Critical Care Medicine • Volume 46 • Number 1 (Supplement) www.ccmjournal.org Learning Objectives: As the merits of early goal-directed therapy in subjects with shock has increasingly gained widespread acceptance, the traditional approach of large volume crystalloid resuscitation has come under intense scrutiny. This is directly attributable to negative outcomes associated with fluid overload in this complex subject cohort. This is an observational study to determine if diuresis guided by circulating blood volume analysis (BVA) can be feasibly applied to subjects during the resuscitative phase of shock despite requiring vasopressor support for maintenance of mean arterial pressure. Methods: Consecutive subjects admitted to a single SICU who were classified as severely hypervolemic based on results of BVA (> 16% excess total blood volume), were on vasopressor medications at the time the results of the test were made available and who subsequently received a diuretic comprised the study group. Blood volume measurements were obtained using an FDAapproved, single radioisotope dilution technique (BVA-100, Daxor Corp, NY, USA). The primary endpoint was the change in dose of vasopressor medications at 12 and 24 hours after diuresis with a 25% decrease considered a significant change. Secondary endpoints were change in paO2/FiO2 (PF) ratio, with a > 10% increase or decrease defined as a significant, and serum creatinine level (Cr) at 24 hours with an increase or decrease of > 0.1mg/ dL after implementation of diuretic therapy defined as significant. Results: Fifty-three subjects were included, mean age 63 + 13 years, 42% female, mean APACHE II score 23.3 + 4.5, 53% with septic shock, 17% with cardiogenic shock, 4% with hemorrhagic shock and 62% with respiratory failure. 68% and 82% of subjects showed a decrease in vasopressor requirements, with 54% and 66% showing a > 25% decrease and 14% and 30% showing no vasopressor requirement at 12 and 24 hours, respectively. At 24 hours 41% of subjects showed a > 10% increase in PF, with 29% showing no change in PF, and 29% showing a > 10% decrease in PF. At 24 hours 13% of subjects showed decreased Cr, 68% showed no change in Cr, and 19% showed mild increases in Cr, the largest change being an increase of 0.6mg/dL. Conclusions: The majority of subjects demonstrated significant decreases in vasopressor requirements with either improvement or no change in PF and minimal adverse effect on renal function, after circulating blood volume analysis-directed diuresis during the resuscitative phase of shock.


An overview of the Ground Communication Facility (GCF) upgrade task for the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is described. The NASA DSN is a worldwide multimission telecommunications and radiometric facility. The GCF upgrade task is a six year project to be completed by 1993. The task's goal is to develop and implement improved computing, networking, and communication technology, compatible with the standards established by the Consultative Comittee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS).


Learning Mathematics effortlessly and pleasantly is one of the strategies for children to master concepts, mathematical principles, and be capable of solving mathematical problems. In accordance with children mental development, the existence of manipulatives (concrete) is required by children to fulfill the above objectives. Along with technology development, manipulatives have also been developed to support students' thinking abilities based on the demands of the ongoing curriculum. One of the objectives of this study was to conduct a financial feasibility analysis of commercial of mathematical manipulatives. Indicators of commercial feasibility used in this study were Break Event Point (BEP) analysis, Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Net Benefit Cost Ratio (B / C Ratio), and Pay Back Period (PBP)). The steps in analyzing financial feasibility of manipulatives production business in this study were to calculate: (1) Fix Cost, (2) Variable Cost, (3) Production Cost, (4) Cost of Goods Manufactured and BEP Analysis (5) Investment Feasibility (IRR analysis, NPV, B / C Ratio, and PBP). The results of the analysis showed that the production of manipulatives in this study was feasible as a commercial business with BEP occurred when sales of manipulatives made from wood were 3 sets, Evafoam were 18 sets, and paper were 7 sets, NPV was 574,126,261 per year, IRR 50% > interest level at 12%, B / C ratio of 1.50247> 1 (profitable), and PBP occurred 2 years 11 months 29 days.


In this paper, the effect of adding superplasticizers on the mechanical properties of concrete including compressive strength, slip, etc. has been investigated. Based on the results of changes in compressive strength against the percentage of polycarboxylate lubricant in concrete samples with different grades of cement, it has been observed that with increasing the percentage of polycarboxylate plasticizer, the amount of compressive strength has increased due to decreasing water to cement ratio. Also, increasing the grade of cement leads to increasing the compressive strength of the samples. Based on the results of changes in compressive strength against water to cement ratio in concrete samples with different grades of cement and polycarboxylate plasticizer has been observed that with increasing water to cement ratio, the amount of compressive strength has decreased. Also, based on the results of comparing the changes of slump against the percentage of polycarboxylate plasticizer in concretes with different grades of cement, it has been observed that with increasing the percentage of polycarboxylate plasticizer, the slump parameter has generally had an upward trend. Also, by increasing the grade of cement in concrete in the percentage of fixed polycarboxylate plasticizer, concrete with higher grade had less slump. Finally, based on the results of comparing the changes of slump against water to cement ratio in concretes with different grades of cement with polycarboxylate plasticizer, it has been observed that with increasing water to cement ratio, the slump parameter has generally decreased. Also, by increasing the grade of cement in concrete in the ratio of water to fixed cement, concrete with lower grade had more slump.


Background: Extensive knowledge of allergic multimorbidities is required to improve the management of allergic diseases with the industrialization of China. However, the demography and allergen distribution patterns of allergic multimorbidities in China remain unclear, despite the increasing prevalence of allergies. Methods: This was a real-world, cross-sectional study of 1273 outpatients diagnosed with one or more allergic diseases in Guangzhou, the most populated city of southern China, with leading industrial and commercial centers, between April 2021 and March 2022. Seven allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma (AS)/cough variant asthma (CVA), atopic dermatitis (AD)/eczema, food allergy (FA), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), drug allergy (DA), and anaphylaxis) were assessed. Positive rates of sensitization to different allergens were measured using an allergen detection system of the UniCAP (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Sweden) instrument platform to compare the groups of allergic multimorbidities against a single entity. Results: There were 659 (51.8%) males and 614 (48.2%) females aged from 4 months to 74 years included in the analysis. The study participants who were diagnosed with allergic diseases had an average of 1.6 diagnoses. Overall, 46.5% (592 of 1273) of the patients had more than one allergic condition, and allergic rhinitis was the most common type of multimorbidity. Women were more likely to suffer from an allergic disease alone, whereas allergic multimorbidities were more likely to be diagnosed in men (p = 0.005). In addition, allergic multimorbidities were common in all age groups, with an incidence ranging from 37.1% to 57.4%, in which children and adolescents were more frequently diagnosed with allergic multimorbidities than adults (18–60 years old) (all p < 0.05). Allergic multimorbidity was observed throughout the year. A difference in the positive rate of allergens sensitization and total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) levels between different allergic multimorbidities was observed. Conclusions: Allergic multimorbidities were very commonly found in nearly half of all patients with allergies. The proportion of allergic multimorbidities varied with the type of disease, sex, age, and allergen distribution pattern. These findings may help clinicians to develop "One health" strategies for the clinical management of allergic diseases.


During an USEPA study in the Phoenix area from 1995-1998, measurements from a federal reference method (FRM) monitor, calibrated in accordance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards, were available less frequently with levels of accuracy and bias that differed from a colocated non-FRM or equivalent monitor. Using the soil constituent of PM2.5 (particles of aerodynamic particle diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (μm)) as an illustration, a Bayesian hierarchical calibration model is developed that combines information from reference and equivalent monitors to produce a temporally resolved posterior distribution of the complete concentration time series. Mean concentrations are modeled using a regression structure that reflects the influence of meteorology. To account for bias in monitors relative to each other, the mean at the equivalent monitor is represented by the product of an unknown bias parameter times the unknown mean concentration at the reference monitor. Estimation of the bias parameter involves inference about the ratio of normal means as in the well-known Fieller-Creasy problem. A new multi-parameter reference prior is developed for this comparative calibration setting, permitting simultaneous inference about the underlying mean concentrations and the bias parameter. By using a Bayesian hierarchical approach, the posterior distribution of unknown pollutant concentrations conditional


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings of research on the level of health and safety (H&S) awareness and implementation in Botswana's construction industry.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted on construction projects to establish the level of awareness and implementation of construction H&S. Physical observations were also conducted on construction sites in order to relate questionnaire responses to what actually obtained on construction sites. The study was limited to Gaborone and the immediate surrounding areas.Findings – Findings from the research reveal that the level of H&S awareness is low, H&S legislation is not complied with, the management of contractors is not committed to H&S implementation, there is a lack of H&S management systems, procedures, and protocol, and clients and designers do not participate in the implementation of H&S.Originality/value – The importance of construction H&S has been recognised by various researchers. This paper prov...


The effect of hardness/intensity correlation has been determined, as the result of statistical study of cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by Mitrofanov, Paciesas, and their coworkers. For five brightness groups of GRBs selected by Mallozzi and coworkers, the cosmological origin of this effect was suggested, due to the cosmological redshift. On the other hand, this effect is shown to be explained by models of the extended Galactic halo, provided that the broad distribution of radiated power is postulated for emitters of GRBs, together with intrinsic correlation between emissivity and spectral hardness of radiated photons.


