In Kenya, devolution of health services has resulted in the decentralization of many health services from the national government to local governments in order to improve the health of citizens. Despite political support of such a system and initiatives to increase devolution, the performance of the devolved health sector in Kenya has not improved as expected. The was meant to determine how citizen participation influence organizational performance of devolved health care sector in Kenya. The current study utilized cross-sectional research design because it involved the collection of data in 47 counties across the country and focused on several selected officials who gave information regarding governance factors influencing devolved health care sector in Kenya. Since the study utilized census sampling, the 47 county referral hospitals were targeted. Further purposive sampling was used to arrive at the 188 selected respondents who became the sample size of the study. Descriptive statistics was used to outline the fundamental characteristics regarding the collected information in the research. The study combined the elements of both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The primary data was collected using questionnaires whose content was appropriate to test the hypothesis and address the research questions.  Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) data analysis software package was employed to examine the quantitative data using the descriptive statistics. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) table techniques and beta coefficient tables were utilized in the presentation of regression analysis outcomes. The findings of the study revealed that operational capacity of county governments to plan and management transparency had positive significant relationship with organizational performance of devolved health care sector. The findings suggest that there is need for the health care sector function to be devolved to the counties to allow for more citizen inclusivity in decision making, timely response to health care needs and government planning.


Part of a sustainable future for wood products depends on extending the lifetime of wood used in adverse environments. For some products such as the daily news paper, the average life of the products is one day. For packaging, the products average life time may be as few days to a few weeks. For pallets and wooden containers, the lifetime may be several months. For construction, the lifetime may be many, many years. For those products with a long expected life, especially when used outdoors, there is a need to protect them from environmental degradation. The need to protect wood from decay has been an issue ever since hu mans first used wood. There are references in the Old Testament to the use of decay resistant wood.


Let G be a convex function of m variables, let ω be a domain in ℝn, and let LG(ω) denote the vector-valued Orlicz space determined by G. We give an imbedding theorem for the space of weakly differentiable functions u provided with the norm ∥(u, Du)∥G, where m = n + 1 and Du denotes the gradient of u. This theorem is a variant of an imbedding theorem by N.S. Trudinger for the completion of in the norm ∥Du∥G, where m=n.


Induction of plant defense against pathogen attack is regulated by a complex network of different signals. In the present study interaction between bio-agents (Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens) and abiotic inducers (Bion and Chitosan) was used as new strategy to enhance Faba bean defense responses against wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Thus, changes in various physiological defenses including pathogenesis related (PR) proteins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids compounds and lignin contents were investigated in Faba bean plants. Results appeared that all treatments significantly reduced wilt incidence under greenhouse and field conditions and increased fresh and dry weights of survival plants compared with untreated seeds. The combination between biotic and abiotic inducers more effective than used individually of them. The treatment B. megaterium+Bion recorded the highest reduction of wilt incidence and fresh, dry weights of survival plants. On the other hand, all treatments significantly increased growth and yield parameters compared with control during both growing seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015). Combined P. fluorescens+Bion and P. fluorescens+Chitosan recorded the highest all growth and yield parameters in both growing seasons. Under in vitro conditions, all tested biotic and abiotic inducers individually or in combination reduced leaner growth of the pathogen F. oxysporum., P. fluorescens+Bion followed by P. fluorescens+Chitosan recorded the highest inhibition percentage in this respect. On the other hand, all treatments increased activity of Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, phenolic, flavonoids compounds and lignin contents in Faba bean plants inoculated with F. oxysporum compared with untreated inoculated plant (control) during the experimental period. The combination between biotic and abiotic gave highly activities of chitinase, β-1, 3-glucanase enzymes and contents of phenols, flavonoids compounds and lignin than applied individually of them. Higher increase of PR proteins, phenolic and flavonoids compounds and lignin contests was obtained in plants treated with combined B. megaterium+Bion. On the light of the present study, it could be suggested that the use of Bion and Chitosan as natural safe materials alone or in combination with bio agents (P. fluorescens and B. megaterium) is considered one of low cost and effective applicable methods for controlling F. oxysporum causing wilt disease in Faba bean.


The aim of this study was to determine the optimum conditions of the biodiesel production from refined and unrefined olive pomace oil. The refined olive pomace oil had an acid value of 2.34 mg KOH / g-oil. Therefore, transesterification reaction could be directly applicable due to the low free fatty acids content. To improve the yield of the transesterification reaction, some parameters were optimized: the catalyst and solvent concentration, the temperature and the reaction time. The biodiesel yield reached 100% with the following combination: 15: 100 ml (v/v) methanol to oil volume ratio, 1g of potassium hydroxide, at 50 °C during 60 min. The stirring rate was maintained constant (400 rpm). The unrefined olive pomace oil had an acid value of 44 mg KOH / g-oil. Due to its high free fatty acids content, a pretreatment step, an esterification reaction, was required to decrease the percentage of free fatty acids to the limit allowing the realization of the transesterification reaction. The optimum conditions of the pretreatment process which provided the lowest acid value were as follows, 65:100ml (v/v) methanol and 1.25 ml of sulfuric acid to oil volume ratio, at 50°C during 60 min and at a stirring rate of 400 rpm. Conditions already optimized with the refined olive pomace oil for the transesterification process were preserved for the pretreated one. The yield of the produced biodiesel in that case reached 99 %.


The operator‐equivalent method was employed to calculate the theoretical splitting of electronic energy levels 3P2, 1D2, 3F2, 3F3, 3F4, 1G4, and 3H6 in Tm(C2H5SO4)3·9H2O. Intermediate field corrections were made to α, β, and γ. A first‐order perturbation treatment on Tm3+ (4f12) in C3h symmetry, using crystal‐field parameters A20〈r2〉=13 cm—1, A40〈r4〉=—80 cm—1, A60〈r6〉=—32 cm—1, and A66〈r6〉=300 cm—1, predicts the position of the crystal quantum states in reasonable agreement with experiment.


In Reply.— The comments and data presented by Dr Salit are very much appreciated. Unfortunately, neither of our two patients with SLE who were receiving steroids every other day were tested at the time of their illness for immunoglobulin or complement deficiency. However, I agree with Dr Salit that in the few patients described to date, there is a striking association of W135 meningococcal disease and immunosuppression, with or without immunoglobulin and complement deficiency, and such studies should be performed to document this association.


ABSTRACT Communication in international meetings represents a challenge for the participants, who need to make choices about the language(s) they use to co-construct meaning and guarantee the success of their work. In this context, plurilingual interactions may offer an invaluable opportunity for power balanced relations and intercultural flexibility. In this paper, we present an analysis of a plurilingual corpus based on the intercomprehension (IC) approach. We will analyse the IC strategies at work by characterising the specific features that appear in this context and stressing the essential role of interproduction skills for the success of communication processes. This will allow us to determine the impact of IC in the accomplishment of successful intercultural and interlinguistic encounters as well as its contribution to pluricultural (lifelong) education.


Present invention include, but the material for the intake of a mammal to decrease quality by oxidation, an oxygen scavenger, and a substantially oxygen-impermeable container for metastasis include a metal oxygen scavenger, is in the container and the filter is suspended, the filter maintaining the material for mammalian ingestion, and the container is also in the support for the filter to the filter bottom, and the support provides an extended shelf life package to keep the oxygen scavenger. In another embodiment, the present invention comprising a mammalian ingestible material, and a carbon dioxide scavenger, and a substantially carbon dioxide impermeable container is reduced to be by the divergence of the CO


. Due to climate change, years with positive temperature anomalies are becoming more frequent in Europe, requiring high-resolution climate data to plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, many regional climate models (RCMs) simplify the representation of groundwater processes, leading to biases in simulated extreme heat events. Here, we study the characteristics of summer heat events in a unique dataset from the regional Terrestrial Systems Modeling Platform (TSMP) simulations, compared to an ensemble of EURO-CORDEX climate change scenario control simulations, for the his- 5 torical time period 1976-2005. Our results show that in TSMP, the impact of groundwater coupling on the frequency of hot summer days depends on the considered time period and the region, associated with respective evaporative regime. An increasing trend of the frequency of hot summer days averaged across Europe is the lowest in TSMP compared to the other RCMs considered. Groundwater coupling has a systematic effect on the duration and intensity of heat events: summer heat events with long duration and high 10 intensity are less frequent in TSMP compared to the CORDEX ensemble. In particular, extended heat events with a duration exceeding 6 days, i.e. heat waves, occur on average in Europe about 1.5-8 times less often in TSMP, while single-day heat events happen slightly more often in TSMP compared to the CORDEX ensemble. The frequency of high-intensity heat waves in TSMP is up to 12 times lower on average in Europe compared to the CORDEX ensemble. Thus, an explicit groundwater representation in RCMs may lead to rarer and weaker heat waves in Europe also in climate projections. The findings of this 15 work indicate an existing discrepancy in the ensemble of EURO-CORDEX climate change scenario control simulations and emphasize the importance of groundwater representation in RCMs.


Abstract : Since the first examples of mesogenic vinyl ethers and liquid crystalline poly(vinyl ether)s were reported from our laboratory, several research groups became actively engaged in the synthesis of liquid crystalline poly(vinyl ether)s mainly because they can be polymerized by living cationic mechanism. So far, we have elucidated the influence of molecular weight on the phase transitions of poly(omega-((4-cyano-4'-biphenyl)oxy)alkyl vinyl ether)s with alkyl groups from ethyl to undecanyl. Binary copolymerization experiments performed with the same monomers at constant copolymer molecular weight allowed the molecular design of nematic, smectic A and reentrant nematic mesophases. Similar homopolymerization and copolymerization experiments were used to tailor make polymers exhibiting a chiral smectic C mesophase. In addition, it has been shown that many functional mesogenic vinyl ethers can be polymerized by our preferred initiating system CF3SO3H/S(CH3)2 in CH2Cl2(9). The experiments described so far required only a good control over the degree of polymerization and polydispersity of the polymer.


