An interdisciplinary study was conducted to investigate the use of two reading machines placed at the disposal of visually handicapped individuals in a public location (Freiburg University Library). The machines were designed to translate written text into artificial speech or braille, as selected by the user. Two different configurations were tested, with data collection through interviews and systematic observation. The questions addressed were: whether machine improvement was necessary with respect to user friendliness, speech generalization, and text recognition; whether the machines, designed to be single-person workstations, would be accepted and shared in a public location; and whether it was possible to configure the machines to individuals with different baselines and needs. The results of this study were expected to aid decision-making regarding the suitability of the machines and their location, as well as the kind and extent of technical support needed. The invitation to participate in the study was taken up by 19 persons with visual handicap ranging from severe impairment to blindness. The two reading machines provided substantially increased literature access to users. One of the machines emerged as better suited for the university library setting. Regular assistance for users as well as clarification of organizational details proved necessary to guarantee productive and lasting usage of the machines.


Coronavirus pandemic has posed challenges in evaluating students' performance in educational institutions all over the world. Therefore, university instructors may encounter some problems in evaluating their students fairly through online teaching since it was not an easy task before this worldly crisis. The current study aims at investigating the perspectives of instructors who teach translation courses at some Saudi universities towards the followed evaluation methods in teaching translation courses during Coronavirus pandemic. Two methods were used to collect data: simple observation and online questionnaire. The participants were 21 instructors from 10 Saudi universities. The findings of this study show that using machine translation and CAT tools by students in doing assessment tasks does not guarantee fairness among students during Coronavirus pandemic regardless of the nature of translation courses. In addition, online exams and assignments are less fair to show the individual differences among students compared with written exams before Coronavirus pandemic. To evaluate students' performance in translation courses fairly, the participants of this study suggested some solutions such as modifying questions' patterns of some translation exams and assignments to cope with online teaching, emphasizing the importance of live sessions and online participation as assessment tasks for students during Coronavirus pandemic, using other evaluation methods such as live oral assessment, editing texts, multiple choice editing questions, etc. The study concludes with some recommendations for future research.


Our interest is in understanding the genetic bases for hereditary renal diseases of the domestic dog ( Canis familiaris ) and in characterizing gene loci for placement on the map of the canine genome. We report here on the cloning, sequencing and radiation hybrid mapping of the canine cDNA encoding uromodulin, a renal-specific glycoprotein. The cDNA is 2.3 kb in length and, as expected, comparisons of nucleotide sequences reveal that canine umod is quite similar to umod of other mammals. The predicted amino acid sequence of canine uromodulin has at least 70% identity with other mammalian uromodulin proteins. Canine umod has been mapped on the RHDF5000 radiation hybrid panel and positioned on the most recent canine genome map. Data indicate that umod is linked to the marker CZP2 (canine zona pellucida gene) on an RH group not yet assigned to a canine chromosome. The human umod and CZP2 genes are located on chromosome 16p13.


Part 1 Single variable techniques: graphing data smoothing data transformations. Part 2 Dealing with many variables: bivariate relationships regression diagnostics multiple regression. Part 3 Miscellaneous topics: collecting data capture/recapture Simpson's paradox.


Copper and iron although present in small amounts in the body, are vital for the normal functioning of several enzymes and proteins involved in energy metabolism, respiration and DNA synthesis. Their ionic forms are prone to participate in one-electron transfer reactions and can thereby catalyse redox reactions. However, this capacity enables copper and iron to generate free radicals, which may activate signalling pathways for cell proliferation. Evidence obtained over the years has shown that cancer cells generally require more copper and iron for their growth and metabolism than normal resting cells. Therefore, agents that affect copper and iron homeostasis in the cell are of considerable interest for cancer therapy. Several approaches have been pursued to achieve this goal; i) the identification of new iron binding bacterial siderophores, such as the exochelins and myochelins, with better physicochemical properties than desferrioxamine, ii) the development of macrocyclic polydentate amine ligands with high binding capacity for copper or iron ions compared to other trace elements. The macrocylic chelators have been found to have enhanced in vivo stability compared to the acyclic chelators, iii) the introduction of the antioxidant dithiocarbamate and analogues as radical scavenging agents in combination therapy to reduce the side effects of anticancer agents. These compounds mediate their action in vivo by binding copper and iron ions, iv) the development of a variety of metal chelating photosensitisers, such as the boronated porphyrins, cationic porphyrins, chlorins, phthalocyanins, porphyrins and texapyrins, suitable for use in photodynamic therapy. These compounds have the ability to accumulate to greater levels in tumour tissues than nontumour tissues. In general, the metal chelating agents can be administered alone, chelated to a radioactive or nonradioactive metal to facilitate tumour imaging, diagnosis and or treatment.


This report contains the results of measurements performed on sample coax No.2 from the Furukawa Cable Co. of Japan. Time domain reflectometer (TOR) and RLC measurements were made at room temperature and superconducting. Network analyzer measurements of S11 and S21 were made for the superconducting coax.


Fresh water is a key natural resource for food production, sanitation and industrial uses and has a high environmental value. The largest water use worldwide (~70%) corresponds to irrigation in agriculture, where use of water is becoming essential to maintain productivity. Efficient irrigation control largely depends on having access to reliable information about the actual plant water needs. Therefore, fast, portable and non-invasive sensing techniques able to measure water requirements directly on the plant are essential to face the huge challenge posed by the extensive water use in agriculture, the increasing water shortage and the impact of climate change. Non-contact resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (NC-RUS) in the frequency range 0.1–1.2 MHz has revealed as an efficient and powerful non-destructive, non-invasive and in vivo sensing technique for leaves of different plant species. In particular, NC-RUS allows determining surface mass, thickness and elastic modulus of the leaves. Hence, valuable information can be obtained about water content and turgor pressure. This work analyzes and reviews the main requirements for sensors, electronics, signal processing and data analysis in order to develop a fast, portable, robust and non-invasive NC-RUS system to monitor variations in leaves water content or turgor pressure. A sensing prototype is proposed, described and, as application example, used to study two different species: Vitis vinifera and Coffea arabica, whose leaves present thickness resonances in two different frequency bands (400–900 kHz and 200–400 kHz, respectively), These species are representative of two different climates and are related to two high-added value agricultural products where efficient irrigation management can be critical. Moreover, the technique can also be applied to other species and similar results can be obtained.


Several studies in developed economies have reported that the rate of growth of small  ̄rms decreases with  ̄rm age as well as size. This result is consistent with Jovanovic's (1982) version of the passive learning model of competitive selection and is con ̄rmed by data on a random sample of manufacturing  ̄rms in Ethiopia. This paper uses the Ethiopian data to test three other implications of the Jovanovic model. These link age-size e®ects in ̄rm growth to an underlying distribution of of  ̄rms by technical e±ciency, but have not been investigated empirically before. I  ̄nd,  ̄rst, that the same e®ects as detected in the Ethiopian data are matched by time-invariant inter̄rm di®erences in technical e±ciency. Secondly, the data exhibit age-size e®ects in technical e±ciency as well, whereby bigger  ̄rms are more e±cient given age and older  ̄rms are more e±cient given size. Thirdly,  ̄rm age and ̄rm size mainly proxy for owner human capital variables in as far as they explain e±ciency scores. In other words, it is not the case that some  ̄rms are more e±cient than others because they are bigger or older but the other way round: some  ̄rms are bigger or longer lived than others because they have proved to be more e±cient. Advantageous location is a major source of technical e±ciency but is signi ̄canlty less important than entrepreneurial human capital. Among the human capital variables considered, the level formal schooling completed has by far the strongest in°uence on e±ciency scores. The owner's access to business networks and his or her ethnicity also have signi ̄cant e®ects. On the other hand, there is no evidence that e±ciency depends on any one of pre-ownership employment experience in the current industry, occupational following of parents or prior vocational training.


Runtime monitors have been proposed as a means to increase the reliability of safety-critical systems. In particular, this report addresses runtime monitors for distributed hard real-time systems. This class of systems has had little attention from the monitoring community. The need for monitors is shown by discussing examples of avionic systems failure. We survey related work in the field of runtime monitoring. Several potential monitoring architectures for distributed real-time systems are presented along with a discussion of how they might be used to monitor properties of interest.


Palmitoyl-L carnitine decreases the oxidation of isocitrate in rat liver mitochondria in state 3 by 25-30%. Palmitoyl-L-carnitine acts as an additional substrate raising the rate of oxidative phosphorylation, NAD reduction and ATP/ADP ratio in mitochondria. Palmitoyl-CoA added to mitochondria oxidizing isocitrate in state 3 causes a strong inhibition of isocitrate oxidation and of oxidative phosphorylation and a considerable elevation of intramitochondrial NADH/NAD and ATP/ADP ratios. The effect of palmitoyl-CoA is dependent on its concentration and is competitive with ADP. Carnitine restores only oxidative phosphorylation, but the oxidation of isocitrate remains inhibited. Evidence is presented that the transport of isocitrate is not affected by palmitoyl-CoA is due to the inhibition of adenine nucleotide translocation. The kinetic studies of NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase in the soluble fraction of sonicated mitochondria revealed that the enzyme is very sensitive towards the inhibition by NADH and only very slightly affected by ATP (Ki for NADH and ATP are 0.017 and 3.6 mM respectively). On the basis of the kinetic data the relative contribution of NADH and ATP in the inhibition of isocitrate oxidation by fatty acids was calculated. It is concluded that the inhibition of isocitrate oxidation caused by palmitoyl-L-carnitine and palmitoyl-CoA is primarily due to the increased reduction of NAD, whereas the increase of ATP/ADP ratio is much less important.


