5 Background: To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the trends in treatment pattern, total and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs of cancer care for in the period between 2-month before and 12-month after cancer diagnosis for the privately insured non-elderly adults diagnosed with female breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. These four cancers represent the four most prevalent cancers in the United States and the 14-month duration captures the most expensive care phase in the cost trajectory of cancer. Methods: We constructed incident cohorts using claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute between 2009 and 2016. We identified treatment modality (cancer-related surgery, systemic therapy, radiation, and other hospitalizations) and calculated associated total and OOP (sum of deductible, coinsurance, and copayment) costs from payment variables. For each cancer, we examined healthcare utilization and cost trends based on the year of diagnosis and conducted logistic regressions to assess the trend in utilization and generalized linear models to evaluate the trend in costs. All estimates are reported in 2020 US dollars. Results: The cohorts consisted of 105,255 breast, 23,571 colorectal, 11,321 lung, and 59,197 prostate cancer patients. Between 2009 and 2016, use of systemic therapy and radiation significantly increased, except for lung cancer. Cancer surgeries significantly increased for breast and colorectal cancer but decreased for prostate cancer, whereas hospitalizations for reasons other than cancer declined for all cancers (p < 0.001). Costs increased for nearly all treatment modalities except for systemic therapy in colorectal and radiation in prostate cancer. Total mean costs per patient had the largest increase in breast cancer (29%, $109,544 to $140,743), followed by lung (11%) and prostate (4%) cancer. Cost increase in colorectal cancer was not statistically significant (P = 0.089). Similar trends were found in median costs. Although not every cancer had significant increase in total costs over time, OOP costs increased > 15% for all cancers, with deductibles accounting for an increasingly proportion. Conclusions: Rising costs of cancer treatments, compounded with increasing cost-sharing increased OOP costs for privately insured, non-elderly cancer patients. Policy initiatives to mitigate financial hardship should consider cost containment as well as insurance reform.


Magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) is expected as a semiconductor material for thermoelectric devices though synthesis of the thin film has been difficult due to difference in thermodynamic properties of Mg and Si. The authors have succeeded in preparing a poly-crystalline Mg2Si thin film with a thickness of ~1m and strong (111) orientation on a sapphire substrate (r plane). The method includes sputter deposition of a Mg/Si bilayer from independent Mg and Si sources and post-annealing (2 h) in argon gas at 900 Pa. The optimum annealing temperature for the Mg2Si film synthesis is found to be 300-400°C.


Charging device for tube bundle reactors (40), with a metering chamber unit (18) having a plurality of metering chambers (14) provided with filler such. can be filled as catalytically coated carrier material, wherein at each metering chamber (14) includes a downpipe (24) or other feed device connects, by means of which a tube (42) of the tube bundle reactor (40) each can be filled, wherein the metering chambers (14) each via antechambers (16) are filled, in a replaceable precombustion chamber (cassette 34) are combined, characterized in that - that the metering chamber unit (18) comprises a selector (30), via which-set-up on the metering chamber unit (18) precombustion chamber (34) is selectable, and - that a coding (32) between the precombustion chamber (34) and the metering chamber unit (18) is provided, which in dependence on the position of the selector (30) an emptying of the atria (16) in the dosing chambers (14) only upon a match allowed between the position of the selector (30) and the selected precombustion chamber (34).


The present paper describes a new species, Leptotrombidium (.L. ) iaishanicuut which very closely resembles L. (L. ) deliense and L. (L. ) fulleri, but is smaller in size, with wider and shorter scutum, and shorter legs. The larval mite is orange in color when alive. Detailed differential morphology and measurements are given.Type materials: holotype and 15 paratypes (larvae). Holotype and 7 paratypes ex Rattus confucianus, Taishan (Mt. ) (s. 1. 1545 m), 1977. VI. 13; 1 paratype ex an undetermined rat, Laiyang County, Shandong Province, 1960. V; 2 paratypes ex Rattus norvegicus, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, 1975. VI. 8;1 paratype ex R. norvegicus, Linyi County, Shandong Province, 1978. VIII; another 4 paratypes ex R. norvegicus Jiemu County, Shandong Province.The holotype and 2 paratypes are deposited in the Department of Parasitology, Shanghai First Medical College; the remaining 13 paratypes are in the deposition of the Army Military Medical Research Institute of Jinan, PLA.


Measures of quality of life (QOL) and patient satisfaction are of great importance in dermatology, as both impact upon treatment adherence and health outcomes. Patients' assessment of QOL often differs from their doctors' predictions and their assessments of skin disease severity do not correlate with patients' own perceptions. The development of laser technology has facilitated successful treatment of many skin conditions, but studies on patient satisfaction are lacking.


The characteristics of heat treatment and mechanical properties in PM high speed steel fluctuate with primary carbide size. The effect of primary carbide size on carbide distribution and morphology, quenching and tempering characteristics, mechanical properties such as bend fracture strength and wear resistance was studied in 5%Mo-6%W-3% V-8.5%Co and 6%Mo-14%W-5%V-12%Co type PM high speed steels.As a result, it was confirmed that annealed hardness, tempered hardness, bend fracture strength and wear resistance were significantly affected by primary carbide size. Annealed hardness and tempered hardness decrease with coarsening of primary carbide. The dependance of bend fracture strength and wear resistance on primary carbide size is greatly changed by the amount of alloy elements such as Mo, W, V, and the quenching temperature.Primary carbides are composed of MC and M6C type carbide. Their distribution ratio and area fraction are not affected by primary carbide size. Mean diameter of primary carbide, D(μm), is directly Proportional to maximum carbide size, Dmax(μm), following equation: D=0.27+0.31Dmax.


However challenging the prospects, there are growing indications of large corporations taking their social and environmental responsibilities more seriously, and of these issues becoming more critical in the business agenda. The substance of company reports is changing, from purely environmental reporting up until 1999, to sustainability reporting (social, environmental and economic), which has become the mainstream approach of global companies. Though some of the expressed concern may be part of the discourse of political correctness, there does appear to be a significant shifting of opinion among executives. At the confluence of these multiple emerging initiatives and trends towards greater corporate social and environmental responsibility, there is emerging a dynamic stakeholder model for driving enlightened shareholder value (or more expansively, stakeholder values). This article examines how the duty to promote the success of the company offers legal encouragement to pursue responsible strategies on the part of directors and managers, and how legal and moral liability is converging. Similarly, the effect of the modern prudent investor rule is that institutional investor decision-makers are given latitude to follow a wide range of diversified investment strategies, provided their choice of investments is rational and economically defensible, they may sustain a portfolio balanced by environmental, social and governance criteria.


A boundary value problem for a second-order elliptic equation with variable coefficients is considered in a multidimensional domain which is perforated by small holes along a prescribed manifold. Minimal natural conditions are imposed on the holes. In particular, all of these are assumed to be of approximately the same size and have a prescribed minimal distance to neighbouring holes, which is also a small parameter. The shape of the holes and their distribution along the manifold are arbitrary. The holes are divided between two sets in an arbitrary way. The Dirichlet condition is imposed on the boundaries of holes in the first set and a nonlinear Robin boundary condition is imposed on the boundaries of holes in the second. The sizes and distribution of holes with the Dirichlet condition satisfy a simple and easily verifiable condition which ensures that these holes disappear after homogenization and a Dirichlet condition on the manifold in question arises instead. We prove that the solution of the perturbed problem converges to the solution of the homogenized one in the -norm uniformly with respect to the right-hand side of the equation, and an estimate for the rate of convergence that is sharp in order is deduced. The full asymptotic solution of the perturbed problem is also constructed in the case when the holes form a periodic set arranged along a prescribed hyperplane. Bibliography: 32 titles.


The exploitation of human resources is a crucial question of carrying out great developmentand modernization in ethnic area,we should adopt effective measures to give impetus to the rapid and health developmentof economy in the ethnic area of Qinghai.


Using pesticides can decrease the population of organisms in plants. A pesticide which the work of cholinesterase enzyme in the body is oregano phosphate; it also has a side effect on the decrease in cholinesterase content. The research used a cross-sectional design which was aimed to find out the influence of using pesticides on the decrease in blood cholinesterase content in farmers who spray their plants with pesticides at Desa Cikaok, Kecamatan Sitellu Talli Urang Julu, Kabupaten Pakpak Bharat. The samples were farmers who sprayed their plants with pesticides. Chi Square statistic test was used to find out the variables which probably decrease in cholinesterase content at p,0,05. It was found that 26,7% of the respondents underwent a normal decrease in cholinesterase content, and 73,3% of the respondents underwent an abnormal decrease. Statistically, there was a significant correlation between the length of spraying pesticides with the decrease in cholinesterase content in the blood of farmers who sprayed their plants with pesticides at Desa Cikaok at p-value = 0,678. It is recommended that the farmers lessen the duration of spraying in order to reduce the risk of exposure to pesticides and use personal protective devices such as gloves, hats masks, glasses, uniforms, and shoes. The regional government should provide protection, counseling, and training about the procedure of using pesticides in order to forestall the incidence of illness in the farmers who sprayed their plants with pesticides.


The problem of static output feedback robust H_∞ fault tolerant control for uncertain discrete-time delayed systems was investigated.The considered system was assumed to have generalized matched parametric uncertainties and the output signals of the sensors have part gain faults. By using Lyapunov stability theory,the sufficient conditions for the existence of both memory and memoryless robust fault tolerant stabilization controllers were given in terms of linear matrix inequalities.Based on the solutions of a group of linear matrix inequalities,the robust H_∞ fault tolerant controllers were designed.Numerical examples were given to illustrate the validity of our results.


