This present paper investigated the mechanical properties and the microstructures of each penetration shapes classifying the conduction shape area and the keyhole shape area about electron beam welded 120(T)mm thick plated aluminum 5052 112H. As a result the penetration depth is increased linearly according to the output power, but the aspect ratio is decreased after the regular output power. In the conduction shape area, the Heat affected zone is observed relatively wider than the keyhole shape area. In the material front surface of the welded specimen, the width is decreased but the width in the material rear surface is increased. After the measuring the Micro Vikers Hardness, it showed almost similar hardness range in all parts, and after testing the tensile strength, the ultimate tensile strength is similar to the ultimate tensile strength of the base material in all the specimens, also the fracture point was generated in the base materials of all the samples. In the result of the impact test, impact absorbed energy of the Keyhole shape area is turned up very high, and also shown up the effect about four times of fracture toughness comparing the base material. In the last result of observing the fractographs, typical ductile fraction is shown in each weld metal, and in the basic material, the dimple fraction is shown. The weld metals are shown that there are no other developments of any new chemical compound during the fastness melting and solidification.


BACKGROUND
CD4, a leukocyte surface glycoprotein, is mainly expressed on CD4+ T cells, but is also expressed on monocytes. The difference in the expression level and structure of CD4 on T cells and monocytes predicts the different functions of this molecule in both cell types. Although the function of CD4 on T cells is well characterized, little is known about that expressed on primary monocytes.

OBJECTIVE
In this study, we investigated the immunoregulation function of CD4 on peripheral blood monocytes.

METHODS
Methods: CD4 molecule on monocyte was ligated by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), MT4/3. The effect of mAb MT4/3 on T cell proliferation, cytokine production, the expression of monocyte costimulatory molecules, monocyte migration, and macrophage differentiation were investigated. Moreover, the molecular weight of CD4 on peripheral blood monocyte was carried out by Western immunoblotting.

RESULTS
We demonstrated that mAb MT4/3 inhibited anti-CD3 induced T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and the expression of monocyte costimulatory molecules. The ligation of only CD4 on monocytes was sufficient to inhibit T cell activation. Moreover, mAb MT4/3 could inhibit monocyte migration in a transwell migration assay, but not affect the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages. Using purified primary monocytes, the molecular weight of CD4 expressed on monocytes was identified as 55 kDa.

CONCLUSIONS
The CD4 molecule expressed on monocytes might play an important role in the regulation of immune responses in both innate and adaptive immunity. Understanding the novel role of CD4 on monocytes in immunoregulation is valuable in the development of new therapeutic approaches.


This work was designed to determine the effects and concentrations of three water-born anaesthetic agents {Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), Clove oil (Euganol) and Chloral hydrate}in addition to one systemic anaesthetic agent (Ketamine) in cultured Oreochromis niloticus. The induction time and recovery time of each anaesthetic agent were recorded. The effects of these anaesthetic agents on some haematological parameters, serum creatinine and serum total protein and plasma cortisol were estimated. Behavioural changes during different stages of anaesthesia were also recorded. The validity of these anaesthetic agents for fish specialists was verified through measurement of stress parameters namely serum glucose and plasma cortisol. This was investigated after transportation of fish from the farm to the laboratory under the sedative effects of the aforementioned anaesthetic agents. Results revealed that with all the used agents there were leucopenia, hypercortisolaemia and total hypoproteinaemia associated with anaethesia. Otherwise, these anaesthetic agents had no significant effect on haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells count and serum creatinine. There were hypoglycaemia and hypocortisolaemia in the serum and plasma collected from fish transported under the sedative effects of water-born anaesthetic agents when compared with transported control group. Clove oil (Euganol) was found to be the best as a safe, cheap, less stressful, and can be applied as a sedative and anaesthetic agent in Oreochromis niloticus.


This paper proposes a method for predicting the point at which a simple lateral collision avoidance manoeuvre fails. It starts by defining the kinematic failure boundary for a range of conflict geometries and velocities. This relies on the assumption that the ownship aircraft is able to turn instantaneously. The dynamics of the ownship aircraft are then introduced in the form of a constant rate turn model. With knowledge of the kinematic boundary, two optimisation algorithms are used to estimate the location of the real failure boundary. A higher fidelity simulation environment is used to compare the boundary predictions. The shape of the failure boundary is found to be heavily connected to the kinematic boundary prediction. Some encounters where the ownship aircraft is travelling slower than the intruder were found to have large failure boundaries. The optimisation method is shown to perform well, and with alterations to the turn model, its accuracy can be improved. The paper finishes by demonstrating how the failure boundary is used to determine accurate collision avoidance logic. This is expected to significantly reduce the size and complexity of the verification problem.


Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of feline origin (cNPCs) have demonstrated utility in transplantation experiments, yet are difficult to grow in culture beyond the 1 month time frame. Here we use an enriched, serum-free base medium (Ultraculture) and report the successful long-term propagation of these cells. Primary cultures were derived from fetal brain tissue and passaged in DMEM/F12-based or Ultraculture-based proliferation media, both in the presence of EGF + bFGF. Cells in standard DMEM/F12-based medium ceased to proliferate by 1-month, whereas the cells in the Ultraculture-based medium continued to grow for at least 5 months (end of study) with no evidence of senescence. The Ultraculture-based cultures expressed lower levels of progenitor and lineage-associated markers under proliferation conditions but retained multipotency as evidenced by the ability to differentiate into neurons and glia following growth factor removal in the presence of FBS. Importantly, later passage cNPCs did not develop chromosomal aberrations.


We investigate the decentralized networked stabilization problem for interconnected nonlinear systems via a fuzzy control approach in this paper. Some network characteristics, such as nonuniform sampling, network-induced delays and data packet dropouts, are all considered. State feedback controller is designed and sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the asymptotic stability of whole closed-loop systems. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to show the validity of the proposed scheme.


This study investigated the efficacy of V ideo S elf- M odeling (VSM) with video feedback using iPads to improve independent transitioning of two young children, a first grader and a preschooler, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across play activities and school routines. It was hypothesized that participants would transition independently through play activities and daily routines after watching their exemplary behaviors on an iPad. Teachers and teacher assistants delivered the intervention in inclusive classrooms. An A-B-A-B research design was used with the first grader whereas an A-B-A design was implemented with the preschooler. Findings show that both participants improved targeted behaviors. Independent transitioning skills were also maintained for both participants one month after the intervention was withdrawn. Social validity results show that parents of participants and their teachers favored and recommended the video self-modeling with video feedback intervention for other children with autism.


: A complication of oronasal fistula secondary to anterior maxillary osteotomy occurred; it was successfully treated after two attempts at closure.


D D FIGURE 16-16 Cellular response to growth factors. Schematic representation of the pleiotrophic effects of growth factors, which share several properties and are believed to be important in the development and morphogenesis of organs and tissues, such as those of the kidney. Among these properties are the ability to regulate or activate numerous cellular signaling responses, including proliferation (mitogenesis), motility (motogenesis), and differentiation (morphogenesis). These characteristics allow growth factors to play critical roles in a number of complex biological functions, including embryogenesis, angiogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignant transformation [83].


Background In this study, we aimed to study the effect of FTY720 treatment in reducing circulating Tregs level and then suppressing liver tumor metastasis after hepatectomy and I/R injury in animal models. Furthermore, we also investigated the synergistic anti-tumor effect of FTY720 combined with rapamycin on hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The effect of FTY720 on suppressing Tregs mobilization and tumor metastasis after hepatectomy was investigated in an orthotopic liver tumor rat model with hepatectomy and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The synergistic anti-tumor effect of FTY720 combined with rapamycin was further explored both in in vitro functional study and in orthotopic liver tumor mouse model. Results In rat model, hepatic I/R promoted tumor metastasis and increased circulating Tregs after hepatectomy. The treatment of FTY720 reduced liver tumor metastasis and the number of circulating Tregs. Furthermore, FTY720 enhanced the anti-tumor capacity of rapamycin by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro and reducing tumor growth in vivo through suppressing hepatic stellate cell activation and tumor angiogenesis. Conclusion FTY720 suppressed liver tumor growth and metastasis by reducing the population of circulating Tregs and enhancing the anti-tumor effect of rapamycin. It was suggested that FTY720 single or combined with rapamycin might provide novel insight for suppressing tumor growth and metastasis for HCC patients.


Tourism as a tool for development was first mooted in the 1970s. Recently, focus has been on the role of ecotourism, pro-poor tourism and community-based tourism (CBT). This has been so in Lao People's Democratic Republic, where international tourism is a vital source of foreign exchange and employment and an important feature of the government's poverty-alleviation strategy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) finances many infrastructural projects facilitating tourist movement in the Lower Mekong Basin, and with the Lao Government and the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) is a key player in donor-assisted, community-based tourism (DACBT). The development of DACBT in Lao PDR is discussed in some detail, especially the Nam Ha Ecotourism Project, and is compared briefly with the role of the private sector in tourism development in Southern Lao PDR. It is concluded that while DACBT projects can indeed alleviate poverty and develop financial and cultural capital, private sector tourism enterprises also have an important role in poverty alleviation, and it should not be assumed that DACBT is the only – or necessarily the most efficient – form of pro-poor tourism.