Hydroisomerization of n-C/sub 5/ and n-C/sub 6/ mixtures was carried out on a Pt-H-mordenite and a Pd-H-faujasite catalyst. A different type of anomalous behavior was observed on each catalyst in the conversion of mixtures relative to the conversion of pure components. Statistical analysis of various Langmuir-Hinshelwood type model for the hydroisomerization rate constant show that this behavior can be related to the adsorption parameters of each system.


The success of engineering and construction projects is often compromised by adversarial relationships, conflict and distrust among members of the project (the stakeholders). Too often these problems become convoluted and result in case‐building and expensive litigation. Neither action benefits the project. A better solution, proposes the author, is "partnering realignment." The idea is to use partnering as a corrective tool, as opposed to its traditional use as a preventive tool. Although the process derives from traditional project partnering, it is not the same. It is an attempt to regain and retain control of the project and plan ways to avoid future problems. Partnering realignment can help stakeholders resolve issues, agree on certain goals and how to achieve those goals, and maximize the remaining potential for project and stakeholder success. The author provides some examples of successful realignment efforts that he helped organize.


Objective:To analysis five kinds of heavy metal (Cu,Pb,Cd,As,and Hg) contents of four local southern herbs in Hainan island (Myristica fragrans Houtt., Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.. Alpinia officinarum Hance., Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl.Methods:The contents of Cu,Pb and Cd were detected by Graphic Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The contents of As and Hg were detected by Atomic Fluormetry.Results:Of four local southern herbs in two lands of Wanning in Hainan,the contents of Cu,Pb,Cd,As and Hg of Myristica fragrans Houtt were 6.39,0.73,0.073,4.19 and 0.25 μg/g,10.9,1.60,0.13,0.05 and 0.011 μg/g;they were 4.05,1.01,0.029,0.26 on 0.017 μg/g,(3.40),1.19,(0.046),0.067 on 0.012 μg/g in Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.;and 188.3,7.6,0.20,0.80 on 0.022 μg/g,(180.4),6.1,0.21,0.76 on 0.021 μg/g in Alpinia officinarum Hance.;and 19.9,11.0,0.85,2.11 on 0.131 μg/g,19.6,(10.9),0.84,2.10 on 0.128 μg/g in Anoectochilus roxburghii(wall.) Lindl., respectively.Conclusion:Of four local southern herbs in two lands of Wanning in Hainan,the contents of Cd,Hg of the four local southern herbs of Hainan meets the green trade standard; The contents of Cu of Myristica fragrans Houtt.,Eugenia cartioghyllata Thunb.and Anoectochilus roxburghii(Wall.) Lindl. also meets the green trade standard; The contents of As of Myristica fragrans Houtt., Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. and Alpinia officinarum Hance.meets the green trade standard too; but the contents of Cu and Pb of Alpinia officinarum Hance., the contents of Pb and As of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. exceed the green trade standard.The heavy metal contents of the same herb varies litlle in different regions of Hainan island.


Applicants for corporate membership of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) must demonstrate that they have undergone training which satisfies the requirements of the IEE's training regulations. Following a review of these requirements in 1984, the IEE established a process for accrediting the training provided by companies. This article reviews this process and draws attention to some of the objective and critical feedback which it provides and which can be of benefit to the employer.


BCI inefficiency is one of the major challenges of motor imagery brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCI). Past research suggests that certain cognitive skills and personality traits correlate with MI-BCI real-time performance. Other studies have examined sensorimotor rhythm changes (also known as μ suppression) as a valuable indicator of successful execution of the MI task. This research aims to combine these insights by investigating whether cognitive factors and personality traits can make predictions of a user's ability to modulate μ rhythms during a MI-BCI task. Data containing 55 subjects who completed a MI task was employed, and a stepwise linear regression model was implemented to select the most relevant features for μ suppression prediction. The most accurate model was based on these factors: Spatial Ability, Visuospatial Memory, Autonomy, and Vividness of Visual Imagery. Further correlation analyses showed that a novice user's μ suppression during a MI-BCI task can be predicted based on their visuospatial memory ability, as measured by the Design Organization Test (DOT).


This paper proposed robust color constancy method for changing illuminant by using local chromaticity distribution and analysis of illuminant influence for each hue angle. First, changing in chromaticity distribution direction for each color with respect to various illuminant is analyzed using principal component analysis. Next, change in standard deviation of chromaticity distribution with respect to various illuminant is also analyzed. Experimental result shows that the proposed method enhances illumination estimation results in terms of angular error between real illuminant and estimated illuminant.


The invention discloses a method for detecting whether an outdoor unit check valve of a split type air conditioning unit is installed reversely. The method mainly comprises the steps of firstly, finding out an outdoor unit where the outdoor unit check valve (1) is possibly installed reversely; if the temperature T2 in the middle of a coil of an outdoor unit heat exchanger (3) is larger than or equal to 25 DEG C, and the difference value between the gas discharging temperature T1 of the outdoor unit and the temperature T2 in the middle of the coil of the outdoor unit heat exchanger (3) is larger than or equal to 30 DEG C, performing finding continuously; if the average value delta T3 of temperatures at coil inlets of indoor heat exchangers (4) is smaller than or equal to 5 DEG C, performing finding continuously; if the difference value between the average value delta T5 of indoor temperatures and the average value delta T4 of temperatures in the middles of coils of the indoor heat exchangers (4) is larger than 0 DEG C and smaller than or equal to 4 DEG C, performing finding continuously; and if the difference value between the average value delta T5 of indoor temperatures and the average value delta T6 of temperatures at coil outlets of the indoor heat exchangers (4) is larger than 0 DEG C and smaller than or equal to 2 DEG C, judging the outdoor unit check valve (1) of the outdoor unit is installed reversely. The detection method is fast, convenient and efficient.


The concern about increasing energy recovery maintaining low capital investment had oriented research to the development of new ways of process intensification techniques. Heat exchangers are important pieces of equipment in areas such as air conditioning, cooling and, heating systems, car radiators, chemical reactors cooling or heating, solar collectors, etc. Therefore, the search for new heat transfer surface of the system and more efficient ways of enhancing heat transfer is major technological trend seeking to achieve the same heat duty in a smaller unit subject to the limitations imposed by pressure drop.


Purpose: To document patient-reported function, range of motion (ROM), and failure rate of a surgical technique for repairing quadriceps tendon (QT) and patellar tendon (PT) ruptures with suture anchors. Methods: Consecutive patients 18 years of age or older who had isolated QT or PT ruptures treated with suture anchor repair between 2004 and 2014 were identified. Patients were included if preoperative and minimum 6-month postoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores and/or minimum 8-week postoperative ROM had been collected. The effects of patient age, interval between injury and surgery, and length of follow-up period on postoperative IKDC scores were analyzed with Pearson correlation. Results: QT repair was performed in 36 patients with a mean postoperative IKDC score of 66.9 and mean ROM of 0 to 116 degrees. PT repair was performed in 27 patients with a mean postoperative IKDC score of 64.4 and mean ROM of 0 to 117 degrees. The failure rate of the 63 suture anchor repairs was 4.8%. There was no significant correlation between IKDC score and either increasing age (r=−0.23, P=0.15), increasing interval between injury and surgery (r=0.12, P=0.46) or length of follow-up period (r=0.07, P=0.67). No significant difference in IKDC score was found between knot-tied and knotless suture anchor repairs (P=0.4). Conclusions: Suture anchor repair of QT and PT ruptures results in full active extension and a low failure rate, but IKDC scores indicate continued functional deficits in most patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV—therapeutic.


: Involving the cyano group of N -cyano sulfoximines in [3+2]-cycloaddition reactions with 1,3-dipoles provides practical routes for the construction of 5-membered heterocycles bearing sulfoximinoyl moieties. An ytterbium-catalyzed cycloaddition utilizing hydrazonoyl chlorides was developed, as well for 24 h. Then, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the reaction mixture subjected to flash column chromatography on silica gel using the specified gradient. We are grateful to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for support of K. R. (AvH research award) and thank S. Huda, A. Krohmer, and F. Brosge (all RWTH Aachen University) for their practical work and assistance in preparing starting materials.


A super-thick (∼22km) sedimentary basin under the northern Bay of Bengal is proposed. The hypothesis is based on data from surface wave dispersion, seismic refraction, Sn attenuation, and geology. We present new high frequency Sn data which indicate a cold upper mantle beneath the Bay of Bengal. We propose that the oceanic crust in this region is in fact nearly normal, and that the sedimentary section is at least 6 km thicker than previously thought, with velocities at the base of the sediments having been increased to near 6.5 km/sec by high pressure metamorphism. Reinterpretation of the refraction data indicate a post India-Asia collision thickness of over 16 km.


