INTRODUCTION:
Coronary artery disease, the number one killer in the world, is a disease of the heart where the coronary arteries are either partially occluded resulting in myocardial ischemia, or totally occluded resulting in myocardial infarction (MI). MI could be a minor event, perhaps not even recognized, or it may be a major attack with results varying from acute pain, hemodynamic deterioration to sudden death. The early detection of an infarction greatly improves the patients' chances of survival and return to health and is therefore very important.
The real incidence of acute myocardial infarction is difficult to judge because of varied reporting pattern. Moreover increased incidence of diabetes and obesity, stemming from global shift to western diet and lifestyle will increase consequent coronary artery disease in the near future.
Death due to silent ischaemia is common especially in diabetics and elderly and it's the common cause of sudden death outside the hospital The mortality rate of patients with presumed myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome in the first month is ~50% and of these deaths about half occur within the first 2 hrs. For the first six months after infarction, the risk of developing sudden death is still high, but this risk falls after this period. Anterior infarction carries a grave prognosis if accompanied by conduction disturbances. All the major complications worsen the prognosis. Age above 70 years, hypertension, diabetes and heavy cigarette smoking worsen the outlook further.
Patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the course of the illness run a higher risk of fatal arrhythmias in the first few years after discharge from hospital. Evidence is that atleast a small proportion of cardiac myocytes compensate to make up for the lost cells, on long term follow up. The high initial mortality of MI has decreased with the advent of coronary care unit, fibrinolytic therapy and catheter based reperfusion. Although primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to decrease mortality, a significant number of patients with acute MI are not eligible for this as they cannot reach hospitals within the required time window. As the elderly constitute an increasing proportion of those presenting with acute MI having high mortality, but is not eligible for fibrinolytic therapy, MI may continue to remain the leading cause of death over the next several decades.
Myocardial infarction may be revealed by any of the following - clinical symptoms and signs, biochemical markers, imaging or pathological characteristics, but the most important initial clinical test for diagnosis of MI remains electrocardiography. The relative ease of use, low cost and particularly the non-invasiveness and speed makes it an excellent tool for a patient with suspicion of MI.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To estimate whether Selvester QRS scoring would reliably predict resolution of ST segment in patients with first acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction receiving fibrinolytic therapy with the drug streptokinase.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 62 patients admitted in the intensive coronary care unit of Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Approval from the hospital ethical committee was obtained.
STUDY DESIGN:
The study was a cohort study conducted for a period of one year from March 2012 to August 2012.
Inclusion criteria:
• Patients with first acute STEMI in the age group of 30-80 years presenting within 24 hours from symptom onset, eligible for reperfusion therapy (presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset or presenting thereafter with persistent symptoms) were included in the study.
• The diagnosis of STEMI was based on ECG findings of ST segment elevation >1mm in atleast two contiguous leads in a patient presenting with typical history of angina and with elevated CPK MB.
Exclusion criteria:
1. Patients with bundle branch block, paced rhythm, left fascicular block.
2. Ecg signs of ventricular hypertrophy.
3. Patients with cardiogenic shock.
Blood samples were collected for estimation of CPK MB, fasting lipid profile, complete hemogram, blood sugar, blood urea and creatinine.
CONCLUSION:
1. It was found that as age advances non resolution of ST segment is higher and also the QRS scores are high.
2. ST segment non resolution and QRS scores were high in diabetics.
3. Sex, smoking, alcohol had no effect on ST segment resolution and QRS score.
4. Although hypertension had no effect on the ST segment resolution, hypertensives (without LVH) had a higher QRS score.
5. The type of MI and dyslipidemia did not correlate well with ST segment resolution and QRS score.
6. Patients with congestive heart failure and low ejection fraction were significantly associated with non resolution of ST segment and high QRS score.
7. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between QRS score and ∑STR.
Thus the Modified Selvester QRS score can reliably estimate the resolution of ST segment in patients with acute STEMI receiving fibrinolytic therapy. Using the cut-off mark of > 4, the QRS scoring system can estimate ST segment non resolution with a high sensitivity and an acceptable specificity.


The main aim of the paper was to verify whether the changes in minimum to average wage ratio in Poland negatively affected youth (15-24 years old) employment rate. Moreover we tried to answer the question if this impact differs among regions. We analysed a model where changes in youth employment rate were the function of changes in minimum to average wage ratio as well as other (demand and supply) variables. The analyses were conducted on 16 Polish NUTS2 regions in 1999-2012. The analyses conducted in the paper showed that when we estimated the average impact of changes in minimum to average wage ratio on changes in youth employment rate the parameter was not significant. Changes in youth employment were driven mostly by changes in business cycle and in school enrolment ratio. After having checked for the regional variation of the determination of the youths' employment rate we found that the impact of minimum on employment differed significantly among regions, both in terms of size and sign. The regions where youth employment rates were negatively affected in the whole period by changes in minimum to average wage ratio were the rural, less developed districts of Poland (Lubelskie and Podkarpackie). The results of our analyses indicate in regions with low productivity and low average wages the level of unique minimum wage may be too high. Low youth employment rates in those regions in Poland may not only result from insufficient aggregate demand but also from relatively high costs of employing young workers.


Male rabbits fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 8 wk were divided into three groups. Group 1 was hypercholesterolemic; group 2 was fed a regular diet for an additional 12 wk; and group 3 was fed a regular diet with simvastatin (5 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)). Simvastatin treatment reduced the atherosclerotic area and total and esterified cholesterol concentrations in the thoracic aorta. Tone-related basal nitric oxide (NO) release was highest in group 3. Acetylcholine-induced, NO-dependent relaxation was improved in group 3 compared with group 2. Amount of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA in vessels increased in group 1, compared with normal aorta, and decreased in group 2; however, it did not decrease in group 3. The amount of O released from vessels increased in group 1 and group 2 compared with normal rabbits; however, it decreased in group 3, especially in the endothelial cells. Peroxynitrite determined by nitrotyrosine staining decreased in group 3. Additionally, the arteries of rabbits fed a regular diet with or without simvastatin were investigated. The aorta from simvastatin-treated group showed increase of tone-related basal NO release and eNOS mRNA and decrease of O release. Taken together, upregulation of eNOS and decrease of O treatment were observed in vivo in the process of the sufficient stabilization of atheroma following simvastatin.


Background: Little data is available for the pygmy dipole resonance (PDR) in axially deformed nuclei. Photon-scattering experiments are complicated by high level densities in the PDR region and the small energy difference of transitions to the ground state and to excited states.Purpose: We report on an experimental study of the low-energy dipole strength distribution of the well-deformed nucleus $^{164}\mathrm{Dy}$ between 4.0--7.7 MeV.Methods: The low-lying photoresponse of $^{164}\mathrm{Dy}$ has been investigated using the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence using a quasimonochromatic linearly polarized $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray beam in the energy range of 4.0--7.7 MeV in steps of 0.2 MeV.Results: For excitation energies between 4 MeV and 5 MeV, sufficiently low level densities allow for the identification of individual states, including level energies, reduced transition widths and branching ratios. Energy-averaged mean decay branching ratios, mean population ratios and partial absorption cross sections were determined above 5 MeV up to the neutron-separation threshold at 7.7 MeV. A Lorentzian-shaped enhancement of the partial photo absorption cross section followed by decays back to the ground-state band is found at 6.10(5) MeV with a width of 0.77(23) MeV. A comparison with results from complementary measurements is performed using the framework of the statistical model.Conclusions: The experimental results for the mean population ratios deviate systematically from the statistical model simulation by 30(6)%. However, they are in agreement within one standard deviation of the simulation.


Medical research does not deal with only medical sciences; it is also dependent on other disciplines, and statistics is an integral part in its conduct. It is challenging for a medical researcher to grasp the importance of statistics and also to decide the types of statistical issues in the various phases of his/her medical research. There are inherent variations within and between the human/animal subjects used in medical research and these uncertainties can only be grasped using statistical tools. Initiating a medical research while taking into account the statistical aspects right at the planning stage is one of the best ways to conduct better evidence-based research. The validity of the results of a medical research depends not only on the methodology of conducting the study but also on the analysis of data collected. As opposed to the general perception, statistics not only deals with analysis of data but is also intricately interwoven with the methodology section of the research where sample sizes, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and others are mentioned. Although statistical softwares simplify the computational aspect of statistics, the confusing conceptual aspects make interpretation of the outputs difficult and incorrect. Seemingly simple terms such as population, sample, parameters, and variables have been explained keeping the medical researchers′ perspective in mind. This first article in the series "Statistics in Medical Research" makes an attempt to facilitate the medical researcher to overcome the initial questions that challenge him/her with regard to statistics.


Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha are terrestrial and rewarding orchids with a wide Eurasian distribution. Although genetically closely related, they exhibit significant morphological, phenological and ecological differences that maintain reproductive isolation between the species. However, where both species co-occur, individuals with intermediate phenotypic traits, often considered as hybrids, are frequently observed. Here, we combined neutral genetic markers (AFLPs), morphometrics and floral scent analysis (GC-MS) to investigate two mixed Platanthera populations where morphologically intermediate plants were found. Self-pollination experiments revealed a low level of autogamy and artificial crossings combined with assessments of fruit set and seed viability, showed compatibility between the two species. The results of the genetic analyses showed that morphologically intermediate plants had similar genetic patterns as the P. bifolia group. These results are corroborated also by floral scent analyses, which confirmed a strong similarity in floral scent composition between intermediate morphotypes and P. bifolia. Therefore, this study provided a much more detailed picture of the genetic structure of a sympatric zone between two closely allied species and supports the hypothesis that intermediate morphotypes in sympatry could reflect an adaptive evolution in response to local pollinator-mediated selection.


