The studies of neutron emission in Z-pinches are analyzed in this work. The available ideas concerning the nature of neutron emission are contradictory. The terms "fusion mechanism" and "acceleration mechanism" used in publications concerning neutron generation are unable to explain all characteristic properties of Z-pinches observed experimentally. The physical grounds for using these mechanisms are also not fully confirmed. The revision of the existing theoretical approaches makes it possible to reveal new methods for studying Z-pinches, such as the studies of considerable energy release in the Z-pinch plasmas due to the development of MHD instability, as well as the studies of the energy transport during which the most of the magnetic field energy is transported directly to ions, without the participation of the electron component.


An allyl group was introduced to the α′-position of α-substituted pyrrolidines and the stereoselectivity of the allylation was investigated. High diastereoselectivities were achieved by modifying the α-substituents or the functional groups located at the nitrogen atom of pyrrolidine ring.


The invention discloses a vertical and horizontal dual-purpose alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous compound electric spindle which comprises a first alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle and a second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle, wherein the volume of the first alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle is more than that of the second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle; the upper end of the first alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle is fixed on a flange plate through a linking fixing cover; a 45-degree included angle is formed between the first alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle and the horizontal plane; the second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle is mounted at the lower end of the first alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle; the first and second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindles are in sliding fit with each other; the second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle is vertical to the horizontal plane; and a first rotating shaft can drive the second alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous electric spindle to switch from a position vertical to the horizontal plane to a position parallel to the horizontal plane. The vertical and horizontal dual-purpose alternating current permanent-magnetic synchronous compound electric spindle has the advantages of simple structure, convenience in use, more complete function and wider application field.


Using the framework of the mean‐field homogenization method, we propose a continuum and a lattice version of the cascade micromechanics model for the estimation of the effective permeability of microcracked materials. Estimates for the critical microcrack density below which the REV becomes effectively impermeable are derived for both the continuum and the lattice idealizations. A validation example that compares model predictions with direct numerical simulations for the effective permeability as a function of the microcrack volume fraction is provided. (© 2016 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


The study investigates the effectiveness of an energy retrofit strategy based on the adoption of an aerogelbased coating aimed at mitigating thermal bridges and reducing energy losses. The material was developed and characterised in the framework of the Horizon-2020 project 'Wall-ACE'. The analyses were aimed to validate coupled heat and moisture transfer simulation models at the component level through the comparison with in-field experiments. Furthermore, the results achieved by the heat and moisture simulations were compared with those obtained by means of standardised simplified methods to verify if the adoption of more accurate calculation procedures gives different results.


The possibility of developing capitalism in the so-called backward countries and the paths that must be followed in order to achieve socialism is a fertile ground for controversies in marxist thought. This article seeks to present the similarities between the debates on this theme that took place in Russia at the end of the 19th century, between Russian Nationalists (narodniks) and Lenin, and in Brazil in the middle of the 20th century, between the Brazilian Communist Party and the authors of the dependency theory. We concluded that many arguments that appeared in the initial debate are repeated just over 50 years later.


In this paper, we report mass spectrometry studies on C2nN5− cluster ions by collision-induced dissociation (CID). The mass-selected cluster ions were dissociated by collision with a crossed nitrogen beam and the fragment ions were mass analyzed in a secondary mass spectrometer. Characterization of the species as cyano-substituted, planar five-membered rings is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Based on the analysis of the experimental and computational results, cluster structures, energies, and stabilities are discussed.


Writing is a creative process. And fruitful creativity takes expertise from within a discipline or domain of knowledge, out-of-discipline insights, and a disciplined working process (the 3D method of creativity). In this essay, I present and reflect on some of the tips that help me building the discipline of writing.


This work studies the double integral component that represents the local, nonradiating symmetric portion of the steady, translating, free-surface source potential. After developing systematic expansions for the singular component of this function at the origin and its asymptotic expansion in the opposite extreme of large distance from the origin, polynomial approximations are developed that enable the double integral to be evaluated in a simple and computationally efficient manner. Two alternative forms for these approximations are presented.


LAURENCE GOLDMAN In May 2003, the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project and the Centre for Conflict & Post-Conflict Studies Asia-Pacific hosted the Southern Highlands Province Workshop at the Australian National University. The workshop explored key issues in the Southern Highlands, the nature of conflict, the prospects for conflict transformation, and the possible roles for donors in conflict and post-conflict situations. This discussion paper by Laurence Goldman focuses on the Huli, their reasons for engaging in conflict and their strategies for conflict resolution. A full report on the workshop may be accessed at http:// rspas.anu.edu.au/melanesia/conferences.htm


Serious Chilean Earthquake, rating magnitude of 8.8, occurred on February 27, 2010, and caused large tsunami waves in the Pacific Ocean after that. The main objective of this study is to investigate the tsunami wave propagation into rivers with different morphologies based on a range of details measurement data sets from 20 rivers. The analyzed results show that the tsunami wave can affect up to 22km upstream of river at the most. Furthermore, it is observed that there exists distinct difference of tsunami height in the river dependent on the different river mouth morphology. Thus, classification of the rivers has been proposed based on the rank of rivers and river mouth morphology.


This paper proposes a fault-tolerant control technique against current sensors failure in direct torque controlled induction motors drives, based on a new modification of Luenberger observer for currents estimation and axes transformation for vector rotation. Several important aspects are covered in the proposed algorithm, such as the detection of sensors failure, the isolation of faulty sensors, and the reconfiguration of the control system by a correct estimation. A logic circuit ensures fault detection by analyzing the residual signal between the measured and estimated quantities, while a single observer performs the task of estimating the line currents. In addition, a decision logic circuit isolates the erroneous signal and simultaneously selects the appropriate estimated current signal. An axes transformation ensures rotation from (a,b) to (α,β), which keeps a low-cost control using only two current sensors. The proposed scheme is tested on MATLAB/Simulink environment and experimentally validated in a laboratory prototype mainly containing a dS1104 card and 4 kW induction motor.


This paper presents real-time adaptation of alarm detection models in a remote health monitoring system based on user feedback. Real-time adaptation enables systems to fine-tune to the needs and preferences of the user and changes in the environment. This way, the system performance is improved in terms of technical accuracy and subjective user wishes. Two types of alarm detection models were used: (1) models in the form of rules created by domain expert and (2) models induced by machine learning. The problem of adaptation for the rule-based models is defined as Markov decision process. Machine-learning models are adapted by rebuilding the model every time new data is obtained. We tested the adaptation capabilities of the two types of alarm detection models based on their accuracy and time-to-alarm (needed length of possibly critical activity, such as lying on the ground, which causes the models to raise an alarm). Both types of models achieved 90% alarm detection accuracy. The rule-based models decreased time-to-alarm when user-triggered alarms were raised and increased it when the user indicated false alarm. We did not observe this process for the machine-learning models. 1


We are studying Estonian spoken dialogues with the goal to developing a dialogue system (DS). Two kinds of subdialogues have been analysed in information dialogues: information-sharing and correction. We analyse reasons and conditions of initialization of the subdialogues, their structure and linguistic features. The DS which plays the role of an information officer must be able to recognise a subdialogue initiation by a client and to initiate and carry out subdialogues itself. A goal stack is used by the DS for dialogue processing.


Body schema" is a central notion in the analysis of Phenomenology of Perception. Nevertheless, in the working note entitled "Du- alism-Philosophy", Maurice Merleau-Ponty holds that in 1945 he has still not overcome the dual- ist point of view, which allegedly would deter- mine that notion. Considering this fact, how could you explain the continuous presence of that notion in the later analysis of space and


TiO_2 nanotube arrays on porous titanium have been synthesized in HF electrolyte via anodization method. The effect of voltage on morphology and that of temperature on crystal was studied. The nanotubes were characterized by SEM, XRD and photocatalytic experiment that reduced Pd~(2+) to palladium. The results showed that, the optimized voltage was 30 V, and the I-t curve was also determined. SEM result showed that TiO_2 nanotube arrays with approximately 300 nm in length, 40 nm in diameter and 20 nm in wall thickness have been formed. XRD result revealed that crystal of TiO_2 was anatase phase annealed at 773 K, mainly anatase with 2. 99% rutile at 873 K, and nearly rutile at 973 K. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotube annealed 2 h at 773 K was excellent, and palladium membrane with 0. 6μm thickness was deposited after 12 h.


PURPOSE: A blocking filter used in power line communication and a filtering system using the same are provided to attenuate only signals at a specific frequency band, and to block transmission of indoor power line communication signals to an external and inflow of outdoor power line communication signals by being installed in a distributing switch and a household distributor box, thereby preventing collision between power line communication signals. CONSTITUTION: In a blocking filter that attenuates signals at a specific frequency band for power line communication, a plurality of inductors are serially connected with each other in two AC(Alternating current) lines. The two AC lines are connected with each other through a capacitor. The capacitor becomes a contact point between the inductors serially connected with each other. The inductors are formed to shield a power line by a plurality of in-line cores in a ring shape. The plurality of in-line cores are serially connected in order to increase capacity of the inductors. And the plurality of in-line cores are flexible ferrite cores.