The samples of soil and plant's needle,cone taken from Zhejiang's Chinese firseed
orchards were tested,And the results showed that the content of water-soluble B in soilis only
0.13~0.24 ppm,which is obviously lower than the critical concentration of 0.5 ppm.The B
contents of plant needle and cone are only8.9~22.7 ppm and 4.1~16.1 ppm
respec-tively,which is also lower than the normal one. Applying appropriate amount of B to
Chinesefir seed orchard, the cone yields of single tree and per hectare stand are averaged
35.08%,48.42%higher than those of the control respectively,the seed output rate is 9.40%,the
ger-mination percentage is 14.99%and the 1000-seed-weight is 6.54%,which is higher than
thatof the control. The best time for fertilization is likely to be before middle August and
middleJune. The proper amount of fertilizer used is 60 g borax generally. The study also
revealedthat the better yield could be achieved to apply B mixed with N,P,K fertilizers instead
of Bor N,P, K mixed fertilizer seperately. The amount of cone of single tree and per hectare
standcan be increased by 22.55%and 15.71%more with the compound fertilizer,and the
seedquality could also be improved remarkably.


Tape automated bonding or TAB has been an I/C assembly method for over 15 years, but only recently has it gained such wide attention. One reason is that technology and equipment exist today to reliably and economically passivate I/C chips and electroplate bumps on chip bonding pads. Both are a prerequisite for TAB. One very successful metallization system for obtaining bumped wafers is that of Ti–W/Au. By using a load lock magnetron sputtering system for deposition of a Ti–W barrier layer, it is possible to both passivate the entire chip by sealing the pad and prevent interaction of the aluminum bonding pad with the gold bump which is required for automatically attaching the chip to a beamed tape. This barrier capability was tested by submitting 64 pin TAB bonded circuits to 1000 h bake at 200 °C in nitrogen. No degradation of the bump to pad interface was observed.


A new background calibration technique for pipelined analog-to-digital converters is proposed. By dividing the step sizes of the multiplying digital-to-analog converter (MDAC) in a pipeline stages and injecting a random signal into the MDAC, it is possible to calibrate a pipeline stage without interrupting the normal analog-to-digital operation. The calibration can eliminate the nonlinear effects due to the MDAC's gain error, input offset voltage, and output errors in the digital-to-analog conversion.


Background: Recently, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in noncardiac surgery, such as thoracic surgery, has increased. However, there have been no studies on the mortality and incidence of intraoperative cardiac arrest with or without ECMO during thoracic surgery. Methods: Between January 2011 and October 2018, 63 patients received ECMO support during thoracic surgery. All patients who applied ECMO from starting at any time before surgery to the day of surgery were included. Patients were divided into the emergency ECMO group and the non-emergency ECMO group according to the timing of ECMO. We compared the factors related to 30 day mortality using Cox regression analysis. Results: The emergency ECMO and non-emergency ECMO groups comprised 27 and 36 patients, respectively. On the operation day, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was a very important result, and only occurred in the emergency ECMO group (n = 20, 74.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). The most common cause of ECMO indication was the CPR in the emergency ECMO group and respiratory failure in the non-emergency ECMO group. There were significant differences in 30 day mortality between the emergency ECMO group and the non-emergency ECMO group (n = 12, 44.4% vs. n = 3, 8.3%, p = 0.001). The Kaplan–Meier analysis curve for 30 day mortality showed that the emergency ECMO group had a significantly higher rate of 30 day mortality than the non-emergency ECMO group (X2 = 14.7, p < 0.001). Conclusions: A lower incidence of intraoperative cardiac arrest occurred in the non-emergency ECMO group than in the emergency ECMO group. Moreover, 30 day mortality was associated with emergency ECMO.


.The absorbent resin based on urea-formaldehyde condensed polymer was synthesized by urea and formaldehyde through reversed suspension polymerization.β-Cyclodextrin was added in the urea-formaldehyde pre-polymer and the immobilization of β-cyclodextrin onto urea-formaldehyde resin was obtained.The water permeability and the porosity of the adsorbent resin were tested,and the absorbabilities for phenol were studied.


Previous research from the US suggests that volunteers' time contributions have declined during a period when participation rates have risen. Scholars have offered various possible explanations for this trend, including generational differences, socioeconomic changes, and family life changes. In Europe, previous research has shown that participation rates have risen in most countries, but little work has addressed trends in volunteers' time contributions. In this paper, we use survey data from Denmark merged with data from administrative registers covering the 2004-2012 period to show that, similar to the trend in the US, Danish volunteers' time contributions have declined as participation rates have risen. Our results suggest that this decline is partially explained not by socioeconomic or family life changes but by weakening organizational attachment measured by a decline in volunteers' propensities to be members of the organizations for which they volunteer. On these grounds, we argue that an important consequence of weakening organizational attachment is that volunteers' contributions of time decline.


Despite very similar flow-structures, the uncontrolled and controlled shear-layers of Wei & Freund 1 were found to generate radically dierent sound fields (a dierence of up to 11dB). In this work we analyse these flows—with a view to better understanding what led to this sound reduction—using two approaches: (1) we analyse the in-flow pressure fields in the x ! domain, where we find that the acoustically-matched components of the controlled flow have been reduced substantially, while the global structure remains very similar; and, (2) we use causality-correlations to study the kernel of the Lighthill solution: the spatiotemporal source-correlation fields are found to have been dramatically degenerated by virtue of very subtle changes in the controlled flow's evolution.


Abstract Background Suicidal behaviour is the result of several risk factors, such as acute stress, severe depression, violence, sexual abuse, etc. A mental public health approach to suicide prevention needs to look beyond the demographic characteristics of deaths by suicide and to take into account specific country determinants. Available clinical information can help identify and quantify risk, analyse patterns of behaviour, explore links between risk and behaviour and generate possible suicide prevention pathways. Methods 162 deaths by suicide for the period January 2015 - June 2021 in Malta are analysed against available clinical information. Major sources of detailed clinical information include obligatory notifications to the Commissioner for Mental Health of all cases of persons involuntarily admitted to acute psychiatric services and other medical records held within the Maltese public mental health system. Results 81% of 162 deaths by suicide for the period under study were males, two-thirds of them between 25 and 54 years. The preliminary findings have confirmed that less than 50% of these deaths had previous contact with the public health system. The two main diagnostic criteria among deaths with recent psychiatric admission/s were acute stress reaction to personal life events and very severe mood disturbances, particularly depression. There seems to be increased risk among migrants and foreign workers residing and working in Malta. The frequency of prior admissions, age-related issues, the time-event relationships, and relevance of elicited clinical findings are still being evaluated and will be presented in more detail in the workshop. Conclusions Exploring risk factors within the history of cases of suicide through available clinical information can contribute to the development of suicide prevention pathways, relevant to the specific context of local communities.


In this article a language is considered as a form of a nation`s mentality existence and it is shown that its contamination, as the result of unjustified use of borrowings, leads to the levelling of language distinction and its national identity. There is the explanation of the idea that all this may lead to the distortion of mentality and the emergence of a language of some other type in the article. As a result, the decision to take some preventive measures appeared not to let the Russian language disappear.


To understand the effect of a single overload on the fracture behavior in welded joints, the stress and strain field at the crack tip in a safe-end dissimilar metal welded joint in nuclear pressure vessel is simulated and analyzed by using the elastic-plastic finite element method in the paper, in which the mechanical heterogeneity in welded joint is emphatically considered. The investigating results indicate that the tensile plastic strain at crack tip increases, but the tensile stress decreases as a single overload increases, and the influence of a single overload on tensile strain is larger than one on tensile stress, which provide a theoretical basis for quantitatively estimating the crack growth rate of environmentally assisted cracking in the welded structural material of pressure vessel and piping in the nuclear power plant.


1575 Background: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in cancer patients on chemotherapy is a challenge especially in Asia where HBV infection is endemic. Risk of HBV reactivation differs according to cancer type, chemotherapy regimen, and concomitant use of steroids. The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends universal screening for chronic HBV infection for all patients before chemotherapy although screening for low-risk chemotherapy regimens may not be cost effective. Methods: We sought to assess and compare HBV reactivation risk and effectiveness of prophylactic anti-viral therapy in preventing HBV reactivation in patients receiving a 'high-risk' (doxorubicin-based) chemotherapy regimen for which prophylactic anti-viral therapy for hepatitis B carriers is generally accepted versus a 'low-risk' (single agent capecitabine) chemotherapy regimen for solid tumours at a tertiary cancer centre. The electronic medical records of eligible patients were reviewed between January 20...


Purpose This study aims to investigate the online customer review behavior and determinants of overall satisfaction with hotels of travelers in various travel group compositions. Design/methodology/approach We collected data from online reviews of travelers in various travel group compositions from 600 hotels in 100 of the largest cities in the United States from Booking.com and used latent semantic analysis (LSA) to identify the positive and negative factors from online reviews of travelers in various travel group compositions. Then we used text regression to determine the influential factors of overall satisfaction of travelers in various travel group compositions. Findings We found that not all the positive and negative textual factors mined from travelers' online reviews significantly influenced their overall satisfaction. In addition, the determinants of traveler satisfaction were different when travelers were in different travel group compositions. Research limitations/implications We found similar ...


In the current scenario, whole world community is facing serious pandemic ailments. It has been attracted to human being to think over our Indian traditional healing system i.e. Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga, Siddha, Homeopathy & Naturopathy and other traditional folklore systems. Due to rapid destruction of natural vegetation, over exploitation of natural resources and various anthropogenic activities, an important species Commiphora wighttii (Arn.) Bhandari (Guggul) have been shifted under threatened category as per International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Guggul oleo-gum resin is used traditionally in Indian System of Medicine since immemorial time and also in modern system of medicine. Keeping in view, the National Medicinal Plants Board, under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has supported projects for conservation and resource augmentation of Guggul in Gujarat state forest departments. Present paper deals with propagation, year-wise plantations, area covered, survival percentage and grading as per monitoring of the plantation area. Apart from, need of scientific oleo-gum resin tapping from planted area of Guggul is also highlighted.


