How specialized is the infant brain for perceiving the facial and manual movements displayed by others? Although there is evidence for a network of regions that process biological motion in adults—including individuated responses to the perception of differing facial and manual movements—how this cortical specialization develops remains unknown. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy [Lloyd-Fox, S., Blasi, A., & Elwell, C. Illuminating the developing brain: The past, present and future of functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 34, 269–284, 2010] to investigate the ability of 5-month-old infants to process differing biological movements. Infants watched videos of adult actors moving their hands, their mouth, or their eyes, all in contrast to nonbiological mechanical movements, while hemodynamic responses were recorded over the their frontal and temporal cortices. We observed different regions of the frontal and temporal cortex that responded to these biological movements and different patterns of cortical activation according to the type of movement watched. From an early age, our brains selectively respond to biologically relevant movements, and further, selective patterns of regional specification to different cues occur within what may correspond to a developing "social brain" network. These findings illuminate hitherto undocumented maps of selective cortical activation to biological motion processing in the early postnatal development of the human brain.


Emerging flaviviruses are causative agents of severe and life-threatening diseases, against which no approved therapies are available. Among the nucleoside analogues, which represent a promising group of potentially therapeutic compounds, fluorine-substituted nucleosides are characterized by unique structural and functional properties. ABSTRACT Emerging flaviviruses are causative agents of severe and life-threatening diseases, against which no approved therapies are available. Among the nucleoside analogues, which represent a promising group of potentially therapeutic compounds, fluorine-substituted nucleosides are characterized by unique structural and functional properties. Despite having first been synthesized almost 5 decades ago, they still offer new therapeutic opportunities as inhibitors of essential viral or cellular enzymes active in nucleic acid replication/transcription or nucleoside/nucleotide metabolism. Here, we report evaluation of the antiflaviviral activity of 28 nucleoside analogues, each modified with a fluoro substituent at different positions of the ribose ring and/or heterocyclic nucleobase. Our antiviral screening revealed that 3′-deoxy-3′-fluoroadenosine exerted a low-micromolar antiviral effect against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Zika virus, and West Nile virus (WNV) (EC50 values from 1.1 ± 0.1 μM to 4.7 ± 1.5 μM), which was manifested in host cell lines of neural and extraneural origin. The compound did not display any measurable cytotoxicity up to concentrations of 25 μM but had an observable cytostatic effect, resulting in suppression of cell proliferation at concentrations of >12.5 μM. Novel approaches based on quantitative phase imaging using holographic microscopy were developed for advanced characterization of antiviral and cytotoxic profiles of 3′-deoxy-3′-fluoroadenosine in vitro. In addition to its antiviral activity in cell cultures, 3′-deoxy-3′-fluoroadenosine was active in vivo in mouse models of TBEV and WNV infection. Our results demonstrate that fluoro-modified nucleosides represent a group of bioactive molecules with excellent potential to serve as prospective broad-spectrum antivirals in antiviral research and drug development.


A cell cycle-modulated glycoprotein (gp115, 115 kDa, isoelectric point 4.8-5) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been purified by Concanavalin A-affinity chromatography, followed by preparative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, from yeast membrane proteins solubilized in Triton X-100. Antisera have been generated against the electrophoretically purified protein. Their specificity has been established by immunoblot analysis and by comparison of the partial proteolytic map obtained for the immunoprecipitated 35S-labeled 115 kDa polypeptide with that of the in vivo [35S]methionine-labeled gp115 isolated from two-dimensional gels. In tunicamycin-treated cells the immunoblot analysis identifies an unglycosylated precursor (86-88 kDa) and in sec18 mutant cells at the restrictive temperature an intermediary precursor of about 100 kDa. Six to seven carbohydrate chains have been estimated to be present on the gp115 protein, accounting for an electrophoretic shift corresponding to about 27 to 29 kDa of its relative molecular mass. Affinity-purified antibodies against the unglycosylated precursor (86-88 kDa) of gp115 were prepared and used to localize gp115 by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. The similarity between the pattern of fluorescence obtained with these antibodies and that obtained using anti-plasma membrane H+-ATPase antibodies suggests an association of gp115 with the plasma membrane.


As a monophagous herbivorous species that is native to Asia, the Box tree pyralid Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the accidentally introduced non-native species that successfully survived, reproduced and became established in Europe. The aesthetic damage and total loss of Buxus is not only limited to local plantings, but also extends widespread in urban areas as well as to the natural Buxus stands, which are already affected or remain highly endangered. The objective of this investigation was the implementation of an effective, eco- and user friendly method for regulating C. perspectalis and preserving unaffected Buxus plants, based on usable biocontrol agents as well as on an effective monitoring system.
The occurrence of wild populations of C. perspectalis and seasonal moth flight activity was recorded by pheromone and light traps between 2012 and 2015 in Hessia (GER). Both trap systems were found to be suitable for monitoring C. perspectalis that is required to allow the proper timing of control measures. Two main flight periods were identified, which indicate the existence of two generations. Basic data on the sex ratio (on average 43% ± 10% females) and the appearance of the melanic phenotype (on average 14% ± 2.9%) were collected.
The ability of eight parasitoid Trichogramma species to parasitize and locate C. perspectalis eggs was assessed in the laboratory. Despite all tested species examined and oviposited into exposed eggs, resulting parasitation rates were low and ranged between 4% and 20% for most of the species. Only T. dendrolimi parasitized significantly more eggs with rates above 40%. Potentially egg defensive mechanisms were suggested that may impede higher parasitization. Thus, no specialized Trichogramma species had been found yet for a practicable inundative release.
The beneficials Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chryspidae) and Orius majusculus Reuter (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) preyed on C. perspectalis eggs in experimental studies on prey acceptance and prey location on Buxus plants. C. carnea preyed on average 89% offered eggs during the prey acceptance bioassay and 49% offered eggs during the prey location on the Buxus plant within 72 h. In contrast, O. majusculus preyed only 41% and 13%, respectively. Therefore, the conservation of natural enemies as O. majusculus and the inundative release of beneficials such as C. carnea can be considered as supporting tools in the biological control of C. perspectalis.
Susceptibility of C. perspectalis to the prospective biological control agents Neem (NeemAzal®-T/S) and Entomopathogenic nematodes (Nemastar®) was assessed in laboratory bioassays and field trials. When NeemAzal®-T/S treated leaf discs were consumed by larvae, a significant effect on vitality and feeding activity was noted after 14 days of exposure (47%-62% mortality; 10% of larvae were still feeding). Larvae (2nd and 4th developmental stage) demonstrated high susceptibility to Nemastar® (50 EPN per larva caused 100% mortality after 7 days). Both agents were much less reliable in their efficacy in field trials in comparison to the constant effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis. Their use is only possible in smaller areas, if individual feeding damage will be observed and proper surveillance will be considered.
Potential repellent and toxic properties of 13 plant oils and extracts on egg deposition of C. perspectalis female moths and larval mortality were investigated in the greenhouse and the laboratory. When Thymus vulgaris L. and Malaleuca alternifolia M. & B. treated leaf discs were offered to larvae, a significant effect on feeding deterrence, survival and larval weight was noted. T. vulgaris was the most effective oil considering repellent and toxic effects. Its effective lethal concentration (LC50) was determined to be 1% (v/v) at 72 h.
None of the tested control options alone provide an opportunity for the effective, eco- and user friendly regulation of C. perspectalis. The application of products based on B. thuringiensis is still the only highly effective and available biological control method but new approaches dealing with moth behaviour manipulation are promising, since the concept leads to the preservation of unaffected Buxus plants. In conclusion, the regulation of the invasive Box tree pyralid C. perspectalis still remains a major challenge for all concerned parties, even 10 years after its introduction.


The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid solution Ag2Al in equilibrium with an Al—Cu—Ag liquid were observed from a quenched sample with a radial heat flow apparatus. The Gibbs–Thomson coefficient, solid—liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of the solid solution Ag2Al have been determined from the observed grain boundary groove shapes. The thermal conductivity of the solid phase and the thermal conductivity ratio of the liquid phase to solid phase for Ag2Al — 28.3 at the % CuAl2 alloy at the melting temperature have also been measured with a radial heat flow apparatus and Bridgman type growth apparatus, separately.


Road safety has been a major concern globally with increasing number of vehicles and distance of travel per day. Of the many problems that have been addressed, disorders of the musculoskeletal system among drivers have become a growing public health problem worldwide. QEC is an observational tool developed for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practitioners, to evaluate four major areas of the body such as back, shoulder/arm, neck and wrist/hand. The main objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors that are prevalent in the Development of Driving related Musculoskeletal Disorders (DMSD) in 286 Indian motorbike riders using Quick Exposure Check (QEC). The scores obtained using QEC were determined to be high in back and shoulder/arm for motorbike having overall kerb weight between 137 kg to 145 kg and seat height between 785 mm to 790 mm, moderate for bike has weight of 132 kg and seat height of 775 mm and less for motorbike having overall weight of 187 kg and seat height of 800 mm. The scores for wrist/hand were found to be moderate for motorbikes that had less seat height and moderate kerb weight and low for higher seat. The scores computed for neck found to be moderate for all motorbikes. The regions of the body such as back and shoulder/arm had most possible occurrence of driving related musculoskeletal disorders. The study also examines the risk factors for DMSD associated with driving, work pace, vehicle vibration and stress. The results of this study show an exceptionally high occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders among motorbike riders and hence call for a change in the riding posture and modifications in the design of the vehicle.


