This article initiates an inquiry into the sources and frameworks of value used to denote human subjects in modernity. In particular, I consider the conflation of monetary, legal, and theological registers employed to demarcate human worth. Drawing on Simmel's speculative genealogy of the money equivalent of human values, I consider the spectrum of ascriptions from specifically quantified to infinite human value. I suggest that predications of infinite human value require and imply quantified—and specifically monetary-economic—human value. Cost and worth, economically and legally defined, provide a foundation for subsequent eternal projections in a theological imaginary. This calls into question the interventionist potential of claims to infinite or unquantifiable human value as resistance to the contemporary financialization of human life and society.
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Τετάρτη 22 Ιουνίου 2016
Religions, Vol. 7, Pages 80: Speculating the Subject of Money: Georg Simmel on Human Value
Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 947: Electronic Noses for Well-Being: Breath Analysis and Energy Expenditure
The wealth of information concealed in a single human breath has been of interest for many years, promising not only disease detection, but also the monitoring of our general well-being. Recent developments in the fields of nano-sensor arrays and MEMS have enabled once bulky artificial olfactory sensor systems, or so-called "electronic noses", to become smaller, lower power and portable devices. At the same time, wearable health monitoring devices are now available, although reliable breath sensing equipment is somewhat missing from the market of physical, rather than chemical sensor gadgets. In this article, we report on the unprecedented rise in healthcare problems caused by an increasingly overweight population. We first review recently-developed electronic noses for the detection of diseases by the analysis of basic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Then, we discuss the primary cause of obesity from over eating and the high calorific content of food. We present the need to measure our individual energy expenditure from our exhaled breath. Finally, we consider the future for handheld or wearable devices to measure energy expenditure; and the potential of these devices to revolutionize healthcare, both at home and in hospitals.
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IJGI, Vol. 5, Pages 102: Exploring the Influence of Neighborhood Characteristics on Burglary Risks: A Bayesian Random Effects Modeling Approach
A Bayesian random effects modeling approach was used to examine the influence of neighborhood characteristics on burglary risks in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China. This random effects model is essentially spatial; a spatially structured random effects term and an unstructured random effects term are added to the traditional non-spatial Poisson regression model. Based on social disorganization and routine activity theories, five covariates extracted from the available data at the neighborhood level were used in the modeling. Three regression models were fitted and compared by the deviance information criterion to identify which model best fit our data. A comparison of the results from the three models indicates that the Bayesian random effects model is superior to the non-spatial models in fitting the data and estimating regression coefficients. Our results also show that neighborhoods with above average bar density and department store density have higher burglary risks. Neighborhood-specific burglary risks and posterior probabilities of neighborhoods having a burglary risk greater than 1.0 were mapped, indicating the neighborhoods that should warrant more attention and be prioritized for crime intervention and reduction. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed in our concluding section.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 950: The β-Lactamase Assay: Harnessing a FRET Biosensor to Analyse Viral Fusion Mechanisms
The β-lactamase (BlaM) assay was first revealed in 1998 and was demonstrated to be a robust Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based reporter system that was compatible with a range of commonly-used cell lines. Today, the BlaM assay is available commercially as a kit and can be utilised readily and inexpensively for an array of experimental procedures that require a fluorescence-based readout. One frequent application of the BlaM assay is the measurement of viral fusion—the moment at which the genetic material harboured within virus particles is released into the cytosol following successful entry. The flexibility of the system permits evaluation of not only total fusion levels, but also the kinetics of fusion. However, significant variation exists in the scientific literature regarding the methodology by which the assay is applied to viral fusion analysis, making comparison between results difficult. In this review we draw attention to the disparity of these methodologies and examine the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Successful strategies shown to render viruses compatible with BlaM-based analyses are also discussed.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 945: An Efficient Implementation of Fixed Failure-Rate Ratio Test for GNSS Ambiguity Resolution
Ambiguity Resolution (AR) plays a vital role in precise GNSS positioning. Correctly-fixed integer ambiguities can significantly improve the positioning solution, while incorrectly-fixed integer ambiguities can bring large positioning errors and, therefore, should be avoided. The ratio test is an extensively used test to validate the fixed integer ambiguities. To choose proper critical values of the ratio test, the Fixed Failure-rate Ratio Test (FFRT) has been proposed, which generates critical values according to user-defined tolerable failure rates. This contribution provides easy-to-implement fitting functions to calculate the critical values. With a massive Monte Carlo simulation, the functions for many different tolerable failure rates are provided, which enriches the choices of critical values for users. Moreover, the fitting functions for the fix rate are also provided, which for the first time allows users to evaluate the conditional success rate, i.e., the success rate once the integer candidates are accepted by FFRT. The superiority of FFRT over the traditional ratio test regarding controlling the failure rate and preventing unnecessary false alarms is shown by a simulation and a real data experiment. In the real data experiment with a baseline of 182.7 km, FFRT achieved much higher fix rates (up to 30% higher) and the same level of positioning accuracy from fixed solutions as compared to the traditional critical value.
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Humanities, Vol. 5, Pages 48: Zombies and Refugees: Variations on the “Post-human” and the “Non-human” in Robin Campillo’s Les Revenants (2004) and Fabrice Gobert’s Les Revenants (2012–2015)
This article examines the use of the zombie (or the "returned," the literal translation of the French term "revenant") in Fabrice Gobert's French series Les Revenants (2012–2015) as a narrative trope that evokes the recent wave of migration from Syria into Europe. In parallel, this article addresses Robin Campillo's 2004 original feature Les Revenants as it served as an inspiration for Gobert's work in 2012. Campillo's work, like Gobert's, is rooted in the treatment of refugees in France. Following the forceful closing of the Sangatte refugee camp in Calais in 2002, the Moroccan-born French filmmaker expressed his concern for the treatment of Others in France through the figure of the zombie, eventually initiating a new genre in French fiction that would serve to express and denounce the characterization of Others in France as "non-human."
