Motivation k-mer-based algorithms have become increasingly popular in the processing of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data. These algorithms span the gamut of the analysis pipeline from k-mer counting (e.g., for estimating assembly parameters), to error correction, genome and transcriptome assembly, and even transcript quantification. Yet, these tasks often use very different k-mer representations and data structures. In this paper, we set forth the fundamental operations for maintaining multisets of k-mers and classify existing systems from a data-structural perspective. We then show how to build a k-mer-counting and multiset-representation system using the counting quotient filter (CQF), a feature-rich approximate membership query (AMQ) data structure. We introduce the k-mer-counting/querying system Squeakr (Simple Quotient filter-based Exact and Approximate Kmer Representation), which is based on the CQF. This off-the-shelf data structure turns out to be an efficient (approximate or exact) representation for sets or multisets of k-mers. Results Squeakr takes 2×−3;4.3× less time than the state-of-the-art to count and perform a random-point-query workload. Squeakr is memory-efficient, consuming 1.5X–4.3X less memory than the state-of-the-art. It offers competitive counting performance, and answers point queries (i.e. queries for the abundance of a particular k-mer) over an order-of-magnitude faster than other systems. The Squeakr representation of the k-mer multiset turns out to be immediately useful for downstream processing (e.g., de Bruijn graph traversal) because it supports fast queries and dynamic k-mer insertion, deletion, and modification. Availability https://github.com/splatlab/squeakr Contact email@example.com


Melatonin, an antioxidant in both animals and plants, has been reported to have beneficial effects on the aging process. It was also suggested to play a role in extending longevity and enhancing abiotic stress resistance in plant. In this study, we demonstrate that melatonin acts as a potent agent to delay leaf senescence and cell death in rice. Treatments with melatonin significantly reduced chlorophyll degradation, suppressed the transcripts of senescence‐associated genes, delayed the leaf senescence, and enhanced salt stress tolerance. Genome‐wide expression profiling by RNA sequencing reveals that melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger, and its exogenous application results in enhanced antioxidant protection. Leaf cell death in noe1, a mutant with over‐produced H2O2, can be relieved by exogenous application of melatonin. These data demonstrate that melatonin delays the leaf senescence and cell death and also enhances abiotic stress tolerance via directly or indirectly counteracting the cellular accumulation of H2O2.


As members of consumerist societies, we are socialized into what it means to be good citizens and participate in society through our consumption. For many, this is taught in the home, yet for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, home is often not a source of reliable information about our identities. As such, LGBTQ individuals turn to the marketplace to seek information about their sexual and gender identities. This autoethnographic account shares, through three vignettes, how coming out as a queer man is shaped by consumptive pedagogy—that is, learning through consumption. First, material goods are explored as the signifier of sexual orientation. Then, the gay bar as marketplace and the online marketplace for relationships are explored.


This paper describes the synthesis of a series of metal-free phthalocyanines and metallophthalocyanines peripherally substituted by macrocycles of different ring sizes with the same donor atom sets. The effects of varying ring size of the macrocycle on the spectroscopic and metal ion binding properties of phthalocyanines were examined. For these purposes, electronic absorption properties for metal-free phthalocyanines and metallophthalocyanines were studied in dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran. The liquid-liquid extraction of metal picrates such as Ag(I), Hg(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Co(II) from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out using metallophthalocyanines. All new compounds were characterized using several spectroscopic techniques.


The present study makes use of the fisheries survey data collected during the period 1984 - 87 by the multi-purpose research vessel RV Anusandhani in the waters of Bangladesh, Bay of Bengal. The data consists of twelve survey cruises directed at the shrimp resources (1985 - 87) and nineteen survey cruises directed at the demersal fish resources (1984 - 86). The biomasses for shrimp and demersal fish during the survey period were estimated, along with a detailed analysis of biomass distribution by depth zone and catch rates for important species of shrimp and demersal fish species. The demersal fish and shrimp biomass during the survey period was estimated as 176 160 t and 857 t, respectively. The levels of biomass when compared with 1973 estimates indicate a tremendous decline, by about 90% for shrimps and 30% for demersal fish. Population parameters for four species of shrimps (for both males and females) as well as for eight demersal fish species were also estimated. The parameter estimates were validated using available growth and mortality parameter values from the literature, and were in turn used to estimate the mean exploitation rate (E) of demersal fish and shrimp species comprising the trawl catch. Mean E values for shrimp species is at 0.61 and 0.57 for demersal fish species, indicating over-exploitation of demersal resources in the Bay of Bengal. Exploratory analysis using surplus production modeling of catch and effort data shows that the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level for shrimp resources is around 3 500 t, corresponding to a maximum effort level of approximately 6 480 fishing days. Similar analysis for demersal fish catches gave poor correlations between catch rates and fishing effort.


Fixed drug eruption is a disease that has a definite cause often identified with the history, with oral provocation tests or according to some Authors with patch tests (1); however, its pathogenesis is not clear. The cause is always a drug, although sometimes foods seem to play a causal role; however, in some of these cases the foods were contaminated with drugs (2). The most frequently involved drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides and barbiturates. However, with changing therapeutic habits we noticed that the ability to cause fixed drug eruption was not the same for different drugs. In Italy up to 20 years ago the most widely used anti-inflammatory drug was feprazone; it was frequently responsible for fixed drug eruption in children; when feprazone was replaced by acetaminophen fixed drug eruption got exceptional in children.


Micro/nanoparticle induced nearfield laser ultrafocusing and heating has been widely used in laser-assisted nanopatterning and nanolithography to pattern nanoscale features on a large-area substrate. Probing of the temperature, stress, and optical fields induced by the nanoscale nearfield laser heating remains a great challenge since the heating area is very small (~100 nm or less) and not immediately accessible for sensing. Raman scattering method is a promising tool for noncontact temperature and thermal stress measurements. In this work, the first experimental study is reported on nanoscale mapping and thermal probing of particleand fiber-induced thermal, stress, and optical fields by using a single laser for both near-field excitation and Raman probing. The mapping results based on Raman intensity variation, wavenumber shift, and linewidth broadening all give consistent conjugated thermal, stress, and near-field focusing effects with an accuracy of 20 nm (< /26, = 532 nm). Nanoscale mapping of near-field effects of monolayer microparticles, a single microparticle, and a single microfiber demonstrates the strong capacity of such technique. A new strategy has been developed to de-conjugate the effects of temperature, stress, and nearfield focusing from Raman mapping. The temperature rise and stress in the nanoscale heating region is evaluated at different particle diameters and laser energy levels. For stronger laser fluence and larger particle size, the corresponding temperature and stress are higher. With a laser fluence of 3.9×10 W/m and for a single 1.21 m silica particle induced laser heating, the maximum temperature rise and local stress are 58.5 K and 160 MPa, respectively. Experimental results are explained and consistent with three-dimensional high-fidelity xiv optical, thermal, and stress field simulations. Graphene has attracted great research interests owing to its unique mechanical and electronic properties. In its application, graphene is of high possibility to be supported by a bulk substrate in 3-D devices. The knowledge of the interfacial phonon coupling and the energy exchange capacity at graphene/substrate interfaces is critical in the heat dissipation of graphene-based devices. In this work, the interfacial thermal characterization at CVD graphene/Si, epitaxial graphene/SiC, and CVD graphene/glass interfaces are explored. Temperature differences of graphene layers and the adjacent substrates under laser heating are distinguished at the nanoscale simultaneously by Raman spectroscopy. Linewidth broadening yields interfacial thermal resistances of graphene/Si, graphene/SiC, and graphene/glass as 5.4610, 2.2710, and 3.7610 KmW, respectively. The experimental results are much higher than the molecular dynamics simulation results. The high thermal contact resistances indicate poor contact at the interfaces. The wavenumber method reveals consistent results with the linewidth method, suggesting little stress experienced in the graphene. The thermal resistances obtained by intensity methods are significantly smaller than that based on linewidth and wavenumber methods. Light interference at the air layer between graphene and substrate interprets the small thermal resistance values based on intensity, which further proves the rough contact. Strategies are developed to evaluate the increments of separation distances between graphene and substrates after laser heating. AFM images are taken to verify the corrugation of graphene on substrates and the increments of separation distances after heating.


Open-ended winding induction machines fed from standard two-level Voltage Source Inverters (VSI) provide an attractive arrangement for AC drives. An alternative approach is to use a dual output Indirect Matrix Converter (IMC). It is well known that the IMC provides fully bidirectional power flow operation, with small input size filter requirements. Whilst a standard IMC consists of an AC-DC matrix converter input stage followed by a single VSI output stage, it is possible to replicate the VSI to produce multiple outputs. In this paper an open-end winding induction machine fed by an IMC with two output stages is presented. The IMC modulation strategy aims to reduce the common-mode voltage whilst compensating any zero sequence voltage fed to the machine. The system is modeled using a PSIM and MATLAB/Simulink platform. Experimental results demonstrating the viability of the method are presented using a 7.5 kW prototype.


