Bovine beta-lactoglobulin was hydrolyzed with trypsin or chymotrypsin in the course of heat treatment at 55, 60 and 65 degrees C at neutral pH. At these temperatures beta-lactoglobulin undergoes significant but reversible structural changes. In the conditions used in the present study, beta-lactoglobulin was virtually insensitive to proteolysis by either enzyme at room temperature, but underwent extensive proteolysis when either protease was present during the heat treatment. High-temperature proteolysis occurs in a progressive manner. Mass spectrometry analysis of some large-sized breakdown intermediates formed in the early steps of hydrolysis indicated that both enzymes effectively hydrolyzed some regions of beta-lactoglobulin that were transiently exposed during the physical treatments and that were not accessible in the native protein. The immunochemical properties of the products of beta-lactoglobulin hydrolysis were assessed by using various beta-lactoglobulin-specific antibodies, and most epitopic sites were no longer present after attack of the partially unfolded protein by the two proteases.


Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth in the United States. Multiple factors have been shown to increase risk for suicidal behavior, including depressed mood. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine individual characteristics and precipitating circumstances of suicide in youth decedents with and without depressed mood at the time of death. Method: Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were analyzed for 17 US states from 2003 to 2012. Participants included suicide decedents aged 10-19 years (N = 4,053). Analyses compared youth suicide decedents with depressed mood at time of death with those without depressed mood using logistic regression. Sex-specific differences in youth with depressed mood were also explored. Results: Youth suicide decedents with depressed mood were more likely than those without depressed mood to exhibit clinical characteristics and precipitating circumstances associated with suicide. Comparison of males and females with depressed mood found unique sex-specific differences. Limitations: Data were limited to 17 states, analyses did not include a control group, and data were collected through postmortem reporting. Conclusion: Findings support a significant association between depressed mood and factors associated with suicidal behavior in youth and offer potential areas to focus prevention strategies.


With the acceleration in three-dimensional (3D) high-frame-rate sensing technologies, dense point clouds collected from multiple standpoints pose a great challenge for the accuracy and efficiency of registration. The combination of coarse registration and fine registration has been extensively promoted. Unlike the requirement of small movements between scan pairs in fine registration, coarse registration can match scans with arbitrary initial poses. The state-of-the-art coarse methods, Super 4-Points Congruent Sets algorithm based on the 4-Points Congruent Sets, improves the speed of registration to a linear order via smart indexing. However, the lack of reduction in the scale of original point clouds limits the application. Besides, the coplanarity of registration bases prevents further reduction of search space. This paper proposes a novel registration method called the Super Edge 4-Points Congruent Sets to address the above problems. The proposed algorithm follows a three-step procedure, including boundary segmentation, overlapping regions extraction, and bases selection. Firstly, an improved method based on vector angle is used to segment the original point clouds aiming to thin out the scale of the initial point clouds. Furthermore, overlapping regions extraction is executed to find out the overlapping regions on the contour. Finally, the proposed method selects registration bases conforming to the distance constraints from the candidate set without consideration about coplanarity. Experiments on various datasets with different characteristics have demonstrated that the average time complexity of the proposed algorithm is improved by 89.76%, and the accuracy is improved by 5 mm on average than the Super 4-Points Congruent Sets algorithm. More encouragingly, the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can be applied to various restrictive cases, such as few overlapping regions and massive noise. Therefore, the algorithm proposed in this paper is a faster and more robust method than Super 4-Points Congruent Sets under the guarantee of the promised quality.


Microscopic examination of the pigment cell aggregations in the liver and spleen of mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) suggests that the morphology and behavior of these cells is consistent with the melanomacrophages described in teleost fishes and the pigmented "Kupffer cells" described in frogs and reptiles. These cells contain massive amounts of melanin, substantial lipofuscin, and some hemosiderin consistent with their phagocytic function. Similar-appearing isolated pigmented macrophages are solitary in the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Number and size of the largest hepatic aggregations increase almost linearly with turtle age so that in old turtles they may constitute up to 20% of the liver volume. This increase may result from hepatic recruitment of macrophages throughout the life of the turtle and suggests that size and number of melanomacrophage aggregations may serve as a marker for senescence in otherwise healthy turtles of this species.


24 www.ijeas.org Abstract— This paper focused on the development of a microcontroller based security system for indoor geo-location using motion detector. The system carried out intruder detection that reinforces surveillance technology to provide essential security with associated control and alert operations. The security pivots on the integration of cameras and motion detectors into web application. The Raspberry Pi, a smart surveillance system, takes input from the motion detector and controls (actuates) the pi camera for remote sensing and surveillance, sends the video to a web server which allows the user or homeowner to access the videos using a web application. The system, on intrusion alerts the owner by SMS, buzzes the alarm located at a convenient distant. The designed security system is characterized with efficient video camera for remote sensing and surveillance, featured with stream live video and records for subsequent replay and offers a cost effective ubiquitous surveillance solution, efficient and easy to implement.


Background Temporary placement of removable, fully covered, self-expandable metal stents (fcSEMS) for treatment of benign biliary strictures (BBS) has been reported to be effective. However, the optimal extraction time point remains unclear and stent migration has been a major concern. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this treatment modality using an fcSEMS with a special antimigration design and prolonged stent indwell time. Methods We performed a prospective, single-arm study at six tertiary care centers in Europe. Patients with BBS underwent endoscopic or percutaneous implantation of an fcSEMS (GORE® VIABIL® Biliary Endoprosthesis, W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA). The devices were scheduled to be removed nine months later, and patients were to return for follow-up for an additional 15 months. Results Forty-three patients were enrolled in the study. Stricture etiology was chronic pancreatitis in the majority of patients (57.5%). All fcSEMS were placed successfully, either endoscopically (76.7%) or percutaneously (23.3%). Stent migration was observed in two patients (5.2%). Primary patency of the SEMS prior to removal was 73.0%. All attempted stent removals were successful. At removal, stricture was resolved or significantly improved without need for further therapy in 78.9% of patients. Stricture recurrence during a follow-up of two years post-implant was observed in two patients. Conclusions Temporary placement of the fcSEMS is a feasible, safe and effective treatment for BBS. The design of the device used in this study accounts for very low migration rates and facilitates easy stent retrieval, even after it has been in place for up to 11 months.


Stock people working in modern cage layer sheds spend more than half their daily work time directly checking hens to monitor health and welfare. In addition, mechanical egg collection belts must be checked for potential blockages that may result in cracked or broken eggs during the collection process. These are important tasks in the profitable management of modern multi-tier cage systems. However, where the upper tiers of cages are above stockperson eye level, the effectiveness of humans to perform these tasks accurately may be questioned. We investigated whether video image analysis (VIA, the ability of a computer to 'see') could automatically perform two common tasks – that of counting the number of hens per cage and scanning the egg collection belt to identify foreign (non-egg) objects. Cameras were attached to the robotic feeder that moved along the front of the cages. Views of the interior of the cages and the egg collection belt were recorded on digital video as the robotic feeder moved. Two VIA prototypes were evaluated, initially at the research institute and subsequently at a commercial farm. Using the respective automatic detection algorithms that were developed for the research, 79% of targets (hen legs) in cages were correctly counted, while 95% of foreign objects on the egg collection belt were detected. The results demonstrate that VIA can be used to monitor egg belts for potential blockages, and has potential as technology to count hens.


Narrow bit-width data formats are key to reducing the computational and storage costs of modern deep learning applications. This paper evaluates Microscaling (MX) data formats that combine a per-block scaling factor with narrow floating-point and integer types for individual elements. MX formats balance the competing needs of hardware efficiency, model accuracy, and user friction. Empirical results on over two dozen benchmarks demonstrate practicality of MX data formats as a drop-in replacement for baseline FP32 for AI inference and training with low user friction. We also show the first instance of training generative language models at sub-8-bit weights, activations, and gradients with minimal accuracy loss and no modifications to the training recipe.


The FLASH2 SASE undulator section consists of 12 IDs. Each of them is followed by an intersection component comprising a phase shifter and various parts for diagnostics and beam steering. The phase shifter is a compact and simple electromagnetic chicane and has to assure constructive interference of the radiation of adjacent undulators for all wavelengths. The magnetic performance, field errors and the hysteresis behavior have been investigated and were found to be within the required accuracy. The results are discussed in relation to the undulator settings. From these data, tables for steering the phase shifter current as function of undulator gap were derived and implemented in the control system.


Soft clay is known to be a problematic soil that consists of low shear strength, low permeability and high compressibility where the existing soil on the given site is low with load bearing capacity, and by that ground improvement is required. Granular column methods are being used extensively as ground improvement technique for supporting a wide variety of structures and infrastructures. In practice, the bearing capacity on soft clay increased by a layer of compacted sand or gravel. Bottom ash as by product of coal burning that has similar properties to granular material can be applied as one of the stabilizing method to the existing soil. Hence, by using bottom ash as substitute, the cost of construction can be reduced and make great progress of a growing awareness of the sustainable engineering. This research discusses the results of the improvement in the shear strength of soft clay after being reinforced with a group of square and triangular encapsulated bottom ash columns. The physical and mechanical properties of the materials used such as kaolin and bottom ash were determined. The results show that kaolin can be classified ad clayey soil and bottom ash has similarities of characteristic with granular material. A total of 52 unconfined compression tests had been conducted on kaolin specimens to determine the shear strength. The diameter for specimen is 50mm and 100mm in height. The diameter of bottom ash columns are 10mm and 16 mm respectively and the height of the column are 60mm, 80 mm and 100mm. The group columns have been arranged in square and triangular pattern. It can be concluded that the shear strength parameters were improved based on the different diameter and the height of the column.


