Staying positive: producing net power.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype powerplant (SPP) will be a first-of-a-kind powerplant-its prime objective is to export electrical power, to the national power transmission system ('grid'), above 100 MWe. As part of a wider issue, addressing the STEP concept design, this article seeks to explore how electrical power will be generated from a spherical tokamak heat source. Accordingly, the following key functions of the SPP power infrastructure are reviewed.

Distinction of Chaos from Randomness Is Not Possible from the Degree Distribution of the Visibility and Phase Space Reconstruction Graphs.

We investigate whether it is possible to distinguish chaotic time series from random time series using network theory. In this perspective, we selected four methods to generate graphs from time series: the natural, the horizontal, the limited penetrable horizontal visibility graph, and the phase space reconstruction method. These methods claim that the distinction of chaos from randomness is possible by studying the degree distribution of the generated graphs.

Surgical Treatment of a Large Post-cesarean Hematoma in the Retzius Space Accompanied by a Blood Coagulation Disorder: A Rare Case Report.

Hematoma in the Retzius space after a cesarean section is a rare complication. The Retzius space, also referred to as the prevesical or retropubic space, represents an extraperitoneal artificial cavity situated between the pubic symphysis and the bladder. In instances where conservative treatment involving vigilant monitoring along with analgesics and antibiotics or ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture proves unsuccessful, re-operation becomes imperative.

Large Extracervical Posterior Pedunculated Leiomyoma of the Uterus With the Only Symptom of Chronic Low Back Pain From Radiculopathy: A Case Report.

Large extra cervical-type posterior subserosal leiomyomas originating from the cervix are extremely rare. Our case concerns the surgical treatment of a large posterior pedunculated subserosal extracervical leiomyoma of the uterus with extension to the retroperitoneal space, which was associated with chronic low back pain. A 45-year-old patient, without menstrual disorders and with a medical history of chronic low back pain with sciatica, was referred for gynecological evaluation.

Entropy and Network Centralities as Intelligent Tools for the Investigation of Terrorist Organizations.

In recent years, law enforcement authorities have increasingly used mathematical tools to support criminal investigations, such as those related to terrorism. In this work, two relevant questions are discussed: "How can the different roles of members of a terrorist organization be recognized?" and "are there early signs of impending terrorist acts?" These questions are addressed using the tools of entropy and network theory, more specifically centralities (degree, betweenness, clustering) and their entropies. These tools were applied to data (physical contacts) of four real terrorist networks from different countries.

Competitive Conditions in Global Value Chain Networks: An Assessment Using Entropy and Network Analysis.

We investigated competitive conditions in global value chains (GVCs) for a period of fifteen years (2000-2014), focusing on sector structure, countries' dominance and diversification. For this purpose, we used data from the World Input-Output Database (WIOD) and examined GVCs as weighted directed networks, where countries are the nodes and value added flows are the edges. We compared the in-and out-weighted degree centralization of the sectoral GVC networks in order to detect the most centralized, on the import or export side, respectively (oligopsonies and oligopolies).

Proximity patterns in water buffaloes' activities on pasture.

Water buffaloes are considered social animals and perform several activities on pasture, such as grazing, moving, standing, ruminating, wallowing, lying, and drinking. However, the way these animals form their social structure in the herd during each one of these activities is still unknown. Literature for water buffaloes has focused mainly on their productive characteristics, impact of grazing on wetlands and behavior during grazing but failed to address the way these animals form their social organization during their activities on pasture.

Long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after multiligament knee injury using a delayed ligament reconstruction approach: A single-center experience.

Purpose: To present long-term clinical and radiological results of patients treated with delayed reconstruction of multiligament knee injuries.

Methods: Clinical data from 26 patients (21 men, five women, mean age 27.44 years) were retrospectively reviewed.

MR angiogram confirms sustained blood flow in 1,2 ICSR artery of vascularized bone grafting in scaphoid nonunion treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the functioning of 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery (ICSRA) in vascularized bone grafting (VBG) of scaphoid nonunions with avascular necrosis of proximal pole.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen patients with scaphoid nonunion were treated operatively with 1,2 ICSRA VBG. Viability of the pedicle artery was evaluated by MR angiography with intravenous contrast agent.

A 9-Year Outcome Study Comparing Cancellous Titanium-Coated Cementless to Cemented Tibial Components of a Single Knee Arthroplasty Design.

Background: The cemented Advance Medial-Pivot total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was designed to reflect contemporary knee kinematics data and has shown satisfactory long-term outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated prospectively collected data from 2 groups of patients. Group A consisted of 54 patients (54 TKAs), 18 men and 36 women, and mean age at surgery was 63.

A Graph theoretical approach to study the organization of the cortical networks during different mathematical tasks.

The two core systems of mathematical processing (subitizing and retrieval) as well as their functionality are already known and published. In this study we have used graph theory to compare the brain network organization of these two core systems in the cortical layer during difficult calculations. We have examined separately all the EEG frequency bands in healthy young individuals and we found that the network organization at rest, as well as during mathematical tasks has the characteristics of Small World Networks for all the bands, which is the optimum organization required for efficient information processing.

Primary aortoenteric fistula due to septic aortitis.

Primary aortoenteric fistula is most commonly caused from erosion of the bowel wall by an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Septic aortitis with pseudoaneurysm formation and finally erosion into the duodenum represents a rare cause that has been described in very few patients in the literature. We present a rare clinical case of Salmonella aortitis and associated infrarenal aortic pseudoaneurysm that evolved into an aortoduodenal fistula.

Arterial compromise caused by lower limb osteochondroma.

Osteochondromas occasionally cause arterial complications, mainly concerning the distal superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. The authors present 11 patients (12 cases) with arterial disorders caused by exostoses who were hospitalized in their Vascular Clinic. All but 1 had signs or symptoms of peripheral arterial disease such as intermittent claudication or diminished peripheral pulses, and 1 also presented serious neurologic sequelae.