Why do countries keep their exchange rates weak and undervalued? This article argues that domestic politics is more important than systemic factors, but existing domestic political explanations do not fully explain how interest group preferences and political institutions influence exchange rate policy. The authors argue that tradable industries do not always demand an undervalued exchange rate, but do so only when they are unable to receive other compensatory policies. In addition, interest groups have a larger impact on exchange rate policy in nondemocratic regimes than is often recognized: Autocrats select exchange rate policies that correspond to the preferences of the most powerful interest groups because lobby groups have access to the political process and leaders are sensitive to their preferences. A case study of exchange rate policy in China supports these arguments. The major decisions to maintain an undervalued exchange rate in China were taken in response to demands for undervaluation from tradable industries. Second, the case study shows that exporters' preferences for undervaluation ebb and flow with the policy mix: Tradable firms lobbied for an undervalued exchange rate when no other compensatory policies were implemented, but they did not insist on undervaluation in periods when they benefited from other state policies. The authors conclude that China keeps its exchange rate undervalued because the interest groups that support undervaluation are more powerful than those that oppose undervaluation. These findings indicate that interest groups influence exchange rate policy in authoritarian regimes, but their preferences for undervalued exchange rates are quite malleable.


The article results from an experience about the Basic Computer Project at School, developed by the Secretary of Education of Horizonte Ceará, specifically about its applicability at the Municipal School of Elementary Education Deputado Federal Ulysses Guimarães EMEF. It aims to present the Basic Computer Project at School, describe the work developed with the project at EMEF URL do site Simulado 10: https://simulado10.wordpress.com/ 21669 Brazilian Journal of Development Braz. J. of Develop., Curitiba, v. 6, n. 4, p. 21668-21676, apr. 2020. ISSN 2525-8761 Deputado Federal Ulysses Guimarães and demonstrate a new methodology for the computer class using the Simulated website / application 10. To do so, theoretical research and practice were used methodologically in the work, which will be addressed in two topics throughout this study: The Basic Computer Project at School and Simulated 10: a new proposal for computer classes. the contemporary world has demands that use digital communication and today's children and young people cannot ignore its use. In this conception, the Basic Computer Science Project has been providing basic education students with access to digital technologies, aiming to enable them to use different tools of the computer, enabling the use of the same as an instrument that facilitates learning and insertion in the globalized world, thus offering them more subsidies for the exercise of the construction of their citizenship.


The invention relates to an oral traditional Chinese medicine preparation, in particular to a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating stomach deficiency and a preparation method thereof. The invention is characterized in that the composition is prepared by the following traditional Chinese medicine raw materials by parts by weight: 5-15 parts of dried orange peel, 5-15 parts of rhizome atractylodis, 5-15 parts of mangnolia officinalis, 3-10 parts of prepared liquorice, 5-15 parts of Chinese date, 5-15 parts of fried white atractylodes rhizome, 10-20 parts of poria cocos, 5-15 parts of charred triplet, 2-10 parts of gizzard pepsin, 5-15 parts of codonopsis pilosula, 5-15 parts of prepared milkvetch root and 3-10 parts of hyacinth bean. The medicine can rapidly cause gastric digestion to be normal, curative effect on stomach deficiency is definite, and no toxic or side effect is produced.


The use of passive coatings could be a new solution to improve the cleaning potential of interior textiles in hospitals. In these years, the scepticism toward the use of antibacterial textiles in the health care sector is emerging, and in the Nordic countries, the implementation success is confined. From this perspective, the purpose of this paper is therefore to address focus on alternative passive coatings that without actively killing the bacteria provide a hydrophobic and easy-to-clean textile surface. The paper relates to an in-situ study evaluating the effect and cleaning potential of SiO2-coated textiles compared to traditional textiles and a hard plastic surface as a reference material. Through the study, arranged at an outpatient lung department at Hospital Vendsyssel, Denmark, five different surface materials were installed on hospital chair armrests and sampled with microbiological contact plates through a three-week period. By determining the level of contamination on these surfaces, the study illustrates that the SiO2-coated textile is possible to clean to an acceptable level below the critical limit value of 2,5 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per cm. In comparison, the traditional textiles were only cleaned to the Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark VIA Smart Textiles, Via University College, Herning, Denmark Section of Biotechnology, Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Section for Medical Biotechnology, Life Science Division, Danish Technological Institute, Aarhus, Denmark Corresponding author: Jeppe Emil Mogensen, Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Sofiendalsvej 11, DK-9200 Aalborg SV, Denmark. Email: email@example.com at Aalborg University Library on February 8, 2016 jit.sagepub.com Downloaded from XML Template (2015) [3.4.2015–4:43pm] [1–11] //blrnas3/cenpro/ApplicationFiles/Journals/SAGE/3B2/JITJ/Vol00000/150025/APPFile/SG-JITJ150025.3d (JIT) [PREPRINTER stage] acceptable level in 56% of the microbiological controls, while the regular hard plastic surface only had acceptable levels of contamination in 25% of the samplings.


This report presents three examples of using a computer traffic assignment model to help resolve neighborhood traffic issues. However, it is not the intent of this report to endorse a particular type of software. This report describes the traffic study and public involvement process that was followed to address the traffic problems in three neighborhoods. The use of computer modeling was vital to the outcome of these projects.


Transient electromagnetic measurements with short time‐delays of transients are used for solving different problems within the upper part of a geoelectric section. However, it is necessary to take into consideration distortions connected with self‐transients within the transmitter–receiver system. From the practical point of view, it is important to estimate the minimum time‐delay after which these distortions may be neglected. We present such an estimation which uses a simple approximation method for a single‐loop (or coincident‐loop) configuration. For common values of the loop size (10 m × 10 m to 40 m × 40 m) and of the resistivity of a homogeneous half‐space (1–100 Ωm), the minimum time‐delay beyond which we can use a standard interpretation is in the range of 2–10 µs. This is equivalent to a minimum depth of investigation in the range of 1–30 m.


PURPOSE:To provide a wheel speed sensor for generating a pulse signal corresponding to the rotational speed of wheel when a vehicle is running in which in which both good assembling performance and high detection accuracy are satisfied. CONSTITUTION:Rotor teeth 36 are provided integrally in a carrier 30 made of a magnetic body over the entire periphery thereof. A rotary yoke 35 integrally comprising a magnet 35d, a rotary shaft 35a and a rotary plate 35b made of a magnetic body, and a drive shaft 35e made of a nonmagnetic body is secured to an axle rotatable with wheels and inserted into the central part of a detection coil 34 while floating. Sensor teeth 35b provided on the outer periphery of a rotary plate 35c oppose the rotor teeth 36 and the magnetic resistance on the periphery of the detection coil 34 varies appropriately as the rotary yoke 35 rotates.


Abstract Information about the morphology and alluvial sediments of the Dnieper Valley is reviewed. The Dnieper Valley originated in the Late Miocene. The Middle Dnieper Valley is an intercontinental alluvial basin and the Lower Dnieper Valley is a shallow canyon that ends with a delta. Identification of the alluvial dynamic facies (channel, overbank, abandoned channel) is crucial for stratigraphical analysis. The dynamic facies form regular sequences - alluvial suites that combine into series. Individual suites and series are characterized by their mode of occurrence, facies composition, lithological features and expression in the modern landscape. Their stratigraphie position is established with reference to index beds and palaeontological, geochrono-logical and archaeological research, allowing them to be correlated along the valley. Correlation between different parts of the Dnieper system uses a combination of facies and geomorphological analyses, whereas correlation with other river systems makes use of mammalian and molluscan biostratigraphy. Global events (marine regressions and glaciations) that brought about similar reactions in different fluvial systems can be also used for correlation.


In this paper, we performed the interference analysis for compatibility between the fifth generation (5G) wireless system and aeronautical radio altimeter using an adjacent frequency band. For interference analysis, the scenario considering real operation was established and the analysis method was proposed. And based on the proposed method, simulations were performed to evaluate the interference effects of 5G base station on the aeronautical radio altimeter. From the results, the unwanted emission level of 5G base station was proposed to protect the aeronautical radio altimeter from interference signal of 5G base station.


Nuclear engineering is a technology with sensible relationship between economy and ecology, a high level of safety, outstandingly good availability and positive influence on Germany as an industrialised country. Dirk Stiller comes to this conclusion in this contribution. Compared with fossil energy sources such as coal or gas, not considering capital investment, nuclear energy entailing fuel costs of about 0.03 DM/kWh is well competitive. At the same time nuclear energy guarantees the supply dependability for West Europe which itself has only small resources of fossil fuels. One important reason for the low price for natural gas so far is that Germany has so far been able to resort to nuclear power stations as alternative. The ecological aspects of nuclear energy must above all be considered in the global context. The emission of CO 2 can be drastically reduced through utilising nuclear energy. This is necessary for two reasons, because it is not only necessary to stop increase of the already existing greenhouse effect. It is also necessary to compensate the energy demand in threshold and development countries, covered for the time being with fossil fuels, by the CO 2 -free nuclear energy in highly industrialised countries.


This essay explains how the American Health Care Act (AHCA) – the House Republicans' proposed replacement for Obamacare – would toss a hot potato to state governments. Were the AHCA to be enacted into law, state governments would need to act promptly if they are to save individual insurance markets within their states. This essay explains measures that state governments might take to respond to this threat.