Analytic formulae describing harmonic generation by a weakly bound electron are derived quantum mechanically in the tunnelling limit. The formulae confirm the classical three-step model and provide an analytic explanation for oscillatory structures on the harmonic generation plateau.


Because HIV is mainly sexually transmitted1, the disease is not limited to a certain geographical or cultural context. Since its debut the virus has gone global, neglecting borders of countries and communities. HIV even transcends spiritual and religious contexts, refusing to hold breath at the threshold of a traditional healer or a religious leader - the only 'concept' HIV seems to have is to spread until a certain peak has been reached in cases of infection and then either to decline, or staying stable or going and coming in waves - all of which is explainable epidemiologically, given enough detailed information. Epidemics, pan-epidemics and plagues have been heavily studied for a long time. During the spread of any virus however, it is the socio-economic, political, and cultural contexts which influence how responses to an epidemic are developed, then implemented, and finally how successful they are.


With an increase of online teaching, social media, and use of classroom technology by both location-bound and distance students, how do we teach and learn leadership through online tools? International Leadership Association overarching Teaching and Learning Guiding Question: "What are students' developmental levels and what teaching and learning methods are most appropriate to ensure maximum student learning?"


We present an atlas of moderate resolution ($\lambda/\Delta\lambda\sim$1380) 2.15~\micron\ to 2.39~\micron\ spectra of 33 luminosity class V stars of spectral type F3 to M6 in the MK classification system. We find that the equivalent widths of several spectral features vary significantly with temperature and typically allow effective temperature determination accurate to approximately $\pm$350~K.


A statistical classification method using Mel cepstrum and image texture is introduced to passive sonar target recognition. Image texture features are extracted by regarding Mel frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCC) as a digital image. Bayesian formula and Markov chain are applied to the recognition algorithm. The classification experiments are carried out for three different kinds of targets based on practical data. The experimental results show that the proposed method is useful.


Chemical potential gradient in a multicomponent fluid system undergoing phase separation acts as a driving force for transporting a fluid. We have experimentally shown the self-propelled motion of the droplet undergoing phase separation and its shape changes using the aqueous two-phase system. The droplet behavior depended on the composition of the continuous phase. For higher concentrations of the continuous phase than the equilibrium concentration, a droplet moved unidirectionally even in a homogeneous concentration field with a constant radius of the droplet. However, for slightly lower concentrations, a droplet shrunk in proportion to time while moving. For much lower concentrations, the shape of the droplet periodically changed from a sphere to a bullet shape, and then to a parachute shape. The droplet has deformability like a biological cell. The self-propelled motion is due to the coupling between mass and momentum transfer via Korteweg force which arises from minimizing the free energy of the system. For investigating the composition-dependent shape changes, we carried out the visualization experiments of concentration distributions inside and outside the droplets.


A Posteriori Choice Strategies based on Morozov discrepancy principle is adopted in order to choose the Optimum Regularization Parameter in the Inverse Algorithm of the Photon Correlation Spectroscopy particle sizing techniques.Using the method analyzed the simulation experimental data of single peake and multimodel peak particles system are analyzed.For the single peake particles system,the peake value is correct when the noise of the experimental data varies from 0 to 0.05.The peake value is incorrect when the noise of the experimental data is greater than 0.05.The distributing width decreases with the decrease of the original value of Regularization Parameter when the original value of Regularization Parameter varies from 0.000 02 to 2.The distributing width decreases with the increase of the convergence error when the convergence error varies from 0.000 05 to 50.For the multimodel peak particles system,the peak value incline to the average value when the particles diameter discrepancy is small.The smaller particle size distributing appear as the noise when the diameter discrepancy is large.


The discovery of H. pylori is the most important development in gastroduodenal disease this century. It has completely changed our understanding of conditions that occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Eradication of the bacterium will cure peptic ulcer disease, decrease the symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia and may prevent gastric cancer. There has been an exponential increase in the amount of research in this area in recent years and, consequently, there is considerable confusion as to how H. pylori-related conditions should be managed. It is hoped that these guidelines will clarify some of these issues.


A study of the effects of various sample preparation techniques for scanning electron microscopy has been undertaken in an attempt to resolve conflicting descriptions of the surface topography of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. By fixing cells in suspension—a technique thought most likely to avoid the production of artefacts—no clearly defined morphological classification of lymphocytes could be made, and when T‐ and B‐lymphocyte enriched preparations were studied their surfaces appeared similar. Both T‐ and B‐rosetted cells showed identical morphological changes as a result of their interaction with red blood cells. The smooth cells described in other reports were found only under certain conditions of preparation. It is therefore not possible to distinguish between T‐ and B‐cell populations, using the S.E.M., on the basis of surface morphology alone.


Abstract Critical behavior of the one-dimensionally modulated incommensurate phases of Rb2ZnCl4, Rb2ZnBr4, (NH4)2ZnCl4, and BCCD was studied by measuring the temperature dependence of the first order quadrupolar perturbation of the NMR-frequencies of suitable nuclei. In each case, results are in accordance with the non-classical critical exponents predicted by the 3d XY model, thus confirming the universality hypothesis. No deviations from the power laws as reported sometimes in literature and attributed to the influence of phase fluctuations could be observed.


The pandemic resulted in universities offering more online classes than the earlier norm. The critical question arising with this shift is: are all classes fit for online delivery? Are all students fit for online learning? How can a one-size-fits-all approach be applied to selecting a course modality at different higher education institutions? What shall be the decision criteria for the selection of course modality of different courses for students? This study aimed to find the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of online and face-to-face offerings for the construction finance course in the construction management department. The same instructor taught the two different modalities: face-to-face and online. Students at the end of the semester completed a SWOT questionnaire for online and face-to-face learning. The questionnaire covered the following attributes: course content, technology, assignments, tests, grades, communication, and any other attribute the student suggested. The SWOT matrix showed that students had mixed responses toward face-to-face and online course delivery and learning. This study proposes a preliminary multi-attribute value model for selecting course modality. A simple case is formed to show the value of the decision-making framework for the respective decision.


A photoelectric glottograph utilizing transillumination of the larynx was constructed to sense variations in glottal aperture. Treating the ac variations in glottal area as equal to the variations in sound pressure at the level of the glottis (a reasonable approximation for most modes of phonation), a spectral analysis of the "glottal wave" during running speech revealed a spectrum whose shape changed during changes in the pressure differential across the glottis, e.g., during voiced stops. Simultaneous recordings of the glottographic and acoustic signals during steady‐state "creaky voice" (or "vocal fry") revealed that the number of glottal openings were greater than or equal to the number of sound pulses. Glottal openings in creaky voice typically occur in groups of two or three, but only the last of each group invariably has sufficient energy to excite the vocal tract. This explains the disparate findings in previous studies of creaky voice which were solely physiological or solely acoustic. [Work supp...


ABSTRACT: In addition to physiological and structural changes caused by injuries, many psychological factors can influence both the lesion, as in the rehabilitation process. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the mood states and stress of athletes injured in the beginning of the physiotherapy treatment. The study included 41 athletes (32 men) with some type of musculoskeletal injury, aged between 18 and 44 years (25.6 ± 6.6 years). Initially the diagnosis was obtained (muscle injuries, ligament injuries, and bone injuries) and the time of injury (chronic, acute and subacute). On the first day of treatment were applied the Brunel Mood Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale, also a form of the athletes characterization as gender, age, socio-economic situation, self-assessment of the stress control, quality of sleep and rest. The most prevalent kinds of injuries are the muscle (52.4%) followed by joint injuries (33.3%) and bone injuries (14.3%). It was found that participants had a mean index of perceived stress considered moderate-low (18 points) with values ranging from 0 to 30 points. As regards the humor, it was found tolerable levels, comprised of high vigor (10.6 ± 2.6 points), tension (3.2 ± 2.6 points), fatigue (3.3 ± 3.4 points) and confusion (2.1 ± 2.1 points) associated with moderate levels of depression (1.5 ± 2.1 points) and anger (1.3 ± 2.1 points). In short, the injured athletes showed low-moderate stress levels and good selfcontrol of the stress, tolerable levels of humor, with high vigour, tension, fatigue and confusion, associated with moderate levels of depression and anger. Athletes injured for less time have higher levels of tension. Key Words : Mood Disorders, Stress psychological, Athletic Injuries, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation.


This article extends the theoretical analysis of spurious relationship and considers the situation where the deterministic components of the processes generating the individual series are long memory sequences with structural changes. Show it by using the ordinary least squares estimator, the t-statistics become divergent and pseudo correlation. However, two long memory time series having change points can produce spurious regression. In the presence of structural change points, confirm the rate of t-statistic tends to infinity increased with the increase in sample size. Numerical simulation results show that when structural changes are a feature of the data, the presence of spurious relationship is unambiguous. And the spurious regression not only depends on long memory indexes, but also for trend of model is also very sensitive.


