ABSTRACT To determine the role of endogenous interleukin-10 (IL-10) in local host defense during pneumococcal meningitis, the inflammatory responses of IL-10-gene-deficient and wild-type mice after the induction of meningitis were compared. The absence of IL-10 was associated with higher cytokine and chemokine concentrations and a more pronounced infiltrate, but antibacterial defense or survival was not influenced.


On November 5, 2005, La Salle University's Preston Plevretes took a massive blow to the head during a college football game against La Salle's rival, Duquesne University.[1] The play occurred in the fourth quarter, when an opposing player collided head-first with the nineteen-year-old Plevretes on a punt return. He lapsed into a coma almost immediately, and eventually underwent lifesaving brain surgery at a nearby hospital. Plevretes survived, but suffered life-long catastrophic injuries as a result of the hit. A few years after Plevretes' injury, twenty-twoyear-old fullback Derek Sheely lost consciousness and collapsed on the football field during a preseason practice at Frostburg State University.[2] Sheely was rushed to a nearby hospital and, on August 28, 2011, passed away due to traumatic brain injury (TBI), by some accounts from a helmet-to-helmet hit. Ever since sport-related concussions in football became a hot-button topic in 2007 when Alan Schwartz published his first CTE article in the New York Times, followed soon after by the 2009 and 2010 Congressional hearings on legal issues relating to football head injuries, stories such as Plevretes' and Sheely's started becoming more commonly reported (and litigated). Ryne Dougherty and Kenney Bui also were young football players who endured fatal hits to the head. [3] Nicholas Zemke, a high school football star from California, likewise suffered a debilitating head injury on the field,[4] as did Cody Lehe, Aaron Singleton, and Andrew Swank.[5] And the list goes on. While in recent years, there has been a greater focus on the health and safety of the athlete, one point remains clear: TBI in the contact sports world isn't going away. What is less clear is the condition that purportedly claimed the deaths of all eight of these athletes: Second Impact Syndrome (SIS). SIS is a controversial phenomenon that allegedly occurs when the brain sustains a second, subsequent impact before a previous injury has had adequate time to heal and recover. [6] The initial injury is said to make the brain more vulnerable, and the "second impact" purportedly sets in motion catastrophic cerebral swelling. Death can occur within two to five minutes after the second impact.[7] Given TBI's tragic consequences, brain injury lawsuits are on the rise all across the country. In 2017 alone, at least three athletes commenced legal action seeking damages relating to traumatic injuries sustained on the field.[8] And who are the defendants in these lawsuits? Coaches, school officials, team doctors, athletic trainers, and other healthcare professionals of record – all alleged to have been negligent (e.g., for prematurely returning a player to play following a prior concussion). Negligence is a traditional legal claim that has four main elements—duty, breach, causation, and harm. A plaintiff alleging negligence must prove each of these Second Impact Syndrome: Diagnosis versus Myth Reprinted from Concussion Litigation Reporter, Volume 6, Issue 3, September, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Hackney Publications.


Kidney transplantation has become one of the best treatment methods for signifi cantly improving the quality of life for patients suffering from kidney disease. This study aimed to provide a retrospective evaluation of kidney transplantation cases between the years 2004 and 2007. Initially, the following data was collected: number of annual cases, age, gender, hepatitis serology, hypertension, and cardiovascular illness, number of cadaver and living donors, kinship, and duration of hospital stay, post-operational complications, mortality and graft loss. 39% of the patients were female whilst 61% were male. 3.8% of the patients were positive for hepatitis serology. 28.8% of the patients were hypertensive. 61% of the patients received their kidneys from live donors. 60.6% of the live donors were the mothers of the patients and 18.2% were the fathers. The average length of hospital stay was 48 days. 21.4% of the patients were identifi ed as having developed major complications including sepsis, heart failure, pulmonary emboli, respiratory insuffi ciency and rejection. 5.4% of the patients developing major complications ended with mortality and 1.8% with graft loss. Even though the total number of annual cases is constantly rising, we think that this fi gure is much lower that it should be considering the number of patients dependent on dialysis machines. Kidney transplantation is the most appropriate treatment in terms of cost-effectiveness and thus increasing the ratio of kidney transplantations would be benefi cial to both the patient's health and to the national economy.


White considers Todd's installation of quilts, wall drawings and textual fragments in relation to themes of security, nomadism and sleep. List of works. Biographical notes. 15 bibl. ref.


This paper seeks to understand the extent to which social media provides the effect of doing branding Esgrim House Semarang. theoretical basis in this paper is the Narrative Paradigm of Walter Fisher stressed that man is a storyteller and that consideration will be of value, emotion and aesthetics into the basic beliefs of our behavior, or simply refers to the understanding as well as the reaction of everyone when receiving messages the disampaiakan. From these results, it was found that a storyteller admin is his, whereas kususnya twitter and social media instagram serve as tools in the communication process Esgrim House Semarang. So performance this case, social media has a role to introduce products, information centers, as well as archiving online gallery measuring instrument success in branding Esgrim House Semarang.


Objective: To determine the prevalence of placental malaria in state base on locality, age, parity and gravidity.Methods: a total of 457 pregnant women were enrolled in cross sectional community based survey during different transmission seasons in rural and urban area of South Eastern Nigeria. Demographic characters were collected using structured questionnaire for the women. Once pregnancy is confirmed and malaria test prove positive with or without febrile illness the women consent is seeked and subsequent enrollment on approval. Then followed until delivery. On delivery blood sample were collected from the fresh placenta immediately and placed into ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) for malaria test.Result: Pregnancy was a risk factor for malaria infection (P=0.001) Plasmodum falciparium was the only parasite implicate in the study; 225 (49.5%) out of 457 was positive to microscopic screening. Educational level of mothers was significant to the rate of infection in both locality under study. Gravidity and parity were highly significant to prevalence with the women. Gravidity and parity were highly significant to prevalence with the women in primigravidae showing higher prevalence 78 (73.6%) of 106 x2 (1N- 457) = 19.804; P= 0.001 (Table). Prevalence and Odd ratio of placental infection in Oyi and Njikoka LGAs was also significant and indicating (OR: 1.77' 95% CI: 1.14-3.04; x2 = 9.171; P=0.002 (Table 6)Conclusion: An overall prevalence of 48.91% of placental malaria infection was observed which was quite high. Age, gravidity and parity affect the prevalence of placental malaria. The knowledge, application and adherence to appropriate control of malaria during pregnancy may be valuable if advocacy change to new pattern of control strategies and compliance is strictly applied.


The objective was to evaluate the physicochemical, microbiological quality, somatic cell count and presence of inhibitors in raw milks in the department of Sucre. 150 samples of raw milk from six storage centers or processing plants from three subregions of the department of Sucre (Sabanas, San Jorge and Gulf of Morrosquillo) were taken using a descriptive cross-sectional study. 25 samples in each collection center that correspond to 25 producers from the different subregions of the department were taken. Microbiological and physiochemical parameters and udder health were determined of a total of 50 samples for each subregion. The data obtained were analyzed according to accepted standards in Colombia. For the most part of the physicochemical parameters, were within the accepted values established in decree 616 of 2006 and decree 1880of 2011(protein ?2.9%, fat ?3.0%, density (15oC) ?1.030, TS ?11.30, SNF ?8.30). The count of colony forming units (CFU/mL) in the different subregions was greater than 600,000 CFU/mL. The somatic cell count (SCC/mL) was greater than 500,000 SCC/mL. In 8% of the sampled milks showed presence of inhibitors. Overall, the raw milk had good physicochemical quality but, the microbiological quality and health of the udder were poor, which requires immediate implementation of programs in order to obtain high quality hygienic milk.


In this study the efficacy of violet light in combination with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of premalignant and malignant skinlesions is investigated. Eight hours after 20% 5ALA was applied topically, photoirradiation was performed with an incoherent lightsource predominantly emitting violet light (400450 nm). Lesions received 10-20 J/cm2 during an exposure time of 30 minutes. 38 patients were treated, among them 3 patients with the basal cell nevus syndrome with multiple superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas (BCCS). One patient had multiple lesions of Bowens disease, involving 50% of the scalp. In the remaining 34 patients a total of 35 superficial BCC's, 10 nodular BCC's, 5 solar keratoses and 5 solitary lesions of Bowens disease where treated. After a single treatment a complete remission both clinically and histologically was seen in 82% of the superficial BCC's (100% after a second treatment), 50% of the nodular BCC's, 25% of the solar keratoses (50% after a second treatment) and 90-100% (solitary lesions) of Bo*en's disease. 5-ALA PDT using violet light appears to be a well tolerated and effective alternative treatment for premalignant and malignant skin lesions, especially when there are multiple lesions or large patches comprising a large area of skin. at other sites. On this basis, PCLBCL of the leg have been classified in a separate group of "intermediate" prognosis in the EORTC classification for primary cutaneous lymphomas. However, it remains unknown whether this prognosis results from location or from other factors such as age or histologic or immunophenotypic characteristics. Our aim was to identify independent prognostic factors in a large series of patients with PCLBCL. Patients and Methods: We performed a European retrospective study of 188 cases of PCLBCL registered in the data bases of the Dutch, French and Austrian cutaneous lymphoma working groups between 1986 and March 1, 1998. PCLBCL were defined as cutaneous lymphomas without extracutaneous disease at diagnosis, in which more than 50% of the neoplastic B-cells were large cells. Clinical information collected for each case included history of the disease, location and other clinical features at diagnosis, therapy, outcome and vital status on December 1, 1998. For each case, histologic sections were successively reviewed by independent pathologists of each group without knowledge of the clinical data, and classified as immunoblastic, centroblastic, polymorphous centroblastic and large centrocytic lymphomas. Cases in which a general agreement among pathologists was not achieved were finally classified by consensus. Clinical and histological variables were analysed for prognostic value in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. Results: PCLBCL of the leg were characterised by an older age, a more frequent centroblasticiimmunoblastic subtype and a higher bc 1-2 expression than PCLBCL at other sites. Results from univariate and multivariate survival analyses including these clinical and histological factors will be presented.


