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Over the past decade or so, PCR-based screening programs have reported that Africanized honey bees (AHB) are also hosts to viruses commonly found in European honey bees. Very little is known about the genomic variants found in AHB. Here, we present two distinct lineages of sinaiviruses in AHB.

This study examines the discrete wavelet transform as a transformation technique in the analysis of non-stationary time series while comparing it with power transformation. A test for constant variance and choice of appropriate transformation is made using Bartlett’s test for constant variance while the Daubechies 4 (D4) Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is used for wavelet transform. The stationarity of the transformed (power and wavelet) series is examined with Augmented Dickey-Fuller Unit Root Test (ADF). The stationary series is modeled with Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) Model technique. The model precision in terms of goodness of fit is ascertained using information criteria (AIC, BIC and SBC) while the forecast performance is evaluated with RMSE, MAD, and MAPE. The study data are the Nigeria Exchange Rate (2004-2014) and the Nigeria External Reserve (1995-2010). The results of the analysis show that the power transformed series of the exchange rate data admits a random walk (ARIMA (0, 1, 0)) model while its wavelet equivalent is adequately fitted to ARIMA (1,1,0). Similarly, the power transformed version of the External Reserve is adequately fitted to ARIMA (3, 1, 0) while its wavelet transform equivalent is adequately fitted to ARIMA (0, 1, 3). In terms of model precision (goodness - of - fit), the model for the power transformed series is found to have better fit for exchange rate data while model for wavelet transformed series is found to have better fit for external reserve data. In forecast performance, the model for wavelet transformed series outperformed the model for power transformed series. Therefore, we recommend that wavelet transform be used when time series data is non-stationary in variance and our interest is majorly on forecast.

We have studied the effect of the interfacial chemical reaction between PA6 and MA-g-HDPE in static conditions at a macroscopically flat interface. Interface destabilization and the growth of instabilities, somehow similar to myelin figures observed in surfactants put in the presence of water, are observed. For the first time in this system, it is shown that ordered microphase-separated copolymer domains, whose morphologies depend on the architecture of the copolymer, namely, essentially on the relative length of the blocks on each side of the interface, may nucleate and grow at a static interface between reactive polymers. We discuss the stability of the plane interface in the case of nonsymmetrical formed graft copolymers. The density of copolymers in the interface (coverage) can be estimated accurately from the long period of the formed structures. We confirm the predictions of Berezkin et al. This observation is very important since it confirms that nanometric domains are certainly generated during re...

La presente investigación se enfocó en lo que es la importancia de conocer lo que es el mercado de divisa y que beneficios ofrece al momento de invertir en él, ya que es el mercado más grande de todo el mundo que ofrece un buen apalancamiento. Describe los distintos conocimientos que hay acerca de manejar lo que es el Mercado de Divisa, sus funciones, características y ventajas que esta garantiza en un país a otro, lo cual es conocido como FOREX. El mercado de divisa o mercado de cambios es donde se establecen el valor de las monedas en que se van a realizar las transacciones internacionales. También se habla de las divisas y los regímenes que hay al momento de operar con divisas y quienes participan en el mercado. El régimen cambiario se refiere a un conjunto de políticas adoptadas por un país en cuanto al valor de la moneda, dentro de ellas hay tres tipos de regímenes lo cual son las más mencionada 1. Regímenes de tipo de cambio fijo, 2. Tipo de cambio flexible, 3. Tipo de cambio flotante. Lo cual nos permite conocer cada una de ellas y de cómo es el manejo en el mundo de las finanzas. Se mostrara lo que es la paridad y sus condiciones en las tasas de interés para los tipos de cambio de los distintos países cotizados como son el Euro y el Dólar. Se elaboró un caso práctico con datos supuesto obtenidos de la página OANDA para obtener el promedio del año 2016 lo cual nos ayuda a pronosticar los tipos de cambios del año 2017 y de esta misma manera determinar las variaciones que hubieron del año 2016 y 2017 con las distintas tasas de interés , así mismo, se presentara formulas y tablas de donde se estará apreciando la forma en que se pueden ver si es conveniente invertir el dinero y a qué plazo, por lo tanto verán un ejemplo del resumen de todo lo hablado en teoría y así lo ponga en práctica en su vida personal, ya que saber acerca del mercado de divisa ayuda a saber cómo se están comportados los tipos de cambio.