In Lower Silesia, during the period of dynamic development of the railway industry in the 19th century, numerous objects related to railway infrastructure were created. At that time, some unique architectural and engineering objects were built. This article discusses selected buildings related to the railways in Lower Silesia that have significant architectural, historical, cultural and landscape values, but which have deteriorated and fallen into disrepair as a result of not being used. The authors' intention was also to show potential sources of inspiration for the revitalization of the described cases – examples of railway station adaptation to new functions. The article presents reconstructions of selected stations in the form of architectural models. Three objects representing various functional and spatial solutions were discussed in detail: Marchijski Railway Station in Wrocław, the station in Jaworzyna Śląska, and the station in Żelazno. Reconstruction mockups of the facilities were made using archival building documentation, engravings and photographs, data from the Register of Monuments and scientific studies to research their original appearance and provide information on the changes that occurred over time to each facility and its functioning. An important aim k of the publication is to show selected railway facilities in the era of their splendor and to contrast this with their current state.


Abstract Smith Valley is bounded on its western edge by an active normal fault and the Pine Nut mountains. Displacement on the fault is responsible for development of one of the westernmost basins of the Basin and Range province of the western United States. Interpretation of an exposure afforded by excavation of a trench across the range-bounding fault places the most recent surface-rupture earthquake after 5176±130 cal yr B.P. and suggests it was close in time to 3530±82 cal yr B.P. Utilization of tephrochonologic and cosmogenic analyses and mapping of fault scarps across the Artesia Road fan are the basis for putting forth an initial estimate of the late Pleistocene vertical slip rate of the fault at between 0.125 mm/yr and 0.33 mm/yr.


A microprocessor based vehicular engine control system testbed has been developed to make possible complex, interactive engine control experiments in the vehicle environment. Designed for flexibility, the on-board vehicle system incorporated two microprocessors, a variety of engine instrumentation, and controls over spark advance, airfuel ratio, and exhaust gas recirculation. The two microprocessors have been linked to form an efficient computational network with sufficient capacity to implement most, if not all, engine control experiments. Also included in the vehicle are video displays which provide operator control and interaction with experimental engine control systems. /GMRL/


The purpose of this short-term longitudinal study was to examine relations between trauma exposure, acculturative stress, school belonging, and internalizing symptoms in immigrant and refugee adolescents recently arriving into the United States. Participants were students between 5th and 11th grade (N = 94) who were enrolled in an alternative public school for newly arriving youth. At two different time points, students completed an electronic screening designed to assess exposure to adverse events and factors related to adjustment into a new country. Teachers reported on social skills and problem behaviors. Results indicated that acculturative stress was related to anxiety and depression after accounting for cumulative trauma and other relevant covariates. Acculturative stress remained stable over time, and differences in trauma exposure emerged between groups of students relatively high and low in acculturative stress and school belonging. Information yielded from the screening allowed school administration and staff to identify students at risk for adjustment difficulties and informed topics for group interventions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.


In this article, the design of a multiple-case study on Technology Enhanced Teacher Professional Development (TETPD) is presented, as well as the selection of cases and theoretical framework for analyzing TETPD. The aim of the article is to discuss four Swedish cases of teacher professional development with technology and media selected on these premises. The significance and possibilities of the cases to describe how programs of professional development work in terms of enhancing the use of ICT for teaching and learning are then discussed.


This project originated on the premise that natural gas could be formed catalytically in the earth rather than thermally as commonly believed. The intention was to test this hypothetical view and to explore generally the role of sedimentary metals in the generation of light hydrocarbons (C1 - C9). We showed the metalliferous source rocks are indeed catalytic in the generation of natural gas. Various metal compounds in the pure state show the same levels of catalytic activity as sedimentary rocks and the products are identical. Nickel is particularly active among the early transition metals and is projected to remain catalytically robust at all stages of catagenesis. Nickel oxide promotes the formation of n-alkanes in addition to natural gas (NG), demonstrating the full scope of the hypothetical catalytic process: The composition of catalytic gas duplicates the entire range of natural gas, from so-called wet gas to dry gas (60 to 95+ wt % methane), while gas generated thermally is consistently depleted in methane (10 to 60 wt % methane). These results support the view that metal catalysis is a major pathway through which natural gas is formed in the earth.


Abstract Overwinter weight loss of Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) was assessed during the 1989–1990 and 1990–1991 winters at three hibernacula (high, low, and no human visitation) in southern Indiana. We weighed 4264 M. sodalis captured during the autumn swarming and spring emergence periods. Mean spring weights were less than mean autumn weights for males and females in both years. Overwinter weight loss, expressed as a percentage of mean autumn weight, ranged from 15% to 33% and was least at the cave that received no human visitation in three of four sex-year combinations. The magnitude of overwinter weight loss differed among caves in three of four tests, but the effect of cave on weight loss was inconsistent between sexes in both years and between years within sex. Percent weight loss was less at the hibernaculum with low visitation (x̄ = 5.5 visits/winter) than at the hibernaculum with high visitation (x̄ = 378 visits/winter) in two of four sex-year combinations. Increases of populations in both disturbed hibernacula suggest M. sodalis is affected by limiting factors other than, or in addition to, human visitation in winter.


Offshore wind energy development along the East Coast of the US is proceeding quickly as a result of large areas with an excellent wind resource, low water depths and proximity to large electricity markets. Careful planning of wind turbine deployments in these offshore wind energy lease areas (LA) is required to maximize power output and to minimize wake losses between neighboring wind farms as well as those internal to each wind farm. Here, we used microscale wind modeling with two wake parameterizations to evaluate the potential annual energy production (AEP) and wake losses in the different LA areas, and we developed and applied a levelized cost of energy (LCoE) model to quantify the impact of different wind turbine layouts on LCoE. The modeling illustrated that if the current suite of LA is subject to deployment of 15 MW wind turbines at a spacing of 1.85 km, they will generate 4 to 4.6% of total national electricity demand. The LCoE ranged from $68 to $102/MWh depending on the precise layout selected, which is cost competitive with many other generation sources. The scale of the wind farms that will be deployed greatly exceed those currently operating and mean that wake-induced power losses are considerable but still relatively poorly constrained. AEP and LCoE exhibited significant dependence on the precise wake model applied. For the largest LA, the AEP differed by over 10% depending on the wake model used, leading to a $10/MWh difference in LCoE for the wind turbine layout with 1.85 km spacing.


Detailed, well organized user interface design specifications are essential to assure a smooth translation between design and implementation. Loosely defined specifications can result in the user interface being implemented differently than intended by the designer and may cause time consuming, costly modifications late in development. A good specification can facilitate the implementation process and reduce the likelihood of having to make modifications. This paper describes different approaches to developing specifications and lists the recommended contents for a design specification document.<<ETX>>


The root of Calotropis gigantea (thistle) is an Indonesian herb to treat cancer based on empirical and scientific evidences. The study aims to find out the infuence of ethanol extract of Calotropis gigantea root in inhibiting cancer cell growth of Mus musculus fibrosarcoma in vivo and to find out metabolite compound in the Calotropis gigantea root extract. The effect of cancer cell growth inhibition was tested on Mus musculus inducted with 7.12-dimetilbenz (α) antrasena (DMBA) and dose treatment of 50, 100 and 150 mg/Kg body weight. The metabolomic analysis on the root employs UPLC-QToF-MS/MS as a positive ESI ion source, the movement phase of water/acid mixture is 99.9/0.1 [v/v] and acetonitrile/formic acid was 99.9/0.1 [v/v] with gradient elution system and stationary phase of C18. The chromatogram was analyzed using Masslynx 4.1. The component identification was based on the m/z ratio measured in Masslynx and m/z counted in chemdraw. The result of the study showed that the Calotropis gigantea root extract with the dose of 50, 100 dan 150 mg/Kg body weight were able to increase the weight of fibrosarcoma mice and have a significant influence on caspase-3 expression with cell apoptosis index 24.3 %; 13.3 % and 12.3 % respectively. The result of metabolomic analysis showed 14 compounds found in the root extract. There are two major compounds: 4-Chlorobenzenethiol with the area 32.51% and N-[1-(Adamantan-1-yl) ethyl]-2-(1-piperidinyl)-4-quinazolinamine with the area 37.20%. They are indicated responsible for the anticancer activity of Calotropis gigantea root extract. Keywords: Calotropis gigantea, caspase-3, fibrosarcoma, metabolomic, UPLC-QToF-MS/MS


The Bird's Head Isthmus connecting the Bird's Head Peninsula with the rest of New Guinea is one of the last pristine areas remaining in Southeast Asia. Dominantly covered by limestone karsts, this vast region of West Papua (Indonesia) is still a terra incognita. At the heart of the coral triangle, the Kumawa and Lengguru limestone karsts and reef slopes are today a major biodiversity reservoir with high levels of endemism.
The French-Indonesian 'Lengguru 2014' expedition was headed by IRD and P2O-LIPI, RCB-LIPI and POLTEK. Exploration and sampling effort were concentrated on several reef slopes from -100 m to the surface using closed-circuit rebreathers (eCCR) and open circuits. 'Lengguru 2014' expedition was the first French oceanographic campaign organized by a national and academic research organization to use the rebreather.
The scientific diving operations were made under the responsibility of the French research institute IRD. Nevertheless, the French regulation presently only allows the use of rebreather for recreational uses. The main author participates as an expert for the Ministry of Labor to reform the law with specific applications to scientific purposes. This scientific expedition was therefore permitted in phase advance.
The Lengguru 2014 expedition was organized in complete autonomy for 6 weeks. It required extensive preparation and logistics, as well as some strengthened safety procedures for scientific dives.
Forty vertical transects have been performed from -100 meters depth to the surface, silently with great autonomy and optimized decompression. The exploration of flooded karsts by cave diving has been also possible with rebreather. It does not bubble and offers such autonomy. The use of eCCR offers together scientific benefits and enhanced diving safety.
The 'Lengguru 2014' Expedition provided a science-based assessment of functional, genetic and morphological diversity for several marine biotas (echinoderms, hard corals, gorgonians, mollusks) with prime importance for biodiversity conservation.