Large dunite-serpentinite masses of the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt occur in the axial zone of large scale recumbent fold. The texture and chemistry of olivines from the Higashi-Akaishi and Shiraga bodies (central Shikoku) and the Ryumon body (Kii peninsula) demonstrate the two types of dunite to be present in this belt. Dunites of the Higashi-Akaishi body had experienced two stages of metamorphism, resulting in slight compositional change of their olivines, but the dunites remained dunite, whereas those of the Shiraga and Ryumon bodies consist of olivines newly formed by the metamorphism of serpentinite. The newly formed olivines contain the minerals of serpentinite, such as magnetite, antigorite, chlorite, brucite and magnesite, as inclusions, and some of them have a positive correlation between XFe and NiO content being the reverse to the compositional trend formed by igneous crystallization. The presence of olivine+antigorite in the Shiraga and Ryumon bodies is in harmony with the thermal structure of the Sanbagawa terrain. This harmony and the widespread occurrence of newly formed olivine indicate that this type of dunite was formed by the metamorphism of serpentinite during the Sanbagawa metamorphism. From the view point of thermal history, not all the peridotites in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt are simple dismembered masses of the Higashi-Akaishi-type peridotite.


A simple analytical expression for the potential energy curve for the ground state X 1Σ+ of the hydrogen fluoride molecule HF obtained in the framework of the Born–Oppenheimer approximation is proposed. This analytical expression for the potential energy curve is based in the two point Padé approximation, which correctly reproduces the asymptotic behavior at small R → 0 and large R → ∞ internuclear distances, and position and depth of potential well, leading to the accuracy of 4–5 decimal digits when compared with experimental data. The rovibrational spectra of the diatomic molecule HF is calculated by solving the Schrödinger equation for nuclear motion using the Lagrange-mesh method. The ground state X 1Σ+ contains 21 vibrational states (ν, 0) and 724 rovibrational states (ν, L) with maximal angular momentum equal to 55. The change of reduced mass in the Schrödinger equation for nuclear motion allows us to obtain the rovibrational spectrum of the ground state potential curve of the deuterium fluoride DF (contains 29 vibrational states (ν, 0) and 1377 rovibrational states (ν, L)) and tritium fluoride TF (contains 35 vibrational states (ν, 0) and 1967 rovibrational states (ν, L)) with maximal angular momenta 76 and 92, respectively. Entire rovibrational spectra is presented for the HF molecule and its two isotopologues DF and TF.


Neurocritical care manages patients with severe neurological and neurosurgical conditions in critical care. It provides intensive specialist support for patients with life-threatening complications resulting from severe brain damage or illness including respiratory support and mechanical ventilation and cardiovascular therapies to optimize cerebral perfusion. New technologies, therapies, and philosophy of care are constantly changing to improve neurological recovery and outcomes. Practitioners must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to care for these patients and their families/carers during the acute illness episode.


Relative abundance and community structure of arboreal spiders were estimated in . sapling stands of Douglas-fir,Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirbel) Franco. Samples were collectedon two dates between June and August 1992 in three geographicprovinces in western Oregon. A total of7693 spiders of IS families, 46 genera and at least 62 specieswere collected from lower crown branches. On both dates, mean spider density was significantlydiJferentamong the provinces (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01). Overall web-spinning spiders dominated in both collections, comprising63 and S8%of the total spider fauna. The principalweb-spinnerswerethe Linyphiidae and Erigonidae, followed by the Araneidae, Theridiidae and Tetragnathidae. The spectrum of hunting families was dominated by the Salticidae and Philodromidae. Both f~ilies combined represented 79 and 7!J%of spiders in this guild for the two sampling dates. On both dates, the proportions of web-spinningto hunting spiders were significantlydiJferentamong the provinces (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001). Web-spinners were dominant in coastal areas, whereas hunters werea major groupfurther inland. On both collectingdates, allgeographicprovincesweresimilar in terms of their speciescomposition. A slightlygreater similarity was detected between the two Coast Range provinces.


Dental School's graduates must be prepared to respond to the demands of society in all segments, being able to incorporate new technologies into their clinical practice. Teacher-student interactions influence the choices of the professional future. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinion of dentists teaching dentistry on digital radiographic images and their preference among images printed on radiographic film, photographic paper or visualized on the computer screen. The 16 professors of a Dental School who have Dentistry degree evaluated four interproximal radiographs, three periapical, one panoramic and one digital lateral teleradiography visualized on the computer screen, printed on radiographic film and on photographic paper. Afterward, they answered a questionnaire containing open questions about the subject. It was found that 38% of teachers preferred to evaluate the images on the computer screen, another 38% preferred the images printed on X-ray film and one teacher preferred the image printed on photographic paper. One teacher reported no difference between the computer screen and radiographic film. Only one teacher reported that there was no difference between viewing on the computer screen and on photographic paper. Thirteen (81%) are used for evaluating digital images, while three (19%) are not. Of the sixteen teachers, eight (50%) cited the advantages of digital images as sharpness, 2 (12%) cited the possibility of magnification and 6 (38%) cited different advantages, such as greater chance of correctness, ease of manipulation, Possibility of contrast, dispensing of light box and richness of details. It was possible to conclude that the teachers of the study had a divided preference between the computer screen and x-ray film, use digital images in clinical practice, did not have this subject at graduation and believe that it should be taught.


With the broad application of neuroendoscopic techniques, more and more research appeared which related to the locating pre -operation and inspection during operation. When the technique of puncturing brain tissue with ultrasonic guidance is applied in neuroendoscopic operation, the complications could be avoided effectively, and the location could more accurately. The Doppler microvesculer probe can reach the operational position to inspect the important vascula through the endoscopic canal, avoid the injury of arteries and its branchs since inspecting speed of blood stream, and practise real-time view and ultrasonic scan after aneurysm clipping. The neuroendoscpic surgery with ultrasonic guidance and inspection is one of progressive direction of microtraumatic neurosurgery in the future.


If the static lattice Green function of a crystal is known then the distortions produced in the crystal by a point defect may be obtained simply from the Green function and the forces acting on the crystal due to the defect. The numerical evaluation of the Green function for a given model of the crystal force constants involves Brillouin zone summation of a function which is singular at the origin and this singularity can cause considerable numerical convergence problems. It is shown that a useful calculational procedure involves evaluating the Brillouin zone summation by using the Chadi and Cohen sets (1973) of special points in the Brillouin zone together with an efficient extrapolation procedure. Green functions are calculated for some FCC and BCC metals using the force constants obtained from Born-von Karman fits to experimental lattice vibration spectra.


The paper briefly summarizes the data from studies of multicomponent gas-metal plasma in a pulsed reflex discharge. The processes of injection of sputtered-and-ionized working materials (Ti, Mo, W, U) into the reflex discharge plasma have been considered in the framework of the steady-state model. The measured data on the rotational velocity of the gas-metal multicomponent plasma formed in the reflex discharge correlate with the critical ionization velocity (CIV) values. PACS: 52.80.Sm; 68.49. Sf


The purpose of this study is to simulate droplet vaporization in the microscopic regime. Molecular dynamics (MD) can calculate properties for droplets statistically without considering the discontinuous interface between a liquid droplet and surrounding gas. However, massive computation is required for calculating force interactions between molecules, thus making parallel computation a necessity. Force decomposition was used as the algorithm for parallel processing. Two phases, the liquid droplet and ambient gas, all consisting of argon molecules, was created and equilibrated by mass diffusion and temperature control of an argon cluster initially inside a vacuum. After equilibration the periphery of the system was heated to vaporize the droplet. Thermodynamic properties such as the density, pressure, and temperature were sampled for each interval. The results here show that the vaporization rate of submicron droplets concur with the D² - law.


The report describes and assesses the potential impact of air emissions, wastewater effluents, and solid wastes from the operation of dry bottom industrial boilers firing pulverized bituminous coal. Air emissions were characterized by a literature survey and field sampling. Significant emissions resulting from coal combustion were particulate matter, sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, polycyclic organic materials (POM), and a number of elements. The potential environmental impact of each emission species after passing through state-of-the-art controls was individually assessed using a calculated quantity known as the source severity. Species determined to have source severities greater than 1.0 were NOx (1.7), SOx (2.2), and POM (6.0). Pollutant concentrations were also measured in wastewater and solid waste streams. Effluent source severities were found to be significantly less than 1.0 for most species. The potential impact of solid waste discharges on the quality of air and of ground and surface water was also found to be minor when available controls were applied.


In this paper the notions of the isotropic involutes (of order k) and the isotropic evolutes in n-dimensional simply isotropic space In(1) are defined. We determine the formula of involutes of a given admissible curve in In(1) and the curvature and the torsion of involutes and evolutes in I3(1). The system of differential equations which determines the evolute of a given admissible curve in In(1) is found. The explicit formula of the evolutes of admissible curve in I3(1) is given. The definitions of involutes and evolutes, which are used in this article, are motivated by the analogous definitions for Euclidean case.


