Aspatial peripherality is an oxymoron, a term devised to collectively describe a range of processes which are increasingly emerging to compound or distort the handicaps conventionally associated with remote locations. Economic convention requires that highly accessible locations enjoy higher rates of growth and prosperity. However, certain peripheral and less accessible regions exhibit high levels of economic growth not justified by their disadvantaged location. Alike, the benefits of accessible regions are masked by a wide range of constraints to economic activity. This paper seeks explore and operationalise these essentially non-geographical characteristics that exert benign effects to economic activity. In particular it is found that the operation of factors like the accumulated entrepreneurial capital, business networks and innovative activity are increasingly emerging to compound or distort the handicaps conventionally associated with remote locations. These issues are manifested on a European scale, and, through the exploration of twelve European regions, six less accessible and dynamic and six more accessible and less dynamic. 1. Aspatial Peripherality: An Oxymoron in Regional Development Aspatial Peripherality (AsP) is a term to collectively describe a range of processes which are increasingly emerging to compound or distort the handicaps conventionally associated with remote locations. Thus, at a time when physical distance or travel/freight costs are becoming less and less constraint to economic activity and quality of life, the benefits to peripheral and more accessible regions alike may be masked by the effects of poor utilization of new information and communications technology, or by inadequate networks linking local businesses, institutions and global sources of information or markets. Similarly, aspects of social capital, characteristics of regional governance or institutional structures may result in relative isolation from the core regions which are perceived as the motors of economic and social change. On the other hand, peripheral regions in which such essentially non-geographical characteristics exert benign effects, are likely to exhibit higher rates of economic growth and better quality of life than would normally be associated with such remote locations. The aim of this paper is to examine whether the operation of business networks and the innovative activity of firms are elements of this 'aspatial peripherality' concept contributing to regional development. Accessibility and peripherality are notoriously vague and variable concepts. Peter Gould described accessibility as '... a slippery notion ... one of those common terms everyone uses until faced with the problem of defining and measuring it'. Thus, it may be a good practice to review shortly peripherality from its conventional view and then proceed to an overview of Aspatial Peripherality. 1.1 Conventional Peripherality Concepts of peripheral disadvantage generally include a number of elements that can be roughly classified into three broad groups: causal, contingent and associated and are best depicted in figure 1 (Copus, 2001). Figure 1: Elements of Conventional (Spatial) Concepts of Peripheral Disadvantage (Copus, 2001). Causal elements of peripheral disadvantage include first, and by definition, increased travel transport cost (expressed either in financial or time penalty terms) resulting from remoteness relative to the main centres of population and economic activity. The second causal element is the absence of agglomerative advantages (external economies of scale, broadly defined) enjoyed by less remote locations. Thus, distance impacts upon competitiveness both directly (through Weberian-style locational economies) and indirectly as firms are less able to derive shared benefits from clustering. The group of contingent elements, i.e. elements which are contingent upon the causal elements, include the low rates of entrepreneurship and innovation and the high costs of service provision. The third group of elements is often associated with peripherality, although the causal link is less direct. These elements include sparsity of population, a dependence on primary industries, poorly developed local and inter-regional infrastructure, poorly developed research and development sector, and a lack of influence in the wider governance arena. Two 'families' of formalized models have sought to explain the economic processes which lie behind peripheral disadvantage. The first of these 'families' originated in the late 18 century with the von Thünen approach accounting for apparently systematic changes in land value and came to its 'hey-day' in the 60s and early 70s with writers such as Isard and Alonso on land use and industrial location patterns and Burgess on empirical analysis of city structure. The common base of these approaches is the assertion that type and intensity of economic activity at any given location can be, at least partially, explained in terms of penalties imposed by distance from a given city or concentration of industry. The second 'family' of models developed by Myrdal, Hirschman and John Friedman placed emphasis on regional divergence due to processes of 'cumulative causation'. Of central importance in the latter was the role of agglomeration and external economies of scale. Basically, Fujita, Krugman and Venables (1999) show, through microeconomic modeling, that the existence of agglomerative processes and increasing returns may be predicted on the basis of linkages alone without reference to the other two elements of the 'Marshalian trinity', namely the benefits of labor pooling and the facility for the rapid transfer of information. Fujita et al (1999) also show that a reduction in transport costs will tend to accelerate the process of agglomeration and argue that population growth will result in further spatial differentiation, with the emergence of an ordered hierarchy of cities. Within the framework of a European Union funded project (AsPIRE QLK5-2000-00783) a baseline indicator of peripherality was calculated for all European NUTS III regions. The AsPIRE baseline indicator of accessibility is one of the most sophisticated of its type as it is comprehensive, simple and has significant explanatory power. The single indicator produced for AsPIRE is a logsum accessibility indicator aggregating over road, rail and air transport modes (Spiekermann et al., 2002). This indicator was calculated over all NUTS III areas indicating European wide accessibility and at National level with countries treated as isolated entities in the accessibility logsum model. Thus, two baseline accessibility indicators were produced. Maps 1 and 2 show the classification of all European Union regions according to the European wide and National Baseline Accessibility Indicators. These maps simply repeat the well-known distribution of successful and less successful regions in Europe. The major agglomerations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands Germany, Austria, northern Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have a clearly above-average GDP per worker. Other parts of those countries are performing about average. On the other hand, nearly all regions in Portugal, Spain, southern Italy, Greece and Ireland have clearly under-average GDP per worker. A substantial number of regions in the UK, the Netherlands and in eastern Germany do belong to this group as well (Spiekermann et al., 2002). According to the conventional approaches to peripherality, this should be related either to the level of economic development, expressed as GDP per capital or to the level of average productivity, expressed as GDP per labour unit. A simple inspection of figure 2 may lead one to ask whether there is a relationship at all (the correlation coefficient is only 0.31). A more interesting question would be to examine (and analyze if possible) the spatial pattern of the residuals of the correlation between accessibility and economic performance. This analysis would allow us to show which regions in Europe conform to with the conventional hypothesis that more accessible regions are economically more successful. Map 1: AsPIRE Baseline Peripherality Indicator (European-wide, NUTS III regions, after Spiekermann et al., 2002). Map 2: AsPIRE National Peripherality Indicator (NUTS III regions after Spiekermann et al., 2002). Figure 2: AsPIRE Baseline Peripherality Indicator v GDP per Labor Unit (NUTS III regions after Spiekermann et al., 2002). Map 3 classifies the European Union NUTS III regions by their position to the correlation diagram, in terms of distance from the diagonal. A completely different picture is revealed. The spatial pattern of residuals suggests in general that peripheral regions perform better in economic terms than their location would suggest. And, vice versa, that more central regions have an economic performance that is lower than their location would suggest. Map 3: Spatial Distribution of Residuals of AsPIRE Baseline Peripherality Indicator v. GDP per Labor Unit (NUTS III regions after Spiekermann et al., 2002) The aforementioned discussion takes us to what we will term alternative explanations to peripherality and in particular Aspatial Peripherality. 1.2 Aspatial Peripherality The relatively low correlation of peripherality indicators with economic indicators has shown the limitations of conventional peripherality indicators based on transport costs and that accessibility is only one of several, transport and non-transport, factors determining regional economic performance. The residual map presented in the previous section shows the differences between regional economic performance suggested by the location of a region and its real economic performance based on other, 'softer' local factors. However, those other factors do not necessarily have a positive impact, the regional or local characteristics can influence the regional economic performance i


The overall goal of the data mining process is to extract information from a data set and transform it into an understandable structure for further use. All the operations carried out on a spacecraft need to be logged somewhere. Such daily activity is essential to get a macroscopic view of the maintenance activities, especially for monthly or yearly reporting. Up to now the list of everyday activities carried out on CNES Earth observation spacecraft of the French Space Agency (CNES) has been filled manually by each Flight Control Team (FCT) in an Excel® file. However the accuracy of the information depends a lot on the proficiency of the FCT members involved in the process. Obviously there is always the risk of human error. For example, forgetting to log an operation or typing errors can and sometimes do lead to inaccurate overall reporting. Hence the need to improve the general process of data gathering. This paper deals with a new foolproof method which has been tested successfully on the Pleiades spacecraft (PHR1A and PHR1B) in order to automatically compile spacecraft activities from telecommand logbooks which are huge XML files (around 10 million lines per year). This kind of issue falls typically within a data mining approach and algorithms have been implemented to filter the various data inside the logbooks and extract the relevant information out of them. Output files are simple ASCII tab separated files which list the main operations performed during the period under consideration. These files may be either edited with Excel® (to benefit from its world renowned filtering capabilities) or plotted as a chronogram with PrestoPlot® which is a COTS already used in CNES for displaying telemetry parameters. Such chronograms are particularly useful for people in charge of spacecraft maintenance because they help them easily establish a potential link between spacecraft operations and telemetry behavior, especially for trend analysis. Activity files are generated every month, but they can be generated for a shorter period. The monthly files are also concatenated to build overall activity files which gather information from the beginning of life of each spacecraft. This process has been tested and tuned during PHR1B in orbit test phase beginning of 2013 and then successfully retrofitted to PHR1A. An activity data base is also a great help for the FCT because any operation performed on a spacecraft can be found again very easily. Finally this innovative system is adaptive and may be applied very easily to any existing spacecraft program.


