Over the last years, online learning has gained significant popularity, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Online learning is a multi-dimensional activity where each dimension should be adequately supported by an online learning system to provide a fruitful learning experience to its users. Similar to online learning, a particular approach in the way systems are designed has gained increasing popularity over the last years as a result of the emergence of the computer network. Systems have started to be envisioned as integrated collections of components that are deployed over the network. This network-centric approach addresses some of the issues that are not directly addressed by the traditional architectural design approaches. We believe that such an approach can be employed for the architectural design of online learning environments (OLEs) where different dimensions of online learning are addressed by different components residing on the network. This thesis presents a network-centric system architecture for OLEs. The architecture is based on the Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) paradigm and web services. The proposed architecture is described using a number of Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) representations. We also developed a quality model for OLEs and evaluated the architecture using this quality model. We believe that this research is an important first step in reconciling those two emerging ideas, namely online learning and network-centric architecture. This reconciliation is important as the flexible nature of SOA can be very useful in creating OLEs that address a wide variety of user needs.


Abstract Field, microstructural and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data from the Palaeozoic Mandi-Karsog pluton in the Lesser Himalayan region reveal a concordant relationship between fabric of the Proterozoic host rock and the granite. The pluton displays a prominent arcuate shape on the geological map. The margin-parallel mesoscopic and magnetic fabrics of the granite and warping of the host rock fabric around the pluton indicate that this regional curvature is either synchronous or pre-dates the emplacement of the granite body. Mesoscopic fabric, magnetic fabric and microstructures indicate that the northern part of the pluton preserves its pre-Himalayan magmatic fabric while the central and southern part shows tectonic fabric related to the Tertiary Himalayan orogeny. The presence of NW–SE-trending aplitic veins within the granite indicates a post-emplacement stretching in the NE–SW direction. Shear-sense indicators in the mylonites along the margin of the pluton suggest top-to-the-SW shearing related to the Himalayan orogeny. Based on these observations, it is envisaged that the extension that gave rise to this rift-related magmatism had a NE–SW trend, that is, normal to the trend of the aplite veins. Subsequently, during the Himalayan orogeny, compression occurred along this same NE–SW orientation. These findings imply that the regional curvature present in the Himachal Lesser Himalaya is in fact a pre-Himalayan feature and the pluton has formed by filling a major pre-Himalayan arcuate extension fracture.


