At present, the effect of different development patterns of interlayer like the length and the longitudinal position of interlayer on thermal recovery modes such as steam stimulation (CSS) and steam flooding (SF) is still a qualitative understanding, and there is no systematic study yet. Therefore, it is difficult to control the thermal production of thick oil reservoirs according to different interlayer patterns. In order to quantitatively analyze the influence of interlayer distribution pattern on steam huff and puff and steam flooding of horizontal wells in thick heavy oil reservoir, a numerical simulation model was established based on typical parameters of LD21 heavy oil reservoir in Bohai in China. Through comparison and research on the different modes of development longitudinal position, development length and development scale in non-permeable interlayer and semi-permeable interlayer. The influence of interlayer on the expansion law of steam chamber and ultimate oil recovery degree during steam huff and puff and steam flooding, and the main controlling factors of interlayer influencing oil recovery were obtained. The research results can be used for reference to optimize the location of thermal wells in thick heavy oil reservoir and reduce the influence of interlayer on thermal production effect of horizontal wells.

 Key words: Heavy oil reservoir; interlayer; steam huff and puff; steam flooding; recovery.


The paper presents the healing properties and biological activity of propolis, commonly known as bee glue. Propolis is a natural product collected by bees from buds of plants and bark of trees, then moistened with bee enzymes. Propolis is widely used for general treatment, skin affections, and as an anti-inflammatory agent for ulcers and hard-to-heal wounds. Propolis, due to its properties, is called an antibiotic of the 21 st century.


The reaction of a 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole and a sulfine in THF at 50°C yields a 1,3-dithiolane-S-oxide as the major product. The formation of the latter is rationalized by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a thiocarbonyl-S-ylide, generated by thermal N2-elimination from the corresponding 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole, onto the sulfine (C=S)-bond. The structure of the dispirocyclic 1,3-dithiolane-S-oxide has been established by X-ray crystallography.


The article proposes a method for assessing the change in the braking properties of passenger cars during operation following a change in the main characteristic of the brake system - the coefficient of distribution of braking forces between the axles of vehicles, both equipped and not equipped with tracking systems for the braking process by installing brake force regulators in the brake circuits, working according to different laws of changing the drive pressure. The aim of the work is a comparative assessment of the braking efficiency of passenger cars using the example of Lanos cars, the braking systems of which are equipped with various devices for changing the coefficient of distribution of braking forces between the axles, under changing operating conditions. It is known that braking efficiency is an indicator characterizing the braking properties and the ability of a car to maintain a given law of motion during braking, which is determined both by the nature of the adhesion properties of the wheels to the road and the capabilities of the braking system itself to implement these properties. Since the operating conditions of passenger cars significantly affect the braking properties, in order to ensure the required braking efficiency, it is necessary to take into account the change in the primary distribution coefficient of the braking forces generated by the braking mechanisms and the change in their implementation during the operation period. In order to assess the change in the braking properties in the general case of the operation of a passenger car, the dependence of the actual coefficient of distribution of braking forces between the axles on the braking coefficient was proposed. Moreover, the value of the coefficient of distribution of braking forces between the axles depends both on the type of laws of regulation of braking forces and on the residual values of the parameters of braking systems that determine these laws. These dependences on the parameters of the braking systems and the parameters of the passenger car in operation are a function of the goal for determining the residual output characteristics of its braking system. car, operation, braking properties, wear of brake mechanisms, design coefficient of brakes, actual coefficient of distribution of braking forces between axles, electronic system for tracking the braking process.


The solar spectrum is a key input for different disciplines such as Solar Physics and Climate Physics. Based on SOLAR/SOLSPEC data, we will present a new solar irradiance spectrum from 165 to 3088 nm. The methodology for obtaining these results will be described. Finally, this new solar reference spectrum will be compared with other solar irradiance reference spectra (ATLAS 3 and WHI 2008).


Contribution is the ultimate outcome of Lerner's (2005) 5Cs model of positive youth development (PYD). However, contribution has yet to be clearly defined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify properties of contribution and establish a theoretical definition of contribution through sport.

Using a systematic six-stage scoping review method (Levac et al., 2010), a total of 1138 manuscripts were identified, and 75 were selected for inclusion. Descriptions and definitions of contribution and other prosocial terms (e.g., civic engagement) were extracted and synthesized to create a definition.

Contribution was defined as: acting on beliefs and the behaviors that an individual performs purposefully with the intent of positively influencing other individuals, groups, or broader society to bring about a positive outcome for the beneficiaries. These actions involve moving beyond an exclusive self-interest or focus on oneself in order to benefit others or the common good. Additionally, an individual making a contribution to others may benefit directly or indirectly themselves. The specific behaviors that constitute contribution vary across contexts and reflect the values and social norms of each context.

Twenty researchers (M=38.1 years old, SD=9.87; 5-30 years researching PYD) rated the content-validity of definition and each property on a six-point scale. Mean ratings of the definition and properties ranged from 5.05 to 5.70 and Aiken's V was used to assess the validity of the definition and properties (V range: 0.81-0.94, p


A simple smart logic for controlling inflow control valves (ICV) in waterflooding reservoir management is implemented and analyzed, with the final objective of improving the long term financial return of a petroleum reservoir. Such a control is based in a reactive simple logic that responds to the watercut measured in the ICV. Basically, when the watercut increases, the ICV is set to close proportionally. For comparison purposes, four strategies are presented: base case scenario with conventional control, the best completion configuration found by trial-and-error, the reactive control, and a deterministic optimal control based on Nonlinear Gradient Method with adjoint-gradient formulation is shown for comparison purposes. Finally, all four strategies are tested again in different reservoir realizations in order to mimic the geological uncertainties. Two different synthetic reservoir models were studied. First, a simple cube with a five-spot well configuration, in which the permeability field has a horizontal pattern defined by lognormal distributions. The second model is a benchmark proposed by the Dutch university, TU delft, with 101 channelized permeability fields representing river patterns. For the first model, no significant relative gain is found neither in the variable control nor in the optimal control. Manly because of the high homogeneity of the reservoir models. Therefore, no intelligent completion is recommended. On the other hand, for the second and more complex case, the results indicate an expressive relative gain in the use of simple reactive logic. Besides, this type of control achieves results nearly as good as the optimal control. The test in different realizations, however, shows that reservoir characterization is


Methods for the rapid and immediate determination of the anti-interferon activity of bacteria have been developed. The use of these methods makes it possible to reduce the time of determination from 48 hours to 24 and 7 hours. The proposed methods require no additional production costs, while their sensitivity and specificity are not inferior to those ensured by the classical method. These methods are recommended for the etiological diagnosis of diseases caused by opportunistic enterobacteria.


Abstract During a hydrographic survey within the Iberian Basin and the Gulf of Cadiz, a combined CTD-ADCP profiling system is used to resolve the mesoscale mass distribution and flow fields of the Mediterranean Water tongue. Generally, the geostrophic flow pattern and the shear field of the ADCP velocities are in good agreement, except in near-coastal regions where strong ageostrophic velocity components can be expected. The error of the absolute velocity strongly depends on the uncertainty of the global positioning system and the duration of a CTD-ADCP cast, whereas the accuracy of the shear velocities does not exceed the inherent instrumental error of 1 cm s−1. Similar estimates of the geostrophic currents yield a strong dependence on the geographical latitude and the distance between two CTD locations used for the application of the dynamic method. Effects of internal tide phenomena on geostrophy are considered by vertical displacements of isopycnals.


The interaction of magma with external water commonly enhances magma fragmentation through the conversion of thermal to mechanical energy and results in an increased production of fine‐grained volcanic tephra. Magma‐water interaction is thus of importance for hazard mitigation on both a local and a regional scales. The relative proportion of water that interacts with magma, quantified as the water‐to‐melt mass ratio, is thought to determine the efficiency of thermal to mechanical energy conversion, termed the fragmentation efficiency. Here, we analyze the pyroclast size distributions from the 10th century Eldgjá fissure eruption in Iceland, where parts of the fissure erupted subglacially and other erupted subaerially. The subglacially erupted magma passed through a column of glacial meltwater, resulting in a larger proportion of finer pyroclast sizes relative to the subaerially erupted, purely magmatic tephra. This finer grain size distribution has been attributed to quench‐granulation induced by enhanced cooling upon interaction with external water. We hypothesize that the additional fragmentation (surface) energy required to produce the finer grained hydromagmatic deposits is due to the conversion of thermal to mechanical energy associated with the entrainment of water into the volcanic jet, as it passed through a column of subglacial melt water. Based on field and granulometry data, we estimate that the interaction of the volcanic jet with the meltwater provided an additional fragmentation energy of approximately 3–14 kJ per kg of pyroclasts. We numerically model the hydrofragmentation energy within a jet that passes through a layer of meltwater. We find that the water‐to‐melt mass ratio of entrained water required to produce the additional fragmentation energy is in the range of 1–2, which requires a minimum ice melting rate of 104 m3 s−1. Our simulation results show that the water‐to‐melt ratio is an important parameter that controls the ascent of plume in the atmosphere.


