NW: Orlando, when I have visited Argentinian matches it is clear how different the occasion is compared to football in other countries. For you, what makes Argentinian football so different from say European football? OS: There are several key reasons. One of them is linked to the economic history of Latin America. It is one of underdevelopment and economic crisis and this has had a significant impact on Argentinian football and its supporters. High unemployment and inflation are not the best climate for running this type of business. The fans also appear to be very different from those that I have seen at European games. When we talk about 'futbol' it is giving people a channel into which they place their hopes and their passion. Football therefore becomes even more important not only for Argentinian fans but also for the government. I think that a typical football fan at the stadium on a Sunday afternoon, psychologically feels safer. Football also appears to be more of an event for an Argentinian fan, an event which has two components. These are passion and show. In some cases the show is important in order to balance or even offset the intense passion of the spectator. The passion of our supporters is such that there is always the danger that it can boil over and become dangerous and there doesn't seem to be a logical explanation for this type of behaviour. As a result of the economic crisis and the value of our currency, clubs are almost obliged to sell their best players overseas in order to balance their books. In selling their best players, there is an impact on the show element of the game in Argentina. Invariably, most of the best players are sold to European clubs, and during the World Cup nearly all of the Argentinian squad played for European teams. When you walk into an Argentinian game you are instantly aware of the passion, the colourful environment, which is very positive, and the negative aspect of the game which is the dangerous, illogical behaviour of fans. Take my own team, Boca. On the one hand there is this intense passion which is beautiful to see, but sometimes it is threatening. I think that if people haven't experienced this then it can be difficult to understand. You can confirm this can't you? NW: Yes. I went to one of the Copa Libertadores games and the atmosphere was intense. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and it seemed that everybody in the ground wanted to contribute to the spectacle, and I was in a seated area! Talking specifically about Boca Juniors, what do you think are its key brand attributes? OS: Let's start with the role of the supporters, which for us is very important. We carried out some research to compare the socio-economic background of our fans with those of other clubs in Argentina. We found a high percentage of upper-middle class fans, a low percentage of middle class fans and then a high percentage of working class fans. Other clubs had a much higher percentage of middle class fans. It would appear that our working class and upper-middle class fans have no problem in showing their love of the Boca brand by wearing Boca colours. A Boca fan will almost wear club colours in an exaggerated way in order to show their passion. They paint their faces, wear wigs, wear yellow and blue clothing and carry scarves and Boca banners. The Boca brand therefore stands for loyalty, identification with the club and identification with other fans who make up the Boca tribe. It also represents an escape from some of the economic and social problems that people face on a daily basis. NW: What would you say is Boca's global appeal? OS: Boca is a global brand in its own right, and as a result of winning the World Club Championship on three occasions, it is one of the most important clubs in the history of football. Boca attracts fans from all over Latin America and many of its fans have emigrated overseas in search of a new life. …


Brain tumor is a disease that attacks the brains of living things in which brain cells grow abnormally in the area around the brain. Various ways have been done to detect this disease, one of which is through the anatomical approach to medical images. In this study, the authors propose a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) hybrid algorithm through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). ELM was chosen because of its superiority in the training process, which is faster than iterative machine learning algorithms, while CNN was chosen to replace the traditional feature extraction process. The result is CNN-ELM, which has 8 filters in the convolution layer and 6000 nodes in the hidden layer, has the best performance compared to CNN-ELM another model which has different number of filters and number of nodes in the hidden layer. This is evidenced by the average value of precision, recall, and F1-score which is 0.915 while the accuracy of the test is 91.4%.


Recent work has identified that classification models implemented as neural networks are vulnerable to data-poisoning and Trojan attacks at training time. In this work, we show that these training-time vulnerabilities extend to deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents and can be exploited by an adversary with access to the training process. In particular, we focus on Trojan attacks that augment the function of reinforcement learning policies with hidden behaviors. We demonstrate that such attacks can be implemented through minuscule data poisoning (as little as 0.025% of the training data) and in-band reward modification that does not affect the reward on normal inputs. The policies learned with our proposed attack approach perform imperceptibly similar to benign policies but deteriorate drastically when the Trojan is triggered in both targeted and untargeted settings. Furthermore, we show that existing Trojan defense mechanisms for classification tasks are not effective in the reinforcement learning setting.


Polymer flooding characteristics of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solution with the addition of NaOH were examined in homogeneous glass-bead packs. The heavy oil recovery in unconsolidated sandstone formations by applying the alkali-polymer flooding was observed. Experimental results showed that HPAM solution was sensitive to temperature, salinity, and alkali, finding that alkali-polymer solutions are more effective in improving viscosity than conventional polymer solutions. The solution of 0.5 wt % NaOH mixed with 1500 ppm HPAM (12 mol % hydrolysis degree) was found to be the optimal choice, which gives rise to the highest viscosity on the rheological characterization. Flood tests using the alkali-polymer solution showed an increase in oil recovery by 30% over water-flooding when the water-cut reached 95%, indicating that alkali-polymer could be more effective in improving sweep efficiency than polymer flood. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013


This study was conducted to determine the fattening performance of Sonmez type lambs weaned on average at 60±5 days old. Sixty lambs were put into four different pens, as single males (15), single females (15), twin males (15) and twin females (15), and the fattening period was 56 days in length. The daily weight gains were 282.14 g, 242.49 g, 207.31 g and 179.99 g for single males, single females, twin males and twin females, respectively. The average daily weight gain in Sonmez type lambs was 227.98 g. Feed efficiency levels in Sonmez lambs were 3.98, 4.32, 4.49 and 4.63 for single males, single females, twin males and twin females, respectively. The average feed efficiency value in Sonmez type lambs was found to be 4.35.


Based on the 1961-2007 weather data from 72 meteorological stations in three provinces of Northeast China, the change characteristics of agricultural climatic factors including yearly and temperature-defined growing season's mean air temperature, > or =10 degrees C accumulated temperature, precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, and sunshine hours were analyzed. In 1961-2007, the yearly mean air temperature in the three provinces had an increasing trend, with a rate of 0.38 degrees C x 10 a(-1). The > or =10 degrees C accumulated temperature in temperature-defined growing season also had an increasing trend, and the border of > or =10 degrees C accumulated temperature belt moved northward and eastward. The area of > or =3200 degrees C x d accumulated temperature increased by 2.2 x 10(4) km2. The belt of 2800-3200 degrees C x d moved northward about 0.85 degrees and eastward about 0.67 degrees, while that of 2400-2800 degrees C x d moved northward about 1.1 degrees. The sunshine hours decreased significantly, especially in the east part of Songnen Plain, central and west plains of Jilin Province, and west part of Liaohe River Plain. The area with sunshine hours > 2800 h decreased from 13.6 x 10(4) km2 to 4. 1 x 10(4) km2, and the zone with sunshine hours 2600-2800 h moved westward about 1.5 degrees. The average sunshine hour in temperature-defined growing season was 1174 h. Comparing with that in 1961-1980, the region with more sunshine hours in temperature-defined growing season in 1981-2007 narrowed significantly, and the zone with sunshine hours 1200-1400 h moved westward about 0.9 degrees. In 1961-2007, both the yearly and the temperature-defined growing season's precipitation decreased, and the yearly reference evapotranspiration increased in Heilongjiang Province and in the eastern mountain areas of Jilin Province but decreased in the central and west plains of Jilin Province and in Liaoning Province. Comparing with that in 1961-1980, the zone of reference evapotranspiration with the value of > or =900 mm in 1981-2007 moved westward about 1 degree, and the reference evapotranspiration in temperature-defined growing season increased in most regions of Heilongjiang and Jilin Province but decreased in a rate of 0-14 mm x 10 a(-1) in most regions of Liaoning Province.


After the successful hypersonic flight of
SHEFEX I the next mission is under
development. Within this paper the basic
goals, architecture and key experiments of
the SHEFEX II mission will be presented.
Also launched by a two staged sounding
rocket system, SHEFEX II will be a
consequent next step in technology test and
demonstration. Considering all experience
and collected flight data obtained during the
SHEFEX I Mission, the test vehicle will be
re-designed and extended by an active
control system, which allows active
aerodynamic control during the re-entry
phase. Thus, ceramic based aerodynamic
control elements like rudders or flaps,
mechanical actuators and an automatic
electronic control unit will be implemented.
Special focus will be taken on improved
GNC Elements. In addition, some other
experiments including a FADS system, an
actively cooled thermal protection element,
advanced sensor equipment, high
temperature antenna inserts etc. are part of
the SHEFEX II experimental payload.


This study was an eye opener as it showed the extent of movie piracy in Chennai city. The rampant piracy is primarily fueled by easy availability of pirated movies in CDs and on the internet. While movie producers spend crores of rupees in making a movie, the same movie is sold for a few rupees or is available for free on the internet. While older and more educated still preferred the theatre experience it was the young, less educated and the student community who seemed to be propagating piracy in the city. The study has made an attempt to create awareness and sensitize people to the piracy situation. The team has created a website, a facebook page and an instagram page to actively help fight this parasitic phenomenon. The team is also digitally marketing the social media pages in order to spread the awareness. Let us hope that the world arrives at better ways to curb piracy in the near future as movie piracy could well mean annihilation of the movie industry in the not so far future.


The existence of a solution of a large class of nonlinear stochastic inclusions is shown. The existence of an open loop problem for those stochastic inclusions, is established. Application to an optimal strategy problem arising in the fight against drugs is given.