Charles Barber is a former Reader in English Language and Literature at the School of English of the University of Leeds, in northern England. Cambridge University Press presents his latest work, The English Language: A Historical Introduction, as 'the ideal introductory textbook for all students of the English language, and essential reading also for students of linguistics and social studies'. Although the name is new, however, the book has an intriguing past that is acknowledged by Cambridge: This is a revised and retitled version of Barber's The Story of Language, a paperback published by Pan Books between 1964 and 1972. As 'the' (as opposed to 'a') story of language, the earlier offered a far wider subject to the general interested reader. In consequence, it is interesting to consider to what extent and in what ways the subject matter and focus may have changed to fit a new title that focuses on English alone. In fact, the first version also focused strongly on English, especially as the chapters advanced and despite the all-enveloping name; in an important sense, the new title fits the work better and might well have fitted the 'first edition' better too. The second version covers the nature and origins of language, language change, the history of English from its Indo-European roots, the main theoretical and technical concepts of historical linguistics, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, semantics, dialect, attitudes to language, and English as a world language. In the first version, there was a strong virtually Darwinian emphasis on the progress of English in the world, along with a powerful (even distorting) focus on the educated usage of southern England. Because of the change of title and various revisions such pressures are less marked in the second version, which is markedly more balanced as regards other varieties of English. A thoroughly commendable work. Barber's realigned book can be usefully compared with the American classic, A History of the English Language. Its originator, Albert C. Baugh, was Schelling Memorial Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, while Thomas Cable, inheritor of Baugh's mantle, is Blumberg Centennial Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. The work, known at first simply as 'Baugh', then generally as 'Baugh and Cable', has long been the standard one-volume work on the subject, especially in the United States. The 4th edition (which follows the 1st in 1951, the 2nd in 1959, and the 3rd in 1978) is a significant and valuable revision, updated to take account of recent developments in linguistics.


This paper considers some of the legal problems now facing each state that undertakes compliance with the federal mandate to eliminate nonconforming signs and to pay "just compensation" for the property interests taken from sign owners and landowners. The Federal Highway Administration guidelines permit the States to develop schedules, formulas, and methods to simplify valuation in order to minimize administrative and legal expenses in determining "just compensation". The issues of the public purpose and public use are discussed as well as the question of necessity of the taking, and the requirement of purchase negotiations. Cases are discussed where the landowner also owns the nonconforming advertising sign, and the property interest that is to be acquired by the State is either a full ownership interest in the sign itself or an incorporeal interest in the land. Cases are also discussed where the land and sign are not under common ownership. A review of the general principles of valuation in eminent domain covers the market data or sales approach, the income approach, and the cost approach. The valuation of property interest taken pursuant to state advertising control statutes are discussed in relation to the case when sign and land are under common ownership, and when the sign is constructed on the land of another pursuant to an advertising lease.


3 To Bubba and "D" 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The decade since I returned to school has been both exhilarating and harrowing. I could not have made it with the continual support, understanding, and expertise of my friends, family, and colleagues. It has been a great honor to have Dr. Tao Li as my advisor. He said Yes when he didn't have to and gave me the freedom to pursue my research. He gave me confidence and pushed me when no one else would. His unflagging support has made this work possible. Peir, for taking the time to give me feedback and improve this work. I am deeply indebted to the other members of the Intelligent Design of Efficient Architectures Laboratory (IDEAL) especially Wangyuan Zhang and my coauthor James Poe, whose argumentativeness helped me solidify my ideas and expand my research. I want to thank Daniel Durnbaugh and Gerard Virga for always being home and mnx in #tbar for knowing how to spell. I would like to thank my parents, Noah and Jan Legear, for understanding when four day visits turned into two and my sister, Haley, for giving me a bed and niece. But I owe my biggest debt of gratitude to my grandparents, Max and Dorothy Bowden, to whom this work is dedicated. I cannot even begin to summarize the impact that they had on my life. Finally, to "Mama" Jimmie Prestwood whose thought always reminds me of the quote, "Curiosity, like coffee, is an acquired need. Just a titillation at the beginning, it becomes with training a raging passion."


The use of membrane technology is developping from the solely work-up of product and waste streams all the way to integration into processes. The membrane reactor offers, by analogy with biological cells, great possibilities for product-integrated environmental protection. Two principal areas of application of membranes in reactors are becoming apparent. Use for removal of products or by-products from bioreactors and the coupling with chemical reactions considered in this article. The first such membrane reactors served for the removal of water from esterification reaction mixtures. Significant advances for membrane reactor technology came with the recent development of membranes of enhanced selectivity and flow density as well as improved thermal and chemical stability. In addition to the availability of high-performance membranes, fundamental knowledge and methods are required to assure efficient reaction-engineering utilization of membrane reactors. This paper discusses fundamental concepts relating to the use of various membrane reactors in parallel, consecutive, and equilibrium reactions. In general, in the case of membrane-supported parallel reactions, controlled addition of reactant can raise the reaction selectivity. Selective removal of primary and side products from consecutive or equilibrium reactions can increase yields. Comparison of membrane-supported reactor types (batch, loop, and plug-flow membrane reactors) indicate that the membrane-supported loop reactor will prove most effective in the majority of cases thanks to its pronounced flexibility.


In a recent volume on Italian women writers, two consecutive articles appear putting forward two diametrically opposed views of Elsa Morante's treatment of motherhood. Marise Jeuland-Meynaud claims that Morante upholds an essentialist view of women, who are reduced in her novels to instinct, irrationality and to the sole function of procreation.' Her work would thus endorse the nature/ culture opposition-one of the binary oppositions around which patriarchal ideology and thought are organized-where 'nature', traditionally associated with woman, is the negative, inferior and powerless pole compared to 'culture', traditionally associated with male superiority and dominance. Robin Pickering-Iazzi presents the counter-argument that La Storia promotes the view that Ida, who represents traditional motherhood, is a product of social conditioning, and not the embodiment of a female essence: motherhood is thus conceptualized as a social institution.2 The discrepancy between these two interpretations is an indication of the complexity and elusiveness of Morante's work with regard to gender issues.


In this reservoir, the parameters being assessed are very important in the aspect of fish culture. These parameters are: physical parameters which includes temperature (O), Transparency (M).Chemical parameters include: Dissolve oxygen (mg/l) pH concentration and the Biological Parameters which include phytoplankton and zooplankton. The phytoplankton and zooplankton identification and estimation were carried out in the NIFFR Limnology Laboratory, (Green House), New Bussa. Each identified zooplankton and phytoplankton species was placed according to its major group e.g. zooplankton was grouped into three families, Roifera, Cladocera and Copepods. During this study period it was observed that copepods have the highest total number of zooplankton both beside the poultry and monk (station 'A'&'B'). Water temperature of station 'A' (beside the poultry house) ranges from 27 C-29, 5 c also same station 'B' (near the monk). Dissolve oxygen station 'A' range from 6.30mg/l-7.40mg/l while that of station 'B' ranges from 6.20mg/7.50mg/l, turbidity reading of station A'ranges from 0.19m-0.3m while station 'B' ranges from 0.22m-0.37m. The last parameter, which is pH concentration, in both stations 8.2 was observed this is an indication that the pH was constant. According to some literature review all the water parameter figures obtained were good for fish culture


Most commercial scanning probe microscopes (SPM) are top-down descendants of the first ultrahigh vacuum devices developed at the IBM research labs in Switzerland and still retain much of their involved, cumbersome feel. This article presents a bottom-up approach by a company that made ease-of-use and accessibility their starting point.


The research background of vibratory motor spindle dynamic finite element analyse was intrduced.The 3-D model of vibratory motor spindle was established by using the Pro/E software,then dynamic finite element analysis of spindle was carried out in ANSYS Workbench.The modal analysis result of spindle indicates that the dynamic stiffness of spindle is well-distributed and the maximum rotating speed is reasonable.The technique measure which can enhance the dynamic characteristic of spindle was proposed by carrying on the harmony response.


Shape optimization problems constrained by variational inequalities (VI) are non-smooth and non-convex optimization problems. The non-smoothness arises due to the variational inequality constraint, which makes it challenging to derive optimality conditions. Besides the non-smoothness there are complementary aspects due to the VIs as well as distributed, non-linear, non-convex and infinite-dimensional aspects due to the shapes which complicate to set up an optimality system and, thus, to develop fast and higher order solution algorithms. In this paper, we consider Newton-derivatives in order to formulate optimality conditions. In this context, we set up a Newton-shape derivative scheme. Examples show the application of the proposed scheme.


This paper reports the angular dependence of the electron resonance spectrum of a spin probe dissolved in a smectic A mesophase. The spectra were analysed to obtain the angular variation of the linewidth coefficients and hence the angular linewidth coefficients. These angular coefficients -may be interpreted by employing a theory of spin relaxation based on the strong collision model for molecular reorientation. Such an analysis yields values for the correlation times for reorientation about the long and short axes of the spin probe as well as the magnitude of the solute order parameter p4. The possibility of interpreting the angular linewidth coefficients in terms of a theory based on the diffusion model for molecular reorientation is also explored. Relatively straightforward expressions for these coefficients can only be obtained from the diffusion model when the orientational order is hrgh, as it is in a smectic phase. The analysis of the angular linewidth coefficients then provides values for the components of the diffusion tensor parallel and perpendicular to the long axis of the spin probe. The large anisotropy in the diffusion tensor may be indicative of the unhindered molecular motion about the long axis. Both models of molecular reorientation in a highly ordered system appear to provide a satisfactory account of the observed angular linewidth coefficients.


