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Background: Violence exacts staggering personal and financial costs – a burden disproportionally born by adolescents and young adults. This may be partially due to an increased sensitivity to social rejection during this critical phase of development. Irritability, a transdiagnostic symptom, is often elicited by social interactions. Yet, little is known about age differences in social rejection‐elicited aggression and irritability. Progress toward testing such relations has been hindered by a lack of ecologically‐valid tasks that enable the measurement of in‐the‐moment social rejection‐elicited aggression. Methods: In this paper, we describe an initial study of young adults (n = 55) that demonstrates the efficacy of a novel Virtual School and Aggression Paradigm (VS‐AP). Next, we replicate these results in a second study of adolescents and young adults (ages 11–25 years; n = 173) and examine relations between social rejection‐elicited aggression, irritability, and age. Results: We found that aggressive behavior in the VS‐AP differed for accepting, rejecting, and unpredictable peer types (Study 1: F(2, 108) = 20.57, p <.001, ε2 =.28; Study 2: F(2, 344) = 152.13, p <.001, ε2 =.47), demonstrating that the VS‐AP successfully models social rejection‐elicited aggression. In Study 2, age was negatively correlated with aggressive behavior (r = −.29, p <.001) and irritability (r = −.28, p <.001), while irritability was positively correlated with aggressive behavior (r =.28, p <.001). Age moderated the relation between social rejection‐elicited aggression and irritability. Specifically, irritability was more predictive of aggression in young adults than in adolescents (F(3, 167) = 7.07, p <.001). Conclusions: Data suggest mechanisms promoting rejection‐elicited aggression may differ across development and vary for those with and without high levels of irritability. The VS‐AP is a promising tool for probing neurocognitive, developmental, and clinically relevant mechanisms underlying social rejection‐elicited aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the essential layers in most Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is the pooling layer, which is placed right after the convolution layer, effectively downsampling the input and reducing the computational power required. Different pooling methods have been proposed over the years, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, rendering them a better fit for different applications. We introduce a benchmark between many of these methods that highlights an optimal choice for different scenarios depending on each project's individual needs, whether it is detail retention, performance, or overall computational speed requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discusses challenges and proposed solutions to caring for obese older adults in the U.S. that emerged from a roundtable discussion about equitable aging and obesity organized by the U.S. organization the National Council on Aging in October 2021. According to the article, the panel discussed racial and ethnic disparities concerning obesity, body mass index (BMI), and accessibility to health care services and treatment.

Internal embryonic brooding has been suggested as an adaptation to enhance reproductive success in minute gastropods. It is rare in vetigastropods, previously known in only two species of Spectamen Iredale, 1924 (Solariellidae) from South Africa. Herein it is confirmed in the temperate Australian micro-snail Tricolia rosea (Angas, 1867), with up to 46 embryos observed within a gravid female. Embryos are brooded to an advanced stage, possessing a translucent, calcified shell and a calcified operculum. The initial protoconch is colourless, spirally sculptured and delineated by a consistent axial demarcation at the 0.75 whorl mark, when it measures 320 µm across. Beyond this, the second part of the protoconch is tinted pink, the strong spiral sculpture continues but the ribs and interstices are broader, with smoother surface microsculpture. At the 1.1 to 1.125 whorl mark the protoconch measures 400 µm across when transition to smooth teleoconch sculpture occurs. No brooded embryos possessed teleoconch sculpture. The potential relationship of protoconch morphology to embryonic development, hatching, feeding and release are considered. The mechanism of fertilisation is unknown, but embryos in a brood are at the same developmental stage. Unanswered questions in embryonic development and problems with protoconch terminologies in vetigastropods are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of finding the mapping between unimoduar transformations relating two minimal matrix fraction descriptions (MFDs) of a transfer function, and the similarity transformations relating the respective minimal state-space representations is considered. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to finding the relation of MFDs of the input-state transfer functions of the two systems. This relation turns out to be an equivalence relation involving the unimodular and the similarity matrices relating the MFDs and the state-space systems, respectively. A canonical form for MFDs under this equivalence relation is obtained and it is shown that it leads to a canonical state-space representation, via a realisation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative variational modal analysis technique is contributed by this study. Although the weak form of the Maxwell equations is employed, instead of using the finite elements technique, the authors utilise entire/global domain vectorial basis functions. In such a case, to assist performance, the basis functions must comply with the boundary conditions. Since in general, this is a difficult task, they adopt the following strategy. They transform the initial convex cavity using coordinate transformation to a canonical one, where a known complete set of vectorial basis functions exist. Then, taking advantage of the form invariance property of the Maxwell equations, in the transformed domain, the authors solve the canonical variational problem and acquire the respective solution to the initial problem by the inverse electromagnetics transformation. Summarising, the contributing concept is to employ a coordinate transformation to a canonical shape employing 'transformation electromagnetics' approach as a pre-processing tool to enlarge the scope of a classical electomagnetics (EM) variational eigenanalysis using the canonical shape's vector modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine microgastropod genusScalaronobaPowell, 1927 (Gastropoda: Aclididae?) is recorded from Australia for the first time, with the new speciesScalaronoba kryptopleurakian. sp. andScalaronoba arenulan. sp. described from central Victoria. Three other indeterminate Victorian specimens are illustrated and discussed. These are the first records for the genus outside New Zealand. The uncertainty of the familial placement ofScalaronobais discussed. These species are noted as being amongst the smallest gastropods to be recorded from Victorian waters.