Objectives: Magnesium has protective effects in ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and is involved in immunomodulation. We investigated the effects of magnesium pretreatment on the secretion of T helper (Th) cytokines and on the severity of post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS) in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: forty patients were allocated to two groups of 20 (magnesium and saline groups). Blood samples for cytokine analysis were collected before infusion of the study solution at the end of anhepatic phase (time point 1), as well as five min and 30 min after allograft reperfusion (time points 2 and 3, respectively). Levels of cytokines were quantified using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay test kit. Results: The duration of PRS was shorter in the magnesium group (p = 0.038). The level of interferon (IFN)-γ released from Th1 was lower in the magnesium group at time point 3 (p = 0.009). Of the cytokines released from Th2 cells, interleukin (IL)-6 was present in higher concentrations in the magnesium group at time points 2 and 3 (p

A series of new α,ω-dihydroxy terminated polyester oligomers are synthesized from the condensation reaction of various aliphatic diols with a mixture of diacids rich in 2-methylglutaric acid, MGA, an abundant and well-defined industrial product. Their adipic acid (AA)-based counterparts are also prepared and the physico-chemical properties of both types of polyols are thoroughly characterized. All these polyester polyols are then used to prepare segmented polyurethanes following a two-stage process, by reacting them successively with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4-butanediol. The resulting materials are then evaluated with respect to their thermal and dynamic or static mechanical properties. The observed characteristics and behaviors are quite similar between AA- or MGA-based polyurethanes, except for the tendency of AA-based samples to display partially crystallized soft domains. Such a phenomenon is prevented in MGA-based samples because of the methyl side group, resulting in remarkably higher ultimate elongations for the new thermoplastic polyurethanes derived from MGA. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43410.

This study was conducted so as to examine which change tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) for improving working memory can make on the EEC of stroke patients. Among the patients who suffered for more than 6 months by hemiparalysis caused by stroke, 20 patients selected by MMSE and DST were randomly divided into I group (10 patients) fulfilled by only CCT and II group (10 patients) fulfilled by both tDCS and CCT for total 4 weeks, 30 minutes per a day, three times per a week. For examining EEC variation, the absolute spectrum power was calculated by three bands (; 4~8 Hz, lower ; 8~10.5 Hz, upper ;10.5~13 Hz) during the task of words, photos and mental calculation with EEC test, before the arbitration, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks, so the rate of increase and decrease (%) for the reference EEC was obtained. As the results, the first, particular aspects different one another in three bands were detected according to the measuring period and task. The second, in the forth week, there was only a significant difference in lower -power of all tasks. Therefore, through the procedure measuring EEC of this study, the degree of working memory`s damage can be expressed by numerical value and tDCS should be additionally helpful for brain damaged patients` perception rehabilitation.

Copolyamides of PA 66/6 lithium 5-sulfoisophthalic acid (LiSIPA) containing up to 40 mol % of LiSIPA were prepared in a 1L-pilot reactor operating at high pressures and high temperatures. Interestingly, the presence of lithium sulfonate moieties highly impacted the glass transition temperature of the polyamide. The Tg increased from 59 °C for PA 66 to 155 °C for a copolymer containing about 40 mol % of LiSIPA. 1,3-Dihexylbenzenedicarboxamide and lithium p-toluenesulfonate were synthesized as model compounds to investigate the interaction of lithium sulfonate moieties and amide functions. Infrared spectroscopy using ATR technology performed on mixture of both compounds showed that the carbonyl group of amide functions interacts with the lithium cation of lithium sulfonate moieties. Similar SO and CO adsorption bands were observed in copolyamides PA 66/6LiSIPA and in mixture of model compounds, which strongly suggest the formation in the copolyamides of physical cross-linking points centered on lithium cations coordinated by carbonyl groups of amide functions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011

This study demonstrates the replication property and surface roughness for metal micro-mold that combines the replica molding (REM) and electroforming techniques. The micro-mold firstly uses the silicon wafer to fabricate the master mold by UV-LIGA method, and then uses the sputtering method to sputter the Ni element as the seed layer on the surface of master mold. The electroforming method manufactures the Ni mold insert from the master mold with seed layer. Finally, this study uses the PDMS material to replicate the micro-feature from the Ni mold insert by replica molding. This study indicates the replication property and surface roughness of different micro-feature shapes and sizes (concave and convex) for Ni mold insert and molded PDMS.

