Background: Rare variants in the SORL1 gene have been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While protein-truncating variants (PTVs) are observed almost exclusively in AD patients, most variants are rare missense variants that can be benign, risk-increasing, and recent reports have indicated that some variants are causative for disease. However, since SORL1 is currently not considered an autosomal dominant Alzheimer Disease gene (ADAD), segregation analyses are not performed, which complicates the identification of additional clinically important missense variants. Methods: We prioritized highly conserved and functionally relevant SORL1 missense variants by considering the functional effects of homologous variants on proteins that share domains with SORL1 (domain-mapping of disease mutations, DMDM) into. We used this variant prioritization approach to annotate SORL1 variants identified in a previously assembled exome sequencing dataset encompassing 18,959 AD cases and 21,893 non-demented controls, and we tested the effect of high, moderate, low and no priority missense variants and specific variant subtypes on disease risk and age at onset. Results: High priority missense variants (HPV) associated with a 6.4-fold increased risk of AD (95%CI: 4.3 - 9.7, p=2.1x10-24), which concentrated on early onset AD (OREOAD 10.5, 95%CI: 6.8 - 16.3, p=3.0x10-29) vs. late onset AD (ORLOAD=4.5, 95%CI 2.85 - 6.94; p=4.9x10-11). The median age at onset of HPV carriers was >8-years earlier than carriers of wild-type SORL1. Intriguingly, specific subtypes of HPVs, including those affecting residues in the YWTD-motif or the calcium cage, occurred only in AD cases and carriers of these variants had an earlier age at onset compared to carriers of PTVs, indicative of a dominant negative effect. Carriers of other HPVs had an age at onset that overlapped with carriers of PTVs, suggesting they lead to haploinsufficiency. Yet other variants had a slightly later age at onset than PTVs, suggesting that their effect on SORL1 function was milder than losing a copy. Variants annotated as moderate, low and no priority did not have an effect on AD. Conclusions: Next to carriers of SORL1 PTVs, carriers of selected missense variants should be considered for segregation analyses, which will likely provide evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance for additional SORL1 missense variants.


On June 5, 1968, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated and 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan was arrested at the scene and later charged with his murder. These are the jail logs of Sirhan's time in custody from the days after his arrest until May 23, 1969, when he was transferred to Death Row in San Quentin.


Based on the immunology theory, a security framework for survivable networks was established. It is a three-layered framework composed of defense layer, immune layer, and adaption layer. Different form the exact security concept of traditional security, the immune-based security framework was based on the flexible security concept. Its goal is to safeguard securities as well as to reduce the risks in insecure conditions.


Generally, an intruder must perform several steps of actions to achieve a successful intrusion. The steps of actions are often not independent. A previous step is usually the preparation of the succeeding step. But traditional intrusion detection systems always focus on low-level attacks or anomalies, and what they capture is only a part of a whole intrusion. They cannot associate different alert information to find the logical steps or the attack strategies behind these intrusions. If the alerts produced by different analyzers can be fused and correlated, intrusions will be detected more efficiently. In the paper several alert correlation approaches are introduced. Among them an alert correlation method based on prerequisites and consequences is focused on. Comparisons and evaluations of these approaches are also made.


A biographic study of the Polish historian of the nineteenth century, Joachim Lelewel, focusing on his contribution to the evolution of the Polish national idea in the age of romantic nationalism and liberalism.


Abstract Let A be a positively graded, connected affine C -algebra generated in degree one which is a finite module over a central subring R . Let A be the structure sheaf over Proj( R ) and Spec Z the central Proj. If injdim( A ) Spec Z has singularities unless the ramification locus of A is pure of codimension one. If gldim( A ) A and the singular locus of Spec Z coincide.


:The poetic compositive achievements of Wang Changlin,a famous poet in the flourishing period of Tang Dynasty,are chief ly in the poems of wugu and qijue.His wugu appears solemn and serious,noble and classic,with vigor of style,while his qijue is with the style of magnificence an d gracefulness,which was done with great care.The former shows his response to t he ideological trend of restoration of ancient ways in literature with Cheng Zi -ang as its leader;the latte r s hows his attitude in revising the extreme in the trend.When we compare the diffe rent styles in the two forms and explore his poetic theory,we can also see his d ifferent mental states: to deal with affairs of human life with wugu;to express his emotion with qijue.


The effect of heat treatment on the structure and characteristics of N-80 steel with modified chemical structure has been studied. Bonding degree of as-rolled, - normalised, and -improved micro-alloyed elements has been analysed. It was found that both the best mechanical characteristics and the structure werw achieved on the as-improved steel.


Requirements of high-precision spot detection in laser communication ATP fine tracking systems are analyzed, and design principles of a spot-detecting camera as well as hardware implementation methods of spot centroiding algorithm are explained. According to the needs of performance parameters of laser communication ATP fine tracking system, a high-performance spot-detecting camera is designed and manufactured. Test results verify that, frame frequency of the camera is up to 2.5 kHz, spot position extraction accuracy is better than 0.1 pixels. So the performance of the camera can satisfy the needs of detecting bandwidth and accuracy of ATP fine tracking system.


Embedded atom method (EAM) was introduced to calculate the stacking fault energies (SFE) of Fe Mn alloys. The calculated results based on Johnson's truncation model and its modified model indicate that the SFE in Fe 20Mn alloy increases with the increase of Mn content and the tendency is well consistent with our experiments. Moreover, the SFE in Fe 20Mn is well agreement with that thermodynamically calculated by Kato et al . The SFE of γ phase in Fe Mn alloys with a (Mn)=20%~55% can be expressed as: SFE (mJ/m 2)=23.3+0.269 a (Mn)%.


patients by the addition of lenalidomide. To determine the effect of therapy on immune function, T-cell immune synapse formation was assessed at various times after treatment, when CLL cells obtained before treatment were incubated with autologous T cells obtained during and after therapy. Increased immune synapse formation was seen in 82% of patients after PCR, which appeared to be directly related to the reduction in tumor cell burden. Immune synapse activity increased further with lenalidomide and was paralleled by an increase in T-cell number and IgG levels. This study is important in that it extends previous observations showing that T-cell immune synapse function can be improved in CLL with lenalidomide, suggesting that part of the activity of this drug is related to improved immune surveillance. Moreover, the study confirmed previous work showing that lenalidomide can improve overall immune function in CLL, producing an increase in immunoglobulin levels. Unfortunately, the study also confirmed that lenalidomide is toxic in CLL, with neutropenia and infections being the most common adverse effects. Thus, a search for new analogs with improved tolerability and enhanced immunomodulation over lenalidomide is required. At this time, the only treatment to produce long-term remissions, and possibly cures, in CLL is allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The present study indicates that T-cell immune synapse formation is enhanced after PCR therapy and suggests that minimizing tumor burden before transplantation would optimize the graft vs leukemia effect. Finally, it is tantalizing to speculate that increasing immune surveillance in CLL with lenalidomide or chemoimmunotherapy may reduce the high incidence of second malignancies seen in this disease. Conflict-of-interest disclosure:The author declares no competing financial interests. n


According to the lightning monitoring data of Hainan Province from 2011 to 2020,eight cities in Hainan Province were selected as the evaluation units.Combined with the statistics of population, lightning weather, economic characteristics and land area of each city, the population density, GDP value, thunderstorm days, illiteracy level and lightning frequency (density) of each city were selected as risk assessment indicators, and the evaluation model was established by AHP. Get the weight of each index and calculate the lightning risk disaster index of each city according to the numerical value of each index of each city. After consulting relevant materials, it is found that the construction of communication base stations will also induce lightning disaster accidents, and the evaluation results of each city will also be affected by the number of communication base stations in the region, so the correctness of the results also indicates the rationality of the evaluation method.


Within a relational database system, the join operator is needed to support an association Between two relations. Creating a join, however, can be costly in terms of computing time, especially if the fields used for the join are not keyed fields. In some relational systems, as the RDB system developed at St. Norbert ColleRe, all fields of a relation are stored in a tuple file. In addition to this tuple file, each keyed field is stored in an index for fast access to field values and tuples containing these values. For non-keyed fields, however, the field values are stored only in the tuple file and in no other structure. Searchin~ then, on a non-keyed field is slow and requires a sequential search of the tuple file. Creating a join on two non-keyed fields results in excessive I/O's as shown in the following algorithms, and results in (#Ri * #R2) + #matches logical I/O's.


We consider an electrically conducting fluid confined to a thin rotating spherical shell in which the Elsasser and magnetic Reynolds numbers are assumed to be large while the Rossby number is assumed to vanish in an appropriate limit. This may be taken as a simple model for a possible stable layer at the top of the Earth's outer core. It may also be a model for the thin shells which are thought to be a source of the magnetic fields of some planets such as Mercury or Uranus. Linear hydromagnetic waves are studied using a multiple scale asymptotic scheme in which boundary layers and the associated boundary conditions determine the structure of the waves. These waves are assumed to be of the form of an asymptotic series expanded about an ambient magnetic field which vanishes on the equatorial plane and velocity and pressure fields which do not. They take the form of short wave, slowly varying wave trains. The results are compared to the author's previous work on such waves in cylindrical geometry in which the boundary conditions play no role. The approximation obtained is significantly different from that obtained in the previous work in that an essential singularity appears at the equator and nonequatorial wave regions appear.


Shuttle services, tours and van rentals to the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula and many other destinations in Mexico. Ground transportation in Merida.