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Toxins, Vol. 8, Pages 193: Tempo and Mode of the Evolution of Venom and Poison in Tetrapods
Toxic weaponry in the form of venom and poison has evolved in most groups of animals, including all four major lineages of tetrapods. Moreover, the evolution of such traits has been linked to several key aspects of the biology of toxic animals including life-history and diversification. Despite this, attempts to investigate the macroevolutionary patterns underlying such weaponry are lacking. In this study we analyse patterns of venom and poison evolution across reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds using a suite of phylogenetic comparative methods. We find that each major lineage has a characteristic pattern of trait evolution, but mammals and reptiles evolve under a surprisingly similar regime, whilst that of amphibians appears to be particularly distinct and highly contrasting compared to other groups. Our results also suggest that the mechanism of toxin acquisition may be an important distinction in such evolutionary patterns; the evolution of biosynthesis is far less dynamic than that of sequestration of toxins from the diet. Finally, contrary to the situation in amphibians, other tetrapod groups show an association between the evolution of toxic weaponry and higher diversification rates. Taken together, our study provides the first broad-scale analysis of macroevolutionary patterns of venom and poison throughout tetrapods.
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Low-Dose Carotid Computed Tomography Angiography Using Pure Iterative Reconstruction.
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Computed Tomography Imaging of a Hip Prosthesis Using Iterative Model-Based Reconstruction and Orthopaedic Metal Artefact Reduction: A Quantitative Analysis.
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Regional Lung Ventilation Analysis Using Temporally Resolved Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
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Active Surveillance of Small Renal Masses: A Review on the Role of Imaging With a Focus on Growth Rate.
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Renal Cell Carcinoma: Accuracy of Multidetector Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Renal Sinus Fat Invasion.
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Cystic Cervicitis: A Case Report and Literature Review of Cystic Cervical Lesions.
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Contrast-Enhanced Dixon Fat-Water Separation Imaging of the Spine: Added Value of Fat, In-Phase and Opposed-Phase Imaging in Marrow Lesion Detection.
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Comparison of Knowledge-based Iterative Model Reconstruction and Hybrid Reconstruction Techniques for Liver CT Evaluation of Hypervascular Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
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Periprosthetic Artifact Reduction Using Virtual Monochromatic Imaging Derived From Gemstone Dual-Energy Computed Tomography and Dedicated Software.
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Volumetric Single-Beat Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography: Relationship of Image Quality, Heart Rate, and Body Mass Index. Initial Patient Experience With a New Computed Tomography Scanner.
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Nanomaterials, Vol. 6, Pages 122: Plasma Nanoengineering and Nanofabrication
With the recent advances in nanotechnology, plasma nanofabrication has become an exciting new niche because plasma-based approaches can deliver unique structures at the nanoscale that cannot be achieved by other techniques and/or in a more economical and environmentally friendly manner.[...]
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Highly educated men are more likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumour
A new study from Karolinska Institutet published in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health shows that people of a higher socioeconomic position are more commonly diagnosed with glioma, the most common form of adult brain tumour. The results are particularly salient for men. The paper is based on a large population study including 4.3 million people born in Sweden between 1911 and 1961 who studied during the period from 1993 to 2010. The results show a correlation between socioeconomic position and the likelihood of being diagnosed with glioma that although found in both sexes was particularly strong for men. "One reason could be that people with a higher socioeconomic status tend more to seek treatment and are better at speaking for themselves," says study leader Professor Maria Feychting at the Institute of Environmental Medicine. "Surgery is needed to obtain the biopsy to establish exactly what kind of tumour a patient has. The patient's state of health generally affects the ability to operate, which can also be related to socioeconomic status." Less clear resulats Professor Feychting does not, however, think that this is the whole story, since the strength of the correlation varied according to tumour type. The results were less clear for the more benign, slow-growth meningioma and acoustic neurinoma tumours, for which the risk levels were higher, respectively, for men and women in the more highly skilled social groups. "More research is needed to ascertain the causes," says Professor Feychting. Higher risk Higher education (at least three years at university), higher income and belonging to a higher professional category (socioeconomic status) are all factors that can be associated with the likelihood of receiving a glioma diagnosis. The study also found evidence of a higher risk for married or cohabiting men. "Manifest symptoms of a brain tumour like glioma can include a personality change," says Professor Feychting. "If you're married or living with someone, you have someone around who'll notice this and make sure you see a doctor." What do you hope your study will help bring about? "It would be good if it led to a deeper analysis of the care pathway from primary care to neurosurgery, and studies of whether there are differences between men and women, and in different age groups. We also have to study if these associations change with time." The study was funded by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare Publication Socioeconomic position and the risk of brain tumour: a Swedish national population-based cohort study Amal R. Khanolkar, Rickard Ljung, Mats Talbäck, Hannah L. Brooke, Sofia Carlsson, Tiit Mathiesen and Maria Feychting Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, online 20 juni 2016, doi:10.1136/jech-2015-207002.