Objectives Canonical as well as non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways have emerged as core pathways of fibrosis. Their profibrotic effects are mediated via distinct intracellular cascades independently of each other. Thus, inhibition of both pathways may have additive antifibrotic effects. Here, we knocked down evenness interrupted (EVI) to simultaneously target for the first time canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling in experimental fibrosis. Methods The antifibrotic effects of siRNA-mediated knockdown of EVI were evaluated in the mouse models of bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis and in fibrosis induced by adenoviral overexpression of a constitutively active TGF-β receptor I (AdTBRI). Results Knockdown of EVI decreased the release of canonical and non-canonical Wnt ligands by fibroblasts and reduced the activation of canonical and non-canonical Wnt cascades in experimental fibrosis with decreased accumulation of β-catenin and phosphorylated JNK and cJun. Inactivation of EVI exerted potent antifibrotic effects and reduced dermal thickening, myofibroblast differentiation and accumulation of collagen in the mouse models of bleomycin-induced and AdTBR-induced fibrosis. Conclusions Inhibition of Wnt secretion by knockdown of EVI inhibits canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling and effectively reduces experimental fibrosis in different preclinical models. Inhibition of Wnt secretion may thus be an interesting approach for the treatment of fibrosis.


Marine ecosystems are complex, and there is increasing recognition that environmental, ecological, and human systems are linked inextricably in coastal regions. The purpose of this article was to integrate environmental, ecological and human dimensions information important for fisheries management into a common analytical framework. We then used the framework to examine the linkages between these traditionally separate subject areas. We focused on synthesis of linkages between the Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem and human communities of practice, defined as different fisheries sectors. Our specific objective was to document the individual directional linkages among environmental, ecological, and human dimensions variables in conceptual models, then build qualitative network models to perform simulation analyses to test how bottom-up and top-down perturbations might propagate through these linkages. We found that it is both possible and beneficial to integrate environmental, ecological, and human dimensions information important for fisheries into a common framework. First, the conceptual models allowed us to synthesize information across a broad array of data types, representing disciplines such as ecology and economics that are more commonly investigated separately, often with distinct methods. Second, the qualitative network analysis demonstrated how ecological signals can propagate to human communities, and how fishery management measures may influence the system. Third, we found that incorporating multi-species interactions changed outcomes because the merged model reversed some of the ecological and human outcomes compared with single species analyses. Overall, we demonstrated the value of linking information from the natural and social sciences to better understand complex social-ecological systems, and the value of incorporating ecosystem-level processes into a traditionally single species management framework. We advocate for conceptual and qualitative network modelling as efficient foundational steps to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management.


Probabilistic classifiers are among the most popular classification methods adopted by the machine learning community. They are often based on a-priori knowledge about the probability distribution underlying the data; nevertheless this information is rarely provided, so that a family of probability distribution functions is assumed to be an approximation model. In this paper we present an efficient binary classification algorithm, called Perceptron-IPCAC (PIPCAC), assuming that each class is distributed accordingly to a Mixture of Gaussian functions. PIPCAC is defined as a multilayer perceptron trained by combining different linear classifiers. The algorithm has been tested on both synthetic and real datasets, and the obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. Furthermore, the promising performances have been confirmed by the comparison of its results with those achieved by Support Vector Machines.


In this landmark work of economic sociology, Lucien Karpik introduces the theory and practical tools needed to analyze markets for singularities. Singularities are goods and services that cannot be studied by standard methods because they are multidimensional, incommensurable, and of uncertain quality. Examples include movies, novels, music, artwork, fine wine, lawyers, and doctors. Valuing the Unique provides a theoretical framework to explain this important class of products and markets that for so long have eluded neoclassical economics. With this innovative theory--called the economics of singularities--Karpik shows that, because of the uncertainty and the highly subjective valuation of singularities, these markets are necessarily equipped with what he calls "judgment devices"--such as labels, brands, guides, critics, and rankings--which provide consumers with the credible knowledge needed to make reasonable choices. He explains why these markets are characterized by the primacy of competition by qualities over competition by prices, and he identifies the conditions under which singularities are constructed or are in danger of losing their uniqueness. After demonstrating how combinations of the numerous and multiform judgment devices can be used to identify different market models, Karpik applies his analytical tools to the functioning of a large number of actual markets, including fine wines, movies, luxury goods, pop music, and legal services.


The paper presents a method for estimating long-term deflections of reinforced concrete beams by considering creep and shrinkage effects separately. Based on equilibrium and compatibility conditions a method is developed for investigating the properties of a cracked transformed section under sustained load. The concept of effective moment of inertia is extended to predict initial-plus-creep deflections. Long-term deflections computed by the proposed method are compared with the experimental results available in the literature and with the values obtained by the ACI Code method. This comparison shows that for beams having span/thickness ratio greater than 25, the ACI Code method underestimates long-term deflections while the proposed method gives a better estimate with computed to measured deflections ratio equal to 1.0.


Anthropogenic use of waterways is reducing connectivity at a rate faster than any time in geological history, sometimes causing serious declines in fish populations. Free passage of fish throughout the watercourse is necessary for species utilising different habitats for e.g. residing, spawning and feeding. Fish passes are employed to mitigate for impoundments, but are historically biased in design towards upstream migrating salmonids. Driven partly by more holistic environmental legislation, there is now an increasing interest in other species and life-stages, requiring development of fish passage criteria for multiple species during up- and down-stream migrations. To address these knowledge gaps this research programme undertook laboratory experiments with upstream migrant river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, and downstream migrating European eel, Anguilla anguilla, and brown trout, Salmo trutta. The use of a large open-channel flume allowed control of the motivational state of, and stimuli encountered by the fish. The fish responses to a variety of model weirs and screens placed in the flume were assessed, allowing attainment of species and life-stage specific swimming capability and behavioural information. This research demonstrated that using large flumes where volitional swimming allows natural compensatory behaviours to be undertaken, provides more realistic swimming capability information for fish pass criteria than some traditional methods (i.e. confined swim chambers). Dependent on species and direction of movement, all structures tested had some level of impediment to migration, with small gauging weirs almost completely impeding movement of upstream migrant river lamprey under the conditions presented. Downstream migrant anguilliforms were seen to demonstrate structure oriented, thigmotactic behaviour compared to salmonids which responded to flow fields. Under high velocities, this lack of reaction to hydraulic cues may result in a higher probability of damage and mortality at facilities traditionally designed to protect salmonids. The information provided by this research, e.g. accurate swimming speeds and fish response to associated hydraulic conditions, will aid the production of effective multi-species fish pass facilities


Background:In 2012, an estimated 2.1 million adolescents were living with HIV. Though there are effective interventions to prevent and treat HIV infection, adolescents face specific barriers in accessing them. As a result, new infections and poor outcomes among HIV-infected adolescents are common. HIV programming for adolescents should focus on interventions of proven effectiveness and address underlying factors driving incidence and lack of effective treatment and care in this age group. Methods:We conducted a systematic review of systematic reviews to summarize the global data on effectiveness of 20 intervention types, to identify characteristics of effective interventions, and to explore evidence of how adolescents can access interventions with proven effectiveness. Interventions were in 2 broad categories: those designed primarily for adults and those designed specifically for adolescents. Where available, we evaluated the evidence of impact on the key outcomes: HIV risk, HIV transmission, and HIV morbidity and mortality. Results:Among the interventions designed for adolescents, there was high-quality evidence that in-school interventions and some interventions in geographically defined communities can positively impact important HIV-related outcomes, such as self-reported sexual risk behaviors. Interventions designed primarily for adults that had high-quality, consistent biological evidence of efficacy included voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), antiretrovirals for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, HIV testing and counseling, HIV treatment, condom use, and provision of sterile injecting equipment to people who inject drugs. There was also an evidence of potential efficacy for oral preexposure prophylaxis and behavior change interventions among certain populations. There was a dearth of systematic review data on how best to enable adolescents to access the intervention types identified as having proven effectiveness among adults. Conclusions:This series of reviews allowed us to rigorously and systematically review a large number of intervention types at once using a standard, transparent methodology. Eight key interventions showed clear evidence of effectiveness, with evidence of potential efficacy for some additional interventions among certain populations. Discussion:These priority interventions with proven effectiveness should be included in all HIV prevention programming for adolescents. There is a pressing need for more rigorous research on how best to enable adolescents to access these effective interventions.


Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are devices that provide a fast, low-cost way for embedded system designers to customize products and deliver new versions with upgraded features, because they can handle very complicated functions, and be reconfigured an infinite number of times. In addition to introducing the various architectural features available in the latest generation of FPGAs, The Design Warriors Guide to FPGAs also covers different design tools and flows.This book covers information ranging from schematic-driven entry, through traditional HDL/RTL-based simulation and logic synthesis, all the way up to the current state-of-the-art in pure C/C++ design capture and synthesis technology. Also discussed are specialist areas such as mixed hardward/software and DSP-based design flows, along with innovative new devices such as field programmable node arrays (FPNAs). Clive "Max" Maxfield is a bestselling author and engineer with a large following in the electronic design automation (EDA)and embedded systems industry. In this comprehensive book, he covers all the issues of interest to designers working with, or contemplating a move to, FPGAs in their product designs. While other books cover fragments of FPGA technology or applications this is the first to focus exclusively and comprehensively on FPGA use for embedded systems. * First book to focus exclusively and comprehensively on FPGA use in embedded designs* World-renowned best-selling author* Will help engineers get familiar and succeed with this new technology by providing much-needed advice on choosing the right FPGA for any design project


The hydropower potential of small head plants on the Gasconade River was investigated. Since, it is felt that small head plants will have less environmental impact, thus it will be more amenable to the development of the hydropower potential of the Gasconade River. The results of this study indicate that less power can be developed from small head hydropower than from large hydropower for the same total topographic relief and discharge per drainage area. The potential of the small hydropower in the Gasconade River basin with an area of 2840 square miles (7355. 6 square kilometers) is 40,000 kilowatts.


