Question In premenopausal women with a history of recurrent cystitis, does increasing daily water intake reduce risk for recurrence? Methods Design Randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02444975. Allocation Concealed.* Blinding Unblinded.* Follow-up period 12 months. Setting Clinical research center in Sofia, Bulgaria. Patients 140 premenopausal women 18 years of age (mean age 36 y, mean daily fluid intake 1.1 L/d) who were generally healthy and did not currently have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), had 3 documented clinical visits for symptomatic cystitis in the past year with 1 episode confirmed by culture, reported drinking <1.5 L/d of fluids, and had 24-hour urine volume <1.2 L and 24-hour urine osmolality 500 mOsm/kg at baseline. Exclusion criteria included pyelonephritis in the past 12 months, symptomatic vulvovaginitis, interstitial cystitis, current or planned pregnancy, or current lactation. Intervention Three 500-mL bottles of water per day plus usual fluid intake (n =70) or usual fluid intake alone (n =70). Outcomes Primary outcome was frequency of recurrent cystitis (1 UTI symptom and midstream urine culture with 10 3 CFU/mL uropathogens). Other outcomes included number of antimicrobial regimens used; time between episodes; and 24-hour urinary volume, voids, and osmolality. Patient follow-up 93% (intention-to-treat analysis). Main results At 12 months, mean self-reported increase in water intake was 1.15 L/d in the increased water group; water intake did not change in the usual fluid intake group. Increasing water intake vs continuing usual fluid intake reduced cystitis episodes and number of antimicrobial regimens used, and increased time between cystitis episodes at 12 months (Table). Increasing water intake vs continuing usual fluid intake lengthened time to first cystitis episode (median 148 vs 94 d, hazard ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.74), increased 24-hour urine volume (baseline mean 0.9 vs 0.9 L/d; 12-mo mean 2.2 vs 1.0 L/d, P <0.001), reduced 24-hour urine osmolality (baseline mean 721 vs 728 mOsm/kg; 12-mo mean 329 vs 713 mOsm/kg, P <0.001), and increased number of voids per day (baseline mean 6.0 vs 6.2; 12-mo mean 8.2 vs 5.9, P <0.001). Conclusion In premenopausal women with recurrent cystitis, increasing water intake for 12 months reduced cystitis episodes. Increased water intake vs usual fluid intake in premenopausal women with recurrent cystitis Outcomes Increased water intake Usual fluid intake Mean difference (95% CI) at 12 mo Mean number of cystitis episodes 1.7 3.2 1.5 (1.2 to 1.8) Mean number of antimicrobial regimens used 1.9 3.6 1.7 (1.3 to 2.1) Mean time between cystitis episodes, d 143 84 58 (39 to 77) CI defined in Glossary. Commentary Urinary symptoms in women, construed as consistent with UTI in the trial by Hooton and colleagues, may exist in the absence of culture-positive UTI. They may represent a confluence of other factorsnot least of which is urothelial afferent sensitivity, which may be produced by lack of estrogen support (1). Hormonal concerns are mainly operational in postmenopausal women, but some premenopausal women are also more prone to UTIs in the progestational phase of their cycle and may develop postcoital UTIs and benefit from postcoital prophylaxis. Hooton and colleagues assessed 1 strategy, increased fluid intake, for preventing recurrent UTIs in premenopausal women and found that it decreased recurrent cystitis. Clinicians may often be tempted to treat urinary symptoms immediately with antibiotics, which may or may not provide short- or long-term benefits. This strategy can result in overuse of antibiotics, with attendant concerns of bacterial resistance and antibiotic-induced side effects. Clinicians who treat patients with urinary symptoms should ensure that the diagnosis of UTI is appropriate, especially in those with recurrent symptoms. To avoid overuse of antibiotics, it is necessary to obtain urine culture at the time of symptomatic presentation and closely follow patients, with documentation of subsequent cultures in the event of persistent or recurrent symptoms. Although increased fluid ingestion may be beneficial for some patients with recurrent infections, other strategies include assurance of appropriate hormonal environment, urinary acidification, and appropriate attention to bowel dysfunction (1). Colonization is also a concern in women with lower urinary symptoms. Not all bacteria identified in urine culture should be construed as pathologic. The best approach is to assess the overall patient and the results of urine culture, and look for inflammatory sediment (white blood cells) in the urinalysis, which indicates an inflammatory response to the identified microbes. Fluid modulation strategies that increase intake could worsen urinary symptoms, and Hooton and colleagues noted increased urinary frequency in the increased water intake group that fits the definition of overactive bladder. Therefore, patient education may also be an important part of this intervention. The benefits of a reasonable balance of fluid ingestion is undeniablewhether the volume used in this trial is optimal remains debatable.


Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the perceptions of indigenous people towards tourism development and the factors that influence their perceptions of the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism.

Design/methodology/approach
This study will focus on the perceptions of an aboriginal group indigenous to Malaysia, and draws upon a sample of 272 from the Lower Kinabatangan region of Sabah, Malaysia. Respondents were administered a questionnaire, the results of which were analysed by way of partial least squares–structural equation modelling.

Findings
The results indicate a significant positive effect for economic gain on the perceived economic and environmental impacts of tourism, and of community involvement on the perception of social impacts. Moreover, the study found that the perception of environmental impacts, followed by perceived economic impacts, had a strong effect on support for tourism development.

Originality/value
This study makes a significant theoretical contribution to the resident perception literature by investigating how the perception of tourism impacts affects indigenous residents' support for tourism development. Furthermore, this study describes a number of practical implications of this study for the promotion of sustainable tourism development among indigenous residents.


Objective To observe the effects of domestic tirofiban hydrochloride on serum MMP2 in the coronary heart disease patients with intracoronary stent implantation.Method The patients who were diagnosed as coronary heart disease(CHD)including acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)and unstable angina pectoris(UAP) and successfully accepted the intracoronary stent implantation were divided into STEMI and UAP group.Each group was subdivided into tirofiban treatment group(STEMIa,UAPa) and control group(STEMIb,UAPb).We detected the serum level of MMP2 in each group of PCI patients before and after 24-hour operation by the gelatin zymography.Result Compared with UAP group,the serum level of MMP2 in STEMI group increased significantly before and after the operation(P0.05),but the serum levels of MMP2 in STEMIa and UAPa group were respectively lower than those in STEMIb and UAPb group(P0.05).Conclusion Tie intracoronary stent implantation can cause endangium damage which improves the MMP2 expression.Tirofiban can reduce the serum level of MMP2 in the patients after stenting.


Blind image deconvolution (BID) is about recovering a latent image with sharp details from its blurred observation generated by the convolution with an unknown smoothing kernel. Recently, deep generative priors from untrained neural networks (NNs) have emerged as a promising deep learning approach for BID, with the benefit of being free of external training samples. However, existing untrained-NN-based BID methods may suffer from under-deblurring or overfitting. In this paper, we propose an ensemble approach to better exploit the priors from untrained NNs for BID, which aggregates the deblurring results of multiple untrained NNs for improvement. To enjoy both the effectiveness and computational efficiency in ensemble learning, the untrained NNs are designed with a specific shared-base and multi-head architecture. In addition, a kernel-centering layer is proposed for handling the shift ambiguity among different predictions during ensemble, which also improves the robustness of kernel prediction to the setting of the kernel size parameter. Extensive experiments show that the proposed approach noticeably outperforms both exiting dataset-free methods and dataset-based methods.


Domain wall probes (DW-probes) were custom-made by modifying standard commercial magnetic force microscopy (MFM) probes using focused ion beam lithography. Excess of magnetic coating from the probes was milled out, leaving a V-shaped nanostructure on one face of the probe apex. Owing to the nanostructure's shape anisotropy, such probe has four possible magnetic states depending on the direction of the magnetization along each arm of the V-shape. Two states of opposite polarity are characterised by the presence of a geometrically constrained DW, pinned at the corner of the V-shape nanostructure. In the other two states, the magnetization curls around the corner with opposite chirality. Electron holography studies, supported by numerical simulations, demonstrate that a strong stray field emanates from the pinned DW, whilst a much weaker stray field is generated by the curling configurations. Using in situ MFM, we show that the magnetization states of the DW-probe can be easily controlled by applying an external magnetic field, thereby demonstrating that this type of probe can be used as a switchable tool with a low or high stray field intensity. We demonstrate that DW-probes enable acquiring magnetic images with a negligible interference with the sample magnetization, similar to that of commercial low moment probes, but with a higher magnetic contrast. In addition, the DW-probe in the curl state provides complementary information about the in-plane component of the sample's magnetization, which is not achievable by standard methods and provides additional information about the stray fields, e.g. as when imaging DWs.


Diazepam is a commonly used drug for suicidal attempts. The antagonistic effect of physostigmine in these patients is poorly understood. We studied the interaction of large doses of diazepam and either physostigmine or galanthamine hydrobromide using dose-response curves in 21 cats. After establishing dose-response curves for diazepam, half of the animals received 0.02 mg/kg of physostigmine intravenously. Two minutes later 8, 10, 12, or 14 mg/kg of diazepam was administered intravenously. After 2, 5, and 10 min, animals were evaluated for their response to noise and pain stimuli. The other half of animals were given 0.2 mg/kg of galanthamine intravenously and evaluated for diazepam effect using the same criteria. Sufficient number of days were allowed for the animals to recover from diazepam.