The psychiatric concept of athymhormie (loss of vital force "élan vital" and affectivity) was developed at the beginning of the 20th century and used exclusively in France, until it was fortunately adopted by mostly French-speaking neurologists. The authors of the concept, M Dide and P Guiraud, considered the term an independent entity, an heir to dementia praecox, for which they did not like to substitute a "schizophrenia" with blurry boundaries. This term then came to mean to them, and to most French psychiatrists to this day, the basic core of psychosis' deficient forms. The word athymhormie (or loss of psychic self-activation) is now also used in neurology for the behavioural and emotional consequences of lesions caused on basal nuclei and, more widely, of a circuit associated with the limbic loop. However, the phenomenological reality of the associated disorders and the relevance of the same name can be questioned. This review concludes that although the settings--in a psychiatric or a neurologic clinic--where athymhormie takes place are very different, the choice of the same name is justified in a renewed and symptomatic neuropsychiatric approach. The objective of this approach is to explore why some symptoms, common or similar, could represent the lack of a physiological function, presumed here to be motivation.


Despite years of experimental and clinical research, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) remains an important cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality. The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) has been implicated as a key mediator of reperfusion injury. Activation of NF-kappaB is dependent upon the phosphorylation of its inhibitor, IkappaBalpha, by the specific inhibitory kappaB kinase (IKK) subunit, IKKbeta. We hypothesized that specific antagonism of the NF-kappaB inflammatory pathway through IKKbeta inhibition reduces acute myocardial damage following IR injury. C57BL/6 mice underwent left anterior descending (LAD) artery ligation and release in an experimental model of acute IR. Bay 65-1942, an ATP-competitive inhibitor that selectively targets IKKbeta kinase activity, was administered intraperitoneally either prior to ischemia, at reperfusion, or 2 h after reperfusion. Compared with untreated animals, mice treated with IKKbeta inhibition had significant reduction in left ventricular infarct size. Cardiac function was also preserved following pretreatment with IKKbeta inhibition. These findings were further associated with decreased expression of phosphorylated IkappaBalpha and phosphorylated p65 in myocardial tissue. In addition, IKKbeta inhibition decreased serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, two prototypical downstream effectors of NF-kappaB activity. These results demonstrate that specific IKKbeta inhibition can provide both acute and delayed cardioprotection and offers a clinically accessible target for preventing cardiac injury following IR.


Chance affects careers, and being prepared is of essence. This article draws attention to the silence in the creativity literature on the impact of positive chance events in careers of successful women in the traditional male field of orchestra conducting. Typical serendipity and pseudoserendipity patterns in this domain of the performing arts are underscored and illustrated with case histories of some prominent women visible in the media. The social context of the field is also discussed with additional examples, and avenues for future research are suggested. Public data support empirical results on serendipity in women's careers in many fields.


In t h i s  s t u d y, the  main objectives were : to assess the current levels of leadership skills of the leadership team, staff engagement, and the performance effectiveness of the staff ; to design Organization Development Interventions (ODI) that will enhance the leadership skills, staff engagement and the performance effectiveness;  to implement ODI and to evaluate the initial effects of ODI on the levels of leadership skills staff engagement and the performance effectiveness; and to propose a Roadmap that will  sustain the initial positive effects of the ODI to further develop SLC as an excellent academic institution.  The pretest survey questions on leadership skills and styles by all leaders, and employee engagement questionnaires survey were administered prior to implementing the OD interventions. A SOAR Workshop was also conducted to know the priorities of the school community in its future direction and be the basis for the research study.  The research process involved the Pre-ODI, the implementation of OD and the Post- OD were conducted. At the beginning of the process, the 3 workshops were conducted with 248 Thai teachers as participants.   The three workshops were on Whole - Brain Based Organization Development , Responsible Gap for Engagement, and Team Building Workshop. Random Interviews with 22 teachers, 10 parents and 15 alumni were also conducted. The results showed significant improvements on the leadership styles and the employee engagements.      The performance effectiveness of the teachers showed no significant improvement. The results of the interviews with teachers, parents and alumni were positive on performance effectiveness.  The researcher proposed 5 roadmaps for SLC future development on leadership skills, personnel, academic and students development, so that SLC will be the high performing school in the future. Keywords:   leadership, transactional, transformational, authentic, path goal,       effectiveness, performance, high performance organization


The objective of this research was to study the current condition, the desired condition, needs assessment, and guidelines of the development of primary school administrators' attributes in the 21st century. This is descriptive research, and the research's sample group consisted of 370 school administrators and teachers; they were selected using stratified random sampling. The research tools were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, which have 0.98 of precision and 0.60-1.00 of IOC. The statistical measurements which were used in this research were frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, and the value of needs assessment using the Priority Need Index (PNI_modified). The research found that the overall current conditions and conditions in each dimension were at a medium level, whereas the overall desired conditions were at the highest level, which later were analyzed for the needs assessment of the primary school administrators' attributes in the 21st century in the following dimensions: 1) creativity and innovations, 2) visions, 3) being a desirable leader, 4) interpersonal relations, and 5) relations with work. Guidelines of the development of primary school administrators' attributes in 21st century comprise of: 1) the development of creativity and innovations, 2) opportunity provision to reach the 21st century's standards together in terms of the organization's visions, 3) reinforcement of 21st century leadership's attributes, 4) reinforcement of 21st century interpersonal relation's attributes, and 5) increase of the effectiveness of services which relate to the work within the 21st century organizations.


Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder which has various treatment options, however, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the gold standard. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the current first-line treatment of OSA, i.e., the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with mandibular advancement devices (MADs) in mild to severe OSA. Objective: This meta-analysis is a comparison of the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure vs mandibular advancement devices in patients with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The primary objective of the meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of CPAP vs MADs in the treatment of OSA. This meta-analysis includes randomized control and cross-over studies that compare the efficacy of CPAP and MAD and outcomes are reported in terms of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation, and Epworth sleepiness scale both pre- and post-treatment. Data sources and study selection: A PubMed and Cochrane database search was conducted in May 2021 and study bibliographies were reviewed. Randomized clinical trials comparing the effect of CPAP and MAD on AHI, lowest oxygen saturation, and ESS in patients with obstructive sleep apnea were selected. Of the 436 studies initially identified, eight were selected for analysis after screening. The quantitative measures used for comparing the efficacy of CPAP and MAD were post-treatment apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation, and post-treatment Epworth score scale (ESS). Data extraction and synthesis: A network of meta-analyses was performed using RevMan (Copenhagen, Denmark: Nordic Cochrane Center) where multivariate random-effects models were used to generate pooled estimates. Data were analyzed using generic inverse variance method and P < 0.05 is regarded as statistically significant. Combined summary statistics of standardized (STD) paired difference in mean for individual studies and combined studies was calculated. A chi-square-based test of homogeneity was performed and the inconsistency index (I2) statistic was determined. Results: Compared the AHI, lowest oxygen saturation, and ESS from baseline to follow-up pre- and post-treatment in both CPAP and MAD groups; after the database search 436 records were identified, eight studies were included in the RCT, and three were RCT crossover studies. The duration of treatment varies in each group. AHI, ESS, and lowest oxygen saturation are calculated pre- and post-treatment. Compared with MAD, CPAP was associated with decrease in AHI with a mean difference of -5.83 (95% CI, -8.85, -2.81, P < 0.01). The lowest oxygen saturation was also decreased in CPAP group compared to MAD group with a mean difference of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.51, 0.94, P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in ESS between CPAP and MAD group with a mean difference of 0.23 (95% CI, -0.24, 0.70, P = 0.34). The meta-analysis states that among patients with obstructive sleep apnea, both CPAP and MADs are effective in reducing the AHI and lowest oxygen saturation, however, no significant difference was found in ESS pre- and post-treatment. Conclusions: CPAP still remains the gold standard for the treatment of OSA and should continue to be recommended as a treatment for OSA. MAD can be used as adjunctive treatment or as a treatment for those who cannot readily access or do not prefer CPAP.


A computer-based mobile data acquisition system that was designed and built for measurement of the mechanical properties of the human chest and the resultant vascular pressures are discussed. During manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a short cylindrical module was placed between the rescuer's hands and the patient's chest. This module, which was attached to an easily manipulated position-sensing arm, measured force and acceleration at the sternum. Three-dimensional position and orientation of the module were measured, as well as the component of the applied force which was perpendicular to the sternum. The central venous and aortic pressures were measured by high-fidelity pressure transducers. All transducer signals were recorded by digital computer. Real-time feedback of sternal force and displacement and vascular pressures was provided to the rescue team via chart recordings. An audible signal was produced as an aid in maintaining the desired compression rate and duration. The system's mobility permitted rapid implementation at any hospital location.<<ETX>>


SummaryA procedure for regenerating Zizyphus jujuba Mill. (Chinese date) plants through repetitive somatic embryogenesis (RSE) was developed. Primary somatic embryos were produced from cotyledon-derived cultures of germinated plants in vitro. The highest induction frequency of primary somatic embryogenesis (PSE) was obtained with a combination of 4.52 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.49 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.44 μM benzyladenine (BA) (17.4%). These primary somatic embryos were multiplied by RSE on media with different plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. The highest RSE frequency (51.3%), was obtained with 0.58 μM gibberellic acid (GA3). However, the highest number (4.4 per primary somatic embryo) of repetitive somatic embryos was obtained with 0.98 μM 6-r-r-dimethylallylaminopurine (2-iP). For germination of somatic embryos, different PGRs, cold and desiccation treatment were tested. Desiccation of somatic embryos at 25±1°C for 2 wk was the best treatment for germination with epicotyl elongation and root development. Of over 256 plants regenerated, 237 (92.6%) survived.