Emerging economies are often thought of as environmental laggards; they're perceived to be focused more on addressing poverty than on protecting the planet. But when the Boston Consulting Group and the World Economic Forum went looking for the best sustainable business practices in the developing world, their researchers uncovered many visionary enterprises that defied that stereotype. These organizations show that in markets where resource depletion is most keenly felt, conservation efforts can be a wellspring of innovation-and a source of competitive advantage. Some of these enterprises pursue sustainability out of pragmatism; some out of idealism. But all have consistently generated above- average (and in some cases, astounding) growth rates and profit margins. They've achieved them by following one or more of three general approaches: (i) taking a long view and investing in initially more-expensive sustainable operating methods that eventually lead to dramatically lower costs and higher yields; (2) bootstrapping-making small adjustments that generate big savings, which then fund purchases of advanced technologies; and (3) extending their sustainability efforts to the operations of their customers and suppliers (and in the process, devising new business models). Collectively, these companies demonstrate that there need be no trade-off between sustainability and financial performance. Rather, the pursuit of sustainability can be a powerful path to reinvention for all. HBR Reprint R13O3K.


The relationships between the mineralogical nature of the colloid and the moisture equivalent, exchange capacity, and base saturation of several sandy loam and sandy soils are discussed. In profiles of Red Bay, Norfolk, and Tifton fine sandy loams exchange capacity, Ca, Mg, and K decreased with depth but clay content and aluminum saturation of these soils increased. In other Coastal Plain soils, namely Klej, Lakeland, and Bladen profiles, a low major base saturation was found with pH values above 5.0 and a high amount of exchangeable aluminum. Calcareous soils and montmorillonitic soils which also usually overlie calcareous material such as Pompano, Felda, and Sunniland sands contained appreciable aluminum extracted by neutral N NH₄OAc. Titration curves were made of clays from several soils which differed in the vermiculite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, quartz, and gibbsite content and considerably different buffering capacities were observed. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the mineralogical nature of the clay fraction is rather similar in all horizons of any particular soil profile with no consistent accumulation of one mineral over another. The significance of the exchange complex of these colloids is discussed in terms of major bases, aluminum, and pH. Examples of the accumulation of phosphate and heavy metals are given.


In this paper, we present our audio fingerprinting system that detects a transformed copy of an audio from a large collection of audios in a database. The audio fingerprints in this system encode the positions of salient regions of binary images derived from a spectrogram matrix. The similarity between two fingerprints is defined as the intersection of their elements (i.e. positions of the salient regions). The search algorithm labels each reference fingerprint in the database with the closest query frame and then counts the number of matching frames when the query is overlaid over the reference. The best match is based on this count. The salient regions fingerprints together with this nearest-neighbor search give excellent copy detection results. However, for a large database, this search is time consuming. To reduce the search time, we accelerate this similarity search by using a graphics processing unit (GPU). To speed this search even further, we use a two-step search based on a clustering technique and a lookup table that reduces the number of comparisons between the query and the reference fingerprints. We also explore the tradeoff between the speed of search and the copy detection performance. The resulting system achieves excellent results on TRECVID 2009 and 2010 datasets and outperforms several state-of-the-art audio copy detection systems in detection performance, localization accuracy and run time. For a fast detection scenario with detection speed comparable to the Ellis' Shazam-based system, our system achieved the same min NDCR as the NN-based system, and significantly better detection accuracy than Ellis' Shazam-based system.


Systematically evaluating a network teaching platform is essential in improving the quality of online teaching and therefore, can make profound significance in development of web-based teaching platforms. This paper aims to elaborate a method of constructing an user-oriented evaluation system for web-based teaching platforms for teaching Chinese as a second language (TCSL), which are, firstly, to sum up evaluating indices based on previous studies; secondly, to calculate weight of each of the evaluation indices through AHP; finally, to test availability of evaluation index weight by consistency check and to design the computing mode of evaluating results.


Today's game developers, particularly those working in smaller, independent studios, need to be "expert generalists"--that is, skilled in a wide range of tasks, from coding and level design to 3D modeling, animation, and more. Beyond knowing how to make great games, they also need the perspective and the experience to develop products quickly--all while working with limited resources, time, and budgets. They must take a holistic approach to the art and science of game development, with an emphasis on optimizing workflow. In PRACTICAL GAME DEVELOPMENT WITH UNITY AND BLENDER, author and developer Alan Thorn presents a unique 10-stage workflow for development success, offering advice and ideas (and plenty of practical examples) for developing games quickly and efficiently using some of today's most popular (and free!) software tools. You'll work with Unity (game engine), Blender (3D modeling and animation), and GIMP (image editor), fusing them into a single, productive workflow. Far beyond simply teaching you to operate a specific piece of software, this book guides you through the full process of game creation, with concrete instruction and tangible examples (including project and asset files, available on the book's companion website). PRACTICAL GAME DEVELOPMENT WITH UNITY AND BLENDER will help you become a more powerful developer--the kind of broadly skilled generalist who can thrive at any game studio, large or small.


The information on the land use and soil conservation practice based on year 2006, 2010 and 2014, hence offering an opportunity to model the impacts of land use change on erosion, deposition and surface water runoff. Limitation in the use of hydrological models had been their inability to handle the large amount of input data that describe the heterogeneity of the natural system. In this study, a procedure that takes into account soil conservation practice based on the land use change, the response of soil erosion and sediment export from the George Town Conurbation catchment area, and average annual sediment yields were estimated for each grid cell of the watershed to identify the critical erosion areas of rural and urban planning proposes. Average annual sediment yield and data on a grid basis estimated using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and an emerging technology represented by Geographic Information System (GIS) used as a tool to produce a map for erosion rate. The changing of the land use from forest to agriculture and then to an urban area is a challenging task to research on land use demand for population, and environmental impact assessment is important for the planning of natural resources management, allowing research the modification of land use properly and implement more sustainable for long term management strategies. The challenge is to formulate strategies that would promote an integrated approach to the land use planning at an appropriate level as to address the issues that arose. Modelling for creating urban growth boundary for the George Town Conurbation must have to be controlled surface runoff and soil loss and sediment export from land use of the George Town Conurbation catchment.


This thesis adopts a cultural psychological perspective on children's use of computers at
home and, as a contrast, in the classroom. It utilises various methodologies to investigate
the actual uses that children make of computers in these settings and also focuses on how
computing practices are situated within the local ecology, or context. Seventy-six 7-, 9-
and 11-year-old pupils from five socially and ethnically diverse primary schools were
interviewed in their schools. In addition, thirty-three families with children of comparable
ages, from the same five schools, participated in a detailed study of the ecology of home
computing. Findings suggest that, although parents had high educational aspirations for
the ways in which their children would use a new computer, these aspirations were not
met in reality. Entertainment games predominated and educational software was used
comparatively little. This thesis explores why this was the case and finds that it was the
differing ecologies of the home and the classroom that mediated the different uses that
were found in either setting. [Continues.]


Rapid evolutionary radiations provide insight into the fundamental processes involved in species formation. Here I examine the diversification of one such group, the rock-dwelling cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi (mbuna), which have radiated from a single ancestor into more than 200 species over the past 700,000 years. Through the examination of several molecular phylogenies, a phylogenetic history of the mbuna is proposed. The diversification of this group has proceeded in three major bursts of cladogenesis each of which has been dominated by a single selective force (selection on habitat preferences, trophic morphology, and male nuptial coloration, respectively). A divergence with gene flow model is advocated with reference to this phylogenetic pattern. A population genetic survey of allele frequency distributions at four microsatellite loci is used to quantify levels of gene flow within the mbuna genus Metriaclima. Results from this study indicate that migration rates between adjacent populations are low such that slight variation in the selective environment may drive the divergence of populations. Speciation models involving genetic drift, population bottlenecks, founder events, microallopatric divergence, and divergence with gene flow are discussed with respect to these findings. Some of the factors contributing to the existence of highly diverse, densely packed mbuna communities are identified by examining male territorial behavior and habitat utilization within Metriaclima. By observing the recolonization of artificially vacated territories, I show that (1) territories are species-specific and (2) this species-specificity is associated with the width of the breeding caves. These results are discussed with respect to character displacement and sexual selection. The speciation of the mbuna has been closely tied to the diversification of male color patterns, yet little is known concerning the genetic basis of such a fundamental character. By (1) examining female mating preferences, (2) describing the cellular basis of color pattern variation, and (3) identifying the genetic basis of this variation, I show that differential male melanistic patterning, which plays a role in the reproductive isolation of two Metriaclima species, is controlled by a limited number of genes. The rapid diversification of the mbuna is discussed with reference to this finding.