Introduction
 Transplant ineligible patients with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (TI NDMM) have high rates of health care utilization [emergency department visits and/or unplanned hospitalization (ED/hosp)] due to a combination of co-morbidities/frailty, disease manifestations and toxicities of anti-MM treatment. Understanding and optimizing unplanned health care utilization represents an important step in delivering person-centred care in MM.
 Patient reported outcomes (PROs) may represent one opportunity for predicting health care utilization. Databases within Ontario, Canada represent a unique opportunity to evaluate this association due to the implementation of a standardized population-wide PRO tool (the Edmonton Symptoms Assessment System [ESAS]). ESAS scores have been completed by patients during all outpatient cancer clinic visits since 2007. The ESAS is a validated and reliable tool that assesses the severity of nine common symptoms: well-being, pain, tiredness, anxiety, depression, drowsiness, lack of appetite, nausea and shortness of breath. Patients score these on a rating scale from 0 (no symptom) to 10 (worse possible symptom).
 The objective of our study was to evaluate the association between PROs (ESAS score) and the subsequent 14-day risk of ED/hosp among TI NDMM patients in the first year following diagnosis.
 Methods
 We conducted a retrospective population-based study using administrative data from ICES (previously known as the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences), which maintains databases of health records for all patients in the publicly funded health care system in Ontario, Canada. All patients with NDMM identified using the ICD-O-3 code 9732 (MM), who received treatment without transplant in the first year between Jan 2007-Dec 2018 were included. Patients with no documented ESAS score within one year following diagnosis were excluded. The main outcome of interest was the occurrence of at least one ED/hosp within 14 days of an ESAS assessment in the first year following diagnosis. The main exposure variable was ESAS score (individual score for each of the nine symptoms and total score of all the nine symptoms [t-ESAS]) at each index date. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association of ESAS score and subsequent 14-day ED/hosp. A generalized estimating equations approach was used to account for patient level clustering, arising from multiple ESAS assessments taken on the same patient (over the first year after diagnosis).
 Results
 There were 2876 TI NDMM patients identified completing a total of 17,353 ESAS assessments. Baseline characteristics of the cohort are shown in Table 1. Tiredness, poor well-being and pain were the three most common severe symptoms present in 19.6%, 12.4% and 12.2% of the assessments, respectively. With regards to health care utilization, there were a total of 1755 ED/hosp visits in 1172/2876 (40.8%) TI NDMM patients within one year following diagnosis in our cohort.
 The proportion of patients with ED/hosp within 14 days of the ESAS assessment are outlined in Figure 1. There was an incremental increase in ED/hosp with increasing ESAS scores (higher score indicative of worse symptoms) for each individual symptom. A similar trend was noted for those with increasing t-ESAS scores with a 14-day ED/hosp event rate of 31.3% for those with a maximum score of 90 compared with 5.5% for those with a score of 0.
 Univariable and multivariate odds for ED/hosp are presented in Table 2. All nine symptom scores and t-ESAS were associated with an increased risk of ED/hosp visits. After controlling for confounders, individual symptoms (pain, tiredness, lack of appetite, shortness of breath and impaired well-being) and t-ESAS remained positively associated with ED/hosp. Conversely, self-reported depression was associated with decreased risk of ED/hosp (odds ratio 0.96 per unit increase, 95% Cl 0.93-0.99, p=0.01).
 Conclusion
 Our findings represent the largest study to date demonstrating that a PRO measure of symptom burden is associated with health care utilization in TI NDMM. Even after controlling for baseline factors, ED/hosp remained positively associated with higher ESAS symptom scores. The results of this study may help clinicians identify patients at high risk for ED/hosp. Further studies are required to understand whether targeted intervention aimed at reducing this symptom burden may help decrease ED/hosp usage.
 Figure 1 Figure 1.

 Mian: BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Pond: Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra-Zeneca, Merck, Profound Medical: Consultancy; Roche Canada: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. D'Souza: Sanofi, Takeda, Teneobio, CAELUM, Prothena: Research Funding; Janssen, Prothena: Consultancy; Imbrium, Pfizer, BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Wildes: Carevive: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy.


Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic has put unprecedented strain on food supply chains. Given the ever‐increasing degree of globalization, those supply chains very often stretch across international borders. In the short run, countries have largely been working to keep those supply chains intact and operating efficiently so that panic buying is cooled and shifts in consumption habits arising from personal isolation can be accommodated. Once the crisis has passed, based on what has been learned regarding the international food system's resilience, governments may wish to strengthen institutions that govern international trade. On the other hand, based on their COVID‐19 experience, governments may feel that they are too dependent on foreign sources of supply and may wish to reverse the impacts of globalization on their food systems. As a result, they may become increasingly isolationist, eschewing international cooperation. Which of these opposing forces will prevail may depend on the paths economies follow after the disequilibrium precipitated by the pandemic.


In an endeavor towards development of multivalent vaccines based on biodegradable microspheres, we tested the immunologic performance of several divalent microsphere formulations against tetanus and diphtheria. Microspheres were made by separate microencapsulation of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) by either spray-drying or coacervation. Guinea pigs were subcutaneously immunized by a single injection of the divalent vaccines or, for control, an equivalent dose of a licensed vaccine containing both antigens adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide. All microsphere formulations were strongly immunogenic, irrespective of particle size and hydrophobicity. End point titers of ELISA antibodies, mainly of the IgG1 subtype, were comparable to those obtained after immunization with the licensed vaccine. The microspheres provided increasing levels of antibodies, during the 16 weeks of testing, and the antibodies were weakly polarized towards tetanus. The induced antibodies were also toxin neutralizing, as determined for both diphtheria (1-4 IU/mL) and tetanus (5-9 IU/mL) 8 weeks after immunization. These neutralization levels were several orders of magnitude above the level considered minimum for protection (0.01 IU/mL). When the animals were challenged with tetanus or diphtheria toxins 6 weeks after immunization, microsphere vaccines produced protective immunity that was comparable to or better than that induced by the licensed divalent vaccine. In conclusion, this study showed that a single administration of biodegradable microsphere vaccines provided protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus, and that this immunization approach might be feasible for multivalent vaccines.


Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a serious threat to patients and healthcare providers. Although human factors are commonly studied in an attempt to reduce HAIs, less is known about the effect of specific facility design features on mitigating the transmission of pathogens from human to human. This facility design department aims to expand nurse leaders' knowledge and competencies in health facility design. This article discusses the state of the science in the relationship of facility design on reducing HAIs.


Succession planning is a strategic planning for identifying and developing future leaders at all levels in organizations. It is used to address the uncertain changes in organizations due to employees resign, retire, sick or die. Any organization without a formal succession planning system in place will find problem in many areas such as: key positions are not filled on time, key positions are filled by external candidates, prospective candidates not prepared, high turnover rates and no required talent, skills, competencies and qualified talent is not retained. These are some of the problem areas which educational organizations face and never realize. This is due to lack of formal planning. Therefore, the study seeks to reveal the relationship of leadership development through talent development and succession planning strategies in national schools. Previous qualitative and survey data supported leadership development for effective succession planning. The findings indicated individual potential leadership elements need to be enhanced and developed further. Therefore, this study will use quantitative method to determine leadership development contributing to succession planning. Succession planning is just not one exclusive process but it needs to be linked with other components such as talent development and leadership development to be successful. Talent development as the need to identify and develop talent pools that meet the current and future leadership requirement in the school. In addition, leadership development contributing to organizational succession planning. Therefore, such linking makes succession planning wholesome and more efficient but most of the education system do not link it completely.


In the title compound, [Mn(C10H7N2O2)2(H2O)4], the MnII atom, lying on an inversion center, has an octahedral environment with four coordinated water molecules in the equatorial plane and two N atoms from two 4-(imidazol-1-yl)benzoate ligands at the axial sites. The complex molecules are connected into a three-dimensional network by extensive hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and the carboxylate O atoms.


In this paper, we propose a gradient based block coordinate descent (BCD-G) framework to solve the joint approximate diagonalization of matrices defined on the product of the complex Stiefel manifold and the special linear group. Instead of the cyclic fashion, we choose the block for optimization in a way based on the Riemannian gradient. To update the first block variable in the complex Stiefel manifold, we use the well-known line search descent method. To update the second block variable in the special linear group, based on four different kinds of elementary rotations, we construct two classes: Jacobi-GLU and Jacobi-GLQ, and then get two BCD-G algorithms: BCD-GLU and BCD-GLQ. We establish the weak convergence and global convergence of these two algorithms using the Łojasiewicz gradient inequality under the assumption that the iterates are bounded. In particular, the problem we focus on in this paper includes as special cases the well-known joint approximate diagonalization of Hermitian (or complex symmetric) matrices by invertible transformations in blind source separation, and our algorithms specialize as the gradient based Jacobi-type algorithms. All the algorithms and convergence results in this paper also apply to the real case.


