Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is one of the bone marrow failure syndromes, including aplastic anemia (AA) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Recently, the International PNH Interest Group proposed that evidence of a population of erythrocytes and granulocytes deficient in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) proteins and assessment of hemolytic parameters, including haptoglobin concentration, are important as minimal essential diagnostic criteria of PNH and that less than 1.0% GPI-deficient erythrocytes and granulocytes identifies subclinical PNH from classic PNH (Parker C et al, Blood, 2005). To know whether haptoglobin can be a hallmark which expects the occurrence of classic PNH during the clinical course in AA and MDS patients, we examined the expressions of CD59 on erythrocytes and granulocytes by flow cytometry and relationship between proportions of negative populations of them and various clinical parameters, including haptoglobin concentrations, in Japanese patients with AA (n=23; M:F=11:12; 50.5 ± 19.1 years), PNH (n=28; M:F=14:14; 42.7 ± 16.1 years), and MDS (n=29; M:F=20:9; 66.1 ± 13.9 years). Less than 20 mg/dl of haptoglobin were judged as significant decrease. Flow cytometry showed that the proportions of CD59 − erythrocytes (38.11 ± 35.49%) and granulocytes (52.57 ± 42.39%) from PNH patients were significantly higher than those from AA and MDS patients and healthy individuals (n=21; M:F=12:9; 41.3 ± 12.2 years). The values of serum asparatate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher in PNH patients (54.9 ± 53.1U/l and 1035 ± 1052 U/l, respectively) than AA (20.8 ± 9.1 U/l and 205.8 ± 45.0 U/l, respectively) and MDS (22.4 ± 16.9 U/l and 217.7 ± 64.0 U/l, respectively) patients. In contrast, the concentrations of serum haptoglobin were significantly lower in PNH patients (12.9 ± 27.6 mg/dl) than AA (84.6 ± 81.9 mg/dl) and MDS (77.7 ± 47.3 mg/dl) patients. When comparing PNH patients (n=9; minimal PNH) with less than 5% of CD59 − erythrocytes with those (n=19; bulky PNH) with over 5% of CD59 − erythrocytes, the values of AST (70.7 ± 58.2U/l) and LDH (1021 ± 1083U/l) of the latter were significantly higher than those of the former (21.4 ± 6.2U/l and 220.3 ± 45.1U/l, respectively), but the concentrations of haptoglobin were similar between the latter (11.8 ± 28.9mg/dl) and the former (15.8 ± 26.0mg/dl). In addition, all the PNH patients, but not AA and MDS patients, with over 1% of CD59 − erythrocytes had significant decrease of haptoglobin concentration, suggesting that low concentrations of serum haptoglobin may predict occurrence of classic PNH during the clinical course in AA and MDS patients. In conclusion, over 1% of CD59 − erythrocytes in PNH patients certainly cause clinical hemolysis and serum haptoglobin is a useful marker which can predict the occurrence of classic PNH.


The higher education sector in the 1990s actively encouraged applicants who did not have undergraduate qualifications to enter graduate courses on the basis of prior learning activities including work experience. The transfer of undergraduate nursing programmes to the university system left a pool of highly experienced nurses, usually with extensive training and experience, with few educational opportunities to advance themselves. This paper reports a comparison of academic achievements in graduate nursing programmes between those with undergraduate qualifications and those admitted using a recognition of prior learning (RPL) initiative. Results indicate that the academic achievement of the hospital-trained nurses was similar to those admitted with a formal qualification. For five consecutive annual cohorts of graduates, academic achievement for both groups, as measured by the weighted average mark (WAM), was recorded across the five years. The size of each group changed over the period of the study; the tertiary qualified group was smaller in the earlier years but became larger over time, while the hospital certificate group was initially large and became smaller over time. Those with tertiary qualifications were significantly ( p ≪ 0.01) younger than those with hospital certificate qualifications, though in both groups cohort age increased over the five years.


Heat-killed group A streptococci of types M12 and M22 were used for intravenous immunization of 60 rabbits. Presence of Fc-receptors binding monomeric IgG in M22 and their absence in M12 has been demonstrated previously. The strains were cultured in either Todd-Hewitt broth supplemented with 10% horse serum (TH-H) or in IsoVitaleX, a synthetic medium, supplemented with 10% autologous rabbit serum (IV-R). A mortality rate of 38% was noted in the first-mentioned group whereas no mortality was observed in the second group. Sera were examined for agglutination of red blood cells coated with either human or rabbit IgG. Antisera to strains cultured in TH-H regularly displayed anti-IgG antibodies reacting with human as well as rabbit IgG; anti-rabbit IgG titres of anti-M22 sera were significantly higher than those of anti-M12. Antisera to strains grown in IV-R displayed high levels of antibodies reacting with human but not with rabbit IgG. The levels of anti-human IgG did not differ between anti-M12 and anti-M22 sera.


1Department of Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 2Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 3Resident of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran


Blockchain technology now has applications in many areas, such as cryptocurrencies and smart contracts. For example, in an IoT system, sensors from different devices transfer data collected in cloud computing on a central server. The issues that arise relate to security and privacy matters that occur mainly due to difficulties in upgrading the software of millions of smart devices and the management of servers in the cloud by other third-party companies. By enabling the blockchain, various security options are offered by storing transactions in a decentralized and transparent system. However, a lot of effort is needed to integrate blockchain systems and their application in smart cities. In this work, we review how blockchain systems can be integrated into smart cities.


In this paper, we will examine various topologies on hyperspaces, and in particular those which are most useful in the context of time scales. After demonstrating that the Fell topology is the most appropriate, we will review several theorems about convergence in hyperspaces of Hausdorff metric spaces under the Fell topology. We will then prove related theorems for the time scales case, where the hyperspace in question is .


Abstract The development of motor vehicles and their mass production and consumption during the first decades of the twentieth century had significant economic and social effects. The developed Atlantic countries, world leaders in vehicle production, were the protagonists of the success of the car. However, the globalization brought about by the second industrial revolution drew in other countries on the periphery, thanks to transport technologies, telecommunications, and the media. Thus, the consumption patterns and lifestyles of the 'centres' and the 'peripheries' tended to become more uniform, especially among the urban population. This included an interest in travelling and leisure activities in general. The link between the use of motor vehicles and new tourism practices in Spain between 1918 and 1939 provides an excellent viewpoint from which both to analyse the country's economic and social transformation during this period and to relativize the degree of backwardness observed in Spain in other studies. In this respect, we provide evidence which shows that, despite being a country of the so-called European periphery, Spain had similar patterns of consumption of durable consumer goods, such as the motor vehicle, as other, more advanced countries. There is therefore room to reconsider what has been termed 'Spanish backwardness'.


Objective
To investigate correlation between bladder wall thickness(BWT) and upper urinary tract damage(UTD) in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), and to evaluate the value of BWT in predicting UTD.

Methods
To retrospectively analyze clinical data of NLTUD patients admitted from January 2013 to October 2017.Of the 161 patients, 92 were male and 69 were female. The mean age was (39.5±18.4) years old, ranged from 18 to 81 years old. 83 cases had hydronephrosis, 64 cases had unilateral or bilateral ureteral dilation and 14 cases had ureteral reflux. In 30 cases, the serum creatinine was abnormal (290.7±164.0) μmol/L, ranging 125-938 μmol/L. The mean GFR in 17 cases was(45.2 ± 23.0) ml/(min·1.73 m2), ranged from 84.3 to 14.6 ml/(min·1.73 m2). According to the presence or absence of UTD, NLUTD patients were divided into experimental group and control group, 101 cases of UTD combined experimental group, and 60 cases of UTD-free control group. There were 60 male patients and 41 female patients in the experimental group with mean age of (37.9±19.1) years old. In the control group, there were 32 male patients and 28 female patients with mean age of (42.3±16.8) years old, There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There were 59 cases and 5 cases of hydronephrosis in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. There were 12 cases and 2 cases of ureteral dilation patients in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The differences in BWT and urodynamic parameters between the two groups were compared. The ROC curve was used to determine the cutoff value of BWT in the diagnosis of UTD and the correlation between BWT and UTD and urodynamic parameters was analyzed.

Results
161 patients had a BWT of 2 to 25 mm with a median value of 7.0 (7.1) mm.119 patients underwent urodynamic examination with bladder compliance of 0.8 to 141.5 ml/cmH2O, median value of 12.7 (22.8) ml/cmH2O. The median value of median pressure capacity (MCC) was 256 (171)ml, ranged from 49 to 700 ml. The median value of Pdetmax was34 (19.1) cmH2O, ranged from 3 to 144 cmH2O. The median BWT values of the test and control groups were 9.0(5.0) mm and 4.0(5.7) mm, respectively (Z=-5.931, P<0.001). The median bladder compliance was 9.3(15.3) ml/cmH2O and 24.2(38.7)ml/cmH2O, respectively (Z=-4.07, P<0.05). The MCC was 225.0(159.0) ml and 310.6(140.5)ml, respectively (Z=-2.22, P<0.05). The median Pdetmax during filling was 40.0(20.4)cmH2O and 29.2(18.4)cmH2O, respectively (Z=-2.92, P<0.05). Using multivariate correlation analysis, BWT was negatively correlated with bladder compliance (r=-0.419, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with maximum bladder pressure capacity (r=-0.198, P=0.031), with the largest filling period. Pdetmax was positively correlated (r=0.251, P=0.006). Using the ROC curve to determine the threshold, the sensitivity of the UTD is 86.1% and the specificity is 53.3% when BWT≥4.8 mm.

Conclusions
BWT thickening is one of the risk factors for UTD in patients with NLUTD. When BWT is greater than 4.8 mm, NLUTD patients are more likely to have UTD and can be used as an examination method for the diagnosis of UTD in NLUTD patients.