Cosmic-Ray neutron (CRN) sensors are widely used to determine soil moisture on the hectar scale. Precise measurements, especially in the case of mobile application, demand for neutron detectors with high counting rates and high signal-to-noise ratios. For a long time CRNS instruments have relied on helium-3 as an efficient neutron converter. Its ongoing scarcity demands for technological solutions using alternative converters, which are lithium-6 and boron-10. In order to scale up the method and to reduce costs we recently have developed large-scale neutron detectors including readout electronics and data acquisition systems based on Arduino microcontrollers. These boron-lined detectors shall offer an alternative platform to current Helium-3 based systems and allow for modular instrument designs. Individual shieldings of different segments within the detector introduces the capability of gaining spectral information. This opens the possibility for active signal correction during mobile measurements, where the influence of the constantly changing near-field to the overall signal should be corrected. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio could be increased by combining pulse-height and pulse-length spectra to discriminate between neutrons and other environmental radiation. This novel detector therefore combines high-selective counting electronics with large-scale instrumentation technology. The successful implementation of our design allowed also to build the largest up to now existing CRNS detector.


ABSTRACT Perilous Knowledge is a narrative of the origins of modern genetics research and the Human Genome Project written without too much technical jargon, which makes it accessible to the nonexpert, whether physician or interested nonprofessional. The author is not a geneticist but a particle physicist and science writer from Great Britain, who has put together a fascinating story of genetics research and politics on both sides of the Atlantic.Wilkie retells the story of how Robert Sinsheimer tried to establish an Institute to Sequence the Human Genome at the University of California at Santa Cruz, how ultimately the Nobel laureate James Watson became involved in the project with the National Institutes of Health, and how the Department of Energy shifted from an emphasis on


Objective
To establish and verify the animal model of sclerotic skin induced by bleomycin(Blm).

Methods
To establish a mouse model for scleroderma in C3H/He mice by repeated local injection of 100μL of Blm(200μg/mL)everyday for 3 weeks.Then,the specimens of skin,lung and serum were examined.

Results
After 3 week local Blm injections,an intense dermal sclerosis was shown in C3H/He mice.Compared with the control skin,increased dermal thickness and increased collagen histo-chemical index were found(P<0.001,P<0.0001).The examination of the lung of mice revealed thick-ened alveolar septa with infiltration of mononuclear cells and thickening of vascular walls.The speckled and nucleolar ANA patterns were detected.Anti-U1RNP,anti-Scl-70 and anticentromere antibodies were identi-fied together with the results of immunoblot.

Conclusion
Local injections of Blm(200μg/mL)for 3 weeks successfully induced sclerotic skin mimicking scleroderma in C3H mice.

Key words:
Scleroderma,systemic; Models,animal; Bleomycin; Antibodies,antinuclear


Otto Preminger's status as an auteur has often been defined in terms of his detachment and objetivity. But is there more to the director than that


The risk management systems now used in investment analysis are based on Markowitz meanvariance optimization. Successful application depends on the accuracy with which market returns, risk, and correlation are predicted. Forecasting methods now commonly employed for this purpose rely on time-series approaches that generally ignore economic content. This article suggests that explicitly incorporating economic variables into the forecasting process can improve the ability of such systems to manage risk by providing a delineation between risk associated with changes in economic activity and that attributable to other shocks and discontinuities. ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS AND RISK ANALYSIS


Previous studies have demonstrated that the metastability threshold of aqueous oxygen (AO) is inversely dependent on the internal diameter of capillary tubes used to deliver it into blood. The hypothesis was tested herein that significantly higher thresholds are attainable with capillaries having markedly smaller dimensions (submicron) than those previously studied. Water was equilibrated with oxygen over a 0.3- to 0.7-kbar range. Inert gases (argon, helium) facilitated studies at pressures to 2.5 kbar. An argon-ion laser was used to visualize fluorescein in the liquid effluent from silica capillaries that were tapered at the distal end to a submicron internal diameter (0.5 ± 0.3 microns). During infusion of the fluorescent effluent into host water at 21° C and atmospheric pressure, integrity of the effluent and lack of microbubbles were monitored by videomicroscopy. No microbubbles were noted at AO concentrations ranging from 7.5 to 12.8 ml O2/g (0.34 to 0.68 kbar, respectively) or in the aqueous argon effluent at concentrations to 14 ml Ar/g (0.75 kbar). For aqueous helium, effluent nucleation was not observed at a mean concentration of 13 ± 3 ml He/g (2.0 ± 0.5 kbar), with an upper value of 15.2 ml He/g (2.4 kbar). The data represent the highest values of the tensile strength of water ever observed and approximate its theoretical homogeneous nucleation limit. Thus, remarkably high metastable concentrations of AO and other gases are attainable with the use of submicron capillaries.


Abstract The mean of the sea level deviation data derived from the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter in the equatorial Pacific, between 10°S and 10°N, and between 120°E and 78°W, from cycles 2 to 136 (3 October 1992–2 June 1996), are extracted using a maximum–minimum average method. Then, two-dimensional (2D) sea level deviation time series are developed to visualize the dynamics of equatorial waves. The complex singular value decomposition (CSVD) method is applied to decompose these 2D time series into empirical orthogonal modes. Using this method, zonal and meridional structures, propagation directions, periods, and propagation speeds of these empirical modes are obtained. The first empirical mode is propagating westward, and its structure is asymmetric to the equator. It has an average phase speed c = −0.6 m s−1 within 4°–6°N and c = −0.4 m s−1 within 6°–8°S, respectively, and a period of 15 months, which is associated with an interannual Rossby wave. The second empirical mode is propagating eastward along the ...


Abstract This essay reconstructs a scandal in the fall of 1797 involving Ottoman governors, leaders of a notorious network of irregular soldiers cum bandits, and residents of the city of Filibe (Plovdiv in Bulgaria). It erupted over whether or not state officials should pacify successful bandit enterprises by co-opting their leaders. The scandal escalated into a crisis in which the large armies of the governors of Anatolia and Rumeli (the Ottoman Balkans) verged on clashing because each wanted to lead the state's lucrative war against Rumeli bandit networks. Imperial administrators issued dispatches regarding this scandal that were based on gossip and rumor circulating within the general population as well as among bandits. I draw on understandings of gossip as a social and cultural resource from linguistic anthropology to make sense of Ottoman political culture. I analyze these dispatches to uncover how the performance of these informal scripts featured prominently in correspondence with the Imperial Council and related surveillance reports, and thereby mediated resources, power, and authority among different agents of imperial violence. I show that gossip, rumor, and related forms of seemingly informal "talk" played a fundamental role in sovereign decision making. I also transpose methodologies and approaches of "history from below," conceived by earlier generations of cultural anthropologists and historians, onto elite letters to ask new questions about information brokerage, the negotiation of power among different agents of imperial violence and their interlocutors, and the contested nature of imperial intelligence gathering and sovereignty.


Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) represents an increasing public health problem worldwide. Measuring CAD risk factors among young adults will be helpful in reduction and control of their future risk to CAD also and other cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objective: To identify the pattern of CAD risk factors among Al-Azhar University medical students (males and females) of all educational grades. Methodology: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted on 1142 (755 and 387) medical students at the Faculty of Medicine- Boys and Girls respectively-Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken. Also, biochemical investigations for blood glucose and lipid profile were conducted on a subsample of 24% from total sample. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.17±1.78 with males constituting two thirds of the sample. The majority of participants had at least one risk factor to CAD. The most prevalent risk factor of CAD was insomnia (73.5%) followed by consumption of carbonated beverages (62.3%) and fatty meat (46.4%). Also, stress (46.6%), overweight/or obesity (34.2%), physical inactivity (34%) and hypertension (19.5%) were predominant risk factors. Whereas, smoking prevalence was low (7.1%). Dyslipidemia was detected among 23% of the studied subsample. Conclusion : CAD risk factors were highly prevalent among medical students. However, smoking was present only among males and with a low prevalence. Initiation of health educational programs to raise awareness about CAD risk factors and periodic screening programs to detect CAD risk factors are recommended. 2022; 3(2):119-130


Abstract Let $G$ be a finitely generated, infinite group, let $p\,>\,1$ , and let ${{L}^{p}}\left( G \right)$ denote the Banach space $\left\{ \sum{_{x\in G}{{a}_{x}}x}|\sum{_{x\in G}|{{a}_{x}}{{|}^{p}}<\infty } \right\}$ . In this paper we will study the first cohomology group of $G$ with coefficients in ${{L}^{p}}\left( G \right)$ , and the first reduced ${{L}^{p}}$ -cohomology space of $G$ . Most of our results will be for a class of groups that contains all finitely generated, infinite nilpotent groups.


The vertical and horizontal forces and associated stiffnesses on a permanent magnet (PM) above a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) were measured during vertical and horizontal traverses in zero-field cooling (ZFC) and in field cooling (FC). In ZFC, the vertical stiffness was greater in the first descent than in the first ascent and second descent, and the stiffness in the second descent was between those of the first descent and the first ascent. At the FC position, the vertical stiffness was two times greater than the lateral stiffness at each height, to within 1% of the vertical stiffness value. The cross stiffness of vertical force with respect to lateral position was positive for FC, but negative for ZFC. Free-spin-down experiments of a PM levitated above a HTS were also performed. These results showed that the coefficient of friction is double valued at frequencies just below the rotor resonance, a result attributed to cross stiffness in the PM/HTS interaction. A frozen-image model was used to ca...