Cancer development is associated with a number of genetic and epigenetic alternations. Normally, these alterations are detected by the immune system in a process called immune surveillance, where cancer cell killing is mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer cells (NK cells). Yet, tumor progression and development indicate that cancer cells have acquired mechanisms to avoid immune destruction. Various immune evasion mechanisms have been reported before such as impaired antigen presentation and activation of CTL and NK cells, immunosuppression, and induction of tolerance. Although current treatment methods are shifting towards more targeted strategies in prostate cancer, such as immunotherapy, a better understanding of the cancer-immune interactions and immune evasion mechanisms is yet to be established. More immunotherapies are being developed and approved by the FDA for treating cancer. In prostate cancer, Sipuleucel-T, an autologous cellular immunotherapy, was approved by FDA for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer. Intensive investigation on other immunotherapies is ongoing in prostate cancer. These include blockade of negative checkpoint regulators (PD-1, CTLA4) and Ig superfamily member V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells against prostate lineage-unique proteins (PLUPs), and monoclonal antibodies targeting immunoinhibitory molecules. However, the optimal choice of treatment for a prostate cancer patient needs to target their specific mechanisms of immune evasion, which are poorly studied. In this study, we will use The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data to check for immune evasion gene expression in prostate cancer patients to identify at the different mechanisms by which cancer avoids immune destruction. We will use a sequential biclustering algorithm developed by our group, to group prostate cancer patients based on their similarities in immune evasion gene expression. A similar unpublished work was done by our group on breast cancer where we identified 7 different groups of patients, each with different mechanisms or combination of evasion mechanism. We also showed that triple negative breast cancer can be immunogenic and non-immunogenic. This group-based identification of evasion mechanisms will not only provide a better understanding of the different immune evasion mechanisms in prostate cancer, but will also shed light on potential combinations of mechanism. This in turn, will help guide the choice of single and combined immunotherapeutic approches. Citation Format: Mayassa J. Bou-Dargham, Yuhang Liu, Qing-Xiang Amy Sang, Jinfeng Zhang. The different immune evasion mechanisms in human prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4046.


In current years, as for increment production of automobiles, we saw technology developments and smart systems in different parts of cars. One of the most important fields which has priority about car design is safety of aboard. As for the consensus, annually, more than 1,200,000 people lost their body in road accidents. In addition to it, in some cases, because of bad weather situations or special situation of the lane, which limit the view of the driver, we see chain accidents of cars, which cause severe deaths and injuries and property lost, and blocking the road in turn, cause another problem like delay in affairs pertinent to saving and rescue. In this paper, a method to make the car more intelligent in order to overcome the problem has been discussed. The main part of the system consists of intelligent equipment of transmitter and receiver in order to send accident news and its details to the 1km radius for the cars in the neighborhood. Similarly, these systems take advantage of Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the exact location of the accident and Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) in order to send news and accident location to the nearest emergency centre..


Stomata are an attractive system for modellers for many reasons, and the literature contains a large number of papers describing models that predict stomatal conductance as a function of environmental factors. The approaches and goals of these models vary considerably. This review summarizes these different approaches and discusses their strengths and weaknesses with a focus on mechanistically based models. The critical unresolved questions are highlighted and placed in the context of current research on stomatal physiology. Finally, directions for future research are considered.


Two cases of deferoxamine toxicity are reported. One affected with auditory toxicity (severe symmetric neurosensory deafness) and the other with anterior ocular pole toxicity (cataracts). A review of the subject is included.


Background: Sevoflurane and propofol have different cardiorespiratory effects on postural changes. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sevoflurane and propofol on hemodynamics and gas exchange index when patients are raised from the supine position to the beach chair position. Methods: Forty patients requiring beach chair position for shoulder surgery were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane (end-tidal concentration 1 vol%, n = 20) or propofol (target concentration 3μg/ml, n = 20). Hemodynamic variables and arterial blood gas analysis data were recorded and gas exchange indices were calculated before induction (baseline), 20 min after endotracheal intubation (supine position), and 20 min after beach chair position. Results: There were significant decreases in mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and central venous oxygen saturation after beach chair position. There were no significant changes in gas exchange indices after the position changes. There were no significant differences between groups in hemodynamics and gas exchanges indices. Conclusions: Raising healthy patients from the supine to the beach-chair position produced a significant decrease in hemodynamic indices with little changes in gas exchange indices. However, the effects of sevoflurane and propofol on the both hemodynamic and gas change indices were not significantly different. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2007; 52: 23~8)


The electronic structure of interstitial hydrogen in diamond, silicon and germanium is investigated by means of cluster calculations on the level of the unrestricted Hartree-Fock self-consistent field approximation. A stable configuration for H is found at a bond-centred site and its hyperfine properties are compared to experiments on paramagnetic muonium states.


Tropical forest management has both positive and negative effects on climate change, and quantifying these effects is important both to avoid or minimize negative impacts and to reward net positive effects. This study contributes to this effort by estimating the aboveground volume and carbon present in commercial tree species in a managed forest in the forest harvest stage in Brazil's state of Acre. A total of 12,794 trees of commercial species were measured. Trees were categorized and quantified as: "harvested trees" ("harvest or cut"), which were felled in the harvest stage, and "remaining trees" ("future cutting," "trees in permanent protection areas or APPs," "seed trees," "rare trees" and "trees protected by law") that remained standing in the forest post-harvest. Aboveground volume and carbon stocks of the 81 commercial species (diameter at breast height [DBH] ≥ 10 cm) totaled 79.19 m³ ha−1 and 21.54 MgC ha−1, respectively. The category "harvested trees" represents 44.48% and "remaining trees" 55.49% of the aboveground volume stocks. In the managed area, the category "harvested trees" is felled; this is composed of the commercial bole that is removed (19.25 m³ ha−1 and 5.32 MgC ha−1) and the stump and crown that remain in the forest as decomposing organic material (15.97 m³ ha−1 and 4.41 MgC ha−1). We can infer that the 21.54 MgC ha−1 carbon stock of standing commercial trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) represents 13.20% of the total aboveground carbon in the managed area. The commercial boles removed directly from the forest represent 3.26% of the total aboveground carbon, and the stumps and crowns of the harvested trees represent the loss of an additional 2.70%. For sustainability of the management system in terms of carbon balance, growth in the 35-year management cycle must be sufficient to replace not only these amounts (0.27 MgC ha−1 year−1) but also losses to collateral damage and to additional logging-related effects from increased vulnerability to forest fires. Financial viability of future management cycles will depend on replenishment of commercial trees of harvestable size (DBH ≥ 50 cm).


The COVID-19 pandemic and connected restrictions will
 adversely impact prenatal maternal well-being and health
 behaviors. To look at prenatal stress and stress-reduction
 methods, social support, and health behaviors between
 ladies pregnant before and through the pandemic in Eire.
 210 pregnant ladies were recruited on-line and within the
 prenatal department of a tertiary infirmary before the
 pandemic, and 235 ladies recruited on-line throughout the
 pandemic. Solely lady's residents in Eire were enclosed
 during this study. Ladies completed measures of stress,
 social support, health-behaviors, and self-reported stressreduction
 methods. Variations in outcomes were examined
 between ladies pregnant before and through the pandemic,
 and between section two and section three of a people
 Government COVID-19 restrictions.


Abstract The goals of this analysis are (i) to offer elements of reflection to the actors who design and implement public policies; (ii) to keep the debate on outcomes evaluation alight; (iii) to contribute toward integrating the debate on evaluation to the complexity of actions in the public sector. This theoretical essay researched works published on the subject from 1979 to 2019. The investigation of the approaches offered by the selected authors allowed identifying variables that are relevant to the analysis of public policies. The variables are expressed in the influences of institutional trajectories, actors, and organizational context. The analysis brings the following concluions: (i) the link between institutionality and the capacity to conduct results evaluations in public policies deserves attention in future studies; (ii) the debate on the topic can be strengthened by analyses that consider not only the decisions adopted, but also the rules, norms and strategies that define the political-institutional scene in which public policies are implemented.


To the Editor:— I was greatly interested in your review of the book "Interne Praxis" in the July 22, 1950 issue ofThe Journal(page 1125). With respect to medicine as practiced today in Vienna, it is, I believe, generally true that the training and information of the majority of physicians have not progressed far beyond the level of 1934. The book you review not only demonstrates the inadequacy, by our standards, of present day continental medicine, but more important, emphasizes the need for translation of the finer American textbooks for European consumption. It seems to me that these considerations are important in connection with a critical review of this type.


School dropout permeates various teaching modalities and has generated social, economic, political, and academic damage to those involved in the educational process. Evasion data in higher education courses show the pessimistic scenario of fragility that configures education, mainly in underdeveloped countries. In this context, this paper presents an Internet of Things (IoT) framework for predicting dropout using machine learning methods such as Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, K-nearest neighbors, Multilayer perceptron, and Deep Learning based on socioeconomic data. With the use of socioeconomic data, it is possible to identify in the act of pre-registration who are the students likely to evade, since this information is filled in the pre-registration form. This paper proposes the automation of the prediction process by a method capable of obtaining information that would be difficult and time consuming for humans to obtain, contributing to a more accurate prediction. With the advent of IoT, it is possible to create a highly efficient and flexible tool for improving management and service-related issues, which can provide a prediction of dropout of new students entering higher-level courses, allowing personalized follow-up to students to reverse a possible dropout. The approach was validated by analyzing the accuracy, F1 score, recall, and precision parameters. The results showed that the developed system obtained 99.34% accuracy, 99.34% F1 score, 100% recall, and 98.69% precision using Decision Tree. Thus, the developed system presents itself as a viable option for use in universities to predict students likely to leave university.