The magnetic insulator $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$ is a promising candidate to realize Kitaev interactions on a quasi-two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. We perform extensive susceptibility measurements on single crystals of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$, including angle dependence of the in-plane longitudinal and transverse susceptibilities, which reveal a unidirectional anisotropy within the honeycomb plane. By comparing the experimental results to a high-temperature expansion of a Kitaev-Heisenberg-$\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ spin Hamiltonian with bond anisotropy, we find excellent agreement with the observed phase shift and periodicity of the angle-resolved susceptibilities. Within this model, we show that the pronounced difference between in-plane and out-of-plane susceptibilities as well as the finite transverse susceptibility are rooted in strong symmetric off-diagonal $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ spin exchange. The $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ couplings and relationships between other terms in the model Hamiltonian are quantified by extracting relevant Curie-Weiss intercepts from the experimental data.


A detection method using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect genetically modified (GM) potato (NewLeaf Y potato; NL-Y), of which the mandatory assessment has not yet been completed in Japan. The potato sucrose synthase gene was used as an internal control. We designed a primer pair to specifically detect NL-Y without false-positive results in processed potato foods infected with the potato virus Y (PVY). The DNA introduced into NL-Y using the primer pair could be detected from potato powder samples containing 0.05% NL-Y. In addition, we designed primer pairs for recognizing the CryIIIA gene to detect the NewLeaf potato (NL), NewLeaf Plus potato (NL-P) and NL-Y and for recognizing p-FMV in order to detect NL-P and NL-Y. The proposed method was applied to the detection of NL-Y in 26 processed potato foods and NL-Y was not detected in any samples.


A wideband 77-GHz front-end receiver for passive imaging has been designed and characterized. This system comprises a fully differential low-noise amplifier (LNA), double-balanced mixer, and voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The 77-GHz LNA achieves 4.9-6.0-dB noise figure (NF), 18-26-dB gain, and S11 and S22 of - 13.0 and - 12.8 dB, respectively. The double-balanced mixer achieves 12-14-dB NF, 20-26-dB conversion gain, and -26-dBm P1dB (input referred). The VCO achieves output power from - 2 to 0 dBm with phase noise of ~ -93 dBc/Hz at 72 GHz, and can be tuned by approximately 3 GHz. The NF can be substantially improved with the addition of image-reject Chebyshev bandpass filters at the interface between the LNA and mixer. The 77-GHz receiver achieves 40-46-dB max conversion gain, output-referred P1dB of 2 dBm, and power dissipation of 195 mW. A 90-GHz LNA has also been characterized as an integral part of a higher resolution 94-GHz imager. This LNA achieves 22-dB maximum gain, 7.0-dB NF, and - 25- and - 10-dB S11 and S22 , respectively, at 90 GHz. This LNA also exhibits excellent ultra-wideband performance, achieving ges 10-dB gain from 40 to 100 GHz.


French law requires employers to share information and consult with the shop committee (comite d'entreprise) in the face of mergers or acquisitions. Management is not obliged to obtain shop committee consent to contemplated transactions, but a formal information and consultation procedure must precede management's decision concerning proposed business combinations. If the shop committee submits a negative opinion, management may elect to disregard the committee's views and proceed with the transaction. However, management must not relegate the information and consultation procedure to an empty formality. In particular, management must not bind the company irreversibly before receiving the opinion of the shop committee and must maintain the freedom of choice to seek modification or require revocation of the transaction in accordance with the views expressed in the shop committee report. There is sharp controversy as to the appropriate point in time for management to disclose the pendency of a transaction to the shop committee, with potentially explosive labor consequences if the timing is wrong. This article explores how far the parties to a transaction may go before triggering the obligation to present the matter to the shop committee. It also discusses the required procedural steps in the consultation process and the nature of information that must be revealed to the shop committee.


In general, farmers and agricultural workers are characterized by relatively low mortality rates when considering all causes of death and deaths due to all types of cancer. However, several studies have shown that this occupational category tend to be at increased risks of developing the following forms of malignancies: leukaemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the skin, lip, prostate, stomach, brain, and connective tissue. Although the reported excesses have not been consistent in different studies, they nevertheless suggest that agricultural exposures, especially pesticides, contribute to cancer aetiology through different mechanisms of action. It has been hypothesised that immunotoxic effects may play a role, since most of the malignancies found to be increased in workers employed in agriculture are also elevated in patients suffering from innnunodeficiencies. The present studies were conducted to ascertain whether agricultural activities and exposures influence the risk of developing cancer, and to evaluate the innnunological effects of phenoxy herbicides as possibly important for the aetiology of lymphomas.Different types of cancer were considered in relation to farming in two case-control studies, focused one on men and the other on women. A decreased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer (odds ratio [OR] 0.4) and an excess of skin melanoma (OR 2.7) and bladder cancer (OR 2.7) were observed in the women. The main finding in the men was an excess of prostate cancer (OR 1.5). Further analyses showed that this malignancy was associated with exposure to chlorinated compounds (OR 2.5), and, more specifically, to DDT (OR 2.1) and dicofol and tetradifon (OR 2.8).Mortality in selected groups of farmers and their relatives was investigated in two cohort studies. Farmers and their wives showed reduced mortality from all causes and all cancers although there was a tendency towards increased risk of leukaemia, particularly among wives of pesticide users (standardised mortality ratio [SMR] 2.4). Adult sons and daughters of green-house owners exhibited increased mortality from all types of cancer (SMR 1.9).A study was also performed to compare pre- and post-exposure values of selected immunological parameters in a group of ten farmers exposed to phenoxy herbicides. The most notable fmdings were reduced levels of the following: circulating natural killer (NK) cells (-38%), NK cytotoxic activity (-53%), and lymphocyte response to mitogenic stimulation (-50%).


Since online knowledge networks usually consist of a larger, loosely knit, and geographically distributed group of "strangers" who may not know each other very well, members may not willingly share their knowledge with others. In order to address this challenge, this study looks Into the factors that are expected to affect knowledge sharing in an online knowledge network. For empirical validation, we choose "the global network of Korean scientists and engineers (KOSEN)" as one of the best practices of online knowledge networks. By using the archival, network, and survey data, we validate two models of knowledge sharing in sequence (i.e., knowledge contribution and knowledge utilization models) and then discuss the results. The findings of this study show that individuals not only contribute but also utilize knowledge in an online knowledge network when they are structurally embedded and perceive a strong reciprocity. In the network. In addition, taking pleasure in helping is found to positively affect knowledge contribution, whereas perceiving usefulness is found to Influence knowledge utilization. Contributions of this study and future research opportunities are also discussed.


We report on the first demonstration of the wavelength demultiplexing of a 100-Gb/s nonreturn to zero signal to four channels at 25 Gb/s, based on resonant structures implemented in GaInP photonic crystals. The device is composed of four filters based on H0 cavities with one common input bus and four drop outputs showing a very small footprint. The measured device characteristics show good performances in terms of transmission and crosstalk with insertion losses of 11 dB on the best port. System measurements have validated its operation with <; 1-dB power penalty at a bit error rate of 10-9.


Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to promote the survival of developing motor neurons in vitro and to rescue motor neurons from axotomy‐induced cell death in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of exogenous BDNF on the progression of wobbler mouse motor neuron disease (MND). After clinical diagnosis at age 3 to 4 weeks, 20 affected mice received subcutaneous injections of recombinant human BDNF (5 mg/kg, n = 10) or vehicle (n = 10), three times a week for 4 weeks. In a separate experiment done to conduct a histometric analysis of the C‐5 and C‐6 ventral roots and to determine the number of myelinated nerve fibers, 7 wobbler mice received identical BDNF treatment. In the 10 BDNF‐treated wobbler mice, grip strength declined at a slower rate (p < 0.03) and was twice as great as that of vehicle‐treated animals at the end of treatment (p < 0.01). In vivo biceps (p < 0.01‐) and in vitro muscle twitch tensions (p < 0.02) were also greater than those of vehicle‐treated mice. The biceps muscle weight was 20% greater (p < 0.05) and the mean muscle fiber diameter was significantly larger in BDNF‐treated mice (p < 0.001) because the number of small (denervated) muscle fibers was markedly reduced. The number of myelinated motor axons at the cervical ventral roots studied in the additional 7 affected mice was 25% greater with BDNF treatment (p < 0.0001). This study establishes that exogenous BDNF administration can retard motor dysfunction in a natural MND and diminish denervation muscle atrophy and motor axon loss.


This article proposes experimentation as a framework for understanding actor agency in the changing regulation of work and employment. This involves contrasting institutional change with organisational and institutional experimentation approaches in order to understand how, in the context of uncertainty, actors in the world of work experiment with new ways of organising and seek to institutionalise them into new understandings, norms and rules. The article describes the fault lines of disruption that are generating a vast range of experiments in the world of work. These fault lines invite resilient responses and the development of collective capabilities at two levels: first, organisational experimentation, where social actors seek to modify or renew their organisations, networks and alliances and reflect on, assess and learn from their experiments; second, institutional experimentation, where these responses are scaled up and institutionalised over time through more general understandings, norms and rules. A key challenge for comparative research and strategising is to find the appropriate institutional conditions that will facilitate and enable organisational experiments, whilst overcoming constraining institutional conditions. This challenge is illustrated through the examples of co-working and the development of new forms of collective representation.


A series of nine novel 3-tetrazolylmethyl-azepino[4,5-b]indol-4-ones were prepared in moderate to good overall yields in only two reaction steps. The first step consisted of a one-pot sequential process of an Ugi-azide multicomponent reaction, N-acylation and SN2 to give the xanthates. The second step was an intramolecular cyclization under free radical conditions. Also, their binding modes have been modelled using docking techniques.


