Received: 4 Dec, 2018 Accepted: 6 Jul, 2019 Abstract Background and Objectives: Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen causing diseases, ranging from superficial, mucosal to systemic mycoses. Strains of Lactobacillus casei are commonly used as probiotics, alter the composition of the gut microbiota, and affect the host immune responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of L. casei on blood parameters in Rat infected with C. albicans.


Objective To investigate the onset characteristics,clinical course,treatment and prognosis of pregnant patients with severe pneumonia.Methods Clinical data of seven cases of pregnant patients complicated with severe pneumonia who were treated in Shanghai Jiao Tong University Sixth People's Hospital from August 2009 to December 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.Results The gestational age were 26.6 weeks to 37 weeks;3 cases were infected with H1N1 virus,1 patient got Mycoplasma pneumonia and the other 3 cases were failed to detect the pathogens,1 case of them was hospital-acquired pneumonia.Unless the symptoms of pneumonia,all patients had severe breathing difficulties and needed ventilator supporting and were diagnosed as I-type respiratory failure.3 of them were with decreased blood pressure.The average duration of the disease was 2~3 weeks.Chest X-ray imaging showed multi-invasive lesions.6 patients survived the disease,1 patient died.4 patients had caesarean section after effective treatment,one patient underwent vaginal delivery prematurely during the incubation period;1 case continued pregnant with improved condition.One case died for severe multi-organ failure.Conclusions Pregnant patients with severe pneumonia need individualized therapy,most patients can achieve better effect after combined treatment.


In view of the problems come across by the beginners in learning the C programming language, the article , by analyzing the programming of Jigsaw Puzzle, introduces the learning ways and programming techniques of some important and difficult contents. It also discusses how to use those flexibly ways and techniques as well as the multi - dimensional array , function of C language, graphics user interface programming and active button to better programs.


*School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Starship Children's Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


and other higher plants like wheat, maize, sorghum etc. are highly silicon accumulating species and show differences in silicon accumulation. This difference is due to both physiologic and molecular distinction between intra and interspecies capacity to uptake silicon by silicon transporter in the form of silicic acid. To understand the complete mechanism of silicon or silicic acid uptake, it is necessary to study the 3D structure of transporter protein of the plants. 3D structure prediction for these silicon transporters by I-TASSER and validation by RAMPAGE are initial steps. The 3D models those showed over 90% residues in favorable regions are considered in this study. This work will lead to design a better plant which has maximum silicon uptake capacity.


Static force and moment tests of a 0.062-scale model of a hypersonic vehicle study concept known as the LoFlyte(TM) configuration were conducted in the Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel. These tests looked primarily at the low-speed static stability and control characteristics of this configuration. Data were obtained over an angle-of-attack range of -5 degrees to 22 degrees at sideslip angles that ranged between -10 degrees and 10 degrees. The tiperons were sized to provide enough pitch control to trim the vehicle up to alpha = 16 degrees with no more than 10 degrees of surface deflection and data obtained in this test showed that 10 degrees of tiperon deflection was nearly sufficient to trim the configuration up to the desired angle of attack. Because of the pitching-moment characteristics of the LoFlyte(TM) configuration, there is a reasonably high level of unpowered trimmed lift at nominal takeoff and approach to landing that should allow for acceptable takeoff and landing speeds for this vehicle. Initial evaluation of the directional stability characteristics of this configuration showed a significant instability between alpha = 10 degrees and about alpha = 18 degrees. This test determined that the cause of this instability was the interaction of the wing leading-edge vortex with the vertical tails. Moving the vertical tails either inboard or outboard from the baseline location eliminated this unfavorable interaction.


Background: Alcohol advertising has recently expanded onto social networking sites (SNSs), which allows users to interact with alcohol ads through user engagement features (e.g. Likes or Shares) and user-generated comments. Few studies have evaluated alcohol advertising on SNSs or investigated how ad interactivity may influence ad perceptions. Two inter-related studies were conducted to answer these questions. Methods: In Study 1, alcohol advertising posted on Facebook by Budweiser and Bud Light were evaluated for compliance with a self-regulated alcohol advertising code and for thematic content. User-generated comments written in response to these ads were also evaluated. The results of this study were used to inform Study 2, a 2(within) x 2(between) x 2(between) factorial randomized trial. Participants (n=120) viewed four preselected Facebook ads, of which two were compliant and two were non-compliant with a selfregulated alcohol advertising code. Participants also viewed real-world high or low user engagement values and real-world proor anti-drinking user-generated comments. Ad appeal, drinking intentions, and individual user engagement were measured after viewing each ad. The results were analyzed using hierarchical linear models. Results: In Study 1, 82% of the ads contained 1 or more violations of a self-regulated alcohol advertising code, and 78% of the ads contained one or more content areas previously associated with code violations. Forty-seven percent of the user-generated comments were positive towards the product or drinking. In Study 2, ads non-compliant with a self-regulated alcohol advertising code scored higher on emotional appeal (p=0.004) while compliant ads scored higher on informational (p<0.001) and source appeal (p=0.034). Pro-drinking user-generated comments significantly increased drinking intentions and individual user engagement. Discussion: Self-regulation has failed to prevent potentially harmful content from appearing in Budweiser and Bud Light advertising posted on Facebook. Noncompliance with existing self-regulated alcohol advertising codes was associated with increased emotional appeal, which may result in the ads being remembered more often and recalled more swiftly. Pro-drinking user-generated comments were associated with increased drinking intentions and increased individual user engagement, both of which are associated with increased alcohol consumption. New regulations may be needed to limit alcohol ad content and the influence of user-generated comments.


Technical codes for buildings deal with cracked reinforced concrete structures assuming concrete as a compression–only material, whereas rebar provides the structural component with the required tensile strength [1]. Numerical methods can handle reinforced concrete structures calling for demanding non–linear analysis. Indeed, well–known convergence issues arise when copying with concrete as a compression–only material. Recently, an alternative energy–based approach has been proposed to solve the equilibrium of a linear elastic no– tension medium exploiting its hyper–elasticity [2]. A topology optimization problem distributes an equivalent orthotropic material to minimize the strain energy of the no-tension body, thus avoiding more demanding non–linear analysis. This contribution provides an extension to the analysis and optimal design of reinforced concrete structures. Following [3], truss members are modeled within a two–dimensional no–tension continuum in order to model structural elements made of reinforced concrete. The solution of the equilibrium is straightforward within the approach proposed in [2], thus allowing performing analysis at the serviceability limit state with cracked sections. Also, introducing the areas of the reinforcement bars as an additional set of unknowns, a problem of size optimization is outlined to cope with the optimal rebar of r.c. structures. Preliminary numerical simulations are shown to assess the proposed procedure.


Objectives:We encountered 7 patients with relapsing polychondritis complicating tracheobronchial narrowing. To describe the method of management and clinical outcome, we retrospectively reviewed medical records.Methods:Relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed according to the criteria of McAdam modifi


Problems related to the existence of communal land of indigenous peoples of Karo in Karo district in North Sumatera province about land belongs to communal (communal land) so that if there are outside parties who want to own communal land are not allowed unless the indigenous people who have the same offspring genealogically. However, if there are any outsiders wishing to own customary land they must go through the procedures prescribed by local customary law. If they are allowed to stay, they will not be given a common property right but they will only obtain the right to use.
How is the existence of communal land of indigenous people of Karo in Karo regency of North Sumatera province
The result of the research shows that in Karo district there is communal land of customary law community which is eligible to be established as communal land and only indigenous law community can own the communal land.


Distributed Generation… Wide Area Management Systems… Synchrophasors… Alternative Energy… Cyber Security… IEC 61850… AMI…and finally, the granddaddy of them all, SMART GRID. In just a few years, the electric transmission system has gone from obscurity, to a high-profile Wall Street darling, saturated with buzz words, acronyms, and new products. An industry that has changed little over the past hundred years is suddenly thrust into a dynamic environment where dramatic change is required to keep abreast of both customer expectations and federal regulations. With so much noise in the industry, it is difficult to determine which designs and new technologies will help improve the transmission grid, as well as integrate easily with already existing standards and equipment. At Entergy, we believe that the path to future enhancements in our grid lie firmly in the hands of a solid communications infrastructure. Without communications, the so-called "Smart Grid" can never be achieved and we see advanced communications systems as the enabling technology that will allow us to vastly improve every facet of our operations. Relay design engineers, in particular, can see the benefits of such an infrastructure. Intelligent relays capable of using communications networks instead of copper cables can realize faster operations and easier access to information. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the capabilities of communications enabled relays, and at Entergy's Neches Substation, we took a large step forward with an experiment that challenged our existing standards, and forced us to look at relaying in a new light. We developed and implemented a plan to use a fiber communications medium instead of copper to accomplish breaker commands as well as alarm collection. We also developed plans to build a fiber Ethernet network used exclusively for relays communications. This paper will discuss our designs, successes, and failures in our real-world experiment.


