Administration of melatonin-free pineal extract in doses of 2 ml/day/animal along 3 or 7 days caused a statistically significant decrease in the rat serum prolactin level by 28 and 25% respectively, as against the controls. Pinealectomy caused a statistically significant increase in the serum prolactin level by 34% as against the intact controls and by 30% as against the sham-operated ones. The authors discuss their completely oposite results and the role of the pineal gland on prolactin.


Abstract: Šegota, V., Rimac, A., Koletić, N., Vuković, N. & Alegro, A. 2020. Elucidating distributional and ecological patterns of the rare Mediterranean-Atlantic species Petalophyllum ralfsii in Europe following its first record on the Adriatic coast (Croatia). – Herzogia 33: 275 –290. The Mediterranean-Atlantic bryophyte Petalophyllum ralfsii was discovered on Cape Kamenjak (Istrian Peninsula) as a first record of this rare liverwort in Croatia. It was found in a partly shaded, open calcareous microhabitat within evergreen vegetation with periodically persistent humidity and low-level disturbance, which largely corresponds to other Mediterranean records. No more than a hundred localities are known in Europe, extending from the British Isles, Portugal and the Balearic Islands to Italy, Malta, Greece and Cyprus. Our analyses show that P. ralfsii prefers lower and more maritime positions on the Atlantic coast, while Mediterranean populations favour higher and more inland locations. Based on climatic data analysed, the precipitation of the wettest period largely overlaps in both geographic areas, which corresponds with the observed period, in which the species benefits from humid conditions. Moreover, frost seems to be the limiting factor determining the European distribution of the species.


Brands are one of the most important assets of any entity,
regardless of its area. In theory and in the practice there are
lots of methods of evaluation of brands that are trying to
determine the most valuable brands in the world. In this
article, the authors focus on the methodology BRANDZ developed
by Millward Brown, a WPP. This methodology is based on the
empirical research of more than three million consumers who
evaluated more than 100 thousand different brands on fifty
markets. The article analyzes not only global brands, but also
the development of the most valuable brands in the rapidly
developing Chinese market.


Objective To discuss the feasibility of positioning the acetabular center,fixing acetabular implant correctly and reconstructing hip rotation center according to Harris fossa and the remaining anatomical markers of acetabular notch in revision hip arthroplasty.Methods Twenty-eight patients underwent revision hip arthroplasty from April 2007 to June 2009.Based on Paprosky type,3 cases with type Ⅰ were treated with biological fixed acetabular component;8 cases with ⅡA and ⅡB were reconstructed with using of morselized bone grafting and large diameter cemented acetabular prosthesis;17 cases with type ⅡC,ⅢA and ⅢB were treated with using of morselized bone grafting and fixation of acetabular reinforcement ring.Among them,5 patients with massive bone loss in acetabular wall were reconstructed with the use of the structural and morselized bone grafting.The center of the original acetabulum was believed to be in the lunate cartilage surface which was closed to Harris fossa.During the operation,the center was located in the site which was 25-28 mm above in line with perpendicular bisector of acetabular notch connecting line.The acetabular center was the point of positioning acetabular prosthesis (Ⅰ type) or making new acetabulum by impaction bone grafting.Acetabular reinforcement ring (Ⅱ,Ⅲ type) was fixed in accordance with proper transverse angle and anteversion angle.The vertical distance from hip rotation center to teardrop connection and the horizontal distance from hip rotation center to teardrop were measured on preoperative and postoperative radiograph.And the outcomes of reconstruction of rotation center were evaluated.Results The vertical distance was changed from (14.22±3.39) mm preoperatively to (32.64±4.51) mm postoperatively.The difference was statistically significant (t=3.65,P< 0.05).The horizontal distance was changed from (25.13±3.46)mm preoperatively to (32.87±4.73) mm postoperatively.The difference was statistically significant (t=2.72,P<0.05).Conclusion Using residual Harris fossa and acetabular notch as the anatomical markers in revision hip arthroplasty,the restoration of the anatomical hip center has shown to be favorable.

Key words:
Arthroplasty,replacement,hip; Reoperation; Hip prosthesis


Mg/PTFE thin film pyrotechnic was produced by magnetron sputtering and evaporated deposition using magnesium as the combustible and polytetrafluoroethylene as the oxidant.The differences of the two film technologies were investigated and the adhesion,the granularity and the burning rate of the thin film were measured.Results show that the adhesion,the granularity and the burning rate of the Mg/PTFE film produced by magnetron sputtering are 35.88 mN,0.1-0.5 μm and(623.9±12.5)mm·s-1 respectively,and the main performances of the Mg/PTFE film produced by magnetron sputtering are better than that by evaporated deposition.


Of the three legislature's functions, unlike representation and law-making, oversight is particularly related to PACs. As a strong committee of legislature, PACs can emerge as a
potential structural solution to the need of the State Legislative Assemblies (SLAs) to monitor the financial conducts of the state governments. However, to do so, studies have suggested that PACs' institutional designs and capacity building are among factors to be improved to
promote PACs' effectiveness. Within Malaysian PACs context, much about the related situations is not known for sure due to lack or limited exploration on the matter. Thus, besides
attempting for an exploration of PAC practices in general, one of the Malaysian state government's PAC institutional settings and capacity are explored in order to illuminate the state of affairs. Generation of data to address the topic understudy is based on interviews, observation and also use of documents. Such information gives this research a knowledge base to launch further inquiries into future research initiatives regarding the topic.


Objective: Fructooligosacharides and galactooligosacharides soften fecal bolus and increase frequency of depositions when added to infant formula. This study aimed to determine the effects of galactooligosaccharide in pediatric patients with chronic constipation. Methods: From 2010 to 2012, 20 constipated patients (4---16 years of age) attended to at a primary healthcare unit were enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Eleven children ingested galactooligosaccharide (1.7 g) for 30 days, followed by a 15day washout period, and a 30-day period of placebo (maltodextrin). Nine patients ingested maltodextrin for 30 days, followed by 15-day washout period, and galactooligosaccharide (1.7 g) for 30 days. Constipation symptoms were considered as primary outcomes: bowel movements/week, straining during defecation, and stool consistency. Outcome symptoms were ranked according to a numerical scale elaborated for this study. Data were recorded at baseline, and on days 15 and 30 of each 30-day crossover period. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze symptoms along time. Results: At baseline, there was no signi"cant difference in symptoms severity between groups (p = 0.45). Galactooligosaccharide ingestion was related to increase of the bowel movement frequency, p < 0.0001; relief of defecation straining, p < 0.0001; and decrease in stool consistency, p = 0.0014, compared to placebo ingestion. Patients reported no side effects from galactooligosaccharide.


The following experiments furnish a striking illustration, suitable for classroom demonstration, of the influence of temporary ischemia on the local resistance to infection: Two or three slight cuts are made on the upper or middle third of each ear of a rabbit, by closely clipping the hair from the dorsal surface of the ear; lifting with forceps a small fold of the skin, and snipping this fold away with scissors. This makes small wounds of about 4 by 7 mm., usually without hemorrhage. The wounds may then be smeared with active agarcultures of staphylococcus or pyocyaneus; or they may be left without artificial infection. Within a few minutes after making the wounds, 1 c.c. of epinephrin, 1 : 1000, is injected into the root of one ear, close to the entrance of the vessels. This produces an intense ischemia of the entire ear, persisting for several hours. 1 From the following day, the two ears present a striking difference in appearance: The wounds on the normal ear show signs of healing, even if they were severely infected. The wounds on the ear that had been rendered anemic appear much more inflamed, and may be covered with pus, and a perforating ulcer may have started. This is shown in the adjoining photograph, taken 24 hours after inoculation with a virulent staphylococcus culture, recently prepared from a human throat: The epinephrin ear (the right) shows the perforation of the ear by the infection; whilst in the left ear, no inflammation is visible on the inner side, although the ear had been equally wounded and inoculated, but not treated with epinephrin. These differences persist in the further course; the ear that had received epinephrin healing more slowly than the other ear.


Modern conveniences abound in the world today. This is sometimes not evident in graduate classrooms. While innovative teaching techniques are often discussed in regard to undergraduate courses, they seem to be less frequently seen in graduate courses. This is unfortunate, as these tools may in many cases be of even more value in those courses. This paper will discuss the use of a variety of online tools in the teaching of the required graduate course in chemical engineering thermodynamics at New Jersey Institute of Technology. The tools include electronic lecture notes, online quizzes, web-based bulletin boards, electronic submission and grading of projects and papers, and online monitoring of course grades by the students. Use of these tools can help students whose learning style may not be well suited to the traditional lecture format. Many of these tools are also helpful in dealing with the diversity of backgrounds found in core graduate courses. Some differences are due to the educational background of the students. Others are due to their cultural background, as most graduate programs typically have many international students. Use of online tools can help to alleviate some of the problems in dealing with this diversity. There are also some pitfalls in using these tools that should be avoided. The paper will address both sides of the issue of using online tools to supplement the teaching of a required graduate course.


Disclosed is a method for evaluating a tissue preservation solution on its preservation effect, which comprises the steps of: immersing a mammal tissue having a luminescently or fluorescently labeled gene introduced therein in the tissue preservation solution; measuring the level of the luminescence or fluorescence produced by the labeled gene contained in the tissue after the immersion; and determining the preservation effect of the tissue preservation solution based on the measured level of the luminescence or fluorescence.