The goal of the paper is to review and classify current trends and outcomes of modern pedagogical education in Russia on the back of humanitarization of higher education as well as to justify principles of humanitarization of higher education content. The relevance of this subject stems from current shifts of socio-economic environment in Russia, which have brought new humanitarian paradigms to the forefront. The authors examine pedagogical process as a humanitarian phenomenon pursuing the aim to specify the goals and objectives of modern pedagogical education. The article highlights current demand to develop and promote pedagogical tools of humanitarian training as a model based on cultural practices which consequently implies structuring of the education content and process according to a person's nature, mind and spirit, contributing to the integrity of a human's inner world and the development of a whole person.


A model of a maneuvering nonlinear rotor system with step impact-rub force is given. The rotor system locates in an aircraft flying with an asymptotic acceleration. The step impact-rub force is smoothed by an infinitely differentiable function. The conclusion shows that the amplitude of rotor system increases at the beginning of aircrafts acceleration. The impact-rub may occur due to the increase of amplitude of rotor system even though there is no impact-rub before the acceleration. When the aircraft accelerates, the original impact-rub of rotor system may become serious, and the stability of rotor system may lose. The rate of accelerating affects the response of rotor system obviously.


The most feared complication after therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with acute ischemic stroke is the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Up to 11% of stroke patients who undergo treatment with rt-PA have suffered from sICH, which in turn dramatically increases the in-hospital mortality rate as well as the functional disability [1–4]. Since 1996, when the US Food and Drug Administration approved thrombolysis with rt-PA for the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke, several different scores have been proposed to predict the risk of bleeding and outcomes, but none of them has been established in a clinical routine [4–7]. Strbian et al. [8] introduced a new score (SEDAN score). The SEDAN score (0–6 points), which is based on blood sugar (glucose, 8.1–12.0 mmol/L [145–216 mg/dL] = 1, >12.0 mmol/L [216 mg/dL] = 2), early infarct signs (yes = 1), (hyper) dense cerebral artery sign (yes = 1) on computed tomography (CT) scan at admission, age (>75 years = 1), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (≥10 = 1), has been suggested to predict the risk of sICH after IV thrombolysis. The rate of sICH ranged between 1% for 0 score points and 27.8% for 5 score points, with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.77 (0.71–0.83) [8]. We included 542 stroke patients (mean age, 73 13 years; 51% women; median NIHSS score, 11 [IQR, 7–15]) who were admitted to the Department of Neurology at the University of L€ ubeck from 2008 to 2013 and administered an IV treatment with rt-PA to validate the SEDAN score in a monocenter study. The data acquisition was a part of the stroke registry at the Department of Neurology at the University of L€ ubeck. All consecutive patients with AIS who were treated with rt-PA were included in our analysis. The baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. After the intravenous thrombolysis with 0.9 mg/kg of rt-PA, 50 of 542 patients (9.2%; 95% CI, 6.5–11.4%) suffered from sICH, as detected by follow-up CT scan. In our study, the SEDAN score was determined for 539 of 542 patients. Of these patients (n = 539), 11.7%, 28.0%, 28.2%, 19.3%, 10.0%, and 2.8% had 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 SEDAN points, respectively. The absolute risk of sICH was 0%, 4.6% (95% CI, 1.3–7.9%), 6.6% (95% CI, 3.3–10.5%), 13.5% (95% CI, 6.7–19.2%), 23.6% (95% CI, 12.7–34.5%), and 26.7% (95% CI, 12.7–34.5%) for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 score points, respectively (Table 2). With increasing SEDAN score, the risk of sICH increased in the univariate analysis (P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that sICH was associated with increasing SEDAN score (OR, 1.93 per point; 95% CI, 1.51–2.46; P < 0.001). The predictive performance of the SEDAN score was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUC-ROC] (0.73; 95% CI, 0.65–0.80; P < 0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow test revealed that the expected and observed rates of sICH among patients with and without sICH were 91.1% similar (v = 1.7, df = 3, P = 0.64). In the study, the majority of patients (87%) treated with IV thrombolysis had a SEDAN score of ≤3 points. Only 2.8% of patients had a SEDAN score of 5 or higher. Of the five factors that comprise the SEDAN score, the highest number of points was obtained from the NIHSS score at admission (NIHSS score ≥ 10, 57.6%), followed by elderly age (44% of included patients >75 years old). The frequencies of infarct demarcation on CT scan at admission and of dense cerebral artery sign were 37.8% and 24.4%, respectively. However, an early infarct demarcation involving more than one-third of the area of the middle cerebral artery is a contraindication for treatment with IV thrombolysis. Patients with higher SEDAN scores seem to be at a higher risk of suffering from sICH than those with lower SEDAN scores. Based on the SEDAN score, a concordance of 91.1% between expected


INTRODUCTION Nociception is the process by which intense thermal, mechanical or chemical stimuli are detected by a subpopulation of peripheral nerve fibers, called nociceptors (Basbaum and Jessell, 2000) and nociceptive refers to the potential of a stimulus to produce a tissue lesion and a reaction from the organism. Nociceptive pain results from activity in neural pathways caused by actual tissue injury or potential tissue damaging stimulus. Nociceptive pain acts as an alarm which helps to protect the organism from further damage. It both triggers reactions and induces learned avoidance behaviors, thus limiting the damaging consequences (Le Bars et al., 2001). As per Dennis and Melzack (1983), pain/nociception has three major functions: i. To warn the individual of the existence of real tissue damage ii. To warn the individual of the probability that tissue damage is about to occur by realizing that a stimulus has the potential to cause such damage iii. To warn a social group about the danger as soon as it exists for any one of its members.


This study examines whether dividend payout, an internal corporate governance mechanism, is a substitute or an outcome of product market competition, an external corporate governance mechanism. The sample includes firms in six of the world's most prominent economies. We find that firms in more competitive industries pay less in the way of dividends to their shareholders, which is consistent with the notion that dividends and competition are substitutes. We also determine that the negative relationship between dividends and competition is attenuated by the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and is weaker in countries with a stronger set of protections for minority shareholders. Our empirical findings are robust to alternative measures of dividend payout, industry definition, and shareholder protection.


In this paper is considered the problem of finding paths for the motion of two autonomous mobile robots starting from given points of an arbitrary shaped but bounded two dimensional domain in presence of unknown obstacles. The objective of any of the two cooperating robots is that of follow a path that leads it to meet the other as soon as possible. No a priori information is known in advance about the geometry of the workspace nor about the number, extension and location of obstacles. Robots have sensing devices that detect obstacles or pieces of walls lying beyond a fixed view range. The problem is embedded in a graph optimization framework and a new algorithm is proposed, characterized by little computer power requirements. The optimization approach used is highly decentralized; the two robots can perform computation and navigation in parallel fashion and communicate only by partial map updating. Theoretical and practical aspects of the algorithm are investigated.


Banana waste, a lignocellulosic waste material, is generated in large quantities around the world. High Solids Anaerobic Digestion (HS-AD) of lignocellulosic waste can recover energy and reduce its environmental impacts. However, high carbon/nitrogen ratios and low water content in HS-AD can potentially cause system acidification and/or failure. This study investigated the addition of biochar to enhance the performance of HS-AD of mixed banana waste (peel, stem, and leaf). Biochemical methane potential assays with varying biochar dosages (2.5–30%) showed that 10% biochar addition increased methane yields by 7% compared with unamended controls. Semi-continuous HS-AD studies, without and with 10% biochar addition, were conducted at varying solids retention times (42, 35, and 28 days) for long-term performance evaluation. Biochar addition reduced volatile fatty acid accumulation, improved system stability, and increased methane production by 20–47%. The nutrient content of digestate from HS-AD of banana waste indicated its potential use as a bio-fertilizer. Life cycle assessment results showed that biochar addition to HS-AD resulted in greater environmental benefits in most categories compared with the unamended control, including eutrophication, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel depletion when biochar was available within a radius of 8830 km.


Random label noises (or observational noises) widely exist in practical machinelearning settings. we analyze the learning dynamics of stochastic gradient descent(SGD) over the quadratic loss with unbiased label noises, and investigate a newnoise term of dynamics, which is dynamized and influenced by mini-batch sam-pling and random label noises, as an implicit regularizer. Our theoretical analysisfinds such implicit regularizer would favor some convergence points that could stabilize model outputs against perturbation of parameters. To validate our analy-sis, we use our theorems to estimate the closed-form solution of the implicit reg-ularizer over continuous-time SGD dynamics for Ordinary Least-Square (OLS), where the numerical simulation backups our estimates. We further extend our proposals to interpret the newly-fashioned noisy self-distillation tricks for deep learning, where the implicit regularizer demonstrates a unique capacity of selecting models with improved output stability through learning from well-trained teach-ers with additive unbiased random label noises


CD1d tetramers loaded with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) bind selectively to mouse invariant Vα14 (Vα14i) NKT cells and their human counterparts. Whereas tetramer binding strictly depends on the expression of a Vα14-Jα18 chain in murine NKT cells, the associated β-chain (typically expressing Vβ8.2 or Vβ7) appears not to influence tetramer binding. In this study, we describe novel α-GalCer-loaded mouse and human CD1d-IgG1 dimers, which revealed an unexpected influence of the TCR-β chain on the avidity of CD1d:α-GalCer binding. A subset of Vα14i NKT cells clearly discriminated α-GalCer bound to mouse or human CD1d on the basis of avidity differences conferred by the Vβ domain of the TCR-β chain, with Vβ8.2 conferring higher avidity binding than Vβ7.