This paper is a study of the structure of the braincase in two closely related Mesozoic mammals: Triconodon mordax and Trioracodon ferox. They belong to the order Triconodonta, subfamily Triconodontinae, and are from the English Upper Jurassic (Purbeck). One specimen of each species was available showing cranial structure, both from the collection in the British Museum. By chemical methods, both petrosals and the sphenoid of the specimen of Triconodon and both petrosals of the specimen of Trioracodon were prepared. The material shows that the Triconodonta had a braincase of an essentially reptilian pattern. There was a persistent cavum epiptericum lying outside the ossified lateral wall (formed by the petrosal) of the braincase. The alisphenoid, forming the lateral boundary of the cavum epiptericum, formed no part of the braincase wall in this region. This was also true of the Rhaetic Morganucodon, and may have been true of all pre-Cretaceous mammals. In basic construction the braincase of these mammals differs from that of an advanced therapsid only in the narrower cavum epiptericum in the former. This difference is due to the relatively larger size of the brain in the mammal. To convert a braincase constructed in this way into that of a modern mammal either the alisphenoid would have to be lost—leading to the condition found in the monotremes—or the lateral wall of the neurocranum would have to fail to ossify—thus incorporating the cavum epiptericum in the cranial cavity in the manner typical of marsupials and placentals. Although on these grounds alone the monotreme stock need not have separated from that which gave rise to the marsupials and placentals until early in the Cretaceous, other considerations suggest that the last common ancestor lived in Triassic times at the reptilian grade of organization. There seems, however, less reason than formerly to consider Morganucodon an ancestral monotreme. Finally, a reconsideration of all the evidence shows that there was no acceleration of evolutionary rates at the time the Mammalia came into existence.


Campylobacter jejuni, a small, curved or spirally shaped highly motile microorganism, is identified as a major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis throughout the world. Serious complications such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome and reactive arthritis might occasionally follow infection. In this thesis data were generated in the fields of hazard characterization and exposure assessment, which were used to identify risk factors for Campylobacter. Although C. jejuni is generally seen as an obligate micro-aerophile, in this thesis it was shown that it can grow aerobically in the presence of pyruvate, and growth might also be possible in the presence of other antioxidants. However, as result of the strict minimal growth temperature (30oC), C. jejuni is still assumed to be generally unable to grow in foods and therefore growth is not considered as a large risk for campylobacteriosis. C. jejunican, and does, survive effectively for long periods of time under non-growing conditions in various environments. Temperature is the most influencing factor in survival and survival will be optimal at low temperatures (around 4oC). As many foods are stored chilled, this will prolong the survival of C. jejuni. Furthermore survival is enhanced at low oxygen conditions, as often present in packaged foods. While the effects of environmental conditions on the survival of C. jejuni have been studied extensively, the knowledge of the effect of environmental factors on the infectivity was scarce. Therefore, the effect of environmental conditions (temperature, medium and atmosphere) on both the survival of C. jejuni and the infectivity of the surviving cells was investigated. We revealed that culturability and infectivity are linearly related. Furthermore, our study on the effect on the infectivity of adding nonculturable C. jejuni cells to culturable cell suspensions, showed nonculturable cells not to be infective (in vitro). Therefore, absence of culturable C. jejuni cells indicates that a product can be regarded as representing a very low risk with respect to campylobacteriosis. Food products can be contaminated with Campylobacter during production or afterwards at the consumer's home. Once contaminated the risk is high that Campylobacter will survive on food products until the moment of consumption, except if the product undergoes an elimination step during preparation, such as heating. The growth requirements for Campylobacter are met in the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. As a result especially products of animal origin, like chicken meat and raw milk, are often contaminated by Campylobacter, but also products of non-animal origin, like vegetables and fruits, can be contaminated. Within the exposure assessment cross-contamination in the home, the importance of raw vegetables and fruits as a risk factor for Campylobacter, and the relative importance of chicken meat, raw milk and raw vegetables and fruits were studied. The effect of different cross-contamination routes during the preparation of a chicken fruit salad was investigated. It was shown that the mean transfer rate by cross-contamination was 0.12% of the initial number of C. jejunion the chicken fillet, and that the different tested cross-contamination routes; cutlery, cutting board and hands, were equally important. The high prevalence and concentration of C. jejuni on chicken meat, the high percentage of consumers who exhibit improper hygienic and cleaning behaviour, and the significant transfer of Campylobacter during improper food preparation, indicate cross-contamination from raw foods, such as chicken, to other ready-to-eat foods as a large risk factor for Campylobacter infection. Fresh produce can become contaminated with C. jejuni during cultivation or processing. Especially vegetables and fruits which are eaten raw may present a risk. In this thesis Dutch data on the prevalence of Campylobacter on raw vegetables and fruits were newly analysed. Thirteen of the 5640 vegetable and fruit samples were Campylobacter positive, resulting in a prevalence of 0.23% (95% confidence interval (Cl): 0.12-0.39%). The prevalence on packaged products was significantly higher than on unpackaged products. Finally, the newly acquired data and quantitative literature data on the prevalence and concentration of Campylobacter entering the consumer phase were summarized for three food groups; vegetables and fruit, chicken, and raw milk. These data were used in a quantitative risk assessment model to estimate the exposure and the number of illnesses as result of the consumption of these foods and to compare their relative importance. The prevalence and concentration are low on raw vegetables and fruit, but the quantity of raw vegetables and fruits consumed is very high. In contrast, raw chicken and raw milk show relative high prevalence and concentration levels, but the consumption is low. Despite the differences in parameters, the exposure calculated out of the combination of parameters indicates all these three foods as high risk factors for Campylobacter. So foods which are not heavily contaminated with Campylobacter, but are consumed in large quantities can constitute a similar high risk on Campylobacter infection as foods which are consumed in small quantities but are heavily contaminated with Campylobacter.


The topography of the lymph drainage was examined by in vivo injections of india ink into the mammary parenchyma of 73 female dogs. Only one gland was injected at a time on each side. Only the cranial abdominal mammary gland had direct drainage to the axillary as well as to the superficial inguinal nodes. The principal routes of drainage differ for each gland. The glands on each side are completely independent as regards their lymph drainage. The cranial thoracic mammary glands on each side had their own collecting duct which led to the sternal lymph nodes. The results of this study suggest to develop a new model for the surgical extirpation of mammary tumors in the bitch.


Twenty-two Gloucestershire sites were surveyed between 18th and 29th January 2017.
 Gloucestershire, due to its geology, often steep topography, very high levels of saturated calcium carbonate associated with springs of the Stroud Valley area in particular and large areas of woodland, has a large potential for the H7220 petrifying spring habitat.
 Fifteen sites (68%) are identified as having the European Annex 1 habitat H7220, Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneuron) while 7 sites had tufa formation without H7220.
 The total estimated area for H7220 habitat surveyed within Gloucestershire is 2 ha ranging in size from just 0.0001 ha (Sedbury Cliff) to 0.76 ha (Alder Carr) with the greatest length being some 600 m (Dowdeswell).
 The H7720 feature has been assessed as being in favourable condition for all of the 15 sites where it has been shown to occur although shading (planted conifers) and water quality (Nitrogen) have been highlighted as having potential for negative impact.
 No plants of conservation concern were recorded as directly associated with H7220 vegetation although the following were recorded more generally from sites: the aquatic moss Fissidens rivularis (Slade Brook), 6 Red data Book England (Near Threatened) flowering plants; 8 flowering plants generally considered to be ancient woodland indicators.
 Spring and seepages (particularly when calcareous and/or wooded) are of great importance for invertebrates (crane flies, soldier flies and some specialized snails and water beetles). These habitats are widespread in the UK (and include the H7720 habitat) but their associated invertebrate fauna is poorly known.
 Observations suggest that Palustriella commutata starts growth on firm substrates, mainly stones or living roots, as opposed to deadwood or rotting organic matter and is associated with slower flows and often more gently sloping sites.
 Restoration of H7720 is considered for two sites and restoration techniques discussed.


Optical layer monitoring and fault localization serves as a critical functional module in the control and management of optical networks. An efficient monitoring scheme aims at minimizing not only the hardware cost required for 100% link failure localization, but also the number of redundant alarms and monitors such that the network fault management can be simplified as well. In recent years, several optical layer monitoring schemes were reported for fast and efficient link failure localization, including simple, non-simple monitoring cycle (m-cycle) and monitoring trail (m-trail). Optimal ILP (Integer Linear Program) models and heuristics were also proposed with smart design philosophy on flexibly trading off different objectives. This article summarizes those innovative ideas and methodologies with in-depth analysis on their pros and cons. We also provide insights on future research topics in this area, as well as possible ways for extending the new failure localization approaches to other network applications.


The authors report 2 new cases of adenoma of the liver in women who had been taking oral contraceptives. They review the world literature and analyse 18 of the 31 cases so far described. They consider the theoretical and practical problems posed by liver adenomata. As far as the theory goes, they think that uninterrupted taking of the pill for several years may cause the liver to become hyperactive in order to neutralise the excessive and permanent oestro-progesterone hormones brought to it. Following this, the liver gland responds with hypertrophy. As far as the practical aspect goes, the clinician is faced with the problem of supervision and clinical examination of the abdomen of women who take the pill for a ling time. Gynaecologist and the general surgeon have to know that there are complications with this tumour and in particular acute intraperitoneal bleeding.