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:98860E57-6EC0-4F15-93D7-34A823E41E07 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective Preserving soft and hard tissues after extraction and implant placement is crucial for anterior esthetics. This technique will show how the information gathered from a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of the maxillary left central incisor and an intra-oral digital impression can be merged to fabricate a CAD/CAM crown-root matrix to be used as an immediate provisional restoration that mimics the natural anatomy. Clinical Considerations Due to trauma, a left central incisor appeared to be fractured and was scheduled for extraction and implant placement. The crown-root configuration captured by the CBCT scan was merged with the digital files from an intra-oral digital impression. A CAD/CAM crown-root matrix was fabricated. Because the matrix shell was fabricated with the exact anatomy of the natural tooth, it replicated the position and three dimensional anatomy of the soft and hard tissue. It was connected to the implant with a customized provisional abutment. A digital impression of a coded healing abutment was made to fabricate the final implant abutment and final restoration. Throughout the treatment time and 36 months after completion, the thickness of tissue, emergence profile, and adjacent papilla was analyzed by clinical evaluation and photography and seemed to be maintained. Conclusion The use of a pre-operative intra-oral digital scan of the clinical crown-root architecture and the CBCT scan of the bone/root anatomy, can be used together to fabricate a CAD/CAM crown-root form provisional matrix. This digital design helps in the preservation of the 3D tissue topography, as well as the final restoration. Clinical Significance The preservation of soft and hard tissue after extraction and implant placement has always been paramount for ideal anterior implant esthetics. Using the information from digital files from CBCT scans and intra-oral scans may help the clinician identify critical anatomical features that can be replicated in the provisional and final CAD/CAM restoration. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:13-21, 2017) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The external morphology and movement of a living specimen of the minute gastropod Sukashitrochus pulcher (Petterd, 1884) is reported and the findings compared with the reported morphologies of other species of Sukashitrochus and scissurellids more generally. Although some scissurellids exhibit swimming behaviour, there is no evidence that temperate Australian Sukashitrochus species possess this ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic studies have identified a number of loci demonstrating linkage to type 1 diabetes. One of the largest single contributors to genetic susceptibility, after the major histocompatability complex, is the IDDM2 locus, which maps to a nontranscribed variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) minisatellite upstream of the insulin (INS) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) genes. In a progression from population to functional studies, recent reports have shown that VNTR susceptibility alleles (class I) have different transcriptional effects on INS than protective VNTR alleles (class III) in thymus and pancreas, two tissues important in the pathogenesis of the disease. Similar VNTR transcriptional effects on IGF2 have also been proposed as a mechanism by which the IDDM2 locus confers susceptibility in addition to, or instead of, effects on INS. We evaluated this hypothesis by comparing IGF2 expression levels from chromosomes with the protective class III alleles to those with class I alleles in tissues relevant to type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. In thymus, class III alleles were associated with an IGF2 mRNA level of 4.7 +/- 0.9 (mean +/- SE, arbitrary units, n = 12) compared with 4.7 +/- 1.3 for class I alleles (n = 17). The same absence of a significant difference was found in pancreas, where class III alleles were associated with a level of 28.4 +/- 4.2 (n = 7) and class I alleles with a level of 29.5 +/- 5.2 (n = 6). There was a significant correlation between fetal age and IGF2 in both tissues, but fetal ages were not different in the genotype groups compared. We therefore did not detect any significant difference in IGF2 mRNA levels associated with the protective class of VNTR alleles as compared with the predisposing class. This is evidence against the hypotheses that have suggested IGF2 is a mediator of IDDM2-encoded susceptibility and corroborates previous studies suggesting insulin is the gene involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rabeprazole produces a profound and long-lasting inhibition of gastric acid secretion. The aim of the study was to monitor the safety and efficacy of rabeprazole administered to patients with erosive or symptomatic non-erosive reflux disease, in real-life healthcare settings. Methods Male and female patients, aged ≥18 years, with endoscopy diagnosed GERD were included; patients received at least 8 weeks treatment with rabeprazole. Changes in severity of symptoms recorded on the Likert scale were analysed using marginal homogeneity tests. Results 186 patients were enrolled across 17 study sites; 127 patients (68.3%) completed the study. Almost 75% of patients had an initial diagnosis of GERD with Grade A or B esophagitis. The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea, flatulence, dizziness, cough, abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain and somnolence. Over half of AEs were unrelated to study drug; 1 severe AE of diarrhea was possibly related to study drug. No new AEs were reported not included in the current version of Summary of Product Characteristics. Rabeprazole was effective in reducing the symptoms of GERD; the Likert scale scores of symptoms decreased significantly for all patients from 0-4 weeks and 4-8 weeks. Conclusions In our study, rabeprazole was safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of GERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species ofPelycidionP. Fischerinde Folin & Périer, 1873 are described from temperate Australia on the basis of shells:Pelycidion eukyrtosn. sp. from central Victoria,P. caperovertexn. sp. andP. kratycylindrosn. sp. from southwest Australia andP. meizonarchein. sp. from southern Tasmania. Two additional congeneric specimens are known from the region and discussed; one of these, from the Tasman Sea, is illustrated and likely represents a new species. Collectively, these specimens are the first members of the genus and family to be recorded from temperate Australia. A brief overview of the described species ofPelycidionis given. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The disturbance decoupling and the simultaneous disturbance and input–output decoupling problems for singular systems are considered in the context of the matrix fraction description (MFD) of the system. Solvability conditions are obtained in terms of the composite matrix of a column reduced MFD of the system, a characterisation of the fixed poles of both problems is given and it is shown that the remaining poles can be arbitrarily assigned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we design and study the performance of a Medium Access Control (MAC) scheme for the multiplexing and the integrated delivery of voice, mobile messaging, IP, gaming and H.264 videoconference traffic over a high-speed cellular TDMA channel with errors and capture. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first papers in the literature investigating the integration of actual H.264 video traces and gaming traffic with other types of traffic over wireless networks. Our results show that the proposed scheme achieves high throughput results while preserving the strict Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of each traffic type, and outperforms two efficient schemes previously proposed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Semen availability in ram semen processing facilities is of great importance for the genetic improvement of sheep. Accordingly, any method that would increase sperm viability in low viability ejaculates could be useful. In this study, the possibility of a glass beads filtration method by estimating the beads total surface provided (TSP) for adhesion of spermatozoa, was evaluated. Initially, two different TSP (102 and 154 cm2) achieved by various sizes of beads (1500, 2000 and 3000 μm) were tested and no significant difference in sperm viability improvement was noticed for the same TSP by different beads (p > 0.05). Next optimization tests were performed in which three different funnels were used for filtration at a standard TSP (154 cm2). The pear-shaped funnel was found to be the most appropriate for filtration, as semen volume recovery and sperm viability improvement were more pronounced (p < 0.05). Finally, filtration tests were conducted with pear-shaped funnels with different TSP (102 and 154 cm2) obtained by the aforementioned beads sizes (1500, 2000 and 3000 μm) in equal aliquots. Total surface provided of 102 cm2 proved to be the more appropriate for filtration than 154 cm2, as shown by the significant improvement of sperm viability (p < 0.01) and the significantly higher filtrate semen volume (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ram sperm viability improvement by more than 20% of its initial value and semen volume recovery by more than 60%, along with the fact that the total filtration time did not exceed 6 min in any case, suggest that through further development this method could be successfully used during ram semen processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adiponectin possesses anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing and anti-atherosclerotic properties. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of serum adiponectin in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C and B and correlate them with parameters exploring insulin resistance and indices of chronic liver disease. Seventy-two patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and 73 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, matched for age and sex, were studied. All individuals were examined for serum concentrations of adiponectin, insulin, C-peptide and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Viral parameters and liver histology were also evaluated. Serum adiponectin levels were significantly higher in HCV compared with HBV-infected patients. Correlation analysis in the whole group demonstrated that serum adiponectin was positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, globulins, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and staging score, while it was negatively correlated with body mass index, insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR. Logistic regression analysis identified type of infection (HCV vs HBV), alcohol consumption more than 25 g daily, serum total globulin and low C-peptide as significant predictive variables associated with high adiponectin levels. Higher levels of serum adiponectin in HCV compared with HBV patients could have a role in the slower disease progression of chronic HCV infection. In addition, alcohol intake more than 25 g daily seems to be a significant predictor for hyperadiponectinaemia in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C or B. Finally, in this study, a clear positive association between adiponectin and hepatic necroinflammation or staging score was not found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Both call admission control (CAC) and efficient scheduling are of great importance in next generation wireless networks, which are expected to handle various types of highly demanding multimedia users. In this paper, we present and evaluate a new mechanism which combines CAC with bandwidth allocation in a high-speed downlink time division multiple access (TDMA) wireless channel with errors; our mechanism incorporates predictions of the wireless channel condition in its decision making and our results show that, with the use of the feedback between the scheduler and the admission controller, system performance is significantly enhanced (in terms of voice-WAP-SMS-H.263 video QoS) compared to a scheme without prediction on the channel condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The autoregulatory control of retrobulbar blood flow in response to postural challenge was investigated in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients in comparison with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and healthy volunteers. Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants and Controls: Twenty POAG patients, 20 NTG patients, and 20 control subjects. Methods: Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) in the short posterior ciliary artery (SPCA), central retinal artery (CRA) and ophthalmic artery (OA) were recorded after a change from sitting upright to a supine body position using color Doppler imaging. Main Outcome Measures: Peak systolic velocity, EDV, and RI. Results: Ten minutes after postural change to a supine position, blood flow velocities in the SPCA remained unchanged in controls, whereas a significant increase of PSV and EDV was found in both glaucoma groups. The RI in the SPCA was significantly lowered in the NTG group. Recordings for the OA and CRA showed a significant increase in EDV and significant decrease in RI in all 3 groups; a significant increase in PSV in the CRA was detected only in the NTG group. Conclusions: The unaltered flow velocities in the SPCA of healthy controls may indicate tight autoregulatory control, whereas the flow velocities in the CRA and OA appeared to follow alterations in hydrostatic pressure. In contrast, NTG and POAG patients demonstrated an insufficient compensatory response to postural change, leading to accelerated flow in the SPCA. This compromised autoregulatory control could represent another contributing factor in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The novel vanadium bromide (V/Br) redox flow cell employs a vanadium(II)/vanadium(III) couple in the negative half-cell and a Br−/Br3 − couple in the positive half-cell, using a mixture of vanadium bromide, hydrobromic acid and hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte in both half-cells. An ion exchange membrane separates the two V/Br half-cell electrolytes. In this project, small test cell cycling experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of a range of ion exchange membranes in the V/Br redox flow cell. The features and charge/discharge results of the V/Br redox flow cell will also be discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this atypical case of sarcoidosis with an unusual combination of clinical and laboratory findings, a 32-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of thoracic pain complicated with dyspnea. Laboratory tests, chest radiography, and CT scans of the chest and abdomen revealed eosinophilia of pleural effusion and blood, pleural thickening, hepatosplenomegaly, and bronchiolitis obliterans. In cases such as this, in which pleural fluid eosinophilia is accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia and splenohepatomegaly, underlying malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma should be ruled out. A biopsy of the mediastinal lymph nodes suggested noncaseating epithelioid granulomas, characteristic of sarcoidosis. The patient underwent prednisolone therapy for 1 year and is doing well 2 years after initial diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conformers of the 2-, 3- and 4-substituted phenolic cation radicals, 2-X-, 3-X- and 4-X-ArOH·+, and the respective phenoxyl radicals, ArO·, the intramolecular hydrogen bond strength (ΔHintra) estimate along with the electronic effects of five electron withdrawing (EWG) and eight electron donating groups (EDG) on the gas-phase O–H proton dissociation enthalpies, (PDEs), of the short-lived, 2-X-ArOH·+, (involved in the single-electron transfer antioxidant mechanism), are studied at the DFT/B3LYP level of theory. EWG result to smaller PDEs, hence to stronger acidity; EDG to weaker acidity. The deprotonation antioxidant mechanistic step is not a rate-controlling step for 2-X-ArOH to scavenge free radicals. Approximate estimations of the ΔPDEs (hence acidities as well) can be derived from calculated structural and/or vibrational frequency values. ΔHintras correlate reasonably with geometrical parameters for the closed-shell, neutral counterparts, in contrast with previous estimates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The problem of block decoupling of singular systems via state feedback and regular input transformation is solved by following an approach based on the matrix fraction description (MFD) of the system. The solvability condition is obtained from the `numerator' matrix of a coprime and column reduced MFD of the given system. The characterization of the fixed poles is given and it is shown that all the non-fixed poles can be arbitrarily assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the use of Monte Carlo simulation for the prediction of the emission level from multiple source system in shielded enclosures. Electric and magnetic dipoles of the integrated circuits; Emission mechanism of the enclosures; Types of electronic systems in enclosures.

Background: To evaluate changes in H pylori infection prevalence in Greece during a ten-year period, and to examine its antigenic profile. Methods: Three groups of patients were studied. Group O-87: Banked serum samples of 200 consecutive adult outpatients, from the Hepato-Gastroenterology clinic of a teaching hospital at Athens, collected in 1987. Group O-97: Serum samples of 201 similarly selected outpatients from the same Unit, collected in 1997. Group BD-97: Serum samples of 120 consecutive blood donors from the same hospital, collected in 1997. H pylori IgG antibody seroprevalence was studied by a quantitative ELISA. Antigenic profile was studied by western-blot IgG assay, in 62 IgG positive patients of O-97 and BD-97. Results were analyzed by conventional statistics and multivariate regression analysis. Results: The H pylori seroprevalence increased with age in the three tested groups. In O-97, seroprevalence did not differ from that, in BD-97. On the contrary, there was a significant decrease in seropositivity between O-87 and O-97 (59.5% vs 49.2%, p = 0.039). Multiple regression analysis showed that age over 35 years (OR:3.45, 95% CI:1.59-7.49, p = 0.002) and year of patients' selection -- that is 1987 or 1997 -- (OR:1.73, 95% CI:1.14-2.65 for 1987, p = 0.010), were independent risk factors of H pylori infection. The seroprevalence of CagA+ and VacA+ strains was 77.4% and 58.5%, respectively, and type I(CagA+/VacA+) strains were significantly more common than type II(CagA-/VacA-) strains (59.7% vs 22.6%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: During a ten-year period, we found a significant decrease of H pylori infection in Greece and our data support the birth cohort phenomenon as an explanation for the age-dependent increase of H pylori infection. The prevalence of CagA and/or VacA positive strains is relatively high, in a country with low incidence of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The COVID‐19 pandemic is one of the largest collective