In comparative studies of masticatory function and mandibular biomechanics, the mediolateral dimension of the postcanine corpus (corpus breadth) is commonly utilized as a measure of torsional stiffness from which relative torsional strength is inferred. The use of this dimension entails certain assumptions about corpus shape and cortical bone distribution that are invalid. When corpus breadth is related to an appropriate, empirically supported measure of torsional strength, it is revealed that this dimension has limited utility for inference of biomechanical competence under torsion. The use of linear dimensions to infer structural adaptations to specific loading regimes is problematic given that bone tissue is not optimally deployed to minimize strain levels arising from isolated loads. For the inference of the masticatory biomechanical environment, the more reasonable approach is to consider overall size of the corpus (i.e., cross-sectional area) for inference of intra- and inter-specific differences in masticatory forces.


Development of cluster structures is a priority for the knowledge and information economy development and an important prerequisite for effective strategic partnership of logistically and geographically related entities of the economic system. The practice of tourism business shows that it is in the conditions of the development of enterprises cluster systems that will be able to form unique competencies, optimally use the resource potential and strategic opportunities, and obtain synergistic and multiplicative economic benefits. Given the situation, tourism clusters development is con- sidered one of the most promising formats of strategic partnership and predetermines the theoretical field of modern scientific research. The need for a constructive rethink- ing of the mechanisms of economic actors' convergence based on cauterization; definition of preconditions, stages, and processes of formation and development of tourism clusters is an unsolved theoretical and applied problem. The article is devoted to the procedures identification and interpreting the formation of tourism clusters; systematizing the conditions and factors influencing the clasteriza-tion in Ukraine. The work developed recommendations for the successful development of tourism clusters, in particular, the author's vision of identifying structural and functional components of the tourism cluster; establishing interrelations and relationships between participants; definition of tourist attractiveness of the destination for the development of cluster initiatives; algorithmization of the participant's entry to the cluster; developing scenarios for the development of tourism clusters in Ukraine. The results of determining the participants' interaction intensity in the tourism cluster are presented, and the effectiveness of the cluster system development based on a set of economic, social and environmental criteria is evaluated. world tourism in macroeconomic of the


Abstract. The advection of warm Pacific water and the reduction in sea ice in the western Arctic Ocean may influence the abundance and distribution of copepods, a key component of food webs. To quantify the factors affecting the abundance of copepods in the northern Bering and Chukchi seas, we constructed habitat models explaining the spatial patterns of large and small Arctic and Pacific copepods separately. Copepods were sampled using NORPAC (North Pacific Standard) nets. The structures of water masses indexed by principle component analysis scores, satellite-derived timing of sea ice retreat, bottom depth and chlorophyll a concentration were integrated into generalized additive models as explanatory variables. The adequate models for all copepods exhibited clear continuous relationships between the abundance of copepods and the indexed water masses. Large Arctic copepods were abundant at stations where the bottom layer was saline; however they were scarce at stations where warm fresh water formed the upper layer. Small Arctic copepods were abundant at stations where the upper layer was warm and saline and the bottom layer was cold and highly saline. In contrast, Pacific copepods were abundant at stations where the Pacific-origin water mass was predominant (i.e. a warm, saline upper layer and saline and a highly saline bottom layer). All copepod groups showed a positive relationship with early sea ice retreat. Early sea ice retreat has been reported to initiate spring blooms in open water, allowing copepods to utilize more food while maintaining their high activity in warm water without sea ice and cold water. This finding indicates that early sea ice retreat has positive effects on the abundance of all copepod groups in the northern Bering and Chukchi seas, suggesting a change from a pelagic–benthic-type ecosystem to a pelagic–pelagic type.


Non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is particularly useful for assessing the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs. It provides a large number of blood pressure readings during daytime as well as night-time, which results in a more precise assessment of prevailing blood pressure than can be obtained from sporadic measurements taken by a doctor. Because of this greater precision ABPM reduces the number of patients required in clinical trials to demonstrate differences. It also allows one to define precisely the profile of the blood-pressure-lowering effect of a given drug. Placebo has little effect on ABPM. Thus, a placebo phase is not absolutely necessary. ABPM makes it possible to evaluate the efficacy of an antihypertensive medication by analysing data for patients with a placebo effect separately from data for true responders to the medication. In everyday practice ABPM helps one to detect among patients with hypertension refractory to treatment those who exhibit controlled blood pressures outside the medical environment, thus permitting one to avoid an unnecessary step-up of treatment. In addition ABPM can also help one to identify symptoms occurring during antihypertensive treatment that are related to excessive drug-induced changes in blood pressure.


Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a fundamental variable defining boreal stream ecosystems. In this thesis the impact of forestry practices that are commonly performed in the boreal regions of Scandinavia for stream water quality were evaluated. The thesis is based on combining the use of primary data from the Balsjo paired catchment experiment in northern Sweden with various modeling approaches.

Final-felling strongly increased DOC concentrations in boreal first-order streams during the first four years after harvest. Median concentrations increased by 3.0 mg/L after clear-cutting and 6.2 mg/L after site preparation with concentrations being 5-24 mg/L higher in the clear-cut than in the reference catchment during summer storms. Clear-cutting also increased the riverine carbon (C) export significantly from 95 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ to 183 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and to 280 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ during pre-treatment, clear-cut and site-preparation periods, respectively. This export represents an important part of the C-balance of a forest in the region. Hydrological effects of clear-cutting included increased snow accumulation by 29 mm (27%) and a modified spring snowmelt. However, the largest effect on the water balance (~189 mm = 31%) was found during summer, when stream runoff was increased due to reduction in evapotranspiration. The drivers of the increased DOC concentrations were identified as changing flow-pathways in riparian soils activating more surficial, DOC rich soil layers, as well as increased soil temperatures that enhanced the DOC availability in riparian soils and therefore increased DOC mobilization from clear-cuts during the summer. In a final step, the impact of these increased, clear-cut induced DOC inputs into a larger scale boreal stream network were investigated by using a mixing model approach. DOC inputs were transferred to downstream sites, which resulted in increases in DOC concentrations at these locations. Further, the modeling approach showed that increases in DOC concentrations can be statistically detected, if the total area harvested within the stream network exceeds threshold values of 11% (p>0.05) and 23-25% (p<0.001) of the catchment area. Thus, this thesis suggests that threshold values for the maximum percentage of harvested area within a river basin should be implemented into forest planning for boreal catchments that are sensitive to changes in DOC concentrations.


Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) are considered a well-known class of engineering thermoplastics due to their efficient use in automotive, 3D printing, and electronics. However, improvement in toughness, processability, and thermal stability is achieved by mixing together ABS and PC. The present study focuses on the understanding of surface mechanical characterization of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) blends using nano-indentation. Polymer blends sheets with three different proportions of ABS/PC (75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) were fabricated via melt-processing and thermal press. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to analyze the intermolecular interactions between the blends' components. To understand the surface mechanical properties of ABS and PC blends, a sufficient number of nano-indentation tests were performed at a constant loading rate to a maximum load of 100 mN. Creeping effects were observed at the end of loading and start of unloading section. Elastic modulus, indentation hardness, and creep values were measured as a function of penetration displacement in the quasi-continuous stiffness mode (QCSM) indentation. Load-displacement curves indicated an increase in the displacement with the increase in ABS contents while a decreasing trend was observed in the hardness and elastic modulus values as the ABS content was increased. We believe this study would provide an effective pathway for developing new polymer blends with enhanced mechanical performance.


In this work, A STATCOM of 12-pulse two levels is used to regulate the bus voltage at specific bus bar under many cases of abnormal conditions like load and source disturbances. The proposed system consists of a single machine, transmission line and load. The compensation process are performed and compared between the two suggested control methods, first, the conventional control by using PI controller only which is used to improve the voltage profile. Second, the adapting controller uses self-tuning fuzzy PI controller for improving the voltage profile. At the time of disturbance gets occurrence, the PI controller must change its parameters to recover the voltage profile into the stable state at the disturbance moment. The simulation results show the improvements of voltage profile for both two types and then compare them. The improvement of voltage profile using adaptation method is less over shoot and attains a steady state faster than the conventional PI when the system is subjected under many disturbances. The results of the harmonic effect show low values of total harmonic distortion (THD) of supply voltage and current. Moreover, it is acceptable with IEEE standards because a new technique of Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) is used.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Hypothermia has been suggested to be the most potent therapeutic approach to reduce experimental ischemic brain injury identified to date, and mild hypothermia is increasingly used for neuroprotection during neurovascular surgery. We have recently demonstrated that combined administration of tirilazad mesylate and magnesium provides for an overall enhanced neuroprotective effect. The present study was designed to determine whether the efficacy of mild hypothermia (33 degrees C) can be increased by combination pharmacotherapy with tirilazad and magnesium (MgCl(2)).

METHODS
Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient, middle cerebral artery occlusion and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms (n=10 each): (1) normothermia+vehicle, (2) normothermia+tirilazad+MgCl(2), (3) hypothermia+vehicle, or (4) hypothermia+tirilazad+MgCl(2). Cortical blood flow was monitored by a bilateral laser-Doppler flowmeter, and the electroencephalogram was continuously recorded. Functional deficits were quantified by daily neurological examinations. Infarct volume was assessed after 7 days.