Stencil computation is one of the most important kernels for many applications such as image processing, solving partial differential equations, and cellular automata. Nevertheless, implementing a high throughput stencil kernel is not trivial due to its nature of high memory access load and low operational intensity. In this work we adopt data reuse and fine-grained parallelism and present an optimal microarchitecture for stencil computation. The data reuse line buffers not only fully utilize the external memory bandwidth and fully reuse the input data, they also minimize the size of data reuse buffer given the number of fine-grained parallelized and fully pipelined PEs. With the proposed microarchitecture, the number of PEs can be increased to saturate all available off-chip memory bandwidth. We implement this microarchitecture with a high-level synthesis (HLS) based template instead of register transfer level (RTL) specifications, which provides great programmability. To guide the system design, we propose a performance model in addition to detailed model evaluation and optimization analysis. Experimental results from on-board execution show that our design can provide an average of 6.5x speedup over line buffer-only design with only 2.4x resource overhead. Compared with loop transformation-only design, our design can implement a fully pipelined accelerator for applications that cannot be implemented with loop transformation-only due to its high memory conflict and low design flexibility. Furthermore, our FPGA implementation provides 83% throughput of a 14-core CPU with 4x energy-efficiency.


Purpose The lateral resolution of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument was considered to be equal to the illumination spot size on the retina. To evaluate the potential lateral resolution of the Spectralis OCT, an instrument calculated to have a 14 µm resolution. Methods The lateral point spread function (PSF) was evaluated using diamond abrasive powder 0 to 1 µm in diameter in silicone elastomer and a validated target with 800 nm FeO particles in urethane. The amplitude transfer function was calculated from human OCT images. Finally, resolution was measured using the 1951 USAF target. Results Measurement of the lateral PSF from 1215 diamond particle images yielded a full-width half maximum (FWHM) to be 5.11 µm and for 732 FeO particles, 4.9 µm. From the amplitude transfer function, the FWHM of the diffraction limited PSF was calculated to be 5.0 µm. The USAF target imaging showed a lateral resolution of 4.6 µm. Conclusions Although a calculation of the spot size of the illumination beam was reported in the past as the lateral resolution of the OCT instrument, the actual lateral resolution is better by a factor of at least 2.5 times. The clinically used A-scan spacing was derived from the calculated, and not the true resolution, and results in under sampling. This set of findings likely apply to all commercial clinical instruments. Translational Relevance The scan density parameters of past and present commercial OCT instruments were based on earlier translational concepts, which now appear to have been incorrect.


City planning and infrastructure can influence the social determinants of health, the liveability of cities and the physical and mental health of city residents. This article defines these concepts and discusses how city planning can help in mitigating COVID‐19 transmission, and support health by accommodating active transport (i.e. walking and cycling) and emerging technologies (i.e. autonomous and electric vehicles).


There is an urgent need for a biodegradable, hydrophobic material that can be used in developing packaging materials. In this preliminary study, epicuticular wax has been extracted from the leaves of Calotropis procera and Alstonia scholaris using various solvents (i.e., ethanol, methanol, benzene, and acetone). The highest wax amounts were found to be 0.54 µg/cm2 and 0.13 µg/cm2 from Alstonia scholaris and Calotropis procera, respectively. The highest hydrophobicity (29.57%) was found to be in paper discs coated with epicuticular wax extracted with benzene from the adaxial surface of Calotropis procera.


The principal bacterial diseases found among wild and cultured marine fish are reviewed. The bacterial agents discussed include the Gram-negative pathogens in the Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pasteurella and Edwardsiella genera, Renibacterium salmoninarum and the myxobacteria, streptococci, mycobacteria, nocardias and anaerobic organisms which have been associated with fish diseases. Methods for the isolation and identification of these organisms are described.


Power DC/DC converters or regulators form the backbone of different portable electronic devices like cellular phones, laptops, portable electronic devices which are using batteries as their power supply. Portable devices usually comprise of several sub-circuits that should be supplied with different voltage levels, which are not the same as battery's voltage level which is the main supply voltage. A new approach of buck-boost converter is presented in this paper, that automatically detects the zero-inductor current & compels the convertor to deliberately switch from Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) to Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM), once the inductor current attempts towards negative values, restricting the inductor current to approach towards negative value, and thus enhancing the convertor's performance and efficiency at low load conditions. The converter steps down 200 V input voltage to 187 V and steps up to 211 V simultaneously at 100 Ω load resistance using PSIM software at switching frequency of 100 KHz. The comprehensive analysis of the topology is carried out and the simulated results are compared with the earlier designs at variable loads to verify the performance of the converter.


Airway mucus plays a critical role in clearing inhaled particles and pathogens. However, goblet cell metaplasia and mucus hypersecretion are important characteristics of inflammatory lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive disease. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is a Th2 cytokine that induces goblet cell metaplasia and mucus production in human bronchial epithelial cells. Because macrolide antibiotics are known to have anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties in addition to being antimicrobial, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the macrolide azithromycin (AZM) on signaling mechanisms involved in IL-13-induced MUC5AC expression in human bronchial epithelial cells. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells cultured at an air liquid interface were exposed to 5 ng/ml or 10 ng/ml IL-13 with or without AZM during 5 days or 2 weeks. After exposure cells were lysed and MUC5AC expression was analysed by quantitative RT-PCR. Additionally, the expression of SPDEF and FOXA2, important factors involved in IL-13-induced MUC5AC expression was analysed. Exposure to IL-13 alone increased MUC5AC expression, which was inhibited by addition of AZM. SPDEF expression was increased by IL-13 exposure whereas FOXA2 expression was decreased by IL-13. AZM did not affect IL-13 induced SPDEF expression, but did prevent the IL-13 mediated decrease of FOXA2 expression. These results suggest that AZM controls MUC5AC expression by increasing FOXA2 expression, a negative regulator of MUC5AC. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the functional involvement of increased FOXA2 expression in the effects of AZM.


Asynchronous concurrency is becoming increasingly present in a large spectrum of systems, spanning from the level of systems- and networks-on-chip, over multi-processor architectures, up to the level of grid and cloud computing. Due to the intrinsic complexity of asynchronous concurrency, the correct design of such systems is notoriously difficult, requiring the support of formal methods and verification tools. CADP (Construction and Analysis of Distributed Processes) is a toolbox for the design, functional verification, and performance evaluation of asynchronous concurrent systems. Currently, CADP consists of about fifty interconnected tools and software libraries. The toolbox is distributed free of charge to academia and public research institutes, and is already used by more than 440 research institutions and companies worldwide in many application domains. Given the increasing number of systems featuring asynchronous concurrency, CADP could be used still more widely in research, industry, and education (in particular for teaching the concepts of concurrency theory). This tutorial presents the architecture and main functionalities of CADP, with a twofold objective. On the one hand, the tutorial illustrates the application of CADP to the modeling, functional verification, and performance evaluation. On the other hand, the tutorial presents various input languages accepted as input by CADP, together with software libraries that enable users to develop their own analysis tools. The well-known, but fundamental problem of mutual exclusion will serve as support to illustrate the principal functionalities of CADP: formal modeling of protocols, compositional state space generation, graph visualization, interactive step-by-step simulation, formulation and verification of temporal logic properties, as well as performance evaluation by compositional insertion of latency constraints and transformation into interactive Markov chains.


Systems and methods for fabricating a light emitting diode include forming a multilayer epitaxial structure above a carrier substrate; depositing at least one metal layer above the multilayer epitaxial structure and forming heat removal fins thereon; removing the carrier substrate.


This study seeks to explore and understand the phenomenon of performance management in a university in Iran from perspectives of the university staff's participants. In other words, this research attempts to better understand and acquire empirical knowledge of how a state affiliated university measures, manages and reports its performance, and how its main stakeholders as well as other factors affect the University's overall performance. By conducting a grounded theory methodology within a qualitative and interpretive research paradigm and through a non-probabilistic purposive sampling, a cross section of fourty four key expert informants at different levels with different functions were sampled. The empirical part of this research was carried out over a period of two months. In addition, a second field trip was done to discuss initial findings with key interview participants. Data gathered were analysed and interpreted through using a set of coding procedures in grounded theory suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1990, 1998). Preliminary analysis resulted in an emerging conceptual model entitled "the exigent conformance model" which describes how the stakeholders and regulators triangular relationships constructed their realities and practices which resulted in the university's overall exigent behaviour. Furthermore, a new theory emerged which uncovers the influencing role of such steering ciphers and drivers that affect the University's functionality, causing "struggling for performance" throughout its activities which have gradually resulted in a "progression-regression performance". The emergent theory (progression-regression performance) helps to explain and support the practices so that the ultimate performance of the university is improved. The analyses, resulting categories and conclusions have been approached through utilising the unique theoretical lens of New Institutional Sociology (NIS) theory. This research not only adds to the understanding of a complex phenomenon in a previously untouched context (understanding of what represents performance management practices and stakeholders interactions on the basis of a case university studied in a developing country), but it also contributes to the adoption of new methodology, use of new institutional theory of sociology (NIS), and emergence of the substantive "Progression-Regression Performance" theory.


We develop optical and near-infrared colour-selection criteria based on the model colours of binaries consisting of a white dwarf and a main-sequence star. Using our colour-selection algorithm, we present a catalogue of 523 white dwarfmain sequence (WDMS) binaries from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7), most of them previously identified. Among them, we identify 86 objects as new WDMS binaries. 95 WDMS candidates are also found from the photometric SDSS DR7, cross-matched with the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Sky Survey Data Release 5 (UKIDSS DR5). Based on a chi 2 minimization technique, we derive independent stellar parameters such as the effective temperatures, surface gravities, masses and distances of the white dwarfs and secondary stars and the metallicities of the secondaries. Meanwhile, we determine the cooling age via interpolation through evolutionary models for the effective temperature and surface gravity of each DA white dwarf. Distributions of these stellar parameters have been used to study both the general properties and the completeness of WDMS binaries. A comparison between the distances measured to the white dwarfs and the secondary stars shows a clear trend towards higher distances for the white dwarf component. It is found that the mean cooling age of the WDMS sample is (t) over bar cool similar to 4.2x108?yr and our sample contains at least 11?per cent old systems, which were formed about 1.0 x 109?yr ago. The new and updated WDMS binaries will improve the completeness of the catalogue of WDMS binaries.


