International Society of Automation

Vulvar pain occurring in the absence of an underlying recognizable disease has become an increasingly common clinical problem. Members of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) astutely recognized this idiopathic vulvar pain as a unique entity in 1976 and, at that time, used the term burning vulva syndrome to identify it. Subsequently, the ISSVD renamed the disorder vulvodynia and suggested that two clinically distinctive subsets, dysesthetic vulvodynia and vestibulitis, might exist. However, recent studies have failed to confirm an inflammatory pathogenesis for vestibulitis, and in 1999 that term was deleted from the ISSVD classification. In 2003, at the 17th World Congress, the ISSVD reestablished vulvodynia as the preferred term for vulvar pain occurring in the absence of an underlying recognizable disease and, from a standpoint of classification, identified generalized and localized subsets. The ISSVD further noted that in either subset, pain could occur spontaneously and/or could develop as a result of physical provocation. The purpose of this recommended nosology is to further communication among the various specialties that care for women with vulvodynia and to assist in the formulation of studies regarding the pathophysiology and treatment of the disorder.

A Brain Cancer Detection and Classification System has been designed and developed. The system uses computer based procedures to detect tumor blocks or lesions and classify the type of tumor using Artificial Neural Network in MRI images of different patients with Astrocytoma type of brain tumors. The image processing techniques such as histogram equalization, image segmentation, image enhancement, morphological operations and feature extraction have been developed for detection of the brain tumor in the MRI images of the cancer affected patients. The extraction of texture features in the detected tumor has been achieved by using Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM). These features are compared with the stored features in the Knowledge Base. Finally a Neuro Fuzzy Classifier has been developed to recognize different types of brain cancers. The whole system has been tested in two phases firstly Learning/Training Phase and secondly Recognition/Testing Phase. The known MRI images of affected brain cancer patients obtained from Radiology Department of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) were used to train the system. The unknown samples of brain cancer affected MRI images are also obtained from TMH and were used to test the system. The system was found efficient in classification of these samples and responds any abnormality.

Objective: Anxiety measurement tools have been developed for major health-threatening diseases such as SARS and MERS. There is no specific measurement tool for measuring the anxiety caused by Corona. The purpose of this study was to validate the Corona-related Anxiety Scale in the Iranian sample. Method: The research method was a descriptive correlational.308 individuals participated in the study through online recall. An 18-item Corona-related anxiety inventory was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by using Guttman's λ2 and Cronbach's alpha internal consistency method. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Lisrel-8.8 software was used to evaluate the tool construct validity. To standardize the raw scores, they were converted to standard T scores and percentile rank using Jmetrik-4.1.1 software and were prepared as normative tables. Findings: The Guttman's λ2 value for the whole questionnaire was obtained as (λ = 0.922), Cronbach's alpha coefficient for psychological symptoms as (α = 0.879), physical symptoms as (α = 0.861), and for the whole questionnaire as (α= 0.919). The data of this research fit the two-factor model properly. Standard scores tables were plotted, and the range of scores of the questionnaire factors and total score of Corona-related anxiety severity was divided into three domains: mild, moderate, and severe. Conclusion: Corona-related anxiety inventory has good validity in preliminary validation and can be used as a valid and scientific tool for measuring Corona-related anxiety.

This article presents effective tractable equations for rotational compliance (stiffness) of a simple monolithic flexure hinge with circular (radius R and crosspiece thickness t), elliptical [at semiaxis ax, ay, elliptical ratio ε (=ax/ay)] and other cross sections. These equations and the method by inverse conformal mapping of circular approximating contour used to derive them are different from the known and widely used theoretical equations originally derived in 1965 by Paros and Weisbord for circular notch hinges. Later it was found that the circular hinge represents the worst case error between known theoretical and finite element models. The conformal mapping equations data presented in this article are likely to be much closer (within less than 10%) to the finite element analysis and experimental data than other theoretical equations. In particular this is the case for circular notch hinges at relative thickness β(=t/2R) in the range 0.01 to 0.3 and for elliptical hinges at the elliptical ratio ε=1 to 10. The derived general equation is common for all types of notch hinges whose profiles can be approximated by two shifted contiguous circles and includes material parameters with Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The latter is totally omitted in known theoretical solutions by other authors. New tractable equations are derived from the general equation on the basis of trigonometric functions’ simplified series expansion in certain ranges of hinge crosspiece relative thickness. The corresponding graphs are presented. Experimental data were received by holographic interference and autocollimator measurement.