This research aims specifically to explore the medical-related factors that affect the image of medical services in Thailand, as perceived by the Middle-east tourists, and their medical service seeking behaviors. The researchers collected data from 204 Middle-east tourists selected purposively from 14 countries who had attended a kind of medical services in Thailand. Data were collected from September – December, 2012 mainly in hospitals, and analyzed using descriptive analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The Middle-east tourists' main travelling purpose is to get medical treatments, mostly for general health examination; while a few for special treatments (e.g. heart surgery). Most of them have come to Thailand two times or more, and would stay for more than one week up to one month.  A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed the two most important factors that influenced the Middle-east tourists' perceived image of Thai medical tourism: the tourists' positive past experience with medical treatments in that particular hospital and reputation of physicians & hospitals (knowledge, expertise, and high technology equipments).


PurposeMezirow's theory of transformative learning aims to evoke change on a deeper level of learning. This qualitative study with 38 pre-service teachers enrolled in a Master's degree programme for teacher education in Austria used semi-structured interviews to explore how diversity skills can transform after diversity training applying Mezirow's theory of transformative learning. In these trainings, a disorienting dilemma was placed at the centre of the diversity training from which transformative learning took its start.Design/methodology/approachIn an increasingly diversified school system, diversity skills have become a pedagogical necessity for teachers in their future workplace. However, many teachers state not feeling adequately prepared for diversity within higher education and their attitudes towards diversity oftentimes remain unchanged despite diversity training.FindingsThe findings were deduced from structured content analysis. They show that the diversity trainings led to new cultural frames of reference for the study participants on a cognitive and social level, but to a smaller extent on an emotional level.Originality/valueThe study follows a different approach than "typical" diversity trainings through Mezirow's theory on transformative learning contributing to making a real change to preparing students for their workplaces in diversified Austrian schools.


Combustion systems for large natural gas engine were designed,which included a small volume pre-combustion chamber and a shallow basin shape main combustion chamber connected between them by eight equally-spaced holes of dia.2 mm.Two schemes of connected hole angle were studied by CFD simulation and experimental method.Combustion process in the main chamber was simulated using simplified methane reaction kinetic model.Results show that in the big included angle scheme the flame radial propagation is accelerated and burn at the combustion chamber centre is slow,while the trend is contrary with the small included angle one.The same results are demonstrated by single cylinder engine test.In addition,the big included angel scheme has better anti-knocking ability and emissions.


Differentiating between different Plocamium species of marine algae is not a trivial task. However, a literature review reveals that each species of Plocamium has a major and minor metabolite that is unique to a particular Plocamium species being investigated. Knowledge about the chemotaxonomy of these unique major and minor metabolite standards therefore enables the potentially rapid identification of Plocamium species by means of either 1H NMR or GC-MS analysis of crude Plocamium extracts.


Background Patients with cataracts tend to be older and to have serious comorbidities and there is evidence that local anesthetic causes fewer adverse events than general anesthesia as well as reduces the recovery time of the patient. Many adjuvant drugs have been shown to improve the quality of peribulbar anesthesia. Aim The aim was to compare the effect of using atracurium and cisatracurium as an adjuvant to local anesthetic on peribulbar anesthesia in cataract surgeries. Patients and methods A total of 90 patients of both sexes belonging to the American Society of Anaesthesiology I and II status scheduled for cataract surgery using peribulbar anesthesia were divided into three equal groups as follows. Group I: received only bupivacaine and lidocaine, group II received bupivacaine+lidocaine+atracurium, and group III patients received bupivacaine+lidocaine+cisatracurium. Results There was a significant increase in time to begin surgery in group I when compared with groups II and III (P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference (P=0.001) in akinesia score at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min between groups. Also, there was a statistically significant difference (P=0.001) in eyelid squeezing score at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min between groups. There was an increased number of patients who required supplementary dose in group I (33.3%) than in groups II (10%) and group III (10%) (P=0.024). Rapid offset of akinesia occurred in group I than in group II and group III (P=0.001). Intraoperative pain using the visual analog scale score was statistically insignificant (P>0.05) between groups. There was no statistical difference between groups I, II, and III regarding complications and adverse effects. Conclusion Addition of muscle relaxant (atracurium or cisatracurium) in peribulbar anesthesia provides better akinesia, rapid onset, and more prolonged time of akinesia; it also decreases the need for supplementary injection.


The author, Transport Minister, Government of Canada, summarizes his country's important goals in air transport, commercialization, the National Highway System, GPS utilized by Canadian Coast Guard, and IVHS evaluation. Strides in transport policy such as requiring cars to have daytime running lights are highlighted.


Barrett's esophagus is a condition that predisposes patients to esophageal cancer. Early detection of cancer in these patients can be curative, but is confounded by a lack of contrast in white light endoscopy (WLE). Application of fluorescently-labeled lectins to the esophagus during endoscopy can more accurately delineate dysplasia emerging within Barrett's than WLE1, but strong tissue autofluorescence has limited sensitivity and dynamic range of this approach. To overcome this challenge, we synthesized a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent lectin and have constructed a clinically translatable endoscope for simultaneous WLE and NIR imaging. An imaging fiber bundle, shielded from patient contact using a disposable catheter, relays collected light into an optical path that splits the WL reflectance and NIR emission onto two cameras for simultaneous video-rate recording. The captured images are co-registered and the honeycomb artifact arising from the fiber bundle is removed using interpolation between image points derived from individual fibers. A minimum detectable concentration of 110 nM was determined using a dilution series of IRDye800CW-lectin in black well plates. We have demonstrated the ability to use our endoscope to distinguish between different tissue types in ex vivo mouse stomachs. Future work using human ex vivo tissue specimens will determine safe illumination limits and sensitivity for dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus, prior to commencing clinical trials.


The isoscalar giant dipole resonance (ISGDR), which is the lowest-energy overtone mode of the isoscalar giant resonances, has been studied in some medium-heavy and heavy nuclei in coincidence measurements. The observation of the direct nucleon decay channels significantly helped to enhance giant resonance strengths with respect to the underlying background and continuum, which gave an indication for the existence of a new mode with L = 2 character, assumingly the overtone of the ISGQR.


The green building (GB) can be defined as the method of increasing the efficiency of the building and site. However, the spillover effect of GB price in Malaysia has not widely been discovered as there are limited case studies on this issue. This paper attempts to determine the significant factors that influence the GB price. The empirical experiment has been conducted to test the Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) model on a real dataset of house prices in the area of Klang Valley, Selangor with GB specifications. The result showed that factors related to tenure have significant contributions to the GB price


The performance of Chenin blanc grafted onto 15 different rootstock cultivars and clones, established on a sandy alluvial soil in the Montagu district, was investigated. Over the eleven years of the trial, the highest mean yields were obtained with 99 Richter (Clone: RY 13), Constantia Metallica, Dog Ridge, Ramsey and 101-14 Mgt. The mean yield of99 Richter (Clone: RY 13) was significantly higher than that of the other 99 Richter clones and selections. The highest pruning masses were found with 143-B Mgt, Dog Ridge, Constantia Metallica and Ramsey. The crop-to-pruning-mass ratio of 143-B Mgt was, however, lower than that of the other graft combinations, which suggests that this graft combination was undercropped and that potentially higher yields could have been obtained. Moderate growth was obtained with the cultivars 101-14 Mgt and 3306 Coucerc. These cultivars showed potential as growth-limiting cultivars as they consistently produced relatively high yields with satisfactory grape composition, associated with low pruning masses.


The model structures we used in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 are listed in Table A. As mentioned in the main text, for all models, CNN layers are used as embeddings and fully connected layers are task-specific. The number of neurons on the last fully connected layer is determined by the number of classes in the classification. There is no activation at the final output layer and all other activations are Tanh.


A cloud image can provide significant information, such as precipitation and solar irradiation. Predicting short-time cloud motion from images is the primary means of making intra-hour irradiation forecasts for solar-energy production and is also important for precipitation forecasts. However, it is very challenging to predict cloud motion (especially nonlinear motion) accurately. Traditional methods of cloud-motion prediction are based on block matching and the linear extrapolation of cloud features; they largely ignore nonstationary processes, such as inversion and deformation, and the boundary conditions of the prediction region. In this paper, the prediction of cloud motion is regarded as a spatiotemporal sequence-forecasting problem, for which an end-to-end deep-learning model is established; both the input and output are spatiotemporal sequences. The model is based on gated recurrent unit (GRU)- recurrent convolutional network (RCN), a variant of the gated recurrent unit (GRU), which has convolutional structures to deal with spatiotemporal features. We further introduce surrounding context into the prediction task. We apply our proposed Multi-GRU-RCN model to FengYun-2G satellite infrared data and compare the results to those of the state-of-the-art method of cloud-motion prediction, the variational optical flow (VOF) method, and two well-known deep-learning models, namely, the convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) and GRU. The Multi-GRU-RCN model predicts intra-hour cloud motion better than the other methods, with the largest peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index. The results prove the applicability of the GRU-RCN method for solving the spatiotemporal data prediction problem and indicate the advantages of our model for further applications.


Through collaborations with community partners and academic institutions agencies can build their capacity to more effectively serve the United States' growing migrant population. This article presents several innovative collaborative initiatives that Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago has developed toward this end. These include the creation of an Office of Latino Affairs, a Latino Advisory Committee, numerous community collaborations, and a transnational student exchange program that offers a unique opportunity for students to serve, learn, and reflect.


Overhead lines are very susceptible to faults because of the exposure of the system equipment to the extremes of weather and environmental conditions. Fault finding on 11 kV overhead lines is often extremely time consuming due to the remote locations and difficulty of access for personnel. The author investigates pole mounted fault passage indicators (FPI). The FPI is mounted on the pole some distance below the conductors. When a change in status of the magnetic field radiating from the overhead line conductor, caused by a downstream faults, occurs the FPI is triggered. The indicator enables quick identification of the passage of the fault.


