willem Korthals (1807–1892). The notebooks and reports of his travels in Java, Sumatra and Borneo reveal the hybrid position of Korthals in the colonial world of the Dutch East Indies. Korthals was an experienced botanist who employed methods such as measuring, taking notes and sensual observation at various locales in the Malay Archipelago. His multi-faceted fieldwork tied into the colonial administration's desire to acquire valuable information about the islands' human and natural resources. In particular, after the introduction in 1830 of the Cultivation System in Java, the colonial authorities in Batavia were eager to learn more about the system's efficiency in more remote areas. By drawing upon rich archival sources, this brief essay uses Korthals' case to shed fresh light on the production of botanical and other knowledge in the for- mer Dutch colony in the East Indies.


Children differ physically, physiologically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially from adults. This article sheds light on the limited amount of studies regarding medical concerns for children in sports. However, it is clear that training programs should be adjusted and careful monitoring is required. Similar to adults, children need to recover physically, nutritionally, and emotionally after exercise.


Economies and corporations are increasingly being characterized as financialized. The separation of ownership and control is at the core of this development and we depart from an understanding that ...


This investigation details the results of an investigation of different techniques for modeling high frequency electromagnetic wave propagation in power cables. ATP is probably the most widely used simulation tool for modeling transient phenomena in electrical systems, including power cables. However, ATP is not able to include complex geometries and material physical constants such. However the finite element method approach which provides a more basic analysis of the electromagnetic fields in cable materials can cover such complexities. These two methods have been applied to cable simulation and the results compared with laboratory measurements. The results of ATP give lower power loss than both the measured results and the simulated results obtained with the FEM method. The FEM technique does provide good agreement with tests. However, ATP gives a good understanding of modeling of transient system, its simulation time is shorter than FEM and its cost is reasonably low.


In the present study, Quercus castaneifolia (Oak, as target species) and Carpinus betulus (Horn beam, as native component species) were planted in five proportions (100Q, 70Q:30C, 60Q:40C, 50Q:50C, 40Q:60C) in the Noor region (North Iran). After 12 years, the effects of the species on the growth of the trees, nutrient concentrations in the live and senescent leave and on soil properties were assessed. The results showed the survival and diameter at breast height (dbh) of the individual Oak trees were positively affected by the presence of Horn beam. Percent retranslocation of the nutrients in Quercus trees was: K>N>P. Leaflitter fall production range d from 4.70 to 6.80 Mg ha �1 year �1. N concentration in fully expanded leaves, N and Ca concentrations in the senescent leaves of Quercus trees and N concentration in topsoil were higher in some of the mixed plantations than in the monocultures of the Quercus trees. N fluxes, N and P retranslocation, and soil P concentrations in the monocultures were intermediate relative to mixed plantations. The obtained results somewhat indicated that the mixing with hornbeam increased the productivity and sustainability of the oak sites. Within the framework of this experiment, it appeared that production was maximized when these two species were grown together in the proportion of 50% Quercus castaneifolia and 50% Carpinus betulus.


This study aims to determine whether the quality of human resources, the use of information technology, the internal control system, the field of financial control, and organizational commitment affect the reliability of the financial reporting information value of the Bangka Regency government. The sample amounted to 96 respondents in the government of Bangka Regency. The sample in this study used purposive sampling using the specified criteria. The type of data and data collection methods are primary data, research data obtained directly from the original source in the form of answers to the questionnaire. The results form factors, namely the internal control system and the financial control area. Where the form factor consists of the variable quality of human resources, utilization of information technology, internal control systems, areas of financial control and organizational commitment have a significant influence on the reliability of the value of financial reporting information of local governments. The dominant variable is the internal control system, while the lowest variable is the quality of human resources.


Ni60 superhard alloy with the additions of graphite solid lubricants was successfully prepared on 45 carbon steel substrate by means of laser cladding. The quality of coating was relatively high and had metallurgical bonding with the substrate. The morphology of laser cladding layer was observed by SEM, composition analysis was applied by EDS. Elevated temperature frictional behaviors of graphite/Ni60 composites coatings were investigated on MMG-10 wear machine. The results showed that the friction coefficient of graphite/Ni60 composite coating was obviously decreased from 0.55 to 0.20 with increasing temperature. The wear mechanism transformed from adhesion to oxidation with the increase of temperature. The graphite/Ni60 composite coating material showed the optimum self-lubricating property at 500°C.


Figure. Good correlation between coronal CT (A) and MRI (B) of the right temporal bone demonstrates the encephalocele. CT shows the bone defect in the tegmen tympani and the nonspecific soft-tissue mass in the area of the mastoidectomy and middle ear (arrow). MRI clearly demonstrates the brain herniation (large arrow) and the surrounding CSF (small arrows) . A residual inflammatory process is also noted in the mesotympanum . Otolaryngologists have described brain herniation into the mastoid for many years. Although this condition can develop as a result of congenital defects, encephaloceles can also occur postsurgically . Advances in neuroradiology, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have improved the diagnosis and management of lesions that erode the tegmen tympani . I The diagnosis of brain herniation should be suspected in any patient who has a history of complicated chronic ear surgery in addition to a slowly developing pulsatile mass and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Weevaluateda5 l -year-old man whose chief complaint was a sensation of fullness in his right ear. The patient had undergone several previous surgeries for chronic mastoiditis on the right. He also complained of chronic headaches and intermittent drainage of the right ear. CT identified a bone defect in the tegmen tympani and a softtissue mass in the area of the mastoidectomy and middle ear cavity, which was thought to represent a recurrent cholesteatoma (figure, A). MRI clearly demonstrated that the mass represented a brain herniation through the tegmen tympani (figure, B). Surgical exploration with a right temporal craniotomy was performed, and the presence of an encephalocele was confirmed. The encephalocele and the CSF leak were subsequently repaired .


Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have become an accepted approach for a wide range of challenges. Meanwhile, the advancement of chip manufacturing processes is approaching saturation which calls for new computing solutions. This work presents a novel approach of an FPGA-based accelerator development for fully connected feed-forward neural networks (FFNNs). A specialized tool was developed to facilitate different implementations, which splits FFNN into elementary layers, allocates computational resources and generates high-level C++ description for high-level synthesis (HLS) tools. Various topologies are implemented and benchmarked, and a comparison with related work is provided. The proposed methodology is applied for the implementation of high-throughput virtual sensor.


Our lab has recently established that Hybrid Insulin Peptides (HIPs) are antigenic ligands for diabetogenic T cell clones in the NOD mouse model of autoimmune diabetes. Furthermore, these peptides are detected in the islets of NOD mice, indicating that islet-infiltrating T cells encounter their antigen at the site of immune injury. Importantly, we have found that the phenotype of HIP-reactive T cells present in the peripheral blood of NOD mice is indicative of ongoing autoimmunity in the pancreas. In the human setting, we demonstrated that T cells reactive to HIPs are present in the residual islets of type 1 diabetic (T1D) organ donors. In this study, using an IFN-g ELISPOT assay, we investigated whether T cells reactive to a panel of 16 HIPs could be observed in the PBMCs of T1D patients or control subjects. We observed that about a third of the T1D patients responded to at least one HIP; 70% of the responding patients (but only one control subject) showed reactivity to multiple HIPs. Responses to 4 HIPs were significantly elevated in T1D patients but not in control subjects. Using a multiplexed cytokine assay, we determined that T cells from responder patients had a bias towards a Th1 phenotype upon stimulation with HIPs. We isolated 8 non-redundant, antigen-specific T cell clones reactive to 6 different HIPs. These T cell clones react to their target HIPs in the low nanomolar range and secrete IFN-g, TNF-a and GM-CSF. This is the first report that HIP-reactive T cells with an inflammatory phenotype can be detected in the peripheral blood of patients with T1D, indicating that the presence of HIP-reactive T cells might serve as a biomarker of disease activity in the human setting.


An interesting case of external oxidant-controlled reactivity switch leading to a divergent set of ionic nitrogen-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N-doped PAHs), is presented here, which is quite unrecognized in copper-mediated reactions. In the current scenario, from the same pyridino-alkyne substrates, the use of the external oxidant PhI(OAc)2, in combination with Cu(OTf)2, gave N-doped spiro-PAHs via a dearomative 1,2-carboamination process; whereas, without the use of oxidant, an alkyne/azadiene [4 + 2]-cycloaddition cascade occurred to exclusively afford ionic N-doped PAHs. These newly synthesized N-doped PAHs further exhibit tunable emissions, as well as excellent quantum efficiencies.


Background: Malignant mesothelioma of the epididymis is an extremely rare neoplasm with a poor
prognosis and high potential of recurrence.
Case Presentation: We report a case of a 28-year-old male with a left painless epididymal nodule. Scrotal
ultrasound revealed a nodular mass with mixed echogenicity and Doppler showed increased vascularity.
Radical orchidectomy was performed. Histopathological examination concluded to a malignant
mesothelioma involving the epididymis. Metastatic workup was negative. The patient has undergone a
regular follow-up and has been disease-free within 6 months.
Conclusion: Malignant mesothelium of the epididymis is a diagnosis challenge. Surgery remains the main
treatment. A multidisciplinary management should be offered in those cases.


This is the editorial introducing a special themed edition of Contemporary Theatre on the topic of 'Electoral Theatre'. The edition represents a cross-disciplinary collaboration between various contributors, and was edited by Stephen Bottoms with Brenda Hollweg (University of Leeds). This editorial draws on the philosophy of Alain Badiou to introduce what follows.


Objective: To investigate the effect of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans(Aa) on periodontitis after incubation the filtrate of ultrasonic pulverization from Aa with polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNLs).Methods: Venous blood was drawn from 10 healthy young volunteers.Peripheral blood PMNLs were isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation.The PMNLs were stimulated with filtrate of ultrasonic pulverization from Aa.And the control group is that the filtrate was added the filtrate with antiserums.Then samples of transmission electron microscope were observed in various intervals.Results: Obvious cell morphological changes could be observed with electron microscope in the experimental group,and the degranulation of PMNLs were showed,meanwhile,the PMNLs in the control group looked like the normal ones;The percentage of PMNLs degranulation in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group(P0.01).Conclusion: The filtrate of ultrasonic pulverization from Aa can induce the degranulation of peripheral blood PMNLs,also it can suppress the host immune function to participate in the occurrence of periodontitis.


We provide new statistical evidence to show that energy efficiency policies and programs can reliably cut energy use—a finding that is consistent with the policy stance of leading experts and organizations like the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) and the World Bank. Additionally, we take our policy message one step further—by using new insights from the emerging multi-disciplinary literature on "energy efficiency gap", we recommend that the world needs more energy efficiency policies and programs to cut greenhouse gases—not less as implied by the BTI and its cohorts in the media.


E-commerce means business affairs applied with electronic technology.This paper introduced the structure of E-commerce system,and the process of shopping of E-commerce system.


Changes in the fatty acid composition of blood serum and liver from 28 beef calves were studied from birth to approximately 8 and 12 wk, respectively. The calves (purebred Shorthorn) were born from 14 cows fed alfalfa hay (group 1) and from 14 cows fed oat hay (group 2). The data indicate a pronounced effect of the dietary fat, with liver and serum of group 2 calves containing a higher proportion of C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids than those of group 1. The serum of group 1 calves had higher proportions of C12:0, C14:0, C14:1, C15:0, C17:0, C18:3, and C20:1 than group 2. The proportion of C18:2 and C18:3 in the serum of both groups increased from birth until the calves were about 21 days of age, whereas the proportion of C18:1 declined during the same period. Proportionately more C17:1 and less C12:0 were found in the serum of the nondystrophic calves than those affected with nutritional muscular dystrophy. There was also a significant interaction between the nutritional muscular dystrophy incidence and the d...