Key words:
Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction; Bladder wall thickness; Upper urinary tract damage; Urodynamic examination


In this paper, we explore the interface between model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) and object‐oriented software engineering (OOSE). We show that the context, behavior, and structure models captured by the systems engineering process are precisely those inputs needed to start the object‐oriented software engineering process. Conversely, the object‐oriented architecture generated by the software engineering process is needed by systems engineering to perform object‐based rather than function‐based architecture synthesis.


Hospice care for the terminally ill has in recent years become an interesting and important part of our medical system. The author is an occupational therapist who has been working in a hospice for 13 years. In this article she details the working of the day unit within such a hospice and refers particularly to the contribution that the occupational therapist can make in this setting.


One embodiment of the present invention relates to a machine-readable form configuration (and associated system and method). Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a system (e.g., one or more computers) for betting. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for betting. In one example, the machine-readable form may be a play slip for betting, and the method includes the steps of scanning wager or wager marking paper, storing information into a host machine containing a data base, sending a receipt of scanned ticket, and manually marking or endorsement the moving receipt.


Yu Hua's novels have consistently consulted the real world with a strong narrative intention of alluding to reality, but the narrative intention differed in feature in his early and late works with the intenseness of function and closeness to reality shown by narrative symbols used in his works at various periods.By dividing Yu Hua's creative work into three stages from a narrative angle,this paper intends to explain through the different narrative symbols the distinct,profound narrative intention in Yu Hua's novels at each stage.


Specifications for motor gasoline continue to tighten with regard to sulfur, aromatics, Reid Vapor Pressure and olefin levels. As a result, meeting engine octane requirements continues to be an industry challenge. One option is to react propylene and butenes with isobutane to produce high octane blending components. ExxonMobil has successfully improved our sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation process technology to be highly efficient, reliable and cost effective. In this paper, the chemistry and process flowplan will be reviewed. Additionally, the key process variables will be identified and discussed. We will present a case study with comparative economics and unit modernization opportunities. Also, we will briefly discuss the alkylation of pentylene, our operating experiences and a summary of a recent startup.


Objective: To evaluate a threshold serum vitamin B12 level on central and peripheral neurological function. Background Low vitamin B12 levels ( Design/Methods: Participants were from the Health ABC Study, a prospective cohort of well-functioning adults aged 70-79 years in 1997-98. We included 2326 participants (mean age: 76.5±2.9 years; 48.6% male, 38.4% black; 21.6% diabetes) with 2000-01 serum B12 levels and ≥1 neurological measure: 1.4g/10g monofilament detection; average vibration threshold; peroneal nerve conduction amplitude [CMAP] and velocity [NCV] (all 2000-01); Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST] scores (2001-02). Of these, 1226 participants (mean age: 76.1±2.8 years; 47.1% male, 34.2% black; 18.9% diabetes) had ≥1 follow-up neurological measure in 2007-08 for the longitudinal analyses. Results: Adjusting for demographics, body composition, socioeconomic/lifestyle factors, CES-D score, medications, and chronic health conditions, we found significant vitamin B12 threshold levels of 390 pmol/L for higher NCV (p=.02) and of 410 pmol/L for lower DSST decline (p=.01). A threshold level of 400 pmol/L for 1.4g monofilament detection was significant unadjusted (p=.04), but this and other outcomes were not significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Higher B12 levels (∼400 pmol/L), 2.7 times higher than the current clinical cutpoint for deficiency, may be necessary for optimal neurological function and lower decline in older adults. These results are important since poor peripheral nerve function and slower processing speed may lead to impaired physical and cognitive function and disability. Future studies of vitamin B12 in older adults should rigorously evaluate neurological outcomes. Supported by: The National Institutes on Aging (NIA) contract numbers N01-AG-6-2101, N01-AG-6-2103, and N01-AG-6-2106; and in part by the NIA Intramural Research Program of the NIH; NIA grant R01-AG 028050 (Strotmeyer ES); and NINR grant R01-NR012459; University of Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (P30-AG024827) Pilot Grant (Strotmeyer ES), and the NIA training grant (T32-AG-000181 KL). Disclosure: Dr. Leishear has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boudreau has nothing to disclose. Dr. Studenski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ferrucci has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosano has nothing to disclose. Dr. de Rekeneire has nothing to disclose. Dr. Houston has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kritchevsky has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schwartz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vinik has received personal compensation for activities with Ansar, Eli Lilly & Company, KV Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis, R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Vinik has received research support from Abbott Laboratories, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Arcion Therapeutics, Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, and Merck Research Labs. Dr. Hogervorst has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yaffe has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc, Novartis, and Medivation. Dr. Harris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Strotmeyer has nothing to disclose.


A cos(2θ) current distribution over a cylindrical surface gives an ideal quadrupolar field in so-called cos(2θ) quadrupoles. A constant current in a coil configuration generated by two perpendicular intersecting ellipses also produces the perfect quadrupole field. We have found that an ideal quadrupole field can be obtained with a coil shape, different from the intersecting ellipses. Block-coil quadrupoles have been designed based on the coil shape as well as the intersecting ellipse shape.


In CD4 T cells several transcription factors (TFs) regulate expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. I investigated how type I interferon (IFN) cytokines and T cell receptor (TCR) pathways cooperate toward early upregulation of IL-10 in human CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells. I interrogated the role of the STAT and BATF family by transciptomics and RNAi-mediated gene-silencing. IFN and TCR induced STAT2 and STAT3 expression, respectively, while the BATFs were induced early by IFN and further enhanced by TCR/IFN together. STAT3 was the major regulator of TCR- and TCR/IFN-mediated IL-10 while STAT2 contributed to the latter. STAT3 was recruited adjacent to a BATF-binding site at the IL-10 locus early in response to TCR/IFN. Co-silencing of the three BATFs led to a marked decrease in TCR- and TCR/IFN-mediated IL-10. We propose that the BATFs control the magnitude of the IFN response as pioneer factors. Additional results of transcriptional profiling of ± 200 genes, including TFs downstream of TCR and IFN and TFs involved in IL-10 regulation, revealed that TCR and IFN provide unique and combined contributions to the early CD45RA+CD4+ T cell gene activation program and identified other potential TFs involved in TCR/IFN-mediated IL-10 transcription. This study may provide broad mechanistic bases for crosstalk between the TCR- and IFN-pathways.


The hydrophobic dl-amino acids alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine have been cocrystallized with LiCl via solid-state and solution methods, and the effect of preparation conditions and solvent...


There are many unavoidable array errors in practical scenarios, which would drastically increase the sidelobe level (SLL) and distort the performance of radar systems accordingly. In this paper, an effective beampattern synthesis approach is proposed to realize a low peak sidelobe level (PSLL) and wide-nulling in the presence of array errors, thus improving the consequent performance of the radar. In particular, the covariance matrix of the sidelobe region (CMSR) is incorporated into the optimization. Considering the randomness of array errors, the statistical mean method is adopted to obtain a more accurate calculation of the CMSR in the presence of array errors based on a Monte Carlo trial. To efficiently and effectively solve the optimization problem, an advanced metaheuristic algorithm, i.e., the water cycle algorithm (WCA), is adopted when seeking the corresponding optimal weight vectors. Numerical results are provided and discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach including the results based on a wideband linearly spaced magneto-electric (ME) dipole array.


The gist of Dr Dickson's contribution to the BTO spring conference is contained in this abstract from a joint paper with Professor Lamb, given to the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (Special Publication No. 8, 1972).


Patient: Male, 70 Final Diagnosis: IgG4 RD Symptoms: Jaundice Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Objective: Rare disease Background: Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), also known as lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP), is a rare cause of chronic pancreatitis, characterized by a fibro-inflammatory process. However, patients with AIP may have a good response to corticosteroid therapy. We describe a Tunisian patient with AIP that was confirmed to be an IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Case Report: We describe a case of a 70-year-old man who was admitted to hospital for obstructive jaundice and abdominal pain. Serum liver function tests were abnormal and upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging showed diffuse pancreatic swelling and strictures of the main pancreatic duct without any focal lesion. Pancreatico-biliary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a thickened rim surrounding the pancreatic duct Serum IgG4 levels were elevated, resulting in a diagnosis of IgG4-related AIP. The patient showed a good clinical, biochemical, and radiological response following steroid therapy in combination with azathioprine. Conclusions: The diagnostic workup of IgG4-RD is complex and usually requires a combination of clinical examination, imaging, and serological analysis. As this case report has demonstrated, IgG4-RD should be considered in patients who present with pancreatitis or AIP, because of the favorable response to steroid therapy, particularly when treatment is initiated early.


Objective To analyze the relationship of the ciprofloxacin consumption and the drug resistance rates of 5 kinds of Gram-negative bacteria in our hospital from 2006 to 2011.Methods The yearly consumption of ciprofloxacin prescribed in our hospital and the resistance rates of 5 kinds of gram-negative bacteria in the 6 years were analyzed retrospectively.DDDs were calculated.The relationship between the resistance and the quantity was analyzed.Results The DDDs of ciprofloxacin had downward trends from 2006 to 2010,but it had a small growth in 2011.Escherichia coli resistance was relatively high( 60% ~ 75%); Klebsiella pneumoniae and pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance were relatively low( 30% ~ 40%).Enterobacter cloacae resistance rate was 30% ~ 40%,but the rate was more than50% in 2007.Acinetobacter baumannii resistance had a growing trend,it was the highest in 2008( 75%).A negative relationship between pseudomonas aeruginosa and DDDs of ciprofloxacin was found( r =- 0.933,P 0.01).No correlation between the resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae and DDDs of ciprofloxacin was found.Conclusion There is a negative correlation between the resistance rate of pseudomonas aeruginosa and DDDs of ciprofloxacin.


e14610 Background: Among the genetic abnormalities that occur in MALT lymphomas, the translocation t(11;18) is of particular interest because it is predominantly documented in MALT lymphomas of the...