The art-majored college students are the main constructors of China's literature and art development in the future, thus their socialist core value education is of great significance. On the basis of their loss of identification on socialist core value, this paper explores the effective means of socialist core value education for art-majored college students; regulates social unhealthy atmosphere and negative influence of various media, and creates good social environment; updates teaching concept, and improves education effect; improves students' scientific and cultural quality; establishes social practice system; creates education environment; enhances campus cultural construction; pays attention to mental health education, and perfects psychological counseling system.


It is of great significance to study non-agricultural employment of rural labor, for improving the income level and promoting full employment of farmers. With the deepening market-oriented reforms, instead of agricultural income, non-agricultural one has become the principal part of total income of farmers. Conversion trend is clear. Based on the survey data of 83 farmers in November 2008 in Fengxin and Yifeng County, Jiangxi Province, China, using Probit model as the main analyzing tool, the research analyses the influence of education, sex, age, training situation, marital status, labor burden and per capita land area on off-farm employment decisions. Furthermore, recommendations are presented basing on the results obtained above.


Applying the atomic characteristic boundary model,the boundary contours of groupⅠatoms from H to Rb were studied in a uniform electric field,whose strength was 106~108 V/m.Results by an ab initio method showed that the boundary of an atom in a uniform electric field was nearly elliptical,which contracted in the direction of electric field but expanded in the opposite direction and the intensity of contraction was smaller than that of expansion.The variation of atomic boundary contour rose with increase of the electric field strength.In the same electric field,the variation of atomic boundary contour increased from H to Rb.It was shown that the mean variation rates of the atomic radial sizes of these atoms in the electric field of unit strength had a good linear relationship with the available experimental values of atomic polarizability.


Basic tenets of "ALWR utility requirement document(ALWR-URD)" are definite require- ments of the U.S. utilities for advanced light water NPP. This paper gives an all-around summary which include seismic design in NPP especially for SSCs seismic classification, seismic design modification opin- ion after abolishing OBE and basic requirement for seismic margin assessment and earthquake risk assess- ment. The paper also puts forward some opinions on ALWR-URD. It may be a reference for new design NPP.


The invention provides a bidirectional power device comprising a switch circuit, a fault circuit, a driving circuit, and a power circuit. The switch circuit comprises at least a diode rectifier bridge and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) connected with the diode rectifier bridge in an inverse parallel manner. The fault circuit is connected with the switch circuit, comprises a signal photoelectric coupler and a hysteresis comparator, and is used for determining whether overcurrent occurs to the switch circuit. The driving circuit is connected with the switch circuit and the fault circuit, comprises a driving photoelectric coupler and a transistor, and is used for driving the switch circuit. The power circuit is connected with the switch circuit, comprises an isolating diode, a first voltage-stabilizing diode, a second voltage-stabilizing diode, a voltage stabilizer, and a voltage-dividing resistor, provides reference voltage for overcurrent protection, and isolates heavy current from light current. The bidirectional power device is simple in circuit structure and employs modular design structure so as to effectively shorten design time. Integrally, the bidirectional power device has complete and superior functions and intelligence.


In this investigation the motivational profile of the civil employees of the commerce company of aromatic grass Fresh Herbs was established. It was developed under a correlational descriptive design of the scores of the 15 internal and external motivational factors and the favorite averages to obtain the repayments waited for in the work, from the Questionnaire of Work Motivation (CMT- Cuestionario de Motivacion para el trabajo) elaborated by Toro (1985), with the socio-demographic variables of the participants: age, gender, position and antiquity in the company. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of twenty civil employees who directly are related to the company. The results showed that pay is the most significant motivational factor between the participants, factor that displays highest average, whereas the content of the work is the factor with the lowest average. From this, some recommendations that the organization can implement to improve the quality of life in the work, also, to obtain benefits for the personnel in their competitive development and the production, were considered. Key words: motivation, motivational profile, work motivation, CMT.


The argument that learning science, learning about science and learning to do science require an understanding of, and an ability to use appropriately, a set of culturally defined methods for conducting inquiries and a set of conventions and mode of discourse for presenting the results has been presented previously. This article discusses the implications of this for teaching practice, including the notion of apprenticeship, scaffolding strategies, timing of intervention, the use of modelling, the role of language and the importance of group work.


Algorithms for learning Bayesian networks (BNs) behave as a black box that takes a database as an input and returns a network as the output. In contrast, OpenMarkov, our tool for probabilistic graphical models, includes the option to run the algorithms in a step-by-step fashion, presenting a ranked list of operations (such as adding, removing, or inverting links) the user can select, while allowing live edition of the BN throughout the learning process. The application oers some data preprocessing options and the possibility to use a model network to guide the learning process. This functionality in OpenMarkov can be employed to learn BNs with partial expert knowledge, to debug new algorithms, and as a pedagogical tool.


Shewhart control charts are designed to be used with independent observations. Actualdataare, however, often positively autocorrelated. This simulation study compares the performance of the traditional fixed interval Shewhart control chart with the variable interval technique when the data are autocorrelated. Samples of size 1 are ernployedintheinvestigationwhichisconductedbyvarying the interval length, autocorrelation parameter, and shift in the process mean. Adjustments for false alarms caused by the presence of autocorrelation are implemented. The results suggest that the average time to signal depends on the shift magnitude and the amount of autocorrelation in the process. We show that, in general, when monitoring an autocorrelated process it is advantageous to use the variable interval technique over the fixed interval approach and that this advantage increases in proportion to the shifi in the process mean.


An apparatus and method is disclosed for producing an artificial gravitational field in a spacecraft by rotating the same around a spin axis. The centrifugal force thereby created acts as an artificial gravitational force. The apparatus includes an engine which produces a drive force offset from the spin axis to drive the spacecraft towards a destination. The engine is also used as a counterbalance for a crew cabin for rotation of the spacecraft. Mass of the spacecraft, which may include either the engine or crew cabin, is shifted such that the centrifugal force acting on that mass is no longer directed through the center of mass of the craft. This off-center centrifugal force creates a moment that counterbalances the moment produced by the off-center drive force to eliminate unwanted rotation which would otherwise be precipitated by the offset drive force.


Fluctuation of water regimes where plant grows has been known to affect the plant chemical, nutrition compositions and plant chemical defenses, which can affect the vulnerability of plants to insect herbivores. This research aimed to compare the concentration of plant nutrition and chemical defenses of Melaleuca ercifolia grows on different water regimes, subsequently to insect herbivore attacks. The leaf total nitrogen was higher in plants growing in water fluctuated areas, therefore the insect herbivores compared to plants growing in prolong-flooded condition. Insect herbivores prefer to consume plants that are more nutritious and less affected by the plant growing conditions.


All too often, it is assumed that the broadcast audience measurement services only supply ratings of individual programs. Often overlooked is the vast amount of ancillary material of a qualitative nature published with the ratings themselves. This material (dependent of course, for accuracy on the sampling procedures of the various measurement services) is of immense value to persons interested in the deeper and longer range aspects of audience behavior and composition. It is interesting to note that the Madow report (see p. 165) only devotes two pages to qualitative information. The article that follows was written prior to publication of the Madow committee report and is derived independently from the original sources. In that connection, Dr. Summers wishes particularly to thank Mr. John Thayer of ARB, Mr. H. Wynn Bussmann of Nielsen, Dr. Sydney Roslow of Pulse, Mr. Eugene L. Reilly of Trendez and Mr. Henry Brenner of TvQ for their assistance in providing information and in checking the manuscript of th...


A polymeric 5 μm C30 stationary phase for reversed phase HPLC was used to separate and quantitate geometric isomers of provitamin A carotenoids in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. β-Carotene isomers (all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis, and 15-cis), α-carotene isomers (all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis, and 13'-cis), and β-cryptoxanthin isomers (all-trans, 13 and 13'-cis, and 15-cis) were resolved isocratically using the C30 stationary phase with 89:11 methanol/methyl tert-butyl ether as mobile phase. The percent of cis isomers increased 10−39% with canning. The total provitamin A carotenoid content (in micrograms per gram of dry weight of tissue) ranged from 3.5 to 907 in fresh samples and from 1.8 to 1055 in canned samples. In several fruits and vegetables, processing produced an increase of 16−50% of total measured provitamin A carotenoids relative to the fresh samples. These increases were most likely a result of increased extraction efficiency, inactivation of enzymes capable of degrading carotenoids, and/or l...


A lithium nickel-based oxide is provided to prevent the reduction of battery capacity and swelling phenomenon by minimizing surface impurities, and to improve high-temperature stability of a secondary battery, battery capacity and charging/discharging character. A lithium nickel-based oxide is indicated as the chemical formula 1: [ LiNi_(1-x)M_xO_2] as a cathode active material and has a monolith structure. In the chemical formula 1, 0<=x<0.3, and M is one or two or greater selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Zr, Si, Sn and Fe.


In this effort, a deep learning technique for segmenting and detecting hemorrhagic lesions on brain CT images is proposed. This study intends to develop a framework for deep learning convolutional neural networks for processing CT brain images with hemorrhagic strokes and picture recognition. An adaptive median filter is used as a pre-processing step to remove noise from the input image. Following preprocessing, the picture with the noise removed is supplied into the segmentation block to be divided into numerous segments for subsequent processing. In addition, the K-means clustering technique is used in the suggested network to increase segmentation accuracy. The contrast between the hemorrhagic area and healthy brain tissue is enhanced. The findings that were acquired by employing CNN Classifier were precise. To prevail the incidence of computation is indeed slow and signals only move in one direction in feed forward setups.