The objective of the presented investigation was to verify findings that moisture has a negative effect on the bond force leading to a reduction of the mean maximum shear force up to 30% for long term water storage or combined pressure and short term water storage at 40°C. Additionally, the influence on maximum shear stiffness was investigated. Furthermore, it was assumed that the reduction of shear properties would increase with higher applied temperature. The investigation was conducted using different up to date pavement structures for urban roads and heavy trafficked motorways. The chosen material represents the actual Swiss construction practice favoring relatively open graded low noise surface courses. Testing was done using the Layer-Parallel Direct Shear device (LPDS) and the Shear Box as an additional measure for the shear properties. The results showed that 72h water conditioning at 40°C reduces interlayer shear strength by 2% to 20%. 72h water conditioning at 60°C is more severe, reducing strength by 15% to 25% and stiffness by 14% to 30%.


We combine micro and macro unemployment duration data to study the effects of the business cycle on the outflow from unemployment. We allow the cycle to affect individual exit probabilities of unemployed workers as well as the composition of the total inflow into unemployment. We estimate the model using (micro) survey data and (macro) administrative data from France. The distribution of the inflow composition is estimated along with the other parameters. The estimation method deals with differences between the micro and macro unemployment definitions. The results also show to what extent the unemployment duration distributions corresponding to the two definitions can be described by the same model.


The new results in the theory of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of the two-dimensional (2D) magnetoexcitons formed by the high-density electron-hole (e-h) pairs created on the semiconductor mono-layer in a strong perpendicular magnetic field are reviewed. One of them is the metastable dielectric liquid phase (MDLP) formed by the 2D magnetoexcitons BEG-ed on the single-particle state with sufficiently large values of the wave vector k, so that its product kl with the magnetic length l equals about kl approximate to 3-4. This state was revealed in the conditions when the electrons and holes are situated on the lowest Landau levels (LLLs) and the polarizability of the Bose gas was calculated on the base of the Anderson-type coherent excited states. They give rise to correlation energy and to chemical potential displaying a nonmonotonous dependence on the filling factor v(2) with a relative minimum and with positive compressibility in its vicinity. The influence of the excited Landau levels (ELLs) on the quantum states of the e-h system is due to the virtual quantum transitions of particles from the LLLs to ELLs during the Coulomb scattering processes and to their subsequent return back. These quantum transitions were taken into account in the frame of the second order perturbation theory giving rise to an effective Hamiltonian describing the supplementary indirect interactions between the particles lying on the LLLs. This interaction is characterized by a small parameter equal to the ratio r of the magnetoexciton ionization potential l(ex)(0) to the Landau quantization energy (h) over bar omega(c). The parameter r = l(ex)(0)/(h) over bar omega(c), decreases as H-1/2 with the increasing the magnetic field strength H. The supplementary interaction is attractive, making the magnetoexcitons in the Hartree approximation more robust. Nevertheless its exchange, Fock terms as well as the Bogoliubov u-v transformation terms give rise to positive, repulsion-type contributions to the chemical potential. The Bose gas of magnetoexcitons with k = 0 becomes weakly nonideal when the ELLs are taken into account. The collective elementary excitations of two ground states corresponding to BEG-ed magnetoexcitons forming either a nonideal Bose gas with k = 0 or the MDLP with kl approximate to 3-4 were studied in the frame of the perturbation theory with the infinitesimal parameter v(2)(1 - v(2)), chosen as a product of the filling factor v(2) and of the phase space filling factor (1 - v(2)). The collective elementary excitations in both cases consist from the exciton and plasmon branches. Due to the presence of the condensate there are energy and quasi-energy branches. The self-energy parts containing the unknown frequency in denominators increase the degree of the dispersion equations and give rise to mixed exciton-plasmon and exciton-exciton elementary excitation branches.


The stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) is the posttranscriptional regulator of histone mRNA in metazoan cells. SLBP binds histone pre-mRNAs and facilitates 3'-end processing by promoting stable association of U7 snRNP with the pre-mRNA. To identify other factors involved in histone pre-mRNA processing, we used a modified yeast two-hybrid assay in which SLBP and its RNA target were coexpressed as bait. A novel zinc finger protein, hZFP100, which interacts with the SLBP/RNA complex but not with free SLBP, was cloned. The interaction requires regions of SLBP that are important for histone pre-mRNA processing. Antibodies to hZFP100 precipitate U7 snRNA, and expression of hZFP100 in Xenopus oocytes stimulates processing of histone pre-mRNA, showing that hZFP100 is a component of the processing machinery.


Medical treatment of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) has drawn a lot of attention due to the recent demonstration of efficacy of several drugs on progression-free survival, including somatostatin analogs, small tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors (or rapalogs). The latter are approved as therapeutic agents in advanced pancreatic NETs and have been demonstrated to be effective in different types of NETs, with variable efficacy due to the development of resistance to treatment. Early detection of patients that may benefit from rapalogs treatment is of paramount importance in order to select the better treatment and avoid ineffective and expensive treatments. Predictive markers for therapeutic response are under intensive investigation, aiming at a tailored patient management and more appropriate resource utilization. This review summarizes the available data on the tissue, circulating and imaging markers that are potentially predictive of rapalog efficacy in NETs.


Abstract Generation Y or Millennials are descriptors for those born between 1982 and 2000. This cohort has grown up in the digital age and is purported to have different learning preferences from previous generations. Students are important stakeholders in identifying their preferred teaching and learning approaches in health professional programs. This study aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the best available evidence regarding the teaching and learning preferences of Generation Y health professional students. The review considered any objectively measured or self-reported outcomes of teaching and learning reported from Generation Y health professional student perspectives. In accordance with a previously published Joanna Briggs Institute Protocol, a three-step search strategy was completed. Two research articles (nursing and dental hygiene students) and three dissertations (nursing) were critically appraised. All studies were cross-sectional descriptive studies. A range of pedagogical approaches was reported, including lecture, group work, and teaching clinical skills. Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute levels of evidence, reviewers deemed the evidence as Level 3. Some generational differences were reported, but these were inconsistent across the studies reviewed. There is, therefore, insufficient evidence to provide specific recommendations for the preferred educational approaches of health professional students and further research is warranted.


The Greenland ice sheet has been losing mass in response to increased surface melting (Khan et al. 2015; van den Broeke et al. 2017) as well as discharge of ice from marine terminating outlet glaciers (van den Broeke et al. 2009; Box et al. 2018). Marine terminating outlet glaciers flow to the ocean where they lose mass by e.g. iceberg calving. Currently, the mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet is the largest Arctic contributor to global sea-level rise (van den Broeke et al. 2009, 2017; Box et al. 2018). Therefore, monitoring changes in the Greenland ice sheet is essential to provide policy makers with reliable data.
There is a consensus that most marine terminating outlet glaciers have retreated in recent decades, and that the increased calving rates are a response to recent atmospheric and oceanic warming (e.g. Box et al. 2018; Moon et al. 2018). The rate of dynamic mass loss is determined by changes of the glacier calving front (i.e. its terminus) position, ice thickness and changes in ice flow. Ocean temperature and fjord circulation also influence the calving front stability by melting the glacier below the water line, thinning the ice that is in contact with water (Moon et al. 2014). Change in calving front position is therefore an important indicator for monitoring the dynamic behaviour of the upstream area of the ice sheet, which is further modulated by local topographic features and buttressing effects (Rignot & Kanagaratnam 2006; Nick et al. 2009).
The Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE) is dedicated to monitoring changes in the mass budget of the Greenland ice sheet, including monitoring of the calving front lines of marine terminating outlet glaciers. Here, we present an updated collection of annual measurements of end-of-melt-season calving front lines for 47 marine terminating outlet glaciers in Greenland between 1999 and 2018. We also present an example application of the data set, in which we estimate area changes for this group of glaciers since 1999. The Greenland calving front lines were measured from optical satellite imagery obtained from Landsat, Aster, and Sentinel-2 (Table 1). The PROMICE calving front product is freely available for download as ESRI shapefiles.


Hard cases present a dilemma at the heart of constitutional law. Courts have a duty to decide them—to vindicate rights, to clarify law—but doing so leads to errors (judges do not know the "right answer") and strains the credibility of courts as impartial decisionmakers. Theories of constitutional adjudication tend to embrace one horn of this dilemma. We explore a principle for deciding hard cases that appreciates both. We argue that courts should decide hard cases against the party who could have more easily avoided the conflict in the first place. This is the conflict-avoidance principle. The principle builds on and systematizes "least cost avoidance" in private law and myriad constitutional doctrines. We apply the principle to several cases, generating insights into discrimination, affirmative action, religion, and so on. The principle represents a form of common-law constitutionalism, and it reveals connections between rights, markets, and state power. It also invites objections, to which we respond. Conflict avoidance is not "value-neutral," and it cannot resolve every hard case. But it can resolve many in a practical way.


Abstract : CL is a composition language for predictable assembly from certifiable components. An application assembly process is predictable if the runtime behavior of an assembly of components can be predicted from known properties of components and their patterns of interaction. CL is similar to other composition languages that combine a component and connector style of description with a core compositional semantics specified in a process algebra. CL differs from these in its explicit treatment of details that are usually abstracted or ignored. For example, CL makes explicit the allocation of execution threads to component behavior:, this distinguishes concurrent from sequential behavior, and leads to potentially smaller state spaces as well as more accurate behavioral descriptions. This report describes the main concepts of CL and its rudimentary graphical syntax. This report also defines and illustrates the compositional semantics for CL using Hoare's CSP. The twin objectives of this report are to consolidate our current thinking about an ideal CL and to provide a starting point for the design of a practical and implementable CL. This report closes with a discussion of several open issues that must be resolved before this second objective can be satisfied.