The influence of dynamic bias voltage and vacuum on microstructure and properties of the coatings deposited by vacuum arc were studied.The results showed that the coatings deposited under control of dynamic parameters exhibited a lamellar structure with good compactibility and high microhardness and excellent wear resistance.The coatings consisted of Ti 2N and TiN at lower bias voltage of lower vacuum degree,while TiN at higher bias voltage or higher vacuum degree.


For Photovoltaic (PV) power systems to capture the maximum power from solar energy, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is necessary. Since the intermittent nature of solar energy and the ever-changing environment, MPPT may cause power and voltage fluctuations which may cause problems for grid stability. Furthermore, the fluctuation may increase the PV converter's heat load and reduce its service life. To limit power fluctuations, a flexible power point tracking (FPPT) scheme is proposed. As a result, the system is more dependable. This article proposes a FPPT scheme based on reinforcement learning (RL) to increase the FPPT performance in terms of high speed and precision. RL makes the system hardware structure simpler and enables faster tracking speed and higher accuracy than traditional methods. The open source OpenAI Gym platform is applied to construct the PV environment. The constructed simulation environment is applied to conduct experiments to evaluate the proposed control scheme's robustness in various environmental scenarios. The simulations results show the feasibility of the scheme with fast response and stable performance.


There is a consensus about SMEs being key to the growth of most economies in Africa and the world in general. SMEs have been branded as fecund drivers of economic growth and sustainable development in South Africa and the world at large. The existence of SMEs in any economy is of paramount importance despite them bullied by large corporations. There is growing recognition of the important role SMEs play in economic development. SMEs often described as efficient and prolific job creators, the seeds of big businesses and the fuel of national economic engines with much hype on their ability to create employment. Research on Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs is limited, especially in developing countries. Considering Hospitality sector in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region, corporate social responsibility has been growing greater importance in the minds of businesses. Given the enormity of the South African economy, social responsibility for business took centre stage during the socio-economic turbulence experienced in the country. While playing such a significant role in the economy, to address this, the study will investigate perceived effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility as a stimulant of growth for SMEs in the service sector in Pietermaritzburg municipal area. The research shall consider the convenience and purposive sampling as sampling strategies. It will employ a sampling design where participants are conveniently but purposively selected on a volunteering basis. The quantitative approach will be used where a questionnaire is going to be used to obtain and analyse primary data. The study will make use of numeric data making use of descriptive research design to drive results and conclusions. This shall be done by assessing the attitude levels of Hospitality SMEs towards corporate social responsibility; the practice of corporate social responsibility by hospitality SMEs; exploring barriers undermining the practice of corporate social responsibility by hospitality SMEs; and exploring SME owner-managers' values key to the sustainable growth of the business. This study aspired to expand and contribute significantly to the body of knowledge regarding CSR by examining CSR on sustainable growth of hospitality SMEs in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region. As new knowledge, the study proposed a model based on the Stakeholder Theory which is meant to assist Hospitality SMEs in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region to apply positive attitude towards embracing CSR in their businesses. However, the study recommends that local authorities and chambers of commerce must play a leading role in awareness and support mobilisation to try and motivate hospitality SMEs to practise CSR. In addition, it is recommended that the phrase ‗Corporate Social Responsibility' should be re-phrased as ‗Small Business Responsibility' or generally ‗Business Responsibility' as a way of contextualising the whole responsible business idea, promote and refer to the social responsibility of SMEs. The phrase simply drives SMEs to think that they are excluded from the practice because of their size. The concept Corporate Social Responsibility imposes a challenging journey on SMEs it is psychologically intimidating to SMEs, hence resistance to the practise of CSR.


The synthesis of 4-methyl/phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetraazafluoranthen-3(2H)-one 4 and 7 has been reported with ninhydrin via a reaction first with ethyl acetoacetate or ethyl benzoylacetate and then a reaction of the resultant esters with hydrazine hydrate. The mechanism of hydrazinolysis and cyclization to obtain tetraazafluoranthen-3(2H)-ones is ambiguous, and the previously proposed mechanism was not based on facts because the actual intermediates were not isolated. Herein, the important intermediates involved in the hydrazinolysis–cyclization mechanistic pathway were isolated and characterized using NMR and X-ray single-crystal analysis. The intermediates demonstrate that the reaction carried out via two hydrazinolysis–cyclization reactions, the first of which includes the condensation of one hydrazine molecule with two ketone groups and the second of which includes the reaction of another hydrazine molecule with the ester and then condensation with the other ketone group. The stability of hydrazide 11 enabled the hydrazine to reduce the carbonyl of the ketone group to form 12 via a Wolff–Kishner-like reduction. The structure of the three intermediates was confirmed using X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was found that the three fused ring systems deviated from planarity to different extents, with their deviation from being coplanar reaching up to 5.3°. The possible non-covalent interactions which control the molecular packing of these intermediates were elucidated with the aid of Hirshfeld analysis.


In various embodiments, the solar cell may include a plurality of electrode connector electrically conductive solar cell connector elements arranged parallel to each other; and a plurality of electrically non-conductive planar element and mutually isolated, electrically conductive connector elements disposed in a solar cell of the planar element on. Solar cell connector element isolating region disposed on a position of the planar element, such that, by connecting the respective solar cell element isolation position, preferably each divided into a plurality of electrically conductive connecting element is a solar cell are electrically isolated from the two solar cell connecting members.


The healthcare industry is being transformed by the Internet of Things (IoT), as it provides wide connectivity among physicians, medical devices, clinical and nursing staff, and patients to simplify the task of real-time monitoring. As the network is vast and heterogeneous, opportunities and challenges are presented in gathering and sharing information. Focusing on patient information such as health status, medical devices used by such patients must be protected to ensure safety and privacy. Healthcare information is confidentially shared among experts for analyzing healthcare and to provide treatment on time for patients. Cryptographic and biometric systems are widely used, including deep-learning (DL) techniques to authenticate and detect anomalies, andprovide security for medical systems. As sensors in the network are energy-restricted devices, security and efficiency must be balanced, which is the most important concept to be considered while deploying a security system based on deep-learning approaches. Hence, in this work, an innovative framework, the deep Q-learning-based neural network with privacy preservation method (DQ-NNPP), was designed to protect data transmission from external threats with less encryption and decryption time. This method is used to process patient data, which reduces network traffic. This process also reduces the cost and error of communication. Comparatively, the proposed model outperformed some standard approaches, such as thesecure and anonymous biometric based user authentication scheme (SAB-UAS), MSCryptoNet, and privacy-preserving disease prediction (PPDP). Specifically, the proposed method achieved accuracy of 93.74%, sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 92.1%, communication overhead of 67.08%, 58.72 ms encryption time, and 62.72 ms decryption time.


neuromas, arise from the vestibular branch of the eighth cranial nerve (acoustic nerve) and are benign, slow-growing brain tumors that negatively impact patient quality of life. They are thought to account for the majority of intracranial nerve sheath tumors. To describe incidence rate patterns and trends of primary nerve sheath tumors of the brain/CNS and the subset of vestibular schwannomas in two population-based incidence registries, data were obtained from 11 Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) collaborating state registries and the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (LACCSP) (1975–1998). Average annual incidence rates were tabulated by age, gender, race, year, and region and were age-adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population. Multiplicative Poisson regression models were used to compare trends in primary nerve sheath tumors of the brain/CNS overall and in subgroups, including vestibular schwannomas, controlling for age, gender, race, microscopic confirmation, and region. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to identify any sharp Descriptive epidemiology of vestibular schwannomas1


Poster: "ECR 2020 / C-07283 / An insight into the surgeon's mind: the CT aspect of the classic pancreaticoduodenectomy and its possible complications " by: " A. I. Neagu , C.-I. Betianu; Bucharest/RO"


The study investigated the determinants of adoption of improved cocoa technologies in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the socio economic characteristics of the cocoa farmers in the study area; identified the various technologies practiced by cocoa farmers in the study area and determined the intensity of adoption of improved technologies. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select eighty (80) respondents in four (4) local government areas namely: Ise/Orun LGA, Irepodun Ifelodun LGA, Oye LGA and Ekiti South-West LGA; which were predominated with cocoa farmers. Tobit model was used to examine the determinants and intensity of adoption of improved cocoa technologies. At 5% level of significance, variables that positively and significantly influence adoption of improved cocoa technologies include sex, level of education, source of information and visit by the extension agents; meaning they were important in the adoption of improved cocoa technologies and raises the probability of adoption by 9.14, 2.97, 2.98 and 3.94%. The age of the cocoa farmers; family size and the farm size were not significant and have negative coefficients meaning increase in these factors will reduce the likelihood of cocoa farmers adopting the improved techniques. Result of budgeting analysis implies a better performance of the adopters of improved cocoa technologies whereby the benefit cost ratio for the adopters and non-adopters of improved cocoa technologies were 3.50 and 1.26 respectively.


The present work reports findings obtained from the geoarchaeological study of the Sella river fluvial terraces, in the Eastern part of Asturias. The most outstanding results have been the identification of 12 terrace levels, located at + 110, +75-80, + 60-65, +40-50, + 27-30, + 17, + 12, + 10, + 8, + 6 and + 4 m above the actual level of the river; and the representation of the area comprised between Ribadesella and Cano in the geomorphological cartography. Upper level terraces are often overlaid by slope deposits, while those at the lowest levels are fossilized by recent torrential cones, due to the partial dismantlement of the slopes regularized by solifluction and the stratified debris covering the hillsides. Archaeological works have resulted in the discovery of 30 prehistoric sites linked to the terraces, where 118 lithics artefacts have been found on the surface, and the site of El Caxili with 93 pieces in stratigraphic sequence. One torrential cone which recovers partiality the fluvial terrace level + 10 m near Las Rozas has been dated by C14 method at 2.625 ± 55 BP .


Egg yolk phospholipids, on a 10 g scale, were resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography on an 8-m silica column with elution by a stepwise chloroformmethanol gradient into homogenous phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylethanolamine fractions. Within these fractions, partial resolution on the basis of fatty acyl side chain composition was achieved.