Regardless of whether companies consider themselves as manufacturing or service producing companies, today nearly every company offers customer support in some form. Despite the frequent presence of customer-support service in companies the understanding of how customers experience the use of it in their interactions with companies is vague. In recent studies where service has been discussed (Gronroos 2006; Edvardsson et al. 2005; Lovelock and Gummesson 2004; Vargo and Lusch 2004a; 2004b), one important aspect has been to stress context specific and even company specific issues. Therefore it is relevant to examine a specific service related to a specific industry. Such a service is what most industries have included in their offerings and most customers have experienced; customer support service.The purpose of this article is to understand the applicable mechanism of customer support service as it is perceived by the customers, i.e. its development and appearance from the customers point of view. The relationships strength is the departure and the dynamic picture including the core service and customer support service the focus.Customer support service was studied from the customers perspective by interviewing 70 telecom customers about what role the support service has in their relationships in comparison with the core service/product. The results indicate that customers assessments of customer-support service drive surprisingly often the relationships whereas the core service, correspondingly, has a minor role for the relationship continuation. It looks like the dynamism of the customer perceptions of the core and support service dimensions needs to be understood in order to capture the customers reality. The dynamism was revealed by applying a modification of the SPAT method (Switching Path Analysis Technique), SPAT-mechanism, to the 70 interviews and contrasted to a static content analysis of 1900 customers support-service contacts in order to learn from the differences between the two approaches and their result generating capabilities. The contribution of the study is that customers do not carry a static picture of the core and support service configuration. On the contrary, according to their frame of references and for its situational purpose customers experience a dynamic entity. Despite the presence of customer support service in almost all companies it has rarely been focused on in marketing research. Contiguous studies again often separate the support dimension from the overall picture of service in the same way as do the company organizations generally; thus, separate functions in separated departments or units. Based on the results of the analysis using the SPAT-mechanism and by emphasizing the customers perceptive, the following was confirmed; the definition of customer support service in telecom was possible to establish as to both its nature and its role in the relationships consequently for the strength. In order to make a comparison that either verifies or challenges such an assumption, a comparison study based on a static content analysis was carried out in order to compare the results of a dynamic analysis to the static. If a method had been used excluding the option of considering the relationship dynamism and strength, the results show that it might neither have been possible to define the dynamism of the customer support service nor determine its role for relationship strength. However, by applying the dynamic mechanism the contribution regarding the understanding of customer-support service in telecom was broadened. Support service has no static definition from the customers point of view; it rather is embedded in the core product and highly related to customers value-in-use (Bitner and Brown 2006). The comprehension of the results of the present study has implication for how companies should design their support service in order to really support the customers.References:Bitner, Mary Jo and Stephen W. Brown (2006), The Evolution and Discovery of Service Science in Business Schools, Communication of the ACM, (July), 73-78.Edvardsson, Bo, Anders Gustafsson and Inger Roos (2005, Service Portraits in Service Research - A Critical Review, International Journal of Service Industry Management 16 (1), 107-121. Gronroos, Christian (2006), Adopting a Service Logic for Marketing, Marketing Theory, 6 (3), 317-111.Lovelock, Christopher and Gummesson, Evert (2004) Whither Services Marketing? In Search of a New Paradigm and Fresh Perspectives, Journal of Service Research, 7 (1), 20-41.Vargo, S. L. and Lusch, R. F. (2004a) Evolving to a New Dominant Logic of Marketing, Journal of Marketing 68 (January 2004), 1-17.Vargo, S. L. and Lusch, R. F. (2004b) The Four Service Marketing Myths Remnants of a Goods-Based, Manufacturing Model, Journal of Service Research 6 (4), 324-335.


By developing our proper CFD code under Fortran, the performances of a Stirling engine are studied in unsteady laminar regime and closely linked to the properties of its regenerator. However, it is responsible about the maximum part of losses in the Stirling engine. These losses depend on geometric and physical properties of the material constituting the regenerator. Thus, finding the suitable regenerator material that generates the greatest heat exchange and the lowest pressure drop is a good solution to reduce sources of irreversibility and ameliorate the global performances of the Stirling engine. The aim of this paper is to describe oxillatory flow and heat transfer inside porous regenerator materials and to determine the most suitable regenerator material. Brinkman-Forchheimer-Lapwood extended Darcy model is assumed to simulate momentum transfer within the porous regenerator. And the oscillatory flow is described by the Navier-Stockes compressible equations. The local thermal equilibrium of the gas and the matrix is taken into account for the modelling of the porous regenerator. The governing equations with the appropriate boundary conditions are solved by the control volume based finite element method (CVFEM). A numerical code on the software Fortran is elaborated to evaluate flow and heat transfer characteristics inside regenerator. Results showed that the fluid flow and heat transfer between the compression and expansion phases were varied significantly. It was shown that the superior comprehensive performance of the regenerator makes it possible to improve the performance of Stirling engines.