Some equaivalent descriptions of simple circle S-acts,which satisfies the condition(PA)、(EA) or strong A-flat respectively,are obtained by the relative flatness concept.


Primary hepatic cancers are always complicated with portal venous tumor emboli in an incidence of 62.2%-90.2%.The portal venous tumor emboli could further induce intrahepatic tumor cells dissemination and metastasis and thus aggravate the portal hypertension with liver cirrhosis leading to massive bleeding of upper alimentary tract or failure of liver function.Portal venous emboli are now considered as one of the puzzling critical points in the treatment of liver cancer closely related to the patients'prognoses.This article comprehensively collected the treatments for liver cancer complicated with portal venous emboli nowadays.


Although familial aggregations of lung cancer have been reported since 1963 in the United States, it has been rarely documented in Taiwan. With the improvement in diagnostic techniques and public health, familial aggregations have been found in increasing frequency in recent years. Thus, we studied six cases in three families, diagnosed in the most recent two years, to discuss the roles of shared environmental risk factors and possible genetic susceptibility in these families. In these cases, shared lifestyles, environmental risks, and inherent components may possibly have contributed to the familial aggregations. For the early detection of lung cancer and a decrease of in the mortality rate, it is suggested that high-risk individuals be identified with the aid of molecular biology, especially genomic or proteonomic studies, so that early education, regular screening, and close medical follow up can be performed with these high-risk patients.


The purpose of this article is to present the current understanding of hair-pulling disorder and the proposed treatment of this disorder based on a cognitive behavior therapy model. The basic symptom of hair-pulling disorder, also known as trichotillomania, is a repetitive behavior, i.e. hair-pulling. It is a complex disorder both with respect to the diverse pattern of hair-pulling in particular individuals, as well as its occurrence at different stages of development. Hair-pulling disorder has been the subject of greater interest among clinicians and researchers since the 1990s. Therefore, it is an area in which only recently more scientific research and education of clinicians has been conducted. In more recent literature, there is a visible tendency to place hair-pulling disorder within the framework of a broader diagnostic category defined as body-focused repetitive behaviors. This term has just started to appear in reviews of the classifications of mental disorders. The cognitive behavior therapy for body-focused repetitive behaviors is the treatment of choice. The Comprehensive Behavioral Model developed by Charles S. Mansueto constitutes one of the main conceptualizations of the hair-pulling disorder in this therapeutic approach. Currently, it is necessary to continue studies on the efficacy of psychotherapy based on Mansueto's model as well as other cognitive behavior programs intended for individuals with body-focused repetitive behaviors so that the patients can utilize helpful treatment options consistent with the standards of evidence-based psychotherapy.


The service performance of U75V rail steel depends entirely on its laser-deposited microstructure, as coarse martensite has a damaging effect on wheel-rail contact behaviors. In this study, the formation mechanism of the microstructure in the rail steel was investigated based on simulated temperature fields in both solid and annular laser heat source models. U75V rail steel with pearlite was first fabricated via laser additive manufacturing with the annular laser beam and had a microstructure superior to that of the commercial U75V rail steel produced using the traditional slow-cooling heat treatment. This overcomes the long-perceived limitation that high-carbon steel can only form martensite through laser additive manufacturing. Active design of the grain size and the microstructure of U75V rail steel were proposed by controlling the cooling rate in two stages of solid phase transformation. The primary stage extended from the melting temperature to Ar1 and the secondary stage extended from Ar1 to the valley temperature. Granular pearlite in the annular laser beam-deposited sample shows considerably finer grains than the tempered martensite of the solid laser beam-deposited counterpart; therefore, the impact toughness of the sample can be increased by approximately 150%. The high cooling rate in the primary stage aids grain refinement in the annular laser beam-deposited sample, while the high valley temperature of the thermal cycle combined with the low cooling rate in the secondary stage leads to the formation of pearlite, instead of twin martensite.


Fractal geometry has recently caught great attention in urban, ecology, and GIS research. This paper employs box-counting method to measure the settlement forms of twenty jurisdictions in Taiwan. The computed fractal dimensions are then linked to population density and ratio of urban area to total land area for each jurisdiction. The results are compared to Shen's study (2002) to investigate the difference between the development of settlements in the U.S. and that in Taiwan. The conclusions are: 1) the fractal measures satisfies the inequality of 1<D<2 and can be regarded as proof of urban fractal that has been studied by several researchers, 2) the computed fractal measures coincides with the pattern of the spatial distribution of various settlements, that is, scattered in northern Taiwan, compact in the southern and the eastern regions, and 3) similar characteristics exist between settlements in Taiwan and cities in the US in terms of their spatial forms and population and urban area parameters.


In the present market, most of the public and private sector entities are using various mobile applications for communication with their customers. Whether it is a notification, information or an alert, the means of communication using mobile applications made life easy so as to reduce the relevant risks. Recently the health related issues due to imported food in Saudi Arabia (SA) raised many concerns to consider serious reforms. The Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA) is responsible to control, examine and save the citizens of SA from any kind of serious health related issues or deaths. The present research aims to facilitate a runtime monitoring system to check the quality of food imported from various countries and to assure the safety of citizens. This runtime monitoring system is based on the proposed integration model of SFDA policy to attain both safety and quality property with respect to manageability property. Such practice will surely help the consumers, suppliers and authorities to ensure a quality health of citizens in SA. Above and all the SFDA policy during runtime can control the flow of imported food supplies, validate the food products and can establish a fair communication between consumers and suppliers.