RESULTS
Tirilazad+MgCl(2), hypothermia, and hypothermia+tirilazad+MgCl(2) reduced total infarct volume by 56%, 63%, and 77%, respectively, relative to controls. In animals treated with both hypothermia and combination pharmacotherapy, cortical infarction was almost completely abolished (-99%), and infarct volume in the basal ganglia was significantly reduced by 55%. In addition, this treatment provided for the best electrophysiological recovery and functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS
The neuroprotective efficacy of hypothermia can be increased by pharmacological antagonism of excitatory amino acids and free radicals by using clinically available drugs. This treatment strategy could be of great benefit when applied during temporary artery occlusion in cerebrovascular surgery.


Distributed space-time coding is a mean of achieving diversity through cooperative communication in a wireless relay network. In this paper, we consider a transmission protocol that follows a two-stage model: transmission from source to relays in the first stage, followed by a simple relaying technique from relays to destination. The relays transmit a vector which is a transformation of the received vector by a relay-specific unitary transformation. We assume that the relays do not have any channel information, while the destination has only a partial-channel knowledge, by which we mean that destination knows only the relay-to-destination channel. For such a setup, we derive a Chernoff bound on the pairwise error probability and propose code design criteria. A second contribution is the differential encoding and decoding scheme for this setup, which is different from the existing ones. Furthermore, differential codes from cyclic division algebra are proposed that achieve full diversity. For our setup with two relays, a Generalized PSK code is shown to achieve full diversity, for which the decoding complexity is independent of code size


Impressions of leaves, fruits and a flower have been described from the Late Cenozoic beds from near Mahuadanr, Palamu District, Bihar. The assemblage consists of 25 species belonging to 22 genera and 16 families of the dicotyledons. Family Asclepiadaceae and the genera Spondias, Erythrina, Combretum, Mitragyna, Alstonia and Cryptolepis have been described for the first time from the Cenozoic of India. The data have been used to decipher the palaeoecology and depositional environment of the region. A comparison of this flora with other Neogene floras of India has also been made.


Track-walking nanomotors and larger systems integrating these motors are important for wide real-world applications of nanotechnology. However, inventing these nanomotors remains difficult, a sharp contrast to the widespread success of simpler switch-like nanodevices, even though the latter already encompasses basic elements of the former such as engine-like bistate contraction/extension or leg-like controllable binding. This conspicuous gap reflects an impeding bottleneck for the nanomotor development, namely, lack of a modularized construction by which spatially and functionally separable "engines" and "legs" are flexibly assembled into a self-directed motor. Indeed, all track-walking nanomotors reported to date combine the engine and leg functions in the same molecular part, which largely underpins the device-motor gap. Here we propose a general design principle allowing the modularized nanomotor construction from disentangled engine-like and leg-like motifs, and provide an experimental proof of concept by implementing a bipedal DNA nanomotor up to a best working regime of this versatile design principle. The motor uses a light-powered contraction-extension switch to drive a coordinated hand-over-hand directional walking on a DNA track. Systematic fluorescence experiments confirm the motor's directional motion and suggest that the motor possesses two directional biases, one for rear leg dissociation and one for forward leg binding. This study opens a viable route to develop track-walking nanomotors from numerous molecular switches and binding motifs available from nanodevice research and biology.


Lung carcinoids tumors are uncommon tumors that start in the lung. They tend to grow slower than other types of lung cancers. Carcinoids tumors start from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. It is widely recognized that cytology is superior to small biopsy in diagnosing small cell lung carcinoma since the crush artefacts limiting small biopsy interpretation is minimized in cytology. Similarly, carcinoids can be accurately diagnosed in cytology and small biopsy specimen. A correct preoperative cytological diagnosis helps in planning early and optimal surgery. We received the fine-needle aspiration cytology sample of bronchial mass of 46-year-old patient presenting with cough and hemoptysis for 2 months. Diagnosis of carcinoid tumor was given on cytology that was confirmed on histopathology and immunohistochemistry.


In this paper, we build on previous work on Belief Revision operators based on the use of logic programming with Answer Set semantics as a representation language. We present a set of postulates for Answer Set Revision with respect to a set of sentences and with respect to explanations. We focus on the non-prioritized revision operator with respect to explanations, or arguments, which is intended to model situations in which agents revise their knowledge as a result of dialogues with other agents in a multi-agent setting.


An extension of the authentication protocol for GSM is proposed to improve some drawbacks of the current GSM authentication protocol including: not supporting bilateral authentication; huge bandwidth consumption between VLR and HLR; stored space overhead in VLR; and overloaded HLR with authentication of mobile stations. As a result, this new extension of the authentication protocol not only improves these drawbacks but also achieves the requirements: mutual authentication, reduction of bandwidth consumption, less storage of VLR database, security, and efficiency. The merit of the proposed protocol is that it does not cause problems and alter the existing architecture of GSM at all. The robustness of the new protocol is also based on security algorithms A3, A5 and A8.


The study of alkaline earth doped stannate ceramics of Barium and Calcium is being carried out to explore more on the phosphorescent applications. The present study is an energy and cost-efficientgreen approach towards the preparation of Europium (III) doped stannate of Calcium and Barium in the nano scaleas it involves the biowaste of egg shell as a precursor for calcium carbonate and the plant extract of aloe vera as the reaction medium and a comparatively lower calcination temperature than reported so far. The structure, phase purity, surface morphology and applications in terms of photo luminescence, photo catalytic and anti-microbial activities have been investigated. The doping of alkaline earth metal of Europium in lower weight percentage(lesser than one) was carried out at lower processing temperatures than reported earlier. There was a phase transition in the case of barium stannate upon doping and there were observable changes in crystallite size, morphology and microstructure in the case of Stannates of Calcium and Barium. The results of photo luminescence study and the photo catalytic degradation of methylene blue dye were encouraging. The anti-microbial study in terms of toxicity of the doped samples in smaller dosages upon Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus provided a new dimension to their application. article history Received: 22 May 2018 Accepted: 02 August 2018


Despite the availability of modern antibiotics, chronic empyema still presents as a most serious complication of pleural infection. Chronic encapsulations of purulent material can develop and persist even in the course of intensive antimicrobial therapy. Special problems are posed by the various empyemas, depending upon the completeness of encapsulation, the bacteriological etiology, the association of postoperative intrapleural space defects, and the presence or absence of a communicating bronchopleural fistula. Regardless of origin, most empyemas are curable. Aggressive, and, in many instances, radical surgical treatment of empyemas has in our experience, salvaged chronically ill patients, who in the past have been abandoned to a permanent bedridden sanatorium existence. To better evaluate the problem of chronic empyema, we reviewed all cases with this disorder seen during the past 12 years in our own practice and at the Cincinnati General, Veterans Administration, and Dunham Tuberculosis Hospitals. Both tuberculous and pyogenic empyemas were included


We perform a self-consistent calculation to investigate the feasibility of electroluminescent refrigeration and light emitting without heat generation in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures, taking into account the effects of various recombination processes. The effect of radiation extraction on the cooling capacity and efficiency is also considered. Carrier blocking layers are used to almost eliminate current leakage and improve the injection efficiency to nearly 100%. An analysis is presented of the cooling power density, the cooling efficiency, and the radiative power density as functions of the applied voltage. We also explore the dependences of the cooling related quantities on the thickness and the doping of the active region. A GaAs active layer of thickness 5 μm at 300 K can give a limiting cooling power density of 97 W/cm2. We show that a net cooling power (>several W/cm2) and a high-power light emitting (>100 W/cm2) without heating are feasible. They require an overall efficiency of more than 90%, whic...


Traditionally, parents are deemed to have a certain immunity from liability towards their children. In the Netherlands, however, this view is subject to change and the question of how to deal with the assessment of liability for dangerous actions by parents with regard to their children should be addressed. This struggle is reflected, for example, in a recent judgement by the Gelderland District Court. (Rechtbank Gelderland 10 September. 2018, ECLI:NL:RBGEL:2018:4466, VR 2019/85, para. 4.6.) In Germany, which has a special provision on parental liability towards their children in the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), the debate on this topic within the judiciary and in the literature has progressed further. On the basis of a recent Dutch case, this contribution will compare the Dutch and German law on the liability of parents and examines on which points German and/or Dutch law deserve to be followed when it comes to the liability of parents for dangerous actions towards their children.


This study was conducted to produce a topical delivery system which has an active ingredient which can be used for treatment of skin diseases such as acne and common skin disease. In this study, four cream formulation were prepared. Three of four cream formulations contained Allium sativum extract 0.35%, 0.5% and 0.65%. Infrared spectroscopic analysis was performed on four samples of different extracts of Allium sativum. In addition, Allium sativum extract and four samples of different creams have alsodone testing for antibacterial activity. In this study, Sthaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were used as  microorganism. The Results showed that samples of fresh methanol extract Allium sativum provide better antibacterial activity compared to the three other samples. Four samples of cream with different percentage of active ingredients showed have no antibacterial effect after antibacterial activity testing been done. However, in terms of quality, the samples of the cream produced a good quality, based on the value of pH, viscosity and stability for 3 weeks of storage


Exosomes (EXOs) are natural nanoparticles of endosome origin that are secreted by a variety of cells in the body. Exosomes have been found in bio-fluids such as urine, saliva, amniotic fluid, and ascites, among others. Milk is the only commercially available biological liquid containing EXOs. Proof that exosomes are essential for cell-to-cell communication is increasingly being reported. Studies have shown that they migrate from the cell of origin to various bioactive substances, including membrane receptors, proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, and organelles, or they can stimulate target cells directly through interactions with receptors. Because of the presence of specific proteins, lipids, and RNAs, exosomes act in physiological and pathological conditions in vivo. Other salient features of EXOs include their long half-life in the body, no tumorigenesis, low immune response, good biocompatibility, ability to target cells through their surface biomarkers, and capacity to carry macromolecules. EXOs have been introduced to the scientific community as important, efficient, and attractive nanoparticles. They can be extracted from different sources and have the same characteristics as their parents. EXOs present in milk can be separated by size exclusion chromatography, density gradient centrifugation, or (ultra) centrifugation; however, the complex composition of milk that includes casein micelles and milk fat globules makes it necessary to take additional issues into consideration when employing the mentioned techniques with milk. As a rich source of EXOs, milk has unique properties that, in addition to its role as a carrier, promotes its use in treating diseases such as digestive problems, skin ulcers, and cancer, Moreover, EXOs derived from camel milk are reported to reduce the risk of oxidative stress and cancer. Milk-derived exosomes (MDEs) from yak milk improves gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, yak-MDEs have been suggested to be the best treatment for intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6 cell line). Because of their availability as well as the non-invasiveness and cost-effectiveness of their preparation, isolates from mammals milk can be excellent resources for studies related to EXOs. These features also make it possible to exploit MDEs in clinical trials. The current study aimed to investigate the therapeutic applications of EXOs isolated from various milk sources.


