There are many varieties of materials and suppliers for the PCB assembly process; meanwhile, process modifications as well as order changings happen frequently during production. The PCB assembly industry is suffering uncertainty and unknowingness due to the lack of timely, accurate, and consistent production data. Therefore, real-time production information tracking plays an important role for the PCB assembly industry, which provides the right information to the right person at right time to support the decision making and optimize the production management. This paper applies RFID technology to capture the production data and process production information for PCB assembly enterprises. In a PCB assembly line, machines and materials are equipped with RFID device such as RFID readers and tags to build the real-time data collecting environment. A number of production information processing methods are proposed to extract the production tracking information such as progress, WIP (Work-in-progress) inventory from the mass real-time data through data filtering and selection. Finally, a case study is given to demonstrate the developed methodologies.


Background: Research indicates that there is a higher degree of mental health problems, family/work conflicts and sleep-related problems among workers in creative occupations than in other professions. Research also reveals that musicians have to deal with a relatively high degree of occupational stress. There is, however, a lack of research investigating the qualities of freelance musicians' psychosocial work environment, as well as possible protective factors for maintaining good mental health. Methods: Based on 12 in-depth interviews, we used a template analysis to examine the unique characteristics of the professional life of freelance pop and rock musicians. Results: Using the job demands-resources model as a conceptual framework, we found that an unpredictable future, threats to the family/work balance and significant amounts of external pressure were three broad contextual demands facing freelance musicians. Social support from family, fellow band members, audiences and their professional network, as well as having adequate personal resources such as entrepreneurial skills, value-anchored flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity and dedication to music making were described as important for managing life as a freelance musician. Conclusions: Musicians' psychosocial work environment and health seem to be related to the three overarching protective factors also described in resilience research: namely personal dispositions, family coherence and social resources.


The objective of this study is to investigate the performances of packet-switching architectures working in a synchronous and asynchronous way; in such architectures, the packet contention is resolved in the wavelength domain and the used wavelength converters are shared. We investigate on the saving of the number of converters that the sharing technique allows to obtain in the synchronous and asynchronous architectures and compare the obtained results. These ones show that when a packet loss probability is fixed, in the synchronous case a greater number of converters is saved. In some cases, the gain is 40% more than the asynchronous case. Furthermore, in the asynchronous case, a more expensive switching matrix is needed. The analysis is performed by introducing analytical and simulation models, and when both unicast and multicast traffic scenarios are considered.


Object Analysis is one of the great challenges of computer vision. The RGB color models are an additive coloration version in wherein red, green and blue light are added collectively in various way to reproduce a large array of colors. The primary goal of the RGB color model is for sensing, representation and show image in electronics systems like televisions and computers, though it"s been used in conventional images. There are general phases that define the flaws the working on these Techniques. The proposed work has been explained the concept of the Image Segmentation means to analysis object in RGB colored and generate performance parameter based on the results or output. The analysis of the different objects and quality of image can be implement using image segmentation process.


In this study, we have focused on the use of a poly(L-cysteine) (PLC) modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE) as a sensor for determination of Sunset Yellow (SY). The performance of the modified electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric method. The modified electrode was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface of the modified electrode was examined by scanning electron microscope. The electrochemical behavior of SY in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) was examined using unmodified PGE and PLC modified PGE (PLC/PGE). The results showed that the electrochemical response of PLC/PGE to SY was significantly developed. The PLC/PGE showed linear responses in the electrochemical oxidation of SY between the concentration values of 1.0 μM and 1000 μM. The sensor (PLC/PGE) showed a good response for SY with a detection limit of 0.125 μM (S/N=3). Analytical application of PLC/PGE was successfully tested in the determination of SY in food and beverage samples.


Background/aim The contemporary electronic media is regarded as a practical tool in the dissemination of preventive measures and interventions. For this purpose an App (free of charge) was developed including an efficacious programme for the prevention of ankle sprain recurrences. This study evaluated the implementation effectiveness of this 'Versterk je Enkel' App. Methods The App was evaluated within its practical context using the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework. The launch of the App was accompanied by a press release, website banners, as well as online and offline advertisements. Data for the evaluation of the App were objectively registered through Google analytics. Data were obtained in February 2013 based on 25 781 users resulting in follow-ups of 18 months (iOS version) and 15 months (Android version), respectively. Users questionnaires provided a qualitative view of the objectively assessed measures (n=82) to gain insight into the demographics of users, reasons to download, user experience and how the information was used. Results The App reached only 2.6% of the projected target population. User ratings for the App's relevancy, clarity, usefulness, appeal, information and reliability were high. App usage indicates that compliance with the embedded programme was low. Conclusions Although the App was well received by the users, targeted efforts are required to ensure proper uptake and usage of the App by the target population. This also holds true for eHealth and mHealth efforts aimed at athlete care and injury prevention in general.


This work investigates the applicability of several dimensionality reduction techniques for large scale solar data analysis. Using the first solar domain-specific benchmark dataset that contains images of multiple types of phenomena, we investigate linear and nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods in order to reduce our storage costs and maintain an accurate representation of our data in a new vector space. We present a comparative analysis between several dimensionality reduction methods and different numbers of target dimensions by utilizing different classifiers in order to determine the percentage of dimensionality reduction that can be achieved on solar data with said methods, and to discover the method that is the most effective for solar images.


Problem definition: Transshipment/inventory sharing has been used in practice because of its risk-pooling potential. However, human decision makers play a critical role in making inventory decisions in an inventory sharing system, which may affect its benefits. We investigate whether the opportunity to transship inventory influences decision makers' inventory decisions and whether, as a result, the intended risk-pooling benefits materialize. Academic/practical relevance: Previous research in transshipment, which is focused on finding optimal stocking and sharing decisions, assumes rational decision making without any systematic bias. As one of the first to study inventory sharing from a behavioral perspective, we demonstrate a persistent stocking-decision bias relevant for inventory sharing systems. Methodology: We develop a behavioral model of a multilocation inventory system with transshipments. Using four behavioral studies, we identify, test, estimate, and mitigate a demand-side underweighting bias: although inventory sharing brings both a supply-side benefit and a demand-side benefit, players underestimate the latter. We show analytically that such bias leads to underordering. We also explore whether reframing the inventory sharing decision reduces this bias. Results: Our results show that subjects persistently reduce their order quantities when transshipments are allowed. This underordering, which persists even when a decision-support system suggests optimal quantities, causes insufficient inventory in the system, in turn reducing the risk-pooling benefits of inventory sharing. Underordering is evidently caused by an underweighting bias; although players correctly estimate the supply-side potential from transshipment, they only estimate 20% of the demand-side potential. Managerial implications: Although inventory sharing can profitably reduce inventory, too much underordering undermines its intended risk-pooling benefits. The demand-side benefits of transshipment need to be emphasized when implementing inventory sharing systems.


Siobhan Donovan and Robin Elliott, cds., Music and literature in German Romanticism. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2004. xxix + 233 pp. The ways and means of conducting scholarship in the humanities are quite anachronistic. They defy the trend toward acceleration observable in the sciences, and natural scientists' seeming ability to build scholarly networks easily. I refer not to the hardware of computers but to their enabling capacity of connecting scholars from around the world in previously unthinkable ways. Depending on your point of view, you might want to resist this acceleration or start wondering why more colleagues in the social and natural sciences don't see us as odd and strange. Perhaps for some interpretations it is simply irrelevant whether they make it into the realm of the printed republic years after having been conceived. These were my first musings when I opened this overall excellent collection of essays on music and literature in German romanticism.The "Acknowledgement" informs the reader that the thirteen essays that found their way into the volume grew out a conference in Dublin in December 2000. The welcoming note by Harry White, President of the Society of Musicology in Ireland, is dated April 2003; the book appeared in 2005; by the time you read this review no fewer than six years have passed since the gathering of scholars in Dublin. In other words, vetting 32 presentations from the conference to identify the most noteworthy essays, attending to careful editing and book making, is truly a slow process.This is even more striking when considering the speed at which other Wissenschafien convey their professional results. seen in this light, the scholarly book, in and of itself, involuntarily becomes an ever more romantic relic of information storage, no matter how much it has proven to be ideal in many ways. Still, one can't help wonder whether there could not be other, swifter modes of exchanging ideas, especially when, as in my case, one's own research would have benefited from access to the wealth of information and references presented in this book. As is to be expected, in a collection of essays, the contributions are quite diverse in their scope, methodology and interpretive frameworks. Some authors take conventional, yet enlightening influence-approaches such as, e.g., David Larking, who shows that Liszt's Faust Symphony goes back to Wagner's suggestions for revisions and Wagner's revised version of his Faust Overture in turn is indebted to Liszt's Faust Symphony. Other essays, such as Jeanne Riou's "Music and Non-Verbal Reason in E. T. A. Hoffmann," have a more theoretical approach. However, this essay is also a good example of what happens when theory is fetishized. References to Adorno, Kittler, Foucault and other theoretical figures are supposed to guarantee substantial insights into E.T.A. Hoffmann's writings on and thinking about music. But Riou's theoretical inclinations turn out to be more obfuscating than elucidating. The brevity imposed on each contributor may explain her elaborations on Hoffmann who "is one of the least theoretically motivated of the Romantic authors" but "narrates subjectivity. . . that is primarily acoustic" (43). On the other hand, Riou's conclusions are as correct as they are dense when she observes that "Hoffmann understood that expression and desire were not contained in an idealized identity or an absolute textual base. Romantic transcendence and its path through ambivalence . . . preempts [sic] the psychoanalytic re-thinking of rationality, but also adverts to the less popular and less well understood role of sound in how thought and feeling intertwine. Hoffmann gives this a particular twist in the haunting, music-related themes of his novels and novellas" (53-54). Other contributors, like James Hodkinson, demonstrate that one can be concise, and still theoretically sound. Hodkinson, who writes on Novalis's conceptualization of music, shows that Novalis progressively adapted "the polyphonic formulation of music as he found it in Jacob Bohme, taking this as the blueprint for a discursive system that is genuinely universal, upholding the rights of all to speak, sing, and play" by "its inclusion of the traditionally marginalized voices of non-Christians and women" (24). …


Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca is associated with the olive quick decline syndrome in Salento (Apulia region, Southern Italy). The first outbreak of the disease was noticed in the Gallipoli district, from where it subsequently reached nearby areas. To date, no specific study has verified if abnormal soil or leaf micronutrients is associated with the disease. Soil and leaf samples were taken from 23 olive farms showing symptoms of the syndrome located in Gallipoli and nearby areas. Each sample was analyzed for magnesium and micronutrients content using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Real-time PCR indicated that X. f . subsp. pauca was present in each sampled tree. There is a general lack of molybdenum in soil and low bioavailability of copper and molybdenum in tree leaves. Low content of manganese in soil was also found in some farms located in Gallipoli, Galatone and Trepuzzi. Olive trees grown in Gallipoli area also had low content of boron. Principal component analysis showed that soil and leaf samples from this area had lower micronutrient contents compared with other areas. General copper depletion in leaves was uncommon and has not been previously recorded in Italy in a large area. This could indicate that X. f . subsp. pauca infection causes a depletion of copper within olive leaves. Reduced copper content has been previously recorded in leaves infected with X. f . subsp. multiplex and for other bacterial pathogens. The role of copper in relation to X. fastidiosa infection is discussed.


Nasal delivery devices are not limited to local medical therapy. The nasal route is an alternative to invasive or oral drug administration. The penetration of bioactive molecules through the nasal mucosa has been shown to achieve good bioavailability, and nasal sprays offer patients greater convenience. This article reviews some of the latest devices for liquid and dry-powder formulations, including preservative-free systems, and the business benefits they offer.


The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is generally accepted as the primary metric of signal-to-noise performance in medical X-ray imaging systems. Simple theoretical models of the Wiener noise power spectrum (NPS) and DQE can be developed using a cascaded-systems approach to assess particular system designs and establish operational benchmarks. However, the cascaded approach is often impractical for the development of comprehensive models due to the complexity and extremely large number of algebraic terms that must be manipulated to describe signal and noise transfer. We have developed a computational engine that overcomes this limitation. Using a predefined library of elementary physical processes, complex models are assembled and input-output relationships established using a graphical interface. A novel recursive algorithm is described that allows the signal and noise analyses of models with arbitrary complexity including the use of multiple parallel cascades. Symbolic mathematics is used to develop analytic expressions for the NPS and DQE. The algorithm is validated by manual calculation for simple models and by Monte Carlo calculation for complex models. We believe our approach enables the use of complex cascaded models to design better detectors with improved image quality.


The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the acetone extract from Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis Mart. (Sapindaceae) seeds, commonly called guarana, were assessed against selected bacterial and fungal strains. We tested the extract against both standard American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinically isolated (CI) bacterial strains and three fungal strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values for bacteria and MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration for fungi were determined. The extract showed an activity against the nine bacterial strains tested, both CI and ATCC strains (MIC comprised between 32 and 128 μm/mL and MBC between 128 and 512 μm/mL), showing a significant antibacterial effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Also, the tested fungi were sensitive to the extract (MIC between 125 and 250 μm/mL). The contemporaneous presence of different bioactivities in the extract from guarana suggests this plant as a source of bioactive substances.


Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), the most severe form of T cell immunodeficiency, is detectable through quantification of T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in dried blood spots obtained at birth. Herein, we describe the results of the first year of the Israeli SCID newborn screening (NBS) program. This important, life-saving screening test is available at no cost for every newborn in Israel. Eight SCID patients were diagnosed through the NBS program in its first year, revealing an incidence of 1:22,500 births in the Israeli population. Consanguine marriages and Muslim ethnic origin were found to be a risk factor in affected newborns, and a founder effect was detected for both IL7Rα and DCLRE1C deficiency SCID. Lymphocyte subset analysis and TREC quantification in the peripheral blood appear to be sufficient for confirmation of typical and leaky SCID and ruling out false positive (FP) results. Detection of secondary targets (infants with non-SCID lymphopenia) did not significantly affect the management or outcomes of these infants in our cohort. In the general, non-immunodeficient population, TREC rises along with gestational age and birth weight, and is significantly higher in females and the firstborn of twin pairs. Low TREC correlates with both gestational age and birth weight in extremely premature newborns. Additionally, the rate of TREC increase per week consistently accelerates with gestational age. Together, these findings mandate a lower cutoff or a more lenient screening algorithm for extremely premature infants, in order to reduce the high rate of FPs within this group. A significant surge in TREC values was observed between 28 and 30 weeks of gestation, where median TREC copy numbers rise by 50% over 2 weeks. These findings suggest a maturational step in T cell development around week 29 gestation, and imply moderate to late preterms should be screened with the same cutoff as term infants. The SCID NBS program is still in its infancy, but is already bearing fruit in the early detection and improved outcomes of children with SCID in Israel and other countries.


MSNBurr and MSTBurr distribution have been developed as Neo-Normal distributions that represent a relaxation of normality. The difference between them is that the MSTBurr's peak is below MSNBurr's. In this paper, we propose a MSEPBurr distribution with its peak could be not only lower but also high-er than MSNBurr. Furthermore, we study several properties of MSEPBurr, such as mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis, and quantile. The MSEPBurr parameters are estimated by using the Bayesian approach with the BUGS language implementation for its computation. We employ simulation study and use existing data to illustrate the application of the regression model. In real data, we notice that MSEPBurr has similar performance with MSNBurr and MSTBurr that they outperform Normal and Student-t distribution in Australian athlete data because their skewness can accommodate long left tail excellently. However, their performance is less than the Student-t model in chemical reaction rate data because their skewness can not accommodate long right tail perfectly. Although in general their perfor-mance is the same,  we observe that the MSEPBurr performs better than the MSNBurr and the MSTBurr in some simulated data.


quent "quantum revolution," which revolutionized our thinking about the nature of matter and the development of which is mainly (but according to Stone wrongly) attributed to Max Planck. Stone illustrates Einstein's aversion to the indeterminism inherent in quantum theory by citing his famous "God doesn't play dice" quote. Moreover, Stone demonstrates that Einstein was clearly discontent with the epistemological implications of quantum theory, as exemplified by one of his critical remarks concerning this matter: "Do you really think the moon only exists if I look at it?" These statements can be regarded as evidence that Einstein vehemently disagreed with the fundamental stochastic indeterminism and nonobjectivism advocated by the adherents of the quantum school of thought. Nevertheless, Stone makes very clear that it is Einstein's (not Planck's) unorthodox and nonconformist creative thinking that is central to the genesis of quantum theory. In particular, Einstein's first (sole-authored) paper in his "annus mīrābilis" (1905), in which he developed the quantum theory of light, heralded the century of quantum theory. His ingenious idea was that light is quantized into indivisible discrete particles, which were at that time labeled quanta and which we now call photons. When he later received the Nobel Prize in 1921, the existence of quanta was still highly controversial. He was credited for the explanation of the photoelectric effect, which is just one of the many implications derived from his deep insights into the quantum world. In the majority of physics textbooks, Einstein's key contributions to quantum physics are either underemphasized or completely ignored, but Stone is not the first author to try to rectify historical facts. For instance, Thomas Kuhn, in his book Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity, describes Einstein's indispensable contributions to the development of quantum theory. However, Kuhn's book is mostly inaccessible to nonphysicists due to its highly technical nature. Stone clearly and persuasively articulates that it was Einstein's creative mind in which the basic concepts that initiated the shift toward the modern quantum theoretical paradigm evolved. Stone enlists four seminal contributions by Einstein to quantum theory: quantization of energy, wave-particle duality, the probabilistic randomness of quantum mechanics and what Stone calls "quantum unity" (a.k.a. entanglement). From a cognitive science perspective, this book is currently highly relevant because it is related to the newly emerging field called quantum cognition. This novel paradigm utilizes the mathematical axioms of quantum theory to model cognitive processes (e.g. Pothos and Busemeyer, 2013). In particular, the chapter titled "Quantum Dice" provides a neat introduction to the counterintuitive logic that underlies Bose-Einstein statistics. In conclusion, the book at hand is pertinent to anyone interested in physics and the history of science and is for the most part accessible by a lay audience. However, even though mathematical equations are rare, it should be noted that some background knowledge in physics is required in order to understand the discipline-specific terminology and to fully appreciate the depth of Stone's elaborations. Having said that, even specialized physicists will not be disappointed by the author's scholarly efforts.