Limited observability of internal design states exacerbates the problem of error localization at post-silicon stage. With the assistance of system-level observed features, errors can be localized at higher design abstraction level during post-silicon validation. However, localizing error(s) at the gate-level becomes very difficult due to the tremendous design complexity of modern circuits. In this work, we propose a methodology for localizing error to a small portion of the gate-level design description based on a regression analysis of circuit responses to synthetically injected errors. The model learns the flip-flop states upon error introduction and given an actual erroneous netlist, provides ranking of infected flip-flops. The error localization analysis is done by testing with states of the flip-flops which are traced through trace buffer mechanism. On-chip trace buffers are capable of overcoming the obstacle of diminished observability, which can be further enhanced with the help of state restoration technique. We demonstrate that state restoration significantly improves error localization. Experimental results on benchmark circuits justify the efficacy of the proposed methodology on two gate-level error models which represent logical error manifestations.


Today, businesses are realizing that success is not only a matter of accumulating profi ts but instead it also needs managers and stakeholders involved to help the fi rm become more com


Objective To detect the expression of TGF - β 1 mRNA and TGF-β 1 protein in children with hydronephrosis and to evaluat e the role of TGF-β 1 in chronic renal damage in congenital hydronephrosis. Methods The expression of TGF-β 1 mRNA and TGF-β 1 protein in renal parenchyma, renal pelvis and pelvic ureteral junction from ch ildren with congenital hydronephrosis were studied by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results The expression of TGF-β 1 increased in the affected renal parenchyma, pelvis and PUJ. The expression o f TGF-β 1 protein was mainly localized in the plasma of proximal tubular cell s. There was also positive expression in a few renal glomerular cells and distal tubular cells. The expression of TGF-β 1 mRNA was mainly distributed in the cell nucleus of proximal tubular cells. Positive granules were also seen in a fe w renal glomerular cells.The expression of TGF-β 1 mRNA and TGF-β 1 prote in was enhanced in the muscle cells, spindle cells and collagenous fibers in the pelvis and PUJ of the affected kidney. Conclusions The increase of TGF-β 1 expression in the kidney with congenital hydronephrosis might related to the chronic renal damage and renal interstitial fibrosis.


Because there are many characters in aluminum electrolysis industry, for example, the product configuration is simple, the type of manufacture is various,and the manufacture control is difficult, the energy consumption is very high etc., the paper presents ERP system structure of electroaluminum industry. Based on the MRPⅡtheory and technology, the system adopts the ERP theory which is very popular at present and combines the Internet technology. In addition, the system provides composition management model, energy management module, manufacture management module and so on. At the same time, the paper introduces the design idea of technicat composition definition and technical procedure definition, of electroaluminum process control, simulation,fault diagnosis, and of the combination of ERP with JIT. This system is being implenentated in Tianyuan Aluminum Industry Group, and achieves good results.


BACKGROUND
In the 21st century, minimally invasive treatment is one of the main developmental directions of medical sciences. It is well known that the echocardiography plays an important role during interventional treatments of some structural heart diseases. Because the ruptured right sinus of the Valsalva aneurysm (RRSVA) is a rare disease, there were few reports about percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA. This study aimed to sum up our experience with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA.

METHODS
Five RRSVA cases were treated with percutaneous catheter closure. The whole procedure was guided and monitored by TTE and fluoroscopy. The maximum diameter of the RRSVA was measured by TTE before and after the catheter passed through the rupture site. A duct occluder 2 mm larger than the maximum diameter was chosen. The closure effects were evaluated with TTE and fluoroscopy immediately after the occluding device was deployed. All patients were followed up by TTE for 8 to 30 months.

RESULTS
Before the catheter passed through the rupture site the maximum diameter of the RRSVA measured with TTE and aortography were (7.9 ± 2.1) mm and (7.8 ± 1.8) mm. After the catheter passed through the rupture site the maximum diameter measured with TTE was (11.2 ± 3.2) mm, which was significantly larger than before the procedure (P < 0.05). The percutaneous catheter closure was successful in four cases and failed in one. Compared to the aortography the TTE was better at distinguishing residual shunts from aortic valve regurgitation immediately after the occluding device was deployed. There were no complications during 8 to 30 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION
Transthoracic echocardiography can play an important role during percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA, especially for estimating the size of the RRSVA after the catheter passes through the rupture site, and differentiating residual shunt from aortic valve regurgitation immediately after the occluding device is deployed.


The main aim of this short collection is to draw the attention to some aspects of the challenges policing faces as a part of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, adopted in September 2015. The goals range from poverty and hunger reduction through healthy lives, quality education, gender equality ,environmental protection, affordable and sustainable energy, economic growth and employment to reduction of world's inequality and climate change. Goal 16 "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all level" for the first time highlights prevention and control of various manifestations of crime as the very significant developmental goal. SDGs clearly require service-and human rights oriented policing, based on evidence and information, a style of policing focusing on protecting the vulnerable and emerging challenges of organized crime, corruption and wildlife trafficking.


PURPOSE
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing quality-measurement models and applies them to healthcare by combining a Nordic service-quality with an American service performance model.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
Results are based on a questionnaire survey of 1,298 respondents. Service quality dimensions were derived and related to satisfaction by employing a multinomial logistic model, which allows prediction and service improvement.

FINDINGS
Qualitative and empirical evidence indicates that customer satisfaction and service quality are multi-dimensional constructs, whose quality components, together with convenience and cost, influence the customer's overall satisfaction.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE
The proposed model identifies important quality and satisfaction issues. It also enables transitions between different responses in different studies to be compared.


While novel therapeutics for graft versus host disease (GvHD) are desperately needed, new prevention and treatment strategies for this disease have been extremely slow to reach the clinic. One of the major barriers has been the historic lack of a powerful translational system capable of both (1) interrogating the clinical efficacy of novel approaches and (2) discovering the underlying mechanisms of GvHD prevention. Our lab has addressed this unmet need with the development of a non-human primate (NHP) model of GvHD, and the first therapeutic approach developed with the NHP model, costimulation blockade with CTLA4-Ig, is currently in clinical trials for GvHD prevention (Clinical Trials.gov #[NCT01743131][1]). While the first-in-disease trials of GvHD prevention add CTLA4-Ig to standard tacrolimus/methotrexate, previous work has suggested that mTOR inhibition with sirolimus is more pro-tolerogenic than calcineurin inhibition when paired with costimulation blockade. We have now addressed the possibility of pairing CTLA4-Ig with sirolimus to prevent GvHD in the NHP model, and have interrogated the outcomes using a systems-based approach. Our new experiments provide strong clinical, immunologic and trancriptomic evidence for potent synergy when CTLA4-Ig and sirolimus are combined for GvHD prevention.

In this study, we determined the impact of the following treatment groups on GvHD after high-risk haplo-identical HSCT using T cell-replete peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: 1) no therapy (n=4) 2) CTLA4-Ig monotherapy (using the second generation CTLA4-Ig formulation, belatacept, n=3) 3) sirolimus monotherapy (n=4) 4) combination belatacept and sirolimus (n=3). To determine the relative impact of each therapeutic approach, we monitored clinical GvHD, GvHD-free survival, and flow cytometric signs of immune activation post-transplant. Moreover, to create a comprehensive molecular map of their impact on GvHD, we performed transcriptomic analysis, on CD3+/CD20- T cells that were purified on day +14 post-transplant and analyzed using the Affymetrix microarray platform.

The synergistic impact of combined belatacept +sirolimus was evidenced through all analyses techniques: Thus, GvHD-free survival with belatacept + sirolimus was prolonged compared to all other groups (MST belatacept + sirolimus = 33d, p < 0.02 compared to MST for untreated controls (7.5d), belatacept monotherapy (9d, p < 0.03) and sirolimus monotherapy (12d) ([Figure 1][2]a). GvHD clinical scores mirrored the clinical survival ([Figure 1][2]b). In addition, canonical flow cytometric signs of CD8+ T cell activation (proliferation, measured by Ki-67, and excessive cytotoxicity measured by granzyme B overexpression) also mirrored the clinical synergy we measured with combined belatacept +sirolimus compared to all other groups ([Figure 1][2]c).

Comparing the expression profile of T cells during acute GvHD in the four cohorts allowed examination of treatment synergy at an unprecedented level of molecular detail. Unsupervised analysis of transcriptomic signatures as a whole revealed clustering of principal component projections from belatacept + sirolimus to be strikingly similar to a large comparative healthy control cohort (n=28), underscoring the high degree of control alloreactivity with this regimen. Moreover, the comparison of differentially expressed genes from animals receiving belatacept + sirolimus revealed significant divergence from monotherapy with either belatacept or sirolimus, again underscoring the profound control of allo-activation that was observed with belatacept + sirolimus ([Figure 2][3]a). The mirror-image analysis provided additional support or this synergy, with transcriptional analysis of T cells from belatacept + sirolimus-treated animals most dissimilar from the transcriptome of unprophylaxed GvHD ([Figure 2][3]b). Those genes for which expression was significantly normalized by combination therapy showed pathway enrichment prominently in T cell effector function (prominently including granzyme signaling – [Figure 2][3]c), cytokine networks (prominently IL2, IL12 and IL-18 – [Figure 2][3]d), as well as in proliferation and cell cycle pathways ([Figure 2][3]e).

These data reveal a treatment synergy between T cell costimulation blockade with CTLA-4-Ig and mTOR inhibition and suggest that this combination of therapy will be useful for acute GvHD immunoprophylaxis in humans.

