Top‐contact pentacene TFTs were successfully scaled down from 20 μm to 1.8 μm for the channel length (LC) by using silicon nitride membrane shadow mask. When LC was reduced to 1.8 μm, pentacene TFTs with the grain size of a few micrometer showed poor on/off current ratio (Ion/Ioff) of 103 and high mobility of 0.25 cm2/Vsec, whereas pentacene TFTs with the grain size of sub‐micrometer resulted in low mobility of 0.08 cm2/Vsec, but good Ion/Ioff of 5.7×106. To obtain both high mobility and good Ion/Ioff for the scaled‐down OTFTs at the same time, two‐step‐deposition (TSD) technique was proposed and resulted in Ion/Ioff of 107 as well as mobility of 0.19 cm2/Vsec even for the TFT with LC of 1.8 μm. To our best knowledge, this result is one of the best electrical characteristics among the reported electrical performance of OTFTs scaled down to LC of 1.8 μm.


In a family with several children, in addition to the traditional matrimonial and child-parent subsystems, the sibling relationship subsystem is distinguished.
The unique nature of this subsystem lies in the fact that throughout their lives siblings are able to influence each other's worldview and attitude, and their relationships contribute to the development of sibling personalities. The uniqueness of such relationships lies in the fact that they begin in a system where the child does not have the opportunity to choose the gender his sibling or to determine the amount of attention he or she will receive from his parents.
This article presents the results of a pilot study on the correlation between satisfaction with sibling relationships and personal value orientations. The study involved 63 respondents: 10 male participants who have a brother, 14 male participants who have a sister, 23 female participants who have a brother, and 16 female participants who have a sister. We used the adapted method "Understanding, emotional attraction, authority" by A. N. Volkova, and "Value Orientations — 36 (VO-36)" by V. N. Kunitsyna as data collection tools. Data analysis was performed by means of correlation analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). The results of the study suggest that the level of satisfaction with various aspects of an individual's relationship with their sibling is linked with a variety of value orientations, both his/her own and expected on the part of the sibling. In addition, specific features of these relationships differ between the subsamples of respondents who have same-sex and different-sex siblings. Regardless of the sibling's gender, the values of the self (one's needs, interests, and goals) and the value of family relationships are at the centre of the siblings' relationship. In order to increase the level of satisfaction in a sibling relationship, different values may need to be promoted. In pairs of brothers, responsibility may help to increase satisfaction; in pairs of sisters it is the value of true friendship and equal partnership; and in pairs of different-sex siblings, orientation towards patience and acceptance of differences is of greater importance.


The major route of ammonia assimilation is the reaction which is catalyzed by glutamine synthetase to give ammonia. Cell-free extracts and purified thylakoid membranes using differential centrifugation and density gradient techniques were assayed for the percentage activity of the enzyme. Glutamine synthetase was detected in all cell-free extracts. Seventy six percent of the enzyme activity was found associated with the thylakoid membranes. Using antiserum raised to the thylakoids, 78.5% inhibition of the enzyme activity was obtained.


The phenomenon of machiavellianism in professional pedagogical work is examined in the present article. Results of empirical research are given; communication machiavellianism with the years and by the pedagogical experience, and also its dynamics depending on professional becoming the teacher is established.


Clinical sanatorium "Alatau" is the only children's somatic sanatorium of the Republican level.
The basic profile - Bronchial asthma.
1. General description of the "Alatau" sanatorium: Territory, climate.
2. Educational work: Cultural events, learning English, children's activities, games, сity tour
3. Healing procedures: shungite therapy, Hydrotherapy, light therapy.
4. Efficiency of children's health improvement.


Gamma irradiation induces various physiological, biochemical alterations in plants with modulation of certain metabolic and defensive pathway. Pre-sowing seed irradiation is considered as an effective method of improving production, yield components and chemical composition in plants. In the present study Cajanus Cajan was subjected to gamma irradiation with absorbed doses 0 Gy, 30 Gy, 50 Gy, 100 Gy, 150 Gy and 200 Gy with a dose rate 2.08 Kilo Gray per hour (2.08 KGh-1). Cajanus cajan when exposed to variable doses of gamma radiation showed persistent changes in the growth and development under both in vivo & in vitro conditions. Radiation sensitivity test based on germination percentage of irradiated and non-irradiated seeds demonstrated that significant reduction in germination percentage was observed with increasing gamma dosage under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Biochemical analysis confirmed that protein, photosynthetic pigments, proline are very sensitive to gamma radiation, and are good indicators of tolerance. Effective stimulatory dose for plant development under in vivo conditions is 100 Gy while the absorbed doses of 150 Gy and 200 Gy can prove detrimental. However under in vitro conditions, results hold 150 Gy as threshold dose for increasing plant growth, plant vigour and development. Conclusively productivity of Cajanus cajan and consequent economic gains could be enhanced through adoption of suitable cultivar and level of gamma radiation. Gamma rays prove to be an important tool in increasing the breeding efficiency and regeneration frequency, especially that of the recalcitrant varieties. Results in the present study provide sufficient evidence to the effect that γ-irradiation does activate a biochemical system.


A simple method for friction modelling in the simulation using the Finite Element Method for the forging process of axisymmetric components is presented. A brief description of the flow method is given, as well as a short explanation of the tangential forces method. As an alternative, the so called SMM (Stiffness Matrix Method) is presented and numerical results are compared with previous published works.


Initially, the increased interest in acquiring physician practices came from young physicians who have encountered a physician surplus in certain urban areas and found it difficult to start a practice without joining an HMO, an established group practice, or getting assistance from a Hospital. However, recently Hospitals have shown an interest in acquiring physician practices in order to maintain their existing patient base or to expand their patient base in a very competitive marketplace. The ability of a Hospital to succeed in the 1990's will be determined based upon their ability to keep their occupancy high and ancillary services operating near capacity. Third party payors (Medicare, Medicaid, and HMO's) will continue to reduce rates of increase they are willing to pay for inpatient services, therefore, in order to maintain the same level of quality, the volume of services will need to increase along with an improvement in the Hospital's efficiency. As part of their strategic plans, Hospitals have developed strategies to acquire physician practices to maintain existing referral patterns. The establishment of a Medical Staff Development Plan, as part of the Hospital's overall strategic plan, will generally identify whether a Hospital is willing to acquire physician practices and establish the criteria and the guidelines for valuation of the physician practice. In most publications dealing with the value of a physician practice, valuation models have not incorporated the revenue stream generated by the Hospital due to patients referred to the Hospital from the physician practice. (See Appendix I for a sample questionnaire developed by a Hospital to evaluate the purchase of a physician practice.)


The existing alfalfa drying plant was analyzed to determine the efficiency and cost of energy use per unit of production. Further studies are reported of possibilities for energy savings both in the existing plant and in the future development which will incorporate a second dryer and treble the output. (MHR)


Local distortions in perovskite-like orthochromites are of extreme importance for the properties they exhibit. Here, we present the results of structural and DC magnetisation measurements combined with local probe studies in polycrystalline ErCrO3. The electric field gradient (EFG) parameters' evolution with temperature shows two clear signals of local environment changes, one at the ferroelectric phase transition (TFE) and the other below 250 K. At the claimed TFE, the EFG changed from a slightly distorted axial symmetric to an EFG with axial symmetry (evidence that the local point-symmetry of the crystal might have changed). At a temperature around 250 K, we observed the development of a magnetic hyperfine field (MHF) and a change in the EFG to an axial slightly distorted one. These observations are rather in line with our magnetisation measurements, as a relatively strong coercive field was observed well above the Cr sub-lattice ordering temperature.


The e.s.r. spectra of frozen aqueous-dimethylformamide (dmf) solutions containing binary mixtures of cobalt(II) tetrasulphophthalocyanine (tspc), nickel(II)tspc, copper(II)tspc and zinc tspc have been used to discern various solute–solute interactions. Addition of zinc tspc or nickel(II) tspc to an aqueous solution containing copper(II) tspc has a profound influence on the ability of dmf to bring about the disaggeregation of the copper(II)tspc. The presence of zinc tspc results in a stabilization of the polymeric form of copper(II) tspc while nickel(II) tspc brings about a breakdown of the aggregated form of copper(II)tspc by addition of dmf. There is unambiguous evidence for the formation of a molecular species containing both nickel(II) tspc and cobalt(II) tspc. The e.s.r. spectra of an aqueous–dmf solution containing copper(II) tspc and cobalt(II) tspc provide evidence for the formation of a species in which dissimilar ion coupling occurs between copper(II) and cobalt(II). Spectra due to cobalt(II) tspc were interpreted by an axial model which did not require the inclusion of quadrupole effects.


ABSTRACT This study introduces an improved multiple model adaptive control (MMAC) algorithm for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems. The controller consists of a linear direct adaptive controller, a neural network-based nonlinear direct adaptive controller and a switching mechanism. The assumption of the nonlinear term is relaxed by incorporating a parameter estimator with an augmented error. The control direction of the system is not required to be known by employing a linear direct adaptive controller with the discrete Nussbaum gain and future output predictions. The stability of the closed-loop systems applying the proposed MMAC method is proved and the improved transient performance of the system is illustrated by the simulation results.


Objectives:  Galectin‐3 is a carbohydrate‐binding protein that plays many important regulatory roles in inflammation, immunity and cancers. Recent studies indicate that galectin‐3 plays a role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis and progression. Therefore, we sought to characterize the expression pattern and role of galectin‐3 in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to explore whether galectin‐3 investigated in serum and synovial fluid was associated with clinical, laboratory and radiological variables of JIA disease activity and severity.