What is the role of the brain's ongoing activity for cognition? The predominant perspectives associate ongoing brain activity with resting state, the default-mode network (DMN), and internally oriented mentation. This triad is often contrasted with task states, non-DMN brain networks, and externally oriented mentation, together comprising a "dual model" of brain and cognition. In opposition to this duality, however, we propose that ongoing brain activity serves as a neuronal baseline; this builds upon Raichle's original search for the default mode of brain function that extended beyond the canonical default-mode brain regions. That entails what we refer to as the "baseline model." Akin to an internal biological clock for the rest of the organism, the ongoing brain activity may serve as an internal point of reference or standard by providing a shared neural code for the brain's rest as well as task states, including their associated cognition. Such shared neural code is manifest in the spatiotemporal organization of the brain's ongoing activity, including its global signal topography and dynamics like intrinsic neural timescales. We conclude that recent empirical evidence supports a baseline model over the dual model; the ongoing activity provides a global shared neural code that allows integrating the brain's rest and task states, its DMN and non-DMN, and internally and externally oriented cognition.


Author(s): Perea-Ryan, Mechelle | Advisor(s): Brown, Paul | Abstract: Emergency Departments (ED) originated to support people who were involved in traumas or needed emergent care in order to live. However, over the years and especially since the passing of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, the ED has been used more frequently for non-urgent reasons. Non-urgent use increases the cost of care, decreases the patient-provider relationship, and interrupts health care maintenance and promotion. Some of the causes of these visits include convenience, trust, and referrals from primary care providers. The largest utilizers tend to be from both ends of the age spectrum; those greater than 75 and infants. No research found has compared infant ED release utilization to ED and direct admits. Therefore, a mixed methods research study was conducted to: 1. Examine infant, maternal and environmental predictors of ED release utilization versus ED and direct admits; 2. Examine whether the social determinants of health (SDoH) influence when and why infant ED visits versus direct admits occur and; 3. Understand how mothers make decisions about care when their infant is ill. The first and second were completed analyzing California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development hospital data, while the third analyzed narratives obtained from fifteen interviews with mothers of children 12 months of age or less. Many more infant than maternal factors were associated with hospital use within the first year of life. The predictors of ED release visits and direct admits were inversely related to one another. And, as with previous ED studies, this study found a large percentage (~75%) of infant hospital visits were ED release visits. The SDoH did influence the age, day of week and diagnosis at visit. In addition, regardless of the SDoH, the top five diagnoses for a visit were almost identical. These were upper respiratory infection, fever, otitis media, vomiting alone, and acute bronchiolitis. Results from the qualitative portion of the study identified that the decision pathway for mothers who chose to visit the ED and those who did not was similar, with crucial points influencing the final decision. This information will assist health care providers with developing interventions to reduce non-urgent ED visits.


The interpretation of chest x-rays, which is part of a comprehensive medical management, requires a specific mastery, this despite the promising performance of artificial intelligence software. Alternatives to this imaging modality exist, particularly ultra-low dose CT (CT-ULD) and thoracic ultrasound (US) in some indications, but they are not a substitute for chest x-rays in clinical routine. Among the rules to be followed, a systematic reading technique is required, in order to reduce the risk of error. In addition, the observational and interpretive capabilities necessary for this task must be exercised, referring to the normal radiographic aspect. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the interpretation of pathological chest x-rays using clinical cases.


Cantaloupes continue to ripen after harvesting which is caused by ethylene production due to climacteric behaviour during postharvest storage. In this study, the cantaloupe fruits harvested at commercial maturity were evaluated for quality attributes during three weeks of storage at 10°C and a relative humidity (RH) of 90±5%. In addition, fresh-cut samples were stored for a further 19 days at 2°C and 87% RH. The fresh-cut samples were prepared on a weekly basis by dipping into deionised water (control) at 2°C for 1 minute. The effect of postharvest storage of cantaloupe on the physico-chemical properties and microbial activity was observed prior to fresh-cut processing. It was found that firmness, luminosity (L*), and titratable acidity (TA) decreased, while total soluble solids (TSS), pH, TSS:TA ratio, microbial activity (total plate count (TPC) and yeast and mould (YM)) of the fresh-cut increased over the postharvest storage period of the fruit. Meanwhile, the orange colour and the intensity (hue angle, h ab , and chromaticity) of the flesh did not differ significantly during storage. The cantaloupe stored for three weeks at a low temperature indicated a successful potential for fresh-cut processing due to good maintenance of the product quality.


High-pass filtered aeromagnetic profiles from the Mid-Norwegian continental shelf, displayed as shaded relief versions of color stripes, provide a lucid picture of sedimentary layering and structure not easily displayed by proper application of modern enhancement techniques to images of the gridded aeromagnetic data. We show that when the aim is to analyze anomalies related to sedimentary features, it is more useful to study shaded relief versions of the profile data than to study digitally enhanced images of high-pass filtered or calculated gradient data; a reason for this is probably the loss of high-wavenumber, very low amplitude, information in the gridding process. The reprocessed data sets reveal anomaly patterns that are interpreted to originate from the following magnetic sources: (1) Quaternary overburden and bathymetric features, (2) magnetic sedimentary rocks, the subcropping sedimentary rock units, (3) magnetic basement in the structural highs and in the coastal zone, and (4) igneous intrusives at relatively deep levels within sedimentary basins. West of the basement rocks along the coast, the subcropping wedge of Mesozoic to Tertiary sediments is characterized by a distinct set of subparallel anomalies. Also, sedimentary layering within the Tertiary can be resolved. Short to intermediate wavelength anomalies correlate with the Late Jurassic faults of the Halten Terrace.


An inventory of 69 somatic discomforts was used to identify those discomforts most likely to be concurrent with a clinically severe depression in a sample of 223 recently hospitalized women. The inventory provided scores for each of 15 classes of discomfort. The classes of discomfort with the highest average score for the depressed sample at admission also yielded significantly lower scores for a nonpatient control sample (P less than .05). The four classes of discomfort most pertinent to depression were designated autonomic, wakefulness, dry mouth, and fatigue. The items of discomfort contributing to these classes showed a statistically significant diminution in severity during treatment (P less than .05).


Rapid multimodal imaging is essential in the workup and management of acute ischemic stroke. Early parenchymal findings on noncontrast computed tomography or standard magnetic resonance imaging are used to triage patients for intravenous thrombolysis and to provide insight on prognosis. In the wake of recent endovascular stroke trials, advanced techniques including perfusion imaging and noninvasive vascular imaging are becoming important tools to guide potential endovascular treatment or expand therapy windows. Advanced imaging is also important in pediatric ischemic stroke which requires a slightly different workflow and treatment approach. Here, we will discuss key imaging findings in acute ischemic stroke, as well as the present and future of neuroimaging in light of recent and ongoing clinical trials.


The Rana Plaza building collapse occurred on 24 April 2013 in Savar, near the capital city of Bangladesh, killing more than 1130 garment workers and injured about 2500, mostly females. Those who survived face ongoing challenges, including socio-cultural constraints, economic hardship, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), depression, and critical health issues, which may lead to suicidal ideation and death. The aim of this article is to explore why and how female garment workers who survived the Rana Plaza collapse are now at risk of suicide thoughts and behaviours, and suicide death. Unstructured face-to-face interviews were held from April to July 2018 with 11 female garment workers who survived the Rana Plaza building collapse. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim while simultaneously being translated into English from Bengali/Bangla. Transcripts were coded and thematically analysed. The study found that all participants were living with multiple risk factors of suicidal ideation (including low socio-economic status, poverty, social stigma, psychological distress, and trauma) which the participants directly linked to the collapse of the Rana Plaza building. Our analysis uses the three-step theory of suicide (3ST, Klonsky & May, 2015) to understand female Rana Plaza survivors' suicide risk. Female survivors' overall vulnerability requires urgent attention while taking the socio-cultural setting of Bangladesh into account. In addition, a lifelong caring system (combining financial security and free healthcare) needs to be initiated to accommodate the female survivors with mainstream society to avoid possible future suicides. They require long-term social and economic security and psychological support.


Summary Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a group of symbiotic soil fungi known for their role in promoting host-plant growth by improving nutrient uptake, providing pathogen protection, and increasing tolerance to common vineyard soil abiotic stressors such as salinity, extreme pH, and low water availability. Use of commercially produced AM fungal inoculants, known as fungal biofertilizers, is growing in viticulture, but remains untested under field conditions. Here we discuss factors that affect the performance of fungal biofertilizers and scenarios where they may be more, and less, advantageous. Key Themes: Fungal biofertilizer use is increasing globally, but does their use translate to improved grapevine performance under vineyard conditions? What are the key considerations for incorporating AM fungi into vineyard management? Impact and Significance: While the importance of AM fungi for plant performance is well known, inoculation with fungal biofertilizers does not increase plant growth or yield consistently. This may be due to context dependency of the AM symbiosis, which can be affected by vineyard management practices like fertilizer use and tillage. Where AM fungi are not limiting, as in most vineyard soils, adding inoculants when compatible fungi are abundant may be redundant. However, in situations where soil fungi may be limiting, such as in greenhouse propagation nurseries using near-sterile media, or in fields with a history of heavy fertilizer use, AM fungal additions may be warranted.