—This paper, aims to define fuzzy parameterized relative soft sets along with the presentation of their related properties. Following, the proposal of a decision-making method based on fuzzy parameterized relative soft set is made. In addition to that, a practical example is being demonstrated showing that the method can be successfully applied to the decision-making problems.


Objective:Discusses application reconstruction plate with allograft bone graft calcaneal fractures of the treatment of crushing clinical curative effect.Method:October 2005-2010 10 months,application reconstruction plate with allograft bone graft calcaneal fractures treatment in 31 cases of crushing,20 cases,left right.11 cases,J aged 20 years-56) are closed fractures.According to Sanders classification standard:Ⅱ type 9 cases,Ⅲ type in 15 cases,Ⅳ type 7 cases.Patients are falling injury.Preoperative are raised limb simultaneous application decongestant medications detumescence.Injury to the operation time is 3-7 days,in average,5 days.Preoperative line calcaneal three-dimensional CT reconstruction,calcaneal side position.Shaft bits X-ray examination.By foot."L" type outside into the road,reattachment allograft bone graft reconstruction plate fixation.Result:30 cases wound coexisted pathology,1 case serie b healed without skin necrosis and calcaneal sleeve,and postoperative review calcaneal X-ray shows calcaneal length,width,height,bayesian horns were restored.31 cases of all return visits.Follow-up time 6-15 months,averaging 11 months.31 cases of all healing.Conclusion:Reconstruction plate fixation plus allograft bone graft treatment calcaneal crushing fracture is a assured curative effects of treatment.


The present research was designed to determine the free amino acids (FAAs) composition and electrophoretic protein patterns by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in  Oreochromis niloticus exposed to 1/10 LC50-96 hrs of phenol and nonylphenol ethoxylate 9 (NPEO 9) under laboratory condition for 4 weeks, in an attempt to develop sensitive bio-indicators for evaluation of pollution effects. Variations of FAAs were apparent in both treated groups. Significant increases were recorded in all individual amino acids including essential and non-essential ones, except for proline for both treated groups and leucine for phenol exposed fish group where they decreased significantly. The electrophoretic analysis of protein of the skeletal muscle homogenate using SDS-PAGE indicated that the control group yielded 10 fractions of molecular masses between 166 and 23 kDa. A total number of 9 bands were separated from fish of phenol group; they were varied from 168 to 23 kDa. However, 6 bands only were separated from fish of the NPEO 9 group; they were varied from 157 to 28 kDa. The muscle protein extract from fish of the phenol group showed five unique bands (168, 96, 68, 52, and 39 kDa). Moreover, fish that were exposed to NPEO 9 group showed three unique bands (157, 92, and 72 kDa). The highest similarity index "S" value observed between phenol and control groups was 0.37, followed by 0.33 between NPEO 9 group and the control one. This could be an indicator of changes in protein metabolism due to phenol and NPEO 9 pollution.


Abstract Following the pioneering use of lasers and photon beating for the development of dynamic light scattering about thirty years ago, there have been numerous studies using light scattering techniques to investigate liquid dispersions in various research fields. With the growing importance of new polymeric and colloidal materials in technology and biopolymers and biocolloids in biology, the use of these techniques for size characterization has become routine. This paper gives a survey on basic principles of light scattering techniques and their use in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical research. We will emphasize recent applications and the combination of light scattering with other techniques such as electrophoresis, chromatography, and flow cytometry. Finally, although light scattering shows several advantages compared to other techniques for characterization of nanoparticles, critical observations are discussed with respect to its potentials and pitfalls.


Self-efficacy, which is a belief to achieve a goal, is important for sufficient enhancement of physical ability of elderly people. For implementation of self-efficacy to assistive systems, it is necessary to subliminally change reference trajectories of the system within the range at which people cannot recognize the difference (just-noticeable difference: JND). This study clarified that elderly people have weaker position sense rather than young people when they are moved passively in relatively fast speed. New reference hip trajectories are computed to gradually extend hip flexion of human standing-up motion based on the measured JND. Graphical Abstract


For three classes of elliptic pseudodifferential operators on a compact manifold with boundary which have "geometric K-theory", namely the "transmission algebra" introduced by Boutet de Monvel [5], the "zero algebra" introduced by Mazzeo in [9, 10] and the "scattering algebra" from [16], we give explicit formulas for the Chern character of the index bundle in terms of the symbols (including normal operators at the boundary) of a Fredholm family of fiber operators. This involves appropriate descriptions, in each case, of the cohomology with compact supports in the interior of the total space of a vector bundle over a manifold with boundary in which the Chern character, mapping from the corresponding realization of K-theory, naturally takes values.


A low-cost compact mass spectrometer was effectively utilized for identifying and tracking process impurities in the early stage development of a multistep synthetic protocol used to prepare the verubecestat drug substance. Process optimizations were influenced by the type, quantity, and final fate of impurities generated during synthesis. Employing a compact mass spectrometer for impurity identification and tracking served as a guide to redesign synthetic strategies which enabled the minimization or avoidance of undesired side products.


In this study, we report the ternary organic solar cells by doping a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) material (4 s ,6 s )-2,4,5,6-tetra( 9H -carbazol-9-yl) isophthalonitrile (4CzIPN) in the binary poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) :[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) blends. Given the complementary absorption with P3HT, 4CzIPN was doped into (P3HT:PC71BM)-based binary blends, and ternary OSCs were developed, The ternary OSCs with 1.0 wt% of 4CzIPN displayed better phase separation of active layer, thus leading to an impressive efficiency of 3.94 % with open-circuit voltage of 0.54 V, short-circuit density of 11.58 mA/cm-2 and fill factor of 63.32%.


e22537 Background: MPNST accounts for about 5% of soft tissue sarcomas. It is known to have high metastatic potential and poor prognosis, but reported long-term outcomes vary widely across published series. Our study aimed to determine factors affecting clinical outcome in a large cohort of patients (pts) with MPNSTs treated at reference sarcoma center. Methods: 289 consecutive pts (144 woman and 145 man) referred, diagnosed and treated between 03/1998 and 04/2018 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier estimator and the log-rank test were used in survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to confirm the correlation. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 50y (15-86). 39 (13.5%) pts were NF1 positive, 12 were primary diagnosed with metastatic disease. After median follow-up of 66.5 months (m) (95% confidence interval, CI 58.1 – 85.2) 151 pts continue treatment or follow-up. Median OS was 55.7m (39.3 - 148.9) in the whole group while 5y survival rate was 48.8% (CI: 42.8-55.7%). 37/167 pts with radical resection in reference center developed local recurrence, and 75/92 pts operated first in regional hospitals. Median DFS was 29.7m (CI: 16.1-58.3) in case of treatment in reference center and 4.1m (CI: 2.4-9.2) in case of regional hospital (p < 0.001).72 pts developed metastatic disease and were treated with chemotherapy. Median PFS on 1st line was 5.6m (CI: 3.3 - 8.1), There were no statistically significant differences in survival rates nor in response rates between doxorubicin- and ifosfamid-based regiments. Tumor size at diagnosis (HR:2.33, CI: 1.50-3.62), high grade (HR:3.31, CI:2.14-5.12) and R0 resection (HR:0.47, CI:0.30-0.72) were the strongest independent predictors of DFS and OS. (neo)adjuvant radiotherapy did not influenced LRFS in case of R0 resection but improved LRFS when complete resection was not feasible (HR: 0.22 CI: 0.08-0.58 p = 0.002). Conclusions: MPSNT is a highly aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. High quality surgery remains the mainstay of management for these patients, but multimodal treatment should be considered in majority of cases in MDT units. There is unmet need for new therapies in advanced/metastatic cases.


An approach to design the laminated composite plate subjected to in-plane loading conditions is investigated. The composite structure is optimized for the conflicting multi-objectives maximum buckling load factor and minimum weight. Fibre orientation angles, stacking sequence and number of layers are chosen as design variables. In order to avoid the inter-laminar stress developed due to grouping of plies, design of laminated plate with diffused stacking sequences is proposed in this work. In-plane strength of the laminate and not grouping more than four plies of same orientation are set as the design constraints. Static failure criteria (Tsai-Wu and Maximum Stress) are used to determine the load bearing capacity for a configuration generated during the optimization process. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is explored with two optimization problems. In the first problem a simple genetic algorithm (SGA) is applied to maximize the buckling load factor of the composite plate. In the second problem, a multi-objective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is used to obtain Pareto optimal designs for the problem having multiple, conflicting, objectives minimum weight and maximum buckling load factor. The results show that better design can be obtained with diffused angle layers and the grouping of plies can also be completely eliminated.