, Phenomena related to the equilibrium take-up and retention of fluid in porous media can be explained and predicted in terms of the capillary sorption cycle (CSC) formed by the absorption and exsorption isotherms. An experimental method is described for determining the CSC as well as the simultaneous changes in the bulk volume of the porous medium as it cycles between 0 and 100% fill-up. The complex shape of the CSC and the, sometimes highly significant, differences between the first and all subse quent cycles can be explained in terms of the mechanism which causes volume changes. The method of analysis provides a tool for investigating the capillary sorption proper ties of heteroporous media, such as fiber masses of different composition, structure, and bulk density. This has been demonstrated by applying the criteria of sorption equi librium to phenomena related to the spontaneous fill-up and capillary transfer of fluid in the pore system of fiber masses.


This paper deals with the intersection point process of a stationary and isotropic Poisson hyperplane process in $\mathbb{R}^d$ of intensity $t>0$, where only hyperplanes that intersect a centred ball of radius $R>0$ are considered. Taking $R=t^{-\frac{d}{d+1}}$ it is shown that this point process converges in distribution, as $t\to\infty$, to a Poisson point process on $\mathbb{R}^d\setminus\{0\}$ whose intensity measure has power-law density proportional to $\|x\|^{-(d+1)}$ with respect to the Lebesgue measure. A bound on the speed of convergence in terms of the Kantorovich-Rubinstein distance is provided as well. In the background is a general functional Poisson approximation theorem on abstract Poisson spaces. Implications on the weak convergence of the convex hull of the intersection point process and the convergence of its $f$-vector are also discussed, disproving and correcting thereby a conjecture of Devroye and Toussaint [J.\ Algorithms 14.3 (1993), 381--394] in computational geometry.


The soft rock material-cement mortars are used during the moisture and heat transfer experiment.The two different kinds of soft rock materials are experimented in the open system with temperature gradient,and the results show:(1) the degree of the moisture and heat transfer is different between the different soft rock materials,the content of quartz mineral in the sample is higher,the redistributing time of the temperature field is longer;(2) the gradient of temperature is the main driving power of the moisture transfer,the gradient is higher and the moisture field redistributes quicker;and(3) the porosity ratio is higher and the process of freezing is longer.


This demonstration dealt only with certain parts of this large subject, and attempted to illustrate by photographs, clinical charts, skiagrams and pathological preparations, some interest|ng points with regard to pneumonia in childhood. A combined lrivestigation on the subject had been going on for sometime at the Edinburgh Sick Children's Hospital and in the laboratory of the Royal College of Physicians, in which in addition to


Engineered injection and extraction (EIE) is a new strategy for in situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. With engineered injection and extraction, a treatment solution that reacts with the contaminant is injected into the contaminated aquifer, and a series of injections and extractions of clean water are performed in nearby wells to promote the spreading of the treatment solution throughout the contaminated area. Numerical simulations have shown that EIE leads to enhanced degradation of nonsorbing aqueous contaminants as compared to standard approaches of in situ remediation. Sorbing contaminants pose additional challenges to remediation of contaminated aquifers. In this work, we investigate effective EIE sequences for enhancing degradation of sorbing contaminants. In the EIE system, the non-sorbing treatment solution and the sorbing contaminant are advected at different rates, so the effective EIE sequence for sorbing contaminants is different than the effective sequence for non-sorbing aqueous contaminants. The appropriate EIE sequence depends on the sorption properties and the degradation reaction rate. Using numerical simulations, we show that EIE sequences can be designed to enhance degradation of sorbing contaminants as compared to standard in situ remediation approaches.


Video is becoming an important medium for contact centers to serve customers, in addition to voice self service systems and live agents. Recently, video-enabled communication devices such as 3G mobile phones, IP softphones, and the like have become more widely deployed. For users of such video-enabled devices calling into contact centers, a more effective experience is possible using the video display combined with the existing voice output, and caller voice and DTMF input. In this paper we describe the architecture and implementation of a video contact center that provides both a video self-service and a rich agent-assisted video service with an application controlled dynamic video stream delivered to callers. Using dynamic video, the system provides for a level of interaction that goes beyond simply using video as another static recorded prompt technology. It closes with a list of issues to be addressed as the use of video matures.


Introduction: Siliconeprosthetic implants are commonlyutilizedfor tissue replacement and breast augmentation after mastectomy. On the other hand, some patients require adjuvant radiotherapy in order to preventlocal-regional recurrence and increment ofthe overall survival. In case of recurrence, the radiation oncologist might have to irradiate the prosthesis.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicone prosthesis on photon dose distribution in breast radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: The experimental dosimetry was performed using theprosthetic breast phantom and the female-equivalent mathematical chest phantom. A Computerized Tomographybased treatment planning was performedusing a phantom and by CorePlan Treatment Planning System (TPS). For measuring the absorbed dose, thermoluminescent dosimeter(TLD) chips (GR-207A) were used. Multiple irradiations were completed for all the TLD positions, and the dose absorbed by the TLDs was read by a lighttelemetry (LTM) reader. Results: Statistical comparisons were performed between the absorbed dosesassessed by the TLDs and the TPS calculations forthe same sites. Our initial resultsdemonstratedanacceptable agreement (P=0.064) between the treatment planning data and the measurements. The mean difference between the TPS and TLD resultswas 1.99%.The obtained findings showed that radiotherapy is compatible withsilicone gel prosthesis. Conclusion: It could be concludedthat the siliconbreast prosthesis has no clinicallysignificant effectondistribution of a 6 MV photon beam for reconstructed breasts.


On the basis of a representation of the general solution of the Maxwell equations in terms of the angular spectrum of the electromagnetic field, the concept of the so-called closest solution to a given field is analyzed. In particular, we investigate the spatial profile and the polarization structure of the closest field to a polarized Gaussian beam.


: Camel is a vital animal to daily life of people in desert areas as a source of food, means of transportation and its milk uses as medicine for several diseases. In the harsh environment it can produce more milk for longer period than any other livestock species. The aim of this manuscript was to review currently available articles on the camel milk focusing on its composition and medicinal values by systemic overview of literatures. Camel milk is more similar to human milk as it contains low cholesterol and sugar, high minerals and vitamin C and higher protective proteins like lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, immunoglobulins and lysozyme. It is unique in terms of antioxidative factors, anti-microbial activities, anti-ulcer, anti-cancer and anti-arthritis properties, autoimmune diseases treatment, cosmetic and detergent values. Additionally, insulin in camel milk is safe and efficacious in improving long-term glycemic control in diabetic patient. Moreover, camel milk reduces autism symptoms in children. High level -hydroxyl acid in camel milk smoothies the skin and is effective for treatment of skin disorders such as dermatitis, acne, psoriasis and eczema. Additionally, camel's milk can be used as an option for the individuals intolerant to cow's milk and is useful water source for dehydrated calves and the humans. Although camel milk has a lot of health benefits; its consumption is restricted to the pastoral areas. Hence, camel is scientifically abandoned animal documentations on camel milk composition and its medicinal importance is limited which created information gap in this area. So, further studies should be conducted on the chemical compositions and medicinal values of camel milk.


Fluorescence methods have been developed for ultra-low-level detection down to the single molecule level. In ultra-low-level analysis, one successful approach to background reduction is to use hydrodynamically focused sample streams coupled with focused laser excitation to reduce detection volumes. However, low-molecular-weight analytes such as fluorescent dyes or fluorescently tagged nucleotides can diffuse radially out of the sample stream before detection, which can cause a significant reduction in the detection efficiency. Diffusional spreading can cause sample stream mixing in multiplexed analyses. Also, axial diffusion can cause misordering of analyte molecules in DNA sequencing at high analysis rates. A new method is presented for reducing diffusion effects by incorporating a high-molecular-weight species that has a strong binding affinity for the analyte (anchor) into the sheath fluid. As the analyte starts to diffuse out of the sample stream, it associates with the anchor and effectively assumes the anchor's molecular weight. This association reduces the analyte's mobility to that of the anchor. Consequently, both radial and axial diffusion are reduced. Further, in favorable cases, this adduct can have significantly increased luminescence yields and photostability compared to the free analyte. Examples of several dye polymer combinations involving electrostatic and other binding modes are given that show the very beneficial effects of this approach. Extension to other systems is described.


Shih (1992) correctly points out that my discussion of the distinction between informative, random (MAR) and completely random (MCAR) dropouts fails to consider explicitly issues of model parameterisation (Diggle, 1991). However, I did use a notation which was intended to make clear that I was assuming separate parameterisations of the dropout process (parameter ,B) and the measurement process (parameter 0), thus satisfying Shih's DP (distinct parameters) condition. The implications of the violation of DP are discussed explicitly in Diggle and Kenward (1994). Shih goes on to suggest: "It may be possible that in certain situations when MAR holds without DP, ignoring the missing data process still leads to consistent but inefficient estimates." In fact, ignoring the missing data process in such cases always leads to consistent estimates. Under MAR and DP, the log-likelihood partitions as L(f3, 0) = LI(3) + L2(0), where Ll(.) involves only the data on dropouts and L2(A) involves only the measurement data. '1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0 ^ S ' 3 . . . ~~~~I U * ** * O-~ ~ ~ * . ,, O o ~ ~~~~~~~~ o i l a 2 4 6 1 Figure~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Siuae aa(os n miia en tec aue ft(once iesget) Corlto paaee p . 9. * S B~ ~ 94


Based on geometry condition of rock column balance of the voussoir beam structure,concept of both "short voussoir beam" and "step beam" in shallow seam part of the teaching material,i.e.Rock pression and ground control was discussed.It is considered that the roof of the shallow seam can not form the voussoir beam structure because of the balance condition that the length of ruptured rock column must be twice more than its thickness."Short voussoir beam"is the voussoir beam structure the ratio of length to thickness of which is adjacent to 1,"short voussoir beam" structure is contrary to the voussoir beam theory."Step beam" structure is based on erroneous suppose by incorrect use of voussoir beam theory: rock column N collapsed is still analyzed with hinge condition of voussoir beam,and "step beam"is nonexistent.In fact,it is feasible that rock column M(i.e.control rock column)is counted as a beam to set up model.