This paper introduces an algorithm for the estimation of heart rate during physical activities through photoplethysmographic signals, acquired by a wearable device. Firstly, the algorithm has been developed in Matlab and then ported in C language. In this way, it has been possible to test it on a low-power micro-controller (STM32F4DISCOVERY) and to check the similarity of the results, given by the two algorithm versions. Moreover, tests conducted on a public dataset show that the algorithm is real-time compliant. Finally, the power consumption estimation conducted proves the feasibility of a wearable device since the micro-controllers requires less than 20 mW.


Avoided crossing of the emission lines of a nearly free positive trion and a cyclotron replica of an exciton bound to an interface acceptor has been observed in the magneto-photoluminescence spectra of p-doped GaAs quantum wells. Identification of the localized state depended on the precise mapping of the anti-crossing pattern. The underlying coupling is caused by an exciton transfer combined with a resonant cyclotron excitation of an additional hole. The emission spectrum of the resulting magnetically tunable coherent state probes weak localization in the quantum well.


FIELD: process engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to method and device for foam production to be used in food industry for producing foodstuffs with low content of fat. Foam features controlled distribution in sizes of gas bubbles in liquid matrix. Proposed device comprises porous membrane with controlled pore sizes and distance between pores to provided for uniform gas bubble size distribution, gas pump to force gas through porous membrane that forms gas bubbles and rotary element that moves nearby membrane surface to cause additional flow to separate, accumulate and entrap gas bubbles in liquid matrix. EFFECT: foam with gas bubbles of identical size and uniform distribution of gas bubbles sizes. 28 cl, 28 dwg


CORRELATION OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSES' BELIEFS ABOUT WIFE ABUSE AND THE USE OF CARATIVE FACTORS IN TRANSPERSONAL INTERACTIONS WITH ABUSED WIVES By Judith A. Baker Emergency department nurses from seven general hospitals were surveyed to elicit information on their beliefs about wife abuse (using the Inventory o f Beliefs about WifeBeating) and their self-reported behaviors with clients who may be physically abused. They were asked about beliefs about institutional and peer attitudes toward caring for abused wives. Information on the nurses' education about and experience with wife abuse was gathered. Data were summarized to provide descriptive statistics regarding beliefs and behaviors. High levels o f caring behaviors were reported. Analysis o f correlation between beliefs and behaviors was conducted. Significant findings were correlations between caring behaviors and the belief that help should be given to abused wives, and between caring behaviors and the belief that the institution and peers supported such caring behaviors. Multiple regression analysis showed the belief that the institution and peers support such caring behaviors had a greater influence on the selfreport o f caring behaviors.


Crack control is important for new prestressed beams because cracked beams will either not pass inspection or will need expensive repairs. This paper describes a study to investigate current tensile stress limits and crack control provisions. The tensile stress limit for prestressed concrete beams at release was evaluated experimentally for seven 54 in. (1370 mm) deep bridge beams. The purpose of the experimental program was to characterize the mechanical properties of concrete, including the relationship between the inplace strength of a beam and its representative material strength. Beams fabricated as part of this study cracked with an applied stress less than half of the apparent strength determined from material tests. The ACI 318 tensile stress limit was not sufficient to prevent cracking. It was concluded that limiting the extreme fiber tensile stress will adequately prevent cracking at release. The amount of crack control reinforcement specified in ACI 318-08, Section 18.4.1 was sufficient to limit cracks at release to a width ≤ 0.004 inches. Conventional linear-elastic design assumptions provided accurate predictions of stresses at the location of prestress transfer.


A thermochemical investigation of singlet dication (bipolaron) structures in a set of 3-methyl-thiophene oligo- mers (up to the length of 24-mers) was carried out. Equlibrium structures and heats of formation were calculated with the semiempirical quantum chemical method RHF/PM3 for the doubly oxidized forms. All-cisoid planar structural variants of the form An1Qn2An3 were considered, where A and Q are thiophene monomer units in aromatic and quinoidal chain segments, respectively. The types of segments were determined from their bond-length pattern. At this level of theory, di- verse structures combining both types of segments were found stable. The so-called "response equation based quantitative structure-property relationship" (REQ-QSPR) method, recently pro- posed by Fishtik et al. was used to perform and interpret regression data analysis. The REQ-based approach rationalizes mathematical treatment of stoichiometric equations. It provides a simple concept for breaking down a dataset for heat of formation into linear combination of terms that are easy to interpret in the framework of chemical groups. REQ-QSPR in- cludes arbitrary structural descriptors rather than being restricted to using only the number of chemical constituents. Ap- plied to our system, it is demonstrated that modelling nonlinear effects becomes possible as well. Supra-linear dependence of the energy with respect to the bipolaron localization length is indicated by REQ-QSPR, and detailed analysis suggests specific further calculations to carry out for improving the model.


Abstract We give a short proof—not relying on ideal classes or the geometry of numbers—of a known criterion for quadratic orders to possess unique factorization.


A series of osmium(VI) nitrido complexes supported by quinolinolato ligands have been prepared and they exhibit promising in vitro anti-cancer activities. These results establish that Os(VI)≡N is a potentially versatile and promising platform for the design of a variety of high-valent anti-cancer drugs.


Deadwood is an important part of the forest ecosystem. The quantity available depends on the rates of accumulation and of decomposition. A comprehensive pool of data regarding the deadwood stock for Germany is collected by the German national forest inventory. Moreover, the Projection Modelling of Forest Development and Timber Harvesting Potential (WEHAM) adds other important parameters such as growth rates and potential roundwood availability. Using this data, scenarios for the accumulation of deadwood were developed. For the calculation of deadwood decomposition, independent of tree species, a decay constant k = 0.054 was derived for the whole of Germany. The study shows that a long-term stop in timber harvesting in Germany, assuming the proportions of different tree species remained constant, would lead to a saturation of deadwood with a total of 184 m3/ha. If the German forest presented a natural composition of tree species, a deadwood stock of 150 m3/ha at most could be accumulated. Based on these sc...


A mechanical model was set up for the tunnel going through a fault fracture zone,based on which cusp catastrophe model was established by using catastrophe theory coupling with factors of underground water,system geometric parameters and medium stiffness,so as to analyze the catastrophe of stability for the tunnel going through a fault fracture zone.This also set a criterion for the disability of fault fracture zone with tunnel going through.


Dramatic increase in health information, higher requirements on patient safety, processing and storing data, facts which put new requirements on curriculum restructuring, giving priority to teaching in small groups and e-learning, as well as support to independent research, have intensified the need of quest for new motivation in educating health care professionals (GP KEGA MSVVaS SR c.052-4/2013). Nevertheless, in spite of all efforts to introduce contextual education, there is still a gap between theoretical and clinical environments. A large percentage of students have the feeling that they are not trained enough in determining anamneses, physical check ups, diagnostics and management of health care. It is expected that introducing medical simulations into current curricula will bridge this gap.


FIELD: organic chemistry, medicine, oncology, pharmacy. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to new heteroaryl derivatives, in particular, derivatives of quinoline of he general formula (I): wherein R, R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are similar or different and mean independently of one another hydrogen atom, linear or branched (C 1 -C 8 )-alkyl, halogen atom, aryl-(C 1 -C 8 )-alkoxy-group, aryl. Except for, R and R 1 or R 2 and R 3 can form six-membered aromatic ring condensed with quinoline residue; X means oxygen atom; p, Q mean in each case -CH 2 -; X means nitrogen atom; n = 2; m = 0; R 4 means phenyl or pyridyl. Also, invention relates to their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, in particular, acid-additive salts. Compounds are useful as antitumor agents. Also, invention describes a method for preparing compounds and medicinal agent based on thereof. EFFECT: improved preparing method, valuable medicinal properties of compounds and agent. 11 cl, 2 tbl, 13 ex