Aim: A negative effect of massive weight loss is the development of excess skin. Excess skin causes both physical and psychological problems for those affected and their families. The overall aim of this thesis was to improve the knowledge of the prevalence and associated problems of excess skin in post bariatric patients and to evaluate the outcome of abdominoplasty regarding HRQL. Patients and methods: A literature search was performed to evaluate the quality of evidence for health benefits of abdominoplasty. Thereafter, adult post bariatric patients were sent the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ) together with a study specific questionnaire to evaluate their experience with excess skin regarding physical, functional and psychosocial impairments, amount and discomfort regarding the same and requested and undergone body contouring surgery. Further, post bariatric adolescents answered the same questionnaires as the adults, and measurements of excess skin were performed. Finally, post bariatric patients undergoing abdominoplasty answered the Short Form-36 (SF-36), a modified version of SESQ and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) before and one year after abdominoplasty. Prior to the surgery, all study participants were randomly assigned to either undergo or not undergo rectus fascia plication, and measurement of the amount of abdominal excess skin was performed. Results: The quality of evidence of positive health effects for patients undergoing abdominoplasty was very low regarding HRQL. Most of the post bariatric patients, including both adolescents and adults of both genders, reported that they suffered from excess skin in several body parts. The majority of the post bariatric patients also requested body contouring surgery. Abdominoplasty increased the physical function subscale of the SF-36 and all 10 items regarding physical, functional and psychosocial impairments of the SESQ. However, plication did not influence the outcome of abdominoplasty regarding HRQL. In addition, low correlations were found between the measured amount of abdominal excess skin and discomfort with the same or change in the physical function subscale of SF-36 following abdominoplasty. Conclusions: Most of the post bariatric patients seem to suffer greatly from excess skin independent of sex or age, and a majority request body contouring surgery at several body sites. Abdominoplasty appears to improve physical and psychosocial dimensions of HRQL. However, the impact of the preoperative measured amount of abdominal excess skin on the improvements in HRQL is low.


inspiration"is one of the a lot of important aesthstic propositio ns which Plato puts forward. Plato′s"inspiration"has one kind only, that is t hat God of the poem is overbearing according to the fan enclosing."inspiration theory"explain the creation source and strength source of the artistic workses of literature and art that he understand Plato.


Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) spectroscopy is central to many astrophysical disciplines, ranging from helio- to asteroseismology, over solar coronal (loop) seismology, to the study of waves and instabilities in jets, accretion disks, or solar/stellar atmospheres. MHD spectroscopy quantifies all linear (standing or traveling) wave modes, including overstable (i.e., growing) or damped modes, for a given configuration that achieves force and thermodynamic balance. Here, we present Legolas, a novel, open-source numerical code to calculate the full MHD spectrum of one-dimensional equilibria with flow, balancing pressure gradients, Lorentz forces, centrifugal effects, and gravity, and enriched with nonadiabatic aspects like radiative losses, thermal conduction, and resistivity. The governing equations use Fourier representations in the ignorable coordinates, and the set of linearized equations is discretized using finite elements in the important height or radial variation, handling Cartesian and cylindrical geometries using the same implementation. A weak Galerkin formulation results in a generalized (non-Hermitian) matrix eigenvalue problem, and linear algebraic algorithms calculate all eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors. We showcase a plethora of well-established results, ranging from p and g modes in magnetized, stratified atmospheres, over modes relevant for coronal loop seismology, thermal instabilities, and discrete overstable Alfvén modes related to solar prominences, to stability studies for astrophysical jet flows. We encounter (quasi-)Parker, (quasi-)interchange, current-driven, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities, as well as nonideal quasi-modes, resistive tearing modes, up to magnetothermal instabilities. The use of high resolution sheds new light on previously calculated spectra, revealing interesting spectral regions that have yet to be investigated.


In fourteen months the number of infected people with SARS-COV-2 has reached more than 159 millions and from those more than 3 million have resulted in death. There is now a consensus that the airborne saliva droplets, that are produced while speaking, coughingor sneezing by infected people is one of the most likely routes of transmission of the corona virus disease (COVID-19). The expelled droplets can measure between 0.4 and 450 μm in diameter. Once the droplets are in the air, they are subject to the gravitational, and air frictional forces that dictate their motion. Through exhaustive aerodynamic studies it has been shown that the aerosol droplets (less than 5 μm) can remain in the environment for very long periods of time and be transported by air currents. Larger droplets take shorter times and land within a circle of 1.5 to 2 m radius. Of key importance is the droplet size distribution and many efforts have been done to characterize this. By modeling the production of the number of saliva droplets with log-log Gaussian distributions, the virial load of the expelled droplets is estimated as a function of droplet size. Assuming a constant virus density, we estimate the amount of virus delivered into the environment. The use of face masks reduce drastically the amount of droplets emitted to the air by an infected person and to be inhaled by a healthy one. We emphasize the great importance of using adequate face protection to minimize COVID-19, transmission and to reduce the death toll due to this disease.


Data on the distribution, frequency, abundance and biomass of Palingenia longicauda on the territory of the Republic of Moldova are presented. This species was considered to have disappeared in the 1970ies, however, recently it was rediscovered in 2010 in the Prut River near Cahul. The highest larvae abundance sampled by grabs was 2520 ind/m, the calculated maximum of biomass was 109.36 g/m. Individual biomass of P. longicauda varied between 0,0001 g and 0,358 g and the length of larvae from 5 to 50 mm. Only 30 adult specimens of P. longicauda were observed on the water surface at the Dniester River in June 2013.


The recent unexpected detection of terrestrial complex organic molecules in the cold (~ 10 K) gas has cast doubts on the commonly accepted formation mechanisms of these species. Standard gas-phase mechanisms are inefficient and tend to underproduce these molecules, and many of the key reactions involved are unconstrained. Grain-surface mechanisms, which were presented as a viable alternative, suffer from the fact that they rely on grain surface diffusion of heavy radicals, which is not possible thermally at very low temperatures. One of the simplest terrestrial complex organic molecules, methanol is believed to form on cold grain surfaces following from successive H atom additions on CO. Unlike heavier species, H atoms are very mobile on grain surfaces even at 10 K. Intermediate species involved in grain surface methanol formation by CO hydrogenation are the radicals HCO and CH3O, as well as the stable species formaldehyde H2CO. These radicals are thought to be precursors of complex organic molecules on grain surfaces. We present new observations of the HCO and CH3O radicals in a sample of prestellar cores and carry out an analysis of the abundances of the species HCO, H2CO, CH3O, and CH3OH, which represent the various stages of grain-surface hydrogenation of CO to CH3OH. The abundance ratios between the various intermediate species in the hydrogenation reaction of CO on grains are similar in all sources of our sample, HCO:H2CO:CH3O:CH3OH ~ 10:100:1:100. We argue that these ratios may not be representative of the primordial abundances on the grains but, rather, suggest that the radicals HCO and CH3O are gas-phase products of the precursors H2CO and CH3OH, respectively. Gas-phase pathways are considered and simple estimates of HCO and CH3O abundances are compared to the observations. Critical reaction rate constants, branching ratios, and intermediate species are finally identified.


In many game theoretic contexts, population uncertainty is of economic interest. In particular, games in which the number of players have Poisson distribution are of such interest. This paper shows that the cluster points of properly conditioned equilibrium profiles of certain semi-anonymous congestion games with fixed numbers of players are exactly the equilibria of corresponding Poisson games. In so doing, it contributes to the understanding of Poisson games and their relations with games in which the set of players is common knowledge.


Our objective is to study the organization of the apical recycling endosome (ARE) in polarized epithelial MDCK cells. In MDCK cells, stably transfected with polymeric IgA receptor (pIgA-R), anti-pIgA-R [Fab2] ligands labeled with distinct fluorophores were internalized from opposite PM domains at 17 degree(s)C. Internalization at 17 degree(s)C allows the accumulation of basolaterally and apically internalized pIgA-R ligands in the apical recycling compartment. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) confocal microscopy analysis was used to determine whether the receptor-ligand complexes are arranged in sub-pixel endosomal cluster domains. Quantitative analysis of FRET efficiency (E%) was carried out using a custom algorithm that removes contamination caused by acceptor excitation by the donor wavelength and by the crosstalk between donor and acceptor emissions in the acceptor channel. The algorithm allows the determination of the unquenched donor levels and thereby the calculation of E%. Average E% is ~42% and it is independent of acceptor levels. Since a random distribution of receptor-ligand complexes would result in E% increasing with rising acceptor levels, our results indicate a cluster distribution of receptor-ligand complexes in the ARE of polarized MDCK cells.


Abstract : Nonparametric tests were adapted and used to determine if a given set of samples from a time series is stationary, tau-dependent and Markov. Results obtained from analyzing (testing) a number sequence generated by a random number generator and sets of wind speed and direction data collected at White Sands Missile Range are presented. (Author)


We use a person-centered approach to examine how patterns of risk and protective factors can change among youth on probation ( N = 7,024). Data were collected using the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument. We used latent transition analysis to identify distinct subgroups at intake and exit; estimated probabilities of moving between groups; and examined recidivism rates. We selected the model with five groups and found that the groups at intake and exit were similar. We characterized the groups in order of declining risk: Highest Risk, Social Drug Risk, Individual Risk, Drug Risk, and Low Risk. Youth were most likely to move out of the Highest Risk group and most likely to stay in the two lowest risk groups. Common transitions yielded improved recidivism rates. This knowledge can inform case plans that will increase young people's likelihood of moving into a lower risk group, thereby improving recidivism rates.