Sustainable tourism development has to pay attention to social, economic, and environmental factors, which is essential in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The key actors' involvement in tourism development determines its success. This study aims to analyze the strength and convergence between stakeholders or actors who play a role and are involved in the development of Top-Selfie in Kragilan, Magelang, Indonesia, especially from the strategic issues of Increasing Income, Expanding Employment, Increasing Tourists, Poverty Reduction, and Maintaining Local Wisdom, Infrastructure Development, and Pine Forest Conservation. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven important actors, namely (1) The Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office, and (2) the Mount. Merbabu National Park, (3) the village government, (4) the Tourism Awareness Group, (5) Visitors, (6) Local Communities, and (7) Business Actors. The result is the Youth, Sports, and Tourism Offices, Mount. Merbabu National Park and tourism awareness groups are the main actors in developing sustainable tourism in Kragilan's Top Selfie.


Avicenna (Abu Ali Sina in Persian) was a Persian polymath and the foremost physician and philosopher of his time and the ensuing decades. He was born around 980 in Greater Khorasan, to a Persian family. During the Islamic Golden Ages, Avicenna created an extensive corpus of works. His greatest work was the Canon of Medicine which was a bible in the field of medicine. It was originally written in Arabic and was later translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona. It was used as a text-book in the most famous universities for over 500 years. This book was an immense encyclopedia of medicine. In the field of anesthesia and analgesia, Avicenna has most prominently commented on drug actions, pharmacotherapy, oropharyngeal intubation and tracheotomy. The pertaining information is scattered in the book. The chapter on chest diseases deals with oropharyngeal intubation and tracheotomy to tackle problems such as stridor and respiratory distress. In the medical literature and history, this is the earliest mention of intubation of the upper airway. "One of the problems and challenges to deal with was the need for clearing secretions of the upper airway to improve air entry. During painful conditions and before surgical interventions, a variety of analgesics and anesthetic recipes had been prescribed. Insertion of a long reed or similar instruments with an attached piece of cotton-wool should have been reduced. Dilating the air passage would have helped the process of clearing. " "Insertion of a silver or probably a gold tube into the pharynx would have also helped breathing. In cases of persistent stridor with failure of medications and risk of immediate death, the only way would be to cut the ligaments between two tracheal wings without injuring the cartilage. The head is extended and immobilized backwards and the skin is incised preferably after being stretched with a hook. After exposing the trachea, the incision should have been made along the incision of the skin between the two rings. The skin should have been out turned and stitched In order to be separated from the underlying tissue and trachea." Regarding dental maladies Avicenna mentioned the following: "The pure form of these agents could be taken but they are most effective when used as concoctions, plasters, poultices, packs, washes or fumigants .... Alternatively, dissolve one or two opium seeds in rose-oil and instill drops into the ear nearest to the painful tooth .... Another anesthetic agent that can cause no harm, although it may initially increase the pain, is ice-cold water taken sip by sip until the tooth is rendered painless." Avicenna died in June 1037, at the age of 58, in the month of Ramadan and was buried in Hamedan, Iran.


To the authors' knowledge, the patterns of care for the radiotherapy‐based treatment of patients with stage III to IVB oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are poorly defined. The objective of the current study was to characterize the use and predictors of chemotherapy with radiotherapy for this population using the National Cancer Database.


Considering that the particle movement takes place on fractal curves, the mathematical and physical aspects in fractal space-time theory are analyzed. In such context, the harmonic oscillator probl...


Based on the correct realization of the position of management of school work and its function to university students,this paper analyzed the main problems existing in the traditional management of school work,put forward the construction of school-centeredness and personal value-orientation in the management of school work,and brought out in a probative way the new mechanism of school work administration,which is on the basis of exploiting students' initiative,guiding students' studies and giving more humanistic concern for students.


Ultra-fine powder (FA) extracts from persimmon were investigated as potential food materials in industrial processes because such extracts have various useful biological activities. We examined the antioxidant and anti-allergic activity of FA extracts using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing activity of plasma (FRAP) models, and by measuring interleukin 4 (IL-4) expression in spleen cells and in an atopy animal model. FA extracts were prepared using solvents including distilled water and 50% (v/v) acetone. The results showed that FA extracts had potent DPPH and FRAP activities, decreased IL-4 expression in spleen cells, and inhibited ear thickness and inflammation in a mouse animal model. The data indicate that a FA extract could be used as an antioxidant and/or anti-inflammation agent, and in industrial food preparation processes.


Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) composition and articles made therefrom is provided having improved flame retardancy. Using this composition, it is possible to produce a suitable carpet equipment flame retardancy is desired.


Crystallization dynamics of as-deposited amorphous AgInSbTe and SiSb thin films induced by picosecond laser pulses with different fluences were studied using time-resolved reflectivity measurements. The transient phase change process during crystallization was discussed and compared.


Based on data envelopment analysis(DEA) model, this paper analyzes the profitability of listed real estate companies and evaluates real estate from four aspects: comprehensive efficiency, scale efficiency, technical efficiency and scale reward.


The BOM data of shipbuilding PLM include hull and outfitting design information (drawings and technical documents) more than million per one ship. The design engineer uses and refers to the data which include designing ship and similar ship for improvement in design quality, so the data is very huge and complicated. If the BOM data structure is set only based hull assembly order or outfitting system structure, it is difficult for the designers to contact necessary data during their work because various functional design departments exist in shipbuilding design environment. The purpose of this study is to suggest methods that are generated by data, integrated BOM relation and predefined BOM structure by functional department (BOM template). These methods provide design information more accurate and on time when it is needed to use integrated BOM data of shipbuilding PLM for design.


the 5G wireless network is going operate within the environment of other electrical, electronic and electromagnetic devices. The 5G network owns the ability to transmit large amounts of data at high speeds, taking the growing demand for equipments connectivity which increase the operating frequencies and give as results the rapid propagation of parasitic signals. This rapid propagation is causing network malfunctions and equipments failure in some critical operations.For that it is necessary to study the functioning of these equipments within an electromagnetic environment and to answer the questions: is it compatible or not? And is it sufficiently immune to electromagnetic disturbances from other equipments or its environments in a more generally way?To perform this study, the implementation of a test bed model is investigated. In this work, an interest is taken to the radiated electromagnetic disturbances. The test bed model use the anechoic chamber which absorbs any kind of electromagnetic radiation and leave just the radiation which comes from the antenna, and also it allows to measure the disturbances in and in far field.This article aims to predict a model of measurement test bed based on anechoic chamber, in order to study the influence of radiated electromagnetic disturbances in case of emissivity. The implemented model uses the real dimensions of the RITM laboratory anechoic chamber.


The Nepal Fertility Survey (NFS) was conducted in 1976 to obtain reliable estimates of recent levels and trends in fertility. The Household Survey and Individual Questionnaires collected information from 5940 ever-married women aged 15-49 on date of marriage date of birth of each child born to the respondent and the dates of death for children who died breastfeeding practices and demography and family planning. Previous surveys have contained obvious misreportings on age at marriage marital duration dates of vital events and presented an unnaturally low fertility rate. The majority of Nepalese do not keep a calendar and often do not know their own age. There was no tendency however for older women to omit a higher proportion of dead children than of live ones in the remote past. Overall the detailed fertility histories yield consistent estimates of infant and child mortality. Omission of births in the remote past is inevitable particularly among older women who do not know their own ages. The NFS data compared to past censuses is only slightly distorted in age distributions by 5-year intervals. Births marriages and infant deaths are reported with negligible error. Most of the errors were in reports of events occurring at least 5-10 years before the survey.


A detailed description of Guyton's model and modifications are provided. Also included are descriptions of several typical experiments which the model can simulate to illustrate the model's general utility. A discussion of the problems associated with the interfacing of the model to other models such as respiratory and thermal regulation models which is prime importance since these stimuli are not present in the current model is also included. A user's guide for the operation of the model on the Xerox Sigma 3 computer is provided and two programs are described. A verification plan and procedure for performing experiments is also presented.


Compulsory Contracts on Environmental Law reconstruct a tripartite environmental administration frame.Compulsive cleaning agreements are applied in management of marine pollution caused by vessels,grid companies must bear compulsive duty to make contracts to buy renewable energy,sales contracts are motivated by compulsory retirement duty of motor vehicles.Legality about these contracts must focus on legitimacy.The core of Transplantation of Compulsory Contracts Institution is"making contracts"rather than "compulsory".Contracts are tools of civil law to realize the object of regulation by autonomy.There are some suggestions to revise Environmental Protection Law so that Commercial contracts of environmental protection can be embedded in this act through encourage and optional clauses.Compulsory contracts institution will develop into an implementation mechanism to be applied in third-party governance.


Sexual and gender minority individuals experience minority stress, which is hypothesized to underlie the mental health disparities affecting these populations. Drawing on advances in mental disorder classification, we argue that transdiagnostic approaches hold great promise for understanding and reducing these disparities. In contrast to traditional diagnostic approaches, which have limited construct validity and produced a piecemeal literature, transdiagnostic approaches: (1) are evidence based, (2) account for diffuse patterns of disparities and comorbidity, (3) pinpoint psychological mechanisms linking minority stress to poor mental health, (4) reduce scientific stigma, and (5) serve as efficacious and efficient targets for transdiagnostic minority stress interventions.