This thesis is about higher dimensional class field theory of varieties over local and finite fields. Their abelianized etale fundamental group is compared with an attached class group via the reciprocity map, like in the classical case of a local or global field. The main results in this thesis are about the structure of the kernel of their reciprocity maps and criteria for the vanishing of it, resp..


In order to extract 1,2-cyclohexanediamine from water,butyl alcohol is chosen as an appropriate extractant and the process of 1,2-cyclohexanediamine by solvent extraction is studied. The experimental results showed that the better extraction conditions are as follows: the extraction time 60 min,extraction temperature30 ℃,setting time 60 min,the volume ratio of organic to aqueous phase 1∶ 1,the pH of the aqueous solution12. 9,the extraction yield of 1,2-diaminocyclohexandiamine reached 95%. We reduced pressure distillation,and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine whose purity is 99. 86% is obtained.


When two or more working interest owners share an undivided interest in a natural gas well, it is not uncommon for production imbalances to occur. Sometimes such imbalances are remedied pursuant to a gas balancing agreement (GBA) entered into by the interest owners. However, if no GBA is entered into, the common law rules of cotenancy and any other agreement between the parties will be used to cure the production imbalance. In [open quotes]Weiser-Brown Oil Co. v. Samson Resources Co.[close quotes], the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that, absent a GBA, a co-owner has no contractual right to recoup underproduction, only a right to an accounting as between cotenants, and that this right to an accounting does not run with the land to subsequent cotenants, but is only personal to the cotenant who has underproduced. This note analyzes the [open quotes]Weiser-Brown[close quotes] decision by first addressing the common law of cotenancy and how the common law is affected by the existence of an operating agreement. The conclusion reached is that, under an operating agreement, the right to make up an underproduction, even absent a GBA, is an assignable contract right, and that this right runs with themore » land to inure to subsequent grantees of the original part to the operating agreement.« less


A prominent feature predicted for the backscattering by thin spherical shells is an enhancement of the guided wave contributions in the midfrequency range [L. G. Zhang et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91, 1862–1874 (1992)]. This feature may be useful for certain inverse problems and is associated with a strongly coupled slightly subsonic wave denoted by some authors as the a0− wave. The present research gives a comparison between a ray analysis and experiments in which tone bursts having carrier frequencies ω=kc in the range 35<ka<70 were incident on an empty stainless steel shell in water. The sphere's radius to thickness ratio is a/h=43.8. Time records of echoes provided a means for measuring the guided wave contribution relative to that of the specular reflection. As predicted the guided wave echo can be over three times larger than the specular echo and the ka dependence generally follows the predicted hump. [Work supported by ONR. The author acknowledges the advice of P. L. Marston.]


A series of nine metal chloride hydrates (ZnCl2.2H2O, SnCl2.2H2O, CdCl2.2H2O, MnCl2.4H2O, CoCl2.6H2O, SrCl2.6H2O, NiCl2.6H2O, CrCl3.6H2O and CeCl3.7H2O) was investigated as mild and inexpensive Lewis acid catalysts to promote the multicomponent synthesis of triarylimidazoles. Reactions starting from benzil showed the best results when SnCl2.2H2O was used, while for benzoin as the starting material, CeCl3.7H2O was more efficient. All reactions were performed in EtOH as solvent. These catalysts were also successfully employed in the synthesis of triaryloxazoles.


A landfill after going over its limit will be closed down and stop receiving waste. A matter of concern here is how to reuse the landfill site efficiently while there are many closed landfills have been transformed into new land uses in the world. The purpose of the study is to find the best land use of a closed‐landfill site after studying the characteristics of landfill site by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The data used in the study were collected from surveys on 15 experts in three fields (environment, urban planning, and policy development) and the locals. The final results were based on their experience in evaluating the weight of criteria and alternatives in the same survey. To achieve the purpose of the study, three main criteria, six subcriteria, and five alternatives were identified as being relevant to the redevelopment of Dong Ngo landfill site, Bac Ninh province in Vietnam. Hierarchy of decision levels for Dong Ngo case study has been tested and developed from the data in reality and has successfully assessed the best use option as energy generation option for the landfill site under a scenario of decision making.


We present an efficient GPU-based parallel LSH algorithm to perform approximate k-nearest neighbor computation in high-dimensional spaces. We use the Bi-level LSH algorithm, which can compute k-nearest neighbors with higher accuracy and is amenable to parallelization. During the first level, we use the parallel RP-tree algorithm to partition datasets into several groups so that items similar to each other are clustered together. The second level involves computing the Bi-Level LSH code for each item and constructing a hierarchical hash table. The hash table is based on parallel cuckoo hashing and Morton curves. In the query step, we use GPU-based work queues to accelerate short-list search, which is one of the main bottlenecks in LSH-based algorithms. We demonstrate the results on large image datasets with 200,000 images which are represented as 512 dimensional vectors. In practice, our GPU implementation can obtain more than 40X acceleration over a single-core CPU-based LSH implementation.


Trace contaminant control onboard the International Space Station will be accomplished not only by the Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly but also by other Environmental Control and Life Support System subassemblies. These additional removal routes include absorption by humidity condensate in the Temperature and Humidity Control Condensing Heat Exchanger and adsorption by the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly. The Trace Contaminant Injection Test, which was performed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, investigated the system-level removal of trace contaminants by the International Space Station Atmosphere Revitalization, and Temperature/Humidity Control Subsystems, (November-December 1997). It is a follow-on to the Integrated Atmosphere Revitalization Test conducted in 1996. An estimate for the magnitude of the assisting role provided by the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly and the Temperature and Humidity Control unit was obtained. In addition, data on the purity of Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly carbon dioxide product were obtained to support Environmental Control and Life Support System Air Revitalization Subsystem loop closure.


As a result of the study, fundamentally new results were obtained that allow creating intelligent decision support systems for the classification of medical risk. A bioimpedance analysis model has been created based on multifrequency bioimpedance measurement, which allows decomposition of the biomaterial impedance into structural elements. On the basis of the proposed model, descriptors were formed, intended for classifiers executed on trained neural networks. To obtain descriptors, multifrequency sounding of the biomaterial was carried out, on the basis of which Cole's graphs were constructed. Using iterative algorithms and these graphs, Voit models of biomaterial impedance were obtained. The parameters of these models are used as descriptors for the trained classifiers. In modern healthcare, the task of long-term monitoring of a person's condition is almost always associated with either his hospitalization, which is unacceptable both for the working-age population and in some cases for sick people, or with the rent of expensive monitoring systems for a period not exceeding, as a rule, 24 x hours, which is not always enough for diagnostic tasks.


The current Inner Detector in the ATLAS experiment does not meet the requirements of the High Luminosity-LHC upgrade. A new detector, known as the Inner Tracker, will be built in place of the current Inner Detector and will consist exclusively of silicon based sensors, pixels and strips. This contribution summarizes the on-going R&D activities within the different institutes involved in the phase II upgrade of the Strip Tracker. An update on the current status of testing and prototyping is given as well as the next steps before the submission of the ITk Strips Technical Design Report by the end of 2016.


Results: A total of 207 IDUs (mean age 42.7±9.3, 23% female) with a median injection drug abuse of 18 (interquartile range 10-26) years were included. Fourteen IDUs (7%) reported a previous history of IE. Two (1%) IDUs had previously had surgery for IE with aortic valve replacement. Echocardiographic signs consistent with probable previous IE were found in 29 (14%) IDUs. The incidence density rate of IE was 7.7/1000 years of injection drug abuse. The tricuspid valve was affected in 18 (62%), the aortic valve in three (10%) and the mitral valve in eight (28%) IDUs with signs of IE. Vegetations were noted in 16 (8%) IDUs, including in one subject with a prosthetic aortic valve. No medical history of IE was reported in 21 (72%) of IDUs with findings consistent with previous IE. The presence of echocardiographic signs of IE was not associated with sex, age or duration of injection drug abuse. In two (2%) IDUs reduced ejection fractions of 45 and 30% was observed. Moderate or severe left atrial dilatation was seen in 24 (12%) IDUs. Conclusion: Echocardiographic signs consistent with previous IE were frequent in a community-based cohort of active, non-hospitalised IDUs. A majority of those with signs of previous IE did not have a medical history of IE. The high frequency of previous IE emphasizes the importance of considering IE as a differential diagnosis when assessing IDUs with fever. As another point of view the high prevalence of echocardiographic signs consistent with IE in IDUs calls for caution when interpreting echocardiographic findings in IDUs without symptoms of IE.