Compelling evidence has shown that the effects of antidepressants, increasing extracellular serotonin and noradrenaline as a primary mechanism of action, involve neuroplastic and neurotrophic mechanisms. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to play a key role in neuroplasticity and synaptic function, as well as in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders and the mechanism of action of antidepressants. The expression of BDNF is mediated by the transcription of different mRNAs derived by the splicing of one of the eight 5' non-coding exons with the 3' coding exon (in rats). The transcription of each non-coding exon is driven by unique and different promoters. We generated a gene reporter system based on hippocampal and cortical neuronal cultures, in which the transcription of luciferase is regulated by BDNF promoters I, II, IV or by cAMP response element (CRE), to investigate the activation of selected promoters induced by monoaminergic antidepressants and by serotonin or noradrenaline agonists. We found that incubation with fluoxetine or reboxetine failed to induce any activation of BDNF promoters or CRE. On the other hand, the incubation of cultures with selective agonists of serotonin or noradrenaline receptors induced a specific and distinct profile of activation of BDNF promoters I, II, IV and CRE, suggesting that the monoaminergic input, absent in dissociated cultures, is essential for the modulation of BDNF expression. In summary, we applied a rapidly detectable and highly sensitive reporter gene assay to characterize the selective activation profile of BDNF and CRE promoters, through specific and different pharmacological stimuli.


The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe sincerity in novel created by Asma Nadia by using Psychology Individual theory of sincerity reflected in the struggle that fulfills Arini's struggle and patience in reaching the goal. The main character of Arini can be described through the Psychology Individual theory of Alfred Adler (2010). Fulfillment psychology individual theory is indicated by her motifs, her sincerity, her struggle against her illness, her weakness, her patient sacrifice to let her husband marry with woman. Her family is complete and happy even without Arini, and Arini is happy because finally she is successful to unite her husband and his lover. The study is conducted by descriptive qualitative method. The findings show that Arini is a great woman, having completed her duty as a real wife and she is able to overcome all her difficulties through her sincerity and she has also shown great responsibility in all things.

Keywords: sincerity, love, responsibility.


Antimicrobial activity and toxicity of four polymorphic forms of sodium cefazolin were studied in comparison to those of the initial cefazolin. The observed changes reflecting a broader antimicrobial spectrum and low toxicity of one of the forms as compared with those of the initial cefazolin could serve as a prerequisite to successful screening of more active crystalline forms of the antibiotic aimed at designing the drug with better therapeutic properties.


Many healthcare organizations have adopted patientcentered approaches by implementing programs that prioritize patients' needs, values, and preferences into care, reflecting a growing recognition that patients should be active participants in their own care. Patient-centered care is associated with improved satisfaction and health outcomes. Hearing loss places considerable strain on patient–provider communication which is fundamental to patient-centered care. Moreover, race has previously been associated with poorer patient-centered care experiences yet minimal work evaluates this at the intersection of race and hearing loss. The objectives of the present study are (1) to characterize the association of perception of patient-centered healthcare experiences among those with and without hearing loss, and (2) to explore whether race modifies the association.


Background The evaluation of the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is essential in order to adapt the treatment. But, what is in real life the patient's opinion on activity of his disease? Methods The present study, single-center, cross-sectional, has included RA meeting ACR 1987 or EULAR 2010 criteria. The main of this study was to assess the correlation between physician composite index (DAS VS, DAS CRP, SDAI and CDAI) and the perceived level of disease activity by the patient himself. The secondary goal was to identify doctor/patient discrepancy factors. To do this, each patient completed a Beck evaluation form (to detect depression) and a HAQ evaluation form. Results This study included 162 patients, 56 years old (+/-13 years) on average, with 78% of women, followed in day hospital (48%) or in out-visit (52%), with a disease duration of 17 years (+/- 11). Rheumatoid factor was present among 85% of patients, anti CCPamong 81% of them and erosive disease among 80% of them. The average index were: 3.06 (+/-1.37) for DAS VS, 2.93 (+/-1.12) for DAS CRP; CDAI 10.8 (+/-9.6) and SDAI 17.6 (+/-15.4). Moderate activity level had the largest number of patients (31-37% depending on the index). Patients felt in remission (9%), in low activity (27%), in moderate activity (51%) and high activity (13%). Match was assessed by weighted kappa (k), with a poor doctor/patient correlation with DAS CRP (k = 0.21), SDAI (k = 0.38), CDAI (k = 0.39) and even worse with the DAS VS (k = 0.18). There were 64% of mismatch with the DAS VS. Univariate analysis showed that VAS pain and ESRwere significant mismatch factors, as well as treatments: abatacept and tocilizumab. The pain in the feet / forefeet, underlying depression and HAQ were not significant mismatch factors (p> 0.2). Other variables included in the multivariate analysis models (0.05  20 mm VAS pain. Conclusions Doctor/patient match on the appraisal of disease activity is bad or poor, with 64% of mismatch VAS pain and VS are significant mismatch factors. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is an innate immune sensor of nucleic acids that regulates host defense responses and development. ZBP1 activation triggers inflammation and pyroptosis, necroptosis, and apoptosis (PANoptosis) by activating receptor-interacting Ser/Thr kinase 3 (RIPK3), caspase-8, and the NLRP3 inflammasome. ZBP1 is unique among innate immune sensors because of its N-terminal Zα1 and Zα2 domains, which bind to nucleic acids in the Z-conformation. However, the specific role of these Zα domains in orchestrating ZBP1 activation and subsequent inflammation and cell death is not clear. Here we generated Zbp1ΔZα2/ΔZα2 mice that express ZBP1 lacking the Zα2 domain and demonstrate that this domain is critical for influenza A virus–induced PANoptosis and underlies perinatal lethality in mice in which the RIP homotypic interaction motif domain of RIPK1 has been mutated (Ripk1mRHIM/mRHIM). Deletion of the Zα2 domain in ZBP1 abolished influenza A virus–induced PANoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, deletion of the Zα2 domain of ZBP1 was sufficient to rescue Ripk1mRHIM/mRHIM mice from perinatal lethality caused by ZBP1-driven cell death and inflammation. Our findings identify the essential role of the Zα2 domain of ZBP1 in several physiological functions and establish a link between Z-RNA sensing via the Zα2 domain and promotion of influenza-induced PANoptosis and perinatal lethality.


This paper analyzes the Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Platform for Action of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) to explicate the principles contained in these documents that might be used to develop a national reproductive health law. The introductory section of the paper describes how the use of human rights principles to advance reproductive health and empower women has grown and reprints the ICPD definition of reproductive health as well as the portion of the FWCW Platform that links women's human rights and reproductive health. The next section shows how the following human rights can be applied to an effort to protect reproductive interests: 1) the right to life and survival (protection from pregnancy-related death); 2) the right to liberty and security of the person (protection from restrictive or coercive abortion policies, from restricted or coercive contraception and sexual sterilization, and from female genital mutilation as well as protection of the right to a private life); 3) the right to the highest attainable standard of health (violated by the unmet need for family planning); 4) the right to the benefits of scientific progress; 5) the right to receive and impart information; and 6) the right to nondiscrimination on the basis of sex, age, or disability. The final section of the paper discusses how an alliance of health and legal professionals could lobby governments to enact reproductive health laws that enforce human rights and are accompanied by a reproductive rights impact assessment of relevant policies, ethical codes for health practitioners, and compliance mechanisms.


Introduction: Ethical leadership is one of the approaches that has seriously come to the literature of leadership and management in the late 20th century. The change of the organizational knowledge and the allocation of knowledge which are the goals of the organizational learning are not possible without the organizational trust. Leadership's behaviors and the leaders have an important role in the organizational learning. Hence, the current research aims at investigating, for the first time, the relationship among the ethical leadership's variables, organizational trust, and the organizational learning in the job environment. Methods: The current research was descriptive-correlational. The statistic community of the research includes all the staffs at the Isfahan University of Medicine faculties (831 people). After conducting pilot and confirming reliability and validity, the sample was calculated on the basis of the accidental-classified method, using the volume identifying formula and 202-person Cochran formula. To analyze the data with SPSS Inc. Released 2007 (SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.), two methods of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used. In the inferential statistics section, these tests were used: Independent T, binomial, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple and linear regression. Results: The evidence coming from the data analysis revealed that there is a significant and positive relationship among the ethical leadership, organizational learning, and organizational trust as well as between the organizational trust and organizational learning (P < 0.01). In addition to it, the results of the regression analysis showed that the ethical leadership and organizational trust have the ability to significantly predict the organizational learning (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Environment with the ethical in modern organizations, all the leadership styles have critical values; however, the role of the ethical leadership is very prominent. Especially at universities that aim at promoting the culture of the organizational learning and organizational trust, the ethical leadership must be paid attention to. The existence of the ethical leadership style will result in developing values because this ethic-based characteristic in the leaders will gradually be conveyed to the staffs. Finally, in such an environment, automatically, the organizational trust, and the organizational learning will increase as the dominant ethical values suggest such concepts as trust and learning.