Recently, many studies have been conducted with pixelated semiconductor detectors that use cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) because these detectors have many advantages in pre-clinical gamma imaging. Collimators play an extremely important role in the imaging performance of pixelated semiconductor gamma cameras. In our previous study, based on the pixelated semiconductor gamma camera system we recommended the use of a pixelated parallel-hole collimator with equal hole and pixel sizes; this approach improved both the sensitivity and the spatial resolution. However, the pixelated parallel-hole collimator had two major limitations: (a) Although its sensitivity was higher than that of pinhole systems, the pixelated parallel-hole collimator may have still resulted in a partial loss of sensitivity due to its small collimator hole size. (b) The pixelated parallel-hole collimator with an adequate septal height was difficult to manufacture due to its small holes. Here, we present a new design for a parallel-hole collimator, which uses the stack-up method and a CZT pixelated semiconductor gamma camera system. The purpose of this study was to compare the performances of various geometric designs of our newly-designed parallel-hole collimator with those of conventional parallel-hole collimators [low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) and low-energy high-sensitivity (LEHS)]. The detector was modeled as an eValuator-2500 (eV Microelectronics Inc., Saxonburg, PA, USA) (3-mm thick, 0.5-mm pixel size) by using a Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) simulation. The proposed parallel-hole collimator consisted of two overlapping parallel-hole collimators. The size of each hole in the proposed parallel-hole collimator was four times that of the hole in the pixelated parallel-hole collimator. The overlap ratios of these collimators were 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 2 : 1, 1 : 5, and 5 : 1. To evaluate and compare the performances of these systems, we evaluated the sensitivity and the spatial resolution of each system. The average sensitivities of the proposed parallel-hole collimators with overlap ratios of 1 : 1, 1 : 2 or 2 : 1, and 1 : 5 or 5 : 1 and of the LEHS conventional parallel-hole collimator were 2.17, 3.45, 13.90, and 3.68 times higher than the average sensitivities of the LEHR conventional parallel-hole collimator, respectively. The average spatial resolution also varied depending on the distance from the collimator. In conclusion, we successfully designed a novel parallel-hole collimator for pre-clinical imaging; this novel collimator employs the stack-up method with a CZT pixelated semiconductor gamma camera.


The problem of research lies in: How to help improve the strategic technological capability - based approach to Enterprise Architecture for system Integration Company? To solve the problem posed above is defined as General Objective: To apply the methodology of Strategic Management based approach to enterprise architecture for system integration business management (DEAE-ISDE) in the Habana Libre Hotel to contribute to integration of the steering system. For the development of the research tools such as: Checklist, Kendall's Concordance Coefficient, Diagram of Relations, Level of Integration of the Management System, among others. The main deficiencies were: the lack of an ICT that integrates the management of all indicators of efficiency and effectiveness, the lack of participation of the workers in the processes of changes, the lack of Integration of the activities of the strategic team because they do not have well defined the functions of each member, the low level of interoperability to automatically generate information from one application to another, deficiencies in strategic planning and the non-existence of a process for the management of technology surveillance. Eight improvement actions are proposed to eradicate the deficiencies found.


lied primarily upon a comparison of views pro and con of commentators on the compact. In the opinion of this reviewer, something more than this is needed in a definitive study. Actual evidence of the effectiveness of compacts in operation might contribute more to understanding and appraisal than the opinions of the late Mr. Laski. Considerations of law need also to be balanced by considerations of politics and administration. The type of study of the interstate compact which is now needed would require time and resources not available to most individual scholars. Unless funds and other facilities can be marshalled for a direct investigation of the operation of the interstate compact, Professor Thursby's volume and that of Zimmermannand Wendell will probably remain the best points of departure for a study of the compact for some time to come.—LYNTON K. CALDWELL, Syracuse University.


Earthquake-induced liquefaction is one of the main causes of levee breaches that can threaten human life and property. Conventionally, liquefaction hazard has been assessed in terms of the factor of safety FoS against liquefaction which ignores the potential variability of groundwater table (GWT) due to precipitation events. A probabilistic methodology, taking into account these GWT variations over time, is therefore presented in this study to assess the liquefaction hazard of an earthen flood protection levee. A frequency analysis based on the Annual Maxima/Generalised Extreme Value (AM/GEV) approach is first used to characterize the distribution of GWT extreme values. The CPT-based method is then applied with the provided GWT scenarios to predict liquefaction and display the hazard curves. Assuming a single constant GWT estimate during an earthquake revealed a certain liquefaction hazard within a sandy layer. Considering GWT variations during earthquakes showed, however, that liquefaction is unlikely to occur with an FoS threshold set at 1.0. These findings highlight: (1) the conservatism of the conventional approach that overestimates the liquefaction hazard, (2) the importance of the proposed probabilistic approach as a complementary tool for more reliable decision-making, and (3) the dependency of liquefaction hazard predictions on the degree of uncertainty in GWT estimates and FoS threshold.


Urbanization nowadays results in the most dynamic and drastic changes in land use/land cover, with a significant impact on the environment. A detailed analysis and assessment of this process is necessary to take informed actions to reduce its impact on the environment and human well-being. In most parts of the world, detailed information on the composition, structure, extent, and temporal changes of urban areas is lacking. The purpose of this study is to present a methodology to produce high-resolution land use/land cover maps by the use of free software and satellite imagery. These maps can help to understand dynamic urbanizations processes to plan, design, and coordinate sustainable urban development plans, especially in areas with limited resources and advancing environmental degradation. A series of high-resolution true color images provided by Google Earth Pro were used to do initial classifications with the Semi-Automatic Classification Plug-in in QGIS. Afterwards, a new methodology to improve the classification by the elimination of shadows and clouds, and a reduction of misclassifications through superimposition was applied. The classification was carried out for three urban areas in León, Nicaragua, with different degrees of urbanization for the years 2009, 2015, and 2018. Finally, the accuracy of the classification was analyzed using randomly defined validation polygons. The results are three sets of high-resolution land use/land cover maps of the initial and the improved classification, showing the detailed structures and temporal dynamics of urbanization. The average accuracy of classification reaches 74%, but up to 85% for the best classification. The results clearly identify advancing urbanization, the loss of vegetation and riparian zones, and threats to urban ecosystems. In general, the level of detail and simplicity of our methodology is a valuable tool to support sustainable urban management, although its application is not limited to these areas and can also be employed to track changes over time, providing therefore, relevant information to a wide range of decision-makers.


Preface. Acknowledgments. PART I Revenue Models of High-Frequency Trading. CHAPTER 1 High-Frequency Trading and Existing Revenue Models. What Is High-Frequency Trading? Why High-Frequency Trading Is Important. Major High-Frequency Trading Firms in the United States. Existing Revenue Models of High-Frequency Trading Operations. Categorizing High-Frequency Trading Operations. Conclusion. CHAPTER 2 Roots of High-Frequency Trading in Revenue Models of Investment Management. Revenue Model 1: Investing. Revenue Model 2: Investment Banking. Revenue Model 3: Market Making. Revenue Model 4: Trading. Revenue Model 5: Cash Management. Revenue Model 6: Mergers and Acquisitions. Revenue Model 7: Back-office Activities. Revenue Model 8: Venture Capital. Creating Your Own Revenue Model. How to Achieve Success: Four Personal Drivers. Conclusion. CHAPTER 3 History and Future of High-Frequency Trading with Investment Management. Revenue Models in the Future. Investment Management and Financial Institutions. High-Frequency Trading and Investment Management. Technology Inventions to Drive Financial Inventions. The Ultimate Goal for Models and Financial Inventions. Conclusion. PART II Theoretical Models as Foundation of Computer Algos for High-Frequency Trading. CHAPTER 4 Behavioral Economics Models on Loss Aversion. What Is Loss Aversion? The Locus Effect. Theory and Hypotheses. Study 1: The Locus Effect on Inertia Equity. Study 2: Assumption A1 and A2. General Discussion. Conclusion. CHAPTER 5 Loss Aversion in Option Pricing: Integrating Two Nobel Models. Demonstrating Loss Aversion with Computer Algos. Visualizing the Findings. Computer Algos for the Finding. Explaining the Finding with the Black-Scholes Formula Conclusion. CHAPTER 6 Expanding the Size of Options in Option Pricing. The NBA Event. Web Data. Theoretical Analysis. The NBA Event and the Uncertainty Account. Controlled Offline Data. General Discussion. Conclusion. CHAPTER 7 Multinomial Models for Equity Returns. Literature Review. A Computational Framework: The MDP Model. Implicit Consumer Decision Theory. Empirical Approaches. Analysis 1: Examination of Correlations and a Regression Model. Analysis 2: Structural Equation Model. Contributions of the ICD Theory. Conclusion. CHAPTER 8 More Multinomial Models and Signal Detection Models for Risk Propensity. Multinomial Models for Retail Investor Growth. Deriving Implicit Utility Functions. Transforming Likeability Rating Data into Observed Frequencies. Signal Detection Theory (SDT). Assessing a Fund's Performance with SDT. Assessing Value at Risk with Risk Propensity of SDT for Portfolio Managers. Defining Risk Propensity Surface. Conclusion. CHAPTER 9 Behavioral Economics Models on Fund Switching and Reference Prices. What Is VisualFunds for Fund Switching? Behavioral Factors That Affect Fund Switching. Theory and Predictions. Study 1: Arbitrary Anchoring on Inertia Equity. Study 2: Anchor Competition. Study 3: Double Log Law. Conclusion. PART III A Unique Model of Sentiment Asset Pricing Engine for Portfolio Management. CHAPTER 10 A Sentiment Asset Pricing Model. What Is Sentiment Asset Pricing Engine? Contributions of SAPE. Testing the Effectiveness of SAPE Algos. Primary Users of SAPE. Three Implementations of SAPE. SAPE Extensions: TopTickEngine, FundEngine, PortfolioEngine, and TestEngine. Summary on SAPE. Alternative Assessment Tools of Macro Investor Sentiment. Conclusion. CHAPTER 11 SAPE for Portfolio Management Effectiveness and Strategies. Contributions of SAPE to Portfolio Management. Intraday Evidence of SAPE Effectiveness. Trading Strategies Based on the SAPE Funds. Case Study 1: Execution of SAPE Investment Strategies. Case Study 2: The Trading Process with SAPE. Case Study 3: Advanced Trading Strategies with SAPE. Creating a Successful Fund with SAPE and High-Frequency Trading Conclusion. PART IV New Models of High-Frequency Trading. CHAPTER 12 Derivatives. What Is a Derivative? Mortgage-Backed Securities: Linking Major Financial Institutions. Credit Default Swaps. Options and Option Values. The Benefits of Using Options. Profiting with Options. New Profitable Financial Instruments by Writing Options. The Black-Scholes Model As a Special Case of the Binomial Model. Implied Volatility. Volatility Smile. Comparing Volatilities Over Time. Forwards and Futures. Pricing an Interest-Rate Swap with Prospect Theory. The Behavioral Investing Based On Behavioral Economics. Conclusion. CHAPTER 13 Technology Infrastructure for Creating Computer Algos. Web Hosting vs. Dedicated Web Servers. Setting Up a Dedicated Web Server. Developing Computer Algos. Jump Starting Algo Development with PHP Programming. Jump Starting Algo Development with Java Programming. Jump Starting Algo Development with C++ Programming. Jump Starting Algo Development with Flex Programming. Jump Starting Algo Development with SQL. Common UNIX/LINUX Commands for Algo Development. Conclusion. CHAPTER 14 Creating Computer Algos for High-Frequency Trading. Getting Probability from Z Score. Getting Z Scores from Probability. Algos for the Sharpe Ratio. Computing Net Present Value. Developing a Flex User Interface for Computer Algos. Algos for the Black-Scholes Model. Computing Volatility with the ARCH Formula. Algos for Monte Carlo Simulations. Algos for an Efficient Portfolio Frontier. Algos for Signal Detection Theory (SDT). Conclusion. Notes. References. About the Author. Index.