Disorders in peripheral microcirculation are observed in arterial hypertension and may be improved by antihypertensive treatment. In this pilot study the authors measured capillary blood cell velocity in the finger nailfold in 14 patients (mean age 50 ± 14 years, range 30-71 years; 9 men, 5 women) with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After a 3-week placebo period, patients received double-blind randomized treatment with either 0.2- to 0.4-mg moxonidine (n=7) or 2.5- to 5.0-mg cilazapril (n=7). Finger nailfold video capillaroscopy was performed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. Blood pressure was measured by conventional office technique. Capillary blood cell velocity, 1 minute after local finger cooling, increased in the Moxonidine group (0.65 ±0.53 mm/sec to 1.13 ±0.77 mm/sec; p<0.05) after 8 weeks treatment compared to the baseline. The increase in the Cilazapril group from 0.79 ±0.45 mm/sec to 0.93 ±1.03 mm/sec did not reach a level of statistical significance. Blood pressure decreased from 151 ±8/101 ± 5 to 147 ±6/98 ± 7 mmHg in the Moxonidine group and from 164 ± 12/102 ±6 to 140 ±9/93 ±9 mmHg in the cilazapril group. Moxonidine increased nailfold capillary blood cell velocity 1 minute after local finger cooling in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. This improvement of the peripheral microcirculation may be associated with reversal of vascular dysfunction in hypertension.


In this paper we are developing a family of four trigonometrically fitted six-step symmetric methods with exponential order from one to four. The methods are constructed to solve numerically the radial one-dimensional time-independent Schrodinger equation during the res- onance problem with use of the Woods-Saxon potential. The new four methods are being compared to the corresponding classical method as long as with other recently constructed optimized methods from the literature. With the use of various values of energy we come to the con- clusion that the efficiency of the method increases while the exponential order increases and this is highly noticed for high values of energy. The new method of exponential order four is the most efficient among all the compared methods and also its efficiency increases slightly instead of decreasing while we use higher values of energy. Stability analysis of the new methods is made and some diagrams are presented that show their stability regions.


A modified maximum a posteriori (MMAP) decoding algorithm that uses two extrinsic information values as the thresholds to determine the log-likelihood ratio, forward recursion probability and backward recursion probability is proposed. The MMAP requires less decoding time and complexity than an MAP decoder. Each probability of the proposed algorithm is derived and compared to that obtained using the MAP algorithm.


As a newly software delivery model, Software as a Service, SaaS for short, is the best way for small and medium enterprise to adopt the newly technology. However trustworthiness is greatest challenge in the wide acceptance of SaaS. In the absence of trustworthiness in SaaS applications, data privacy is the primary and the most important issue for tenants. How to protect the data privacy when software service and database are both hosted at the service provider's client is still an open issue. So based on the customization feature of SaaS applications and shared database shared schema storage model, this paper demonstrates the shared data storage model, defines three kinds of privacy constraints, and then proposes a customizable privacy constraints based approach for data privacy preserving by combing data encryption and information disassociation. This approach is proofed correctly and could be used for privacy preserving in SaaS applications in static scenarios.


Outlines increasing US concern over the inadequacy of traditional cost‐based performance measures in helping manufacturing businesses to achieve excellence in operations and reproduces a case from Tatikonda and Tatikonda (1993) to illustrate the problem. Summarizes some ideas on costing for competitive strength and proposes a framework to enhance competitiveness through profound process knowledge as a basis for fast and continuous improvement. Stresses the importance of determining strategy, using benchmarks based on a good activity‐based costing system and creating a supporting and motivating performance measurement system specific to the needs of the firm as a whole. Calls for further research on developing and implementing these ideas in a specific business and warns that "competitiveness will be a never ending race".


This study explore the moderation effect of gender and product knowledge (PK) on the relationship between information sources (IS) and Islamic unit trust investment decision (IUTID). Muslim investors in Malaysia was chosen as the respondents for this study. The relationship between the variable was tested using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Our results show that both variables, gender and product knowledge moderate the relationship between information sources and Islamic unit trust investment decision. The result indicate that information sources strongly influence Islamic unit trust investment decision when the Muslim investors have low product knowledge. In addition, the finding also reveal that information sources strongly influence Islamic unit trust investment decision more for female investors than male investors.


Sustainable development is a priority in a modern world. The essence of sustainable development is to ensure such economic growth that allows to preserve the natural environment for present and future generations. One of the effective tools for this is the development of green economy. The authors consider the problems of sustainable development and a green economy on the example of Russia. The purpose of the study: (1) to develop a method for assessing the development of a green economy based on a comparison of environmental and economic indicators; (2) to test this method on the materials of the Russian regions, to assess their economic activity greening level; (3) to offer recommendations for improving policies and regulation in the development of the green economy. In this study, in order to assess the level of ecologization of the regional economy, a method of assessing ecological and economic territorial development is used, based on the calculation of the integral index. This technique allows for a comparative analysis of Russian regions in terms of environmental and economic development. The authors give a comparative quantitative assessment of the level of greening of the Russian regions. On this basis, the priorities and directions of development of the green economy are proposed. It is recommended to use these proposals in the regulation of regional development in order to achieve the main goal – sustainable development. These recommendations do not reflect only the specifics of the Russian Federation, and therefore may also be applicable in the international practice.


An irradiation performance data base for nitride fuels has been developed from an extensive literature search and review that emphasized uranium nitride, but also included performance data for mixed nitrides ((U,Pu)N) and carbonitrides ((U,Pu)C,N) to increase the quantity and depth of pin data available. This work represents a very extensive effort to systematically collect and organize irradiation data for nitride-based fuels. The data base has many potential applications. First, it can facilitate parametric studies of nitride-based fuels to be performed using a wide range of pin designs and operating conditions. This should aid in the identification of important parameters and design requirements for multimegawatt and SP-100 fuel systems. Secondly, the data base can be used to evaluate fuel performance models. For detailed studies, it can serve as a guide to selecting a small group of pin specimens for extensive characterization. Finally, the data base will serve as an easily accessible and expandable source of irradiation performance information for nitride fuels.