The effects of nutritional conditions on growth and protease production by the feather-degrading Chryseobacterium sp. kr6 were investigated. Higher growth was observed on feather-containing or tryptone (TR)medium when compared to casein (CA) or glucose-nitrogen (GN) base medium. Protease production occurred during growth on feather-containing and TRmedia, whereas no protease activity was detected on CAor GN medium, indicating that protease production is not constitutive, depending on the presence of specific complex nitrogen sources. Supplementation of whole feathers (WF)medium with glucose (WFG)or NH4Cl (WFN) did not result in major differences in growth and protease production, whereas soluble protein was lower in supplemented media. Glucose consumptiori and growth were higher on WFGthan on GN medium, suggesting that the absence of a specific complex nitrogen source limited bacterial growth. On WFmedium, this strain grew closely attached to the feather structures, initially on the barbules and subsequently on the feather rachis. It was observed, through zymogram analysis, that strain kr6 produced diverse proteolytic enzymes in response to different growth substrates. These results were confirmed by the differential behaviors of crude proteases towards protease inhibitors.


Natural fire is a process within the Earth system that is influenced by our climate and in turn does influence our climate. If and when fires occur depend on the one hand on the moisture of the vegetation, but also on the predominating vegetation type and plant productivity. On the other hand, biomass burning emissions – such as emissions of greenhouse gases, chemically active trace gases and aerosols into the atmosphere – and changes in the surface albedo (changes in the Earth's surface reflection abilities) affect the climate. Thus, fire as a feedback process in the Earth system can either amplify or dampen regional and global climate change.


Through analyzing the body height,weight and age of the elite foreign nationality players in NBA,NBA not only belongs to American player,but belongs to the elite foreign nationality player.


Respiratory diseases are common causes of hospital admission in children. Droplet transmission is the primary route of transmition in respiratory infections. The objective was to assess the burden of respiratory diseases on hospital admission of children during this Covid 19 pandemic and to assess the impact of Covid 19 preventive measures on it. An institutional based retrospective descriptive study based on secondary data was carried out at Professorial Paediatric unit Teaching hospital Jaffna. The data was extracted from the electronic patient management system. All the records of children who were primarily diagnosed with respiratory disease during the period of June 2020 to May 2021 were extracted. This data was compared with that of 2017. The total hospital admission has reduced from 4127 to 1049 during the pandemic. There was a significant decrease in total hospital admission during the covid 19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic {t (11.488) = 8.015 p<0.001}. Similarly, there was a significance decrease in the admissions due to respiratory diseases during the covid 19 pandemic {t(11.355) =5.982 p<0.001}. The percentage of respiratory admission has significantly reduced during the pandemic {t (21.997) =5.173 p<0.001}. Hospital admission due to respiratory illness has significantly reduced when compared to total admission during this pandemic. This may be attributed to social distancing, wearing mask and good hand hygiene.


Fatigue failure of steam turbines emanating from corrosion pits is still an issue for power plant operators today, even after decades of research to understand the phenomenon. In this work, the results of fatigue tests in the very high cycle fatigue regime are presented to quantitatively describe the influence of corrosion pits on the fatigue limit. The test material was dual certified 403/410 12% Cr martensitic steel which is commonly used for steam turbine blades in the low pressure region of the steam turbine where pitting corrosion preferentially occurs. Fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) measurements for both long cracks in the near threshold regime and cracks that were initiated at corrosion pits were performed. Additionally, S-N tests with smooth and pre-pitted specimens were carried out. The results were correlated in Kitagawa-Takahashi diagrams with the use of the approach of El Haddad and co-workers for short cracks. Furthermore, the influence of the stress ratio was investigated for both threshold stress intensity factor range Kth and fatigue limit th. With these results, the fatigue limit of specimens showing corrosion pits can be evaluated for any value of stress ratio (R≥-1).


M-commerce possesses two distinctive characteristics that distinguish it from traditional e-commerce: the mobile setting and the small form factor of mobile devices. Of these, the size of a mobile device will remain largely unchanged due to the tradeoff between size and portability. Small screen size and limited input capabilities pose a great challenge for developers to conceptualize user interfaces that have good usability while working within the size constraints of the device. In response to the limited screen size of mobile devices, there has been unspoken consensus that certain tools must be made available to aid users in coping with the relatively large volume of information. Recommender systems have been proposed to narrow down choices before presenting them to the user (Feldman, 2000). We propose a product catalogue where browsing is directed by an integrated recommender system. The recommender system is to take incremental feedback in return for browsing assistance. Product appearance in the catalogue will be dynamically determined at runtime based on user preference detected by the recommender system. The design of our hybrid m-commerce catalogue recommender system investigated the typical constraints of m-commerce applications to conceptualize a suitable catalogue interface. The scope was restricted to the case of having personal digital assistant (PDA) as the mobile device. Thereafter, a preference detection technique was developed to serve as the recommender layer of the system.


retrospective studies [9, 10] . In the first study, Rubegni et al. [9] treated 3 patients with 100 mg/day of thalidomide for 1 year and observed a complete response in 2 patients (including an immunosuppressed patient with systemic KS) and a partial response in the third. In the two responding cases, they observed a negativation of the HHV8 viral load in the skin and the blood. In the second study [10] , 11 patients were treated with a median dose of 100 mg/day for a median time of 3 months. The results are less impressive, with only 3 patients (27%) achieving a partial response. Out of these 14 patients, 4 (28%) discontinued thalidomide for side-effects. The overall response rate appears thus to be quite similar in KS, whether HIV associated or not, and lower than the response rates obtained with other systemic therapies such as interferon, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [10] or even radiotherapy in localized cases [11] . Taken together, these results suggest that thalidomide is not a major therapy for KS, with a disappointing response rate and limitations due to side-effects, although it could be useful in some specific cases as shown by Rubegni et al. [9] . However, an anti-angiogenic approach may still be interesting in KS, as suggested by Ben M'barek et al. [10] . With the 'rediscovery' of thalidomide, several structural analogues have been developed in an attempt to find compounds with thalidomide's properties without the associated side-effects. In particular, lenalidoThalidomide, well known by dermatologists for its anti-tumor necrosis factor activity, is used for several inflammatory cutaneous disorders. Anti-angiogenic properties of thalidomide, mediated by inhibition of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, were first shown in 1994 on a rabbit cornea model [1] . Since the mid 1990's, the discovery of this anti-angiogenic effect has led to renewed interest for this drug, especially in oncology [2] . Thalidomide has been shown to be an active and promising anti-carcinogenic drug, as a single agent or in combination with dexamethasone in hematological malignancy, such as relapsing or refractory multiple myeloma, myelodysplasia or acute myeloid leukemia [3] . Since Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angiogenic neoplasm, it has been logically hypothesized that thalidomide might be of interest in KS. Thalidomide was first studied in HIV-associated KS. In four publications that involved a total of 50 patients [4–7] , well reviewed and analyzed by Krown [8] , 17 patients (34%) showed objective KS regression. Dosages ranged from 100 to 1,000 mg/day during 8 weeks to 12 months; no complete response was observed, and HHV-8 viral load was reduced only in 3 responding cases. Eleven patients (22%) withdrew because of toxicity. In this issue of Dermatology, the effect of thalidomide is assessed for non-HIV KS (iatrogenic or classic) in two


We develop a generalized functional delta method, where the considered random function is not multiplied by a scalar, but by another function. It bases on a generalized Hadamard differentiability between special function spaces. For a certain class of functions, we calculate the Hadamard differential explicitely. We give an example, where the method allows for calculations that are not possible with previous methods.


The title compound, rubidium ditin(IV) tris(phosphate), RbSn2(PO4)3, belongs to the NASICON-type family of phosphates and crystallizes in the space group R . The structure is composed of PO4 tetrahedra (1 symmetry) and two slightly distorted SnO6 octahedra, both with 3. symmetry, which are interlinked through corner-sharing O atoms to form a 3 ∞[Sn2(PO4)3]− framework. The Rb+ cations are located on threefold inversion axes in the voids of this framework and exhibit a coordination number of 12. The crystal studied was twinned by merohedry with a component ratio of 0.503:0.497.


PURPOSE: To obtain a compound useful as an internal standard in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for determining the concentration of decomposition products of tributyl phosphate which was formed in solvent extraction process for recovering the uranium from waste or spent raw material. CONSTITUTION: To obtain the compound, water is added to the reacted mixture of dichloromethane, deuterated butanol, pyridine, phosphorus oxychloride, and the container is shaked to mix the reactant, the layer formed in the container is separated, the dichloromethane layer (bottom) is separated prior to the evaporation drying operation, primarily drying residue is formed by evaporating and drying, the primarily drying residue is treated with diethyl ether to obtain the ether solution this ether solution is evaporated and dried to form the second drying residue. When this residue is used as an internal standard it is possible to exclude the usage of diazomethane which is explosive and toxic, and routine analysis becomes more safe. COPYRIGHT: (C)1995,JPO


Simple Summary The assessment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is gaining acceptance as a robust biomarker to help predict prognosis and treatment response. We evaluated TILs in whole-slide images (WSIs) of breast cancer tissue specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA BRCA) and the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (UNC CBCS). Our approach utilized computational pathology to characterize the abundance and spatial distribution of TIL infiltrates in breast cancer WSIs. This work (1) examines the relationship between the global abundance and spatial features of TIL infiltrates with clinical outcomes in order to (2) evaluate their significance as prognostic biomarkers in a multifactorial analysis of progression-free interval in the TCGA BRCA and UNC CBCS datasets. Our findings present a paradigm for pathologists to assess the risk of recurrence in breast cancer by using computational pathology to spatially map, quantify, and interpret TILs in the tumor microenvironment. Abstract Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been established as a robust prognostic biomarker in breast cancer, with emerging utility in predicting treatment response in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. In this study, the role of TILs in predicting overall survival and progression-free interval was evaluated in two independent cohorts of breast cancer from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA BRCA) and the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (UNC CBCS). We utilized machine learning and computer vision algorithms to characterize TIL infiltrates in digital whole-slide images (WSIs) of breast cancer stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Multiple parameters were used to characterize the global abundance and spatial features of TIL infiltrates. Univariate and multivariate analyses show that large aggregates of peritumoral and intratumoral TILs (forests) were associated with longer survival, whereas the absence of intratumoral TILs (deserts) is associated with increased risk of recurrence. Patients with two or more high-risk spatial features were associated with significantly shorter progression-free interval (PFI). This study demonstrates the practical utility of Pathomics in evaluating the clinical significance of the abundance and spatial patterns of distribution of TIL infiltrates as important biomarkers in breast cancer.