Objective: To compare kangaroo mother care with conventional care in newborns regarding the frequency of successful first breastfeeding and time to initiate breastfeeding.
Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Pediatrics and obstetrics CMH Bahawalpur from Feb 2019 to Jun 2020.
Methodology: 120 infant-mother couples were included in the study. Sixty infant-mother couples were randomly allocated to each group (120 infants). Group A was nursed with kangaroo mother care (KMC), and Group B was nursed with conventional care (CC). The frequency of the first successful feed was assessed, and the time taken to initiate breastfeeding was documented.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in weight, gestational age and gender distribution between the two groups. 65 (54.25%) infants had successful first breastfeeding in the study population. 38 (63.3%) of the infants had first successful breastfeeding as per the Infant Breast feeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT) in group A (KMC) as compared to 27 (45%) in group B (Conventional Care). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.044. Mean time for first successful breastfeeding was significantly less for the KMC group as compared to the conventional group with a p-value of <0.001. Kangaroo mother care resulted in a higher frequency of successful first feed, and meantime for initiation of feeding was also less than conventional care.


The trace elements Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, Mg, and Cl in the K2Cr2O7 produced by chromate cleaner production were determined by a sequential inductively coupled plasma spectrometer in this paper. Matrix effect was studied and eliminated through matrix matching. The analytical conditions for the elements were optimized. Incident power of the RF generator was 0.95 kW. Pressure of carrier gas flow was 0.13 MPa, and its flow rate was 1.2 L x min(-1). Auxiliary gas flow rate was 0.2 L x min(-1). The element Cl was indirectly determined by the method of AgCl precipitation. The ion Cl- can be completely precipitated in 6% nitric acid system, and then determined after keeping the solution at 50 degrees C for two hours. The recoveries of the studied impurities range from 95% to 104%, and the relative standard deviations are lower than 4% (n = 10). Detection limits of these impurities are in a range 0.0001%-0.00001% (w/w). The analytical results of random samples agree well with the results using the standard-adding method, and the relative error varies from -4.27% to +5.26%. The developed method has been applied to the determination of impurities in K2Cr2O7 product with satisfactory results.


We present a method for simulation of DNA-laden flows in complex microscale geometries. In this method an incompressible Newtonian fluid is discretized with a finite difference method in the interior of the domain and a Cartesian grid embedded boundary/volume-of-fluid method is used near the boundary. The DNA is represented by a bead-rod polymer model. The fluid and polymer are fully coupled through a body force representing hydrodynamic drag. The main objective in this work is to implement short range forces to properly model polymer-polymer and polymer-surface interactions. We will discuss two methods for these interactions: (1) a new rigid constraint algorithm whereby rods elastically bounce off one another, and (2) a classical (smooth) potential acting between rods. In addition, a smooth potential for the polymer-surface interactions is also implemented for comparison to the same interactions currently modeled by elastic collision.


The Environmental Restoration activities at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office assess the environmental impacts that resulted from atmospheric and underground nuclear tests conducted from 1951 to 1992 on the Nevada National Security Site and Nevada Test and Training Range (which includes the Tonopah Test Range). The goal is to protect public health and the environment through investigations and corrective actions. The Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO), established in 1996 between the State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), DOE, and the U.S. Department of Defense, serves as the cleanup agreement for the Environmental Restoration activities and provides the framework for identifying, prioritizing, investigating, remediating, and monitoring contaminated sites. This agreement satisfies the corrective action requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. To ensure efficiency in managing these corrective actions, the sites are grouped according to location, physical and geological characteristics, and/or contaminants. These groups, called corrective action units, are prioritized based on potential risk to workers and the public, available technology, future land use, agency and stakeholder concerns, and other criteria. Environmental Restoration activities include: Industrial Sites, Soils, and Underground Test Area. Nearly 15 years have passed since the FFACO was established, and during this time, more than 3,000 sites have been identified as requiring investigation or corrective actions. To date, approximately 1,945 sites have been investigated and closed through no further action, clean closure, or closure in place. Another 985 sites are currently being investigated or are in the remediation phase, leaving approximately 80 contaminated sites yet to be addressed.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical and angiographic outcomes after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with or without prior cerebral infarction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ninety-eight consecutive patients (130 lesions) who underwent successful coronary DES implantation were prospectively classified into two groups: those with a clinical history of symptomatic cerebral infarction (cerebral infarction group, 49 patients, 69 lesions) and those without a clinical history of symptomatic cerebral infarction (noncerebral infarction group, 49 patients, 61 lesions). The primary endpoint was defined as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events.

RESULTS
The Kaplan-Meier method was used to create a primary endpoint curves to determine the time-dependent cumulative primary endpoint-free rate, which were compared using the log-rank test. The incidence of primary endpoints was higher in the cerebral infarction group than in the noncerebral infarction group (p = 0.0075). The Cox proportional hazards regression model for primary endpoint identified prior cerebral infarction (p = 0.0331, hazard ratio = 2.827) and patients with peripheral artery disease (p = 0.0271, hazard ratio = 2.757) as explanatory factors.

CONCLUSION
The results showed that clinical outcomes were poorer in patients with CAD who had prior cerebral infarctions than in those who did not have infarction.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the specifity of the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and child behaviour problems.

METHOD
In a prospective longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 362 children at risk parental tobacco use, cognitive and social-emotional child outcome and characteristics of family environment were assessed.

RESULTS
About a quarter of mothers reported regular tobacco use during pregnancy. Children in this group exhibited enhanced rates of ADHD. This association held even after adjustment for a number of covariates.

CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that maternal smoking during pregnancy may represent an independent risk factor for ADHD in the offspring.


Applications of proteomics tools revolutionized various biomedical disciplines such as genetics, molecular biology, medicine, and dentistry. The aim of this review is to highlight the major milestones in proteomics in dentistry during the last fifteen years. Human oral cavity contains hard and soft tissues and various biofluids including saliva and crevicular fluid. Proteomics has brought revolution in dentistry by helping in the early diagnosis of various diseases identified by the detection of numerous biomarkers present in the oral fluids. This paper covers the role of proteomics tools for the analysis of oral tissues. In addition, dental materials proteomics and their future directions are discussed.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Antisense oligonucleotides (oligos) have been employed against in vivo and in vitro prostate cancer models targeting proteins associated with growth and programmed death (apoptosis). In LNCaP cells we evaluated monospecific (directed towards bcl-2) and bispecific (directed towards bcl-2 and the epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]) oligos which targeted and comparably suppressed the expression of bcl-2, an apoptosis inhibitory protein. Antisense oligos directed against bcl-2 are entering clinical trials and it was of interest to see: 1) Whether such therapy would produce non-specific effects which could compromise its' efficacy; and 2) To identify genes whose activity, if diminished, may have to be either maintained or replaced for this type of therapy to be effective. Cells were evaluated for the expression of non-targeted genes associated with apoptosis (caspase-3, clusterin); androgen regulation (androgen receptor [AR], p300), cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, interferon [IFN]); antigen expression (prostate specific antigen [PSA], prostate specific membrane antigen [PSMA], prostatic acid phosphatase [PAP]); and autocrine growth (insulin like growth factor [IGF1]). As expected in this type of specific gene therapy, most non-targeted proteins were unaffected. However, the expression of several non-targeted genes were altered. Following the suppression of bcl-2 activity by both mono- and bispecific oligos, LNCaP cells compensated by both suppression of caspase-3 activity (an apoptosis promoter) and enhanced expression of both AR and its' p300 co-activator. This suggests both an ability to reverse the effects of bcl-2 suppression on apoptosis through decreased expression of the apoptosis promoter and a possible stimulation of growth due to increased androgen sensitivity. It also identifies caspase-3 as an essential gene whose expression must be either maintained or replaced when bcl-2 activity is therapeutically suppressed. Among the differentiation antigens, cell surface PSMA expression was increased by bispecific oligos, whereas secretory PSA and PAP were unchanged. This PSMA increase was associated with an increased IFN expression induced by a unique double strand conformation (intrastrand hybridization) of the bispecific oligos not seen in the monospecific oligo. Increased PSMA expression could make LNCaP cells more recognizable to cytotoxic T cells and/or potentiate prostate cancer vaccines. If gene therapy is truly to be effective, the mechanisms for compensatory changes which contribute to tumor resistance must be further identified and controlled.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 270. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-270


This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based interventions in reducing diabetes-related physiological and psychological symptoms in adults with types 1 and 2 diabetes. Five databases were systematically searched. A total of 11 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Mindfulness-based intervention effectiveness for physiological outcomes (glycaemic control and blood pressure) was mixed. Mindfulness-based interventions appear to have psychological benefits reducing depression, anxiety and distress symptoms across several studies. Studies' short-term follow-up periods may not allow sufficient time to observe physiological changes or illustrate Mindfulness-based interventions' potential long-term efficacy. More long-term studies that include a consistent, standardised set of outcome measures are required.


Parenting is a challenge role, and it is an even more challenging experience when you have a child with a life-altering diagnosis (LAD). In this investigation, the character strengths of parents of healthy children and parents of children with LADs were measured, as well as their sense of meaning and well-being. We hypothesized that parents of children with LADs might have a different profile of top strengths than parents of healthy children. However, the results revealed no significant differences in character strengths between the two groups of parents, except for the character strength of love of learning. There were significant differences in well-being, but not meaning, between parents of healthy children and parents of children with LADs. The results suggest that character strengths may not be being leveraged, or at least have not altered significantly, in parents with children with LADs. Given that character strengths are linked to subjective well-being, and well-being among parents of children with LADs was low, this may present an opportunity to leverage interventions that promote well-being and flourishing through the use of character strengths in service to parental well-being.