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Returning to KI with the bigger picture
During his postdoc period at Harvard University, Ninib Baryawno has learnt to think big, and when he returns to KI next year, he'll be bringing with him a broader view of research. It might sound mad for someone to switch to another research field when about to do their postdoc period overseas. For Ninib Baryawno, however, it was a deliberate choice. As a doctoral student, he studied medulloblastoma, a form of cancer that creates brain tumours in children and that scientists now believe to be a stem cell disease. Ninib knew even then that he wanted to learn more about stem cells, and so chose to do his postdoc period doing haematological stem cell research at Harvard University in Boston. "I switched to a research field based on completely different kinds of animal model and a different way of conducting research to what I had been used to. The research field has taken great strides forward in a short space of time, which means that the bar for what's considered high-impact research is set very high. This has made me stronger as a researcher." Being a researcher means sometimes having to take brave decisions However, it took a long time for Ninib Baryawno to learn about the field and the new complicated methods. The postdoc period, which he thought would last two or three years, is now into its fifth. The Swedish system, he says, in which grants for junior researchers can only be applied for over a limited number of years after graduation, is not suited to longer postdoc period. This has influenced his plans to return to Sweden. "But it was still right to switch disciplines, because it has been a cornerstone of my research. In combining my background in cancer research with stem cells, I've discovered my own niche. Being a researcher means sometimes having to take brave decisions, such as switching fields, which can have long-term synergy effects." Professor David Scadden, in whose Harvard group he is doing his postdoc research, is keen to obtain a good mix of expertise in his research environment. Ninib Baryawno says that the work here has made him less timid about trying new things and taking on whatever might lie outside his own expertise. He is convinced that it is when you combine people with different backgrounds and competencies that you can make interesting discoveries. "Boston's something of a paradise for researchers. People are willing to cooperate and share their expertise. One of the most important things that I can take back with me to Sweden is the network that I've established here in Boston, and that I can keep working with once I'm back at KI," he says. Important that the foundation had demonstrated faith in me and my ideas His plan has always been to return to Sweden, and to KI in particular, as he is keen to give something back to the university after having taken his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees here. KI's renown for its strong research environment plays a part in this, but also the fact that he feels that KI is a university that invests in junior researchers. He recently received a much-coveted research associateship through the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, which also gave him a large project grant. "It changed my life," he says. "Suddenly I went from that awful uncertainty to being able to breathe out and plan my future. It was also important that the foundation had demonstrated faith in me and my ideas." He will return to his medulloblastoma research and will be working close to John Inge Johnsen, his former doctoral supervisor. At the same time, he will also be doing research in Boston on bone metastases related to breast and prostate cancer. In both cases it is about studying the mechanisms that determine why some tumours develop resistance to therapy and finding new ways of preventing such drug resistance. To these ends he will be using single-cell RNA analysis on fresh patient material, which makes it possible to study gene expression in individual tissue cells to see what characterises the cells that become resistant. Scientists can get so focused on our own expertise that we forget the big question "I hope to take the step from showing that there are differences between the cells in a tumour to showing that the differences have biological significance for patients," he says. One reason why he applied to the US to do his postdoc research was that he wanted to surround himself with a different approach to research; having the courage to ask the difficult questions and to say that as a researcher you want to make a difference in your scientific field. "Cancer researchers should take that step and say that we want to find cures for most cancers and alleviate suffering. I find myself getting irritated at times by how we scientists can get so focused on our own expertise that we forget the big question: what do we have to do to solve this puzzle?" Text: Karin Söderlund Leifler Translation: Neil Betteridge Photo: Lee Hopkins Name: Ninib Baryawno, 34. Financing: Has received financing for a research associateship and project grants in the Childhood Cancer Foundation's major call for applications this spring. Career in brief: MSc in biomedicine from KI, 2005; PhD from KI, 2010; junior postdoc, 2010–2011 at KI and then in David Scadden's group at the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, 2011.
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Study protocol for a pilot, randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial of perineural local anaesthetics and steroids for chronic post-traumatic neuropathic pain in the ankle and foot: the PREPLANS study
Introduction
Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) associated with trauma is often refractory to treatment. Administration of local anaesthetics (LA) and steroids around injured nerves has been proposed as an option for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments for refractory PNP following trauma. There is insufficient evidence to support a large, potentially expensive, full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) that involves comparison of effects of perineural steroids and LA against LA or saline injections on analgesia, physical and psychological functioning, and quality of life. There is also a lack of data that would allow estimation of analgesic efficacy or sample size for the full-scale RCT. The objective of this pilot RCT is to yield information to support planning of a full-scale RCT in this population.
Methods and Analysis30 participants with post-traumatic PNP in the ankle and foot of moderate-to-severe intensity and duration of more than 3 months will be enrolled in this pilot RCT. Participants will be randomised to receive three ultrasound-guided perineural injections of 0.9% saline, 0.25% bupivacaine (a long-acting LA) or a combination of 0.25% bupivacaine and a steroid (methylprednisolone 16 mg per nerve) at weekly intervals. The primary objectives are to determine the feasibility and sample size of a full-scale RCT in this population. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the effect of study interventions on analgesia, persistence of neuropathic pain, psychological and physical function, quality of life and participants' global impression of change at 1 and 3 months after the interventions. In addition, adverse effects associated with perineural injections and with systemic absorption of steroids will also be recorded.
Ethics and DisseminationThe protocol was approved by the University Health Network Research Ethics Board (UHN REB number 15-9584-A). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.
Trial registration numberNCT02680548; Pre-results.
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Correction: Epidemiology of pertussis related paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in Australia, 1997-2013: an observational study
Kaczmarek MC, Ware RS, McEniery JA, et al. Epidemiology of pertussis related paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in Australia, 1997–2013: an observational study. BMJ Open 2016;6:e010386.
The penultimate sentence in the results section currently reads: 'As a percentage of all influenza-related ICU admissions, deaths were highest in 1997–2000 (10.6%, n=5) and 2001–2004 (12.1%, n=8).' Instead, the final sentence should be: 'As a percentage of all pertussis-related ICU admissions, deaths were highest in 1997–2000 (10.6%, n=5) and 2001–2004 (12.1%, n=8).'
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Study protocol for screening and diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia
Introduction
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause lifelong disability, including physical, cognitive and behavioural deficits, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Among individuals with FASD, engagement with justice services is common. Little is known about the prevalence of FASD among young people engaged with the Australian justice system. This study aims to establish FASD prevalence among sentenced young people in detention in Western Australia (WA), and use the findings to develop a screening tool for use among young people entering detention. Translation of these results will guide the management and support of young people in detention and will have significant implications on the lives of young people with FASD and the future of Australian youth justice services.
Methods and analysisAny sentenced young person in WA aged 10–17 years 11 months is eligible to participate. Young people are assessed for FASD by a multidisciplinary team. Standardised assessment tools refined for the Australian context are used, acknowledging the language and social complexities involved. Australian diagnostic guidelines for FASD will be applied. Information is obtained from young people, responsible adults, teachers and custodial officers. Individualised results and management plans for each young person are communicated to the young person and responsible adult. Prevalence of FASD will be reported and multivariate methods used to identify variables most predictive of FASD and to optimise the predictive value of screening.
Ethics and disseminationApprovals have been granted by the WA Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee, University of WA Human Research Ethics Committee, Department of Corrective Services, and Department for Child Protection and Family Support. Anonymised findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations and the media. Extensive consultation with stakeholders (including government agencies, detention centre staff, community service providers, the young people and their families or carers) will be ongoing until findings are disseminated and translated.
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Correction: Relationship between social cognitive theory constructs and self-reported condom use: assessment of behaviour in a subgroup of the Safe in the City trial
Snead MC, O'Leary AM, Mandel MG, et al. Relationship between social cognitive theory constructs and self-reported condom use: assessment of behaviour in a subgroup of the Safe in the City trial. BMJ Open 2014;4:e006093.
The trial registration number in this article is incorrect and should be: NCT00137370.