Tropical forests are a key component of the global carbon cycle. Yet, there are still high uncertainties in forest carbon stock and flux estimates, notably because of their spatial and temporal variability across the tropics. Several upcoming spaceborne missions have been designed to address this gap. High-quality ground data are essential for accurate calibration/validation so that spaceborne biomass missions can reach their full potential in reducing uncertainties regarding forest carbon stocks and fluxes. The BIOMASS mission, a P-band SAR satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA), aims at improving carbon stock mapping and reducing uncertainty in the carbon fluxes from deforestation, forest degradation, and regrowth. In situ activities in support of the BIOMASS mission were carried out in French Guiana and Gabon during the TropiSAR and AfriSAR campaigns. During these campaigns, airborne P-band SAR, forest inventory, and lidar data were collected over six study sites. This paper describes the methods used for forest inventory and lidar data collection and analysis, and presents resulting plot estimates and aboveground biomass maps. These reference datasets along with intermediate products (e.g., canopy height models) can be accessed through ESA's Forest Observation System and the Dryad data repository and will be useful for BIOMASS but also to other spaceborne biomass missions such as GEDI, NISAR, and Tandem-L for calibration/validation purposes. During data quality control and analysis, prospects for reducing uncertainties have been identified, and this paper finishes with a series of recommendations for future tropical forest field campaigns to better serve the remote sensing community.


Hannah Arendt is unusual among contemporary political theorists for many reasons, not least of which is her apparent praise for the pursuit of glory. Yet, far from arguing for its enduring relevance, Arendt seems to suggest the pursuit is obsolete, as the individual heroic actor has been supplanted by anonymous process in modernity. Here, the hacktivist collective Anonymous is used to illustrate the enduring significance of glory in politics, as it pursues, seemingly paradoxically, an Arendtian-style glory with its hacktivism. Through their use of pseudonymity, Anonymous's actions afford a kind of revelation and, in this way, offer a chance at glory and immortality, while respecting the collective's opposition to individual celebrity, and also protecting the offline identities of actors. With its combination of identification and obfuscation, Anonymous's pseudonymous pursuit of glory offers a model for political action today.


Abstract. The correlation between precipitation backscatter P (or radar reflectivity Z ) and reflectivity-weighted terminal velocity V t has long been thought to be positive. Namely, the larger the magnitude of the terminal velocity is, the stronger the radar reflectivity will be, and vice versa. However, we will show in this article the observational evidences of negative V t – P correlation made with the Chung-Li VHF radar. It is found that the negative V t – P correlation can occur in the regions from close to ground to well above the melting layer. In addition, there is a strong tendency for the negative t – P correlation to occur around the bright band region. In light of the fact that the conventional model of single drop size distribution cannot explain this negative correlation, it is proposed that the drop size distribution responsible for the negative V t – Z correlation is composed of two Gamma drop size distributions with respective mean terminal velocities and radar reflectivities. The precipitation particles of these two distributions are assumed to dynamically interact in the way that the total numbers of the precipitation particles of the two Gamma distributions are varied and their reflectivities are also changed accordingly. Theoretical analysis shows that the key factor determining the sign of the V t – Z correlation is the ratio of the difference between relative changes in the reflectivities of the two Gamma drop size distributions to the change in the total reflectivity. The V t – Z correlation is negative (or positive) if the ratio is positive (or negative). From these results, it follows that the V t – Z correlation could be considered to be the result of the redistribution of the radar reflectivies of the two Gamma drop size distributions caused by the interaction of the precipitation particles between them. Different interaction processes of the precipitation particles, such as break-up and coalescence, could give rise to the same V t – Z correlation, depending on the net change in the total reflectivity. In addition, the results also show that the same interaction process might give opposite V t – Z correlations. Therefore, great caution is advised when the V t – Z correlation is employed to interpret the precipitation process.


The common contention regarding the South China Sea is that its characteristic assets are the central or even the sole explanation for the debate. However, it is the argument of this study that this view is distorted and perilously deceptive. This study argues that there are multiple explanations for these territorial disputes and that they are significantly complicated by the proximity of a few players, the ascent of powerful new forces, the impact of financial power, the dispersion of military and political power, and geopolitical rivalry in Asia. The Unites States views China as a threat to its global hegemony and so has a policy of 'containment'. In the context of the South China Sea, its policies therefore are not intended to resolve disputes in a mutually beneficial way, but to limit China's influence. This forces countries to 'choose sides' rather than engage in mutually beneficial trade. The policy has now also led to a trade war, which could escalate into a military confrontation. This investigation examines the progression of this debate by taking into consideration the various geostrategic, geo-economics, and geopolitical interests of the parties involved and suggests a fundamental paradigm shift in the direction of research to be more conducive toward finding a realistic and peaceful resolution to the disputes in the South China Sea.


The article assesses and compares the behaviour of India's higher judiciary on Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) cases with the pattern of rulings on previous preventive detention and anti-terror laws in India. It tests the hypothesis in Scaling Justice: India's Supreme Court, Anti-Terror Laws and Social Rights, that POTA cases would see more pro-state rulings, particularly after incidents of terrorism, but that Muslim minorities would not be unduly targeted by the judges. The findings from the 103 POTA cases affirm the hypothesis that the judgments of the high court and the supreme court do not exhibit a pattern of disfavouring Muslim accused. However, a more disquieting element with worrisome consequences for civil liberties is apparent in the framing of the anti-terror cases. The court is more likely to rule in favour of the state when a case is framed as 'Islamic terrorism'. The impreciseness of this and other terms such as 'urgency' and 'security threat' have expanded the scope of the application of anti-terror laws, diluted the 'due process' protections, and reduced the ability of judges to make a distinction between the political aspirations and the religious affiliation of the accused. This has diluted the procedural and substantive protection for civil liberties of citizens and vulnerable minorities in India.


Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is relatively low in children. However, seroprevalence rates of 10–20% have been reported among children who received repeated transfusion. The development and the severity of liver fibrosis are strongly related to the extent of the liver iron overload and to the presence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In CHC, liver iron overload has been suggested as a negative prognos- tic factor exacerbating inflammation with subsequent progression of liver fibrosis and decrease in antiviral therapy effectiveness. CHC may be suspected based on medical history or accidentally discovered abnormal liver functions. Hepatitis C is diagnosed by positive serology for viral antibodies and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect virus RNA. The treatment of HCV infection in children was difficult due to the limitations of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. In 2017, FDA approved the first direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for children including ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in the adult dose, 90/400 mg, to treat HCV in children and adolescents aged 12 years and older or weighing at least 35 kg. Similarly, giving half the adult fixed-dose of ledipas -vir/sofosbuvir, 45/200 mg, to children aged 6–11 years is still under clinical trials with promising results.


The outcrops of the Sierra de Albarracín (NE Spain) allow a precise reconstruction of the shallow sedimentary domains of a late Kimmeridgian carbonate ramp, developed in western marginal areas of the Iberian Basin. The sedimentary record shows a hierarchical sequence stratigraphic organization, which implies sea-level changes of different frequencies. The studied succession is arranged in a long-term transgressive–regressive sequence, which is likely to reflect local variation in the subsidence rates. This sequence includes four higher-order sequences A to D, which have variable thickness (from 3 to 21 m). The similar sedimentary evolution observed in distant localities suggests the existence of high-frequency sea-level fluctuations controlling the sequence development. The average amplitude of these cycles would range from 5 to 10 m. The precise estimation of their duration (some few hundreds of kyr) and their possible assignment to any of the long-term orbital cycles (the 100 or the 400 kyr eccentricity cycles) is uncertain. Sequences A and B, formed during the long-term transgressive interval, are relatively thin (from 3 to 9 m) give-up sequences that were never subaerially exposed. These sequences are locally formed by five shallowing-upward elementary sequences. Sequences C and D are catch-down sequences with evidence of emersion of subtidal facies. Sequence C, formed during the stage of maximum gain of long-term accommodation, is the thickest sequence (from 13 to 21 m) and includes coral–microbial reefs (pinnacles up to 16 m in height). The increased production rates were able to fill part of the accommodation created during the early stage of high-frequency sea-level rise and the shallow platform was eventually exposed to subaereal erosion and meteoric cementation.


We present a theoretical model to deal with second harmonic generation (SHG) of ultrashort pulses in refractive-index-linear-modulating (RILM) nonlinear crystals. New coupled-wave equations were derived based on plane wave propagation. Under the undepleted-pump approximation, the analytic solutions for SHG of ultrashort pulses were obtained. The second harmonic (SH) pulse width and the efficiency were optimized in terms of the RILM parameter and the chirp coefficient of fundamental pulses. The results show that modulation of the refractive index (RI) in nonlinear crystals leads to a spectral localization of SHG that compensates the group velocity mismatch (GVM) and therefore compresses SH pulses. The modulation complicates the SHG process, which determines the pulse width, and the conversion efficiency varies with length and bandwidth. Especially, an overshooting compression phenomenon was found, which arose mainly from internal interference of the carrier frequency component in a SH pulse.