Background and aims Hospitalisation for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a significant event. We aimed to understand the factors leading to an incident admission and its impact on long term outcome in SLE patients in Western Australia (WA). Methods Using whole-population data linkage of hospital admissions, cancer registrations and death records in WA from 1980 to 2015, we performed a retrospective comparative analysis for all patients admitted with a first ever primary diagnosis of SLE (ICD-9-CM 695.4, 710.0, ICD-10-AM L93.0 and M32). For SLE patients, we analysed annual incident hospitalisation rates and compared patient characteristics, all-cause mortality and cancer risk (by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression) versus age- and gender-matched controls free of rheumatic disease. Results The incident hospitalisation rate for SLE (mean 20.9/million/year (CI: 11–35) showed little variation. SLE patients were younger, more likely to be Indigenous, uninsured, have kidney and cardiovascular disorders and to die during their first hospitalisation (Table 1). Cancer risk was equivalent, but a first admission for SLE doubled the risk of subsequent death (OR=1.99, CI: 1.5–2.7, p<0.001) (Figure 1, Table 2). Medicare reliance (OR 1.7, CI: 1.4–1.9, p=0.001) and male gender (OR 1.4, CI: 1.0–1.8, p<0.04) were the strongest independent predictors of death. Abstract 419 Table 1 Patient Characteristics (at incident SLE hospitalisation) and study outcomes. Abstract 419 Figure 1 Kalpan-Meier survival analysis of all-cause motality for SLE patients and age- and sex- matched controls (free of rheumatic disease) from index hospitalisation. Abstract 419 Figure 2 Kalpan-Meier survival analysis of cancer outcomes for SLE patients and age- & sex-matched controls (free of rheumatic disease conditions) from incident hospitalisation. Abstract 419 Table 2 Cox Regression analysis results for mortality risk factors in SLE patients with incident hospital admissions compared to controls. Conclusions Hospitalisation rates for SLE in WA have not decreased over 25 years. Once hospital-based management for SLE was required, the risk of all-cause mortality doubled compared to age and gender-matched controls. This risk was greatest in Medicare reliant or male SLE patients and not due to increased cancer risk.


This paper analyses the performance of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in delivering on its mandate since the organisation gained formal independence in the early-1990s. It utilises a political settlements approach, tracking how the distribution of power has shaped CBK's effectiveness over time. The paper finds that Kenya's political settlement has constrained CBK's performance in certain respects, particularly with regards to financial sector supervision, where the organisation must operate within a tight set of political constraints because of the sector's importance in enabling vital patronage networks and generating political financing for elections. This has often incentivised CBK governors to undertake incremental reforms that balance developmental and political interests; governors who have not been willing to compromise in this way have undermined the organisation's independence and autonomy by provoking a backlash. The paper also finds that Kenya's competitive clientelist political settlement has caused difficulties for CBK in undertaking its price stability mandate. This is particularly the case during election periods, when the organisation faces pressure to adopt a looser stance. Nonetheless, despite these pressures, the paper finds that CBK has, overall, been effective in delivering on its core mandate throughout the period under analysis, to the extent that it can be labelled a long-standing 'pocket of effectiveness'. This is because three other sets of factors have played a kind of countervailing role, by keeping CBK relatively insulated from the most corrosive aspects of Kenya's competitive clientelism. These are: transnational factors; ideas and ideology; and organisational-level factors, including CBK's leadership and its formal and informal sources of autonomy.


Literature supports the role of professional learning communities as a means of effective professional development for teachers and as a vital factor in increased student achievement. Research pertaining to the sustainability of the professional learning community is limited; therefore, this study was designed to provide insight into the sustainability of a professional learning community. The qualitative study was designed to investigate the type of culture that supported sustainability, the role leadership played in creating the conditions that support sustainability, and if changed teacher practices played a part in the sustainability of a professional learning community. The study's methodology applied the use of focus groups, individual interviews, participant observations, and document review.
Data from the participant observations, focus group interviews, individual interviews, and document review were analyzed using the principles of grounded theory. Based on the analysis of the data, four overriding themes emerged: 1) Learning Focused, 2) Collaboration, 3) Leadership, and 4) Barriers. The four emerging concepts were used as the framework for discussion.
The findings endorsed that professional learning communities can be can be sustained when a school's culture shifts to one that is collaborative and focused on learning, leadership is shared and distributed throughout the school, logistical and supportive conditions are in place, and teaching practices change as a result of using data to drive instruction.


This paper outlines the debate surrounding the emergence of the first 'global' economy and discusses the role within it of Africa. First, it outlines the case for arguing that the Indian Ocean World (IOW) rather than Europe should be considered the arena in which the first global economy developed. It subsequently examines the historical role of Africa within the IOW with particular emphasis on Africa's contribution to the IOW global economy and the possible repercussions such an analysis has for the historiography of Africa and the wider IOW.


Outsourcing of business processes and information technology (IT) operations
 is an important trend in large and middlesized organizations. However,
 outsourcing could affect the organization's ability to align its IT with
 business strategy and operations. This article reports a qualitative study
 into the relationship between IT outsourcing (ITO) and business and IT
 alignment. It aims to provide recommendations for outsourcers and service
 providers on how outsourcing relationships should develop in order to support
 business and IT alignment. The research question of the study is "What is the
 effect of IT outsourcing on the business and IT alignment of companies that
 have outsourced their IT?" After a review of relevant literature and
 concepts, four cases are reported. The study revealed that a higher level of
 motivation for outsourcing paired with a higher level of the relationship
 between outsourcer and service provider and with a higher level of alignment
 maturity of the outsourcer. The study also showed that the ITO relationship
 is influenced by organizational turbulence on one or either side of the
 relationship and that the service providers tend to assess the relationship
 on a higher level than the outsourcers. These conclusions provide relevant
 directions for both outsourcers and service providers for improvement of the
 their relationship.


In his magisterial, historically layered vision of Indian identity, The Discovery of India(1946), the third in a "complex triptych" of works which "synthesize personal life-writing, political memoir and public history," Jawaharlal Nehru describes Hindu nationalism as an undeniable but redundant part of the nation's ideological maturing. It was, he state, "a natural growth from the soil of India, but inevitably it comes in the way fo the larger nationalism which rises above differences of religion or creed." As Gyandendra Pandey argues, for nationalists such as Nehru, caught up in the momentous anticolonial struggle of the 1920s and 1930s, "communalism appeared as a great political threat, the most obvious source of danger for the advancing cause of nationalism." The answer, for India's future Prime Minister, was to advocate a progressive "refurbished" nationalism that focused on shared histories and ethnic syncretism, a counter-version of political identity that would become India's grand narrative in the immediate post-Independence period.


Ethanol has long been regarded as the optimal gasoline-alternative biofuel for spark-ignition (SI) engines. It is used widely in Latin and North America and is increasingly accepted as an attractive option across Europe. Nevertheless, its low energy density requires a high rate of manufacture; in areas which are deficient of arable land, such rates might prove problematic. Therefore, fuels with higher calorific values, such as butanol or 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) deserve consideration; a similar yield to ethanol, in theory, would require much less land. This report addresses the suitability of DMF, to meet the needs as a biofuel substitute for gasoline in SI engines, using ethanol as the biofuel benchmark. Specific attention is given to the sensitivity of DMF to various engine control parameters: combustion phasing (ignition timing), injection timing, relative air-fuel ratio and valve timing (intake and exhaust). Focus is given to the window for optimization; the parameter range which sustains optimal IMEP (within 2%) but provides the largest reduction of emissions (HC or NOx). The test results using a single cylinder SI research engine at 1500rpm show how DMF is less sensitive to key engine parameters, compared to gasoline. This allows a wider window for emissions optimization because the IMEP remains optimal across a greater parameter range. Copyright © 2012 SAE International.


By definition, benign epilepsy syndromes occur in patients with no significant prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal complications, normal psychomotor development and negative laboratory and neuroimaging work-up, respond well to therapy, and remit without sequeale. The benign localization-related epilepsy syndromes of childhood include benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, Panayiotopoulos syndrome and Gastaut-type idiopathic childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms. Some patients initially presumed to have these or, for that matter, other benign syndromes in other age groups, follow a less typical course and continue to experience seizures or to exhibit neuropsychological deficits. Thus the diagnosis of a "possible" or "probable" benign epilepsy syndrome may need to be applied to patients initially suspected of having such syndromes until follow-up shows that they clearly follow a benign course. In Part I (Chahine and Mikati 2006) of our two-part review article, we discussed benign localization-related syndromes encountered in infancy. In this second part, we review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, neuropsychological features, EEG findings, work-up and diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, genetics, management and prognosis of the three childhood-onset syndromes. In addition, we discuss their occasional overlap with or progression into other syndromes.