The moderating role of decision latitude on the relationship between work–family conflict and psychological strain was examined across five countries. It was hypothesised that decision latitude would moderate the relationship more strongly in the individualistic countries (the United States and Canada) than in the collectivistic countries (India, Indonesia, and South Korea). The results supported the hypotheses of this five-country-based cross-national investigation. The implications of the findings for theory and practice in the area of international and cross-cultural research on work and family conflicts in the organisational context are discussed.


For a full understanding of plate tectonics, one of the
central paradigms in Earth Sciences, it is critical to
know the mechanical properties of the material of
which the earth's upper mantle consists, i.e., peridotite.
The cold outer shell of the Earth, the lithosphere, is
broken up into strong and almost rigid plates, which
can move with relatively little resistance over a weak
substratum in the upper mantle, the asthenosphere. The
weakness of the asthenosphere is primarily caused by
the high, near-solidus ambient temperature in this
zone. However, questions remain as to the effects of
the presence of small fractions of molten material
('melt') on the deformation properties and strength of
these asthenospheric peridotites. Recent laboratory
experiments have shown that small amounts of melt (4-
ro%) can have a drastic weakening effect on peridotitelike
materials. If this weakening effect of melt plays a
role in the earth's upper mantle, then the asthenosphere
could be significantly weaker than commonly believed.
The current research was therefore initiated, aiming to
investigate the factors which govern melt-weakening of
peridotites and to determine whether evidence could
be found for melt-weakening in natural peridotites
deformed under asthenospheric conditions. However,
samples from the asthenosphere are generally
unavailable, mainly because of the great depth of this
zone (generally >roo km). Only at mid-ocean ridges,
the asthenosphere reaches relatively shallow levels of
only a few kilometres. Ophiolites, fossil fragments of
mid-ocean ridges, occasionally emplaced onto
continents as a result of the closure and disappearance
of oceans during the earth's geological history, are
therefore the most suitable source of samples of upper
mantle rocks deformed under asthenospheric
conditions. Peridotites in ophiolites can thus provide a
window into the asthenosphere, provided that the
effects of deformation related to emplacement of the
ophiolite superimposed on asthenospheric deformation
can be distinguished and that relics of the early asthenospheric deformation have been preserved.
This thesis comprises a detailed geological study of
peridotites found in two ophiolites, the Oman
Ophiolite (Oman) and the Othris Ophiolite (Greece).
Both ophiolites represent remnants of an ancient ocean,
the Neotethys, which existed in Mesozoic times.
Structural geological and lithological maps and sections
of selected areas were made, and rock samples were
subjected to detailed microstructural and petrographic
analysis using light microscopy, electron microscopy,
and chemical (electron microprobe) analysis.


This paper explores cultural and functional dynamics of honour killing in Kurram Agency. A sample size of 377 respondents, comprising 'Malik' was randomly selected to assess the cultural endorsement of honour killing. A conceptual frame work, based on cultural aspect of honour killing and honour killing (Dependent Variable) was developed and crossed tabulated to get inferences through the application of Chi-Square statistics at bi-variate and multi-variate levels (Controlling Marital Status). The study found that a strong belief pertaining to virginity of a woman has significant association with honour killing. Moreover, strict adherence to customary ways of life, restoration of honour with blood, rumors about dishonouring, presenting act of dishonour in media, and practices of honour killing by all tribes and sects residing in the study universe had significant association with honour killing. At multi-variate level, the study found that married people had no room of developing incest relationship and violation of their honour had to meet with ultimate end. The study concluded that honour killing had a strong cultural and social endorsement in the prevalent Pakhtun tribal social order as it was practiced in all tribes and sects in letter and spirit. Educating all stakeholders, pertaining to human loss through honour killing, interpretation of virginity on scientific grounds were presented some of the recommendation in light of the study findings.


Power-line network is not specifically designed for high frequency signal transmission. Some tests and documents verify that power-line channel takes on many adverse characteristics that are not conducive to high frequency signal transmission, and noise characteristics are important parameters to describe the nature of power-line communication channel interference. The paper studied noise classification of the power-line communication channel, and specially analyzed the colored background noise characteristic and its mathematical model. Based on artificial neural network, optimization model is studied for the colored background noise of power-line communication channel. The paper educed the neural network algorithm used for modeling colored background noise. Through simulation, amplitude-frequency response curve is derived for neural network filter. And also time domain waveform and power spectrum density of colored noise are achieved from the neural model. The results indicate that artificial neural network modeling method is effective for modeling the colored background noise of power-line communication channel. It is helpful to construct the basis for simulation actual power-line channel.


The sensing performance of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a novel kind of crystalline fluorescent sensing materials, would be profoundly affected by their backbone structures. The current understanding about the backbone effect is limited to the modulation of analyte accommodation through pore structures. Herein, three topologically different pyrene-based MOFs, including NU-1000, NU-901 and ROD-7, were investigated as potential fluorescent sensors for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although these MOFs are constructed by the same photoactive component, they exhibited distinct sensing behaviors. NU-1000 gave different forms of fluorescent response to acenaphthylene, pyrene and fluoranthene with detection limits at the ng L-1 level. In contrast, NU-901 and ROD-7 were unresponsive to all tested PAHs. Experimental and computational investigations illustrate that this distinction is due to the variance in the excited state energy. The strong inter-ligand interaction in NU-901 and ROD-7 lowers their excited state energy and thus thermodynamically inhibits the photo-induced electron transfer and excimer/exciplex formation, which works in the NU-1000 system. This work proves for the first time that the topological structure of MOFs could affect their sensing performance in an energetic way.


p97/VCP, a member of the AAA‐ATPase super family, has been associated with a wide variety of essential cellular protein pathways com prising: (i) nuclear envelope reconstruction, (ii) cell cycle, (iii) Golgi reassembly, (iv) suppression of apoptosis and (v) DNA‐damage response [ 1–6 ]. In addition, vasolin‐containing protein (VCP) dislodges the ubiquitinated proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and chaperones them to the cytosol for proteasomal degradation by endoplasmic reticulum‐associated degradation (ERAD) [ 7 ]. The interactions of VCP in the endoplasmic reticulum‐associated degradation (ERAD) pathway determine the substrate selection for proteasomal degradation. Moreover, the interaction with VCP is also required for the ubiquitination of substrate. VCP is phosphorylated by the master cellular kinase, Akt as a mechanism to regulate ERAD [ 8 ]. These multiple interactions in protein degradation pathways points to central role of VCP in misfolded protein degradation. VCP has a polyglutamine and ubiquitin‐binding capacity and is involved in proteasomal degradation, cytosolic aggregation and processing of polyQ and polyUb aggregates in neurodegenerative and other misfolded protein diseases [ 9, 10 ]. Mutations in VCP gene are also linked to a protein deposition disorder, IBMFD [ 11 ]. We propose VCP as a therapeutic target for diseases caused by cytosolic protein aggregation or degradation of misfolded protein. We predict that selective interference of VCP interaction(s) with aberrant protein or its ERAD function will be an effective therapeutic site to rescue functional misfolded protein in diseases like cystic fibrosis and alpha‐1‐trypsin deficiency. The control of VCP expression is also proposed to be a potential therapeutic target in ex‐polyQ‐induced neurodegenerative diseases [ 12 ]. The further functional characterization of VCP and associated proteins in these diseases will help in designing of selective therapeutics.


Hexamethoxymethyl melamine (HMMM) was used to modify UF resins to obtain good performance with low formaldehyde emission. The effect of urea to formaldehyde ratio, HMMM content on the properties of UF resin was studied in detail. The results suggested that urea to formaldehyde ratio to be 1:0.9 and 20% HMMM content is the optimum formulation to afford desired UF resin. The viscosity, solidification time, bond strength and formaldehyde emission of the modified UF resins were also studied. The results revealed that the performance of the modified UF achieved the chinese standard.


The aim of this work is to develop a heat transfer mathematical model based on the finite difference method in order to simulate temperature fields in the laser surface remelting process. Convective heat transfer in the remelted pool is taken into account by using the effective thermal conductivity approach. Experiments of laser surface remelting of AISI 420 stainless steel samples were carried out in the present investigation, and numerical simulations were applied for the laser machine operating parameters. The work also encompasses the analysis of microstructural and microhardness variations throughout the resulting treated and unmolten zones.


Motor nerves undergo extensive terminal outgrowth when the muscles they supply are "functionally denervated." In this study, we have investigated the role of the acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), newly appearing in such muscles, in promoting nerve terminal outgrowth. The amount of outgrowth was determined by morphometric measurement of nerve terminal branching, endplate length, and ultraterminal sprouts, in cholinesterase-silver-stained neuromuscular junctions. Presynaptic neuromuscular blockade with botulinum toxin induced pronounced nerve terminal outgrowth in both the rat and mouse soleus muscles, although ultraterminal sprouts did not occur in the rat soleus. By contrast, postsynaptic neuromuscular blockade with alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha- BuTx) induced little or no terminal outgrowth, although it caused "functional denervation." Moreover, alpha-BuTx and anti-AChR antibody inhibited the terminal outgrowth otherwise induced by botulinum toxin. Other types of motor nerve growth, such as nerve regeneration, were unaffected by these agents. Our results are consistent with the concept that extrajunctional AChRs in skeletal muscle play an important role in the control of motor nerve terminal outgrowth at neuromuscular junctions.