The epithelium of the pulmonary airlacrimal glands (3-5). T ways subserves a wide range of funccytes in rat clearly do nc tions, from providing a barrier against (3, 6) and likely do not inhaled particles and pathogens to transFinally, basal cells in pro: mitting signals to subepithelial cells. ithelium of the rat and hi Given the central place of the epithelium tract express AQP3, no in respiratory tract pathophysiology, the These species differences molecular determinants of epithelial funcbution in the respiratory tion are appropriately the focus of intense esting questions from th scrutiny. In a recent issue of PNAS, two comparative physiology. groups present important and surprising lial water transport req findings arising from primary observabetween species, and if tions in the airway epithelium. Krane and targeting mechanisms di colleagues (1) demonstrate that mice with tribution in different cell a deletion of the aquaporin-5 (AQPS) relevance of the latter i, gene manifest greater airway constriction recent descriptions of an to cholinergic stimulation than wild-type trafficking defect in lacri animals. Huang and colleagues (2) deglands of humans with scribe compartmentalized signaling at the drome, who suffer from apical membrane of airway epithelial cells mouth (7, 8). And what that regulates activity of the cystic fibrosis tions of species differencl transmembrane conductance regulator bution for modeling hum (CFTR). Each of these observations will ogy? Although prov likely prove to be of great interest across histologic findings are no a range of scientific disciplines. icant aspect of this study AQPs are water-specific membrane Krane and colleague channel proteins. Of the 11 mammalian airway responsiveness AQPs identified to date, four (AQP1, stimulation. In anesAQP3, AQP4, and AQP5) are expressed thetized, mechaniin the respiratory tract, with predomically ventilated aninantly nonoverlapping cellular and submals, total lung cellular distributions. In the rat respiraresistance and dytory tract, AQP5 is present in the apical namic compliancemembrane of type I pneumocytes and measures of airway secretory cells of submucosal glands in function-were siminasopharynx and proximal airways (3). lar at baseline beThis distribution is similar in the human tween wild-type and A respiratory tract, but in contrast to rat, Both groups responded AQPS is also present in the surface epiline with bronchoconst thelium of human nasopharynx and proxmagnitude of airway con imal airways (4). Krane and colleagues (1) nificantly greater in the now report that the mouse lung exhibits (Fig. 1). Airway respons yet another pattern of AQPS distribution. examined in awake, spont In mouse, AQPS was localized to both the ing animals using wholeapical and basolateral membrane of ciliplethysmography. The ated and secretory cells in the trachea; the (Penh) is a unitless mes apical membrane of ciliated cells in the lates with changes in air bronchi; basal cells of the bronchi and response to methacholir lobar bronchioles; and both type I and Consistent with the find type II pneumocytes in the alveolus. Sevtized animals, the Penh v eral of these differences are of note. Pretwo groups at baseline. viously, AQPS has been described almost inhaled methacholine, exclusively as an apical membrane protein had a significantly gre; in the lung, as well as in corneal epithePenh than wild-type an lium and secretory cells of salivary and enhanced bronchocons


Abstract The growth of sports accompanied by the increasing number of quality competitions have become a matter of interest for those involved with the study of methodological and theoretical approaches with application in sports and performance activities. No organization or activity, regardless of their profile, can achieve a high level of efficiency on their own, disregarding basic management element, rules, principles, laws, techniques and methods. Due to social needs they meet and their purpose, the activities in sports organizations, among which training stands top priority, claim a leader. A coach must be both manager and leader, be an inspiration for his team and a supervisor as well. He has to be disciplined, in good balance, a thorough assessor of people and activities, very efficient by his capacity to scout talent in people and make the best of it.


In an infinite semi-strip we consider a boundary value problem for a third order nonclassical type equation degenerating into a parabolic equation. The complete expansion of the solution of the problem under consideration in small parameter was constructed and the remainder term was estimated.


Pure Mg,Al(NO_3)_3·9H_2O and Al_2O_3 powders were used as the raw materials to prepare magnesium matrix materials reinforced by MgO nanowires and MgMg_(17)Al_(12) eutectic.The composites were fabricated by in-situ selfassemble growth method.The differential scanning calorimetry was performed on the two kinds of green samples made separately by ultrasonic stirring and generally milling.It was found that Mg and Al_2O_3 had taken place at about 350℃.The transmission and scanning electron microscopies,energy dispersive spectrometry were conducted to the sintered samples.The results show that the microstructure of the sintered sample made by ultrasonic stirring is compact and fine.Vickers hardness test shows that the Vickers hardness number of ultrasonic stirred sample is higher.Dynamic kinetics model of self-assembly growth of reinforcements is proposed in this paper.


The research progress of the soy protein modification technology was summarized,including physical,chemical and biological methods.The physical and biological methods are safer and play an important role in food industry while the chemical methods are mainly applied in producing of the new chemical material.Modification improves the functional properties of soy protein and expands their application range in industries.


The compact lightweight absolute radiometer (CLARA) experiment aims at measuring the total solar irradiance (TSI) in space and is scheduled to fly on the Norwegian NORSAT-1 micro satellite. The CLARA experiment will contribute to the long term monitoring of the TSI variability to support the analysis of potential long term trends in the Sun's variability. CLARA is traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology radiometric scale and will provide further evidence for the TSI value on an absolute scale. In this paper we present the design, characterization, and calibration details of the CLARA instrument. The combined measurement uncertainty for the calibrated SI-traceable CLARA flight instrument is 567–912 ppm (k  =  1) depending on the measuring channel.


The liver disease all over the world had a more attention towards the prevention methods; balanced diet can be effective and protective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective role for dandelion leaves aqueous extract (prebiotic), camel milk, fermented camel milk (probiotic product), fermented camel milk fortified with dandelion leaves aqueous extract (Synbiotic product), camel casein and camel whey protein against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver injury in rats. Rats were divided into eight groups (eight rats each). Group one was served as normal control (NC), while the other seven groups were injected intraperitoneal in beginning of experimental with single dose from carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Animals from group three to seven received orally camel milk; dandelion leaves aqueous extract; fermented camel milk (probiotic product); Synbiotic product and whey camel milk; while, group eight received basal diets in which protein was replaced with 20% camel casein for 45 days. The results indicated that all previous materials exhibited scavenging activity; liver injury control group revealed increased in liver function (AST, ALT and ALP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; whereas, decreased body weight gain, albumin and glutathione reduced (GSH) levels. Also, histological examination of hepatic showed more alteration due to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatocellular damage. While, treatment by dandelion aqueous extract(prebiotic), camel milk; fermented camel milk (probiotic product); fermented camel milk fortified with dandelion leaves aqueous extract (Synbiotic product), camel casein and camel whey protein resulted in a significant improvement in weight gain, liver function and oxidative stress parameters; also, suppresses the alteration in liver histology. It could be concluded that dandelion leaves aqueous extract (prebiotic), camel milk; fermented camel milk (probiotic product); fermented camel milk fortified with dandelion leaves aqueous extract (Synbiotic product), camel casein and camel whey protein should be used as ingredients in functional foods for hepatoprotective.


I am a nurse working in a respiratory ward, and a PhD student. I have a long-standing interest in ethics and was keen to discuss how to prepare for the ethical challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, I posed some questions to Ann Gallagher, professor of ethics and care at the University of Surrey.


The present paper describes a digitizing method for the measured gear noise and a construction of a neural network system for gear noise diagnosis.Gear noise emitted from automobile transmissions should be evaluated by gear noise experts. Although quietness performance estimates from measured noise levels of the transmissions on some production lines, the estimation must be very difficult. There is not a certain relationship between the measured noise levels and the evaluations by the gear noise experts. Therefore, the estimation should be severe. As a result, such an automatic gear noise diagnosis system must yield transmissions with over-quality.The present study deals with a new gear noise diagnosis system to which an artificial intelligence, that is, a neural network system is applied. The previous evaluations by the new gear noise diagnosis system were good when the statistical property of the teacher signals from which the neural network system learned was similar to that of population. This fact means that many teacher signals are necessary on the practical use.Proposed digitizing method of gear noise levels provided good evaluations of neural network system even when the statistical properties of the teacher signals were not similar to that of the population. In addition, a new method, "Moment method" for determining the construction of the neural network system was introduced instead of "Back Propagation Method". The Moment Method contributed to the improvement of the system judgments.The neural network system constructed using the Moment Method brought good performance. And the number of intermediate layers in the neural network system could be small enough to obtain good performance. It was found that the Moment method provided good learning because of connecting weights update function. When the Moment method was used for determining the connection weights between neurons in the neural network system, the developed gear noise diagnosis system achieved high and stable correct answer ratio. And the number of intermediate layers in the neural network system was only one enough for obtaining good performance of the system. Four intermediate layers, which was the maximum in this paper, did not provide much good performance.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


In the course of the forty years of his literary work, the writer, novelist and playwright Jovan Radulović gave a large number of interviews – to the most renowned newspapers and magazines of his time, in which he answered questions from journalists and writers ‒ about himself, his biography, literary space and work. These conversations were either poetic or had to do with current affairs, depending on the time and occasion of the interview. At the same time, the occasions were a chronicle of contemporary Serbian literary scene. This paper systematizes the thematic fields of Radulović's interviews.


Two field experiments were conducted during two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008 in Meit Nagy Village, Meit Ghamr, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of some pre-or post-emergence herbicides either alone or accompanied with hoeing on soybean yield and its components and associated weeds. The results showed that the best treatments in controlling the annual bread leaves, annual grasses and total annual weeds throughout the vegetative period of soybean plants were : The pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin at 0.425 kg a.i./fed or Metribuzin at  0.140 kg a.i./fed followed by one hoeing (21 days after sowing) or post-emergence application of Bentazon at 0.180 kg a.i./fed preceded by one hoeing (21 days after sowing), or using hand hoeing twice (21 and 35 days after sowing) compared with single herbicidal treatments. Treatment of Pendimethalin at 0.425 kg a.i./fed followed by one hoeing improved the growth of soybean plants and resulting in the tallest plants, highest number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, seed index, seed yield/plant and per feddan and the highest oil % in the seeds as well as seed protein percentage compared to other weed control treatments.


Abstract Forest fragmentation can influence abiotic and biotic factors important for the reproduction and survival of animals. Previous investigations suggest that, in the fall, more food is available for white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in edge than interior habitats and in small than large forest fragments. However, in the winter, individuals in small fragments and edge habitat may be more exposed to harsh weather extremes, which can result in higher mortality. We examined the effects of fragment size (small and large) and habitat (edge and interior) on populations of white-footed mice during nest box censuses in the winter (January–April) of 2003 in southwestern Ohio. While population density was initially higher in small than large fragments and edge than interior habitats, by the end of the winter there were no significant differences in population size. Populations in small fragments and edge habitat had larger decreases and greater rates of decline in density than those in large fragments and interior habitats over the course of the winter. These results suggest that while small fragments and edge habitat may be high quality habitat in the fall, animals in these areas may suffer higher mortality rates during the winter, compared with animals in large fragments and interior habitat.


Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Korean medical combination treatment for cervical disc herniation. Methods : This is an observational study. 102 patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) were investigat...


by injecting both intramuscularly and intraluteally an analog of PGF2 α : dinoprost. Their intra-CL of dinoprost decreases intravenous progesterone (P4) levels, in a dose-dependent in cows at the mid-luteal phase. An increase in indicators of vascularization of CL (CL blood flow and adjusted blood flow), by a drop in P4 level, was observed 2 h after intra-CL dinoprost injection in the middle-stage lack of in the early estrous to the of the


Introduction: Monoclonal gammopathy (MG) is a spectrum of conditions including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy. Despite advances in the treatment of MM it remains an incurable disease that accounts for > 80 000 deaths annually worldwide. Many etiologies for myelomagenesis have been postulated. One theory suggests that chronic antigen stimulation from rheumatologic conditions can increase the risk of MG. Numerous studies have reported an increased risk of MG and other lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's syndrome (SS). However, the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and MG is controversial as conflicting results have been reported. Case control studies have described an increased risk of RA but this finding was not corroborated in a subsequent meta-analysis. We used the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to explore the association of RA with MGUS and MM.
 Methods: The NIS is a validated database derived from discharge billing information which provides a sample of all non-federal hospital discharges in the Unites States. We identified adult patients with discharge diagnosis codes for MGUS (ICD-9 273.1), MM (ICD-9 203.0), RA (ICD-9 714.0), SLE (ICD-9 710.0) and SS (ICD-9 710.2) from 2014. Demographic data such as age, sex and race were also obtained. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze data for association of RA with MGUS and MM after adjusting for age, gender, race and other rheumatic diseases. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA 14.
 Results: A total of 7,071,762 discharges were analyzed. There were 20,066 hospitalized adults with discharge diagnosis codes for MM and 6,433 patients with a discharge diagnosis of MGUS. The prevalence of RA in patients with MGUS is 5.1% (p<0.001) and the prevalence of RA in patients with MM is 1.6 % (p=0.92). By logistic regression MGUS was associated with RA (OR 2.04, CI 1.80 - 2.32, p<0.0001) when adjusted for age, gender, race, SLE and SS. However, logistic regression did not show a significant association between MM and RA when adjusted for the same variables (OR 1.05, CI 0.95-1.15, p=0.23). MGUS was significantly associated with SS (OR 4.4, CI 3.29-5.90, p<0.001) and SLE (OR 1.9, CI 1.44-2.43, p<0.001) when adjusted for variables.
 Discussion: Our review of the NIS database found a significant association between rheumatologic disorders (RA, SLE and SS) and MGUS. These results are in concordance with previous retrospective studies. However, we did not find a significant relationship between RA and MM. There is known to be a high prevalence of MGUS in the general population, the clinical significance of which is being debated. The association between RA and MGUS that our study found may be due to a selection bias as patients with rheumatic conditions such as RA are tested more frequently for MGUS than the general population.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


HE PRODUCXION of oncolysis by the adminT istration of adenoidal-pharyngeal-conjunctival (APC) viruses to patients with carcinoma of the cervix has been limited." The cessation of oncolysis by the adenoviruses appears to be related to the rise in antibody titers that occurs within 5 to 7 days after virus is inoculated into tumor. Axelrod and Pruzansky,* Zucker and Zucker,17 and Serondela have demonstrated an inhibition of antibody response in pantothenic acid-deficient rats. Bean et al.* have suggested that the production of pantothenic acid-deficient states in patients might interfere with adequate synthesis of antibodies. Regression of tumor growth in animals following temporary induction of pantothenic acid deficiency has also been reported.8 The experimental evidence suggesting the possibility of altering antibody formation and tumor growth by inducing a pantothenic aciddeficient state prompted a study of the effects of pantothenic acid-deficient diets in patients with carcinomas.


The aim of this paper is to present an analytic characterization of the class of functions δ-spirallike with respect to a boundary point. The method of proof is based on Julia's lemma.


Non-dairy or plant-based milk is one of the new food products derived from plants. It is essential to explore the plant milk market from the different raw materials that can be used, understand the different products we can obtain from plant milk, as well as improve the characteristics of the plant milk. To do the exploratory, bibliographic research can be performed. Therefore, we applied bibliographic analysis to identify and explore the most advanced technology in plant milk research. Data was collected by using Harzing's Publish or Perish (PoP), saved as CSV and RIS, filtered and refined, and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and VOSviewer. We screened 485 papers (2012-2022) related to plant-based milk from 998 publications since 1981. Related keywords or terms of screened papers were then visualized by VOSviewer into network, overlay, and density visualization map. Based on the visualization map, there were 7 clusters of plant-based milk research field. The novelty of the research covered the importance and development of plant-based milk derivate, correlation to life cycle assessment, and occurrence of milk allergy. The term "diet" became the highest density term in publication between 2012 to 2022. On the other hand, the terms "sensory attribute", "traditional plant", and "health benefit" became the lowest density term.


The invention concerns a production line for the machining of workpieces (4) which, together with a carrier, are moved in unison from a first machining station (I) to the next and from the last machining station (VI) to an output station (A'). In order to optimize the operating sequence, the invention proposes that the carriers are workpiece-carrying chucks (13) which fit into each machining station (I - VI) and which are moved in unison by means of individual grippers (42 - 48), each gripper moving back and forth between two adjacent machining stations. Also fitted is a chuck-return device (16) which extends from the output station (A') to the feed station (A), all the machining stations (I - VI) being associated with an interrogation device designed to determine the rotational attitude of the chuck (13).


least 13 complementation groups have been distinguished: A, B, C, D1, D2, E, F, G, I, J, L, M and N. Complementation groups in 13 reported FA patients with VACTERL phenotype were also analyzed and all patients were assigned to complementation groups A, C, D1, E, F, and G. The small number of VACTERL patients makes determination of the specific complementation groups of FA difficult. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of VACTERL association are not known, an adriamycin rat model has been used as a reliable model for the VACTERL association. Adriamycin intercalates with DNA, resulting in inhibition of DNA and RNA syntheses, DNA fragmentation, and altered DNA repair. Recent evidence suggests that FA proteins function as signal transducers and DNA-processing molecules in a DNA damage response network. The mechanism by which an FA gene mutation leads to a multitude of congenital anomalies observed in FA is, however, unknown. We speculated that defects in DNA damage responses play a part in both embryogenesis and hematopoiesis. In conclusion, the curative treatment for FA is allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which is more successful in younger patients with a smaller cumulative volume of transfused blood prior to transplantation. In patients with congenital malformations a timely diagnosis of FA can lead to appropriate genetic counseling and therapy. References


Background: Leg telangectasia is considered a medical and cosmetic problem. Although sclerotherapy is still the most effective treatment, its drawback like skin necrosis, phlebitis, allergy to sclerosing substance, telangectatic matting and phobia of injection often makes the physician to look for another modality of treatment. The property of a selective photothermolysis of laser to manage reticular vein on the legs is to be considered. Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pulsed diode laser 980nm in the treatment of leg telangectasia. Patients and Method: This is an open therapeutic trial of a total of 15 female patients with 59 patches studied in a private clinic in Iraq-Baghdad from August 2013 to March 2014 after complete history was taken. Patients exposed to a session of pulsed diode laser and follow up after one month to evaluate the effectiveness of the laser by comparing images and to check if there is any side effects were studied. Some patients were exposed to a second session of laser after 8 weeks from the first one and followed again after 1 month. Results: After the first session 25 patches (42.3%) showed complete clearance, 16 patches (27.1%) showed high clearance, 7 patches the same, out of 3 patches (5%) which showed no clearance after first session, one of them moderately cleared and the other two showed no response as in the first session. Conclusion: Leg telangectasia can be successfully treated with high power pulsed diode laser 940nm with a few side effects.


Accumulation of histo‐blood group antigens such as Lewis b, Lewis Y and H increases tumor cell motility and tumorigenesis. α1,2‐Fucosylation is a key step in the synthesis of these antigens. Two α1,2‐fucosyltransferases, expressed in colorectal carcinomas, have been characterized (FUT1 and FUT2 in humans, FTA and FTB in rats). To define the relative contribution of each of these enzymes in tumor cell behavior, we have used an anti‐sense transfection approach in rat colon carcinoma PROb cells, which synthesize mRNA encoding for both enzymes. We have previously reported that anti‐sense transfection of a cDNA fragment of the FTB enzyme decreased H antigenic cell‐surface levels and concomitantly decreased tumorigenicity. H antigens, detected by antibodies specific for H type 1, 3 or 4, were detected only on a splice variant of CD44 containing the product of exon v6. We now report the anti‐sense transfection of an FTA cDNA fragment into PROb cells, which resulted in decreased enzymatic activity on a type 2 precursor and decreased cell‐surface H type 2 antigen exclusively. Compared to controls, FTA anti‐sense‐transfected cells were significantly more tumorigenic in syngeneic animals but not in immunodeficient SCID mice. The UEA‐I lectin, specific for H type 2, revealed that these structures were present on the CD44v6 variant and on an uncharacterized 80‐kDa glycoprotein. Our results indicate that FTA and FTB fucosylate distinct glycan chains in the same cell, leading to opposite effects, under control of the immune system. Int. J. Cancer 80:606–611, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


SiOx–In2−xO3−y heterostructure nano-columnar arrays are synthesized on n-type Si substrate by the glancing angle deposition technique. The transmission electron microscopy image shows the formation of heterostructures. A typical annealed SiOx–In2−xO3−y nanocolumn consists of ∼70 nm SiOx and ∼170 nm long In2−xO3−y, which is polycrystalline in nature. Two-fold improved photon absorption is observed for the annealed SiOx–In2−xO3−y compared with the as-deposited columnar arrays. The SiOx–In2−xO3−y annealed device exhibits a low leakage current of 2.8 × 10−7 A (−5 V). A ∼352 times enhanced photosensitivity is observed for the annealed device at −1.5 V as compared with the as-deposited one. The hole-trapping process at the metal–annealed nanocolumn interface states efficiently reduces the depletion width under reverse bias and the Schottky height at the junction, which produces enhanced electron tunnelling and, therefore, enhanced device photosensitivity.