Background: Sacroiliac intraarticular injection by the traditional technique can be challenging to perform when the joint is covered with osteophytes or is extremely narrow. Objective: To examine whether there is enough space for the needle to be advanced from the L5-S1 interspinous space to the upper one-third sacroiliac joint (SIJ) by magnetic resonance image (MRI) analysis as an alternative to fluoroscopically guided SIJ injection with the lower one-third joint technique, and to determine the feasibility of this novel technique in clinical practice. Study Design: MRI analysis and observational study. Setting: An interventional pain management practice at a university hospital. Methods: We analyzed 200 axial T2-weighted MRIs between the L5 and S1 vertebrae of 100 consecutive patients. The following measurements were obtained on both sides: 1) the thickness of fat in the midline; 2) the distance between the midline (Point C) and the junction (Point A) of the skin and the imaginary line that connects the SIJ and the most medial cortex of the ilium; 3) the distance between the midline (Point C) and the junction (Point B) of the skin and the imaginary line that connects the SIJ and the L5 spinous process; 4) the distance between the SIJ and midline (Point C) on the skin, or between the SIJ and the midpoint (Point C’) of the line from Point A to Point B; and 5) the angle between the sagittal line and the imaginary line that connects the SIJ and the midline on the skin. The upper one-third joint technique was performed to establish the feasibility of the alternative technique in 20 patients who had unsuccessful sacroiliac intraarticular injections using the lower one-third joint technique. Results: The mean distances from the midline to Point A and to Point B were 21.9 ± 13.7 mm and 27.8 ± 13.6 mm, respectively. The mean distance between the SIJ and Point C (or Point C’) was 81.0 ± 13.3 mm. The angle between the sagittal line and the imaginary line that connects the SIJ and the midline on the skin was 42.8 ± 5.1°. The success rate of sacroiliac intraarticular injections with the upper one-third joint technique was 90% (18/20). Limitations: This was an observational study and lacked a control group. Conclusions: Sacroiliac intraarticular injections with the upper one-third joint technique are advisable when it is hard to perform them with the lower one-third joint technique. Key words: Buttock pain, fluoroscopy, low back pain, sacroiliac joint, sacroiliac joint pain

We consider a setting where an agent-based plannerinstructs teams of human emergency responders toperform tasks in the real world. Due to uncertaintyin the environment and the inability of the plannerto consider all human preferences and all attributesof the real-world, humans may reject planscomputed by the agent. A na¨?ve solution that replansgiven a rejection is inefficient and does notguarantee the new plan will be acceptable. Hence,we propose a new model re-planning problem usinga Multi-agent Markov Decision Process thatintegrates potential rejections as part of the planningprocess and propose a novel algorithm to efficientlysolve this new model. We empirically evaluateour algorithm and show that it outperformscurrent benchmarks. Our algorithm is also shownto perform better in pilot studies with real humans.

The properties of implant surfaces play critical roles in inducing a biological response. In the case of dental and orthopedic implants, deposition of calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings on these implant surfaces are often employed as means of enhancing implant osseointegration with the bone. Although most implants are coated using a plasma spraying process, sputtering is currently being accepted by some implant vendors as one of the means for depositing thin CaP coatings on dental and orthopedic implants. Acceptance of the sputtering technology and recent research are indications that the sputtering process is promising and has potential for eliminating some of the problems associated with the plasma-spraying process. This chapter discusses some of the various modes of sputtering, properties of thin CaP coatings, and the biological responses to these coatings in vitro and in vivo. The limitations and strengths of the sputtering process are also addressed.

The preparation of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)-b-poly(ethylene terephthalate) block copolymer was performed by the reaction of the 2-hydroxyethyl modified poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE-EtOH) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) by an in situ process, during the synthesis of the polyester. The yield of the reaction of the 2-hydroxyethyl functionalized PPE-EtOH with PET was close to 100%. A significant proportion of the PET-b-PPE-EtOH block copolymer was found to have short PET block. Nevertheless, the copolymer structured in the shape of micelles (20 nm diameter) and very small domains with 50–200 nm diameter, whereas unmodified PPE formed much larger domains (1.5 μm) containing copolymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3985–3991, 2008