The UMIST quadrupole magnetic confinement system shows a well-developed spectrum of drift waves, which are anti-symmetric between opposite sides of the machine (they have one full wavelength around a closed line of force). The authors consider non-linear interactions of these modes, concluding that these should include a nearly resonant interaction of two drift-waves to give a symmetric drift-wave (with two full wavelengths around a closed line of force) at double the frequency. They show that the observed power-spectrum does show a frequency-doubling peak, and from observations of the bispectrum that it is linked by non-linear interactions with the drift-waves. The authors use the bispectrum as a probe of the eigenfunction at the frequency-doubled peak, and show from this that the resonant interaction described above can contribute only a small part of the total power, and that it must be suppressed relative to non-resonant interactions with other modes. They discuss possible reasons for this, and conclude that considerable caution must be exercised in identifying non-linear interactions, however plausible they may appear.


Aims To assess the value added to patient care by the input of the paediatrician following referral to a general paediatric outpatient department. Methods The authors received 200 general practitioner (GP) referral letters from the Primary Care Trust (PCT) over a 2-year period. The authors excluded letters to other hospitals and to non-medical specialties, such as paediatric surgery or ENT. A group of paediatricians reviewed both the referral letter and the return correspondence, and made a judgement on the relevance of the referral to hospital. Results 70 pairs of letters were analysed. In 45, patient care was improved by referral to secondary care. In 25 it was felt the referral could have been avoided. The referrals which enhanced patient care: ▸ suspicion of serious underlying conditions ▸ unclear diagnosis ▸ treatment instituted by GP had not resolved the problem ▸ further hospital investigation and management required However, there were instances in which improvements could be made: ▸ lack of information on the referral ▸ incorrect diagnosis on the letter ▸ referral being directed towards the wrong individual Other letters highlighted education and training issues: ▸ knowledge or confidence gap in the GPs' training ▸ lack of confidence in treating children ▸ lack of confidence by the GP in his own diagnosis This carries a cost implication—if 36% of the 1268 referrals to general paediatrics last year were potentially avoidable, this would represent a saving to the PCT of £110 000. Conclusions The authors advocate an integrated approach to healthcare for children in which GPs have easy and ready access to advice from paediatricians. There is a shortage of paediatric resources, partly due to different working patterns after the introduction of the European Working Time Directive. We must ensure the most appropriate use of scarce resources. With improved communication, the numbers of children requiring hospital review can be reduced. The authors feel that better links between primary and secondary care will improve patient satisfaction and GP education. In addition, parental confidence in GPs will increase as they become more confident in managing the child's condition. This will result in fewer avoidable referrals to secondary paediatrics.


Background: Infertility has been described as the most important reproductive health concerns of Nigerian women. Based on the importance placed on offspring in the African context, infertility contributes to high level of psychological distress, conflicts between couples and subject those faced with the challenge to hazardous sexual behaviors. This study therefore explored the experiences and health-seeking behaviors of couples towards infertility.Methods: The study employed a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen participants who had been diagnosed with primary or secondary infertility, who were currently receiving treatment at a tertiary health institution in the Ekiti State. Thematic categorization and content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Majority of the participant were Female (14 out of 15), between the ages of 20-35(80%) and are Christian (100%). All the participants reported negative emotional and psychological effects of infertility as they all expressed their unhappiness on the issue of infertility and claimed that the issue has affected them in all spheres of life (socially, marital relationship and psychologically). Two of the participants claimed that their husbands had abandon them because of their inability to conceive. Majority of the participants also claimed that there is social stigma associated with the condition as almost all (14 of 15) said the society is not doing anything to support women facing infertility issue. All the participants utilized medical treatments in combination with religious activities as a form of treatment. Conclusion: The society is not doing enough to support couples with infertility issue. Supports group should be created in the society where couples with similar challenge can come together to freely discuss and share their experiences as this could help in alleviating the psychological distress associated with infertility.


Seismic interference (SI) still is a considerable problem in marine seismic acquisitions. Looking at the number of marine seismic surveys that are acquired in close vicinity of each other nowadays, seismic interference forces to either acquire surveys in time-sharing mode or apply substantial processing schemes to attenuate the SI-energy afterwards. Looking at the characteristics and challenges of SI-energy, we see that it is very much related to the deblending challenges faced in simultaneous source acquisitions. Just like the interfering simultaneous sources, which are fired with dithered firing-times, the SI energy show irregular behaviour from shot to shot. Considering the resemblance between the two, it seems natural to treat blendingand SIenergy in one and the same algorithm. In this paper it is discussed how an inversion-based source separation method is extended to include SI-energy as well. The extended method is applied to simultaneous long offset (SLO) field data which is contaminated by SI. Good results are obtained for both source separation and SI attenuation.


This research wished to risk type and examine closely driver special quality and relation of traffic accidents by occurrence type of traffic accidents and traffic accidents seriousness examine closely relation with Severity. Fractionate traffic accidents type by eight, and driver's special quality for risk group's classification did to distinction of sex, vehicle type, age etc. analyzed relation with injury degree adding belt used putting on availability for security the objectivity with wave. Used log-Linear model and Logit model for analysis of category data. A head-on collision and overtaking accident, right-turn accident are high injury or death accident and possibility to associate in relation with accident type and seriousness degree. In risk group analysis The age less than 20 years in motor-cycle driver, taxi driver in 41 years to 50 years old are very dangerous. The woman also was construed to the more risk group than man from when related to car, mini-bus, goods vehicle etc. Therefore, traffic safety education and Enforcement for risk group that way that can reduce accident that produce to reduce a loss of lives at traffic accidents appearance a head-on collision and overtaking accidents, right-turn accidents should be studied and as traffic accidents weakness class may have to be solidified.


Due to the population growth and grid expansion to rural areas, the demand in Saudi electricity network is rapidly increasing. Consequently, the daily consumption of fossil fuels used to generate electricity is booming at an alarming rate. This has motivated the Saudi decision makers to explore different alternatives so as to improve energy efficiency and reliability both from the generation and demand sides. This paper gives an overview of the efforts taken by Saudi ARAMCO in this regard. These efforts include: (a) Implementation of new substation automation system based on the innovative IEC 61850 standards, and (b) Exploring options for the integration of renewable energy sources. These efforts will eventually culminate into the concept of smart grid to improve energy efficiency, reliability and cost effectiveness for the industrial sector.


Ore mineralization of the Old Paleozoic rocks making up the bedrock of the Myszkow - Mrzyglod area is represented by many genetic types which developed in several phases and stages affected by tectonic movements. In the first phase, corresponding to the preliminary development of the Caledonian geosyncline, the pyrite-chalcopyrite and sphalerite-galenite-chalcopyrite syndiagenetic mineralization was formed. During the second and third phases embracing the period of regional metamorphism and main Caledonian foldings, the forming of the Myszkow Elevation structure along with its core filling granitoid intrusion took place. At that time there originated small skarnoid and skarn bodies as well as chlorite-quartz veins with pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization containing an admixture of magnetite and pyrrhotite. In the fourth and fifth phases connected with the period of the Caledonian Orogen inversion there developed the main mineralization of molybdenite-scheelite-chalcopyrite of stockwork type and copper mifieralization of porphyry copper type. In the sixth phase, linked to the Variscan, Cimmerian and Alpine movements, there were formed quartz-carbonate and black quartz veins with chalcopyrite-galenite-sphalerite mineralization containing an admixture of fine-grained molybdenite and scheelite, as well as younger barite-carbonate and carbonate veins with galenite-sphalerite-anglesite mineralization


Introduction/ Background
Medical information system (MIS) is at the heart of information technology (IT) implementation policies in healthcare systems around the world. Different architecture and application models of MIS are developed.
Despite of obvious advantages and benefits, application of MIS in everyday practice is slow.

Aims
On the background of analysis of the existing models of MIS in Georgia has been created a multi-user web-based approach. This presentation will present the architecture of the system and its application for image based second opinion consultations.

Methods
The MIS has been created with .Net technology and SQL database architecture. It realizes local (intranet) and remote (internet) access to the system and management of databases. The MIS is fully operational approach, which is successfully used for medical data registration and management as well as for creation, editing and maintenance of the electronic medical records (EMR). Five hundred Georgian language electronic medical records from the cervical screening activity illustrated by images were selected for second opinion consultations.

Results
The primary goal of the MIS is patient management. However, the system can be successfully applied for
image based second opinion consultations. The ideal of healthcare in the information age must be to create a situation where healthcare professionals spend more time creating knowledge from medical information and less time managing medical information. The application of easily available and adaptable technology and improvement of the infrastructure conditions is the basis for eHealth applications. It can be concluded, that the MIS is perspective and actual technology solution. It can be successfully and effectively used for image based second opinion consultations.