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Correction: Conflict of interest between professional medical societies and industry: a crosssectional study of Italian medical societies websites
Fabbri A, Gregoraci G, Tedesco D, et al. Conflict of interest between professional medical societies and industry: a crosssectional study of Italian medical societies' websites. BMJ Open 2016;6:e011124.
In the Methods section it states: 'It is also worth mentioning that Italian medical societies are regulated by a Law Decree that was approved by the Ministry of Health in May 2004.' However, the Decree was revoked by the Constitutional Court on 9th October 2006 (Judgment n. 328).
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Patient and family satisfaction levels in the intensive care unit after elective cardiac surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a preoperative patient education intervention
Introduction
Patients and their families are understandably anxious about the risk of complications and unfamiliar experiences following cardiac surgery. Providing information about postoperative care in the intensive care unit (ICU) to patients and families may lead to lower anxiety levels, and increased satisfaction with healthcare. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative patient education provided for patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.
Methods and analysis100 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft, with or without valve replacement surgery, will be recruited into a 2-group, parallel, superiority, double-blinded randomised controlled trial. Participants will be randomised to either preoperative patient education comprising of a video and ICU tour with standard care (intervention) or standard education (control). The primary outcome measures are the satisfaction levels of patients and family members with ICU care and decision-making in the ICU. The secondary outcome measures are patient anxiety and depression levels before and after surgery.
Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong—New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (reference number CREC 2015.308). The findings will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Study participants will receive a 1-page plain language summary of results.
Trial registration numberChiCTR-IOR-15006971.
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Antioxidant Activity of Marine Algal Polyphenolic Compounds: A Mechanistic Approach
Journal of Medicinal Food , Vol. 0, No. 0.
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Lactoferrin Increases Antioxidant Activities and Ameliorates Hepatic Fibrosis in Lupus-Prone Mice Fed with a High-Cholesterol Diet
Journal of Medicinal Food , Vol. 0, No. 0.
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Standardized Boesenbergia pandurata Extract Stimulates Exercise Endurance Through Increasing Mitochondrial Biogenesis
Journal of Medicinal Food , Vol. 0, No. 0.
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Aronia Melanocarpa Concentrate Ameliorates Pro-Inflammatory Responses in HaCaT Keratinocytes and 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate-Induced Ear Edema in Mice
Journal of Medicinal Food , Vol. 0, No. 0.
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Antistress Effects of Rosa rugosa Thunb. on Total Sleep Deprivation–Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior and Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat: Possible Mechanism of Action of 5-HT6 Receptor Antagonist
Journal of Medicinal Food , Vol. 0, No. 0.
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Host miRNA degradation by Herpesvirus saimiri small nuclear RNA requires an unstructured interacting region [REPORT]
Herpesvirus saimiri, an oncogenic herpesvirus, during latency produces seven small nuclear RNAs, called the Herpesvirus saimiri URNAs (HSUR1–7). HSUR1 mediates degradation of the host microRNA, miR-27, via a process that requires imperfect base-pairing. The decreased levels of miR-27 lead to prolonged T-cell activation and likely contribute to oncogenesis. To gain insight into HSUR1-mediated degradation of miR-27, we probed the in vivo secondary structure of HSUR1 and coupled this with bioinformatic structural analyses. The results suggest that HSUR1 adopts a conformation different than previously believed and that the region complementary to miR-27 lacks stable structure. To determine whether HSUR1 structural flexibility is important for its ability to mediate miR-27 degradation, we performed structurally informative mutagenic analyses of HSUR1. HSUR1 mutants in which the miR-27 binding site sequence is preserved, but sequestered in predicted helices, lose their ability to decrease miR-27 levels. These results indicate that the HSUR1 miR27-binding region must be available in a conformationally flexible segment for noncoding RNA function.
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State Legal Restrictions and Prescription-Opioid Use among Disabled Adults
States have responded to rising rates of prescription-opioid overdose by adopting laws that restrict the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. In 2010, after the adoption of many new controlled-substance restrictions, rates of prescription-opioid overdose dipped slightly before…
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AC Joint Anatomy & Classification of Injury - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim
Educational video describing AC joint injuries - Classifications.
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University Of Colorado Menieres
As anyone who has ever experienced problems with hearing loss can attest, it can be one of the most frustrating and debilitating conditions a person can experience. As a result, more and more research has been conducted in recent years to find out not only the causes of hearing issues, but how to prevent and hopefully have a cure for those who deal with these conditions. Some of the most promising research has been conducted at the University of Colorado, where researchers believe they have found not only what causes Meniere's disease, but also how to treat it in an effective manner for most patients.
What is Meniere's Disease?
According to University of Colorado Menieres researchers, Meniere's disease is a disorder resulting in numerous violent attacks of dizziness, ear ringing, and hearing loss that can last for several hours and eventually cause permanent deafness in the affected ear. With anywhere from 3-5 million people suffering from this disorder, researchers are moving quickly to find ways to treat it and eliminate it entirely.
What Causes This Disorder?
University of Colorado Menieres researchers, based on years of studying patients as well as analyzing large amounts of data, believe they may finally know what causes this extremely debilitating disorder. Based on their results, they believe the disorder is caused by a combination of two major factors, which are:
–Malformation of inner ear
–Risk factors such as smoking, migraine headaches, and sleep apnea
Based on their findings, university scientists feel that as fluid begins to build up inside the inner ear, a pressure-regulation problem is created. As a result, this lowers blood flow to the brain and ear, which in many ways resembles that which occurs in stroke victims. However, while the fluctuations are not enough to cause a stroke, they are strong enough to trigger attacks of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
Treating Meniere's Disease
While researchers have made great strides in learning what may cause Meniere's disease, University of Colorado Menieres scientists agree there is still much work to be done when it comes to treatment options. Some researchers believe many medicines now used to treat strokes or migraine headaches may be used effectively against Meniere's disease, but many clinical trials will need to be conducted to see if this is a viable option. In the meantime, patients who have this disorder may benefit by using treatment options usually applied to sleep apnea, in addition to audio therapies used to lessen the effects of tinnitus. While major treatment options may still be years away, there is no doubt this research represents a tremendous breakthrough.