The International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) is presently realized by the positions of 608 compact, extragalactic radio sources (Ma & Feissel 1997) with milliarcsecond (mas) and sub-mas accuracy, all being on the same system, the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS). The Hipparcos Catalogue (ESA 1997) is the practical realization of the ICRF at optical wavelengths, giving high accuracy positions (≈1 mas) and proper motions (≈1 mas/yr) for 117955 stars (ESA 1997). The link between the radio and optical frames has been achieved by various methods (Kovalevsky et al. 1997). The accuracy of this link is estimated to be 0.6 mas at the mean epoch of Hipparcos (1991.25) for the orientation, and 0.25 mas/year for the system rotation.


The design procedure of systems of XeCl-laser excitation is developed as for the LC-contour and the LC-inverter, allowing to expect the form of a pulse of a voltage on laser electrodes and energy input in the active medium depending on parameters of a circuit of excitation.


Abstract : The United States Navy no longer possesses the number of ships required to execute all its responsibilities under existing military security agreements. Therefore, the assets and capabilities of America's smaller naval allies could weigh heavily in the balance determining the success or failure of an East-West confrontation. Unfortunately, the bulk of knowledge comprising Western naval literature lacks the detailed information on small navies which is necessary to evaluate their ability to make a meaningful contribution to NATO. Through a descriptive analysis of the Belgian Navy, this paper attempts to show that a small navy can make a significant contribution to the allied naval effort. In addition, this thesis is submitted as a contribution to the body of Western naval literature by presenting in English a comprehensive description of the Belgian Navy heretofore available only in Dutch and French language sources. (Author)


Chromium ions released into aquatic environments pose major environmental risks, particularly in developing countries. Here, a low-cost N-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified fly ash-based zeolite Na-A (CTAB@FZA) was prepared for the treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated with Cr(VI). CTAB@FZA was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that CTAB intercalation and coating of the modified zeolite were successful. The effects of influencing variables on the removal of Cr(VI) using CTAB@FZA were also evaluated, including pH, initial concentration, time, temperature, and coexisting ions. Fast adsorption equilibrium was observed after less than 10 min, and CTAB@FZA had a maximum adsorption capacity of 108.76 mg/g and was substantially greater than that of pristine FZA following modification. Furthermore, isothermal and kinetic data demonstrated that Cr(VI) adsorbed onto homogeneous surfaces via rate-limiting monolayer Langmuir adsorption, and according to thermodynamic data, the sorption of the targeted pollutant was exothermic and spontaneous. The application of CTAB@FZA to industrial wastewater treatment yielded Cr(VI) concentrations that were below the USEPA standards. Overall, the findings demonstrated that CTAB@FZA is an effective, promising, and economical adsorbent for the treatment of Cr(VI)-polluted water.


The influence of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) on the population status and ecology of nesting ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) has been poorly documented. Based on aerial and ground surveys and GIS mapping, we examined spatial relationships between nesting ferruginous hawks and colonies of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) in 2 grassland ecosystems of New Mexico: the Estancia Valley in 1999 and 2000, and the Plains of San Agustin in 2000. The numbers of occupied nests and prairie dog towns were greater in the Estancia Valley than the Plains of San Agustin, while median distance to nearest prairie dog town from nests was greater in the Plains of San Agustin. There was a positive spatial association between nests and prairie dog towns in the Estancia Valley in both years, and mean productivity was higher for nests <2 km from the nearest prairie dog town. Furthermore, there was a linear relationship between relative abundance of prairie dog prey remains (relative to other prey taxa) collected from nests and proximity to nearest prairie dog town and between nest productivity and relative abundance of prairie dog prey remains. Nests in the Plains of San Agustin exhibited a negative spatial association with prairie dog towns. We attribute differences between the study areas to abundance of prairie dogs and availability of nest sites in the vicinity of prairie dog towns. Results suggest that prairie dogs can have a significant effect on nest-site selection, abundance of nesting pairs, and productivity of ferruginous hawks in arid grasslands of the American Southwest. Efforts to conserve breeding populations of this top predator where they occur on private or public rangelands in this region should include management of healthy prairie dog populations and the preservation of suitable nesting substrate within the vicinity of prairie dog towns.


Version control, a fundamental component of Software Configuration Management (SCM) — a key mechanism for software development especially in large-scale systems — lacks a unified foundation for interchangeability, interoperability, and integrability. A practical solution of such problems is not readily achieved because version controls of different SCM systems employ various version models. Hence a single unified version model is required. The work develops a single formalism to model major version control approaches as well as a prototype system. Its architecture is based on a federated SCM architecture and introduces a new SCM foundation which contains two layers: unified SCM representation and computation, based on the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the Equivalent Transformation computational model, respectively. The evolution of software objects, their relationships as well as team cooperation strategies can be uniformly expressed under the representation layer. The computational layer is briefly mentioned for framework demonstration. Finally, a simple prototype system is presented.


Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), regardless of disease stage, are at a marked increased risk for systemic cardiovascular events. Therefore, cardiovascular risk reduction is central to the management of these patients. Treatment of hypertension, use of statins, and strategies for smoking cessation are all well-established, evidence-based interventions in the patient with PAD. In contrast, the rationale for use of antiplatelet agents has been more controversial.

The 2016 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline for management of the patient with PAD indicates, "Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin alone (range, 75–325 mg per day) or clopidogrel alone (75 mg per day) is recommended to reduce MI [myocardial infarction], stroke and vascular death in patients with symptomatic PAD."1 Per the guideline, this class I recommendation (strong) was supported by level A evidence (high quality from more than 1 randomized controlled trial or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials).

The primary evidence supporting the recommendation was the work of the Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration (ATC).2 The ATC found a 22% reduction in vascular events associated with antiplatelet therapy compared with …


According to the existing vacuum surface flashover theory, the flashover breakdown discharge is a plasma discharge channel formed in the thin layer of desorbed gas. Therefore, the degassing of the dielectric material in a closed environment is a key factor affecting the flashover performance. The continuous degassing of the solid material will accumulate in a closed environment, causing a low-pressure discharge phenomenon under an applied electric field. In this paper, DC surface flashover experiments of composite sample containing micro and nano-semiconductor additives are studied in different pressures to reveal the surface flashover mechanism. When the electrode spacing is 1mm and the air pressure is in the range of 10−4~10−1 Pa, the flashover voltage remains basically constant. The DC flashover voltage is rapidly reduced from 10−1 Pa and reaches a minimum around 15Pa. The flashover voltage of the micro-composite sample is approximately similar to the pure sample. The DC discharged voltage of the nano-modified sample slightly increased compared with the pure sample, and the amplitude of the flashover voltage did not change significantly in the range of 5 to 500 Pa. The experiments suggest that the reasons for the results may be as follows: Firstly, the outgassing of the solid surface has less effect on the degree of vacuum at low pressure. Secondly, when the air pressure is used as an independent variable, the influence of other factors is negligible.


A high-precision static hydraulic loading system is designed by using some common hydraulic components,such as check-valve,accumulator and so on.By rational selection of accumulator and its pressure of charged gas,the high-precision control to the output force is realized.


The foundation of the Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos, in 1492, by D. Joao II, is related to the idea of the centralization of power in the royalty, through a specific political and ideological context. Control of the Public Health policies by the State is one of the corollaries of the idea referred to above. The creation of the


Previous investigators have indicated that both small particles and the addition of certain oxides promote the sintering of alumina at temperatures below 1700°C. By utilizing combinations of oxides and small particle size, the sintering temperature of 96% alumina bodies was reduced in this investigation to the 1300° to 1400°C. range. It is proposed that this low-temperature sintering is aided by the formation of a liquid phase. Thin sections of the alumina sintered at low temperatures revealed bodies with small grain size whose bulk densities were above 3.80 gm. per cc.


Heterogeneous blockchains are expected to be increasingly deployed in real-world applications, making cross-chain transaction confirmations essential. Currently, confirmations for cross-chain transactions are usually accomplished through an intermediary, such as a relay chain, which may well become a performance bottleneck. Sharding has been widely used to improve the blockchain throughput through parallel transaction validations by distributing transactions into multiple sub-communities, Yet, when sharding technique is directly applied over a relay chain, it results in an excessive number of cross-shard transactions, offsetting the throughput improvement.In this paper, we propose Sliver, a novel transaction distribution mechanism specifically designed for improving the relay chain throughput for the first time. We first capture and leverage the unique characterization of transaction dependency on the relay chain, and place those transactions with dependency into one shard. Consequently, this completely eliminates cross-shard transactions. However, due to the varying nature of transaction dependency, such a transaction placement can lead to a highly skewed distribution in terms of the number of transactions (i.e., shard size) to be validated in different shards, which negatively affects the relay chain throughput. We proceed to formulate the transaction distribution as an integer optimization problem with a lexicographical minimization objective for achieving a balanced shard size. While such a problem is proved to be NP-hard, we are able to mathematically transform it to a linear programming (LP) formulation by incorporating several unique properties in the integer optimization formulation, which can then be efficiently solved using off-the-shelf LP solvers. Theoretical and experimental analyses show that Sliver is extremely efficient in solving the assignment problem and the throughput can be 5 × that of the state-of-the-art under various configurations.


The Florissant Valley Campus of the St. Louis, MO Community College was constructed during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The main campus consists of 11 classroom, laboratory, and instructional buildings comprising 411,000 ft{sup 2} (38 183 m{sup 2}). The Florissant Valley campus wanted to provide the maintenance staff with a state-of-the-art DDC building automation system which would eliminate manual control of HVAC systems and reduce maintenance. Several of the classrooms and laboratories have had changes in their occupancy and use from the original design intent, and, the campus has consistently been adding additional internal load to many of the spaces in the form of new computers, printers, and other electronic equipment. The original campus HVAC systems were not designed to meet the indoor air quality (IAQ) standards of today. The college specifically requested that the design team prepare the project within DOE guidelines so that ICP grant funds could be used. The college also wanted to have the design team prepare the project in a manner to be bid by Energy Savings Contractors (ESCO) using a Guaranteed Energy Service Contract to assure the college could pay back their investment in the time stated.