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Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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 [4]: pending:yes


Abstract While many institutions deliver some classes in blended format, Brandman University transitioned all of its face-to-face classes to blended delivery, using a model tailored to the needs of adult learners. This article provides research supporting the ways that blended learning principles align with key principles of andragogy. The article provides insight into Brandman's implementation of blended learning across the institution to enhance effective learning on an accelerated schedule, apply sound assessment in a distributed system, and successfully integrate online tools into classes for adult learners. In addition, the article describes the university's planning, training, and implementation processes for transitioning to blended format. Finally, it identifies successes, challenges, and recommendations for others interested in adoption of blended delivery for adult learners.


ABSTRACT Objective: Associate Dom Pedro II's life trajectory and the beginning of Brazilian psychiatry through the Pedro II Asylum. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature on three search databases: Google Scholar, Pub Med, and Web of Science (SciELO). Results: The first Brazilian psychiatry institution, the Pedro II Asylum (1841-1889), was created by the number 82 decree on 18 July 1841. The launching occurred at Dom Pedro II's coronation ceremony. It was a celebration that aimed at enhancing the Brazilian monarch's power and at legitimizing the emperor's adulthood at the age of fourteen. Throughout the 48 years of the Dom Pedro II empire, his cultural and science interests influenced the emergence of incipient Brazilian scientific research. In this regard, the Pedro II Asylum was portrayed not only as a health care institution but also undertook an effort to attend the social and cultural modifications promoted at the Brazilian imperial court after the Portuguese Crown family arrived in 1808. It also represented the influence of French psychiatry based on Phillipe Pinel's (1745-1826) principles of moral treatment. Conclusions: Concisely, the Pedro II Asylum was a representation of Dom Pedro II's personality as a patron of science, the emergence of Brazilian psychiatry, and the imperial society hierarchy.


Abstract Larval and adult Pteronarcys scotti Ricker were collected from a mountain stream in northwestern South Carolina, USA. The pattern of larval growth indicated a semivoltine life cycle. Emergence occurred in April and early May, and small larvae first appeared in May. Sexual dimorphism in adult size was apparent; males were 0.8 as large as females in head capsule width. Female larvae possess a midventral notch on the eighth abdominal segment that can be used to sex larvae as small as 2.5 mm in head width. Female larvae as small as 1 mm in head width have a midventral break in the posterior setal row of segment 8. These characters are illustrated.


This paper is devoted to one open extremal problem of Dubinin in geometric function theory of complex variables associated with estimates of a functional defined on the systems of non-overlapping domains. We consider Dubinin's problem of the maximum of product of inner radii of n non-overlapping domains containing points of the unit circle and the power of the inner radius of a domain containing the origin. The problem was formulated in 1994 in the work of Dubinin and then repeated in his monograph in 2014. Currently it is not solved in general. In this paper, we obtained a solution of this problem for some concrete values of n and .


Neural networks (NN) have been widely used in application of fatigue life prediction. In the use of fatigue life prediction for polymeric-base composite, development of NN model is necessary with respect to the limited fatigue data and applicable to be used to predict the fatigue life under varying stress amplitudes in the different stress ratios. In the present paper, Multilayer-Perceptrons (MLP) model of neural network is developed, and Genetic Algorithm was employed to optimize the respective weights of NN for prediction of polymeric-base composite materials under variable amplitude loading. From the simulation result obtained with two different composite systems, named E-glass fabrics/epoxy (layups [(±45)/(0)2]S), and E-glass/polyester (layups [90/0/±45/0]S), NN model were trained with fatigue data from two different stress ratios, which represent limited fatigue data, can be used to predict another four and seven stress ratios respectively, with high accuracy of fatigue life prediction. The accuracy of NN prediction were quantified with the small value of mean square error (MSE). When using 33% from the total fatigue data for training, the NN model able to produce high accuracy for all stress ratios. When using less fatigue data during training (22% from the total fatigue data), the NN model still able to produce high coefficient of determination between the prediction result compared with obtained by experiment.Neural networks (NN) have been widely used in application of fatigue life prediction. In the use of fatigue life prediction for polymeric-base composite, development of NN model is necessary with respect to the limited fatigue data and applicable to be used to predict the fatigue life under varying stress amplitudes in the different stress ratios. In the present paper, Multilayer-Perceptrons (MLP) model of neural network is developed, and Genetic Algorithm was employed to optimize the respective weights of NN for prediction of polymeric-base composite materials under variable amplitude loading. From the simulation result obtained with two different composite systems, named E-glass fabrics/epoxy (layups [(±45)/(0)2]S), and E-glass/polyester (layups [90/0/±45/0]S), NN model were trained with fatigue data from two different stress ratios, which represent limited fatigue data, can be used to predict another four and seven stress ratios respectively, with high accuracy of fatigue life prediction. The accuracy ...


RACE AFTER THE INTERNET. Edited by Lisa Nakamura and Peter A. Chow-White. New York: Routledge. 2012."Race has itself become a digital medium," Nakamura and Chow-White write, "a distinctive set of informatic codes, networked mediated narratives, maps, images, and visualizations that index identity . . . race critique has to acknowledge this and respond to it meaningfully, or be leftbehind" (5). By this, Nakamura and Chow-White do not intend to suggest their volume will focus exclusively on the construction of race in digital spaces, but rather that "[t]he pervasiveness of the digital as a way of thinking and of knowing as well as a format for producing and consuming information" (1) requires a retooling of our current understandings of race in both digital and actual spaces.It is this call for reorientation that is the most important contribution of this volume. While the study of the construction of race in digital spaces has been under way since at least the early 2000s, the editors rightly observed that much of this earlier work has been centered on either examining inequalities of access to digital technologies across racial and ethnic lines, on the one hand, and examining the representations of race in digital spaces on the other. The interventions offered in this volume, then, both complicate these earlier points of focus and push the scholarly discussion beyond these areas into a broader consideration of the interplay of digital structures and racialized understandings.In order to begin this discussion, Nakamura and Chow-White have assembled fourteen essays from scholars in a variety of humanistic and social science disciplines, which they organize into four sections on, loosely speaking, race as a form of code, the rhetoric of the digital divide, sorting and segregation in platforms and networks, and the parallel development of digital media and racial genomics. Perhaps the two most provocative contributions to this volume are essays by Tara McPherson and Wendy Hui Kyong Chun. Working in tandem, the pieces by McPherson and Chun argue along similar lines for closer attention to the technological logics of race as they have taken shape in conjunction with the rise of digital technologies.McPherson, for example, highlights points of correspondence between the design logic that emerged during development of the UNIX operating system in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the "lenticular logic" of racism in the post-Civil Rights era. …


The energy industry in the former Soviet Union is undergoing a serious political and economic crisis. Although, compared to other industrialized countries, the region possesses abundant reserves of primary energy sources, these alone will not suffice to resolve the difficult problems, contradictions and undesirable trends which have occurred. These difficulties are of both an economic, social and technical nature. The economy of Russia is very largely autonomous: Even without trade with the other CIS nations and the Baltic states, the country would be capable of supplying an estimated 86 % of its own needs. The corresponding figures under the same circumstances are only 27% for Kazakhstan, 15 % for the Ukraine, and 4 % for Belorus. The remaining CIS nations achieve even lower rates. Natural gas has achieved pole position in the fuel balance, but the specific costs of increasing production are rising. Russia's gas industry is highly developed and is or has been a world leader in many fields. Natural gas is coming into increasing use as a source of energy.


One common example of parallel processing is the implementation of the merge sort within a parallel processing environment. In the fully parallel model, you repeatedly split the sublists down to the point where you have single-element lists [3]. You then merge these in parallel back up the processing tree until you obtain the fully merged list at the top of the tree. While of theoretical interest, you probably don't have the massively parallel processor that this would require.
 Instead, you can use a mixed strategy. Determine the number of parallel processes you can realistically obtain within your computing environment. Then construct the processing tree so that you have that number of leaf nodes. Within the leaf nodes of the processing tree, simply use the best sequential algorithm to accomplish the sorting, and send that result upstream to the internal nodes of the processing tree, which will merge the sorted sublists and then send the resulting list farther upstream in the tree. Figure One shows the processing tree for the case in which you have a list of 2000 items to be sorted and have resources only sufficient for four parallel processes. The processes receiving the size 500 lists use some sequential sorting algorithm. Because of the implementation environment, it will be something in the C/C++ language---either qsort() or your favorite implementation of a fast sorting algorithm.
 Each leaf node (with a size 500 list) then provides the sorted result to the parent process within the processing tree. That process combines the two lists to generate a size 1000 list, and then sends that result upstream to its parent process. Finally, the root process in the processing tree merges the two lists to obtain a size 2000 list, fully sorted.
 If your environment supports more parallel processes, you might take the processing tree to four levels, so that eight processes do the sequential sorting of size 250 lists. For that matter, you could even deal with circumstances in which the supported number of parallel processes is not an exact power of two. That just means that some of the leaf nodes will be at the bottommost level and some conceptually at a higher level above in the processing tree. Since in parallel processing, the time required is the time required by the slowest process, you will probably want to stick with circumstances where the number of leaf nodes is a power of two---in other words, the processing tree is a full binary tree and all leaf nodes are doing approximately the same amount of work.