In the United States, seven states and territorial jurisdictions have coral reefs: Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Reef-based coastal tourism and recreation provide significant economic benefits to the United States - benefits that generally exceed those of reef-based commercial fisheries. The coral reef tourism industry requires healthy coral reef ecosystems, and reefs worldwide are in serious trouble. While U.S. coral reefs are subject to a number of anthropogenic stressors, fishing is the one that simultaneously (1) is generally deemed the most damaging to coral reef ecosystems and the biodiversity that makes such reefs attractive to tourists; and (2) has created the most political and legal opposition to coral reef protection. However, a potential win-win solution exists: both scientists and policymakers have recommended the increased use of marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine reserves to protect coral reef ecosystems and their tourism services, a solution that could simultaneously improve reef-based fisheries.Increased use of MPAs and marine reserves requires a legal basis for setting aside areas of the ocean and restricting fishing therein, preferably with some sort of policy priority for protecting marine biodiversity. U.S. law and policy provides a number of legal mechanisms for creating MPAs but creates no clear policy in favor of coral reef - or marine biodiversity more generally - preservation and protection. As a result, conflicts between fishing interests, on the one hand, and tourism and scientific interests, on the other, have stalled coral reef-based MPA designations at the federal level. Nevertheless, despite a de facto legal preference for fishing, a tension between fishing promotion and coral reef ecosystem protection has been emerging in U.S. law and policy, indicating that modification of U.S. federal law is necessary to promote coral reef ecosystem preservation and restoration.This article explores developments in U.S. law and policy in the 21st century regarding coral reef protection in light of those ecosystems' acknowledged tourism value. It concludes that the structure and procedures of the National Marine Sanctuary Act have proven ineffective in protecting U.S. coral reefs for purposes of promoting and sustaining coral reef tourism and suggests improvements for future coral reef and MPA policy.


Objective: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells in the vestibulocochlear nerve. Although they are benign tumors, they can cause serious problems. The aim of our study was to present the clinical features and complications of VS cases that were operated with translabyrinthine approach. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 VS patients who operated with translabyrinthine approach. Demographic data, symptoms, preoperative audiometric tests, tumor sizes, postoperative complications, hospital stay time were examined. Preoperative and postoperative facial nerve (FN) functions were evaluated with the House Brackmann (HB) grading system. The House grading system was used for tumor staging: Grade 1 ≤ 10 mm, grade 2 ≤ 20mm, grade 3 ≤ 30mm, grade 4 ≤ 40 mm and grade 5> 40 mm. Results: 5 male and 6 female patients included the study. Mean age of the patients were 50.4 years (range, 18-66 years). The tumor was located on the left side in 7 patients. Grade 1 tumor was determined in 2 patients, Grade 2 in 5 patients and Grade 3 in 4 patients. The most common symptoms were tinnitus and hearing loss. In 1 patient cerebrospinal fluid fistula appeared. In one case, the integrity of the facial nerve had been disrupted during the operation. In 2 patients with these complications, the tumor was grade 3 Conclusion: VS surgery with translabyrinthine approach is a method with low complication rates and mortality. The most common early and late postoperative complication is facial paralysis.


2373 The EML4-ALK fusion gene, resulting from an inversion on chromosome 2p, has recently been detected in ~7% of Japanese non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). This genetic alteration was also transforming in vitro and in vivo . In the current study we examined the frequency of EML4-ALK in NSCLCs (n=305) derived from US and Korean patients and in NSCLC cell lines (n= 83). We detected 4 different variants of EML4-ALK using RT-PCR in 8 (3%) NSCLC (2/138 (1.5%) from US NSCLC patients; 6/167 (3.6%) from Korean patients) and in 3/83 (3.6%) NSCLC cell lines. All EML4-ALK containing tumors and cell lines were adenocarcinomas and occurred more frequently in NSCLC patients who were never or light ( EML4-ALK inversion. Despite inhibiting ALK phosphorylation in all 3 cell lines, the growth of only 1 of the 3 cell lines, H3122, was inhibited by NVP-TAE684 and this was accompanied by significant apoptosis. In the other 2 EML4-ALK containing cell lines, unlike in H3122, inhibition of ALK phosphorylation led to no or only partial inhibition of AKT, STAT3 or ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. These studies suggest that ALK inhibitors may be potentially effective therapies for a subset of lung cancers harbouring the EML4-ALK inversion and further support their clinical development


Constitutive heterochromatin mainly consists of different classes of satellite DNAs and is defined as a transcriptionally inactive chromatin that remains compact throughout the cell cycle. The aim of this work was to investigate the level of condensation, methylation and transcriptional status of centromeric (alphoid DNA) and pericentromeric satellites (human satellite 3, HS3) in tissues (lymphocytes, placenta cells) and in cultured primary (MRC5, VH-10, AT2Sp) and malignant (A431) cells. We found that alphoid DNA remained condensed and heavily methylated in all the cell types. The HS3 of chromosome 1 (HS3-1) but not of chromosome 9 (HS3-9) was strongly decondensed and demethylated in A431 cells. The same observation was made for aged embryonic lung (MRC5) and juvenile foreskin (VH-10) fibroblasts obtained at late passages (32nd and 23rd, respectively). Decondensation was also found in ataxia telangiectasia AT2Sp fibroblasts at the 16th passage. One of the manifestations of the disease is premature aging. The level of HS3-1 decondensation was higher in aged primary fibroblasts as compared to A431. The HS3-1 extended into the territory of neighbouring chromosomes. An RT-PCR product was detected in A431 and senescent MRC5 fibroblasts using primers specific for HS3-1. The RNA was polyadenylated and transcribed from the reverse chain. Our results demonstrate the involvement of satellite DNA in associations between human chromosomes and intermingling of chromosome territories. The invading satellite DNA can undergo decondensation to a certain level. This process is accompanied by demethylation and transcription.


Abstract Goatsrue is a member of the Fabaceae family, native to Europe and western Asia. It contains the toxic alkaloid galegine. The objective of the study was to describe galegine concentration in aboveground goatsrue plant parts and total galegine pools over phenological growth stages. Twenty goatsrue plants at four locations were selected and a stalk was harvested from each at five stages of phenological development and separated into parts. Plant parts were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Galegine concentration was significantly different in plant tissues; reproductive tissues had the highest levels of galegine (7 mg g−1), followed by leaf (4 mg g−1) and finally stem (1 mg g−1) tissues. Galegine concentration and pools varied over plant tissues and phenological growth stages. Galegine pools (dry weight by concentration) or the total amount of galegine per stalk were lowest at the vegetative growth stage (2 mg stalk−1) and increased until reaching a maximum at the immature pod stage (91 mg stalk−1). The pools decreased nearly in half (48 mg stalk−1) by the mature seed stage. Like galegine pools, galegine concentration also reached a maximum at the immature pod stage (4 mg g−1), and decreased by nearly half by the mature seed stage (2 mg g−1). The increased levels of galegine pools at immature pod stage corresponds with the time of meadow hay harvest, implying that goatsrue is potentially most toxic at the phenological stage when it is likely to be harvested as a contaminant in meadow hay. Nomenclature: Goatsrue, Galega officinalis L. GAGOF; galegine, 2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)guanidine.


A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy research farm of IAAS, Rampur, chitwan, Nepal during summer and winter season 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of crop sequence and nitrogen rates on hybrid maize. The research finding revealed that maximum gross return (Rs 53660 /ha in 2010 and Rs 60450/ha in 2011) was obtained from maize grown after greengraml while maximum net return (Rs 30170/ha in 2010 and Rs 33440/ha in 2011) was obtained from maize under greengram-maize sequences. Benefit & cost ratio was maximum (1.22 in 2010 and 1.18 in 2011) from maize under greengram-maize sequences while it was minimum (0.50 in 2010 and 0.47 in 2011) under maize–maize sequences. Maximum maize equivalent yield 11516 kg /ha in 2010 and 12710 kg /ha in 2011) was obtained under maize-maize sequences while it was minimum (4310 kg /ha in 2010 and 4624 kg /ha in 2011) under clusterbean-maize sequences. Maize equivalent yield was maximum (10824 kg /ha in 2010 and 11923 kg /ha in 2011) with 200 kg N/ha while it was minimum (7384 kg /ha in 2010 and 8206 kg /ha in 2011) without nitrogen. Grain production efficiency was maximum (32.0 kg /ha/day under greengram– maize sequences in 2010. but in 2011, maximum grain production efficiency (34.8 kg /ha /day) was recorded under maize–maize sequences which was comparable to grain production efficiency under greengram-maize sequence. Maximum grain production efficiency (29.2 kg/ha/day in 2010 and 32.8 kg /ha/day in 2011) was obtained with 200 kg N/ha. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(2): 180-187


Our network is a chain of encoder-decoder networks. Figures 15 and 16 explain the details of the two encoderdecoders used in the bootstrap and iterative net part. Fig. 17 gives implementation details for the refinement net. The encoder-decoders for the bootstrap and iterative net use additional inputs which come from previous predictions. Some of these inputs, like warped images or depth from optical flow, need to be generated with special layers, which we describe here.


Neural networks play an important role in system modelling. This is especially true if model building is mainly based on observed data. Among neural models the Support Vector Machine (SVM) solutions are attracting increasing attention, mostly because they automatically answer certain crucial questions involved by neural network construction. They derive an 'optimal' network structure and answer the most important question related to the 'quality' of the resulted network. The main drawback of standard Support Vector Machines (SVM) is its high computational complexity, therefore recently a new technique, the Least Squares SVM (LS–SVM) has been introduced. This is algorithmically more effective, because the solution can be obtained by solving a linear equation set instead of a computation-intensive quadratic programming problem. Although the gain in efficiency is rather significant, for really large problems the computational burden of LS-SVM is still too high. Moreover, an attractive feature of SVM, its sparseness is lost. This paper proposes a special new generalized formulation and solution technique for the standard LS-SVM. By solving the modified LS–SVM equation set in least squares (LS) sense (LS 2 –SVM), a pruned solution is achieved, while the computational burden is further reduced (Generalized LS–SVM). In this generalized LS–SVM framework a further modification weighting is also proposed, to reduce the sensitivity of the network construction to outliers while maintaining sparseness.