[1] In the South China Sea, the southwest monsoon between June and September induces upwelling off the southern central Vietnamese coast. During field campaigns in July 2003 and 2004 we evaluated the importance of nitrate and nitrogen fixation as sources of new nitrogen for phytoplankton primary productivity, both in the actual upwelling zone and in the oligotrophic area farther offshore. Complementary to rate measurements of primary productivity, nitrate uptake, and nitrogen fixation, we determined vertical nitrate fluxes by Ekman upwelling (upwelling zone) and turbulent diffusion (offshore waters). Because of the influence of El Nino, upwelling was weaker in July 2003, with an average primary productivity of 28 ± 18 mmol C m−2 d−1, compared to 103 ± 25 mmol C m−2 d−1 in July 2004. Calculated upwelling nitrate fluxes of 17 ± 2 mmol N m−2 d−1 in July 2004 are consistent with N demands of primary productivity, if Redfield stoichiometry is assumed. In July 2003 upwelling fluxes of 14 ± 2 mmol N m−2 d−1 exceeded N demands, indicating that new production was not fully realized. Diffusive nitrate fluxes in offshore waters were determined in July 2003 and are of the order of 2.3 ± 0.6 mmol N m−2 d−1, based on the maximal diffusivities of 1 cm2 s−1 in the nitracline. Nitrogen fixation was a significant N source in offshore waters, but at lower rates in July 2003 (22–119 μmol N m−2 day−1) than in July 2004 (37–375 μmol N m−2 day−1), equaling 1%–5% and probably 2%–25% of the diffusive nitrate fluxes, respectively.


Nowadays many companies choose to use celebrities as endorsers for their advertising campaigns. Different types of celebrities are used as endorsers, but the two most common types are athletes ...


Graph signal processing allows the generalization of DSP concepts to the graph domain. However, most works assume graph signals that are static with respect to time, which is a limitation even in comparison to classical DSP formulations where signals are generally sequences that evolve over time. Several earlier works on adaptive networks have addressed problems involving streaming data over graphs by developing effective learning strategies that are well-suited to dynamic data scenarios, in a manner that generalizes adaptive signal processing concepts to the graph domain. The objective of this paper is to blend concepts from adaptive networks and graph signal processing to propose new useful tools for adaptive graph signal processing.


In two recent articles in this journal, David Basinger and Nathan Nobis raise objections to my characterization of infant suffering and the problem that it presents to theism. My main theses were that infant suffering to death is not 'horrendous' in the technical sense defined, and that a good God need only balance off rather than 'defeat' such suffering. Basinger, on the other hand, claims that some infant suffering should be considered horrendous, while Nobis suggests that such suffering must be defeated by God rather than merely balanced off. In this response I will briefly summarize my view and then respond to Basinger and Nobis.


Successful numerical simulation output from WRFV2.2 combined with NCEP reanalysis data,observed precipitation data from automatic stations and Doppler radar reflectivity are used to analyze the heavy rainfall caused by typhoon Haitang in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.The results show that the heavy rainfall is from the spiral clouds band close to the north of the typhoon center,and caused directly by the strong mesoscale convergence belt in the boundary layer.The rain belt develops and moves northward corresponding to the convergence belt.Three typhoon currents from different directions converge and ascend near the boundary of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces,transporting moisture and energy for the strengthening and maintenance of heavy rainfall.The confluence of these currents mainly happens in the boundary layer,which is the reason why the mesoscale convergence belt is confined in the boundary layer.The complicated mesoscale orography in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces plays an important role in the storm.The three different currents lift upward along the mountains ranging from north to south and trigger precipitation,which contributes to the heavy rainfall.However,the terrain plays no effect on the mesoscale convergence belt but prevents the precipitation from extending westward.


This paper reports on the structural basis of CO2 adsorption in a representative model of flexible metal-organic framework (MOF) material, Ni(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene)[Ni(CN)4] (NiBpene or PICNIC-60). NiBpene exhibits a CO2 sorption isotherm with characteristic hysteresis and features on the desorption branch that can be associated with discrete structural changes. Various gas adsorption effects on the structure are demonstrated for CO2 with respect to N2, CH4 and H2 under static and flowing gas pressure conditions. For this complex material, a combination of crystal structure determination and density functional theory (DFT) is needed to make any real progress in explaining the observed structural transitions during adsorption/desorption. Possible enhancements of CO2 gas adsorption under supercritical pressure conditions are considered, together with the implications for future exploitation. In situ operando small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering, neutron diffraction and X-ray diffraction under relevant gas pressure and flow conditions are discussed with respect to previous studies, including ex situ, a priori single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure determination. The results show how this flexible MOF material responds structurally during CO2 adsorption; single or dual gas flow results for structural change remain similar to the static (Sieverts) adsorption case, and supercritical CO2 adsorption results in enhanced gas uptake. Insights are drawn for this representative flexible MOF with implications for future flexible MOF sorbent design.


INTRODUCTION:
Endometrial cancer has become the most common invasive gynecological neoplasm in the developed countries. The incidence is lower in developing countries due to less use of hormone replacement therapy. It occurs more commonly in postmenopausal women who present with vaginal bleeding as their chief complaint. The neoplasm is categorized into two histological types, the endometriod and the non endometriod types. They vary in terms of their source of origin and prognosis. Besides surgery, many targeted therapies have been introduced for treatment rendering better prognosis.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
To study the clinicopathological profile of endometrial cancers, including age, clinical presentation, menopausal status, stage of presentation and to categorize them into different types based on histological type and grade.
To observe the immunohistochemical expression of PTEN and p53 in endometrial carcinomas and to compare the expression with clinical stage and other histopathological parameters.
METHODS AND MATERIALS:
36 hysterectomy cases of endometrial carcinomas reported during the period from 2013 to 2016 in the department of Pathology of our institution were considered in this study. Immunohistochemistry staining for PTEN and p53 were performed and the results were determined.
RESULTS:
The mean age of the patients was 55.5 years. 30 out of 36 patients were post menopausal and presented with postmenopausal bleeding. All the patients in our study were type 1 endometrial carcinoma.19 patients had grade I tumours and 16 patients had grade 2 tumours. As per FIGO staging, 28 patients were stage IA, 4 patients were stage IB and 4 patients were stage 2. 19 patients had histological grade 1 tumours and 16 patients had histological grade 2 tumours. PTEN status was predominantly negative (n=25) or heterogeneous (n=9) in these tumours. PTEN status was positive in only 2 patients with grade 2 tumours. p53 immunostaining revealed that majority of patients had low p53 score. p53 staining showed similar distribution in stage IA and IB tumours.
CONCLUSION:
The inactivation of PTEN in higher grades and stages of endometrial carcinomas helps to understand the theranostics of endometrial carcinomas and predicting the response to targeted therapies against carcinogenic pathways.


The aim of this study was to determine the physical performance and fear of falls in the community dwelling elderly and to investigate how the factors were connected to one another. The data was collected between January 3rd and March 30th, 2014 from 460 elderly people, aged 65 or older, who agreed to participate in this study. The data was sampled among the elders' assistants as a way of responding to the questionnaire after being read. The study scales were composed of the demographic characteristics, physical function and fear of falls. A total of 139 (30.2%) subjects had experienced a fall. The results showed a positive correlation with the chair rise, standing on the leg, pick up a penny from floor, timed up and go test, and fear of falls. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that a predictor of the fear of falls were chair rise and timed up and go test. A combination of physical performance accounted for 16.9% of the fear of fall. Based on the findings of this study, it is useful to more effectively develop fall prevention and intervention programs in a future study.


[1075198-30-9] C12H19F6N4O4P (MW 428.27)

InChI = 1S/C12H19N4O4.F6P/c1-4-19-11(17)10(9-13)14-20-12(15(2)3)16-5-7-18-8-6-16;1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h4-8H2,1-3H3;/q+1;-1/b14-10-;

InChIKey = GPDHNZNLPKYHCN-DZOOLQPHSA-N

(stand-alone coupling reagent for peptide bond formation1, 2 and transformation of α-amino acids into their corresponding Weinreb amides3)

Alternate Name: COMU.

Physical Data: sample decomposes without melting at 143–144 °C (color transition to dark brown) in a standard melting point device. A more accurate onset for the decomposition (159.90 °C) is obtained from dynamic DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) assays.2 COMU contains less than 1% water according to Karl-Fischer studies when sodium tartrate is used as reference.

Solubility: sol DMF (1.44 mol L−1), NMP/DCM 3:1 (0.5 mol L−1) and most organic solvents.

Form Supplied in: white to off-white crystalline solid, commercially available.

Analysis of Reagent Purity: 1H NMR is the most reliable technique for an accurate determination; an approximate purity can also be obtained from HPLC.

Preparative Method: COMU is easily accessed from (dimethylaminomorpholino)chloroformamidinium hexafluorophosphate, generated in three steps from morpholine, N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl chloride, and ethyl 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate (Oxyma) in the presence of Et3N in DCM.2

Purification: crystallization or precipitation from acetonitrile.

Handling, Storage and Precautions: this reagent is sensitive to hydrolysis. The use of DMF dried over molecular sieves and bubbled with N2 is common for long-term storage in solution. In solid form, it is stable at 4 °C for several months. COMU displays an opposite decomposition profile to explosive benzotriazole-based analogs. Although conservative calorimetric parameters recommend working at temperatures below 41 °C, the sample can be safely dried for several hours at 60 °C and used in microwave syntheses at 80 °C.2, 4 Median lethal dose (LD50) is estimated at 2000 mg kg−1. The title compound presents low potential as allergenic agent.