The chlorophyll fluorescence technique was evaluated as a possible predictive and nondestructive method to detect low-O2 and/or high-CO2 injuries in 'Conference' pears and 'Jonagold' apples stored in controlled atmosphere (CA). The fruits were kept at 0°C in air, 1% CO2 + 2% O2 or 3% CO2 + 1% O2 during five months. Fluorescence parameters of minimal fluorescence (Fo), maximal fluorescence (Fm), and potential quantum yield - (Fm-Fo):Fm, also denoted as Fv:Fm- as well as the incidence of browning disorders were evaluated at several times during storage. No incidence of browning disorders was observed in 'Jonagold' apples, however, they showed a decrease in Fv:Fm during storage time with no differences between the CA-conditions. Air-stored apples showed a higher decrease in Fv:Fm. On the other hand, 'Conference' pears kept in 3% CO2 + 1% O2 developed a lot of browning injuries such as core flush, flesh browning and cavities. Under this CA-condition, a pronounced decrease in the quotient Fv:Fm was observed already in the first 15 days of storage prior to the development of browning, and this behaviour remained during the whole storage period. The air-stored pears showed a similar behaviour as of the air-stored apples with a pronounced decrease in the Fv:Fm at the end of the storage period. The present results indicate that chlorophyll fluorescence is a promising technique to detect browning injuries in 'Conference' pears prior to their development.


AIRS, the Atmospheric Inhued Sounder on the EOS-Aqua spacecraft, is an i&ared radiometer which covers the 3.7 15.4 micron spectral range with spectral resolving power of 1200. AIRS, together with the AMSU and HSB microwave radiometers, will achieve global retrieval accuracy of better then 1K rms in the lower troposphere under clear and partly cloudy conditions, leading to a mjor advance in the global weather forecast accuracy. Launch of AIRS on the EOS Aqua is scheduled for December 2000. We present system performance data based on the AIRS flight unit testing, highlights of the AIRS ground data processing system and temperature retrieval results under partly cloudy conditions.


This communication presents antennas that incorporate self-folding polymer substrates that transform planar, two-dimensional structures into three-dimensional antennas when exposed to a light source. Pre-strained polystyrene sheets supporting a patterned copper foil form the light-activated structures. Black ink that is inkjet printed on the polymer substrate selectively absorbs light and controls the shape of the transformation. This approach represents a simple method to reconfigure the shape of an antenna and a hands-free method to assemble 3D antennas from many of the conventional methods that are used to pattern 2D metal foils. We demonstrate and characterize two embodiments that highlight this concept: a monopole antenna that transforms from a conventional microstrip transmission line and a microstrip patch antenna that converts within seconds into a monopole antenna.


The review described the situation on work lassitude of doctors,and pointed out the defects of previous studies and made suggestions on research method,assessment standard and intervention.


SUMMARY Instrumental variables are widely used for estimating causal effects in the presence of unmeasured confounding. The discrete instrumental variable model has testable implications for the law of the observed data. However, current assessments of instrumental validity are typically based solely on subject-matter arguments rather than these testable implications, partly due to a lack of formal statistical tests with known properties. In this paper, we develop simple procedures for testing the binary instrumental variable model. Our methods are based on existing techniques for comparing two treatments, such as the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{upgreek} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} }{}$t$\end{document}-test and the Gail–Simon test. We illustrate the importance of testing the instrumental variable model by evaluating the exogeneity of college proximity using the National Longitudinal Survey of Young Men.


Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is an important part of the intelligent driving system. This paper proposes a system design method to make ACC applicable to multiple scenarios. Firstly, in consideration of the complexity and diversity of the car-following scenario in ACC, a fuzzy LQR method based on kinematics model is proposed, which can ensure the safety and comfort driving of the host vehicle under various road conditions. Secondly, a lane change mode is added on the basis of cruise and car-following mode, which is consistent with drivers' lane change behavior. It enables the host vehicle to accelerate or decelerate as early as possible without collision during lane change. Thirdly, a compensation control strategy is designed to reduce the impact that the actuator cannot follow the expected well due to changes in the road environment and vehicle parameters during actual driving. Finally, the effectiveness and practicability of the designed ACC are verified by a real vehicle test. The test results show that the system can apply to various scenarios well.


Calculation of neutron optical system characteristics should be done with regard to the fact that the sources of thermal neutrons are lengthy objects. Hence, when neutrons pass through the capillaries in neutron optical system (CNOS), there may be a considerable contribution to the total fluence, made by neutrons going along helix-shaped trajectories with angle with the capillary axis exceeding the critical reflection angle. Algorithm has been developed permitting calculation of capillaries' transmission, impact of bending capillaries and their radius variation along the length, as well as angular distribution of radiation output. Monte-Carlo method allows calculation of capillaries with any shape of radius variations. Comparison of calculated and experimental data provides assessment of the quality of CNOS manufacture.


6563Background: The use of next generation sequencing (NGS) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasing. This study explored disparities in the use of NGS testing. Me...


Purpose A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the benefits and risks of aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality events in adults with diabetes. Methods An extensive and systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cinahl (via Ebsco), Scopus, and Web of Sciences from 1988 to December 2020. A detailed literature search was conducted using aspirin, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and efficacy to identify trials of patients with diabetes who received aspirin for primary prevention of CVD. Demographic details with the primary outcome of events and bleeding outcomes were analyzed. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio for outcomes of cardiovascular events, death, and adverse events. Findings A total of 8 studies were included with 32,024 patients with diabetes; 16,001 allocated to aspirin, and 16,023 allocated to the control group. There was no difference between aspirin and control groups with respect to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or bleeding events. However, MACE was significantly lower in the aspirin group. Implications Although aspirin has no significant risk on primary endpoints of cardiovascular events and bleeding outcomes in patients with diabetes compared to control, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were significantly lower in the aspirin group. Further research on the use of aspirin alone or in combination with other antiplatelet drugs is required in patients with diabetes to supplement currently available research. Systematic Review Registration identifier [XU#/IRB/2020/1005].


A key role of the design total optical thickness in the synthesis process is demonstrated by practical examples and confirmed by rigorous theoretical results. A special development of the needle optimization procedure called the synthesis by gradual evolution is proposed. This synthesis process does not require any starting design. It automatically constructs a set of designs with various combinations of three major design parameters: merit function value, number of design layers, design total optical thickness. This provides the optical coating engineer with additional opportunities in choosing the most practical design.


The XML(Extensible Markup Language) becomes the standard of data representation and exchange for its strong data descrip-tion capacity and platform-independent characteristics,and becomes an important technology in information industries.From the course characteristic and teaching situation of the XML Course in higher vocational colleges,this paper puts forward some suggestions for teaching content and teaching methods of XML course.


In the process of precision tube separation, according to the prefabricated notches on the outer surface of the tube, the notch effects of different types of notches are studied, and the influence of the stress field at the root of the annular V-shaped notch is analyzed. It is determined that the notch angle, notch depth and the radius of the bottom angle of the notch root are the three main parameters that affect the stress field at the root of the notch, and the mathematical expression of the V-notch parameters suitable for tube separation is derived. The design of tube precision separation notch is put forward, and four different notches are numerically simulated. It is concluded that 45° asymmetric V-shaped notch and annular V-shaped notch facing the cutting end are the two notches which are more suitable for the blanking method in this paper. An experimental study is carried out on the crack propagation caused by the notch, and the experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results.


The invention provides a paper cutter for reel disk wrapper, which belongs to the technical field of paper cutter machinery, and aims to solve the problems of complicated structure and high cost of the prior paper cutter. The paper cutter for the reel disk wrapper comprises an unreeling roll, a driving roll, a friction roll, a fixed blade and a rotary blade, wherein one end of a blade rotating shaft is provided with a connecting disk of a tension spring; a fixed head of the tension spring is arranged on the edge of the connecting disk ; the tension spring is sleeved between the fixed head of the tension spring and the bottom of a frame; a shaft head on the other end of the blade rotating shaft is provided with a driving disk; a deflector rod is vertically arranged on the edge of the driving disk; a rotating push rod is arranged on a power output shaft vertically; a motor drives the push rod and the deflector rod to rotate; the deflector rod drives the blade rotating shaft to rotate; when the fixed head of the tension spring rotates to the highest point, under the action of the tension spring, the rotary blade is accelerated to rotate; and when the rotary blade is tangential with the fixed blade, paper is cut off. The paper cutter has the advantages of simple structure and low manufacturing cost for equipment.


In a systems market where two complementary components must be used in combination to provide valuable services, decisions of bundling components and resulting market competition structures are shown to depend on the difference between two components in their degrees of product differentiation. The larger the difference, the greater become the incentives for bundling, and more systems are provided as bundles in the market.


Rapid urban development in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, has resulted in the discovery of complex prehistoric indigenous
archaeological sites, some of considerable antiquity. While salvage archaeology has been possible at some locations, many sites and places of significance of the traditional Bunurong owners are still being destroyed. Some of the principal reasons for the rapid destruction of sites and places, are a lack of adequate planning controls for indigenous sites within urban areas and poor co-ordination of indigenous heritage issues between different government and private agencies.
As a response to this situation, a local indigenous community, the Bunurong Land Council, working in partnership with local government, developers and archaeologists, have formulated strategies which attempt to conserve significant individual sites, places and landscapes of cultural significance within urban environments.
This paper will examine the methods by which places, sites and landscapes of significance to the contemporary Bunurong indigenous community, have been conserved and interpreted within a landscape which is undergoing rapid urbanisation. Conservation and interpretation of sites and landscapes has also been used by the contemporary Bunurong community to assert indigenous cultural values within a changing and developing landscape.


ZINC AND LEAD ORES OF THE UPPER SILESIAN TRIASSIC AND PERSPECTIVES OF THEIR PROSPECTING

Summary
The paper presents general characteristics of the Silesian-Cracow Triassic rocks. In addition, zinc and lead ores connected with these rocks and formerly known and exploited in the regions of Bytom, Chrzanow and Olkusz, and the newly discovered ones in the Zawiercie region are discussed.
'The methods of prospecting from determining of perspective areas to recognition works up to the Polish mining category C2 in the deposit area, being the result of many years' experience, are presented in the paper. The selection of areas for studies and the evaluation of their perspectiveness are made using prospecting criteria established taking into account regularities in distribution of ore mineralization. Prospecting and recognition are carried cut according to previously worked out projects and criteria of demonstration of ore resources.