Nutrient availability is an important contributor to the ability of bacteria to establish successful infections in a host. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen in humans causing infections that are difficult to treat. In part, its success is attributable to a high degree of metabolic versatility. P. aeruginosa is able to sense and respond to varied and limited nutrient stress in the host environment. Two-component systems are important sensors-regulators of cellular responses to environmental stresses, such as those encountered in the host. This work demonstrates that the response by the two-component system TctD-TctE to the presence of citric acid has a role in biofilm formation, aminoglycoside susceptibility, and growth in P. aeruginosa. ABSTRACT The two-component system TctD-TctE is important for regulating the uptake of tricarboxylic acids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. TctD-TctE accomplishes this through derepression of the gene opdH, which encodes a tricarboxylic acid-specific porin. Previous work from our lab revealed that TctD-TctE in P. aeruginosa also has a role in resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. The aim of this study was to further characterize the role of TctD-TctE in P. aeruginosa in the presence of citric acid. Here it was found that deletion of P. aeruginosa PA14 TctD-TctE (ΔtctED) resulted in a 4-fold decrease in the biofilm bactericidal concentrations of the aminoglycosides tobramycin and gentamicin when citric acid was present in nutrient media. Tobramycin accumulation assays demonstrated that deletion of TctD-TctE resulted in an increase in the amount of tobramycin retained in biofilm cells. The PA14 wild type responded to increasing concentrations of citric acid by producing less biofilm. In contrast, the amount of ΔtctED mutant biofilm formation remained constant or enhanced. Furthermore, the ΔtctED strain was incapable of growing on citric acid as a sole carbon source and was highly reduced in its ability to grow in the presence of citric acid even when an additional carbon source was available. Use of phenotypic and genetic microarrays found that this growth deficiency of the ΔtctED mutant is unique to citric acid and that multiple metabolic genes are dysregulated. This work demonstrates that TctD-TctE in P. aeruginosa has a role in biofilm development that is dependent on citric acid and that is separate from the previously characterized involvement in resistance to antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Nutrient availability is an important contributor to the ability of bacteria to establish successful infections in a host. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen in humans causing infections that are difficult to treat. In part, its success is attributable to a high degree of metabolic versatility. P. aeruginosa is able to sense and respond to varied and limited nutrient stress in the host environment. Two-component systems are important sensors-regulators of cellular responses to environmental stresses, such as those encountered in the host. This work demonstrates that the response by the two-component system TctD-TctE to the presence of citric acid has a role in biofilm formation, aminoglycoside susceptibility, and growth in P. aeruginosa.


Summary

The anadromous sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) stop feeding during spawning migration; following the migration effort, the energy reserves of their tissues are expected to be mobilised and depleted. The present work aimed at testing if mobilisation of nutrients occurred in sea lampreys during the 2011 spawning run in the Minho River. Professional fishermen at three sampling sites captured the individuals used: two at the beginning of the freshwater spawning migration (one at the river mouth and one upstream the estuary) and one near the spawning grounds (35 km upstream the estuary limit). The total lipids (Folch extraction), protein (nitrogen conversion), energy content (direct calorimetry) and fatty acids (GC/EI-MS-SIM) were determined in the carcass (n = 19) and female liver (n = 8) and gonads (n = 8). The results indicated that a reduction of carcass dry matter during migration was mainly caused by a lipid decrease (51.0 ± 2.46% downstream and 38.0 ± 2.92% upstream, LSmean ± SE). In females, a decrease in the measured amounts of liver lipids was also observed (4.28 ± 2.637 g downstream and 0.64 ± 2.206 g upstream, LSmean ± SE) and the monounsaturated fatty acids consistently composed the larger fraction of lipids in all tissues (ranging between 42.9 ± 4.20% and 54.9 ± 3.43% of total fatty acids, LSMean ± SE). The results suggest a dynamic nutrient mobilisation and the major importance of liver fatty acids (such as 14:1n-5 and 16:1n-7) as possible energy sources for embryonic development or combustion during spawning migration. The P. marinus individuals captured at the intermediate sampling site (approximately 35 km upstream river mouth) in the middle of the season seemed as ready to spawn as the upstream sea lampreys.


This paper presents an area efficient, high-speed and ultra low power 1-bit full adder that uses only 9 transistors. It works based on majority function and MOS capacitors. Because of the simple structure of the proposed design and reduced transistor counts, a very low power full adder is realized. It also can work more reliably at ultra low supply voltage in comparison with the previous designs. The circuit being studied is optimized for energy efficiency at 0.18-µm CMOS process technology. The adder cell is compared to four standard adders based on power consumption, speed and power delay product. Intensive simulation runs on HSPICE shows that the new adder has more than 44% in power savings over conventional CMOS adder and is 10% faster.


We discuss the coupling of orthogonally polarized beams in a nonlinear cavity and show experimentally how this can be used to implement gates or latches in which one polarization state is switched by another. These devices must be reset by interrupting a light beam and thus must dissipate energy to switch down. The possibility of up and down switching with positive pulses only is also discussed.


OBJECTIVES
To better understand the burden and management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in East Asia, this subanalysis of the baseline characteristics of a large prospective, observational, nonrandomized study investigating the relationships between symptom severity, treatments, co-morbidities, and health outcomes provides information about the diagnosis of, and treatment patterns for, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in this region.

METHODS
Outpatients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms participated in this 12-month study performed in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Patients were grouped according to whether they received conventional treatment or no or other treatment. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and co-morbidities were assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions-Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Severity scale and Child Symptom Inventory-4: Parent Checklist (categories B to J) / Adolescent Symptom Inventory-4: Parent Checklist (categories L and O), respectively.

RESULTS
A total of 502 patients aged 6 to 18 years were enrolled. Investigators were psychiatrists (69%) and paediatricians (31%), who used the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (86%), the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (6%), and other attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic criteria (8%) for diagnosis. Pharmacotherapy was the most commonly prescribed treatment (n = 251; 50%), and treated patients were older (9.1 vs. 8.2 years; p < 0.001) and more severely ill (Clinical Global Impressions-Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- Severity scale, 4.6 vs. 4.2; p < 0.001) than those who were not treated. Anxiety and oppositional co-morbidities were commonly reported.

CONCLUSIONS
These data provide an insight into the demographics, diagnosis, and treatment of paediatric patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in East Asia, and provide a baseline for assessing changes in treatment practices in this population.


Managing the evolution of a complex product family that is deployed and maintained in multiple variants on various platforms using traditional systems engineering tools and processes is a significant challenge. An example is managing the evolution of a common combat system across a fleet of submarines. Due to the realities of budgets and operational scheduling, multiple versions of the product must be managed for each ship: the currently deployed version, the upcoming tech refresh version, and future versions in planning and development. Adding to the complexity, the product family has variations for each class and flight of submarine, individual ships may vary in capabilities and equipment from the flight baseline, ships within a flight are upgraded at different times driven by maintenance availabilities, and each periodic upgrade may introduce new functional capabilities as well as updated software and hardware as the combat system evolves. To streamline this task, an integrated model based systems engineering process is being developed around a collection of tightly coupled models built in SysML and UML. This paper provides a preliminary description of the structure of those models, and places it in the context of related research. General Terms: Systems Engineering, System Evolution Additional


The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is frequently hyperactivated in T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). To model inhibition of this pathway in lymphoma, mice with constitutively-active AKT specific to T-lymphocytes (Lck-MyrAkt2) were crossed with mice that have genetically-reduced mTOR expression (mTOR knock-down, KD). Lck-MyrAkt2 mice with mTOR KD had altered thymic T-lymphocyte development; these mice also had delayed thymic pre-T cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (pre-T LBL) progression and increased survival relative to wild type (WT) mTOR/ Lck-MyrAkt2 mice (average survival of 24 versus 14 weeks, respectively). Delayed pre-T LBL formation was also observed when WT mTOR/Lck-MyrAkt2 mice were treated for 8 weeks with the rapamycin analog, everolimus, an inhibitor of the mTOR TORC1 complex. Transcriptional profiling of thymic lymphomas from the WT vs KD mTOR/ Lck-MyrAkt2 mice revealed that mTOR KD was associated with decreased expression of Cdk6, a critical proliferative control node in T- cell development and oncogenic transformation. Pharmacologic inhibition of mTOR in tumor cells also decreased CDK6. Tumor cells from WT mTOR/Lck-MyrAkt2 mice were more sensitive to CDK4/6 inhibitors than tumor cells from KD mTOR/Lck-MyrAkt2 mice. Combining an mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (PD-0332991) synergistically inhibited the viability and decreased downstream signaling in both mouse lymphoma cells and human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines. Combining a dual mTORC inhibitor (PP242) with a CDK4/6 inhibitor decreased downstream signaling to an even greater extent in human T-ALL cell lines. Our results suggest that an mTORi/CDKi combination may be beneficial in the treatment of human T-ALL. Citation Format: Joy M. Gary, Jinfei Xu, John Simmons, Shuling Zhang, Benjamin Gamache, Ke Zhang, Alexander Kovalchuk, Aleksandra Michalowski, Jin-Qiu Chen, Michelle Herrmann, Wendy Dubois, Joseph Testa, Beverly A. Mock. Murine model of dual mTORC kinase inhibition identifies CDK6 as a synergistic target in T-ALL. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2309. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2309