One of the most important questions in development economics is: who benefits from economic growth? The present study attempts to answer this question, with regard to one country in particular: Guatemala. Some of the literature on this topic claims that its growth is not pro-poor, meaning it does not benefit individuals below the poverty line. Some of the variables held culpable for this phenomenon include the rise to power of an elite oligarchy that supposedly captures the benefits of growth. Others blame increasing inequalities in infrastructure, productive assets, opportunities and the like. But by observing data, especially that which has been collected since these studies were published, one can see that the malevolent oligarchs have actually done an excellent job of reducing poverty. However, some questions remain with regard the structure of this evidently pro-poor growth. The data suggest that growth occurs differently in different regions. Perhaps more alarming is the fact that when one lowers the poverty line, growth becomes non-pro-poor. And, finally, there is a period of non-pro-poor growth between 2000 and 2002. This paper first demonstrates the existence of this structure of growth, using data from years as recent as 2006 in the context of various mathematical tests of pro-poorness. It then suggests the variables that influence pro-poorness, including high relative inflation in consumer goods and changes in labor force activities and international commodity prices. Based on these conclusions as well as evaluations of past policies, this paper makes policy recommendations with the intent of fostering pro-poor growth in Guatemala.


The quest for statehood — as perhaps no other notion of this or similar kind — has been a source of the most extreme human events and experiences: ranging from consent to conflict, destruction to dignity, hope to hell, and more. From its birth, typically traced to the Treaty of Westphalia (albeit its widespread manifestations date at later times), this quest has changed its faces and taken various shapes in the course of its development, evolution, and sometimes — devolution. This constant change and variation is dictated by the very nature of constant change that is variously demanded by human beings or communities. They accommodate themselves in ways that seek to effectuate their aspirations, broaden their goals, and maximize their accesses to desired outcomes. As the needs and wants of various groups change and their realizations differ, so differs and changes the need for the creation, modification or termination of various territorial communities. The immediate past trends in decision indicate an increasing and significant role of the world community, formally expressed via the principal organs of the United Nations, in settling the often tense and conflicting positions of the parties affected or involved. Thus, the quest for statehood shall be situated on the increasing, though not unlimited, role of the United Nations — in particular the Security Council. The ultimate issue that this Article seeks to explore is the relationship between the Security Council and territorial integrity. The inquiry is placed in the context of the scope of this UN organ's powers to possibly effectuate the establishment of new States or dismember existing ones — including the precise source of authority and circumstances that might lead to, or support such a result. It ends with a note that, in contrast with State sovereignty and territorial integrity, displays a superior role of the Security Council, when acting under its Chapter VII powers; one that under qualified, exceptional circumstances may involve changes to the territorial makeup of a sovereign and independent State. A broader picture, which shows the application and evolution of the Council's powers to a constantly changing world public order, including the breadth and depth of these powers, and their probable limitations and subjection to judicial review, is also offered.


Introduction Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition. In the Southern United States, where young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) have the highest rates of new HIV infection, PrEP uptake remains low. As part of a longitudinal cohort study, YBMSM were offered optional, non-incentivized PrEP as a standard of HIV prevention care service. Among those who declined PrEP, we sought to understand their motivations, as well as their overall perceptions of PrEP as a prevention tool. Methods The EleMENt study is an observational HIV/STI incidence cohort of HIV-negative YBMSM aged 18–29 years in Atlanta, Georgia. We conducted 24 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with men who declined optional PrEP offered by the study. Topics included PrEP knowledge, attitudes, and intentions. We employed a phenomenological lens to identify common themes in participant accounts of the decision to forgo PrEP. Results Participants fell into two categories of PrEP refusal: those who indicated no current or future interest ("nevers") and those ambivalent about taking PrEP, but who had thus far not filled a prescription ("maybes"). YBMSM in both groups expressed mistrust of biomedical interventions, and despite being indicated for PrEP, often perceived themselves as low risk for HIV acquisition. They employed "othering" strategies, in which PrEP was described as appropriate for individuals in serodiscordant partnerships or with many casual partners. They viewed taking a daily pill as a burdensome measure only appropriate for extremely high-risk men (i.e., "the risky Other"). These perceptions were accentuated by instances of family members actively discouraged participants from taking PrEP. Conclusion We discuss the role of future research exploring low risk estimation among YBMSM as a potential site of resistance to a public health designation of "high risk" amidst historical legacies of medical mistrust in Black communities. Such concerns must be addressed to design effective HIV and PrEP-specific interventions for this population.


ABSTRACT This paper develops the idea that global city characteristics in distinct micro-locations attract foreign and domestic firms differentially. The hypotheses are tested on a large data set of workplaces during the period 2007–16 and a complex relationship is found between global connectivity and foreign-owned location choice. Specifically, global infrastructure is strongly associated with foreign ownership in the upstream value chain (manufacturing or wholesale), whereas cosmopolitanism exhibits a stronger association with foreign ownership in downstream value-chain activities, such as retail. The agglomeration of producer services in a given location and the likelihood of foreign ownership in that location is higher in highly knowledge-intensive industries.


Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by disruptions in memory, including vivid sensory images of the trauma that are involuntarily reexperienced. However, the extent and nature of disruptions to deliberate memory for trauma remain controversial. A unitary account posits that all aspects of memory for a traumatic event are strengthened. In contrast, a dual-representation account proposes up-modulation of sensory and affective representations of the negative content and down-modulation of hippocampal representations of the context in which the event occurred. We take a neuroscientific approach and review the literature concerning the mechanisms required to produce coherent episodic memories and how they are affected in experiments involving negative content. We find, in healthy volunteers, that negative content can reduce associative binding and the coherence of episodic memories. Finally, we bring these findings together with the literature on PTSD to highlight how similar associative mechanisms are affected in patients, consistent with hippocampal impairment, supporting a dual-representation view of disrupted memory coherence.


British native white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, thrive in calcium rich freshwaters, but have declined dramatically in the last few decades due to competition with invasive species, disease, loss of habitat and pollution. This thesis examines the current status of Welsh A. pallipes populations, causes of decline, fine scale genetic structuring and rearing of A. pallipes in captivity for conservation purposes. A conservation action plan was also devised. Distribution and abundance have continued to decline on tributaries from the 1990s into the 2st century. In remaining populations, numbers of females and juveniles were low, indicating further declines are likely. A. pallipes were no longer found on the main Wye River, were present in low numbers at only two sites on the main Usk River, while just a single individual was found on the main River Banwy of the Upper Severn Catchment. However, populations in the River Edw, a Wye tributary, had recovered somewhat by 2004. Declines were attributed to siltation, from intensive livestock poaching and sheep dip pollution from the synthetic pyrethroid, cypermethrin. Both causes are exacerbated by steep landscape and heavy rains. The threat of crayfish plague and signal crayfish invasion remains in the Wye Catchment. Genetic structuring of populations was found at three levels. Genetic structuring within a stream was observed in the River Edw, due to isolation by distance and human interference. Genetic variability differed between streams of the upper half of the Wye Catchment, where individuals were divided into two genetically dissimilar groups, those from the Upper Wye and those from the Lower Wye, possibly as a result of differing habitat characteristics. At the third level, genetic variability differed between catchments. For example, individuals of the Itchen Catchment in Hampshire, southern England, were genetically dissimilar from others surveyed such as those of the Wye catchment in Wales and those from the River Aire in West Yorkshire. This genetic structuring is important and should be considered when carrying out restocking programs. Rearing A. pallipes in captivity was relatively successful due to a high protein, fresh diet of diatoms and zooplankton.


Graph convolution networks (GCN), which recently becomes new state-of-the-art method for graph node classification, recommendation and other applications, has not been successfully applied to industrial-scale search engine yet. In this proposal, we introduce our approach, namely SearchGCN, for embedding-based candidate retrieval in one of the largest e-commerce search engine in the world. Empirical studies demonstrate that SearchGCN learns better embedding representations than existing methods, especially for long tail queries and items. Thus, SearchGCN has been deployed into JD.com's search production since July 2020.


By embedding information technologies into tangible products a new class of products is created that we call smart products. Smart products use product information in product-centered communication with users. Communication of smart products is handled by dynamic product interfaces. We present a model for QA-based dynamic product interfaces and its implementation DyPI. It is based on a schema-driven question-and-answer approach for Natural Language understanding and generation. Product information is described by web-based semantic representation formats that are stored in distributed repositories. Communication between smart products and users are run on a dedicated middleware (Tip "n Tell) that supports user interactions with products by wireless, RFID-based infrastructures and manages requests on product information.


1,2,3Department of Information technology, Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract— In this paper, authentication method is based on keystroke along with the current username and password system. a multifactor authentication scheme using the keystroke dynamics. The scheme is composed of two keystroke patterns levels. In this first level, the speed of each user's password is measured depending on the comparisons between the registered speeds with different calculated thresholds. In the case of large deviations in the typing speeds, the user must transit to the second authentication level. In this level, the user decrypts ciphered thresholds by using his/her private key. The objective of this paper is to provide a strong authentication method and to assign a high accepted value of the typing speed by training the user to type his/her password 100 times as a pretext before the actual registration level . In this case, the system results in a high precise speed values. The system is analyzed using different statistical measurements.