This paper presents the "Scale of beliefs about the post-divorce parental role" (CRP-D for its Spanish acronym). It comprises 12 items to assess the father's beliefs about his post-divorce parental role. Two hundred Costa Rican divorced or separated fathers from Great Metropolitan Area of the country (known in Costa Rica as GAM for its Spanish acronym) participated in the study. Data showed that the instrument has a two-factor structure, distinguishing between two relatively independent


The classical texts of Christianity and Zen Buddhism contain resources with potent appeal to contemporary spirituality. The 'apophatic', or 'negative', may offer a means to integrate the conservation of traditional religious practices and beliefs with an openness to experience beyond the limits of doctrine and of rational thought. Denying Divinity argues for a new understanding of what is meant by apophatic theology, supported by extensive analysis of the texts of Dionysius the Areopagite, St Maximus the Confessor, and Zen Master Dogen. It demonstrates how an apophatic spirituality might inform personal and communal spiritual development; and sketches out the contribution it can offer to modern debate on theology and postmodernism, entropy, and interfaith dialogue, and to development of an active theological commitment to humanity.


ABSTRACT This article explores the contemporary expressions of violence and oppression linked to the action of the extractive industry in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. Twenty-five years after the signing of the General Peace Agreement, the debate on peace in the country has remained confined to the resurgence of armed clashes between RENAMO combatants and State security forces in recent years. It is proposed here, however, that the current range of violence that challenge peace in Mozambique is broader and more diverse, requiring an analysis that considers the arrival of transnational extractivism. This study, taking Cabo Delgado province as a case-study, aims to broaden the scope of academic debates by establishing a dialogue with the practice of local peacebuilding, and contributions from the critical political economy of development and the collective capability approach.


A feed-forward neural-network-oriented strategy for the estimation of embedding dimension of time series is proposed and a method for determining the number of nodes on the input layer of the net is also given. The efficiency of this method is shown by practical examples of time series forecasting.


A short obituary of V. I. Grubov, the well-known investigator of the Flora of Central Asia, is presented together with a German translation of his last paper on the floristic division of Central Asia. Some comments on this paper, on his map of the phytogeographical division of Central Asia and on the English translation of the hitherto 19-volume flora "Plants of Central Asia" are added.


As a big country for producing and consuming edible mushrooms,China has formed an industry chain with respect to producing,machining,conveying and selling edible mushrooms.Producing of edible mushrooms includes the activities,such as cultivating edible mushrooms and producing inputs,and after picked,is fresh and processed,then enters consume link.In the process of running industry chain,problems appear as friable organizational chain attach,uneven value chain interest distribution,obstructed information chain and unsmooth logistics chain.So,it is needed to strengthen link and cooperation among the industrial chain,to take the contribution as the reference in the link,to distribute reasonably the benefits,to establish the link of the convent and comfortable cool interflow of the goods and materials,and to establish the information platform of edible mushrooms for dispatch the logistics chain and value chain.


Restriction enzyme analysis of mtDNA extracted from antennal gland tissue was used to
assess mtDNA variation within and between five nominal species of commercially important
rock lobster, genus Jasus. Samples were collected from South Africa (Jasus lalandii,sample size=ll), Vema Seamount in the South Atlantic Ocean (J. tristani, 8), Tasmania (J.
novaehollandiae, 11), and New Zealand (J. edwardsii, 10;J. verreauxi,9).


To resolve the difficulty of reading and identifying the CAD graphics file about automatic distinguishing and judging of CAD graphics file, this paper propses a CAD graphics identification method based on the graphics primitive. In this method, the CAD graphics is exploded to graphics primitive and read the graphics attribute. According to the comparison results of the identified graphics and standard graphics, the graphics primitives are differentiated with their graphics attributs. The graphics identification is finished by reading different sorts of graphics primitives.


The new millennium has brought many good things in our lives for example a boom in telecommunication and information technology (Tele Dentistry). On the other hand it has also brought new challenges of terrorism, natural disasters and a high rate of crime. Forensic dentistry has become an integral part of forensic medicine utilized in the act of criminal investigations and legal proceedings since the past 100 years. Any process that possesses the possibility of assisting the forensic field in identifying a suspect should be pursued and utilized in the act of criminal investigations and legal proceedings. One such process is uniqueness of palatal rugae which have been highly individual and consistent in shape throughout life.


This research paper intends to explore and understand the role of HR practices in the field of Healthcare which determine the level of employee satisfaction and eventually the success of an organization. A renowned organization is chosen and its employees were surveyed through questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and brief discussions with department heads about their satisfaction with respect to HR engagement, compensation, policies, long term strategy towards career development, work-life balance, team work etc. of the organization. The sample population is chosen in such a way so that it encompasses the entire spectrum of workforce in a healthcare organization. The data collected is organized using statistical techniques like Average, Standard Deviation, Co-efficient of Variation to interpret and answer the objectives of the paper. The overall result showed that there is a 90% employee satisfaction at the organization and the HP policies of the organization were able to meet the expectations of a substantial majority of its employees. However, there were some areas which the organization needs to focus like long working hours, leave system and work-life balance to further boost the morale of its employees.


The need for economical and accurate presentations of equivalent radar reflectivity( ) data in an orthogonal coordinate system has existed for some time. So, in this study, a fast and efficient procedure has been developed which allows the systematic interpolation of digital reflectivity data from radar space into Cartesian space. At first, QC(Quality Control) of radar data has been executed for extracting uncontaminated Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator(CAPPI) data. The algorithm is designed so that only one ordered pass through the original Plan Position Indicator(PPI) scan data is necessary to complete the interpolation process. The model can calculate various resolution and altitude reflectivity data for many kinds of hydrological usage.


The article deals with the issues related to the evolution of the use of women in the civil service at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries on the example of the Maritime Ministry on the basis of previously unpublished documents stored in the Russian state archive of the Navy and periodical press materials. The study of gender issues can be of scientific interest on the basis of its documents, as practically not in demand in research related to the women's issue. As a result of the struggle of the public, there were some concessions on the part of the authorities related to the expansion of women's access to fill certain positions in a number of areas that experienced a lack of certain qualifications, including public service, in the conditions of intensive bourgeois development. The article analyzes the legal acts regulating the work of women, especially in the public service. it is shown how the changes that took place in the Russian Empire influenced the transformation of the socio-economic situation of women in General, and, also, became a reflection of the social policy of the state. The article reveals the attitude of the heads of departments of the Ministry to the admission of women to the public service, as well as their opinion on the degree of necessity for the service itself in attracting women to it. The article deals with the arguments of men − heads of departments of the Ministry, related to the impact of women's work on home life, on the family and on itself, which differed largely by philistine assessments, rather than progressive views. In fact, on the part of the authorities, concessions to women were more imaginary and forced than the result of an objective assessment of their equal opportunity to serve in the public system.


Introduction: The quality of life is generally compromised in patients undergoing long term treatment for a chronic condition. Poor quality of life can have a negative impact on the treatment outcome. In addition to their renal failure, quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients is further compromised by renal function replacement treatments such as haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). These treatments have potential physical and psychosocial disadvantages, including the time consumed by treatment, the loss of regular employment, changes in family dynamics and the pain associated with treatment. Disagreement exists about differences between quality of life in HD and PD patients.


Exstrophy of the bladder is a rare, serious malformation, which occurs in approximately 1 in every 250,000 births.1 Although this condition is well described in the pediatric surgical literature, to our knowledge there has been only one previous case in which this condition was diagnosed with prenatal ultrasonography. In that case, the diagnosis was made immediately prior to the vaginal delivery of an infant who died, and the prenatal diagnosis did not influence management. We present the first case in which cloaca) exstrophy was diagnosed in the second trimester, in time for thorough counseling of the parents. In this case a decision was made to continue the pregnancy, and the patient was delivered of a viable infant. This report reviews the principles of prenatal diagnosis and management of cloaca) exstrow phy, highlighting the complicated neonatal course ex· pected in newborn infants with this condition. Obstetricians should disclose the genetic fetal sex cautiously, as optimal management usually dictates that 46,XY individuals be reared as females.


This paper focuses on the development of an anti‐apartheid documentary film and video 'movement' in the period spanning the late 1970s to the early 1990s. It discusses the growth of independent film‐making as well as a number of organisational developments, which formed the basis of this 'movement'. The paper broadly describes some of the trends that have emerged and places these within a theoretical framework that identifies and examines questions of identity and subjectivity. It proposes that new theoretical work is needed to represent South African 'hybridity' and examines what seems to be a shift towards representing 'hybridity' in recent forms of anti‐apartheid documentary film and video.


From the Publisher:
The proceedings of this important IEEE conference document the intelligent networks technology requirements needed to accommodate mobile users in this fast-developing field. Experimental results and testing approaches to meet the projected growth are described. These proceedings also explore the impact of the integration of personal profiles into intelligent networks to fit time-of-day conditions and locations.


To address the communication issued by the State engineering supervision fee charges for the various sections of the table is missing billing amount within the range and interpolation,and project billing amount range,charging base price,interpolated,the amount of fee billing correspondence between the base price is not clear,the problems can not be properly calculated.The objective of the charges,and identify the sections of the scope and amount of charges interpolated to determine the correspondence between each child,to supplement and improve the charges,and finally we give an example of using interpolation method of supervision fees instance.