The group of the University of Valladolid is a multidisciplinary team formed by chemists, physicists and engineers. The activities of the group are focused to the study of the physicochemical properties of nanostructured Langmuir-Blodgett thin films based on phthalocyanines and their applications. Films of a variety of phthalocyanine molecules including several metallophthalocyanines, lanthanide double decker phthalocyanines and heteroleptic derivatives have been prepared. Their spectroelectrochemical properties have been described in detail and compared with those observed in disordered casted films or microcrystalline evaporated films. The group has dedicated special attention to films based on rare earth double decker compounds due to their unique semiconducting, optical and electrochemical properties. A rich electrochromism has been demonstrated in thin films of this family of compounds. The reversibility is improved in nanostructured Langmuir-Blodgett films. This has permitted development of an electrochromic display that can change its color from blue to green and finally to red. At the present moment, our main objective is the design of sensors able to detect gases and liquids. It has been demonstrated that thin film assemblies based on rare earth bisphthalocyanines modify their conductivity and their optical properties in the presence of electron donor or electron acceptors gases. Changes are also observed when the devices are exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds such as esters, alcohols or aldehydes which are responsible of odors in foods and beverages. Liquid sensors have also been developed. Their working principle is based in the fact that the rich electrochemical properties of phthalocyanine thin films are extremely sensitive to the nature of the electrolytic solution. Arrays of phthalocyanines have been used to construct an electronic nose able to discriminate odors from a variety of foods and beverages. Similarly, phthalocyanines have also been used to construct an electronic tongue based on voltammetric sensors. This is one of the main contributions of the group to the field of sensors.


Objective: The objective of this study was to further develop the sheep model for periodontal surgical training to undergraduate students, and compare it to the more commonly used pig model. Method: Periodontal measurements as pocket depth and gingival width were measured on a total number of 10 sheep and 9 pigs, and a pre-established list of surgical procedures were performed on both types of specimen in different areas of the dentition; gingivectomy, modified access flap with simple sutures, coronally advanced flap with sling suture, apically repositioned flap with periosteal suture, papilla preservation flap, GTR with membranes and distal wedge procedure. Quality, suitability for the respective surgeries, and similarity to human conditions were addressed. Result: Mean probing depths in sheep mandible were 2.59 mm and 2.26 in the pig mandible, but statistical analysis showed no significant difference except when only the molar measurements were compared. Most surgical procedures could be performed in both specimens, apart from the papilla preservation flap which was difficult to perform in both specimen, and classified as not suitable in the pig. The anterior area in the pig was generally not suitable for any exercise of periodontal surgery, due to morphology inconsistent with human conditions. Instructive standardized picture sequences were created to facilitate training among undergraduates, and a practical session was held for 8th semester students to practically implement the sheep model at a teaching institution. Conclusion: The sheep model is a valid option as a teaching model for undergraduate students, compared to the widely used pig model.


A lthough mountains are rich in natural resources and provide vital ecosystem services to the global community, mountain people are marginalised. As the ecosystem services they provide are mostly free of charge, they have no incentive to invest in the conservation. We examine the feasibility of improving their livelihoods through the sale of water services to downstream communities. Using hydro-meteorological data, we assessed the effects of forest conservation on water yield and estimated the value of water services to downstream communities. Results show that if a system of payment for ecosystem services is established, mountain communities can improve their livelihoods by converting their farmland into conservation areas. However, it will take 15 years to increase the water yield, which means that external assistance is required in early years. Policy measures are suggested to establish a market for ecosystem services to encourage upstream communities to take conservation measures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jepsl.v2i1.5734 Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka Vol.2(1) 2013 1-12


The South African Supreme Court of Appeal has handed down an important judgement for pharma trade marks. The case of Adcock Ingram v Cipla Medpro reconsidered the notion that pharmaceuticals sold on prescription are less likely to be confused because they are dispensed by trained professionals in regulated circumstances. In doing so the Court questioned the relevance of findings in a 1983 leading case, SA Druggists, also involving Adcock, in contemporary society. The effect of the case may result in a number of existing pharmaceutical trade marks becoming vulnerable to cancellation claims.


© 2017 ISEC Press. Project execution is often delayed by extreme and unforeseen weather conditions. This is because extreme weather usually causes work disruption, waste of resources, significant project delays and, eventually, financial losses for both the contractor and the project owner. Construction contracts generally include weather-related clauses addressing when, and to what extent, the responsibilities and consequences of adverse weather are to be shared or compensated. However, setting clear and objective limits for abnormal weather is problematic, starting with the lack of agreement about which weather conditions can be considered as "normal" or "average". Research on the influence of weather on construction productivity is scarce and underdeveloped. Therefore, practitioners cannot count on sound methods to mediate in and evaluate weather-related contract disputes. In these situations, claims are likely to arise and escalate. A stochastic model for objectively evaluating the weather influence during the execution stage is proposed. This model allows actual weather to be compared to historical data in a way that provides an objective assessment of the extent to which the adverse weather was (or not) exceptional. A case study of a fictional project is used to show its implementation. This is the first tool of its kind to address this concern with a straightforward, holistic and quantitative approach.


Backgroung: Sarcopenia has been defined as a progressive and generalized disorder of skeletal muscle that involves accelerated loss of muscle mass and function. The prevalence of sarcopenia worldwide is up to 15% in healthy elderly, approximately 76% of acutely hospitalized elderly patients, and up to 69% of patients admitted for post-acute geriatric rehabilitation. The loss of muscle mass results in serious consequences and several chronic diseases and senility, characterized by functional losses, muscle weakness, loss of independence and increased risk of falls and death. Sarcopenia has been defined as a progressive and generalized muscle disorder. Here we investigate the effects of PEMF in muscle strength and functional capabilities of elderly sarcopenic patients. Methods. Fifteen elderly people of both sexes, aged between 65 and 80 years old, classified according to the degree of muscle weakness. The participants were submitted to PEMF therapy in 12 sessions three times a week with the following parameters. In the first two sessions, only submaximal contraction was applied during 30 min with a frequency of 5 Hz at the sport mode of the equipment. In the following 10 sessions we used cycles of Submaximal contractions – frequency of 5 Hz with 5s duration and Supramaximal contractions – frequency of 30 Hz with 5s duration. The intensity of the equipment was adjusted according to the sensitivity of the patient and session duration was 30 min. Results. the TUG functional tests showed a significant reduction in execution time, with an initial average of 40 ± 10s to 22 ± 6s after treatment sessions. The average increase in muscle strength was 27 ± 9% after PEMF treatment. Conclusions. This case series report is the first in the world scientific literature to demonstrate the effectiveness of PEMF (Supramaximus™) therapy in gaining muscle strength and functionality in elderly sarcopenic patients. PEMF therapy, at least for the treatment of sarcopenia in the elderly, can be considered as the definitive evolution of electrical currents, with greater effectiveness and acceptance by the patient.


Abstract. Plesiadapiforms represent the first radiation of Primates, appearing near the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Eleven families of plesiadapiforms are recognized, including the Paromomyidae. Four species of paromomyids from the early Eocene have been reported from Europe: Arcius fuscus Russell et al., 1967, Arcius lapparenti Russell et al., 1967, and Arcius rougieri Godinot, 1984 from France and Arcius zbyszewskii Estravís, 2000 from Portugal. Other Arcius specimens from the early Eocene are known from Masia de l'Hereuet (Spain), Abbey Wood (England), and Sotteville-sur-Mer (Normandy, France). A cladistic analysis of the European paromomyids has never previously been published. A total of 53 dental characters were analyzed for the four Arcius species and the specimens from Spain, England, and Normandy. The results of a parsimony analysis using TNT agree with previous conceptions of A. zbyszewskii as the most primitive member of the genus. Consistent with existing hypotheses, Arcius rougieri is positioned as the sister taxon of A. fuscus and A. lapparenti, and the results suggest that the fossil from Normandy is A. zbyszewskii. However, the English fossil pertains to a primitive lineage, rather than grouping with A. lapparenti as had been suggested; as such it is recognized here as a distinct species (Arcius hookeri new species). The Spanish fossils cluster together with the French species but do not show the previously proposed special relationship with A. lapparenti and are sufficiently distinct to be placed in a new species (Arcius ilerdensis). Arcius is recovered as monophyletic, which is consistent with a single migration event from North America to Europe around the earliest Eocene through the Greenland land bridge.


Lifestyle and genetic factors play a large role in the development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Despite the important role of genetic factors, genetic information is not incorporated into the clinical assessment of T2D risk. We assessed and compared Whole Genome Regression methods to predict the T2D status of 5,245 subjects from the Framingham Heart Study. For evaluating each method we constructed the following set of regression models: A clinical baseline model (CBM) which included non-genetic covariates only. CBM was extended by adding the first two marker-derived principal components and 65 SNPs identified by a recent GWAS consortium for T2D (M-65SNPs). Subsequently, it was further extended by adding 249,798 genome-wide SNPs from a high-density array. The Bayesian models used to incorporate genome-wide marker information as predictors were: Bayes A, Bayes Cπ, Bayesian LASSO (BL), and the Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (G-BLUP). Results included estimates of the genetic variance and heritability, genetic scores for T2D, and predictive ability evaluated in a 10-fold cross-validation. The predictive AUC estimates for CBM and M-65SNPs were: 0.668 and 0.684, respectively. We found evidence of contribution of genetic effects in T2D, as reflected in the genomic heritability estimates (0.492±0.066). The highest predictive AUC among the genome-wide marker Bayesian models was 0.681 for the Bayesian LASSO. Overall, the improvement in predictive ability was moderate and did not differ greatly among models that included genetic information. Approximately 58% of the total number of genetic variants was found to contribute to the overall genetic variation, indicating a complex genetic architecture for T2D. Our results suggest that the Bayes Cπ and the G-BLUP models with a large set of genome-wide markers could be used for predicting risk to T2D, as an alternative to using high-density arrays when selected markers from large consortiums for a given complex trait or disease are unavailable.