A theory of clipping voltage-switches suitable to quaternary nMOS circuits is proposed. It is based on the viewpoint that switching states of elements and signals in a circuit should be described separately by using switching variables and signal variables. Threshold comparison operations and voltage-clipping operation that can reflect the working principle of nMOS circuits are introduced. Their relative properties and logic-function expressions are discussed. Some basic quaternary nMOS circuits are designed in order to demonstrate the procedure.<<ETX>>


ABSTRACT Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a critical migratory stopover location for Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis), but the factors influencing the timing of their fall migration have not previously been investigated. We used archived Doppler radar data to visualize the nocturnal departures of Eared Grebes from GSL over 16 years, from 1999–2015. We used generalized linear models (GLMs) to examine interannual variability in the timing of migration of Eared Grebes in relation to prey availability and lake temperature, as well as variation in the nightly departure likelihoods of Eared Grebes in relation to weather. On average, Eared Grebes departed from GSL over a period of 31 days each year, with departures occurring on 17 of those days. We did not find any trend toward earlier departures over the years of the study. Departures typically began earlier in the year when densities of brine shrimp adults (Artemia franciscana) were higher than average, densities of brine shrimp cysts were lower than average, and lake temperatures were warmer than average. The span of migration departures was most strongly related to the day of first departure, with longer spans occurring in years with an earlier migration initiation day. We also found that likelihood of departure from GSL was greater on nights with high barometric pressure and low lake temperature. High barometric pressure was related to low wind speeds and low incidence of precipitation. We concluded that Eared Grebes depart when they have gained sufficient mass to successfully migrate rather than lingering at GSL for as long as possible, and that migration departure is most likely on nights with fair weather.


Achieving the best visual results requires optometric support

A successful corneal graft requires both clarity and an acceptable refraction. A clear corneal graft may be an optical failure if high astigmatism limits visual acuity. Early postoperative astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) may occur more frequently in keratoconus than other conditions, although all corneal grafts are beset by this problem. This may occur despite meticulous surgical technique; optimising graft centration, tissue distribution, and suture placement. A myriad of different suture adjustment regimens have been described for minimising early postoperative astigmatism. If significant astigmatism remains, which cannot be corrected by optical means, then further surgical procedures may be utilised to reduce the astigmatism. Relaxing incisions, arcuate keratotomy, and transverse keratotomy are flattening procedures that may be performed in the steep meridian. Compression sutures and wedge resection are steepening procedures that may be performed …


We characterize the extreme points of first-order stochastic dominance (FOSD) intervals and show how these intervals are at the heart of many topics in economics. Using knowledge of these extreme points, we characterize the distributions of posterior quantiles under a given prior, leading to an analogue of a classical result regarding the distribution of posterior means. We apply this analogue to various economic subjects, including the psychology of judgement, political economy, and Bayesian persuasion. In addition, FOSD intervals provide a common structure to security design. We use the extreme points to unify and generalize seminal results in that literature when either adverse selection or moral hazard pertains.


The amplification characteristics of an Er/sup 3+/-doped tellurite-based fibre amplifier (EDTFA) with 980 nm band pumping are described. The optimum pump wavelength and length of the newly developed EDTF are investigated in order to obtain both a low noise figure and a high gain simultaneously. We realise a low noise figure of less than 4.5 dB with a pump wavelength of 976.5 nm and a 0.4 m EDTF.


Introduction Anti-TNFα therapy has had a huge impact on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The inhibition of TNFα not only reduces inflammation but also increases the risk of opportunistic infections. Intracellular organisms such as Myobacterium tuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes are particularly high risk. Much has been written on TB with infliximab therapy whereas Listeria has not received similar attention. Case Series We report 2 cases of Listeria bacteraemia observed with infliximab for IBD. Case 1: A 65 year old male with known Crohns colitis presents with worsening diarrhoea & discharge. EUA and MRI confirm intersphincteric horsehoe fistula with moderate distal colitis. After failing steroid therapy he was commenced on infliximab. Ten days after his first dose he began to spike temperatures. Blood cultures confirmed Listeria monocytogenes bacteraemia. Case 2: A 50 year old male with known ulcerative colitis maintained on 5-ASA therapy presents with a severe exacerbation. He was commenced on infliximab after failing steroid therapy. After initially responding well to treatment he re-presented with flu-like symptoms and temperatures. Blood cultures confirmed Listeria monocytogenes. Both cases responded well to intra-venous amoxicillin. Of significance both patients presented within the loading dose period and were also receiving azathioprine and corticosteroids. Currently only 17 cases of invasive Listeriosis secondary to anti-TNFα therapy have been observed in IBD patients. Conclusion We conclude that patients requiring anti-TNF? therapy should be informed of the risk of food borne infections and advised to avoid high risk foods. These cases highlight the need for strict guidelines and prescribing physicians to be aware of such complications.


We study the design of polylogarithmic depth algorithms for approximately solving packing and covering semidefinite programs (or positive SDPs for short). This is a natural SDP generalization of the well-studied positive LP problem.
Although positive LPs can be solved in polylogarithmic depth while using only $\tilde{O}(\log^{2} n/\varepsilon^2)$ parallelizable iterations, the best known positive SDP solvers due to Jain and Yao require $O(\log^{14} n /\varepsilon^{13})$ parallelizable iterations. Several alternative solvers have been proposed to reduce the exponents in the number of iterations. However, the correctness of the convergence analyses in these works has been called into question, as they both rely on algebraic monotonicity properties that do not generalize to matrix algebra.
In this paper, we propose a very simple algorithm based on the optimization framework proposed for LP solvers. Our algorithm only needs $\tilde{O}(\log^2 n / \varepsilon^2)$ iterations, matching that of the best LP solver. To surmount the obstacles encountered by previous approaches, our analysis requires a new matrix inequality that extends Lieb-Thirring's inequality, and a sign-consistent, randomized variant of the gradient truncation technique proposed in.


1 Smith DK. Neal IJ, Holmberg SD. and the Centers for Disease Control Idiopathic CD4 + T-lymphocytopenia Task Force. Unexplained opportunistic infections and CD4 + T-lymphocytopenia without HIV Infection. An investigation of cases in the United States. N Engl / Mrd 1993: 238: 373-9. 2 Fauci AS. CD4 + T-lymphocytopenia without HIV infection no lights. no camera, just facts (Editorial). N E n g l ] Mrd 1993 :


This paper proposes a path tracking control algorithm dedicated to off-road mobile robots equipped with two steering axles. Four wheel steering mobile robot allows to enhanced motion capability with respect to classical car-like mobile robot, while reducing the friction induced by the skid-steered architecture. In particular, such a kinematic structure makes it possible to independently control the robot heading and its position, or to increase turning capabilities. In this paper, a strategy is developed in order to reduce the space required when achieving manoeuvres around a desired trajectory. Contrarily to classical point of view, expressing a relationship between the front and rear wheels, the control laws here proposed aim at following the same path for the front and the rear centre of the axle. The robot is then split into two subsystems, regulating two lateral deviations with respect to a desired trajectory.


Purpose of reviewThe inherited disorders of muscle metabolism affect both substrate utilization and the final intramitochondrial oxidation through the Krebs cycle and the respiratory chain. Almost every step of these complex biochemical pathways can be affected by inborn errors, whose expression depends on peculiar tissue-specific or systemic gene expression. This review updates current knowledge in this broad field. Recent findingsNew inherited defects are still being discovered, such as the beta-enolase deficiency in glycogenosis type XIII and mutations in the CGI-58 gene encoding an esterase/lipase/thioesterase protein in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, a multisystem triglyceride storage disease. SummaryTherapeutic approaches to the metabolic myopathies are still lagging behind, although remarkable observations have been made on the rare coenzyme Q10 deficiency syndrome. However, transgenic animal models may offer the opportunity both to investigate muscle pathogenesis and explore therapeutic targets. Finally, human myotoxicity may provide novel paradigms for naturally occurring muscle disorders.


After 50 years of studies on photobiomodulation (PBM), there is still so much to investigate to understand the laser light‐nonplant cells interactions. The current scientific knowledge allows to say that the phenomena induced by PBM are based on cellular pathways that are the key points of cell life. The mitochondria chromophores, also present on the bacterial membrane, the calcium channels, ion that regulates the life‐and‐death cellular processes, as well as the TRP family, whose genes have been found in protozoa and suggest that its basic mechanism evolved long before the appearance of animals, seem to be elective targets in photobiomodulatory events by wavelengths from 600 up to 980 nm. The ambiguous resulting cellular communication way, mediated by ATP, ROS and/or calcium, leads to cell manipulation, which modifies its metabolism and whose response connects all life‐forms from bacteria to vertebrates. Because of the Giano‐Bifronte features of ROS and calcium, as well as the fine balance of energetic mitochondrial processes, whose alteration is responsible for several diseases, the PBM can show unpredictable results and it requires scrupulous approach to avoid cellular damages. However, when carefully applied, PBM is able to improve nonhealthy cell's responses and represents a reliable support in human and veterinary medicine.


OVERVIEWCystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that was long considered a terminal illness. Recent genetic discoveries and genomic innovations, however, have transformed the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of this multisystem condition. For affected patients, these breakthroughs offer hope for significantly greater longevity and quality of life and, perhaps, for a future cure. This article reviews empirical research on CF, filling a critical gap in the nursing literature regarding recent findings in the study of CF genetics and their implications for patient teaching, diagnosis, and treatment.