This article addresses the teaching and learning in the mathematics discipline, considering that it is viewed by students in a negative and discouraging way, because students do not see meaning in the contents in relation to their practical experiences. For this reason, it is important that the teacher does not work mechanically with the students, but offers different proposals and teaching methods. The educator can work content using the active methodologies and games in which aims to make the student autonomous and protagonist. Games is a facilitating method because children are already born with this willingness to play, so it is up to the teacher to take advantage of this spontaneous action and apply with objective the various educational games so that students associate the contents with their practical experiences.


Mestizaje - process of cultural, ethnic, and racial mixing of Spanish and indigenous peoples - has been central to the creation of modern national identity in Bolivia and much of Latin America. Though it originally carried negative connotations, by the early twentieth century it had came to symbolize a national unity that transcended racial divides. Javier Sanjines C. contends that mestizaje, rather than a merging of equals, represents a fundamentally Western perspective that excludes indigenous ways of viewing the world. In this sophisticated study he reveals how modernity in Bolivia has depended on a perception, forged during the colonial era, that local cultures need to be uplifted. Sanjines traces the rise of mestizaje as a defining feature of Bolivian modernism through the political struggles and upheavals of the twentieth century. He then turns this concept upside-down by revealing how the dominant discussion of mestizaje has been resisted and transformed by indigenous thinkers and activists. Rather than focusing solely on political events, Sanjines grounds his argument in an examination of fiction, political essays, journalism, and visual art, offering a unique and masterful overview of Bolivian culture, identity, and politics.


The Zia Sand was named and described by Galusha (1966), who presented a summary of field work in the Zia Sand by Frick Laboratory parties under his direction. Rocks included in the formation are partly, but not entirely, the same as those included in the Lower Gray Member of the Santa Fe Formation by Bryce and McCann (1937). Galusha and Blick (1971) summarized previous publications on rocks assigned to the Zia Sand. On biostratigraphic evidence, they excluded from the formation several exposures Bryan and McCann (1936) and Spiegel (1961) included in or correlated with the Lower Gray Member. Manley (1978) redefined the Zia Sand to. include the overlying rocks Galusha regarded as an unnamed unit or units equivalent in age to, but lithologically distinct from, the Tesuque Formation of the Santa Fe Group, in the Espanola basin. Kelley (1977) likewise combined the Zia Sand with the overlying units, retaining the name Zia for eolian sands. These revisions are rejected here; the limits of the Zia Sand used are very nearly those set by Galusha, in publications (1966; Galusha and Blick, 1971) and in the records of the Frick Laboratory. The rocks equivalent in age to the Tesuque Formation should receive further study and separate names. The Zia Sand as used here is a distinct depositional sequence. Galusha excluded the Zia Sand from the Santa Fe Group; other authors have included it. This paper does not attempt to resolve the question.


In this paper, we consider the convey-crane system, which can transport loads for industrial purposes. The mathematical model, describing the motion of convey-crane, is presented by a Lagrangian mechanical system of nonlinear equations with two degrees of freedom and one control action. It is supposed that the rope has no mass, its stiffness is not taken into account, and there is no friction in the joints. The stabilization problem of the desired convey-crane position is posed underuncertain mass inertia characteristics, an action of non-smooth bounded disturbances and incomplete measurements. Based on the passivity property, the control law with linear and sigmoidal parts is constructed for the solution of the problem. The only measurement of the convey-crane position is available without a noise in the measurements. We use the low order observer with sigmoidal corrective action to obtain the needed velocity estimates for the control law. It is shown that the using of sigmoidal function as a prelimit realization of sign-function provides disturbances invariance with the given accuracy. With respect to the smoothness and boundness, sigmoidal function helps to avoid overshoot in the transient responses and excessive consumption of control resources. Moreover, unlike the sign-function, a sigmoidal function is realized in the electromechanical systems with actuator dynamics, in which the physical restrictions on the forces and general moments are posed. The constructed control law with linear and sigmoidal parts is simulated for the convey-crane system in MATLAB- Simulink. The classical PD-controller is simulated too for the purpos e of comparison. The results of modeling are proved the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


.. Objective: This study was to assess the common withdrawal effects of drugs among addicted population in rehabilitation. Study Design: Cross Sectional Survey. Setting: Different Rehabilitation Centers Located Across the City, Karachi. Period: December 2018 to June 2019. Material & Methods: 400 filled questionnaires were obtained from randomly selected subjects (addicted persons). Results: The results of the study showed, most drugs abused age group is 20-40 year i.e. 71.6%, 13-19 year 18.7%, and 9.7% for population above 40 years of age. Most abused drugs found 34.8%, 26.8%, 9.6% 6.7% for cannabis, tobacco, heroin, and morphine accordingly. n=188 (47%) of patients had adaptive response towards treatment in rehabilitation while n=60 (15%) shows negative and aggressive behaviors. n=60 (15%) patients found guilty of drugs abused while n= 180 45% found it pleasurable. Conclusions: A persistent, safe and evidence-based practices is required in management of drugs abuse among the addicted patients to avoid the risk factors.


In this paper, flat potentials (μ│x / a│N) are numerically investigated by pseudo-spectral method. The Schrodinger equation of this type of potential has become an eigen system using the pseudo-spectral method. The eigen system is then diagonalized by the Jacobi method. Energy eigen values for different Ns have been compared with similar articles. The limit behavior of this potential for the states N = 2 and N → ∞ is related to the harmonic oscillator and the particle in the box with length 2a, respectively. For each N, a function is proposed for energy eigen values in terms of the quantum number n. By using of data fitting, the correctness of the proposed equation is checked.


The World According to Pimm A Scientist Audits the Earth. Stuart L. Pimm. McGraw Hill, New York, 2001. 303 pp. $24.95. ISBN 0-07-137490-6. In this slim, highly readable book, Pimm draws on his research experiences around the world to provide a vivid, detailed, and well documented account of our relation to our environment.


The need for free-form micro-optics (FFMO) is constantly growing in well-established business segments including flatpanel displays, solid-state illumination, thin-film solutions for security/anti-counterfeiting applications, AR/VR wearables, and automotive headlights. However, the high access barriers to pre-commercial production capabilities prevent companies, especially SMEs, from exploiting the FFMO technology in commercial products and hinder further innovation. To lower the barrier to access FMOA technology, CSEM and their partners have established the PHABULOuS Pilot Line. PHABULOuS offers a unique one-stop shop for all requests for prototyping and manufacturing of free-form microoptics services, from pilot to full-scale production. To mature the FMOA technology, the Pilot Line members have developed high precision origination techniques complemented by industry-fit, high-throughput up-scaling technologies for the cost-effective production of large-area FFMO. At the core of these technologies is Step & Repeat UV imprinting. The method has been successfully demonstrated in the PHABULOuS project for high precision upscaling of rigid small masters to flexible tools with 600 x 300 mm2 dimensions using a standard UV-NIL stepper modified for this purpose. Since there is currently no commercial Step & Repeat machine on the market able to replicate free-form micro-structures on large area with the required precision, CSEM has developed a high precision S&R UV-replication platform designed specifically to this purpose. Combined with the expertise in design and optical simulation, origination, and electroforming, the newly developed Step&Repeat capabilities at CSEM will strengthen the PHABULOuS Pilot Line offerings.