Beginning with the current issue, and after 33 years, the publication of The Journal of Clinical Ethics (JCE) hasmoved from the capable hands of founding publisher and executive editor Norman Quist to the University of Chicago Press, and it is now published on behalf of the MacLean Center for ClinicalMedical Ethics. TheMacLean Center was founded in 1983 byMark Siegler with the generous support of his patient Dorothy J. MacLean and her family. The MacLean Center was the first ethics center to focus squarely on ethical issues at the bedside. It is not surprising that as one reads through early issues of JCE, Mark Siegler and many of his colleagues from the MacLean Center were regular contributors. As the scope of JCE has expanded over the years, so has the scope of inquiry of the faculty and fellows of the MacLean Center.


In this paper, eleven natural dyes were collected from three trees and used as photosensitizers for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The cells were fabricated using TiO 2 as a semiconducting layer deposited on transparent fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass using doctor blade method. The absorption spectra of the extracts were performed in the spectral range from 400 nm to 750 nm. The J-V characteristic curves of all fabricated cells were measured and analyzed. The parameters related to the solar cell performance were determined. Moreover, the impedance spectroscopy of the cell with the best performance was investigated.


Abstract. The etiology of seasonal increasing of enteroviral infection incidence in Arkhangelsk oblast in 2008–2011 has been studied. The ECHO 6, ECHO 9 and ECHO 30 viruses were isolated and identified from patients with enteroviral infection in this period. The highest enteroviral infection incidence rate in Arkhangelsk oblast which was 5,1 times higher in compare with average country index was registered in 2008. It was proved by the virological and molecular biological methods that the main etiological agent caused enteroviral meningitis cases in the seasonal outbreak in 2008 was ECHO 30 virus which was very similar to the ECHO 30 strain identified in the Veliky Novgorod in 2008. In 2009 from patients in enteroviral meningitis epidemic focus the ECHO 9 viruses were isolated. These viruses were similar to the ECHO 9 strains circulated in Russia in 2009. It was established that in the period of seasonal increasing of enteroviral infection in Arkhangelsk oblast in 2010–2011 in general circulated ECHO 6 viruses which clustered in 3 separate phylogenetic groups. Viruses ECHO 6 detected in Arkhangelsk oblast in 2011 were different from viruses identified in 2010. Results of the study confirm that monitoring of viruses in case of enteroviral infection remains the one of the important types of additional measures in the frame of Global Program of poliomyelitis eradication. This monitoring is absolutely necessary to define characteristics of epidemic process of enteroviral infection.


This paper considers regular simplices of vectors, the exploitation of which is analyzed in the simplex sliding mode control of multi-input uncertain nonlinear systems. The method is extended to eliminate the chattering phenomenon. To this end an estimation procedure based on second order sliding mode algorithms is coupled with a simplex sliding mode control of an augmented order system. The methodology is applied to affine systems with mono-directional actuators


The development of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been founded on the discovery of X-rays, the inception of the Radon transform, and the growth of X-ray digital data acquisition systems and computer knowledge. Dissimilar conventional X-ray imaging (general radiography), CT reconstructs cross-sectional anatomical images of the internal structures according to X-ray attenuation co-efficients (approximate tissue density) for almost every region in the body. This articleappraisals the essential physical principles and practical aspects of the CT scanner, including numerous notable evolutions in CT technology that resulted in the appearance of helical, multidetector, cone beam, portable, dual-energy, and phase-contrast CT, in integrated imaging modalities, such as positronemission- tomography一CT and single-photon-emission-computed-tomography-CT, and in clinical applications, including image acquisition parameters, CT angiography, image adjustment, versatile image visualizations, volumetric/surface rendering on a computer workstation, radiation treatment planning, and target localization in radiotherapy. The understanding of CT characteristics will provide more effective and accurate patient care in the fields of diagnostics and radiotherapy, and can lead to the improvement of image quality and the optimization of exposure doses.


The waves generated by faulting represent the primary threat posed by most large earthquakes. The effect of complex geological structures, such as sedimentary basins, on earthquake ground motion is a source of particular concern. We show that it is possible to extract reliable phase and amplitude response that includes the effects of complex structure for the elastodynamic Green's function from the ambient seismic field using deconvolution. We demonstrate the accuracy of the approach by predicting complex ground motion for a moderate (Mw = 4.6) earthquake in southern California as recorded in the Los Angeles Basin. This suggests a novel approach to seismic hazard analysis in which ground motion from hypothetical future earthquakes is simulated directly, without the need for modeling the detailed heterogeneity of the Earth's crust as an intermediate step.


This article concerns a key topic in the field of visual object recognition – the use of features. Object recognition algorithms typically rely on a fixed vector of pre-selected features extracted from 2D or 3D scenes, which are then analyzed with various classification techniques. On the other hand, the activation of particular features in biological vision systems is hierarchical and data-driven. To achieve a deeper understanding of the subject, we have introduced several mathematical tools to estimate multiple RGB-D features' relevance for different object recognition tasks and conducted statistical experiments involving our database of high quality 3D point clouds. From the thorough analysis of the obtained results we draw conclusions that may be useful to design better, more adaptive object recognition algorithms.


Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis which progresses to cause coronary artery abnormalities as a complication. Echocardiographic and cardiac angiographic data indicate that 20-40% of untreated KD patients develop coronary artery abnormalities. However, majority of the lesions regress over time. Timely treatment with high dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and high dose of aspirin has been found to reduce the incidence of developing coronary artery aneurysms to 2%-3%. Data on KD in the African region is unavailable. We present a case of a 5 month old infant that presented at the Uganda Heart Institute with KD associated with coronary artery involvement and is currently undergoing follow up. Case presentation: A 5-months-old female infant presented to the pediatric emergency unit with a persistent high grade fever for 7 days with refusal to breast feed, diarrhea and irritability, a generalized maculopapular rash that had started 2 days after onset of fever. Her vaccination status was up to date. She was evaluated and initially managed for gastroenteritis and septicemia with no improvement. A pediatric cardiology review was done at day 22 of illness due to symptoms of difficulty in breathing and palpitations. Significant physical findings were of a very sick infant, febrile with generalized maculopapular rash, peeling of extremities and perineum, hyperemia of the conjunctiva bilaterally and the pharynx, no cervical lymphadenopathy. She had tachypnea, tachycardia with a gallop rhythm but no murmurs, tender hepatomegally, irritability but conscious with no signs of meningeal irritation. A transthoracic echocardiography done significantly showed dilated coronary arteries, moderate pericardial effusion with preserved ejection fraction. Laboratory findings were of leucocytosis predominantly neutrophilia, thrombocytosis, anemia, raised C-reactive protein levels, hypoalbuminemia and raised liver function tests. Blood cultures and blood smear for malaria were unremarkable. A diagnosis of KD with coronary artery involvement was made by the pediatric cardiologist. Treatment for KD was started immediately with high dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) as a single dose and high dose aspirin with remarkable improvement as the fever subsided with in 24 hours of treatment. Follow up serial transthoracic echocardiography findings showed regression of coronary artery dilatation over time and currently at 3 years of age the coronary arteries are of normal diameter for her body surface area. ISSN: 2643-3966 DOI: 10.23937/2643-3966/1710025 Hilda et al. Int Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2019, 3:025 • Page 2 of 5 • month-old infant with coronary artery involvement in Uganda in Africa.


The PDZ domain family is one of the most abundant peptide recognition modules in metazoan proteomes. Characterization of natural PDZ domains has provided insight into the structural basis and diversity of peptide recognition by this fold. In order to test the limits of the current model, I evolved synthetic PDZ domains. Based on the Erbin PDZ domain and selected for binding to peptides with different position-2 residues, synthetic variants were characterized using high throughput peptide profiling. This approach generated insight into subclass specificities in the most common natural specificity classes (I [ST]-2 and II Φ-2), demonstrated an alternative basis for a rare specificity (Class III D-2) and predicted that some natural domains may exhibit an easily-evolved novel specificity (Class IV R-2). These results also emphasize that some non-contact residues may have a disproportionate effect on position-2 specificity, contrary to the predictions of the original model.


The primary concern of this research paper was to relate how Grade 12 students of Meycauayan National High School perceived research subjects such as Practical Research 2 and how these attitudes toward research affected their research skills development.
With the purpose of bridging the link between the affective domains of learning to how students develop their research skills, the researcher used the Attitude Towards Research (ATR) Scale developed by Papanastasiou (2002) and a Research Skills Assessment Test based on Gilmore and Feldon (2010). These instruments were administered to 60 Grade 12 Senior High School students of MNHS across different strands, while accompanied with Active Learning Classroom Strategies in teaching Practical Research 2. Through pre-test and post-test design, the researcher evaluated the impact of the students' attitudes toward research in five (5) factors. These five factors were generalized as Post-ATR and was correlated to the Final Grades of the respondents in Practical Research 2.
Upon data analysis using t-test and correlational statistics, it was highlighted that participants were more focused on how Research subjects are with utmost relevance and usefulness to their everyday lives, though, many of them still gave concern on anxiety and difficulty of the subject. It was also evident that in general, how students feel about research has a great impact on how they develop their research skills along the course.
Through this study that found that improved attitudes toward research significantly increased the students' research skill and with the help of the data analyzed in this paper, the researcher encourage teachers to not only focus on students' cognitive and psychomotor skills but to give equal importance as well with the attitudes toward research as these would contribute to students' overall research skill development.