Inleiding Methoden Resultaten Discussie Referenties Abstract This paper attempted to explain the apparent discrepancy between the negative effects of perseveration (heightened memory distrust) and the persistence of OCD patients in their checking behaviour. It is argued that OCD patients experience greater memory distrust then healthy individuals before they engage in checking behaviour. Therefore, during the first or second check there is still room to increase in memory certainty in contrast to healthy individuals who already reached (almost) complete memory certainty and cannot get any more certain by means of checking. This initial increase in memory certainty in OCD patients might be the reinforcer which preserves the checking behaviour. It was also hypothesized that the two groups would show a parallel decline in memory certainty after 12 checks. In order to test these hypotheses, 32 participants were selected out of a sample of 300 students of the University of Utrecht by means of the OCI-R and they were divided into an OC+ (N=14) group and an OC- group (N=18). During the experiment the virtual gas stove checking task was used and participants were asked to assess their memory certainty at a pre-test, and after the 1 st , 2 nd , and 12 th check. The OC+ group displayed lower initial memory certainty then the OC- group. Also, the crucial interaction was found in which the OC+ group increased in memory certainty and the OC- group did not. Instead of a parallel decline in memory certainty after the 12 th check an interaction effect was found in which the OC+ group showed a greater decline in memory certainty then the OC- group. This may be a coincidental result but it may also be attributed to an increased effect of perseveration on memory certainty in OCD patients. The results in this paper present a first indication for initial increase in memory certainty as a catalyst for checking behaviour. Finally, limitations of the present study are mentioned as well as implications for treatment and directions for future work.


In the construction of precast concrete segmental bridges, in-situ stitches are often cast to connect together adjacent cantilevers assembled from precast segments. Except for some continuity tendons near the bottom, there is normally no longitudinal reinforcement through the stitches, and they are usually provided with little or no shear reinforcement. Hence the stitch is a potential weakness. This article presents the numerical results from finite element models calibrated with available experimental data. Parametric study shows that the ultimate shear capacity of keyed stitch increases with the prestress and aspect ratio. Comparing the numerical results with various design formulae shows that the codes generally underestimate the ultimate shear capacity of keyed stitches. The shear strength of keyed stitch is mainly contributed by the strength of shear keys located in the compression zone. A design equation is proposed considering the aspect ratio and stress concentration.


Attempts to refine our ability to provide a visual estimate of an infant's total serum bilirubin (TSB) level go back to the Ingram Icterometer, described in 1960 by Gosset (1), (and still available for the princely sum of $20 [Birthwithlove.com]) but the idea of a device that allows the parent to report the TSB to the healthcare professional is new but not entirely unique. Taylor et al. have recently described the use of a smartphone to perform the same function suggested by Xue et al. (2) although the former is certainly far more expensive and would be limited to families fortunate enough to have such a phone. The data presented by Xue et al. are quite startling for their simplicity and accuracy. Reporting a mean difference of only 0.3 mg/dL between a JCard on the cheek and a TSB by a parent (or, for that matter, an experienced professional) is unprecedented in the paediatric literature and better than the reproducibility of laboratory measurements of TSB! More importantly, the authors do not tell us how frequently the JCard estimate differs from the TSB by a clinically significant amount. When I look at the reproduction of the card which, admittedly, is dependent upon the quality of the colour printer we use, I have difficulty in distinguishing between the colour intensities in the groups 5–9, 11–13 and 15– 19 mg/dL, so how 106 parents managed to do this is, to say the least, remarkable. The reported correlations between the TSB and JCard are much better than those in most of >50 studies performed with the newest transcutaneous bilirubinometres (3). Additional information would be helpful for the reader. The authors do not provide details of their computer methods for generating a background colour for normal infant skin and for the development of the colour card. They also do not tell us about the reproducibility of these cards which, one assumes, is dependent on the thickness of the paper, the quality of the computer and the quality and consistency of the printer. They do not provide the mean and range of the TSB values recorded although a glance at figure 2 indicates that about 3/4 of the TSB levels were <13 mg/dL. We are told that "the JCard assessment was carried out in a welllit room", and that "the author or a study assistant showed the mother how to use the J card. . ." The proximity of this instruction to the mother's decision regarding the degree of jaundice raises the possibility of unintended bias on the part of the instructor. The authors also note that, in China, newborn infants are generally kept in a dark environment and, although they emphasise that this test should be carried out in a well-lit environment, variations in domestic lighting are certain to be significantly different from those in which this study was performed. As the intended purpose of a JCard is to permit a parent to screen an infant at home for the presence of significant jaundice, this study needs to be repeated in larger and different populations, particularly in those with deeper skin pigmentation, using JCard assessments made by parents in their homes. If the data of Xue et al. are confirmed, we would have a very helpful screening technique applicable to populations in both high and low resource countries. But until such data become available, judgement must be reserved.


Severe water crises in Pakistan and growing demands in Afghanistan requires a bilateral agreement on Kabul River basin (KRB) but precise stream- fl ow data is a critical matter. The aim of this research is to assess the stream- fl ow of the data-scarce transboundary Chitral-Kabul River basin (C-KRB) in Pakistan using hydrologic modeling approach. HEC-HMS model was applied for predicting peak- fl ow and simulating runoff of the C-KRB. The model was calibrated over the period 2010 – 2011 (66% of all data) and validated for 2012 (33% of all data). Our fi nd-ings showed that the Nash-Sutcliffe ef fi ciency (NSE) and R 2 were 0.70 and 0.89 respectively. The simulated peak-out fl ow was 850 m 3 /s on 1st August which was quite close to the observed peak- fl ow of 861 m 3 /s on 3rd August 2012. The difference in peak- fl ow (D p ) was (cid:1) 4.45% and the deviation of runoff volume (D v ) was (cid:1) 26.95%. It was concluded that HEC-HMS can be applied as a rapid tool in predicting future fl ow using the freely accessible rainfall and snow cover data. Furthermore, this approach can be utilized for water users, developer and planners to provide fi rst-hand information for formulating any bilateral agreement on shared water of the KRB between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (cid:129) The assessment of HEC-HMS model application for peak- fl ow prediction and river discharge simulation in cryosphere watershed using remotely sensed data. (cid:129) Simulation of river discharge in an ungauged transboundary watershed. and 2012 (33% of the data) respectively. The main objective of this research was to develop and evaluate the HEC-HMS hydrologic model for the assessment of stream fl ow using free and easily accessible remotely sensed data in a cryosphere (snow-covered) watershed. The stream fl ow data has a wide range application for agriculture planning and management practices, natural disaster ' s management and fi rst-hand information for bilateral agreement between the shared countries. It will also provide input stream data for other hydrological models (such as HEC-RAS) to develop a fl ood hazard map for the downstream C-KRB in Afghanistan.


Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater has been the crucial environmental problem in many regions in the world, particularly in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. The problem in Red River delta has been recognized recently. During October 2003 to January 2004, a randomly survey of As concentrations in tube wells was conducted at Son dong village, near by Hanoi city by the west direction 25 km away. The relations between arsenic concentrations in tube wells and other parameters such as conductivity, red-ox potential, iron and phosphate concentrations were interpreted. The reductive environment is dominant with average value about -120m V. Iron concentrations are 6.5 mg/l and phosphate concentrations are 0.7 mg/l in average. Data from 54 water samples showed that arsenic concentrations ranged from 5 to 434 Ilg/1 with mean value was 2511lg/1. People at the local area have used sand filer tanks to eliminate iron from groundwater then arsenic was co precipitated by the iron hydroxide Fe(III) partly. But because iron concentrations are not high enough for total absorption the arsenic, arsenic concentrations in filtered water are still high as 811lg/1 in mean value. So the people at that village exposure to quite high arsenic level both from filtered and raw groundwater. 204 hair and 50 urine samples were collected and analyzed for total arsenic concentration accordingly. Arsenic accumulations gain 1.71 mg/kg (0.1610.36 mg/kg) in hair samples compare to 0.25 mg/kg at reference site, 61.8% samples content higher than lmg/kg of arsenic, that is toxic level referenced from WHO. Children younger than 15 years old tend to accumulate more arsenic than adults (average 2.53 mg/kg). Urinary arsenic concentrations are 146 Ilg/1 (30-394 Ilg/l) at contaminated village compared to 77 Ilg/1 at control one. The received data showed that the people at Sondong village are under high risk for arsenic toxicity. A mitigation solution should be suggested and applied to that area


The phycoerythrin (PE)-rich unicellular cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp. strains BO 8808 and BO 9203, from the pelagic zone of Lake Constance, exhibited different responses when cultured under low light and light stress conditions. Under light stress caused by continuous illumination at elevated light intensity, strain BO 8808 ceased growth, the PE/chlorophyll ratio was slowly reduced and the zeaxanthin content was significantly decreased. By contrast, strain BO 9203 grew faster under high light compared to low light intensities. This strain responded to increased light by a rapid reduction of the PE/chlorophyll ratio while the zeaxanthin content remained constant. Both of these alterations may have protecting effects for BO 9203 against light toxicity. In mixtures of both strains, the predominance of the light-tolerant strain BO 9203 was demonstrated by restriction fragment length polymorphism of psbA genes under light stress conditions. Apparently, strain BO 9203, isolated from an algal bloom in the spring, can cope better with high light intensities than strain BO 8808, isolated in the autumn.