Heterogenous and voluminous unstructured data is produced from various sources like emails, social media tweets, reviews, videos, audio, images, PDFs, scanned documents, etc. Organizations need to store this wide range of unstructured data for more and longer periods so that they can examine information all the more profoundly to make a better decision and extracting useful insights. Manual processing of such unstructured data is always a challenging, time-consuming, and expensive task for any organization. Automating unstructured document processing using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Robotics Process Automation (RPA), seems to have limitations, as those techniques are driven by rules or templates. It needs to define the template or rules for every new input, which limits the use of rule or templates based techniques for unstructured document processing. These limitation demands to develop a tool which can be able to process the unstructured documents using Artificial Intelligence techniques. This bibliometric survey on Cognitive Document Processing reveals the mentioned facts about unstructured data processing challenges. This survey is performed on the Scopus database's scientific documents. Various tools such as Microsoft Excel, Sciencescape, VOSviewer, Leximancer, and Gephi for drawing network data analysis diagrams are used. The study revealed that the largest number of publications on Cognitive Document Processing had been explored very recently. It is observed that universities/institutions in India are leading in the research studies focusing on this research topic.


This paper presents a self-tuning adaptive control structure designed through the minimization of a criteria function. It is described the computation methodology of the control law, being particularized for the case of a dual winding induction generator's excitation control. The parameter's estimator, integrated into the control system, is based on the online least mean square error algorithm. In order to validate the designed control structure and tuning, there are performed and presented several study cases.


The research discussed in this paper arose from the writer's interest in United Kingdom (UK) rural policy, government and governance. Its aims were to: 1) find out the extent to which the participants in the research, many of whom are involved in UK local government, were aware of the non-governmental advisory and support organisations that, from 1909 until 2013, were involved with rural policy; and 2) establish the loci of influence in relation to aspects of rural policy. The data, gathered from interviews and an online questionnaire, suggests that political influence lies primarily with the Conservative Party, whose elected members run the district and county councils. Other sources of influence include the middle and landed classes. There is ambiguity, however. Some clerks and councillors admitted that they do not know where influence lies; suggesting that they, at least, do not believe it lies with them. Awareness of the organisations is unsurprisingly varied according to the participants' backgrounds. Overall, the data suggests that the more remote organisations were physically from 'work on the ground', and the more years that have passed since their closure, the lower the awareness of their existence and work.


NH4NO3 species are proved to be important and stable intermediates in NH3-SCR reactions on ceria catalysts. The decomposition behaviors of NH4NO3 were studied by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transformed Spectra (DRIFTS), Thermo Gravimetry/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DSC) and Mass Spectrometry (MS). MnOx–CeO2 catalysts synthesized by a co-precipitation method show 90% NOx conversion at 120–180 °C and ZrPO4–CeO2 catalysts were prepared by loading zirconium phosphate on CeO2, which present over 90% NOx conversion at 250–450 °C. Decomposition of NH4NO3 on the ceria catalyst is determined by both the redox properties and acidity of the catalyst, which further influence the catalyst's temperature window. For the decomposition of NH4NO3 on the MnOx–CeO2 catalyst with higher redox properties but much lower acidity, nitrate species can react with NO to generate nitrite, then react with gaseous NH3 to form NH4NO2 and finally decompose into N2 + H2O at 120 °C, in which process NH4NO3 can be considered as the important intermediate of the NH3-SCR reaction at 120–180 °C. At temperatures below 90 °C, NH4NO3 on MnOx–CeO2 can be a poison blocking the active sites. While on the ZrPO4–CeO2 catalyst with lower redox properties but higher acidity, two distinct sites for NH3 and NOx adsorption lead to the strong interaction between ads-NH4+ and nitrates, resulting in the decomposition temperature of NH4NO3 elevating to 250 °C, which is also the threshold of the catalyst's temperature window. At temperatures over 250 °C, NH4NO3 is an intermediate on the ZrPO4–CeO2 catalyst in participating the NH3-SCR reaction.


Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a poor prognosis in hospitalized patients that is associated with high degree of mortality. AKI is also a major risk factor for development of chronic kidney disease. Despite these serious complications associated with AKI there has not been a great amount of progress made over the last half-century. Here we have outlined and provided details on variety of mouse models of AKI. Some of the mouse models of AKI are renal pedicle clamping (ischemia reperfusion injury), Cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity, sepsis (LPS, cecal slurry, and cecal ligation and puncture), folic acid, and rhabdomyolysis. In this chapter we describe in detail the protocols that are used in our laboratories.


By means of a numerical simulation, nonlinear evolution of large amplitude dispersive Alfven waves is studied. An energy transfer from the parent wave to two daughter Alfven-like waves and a soundlike wave is observed (a stimulated Brillouin scattering process). The observed growth rates and propagation characteristics of these daughter waves agree with the analytical results, which we obtain by extending the previous treatments by Goldstein, Derby, Sakai, and Sonnerup. Ions are first trapped by the electrostatic potential of the daughter soundlike waves. Along with the eventual decay (ion Landau damping) of the soundlike waves, ions are phase-mixed and left heated in the parallel direction. The increased parallel energy of ions is transferred to the perpendicular thermal energy through the nonresonant scattering process in the colliding Alfven waves (parent and daughter waves). We further observe that the daughter Alfven waves, which still have a large amplitude, are also unstable for further decay, and that the wave energy is continuously transferred to the longer wavelength regime (inverse cascading process).


Having a job, or being employed, is associated with a number of positive effects. Although policies in Sweden support the right of people with disabilities to work and highlight access to employment as a priority, this group of people continues to lose out in employment against other citizens. However, little is known about actions or initiatives implemented to enhance labor market participation among people with disabilities. This study contributes useful findings on a promising implementation of a school-to-work transition initiative, workplace based learning (WBL), in special needs upper-secondary schools in Sweden. The aim of the study was to identify how teachers, having a key role in the implementation process, view and experience WBL and its actual functioning to enhance school-to-work transitions for students with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on 13 interviews with teachers working as supervisors and coordinators in the WBL training, our findings lead to three main conclusions. First, the teachers had significant reliance on WBL and its potential to prepare students for the labor market. Second, the teachers hesitated with regard to whether and to what extent WBL actually enhances school-to-work transitions. Third, the WBL reform has had significant negative effects on the working conditions of the supervising teachers involved. Our study uncovers a number of barriers for WBL to function as an actual bridge to work for students with intellectual disabilities, which we argue have important messages to bring for both policy and practice.


Aims To describe the alcohol consumption patterns and related harms of some Pacific peoples (Samoan, Cook Islands Maori, Tongan, Niuean, Fijian, and Tokelauan) living in Aotearoa (New Zealand), and to draw comparisons with measures from the general New Zealand population. Methods The Pacific Drugs and Alcohol Consumption Survey (PDACS) was carried out with 1103 randomly selected Pacific peoples aged between 13 and 65 years old who were resident in households throughout New Zealand. The survey used computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and computer assisted cell-phone interviewing (CACI). The interviews were carried out in 2002/03. We descriptively compare findings from the PDACS with those from the 2000 National Alcohol Survey (NAS). Results Fifty-seven percent of Pacific peoples were drinkers (males 61%, females 51%), compared with 85% of the general New Zealand population (males 88%, females 83%). The average annual consumption of absolute alcohol was 21 litres for Pacific drinkers (males 28 litres, females 14 litres) compared with 11 litres for general New Zealand population drinkers (males 16 litres, females 7 litres). The typical occasional quantity consumed by Pacific drinkers was eight drinks (males: nine drinks, females: five drinks) compared with four drinks for drinkers in the general New Zealand population (males: five drinks, females: around four drinks). Thirtythree percent of Pacific drinkers consumed enough to feel drunk at least weekly (males 41%, females 25%) compared with 9% of drinker in the general New Zealand population (males 13%, females 6%). Eighteen percent of Pacific males and 10% of Pacific females reported being physically assaulted by someone who had been drinking compared with 8% and 5% of national males and females respectively. Twenty-three percent of Pacific males and 16% of Pacific females got drunk when there was an important reason to stay sober, compared with 8% and 5% of general New Zealand males and females respectively. Nineteen percent of Pacific males and 21% of Pacific females reported being involved in a serious argument after they had been drinking compared with 12% and 8% of general New Zealand males and females respectively. Conclusions The proportion of Pacific drinkers is less than the proportion of drinkers in the general New Zealand population. However, Pacific drinkers consume larger annual volumes and typical occasion amounts of absolute alcohol than drinkers in the general New Zealand population. Pacific peoples drinking patterns appear to be more harmful with greater proportions of Pacific peoples reporting violence and injury from other peoples' drinking, and greater proportions of Pacific drinkers reporting problems from violence and serious arguments as a result of their own drinking


An antibiotic utilization review program was implemented by a clinical pharmacist in an acute care state psychiatric facility. Antibiotic utilization was concurrently audited in 61 antibiotic orders, written for 48 patients, in order to determine antibiotic prescribing and administration practices and problems. Interventions, consisting of educational presentations, problem-solving meetings, and distribution of written educational materials, were provided by a clinical pharmacist to improve antibiotic prescribing and administration practices. A second audit of 68 antibiotic orders written for 47 patients was concurrently audited after completion of the interventions. When prescribing problems were detected, the clinical pharmacist made recommendations to the prescribing physician. Statistically significant changes in the use of culture and sensitivity tests, appropriate dosage regimens, correct antibiotic administration, and selection of cost-effective therapy were found after all educational interventions were provided. A positive trend not resulting in statistical significance was noted for documentation of infectious disease and selection of appropriate antibiotic agents. This study demonstrates a drug utilization review role for clinical pharmacist's involvement in the acute care psychiatric facility, and illustrates one method by which clinical pharmacists can provide educational programs to improve nonpsychotropic drug prescribing and administration in this setting.