The utility of high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) for evaluating oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) has been investigated. These approaches are limited because of the sophisticated methodology. A method of transforming HRIM into a simple and useful diagnostic tool for evaluating OPD is needed. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and HRIM were performed by independent blinded examiners in 26 consecutive healthy volunteers (12 men; median age, 56.5 years) and 10 OPD patients (five men; median age, 59.5 years). Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) relaxation parameters were measured using a standard HRIM protocol. Peristalsis and bolus transit of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment were assessed using an HRIM-modified protocol in which the catheter was pulled back 10 cm. PE bolus transits were evaluated with an impedance contour pattern (linear vs. stasis) method. A significant difference was observed between the manometric measures of healthy volunteers and OPD patients for only the duration of pharyngeal contraction (0.49 ± 0.19 vs. 0.76 ± 0.33 s, P = 0.04). The percentage agreement and kappa value for detecting pharyngeal residue between the VFSS and the impedance analysis were 100% and 1.00, respectively. HRIM allowed for comprehensive assessment of abnormal pharyngeal components that caused pharyngeal residue on VFSS in two patients; reduced base of the tongue versus weak pharyngeal contraction in one, and reduced relaxation of the UES versus reduced laryngeal elevation in the remaining patient. Our findings demonstrated that HRIM using a simple methodology (i.e., pull-back of the catheter) detected pharyngeal residue through a simple analysis of the impedance contour pattern (linear vs. stasis). Furthermore, HRIM facilitated a comprehensive assessment of OPD mechanisms and recognition of subtle abnormalities not yet visible to the naked eye on VFSS.


The Dhm1 gene is the mouse homologue of the dhp1(+) gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which is involved in homologous recombination and RNA metabolism, such as RNA synthesis and RNA trafficking, in S. pombe. Complementation analysis showed the Dhm1 gene on a multicopy plasmid can rescue the temperature-sensitivity mutation of dhp1(ts) and the lethality of the dhp1 null mutation. This finding suggests that Dhm1 has a function in mouse similar to that of dhp1(+). The human homologue of this gene, XRN2, has been identified. A 3.6-kb transcript of XRN2 was detected in 16 tissues examined and was more abundant in testis. By radiation hybrid panel mapping, the XRN2 gene was localized to chromosome 20p11.1-p11.2 between markers D20S180 and D20S871.


In recent years, many researchers addressed multiagent system. Multi-agent system is the system consisted of multiple robots that have only limited capability. Robocup simulated soccer is proposed as a test bed of multi-agent system. It has a subtask called keepaway soccer. Automatic construction of the strategy of multi-agent system is required because it is difficult. Therefore, we purpose construction of the strategy for multiagent system by graph structured program evolution (GRAPE) in keepaway soccer. GRAPE is the method of construction of graph-structured programs automatically.


Thanks to more and more gamma-ray bursts with measured redshift and extended emission detected by the recent space telescopes, it is urgent and possible to check whether those previous energy correlations still satisfy the particular sample involving only the bursts accompanied by tail radiations. Using 20 long and 22 short bursts with extended emission, we find that the popular γ-ray energy correlations of the intrinsic peak energy versus the isotropic energy (Amati relation) and the intrinsic peak energy versus the peak luminosity (Yonetoku relation) do exist in both short and long bursts. However, it is much better if these gamma-ray bursts with extended emissions are reclassified into two subgroups of E-I and E-II that make the above energy correlations more tight. As proposed by Zhang et al., the energy correlations can be utilized to distinguish these kinds of gamma-ray bursts in the plane of bolometric fluence versus peak energy as well. Interestingly, the peculiar short GRB 170817A belongs to the E-I group in the fluence versus peak energy plane, but it is an outlier of both the Amati and Yonetoku relations even though the off-axis effect has been corrected. Furthermore, we compare the radiation features between the extended emissions and the prompt gamma-rays in order to search for their possible connections. Taking into account all these factors, we conclude that gamma-ray bursts with extended emission are still required to model with dichotomic groups, namely E-I and E-II classes, which hint that they might have different origins.


To maintain sustainability in today's' global economy industrial companies must have well managed systems and operations to keep up with competition. For this they can take advantage of using Web and Internet based technologies. Such can be achieved by accessing good management resources and methods through the Internet which otherwise would not be available and, at the same time, take advantageous of collaboration provided by networks of partners and users. Due to operations management complexity when a company does not have access to good algorithms it usually draws upon simple and empirical procedures whose quality of solutions provided tends to be poor. This is a situation that can be avoided if companies have easy access to good operations management algorithms or services. This can be possible because a pool of knowledge on industrial operations management, which has been developed by academia and industry over the years, can be made available, through the Internet, to a large community of users. This idea is explored towards development of a web-based system for Industrial Operation Management, based on a P2P network of operations management algorithms providers and users. Thus, the paper describes a web system for aiding the resolution of Operations Management problems through collaboration based on a network of distributed resources and users, web services and other Internet technology. The system adopts a P2P network architecture to create and enable a decentralized and global industrial operations management environment. It includes a set of functionalities accessed through the P2P network, which holds algorithms for solving different types of Operations Management problems. The algorithms are selected through a user-friendly interface, which is automatically generated for each specific problem context, including loading existing XML problem data documents, and searching and running algorithms on the peers belonging to the P2P network.


The optimum time students should spend on homework has been widely researched although the results are far from unanimous. The main objective of this research is to analyze how homework assignment strategies in schools affect students' academic performance and the differences in students' time spent on homework. Participants were a representative sample of Spanish adolescents (N = 26,543) with a mean age of 14.4 (±0.75), 49.7% girls. A test battery was used to measure academic performance in four subjects: Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and Citizenship. A questionnaire allowed the measurement of the indicators used for the description of homework and control variables. Two three-level hierarchical-linear models (student, school, autonomous community) were produced for each subject being evaluated. The relationship between academic results and homework time is negative at the individual level but positive at school level. An increase in the amount of homework a school assigns is associated with an increase in the differences in student time spent on homework. An optimum amount of homework is proposed which schools should assign to maximize gains in achievement for students overall.


Background: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a public health issue despite the global incidence decrease over the last decades. GC is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and it is still of poor prognosis due to its late detection. This paper focuses on determining the sociodemographic and progressive characteristics of patients who presented gastric adenocarcinoma in the absence or in the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori at the service of Hepato-Gastroenterology at the University Hospital of Rabat in Morocco. Methods: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of gastric adenocarcinoma in the absence or in the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a retrospective study was conducted on cases admitted at the Hepato-Gastroenterology department (University Hospital, Avicene Rabat) between 2000 and 2010 to support gastric adenocarcinoma. Results: 240 cases of GC were recorded with an average of 22 cases per year, which represents 77% of all gastric cancers identified. Male gender is most affected. The frequency of appearance of ADK in the absence of the bacterium Hp is 82% (196 cases). It is 18% (44 cases) in the presence of Hp. During the study period, 99 deaths were recorded: 81 cases in the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, 18 cases of death in the absence of Hp. The lethality rate was higher in the male sex, either in the presence or absence of Hp. Conclusions: Management of GC additionally to early diagnosisrepresents effective preventive and therapeutic methods of GC.


Use of intelligent decision aids can help alleviate the challenges of planning complex operations. We describe integrated algorithms, and a tool capable of translating a high-level concept for a tactical military operation into a fully detailed, actionable plan, producing automatically (or with human guidance) plans with realistic degree of detail and of human-like quality. Tight interleaving of several algorithms -- planning, adversary estimates, scheduling, routing, attrition and consumption estimates -- comprise the computational approach of this tool. Although originally developed for Army large-unit operations, the technology is generic and also applies to a number of other domains, particularly in critical situations requiring detailed planning within a constrained period of time. In this paper, we focus particularly on the engineering tradeoffs in the design of the tool. In an experimental evaluation, reminiscent of the Turing test, the tool's performance compared favorably with human planners.


Summary form only given. In this paper we present a call admission control (CAC) policy for multimedia services that characterize the next generation of wireless cellular networks. The well-known CAC guard-channel policy is modified to maintain a pre-specified level of quality of services for multimedia calls. A semi-Markov decision process (SMDP) is used to represent the multi-class guard channel CAC policy with constraints on the dropping probabilities of multimedia handoff calls. The SMDP is formulated as a linear programming problem with the objectives of maximizing the system utilization and guaranteeing QoS of multiple classes of handoff calls with each class having particularly different QoS requirements. We show numerically that the multi-class guard channel policy deploying SMDP outperforms the existing upper-limit CAC policy as it improves the service quality by maximizing the bandwidth utilization while stratifying the quality of service constraint to upper bound of the handoff dropping probability.


Depositional hydrodynamics have been studied using settling rate distributions of Norwegian deep sea sediments (between Jan Mayen Island and the Voring Plateau), together with Shields' critical shear stress velocities. Planktonic foraminifera are the dominant sand sized component of these sediments. The bulk density of the foraminifera was calculated from their settling velocity, sieve size and shape. Density decreases from 2·39 g cm−3 at 0·05 mm diameter to 1·37 g cm−3 at 0·35 mm diameter. These density and size data were used to construct a threshold sediment movement curve. From the similarity in their Shield's critical shear-stress velocities and the observed correlation of foraminifera size with decreasing percentage of fine fraction, it is concluded that the two components, the sand size foraminifera and the quartz and carbonate silt, are transport-equivalent.