Although the technology of digital videos is availa ble, many classroom EFL teachers are unsure of what they can do with videos. This pa per will present some reasons why teachers should consider using videos of student pe rformance based on ideas of motivation and learner autonomy. Three activities a re presented with checklists and protocols that can be implemented in classrooms. Th ese activities are based on using technology, but integrate skills such as: reflectio n, evaluation, critique, listening, speaking and writing. These critical skills, along with higher levels of motivation, are prerequisites to learner autonomy. Some considerati ons about how to prepare students before, during and after videotaping as well as som e hints on how to videotape are also included. Technology is not a substitute for teachi ng, nor does it stand alone as a technique, but when integrated into other classroom practices can help promote learner autonomy. Introduction Videotaping student performances is easy and practi cal these days. Teachers of EAP or Business English teach presentation skills and supe rvisors of teaching practicums often videotape their student teachers. The low cost of c ameras, ease of downloading and easy storage mean that classroom teachers can now do thi s wit their own or their institutions' digital video cameras. Even mobile telephones have vid o capabilities. But what can be done with the videos? This article describes ways i n which technology can be used to enhance teaching specifically in the realm of learn r autonomy. Previously teachers watched and evaluated students as they engaged in p resentations or in the teaching practicum. This meant that the teachers were doing the evaluation, but with easy to use videos, students can the see the performance as the instructor sees it and evaluate themselves. This leads to more critical thinking sk ills, higher motivation and learner autonomy. Teaching English with Technology , 11 (2), 18-28, http://www.tewtjournal.org . 19 This paper discusses the rationale of using videos and gives practical suggestions for activities that can be used. Also included are some comments on preparing students and preparations for videotaping. Why video? Those who report resistance to new technology often cit the notion that technology itself does not make teaching better and often complicates the process by breaking down or being complicated to use. However, videotapes of st udent performances can be used in ways not available before and contribute to learnin g by engendering learner autonomy. Also motivation can be enhanced through peer feedba ck, especially in group projects used in activities, and this also enhances learning . Autonomy and motivation are seen as inextricably e ntwined and the question of 'which comes first' has been explored in relationsh ip to self-access centers in Hong Kong (Spratt, Humphries & Chan, 2000). The authors concl uded that it was not always possible to tell which came first, but that learner autonomy was definitely an important goal. "However, one way to encourage autonomy may be to d evelop students' motivation to learn" (p. 263). Alum (2006) uses other motivationa l theories (such as Ryan and Deci and Warschauer) to show how the tool (computer) itself is tied to motivation. The stimulus and immediate feedback of the screen and visual/aud itory signals is of itself motivating. Apple (2007) takes up this idea in his PowerPoint g roup projects and emphasizes the motivational effectiveness of using CALL because of the challenges and opportunities to achieve student goals, thus promoting confidence an d autonomy. Although he based his comments on feedback in writing, Rollinsen (2005) p ointed out the value of peer feedback in general and how it can be structured fo r maximum effect. Revision and collaboration are two strong elements as long as st udents are prepared and trained. He also emphasized the benefits of reflection for the reviewer as well as for the one reviewed. Curriculum design to promote leaner autonomy, as r eported by Cotterall (2000), includes feedback and reflection that revolves back to input. In her model of the language learning process (p. 113), motivation is depicted a s an outside, static influence in the Teaching English with Technology , 11 (2), 18-28, http://www.tewtjournal.org . 20 process. However, if Spratt et al. (2000) had made diagram, they might have incorporated motivation into a more fluid model. Along with feedback protocols which have been deve lop d by critical friendship advocates (Cushman, 1998; Costa and Kallick, 1993; Hirsch, 2004; NSRF, n.d.) the concepts of autonomy and motivation that are integr al to the language learning process, need to be taken into account when designing activi ties and are linked to the medium of CALL itself. Many teachers might question the value of making videos of students' work. The technology used in classrooms, mandated i n some cases, is often used as a simple substitute for an activity without utilizing the unique qualities and possibilities of technological advances. But with new technology, th ere are new opportunities for opening doors on enhancing teaching practices. The unique chance to record without expensive recording studios and make videos readily available quickly means that students can use these records of performances to e valuate themselves, to seize the opportunity to make their personal presence felt in the classroom (Pennycook, 1997) and to become more autonomous in their practices. Teachers need to view technology not as a toy, but as a powerful teaching tool that has become available. Enhancing possibilities of reflective practice both for English as Second or Foreign Language students, but also fo r our student teachers, is motivating and leads to greater learner autonomy. Students can even use their phones to make videos of themselves or classmates, thus empowering themse lves in their use of English. Thus the questions posed are: What are some kinds of act ivities that can be implemented and how can teachers use them to enhance teaching, spec ifically critical thinking skills, motivation and ultimately learner autonomy? Activities Three activities that the author has successfully u sed with both undergraduate as well as graduate students will be described below; all of t hem can be used with the same method of videotaping. Activity One: Watch the video for self-evaluation u sing a rubric or checklist. Teaching English with Technology , 11 (2), 18-28, http://www.tewtjournal.org . 21 Presentation skills are often taught in EAP classes or English for Special Purposes, especially Business English. Students need to know what criteria will be used to assess their performance and the attached presentation che cklist (Appendix) is one example of a possible rubric or grading scheme to let students k ow which categories are important. If students are totally new to giving presentations, t hen the teacher might need to explain the various components by demonstrating and explain ing the items. The checklist can be modified for different levels of students. Watching the video As soon as the videos become available for students to view, they can be assigned the task of viewing the presentation critically. Using the checklist, they view the video several times which helps students to concentrate o n various components of the presentation. This method that isolates aspects of the performance for more in-depth analysis can also help with the affective problems of reviewing one's own performance. Students watch the video several times. The first t me can just be a simple viewing, looking at the performance holistically. T he second time the video can be watched more carefully looking closely at the Langu a e Control and Content and Organization sections of the checklist. The student s rate themselves on those items, listening and watching critically. The third viewin g is not watched, but only listened to. Not looking at the screen or closing the eyes helps to isolate the verbal features. The fourth viewing is done with the sound off as studen ts rate themselves on the Nonverbal section of the checklist for body language. A final viewing can be done in the company of a 'critical friend' (see Activity Two below). Critiquing the performance The next stage is to ask the students to put their critiques in writing. This can be a writing assignment that can be used to assess the students' critical thinking skills as well as their writing. Critiques can be in the form of a review. Students might look at movie or TV reviews, restaurant reviews or other forms of revie ws for examples. They can use this as an opportunity to go to Internet sites and look at this particular genre of writing. The first part of a review is a description of the event, pla ce or thing that is being reviewed. Teaching English with Technology , 11 (2), 18-28, http://www.tewtjournal.org . 22 Students can write about the purpose, scope and not e when and where the performance took place. They can mention non-debatable or easil y verifiable components; such as if the presentation was within the time limits or was organized. The next part is the evaluation that typically comes in two sections. Th e first section is what is good about the performance. Students can point to particularly wel l-executed elements they noticed in the video. The next section points to those areas t h t need work. Students should be encouraged to be specific about what elements did n ot work well and analyze the result of the poor performance. An example is to notice th at t e presenter was reading notes with the head down with the result that the audienc e became disengaged and bored. The last part is the challenge for the future. Students can suggest ways in which to improve the performance and again, specific suggestions are better than general ones. For example, students can suggest that they practice th e presentat


A Simple, sensitive and specific RP‐HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of clopidogrel in tablets. Isocratic chromatography was performed on a C18 column with acetonitrile‐methanol‐phosphate buffer 0.1M 80:10:10 (v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.9 ml/min. UV detection was set at 240 nm. The method was validated with respect to accuracy, linearity, precision, selectivity, and robustness. All the parameters examined met the current recommendations of U.S.P (30) for analytical method validation. The method can be reliably used for routine quality control analysis and to determine the clopidogrel content of marketed tablets.


Lige Liu is a Ph.D. candicate of the School of Management, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; Xiaoyi Jin is a professor of the Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University. Melissa J. Brown is an assistant professor of Anthropology and Institute for Research in the Social Sciences, Stanford University. Marcus W. Feldman is a professor of Biology at Stanford.


A comparative study will be undertaken in order to unveil a set of affinities perceived between the history of numbers and awareness of the value of the archive in an organization. Two hypotheses are investigated: 1) the archive has to be perceived by the agents involved in it as an asset in the organization; and 2) electronic work environments include multiple challenges and significant possibilities for an archive and/or its management system for documents to be treated in an organization. An analytical method of descriptive nature is used based on comparison, with the aid of normative and bibliographic sources of archive. Using this method the assumptions made were checked and new actions were suggested due to continued change.


Every Western society that deems itself to have a vibrant literary tradition must have a bohemian strain that is a wellspring of its most creative energies. And every bohemian strain must have its truly singular figures that define clearly and sharply what it means to be a bohemian anchor in terms of the most unfettered transgressions of the bourgeois norm. For Brazil, which has had its superb inventory of bohemians, Hilst does very nicely as an outstanding entry in that category, including how, in the fifteen years since her death, her reputation continues to grow in Brazil, despite how, in best bohemian fashion, she was mostly viewed as a weird curiosity for most of her life, when she was even recognized at all. Hilst (1930-2004), by her background, should have been destined for a genteel life, a stunningly beautiful socialite. Instead, despite her silverspoon social origins and privileged education, she was deeply affected by the mental illness and marital problems of both her parents, and from very early in her writing it was clear that she was going to channel the advantages of her origins into some of the most audacious writing ever produced in Brazil by a woman—or anyone else, for that matter. Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas, Issue 100, Vol. 53, No. 1, 2020, 180–182


Seventy-two piglets were allotted to three groups by weight. Every group included three replicates of eight each. The groups received the same basal diet supplemented with 0,800mg/kg betaine and 2000mg/kg methionine for 36d. The results indicated that betainegroup obviously increased ADG by 11.82%(P0.05), FI by 8.71%(P0.05) and BHMT activity in liver by 61.41%(P0.05), decreased F/G by 2.79%(P0.05) compared with Metunadded group. Compared with Met-added group, betaine group promoted BHMT activity by 55.36%(p0.05). In addition, betaine group apparently reduced SUN level by 35.70%(P0.01) and increased total iron binding ability and GH and IGF-1 levels(P0.05) in serum respectively compared with Met-unadded group. These results suggested that betaine might exert the following functions:(1)sparing methionine by providing effective labile methyl for methylation products synthesis instead of methionine under control of BHMT.(2)promoting growth by increasing GH and IGF-1 levels in serum.


In this article, Professor Finkelman discusses the Supreme Court decision in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition. As written, the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 would have made illegal images and suggestions of child pornography, even if there were no actual graphic image. The Court in Ashcroft struck down many of the provisions of the Act. Professor Finkelman provides analysis of the Act as well as a context of laws governing pornography, obscenity, and child pornography before 1996.


In this paper, we derive recurrence relations for moment, conditional moment generating functions and product moments of generalized order statistics  based on exponentiated family of distributions. Recurrence relations for moment, conditional moment generating functions and product moments of ordinary order statistics  and ordinary record values  are obtained as special cases. These recurrence relations are also used to characterize this family.