The main objective of this tutorial is to provide the readers with a roadmap of how to establish increasingly complex target‐mediated drug disposition (TMDD) models for monoclonal antibodies. To this end, we built mathematical models, each with a detailed visualization, starting from the basic TMDD model by Mager and Jusko to the well‐established, physiologically based model by Li et al. in a step‐wise fashion to highlight the relative importance of key physiological processes that impact mAb kinetics and system dynamics. As the models become more complex, the question of structural and parameter identifiability arises. To address this question, we work through a trastuzumab case example to guide the modeler's choice for model and parameter optimization in light of the context of use. We leave the readers of this tutorial with a brief summary of the advantages and limitations of each model expansion, as well as the model source codes for further self‐guided exploration and hands‐on analysis.


In this section we review the experimental methodology and limits on light axions and light pseudoscalars in general. (A comprehensive overview of axion theory is given by H. Murayama in the Part I of this Review, whose notation we follow [1].) Within its scope are purely laboratory experiments, searches where the axion is assumed to be halo dark matter, and searches where the Sun is presumed to be a source of axions. We restrict the discussion to axions of mass mA <O (eV), as the allowed range for the axion mass is nominally 10 6 <m A <10 2 eV. Experimental work in this


Most of us are aware that one of the unsolved problems in biological classification concerns the most useful and, at the same time, the most biologically meaningful way of constructing classifications for closely related chromosomal races. Some taxonomists consider that differences in the number and frequently the gross structure of chromosomes are theoretically so important that such differences should always be reflected in formal taxonomies. Others consider chromosomnal discontinuities in themselves as having no greater taxonomic importance than any one of the many other kinds of hereditary discontinuities. The evolutionary importance of chromosomal differences is unquestionable. That biologists would like to be aware of such differences and need to identify different chromosomal races correctly requiresno emphasis. This is so because any two chromosomal races usually have different genetic, ecological, physiological and biochemical properties and because chromosomal differences of many kinds and of varying degree are widespread in nature. However, the principal cause for the recent active discussion of chromosomal discontinuities in taxonomy is based on the cytogenetic principle that any major difference in chromosome number or structure between two plants almost always indicates that the two are isolated reproductively to some degree. There has been a recent tendency to define that important taxonomic category, the species, in terms of reproductive isolation, particularly by the school of taxonomists and geneticists that has given support to what is known today as the "biological species concept" (Dobzhansky 1951, 1955; Grant 1957, 1963; Mayr 1964; L6ve 1964). According to this concept, "species are formed when a once actually or potentially interbreeding array of Mendelian populations becomes segregated into two or more reproductively isolated groups" (Dobzhansky 1951). In this concept, therefore, it is assumed that reproductive discontinuities are consistently more important biologically and taxonomically than, for example, ecological, morphological, spatial and various sorts of genic differences, many of which also restrict gene exchange. Mayr (1955), one of the chief proponents of a biological species concept based on the criterion of reproductive isolation, has stated that there is a very high correlation between morphological and reproductive discontinuities. If this is true, then classifications based on morphology and those based on reproductive isolation should usually reflect the same discontinuities in nature and there should be essential agreement between the two kinds of classifications. However, in the plant material I have studied it was found that reproductive isolation accompanied by no or by only weak morphological differences and also morphological discontinuities unaccompanied by reproductive barriers are normal patterns. The question arises as to whether such patterns may indeed be widespread and have hitherto been overlooked since it is well known that reproductive discontinuities have always been evaluated mainly in the light of previously established morphological patterns. Both of the examples that I shall consider in detail belong to the Onagraceae. The first is Epilobium angustifolium, one of the most widely distributed species of higher plants, and the second is a small, closely related group of species of Clarkia


On April 19-20, 1983, the All-Union Symposium on Forecasting in Traumatology and Surgery was held in Kazan. For the first time, the issues of predicting outcomes and methods of treatment for injuries and surgical pathology were discussed at the All-Union level with the participation of leading specialists - representatives of large scientific institutions working in this field.


With recent advances enabling the deployment of large-scale collaborative Wireless Sensor Networks, numerous factors point to the need for sensor network deployments where subsets of nodes cooperate on specific tasks or networks supporting multiple applications. Virtual Sensor Networks (VSNs) is a concept to provide such support for the formation, usage, adaptation, and maintenance of subsets of sensors collaborating on a specific task(s). We describe a cluster tree based mechanism to form VSNs, facilitate inter-VSN and intra-VSN communication, and perform other VSN support functions. Simulation based results are used to evaluate its performance. The results indicate that cluster-tree based approach is significantly more efficient and reliable compared to random-routing based protocols.


The most common cellular structure in living organisms is the cell membrane. This membrane not only acts as a passive container, it is also associated with a substantial fraction of biological activity-for example, transport of matter, growth, energy transduction, immunological response, nerve processes, intercellular recognition, and biosynthesis. Despite the fundamental importance of biomembranes to many life processes, the quantitative physical knowledge about membranes has been rather sparse compared to the information that is presently available about other cellular components. However, in recent years, an increasing number of chemists and physicists have taken a growing interest in the study of biological membranes and related systems such as lipid bilayers, soaps, and liquid crystals. Using mainly experimental methods that are well known from condensed-matter physics, these researchers have provided important new information about the structural and dynamical properties of biomembranes. This new approach may be considered as being complementary to the more conventional, phenomenological biochemical and biophysical study of the functioning of membranes. Both approaches, however, endeavor to describe the relationship between the physiological function and the physical structure of the biological membrane. From a physical-chemistry point of view, a biological membrane is an extremely complicated system consisting of an aqueous biomolecular planar aggregate of predominantly lipids and proteins. A natural first step would therefore be to study simpler and more well-defined model membranes. In fact, in recent years, the main occupation of the physical membranologists'" has been to provide an experimental description of certain synthetic lipid bilayers, single membrane-bound proteins, and reconstituted cell membranes. As a result of the experimental efforts, these model membranes now present themselves as extremely well-characterized systems with properties that are believed to be common to a great variety of biological membranes. At the same time, the experimental work has highlighted an urgent need for a parallel theoretical activity. The theoretical work should involve construction of mathematical models that allow a quantitative interpretation of the experimental measurements and that may furthermore suggest and guide a more detailed experimental program geared towards an assessment of the relevant parameters describing the structure and function of biomembranes."'


Dentin is a large and complex component of the tooth synthesized by odontoblasts during the process of dentinogenesis. Dentin formed, before the completion of root formation, is define primary dentin (PD), while dentin formed after and associated with the normal aging process is designated secondary dentin (SD). Tertiary dentin (TD) is produced in reaction to external noxious stimulus/injury, such as attrition or dental caries, adjacent to the preexisting dentin layer and further classified reparative dentin (RD) (1, 2). Aim this study was to compare pattern and distribution of extracellular matrix proteins, produced by odontoblast cells during dentin mineralization and during reparative process, in response to stimulus in human sound dentin vs human reparative dentin matrix. Sixteen sound carious human molars were selected, demineralized, fixed in paraformaldehyde and then processed for immunohistochemical approach to detect extracellular matrix proteins. In particular specimens were submitted to an immunolabeling technique by using primary antibodies anti dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteoponti (OPN). Results indicate that the region of the exposed pulp, formed a layer of reparative dentin bridge sealing the communication between the cavity and pulp chamber. In addition results indicate that in RD is present a lower levels of DMP1 and DSP than PD layer, while BSP and OPN are present in RD but absent in PD layer. The expression of BSP and OPN in RD indicates that the odontoblast-like cells were attempting to produce a hard tissue at a very rapid process. In according with previous scientific literature, our results suggested that the deposition of OPN and BSP at the calcification front is essential for the type I collagen secretion by newly differentiated odontoblast-like cells to form reparative dentin during pulpal healing following cavity preparation.


Lock-free algorithms are an approach to concurrent programming wherethreads access shared state without mutual exclusion. Writing correctcomplex lock-free programs can come with great difficulties. ...


Hantzschia doigiana sp. nov. is described from coastal brackish-marine habitats in North bland and South Island, New Zealand. This new species co-exists in the sampled sites with a somewhat similar taxon, Hantzschia virgata var. leptocephala Ostrup. Specimens of H. doigiana can be distinguished by their protracted beaks and truncate valve morphology. These features are considered to be unusual in the subgenus Hantzschia. The structure and ultrastructure of valves and frustules of H. doigiana from several sites have been examined by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results are presented below, together with a site distribution map.


A fuzzy version of prioritization from among several alternatives under different decision criteria of Saaty's pair wise comparison method is presented in this paper. Each ratio expressing the relative significance of a pair of factors is displayed in a matrix from which suitable weights can be extracted. Since these ratios are essentially fuzzy, they express the opinion of a decision-maker on the importance of a pair of factors. This method is used in such a way that information from experts, who are asked to express their opinions in fuzzy numbers with triangular membership functions, is embedded in it. The method is applied at two levels: beginning with the finding of fuzzy weights for the decision criteria, followed by finding the fuzzy weights for the alternatives under each of the decision criteria. Fuzzy scores for the alternatives are obtained. Using the fuzzy scores, experts will be able to prioritize the alternatives for maintenance activities based on the listed criteria. The method is illustrated for outlet feeders in a nuclear power plant with representative values.