COVID-19 pandemic is a global Crisis, social media platforms have been a significant site of getting information and arouse discussions. However, social bots have risen on the online social networks, social bots are applications that existing in cyber space merely and they can mimic human users to interact with you following their own logic, there are the features of "Intangible"、"personate" and "automatic". Evidence suggests that social bots did harm to the Health Communication during COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found that social bots contributed to diffuse political issues stir negative emotions, spread rumor. Social bots often have a negative association, but there are many bots which perform benign tasks. This study analysis the reasons bots performed badly in COVID-19 pandemic first, then discuss about how to turn the "threats" to "treatments", proving that social bots can act as a positive role in different periods of Health Emergencies.


In Europe, occupational stress is considered as a risk-assessable disease. Recent high-profile litigation cases have raised awareness of the risk posed by workplace stress. Whilst legislation provides guidelines for the risk assessment of physical hazards, there remains little guidance for employers concerning occupational stress. This article proposes a risk management methodology that might be used to identify hazards and assess the level of risk associated with those hazards, using well-validated stress audit instruments, for example the Occupational Stress Indicator. It is suggested that a risk management approach is both informative and cost-effective. High risks, which may require more expensive organisational development solutions, can be differentiated and prioritised from lower risks, which may be effectively controlled through stress management or Employee Assistance Programmes.


The article describes the conceptual principles of forming the organizational culture of a higher education institution. The conducted research showed the existence of a correlation between the organizational culture of the higher education institution and the quality of its educational services. The concept of organizational culture is interpreted as a set of common values, norms, principles, rules, traditions that unite university employees and its students into a single integrated system, affecting their behavior both in the educational institution and outside of it. There is no universal model of the organizational culture of a higher education institution; specificity of activity, management style, approach to communication with stakeholders etc. – all this causes differences in organizational cultures of different universities. The process of formation of organizational culture is long and dynamic; it is influenced by a complex of exogenous and endogenous factors. The organizational culture allows the participants of the educational process to gain a sense of identity and belonging to a system; it strengthens the trust and deepens the interaction between teachers and students; it develops the set of incentives for innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and constant improvement of the quality of educational services. The author emphasizes that the organizational culture of a higher education institution motivates teachers and students to take responsibility for the results of their activities, to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The increase in the quality of educational services has a positive effect on the competitiveness of university graduates in the labor market, on the level of satisfaction of employers' requests for qualified and competent personnel, as well as on the innovative activity of business and the pace of innovative development of the national economy.


Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the occurrence and tumorigenesis of numerous malignant cancers. Microarray expression profiles were used to screen colorectal cancer (CRC)-related differentially expressed genes and lncRNAs, which revealed that insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) were highly expressed in CRC. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of lncRNA PVT1 in CRC. Subcellular localization detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization identified that lncRNA PVT1 was primarily located in the cytoplasm. The interaction between lncRNA PVT1 and microRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) and IRS1 was predicted using RNA22 website. Next, the dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA pull-down and RIP assays verified lncRNA PVT1 to be a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) against miR-214-3p, and IRS1 was found to be a target of miR-214-3p. The expression pattern of lncRNA PVT1, miR-214-3p, IRS1, PI3K and Akt was characterized in response to lncRNA PVT1 silencing or miR-214-3p up-regulation. Meanwhile, their regulatory effects on cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis were detected in CRC cells. With increased levels of miR-214-3p and decreased levels of lncRNA PVT1 in CRC cells, the expression of PI3K and Akt was reduced, and consequently, the cell apoptosis was stimulated and cell proliferation and invasion were suppressed. All in all, lncRNA PVT1 competitively binds to miR-214-3p to up-regulate the expression of IRS1 through activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thus accelerating CRC progression. This study suggests that lncRNA PVT1 might be a potential target of therapeutic strategies for CRC treatment.


Legally Indonesia, including States that ratify the Convention of the United Nations (UN) on the rights of children, both the rights of socially, economically and politically. In fact, Indonesia is still not able to guarantee the fulfillment of these rights. One of the problems that occurs is exploitation by parents against children. Exploitation is not only violate the rights of children, the exploitation of the child s parents also bring harm to children, both physical and psychiatric impact children.
Issues examined in this study is what lies behind the occurrence of exploitation, how the forms of exploitation, the resistance of children to parents and how the impact of the exploitation. Literature review to reinforce the findings are referencesto the law on child protection and child abuse theory. This study used qualitative research methods. The location of this study are in Alun-alun Lamongan. The data collection is done by observation and interviews with triangulation techniques.
The study shows that the background of the exploitation of parents of children is related to the economic conditions of their families (poverty), the conditions are not harmonious family and divorce of parents, as well as the social environment of children related to the influence of friends and the ignorance of parents about Act children. Forms of exploitation of the parents of children that includes forms of exploitation in terms of social development, exploitation economically and exploitation in terms of education. Form of resistance that carried child to his parents are lazy, do not set out to hide some income. The impact of the exploitation influence the process of child development, children s education and children s health.


A new application of diffraction spectrum was proposed.The structure information for a periodic pattern can be obtained by measuring the diffraction spectrum of a broad-band light source at one spatial position in the far field.This scheme can be applied to any periodic structure at different scales or dimensions.


The sudden shift of online teaching activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption. It has been a challenge for both students and teachers. It has also presented an opportunity for a critical analysis of the subject of the educational process in an era of wide access to information technology. One of the desirable consequences of the analysis is to highlight the didactic usefulness of hybrid events. A collective autoethnographic text about the challenges related to moving teaching activities to an online environment during the pandemic at Transilvania University in Brașov (Romania), and an observation report on a cultural event held in hybrid mode in a Europe for Citizens project, hosted by the same university, support the recommendation to consider hybrid education as a solution that must be available to teachers for the efficient management of future possible crisis situations. The teachers retroactively appreciated the logistical, economic and comfort advantages of online education, but they pointed out the difficulties of conducting the teaching process entirely online. The hosted hybrid event highlighted the utility of being able to quickly transition from offline to online. Hybrid learning is efficient because it can combine the benefits of online and offline learning. Teachers trained to manage hybrid events will feel a reduced impact in future crisis situations.


co-workers introduce a multifunctional dye interlayer into lead-free all-inorganic Cs2AgBiBr6-based perovskite solar cells to enhance the efficiency and stability by broadening the absorption spectrum, accelerating the charge carrier extraction, and constructing an appropriate energy level alignment. Consequently, the modified device delivers a higher power conversion efficiency of 2.84% and better stability under ambient conditions. Cover illustrator: Xiaoqing Yang. MULTIFUNCTIONAL DYE INTERLAYERS


Depression continues to increase progressively in society and affects not only an individual but also
his family, and this fact makes this issue turn from a primary level of attention to a priority one. Our objective was
to get to know how the members of an intra-discipline community team describe their experiences by working with
families that live in an environment of depression.Weused the ethnographic method and in order to obtain data we
used a form containing and open question followed by a graph.Wemade the following cultural categories: "Describing
what is found", "Signaling the amount of time the family takes to perceive the signs of people with the mental
sickness", "Describing their actions", Commenting on the interaction with the family", and as a cultural theme:
"Integrating a team regardless of the differences". According to the study, although the members might get a job in
an intra-disciplinary team, the experience is described according to the vision or function of each member.
Nevertheless, they are able to obtain global information about the patient in a climate of mutual respect considering
the complementary of knowledge.


Abstract We use a series of 230-nm wavelength images acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 to trace the spreading of debris introduced into Jupiter's stratosphere by the impact of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. Impact debris was transported rapidly equatorward by stratospheric winds from the impact latitude at −45° to at least −20° during the 3.2-year period covered by the observations. We use the observations to test the formulation of mixing and transport in two-dimensional (latitude–height) models for the jovian stratosphere. Two different models for the transport are considered. In the first model, advection by the residual circulation of West et al. (1992, Icarus 100, 245–259) is taken to be the sole transport mechanism. We find that this circulation advects the debris slowly poleward, in disagreement with the observations. In the second model, horizontal diffusive transport by large-scale quasi-geostrophic eddies is also included. The horizontal eddy diffusion coefficients (K yy ) are derived from a map of annual-average Eliassen–Palm flux divergence produced by West et al. (1992). Introduction of the derived K yy into the dynamical model causes a rapid spreading of the debris in both the equatorward and the poleward directions. We find that the predicted rate of equatorward spreading of the impact debris optical depth is in good agreement with that derived from the observations. We conclude that our derived eddy K yy provides a useful first-order description of zonal mean eddy transport at mid-latitudes in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter's stratosphere.