Objective: We recorded the data of patients performing Percutaneous Nephro-lithotomy (PCNL) under combined spinal anesthesia with sedative mixtures of Ketamine-Propofol (KP) or Fentanyl-Propofol (FP). Background: The PCNL is usually done under General anesthesia (GA); combining spinal anesthesia with a mixture of sedative drugs has shown to provide an optimum intra and post-operative analgesic and sedative response without side effects. Patients and Methods: 100 healthy patients were enrolled for PCNL, after stabilization of the sensory block of spinal anesthesia patients were randomized into two groups; Group KP received 1 mg/Kg Ketamine and 1 mg/Kg Propofol diluted in 20 ml syringe given over 30 seconds and Group FP received 1 mic/Kg Fentanyl and 1 mg/Kg Propofol diluted in 20 ml syringe over 30 seconds; both groups will receive increment doses if the patient suffers from anxiety, pain or discomfort. Perioperative Hemodynamic data (HR, SBP, DBP, RR, and SpO2) were recorded; PACU stay time and post operative analgesia time were analyzed. Results: Sedative mixtures of FP and KP provided remarkably deep sedation levels for PCNL procedures under spinal anesthesia. Respiratory depression, hypotension and bradycardia were the major side effects reported in FP group which had mean decrease in RR of 4.63 breath/min (27.49%) with mean 3.77% drop in SpO2 levels. KP group produced significant increase in HR about 7 beats/min without reported side effects. Conclusion: Various sedation techniques may be applicable for PCNL procedures with routine premedication, mixtures of fentanyl-Propofol or Ketamine-Propofol could be used, and KP has advantages of stable hemodynamics, prolonged analgesic response intra and post-operatively with no appreciable side effects and more effective method of sedative mixture.


Invasive organisms can have significant impacts on native species, and the San Francisco Estuary (SFE), California, USA, is one of the world's most invaded estuaries. Decline of native white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus abundance in the SFE has been acknowledged, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Invasion by the overbite clam Potamocorbula amurensis has drastically altered the SFE benthic prey community, yet little is known about how this change has affected sturgeon diets. We investigated changes in the diet of white sturgeon following the overbite clam invasion and subsequent shift in the SFE benthic prey assemblage. Gut content analysis was used to compare white sturgeon prey composition and importance between the preand post-invasion periods. Additionally, stable isotope analysis was employed to estimate the assimilation of prey items to sturgeon biomass. Overbite clams dominated diets in the postinvasion period, accounting for 82 to 93% of total volume. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the importance of this prey item, although their assimilated contribution to sturgeon biomass was estimated to be less (70 to 83%) than gut contents indicated. The frequency of fish in white sturgeon guts increased in the post-invasion period, and isotope analysis indicated relatively large contributions of fish to sturgeon biomass (3.7 to 19%). The trophic adaptability of white sturgeon has allowed them to exploit this new prey source (overbite clam). Future conservation and restoration efforts must consider a potentially destabilized food web given the large importance of a single prey item.


1012 Background: Preclinical data provide evidence that suggests crosstalk between growth factor receptor pathways and the estrogen receptor (ER). Inhibition of both epidermal growth factor receptor and ER signalling may thus be a potential intervention to overcome hormonal resistance. We performed a phase II study to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of anastrozole (Arimidex) plus gefitinib (IRESSA) [A+G] vs. anastrozole plus placebo [A+P] for treatment of newly diagnosed HR+ MBC in postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 94 women with newly diagnosed HR+ MBC were randomized (1:1) (one woman died prior to treatment) to receive anastrozole 1 mg/day and either gefitinib 250 mg/day or placebo (50 to A+P; 43 to A+G). Hormone receptor status was reviewed at a central laboratory. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and secondary endpoints included objective response rate (RECIST criteria) and clinical benefit rate (CBR; defined as objective response or stable disease ≥24 weeks), overall sur...


Aristotle's doctrine of voluntary actions differs as it is examined in the Eudemian and in the Nicomachean Ethics. For in the first, but not in the second, it displays as one of its conditions that the agent can not to do what she is about to do, and consequently voluntariness is put under the heading of what depends on thought. In the Nicomachean Ethics, however, this condition no more characterizes voluntariness, and the reference to what depends on thought is dropped out of the text. The main target of this paper is to elucidate this difference; some comments are also made to De motu animalium 11.


Shut-ins of production and injection wells are an integral part of annual asset planning to obtain information that is unavailable during production well tests or routine injection operations. Near-wellbore reservoir pressures, productivity and injectivity indices, and skin factors are critical for production, injection and maintenance schedule planning and can be estimated using pressure data observed during well shut-ins. Engineers across different assets often utilize spreadsheet-based tools with custom written macros to acquire and analyze relevant data and to estimate well parameters. These user-developed tools can be field or well-specific and lack generalization for adoption across multiple assets, proving difficult to maintain and lacking proper data archival mechanisms that are crucial to track evolution of well behavior over time.
 In an effort towards digitalization, a solution that automates identification, validation and archival of well shut-in periods with asset and completion specific rules has been developed. A graphical user interface (GUI) provides visualization of relevant pressure, temperature, rate, and valve position attributes during shut-in periods and enables the necessary user interactivity to analyze shut-in periods. The digital solution integrates application programming interfaces (APIs) to retrieve real-time data from OSISoft PI servers and to store identified shut-in periods and associated attributes in centralized SQL databases. Operating valve positions, rates, and choke openings are tracked to approximate shut-in periods with configurable rules through JSON interfaces. Furthermore, filter convolution is applied on pressure gradient data to fine tune shut-in start and end times.
 The programmatic methodology leverages valve position trends, in addition to wellhead and downhole pressures and temperatures observed during each recorded shut-in period to facilitate shut-in validation. Dashboards comparing pressure build-ups for producers and pressure falloffs for injectors across different shut-in periods captured during a well's operational history enable engineers to identify potential changes in skin effects, permeability, and wellbore phase redistribution effects. To facilitate estimation of reservoir pressures using build-up/fall-off data, a reservoir pressure estimation method has been implemented with a built-in user interface to update and archive changes in wellbore reference depths and gradients which are vital for depth correction of pressure data. Steady-state detection enforces validation criteria for stable pressure before shut-in and rapid choke ramp-down, augmenting simpler QA/QC rules such as minimum flowing duration between shut-in periods and time taken to reach pressure differential thresholds.
 The integrated digital solution has been deployed as a web application to several oil-producing assets. The application is expected to aid asset engineers in planning and validating shut-ins, and to standardize extraction and archival of additional wellbore and reservoir information efficiently. This presentation highlights the development of programmatic components for the described methodology and demonstrates an application of the tool to analyze shut-ins for a deepwater field.


The results of our investigation showed that the suggested preventive and treatment complex for children with ascariasis provided caries protective effect. In 24 months the reduction of their permanent teeth caries is 79%.


The QED radiative corrections to virtual Compton scattering (reaction $e p \to e p \gamma$) are calculated to first order in $\alpha_{em} \equiv e^2 / 4 \pi$. A detailed study is presented for the one-loop virtual corrections and for the first order soft-photon emission contributions. Furthermore, a full numerical calculation is given for the radiative tail, corresponding with photon emission processes, where the photon energy is not very small compared with the lepton momenta. We compare our results with existing works on elastic electron-proton scattering, and show for the $e p \to e p \gamma$ reaction how the observables are modified due to these first order QED radiative corrections. We show results for both unpolarized and polarized observables of the virtual Compton scattering in the low energy region (where one is sensitive to the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon), as well as for the deeply virtual Compton scattering.


We developed an explicit analytical solution of FWM under the laser beam propagation in a medium with cubic nonlinear response in the framework of both plane wave approximation and long pulse duration approximation. We used the approach based on the problem invariants and assumption of equal pump-wave amplitudes. It is impossible to get the explicit solution of the problem under consideration without taking into account the problem invariants. The developed analytical solution allows providing a full analysis of FWM modes in the space of interaction parameters. We have shown, in particular, the existence of bistable mode for energy conversion from the pump waves to the signal wave. This mode of energy conversion is very important for FWM experiments explaining.


This research work focuses on the theoretical investigation of the upper critical magnetic field, ; Ginzburg-Landau coherence length, ; and Ginzburg-Landau penetration depth, , for the two-band iron based superconductors , , and LiFeAs. By employing the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau (GL) equation for the two-band superconductors , , and LiFeAs, we obtained expressions for the upper critical magnetic field, ; GL coherence length, ; and GL penetration depth, , as a function of temperature and the angular dependency of upper critical magnetic field. By using the experimental values in the obtained expressions, phase diagrams of the upper critical magnetic field parallel, , and perpendicular, , to the symmetry axis (-direction) versus temperature are plotted. We also plotted the phase diagrams of the upper critical magnetic field, versus the angle . Similarly, the phase diagrams of the GL coherence length, , and GL penetration depth, , parallel and perpendicular to the symmetry axis versus temperature are drawn for the superconductors mentioned above. Our findings are in agreement with experimental observations.


The author studies the union of the greek-roman philosophy of the liingship and that of the Jewish-Christian theology and the fusion of the hellenistic cosmologico-political ideas with the Christian theological ideas, basing his investigations on the conceptualization of the question of the conversion of the barbarians; the way the Emperor treats the heretics; and in the treatment of the paganism more or less related to certain nacionalisms. The article finishes analysing the opinion of the historian Procopius on the subjects here under study.


The Open University is an important front to innovate the distance education, and it is of great significance to make use of mobile information technology to build its campus APP services platform. This paper reviews the current situations, and appeals for developing such a platform to meet the urgent demand of constructing a virtual campus, which is required to extend and expand its information service.


—FFT architecture is the common and very efficient design in modern signal processing applications. Though so much of architectures are executed in now-a-days applications, This paper will give different approach of FFT design. In order to reduce the computation time, FFT structure is modified in the arrangement. This analyzed approach somewhat satisfies the low power, high performance and to useful in image, signal and wireless applications.