The taxonomic status of Polypedilum quinquesetosum (Edwards) is reviewed upon the study of the male holotype of the species and new findings. After the character analysis, this species belongs to the subgenus Tripodura Townes and the new combination is established. The species diagnosis is expanded, the relationships with the rest of the Neotropical species of the subgenus are discussed and its geographical distribution is extended.


Following forty years of dictatorship, disagreement concerning the legitimacy of Sandinista land reform occupies a central place in the process of forging and consolidating Nicaraguan democracy. For much of the 1980's, this disagreement fueled a highly divisive and destructive civil war. The war finally ended in 1989, due more to the sheer exhaustion of the population than to any lasting resolution of the conflicts that gave rise to it. Since the signing of the peace accords, conflict over land reform continues within both political and legal discourse. The contributions to this symposium represent an attempt to widen and deepen this discourse, and to help resolve the numerous disputes over property entitlements that currently threaten the stability of Nicaragua's fragile democratic order. The essays offer insight into the relation between Nicaraguan land reform and property law, and more generally between revolution and legality.


In this paper a contour based motion estimation technique is presented applied to the measurement of the optic-flow field from image sequences. In particular two experimental situations are considered: the former, in which a fixed camera analyzes a scene with some moving objects in order to detect their trajectories; the latter, in which a sensor moves in a static environment, determining the depth map of the "world". For the first case, we compute for every contour the prevalent direction of movement. For the second, we solve the problem of recovering the 3D structure of the worldby computing the depth field from a sequence of images acquired during a motion of the camera, controlled in order to mantain the fixation point (i.e. the point projected over the image plane) still during the entire sequence. The algorithm has proved to be very robust in real scene analysis and an acceptable time for computation is required. Some experimental results are presented.


China has suffered railway capacity constraints for more than several decades and the need for a large increase in rail capacity has been viewed as the primary challenge. The former Chinese Ministry of Railways believed that building a national wide high speed railway (HSR) network was the most efficient solution to China's rail capacity problems. By 2012, 9 000 km of HSR line has been completed which accounted more than half of the total in the World and the other 9 000 km HSR line is either under construction or in the planning stage.
This paper attempts to discuss the initial operational, financial and economic result of such a large scale HSR investment in China where the establishment of an appraisal system for a HSR project is still underway and the public data in need are not available. Based on some trial studies carried out on several HSR projects, however, the paper shows that except for a limited amount of HSR projects in the most developed areas of the country, the initial financial and economic performance of most HSR lines are generally much poorer than expected. The scale of investment seems to be difficult to justify, given that investment in HSR lines is very expensive, especially for those with design speed of 350 km/h, and the high level of debt funding. Moreover the values of time of the ordinary Chinese are still low by European standards.
For a developing country planning HSR projects, one lesson that can be learnt from China is that it would be ideal if a comprehensive appraisal can be taken into account before investing in HSR. Such appraisal includes examination of different options for technical and operational standards, timing of investment, construction scale and pace, train operational scheme and service level, pricing and regional development policy (political consideration). At the very least, a step by step development strategy should be adopted to cope with the huge uncertainties and risks.


Early menopause and infertility often occur in female cancer patients after chemotherapy (CTx). For these patients, oocyte/embryo cryopreservation or ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the current modality for fertility preservation. However, the above methods are limited in the long-term protection of ovarian function, especially for fertility preservation (very few females with cancer have achieved pregnancy with cryopreserved ovarian tissue or eggs until now). In addition, the above methods are subject to their scope (females with no husband or prepubertal females with no mature oocytes). Thus, many females who suffer from cancers would not adopt the above methods pre- and post-CTx due to their uncertainty, safety and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, millions of women have achieved long-term survival after thorough CTx treatment and have desired to rescue their ovarian function and fertility with economic, durable and reliable methods. Recently, some studies showed that mice with infertility caused by CTx can produce normal offspring through intraovarian injection of exogenous female germline stem cells (FGSCs). Though exogenous FGSC can be derived from mice without immune rejection in the same strain, it is difficult to obtain human female germline stem cells (hFGSCs), and immune rejection could occur between different individuals. In this study, infertility in mice was caused by CTx, and the ability of FGSCs to restore ovarian function or even produce offspring was assessed. We had successfully isolated and purified the FGSCs from adult female mice two weeks after CTx. After infection with GFP-carrying virus, the FGSCs were transplanted into ovaries of mice with infertility caused by CTx. Finally, ovarian function was restored and the recipients produced offspring long-term. These findings showed that mice with CTx possessed FGSCs, restoring ovarian function and avoiding immune rejection from exogenous germline stem cells.


Mobile computing introduces a new form of distributed computation in which communication is most often intermittent, low-bandwidth, or expensive, thus providing only weak connectivity. We present a replication scheme tailored for such environments. Bounded inconsistency is defined by allowing controlled deviation among copies located at weakly connected sites. A dual database interface is proposed that in addition to read and write operations with the usual semantics supports weak read and write operations. In contrast to the usual read and write operations that read consistent values and perform permanent updates, weak operations access only local and potentially inconsistent copies and perform updates that are only conditionally committed. Exploiting weak operations supports disconnected operation since mobile clients can employ them to continue to operate even while disconnected. The extended database interface coupled with bounded inconsistency offers a flexible mechanism for adapting replica consistency to the networking conditions by appropriately balancing the use of weak and normal operations. Adjusting the degree of divergence among copies provides additional support for adaptivity. We present transaction-oriented correctness criteria for the proposed schemes, introduce corresponding serializability-based methods, and outline protocols for their implementation. Then, some practical examples of their applicability are provided. The performance of the scheme is evaluated for a range of networking conditions and varying percentages of weak transactions by using an analytical model developed for this purpose.


significantly exceeds the European and world average. Transient increases in middle-aged women have also been reported in European surveys. Conclusion: Compared to 2010, the proportion of smokers has decreased in Hungary, but a new surge observed after 2015 is not a positive phenomenon. We find the high proportion of smoking women worrying.


The past decades have seen significant urban insurrections worldwide, and this volume analyzes some of them from an anthropological perspective; it argues that transformations of urban class relationships must be approached in a way that is both globally informed and deeply embedded in local and popular histories, and contends that every case of urban mobilization should be understood against its precise context in the global capitalist transformation. The book examines cases of mobilization across the globe, and employs a Marxian class framework, open to the diverse and multi-scalar dynamics of urban politics, especially struggles for spatial justice.


OBJECTIVE
To identify non-biological maternal risk factors to low birth weight in Latin America.

METHODS
Systematic review of literature through meta-analysis. The tool for methodological evaluation was the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Statement. Studies in non-pathological maternal risk factors to low-birth weight and those evaluated by a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Statement method under C grade were excluded.

RESULTS
From seven studies, five pointed out the influence of maternal age under 20. In four studies maternal age above 35 years old was relevant to low birth weight. Other factors were present in only one or two studies.

CONCLUSION
According to this study the maternal age under 20 and above 35 years old is a relevant factor to low birth weight. There are few studies with universal and solid methodology, which difficult a systematic review of literature though meta-analysis.


BACKGROUND
While interspinous motion analysis is commonly used to determine the status of an anterior cervical fusion, the accuracy of this technique is unclear. We believed that three questions needed to be answered. What degree of image magnification is ideal? How much motion should be considered "adequate" for making dynamic radiographs? What is the optimal amount of interspinous motion for detecting pseudarthrosis?

METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 125 patients (109 fused segments and 153 pseudarthrotic segments) who had undergone reexploration with confirmation of fusion status. Interspinous motion at each operatively treated level and one superjacent level was measured by two independent investigators twice. Reliabilities of interspinous motion analysis at different magnification rates (25%, 100%, 150%, and 200%) were evaluated for fifty randomly selected segments to determine the optimal magnification, which we used for the remainder of the measurements. Fusion status was also determined on computed tomography (CT) by two other raters. We compared the intraoperative findings with those based on dynamic radiographs (with use of cutoff values of 1 and 2 mm of interspinous motion as the indication of pseudarthrosis) and CT.