OB-scene is a performance centred on a live sonification of biological data gathered in real-time with a medical vaginal probe (photoplethysmograph), made by the author. The use of the photoplethysmograph, which takes inspiration from the first medical vaginal probes used for diagnostic purposes by Masters and Johnson (1966) introduces a media-archaeological aspect to this work. Data gathered through the probe is processed and transformed into sound and visuals projected in the exhibition space. OB-scene takes inspiration from Jane Bennett's Vibrant Matter (2010) in which she argues that human agency has echoes in non-human nature and vice versa, shifting away from anthropocentrism towards the concept of 'vital materiality' that runs across bodies, both humans and unhuman. Furthermore, OB-scene is affiliated with an emerging movement of women and technology called 'XenoFeminism' (XF). It introduces the idea of techno-alienation and focuses on the concept of other/diverse desires, new forms of desiring, experiencing something other (Laboria Cuboniks 2015). In this specific work, this takes the form of a technofeminism incorporating the fluid, the non-human and the diverse. In this performance, the body is fused with the technology, rather than empowered or enhanced by technology itself, body and technology become a unique actant (Latour 2009) enabling the audience to experience the sensorial assemblage as a space for communal experience with political implications. OB-scene is as an immersive environmental work where the senses, affect and memory were key features of 'assemblage thinking' (Hamilakis 2017).


The crystal structures of many tertiary alpha-ketoamides reveal an orthogonal arrangement of the two carbonyl groups. Based on the hypothesis that the alpha-ketoamide HIV attachment inhibitor BMS 806 (formally BMS378806, 26) might bind to its gp120 target via a similar conformation, we designed and synthesized a series of analogs in which the ketoamide group is replaced by an isosteric sulfonamide group. The most potent of these analogs, 14i, demonstrated antiviral potency comparable to 26 in the M33 pseudotyped antiviral assay. Flexible overlay calculations of a ketoamide inhibitor with a sulfonamide inhibitor revealed a single conformation of each that gave significantly better overlap of key pharmacophore features than other conformations and thus suggest a possible binding conformation for each class.


The analysis of debt and equity mutual fund flows identifies the presence of seasonality factors. The expected flows indicate stable investment interplay by mutual funds whereas the unexpected flows identify the presence of short-term volatility. The examination of whether positive feedback process is at work in the market reveals that equity funds are influenced by lagged returns while debt funds are not influenced by current or lagged returns. Examination of the equity fund flows identifies positive and negative feedback mechanism at work. In addition, lagged equity mutual fund withdrawals are seen in the long term analysis. There is outflow of funds when the market returns are negative but it is not causing spiralling effect on the market. In the debt market there is a one-way causation where the sale of funds has influenced a bearish market. High market volatility and market volume have influenced the mutual fund flows. Market volumes also has positively influenced equity flows but has resulted in reduced activity in the bond flows. International influence is exhibited by equity fund flows through withdraw from the market on international market dominance. Investor sentiment, call market rate and dividend yields have also influenced the flow of mutual funds.


A general conundrum for the Khmu of northern Laos is the
persistent unknowability of spirits. The locals gauge the potency of spirits
by keeping track of spirit stories. Spirit narratives can be conceived
of as transient traces of intangible spirit phenomena, as will be exemplified
by the story of a young man's spirit affliction. Sharing and silencing
spirit stories are a means of determining the strength of spirits, as well
as an efficacious way to evoke them. Using works that embark from the
fragmentary and experiential character of animist cosmologies, it will be
shown that approaching spirit stories as traces of spirits will be a suitable
way to address the perspectives of those who navigate a world that
is not inhabited by humans alone.


Scholars continue to debate over the aim of WTO remedies in light of the ambiguity of the legal texts. One method of discerning the purpose of WTO remedies is by examining Members' practice, constituting the law-in-action of WTO remedies. This chapter's assessment of current practice leads to five interrelated findings: (1) the process for applying an authorized WTO remedy is driven primarily by domestic export interests demanding compliance, not rebalancing; (2) complainant government practice has responded accordingly, focusing on compliance; (3) governments have done so by strategically targeting politically-influential foreign export interests, as opposed to politically influential domestic protectionist interests, while attempting to minimize harm to domestic consumers and consuming industries; (4) constituencies within the complainant Member who fear that their products may be on a retaliation list (that is, importers and import-consuming industries) have been catalyzed to lobby to exempt goods from the retaliation list, apparently more so than producers who would benefit from rebalancing through the imposition of protective tariffs; and (5) overall, Members have not implemented retaliatory countermeasures as frequently as would be predicted were the primary goal rebalancing. Our findings raise the prospect that WTO Member practices could have systemic impacts within the WTO over time. If the ministries representing WTO Members perceive that the objective of WTO remedies is compliance, then such beliefs could affect formal law over time, whether through the negotiation of new legal texts or the interpretation of existing ones. In any case, Members' practices constitute the WTO law-in-action, that is, how formal WTO remedies are actually applied.


Introduction: Rasa Śāstra is a branch of science exclusively dealing with different aspects of metals and minerals including their origin, varieties, characteristics, processing techniques, properties, therapeutic applications etc. in a comprehensive way. These metals and minerals are to be processed before their internal administration. The processes include Śodhana, Māraṇa etc. that are essential in making the raw material suitable for therapeutics. Svarṇa Mākṣika is one such mineral that after proper processing become highly potent and useful in Prameha (Diabetes), Pānḍu (Anemia), Kuṣṭha (Skin diseases), Jwara (Fever), Anidrā (Insomnia) etc. Classics mention different treatment procedures for Svarṇa Mākṣika that are scattered throughout the texts of Rasa Śāstra. Here an attempt has been made to compile all such references pertaining to Śodhana. Methods: Śodhana processes of Svarṇa Mākṣika were compiled from classical texts and analysed by segregating type of basic procedure, media and principle used in the procedure etc. Results: At least 34 (Plant origin-24, Animal origin05, Mineral origin-05) varieties of liquids are used as Śodhana dravya in classics. Twenty six methods of Śodhana were described in various texts that can be categorized into five basic methods like Swedana, Bharjana, Nirvāpa, Mardana and Puṭapāka. Conclusion: This work may prove a torch bearer for future research works on Svarṇa Mākṣika.


Total Productive Manufacturing has been used for many years as a tool to help Semiconductor companies improve Equipment reliability, involve the Workforce In Equipment care, improve the Maintenance function, and improve overall Fab cleanliness and Safety. Almost all chipmakers have one form or another of TPM in place. However, as with many improvement processes, many of the TPM promises have yet to be met. Even in mature TPM implementations, some serious questions need to be asked.


Abstract Background Postmastectomy secondary lymphedema can cause substantial morbidity. However, few studies have investigated longitudinal quality of life (QoL) outcomes in patients with postmastectomy lymphedema, especially with regard to surgical versus nonoperative management. This study prospectively investigated QoL in surgically versus nonsurgically managed patients with postmastectomy upper extremity lymphedema. Methods This was a longitudinal cohort study of breast cancer-related lymphedema patients at a single institution, between February 2017 and January 2020. Lymphedema Quality of Life Instrument (LyQLI) and RAND-36 QoL instrument were used. Mann–Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests were used for descriptive statistics. Wilcoxon's signed-rank testing and linear modeling were used to analyze longitudinal changes in QoL. Results Thirty-two lymphedema patients were recruited to the study (20 surgical and 12 nonsurgical). Surgical and nonsurgical cohorts did not significantly differ in clinical/demographic characteristics or baseline QoL scores, but at the 12-month time point surgical patients had significantly greater LyQLI overall health scores than nonsurgical patients (79.3 vs. 58.3, p = 0.02), as well as higher composite RAND-36 physical (68.5 vs. 38.3, p = 0.04), and mental (77.0 vs. 52.7, p = 0.02) scores. Furthermore, LyQLI overall health scores significantly improved over time in surgical patients (60.0 at baseline vs. 79.3 at 12 months, p = 0.04). Besides surgical treatment, race, and age were also found to significantly impact QoL on multivariable analysis. Conclusion Our results suggest that when compared with nonoperative management, surgery improved QoL for chronic, secondary upper extremity lymphedema patients within 12-month postoperatively. Our results also suggested that insurance status may have influenced decisions to undergo lymphedema surgery. Further study is needed to investigate the various sociodemographic factors that were also found to impact QoL outcomes in these lymphedema patients.


We studied Na+-coupled acid-base transport at the basolateral membrane of single, isolated, perfused rabbit proximal tubules by monitoring the time course of intracellular pH (pHi). The latter was determined using a microspectrofluorometric apparatus to alternatively excite the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis-2-carboxyethyl-5(and -6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) at 440 and 490 nm, while the fluorescence emission, was measured at 530 nm. All experiments were conducted in the nominal absence of HCO-3 S1, S2, and S3 segments from both superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons were examined individually. We found that removing Na+ from both the lumen and bath (i.e., basolateral solution) caused pHi to fall from 7.24 to 6.75 in the superficial S1 segment (SS1), from 7.14 to 6.67 in the SS2, and from 7.09 to 6.69 in the SS3. Similarly, in juxtamedullary nephrons (J), bilateral Na+ removal caused pHi to fall from 7.25 to 6.76 in the JS1, from 7.16 to 6.71 in the JS2, and from 7.10 to 6.75 in the JS3. In all six proximal tubule subtypes, returning Na+ to the bath caused pHi to recover (i.e., increase). 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS, 50 microM), an inhibitor of HCO-3 transport systems, blocked this Na+-dependent pHi recovery in all three superficial subtypes and the JS3 but had no effect in either the JS1 or JS2. On the other hand, 50 microM ethylisopropyl amiloride (EIPA), an inhibitor of Na-H exchange, blocked the Na+-dependent pHi recovery in the JS1 and JS2 but had no effect in the JS3 or any of the superficial subtypes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The osmotic pressure gradient across the collagen solid matrix-solution interface forces the solid to imbibe fluid and thereby increases its volume. Concurrently, the decrease in entropy of the solid matrix produces a force which tends to resist any further increase in volume. The instantaneous velocity at which the swelling takes place is related to the difference between the osmotic and entropic forces. Finally, an explicit relationship is obtained between volume and time.