Abstract Series of rhenium catalysts were prepared by equilibrium adsorption on unmodified alumina and alumina containing F and Mg additives. The uptake of perrhenate on alumina was dependent on the pH and the concentration of nitrate in the impregnation solution. Uptake of perrhenate at pH 6.5 on F modified alumina decreased with increasing F loading; for Mg-modified aluminas, perrhenate uptake at pH 9.3 increased with increasing Mg content. A correlation was observed between perrhenate uptake and the isoelectric point (IEP) of the modified supports. These data are interpreted on the basis of electrostatic attractions which occur between perrhenate ions in solution and alumina surfaces. Competition between nitrate and perrhenate for adsorption sites satisfactorily accounts for the effect of nitrate on perrhenate adsorption.


A method of interworking between networks of IPv6 and Ipv4 based on 4 over 6 includes using 4 over 6 expansion router with 4 over 6 transition mechanism at network boundary set IPv6 host address to bepseudo IPv6 address in consistence to 4 over 6 mapping relation for realizing route selecting function between IPv4 / v6 networks , applying 4 over 6 packet mapping translation technique on 4 over6 expansion router for realizing transparent interworking between IPv4 / v6 networks by utilizing packet mapping process to realize transparent semantic transmission function between IPv4 / v6 packets .


Increasing management efficiency of business valuation are discussed. Its base on information models. Information models formalizes decision making procedure in management efficiency.


During the past few years, graphene and its hybrids have become increasingly popular biomaterials for tissue engineering (TE) applications due to not only their excellent biochemical, electrical and mechanical properties, but also because of their potential to be combined with other materials in order to fabricate biocompatible composites with superior behavior. In this regard, graphene oxide (GO) has emerged as front runner to act like a functional building block of complex 3D cellular microenvironments since the oxygen functional groups located onto the surface of its sheets can be complementary used to directly enhance cell response and to be combined with specific biomolecules and polymers.[1,2] Thus, in this work we successfully explore the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged GO sheets and the positively charged collagen (Col) particles in order to fabricate a selfassembled 3D porous scaffold capable of guarantee suitable biochemical and biomechanical features for a wide range of TE strategies, involving both static and dynamic cell culture protocols.[3] Indeed, the chemical, mechanical and morphological properties of the GO-Col scaffold were minutely analyzed and its capability to potentiate an enhanced cellular microenvironment was confirmed by preliminary biocompatibility tests using Rat Schwann cells. The versatility of the scaffold was also revealed through their compression-recovery features since independently of the degree of deformation applied (1%, 3% and 7%) via a bioreactor apparatus, its integrity was not affected. Additionally, these promising results boosted the adaptation of this GO-Col scaffold into the cartilage TE applications by innovatively incorporating inside the porous network an anisotropic electrospun scaffold able to mimic with great morphological accuracy the cartilaginous natural fibrous network.


Matter-wave superradiance is based on the interplay between ultracold atoms coherently organized in momentum space and a backscattered wave. Here, we show that this mechanism may be triggered by Mie scattering from the atomic cloud. We show how the laser light populates the modes of the cloud and thus imprints a phase gradient on the excited atomic dipoles. The interference with the atoms in the ground state results in a grating that in turn generates coherent emission, contributing to the backward light wave onset. The atomic recoil ``halos'' created by the Mie-scattered light exhibit a strong anisotropy, in contrast to single-atom scattering.


The sequence stratigraphic framework established for the subsurface Barnett Shale in the northern
part of the Fort Worth Basin is helping to resolve the age, nature and fill of karst features under the
Barnett in the southwestern part of the basin. The southwestern Fort Worth Basin is characterized by
absence of the Upper Ordovician Viola Limestone and Simpson Group, which separate the Lower
Barnett Shale from the underlying Ordovician Ellenburger Group, as well as the Forestburg
Limestone, which separates the Upper and Lower Barnett Shale to the north (Montgomery, 2005).
Consequently, the undifferentiated Barnett Shale unconformably overlies the water-bearing
Ellenburger Group, and results in a higher risk of water encroachment during stimulation and
production of Barnett gas wells.


The aim of this paper is to find which of two theories of capital structure—trade-off theory or pecking order theory—best explains the capital structure decision of non-state firms during the post-transition process in Viet Nam. We also investigate the effect of human capital, institutional quality, and their interaction on the capital structure decision. For empirical evidence, we use a unique database provided by the CIEM-DANIDA project covering around 2,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Viet Nam for each year from 2003 to 2014. We estimate our empirical models by employing the System Generalized Method of Moments estimator.Our findings suggest that the capital structure of Vietnamese firms is a balance between the trade-off theory and the pecking order theory. On one hand, accessing formal debts is extremely tough for young and non-state firms; they bootstrap themselves out of financial constraints by stretching and making the most of their internal resources and assets. On the other hand, those with access to formal sources take advantage of leverage tools from using formal loans to exploit the tax benefits against the costs of financial distress.Other noteworthy findings include: (i) profitability and debt tax shields are no longer significantly important when entrepreneurs adopt informal debt financing; (ii) high-quality institutions with transparent and fair credit rationing rules will enable firms to reduce their reliance on debt financing; and (iii) while human capital encourages entrepreneurs to obtain more loans, its interaction with institutional quality deters debt financing and favours other financial sources.


Early this month a program televised nationally by NBC News charged that the Smithsonian Institution is serving as a "cover" for chemical and biological warfare (CBW) activities. Specifically, the program alleged that a Smithsonian bird-banding project has served as a "screen" for efforts to locate a site in the Pacific Ocean to conduct CBW tests; and as a "cover" for an "ultra-secret test" of an "animal delivery system for CBW." The charges -made in the course of a long program on CBW activities-attracted immediate attention in many of the nation's leading newspapers. Before the hubbub had subsided, another Smithsonian project-an ecological study in Brazil-had been implicated as well. The barrage of adverse publicity provoked alarm and indignation inside the Smithsonian. Sidney R. Galler, the institution's assistant secretary for science, was called away from a scientific meeting to investigate the charges. On the basis of his findings, he told Science "unequivocally" that the Smithsonian "has never engaged in any kind of biological warfare research." He also said there is "no evidence" that the Smithsonian has served as "an unwitting dupe or cloak for some kind of biological warfare re*search." He said charges that the Smithsonian is helping the Army find a CBW test site, or was involved in a secret test, are "absolutely without foundation."