The majority of allogeneic transfusions occur in the perioperative setting, especially during cardiac surgery. In addition to the economic implications, there is emerging evidence that blood transfusion may increase both morbidity and mortality. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) may limit the need for blood products.


The proliferation of home videos amongst other variables has been viewed as a major threat to creating narratives that truly represent the society. This study examines, using Nigeria as a context, the representation of reality in home video films. Gathering respondents from Awka South, a local government area in the south eastern part of Nigeria, the study employed the survey research design with a sample size of 400. The result of the analysis showed that home video film audiences perceived representation of realities in the society in home video films. The study draws from the reflective-projective theory of communication as the theoretical underpinning that provided insight on how the media mirrors the society.


Previously we reported the release of auditory nerve activation substance (ANAS) into perilymph during sound stimulation [Soc. Neurosci. III, 11 (1977)]. Recently, experiments designed to increase the output of ANAS were carried out using more intense sound stimuli during the perilymphatic collection periods. In these experiments, compound VIIIth nerve action potentials and cochlear microphonics were measured. The more intense auditory stimuli caused reductions in these potentials reminiscent of auditory fatigue. Perilymph, collected during periods of auditory fatigue, when infused back into the guinea pig cochlea during silence caused reductions in cochlear potentials similar to those seen during auditory fatigue. Such cochlear electrical changes are not seen with perilymph collected during quiet periods. These results suggest that ANAS and/or another substance released during sound stimulation may be responsible for the changes in cochlear electrical activity seen during auditory fatigue. These results ...


Abstract: Wastewater reclamation and reuse represent a feasible solution to meet the growing demand for safe water. An environmentally sustainable technology such as phytoremediation is targeted for the reclamation of polluted waters. To this end, the capability of different plant species to tolerate and accumulate pollutants has to be investigated. In this work, eucalypt plants were studied by analysing biometric, physiological, and biochemical parameters related to cadmium (Cd) tolerance and accumulation in two clones ("Velino ex 7" and "Viglio ex 358") of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. × E. globulus subsp. bicostata (Maiden, Blakely & J.Simm.) J.B. Kirkp exposed to 50 μM CdSO4 under hydroponics for three weeks. The results indicated that both eucalypt clones have a valuable tolerance to cadmium, expressed as the tolerance index (Ti). Biometric investigations showed that, regardless of the clone, the metal exposure affected most parameters related to biomass allocation and leaf growth. On the contrary, significant differences were found between the clones with respect to the chlorophyll content and the Chl a to Chl b ratio. These findings were also confirmed from the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence transient (OJIP) using the JIP test. Cadmium accumulation occurred in both clones and in particular in the roots, with a poor amount of metal reaching the aerial parts, and the Velino clone showed the highest Cd accumulation. The metal uptake ratio and the phytoextraction efficiency highlight a good Cd phytoremoval ability, especially for the Velino clone. The results are discussed taking into account that, in wastewater phytoremediation systems, root biomass can be completely harvested allowing for the removal of the absorbed metal. Finally, the notable tolerance to submersion and the large environmental adaptability of eucalypt suggest that this plant species represents an interesting candidate for the phytoremediation of Cd-polluted wastewaters.


IntheDNAsofallPh'-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia patients studied todate, abreakpoint on chromosome 22(thePh'chromosome) canbedemonstrated withaprobefromthebcr(breakpoint cluster region). Although theK562cell line wasestablished fromcells ofachronic myelocytic leukemia patient, we havebeenunable todetect thePh'chromosome bycytogenetic means. Employing aprobe fromthe5'region ofber, wehavecloned anamplified Ph'breakpoint fragment fromK562.Thisdemonstrates that K562contains multiple remnants ofaPh'chromosome withabreakpoint within berandthusmayserve asamodelsystem forthestudy ofPh'-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia atamolecular level. Theisolation ofbcrcDNA sequences showsthatparts ofberencode aprotein. Employing K562,wedemonstrate thepresence ofan abnormally sized mRNA species hybridizing toc-abl andtoabercDNAprobe, indicating thepossible consequence ofthePh'translocation onatranscriptional level inchronic myelocytic leukemia. Theisolation andsequencing ofacDNAcontaining thebreakpoint areaofthis mRNA provide further evidence forits chimeric structure. Cloning oflarge stretches ofchromosomal DNAflanking bcrandc-abl sequences inK562 andidentification oftheexons participating intheformation ofthechimeric mRNA showsthatasplice ofat least 99kilobases ismadetofuse the3'bcrexontothe5'c-abl exon. Furthermore twochimeric cDNAswere isolated containing chromosome 9sequences that map43.5kilobases downstream fromtheK562breakpoint. These chromosome 9sequences neither hybridize tothe8.5-kilobase chimeric c-abl mRNA nortonormal c-abl mRNAsinHelacells andprobably represent incorrect splicing products present intheK562cell line. Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML)isapluripotent stem cell disease characterized bythepresence ofthePhiladelphia(Ph') chromosome intheleukemic cells of96%ofall CML patients. ThePh'chromosome istheresult ofa


Common prosperity is one of the socialist principles and the developing objectives. Since the reform and opening up, We have checked many Utopian views and actions in the course of socialist construction and laid a solid foundation for the development of common prosperity. It is the practical conduct, which includes correct understanding of the essence of common prosperity, comprehensive analysis of disparity between rich and poor in terms of its characteristics, causes and forms of expression and wise countermeasures to overcome the disparity, that guartees the realization of common prosperity.


This bachelor's work called Corporate Design of Kreus studio concerns history and present of corporate design in movie companies and studios. It is divided into two parts. I dedicate the first, theoretical part to a comprehensive clarification of a term Corporate Identity and Corporate Design as a part of a Corporate Identity. This is followed by history of visual styles in selected companies, analyzing company's trade-marks and its transformation during the long years of its functioning. The second, practical part contains summary of created design manual for creative, universal studio Kreus, which deals with cultural development in the area of cinematography. It represents rules for correct use of a brand and its possible applications.


Water-quality conditions in the Central Columbia Plateau were evaluated as part of the National Water Quality Assessment Program on the basis of analysis of nutrient, suspended-sediment, and pesticide data collected from 1959 to 1991 at 105 surface-water sampling locations. Three subunits were delineated based on differences in surface-water hydrology and water-quality conditions in the study unit. The movement of surface water through the Quincy-Pasco subunit in the southwestern part of the study unit is artificially controlled by the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. The highly variable streamflows in the Palouse subunit in the eastern part of the study unit are more naturally influenced by storm runoff and snowmelt. The North-Central subunit in the central and northern parts of the study unit has few perennial streams and an extensive network of ephemeral streams. Non-point sources account for at least 97 percent of the estimated inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus to the study unit. Locally, however, point sources may dominate: most of the nutrient loading to the South Fork Palouse River during low streamflows comes from the Moscow and Pullman sewage treatment plants (STPs). The Quincy-Pasco subunit receives the highest rates of fertilizer and pesticide applications (approximately 132 pounds of nitrogen, 17 pounds of phosphorus, and 2.3 pounds of pesticides per acre per year) in the study unit. The combined annual loads of total nitrogen and phosphorus from four large drainages from the QuincyPasco subunit (which together represent approximately 0.8 percent of the drainage area of the Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam) are about 3.4 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively, of the corresponding annual load: in the Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam. Nutrient concentrations in the Quincy-Pasco subunit vary seasonally and spatially as a result of the operations of the irrigation project and of changing proportions of irrigation return flows, unused irrigation water, and ground-water seepage in the surface drains and wasteways. Higher phosphorus concentrations occur during the irrigation season, when suspended-sediment concentrations also are highest. Detections of pesticide compounds throughout the year in the Quincy-Pasco subunit indicate that pesticides may be transported to surface waters by agricultural and storm runoff and influx from the groundwater system. Variations in nitrogen-species concentrations in the Quincy-Pasco subunit during and after the irrigation season indicate interactions between ground and surface waters: constituents are carried to the groundwater table by artificial recharge, shallow ground water then discharges to surface drains and wasteways, and concentrations are diluted by unused excess water during the irrigation season. Concentrations generally increase downstream as a result of contributions from agricultural runoff and ground-water seepage, except when mitigated by dilution and (or) biological assimilation of nutrients. Variations in water quality in the Palouse subunit relate to runoff from agricultural lands during storms and to dilution of STP discharges. There is more precipitation in this part of the study unit, and the loess soils are particularly subject to erosion during storms. Runoff transports nutrients, sediment, and possibly pesticides to the streams. Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations are highest from November through April in most of this subunit. Several STPs operate in the Palouse subunit, and nutrient concentrations in tributaries affected by these STPs are highest during low streamflows. The chronic water-quality criterion for the protection of aquatic life was exceeded at 9 of the 10 sites in the study unit where water samples collected during the 1970's were analyzed for DOT and its metabolites; the overall frequency of detection was low, however. DOT was detected in 97 percent of the whole-fish samples collected in the irrigation project. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State surface-waterquality chronic standards for dieldrin were exceeded at four of nine sites; dieldrin was detected in 43 percent of the whole-fish samples collected in the irrigation project, and the human health criterion for edible fish fillets was exceeded in four fish. Better information is needed about the timing, amounts, and new types of pesticides applied in the study unit. Many of the pesticides investigated in previous studies currently are not used, or are not used as much as other compounds. Some of the compounds currently in use are less stable and more soluble than pesticides used in the past and may result in a larger flux of pesticides to surface waters from the shallow ground-water system. More data are needed to further improve understanding of water quality in the Central Columbia Plateau. Little is known about surface-water quality outside of the irrigation project and the Palouse River Basin or about water-quality conditions in barren and range lands and ground-water-irrigated farm lands. Because streamflows in the irrigation project are relatively uniform from year to year, it is possible to estimate constituent loads in this part of the study unit with fewer samples than are required for the rest of the study unit. INTRODUCTION The Central Columbia Plateau is 1 of 60 study units targeted for study by the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), which is designed to describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation's groundand surface-water resources and to link the status and trends with an understanding of the natural and human factors that affect the quality of these resources. The program integrates information about water quality at a wide range of spatial scales from local to national, and focuses on water-quality conditions that affect large geographic areas of the Nation or that occur frequently within numerous smaller areas. The building blocks of NAWQA are the study unit investigations, which will be conducted in 60 of the major hydrologic basins in the United States. The main components of the study unit investigations are (1) analysis of existing data to aid in the study design, (2) occurrence and distribution assessment to characterize the broad-scale geographic and seasonal distributions of water-quality conditions in relation to major contaminant sources and background conditions, (3) long-term monitoring to assess long-term changes in selected aspects of water-quality conditions, and (4) source, transport, and effect studies to address specific questions about the characteristics and causes of water-quality degradation in individual areas. Information about the relations between water quality and upstream or upgradient characteristics is an integral part of all four components of NAWQA activity. The information from each study unit will forrr the basis for later synthesis at regional and national scales. NAWQA's national synthesis involves comparisons of water quality on a national basis and, where a given condition exists in only a few study units or where there are insufficient sites to discuss across a gradien* side-byside discussions of study unit findings. The national synthesis also will include regional survey results. These comparisons are intended to highlight consistent national patterns in concentrations and frequencies of exceedance of water-quality standards as a function of land-use groups, population density, amounts of chemical applications, season of the year, time (trends), streamflow, soil type, and other factors. Comparisons of water quality across the Nation will aid in recognizing the effects of human activity on water quality and will show how widespread are violations of water-quality standards for drinking water and for the protection of aquatic life. One of the first activities in the NAWQA study units is the analysis of existing data in order to (1) develop a conceptual model of the water-quality conditions within each basin, (2) provide an historical perspective on the water quality of the Central Columbia Plateau study unit, and (3) summarize the current understanding o f various aspects of the water-quality conditions in the study unit and of the natural and human factors that affect those aspects of water quality within the study unit. The review of existing water-quality data describes the strengths and weaknesses of available information and the implications for understanding water-quality issues, and is then used to guide new data collection activities of the NAWQA program. The analysis of existing data continues throughout the study period, and findings will be published along with the results from newly collected data (Hirsch and others, 1988). This report, one of the first products of NAWQA, is the analysis of existing water-quality data for nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in surface waters of the Central Columbia Plateau study unit. A similar analysis of existing water-quality data for ground water was completed by Jones and Wagner (1995). Purpose and Scope This report provides an initial analysis of nutrient, suspended-sediment, and pesticide concentration data collected from 1959-1991 in the Central Columbia Plateau study unit. The purposes of this report are to (1) identify the spatial and temporal patterns of concentrations and loads of nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides within the Central Columbia Plateau study unit, (2) use existing water-quality data to guide additional data collection in the study unit, (3) contribute to a synthesized description of the status and trends in the quality of the Nation's water resources, (4) document findings for future NAWQA activities in the Central Columbia Plateau study unit, and (5) present a preliminary conceptual model of the spatial and temporal patterns of concentrations and loads of suspended sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within the study area, based on the available data a