Active carbon is an amorphous form of carbon, which is specially treated to produce a very large surface area, ranging from 300 to 2000 m2/g. This commodity is assuming increasing importance in the control of air pollution, in purifying and controlling the general chemic environment, in certain biomedical applications and for the removal of organic matter from water and waste water. This study was undertaken to explore certain indigenous cellulosic and mineral based raw materials like inferior woods, a variety of agrowastes, low rank coals and certain cellulosic precursors, as potential raw materials for the preparation of powdered, granular and fibrous activated carbons. Another aim of this study was to characterize these products, in liquid and gas phase, by Standard Methods, as well as for certain specific industrial requirements. Among indigenous woods, seven inferior woods were explored and Babul (Acacia arabica), was found to be the most suitable, for preparing powdered as well as granular activated carbons. Suitable method of activation and working conditions in respect of particle size, appropriate Activating agent, its impregnation ratio, activation temperature and time were established for preparing powdered and granular products from this particular raw material. It is notable, that during the course of these studies, '1 complete new method for standardization of putty, used in granulization, was also established and got patented. As regards agroresidues, a variety of indigenous ones were investigated, but rice husk was found to be the most appropriate one, in view of its abundant availability. A complete new methodology was developed and got patented for the deashing of rice husk. Moreover, detailed studies were carried out for preparing powdered and granular activated carbons from high as well as low ash rice husk by the method of chemical activation and working conditions were established, by designing and performing a series of experiments 1JLnder different set of variables. Local deposits of low rank coals of Lakhra and Sharigh, in the province of Sindh and Baluchistan respectively, were appropriately being used for the preparation of powdered activated carbon, by the m0thod of chemical activation Detailed methodology as well as various working parameters were established, and it was inferred that coaI of Lakhra origin, although lignitic in nature, but found to be comparatively more suitable for this spl1cific purpose. Different indigenous cellulosic precursors were also studied in respect of their suitability as possible raw material for the preparation of fibrous / filament activated carbon. It was thereafter established, that a product of desired strength and appropriate adsorptive capacity may be prepared from bleached cotton cloth. Local technology for 'the preparation of granular activate carbon, by the method of physical activation, was develope,1. In this respect, a pilot scale fluidized bed reactor was indigenously designed, fabricated and installed. Two locally available Taw materials viz. Babul (Acacia arabica) and coconut shells were being explored as possible raw materials, for this purpose. Suitable working conditions were established, as regards particle size of the raw material activation temperature, operating pressure of the fluidizing medium, activation time etc, for preparing a product of desired strength and adsorptive properties inn suitable yield. Babul (Acacia arabica) was not found to be a suitable raw material for physical activation process by fluidization, due to its less inherent strength as compared to coconut shells. All products of powdered, granular and fibre / filament type, were initially characterized in liquid as well as gas phase, by adsorption against adsorbates of certain molecular dimensions. Products of suitable strength and physical and chemical characteristics, in respect of their micro, meso and macroporous surface area, hardness etc, and initially selected from standard evaluation, were then subjected to their detailed characterization. Detailed characterization of these selected products was carried out, in respect of their elemental analysis (C,H,N',O,S), surface area determination by BET method (low temperature nitrogen adsorption) ,ascertaining of functional groups present on the surface of these products by FTIR spectroscopy and selective neutralization techniques and adsorption of certain trace metals and lower aliphatic & unsaturated organic acids. Physical adsorption of gases and vapours by these active carbons was also determined by calculation of different parameters like characteristic energy, microspore volume, pore width and external surface area, by adsorption of benzene at 293 K, under reduced pressure, using Dubinin Radushkevich (D-R) equation.An outcome of this study, if; the establishment of suitability of different indigenous preCU1:'sors like Babul (Acacia arabica), low ash rice husk, Lakhra coal and bleached cotton cloth, as prospective raw materials, for the preparation of powdered, granular and fibrous activated carbons. Moreover, detailed methodology I techniques for the preparation and characterization of these products were also evolved.


The "PLUTONS: Investigating the Relationship between Pluton Growth and Volcanism in the Central Andes" themed issue of Geosphere is dedicated to the memory of Todd Christian Feeley, our friend, colleague, and mentor. He distinguished his career with a long string of insightful papers that integrated the geology and petrology of volcanic rocks. His work was always soundly based in field geology, and his coworkers remember him for his outstanding skills in the field.


Dopamine (DA) was sensitively detected using a label-free fluorescence method using nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) as effective probes. The detection of DA was also performed on the N-GQD immersed filter paper. The fluorescence intensity of the N-GQDs was effectively quenched upon addition of DA. There was a good linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of the N-GQDs and the DA concentration in the range of 1–200 μM, with a detection limit of 0.07 μM. The proposed method was facile, sensitive, and fast for DA detection with simple operation. DA in real serum samples was successfully detected with satisfactory results. Significantly, this fluorescent probe was used to fabricate paper-based test strips for visual detection of DA for the first time, which validated the potential on-site application.