In the past two decades, various reservoir upscaling theories and methods have been proposed for reservoir characterization and reservoir simulation. They are classified into five categories such as power-law average method, renormalization technique, pressure-solver method, vector method and pseudo-function technique. The common problem of conventional reservoir upscaling methods tends to smear out the spatially continuous permeability extremum strips like shale intercalation and fracture. However, the simulation and the practice for heterogeneous reservoirs have shown that oil recovery, especially breakthrough recovery mainly depends on the spatial connectivity of the extreme permeability values. This paper discusses how to deal with the permeability extrimum strips in the upscaling process and how to make an upscaling for natural fractured reservoir and carbonate reservoir, which are the remained major challenging problems in this area.


A notable aspect of ecosystem deterioration in arid regions is sand movement subsequent to the loss of plant cover. The Lower Mojave Valley in the Mojave Desert of southern California is undergoing rapid environmental change owing to groundwater drawdown, causing the death of phreatophytic vegetation and the reactivation of aeolian sand. Historical documentation shows that in the early twentieth century, sand derived from the open river channel accumulated to form large stabilized nebkhas, anchored by mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), a plant that requires the water table to lie 9 m or less below the surface. The natural balance between winds, sand supply, and vegetation changed in the later twentieth century, as increasing demand for groundwater caused the water table to drop from a near-surface elevation to as much as 30 m below the surface. The mesquite that anchored the dunes declined in vigor or died. Riparian vegetation, including cottonwood and willow, was scoured from the channel during flood events, and did not recolonize as the low water table prevented the establishment of seedlings. Extensive new areas of the channel were laid open to wind erosion. Sand derived from the channel and cannibalized from the degrading nebkhas began to migrate downwind. Long sand stringers extended from west to east across the dunefield. In the 1990s, barchans developed atop the sand stringers, growing rapidly from incipient low-amplitude forms to well-developed barchans 60 m in width with sharply defined slipfaces 6 m in height. The dunefield has changed from a predominant mode of deposition to one of erosion and transportation, in which the water table and vegetation no long exert an influence. Dune encroachment from migrating sand streaks and dunes buried equipment, rendered buildings and homes unusable, blocked the entrances to property and destroyed pasture areas. Changes to the aeolian environment of the Lower Mojave Valley reflect complex interactions between the wind regime, river channel morphology and sediment, surface and subsurface hydrology, geology, vegetation, and human influence. This study demonstrates the sensitivity of aeolian systems to land-use changes, particularly in environments where wind is not a limiting factor, and illustrates the rapidity with which such changes can occur.


In recent years, we have striven to make our introductory microscale organic chemistry lab experiments more environmentally benign. We describe some philosophical questions and practical decisions that have guided the greening of our organic lab at Hendrix College, followed by brief descriptions of three exemplary green experiments.


The purpose of this study was to analyze the static pressure loss of exhaust fan affected by each component of kitchen ventilation system which is consisted of kitchen hood, filter, flexible or rigid duct and exhaust cap. Different kinds of each part of the kitchen ventilation system were chosen respectively among the material and components mainly installed in apartment housing. The static pressure was measured by test chamber that air flow rate is able to be controlled by 4 nozzles, inverter fan and controller. As a result, a high static pressure fan must be used in order to effectively prevent the spread of odor and air pollutant occurred in the kitchen of high air-tightness housing kitchen ventilation system because static pressure was higher than expected. If not, each part of kitchen ventilation system which static pressure loss is low will be needed.


By 1991, the techniques for spat collection, extensive culture and repopulation of natural beds for both species were considered fully determined. These achievements represented the second success in the history of our native species; the second, because the honour of having been the first belongs to Don Gaston Vives, who managed the Compania Criadora de Concha y Perla between 1903 and 1915 at San Gabriel Bay, Bahia de La Paz.


NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.5 m diameter, segmented, deployable telescope for cryogenic infrared space astronomy (~40 K). The JWST Observatory architecture includes the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) element that contains four science instruments (SIs), including a guider. The SI and guider units are integrated to the ISIM structure and optically tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an instrument suite using a telescope simulator (Optical Telescope Element SIMulator; OSIM). OSIM is a high-fidelity, cryogenic JWST telescope simulator that features a ~1.5m diameter powered mirror. The SIs are aligned to the flight structure's coordinate system under ambient, clean room conditions using optomechanical metrology and customized interfaces. OSIM is aligned to the ISIM mechanical coordinate system at the cryogenic operating temperature via internal mechanisms and feedback from alignment sensors and metrology in six degrees of freedom. SI performance, including focus, pupil shear, pupil roll, boresight, wavefront error, and image quality, is evaluated at the operating temperature using OSIM. The comprehensive optical test plans include drafting OSIM source configurations for thousands of exposures ahead of the start of a cryogenic test campaign. We describe how we predicted the performance of OSIM light sources illuminating the ISIM detectors to aide in drafting these optical tests before a test campaign began. We also discuss the actual challenges and successes of those exposure predictions encountered during a test campaign to fulfill the demands of the ISIM optical performance verification.