Quantum cryptography is a technology that ensures the security. Quantum cryptography ensures secure communication based on the fundamental physical laws. The quantum cryptography is based on the two elements of quantum mechanics -the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle and the principle of photon polarization. This paper focuses on the principle of quantum cryptography, mechanism how photons are encrypted and its contribution towards real-time security in all domains of application development. key words: Quantum cryptography, Quantum key distribution (QKD), Polarization, Heisenberg Uncertainty principle, Secure communication.


Volume I of this History surveys at some length the institutional origins of the International Energy Agency in the 1973-1974 oil crisis, and examines the 1974 I.E.P. Agreement and other oil consumer actions which established the Agency as an operational  intergovernmental institution. Volume I also considers the most important IEA relationships, the internal structure of the Agency, and the institutional arrangements which enabled the Agency to develop over the years into an effective instrument for energy policy co-operation among its Members.


Gadgets play a huge role in today's society. Technology is used for
various purposes, most often communicative, entertaining and educational.
Every year, technologies develop at a larger scale, erasing the age limits of
the user. Unfortunately, new technologies do not always have a positive impact
on children, especially adolescents, the most important period in the
process of personality formation. This study examines the main risks of adolescent
gadget addiction in the digital world. In addition, the features of the
manifestation of gadget addiction, the complexity of interacting with children
with identifi ed gadget addiction are determined, recommendations are
made for all participants in the educational process. The purpose of the study
is to investigate and to describe the features and risks of gadget addiction of
modern teenagers in the digital world. Research methods include study of literature
and other sources, generalization, observation, conversation, survey,
testing, experiment. The present study involved  respondents studying at
the Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution of the Arkhangelsk Secondary
School of the Solovetsky Yung. All subjects are - years old. Among
them,  girls and  boys. The results of the work determine the prospects
for an in-depth study of this problem, minimize the risks that affect development,
and are also necessary to provide timely assistance to adolescents with
identifi ed gadget addiction. The results of the study can be useful not only
for teachers, but also for students and their parents, for mutual understanding.
Memos have been developed for teachers and parents on monitoring and
minimizing risks when teenagers use gadgets. During the web quest, teenagers
formulated recommendations for peers on self-control and the safe use of
gadgets; using gaming solutions, students gained experience in the productive
use of gadgets in their lives.


The file named "KristinYang_Thesis.pdf" is the primary dissertation file. To view the supplemental videos, start with the file named "EndobronchialAnatomy.swf"; this is the main page of the program module. Additional instructions for viewing all modules may be found in the file named "UT Southwestern Biomedical Communications.doc". In addition, "KristinYang_Endobronchial Flash Program.zip" is a zipped file folder with all 32 files (in 2 folders).


Let Xbe a smooth projective variety over the complex numbers C and X the Hubert scheme of subschemes of length 3 of JSf, which is known to be smooth. The additive structure of H* (P2, Z) has been determined in [Hi], that of H* (PTM, Z) for arbitrary d in [E-S1] and that of H* (Pn, Z) in [R-X]. The Betti numbers of JSf have been computed in the case A" is a surface in [Gö 1] and in the general case in [Gö2]. The structure of the cohomology rings H*(PTM9 Z) (which in this case is the same äs the Chow ring ^4*(Pn)) was found in [E-L1] for n = 2 and in [Ro] for n = 3. In [E-S2] a set of generators of AT*(P2, Z) was determined for arbitrary d and an implicit description of the relations was given.


The influence of the structure of external alkoxysilane donors on stereoslectivity and molecular weight distributions in MgCl2-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysis has been examined. We shall demonstrate how the size and the nature of the hydrocarbon attached to the central silicon atom play a role in regulating stereoselectivity and molecular weight. We will also consider the effect of the size of the alkoxy group in modulating stereoselectivity and molecular weight. We have developed a strategy in designing efficient catalysts based on steric and electronic considerations. We will examine the interactions involving the growing chain (represented by i-Bu), the olefin monomer (propylene) and the substituents (R1 and R2 in R1R2Si(OMe)2 or R1R2Si(OEt)2) on the alkoxysilane.


Intelligent machines and automated guide vehicles (AGVs) have been widely applied to improve the flexibility of manufacturing systems. However, the energy consumption and battery management of AGVs are not well considered. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated scheduling method for solving flexible job shop scheduling problems (FJSP) with energy-efficient AGVs to minimize the makespan and energy consumption. Besides, a novel hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) with a local neighbor search (LNS) is developed to optimize the objective. Results indicate that the proposed HGA obtains a shorter makespan and lower energy consumption than the genetic algorithm. Finally, we verify the model and present the integrated scheduling solutions of FJSP with energy-efficient AGVs. It indicates the proposed method has significant potential for intelligent manufacturing systems.


The financial crisis can generate instability in any field. High levels of perceived corruption, unethical behavior or high unemployment rate can be several relevant examples that can influence well-being. The purpose of this study is to group and compare EU countries in two important moments: before and after the financial crisis using clusters analysis. Our contributions consist in a new effort to understand the life insurance market. For example, in 2006 countries such as: Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Spain, Sweden or the UK were remarked by the lowest perceived corruption and inflation, medium levels of the population growth and highest: ethical behavior of firms, human development, penetration rate and employment, while Romania and other countries were characterized by the lowest levels of development and highest perceived corruption and inflation. In 2014, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden or the UK recorded the best values of our indicators. In addition, the situation of Romania has not improved significantly between 2006 and 2014.


Background: Induced mutagenesis was employed in horse gram cv. CRIDA 1-18R with an objective of evolving mutants with increased yield potential. Methods: Based on preliminary study, the variety has been irradiated with desirable doses of gamma rays (200 Gy and 300 Gy), electron beam (100 Gy and 200 Gy) and its combination (100 Gy) and the material were forwarded to M2 generation following parent-progeny row basis. The genotypes exhibiting superior yield than control were further forwarded to M3 generation. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the induction of micro-mutants for 11 quantitative traits.Result: The reduction in mean value over control was observed for most of the yield component traits at M2 generation. Among the mutagenic treatments, combination of gamma rays with electron beam registered high mean values for pod length (5.05 cm), number of pods per plant (54.42) and single plant yield (25.68 g) at M3 generation. Non-significant skewness and / or kurtosis at M3 population denoted the absence of epistatic interactions for plant yield. An increase in variability pattern, H2 and GAM at M3 generation indicated the scope for trait (plant height, number of seeds per pod, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, biological yield and single plant yield) improvement through selection.


FIELD: information technology. SUBSTANCE: method is carried out through determination whether the current unlock user belongs to the first preset group of users in accordance with the unlock instruction manual, retrieviation and saving information about the current unlock user, if the current unlock user does not belong to the first preset group of users, the terminal unlocking if the current unlock user belongs to the first preset user group, display of the stored information and/or unlock user recorded operation, which does not belong to the first preset user group, output of invitation information, inviting to cancel the operation, and once the information is confirmed, a full or selective operation cancellation. EFFECT: increased security of access to an electronic device. 13 cl, 15 dwg


Introduction: One of the essential criteria for managing the disease in a hemodialysis patient is the adequacy of dialysis. Patient education, as an alternative method, can be useful to improve the adequacy of dialysis. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on EASE (Encourage Autonomous Self-Enrichment) program on dialysis adequacy in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Patients and Methods: The target population included the patients referred to the hemodialysis ward of Imam Khomeini hospital of Piranshahr. A total of 74 hemodialysis patients were randomly allocated into the intervention (n=37) and the control (n=37) groups. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made checklist including demographic information and dialysis adequacy. Independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA were used to test statistical differ. Results: We found a significant difference in dialysis adequacy between the two groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the difference between the mean scores of dialysis adequacy before and after the intervention was statistically significant in the intervention group. Repeated measures ANOVA at four-time points of pre-test and one month, two months and three months after the intervention showed that the difference in dialysis adequacy mean scores were not similar in the two groups and also showed improvement in dialysis adequacy mean score in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, EASE program made improvements in dialysis adequacy.


Singapore is one of Asia's great success stories, transforming itself from a developing country to a modern industrial economy in one generation. During the last decade, Singapore's education system has remained consistently at or near the top of most major world education ranking systems. This chapter examines how this " tiny red dot " on the map has achieved and sustained so much, so quickly. From Singapore's beginning, education has been seen as central to building both the economy and the nation. The objective was to serve as the engine of human capital to drive economic growth. The ability of the government to successfully match supply with demand of education and skills is a major source of Singapore's competitive advantage. Other elements in its success include a clear vision and belief in the centrality of education for students and the nation; persistent political leadership and alignment between policy and practice; a focus on building teacher and leadership capacity to deliver reforms at the school level; ambitious standards and assessments; and a culture of continuous improvement and future orientation that benchmarks educational practices against the best in the world.


According to the surface treatment process of carbon fiber composites,the overall plan of the production line about the carbon fiber composites surface polishing and spaying was designed,including the component and functional planning of control system,the design of program flow chart,the selection of PLC analysis,the design of I /O contact distribution,robot communication configuration,and the design of human-machine interface. The whole system design of the production line about the carbon fiber composites surface polishing and spaying were finally realized by the whole machine debugging.