RESULTS
On radiographs, both 150% and 200% magnification yielded higher interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities compared with 25% and 100% magnification, and the reliabilities at 150% and 200% were similar to each other, so subsequent measurements were made at 150%. The cutoff value of interspinous motion for detecting pseudarthrosis was 0.9 mm as determined with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Compared with CT, interspinous motion of ≥ 1 mm showed relatively low sensitivity (79.5%) and negative predictive value (77.1%) and similar specificity (97.0%) and positive predictive value (97.4%). Using interspinous motion of ≥ 2 mm as the cutoff decreased the sensitivity and negative predictive value to 46.6% and 56.8%, respectively. Our evaluation of what constituted adequate dynamic motion for making the radiographs showed that, with use of interspinous motion of ≥ 1 mm as the cutoff for detecting pseudarthrosis, superjacent interspinous motion of ≥ 4 mm increased the sensitivity and negative predictive value (86.3% and 83.4%) compared with those associated with alternative cutoffs of superjacent interspinous motion (≥ 3.5, ≥ 5, and ≥ 6 mm), and the specificity (96.1%) and positive predictive value (96.9%) were reasonable.

CONCLUSIONS
Use of interspinous motion of ≥ 1 mm as the cutoff for detection of anterior cervical pseudarthrosis on radiographs magnified 150% and made with superjacent interspinous motion of ≥ 4 mm yielded accuracies comparable with those of CT.


Infrastructure investment is a central part of the stimulus plans of the LAC region as it confronts the growing financial crisis. This paper estimates the potential effects on direct, indirect, and induced employment for different types of infrastructure projects with LAC-specific variables. The analysis finds that the direct and indirect short-term employment generation potential of infrastructure capital investment projects may be considerable—averaging around 40,000 annual jobs per US$1billion in LAC, depending upon such variables as the mix of subsectors in the investment program; the technologies deployed; local wages for skilled and unskilled labor; and the degrees of leakages to imported inputs. While these numbers do not account for substitution effect, they are built around an assumed "basket" of investments that crosses infrastructure sectors most of which are not employment-maximizing. Albeit limited in scope, rural road maintenance projects may employ 200,000 to 500,000 annualized direct jobs for every US$1billion spent. The paper also describes the potential risks to effective infrastructure investment in an environment of crisis including sorting and planning contradictions, delayed implementation and impact, affordability, and corruption.


We screened 2628 normal individuals for antibodies binding to the mix of antigens in a human nuclear extract and identified 579 (26.05%) individuals with significant levels of IgG antibodies to self-antigens. Next, we analyzed 639 representative sera from ANA-, ANA+, ILE and SLEs on an autoantigen proteomic array, which identified 33 antigens strongly recognized by IgG autoantibodies in ANA+ group as compared to ANA- normals. Of these 33, 19 antigens were non-nuclear or cytoplasmic proteins and 14 were nuclear proteins, including known SLE associated antigens such as dsDNA and Histones. Antigen cluster analysis showed that DNA and RNA clusters are more frequent in SLE and ILE group, while matrix proteins and antiphospholipid antibodies clusters are more frequent in ANA+ normals. Next, all the individuals were genotyped with immunochip and subset by target sequencing. Quantitative genetic association test identified SNPs associated with ANA and auto-antigens. The strongest association signal was observed at HLA, where SNP rs3117103 near BTNL2, rs9268832 near HLA-DRA and rs2395252 in HLA-DQA2 gene showed strongest (10-7) association. Other signals were in/near BANK1, PTTG1 and CR1L genes. RNA sequencing analysis identified ANA risk alleles associated with up regulation of HLA-DRB1 in monocytes and BANK1 in B cells. Our data suggest that functional variations in or near HLA DRB1 and BANK1 gene may be associated with development of humoral autoimmunity in general population.


RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE
Bone biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing renal osteodystrophy as comparable non-invasive alternatives have yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of biochemical markers of skeletal remodeling to predict bone turnover.

STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional retrospective diagnostic test study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
Patients with chronic kidney disease stages G4-G5D and kidney transplant recipients with successful transiliac bone biopsies.

TESTS COMPARED
Bone turnover as determined by bone histomorphometry was compared to the following biochemical markers: Full-length (1-84) parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BsAP), intact procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b).

OUTCOME
Diagnostic performance was evaluated by area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values. Optimal diagnostic cutoffs were determined in an exploration cohort (n=100) and validated in a separate cohort (n=99).

RESULTS
All biomarkers differed across categories of low 33 (17%), normal 109 (55%), and high 57 (29%) bone turnover. AUC values were in the range of 0.75 - 0.85. High negative predictive values (≥90%) were found for both high and low bone turnover, indicating the ability to rule out both conditions using the suggested biomarker cutoffs. The highest diagnostic performances were seen with combinations of biomarkers, with overall diagnostic accuracies of 90% for high turnover, and 78% for low turnover. Results were comparable for kidney transplant candidates and recipients in a sensitivity analysis.

LIMITATIONS
The single-center approach and heterogeneity of the study cohort are main limitations of this study.

CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the diagnostic performance of biochemical markers of bone turnover is acceptable, with clinical utility in ruling out both high and low turnover bone disease.


Based on five studies with a total of 993 married, heterosexual male participants, we found that marriage structure has important implications for attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to gender among heterosexual married men in the workplace. Specifically, men in traditional marriages—married to women who are not employed—disfavor women in the workplace and are more likely than the average of all married men to make decisions that prevent the advancement of qualified women. Results show that employed men in traditional marriages tend to (a) view the presence of women in the workplace unfavorably, (b) perceive that organizations with higher numbers of female employees are operating less smoothly, (c) perceive organizations with female leaders as relatively unattractive, and (d) deny qualified female employees opportunities for promotions more frequently than do other married male employees. Moreover, our final study suggests that men who are single and then marry women who are not employed may change their attitudes toward women in the workplace, becoming less positive. The consistent pattern of results across multiple studies employing multiple methods (lab, longitudinal, archival) and samples (U.S., U.K., undergraduates, managers) demonstrates the robustness of our findings that the structure of a man's marriage influences his gender ideology in the workplace, presenting an important challenge to workplace egalitarianism.


Multidisciplinary treatment outcomes with a 1-year follow-up is reported for 100 chronic low-back pain patients participating in inpatient rehabilitation and 100 patients participating in outpatient rehabilitation. Treatment for both groups of patients was based on principles of operant conditioning and consisted of increasing structured exercise activities and educational classes for instruction in techniques of pain management. Results are presented in terms of patient reports of decreased pain, increased activity, decreased medication, need for further treatment, and return to work. A method for predicting return to work was developed by way of a computerized discriminate analysis with the formulas presented for consideration by those interested in similar patient groups.


Over the half of the world's population live in cities and rapid urbanization expected to continue in the future. city region food systems connect supply chain stakeholders from rural and urban areas. However, city region food systems are far from being sustainable and resilient as was evident during the shortages of the current pandemic outbreak.This study examines the case of Paris-Rungis market in France during the pandemic outbreak and investigates how the wholesale market acted as an integrator in this city region food systems during the crisis..It reports how the collaborative actions created supply chain resilience, specifically integrative partnerships, joint digitisation, cooperative reverse logistics, multi-stakeholder control, and collective learning. Collaborative supply chain resilience creates three (Triple A) capabilities: Anticipation, Adaptability, and Agility. Findings of this study have important managerial implications for the city region food systems, especially with the need to reconnect with the countryside, create collaborative transparency mutual aid, and create collaborative than cooperative supply chain structures.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare private and public hospitals' sustainability actions, as well as to contrast their organizational evolution over time (i.e. past, present and expected future) in the Spanish health-care sector. Sustainability initiatives refer to organizations' economic, social and environmental actions.

Design/methodology/approach
This study applies an inductive approach based on judgmental sampling and in-depth interviews of key informants at private and public hospitals in the Spanish health-care sector. Data were gathered from the executive in charge of corporate social responsibility in public hospitals and the directors of communication at private hospitals.

Findings
Although the private and public hospitals studied are in the same health-care industry and run similar operations, their organizational sustainability initiatives in the past, present and expected future differ. The scope of sustainability initiatives between private and public hospitals is different, compared through time. Who was and who is promoting, as well as who is going to promote sustainability initiatives, also differs between private and public hospitals.

Research limitations/implications
One limitation of this study is that it was undertaken exclusively in Spanish organizations from one industry, but this is also a benefit, as it enables a comparison and contrast of the evolution between private and public hospitals. Future research could focus on the evolution of organizational sustainability initiatives in other industries and countries.

Practical implications
The reported comparison of empirical findings between private and public hospitals, as well as the subsequent discussion contrasting these findings, yields various managerial implications in terms of the scope and promotor of sustainable actions.

Originality/value
This study differs from previous ones by exploring the evolutionary details of the organizational sustainability initiatives through time in both private and public hospitals. This study also makes a contribution by revealing common denominators and differentiators between private and public hospitals that operate in the same health-care industry.


Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effects of intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence, internal locus of control, and auditors' experience (intrinsic characteristics) and organizational culture (an extrinsic characteristic) on auditors' professionalism.

Design/methodology/approach
Data are collected from auditors working in public accounting firms in the Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces of Indonesia between March 1 and June 30, 2017, using survey questionnaires with a Likert scale (one-five). The ordinary least squares (OLS) regression method is used to analyze the data.

Findings
Findings from OLS regression reveal that emotional intelligence, internal locus of control and auditors' experience positively influence auditors' professionalism. However, intellectual intelligence and organizational culture do not show any effect on their professionalism.