We describe a simplified derivation for the relativistic corrections of order α4 for a bound system consisting of two spinless particles. We devote special attention to pionium, the bound system of two oppositely charged pions. The leading quantum electrodynamic (QED) correction to the energy levels is of the order of α3 and due to electronic vacuum polarization. We analyze further corrections due to the self-energy of the pions, and due to recoil effects, and we give a complete result for the scalar-QED leading logarithmic corrections which are due to virtual loops involving only the scalar constituent particles (the pions); these corrections are of order α5 lnα for S states. PACS numbers 12.20.Ds, 36.10.-k


Background Research from our laboratory, and that of other investigators, has demonstrated augmented levels of diacylglycerols (DAG) in the frontal cortex and plasma of subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We have extended these observations to investigate the frontal cortex of subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy Body Disease (LBD), with and without coexisting pathologic features of AD. Methods/Principal findings Utilizing a high-resolution mass spectrometry analytical platform, we clearly demonstrate that DAG levels are significantly increased in the frontal cortex of subjects with PD, LBD with intermediate neocortical AD neuropathology, and in LBD with established neocortical AD neuropathology. In the case of the PD cohort, increases in cortical DAG levels were detected in cases with no neocortical pathology but were greater in subjects with neocortical pathology. These data suggest that DAG changes occur early in the disease processes and are amplified as cortical dysfunction becomes more established. Conclusions These findings suggest that altered DAG synthesis/metabolism is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by proteinopathy, that ultimately result in cognitive deficits. With regard to the mechanism responsible for these biochemical alterations, selective decrements in cortical levels of phosphatidylcholines in LBD and PD suggest that augmented degradation and/or decreased synthesis of these structural glycerophospholipids may contribute to increases in the pool size of free DAGs. The observed augmentation of DAG levels may be phospholipase-driven since neuroinflammation is a consistent feature of all disease cohorts. If this conclusion can be validated it would support utilizing DAG levels as a biomarker of the early disease process and the investigation of early intervention with anti-inflammatory agents.


Roads and powerline corridors destroy canopy connectivity in the rainforest of north-east Australia. We tested the hypotheses that linear barriers affect (a) the alignment of home ranges, (b) use of habitat either side of linear barriers, and (c) the crossing of them by the strictly arboreal lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), which is known to be vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Radio-tracking and a translocation experiment were conducted at a narrow 7-m-wide road and an 80-m-wide powerline. Homes ranges of lemuroid ringtails ranged from 0.15 to 1.67 ha (minimum convex polygon) and were aligned with the road but not powerline corridors. When lemuroid ringtails were experimentally translocated, wider canopy clearings over roads reduced their capacity to return to their original home range, and the powerline corridor was a nearly insurmountable barrier. No possums were observed crossing roads or the powerline corridor at ground level or residing in the intervening matrix, indicating that loss of canopy connectivity has a negative impact on their movements.


The subversion of plant cellular functions is essential for bacterial pathogens to proliferate in host plants and cause disease. Most bacterial plant pathogens employ a type III secretion system to inject type III effector (T3E) proteins inside plant cells, where they contribute to the pathogen-induced alteration of plant physiology. In this work, we found that the Ralstonia solanacearum T3E RipAY suppresses plant immune responses triggered by bacterial elicitors and by the phytohormone salicylic acid. Further biochemical analysis indicated that RipAY associates in planta with thioredoxins from Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis. Interestingly, RipAY displays γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase (GGCT) activity to degrade glutathione in plant cells, which is required for the reported suppression of immune responses. Given the importance of thioredoxins and glutathione as major redox regulators in eukaryotic cells, RipAY activity may constitute a novel and powerful virulence strategy employed by R. solanacearum to suppress immune responses and potentially alter general redox signalling in host cells.


Abstract Background: Outcome measures are used to evaluate patients with shoulder pathology and provide an assessment of function. There are two categories of outcome measures: self-report measures (SRMs), which provide the patient's perspective, and physical performance measures (PPMs), which provide an objective assessment. Collection of both SRM and PPM is indicated, although little evidence dictates that a combination of SRM and PPM measures is best for different populations of patients. Objectives: We reviewed shoulder-specific SRMs and PPMs for general outpatient, athlete, and geriatric populations with shoulder pain and provided our recommendations for the best combination of SRM and PPM currently available for each population, based on the literature and our clinical opinion. Major Findings: Each population has diverse needs and expectations, thus requiring different measures to evaluate function. Although additional, population-specific research is still needed, we propose these clinical recommendations. For a general outpatient population, QuickDASH-9 is the recommended SRM; upper quarter Y balance test (UQYBT) and single arm shot-put test are the recommended PPMs. For athletes, we recommend Kerlan-Jobe orthopedic clinic shoulder and elbow score (KJOC-SES) as the SRM, in combination with the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST) as the PPM. For a geriatric population, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Society standardized shoulder assessment form is our SRM recommendation, along with functional impairment test-hand and neck/shoulder/arm (FIT-HaNSA) for PPM assessment. Conclusions: A combination of SRMs and PPMs is desired to comprehensively capture function. There remains a need for exploration of which SRM/PPM combination is best to evaluate shoulder function in these three patient populations.


BACKGROUND
Nurses are the primary activators of the medical emergency team (MET). Although the MET system can empower nurses to seek help in managing acutely ill patients, few data on nurses' beliefs about the system are available.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate nurses' beliefs and behaviors about the MET system.

METHODS
Nurses from a large academic hospital in Canada were surveyed (2 demography-related questions and 17 Likert-scale questions).

RESULTS
Of 614 nurses employed on units participating in the MET system, 293 (47.7%) were approached and 275 completed the survey (response rate, 93.9%). Most respondents (84.2%) believed that the MET could prevent cardiopulmonary arrest in acutely ill patients, and 94% believed that the MET allowed them to seek help for patients they were worried about. Most nurses (75.9%) would call the responsible physician before activating the MET. Fifteen percent indicated reluctance to activate the MET because of fear of criticism, but only 2.2% considered the MET overused. Most (81.3%) believed that the MET did not increase their workload, and 91.3% did not believe that the MET reduced their skills. Forty-eight percent of nurses indicated that they would activate the MET for a patient they were worried about, even if the patient had normal vital signs.

CONCLUSION
Nurses value the MET system. Nurses believe that the MET can help them care for acutely ill patients and improve outcomes. However, barriers to MET activation exist, including a fear of criticism and an adherence to a more traditional model of first contacting the responsible physician before activating the MET.


Abstract. Application of organic materials are well known as environmental practices in soil restoration, preserving soil organic matter and recovering degraded soils of arid and semiarid lands. Therefore, the present research focused on evaluating the effectiveness of vinasse, a byproduct mainly of the sugar-ethanol industry, on soil conservation under simulated rainfall. Vinasse can be recycled as a soil amendment due to its organic matter content. Accordingly, the laboratory experiments were conducted by using 0.25 m2 experimental plots at 20 % slope and rainfall intensity of 72 mm h−1 with 0.5 h duration. The effect of vinasse was investigated on runoff and soil loss control. Experiments were set up as a control (with no amendment) and three treated plots with doses of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 L m−2 of vinasse subjected to simulated rainfall. Laboratory results indicated that vinasse at different levels could not significantly (P >  0.05) decrease the runoff amount and soil loss rate in the study plots compared to untreated plots. The average amounts of minimum runoff volume and soil loss were about 3985 mL and 46 g for the study plot at a 1 L m−2 level of vinasse application.


We study the tails' behavior of four major Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Ripple) by employing the Autoregressive Fr´echet model for conditional maxima. Using five-minute-high-frequency data, we report time-evolving tails as well as provide a straightforward measure of tails asymmetry for positive and negative intra-day returns. We find that only Bitcoin has a notable more massive tail for positive returns asymmetry while the remaining three Cryptocurrencies have a general tendency towards more massive negative intra-day tails. All considered Cryptocurrencies depict lighter tails as the market matures.