After 20 years since the publication of the Eurocodes, in 2012, the European Commission gave mandate to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to develop a second generation of Eurocodes. Among the different parts of Eurocodes, a substantial revision process has been undertaken for the seismic design rules of timber buildings included in Eurocode 8 (EC8). In particular, a major effort has been made to implement the design rules for Cross‐Laminated Timber (CLT) buildings and to define the behaviour factors q for such structural type. The choice of the behaviour factor q for CLT buildings in the new "timber" chapter of EC8 has been made by examining several proposals available in literature. Most of these studies were not referred to any specific design provision and certainly could not have followed the design rules drafted in the second generation of Eurocodes. This paper presents a study aimed to verify whether the proposed values of the behaviour factors q are consistent with the attained seismic performances of CLT buildings designed in accordance with the new "timber chapter" of EC8. Parametric non‐linear static (pushover) analyses and a risk‐consistent approach, based on the use of Incremental Dynamic Analyses (IDA) and fragility curves were conducted to evaluate the performance of a few selected archetypes. The results obtained from the analyses and the risk‐consistent approach showed that the proposed values of q‐factor for CLT buildings in second generation of Eurocode, namely 2.30 and 3.20 for a ductility class 2 (DC2) and 3 (DC3) respectively, can be reasonably accepted.


The food and feeding habits of the marine cat fish, Osteogeneiosus militaris (Linn.,1758) off Mumbai waters was studied. The species was found to be carnivorous and predacious in feeding habit. Index of preponderance values indicated that, it feeds mainly on crustaceans (shrimps, crabs), molluscs (bivalves, squids) and small fishes ( Coilia spp ., ribbon fish). Among the food groups, crustaceans dominate throughout the year in comparison to molluscs and fishes. In the crustacean group, Acetes spp. was found to be the dominant food item contributing to 43.34 per cent followed by penaeid shrimps, which shared 27.65 per cent of the total food in all the months. Analysis of month-wise percentage food composition revealed that, the species fed the highest percentage of Acetes spp . during the month of November (34.92%) while penaeid shrimps was consumed in the largest percentage in January (35.10%). With respect to the size (length) of the fish, the percentage of Acetes spp. as a food item was highest (52.99%) for the length group of 391-420 mm and lowest (25.64%) for 361-390 mm. The guts were found to be empty for fishes having length of more than 420 mm. Results of the feeding intensity delineated that, the species is not a voracious feeder as none of the individuals studied was found to have gorged or full stomach over the entire period of investigation. Among the different length groups, the highest feeding fishes were in the length group of 211-240 mm. Gastro-somatic index was highest during August for males and during November for females while the pooled value was highest in January (3.206).


Abstract Novel inorganic-organic hybrid highly crosslinked and fluorescent polyphosphazene nanospheres were prepared via a one pot polycondensation polymerization method. Fluorescein and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane were used as organic monomers in the synthesis of the nanospheres. The crosslinked structure of the nanospheres was formed with inorganic octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene rings. The characterization of the prepared nanospheres was performed by SEM, EDX, solid-state 31P-NMR, FTIR, XPS, XRD, DLS, and UV-vis techniques. The average particle size of the nanospheres was determined to be 343 nm. The fluorescence properties of the nanospheres were investigated. When they were excited at 470 nm, the nanospheres exhibited a fluorescence emission at 520 nm in ethanol. However, they did not show fluorescence emission at solid state. The nanospheres exhibited maximum emission at pH 9.0. The synthesized nanospheres have excellent photostability in 60 minutes at pH 9.0 owing to the crosslinked and inorganic-organic hybrid structure. Graphical Abstract


In a paired comparison experiment, several judges compare several objects. Each judge performs a number of paired comparisons, that is, considers a pair of the objects, and indicates which of the two is preferred. The Bradley–Terry model is a simple but powerful model in which each object is equipped with a measure of overall strength, and the chance that one object is preferred to another depends on only their relative strengths. The model is useful not only for preference data but also for competitions, for example, among sports teams.

Keywords:

Bradley–Terry model;
paired comparisons;
Luce's Choice Axiom;
Thurstone model;
logistic regression


The extended optimal level version of the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock(MCDF)and relativistic configuration interaction(RCI)calculations strength with the inclusion of Breit interaction,vacuum polarization,self energy and finite nuclear mass corrections in the active interaction approach has been used to calculate the fine-structure intervals,transition rates and oscillator strengths for the magnetic dipole of the interval transitions among 1s22s2p 3 P0,1 levels of ions in the beryllium isoelectronic sequence with a nuclear charge Z ranging from 6 to 80.A comprehensive comparison of present results is performed with other recent available values.


The response of an elastic foundation, such as settlement, can generally be obtained by integrating the product of the influence factor and the distributed load over the entire foundation. The exact evaluation of this double integral is usually very involved, especially for arbitrarily shaped foundations. In the paper, a very simple method is developed for obtaining the elastic responses of soils and rocks using the computer package MathCAD and Green's theorem in calculus. Initially, the double integral is transformed into a line integral by invoking Green's theorem. The line integral can then be evaluated very conveniently using the built-in procedure in MathCAD for numerical integration. The proposed method can be applied to an arbitrarily loaded area with an arbitrary stress distribution and can be programmed very easily using MathCAD. Examples will be given to illustrate the use and accuracy of the proposed method.


Stadiums play a vital role in enhancing fan experience in professional sports. However, financing has always been a major obstacle as the cost of new stadiums are soaring. Moreover, many scholars and local governments nowadays question whether public subsidies for stadium construction constitute an efficient use of scarce public resource. This paper investigated a possible method of stadium financing through city redevelopment plan. The findings suggest viewing new stadium construction as a part of city redevelopment project is an approach that professional sports teams should consider. This method offers new insights to stadium construction as it satisfies the important stakeholders while minimizing financial burden on the local government and the teams.


Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by the seed-transmitted pathogen Acidovorax citrulli, poses a serious threat to cucurbitaceous crops worldwide. In this study, two biocontrol bacteria strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Ba-2) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (2P24), with significant antagonistic activity against A. citrulli were and applied by seed priming to control BFB seed transmission. Artificially infested watermelon and melon seeds were treated with the biocontrol strains by liquid or solid matrix seed priming. The seed bio-priming effects were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Germination percentages were improved by seed priming treatments for melon, and seedling uniformity was higher for seeds primed with Ba-2 than for seeds from the other treatments for watermelon. Seedling disease incidence of untreated seeds were 6.5% for watermelon and 16.0% for melon, and water-priming resulted in similar disease progress curves as the untreated control. Seed priming with Ba-2 and 2P24 significantly reduced seedling BFB incidence for both watermelon and melon. Evaluation with naturally infested watermelon seeds primed with biocontrol strains indicated that 2P24 seed priming was more effective than Ba-2 (P < 0.05) and 2P24 solid matrix priming, reducing the seedling disease incidence to 1.3%. Seed bio-priming has potential as an effective and eco-friendly approach for suppressing bacterial fruit blotch seed-to-seedling transmission.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate if quality of life improved in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo-ventilation in nurse-led heart failure clinic.

BACKGROUND
Cheyne-Stokes respiration is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Adaptive servo-ventilation is introduced to treat this sleep-disordered breathing.

DESIGN
Randomised, controlled design.

METHODS
Fifty-one patients (ranging from 53-84 years), New York Heart Association III-IV and/or left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and Cheyne-Stokes respiration were randomised to an intervention group who received adaptive servo-ventilation or a control group. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to assess quality of life at randomisation and after three months. Both groups were followed in the nurse-led heart failure clinic.

RESULT
Adaptive servo ventilation improved quality of life-scores both in a per protocol analysis and in an intention to treat analysis. Twenty-one patients dropped out of the study, nine in the control and 12 in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION
Use of adaptive servo-ventilation improved quality of life in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration. However, the drop-out rate was high.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Chronic heart failure patients come regularly to the nurse-led heart failure clinic. The heart failure nurses' competency has to include knowledge of equipment to provide support and continuity of care to the patients.


The invention relates to an electric power steering device of an array of light emitting diodes (LEDi) electrically connected in series with each other between an entry point (EP) and an output port (PS) of said network, said device comprising a current source (10) common to all the diodes (LEDi) and for circulating a supply current (lied) from the entry point (EP) to the output point (PS). According to the invention the device comprises a bypass circuit (Ci) associated with each of the diodes (LEDi) electrically connecting a network connection to said point upstream of the diode (LEDi) and the associated output point (PS), so as to allow each branch circuit (Ci) to withdraw from said network or any part of the electric current flowing upstream of said connection point and to drive the current drawn towards the exit point (PS). Application to the lighting and / or signaling of motor vehicles.


Abstract The understanding and explanation of inflammation-dysplasia-cancer sequence is challenging. The gut microbiota is an important factor for the intestine wall. The changes in bacteria quality and/or quantity (dysbiosis) may begin the colon inflammation. This paper reviewed the gut microbiome risk factors which may lead to colon cancer.


Hydrodynamical condition of Java sea as a part of Indian-Pacific throughflow system which is influenced by monsoon will affect the condition of Banten bay such tidal current. Bordered by Java sea makes Banten bay preoccupied with fisheries and shipping activities, so the information of current pattern e.g. tidal current is very necessary. This study aims to simulate the tidal current pattern using flow model fm as a numerical approach. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was employed to perform the simulation of tidal current. Model was validated by using current and tidal observation data which was taken on September 2015 and April 2016. The result shows that the current moved southwestern toward the land during high neap and high spring tidal conditions which ranged 0 – 0.142 m/s at the first transitional monsoon and 0-0.153 m/s at second transitional monsoon. During low spring tidal condition for both transitional monsoon, the current flowed northwestward on west side and northeastward on east side within the bay which ranged 0 – 0.137 m/s and 0 – 0.127 m/s respectively. The hydrodynamic conditions of Banten Bay are severe different between 2 transitional seasons, especially for the current speed and direction. It induces a different transport mechanism, resulting the unstable accretion and abrasion along Banten Bay coast.


IN INDUSTRY in general, and highly automated industries in particular, there are many applications which require the use of variable-speed electric motor drives. The combination of a phase-controlled rectifier with one or more d-c shunt motors provides a drive which is flexible, highly responsive, and low in weight and cost.


Tumor growth is regulated by a diverse set of extracellular influences, including paracrine crosstalk with stromal partners, and biophysical interactions with surrounding cells and tissues.Studies elucidating the role of physical force and the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) itself as regulators of tumor growth and invasion have been greatly catalyzed by the use of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) tumor models. These systems provide the ability to systematically isolate, manipulate, and evaluate impact of stromal components and extracellular mechanics in a platform that is both conducive to imaging and biologically relevant. However, recognizing that mechanoregulatory crosstalk is bi-directional and fully utilizing these models requires complementary methods for in situ measurements of the local mechanical environment. Here, in 3D tumor/fibroblast co-culture models of pancreatic cancer, a disease characterized by its prominent stromal involvement, we evaluate the use of particle-tracking microrheology to probe dynamic mechanical changes. Using videos of fluorescently labeled polystyrene microspheres embedded in collagen I ECM, we measure spatiotemporal changes in the Brownian motion of probes to report local ECM shear modulus and microheterogeneity. This approach reveals stiffening of collagen in fibroblast co-cultures relative to cultures with cancer cells only, which exhibit degraded ECM with heterogeneous microstructure. We further show that these effects are dependent on culture geometry with contrasting behavior for embedded and overlay cultures. In addition to potential application to screening stroma-targeted therapeutics, this work also provides insight into how the composition and plating geometry impact the mechanical properties of 3D cell cultures that are increasingly widely used in cancer biology.


Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent form of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide with an estimated annual incidence of 25 cases per million people. Many patients are not diagnosed until they develop kidney dysfunction, such as hematuria and proteinuria. Proteinuria >1g/day is associated with a high risk of progression. The aim of the present study is to describe symptom control and consider treatment satisfaction for patients undergoing treatment for IgAN.

 Data were drawn from the Adelphi IgAN Disease Specific Programme (DSP)™, a point-in-time survey of IgAN-treating nephrologists and their consulting patients conducted in the United States (US), Europe (EU5: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom [UK]), Japan, and China, from June to October 2021. Nephrologists completed structured online patient record forms for successive patients presenting with IgAN including demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment patterns. Patients voluntarily completed questionnaires that corresponded with the nephrologist records, with questions about their IgAN on that day regarding symptoms experienced, disease severity, and treatment satisfaction. Patients who were receiving IgAN treatment at the time of survey are included in the presented analysis.

 The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of patients (n = 869) was 42 (13.7) years and 57% were male. IgAN symptoms were deemed severe by 10% of patients at the time of survey and 14% before the initiation of their current treatment. Overall, 91% of patients reported having symptoms of IgAN at the time of survey, the most common were: foamy urine, feeling tired or lack of energy, and swelling, with many patients in China reporting hematuria. The top reported most bothersome symptoms were fatigue, swelling, and high blood pressure, with many patients in China also reporting proteinuria. Satisfaction with their current treatment was reported by patients; 61% reported that they were satisfied, 27% said they were neither satisfied or dissatisfied, and 12% said they were dissatisfied with their medication. This dissatisfaction was due to their current medication not working quickly enough (54%, n = 103) or that it had not helped with their IgAN symptoms (45%, n = 103). This was consistent with the physician-reported data; where proteinuria was reported across treatment lines (L), levels remained high amongst patients (mean (SD) proteinuria [g/day] at L1: 2.2 (2.3), n = 629; L2: 1.8 (2.0), n = 257; L3: 1.9 (1.4), n = 95) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) continued to fall (mean (SD) eGFR [mL/min/1.73m2] at L1: 77.1 (29.6), n = 615; L2: 72.2 (30.3), n = 246; L3: 66.9 (31.1), n = 96).

 Despite treatment, most patients with IgAN continued to experience symptoms. Many of these symptoms were considered bothersome by patients, including fatigue, swelling and high blood pressure which may have an impact on their everyday lives. These data highlight an unmet need for effective IgAN management and future treatments should aim to target better symptom relief and disease progression.


4GLS is a novel next generation proposal for a UK national light source to be sited at Daresbury Laboratory, based on a superconducting energy recovery linac (ERL) with both high average current photon sources (undulators and bending magnets) and high peak current free electron lasers. Key features are a high gain, seeded FEL amplifier to generate XUV radiation and the prospect of advanced research arising from unique combinations of sources with femtosecond pulse structure. An R&D programme is addressing the challenging accelerator technology involved and a major part of this is a 35 MeV demonstrator, the ERL Prototype (ERLP) currently under construction. The 4GLS design activities are summarised, the ERLP described in detail and the 4GLS project status and plans explained.


It is a global trend to open government data to the public. Firstly,this paper analyzes the related concepts and values of government open data; then it summarizes the characteristics of open data of foreign governments; and finally, it discusses the inspiration drawn from such foreign practices for Chinese government's open data.