Due to its cost-effectiveness and repeatability of observations, high resolution optical satellite remote sensing has become a major technology for land use and land cover mapping. However, inventory compilers for the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector are still mostly relying on annual census and periodic surveys for such inventories. This study proposes a new approach based on per-pixel supervised classification using Sentinel-2 imagery from 2016 for mapping greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with the LULUCF sector in Wallonia, Belgium. The Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS) of 2015 was used as training data and reference data to validate the map produced. Then, we investigated the performance of four widely used classifiers (maximum likelihood, random forest, k-nearest neighbor, and minimum distance) on different training sample sizes. We also studied the use of the rich spectral information of Sentinel-2 data as well as single-date and multitemporal classification. Our study illustrates how open source data can be effectively used for land use and land cover classification. This classification, based on Sentinel-2 and LUCAS, offers new opportunities for LULUCF inventory of greenhouse gas on a European scale.


Objectives: Bevacizumab is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody used in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Despite the large number of studies carried out in patients with recurrent GBM, little is known about the administration of this angiogenesis inhibitor after the failure of the second-line chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, on behalf of the Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology, we reported the results obtained in 51 patients with recurrent GBM treated with single-agent bevacizumab after the failure of second-line chemotherapy with fotemustine. Results: In March 2016, at the time of data analysis, 3 patients (14.4%) were still alive with stable disease, whereas 48 died due to disease progression. Kaplan-Meier estimated median survival from the diagnosis of GBM was 28 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.1-33.9 mo). Median survival measured from the beginning of fotemustine and bevacizumab therapy were 11.3 (95% CI, 8.4-13.6 mo) and 6 months (95% CI, 3.8-8.1 mo), respectively. The 6- and 12-month progression free survival rates from the beginning of bevacizumab treatment were 18% and 13%, respectively. Conclusions: On the basis of our data, in patients with recurrent GBM, the failure of a second-line chemotherapy with cytotoxic agents might not exclude the administration of bevacizumab as third-line chemotherapy.


Autonomous landing on unknown extraterrestrial bodies requires fast, noise-resistant motion processing to elicit appropriate steering commands. Flying insects excellently master visual motion sensing techniques to cope with highly parallel data at a low energy cost, using dedicated motion processing circuits. Results obtained in neurophysiological, behavioural, and biorobotic studies on insect flight control were used to safely land a spacecraft on the Moon in a simulated environment. ESA's Advanced Concepts Team has identified autonomous lunar landing as a relevant situation for testing the potential applications of innovative bio-inspired visual guidance systems to space missions. Biomimetic optic flow-based strategies for controlling automatic landing were tested in a very realistic simulated Moon environment. Visual information was provided using the PANGU software program and used to regulate the optic flow generated during the landing of a two degrees of freedom spacecraft. The results of the simulation showed that a single elementary motion detector coupled to a regulator robustly controlled the autonomous descent and the approach of the simulated moonlander. "Low gate" located approximately 10 m above the ground was reached with acceptable vertical and horizontal speeds of 4 m/s and 5 m/s, respectively. It was also established that optic flow sensing methods can be used successfully to cope with temporary sensor blinding and poor lighting conditions.


In many Future Internet visions, a node is assumed to be connected to a multitude of possibly virtualized networks, each being optimized for a specific application. Within such a network, application-tailored network architectures and protocols provide communication services between the nodes. In order to handle such a number of different architectures and protocols, new management paradigms need to be considered, allowing for a flexible and extensible Future Internet. In this work, we therefore propose a management model for the Future Internet that provides flexibility and extensibility regarding node management while mastering complexity by a hierarchical management structure that allows for information aggregation and task delegation.


This study investigated the effects of a seasonally variable forage resource on herbivore population dynamics. This involved estimating the relative importance of environmental conditions, and the accessible and used forage resources, at different stages of the seasonal cycle to herbivores in different life-stages and at different points in the reproductive cycle. This study was carried out in the Richtersveld region in South Africa, using goats kept by semi-nomadic Nama pastoralists. In the main study site, the Richtersveld National Park (RNP), herd movements follow a general seasonal migratory pattern: herds are based in the riparian zone of the Orange River during the dry season, and on plains away from the river in the wet season. Over 800 uniquely marked female goats in three life-stages (adults, yearlings and kids) were monitored over a three year period (2007 to 2009). These goats were weighed at 2 3 month intervals to provide an estimate of body condition. Browse availability in the riparian zone was estimated using measurements at an individual branch-level and a whole tree-level. FPAR satellite imagery was used to estimate forage abundance outside the riparian zone. Goat density was mapped for each week of the study using census data and the herd positions. Goat body condition, survival rates and fecundity rates for each life-stage were modelled as a response to forage availability, density and climatic conditions. The riparian zone in the RNP was found to function as the key resource of the RNP goat population. Forage depletion by goat browsing resulted in a negative feedback on goat body condition. This decline in body condition was directly related to lower adult survival over the dry season. Fecundity was also most influenced by dry season conditions through the negative effect of poor body condition on pregnancy rates and birth rates. Asymmetric competition between life-stages, resulting from the riparian browse profile being depleted from the bottom-up, was predicted to have a strong effect on goat demography by contributing to differences in body condition and survival rates between life-stages. Wet season conditions appeared to have little effect on goat population dynamics, either through increased neonate survival or through a mass carry-over effect influencing dry season survival. Goat body condition and


A Look at the Past: Introduction and History Nearly all living things may be called artisans, designers, and builders. We need only to look around us in our environment. We can see that birds, animals, insects, and marine or aquatic life build "homes" for many of the same reasons that humans do. We can see nests of all kinds, burrows, and tunnels that are carefully designed using the materials that nature has provided in an efficient and resourceful manner. They provide many of the same benefits that we, as humans, expect from our homes. These expectations include shelter from the weather--to keep us warm and provide a measure of safety. In the case of many animals, shelter also provides a measure of protection from predators. Looking back in time, the earliest of humans were thought to have been cave or cliff dwellers and nomads. Ancient artifacts reveal that in many parts of the world early humans were hunters and gatherers of food as a means of survival. Nomadic peoples traditionally designed and constructed tents from animal hides, wool, and other natural materials. No matter what the societal organization was at the time, whether cave dweller or nomad, the focus of shelter needs was a natural process and complementary to the environment. Cave and cliff dwellers may have changed the properties of a cave or cliff to more readily meet their needs or perhaps added a fire pit to generate warmth, roast food, or fire ceramic wares, but their impact was probably minimal. Much like humans, animals and insects construct structures to meet their needs. Look at a squirrel's nest and you will see that it consists of leaves and twigs that are carefully assembled to tie the nest to the limbs of a tree for warmth and security. Many species of birds are magnificent builders that use materials close at hand and readily available to build nests. Some birds will use twigs and needle-like leaves from pine trees, while others may make a composite of dried grasses and mud that makes for a strong and durable nest. Yet other large birds of prey may use large and heavy sticks to build a nest, while a sparrow prefers the soft texture of lichens. In the end, most all of these animal structures complement the ways of nature and are reclaimed in time or even recycled and used by other birds! In time, humans began to develop societal organizations that eventually would become what we know as towns and cities. As people began to develop societal organizations, we can see an increase in the sophistication in the design of their structures. Some of the oldest structures that remain are very impressive--such as the Great Pyramids in Giza, the Roman Coliseum, and the Parthenon of Greece, built on the Acropolis in Athens. Stonehenge, a massive circular megalithic monument on the Salisbury Plain in southern England, is the most famous of all prehistoric structures (Info Please). While many of these famous structures still survive, most were temples or monuments recognizing rulers and elite classes of the past. However, the Greeks are noted for their focus on the comforts of the living. They used their time and resources to invent what we call necessities today-such as flush toilets and running water. (Ross, p. 36) Today there are few remains of dwellings used by common folk from ancient times. What we do know is that early humans made extensive use of natural materials that were readily available to them. Additionally, many early dwellings capitalized on the passive nature of the sun's energy, geography, and climate. As the world's population grew, there also was an increase in the demand for buildings and homes. Perhaps the industrial revolution may have, in part, been responsible for the change in the way that homes and buildings were constructed. During the industrial revolution, the engines of industry expanded their quest for technology and energy. The invention of the steam engine, discovery of low-cost petroleum, improvements in coal mining, and the invention of rail transportation helped provide an environment that changed the way that people designed and constructed buildings and other products because of the benefits of concentrated energy. …


Between‐individual variance in potential reproductive rate theoretically creates a load in reproducing populations by driving sexual selection of male traits for winning competitions, and female traits for resisting the costs of multiple mating. Here, using replicated experimental evolution under divergent operational sex ratios (OSR, 9:1 or 1:6 ♀:♂) we empirically identified the parallel reproductive fitness consequences for females and males in the promiscuous flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Our results revealed clear evidence that sexual conflict resides within the T. castaneum mating system. After 20 generations of selection, females from female‐biased OSRs became vulnerable to multiple mating, and showed a steep decrease in reproductive fitness with an increasing number of control males. In contrast, females from male‐biased OSRs showed no change in reproductive fitness, irrespective of male numbers. The divergence in reproductive output was not explained by variation in female mortality. Parallel assays revealed that males also responded to experimental evolution: individuals from male‐biased OSRs obtained 27% greater reproductive success across 7‐day competition for females with a control male rival, compared to males from the female‐biased lines. Subsequent assays suggest that these differences were not due to postcopulatory sperm competitiveness, but to precopulatory/copulatory competitive male mating behavior.