The stable operation and control of the proposed terrestrial multi-terminal Voltage Source Converter (VSC) medium voltage DC (MVDC) distribution network is a remarkable motivation towards developing the future universal DC grid interconnecting the low voltage DC systems on one side and the high voltage DC systems on the other. The small-signal stability analysis are important in designing these power electronic based systems (PEBS). In this study, small-signal stability approaches for PEBS are reviewed with the aim of identifying suitable methods for the proposed MVDC distribution network. It is established that the impedance-based methods are suitable for local stability analysis complementing very well with the state-space modelling-eigenvalue analysis method best for global stability analysis. The Lyapunov linearisation method offers simple, adaptable, and accurate small-signal and large-signal stability study. On the other hand, the bifurcation analysis is an emerging non-linear approach with promising efficiency and precision. In conclusion, there is no single small-signal stability criterion that encompass an acceptable level of accuracy, adaptability, and efficiency. Thus, the impedance-based methods combined with state-space modelling-eigenvalue analysis, Lyapunov linearisation, and bifurcation theory can be suitable small-signal stability approaches for the multi-terminal MVDC distribution network.


We analyzed temporal and spatial patterns of thermal discomfort index(DI) in Taiwan between 1981 and 2010.The results indicated substantial variation among regions and significant temporal changes in DI.As for monthly mean DI values,all major cities in Taiwan experienced six months of thermal discomfort(DI≥24) and reached extremely discomfort(DI≥27) in midsummer(July and August) in major metropolis.In contrast,all stations with elevation higher than 600 m were in comfort condition throughout the year.The annual number of days with DI≥24 and 27 increased significantly in central and southern Taiwan.There were no significant change trends in northern Taiwan and the trends were inconsistent in eastern Taiwan.The period with hourly DI≥27,or extremely discomfort condition,in July and August began at 8:00 and last through 18:00 in major metropolis.Thermal condition reaching heat stress condition(DI ≥29) could adversely affect human health at12:00 and 13:00.There were increasing trends of hourly DI between dawn and early morning for most stations.The increasing trends lead to the extension of duration of thermal discomfort in the summer.Climate change could alter human biometeorological environment,especially for regions such as Taiwan located in the junction between tropical and subtropical climate and has dramatic topographic variation.Continuously monitoring changes in environment discomfort pattern and further exploration of the applicability of various discomfort index have high research potential and should be of high research priority.


Globally, mangrove range limits are expanding, often at the cost of adjacent coastal ecosystems including saltmarshes, potentially leading to a change in ecosystem services such as organic carbon (OC) sequestration. Studies in the southeastern US have focused almost exclusively on Avicennia germinans range expansion, the most cold-tolerant mangroves in North America. The Apalachicola Bay region of north Florida represents the northern range limit of mangroves in the Gulf of Mexico, and uniquely also includes Rhizophora mangle. The objective of this research was to quantify soil OC density beneath both mangrove species and compare results to the soils beneath two contiguous native tidal saltmarsh species: Juncus roemerianus and Spartina alterniflora in a barrier island setting. Dominant plant taxa were not a significant predictor of soil OC density, highlighting the relative importance of site-specific environmental attributes as controls on soil properties. Soil profile δ13C compositions included a range of values reflective of C3 and C4 plant inputs, suggesting that shifts in plant taxa, both from marsh to mangroves and between marsh species, have been occurring at all sites in this study. These findings support much of the literature on mangrove encroachment, which indicates mangrove soil OC concentrations, densities, or stocks are less than or equal to that of co-located tidal marsh habitats. Through a systematic review, the potential of several proposed explanatory variables (climate, environmental setting, plant physiology and productivity, and duration of encroachment) were identified to evaluate how soil OC density in mangrove habitats might increase over time, which is critical to forecasting how continued mangrove expansion might affect blue C storage as these habitats evolve.


The aim of sludge stabilization is to reduce problems associated with the odor of sludge and decomposition, as well as to reduce the risk posed by pathogenic organisms (Veronica Arthurson, 2008). Sludge can be stabilized using lime, aerobic digestion or anaerobic digestion (Goldfarb et al., 1999). Lime stability is achieved by the addition of lime, either hydrated (Ca (oH)2) or fast Lime (CaO) to the sludge, raising the pH to 11 or above. This significantly reduces odor and helps in the destruction of pathogens. The main disadvantage of the stabilization by lime is that temporary action (J. Jeffrey et al., 1998). Aerobic digestion is an expected stabilization method for the activated sludge system. One disadvantage of this process is that digested sludge is more difficult to get rid of water by dewatering in the next stages (Demirbas et al., 2017). Biochemistry of anaerobic digestion is a phased process: dissolution of organic compounds by extracellular enzymes followed by the production of organic acids by anaerobic microorganisms known as acid formers. Organic acids are turn into further degradation by methane formers (Jay N. Meegoda et al, 2018). These microorganisms are very sensitive for least change in their environment. the success of anaerobic treatment depends on maintaining the appropriate conditions for methane former because they are strict anaerobic, They are unable to producing methane and decompose of VFA in the presence of oxygen highly (In 't Zandt et al., 2018) and they are high sensitive to pH, temperature, the presence of toxins or other environmental conditions (Wolfe R.S, 2011). Most anaerobic digestion is mesophilic. it requires a constant temperature between 32-35 ° C (90-95 ° F) (Gerardi, 2003). The fall of this condition can slow methane production, leading to the accumulation of volatile acids. One important consideration is not to allow any rapid temperature change. In mesophilic digestion, temperature should not be changed more than 2-3 ° C per day Abstract


How to wipe off sulfur-background is a key step to quantify microelements in certain samples containing high concentration of sulfur.By comparing data from both burning and sublimation methods for pretreatment samples containing high sulfur,it suggested that the sublimation method gave a much reliable result.The choiceness ratio of recovery is 68% for decided microelements by sublimation method,while the choiceness ratio of recovery is 64% by burning method.Moreover,the former range of recovery is 79.9%~120.5% which is higher than the latter,ranging the recovery from 76.2% to 98.0%.The temperature is the key factor to be controlled,as its significant influence to the results.It is difficult to control the burning method and it is easy for sublimation method.Thereby better data can be achieved by decreasing element-decided loss with sublimation method of pretreatment.


To enhance the efficiency of nitrogen removal of ammonia nitrogen sewage,the feasibility,methods and results of denitrification of the ammonia nitrogen sewage were studied by experiments using the biological contact oxidation fluidized bed to treat the synthetic municipal wastewater at normal temperature.The experimental results indicate that ammonia nitrogen can be converted to nitric acid by two independent kinds of bacteria respectively.The suitable temperature range is 20~35℃.The suitable pH value range for nitrosobacteria is 7-8.5,and that for nitrate bacteria is 6~7.5.Better effect can be achieved when the concentration of dissolved oxygen for nitrosobacteria and nitrate bacteria is higher than 0.5 mg/L.The best grain size of packing material is about 10 mm.Intermittent loading can improve the settling ability of activated sludge,which provides a good environmental condition for ammonia nitrogen removal.


In his testimony before the Senate Budget Committee, Peter Orszag argues that we are neither paying our way nor investing sufficiently in our workers. The nation's low saving rate and the combination of real income stagnation and increased income risk for most families represent the most pressing economic problems facing the country. [© The Brookings Institution]


Bilingualism is viewed as alternative use of two languages in day-to-day context. Earlier views of bilingualism assumed the bilinguals to have equal proficiency in L1 as well as L2, while the recent views in bilingualism suggests that a bilingual can have competence to any degree in his/her second language. The competence factor is also called proficiency. In individuals who have limited proficiency, the domain language is believed to exert interference on the weaker language. Interference can be of two main types lexical interference and grammatical interference. Lexical interference is manifested through borrowing, while grammatical determined through incorrect subject-verb agreement and incorrect usage of PNG markers. The study aimed at determining the relationship between interference and proficiency levels on conversation, narration and picture description tasks. 40 participants were considered for the study, LEAP Q was administered on these participants and they were divided into high and low proficient speakers based on rating on LEAP Q. The results suggested that the interference was more for low proficiency group in regard to both grammatical as well as lexical interference. The amount of interference did not vary much with respect to the three different linguistic tasks.


The world of Neurosurgery has witnessed a quantum jump in the last few decades. Although this progress has reaped benefits forpatients worldwide, it is also worth noting that some regions of the world have indeed been left behind. This fact is mirrored by thedata published by the Lancet Commission and the World Bank1. The gap between resources and needs is evident in this report, w hichsays that approximately 5 million essential neurosurgical cases per year are left unaddressed in low- and middle-income countries. Thepreventable deaths due to surgical deficit are as high as 47 million annually (1) Given this uneven balance of facilities in the healthsector, the WHO has agreed to resolve the issues through the participation of worldwide governing bodies of neurosurgery faculties inthe individual country. The former president of the world bank was quoted that "surgery is an indivisible, indispensable part of healthcare and progress towards universal health coverage (2)


The influence of stress corrosion on the edge strength becomes important when designing structural glass elements. As the load duration of the design wind load (600 s) or the design temperature load is larger than the common load duration during testing the glass edge, a strength model must be used to take into account the load duration properly. In such a model, both short term parameters (i.e. the flaw geometry and depth) and stress corrosion parameters are involved. The stress corrosion parameters strongly depend upon the environment, especially the temperature and the humidity. In this study, the latter two are kept constant, for the testing at high stress rate (50 MPa/s), to determine the short term parameters as well as for the testing at low stress rate (2 MPa/s), to determine the stress corrosion parameters. The geometry factor and the stress corrosion parameters were determined for arrised and ground edges.