In this paper, we investigate existence of long-run and short-run equilibrium relationships among the Borsa Istanbul Industrial Index (SINAI), real effective exchange rate (REER), Dollar Index (DXY) and Euro/Turkish Lira exchange rate in Turkey. Applying ARDL cointegration analysis on monthly data for the 2005:01–2013:12 period, we find that the SINAI Index is positively related to the Dollar Index and Euro/TL exchange rate. But, there is no meaningful relationship between real effective exchange rate and SINAI. The results of vector error correction model reveal that the SINAI is positively related to the real effective exchange rate while SINAI is negatively related to the Dollar Index and Euro/TL exchange rate in a statistically significant way

A brief account of the concept of working memory is presented, followed by a more detailed description of one sub-component of the system, namely the phonological loop. The question of the functional significance of this component of working memory is discussed. Evidence suggests a minor role in language comprehension, together with a much more substantial role in the capacity to acquire novel phonological, and possibly grammatical forms. It is suggested that the phonological loop has evolved as a mechanism for language acquisition.

BACKGROUND: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is being assessed as an alternative model organism as part of an interagency effort to develop better means to test potentially toxic substances. As part of this effort, assays that use the COPAS Biosort flow sorting technology to record optical measurements (time of flight (TOF) and extinction (EXT)) of individual nematodes under various chemical exposure conditions are being developed. A mathematical model has been created that uses Biosort data to quantitatively and qualitatively describe C. elegans growth, and link changes in growth rates to biological events. Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide known to cause developmental delays and malformations in mammals, was used as a model toxicant to test the applicability of the growth model for in vivo toxicological testing. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: L1 larval nematodes were exposed to a range of sub-lethal chlorpyrifos concentrations (0-75 microM) and measured every 12 h. In the absence of toxicant, C. elegans matured from L1s to gravid adults by 60 h. A mathematical model was used to estimate nematode size distributions at various times. Mathematical modeling of the distributions allowed the number of measured nematodes and log(EXT) and log(TOF) growth rates to be estimated. The model revealed three distinct growth phases. The points at which estimated growth rates changed (change points) were constant across the ten chlorpyrifos concentrations. Concentration response curves with respect to several model-estimated quantities (numbers of measured nematodes, mean log(TOF) and log(EXT), growth rates, and time to reach change points) showed a significant decrease in C. elegans growth with increasing chlorpyrifos concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Effects of chlorpyrifos on C. elegans growth and development were mathematically modeled. Statistical tests confirmed a significant concentration effect on several model endpoints. This confirmed that chlorpyrifos affects C. elegans development in a concentration dependent manner. The most noticeable effect on growth occurred during early larval stages: L2 and L3. This study supports the utility of the C. elegans growth assay and mathematical modeling in determining the effects of potentially toxic substances in an alternative model organism using high-throughput technologies.

The growth and feed efficiency responses of red sea bream fingerlings to ω3 fatty acids were determined by supplementing a corn oil diet and a lauric acid diet with linolenic acid and/or ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The fish fed a linolenic acid supplement showed poor growth and feed efficiency even at a 3 or 4% level, in comparison with those fed the control diet YR-1 of pollack residual oil. PUFA fed at a 2% level supported excellent growth and feed efficiency as did the pollack residual oil.

AbstractIn this paper it is argued that rhetorical insight can be used to deepen a dialectical analysis of argumentative discourse and to justify the dialectical reconstructions. After a discussion of the dialectical and rhetorical aspects of argumentative confrontation, an explanation is given of the rhetorical rationales for defining the disagreement space. Then, some strategic moves are identified in confrontation episodes in the public discussion on fox hunting in Great Britain that are instrumental for this purpose.

Carbonation of concrete is one of the most important factors for durabilityc of concrete structures. Although there are some formulae to predict the carbonation speed, quite few experimental studies have been reported concerning the influence of environmental moisture and temperature on the carbonation speed, so far. In this paper, a parametric study was performed to investigate the influence of environmental moisture and temperature on the carbonation speed of mortar. While accelerated carbonation tests were carried out, water cement ratio, relative humidity and temperature were changed. In the moisture condition of 40-50 % RH, the carbonation was mostly accelerated. The higher the temperature, the faster the speed of carbonation became. Temperature increased proportionally in the tested range from 15°C to 37.5°C. Finally carbonation speed of concrete was estimated all over Japan on the basis of the mean values of climate data (relative humidity and temperature) in each region reported by Japan Meteorological Agency.