Adolescent pregnancies have declined dramatically in the United States since their peak in the early 1990s and in 2008 the pregnancy rate reached its lowest level in nearly 40 years. The long-term decline in teen pregnancy appears to have been driven primarily by improved use of contraception. In other words adolescents seem to be practicing contraception more effectively and their actions are paying off in lower pregnancy rates and lower birth and abortion rates as well. Even with these encouraging trends however adolescent pregnancy remains a serious public health concern. Reproductive health professionals therefore are looking at ways to help more U.S. teens to avoid unintended pregnancy and one approach is increased access to long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods -- namely copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and hormonal implants. With failure rates of less than 1% LARCs are the most effective methods of reversible contraception on the market today. And yet most adolescents and young women have never heard of an IUD or implant many health care providers remain misinformed about their risks and numerous practical obstacles stand in the way of more fully integrating LARCs into the range of contraceptive methods offered to adolescents and young women. (Excerpts)


Plastic is a widely used material in our daily lives. Microplastic pollution has also generated worldwide concern due to its distribution in the environment, and its potential threat to human and animal health. Due to the complexity of sampling and extracting plastics from the marine environment, existing studies have largely focused on mesoplastics, macroplastics, and large microplastics. Having accurate methods for quantifying the abundance of small microplastics in seawater is key for defining the extent of the problem they pose. In this work, we propose a non-invasive method to analyze sub-20 μm plastics in seawater around the subtropical island of Okinawa through optical tweezers micro-Raman spectroscopy. Our results show the dominance of low-density polyethylene with highest concentrations in areas with large-scale anthropogenic activities. This study provides evidence on the presence of microplastics in ocean around a blue zone region.


This article discusses the use of literary text as a unit of culture in the lessons of Russian as a non-native language. In modern methodology of teaching the Russian language, literary text has a special place as a form of communication and educational material of great educational and aesthetic value. According to the author's point of view, text, besides teaching a language and developing skills of constructing coherent speech, promotes the cognitive, moral and aesthetic development of students. Despite the fact that texts of specific content related to the cultural studies are in evidence in modern textbooks of the Russian language, there is still a lot to be done. This work highlights lingvo-methodological aspects of the relationship between culture and text, the criteria for text selection, and certain fictional text activities.


We attempt to discover the role and relative value of labeled and unlabeled samples in reducing the probability of error of the classification of a sample based on the previous observation of labeled and unlabeled data. We assume that the underlying densities belong to a regular family that generates identifiable mixtures. The unlabeled observations, under the above conditions, carry information about the statistical model and therefore can be effectively used to construct a decision rule. When the training set contains an infinite number of unlabeled samples, the first labeled observation reduces the probability of error to within a factor of two of the Bayes risk. Moreover subsequent labeled samples yield exponential convergence of the probability of classification error to the Bayes risk. We argue that labeled samples are exponentially more valuable than unlabeled samples and identify the (exponent as the Bhatthacharyya distance.


Syntheses of various fluorine-based surfactants, namely fluorinated-segment-containing block co-oligomers, were achieved by the radical polymerization of mainly acrylate-based monomers. These types of surfactants serve as stabilizers for supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) media based applications, for which the effective solubilization of materials in the supercritical phase is generally not possible because of solubility problems faced when CO 2 is involved. Initially, a difunctional fluorinated initiator was synthesized in two steps. First, 4,4'-azobis-4-cyanovaleric acid was chlorinated with SOCl 2 , and then the product, 4,4'-azobis-4-cyanovaleryl chloride, was reacted with a fluorinated alcohol to obtain the initiator for the polymerization reactions. The synthesized triblock co-oligomers consisted of fluorinated side blocks and a hydrocarbon intermediate block. Efficient solubilization of the materials in scCO 2 was observed. It was experimentally shown that the solubility efficiency was affected by specific interactions between CO 2 and the oligomers, and these were determined by the nature and size of the inner block and by the chain length of the fluorinated side blocks in comparison with the inner block.


The cogging force is a main component of the detent force in the permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM). It will lead to the thrust ripple and deteriorate the control characteristics, which cannot be neglected especially in precision machine tools. In order to minimize the cogging force, a novel double-sided PMLSM structure with reversed slots is proposed and compared with a conventional PMLSM in this article. Two novel windings are further added to compensate the unbalanced back electromotive force (EMF) caused by the reversed slots. With this suggested structure, an 8-pole 9-slot double-sided PMLSM is designed. And its detent force and back EMF are evaluated with the help of the 2-D finite element analysis. Finally, a prototype of the double-sided PMLSM with reversed slots is developed, and experiments are carried out to verify the analytical and simulated results.


In this paper the wavelength conversion in a 1cm long silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide has been investigated numerically. The wavelength conversion efficiency is optimized by analyzing free carriers absorption (FCA) loss generated by two-photon-absorption (TPA). The free carriers life time is focused while other factors influencing noise figure are also considered.


Digital Signature (DS) technology may be employed to produce legally enforceable signatures in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) among computer users within the same general guidelines and requirements as those developed for handwritten signatures on paper. Digital signature technology promises assurance at least equal to written signatures. From a legal standpoint, this assurance remains to be tested in the evidentiary process. Business policies for organizational use of this technology are being created as the use of digital signature technology is adopted. Standard industry practice serves to create and document a legal precedent. Digital signatures are especially applicable to interpretations of contracts and statute of fraud law. Digital signatures may be used to provide assurances in distributed and networked computer environments where electronic transactions require a high degree of trust.


Background: India has been facing various sanitation problems like open defecation, insanitary toilets, improper waste disposal, manual scavenging etc.  Poor sanitation in schools, particularly rural schools are health hazards and affects school attendance, retention and educational performance. Several studies reported poor knowledge about sanitation practices among school students in India, so there is need to inculcate good sanitation practices among them. 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' is national level health campaign of India which was launched on 2 nd October 2014. The present study was first study to create awareness among school students about 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' as well as sanitation practices through 'SMART Health Education Model'. Methods: An interventional study was conducted in one of the randomly selected public schools in rural field practice area of Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune. The study participants were 100 students belonging to 5th and 6th class and they were exposed to structured 'SMART Health Education Model'. Entire data from pre and post intervention questionnaire was entered into 'Microsoft Office Excel Sheet' and analysed by using 'Paired t test'. Results: Significant improvement in knowledge about sanitation practices was found after applying 'SMART Model' (Pre-test mean marks: 4.17, post-test mean marks: 9.52, t = 24.31, p<0.001). The study reported favourable attitudes of participants towards 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. Conclusions: It indicates that even a simple intervention like 'SMART Model' can make significant change in knowledge of school students about personal and environmental hygiene.


The baby with Beckwith—Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) usually presents with exomphalos, macroglossia, and gigantism. As children with BWS are at increased risk of childhood cancer, they should be followed-up strictly for cancer screening. Here, we are reporting two cases with exomphalos, macroglossia, gigantism, and hemihypertrophy. We have corrected the exomphalos and advised him for follow-up for cancer screening.


Provides mountain bike enthusiasts with step-by-step guidance to maintaining and repairing their bikes, combining an easy-to-use format and design with high quality photographs of the latest equipment, tools and techniques.


The chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion model is one of the most commonly used to study cardiovascular and kidney injury. However, the dosages of AngII used to induce cardiovascular or renal injury vary significantly in the literature. Therefore, we set out to determine the dosages of angiotensin II needed to produce renal injury and hypertension in mice. All experiments were performed in accordance with protocols approved by the Liberty University IACUC and conform to the FASEB standards for the use of animals in research and education. Male C57Bl/6J mice (~20 grams body weight) were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory and acclimated to our environment for one week. Mice were then assigned to receive 0, 400, 800, or 1200 ng AngII/kg BW*min for four weeks via osmotic minipumps (subcutaneous). Blood pressure (tail‐cuff) was recorded each week of the study. At baseline, 2 and 4 weeks, renal blood flow and renal hemodynamics were estimated using contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography. After 4 weeks, mice were placed in metabolic cages for the quantification of water intake and urinary output. Urine was stored for determination of albumin concentration using a commercially available ELISA. Mice were then euthanized and kidney tissues collected to measure the mRNA expression of several genes involved in the intrarenal renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) (renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, angiotensin II‐receptor 1a (AT1a), and AT1b receptor) and tissue inflammation and remodeling [CCL5, α‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA), collagen 1, collagen 3, and tumor growth factor β (TGFβ)]. All data were analyzed using general linear models in SPSS. Mice administered the 800 dose had the greatest and most consistent increase in systolic blood pressure (147 ± 8mmHg) as compared to mice administered the saline (114 ± 9, P=0.004) and the 400 dose (121 ± 11mmHg, P=0.01). Mice administered the 1200 dose tended (P=0.08) to have a greater total renal blood flow throughout the study, with a significant increase (P=0.047) in cortical blood flow as compared to mice administered saline. Despite the modest changes in estimated renal blood flow, mice administered the 800 and 1200 doses of AngII had similar, yet significantly greater (P≤0.001) water intake and urinary output as compared to mice treated with saline or the 400 dose. Similarly, mice with the 800 and 1200 doses had significantly greater evidence of tissue damage evident by increased albuminuria (P≤0.05) and increased renal gene expression of CCL5, TGFβ, collagen 1, and collagen 3. There was also an effect on the intrarenal RAS, with mice administered the 800 and 1200 doses having significant (P<0.05) increase of renin, angiotensinogen, ACE1, ACE2, AT1a, and AT1b expression. In our hands, it appears that a dosage of greater than 400 ng/kg*min is needed to elicit the pressor effect of AngII and its associated effects on kidney structure and function. Our data also suggests that doses greater than 800 do not result in a further increase in blood pressure or several markers of kidney health. Taken together, more studies are needed to better refine this popular animal model and identify potential causes of variability throughout the literature.