Background: Telogen effluvium (TE) is characterized by an abrupt onset of diffuse and self-limited shedding of normal club hairs, usually seen 2–3 months after a triggering event. One of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 has been new-onset diffuse hair loss in patients previously infected with it, clinically compatible with TE. Thus, the present study attempts to establish hair loss as one of the sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the presence of hair loss in COVID-19 infection-recovered patients during the second wave of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: Google Forms was prepared with relevant questions regarding COVID-19 infection, the presence of hair loss, and aggravating and relieving factors, if any. These forms were distributed to 114 COVID-19-positive patients above 18 years of age who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection during the second wave, and the data were collected and analyzed. Results: Out of 114 participants, majority were female. 83.8% of the participants had significant viremia symptoms. Seventy-two percent of the patients complained of hair loss. Among them, 66.7% of the patients noticed worsening hair loss after 3 weeks of COVID-19 infection, 21.7% noticed within 2–3 weeks of infection, and the remaining 11.7% noticed the same within a week of infection. 50.1% of the patients had associated stress and 12.3% had comorbidities. Conclusion: The onset of TE after COVID-19 further impairs the quality of life of patients despite recovery from the primary illness. Identifying COVID-19 infection as a potential cause of hair loss will help in educating the patients about the transient nature of the condition.


Background: In comparison to the general population, people who are homeless have poorer health and health-related outcomes, including for vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination is safe, effective and cost-effective, and many vaccination guidelines specifically recommend vaccination in people who are homeless. This systematic review will identify interventions which are effective in delivering vaccination to, and/or at improving vaccination rates in, people who are homeless.
Methods/Design: This systematic review is presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches will be undertaken on eight electronic databases, using combinations of search terms and subject headings or index terms. Citation chaining will also be undertaken. Literature will be screened for relevance against inclusion/exclusion criteria firstly by title/abstract and secondly by full text. The selected studies will be assessed for quality using an evidence-based tool appropriate to their methods. Data relevant to the topic will be extracted and examined using meta-analysis and narrative synthesis.
Discussion: This systematic review will address an important gap in the literature about vaccination in people who are homeless. The review's findings are particularly relevant considering the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which is likely to be managed through vaccination.


This study was aimed to determine the gas permeability through polypropylene (PP: OTR 11261136 ml/m 2 .day) and special polyethylene packaging films (EMA6000: OTR 5800-7200 ml/m 2 .day) compared to the net package (the control group) under modified atmosphere. Quality and shelf-life of fresh longan under modified atmosphere at 2°C for 26 days and at 8°C for the next 15 days were examined. The results showed that the long-term storage affected lower O2 and relatively higher CO2 concentrations. The lowest O2 and highest CO2 concentrations were found in PP, followed by EMA and net package, respectively. At steady state, longans packed in the EMA6000 film were of high quality: lowest mass loss, and increased firmness and sweetness. Sulfur dioxide residues in the peel and flesh were also in the acceptable range and the colors of *L and ΔE were slightly changed from the first day of storage. The shelf-life of longan was 41 days in EMA6000, 24 days in PP and 38 days in net package. Therefore, the EMA6000 package can be used to extend the shelf life of longan for export.


With the popularization of notebook computers,PDA,smart phones and other wireless equipments in teachers and students,as well as the continuing development of digital teaching and network self-study,it becomes a major issue about campus network building and perfection that how to use the existing campus network so that it can provide the teachers and students highquality wireless access.This paper analyses the characteristics of wireless local area network(WLAN),and describs the WLAN's role and effections in the construction of wireless digital campus network.Finally it describs the WLAN structures methods in conjunction with the universitys actual situation.


Scleritis is one of the collagen diseases. It is a serious condition often acconmpanied by severe pain and the disabling ocular complications of keratitis, uveitis, glaucoma, macular oedema, complicated cataract, retinal detachment, and even perforation of the globe. In its characteristic form the disease is recurrent, eventually becoming quiescent. Adequate treatment should be given at an early stage, aimed at suppression of the condition until natural remission occurs; otherwise there may be marked reduction in vision and loss of the eye. In the Scleritis Clinic of the Professorial Unit at Moorfields Eye Hospital, the effects of oxyphenbutazone (Tanderil), Indomethacin, and systemic and local prednisolone have been compared. The present study is concerned with the effect of prednisolone-2 I stearoylglycolate (Sintisone). No satisfactory classification of scleritis exists in the literature. We have recently classified it as follows (Watson, Hayreh, Awdry, i968a, c):


This paper provides a diagnostic account of the nature and severity of the trans-boundary water resources conflict in the Middle East and how it is intertwined with issues of high politics. The concepts and analytical framework provided in this paper represent universal principles that, while applying to the Middle East water conflict, are also reflective of and applicable to many other disputes over natural resources around the world. This aspect about the research is particularly of great interest to the quest and scope of many other researches, considering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is regarded as the sine qua non from which many troubling aspects emanate in different part of the Middle East and beyond. By outlining the problem and the root causes and nature of the water crisis in arid regions, this paper seeks to provide evidence of lack of equitable water sharing in the status quo water allocation and ample justification for the need to apply equitable principles to promote cooperation and peace. More precisely, this research will reflect on the way in which conflicting representations of hydrological resources have created tension, conflict, and injustice in general, with particular emphasis on the Middle East water conflict issues of the occupied territories, namely the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights. Author Bio(s) Ahmed Abukhater holds a Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on water resources management and conflict resolution and mediation, a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering. Being a native Palestinian from the Gaza Strip and raised during the Palestinian Intifada in a region engulfed in a weighty political power struggle, Mr. Abukhater became cognizant of the genuine value of water as the sustainer of life and peace. Email: email@example.com This article is available in Peace and Conflict Studies: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol17/iss2/4 Peace and Conflict Studies • Volume 17, Number 2 On the Cusp of Water War: A Diagnostic Account of the Volatile Geopolitics of the Middle East


A homogeneous linear ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients is an ordinary differential equation in which coefficients are constants (i.e., not functions), all terms are linear, and the entire differential equation is equal to zero (i.e., it is homogeneous).


In Japan, the public tends to believe that shrine forests are the remnant of primary vegetation of the region. However, recent studies demonstrate that the forest was once dominated by pine trees at several shrine forests in Kansai region and suppose that forest resources were constantly utilized. We studied the relationship between the vegetative landscape of Kamomioya Shrine and resource utilization from the latter 17th to 18th century. Comparison of old drawings indicated that there was a mixed forest with pine-type trees and broadleaved-type trees, which is different from present-day landscape dominated by broadleaved trees and that Japanese-cedar-type trees existed around the shrine pavilions. The precinct also included bamboo forests. The old diary of a shrine family revealed that dead pines, bamboos and underbrush were cut and collected from specified places and utilized in various forms. Pine trees were rarely planted and would be naturally regenerated by periodical underbrush clearings and floods.


Objective:To explore the main risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM),provide a theoretical basis for prevention of GDM.Methods:103 patients with GDM who were diagnosed in two affiliated hospitals from January 1999 to February 2008 were selected as case group,meanwhile,143 healthy pregnant women were selected as control group,univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted.Results:The factors included into multivariate non-conditional regression analysis model were gestational age at this time,menarche age,medical history of menstrual cycle disorder,times of spontaneous abortion,maternal medical history of GDM,paternal medical history of GDM,the OR values(95%CI) were 1.50(1.14~2.04),0.36(0.16~0.84),3.85(1.59~9.36),3.00(1.56~5.77),3.89(1.15~13.17) and 6.54(2.42~17.69),respectively.Conclusion:The risk factors of GDM include gestational age,medical history of menstrual cycle disorder,times of spontaneous abortion,maternal medical history of GDM,paternal medical history of GDM,while menarche age14 years was one of the protective factors for GDM.


A thermodynamic analysis of the Collander equation, In PI = a + b In PII (I and II refer to two different partitioning systems with partition coefficients PI and PII, respectively), is given and applied to three forms of correlation. The intercept, a, is shown to have no general fundamental significance whereas the slope, b is shown to reflect differences in non‐aqueous solvent properties; b is also shown to be of use in scaling solvent behaviour to select solvents which closely represent biological membrane properties for use in partitioning studies. Laboratory and literature data are subjected to the analysis.


© The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the Article is properly cited. Abstract—This paper presents unsupervised change detection method to produce more accurate change map from imbalanced SAR images for the same land cover. This method is based on PSO algorithm for image segmentation to layers which classify by Gabor Wavelet filter and then K-means clustering to generate new change map. Tests are confirming the effectiveness and efficiency by comparison obtained results with the results of the other methods. Integration of PSO with Gabor filter and k-means will providing more and more accuracy to detect a least changing in objects and terrain of SAR image, as well as reduce the processing time.


Dr Noriko Yamane is an expert in speech production and perception based at Hiroshima University in Japan. Yamane is leading a team which is carrying out research to elucidate the precise mechanisms of the tongue and speechgestures that are required to learn English as a second language.
 Yamane's goal is to help people who do not respond well to traditional approaches to improving articulation. Her long-term goal is to work with engineers and develop an app available for speakers, communities of the deaf and/or atypical speech, to help them to improve their communication.