Originality/value
Even though there are some limitations, such as how to measure intellectual intelligence, and the relatively small size of the sample, this study makes a significant contribution because it is the first study to measure the joint effect of both intellectual and emotional intelligence and the first to examine the influence on auditors' professionalism of both individual and organizational characteristics.


ABSTRACT The reports published by independent parties are often used to provide an estimation of brands due to the lack of literature and best practices regarding which brand valuation method is more value relevant and reliable than another. Over the last several years, brand valuation debate is growing in importance because of the need to provide a value of intangibles for different purposes. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, we aim to understand whether brand valuation related to listed companies provided by three independent agencies is value relevant and therefore whether these brand valuations are taken into consideration by investors in their decision-making process. Second, we assess which of the three methods reflects the stock markets in a better way. We analyse a sample of 71 brands valuated by Interbrand, Brand Finance and BrandZ from 2013 to 2015. The results show that brand valuation provided by the independent agencies is value relevant; in addition, they reveal that the Brand Finance method, based on the royalty relief approach, is more value relevant than the others. This study contributes to the extant literature on value relevance by providing evidence on the impact of stock prices of brand agencies' valuation.


ABSTRACT Mutations in the chloroquine resistance (CQR) transporter gene of Plasmodium falciparum (Pfcrt; chromosome 7) play a key role in CQR, while mutations in the multidrug resistance gene (Pfmdr1; chromosome 5) play a significant role in the parasite's resistance to a variety of antimalarials and also modulate CQR. To compare patterns of genetic variation at Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 loci, we investigated 460 blood samples from P. falciparum-infected patients from four Asian, three African, and three South American countries, analyzing microsatellite (MS) loci flanking Pfcrt (five loci [∼40 kb]) and Pfmdr1 (either two loci [∼5 kb] or four loci [∼10 kb]). CQR Pfmdr1 allele-associated MS haplotypes showed considerably higher genetic diversity and higher levels of subdivision than CQR Pfcrt allele-associated MS haplotypes in both Asian and African parasite populations. However, both Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 MS haplotypes showed similar levels of low diversity in South American parasite populations. Median-joining network analyses showed that the Pfcrt MS haplotypes correlated well with geography and CQR Pfcrt alleles, whereas there was no distinct Pfmdr1 MS haplotype that correlated with geography and/or CQR Pfmdr1 alleles. Furthermore, multiple independent origins of CQR Pfmdr1 alleles in Asia and Africa were inferred. These results suggest that variation at Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 loci in both Asian and African parasite populations is generated and/or maintained via substantially different mechanisms. Since Pfmdr1 mutations may be associated with resistance to artemisinin combination therapies that are replacing CQ, particularly in Africa, it is important to determine if, and how, the genetic characteristics of this locus change over time.


Twenty-three beagle dogs were ventilated with perfluorinated liquid, perfluoro-1-isopropoxy-hexane (Caroxin-F) for 1 h and were reconverted to gaseous breathing. Hematologic and biochemical changes were studied in five dogs for 1 yr and the remaining animals were followed for evidence of retained Caroxin-F for up to 3 yr. We found that the dogs could be ventilated with liquid Caroxin-F and returned to spontaneous breathing of gaseous oxygen with normal blood gas exchange within 24-72 h. Serum alkaline phosphatase, serum cholesterol, and white blood cell count increased with liquid ventilation but returned to normal in less than 1 wk. Trace amounts of Caroxin-F were detected by chromatography in all tissues studied for the entire 3-yr period. The highest levels of Caroxin-F were found in the lungs and associated lymph nodes. No histologic evidence of the presence of Caroxin-F was seen except for local accumulations of vacuolated macrophages in the lungs and associated lymph nodes. We conclude that Caroxin-F can be breathed without residual deleterious effects, even though trace amounts remained for at least 3 yr.


Our goal was to evaluate the association between gingival biotype and flap design consideration at the time of stage two uncovery. A retrospective study was done in which 528 implants were placed from June 1, 2019, to March 1, 2020, were included. Data was reviewed from patient records, and the data of 86,000 patients that were documented in a private institution between June 2019 and March 2020 was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the association between gingival biotype and flap design consideration at the time of stage two uncovery. We found that gingival biotype had no significant difference when compared between males and females and among different age groups. Flap design consideration had no significant difference when compared between males and females, but the difference was statistically significant when different age groups were compared. There was a statistically significant association between gingival biotype and flap design consideration at the time of stage two uncovery (p < 0.05). We conclude that there is significant association between gingival biotype and flap design consideration at the time of stage two uncovery. Therefore, it should be one of the factors considered during planning of implant placement in a particular case for successful implant treatment.


This dissertation examines the notion of digital cinema in relation to its analogue predecessor by relocating debates about ontology into the realm of media theory in order to re-imagine the function of realism. The dissertation is in parts a selective history of practices in realist film, a structuralist theory of medium specificity, and a critique of digital aesthetics in recent mainstream cinema. The introduction orientates the dissertation within the current debates, both popular and scholarly, over the film-to-digital transition taking place in cinema and indicates how this dissertation departs from recent theories of intermediality and digital cinema. These debates converge on contentions around teleology, medium essence, and subjectivity. The first chapter examines the relationship of art to realism and takes the two oeuvres of Dziga Vertov and Jean Rouch as templates for identifying a persistent and developing ideology of camera-reality. This ideology forms the foundation for the thesis's later qualification of cinema in the digital age. The second chapter posits a broadly structuralist account of media that challenges the notion of material medium essence. This chapter offers the neologism of 'alreadiness' to stress the immaterial underpinnings of a 'cinema-image' most purely informed by camera-reality. The third chapter interrogates the notion of film language within classical film theory with a view to laying down a concept of film discourse that is uniquely hermeneutical and specialises cinema without recourse to a material essence that would otherwise qualify realism. This concept of film discourse as purely hermeneutical contracts the separation of roles/subjectivities for the filmmaker and viewer. The fourth chapter investigates the historical development of illusion alongside the technological developments that saw a move from a dominating idealism to a dominating realism in pictorial representation. This chapter draws on a Bazinian notion of realism and, with regard to the changing ontologies of illusion, offers the analogy of the journey from magic to science. The fifth chapter takes the ideology of camera-reality and demonstrates how it comes to bear on percepts of illusion while also using the oeuvre of director Michael Mann to trace a development of camera-reality into the digital realm. Building on this, the sixth and final chapter critically engages digital cinematic examples that fulfill or corrupt the antecedent yet persistent immaterial cinema-image outlined in the first three chapters.


This study is intended to enhance pupils' retention of English vocabulary words to reinforce perception and memorization. Teaching words inside the classroom should be more interesting and enjoyable for pupils and accordingly charades games technique has been used as an alternative way. It is a useful technique that can be easily employed in the learning process. The study used quantitative research method. The samples of the study were randomly selected from the fifth primary school pupils. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of charades game technique on enhancing pupils' memory of English vocabulary by using the participants' scores on vocabulary achievement tests. In this study, the pre-test and post-test designs are adopted. The sample of the study was 62 pupils. The study proved that the use of charades game technique has had a beneficial effectiveness on the pupils' retention of English vocabulary.


Introduction Pancreatic pseudocysts are complications of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosis is usually accomplished by cross sectional imaging and cyst fluid analysis will help in differentiating pseudocyst from other cystic lesions of pancreas. Most of them resolve with supportive care but intervention is required if there are persistent symptoms or develop any complications.1 Our aim was to review the practice of pancreatic pseudocyst management in a DGH set up and to formulate a care pathway or protocol supported by good evidence base. Methods Retrospective case notes review of patients diagnosed with pancreatic pseudocyst. Patients were identified by ICD classification based clinical coding database. Data collected includes patient demographics, aetiology of pancreatitis, size and number of cysts, diagnostic modalities used, associated symptoms and complications, indication for intervention and type of intervention used and follow-up strategy Results 62 patients were diagnosed to have pancreatic pseudocyst in last 7 years. Median age 60 yrs (range 24–91 yrs), male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Total of 81% (n=50) had history of acute pancreatitis. Alcohol (n=32, 50%) was the commonest underlying aetiology. Abdominal pain was the commonest symptom (n=55, 89%) and 10% (n=6) were asymptomatic. CT scan was used as diagnostic modality in 90% (n=56) and USS in 74% (n=46). Total of 82% (n=51) had a single cyst where as 18% (n=11) had multiple. Average cyst size was 70 mm (range 10–270 mm). About 76% (45/59, three died) had follow-up scan and average duration of follow-up was 13 months. Of them, cyst got increased in size in 32% (n=15), decreased in size in 23% (n=11), no change in 28% (n=11) and got resolved in 17% (n=8). Total of 43% (n=23) had their symptoms resolved spontaneously without requiring any intervention. Complications were noted in 28 % (n=17, CBD obstruction-7, cyst infection-6, gastric/duodenal obstruction-3 and cyst rupture in 1). About 39% (n=24) required intervention because of persistent symptoms or due to complications. Persisting pain (n=18, 29%) and increase in cyst size (n=7, 11%) were the commonest indications. In 58% (n=14) endoscopic, 33%(n=8) percutaneous and 8%(2) required surgical drainage. Of those who had intervention, 79% (n=19) required once, 17% (n=4) twice and 4% (n=1) thrice. Overall 79 % (19/24) had symptoms resolved post intervention. Conclusion Pancreatic pseudocysts were managed conservatively in more than half of the patients group. In nearly one fifth of patients spontaneous resolution of cysts were noted in follow-up scans. Those who required intervention, endoscopic method was the most common method used and many patients achieved good resolution of their symptoms. Competing interests None declared. References 1. Andren Sandenberg A, et al. JOP 2004;5:8–24.