This resarch reviews disputes revolving around the division of joint property after a divorce in the Central Aceh Regency using the methods; discussion with family, discussion by involving the customary institution Sarak Opat, and filing a claim to the Takengon Syar'iyah Tribunal. In general, division of joint property in the Central Aceh Regency is done by discussion through the customary institution Sarak Opat. The division of joint property after a divorce in the Central Aceh Regency that is done through discussion takes into account which household the child grew up in and how much money that household makes. Although this is not in accordance with the provisions of Indonesia's Marriage Law and the Islamic Law Compilation, it may be in accordance with Article 37 of Indonesia's Marriage Law and that this would not violate the rules within Islamic Law nor Customary Law, since in its core within Islamic Law and Customary Law there are specific rules regarding percentage of division of joint property following a divorce


A kind of surface functionalized chelating fiber prepared by immobilizing amino‐group on surface of polyacrylonitrile fiber (APAF) was used for As(V) adsorption. Results indicated that tetraethylenepentamine was the optimum amine agent, and addition of AlCl3 in preparation could strengthen the removal of As(V) by APAF. The morphology of APAF observed by SEM showed that heterogeneous protuberances existed on the surface of APAF due to nitrile groups transferring between the amine agents and polyacrylonitrile polymers. Zeta potential measurement suggested the pHzpc of APAF increased greatly after amination, beneficial of As(V) adhesion. The effects of initial solution concentration, pH, and contact time on adsorption of As (V) ions have been investigated in detail. The maximum equilibrium uptake capacity of As(V) on APAF was 327.26 mg/g at 298 K and Langmuir isotherm equation well fitted to the experimental data. Mechanism study indicated that the protonated amine groups on the fiber surface were responsible for sorption of As(V) on the APAF. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 1634–1641, 2016


Our paper explores the differences between online and traditional, in-person teaching and learning modalities, looking specifically at courses preparing teachers to be mathematics teacher leaders. In the context of current research on the teaching and learning of mathematics in an online setting, we share our own experiences. We describe the preparation for and teaching of online mathematics, focusing on establishing norms and the use of technology. The changing teaching and learning opportunities of the 21st century require discussion of these vital issues. We include stories of interactions between candidates and teachers and among groups of candidates in mathematics courses, detailing not just the discursive and work-sharing tools but the nature and nuance of these interactions and how they mediate mathematics learning. We share our online teaching and learning experiences, drawing on research to frame our impressions. By identifying key similarities and differences between instructional modalities and by reflecting critically on our own successes and challenges, we present a vision of online teaching and learning for mathematics courses, in particular those for mathematics specialists, that can be effective, inclusive, and relational.


The DC bias caused by single pole-ground mode or bipolar unbalanced mode of HVDC transmission or geomagnetic induced current phenomenon may lead to the measuring CT saturation, which may affect the measurement performance. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the saturation degree of the CT. By using the effective permeability, analyzing the equivalent model of CT under DC bias state and combining with the electromagnetic relationship between flux and voltage, the expression of the saturation degree, DC current and circuit parameters is analyzed and derived. By simulating different types of CT, the effectiveness of the analytical expression is verified, and the influence on the saturation degree is analyzed. The actual power system parameters are used for numerical analysis, and the rough estimation of the measurement error is used to show the specific application of the method for analyzing the DC bias magnetic conditions of the measuring CT.


The effective diffusivity diagnostic is used to obtain basic insight into the two‐dimensional transport and mixing properties of idealized barotropic tropical‐storm and hurricane‐like vortices. Three flow configurations believed to be relevant to hurricane dynamics are examined in a non‐divergent barotropic model: (i) an elliptical vortex, (ii) a Rankine vortex in a turbulent background vorticity field, and (iii) unstable vorticity rings. During the evolution of these vortical flows, effective diffusivity is used as a mixing diagnostic on a passive tracer field that also evolves in the non‐divergent flow. The internal dynamical processes causing mixing, as well as the location and magnitude of both turbulent mixing and partial barrier regions, are identified in the evolving vortices. Breaking vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) are found to create turbulent mixing regions of finite radial extent. For monotonic vortices, which are analogous to tropical storms, the wave breaking and axisymmetrization creates a surf zone outside the radius of maximum wind, while the vortex core remains a partial barrier or containment vessel. For unstable vorticity rings, which are analogous to intensifying hurricanes, two regimes of internal mixing are found. During barotropic instability of thick rings, the inner and outer breaking VRWs create two local mixing regions, separated by a partial barrier region at the location of the tangential jet. For barotropic instability of thin rings, the entire hurricane inner core becomes a turbulent mixing region, allowing passive tracers to be radially mixed between the eye, eyewall and local environment. In either case, the horizontal mixing associated with the inner, breaking VRW would support intensification, provided the passive tracer is equivalent potential temperature with a maximum in the eye. In addition to the insights obtained for internal mixing in hurricanes, effective diffusivity is shown to be a robust diagnostic for two‐dimensional turbulence, complementing its previous use in large‐scale atmospheric dynamics. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society


An explanation of the direction of time from the past into the future has not yet been possible. With this publication an explanation is given. In general a connection between time and entropy is assumed. Like time, entropy should have only one direction, it should increase. For this purpose the development of space is described with the classical methods of thermodynamics. Furthermore, a closed and thermally insulated container with different temperature ranges is considered: Even if there is no transport of mass or energy across the system boundaries, there is a temperature equalization. This is interpreted as entropy growth. Furthermore, the concentration equalization in a closed and heat-insulated container with areas of different concentrations is investigated in a similar way.
After these three investigations the explanation for the direction of time can be given. Furthermore, an explanation for the heat flow from "hot" to "cold" as well as for the diffusion flow during concentration equalization is given.


The poly(methyl methacrylate)-graft-polystyrene (PMMA-g-PS) copolymer formed in situ from polystyrene(PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate-ran-glycidyl methacrylate) (PMMA-GMA) blend with monocarboxylated PS (PS-mCOOH) as an in-situ compatibilizer in molten state was characterized by using -nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. These analyses were done after the phase consisting of unreacted PMMA-GMA and PMMA-g-PS copolymer was successfully separated from the other phase consisting of PS and unreacted PS-mCOOH by solvent extraction. The copolymer concentration in total blend (blend) increased linearly with the initially added amount a single PS-mCOOH chain was on the average grafted onto a single PMMA-GAM chain, although PMMA-GMA has 12 reactive sites per chain.