The structure of a colloidal suspension is investigated through dichroism experiments. The suspension, made of submicronic spheres in pure water or in a mixture of glycerol and water, is deionized in order to exhibit a solidlike state at zero-shear. It experiences a shear-stress in a cylindrical Couette cell. The flow is characterized by the Peclet number. The incident beam is normal to the plane of shear, its linear polarization can be rotated and the photo-detector is measuring the intensity of the direct transmitted light. This method allows to get an access to the structure deformation in the whole plane of shear. Dichroism experiments allow to determine the state of the suspension (ordered-liquid or crystalline) and show a shear-induced anisotropic change of the crystalline structure with "memory-effect", followed by the melting of the crystal into the liquid phase.


Strategies used to change an annual statewide research symposium from a face-to-face experience to a virtual event at a 434-bed Magnet® redesignated community hospital are described. The program met with success and increased access for attendees. For the 1st time, credited to the virtual format, representatives from all 9 hospitals in the system were able to attend. Feedback following the symposium suggested that participants who live at a distance from the hospital appreciated being able to attend the meeting without traveling, technical issues were promptly resolved, and presenters received positive evaluations.


Brief comment by Richard Moorhead (IALS) on the debate on conditional fee arrangements (CFAs) in access to justice proposals and the replacement of legal aid. Published in the First Page feature of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.


Sperm whale residency and movements within the Mediterranean Sea were investigated using photo-identification data collected in summer over a 15 year period (1991–2005). Surveys were conducted from a 12 m motor sailing boat. Although dedicated to cetaceans, surveys did not solely focus on sperm whale photo-identification, so time to track and photograph all individuals forming a group was not always available. From good quality photographs, 44 individuals were identified in the western Mediterranean, including the Ligurian Sea, the Gulf of Lions and waters off the Balearics. Eleven identified whales were photographically re-captures. Within-year re-sightings occurred from 1 to 29 d apart, while five identified whales were re-sighted over several summer seasons, from 1 to 7 y apart. Four whales were seen in more than one year in the northern part of the basin, indicating site fidelity to this feeding area. The combination of photo-identification and acoustic data (size estimation from inter-pulse interval measurements) enabled us to demonstrate a north–south movement of some sexually mature males (around 13 m in length), feeding in the northern regions and joining groups of females off the Balearics for around 20 d. These displacements ranged over ~500 km, with travelling time of seven days or less.


The relevance of the methodological foundations show in article. Any kind of scientific and economic theory are not in the final form, and are constructed in a certain way. Becomes paramount methods of constructing these theories. The purpose of the article is to classify economic theories, depending on the methodology used. It is proved that economic theories are implemented in the system of metaphysical or dialectical style of scientific knowledge, involving various methods of constructing the liberal economic theories are based on the standards of inductive metaphysical theories; conservative economic theory by the standards of deductive metaphysical theories; theory of information economy is built according to the principles of dialectical. Identify the methodology of economic theories to evaluate the quality of economic projects, their adequacy and viability of social development.


This paper describes how AI is used to plan, schedule, and optimise nightly engineering works for both the commuter and rapid transit lines in Hoag Kong. The MTR Corporation Limited operates and manages all the rail lines in Hong Kong. Its Engineering Works and Traffic Information Management System (ETMS) is a mission critical systemthat manages all information related to engineering works and their related track possessions and engineering train movements. The Al Engine described in this paper is a component of this ETMS. In Hong Kong, the maintenance, inspection, repair, or installation works along the rail lines are done during the very short non-traffic hours (NTH) of roughly 4 to 5 hours each night. These engineering works can be along the running tracks, track-side, tunnel, freightyards, sub-depots, depot maintenance tracks, etc. The proper scheduling of necessary engineering works is crucial to maintaining a reliable and safe train service during normal hours. The Al Engine optimizes resource allocation to maximize the number of engineering works that can be performed, while ensuring all safety, environment, and operational rules and constraints are met. The work described is part of a project to redesign and replace the existing ETMS, deployed in 2004 with an updated technology platform and modern IT architecture, to provide a more robust and scalable system that potentially can be deployed to other cities around the world.


This paper describes how small inclusions (designated dispersoids) can be used to control the microstructure of steels. The term "dispersoids" refers to oxides, sulphides, nitrides and carbides which are in the 1 μm size range and capable of promoting grain refinement during solidification by a process of epitaxial nucleation or in the solid state through intragranular nucleation of ferrite. Such particles are sufficiently small to be harmless from a toughness point of view, but at the same time large enough to act as potent nucleation sites during phase transformation. The dispersoids can either be created by balanced additions of strong oxide and sulphide forming elements to an impure steel melt or be added directly into the liquid steel through a specially designed master alloy containing the nucleating particles. In both cases it is possible to manipulate the steel microstructure in a positive direction, but the latter method, involving the use of a master alloy, has probably a wider industrial application. The direction of the research now being undertaken at NTNU/SINTEF to make the grain refining alloys commercially available is briefly described towards the end of the paper.


The ISS-CREAM experiment aims to measure spectra of cosmic-ray particles up to 1000 TeV from protons to iron nuclei. The detector was designed to complement other current space-based cosmic-ray missions and was installed on the ISS on August 22, 2017. During 539 days of on-orbit operations, ISS-CREAM recorded over 58 million events. Various subsystem issues occurred during on-orbit operations, reducing the period of stable operation of a 4-layer silicon charge detector and a tungsten/scintillating-fiber sampling calorimeter to about 225 live days. The development of more extensive calibrations is currently in progress to address the significant systematic errors associated with energy determination. We report preliminary elemental spectra of protons and helium, carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon, and iron nuclei.


This paper, based on Chinese and Uyghur language contact data
 collected through fieldwork, discusses in detail Uyghur speakers' acquisition of
 Mandarin tones. Uyghur speakers map the three native pitch accents from the
 Uyghur prosodic system, i.e. level, rise, and fall, to the four Mandarin tones.
 Initially, this mapping is random. As Chinese proficiency improves, the
 accent-tone mapping becomes stable. The pace, however, is not uniform for the
 four tones, due to competition among the three accents to map unto a given
 Mandarin tone. After accent-tone mapping becomes stable, the mapped accents will
 gradually approximate towards their target tones in pitch value, again at an
 uneven pace. This quantitative study reveals a two-step process in the emergence
 of Uyghur Chinese tones: (1) the phonological step of accent-tone mapping
 involving tonal categories, (2) the phonetic approximation to tonal target. A
 Uyghur accent does not map directly to a superficially similar tone based on
 pitch value.


Eight subjects with asthma underwent bronchial challenge with histamine and methacholine. Dose‐response curves were drawn on a scale which made the dosages equivalent in molecular weight. The results were analysed in terms of both the slope of the dose‐response curve and the dose required to elicit a 20% fall in FEV1. No significant difference between methacholine and histamine was found in either measurement. Because of the similarity of the responses we conclude that the two agents are similar in action and may be used with equal effectiveness in bronchial challenges.


Objective: To investigate the function of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to further clarify the underlying mechanism. Results: DDR1 was significantly increased in HCC tissues and cells, which was related to clinical staging and prognosis of HCC. Upregulation of DDR1 promoted EMT and glutamine metabolism in HCC cells, while loss of DDR1 showed the opposite effects. STAT3 bound with the promoter of DDR1, and facilitated the phosphorylation of STAT3. In turn, activation of STAT3 increased the expression of DDR1. Silencing of STAT3 removed the promoting effect of DDR1 on proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. The in vivo tumor growth assay showed that the cross-talk between DDR1 and STAT3 promoted HCC tumorigenesis. Conclusions: Our research revealed the positive feedback of DDR1 and STAT3 promoted EMT and glutamine metabolism in HCC, which provided some experimental basis for clinical treatment or prevention of HCC. Materials and methods: The mRNA expression of DDR1 was detected by qRT-PCR. CCK8 assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the DDR1/ STAT3 function on proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cells. Western blot was used to calculate protein level of DDR1, STAT3, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins.


In Reply. —We thank Dr Goodman for his comments on how to simplify our writing. In rewriting our two sentences, Goodman gets a bravo for brevity, but not for accuracy. When editing one must ensure that the original meaning of the work is maintained. In his attempt to simplify our work, Goodman makes two errors that obscure our message. The original two lines in our article were written as follows: "Our findings suggest that randomized control trials published in journal supplements are generally of inferior quality compared with articles published in the parent journal. The review process surrounding the publication of journal supplements should be consistent with that of the parent journal." The first error made by Goldman was that he substituted the word "trial" for "randomized control trial" in his quotation of our text. These terms are not interchangeable. Compounding this error, Goodman uses the term "trial" instead of


In some of the previous decades, we have observed that mathematical modeling has become one of the most interesting research fields and has attracted many researchers. In this regard, thousands of researchers have proposed different varieties of mathematical models to study the dynamics of a number of real-world problems. This research work is framed to analyzing the structure of the well-known Lassa hemorrhagic epidemic; a dangerous epidemic for pregnant women, via new generalized Caputo type noninteger order derivative with the help of a modified Predictor–Corrector scheme. Lassa hemorrhagic disease is an epidemical and biocidal fever, whose negative impacts were initially recognized in the countries of Africa. This virus has killed many pregnant women as compared to the Ebola epidemic. It was noticed that Lassa virus was isolated in Vero cell cultures from a blood pattern, and after 12 days it was ejective, after the climb of the sickness. In this research study, necessary theorems and lemmas are reminded to prove the existence of a unique solution and stability of given fractional approximation scheme. All necessary results are reminded to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approximation algorithm by graphical observations for various fractional-order values. In our practical calculations, we plotted the graphs for two different values of natural death rate along with various values of given fractional-order operator. Our major target is to show the importance of the proposed modified version of the Predictor–Corrector algorithm in epidemic studies by exploring the given Lassa hemorrhagic fever dynamics.