Agriculture sector is the third engine of growth for the Malaysian economy. The government has recognized agriculture sector as a valuable prospect that must be explored. Within the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, the agriculture sector has been restructured in particular to improve its service quality. The objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the services provided by the Selangor Area Farmers' Organisations (AFOs) under the Farmers Organisation Authority (FOA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry to their members Farmers, under the Farmers' Organisations of the FOA have certain expectations about the services they received. These expectations are beliefs about the upcoming services, which when compared with the perceived actual service delivered will influence the level of satisfaction of farmers and the judgment of AFOs and FOA's overall service quality.
The most popular measure of service quality, the SERVQUAL was used in this study to evaluate the quality of service provided in terms of what farmers expect and what they actually received. The SERVQUAL consists of five dimensions of service quality namely tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. A pair of 22-item likert scale questions were used in this study to measure the levels of expectation and perception of farmers.
An analysis covering 104 farmers of Selangor area farmers' associations were selected as respondents. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the demographic traits of the respondents. Gap Analysis was used to identify the differences between farmers' expectations and perceptions. Factor analysis was used to determine the underlying patterns of the statements made in the 22-items of the SERVQUAL instrument and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to further examine the relationship among those underlying patterns.
This study revealed that there was an overall service quality gap between expectations and perceptions of -0.6306. The responsiveness dimension represented the lowest score (-0.6899) on the SERVQUAL scale, followed by tangibles (-0.6779), reliability (-0.6500), assurance (-0.5697) and empathy (-0.5654). Results of the factor analysis show that three factors had eigenvalue greater than 1.0. These three factors were work ethics (11.812), customer care (1.036) and appearance (1.008). Results of the logistic regression analysis show the odds ratio of those three factors reveals that when holding all other independent variables constant, for each one-point increase on the five-point work ethics, customer care and appearance scale, there is a 7.880, 7.909 and 6.382 times more likely that members of the Selangor Area Farmers' Organisation will be satisfied with the quality of services provided respectively.
Results from the gap analysis can provide important information for the FOA to plan and develop more programs for improving the quality of services delivered by the FO's to the farmers. With such programs, it would help to improve service quality of AFOs so that the gap between expectations and perceptions among the farmers can be narrowed. Meanwhile, results obtained in the factor analysis and logistic regression provided an extra data and information to the Area Farmers' Organisations in Selangor by revealing the unseen factors that could be useful to them. The analysis founded that, factors such as work ethics, customer care and appearance are significant to service quality. FOA should applied these factors as an indicator to enhance the service quality.


HPRAXELLA (BRANHAMELIA) CATARRHALIS: A MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY by Lyndell R. Gill HoyaxelXfl fBranhamella) catarrhalis is the third-mostfrequently isolated microorganism associated with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in patients during their stay at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center (MHVAMC). In order to develop a practical, epidemiologically-meaningful typing method for H. (fi.J catarrhalis,. we tested two methods based on analysis of chromosomal DNA for typeability, reproducibility, and ability to differentiate between unrelated strains (discriminatory power, £). M. (£.) catarrhalis isolants from MHVAMC from 7/1/87 6/30/88 were grown overnight in broth and embedded in agarose. DNA was isolated by standard methods. The DNA was subjected to: 1) restriction endonuclease digestion (with either Bal II or Pme I) followed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and 2) restriction endonuclease digestion (with Hae III), followed by horizontal gel electrophoresis, Southern transfer and hybridization with a £3* (£.) catarrhalis-specific DNA probe (M46). Reliable and reproducible patterns were produced from 144 of 159 isolants (91%) using Hae III, 155 of 159 (97%) using Pme I, and all isolants using Bal II. Three clusters of isolants, Groups A (n=18), B (n=l8), and C (n«12) were detected. Within each group, isolants were identical by all typing methods tested. Chart review revealed no apparent epidemiologic link for Group A, while in Group B, 16 of 18 patients were housed on two wards, and in Group C, all cases occurred within two months, suggesting epidemiologic links within Groups B and C. Comparisons of results from isolants from various wards and isolants from outpatients were used to determine £ of each method. Digestion with Pme I followed by PFGE was the most discriminating technique (£ » 0.978) followed by Bol II with PFGE (£ 0.962), then M46 probe hybridization (£ ** 0.929). The restriction endonucleases Pme I and Bol II were highly discriminating and useful in the epidemiologic typing of H. (£.) catarrhalis. While useful, the M46 probe following Hae III digestion was not as discriminating.


In view of the vibration failure of drilling string system in ultra-high temperature and high pressure (ultra-HPHT) curved wells, an axial-lateral-torsion coupling (ALTC) nonlinear vibration model of drilling string system was established using energy method and Hamiltonian principle, in which, the influence of wellbore trajectory change, wellbore constraint, interaction between bit and rock and ultra-HPHT of wellbore on elastic modulus and viscosity of drilling fluid were taken into account. The finite element method (FEM) is used to realize the numerical solution of the nonlinear vibration model. The correctness and validity of the ALTC nonlinear vibration model was verified by comparing the measured data of four ultra-HPHT wells with the theoretical calculation results of the proposed model. The research results provide a theoretically sound guidance for designing and practically sound approach for effectively improving rate of penetration (ROP) and the service life of drilling string in ultra-HPHT curved wells.


In the southernmost Longitudinal Valley (LV), Taiwan, we analyzed a dense GPS array composed of 10 continuous stations and 86 campaign-mode stations. By removing the effects of the four major earthquakes (one regional and three local) occurred during the 1992 - 2010 observation period, we derived a new horizontal velocity field in this area, which then allows better locating the surface traces of the major active faults, including the Longitudinal Valley Fault (LVF) system and the Central Range Fault, and characterizing the slip behaviors along the faults. Note that LVF reveals two sub-parallel strands in the study area: the Luyeh Fault to the west and the Lichi Fault to the east. Based on the results of strain analyses, including dilatation and shear strain, and projected vectors of station velocities across the major faults, we came to the following geological interpretations. During the inter-seismic periods, the surface deformation of the southernmost LV is mainly accommodated by the faulting on the two branches of the LVF; there is very little surface deformation on the Central Range Fault. The Luyeh River appears to act as a boundary to divide the LVF to behave differently to its northern and southern sides. The Lichi Fault reveals a change of slip kinematics from an oblique shearing/thrusting in the north to a nearly pure shearing with minor extension to the south. Regarding the slip behavior of the Luyeh Fault, it exhibits a creeping behavior in the north and a partially near-surface-locked faulting behavior in the south. We interpret that the two strands of the LVF merge together in the northern Taitung alluvial plain and turns to E-W trend toward the offshore area.


This chapter provides an overview of how genome sequence data are changing our understanding of the mechanisms and evolution of plant pathogenesis, and discusses the opportunities and challenges genome data present for future research. The majority of plant pathogenic bacteria contain large numbers of genomic islands, and it is clear that in many cases they play an essential role in disease. Genes encoding the P. syringae phytotoxins coronatine and syringomycin reside on PIs, as do their recently discovered counterparts in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica SCR1043. Pathogenicity and virulence factors have received the greatest focus in the genomic analysis of plant pathogens. Protein secretion systems are essential for pathogenesis in most plant pathogenic bacteria and have been extensively studied, particularly in proteobacterial pathogens. The phytohormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA or auxin) is produced by many phytopathogenic bacteria. IAA production has been shown to contribute to in planta and epiphytic growth, virulence, and the regulation of syringomycin in P. syringae. Genome analyses of plant pathogens have highlighted three aspects of physiological adaptation to life on plants: specialization, innovation, and flexibility. A largely uninvestigated element in understanding the content and function of plant pathogen genomes, particularly the genomes of facultative plant pathogens, rests on understanding what plant pathogenic bacteria do when not causing disease.


Due to its superior electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties, graphene is considered to be the most promising candidate for constructing energy storage and conversion devices. One important way to exploit the potential of graphene is to create graphene composites with other functional materials. Graphene-based hybrid composites (GHCs) have been fabricated by incorporating inorganic and/or organic species into graphene through covalent and/or noncovalent interactions. Different methods of fabrication resulted in different properties of GHCs. So far, GHCs have found wide applications in various sectors. In this article, recent progress and achievements in the preparation of two- and three-dimensional GHCs are reviewed, followed by detailed discussions on their physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The article then focuses on the detailed applications of GHCs in energy storage and conversion devices.


Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) stimulates reentry to the cell cycle, and this is a key step in adipogenesis. Abella et al. present evidence that suggests that, in addition to this cell cycle role, CDK4 also directly interacts with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) to regulate adipocyte differentiation and biology. CDK4 was detectable by immunohistochemistry in mature mouse adipose tissue and was catalytically active when isolated from differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes or primary mouse adipocytes. Whereas 3T3-L1 preadipocytes expressed CDK4 and rapidly divided, the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes expressed CDK4 but were relatively quiescent. Addition of the CDK4 inhibitor 2-bromo-12, 12-dihydro-5H-indolo(2,3-a)pyrrolo (3,4) carbazole (IDCX), either before clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (the stage of rapid cell proliferation) or after clonal expansion, blocked adipocyte differentiation, which is further support for a cell cycle-independent role for CDK4. Treatment of fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with IDCX inhibited uptake of glucose in response to insulin despite causing a higher basal level of glucose uptake, which appeared to be due to increased abundance of Glut-1 transporter mRNA. Expression of several genes involved in glucose transport and homeostasis, as well as genes involved in lipogenesis, was inhibited by IDCX treatment. As detected in a reporter gene assay in transfected COS cells, CDK4 stimulated PPARγ-regulated gene expression through a mechanism that required the kinase activity of CDK4. PPARγ and CDK4 were found to directly interact in coimmunoprecipitation experiments in transfected cells and in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments showed that in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but not undifferentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, CDK4 and PPARγ were bound to the promoter of the PPARγ target gene aP2. Thus, CDK4 appears to be involved in directly regulating gene expression through interactions with transcription factors at the promoter. A. Abella, P. Dubus, M. Malumbres, S. G. Rane, H. Kiyokawa, A. Sicard, F. Vignon, D. Langin, M. Barbacid, L. Fajas, Cdk4 promotes adipogenesis through PPARγ activation. Cell Metabolism 2, 239-249 (2005). [PubMed]


Over the XX century a great number of cities experienced unprecedented
growth of population and expansion of their territory. As a result of this process
peripheries of many cities became occupied by shantytowns and urban sprawl,
faceless and often unstructured settlements. The main aim of the present work
is to define a possible way to improve such deteriorated urban environments by
the example of the city of Santa Coloma de Gramenet located in Barcelona
Metropolitan area.
Santa Coloma de Gramenet is an explicit example of a city that underwent a
stage of fast uncontrolled growth. Due to mass immigration to Catalonia that
took place in the second half of XX century this city housed numerous families
of industrial workers. Acute demand for affordable housing caused burst of civil
construction during which surrounding territory was intensively urbanized.
Developers working here were acting independently, without any kind of
coordination, not taking in account the city as a whole, hence collective interests
were neglected in favor of private ones. As a result of such unrestricted growth
present Santa Coloma lacks unifying structure, it is a territory without a model.
The urban fabric of Santa Coloma consists of numerous patches characterized
by different grids and patterns. Tension between patches with different grids
produces conflicting areas - points of discontinuity, areas where urban fabric
loses coherence and open space is presented as a merely residual land left
after urbanization.
In order to improve urban form of Santa Coloma we propose to affect exactly
these points. We propose to create in these deteriorated areas a net of local
centers by inserting there new buildings with diverse programs. These centers
will become places where citizens are able to find different public services and
amenities within walking distance. Moreover, each center will acquire certain
identity and character by creating an impressive public space, a scenery of
social life. In order to elaborate conditions generating identity we examine urban
space as a combination of its elements. After definition of basic constituent
parts we try to formulate a pattern of characteristics that would be presented in
each of local centers. This recurring set of signs will endow urban space of
Santa Coloma with recognizable familiarity.
As a result of this transformation the city of Santa Coloma will obtain
distinctive identity and will become more meaningful for its citizens. The network
of new urban spaces will facilitate navigation and give the city a clear image.
Facilities concentrated in new nuclei of urbanity will promote social interaction
and encourage creation of tight-knit communities. Generally the set of aforementioned measures is intended to change existing peripheral status of
Santa Coloma and to turn it into self-contained urban entity.
Nowadays in developed countries dynamics of urban expansion slowed down
whereas improvement of existing environments is becoming primary objective.
Considering this, the strategy and methods of transformation for shapeless
areas will remain relevant for future development of peripheral territories
throughout the world.


Family businesses make up more than 60% of all listed companies in South-east Asia and its succession is considered as one of the company priorities. In Indonesia, about 30% of familyowned businesses survive into the second generation, 10% make it to the third generation, and only 2% make it to the fourth generation. The decline of family business continuity is affected by several factors and the main factor is succession management. Family business succession can be done by preparing and equipping the successors for a business transition and in this case, Dharma Samudera Fishing Industries Ltd has planned the succession. The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences between first and second generationmindset and decision making style in Dharma Samudera Fishing Industries Ltd. The paper sets outgeneration gap in Dharma Samudera Fishing Industries Ltd that can be anuseful information for other family business enterprises.


Freedom of speech has been essential in building democracy in Lithuania after regaining its independence. Exercise of the constitutional freedom of expression (Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania) within the societies following constitutional values is the major factor shaping the political will of citizens. Wide-ranging, all round public discussion about all public interest issues is possible only when it is subject to due freedom of information. In indirect democracy, strong disseminator of information acting between citizens and the Parliament able to create the field for discussion and mutual impact is a necessity. Significance, quality, all-roundedness of discussion on all public interest issues is the major factor determining correct choices of citizens and politicians. Restriction of freedom of expression and information or prohibition of free search, receipt and dissemination thereof shall be considered as subjugation of a human being as a free and autonomous creature. Freedom of speech is a highly important feature in building democracy. The media in Lithuania during two decades of democracy building has actively made the use of freedom of self-expression. The courts have solved a lot of case-laws, where freedom of speech, honour, dignity and private life were at stake. The Parliament, the Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg, the Government, the Inspector of Journalist Ethics and the Commission on Journalists and Publishers Ethics, the courts of Lithuania – all institutions took part in the process of defining freedom of speech and its limits in Lithuania during two decades of its independence. The purpose of this publication is to identify if the case-law of Lithuania's courts in balancing the contradictions between the freedom of self-expression and personal dignity, honour and private life is in line with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, jurisprudence of the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg. Defining if the case-law of Lithuania's courts are in line with the jurisprudence of the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg, the research is concentrated on legal tests applied in the case-law of freedom of speech – distinguishing between public and private figures, estimating disseminated information as facts or value-judgments, freedom of speech decriminalization problems, compensation in respect of pecuniary damage.


The relative susceptibility of individuals and groups to systematic judgmental biases is considered. An overview of the relevant empirical literature reveals no clear or general pattern. However, a theoretical analysis employing J. H. Davis's (1973) social decision scheme (SDS) model reveals that the relative magnitude of individual and group bias depends upon several factors, including group size, initial individual judgment, the magnitude of bias among individuals, the type of bias, and most of all, the group-judgment process. It is concluded that there can be no simple answer to the question, "Which are more biased, individuals or groups?," but the SDS model offers a framework for specifying some of the conditions under which individuals are both more and less biased than groups.


Objective To describe the patient population, priority diseases and outcomes in newborns admitted <48 hours old to neonatal units in both Kenya and Nigeria. Study design In a network of seven secondary and tertiary level neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya, we captured anonymised data on all admissions <48 hours of age over a 6-month period. Results 2280 newborns were admitted. Mean birthweight was 2.3 kg (SD 0.9); 57.0% (1214/2128) infants were low birthweight (LBW; <2.5kg) and 22.6% (480/2128) were very LBW (VLBW; <1.5 kg). Median gestation was 36 weeks (interquartile range 32, 39) and 21.6% (483/2236) infants were very preterm (gestation <32 weeks). The most common morbidities were jaundice (987/2262, 43.6%), suspected sepsis (955/2280, 41.9%), respiratory conditions (817/2280, 35.8%) and birth asphyxia (547/2280, 24.0%). 18.7% (423/2262) newborns died; mortality was very high amongst VLBW (222/472, 47%) and very preterm infants (197/483, 40.8%). Factors independently associated with mortality were gestation <28 weeks (adjusted odds ratio 11.58; 95% confidence interval 4.73–28.39), VLBW (6.92; 4.06–11.79), congenital anomaly (4.93; 2.42–10.05), abdominal condition (2.86; 1.40–5.83), birth asphyxia (2.44; 1.52–3.92), respiratory condition (1.46; 1.08–2.28) and maternal antibiotics within 24 hours before or after birth (1.91; 1.28–2.85). Mortality was reduced if mothers received a partial (0.51; 0.28–0.93) or full treatment course (0.44; 0.21–0.92) of dexamethasone before preterm delivery. Conclusion Greater efforts are needed to address the very high burden of illnesses and mortality in hospitalized newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions need to address priority issues during pregnancy and delivery as well as in the newborn.


Using social worlds as a framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between event travel career progression with travel behavior and related intentions. As such, this study has depicted the evolving behaviors and preferences of active sport tourists in an effort to improve the localized impact of events. Using previous research on social worlds and active sport event travel careers, the authors have hypothesized that differences in social worlds immersion would be present based on event participation, travel party conditions, flow-on tourism activities, and repeat/revisit intentions, as well as differences in flow-on tourism activities based on travel conditions. In partnership with a large running festival in the Midwest United States, data were collected and analyzed to test these hypotheses (N = 2,219). The results indicated support for the hypotheses previously outlined. Theoretical contributions to the study of active sport tourism and practical implications for the management of events and destinations are discussed.


Latest progresses in breast imaging using differential phase contrast technique pose the question how to fuse multiple information (yielded by the absorption, differential phase, and scattering signals) into a single, but more informative image for clinical diagnosis and evaluation. In this work, we propose an image fusion scheme based on the multiple-resolution (MR) framework. The three signals are first transformed into multiple bands presenting information at different frequency and then a two-step processing follows: section 3.2 an intra-band processing enhances the local signal-to-noise ratio using a novel noise estimation method and context modeling; section 3.3 an inter-band processing weights each band by considering their characteristics and contributions, as well as suppressing the global noise level. The fused image, which looks similar to conventional mammogram but with significantly enhanced detail features, is then reconstructed by inverse transform. This fused image is compatible with clinical settings and enables the radiologists to use their years of diagnosis experiences in mammography.