High-dimensional prediction models are increasingly used to analyze biological data such as neuroimaging of genetic data sets.
However, classical penalized algorithms yield to dense solutions that are difficult to interpret without arbitrary thresholding. Alternatives based on sparsity-inducing penalties suffer from coefficient instability. Complex structured sparsity-inducing penalties are a promising approach to force the solution to adhere to some domain-specific constraints and thus offering new perspectives in biomarker identification.
We propose a generic optimization framework that can combine any smooth convex loss function with: (i) penalties whose proximal operator is known and (ii) with a
large range of complex, non-smooth convex structured penalties such as total variation, or overlapping group lasso.
Although many papers have addressed a similar goal, few have tackled it in such a generic way and in the context of high-dimensional data.
The proposed continuation algorithm, called \textit{CONESTA}, dynamically smooths the complex penalties to avoid the computation of proximal operators, that are
either not known or expensive to compute. The decreasing sequence of smoothing parameters is dynamically adapted, using the duality gap, in order to maintain the optimal convergence speed towards any globally desired precision with duality gap guarantee.
First, we demonstrate, on both simulated data and on experimental MRI data, that CONESTA outperforms the excessive gap method, ADMM, proximal gradient smoothing (without continuation) and inexact FISTA in terms of convergence speed and/or precision of the solution.
Second, on the experimental MRI data set, we establish the superiority of structured sparsity-inducing penalties ($\ell_1$ and total variation) over non-structured
methods in terms of the recovery of meaningful and stable groups of predictive variables.


This paper focuses on the use of model predictive control (M PC) to control a two-stage photovoltaic (PV) system in order to accomplish new grid code standards for low-voltage ride-through (LVRT). The PV system is composed by a DC/DC boost converter at the generator-side, followed by a two-level three-phase grid - tied inverter. The PV's voltage support function through reactive power injection is examined using the mentioned control technique, and a PV power-reference tracking system is implemented during the Voltage sag to avoid the activation of the overcurrent tripping mechanism. The system is modeled in Matlab/Simulink and PLECS in order to understand its operation, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the MPC proposed algorithm to fulfill LVRT requirements for PV Systems.


:  Some pioneering experimental studies on perception conducted by Japanese investigators in the 1930s are reviewed. The topics and investigators of these studies were optical illusions (Obonai, Morinaga), size constancy (Akishige, Ogasawara), apparent movement in vision and audition (Ogasawara, Yuki), time-space interaction (Abe, Abbe), recovery from blindness (Kuroda, Akishige), and animal perception (Takagi, Kuroda). The originality in the ideas and methods of these studies compared with Western studies in that period and their influence on recent experimental psychology in Japan are discussed.


The paper mainly discusses the behavior of abandoned woman Medea's different and similar with Chinese ethical culture. Chinese ethical culture attaches importance to motherland,family,religious ceremony and ethics,but the Medea's behavior is in contravention of its.The Chinese women take "the gentle" as virtue,but the Medea is famous for the firm and independent personality.Though her maternal love is approved by Chinese ethical culture,her ruthless and bloody way still can't load by the Chinese ethical culture.


PURPOSE: A surface modifying method for a hydrogel contact lens is provided to remove the residual monomer and non-reacting intermediates remaining in the inner structure and surface of a contact lens by using solvent used for dissolving oligosaccharides. CONSTITUTION: A contact lens material is expanded to an expansion ratio of 10-50%. The expanded contact lens material is dipped in oligosaccharide solution, which includes dissolved oligosaccharide with an average molecular weight(Mw) of 100-200,000, in order to modify the surface of a contact lens. An expansion medium for the expansion of the contact lens material is selected among alcohol with a carbon number of 1 to 6, sodium bicarbonate solution with a concentration of 1.0 to 1.0 weight% and their mixture. The oligosaccharide solution includes oligosaccharides dissolved to a concentration of 0.001 to 1 weight% in solvent with a polarity index of 3 to 7.


The invention discloses a hinge vertical shaft type high-efficiency hydraulic engine using stream in natural world; a hinge type water stopping sheet (1) is movably arranged on a hinge shaft (2); the hinge shaft (2) is mounted on an integral supporter (4); a limiting block (3) is fixed on the integral supporter (4); the integral supporter (4) is fixed on a hydraulic power taking machine shaft (5); the hydraulic power taking machine shaft (5) is mounted on a water retaining bend (8) by a bearing (6) and a bearing pedestal (7); and the water retaining bend (8) is blocked at the side of the hinge type water stopping sheet, which is folded when facing water. After using the hinge vertical shaft type high-efficiency hydraulic engine with a compact and rational structure, the pressure-free hydraulic starting is achieved, the energy loss of the hydraulic engine in the running is reduced, the utilization efficiency of the stream is improved; therefore, the green and environment-friendly hydraulic engine with high efficiency and using natural resources is provided.


Uniforms, be in corporate or industrial, are strengthening the structures of any organization in today's society. The importance of wearing uniforms at work is not limited to just creating brand awareness, but can also be functional like in the case of industrial workwear or be worn as a matter of pride like in the military. Within a manufacturing industry mainstay in today's world, they serve a larger purpose than being a brand identity by providing production, maintaining safety, security, and other functionality. Earlier, during the industrial revolution, employees and managers were made to wear uniforms to distinguish them between their ranks and roles. This report highlights the importance of uniforms in corporate world. As work uniforms promote a sense of team spirit and a sense of belonging. This, in turn, can improve worker productivity. Employee benefit. Employer provided uniforms save employees money, and when provided as part of a Rental Program, eliminate employee laundering time and expense.


This paper presents the design of a high power-density igniter with integrated LC resonator for low wattage HID lamp ballasts. Electromagnetic integration technology is applied to reduce the number of passive components and the overall volume of the igniter. By applying the inter-winding capacitance as the resonant capacitance, the integrated igniter is simply composed of a magnetic core and two magnet wire windings. By selecting the proper terminals and exploiting the advantage of integrated LC resonant structure, the obtained output voltage is twice as much as an ordinary LC resonator. The design and implementation of the igniter are presented. Both small signal measurement and high voltage test are applied. The experiment results show that the application of passive integration technology into low wattage passive modules is promising.


In the American Pulitzer winner Jane Smiley's fiction, there is often a concern about animals. One of the animal issues in her fiction is animal slaughter. In her novel A Thousand Acres and her novella Good Will, the killing of nonhuman animals is no longer taken for granted, but contains reflections on humans' cruelty and instrumentalist attitude to nonhuman animals. On top of cruelty to animals, animal slaughter also does harm to humans. The cruel slaughter of animals is very likely to aggravate the cruelty to humans. Besides, the exposure to animal slaughter intensifies violent tendencies. Smiley objects to instrumentalist views of animals and asks for reverence for them.


A mathematical model was developed for simulating a convective batch lumber drying process. The model incorporates mass and heat transfer relationships within the lumber stack, as well as thermodynamic properties of the wood and drying air. It takes into account the change of air properties along the stack and its effect on the mass and heat transfer parameters. The model relies on a drying rate function that is an empirical correlation based on single-board tests. A drying rate function for western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) lumber was developed. The drying rate function was obtained based on experiment results from 500 small boards dried over a range of conditions used in commercial practice. The model was first validated against data available in the literature and then against large batches of hemlock dried in a laboratory kiln. In both cases, the model output was in good agreement with the average moisture content, the drying rates, and the temperatures measured in the larger batches.


This article reviews the development of the Ninth Clinical Consensus Statement by SIBEN (the Ibero-American of Neonatology) on "Early Detection with Pulse Oximetry (SpO2) of Hypoxemic Neonatal Conditions". It describes the process of the consensus, and the conclusions and recommendations for screening newborns with pulse oximetry.


The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) has as its primary purpose, and therefore its most essential function, protection of the public through the establishment and maintenance of standards in the field of cardiovascular perfusion. To achieve this objective, the ABCP has established qualifications for examination, procedures for recertification, and accreditation of cardiovascular perfusion training programs. Its requirements and procedures are reviewed and modified periodically as necessary. As a part of its continuing effort to ensure a minimum standard of competence in the perfusion profession, the ABCP has an ongoing commitment to the comparative evaluation of methods of training and testing of competence for clinical perfusionists. Recent Iiterature1 •2 strongly recommends a structured curriculum based on a combination of general academic training and systematic clinical experiences in an integrated teaching, application and reinforcement paradigm. As the practice of perfusion has developed, so has the certification process. In July, 1972, the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT) administered the first certification examination for perfusionists. This effort was the culmination of five years of work by the AmSECT Certification and Education Committee. An examination was conducted in 1973 and 1974 on a "Grandfather" only basis in order to establish a knowledge data base. In 1974, with a suitable data base established, the examination was given the first time on a pass/fail basis. In 1975, after recognizing the desirability of separating the certification process from the professional society, AmSECT rc-


This paper is a research about the sentence types used in an Information and Technology Conference Paper for teaching English for a Specific Purpose in university level. The aim of this research was to find out the most dominant sentence type written by the author majoring in Information and Technology and to investigate why the author frequently used the sentence in the conference paper. The data were taken from a conference paper and 'uvere analyzed using the theory of sentence types by Delahunty and Garvey (2010). The researcher classified and calculated the number of the sentences in the paper based on their types. It was found that four types of sentences were used in writing an IT text. In details, Complex Sentence dominated the text with the number of 43 sentences or 46% of the sentence in the text. Almost 25% of the sentences in the text were in the form of Simple Sentence, and Compound Complex Sentence ranked the third position with 17 sentences and the newest sentences in the paper was Compound Sentence which was only 10 sentences or nearly 11% of the number of sentence in the IT text. To conclude, the author frequently used Complex Sentence in order to give more description about the items the author wrote in the paper.


Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice common in many Islamic societies. It involves the deliberate, non-therapeutic physical modification of young girls' genitalia. FGM can take several forms, ranging from less damaging incisions to actual removal of genitalia and narrowing or even closing of the vagina. While often thought to be required by religion, FGM both predates and has no basis in the Koran. Rather, it is a cultural tradition, motivated by a patriarchal social desire to control female bodies to ensure virginity at marriage (preserving family honour), and to prevent infidelity by limiting sexual desire.