Tax has rocketed to the top of the news agenda. When Amazon, Google and Starbucks were pulled up in front of the Public Accounts Committee, many were stunned at how little corporation tax they paid (if at all) in a time of austerity and government cuts. How can a tax gap of £12 billion be justified, when a CEO can take home $101 million a year? There is a growing realization that maybe we aren't 'all in this together', and what are Google's 'Dutch sandwich' and a 'double Irish' anyway?

In this 30,000-word ebook Richard Murphy, a highly respected economic commentator and blogger, explains how we came to this situation, its origins and development after the 2008 economic crisis, who the villains of the piece are, and why. But this ebook also seeks answers and Murphy offers concrete and practical solutions in the face of growing public awareness, which politicians and companies will ignore at their peril as taxpayers vote with their feet.


We present the first reported observation in the infrared of nonlinear phase-conjugated reflection. This was achieved via degenerate four-wave mixing in polycrystalline germanium. The observation was facilitated by taking advantage of the counterpropagating (strong) waves internal to a pulsed CO2 laser cavity. The measured effective reflectivity was 2% with a 10-mm interaction length. This simple intracavity technique is generally applicable to any nonlinear material transparent at the wavelength of the laser into which it is inserted.


Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have potent immunomodulatory functions and are a promising therapy for immune‐mediated inflammatory disorders. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of fresh, autologous, adipose‐derived MSCs (ASCs) to treat feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), a chronic oral mucosal inflammatory disease similar to human oral lichen planus. Here, we investigate the use of fresh allogeneic ASCs for treatment of FCGS in seven cats. Radiolabeled ASCs were also tracked systemically. Each cat received two intravenous injections of 20 million ASCs, 1 month apart. Oral inflammation, blood lymphocyte subsets, anti‐fetal bovine serum antibody levels, ASC crossmatching and serum proteins and cytokine concentrations were determined. Four of the 7 cats (57%) responded to treatment [complete clinical remission (n = 2) or substantial clinical improvement (n = 2)]. Three cats were nonresponders. Prior to therapy, most cats had increased circulating CD8+ T cells, decreased CD8lo cells, and a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio, however clinical resolution was not associated with normalization of these parameters. Nonresponders showed more severe systemic inflammation (neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia and increased interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration) prior to ASC therapy. Clinical remission took up to 20 months and no clinical relapse has occurred. A higher fraction of radiolabeled ASCs were identified in the oral cavity of FCGS affected cats than the control cat. The administration of fresh, allogenic ASCs appeared to have lower clinical efficacy with a delayed response as compared to the fresh, autologous ASCs. In addition, the mechanism(s) of action for autologous and allogenic ASCs may differ in this model of oral inflammation. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1710–1722


The Little Sotol Site (41VV2037) is a long-term earth oven facility used to bake desert succulents in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas. The site consists of a twometer deep burned rock midden on a slowly aggrading terrace in front of two lowhanging caves within a small tributary canyon to Dead Man's Creek, a tributary of the Devils River. Macrobotanical remains of lechuguilla and sotol, prickly pear microfossils,
heating elements of earth ovens, and plant processing tools were identified in burned rock midden and cave components. Radiocarbon assays range from approximately 5000 B.C. to A.D. 1200, spanning a considerable length of time from the end of the Early Archaic to Late Prehistoric period.
The 6000-year record of burned rock discard preserved at the Little Sotol site allows for the examination of change in earth oven construction and use over time. It is argued that the higher degree of fracture in burned rock relates to the increased intensity of plant processing in earth ovens. Methods of burned rock quantification show evidence of landuse intensification through the increasing reuse of burned rocks through time,
especially into the Late Archaic and Late Prehistoric periods. The Little Sotol site demonstrates the dynamic relationship between past populations and the landscape, and the changing role of earth ovens at a single location – an earth oven facility.


Recent advances in a number of relevant technologies have enabled wireless embedded systems to become both smaller and more capable. This has led to a massive expansion in their use and many novel applications are emerging. Many new applications require direct user interaction and in this way they differ from embedded applications currently deployed. User interaction requires sporadic availability of resources for event handling. Furthermore, processing cannot be delayed for long, as smooth system operation must be ensured. Existing wireless embedded systems are designed to conserve resources such that energy saving goals are met and systems can support extended deployment periods. Resource conservation is primarily achieved via prediction of system usage patterns and by delaying processing. However, these strategies cannot be applied in the context of interactive applications as usage patterns are less predictable and processing cannot be delayed. Thus, existing methods are not best suited to novel interactive wireless embedded systems, and novel strategies are required. This thesis examines a set of interactive embedded applications derived from the NEMO project which are shown to include the requirements and traits discussed above. In this thesis it is shown through the design and implementation of the modular NEMO device that interactive embedded systems with a modular design and exclusive use of interrupt driven inputs are able to support interactive application requirements in terms of responsiveness and resource consumption. Core contributions of this thesis are a novel wake-up radio required for practical implementation of interrupt driven operation and a set of communication primitives required to operate a dual radio architecture. The thesis shows that in the target application scenario all existing communication protocols are out-performed by communication protocols using a dual radio. This is shown in general via theoretical comparison of state-of-the-art and dual radio communication and by evaluation based on the constructed prototype system.


Extant baleen whales (Cetacea, Mysticeti) are a disparate and species‐rich group, but little is known about their fossil record in the northernmost Atlantic Ocean, a region that supports considerable extant cetacean diversity. Iceland's geographical setting, dividing North Atlantic and Arctic waters, renders it ideally situated to shed light on cetacean evolution in this region. However, as a volcanic island, Iceland exhibits very little marine sedimentary exposure, and fossil whales from Iceland older than the late Pleistocene are virtually unknown. Here, we present the first fossil whale found in situ from the Pliocene Tjörnes Formation (c. 4.5 Ma), Iceland's only substantial marine sedimentary outcrop. The specimen is diagnosed as a partial skull from a large right whale (Mysticeti, Balaenidae). This discovery highlights the Tjörnes Formation as a potentially productive fossil vertebrate locality. Additionally, this find indicates that right whales (Eubalaena) and bowhead whales (Balaena) were sympatric, with broadly overlapping latitudinal ranges in the Pliocene, in contrast to the modern latitudinal separation of their living counterparts.


The research investigated the suitability of the SERVQUAL instrument, extensively used in marketing and selectively used to measure service quality of traditional Information Systems (IS) function, to measure IS service quality in the web environment. The website of a university's library provided the context in which SERVQUAL was applied. From a focus group meeting of study participants, conducted subsequent to the survey, emerged additions and changes required in designing a web-oriented SERVQUAL (WEB-SERVQUAL) questionnaire. These included the addition of two key dimensions in the form of web strategy and managing customer expectations. Other SERVQUAL dimensions, such as IS reliability and IS responsiveness, had to be modified since the Webmaster, and not just the IS function, plays a significant role in providing service to a website. The study produced a high level WEB-SERVQUAL questionnaire that provides the basis for empirical testing and refinement in subsequent research.


The main source of delays in public transport systems (buses, trams, metros, railways) takes place in their stations. For example, a public transport vehicle can travel at 60 km per hour between stations, but its commercial speed (average en-route speed, including any intermediate delay) does not reach more than half of that value. Therefore, the problem that public transport operators must solve is how to reduce the delay in stations. From the perspective of transport engineering, there are several ways to approach this issue, from the design of infrastructure and vehicles to passenger traffic management. The tools normally available to traffic engineers are analytical models, microscopic traffic simulation, and, ultimately, real-scale laboratory experiments. In any case, the data that are required are number of passengers that get on and off from the vehicles, as well as the number of passengers waiting on platforms. Traditionally, such data has been collected manually by field counts or through videos that are then processed by hand. On the other hand, public transport networks, specially metropolitan railways, have an extensive monitoring infrastructure based on standard video cameras. Traditionally, these are observed manually or with very basic signal processing support, so there is significant scope for improving data capture and for automating the analysis of site usage, safety, and surveillance. This article shows a way of collecting and analyzing the data needed to feed both traffic models and analyze laboratory experimentation, exploiting recent intelligent sensing approaches. The paper presents a new public video dataset gathered using real-scale laboratory recordings. Part of this dataset has been annotated by hand, marking up head locations to provide a ground-truth on which to train and evaluate deep learning detection and tracking algorithms. Tracking outputs are then used to count people getting on and off, achieving a mean accuracy of 92% with less than 0.15% standard deviation on 322 mostly unseen dataset video sequences.


Abstract Germanium abundances, determined by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, are presented for phenocrysts and glass matrices from a metaluminous trachyte and four peralkaline rhyolites from the Greater Olkaria Volcanic Complex, Kenya Rift Valley, Africa. Abundances (in ppm) are: sanidine 0.45-0.61; fayalite 4.8-11.7; hedenbergite 5.1-9.0; titanomagnetite 2.7; ilmenite 0.48; amphibole 8.3-8.9; biotite 7.0; chevkinite-(Ce) 309; trachyte glass 3.0; rhyolitic glasses 2.3-3.9. These values are generally greater than those recorded for silicic rocks in the literature, whilst the chevkinite-(Ce) value is the largest yet found in a magmatic mineral. Apparent partition coefficients range from 0.15-0.26 in sanidine to 124 in chevkinite-(Ce). Those for fayalite and hedenbergite increase with whole-rock peralkalinity and Fe content. The possibility of a role for accessory phases in influencing Ge distribution in rock-forming minerals is also raised.