Abstract This article constitutes an introductory part of the special section on Intelligent Fault Monitoring and Fault-Tolerant Control in Power Electronics, Drives and Renewable Energy Systems. In the current issue of the journal, the first part of this section is published. Accepted articles are focussed mainly on the sensor-fault diagnosis methods for T-type inverter-fed dual-three phase PMSM drives, partial demagnetization, faults of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and online open phase fault detection (FD) in the sensorless five-phase induction motor drive implemented with an inverter output LC filter and third harmonic injection. Also, neural networks (NN) application in the detection of stator and rotor electrical faults of induction motors has been proposed in one of the papers, and the observer-based FD concept for unknown systems using input–output measurements was applied to a brushless direct current motor drive with unknown parameters.


Objectives. To compile and publish a dictionary of terminology containing a set of terms representing concepts found in burden of injury studies. Methods. A systematic outline of the glossary was designed on the basis of the literature. The glossary was filled with concepts and terms brought up by experts in the field of burden of injury research. Decisions were made by experts from several European countries in the field of burden of injury research. Definitions are based on the international literature, existing glossaries, medical dictionaries and expert opinion. In group sessions, the experts decided on preferred terms/definitions, admitted terms/definitions, and refused terms/definitions. Results. The glossary consists of three parts: concepts in health economics, concepts in health status measurement and valuation, and concepts related to health care practice. The glossary contains about 140 terms and is publicly available via the Internet. Conclusions. The glossary fulfils a clear need for uniform terminology. New terms will be considered and assessed by a group of experts. In order to make the glossary more user-friendly, interactive software should be developed.


Regular and long-term infrastructures monitoring is fundamental for asset management, as it provides information on the actual mechanical conditions and triggers maintenance actions. Several tools are currently used for this purpose, such as embedded sensing devices, deflection measurements and visual inspections. In this paper, we analyse data from a full-scale experiment performed on the accelerated pavement testing (APT) facility of the Université Gustave Eiffel (formerly Ifsttar) during the BioRepavation project. Dvnifferent monitoring data are recorded and compared: strains from asphalt strain gauges (ASGs), deflections from Benkelman beam and Falling Weigh Deflectometer (FWD) and crack development survey. Deflections measurements at the end of the fatigue test were used to inverse calculate the layer moduli of pavement. Based on this model, numerical strains are calculated and compared with sensor measurements. The analyses conducted proved that instrumentation embedded ASGs and temperature probes can be used valuably to assess pavement fatigue.


Stimulated photorefractive backscattering produces a phase-conjugate wave under some conditions. Numerical solutions to the time-dependent wave equation for the backscattered field are obtained that indicate what conditions are required. The key parameters that control conjugation fidelity are the product of the photorefractive coupling coefficient and the length of the crystal; the ratio of the absorption coefficient to the coupling coefficient; the ratio of pump irradiance to dark irradiance; and the Fresnel number, defined by the angular extent of the pump beam and the inverse of the coupling coefficient. Backseeding with randomly phased plane waves whose amplitudes are proportional to the amplitudes of the pump plane-wave-expansion coefficients results in greatly improved conjugation fidelity if the backseeding intensity exceeds the intensity scattered from noise.


We consider a sparse linear regression model, when the number of available predictors $p$ is much bigger than the sample size $n$ and the number of non-zero coefficients $p_0$ is small. To choose the regression model in this situation, we cannot use classical model selection criteria. In recent years, special methods have been proposed to deal with this type of problem, for example modified versions of Bayesian Information Criterion, like mBIC or mBIC2. It was shown that these criteria are consistent under the assumption that both $n$ and $p$ as well as $p_0$ tend to infinity and the error term is normally distributed. In this article we prove the consistency of mBIC and mBIC2 with the assumption that the error term is a subgaussian random variable.


The Raman scattering spectrum of the sodium niobate crystal, in both P and R phases, has been investigated from room temperature up to 440°C. The dependence of the low-frequency (LF) spectrum clearly reveals, for the first time, over a wide temperature range, the presence of a strong quasi-elastic scattering below a LF zone centre phonon. The phase transition mechanism is discussed, considering an order–disorder process induced by the relaxation of the Nb ions.


Buried sediments are generally characterized by the absence of oxygen and so microbial processes will be dominated by the activity of anaerobic bacteria. Carbon turn over in the presence of electron acceptors therefore involves interaction of the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In the absence of electron acceptors other methods of energy conservation become significant. Interspecies H2-transfer permits the use of otherwise energetically unfavourable reactions. Conservation of the energy in polyphosphate bonds and reduction of Fe (III) and Mn (IV ) to produce more energetically favourable end-products are other mechanisms available to benthic bacteria. The reduction of CO2 to acetate may require more serious consideration as a hydrogen sink in certain sediments. The list of substrates known to be susceptible to attack by anaerobic bacteria has grown rapidly in recent years and estimates are now available for the turnover of refractory components such as lignin. Finally, bacteria are considered as producers of biomass, particularly of specific cell components that may be used as biomarkers to identify zones of activity. The key features of such biomarkers are identified.


After some period of experience with a single hearing aid, speech recognition performance may increase for material presented to the aided ear. Conversely, performance may decline for material presented to the unaided ear. Improved performance for the normally aided ear beyond that observed at the initial fitting of the hearing aid has been described as the acclimatization effect. The decline in speech recognition for material presented to the unaided ear has been described as the late onset auditory deprivation effect. For both the acclimatization and deprivation effects, the observed changes in performance are not considered to be a consequence of a change in the functional status of the cochlea. Rather, the benefits and decrements in speech recognition performance presumably reflect functional changes or reorganization in the central auditory pathway. In nonhuman species, changes in central auditory function can be examined by physiological recordings directly from various structures along the auditory pathway. However, these techniques are invasive and inappropriate for studying possible changes in central function for the human auditory system. The purpose of this review is to describe noninvasive "imaging" techniques appropriate for use with human subjects and the ways they could be applied to objectively identify physiological changes that might be associated with either acclimatization or late onset deprivation effects. Currently, few of these techniques have been applied to the study of acclimatization and late onset auditory deprivation. Possible application of these techniques to assess the differential performance changes for material presented to the normally aided and normally unaided ear will be discussed.


Method of independent variation of the value of one operating parameter has been used to investigate the effect of operating parameters on alkali-catalyzed transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol in presence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as cosolvent, assisted by hydrodynamic cavitation (ACTC) on the value of the degree of triglyceride conversion (DTC). ACTC was performed by a venturi-type hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (VCR) of our construction. To determine the effect of ACTC on DTC following operating parameters were varied: reaction mixture inlet pressure (p1) from 202.3 kPa to 1013.2 kPa; methanol to oil molar ratio (M1) from M1=3 to M1=12; concentration of catalyst (Cc) from 0.3wt% to 1.5wt%; methanol to THF molar ratio (M2) from M2=1.25 to M2=2.0; temperature (T) from 20°C to 55°C, number of passes through the VCR (n) from n=1 to n=10. It was found, based on the obtained results, that: a) the values of DTC increase with the increase in p1, M1, Cc, and n, b) the values of the DTC decrease with the increase in T and c) maximum values of the DTC are obtained at Cc=1.0~1.1wt% and M2=1.5.


The main objective of this article is to shed light on the festive and ceremonial events of some of the Eskimo cultures of Alaska through a review of the ethnohistorical documents at our disposal. The study centers on the ancient societies of the Alutiiq, Yup'ik and a part of the Inupiat, communities that share a series of common features, and sees their festive and ceremonial activities as components of the strategies implemented to maintain control over social reproduction. This review of the historical and ethnographic sources identifies the authors and the studies that provide the most pertinent data on the subject.


The parasympathetic nerves are important for the regulation of insulin secretion, in particular after meal intake. Apart from acetylcholine, several neuropeptides can be found in the parasympathetic nerves innervating the islets of Langerhans, including gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). Exogenous administration of either GRP or PACAP has been shown to increase insulin secretion in a glucose dependant manner. To establish the importance of GRP and PACAP for the function of the endocrine pancreas, we studied mice lacking either the GRP receptor (GRPR-/Y) or the PACAP-specific receptor PAC1 (PAC1-/-), with regard to insulin secretion, both after metabolic or neural stimuli. GRPR-/Y had an impaired insulin secretion and glucose tolerance after oral administration of glucose, due to a combination of impaired secretion of islet hormones after autonomic neural activation and impaired release of incretin hormones from the gut. However, they did not have an impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion after intravenous glucose. Instead, it was exaggerated, possibly as a result of increased cholinergic responsiveness, which might be a result of a long-standing glucose tolerance. PAC1-/- mice had an impaired glucose stimulated insulin secretion. PAC1-/- also had an impaired glucagon secretion after hypoglycemia, supporting the role of PACAP as an important neuropeptide in the parasympathetic nervous system. Hence, GRP and PACAP are important for the parasympathetic regulation of islet function, like after a meal. GRP is also involved in the release of endocrine hormones from the gut, and PACAP seems important for islet function.


Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), an autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of 1 in 1,000,000 individuals, is mainly caused by mutations in Runx2, a gene required for osteoblastic differentiation. It is generally characterized by hypoplastic clavicles, narrow thorax, and delayed or absent fontanel closure. Importantly, its orofacial manifestations, including midfacial hypoplasia, retained primary teeth, and impacted permanent and supernumerary teeth, severely impede the well-being of affected individuals. Successful treatment of the orofacial problems requires the combined efforts of dental specialists. However, only a few successfully treated cases have been reported because of the rarity of CCD and complexity of the treatment. This article presents the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) treatment protocol for the dentofacial manifestations of CCD based on two treated and 17 diagnosed cases. The records of two patients with CCD who had been treated at the UCSF School of Dentistry and the treatment options reported in the literature were reviewed. The UCSF treatment protocol produced a successful case and a partially successful one (inadequate oral hygiene in the retention stage resulted in decay and loss of teeth). It provides general guidelines for successfully treating the orofacial manifestations of CCD.


Human-human physical interaction has proven to be advantageous especially in contexts with high coordination requirements. But under which conditions can haptic communication bring to performance benefits in a challenging cooperative environment? In this work we investigate which are the dynamics that intervene when two subjects are required to switch from a bimanual to a dyadic configuration in order to solve a complex reaching and stabilization task of a virtual tool in the presence of an unstable dynamics. Results show that dyadic cooperation can improve the performance respect to the individual condition, while minimizing the effort. However, in the joint task, when the stiffness of the system becomes harder to manipulate the feedback delays appear to be critical in determining the maximum achievable level of performance.


Municipalities have used tax incentives to attract manufacturing firms to counteract market failures, mobilize resources in blighted areas, and engage in bidding wars with other jurisdictions. These reasons have typically been remedies for regions experiencing unemployment and low growth. However, high growth areas still use tax incentives to manage growth. In these cases, the costs of growth, especially related to congestion, pollution, costs of city services and rising prices, must be compared to economic benefits resulting from a tax incentive. The case study in this paper is based on a proposal to the city of Fort Collins, Colorado by Hyundai Corporation, who requested a $25.5 million use tax rebate. This paper uses a data intensive computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to estimate endogenously the costs and benefits of growth. Results of the analysis suggest an $18.15 million rebate was warranted.


Based on simulation and analysis of single-phase to ground system of distribution network, utilizing the good time-frequency characteristics and localized ability of wavelet packet to deal with transient information of fault in this paper. The method can accurately capture the voltage wave head of instantaneous fault to provide a theoretical basis for fault location of distribution network. Besides, when analyzed the waveforms of zero-mode voltage and current, it found that the fault line polarity of zero-mode voltage and zero-mode current are opposite but the polarity of health lines are same in the first cycle. In addition, the amplitude of fault line is larger than the health lines obviously. Utilized the finds above, the relay protection scheme of zero-mode power can be constructed, and the scheme is immune to the influence of fault time, transition resistors and other factors. Therefore, it provided a good condition for the development of relay protection level of distribution network.


Polyacrylamide- Multiwalled carbonnanotube (PAM- MWNT) composites were prepared via free radical crosslinking copolymerization with different amounts of MWNT varying in the range between 0.1 and 15 wt. %. PAM- MWNT composite gels were characterized by fluorescence, dielectric spectroscopy and the tensile testing technique. A small content of doped nanotubes dramatically changed gelation time, conductivity and young modulus, respectively. The gel fraction exponent,  of PAM- MWNT composite gels were measured for various monomer and MWNT concentrations and observed that the gel fraction exponent  agrees best with the percolation theory for various amounts of PAM- MWNT. These polymer systems which are initially of an isolator character are doped with carbon nanotubes of nano dimensions and when the amount of this addition exceeds a critical value (0.3 wt. % MWNT) known as the percolation threshold, then composite gel systems with carbon nanotubes become electrically conducting structures with a critical exponent around r=2 which is close to the theoretical prediction of this value in 3D percolated system as known random resistor network. The observed elasticities are decreased above 3 wt. %MWNT with critical exponent around y=0.72 which is indicative of a transition from liquid-like to solid-like viscoelastic behavior.


Background Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperkeratotic nodules on the trunk and extremities. While there is growing research on the immunological basis of PN, the neuropathic and structural components of PN lesions are unknown. Objective To determine the inflammatory, neuropathic, and structural pathways in PN compared to atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods Lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies were collected from 13 PN and 6 AD patients. mRNA and protein expression in biopsies was determined using RNA-Sequencing and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the DESeq2 R package and pathway level enrichment was determined using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. IHC expression was quantified with QuPath followed by statistical comparison with the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U. Results Compared to lesional AD, lesional PN had greater mRNA expression of MMPs, OSM, NGF, IL1β, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL8, and insulin-like growth factors, and lower expression of CCL13, CCL26, EPHB1, and collagens. Compared to non-lesional AD, non-lesional PN showed upregulation of keratin-family genes. GSEA revealed that lesional PN had greater keratinization, cornified envelope, myelin sheath, TGF-beta signaling, extracellular matrix disassembly, metalloendopeptidase activity, and neutrotrophin-TRK receptor signaling, while non-lesional PN had higher keratin filament, extracellular structure organization, extracellular matrix disassembly, and angiogenesis. IHC showed increased dermal nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in lesional PN compared to lesional AD (p=0.038), and greater epidermal NGF compared to dermal NGF in non-lesional PN (p=0.014). Limitations Single, tertiary care center. Conclusions PN demonstrated increased neurotrophic and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling signatures compared to AD, possibly explaining the morphological differences in their lesions. These signatures may therefore be important components of the PN pathogenesis and may serve as therapeutic targets.


PRCIS
Using optical coherence tomography measurements as a reference standard for vertical cup-to-disc ratio (vCDR), a smartphone-based ophthalmic camera has a sensitivity of 67.7% and specificity of 96.7% to detect a vCDR greater than 0.5.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of a smartphone-based ophthalmic camera system using an Apple iPhone 6S and an adapter, Paxos Scope, to obtain adequate dilated fundus photos in order to measure clinically useful vertical cup-to-disc ratio (vCDR) cutoffs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Adult patients from a government tertiary level eye hospital in southwestern Uganda were prospectively recruited from January to April 2019. All patients experienced a comprehensive eye examination, dilated posterior segment indirect ophthalmoscope imaging with the Paxos Scope, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) imaging with a Cirrus HD-OCT to measure vCDR. Patients' eyes excluded had media opacities or existing disease precluding a view of the fundus. Fundus images underwent a single masked review to assign vCDR at increments of 0.1. Descriptive statistics, parametric and Chi2 tests for significance, repeated measures correlation, kappa, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and Bland-Altman were used to assess the data.

RESULTS
Among 467 (consecutive) individuals, fundus photographs acquired with the Paxos Scope demonstrated a 67.7% (95%CI 63.0-72.0) sensitivity and 96.7% (95%CI 94.2-98.3) specificity to detect a vCDR >0.5, using OCT as the reference standard. 138 eyes were excluded due to poor imaging acquisition, such as dense cataract, rendering 796 eyes for analysis. The vCDR from graded Paxos Scope images and OCT correlated well with repeated measures correlation of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.77-0.86, P<0.001) and agreement, dichotomized as >0.5 or ≤0.5, was 80.9% (kappa=0.63±0.034, P<0.001). Among glaucoma and glaucoma suspects (85 eyes), the sensitivity and specificity dichotomized using vCDR >0.5 were 97.5% (95%CI, 91.3-99.7) and 80.0% (95%CI, 28.4-99.5), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AROC) was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89-0.94) for all eyes and 0.98 (95%CI, 0.78-1.0) for glaucoma and glaucoma suspects.

CONCLUSIONS
The Paxos Scope produced images that can be reliably used to estimate vCDR, which closely aligned with the automated algorithm from OCT optic disc cube scan. The low cost, ready-to-integrate adapter, and minimal training requirements make it a viable option for population-based screening in low-resourced settings.


Ultrasonography constructs pictures of areas inside the body needs in diagnosis by bouncing high-enorgy sound waves(ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs. In constructing an ultrasonographic image, the weakness of bounding signals induces noises and detailed differences of brightness, so that having a difficulty in detecting and diagnosing with the naked eyes in the analysis of ultrasonogram. Especially, the difficulty is extended when diagnosing muscle areas by using ultrasonographic images in the musculoskeletal test. In this paper, we propose a novel image processing method that computationally extracts a muscle area from an ultrasonographic image to assist in diagnosis. An ultrasonographic image consists of areas corresponding to various tissues and internal organs. The proposed method, based on features of intensity distribution, morphology and size of each area, extracts areas of the fascia, the subcutaneous fat and other internal organs, and then extracts a muscle area enclosed by areas of the fascia. In the extraction of areas of the fascia, a series of image processing methods such as histogram stretching, multiple operation, binarization and area connection by labeling is applied. A muscle area is extracted by using features on relative position and morphology of areas for the fascia and muscle areas. The performance evaluation using real ultrasonographic images and specialists' analysis show that the proposed method is able to extract target areas being approximate to real muscle areas.