Background: This qualitative exploratory research was the first study to explore Leg Club volunteering through focusing specifically on volunteers' narratives. Aims : The aim was to understand volunteers' motivations and experiences and to outline the crucial steps for maintaining volunteers' positive trajectory towards providing social support. Methods : A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with volunteers from UK Leg Clubs was undertaken. Interview transcripts were analysed using a constructivist reflexive thematic analysis. Results : I recruited 16 volunteers from three UK Leg Clubs. The study explained the motivations for volunteering (started as members or companions; retired individuals with a strong sense of purpose; emotional, social and mental health reasons), experiences of volunteering (satisfaction from helping; meaningful social connections; personal growth) and volunteers' objectives (desire to recruit more volunteers; concerns about long-term capacity to return to pre-pandemic activities). Conclusions : The study outlines the conditions necessary for Leg Club volunteers' continued success in the social dimension of leg care. Declaration of Interest : Dr Anna Galazka is a volunteer project consultant for the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation. The research was funded by Cardiff Business School Research and Scholarship Seedcorn Funding Scheme.


The fatigue tests of Plexiglas GS 249 with different stress concentration factors were conducted in different stress R-ratio conditions,and obtained the material fatigue limits using the up-down method.The method model to predict the fatigue limits of Plexiglas are established based on the stress R-ratio and stress concentration factors.The related laws of the loading parameters and shape parameters affecting the fatigue limits of Plexiglas were obtained in the analysis.The results show that,the fatigue limits have a downward trend with the increase of stress R-ratio,the fatigue limits linearly reduce as the stress concentration factors increase,and the fatigue limits are impacted greater by the stress R-ratio with the reduction of stress concentration factors.


Entitled Project: 2012, the CAWP campaign is a national, non-partisan effort to recruit professional women to run for office in 2012. The campaign sees the 2012 election year as a "once- in-a-decade opportunity" to elect more women into Congress and state legislatures by taking advantage of the redrawn congressional and state legislative districts that resulted from 2010 Census data. The re-drawing of districts has opened and created new seats in the 2012 election. According to CAWP, "reapportionment creates opportunity, and research shows that women have more success winning open seats."


Traditional real-time systems have largely avoided the use of disks due to their relative slow speeds and their unpredictability. However, many real-time applications including multimedia systems and real-time database applications benefit significantly from the use of disks to store and access real-time data. We investigate the problem of obtaining guaranteed timely access to files on a disk in a real-time system. Our study focuses on several aspects of this problem of providing a real-time filesystem. First, we consider the use of two real-time disk scheduling algorithms: earliest deadline scheduling and just-in-time scheduling, a variation of aperiodic servers for the disk. The latter algorithm is designed to improve disk throughput that can be hurt when a real-time scheduling algorithm such as EDF is applied directly. Admission control policies with practically acceptable properties of performance and usability are provided. Next, we design and implement a real-time filesystem on the RT-Mach microkernel-based system running a real-time shell. The new interface we develop is based on RT-Mach's resource reservation paradigm and provides guaranteed and timely access for multiple concurrent applications requiring disk bandwidth with different timing and volume requirements. Finally, we perform a detailed performance evaluation of the real-time filesystem including its raw performance. We show the following positive but rather surprising result: our real-time scheduling filesystem not only provides guaranteed and timely access but also does so at relatively high levels of throughput. Traditional disk scheduling algorithms offer completely unacceptable file access latencies for real-time applications and do so only at slightly higher throughput.


The teaching efforts at Marriott Library are distributed widely across a variety of groups and a range of subject matter. Teaching styles and pedagogical foci are varied and diverse among the librarians in the building. To increase collaboration and raise teaching standards, Graduate and Undergraduate Services (GUS) formulated Guidelines for teaching librarians by using the University of Utah's Quality Course Framework (QCF) and Marriott Library's own Four Core Student Library Learning Outcomes and mapping them to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. To facilitate communication and usability, the Guidelines contain an alignment matrix for librarians to follow through the teaching process. The matrix is also intended to open up new opportunities for conversation and collaboration between librarians and academic staff to better serve student needs.
The purpose of this report is to document and reflect upon the collaborative work done by teaching librarians at the University of Utah to create the Teaching Guidelines. The process of this work involved the synthesis and alignment of several models of pedagogical structure as well as the overarching interests and goals of a variety of stakeholders and participants in the teaching environment at the University. The product of these efforts includes clear Teaching Guidelines, alignment with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, and an alignment matrix designed to provide a clear map of the teaching philosophies and strategies employed at the library.
This report presents the process of creating and implementing the Guidelines and outlines the background of the process, including those institutional, situational, and environmental circumstances which shaped the general course of its development. The report includes an analysis of the pedagogical characteristics of the Guidelines. The report also presents an example of the Guidelines as used in action when developing the library-related content for an undergraduate-level community learning course known as 'Learning, Engagement, Achievement and Progress' (LEAP).


This study investigated bovine conceptus-induced modifications to the endometrial transcriptome related to effects of interferon tau (IFNT), conceptus origin (in vivo vs. in vitro) D ow naded rom http/academ ic.p.com /biolreprod/advance-art/doi/10.1093/biolre/ioy199/5094552 by Bkkyo U niersity user on 12 Sptem er 2018 and conceptus sex. In vitro (IVF) or in vivo (superovulation and artificial insemination, AI) produced blastocysts were transferred into recipient heifers on Day 7 of the estrous cycle. On Day 15, IVFor AI-derived conceptuses were obtained by uterine flushing and individually placed on endometrial explants in media for 6 h. Explants were also cultured with media alone as a control or media containing 100 ng/mL IFNT. Total explant RNA was analyzed by RNA-Seq. Incubation of endometrium with IFNT or IVFor AI-derived conceptuses changed (P ≤ 0.001) expression of 491, 498 and 576 transcripts, respectively, compared to the control. Further, 369 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were common between explants exposed to IFNT or a conceptus. 240 DEGs were uniquely altered by conceptuses (IVFand AI-derived) but not IFNT. Of these transcripts, 46 were shared between the IVF and AI groups, while 61 and 133 were specific to IVF and AI conceptuses, respectively. Five genes (MLPH, PROM2, MYADM, VN1R4L, HTR1A) were more abundant in endometrium exposed to female compared to male conceptuses (P < 0.001). A single gene (ARL4C) was more abundant in response to male conceptuses (P < 0.001) than female conceptuses. These data support the hypothesis that conceptus regulation of gene expression in the endometrium is complex and involves factors other than IFNT that may have a biological role in pregnancy establishment.


Due to the unavoidable interaction between the quantum channel and its ambient environment, it is difficult to generate and maintain the maximally entanglement. Thus, the research on multiparty information transmission via non-maximally entangled channels is of academic value and general application. Here, we utilize the non-maximally entangled channels to implement two multiparty remote state preparation schemes for transmitting different quantum information from one sender to two receivers synchronously. The first scheme is adopted to transmit two different four-qubit cluster-type entangled states to two receivers with a certain probability. In order to improve success probabilities of such multicast remote state preparation using non-maximally entangled channels, we put forward the second scheme, which deals with the situation that is a synchronous transfer of an arbitrary single-qubit state and an arbitrary two-qubit state from one sender to two receivers. In particular, its success probability can reach 100% in principle, and independent of the entanglement degree of the shared non-maximally entangled channel. Notably, in the second scheme, the auxiliary particle is not required.


The exploitation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is constrained by limited power, low computing power and storage and short-range radio transmission. Many routing protocols respecting these constraints were developed but, it still lacks formal and standardized solutions being able to help in their configuration. The configuration management that responds to this concern is very important in this type of network. It consists of the definition of data models to configure and is very necessary for the good network performance. Tangible results were obtained in traditional networks with the emergence of NETCONF and YANG standards, but on the best of our humble knowledge there are none yet in WSNs. We propose in this paper wsn-routing-protocol, a YANG data model for routing protocols configuration in WSNs. Following our model, we propose two YANG configuration data models based on the latter: they are respectively aodv for AODV and rpl for RPL.


The lens of the eye becomes dull or cloudy when it develops a cataract. This is among the most prevalent illnesses that can lead to blindness. We suggest using computer science to automatically diagnose cataracts based on how retinal images are categorised in light of the harm that cataracts can cause. This technique concentrates on the retinal image feature extraction process. First, the fundus images are preprocessed using the maximum entropy approach. Next, we automatically extract more distinguishing features from fundus images using a deep learning network built on the Caffe framework. Lastly, to identify automatically derived characteristics, a variety of representative classification techniques are applied. VGG-19 (Visual Geometry Group) is employed for cataract compared using wavelet characteristics derived from the retinal vasculature and deep learning features.In this work, a VGG-19 model is proposed to detect cataracts in retinal fundus pictures. More layers are added to the foundation VGG-16 model to produce the proposed model. A preprocessed dataset has portions for training and validation. The suggested model is further validated after being trained on the training data, and an accuracy of 100% is reported. Following the feeding of the testing data into the model, a high level of testing accuracy of 96.79% is generated.


Lead-free halide double perovskites with a generic formula of A2B′(III)B″(I)X6 (A and B are cations and X is a halide anion) are being explored as a less toxic, higher thermal- and moisture-stable alternative to well-studied lead halide perovskite (APbX3) solar energy absorbers. However, the absorption profiles of most double perovskites reported to date have larger bandgaps (>2 eV) that are poorly aligned with the solar spectrum, reducing their photoconversion efficiency. Here, we present new heterovalent paramagnetic Cu2+-doped Cs2SbAgCl6 double perovskites that exhibit dramatic shifts in their bandgaps from ∼2.6 eV (Cs2SbAgCl6, parent) to ∼1 eV (Cu2+-doped Cs2SbAgCl6). Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the Cu2+-doped polycrystalline materials indicate long-range crystallinity with nonuniform microstrain in the crystal lattice. To decode the dopant, complementary magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), are use...