Gear-up-throttle-down (GUTD) technique as a solution to match the load on tractor during field operation for better fuel economy. Experiments have proved that GUTD approach can save 20 to 30% fuel. Previously a DFE has been developed by keeping in mind the low education level of farmers of developing countries like India and their natural aversion towards complex system during cumbersome field operation. Now detailed performance analysis in laboratory as well in real-time field condition are required. Therefore the prime objective of this paper was to testing and performance analysis of digital fuel economizer (DFE) system. Dynamometer testing showed that DFE successfully identified minimum fuel consumption zone and resulted in 7.1 to 15.8% fuel saving for different loading conditions. Field experiment with two bottom mould board plough showed maximum 2.6 to 15.8 % fuel saving for different depths of operation. Experiments showed that with full load condition scope of DFE is very limited.


The contamination of water by a large variety of molecules is a major environmental issue that will require the use of efficient and versatile materials to purify hydrological systems from source to point-of-use. The present study describes the aqueous-phase adsorption of heavy metal ions and multiple organic compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations onto graphene-single-walled carbon nanotube free-standing hybrid papers. Optical absorption spectroscopy results clearly showed that the hybrid nanocomposites exhibit superior adsorption properties compared to activated carbon, the most widely used adsorbent to date.


Objective: To establish a method for quantification of residual methanol, n-butanol and 2-methoxyethanol in drug substance ioversol. Methods: Samples dissolved in N, N-dimethylacetamide were loaded onto the head space-GC and then was equilibrated at 80℃ for 45min. Toluene was used as internal standard. The optimal gas chromatography was run in a PEG20M capillary column (30m×0.53mm). The initial column temperature was kept at 50℃ for 2min. The column temperature was then escalated to 200℃ at the rate of 5℃·min~(-1) and subsequently sustained for 10min. The temperature at the injection port and the FID detector were 220℃ and 250℃, respectively. N_2 was used as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1mL·min~(-1). Results: Methanol, n-butanol and 2-methoxyethanol showed a linear plot within 61.5~418.9μg·mL~(-1), 59.3~419.5μg·mL~(-1) and 20~140μg·mL~(-1), respectively, with a mean recovery of 97.7%, 99.5% and 98.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The sensitive and accurate method was reliable in the quantification of residual solvents.


The polarization dependence of the photodetachment cross section for Fe2+ ions on ``a'' sites in YIG:Si is shown to provide a mechanism which explains part of the photoinduced uniaxial anisotropy in this material. Using a crystal‐field theory, we have obtained quantitative predictions for the relative anisotropy in the cross section and found that a 5%–10% population imbalance between differently oriented sites is expected for light polarized along the [110] direction. We also report new experimental measurements which characterize the magnetization and the light polarization dependence of the uniaxial anisotropy. The measurements show a substantial polarization‐independent photomagnetic anneal, not included in the theory. However, the polarization‐dependent inducible anisotropy is in general accord with the proposed mechanism.


Key Points  The information obtained from advanced imaging of the upper airway aids in decision making in cases of upper airway disease disease.  Ultrasonography is a valuable part of a complete laryngeal examination and is an inexpensive, non-invasive procedure.  MRI and CT allow more complete examination of the airway in some situations but nearly always require general anesthesia and additional cost.


In this paper, we propose a feature expansion approach for the lowest one-dimension (1-D) time series data classification problems, where the expanded features include temporal, frequency, and statistical characteristics. We show that the proposed feature expansion can improve the classification accuracy compared to conventional machine learning algorithms for data classification. This is because the expanded features enable classifiers to consider multiple dimensions which are not feasible for low dimension data. Experiment results show that the proposed feature expansion method can improve the classification performance compared to conventional machine learning algorithms for 1-D actual biosensor data.


With reference to 'Sign of the times for the hard of hearing' (Letters February 5), I have been sent details of basic sign language courses from my local Hearing Impairment Centre.


The coating comprises a hybrid copolymer, the (b) organic functional alkoxysilane incorporating (a) (i) a first monomer and (ii) a second monomer comprising an organoalkoxysilane containing hydroxy-functional organo acrylate comprising the reaction product of a second material. The first monomer may be hydroxy-functional acrylate and / or hydroxyalkyl acrylate. The second monomer may be a trialkoxysilane. The second loading material leaves trialkoxysilanes out a hand mourning good.


We report the transport characteristics of both electrons and holes through narrow constricted crystalline Si "wall-like" long-channels that were surrounded by a thermally grown SiO2 layer. The strained buffering depth inside the Si region (due to Si/SiO2 interfacial lattice mismatch) is where scattering is seen to enhance some modes of the carrier-lattice interaction, while suppressing others, thereby changing the relative value of the effective masses of both electrons and holes, as compared to bulk Si. In the narrowest wall devices, a considerable increase in conductivity was observed as a result of higher carrier mobilities due to lateral constriction and strain. The strain effects, which include the reversal splitting of light- and heavy-hole bands as well as the decrease of conduction-band effective mass by reduced Si bandgap energy, are formulated in our microscopic model for explaining the experimentally observed enhancements in both conduction- and valence-band mobilities with reduced Si wall thi...


Let ) 2 , (d C , ) 2 , (d AC , and ) 2 , (d CC be the largest order of a Cayley graph of a group, an Abelian group, and a cyclic group, respectively, of diameter 2 and degree d. The currently known best lower bounds on these parameters are 2 / ) 1 ( ) 2 , ( 2   d d C for degrees 1 2   q d where q is an odd prime power, ) 4 )( 8 / 3 ( ) 2 , ( 2   d d AC where 2 4   q d for an odd prime power q , and  ) 2 , (d CC ) 2 )( 3 )( 25 / 9 (   d d for 3 5   p d where p is an odd prime such that 2  p mod 3 . For diameter two we present a construction for `large' Cayley graphs of semidirect products of groups out of `small' Cayley graphs of cyclic groups, such that the ratio of the order of the graph to the square of the degree of the graph is approximately the same for both the input and the output graphs. As a consequence we obtain a lower bound on ) 2 , (d C of the form ) ( ) 25 / 9 ( 2 d O d  for a much larger variety of degrees than those listed above.


Generalized predictive control algorithms are a powerful control design method widely applied to industrial processes. However, there is no easy way to tune the design parameters, mainly prediction and control horizons, in order to achieve optimal performance. In this work, a genetic algorithm is proposed whose aim is to find on line the optimal values for the tuning parameters.


In 1885 Weierstrass proved that every function continuous on a closed interval can be approximated, as accurately as we please, by ordinary polynomials and by trigonometric polynomials. Combined with the remarkable algebraic ideas of Chebyshev, these first deep general theorems served as the foundation for the subsequent construction of a general theory of the approximation of functions in the complex as well as the real domain. The most interesting results in the classical direction of estimating the accuracy of approximation in terms of the individual properties of the functions being approximated were obtained by Borel, Lebesgue, de la Valle'e Poussin, Bernstein, Akhiezer, and Jackson. Estimates of the orders of approximations valid for a class of functions were obtained by Pavard, Kolmogorov, Nikol' skii, and many other authors. In the work of all these mathematicians deep and precise relationships were established between the rapidity of approximation and the analytic properties of the function being approximated. Similar questions about the possibility of approximating functions in the complex domain led to the necessity of considering also the geometric properties of the sets on which approximations were being made. Here we may mention papers by Lavrent' ev, Keldysh, Mergelyan, and others, who obtained precise general results for this group of problems. Without entering into a discussion of all the directions in which the theory of approximations has developed during the last 80 years, we recall only that, in the most classical of these, estimates of the degree of best approximation were obtained for analytic functions by Jackson and Bernstein, and for those satisfying Dini-Lipschitz conditions by Lebesgue and Bernstein. Many proofs are now known of Weierstrass' s theorem for ordinary polynomials, but one of the most effective is that due to Bernstein, which has become classical. If f(x) is everywhere defined and bounded on [θ, l], then the sequence of polynomials


In I99I, shortly before the United States went to war against Iraq, Japanese consul-general Masamichi Hanabusa told a New York audience: 'Who will control the oil is a serious issue for the US this time. But it is not a serious issue forJapan. It is of course better that oil is in friendly hands. But experience tells us that whoever controls oil will be disposed to sell it. " Hanabusa may not have expressed official Japanese government views, but he nevertheless echoed a sentiment widespread in many quarters, that in the wake of the Cold War, it is time for this kind of new thinking, thinking that questions past dogmas: among them, that oil is a resource that 'the West'-some conglomeration of industrial states or their proxies, such as large multinational companies must control. This question of the old oil security orthodoxy is rooted in a belief that the world is becoming increasingly interdependent.2 Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War put the control of oil back at the centre stage after nearly a decade in the wings. And for the rest of the I99OS the role of oil will be affected by the many changes-some of them revolutionary that occurred in international oil commerce during the I980s. These changes may require new thinking, like Hanabusa's, especially about OPEC, about the international political framework within which oil commerce takes place, about the role of the former Soviet Union in oil affairs, about everrising US dependence on Middle Eastern oil and, finally, about the effects of the global environmental movement on world oil demand. Before reviewing what is likely to be, however, it is worth touching on what will not be: namely, Iraqi hegemony over the Persian Gulf. The Gulf War of


This paper presents a study on the driveline output torque estimation using a discrete Kalman filter. The in-situ output shaft torque is first measured by a non-contacting magneto-elastic torque transducer. The linear state-space system equations are first derived and the discrete Kalman filter is designed based on the Kalman filter theory to recover the driveline output torque contaminated by random noises. In addition to using torque measurement, the estimation of the output torque using two angular velocities: the output and wheel, is also conducted. The experimental results show that the discrete Kalman filter can be effective for not only removing the random noise in output torque but also estimating the output torque without torque measurement.