........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Oximetry ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Pulse Oximetry ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Current Pulse Oximeter Calibrators ............................................................................................ 15 2.3.1 Mock Circulatory Systems .................................................................................................. 15 2.3.2 Basic Finger Models ........................................................................................................... 18 2.3.3 Electrical Simulators ........................................................................................................... 20 3.0 Design Approach ............................................................................................................................ 22 3.1 Initial Client Statement ............................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Revised Client Statement ............................................................................................................ 22 3.3 Device Requirements .................................................................................................................. 22 3.4 Device Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 Component Comparison ............................................................................................................. 24 4.0 Device Development ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 Design Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.1 Mock Circulatory System ................................................................................................... 27 4.1.2 Wedge Model ...................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Evaluation of Alternative Designs .............................................................................................. 34 4.2.1 Mock Circulatory System ................................................................................................... 34 4.2.2 Wedge Model ...................................................................................................................... 35 4.3 Design Selection ......................................................................................................................... 36 5.0 Current Design ................................................................................................................................ 38 5.1 Conical Core ............................................................................................................................... 38 5.2 Core Manufacturing .................................................................................................................... 45


Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in Eastern Africa, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends human papillomavirus (HPV)‐based screening as a key element to eliminate the disease. In this cross‐sectional study from Tanzania, we compared nine HPV‐based cervical cancer screening strategies, including HPV testing at standard cut‐off; HPV testing at increased viral load cut‐offs; HPV testing with partial/extended genotyping, and HPV testing with visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). We pooled data collected during 2008 to 2009 and 2015 to 2017 from 6851 women aged 25 to 65. Cervical cytology samples were HPV tested with Hybrid Capture 2, and HPV positive samples were genotyped with INNO‐LiPA Extra II. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and VIA were done according to local standards. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of screening strategies, with high‐grade cytological lesions as reference, separately for women with and without HIV. HPV testing at standard cut‐off (1.0 relative light units [RLU]) had highest sensitivity (HIV+: 97.8%; HIV−: 91.5%), but moderate specificity (HIV+: 68.1%; HIV−: 85.7%). Increasing the cut‐off for HPV positivity to higher viral loads (5.0/10.0 RLU) increased specificity (HIV+: 74.2%‐76.5%; HIV−: 89.5%‐91.2%), with modest sensitivity reductions (HIV+: 91.3%‐95.7%; HIV−: 83.5%‐87.8%). Limiting test positivity to HPV types 16/18/31/33/35/45/52/58 improved specificity while maintaining high sensitivity (HIV+: 90.2%; HIV−: 81.1%). Triage with VIA and/or partial genotyping for HPV16/18 or HPV16/18/45 had low sensitivities (≤65%). In conclusion, HPV testing alone, or HPV testing with extended genotyping or increased viral load cut‐offs, may improve cervical cancer screening in Sub‐Saharan Africa.


The growth of the field of ambient mass spectrometry(MS) is rapid because of its advantage on direct MS analysis with minimum or without sample pretreatment.Ion source is one of the key techniques for mass spectrometer.This paper described the advanced development of air flow assisted ionization ion source(AFAI) and its performance on various types of mass analyzer.The maximum extracting gas flow rate was improved up to 75 L/min,and the sensitivity of the AFAI was investigated with higher extracting gas flow rate.AFAI ion source was installed on various types of mass analyzer including time of flight(TOF),Q-TRAP and Q-TOF via a corresponding modularized interface.Therefore,the full mass scan,product ion scan,precursor ion scan,neutral loss scan and accurate mass measurement would be carried out for ambient MS analysis with AFAI.The advanced development of the AFAI would promote its applications.


Background: Coronavirus pandemic, a serious global public health threat, affects the Southern African countries more than any other country on the continent. The region has become the epicenter of the coronavirus with South Africa accounting for the most cases. To cap the deadly effect caused by the pandemic, we apply a statistical modelling approach to investigate and predict COVID-19 incidence. Methods: Using secondary data on the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases per million for Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states from March 5, 2020, to July 15, 2021, we model and forecast the spread of coronavirus in the region. We select the best ARIMA model based on the log-likelihood, AIC, and BIC of the fitted models. Results: The ARIMA (11,1,11) model for the complete data set was finally selected among ARIMA models based upon the parameter test and the Box–Ljung test. The ARIMA(11,1,9) was the best candidate for the training set. A 15-day forecast was also made from the model, which shows a perfect fit with the testing set. Conclusion: The number of new COVID-19 cases per million for the SADC shows a downward trend, but the trend is characterized by peaks from time to time. Tightening up of the preventive measures continuously needs to be adapted in order to eradicate the coronavirus epidemic from the population.


with the name and identity of the writer, the designation of the recipients ; i ~ with its salutation ; 13-16a with its extended thanksgiving sharply obtruding in vv.15-16a; I16b II. with the Icustomary prayer for the readers-all these features are cotmon in the New Testament Epistles and all are due to current epistolary practice. The close of Ephesians is not so strikingly akin to the typical papyrus letter. Greetings to individuals are absent and, as usually in the New Testament, the normal Zppwao or its variants is replaced by the benedictory ' grace.' I


Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the ethiological agent of human tuberculosis, is still one of the most effective human pathogens, and along with the causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, and the HIV virus, conform a triad of killers that merciless strike the human race. Current statistics show that in 2007 these three pathogens took the life of almost 5 million people; the majority of the cases (nearly 3 million people) affecting Africa and specially children (1,8 million deaths). Of these three agents, the tubercle bacilli is perhaps the one that spreads with more efficiency since it infects humans by aerial route, through aerosolized drops produced by coughing tuberculosis patients. Measures for intervention can be designed in the case of malaria (fighting against the transmission vector and its environment) and HIV (proper sex conduct, condom usage) but are much harder to elaborate in order to prevent people suffering of tuberculosis from coughing. Having a very


The effect of processing conditions on the yield and failure behavior of an aliphatic polyketone terpolymer was studied. Testing and characterization were performed on samples that were extruded in the form of hollow cylinders. We performed the extrusion process at different shear rates and at different cooling rates to assess the effect that process conditions had on the polymer properties. We performed biaxial testing on the samples to characterize the failure envelopes, including the ductile–brittle transition condition for each process condition. The effect of shear rate was negligible, whereas the cooling rate significantly affected the failure behavior. To explain these differences in behavior, we performed characterization via differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflection IR spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and residual stress measurements. A broad glass transition was found for all samples at temperatures higher than previously reported for this material. Alteration of the processing conditions did not influence the crystalline phase (percentage crystallinity, crystalline orientation, crystallite size, etc.). A change in spherulitic structure was also observed with altered cooling rate and is suggested to have contributed to the change in failure behavior. Residual stresses also affected the behavior of all samples. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 318–334, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10334


Qualitative testable predictions in terms of population parameters were developed from a mathematical model for a specific marine host-parasite castration system. The model appears to describe the differences in the degree of parasitism among host species at each of three sites and to describe the biogeographic pattern of parasitism in the barnacle Chthamalus dalli along the West Coast of North America. Six of six predictions were substantiated with field data.


Simple Summary Free-roaming cats in urban areas frequently cause complaints. In Australia, cats are classed as domestic or feral depending on how and where they live, with cat management practices varying depending on the cats' classification. Cats classified as feral can be managed, when considered appropriate by authorities, by shooting them. In 2020, this approach was employed to manage urban cats being fed daily by cat caregivers. This qualitative study aimed to document the lived experience of these cat caregivers to understand their motivations for caregiving and their relationships with these cats. A secondary aim was to explore caregiver perceptions of the lethal management approach and if psychological impacts were experienced. Several main themes arose from interviews with caregivers. The results demonstrate strong relationships between the caregivers and the cats, and negative impacts on caregiver mental health and quality of life associated with this lethal cat management practice. It is recommended that a care-centred approach be taken, whereby authorities identify and assist caregivers to implement neutering and, if possible, adoption. This would improve cat welfare, minimize public complaints, and reduce psychological hazards to caregivers. Legislative amendments should be prioritized to facilitate these recommendations and a revision of the classification between domestic and feral cats should be actioned. Abstract In urban and peri-urban areas of the world, free-roaming cats often pose management challenges for authorities. Most are wandering owned or semi-owned cats (fed by people who do not perceive ownership). Some are lost or abandoned, or unowned cats who obtain food from humans unintentionally. Unidentified cats are classified as "stray" in shelter data, and by government agencies as "stray" or "feral" based on their behaviour. However, legally feral cats are usually considered to live and reproduce in the wild with no support from humans. Cats classified as feral in Australia can be managed using lethal methods, including shooting, poisoning, trapping, and blunt trauma. The impact of killing animals on shelter staff is well documented. However, no previous research has investigated psychological impacts of lethal cat management on citizens who care for free-roaming cats. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explored the lived experience of six cat caregivers affected by lethal management of cats by shooting, instigated by the Port of Newcastle in 2020. Results demonstrated strong relationships between the caregivers and cats, and negative impacts on caregiver psychological health and quality of life associated with lethal management. It is recommended that a care-centred approach to cat management be prioritized in future, whereby authorities aid neutering and, if possible, adoption, to improve cat welfare, minimize cat nuisance complaints, and reduce psychological hazards to caregivers. Further, a revision of relevant legislation used to distinguish between domestic and feral cats in Australia should be actioned to prevent unnecessary killing of domestic cats.