Abstract. For a closed cone Cin R n , the completely positive cone of Cis the convex cone K C in S n generated by fuu T : u2Cg. Such a cone arises, for example, in the conic LP reformula-tion of a nonconvex quadratic minimization problem over an arbitrary set with linear and binaryconstraints. Motivated by the useful and desirable properties of the nonnegative orthant and thepositive semide nite cone (and more generally of symmetric cones in Euclidean Jordan algebras),this paper investigates when (or whether) K C can be irreducible, self-dual, or homogeneous.Key words. Copositive cones, Completely positive cones, Self-dual, Irreducible cone, Homoge-neous cone.AMS subject classi cations. 15B48, 90C20. 1. Introduction. Given a closed cone Cin R n that is not necessarily convex,we consider two related cones in the space S n of all n nreal symmetric matrices:The completely positive cone of Cde ned byK C :=nXuu T : u2Co(1.1) ;where the sum denotes a nite sum, and the copositive cone of Cgiven by(1.2) E


The antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 (MBT) exhibits an ideal platform to study exotic topological phenomena and magnetic properties. The transport signatures of magnetic phase transitions in the MBT family materials have been wellstudied. However, their mechanical properties and magneto-mechanical coupling have not been well-explored. We use nanoelectromechanical systems to study the intrinsic magnetism in MBT thin flakes via their magnetostrictive coupling. We investigate mechanical resonance signatures of magnetic phase transitions from antiferromagnetic (AFM) to canted antiferromagnetic (cAFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) phases versus magnetic field at different temperatures. The spin-flop transitions in MBT are revealed by frequency shifts of mechanical resonance. With temperatures going above TN, the transitions disappear in the resonance frequency map, consistent with transport measurements. We use a magnetostrictive model to correlate the frequency shifts with the spin-canting states. Our work demonstrates a technique to study magnetic phase transitions, magnetization and magnetoelastic properties of the magnetic topological insulator.


The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission discovered a global structure observed in energetic neutral atoms (ENA) emissions—the IBEX "ribbon." We study the ribbon spatially retained by Alfvén waves. The IBEX ribbon width is used to derive Alfvén speeds in the modified local interstellar medium (LISM), which, averaged across the ribbon, is v A = 42.7 ± 3.0 km s−1. The increase of Alfvén speeds from polar regions to near the nose yields the compression ratio from the pristine LISM into the modified LISM as a function of angle from the ENA pressure maximum in the globally distributed flux. Averaged across the ribbon, the average compression ratio is r c = 1.63 ± 0.22. The compression ratios and Alfvén speeds across the ribbon provide for extrapolations into the pristine LISM, resulting in an average LISM Alfvén speed, v A−LISM = 31.7 ± 3.3 km s−1. With the LISM flow speed of u LISM = 25.82 ± 0.33 km s−1 derived from previous IBEX studies, we find that the ratio of the ram flow energy density to the magnetic energy density in the LISM is uLISM2/vA−LISM2=0.66±0.14 . This indicates that the heliosphere is between the extremes of dynamic and magnetic pressure balance. The complex and time-varying structure of the heliosphere is strongly influenced both by interactions with the interstellar magnetic field and the interstellar flow, representing a new paradigm that will be explored as we connect IBEX observations with those made in the future by the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP).


This paper proposes an automated non-invasive multi-classifier system for skin cancer (melanoma) detection. The proposed system fuses the results obtained from three classification systems to enhance the melanoma detection rate. All of the classification systems use Support Vector Machine classifier. However, the image feature sets used in each classification system are different. The features sets used are Wavelets and Color features, Curvelets features and Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrices features. The output class labels or class probabilities of the three classification systems are combined using Majority Voting or Averaging Fusion to obtain enhanced classification rates. The dataset used include digital images for benign and malignant skin lesions. Experimental results show that the proposed multi-classifier fusion method outperforms standalone Skin Lesion classification systems in terms of recognition accuracy. Consequently, this can increase the chances of non-invasive melanoma detection from digital images.


Throughout this paper,X,Y, E, and Fwill denote real Banach spaces. An operator T : X → Y will be a continuous and linear function. The set of all continuous linear transformations fromX toYwill be denoted by L(X, Y) and the compact operators will be denoted by K(X, Y). In this paper, we study weak precompactness and relative weak compactness in spaces of compact operators. Our results are organized as follows. First, we give sufficient conditions for subsets of K(X, Y∗) to be weakly precompact and relatively weakly compact.These results are used to study whether the projective tensor product X⊗ π Y has properties (wV) and (V), when X and Y have the respective property. Finally, we prove that, in some cases, if X⊗ π Y has property (V), then L(X, Y∗) = K(X, Y).


The size and pattern of any public budget depend, among other factors, on the visibility of both the burdens and benefits of public revenue and expenditure. Furthermore, such visibility is a necessary - not a sufficient - condition for an efficient allocation of resources between the private and public sectors of an economy. The aim of this contribution, based on a recent research, is to apply fiscal visibility indicators to territorial government levels of new European Union member countries by using data and new qualitative information provided by the International Monetary Fund to draw relevant policy conclusions. Results obtained are particularly important for present and future European Union member countries aiming to make their respective fiscal systems converge for a better integration process, since significant allocation improvements can be obtained by implementing economic policy changes (public accounting systems, tax systems, public deficit management techniques...) in the new European Union member countries to raise both multiplicative and additive visibility values of public budget burdens and benefits and to bring them near to their optimal values. The proposed methodology, applied to former and new European Union member countries, can also be extended to other OECD economies to check whether the European Union pattern is shared by all developed countries and to design future general economic policies.


Abstract – The problem of hypothesis testing with a nuisance parameter is considered. Two methods for using fuzzy knowledge on the nuisance parameter to test hypotheses are suggested. These methods are neither a pure classical nor a pure Bayesian approach to hypothesis testing, but rather related to both. A few known examples and their applications, which cannot be studied by the parametric statistical methods, are discussed.


To Take up the major early seventeenth-century poets together as a cohort, as Paul Alpers once suggested--not divided up into separate schools of "The Sons of Ben Jonson" and of "The Metaphysicals a la John Donne," but to see them in their quite local (new historicist) context--is not only an intrinsically interesting idea but one which has a great deal to suggest to the study of early modern women. To do so would also put us in a better position to be able to consider, for example, Lady Mary Wroth's writing as something other than the mere imitation of family members' outmoded styles, decades out of fashion. To take Wroth up as not merely a member of her family or her gender, but of her generational cohort, promises to add something that heretofore has been missing from our sense of the dominant poets themselves, that is, the other side of the conversation, the women to whom, in fact, they were in part speaking and to whom they may quite well have been listening. My program for the continuing study of early modern women then, is to deghettoize them, and to place them in that local historical context where they, like their male counterparts, are most specifically revealed. Scholarship has up till now quite rightly emphasized sexual difference by focusing on what early modern women have in common with each other, whether experientially based in local history or essentially formed by the shared characteristics of their common (transtemporal) gender. Both approaches have constructed the early modern woman if not as a fully agented and autonomous subject, then certainly as a subject of study. What is needed now is to fold this new subject back into the old, so to speak, and to let it work its transformation. That is, to change the entire landscape of, for example, early seventeenth-century lyric poetry, not merely by sticking a heretofore unnoticed feature onto the map but by seeing how that new feature changes the relationship among all other features. Another example may help. The Sidney legacy--a set of influences deriving from her aunt, uncle, and father--may well remain a very powerful context in which to understand Mary Wroth.(1) But the juxtaposition of Wroth to Donne has this effect: it helps retrieve for us a sense of the power of context for him as well as for her. And by this context I mean both their experience of the patriarchally organized traffic in women and also of developing institutions of New World colonization. Their different sexual ideologies were forged through the impact of patriarchal structures on each, and their responses to the voyages to the New World are formulated through gender. Unusually similar to each other in this matter, Donne and Wroth both appear to have freely risked virtually their entire social position in order to make their own affectionate choices; they both thus transgressed against the rules governing the normal traffic in women in patriarchal society and consequently they both seem to value passionate eroticism over other social goods. Wroth had fallen in love with her first cousin, and Donne had fallen in love and married the sixteen-year-old niece of the Lord for whom he worked as secretary. As a member of a great household, then, Donne's breach in stealing the affections of a teenage girl without her father's consent is something akin to the trespass against the exogamous traffic in women Wroth also caused when she bore to her first cousin two illegitimate children. Donne's wife's father had him arrested and then went so far as to have Lord Egerton dismiss him from his position as secretary, a scandal from which Donne's career never fully recovered.(2) Both transgressed against the social rules prescribing conduct in the selection of appropriate mates both then in some profoundly similar sense, transgressed against the patriarchal system run by incest taboos. In 1621 Wroth published her scandalous romance, The Countess of Montgomerie's Urania; in that same year Donne finally was elected to the position of the Dean of St. …


Admission of new employees is undoubtedly one of the programs for the company to gethuman resources who have the potential and qualifications according to company needs. Thepurpose of this study is to design an employee recruitment system at PT Megah PerkasaTeknologi that still utilizes social media and verbal communication from one person toanother so that only a few are aware of the recruitment needs. HRD still records and selectsincoming files both obtained via e-mail and sent through the delivery service. Therefore weneed a web-based employee recruitment system that can provide more comprehensiveinformation to the public, especially those who are looking for work. The system designedusing the Unified Modeling Language, and software developers use the Waterfall model withthe PHP and MySQL programming languages. The results of this study indicate that employeerecruitment information disseminated to the community and its requirements. Applicants canonly apply for one position in the employee recruitment period with the ease of filling outapplications. Also, file selection becomes more accessible and faster because the applicant isonly required to apply according to the desired application position. So with this web-basedrecruitment system, the HRD team's performance is expected to be more productive andefficient at every stage from file receipt, written test, interview test, to decision making.


Doss examines the way in which public art is a site of conflict and a symbol of struggle in cultural democracy by analysing in detail seven specific projects, the controversies surrounding them, and the reasons behind their failure. Doss argues that public art is most effective when it is linked to a notion of a public sphere that involves, at every level, the community in which the project is based. Index, 4 p. Biographical notes on the author. Circa 325 bibl. ref.