A lot of 3D finite element models are established to analysis mechanical performance of corner braces in the arch boundary in the different rise-span ratio situation,which give a good example to the similar project.


Temperature is the main restricted factor for distribution and application of vetiver(Vetiveria zizanioides) in Temperate and Frigid Zone.To improve its chilling resistance,we established an Agrobacteriummediated gen transfer system,in which a gene encoding transcriptional activator CBF3 extracted from Arabidopsis was transferred into the vetiver calli.The research results showed that the transgenic vetiver seedlings which overexpressed CBF3 were more tolerant to low temperature stress.


School Intranet Solution. Admin Support. Unlimited Users. Bookings, Bulletin, Daily Notices, Calendar, Digital Library, Gallery, Absentees, Risk Management, Work Experience, Group Manager and Email Lists, Lodgements, MyHome, Student Quizzes, Student Information, Medical Alerts, Messaging, Accident Reports


Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs face major difficulties with the country's complex regulatory system. Based on Schumpeter's theory of entrepreneurship, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to reveal the lived experiences of Saudi entrepreneurs in navigating regulatory procedures in Jeddah. Data were collected through prolonged, face-toface phenomenological interviews with 22 Saudi businesspeople who started successful businesses. The van Kaam method and member checking helped validate the transcribed data, which were subsequently coded into 4 themes. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) obstacles in regulatory processes, (b) lack of information, (c) cumbersome procedures and need for alternatives to stringent protocols, and (d) persistence strategies needed to maneuver through inflexible regulations. For entrepreneurship progress according to the selected individuals, business rules needed to be comprehensible, shorter, and less bureaucratic. The analysis in this research suggest that, once entrepreneurship rules are transparent, Saudi Arabia may become a choice country for international businesses. These findings have implications for positive social change by informing the efforts of governmental authorities in their work towards effective regulatory processes as roadways to the economic well-being of businesses and communities, and could be a catalyst to boost foreign investments in the country.


Background Hip fracture is often complicated by depressive symptoms in older adults. We sought to characterize trajectories of depressive symptoms arising after hip fracture and examine their relationship with functional outcomes and walking ability. We also investigated clinical and psychosocial predictors of these trajectories. Method We enrolled 482 inpatients, aged ⩾60 years, who were admitted for hip fracture repair at eight St Louis, MO area hospitals between 2008 and 2012. Participants with current depression diagnosis and/or notable cognitive impairment were excluded. Depressive symptoms and functional recovery were assessed with the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Functional Recovery Score, respectively, for 52 weeks after fracture. Health, cognitive, and psychosocial variables were gathered at baseline. We modeled depressive symptoms using group-based trajectory analysis and subsequently identified correlates of trajectory group membership. Results Three trajectories emerged according to the course of depressive symptoms, which we termed 'resilient', 'distressed', and 'depressed'. The depressed trajectory (10% of participants) experienced a persistently high level of depressive symptoms and a slower time to recover mobility than the other trajectory groups. Stressful life events prior to the fracture, current smoking, higher anxiety, less social support, antidepressant use, past depression, and type of implant predicted membership of the depressed trajectory. Conclusions Depressive symptoms arising after hip fracture are associated with poorer functional status. Clinical and psychosocial variables predicted membership of the depression trajectory. Early identification and intervention of patients in a depressive trajectory may improve functional outcomes after hip fracture.


Feminist criticism can be a force in changing the discipline. To do so, however, it must recognize that it is complicitous with the institution within which it seeks its space. That slow labour might transform it from opposition to critique. Let me describe a certain area of this complicity in a theoretical and a historical way: My theoretical model is taken from Paul de Man. De Man suggests that a critical philosopher initially discovers that the basis of a truthclaim is no more than a trope. In the case of academic feminism the discovery is that to take the privileged male of the white race as a norm for universal humanity is no more than a politically interested figuration. It is a trope that passes itself off as truth, and claims that woman or the racial other is merely a kind of troping of that truth of man — in the sense that they must be understood as unlike (nonidentical with) it and yet with reference to it. In so far as it participates in this discovery, even the most 'essentialist' feminism or raceanalysis is engaged in a tropological deconstruction. De Man goes on to suggest, however, that even as it establishes the truth of this discovery/ the critical philosopher's text begins to perform the problems inherent in the very institution of epistemological production, of the production, in other words, of any 'truth' at all. By this logic, varieties of feminist theory and practice must reckon with the possibility that, like any other discursive practice, they are marked and constituted by, even as they constitute, the field of their production. If much of what I write here seems to apply as much to the general operations of imperialist disciplinary practice as to feminism, it is because I wish to point at the dangers of not acknowledging the


In population ethics, Rawls, Parfit, Arrhenius, Broome and others have critiqued social welfare functions. By modifying the score of the historical strategy game, Civilization IV, this chapter walks through a few functions. By valuing total population and territory, Civilization IV rewards the emperor for conquering neighbors. For example, in an Iraq War scenario, population and territory incentivize Saddam Hussein to conquer Kuwait. Whereas, by valuing average health and happiness, Civilization IV: Quality of Life rewards the emperor for making peace and serving citizens. For example, Iraqi health and happiness incentivize Hussein to sign a treaty, stop building tanks and start building hospitals. Technically, in the Python programming language, normalized moral values weigh citizens' lives in units of extended quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). To prevent a repugnant conclusion from averaging lives, fatalities are mourned. By editing the function, a gamer can play with their own moral values.


Background With respect to different problems and complications of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), appropriate educational programs and interventions should be performed for them to promote their quality of life. Purpose This descriptive study was conducted to identify educational needs of patients who were the members of Iranian MS Society in 2007. Methods 174 subjects referring to the society were selected with convenience sampling method. A questionnaire in 4 parts was used for data collection. Results Most subjects (26.4%) were between 32-39, women (71%) as well as married (59.8%) and history of the disease less than 3 years (27.7%). 39.1% was in great need of education, 0.6% of disease nature, 94% of sexual disorders and 64.8% of administrative problems. A significant relationship was found between educational needs concerning physical issues and education (P=0.027) and also these needs and times of hospitalization (P=0.004). Conclusion It can be concluded that the most urgent educational needs were about sexual problems, mobility problems and administrative problems and the lowest need for education was about elimination problems. Keywords: Educational needs, Multiple sclerosis, Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society. Physical needs.


Acute abacterial meningo-encephalitis is to be understood as an acute infection with meningeal or cerebral symptoms, increase in the number of cells in the CSF, sterility of the CSF as judged by microscopy and culture, and usually of brief benign course (WALLGREN 1925). It is, however, difficult to define the disease exactly, because the etiology is often obscure. Earlier the disease was conceived as one of a definite etiology (WALLGREN 1925), probably viral, but later virologic and serologic investigations have shown that the syndrome may be produced by a variety of different agents (WALLGREN 1951, ALM 1951, NILSBY 1953, PETTE 1954, JOHNSON 1956). The disease may be caused by certain viruses, protozoa, Rickettsiae, spirochetes and fungi. In addition cases of meningoencephalitis are on record where toxic or allergic origin may be suspected. Although it has been possible by culture and serologic methods to detect the causal agent in an increasing percentage of the cases, there still remains a group of unknown etiology.


The invention belongs to the field of semiconductor devices and semiconductor processes, and aims to provide a method for preparing h-BN medium graphene integrated circuits on a large scale. In the method, a catalytic metal layer is subjected to photoetching by using the characteristic of selective growth of h-BN and graphene on a catalytic metal substrate, and control on the patterns of an h-BN layer and a graphene layer growing in an epitaxial way is realized, so that large-scale manufacturing of graphene field effect transistors taking the h-BN as a medium is realized. According to the method, the problems of high process difficulty, low yield and poor performance in the large-scale preparation process of graphene devices are solved, and a good basis is laid for the preparation of the graphene-based integrated circuits.


Decomposition width parameters such as treewidth provide a measurement on the complexity of a graph. Finding a decomposition of smallest width is itself NP-hard but lends itself to a SAT-based solution. Previous work on treewidth, branchwidth and clique-width indicates that identifying a suitable characterization of the considered decomposition method is key for a practically feasible SAT-encoding. In this paper we study SAT-encodings for the decomposition width parameters special treewidth and pathwidth. In both cases we develop SAT-encodings based on two different characterizations. In particular, we develop two novel characterizations for special treewidth based on partitions and elimination orderings. We empirically obtained SAT-encodings.


Condition monitoring (CM) methods applied for power electronics can provide effective information for predictive maintenance and prevent unexpected system downtime. This paper proposes a non-invasive and in-situ CM method for capacitors in modular multilevel converters. Unlike the conventional methods that monitor low-frequency signals, the proposed method focuses on high-frequency transient analysis. By analyzing the transient voltage at the capacitor's charging moment with wavelet decomposition, the proposed method can estimate the capacitor's equivalent series resistance in situ. Moreover, the proposed method based on high-frequency transients is decoupled from system operating states, while the conventional low-frequency signals are often affected by operations (e.g., loads, environments, etc.). Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated in a 14kW case study by simulation.