Abstract High density polyethylene (HDPE) has recently been established as the material of choice for the distribution and transport of drinking water on economic and public health levels. Because of this, a simulation study was conducted to investigate the effect of aging by two factors on HDPE, in order to check the mechanical robustness of this material with regards to climate change. First, specimens of the material (HDPE80) underwent treatment with irradiation by ultraviolet (UV) radiation for different periods up to 120 h. The accelerated aging process by UV irradiation gave a negative correlation between resilience and the irradiation time in hours. Second, we tested the HDPE80 resilience to different temperatures, at various notch depths (0.4, 0.8, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 mm), to external shocks.


The centaur of Greek mythology and the biographical summary of General Páez's warlike feats contributed to an analogical interpretation of the symbolism of the Centaur of the Plains. Results show the use of this metaphor and that of the Iberian Lion to split the population into Americans and Spaniards and give the war for independence the character of an international war, when the American nation (Gran Colombia) did not yet exist. The metaphor of the centaur of the plains combined the foundational myths of western culture with the symbolic codes of the plainsmen and converted it into a foundational symbol for the Venezuelan nation.


A holder assembly in a vehicle body rear portion, comprising: a rear floor panel (4) which forms a floor in a rear portion of a vehicle interior; one at the rear floor panel (4) arranged transverse support (6) which extends in the vehicle transverse direction, and one at the rear floor panel (4) arranged spare wheel box (5) formed in a vehicle on the rear of the cross member (6) for accommodating a spare wheel, wherein an upper bracket (19), a reinforcing plate (18) and a lower bracket ( 15) are connected to the transverse support (6), the top bracket (19) above the rear floor panel (4) is arranged, the reinforcement sheet (18) under the rear floor panel (4) and the lower bracket (15) under the reinforcing plate (18) is arranged, wherein the reinforcing plate (18) and the lower bracket (15) extending from the cross member (6) along the rear floor panel (4) to the rear of the vehicle toward extend, the top bracket (19), the reinforcing plate (18) and the lower bracket (15) with respect to an axis passing through the center of the spare wheel box (5), are arranged offset in the vehicle transverse direction to the right or left side, the lower bracket (15) is formed with a concave shape, and between the reinforcement plate (18) and the bottom bracket (15), a closed section by superposition of the reinforcing panel (18) and the bottom bracket (15) is formed and the top bracket (19) on an upper surface of the rear floor panel (4) is mounted, and the top bracket (19) and the reinforcing plate (18) are arranged vertically in correspondence.


Objective To obtain the untranslated region (UTR) sequences of hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolated from Morocco, to find whether the UTR sequences can be used to distinguish HEV genotypes from that of HEV complete genome sequences. Methods A method of RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RLM-RACE) was employed to obtain the 5′- and 3′-terminal sequences of HEV Morocco strain. The sequences of the Morocco strain were compared with that of other 29 strains by the LASERGENE and PHYLIP softwares. ResultsThe 5′ PCR product was obtained only from the RLM-RACE based on the capped RNA template. The 5′ UTR of the Morocco strain has 26 nucleotides, and the 3′ UTR has 65 nucleotides upstream to the polyA. The phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of 3′ UTR is not the same as that based on the complete sequences. At least 100 base pairs in HEV 3′-terminal region are needed to construct the phylogenetic tree. Conclusion The genome of HEV Morocco strain was a methylated cap structure. The 3′ UTR sequence cannot be used for HEV genotyping for all HEV strains in place of the whole HEV genome sequence. The influence of location and length must be considered when using partial sequences to substitute the complete sequences in genotyping.


Colon mucosalcells can catalyze the activationof precarcinogens to mutagenicmetaboliteswithoutthe in termediacyof intestinalbacteriaas shownin a mutagen eels assaysystemcomposedof Salmonellatyphlmurlum strainTAI00 andthe 9000x g supernatantfractionof rat colonmucosalcells.Pretreatment of ratswith @-naphtho flavone increasedthe activation of 2-aminoanthracene10to. 20-fold and the activationof benzo(a)pyrene4-fold. Pretreatmentof rats with Aroclor1254doubledthe acti vation of 2-aminoanthracene over control but had no effectonthe activationof benzo(a)pyrene. The activation of 2-aminoanthracene and benzo(a)pyreneby liver was inducedsignificantlyby pretreatmentwith p-naphthofla vone and Aroclor 1254. Phenobarbital/hydrocortisone pretreatmentdid notincreasethe activationbythe colon systemof any precarcinogen testedbutdid increasethe activationof 2-aminoanthracene, cyclophosphamide, and isophosphamlde by the liver system.The activationof precarcinogensin the bacterialtest systemis directly correlatedwiththe activitiesof the pretreatedcolonand liver preparationstoward several drug and polycyclic hydrocarbonsubstrates assayedIn vitro.


Permanent magnets, especially Nd-Fe-B magnets, are very important engineering elements that are widely used in many applications. The detailed design of electrical and electronic equipment using permanent magnets requires the precise measurement of magnetization characteristics. High pulsed magnetic fields can be used to measure the magnetization characteristics of permanent magnets in the easy and hard magnetization directions. Errors influencing the measurements stem from the relationship between the tested material, pick-up sensor configuration, and excitation coil. We present an analysis of the effect of the sensor construction on the accuracy of the measurements of the material's magnetic properties. We investigated the coaxial and series types sensor configurations.


MEMS piezoresistive sensors are more favourable and attractive option for strain detection due to a number of key advantages such as high sensitivity, low noise, better scaling characteristics, low cost and their ability to have the detection electronics circuit further away from the sensor or on the same sensing board. This paper represents the results obtained at characterization of novel transducers to be employed into force monitoring systems. Each transducer comprises a coherently designed mechanical transducer and a position MEMS sensor with very high accuracy. The exploited position MEMS microsensor and the mechanical transducer are presented in this paper. The particular MEMS sensor provides a voltage output signal having sensitivity in the range of 240μV/μm at 1V DC voltage supply. The range of operation of the mechanical transducer is optimized to fit the 300μm travel range of position microsensor. Respectively, the flexures' stiffness corresponds to achieve the max displacement at 1000N load force. A finite element model is constructed to simulate the system structure using the commercial FE package. A prototype of the force transducer is described and manner of used silicon MEMS sensor attachment is demonstrated. An experimental set-up and experimentally measured load curve are presented in the paper. Diagrams force/voltage for two prototypes at different supply voltage 1V and 2V are revealed.


As a newly-emerging issue,virtual tourism has been acknowledged as one of the hot topics in industrial circle.However,there lacks study of its kernel and extension among academic circle,which is still under the stage of exploration.Facing the present state of "pre-mature practice and lagging behind academically",we think it extremely necessary to study its theoretical kernel and make it more scientific.Based on the analysis of the study both at home and abroad,taking tourism experiences as ideal type,the authors propose the concept of "mirror image experience",trying to establish the kernel in the study field of virtual tourism and discuss the study category of virtual tourism.


Paul, Moses and the non-revoked Covenant in 2 Cor 3,1-4,6
The pericope of 2 Cor 3,1-4,6 belongs to a dense and perplexing writing. In the wider frame of the confrontation with the "opponents", the text examined shows Paul's faithfulness to his roots, which are put down in the Israel of the promise and of the berit settled forever, which is "new" because renewed and set free from the veil which covered Moses' face. It also shows Paul's uninterrupted dialogue with Scripture. The Apostle recognizes in Christ's face - the face that transfigured his life and definitively gained him - God's true image. Paul has relied on the crucified and risen Son of God; so his parrhs…a is not stifled by the tribulations that seem to threaten his own life. Right in the sufferings in which he follows the growing of the ™kklhs…a, the Apostle assumes the shape of Who that revealed himself to him and of his eUaggslion. The language of these verses mirrors the dynamic background of the Corinthian church, called to shield the koinwn…a and to get stronger in the ¢g£ph, without being won over by the flattery of those who try to divide her from her minister (di£konoj-doaloj), Paul.


To improve the computational efficiency of acoustic impedance inversion based on wavelet edge analysis and modelling(AIW)under complex geological conditions,based on the fundamental principle of AIW,the original algorithm of AIW was substituted by the modified very fast simulated annealing(MVFSA),and the feasibility of the MVFSA algorithm was verified by the reservoir distribution prediction in h8 segment of MOU gas field.The data of acoustic impedance were acquired by using AIW that based on the MVFSA algorithm,and the discriminated pattern of h8segment reservoir was established through analyzing the characteristic of logging-cross-plot in the research field,for predicting the reservoir distribution of h8segment.The result indicated that,while maintaining of the original AIW,not only the axial resolution of the AIW profiles is improved and the variation of lateral resolution was true and nature,but also the computational efficiency of AIW was increased 25%to 30%by using the MVFSA algorithm.Furthermore,the reservoir prediction results of AIW by using the MVFSA algorithm were in agreement with the local geological conditions and logging data,which verified the reliability of this modified algorithm.


Authors analyze the ethical and legal problem about the treatment of cervical cancer in pregnant women. A review of the Chilean laws and European regulations was made in order to analyze the application of the principles of Non maleficence, Beneficence, Autonomy and the Double Effect. The subject generates a difficult discussion and interpretation since both, law and principles, are guiding but do not give an explicit answer to choose the more appropriate behavior in each case. The goal is to preserve maternal and fetal life, but there are cases in which it is necessary to prioritize one over the other. A consensus between medical staff, the mother, the father, the family and society is necessary for a more responsible and fair decision.