In recent years, SiC power semiconductor devices are emerging as alternatives that outperform Si devices by reduce power loss and high operation temperature (>200°C). However, commercial packaging technologies for Si devices are within limited operation temperature (<;150°C). The development of packaging technologies for SiC power module is a critical issue. In this paper, the full SiC power module (SiC MOSFET+ SiC Schottky diode) is developed. Thermal, thermomechanical and electrical characteristics of power module are analyzed. For increase reliability, Cu-Al heavy wire bonding and die bonding with high temperature solder are studied. Finally, the performance of full SiC power module is measured and compared with Si IGBT power module.


This article addresses the topic of Peacekeeping Operations on a post-conflict scenario, using an analysis of the angles that the cessation of hostilities contemplated. To that end, through a qualitative examination according to the rigors of a descriptive study, it examines what it takes not only of a legal framework that supports principles applicable like letter in strategic essence, that based on international experiences, finds a own way where particular characteristics which circumstances of peace for Colombia, consider other inputs not from the political perspective but from the collective vision that addresses the full responsibility of the forces of society in making possible the views of the legal order but accommodating the needs of institutional, local and civilian capabilities. Thus findings of the legal, constitutional and structural level conclude that the armed body is susceptible to joint communion, conceptual and logistics in untested context on the one hand and on the other predictable scenarios, once becomes effective the reality of peaceful coexistenc.


The electroforming process was used in the fabrication of different grades of nonwoven materials from a variety of fibers and binders using electrodes of different materials. Various kinds of three-dimensional and molded nonwoven fabrics can be produced by changing the shape of electrodes. For example, a conical nonwoven fabric can be produced by using conically-shaped eledtrodes. A hollow cylindrical nonwoven body can also be produced by using a revolving anode and a stationary cathode. The above cylindrical nonwoven body can be produced with the bottom closed to form a cup shape. Products with nonwoven fabrics laminated on a metal surface can be made by not removing the anode after the deposition of fiber flock onto the anode.


Cronobacter species are peritrichous flagella, Gram-negative bacilli, and emerging opportunistic foodborne pathogens (Farmer et al., 1980; Iversen et al., 2008; Jarada et al., 2014). Although the epidemiology and reservoir of Cronobacter are still not understood very well, powdered infant formula has been considered as the principal route of transmission among infants (Beuchat et al., 2009; Himelright et al., 2002; Hunter and Bean, 2013; Tall et al., 2015). Cronobacter also cause urinary tract infections, septicemia, and catheter-associated wound infections in people of all ages, especially in the elderly and those with other diseases or immune-compromised individuals (Joseph et al., 2012). Cronobacter can survive in dried food, fresh produces, and fruit juices (Lin and Beuchat, 2007; Gurtler and Beuchat, 2007; Tall et al., 2015).


I will show how fs x-ray pulses can probe the dynamical interplay between electronic, spin and lattice degrees of freedom which determines the function of complex materials such as ferromagnets, highly correlated transition metal oxides.


Separation of tocopherols from soybean sludge by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and nitrous oxide (SC-N2O) was carried out. This separation was not possible by supercritical fluid (SCF) alone and consequently, it was considered necessary to esterify the sludge with ethanol. Greater separation was possible using sludge esterified free fatty acid with ethanol. Tocopherols could be concentrated by more than 64 %. The tocopherolscould be recovered by 90 % in this fraction by SC-CO2 extraction in conjunction with a silicic acid column and simple pretreatment. The silicic acid column could be regenerated for the most part by extraction with an entrainer, such as ethanol.


Janelle M. Hoskins, Institute of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy; and Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Howard L. McLeod, Institute of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy; Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy; and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC


Background:
 Neural oscillations at specific frequencies have been associated with increased neuroplasticity. Additionally, exposure to extremely low frequency and low intensity electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) increases plasticity-related processes, with associated clinical improvements.

 Aim:
 The purpose of this double-blind sham-controlled trial was to explore the benefit of BrainQ's novel and non-invasive, artificial intelligence-powered, frequency-tuned ELF-EMF treatment (BQ) in improving upper extremity motor function (UEMF) in a sub-acute ischemic stroke population.

 Methods:
 Study was planned for 50 subjects, but was discontinued due to COVID-19 at 25 subjects. Participants were randomized to receive 40 minutes of BQ treatment (active or sham) 5 days/week, for 8 weeks, in conjunction with 10 minutes of physical therapy. The BQ treatment uses artificial intelligence-based algorithms to extract motor-related spectral features in EEG for use as treatment frequencies. BQ treatment is delivered via a wearable device that transmits frequency-tuned ELF-EMF, facilitating neuroplasticity processes within the central nervous system. Primary endpoint: Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FMA-UE); Secondary endpoints: mRS, Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Box and Block Test (BBT), NIHSS.

 Results:
 FMA-UE scores improved significantly (and sooner) in the treatment group versus sham at week 4 (23.2±3.91 vs. 9.9±3.2; 13.6 points greater than sham p=0.0070) and after 8 weeks of treatment (31.5±2.97 vs. 23.1±4.99; p=0.0611). For mRS, at week 9 the treatment group showed a mean improvement of 2.5±0.18 points versus 1.3±0.16 points in the sham group (p=0.0005), i.e. a mean of 1.2 points higher than that of the sham group. Significant improvements were also observed in the ARAT-Pinch subscale (week 9: p=0.0082), BBT (week 6: p=0.0169; week 9: p<0.0001), and NIHSS (week 9: p=0.0340). No related adverse events were reported, supporting the safety of the treatment.

 Conclusion:
 Our results show that BQ treatment significantly improves UEMF in a sub-acute ischemic stroke population across multiple clinical metrics. Further studies are planned and ongoing with larger study populations, and in related indications.