BACKGROUND: Clinicals trials are the bedrock for evidence-based practice amongst healthcare professionals. Creating research opportunities through structured training is integral in developing future research leaders including allied health professionals (AHP)s. The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Associate Principal Investigator (API) scheme was launched in 2019 to support trainee medical, dental, nursing and AHPs to gain practical experience delivering clinical trials under local PIs. API certification requires completion of activities which includes Good Clinical Practice Training, attendance at trial meetings, trial recruitment and maintenance of site file related activities. The aim of this article was to showcase how the activities completed by an AHP undertaking the API scheme support researcher development. METHODS: SIP SMART2 is a multicentre trial of swallowing prehabilitation in head and neck cancer. SIP SMART2 was one of the first AHP-led trials to be registered on the API scheme in April 2019 with six APIs registered. The example of one trainee's activities and skills acquisition by completing the scheme were compared to a well-established researcher development framework known as the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). RESULTS: Activities completed during the API scheme supported development across all 4 domains of the RDF. In particular, Domain C (Research governance and organisation) and Domain D (Engagement, influence and impact). CONCLUSIONS: The API scheme provides an opportunity for AHPs to gain skills and experience to develop across all domains of the Vitae RDF. Future work should assess whether completion of the API scheme leads to long-term engagement in clinical research.


Gas hydrates are crystalline clathrate compounds composed of water and gas molecules that are stable at low temperature, high partial pressure of each gas component, and high gas concentration. Isotopic fractionation of carbon and hydrogen in methane during the formation of clathrate hydrate was reported by Hachikubo et al. (2007) that δD of hydrate-bound methane is 4.8±0.4‰ and 9.0±0.9‰ lower than that of residual methane for samples prepared from liquid water and ice powder, respectively. In this report, we discussed about the temperature effect on the isotopic difference between residual and hydrate-bound methane. The methane hydrate samples were experimentally prepared in a pressure cell, and the temperature was controlled by a liquid bath. Isotopic compositions of both residual and hydrate-bound methane were measured by an IRMS. Samples were formed in the temperature range from 274.2K to 283.2K, corresponded to the temperature of natural near-surface gas hydrates in the world. The hydrogen isotopic difference between hydrate-bound and residual methane were 3.5-5.5‰, agreed with the previous report above the ice point. Kikuchi et al. (2018) reported that the equilibrium pressure of CH 3 D hydrate is about 0.07MPa larger than that of CH 4 hydrate in the temperature range from 273.2K to 277.2K. Therefore, we can explain that the difference in equilibrium pressure between CH 3 D and CH 4 hydrates causes such isotopic difference in δD. Hachikubo et al.


This paper shows that stock market reactions to corporate downsizing became more positive over the 1990s, reflecting the growing legitimacy of this important management practice. Drawing on neo-ins...


Cardiac electrophysiologic studies were performed in three control dogs and in nine dogs with previous (8 to 22 days) anterior myocardial infarction. During programmed stimulation, no control dog had more inducible ventricular fibrillation (VF) or tachycardia (VT), three dogs with infarcts had inducible VF and six had inducible VT. Recordings in vivo were made via a plaque electrode containing 10 bipolar electrodes (3.0 x 1.5 cm) placed on the epicardial surface of the anteroapical left ventricle. Subsequently, epicardial strips (2 mm thick) from beneath the plaque were prepared for studies in vitro. Electrogram durations were significantly greater in dogs with infarcts than in control dogs both in vivo (p less than .05) and in vitro (p less than .001). Electrogram amplitudes were significantly lower in dogs with VT in vivo (p less than .05) and in vitro (p less than .001). In control animals activation was continuous and most rapid in the direction of fiber orientation; there were areas of slow and/or discontinuous conduction in all dogs with infarcts. In one case, sustained reentrant beating in vitro was caused by functional unidirectional block and microreentry at a site of continuous electrical activity during VT in vivo. Reentrant beating in vitro persisted in 0.5 cc of isolated tissue. We conclude that broad low-amplitude electrograms in vivo and in vitro depict local areas of slow and/or discontinuous conduction, that the intrinsic asymmetry of cardiac activation due to fiber orientation is accentuated by infarction and may predispose to intraventricular reentry, and that intraventricular reentrant circuits that may be present on the epicardial surface may persist in a volume of myocardial tissue as small as 0.5 cc.


(57) The present invention relates to devices for receiving and / or sending of letters and parcels. The invention relates to electromechanical modules for receiving and / or sending letters and parcels. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for the detection of letters and parcels. Furthermore, the invention relates to devices for the detection of packets.


Dental techniques in daily practice include many important steps, such as endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics. Also, at the time of making a crown, good preparation, clear and perfectly fitted margin and precise impression are important. However, the most fundamental part of daily practice is diagnosis. Correct diagnosis is the basis of the treatment, while fates diagnosis will have an adverse effect on the result and success cannot be achieved. For the practitioner, the basis of initial diagnosis is occlusion and the consideration and checking of the harmony among stomatognathic organs. We should begin by checking the condition of the intercuspal occtusal position in centric relation. Attention should be paid to how the positional relation of the mandible is in centric relation, to what the direction and quantity of the gap is between the centric relation and the intercuspal position, and lastly to how the intercuspal occlusal position will be changed if occlusal adjustment is made. After checking these points, the next diagnosis will be determined. The diagnosis in centric relation is essential not only for gnathologists but for all dentists. Thus, the author believes that daily diagnosis starts with centric relation and ends with remounting.


For many years the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey has been investigating the lakes of the state. The complex life of lakes offers a great variety of interrelated problems for study, each of which demands at least some attention before any general conclusions can be reached. Thus the work has advanced slowly and in a more or less piecemeal fashion, according as opportunity allowed. Many aspects of limnology have been treated in the bulletins of the Survey and in briefer publications. The morphometry of the lakes has been presented in two bulletins. The principal systematic studies have included two bulletins on the plankton algae; a study of the insects of Lake Mendota; and a monograph on the Rotifera, of which three parts with 88 plates have already appeared. To the physics of the lakes the Survey has contributed a bulletin on the dissolved gases and papers on temperatures and on the absorption of the sun's radiation. But the main continuous work has been on the organic life of the lakes, both as to quantity and chemistry. The bottom fauna and the annual crop of higher plants have been studied from these points of view; and two bulletins have been published on the quantity and chemistry of the plankton, besides numerous papers dealing with special chemical problems of the plankton and with the nitrogen dissolved in the water. The present paper brings together the results of four studies, of which two have been published and two are here reported for the first time. It states the content of organic matter in lake water, including that organized into plants and animals, or existing in the form of organic debris, or held in some sort of solution. For this purpose are employed a report of Birge and Judayl on the plankton, a report by Domogalla, Juday and Peterson2 on the soluble nitrogen; and hitherto unpublished studies of the organic carbon and the ether extract found in the dry residues of evaporated lake water. The result is to furnish the beginnings of an inventory of the fundamental food supply for the living beings of inland lakes. The observations here reported were made on large samples of lake water, whose average size was about 100 liters. The plankton was extracted by Sharples centrifuge and the water was then evaporated in a vacuum pan. The total amount of dry residue was determined and also its content in organic nitrogen and organic carbon. Fifty such samples were examined from Lake Mendota and 24 from 15 other waters. The determinations VOL. 12, 1926 515


(57) [summary] from the pedunculated herbaceous plants such as Tatoebawara and flax, fibrous furnish a process for the preparation of which is suitable for paper making. The method includes the steps of a fibrous material was cut into chips, and cooking and bleaching. The cooking liquor using water, whereas the addition of an acid, higher than 3 lower than the final pH of the digestion 7. To adjust the pH, it is possible to use an organic acid such as an inorganic acid or formic acid, acetic acid or mixtures thereof. By bleaching, the stock reliably macerated. Preferably, a peroxide as a bleaching agent.


This paper presents a new smooth object manipulation method which is based on finger relocation. It relies on a special stratified manipulation concept. This method performs the stratified motion planning algorithm, not using the exact kinematic model but a fictitious system. The process provides a simpler control algorithm because it substitutes the generally hard symbolic computation problem with a simple (almost pure numerical) computations. Finally, the paper introduces the simulation results for the new method.


Difficult tracheal intubation is defined when tracheal intubation requires multiple attempts, in the presence or absence of tracheal pathology. Most importantly, difficult intubation differs between countries and populations. Physicians should be aware of difficult intubation frequencies of their populations. Turkey is a transit country between East and West. Eastern Turkey reflects the Middle East and Asia, while western Turkey has European features. Our objectives were to investigate the frequency of difficult intubation in different regions' populations, and specificity and sensitivity of predictive values. According to the population in the regions, 24 experienced anesthesiologists from 13 hospitals in 7 regions, were included in the study. Of 1313 patients, 143 patients (10.89%) were detected as difficult intubation. Mallampathy (MLP) III-IV were alone (p = 0.043), and the combination of thyromental distance <6 cm and MLP III-IV (p: 0.018) were statistically significant in difficult and easy intubation patient groups. The specificity was 97.46% in MLP + thyromental combination, and 98.05% in MLP + mouth opening combination. Western region had the shortest measurements in sternomental, thyromental and mouth opening (p <0.05), and had the most difficult intubation frequency compared to the other regions (p: 0.001). The positive predictive values were increased with increasing combinations, but further research is needed on the predictors of difficult intubation.


In many parts of the world, multilingual classrooms are the norm. In most countries in South Asia, in West, East and Southern Africa, in parts of East Asia and increasingly in Europe, teachers work with groups of students who speak many different languages at home. While the medium of instruction for schools may officially be designated as the national language (or in some cases other languages such as English or French), in reality, multiple languages are used to mediate teaching and learning.