Understanding why parents transmit which of the languages they speak, and how they do so, is especially interesting in the case of mixed and migrant families, since typically these parents make especially well thought out linguistic choices. In this article is presented one such case, from the USA, a rich multilingual society yet where, due to the hegemony of English, intergenerational transmission of other languages is oftentimes weak. Through a questionnaire and interviews, this article examines linguistic practices and ideologies in multilingual families residing in New York City, in which one parent was born in Catalonia or in Galicia. Potential languages for transmission are two locally available and globally projected languages, English and Spanish; and Catalan or Galician. Not only are these minoritized languages in their countries of origin, but they also have virtually no presence in the American landscape. The two groups differ in the sociolinguistic situation of their homeland: while governmental campaigns succeeded in restoring Catalan in the public sphere and as a symbol for national identity, parallel campaigns have not been comparably successful for Galician. In our sample, transmission of Catalan is higher than of Galician; and in many cases Catalan is transmitted at the cost of Spanish, but this is never the case for Galician, while English remains constant. A motivational analysis reveals that the determining factor is the distribution of integrative and personal values among the languages and their symbolic role in the construction of identity.


The heart regeneration after apical resection and myocardial infarction in neonatal mice has been studied for years. However, the response of neonatal mouse heart under pressure overload is seldom explored. This study aimed to induce pressure overload in neonatal mice through a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) with different-gauge needles so as to investigate the effect of pressure overload on cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy in these mice. Myocardial hypertrophy was evaluated by echocardiographic, pathological, and molecular analyses. Cardiomyocyte proliferation was detected by immune-staining of phospho-histone H3, Ki67, and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine. Mild pressure overload induced with a 30-gauge needle stimulated cardiomyocyte proliferation, adaptive hypertrophy, and angiogenesis. The heart function was not hampered even 21 days after the surgery. Moderate pressure overload induced with a 32-gauge needle led to pathological myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and heart failure 7 days after the surgery. The gene and protein expression levels of markers of hypertrophy and fibrosis increased in 32-gauge TAC group compared with that in sham and 30-gauge TAC groups. The mice barely survived after severe pressure overload induced with a 34-gauge needle. The findings of this study might provide new insights into cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy in neonatal mice under pressure overload.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the causes, degree of injury and localization of the hepatic trauma in thoracic-abdominal injuries: surgical solution and its results, as well as to explain the liver damages according to the cause of the injury.

ABSTRACT
Patients with thoracic-abdominal trauma often evidence liver lesions that must be treated quickly and promptly.

METHOD
Retrospective study of the cases of liver trauma undergoing surgery during the years 1995/2000 at the Jos Casimiro Ulloa , Emergency Hospital in Lima, Peru.

RESULTS
164 patients underwent surgery with a mortality rate of 13.4% (22). Injuries were caused by direct contusion in 58% of the cases and by aggression in 42% of the cases. The liver was repaired with suture in 121 cases, by tamponing in 40 cases, by hepatectomy in 1 case and no treatment in 2 cases. There were 38 re-interventions. The relation between the degrees of liver injuries and mortality were: 1 Degree: 9 cases, with no deaths, 2 Degree: 97 cases with 4 deaths (4.1%); 3rd Degree: 37 cases with 2 deaths (5%), 4 Degree: 12 cases with 7 deaths (58%); 5 Degree: 9 cases with 9 deaths (100%).

CONCLUSION
In our experience, liver complications in thoracic-abdominal injuries are high,. Total mortality was 13.6%, of which 70% were due to a closed wound and 30% due to an open wound. Resuscitation, vital support, quick and timely surgery, whichever the technique used to reduce liver bleeding, gives positive results. Often the accompanying lesions determine the patient s evolution. The symptoms of liver injuries are predictable in cases of direct trauma or deceleration. In wounds inflicted by bullets or sharp and penetrating objects, the trajectory determines the damages to the anatomy.


In this paper, we investigate the use of Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density filters for multiple person tracking using ultrawideband (UWB) radar sensors in an indoor environment. An experimental setup consisting of a network of UWB radar sensors and a computer is designed, and a new detection algorithm is proposed. The results of this experimental proof-of-concept study show that it is possible to accurately track multiple targets using a UWB radar sensor network in indoor environments based on the proposed approach.


The paper addresses burial policy with respect to city cemeteries and, in particular, New York City's Hart Island, the so-called 'potter's field,' which is currently operated under the Department of Corrections. The institution is the target of a significant amount of recent scrutiny, including litigation, New York City Council oversight committees, and public criticism. These converging debates culminated in an overhaul of DOC policies regarding access to Hart Island, formation of an online database of burial records in April, 2013 and proposed legislation that would transfer jurisdiction over the island to New York City's Parks and Recreation. The paper outlines the pressing need for an understanding of the city cemetery as a global institution, noting how burial processes can change over time. It looks at New York City's own mass grave in addition to other variations throughout the world and history. The essay reviews the city cemetery in the context of three 'criticisms' raised by Hon. Elizabeth S. Crowley's 'Briefing Paper' on the subject and recently proposed legislation that affects the institution.


Research on ethnicity and conflict treats the concept of ethnicity as defining the actors in these conflicts, whereas research on the construction and maintenance of ethnic identity explores why ethnicity unifies individuals into a single social group. What happens when this unifying concept is divided between two enemy countries? How does this situation influence peace settlements over territorial issues, armed conflict, and economic relations between these countries? To answer these questions, I create a continuous measure of ethnic similarity between rivals. I find that ethnic similarity can facilitate cooperation and exacerbate conflictual interactions between rivals, but governments will seek to limit interactions with their rival when the cross border ethnic groups are minorities. In addition, I create categorical predictors of ethnic similarity, which reveal nuances in these relationships. Specifically, rivalries sharing a pan-ethnic identity are more likely to engage in conflict regardless of actual ethnic similarity, and dyads with a majority in one country sharing ethnicity with a minority in another country are less likely to fight once in a state of rivalry. This is because a quid pro quo exists between these rivals where one rival can reduce oppression of the minority in exchange for the other rival not supporting secessions by their co-ethnics. These pairs of rivals also are more likely to attempt peace settlements. Contested nations, which are rivalry-dyads with similar ethnic majorities, are both the most likely of the ethnically similar rival categories to engage in militarized interstate disputes, but also engage in larger amounts of interstate trade.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of reported anti-malarial phytochemicals as lead compounds for possible drug development against COVID-19.

METHODS
An in silico approach was used in this study to determine through molecular docking the binding affinities and site of binding of these phytochemicals to the 3C-like protease of COVID-19 which is considered as the main protease of the virus.

RESULTS
A number of anti-malarial phytochemicals like apigenin-7-O-glucoside, decurvisine, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, sargabolide J, and shizukaols A, B, F, and G showed predicted high binding energies with G values of -8.0 kcal/mol or higher. Shizukaols F and B demonstrated the best binding energies of -9.5 and -9.8, respectively. The acridone alkaloid 5-hydroxynoracronycine also gave a predicted high binding energy of -7.9 kcal/mol.

CONCLUSION
This is for the first time that decursivine and several shizukaols were reported as potential anti-viral agents. These compounds merit further studies to determine whether they can be effective drug candidates against COVID-19.


Using coated mosaic video spectrometer to collect multispectral image which reduce the spectral information redundancy and data volume greatly and achieve real-time data transmission conditions. The mosaic video spectrometer imaging technique use a similar mosaic template to capture all the pixels and output a two-dimensional multi-spectral image with dozens of spectral information. The image is divided into a certain size of matrix in its field, and each pixel in the pixel matrix is only for one wavelength information response and every pixel response for different wavelength. The size of the pixel matrix block depends on the number of spectral segments, which results in a low spatial resolution of the single spectral segment image and the spectral information of each pixel absenting severely. Therefore, to reconstruct the complete multi-spectral image, we must estimate and interpolate the missing spatial information and spectral information by demosaicking multispectral image. In this paper, we present a novel demosaicking method to produce the high resolution multispectral image and reconstruct missing spectrum information in high accuracy. The proposed method computes the first-and second-order derivatives of the original single multispectral image to measure the geometry of edges in the image and the spectrum value of missing pixel. Two metrics are used to evaluate the generic algorithm, including the structural similarity index-measurement system (SSIM) for reconstruction performance and the procession time. Experimental results show that the demosaicked images present higher SSIM (more than 0.9) and comparable calculated time performance as traditional ways. This algorithm brings the greatest advantage that make up for the weakness of mosaick multispectral image and reduce the data transmission process cost and storage needs.


This paper reports a study of the origin and propagation of the space stem when a bi-exponential voltage impulse is applied to a 1.3 m point-plane air gap. The tests are carried out by using impulse shapes ranging from 0.25/2000 to 120/2000 mu s. Among these impulse shapes, the optimum with respect to the observation of the space stem formation is the 0.3/2000 mu s one. Some detailed photographs obtained with an image converter allow one to identify the following phenomena: negative streamers, a Trichel zone, a negative corona, a cathodic zone (cathodic stem), positive streamers and space stems. The current measurements allow one to quantify some energetic thresholds. The 5/2000 mu s impulse shape leads to a quasi-continuous space stem propagation in the gap. Thus it is possible to study the role of the positive and negative streamers in the space stem's behaviour, which is defined as their zone of origin. A stem replica mechanism is explained and some associated energetic criteria are discussed.