Online social networks act as good mediums for communication but are also becoming popular for targeting the social needs of their users. Mainstream social networks are still unable to incorporate lowliterate users into their user-base as their interfaces are on the web or in Short Message Service (SMS) format, while low-literate people constitute a major portion of world's population. Speech-based networks (SBNs) overcome these limitations by providing a simple speech-based interface for users. In this work, we present a systematic analysis of SBNs designed specifically for low-literate users with a focus on identification of influential users. The task of finding influential users has not been studied for SBNs. Furthermore, knowledge of influential users can help optimize the operation of SBNs that typically run in low-income regions with low budgets. We demonstrate how a SBN is formed from call data records and define its key features or characteristics. We then propose a feature-based method for influence ranking in a SBN. Existing methods for influence maximization in social networks are not directly applicable to SBNs. Hence, we present a method for calculating influence probabilities between users in the network, enabling the application of the greedy algorithm and degree discount heuristic for influence maximization and computation of betweeness centrality in a SBN. We evaluate our methodology on data from a real-world SBN called Polly. We compare the results with those from existing methods and show that our methods are both effective and time-efficient for use in SBNs.


While evidence of organizational learning through empowered teacher collaboration has been established in many international school studies, no such relationship has been investigated in public and/or low-middle socioeconomic private schools in the Republic of Panama. This observation provides a framework for exploring how schools in Panama learn. This qualitative ethnomethodological case study was driven by the void in empirical knowledge and the guiding question that asked: How and to what extent does participation in the monthly 2011 ProEd Professional Learning Community influence a culture for organizational learning in schools in Panama. Data were collected in a three-step interview process conducted with a sample of 25 randomly selected 2011 ProEd PLC teachers from 5 low-middle socioeconomic public and/or private schools in Panama. Data analysis included open coding of emerging themes from the interviews and field notes. Walkthrough observations of ProEd PLC teachers and focus groups with non-2011 ProEd PLC members were conducted to triangulate for trustworthiness of this study. The participant researcher of this study was involved as lead facilitator and coach of all monthly PLC workshops and in data collection during the interview process. Emerging themes surfaced from conversations with teachers who created meanings from stories shared about their roles as educators in a developing nation.


Several small-plot studies were conducted in the spring of 2004 to compare the residual efficacy of several new reduced risk insecticides against aphids infesting desert head lettuce. In 4 head lettuce trials and one broccoli trial, economic aphid control was consistently achieved following foliar applications with flonicamid and Assail. These compounds provided good knockdown of aphids when applied relatively early in lettuce plant development and aphid population growth. Fulfill was less consistent and performance was reliant on correct spray timing. Collectively, the chemical attributes and biological activities of Fulfill, Assail and flonicamid make them extremely attractive for implementation into an aphid management program.


Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the issue of adolescent learners with dyslexia and their visuospatial ability. There is a substantial body of findings in educational and psychological literature suggesting that individuals with dyslexia are likely to have high levels of visuospatial ability. A group of 38 thirteen-year-old male and female bilingual (Maltese and English) students who were ethnically Maltese and clinically registered as having dyslexia, participated in this study. They were recruited from secondary schools from a number of regions on the island of Malta and were considered to be representative of the wider population of similarly affected peers of their age. The research group was matched for age, sex, ethnicity and ability with another group of 38 peers who were average readers in English and who came from the same classes as the research group. Both groups completed a Maltese standardised English reading comprehension test to confirm their status as weak and competent readers respectively. They then completed a published paper-and-pencil test of visuospatial reasoning and an interactive, computer-based virtual reality test based on a similar test described in published literature (Bungalow Test). In general, males tended to outperform females but this was only statistically significant in one of the many measures they completed. No consistent and statistically significant differences were evident between the groups on the wide array of visuospatial measures administered. The findings suggest that in the groups studied, adolescent learners with dyslexia possessed similar visuospatial skills as their average peers.


A novel method for performing 3-D particle image velocimetry is developed and demonstrated. The technique is based on light field photography, which uses a dense lenslet array mounted near a camera sensor to simultaneously sample the spatial and angular distribution of light entering the camera. Computational algorithms are then used to refocus the image after it is taken and render a 3-D intensity distribution. This thesis provides an introduction to the concepts of light field photography and outlines the processing steps and algorithms required to obtain a 3-D velocity field. To support this, a ray-tracing simulator is used to simulate light field images and rendering codes are generated to form 3-D particle volumes which can be used for particle image velocimetry (PIV) interrogation. The simulation and rendering code is tested with uniform displacement fields and a spherical vortex, and measurement errors are quantified. It is shown that light field imaging is a feasible method for performing 3-D velocimetry with a single camera, and steps are outlined for further development and testing.


The Algerian legislator has developed several ways and methods to release the marital union. One of these is the Khol'â or the dislocation whereby the woman requests divorce from her husband in exchange for money that she offers to him. If the husband accepts both Khol'â or the dislocation and the offer, then there is no problem. In case he accepted the dislocation and rejected the offer, the judge would have to determine the allowance on the basis of the dowry of similar cases. Before the amendment of the family code in 2005 and due to the lack of clarity in the text, the judges' opinions differed if the husband refused dislocation altogether. A woman may request Khol'â before completing the physical marriage procedures, that is, before consummation, and here we face the problem of the judges 'response to her request. This research paper aims to clarify the truth of what judges in general, and Supreme Court justices in particular, have said, regarding whether Khol'â is considered a pure right for women or men had a share in it. And, whether it is really not valid to divorce before consummation because it violates either the law or the provisions of Islamic law. In our research, we have used the descriptive and analytical methodology, in addition to the comparative method. At the end we have deduced that the judges used to stipulate the husband's consent for the Khol'â. But now they have established that it is a pure right for women, especially after amending Article 54 of the family law. They are also almost unanimous in the non-permissibility of Khol'â before consummation, while the Supreme Court is settled on that. We have come to the conclusion that this does not have a legal basis, that means there is no text that prohibits it not even in Sharia, as the jurists of the four schools are all agreed upon its validity.


Applying pressure to water reduces the average oxygen-oxygen distance, and facilitates the delocalisation of protons along the hydrogen bond. This pressure-induced delocalisation is further enhanced by the quantum nature of hydrogen nuclei, which is very significant even well above room temperature. Here we will evaluate the quantum kinetic energy and the particle momentum distribution of hydrogen and oxygen nuclei in water at extreme pressure, using ab initio path integral molecular dynamics. We will show that (transient) dissociation of water molecules induce measurable changes in the kinetic energy hydrogen atoms, although current deep inelastic scattering experiments are probably unable to capture the heterogeneity of the sample.


There are, in theory, ways of reconciling originalism and respect for precedent. But, in practice, these approaches have not been consistently adopted by the Roberts Court. Justice Antonin Scalia has described Chief Justice Roberts's attitude toward precedent as "fanx judicial restraint"--a kind of "judicial obfuscation" that should discomfit originalists and nonoriginalists alike. (1) And from the other side of the Court, Justice Stephen Breyer has been similarly critical of the Chief Justice's approach to precedent. (2) If the Chief Justice is to succeed in his admirable goal of persuading his colleagues to converge around narrow, unanimous opinions that the country can accept as legitimate, (3) he will need to characterize precedents in terms that his colleagues regardless of ideology can accept as neutral and transparent. Courts do not overturn constitutional precedents very often. The Marshall Court did not overturn a single constitutional precedent. (4) The Taney Court overturned only one. (5) The Hughes Court, during the New Deal era, overturned twenty-five. (6) The Warren Court, which is often viewed as a bogeyman in its attitude toward precedents, overturned thirty-two--the most up to that time. (7) But that was nothing compared to the record of the Burger Court, which overruled no fewer than seventy-six precedents. (8) The Rehnquist Court overturned thirty-nine precedents, a handful more than the Warren Court. (9) What is the Roberts Court's attitude toward precedent? There are two unapologetic originalists on the Roberts Court: Justices Scalia and Thomas. Their approaches to precedents will not gladden the hearts of all members of the Federalist Society. Some originalists, like Professors Gary Lawson and Randy Barnett, argue that it is unconstitutional for the Supreme Court to follow a precedent that deviates from the original meaning of the constitutional text, period. (10) That is a principled position on steroids. But even Justice Scalia does not embrace this position. He calls himself a fainthearted originalist because he would sometimes allow judicial precedent or societal custom to trump the original meaning of the Constitution. (11) Justice Scalia distinguishes himself from Justice Thomas in this regard. According to Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas would overrule any precedent that is inconsistent with the Constitution's original meaning but he himself would not. (12) Chief Justice Roberts rejects both positions. In his confirmation hearings, the Chief Justice said he cares more about precedent than original meaning, describing himself not as an originalist but as a bottom-up rather than a top-down judge. (13) He suggested that bottom-up judging includes respect for stare decisis, and he famously likened himself to an umpire. (14) I am especially interested in Chief Justice Roberts's vision of precedent, as I had the fortunate opportunity to interview him at the end of his first term. (15) During the interview, Chief Justice Roberts expressed frustration that his colleagues were acting more like law professors than members of a collegial court. He said that serving on the Court should not be an academic exercise, and that, in this polarized age, it was important for the country that the Court converge around narrow, unanimous opinions. (16) He also said that he would try to persuade his colleagues to embrace narrow, minimalist opinions rather than five-to-four, ideologically polarized opinions. (17) I was very impressed with Chief Justice Roberts and his vision of a more collegial Court. I also was distressed to see that in the Term following our discussion, the 2007 Term, thirty-three percent of the Court's decisions were five-to-four (18)--the highest percentage in ten years. Some of these decisions generated criticism from both liberal and conservative Justices for mischaracterizing contrary precedents rather than admitting that the Court was effectively overruling them. …