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Ratiometric Fluorescence Nanoprobes for Subcellular pH Imaging with a Single-Wavelength Excitation in Living Cells
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Knockout of interleukin-17A protects against sepsis-associated acute kidney injury
Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is an independent risk factor for death in patients with sepsis, but treatment for it is limited. To improve the diagnosis and treatment of SA-AKI, we must first ...
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Determination of Nanogram Microparticles from Explosives after Real Open-Air Explosions by Confocal Raman Microscopy
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Effects of Multidentate Metal Interactions on the Structure of Collisionally Activated Proteins: Insights from Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 932: Matching Aerial Images to 3D Building Models Using Context-Based Geometric Hashing
A city is a dynamic entity, which environment is continuously changing over time. Accordingly, its virtual city models also need to be regularly updated to support accurate model-based decisions for various applications, including urban planning, emergency response and autonomous navigation. A concept of continuous city modeling is to progressively reconstruct city models by accommodating their changes recognized in spatio-temporal domain, while preserving unchanged structures. A first critical step for continuous city modeling is to coherently register remotely sensed data taken at different epochs with existing building models. This paper presents a new model-to-image registration method using a context-based geometric hashing (CGH) method to align a single image with existing 3D building models. This model-to-image registration process consists of three steps: (1) feature extraction; (2) similarity measure; and matching, and (3) estimating exterior orientation parameters (EOPs) of a single image. For feature extraction, we propose two types of matching cues: edged corner features representing the saliency of building corner points with associated edges, and contextual relations among the edged corner features within an individual roof. A set of matched corners are found with given proximity measure through geometric hashing, and optimal matches are then finally determined by maximizing the matching cost encoding contextual similarity between matching candidates. Final matched corners are used for adjusting EOPs of the single airborne image by the least square method based on collinearity equations. The result shows that acceptable accuracy of EOPs of a single image can be achievable using the proposed registration approach as an alternative to a labor-intensive manual registration process.
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Algorithms, Vol. 9, Pages 42: Joint Antenna Selection and Beamforming Algorithms for Physical Layer Multicasting with Massive Antennas
We investigate the problem of minimizing the total power consumption under the constraint of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirement for the physical layer multicasting system with large-scale antenna arrays. In contrast with existing work, we explicitly consider both the transmit power and the circuit power scaling with the number of antennas. The joint antenna selection and beamforming technique is proposed to minimize the total power consumption. The problem is a challenging one, which aims to minimize the linear combination of ℓ 0 -norm and ℓ 2 -norm. To our best knowledge, this minimization problem has not yet been well solved. A random decremental antenna selection algorithm is designed, which is further modified by an approximation of the minimal transmit power based on the asymptotic orthogonality of the channels. Then, a more efficient decremental antenna selection algorithm is proposed based on minimizing the ℓ 0 norm. Performance results show that the ℓ 0 norm minimization algorithm greatly outperforms the random selection algorithm in terms of the total power consumption and the average run time.
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IJERPH, Vol. 13, Pages 618: Compassion Fatigue among Healthcare, Emergency and Community Service Workers: A Systematic Review
Compassion fatigue (CF) is stress resulting from exposure to a traumatized individual. CF has been described as the convergence of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and cumulative burnout (BO), a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by a depleted ability to cope with one's everyday environment. Professionals regularly exposed to the traumatic experiences of the people they service, such as healthcare, emergency and community service workers, are particularly susceptible to developing CF. This can impact standards of patient care, relationships with colleagues, or lead to more serious mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression. A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce CF in healthcare, emergency and community service workers was conducted. Thirteen relevant studies were identified, the majority of which were conducted on nurses (n = 10). Three included studies focused on community service workers (social workers, disability sector workers), while no studies targeting emergency service workers were identified. Seven studies reported a significant difference post-intervention in BO (n = 4) or STS (n = 3). This review revealed that evidence of the effectiveness of CF interventions in at-risk health and social care professions is relatively recent. Therefore, we recommend more research to determine how best to protect vulnerable workers at work to prevent not only CF, but also the health and economic consequences related to the ensuing, and more disabling, physical and mental health outcomes.
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Microorganisms, Vol. 4, Pages 21: Establishment of a Quality Management System Based on ISO 9001 Standard in a Public Service Fungal Culture Collection
Collaborations between different Microbiological Resource Centres (mBRCs) and ethical sourcing practices are mandatory to guarantee biodiversity conservation, successful and sustainable preservation and fair share of benefits that arise from the use of genetic resources. Since microbial Culture Collections (CCs) are now engaged in meeting high quality operational standards, they are facing the challenge of establishing quality control criteria to certify their biological materials. The authentication/certification of strains is nowadays a demand from the bioeconomy sector for the global operation of mBRCs. The achievement of consistent quality assurance and trust within the mBRCs and microbial CCs context is a dynamic and never-ending process. A good option to facilitate that process is to implement a Quality Management System (QMS) based on the ISO 9001 standard. Here, we report a detailed description of all the steps taken for the QMS implementation at the Portuguese CC of filamentous fungi: Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM). Our aim is to provide guidelines for the certification of other CCs, so that they can also enhance the search and choice of the most consistent, reliable, and effective operating methods, with assured procedures and validation of preservation; and guarantee trustworthy relations with all stakeholders.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 938: Smart Coat with a Fully-Embedded Textile Antenna for IoT Applications
The Internet of Things (IoT) scenario is strongly related with the advance of the development of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Additionally, in the WSN context, for a continuous feed, the integration of textile antennas for energy harvesting into smart clothing is a particularly interesting solution when the replacement of batteries is not easy to practice, such as in wearable devices. This paper presents the E-Caption: Smart and Sustainable Coat. It has an embedded dual-band textile antenna for electromagnetic energy harvesting, operating at global system for mobile communication (GSM) 900 and digital cellular system (DCS) 1800 bands. This printed antenna is fully integrated, as its dielectric is the textile material composing the coat itself. The E-Caption illustrates the innovative concept of textile antennas that can be manipulated as simple emblems. Seven prototypes of these "emblem" antennas, manufactured by lamination and embroidering techniques are also presented. It is shown that the orientation of the conductive fabric does not influence the performance of the antenna. It is also shown that the direction and number of the stitches in the embroidery may influence the performance of the antenna. Moreover, the comparison of results obtained before and after the integration of the antenna into cloth shows the integration does not affect the behavior of the antenna.