The otter board is a vital component of single trawl system, of which the hydrodynamics can directly affect the trawl operation and catch performance. This paper studied the hydrodynamics of the rectangular otter board using numerical simulation, and the simulation accuracy was verified by flume tank experiment. In addition, the effect of different water layers on the hydrodynamics of the otter board is also studied. Experiment results show that the rectangular otter board has the maximum lift coefficient 1.070 with the flow angle attack at 40°. Simulation results have the similar tendency with experiment results, the simulation results of maximum lift coefficient is 1.227 (α=40°), which is similar to the experiment results, and the flow angle is the same as experiment results. Simulation study of different water layers show that the maximum lift coefficient and the critical angle in the free stream is bigger than that of in the bottom. The results can provide basis for the angle setting of the otter board while operating. Introduction Single trawling is one of the main fishing modes widely used in fisheries for its activeness, flexibility and efficiency. The otter board, which is directly related to the horizontal expansion of fishing net and consequently affects the fishing efficiency, and economic effectiveness of the single trawl, is a vital component for the single trawl system. According to the previous study, the resistance of the otter board accounts for up to 30% of the total-system drag, which is ranked second, just less than the wing-net resistance [1] . Therefore, research on the hydrodynamic performance of the otter boards has great significance for energy saving in fishery and extensive investigations about the hydrodynamics of the otter board have been carried out during the past decades [2-4] . Generally, the model tests and sea-trials were two main measures to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of the otter board for many years. However, these methods are time-consuming and costly. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a numerical method for solving the equation of fluid mechanics, has been developed rapidly with the progress of computer technology. Having the advantages of low cost and being able to simulate more complex situations, it has been widely used in the development and designation of ships and artificial reefs [5, 6] . And now, researchers begin to study the hydrodynamic properties of otter boards using numerical simulation [7, 8] . The otter board has many types (i.e. rectangular otter board, V-type otter board, etc.), among which the rectangular otter board is widely used in the shrimp trawl. The hydrodynamics of the rectangular otter board is studied in the present work by flume model experiment and numerical simulation. In addition, the effect of different streams on the hydrodynamics of the otter board is also simulated. The results can provide basic data for the productive practice of the otter board. 2nd Annual International Conference on Advanced Material Engineering (AME 2016) © 2016. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 431 Materials and Methods Flume Tank Experiment The prototype otter board for the experiment is a rectangular otter board which is used in small single trawl, with a power of 15kW and working at 2kn. The otter board is made of iron and wood, and its main dimensions are given as follows: the wing span l 1 =0.4m, the chord c 1 = 1.0m and the aspect ratio λ= 0.4. The model otter board is designed based on the Froude's law and its main dimensions are: l 2=0.2m, c 2= 0.5m, λ=0.4. The conversion equation is given as follows:


Hospital culture is a staff group culture created by the medical staff in the hospital's developing history.The main body of the hospital is staff.There are many ideas to educate the staff,such as using pre-job training and post-education,constructing a learning hospital,and actively playing the role of hospital culture research.Implementation of personnel training programs,by teaching talent,introducing talent,accumulating talent,loving talent helps construction and growth of talent.By active window service competition;formulating "employee handbook" to regulate employee behavior;commenting medical ethics and developing volunteer activities create a hospital service culture.In addition,participating in cultural exchanges between the hospitals,participating in social public service activities,playing an exemplary role,giving full play to our hospital three central role in clinical medicine in Shanghai,can highlight the hospital brands.


The invention relates to a fingerprint identification method, which comprises the following steps: collecting the fingerprint mold image; collecting the identifying fingerprint image; comparing the identifying fingerprint image with the fingerprint mold image with correlation method of the fingerprint similarity; determining if two images are the same finger image according to the comparison result; adjusting the resolution ratio and the size according to the same format with the image compression algorithm before the comparison of the identifying fingerprint image and the fingerprint mold image. The invention assembles different type sensor to a set of fingerprint identification system, which is fit for most of people, can apply the fingerprint data acquired by a fingerprint sensor to the other fingerprint sensor product directly.


In order to improve the accuracy of surface ship navigation system, the fully autonomous navigation technique for the integrated navigation using the marine inertial navigation system (INS) and star sensor is used. This method employs navigation information from a star sensor as a benchmark to perform periodic recalibration of the divergent positioning error of INS. However, the position calculation of star sensor needs horizontal attitude information provided by INS. Therefore, the inertial horizontal attitude error is coupled to the star sensor calculation, which results in inaccurate description of the system model. To address this problem, the integrated navigation method using marine inertial navigation system and star sensor based on model predictive filtering (MPF) is proposed in this paper. The MPF uses predictive output tracking measurement output to correct the system model to achieve star sensor positioning error suppression. The estimated position error is fed back to star sensor to obtain accurate location information. Then, the accurate positioning information is used as the reference, and then fed back to the integrated navigation system to obtain high-precision navigation information. Finally, the method is verified by simulation, and the effectiveness of the method is verified by the real ship test on the lake surface.


It seems fitting that this last piece in the series celebrating the Bulletin's 50th anniversary year should fall in an edition looking at students, and their issues in the Law. There is no legal practitioner who has not made their way out of the gates of a law school, degree tightly clutched in hand. Many of us will recall with some lingering discomfort the feeling of sending out resumes to firm after firm, but receiving only polite refusals. It seems appropriate then, as the profession continues to refresh and renew, to return to those themes.


Supervised learning as a sub-discipline of machine learning enables the recognition of correlations between input variables (features) and associated outputs (classes) and the application of these to previously unknown data sets. In addition to typical areas of application such as speech and image recognition, fields of applications are also being developed in the sports and fitness sector. The purpose of this work was to implement a workflow for the automated recognition of sports exercises in the Matlab® programming environment and to carry out a comparison of different model structures. First, the acquisition of the sensor signals provided in the local network and their processing were implemented. The functionalities to be realised included the interpolation of lossy time series, the labelling of the activity intervals performed and, in part, the generation of sliding windows with statistical parameters. The preprocessed data were used for the training of classifiers and artificial neural networks (ANN). These were iteratively optimised in their corresponding hyper parameters for the data structure to be learned. The most reliable models were finally trained with an increased data set, validated and compared with regard to the achieved performance. In addition to the usual evaluation metrics such as F1 score and accuracy, the temporal behaviour of the assignments was also displayed graphically, which enabled statements to be made about potential causes for incorrect assignments. In this context, especially the transition areas between the classes were detected as erroneous assignments as well as exercises with insufficient or clearly deviating execution. The best overall accuracy achieved with ANN and the increased dataset was 93.7 %.


Waste has been the biggest problem in the world, especially in Indonesia. It's been written on Indonesian law number 18 year 2008 about waste has become a national problem, so the management must be done comprehensively from upstream to the downstream in order to provide the economic, health, and environment advantage, and also could change people's habits. Waste problem was spreaded into all over Indonesia, Including Bali Province, Bali is number one famous island in Indoneisa and the biggest tourism activity in Indonesia. It needs a hardwork from community, government, corporate and institution to solve the waste problem in Bali. Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia as the biggest food and beverage manufacturer in Indonesia aware about this problem and they build Bali Beach Clean Up as the Corporate Social Responsibility program. Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia has the initiative to clean up five biggest beach in Bali such as Kuta, Kedonganan, Seminyak, Legian and Jimbaran. This research will see the implementation of the program and see what's the problems inside the program.


This paper analyzes how voters evaluate distance to parties on the ideological and nationalistic
dimensions in Spain, using a generalized model that allows me to distinguish the
effect of spatial proximity, the weight voters give to each dimension, and the metric (Euclid
or Manhattan) that they use to evaluate closeness. I apply this model to post-electoral
surveys in Galicia, the Basque Country, and Catalonia �three regions where the political
arena is known to be structured along more than one dimension. The results strongly
support that voters use a Manhattan metric in all three regions.


Marketing specialists play a vanguard role in heralding a new perspective on exchange that prompts a re-conceptualization of valuation, marketing theory, and economic value theory. However the literature is inadequate in doing so in terms that are relevant for practitioners how the conceptualizations can be developed into a theoretical model for improving organizational and social-economic performance. This article contributes to marketing literature and to literature explaining how to improve organizational and social-economic performance by proposing a strategy by which the marketing perspective on exchange and valuation can be developed into a framework for an integrative marketing theory. That is to say that the article explains how and why marketing conceptualizations of valuation and exchange provide a source for determining the factors that apply as a multi-level and multi-dimensional approach to improving performance (i.e. increasing the performance of organizations and institutions in ways that create satisfactory and beneficial outcomes for a larger number of social stakeholders). This article is designed as an exploratory study of historical and contemporary conceptualizations of exchange, the market, and valuation as the means of collecting the necessary conceptual data for developing an integrative marketing theory. The exploratory study is the means for determining factors that can be applied as a multi-dimensional strategy for performance improvement. The conceptual data is triangulated to determine the conceptual categories that are expressed as factors that can be employed as a marketing model for satisfying the interests of stakeholders. In addition the article contributes to scholarship on marketing ethics by indicating how marketing theory increases the competitive advantage of businesses in a way that satisfies concerns regarding social responsibility.


