The Indonesian Second Person Terms of Address Used by Undergraduate Students of Petra Christian University in Social Network Sites and Face-To-Face Interaction Towards Their Intimate and Distant Friends

The study deals with Indonesian second person terms of address used in social network sites and face-to-face interaction. The purpose of the study was to observe the use of Indonesian second person terms of address used by the respondents to address their intimate and distant friends when they communicated in social network sites and face-to-face interaction. The findings showed that there were 7 of 10 categories of Indonesian second person terms of address used by the respondents towards their intimate and distant friends in social network sites and face-to-face interaction. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in the use of the Indonesian second person terms of address used by the respondents in social network sites and face-to-face interaction toward their intimate and distant friend

Automatic ontology mapping for agent communication

Agent communication languages such as ACL and KQML provide a standard for agent communication. These languages enable an agent to specify the intention and the content of a message as well as the protocol, the language, and the ontology that are used. For the protocol and the language some standards are available and should be known by the communicating agents. The ontology used in a communication depends on the subject of the communication. Since the number of subjects is almost infinite and since the concepts used for a subject can be described by different ontologies, the development of generally accepted standards will take a long time. This lack of standardization, which hampers communication and collaboration between agents, is known as the interoperability problem. To overcome the interoperability problem, agents must be able to establish a mapping between their ontologies. This paper investigates a new approach to the interoperability problem. The proposed approach requires neither a correspondence between concepts used in the ontologies nor a correspondence between the structure of the ontologies. It only requires that some instances of the subject about which the agents try to communicate are known by both agents.economics of technology ;

Optimization of Cricket-inspired, Biomimetic Artificial Hair Sensors for Flow Sensing

High density arrays of artificial hair sensors, biomimicking the extremely sensitive mechanoreceptive filiform hairs found on cerci of crickets have been fabricated successfully. We assess the sensitivity of these artificial sensors and present a scheme for further optimization addressing the deteriorating effects of stress in the structures. We show that, by removing a portion of chromium electrodes close to the torsional beams, the upward lift at the edges of the membrane due to the stress, will decrease hence increase the sensitivity.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/EDA-Publishing

Biomimetic flow-sensor arrays based on the filiform hairs on the cerci of crickets

In this paper we report on the latest developments in biomimetic flow-sensors based on the flow sensitive mechano-sensors of crickets. Crickets have one form of acoustic sensing evolved in the form of mechanoreceptive sensory hairs. These filiform hairs are highly perceptive to low-frequency sound with energy sensitivities close to thermal threshold. Arrays of artificial hair sensors have been fabricated using a surface micromachining technology to form suspended silicon nitride membranes and double-layer SU-8 processing to form 1 mm long hairs. Previously, we have shown that these hairs are sensitive to low-frequency sound, using a laser vibrometer setup to detect the movements of the nitride membranes. We have now realized readout electronics to detect the movements capacitively, using electrodes integrated on the membranes

A Laplace operator and harmonics on the quantum complex vector space

The aim of this paper is to study the q-Laplace operator and q-harmonic polynomials on the quantum complex vector space generated by z_i,w_i, i=1,2,...,n, on which the quantum group GL_q(n) (or U_q(n)) acts. The q-harmonic polynomials are defined as solutions of the equation Delta_qp=0, where p is a polynomial in z_i,w_i, i=1,2,...,n, and the q-Laplace operator Delta_q is determined in terms of q-derivatives. The q-Laplace operator Delta_q commutes with the action of GL_q(n). The projector H_{m,m'}: A_{m,m'} --> H_{m,m'} is constructed, where A_{m,m'} and H_{m,m'} are the spaces of homogeneous (of degree m in z_i and of degree m' in w_i) polynomials and homogeneous q-harmonic polynomials, respectively. By using these projectors, a q-analogue of the classical zonal spherical and associated spherical harmonics are constructed. They constitute an orthogonal basis of H_{m,m'}. A q-analogue of separation of variables is given. The quantum algebra U_q(gl_n), acting on H_{m,m'}, determines an irreducible representation of U_q(gl_n). This action is explicitly constructed. The results of the paper lead to the dual pair (U_q(sl_2), U_q(gl_n)) of quantum algebras.Comment: 26 pages, LaTe