In the USA and Australia in 2010, peak medical bodies considered endorsing the medical administration of a 'lesser' form of FGM. The basis for this was pragmatic: it would be preferable to satisfy patients' desire for FGM in medically-controlled conditions, rather than have these patients seek it, possibly in more severe forms, under less safe conditions. While arguments favouring medically-administered FGM were soon overcome, the prospect of endorsing FGM illuminated the issue in these two Western countries and beyond.

This paper will review the nature of FGM, its physical and psychological health consequences, and Australian laws prohibiting FGM. Then, it will scan recent developments in Africa, where FGM has been made illegal by a growing number of nations and by the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights 2003 (the Maputo Protocol), but is still proving difficult to eradicate. Finally, based on arguments derived from theories of rights, health evidence, and the historical and religious contexts, this paper will ask whether an absolute human right against FGM can be developed.


The ability to effectively control maintenance and support costs under ever increasing global competition not only requires timely identification of impending failures of critical equipment but also calls for accurate estimation of remaining-useful-life (RUL). This is especially important for critical systems with high maintenance and logistics cost such as military systems and nuclear plants. Accurately forecasting the failure time (i.e., prognostics) can lead to failure prevention and diminish the time and cost associated with unnecessary maintenance. This paper presents a prognostic method that relies on hidden Markov models (HMMs) for health-state forecasting. HMMs present an opportunity to estimate unobservable health-states using observable sensor signals. In particular, implementation of HMM based models as dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs) improves the design and realization of flexible HMM structures (such as auto-regressive HMMs and hierarchical HMMs) for representing complex systems. Hierarchical HMMs are employed here to estimate on-line the health-state of drill-bits as they deteriorate with use on a CNC drilling machine. Hierarchical HMM is composed of sub-HMMs in a hierarchical fashion such that health-states can be represented as distinct nodes at the top of the hierarchy. Monte Carlo simulation, with state transition probabilities derived from a hierarchical HMM, is employed for RUL estimation. Results on health-state and RUL estimation are very promising and are reported in this paper.


This paper mostly studie show modules work in Joomla.We start by discussing the structure of modules.Then we look at the XML file of modules to see how it works.Then we analyze the entry file of modules.Finally we analyze the module helper class,which is where the information for the module is gathered.We end with some characteristics of the modules.


A new wideband magneto-electric dipole antenna using coplanar waveguide (CPW) structure is proposed in this paper. The proposed antenna consists of a pair of horizontal triangular patches and two vertically oriented L-shaped strips. By introducing triangular patches working as an electric dipole, the antenna can operate in a wide band. With the use of L-shaped strips equivalent to a magnetic dipole, the antenna is low in proflle. A microstrip feed line is located between the two L-shaped strips to form a coplanar waveguide structure and excite the antenna. By carefully adjusting the gap between the feed line and the strips, the impedance bandwidth can be improved largely. A parametric study is performed to provide information for designing and optimizing such an antenna. A prototype is fabricated and measured. The simulated and measured results show that the impedance bandwidth for SWR less than 2 of the proposed antenna is 58.7% (1.95{3.57GHz). Due to the complementary nature of the antenna, the proposed antenna has a unidirectional radiation pattern with low-polarization and low back-lobe radiation over the whole operating band. Furthermore, the gain of the antenna is stable across the entire bandwidth.


Work Experience  o Adjunct Instructor of Chemistry, Gwinnett Technical College, GA, USA, current. o Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey (2011 – 2016). o Department Chair, Genetics and Bioengineering, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey (2013 – 2016). o Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Molecular Sciences (ISM), University of Bordeaux, France (2009 – 2010). o Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA (2004 – 2009). o Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, Bosphorus University, Istanbul, Turkey (2002 – 2004).   Education


We present here the combined radio spectrum from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and Very Large Array (VLA) of type-IIb SN 1993J (age 11 years) and a type-Ic SN 2003bg (age 1 year). In SN 1993J, we find a break in the spectrum at 4 GHz and associate it with Synchrotron cooling break. Hence, we determine the magnetic field independent of equipartition assumption between relativistic electrons and magnetic energy. We also see a hint of break in the spectrum of SN 2003bg between 22-40 GHz. The spectrum of SN 2003bg is well described by the synchrotron self absorption model.


Abstract: This chapter gives a short introduction to the use of colour in the world wide web with the aim of giving web designers a better understanding of colour theory and the part it can play in the design and creation of effective web pages. The use of style sheets and colour codes in the development of harmonious colour schemes is explained. The chapter includes examples to illustrate well- and poorly designed websites and looks at the accessibility of websites for colour-deficient users.


The study takes a cursory look at reaction of macroeconomic variables due to exchange rate shocks of four selected WAMZ countries in order to assess the level of macroeconomic convergence in the zone between the declaration's year of WAMZ, 2000 and 2010 using Structural VAR country by county.It was observed that monetary policy and money supply attained their co-integrating equilibrium in Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria while exchange rate attained co-integrating equilibrium in Gambia and Ghana within two quarters. The growth rate reacted positively on exchange rate but the magnitudes of reactions were not strongly up to expectation among the countries. The contribution of exchange rate depreciations to money supply and inflation is much in Sierra Leone when compared with other economies and more surprisingly, the past exchange rate influenced the current exchange rate strongly in Sierra Leone but moderately in other economies in the zone. Interestingly, Ghana economy happened to be a distinctive economy in the zone in term of selected variables reaction to exchange rate depreciation.For the zone to establish currency union, three most promising countries are Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria due to symmetrical alignment exhibited in some macroeconomic parameters, although the synchronizations were not strong but moderate among the promising nations.


VECC array for Nuclear fast Timing and angUlar corRElation studies (VENTURE) has been developed at VECC, Kolkata for the measurement of  fast timing and angular correlation studies [1]. This is the first such timing array in India and the first array with CeBr3 detectors made for the purpose of  fast timing measurement. The Generalized Centroid Difference (GCD) technique [2] is used for the measurement of nuclear level lifetime down to few picoseconds and an adequate resolving power of the array is a prerequisite for such precision measurements. Also, an appropriate pulse processing electronics is required for the determination of true time difference between two -rays in a  coincidence and for deciding the optimum electronics setup for a large dimension of the array with large number of detectors. Till date, most of the work with GCD method has used the 'Multiplexing' electronics [2] and the first GCD measurement with a 'Common Start' timing electronics has been done in our work during the development of VENTURE array [1]. A  fast timing measurement has also been done with 'Common Stop' electronics [3]. However, in the later work did not follow the GCD method and the detailed description neither on generating the  time difference between each set of detectors nor the correction for prompt response is provided. The pulse processing methodology might have implications also in case of gathering the  coincidence information to be used in Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation (TDPAC) technique. In order to compare the different pulse processing electronics and data analysis procedure for the GCD method, data has been gathered in all the above three modes by using standard sources like Eu, Ru and Hf, that provides an wide dynamic range of the -ray energies and a variety of nuclear level lifetimes.


This paper reviews on the trends in extreme weather events induced by global climate change. The number of tropical cyclones (TCs) making landfall on Japan and their intensity show no discernible long‐term trend in the past observation record, while the translation speed of TCs shows significant decline. The intensification of heavy rainfalls and extratropical cyclones are also confirmed. Recent simulation studies indicate that the global warming would increase the maximum wind speed and rainfall associated with the TCs. The intensification of extratropical cyclones, heavy rainfalls/snowfalls, tornados, and lightning strikes are also predicted.


Minimum sampling rate must be maintained to ensure the accuracy of the latency estimation results for evoked potential signals. In this paper, the authors study the relationship among the sampling rate, evoked potential noise conditions, and the achievable latency change estimation accuracy. Computer simulations are conducted and actual data from an impact acceleration experiment are analyzed.


BACKGROUND
Heart failure, characterized by cardiac remodeling, is associated with abnormal epigenetic processes and aberrant gene expression. Here, we aimed to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of NAT10 (N-acetyltransferase 10)-mediated N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) acetylation during cardiac remodeling.

METHODS
NAT10 and ac4C expression were detected in both human and mouse subjects with cardiac remodeling through multiple assays. Subsequently, acetylated RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing, thiol (SH)-linked alkylation for the metabolic sequencing of RNA (SLAM-seq), and ribosome sequencing (Ribo-seq) were employed to elucidate the role of ac4C-modified posttranscriptional regulation in cardiac remodeling. Additionally, functional experiments involving the overexpression or knockdown of NAT10 were conducted in mice models challenged with Ang II (angiotensin II) and transverse aortic constriction.

RESULTS
NAT10 expression and RNA ac4C levels were increased in in vitro and in vivo cardiac remodeling models, as well as in patients with cardiac hypertrophy. Silencing and inhibiting NAT10 attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiofibroblast activation. Next-generation sequencing revealed ac4C changes in both mice and humans with cardiac hypertrophy were associated with changes in global mRNA abundance, stability, and translation efficiency. Mechanistically, NAT10 could enhance the stability and translation efficiency of CD47 and ROCK2 transcripts by upregulating their mRNA ac4C modification, thereby resulting in an increase in their protein expression during cardiac remodeling. Furthermore, the administration of Remodelin, a NAT10 inhibitor, has been shown to prevent cardiac functional impairments in mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction by suppressing cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy, and inflammatory responses, while also regulating the expression levels of CD47 and ROCK2.

CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, our data suggest that modulating epitranscriptomic processes, such as ac4C acetylation through NAT10, may be a promising therapeutic target against cardiac remodeling.