Test results have an important impact on different aspects of students which follows more expectations and stresses from parents and educational systems on students' performances. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze test anxiety of medical sciences students of Zahedan. Current study, which is a descriptive-analytical study, was performed on 380 medical sciences students of Zahedan during 2015-2016. Data collecting instruments included a two-part questionnaire, first part of which related to the demographic data, and the second one was about Pintrich test anxiety questionnaire. Data were analyzed through SPSS 19 software, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, T-test and ANOVA, and significance level was considered below than 0.05. Results showed that age average of participants is 21.30 ± 2.60 among which 201 were women. Total average of test anxiety was 23.34 ± 5.54 which is a high score, the lowest and the highest scores were 6.00 and 35.00 respectively. Also, 288 persons had anxiety higher than score 20 which were considered as high anxiety. There wasn't any significant relation between test anxiety and the age and the gender of students. Also, the relation between test anxiety and university or place of education was not significant. the results of the current study showed that the anxiety of the most students were high.


ABSTRACT
 A 5-year study of long-term (40 years) study plots was conducted on the Osceola National Forest in northern Florida to determine how dormant-season fire frequency (annual, biennial, quadrennial, or unburned) affects ground-dwelling macroarthropod use of coarse woody debris in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests. Pitfall traps were used to sample arthropods near logs or metal drift fences of equal length. Samples were identified to genus or the lowest practical taxonomic level. Overall, significantly more arthropods and more arthropod biomass were captured near drift fences than near logs. Similarity of arthropods captured near logs or drift fences ranged from 64.4% in annually burned plots to 69.2% in quadrennially burned plots, with no significant differences noted. Likewise, Shannon diversity, evenness, richness, and number of rare genera were the same for traps regardless of the trap location. Interaction between fires and trap location were observed in 31 of 932 arthropod taxa. Of those, 10 taxa had significantly higher numbers captured in traps near logs in some burn treatments but there was no consistent pattern between log use and fire frequency. In most cases, more were captured in log pitfalls in frequently burned plots but that was not the case for at least 4 taxa. Where interactions between trap location and fire frequency were not significant, arthropods in an additional 101 taxa were captured in higher numbers at 1 trap location or the other. Of those, 73 were captured in higher numbers in pitfalls near drift fences and 28 were captured in higher numbers near logs. Results showed no increase in log usage by general or more mobile ground-dwelling arthropods as more frequent burning reduced the herbaceous and woody under story. However, logs were clearly important to a wide variety of arthropods regardless of burn frequency.


Understanding how users choose tags can help researchers better understand how tagging systems can be used and how to design better tagging systems for the future. We developed a simulation of del.icio.us, a popular social bookmarking tool, that allowed us to simulate users choosing tags using one of four possible strategies for tag choice found in the literature. We then compared the resulting tag choices with empirical data retrieved from del.icio.us to determine which tag choice strategies would result in choices most similar to those seen in the real world. We were able to rule out three of the strategies as unlikely to be the primary means by which tags are chosen on del.icio.us.


Excerpt] This book tells the stories of undocumented migrant workers, as well as the people they leave behind, using as an example people from the Alto Balsas region in the Mexican state of Guerrero. This part of Mexico is a good example to use because the proportion of migrants to the United States who are undocumented is very high, possibly over 90 percent. These migrant workers experience the inconsistencies of U.S. immigration policy; their stories illustrate how the economic integration of the North American continent, which at the same time restricts the movement of labor, is mirrored in people's lives. Migrants from this part of Mexico started working en masse as undocumented laborers only about fifteen years ago. Hence their experiences better illustrate these contradictions than the stories of those who emigrated before 1990. The workers described in this book are also representative of a recent trend in migration from the southern half of Mexico, where many people speak an indigenous language as their mother tongue. Many books have been written about Mexican undocumented workers. Some writers emphasize the negative aspects of illegal migration by showing how such migrants are likely to be abused, and how they have few rights. Shannon Gleeson, who did research on immigrants' rights, focuses on the vulnerability of undocumented workers. She used the expression "those who work in the shadows." Others show the positive side by portraying migrants as resourceful agents, rather than passive victims. Judith Heilman points out that the women she interviewed enjoyed a new freedom from restrictive gender roles, while men learned new skills. Scholars and journalists have shown that these contrasting sides of migration are part of a single process of economic integration. The purpose of this book is not to replicate the studies that already exist. Rather, I will show how the contradictory nature of continental economic integration is reflected in the conflicted feelings and ambiguous situations of undocumented workers and those they leave behind.