Consumers' expectations about the future of their own finances and the macroeconomy are used to forecast consumption, but forecasts do not typically account for differences by race and ethnicity. In this report, the author asks (1) whether there is consistent racial and ethnic variation in consumers' economic expectations, (2) if differences can be explained by economic experiences, and (3) how the scope of expectations matters. The author uses the Survey of Consumer Finances to examine variation in the likelihood of positive national and personal economic expectations among individuals who identify as black, white, or Hispanic. The author finds that national expectations have substantial racial and ethnic variation net of economic experiences. For personal expectations, initial racial and ethnic variation in the likelihood of positive expectations disappears once economic experiences are accounted for. These findings have important implications for consumption forecasts, especially as the racial and ethnic composition of the United States changes.


Does the universe have the character it has because of design? In this collection of essays first presented at a symposium sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and the Royal Society of Canada, seventeen scientists and philosophers re-examine the "Argument by Design" in light of current scientific theories. Scientists in such diverse fields as cosmology, physics, geology, biology, and psychology provide syntheses of the state of their respective disciplines with regard to questions such as the origin or evolution of the universe and of life, the interaction of life and terrestrial environment, and verbal communication in prehumans. Contributions by philosophers cover such areas as arguments for a designer and the question of whether nature's laws and initial conditions could be viewed as "fine tuned" for the production of life. Many of the chapters demonstrate the awe-inspiring success of modern science in explaining the universe in terms of fairly straightforward natural laws, countering those versions of the design argument which try to find evidence of God's activities in the supposed failures of scientific laws to cover various phenomena.


Pneumonoconiosis presents a medicolegal problem of major importance. Many studies exist which deal with its etiology and pathogenesis and its diagnosis by roentgenograms, but so far little attention has been paid to its physiologic aspects, though their practical importance is obvious. Especially is this so in view of the growing tendency to adjust awards of workmen's compensation to the degree of disability. In order to do this properly it is essential that objective means of estimating disability be sought which will be fair alike to workman and employer. With this in mind we have carried out investigations on the respiratory function of fifty-three cases of pulmonary fibrosis of various types, not all of which were pneumonoconioses. The function of respiration is one jointly mediated by the heart, the blood and the lungs. It was apparent at the outset that the functional examination should be complete as regards all three of


Modernisation and urbanisation has come at a cost to Maldivian children, making them more vulnerable to social ills and psychological diseases. Life Skills Education (LSE) has been integrat-ed into the 2014 Maldives National Curriculum as a way to avert the emotional and psychologi-cal crises of children growing up in a rapidly changing society. Rather than questioning how this new initiative is introduced within the curriculum and the possible outcomes of the initiative, this paper aims to explore how knowledgeable and prepared the teachers believe they are to teach Life Skills to children. A cross sectional survey was completed by 186 teachers of two schools of Male', Maldives. Life Skills Education has been taught in some form in both schools since 2004. Four factors linked to teacher preparedness were analysed, namely: (1) teachers' attitude to LSE; (2) teachers' moti-vation to implement LSE; (3) teachers' perceived professional mastery; and (4) participation in ongoing professional development, all of which have direct impact on successful implementa-tion of Life Skills Education. All four factors have strong correlation to successful implementa-tion of Life Skills Education. Only 13% of the teachers in this study indicated that they believed they had the capacity to deliver Life Skills Education in the curriculum fully. This study identified the urgent need for LSE to be incorporated into initial teacher training and for policy makers and school leaders to ensure that teachers have ongoing effective support to develop life skills of vulnerable children who live in challenging home environments.


Inspired by the success of the General Language Understanding Evaluation benchmark, we introduce the Biomedical Language Understanding Evaluation (BLUE) benchmark to facilitate research in the development of pre-training language representations in the biomedicine domain. The benchmark consists of five tasks with ten datasets that cover both biomedical and clinical texts with different dataset sizes and difficulties. We also evaluate several baselines based on BERT and ELMo and find that the BERT model pre-trained on PubMed abstracts and MIMIC-III clinical notes achieves the best results. We make the datasets, pre-trained models, and codes publicly available at https://github.com/ ncbi-nlp/BLUE_Benchmark.


Mature Merino ewes (n = 228) were fed rations at levels of either 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 g/kg daily from day 1 until day 35 after mating. Embryos were then removed from single ovulating ewes and, after being weighed and measured, were dissected and embryo liver weights were obtained. Plasma samples were taken from all ewes on days 5, 10, 15, 20, 27 and 35 after mating and later analysed for glucose concentrations. During the 35-day treatment period, mean liveweight changes of ewes ranged from -6.9 to 5.5 kg in groups receiving the lowest and highest levels of nutrition respectively. Although there were no significant differences in the percentages of ewes pregnant at day 35 the weight and size of embryos, including embryo liver weight, varied with the level of nutrition. Mean wet weights (+/- s.e.m.) of embryos from ewes receiving rations at the rate of 10 g/kg daily and those receiving 30 g/kg daily were 1.67 +/- 0.04 g and 1.91 +/- 0.04 g respectively (difference significant at P less than 0.01). Plasma glucose concentrations of the ewes increased with increasing level of ration and decreased with time.


Summary The crosstalk between coagulation and inflammation and the propensity for microthromboembolic disease during sepsis calls for anticoagulant measures to prevent tissue hypoxygenation and to attenuate organ damage and dysfunction. Only one anticoagulant, recombinant human activated protein C (aPC, drotrecogin-α) has a proven survival benefit when used as an adjunctive therapy for human sepsis, partly because of its anti-inflammatory effect. However, heparin (-like compounds) may exert similar beneficial anti-inflammatory actions as aPC, in spite of the relatively narrow therapeutic window for anticoagulation. This narrative review is based on a Medline search of relevant basic and clinical studies published in English and discusses the potential role of heparin in modulating inflammatory responses in the treatment of animal models and human sepsis and its harmful sequelae. In any case, the results of a metaanalysis based on animal data suggest a potentially life-saving effect of heparin (-like compounds) in the treatment of sepsis.Therefore, a prospective randomized clinical trial is called upon to study effects in human sepsis.


This paper examines the perceptions of stakeholders on disadvantaged families' involvement in school activities and how this influences children's engagements in primary schools of Tanzania. The informants for this study were parents/guardians (families), pupils, dropouts and Educational Officers. The study employed qualitative research methodology. In particular, the study uses multiple case study design that covered six schools in two Regions of Tanzania. The study findings confirm that low involvement of parents in school activities invariably affected engagement of children in school. The paper concludes with strategies on how parental involvement could be improved to enhance pupils' engagement with primary school. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research , 9(1), 35-55, 2012


Patients with heart disease are more likely to experience social frailty due to physical inactivity, which may affect meaningful activities such as hobbies. This study aimed to investigate (1) the association between heart disease and social frailty in community-dwelling older adults and (2) the characteristics of meaningful activities in community-dwelling older adults with heart disease. Data from 630 older adults who participated in a community-based health survey were obtained, including clinical history, meaningful activities, social frailty and psychosomatic functions. Participants were divided into two groups: those with heart disease (n = 79) and those without (n = 551), and comparisons were made. Social frailty was observed in 23.7% of participants with heart disease, and logistic regression revealed significant associations with heart disease and social frailty after adjusting for potential covariates (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.06 3.67; p = 0.032). Participants with heart disease did not differ significantly in terms of satisfaction or performance; their frequency of engagement in meaningful activities was significantly lower than without heart disease (p = 0.041). These results suggest that heart disease and social frailty are associated in community-dwelling older adults, and that this demographic is inclined to engage in meaningful activities less frequently.


The Proca potential has been used in many contexts in flat spacetime, but not so often in curved spacetime. Here, the static Proca potentials are derived on a Schwarzschild background, and are found to have very different forms from those in flat space. In addition, the coupling of the two fields leads to a quantum condition on the particle mass, which is found to be quantized and inversely proportional to the range parameter, $\mu$. This suggests that gravity may induce quantization in other physical fields.


Faculty development programs are critical to the success of the learning and teaching process in higher education. With the rapid development of blended courses there is a need to transform the face-to-face faculty development programs to blended programs. The transformation requires instructors to examine new teaching methods and techniques, and obtain new skill set to ensure the success of the learning process and students' engagement in the new environment. Blended teaching is not just about transferring part of the training course online, but involves creating online activities that engage learners and complement the face-to-face activities. The role of the instructors changes from lecturer to facilitator of learning, coach and collaborator. Through participation in blended learning environments, instructors could experiment the new teaching strategies in a collaborative and safe environment.

This paper presents the process, benefits and challenges of transforming the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) for instructors from a three-day twenty four hours intensive format to four-week blended format. The Instructional Skills Workshop is peer-based training in which participants interact and present lessons in small groups to develop effective instructional skills through the use of constructive feedback strategies. Strategies associated with the re-design process which is based on the instructional design theories and principles will be presented. The paper presents data from formative and summative evaluations on communication, instructional skills and course design. The recommendations will address best practices that could be used to transform many faculty development programs from face-to-face to blended formats.

Keywords: Hybrid, Online, Blended Teaching, Blended Learning, Faculty Development Programs,
Instructional Skills.