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Atoms, Vol. 4, Pages 18: A Wigner Function Approach to Coherence in a Talbot-Lau Interferometer
Using a thermal gas, we model the signal of a trapped interferometer. This interferometer uses two short laser pulses, separated by time T, which act as a phase grating for the matter waves. Near time 2 T , there is an echo in the cloud's density due to the Talbot-Lau effect. Our model uses the Wigner function approach and includes a weak residual harmonic trap. The analysis shows that the residual potential limits the interferometer's visibility, shifts the echo time of the interferometer, and alters its time dependence. Loss of visibility can be mitigated by optimizing the initial trap frequency just before the interferometer cycle begins.
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Religions, Vol. 7, Pages 78: Possessions and Identity: Job’s Problems and Ours
Recent research undertaken in the fields of anthropology and consumer behavior indicates that possessions play an important role in the construction of identity. While it is tempting to view both the connection between possessions and identity and the problems this engenders as a recent phenomenon, the Book of Job also recognizes this connection and is cognizant of its problematic nature. While Job does not offer answers to our contemporary dilemmas of possession, the book highlights the nuances of the problem as they existed in its own time and place, with all characters offering different perspectives on how the connection should be understood and how one ought to live in consequence of this understanding.
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Outcome of Home-Based Early Intervention for Autism in Sri Lanka: Follow-Up of a Cohort and Comparison with a Nonintervention Group
This paper presents the outcome of a home-based autism intervention program (HBAIP) in 18- to 40-month-old children newly diagnosed and treatment naïve. Intervention was exclusively implemented at home. Outcome was measured at 3 months and 6 months after intervention and compared with a group of newly diagnosed children with autism who were >40 months at intake but had not received any autism specific clinical management. Aim was also to estimate whether natural development would contribute to gain in skills and compare with the effect of intervention. Five selected parameters of behavior representing social interaction and social communication were used to assess outcome. Results showed a statistically significant improvement between preintervention and postintervention in all the measured parameters. The effect size was large when compared to preintervention and gains were indicated by changes in mean scores and values within a narrow confidence interval. Highest gains were in first 3 months of postintervention which continued up to 6 months. Although the comparison group was more advanced in the measured skills at intake, they were significantly below the level reached by experimental group at 3 months and 6 months after intervention. This study was registered in the Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (SLCTR/2009/011).
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Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in Patients with Large Uteri: Comparison of Uterine Removal by Transvaginal and Uterine Morcellation Approaches
The aim of this study was to compare the clinical results of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for large uterus with uterus size of 12 gestational weeks (g.w.) or greater through transvaginal or uterine morcellation approaches. We retrospectively collected the clinical data of those undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomies between January 2004 and June 2012. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared between patients whose large uterus was removed through transvaginal or morcellation approaches. The morcellation group has significantly shorter mean operation time and uterus removal time and smaller incidence of intraoperative complications than the transvaginal group (all ). No statistical significant difference regarding the mean blood loss, uterine weight, and length of hospital stay was noted in the morcellation and transvaginal groups (all ). In two groups, there was one patient in each group who underwent conversion to laparotomy due to huge uterus size. With regard to postoperative complications, there was no statistical significant difference regarding the frequencies of pelvic hematoma, vaginal stump infection, and lower limb venous thrombosis in two groups (all ). TLH through uterine morcellation can reduce the operation time, uterus removal time, and the intraoperative complications and provide comparable postoperative outcomes compared to that through the transvaginal approaches.
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Systems, Vol. 4, Pages 25: Improved Time Response of Stabilization in Synchronization of Chaotic Oscillators Using Mathematica
Chaotic dynamics are an interesting topic in nonlinear science that has been intensively studied during the last three decades due to its wide availability. Motivated by much researches on synchronization, the authors of this study have improved the time response of stabilization when parametrically excited Φ6—Van der Pol Oscillator (VDPO) and Φ6—Duffing Oscillator (DO) are synchronized identically as well as non-identically (with each other) using the Linear Active Control (LAC) technique using Mathematica. Furthermore, the authors have synchronized the same pairs of the oscillators using a more robust synchronization with faster time response of stability called Robust Adaptive Sliding Mode Control (RASMC). A comparative study has been done between the previous results of Njah's work and our results based on Mathematica via LAC. The time response of stabilization of synchronization using RASMC has been discussed.
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Catalysts, Vol. 6, Pages 91: Photocatalytic Removal of Microbiological Consortium and Organic Matter in Greywater
This study aimed to investigate TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of synthetically-prepared greywater samples with differing compositional contents of organic matter (OM), anion concentration, and microbiological consortium. Treatment efficiency was followed through removal of organic matter content in terms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), specific spectroscopic parameters, and bacterial inactivation. Photocatalytic degradation kinetics were expressed by pseudo first-order kinetic modeling. The best DOC removal rates were attained for greywater samples containing OM with lower molecular size fractions. In addition, either enhancing or reducing the effect of common anions as radical scavengers were observed depending on the composition and concentration of variables in the greywater matrix. Moreover, possibility of a photocatalytic disinfection process was found to be of a bacteria type specific in OM-loaded synthetic greywater samples. Photocatalytic destruction of fecal streptococci required longer irradiation periods under all conditions. Bacterial removal rates were found to be in the order of total coliform > fecal coliform > fecal streptococci, for low organic load greywater, and fecal coliform > total coliform > fecal streptococci, for high organic load greywater.
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Climate, Vol. 4, Pages 33: Biofuel Development Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges
In recent years, biofuels have emerged as a suitable alternative to hydrocarbon fuel due to their foreseen potential of being a future energy resource. Biofuel development initiatives have been successfully implemented in countries like Brazil, United States of America, European Union, Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, such programmes have been stagnant in Africa due to various constraints, such as financial barriers, technical expertise, land availability, and government policies. Nonetheless, some countries within the continent have realized the potential of biofuels and have started to introduce similar programmes and initiatives for their development. These include the bioethanol production initiatives and the plantation of jatropha oil seeds in most Sub-Saharan African countries for biodiesel production. Therefore, this paper examines the biofuel development initiatives that have been implemented in several countries across Sub-Saharan Africa over the past few years. It also discusses the opportunities and challenges of having biofuel industries in the continent. Finally, it proposes some recommendations that could be applied to accelerate their development in these Sub-Saharan African countries.