Five blocks of farmer's sugarcane fields were selected in district Jalandhar, Punjab during December 2016 to February 2017. These blocks were treated with 2% zinc phosphide (ZnP), 2% ZnP+ 0.005% bromadiolone (Br), 2% ZnP+ 0.25% triptolide (Tr) and 2% ZnP+ 0.005% Br+ 0.25% Tr at cane maturation stage; and 5th block was kept as untreated control. The post census and % re-buildup of rodents after 30 and 45 days of Tr treatment and cut canes (%) were significantly less in rodenticides+ Tr treated blocks (ZnP+ Tr and ZnP+ Br+ Tr) as compared to blocks treated only with rodenticides (ZnP alone and ZnP + Br). However, burrows and yield loss were found to be significantly less with ZnP+ Br+ Tr treatment. Thus, antifertilty agent, triptolide can be used along with rodenticides for better control of rodents in sugarcane.


The hamster gene encoding the 78-kDa glu- cose-regulated protein (Grp78) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. After induction with isopropyl j3-D-thiogalactopyranoside, the re- combinant Grp78 was purified to homogeneity by affinity column chromatography of the fusion protein followed by thrombin cleavage. The purified recombinant protein was compared with liver Grp78 for its ability to interact with ATP. Like liver Grp78, the recombinant protein contained a weak ATPase activity and a Ca2+-stimulated autophosphorylation activity. However, unlike liver Grp78, in which the autophos- phorylation reaction is stimulated <50% by CaC12, the reac- tion with the recombinant Grp78 was stimulated about 15-fold in the presence of Ca2+. Although the liver protein showed at least four isoforms after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the recombinant Grp78 had one major species corresponding to the most basic form seen in liver. Both the liver Grp78 and the recombinant protein existed primarily as monomers and dimers. A small amount of oligomers was also present in the liver Grp78. When either protein was incubated with ATP, there was a conversion of the higher molecular weight species to the monomeric form.


We have reviewed 1,356 patients (891 males, 465 females) with head and neck cancer who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Kurume University Hospital between 1986 and 1995. In this analysis, we focused on the treatment status of the patients, whether they received the usual (curative) treatment or an unusual (non-curative) treatment, and estimated their prognoses by dividing them into age groups of 74 or younger (younger group) and older than 75 (older group). Sixty-two of the 1,120 patients (6%) in the younger group and 43 of the 236 patients (18%) in the older group received an unusual form of treatment. The prognosis for such patients was poor compared to that for the patients who received the usual treatment. The averages of some of the laboratory data (e.g. total protein, PSP etc.) were worse in the older group than those in the younger group. These results indicate the importance of observing the general condition as well as the laboratory data of patients, particularly in the elderly.


On basis of analyzing a CSP based protocol composition model, we make the improvement from basic components, combined component interaction rules, responder process, and add in responder interactive process and data receiving process, in order to make this model more completeness.


Although numerous depigmenting agents composed of natural and synthetic compounds have been reported, widespread application in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals has been limited due to severe side effects and cytotoxicity. Current commercial depigmenting agents include hinokitiol, linoleic acid, and kojic acid.


Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) present challenges to current model-based software engineering methodologies such as Rational Unified Process (RUP). In this research effort we propose a process called DEVS Unified Process (DUNIP) that uses the DEVS formalism as a basis for automated generation of models from various requirement specifications and realization as SOA collaborative services. DEVS is inherently based on object oriented methodology and systems theory, and categorically separates the Model, the Simulator and the Experimental frame, and has been used for systems Modeling & Simulation over the years. DUNIP integrates these concepts into DEVS-based Bifurcated Model-Continuity life-cycle development methodology. The life-cycle begins by specifying the system requirements in a number of different formats such as state-based, BPMN/BPEL-based, message-based requirement specifications. DUNIP then automates the generation of DEVS models capable for distributed collaboration. The collaboration uses an XML-based DEVS Modeling Language (DEVSML) framework that provides the capability to integrate models that may be expressed in different DEVS implementation languages. The models are also made available for remote and distributed real-time execution over the SOA middleware in a manner transparent to the user. A prototype simulation framework has been implemented and is illustrated with an application to a system of collaborating military systems implemented and tested using Bifurcated Model-Continuity methodology. We also show how the Department of 17 Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) can be enhanced to incorporate simulation based executable models using the DUNIP process.


Issue connected with business ethic s have recently acquired prominence in the global scenario in general and in the Indian context in particular but there are hardly any studies that delve into the issues of ethical behaviour in Indian organizations. The situational approach in ethics places heavy emphasis on the role of external environment/culture of an organization in ethical behaviour of the individuals. In line with this argument, die present study focuses on ethical behaviour of managers in public and private Vector organizations. Responses of 319 managers reveal that there are some differences in the nature of decisions (ethical or unethical) that the managers make in these two types of organizations. Results are analysed for the design of control systems in these two types of organizations.


In this work, a practical technique for building compact linear antenna arrays based on orthogonal radiations is presented. This approach utilizes passive couplers to separate out different orthogonal eigenmodes of linear arrays with closely-spaced elements as individual radiation mechanisms. In this way, undesired effects due to mutual coupling and spatial correlations can be avoided. Consequently, multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radio front-ends can be made very compact in size by simply using antenna arrays of closely-spaced (< 0.5λ) elements. An experimental three-element array module of 0.16λ inter-element spacing is fabricated and tested. Good isolation (> 16 dB) between any two of the three signal transmission/reception ports is obtained, and thus, validating this mode-based technique for realizing compact MIMO terminals.


Background: Irrational prescription being a global problem leading to ineffective, unsafe treatment. Aiming to measure the performance of a health-care provider in key dimension related to appropriate use of drugs, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed set of core prescribing indicators.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the drug use pattern using WHO core prescribing indicators.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted at K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital. Around 900 prescriptions from the outpatients attending the Department of Medicine from January to March 2016 were analyzed for WHO core prescribing indicators and was compared with the standard WHO values.

Results: Polypharmacy being the common finding, the concept of generic prescribing was negligible. There was reduced prescription of drugs from the National List of Essential Medicines, but the prescription of antibiotics and injections was within normal limits.

Conclusions: There was moderate compliance with WHO prescribing indicators.


Westudythepropertiesofthetwo-dimensionalFermipolaronmodelinwhichanimpurityattractivelyinteracts with a Fermi sea of particles in the zero-range limit. We use a diagrammatic Monte Carlo (DiagMC) method which allows us to sample a Feynman diagrammatic series to very high order. The convergence properties of the series and the role of multiple particle-hole excitations are discussed. We study the polaron and molecule energy as a function of the coupling strength, revealing a transition from a polaron to a molecule in the ground state. We find a value for the critical interaction strength which complies with the experimentally measured one and predictions from variational methods. For all considered interaction strengths, the polaron Z factor from the full diagrammatic series almost coincides with the one-particle-hole result. We also formally link the DiagMC and the variational approaches for the polaron problem at hand.


Office Lady refers to those female employees working at offices.Although there were not so many of them among the whole female work forces in Shanghai,they have attracted a lot of social attention recently.As a new group of modern and professional women,these ladies intended to achieve self-fulfillment and satisfaction through working.They represented the middle class women in Shanghai,stepping into the society to try and to fulfill their lives.


The paper proposes a mega-substructure inter-story isolation system,in which the substructure is designed to be isolated from the mega-structure by flexible isolators. A simplified analytical model of the mega-substructure inter-story isolation system is developed,and the governing equation of the new inter-story isolation system is formulated. Complex mode analysis method is used to derive the random response of mega-substructure inter-story isolation system. An optimal procedure for mega-substructure inter-story isolation system is put forward on the basis of NSGA algorithms. Numerical simulation shows that the proposed optimal procedure for the new isolation system is accurate and efficient. Further research shows that with increase in substructure mass,its work mechanism is changed from tuned vibration absorber,energy dissipation to seismic isolation. Time history analysis of the megasubstructure inter-story isolation system shows that both drift of primary structure and absolute acceleration of substructure are attenuated significantly. In contrast with traditional mega-substructure,input energy,kinetic energy, dissipated energy and deformation energy in mega-substructure inter-story isolation system are greatly reduced.