Endothelial function in migraine: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Migraine has been associated with cardiovascular disorders. Endothelial dysfunction may be a mechanism underlying this association. The present study tested the hypothesis that endothelium-dependent vasodilation, basal endothelial nitric oxide release and endothelial fibrinolytic capacity are impaired in migraine patients. METHODS: Graded doses of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.2 to 0.8 microg.min 1.dL-1 forearm), substance P (0.2 to 0.8 pmol.min-1.dL-1 forearm) and NG monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 0.1 to 0.4 micromol.min-1.dL-1 forearm) were infused into the brachial artery of 16 migraine patients with or without aura during a headache-free interval and 16 age- and sex-matched subjects without a history of migraine. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured by strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography. Local forearm release of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in response to substance P infusion was assessed using the arteriovenous plasma concentration gradient. Responses to infused drugs were compared between patients and matched controls by analysis of variance. RESULTS: In both migraine patients and control subjects, SNP and substance P caused a dose-dependent increase, and L NMMA a dose-dependent decrease in FBF (P < 0.001 for all responses). In both groups, substance P caused an increase in t-PA release (P < 0.001). FBF responses and t-PA release were comparable between migraine patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of differences in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, basal endothelial nitric oxide production and stimulated t-PA release between migraine patients and healthy control subjects argues against the presence of endothelial dysfunction in forearm resistance vessels of migraine patients.status: publishe

The effect of sucralfate-containing ointment on quality of life in people with symptoms associated with haemorrhoidal disease and its complications: The results of the emocare survey

Background and aim: A rectal ointment containing 3% of sucralfate and herbal extracts (calendula, witch hazel leaf (hamamelis), chamomile), became available in Italy in 2019 for the treatment of symptoms associated with haemorrhoidal disease. This survey evaluated the effect of the mentioned sucralfate ointment, on quality of life (QoL) and symptom frequency in participants seeking treatment for haemorrhoidal disease from community pharmacies in Italy. Methods: EMOCARE was a multicentre prospective survey conducted at community pharmacies in Italy. Eligible participants (≥18 years) were those with haemorrhoidal symptoms in the last 7 days and were willing to initiate a treatment with the sucralfate ointment and herbal extracts (calendula, witch hazel leaf (hamamelis), chamomile). A survey was administered by the investigating pharmacists at the beginning and end (~14 days) of treatment. The primary endpoint was the change in HEMO-FISS-QoL scores. Results: Of the 290 (mean age 53.1 years old; 58.3% female) enrolled, 287 attended the follow-up visit. After a mean duration of 13 days, the sucralfate ointment significantly improved total HEMO-FISS-QoL scores (mean change from baseline: -10.41; 95%CI -11.95, -8.86; P&lt;0.001) and mean scores for all domains of the HEMO-FISS-QoL scale (-11.13 [95%CI -12.95, -9.30] for physical disorders, -6.14 [95%CI -7.42, -4.85] for psychology, -18.79 [95% CI -21.67, -15.90] for defaecation, and -6.46 [95%CI -8.40, -4.51] for sexuality; all P&lt;0.001 versus baseline). At the end of treatment, 39.4% of participants reported that they no longer had haemorrhoidal symptoms and the frequency of all assessed symptoms were reduced significantly from baseline (all P&lt;0.05). Conclusions: After a mean 13 days of treatment&nbsp; the sucralfate ointment with herbal extracts improved HEMO-FISS-QoL scores and reduced symptoms in people with haemorrhoidal disease

Radiopacity of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate in Computed Tomography: a case of a patient with Hyperkalemia and kidney disease

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) is commonly used for treating hyperkalemia because it sequesters gastrointestinal potassium ions, thereby reducing serum potassium levels. However, a less-discussed aspect of SZC is its radiopacity on x-ray-based imaging techniques. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has only vaguely addressed this issue. Radiopaque substances like SZC can interfere with diagnostic imaging, creating challenges for clinicians and radiologists. We present the case of a 34-year-old Italian male to illustrate these concerns

Dermatitis in community pharmacies: a survey on italian pharmacists’ management and implications on corticophobia

Community pharmacists represent an important resource for the promotion of a safer and more effective self-management of common skin diseases, as well as the provision of educational support on therapies prescribed by clinicians, ultimately improving patients’ adherence. In this study, a semi-structured survey was administered to 154 Italian community pharmacists, in order to acquire information on their counseling activity on dermatological disorders. Collected data provide an overview on the frequency and methodology of counseling offered in Italian community pharmacies, identifying knowledge gaps and misbeliefs. In particular, an overall negative opinion on topical corticosteroid therapy emerged among pharmacists, unveiling a phenomenon previously described as corticophobia. Starting from this observation, we discuss the risks for patients’ adherence, associated with corticophobia among pharmacists. Lastly, we briefly report on the main tools desired by pharmacists to improve their education on dermatology, envisioning their implementation with the aim of a more effective counseling