Estimates of the level of unmet need for mental health treatment often rely on self‐reported use of mental health services. However, depressed persons may over‐report their use in relation to administrative records if they are highly distressed. This study seeks to replicate and explicate the finding that persons at a high level of distress report more mental health service use than recorded in their healthcare records. The study sample, N=36,892, 12 years and older, was drawn from the 1996/97 Ontario portion of the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Respondents were individually linked to their administrative mental healthcare records 12 months backward in time. Of these, 96.5% agreed to the link and 23,063 (62.5%) were linked. Almost two‐thirds of those who were depressed in the past year were currently at a high level of distress. Differential reporting of use for highly distressed persons in excess of 100% remained in the use of different types of physician providers after adjustments for other potential determinants of use. Telescoping was also not an explanation. The patterns of differential reporting between groups expected to diverge and converge in their recall ability were consistent with a recall bias. As this study was not able to rule out a recall bias, it further accentuates concerns about the impact of bias in the measurement of mental health‐service use and inferences made concerning the determinants of use. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.


Prosthetic devices are nowadays one of the most important branches of biorobotics. The goal of giving back to amputees the possibility to carry out daily activities on their own represents a fascinating challenge for both medical and engineering researchers alike. A lower prosthetic device replaces a lost lower human body part and acts as a real lower limb replacement for. people with lower extremity amputation. One of the important research points is the actuation of prosthetics. Hydraulic actuation normally ensures high power to weight ratio, absence of mechanical couplings between the motor and the load, steady intermitted torques, high force controllability, shock and vibration absorption, the ability to adapt in uneven locomotion environments in addition to the possibility to apply compliance at its end effector. However, the usage of hydraulics requires a hydraulic power pack for torque generation in addition to cumbersome heavy hydraulic piping for power transmission.


Morbidity and mortality are reliably lower for the married compared with the unmarried across a variety of illnesses. What is less well understood is how a couple uses their relationship for recommended lifestyle changes associated with decreased risk for illness. Partners for Life compared a patient and partner approach to behavior change with a patient only approach on such factors as exercise, nutrition, and medication adherence. Ninety-three patients and their spouses/partners consented to participate (26% of those eligible) and were randomized into either the individual or couples condition. However, only 80 couples, distributed across conditions, contributed data to the analyses, due to missing data and missing data points. For exercise, there was a significant effect of couples treatment on the increase in activity and a significant effect of couples treatment on the acceleration of treatment over time. In addition, there was an interaction between marital satisfaction and treatment condition such that patients who reported higher levels of marital distress in the individuals condition did not maintain their physical activity gains by the end of treatment, while both distressed and nondistressed patients in the couples treatment exhibited accelerating gains throughout treatment. In terms of medication adherence, patients in the couples treatment exhibited virtually no change in medication adherence over time, while patients in the individuals treatment showed a 9% relative decrease across time. There were no condition or time effects for nutritional outcomes. Finally, there was an interaction between baseline marital satisfaction and treatment condition such that patients in the individuals condition who reported lower levels of initial marital satisfaction showed deterioration in marital satisfaction, while non satisfied patients in the couples treatment showed improvement over time.


Human fibroblasts infected in vitro with cytomegalovirus are relatively resistant to infection by Toxoplasma gondii during the first 4 days of virus infection. After 5 days, however, the cytomegalovirus-infected cells become susceptible to the parasites. The toxoplasmas replicate in paracentral rosettes surrounded by host cell mitochondria. This growth configuration differs from that seen in human fibroblasts infected in vitro with toxoplasma only but resembles the pattern seen in doubly infected cells found in human necropsy tissue.


PURPOSE: This study sought to determine whether the angiographic demonstration of slow antegrade contrast opacification of an occluded cerebral artery distal to the thrombus (clot outline sign) on cerebral arteriograms performed immediately before thrombolytic treatment is associated with higher recanalization rates relative to patients without antegrade contrast opacification distal to the occlusion site. METHODS: The angiographic images of 100 consecutive arteriograms performed before thrombolysis in patients eligible for intra-arterial thrombolysis from May 1995 to February 2005 were reviewed. A modified Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade (mTIMI) was adapted to grade recanalization after cerebral thrombolysis. Clot outline sign was defined as slow antegrade contrast opacification distal to the thrombus on the delayed images of the presenting arteriogram. Logistic regression analysis for mTIMI grade included the following potential predictors: presence of outline sign, age, time to treatment, sex, site of occlusion, presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, presenting platelets, presenting systolic blood pressure, presence of pial collaterals, and admitting glucose value. RESULTS: Eighty-seven arteriograms were reviewed. Of these, 19 (22%) displayed the clot outline sign. Thirteen (69%) of 19 had clot outline sign, and 16 of 68 (29%) were not completely recanalized (mTIMI (cid:1) 3); 95% with clot outline sign and 54% without were associated with either mTIMI 2 or 3 ( P (cid:1) .0055, Pearson correlation). Logistic regression analysis for recanalization relative to other predictors indicates that only the clot outline sign could act as a statistically significant predictor for recanalization ( P (cid:1) .0007). CONCLUSION: Prethrombolysis cerebral arteriograms demonstrating delayed antegrade contrast opacification distal to the occlusion site are associated with higher recanalization rates.


Alleinherrschaft des Dionysios hindurchfiihrt.' The sentence is no longer there. Has that way been found, that aim achieved ? G'dttingische gelehrte Anzeigen for September has a searching attack by Snell on some of the main theses of this book. However far one may go with him, it is an imposing and important book. May a third edition, a second volume, and an index follow soon 1 E. HARRISON. Trinity College, Cambridge. known crux in Colossians helps to establish the case for supposing that St. Paul had a genuine acquaintance with Greek literature. It is great fun. J. M. CREED. Cambridge.


Digitalization is spreading across our current society and is a major source of the changes - incremental and also radical - encountered in daily life. It changes the content of jobs: some jobs are no longer needed, and new jobs are also needed. Digitalization in universities has several implications - in teaching, research, and in administration. The opportunities provided by digitalization are manifold. In our paper, we separate two digitalization related topic areas - i.e., networking and digitalization itself. Our paper focuses on academic publishing and we will analyze its role in the current academic world. The approach selected emphasizes the role of an individual researcher and, in particular, publishing the results of their work in academic forums. Digitalization provides a wide variety of new forums but also the means to recognize the impact of the forums and affect it. Networking as a phenomenon is also based on digitalization - physical networks and social networking related applications can be beneficial for researchers. Because teaching is the most visible work of universities, the role of digitalization in this sector is also addressed briefly in this paper.


The results of the research presented in this article describe the construction of an instrument to measure and evaluate basic university level competences. It is an instrumental type of study as both psychometric theory and techniques are applied. The theoretical framework for competences is based on the content of the Delors report (1996) and the ideas commonly shared by Perrenoud (1998), Roegiers (2001), De Kelet (1996), Beckers (2002) and Scallon (2004). The focus on basic university level competences was taken from Marin (2013). For the construction and validation of the instrument, two approaches were used: The Theory of Item Response or Theory of Rasch (1980) and the Classic Theory of Tests (1950-1960). The methodology applied was an instrumental one, geared to the development of a test of psychometric properties. The participants were university students of initial, intermediate and advanced levels in the degrees of education, psychology, communication and political science from the following universities: Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua (UACH), Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez campus and the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (UADY) Yucatan and Tizmin campus. The statistical analysis was processed by the SPSS 17 program using the Windows/StartGraphics Plus 5.0 version.

 Key words:  Basic university competences, psychometric instrument, validity and reliability.


The massive industry digitalization creates huge data banks which require dedicated data processing techniques.
 A good example of such a massive data bank is the long-term pressure records of Permanent Downhole Gauges (PDG) which became very popular in the last 20 years and currently cover thousands of wells in Company RN.
 Many data processing techniques have been applied to interpret the PDG data, both single-well (IPR, RTA[1]) and multi-well (CRM [2] - [5] and various statistical correlation models).
 The ability of any methodology to predict the pressure response to rate variations and/or rate response to pressure variations can be easily tested via numerical modelling of synthetic fields or via comparison with the actual field production history.
 This paper presents a Multi-well Retrospective Testing (MRT, see Appendix A and [6] - [9]) methodology of PDG data analysis which is based on the Multi-well Deconvolution (MDCV, see Appendix B and [10] - [20]) and the results of its blind testing against synthetic and real fields.
 The key idea of the MDCV is to find a reference transient pressure response (called UTR) to the unit-rate production in the same well (specifically called DTR) or offset wells (specifically called CTR) and then use convolution to predict pressure response to arbitrary rate history with an account of cross-well interference.
 The MRT analysis is using the reconstructed UTRs (DTRs and CTRs) to predict the pressure/rates and reconstruct the past formation pressure history, productivity index history, cross-well interference history and reservoir properties like potential and dynamic drainage volumes and transmissibility.
 The results of the MRT blind testing have concluded that MRT could be recommended as an efficient tool to estimate the current and predict the future formation pressure without production deferment caused by temporary shut-down for pressure build up. It showed the ability to accurately reconstruct the past formation pressure history and productivity index. It also reconstructs the well-by-well cross-well interference and reservoir properties around and between the wells.
 The blind-test also revealed limitations of the method and the way to diagnose the trust of the MRT predictions.
 Engineers are now considering using MRT in Company RN as a part of the selection/justification package for the new wells drilling, conversions, workovers, production optimization and selection of surveillance candidates.