This journal does not shy away from reporting adverse events of acupuncture, as long as they contain learning points for safer practice. Some journals and some authors seem to use them negatively, to attack acupuncture. For instance, the editor noticed several Korean reports that failed to explore the full details of the acupuncture practice that led to the problem, so emphasising the hazard but not the learning. This issue's Image of Acupuncture provides an outstanding example of bad practice, from Korea: deep needling directly into the abdomen, compounded by failure to deal correctly with the stuck needle, which then broke. Park's editorial on this case adds a fascinating piece of history, and calls for productive dialogue between conventional and complementary medical professions in Korea—ultimately for patient benefit. This issue's research summaries contain several more examples of adverse events, most of them (cardiac tamponade, inoculation tuberculosis) the result of bad practice rather than bad luck. But the journal also hopes to fulfil another necessary role—highlighting one case where the blame was attributed to acupuncture but the evidence was clearly inadequate. Sticking for the moment with what practitioners do with the needle, we do not yet have a clear modern interpretation of the traditional concepts of manipulation (such as 'draining' or 'reinforcing'). Different needle movements could stimulate various receptors—stretch and pressure receptors for example, at different tissue levels, resulting in differential sensory nerve stimulation. We need to know more, and as a valuable first step, Seo and colleagues (again from Korea) investigated manipulation as performed by eight experienced practitioners. Each individual was consistent, but there were marked differences between the practitioners, represented in figure 1. Another mystery is the mechanism of acupuncture's effect in preventing migraine (apart from inactivating trigger points, which are rarely the primary cause). It seems to be a general effect of needling not related to specific points, and now Cayir and colleagues suggest it could involve changes in activity of the matrix metalloproteinases—MMPs. Your editor was ignorant of MMPs so invited Castro and Tanus-Santos to write an editorial, which explains everything. What with last issue's evidence on acupuncture's effect on nesfatin-1, it sometimes seems that every physiological mechanism can be influenced by acupuncture. Often these will be clinically irrelevant, but that does not apply to Seo's study since the patients clearly improved. Our other papers show some interesting trends. In a pilot study, Smith and colleagues show no adverse events on lymphoedema following breast surgery—though, conservatively, they did not needle points in lymphoedema areas. Meng et al found a large trend towards reduction in osteoporosis after a prolonged course of electroacupuncture (EA) in patients with spinal cord injury. The acupuncture was given alongside the best available conventional therapy. Interesting observations include that of Skorupska and colleagues who used a thermal camera to visualise vasodilatation associated with needling a trigger point: it spread in the pattern of the referred pain—but this is only one case. Set and colleagues suggest that, for women with both depression and obesity, continuous auricular acupuncture might benefit both—but separately. Lack of response to treatment, provided you have the correct treatment, is a good reason to check the diagnosis: da Encarnação did just that—and had a surprise. And finally, back to treatment technology. Martini used wart cryotherapy apparatus for auriculotherapy in a patient with a severe bleeding disorder. And Zhang et al showed that needles with plastic handles buckle less readily than those with copper handles. Buckling leads to breaking— so a plastic handle might at least have saved the patient with the deep needle in the abdomen from the need for surgery.


Application of agricultural technologies has been supportive for fulfilling the requirements of food and raw material of an individual and an industry as well. But it has also injured the farming community in India without providing adequate treatment for physical and economic health. What are the measures available for the safety and social security of farming communities by which risk can be ameliorated? This paper examines such predicaments by locating the response of the scientific community engaged in the research and development of agricultural technologies. The discussion is based upon the transcript obtained after in-depth interviews of the scientific community. An effort has been made to interpret the empirical reality of occupational health hazards in farming relating to emerging social security measures.


We report the structure and magnetic properties of (In,Mn)As based core-shell nanowires grown on Si (111) by molecular-beam epitaxy. Compared to the core InAs nanowire with a flat side facet and consistent diameter, the core-shell nanowire shows a rough sidewall and an inverse tapered geometry. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy show that (In,Mn)As is formed on the side facets of InAs nanowires with a mixture of wurtzite and zinc-blende structures. Two ferromagnetic transition temperatures of (In,Mn)As from magnetic measurement data are observed: one is less than 25K, which could be attributed to the magnetic phase with diluted Mn atoms in the InAs matrix, and the other is at ~300 K, which may originate from the undetectable secondary phases such as MnAs nanoclusters. The synthesis of (In,Mn)As based core-shell nanowires provides valuable information to exploit a new type of spintronic nano-materials.


We present decentralized adaptive filtering algorithms for sensor activation control in an unattended ground sensor network (UGSN) comprised of ZigBee-enabled nodes. Nodes monitor their environment in a low-power ldquosleeprdquo mode, until an intruder is detected, then must decide whether to enter a full-power monitoring and transmission mode if their estimated average performance for activation outweighs their energy cost. The tradeoff is formulated in terms of the energy required to transmit data using the ZigBee protocol, probability of successful transmission, and the expected marginal increase in global utility resulting from a report, all of which depend on the activity of nearby sensor nodes. Since activation control is decentralized, and utilities are codependent, the adaptive filtering/stochastic approximation algorithms that we propose for sensor activation are based on game theoretic principles. We show that if each sensor operates according to this algorithm, the entire network is capable of actively tracking the correlated equilibrium set of the underlying game, which varies with target motion, node failures, or intentional parameter adjustments. We analyze the convergence and tracking properties of the adaptive filtering algorithms using differential inclusions.


INTRODUCTION
The Canadian Forces has initiated a multiple study project to optimize circadian phase changes using appropriately timed phototherapy and/or ingestion of melatonin for those personnel on long-range deployments and shift workers. The work reported here compared four phototherapeutic devices for efficacy in effecting circadian phase delays.

METHODS
In a partially counterbalanced treatment order, 14 subjects (7 men and 7 women), ages 18-51 yr, participated in 5 weekly experimental sessions of phototherapy with 4 different phototherapy devices (light tower, light visor, Litebook, LED spectacles) and a no-phototherapy control. Phototherapy was applied from 24:00 to 02:00 on night. (1) Dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was assessed on night 1 and night. (2) Subjects were tested for psychomotor performance (serial reaction time, logical reasoning, and serial subtraction tasks) and completed the Stanford Sleepiness Scale on night 1 at 19:00, 23:00, 01:00, 02:00, and 03:00. After phototherapy, subjects completed a phototherapy side-effects questionnaire.

RESULTS
All phototherapy devices produced melatonin suppression and significant phase delays. Sleepiness was significantly decreased with the light tower, the light visor, and the Litebook. Task performance was only slightly improved with phototherapy. The LED spectacles and light visor caused greater subjective performance impairment, more difficulty viewing the computer monitor and reading printed text than the light tower or the Litebook. The light visor, the Litebook, and the LED spectacles caused more eye discomfort than the light tower.

CONCLUSIONS
The light tower was the best device, producing melatonin suppression and circadian phase change while relatively free of side effects.


Past research indicates several factors influencing teaching evaluation ratings instructors receive. We analyzed teaching evaluations from psychology courses during fall and spring semesters of 2003–2004 to determine if class size, class level, instructor gender, number of publications (faculty instructors), average grade given by the instructor, and instructor rank predicted teaching evaluation ratings. Entering predictor variables into a multiple regression analysis concurrently, results indicated that only average grade given and instructor rank significantly predicted instructor ratings. Specifically, higher average grades given by the instructor predicted higher ratings, and graduate teaching assistants received higher overall ratings than faculty instructors.


A piezo oscillator may be used either to check the frequency of the station or to control its frequency. Most of the piezo oscillators tested by the Bureau are for use in checking the frequency of the station. Piezo oscillators are capable of high precision in the measurement of their frequency if a beat note is produced by adjusting another generator to a similar frequency. This principle is employed in the methods and apparatus described in the paper. After preliminary tests to determine the suitability of the quartz plate and its fundamental frequency, the piezo oscillator is kept in a temperature-controlled room for not less than two days, during which frequency measurements are made. The method consists in measuring the frequency of the piezo oscillator under test in terms of a 200-kc temperature-controlled piezo oscillator. This is accomplished by adjusting a radio-frequency generator to the frequency which the piezo oscillator under test should have. This adjustment is made using harmonics from a 10-kc generator which is kept accurately set in terms of the 200-kc standard by observing a special form of beat indicator. The frequency difference between the test piezo oscillator and the generator set in terms of the standard is measured by comparison with an audio-frequency generator. A frequency meter of special design is used to check the frequency difference and determine the sign of the correction to be applied. The method described is also useful in the calibration of frequency meters and the measurement of station frequencies.


The time and rate of ovulation, and preovulatory release of LH were examined in Angora goats after treatment with progestagen-impregnated intravaginal sponges with or without PMSG during the anoestrous and breeding seasons. The administration of PMSG was necessary to stimulate a satisfactory ovulatory response in lactating and non-lactating females, and in the anoestrous and breeding seasons. Increasing doses of PMSG increased the ovulation rate in non-lactating goats and advanced the time of ovulation in lactating and non-lactating females. The advancement of time of ovulation and of the preovulatory LH surge was most pronounced when PMSG was administered 48 h before rather than at sponge removal.


We study the clutter and jamming suppression and moving target detection and feature extraction for airborne phased array radar. For the low range resolution (LRR) case, we use a vector autoregressive (VAR) filtering technique for clutter suppression and compare it to the displaced phase center antenna (DPCA) processing technique in the presence of various system errors. For the high range resolution (HRR) case, we first show how to use the VAR filter to suppress the ground clutter. We divide the HRR range profiles into LRR segments to avoid the range migration problems that occur in the HRR radar data. Since each LRR segment contains a sequence of HRR range bins, no loss of resolution occurs due to the division. We then propose new algorithms for moving target detection and super resolution feature extraction. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.