Les nanocomposites peuvent etre constitues d'une dispersion de plaquettes ou lamelles generalement argileuses dans une matrice polymere. Ces charges lamellaires sont constituees d'un ensemble de feuillets (type « mille feuilles »). Les dimensions des feuillets individuels sont de l'ordre du nanometre en epaisseur, de plusieurs dizaines de nanometres en largeur, et de plusieurs dizaines de nanometres a quelques micrometres en longueur d'ou leur appellation nanocharges. Ces dimensions leur conferent un coefficient de surface tres eleve (de 100 a 1 000 m 2 · g -1 ) et un tres fort facteur de forme (longueur/epaisseur > 100). Les caracteristiques geometriques de la charge ont une influence determinante sur les proprietes des materiaux polymeres ainsi formules, repertories ici sous l'appellation generale nanocomposites, pour tenir compte de la dimension nanoscopique des charges introduites et a ne pas confondre avec les composites traditionnels du type polymeres/fibres de renforts (exemple: polyester/fibres de verres). Suivant l'etat d'exfoliation et de dispersion de la charge minerale dans la matrice, on peut distinguer trois types de structures minerales: - une structure non exfoliee, lorsque les feuillets restent agglomeres sous forme de paquets (ou d'un cristal) ; - une structure intercalee, avec des feuillets incompletement separes ; - une structure exfoliee (ou delaminee) avec des feuillets individuels bien separes et correctement disperses (ce qui se traduit par une perte de coherence cristalline). Apres quelques generalites sur les nanocharges lamellaires (§ 1 ), nous decrirons successivement les nanocomposites lamellaires: - a base de polyamide (PA), § 2 ; - a base de polypropylene (PP), § 3 ; - a base de polyester (PET), § 4 ; - a matrice epoxyde, § 5.

International audience; Deformation-induced modification of the dispersion state of silica nanoparticles in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). We focused on the biaxial deformation applied at a temperature just above the glass transition temperature (110 °C), during the free stretch-blowing process of amorphous PET modified with submicron silica. The first nanocomposite studied contains 2.5 wt % of fractal aggregated pyrogenic silica. The particles are well dispersed after the polymerization of PET, but they agglomerate and orient strongly parallel to the elongation direction after biaxial deformation. They form long streams of particles (>2 μm long) regularly spaced by a distance of 50−100 nm. Interestingly, the silica organization is consistent with the hierarchical structure commonly proposed for the strain-induced crystallization of PET. The particles are rejected from the highly oriented domains induced by the strain, and their spatial organization reveals the superstructure. The second nanocomposite contains 5% of spherical silica with a diameter of 20 nm. Its behavior is drastically different. The silica also forms streams of particles (1−2 μm long); however, the streams are oriented perpendicular to the elongation direction, and that is hardly compatible with the presence of a microfibrillar structure. We assume that this unexpected orientation is produced by the extended growth of mesophases and crystallites perpendicular to the orientation and that stacked lamellae are formed rather than microfibrils.

Background: Prolonged mechanical ventilation after liver transplantation has been associated with deleterious clinical outcomes, so early tracheal extubation posttransplant is now increasing. However, there is no universal clinical criterion for predicting early extubation in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We investigated specific predictors of early extubation after LDLT. Methods: Perioperative data of adult patients undergoing LDLT were reviewed. “Early” extubation was defined as tra cheal extubation in the operating room or intensive care unit (ICU) within 1 h posttransplant, and we divided patients into early extubation (EX) and non-EX groups. Potentially significant (P < 0.10) perioperative variables from univariate analyses were entered into multivariate logistic regression analyses. Individual cut-offs of the predictors were calculated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis. Results: Of 107 patients, 66 (61.7%) were extubated early after LDLT. Patients in the EX group showed shorter stays in the hospital and ICU and lower incidences of reoperation, infection, and vascular thrombosis. Preoperatively, model for end-stage liver disease score, lung disease, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and intraoperatively, surgical time, transfu sion of packed red blood cell (PRBC), urine output, vasopressors, and last measured serum lactate were associated with early extubation (P < 0.05). After multivariate analysis, only PRBC transfusion of ≤ 7.0 units and last serum lactate of ≤ 8.2 mmol/L were selected as predictors of early extubation after LDLT (AUC 0.865). Conclusions: Intraoperative serum lactate and blood transfusion were predictors of posttransplant early extubation. Aggressive efforts to ameliorate intraoperative circulatory issues would facilitate successful early extubation after LDLT. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2014; 67: 103-109)