The paper by Hashimoto [ 11 reports scalp responses elicited by air puffs or electrical pulses applied to the lower lip. Electrical stimulation of the facial skin, though used by many authors, leads to large electrical artifacts and two types of muscular artifact (MA1 and MA2) easily picked up by scalp leads. MA1 is due to direct activation of muscular or motor nerve fibers lying underneath the stimulating electrodes; it begins immediately after the stimulus and lasts about 10 to 12 ms [2). MA2 is due to muscular reflexes [3), which never occur before 5 to 6 ms after the stimulus. To overcome MA1 it is necessary to stimulate only sensory fibers; this can be performed by inserting two needle-electrodes into the infraorbital foramen (to stimulate the infraorbital nerve) [2) or by applying electrical pulses to the gum. Stimulating the infraorbital nerve gives a massive input with very low electrical artifact, so that the trace can be read from 0.5 ms after the stimulus. With this technique, we have been able to record from the scalp a series of waves of definite neural origin (W1, W2, W3, P4, N5, P6, N7) 12, 31; of these, W1, W2, and W3 are particularly reliable and their origin has been demonstrated by means of intraoperative recordings {4]. Gum stimulation activates a smaller number of afferents and gives rise to a high-amplitude, long-duration electrical artifact; it is therefore not suitable to study the beginning of the trace. MA1 can be ruled out when using air-puff stimulation, but no early (< 10 ms) waves are seen when using this technique [l}. Occurrence of MA2 cannot be avoided with any electrical stimulation (infraorbital nerve, lip, or gum) if applied in awake subjects [3]. Experiments in anesthetized and curarized subjects 13) showed that late (> 10 ms) cortical


The slide guide in an elevator moves in contact against the guide rail. This kind of surface contact exhibits a highly non-linear hysteretic friction behaviour which hampers greatly the riding quality of the elevator system. This paper presents an experimental investigation on this type of phenomenon through measuring the contact friction force between the interface of the slide guide and the rail under different combination of input parameters. The experiment shows frictional behaviours including pre-sliding/gross-sliding regimes, transition behaviour between them, time lag, and velocity (weakening and strengthening) dependence. In addition, it is found that different materials in contact, lubrications and friction duration have strong impacts on evaluation of the friction characteristics. The observations in the test provide an insight into relationships between different friction behaviours and can be used to validate the appropriate theoretical friction models.


Glomerular injuries associated with malignancy are rare and they are morphologically heterogeneous. Although the pathophysiologic interrelations between a tumor and glomerulopathy are not clear, molecular mechanisms of paraneoplastic glomerulopathies and pathologic features of renal lesions in solid tumors, lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders have been discovered over recent decades.


BACKGROUND
Population modeling and simulations can be used to facilitate the conduct of phase I studies to develop safe and effective dosing regimens in neonates.

SETTING
P1110 is an international, multicenter trial to determine safe and effective raltegravir doses in neonates at risk for HIV infection.

METHODS
P1110 used a 2-cohort adaptive design incorporating population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations. An initial cohort of neonates received 2 single oral doses of raltegravir with standard-of-care therapy for prevention of perinatal transmission-one within 48 hours of birth and a second at 7-10 days of life. Raltegravir concentration data after administration of these doses were combined with data from a previous study of infants aged 4 weeks to 2 years. The combined database was used for population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations to select a daily dosing regimen for investigation in a second cohort of neonates.

RESULTS
Raltegravir concentration data from 6 neonates were combined with data from infants aged 4 weeks to 2 years receiving raltegravir twice daily. The combined data set allowed for successful development of a population pharmacokinetic model with reasonable precision of parameter estimates. Monte Carlo simulations were run to evaluate potential daily dosing regimens from birth to 6 weeks of age, allowing for selection of a regimen to be evaluated in a subsequent cohort of neonates receiving chronic raltegravir dosing.

CONCLUSIONS
An adaptive design incorporating population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations was used to select a developmentally appropriate neonatal raltegravir dosing regimen in the first 6 weeks of life.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Precis: Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty (UCP) treatment using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an effective and safe therapy to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in moderate glaucoma patients as was measured during a 2-year follow-up period. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the UCP procedure using HIFU in moderate glaucoma patients. Patients and Methods: A prospective interventional noncomparative study was carried out. Fifteen patients (15 eyes) with moderate open-angle glaucoma were enrolled. All eyes were treated with UCP-HIFU. A thorough ophthalmic examination and IOP measurements were performed before the UCP-HIFU procedure and at 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the procedure. The primary outcome was defined as a surgical success (IOP reduction of 20% or ≥5 mm Hg) at the last follow-up visit. The secondary outcomes were the mean IOP at each follow-up visit, number of medications used, complications profile, and reinterventions. Results: The mean preoperative IOP at baseline was 26.8±5.0 mm Hg. All patients had a positive response and a lower IOP after treatment, with a relatively stable 31% reduction in IOP during the follow-up period. A significant reduction in IOP was observed at all postprocedure examination points (P<0.01), with a mean 17.6±4.4 mm Hg at 2 years after the procedure (P=0.005). Surgical success was achieved in 87% of the patients at their last follow-up visit. There was a nonsignificant decrease in the mean number of glaucoma medications from 2.5±0.8 to 2.0±1.0 at 2 years (P=0.48). No major intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. Conclusion: UCP-HIFU treatment is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated method to reduce IOP in patients with moderate glaucoma.


Background Serine proteinase inhibitor clade B member 3 (SERPINB3) is a neutral glycoprotein. Its overexpression is related to the promotion of cell proliferation and activation via the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in several tumors. Whether it can participate in stromal cell-derived factor (SDF-1)/NF-κB-induced metastasis of gastric cancer has not been reported. Material/Methods We analyzed the ability of SDF-1 to induce migration and invasion in vitro by knocking down the expression of SERPINB3 with siRNAs in gastric cancer cells. We also explored the effects of a CXCR4 antagonist and NF-κB inhibitor on SERPINB3 expression. We verified the effect of SERPINB3 on prognosis in gastric cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro experiments confirmed that SDF-1 upregulated the expression of SERPINB3 and promoted metastasis in gastric cancer cells. This phenomenon was reversed by knockdown of SERPINB3, a chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) antagonist, and an NF-κB inhibitor, which downregulated the expression of SERPINB3. In patients with gastric cancer, a significant positive correlation was observed between CXCR4 and SERPINB3 expression (r=0.222, P=0.029). Moreover, double positivity for SERPINB3 and CXCR4 was certified to be an independent prognostic factor (HR=3.332, P<0.001). CXCR4-positive patients who also expressed SERPINB3 were inclined to suffer from lymph node metastasis, confirming that SERPINB3 is a downstream molecule of CXCR4. Conclusions In vitro and pathological results showed that SDF-1/CXCR4 activated the NF-κB pathway and upregulated SERPINB3 to facilitate the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.


Automatic text summarisation has drawn considerable interest in the field of software engineering. It can improve the efficiency of software developers, enhance the quality of products, and ensure timely delivery. In this paper, we present our initial work towards automatically generating human-like multi-document summaries from heterogeneous software artefacts. Our analysis of the text properties of 545 human-written summaries from 15 software engineering projects will ultimately guide heuristics searches in the automatic generation of human-like summaries.


Rotaviruses cause acute gastroenteritis; mostly in young children. Infant rotavirus vaccines have been licensed in Europe and provide excellent protection against severe gastroenteritis, but are not widely implemented due to the perceived benign character of rotavirus disease and unfavourable cost-effectiveness. Rotavirus vaccines are currently unavailable in the Netherlands which leaves a particularly vulnerable group of infants--those with prematurity, low birth weight or severe congenital malformations--at increased risk of rotavirus disease, complications and even death. Rotavirus vaccination should be made available to these infants, but due to the strict age limits for the rotavirus vaccination (which must be started at < 14 weeks), vaccination cannot be adequately organised within the Dutch National Immunisation Programme (NIP) which relies on well-baby clinic visits. Organising rotavirus vaccination for high-risk infants through paediatric secondary care could overcome this problem and be implemented independent of decisions on uptake of rotavirus vaccination within the Dutch NIP.


This text starts from the reflection about the appreciation of the human being conception and the seeking of senses for the reality lived. Human nature keeps in itself potency to be in the presence of many everyday situations. The chaos, the loneliness and the resilience capacity are integrative ideas that enable the creation of a new state, as well as an awareness of the being continuity. Beyond the pleasure principle interlace the inquietude of the objective reality – the reality lived. "Every development is an adventure" says Cyrulnik. Let's hope, we are able to develop our capacity to give meaning to human condition. "Compromise is not a characteristic of the insane. The mature man is neither so good nor so mean as the immature. The water in the body is muddy, but it is not clay"


Hydrophilic polymers are used to coat catheters and other intravascular devices. In general, these polymers have many salutary properties; however, in some instances, fragmentation of hydrophilic polymers coating intravascular devices can occur with fatal consequences. This report details the histopathologic changes in the lung seen following polymer fragmentation and embolization from a central venous catheter. Polymer emboli detected microscopically are intravascular and consist of basophilic, lamellated, and nonrefractile elements. Typically, an inflammatory response is present to a variable degree. Embolization can result in severe tissue injury with ischemia and infarction.


In this classic book, originally published in 1968 by University of Toronto Press, John Dales proposed a new policy instrument for tackling pollution problems, namely 'markets in pollution rights'. Dales was one of the first economists to put forward such a solution, and in subsequent years a system of emissions trading has evolved which is now a centrepiece in international discussions of how to address the problem of global climate change.