The total vapour pressure of liquid mixtures of methane and propane has been measured as a function of composition at temperatures of 115.77 and 134.83 K. The activity coefficient of methane ƒ1 and the excess Gibbs function of mixing GE have been evaluated from the vapour pressure measurements, and the heat of mixing HE and the excess entropy of mixing SE have been estimated from the temperature dependence of GE and compared with direct calorimetric values. Values of the excess thermodynamic functions have been calculated from a simplified version of the Flory theory of mixtures, with allowance for departures from the geometric mean (Berthelot) combining rule. Calculations show that these deviations are very small, but not negligible.


Subtitle: August's credit market chaos could increase the cost of debt. But sector analysts tell Barry Parker that they are not yet predicting a serious crisis for shipping finance.


The rising global demand for palm oil and its associated products has led to increased numbers of palm oil refineries with its attendant effluent discharge. Many researches have confirmed the ecological disruptive potentiality of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), still further attention has to be directed at POME's potential genotoxicity. The present study has made physico-chemical and genotoxicity assessments of POME from a corporate refinery in Nigeria, using the American Public Health Association (APHA) procedures along with Allium cepa root assay. Allium cepa roots were grown in graduated concentrations of POME and the roots were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations. Results suggest that POME caused growth inhibitions and chromosomal aberrations in A. cepa roots. with mitotic index of A. cepa roots dropping as POME concentrations were increased. The chromosomal aberrations induced in A. cepa were vagrant, sticky chromosomes, bi-nucleated cells, and C-mitosis. These results indicate that palm oil mill effluent is not only capable of causing ecological disruptions in the receiving environment, but is also potentially genotoxic to resident organisms. It is recommended that if effluents from palm oil mill refineries cannot be converted to other useful products and ought to be disposed of, it should first be properly treated and tested for genotoxicity.


A key issue for the estimation of ground shaking is the proper selection of input motions at the seismic bedrock. At the same time, the effect of the input motion scaling strategy on structural response is typically studied disregarding the presence of the soil deposit. In this work, different soft soil deposits are selected by varying the shear wave velocity profiles and the depth to the seismic bedrock, modelling the soil behaviour through a nonlinear constitutive model implemented into a fully coupled FE code. Seven input motions are retrieved for several selection strategies in conjunction with two seismic intensity levels. Hence, more than 300 one-dimensional ground response analyses are performed. The results of the analysed cases, which are presented in terms of spectral response at ground surface and amplification factors, indicate that: (i) the use of an advanced elasto-plastic soil constitutive model accounts for nonlinear ground response effects, including higher site amplification in the mid-period range and deamplification of the peak ground accelerations; (ii) the different scaling strategies lead to comparable mean values of the amplification factors, and (iii) the variability of the amplification factors is significantly reduced when the scaling strategy seeks the compatibility with the target spectrum over a specified period range. The research will aid the prediction of local seismic site response over large areas, particularly in the absence of the fundamental period of a structure and facilitate its use in general recommendation for quantifying and reducing uncertainty.


Relative cross sections for the ionization of H2, HD, and D2 have been measured using a thermal‐energy beam of 2 3S1 and 2 1S0 helium atoms. The cross sections for the production of H2+, HD+, and D2+ increase in this order. The ions are observed to have average kinetic energies of at least 0.08 eV and perhaps as much as 0.3 eV. The isotope effect is explained in terms of the initial formation of a preionizing state which may then either dissociate or ionize.


Gravel-bed rivers in the environment Edited by P.C. Klingeman, R.L. Beschta. P. Komar And J. Bradley. Water Resources Publications. 1998: 832 pp.: ISBN I 887201 13; Economy print US$ 72. Premium print USS 129.


Introduction: Autonomic neural activation during cardiac stress testing is an established risk-stratification tool in post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. However, autonomic activation can also modulate myocardial electrotonic coupling, a known factor to contribute to the genesis of arrhythmias. The present study tested the hypothesis that exercise-induced autonomic neural activation modulates electrotonic coupling (as measured by myocardial electrical impedance, MEI) in post-MI animals shown to be susceptible or resistant to ventricular fibrillation (VF). Methods: Dogs (n = 25) with healed MI instrumented for MEI measurements were trained to run on a treadmill and classified based on their susceptibility to VF (12 susceptible, 9 resistant). MEI and ECGs were recorded during 6-stage exercise tests (18 min/test; peak: 6.4 km/h @ 16%) performed under control conditions, and following complete β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) blockade (propranolol); MEI was also measured at rest during escalating β-AR stimulation (isoproterenol) or overdrive-pacing. Results: Exercise progressively increased heart rate (HR) and reduced heart rate variability (HRV). In parallel, MEI decreased gradually (enhanced electrotonic coupling) with exercise; at peak exercise, MEI was reduced by 5.3 ± 0.4% (or -23 ± 1.8Ω, P < 0.001). Notably, exercise-mediated electrotonic changes were linearly predicted by the degree of autonomic activation, as indicated by changes in either HR or in HRV (P < 0.001). Indeed, β-AR blockade attenuated the MEI response to exercise while direct β-AR stimulation (at rest) triggered MEI decreases comparable to those observed during exercise; ventricular pacing had no significant effects on MEI. Finally, animals prone to VF had a significantly larger MEI response to exercise. Conclusions: These data suggest that β-AR activation during exercise can acutely enhance electrotonic coupling in the myocardium, particularly in dogs susceptible to ischemia-induced VF.


The Diamonds and Dorings Music Festival is used as a strategy to increase attendee numbers and associated spending which would boost the economy of Kimberley and the Northern Cape. The festival attracts mostly the African ethnic market, a term coined to describe South Africa's black middle class. In a festival context, the African ethnic festival and events market can be regarded as a niche and emerging market, which is growing in the South African economy.Unfortunately, to date, limited research has focused on the needs and spending power of this market at music festivals in South Africa. To fill this gap, this research applied expenditure-based segmentation to attendees at the festival. A visitor survey was conducted at the festival in 2015 where 367 questionnaires were administered and included in the analysis. Respondents were segmented into high, medium and low spending segments based on their total spending.The results showed that the high spenders could be distinguished from the medium and low spenders based on their spending behaviour, motives to attend the festival, province of residence, accommodation used during the festival and the marketing mediums where respondents heard about the festival. The results provide information to the organisers and marketers of the festival on knowledge on how much money festival attendees spend and which factors influence higher spending. This knowledge can lead to a greater economic impact to the host city and province.


Address for correspondence: Burcu Ancın MD, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Burdur State Hospital, Burdur, Turkey, phone: +0905357160709, e-mail: email@example.com Received: 5.11.2021, accepted: 2.01.2022. Videothoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy, a minimally invasive technique, has been performed for approximately 20 years [1]. The advantages include improved patient satisfaction due to less surgical trauma, less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and less invasiveness compared to open surgical techniques [2]. Endoscopic vascular and parenchymal staplers are widely used for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and are mostly considered a safe technique [3]. In our case report, a patient, who underwent uniportal VATS lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma and who was reoperated on due to the development of massive right internal mammary artery bleeding due to the intraoperative use of stapling, is presented. In the thoracic computed tomography of a 63-year-old female patient, a nodule with irregular margins was present in the inferior part of the upper lobe of the right lung. A transthoracic biopsy was taken from the nodule and the pathology result was reported as lung adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection with uniportal VATS. Since the major and minor fissures were incomplete, they were intraoperatively separated with an endoscopic 60-4.8 parenchymal stapler. There was no decrease in hemoglobin value and no pathological finding on chest radiograph until postoperative day 4 (Figure 1). On postoperative day 4, the patient suddenly had hemorrhagic drainage. The patient had 500 ml of hemorrhagic drainage from the chest tube within 30 minutes. The patient was operated on in emergency conditions due to an appearance consistent with hematoma in the right hemithorax on chest radiograph (Figure 2) and decreased hemoglobin level. The uniportal VATS incision was extended posteriorly to provide access to the thorax. After the evacuation of approximately 1000 ml of hematoma, a bleeding focus was noted in the right internal mammary artery and was primarily sutured, and the bleeding was controlled. The bleeding originating from the internal mammary artery was thought to have occurred after the injury by the staple edge placed in the middle lobe to separate the minor fissure. The staple at the end was removed to prevent re-bleeding, and the area was sutured using 4-0 prolene suture. Intraoperatively, the patient received 4 units of erythrocyte suspension reAn unexpected complication of videothoracoscopic lobectomy: late RIMA bleeding


Objective To probe into the effect of cellular factors on hepatic fibrosis of schistosomiasis japonica.Methods To cousult the related domestic and foreign articles of last ten years for analyzing and summarizing. Results Hepatic fibrosis is one of the most important pathological feature in schistosomiasis japonica,and during the course of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica the cellular factors play major roles. Among the cellular factors ,some drive the hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica,such as transforming growth factor- β 1,platelet- derived growth factor,tumor necrosis factor- α ,interleulin- 1, interleulin- 2,interleulin- 4,interleulin- 5,interleulin- 6,interleulin- 8,interleulin- 13, basic fibroblast growth factor and so on;some inhibit the hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica,such as interferon- γ , interleulin- 10, interleulin- 12, interleulin- 18 and so on.Conclusion It is important to go on with further study on the effect of cellular factors on hepatic fibrosis of schistosomiasis japonica.


type="main"> DeAngelo and DeAngelo (2006) (D&D) argue 'payout policy is not irrelevant and investment is not the sole determinant of value, even in frictionless markets'. Consistent with this view, we argue that the concept of a perfect capital market in Miller and Modigliani (1961) (M&M) and Fama and Miller (1972) can be extended to allow for managerial moral hazard if managers are assumed not to participate in securities trading. An updated version of the M&M valuation model is presented and the possibility of managerial free cash flow (FCF) retention through operating expense manipulation and sub-optimal investment policies is discussed. Our analysis supports D&D's argument that payout policy is relevant and indicates that value relevance of payout depends on the quality of earnings measurement and the optimality of investment policy. Following this, we develop a framework for analyzing valuation and informational roles of payout in accounting-based valuation models and apply this framework to the Ohlson (1995) and Feltham and Ohlson (1996) models. This analysis shows how these models permit payout valuation relevance due to managerial FCF retention but not payout informational relevance. Finally, we consider how the Feltham and Ohlson (1996) model can be extended to incorporate time variation in expected profitability of capital investment caused by time variation in managerial FCF retention activities and show that this explicitly affects payout value relevance. We conclude that the development of models where payout plays an explicit valuation role due to issues of moral hazard is an important direction for future research.