Linear feature networks are the roads, trails, pipelines, and seismic lines developed throughout many commercial boreal forests. These linear features, while providing access for industrial, recreational, silvicultural, and fire management operations, also have environmental implications which involve both the active and non-active portions of the network. Management of the existing linear feature networks across boreal forests would lead to the optimization of maintenance and construction costs as well as the minimization of the cumulative environmental effects of the anthropogenic linear footprint. Remote sensing data and predictive modelling are valuable support tools for the multi-level management of this network by providing accurate and detailed quantitative information aiming to assess linear feature conditions (e.g., deterioration and vegetation characteristic dynamics). However, the potential of remote sensing datasets to improve knowledge of fine-scale vegetation characteristic dynamics within forest roads has not been fully explored. This study investigated the use of high-spatial resolution (1 m), airborne LiDAR, terrain, climatic, and field survey data, aiming to provide information on vegetation characteristic dynamics within forest roads by (i) developing a predictive model for the characterization of the LiDAR-CHM vegetation cover dynamic (response metric) and (ii) investigating causal factors driving the vegetation cover dynamic using LiDAR (topography: slope, TWI, hillshade, and orientation), Sentinel-2 optical imagery (NDVI), climate databases (sunlight and wind speed), and field inventory (clearing width and years post-clearing). For these purposes, we evaluated and compared the performance of ordinary least squares (OLS) and machine learning (ML) regression approaches commonly used in ecological modelling—multiple linear regression (mlr), multivariate adaptive regression splines (mars), generalized additive model (gam), k-nearest neighbors (knn), gradient boosting machines (gbm), and random forests (rf). We validated our models' results using an error metric—root mean square error (RMSE)—and a goodness-of-fit metric—coefficient of determination (R2). The predictions were tested using stratified cross-validation and were validated against an independent dataset. Our findings revealed that the rf model showed the most accurate results (cross-validation: R2 = 0.69, RMSE = 18.69%, validation against an independent dataset: R2 = 0.62, RMSE = 20.29%). The most informative factors were clearing width, which had the strongest negative effect, suggesting the underlying influence of disturbance legacies, and years post-clearing, which had a positive effect on the vegetation cover dynamic. Our long-term predictions suggest that a timeframe of no less than 20 years is expected for both wide- and narrow-width roads to exhibit ~50% and ~80% vegetation cover, respectively. This study has improved our understanding of fine-scale vegetation dynamics around forest roads, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The information from the predictive model is useful for both the short- and long-term management of the existing network. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that spatially explicit models using LiDAR data are reliable tools for assessing vegetation dynamics around forest roads. It provides avenues for further research and the potential to integrate this quantitative approach with other linear feature studies. An improved knowledge of vegetation dynamic patterns on linear features can help support sustainable forest management.


From the Publisher:
Build the skills you'll need for on-the-job success! This lab manual contains real-world projects and exercises designed to accompany the A+ Certification Study Guide. Inside,you'll find more than 40 laboratory exercises with solutions,step-by-step scenarios that require you to think critically,post-lab analysis questions and key term quizzes,and back-of-book solutions that explain not only what happened,but why.
Practice the Skills You'll Need on the Job!
Perfect for both classroom and self-paced learning

Labs that challenge you to solve problems based on realistic case studies Step-by-step scenarios that require you to think critically Post-lab observation questions that measure your understanding of lab results and key term quizzes that help build your vocabulary End-of-chapter solutions that explain not only what happened,but why

In this lab manual,you'll practice:

Identifying,Adding,and Removing System Components Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Common Computer Problems Protecting Your Computer's Power and Utilizing Important Safety Procedures Identifying Your PC's Motherboard,Processors,and Memory Installing and Maintaining Peripheral Devices Including Printers Performing Basic Networking Skills Installing and Upgrading Operating Systems Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Operating System Problems Configuring and Troubleshooting Network Utilities


The idea of performance contracting or performance based contracting has become increasingly popular in the child welfare arena. This isn't surprising, in that it comes on the heels of two very powerful shifts in the provision of child welfare services since the early 1990s: a rapid growth in privatization and the emergence of major accountability efforts from the federal government in the form of the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR). Unfortunately, too often the label "performance contracting" gets applied to efforts that are either strictly about privatization or strictly about accountability—rarely do these models capture the interests of both. The privatization of child welfare services and mechanisms designed to ensure accountability are both important strategies for ensuring results, but unless these ideas are leveraged appropriately in the contract, they won't drive real improvements in performance.


A decline in the function of the ovaries and decrease in the production of sex hormones with aging cause hormonal deficiencies, leading to female menopause. Natural products have been investigated to develop estrogen-like substances to improve menopausal conditions in women. Using MCF-7 cells, a female breast cancer cell line, we investigated whether Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) extract had an effect similar to that of estrogen (E2). TFF-1 and PR were upregulated in the GEB extract-treated cells similar to those under E2 treatment. Moreover, the levels of phosphorylated MAP kinase kinases 1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, and ER beta were upregulated. Using an ER antagonist, ICI 182.780, we found that GEB extract induces a downstream response via the ER pathway. Additionally, GEB extract were fractionated according to solvent polarity. Estrogen-like effects were found in the dichloromethane fraction and bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)ether was identified as an effective compound by qTOF analysis and standard chemical compound. In this study, we report that GEB extract showed an estrogen-like effect in vitro and bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)ether was identified as an effective compound.


Despite the growing body of research examining the collateral consequences of legislation governing sex offenders, a complete understanding of their residential choices post release remains elusive. This paper develops a predictive–analytical framework that helps determine which demographic and socioeconomic factors best forecast the residential choices of convicted sex offenders. Specifically, a derived index of social disorganization (ISDOR) is implemented in both statistical and nonlinear data mining approaches to predict the presence of sex offenders in a community. The results of the analysis are encouraging, predicting nearly 75% of registered offender locations correctly. The utility of this framework as a tool for public policy and law enforcement is discussed.


Consortium Mechanisms of attentional control in primates have been extensively investigated, especially in humans, showing that several factors determine how the brain selectively processes incoming sensory information and targets motor output to deemed-relevant objects in the environment. Attentional control can be thought of as an overarching mechanism that integrates signals from multiple cognitive domains (including instructions, salience, task-relevance, expectations and motivation) in order to assign processing priorities to specific sensory inputs and gate motor response selection in the service of goal-oriented behavior. Available data in humans and animals already identified neurophysiological correlates of different factors contributing to attentional control, but the highly specialized nature of previous experiments has hindered a systematic study of the interactions between these factors. Moreover, studies in humans and behaving macaques have been typically optimized according to different constraints, holding back the integration of system-level human data and cellular-level monkey data within a single framework. The objectives of the current proposal are: 1) to generate a set of standardized protocols for investigating the distinct and combined influence of specific priority signals and 2) to gather a multi-dimensional dataset associated with their neural implementation. All paradigms will employ simple and highly stereotyped stimuli/tasks, enabling us to characterize attentional control within an identical experimental framework across species (humans/monkeys). The first output of the project will be a set of protocols to map and dissect specific sub-components of attention, tracking the contribution of multiple sensory (salience), cognitive (relevance and expectations) and value-related (reward) functions within the unified framework of attentional control. The second output will be a cross-species (humans/monkeys), multi-scale dataset, including data from behavior, system-level functional neuroimaging and scalp-electrophysiology tracking activity over multiple networks and across time, and spatially-and temporally-resolved multi-site electrophysiology of single neuron activity. With the aim of identifying any dynamic reconfiguration of brain networks underlying different forms of priority assignment, additional information will be inferred by assessing attentional influences in different phases of the trial (e.g., preparatory vs. target-related effects) with fMRI, EEG and TMS, and by using analyses of inter-regional functional and effective connectivity. In sum, the research will provide new constraints for validating and extending existing neural simulation models of visuo-motor integration. The collected dataset will also provide insights for the development of theoretical models linking observations at the neuronal level with data on network dynamics, being of immediate value for computation-oriented units of the HBP consortium


Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has to face many threats as it consists of sensor nodes and needs installation in the open area. Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is an essential safety method of handling vulnerabilities and threats for WSN. This study is a relative assessment of the best performed IDS methods of WSNs, the analysis of this method is technically represented in detail. Threats to WSN are categorized into the criteria. Customized dataset is prepared by KDD dataset with five stages to normalize it. Normal class has four types of attacks which are much related attributes and used for classification routine. This study is applied to methods (e.g. CfsSubsetEval and BestFirst) for selection of attributes procedure to remove irrelevant attributes. Experimental work reports the algorithm which provides high detection rate. Finally, in conclusion which has satisfactory statements and rules for future research works to implement IDS in WSNs. Many recommendations are mentioned as well as future directions regarding this study.