The present work deals with a new approach to the construction of hardware and software part of the heterogeneous modular mobile robots. The new approach is to use a network principle for constructing information-measuring and control system of modular mobile robot. The paper discusses a functional-modular principle of construction of a heterogeneous mobile robot. Our concept is based on the functional completeness of each module, which is an electronic and/or mechatronic device with its own control system. The inclusion of any mechatronic devices in the network structure information measurement and control system of the mobile robot is performed via special software –driver.


This paper develops an asymptotic expansion of a percentile point of the Ginibased standardized sample mean. Such approximate percentiles can be used for proposing tests of hypotheses or confidence intervals of μ when samples arrive from a normal distribution with unknown mean μ and standard deviation σ. We have asymptotically expressed the percentile point bm,α of the Gini-based pivot (1.5), that is, the Gini-based standardized sample mean. Using large-scale simulations, approximations, and data analyses, we report that the Gini-based test and confidence interval procedures for μ perform better or practically as well as the customarily employed Student's t-based procedures when samples arrive from a normal distribution with suspect outliers. This interesting finding is especially noteworthy when we have a small random sample from a normal population with possible outliers.


Seven species of gastrosaccini mysids, one species of GaslrosacclIs and six species of Haploslyllls, are reported from the coastal waters of Australia, based on specimens deposited in the Western Australian Museum, Perth. Among them, one HaploMt/llIs species from Western Australia is considered new and described as if. ICl/lIicalldlls sp. novo The new species resembles the Australian congeners, H. qllccl/slal/dcl/sis (Bacescu and Udrescu, 1(82), H. /ldrCSC11I Greenwood cl al., 1991, H. a/lslralicl/sis Wooldridge cl al., 1992, and if. dispar Panampunnayil, 1997, but differs from all the related species by having the following characters: the telson is relatively more slender, length 3 times basal width, laterally armed with more than 10 spines, including the terminal spine, with the subterminal spine smaller than and placed close to the terminal spine; the exopod of the male third pleopod has the terminal segment consistently longer than the penultimate segment. A key to all known Haploslyllls species is presented.


Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a known cause of chronic fungal skin infection produced by transcutaneous inoculation from an environmental source in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The initial lesion in the site of inoculation may have a nonspecific aspect. If the infection evolves, after months or even years, the clinical picture can show polymorphic lesions with nodular, tumoral, verrucous, scarring, eczematous and plaque forms. We present the first case, to our knowledge, of a CBM infection by Rhinocladiella similis acquired in Catalonia, Spain, in a patient without relevant travel history. The same species had recently been isolated from river sediments in the same province, hence we believe that our patient acquired the infection while living and working in this area. We report the case of a 51-year-old man who presented with a 12-year history of a hyperkeratotic, verrucous plaque on his left palm, which had been growing in a centrifugal manner. During this time, he had been living and working on different construction sites in Catalonia, Spain. He had no recent travel history outside Spain. He reported no fever or local symptoms except mild pruritus, and did not remember any initial trauma. On physical examination, a hyperpigmented, hyperkeratotic plaque with peripheral active margins and central healing was seen on the patient's left palm (Fig. 1a,b). Differential diagnoses included cutaneous verrucous tuberculosis, cutaneous atypical mycobacterial infection, deep cutaneous mycosis and squamous cell carcinoma. A punch biopsy was taken, and microbiological culture and PCR studies for mycobacteria were performed. Tissue stains showed a granulomatous dermatitis and few brown double-walled polyhedral structures (socalled muriform cells) characteristic of CHB infection (Fig. 2a,b).


How to make sure for users in searching for favorite TV program and useful information with the easiest way,when we offer an abundant of various TV program and optional service? Obviously,EPG is a very necessary tool for user.EPG could offer the service whose content covered from the days to transform information(one week day),name and numbers of TV channel transformed,amount of programs transformed,sponsor's trademark,internet information(internet trademark and name of networks) and so on.


Sm,-The neuro-pharmacological actions of hersaponin, the active principle from Herpestis nzonnieru, Linn, have been reported earlier (Malhotra and Das, 1959 ; Malhotra, Das and Dhalla, 1960). The barbiturate hypnotic potentiating action of the drug was shown to be antagonised by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Dandiya, Cullumbine and Sellers (1959) reported that the volatile oil (acorus oil) from the rhizomes of Acorus calumus, Linn, potentiated barbiturate hypnosis and this was antagonised by LSD. Acorus oil (Dhalla, Malhotra and Sastry, 1961) and hersaponin (Dhalla, Sastry and Malhotra, 1961) have both been found to depress rat brain respiration in vitro. The depressant effects were enhanced by 5-HT and decreased by LSD. Recent studies from our laboratory ' showed that the barbiturate hypnotic potentiating action of hersaponin, acorus oil and reserpine is antagonised by dibenzyline while that of chlorpromazine is unaffected (Malhotra, Das and Dhalla, unpublished observations). These investigations indicated that hersaponin and acorus oil might also affect the 5-HT and noradrenaline contents of brain, as does reserpine. Hersaponin, isolated from Herpestis monniera (Sastry, Dhalla and Malhotra, 1959), was suspended in 10 per cent propylene glycol, and acorus oil was suspended in 1 per cent Tween 80. ~ H T and noradrenaline contents of whole brain of adult albino rats were estimated after the intraperitoneal administration of hersaponin, acorus oil, reserpine or chlorpromazine. Control animals were treated with solvents. Noradrenaline was extracted by the method of Vogt (1954) and assayed on rat blood pressure by the method of Crawford and Outschoorn (1951). ~ H T was extracted and assayed on oestrous uterus of rat by the method of Parratt and West (1957). The results of the investigations (Table I) show that hersaponin and acorus oil deplete the rat brain of its noradrenaline and ~ H T contents, as does reserpine.


National interest is the starting-point and end of international strategy,the nature and center,and the fundamental factor of foreign policies.The relationship between China and Russia is a contradiction in which Russia is the major,China is the minor,while Europe and America are the external factors."Warm Politics and Cold Economy" is the result of nation's competing and strategic choices.


Bonneville Power Administration' s instrumentation ion techniques for the Low Voltage Impulse method of detecting physical internal changes in transformers is presented. The potential use of the method for locating that movement is also discussed.


Derived field calculations are a vital part of the visualization and analysis workflow. These calculations allow simulation users to create important quantities of interest that are not generated by the simulation, and systems that calculate derived quantities must be flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of user requests. In situ analysis imposes additional constraints on the system, and derived field calculations must be able to leverage the same resources as the simulation to minimize the runtime and memory usage. Just-in-time (JIT) compilation defers code creation until runtime, and a JIT based system is capable of fusing a complex expression into a single kernel invocation (i.e., kernel fusion). Without kernel fusion, the system would be forced to evaluate each piece of the expression (e.g., an operator or function call) as separate kernel invocations, which increases both runtime and memory pressure on the host simulation. In this paper, we present a production-oriented in situ derived field system that leverages JIT compilation to target heterogeneous HPC architectures. Additionally, we explore the runtime costs of using this system to calculate three expressions in three simulation codes.


Small Scale Forest Farmers have the potential to contribute considerably to regional economic activity in terms of forest products grown for the commercial processing industry. Financial returns, economic viability and ecological sustainability are dependent on a number of parameters including yield, species, growth rate, log prices, supply contracts and certification of timber quality. Log prices determination and adjustment through the term of the contract affect financial returns to industrial growers and small-scale forest farmers alike. Maintaining the "real" value of the contract price throughout the term of the contract is imperative.

This paper addresses the issue of log price setting and adjustment for long term contracts of logs supplied from small scale and commercial softwood plantations. Specifically, it deals with the reasons and rationale for adjusting the contract price over time and explores various adjustment models applied in a number of countries. Parallels are drawn and the implications of different adjustment models are assessed as they affect commercial softwood forest growers and small-scale farm foresters.


This study reports for the first time, exact analytical soliton solutions to a generalized nonlinear Helmholtz equation. Solutions, and accompanying simulations, thus account for both the inherent symmetries of propagation problems and more realistic (polynomial-type) nonlinearities.


A new Harmonic Elimination (HE) PWM method with fast recursive algorithm is used that provide the exact on-line solution to the optimal PWM problem. The proposed algorithm optimization technique is applied to a 3-level unipolar single-phase inverter to determine optimum switching angles for eliminating low order harmonics while maintaining the required fundamental voltage to drive single-phase induction motor with high quality. The proposed HE method contributes to the existing methods because it not only generates the desired fundamental frequency voltage, but also completely eliminates any number of harmonics. It provides high quality sine-wave output voltage on the induction motor terminals with very low THD. The high quality sinusoidal output voltage produced by the inverter at different number of switching angles is presented. The complete solutions for 3-level unipolar switching patterns to eliminate the 3 rd and 5 th harmonics are given. Finally, the unipolar case is again


Since the beginning of the nineties the demographic crisis may be observed in Russia. Depopulation, decrease of fertility, increase of mortality, natural decrease of population, aging and other demographic problems make the research of demographic development of Russia and it regions important. The author of this article grouped the districts of the Leningrad Region, using the important demographic indicators: the rate of population increase, natural increase/decrease per 1000 people, the factor of urbanisation intensity. Thus, the features of demographic development of the districts were determined.


The phonon and quasiparticle structure of the low-lying states in {sup 188,190,192}Os is investigated within the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. An overall agreement with the data is obtained for energies and transitions. The properties of the 0{sup +} states are found to be correlated with the evolution of the nuclear shape toward the {gamma}-soft region. Special attention is devoted at the 4{sub 3}{sup +} state. This state is found to be composed of a large double-{gamma} phonon component coexisting with an even larger one-phonon hexadecapole piece. Such a mixed phonon structure explains the observed, apparently contradictory, properties of the 4{sub 3}{sup +} states in Os isotopes.