Geochemical data are frequently collected from mineral exploration drill-hole samples to more accurately define and characterise the geological units intersected by the drill hole. However, large m...


i List of Figures v List of Tables viii Glossary of Abbreviations ix Glossary of Symbol xi Dedication xvi Acknowledgements xvii Declaration xviii Chapter One ─ Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Research Motivation and Justification 6 1.3 Research Objectives 15 1.4 Original Contributions 17 1.5 Thesis Organization 20 1.6 List of Publications and Awards 22 Chapter Two ─ Fundamentals of FSO 26 2.1 Overview of FSO Technology 27 2.2 Features of FSO 30 2.3 Applications 31 2.4 System Configuration 32 2.5 Optical Detection Methods 34 2.6 Atmospheric Channel 36 2.6.1 Atmospheric Attenuation 37 2.6.2 Atmospheric Turbulence 38 2.7 Noise in Optical Detector 40 2.7.1 Thermal Noise 40 2.7.2 Dark Current Shot Noise 41 2.7.3 Photon Fluctuation Noise 41 2.7.4 Background Radiation 42 2.8 Eye Safety and Standards 43 2.9 Summary 46 Chapter Three ─ Atmospheric Turbulence Models 47 3.1 Optical Turbulence 48 3.2 Lognormal Turbulence Model 51 3.2.1 Spatial Coherence in Weak Turbulence 56 3.3 Gamma-Gamma Turbulence Model 58 3.4 Negative Exponential Turbulence Model 63 3.5 Summary 64 Chapter Four ─ Coherent Polarisation Shift Keying Systems 66 4.1 Digital Modulation Schemes 67 iii 4.2 Optical Coherent Receiver 69 4.2.1 Optical Heterodyne Detection Receiver 70 4.2.2 Optical Homodyne Detection Receiver 72 4.2.3 Comparisons between Optical Coherent and Direct Detection Receivers 73 4.3 Polarisation Modulation 75 4.3.1 Polarised Wave 76 4.3.2 Polarisation Shift Keying Signals 80 4.3.3 Polarisation Modulator 82 4.4 Polarisation Fluctuations in a Turbulence Channel 84 4.5 Outage Probability in a Lognormal Turbulence Channel 85 4.6 Outage Probability in a Negative Exponential Turbulence Channel 87 4.7 Summary 88 Chapter Five ─ BPOLSK-FSO Systems in an Atmospheric Turbulence Channel 90 5.1 POLSK-FSO Using the Square-Law Demodulation 92 5.1.1 System Configuration 92 5.1.2 Error Probabilities Analysis 97 5.1.3 Power Penalty Caused by Non-Ideal PBS 100 5.2 BPOLSK-FSO with a Reference Carrier 104 5.2.1 System Configuration 104 5.2.2 Error Probabilities Analysis 107 5.3 Differential Circular Polarisation Shift Keying 108 5.3.1 System Configuration 108 5.3.2 Error Probabilities Analysis 111 5.4 Comparison of BPOLSK, OOK and BPSK Based FSO Links 112 5.5 Summary 119 Chapter Six ─ BPOLSK-FSO with Receiver Diversity Techniques 120 6.1 Receiver Diversity Techniques 122 6.1.1 Maximum Ration Combining (MRC) 126 6.1.2 Equal Gain Combining (EGC) 127 6.1.3 Results and Discussions 128 6.2 Performance of Received Signal Correlation and Outage Probability 132 6.3 Summary 137 Chapter Seven ─ Multilevel POLSK FSO in the Gamma-Gamma Turbulence Channel 138 7.1 Coherent Heterodyne 8-Polsk System 140 7.1.1 System Configuration 140 7.1.2 Error Probability Analysis 144 7.1.3 Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detection 145 7.1.4 Receiver Diversity Technique 148 7.1.5 Results and Discussion 149 7.2 Coherent Heterodyne MPOLSK System 152 7.2.1 System Configuration 152 7.2.2 Symbol Error Probability with Ideal PLL 157


Online service and resources are becoming increasingly popular in current digital age. These services helped in reaching to its highest level and also save money. The study investigated how open access internet resources become complimentary for library service. This article tries to identify two types resources, one type for library management and other type are information resources. In conclusion study provides an understanding of how library can use open access resources for library operation in economic way.


Objective To observe the efficiency of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP)and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Total 48 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to hospital because of UAP received the PCI for bad drug effectiveness.They were followed up for 3~24 months,and cardiovascular events were observed.Results No sudden death or myocardial infarction was observed.The symptoms of angina pectoris were improved obviously.Conclusion Though patients with UAP and diabetes mellitus had worse coronary circulation,PCI could improve the clinical results.


The article conveys the discussion between four scholars dealing with gender history in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE)and exchanging the results of contemporary research on gender and the Cold war in the CESEE.


Recently, the scanning transmission electron microscope has become capable of forming electron probes of atomic dimensions. Through the technique of Z-contrast imaging, it is now possible to form atomic resolution images with high compositional sensitivity from which atomic column positions can be directly determined. An incoherent image of this nature also allows atomic resolution chemical analysis to be performed, by locating the probe over particular columns or planes seen in the image while electron energy loss spectra are collected. These powerful techniques, combined with atomic-scale calculations, constitute a powerful probe of the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of complex materials. The authors show the direct observation of As segregated to specific sites in a Si grain boundary, and present a candidate model for the structure of the Si/SiO{sub 2} interface.


Small bowel villous atrophy is one of the main histopathological manifestations of chronic enteropathy. In most cases, this condition is caused by celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals and is characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine (T-cell-mediated enteropathy) due to the influence of gluten and is treated with the help of a lifelong gluten-free diet. Diagnosis of classic celiac disease does not cause difficulties. Diagnostic algorithms have been developed for years. Diagnostic problems arise when small bowel villous atrophy occurs in patients who have gastrointestinal symptoms but are negative for celiac disease-specific antibodies. Differential diagnosis of small bowel villous atrophy without serological markers for celiac disease in adults includes seronegative celiac disease and chronic non-celiac enteropathies. There has long been diagnostic and clinical uncertainty about these conditions. This uncertainty has led to misdiagnoses and increased the number of people following a gluten-free diet unnecessarily. Between September 2019 and July 2021, an international working group of 13 gastroenterologists from six countries worked to create a consensus on the nomenclature and diagnosis of seronegative celiac disease and non-celiac enteropathies in adults.


With the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, the Sunni–Shiite divide came back to the fore in regional politics. In this context, sectarian identities have now acquired a security dimension, as actors have started framing each other as existential threats. This article aims to examine the process by which sectarian identities become security issues and sources of conflict. We claim that primordial and instrumentalist and rationalist approaches to identity cannot capture the complexities of sectarianism in Middle East international relations. Instead, we draw on securitisation theory to examine the speech acts and narratives leading to the construction of sectarianism as a security issue in the Middle East. We examine Hezbollah's and Saudi Arabia's speech acts towards the Syria crisis as revelatory cases in the securitisation of the Sunni–Shiite divide in the post-2011 order.


Microspheres and planoconvex lenses (50 ÷ 400 μm in diameter) based on glassy As 2 S 3 , an important infrared material, have been produced by a special flame melting technique. Glassy fibres of 45 μm in diameter, with thelength of10-20 cm have been drawn from melt. The morphological properties of these optical elements have been investigated.


Dear Sir, Etiologic fractions of malignancies differ by population, depending on the age and sex distribution, time and place, which is of interest with reference to cancer prevention and control. In a famous exercise in the 1980s, Doll and Peto1 estimated values for differences in cancer causes in the US, which have long been cited throughout the world, including Japan. They argued that 30% of malignant tumors were attributable to smoking, with 35% caused by an inappropriate diet. The proportion considered due to infections was no more than 10%. Smoking is the single most potent causal factor for various malignancies, and it may also play significant roles in promotion of lesions triggered by other carcinogens and infections.1–3 Thus, anti-smoking campaigns and strategies remain crucial for cancer prevention and control. The second major fraction, attributable to dietary factors such as excess energy intake, high or imbalanced consumption of fats/oils, and associated with physical inactivity and obesity, may be greater in elderly people than in the younger generation.4 The diet clearly has characteristics of a double-edged sword, and research is slowly but surely elucidating the interactions that need to be targeted for primary and secondary prevention. The major malignant tumors that will still remain are generally infection-linked. In fact, laboratory and epidemiologic studies have provided clear evidence that many malignant tumors can be ascribed to the influence of chronic infections by microorganisms, including parasites, bacteria and viruses. In addition to the obvious case of hepatocellular carcinomas caused by hepatitis B and C viruses, Helicobacter pylori is a definite and necessary factor for stomach cancer,2,5 human papillomaviruses are causal for cervical cancer and possibly some proportion of head and neck and anogenital malignancies,2,6 nasopharyngeal cancer and certain type of lymphomas are provoked by the Epstein-Barr virus and adult T-cell leukemia is due to human T-lymphotropic virus type I. In Japan, during 1993–1997, the infection-related malignancies in the liver, stomach and cervix, as well as adult T-cell leukemia, have been estimated from cancer registration data to account for approximately 35% of the total in males and 30% in females.7 If we include head and neck and anogenital malignant tumors, the percentages would be elevated to around 45% in males and 40% in females, respectively. The fraction due to chronic infections may be greater in developing countries. We can enumerate several examples without difficulty, including hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Qidong and Haimen, China, liver flukes (Opisthorchis viverrini)-associated cholangiocarcinoma in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoma in Indonesia, parasite (Schistosoma haematobium)-associated bladder cancer in Egypt and HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma worldwide.2,5 Analyses of host factors, including genetic polymorphisms, and interactions between host and environmental factors are clearly of continuing importance in the postgenome era. However, in practical terms for the present, because of the possibility of applying prophylactic vaccination and immunoglobulin therapy or prescribing antibiotics, infection-related malignancies would appear to be more controllable than tobacco-associated malignant tumors and much more readily preventable than agingand lifestylerelated cancers. The fact that the etiologic burden may be much greater than generally perceived needs more emphasis in cancer prevention and control efforts. Yours sincerely, Shinkan TOKUDOME*, Sadao SUZUKI, Masayo KOJIMA and Akihiro HOSONO


Objective: The aim of this study was to examine if there is difference in morphine requirements and pain scores in patients undergoing caesarean section, with and without ilioinguinal - iliohypogastric nerve block. Methods: In a randomized, prospective, double blinded study, 60 patients aged 17-38 years, undergoing caesarean section under general anaesthesia were included. Patients were randomized into two groups. The study group (n=30) had ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block with 0.5% bupivacaine bilaterally before skin incision, while the control group (n=30) received normal saline injection instead of bupivacaine. The time of the study was from October 2004 to August 2005 at Prince Ali Ben Al-Hussein Hospital, KarakJordan. Postoperatively patients received morphine according to pain scores. Twenty four hour morphine consumption and pain scores at one, four, eight, and 24 hours were recorded. Results: Both pain scores and morphine used were significantly reduced in the study group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric nerve block can reduce the pain and the amount of morphine required after caesarean section.