Bandung is a city with rapid industrial development and a dense population. It causes the need for clean water to be huge, so it impacts groundwater extraction on a large scale. The Bandung Basin, which is a good reservoir for groundwater, will be disturbed if conservation and monitoring efforts are not carried out in the presence of groundwater. This study focuses on reconstructing the groundwater model in the Bandung Basin using the Schlumberger geoelectric method. After taking and analyzing the data, it was found that the resistivity value of the location of the presence of groundwater is depicted into three groundwater basins, namely the Bandung-Soreang groundwater basin, the Lembang groundwater basin, and the Batujajar groundwater basin. Unfettered aquifers, relatively aquitard in nature, are in the upper layer of the coal sandstone, claystone and sandstone units. The confined aquifer in the sand unit is under the sandy claystone layer.


Mood journaling applications are a way to track and log feelings and moods. Through reminders they give you prompts to log and assess your mood. But these reminders do not occur when the mood actually changes; just randomly or at preset times. Research shows that the window to accurately detect these changes ranges from 5 to 15 seconds after a person experiences them. This paper explores the possibility of tracking mood developments in real time with heart rate as an indicator. Thirty-nine participants watched a set of negatively and positively rated pictures and were asked to fill in a mood assessment questionnaire when their hear t rate went above a cer tain threshold.


The Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) is one of the three science instruments for ESA's far infrared and submillimetre observatory, Herschel. It employs two Ge:Ga photoconductor arrays (stressed and unstressed) with 16 x 25 pixels, each, and two filled Si bolometer arrays with 16 x 32 and 32 x 64 pixels, respectively, to perform imaging line spectroscopy and imaging photometry in the 60-210 μm wavelength band. In photometry mode, it will simultaneously image two bands, 60-85 or 85-130 μm and 130-210 μm, over a field of view of ~1.75' x 3.5', with full beam sampling in each band. In spectroscopy mode, it will image a field of ~ 50", resolved into 5 x 5 pixels, with an instantaneous spectral coverage of ~1500 km/s and a spectral resolution of ~ 175km/s. In both modes background-noise limited performance is expected, with sensitivities (5σ in 1h) of ~ 3 mJy or 3-10x10-18W/m2, respectively.


DopplerScatt is a Ka-band pencil-beam Doppler scatterometer developed under NASA's ESTO Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) to serve as a demonstrator for future spaceborne instruments to measure ocean surface currents and winds simultaneously. We review the capabilities of the Doppler-Scatt instrument, and present results from multiple airborne campaigns. One of our primary results will be the development of Ka-band Geophysical Model Functions (GMFs) to translate backscatter and Doppler measurements into surface winds and currents.


This paper presents the design of an automatic balance service market that can act as an effective tool for system frequency control in deregulated power systems. The proposed scheme combines the presently existing manual balancing mechanism, prevailing in some countries, with the conventional automatic generation control, within a bid-based market structure. The participants in this frequency regulation service market are assumed to be responding to frequency linked price signals sent out by the system operator. Optimization models for settlement of the regulation markets have been proposed and dynamic simulation show satisfactory performance of the market.


Advanced aeroengine alloys such as titanium and nickel-based alloys are widely used for casing and compressor blades. Poor machinability of titanium and nickel-based alloys are due to their inherent characteristics, including high hot hardness and strength, causing sinificant deformation of the cutting tool and workpiece during machining, low thermal diffusivity, rapid work hardening, causing a severe wear at the depth of cut line, and the saw-tooth chip formation. For efficient and precise NC machining of these difficult-to-machine materials, an understanding of the cutting mechanism is essential. This paper provides an overview of the theories of saw-tooth chip formation mechanism and the fracture criteria for the FEM simulation of segmented chips. How to determine the flow stress at high deformation rates and temperatures in the cutting zone is then discussed. The interaction between strain, strain rate and temperature should be sufficiently considered. The temperature and residual stress have a considerable influence on the distortion and machining precision for thin-wall structures as used in the aerospace industry, which are also analyzed in this paper.


To the Editor:

Patients with neuropathic pain constitute a considerable proportion of the population of patients with chronic pain for which there are less than optimal treatment options. The scientific literature provides information on omega conotoxin efficacy and safety in the management of chronic pain conditions ⇓. A synthetic version, ziconotide, is a first line intrathecal (IT) alternative agent to opioids in the management of cancer pain ⇓. We describe a case of prolonged delirium with psychotic features in a patient with peripheral neuropathy on a gradual escalating dose of ziconotide.

A 37-year-old man with a history of idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy unresponsive to usual treatment with opiate analgesics was started on IT ziconotide for better pain control 1 year before he presented to our center with a 3-day history of confusion, hallucination, and tremor. These symptoms started a day after his home was sprayed with insecticide. He had associated symptoms of loss of appetite, …


Statistical machine translation is based on the idea to extract information from bilingual corpora, which can be used to generate new translations. The current work combines aspects from example-based machine translation and from grammar-based approaches, esp. bilingual regular grammars, to develop a statistical translation system based on cascaded transducers. These transducers can be constructed manually, semi-automatically, or – in restricted form – fully automatically. A training method for these cascaded transducers is developed based on an extension of the HMM alignment model to the alignment of graphs. To generate new translations using the trained models a decoder is needed. This is essentially a search for the translation with the highest probability. A decoder had been developed which is based on Dynamic Programming and which allows for pruning to control runtime. Recombination of hypotheses can be based on different criteria: coverage of the source word positions, the most recent target words, the number of generated target words, and any combination thereof. Additional aspects covered in this dissertation include: 1. Segmentation of long sentences based on minimizing the perplexity of the underlying word alignment models. 2. This technique is then extended into a new and robust phrase alignment. To find the target phrase for a given phrase in a source sentence the algorithm searches for the segmentation of the target sentence, which gives the highest word alignment probability under the constraints of the segmentation. 3. The use and integration of manual dictionaries, including the addition of automatically generated word forms for which probabilities are estimated from the bilingual corpora. Experiments are described in which these different methods had been tested. Corpora of different sizes and for different language pairs are used. Cascaded transducers are tested esp. for small corpora, while the word-based phrase alignment are applied to large corpora. In addition and for the situation of very restricted bilingual data a comparison is done between the statistical translation approach and an Interlingua-based translation system, and it is shown that even in this scenario statistical translation can give comparable translation quality.


In this research, we examine the extent to which culture influences brand personality preference, based on specific personality dimensions. This research focuses on two main group-level cultures: individualists and collectivists. We introduce and examine the variations in preferences of Sincere, Competent, and Sophisticated brand personalities and how cultural orientations influence brand personality preference. Based on previous literature, we suggest that consumers in collectivistic countries show a higher preference for brands with Sincere personalities. Moreover, we suggest that consumers in individualistic countries show a higher preference for brands with competent and sophisticated personalities. We also suggest that the mechanism underlying these effects is the perceived symbolic meaning of the brand. This effect is moderated by the cultural background (collectivistic vs. individualistic) of the consumer. This research contributes to the literature on brand personality traits, brand symbolic meaning, and cultural orientations. We discuss implications for marketers for global marketing strategies.


The RNA exosome, a 10‐subunit complex that mediates both RNA processing and degradation, plays a critical role in defining cellular expression profiles. This complex is ubiquitously expressed, essential, and critical for fundamental cellular functions, such as ribosomal RNA processing. Recent studies have linked mutations in genes encoding multiple subunits of the complex to tissue‐specific human disease. For example, mutations in the human EXOSC3 gene, coding for a subunit, cause Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia type 1b (PCH1b), a disease characterized by atrophy of the pons and cerebellum. The missense mutations encode single amino acid changes in conserved regions of the EXOSC3 protein. How these amino acid substitutions confer tissue‐specific phenotypes is not known. One possible mechanism underlying the distinct disease phenotypes could be a decrease in the interaction of the RNA exosome complex with cofactors that confer specificity for RNA targets. However, most studies that identify and characterize RNA exosome cofactors have been carried out in budding yeast and thus, do not provide insight into whether tissue‐specific cofactors could exist. Our studies use immunoprecipitation from neuronal cell culture (N2A) and mouse tissues to define RNA exosome cofactors. Biochemical experiments that employ cultured N2A cells identified RNA exosome interacting proteins that are enriched in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Preliminary results from this analysis identify an association between the RNA exosome and a large complex of tRNA ligase enzymes, which could link defects in tRNA maturation to disease pathology. We are extending these studies to explore the possibility of tissue‐specific cofactors by immunoprecipitating EXOSC3 and analyzing co‐purifying proteins from the cerebellum (affected in disease) and the cortex (unaffected) in mouse brain. Finally, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we are testing whether the amino acid changes that occur in disease alter interactions with both known RNA exosome cofactors and interactors identified in our co‐immunoprecipitation studies. These studies will provide insight into both the functional consequences of amino acid substitutions in the RNA exosome that cause disease and the role of cofactors in conferring RNA target specificity.


Team work is one of the generic skills that undergraduate students are expected to acquire by the time they graduate. Nevertheless, the traditional method of assessing group projects has been – in addition to its other shortcomings – sadly inaccurate in measuring individual students' contributions to the project. In this paper, I present a new technique for allocating group project topics and for assessing such projects, whereby the instructor – not the students in each group – divides each topic into several sub-topics, to accord with the number of students allocated to each group. The new technique also obliges group members individually to upload their parts in the project to their own accounts on Turnitin, rather than jointly uploading the whole project to one account, as had previously been the case. From my perspective, the new method has to date been very successful as it addresses the shortcomings – in terms of accuracy and justice – of the traditional assessment of group projects. The attitudes of students to the new methodology have also been very positive, as evident from the results of a questionnaire distributed among the students. The methodology does, however, have various limitations, the most significant of which are the incremental time and effort demanded of the instructor.