Since deregulation of the US railroads in the early 1980s, competition has spurred many innovations in track, structures, signaling and rolling stock. Freight cars in particular have seen significant changes in material use, as evidenced by the huge growth in aluminum bodied coal cars. Another change in material use in freight cars is underway. Advanced composites are finding their way into more and more products. This paper provides basic knowledge of what composites are, their strengths and weaknesses, and what economic leverage they can provide. Some of the applications that have been developed for freight rail transportation are discussed, as well as some products under development. The paper concludes with lessons learned about why some projects succeed, and some fail.<<ETX>>


The global torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games was not just a process to pass on the Olympic beliefs and spirits,but an important stage on which the national images of China can be displayed to the whole world.It can be said that the torch relay outside China is a new project to promote public democracy.The torch relay disturbances not only show some new features and breakthroughs,but mirror new opportunities and challenges in China's public foreign affairs.With its evev rising international standing,China should actively promote its public democracy and improve its national images.


The article explored the linkages between patriarchy and the high rate of women's vulnerability to climate change. It examined how traditional beliefs, which underpin cultural division of roles between men and women, also increase the vulnerability of women to the adverse impacts of climate change. The article argued that the centralization of activities of women to occupations such as small-scale and rain-fed agriculture makes them more vulnerable to climate-related problems than the men. The article relied on desk review of secondary data. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Using Nigeria as a case study, the article showed how patriarchy paves way for high rate of exposure of women to adverse impacts of climate change. Patriarchy equips men with stronger adaptive capability, especially in the area of vocational flexibility and mobility. The study concludes that efforts made to avert undue exposure of women to climate change disasters must seek to address patriarchy and the structural issues arising from the confinement of women to livelihoods, which are vulnerable to climate change disasters.


ABSTRACT Molecular simulations are often used to analyse the stability of protein–ligand complexes. The stability can be characterised by exit rates or using the exit time approach, i.e. by computing the expected holding time of the complex before its dissociation. However determining exit rates by straightforward molecular dynamics methods can be challenging for stochastic processes in which the exit event occurs very rarely. Finding a low variance procedure for collecting rare event statistics is still an open problem. In this work we discuss a novel method for computing exit rates which uses results of Robust Perron Cluster Analysis (PCCA+). This clustering method gives the possibility to define a fuzzy set by a membership function, which provides additional information of the kind 'the process is being about to leave the set'. Thus, the derived approach is not based on the exit event occurrence and, therefore, is also applicable in case of rare events. The novel method can be used to analyse the temperature effect of protein–ligand systems through the differences in exit rates, and, thus, open up new drug design strategies and therapeutic applications.


The purpose of this study is to explain the politeness strategies used by the main characters in both The Scarlet Letter and Easy A. This study investigates the utterances from the main characters of both films on the area of refusal. The data taken are in spoken form and only those which contains refusals.
In analyzing data, the writer used descriptive analysis with a qualitative approach. The data are analyzed using Brown and Levinson"s theory of politeness strategy (1987). Based on Brown and Levinson"s model of politeness strategy (1987), the politeness strategies used in conversations to reduce the FTA are grouped into four main super-strategies: Bald on Record, Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off-the-Record.
The results of the analysis show that the main characters of both movies tend to refuse things by using bald on record super-strategy. Using Brown and Levinson"s politeness strategies, the writer found the types and the percentage of strategies used: Bald on record is 13 cases (46.4%), Positive politeness is 3 cases (10.2%), Negative politeness is 2 cases (7.1%) and Off record is 10 cases (35.6%). Besides, the results also shows that bald on record strategy is the most widely used by Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter and Olive Penderghast of Easy A; It may happen due to the condition and the situation of the conversations where the people communicate there may not really concern on the others" attention. Moreover, the result shows that there are some differences of refusal cases between The Scarlet Letter and Easy A, following: the word choice, sentences structures and the politeness strategies used. It can be said that the differences appear for some reasons, complaining, expressing and avoiding anger, expressing disagreement, and praising self.


The effective action in general chiral superfield model with arbitrary k\"{a}hlerian potential $K(\bar{\Phi},\Phi)$ and chiral (holomorphic) potential $W(\Phi)$ is considered. The one-loop and two-loop contributions to k\"{a}hlerian effective potential and two-loop (first non-zero) contribution to chiral effective potential are found for arbitrary form of functions $K(\bar{\Phi},\Phi)$ and $W(\Phi)$. It is found that despite the theory is non-renormalizable in general case two-loop contribution to holomorphic effective potential is always finite.


A torsional vibration damper, in particular for the drive train of a vehicle comprising a primary side (32) and one against the action of a damper element arrangement (28) about a rotational axis (A) with respect to the primary side (32) rotatable secondary side (46), wherein the damper element arrangement (28) a first group (70) (42) and a second group (70 ') of the damper member units (42') comprises of damper member units, wherein for each damper element unit (42, 42 '), a first Drehmomentubertragungsabstutzbereich (60, 64, 58, 62) to the primary side (32) and a second Drehmomentubertragungsabstutzbereich (66, 68) is provided at the secondary side (42) and wherein the damper member units (42) of the first group (70) a relative rotation between the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) only counteract, in a first relative rotational direction, and the damper member units (42 ') of the second group (70') of a relative rotation between the primary RPage (32) and the secondary side (46) only in one of the first relative rotational direction opposite to act opposite second direction of relative rotation, wherein at least one damper element unit (42) of the first group (70) and at least one damping element unit (42 ') of the second group (70') biased are and with respect to bias the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) in a basic relative rotational position to each other, is characterized in that, starting from the basic relative rotational position of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46), a preload (V , V ') at least one pre-tensioned damper element unit (42) is shorter than a maximum Relativdrehweg the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46).


The coupling relations between multi-quality characteristics (MQCs) and design parameters (DPs) are analysed. To improve the robustness of product quality, the coupled design is decoupled approximately by utilizing the non-linear relations between MQCs and DPs, and an approximate decoupling criterion is proposed. Based on the fundamental principle of fuzzy-robust design and axiomatic design theory, the methods for fuzzy-robust design are studied in the case of uncoupled design, decoupled design and coupled design. Three different models of fuzzy-robust optimization design with MQCs are established, and three different optimization strategies are proposed correspondingly. A back-propagation neural network is used as a substitute for non-linear stochastic functions in the established models to improve the computational efficiency. With the genetic algorithm combined with stochastic simulation and neural network, a hybrid intelligent optimization algorithm is developed for solving the established models. An example of fuzzy-robust design of a plastic part is presented.


Abstract In the last years EU started a new effort for the definition of a Roadmap for the fusion beyond ITER up to the construction of the DEMO reactor. The blanket technology, key issue for the development of the fusion breeder reactor, is an important part of this review. In the last 10 years the R&D of EU in blanket has been focused on two kinds of blanket concepts, namely the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) and Lithium lead (HCLL); both are EU reference concepts for DEMO and for the test in ITER. In addition to these two reference concepts, few other concepts have been investigated in EU. One of these is the Dual Coolant Lithium Lead (DCLL) that was developed in the 90-ties in Karlsruhe and UCSD. The spectrum of blankets studied in EU includes also a water cooled blanket with liquid breeder, the WCLL.