This paper introduces a control system of automatic ultrasonic testing based on AT89C52 single-chip microcomputer,it included the hardware architecture and the software configuration of this control system. This control system and numerical control motion scanning system coordinated work. The result of experiment shows that the control system has the characteristics of high reliability, high precision, increases the automation level of ultrasonic testing system, and can be used in multiple ultrasonic testing systems.


Persons with physical disabilities who live in rural areas and require personal assistance in order to function face almost overwhelming barriers to pursuing independent lives. From the time of onset of disability, families assume the major responsibility for meeting their personal assistance needs. Often individuals with disabilities are poorly prepared to manage this need for themselves, lacking information and experiencing severe limitations in financial and human resources. The author presents information on personal assistance and methods used by people with physical disabilities to meet their need for personal assistance, and discusses the special assistance-related problems faced by people living in rural areas.


Photograph of six men in bathing suits carrying a canoe above their heads. Trees are visible in the background, although they are fenced off with barbed wire. Two of the men wear shoes on the beach; the rest are barefoot. The second from the left has something white in his mouth.


A synergistic composition comprising a THP salt and a raw penetrating agent, the raw penetrating agent comprises a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid polymer or an unsaturated acid of the acid carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid, wherein said polymer or copolymer is a mono- or di-phosphine sulfonated unsaturated the carboxylic acid group at the end of the shoes, or by such a monomer is incorporated into the polymer backbone. The composition acts synergistically plankton sex (free pelagic) and stickiness (cohesiveness) to improve the THP salt of biocidal efficacy against the bacterial two, also improve the THP salt of efficacy in the dissolution of the iron sulfide scale to act synergistically thereby.


Learners of English might be familiar with several online monolingual dictionaries that are not necessarily the best choic es for the English as Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) context. In my experience while teaching ESL at an intensive English program in the Unit ed States, learners of English often consult sources like Dictionary.com (www.dictionary.com) and MerriamWebster (www.merriam-webster.com). Although these monolingual online dictionaries contain definitions, pro nunciation guides, and other elements normally found in general-use diction aries, they are compiled with native or near-native speakers of English in mind, not for learners of English. Eng lish learners tend to gravitate to these dictionaries because they are seemingly unaware of other dictionaries that are specifically designed for them. Research on dictionary use in second language teaching indicates learners of English gain much when


Objective
To Analysis residual tumor with MRI after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) with accumulation deposition of lipiodol in HCC patients.

Methods
After TACE treatment for 3~6 months, CT scanning were preformed in 25 HCC patients with lipiodol accumulation deposition, and Residual tumors, revealed with MRI scan, were compared with the results of DSA and clinical follow-up 6 months. CT,MRI and DSA underwent routinely within one month, and Residual tumors were analyzed with MRI and DSA results.

Results
The group of 25 cases of CT scan in patients without residual tumor , enhanced MRI scan revealed residual tumor in14 cases, including1 cases suspect of residual tumor with DWI scan finding high signal, residual tumor was confirmed by subsequent DSA, while residual tumors in16 cases were confirmed by DSA and more than 6 months of clinical follow-up. The sensitivity of MRI follow-up diagnosis was 87.5% (14/16), the rate of missed diagnosis for (2/16), the specificity was 100% (9/9), the coincidence rate is 92% ((14+9) /25).

Conclusions
Rresidual tumor may exist within original HCC lesions with accumulation deposition of lipiodol , MRI scanning may more comprehensive detect the viable tumor after TACE.

Key words:
carcinoma, hepatocelluar; Megnetic resonance imaging; lipiodol; therapeutic effect; chemoemblolization


Correlation functions that can accurately predict the extent of the streamwise regions of influence for twodimensional supersonic turbulent flows over compression ramps, expansion corners, and shock-impingement flowfields have been developed. These empirically developed correlations that involve known flow parameters can be used to determine the lengths of the streamwise (upstream and downstream) regions of influence. The correlations were obtained by analyzing numerically generated compression ramp, expansion corner, and shockimpingement flowfields. These flowfields were computed using an iterative parabolized Navier‐Stokes algorithm in conjunction with the relaxation eddy-viscosity turbulence model of Shang and Hankey. Regression analysis using the least-squares approach was applied to the numerically generated data to determine the correlation functions. The accuracy of the developed correlations is demonstrated by comparing them with experimental and numerical data, and they were found to be accurate in predicting the extent of both the upstream and downstream influence regions.


ABSTRACT The United States of America owns nearly 150,000 hectares of mountain land in northeastern Tennessee. Administered as the northern half of the Cherokee National Forest, these lands were purchased primarily between 1915 and 1941 under Weeks Act authority. The United States Forest Service has not established the intensive forestry that it originally hoped to bring to this area, nor has it created the jobs that it once planned. But the land is in far better condition than it was eighty years ago. An urban forest more than a tree farm, this national forest is still to be appreciated.


Rastall's theory is a generalization of Einstein's equations in which the energy–momentum tensor is not a conserved quantity, its covariant derivative is proportional to the gradient of the Ricci scalar and this fact can be associated with quantum effects in curved spacetime. In this work we will go study the Rastall's gravity in the context of the Godel-type universe.


In this paper, we introduce degenertae generalized hypergeometric functions and study degenerate hypergeometric numbers of order p. These numbers involving of lambda-binomial coefficients and lambda-falling sequence, and can be represented by means of the degenerate generalized hypergeometric functions. we will derive some explicit expressions and combinatorial identities for those numbers. We also consider several related special numbers like lambda-hypergeometric numbers of order p and Apostol type lambda-hypergeometric numbers of order p, of which the latter reduce in a limiting case to the generalized p-th order Franel numbers.


In order to monitor the performance and related efficiency of a combined cycle power plant (CCPP), in addition to the best utilization of its power output, it is vital to predict its full load electrical power output. In this paper, the full load electrical power output of CCPP was predicted employing practically efficient machine learning algorithms, including linear regression, ridge regression, lasso regression, elastic net regression, random forest regression, and gradient boost regression. The original data came from an actual confidential power plant, which was working on a full load for 6 years, with four major features: ambient temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and exhaust vacuum, and one target (electrical power output per hour). Different regression performance measures were used, including R2 (coefficient of determination), MAE (Mean Absolute Error), MSE (Mean Squared Error), RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error), and MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error). Research results revealed that the gradient boost regression model outperformed other models with and without using the dimensionality reduction technique (PCA) with the highest R2 of 0.912 and 0.872, respectively, and had the lowest MAPE of 0.872 % and 1.039 %, respectively. Moreover, prediction performance dropped slightly after using the dimensionality reduction technique almost in all regression algorithms used. The novelty in this work is summarized in predicting electrical power output in a CCPP based on a few features using simpler algorithms than reported deep learning and neural networks algorithms combined. That means a lower cost and less complicated procedure as per each, however, resulting in practically accepted results according to the evaluation metrics used.


[Objective] The aim was to discuss the relationship between endogenous polyamine metabolism in roots and high temperature stress of Pyrus calleryana Dcne and P.betulaefolia Bunge,which had an important significance of maintaining normal metabolism of roots.[Method] The seedlings of Pyrus calleryana Dcne and P.betulaefolia Bunge were used as experimental materials,the changes on defoliation rate of two rootstocks under 45 ℃ were compared,and content changes of free and conjugated polyamines in roots of two rootstocks under 30 and 45 ℃ were analyzed.[Result] The results showed that the time when defoliation rate appeared over 65% in Pyrus calleryana Dcne was 8 days earlier than that in P.betulaefolia Bunge.Four kinds of polyamines,free and conjugated putrescine(Put),hexanediamine(Hex),spermidine(Spm),spermine(Spm) existed in roots of the two rootstocks.High temperature stress leaded free and conjugated Put,Spd and Spm content to increase,and content of free Put,Spd,Spm and conjugated Spm in P.betulaefolia Bunge was significantly higher than those in P.calleryana Dcne.[Conclusion] The research indicates that there are close relationship between endogenous polyamine metabolism change and high temperature tolerance of different experiment materials.


With the rapid development of society, women have to bear multiple pressures from family, life and work, which virtually affect the function of ovarian reserve. In order to explore the relationship between emotional factors and ovarian reserve function, by analyzing the importance and harmfulness of emotional factors to ovarian reserve function, this paper highlights the need to soothe the liver and regulate qi in the whole process of treatment. The importance of emotional factors to ovarian reserve function is emphasized, and it is concluded that there is a significant clinical effect in the treatment of ovarian reserve function from the liver theory, and it is advocated that clinical attention should be paid to the regulating effect of emotion on ovarian reserve function. In order to achieve the purpose of harmony of qi and blood, at the same time, this paper is expected to provide a certain scientific basis for clinical treatment. Another case 1 is attached for corroboration. refers to the quantity and quality of eggs retained in the ovary, which is the key to en-sure female and reflects the reproductive endocrine function and reproductive potential of Modern medicine believes that heredity, immunology, weight loss, contraceptive, environment, iatrogenic injury and other factors affect ovarian reserve function, but the specific pathogenesis is not clear, TCM recuperation. LMP: 2020-3-3, this is the 56th day of the menstrual cycle, hair loss, face, poor spirit, poor appetite, poor night rest, two stools. The tongue is red, the fur is yellowish, pointed red, and the pulse strings are numbered. B-mode ultrasonography showed that the size of uterus was about 7.6cmx 5.5cm × 3.1cm, the size of right ovary was about 3.2cm × 2.7cm, the size of right ovary was about 3.2cm × 2.7cm, the size of left ovary was about 3.3cm × 1.9cm, and there were 7 dark areas of 0.5cm follicles, which were about 1.3 × 1.1cm. Six sex hormones: FSH: 3.8mIU/mL, LH: 4.6mIU/mL, E2:44pmol/L, P: 2.2nmol/L, T:1.21nmol/L, PRL:0.27nmol/L. Blood β -HCG < 0.100mIU/mL. Western medicine diagnosed as menstrual disorders. The diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine is: 1. The amount of menstruation is less than; 2. Late menstruation; 3. Hair loss. Dialectical: liver depression and blood deficiency. Treatment: soothing the liver and relieving depression, reconciling qi and blood. Prescription: Siwu Xiaoyao Powder combined with tonifying female and promoting endometrium is added and subtracted. The specific medication is as follows: (1) Radix Bupleuri 12g, Radix Atractylodes Codonopsis


Through experiments on inflammable gas leakage in a utility tunnel by using CO2,the influences of gas leakage rate,flowing time and measurement distance on mole fraction distribution were analyzed.An empirical formula for calculating the mole fraction distribution was presented on the basis of the experimental data.The results calculated by the formula could meet the demands of the practical engineering on accuracy.This study provides experimental foundations for the security design of the utility tunnel with inflammable gas pipelines.