stressors in recent history. Consistent with prior research, this stress has led to impactful eating behavior change. While prior life traumas also impact eating behavior, it is unclear whether the current stress experienced during COVID‐19, and prior life traumas (overall, socially relevant, and nonsocially relevant), interact to influence eating behavior changes. Moreover, it is unclear whether current stress and prior traumas impact how eating behavior changes are perceived (i.e., in magnitude, valence, or both) by the individuals experiencing the changes. Therefore, this study sought to examine both the relationship between current stress and perception of eating behavior changes, as well as the moderating impact of prior life traumas on this relationship. Methods: Between March and April 2020, participants completed a subjective, self‐report online assessment of current stress, prior life traumas, pandemic‐related changes in eating behaviors, and the perceived impact of eating behavior changes. Results: Higher current stress was associated with larger, more negative perceptions of eating behavior changes. This relationship was moderated by prior life traumas. Specifically, the association between current stress and perceived negative impact of eating behavior change was potentiated among those with more prior socially relevant (but not nonsocially relevant) traumas. Discussion: These results suggest eating behavior changes occurred early in the pandemic and were uniquely impacted by the cumulative effect of present stress and socially relevant prior life traumas. Public Significance: Changes in eating behaviors and pathology have been prevalent during COVID‐19. We examined how stress and prior life traumas interacted during the first weeks of COVID‐19 to influence perceptions of eating behavior change. As altered perception of eating behaviors is a notable feature of eating pathology, these results will help inform development of intervention targets for those at risk for developing disordered eating during future‐ and post‐pandemic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an optimal design for RLSA (radial line slot array) antenna useful for DBS (direct broadcast from satellite) reception. Application of optimization techniques by using right objective functions; Design of three antennas through simulated annealing and complete enumeration for minimum SLL.

The problem of first-order realizations of autoregressive equations under external equivalence is considered and new realization methods are presented. These realizations are obtained from the coefficients of the polynomial entries of the autoregressive matrix of thegiven system. The treatment of the problem involves only polynomial matrix arguments, in a way analogous to the realization methods from matrix fraction descriptions of transfer functions into state space models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strongyloides stercoralis is an endemic parasitic infection of tropical areas, but it is rare in Europe. Most infected immunocompetent patients are asymptomatic, but may present with abdominal pain and diarrhea even several years after acquiring the infection. However, in immunocompromized patients, hyperinfection syndrome has a high mortality rate. Risk factors for the hyperinfection syndrome are corticosteroids and infection with human T lymphotropic virus type 1. Diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is usually made by identifying the larvae in the stool or in duodenal biopsies. There are only four published cases of strongyloidiasis in Greek patients, three of them were immunocompromized. In our patient videocapsule endoscopy identified rhabditiform larvae suggestive of strongyloidiasis. This case report illustrates the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of the disease in immunocompetent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production cost of greenhouse cultivation depends mainly upon significant amounts of energy consumption in order to keep the optimum environmental condition for plant growth. Τhe expenditure on energy, either for heating or cooling, ranges between 30% to 60% of the total production costs, and any attempt to save energy will result in a positive effect on the potentiality of production accordingly, affecting the greenhouse product prices. Research has shown that CO2 enrichment in greenhouses significantly increases the yield of most indoor cultivation of plants of the C3 category. For these plants, when the CO2 concentration increases by three times above that of the atmosphere (380 ppm), the optimum plant growth temperature shifts higher by 5 °C to 10 °C reaching up to 30 °C to 32 °C. Therefore, huge amounts of solar energy can be captured inside the greenhouses, as the ventilation can be decreased. Alongside this, the use of a simple passive solar system consisting of plastic sleeves filled with water is considered to be an improved way to increase the energy inside greenhouses. In this work, three experimental trials were conducted to examine the benefit of the solar energy captured inside a greenhouse during CO2 enrichment at high temperatures. Finally, a modeling approach based on the heat loss equation was developed in order to establish the energy saving inside the greenhouses under the circumstances mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by 2-dimensional-shear-wave elastography (LSM2D-SWE) are now widely used in hepatology. However, relevant information for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is scant. We compare LSM2D-SWE with liver biopsy (LB) in a cohort of PBC patients in Greece. Data of 68 LBs from 53 PBC patients were retrospectively analyzed and fibrosis stage was compared to LSM2D-SWE. Forty-six patients (86.8%) were females and at the time of LBx median (IQR) age was 62.6 (53.2–72.1). Demographic, UDCA treatment, histological and B-mode ultrasound data were tested for their influence on LSM2D-SWE estimates. Liver fibrosis stages F0–F4 were found in 4, 19, 19, 16 and 10 cases, respectively. Across stages F0–F4, the LSM2D-SWE was 5.6 (5.1–6.1), 7.0 (5.8–7.7), 9.1 (7.3–11.5), 10.8 (9.9–12.2) and 14.5 (11.9–25.7) kPa, respectively, with highly significant difference (p<.001). The LSM2D-SWE differed also significantly between F0 vs. F1 (p=.027), F1 vs. F2 (p=.005) and F3 vs. F4 (p=.017). The discriminatory ability of LSM2D-SWE for mild, significant, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis was highly significant in all comparisons (p<.001), with AUC2D-SWE 95.3%, 87.4%, 85.3% and 95.3% and accuracy 89.7%, 85.3%, 80.9% and 86.8%, respectively. Among 21 parameters tested, significant predictors