The purpose of this study is to explore improving ways of screening of self-directed learning in self-governing high schools for expanding self-initiated learning screening system. To achieve the above aim, it was used survey method to 99 admission teachers of 12 self-governing high schools and analyzed responses with SPSS program. The research findings are as follows. To expand self-initiated learning screening system in self-governing high schools, it needs to obtain admission members of entrance committee, pooling of external screening members, quick decision of school admission members, increasing payment, training and understanding of the system and consideration of admission documents and study plan. Some improving ways of the expanding of self-initiated learning screening may be listed as follows: 1) development of screening model for self-governing schools 2) policy consideration for self-governing public high school 3) expanding autonomy of school 4) supporting budget 5) sharing of operation case and reinforcement of public relations.


Employing XMM-Newton EPIC data we perform a detailed comparison between different spectral models to test whether the gas in cooling flows is multiphase or not. Our findings all point in the same direction, namely, that gas in cooling flows does not show the wide distribution of temperatures expected from standard multiphase models. This result has profound implications for cooling-flow models. First, the large absorption column depths inferred by previous analysis of cooling-flow spectra are most likely an artifact following from the application of an incorrect spectral model to the data. Second, the mass deposition and mass flow are likely to be much smaller than previously thought. Last, but perhaps not least, the term "cooling-flow" cluster is probably no longer appropriate, as it describes a phenomenon of smaller entity and impact than previously thought. We propose to substitute it with that of "cool-core" cluster. The latter definition is less ambitious than the first, as it reflects only an observational fact rather than an inferred physical property, the flow, but has the undeniable advantage of being firmer.


ABSTRACT The diurnal and circadian profiles of pineal indoles, except melatonin, are poorly characterized in birds. Moreover, there are no data on the effect of sudden changes in the light–dark cycle on these profiles. Therefore, we investigated the diurnal (Experiment I) and circadian variation (Experiment II) of nine pineal indoles (tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, melatonin, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, 5-methoxytryptophol, 5-methoxyindole acetic acid, 5-methoxytryptamine) in geese, as well as the changes in the profiles of these substances in geese subjected to a reversed light–dark cycle (Experiment III). For the first 12 weeks of life, all geese were kept under a diurnal cycle of 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness (12L:12D). In Experiment I (n = 48), they were kept under these conditions for another 14 days before being sacrificed at 2-h intervals for sampling of the pineal glands. In Experiment II, the geese (n = 48) were divided into three groups (12L:12D, 24L:0D, 0L:24D) for 10 days before sampling at 6-h intervals. In Experiment III, 24 geese were exposed to a reversed light–dark cycle before sampling at 14:00 and 02:00 on the first, second and third days after light–dark cycle reversal. To determine the content of the indoles in the goose pineals, HPLC with fluorescence detection was used. We found that, with the exception of tryptophan, all the investigated indoles showed statistically significant diurnal variation. When geese were kept in constant darkness, most of the indoles continued to show this variation, but when geese were kept in constant light, the indoles did not show significant variation. When the light–dark cycle was reversed (12L:12D to 12D:12L), the profiles of NAS, melatonin, 5-MTAM and 5-MTOL reflected the new cycle within 2 days. The content of serotonin in geese in 12L:12D was higher than that observed in other birds under these conditions, which suggests that this compound may play a special role in the pineal physiology of this species. In conclusion, our results show that the daily variations in the metabolism of melatonin-synthesis–related indoles in the goose pineal gland are generated endogenously and controlled by environmental light conditions, as in other birds. However, comparison of the results obtained with the goose to those obtained with other species (chicken, duck) unambiguously shows that the profiles of pineal indoles differ markedly between species, in both the quantitative proportions of the compounds and the characteristics of the diurnal changes. These findings provide strong arguments for the need for comparative studies.


Summary In recent years there have been extraordinary developments of gold(I)-catalyzed enantioselective processes. This includes progress in the area of cycloaddition reactions, which are of particular interest due to their potential for the rapid construction of optically active cyclic products. In this article we will summarize some of the most remarkable examples, emphasizing reaction mechanisms and key intermediates involved in the processes.


The review deals with aluminum oxide ― properties associated with its use, types of industrial products, production methods in a dispersed state, in the form of polycrystalline ceramics and single-crystal products, chemical aspects of technological processes. Part 3 of the review presents Russian producers of alumina ceramics, mainly technical ones, as well as refractory materials and dispersed alumina, data on the composition and properties of products, as well as a short list of the product range. In addition, there are small enterprises and organizations that are engaged in innovation, the introduction of modern alumina ceramics into production. Ref. 7. Tab. 10.


A number of approaches to fusion energy are being pursued as alternative fusion concepts (AFCs). The goal of these systems is to provide a more desirable method of producing fusion energy than the mainline programs. Some of the AFCs have both a Low Power Density (LPD) option and a High Power Density (HPD) option. A summary of representative AFC programs and their associated PMI and HHF issues is followed by the technical assessment of the critical issues. These requirements are discussed relative to the mainline and/or HPD components. The HPD options are contrasted with a tabulation of the characteristics of components for the Reversed-Field Pinch (RFP), which is representative of the HPD concept.


This paper reviews and discusses the role of Empirical Bayes methodology in medical statistics in the last 50 years. It gives some background on the origin of the empirical Bayes approach and its link with the famous Stein estimator. The paper describes the application in four important areas in medical statistics: disease mapping, health care monitoring, meta‐analysis, and multiple testing. It ends with a warning that the application of the outcome of an empirical Bayes analysis to the individual "subjects" is a delicate matter that should be handled with prudence and care.


This paper presents an approximation algorithm for word-replacement under a bi-gram language model. Words replacement is an key step in the decoding part of statistical machine translation. However, the word or phrase replacement step is often done at the same time with the target language generating process in machine translation while our algorithm focus on the special replacement model without the target language generating process. We firstly make a reduction from the famous NP-Complete problem Hamiltonian Path Problem to the word-replacement problem. Then we apply the approximation algorithm for Hamiltonian Path on the word-replacement problem, which gives us a good performance in the designed experiment.


The following experimental results are reported : (a) accurate rates of quenching of NO C2Π(v= 0) by N2, CO2, Ar and NO; (b) measurement of the rate of the NO C2Π(v= 0)→NO A2Σ+ cascade radiation (fel= 1.6±0.6); (c) efficiencies of energy transfer in the deactivation of NO C2Π(v= 0) to A2Σ+; (d) evidence for electronic energy transfer in the deactivation of NO D2Σ+(v= 0) to NO A2Σ+ by N2; (e)"anomalous" quenching rates of the δ-bands by N2, CO2 and NO, and (f) partial quenching of the 15N16O δ-emission by Ar. A route via NO a4Π is adopted to account for the predissociation of NO C2Π(v= 0). It is suggested that the levels below F2(7/2) of 14N16O C2Π(v= 0) lie below the dissociation limit, indicating Do(NO)= 52,400±10cm–1. A compilation of the quenching parameters is given.


This paper adopts a text and discourse linguistics framework. We will assume discourses (or discourse types) represent an intermediate organizational level between text genre and the specific linguistic devices in use (Bronckart, 1997, 2008). Discourse types play a key role in language activity, as they allow the transition between individual and collective representations, and they involve temporal and agentive relationships. In our research, we focus the linguistic devices associated with temporal relationship, in order to distinguish between expositive and narrative discourses and to verify our main research issue: to understand how social activity and text genre can constrain the presence of different discourse types and to describe what function can assume the same discourse type in different texts (of different genres). To obtain evidence to address these questions, we analyze texts produced in literary, familiar and scientific activities.


Polyphloretin phosphate (PPP) has been reported by previous workers to be a specific antagonist of prostaglandin (PGE(1), PGE(2) & PGF(2 alpha))-induced contractions of isolated jird colon, gerbil colon, guinea pig ileum, and rabbit jejunum. In the present study, we examined the effect of PPP on uterotonic activities of crude papaya latex (a folkloric oxytocic), PGF(2 alpha), oxytocin, acetylcholine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (standard oxytocics) on non-gravid, oestrogen-primed (50 microg/kg) rats in vitro. The effect of PPP on the oxytocics was evaluated qualitatively by incubating the tissues in PPP (25 - 400 microg/ml) for 20 min prior to the addition of a constant concentration of each oxytocic. PPP concentration dependently inhibited the contractile response of the uterine muscles to all the oxytocics. The inhibition was reversible after washing out the drugs. Results of the present study suggest that PPP is a non-specific and reversible antagonist of the response of non-gravid rat uterine smooth muscle to oxytocics in vitro. The specificity of PPP as a prostaglandin antagonist could therefore be species/tissue dependent.


Background Innovation in healthcare is the practical application of new concepts, ideas, processes or technologies into clinical practice. Despite its necessity and potential to improve care in measurable ways, there are several issues related to patient safety, high costs, high failure rates and limited adoption by end-users. This mixed-method study aims to explore the role of simulation as a potential testbed for diminishing the risks, pitfalls and resources associated with development and implementation of medical innovations. Methods Subject-matter experts consisting of physicians, engineers, scientists and industry leaders participated in four semistructured teleconferences each lasting up to 2 hours each. Verbal data were transcribed verbatim, coded and categorised according to themes using grounded theory, and subsequently synthesised into a conceptual framework. Panelists were then invited to complete an online survey, ranking the (1) current use and (2) potential effectiveness of simulation-based technologies and techniques for evaluating and facilitating the product life cycle pathway. This was performed for each theme of the previously generated conceptual framework using a Likert scale of 1 (no effectiveness) to 9 (highest possible effectiveness) and then segregated according to various forms of simulation. Results Over 100 hours of data were collected and analysed. After 7 rounds of inductive data analysis, a conceptual framework of the product life cycle was developed. This framework helped to define and characterise the product development pathway. Agreement between reviewers for inclusion of items after the final round of analysis was 100%. A total of 7 themes were synthesised and categorised into 3 phases of the pathway: 'design and development', 'implementation and value creation' and 'product launch'. Strong discrepancies were identified between the current and potential roles of simulation in each phase. Simulation was felt to have the strongest potential role for early prototyping, testing for safety and product quality and testing for product effectiveness and ergonomics. Conclusions Simulation has great potential to fulfil several unmet needs in healthcare innovation. This framework can be used to help guide innovators and channel resources appropriately. The ultimate goal is a structured, well-defined process that will result in a product development outcome that has the greatest potential to succeed.