Background: Malaria is one of high burden infectious diseases for tropical-subtropical areas worldwide, such as Indonesia, especially in the eastern Indonesia. Malaria eradication once failed in late 1960s, now re-emerge after a commitment statement of Bill Gates in 2007. Now, Indonesia also targeting malaria elimination in 2030. Objective: To determine the feasibility of Malaria Elimination Program 2030, especially in Indonesia with existing modalities to combat malaria. Methods: This paper uses data, ranging 2000-2016, which selected from MEDLINE journal portal and other sources, which found to be relevant with topics, yet reliable. Results and Discussion: Malaria eradication can not be equalized to smallpox's, which has characteristics those very supportive in putting it to be eradicated (such as no subclinical infection and do not involve vector). Until now, issues of fake antimalarial drugs, forest malaria, financing commitment and healthcare service in rural parts of Indonesia remain unanswered and managed optimally. It also appears that medical advances can not contribute optimally without being supported by strategic policies. Conclusion and Suggestions: With existing modalities and situation, malaria control still difficult to be achieved in Indonesia. This will cause malaria eradication program in 2030 as less realistic target. Malaria eradication as a target may be worth to be reconsidered. Malaria control as target may be a more realistic alternative. More advanced studies regarding obstacles in managing malaria in Indonesia and its solutions are mandatory.


Objectives To assess whether age at menarche, age at menopause, parity, and selected blood hormones are associated with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among women.


The purpose of this study was to improve a laboratory scale sweet sorghum press through redesign of rollers for better grip on stalks and better pressing efficiency, and to implement a system to allow rollers to move vertically to prevent plugging. The new rollers were designed based in part on sugar milling technology. A hydraulic pressure system was designed to allow vertical movement of two of the top rollers. Roll gap pressure levels of 0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 MPa were chosen for evaluation. Improvements in throughput of sweet sorghum stalks were observed when using grooved rollers with the hydraulic pressure system. Stalk grip was improved, and plugging was observed less frequently. When plugging did occur, it was less severe than that which occurred using the original design of the press. The statistical analysis of the treatment efficiencies showed that the optimum operating point for grooved rollers was a uniform projected pressure of 3 MPa. This resulted in a pressing efficiency of 43.2%.


We introduce an adaptation of the RLC metric data structure to secondary memory. RLC is generic, dynamic, and efficient when compared with other metric data structures implemented in main memory, where performance is analysed only in terms of the number of distance computations. In this work, the experimental study compares RLC with three data structures implemented in secondary memory, comprises two dictionaries and two sets of images, and evaluates both the number of distance computations and the number of I/O operations performed. The results show that RLC is very efficient for range queries and very competitive for insertions.


with the dvelopment of CATV, there are gradudlly more and more programs,together with linkamplifiers.As a result,it would carse more serious noiSe and distortion,In order to improve the re-ception quality,we are asked to make better design of a carrier for its noise ratio and CTB target.Ex-perience shows the when there are more sets of program, CTB is becoming of the most imprtant in-terferent prameters as a symbol of unlinear distortion targets.Therefore,this article attempts to look for a rational disposition of frequeney channel through state-analysis on CTB target and unlinear distortion so as to achieve a more reasonable design.


The invention relates to a structure (1) of a vehicle having at least one structural unit (30) and a front end (5), which auxiliary frame connected to at least a stiffening unit (10) and with the reinforcement unit (10) (40) having the structural unit (30) is connected. According to the invention the reinforcing unit (10) is formed as a between the structural unit (30) and the front end (5) extending thrust field (20), which is reinforced by an additional reinforcement member (16).


A base 5, and at least one light source 4 is disposed on the base, and at least one light transmissive optical element 7, at least one light source and at least one light transmissive outer surrounding disposed so as to cover the optical element lighting device 1 is provided comprising a vessel 6. At least a portion of the at least one optical element, such that the at least one optical element, in order to create at least one virtual light source 8 is spaced from the base, to refract light emitted by the at least one light source, It has a thickness D that increases in the direction towards the base. This embodiment, each of the envelope and the optical element, for example, by standard injection molding techniques, which is advantageous in that it is separately manufacturable.


Objective— Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is described as a positive regulator of vascular smooth muscle growth in cell culture. However, insight into the in vivo effects of TSP1 on smooth muscle cell (SMC) function is lacking. Methods and Results— We analyzed wild-type (WT) and TSP1-deficient (Tsp1−/−) mice in a carotid artery ligation model, in which neointimal lesions form without overt mechanical damage to the endothelium. On ligation, the expression of TSP1 increased strongly in the matrix of neointima and adventitia. In the early phase after ligation (day 3 to 7), activation, proliferation, and migration of medial SMCs were delayed and impaired in Tsp1−/− mice, in parallel with defective upregulation of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity. As a result, Tsp1−/− arteries developed smaller neointimal lesions, a thicker media but comparably attenuated patency as in WT arteries, 28 days after ligation. Furthermore, medial and neointimal SMCs in Tsp1−/− mice produced more collagen, more osteopontin, and displayed weaker smooth muscle actin staining than WT SMCs, indicative of a modified SMC phenotype in Tsp1−/− mice. Conclusions— Arterial SMC activation in the absence of TSP1 is delayed and dysregulated, reducing neointima formation, on mild vascular injury.


Maximum-likelihood range profiling is considered for pulse-dimager operation of a coherent laser radar. In particular, the expectation-maximization algorithm is used to develop a computationally simple procedure for fitting a planar surface to laser radar range data. Basic analytic properties of the algorithm are reviewed and results based on simulated and real range data are presented.


Due to the strong global optimization capability and fast convergence, PSO has shown its efficiency in solving various real world benchmark applications. But premature convergence is one of the major drawback of PSO. In this paper to address this issue, a hybrid PSO-GA based Pi-sigma neural network with standard back propagation gradient descent learning (PSO-GA-PSNN) has been proposed for classification problems. The adjustment of algorithmic parameters is iteratively used until the error is less than the desired output. The proposed PSO-GA-PSNN has been tested with various benchmark datasets taken from UCI machine learning repository and the simulated results are being tested with the statistical tool ANOVA to show the obtained results are statistically steady and valid.


This question is frequently brought to the attention of otologists because hard of hearing patients are constantly asking for advice. Generally, the advice given is to try two or three sets, and then, from the patient's experience with them, determine for himself whether any of them is of service or not. What would you think of an ophthalmologist who would advise a patient to obtain glasses in a similar manner? Of course, I realize there is not a strict analogy between the two cases, but I am sure you will agree that such advice is far from satisfactory from the patient's viewpoint. I t is my purpose in presenting this paper to give such facts concerning speech and its interpretation, types of deafness, characteristics of hearing aids, and the reactions of deafened persons, as bear upon this problem and as have emerged from our research studies at Bell Telephone Laboratories along related lines. First let us consider the nature of speech. Its loudness varies as the speech proceeds in a manner indicated in Fig. 1. This shows the variations in loudness level as the sentence "Joe took father's shoe bench out" is spoken, the time scale being represented on the horizontal axis. If the ear of a listener who has normal hearing is one meter away from the mouth of the speaker, he will experience changes in loudness about as indicated on the scale under the caption "Normal Hearing." The numbers used are decibels or sensation units above the threshold of hearing. The scales at the left of this normal are for persons having the hearing loss as designated at the top of each column. For comparison purposes, the dots at the bottom indicate the average noise level in which conversation is usually carried on. Of course, this varies a great deal but it represents a typical condition.