of LSM2D-SWE by multiple linear regression were fibrosis stage, portal inflammation and parenchymal heterogeneity. The portal inflammation grade accounted for 32.2% of LSM variation with adjusted R2 0.428. In patients with PBC, LSM measurements by 2D-SWE can reliably discriminate between mild, significant, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Measurements are significantly affected by portal inflammation grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Community-based nutrition programs are an effective approach to changing attitudes and behaviors around food and health in underserved populations. The American Heart Association and Aramark launched Healthy for Life 20 by 20, a five-year initiative to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains by 20 percent. A major focus of their collaboration was the development and implementation of a 12-week community-delivered nutrition engagement pilot. The purpose of this pilot was to evaluate the effectiveness of this health program in improving healthy food purchasing behaviors, nutrition and lifestyle choices. Methods: A 12-week pilot intervention was designed and implemented in three cities at five community centers March-June 2016. Weekly sessions were focused on enhancement of healthy cooking and shopping skills, nutrition education, and assessment of personal cardiovascular risk factors. Participating centers had the option to choose from two delivery methods: optimal and flexible. Participant fruit and vegetable intake, whole grain intake, and number of meals prepared at home were assessed before and after completion of the intervention. Results: Study participants (n=119) were predominately female (79%), Hispanic (60%) and African-American (27%), had high school or lower educational attainment (67%), lower income (39% < $20K, 40% $20K-$39.9K), young and middle ages (45% <34 years old, 27% 35-44), and 52% had ≥ 2 children living in their household. Three-quarters of participants (76%) had no previous experience participating in health and wellness programs. The median consumption of fruits/vegetables among participants increased by 2 servings/day (3.0 to 5.0) and over two-thirds of participants (69%) increased their fruit/vegetable consumption by at least 1/2 a serving. The median consumption of whole grains increased by 1 serving/day (1.0 to 2.0) and half (48%) of participants increased their whole grain consumption by at least 1 serving. Forty-five percent of participants (n=87) increased their percentage of eaten meals prepared at home each week. Conclusions: The use of industry and non-profit partnerships in a community engagement format can be an effective way to facilitate programs focused on increasing consumer trust for shopping and cooking, to build confidence of new skills, and to empower individuals to improve their health and potentially the health of their family. These results suggest that this community engagement partnership approach can positively transform health in communities and drive the American Heart Association's goal of improving Americans' health by 20% by 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The external morphology and radula of Gabrielona nepeanensis (Gatliff & Gabriel, 1908) (Phasianellidae, Gabrieloninae) are described and are the first reported observations of the head-foot morphology within the subfamily. The living animal of G. nepeanensis is highly active, with a mobile, bi-lobed propodium bearing an anterior pedal gland, long cephalic tentacles, neck lobes but no cephalic lappets, and four pairs of epipodial tentacles. A half row of its rhipidoglossate radula consists of a central tooth, four lateral teeth and at least 25 marginal teeth. The operculum and shell of G. nepeanensis are described and discussed, with emphasis on the characters common to the subfamily. The shell, radula and operculum are most similar to that of the Indo-West Pacific species Gabrielona pisinna Robertson, 1973, and less so to that of the Caribbean species Eugabrielona sulcifera (Robertson, 1973). The known geographic ranges of G. nepeanensis and G. pisinna are expanded, and these species are shown to be sympatric throughout much of southern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Morphine is widely used in cancer care, and understanding the concerns and perceptions of patients, family and friends is vital to managing pain and distress effectively. The 'myths of morphine' have frequently been discussed in medical literature, yet the extent to which such views are held is not clear. This qualitative project explores the perceptions and attitudes of the wider community towards morphine use in cancer care, to understand this 'mythology' according to those who in the future may themselves require its use. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with patients presenting to a metropolitan general practice clinic in Melbourne, Australia. A grounded theory framework underpinned the data collection and thematic analysis undertaken. Results: Interviewees (15) were aged 24-81, with a variety of experiences with cancer care and previous morphine use. Interviewees were highly supportive of morphine use in cancer care, with this attitude founded on the perceived severity of cancer pain and the powerful nature of morphine. They described a number of reasons morphine may be used in cancer care: to treat pain, to enable peace and also as a treatment for cancer. Conclusion: The public view of morphine to emerge from this study is markedly different from that discussed in the myths of morphine. It is viewed as a medication that has the ability to provide peace and control both pain and the course of cancer. The participants in this study described a wish for greater involvement in pain control decisions, perceiving morphine as a facilitator rather than a barrier to good cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a programmable and configurable motion estimation (ME) processor capable of performing ME across several state-of-the-art video codecs that include multiple tools to improve the accuracy of the calculated motion vectors. The core can be programmed using a C-style syntax optimised to implement arbitrary block matching algorithms and configured with different execution units depending on the selected codec, the available inter-coding options and required performance. This flexibility means that the core can support the latest video codecs such as H.264, VC-1 and AVS at high-definition resolutions and frame rates. The configuration and programming phases are supported by an integrated development environment that includes a compiler and profiling tools enabling a