The changes in the rigor mortis of fish body and the breaking strength of the muscle were com-pared using tilapia. During ice storage, the rigor index measured by the modified Cutting's method reached maximum 9h after death and the full rigor lasted for 4 days, while the breaking strength of the muscle became maximum 3h after death, then decreased continuously for 24h and then did not change. This result strongly suggested that both changes should be clearly distingu-ished. Therefore, we proposed that the change of the apparent rigor of fish body is expressed as “pre-, in and post-rigor” and that the change of the texture of fish muscle is expressed as “tough and weak”. The weakening of muscle may be explained not as a proteolytic breakdown of myofibrils but as a decomposition of the muscle structure, because no proteolytic reaction was detected by the examination of TCA-soluble material and by the analysis on SDS-PAGE.

The bio-economy of the natural population of Strongylocentrotus intermedius, based on the census of the sea urchin and the seaweeds by means of quadrat work, was studied at the rocky shoal of Ikantai, southern Hokkaido. The balance sheet of population metabolism expressed as a unit of dry matter or of nitrogen for the echinoid population was that of the credit side of the balance, where 60.7g/m2/yr or 1.1g-nitrogen/m2/yr was initial biomass; 43.1g/m2/yr or 1.3g-nitrogen/m2/yr was population growth; 46.4g/m2/yr or 0.9g-nitrogen/m2/yr was immigration; and only 0.14g/m2/yr or 0.003g-nitrogen/m2/yr was recruitment. This sum total was divided into the following way on the debit side of the balance, loss of population due to emigration and natural mortality was 72.6g/m2/yr or 1.6g-nitrogen/m2/yr; gametes ejected were 2.9g/m2/yr or 0.2g-nitrogen/m2/yr; and final biomass was 51.3g/m2/yr or 0.9g-nitrogen/m2/yr. Since the population growth of the sea urchin has been sponsored by 412.4g/m2/yr or 8.0g-nitrogen/m2/yr of Laminaria angustata and by 12.2g/m2/yr or 0.5g-nitrogen/m2/ /yr of Ulva pertusa, growth coefficient was about 10% in dry matter and production efficiency was about 4% in dry matter. The annual food consumption of the echinoid population corresponds to about half of the annual growth (production) of the seaweed community.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to define the epidemiologic properties and correlation of physiological and anatomical risk factors with the mortality rate among patients with thorax trauma and to ensure early prediction of severe trauma. METHODS: Files of 371 cases were retrospectively examined. Their initial state in the emergency department was analyzed in terms of mortality development. Age, gender, trauma mechanism, systolic blood pressure and respiration type on admission, accompanying injuries, thorax pathology, trauma scores, and treatment approaches in exitus and surviving cases were compared. Survival probabilities and unexpected mortality rates were computed using the Trauma Revised Score-Injury Severity Score (TRISS). RESULTS: Age, hypotension, pathologic respiration, blunt injury, accompanying injury, abdominal trauma, high Injury Severity Score (ISS), and low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and TRISS were the factors affecting mortality, and presence of blunt injuries, TRISS <85, ISS >22 and GCS <13 were found to be independent prognostic factors. The strongest factor indicating mortality was TRISS. Thirty-four of 307 cases with survival probability of over 50% died. CONCLUSION: In the presence of factors affecting mortality, patients with thorax trauma should be evaluated as being in a high-risk group and treatment strategies must be aggressive. Case analysis based on the TRISS model would further reveal the mistakes and may improve patient care.

Introduction: The distribution of open online courses makes the education system change and these changes are rather serious. These courses exert a positive influence on society, widely spreading education around the world. During the globalization of education, these courses provide open access to the educational content of the world's leading universities. The use of open electronic courses is a relatively new direction in education, which has not been profoundly studied by researchers. The introduction of these courses causes the change in the structure of the educational system. Therefore, the article considers the specifics of implementing online courses, including requirements for them, as well as factors that slow down their active development. Materials and methods: analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction. Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University has been given as an example The results of the research Having studied the "The Regulations on the use of open courses in educational activities of the Minin university" in addition to establishing the functions of coordination group on open education, it has been noted that after completing the course, in case of unsatisfactory result,the the student is given an opportunity to have one more attempt to pass the exam. Discussion and conclusion: the article concludes that open courses are a new qualitative step in the development of world education, but online courses would be much more effective if they were field-specific, designed for adults who are deeply motivated for training. Minin University, which we took as a basis for the research, showed that the university is ready to implement online courses. It is one of the few universities in Russia actively implementing open courses.