Objectives To investigate the prevalence and correlates of concurrent (overlapping) sexual partnerships among female sex workers (FSWs) and their non-commercial male partners in two Mexico–US border cities. Methods A cross-sectional survey of FSWs and their non-commercial male partners was conducted in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (2010–2011). Eligible FSWs and verified non-commercial partners were aged ≥18 years; FSWs had ever used hard drugs (lifetime) and recently exchanged sex for money, drugs or other goods (past month). Participants underwent baseline questionnaires obtaining dates of sex and condom use with ≤5 other recurring partners, including FSWs' regular clients. These dates were compared with dates of sex with enrolled study partners to determine overlap (ie, 'recurring' concurrency). Bivariate probit regression identified recurring concurrency correlates. Results Among 428 individuals (214 couples), past-year recurring concurrency prevalence was 16% and was higher among women than their non-commercial male partners (26% vs 6%). In 10 couples (5%), both partners reported recurring concurrency. The majority of couples (64%) always had unprotected sex, and most of the individuals (70%) with recurring concurrency 'sometimes' or 'never' used condoms with their concurrent partners. Recurring concurrency was positively associated with FSWs' income, men's caballerismo (a form of traditional masculinity) and men's belief that their FSW partners had sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conclusions Recurring concurrency, representing sustained periods of overlapping partnerships in which unprotected sex was common, should be addressed by couple-based STI prevention interventions.


Rotating flows with elliptically strained streamlines suffer from parametric resonance instability between a pair of Kelvin waves whose azimuthal wavenumbers are separated by two. We address the weakly nonlinear amplitude evolution of three-dimensional (3D) Kelvin waves, in resonance, on a flow confined in a cylinder of elliptic cross-section. In a traditional Eulerian approach, derivation of the mean flow induced by nonlinear interaction of Kelvin waves stands as an obstacle. We show how a topological idea, or the Lagrangian approach, facilitates calculation of the wave-induced mean flow. A steady incompressible Euler flow is characterized as a state of the maximum of the total kinetic energy with respect to perturbations constrained to an isovortical sheet, and the isovortical perturbation is handled only in terms of the Lagrangian variables. The criticality in energy of a steady flow allows us to calculate the wave-induced mean flow only from the linear Lagrangian displacement. With the mean flow at hand, the Lagrangian approach provides us with a shortcut to enter into a weakly nonlinear amplitude evolution regime of 3D disturbances. Unlike the Eulerian approach, the amplitude equations are available directly in the Hamiltonian normal form.


Early non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) significantly reduced the death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, there are vast differences in how quickly governments implemented NPIs. In this paper, we analyze the role of public attention, measured as the share of daily Google searches in a country related to COVID-19, in the timing of the NPI responses. We first show that public attention depends strongly on whether there are cases in own country. We then show that countries with high levels of public attention are more likely to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions, even after controlling for the number of cases and deaths. Finally, we show that the extent to which a government responds to public attention is highly dependent on the country's institutional quality. The positive effect of public attention on policy implementation is driven entirely by countries with good institutions.


Introduction Owing to safety and quality concerns raised by BSG in 1990s, Community Based Endoscopy (CBE) rapidly declined. In 2014 CBE is back on the agenda with CCGs demanding a safe, high-quality, sub-tariff, 7 day endoscopy service close to the patient's home, at a time of the patient's choosing. We describe 5 years experience of a fully JAG accredited consultant-delivered completely mobile endoscopy service provided in shopping centre car parks throughout Greater Manchester (GM). Methods In 2007, concept emerged out of a tender from 10 PCTs demanding safe and high quality endoscopy in the community. A linked-3-trailer unit with spacious waiting area for patients/relatives, consent-counselling, preparation, examination, decontamination and recovery areas. with its own – water, electricity, waste disposal, e-communications and administration network was commissioned with integral office, staff kitchen/rest room and changing area. All staff undergo rigorous mandatory induction and regular updates, CPD, audits as per JAG. Emergency scenarios are regularly rehearsed and audited. Full complement of ALS certified staff support consultants 8 am–8 pm, 7/7 [360] days in diagnostic UGI and LGI endoscopies [including polypectomies] and deliver 36 units/day. All patients undergo JAG-standard monitoring of pulse, BP, O2 saturation, sedation and pain scores. All records are paperless, live and e-MAXIM andUNISOFT-based. All patients are contacted within 24 h by an experienced nurse to record any untoward incident. Patient and family feedback and regular meetings with GP allows total quality management in service delivery. Though no age limit, patients with IDDM, BMI >40, >25st and ASA≥3+ are excluded. Quarterly audits are shared with commissioners. Unit relocates biweekly to 7 convenient locations with adjacent free parking. Results Of 26599 (10539 UGI, 10583 Flexi-Sig, 5477 Colonoscopy) procedures, 1 in 3 patients opted for out-of-hours or weekend as first choice. LGI- 93% good-bowel prep, 91% caecal intubation, 8.8% adenoma detection, 97% polyp recovery and 100% Bx for diarrhoea. UGI- 98% D2 intubation, 100% 6 week repeat for GU, 84% unsedated. Biannual JAG-GRS compliant audits showed 0% 30 day mortality, 0% UGI SAE and 5 (0.018%) unplanned hospital admissions 4 requiring surgery due to colon perforation [one post-flexi detected in the unit (diverticular disease), 1 from polypectomy, 2 diagnostic colonoscopy] and fifth due to hyponatremia (CitraFleet – now discontinued) requiring electrolyte correction. Conclusion CBE is ready for prime time, just at the right time, as commissioners are now seeking more care in the community wherever safely possible. We however, recommend caution as model for sub-tariff CBE endoscopy from static sites needs to be first piloted. Disclosure of Interest None Declared.


The number of Americans over 65 years of age has increased rapidly in recent years. This population of older Americans will increase even more as the Baby Boomers begin reaching 65 in the year 2010. One of the greatest challenges in public health today is the increasing number of older adults who suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases and disability. Chronic diseases can be addressed by modifying risk factors and are not an inevitable consequence of aging. There is a great need to design community based multiple risk factor interventions that emphasize disease prevention. The Center for Healthy Aging recruited a population of healthy, at risk, older adults in southwestern Pennsylvania for a randomized community based intervention program. The program targeted adults aged ≥65, based upon "10 Keys"™ to Healthy Aging. The intervention evaluated (1) Brief Education and Counseling Intervention or (2) Brief Education and Counseling Intervention plus a Physical Activity and Dietary intervention for individuals with hypertension. Recruitment strategies included a direct mail campaign using voter registration lists and telephone follow-up. Health assessment data was collected at six month intervals through 24 month follow-up. Health behavior counseling and the Prevention in Practice Report were provided to participants in both programs as tools to advocate behavior change. A total of 951 households responded (8.2% response rate) and 541 participants from 444 households were randomized. After 24 months adherence to the "10 Keys"™ improved significantly in a number of areas. There was, however, no difference between the two groups in physical activity or changes in performance based measures related to physical activity. This prevention program resulted in significant reduction in key risk factors, immunization and screening over 2 years to established prevention guidelines for older adults. Further public health research is needed on the use of health advisors/health counselors to maximize public health prevention in individuals over 65. Empowering individuals regarding their own risk factor status for screenings, immunizations, and lifestyle changes could successfully impact the quality of health in community settings.


Penicillium simplicissimum has previously been shown to solubilize pre-oxidized alkali-extracted sub-bituminous coal. The product of solubilization, a soluble acid-precipitable coal polymer, was isolated and characterized. The effects of oxidation pretreatments on the ability to solubilize coal were also examined. The intermediate product, which comprised 30% of the original coal, was readily recovered from the growth medium by acid precipitation and possibly consisted of a heterogeneous mixture of high-molecular-weight compounds of approximately 2·7 × 104 molecular weight. Further characterization by elemental analyses revealed that the bioproduct was enriched in inorganic materials, oxygen, nitrogen but lower in carbon, hydrogen and sulphur when compared with the original coal. A 14% loss of carbon atoms occurred during the biodegradation. The product had a featureless visible light spectrum and a shoulder in the ultraviolet range at 290 nm. Infrared analyses showed a decrease in aromatic carbons, methylenic bonds and etheric oxygen. Experimental results suggested that solubilization changes appear to be largely oxidative and may involve cleavage of intermonomeric linkages in coal.


Kelsen's position is founded upon an epistemology which is both objectivist, regarding the existence of truths, and subjectivist, regarding normative positions. This epistemological bifurcation leads to a variety of contradictions in Kelsen's positions, and explains his reversals regarding the possibility of normative inference, the real or metaphorical existence of a fundamental norm, and constructivism. Aside from these contradictions, this 'split' explains certain terminological ambiguities: Kelsen confounds conditionals (statements in the form of 'if then') with imperatives under one term, 'norm'. This ambiguity is not resolved through the distinction between "legal norm" and "legal statement", for the distinction between legal norm and legal statement is a distinction between the domain of legal science and of law. The confusion of an order (an imperative statement) and a conditional (a statement in the form of if then) remains, for the distinction between legal statement and statement of legal science refers to another thing entirely: the epistemological distinction between two different domains of study, and not to the epistemological distinction between two different intentional entities. Reversals on constructivism, normative inference, and the real or metaphorical character of the fundamental norm reveal that Kelsen's theory suffers from a fundamental conceptual flaw in the definition of his basic unit of analysis. The result is a theory that is not merely devoid of prescriptive utility (no normative content) but also is internally incoherent. Table of Contents Kelsen : A Purely Empty Theory of Law 1 A. Normative Inference 3 1. Refusal of Normative Inference 4 2. The Normative Syllogism 13 3. Demonstration of Legal Inferencing 15 B. Critique: 18 1. Terminology 18 a. Polysemy 18 b. Ambiguity: 20 c. Confusion 21 d. What neutrality? 22 2. Useless Complexity 23 a. Terminological Multiplication 23 b. Multiplication of syllogisms 23 c. Imputation: A useless Distinction 24 d. A Special Juridical Logic? 24 e. The Posthumous Character of the ATN 24 3. Methodological Apory 25 4. Problem of Postulats 25 a. Separation of law and morality 25 b. The Basic Norm 25 5. Tautology of the Basic Norm 26 6. Rationalisation 26 7. From Subjective to Objective Signification 28 C. Conclusion 28


This report summarizes the financial and production records of 23 dairy farms across the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. To be included, the farms must have produced at least 50 percent of gross cash farm income from milk and dairy animal sales. The records came from Michigan State University's TelFarm project and Farm Credit Service system in Michigan. Farm records checked for accuracy. While considerable variation in the data exists, average values are reported in the summary tables and discussion that follows.