This work presents an implementation of online recursive independent component analysis (ORICA) processor for artifact removal of EEG signal. The system architecture consists of a covariance whitening unit, singular value decomposition (SVD) unit, an ORICA weight training unit and an auto de-artifact and reconstruct unit. The algorithm uses sample entropy feature for identifying eye blink artifacts after ICA decomposition. The design is implemented with 5-channel EEG signal dataset having sampling rate of 256 Hz. Each channel comprises of 1600 samples. Similarity between the artifactual EEG signal and clean EEG signal is obtained with average correlation coefficient of 0.9913


ABSTRACT Purpose Resistance exercise training (RET) attenuates age-related muscle and strength loss ("sarcopenia"). However, compared with machine-based RET, the efficacy of cost-effective, accessible elastic band RET (EB-RET) for muscle adaptive remodeling lacks supporting mechanistic evidence. Methods Eight young (YM; 24 ± 4 yr) and eight older (OM; 68 ± 6 yr) untrained males consumed an oral stable isotope tracer (D2O) combined with serial vastus lateralis muscle biopsies to measure integrated myofibrillar protein synthesis (iMyoPS) and regulatory signaling over ~48 h before (habitual) and after an acute bout of EB-RET (6 × 12 repetitions at ~70% of one-repetition maximum). iMyoPS was determined via gas chromatography–pyrolysis–isotope ratio mass spectroscopy and regulatory signaling expression by immunoblot. Results Habitual iMyoPS did not differ between YM and OM (1.62% ± 0.21% vs 1.43% ± 0.47%·d−1, respectively, P = 0.128). There was a significant increase in iMyoPS after EB-RET in YM (2.23% ± 0.69%·d−1, P = 0.02), but not OM (1.75% ± 0.54%·d−1, P = 0.30). EB-RET increased the phosphorylation of key anabolic signaling proteins similarly in YM and OM at 1 h postexercise, including p-IRS-1Ser636/639, p-AktSer473, p-4EBP-1Thr37/46, p-P70S6KThr389, and p-RPS6Ser240/244, whereas p-TSC2Thr1462 and p-mTORSer2448 increased only in YM (all P < 0.05). There were no differences in the expression of amino acid transporters/sensors or proteolytic markers after EB-RET. Conclusions iMyoPS was elevated after EB-RET in YM but not OM. However, the increase in acute anabolic signaling with EB-RET was largely similar between groups. In conclusion, the capacity for EB-RET to stimulate iMyoPS may be impaired in older age. Further work may be necessary to optimize prescriptive programming in YM and OM.


The invention relates to a computer data read-write method for a multi-copy distributed system, and belongs to the field of computer network technologies and computer data storage technologies. In the computer data read-write method, the mode of separating time information and data information is adopted by a user for the read-write process of the distributed system, timestamp information is firstly sent to the distributed system or read, the newest state of received data is determined by the distributed system according to the timestamp information so that the data consistency of multiple copies of each data can be guaranteed, and then the user carries out data interaction with the distributed system. The computer data read-write method is simple and practical in procedure and easy to implement.


The binding energy of the diamond 1 s core exciton has a measured value of 0.2 eV, in marked contrast to the 1.7-eV binding energy of the physically similar nitrogen donor in diamond. Using the local-density approximation to study the core exciton, we find the shallow exciton binding energy is explained by dipole selection rules which prohibit occupation of a deep exciton gap state in single-photon excitation. This deep state has not yet been observed experimentally, and the calculation predicts a binding energy in the range of 0.8-1.7 eV


Although clinical trials of novel medications have historically been individually interpreted, there is increasing recognition that trials should be considered to be part of a broader clinical trials agenda or portfolio […]


In the elderly, the risk of mortality because of physical illnesses related to anxiety disorders varies with potential confounding influences, including comorbidity with depressive disorders. Our study aimed to explore (i) whether anxiety disorders increase the risk of mortality in the elderly, and (ii) whether the risk of mortality mediated by anxiety and depressive disorders differs between physical illnesses.


The aim of this article is to give an answer to questions – what an intercultural communicative competence is and how to develop it during the language lesson. The task as an action-oriented form of learners' work is presented as a tool that enables developing skill of understanding and using so called objective and subjective culture.


In the paper "The Gender Revolution: A Framework for Understanding Changing Family and Demographic Behavior" Goldscheider, Bernhardt and Lappegård (2015) have argued that the gender revolution "implies that men's increased involvement in the home, the second half of the gender revolution (the first half being structural changes in women's roles in the public sphere), has the promise of increasing both fertility and the proportions entering and remaining in committed unions." The goal of this investigation is to explore whether there are nascent characteristics of fertility trends that validate the hypothesis of increasing childbearing in countries in which the gender revolution is most advanced. Our selection of "countries with an incipient gender revolution" and of "control countries" is defined by actual developments in men's share of household work and limited by the availability of data for analysis. We identified Finland, Norway and Sweden as "countries with an incipient gender revolution" (abbreviated as "GR countries"). The "control countries" ("C countries" from now on) were selected mainly because 1) data were available for analysis and 2) evidence indicated that less progress than in the GR countries on the second half of the gender revolution had yet been made (Kan et al., 2011; Gimenez-Nadal and Sevilla 2012). These are: Austria, Canada, Estonia, France, and the Netherlands. 1


Processing time-dependent information requires cells to quantify the durations of past regulatory events and program the time span of future signals. Such timer mechanisms are difficult to implement at the level of single cells, however, due to saturation in molecular components and stochasticity in the limited intracellular space. Multicellular implementations, on the other hand, outsource some of the components of information-processing circuits to the extracellular space, and thereby might escape those constraints. Here we develop a theoretical framework, based on a trilinear coordinate representation, to study the collective behavior of a three-strain bacterial population under stationary conditions. This framework reveals that distributing different processes (in our case the production, detection and degradation of a time-encoding signal) across distinct bacterial strains enables the robust implementation of a multicellular timer. Our analysis also shows the circuit to be easily tunable by varying the relative frequencies of the bacterial strains composing the consortium.


3-D building models will be broadly constructed in a digital 3-D city map in the future. The models can be reconstructed using either aerial images or existing 2-D digital topographic map accompanied with height data. However, for large scale mapping, a more reliable and real 3-D model will be reconstructed using close range images. In this research, several close range images for a yard have taken by a calibrated digital camera. These images are used to reconstruct the yard model, also used for texture mapping of the yard. The resultant 3-D model has been represented in Virtual Reality Modelling Language(VRML). The visual appearance of the building model was high attractive.


As I put down Horton's work, I could not help but wonder if the structure of this study and its self-imposed limitations, replicating studies first produced by his predecessors at Berkeley, might not constitute an academic form of mourning and homage to deceased masters? Horton's dedication of the book to his teachers—John Rosenfield, William H. and Helen Craig McCullough, and Kaneko Kinjirō—suggests as much, as does his fidelity to their form of scholarship in his own scholarly practices. Moreover, is not the dust jacket's presentation of this work to readers as "a model of what an annotated translation should be" itself part of the process of legitimating succession in the academy? Yet, as history shows, succession need not entail simple reproduction. The Rhetoric of Death and Discipleship in Premodern Japan is, indeed, a model of a certain kind of annotated translation. It is not, I hope, a model for emulation by the next generation of scholars.


IN reply to inquiries wlhich we lhave thoughlt it our duty to make, we lhave received the followinig valuable information fromni Dr. A. AW. Wallis, medical officer of the Hackney Union Selhools at Brentwood: In June, 1893, there was a sliglht increase in the niumber of cases of ophitlhalmia, and in several of the girls already under treatment thie disease suddenly became acute without any apparent exciting cause. These cases were accompanied by lyetenular ulcer, keratitis, iritis, etc., and were very slow to yield to treatment. This state of things continued till about the middle of September, the number of ophthalmic cases fluctuating between 25 and 30, when they suddenly increased, and by the end of the month had reached 55. This serious addition made the ordinary infirmary accommodation insufficient, and the probationary department was requisitioned for cases of general sickness, further batches of children from London being stopped. At the same time it was impressed on the superintendent, matron, and other officers in charge of the children in the body of the school to exercise the greatest care in the lavatory arrangements; also the necessity for free ventilation and other hygienic conditions. The desirability of introducing the jet system in the lavatories was strongly urged on the guardians, and it is being introduced. Special inspections in the school were instituted, and children who exhibited any indication of ophthalmia were removed to the infirmary for observation, and if found suffering therefrom detained. In spite of all precautions, however, the disease increased rapidly in numbers, as the following figures will show. The total number of children in the school at the time of the outbreak (September, 1893) was 554, but during the year there had been as many as 615 at one time in the school, or 65 over the certified number.


The paper reviewed and analyzed research on western organizational loyalty:from studies on organizational commitment to organizational citizenship behaviors,it shows that the concept of western organizational loyalty was deeply influnced by western social culture.Although studies on organizational citizenship behavior were developed from organizational commitment,however,the research on organizational loyalty separated attitudes from behaviors.Loyalty in China has a long historical and cultural tradition.Recent research found that Chinese organizational loyalty has unique culture meaning,but current studies have some limitations.It is necessary to further investigate Chinese organizational loyalty,and it is also meaningful to develop and construct organizational behavior theory that explains Chinese culture context.


Norway is currently involved in several initiatives to adopt clinical information standards and terminologies. This paper aims to identify and discuss challenges and experiences for large-scale national implementation projects when working towards structured Electronic Health Records systems, process and decision support, and secondary use of clinical data. This paper reports from the national strategy for OpenEHR adoption in Northern Norway Regional Health Authority encouraged by the development of a national repository for OpenEHR archetypes and a national initiative to integrate clinical terminologies. The paper contributes to a qualitative longitudinal interpretive study with an effort to increase the possibility to obtain semantic interoperability (towards integrated care) and discusses Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms and other relevant clinical terminology and Clinical Information Models such as OpenEHR archetypes. Terminology and archetypes are used to structure the EHR two-folded, and we discuss a general use of information models to increase interoperability extensively. A two-folded use of terminology where terminology is integrated in archetypes, or where terminology is used to structure the Electronic Health Record system while using the hierarchical model of the terminology is discussed. Secondly, we discuss for what purpose OpenEHR is the choice of Clinical Information Model to succeed in Norwegian healthcare. We have identified some challenges and lessons learned. Keywords-eHealth medical records; electronic health records; web technology; e-health; interoperability; semantics; integrated care; OpenEHR; terminology; classification systems.