Recently within the machine learning and spatial statistics communities many papers have explored the potential of reduced rank representations of the covariance matrix, often referred to as projected or fixed rank approaches. In such methods the covariance function of the posterior process is represented by a reduced rank approximation which is chosen such that there is minimal information loss. In this paper a sequential framework for inference in such projected processes is presented, where the observations are considered one at a time. We introduce a C++ library for carrying out such projected, sequential estimation which adds several novel features. In particular we have incorporated the ability to use a generic observation operator, or sensor model, to permit data fusion. We can also cope with a range of observation error characteristics, including non-Gaussian observation errors. Inference for the variogram parameters is based on maximum likelihood estimation. We illustrate the projected sequential method in application to synthetic and real data sets. We discuss the software implementation and suggest possible future extensions.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyze visual attention during students' learning of Toulmin's argument pattern (TAP) and the effects of epistemic beliefs in science on the understanding of argument components. A total of 43 undergraduates were recruited through the Internet. Online questionnaires targeting beliefs about knowledge in science [Conley, A. M., Pintrich, P. R., Vekiri, I., & Harrison, D. (2004). Changes in epistemological beliefs in elementary science students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 29(2), 186–204] and beliefs about justification for knowing in science [Ferguson, L. E., & Bråten, I. (2013). Student profiles of knowledge and epistemic beliefs: Changes and relations to multiple-text comprehension. Learning and Instruction, 25, 49–61] were used to assess students' epistemic beliefs. Identification tests for the understanding of TAP were performed before and after an argument reading treatment designed as a self-learning activity. The whole reading process was recorded by the eye-tracking system. To explore the effect of the reading treatment, participants were divided into a progress (P) group and a no-progress (NP) group based on their learning gains.The results indicated that students' epistemic beliefs in science and their learning strategies would affect their TAP learning performance. The analyses of visual attention distribution indicated that integration information indicated by inter-scanning counts would enhance students' learning performance. In addition, the LSA results suggested that understanding of data is of primary importance when learning TAP. Suggestions on how to guide students in learning TAP are provided based on the findings.


The thesis investigates the impact of changes in household income on household welfare in Russia during 1994 to 1998. Part I introduces the main estimation techniques (Instrumental Variables, Difference-In-Differences and Matching), the data sources and the context of the Russian arrears crisis. Part II contains the empirical analysis. Chapter 5 simulates the effect of government cash transfers on poverty with Instrumental Variables estimation, taking into account consumption smoothing of households. Changes in cash transfer policy led unambiguously to a rise in poverty between 1994 and 1998. Chapter 6 explores the welfare effects of non-payments of pensions in 1996 using a Difference-In-Differences model. The loss of pension income doubled poverty rates and worsened nutrition among affected pensioners. Elderly men suffered from a decline in health and were more likely to die in the two years following the crisis. Households responded in ways that mitigated the impact of the crisis, replacing one-fifth of lost pension income through increased labour supply and asset sales. Chapter 7 analyses the impact of wage arrears on the elderly who were either working themselves or living together with workers. Matching techniques establish that wage arrears had a detrimental impact on old age welfare, including current and future health, over a wide range of control variables and sample restrictions. In line with the findings on pension arrears, the effect was larger on men than on women. Arrears households compensated about 10 to 14 percent of the wage loss from other income sources. Chapter 8 studies the link between wage arrears and child health. Wage arrears resulted in a decline of economic well-being, nutrition and growth status of affected children. Arrears households replaced up to one fifth of the wage reduction with other receipts. The final chapter summarizes the main findings.


Abstract The evolution of the Main Porcupine Basin can be divided into pre-rift, syn-rift and post-rift stages. The syn-rift/post-rift transition represents a gradual change from extensive fault activity through localized faulting and passive infill to sporadic faulting during post-rift times. This Transition Sequence is present in localized areas (sub-basins). It infills the remnant syn-rift topography after which the post-rift stage begins. Sub-basins developed during the syn-rift stage have a general N-S to NE-SW orientation and range in size from approximately 30 km × 20 km to approximately 12 km × 8 km. Their shapes range from symmetrical fault-bounded depocentres to half-graben. The sub-basins have several internal unconformities which merge into a single composite erosion surface at the margins. Areas in which the Transition Sequence is developed usually have an element of fault control, especially during the early stages. Clastic fans are identified prograding from fault scarps. Later passive onlap during a rising sea-level progressively infills the subbasins. The age of the Transition Sequence is problematical, but borehole data suggests that it spans uppermost Kimmeridgian/Tithonian to end-Berriasian times. The sub-basins appear to be broadly coincident with small Permo-Triassic basins. This may point to a deep-seated fault control on the location of the Transition Sequence sub-basins. Comparable syn- to post-rift Transition Sequences are also present in the Orphan and Jeanne d'Arc Basins, offshore Eastern Canada, and possibly in other North Atlantic rift basins also.


Introductions: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is a common renal disease where flow of urine is obstructed from renal pelvis to ureter leading to renal function deterioration. This study analysed the functional outcome of patients after Anderson-Hynes (A-H) pyeloplasty for UPJO.
Methods: Retrospective analysis was done for renal function outcome on patients who underwent either open or laparoscopic dismembered A-H pyeloplasty during 20 months period from May 2017 to November 2018 in the Department of Urology in Bir Hospital, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Kathmandu, Nepal. Renal functional outcome was based on pre and post-operative glomerular filtration rate and split renal function. Ethical approval was obtained from institutional review board (IRB-NAMS). Descriptive analysis of data was performed.
Results: Total 22 patients, 15 male and 7 females underwent dismembered pyeloplasty. The age ranged from 18 months to 65 years. Improvement of split renal functions was noted in 18 out of 22 (81.3%).
Conclusions: A-H pyeloplasty is effective surgical option for functional renal improvement in patients with obstructive UPJO.


Background: A common neurological condition worldwide is Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) leading to both substance and non-substance addictive behaviors, that must be combatted by integrating both central nervous system and peripheral nervous system biological approaches. Integrity of hemoglobin is a crucial determining factor for the overall health functions. Nutrient repletion therapy should be a fundamental strategy to restore the healthy properties of blood. A unique patent-pending iron-free VMP35 formulation was engineered by our laboratory to restore iron-dependent hemoglobin in anemic cells using a proprietary Prodosome® absorption technology. This formulation, containing an array of nano-emulsified botanical ingredients rich in bioflavonoids, strengthens the structural integrity of connective tissues, and potentiates immune competence, cellular aerobic metabolism, and enhances efficient regulation of inflammatory events. We discuss the intricate aspects of strong vs. fragile immunity and consequential inflammatory responses to convey a deeper understanding of the varied and overly complex sequela of immunological behaviors and events. The effect of the VMP35 is mediated through highly absorbable nutritional/nutrigenomic repletion enabling improvements in the systemic set of functional behaviors. In fact, the iron-free VMP35 facilitates a "Systems Biology Approach" which restores hemoglobin status, reverses anaerobic hypoxia, improves competent immune responsivity, and regulates appropriate and controlled activation of general and neuro-inflammatory sequela. Under these pathogenic circumstances, iron-deficiency anemia has been misconceptualized, and a new nosological term, Chronic Anemia Syndrome, is proposed. The comparative therapeutic rationale of Reductionist vs. Systems Biology approaches is also explained in detail. Methods: The efficacy of the novel therapeutic iron-free VMP35 liquid nutraceutical is detailed in restoring iron-dependent hemoglobin to RBCs and boosting cellular morphology, viability, and immune competence, thereby reducing the need for prolonging inflammatory sequela. Results: This was demonstrated in a previous IRB approved multi-subject human study. In addition, two recent case studies report dramatic restorative benefits of nutrient repletion therapy of the VMP35 on subjects having experienced near-fatal events, which confirmed the findings explained in this manuscript. Conclusions: This novel iron-free VMP35 modulates an array of homeostatic biological parameters such as enhanced hemoglobinization, aerobic metabolism, viral immuno-competence, and inflammatory regulation. Further research, examining mechanistic and beneficial effects in athletic performance, is in progress. Importantly, during these troubled immune challenging times, modulating an array of homeostatic immunological and inflammatory dysfunctions are tantamount to improved population outcomes. Trial registration: The Clinical investigation in a total of 38 subjects was conducted under an Institutional Review Board (IRB) from the Path Foundation in New York, NY (#13-009 April 25, 2013). The two case studies were done at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA, and Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Both studies were retrospectively registered.


Oversmoothing in Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) refers to the phenomenon where increasing network depth leads to homogeneous node representations. While previous work has established that Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) exponentially lose expressive power, it remains controversial whether the graph attention mechanism can mitigate oversmoothing. In this work, we provide a definitive answer to this question through a rigorous mathematical analysis, by viewing attention-based GNNs as nonlinear time-varying dynamical systems and incorporating tools and techniques from the theory of products of inhomogeneous matrices and the joint spectral radius. We establish that, contrary to popular belief, the graph attention mechanism cannot prevent oversmoothing and loses expressive power exponentially. The proposed framework extends the existing results on oversmoothing for symmetric GCNs to a significantly broader class of GNN models, including random walk GCNs, Graph Attention Networks (GATs) and (graph) transformers. In particular, our analysis accounts for asymmetric, state-dependent and time-varying aggregation operators and a wide range of common nonlinear activation functions, such as ReLU, LeakyReLU, GELU and SiLU.


The need for scientific methodologies to assess quantitatively the resilience of critical infrastructures against natural hazards (like earthquakes, floods, storms, landslides and wildfires) during the last decade has become a relevant aspect for several countries and for the European Union. In fact, this quantification could allow setting and implementing effective measures to prevent or mitigate the negative socio-economic effects that a possible disruption of these infrastructures, caused by extreme natural events, could cause. This paper focuses, in particular, on energy corridors and proposes a new approach for evaluating their resilience, based on the definition of a criticality index able to estimate the economic damage associated to all the hazards by taking into account the spatial dimension of the infrastructure and by combining different interdependent parameters that could affect the criticality level. The procedure was tested by means of an application to a simplified case study. The obtained results highlighted the main advantages of the defined method, especially in ranking the critical sections of the infrastructure and prioritising the investments for reinforcing and protecting it or in identifying the further tests to be performed, especially in the case of a reassessment of the acceptable risk limit.