Abstract The development of the iron and steel industry in South Africa, late by comparison with the other Dominions and India, began in earnest with the formation of the South African Iron and Steel Corporation (Iscor) in 1928. Iscor, under the direction of Dr H.J. van der Bijl, built an integrated iron and steel plant at Pretoria West which was opened in August 1934. Great significance was attached to the construction of Iscor because the possession of an iron and steel industry was intrinsically linked to South Africa's emergence as an independent country. 1 Even the previously sceptical Rand Daily Mail declared proudly that it was an indication that "South Africa [was] passing into its Steel Age", 2 and indeed it was, but it was to prove a difficult passage.


Dendrimers comprise a unique type of macromolecules that are interesting from the viewpoint of both unusual architectures and the enormous application potential in high-tech fields such as nanotechnologies and nanomedicine. The only obstacle in the practical implementation of these molecules is their complicated synthesis and isolation. Therefore, the development of simple synthetic approaches to dendrimers and their derivatives is an urgent challenge that pertains to one of the most important fields of modern science, namely, the creation of nanomaterials. This review highlights the development of the methods for production and functionalization of dendrimers with a view to investigate their physico-chemical properties and outline the most promising trends such as megamers based on dendrimers. The synthesis and exploration of these molecular systems seem to be the most logical application field of dendrimers in terms of the development of our concepts about the regular polymer systems based on the principles of molecular construction.


This paper describes an automatic mesh generator suitable in general for nite element simulations. The mesh generator is of the Delaunay type and the paper focuses on recent improvements relative to this a priori well known method.


This research attempts to examine the day of the week effect and monthly effect on stock returns in the stock market in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). To achieve the objectives four hypotheses were developed. The sample included emerging stock market from CSE from 1985 to 2007. Adjusted closed stock market indices are collected through online data stream. The results of the analysis revealed that the null hypothesis of equality in mean return is rejected and shows there is a day of the week effect in stock market in the CSE. The results of the study have important implications for the investors, management of companies and the stock market regulatory agencies.  The investors could make use of these findings to make decisions with regard to buying or selling to make profits or avoid losses.  This kind of research can motivate the development of the share market activities through findings ways and means investors can earn better returns, development of the stock exchange and  the development of the national economy. Key words: Day of the week effect; January effect; Anomalies Sri Lankan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol.1(2) Oct 2009


Elementary English for Speakers of Other Languages Teachers' Perceptions of the PushIn Program to Support Mathematics Skills by Joye E. Henry MA, University of Phoenix, 2008 BA, University of the West Indies, 1990 Project Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University June, 2018 Abstract Educators in a local southeastern U.S. elementary school are concerned that English language learners are not meeting mandated mathematics achievement requirements on state tests. This case study explored how 12 Grades 3 through 5 English for speakers of other language (ESOL) teachers who were purposely selected, described the push-in program model for mathematics instruction. The study examined how the teachers delivered the push-in ESOL program and the instructional strategies they used. The conceptual framework was guided by Bandura's social learning theory and language acquisition theories and informed by Krashen's second language acquisition theory, Cummins's language proficiency theory, and Collier's second language acquisition theory. Observations, interviews, and documents were analyzed using inductive coding to identify themes: teachers build success through knowledge of second language acquisition, teachers build success by using knowledge of students' cultures and background, teachers build success by being highly qualified and participating in professional development, teachers build success through collaboration, and teachers struggle to meet the needs of all students. Additional themes emerged that informed the subquestions of how teachers delivered instruction to ESOL students in the push-in program: teachers create a positive and supportive learning environment, teachers use research-based instructional strategies and teachers use a variety of data to promote student learning. The project developed from the findings is a 3-day professional development seminar for ESOL teachers and classroom teachers designed to build coteaching skills. The expected implication for social change is the development of a collaborative environment within the school that will promote student achievement.Educators in a local southeastern U.S. elementary school are concerned that English language learners are not meeting mandated mathematics achievement requirements on state tests. This case study explored how 12 Grades 3 through 5 English for speakers of other language (ESOL) teachers who were purposely selected, described the push-in program model for mathematics instruction. The study examined how the teachers delivered the push-in ESOL program and the instructional strategies they used. The conceptual framework was guided by Bandura's social learning theory and language acquisition theories and informed by Krashen's second language acquisition theory, Cummins's language proficiency theory, and Collier's second language acquisition theory. Observations, interviews, and documents were analyzed using inductive coding to identify themes: teachers build success through knowledge of second language acquisition, teachers build success by using knowledge of students' cultures and background, teachers build success by being highly qualified and participating in professional development, teachers build success through collaboration, and teachers struggle to meet the needs of all students. Additional themes emerged that informed the subquestions of how teachers delivered instruction to ESOL students in the push-in program: teachers create a positive and supportive learning environment, teachers use research-based instructional strategies and teachers use a variety of data to promote student learning. The project developed from the findings is a 3-day professional development seminar for ESOL teachers and classroom teachers designed to build coteaching skills. The expected implication for social change is the development of a collaborative environment within the school that will promote student achievement. Elementary English for Speakers of Other Language Teachers' Perceptions of the PushIn Program to Support Mathematics Skills by Joye E. Henry MA, University of Phoenix, 2008 BA, University of the West Indies, 1990 Project Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University June, 2018 Dedication I would like to dedicate this study to my family, especially to my supportive son, Jermaine Henry, my sisters Thelma, Minetta, Ruby, and Ena, and my brothers Albert, James, and Kenneth. Without their constant support, this study would not have been possible. Thank you all for your encouragement in making this milestone a success. Your inspiring words, your love, and your understanding have helped me realize my dreams. There were many difficulties and trials along the way. Nevertheless, I thank God for giving me the strength, perseverance, and guidance to continue the journey. To God be the glory! Acknowledgments This doctoral research project could not have been completed without the assistance and guidance of my doctoral research committee, Dr. Gloria Jacobs, Dr. Jerita Whaley, and Dr. Charles Thompson. I am very fortunate to have such superb instructors like Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Whaley. Their consistent feedback, expertise, and knowledge have motivated me to achieve this milestone. My former and present professors, your effective guidance and support during my writing process at Walden University have challenged me to mature as a researcher. I am also extremely thankful to my son and family who have supported me during hard times. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to my hardworking and dedicated colleagues who participated in this project and encouraged me to never give up. Special thanks to my friend Dr. Denise Connor for your assistance and kindness every step of the way. To all my friends and well-wishers, thank you for listening to me and for your guidance every step of my journey. I am forever grateful to you.


In parallel with the heating step, performed thermal analysis step, the molecular ionization process and the molecular structure analysis process. The molecular ionization process, the component molecules contained in the gas generated from the sample S with the Atsushi Nobori to ionize the molecular structure analysis step, among the ions of the molecules obtained in this molecule ionization process, any ions selected by cleaved to generate fragment ions corresponding to the structure factor of the molecule, to analyze the structure of the molecule based on the fragment ions.


In response to trends in the Feature/Viewpoint manuscripts we receive, the growing import and rapidity of ideas in the environmental sciences and technology, and our own delivery methods, Environmental Science & Technology is making three editorial changes to start on January 1, 2010. In advance of the revised Instructions to Authors available through our website, we highlight the changes here. Please note as well the reminder of word limits for all manuscript types found at the end of this communication.


The invention discloses a yersinia enterocolitica virulence gene multiplex-PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) detection primer group and a kit. The yersinia enterocolitica virulence gene multiplex-PCR detection primer group comprises primer pairs for detecting yersinia enterocolitica 16S rRNA (ribosomal Ribose Nucleic Acid) and detecting an adhesion invasion locus gene, a heat-liable enterotoxin A gene, an adhesin gene, a heat-liable enterotoxin B gene, a virulence activation factor gene and an O:3 serotype antigen coding gene relevant to the pathogenic yersinia enterocolitica. According to the invention, a multiplex-PCR detection method based on a common PCR platform is established, DNA extracted by separating an enriched liquid medium to be detected or flat-plate bacterial colony is subjected to multiple PCR reaction by utilizing the primer pairs obtained through analysis design, a PCR product is subjected to electrophoretic analysis after the reaction is ended so as to determine that whether the yersinia enterocolitica exists in a sample or not and determine a virulence gene relevant to the pathogenic yersinia enterocolitica in the sample and judge that whether the virulence gene is O:3 serotype or not.


The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) in USA states that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) ''is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do''. The NACBT states that the first form of CBT was developed by Albert Ellis in the 1950s, and was based on the thinking of the stoic philosophers, Epictetus (55 135) and Marcus Aurelius (121 180).