Background Adequate replacement for patients with hemophilia is costly, especially in countries with limited resources. Objective Factor VIII gene mutations among Thai patients with hemophilia A were analyzed for the most common mutation. The cost-effectiveness of finding one female without family history of hemophilia possessing the most common factor VIII mutation was compared with the cost of treating one patient with hemophilia. Methods In all, 109 unrelated patients with hemophilia A, defined as sporadic cases (n=58) and hereditary cases (n=51), were enrolled for genotypic analysis. Results Intron 22 inversion was prominently found in 34 sporadic (58.6%) and 27 hereditary (51.9%) cases. The screening for intron 22 inversion among females without family history of hemophilia at antenatal care has been optionally suggested. A female with a positive result will undergo further prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia in her male offspring. On the contrary, a female with a negative test result remains at risk to have a hemophiliac son caused by other factor VIII gene mutations not included in the screening but the risk is not as high as intron 22 inversion. Although the screening of factor VIII mutation among females without family history of hemophilia is against the current practice, it has been initiated due to the inadequate treatment provided to patients with hemophilia in countries with limited resources. The study calculated approximately one female with intron 22 inversion would exist among 17,064 females without family history of hemophilia. The cost of screening (194,870 USD) was much less than that of treating one patient with hemophilia from birth to 40 years of age by the current regimen (378,000 USD). Conclusion Implementing antenatal screening of intron 22 inversion among females without family history of hemophilia is optionally suggested, especially in economically less-developed countries with inadequate treatment service for patients with hemophilia.


Composites are widely used material types today, and it is known that matrices and additives in composites improve the mechanical properties of the material. In this study, Al6061 matrix and Ni-Al2O3 reinforced composite material was produced by stir casting method and the effect of Ni- Al2O3 mixture reinforcement on the hardness and tensile properties of the produced composite material was investigated. The determination of the mechanical properties of the samples obtained after the casting process was determined by the results of microhardness analysis and tensile test, and the internal structure of the material was examined by XRD analysis. According to the results of XRD analysis, it was determined that Ni and Al2O3 phases were formed together with the matrix element Al. The results of the tensile analyzes showed that the amount of strain in the composite material changed depending on the ratio of the reinforcement element, and the highest strain value occurred in the Ni-Al2O3 reinforced sample with Al matrix. However, it was observed that the brittle fracture mechanism was effective in all samples. While the highest microhardness value was obtained in sample 4 (Al6061+ (mass. %15) Ni+ Al2O3) with 89.6 HV0.5 value, the lowest microhardness value was obtained from pure Al sample with 66.7 HV0.5 value. As a result, it was determined that the Ni-Al2O3 reinforcement element increased the microhardness value in the Al matrix composite material.


In order to deal with space correlation in character of image information, a new image segmentation algorithm is proposed which is based on variable precision hierarchy granular model. Firstly, we introduce classifying error precision into knowledge granulation, and construct granular structure of the image on various levels of confidence and quality of classification. Next, on the basis of the requirement of segmentation precision, we choose unit granular layer and analyze the importance of different grey levels on it further. Finally, the equivalent relations defined by the dissimilarities are used to implement the combination of the similar regions and the image segmentation is accomplished. The algorithm is applied to image segmentation tests. The experimental results indicate that it not only improve the parallel computation of the image and reduce complexity of space and time, but also provide new thoughts of knowledge granulation in image process.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of establishing predictors of mortality in women with amniotic fluid embolism.


Utilities conduct different types of investigations requiring the use of high- frequency electric transformer models. Within EDF, two types of studies are frequently carried out: • Lightning overvoltage transmission through transformers. The concern is to evaluate its possible impact on the generators or the auxiliaries of the power plant. • Review and checking of the dielectric stresses on the insulation of the windings. This is the reason why EDF has implemented a generic methodology for the development of high frequency transformer models. These models are more accurate and detailed than those commonly used in most EMT-type studies. Hence they are based on 2D magnetostatic and electrostatic automatized finite-element calculations. The magnetic computation makes use of the complex permeability concept to estimate reasonably the losses related to proximity effect (which are highly dependent on frequency), without requiring too much calculation time. Therefore, no empirical formulations are needed, which makes this method very generic. The processing of the method has been automatized as much as possible: the discretization of the windings is calculated automatically by the software program depending on the frequency validity and the level of details (disk, turn…) inputted by the user. Consequently, it will be usable for any transformer winding and core technology. This method automatically generates a model compatible with EMTP based on the state variables, which enables any kind of electromagnetic transient study to be carried out. The results of this work are well suited for studies of the type mentioned previously but could also be used for other studies requiring a frequency dependent transformer model (as for instance diagnostics using Sweep Frequency Response Analysis or other types of fast front overvoltage studies). The paper will detail the principles of the model and then present its validation based on measurements on a mock-up of a real single- phase power transformer reduced model and manufacturer model results on real power transformers. Finally the paper addresses further researches and challenges.


Objective To investigate the effects of salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) on buccal fibroblasts in vitro.Methods Buccal fibroblasts were cultured and incubated with various concentrations of SMB(30 mg/ml?60 mg/ml?90 mg/ml) solution for 48 h. MTT assay and hydroxyproline reagcuat were used to evaluate the cell proliferation and the collagen production in the culture medium, respectively. Results This study showed that SMB Solution could significantly not only inbibit the growth of the cultured OSF buccal fibroblasts, but also reduce the soluble collagen production in the culture medium in a dose related manner.Conclusion This investigation demonstrated that SMB could significatitly inhibit the proliforation and the collagen synthesis in cultured OSF buccal fibroblasts, and suggested that SMB could play an important role in the treatment of OSF.


Abstract : The events of 11 September 2001 were not the first acts of global terrorism, hut the effects were certainly felt by more nations than any previous terrorist act. The statements by President Bush in November 2001 made it clear that the United States will take any and all actions necessary to rid the world of terrorists with global reach. This war has in a sense become an unlimited war. The approach taken by the United States in response to the attacks has taken us down a road that may or may not reach the stated end state in the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism. An alternative approach, one that is more asymmetric in thought may have taken us to the end state in a timelier manner. However, without a properly defined end state it is difficult for Combatant Commanders to reverse plan. The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism is a sound document from which to start but some changes may he necessary. Additionally, without definitive measures of success it will he difficult to reach the end state. Since the first steps down the path to defeating terrorism have already been taken it is now time to ensure that the future actions are directed toward the root cause of the problem. Otherwise, the likelihood of the terrorist movement, its recruiting base, will continue to flow.


The paper shall present the results of the research that was aimed at measuring employee satisfaction with the existing state of affairs as well as their expectations in the future in the case of the Economic and Financial Affairs Department of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (CPII), Regional Office (RO) Osijek. The study was conducted by using the KVALIMETAR measuring instrument. The results of the study allowed the identification of critical areas in the management system through the dimensions of the KVALIMETAR measuring instrument, based on which recommendations for improvement were made. A negative gap was recorded in all dimensions, which leads to the conclusion that the existing state of affairs should not be maintained. It is also necessary to continue to work and invest further efforts to improve quality since it is precisely continuous improvement and upgrading that quality management mandates. Keywords : Quality, quality management, measuring instrument, employee satisfaction


CASH MANAGER is a knowledge-based decision support sys tem (DSS) designed to help the user solve cash management prob lems. The system is designed to support decisions made by cash managers who are not operations research experts but desire to employ an operations research tool in order to "optimize" their decisions. CASH MANAGER can formulate a cash management problem as an embedded network problem, solve that network problem, ensure feasibility of the network, interpret the output of the solution, and recommend alternative courses of action. Advances in Mathematical Programming and Financial Planning, Volume 2, pages 89-106. Copyright © 1990 by JAI Press Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.


The current prospective, multicenter study sought to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms of voltage‐gated sodium channels (SCNAs) genes that might confer susceptibility to an increased incidence and severity of oxaliplatin‐induced peripheral neuropathy (OXAIPN) in patients treated with either leucovorin, 5‐fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) for colorectal cancer (CRC).


Rabbit polyclonal antisera against indoleacetic acid (IAA) bound to nitrocellulose membrane were obtained, which exhibited a high titer and specificity. The dot immunobinding technique with colloidal gold was used to detect auxin production by several strains belonging to Gluconacetobacter , Herbaspirillum , Azospirillum , Pseudomonas , Burkholderia and Bacillus genera, using culture supernatants as antigens. Moreover, auxin production was quantified by the Salkowski's method to corroborate the previous


Greater than 90% of microbes living in soil are unculturable due to the complex nutrient and temperature conditions required for growth. These microorganisms represent a potential untapped source of natural products that may be developed for biotechnological and pharmaceutical uses. Most notably, microorganisms with phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) activity are of high interest due to the role PPTase has in activating non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthetase (PKS) gene clusters. These gene clusters synthesize complex natural products utilized by the microorganism or its host for selective advantages. We screened for the presence of NRPS and PKS gene clusters in several pigmented microbes previously isolated from a Chesapeake Bay sponge (Clathria prolifera). Genomic DNA was isolated from each of these microbes and we attempted to construct metagenomic libraries. We goal is to screen the libraries for PPTase activity. We extended this study to include microbial DNA isolated from soil samples taken around the University of Richmond campus. The isolated environmental DNA (eDNA) was tested for the presence of NPRS and PKS gene clusters as well. This on‐going project seeks to identify new biosynthetic gene clusters from microbial sources.