OBJECTIVE
To inventory the current state of the art regarding the effectiveness of conservative treatment of acute low back pain.

DESIGN
Systematic reviews.

METHOD
The relevant literature from the period January 1966-September 1999 was retrieved via Medline, Embase, Psychlit and the Cochrane Library and via reference lists in the articles found. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using criteria for internal validity. On the basis of the number of examinations, their quality and the consistency of the findings, conclusions were subdivided into four levels of strength of scientific evidence.

RESULTS
Approximately two-thirds of the randomised trials in the field of back pain were of poor methodological quality. There was strong evidence that advice to stay active, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants were effective in acute low back pain. There was also strong evidence that bed rest and specific exercises were not effective in acute low back pain. Strong evidence for effectiveness of many other commonly used interventions was lacking.


Abstract : Aggression can be a source of conflict as well as a means of dealing with conflict in interpersonal, national, and international domains. The authors investigated how personal and environmental factors interact to influence expressions of aggression in an interpersonal context. This investigation was motivated by two lines of evidence. First, people are more likely to aggress and do so more severely when they are insulted in front of an audience, in order to re-establish and project positive self-appraisal. Second, persons with higher levels of narcissism react to threat more aggressively than those with lower levels of narcissism. The present experiment combined these two strands of research and tested the hypothesis that participants with higher levels of narcissism would be more aggressive than participants with lower levels of narcissism when they imagine receiving negative feedback in the presence of others. The result of a three-way interaction supported this hypothesis. The implications of this finding for the Canadian Forces in terms of mitigating aggression and profiling leaders of adversarial groups are discussed.


Islamic Defender Front/Front Pembela Islam (FPI) is one of the most prominent civil organizations in Indonesia. They also perceived as one of the most radical and violent Islamic organizations in Indonesia especially when dealing with the religious/blasphemy issues towards Islam. On the contrary, the cause of violence in FPI is not always depends on religious issues. They also have another reason in resorting to violence even with their fellow Islamic organizations. This case is often found in their relations with Islamic Jihad Front/Front Jihad Islam (FJI) in the Special Region of Yogyakarta province.

This research will try to explain the patterns of violence in FPI's activities in Yogyakarta, both towards the religious issues or others. The violence of FPI will be explained by the social movement perspective especially with the vigilantism and framing concepts. Framing will explain about the source of legitimation towards the violence. Meanwhile, the vigilantism will explain about the pattern and behavior in the act of violence. One conclusion that can be drawn is FPI act of violence in Yogyakarta is not always related with the religious issues, but also began with their hostility with Front Jihad Islam/FJI. This kind of violence is based on the rivalry between FPI's leader (Bambang Tedy) and FJI's leader (Jarot). On the other hand, FPI also have a religious-motivated violence although the scale of this features usually smaller than the hostility with FJI.

Keywords: Front Pembela Islam, Front Jihad Islam, violence, vigilantism, framing, social movement.


In this paper we present STELAE, a model-driven test development environment for avionics embedded systems, implemented on top of a real integration test platform. It is the result of an R&D project between two research laboratories and a test solution provider, aiming to introduce model-driven engineering methodologies and technologies for the development of tests. Our work was motivated by the multiplicity of proprietary test languages in this industrial context, which no longer respond to the stakeholder needs. We present the early prototype functionalities (test model definition, automatic code generation and execution) on a case study inspired from real-life. Our feedback on the used technologies concludes this paper.


Problem statement: In recent years, as digital media are gaining wider popularity, their security related issues are becoming greater concern. Method for authenticating and assuring the integrity of the image is required. Image authentication is possible by embedding a layer of the authentication signature into the digital image using a digital watermark. In some applications tamper localization is also required. Approach: In this study, we proposed a fragile image authentication system with tamper localization in wavelet domain. In this scheme, secret data to be embedded is a logo. Watermark was generated by repeating logo image so that size of watermark matches with the size of HH sub-band of integer wavelet transform. To provide additional level of security, the generated watermark was scrambled using a shared secret key. Integer Haar wavelet transform was applied to obtain wavelet coefficients. Watermark was embedded into the coefficients using odd-even mapping. Results: Experimental results demonstrated that proposed scheme detected and localized tampering at pixel level. Proposed scheme was tested with images of various sizes and tampering of various sizes. It provided good results for tamperings ranges from single pixel to a block of pixels. Conclusion: Watermarking was done in wavelet domain; conventional watermarking attacks were not possible. The resolution of tamper localization was achieved at pixel level. The watermarked image's quality was still maintained while providing pixel-level tampering accuracy. Proposed scheme can be used in insurance, forensics departments.


Widely considered the greatest work by the foremost Brazilian author of the twentieth century, "The Double Death of Quincas Water-Bray" comes to Penguin Classics in a new translation by the dean of Portuguese-language translators, Gregory Rabassa. It tells the story of Joaquim Soares da Cunha, who drops dead after he abandons his life of upstanding citizenship to assume the identity of Quincas Water-Bray, a "champion drunk" and bum who is whisked along on a postmortem journey that climaxes in his loss at sea. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.


Industrial clusters can be found very often in the world, particularly in many developing countries. To build virtual enterprise based on an industrial cluster is one of the most important ways to improve the agility and competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises in the cluster. One of the key factors towards the success of virtual enterprises is the correct selection of cooperative partners in the virtual enterprise. An approach of order allocation and partner selection in the environment of industrial clusters is proposed. This approach is composed of two stages: task-resource matching and quantitative evaluation. In the first stage the potential candidates are identified and in the second stage evolutionary programming is applied to deal with partner selection and order allocation problem. The target function, in which the load rate of candidate enterprise is taken as the main variable, is developed, and a simplified example is used to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach. The result suggests that the proposed model and the algorithm obtain satisfactory solutions.


A field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively at Jammu, (J&K) to study the direct and residual effects of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen in rice-wheat cropping system on yield performance, economics and soil fertility in sandy clay loam soil. Application of 100 % recommended dose of nitrogen from urea significantly influenced the yield and economics of rice in 1 st year of experiment. Whereas during the 2 nd year of experiment application of 50 % recommended dose of nitrogen from vermicompost and rest through chemical fertilizer (urea) produced significantly highest grain and straw yield of rice. However, gross return, net return and B: C ratio values were significantly highest in the plot which received 25 % N through vermicompost and rest through chemical fertilizer. During wheat season the plots received 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer produced significantly highest yield, gross return net return and B: C ratio which is significantly at par with 75 % of the recommended dose of fertilizer applied to wheat. So, substitution of chemical fertilizers through organic sources likes vermicompost and FYM by 50 % of recommended dose of nitrogen would be better proposition towards reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers in rice and 25 % in wheat. As for as soil fertility is concerned organic sources of nutrients applied to previous crop have edge over chemical fertilization in fertility build up, particularly organic carbon, total and available NPK. The application of 100 per cent nitrogen through vermicompost significantly increased the available N, P, K status of surface soil which was closely followed by that obtained with 100 per cent nitrogen through FYM. There was a buildup of organic carbon and reduction in bulk density in soil where 100 per cent organic sources of nutrients followed by 50 per cent were applied.


In order to achieve a specific goal, voluntary action requires an anticipatory behaviour,which predicts the consequence of the planned action on the postural control. Anticipatorybehaviour rests on action and body representations, which are in continual evolution acrosslife. Under hormonal influences, adolescence is characterized by body modifications andcerebral maturation. This thesis explored the link between the anticipatory function, action andbody representations, and the cerebral maturation during this key period.Anticipatory function was assessed using the bimanual load-lifting task, which engages apostural arm, supporting the load, and a motor arm, lifting the load. In this task, theanticipatory behaviour is expressed by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). Characterizedby an earlier inhibition of the postural flexors in adults, APAs cancel the destabilizing effect ofmovement on the postural reference. Kinematics, electromyographic andelectroencephalographic recordings were simultaneously used to explore the maturation andthe building of a sensorimotor representation during the adolescence.Although performances of postural stabilization were stable, APAs at the adolescencewere characterized by an earlier occurrence of the inhibition latency on the postural flexors. Inadults, the APAs are expressed by a mu rhythm desynchronization and a positive wave overthe sensorimotor cortex involved in postural stabilization. The electrophysiological signaturesrecorded in the adolescent group presented different temporal characteristics. Thus, theimprovement of the anticipatory function would be underlain by a maturation of theseelectrophysiological activities during the adolescence.Learning a new postural control was characterized, in adults as well as in adolescents,by a rapid followed by a slow improvement of the postural stabilisation. The acquisition ofanticipatory control rested on the mastering of the temporal parameters of the flexorsinhibition, which took more time during the adolescence. Integration of the proprioceptivefeedback coming from the action is the mechanism at the origin of the update of thesensorimotor representation.Expressed by the mastering of the temporal parameters, the update of the body andaction representations during the adolescence would imply an enhancement of the integrationof proprioceptive information, which would be still lacking at the adolescence. The maturationof the cerebral areas involved in these representations would be also a key element.