Cardiac tissue engineering is a promising method for regenerative medicine. Although we have developed human cardiac cell sheets by integration of cell sheet-based tissue engineering and scalable bioreactor culture, the risk of contamination by induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in cardiac cell sheets remains unresolved. In the present study, we established a novel culture method to fabricate human cardiac cell sheets with a decreased risk of iPS cell contamination while maintaining viabilities of iPS cell-derived cells, including cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, using a methionine-free culture condition. When cultured in the methionine-free condition, human iPS cells did not survive without feeder cells and could not proliferate or form colonies on feeder cells or in coculture with cells for cardiac cell sheet fabrication. When iPS cell-derived cells after the cardiac differentiation were transiently cultured in the methionine-free condition, gene expression of OCT3/4 and NANOG was downregulated significantly compared with that in the standard culture condition. Furthermore, in fabricated cardiac cell sheets, spontaneous and synchronous beating was observed in the whole area while maintaining or upregulating the expression of various cardiac and extracellular matrix genes. These findings suggest that human iPS cells are methionine dependent and a methionine-free culture condition for cardiac cell sheet fabrication might reduce the risk of iPS cell contamination.


To search germination inhibitors in higher plants, first of all, some experiments containing selection of test weed seeds and effects of solvents and surfactants for bioassay establishment were conducted. Then MeOH-extracts of 45 plants were assayed for germination inhibition activities against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Cyperus iria L., Portulaca oleracea L. and Oenothera lamarckiana Ser, seeds. Among them extracts from Rhathiolepis ovata Briat and Picea abies (L.) Karst showed strong inhibitory effect (60-90% inhibition) on the germination of tested weed seeds at 5000 ppm. On the other hand, the extract from Youngia sonchifolia Max stimulated the germination and growth of tested weeds.


Supply Chain Management is an important issue for manufacturing enterprises. Most of these manufacturing enterprises are depending on their logistic system to improve their efficiencies. However, information distortion from the raw material suppliers to the distributors can make the whole process to enormous inefficiencies. Therefore, this research aims to propose a new method to solve the bullwhip effect by integrating multi-agent technology, artificial intelligence and Internet technology.


Successful synthesis of a series of highly conjugated porphyrin analogues, including thia-, dithia- and oxathia-tetrabenzoporphyrins, and their optical properties are reported.


This article refers to a theoretical revision of the term Rule of Law and the concept of soft rule of law. It focuses on human rights as an essential element of the Rule of Law, the interaction between democracy and the challenges faced by the Rule of Law in a consolidated democracy. Finally, as an example, it introduces a brief reflection on the current institutional problems of Peru and Ecuador, pertinent for a better understanding of the interactions between the Rule of Law and the Soft Rule of Law.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that sports, play and games have contributed immensely to human evolution and development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a commentary.

Findings

Often dismissed as past-times or amusements, a wealth of research has now evidenced the benefits of sports to children, youth, adults and senior citizens. Physical health, emotional well-being, friendships, learning/cognition and self-esteem are all positively impacted through participation in sports. Yet these benefits are rarely exploited for people with intellectual disabilities. A fundamental reason is that the culture of health and social services is the antithesis of that inherent in sports. Reconciliation is clearly desirable but it requires innovative and creative actions from both sectors.

Originality/value

Examples are given based on emerging experience and evidence but their implementation remains a daunting challenge with as yet few "fans" in support of harnessing the power of sport to improve the quality of life of people with intellectual disability.


INTRODUCTION: There are several methods for evaluating microleakage in dentistry, for example dye or bacterial leakage, electro-chemical methods, radioisotope labeling and fluid filtration. The purpose of this study was to assemble the fluid filtration system for quantitative evaluation of microleakage in dental materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The roots were connected to a tube filled with an underwater pressure supply. A bubble was introduced into the water to measure endodontic leakage. A digital camera and professional software were utilized to record and measure the bubble displacement. RESULTS: Our system was constructed successfully and functioned correctly. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study we found this system efficient for the evaluation of microleakage of dental materials.


Acetylcholine content of bath fluid surrounding isolated rabbit intestinal strips was determined using the guinea pig ileum bioassay. In the 22 experiments performed, acetylcholine concentration of the rabbit bath was found to be directly proportional to the tonus manifested by the spontaneously contracting rabbit intestine at the time of assay. This relationship between tonus and acetylcholine content is statistically significant at the 99.5% confidence level. After the guinea pig ileum was atropinized it no longer responded to the rabbit bath fluid which had previously been shown to be stimulatory. It is concluded that the consistent and simple relationship between acetylcholine concentration and intestinal tonus indicates that acetylcholine is the principal factor in determining the tonus of isolated intestinal segments.


This white paper, prepared by a working group of the Catholic Medical Association, provides a commentary on a new type of end-of-life document called a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) as well as on its model (or "paradigm") for implementation across the United States. After an introductory section reviewing the origin, goals, and standard defenses of the POLST paradigm and form, the paper offers a critical analysis of POLST, including an analysis of the risks that POLST poses to sound clinical and ethical decision-making. The paper ends with several recommendations to help Catholic healthcare professionals and institutions better address the challenges of end-of-life care with alternatives to POLST.


The minisum and the minimax rules are two different rules for the election of a committee considered by Brams et al. [2]. As input they assume approval ballots from the voters. The first rule elects those committees which minimize the sum of the Hamming distances to the votes, the second one elects those committees with the smallest maximum Hamming distance to an individual vote. We extend this approach of measuring the dissatisfaction in committee elections to different forms of ballots, i.e., trichotomous votes, complete and incomplete linear orders. To measure the dissatisfaction we use a modified Hamming distance, ranksums, and a modified Kemeny distance.


This essay addresses the issue of Cultural Imperialism and the National Identities of the countries of the Global South. The binarism in which both of them are portrayed is the main focus of this essay. It tries to conclusively demonstrate the untenability of the same binarism by highlighting the various local worlds that empirically exist in the contemporary world. The overlap of many complex social processes and concepts have been unravelled to refute the popular and faulty understanding of the current human condition that cries out for better explication.


Thyroid hormone resistance occurs when a genetic mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor leads to reduced hormone binding affinity; the concentration of free thyroid hormone in the circulation is inversely correlated with the hormone binding affinity of the mutant receptor. Thyroid hormone resistance mutations are associated with a wide variety of phenotypes and subsequent treatment challenges. Among the more common symptoms are hyperactivity, emotional lability, a below average intelligence quotient, and short stature. We report here a patient who presented with thyroid hormone resistance at an early age, providing an opportunity to optimize her overall growth and development. We review the limited information currently available in the literature addressing the treatment of thyroid hormone resistance in children and describe the approach used to determine the treatment plan in this young child.


Abstract Inserting carbon dioxide (CO2) into ammonia molecules to produce urea is a traditional CO2 utilization method. An ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Bmim]Br), was used as reaction medium and [Bmim]Br/KOH as catalyst. This study investigates CO2 carbonylation of cyclohexylamine and its reaction performance in a number of low- and high-pressure CO2/IL systems. The reaction yield was greatly increased as pressure ranges changed from 15–50 bar to 80–100 bar; the physiochemical properties of substrates and catalyst were greatly affected by CO2 in supercritical state. The yield was improved from 69% at 30 bar to 91.6% at 100 bar, much better than a previous study result of 53.5%, but as pressures further increased, a significant decrease was observed. The reaction activation energy was calculated to be 3.942 and 4.354 kcal/mol in mild and supercritical conditions. This process shows a low threshold reaction energy and great potential for industrial applications to store CO2 in amine molecular structures.


A success factor in strategic planning and organizational management are the diagnostics and control methods that are implemented in order to realize the continuous monitoring of the state of management in the company. Tools such as management indicators or KPI (key performance indicators) allow us to run real-time diagnostics. But the success or adequate use of these indicators are based on its design and the variables to be controlled and / or measured. In 1990 Kaplan and Norton begin their study on the measurement of organizational performance basing this method on four perspectives of the organization; learning, internal processes , customers and financial.


When prolonged intravenous therapy is necessary in children, it is better to insert central venous catheters. Fragmentation or detachment with embolization of these catheters is infrequent, but can cause serious complications. Therefore, in such cases prompt extraction of the misplaced endovascular or intracardiac fragment(s) is mandatory. Percutaneous retrieval is a safe and reliable technique and should be considered as the treatment of choice. We reported successfull retrieval of a totally detached port catheter from the pulmonary artery of a 13-month-old patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia.

 Key Words: Port Catheter; Percutaneous Retrieval; Child; Snare-Loop Catheter.


Background and Objective: this study aimed to comparison of two educational methods to improve oral health behaviors among female student.Methods: The quasi-experimental study. 120 fourth grade female students of 6th region of Tehran, Iran were randomly selected and allocated to group A (received oral health education from a health educator, n=30) and group B (received the same education through the peer education approach, n=30). Data were collected via a valid Tool. After pre-test an educational intervention were implemented on both group. Intervention set up for three sessions per session 1 hour of training. Post-test was performed after one month later using the same questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by independent t- test and chi square using spssver16.Results: The average mean score of the knowledge and practice in both group after educational intervention significantly increased (P<0.001). Mean scores of the attitude also increased in both groups after intervention, but this increase was significant only in child to child group (P<0.001). The mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice between the two groups showed that child to child education has been effective than Classic education.Conclusion: Oral health education using active learning methods and the participant involvement is recommended.