Background: Colonoscopy is associated with cardiovascular events including hypotension, hypertension, and myocardial ischemia. The pathogenetic mechanisms of these cardiovascular events are unknown, but there is evidence that the autonomic nervous system may play a role. Conscious sedation is often used to relieve the inconvenience caused by the procedure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of sedation on cardiac autonomic regulation during colonoscopy. Methods: One hundred and eighty patients undergoing elective colonoscopy were prospectively randomized into three groups: (i) sedation with intravenous midazolam (midazolam group); (ii) sedation with intravenous saline (placebo group); and (iii) no intravenous cannula (control group). Continuous electrocardiogram was recorded prior to, during, and after the colonoscopic procedure. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed by means of the power spectral analysis; the powers of low-frequency (LF 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF 0.15-0.40 Hz) components were calculated. Results: Intubation of the colonoscope increased the LF component of HRV and decreased HF power in all study groups compared to baseline recording. Furthermore, compared to baseline, the LF/HF ratio-a marker of cardiac sympathetic regulation-increased during intubation in the midazolam (P < 0.001) and placebo (P < 0.05) groups, with no change in the control group. During intubation the midazolam group presented with higher LF and lower HF power than placebo (P < 0.001) and control groups (P < 0.01). Accordingly, the LF/HF ratio was higher in the midazolam group than in the placebo (P < 0.05) or control groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Midazolam potentiates the dominance of the sympathetic nervous system induced by colonoscopy. Therefore, conscious sedation with midazolam may contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular events during colonoscopy.


An understanding of the causes of genotype × environment (GE) interaction can help identify traits that contribute to better cultivar performance and environments that facilitate cultivar evaluation. Through subjecting environment-centered yield of a multi-environment trial data to singular value decomposition, the portion of yield variation that is relevant to cultivar evaluation is partitioned into noncrossover and crossover GE interaction, quantified by the first two principal components (PC), respectively. Each PC is a set of genotypic scores multiplied by a set of environmental scores. By relating the PC scores to genotypic and environmental covariates, GE interaction represented by each PC can be interpreted in terms of trait × factor interactions. This strategy was employed in analysis of the 1992 to 1998 Ontario winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance trial data. Results indicated that plant height and maturity were the major genotypic causes of GE interaction, whereas cold temperature in the winter and hot temperature in the summer were the major environmental causes of GE interaction. Positive interactions were found between earlier maturity vs. warmer winters or hotter summers, and between shorter plant height vs. warmer winters or cooler summers. In addition, better resistance to septoria leaf blotch (caused by Septoria secalis Prill. & Delacr.) was frequently associated with overall performance. The results of this study should help in determining breeding objectives and for selecting test sites or environments for winter wheat breeding in Ontario.


Wireless sensor networks are made up by communicating sensor nodes that gather and elaborate information from real world in a distributed and coordinated way in order to deliver an intelligent support to human activities. They are used in many fields such as national security, surveillance, health care, biological detection, and environmental monitoring. However, sensor nodes are characterized by limited wireless communication and computing capabilities as well as reduced on-board battery power. Therefore, they have to be carefully deployed in order to cover the areas to be monitored without impairing network lifetime. This paper presents a new deterministic algorithm to solve the coverage problem of well-known areas by means of wireless sensor networks. The proposed algorithm depends on a small set of parameters and can control sensor deployment within areas even in the presence of obstacles. Moreover, the algorithm makes it possible to control the redundancy degree that can be obtained in covering a region of interest so as to achieve a network deployment characterized by a minimum number of wireless sensor nodes.


A high-resolution seismic survey of the Rukwa Rift has imaged the upper 300 m of the Pliocene–Holocene section. The sediments are characterized by aggradational deposition in shallow lacustrine conditions that episodically dried out. Overall the reflection package expands northeastwards towards the Lupa Fault (half-graben bounding fault). Isopach maps for nine intervals (6 m to 65 m thick) show four periods of marked expansion of the section towards the Lupa Fault, interpreted to represent times of fault activity or infilling of fault-created topography during the early stage of fault quiescence. There are three periods of little or much reduced expansion interpreted to represent infilling of the accommodation space between the lake floor and the lake surface during periods of fault inactivity. Cyclicity of such high frequency has not been widely reported for faults which penetrate the crust. The periods of activity show remarkably similar displacement patterns with no lateral migration of the main depocentre, implying that seismic and aseismic slip has persistently clustered in the same parts of the fault. Identification of high-frequency fault cyclicity has implications for sequence stratigraphy in tectonically active areas, since there is a tendency to assume faults do not have cyclic effects on the scale of tens of thousands of years.


The scarab beetle Cetonia aurata is known to reflect light with brilliant colors and a high degree of circular polarization. Both color and polarization effects originate from the beetles exoskeleton and have been attributed to a Bragg reflection of the incident light due to a twisted laminar structure. Our strategy for mimicking the optical properties of the Cetonia aurata was therefore to design and fabricate transparent, chiral films. A series of films with tailored transparent structures of helicoidal InxAl1-xN nanorods were grown on sapphire substrates using UHV magnetron sputtering. The value of x is tailored to gradually decrease from one side to the other in each nanorod normal to its growth direction. This introduces an in-plane anisotropy with different refractive indices in the direction of the gradient and perpendicular to it. By rotating the sample during film growth the in-plane optical axis will be rotated from bottom to top and thereby creating a chiral film. Based on Muellermatrix ellipsometry, optical modeling has been done suggesting that both the exoskeleton of Cetonia aurata and our artificial material can be modeled by an anisotropic film made up of a stack of thin layers, each one with its in-plane optical axis slightly rotated with respect to the previous layer. Simulations based on the optical modeling were used to investigate how pitch and thickness of the film together with the optical properties of the constitutive materials affects the width and spectral position of the Bragg reflection band.


Over 30 organisations collaborated to produce this publication. It covers 295 terrestrial and marine species and subspecies of mammals, which were assessed within South African borders, excluding Swaziland and Lesotho. It brings up to date the current scientific knowledge of, and level of threat facing the mammals of South Africa, makes recommendations for strategic conservation and management of threatened mammals and their habitats and is intended to improve the effectiveness and synergy of existing conservation efforts.


This paper describes two exploratory pilot projects using the social software technology (i.e. blog and wiki) for assessment purposes to teach an introductory Information Systems subject at University of Canberra in 2007. Social software technologies known as web 2.0 have gained considerable interest among academics across the higher education landscape. These tools have features that focus on the social construction of collective knowledge, communication, reflection and peer networking. However, while there are many claimed pedagogical benefits, little is known about the impact and effectiveness of social technologies to support innovative approaches to Information System assessment tasks in large classes. In this study the author reflects on the process of integrating social technologies into the teaching syllabus for assessment purposes and presents a reflective account of the outcomes of the trial from both student and staff perspectives. Important teaching and learning issues associated with the development and implementation of social technology based assessment tasks for large classes are discussed. This analysis confirms the importance of usability, workload and 'fit for task' for technology-infused teaching and learning for large classes.


Annotated images for diagnosis of rare or novel diseases are likely to remain scarce due to small affected patient population and limited clinical expertise to annotate images. Deep networks employed for image based diagnosis need to be robust enough to quickly adapt to novel diseases with few annotated images. Further, in case of the frequently occurring long-tailed class distributions in skin lesion and other disease classification datasets, conventional training approaches lead to poor generalization on classes at the tail end of the distribution due to biased class priors. This paper focuses on the problems of disease identification and quick model adaptation in such data-scarce and long-tailed class distribution scenarios by exploiting recent advances in meta-learning. This involves training a neural network on few-shot image classification tasks based on an initial set of class labels / head classes of the distribution, prior to adapting the model for classification on a set of unseen / tail classes. We named the proposed method Meta-DermDiagnosis because it utilizes meta-learning based few-shot learning techniques such as the gradient based Reptile and distance metric based Prototypical networks for identification of diseases in skin lesion datasets. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach on publicly available skin lesion datasets, namely the ISIC 2018, Derm7pt and SD-198 datasets and obtain significant performance improvement over pretrained models with just a few annotated examples. Further, we incorporate Group Equivariant convolutions (G-convolutions) for the Meta-DermDiagnosis network to improve disease identification performance as these images generally do not have any prevailing global orientation / canonical structure and G-convolutions make the network equivariant to any discrete transformations like rotation, reflection and translation.