Air samples in ice cores from Site J, Greenland and Mizuho, Antarctica were analyzed to reconstruct the past concentrations of atmospheric CH4 at northern and southern high latitudes. The results showed that the CH4 concentrations were fairly constant in the pre-industrial/pre-agricultural era covered by this study, average values being 756±10 and 701±10 ppbv for the Site J and Mizuho cores, respectively, and then increased significantly with time. The pre-industrial/pre-agricultural levels of the CH4 concentration obtained from the Site J core were higher by 55±20 ppbv than those from the Mizuho core, suggesting that natural CH4 sources had been stronger in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere.


Most standard and other analytical procedures for the determination of cyanide suffer from sulfide interferences. As sulfide and cyanide co-exist in many 'real world' samples, this presents a significant problem. The standard procedure for removal of sulfide is its precipitation with a lead salt. However, lower cyanide recoveries are often obtained if this procedure is performed improperly. In this paper, the chemistry of the sulfide interferences in cyanide determination methods is explained and procedures are suggested for alleviating the problem.


A new approach to dynamic force control of mechanical systems, applicable in particular to frame structures, over frequency ranges spanning their resonant frequencies is presented. This approach is implemented using added compliance and displacement compensation. Hydraulic actuators are inherently velocity sources, that is, an electrical signal regulates their velocity response. Such systems are therefore by nature high‐impedance (mechanically stiff) systems. In contrast, for force control, a force source is required. Such a system logically would have to be a low‐impedance (mechanically compliant) system. This is achieved by intentionally introducing a flexible mechanism between the actuator and the structure to be excited. In addition, in order to obtain force control over frequencies spanning the structure's resonant frequency, a displacement compensation feedback loop is needed. The actuator itself operates in closed‐loop displacement control. The theoretical motivation, as well as the laboratory implementation of the above approach is discussed along with experimental results. Having achieved a means of dynamic force control, it can be applied to various experimental seismic simulation techniques such as the effective force method and the real‐time dynamic hybrid testing method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The paper makes an assessment of the long term solar resource for the location of a photovoltaic solar park in the Pristol, Mehedinti County, Romania. Reference data and observations in the proximity of the solar park location were limited, and the analysis was based on a Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) Meteonorm developed to represent the behavior of the solar resource at the site of Photovoltaic Solar Park. The level of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) was evaluated as 1376 kWh/m2/year, while values for direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI), the resulting values were 1553 kWh/m2/year and 606 kWh/m2/year, respectively, provided for long-term behavior.


Chinese listed companies take part in the competition at the overseas markets,which becomes a very important part of Chinese economy.Now quite a few Chinese enterprises develop very fast by getting into foreign stock markets to utilize capital,to adopt high technology,to improve management.the same time,they are facing with critical challenges.This article is trying to find out the problems the listed companies are faced with at overseas markets,then the suggestions to the problems.


The present invention relates to a virtual reality implementation system and its virtual reality implementation. VR embodiment of the invention the system is a virtual object, is displayed in the display is implemented as a virtual and real objects, a specific area that exists in a specific area on the display panel of the wearable device. Specific area is defined by a plurality of position information transmitting and receiving sensor. The server stores the image data and the image data of the virtual object in the real objects in three dimensional images, and provides to the user's computer in a particular space. The server field between particular if it is determined the position information and the position information of the wearable device of the real objects in the space to the real object and the virtual object, some overlap, the image data of the image data and the virtual object in the real objects on the display panel of the wearable device depth the part that overlaps is treated so that trying to get or visible display in accordance with the. According to the present invention, by allowing to express a realistic real object and the virtual object by using a wearable device in a variety of space, it is possible to fuse implementation of virtual reality and augmented reality.


ABSTRACT This essay questions whether resistance and resignation are the only options available to Communication scholars whose work is focused on race. Resistance can only be understood in counter to Whiteness while resignation takes Whiteness at its word, both reactions center and re-center Whiteness. Ultimately, this piece starts down a path of self-definitions and determinations created outside the confines of Whiteness, building solidarities and kinships along the way.


Abstract : An evaluation of the design philosophies and procedures of the Cassegrain antenna is presented. An approach to the practical design of and quantitative calculations for the parameters of a Cassegrain antenna to be installed at The Ohio State University Antenna Laboratory are described. (Author)


On the afternoon of 21 April 1941, Maria Guiness, wife of one of the leading figures in the thriving English ex-patriot community on the banks of Lake Geneva, composed a letter in which she described life in wartime Switzerland. Her correspondent knew Switzerland only too well. Sir George Warner had been Britain's minister in Berne from 1936 and had only returned to London to take up a temporary appointment in the foreign office fifteen months earlier. The picture of Switzerland which emerged from the pages of Maria Guiness's letter was one which Warner would have found difficulty recognizing. Far from beauty and gaiety which coloured popular British images of Switzerland during the 1930s, the Switzerland of April 1941 was impregnated with the sulphurous stench of war and violent ideologies, filtering across the Rhine, or drifting up from fascist Italy. Daily life in Switzerland was, in the opinion of Maria Guiness, 'like living under Vesuvius when it begins to cough badly'. For the last twenty years, historical analyses of Switzerland's survival in such an inhospitable international environment have been dominated by the work of the Basle historian


The invention discloses an intelligent sensitive measuring insole. The intelligent sensitive measuring insole comprises an upper insole layer, a middle insole layer and a bottom insole layer which are bonded together, wherein a twentieth buckle belt, a twenty-first buckle belt, a twenty-second buckle belt and a twenty-third buckle belt are fixed to the portion, corresponding to the protruding point of the last toe of the foot, the portion, corresponding to the protruding point of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint, the portion, corresponding to the outer side of the front tarsal bone and the portion, corresponding to the outer edge of the heel, of the upper insole layer respectively; a 3D fingerprint sensor is arranged in the middle insole layer and connected with a computer through a USB connection wire; the bottom insole layer is provided with a first pipeline, the first pipeline is provided with a first opening in the length direction, a movable flexible ruler is arranged in the first pipeline and comprises a cotton cloth ruler and a spring, the cotton cloth ruler stretches out of the first opening, the edge of one side of the bottom insole layer is provided with an arc track, and a movable try square is mounted on the arc track. Foot information is collected through the 3D fingerprint sensor, foot size and other information is measured through the movable flexible ruler, and the metatarsophalangeal height, instep height, on-boat bending point height and other data are measured through the movable try square. The intelligent sensitive measuring insole has the advantages of being convenient to use, fast in measurement, accurate and high in comfort level.


A voltage pulse spectrum generator is described which delivers the following distributions of pulse heights: (1) delta function distribution; (2) uniform distribution; or (3) triangular distribution. The pulses are available at either a regular rate or a random rate. The delta function distribution is calibrated and continuously variable over the ranges 0–100 v and 0–0.1 v. The duration of the pulses is adjustable over 1–4 μsec.


Carbon fiber is a new construction material used for reinforcing concrete,whose application value is high.This paper introduces its performance characteristics, construction technology and construction notes in reinforcing concrete architecture. So more engineers can know it and further apply it in projects.


The purpose of this note is to give a complete and detailed proof of the fundamental Yamada-Watanabe Theorem on infinite dimensional spaces, more precisely in the framework of the variational approach to stochastic partial differential equations. 1. Framework and Definitions Let H be a separable Hilbert space, with inner product 〈·, ·〉H and norm ‖·‖H . Let V,E be separable Banach spaces with norms ‖·‖V and ‖·‖E , such that V ⊂ H ⊂ E continuously and densely. For a topological space X let B(X) denote its Borel σ-algebra. By Kuratowski's theorem we have that V ∈ B(H), H ∈ B(E) and B(V ) = B(H) ∩ V , B(H) = B(E) ∩H. Setting ‖x‖V := ∞ if x ∈ H \ V , we extend ‖·‖V to a function on H. We recall that this extension is B(H)-measurable and lower semicontinuous (cf. e.g. [PR06, Exercise 4.2.3]). Hence the following path space is well-defined: B := { w ∈ C(R+;H) ∣∣∣∣ ∫ T 0 ‖w(t)‖V dt < ∞ for all T ∈ [0,∞) } , equipped with the metric


A multi-center field study to assess the safety and efficacy of enalapril maleate (enalapril) in household dogs with naturally acquired Class III or Class IV heart failure caused mainly by mitral regurgitation was conducted at 20 animal hospitals in Japan. One hundred and thirty-six dogs of various breeds and each sex, aged 5 to 18 years and weighing 1.4 to 19.7 kg were included in the study and were randomly allocated to a vehicle control group (control group) or to an enalapril treatment group (enalapril group). Dogs in the enalapril group received the medication at the starting dose of approximately 0.25 mg/kg once a day (s.i.d.) for 7 days, followed by 0.5 mg/kg s.i.d., with an option to increase the dose on Day 14 to 0.5 mg/kg twice a day (b.i.d.) based on the results of physical examination and laboratory testing on Day 14. Dogs in the control group received vehicle tablets. Doses were administered for approximately 28 days. All but one dogs received standard therapy for congestive heart failure : 125 (92%) dogs received furosemide (maximum 4 mg/kg/day) and 125 (92%) dogs received digoxin (maximum 10ƒÊg/kg/day) at the discretion of the investigator. Sixtyseven and 69 dogs were allocated to the control group and the enalapril group, respectively. Forty-four (66%) dogs in the control group completed the study when compared to 57 (83%) dogs in the enalapril group. The improvement from baseline to Day 28 was significantly greater for dogs in the enalapril group than for those in the control group for all scored parameters: activity, mobility, appetite, coughing, respiratory effort, pulmonary edema, and class of heart failure. Overall evaluation judged by the investigators were significantly better for the enalapril-treated dogs than for the control dogs on Days 7, 14 and 28. No differences were observed between the enalapril group and the control group for changes in all laboratory testing parameters (serum chemistry, electrolytes, etc.). No adverse reactions attributable to enalapril treatment were observed. The results of the study demonstrate that enalapril administered at 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg s.i.d. with standard therapy of heart failure improves the clinical signs associated with heart failure. There were no enalapril-related adverse reactions.