Particle-clustering methods have been explored for application to the problem of predicting brownout conditions, which can occur when a rotorcraft operates over surfaces covered with loose sediment and stirs up large dust clouds that impede the pilot's outward visibility. A significant issue in such simulations is the tracking of the very large number of particles needed to predict with acceptable fidelity the dual-phase flow properties and optical characteristics of the dust clouds. To this end, computationally efficient Lagrangian approaches were explored for the simulation of dilute carrier-particle suspensions at low Reynolds numbers of the relative particle motion. The algorithms examined were the Gaussian method, the k-means method, and Osiptsov's method, which were all compared in terms of their accuracy versus computational cost against solutions obtained by directly solving for the individual particle motions. Specific results were computed for a prototypical flowfield that mimics the highly unst...


Objective: Nosocomial infections are the primary reason of morbidity and mortality especially at children's hospitals. Thus, educating pediatric health care providers is rather crucial in order to protect children from exposure to infection. This study was planned to examine reliability and validity of Nurses' Infection Prevention and Control Observation Questionnaire in Turkish Language. Methods: This methodological study was carried out at a randomly selected Children's Hospital from each of the 7 regions of Turkey. In total, 443 pediatric nurses from those hospitals participated in the study. Content validity, construct validity, inter-consistency reliability and item total correlation of the questionnaire were analysed in order to adjust reliability and validity. Results: The questionnaire has good content, face and construct validity. The acceptable level for scales' items was above 0.30 and had one factor according to results of explanatory factor analysis. The questionnaire model fitted the data according to confirmatory factor analysis. A level of Cronbach's alpha at 0.74 was considered to be an acceptable level of reliability and item-total score correlation of the study –except for four items- was identified above 0.30. Conclusion: The questionnaire was determined as a reliable and validate tool in evaluation of observation for nurses' infection prevention and control.


Attaining proficiency in meditation is difficult, especially without feedback since the mind may be easily distracted with thoughts and only long term efforts see any impact. Self-regulation would be much more effective if provided real time assessment and this can be achieved through EEG neurofeedback. Therefore, this work proposes a scheme for assessing meditation-like state in real time from short EEG segments, using low computational settings. Signal processing techniques are used to extract features from long term meditation practitioners' multichannel EEG data. An autoencoder model is then trained on these features such that the model can be run in real time. Its reconstruction errors or its latent variables are used to provide non typical feedback parameters which are used to establish an objective measure of meditation ability. Our approach is optimised to have lightweight architectures handling small blocks of data and can be conveniently used on low density EEG acquisition systems as it requires only a few channels. However, our experimental results suggest that the meditation state has substantial overlap even in terms of multivariate EEG features and show prominent temporal dynamics, both of which are not captured using simple one class algorithms. Being an extremely flexible one-class model, we have described multiple improvements to the proposed autoencoder model to address the above issues and develop simple yet high precision neurofeedback protocols.


In this paper we consider the Dvali and Gómez assumption that the end state of a gravitational collapse is a Bose–Einstein condensate of gravitons. We then construct the two Gross–Pitaevskii equations for a static and spherically symmetric configuration of the condensate. These two equations correspond to the constrained minimisation of the gravitational Hamiltonian with respect to the redshift and the Newtonian potential, per given number of gravitons. We find that the effective geometry of the condensate is the one of a gravastar (a de Sitter star) with a sub-Planckian cosmological constant, for masses larger than the Planck scale. Thus, a condensate corresponding to a semiclassical black hole, is always quantum and weakly coupled. Finally, we obtain that the boundary of our gravastar, although it is not the location of a horizon, corresponds to the Schwarzschild radius.


A collection of ANSI Standard Fortran subroutines for performing multiple-precision floatingpoint arithmetic and evaluating elementary and special functions is given. The subroutines are machine independent and the precision is arbitrary, subject to storage limitations.


Watercolor teaching method to the watercolor teaching effect is very important,and it is also the prime power of the watercolor art prosperity and development.As the basic teaching method of art education,watercolor has achieved great teaching effects in the long time teaching practice of universities' art education As an educator keeping pace with times.it is necessary for me to enrich and perfect the teaching model and teaching idea.To achieve the rcal scientificainess of teaching model,it is not oniy to continue the development and creation,but also to explore the scientific watercolor teaching reform direction that adapts the modern appreciation of the beauty.


Abstract - The development of Information Technology which has impacts on the ease of producing and accessing information has caused the rapid circulation of information in the community. However, the circulation of this information does not completely contain the truth. Hoax information is intentionally produced and spread to the public through various application platforms aimed to distorting the facts so that the information is believed to be the real truth. This condition can be seen from the ease people share the information they receive through their smart devices to a number of people closest to them or to groups or community wherr they participate in.            This research is a descriptive qualitative research. The data in this study was carried out by analyzing hoax news mapping data collected by the covid-19 handling task force through the covid19.go.id website obtained through the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society (Mafindo). The news data and hoax information in the form of verbal and visual were analyzed with a qualitative content analysis approach to analyze how the hoax phenomenon during this pandemic was deliberately created and spread by the public.Furthermore, the results of the analysis are examined with the perspective of Jean Baudillard's simulacra and hyperreality.            The result shows that information as the main product of the information society is no longer dominated by information producers such as television and newspapers, but now anyone who has a device and is connected to the internet can produce information. The impact of this is that humans are trapped in false reality and dwell on duplication and superficiality. Keyword: information technology, hoax covid-19, simulacrum jean baudillard


Introduction- Deep vein thrombosis is a common clinical problem. It can endanger life of a person by producing pulmonary embolism and may
cause venous hypertension. and chronic venous insufciency. Evaluation of patients wi Aim- th suspected deep vein thrombosis by using color
Doppler ultrasonography. After obtaining clearance from Institute's ethical commit Method- tee, all the patients fullling the inclusion criteria
were selected and written consent is obtained. They will be investigated with color Doppler using GE logic P9 and P5 ultrasound machine's high
frequency linear transducer. The protocol begins with the patient in supine position from upper thigh till foot with longitudinal and transverse
scanning to examine the veins from the common iliac veins down to calf veins. Results- In our study 50 patients with clinically suspicion of lower
limb deep vein thrombosis were subjected for Doppler examination. Out of all the patients the maximum incidences of deep vein thrombosis were
noted in the age group of 31-50 yrs. i.e. 48%, and minimum incidence in the age group of 11-30 yrs. i.e. 14%. The age group of 51-70 yrs. had 22%
of patients and that of 71-90 yrs. of age group had 16% of patients out of total patients in the study. Out of all the patients it was found that majority
of the patients were male 78% while incidence in female patients is 22%. Out of 50 suspected patients of deep vein thrombosis 60% of them were
found to be positive or presence of deep vein thrombosis and 40% of them had negative or absence of deep vein thrombosis.Deep vein thrombosis
was more common in right extremity i.e. 50% then left extremity i.e. 46%. Only 4% of patients had bilateral involvement. Deep vein Conclusionthrombosis of lower limbs can be detected reliably, non-invasively and rapidly by the use of colour doppler ultrasonography. Gray scale ndings
together with colour doppler helps in qualitative evaluation of the venous system of lower limbs and early detection of deep vein thrombosis in
clinically suspected Thus it can be concluded that keeping in mind the limitations. and the advantages offered by the colour doppler
ultrasonography, it is a good, reliable, inexpensive and rapid method of investigation for deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs.


This paper presents a systematic model for the simulation and analysis of a power-shift transmission that features a dual-clutch design. The paper models the kinematics, dynamics and control of the transmission for the analysis of powertrain overall performance and shift transient characteristics. The model is implemented in an object-oriented software tool. Analytical formulations and look-up tables are both used for modeling of powertrain components. The vehicle system model is established by integrating the various components and subsystem models according to the transmission structure and control logic. As a numerical example, the model is used for a vehicle equipped with the power-shift transmission to simulate the speed follow-up over a standard EPA drive range and the wide open throttle position performance.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


The important purpose of the visual environment design has been making the pleasant environment.In order to establish a comprehensive method for making pleasantness, the methodology of evaluating psychological characteristics must be considered. The study on this evaluation method has two problems to be solved as follows:(1) How maw psychological characteristics be connected with physical characteristics?(2) How may psychological characteristics contribute to the total emotional effect, the total impression?The purpose of this paper is to examine the basic subject concering the latter. From a standpoint of cognition mechanism, the process of evaluation is examined and a model of the process of evaluation is proposed. The whole consists of physical process, sensory process and evaluative process.The total evaluation is assumed to have a close relation with the sensation.The experiment is carried out to find out the relationship between the sensation and the total evaluation.As a result, it is proved that there is approximately a linear relationship between the sensation and the total evaluation.


Diseases that affect the lungs and the oral cavity can have similar clinical manifestations and require a thorough clinical examination for a correct diagnosis. Currently, the coronavirus pandemic has caused doctors to increase their chances of diagnosis, since SARS-COV-2 also affects the lungs. This work presents the case of a 58-year-old black man with the human immunodeficiency virus who was diagnosed with paracoccidioidomycosis through the aid of oral lesions after the hypothesis of COVID-19 and tuberculosis being ruled out by clinical and laboratory tests. Thus, this case report seeks to draw the attention of clinicians, both doctors and dentists who work in oral diagnosis to the other possibilities and hypotheses of diagnosing injuries that affect the upper airways and may have clinical manifestations similar to SARS- COV-2.