Summary Background: Post-surgical evaluation of the pituitary gland in MRI is difficult because of a change of anatomical conditions. It depends also on numerous other factors, including: size and expansion of a tumour before surgery, type of surgical access, quality and volume of filling material used and time of its resorption.The aim of the study was to compare MR image of the pituitary gland after surgery with clinical findings and to establish a correlation between MRI presentation of spared pituitary and its hormonal function. Material/Methods: 124 patients after resection of pituitary adenomas – 409 MRI results in total – were studied. With a 1.5-T unit, T1-weighted sagittal and coronal, enhanced and unenhanced images were obtained. Results: The pituitary gland seemed to be normal in MRI in 11 patients, 8 of them had completely regular pituitary function but in 3 of them we noticed a partial hypopituitarism. In 99 patients only a part of the pituitary gland was recognised, 53 of them had hypopituitarism but 46 of them were endocrinologically healthy. 14 patients seemed to have no persistent pituitary gland in MRI, in comparison to hormonal studies: there was panhypopituitarism in 6 and hypopituitarism in 8 cases. Conclusions: MRI presentation of post – surgical pituitary gland doesn't necessarily correlate with its hormonal function – there was a significant statistical difference. Some patients with partial pituitary seems normal hormonal function. In some cases the pituitary seem normal in MRI but these patients have hormonal disorders and need substitution therapy.


"Boundary Theory" holds that ethnic group is maintained by its boundary, which has gradually developed from its interactions within groups; meanwhile, boundary is the tool of the subjective cognition and decision for ethnic group to distinguish itself from other groups. In light of the case of Lai people, the identification comes from the explication of their ancestral legendaries. Rooted in emic perspective,"Boundary Theory" attaches greater importance to the dynamic relations within groups than"Objective-Trait Theory"which identifies groups by their static traits.


Certainty equivalence control with forcing has been shown to be optimal for several stochastic adaptive control problems with the average cost per unit time criterion. Recently researchers have started looking at stochastic adaptive control problems with a view to minimizing the rate of increase of the learning loss. This criterion is stronger than the average cost per unit time criterion. Certainty equivalence control with forcing does not usually suffice for the learning loss criterion and one has to develop fairly complicated schemes in order to achieve optimality. The objective of this paper is to see how well one might be able to do with a certainty-equivalence-control with forcing type of scheme. In particular we construct a class of such schemes whose learning loss is O((log n) 1+8) for 8 > 0, whereas optimal schemes typically have a O(log n) learning loss.


The high R-naught factor of SARS-CoV-2 has created a race against time for mankind and it necessitates rapid containment actions to control the spread. In such scenario short term accurate spatiotemporal predictions can help understanding the dynamics of the spread in a geographic region and identify hotspots. We propose an ensemble of convolutional LSTM based spatiotemporal model to forecast spread of the epidemic with high resolution and accuracy in a large geographic region. A data preparation method is proposed to convert spatial causal features into set of 2D images with or without temporal component. The model has been trained with available data for USA and Italy. It achieved 5.57% and 0.3% mean absolute percent error for total number of predicted infection cases in a 5day prediction period for USA and Italy respectively.


—Multimedia images are the primary source of communication across social media and other websites. Multimedia security has gained the attention of modern researchers and has posed dynamic challenges such as image forensics, image tampering, and deep fakes. Malicious users tamper with the image embedding noise, leading to misinterpretation of the content. Identifying and authenticating the image by detecting the forgery operations performed on it is essential. In our proposed model, we detect the forged region using the machine learning model SVM in the first iteration and Convolution Neural Network in the second iteration with Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) for feature extraction. The proposed model is tested with a Corel 10K dataset, and an average accuracy of 98% is obtained for all kinds of image operations, including scaling, rotation, and augmentation.


The author discerns three types of semantic units formalized in the lexical fund of the natural languages: predicates, shifters and proper names. She discusses the position of numerals as situated between predicates and shifters and concludes that they should be treated as predicates.


Work and Organizational Psychology's Characteristics in the Brazilian Undergraduate Education in Psychology This paper aims to analyse the presence of Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) in the Brazilian psychological training after the changes brought about by new National Curricular Guidelines. A convenience sample of 43 pedagogical projects from public and private higher education institutions throughout Brazil was submitted to a documental analysis. As results, WOP was found to be mentioned in 41 courses, specifically in the context of graduates' student profiles and their training as psychologists. All the courses require students to enroll in at least one class in WOP, which is equivalent to 10% of the total training workload. The analysis showed that WOP is related to discussions concerning quality of life and worker health in such contexts as organizations, public policies and unions. In addition to recovering a wide thematic diversity, the findings suggest that WOP has an important place in the training of psychologists in Brazil.


The invention discloses an antineoplastic podophyllum traditional Chinese medicine extract and a preparation method and application thereof. The antineoplastic podophyllum traditional Chinese medicine extract contains a podophyllotoxin compound and a flavonoid compound. The preparation method comprises the following steps of: drying podophyllum plants, crushing, screening, extracting by using ethanol solution, and filtering to obtain total ethanol extract; and extracting the total ethanol extract by using ethyl acetate and n-butanol in turn to obtain ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract respectively, wherein concentrates of the total ethanol extract, the ethyl acetate extract and the n-butanol extract are the antineoplastic podophyllum traditional Chinese medicine extract. The invention proves that: the podophyllum traditional Chinese medicine extract which contains the podophyllotoxin compound and the flavonoid compound has a good antineoplastic effect, particularly on ethyl acetate extraction parts. The podophyllum traditional Chinese medicine extract has low toxicity to normal cells, is applied to the preparation of antineoplastic medicines, has high efficiency, and meets the requirements of medicine development.


IN A LITTLE HOUSE with brown tiled roof and coffee walls, Mrs Orakei is at home. So is Master Orakei. They are applying action to thought in the matter of the front garden. Mrs Orakei wears a red jumper and grey slacks, Master Orakei wears a crimson jersey suit which parts in the middle because he has grown taller. They both look very brown and well, the effect of the sun and the sea wind. Mrs Orakei desists from her gardening. 'No', she says, 'I wasn't a bit thrilled when I heard we were to have a Government house; I wasn't thrilled till I saw it. I expected them to be like glorified railwaymen's cottages — all the same size, all the same colour and stuck in straight rows. But these are real homes, not just houses.'


Sublethal concentrations of organophosphorous pesticide Chlorpyrifos (0, 0-Diethyl – 0 – 3, 5, 6 – trichloro-2- pyridy phosphorothioate) were investigated with fresh water teleost fish Channa punctatus. Fish were exposed to 1/3rd (1.46 µl/l) and 1/10th (0.538 µl/l) of 24 h LC50 for the period 3 days toxicity (short term exposure) and 7 day (long term exposure) through static renewal test. Liver and gill samples were collected after 3 & 7 days of exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) and lesions were analyzed by upright microscopy. The main histopathological changes caused by CPF in gills exposed to the highest concentration were edema, lifting of lamellar epithelia and an intense vasodilatation of the lamellar vascular axis. Although less frequent, lamellar fusion caused by the filamentar epithelium proliferation and some lamellar aneurisms were also found. Gill disorders include hypertrophy; hyperplasia and lifting of epithelial cells and fusion of secondary lamellae were pronounced in all treatment. The liver of control group exhibited a quite normal architecture, while the fish exposed to CPF showed vacuolation and necrosis. These hepatic alterations were more evident in fish exposed to higher concentrations and long term exposure tenure. Liver suffered from toxicity as hypertrophy of hepatocytes, infiltration of leukocytes, necrosis and fibrosis. Even low dose of CPF produced severe pathological lesion for long term exposure in gills as well as liver. Key wards: Histopathology, Chlorpyrifos, Channa punctatus, gill, liver etc.


This paper presents a wideband 16-channel dual-beam receive (RX) phased-array beamformer in a 90-nm SiGe BiCMOS process. Radio-frequency (RF) beamforming is implemented, and each channel has 5-bit phase control and 25 dB gain control. The dual-beam channel outputs are combined with two wideband Wilkinson networks. The chip has 27.3 dB electronic gain with a 3.4-28.7 GHz 3-dB bandwidth and a 2.1-2.3 dB noise figure (NF) up to 21 GHz. To the authors' knowledge, this work achieves the widest operating bandwidth among RX beamformers for satellite communication (SATCOM). Application areas are in phased arrays for C/X/Ku/Ka-band SATCOM ground terminals.