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Nutrients, Vol. 8, Pages 384: Association between Body Mass Index and All-Cause Mortality in Hypertensive Adults: Results from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT)
The association between elevated body mass index (BMI) and risk of death has been reported in many studies. However, the association between BMI and all-cause mortality for hypertensive Chinese adults remains unclear. We conducted a post-hoc analysis using data from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the significance of the association of BMI with all-cause mortality. During a mean follow-up duration of 4.5 years, 622 deaths (3.0%) occurred among the 20,694 participants aged 45–75 years. A reversed J-shaped relationship was observed between BMI and all-cause mortality. The hazard ratios (HRs) for underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), overweight (24.0–27.9 kg/m2), and obesity (≥28.0 kg/m2) were calculated relative to normal weight (18.5–23.9 kg/m2). The summary HRs were 1.56 (95% CI, 1.11–2.18) for underweight, 0.78 (95% CI 0.64–0.95) for overweight and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.48–0.85) for obesity. In sex-age-specific analyses, participants over 60 years of age had optimal BMI in the obesity classification and the results were consistent in both males and females. Relative to normal weight, underweight was associated with significantly higher mortality. Excessive weight was not associated with increased risk of mortality. Chinese hypertensive adults had the lowest mortality in grade 1 obesity.
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Lubricants, Vol. 4, Pages 22: Towards Phosphorus Free Ionic Liquid Anti-Wear Lubricant Additives
The development of improved anti-wear additives would enable the use of lower viscosity oils that would lead to improved efficiency. Ionic liquids have the potential to be this type of new anti-wear additive. However, currently the best performing ionic liquids that are miscible in non-polar base oils, the phosphonium phosphates, contain phosphorus on both the cation and anion. Manufacturers are seeking to reduce the presence of phosphorus in oils. Here, as a first step towards phosphorus-free anti-wear additives, we have investigated ionic liquids similar to the phosphonium phosphates but having either a phosphorus-free cation or anion. Two quaternary ammonium phosphates (N6,6,6,14)(BEHP) and (N8,8,8,8)(BEHP) and a phosphonium silyl-sulfonate (P6,6,6,14)(SSi) were compared to a phosphonium phosphate (P6,6,6,14)(BEHP) and a traditional zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP) as anti-wear additives in mineral oil. The change from a phosphonium to a quaternary ammonium cation drastically reduced the miscibility of the Ionic liquid (IL) in the oil, while the change to a smaller silicon containing anion also resulted in limited miscibility. For the pin-on-disk wear test conditions used here none of the ionic liquids outperformed the ZDDP except the (P6,6,6,14)(BEHP) at a relatively high loading of 0.10 mol·kg−1 (approximately 8 wt%). At a more moderate loading of 0.025 mol·kg−1 the (P6,6,6,14)(SSi) was the best performing ionic liquid by a significant amount, reducing the wear to 44% of the neat mineral oil, while the ZDDP reduced the wear to 25% of the mineral oil value. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the presence of a silicon containing tribofilm was responsible for this protective behaviour, suggesting that silicon containing ionic liquids should be further investigated as anti-wear additives for oils.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 935: Electrochemical Sensing toward Trace As(III) Based on Mesoporous MnFe2O4/Au Hybrid Nanospheres Modified Glass Carbon Electrode
Au nanoparticles decorated mesoporous MnFe2O4 nanocrystal clusters (MnFe2O4/Au hybrid nanospheres) were used for the electrochemical sensing of As(III) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Modified on a cheap glass carbon electrode, these MnFe2O4/Au hybrid nanospheres show favorable sensitivity (0.315 μA/ppb) and limit of detection (LOD) (3.37 ppb) toward As(III) under the optimized conditions in 0.1 M NaAc-HAc (pH 5.0) by depositing for 150 s at the deposition potential of −0.9 V. No obvious interference from Cd(II) and Hg(II) was recognized during the detection of As(III). Additionally, the developed electrode displayed good reproducibility, stability, and repeatability, and offered potential practical applicability for electrochemical detection of As(III) in real water samples. The present work provides a potential method for the design of new and cheap sensors in the application of electrochemical determination toward trace As(III) and other toxic metal ions.
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Electronics, Vol. 5, Pages 31: InAlGaN/GaN HEMTs at Cryogenic Temperatures
We report on the electron transport properties of two-dimensional electron gas confined in a quaternary barrier InAlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure down to cryogenic temperatures for the first time. A state-of-the-art electron mobility of 7340 cm2·V−1·s−1 combined with a sheet carrier density of 1.93 × 1013 cm−2 leading to a remarkably low sheet resistance of 44 Ω/□ are measured at 4 K. A strong improvement of Direct current (DC) and Radio frequency (RF) characteristics is observed at low temperatures. The excellent current and power gain cutoff frequencies (fT/fmax) of 65/180 GHz and 95/265 GHz at room temperature and 77 K, respectively, using a 0.12 μm technology confirmed the outstanding 2DEG properties.
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Entropy, Vol. 18, Pages 234: Constant Slope Maps and the Vere-Jones Classification
We study continuous countably-piecewise monotone interval maps and formulate conditions under which these are conjugate to maps of constant slope, particularly when this slope is given by the topological entropy of the map. We confine our investigation to the Markov case and phrase our conditions in the terminology of the Vere-Jones classification of infinite matrices.
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IJERPH, Vol. 13, Pages 620: Trends in Between-Country Health Equity in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1990 to 2011: Improvement, Convergence and Reversal
It is not clear whether between-country health inequity in Sub-Saharan Africa has been reduced over time due to economic development and increased foreign investments. We used the World Health Organization's data about 46 nations in Sub-Saharan Africa to test if under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) and life expectancy (LE) converged or diverged from 1990 to 2011. We explored whether the standard deviation of selected health indicators decreased over time (i.e., sigma convergence), and whether the less developed countries moved toward the average level in the group (i.e., beta convergence). The variation of U5MR between countries became smaller from 1990 to 2001. Yet this sigma convergence trend did not continue after 2002. Life expectancy in Africa from 1990–2011 demonstrated a consistent convergence trend, even after controlling for initial differences of country-level factors. The lack of consistent convergence in U5MR partially resulted from the fact that countries with higher U5MR in 1990 eventually performed better than those countries with lower U5MRs in 1990, constituting a reversal in between-country health inequity. Thus, international aid agencies might consider to reassess the funding priority about which countries to invest in, especially in the field of early childhood health.