Holding hands and drinking beers, cigarette in mouth, whooping as the sun comes up, best friends forever, piercing, tattoos, mosh pits, vodka, rock festivals, and recreational drugs—this is youth. Never going to conform, to become our neurotic parents, and never trapped in the open prison of the suburbs. Mother Earth-types, free and alive, and happy to give birth under a bush in moonlight. But this isn't how life works, because we grow up. Friends pair off, and stop going out. Anxiety, once abstract, begins to stalk us—constantly whispering, "What if?" The biological …


The invention provides a method for manufacturing mesh points of an LGP (Light Guide Plate). The method comprises the following step: multiple laser pulses are adopted for firing the same fixed position of the LGP so that a mesh point can be formed at the fixed position. According to the method for manufacturing the mesh points of the LGP, disclosed by the invention, since the laser pulses with low powers are adopted, the focused heat is reduced, the deformation caused by the heating of a PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) sheet material is reduced, the consistency of a mesh point shape can also be ensured, thus the consistency of a reflective coefficient of each mesh point can be ensured, and the undulatory property of the LGP is reduced. The invention also provides the LGP which is manufactured by adopting the method for manufacturing the mesh points of the LGP, a backlight module with the LGP and a TV (Television) set with the backlight module.


A 42-year-old male was referred with epigastric pain of insidious onset, progressive over a duration of 3 months. Pain was non-radiating, continuous, with no specific aggravating or relieving factors. There was no loss of appetite or loss of weight. …


The author is convinced that a notion genomic information is widespread in sciences thus justifies that a genomic information is already a general scientific notion. The author differentiates internal and external factors that have a great impact on the notion of genomic information. Internal factors are digitalization of sciences, interdisciplinary research, and a new type of rationality in science. External factors are modern economy that is based on scientific and technical progress. The article refers to the theory of notions ranges that was substantiated by A.M. Vasilev. It creates a new notions range concerning the notion of genomic information. It is crucial to understand that this notion is investigated in the aspect of legal information. In the authors opinion, notions range concerning the genomic information notion forms the basis for a fresh interdisciplinary law-and-genome theory which will be developing consequently. The author asserts that it is necessary to use general scientific approaches for law-and-genome informations research. In this sense systematic and informational approaches are the most significant for interdisciplinary law-and-genome theory ones.


Modern statistics and machine learning typically involve large amounts of data coupled with computationally intensive methods. In a predictive modeling context, one seeks models that achieve high predictive accuracy on new datasets. This is typically implemented by partitioning the data into training and hold-out data sets. The allocation is often conducted randomly, at the row level of the data matrix. In this work, we discuss an overlooked gap in machine learning and predictive modeling, the role of data structure and data generation process in the partitioning of observational data into training and hold-out datasets. Ignoring such structures can lead to deficiencies in model generalizability and operationalization. We highlight that explicitly embracing the data generation structure to partition the data for validating predictive model is essential to the success of data science projects. The proposed approach is called befitting cross validation (BCV). It relies on an information quality perspective of analytics. This requires an assessment with inputs from domain experts, in contrast to automated approaches that are purely data driven. BCV is motivated by the objective of generating information quality with data and modeling. Two case studies are illustrating the proposed approach. One is based on a 96-h burn-in process applied to electro-mechanical devices, implemented in order to reduce early failures at the customer site. The goal was to shorten the burn-in process with a predictive model applied at 20 h. The other case study is combining tablet dissolution profiles and designed mixture experiments. The goal there was to match the tablet under test dissolution profiles with a brand tablet reference profile. These case studies demonstrate the methodological points made with BCV, which are generic in nature. We suggest that BCV principles should be always considered in the development of data-driven predictive models.


Lutein and its isomerzeaxanthin are safe natural compounds. They are able to reduce the development of tumor and other chronic diseases. The objectives of the current study was to examine the cytotoxicity of lutein purified from Medicago sativa L and evaluate its activity against human liver HepG2, breast MCF-7, lung A549, prostate PC3, and colon HCT116 cancer cell lines using SRB assay in comparison with doxorubicin as a reference drug. Results revealed that the tested extract could be a more promising anticancer agent in the case of MCF-7 (IC50, 3.10±0.47 µg/ml) compared to standard drug doxorubicin (IC50, 2.90±0.30 µg/ml). Moreover, the extract showed a moderate effect on HepG2 (IC50, 6.11±0.84 µg/ml) versus doxorubicin (IC50, 2.90±0.30 µg/ml); meanwhile, the extract showed no activity against A549, PC3, and HCT116 cells. The results further revealed that the extract had no toxicity against the growth of normal HFB4 cells versus doxorubicin.


Soil erosion is a natural process, where the extent and magnitude of soil loss are controlled by various environmental determinants, such as climate, soil, topography and vegetation. However, human interferences, via land use modification, deforestation, agricultural practices and construction activities can accelerate the rate of soil erosion. An effort has been made here to identify the soil erosion prone areas in Kombai watershed in Theni district using geospatial technology. LANDSAT 8, SRTM DEM and Survey of India toposheets are used for various analysis and thematic maps preparation. The factors considered for delineating the soil erosion prone in Kombai watershed are drainage density, landuse/landcover, soil texture, rainfall, geology, and slope. Rank and weightage are assigned for each of the parameters and are overlaid in GIS environment using ArcGIS 10.2 and soil erosion prone areas are identified in the study area.


The Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Urology was held in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 18–21, 2002. A total of 137 papers and posters were presented on a wide range of topics that included cryptorchidism, tumors, varicocele, exstrophy, sexual differentiation, reflux, hypospadias, neurogenic bladder, hydronephrosis, valves, and voiding dysfunction. Terry D. Allen, MD, former professor and chief of pediatric urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, was awarded the Pediatric Urology Medal. Dr Allen received accolades for his many contributions that have shaped our understanding of voiding dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, intersex, and endocrine disorders. The meeting was well attended by pediatric urologists from the United States, Canada, and abroad. Highlights of the meeting are presented below.


mechanical energy including petroleum, natural gas, and improved harnessing of falling water, yet all these fall far short of the total energy derived from coal. The great amount of energy stored in coal is not the work of a few years but the product of millions of years of energy stored by the sun. It has been said that one pound of good coal, when burned in an engine, is equivalent to the work one man can do in a day. Granting this to be reasonably true, the amount of energy taken yearly from the mines of the world is incomprehensible to most of us. So vastly important is coal in our modern world that no people or nation can hope to compete with the leading nations of the world unless it has the use of ample stores of good coal.


With development of Ansai Oil field,old wells have many poor production features such as low liquid level,low flowing pressure,fluid productivity and oil productivity index decrease,combined water cut rise,an increase in production decline rate,higher pressure differential between the main direction oil well and lateral oil well of a fracture etc.These features can affect oilfield development benefit,recovery efficiency and oilfield stable production.Multiple fracturing technology faces the technical problem of how to improve economic benefits of ultra low permeability oilfield.Multiple fracturing technology and postfracture response are analysed systematically in Ansai Oilfield.All kinds of factors leading to oil well production decrease are described.Existing problems in oil well multiple fracturing technology are found.Developing direction of multiple fracturing technology in ultra low permeability reservoirs is determined.Meantime,specific research targets are proposed for improving ultra low permeability reservoir rebuild in Ansai Oilfield.


Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a specific form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) that occurs primarily in the elderly and is confined to the lungs. With the use of transthoracic ultrasound (TUS), diffuse parenchymal lung disease should be considered if multiple comet-tail artifacts distributed over the whole surface of the lung together with a thickened and irregular, fragmented pleural line are visible. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate lung ultrasound usefulness in the diagnosis of IPF. Patients and methods This study was carried out on 40 patients diagnosed as having IPF. All cases were subjected to a full assessment of history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, arterial blood gases, pulmonary function test, plain chest radiography, high-resolution computed tomography, and TUS. Results Our results showed that B-lines in combination with thickened and irregular pleura are the TUS features of IPF. There was a statistically significant correlation among B-lines distance (mm), pleural line thickness (mm), pleural line irregularity, abolished lung sliding found by TUS, and severity of the disease. Conclusion TUS is a useful tool in the diagnosis and assessment of the severity of IPF and can be used as a complementary method beside high-resolution computed tomography. The distance between two adjacent lines in combination with thickened and irregular pleura is a good feature in the follow-up of disease progression.


Siting, permitting, and mitigating impacts present many challenges during the development of major capital facilities. As a result of the need for public involvement, environmental review, wetland restrictions, regulatory agency permitting, as much effort is generally required for these activities as for project engineering and financing. By adopting a strategic approach to organizing the project development process, project proponents can expect to encounter fewer surprises and to receive timely project reviews and approvals. Recommendations for collaborative public involvement approaches and for dealing with wetland issues are described. Experiences during the development of four major water and wastewater projects are described.