The chain-structured long short-term memory (LSTM) has showed to be effective in a wide range of problems such as speech recognition and machine translation. In this paper, we propose to extend it to tree structures, in which a memory cell can reflect the history memories of multiple child cells or multiple descendant cells in a recursive process. We call the model S-LSTM, which provides a principled way of considering long-distance interaction over hierarchies, e.g., language or image parse structures. We leverage the models for semantic composition to understand the meaning of text, a fundamental problem in natural language understanding, and show that it outperforms a state-of-the-art recursive model by replacing its composition layers with the S-LSTM memory blocks. We also show that utilizing the given structures is helpful in achieving a performance better than that without considering the structures.


This Essay proposes a mechanism for expanding competition in state property law, while sketching out the limitations necessary to protect third parties. The fact that property law is produced by the states creates a unique opportunity for experimentation with such property and property-related topics as same-sex marriages, community property, adverse possession and easements. The Essay begins by demonstrating the salutary effects of federalism on the evolution of property law. Specifically, it shows that competition among states has created a dynamic property system in which new property institutions replace obsolete ones.The Essay then contemplates the possibility of increasing innovation and individual choice in property law by inducing state competition over property regimes. Drawing on the scholarly literature examining state competition for corporate law and competition over the provision of local public goods, the Essay constructs an "open" property system that creates an adequate incentive for the states to offer new property regimes and allows individuals to adopt them without relocating to the offering state. This Essay also has important implications for the burgeoning literature on the numerus clausus principle, under which the list of legally permissible property regimes is closed. The Essay argues that in a federalist system, it is socially desirable to expand the list of property forms to include certain out-of-state forms.


The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of iron and manganese removal from groundwater using chalcedonite sand as a filter bed in rapid filtration. The experiment was conducted at a pilot plant. At the first stage of research, chalcedonite and silica sand were compared. The ripening time for manganese removal of chalcedonite was 27 days while silica sand was ripened within 57 days. At the second stage of research, the filtration process was conducted through chalcedonite sand with the rate of 6.0, 9.0 and 12.0 m/h. There was no significant difference between ripening times for the applied filtration rates. High mass capacity and relatively low head loss growth enabled long filtration runs. To confirm the importance of biological processes in the ripening bed for manganese removal, the third stage of the research was conducted. After the chalcedonite was ripened the bed was disinfected. The manganese concentration in the effluent immediately increased to 0.22–0.28 mgMn/L. To establish the adsorption potential of filtration materials for manganese the Freundlich isotherms were developed for chalcedonite and silica sand. The internal structure parameters (pore surface and volume) of chalcedonite and silica sand were determined using the BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) isotherm method.