Emerging literature suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients are at an increased risk for suicidal behavior. The purpose of our investigation was to examine the impact of psychiatric comorbidity among veterans suffering from chronic PTSD on suicidality (assessed by Suicidal Assesment Scale) and relationship to combat exposure (assessed by Combat Exposure Scale). Diagnosis of PTSD and comorbid psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed according to DSM-IV criteria. Patients with PTSD and comorbidity had the significantly higher scores (p<0.01) on the measures of suicidality and combate exposure, related to groups without psychiatric comorbidity. These findings suggest that persons with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity are at higher risk for suicidal behavior and that in assessing suicide risk among persons with PTSD, careful attention should be paid to comorbidity factors, which may reduce the risk of tragic complications. Language: en


Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology has an established role in the diagnosis of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Its accuracy when applied by experienced and well trained practitioners matches that of histopathology in providing an equivocal diagnosis; so it can also be used as a very useful alternative to excision biopsy in the diagnostic workup of soft tissue tumors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was done in the Department of Pathology, Kathmandu Medical College for a period of one year from January 2006 to December 2006. A total of 60 cases presented with soft tissue tumors, of which only 50 were biopsied and the correlation done. A detailed history, clinical findings, routine relevant laboratory investigations and radiological findings were carried. Results: Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed diagnostic materials in 47 cases and 3 cases were inconclusive for a definite diagnosis. 40 cases were diagnosed as benign lesions and 7 cases as malignant lesions. Out of the benign cases, the most common were lipomas which accounted for 52.5% of cases followed by benign mesenchymal tumor- 17.5%. Out of the malignant cases 71.42% were diagnosed as malignant mesenchymal tumor and 28.57% as malignant nerve sheath tumor. The overall diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in soft tissue tumors in the present study was 86%. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing benign soft tissue tumors was 97.36% and 66.67% respectively and for malignant soft tissue tumors 66.67% and 97.36% respectively. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology can be effective and reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of soft tissue tumors. It is highly sensitive to detect benign soft tissue tumors and highly specific for malignant soft tissue tumors. Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2012) Vol. 2, 305-308 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v2i4.6884


A vJ/c correction to the Shapiro time delay seems verified by a 2002 Jovian observation by VLBI. In this Essay, this correction is interpreted as an effect of the aberration of light in an optically refractive medium which supplies an analog of Jupiter's gravity field rather than as a measurement of the speed of gravity, as it was first proposed by other authors. The variation of the index of refraction is induced by the Lorentz invariance of the weak gravitational field equations for Jupiter in a uniform translational slow motion with velocity vJ=13.5 km/s. The correction on time delay and deflection is due not to the Kerr (or Lense-Thirring) stationary gravitomagnetic field of Jupiter, but to its Schwarzschild gravitostatic field when measured from the barycenter of the solar system.


1 Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India Mobile no: 8281675204. Email: email@example.com 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India Mobile no: 9495635733, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Abstract Introduction: Endometrial carcinoma is the second most common malignant tumor of female genital system in India and its incidence is increasing globally. Histological variants include endometrioid carcinoma, serous carcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, mixed adenocarcinoma and others. Histopathologic prognostic parameters include tumor type, depth of invasion, lymphovascular involvement, FIGO grade and stage. Materials and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in the department of Pathology, Government medical college, Thrissur, during a period of 18months. Gross examination and morphological assessment of 37 cases of carcinoma endometrium were done. Study was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Result: 83.8% of endometrial carcinomas were endometrioid type, 16.2% were nonendometrioid type. 77.42%, 16.13% and 6.45% of endometrioid carcinomas were grade I, grade II and grade III respectively. 64.86% of endometrial cancers were stage I tumors. Glandular pattern was the predominant pattern (54.1%). 51.4% cases showed invasion less than half of myometrium. Prominent lymphocytic infiltrate was seen in 29.73% cases. Lymphovascular emboli were seen in 10.8% cases. Mitosis was ≤5 in 86.5% cases. Conclusion: Most cases of endometrial carcinomas were of endometrioid type, with a predominance of grade I tumors. Majority of endometrial carcinomas belonged to FIGO stage Ia.


Two recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, Elrod v. Burns (427 U.S. 347) and Branti v. Finkel (62 L Ed 2d 595), have struck at the heart of patronage as a method of staffing the public sector. Because many political jurisdictions in the United States rely on patronage for some of their employees and because a long American political tradition supports the use of patronage, this essay will discuss some of the possible ill effects if both decisions stand. First, the historical tensions between patronage and merit systems will be discussed to set the political background of the court's decisions. Second, the facts and reasoning of each decision will be presented. Third, the obstacles these decisions raise for effective public administration will be noted.


Conflicting reports question the value of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol receptor expression assays by flow cytome- try to diagnose individual cases of heterozy- gous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). We used genetically proven index patients with FH to assess an optimized LDL recep- tor expression assay on mononuclear cells. Assay conditions (preincubation period, staining procedure, mode of data calcula- tion) were investigated for their impact on test reproducibility and plausibility in 20 patients with clinically diagnosed FH and 6 control subjects. This approach was then validated in 4 genetically characterized index patients. Good discrimination of controls and patients was observed after 4 and 7 days but not


Accelerated radiotherapy combined with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) to overcome tumor hypoxia and cell proliferation achieved high tumor control and survival in Phase II studies of patients with advanced head and neck and bladder carcinomas. Thus, morbidity and treatment outcomes from the latter study were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ARCON.


An adaptive watermarking method based on discrete wavelet transform is proposed in this paper. To get good imperceptivity and robustness, the energy of sub-blocks and the texture of the carrier image have been used to determine where the watermark will be embedded. And the watermark embedding intensity will be determined by the noise visibility function. Experimental results show that this method is effective.


This paper proposes an information hiding method based on word text, according to the theory of the human eye cones for the color sensitivity; the human eye is least sensitive to blue. I change the lowest two bits of G component in the carrier text character RGB color value, change the lowest two bits of R component in the carrier text character RGB color value, and change the lowest four bits of B component in the carrier text character RGB color value, So that each carrier text character can hide 8 bits binary information. RGB color value of character underline can hide 24 bits information; the combination of these two methods can hide 32 bits binary information. After testing, the results show that the algorithm hiding rate is high, the algorithm is stable and easy to implement, has a certain application value.


The present study aims to analyze the content limits of the prenuptial agreement, notably by approaching the existing dichotomy between private autonomy versus state interference in Family Law. Under this approach, it is intended to verify whether the aforementioned pact could include (i) a provision that deals with alimony; and (ii) inclusion of property penalties due by one spouse to the other in case of rupture of the marital relationship. There are few scientific works that address the specificities and controversies of the institute in the Brazilian legal system. In addition, research shows that the number of prenuptial agreements signed in the country has practically doubled in the last ten years, which reinforces the relevance of this study. The method used is deductive, through bibliographic research, including using comparative law, notably Portuguese law.


Summary form only given. Optical scanners are used in a wide variety of applications. Scanning micromirrors fabricated using the micromachining technology is very attractive because of smaller size, lighter mass, and lower power consumption. In this paper, we report on the performance of an out-of-plane tilt torsion mirror that can be self-assembled by the integrated scratch drive actuator (SDA). This device is compact, lightweight, and can be mass-produced at potentially very low cost.


The different proportion of synthesized SO2-4/Fe2O3/ZrO2 catalyst was studied to degrade Rhodamine B.The experiment indicated that SO2-4/Fe2O3-ZrO2 displayed the highest activity for the catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B,which was synthesized by calcination at 600 ℃ of the immersion of 0.5 mol/L and 1.5 mol/L H2SO4 of Fe2O3/ZrO2(Fe:Zr=1:1).The degradation rate of rhodamine B was 90% though the catalyst was repeated three times for 14 h.


An overview of the unconventional recovery and coal liquefaction components of the Liquid Fuel Supply (LFS) model data base is presented. The LFS model, developed under the sponsorship of the Office of Planning and Environment (DOE/FE), enables the quantitative assessment of competitive supply technologies. Thus, it contributes to the development of the knowledge base required for reducing the US energy supply vulnerability to the economic and security implications of reliance upon scarce and increasingly expensive conventional petroleum resources. This report presents the data used in the LFS model for modeling enhanced oil recovery and oil production from shale, tar sands, and coal liquefaction. 11 references, 4 figures, 5 tables.


Unemployment among African Americans with SCI poses a serious challenge to successful recovery and community reintegration. Recent research and public discourse about documented racial disparities in employment following injury is often laden with assumptions about the absence of "social capital," including networks of support, appropriate skills, work ethic or viable work history profile. Such assumptions inform social policy aimed at assisting the unemployed, including African Americans with SCI and are embedded in explanations for reducing the role of government or the "state" in addressing poverty and related social issues, one consequence of which has been a reduction in programs and funding for persons with disabilities. Social capital theory has also been used to justify an increased reliance on non-governmental networks and institutions (particularly faith-based) to address concerns of individuals and families struggling with employment, health care or other issues traditionally addressed by the state. The emphasis on individual initiative and cultivation of networks of support assumes the absence of both among those who are unemployed. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss the attitudes of African American men with SCI toward work and their perceptions of obstacles and supports in their attempts to seek and secure employment in comparison and contrast to explanations presented in "social capital" theories. Using the qualitative component of a larger project, which used mixed method design, we identify and present the perspectives of African American men with SCI. The results of this study raise questions about assumptions and policies based in social capital theories and suggest a need to reconsider and reframe explanations for unemployment and those social reintegration strategies embodied in related policies.


This paper first attempts to discuss the cultural differences between Chinese "成语" and English "idioms", and them makes a comparative study on the differences between Chinese "成语" and English "idioms" through analyzing the six different points: religion, literature, circumstances, history, national features and pragmatic psycology.


In the paper,combining the experience during construction and practical test,and analyzing the building characteristic and customer characteristics in colleges,the reasonable construction projects are gained,and they provide reference for the planning and construction in wireless wideband network.