Objectives: Until recently whole genome sequencing (WGS) for my cobacteria has been restricted mostly to the research setting. However, in 2017 Public Health England has implemented WGS for routine mycobacterial identific at on and susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of this c ange on the laboratory turnaround times and availability of res ult . Methods: Over the years 2016 and 2017, the period January 1 st to April 30 was selected to represent before and after implementation of WGS. P rior to 2017, line probe assays were used for mycobacterial species identification. Turnaroun d times for the different steps of the diagnostic process were evaluated for all positive mycobacterial cultures that were sent from our hospital to the Reference Laboratory during the stu dy period. Results: A total of 161 positive mycobacterial cultures were sent to the Reference Laboratory. Half of the isolates (n=81/161, 50%) were M. tuberculosis and 80/161 (50%) were nontuberculous mycobacteria. The median number of work days for mycobacterial species identification was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) in 2016 and 6 days (IQR 5-7) in 2017, p <0.001. For M. tuberculosis complex, the median time to drug susceptibility tes ting results, either molecular or phenotypic, was 12 days (IQR 11 -18) in 2016 and 8 days (IQR 7-10) in 2017, p <0.001. Conclusions: Routine WGS performed well in this setting for myco bacterial identification and susceptibility testing for M. tuberculosis and decreased time to drug susceptibility testing results. There was an increase in turnaround times for speci es identification using WGS, when compared to the previous methods. M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Introduction Molecular techniques have revolutionized mycobacter ial diagnostics over the last decade [1]. Most of the molecular tests currently employed are based on the amplification of a small number of target genes. In contrast, whole genome sequenci ng (WGS) investigates the whole genome. Technological advances have reduced costs and decre as d turnaround time (TAT) of WGS making it more accessible and affordable. In 2017, Public Health England implemented routineWGS as the primary diagnostic tool for identificati on of mycobacteria and susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) [2]. How this change in laboratory practice influenced TAT and availability of results to clini cians is the subject of this report. Methods The Clinical Microbiology Department at the Leicest er Royal Infirmary is part of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust with a catchment p opulation of 1 million. Samples submitted for mycobacterial investigations are cultured in li quid (Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system from Becton-Dickinson Microbiology Sy stems, Cockeysville, MD, USA) and on solid media (Löwenstein Jensen). For mycobacterial blood cultures, the BACTEC (Myco/FLytic; Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD, USA) system is used. Molecular tests using Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) are performed on all new smear positive cases and on clinicians' request. Positive mycobacterial cult ures are sent to the National Mycobacteria Reference Service in Birmingham for species identif ication and drug susceptibility testing for MTBC (DST). M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT All positive mycobacterial cultures sent to the Nat ional Mycobacteria Reference Service between January 1 – April 30, 2016 (pre-WGS implementation) and January 1 st – April 30 (post-WGS implementation) were included. The TAT, defined as the number of days between receipt of the sample by the reference laboratory and identificati on of the mycobacterial species, was compared between the two periods. Prior to 2017, my cobacterial species identification was performed using line probe assays (GenoType MTBC an d Mycobacterium CM, Hain Lifescience, Nehren, Germany). Phenotypic DST (pDST ) for isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide were performed for all MTBC isolat es using the MGIT960 system (Becton Dickinson). Since January 2017, WGS was used for my cobacterial identification. The drug susceptibility profile for MTBC was predicted using WGS data and confirmed by pDST. Whole genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA vers ion 14 (Stata-Corp, TX, USA). The MannWhitney U-test was used to evaluate for differences between groups for continuous variables. For categorical variables, the χ2 test was used. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. Results Sample processing in the primary laboratory A total of 161 positive cultures, 88/161 (54.7%) MG IT, 72/161 (44.7%) and one BACTEC, were referred to the reference laboratory; 69 in 2016 an d 92 in 2017. The majority were respiratory tract samples (n=131/161; 81.4%), followed by lymph node (n=11/161; 6.8%), pleural (n=9/161; 5.6%) and samples from other sites (n=10/161; 6.2%) . Median time from sample collection to laboratory receipt was 2 days (IQR 1-3 days); media n time to culture positivity was 20 days (12M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 30 days). Median time from culture positivity to re ceipt in the reference laboratory was 2 days (IQR 1-2 days). Mycobacterial species identification and drug susceptibility testing for MTBC in the reference laboratory Half of the isolates (n=81/161; 50%) were identifie d as M. tuberculosis complex, 34 in 2016 and 47 in 2017. The remaining 80 were M. avium-intracellulare (n=39), M chelonae/M. abscessus (n=18) and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria (n=23 ). Two mycobacterial species could not be identified by WGS. The median number of workdays to mycobacterial species identification was 1 day (IQR 1-3) in 2016 and 6 days (IQR 5-7) in 201 7, p <0.001. For MTBC, the median time to DST, either molecular or phenotypic, was 12 days (I QR 11-18) in 2016 and 8 days (IQR 7-10) in 2017, p <0.001. pDST was available after a median 2 2 days (IQR 20.5-27) in 2017. The median times for various steps of the diagnostic process a re shown in Table 1. Delays in WGS results were due to receipt of insufficient sample for 3 sa mples, failed DNA extraction for 4 samples, poor sequencing data for 3 samples and delays in bi o formatics for 2 samples. Of 47 confirmed MTBC isolates from 2017, 44 origina ted from individual patients. On 33 samples, Xpert MTB/RIF was performed on the primary specimen and was positive in 20/33 (60.6%) leading to a more rapid diagnosis. Phenotypic first-line DST was performed for 46/47 M TBC isolates in 2017. WGS-DST for 45 of these isolates were available, 5 WGS-DST prediction s failed and 12 showed mutations of unknown significance for individual first-line drug s. For the remaining isolates WGS-DST were concordant in all isolates for isoniazid, pyrazinam ide and ethambutol. There was one discordant result where WGS predicted rifampicin resistance bu t pDST showed susceptibility. M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Discussion This study reports the successful implementation of WGS for mycobacterial identification and DST in routine clinical care. Although, TAT for myc obacterial species identification increased from 1 to 6 working days following the implementati on of WGS, this is still within the target of 5-7 working days set by Public Health England for W GS [2]. The increased TAT for species identification was offset by the more rapidly avail able WGS-DST compared to pDST. As with any new method, efficiency is likely to increase on ce ovelty has passed into routine and processes have been optimized. Also, mycobacterial identification by WGS is expected to improve over time with the addition of new database entries. We also found that sample shipment to the reference laboratory and back-repor ting of results required an additional 4 days. Therefore, while there is room for improvement of t he analytic process itself, tackling delays during the preand post-analytic process is equall y important and would result in more rapidly available results. The increased use of Xpert MTB/R IF can also lead to a more rapid diagnosis and treatment initiation and compensate for delays [3]. Line probe assays performed directly on primary samples or positive cultures are another me ans to reduce TAT for DST. However, these were not routinely performed in 2016 due to the low prevalence of drug-resistance in our setting. Due to inconsistent documentation of treatment star dates, we were unable to evaluate if the increase in TAT by using WGS had a clinical impact on time to initiation of anti-tuberculosis therapy. However, other authors report that a consi derable proportion of patients, who would subsequently have positive cultures, are started on treatment prior to the availability of the culture result [4]. WGS performed well for species identification for MTBC as well as NTMs and in predicting drug susceptibility for MTBC. There was only one di scordance between phenotypic and WGSM AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT DST and the number of non-interpretable WGS-DST res ults were few. The data suggest that WGS-DST has the potential of replacing first-line p DST for settings with a low burden of drugresistance such as the UK. WGS has presently a somewhat longer TAT of 3-15 day s [5-8], than other already established molecular techniques such as line probe assays [9]. However, data generated by WGS is more comprehensive as it provides additional information beyond species identification and first line drug susceptibility. WGS has higher discriminatory power than the previously used MIRU VNTR typing for investigation of transmission and o utbreaks [10]. Furthermore, it allows detection of expected and unexpected laboratory cro ss-c ntamination in real-time. For newly diagnosed multidrug-resistant MTBC isolates, WGS is able to predict resistances to secon


But first, the paper has to be published with or without my ideas. Indeed, while I don't agree with their anchor ice hypothesis, it is the only reasonable explanation in the literature. Moreover, it is the second best review of anchor ice that I have seen, and I described anchor ice and stalactites in the 19060s, so know something about the issue. Their observations and explanation really deserve to be published. The paper could be accepted absolutely as it is because the observations are extremely interesting and valuable to all polar marine scientists and their detailed well presented explanation is


Over the past decade, there has been a rapidly rising trend of malware (ransomware) that limits user access by encrypting the data and demanding the ransom against the decryption key. In most cases, such encryption may lead to a permanent data loss. In order to prevent this unwanted encryption, we propose a method based on Moving Target Defense (MTD) approach. Our method is based on the alteration of the attack surface to reduce the attack success ratio. We have used multiple layers of MTD. The first layer generates random extensions that hide the existing known file extensions. This will protect user files against those ransomware variants which encrypt files having some specific extensions. Our second layer of protection uses event‐based MTD in which tasks are scheduled to change file extensions at the occurrence of specific events which mostly occur due to the execution of ransomware in the system. As a result of our proposed method, we have successfully protected user files against well‐known ransomware variants such as WannaCry, Cerber, Locky, Tesla, Revil, Bitlocker, Darkside, Ranzy.