Comparison with the structure of other governments and the text of the laws of other countries is frequently employed in the study to emphasize a Soviet point of difference or similarity. In general, this is helpful and is a demonstration of the value of the comparative approach to government and law. However, the impression given by some of these comparisons is possibly not the one intended by the author, and seems misleading. For example, there is the statement that it is a principle of Western democracy to incorporate institutions designed to restrict the power of government, such as the separation of powers, the doctrine of checks and balances, etc. (p. 62). While the United States is obviously in the author's mind, he might have noted that some states generally recognized as both democratic and Western have no such checks and balances in their governmental structure. Likewise, it is declared that it is a "particular feature" of the Soviet constitution that "it especially mentions some specific duties of the citizens" (p. 68). While it is true that the Soviet constitution enumerates some novel duties of citizens, there have been lists of specific duties in constitutions which antedate the Soviet constitution, as, for example, in the Weimar Constitution (Arts. 132,133), the 1889 Japanese constitution (Arts. 20, 21), and the 1921 Polish constitution (Arts. 89-94). Dr. Gsovsky unquestionably knew these facts, and the difficulty is probably the result of the choice of too sweeping a phrase in making a comparison. Dr. Gsovsky says correctly, at least in this reviewer's opinion, that "the letter of the statute is in itself no more than a framework of a legal system" (p. 9). In spite of this apparent appreciation that the living character of the law is what a student seeks in approaching a foreign system, Dr. Gsovsky presents little material of a human character to put life in the law. Various brief rulings of the Plenum of the Supreme Court are cited where they declare a rule of statutory interpretation, but very few "sets of facts" are presented. Civil law lawyers customarily give little attention to the facts of cases in describing legal systems, but Anglo-American jurists live by them. It might have been thought desirable to include the facts of many more cases to provide the meat for the framework. No volume which attempts to cover an extensive field of law can be expected to have everything. Dr. Gsovsky's study will meet many needs as a convenient single source for those seeking an introduction to Soviet statutes. The Michigan Legal Studies, and in particular its editor, Professor Hessel E. Yntema, deserve much credit for making available to the English-reading public in one place so many facts which have previously been spread through a large number of articles and a few specialized books. JOHN N. HAZARD. Columbia University.


There is a growing interest toward synthesis and possible use of small semiconducting and metallic particles (nanocrystallites, quantum dots). The boundary conditions of the electronic wave functions in such small formations result in electronic and optical properties quite different from those of the corresponding bulk materials and are of potential use in a variety of applications due to that uniqueness. For the elements of group 14, the tetrels (Tt), the classical methods for preparation of such particles and small clusters have been etching, selective epitaxy, and pulsed laser techniques. 1 Reduction of tetrel chlorides with solvated electrons or alkali-metal anions (electrides and alkalides) has been also attempted. Recently, another method for the synthesis of Si and Ge nanoparticles was reported. It utilizes metathesis reactions in liquid medium between suspensions of the Zintl phases KSi and NaGe with silicon and germanium tetrachlorides, respectively. 2,3 Another approach toward nanoparticles with narrow size distribution would be to use solutions of the Zintl cluster anions Tt 9 instead of suspensions of insoluble solids. It has been shown that upon controlled oxidation such solutions produce island structures on a variety of surfaces such as polymers and metals. 4 We have been interested in the characterization of the precursors to such solutions, solidified melts of an alkali-metal and a tetrel. These precursors have been always regarded as featureless alloys with no cluster formations. 5


CALU is a multi-robot collision avoidance system based on the velocity obstacle paradigm. In contrast to previous approaches, we alleviate the strong requirement for perfect sensing (i.e. global positioning) using Adaptive Monte-Carlo Localization on a per-agent level.


The research deals with the transitional period in Iraq and the changes that lead to a democratic country governed by the right standards. People should obtain their rights and freedom which are provided in the 2005 effective constitution. The foundation of supporting bodies was one of the results of such changes. The Supreme Criminal Court, the Property Dispute Body, Political Prisoners Body, and the National Reconciliation Committee were examples of those establishments. The National Reconciliation Committee is one of non-judicial transitional justice whose job is achieving reconciliation among the different sects of Iraqi people in addition to the political blocs. The Committee had a role in achieving the aim according to the authority it had been granted. So, national reconciliation is one of non-judicial procedures that contributed in the transitional period in Iraq in addition to other procedures which aim at establishments' reform, achieving justice, and human rights reinforcement after a set of changes and disputes. All the aforementioned should lead to ensuring compensation of the previous regime victims, reinforcement of recovery, founding an independent body to monitor security.


Abstract 3993 Background: Aberrant hedgehog (HH) pathway signaling has been suggested to play a role in the development and progression of multiple myeloma (MM). BMS-833923 is a oral, small molecule antagonist of the HH signaling component Smoothened (SMO). Methods: The trial is designed to identify a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics of BMS-833923 administered in escalating dose cohorts as monotherapy or in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone or with bortezomib in subjects with relapsed or refractory MM. The study consists of three treatment arms: i) BMS-833923 alone; ii) BMS-833923 in combination with lenalidomide (25 mg daily [QD] for 21 days of a 28 day cycle) plus dexamethasone (40 mg once weekly); and iii) BMS-833923 in combination with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2on Days 1, 4, 8, and 11 for a 21 day cycle). A 3-plus-3 design was followed using drug related CTCAEs (v3.0) to inform dose escalation increments. In the first two dose cohorts of the single agent arm, a loading dose was employed during the first week of dosing, followed by a continuation dose. The starting dose was 60 mg QD for 7 days followed by a 30 mg QD continuation dose. Patients who developed progressive disease after 2 cycles or had stable disease after 3 cycles could add on either lenalidomide plus dexamethasone or bortezomib, which allowed for the exploration of the effect of the standard of care agents on BMS-833923 exposures, safety in combination, and clinical activity. The PK parameters of BMS-883923 co-administered with lenalidomide/dexamethasone or bortezomib was evaluated using noncompartmental PK analysis. Results: As of June 20, 2011, 19 patients have been treated at six dose levels in the single agent arm: 60/30 mg (n=3), 120/60 mg (n=3), 90 mg (n=5), 135 mg (n=3), 270 mg (n=3), and 500 mg (n=2); 6 of these patients added lenalidomide plus dexamethasone and 4 patients added bortezomib; and 1 patient has been treated in the combination arm with 90 mg QD of BMS-833923 plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone. This dose range includes dose levels of BMS-833923 with demonstrated anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma. In the current study, treated patients had a median age of 62 (range 41–71) and ECOG performance status of 0–2. No DLTs have been observed. The most common drug related AEs (>10%) include muscle spasms, dysgeusia, ageusia, lipase increased, alopecia, decreased appetite, nausea, and fatigue. All the common AEs (> 10%) were Grade 1 or 2 with the exception of a Grade 3 muscle spasms and Grade 3 elevated lipase. Other drug related Grade 3 AEs included thrombocytopenia, sinusitis, streptococal bacteraemia, and otitis media. In the single agent treatment arm, for patients that did not add on standard of care therapies, the median duration of treatment with BMS-833923 was 31 days (range 10–49 days). Median duration of BMS-833923 single agent treatment for patients that added on standard therapy was 90 days (42–175 days). Preliminary analysis of BMS-833923 exposures determined that the geometric mean Cmax ratio of BMS-833923 (dose range of 30 mg/day to 135 mg/day) with or without lenalidomide and dexamethasone was 0.99 (n=4). Similarly, the geometric mean Cmax ratio of 135 mg/day BMS-833923 with or without bortezomib was 0.92 (n=2). Clinical response data is being collected and will be presented. Conclusion: BMS-833923 is generally tolerated at the dose levels tested. Disclosures: Huff:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding. Padmanabhan:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Somlo:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zonder:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Fischer:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Lang:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Zhang:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Gestone:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Bennett:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment.


This project will be undertaken to analyze and design structural elements like beam ,column ,"T" beam in a commercial building and compare it with a post tensioned haunched beam. The analysis and design will be done manually. Though the use of the software offers saving in time, the calculations are not appropriate. The analysis of the building will be done manually for both lateral as well as vertical loads by substitute frame method and portal frame method respectively. Both earthquake loads and wind loads were considered as lateral loads acting on the building. Assuming both ultimate wind load and earthquake loads does not act simultaneously on the building. Critical loads among wind as well as earthquake loads are to be considered in the further design. The comparisons in both the beams are carried out and with respect to the span to cost ratio as well as the comparison in size of the column to be used to estimate the cost of construction.


In the era of data mining, cluster analysis is very needy technique in engineering applications. So in the jargon of clustering techniques, k means is one among the most effective and efficient algorithm. K means algorithm varies by selecting the initial centriods, distance measures and mean calculations. As the dataset size increases the algorithm performance degrades rapidly. In order to maintain accuracy and time complexity we propose an algorithm that gives accurate results. The simple K means algorithm accuracy depends upon choosing the initial centriods. In the algorithm analysis, time complexity is a measure of defining an algorithm is efficient or not. So the proposed algorithm maintains the O(nlogn) time complexity. The experimental results reflect that the proposed algorithm works well as if the data set size increases. The proposed algorithm implemented in parallel environment by using OPENMP.


The surface temperature is the key determinant for vegetation, animals and human livelihood in a particular location of earth. Timely prediction of minimum and maximum temperature will help in planning and governing very hot and very cold climate. In this study numerical weather parameters based lead seven day minimum and maximum temperature prediction models using multiple linear regression is developed at the location Chennai, India. The result of the analysis states that regression based minimum temperature prediction models provide better accuracy than maximum temperature forecast models with the highest R 2 and lowest MAE, RMSE in independent test dataset. The analysis also emphasizes that the prediction performance is good at smaller lead days and it decreases gradually to higher lead days for both minimum and maximum temperature.