Quantitative phase microscopy by digital holography (DH-QPM) has been reported for various biomedical applications and applied to image various cell types, including SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells, fibroblast cells, testate amoeba, diatom skeletons, and red blood cells. The technique has been used to monitor laser microsurgery on red blood cells, rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cells (PTK2), and goldfish retinal rod cells for quantitative evaluation of the damage and repair of cells and cellular organelles in real time. These investigations show good correspondence with the results of already available data (obtained from other techniques) for several parameters such as the refractive index, shape and thickness of cells. This is because, DHM allows determination of dynamic changes in the optical thickness profile of a transparent object with sub-wavelength accuracy. From the above studies using DHM, we hope it can give a significant output in drug-induced dynamic changes of the infected cells. Moreover, the measurement accuracy for the detection of optical path length changes is expected to be increased by faster hologram acquisition, e.g., by a high speed camera and also by suppression of fixed pattern noise in the experimental setup.


That can be performed it unless the installation of the spacer using adhesive material up easily and reliably, and the first substrate and a second substrate at a predetermined distance oppositely disposed, and an electron emission unit formed on the first substrate, an image display unit that is the first formed on the second substrate, the first being disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate a plurality of beam passage holes are formed is arranged in a predetermined pattern that the spacer insertion hole formed to be arranged in a predetermined pattern grid electrode and is inserted into the spacer insertion hole of the grid electrode so that the first substrate and the second comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the second substrate, and setting the size of the spacer insertion hole with larger dimensions than the outer dimensions of the spacer to be formed.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of seasons on the hematological profile in horses used for urban traction in the city of Lages, Brazil. Blood samples were collected of the twenty crossbreed horses used for urban traction in the city of Lages, Brazil, carried out in four different periods according to the seasons, for carrying out the hematological profile, plasma total protein (PTP) and plasma fibrinogen. PTP was determined by refractometry method and the determination of plasma fibrinogen by heat precipitation method. Climate variations, such as maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall index for each period were obtained through access to the Center of Environmental Resources Information and Hydrometeorology of Santa Catarina. All values found were within the reference values commonly used for equine specie. There was no significant difference throughout the seasons on the values of erythrogram, leukogram, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and PTP. The MCH and plasma fibrinogen were higher in summer and eosinophils had significantly higher values in winter followed by summer. The region of Lages presents marked seasonal fluctuations, and these have little influence on hematological characteristics in horses used for urban traction.


Correction for 'Adhesive functionalized ascorbic acid on CoFe2O4: a core–shell nanomagnetic heterostructure for the synthesis of aldoximes and amines' by Serve Sorkhabi et al., RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 41336–41352, DOI: 10.1039/D0RA08244A.


The effects of 2.12 micrometers Cr:Tm:Ho:YAG laser pulses delivered in isotonic saline solution via an optical fiber system on fresh porcine femur patellar groove cartilage were studied in vitro. Various irradiation geometry, corresponding to angles of 0 - 90 degree(s) of the delivering fiber with respect to the cartilage surface, have been investigated. A laser pulse energies of 1.0 J with a pulse duration of 250 microsecond(s) (FWHM) was used. The dynamics of the induced transient vapor bubbles and the ablation process were monitored by time resolved flash videography techniques. Acoustic transients of up to 200 bars induced by bubble collapses were measured by a calibrated piezoelectric needle probe hydrophone. Histological assessment of the irradiated cartilage samples was performed using azan and Safranin-O stains. The extent of the area of altered cartilage cells is larger than the zone of tissue matrix damage. The predominant mechanism of tissue damage is thermal rather than acousto-mechanical. Cartilage treatment at an angle of incidence of 30 degree(s) reduces significantly the overall damage as compared to 60 degree(s) or 90 degree(s) irradiation.


We propose an optically coupled nanoantenna which contains an asymmetric dimer of core-dual shells nanoparticles, and the individual nanoparticle consisting of two identical metal strips that separated by a dielectric spacer known as the metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) structure. According to the dipole-dipole theory and the Mie theory, we theoretically and numerically demonstrate that this design can provide unidirectional forward scattering along the incident axis of light with high $f/b$ radio (known as the ratio of scattering spectra to forward and backward direction) and narrow beam-width owing to interference between electric dipole and magnetic high-order modes. We also find that all properties of this nanoantenna that the performance of it is related with the gap separation of the asymmetric dimer. Comparing with the asymmetric dimer of pure metal nanoparticles and the symmetric dimer of MDM nanoparticles, the proposed nanoantenna has higher directivity and low loss at the same time, due to effectively coupled electric dipole mode and magnetic multipole modes. The ultra-directional nanoantenna may shed new light to overcome power losses and low directivity of coupled nanoantennas, which can find various applications in bio-sensing and metamaterials.


Henryk Pachulski (1852-1921) – a Polish composer, pianist, and teacher. He graduated from the Warsaw Institute of Music, having studied piano with Rudolf Strobl. His harmony and counterpoint teachers were Stanisław Moniuszko and Władysław Żeleński. After that,
he studied piano at the Moscow Conservatory with Nicolai Rubinstein and then Pawel Pabst. He learnt harmony from E. L. Langer, then Anton Arensky with whom he also had a special course in counterpoint. In 1886 he started his teaching career at the Moscow Conservatory, which lasted over 30 years. He also performed as a pianist in Moscow, Petersburg, and Warsaw. Pachulski was acknowledged for his technical aptitude, but he gained the greatest recognition as a teacher and a composer. He created over a hundred piano works, including three sonatas, two cycles of variations, two polonaises, two mazurkas, three waltzes, preludes, studies, impromptus, and more. He also wrote chamber, vocal and orchestra compositions, as well as piano transcriptions for orchestra and chamber pieces.
 This article presents the composer's music and teaching activity, it also touches on teaching qualities of his piano works. It pays special attention to technical aspects, and the analysis also covers the formal side of these compositions. While preparing the text, the author used information included in the Polish music press from the turn of the 20th century, music collection of the National Library in Warsaw, archive documents, and foreign sources.


Abstract Purpose To find the effectiveness of storytelling as a method of oral health education among 3–6-year-old preschool children. Design A non-randomized experimental pre–post study design. Setting Preschools located in urban Bengaluru. Subjects Two hundred, 3–6 years, preschool children. Intervention An age-appropriate story with oral health messages was delivered using hand puppets during the storytelling session in preschool. Measures A self-administered 11-item picture-based, closed-ended questionnaire assessed children's knowledge and attitude at baseline and post-intervention. A 1-week audit sheet to monitor the brushing, eating, and mouth rinsing pattern was administered for the parents to measure the change in behavior post-intervention. Analysis Change in KAP mean scores was assessed using the "Wilcoxon Sign Rank test" at p < 0.05. "Cohen's d" was used to calculate the "Effect size". Results Significant improvement was observed in mean KAP score (pre 7.52 ± 1.95 post 8.60 ± 1.55, p = 0.0001) with effect size 0.2. There was a significant increase in the knowledge and attitude and practice score, knowledge (pre 2.97 ± 1.02, post 3.63 ± 0.78, p = 0.0001, effect size: 0.3), attitude (2.27 ± 0.81, 2.77 ± 0.60, p = 0.000, effect size: 0.3), and practice (2.04 ± 1.07, 2.28 ± 0.60, p = 0.0001, effect size: 0.1). Conclusion The storytelling method was effective in improving the oral health-related KAP of children aged 3–6 years. Significance This study attempts to inculcate good oral hygiene practices at a very early stage by targeting 3–6-year-old preschool children. Storytelling being humankind's oldest form of teaching and motivating change, can not only address the prevailing oral disease burden but also the oral health inequality by reaching out to every community. How to cite this article Shruti T, Govindraju HA, Sriranga J. Incorporation of Storytelling as a Method of Oral Health Education among 3–6-year-old Preschool Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(3):349–352.


The dynamics of drinking and driving can be adequately described using the fraction of accidents involving drivers who had been drinking. Evaluating drunk driving legislation using this measure implicitly controls for unobservable "general risk" influences on traffic safety, reducing bias and variability in estimates of laws' effects, especially in the early studies that influence lawmakers most strongly. Using this approach, we find that the widespread enactment of seven key drunk driving laws explains one-fifth of the reduction in drinking and driving since 1982, comparable to the effects of demographics and alcohol consumption, and less than the effect of "social forces." JEL Codes: I18, K14, N42


Coronary vasospasm-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a well-documented clinical condition, and there are existing reports in medical publications on this subject [1]. Treatment approaches for these patients can be challenging. In most cases, vasodilator therapy relieves anginal and VF episodes, but sometimes, in the case of recurrence, intracardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation is performed with concomitant medical therapy [2]. When a patient receives multiple ICD shocks for recurrent VF episodes after vasospastic attacks in spite of the use of vasodilator therapy, it is an undesirable situation for both the patient and the doctor.

In this paper, we present a case of a patient suffering from this clinical condition that was successfully treated through coronary stent placement.