The all-optical control of light parameters such as intensity profile, power, phase, modes, wavelength, and state of polarization is viewed as a cornerstone for the feasibility of future high-speed fiber-optic communication networks. In particular, the ability to repolarize light with an almost unitary efficiency represents a huge advantage over the standard polarizers that waste 50% of the unpolarized light. In this paper, we show how to obtain a nonlinear lossless repolarization of light in low-birefringence optical fibers. A characterization of the stimulated Raman scattering based polarization pulling process is also presented, with particular focus on the optimization of several parameters such as fiber length, polarization mode dispersion coefficient, correlation length, and signal and auxiliar pump power regimes. Finally, we compare the co-propagating and counter-propagating signal and pump schemes, presenting the main advantages and disadvantages of each scenario and its suitability for particular applications.


A science fiction writer examines the peril and politics of urban climate change In his new "cli-fi" novel New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson envisions a future New York in which the city's streets have been transformed by rising oceans into busy canals, and skyscrapers built on bedrock have sealed their lower floors but continue to function. The story unfolds through the overlapping lives of the residents of the Metropolitan Life Tower, who come together to prevent economic disaster in the wake of the collapse of a bubble in "intertidal" real estate. Filled with guarded optimism about our capacity to meet daunting challenges, the novel invites readers to imagine our own 21st-century future.


PART I: INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY PART II: ONTOLOGICAL COMMITMENTS OF CAI PART III: METAPHYSICAL COMMITMENTS OF CAI PART IV: LOGICAL COMMITMENTS OF CAI PART V: INDISCERNIBILITY AND CAI


Segments of behavior modification, Gestalt and reality therapy, transactional analysis, and ego psychology are integrated into the methods of social casework


Abstract Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) may present as the common cold, or in a series of cases can also result in severe or fatal pneumonia with severe respiratory distress. Since the virus's first appearance in December 2019, multiple studies have focused on clinical manifestations and biological features of different COVID variants in these five pandemic waves. Also, the variety of symptoms, the severity of the disease and the assessment of risk factors in each individual has continuously evolved among these two years, due to updated data published worldwide. The current paper presents the case of two patients, husband and wife, who develop a similar COVID-19 infection with only mild symptoms, although their disease history and COVID vaccination status is very different. They were among the first confirmed Omicron variant cases by genome sequencing in Romania and their favorable outcome despite the risk factors was encouraging for our every day practice.


An editorial is presented in which the authors discuss the historical aspects of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and public health in America as of 2017. Cholera outbreaks in the 19th century and the Paris Agreement international climate change mitigation deal are examined, along with public health progress in America and the U.S. Clean Air Act. Environmental health is assessed, along with efforts to protect food, water, and air in places such as the U.S.


In this paper we explore evidence on the mobility of income across generations in Malaysia over the half century from the mid 1930s to 1988. This study is unique in that it studies the income mobility of daughters as well as sons using detailed retrospective earnings data available for fathers from the 1976 Malaysia Family Life Survey (MFLS-1) in combination with detailed retrospective earnings data for sons and for sons in-law from the 1988 follow-up MFLS-2 survey. We first explore traditional models of income mobility for sons and find similar results to the literature. We then further explore the roles of fathers permanent earnings and fathers and mothers education as well as the childs own education as correlates of childrens earnings exploiting the data on multiple children per family. Because of the importance of the childs education as a determinant of earnings we further explore the role of fathers earnings and parents education as a correlate of the education of children and of sons in-law. The study finds that intergenerational linkages are just as strong for daughters as for sons if not stronger. In addition we also find that childrens educational attainment is sensitive to their fathers position in the earnings cycle when they are investing in education--that is educational investments in Malaysia are subject to credit constraints. We also find that educational outcomes of sons sons wives daughters and daughters husbands share a common unobserved component implying that not only are the unobservables in a family linked but also that the unobservables are linked between children of other families who have married into a family. (authors)


: It is generally recognized that road traffic emissions are a major health risk and responsible for a substantial share of death and disease in Europe. Although artificial intelligence methods have been used extensively for air pollution forecasting, there is little research on benzene prediction and the use of long short-term memory networks. Benzene is considered one of the pollutants of greatest concern in urban areas and has been linked to leukemia. This paper investigates the predictive power of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems, long short-term memory networks and multiple linear regression models for one hour ahead benzene prediction in the city of Augsburg, Germany. The results of the analysis indicate that adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems have the best in sample performance for benzene prediction, whereas long short-term memory networks and multiple linear regressions show similar predictive power. However, long short-term memory models have the best out of sample performance for one hour ahead benzene prediction. This supports the use of long short-term memory networks for benzene prediction in real emission forecasting applications.


ABSTRACT As recent work in border studies has argued, EU-border externalisation is often achieved by exporting technocratic management templates and advanced surveillance technologies, prompting scholars to adopt the lens of biopolitics in studying borderwork. Outside of Europe, however, the paucity of resources and vastness of spaces mean that indigenous forms of agency continue to be a key factor of border governance. Focusing on everyday practices illuminated by ethnographic fieldwork, this article investigates EU border externalisation's encounter with the Sahelian context. It argues that state and non-state actors form, deform and perform borders by extracting and capturing the material (economic) and immaterial (cognitive) resources that pass through liminal spaces. These dynamics shape a biopolitical economy of border control in which features of exceptionality, sovereignty and politics seem less compelling that those pertaining to the sphere of ordinary, hybridity and economy.


The solubility of griseofulvin in heptane, water and benzene over the temperature range 15–45° is reported together with the thermodynamic properties for solution of the antibiotic in these solvents.


Recent research indicates that college students who transfer from community colleges are significantly less likely to complete a four-year college degree than students who begin at four-year institutions. This paper estimates models of college completion for both types of students. Based on these results, an Oaxaca decomposition indicates that students who attend two-year colleges are at a disadvantage due primarily to lower individual quality rather than the lower quality of two-year colleges. This result has implications for public policies that seek to increase the role of two-year colleges as a means to increase the number of students completing four-year degrees.


Ayn Rand's achievement in philosophy is so imlnense that to do it justice in an article would take an Ayn Rand. From "existence exists" to a new definition of Romanticism in art; from the theory of universals to the nature of self-esteem; from the role of the mind in production to the esthetics of music; from the meta physical status of sensory qualities to the need for objective law-like a philosophical Midas, any area she touched turned to knowledge. And all this from a novelist, a novelist who found that to define her concept of an ideal man she had to answer basic philosophical questions, and that each answer she reached confirmed, strengthened, and added to her previous answers, until she had formulated an invincible philosophic system. That system, Objectivism, has many distinctions: its originality, its independence of philosophic tradition, its integration-but these aspects become irrelevant in light of what is most distinctive about Ayn Rand's philosophy: it is true. One of the greatest and rarest of philosophic achievements is to add a valid concept to the language. Ayn Rand left us a whole vocabulary. She formed new concepts-e.g., "psycho-epistemology," "sense of life," "concept-stealing." She took traditional terms, gave them rational definitions, and transformed then1 into the solid girders of her intellectual structure-e.g., "reason," "essence," "selfishness," "rights," "art." Then there were the floating abstractions, the package-deals, and the anti-concepts (three more of her terms) that she demolished-e.g., "duty," "extremism," "the public interest." Blasting away false alternatives, she drew her own distinctions in terms of essentials: "the primacy of existence vs. the primacy of con sciousness," "the intrinsic and the subjective vs. the objective," "the nletaphysical vs. the man-made," "selfishness vs. sacrifice," "errors of knowledge vs. breaches of morality," "economic power vs. political power. " In an age that scorns consistency and integration, Ayn Rand created a unified, hierarchically ordered system. Consider, for example, her definition of capitalism: "Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned." 1 Supporting that definition is a theory of individual rights: "A 'right' is a moral principle defining and sanctioning a man's freedom of action in a social context."2


Pethiyagoda et al. (2012) made available the genus-group name Dravidia (type species Cirrhinus fasciatus Jerdon, 1849: 305) for the ' Puntius fasciatus ' group of fishes endemic to the peninsula of India. We were unaware at the time this paper was written (2010) that this name had shortly before been preoccupied by Dravidia Lehrer, 2010, in Diptera: Sarcophagidae. As such, a replacement name for this genus of fishes becomes necessary.


This paper studies the problem of sensor selection for maneuvering target tracking in the cluttered environment. By modeling the target dynamics as jump Markov linear systems, a decentralized tracking algorithm is developed by applying the extended Kalman filter and the probabilistic data association technique. A cost function that minimizes the expected filtered mean square position error is utilized and a sensor selection scheme is proposed. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


The problem of Informed Source Coding on Demand, introduced by Birk and Kol [4], describes a setting where a server wishes to transmit an n-bit input word via broadcast to a n receivers; each receiver is interested in a specific block of the input data and may have sideinformation on other blocks. The goal of the sender is to use a code of minimal word-length, while allowing every receiver to recover his desired bit. This problem can be formulated as a graph parameter: let G be a directed graph on the vertex set [n], where ij is an edge iff the i-th receiver knows the j-th bit, and let `(G) denote the length of a minimal index code for G. In this work, we show that an index code for a disjoint union of graphs can be strictly better than a concatenation of the optimal codes for the individual graphs. This justifies a definition of a "rate" of an index code of a graph, as the (normalized) length of an index code when performing multiple transmissions with a constant side-information graph. The proof is based on a relation between index codes for a disjoint union of graphs and the OR product of certain graphs, and relies on some results in the study of Witsenhausen's rate and colorings of graph powers.