In this presentation, some of the pioneering work performed by Harvey Fletcher and colleagues on the loudness of simple and complex sounds will be reviewed. The focus will be placed on the model and data presented by Fletcher and Munson [H. Fletcher and W. A. Munson, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 5, 82–108 (1933)]. In this classic paper, the authors lay a solid foundation for the understanding of loudness which remains remarkably intact today in light of contemporary psychophysical and physiological knowledge. They provide thorough descriptions of several loudness phenomena, including loudness growth, monaural loudness additivity, and binaural loudness summation. Among other things, they demonstrate that loudness for a single tone grows as a function of the cube root of stimulus intensity, that loudness is additive for stimulus components in separate auditory filters or in separate ears, and that loudness of partially masked stimulus components is also additive once adjustments for partial masking have been made. F...


This article focuses on the rural areas of Russia's North-West borderlands, particularly, the municipal districts and towns that are closest to the national border. The study aims to identify problems in the development of these territories and provide solutions to them. The methodological framework employed is the neo-endogenous approach, which suggests the maximal multifunctionality-driven use of internal resources, bottom-up initiatives supported by the authorities, extensive use of innovations, the Internet, and scientific knowledge. The study takes into account and assesses the heterogeneity of rural areas by producing a typology of districts built on the structure of agricultural production, using the Hall-Tideman index. The study used several indicators to identify the role and place of border districts in their respective regions. Three types of districts were distinguished according to the structure of agricultural production: districts dominated by agricultural organisations, districts dominated by small farms, and mixed-type districts. Cross-district differences in output dynamics were described. The socially essential functions of rural areas and the economic entities performing those functions were identified. The analysis of the recreational resources of border districts helped to determine the directions in which the transformation of rural areas into consumer spaces was moving. The major development trajectories of rural areas were plotted using the non-endogenous approach and differentiated by the district types. The rural areas of the North-West borderlands were confirmed to have a unique and diverse resource potential that is sufficient to ensure their sustainable development based on the non-endogenous approach.


Several isoflavonoids are well known for their ability to act as soybean phytoalexins. However, the overall effects of the soybean–Aspergillus oryzae interaction on metabolism remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to reveal an overview of nutritive and metabolic changes in germinated and A. oryzae-elicited soybeans. The levels of individual nutrients were measured using the ustulation, ashing, Kjeldahl, and Folch methods. The levels of individual amino acids were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Low-molecular-weight compounds were measured through metabolome analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although the levels of individual nutrients and amino acids were strongly influenced by the germination process, the elicitation process had little effect on the change in the contents of individual nutrients and amino acids. However, after analyzing approximately 700 metabolites using metabolome analysis, we found that the levels of many of the metabolites were strongly influenced by soybean–A. oryzae interactions. In particular, the data indicate that steroid, terpenoid, phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and fatty acid metabolism were influenced by the elicitation process. Furthermore, we demonstrated that not the germination process but the elicitation process induced daidzein prenylation, suggesting that the soybean–A. oryzae interactions produce various phytoalexins that are valuable for health promotion and/or disease prevention.


This article introduces the Indigenous Media Practice special issue through a discussion of the aims and scope of the edition. It identifies three major currents in contemporary international research on media and indigeneity, which are reflected in the suite of scholarship presented here. The first is the importance of continuing to critically analyse media systems, institutions and policies that enable and constrain the production and dissemination of information for, by and about Indigenous populations. The second emphasises media-related practices in specific media production and social policy contexts, and the third underlines the importance of interrogating underlying and pervasive societal discourses in understanding Indigenous media practice. The contributions to this themed issue highlight that there is a vibrant body of research among a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, typically working in teams in the pursuit of better understanding the relationships between media and indigeneity in both global and local contexts.


A detailed spacesuit computational model is being developed at the Langley Research Center for radiation exposure evaluation studies. The details of the construction of the spacesuit are critical to estimation of exposures and assessing the risk to the astronaut on EVA. Past evaluations of spacesuit shielding properties assumed the basic fabric lay-up (Thermal Micrometeroid Garment, fabric restraints, and pressure envelope) and Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) could be homogenized as a single layer overestimating the protective properties over 60 percent of the fabric area. The present spacesuit model represents the inhomogeneous distributions of LCVG materials (mainly the water filled cooling tubes). An experimental test is performed using a 34-MeV proton beam and highresolution detectors to compare with model-predicted transmission factors. Some suggestions are made on possible improved construction methods to improve the spacesuit's protection properties.


Studies investigating the effect of 5-HT receptors mediating a response in the neonatal intestine have been limited. There are evidences that the development of new neurones continues past postnatal term and this suggests that receptors expression may differ during maturation. Thus, 'in vitro' experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of ACh, atropine, 5-HT and its related drugs on intact intestinal segments taken from the ileum of adult and neonate rats. The application of ACh (3nM-1mM) and 5-HT (3nM-1mM) induced contractions in a concentration dependent manner in all tissues examined. The 5-HT induced contractions were only sensitive to antagonism by atropine (1μM) in segments taken from the neonates but not adults. The pre-treatment with methysergide (5-HT1/2/5-7 receptor antagonist), ritanserin (5-HT2 receptor antagonist), granisetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) and RS 23597 (5-HT4 receptor antagonist) at 1μM or a combination of ritanserin, granisetron, plus RS 23597 at 1μM significantly reduced or abolished contractile responses induced by 5-HT. SB 269970A (5-HT7 receptor antagonist) and WAY 100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist) at 1μM failed to influence contractile responses induced by 5-HT or the challenges to 5-HT receptor agonists, 5-CT (5-HT1A/7 receptor agonist) and 8-OHDPAT (5-HT1A receptor agonist) at a concentration range of 10nM-0.1mM, indicating the unlikely involvement of 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors in the mediation of contractile responses in the neonatal rat ileum. Results indicate differences in cholinergic receptor involvement during postnatal maturation and suggest the involvement of 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in the mediation of contractile responses to 5-HT in the neonatal rat ileum. There is a growing need to decrease animal usage in pharmacological experiments. This may be achieved by the development of 'in vitro' cell culture models. Thus attempts were also made to develop a cell culture model of neonatal intestine to further investigate the action of pharmacologically active agents. The isolation of individual cell populations from segments taken from the intestine of rat neonates were achieved by ligation of both ends of the intestine prior to incubation in trypsin so that a gradual dissociation could be monitored. This was supported by histological procedures, determining the time required to extract large numbers of cells from different intestinal layers. Differential adhesion and selective cytotoxicity techniques were used for further purification of intestinal smooth muscle cells (ISMC), neuronal cells, and a coculture of ISMC and neuronal cells, and these were characterised through immunostaining with antibodies to α-smooth muscle actin, α-actinin and the 5-HT3 receptor. A protocol for cryopreservation of ISMC was designed in order to protect cells against genetic instability, enhance cell availability and reduce animal usage. Results showed that cells extracted from the intestine are viable for up to 4months. ISMC functionality was analysed via the application of known pharmacologically active drugs on ISMC, which were plated onto glass and silicone elastomer substrate. The cultured ISMC responded to the application of drugs such as potassium chloride (KCl), carbachol, 5-HT and noradrenaline (NA). Large population of cocultures seeded onto silicone elastomers or cholesteric liquid crystal substrates (LC) were assessed for their ability to produce a collective response to KCl application. Attempts were made to detect any deformations of the substrate surface due to the exposure to KCl and NA. Cholesteric LC substrates seemed to be the most suitable material for investigating the cellular tensions. The availability of cell cultures allowed the development of an intestinal model of inflammation. This was achieved through the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and was confirmed by assessing the levels pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL-8) and nitric oxide (NO), which were significantly elevated. Reduction of IL-8 ad NO was also examined using granisetron and L-NAME and Chaga mushroom extract. Granisetron and L-NAME reduced the NO production during short incubation times. However, an elevated level of NO was observed when longer treatment times were examined. The Chaga mushroom extract caused a significant reduction in NO production in the model of inflammation. This indicates that this model may be a valuable tool for the investigation of other pro-inflammatory mediators and may contribute for the investigation of more selective drugs in the management of intestinal inflammation in neonates.


Abstract The SEE COAST concept is designed with the objective to characterize extrasolar planets and possibly Super Earths via spectro-polarimetric imaging in reflected light. A space mission complementary to ground-based near IR planet finders is a first secure step towards the characterization of planets with mass and atmosphere comparable to that of the Earth. The accessibility to the Visible spectrum is unique and with important scientific returns.


This paper analyzes the extent of risk-sharing among stockholders and nonstockholders. To evaluate the empirical importance of market incompleteness, it is essential to determine whether idiosyncratic shocks are important for the wealthy who have access to better insurance opportunities, but also face different risks, than the average household. We study a model where each period households decide whether to participate in the stock market by paying a fixed cost. Due to this endogenous entry decision, the testable implications of perfect risk-sharing take the form of a sample selection model, which we estimate using a semiparametric GMM estimator proposed by Kyriazidou (2001). Using data from PSID, we strongly reject perfect risk-sharing among stockholders, but perhaps surprisingly, do not find evidence against it among nonstockholders. This result appears to be robust to several extensions. This finding suggests further focus on risk factors that primarily affect the wealthy, such as entrepreneurial income risk.