Large‐scale biogeographical changes in the biodiversity of a key zooplankton group (calanoid copepods) were detected in the north‐eastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas over the period 1960–1999. These findings provided key empirical evidence for climate change impacts on marine ecosystems at the regional to oceanic scale. Since 1999, global temperatures have continued to rise in the region. Here, we extend the analysis to the period 1958–2005 using all calanoid copepod species assemblages (nine species assemblages based on an analysis including a total of 108 calanoid species or taxa) and show that this phenomenon has been reinforced in all regions. Our study reveals that the biodiversity of calanoid copepods are responding quickly to sea surface temperature (SST) rise by moving geographically northward at a rapid rate up to about 23.16 km yr−1. Our analysis suggests that nearly half of the increase in sea temperature in the northeast Atlantic and adjacent seas is related to global temperature rises (46.35% of the total variance of temperature) while changes in both natural modes of atmospheric and oceanic circulation explain 26.45% of the total variance of temperature. Although some SST isotherms have moved northwards by an average rate of up to 21.75 km yr−1 (e.g. the North Sea), their movement cannot fully quantify all species assemblage shifts. Furthermore, the observed rates of biogeographical movements are far greater than those observed in the terrestrial realm. Here, we discuss the processes that may explain such a discrepancy and suggest that the differences are mainly explained by the fluid nature of the pelagic domain, the life cycle of the zooplankton and the lesser anthropogenic influence (e.g. exploitation, habitat fragmentation) on these organisms. We also hypothesize that despite changes in the path and intensity of the oceanic currents that may modify quickly and greatly pelagic zooplankton species, these organisms may reflect better the current impact of climate warming on ecosystems as terrestrial organisms are likely to significantly lag the current impact of climate change.


About Schneider Electric As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 130,000 plus employees achieved sales of 22.4 billion Euros in 2011, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations "Make the most of their energy." www.schneider-electric.com


We investigate skill mismatch and its impact on gender differences in wage gap and in returns to education in Sweden 1993 to 2002.Women are more likely to have more formal education than what is normally required for their occupation (overeducation), while men are more likely to have less (undereducation).Over- and undereducation contribute far more to the gender wage gap than years of schooling and work experience. In decompositions, adjusting for skill mismatch decreases the gender wage gap by between one tenth and one sixth. This is roughly a third to a half as much as is accounted for by segregation by industry. Thus, taking skill mismatch into account is essential for the analysis of gender wage differentiation, even though it does not alter the result that the estimated returns to education are smaller for women than for men in Sweden.


Introduction: Metaplastic carcinoma (MCa) is a rare and aggressive subtype of invasive breast carcinoma exhibiting epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) where tumor of epithelial origin manifests differentiation into non-glandular, mesenchymal phenotypes such as spindloid, chondroid or osseous components. Acquisition of EMT is associated with low expression of e-cadherin, claudins and high expression of vimentin. Biological mechanisms for acquisition of metaplastic components within MCa are not well understood. The present study was undertaken to establish and characterize a cell line from a patient diagnosed with MCa and to evaluate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in attainment of metaplastic phenotype. Methodology: AKU-BC-42 was established from a 65 years old Pakistani female patient diagnosed with T4N1M0 MCa. Specimen was procured and processed under sterile conditions and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Epitheloid colonies were visualized after 3 weeks of culture, which were passaged and propagated. AKU-BC-42 was phenotypically and genotypically characterized using karyotyping, gene expression analysis, immunocytochemistry and florescent insitu hybridization. MSC marker expression was assessed by flow-cytometry. AKU-BC-42 was cultured under appropriate conditions for assessment of differentiation along osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic pathways. Lineage differentiation was evaluated by special immunohistochemical stains and induction of lineage differentiation genes was assessed by Q-PCR. Results: AKU-BC-42 was found to have a human karyotype with multiploidy and population doubling time of 60 hours. Gene expression profiling revealed negative expression for estrogen and progesterone receptors and positive expression of androgen receptor (AR) and HER-2/neu. FISH analysis was negative for HER-2/neu amplification. Basal (5, 14 & 19) and luminal cytokeratins (8 & 18) were expressed at mRNA level along with myoepithelial markers (CD10, S100A7, p-cadherin, desmin, S100A4, S100A2 & a-SMA). AKU-BC-42 demonstrated MSC pool with expression of CD73 (79.2%), CD90 (10.3%) and CD105 (30.2%) as revealed by flow-cytometry. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by von kossa stain for mineralization with up-regulation of ALPL and OPN genes. Similarly, differentiation of AKU-BC-42 into mature adipocytes was evaluated with Oil red O staining of lipid droplets and expression of FABP4 gene. Chondrogenic induction was achieved by performing pellet cultures. Collagen synthesis in extracellular matrix of chondrogenic beads was assessed by mason trichrome staining with up-regulation of ACAN, COL10A1 and COMP. Conclusions: We report a novel MCa cell line containing a MSC pool. MSC pool within MCa may be responsible for acquisition of metaplasia in this rare subtype of breast cancer. Further studies on this cell line may reveal the biological mechanisms of MCa of the breast. Citation Format: Nazia Riaz, Sadia Habib, Azhar Hussain, El-Nasir Lalani. Role of mesenchymal stem cells in acquisition of metaplasia in AKU-BC42 breast metaplastic carcinoma cell line [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5802. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5802


Utilization of biomass as feedstock in dual fluidized bed steam gasification is a promising technology for the substitution of fossil energy carriers. Experience from industrial-scale power plants showed an alteration of the olivine bed material due to interaction with biomass ash components. This change results mainly in the formation of Ca-rich layers on the bed particles. In this paper, a mechanism for layer formation is proposed and compared to the better understood mechanism for layer formation on quartz bed particles. Olivine bed material was sampled at an industrial-scale power plant before the start of operation and at predefined times after the operation had commenced. Therefore, time-dependent layer formation under industrial-scale conditions could be investigated. The proposed mechanism suggests that the interaction between wood biomass ash and olivine bed particles is based on a solid–solid substitution reaction, where Ca2+ is incorporated into the crystal structure. As a consequence, Fe2+/3+ ...


Breaking waves have ability to transport large quantities of sediment and significant impact on coastal structures morphology. Hence, modeling of wave breaking is an important subject in coastal and marine engineering. In this research, the periodic wave breaking process on a plane slope is studied experimentally and numerically. Laboratory experiments were conducted to record water surface elevation and the wave breaking process. For the current study, a space-averaged Navier–Stokes approach together with laboratory experiments has been deployed to investigate time-dependent wave breaking processes. The developed model is based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) method; a pure Lagrangian approach; capable of handling large deformations at free surface with high accuracy. So, a Weakly Compressible version of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) method together with a large eddy simulation (LES) approach was used to simulate the wave breaking on a plane slope. The results of numerical simulations were compared both qualitative and quantitative with those of laboratory experiments. Overall, good agreement was found between them. Finally, it is shown that the WCSPH method provides a useful tool to investigate surf zone dynamics.


Abstract As new materials become available for textile and interaction designers, it is crucial that we develop an understanding of the lived experiences of such materials and explore meaningful contexts for their development. In this paper, we engage with systems in which bodies as materials and materials as bodies constitute an assemblage of vitalities in constant flux with one another. In particular, we address how such systems in their interactions with (non)human bodies blur boundaries between inside and outside the body, and between human and machine, acting as soft systems. Drawing on our first-person, design-led research, we present three design explorations of soft systems that deeply engage with the body: Breathing Wings, Fiddling Necklaces and Menarche Bits. We analyze how the three projects contribute towards what we conceptualize as "vibrant wearables": wearables that through their material vibrancy surface design qualities of leakiness, characterized by a multi-directionality of "spilling over," ongoingness, which attends to non-linear temporalities and cycles of life and death, and mutuality that emphasizes the interdependency, and becoming, of vibrant encounters. These three design qualities all conceptually trouble boundaries of bodies and materials and are practical resources for designers and researchers working with the body in/as a soft system. Our work offers concrete examples of how to work with material vibrancy, which is particularly relevant to new materialist discourses in textile, fashion and interaction design. We argue for the generativity of these design qualities for other designers and researchers aiming to elevate materials and soft systems in interactions with bodies. Moreover, we contribute towards design research that conceptually and materially troubles the boundaries of the body, and we argue for attending to the material power of (non)human bodies as a soft system.