The purpose of this study is to examine the information needs of Egyptian doormen/women, including their behaviour. An adapted form of snowball sampling of a heterogeneous demographic group of participants in the doormanship in Egypt was conducted. This sampling was used to select focus groups (n = 6) to explore a range of relevant issues. Demographically, Egyptian doormen/women appeared to be mostly males, with average formal education, with an average age of around 30s and 40s, characterized as low-income people and mostly married. A large number of Egyptian doormen/women suggested that they have not been fully aware of their information rights and a majority of them have not been able to address their information needs in an appropriate way. The study also showed a remarkable diversity in the information needs of doormen/women, particularly concerning the individual and family need, the needs of work-related activities, and the need to find a better place to work in. Regarding their information behavior profile, a large number of doormen/women preferred undocumented oral sources, as well as the frequent informal sources between them and their relatives, peers, and employers, whether through direct interaction, face-to-face meetings, or through mobile and social media. The reasons why doormen/women are searching for information were mostly intended to help in the performance of tasks that are closely associated with their jobs. A large number of doormen/women preferred oral or informal sources over written ones, such as communication with their peers, family, and friends. The experience gained was also one of the most important sources on which doormen/women relied. Time, illiteracy, psychological pressure, bad social image, the lack of awareness of basic and fundamental rights, especially information rights, lack of financial resources, lack of skills and training, and financial burdens were the most important challenges.


Herein we examine the effect of formaldehyde on chromium electrodeposits obtained from trivalent chromium electrolytes containing urea and formic acid as complexing agents. Indigenous experimental set up was made using platinized titanium as anode and mild steel as cathode. The ensuing physico-chemical properties of the deposits were characterized and analyzed by different characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDAX and FT-IR. Corrosion measurements such as Tafel polarization and AC impedance spectroscopy were carried out in 0.2M H2SO4. These studies revealed that chromium electrodeposits obtained from the electrolyte containing 100 ppm of formaldehyde, showed the good corrosion resistance property towards acidic solution. The electrocrystallization of chromium during electrodeposition favored by the presence of formaldehyde resulted in chromium deposits of nano scale. i.e. 23 nm. EDAX analysis revealed the elemental composition of obtained electrodeposits. The bond formation between formaldehyde and chromium metal was established by FT-IR studies.


Three related problems of viscoplastic flow around cylinders are considered. First, translating cylinders with no-slip surfaces appear to generate adjacent rotating plugs in the limit where the translation speed becomes vanishingly small. In this plastic limit, analytical results are available from plasticity theory (slipline theory) which indicate that no such plugs should exist. Using a combination of numerical computations and asymptotic analysis, we show that the plugs of the viscoplastic theory actually disappear in the plastic limit, albeit very slowly. Second, when the boundary condition on the cylinder is replaced by one that permits sliding, the plastic limit corresponds to a partially rough cylinder. In this case, no plasticity solution has been previously established; we provide evidence from numerical computations and slipline theory that a previously proposed upper bound (Martin & Randolph, Geotechnique, vol. 56, 2006, pp. 141–145) is actually the true plastic solution. Third, we consider how a prescribed surface velocity field can propel cylindrical squirmers through a viscoplastic fluid. We determine swimming speeds and contrast the results with those from the corresponding Newtonian problem.


AIM
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of web-based patient education on anxiety in patients scheduled for thyroid surgery. A secondary aim was to evaluate the patients' postoperative recovery outcomes.

DESIGN
This study is a randomized controlled trial.

METHOD
The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey between September 2018 and May 2019 with 76 patients scheduled for thyroidectomy surgery and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the intervention group received web-based education, while those in the control group were given only routine care. Measurements were performed before surgery, on the day of surgery, and 1 week after discharge.

RESULTS
On the day of surgery, intervention group anxiety levels were lower than those of the control group, and the majority of early recovery parameters were significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group. One week after discharge, the intervention group patients' anxiety levels were significantly lower. Web-based education had no impact on pain, time in the operating room, readmission to the hospital after discharge, or length of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS
Nurse-led web-based education reduced patients' anxiety regarding surgery. The results also show that it may improve postoperative early recovery.


With the rise of the netwar paradigm new tools are needed to support intelligence collection and analysis. The Semantic Web uses information online in which data is defined in machine-readable terms, allows for the creation of flexible, adaptable knowledge bases that can be used collaboratively. This paper discusses how the Semantic Web facilitates research on terrorist organizations, particularly how a variety of useful features - such as network visualization and data attribution - can be used.


Brillouin scattering at small scattering angles was used to measure the ultrasonic velocity in both phases of saturated n-butane. A modification of photon correlation spectroscopy, a heterodyne method using a frequency-shifted background, was applied. Sound velocities of the order of 100 ms-1 could be determined with an accuracy better than 1%. The frequency range encountered was 30-200 MHz. The temperature range covered was 307.33-423.43 K for the liquid and 363.17-424.70 K for the vapour (critical temperature 425.16 K). The results are compared with calculated static values. Deviations appear in the crossover region near the critical point. A brief discussion of this region is given, referring also to other results.


The year 2009 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first Critical Race Theory (CRT) workshop. On July 8, 1989, more than twenty scholars "who were interested in defining and elaborating on the lived reality of race, and who were open to the aspiration of developing theory" gathered together at a workshop in Madison, Wisconsin. The 1989 workshop, which was spearheaded by Kimberl Crenshaw and organized by her, Neil Gotanda, and Stephanie Phillips, also included as its participants Anita Allen, Taunya Banks, Derrick Bell, Kevin Brown, Paulette Caldwell, John Calmore, Harlon Dalton, Richard Delgado, Linda Greene, Trina Grillo, Isabelle Gunning, Angela Harris, Mari Matsuda, Teresa Miller, Philip T. Nash, Elizabeth Patterson, Benita Ramsey, Robert Suggs, Kendall Thomas, and Patricia Williams.


An incomplete tree gauge for 3D transient eddy current computation using edge elements is presented. The proposed formulation is compared with the non-gauged and the random tree gauged formulations, showing that it results in better precision and better system matrix conditioning. H circulation is used to calculate the transient eddy current density. The results of the different approaches are discussed.


Purpose: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is known to be one of the most common cause of surgery for infants and pyloromyotomy was considered to the standard treatment. There has been an ongoing debate about whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) or open pyloromyotomy (OP) is the best option for treating HPS. The aim of this study is to evaluate safety and effectiveness of LP by comparing the clinical results of both surgical strategies performed by single surgeon. Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2013, 60 patients who underwent pyloromyotomy at Asan Medical Center performed by a surgeon were followed: open-supraumbilical incision (n=36) and LP (n=24). The parameters included sex, age and body weight at operation. Clinical outcomes included operation time, time to full feeding, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: There were no significant differences in characteristics, postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Time to full feeding was shorter in LP (OP 24.5 hours vs. LP 19.8 hours; p=0.063). In contrast, the mean operation time was longer in LP (OP 37.5 minutes vs. LP 43.5 minutes; p=0.072). Complications such as perforation of mucosal layer (OP 1 vs. LP 0) and wound problems (OP 2 vs. LP 0) were found to be not worse in laparoscopic group as compared with open group. Conclusion: There has no difference both laparoscopic and open-supraumbilical incision in terms of postoperative hospital stay, time to full feeds and frequency of complications.


The fiduciary duty of care is one of the pillars of Delaware corporate law. Under the traditional corporate model, courts police the duty of care by examining the process directors followed in rendering a decision. This model has weaknesses, including the ease with which an adequate record may be constructed and the lack of any necessary connection between procedural rituals and optimal decision making. A viable and compelling alternative would be for a court to consider whether the directors who made the decision also were substantial stockholders. If so, then the directors' enlightened self-interest should have operated to ensure that the decision reached was the best option available. Courts therefore could adopt a rebuttable presumption that directors who also are substantial stockholders have acted with due care. Three lines of authority are converging in support of such a presumption. Rather than a revolutionary change, such a presumption would represent an evolutionary development in the analysis of directors' fiduciary duties.


This contribution is developed from a series of discussions with Simona Rybáková, Czech costume designer and curator of the Extreme Costume exhibition that was presented at the Prague Quadrennial in 2011 (PQ11). Following an overview on the presence of costume at recent editions of the Prague Quadrennial, this text focuses on the Extreme Costume exhibition, which showcased cutting edge costume practice in a full-scale independent display, for the first time shown separately from the PQ11 general performance design exhibition. The discussion provides a critical reflection on the curatorial process for the Extreme Costume exhibition and illuminates the curator's enquiry and her intentions behind specific choices. It includes a review of the audience's response and, most importantly, concludes with Rybáková's insights on her personal 'emancipation' from her long-lasting professional role as costume designer to the role of costume curator working with her colleagues' practice for the purposes of this exhibition. Given the limited documentation available about Extreme Costume, the aim of this contribution is dual: to provide a resource on the scope and reach of this significant event; and to offer materials to costume research for further discussion related to exhibiting costume beyond the context of its original performance.