Preface Part One 1. Euripides on the Use and Abuse of Revelation in the Service of the Political Order 2. The Divine, an Unsettling Duality, and the Conduct of One's Life: Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannos Revisited 3. On Aristophanes' Clouds 4. Socrates' Dangerous Piety 5. Plato on the Divine in Human Affairs 6. Maimonides and Others on Faith, Philosophy, and Governing Principles 7. Conscience and Citizenship 8. El Greco and His Successors 9. Miguel de Cervantes on Death, the Divine, and the Proper Ordering of Human Affairs 10. Thomas Hobbes on Church and State 11. John Milton's Paradise Epics and the Divinely-Ordained Redemption of the Human Race 12. Challenges Posed by the Aztecs 13. The Holocaust and the Divine Ordering of Human Affairs ii. Part Two 1. Nature and the Divine in the Declaration of Independence 2. Benedict Arnold, Providence, and the Fates of Citizens and of Nations 3. Benjamin Franklin and the Workings of the Divine - At Least in America 4. "In the Year of [What] Lord?" 5. Political Symbols and the Sacred in the United States 6. Thomas Jefferson and Religious Liberty 7. Abraham Lincoln and the Almighty 8. Presidential Invocations of the Divine 9. Presidential Farewell Addresses 10. Revelation, Human Understanding, and the Ordering of the Good Life: The "Mormon" Movement 11. Revelation and the Use of the United States Postal System: The "I Am" Movement 12. An Earth Elsewhere? 13. Yearnings for the Divine and the Natural Animation of Matter Appendices A. The Declaration of Independence (1776) "Appendices A, B, and C should be taken from Reflections on Slavery and the Constitution" B. The United States Constitution (1787) C. The Amendments to the United States Constitution (1791-1992) D. On the "Destiny" of the Jews in Eastern Europe (1939-1945) D (1) God, Please Choose Somebody Else (2000) D (2) In Eastern Europe, Anti-Semitism Is a Kind of Religion (2000) E. Martin E. Marty, George Anastaplo on the Christian Heritage (2010) F. George Anastaplo, On the Human Soul and Eternity (2010) G. Christopher A. Colmo, George Anastaplo's Appeal to Nature (2012) H. George Anastaplo, Reflections upon Any Trial for Impiety Not Only of Socrates But Also of Us (2013) I. George Anastaplo, Life and Death in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (2013) J. Harry V. Jaffa, Foreword for George Anastaplo's Further Thoughts on Abraham Lincoln: Discourse on Chance and Public Life (2013) K. Roger H. Hildebrand, On the Use by Physicists of Life-like Words (2013) L. John Van Doren, Silence at Delphi (2013) M. Roster of Cases Drawn On About the Author


Abstract The chemistry of different routes to the manufacture of vinyl chloride monomer is discussed. Their economic advantages and drawbacks are considered. The balanced process for ethylene-based vinyl chloride production is discussed in detail and an overall process for the same is described. The effects of catalyst, temperature, and reaction steps on product and by-product are analyzed. Recent trends in vinyl chloride processes result in energy savings and have fewer side reactions and increased conversion levels. Future trends such as mixed-gas feedstocks and patents are hinted at.


The interaction of online teaching is an import factor for teaching efficiency. Due to massive students and spatial isolation, online teaching has a much lower interactive effect than classroom teaching. To address the issue, a fine-grained evaluation approach is proposed to test different online interactive tools, and the individualized and automated interactive method for large-scale online teaching is given. The paper summarizes various feasible online interactive tools in information technology and artificial intelligence, which provides support for interactive demands in different scenarios. The work could largely raise the interests, participation and learning efficiency of students.


The purpose of this paper is to discuss problems concerning the observation and cinematographic description of technical practices. Which meaning should we attribute today to this topic within the present framework of the ethno-anthropological disciplines? Starting from an experience of observation and video documentation of traditional weaving in Sardinia, I propose to define a visual approach based on the principles of cultural technology in some of its recent developments.


Background: The incidence of Celiac Disease (CD) raises in children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CD in children with DCM compared with controls. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 38 patients with DCM and 76 healthy controls to evaluate tTG and IgA during 2013 2014. Echocardiography was performed for all patients to detect cardiomyopathy. The exclusion criteria were IgA deficiency, history of digestive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders, iron deficiency, kidney disease, fever, and chronic diseases. Samples were centrifuged and the separated sera were kept at -70°C until tTG IgA and total IgA were measured by ELISA kit. After all, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 20 and were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests. Significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: This study was performed on 114 children; 38 in the case and 76 in the control group. The results showed no significant difference between the two groups regarding the means of continuous variables, including sex, tTG status, and diseases. From the 38 patients in the case group, 31 ones (81.58%) had normal tTG (≤ 20) and 7 ones (18.42%) had abnormal tTG (≥ 20). However, 72 participants in the control group (94.74%) showed normal tTG status (≥ 20). The results showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding tTG status (chi-square = 5.031, P = 0.025). Conclusions: The results revealed a positive association between CD and DCM regardless of serologyor pathology-based diagnostic tools. This suggests the need for increasing awareness of patients with DCM regarding CD. *Corresponding author: Iraj Shahramian, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Rajaei St, Zabol, IR Iran, Tel: +71-5422233624, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Evaluation of Celiac Disease in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy ►Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: The results of this study could be used for promotion of CD screening in children with DCM. These results could also provide a possible explanation for failure to thrive in patients with DCM. 1. Background Celiac Disease (CD) is a gluten sensitive immune disorder that occurs in about 10/1000 population in Europe and North America (1). The prevalence of CD ranges from 0.5% to 12% in patients with schizophrenia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), respectively. Recently, studies have focused on genetic and environmental factors of CD rather than its prevalence and incidence (2, 3). Evidence has revealed an sssociation between CD and other autoimmune disorders, such as insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroid disease, and connective tissue disorders. Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of heart muscles and predominantly affects the left ventricle (3, 4), which includes the leading pumping chamber of the heart. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is recognized by left ventricular dilation that is concerned with systolic dysfunction. The incidence of DCM has been reported to be 0.57 per 100


Trey was an active 11-year-old boy having fun at a friend's birthday party, when a tree limb fell in a strong wind and hit his head, causing a massive head injury. Immediately, Trey became unconscious and his nose began bleeding. His parents and 911 were called. Emergency medical technicians arrived and attempted to resuscitate Trey. His parents, Marjorie Helm and Chip Atkin, who are social workers, also arrived to attend to their only child.


A new high voltage field-effect transistor is described. It features an array of uncontacted gate elements between the main gate and the drain which float so as to inhibit avalanche breakdown. Good agreement is obtained between model predictions and the performance of experimental devices fabricated in Si-TaSi/sub 2/ semiconductor-metal eutectic material. Transistors are demonstrated which hold off up to 1000 V, compared with the avalanche breakdown potential of 300 V or less expected for conventional devices made with similarly doped silicon.


The conservation of natural gas and oil resources is a national objective likely to be permanent. Regulatory requirements and economics favor further reduction in the use of these resources for the generation of electricity. Electric utilities reduced their consumption of natural gas and oil over the past few years through use of ''economic dispatch.'' Growth in national demand for electricity declined as new coal- and nuclear-fueled power plants entered operation, creating a substantial excess of reserve margin. Thus, plants fueled by natural gas and oil could be idled as new plants with lower marginal costs of generation picked up the load. This situation may reverse during the late 1980s as the reserve margins decline due to restoration of growth of electricity demand and delays in construction of new plants operating on coal and nuclear energy. The slippages in new plant construction can be partly compensated through conversion of existing oil- and gas-fired power plants to coal. Also, these conversions can have nearer term impact due to the expected speed with which existing plants can be converted, as compared with new plant construction. Therefore, the Division of Direct Combustion Applications in the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy is examining,more » on a unit-by-unit basis, existing oil- and gas-fired power plants to determine the specific factors that would affect such a conversion. Conversions of this type should only be encouraged where they are reasonable. Financial, economic, regulatory, environmental and technical issues all must be considered before the conclusion may be reached that a fuel conversion is sensible, and all of these factors are addressed in the Department's study. 14 refs., 13 tabs.« less


Thao-wan-priang , Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth., has long been used in Thai traditional medicine as diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic and muscle relaxant. The quality standard of this crude drug has not been reported. Therefore a study was conducted on 16 samples of crude drug obtained from the Northern, Northeastern and Central parts of Thailand. The values of total ash content, acid-insoluble ash content, water extractive, 50 % ethanol extractive, 95 % ethanol extractive, moisture content and foaming index were given. Chemical identification of this crude drug both by Thin-layer chromatography and High-performance liquid chromatography was also reported. The results of this study can be used to set up the appropriate chemical and physical specifications of Thao-wan-priang which will be useful for quality control of this crude drug and its health products. KEY WORDS : Thao-wan-priang , Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth., chemical and physical specifications, quality control, health products.


We present B, V, R, and I photometry of the metal-poor globular cluster in the galactic halo, NGC 6426. The observations were performed using the 1.3 m Telescope at Skinakas Observatory in Crete. We derived the reddening of the cluster to be E(B-V) = 0.39 ± 0.02 [E(V-I) = 0.53 ± 0.03]. The metal abundance of the cluster was estimated from the shape of the red giant branch following the techniques by Sarajedini and by Da Costa & Armandroff. It was found to be [Fe/H] = -2.33 ± 0.15 dex. The mean V magnitude of the RR Lyrae variables found in the cluster is 18.14 ± 0.02 (based on a paper in preparation). The resulting distance modulus of the cluster is 16.41 ± 0.07. Finally, we derived the relative age of NGC 6426. Using the methodology of Harris et al., we found that NGC 6426 is marginally older than M92 (by ≃0.7 Gyr). Following the Chaboyer, Demarque, & Sarajedini method we found NGC 6426 to have the same age as the mean metal-poor globular cluster of the galactic halo.