designer without specific hardware knowledge to optimise the microarchitecture for the selected codec standard and motion search technique leading to a highly efficient implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the efficacy of the upper lateral caudal edge management in treating patients with inner nasal valve insufficiency and collapse. Design: This was a prospective study in a group of patients suffering from nasal obstruction owing to nasal valve insufficiency. Forty-three patients, who had undergone septoplasty and inferior turbinectomy, were included. All patients presented with nasal obstruction resulting in persistent functional problems. An anatomically narrow nasal valve, valve collapse, or both were found during the clinical examination. Setting: A tertiary referral centre. Methods: Revision was undertaken using a new technique to restore the nasal valve, based on upper lateral caudal edge management. Main Outcome Measures: Improvement in nasal airway patency evidenced by patient questioning, by clinical inspection of the nose, and by rhinomanometric results. Results: None of the patients had major complications. In 28 (65.1%) patients, symmetrically improved nasal airway patency and elimination of the subjective sensation of inspiratory collapse was found. In 12 (27.9%) patients, a remarkable asymmetric improvement in nasal obstruction was evident. Two (4.6%) patients reported a moderate breathing improvement, and in only one (2.3%) patient, revision was needed. The mean follow-up time was 18 months. Conclusions: Our proposed method is an effective therapeutic approach in the management of inner nasal valve insufficiency. It reconstitutes the normal tension of the inner nasal valve and reestablishes the stiffness and resistance of the lateral nasal wall. It can be performed under local anesthesia in cooperative patients, with minimal morbidity and a high rate of success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a simulation of raindays and seasonal precipitation over Greece using a statistical downscaling technique. The study employed a statistical downscaling method based on an artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate local changes in raindays and precipitation during winter and spring for selected areas over Greece. The simulated time series were assessed against observational data and the downscaling model was found to be effective in generating seasonal precipitation and raindays. Subsequently, present and future changes in precipitation levels were investigated using large-scale data from the general circulation model HadAM3P in the statistical model.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in the treatment of acute external otitis (AEO) in comparison with a standard clinical treatment. All patients who consecutively presented in our emergencies with AEO during the summer months of the previous year were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: the study group included 117 patients treated with TCA and the control group included 98 patients treated with ear drops containing antibiotic and corticosteroid. Occasionally, an antibiotic was administered orally for 7 days, in severe cases of AEO. All patients were evaluated on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, whereas another review appointment was given 20 days later. Outcome measures included evaluation of efficacy using a six-step infection score and tolerability by visual analogue scale. Additionally, adverse reactions, complications and recurrencies were recorded. Treatment was successful for all patients of the study group, whereas 8 failures were found in the control group. The infection score improved faster in the study group than in the control group, resulting in an earlier clinical cure (mean 4.1 and 8.6 days, respectively). Tolerability was significantly better in the study group, on all points of evaluation. Complications and adverse reactions were minimal on both groups. Our results show that TCA is a very effective and nontoxic agent for the treatment of AEO. Rapid pain relief and prevention of recurrencies are its main advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a DFT/B3LYP study, in the liquid phase, using the PCM continuum model on the O−H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) and ionization energy (IE) parameter values of the 2-monosubstituted phenols (2-X-ArOH), related to the H-atom transfer (HAT) and single-electron transfer (SET) mechanisms. The solvent and substituent effects on the conformers, the BDEs, and the IEs were studied using four electron-donating (EDG) and five electron-withdrawing (EWG) groups, in seven different solvents. In both the EDG- and/or EWG-substituted species of the parent compounds, radicals, and/or cation radicals, the most stable conformer is varied, depending on the medium and the substitution. The EWG-substituents increase IEs, resulting in a weaker antioxidant activity than the EDG ones; the effect appears stronger on the IEs than on BDEs. However, although the liquid-phase IEs, which are related to solution-phase oxidation potentials, decrease with the polarity and/or the hydrogen-bonding ability of the solvent, the opposite holds true for the BDEs, exhibiting a weaker effect. The gas-phase-calculated IE for benzene is among the most accurate ones in the field, compared to the experiment, that for phenol being the most accurate. In addition, calculated IEs for the 2-X-ArOH are in close agreement with the very few existing experimental ones. It is shown that the oxidation potentials are (a) highly correlated with the gas-phase ones, and (b) strongly solvent dependent. The stabilization/destabilization of the cation radical (SPC) contribution, in all media, is the decisive factor in the IE calculation. The reasonable correlations found between the BDE and IE could account well for the assumption of the simultaneous action of both mechanisms in the 2-X-ArOH, in both the gas and the liquid phase. It seems, however, that the presence of a particular solvent by itself is not sufficient enough for the HAT to SET transition. The involvement of specific ED and/or EW groups in the 2-X-ArOH seems also necessary. It appears that our theoretical approach is not only generally applicable to the set of substituents important to antioxidant activity but also useful in (a) the rational design of phenolic antioxidants and (b) affording accurate BDE and IE parameter values related to both possible antioxidant mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique that compensates the excitation of an array with the mutual coupling between the elements is presented. The coupling is expressed in a matrix form. The rows of the matrix are defined with the help of the orthogonal method. The technique has been applied to linear arrays with parallel and identical elements and seems to be suitable for beam-forming of antenna arrays even with small interelement distances. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1578–1583, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21723 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A finite element formulation for the solution of two-dimensional open field problems is proposed. The structure to be analyzed is enclosed in a circular contour C , and a vector electric field formulation based on hybrid node-edge elements is employed inside C , while the field outside C is expanded into an infinite sum of circular harmonics. The weighting factors of the expansion are evaluated by enforcing the field continuity conditions on the contour C . A generalized eigenvalue problem is finally formulated for the propagation constant along the axial direction (β-formulation), which is solved employing the QZ decomposition algorithm. The validity of the proposed method is established through comparisons with numerical and experimental results available in the published literature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the safety evaluation of the space in the vicinity of an aperture antenna is presented. The basis of our consideration is the approximate similarity of the contours between uniformly and nonuniformly illuminated apertures. Using the equivalence of either the gain or the beam width, it was possible to derive the uniform aperture with similar contours to the corresponding nonuniform one. In order to avoid hadio-frequency (RF) hazards, instead of the isoparametric contours, their envelopes have been studied. Also, in the case where the exact axial field and the radiation pattern of the aperture are known, the contours can be approximately presented. Several examples with different apertures show the procedure of drawing the contours and explain the validity of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous formulation of the scattering by a magnetized ferrite in a rectangular waveguide is presented. The EM field depends on the dimension, the frequency and the internal static magnetic field of the ferrite post. For some special values of the above quantitites the reflection or the transmission coefficient becomes equal to zero. These values give a family of filters and the results which follow explain their characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responds to author's commentaries on the article "A FEM Analysis of Open Boundary Structures Using Edge Elements and a Cylindrical Harmonics Expansion." Description of the use of approximate eigenvalues as a starting solution for the complete-exact eigenvalue formulation; Discussion of the exact theoretical harmonics expansion for open boundary structures.

Purpose: To determine whether a 100% healthy vending model would affect revenue, employee satisfaction, and nutrition in the workplace.Design: This study compared revenue and nutrition data pre- and post-adoption of nutrition standards from the American Heart Association's (AHA) Healthy Workplace Food and Beverage Toolkit. Employee satisfaction was measured using a survey.Setting: The AHA National Center which, over time, included 5 vending machines and a micromarket.Measures: Comparisons of monthly snack and beverage revenues; survey results assessing employee satisfaction; reduction in mean saturated fat (g) and sodium (mg) per snack sold; reduction in mean sugar (g) per beverage sold; monthly mean number of fruits, vegetable, and dairy sold.Analysis: Paired t tests were used to compare monthly revenue while t tests were used to compare nutrition information pre- and post-adoption of nutrition standards. Survey results and food group purchases were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Mean monthly snack revenue increased (P = .002). Mean monthly beverage revenue did not decrease. Most survey respondents were satisfied with the healthy vending. Mean saturated fat and sodium content per snack sold decreased (P < .001). Mean sugar content per beverage sold decreased. The micromarket sold an average of 210 units of dairy, 85 units of fruit, and 87 units of vegetables per month.Limitations: This study was conducted at one workplace.Conclusion: Healthy vending did not decrease revenue but did decrease saturated fat and sodium per snack, decrease sugar per beverage, and provide fruits, vegetables, and fat-free/low-fat dairy. Employees were generally satisfied with healthy vending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Scientific Integrity Consortium developed a set of recommended principles and best practices that can be used broadly across scientific disciplines as a mechanism for consensus on scientific integrity standards and to better equip scientists to operate in a rapidly changing research environment. The two principles that represent the umbrella under which scientific processes should operate are as follows: (1) Foster a culture of integrity in the scientific process. (2) Evidence-based policy interests may have legitimate roles to play in influencing aspects of the research process, but those roles should not interfere with scientific integrity. The nine best practices for instilling scientific integrity in the implementation of these two overarching principles are (1) Require universal training in robust scientific methods, in the use of appropriate experimental design and statistics, and in responsible research practices for scientists at all levels, with the training content regularly updated and presented by qualified scientists. (2) Strengthen scientific integrity oversight and processes throughout the research continuum with a focus on training in ethics and conduct. (3) Encourage reproducibility of research through transparency. (4) Strive to establish open science as the standard operating procedure throughout the scientific enterprise. (5) Develop and implement educational tools to teach communication skills that uphold scientific integrity. (6) Strive to identify ways to further strengthen the peer review process. (7) Encourage scientific journals to publish unanticipated findings that meet standards of quality and scientific integrity. (8) Seek harmonization and implementation among journals of rapid, consistent, and transparent processes for correction and/or retraction of published papers. (9) Design rigorous and comprehensive evaluation criteria that recognize and reward the highest standards of integrity in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]