This is a case report of a unique, late-presenting, Müllerian anomaly in an infertile patient. The authors discuss the diagnostic challenges of characterizing distorted gynecological anatomy by Müllerian anomalies in the presence of sizeable coexisting fibroids. This case report adds new insight to the already-existing understanding of Müllerian anomalies by demonstrating how a symptomatic and benign uterine pathology can complicate the diagnosis and management of patients with Müllerian defects.


Individuals' life chances in the future will very much depend on how we invest in our children now. An optimal human capital model would combine a high mean with minimal variance of skills. It is well-established that early childhood learning is key to adult success. The impact of social origins on child outcomes remains strong, and the new role of women poses additional challenges to our conventional nurturing approach to child development. This paper focuses on skill development in the early years, examining how we might best combine family inputs and public policy to invest optimally in our future human capital. I emphasize three issues: one, the uneven capacity of parents to invest in children; two, the impact of mothers' employment on child outcomes; and three, the potential benefits of early pre-school programmes. I conclude that mothers' intra-family bargaining power is decisive for family investments and that universal child care is key if our goal is to arrive at a strong mean with minimal variance.


We present an implementation of split-population duration regression in the spduration
(Beger et al., 2017) package for R that allows for time-varying covariates. The statistical model accounts
for units that are immune to a certain outcome and are not part of the duration process the researcher
is primarily interested in. We provide insights for when immune units exist, that can significantly
increase the predictive performance compared to standard duration models. The package includes
estimation and several post-estimation methods for split-populationWeibull and log-logistic models.
We provide an empirical application to data on military coups.


Some tumor cells induce platelet aggregation in the bloodstream, which has been implicated in tumor metastasis. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of platelet aggregation induced by a human neuroblastoma cell line, GOTO. It was revealed that GOTO cells had tissue factor on their surface and converted factor X (FX) to FXa with the aid of factor VIIa. The produced FXa formed prothrombinase complex on the cells and activated prothrombin. From experiments on activity inhibition by specific monoclonal as well as polyclonal antibodies, it was concluded that factor V did not constitute this prothrombinase complex. Another cofactor known to constitute prothrombinase complex on some cells, effector cell protease receptor‐1 (EPR‐1), was not expressed on GOTO cells, suggesting that the cofactor composing FXa‐dependent prothrombinase activity on GOTO cells is not factor V or EPR‐1 but, rather, is an unknown molecule. Upon the culturing in the presence of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine for 4 days, GOTO cells differentiated into Schwann‐like cells, and both FXase and prothrombinase activities were greatly diminished. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that the decrease of FXase activity should be attributed to the decrease of tissue factor expression on GOTO cells. Because these activities greatly diminished upon cellular differentiation, the expression of both cofactor molecules may be related to the malignant and metastatic nature of the tumor cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:406–414, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Congenital neutropenia (CN) is a heterogeneous disorder. More than 30 distinct genetic defects have been discovered in patients with genetic diseases associated with decreased numbers of peripheral neutrophil granulocytes. Currently, most molecular diagnostic laboratories use Sanger-based sequencing techniques to define disease-causing mutations in patients with CN. In approximately 50% of patients no known genetic disorder can be found. To identify novel genes that can be causative for unexplained CN cases we embarked on next-generation whole-exome sequencing using SOLiD 5500™ and Ion Proton™ sequencers. Up to date we sequenced whole exomes of 49 families, in which children were diagnosed with CN. The fragment libraries were constructed using the SureSelect™ V4+UTRs System (Agilent) allowing us to target whole coding sequence and the majority of UTRs of human genome (approx. 71 Mb). The vast majority of the families were analysed in the "Trio" approach and suitable homozygous or compound heterozygous rare variations (frequency below 1%) in protein coding regions or in splice sites were chosen for further validations. In seven cases mutations previously described as causative for neutropenia were identified including G6PC3, HAX1, and ELANE. Four other rare variants are currently being analysed for their potential to cause CN. In 35 patients, no plausible candidate could be identified so far. When we assessed variants within the genes related to CN, our data revealed unequal coverage pattern over these genes. Around 10% of the exons were insufficiently covered (coverage of less than 10) to allow for reliable variant and genotype call. These facts limit the power of whole exome sequencing as a diagnostic tool, as mutations at the non-covered positions cannot be ruled out, and demonstrate the need of an alternative comprehensive approach. We are currently assessing sensitivity and specificity of a robust, rapid, and cost-effective approach that comprehensively analyses the sequence of 34 CN-relevant genes. Our approach is based on enrichment of specific exon regions by amplification using custom made AmpliSeq™ (Life Technologies) panel. For 25 genes we are able to sequence coding region as well as both UTR sequences, for 9 genes sequencing is limited to coding regions. This approach will provide a reliable, quick, and inexpensive diagnostic strategy for CN patients which will be offered free-of-charge to patients worldwide, independent of ethnic, national, or financial considerations. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Background: Approximately one third of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cases present with diabetic nephropathy (DN), the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Inflammation plays an important role in T2DM disease and DN pathogenesis. NLRP3 inflammasomes are complexes that regulate interleukin-1B (IL-1B) and IL-18 secretion, both involved in inflammatory responses. Activation of NLRP3 is associated with DN onset and progression. Here, we explore whether DN is associated with variants in genes encoding key members of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Methods: Using genome-wide association data, we performed a pilot case-control association study, between 101 DN-T2DM and 185 non-DN-T2DM cases from the Hellenic population across six NLRP3 inflammasome pathway genes. Results: Three common CARD8 variants confer decreased risk for DN, namely rs11665831 (OR = 0.62, p = 0.016), rs11083925 (OR = 0.65, p = 0.021), and rs2043211 (OR = 0.66, p = 0.026), independent of sex or co-inheritance with an IL-1B variant. Conclusion: CARD8 acts as an NLRP3, NF-κB and caspase-1 inhibitor; perhaps, alterations in the cross-talk between CARD8, NF-κB, and NLRP3, which could affect the pro-inflammatory environment in T2DM, render diabetic carriers of certain common CARD8 variants potentially less likely to develop T2DM-related pro-inflammatory responses followed by DN. These preliminary, yet novel, observations will require validation in larger cohorts from several ethnic groups.


Memory consolidation has been described as a process to strengthen newly formed memories and to stabilize them against interference from similar learning experiences. Sleep facilitates memory consolidation in humans, improving memory performance and protecting against interference encountered after sleep. The European starling, a songbird, has also manifested sleep-dependent memory consolidation when trained on an auditory-classification task. Here, we examined how memory for two similar classification tasks is consolidated across waking and sleep in starlings. We demonstrated for the first time that the learning of each classification reliably interferes with the retention of the other classification across waking retention but that sleep enhances and stabilizes the memory of both classifications even after performance is impaired by interference. These observations demonstrate that sleep consolidation enhances retention of interfering experiences, facilitating opportunistic daytime learning and the subsequent formation of stable long-term memories.


This article illustrates and reflects upon the nature of inquiry appropriate to the question of place branding, in particular, world city branding. Disciplinary research traditions including cultural studies, film studies, marketing, and psychology offer conceptual categories and valuable modes of access to this area, and our concern here is to examine whether these compete or converge in forming understanding. Noting both the benefits and challenges of working across quite different paradigms of thought, vocabulary, and expected outcome, we discuss the possibilities of mutual shaping or influence in interdisciplinary inquiry. Acknowledging issues in establishing a working and meaningful discursive field across disciplinary boundaries, interests, and methodological habits, we illustrate, using a range of qualitative, projective, and quantitative methods, the collection, evaluation, and analysis of primary and secondary data in a current project. This looks at the major Pacific Rim cities of Sydney, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and particular issues of their brand identity. While all three cities compete on the world stage for events, tourists, and investment, they also are at the center of distinct film traditions, and have been rendered variously in popular imagination. We examine the representation of the city in the mind of some of its publics, and the relation of this to the requirements of branding. We find common ground in critical categories including narrative, everyday life, and color, and view these as a plexus from which various discipline-focused inquiries may proceed. We also discuss how central notions of identity, character, and representation are conceptualized differently within disciplines, and note implications for place-branding theory. We conclude that greater cross-disciplinarity is required for appropriate understanding, and that both tourism marketing and cultural (especially film) studies can learn from each other.