Polyurethanes containing piperazine rings were synthesized from piperazine derivatives and diols. Diethyl piperazine-N, N'-dicarboxylate failed to give polymers, diphenyl piperazine-N, N'-dicarboxylate gave polymers of low molecular weight. Interfacial polycondensation between piperazine-N, N'-dicarbonyl chloride and diols gave polyurethaneureas, whereas melt polycondensation afforded polyurethanes. The polyurethanes derived from piperazine-N, N'-dicarbonyl chloride and Bisphenol A showed a m.p. of 278°C. It is insoluble in formic acid, chloroform, 2N sulfuric acid, 2N sodium hydroxide. It, however, is soluble in m-cresol.


Plaintiff, a Haitian seeking asylum in the United States, filed a petition for habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, to overturn a denial of asylum by both an immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The plaintiff sought asylum under section 101(a)(42)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(42)(A) (1982)) (INA) on the basis of "persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." The district court upheld the BIA decision, which allowed deportation of the plaintiff because the incidents of persecution in Haiti were economically rather than politically motivated. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (per Tang, J.) reversed, holding that the plaintiff had demonstrated persecution based on political opinion by showing a pattern of extortion by government officials, and remanded for a determination of whether the plaintiff would be persecuted upon his return to Haiti.


Abstract : Both generators were tested in use, supporting meteorological stations. The characteristics of the Beta-1 varied from the predicted values with time, but never by as much as 10%. The Beta-2 was found to be particularly safe and reliable in operation over extended periods, and can be used for terms of 5 years or more.


Federated learning (FL) is an emerging privacy-preserving machine learning framework, where users individually train a shared global model maintained by a central coordinating server without leaking local data. However, intrinsic privacy issue still exists, e.g., training samples could be revealed from inferring gradients. Moreover, identity privacy will be exposed when a participant performs a task. In this paper, we propose a privacy-preserving federated learning scheme (PPFL), which aims to enhance the privacy protection of participants, including data privacy and identity privacy. Specifically, we propose a lightweight linkable ring signature scheme to protect identity privacy, and we mask gradients via random number generator to protect data privacy. Moreover, compared with existing schemes, the communication overhead in unmasking phase remains constant regardless of the number of participants. Finally, we provide privacy and security analysis and experimental evaluations to corroborate the practical performance of the presented scheme with high efficiency.


The improvement of the thermal efficiency of modern gas turbines can be achieved by reducing the needed cooling air amount. Consequently it is required to increase the cooling efficiency of applied cooling technologies. Streamwise ejection from a cylindrical hole causes kidney vortices which transport hot gas underneath the cooling jet and leads the cooling jet to lift off from the surface. Cooling performance is highly increased by using the shaped hole technique, which weakens the kidney vortex structure. However the formation of secondary flows can not completely be avoided by using shaped holes instead of cylindrical holes. Another promising film cooling technology is the double-jet film cooling, which prevents the cooling jet from lifting off the surface and raises the lateral spreading of the cooling air by generating an anti kidney vortex. This paper presents a comparison of the film cooling effectiveness between the shaped film cooling technique and the novel double jet film cooling technique for the high blowing ratios M = 1, M = 1.5 and M = 2. Various geometries of fan-shaped holes with lateral expansion angles of 10°, 14° and 18° are used for the comparison study. It can be shown that the shaped hole row arrangement provides higher cooling values in a slight region near to the hole exits, while the double jet film cooling technique shows a obvious cooling advantage in the further downstream area for high blowing ratios. Furthermore recent results of an on-going experimental comparison study between the double jet, trench and cylindrical technique are presented, which proves the advantage capability of the double jet film cooling.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


It is shown that the problem of investigating the mode composition of a partly coherent radiation beam in a randomly inhomogeneous medium can be reduced to a study of evolution of the energy of individual modes and of the coefficients of correlations between the modes. General expressions are obtained for the coupling coefficients of modes in a parabolic waveguide with a random microbending of the axis and an analysis is made of their evolution as a function of the excitation conditions. An estimate is obtained of the distance in which a steady-state energy distribution between the modes is established. Explicit expressions are obtained for the correlation function in the case when a waveguide is excited by off-axial Gaussian beams or Gauss–Hermite modes.


The author argues that the failing public school system in the city of Indianapolis is due in large part to the negative social environment that children in Indianapolis face. The author argues that an environment of crime and poverty contributes to the lack of success of the public school system in Indianapolis. The author further argues that if the public school system in Indianapolis is going to improve, an effort must be made to address the social environments of many students in Indianapolis. Finally, the author argues that none of the proposals by the city of Indianapolis have addressed the said issues.


Spatial interpolation is a valuable and now more frequently used function within GIS . A number of data sources for GIS include interpolated values (e.g . DEM's) and a number of the output products from GIS are the results of some form of interpolation . Since interpolated results in,' one way or another play a role in GIS analysis, users can benefit from some assessment of the reliability of interpolated values . The accuracy of an interpolation depends on several factors including : sampling scheme, number of sample points, interpolation method, measurement error in the observed x, y, z values and the nature and complexity of the observed phenomena . Most interpolation methods provide no information on the reliability of the estimated values . Kriging is one exception which produces estimates of values at unrecorded places without bias and with minimum and known variance . Results of kriging reported in the literature typically show kriged values and error estimates as separate isarithmic maps making assessment of the results difficult . This paper describes visualization techniques for examining the reliability of interpolated values . Visual displays are presented which account for the number and distribution of sampling points, the interpolation method, and measurement error in observed values . Additionally, the paper addresses displays for kriged results which combine kriged values and error estimates . INTRODUCTION Ideally a GIS should indicate graphically and numerically the reliability of each analysis . Spatial interpolation defined as a process for estimating values at unsampled locations from a set of sample points should be no exception . Results of an interpolation function are commonly displayed as isolines . Lacking other evidence the assumption is that these isolines and the underlying interpolated values are uniformly reliable over the interpolated area . If we have knowledge that this is not the case, then the differential uncertainty in the results should be communicated . Users should be able to ascertain which areas are least reliable and where possible be provided with information to understand why these values are less reliable. Interpretations of reliability may utilize 'several imaging functions to display the data in different ways and to provide complementary information' (Farrell,1987,175) . With respect to interpolation, one can envisage a progression of graphical representations to convey variability and reliability in the resulting values . At the simplest level, graphical representation of the location of sample points provides clues to spatial variation in the reliability of interpolated values. Regions of sparse data are unlikely to produce


The structure of several differential throttling equipment(viz.flowmeter),calibrating method in wind tunnel,calibrating results and applied on results were briefly described.The fluid dynamic character of differential throttling equipment was analysed,the results had been shown,the higher accuracy of the flow measure,the greater pressure penalty in differential throttling equipment except airfoil type.


Difficulty for employment of university students is a stern fact in today's society, but it does not mean that the university students educated in China have amounted to the redundancy limit. Its deep reason might be specified at the following facets: program arrangement and the pattern of education at universities cannot meet the needs of society; employment concept held by many university students is inappropriate to the transition of higher education in China from elite cultivation to mass education; system of job placement and information service offered by both university and society is discrete. Solution to the difficulty of employment for university students in China requires in nature economic development and more job opportunities to be created.


Nondestructive technology (NDT) is the most popular method for detecting defects inside an object without harming it. A 3D tomography algorithm toolbox and an x-ray imaging system are the essential components of NDT. We fabricated a high-resolution cold cathode electron beam (HRC-beam) based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes to accomplish this objective. Using an HRC-beam, multiple angle projection images were captured in an x-ray imaging system. This x-ray source's horizontal and vertical focal spot sizes were 0.57 and 0.49 mm, respectively. Using the homemade 3D tomography algorithm toolbox, all the multiple projection images were recreated in a 3D volume. This toolbox employs algorithms such as the radon transform and the inverse radon transform to generate the 3D volume. The matlab r2022b program was used to execute the algorithm. This study explains the development of a three-dimensional volume and the inspection of the 3D volume in a slice view using a high-resolution cold cathode electron beam and the 3D tomography algorithm toolbox. A large phantom cable was used to evaluate 3D reconstruction and void inspection inside the large phantom cable.


Treatment of HIV infection with combination antiretroviral regimens containing protease inhibitors has been associated with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and rapidly progressive coronary artery disease. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), measured by ultrasound following blood-pressure cuff deflation, has been shown to be a reliable indicator of vascular …


Objective To assess the values for tissue elasticity obtained from real-time tissue elastography(RTE)in diagnosing liver fibrosis.MethodsLiver fibrosis of 76 patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into F0-F4.In the same time,RTE were performed to get the values for tissue elasticity,including average relative strain value(MEAN),standard deviation of relative strain value(SD),area ratio of low-strain region(AREA),complexity(COMP),kurtosis(KURT),skewness(SKEW),contrast(CONT),entropy(ENT)and inverse difference moment(IDM).ResultsSpearman's correlation analysis demonstrated the values for tissue elasticity were correlated with liver fibrosis.Correlation coefficient of MEAN,AREA,COMP and SKEW were greater than others,and were-0.742,0.812,0.640 and 0.652 respectively.ConclusionsThe values for tissue elasticity may reflect the degree of liver fibrosis,and may be a new non-invasive method of diagnosing liver fibrosis.