This paper presents some results of a 3D scour assessment downstream of the penstocks of Bluestone Dam, West Virginia, US. The assessment makes use of the Comprehensive Scour Model (CSM) developed by Bollaert (2002, 2004). This practical engineering model is physics based and relates the hydrodynamic pressure fluctuations generated by flow spillage to the resistance of the downstream foundation to rock block ejection, rock mass fracturing and rock block peeling off. It has been developed based on detailed pressure measurements performed on a near-prototype scaled experimental facility and accounts for two-phase transient wave propagation of pressures inside joints of the rock. The model is not only able to predict the ultimate scour depth, but also the time and spatial evolution of the scour hole as a function of future flood events. At Bluestone Dam, the jets issuing from the penstocks are very shallow and, as such, generate particular 3D flow turbulence conditions inside the flow dissipation area just downstream. The CSM has been adapted and applied to these shallow turbulent jets in order to allow a 3D spatial assessment of the time evolution of scour formation through the rocky foundation. This foundation mainly consists of ortho-quartzite, interbedded shale layers and claystone. These complex local geological conditions have been accounted for with depth in a quasi-3D manner. The model predicts future scour development by rock mass fracturing (CFM), rock block uplift (DI) and finally rock block peeling off by return currents (QSI, Bollaert 2009). The latter is of particular importance because it directly leads to regressive erosion towards the toe of the dam. INTRODUCTION Bluestone Dam was constructed in the 1940's. The original design intent was to provide flood control for the Kanawha River Basin and hydroelectric power generation capacity. At the height of World War II, construction efforts were temporarily suspended because of labor and steel shortages. Once construction was re-initiated, the hydroelectric power function of the dam was revisited. It was decided at that time to only install the six, 19 foot diameter penstocks and indefinitely delay the powerhouse and turbine construction. The original conservation pool was 1,490 feet assuming a hydroelectric function. Because the dam currently serves as a flood control structure only, the operating pools are 1406 feet during winter months and 1,410 feet during summer months. The pool of record for the facility is elevation 1,506 feet, which occurred during a storm event in 1960. 1 President, AquaVision Engineering Ltd., Chemin des Champs-Courbes 1, CH-1024 Ecublens, SWITZERLAND, email@example.com Phase I of the Bluestone DSA (Dam Safety Assurance) began in September 2000. Dam stability has been improved by the addition of mass concrete thrust blocks. This required the six penstocks to be extended. Additional discharge capacity during the PMF will be realized by the installation of sacrificial bulkheads on the downstream end of the penstocks. Figure 1. General view of dam with 6 penstocks (left hand side) with thrust blocks and stop logs being installled. (courtesy: Public Affairs, USACE, Huntington District). HYDROLOGIC DEFICIENCY The original spillway design flood for Bluestone Dam produced an estimated 430,000 cfs of discharge through the outlet works and the stilling basin (no penstock flows). Current USACE criteria require that the design flood be based on the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). This condition is expected to produce a maximum flow rate of about 880,000 cfs in the spillway area and an additional 165,000 cfs through the penstocks, for an upstream pool elevation of 1,546.8 ft. Hence, the overflow spillway, stilling basin and control structures were designed for less than half of the current design flood. Accordingly, this design flood is expected to generate severe damage to the structures and to scour the bedrock in the stilling basin and downstream of the penstocks. Physical model studies conducted at ERDC (Vicksburg) support these concerns and showed high turbulence and scour potential near the spillway apron end sill and downstream of the penstocks. Given the extreme character of the PMF event, under USACE guidelines, the primary objective is to retain the pool and stabilize the dam. In other words, extensive damage to energy dissipation systems and bedrock surface is expected and acceptable as long as the dam and the pool are maintained. SCOUR MECHANISMS AT BLUESTONE DAM The CSM estimates the ultimate depth of scour and the time evolution of scour in partially or totally fractured rock. The model is physically based and, at its origin, comprises a comprehensive assessment of three major physical processes that are responsible for rock mass destruction by turbulent flow impingement: 1) CFM module: hydrodynamic fracturing of closed-end rock joints (= joints that are not completely formed yet); 2) DI module: dynamic uplift of rock blocks (= once the joint network is completely formed). 3) QSI module: peeling off of protruding (flat-shaped) rock blocks generated by turbulent jets deviating on the rock mass and generating a high-velocity flow oriented towards upstream and parallel to protruding blocks. The latter module computes the pressure fluctuations generated by the regressive wall jet and by the relative protrusion of distinct rock blocks/plates and determines whether blocks will be peeled off (ejected or detached from the matrix) or not. It defines regressive erosion towards the dam toe. The main parameters of influence are (Bollaert, 2009 and 2010): the angle and location of the impacting turbulent jet; the diffusion of this jet through the local water depth; the velocity of this jet upon deviation at the pool bottom into a wall jet; the percentage of the flow that is deviated towards upstream; the velocity profile of the wall jet towards upstream; the rock foundation or plunge pool bottom protrusion that may deviate the currents and generate dynamic pressure fluctuations. Figure 2 illustrates how the low angle jet impacting the water-rock interface produces an upstream oriented wall jet that generates a backflow and turbulent flow conditions at protruding rock blocks. This backflow is transformed by the numerical model into turbulent uplift pressures that may detach (peel off) rock blocks. The model automatically adapts the strength of the backflow and related turbulent pressure fluctuations at each point of the numerical grid to the evolution of the scour hole shape. Scour by peeling off ends when the uplift pressures are not able anymore to detach and/or uplift distinct rock blocks/plates.


Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and body fat percentage (BF%) with arterial stiffness and dilation capacity were investigated in 160 prepubertal children (83 girls) 6–8 years of age. We assessed CRF (watts/lean mass) by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, total PA, structured exercise, unstructured PA, commuting to and from school, recess PA and total and screen‐based sedentary behavior by questionnaire, BF% using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, and arterial stiffness and dilation capacity using pulse contour analysis. Data were adjusted for sex and age. Poorer CRF (standardized regression coefficient β = −0.297, P < 0.001), lower unstructured PA (β = −0.162, P = 0.042), and higher BF% (β = 0.176, P = 0.044) were related to higher arterial stiffness. When CRF, unstructured PA, and BF% were in the same model, only CRF was associated with arterial stiffness (β = −0.246, P = 0.006). Poorer CRF was also related to lower arterial dilation capacity (β = 0.316, P < 0.001). Children with low CRF (< median) and high BF% (≥ median; P = 0.002), low CRF and low unstructured PA (< median; P = 0.006) or children with low unstructured PA and high BF% (P = 0.005) had higher arterial stiffness than children in the opposite halves of these variables. Poor CRF was independently associated with increased arterial stiffness and impaired arterial dilation capacity among children.


The article "Evaluation of a Pediatric Multiple Vitamin Preparation For Total Parenteral Nutrition in Infants and Children" by Moore et al (Pediatrics 1986; 77:530-538) confused me. The study of vitamin levels is crucial to making recommendations, but why would the authors choose to give all premature infants 65% of the recommended dose for infants and children, when the package insert clearly states, "Infants less than 1 kg: the daily dose should not exceed 30% of the contents. Do not exceed this daily dose"?


Open reduction and internal fixation with anterior compartment fasciotomy for fractures of both tibial plateaus in a 36-year-old woman was complicated by deep-vein thrombosis three days after surgery. After establishing anticoagulation, continuous passive motion (CPM) was instituted. Twenty-four hours after the commencement of CPM, an anterior compartment syndrome developed. A second operation revealed a large hematoma within the anterior compartment musculature, the development of which appeared to be the result of the combination of continuous passive motion and anticoagulation therapy in a seriously injured limb. In this clinical condition, especially close observation for the development of signs of elevated intracompartmental pressure is mandatory.


This paper considers the case of the Michigan Migrant Head Start program to describe and analyze the labor market conditions and teaching staff characteristics to identify the challenges faced by Migrant Head Start grantees in attracting, hiring, retaining, and training degreed teachers. The emphasis is on describing and analyzing the child care labor market characteristics that confront Migrant Head Start grantees in upstream locations and on describing the characteristics and opinions of Migrant Head Start teachers and interpreting their significance for developing educational programs that facilitate the ability of Migrant Head Start teachers to become degreed in early childhood education. The implications of the findings for making early childhood education work for Migrant Head Start teachers are discussed from the perspective of administrators of Migrant Head Start programs and teacher preparation programs at community colleges and universities. The title of the original submission to the JECTE was "The Challenges to Increase the Number of Head Start Teachers with Required Degrees: The Case of Michigan, Migrant Head Start." We would like to thank the blind reviewers of the original manuscript and the editor of the JECTE for their inspiring comments, which led to a near complete rewrite of the original manuscript.


Small target detection is an interesting subject in computer vision.Traditional methods can not be used to detect specific target with interested size when there are many targets of different sizes in an image.Neither can they be used effectively to detect an approaching target whose image size become larger and larger.In order to solve these problems,a new method of small target detection is presented based on the positive and negative LOG(PNLOG) operator.With the new method,the true target is detected by the Top-Hat algorithm in several initial images based on the rough linear movement of the target in a short period of time.The parameters of PNLOG operator are defined based on the target features.The follow-up images is continuously detected by defined PNLOG operator to determine the position of the true target.The experimental results show that the new method has great capability in real-time detection,detection precision and anti-jamming.


The article consideres an alternative scheme of mortgage payment. It suggests an algorithm to insure the mortgage balance monitoring the changes of equity cost in total capital.


We present recent experimental and theoretical results that link the phenomenon of dielectric relaxation in nematic liquid crystals to their fast electro-optical switching and to the problem of dielectric heating. We develop the theoretical model that allows one to relate director reorientation to the "history" of the electric field. We present an experiment that is well described by the proposed theory but which cannot be described within the classic model of an instantaneous response. We also analyze the effect of dielectric heating that is especially profound at the frequencies corresponding to dielectric relaxation.


copy was performed showing a large, yellowish, and pedunculated subepithelial lesion with 30 mm of head diameter and 45 mm of stalk length, located at the sigmoid colon (Fig. 1a–c). Considering the lesion benignity in a symptomatic patient, it was decided to perform the polyp resection using a minimally invasive technique – "loopand-let-go." A 30-mm endoloop® (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was maneuvered to capture the lipoma's head and then carefully placed at the stalk base. A visible reduction in lesion vascularization was verified following sheathcontrolled closure (Fig. 1d–g). A formalin-filled container was given to the patient in case of polyp recovery. The patient recovered the colonic polyp within 4 days of endoscopic ligation and it was sent for histological characterization (Fig. 2a, b). Specimen histopathology showed a 30-mm adipose tissue on the submucosal layer, in relation to a fully-resected submucosal lipoma (Fig. 3a–c). The patient became asymptomatic with an uneventful course. Follow-up colonoscopy at 2 months was normal. Gastrointestinal lipomas are rare subepithelial benign tumors, being more common in the colon [1–4]. Diagnosis is usually easy because of typical endoscopic features.