Abstract This paper proposes precise point positioning (PPP) methods that offer an accuracy of a few decimetres (dm) with triple frequency GNSS data. Firstly, an enhanced triple frequency linear combination is presented for rapid fixing of the extra wide-lane (EWL) and wide-lane (WL) ambiguities for GPS, Beidou-2 and Galileo. This has improved performance compared to the Melbourne-Wübbena (MW) linear combination, and has 6.7 % lower measurement noise for the GPS L1/L2 signals, 12.7 % for L1/L5 and 0.7 % for L2/L5. Analysis with tested data showed a 5–6 % reduction in time required to fix the N 21 {N_{21}} and N 51 {N_{51}} ambiguities. Once the EWL/WL ambiguities are fixed with the proposed linear combinations, three methods are presented that aim to provide positioning accuracy of a few dm. In the first approach, the three EWL/WL ambiguities in their respective phase equations are used to derive a low-noise ionosphere-free (IF) linear combination. The second method uses a low noise IF combination with two carrier-phase EWL/WL equations and a single pseudorange measurement. The third method uses a low noise IF combination with a single carrier phase EWL equation and two pseudorange measurements. These proposed methods can provide dm level positioning accuracy if carrier phase measurements with mm precision is tracked by the receiver. When comparing these combinations with a combination proposed in [22], it is found that superior performance is achieved with the third method when carrier phase noise is >5–6 mm for GPS and Beidou-2 and >2–3 mm for Galileo. This model only requires the EWL ambiguity to be fixed which typically takes just one epoch of data. Thus, the user achieves instant decimetre level PPP accuracy.


In this article, we provide a metaheuristic-based solution for stability analysis of nonlinear systems. We identify the optimal level set in the state space of these systems by combining two optimization phases. This set is in a definite negative region of the time derivative for a polynomial Lyapunov function (LF). Then, we consider a global optimization problem stated in two phases. The first phase is an external optimization to search for a definite positive LF, whose derivative is definite negative under linear matrix inequalities. The candidate LF coefficients are adjusted using a Jaya metaheuristic optimization algorithm. The second phase is an internal optimization to ensure an accurate estimate of the attraction region for each candidate LF that is optimized externally. The key idea of the algorithm is based mainly on a Jaya optimization, which provides an efficient way to characterize accurately the volume and shape of the maximal attraction domains. We conduct numerical experiments to validate the proposed approach. Two potential real-world applications are proposed.


In the present paper the experimental rheometric information on the investigation of ERF, based on the water containing fillers, is analyzed and generalized. A mechanism of surface polarization for particles of the dispersed medium is suggested.


Anticyclonic vortices focus and trap near-inertial waves so that near-inertial energy levels are elevated within the vortex core. Some aspects of this process, including the nonlinear modification of the vortex by the wave, are explained by the existence of trapped near-inertial eigenmodes. These vortex eigenmodes are easily excited by an initialwave with horizontal scale much larger than that of the vortex radius. We study this process using a wave-averaged model of near-inertial dynamics and compare its theoretical predictions with numerical solutions of the three-dimensional Boussinesq equations. In the linear approximation, the model predicts the eigenmode frequencies and spatial structures, and a near-inertial wave energy signature that is characterized by an approximately time-periodic, azimuthally invariant pattern. The wave-averaged model represents the nonlinear feedback of the waves on the vortex via a wave-induced contribution to the potential vorticity that is proportional to the Laplacian of the kinetic energy density of the waves. When this is taken into account, the modal frequency is predicted to increase linearly with the energy of the initial excitation. Both linear and nonlinear predictions agree convincingly with the Boussinesq results.


Ugi four component reaction (Ugi-4CR) isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions were used to synthesize diN-substituted glycyl-phenylalanine (diNsGF) derivatives. All of the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. In order to evaluate potential biological applications, the synthesized compounds were tested in computational models that predict the bioactivity of organic molecules by using only bi-dimensional molecular information. The diNsGF derivatives were predicted as cholinesterase inhibitors. Experimentally, all of the synthesized diNsGF derivatives showed moderate inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and poor activities against butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Compound 7a has significant activity and selectivity against AChE, which reveals that the diNsGF scaffold could be improved to reach novel candidates by combining other chemical components of the Ugi-4CR in a high-throughput combinatorial screening experiment. Molecular docking experiments of diNsGF derivatives inside AChE suggest that these compounds placed the phenylalanine group at the peripheral site of AChE. The orientations and chemical interactions of diNsGF derivatives were analyzed, and the changeable groups were identified for future exploration of novel candidates that could lead to the improvement of diNsGF derivative inhibitory activities.


Engineering curricula in modern universities are mostly designed toward solving the problems of the one billion rich but do not address the needs of the five billion poor on our planet. This is unfortunate as the demand of the developing world for engineering solutions is likely to increase in the forthcoming years due to population growth. There is a need for training a new generation of engineers who could better meet the challenges and needs of the developing world. In the College of Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, we are developing a new program in Engineering for Developing Communities (EDC). Its overall mission is to educate globally responsible students who can offer sustainable and appropriate technology solutions to the endemic problems faced by developing communities worldwide (including the US). The components of the new program include education, research and development, and outreach and service.


In the development of the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), in these more than 30 years of evolution, multiple studies have been developed to understand the concept, its dimensions as well as the implication for consumers and companies. In this article we review the concept of the IMC taking a theoretical perspective and delve into each of its components. To complete the theoretical review, we analyze the dimensions that make up the IMC. One of the aspects that has received poor attention by the literature has been the involvement of consumers and how companies have adapted their marketing structures to this new concept. In this paper we look into the structure of the Coca-Cola company in Spain and how it has modified its working patterns to adapt to an IMC model, where the marketing manager himself is in charge of the IMC management. The marketing department has changed the structure, the methodology and the way of integrating internally and with the marketing providers to adapt to a strategy totally based on the IMC principles.


The author argues that the current situation of China is increasingly appropriate for the development of financial derivatives.But,investors' ignorance and prejudice,the lagged behind moves to change the way the government functions and the lack of professionals will hinder the development of financial derivatives in China.The author puts forwards that,to promote the development of financial derivatives in China,we should steadily develop this market,gradually introduce product,and improve legal,fair and moderate supervision according to requirement of economic development,capacity for supervision and other conditions.Meanwhile,we also should pay more attention to innovation in financial instruments and financial institutional innovation and cultivation of professional.


This thesis presents an electron spin resonance study of solvation as revealed by environmental modifications of the three related semiquinones, £-benzosemiquinone, durosemiquinone and 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzosemiquinone and the £-dinitrobenzene anion. Brief reviews are given of the numerous processes which can give rise to line-broadening. It is shown how a knowledge of these factors is of considerable utility to the experimental and theoretical chemist. Protonation of 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzosemiqutnone is shown to occur at the unhindered oxygen atom. Previous assignments of the coupling constants of monoprotonated semiquinones are confirmed. A correlation of the proton hyperfine splitting constants with the Z—value of the solvent is described. The various degrees of line-broadening associated with the e.s.r. spectra of ion-pairs of semiquinones in a range of solvents is attributed to transfer of the cation from one oxygen atom of the semiquinone to the other. The e.s.r, spectra of a range of ion-pairs of 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzosemiquinone in ^-pentanol and 1,2-dimethoxyethane show that the cation favours the oxygen atom remote from the methyl groups. Variation in the magnitude of the sodium hyperfine coupling constant of the sodium salt of 2,6-dimethyl-p' benzosemiquinone is reported and is interpreted in terms of intramolecular interconversion between isomeric ion-pairs as also is the disproportionate broadening of the outer lines of the sodium quartet. It is shown that the concentration ratio of these ion-pairs is about 9 * i in favour of an asso ciation at the oxygen atom remote from the methyl groups. The proton hyperfine splitting constants of 2,6-dimethylP-benzoaemiquinone have been found to be solvent dependent. Possible correlations between these parameters and solvent characteristics are discussed. The dependence of the coupling constant of the 2-dinitrobenzene anion upon the concentration of added salt is reported. The results indicate that ion-pairing is possible in solvents such as alcohols. Several mixed solvent graphs are reported and discussed.


13. AISTRACT (Mfmnum O wa i* Despite hypothyroxinemia, PFDA-treated rats are not functionally hypothyroid. Furthermore, any alteration in functional thyroid status can be dissociated from the overt toxicity (i.e., severe hypophagia and body weight loss). PFDA exerts effects on neutral lipid metabolism in both liver and carcass of the rat. At 7 days following a single administration of PFDA, hepatic esterification of free fatty acid into TG and CE was increased yet the expected augmentation in the export of these neutral lipids from liver into plasma was absent. An efficient chemical method was developed for the purification of commercially available PFDA that contains contaminants of monoand diprotio-substituted materials. PFDA of high specific activity has been synthesized with C-labeling in the C-1 position. In vivo experiments indicate that perfluorinated acid derived radioactivity found in rat tissues behaves similarly to PFDA or PFOA added directly to frozen rat tissue. Hepatic oxidation of long-chain medium-chain and short-chain fatty acids was unaffected by pretreatment with PFDA or PFOA. Similarly, esterification was not affected.