How does jury deliberation affect the pre-deliberation judgments of individual jurors? Do deliberating juries reduce or eliminate the erratic and unpredictable punitive damage awards that have been observed with individual jurors? In this paper we make progress on these two questions, in part by reporting the results of a study of over 500 mock juries composed of over 3000 jury eligible citizens. Our principal finding is that juries did not produce less erratic and more predictable awards than individuals, but actually made the problem worse, by making large awards much larger and small awards smaller still, even for the same case. Thus, a key effect of deliberation is often to polarize individual judgments, a pattern that has been found in many other group decision making contexts. This finding of polarization--the first of its kind in the particular context of punitive damage awards--has important implications for jury awards involving both punitive and compensatory damages, and raises questions about the common belief that groups, and in particular juries, generally make better decisions than individuals.


Abstract Scorpion sting is one of the most important problems in public health practice in many countries. Khuzestan yellow scorpion, scientifically known as Hemiscorpius lepturus, belongs to the family Hemiscorpidae, and is one of the most common and dangerous scorpions in Iran. Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion has potentially cytotoxic venom. The first treatment for scorpion envenoming is horse antisera. Due to their unique characteristics, camels have been considered as an important source for antiserum and monoclonal antibody (Nanobody) production. In the previous study, we reported a specific nanobody against the hemolytic fraction (heminecrolysin) of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom. In the present study, a recombinant diabody was constructed and produced by fusion of two nanobodies. Results from in vitro and in vivo assays showed that the diabody has a promising ability to neutralize venom activity.


Following a transient increase in relative mitochondrial volume which lasts but a few days, cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure- or volume-overload is characterized by a preferential growth of contractile elements resulting in a decreased mitochondria/myofibrils volume ratio. At least under some conditions, the number of mitochondria/unit area increases as does the organelles surface/volume ratio. If the functional overload persists for a long period of time, e.g. 12-15 months, relative mitochondrial volume is decreased further. Unlike the imbalance in growth of mitochondria and myofibrils, the total surface area (sarcolemma plus T-System) enlarges in proportion to the increase in cell volume. While most of the components which are altered during hypertrophy become normalized as cardiac hypertrophy regresses, the process is slower than the imbalance associated with cellular enlargement. Most models of cardiac hypertrophy differ from normal growth in that the latter is characterized by proportional growth of all cellular components. In contrast, hypertrophy associated with exercise results in proportional growth in cellular components. The idea that growth of various cellular organelles is regulated by separate mechanisms is gaining support. Both sympathectomy and noreprinephrine depletion normalize the growth of mitochondria and myofibrils, while thyroxine treatment stimulates a preferential growth of mitochondria. Current evidence, therefore, suggests that myocardial cell growth probably involves complex processes which may vary with different conditions associated with the stimulus invoking enhanced cellular enlargement.


Abstract A series of benzimidazole derivatives 8a–h were synthesized in acceptable yield and characterized by spectroscopic methods such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS, and Elemental analysis. In the urease inhibitory assay, all 8a–h showed higher urease inhibition activity (IC50: 5.85–20.82 µM) in comparison to thiourea and hydroxyurea as standard (IC50: 22 and 100 µM respectively). 8g exhibited the best activity with the IC50 value of 5.85 µM. The docking study represented a possible mode of interaction between 8g and the active site. To investigate the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds, an MTT assay was performed on two different cell lines which showed 8a–h have IC50 values higher than 50 µM on both tested cell lines. 8a–h were checked for antibacterial activity and the best activity was found by 8d against Helicobacter pylori with an inhibition zone of 20 mm even stronger than gentamicin with an inhibition zone of 18 mm. Graphical Abstract


The performance of bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells is strongly correlated with the nanoscale structure of the active layer. Various processing techniques have been explored to improve the nanoscale morphology of the BHJ layer, e.g., by varying the casting solvent, thermal annealing, solvent annealing, and solvent additives. This paper highlights the role of residual solvent in the "dried" BHJ layer, and the effect of residual solvents on PCBM diffusion and ultimately the stability of the morphology. We show that solvent is retained within the BHJ film despite prolonged heat treatment, leading to extensive phase separation, as demonstrated by the growth in the size and quantity of PCBM agglomerates. The addition of a small volume fraction of nitrobenzene to the casting solution inhibits the diffusion of PCBM in the dry film, resulting in smaller PCBM agglomerates, and improves the fill factor of the BHJ device to 0.61 without further tempering. The addition of nitrobenzene also increases the P3HT crystalline content, while increasing the onset temperature for melting of P3HT side chains and backbone. The melting temperature for PCBM is also higher with the nitrobenzene additive present.


Background Cervical cancer mainly occurs among women from the developing world, and women face unique challenges in terms of their disease and treatment. Most women present with advanced cervical cancer and receive the standard curative treatment with external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy with or without chemotherapy. Objectives To describe the quality of life (QOL) of women treated for cervical cancer during treatment (M0), at 6 months after completing treatment (M6) and at 12 months after treatment (M12). Methods A cross-sectional design, calculated sample size (n = 153) and convenience sampling were used. Data were collected through structured interviews, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ CX24 served as data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test was used to compare the mean responses across the groups (p ≤ 0.05). Results The mean age of the respondents was 50.6 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.9). The global health status improved significantly in contrast with the functional scores. Financial difficulties were rampant, especially during the treatment phase. Insomnia and urinary frequency were the most cumbersome problems and remained so even after treatment. Conclusions Despite an improvement in the global health, cervical cancer and its treatment had a negative influence on the QOL in all domains of lives of these women. Assessing the QOL of patients during treatment and follow-up visits would allow nurses to develop interventions to address distressing problems timeously. In addition, Africa's nurses should assess social functioning and develop programmes to prevent social dysfunction.


Though virtually ignored in the historiography, Brazil played an intriguing role in the politics and diplomacy of the Cuban missile crisis and in U.S. Cuban relations during the Kennedy administration. In the years after Fidel Castro took power, successive Brazilian governments tried secretly to mediate between Washington and Havana as their mutual confrontation intensified. Newly available U.S., Brazilian, Cuban, and other sources reveal that this role climaxed during the missile crisis, as John F. Kennedy clandestinely sought to employ Brazil to transmit a message to Castro. In turn, Brazil, which was also promoting a Latin American denuclearization scheme at the United Nations as a possible means of resolving the crisis, sought to broker a formula for U.S. Cuban reconciliation that would heighten the prestige of its own independentpolicy in the Cold War. Ultimately, these efforts failed, but they shed light on previously hidden aspects of both the missile crisis and the triangular U.S. Cuban-Brazilian relationship. This is the concluding part of a two-part article.


This book explores China's perspective on sovereignty. The concept of sovereignty is universal, however, the understanding of it varies in different states and due to cultural backgrounds, history or the composition of ethnic groups. In order to comprehend China's current perspective on sovereignty, the author connects Chinese historical ideas with the current international society. She locates misunderstandings of China's past and present which could cause misjudgment of China's perspective on sovereignty. Hence, the author analyzes China's imperial history concerning sovereignty and foreign policies. She surveys the cultural, political, administrative and legal roots of the ancient empires because of their great influence on its current political arrangements. In addition, the study examines the divergence between the European and Chinese understanding on human rights.


As an ethnographer, I am obliged to reflect on the philosophical implications of my work to the same extent that I assume that any productive engagement with the human condition necessarily involves both participation in and observation of lived situations and actual events, and not simply the experience-distant interrogation of collective representations or the interpretation of texts. Accordingly, the following account of bereavement among the Kuranko of northeast Sierra Leone will show how phylogenetic elements and psychological processes, readily recognizable to anyone in any society, are dynamically counterpointed with cultural elements that are peculiar to this West African lifeworld.


A partition testing strategy consists of two components: a partitioning scheme which determines the way in which the program's input domain is partitioned into subdomains; and an allocation of test cases which determines the exact number of test cases selected from each subdomain. This paper investigates the problem of determining the test allocation when a particular partitioning scheme has been chosen. We show that this problem can be formulated as a classic problem of decision-making under uncertainty, and analyze several well known criteria to resolve this kind of problem. We present algorithms that solve the test allocation problem based on these criteria, and evaluate these criteria by means of a simulation experiment. We also discuss the applicability and implications of applying these criteria in the context of partition testing.


Deep learning (DL) techniques have recently found success in anomaly detection (AD) across various fields such as finance, medical services, and cloud computing. However, most of the current research tends to view deep AD algorithms as a whole, without dissecting the contributions of individual design choices like loss functions and network architectures. This view tends to diminish the value of preliminary steps like data preprocessing, as more attention is given to newly designed loss functions, network architectures, and learning paradigms. In this paper, we aim to bridge this gap by asking two key questions: (i) Which design choices in deep AD methods are crucial for detecting anomalies? (ii) How can we automatically select the optimal design choices for a given AD dataset, instead of relying on generic, pre-existing solutions? To address these questions, we introduce ADGym, a platform specifically crafted for comprehensive evaluation and automatic selection of AD design elements in deep methods. Our extensive experiments reveal that relying solely on existing leading methods is not sufficient. In contrast, models developed using ADGym significantly surpass current state-of-the-art techniques.