Abstract The numbers of Snake River salmon and steelhead Oncorhynchus spp. have substantially declined since the completion of the Columbia River hydrosystem. We used analytical approaches to identify management options for halting the decline of these stocks, such as removal of Snake River dams and improvements to the existing hydrosystem. The benefits these actions are predicted to have in terms of salmon recovery hinge on whether the mortality that takes place in the estuary and early in their ocean residence is related to earlier hydrosystem experience during downstream migration. Evidence from the literature demonstrates numerous mechanisms that would explain this delayed mortality in relation to a fish's experience passing through the hydrosystem. Spatial and temporal comparisons of stock performance provide indirect evidence of delayed mortality and evidence that delayed mortality is linked to hydrosystem experience. Recent mark–recapture data also provide evidence of differences in delayed mortali...


To reduce the classification errors of online handwritten Japanese character recognition, we propose a method for confusing characters discrimination with little additional costs. After building confusing sets by cross validation using a baseline quadratic classifier, a logistic regression (LR) classifier is trained to discriminate the characters in each set. The LR classifier uses subspace features selected from existing vectors of the baseline classifier, thus has no extra parameters except the weights, which consumes a small storage space compared to the baseline classifier. In experiments on the TUAT HANDS databases with the modified quadratic discriminant function (MQDF) as baseline classifier, the proposed method has largely reduced the confusion caused by non-Kanji characters.


The title structure, [Au2Cl2(C25H22As2)], consists of discrete molecules disposed about a crystallographic twofold axis. The Au atom exhibits a nearly linear coordination by As and Cl atoms. Au⋯Au interactions [3.4285Å(4) Å] and a weak intermolecular C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bond are present.


The determination of the optimal oxygen content is very important in power plant operation optimization. Due to the disadvantages of traditional ways, this paper proposed a new method to decide the optimal oxygen content based on incremental updating data mining. This method could determine the optimal oxygen content and related frequent items by fuzzy quantitative association rule mining algorithm based on the unit history data. And the improved incremental updating mining algorithm was introduced into the mining process to avoid mining the whole database again when the history data were changed. So the mining efficiency is improved greatly. The analysis of the actual data of a 300 MW unit shows that the coal consumption is decreased obviously by oxygen content optimization and the excellent performance is achieved.


The ability to measure the mean and Gaussian curvature in lipid mesophases is important in our understanding of their formation and properties, and can be achieved both experimentally and computationally. Here we show that curvature can be measured using Molecular Dynamics simulations, however the reliability of the results is highly dependent on the choice of fitting algorithm, the atoms within the lipid membrane that are selected for fitting and the number of atoms that are included in the fit. We compare the results of our method to the L${\alpha}$ mesophase as previously studied, and subsequently extend the method to the Q$_{II}^{D}$ and H$_{II}$ mesophase, not previously studied in this way computationally, but whose curvatures are known both analytically and experimentally. By systematically comparing our results, we demonstrate a robust method which can be used in general to measure curvature.


Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor is a kind of non insulin-dependent oral antidiabetic medicine. Its target is the kidney. SGLT-2 inhibitors restrain renal reabsorption of glucose so that excessive glucose can be excreted from the urine and the blood sugar is reduced. SGLT-2 inhibitors have definite efficacy on improving blood glucose and lipid level and protecting islet cells without weight gain. The main adverse reactions of SGLT-2 inhibitors are genitourinary tract infection, and ketoacidosis. By searching the medical databases including CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu and PubMed, the development, mechanisms, efficacy and adverse reactions of SGLT-2 selective inhibitors in diabetes mellitus are reviewed, so as to provide reference for clinical rational application of the medications.


The receptor properties of influenza virus A/USSR/90m isolates are studied. The isolates are peculiar for losing glycosylation sites at the Asnl3l receptor-binding region (GSI31) after passaging in mice and at the Asn 158 region (GS 158) after cultivation in the presence of mouse serum. The loss of each carbohydrate residue increases the influenza virus affinity for carbohydrate chains with the terminal group Neu5Aca2-6Gal and reduces its affinity for Neu5Aca2-3Gal receptors. The effect is more pronounced in the GSl58-depleted virus. Upon substitution of asparagine by aspartic acid, the electrostatic component of virus binding to the receptor is altered because of the increased negative charge on hemagglutinin. The virus receptor phenotype changes depending on the cultivation conditions. The isolate adapted to mice has higher affinity to mouse lung cell receptors, while the virus propagated in chick embryos in the presence of inhibitors has higher affinity to allantoic membrane cells.


All planar connected graphs regular of degree four can be generated from the graph of the octahedron, using four operations.


In Mexico, Opuntia spp. plants have traditionally been used for alternative treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), actually considered an increasing problem of public health. Opuntia ficusindica is the most used and studied plant; other species, like Opuntia joconostle Web. have not been studied from the clinical point of view. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of xoconostle (O. joconostle ) fruit peel consumption on seric glucose and lipids. The study has been conducted in two phases, the first one with participation of healthy people, and the second with type 2 diabetes (DM2) patients. It was observed that peel consumption caused statistically significant decrease of cholesterol and seric triglycerides in healthy people, and increase of both seric glucose and insulin as compared to no consumption. Insulin and glucose increase in healthy people does not seem to be a consequence of secretagogue content in xoconostle fruits, because they has low content of sugars and proteins. In participants with DM2, xoconostle consumption diminished glucose concentration and increased insulin. One of the most important conclusions of this study is that regular consumption of xoconostle fruit peel can be useful for seric glucose control in individuals with DM2. In healthy people, it may help to prevent conditions of hyperglycemia and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which may be related to metabolic syndrome.


The authors have previously developed a computer code for obtaining the current distribution on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) antenna loaded by a male model with an arbitrary geometry and material properties by incorporating the impedance method into the method of Richmond. Using this method, RF magnetic field penetration in a biological body within an MRI antenna is discussed theoretically. It is found that the RF magnetic field produced by the current in the body does not cancel the incident RF magnetic field produced by the current on the MRI antenna, since the phase difference between these magnetic fields deviates from 180°.


This paper describes a distributed amplifier IC module and a distributed 1 : 2 signal distributor IC module for 40Gbit/s optical transmission systems. These ICs were designed by the distributed circuit and inverted-microstrip-line design technique and fabricated using 0.1-μm-gate-length GaAs MESFETs with a multilayer interconnection structure. These were mounted on a thin film multilayer substrate in a chip-size-cavity package by means of a flip-chip-bonding technique that uses transferred microsolder bumps. The amplifier module achieved a 3-dB bandwidth of more than 50 GHz and a gain of 8 dB. The 3-dB bandwidth of a 1 : 2 signal distributor module was 40 GHz and the loss was 2 dB. These modules were demonstrated at 40 Gbit/s and clear eye openings were confirmed. key words: GaAs MESFET, ampli er, distributor, microstrip


A solar panel including photovoltaic cells encapsulated in a silicone resin, in which the base member to which the silicone resin adheres is a glass mat polyester in laminate or molded form.


This paper describes the structure of an extensible metadata quality assessment framework, which supports multiple metadata schemas, and is flexible enough to work with new schemas. The software has to be scalable to be able to process huge amount of metadata records within a reasonable time. Fundamental requirements that need to be considered during the design of such a software are i) the abstraction of the metadata schema (in the context of the measurement process), ii) how to address distinct parts within metadata records, iii) the workflow of the measurement, iv) a common and powerful interface for the individual metrics, and v) interoperability with Java and REST APIs.


In recent years, promotional videos of mountains, seashores, and lakes have been created using drones. Shooting videos of natural landscapes with drones usually requires manual operation, and relies on the skill of the operator. However, if the intention is to shoot videos over a wide geographical area, manual operation is not sufficiently accurate. Therefore to accomplish this, and to take full advantage of the features of a drone, automatic operation is desirable. In this paper, we propose a method of safely modelling a video target and flight route. This includes planning for video shooting on the basis of a model, to realize accurate automatic video shooting of natural landscapes with drones. It was assumed that multiple drones would be operated simultaneously. Therefore, we developed an error verification method to compensate for performance differences between drones. To verify the usefulness of the method, it was used to shoot actual video images of Onuma quasi-national park in the south of Hokkaido Prefecture.


Sialidase (neuraminidase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins, glycolipids and oligosaccharides. This enzyme is widely distributed in a variety of mammalian organs including the liver, kidney and brain (Carubelli, Trucco and Caputto 1962). Sialidase in the liver is mainly localized in the lysosomes, and its biochemical characteristics have been investigated in relatively great detail (Miyagi and Tsuiki 1984; Michalski, Corfleld and


Self-help web interventions for mental health effectively follow a one-size-fits-all approach lacking the personalization of regular psychotherapy sessions and the effectiveness associated with the treatment. A scalable adaptive person-centered approach is therefore essential to non-invasively monitor symptom severity, enhance coping capabilities and increase engagement levels for maximal impact. In this work, we propose a novel approach to empower mental trauma patients, improve outcomes and EASE their suffering while reducing health-care costs. We develop machine learning algorithms that use both voluntary and involuntary feedback encapsulating the interactions of brain and body in a non-intrusive setting, by calibrating physiological arousal and engagement from face videos leading towards a hidden state of self-efficacy.


Principles of imaging Introductory nuclear magnetic resonance The influence of magnetic field gradients High resolution k-space imaging k-space microscopy in biology and minerals science The measurement of motion using spin echoes Structural imaging using q-space Spatially heterogeneous motion and dynamic NMR microscopy Elements of the NMR microscope.