Background: With the advancement in availability and sophistication of computed tomography (CT), a number of patients are being identified with incidental abnormalities or "incidentalomas". The purpose of this descriptive analysis is to describe the prevalence of abnormal findings unrelated to injury recognized during trauma evaluation at a Level I Trauma Center and determine if appropriate follow-up occurred. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of all head, spine, face, chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT scan reports in adult patients admitted to a Level I urban Trauma Center over a three month period was undertaken to determine the frequency of incidental findings and subsequent follow-up either in the acute care or outpatient setting. Results: A total of 500 consecutive patients received 3,460 CT scans with an average of 6.9 scans per person per admission. The population was predominantly male (71 %) with a mean age of 45 years. Incidentalomas were found in 65% of patients (325/500) yielding 760 individual findings. The most common incidentaloma involved degenerative spine disease in 50% followed by liver, head and neck, kidney, and other diagnoses. Further follow-up was recommended in 80 radiology reports with 27 of those indicating future follow-up. Twenty-six diagnostic studies and ten specialist consultations subsequently occurred. Discussion: Incidentalomas are becoming increasingly common with the utilization of sensitive scanning by computed tomography. Our findings are consistent with those of other studies that have determined the frequency of the incidentaloma. We also encountered similar challenges regarding incomplete follow-up of those patients needing systematic follow-up. Several issues impending adequate follow-up probable in our population include, lack of insurance, transportation, or other social situations encountered in the trauma population as well as inconsistencies in staff communication, recommendations, and adequate description of findings. Degree Type Capstone Project Rights Terms of use for work posted in CommonKnowledge. Comments The digital version of this project is currently unavailable; however, a print copy is available for check out or interlibrary loan requesting for eligible borrowers from Pacific University Library. Pacific University Library is a free lender. This capstone project is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/pa/75 Copyright and terms of use If you have downloaded this document directly from the web or from CommonKnowledge, see the "Rights" section on the previous page for the terms of use. If you have received this document through an interlibrary loan/document delivery service, the following terms of use apply: Copyright in this work is held by the author(s). You may download or print any portion of this document for personal use only, or for any use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.). Except for personal or fair use, you or your borrowing library may not reproduce, remix, republish, post, transmit, or distribute this document, or any portion thereof, without the permission of the copyright owner. [Note: If this document is licensed under a Creative Commons license (see "Rights" on the previous page) which allows broader usage rights, your use is governed by the terms of that license.] Inquiries regarding further use of these materials should be addressed to: CommonKnowledge Rights, Pacific University Library, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, (503) 352-7209. Email inquiries may be directed to:. email@example.com This capstone project is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/pa/75 NOTICE TO READERS This work is not a peer-reviewed publication. The Master's Candidate author(s) of this work have made every effort to provide accurate information and to rely on authoritative sources in the completion of this work. However, neither the author(s) nor the faculty advisor(s) warrants the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of the information provided in this work. This work should not be considered authoritative or comprehensive in and of itself and the author(s) and advisor(s) disclaim all responsibility for the results obtained from use of the information contained in this work. Knowledge and practice change constantly, and readers are advised to confirm the information found in this work with other more current and/or comprehensive sources. The student authors attest that this work is completely their original authorship and that no material in this work has been plagiarized, fabricated or incorrectly attributed.


Objective To understand the subjective well-being status of nursing students in secondary vocational schools,so as to provide information for students' mental health education. Method Totally,293 nursing students in secondary vocational schools were recruited and investigated using Subjective Well-being Scale. Results The subjective well- being of nursing students in secondary vocational school was low,the scores of three subscales from high to low were negative emotion,positive emotion and overall life satisfaction. There was no significant difference in subjective well- being among female students and male students except score of life satisfaction( P 0. 01). There existed significant differences among different grades( P 0. 01 or P 0. 05),except no difference in scores negative emotion between first and second grade nursing students,and subjective well- being of second and third grade students were lower than that of first grade students( P 0. 01 or P 0. 05). Conclusion The secondary vocational school should adopt measures to improve students' subjective well- being,especially male,second and third grade nursing students,and promote their mental health.


A theory for electron scattering from Borromean twoneutron halo nuclei with full inclusion of final state interactions is developed. The halo nucleus is described as a three-body system (core + n + n). Nuclear wave functions for bound state and low-lying three-body continuum excitations are calculated by the method of hyperspherical harmonics. The model is applied to explore electron scattering on He leading to nuclear excitations near the three-body breakup threshold. One of the most interesting questions in the physics of radioactive beams is that of the structure of halo nuclei at the limits of nuclear existence. In Borromean two-neutron halo nuclei, like He and Li, the nature of the threebody continuum is currently most intriguing. The concentration of transition strength, experimentally observed in these nuclei at low excitation energy, may contain threebody resonances or new kinds of collective motion, such as a soft dipole mode corresponding to oscillations of the core against the halo neutrons. The continuum is usually explored via responses induced by one-step transitions from the ground state to the continuum. We have developed a theory for description of electron scattering from two neutron Borromean halo nuclei in which effects of final state interactions between fragments are fully taken into account [1, 2]. The theory is coined for processes with small transferred momenta leading to low-energy nuclear excitations, the region which is most sensitive to the specific features of halo structure. The participant-spectator model is not applicable to this region. The nuclear structure was described within a cluster threebody model. This model reproduces rather well not only the properties of the ground state but is the natural basis for calculation of continuum states when the nucleus breaks into three fragments. The method of hyperspherical harmonics was used for solution of the three-body problem and for calculations of transition densities to the continuum. The theory has been applied to make predictions for electron scattering from He the Borromean nucleus which is the test-bench example for theoretical studies of twoneutron halo structure. Our calculations of inclusive inelastic scattering show that dipole excitations dominate in spectrum at small transferred momenta. The position of ∗ firstname.lastname@example.com Figure 1: Cross sections dσ/dΩfdΩydE for electrons with energy εi = 500 MeV and scattering angle θ = 10 as function of nuclear excitation energy E. The solid, dotted, dashed and dot-dashed lines correspond to angles θαq equal 0, 60, 90 and 180, respectively. the maximum and the shape of the dipole spectrum change with increasing transferred momenta. This differs from the behavior of the well known 2 true three-body resonance and gives additional evidence against a resonance nature for the soft dipole excitations. As an example of the theoretical calculations, Fig.1 shows the theoretical coincidence spectra for electron scattering angle θ = 10 as function of the nuclear excitation energy E∗ for different angles θy between the α-particle and the transferred momentum q. Future measurements of electrons in coincidence with fragments bear promise to give valuable information about halo structure. The pattern of energy and angular correlations are rather specific for different multipole excitations. Correlation measurements in general provide a unique tool for revealing the complex dynamics of nuclear excitations and pave a way to spectroscopy of the continuum, granted that rather small cross sections can be measured. S.E. and B.D. acknowledge support from RFBR Grants No. 05-02-17535 and 1885.2003.2. and B.D.from grant INTAS 03-54-6545.


The abiotic stress factors,drought,salt and extreme temperature,have seriously impact on plant growth.The basic leucine zipper(bZIP) transcription factors,which were identified in various plants,have been proved to be involved in responding process to various abiotic stresses.The role of plant bZIP transcription factors in the response to abiotic stress and its latest advances were reviewed.


A link type suspension for a caterpillar is provided to allow smooth driving in spite of obstacles by distributing and absorbing impact force due to the obstacles and driving resistance, and to safely roll over stairs by transferring sufficient force in case of ascent and minimizing slip in case of descent. A link type suspension for a caterpillar(1) comprises a plurality of roller sets(5), a bended link, a fixed link(15) and a rotating link(17). The roller sets are attached to both sides of a main frame(3) supporting the caterpillar. The respective roller sets are installed so as to allow a middle portion of two rollers(7,9) located apart from each other to rotate about both ends of the bended link. The fixed link are connected to the rotating link so as to be rotated through a rotation shaft in the middle of the bended link. The fixed link is connected to a fixed support(15a) installed in a main frame so as to be rotated. The rotating link is connected to the main frame and attached to a guide having a guide groove through a follower.


In the last years, hyperspectral analysis have been applied in many remote sensing applications. In fact, hyperspectral unmixing has been a challenging task in hyperspectral data exploitation. This process consists of three stages: (i) estimation of the number of pure spectral signatures or endmembers, (ii) automatic identification of the estimated endmembers, and (iii) estimation of the fractional abundance of each endmember in each pixel of the scene. However, unmixing algorithms can be computationally very expensive, a fact that compromises their use in applications under real-time constraints. In recent years, several techniques have been proposed to solve the aforementioned problem but until now, most works have focused on the second and third stages. The execution cost of the first stage is usually lower than the other stages. Indeed, it can be optional if we known a priori this estimation. However, its acceleration on parallel architectures is still an interesting and open problem. In this paper we have addressed this issue focusing on the GENE algorithm, a promising geometry-based proposal introduced in.1 We have evaluated our parallel implementation in terms of both accuracy and computational performance through Monte Carlo simulations for real and synthetic data experiments. Performance results on a modern GPU shows satisfactory 16x speedup factors, which allow us to expect that this method could meet real-time requirements on a fully operational unmixing chain.


Spathius reticulatus Chao et Chen, sp. nov. This is a reddish-brown species, with dark-brown postabdomen, and with ovipositorabout as long as postabdomen (1.17:1). It is the first Chinese species of Spathius withthe face having a satiny sheen due to a sculpture of excessively fine, absolutely even,transverse aciculation, like the surface of a gramophone record. Of the four species-groups having similar characteristics in Nixon's key (1943), this species seems to belongto the group of rusticulus Wilkinson in that the mesopleura are not coarsely rugoseeverywhere, and that the fore-wings are conspicuously dappled, the medius taking a deepdownward sweep at middle, the submedian cell hence distinctly constricted here. It dif-fers from all other members of the group in that the submedian cell is crossed by a broaddark fascia which is not situated at but rather a little basal to its narrowest place andthat there is no other brown mark in the basal portion of either median or submediancell. This aberrant member of the group also differs from all its congeners in the struc-tures of the propodeum and the tergite 2+3, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. However, itshows some affinities with rhianus Nixon in having mesonotum in profile sloping gra-dually to the pronotum and in the bicolorous hind coxae which are yellow at base andbrown at apex. The presence of the two basal carinae on mesonotum, though not V-shaped, also suggests its affinity with the above-mentioned species. Body length (without ovipositor) 3 mm. Holotype, ?, Kiengyang hsien, Fukien, vii 8, 1963 (Chen, C. H. leg.). Depositedin the Fukien College of Agriculture.