Medical leaders need to understand that attending to quality of professional life issues includes dealing with the insidious costs and stress associated with disruptive physician behavior. The disruptive physician or professional undermines practice morale, heightens turnover in the organization, steals from productive activities, increases the risks for ineffective or substandard practice, and causes distress among colleagues. Physician executives need to help reduce or prevent this behavior and develop accepted systems in which to manage, confront, and rehabilitate the person labeled "disruptive." Suggested strategies to consider in developing a system include: (1) Defining reasonable and competent interpersonal behavior; (2) educating in interpersonal skills; (3) evaluating interpersonal skills; (4) developing disruptive policy; and (5) assessing, confronting, and rehabilitating.

Dreams of using digital computers in industrial control systems surfaced almost as soon as such a computer was invented in the mid to late 1940s. By the early fifties, the concepts of such use were fairly well established. However, actual applications had to wait until relatively small, reliable, and also relatively inexpensive machines were available, along with vendor companies with the will and the initiative to pursue this field vigorously Such a company was the Ramo-Wooldridge Company, which entered this field in the mid-fifties. The company found ready acceptance of its products among the companies in the process industries. By the mid-sixties, there were installations in almost every process industry and many other vendors had entered the field. Such installations became the norm for computer applications to industrial control until the microprocessor and its associated distributed computer control systems superseded them beginning in the mid-seventies. The article chronicles the development of this early field by describing several of the early installations and their successes and difficulties.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A series of extracted fractions from sophora subprostrata was screened by determining anti-ulcer effects in pylorus ligated and stressed rats. Fr. [C-2] had the most potent anti-ulcer effects of all fractions extracted. Sophoradin and sophoranone which were isolated from Fr. [C-2] were also found to have inhibitory effects on ulcer formation in pylorus ligated and stressed rats. The anti-ulcer effect of sophoradin was relatively potent in comparison with that of sophoranone and/or Fr. [C-2]. The anti-ulcer effect of sophoranone was approximately the same as that of Fr. [C-2]. The authors examined the effects of sophoradin and sophoranone on gastric secretion in pylorus ligated rats. Sophoradin and sophoranone significantly reduced the volume of gastric juice. Sophoradin but not sophoranone inhibited the free and total acid output of gastric juice. The effect of sophoradin was examined on various secretagogues which induced gastric secretions in rats with acute fistula. Sophoradin showed a tendency to inhibit tetragastrin- and insulin-induced gastric acid secretion, but there were no effects on methacholine- and histamine-induced secretions. These results suggest that sophoradin may have marked anti-ulcer and inhibitory effects on gastric secretion.

Larvae of swimming crab were reared in 1-2 l tanks, supplied with marine rotifers cultured with several feeds: baker's yeast, baker's yeast fortified with cuttlefish liver oil, freshwater Chlorella, and marine micro algae Nannochloropsis. The fatty acid compositions of the rotifers were analyzed to evaluate their dietary value. Larval survival, growth and velocity of development were improved according to the amount of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3HUFA) contained in rotifers. Consequently, it was considered that the larval swimming crab demanded the n-3HUFA in feeds as essential fatty acid and enrichment of feed rotifers should be a routine technique in the seed production process of the swimming crab.

The purpose of the present investigation was to describe the formation, maturation and eruption of the dentition, including supernumerary teeth in a sample of patients with cleidocranial dysplasia. The dentition was evaluated from orthopantomograms, intraoral radiographs, cephalometric films, surgically removed teeth and intraoral photographs in 22 patients (10 men, 12 women), aged 3.5 to 34 years. Formation of primary teeth was normal, whereas all patients but one had supernumerary permanent teeth. Frequency of supernumerary teeth ranged from 22% in the maxillary incisor region to 5% in the molar regions. Anterior to the molar region supernumerary teeth were formed lingually and occlusally to the normal teeth. Maturation of the primary dentition was normal, while permanent teeth were delayed from 1 to 4 years. Supernumerary teeth were delayed about 4 years in relation to normal permanent teeth. Eruption of primary teeth was normal, whereas all patients had severe eruption problems of permanent teeth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)