Abstract. Recent works have studied crop recognition in regions with highly complex spatio-temporal dynamics typical of a tropical climate. However, most proposals have only been evaluated in a single agricultural year, and their capabilities to generalize to dates outside the temporal sequence have not been properly addressed thus far. This work assesses the generalization capabilities of a recent convolutional recurrent architecture, testing it in a temporal sequence two years ahead of the sequence with which it was trained. Furthermore, a N-to-1 variant of such network is proposed, which is able to produce classification outcomes for every month in the agricultural year, and it is compared with two baselines designed in a more traditional approach, in which a separate specific network is trained for each month of the year. The approaches are evaluated on two public datasets from a tropical region. The first dataset comprehends the period from June 2017 to May 2018, while the second goes from October 2019 to September 2020. Results show a decrease of up to 24.6% in per-date average F1 score when training the network with data of an agricultural year different from the one it is tested on, which indicates a domain shift that demands further research. Additionally, the proposed approach presented only a slight decrease in performance compared to its baseline when trained on the same dataset, with a 2.7% drop in average F1 score. This performance drop is a small cost in exchange for its operational advantages, such as reduced training time and a more straightforward pipeline.


In this paper, we examine the long-term behavior of regret-minimizing agents in time-varying games with continuous action spaces. In its most basic form, (external) regret minimization guarantees that an agent's cumulative payoff is no worse in the long run than that of the agent's best fixed action in hindsight. Going beyond this worst-case guarantee, we consider a dynamic regret variant that compares the agent's accrued rewards to those of any sequence of play. Specializing to a wide class of no-regret strategies based on mirror descent, we derive explicit rates of regret minimization relying only on imperfect gradient obvservations. We then leverage these results to show that players are able to stay close to Nash equilibrium in time-varying monotone games - and even converge to Nash equilibrium if the sequence of stage games admits a limit.


Total soluble phenols and total chlorophylls content, changes of biomass and concentration factor in Lemna gibba exposed to different concentrations of boron were measured. Day six soluble phenols showed significant differences in treatment with 10 mg/L of boron. At day ten, chlorophylls content in treatment 2 mg/L concentration increased respect to other experimental groups and control group, there were no significant differences. Biomass of Lemna gibba decreased significant in treatments with 1.5 and 2.5 mg/L treatments of boron. The highest Bioconcentration factor was found in 0.25 mg/L of boron, this accumulation is not relevant. Lemna gibba showed tolerance in the presence of boron in concentrations used here. Suggesting that this aquatic macrophyte could be used for tertiary treatment and the possible renewal wastewater contaminated with boron.


This paper has three objectives. First, a review of the developing body of work on the economics of immigration in Ireland is provided. Second, the analysis undertaken by Barrett and McCarthy (forthcoming) of earnings of immigrants in Ireland is updated. Third, the earnings of immigrant women are assessed to see if they experience a "double disadvantage". Among other findings, the review of the emerging literature points to immigrants faring less well in the Irish labour market relative to native employees. As regards the analysis conducted in this paper, we find that immigrants were earning 15 percent less than comparable natives employees in 2005. For immigrants from non-English speaking countries, the wage disadvantage was 20 percent. The corresponding figure for immigrants from the EU's New Member States was 31 percent. A double disadvantage is found for immigrant women, with the earnings of female immigrants found to be 14 percent less than those of comparable native female employees. This double disadvantage is concentrated among female immigrants with third level degrees.


The rationale for Fitts' law is that pointing tasks have the information-theoretic analogy of sending a signal over a noisy channel, thereby matching Shannon's capacity formula. Yet, the currently received analysis is incomplete and unsatisfactory: There is no explicit communication model for pointing; there is a confusion between central concepts of capacity (a mathematical limit), throughput (an average performance measure), and bandwidth (a physical quantity); and there is also a confusion between source and channel coding so that Shannon's Theorem 17 can be misinterpreted. We develop an information-theoretic model for pointing tasks where the index of difficulty (ID) is the expression of both a source entropy and a zero-error channel capacity. Then, we extend the model to include misses at rate ε and prove that ID should be adjusted to (1−ε)ID. Finally, we reflect on Shannon's channel coding theorem and argue that only minimum movement times, not performance averages, should be considered.


Reducing driver distraction, including distraction resulting from mobile phone use, is an aim of New Zealandrs Safer Journeys programme. Currently mobile phone usage by New Zealand drivers is captured by self-report or observational surveys. However, studies have indicated that these methodologies might be under-representing actual usage rates. The aims of this study were threefold: first, to establish how driversr mobile phone usage has been monitored worldwide through a review of relevant literature; second, to assess whether there was an improved method for monitoring mobile phone usage through a review of available equipment; and, finally to conduct a trial of the identified method to evaluate whether it could improve mobile phone monitoring in New Zealand. Trial results show that a mobile phone detector did not identify all observed mobile activity. However, roadside observers detected a lower level of mobile phone usage in passing vehicles (5.5%), compared with the mobile phone detector (9.6%), meaning that up to 43% of mobile phone use is not detected by the existing visual observation methods. Further testing is required to resolve the gaps between roadside observations and equipment detection, but there is evidence that observational methods of mobile phone detection could be enhanced through technological solutions.


Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, has emerged as an active mediator in many essential functions in the central nervous system of mammals. BDNF plays significant roles in neurogenesis, neuronal maturation and/or synaptic plasticity and is involved in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Despite the vast literature present in mammals, studies devoted to BDNF in the brain of other animal models are scarse. Zebrafish is a teleost fish widely known for developmental genetic studies and is emerging as model for translational neuroscience research. In addition, its brain shows many sites of adult neurogenesis allowing higher regenerative properties after traumatic injuries. To add further knowledge on neurotrophic factors in vertebrate brain models, we decided to determine the distribution of bdnf mRNAs in the larval and adult zebrafish brain and to characterize the phenotype of cells expressing bdnf mRNAs by means of double staining studies. Our results showed that bdnf mRNAs were widely expressed in the brain of 7 days old larvae and throughout the whole brain of mature female and male zebrafish. In adults, bdnf mRNAs were mainly observed in the dorsal telencephalon, preoptic area, dorsal thalamus, posterior tuberculum, hypothalamus, synencephalon, optic tectum and medulla oblongata. By combining immunohistochemistry with in situ hybridization, we showed that bdnf mRNAs were never expressed by radial glial cells or proliferating cells. By contrast, bdnf transcripts were expressed in cells with neuronal phenotype in all brain regions investigated. Our results provide the first demonstration that the brain of zebrafish expresses bdnf mRNAs in neurons and open new fields of research on the role of the BDNF factor in brain mechanisms in normal and brain repairs situations.


Both the amount and the quality of consumed food have a direct impact on health. There has been a noticeable increase in frequency of fast food consumption. The aim of the paper was to assess the food habits in a selected group of quick service restaurant employees, who have easy access to fast food. The survey was conducted at the end of 2014/beginning 2015 among 270 purposively selected McDonald's Warsaw restaurant employees. An original survey questionnaire was employed. Statistica software was used to process the data; correlation coeffi cient was calculated taking p < 0.5 as the level of statistical signifi cance. The survey points to many nutritional errors committed by the employees, including too long intervals between meals and frequent fast food consumption. Additionally, it was observed that seniority played a role in food preferences: the longer the employee's length of service, the more often would they consume McDonald's-bought products. It was determined that place of employment was a determining factor in food choices. The respondents with longer seniority reported more frequent consumption of products bought during work hours and use of McDonald's restaurants in general. Although almost half of the respondents were aware of the negative health eff ects of fast food, they did not limit its consumption. It appears essential to introduce health education for the surveyed group.


PurposeAs disruptive technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled customer relationship management (CRM) systems, alter the processes and strategies that banks use in service delivery models, the impact of such technologies on consumer acceptance and buying behavior must continue to be examined. This research studies the impact of technology usage and acceptance of AI-enabled banking CRM systems in Nigeria on consumer buying behavior via the mediation of customer satisfaction and service quality. The study also investigates the negative impact of technology downtime, a frequent phenomenon in the emerging market, which has not, to this point, been studied on a large scale.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collect quantitative data via a face-to-face administered questionnaire from four hundred customers of ten different Nigerian banks regarding their perceptions of technology use in the banking sector.FindingsWhile the research finds that technology usage has positive and direct effects on service quality, customer satisfaction and consumer buying behavior, service quality was found not to have a significant effect on consumer buying behavior. The study also establishes that technology downtime has a moderating effect on technology usage, consumer buying behavior and customer satisfaction in the banking context.Originality/valueScant literature exists that explores the importance of culture in technology usage and acceptance, specifically in developing countries like Nigeria. This study explores the impact of technology usage along with acceptance in the Nigerian setting on Nigerian consumers and their resulting satisfaction. Technology usage has been known to impact customer satisfaction in various ways, but no study has looked specifically at how technology in the banking sector can further be of help or harm from a Nigerian perspective. This study explores the technology usage in banking sector of Nigeria and its impact on the consumer buying behaviour. No studies in our knowledge have been known to consider the role of technology downtime, a frequent phenomenon in emerging market, as a factor, which will affect the customer satisfaction and buying behavior. Thus, this study (1a) explores the negative outcomes of technology downtime on both service quality and customer satisfaction, (b) explores the moderating relationship of technology downtime on the technology usage and consumer-related outcomes.