An estimated 650 million people live with a disability, comprising 10 per cent of the world's population. In 2006, the United Nations adopted by consensus a historic treaty on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the 'CRPD') and an Optional Protocol. The CRPD is a product of nearly two decades of advocacy efforts of disability people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals. In ambit and scope it is unprecedented and is being heralded as a great step forward in reframing the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities in a human rights paradigm. It represents a shift in understanding disability away from the medical model, which considers persons with disability as sick and therefore requiring some sort of cure or treatment. On the contrary, the CRPD adopts the social model, which views disability as social oppression and aims to provide protection to acceptance of impairment as a positive aspect of human diversity. It aims at dismantling the social and physical barriers that prevent inclusion, integration and participation of persons with disabilities within the mainstream. Over 80% of the world's disabled population is found in developing countries, the majority of whom are illiterate. The bulk of disability laws, policies and measures, however, have been implemented in the developed world. Thus, there was a conscious effort in the discussions which preceded the CPRD to avoid isolating the developing world through taking into account their resource constraints when implementing the CRPD. Article 4.2, concerning progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, requires state parties to undertake measures to their maximum available resources in light of progressively achieving the full realization of rights. The inclusion, however, resulted in concerns that countries would invoke the provision in order to escape from the obligations of the CPRD. From experience with the progressive realization clause in previous international conventions, this can be countered through international monitoring of funding and planning. Furthermore, it is fundamental that courts take an active stance in adjudicating the allocation of resources. With regard to the right to education, this approach was effectively demonstrated in Autism Europe v France. Additionally, it is up to courts to adopt a less conservative approach with regard to resource allocation of the right to education and realise that much of the right is immediately enforceable.


1 Real-Time Applications and Modern Hardware Architec-tures A real-time system is one in which the correctness of the system depends not only on the logical results, but also on the time at which the results are produced. Hard real-time systems are those where it is absolutely imperative that responses occur within the speciied deadlines. Examples of areas where real-time systems are used include 10]: process control, nuclear power plants, agile manufacturing, intelligent vehicle highway systems, avionics, air traac control, telecommunications (the information super highway), multimedia, real-time simulation, virtual reality, medical applications (e.g., telemedicine and intensive care monitoring), and defense applications (e.g., command, control and communications). The market for real-time systems and real-time software is huge, and real-time technology is becoming more and more pervasive, e.g., in a 1997 Opel Omega, 12 microprocessors are used for various functions and many of them have real-time tasks like anti locking system, air bag, and motor control; in a Mercedes-Benz-S-Klasse there are up to 48 microprocessors. Among the typical application areas are many safety critical, where a failure of the system may lead to severe damage and/or loss of life. Such real-time systems necessitate a timing validation, usually referred to as schedulability analysis or scheduling analysis. A system is said to be schedulable if it can be shown that all timing requirements will be met. A real-time system is often structured as a set of processes with deadlines whereby execution can be distributed over multiple processors. There exist many results and analysis methods for real-time scheduling, but these analysis methods require that the WCET (Worst Case Execution Time) of each task (subtask, critical section, ...) is known. However, the achievements of modern computer architectures 8] like cache memories and processor pipelines that made possible the tremendous performance increase in recent years complicate the prediction of sharp WCETs. The state of a cache depends on the execution history. This means that the cache behavior of the execution of a reference to an instruction or data could be innuenced by instructions that are very far away in the program text, in other modules , in libraries, or even in other programs including the operating system. In the presence of caches, methods to predict the WCET from execution time measurements of programs or tasks like software monitoring, the dual loop benchmark approach, direct execution time measurement with a logic analyzer, or hardware simulation are not generally applicable …


Flight control software has higher requirements on reliability, as well as real-time performance. What's more, the fault of flight control software not only contains traditional functional fault, but also contains real-time fault. Thus, fault localization and removing for Flight Control software is a huge challenge for relative engineers. To locate and remove those faults effectively, this paper adopts Sober algorithm as the functional fault-localization algorithm for flight control software. Meanwhile, this paper proposes the module-level and function- level real-time fault-localization algorithms inspired by Sober algorithm. The experimental results indicate that all algorithms have obtained acceptable localization results. For further goals on increasing the automation level and the efficiency of software fault-localization process, we develop a fault-localization and visualization (FL&V) tool for flight control software at last.


1. Mathematical background 2. Introduction to the finite element method 3. Finite elements for large deformation 4. Typical finite elements 5. Classification of finite element formulations 6. Auxiliary equations: contact, friction, incompressibility 7. Thermo-mechanical principles 8. Sheet metal formability tests 9. Steady state forming problems 10. Forging analysis 11. Sheet forming analysis 12. Recent research topics.


A new sufficient condition is obtained for the uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for delayed cellular neural networks(DCNNs) This condition is improved and generalizes some of the previous stability results derived in the literature.


The economic recession of 2010 has been perhaps the biggest nightmare for many business organizations world over. There are many ways in which the recession has left its ugly scar on enterprises that are still struggling to regain their lost glory or some to barely make it through. Organizations are made of people, people who are humans, who get hurt the most when the organization is in trouble.Differrent organizations have tried to find out different ways to combat with the scenario. A few have even succeeded in doing so. But all this has come with a price. The price of downsizing, resulting in work overload, where terms like job security,promotions,increments,job satisfaction, career planning etc have become the corporate dinosaurs terms. Rendering them totally irrelevant. In such times, it becomes pertinent to actually understand the level of work stress and job satisfaction.


The author analyses the causes of stepping on accelerator pedal by mistake and the current research situation of the error correction device.Based on identifing the signals of mistake stepping on by the acceleration of accelerator pedal,an electromechanical device is designed to prevent stepping on the accelerator pedal by mistake.


E wen and colleagues captured valuable information in their recent survey article, ''Residency and Fellowship Program Administrator Burnout: Measuring Its Magnitude.'' The authors used the term ''program administrator'' (PA) to capture the job title of residency and fellowship program coordinators (PCs). Utilizing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the authors found elevated mean burnout scores in all 3 domains (personal, work-related, and client-related). Median time in the current PA position was less than 5 years. Queried factors that accounted for higher burnout scores included more years in graduate medical education (GME) and lack of wellness activities offered by the institution. Will offering more wellness activities for PCs increase job longevity and reduce burnout? We suggest there are more germane considerations such as insufficient training and support for the coordinator position. For example, in our surveys of child neurology residency PCs, most respondents reported to a direct supervisor with no GME knowledge and had outdated, inaccurate, nonprofessional job descriptions and titles that had not been reviewed or updated after the onset of the Next Accreditation System (NAS). Lack of sufficient job training, support staff, salary support, faculty knowledge, and allocated time were common, as were working at home and unpaid overtime. A number of these problems were linked to lower compliance with NAS implementation. Increasing demands and tracking required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) at the resident and program levels fall squarely on the shoulders of PCs. The ACGME, in the Background and Intent Section of the new Common Program Requirements, describes the PC as ''critical to the success of the program'' and ''a member of the leadership team'' who ''must possess skills in leadership and personnel management.'' High turnover and burnout likely results from the discrepancy between these ACGME requirements and the lack of recognition in many institutions of the managerial function, leadership, and independent decision-making by PCs in GME training programs. As a way to validate this, the ACGME could begin tracking PC turnover. Our survey found 33% PC turnover in the prior 12 months. We agree with recommendations by Ewen et al to add wellness activities. However, we suggest that addressing the root causes of PC burnout and high turnover with possible solutions should be the next step in improving GME. What is needed are fundamental changes in the understanding of the managerial PC role by institution leadership and human resources departments followed by restructuring GME administration and PC job titles.


Three buildings in Montreal were designed for different levels of "ductility" according to the 1990 National Building Code of Canada and the 1984 Canadian Standards Association standard for the design of concrete structures for buildings. Analytical procedures were developed in order to predict the responses of main structural components to the combined loading effects of axial load, moment, and shear. In addition, a hysteretic behavioural model was developed in order to account for strength and stiffness degradation as well as pinching of the hysteretic response. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were carried out on each building for a series of artificially generated accelerograms together with real earthquake records. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analyses enabled an assessment of the performance of different building designs and an assessment of current code requirements. Key words: seismic design, reinforced concrete, detailing, structures, codes.


Abstract : The objectives are: (1) Design, construct, package, test, and evaluate the best available wideband photonic electromagnetic field probe for shipboard electromagnetic environment (EME) monitoring; (2) Develop engineering solutions to problems encountered in Phase I testing of a first-generation breadboarded sensor. Investigate and develop alternative sensor configurations that can lead to improved system performance; and (3) Develop requirements and a test plan for the shipboard testing of a 2-MHz to 18-GHz prototype system


Since the end of the Cold War, we have been witnessing the emergence of new types of conflicts. These are progressively more complex, but are, still too often, conceptualised and approached simplistically, using a linear type of reasoning. Complexity is disregarded, and the need for systemic thinking is underestimated, not rarely leading to disastrous results. Feedbacks are most often ignored, and the complex dynamics which make a conflict to change over time, following often unpredictable paths, are rarely taken into account. A shift from a precomplexity mindset to a mindset founded in an understanding of complexity is necessary. In the paper, using concrete examples, we will try to show how a systems thinking approach is essential to analyse today's conflict, to prevent them, and to act so as to make them develop along non violent constructive paths rather than along violent destructive ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.