THROUGH the use of a variety of experimental conditions, it has been established that stannous fluoride behaves differently from sodium fluoride with respect to its ability to reduce experimental dental caries, both in animals" 2 and in human beings.5 However, the exact reasons for its superiority have not been established, although much previous work has indicated that the cation must influence its activity. In an attempt to learn the reason for this compound's apparent advantage in effectiveness over sodium fluoride, it was considered of interest to determine whether the form of the tin compound furnishing the stannous ion might contribute significantly to its superiority. Previous work has indicated that combinations of stannous fluoride with sodium fluoride and of stannous chloride with sodium fluoride were not as effective as stannous fluoride itself.1' 6 However, since the total fluoride and stannous ion concentrations were low in these experiments, this factor may restrict comparisons in animals to those between stannous fluoride and other combinations which furnish both the stannous and fluoride ions in solution. It is known, however, that the chemical state of the tin compound definitely influences the activity of stannous fluoride, since fresh solutions are more effective than aged solutions.6 Geyer' has reported that vanadium pentoxide, administered to hamsters in the diet or by subcutaneous injection, inhibited dental caries to an unspecified extent. Hein and Wisotzky5 found that hamsters receiving 10 ppm of vanadium (as V,05) in the drinking water developed higher caries scores than did their littermate controls. The latter authors felt that, because of the differences in procedure, the results of the 2 studies are not necessarily contradictory. In view of these findings, it seemed interesting to investigate the effect of vanadium pentoxide on caries in the rat by the procedures used in these laboratories of administering the anticariogenic substances in the drinking water. Some consideration of possible toxic manifestations was also indicated, since toxicity was not discussed in the previous reports. Results with 5 water-soluble fluoride compounds are also presented.


The study identifies the 45 best decision-making practices and forms a blueprint for building and maintaining an effective R&D program


The paleontological resources (fossils) of Katmai National Park and Preserve (also referred to as ?the park? or ?Katmai? throughout this report) record the evolution of the park?s ancient life throughout most of the Mesozoic Era and portions of the Cenozoic Era (see Table 1 for a geologic time scale). A focused condition assessment (FCA) of the paleontological resources of Katmai was conducted in 2021; this report summarizes the findings of the FCA, including information on the park?s geology and paleontology, management issues related to paleontological resources, and the results of a field survey of the Kamishak Bay area. The FCA project also included fieldwork to monitor fossils at Kaguyak Point. The results of the Kaguyak Point monitoring are presented in Harrington et al. (In preparation).
The first section of this report (?Paleontology?) examines the fossiliferous geologic units within Katmai as well as the fossils found within them. Fossils range from small bivalves and belemnites to large ammonites and a possible dinosaur bone. Plant fossils are abundant in the Eocene-aged Copper Lake Formation, Ketavik Formation, and Hemlock Conglomerate. The Jurassic-aged Naknek and Cretaceous-aged Kaguyak Formations are the most abundantly fossiliferous units within the park, containing ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, and other invertebrates.
The ?Paleontological Resources Monitoring and Management? section of this report discusses potential threats to paleontological resources and management recommendations. The fossils within Katmai are nonrenewable resources that the NPS is mandated to protect, preserve, and manage. Fossils can be at risk of damage or loss from natural (e.g., erosion) and/or anthropogenic (e.g., unauthorized collection) forces. Damage or loss of fossils greatly reduces the scientific value they possess, as well as degrades the overall heritage of the park. Most of the park?s fossils have a low risk for anthropogenic impacts because many fossil sites are remote and receive little visitation. Areas in the park that contain fossils and receive visitors include the Brooks Camp area, Ukak Falls, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Hallo Bay, and Kaguyak Point.
Fieldwork was conducted during the summer of 2021 to explore Katmai for new vertebrate fossil localities (?Kamishak Bay Reconnaissance? section of this report). The current extent of vertebrate fossils within Katmai is limited to a single heavily worn bone chunk that was found in the vicinity of Ukak Falls. Vertebrate fossils have been uncovered south of the park near Becharof Lake and near Chignik Bay in the Indecision Creek Member of the Naknek Formation. To search for vertebrate fossils, exposures of the Indecision Creek Member of the Naknek Formation were surveyed along the coast of Kamishak Bay. Bluffs and outcrops were examined for fossils and evidence supporting the existence of vertebrate trackways or remains. The study determined that exposures of the Indecision Creek Member along Kamishak Bay are unlikely to contain vertebrate fossils. This portion of the member contained marine fossils and driftwood, indicating deposition in a marine environment, and the rock outcrops fractured perpendicularly to the bedding plane, limiting the potential for preserving fossil trackways. Future exploration for vertebrate fossils in Katmai could target Mt Katolinat and Ukak Falls.


Failure to perform good hand hygiene is considered as an major cause of HAIs. From the WHO data, compliance rate of nurses hand hygiene activity at the United States is about 50%, Australia 65% while in Indonesia 47%. This study aims to determine the factors that affect hand hygiene compliance. This research method is analytical descriptive with cross-sectional approach. The object of data collection is an health ofcer (consultant doctors, resident doctors and nurses) at X Hospital in Bandung as many as 61 samples. Sample selection using stratied sampling method with research instrument in the form of questionnaire and observation sheet about knowledge and attitude to hand hygiene adopted from WHO. The results in the group of nurse were 63,16% doing imperfect hand hygiene and group of consultant consultant and doctor of resident respectively 47,06%. In terms of nurses knowledge about hand hygiene is 42.11%, consultant physician 52.94% and 48.00% resident doctors are included into either category. In terms of attitudes about the implementation of hand hygiene, the nurses group is 70.59% while physician consultants and resident doctors respectively 47.06% and 44.00% have a positive attitude. In terms of facilities is 89.47% nurses stated available, where as consultant physicians and resident doctors amounted to 82.35% and 84.00%. There was a signicant relationship between hand hygiene with knowledge (p = 0,02) and hand hygiene facility (p = 0,000). From these ndings the hospital needs to improve knowledge and positive attitude in terms of hand hygiene.


In combination with our practice of construcion of top-quality course analytical chemistry,we discuss the faculty building,the reform of teaching content and teaching methods,teaching conditions construction and teaching management.


The article examines the spiritual needs of the population, evaluates the possibilities of their satisfaction through the indicator of consumer spending of households on recreation and cultural events. The specificity of the research topic lies in the fact that this indicator only partially reflects the material well-being of the family, not fully showing the satisfaction of its primary needs. At the same time, an assessment of consumer spending on recreation and cultural events gives an idea of the quality of life, the material capabilities of the population capable of spending money on leisure, and the degree of realization of spiritual needs. At the same time, the lack of opportunities for cultural leisure creates the preconditions for the emergence of other, socially maladapted forms of behavior. It has been established that in assessing the spiritual needs of the population, the value orientations and the desire of an individual to join cultural samples, having accumulated and realized their cultural capital, come to the fore. The dynamics of the selected indicator is presented for the period 2010-2018 both in the Russian Federation as a whole and in the regional context. It was determined that consumer spending on recreation and cultural events increased in the Russian Federation as a whole (by 0.9%) and the Republic of Bashkortostan (by 1.6%). On the one hand, the growth of the indicator indicates an increase in the value of the spiritual needs of the population. On the other hand, it testifies to the limited material opportunities of households to spend funds on recreation and cultural events. This may be due to a general decline in the cultural level of the population, devaluation of spiritual values and stereotypes of behavior. A set of measures in the field of spiritual and cultural development of an individual at the federal and regional levels is proposed, including such strategic priorities as an increase in the number of visits to cultural organizations, as well as the development of digital technologies in this area. It was noted that the managerial impact should be aimed at the reconstruction and construction of the cultural and educational infrastructure, its material and technical support, as well as the promotion of talented youth and the training of personnel for this area.


The paper presents the results of the development of a model and design of an energy-efficient sensor based on porous carbon-modified SiO2 films. It is shown that carbon-modified SiO2 films have a highly developed specific surface area and high adsorption capacity. This made it possible to use them as an active layer of gas-sensitive sensors whose operation is based on a change in electrical conductivity during the adsorption of gases or water vapor.


a a r t u u The Liver Meeting 2010 was held in Boston, Massachusetts, from October 29 to November 2, 2010. At his meeting, the results of Phase III trials with 2 hepaitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors, telaprevir and oceprevir, in combination with pegylated interferon IFN)and ribavirin in both treatment-naïve patients nd nonresponders to a first course of pegylated IFNand ribavirin, were presented to a large audience and received extensive coverage by the media. Two Phase III trials have been performed with boceprevir, including SPRINT-2 in treatment-naïve patients and RESPOND-2 in treatment-experienced patients.1,2 Three Phase III trils have been performed with telaprevir, including DVANCE and ILLUMINATE in treatment-naïve patients,3,4 and REALIZE in nonresponder patients. Results from the latter trial were not presented at The Liver Meeting, but a press release was issued a few weeks before the meeting reporting selected, non–peer-reviewed or otherwise filtered results (available: http://investors.vrtx.com/releasedetail. cfm?ReleaseID 505239). The results of these 5 trials raise hope that better cure rates will be achieved in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 when these combinations reach the market. They also raise a number of questions and several concerns. Here, the results of Phase III trials presented at The Liver Meeting will be summarized and the introduction of these new therapies into current clinical practice as well as a number of unresolved issues raised by these results will be discussed.


Without doubt, COVID-19 has attracted the attention of the world population during the year 2020. The rapid spread of the disease, as well as the number of infections, complications and deaths, constitute the main distinctive elements of the disease. The inflammatory process, given by a high production of proinflammatory cytokines, forms the basis of respiratory complications. The objective of this work is to publicize the therapeutic options available to treat cytokine release syndrome. In this sense, it is important to highlight that biological drugs such as tocilizumab, anakinra and roxulitinib, as well as glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulins and some immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin A, are therapeutic options, with theoretical options to combat the inflammatory process in seriously ill patients and which have shown encouraging results in the course of the global health crisis caused by COVID-19. It is concluded that there are therapeutic options to face the storm of proinflammatory cytokines that characterize this syndrome, observed in critically ill patients with this disease. It is now a challenge for scientists and health professionals to identify the right time for therapeutic indications and the algorithm of use, depending on the characteristics of the clinical picture and the patient's health conditions.