Hydroxyapatite (HAp) coatings were prepared by a hydrothermal electrodeposition method on Carbon/carbon (C/C) composites. The as-prepared HAp coatings were characterized by XRD and SEM analyses. The influence of hydrothermal temperature on the phase and surface microstructures of HAp coatings and the corresponding deposition kinetics were particularly investigated. Results show that with the increase of hydrothermal temperature, the crystallinity, density and homogenous of the prepared HAp coatings are improved. The deposition rate also increases with the increase of hydrothermal temperature. The deposition activation energy of HAp coatings by the hydrothermal electrodeposition process is calculated to be 25.89 kJ/mol.


Reducing triacylglycerol (TAG) in the liver continues to pose a challenge in states of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis. Monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (MOGAT) enzymes convert monoacylglycerol (MAG) to diacylglycerol, a precursor for TAG synthesis, and are involved in a major pathway of TAG synthesis in selected tissues, such as small intestine. MOGAT1 possesses MGAT activity in in vitro assays, but its physiological function in TAG metabolism is unknown. Recent studies suggest a role for MOGAT1 in hepatic steatosis in lipodystrophic [1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase (Agpat)2−/−] and obese (ob/ob) mice. To test this, we deleted Mogat1 in the Agpat2−/− and ob/ob genetic background to generate Mogat1−/−;Agpat2−/− and Mogat1−/−;ob/ob double knockout (DKO) mice. Here we report that, despite the absence of Mogat1 in either DKO mouse model, we did not find any decrease in liver TAG by 16 weeks of age. Additionally, there were no measureable changes in plasma glucose (diabetes) and insulin resistance. Our data indicate a minimal role, if any, of MOGAT1 in liver TAG synthesis, and that TAG synthesis in steatosis associated with lipodystrophy and obesity is independent of MOGAT1. Our findings suggest that MOGAT1 likely has an alternative function in vivo.


Efficient frequency-domain full-waveform inversion (FWI) of long-offset node data can be designed with a few discrete frequencies, which lead to modest data volumes to be managed during the inversion process. Moreover, attenuation effects can be straightforwardly implemented in the forward problem without the computational overhead. However, 3D frequency-domain seismic modeling is challenging because it requires solving a large and sparse linear indefinite system for each frequency with multiple right-hand sides (RHSs). This linear system can be solved by direct or iterative methods. The former allows efficient processing of multiple RHSs but may suffer from limited scalability for very large problems. Iterative methods equipped with a domain-decomposition preconditioner provide a suitable alternative to process large computational domains for sparse-node acquisition. We have investigated the domain-decomposition preconditioner based on the optimized restricted additive Schwarz (ORAS) method, in which a Robin or perfectly matched layer condition is implemented at the boundaries between the subdomains. The preconditioned system is solved by a Krylov subspace method, whereas a block low-rank lower-upper decomposition of the local matrices is performed at a preprocessing stage. Multiple sources are processed in groups with a pseudoblock method. The accuracy, the computational cost, and the scalability of the ORAS solver are assessed against several realistic benchmarks. In terms of discretization, we compare a compact wavelength-adaptive 27-point finite-difference stencil on a regular Cartesian grid with a P3 finite-element method on h-adaptive tetrahedral mesh. Although both schemes have comparable accuracy, the former is more computationally efficient, the latter being beneficial to comply with known boundaries such as bathymetry. The scalability of the method, the block processing of multiple RHSs, and the straightforward implementation of attenuation, which further improves the convergence of the iterative solver, make the method a versatile forward engine for large-scale 3D FWI applications from sparse node data sets.


1. Among 242 cases of histologically proved Hodgkin9s disease treated at Memorial Hospital for the most part within the past five years, the diagnosis was established by open biopsy in 228, while in 14 cases aspiration biopsy yielded a reliable diagnosis. 2. In the 14 cases of Hodgkin9s disease in which the diagnosis was made by examination of the sectioned clot obtained by aspiration biopsy, the material was from lymph nodes in 9 cases, from a presternal nodule in 1 case, from the lung in 3 cases, and from the spleen in 1 case. 3. Among the 228 cases in which formal biopsy was used to prove the diagnosis, aspiration biopsy had been previously attempted but had been unsuccessful in 11 cases. Thus in 25 cases of the total number of 242, aspiration biopsy had been selected for good reason as the first method to try, and was diagnostically successful in 56 per cent of the group.


Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization, and studies show that many of these admissions are readmissions within a short window of time. Identifying CHF patients who are at a greater risk of hospitalization can guide the implementation of appropriate plans to prevent these readmissions. Developing predictive model-ing solutions for such disease related risk of readmissions is extremely challenging in healthcare informatics. It involves integration of socio-demographic factors, health conditions, disease parameters, hospital care quality parameters, and a variety of variables specific to health care providers making the task immensely complex. This work, in collaboration with experts from Multicare Health Systems (MHS), describes a soon to be deployed prototype to predict risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge for CHF patients at MHS. We focus on data extraction and data preprocessing steps to improve prediction outcomes, including feature selection , missing value imputation and data balancing. We perform comprehensive empirical evaluations using the real-world health care data set provided by MHS. Our empirical evaluation demonstrates that we outperform one of the nearest competing previous results.


The largely growing body of software development organizations implement process methodologies. Many of them are in the defense industry, which in the U.S. requires a rating based on 'process models' to obtain contracts. The international standard for describing the method of selecting, implementing and monitoring the life cycle for software is ISO 12207. A decades-long goal has been to find repeatable, predictable processes that improve productivity and quality. Some try to systematize or formalize the seemingly unruly task of writing software. Others apply project management techniques to writing software. Without project management, software projects can easily be delivered late or over budget. With large numbers of software projects not meeting their expectations in terms of functionality, cost, or delivery schedule, effective project management appears to be lacking. Organizations may create a Software Engineering Process Group (SEPG), which is the focal point for process improvement. Composed of line practitioners who have varied skills, the group is at the center of the collaborative effort of everyone in the organization who is involved with software engineering process improvement.


This study develops an integrative model and conceptually-based scales for evaluating the extent to which national culture impact the B2B technology adoption in Thailand. It is the first paper that introduces a method to measure the fit between Thai culture and B2B technology adoption, which the researcher refers to 'cultural fit'. The discussion on the current research gap in national cultural theories in relation to IT adoption research, theories of fit and current research on Thai's culture were presented. Based on this literature as well as qualitative data collection, pre-test and pilot test surveys, questionnaire items were developed and analyzed. The resulting dimensionality of cultural fit, used for investigating the appropriateness of B2B technology adoption in Thailand, includes personal relationship, long term relationship, interorganisational trust, ability to communicate in English language and materialism.


An accurate power loss model for a high-efficiency dual active bridge converter, which provides a bidirectional electrical interface between a 12-V battery and a high-voltage (HV) dc bus in a fuel cell car, is derived. The nominal power is 2 kW, the HV dc bus varies between 240 and 450 V, and the battery voltage range is between 11 and 16 V. Consequently, battery currents of up to 200 A occur at nominal power. In automotive applications, high converter efficiency and high power densities are required. Thus, it is necessary to accurately predict the dissipated power for each power component in order to identify and to properly design the heavily loaded parts of the converter. In combination with measured efficiency values, it is shown that conventional converter analysis predicts substantially inaccurate efficiencies for the given converter. This paper describes the main reasons why the conventional method fails and documents the different steps required to predict the power losses more accurately. With the presented converter prototype, an efficiency of more than 92% is achieved at an output power of 2 kW in a wide input/output voltage range.


In this article, we consider the problem of comparing two binary classifiers evaluated on the same sample. McNemar's test can be used to compare overall predictive accuracy. However, to evaluate the classifiers in a clinically relevant manner, expected misclassification cost should be accounted for. We show that a Wald-type test can be constructed for this purpose. We further derive a likelihood ratio test for comparison of two classifiers based on expected misclassification cost. The null distribution of the test statistic is approximated by simulation from strategically chosen parameter values. The properties of the tests are examined through simulation of correlated classification indicators. The Wald-type test has approximate Type I error control while maintaining a power advantage over the likelihood ratio test and is therefore recommended for most applications. If conservative error control is desired, the likelihood ratio test calibrated from several strategically chosen parameter values is recommended. The methods are illustrated on a prospective cohort study of coronary heart disease and also on a case–control study of preeclampsia. An interval of misclassification cost ratios for which the Wald test rejects the null hypothesis of equal expected misclassification cost is reported. Full simulation results are available as supplementary tables (S1–S6) in the online supplementary materials.


The design of dam structures requires advanced analysis techniques due to the dam body's complicated interaction with its surroundings. Consequently, most of the time, it is a must to perform response history analysis during the design and assessment of dam structures. The target fundamental vibration period is necessary to generate ground motion histories compatible with the site-specific response spectrum. In this study, an equation was developed to predict the fundamental vibration period of concrete gravity dams based on an extensive database. First, a wide range of parameters to describe gravity dams' three-dimensional (3D) geometry and their valleys are determined. A total of 19,440 different 3D numerical models with fluid and solid elements were formed, and the fundamental vibration period values were determined to create the necessary database. Then, multiple nonlinear regression analysis was conducted to propose an equation to predict the fundamental vibration period. The proposed equation could be used to accurately estimate the required fundamental vibration period during the preliminary design stage or the implementation of simplified procedures or during the spectrum matching operations.