After studying the gold metallogenic fluid regime of the Shuijingtun gold deposit by geological fluid structure analysis and gama spectral survey, the deep prospecting direction has been proposed. Furthermore, by applying the shallow seismic exploration, combined geochemical exploration (primary halo, soil halo and partial extraction), the deep prospecting targets have been delineated and the accordant result between geophysical and geochemical anomalies has been achieved, which supplies reliable evidence for drilling work.


The fifteen new essays collected in this volume address questions concerning the ethics of self-defense, most centrally when and to what extent the use of defensive force, especially lethal force, can be justified.


This Research aims to describe the thoughts of Ki Hadjar Dewantara on character education in the perspective of Islamic education. This Research is called library research. The data taken in this research consist of primary data and secondary data. The method of data processing uses the analytical descriptive method after the data is collected, classified, compared, interpreted, and finally given the conclusion. The conclusion is made using deductive and inductive patterns. The result of this research shows that character education according to Ki Hadjar Dewantara is the guidance of character in the life of children growing. Character education can be formed through education, experience, life test, sacrifice, and environmental impact. Hereafter the internalized values become an intrinsic value underlying attitude and behavior then repeatedly until becomes a habit, and the habit is guided and maintained then be a character. The method of character education through among method namely momong, among and "ngemong" mean habituation, example, and teaching. Meanwhile, the steps are childhood, the development of souls and thoughts, and the formation of character or social awareness.


It is a vehicle with a transmission and a Induktorbaugruppe which is mounted in a chamber of the gear, is provided. The Induktorbaugruppe includes a winding, a core and an insulator having a first and second part which are oriented to each other. Each part includes a base, a support extending from the base, and a coil, which extends transversely from the carrier into engagement with the other part. Each coil includes an outer surface which carries a winding, and a passing cavity for receiving the core.


We are interested in this paper in speech compression using Discrete Cosine Transformation DCT and the discrete wavelet transform WT, then speech denoising using packet wavelet is discussed. The efficiency of the packet wavelets is presented to reduce the effect of noise in an acoustic signal. Several audio compression standards exist; these standards are established to develop tools to compress an audio signal while respecting the standards. Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and mean square error are used to evaluate the quality of the acoustic compression. Good results are obtained with Wavelet transform compared to DCT.


As an economic entity,the enterprises is a kind of manage money means and a unavoidable working way for seeking survival development in its running process of indebted operation.It had been adopted by the extensive field of foreign company.Enterprise should set up correct indebted operation opinion,holds opportunity to determine reasonable liability structure and scale,fully utilizes financial leverage effect,selects financing channels,avoids risk,reduces cost,change disadvantage into its vantage,promote enterprise's sustainable development at high speed and constantly.


Using split interfaces for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), and bridging the IPv4 interface, makes it possible to support a Tethered Device (TD) and an Access Terminal (AT) having concurrent IP connectivity. This configuration enables the support of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) applications in the AT using IPv6 while concurrently supporting general Internet usage on a TD. It is also possible to bridge an IPv6 interface to the TD.


It has been claimed that speakers distinguish between phonemically-identical initial syllables that differ in morphological structure, but the phonetic details are poorly understood. Five SSBE speakers read scripted dialogues containing words with such syllables, half with true prefixes (Pr) e.g. mistimes, displease, and half with pseudo-prefixes (PsPr) e.g. mistakes, displays. Each word occurred both with nuclear (N) stress and in postnuclear (PN) position. Pr words were longer up to voicing onset in the second syllable and had longer [� ] and VOT, and shorter [s] than PsPr words. For mis-, the average amplitude of the burst + aspiration was higher in Pr than PsPr. Implications for models of morphological decomposition are discussed.


The Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) on board ASTRO-H (Japanese next high-energy astrophysics mission) is a Compton telescope with narrow fleld-of-view, which utilizes Compton kinematics to enhance its background rejection capabilities. It is realized as a hybrid semiconductor detector system which consists of silicon and CdTe (cadmium telluride) detectors. It can detect photons in a wide energy band (50-600 keV) at a background level 10 times better than that of the Suzaku Hard X-ray Detector, and is complimentary to the Hard X-ray Imager on board ASTRO-H with an energy coverage of 5-80 keV. Excellent energy resolution is the key feature of the SGD, allowing it to achieve good background rejection capability taking advantage of good angular resolution. An additional capability of the SGD, its ability to measure gamma-ray polarization, opens up a new window to study properties of gamma-ray emission processes. Here we describe the instrument design of the SGD, its expected performance, and its development status.


The num ber of ri gs o perati ng in Alaska fro m December 1986 thro ugh July 1987 fluctuated between 6 and 9. Rig act ivity is ex pected to increase through the rest of 1987 and into 1988 as further North Slope develop· ment occurs, Among the additional drilling activities expected are en hanced recovery techniques at Prud hoe Bay and Kuparuk fields, the increase in production at the Lis burne field and the soon to be producing Endicott field.


In this article we reflect on the 'Interconnections between Culture and Behaviour: Interdisciplinary Perspectives' conference. The event brought together renowned scholars from the fields of psychology and sociology to applied linguistics, who presented the conceptualisations made and methodological approaches taken to explore culture and behaviour in their respective disciplines. In table discussions the participants debated the commonalities and differences between their respective disciplines and reflected on their own approaches. In a final plenum discussion speakers and participants questioned the compatibility of approaches in order to explore opportunities for interdisciplinary research. No discipline denied that links between culture and behaviour exist, but that other constructs are needed to explore them further, such as norms. The contexts in which behaviours are observed were also highlighted as crucial by all speakers, although they operationalised it quite differently. All sides acknowledged the value of multi- or interdisciplinary approaches when researching the links between culture and behaviour. However, philosophical differences affecting practical issues, such as data collection methods and analytical tools, were also identified as impacting compatibility. Following the discussions at the event, speakers and organisers decided to further explore these ideas in a special issue, which is currently in preparation.


This paper focuses on interactive and animated comic books as visual storytelling medium. With the rise of digital media, previous forms and methods of storytelling has been changed and reformed in hybridity and/or as emerging medium.  Like movies, documentaries, games; comic books gained digital, moving, and interactive levels to be described and examined.
This research aims to analyze interactivity maps to reach forms of interactivity used in selected comic books as examples representing emerged types of this media under various names such as motion comics, interactive comics, hyper comics, interactive game comics and web comics.
As Goodbrey (2007) states different types of comics in the scope of hybridization and digitality of the medium, a distinction between levels of interactivity in video games is offered in digital game theory. Digital types of comic books are not all interactive in the sense of content and may be more linear than a printed "choose your own adventure" comic book like Eight Grade Witch (Gaska et. al, 2021).  With digitality of the medium, interactivity is set firstly in form providing an agency for the interactor by turning the pages or making the reader click on pages. Some examples, such as web comics expands the medium to develop an interactivity between text and audience; some of them became more interactive providing more agency on the page; some are interactive in content and others converge comics books with games and redefine the medium with play at the center. Main question guiding the research is how they provide different forms of interactive of storytelling. Meanwhile: An Interactive Comic Book (Zarfhome Software, 2018), Framed (Noodlecake Studios, 2014), Florence (Mountains Studio, 2018) and Our Plague Year (Burton, 2022) are selected examples representing different forms of digital comic books and interactive – sequential storytelling to be analyzed comparatively within the scope of this research. In conclusion interactivity forms and maps are exposed and discussed through Sheldon's interactivity categories. The epistemology of interactivity is reconsidered with an analysis of interactive and animated comic books which combine various media and provide distinct ways of hybridity.


A molecular dynamics model has been developed to study the interfacial sliding dynamics in piezoelectric nanogenerator in atomic force microscope experiment. The molecular system includes a vertical semiconductor ZnO (0001) nanowire supported by a substrate and a Pt (111) metal tip. Simulation results show that the dynamic process of the Pt (111) tip sliding over the (0001) top surface of the ZnO nanowire, from the tensile side to the compressive side of the nanowire due to its lateral bending, involves the shear off of one monolayer of Pt atoms and the subsequent relaxation of the Pt (111) surface. However, no atomic inter-penetration or material transfer between the metal tip and the semiconductor material was observed. The calculated piezoelectric potential distribution due to the polarization of nanowire under bending is similar to the result derived from the continuum theory approach.


In Breathtaking: Asthma Care in a Time of Climate Change, Alison Kenner uses a multi-sited ethnography to examine the myriad infrastructures and material practices of care in the United States that mediate the relationship between disordered breathing and the environment. By tracing connections between lived experiences of asthma, environmental conditions and our bodies, the book allows us to imagine new carescapes that could help to make the world more breathable, writes Priyanka deSouza.


Objective: To assess the use of medical practitioners' services by mothers and their babies in the 6 months following childbirth.


This elaboration relates to contemporary solutions of cities' green areas. It emphasizes design solutions, which idea is connected to illumination. The chosen examples show aspects relating to plants' right composition and selection, functional solutions, aesthetics, detail, small architecture with water. However the main attention is paid to the illumination aspects. Presented examples, which concern problems with contemporary greenery illumination were basis for interesting conclusions, as well as impulses for finding new solutions. In the second part of elaboration the role of illumination parameters in greenery design process was presented as well as coherence of night city landscape and normative-law issues. The important aspect was to examine and to set new recommendations for illumination equipment right selection which fits to plants' vegetation period. Problems of presently used IT tools for illumination's calculation and 3d visualizations for greenery illumination were introduced. The elaboration was recapitulated with conclusions and remarks on the possibility of use the artificial light parameters for green areas' design and performance.