Lumbar hernia is a rare defect of the abdominal wall. It accounts for 2% of all wall hernias. It is divided in two levels: superior lumbar hernia, also known as Grynfeltt's hernia (GH), and an inferior lumbar hernia or Petit's hernia. They are in most of the cases secondary to trauma or previous surgery but primary lumbar hernias are rare. Computed tomography (CT) is a very useful tool for the diagnosis of lumbar hernia. It can delineate the neck of the hernia and hernial contents. We reported a case of 60 years old male parient with primary jean louis Petit's hernia.


Rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis is challenging. The only rapid test for active tuberculosis is smear microscopy, which has poor sensitivity for both extrapulmonary and less extensive pulmonary forms of tuberculosis (1). Nucleic acid amplification tests have somewhat better but still suboptimal sensitivity (2), whereas mycobacterial cultures are sensitive but require several weeks before results are available (1). The tuberculin skin test (TST) and the new interferon- release assays (3, 4) detect a cellular immune response to tuberculosis antigens. On the basis of numerous longitudinal studies (5), the TST is considered to have good sensitivity for the detection of latent tuberculous infection. The interferon- release assays appear to have similar sensitivity but improved specificity for latent infection (4, 6). Use of these tests for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis is based on the logic that one must have tuberculous infection in order to have tuberculosis disease. However, these tests have 2 fundamental problems when used to diagnose active tuberculosis. First, they measure the host immune response to tuberculosis, not the presence of the microorganisms themselves (3, 4). Because reactivation of latent tuberculous infection reflects an impaired immune response, at least temporarily, these tests may be falsely negative at the time of development of disease (3). In a recent meta-analysis, the sensitivity of both TST and the commercially available interferon- release assays ranged from 73% to 88% for the diagnosis of active disease (6), implying a substantial proportion of false-negative results. The greater problem with using TST or interferon- release assays to diagnose active tuberculosis is their poor specificity for disease, because these tests cannot distinguish an immune response to reactivated tuberculosis from a response to tuberculous infection that remains latent. The prevalence of latent tuberculosis exceeds 50% among adults in countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis, as well as high-risk populations in countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis, such as foreign-born persons or close contacts of patients with active tuberculosis (5). Therefore, when active tuberculosis is suspected in someone from these populations, the TST and interferon- release assays will be positive in at least half of all persons testedthe vast majority of whom will prove to have latent tuberculous infection and an unrelated, nontuberculous active pulmonary disease. Given this low specificity, positive results would not change the probability of disease very much and, because they would be so frequent, would most likely result in many unnecessary investigations. In this issue, Dosanjh and colleagues (7) present results from using a combination of TST and an interferon- release assay for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. An in-house ELISpotPLUS assay (a noncommercial assay that was developed and used in a research laboratory), which contained 35 early secretory antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein-10 peptides with 17 peptides from Rv3879c, had a sensitivity of 89%, compared with 83% for TST. Sensitivity was 99% in patients with positive TST or ELISpotPLUS results, yielding a negative likelihood ratio of 0.02 if both tests yielded negative results. When the negative likelihood ratio is 0.02, the odds of active tuberculosis drop to 2% of the pretest odds (if the pretest odds were 1:1, the posttest odds would be 1:50, which corresponds to a probability of 2%). The study has important strengths: The design was prospective, no patients were excluded, technicians were blinded to clinical information, and clinicians did not use the ELISpotPLUS results when they formulated a final diagnosis. All patients were being investigated for possible tuberculosis, and all were carefully characterized. However, the study also has several limitations. Most notably, tuberculin test results were missing in 17% of all participants. In another 27%, the investigators used the Heaf test for tuberculin testing; because the Heaf test has now been discontinued and had only moderate agreement (8) with the Mantoux testthe internationally accepted standardthe results are difficult to generalize. Of all cases, 21% were not microbiologically confirmed, which could have introduced some diagnostic misclassification. Test performance could have been overestimated through the exclusion of 35 patients with undiagnosed disease, representing 10% of the total, and the use of negative TST results to exclude active tuberculosis, making them part of the diagnostic gold standard criteria. Despite these limitations, the very high sensitivity of 99% for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis if the results of either TST or ELISpotPLUS were positive deserves consideration. Does this mean that one can use these tests to diagnose active tuberculosis? As Dosanjh and colleagues point out (7), the very high sensitivity of the combined tests resulted in a negative likelihood ratio of 0.02, considered a large and often conclusive decrease in the likelihood of disease (9). In other words, if the pretest probability was low and both tests were negative, one could exclude active tuberculosis with near certainty. In patients at very high risk for disease (high pretest probability), active tuberculosis could not be ruled out with as much certainty, even with negative results on 2 different tests. For example, if the pretest probability was 80%, the posttest probability would be about 8% if both TST and ELISpotPLUS had negative results. Even though interferon- release assays and TST are believed to measure cell-mediated immune response to tuberculosis antigens (3), they do so by different means. Tuberculin testing measures an in vivo, multimediator inflammatory response to multiple tuberculin antigens (5). The interferon- release assays measure ex vivo interferon- production by the patient's circulating lymphocytes in response to stimulation with a few Mycobacterium tuberculosisspecific antigens (3, 4). Because the 2 tests measure related but different biological phenomena, discordant results (a positive result from one test and a negative result from the other) for the same patient is neither surprising nor uncommon (6). This discordance will improve the sensitivity of a combination test (TST and interferon- release assay) if only 1 of the 2 tests needs be positive to call the combination test result positive, as Dosanjh and colleagues demonstrate (7). This enhancement of sensitivity by using a combination of 2 complementary tests has a very important drawback: We don't understand the mechanism (6). Dosanjh and colleagues (7) explored the reasons for discordant results but found an explanation for only 30% of the TST-negative, ELISpotPLUS-positive discordant results. If the results of the 2 tests were completely independent, meaning discordance occurred at random, both tests would have been negative in 1.9% of patientsa rate remarkably close to what was found (1.0%). Was the high sensitivity in Dosanjh and colleagues' study the result of random discordance? The question is not merely academic. If the results of the 2 tests were perfectly concordant, the combined sensitivity would have been only 89%, yielding a negative likelihood ratio of 0.22implying, according to Bayes' theorem, only a small decrease in likelihood of disease (9). Instead, the 2 tests produced a fortunate combination of discordant positive results that dramatically enhance sensitivity. Given that neither Dosanjh and colleagues (7) nor others (5) can explain this discordance, it is hard to be confident that other investigators will replicate these results. Several studies and a systematic review and meta-analysis are required before we can be confident that the sensitivity is as high as shown by Dosanjh and colleagues (7). In the meantime, the physician who strongly suspects tuberculosis despite negative results on both TST and ELISpotPLUS should follow the patient closely before ruling out tuberculosis. Where does this leave us? Positive test results for latent tuberculous infectionwhether from old tests (TST) or new (interferon- release assays)will be most useful to clinch a diagnosis of active tuberculosis when the pretest probability of active tuberculosis is high and the pretest probability of latent infection is low. This combination of risks is most likely in persons born in low-incidence countries after 1950 who do not have risk factors for tuberculosis exposure but have clinical manifestations of active tuberculosis. Clinicians should retain a healthy skepticism about the dramatically enhanced sensitivity of a combination of tests, as shown in Dosanjh and colleagues' study (7), until other researchers confirm the finding. And, of note, the posttest probability after a negative result on both of these tests may still exceed some physicians' threshold probability for starting treatment of patients with a high pretest probability of active tuberculous infection. Populations with a high prevalence of tuberculous infection bear more than 95% of the burden of tuberculosis worldwide (10). In these populations, the search for a rapid accurate test must go on.


The resistance and immunologic responses of a Beg susceptible (C57BL/6) and Beg resistant (C3H/He) strain of mouse were compared after infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Bacterial resistance was evaluated by bacterial counts and histopathology of chronically infected mice. Levels of non-specific macrophage activation and the response of various T cell subsets were also evaluated following infection. Susceptible mice orally infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis developed granulomatous lesions containing acid-fast bacteria in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Significant differences in CFU of M. paratuberculosis were observed between C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice following an i.p. infection. Susceptible mice failed to limit bacterial proliferation, while bacterial counts progressively declined in resistant mice. Susceptible mice had numerous granulomas in the liver and developed mesenteric lymph node lesions. Resistant mice had fewer hepatic granulomas and did not develop mesenteric lymph nodes lesions. Both strains of mice developed similar levels of non specific macrophage activation 10 days after i.p. infection with M. paratuberculosis as determined by a listeria challenge assay. Differences were detected in the proportions of T cell subsets and activation markers between the two


The widespread availability of smartphones with on-board sensors has recently enabled the possibility of harvesting large quantities of monitoring data in urban areas, thus enabling so-called crowdsensing solutions, which make it possible to achieve very large-scale and fine-grained sensing by exploiting all personal resources and mobile activities in Smart Cities. In fact, the information gathered from people, systems, and things, including both social and technical data, is one of the most valuable resources available to a city's stakeholders, but its huge volume makes its integration and processing, especially in a real-time and scalable manner, very difficult. This chapter presents and discusses currently available crowdsensing and participatory solutions. After presenting the current state-of-the-art crowdsensing management infrastructures, by carefully considering the related and primary design guidelines/choices and implementation issues/opportunities, it provides an in-depth presentation of the related work in the field. Moreover, it presents some novel experimental results collected in the ParticipAct Crowdsensing Living Lab testbed, an ongoing experiment at the University of Bologna that involves 150 students for one year in a very large-scale crowdsensing campaign.