Background: Attempts to determine the association between the radiographic and clinical findings of knee pathology have produced conflicting results. It is also not yet known how knee radiographs influence the conservative management of patients with knee pain. Objectives: 1. To determine the association between the clinical and radiographic diagnoses of knee pain. 2. To record the consultation at which a radiograph of the knee was requested by the student or clinician and the reasons thereof. 3. To record the suspected clinical diagnoses and management of the patients prior to referral for radiographs of the knee. 4. To determine the number of incidental radiographic findings in the selected radiographs. 5. To determine any change in the clinical diagnoses and management following radiographic reporting of the selected radiographs. Method: Radiographic and clinical data from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2010 were retrospectively collected from knee radiographs and corresponding patient files from the archives of the Chiropractic Day Clinic (CDC). Statistical analysis included the use of percentages, mean, standard deviation, range and frequency counts for the descriptive objectives. Diagnoses were categorized into specific groups and to construct two-by-two tables of absence or presence of radiographic vs. clinical diagnosis for each specific diagnosis to determine the association indicator variables were used. Results: The overall agreement between the clinical and radiographic diagnoses was 85.5%. For degenerative joint disease there was a 97.8% agreement while in Osgood Schlatter's disease the agreement was 100%, and in chondromalacia patella the agreement was 50%. However, there was no agreement between the clinical and radiographic diagnoses for each of the other specific conditions. Degenerative changes were the most common radiographic findings. The iv majority of the knee radiographs were requested at the initial consultation and as the length of treatment increased, the frequency of radiograph requests decreased. The most common reasons for referral for radiographs were to identify degenerative changes (47.5%) and to assess for unspecified pathology (37.4%). Of the 146 patients in this study, 125 patients did not have a change in diagnosis after radiographs were obtained which means that 85.6% of the diagnoses remained the same after radiographic examination. There was a wide range of treatment modalities utilized in the management of patients with knee pain, including soft tissue therapy, electrotherapeutic modalities and manual therapy (manipulation and mobilization). The use of manual therapy increased from 67.8% prior to radiographs being taken to 82.9% after radiographs were obtained. Conclusion: Knee radiographs were over-utilized at the CDC and the findings on radiography did not have much influence on the diagnosis and the management of the patient presenting with knee pain. The majority of the clinical diagnoses were degenerative causes of knee pain.


During the last 30 years, Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, aiming to understand the pathophysiology and to improve the diagnosis, management, and, ultimately, treatment of the disease, has grown rapidly. Recently, some studies have used simple bibliometric approaches to investigate research trends and advances in the field. In our study, we map the AD research field by applying entitymetrics, an extended concept of bibliometrics, to capture viewpoints of indexers, authors, or citers. Using the full-text documents with reference section retrieved from PubMed Central, we constructed four types of networks: MeSH-MeSH (MM), MeSH-Citation-MeSH (MCM), Keyphrase-Keyphrase (KK), and Keyphrase-Citation-Keyphrase (KCK) networks. The working hypothesis was that MeSH, keyphrase, and citation relationships reflect the views of indexers, authors, and/or citers, respectively. In comparative network and centrality analysis, we found that those views are different: indexers emphasize amyloid-related entities, including methodological terms, while authors focus on specific biomedical terms, including clinical syndromes. The more dense and complex networks of citing relationships reported in our study, to a certain extent reflect the impact of basic science discoveries in AD. However, none of these could have had clinical relevance for patients without close collaboration between investigators in translational and clinical-related AD research (reflected in indexers and authors' networks). Our approach has relevance for researches in the field, since they can identify relations between different developments which are not otherwise evident. These developments combined with advanced visualization techniques, might aid the discovery of novel interactions between genes and pathways or used as a resource to advance clinical drug development.


In the era of "Omics" approaches, the available data is exponentially increasing and new
methods must be invented to handle this data. For this purpose, databases store, maintain and
provide the data, and algorithms provide the possibility for further analyzing, clustering or organizing
the datasets. Bacillus subtilis is a well-studied model bacterium which is a prerequisite for further
scientific research. SubtiWiki is a database storing the annotated information on genes of B. subtilis.
This database is curated by the Bacillus community which keeps it up to date. Unfortunately, the
mediawiki engine provides the information in raw text and the properties of a gene are not directly
usable in bioinformatic approaches. The main properties of the gene are hidden in raw text of the
SubtiWiki pages. Here we altered the layout of the database, extracted the information from the wiki
pages and created a completely new website. In the beginning, the relevant information was filtered
out from the wiki pages via text mining. In parallel, the extracted properties of a gene were organized
and then inserted in the new database structure. The content of the applications (SubtInteract,
SubtiPathways, SubtiExpress) was adapted to the new database layout to extend the information of
the gene. Finally, the web sites obtained a new design. As a result, SubtiWiki is not a classical "Wiki"
anymore but the idea of fast editing and community curation remains. Thus, this database moved to
a classical database structure which can be used for bioinformatic approaches and it simplifies
maintenance of the data. SubtiWiki becomes a powerful database covering genes, pathways,
expression-levels and protein-protein interactions of B. subtilis but the analysis and comparison of
the properties and networks recently began. The newly constructed database and the new web
performance facilitate new insights in B. subtilis. Moreover, the tools for the analysis and especially
visualization were adapted and improved to fit to the new database layout. The tools and the data
are now easily accessible for the user and SubtiWiki is prepared to integrate high-throughput data.