It is a common belief, especially among financial professionals, that hectic periods in financial markets are accompanies by modifications in the risk factor dependence structure. We attempt to research into this matter, taking correlation as a proxy for measuring dependence and using for empirical study representative stock indices from Emerging Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Turkey) and their counterparts from established markets (developed Europe and North America). The results are contradicting the "market knowledge", as for almost all pairs, the correlation remains stable during volatile periods. JEL Classification: C12, C13, C32, C51, G15.


When the 2011 Tohoku earthquake occurred, the study of the 869 Jogan earthquake by AIST has finished the first stage and the evaluation of the Jogan earthquake was almost concluded in the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion, and also the back check of nuclear power plants seem to have been slowing down. The study of Jogan earthquake by AIST started 2004 and was included in the project supported by MEXT from 2005 to 2009. The final report of the project submitted to MEXT in 2010, which concluded that a giant tsunami was generated during the AD869 Jogan earthquake which was larger than M 8.4 based on tsunami deposits survey in the Sendai and Ishinomaki plains, and that the recurrence interval of the giant tsunamis was 450 to 800 years. The AIST study team understands that the source area could extend to the north and south because the survey area of tsunami deposits was insufficient, and tsunami inundation was wider than the distribution of tsunami deposits. The survey of tsunami deposits of wider area had been started from 2010, but it was difficult to find coastal plains which preserve tsunami deposits. The re-evaluation of all of the nuclear power plans started in 2007 based on new criteria of the safety assessment. The plants were evaluated by three sub-committees and the result was reported to the joint committee. Evaluation against strong motion by earthquake was preceded putting tsunami evaluation off later. In 2009, the middle reports of the Fukushima No.1 NPP was submitted to the joint committee which did not mentioned to the Jogan earthquake, and then only the minimum model of the Jogan earthquake was evaluated. The further discussion of its magnitude and tsunami has not been conducted before March 11, 2011. The study of Jogan earthquake have been presented in meetings of earth science societies by AIST and medias reported several times since 2005, but the possibility of giant earthquake along the Japan trench was not discussed in the community of earthquake science. In addition, it is not easy to change the society that was not ready to giant earthquake. In these circumstances, nuclear power plants were working during the re-evaluatio, while many problems have been pointed out. The situation has changed dramatically after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Society shares sense of crises against giant tsunami. The tsunami assessment has been made not based on known maximum earthquakes but unknown possible maximum. The safety of nuclear power plant were in doubt and the operation can be started after the safety of the plant was confirmed. Government dose not hesitated to assume maximum earthquake and tsunami, then possibility to point put unknown giant tsunami has been declined. But there is still unknown in earthquake, so it is necessary to continue study and to tell the society truce what we know and do not.


This paper describes the growing privacy and security needs in electronic health, and explains why they cannot be addressed by today's commercially available security technologies. A solution is proposed that allows electronic health information to be jointly managed by the data subject and his health care professionals, in a manner that simultaneously protects the data subject's privacy interests, the professionals' liability interests, and the legitimate interests of researchers and other third parties. " As more of our medical records are stored electronically, the threats to all our privacy increase. " Paper-based health records are rapidly becoming outdated. They are easily lost, are subject to wear and tear, are costly to handle, cannot be transferred electronically, may be difficult to interpret, and are inefficient. These fundamental drawbacks are driving a transition across the globe towards Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The Office of Health and the Information Highway (Health Canada's focal point for the use of information and communications technologies in the health sector) [1] defines an EHR as " The health record of an individual that is accessible online from many separate, interoperable automated systems within an electronic network. " EHRs can contain a variety of data and be used for different purposes by different parties involved in health care. A literature search reveals an abundance of related terms, widely used term, encompassing all reasonable notions of health records in electronic form. Currently, the vast majority of health records are still in non-electronic form, dispersed across many institutions. However, t he ever-increasing popularity of the Internet and electronic communication devices (such as Web-enabled cell phones and PDAs) is causing a rapid shift. According to a survey in 2001 by Harris Interactive and ARiA Marketing, patients are increasingly interested in communicating with their doctors, obtaining personalized medical alerts specific to their medical histories from their doctors, and participating in on-line communities to get information on diseases, hear about alternative therapies, and chat with others. On the side of health service providers, major efforts in Web connectivity are underway. The popularity of handheld devices for medical purposes is rising fast, especially amongst physicians in Europe; according to a report by Harris Interactive in August 2002, 11% of practitioners in the EU use PDAs in their practice, the Netherlands leading with a 31% national average. EHRs enable highly efficient and remote exchange of health information, remove administrative burdens, enhance productivity, open up new opportunities …


In the metabolic process,organisms produce a mite of free radicals inside the cells,and they participate in many physiological processes,possessing important physiological functions.However,under the effect of the emergent factors they produce reactive oxygen species(ROS) inside the body and accumulate in large amount,which can damage the cells.Antioxidant system possesses an important role in scavenging ROS process in the organism body.On the base of reviewing antioxidant enzymes classification,functions and structure,research progress of antioxidant enzymes and its effect factors for aquatic organisms were summarized in this paper.


The invention discloses a light source structure of a fish gathering lamp. The light source structure comprises an aluminum base plate, wherein LED (Light Emitting Diode) components are arranged on the aluminum base plate and are electrically connected through a connecting circuit; each LED component is mainly formed by combining LED flip chips; a transparent substrate covers the upper part of an LED chip of each LED flip chip; a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is directly connected to the lower part of each LED chip through welding points and is connected with a composite material layer through a heat conduction paste layer; each composite material layer comprises a heat conduction metal layer and an anti-corrosion radiating metal layer; each heat conduction metal layer is in direct contact with the corresponding heat conduction paste layer. According to the light source structure of the fish gathering lamp, a heat circuit can be greatly shortened, the heat resistance is reduced, the junction temperature is lower than that of an existing light source structure, and the service life of an LED is prolonged.


During 2000, Hager GeoScience, Inc. (HGI) performed a geophysical survey at a former paint factory site outside Boston, Massachusetts at which lead- and chromium-containing paint residue was known to be present in the subsurface. The goal was to determine the applicability of electromagnetic methods to mapping variations in the concentrations of pigment in fill. GPR and EM terrain conductivity techniques were tested in areas of known contamination and then applied to a nearby area under investigation. A GPR survey was performed along traverses at 2-foot spacing, enabling the use of 3D modeling techniques. Survey results were presented as GPR 3D and filled color contour EM plots. Slices at increasing depths through the GPR 3D plots revealed spatially localized high-amplitude zones of pigment concentration and attenuated zones of normal fill. The shallow depth slices showed that the pigment was most concentrated between 10 and 15 feet. Slices through the 3D plots at greater depths showed that in some areas the attenuated zones of normal fill reached depths of over 30 feet, consistent with fill depths in boring logs provided by the client.


The outer membrane is the defining characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria and is crucial for the maintenance of cellular integrity. Lipoproteins are an essential component of this outer membrane and regulate broad cellular functions ranging from efflux, cellular physiology, antibiotic resistance, and pathogenicity. In the canonical model of lipoprotein biogenesis, lipoprotein precursors are first synthesized in the cytoplasm prior to extensive modifications by the consecutive action of three key enzymes: diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt), lipoprotein signal peptidase A (LspA), and apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase (Lnt). This enzymatic process modifies lipoprotein precursors for subsequent trafficking by the Lol pathway. The function of these three enzymes were originally thought to be essential, however, in some Gram-negative bacteria, namely Acinetobacter baylyi, the third enzyme Lnt is dispensable. Here we review the function and significance of Lgt, LspA, and Lnt in outer membrane biogenesis and how non-canonical models of lipoprotein processing in Acinetobacter spp. can enhance our understanding of lipoprotein modifications and trafficking.


Introduction: Water is a convenient environment for the spread of pathogenic bacteria. Their presence may result from contact with water through soil, air, and animal and human activity. The identification of microorganisms allows us to determine the biological properties, the possible epidemiological risk, and the sanitary condition of the surface water. Aim of the research: To analyse the presence of microbiological indicators in selected water samples collected in autumn, winter, and spring. Material and methods: The research sites included three rivers and two water reservoirs located in Świętokrzyskie voivodeship. The water samples were tested based on the presence of coliform, mesophilic, and psychrophilic bacteria. Results: The presence of E. coli was confirmed in all water reservoirs, but values above the standard limit were confirmed in just three cases (Wisła, Bernatka, and Emerald Lake). The results show that the changing microbiological parameters of the analysed water samples can result from different factors. The large number of bacteria in water can come from other local streams and groundwater, human and animal activity, and especially from influx of domestic wastewater. The sanitary state of surface water in Świętokrzyskie is consistent with data from other Polish voivodeships published in the literature. Conclusions: Microbiological pollution of surface water in Poland is a constant and underestimated problem. It can be a serious epidemiological threat, especially in mild winters and warmer summers.