Personal names are a human universal, but systems of naming vary across cultures. While a person's name identifies them immediately with a particular cultural background, this aspect of identity is rarely researched in a systematic way. This thesis examines naming patterns as a product of the society in which they are used. Personal names have been studied within separate disciplines, but to date there has been little intersection between them. This study marries approaches from anthropology and linguistic research to provide a more comprehensive approach to name-study.

Specifically, this is a cross-cultural study of the naming practices of several diverse communities in Scotland, United Kingdom. The purpose of the project is to compare and contrast the personal naming systems of a range of indigenous and immigrant communities whose social and linguistic contexts vary extensively. In doing so, it investigates links between personal names, social change, cultural contact and linguistic systems, and hopes to contribute towards examining universal features of naming systems and developing a theory of names.


We studied the possibility of using a short-term culture of monocytes, isolated from peripheral donor blood, to assess the biological activity of different types of bio-nanomaterials (BNM): biodegradable polimeric particles, fiber and film substrates of microand nano-dimentions, fullerenes (F) and nanodiamonds (ND), which are either currently in use and/or potentially applicable in medicine. Additionally, affect of preforming protein corona on ND and F, was investigated. The cellular reduction of (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) is a well-established tool for assessing the metabolic activity of cells. Therefore, in the present study the biological activity of nanomaterials was evaluated by assessing cellular reduction of MTT, so as by determining changes in cell morphology in the direct contact with samples. BNM have been shown to affect; in a size, chemical composition and morphological characteristicsdependent manner, cellular reduction of MTT, so as cell morphology: ND and F exhibited specific effects in a dose-dependent manner, which was sensitive to the formation of protein corona on the surface of the nanoparticles. Our results suggest that short-term culture of monocytes is a sensitive model system for assessing the biological effects of nanomaterials in vitro.


The customer unsatisfaction in the new products exists, though the most of enterprises using QFD. It is mainly caused by the failure of corrective determination of technical importance rating(TIR). To derive the technical importance rating, the impact of the fulfillment of design requirements on the satisfaction of customer requirements must first be quantified. This has been accomplished through the use of a 1-3-9 or a 1-5-9 scale and ignored the peak of the house of quality(HOQ). In this paper we suggested the methodology reflecting effectiveness among engineering characteristics and adjusting the relationship strength between customer attribute(CA) and engineering characteristic (EC), by using limit probability and PCMR(pairwise comparison and median rank). With using this method, the determination of TIR would be more suitable for the voice of customers objectively. Here negative correlation is ignored.


It is widely believed that there are health implications from the introduction of inappropriate solid foods to infants (1,2) , including the possible risk of allergy and obesity. There is also concern about the age of introduction of these first foods. The Health Service Executive literature (3) routinely given to parents suggests that solid foods should not be introduced before 4 months for formula-fed infants and, as in the WHO's recommendations (4) , 6 months for breast-fed infants. Emerging evidence suggests that babies in Dublin are given solid foods before the recommended age (5) , but there has been little investigation of the weaning advice provided by health professionals. The present study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes and advice practices about weaning amongst community health professionals, since they have routine parent interactions in the preweaning and early-weaning period. A mixed-methods approach was used for the research, commencing with a multi-disciplinary focus group to guide and develop a questionnaire. Questionnaires were then distributed in a postal survey to general practitioners (GP; n 179), practice nurses (n 121), public health nurses (n 107) and dietitians (n 8) in north Dublin. Over 180 questionnaires were returned (47 % response), and the findings indicated differing knowledge of official weaning recommendations and varied advice practices. It was found that 19 % of practice nurse respondents and 7 % of GP respondents did not acknowledge that they have a role in providing weaning advice to parents. Dietitians and public health nurses did acknowledge this role, rated highly their postgraduate training and demonstrated high confidence levels in providing weaning advice. Of the respondents 8 % indicated that they never discuss weaning. The Table shows the age suggested by respondents to introduce specific foods; 21‐24% of respondents indicated 16 weeks for rice, fruit and vegetables, which explains the high 'early' percentages. Small pockets of misinformation persist that might lead to inconsistent advice for parents.


Gelidium corneum films were prepared using cinnamaldehyde as a cross-linking agent and their physical properties were determined. Tensile strength (TS) value of the film containing 0.01% cinnamaldehyde was higher than the control by 8.31 ㎫. However, increasing cinnamaldehyde from 0.01% to 0.1% significantly decreased TS from 9.54 ㎫ to 0.03 ㎫, and no film was formed at 1% cinnamaldehyde. On the contrary, when cinnamaldehyde content was increased from 0.01% to 0.1%, % elongation was increased from 1.44% to 2.75%. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film containing 0% and 0.01% cinnamaldehyde were 1.64 ng m/㎡sPa and 1.42 ng m/㎡sPa, respectively. There was no significant difference in Hunter values among treatments. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that both cinnamaldehyde and control films had similar surfaces. These results suggest that 1.5% Gelidium corneum treated with 0.01% cinnamaldehyde should be the most suitable condition for film formation.


.............................................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Background and Profile of Survey Sites ...................................................................................... 7 2. Village Profile and Data Collection ............................................................................................. 8 2.1 Villages covered in the pilot survey ............................................................................................ 10 3. Analysis...................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Logit Regression ......................................................................................................................... 13 4. Energy Inequality ....................................................................................................................... 19 5. Addressing key issues of policy relevance ................................................................................ 21 5.1 LPG interventions ....................................................................................................................... 21 5.2 Improved cookstoves vs. biogas .................................................................................................. 22 5.3 Bandwagon and imitation effects ................................................................................................ 24 5.4 RGGVY: Electricity Access – redefining the notion ................................................................... 24 5.5 Interventions: designing the appropriate intervention ............................................................... 25 6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 27 References ......................................................................................................................................... 29 ANNEXURES .................................................................................................................................. 30 Annexure 1: Categorical variables as defined for the regression analysis ...................................... 30 Annexure 2: GINI Coefficient ........................................................................................................... 31 Annexure 3: Policy Insights from the Pilot Survey ........................................................................... 32


When a straight beam is subjected to bending, the distance (referred toas tangential deviation) of any point B on the elastic curve, measured normal to the original position of the beat , from a tangent drawn to the elastic curve at any other point A, is equal in magnitude to the product of 1/EI and the moment of the area bounded by the graph of the. bending moment equation of the beam, the x-axis, and ordinates of the graph of the bending moment equation at A and B, with respect to the ordinate through B. (E is the modulus of elasticity of the.material of which the beam i.s made and I is the moment of inertia of the area of the cross-section of the beam with respect to its neutral axis.)


The purpose of the article is to present the results of a sociological survey on the formation of spiritual and moral values of cadet youth. The object of the study was the cadets of the Faculty of Law and Engineering and Technology, whose age ranged from 18 to 22 years. The representative sample, in addition to the age and profile of the faculty, also took into account such socio-demographic characteristics as gender. The key features of the spiritual potential of future officers of the Federal Penitentiary Service are revealed, in particular, the combination of adherence to traditional values with the strengthening of individualism, their own well-being and self-development. Such an important feature of youth perception of actual reality as a certain lack of a sense of security, fear of an increase in crime, unemployment and the possibility of war is recorded. The authors note that cadets are characterized by adherence to traditional life values, one way or another intertwined with a certain increase in individualism, their own well-being and self-development, which reflects modern global and Russian trends.


The enigma of Hodgkin's disease etiology has fascinated several generations of researchers. Of particular scientific interest has been the hypothesis that Hodgkin's disease might have an infectious etiology. The paper by Mueller in this issue chronicles the development of the important work of two generations of investigators (herself and Dr. Alfred S. Evans) trying to explicate the role of viruses, particularly the EpsteinBarr virus (EBV), in the causation of this disease. Almost from its first description in 1832 by Thomas Hodgkin, Hodgkin's disease has been suspected of having an infectious agent as its cause [ 1 ]. This idea is not surprising since one of Hodgkin's original seven cases was found to be a case of syphilis and a second case to be questionable tuberculosis when Fox reviewed pathological materials from the cases in 1926 [2]. At the end of the last century, Hodgkin's disease was frequently found in association with tuberculosis, leading Sternberg to conclude that Hodgkin's disease might be an unusual form of tuberculosis [3]. At the turn of the century, the discovery of the Sternberg-Reed cell, which appeared to be pathognomic for Hodgkin's disease, helped greatly in weeding out several diseases which had previously been confused with Hodgkin's disease [3]. The belief that Hodgkin's disease had an infectious cause, however, persisted well into the 1940s. This fact is evidenced by the inclusion of Hodgkin's disease under the category of infectious and parasitic diseases in the Fourth Revision of the International Classification of Causes of Death [4]. The issue of possible transmissibility of Hodgkin's disease was revived in the 1970s by the work of Vianna and his colleagues in Albany, New York [5,6]. They reported an unusual occurrence of Hodgkin's disease involving members of a particular high school class and their direct and indirect contacts. Their report of an aggregate of 31 cases that could be interlinked by personal contact constituted the largest cancer "cluster" reported in the literature. The meaning of this finding was inevaluable statistically, however. As a result, the Albany group did a systematic study of the occurrence of Hodgkin's disease in high schools in the Long Island area of New York State. They found that a child attending a high school where a case of Hodgkin's disease had been in attendance had a twofold to fifteenfold increased risk of developing the disease [7]. A replication of the Long Island study in the greater Boston area failed to confirm Vianna and Polan's findings [8]. Additional studies from the UK and the State of Washington also failed to support the Long Island study's striking findings [9,10].