The authors describe a novel technique for decompressing the C2 region without performing a C2 laminectomy or laminoplasty.1 In 11 consecutive ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) cases causing cord compression and myelopathy at C2, the authors performed a double dome laminoplasty. The rationale behind the procedure is to leave the dorsal cortex of the C2 spinous process and lamina intact, since the major extensor muscle of the neck, the semispinalis cervicis, inserts there. The authors noted improved Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores in all 11 patients, suggesting that myelopathy improved in all 11 patients. This is yet another innovative technique to treat OPLL from the inventive mind of Professor Dong Ho Lee, who also invented the vertebral body sliding osteotomy technique for OPLL.2 For the patient who has OPLL extending cranially behind the C2 body, I agree that there are substantial advantages to this technique over the alternatives. I too have independently thought of and utilized this technique several times over the past 20 years but not to the extent that Professor Lee has. There are 2 reasons that I have not used this as frequently as he has. First, the prevalence of OPLL is less common in the United States than in Korea. Second, I have switched to fusing most patients who have extensive OPLL that extend behind C2. The rationale for this is that fusion is known to slow the growth of OPLL. If a patient has extensive OPLL such that a double dome laminoplasty can only give a few millimeters of extra room, and the patient's life expectancy is more than 1–2 decades, I am concerned that further growth of the OPLL is likely to occur. The problem then is that the patient could be elderly and there are few treatment options other than a C2 total laminectomy (with resultant loss of the semispinalis insertion point). That could potentially result in cervical kyphosis. The elderly often have thoracic hyperkyphosis and compensate with increased cervical lordosis. So, losing that compensatory mechanism can result in a dropped head syndrome. In the case that is illustrated in this paper, the postoperative magnetic resonance imaging shows an adequate decompression. However, let's assume that this patient is 40 years old. If one assumes that the OPLL started growing when the patient reached age 20, then it is not unreasonable to assume that the OPLL could double in size by the time the patient reaches age 60 and triple by age 80. If that occurs and there is recurrent cord compression with myelopathy, the treatment might necessitate a total C2 corpectomy with a combined transoral and upper cervical approach, followed by posterior occipitocervical fusion. Doing that on an elderly patient, with possibly an ossified dura, is not likely to be easy. For this reason, I prefer to use this technique for patients who are already elderly or Neurospine


Introduction Neuro-Behçet's is rare, more frequent in people from the Middle East. Vasculitis of brainstem and diencephalon and venous sinus thrombosis are typical manifestations. Case report A previously well 51-year-old white British lady was admitted for a 2 day history of blurred vision, with impaired up-gaze and convergence retraction nystagmus. The symptoms resolved rapidly. MRI demonstrated hyperintensities in the diencephalon, CSF showed 10 mononuclear cells, normal otherwise. She was re-admitted eighteen months later with sudden imbalance, headache, slurred speech and right facial weakness. She reported mouth ulcers appearing in crops continuously over the past 2 years, no genital ulcers. MRI showed T2 hyperintensities in the thalami extending into the mid-brain, pons and superior and middle cerebellar peduncles. CSF showed 54 mononucleate cells, proteins 0.67 g, and raised CSF IL-6. The symptoms resolved spontaneously. Multimodal MRI one week later showed near resolution of the lesions. After excluding neoplastic, vascular and infective causes, probable neuro- Behçet's was diagnosed according to the International Consensus Recommendations criteria (2014). The patient remains on steroids and azathioprine, and is asymptomatic at one year. Conclusions Neuro-Behçet's can present with relapsing brainstem symptoms. The diagnosis is challenging when not all the criteria for the systemic condition are met.


The climate change in the agricultural sector acting on multiple weather variables at different times of the various crop cycles. In several cases by changing the mean level of variables (rainfall, temperature, etc..), in other cases by changing the distribution of events. This work provides an evaluation of the economic impact due to changes in multiple events, and to the associated uncertainty. For this reason, a classical two-stage stochastic programming model was extend into a three-stages model. The model is specified for an area of Sardinia, and examines the impact of climate change on rainfall and hence on the availability of water for agriculture, and on maximum temperatures and, therefore, on the requirements of some irrigated crops relevant to the agricultural economy of the area. The effect of climate change is obtained by comparing the results of scenarios that represent the climatic conditions in the current situation and in the future, obtained by projecting to 2015 the climate trends of the last fifty years. The results show that the agricultural sector of the area adapt itself with a low cost by use of land and cultural practices. This cost, however, is very high for some farms that suffer a significant reduction of the income. There is also an increase of the use of natural resources, in particularly groundwater. The economic impact of these changes is due primarily to the decreased of water availability in the future. The availability of water becomes the crucial factor to adapting to climate change, because the effects of temperature can be compensate by increased the use of water resources.


Background: The purpose of this single-center retrospective review was to validate the use of a software-based simulation of Tubridge flow diverter (FD) in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. In a single-center cohort of 17 patients undergoing aneurysm treatment with the Tubridge flow divert, we analyzed their pre- and post-procedural angiographic studies to compare the manufacturer-given nominal length (NL), software calculated simulated length (SL), and the actual measured length (ML) of the flow divert using software. Results: Data for the 3 lengths of all 17 patients treated with Tubridge flow diverts were collected and analyzed in this study. Error discrepancy was calculated by mean squared error (ML to NL 10.64; SL to NL 9.95 p>0.05), mean absolute error (ML to NL 2.64; SL to NL 2.60 p>0.05), and mean error (NL to ML 1.26; SL to ML 2.59 p>0.05). Conclusions: The SL was usually greater than the NL given by the manufacturer, indicating significant change in length in most cases. The residual comparing the ML to the NL was significant, as was when comparing the SL to the NL. The assessment of the Tubridge flow diverter using software simulation is safe and effective and the accurate calculating of FD length contributed to the right-sized FD for optimal placement in intracranial vasculature.


Calcareous nannofossil assemblages from land sections of the Japanese Islands and DSDP Holes in the equatorial to hi gh latitude regions of the Pacific Ocean were analyzed in an effort to reconstruct their late Pliocene paleobiogeography. While the late Pliocene assemblages in the equatorial to middle latitude regions are comprised primarily of discoasters, both the high latitude and Japan Sea samples record an abrupt change from a Reticulofenestra–Dictyococcite assemblage to a Coccolithus pelagicus assemblage at 2.75 Ma. The northernmost boundary of the Discoaster assemblage moved southward in the East China Sea (western Pacific Ocean) at that time. These changes in the calcareous nannofossil paleobiogeography indicate the strong influence of heavy glaciation in high latitude to arctic regions of the Pacific Ocean. This also correlates with the final closure of the Central American seaway at 2.75 Ma.


This thesis deals with robotics and the new possibilities it offers people with physical disabilities. I focus on the user and the use of the technology and, in particular, on what makes robotic aids worth using - useworthiness as distinguished from usability.

User experience of the wheelchair-mounted Manus manipulator shows that robotic arms must meet technical requirements in terms of acceleration, speed, and pattern of movement. Easy horizontal and vertical adjustment of the end-effector is another requirement which must be met to enable a user to carry out the most common movements faster with less concentration.

Experience of the useworthiness of robots was first obtained through the development of page-turning end-effectors for the RAID workstation. The principles of separating pages and the page-turning movements are analyzed and described in this thesis. End-effectors are essential to the functionality and useworthiness of robots. The performance requirements for the automatic grasping function for simplified robot use have been brought out through user trials.

The thesis demonstrates that user trials with robots as assistive devices can result in new knowledge about both the use of the technology itself and the personal characteristics - needs, abilities, wishes, and dreams - of the user.

Parts of the thesis have already been published or will be published in the form of articles and conference papers:

- Robotics in rehabilitation. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 3, no 1, pp. 77-83, March 1995.

- The Manus Manipulator as a Tool for Rehabilitation. To be published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.

- Technical results from Manus user trials. Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), pp. 136-141, Stanford, California, USA, July 1999.

- Robot control methods and results from user trials on the RAID workstation. Proceedings of the fourth International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), pp. 97-101, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, June 1994.

- RAID - A Robotic Workstation for the Disabled. Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on the Advancement of Rehabilitation Technology (ECART 2), pp. 24.3, Stockholm, Sweden, May 1993.


The growing interest in measuring economic and social phenomena that are difficult to observe directly increases the need for researchers to broaden the use of multivariate statistical analysis methods. The ease of interpreting results presented in the form of rankings makes it common practice to use different methods of linear ordering of objects. If the appropriate assumptions are met, the determined set of variables allows for the construction of a synthetic measure whose ordered values provide a ranking. Such a statistical approach is quite often used in assessing the level of innovativeness of economies, and the literature abounds in various innovation indices. The starting point of this paper is a set of 27 variables on the basis of which the Summary Innovation Index is developed. After verifying the statistical assumptions and reducing the database to 21 diagnostic factors, the authors construct a total of nine innovation rankings, using different methods of linear ordering and selected procedures for normalisation of variables. The aim of the paper is therefore to assess the impact of selected methods of linear ordering (Hellwig's method, TOPSIS method, GDM method) and various procedures for normalising variables (classic standardisation, positional standardisation, quotient transformation) on the final ranking of the EU Member States due to the level of their innovation performance. The obtained results confirm that the applied method of linear ordering and the selection of the normalisation procedure have an impact on the final ranking of the examined objects – in this case, the final ranking of the EU Member States due to the level of their innovativeness analysed in the presented research.


Abstract Background Oral cancer patients can benefit from dental implant placement. Traditionally, implants are placed after completing oncologic treatment (secondary implant placement). Implant placement during ablative surgery (primary placement) in oral cancer patients seems beneficial in terms of early start of oral rehabilitation and limiting additional surgical interventions. Guidelines on the ideal timing of implant placement in oral cancer patients are missing. Objective To perform a scoping literature review on studies examining the timing of dental implant placement in oral cancer patients and propose a clinical practice recommendations guideline. Methods A literature search for studies dealing with primary and/or secondary implant placement in MEDLINE was conducted (last search December 27, 2019). The primary outcome was 5‐year implant survival. Results Sixteen out of 808 studies were considered eligible. Both primary and secondary implant placement showed acceptable overall implant survival ratios with a higher pooled 5‐year implant survival rate for primary implant placement 92.8% (95% CI: 87.1%–98.5%) than secondary placed implants (86.4%, 95% CI: 77.0%–95.8%). Primary implant placement is accompanied by earlier prosthetic rehabilitation after tumor surgery. Conclusion Patients with oral cancer greatly benefit from, preferably primary placed, dental implants in their prosthetic rehabilitation. The combination of tumor surgery with implant placement in native mandibular bone should be provided as standard care.