SUMMARY Treatment of depression has changed due to the fact that certain patients are seen outside mental health institutions, at the primary health care level or at general hospitals and because the effectiveness of interventions for the treatment of depression at this level must be proved. This situation has led to the search and development of instruments for the detection of depression, that are brief, do not require the participation of a mental health specialist, not include physical symptoms, and are sensitive to the effects of an intervention. The aim of this paper is to describe the results of the application of the MHI-5 in a study of depression in women that seek treatment at the primary health care level. The article describes the internal consistency and validity of the instrument: the criterion validity when compared with the diagnosis established by a consultant, the concurrent validity in regard to other scales of symptoms and also data on its sensitivity for the measurement of changes resulting from an anti-depressive intervention (predictive validity). The study was carried out at three Mental Health Community Centers and a Health Center of the Secretary of Health. The sample consisted of 254 women that requested treatment in response to an offer of a psycho-educational intervention for depression. The women that sought help and met the criteria for inclusion were interviewed based on a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, life events and other relevant aspects to the study, as well as on emotional symptoms. The latter were evaluated by using the MHI-5, the Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; the Anxiety and Somatization Scales of the SCL-90 and Coopersmith's SelfEsteem Inventory. Current depressive episodes were evaluated using the SCID, which is based on the DSM-IIIR criteria. The study compares a group intervention (IG) of six sessions and a minimal intervention (IIM) of one session, with pre-, post- and follow-up evaluations. A sub-sample of 39 randomly selected women was evaluated nearly two years after the intervention. This article only reports the data relevant to the afore mentioned objectives. The mean age of the interviewees was 35.3 years (DS 6.5), and their socio-economic level was lower middle or low. The internal consistency of the MHI-5, measured through Cronbach's coefficient, was 0.83. The sensitivity of the instrument (validity of criterion) to identify women with a depressive episode diagnosis according to the DSM-IIIR was 95.6% and 94.1% with cut-off points of 16 and 17 respectively. The corresponding specificity for both cut-off points was 33.9% and 43.25%. As for concurrent validity, extremely high, significant correlations were observed with the scales of comparison: depression symptoms, somatization, anxiety and negative self-esteem symptoms, at the four points of the evaluation (pre-, post and four-months and two-years followup). Predictive validity (sensitivity to change) determined by the application of the MHI-5 in the three evaluations showed significant differences within the groups (between pre; post and four-month follow-up) (F=52.779; P =.00) but not between conditions (group and individual) (F=.513; P=.60) in the MANOVA for repeated measures. These results were very similar to those observed in the other scales. For the sub-sample evaluated after two years, the MANOVA for repeated measures showed significant differences between the groups (F= 13.319; P=00), but not between the conditions (F=.287; P=.835). The results of this study show that the MHI-5 is a valid, reliable instrument to measure depression in women that attend community mental health institutions and seek primary health care. It is worth noting the high internal consistency obtained, because despite being an instrument with only five items, it stands within the range regarded as appropriate. At the same time, the validity of the MHI-5 as a screening instrument was demonstrated by the high sensitivity observed. The use of the cut-off points recommended by the authors of the instrument means that the possibility of false negatives is virtually null. The MHI-5 proved to be as sensitive to the changes produced by an intervention as other instruments with a higher number of items, a fact that proves the usefulness of this instrument.


Two-wavelength nonlinear loop mirrors are proposed as all-optically-controlled amplitude/phase modulators for in-line synchronous regeneration in transoceanic soliton systems. Simulations show improvement of transmission compared to systems regenerated with pure intensity modulators. This is explained by efficient reduction of soliton interactions.


The prolonged situation of COVID-19 has caused complete chaos in our everyday life and had also an immense impact on the development of the youth in the school class transition to the college level. Thus, this study would qualitatively explore the meaning of college freshmen's experiences of development during the school class transition period in the COVID-19 situation. To do so, in-depth interviews were held with seven college freshmen who went through the transition period at the time, and the data were analyzed step by step according to the descriptive phenomenological qualitative research method proposed by Giorgi (1985). As a result, 15 components and five categories of the research participants' perceptions and experiences were vividly revealed. In particular, the categories included "The end of high school years suddenly mixed up due to the COVID-19 pandemic," "The opportunity barely seized to grow the dream inside and outside the school due to the threat of the infectious disease," "The college looking empty reached after going through the turmoil of disaster," "The microsystem's support that comforted the inevitably lonesome early year as a college student," and "My mind that allowed myself to hold out the loose entry into adulthood." In addition, these resulted in the central topic, "The adulthood opened by sprouting the dream in my way despite the school class transition entangled by anxiety." Lastly, this study made suggestions for supporting the healthy and happy daily life of young adults living while cultivating development during the school class transition period to college in the COVID-19 situation.


Australians are not happy with the conservative Christian camp's way of spreading the gospel in the form of music but would rather acknowledge their achievements without the glitz and hype typical of such productions. Students in Australia are against formal awards as they feel that the joy and satisfaction that comes from creative expression is wiped out by the politicised nature of school-sponsored prizes.


Focal spot positioning and robot path control require online measurement of the distance between a welding head and the workpiece to be processed. For autonomously working applications, such as cognitive focal shift control, distance measurements can be used to teach coaxial video images at different distances. This paper compares optical sensors based on laser triangulation with those based on optical coherence tomography, which can be embedded in either pre or post-process monitoring systems, thus allowing for accurate distance measurements. Because optical coherence tomography sensors are mainly used for medical purposes, their applicability in laser material processing was examined and verified. Using three workpieces with known geometrical properties, the lateral and depth resolution, and detectable angle dependency could be obtained. The advantages and limitations of the examined sensors are discussed here.Focal spot positioning and robot path control require online measurement of the distance between a welding head and the workpiece to be processed. For autonomously working applications, such as cognitive focal shift control, distance measurements can be used to teach coaxial video images at different distances. This paper compares optical sensors based on laser triangulation with those based on optical coherence tomography, which can be embedded in either pre or post-process monitoring systems, thus allowing for accurate distance measurements. Because optical coherence tomography sensors are mainly used for medical purposes, their applicability in laser material processing was examined and verified. Using three workpieces with known geometrical properties, the lateral and depth resolution, and detectable angle dependency could be obtained. The advantages and limitations of the examined sensors are discussed here.


Abstract : A collocation method for evaluating integrals of rapidly oscillating functions is analyzed. The method is based on the approximation of the antiderivative of the integrand as the solution of an ordinary differential equation via polynomial collocation. Numerical examples are presented. (Author)


This paper presents an intact scheme of timing synchronization for Multi-Band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MB-OFDM) Ultra Wide Band (UWB) systems. Frame detection and coarse timing are implemented with the Maximum Correlation (MC) method based on the first-band information of the preamble. Fine timing is achieved with the Minimum Energy Ratio (MER) method based on the information of all the three bands. Lag corrections are performed twice to avoid Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI). Simulations show that residual timing error can be kept at a small scale under multipath channels which can be compensated with channel in the frequency domain.


To study the influence of Herba Patriniae on lipid metabolism of rats,SD rats(male and female in half and half) were used as experimental animals.The experimental model was established with high-fat feed.Blood from eyeball was drawn after fed for 4 weeks.The contents of cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) were 3.01,1.36,0.32 and 1.07,respectively.Results showed that,compared with the positive control group,the contents of TC,TG,LDL-c of the other three groups were much lower and HDL-c was significantly higher.There were remarkable differences among the different dose groups.It was concluded that Herba patriniae has action of regulating blood lipids.The Herba patriniae can be used as a functional food to be developed.


Maintenance of distribution networks is among the most important tasks a public utility company faces. Data about the pipes and their location are stored in a Geographic Information System, which is applied for documentary purposes only. The use of this information to manage construction sites for the maintenance of pipe networks would reap large cost savings. Hence this article discusses a spatial database based decision support system for gas pipe maintenance.


Background: An acute respiratory disease, known as the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was identified in the late 2019. As launched by World Health Organization, it is now a pandemic problem. So far there is no any vaccine or drug for treatment to this disease. The world including Ethiopia have been relying on practicing different preventive measures. As of 17-Apr-2020, the Ethiopian health minister reported 96 confirmed cases and 3 deaths of COVID-19 from the total of 6231 laboratory tests conducted. The mainstay of approach to avoid COVID-19 is applying preventive measures. Therefore, the current survey aimed to assess self-reported measures of prevention practice and associated factors regarding COVID-19 among educated Ethiopians in the early stage of this outbreak.Methods: An online based cross-sectional study was conducted to collect information from educated Ethiopians during the early stage of the outbreak from March 25 to April 4, 2020. Electronic based questionnaire developed by reviewing literature and revising from ''COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring comprised monitoring knowledge, risk perceptions, preventive behaviors, and public trust in the current coronavirus outbreak. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25. Results were presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. To determine predictor variables for preventive practice, a binary logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the final model were declared as predictors.Results: Five-hundred and twenty-eight Ethiopians participated in this study of which 80.7% were males. The mean age of study participants was 33.2 (±7.4) years. Above one-third (34.7%) of the participants had a health-related profession. Majority (79.7%) of the respondents attended degree and above education. Overall, above half (55.9%) of the study participants had good knowledge about COVID-19. About 55.3% and 57.8% had good knowledge regarding symptoms and prevention methods of COVID-19, respectively. Overall, above half (54%) of the respondents had good COVID-19 preventive practice. Being female [Adjusted Odds Ratio (Adjusted Odds Ratio): 2.00; 95%CI (1.14, 3.50)], higher age (aged 33-37 years [AOR: 1.98; 95%CI (1.01, 3.87)] and 38-72 years [AOR: 2.60; 95%CI (1.33, 5.10)]), good knowledge of symptoms [AOR: 2.82; 95%CI (1.85, 4.31)], good knowledge of prevention methods [AOR: 4.55; 95%CI (2.92, 7.10)], having sufficient knowhow to protect self [AOR: 1.83; 95%CI (1.14, 2.96)] and belief of presence of re-infection [AOR: 1.86; 95%CI (1.03, 3.38)] were significantly associated with COVID-19 preventive practices.Conclusion: The COVID-19 preventive practice is not sufficiently satisfactory among educated Ethiopians. Females, those with advanced age, those who believes presence of re-infection by COVID-19, those with good knowledge of symptoms, prevention methods, and self-protective knowhow had better preventive practice. Extensive public awareness raising focusing on young population and males is essential to fight further spread of the virus.


A combination modeling way of IDEF0 and Petri net was provided, the function of thewhole system and the relationships between all sub-systems was described by IDEF0, PN was used fordescribing the dynamic behaviors like re-entrant, concurrence, resources sharing, re-work in stochastic,equipment break down, and so on. A lithography system is modeled in this way as an example.