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Sustainability, Vol. 8, Pages 585: Evaluation of Sustainable Development of Resources-Based Cities in Shanxi Province Based on Unascertained Measure
An index system is established for evaluating the level of sustainable development of resources-based cities, and each index is calculated based on the unascertained measure model for 11 resources-based cities in Shanxi Province in 2013 from three aspects; namely, economic, social, and resources and environment. The result shows that Taiyuan City enjoys a high level of sustainable development and integrated development of economy, society, and resources and environment. Shuozhou, Changzhi, and Jincheng have basically realized sustainable development. However, Yangquan, Linfen, Lvliang, Datong, Jinzhong, Xinzhou and Yuncheng have a low level of sustainable development and urgently require a transition. Finally, for different cities, we propose different countermeasures to improve the level of sustainable development.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 942: A Low Cost/Low Power Open Source Sensor System for Automated Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing
In this research an open source, low power sensor node was developed to check the growth of mycobacteria in a culture bottle with a nitrate reductase assay method for a drug susceptibility test. The sensor system reports the temperature and color sensor output frequency change of the culture bottle when the device is triggered. After the culture process is finished, a nitrite ion detecting solution based on a commercial nitrite ion detection kit is injected into the culture bottle by a syringe pump to check bacterial growth by the formation of a pigment by the reaction between the solution and the color sensor. Sensor status and NRA results are broadcasted via a Bluetooth low energy beacon. An Android application was developed to collect the broadcasted data, classify the status of cultured samples from multiple devices, and visualize the data for the end users, circumventing the need to examine each culture bottle manually during a long culture period. The authors expect that usage of the developed sensor will decrease the cost and required labor for handling large amounts of patient samples in local health centers in developing countries. All 3D-printerable hardware parts, a circuit diagram, and software are available online.
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Sustainability, Vol. 8, Pages 584: The Rise of the Food Risk Society and the Changing Nature of the Technological Treadmill
Economic development of transition and developed countries is associated with increasingly unhealthy dietary habits among low-income population segments. Drawing on Ulrich Beck's sociological theory of risk society, the present research note calls attention to the positive relation between national economic development and food risks that result in the rise of food-related diseases and healthcare costs. On this basis, we argue that the knowledge-intensive agribusiness may translate Cochrane's technological treadmill into Beck's risk treadmill that shifts a growing share of food-related healthcare costs from producers toward consumers, state, and the healthcare system. This argument motivates a novel research program dealing with the "food risk treadmill" that emerges in response to modern farming and agribusiness practices. Awareness of the food risk treadmill may help to streamline the development of agricultural science and to prevent it from being excessively dominated by the agricultural and food industry.
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Nutrients, Vol. 8, Pages 375: Nutritional Intake and Status of Cobalamin and Folate among Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Cobalamin and folate are especially important for women of childbearing age due to their ubiquitous role in fetal growth and development. Population-based data on cobalamin and folate status are lacking from Nepal, where diets are mostly vegetarian. The objectives of the study were to investigate cobalamin and folate intake and status, and to explore associations with socio-demographics, anthropometrics, anemia, and dietary habits. Following a random selection of geographical clusters, we collected blood samples from 500 non-pregnant women and 24-h dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires from a subsample of 379 women. Twenty percent of the women did not consume any food containing cobalamin during the days recalled, and in 72% nutritional cobalamin intake was <1 μg/day. Eighty-four percent of the women had cobalamin intake lower than the estimated average requirement (EAR) (<2 μg/day). In contrast, only 12% of the women had a folate intake less than 100 μg per day, whereas 62% had intake between 100 and 320 μg. Low plasma cobalamin (<150 pmol/L) was found in 42% of the women, most of whom (88%) also had elevated levels of methylmalonic acid. Our results indicated a high prevalence of nutritional cobalamin deficiency, while folate deficiency was uncommon.
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Religions, Vol. 7, Pages 79: Revising the Modern Moral Paradigm with the Book of Proverbs
The modern moral paradigm champions a codified format, where ethics is conceived of as and conveyed by means of law. Among the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, the book of Proverbs offers an alternative to modern codified morality. I consider a concern shared by ancient and modern societies—communication ethics—to argue that through Proverbs' focus on character, wisdom, and the Lord, the book could revise the way we think about, articulate, and act upon the modern moral paradigm.
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Informatics, Vol. 3, Pages 9: Back-Off Time Calculation Algorithms in WSN
In a Mobile Wireless Sensor Mesh Network (MWSMN), based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, low power consumption is vitally important since the network devices are mostly battery driven. This is especially true for devices dependent on small form factors, such as those used in wireless sensor network. This paper proposes four new approaches to reduce the Back-Off Time in ZigBee standard in order to minimize the collisions caused by transmission between neighbouring nodes within the mesh network. The four alternate algorithms for the Back-Off Time calculation are compared to the ZigBee standard Back-Off Time algorithm regarding their energy needs using the simulation suite OPNET Modeler. To study the behaviour of the parameters of all algorithms in all scenarios, the statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) has been used and it shows that the null hypotheses are rejected except for one case. The results show that the two passive algorithms Tabu Search and Simulated Annealing search techniques are suitable for battery-driven, energy-sensible networks. The Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) approaches increase throughput and reduce the packet loss but cost more in terms of energy due to the implementation of additional control packets. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first approach for MWSMN that uses the Swarm Intelligence technique and the search solution algorithm for the Back-Off Time optimization.
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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 886: Evaluating Soil Moisture Status Using an e-Nose
The possibility of distinguishing different soil moisture levels by electronic nose (e-nose) was studied. Ten arable soils of various types were investigated. The measurements were performed for air-dry (AD) soils stored for one year, then moistened to field water capacity and finally dried within a period of 180 days. The volatile fingerprints changed during the course of drying. At the end of the drying cycle, the fingerprints were similar to those of the initial AD soils. Principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis showed that e-nose results can be used to distinguish soil moisture. It was also shown that different soils can give different e-nose signals at the same moistures.
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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182,0030693260717...
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heory of COVID-19 pathogenesis Publication date: November 2020Source: Medical Hypotheses, Volume 144Author(s): Yuichiro J. Suzuki ScienceD...
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