The paper overviews the modes of vibration of the principal component parts of a brake and their contribution to system instability during noise generation. It is shown that both in-plane and out-of-plane vibration are present and that both can be related to the vibration of the pad. It is further shown that the pad and its region often provide a solution or "fix" towards noise prevention and it is this area that forms the focus of this investigation. The collective evidence, proposals and associated theory are applied to real brake case studies when it is demonstrated that disc/pad interface "spragging" may be the source of brake noise. Measurements of the position of the dynamic centre of pressure (CoP) support the theoretical predictions that a leading CoP induces brake noise. Design proposals are suggested that may be applied early in the design phase as a means to reduce the propensity of a brake to generate noise.


Background: Homeless people are at high risk for illness and have higher death rates than the general population. Patterns of mortality among homeless men have been investigated, but less attention has been given to mortality rates among homeless women. We report mortality rates and causes of death in a cohort of women who used homeless shelters in Toronto. We also compare our results with those of other published studies of homeless women and with data for women in the general population. Methods: A cohort of 1981 women not accompanied by dependent children who used homeless shelters in Toronto in 1995 was observed for death over a mean of 2.6 years. In addition, we analyzed data from published studies of mortality rates among homeless women in 6 other cities (Montreal, Copenhagen, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Brighton, UK). Results: In Toronto, mortality rates were 515 per 100 000 person-years among homeless women 18–44 years of age and 438 per 100 000 person-years among those 45–64 years of age. Homeless women 18–44 years of age were 10 times more likely to die than women in the general population of Toronto. In studies from a total of 7 cities, the risk of death among homeless women was greater than that among women in the general population by a factor of 4.6 to 31.2 in the younger age group and 1.0 to 2.0 in the older age group. In 6 of the 7 cities, the mortality rates among younger homeless women and younger homeless men were not significantly different. In contrast, in 4 of the 6 cities, the mortality rates were significantly lower among older homeless women than among older homeless men. Interpretation: Excess mortality is far greater among homeless women under age 45 years than among older homeless women. Mortality rates among younger homeless women often approach or equal those of younger homeless men. Efforts to reduce deaths of homeless women should focus on those under age 45.


As organizational scholars have become critically attuned to human flourishing in the workplace, interest in workplace dignity has grown rapidly. Yet, a valid scale to measure employees' perceptions of dignity in the workplace has yet to be developed, thereby limiting potential empirical insights. To fill this need, we conducted a systematic, multi-study scale development project. Using data generated from focus groups (N = 62), an expert panel (N = 11), and two surveys (N = 401 and N = 542), we developed and validated an 18-item Workplace Dignity Scale (WDS). Our studies reveal evidence in support of the WDS' psychometric properties, as well as its content, construct, and criterion-related validity. Our structural models support predictive relationships between workplace characteristics (e.g., dirty work, income insufficiency) and dignity. Moreover, we observed the incremental validity of workplace dignity to account for variance in employee engagement, burnout, and turnover intentions above and beyond the explanatory effects of organizational respect and meaningful work. These results demonstrate the promise of the WDS for organizational research.


There has been a growing awareness among academic and professional communities, as well as the general public, of the global rise in the number of aging prisoners across the world. Both the scholarly literature and social media have documented the high human, social, and economic costs of housing older adults with complex physical, mental health, legal, and social needs. It is imperative to explore the crisis and select correctional policies and practices that have contributed to the rise in the aging and the seriously and terminally ill populations in global prisons. A comparative framing and analysis across the globe show how some countries, such as the United States, have a higher per capita rate of incarcerating older adults in prisons compared to other countries, such as Northern Ireland. Variations in profiles and manifestations of personal and social conditions affect pathways to prison for some older adults. Explanatory perspectives describe why some individuals are at an increased risk of growing old in prison compared to other individuals. Indigeneity, globalization, race and ethnicity, power and inequality, and processes of development and underdevelopment have affected the growth of the aging prison population. Promising practices have the potential to disengage social mechanisms that have contributed to the mass incarceration of the elderly and engage a more compassionate approach to crime and punishment for people of all ages, their families, and communities.


Background: The high incidence of mental health disorders among adolescents, accompanied by low treatment utilization, is a major public health problem. Including mental health treatment in primary care medical settings through an integrated health care model offers an opportunity for early intervention and easier treatment uptake for adolescents with mental health diagnoses. Methods: This thesis examined the barriers to and facilitators of implementing a mental health referral system with the support of a quality improvement project within a single clinic. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed key facilitators to be provider education; communication among team members; a shared EHR and electronic referral orderset; ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of the system; and social workers. Barriers included workflow challenges; lack of protocols; and fewer available services. Quantitative data analyses showed significant improvement in mental health utilization rates since the implementation of the project. Conclusion: The findings from this thesis can be used to inform future integrated models for adolescent mental health care in primary care settings. Expanding integrated models has public health implications for increasing treatment utilization among adolescents in need of mental health services, ultimately leading to improved quality of life throughout adulthood.


Networks have become the de facto diagram of the Big Data age (try searching Google Images for [big data AND visualisation] and see). The concept of networks has become central to many fields of human inquiry and is said to revolutionise everything from medicine to markets to military intelligence. While the mathematical and analytical capabilities of networks have been extensively studied over the years, in this article we argue that the storytelling affordances of networks have been comparatively neglected. In order to address this we use multimodal analysis to examine the stories that networks evoke in a series of journalism articles. We develop a protocol by means of which narrative meanings can be construed from network imagery and the context in which it is embedded, and discuss five different kinds of narrative readings of networks, illustrated with analyses of examples from journalism. Finally, to support further research in this area, we discuss methodological issues that we encountered and suggest directions for future study to advance and broaden research around this defining aspect of visual culture after the digital turn.


A key question in palaeontology is whether the fossil record taken at face value is adequate to represent true patterns of diversity through time. Some methods of assessing data quality have depended on the commonly observed covariation of palaeodiversity and fossiliferous formation counts through time, based on the assumption that the count of formations containing fossils, to a greater or lesser extent, drives diversity; but what if diversity drives formations? Close study of two fossil records, early tetrapods (Devonian–Jurassic) and dinosaurs, shows how the relationship between new taxa and new fossiliferous formations varies through research time. Initially, each new find represents a new fossiliferous formation and discovery follows the 'bonanza' model (fossils drive formations). In unexplored parts of the world, new taxa are identified frequently in new regions/formations. Only after time, in well‐explored continents such as Europe and North America, does collecting style switch to a mix of exploration for new formations and re‐sampling of known fossiliferous formations. Data are most striking for dinosaurs, where the Triassic–Jurassic record largely comprises finds from Europe and North America, where new formation discoveries reached their half‐life in 1914. This contrasts with the Cretaceous, which is dominated by rapidly rising discoveries from regions outside Europe and North America and the formation half‐life for these 'new' lands is 1986, showing that 50% of new Cretaceous dinosaur‐bearing formations were identified only in the past 30 years. The relationship between dinosaur‐bearing formations and palaeodiversity then combines three signals in variable amounts, reflecting the original diversity (relative abundances of particular taxa in different formations), redundancy (new fossiliferous formations accruing because of new fossil finds) and sampling (intensity of exploration for new fossiliferous formations, and of search within already‐sampled formations). For fossil vertebrates at least, formation counts of various kinds are poor predictors of sampling, missing, for example, the bonanza samples of Lagerstätten such as the Yixian Formation in China: thousands of specimens, dozens of species, but counted as one formation. These observations suggest that formation count cannot be regarded as an unbiased metric of sampling.


We present Kepler and Swift observations of StHa 169 which is currently classified as a symbiotic binary. The Kepler light curve shows quasi periodic behaviour with a mean period of 34 d and an amplitude of a few percent. Using Swift data we find a relatively strong UV source at the position of StHa 169 but no X-ray counterpart. Using a simple two component blackbody fit to model the combined Swift and 2MASS spectral energy distribution and an assessment of the previously published optical spectrum, we find that the source has a hot (~10,000K) component and a cooler (~3700K) component. The Kepler light is dominated by the cool component and we attribute the variability to pulsations in a red giant star. If we remove this approximate month long modulation from the light curve, we find no evidence for additional variability in the light curve. The hotter source is assigned to a late B or early A main sequence star. We briefly discuss the implications of these findings and conclude that StHA 169 is a red giant plus main sequence binary.