If power system time-domain simulations could run in real-time, then system operators would have situational awareness to implement on-line control and avoid cascading failures, significantly improving power system reliability. Many power system assessment tools, such as power flow and short circuit analysis, require very large sparse matrix computations. As power systems continue to grow, there is a greater computational complexity involved in solving these large linear systems within reasonable time. We are expanding the current work in fast linear solvers to develop power system specific methods that show potential for accurate solutions in nearly-linear run times.


ABSTRACT Osteoporosis is very common among older adults. Vertebral compression fractures (VCF) are the most common complications of osteoporosis, causing a reduction of the quality of life. Vertebroplasty e kyphoplasty demonstrated good results in pain control and function improvement in the treatment of this kind of fractures. The same techniques are under evaluation for the treatment of the traumatic thoracolumbar fractures in young adults, to improve the vertebral strength and to avoid the long bed rest or the great operation (stabilization and arthrodesis). The authors present the first case treated by an innovative technique which employ an expandable system inserted by a percutaneous and mininvasive surgery into the vertebral body; it is then possible to insert the cement into the vertebra to augment the implant. This construct permits to obtain a double mechanical support for the vertebral plate, to partially reduce the fracture, and to mobilize the patient immediately. KEY WORDS:


A tournament T=(V,A) is a directed graph in which there is exactly one arc between every pair of distinct vertices. Given a digraph on n vertices and an integer parameter k, the Feedback Arc Set problem asks whether the given digraph has a set of k arcs whose removal results in an acyclic digraph. The Feedback Arc Set problem restricted to tournaments is known as the k-Feedback Arc Set in Tournaments (k-FAST) problem. In this paper we obtain a linear vertex kernel for k-FAST. That is, we give a polynomial time algorithm which given an input instance T to k-FAST obtains an equivalent instance T^' on O(k) vertices. In fact, given any fixed @e>0, the kernelized instance has at most (2+@e)k vertices. Our result improves the previous known bound of O(k^2) on the kernel size for k-FAST. Our kernelization algorithm solves the problem on a subclass of tournaments in polynomial time and uses a known polynomial time approximation scheme for k-FAST.


It was found out that the sidewall breakout width is generally fixed and not influenced by multiple breakouts,which can be acquired by four and/or six calipers logging.Base on the fact and using linear elasticity theory,this paper develops the mathematical model for initial sidewall breakout,by which the maximum horizontal principal stress can be back calculated,if given the minimum horizontal stress,rock internal friction angle,coherence,pore pressure,mud fluid pressure and sidewall breakout width.The study indicates that the result computed by the theoretical model is closed to the core lab data,and the model is easy for use and has higher accuracy.


Some physiological characteristics of the pulmonary system of cynomolgus monkeys and baboons have been investigated. Lung mechanics tests included determination of tidal volume, frequency, respiratory


Prospective validation of a risk model for first cycle neutropenic complications in early-stage breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy G Lyman;N Kuderer;J Crawford;D Wolff;E Culakova;M Poniewierski;D Dale; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment


Official de-Sovietization during the chaotic 1990s ushered in 'The New' – ostensibly, a new sociopolitical and economic order, a new business vocabulary, the new word 'rossiiane' for Russian citizens, the New Russians and the new genre of male fashion.
 Much of the new, in fact, recuperated the pre-Soviet old, including appropriation of western styles in sundry walks of life. Within male fashion, sartorial choice signalled allegiance to the 'new' order, financial and social status, individualism or membership in various collectives.
 Glossies targeting a male readership served as both primers and advertisements for men intent on forging an identity expressed in sartorial choices derived from such western modes as grunge, pop, Mafia, British rural garb and youth-eclectic 'casual'. For better and worse, that
 plethora reflected the seemingly endless options for the country during the Yeltsin era.


Methamphetamine has surpassed heroin as the most popular abused drug in China. Although the use of both heroin and methamphetamine leads to use disorders through dysfunction of the dopamine pathway, the incidence of psychiatric disorder caused by methamphetamine abuse is higher than the incidence of psychiatric disorder caused by heroin abuse. The difference in resting‐state function between heroin use disorder (HUD) and methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) and the relationship between resting‐state function and psychiatric disorder related to MAUD are unknown.


Objective To study the affecting factors of neonatal hyaline membrane disease complicated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).Methods From 1995 to the end of 2002, seventy-five cases of neonatal hyaline membrane disease(HMD)treated with mechanical ventilation including seven cases complicated with BPD were analysised.Results Twenty-three of seventy-five treated with pulmonary surfactant(PS)never had BPD.Seven of fifty-two cases without PS treatment developed BPD.The average gestational age of BPD cases was less than 30 weeks,the average weight was less than 1?500?g and they frequently had 3~4 degree HMD,low PaO_2/PAO_2 and bad conditions.Oxygenation index,inspiration time of over 40% O_2 concentration,complications of heart failure and PDA,pneumonia related to mechanical ventilation of BPD patients had significant difference compared with the non BPD group or PS group.(P0.05).Conclusions HMD patients should be treated with PS as early as possible,with low ventilation pressure and low FiO_2 concentration,and be short inspiratory time and quick frequency.The fluid input should strictly limited during the first 3 days,heart failure should be prevented,PDA should be diagnosised and closed as early as possible treatment and prevention of pulmonary infection should be done to decrease the occurrence of BPD in those HMD patients.


Objective:To investigate the effect of in vivo shRNA plasmid vector gene transfer to silence OPN expression upon ep-ithelial to mesenchymal transition of the tubular epithelial cells(TECs)in rat chronic allograft nephropathy(CAN)models,and to explore the possible role of OPN in CAN.Methods:Orthotopic renal-transplantation using F344 rats as donors and Lewis rats as re-cipients was operated to establish Allo group,while transplantation from Lewis to Lewis rats as Syn group.Hydromechanics based gene transfer method was used to establish RNAi and EV groups,for which OPN-shRNA or empty vector was injected into the renal vein.Rats in each group were sacrificed 12 weeks after the surgery.Allograft samples were collected and sectioned for HE staining,masson's trichrome staining,immunohistochemical study and Western blot assay.Results:The morphological changes of allograft in Allo /EV group consist with CAN.Compared with the Syn group,Western blot showed a significant rise of OPN expression.In the RNAi group,the OPN expression was significantly reduced(P 0.05)compared with Allo /EV group.The RNA interference inhibit-ed EMT of TECs and the pathogenesis of CAN,which were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and HE /Masson's trichrome lightscopy.Conclusion:The OPN expression in rat CAN model was significantly up-regulated.The in vivo RNA interference inhibited the OPN expression.Inhibition of OPN can protect the allograft from pathogenesis of EMT and IF /TA in CAN.


Borophosphosilicate glass films prepared by chemical vapor deposition techniques based on atmospheric pressure, low pressure with liquid and gaseous sources, and low pressure plasma enhanced processes in the temperature range of 390–680 °C have been studied. Films with low B (1.5 wt %) and high P (9.0 wt %) content were used for this study. To evaluate the effect of different thermal treatments, the films were annealed in a horizontal furnace at 920 °C for 30 min in three different ambients, i.e., N2, N2/O2, and H2/O2 and with rapid thermal annealing at 1050 °C for 10 s in a N2 ambient. The main properties of the as‐deposited and annealed samples such as elemental content, thickness uniformity, shrinkage, density, refractive index, wet etch rate, stress, step coverage, and reflow are reported. Infrared absorption measurements were performed to study the water and Si–OH group presence in the films and P=O, B–O, Si–O bond behavior and interactions. The best physical and chemical film properties were obtaine...


Background: The coronavirus pandemic coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has affected the whole world, causing the lives of many victims. Africa has recorded more than a million cases and Cameroon around 18,600 cases (August 2020) since the first case was notified. The rapid spread of this disease (among other factors) could have contributed to creating a situation of fear and stigma among affected populations. It is, therefore, necessary to identify the characteristics of this stigma and its effect on the case management of this disease. Materials and Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study with positive COVID-19 people at the Central Hospital of Yaoundé, Cameroon, from May 2020 to June 2020. A questionnaire adapted from the stigma index of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus and from the SAPHORA-MCO 2009 guide was administered to participants. Results: Among 138 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection during the study, 134 (97%) accepted the study, 115 (85.8%) reported auto-stigmatisation, 29 (22%) indicated having been stigmatised by the community and 20 (15%) by medical personnel. Auto-stigmatisation increased the risk of seeking care late (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4 with a confidence interval [CI] of 0.99–11.5; P = 0.049), unlike stigma by the community, which tended to result in early care seeking, but not significantly (OR = 0.6 with a CI of 0.26–1.66; P = 0.479). Conclusion: Stigma is highly prevalent among patients affected by COVID-19. Action should be taken to address stigma to increase the overall adherence to disease control strategies.