This paper introduces a new type of set called the Sohraab-Hyder set or the SH set which is quite different from the well known and studied set of the Set Theory. This new set theory is logically consistent and leads to some fascinating results such as, (1) the necessary existence of an ultimate SH set that created itself in pre-eternity and will continue to exist to post-eternity, (2) the ultimate SH set is self sufficient, (2) the ultimate SH set must give rise to infinite number of other SH sets which represent logically consistent algebras and geometries, (3) the ultimate SH set must give rise to the existence of infinite universes, including our own, (4) the ultimate SH set must give rise to mathematical cells, organs and organisms which undergo must undergo evolution, (5) some of these mathematical cells, organs and organisms are same as the organic cells, organs and organisms which leads to the conclusion that the evolution of organisms is a mathematical fact and finally, (6) it is shown that every living and non-living entity in the universe, with the universe included of course, is a matrix of 0's and 1's.


********** Social workers, case managers, and other counselors face significant challenges in working with HIV-infected clients and their families. HIV-affected populations typically require a full range of services to manage the illness and the significant stress and problems the infection causes. Service needs are increased when clients have mental health problems in addition to the HIV infection. Although social workers, case managers, and other counselors provide substantial services to HIV-infected people, they are often insufficiently prepared, a phenomenon especially pronounced when serving populations of color (Taylor-Brown & Garcia, 1995). To obtain adequate preparation, social workers must acquire knowledge regarding the unique needs of HIV-affected populations-- limited resources, organizational barriers, variation in service delivery systems. Inadequate preparation may result not only in reduced quality of services to clients and their families, but may lead to increased worker stress, job dissatisfaction, a nd burnout (Ross & Seeger, 1988). Social workers and other mental health providers need HIV training that is updated regularly. The development of combination antiretroviral drug therapies has generated significant breakthroughs in the treatment of HIV (Ho, 1998; Palella et al., 1998), which have implications for social work practice. Infected individuals now may begin treatment sooner and follow very complex drug regimens. Many people with HIV are living longer and often are free of symptoms; HIV/AIDS is increasingly viewed as a chronic rather than a terminal illness (Ho). Although treatment advances have greatly improved the lives of many HIV- infected people and their families, antiretroviral treatments also create challenges, particularly with treatment adherence (Linsk & Bonk, 2000). To be effective, antiretroviral drug regimens must be followed consistently and precisely and often require HIV-infected individuals to alter significantly their daily routines and eating habits. In addition, the drugs often have significant side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and headache, that many patients find intolerable (Singh et al., 1996). Compounding these concerns is the fact that the regimens may need to be followed indefinitely. All of these factors combined are especially challenging for patients with comorbid mental illness or substance abuse (Mehta, Moore, & Graham, 1997; Satriano, Rothschild, Steiner, & Oldham, 1999). Inconsistent adherence not only reduces treatment effectiveness, but also may actually promote viral mutation to forms that are resistant to antiretroviral medication (Paterson et al., 2000; Perrin & Telenti, 1998; Sherer, Rajaram, Jasek, Maclean, & Teter, 1999). Viral mutations are harmful for individuals with HIV and also present serious public health risks as drug-resistant strains of the virus spread. Public health officials are already beginning to see newly infected individuals with these drug-resistant strains (Perrin & Telenti). Despite treatment advances, HIV is associated with issues of grief and loss, disclosure to families and employers, fear, uncertainty about the future, decisions about when to start antiretroviral therapy, and potential treatment failures. Given the personal and social consequences of HIV infection, educational programs need to be comprehensive and skill based and need to demonstrate effectiveness in both increasing social worker knowledge and improving the quality of care provided to clients. Earlier research has demonstrated the need for social workers and case managers to receive HIV education (Zibalese-Crawford, Brennan, & Stein, 1995). Also, research assessing the effect of HIV education for social workers and other providers has supported the need to increase providers comfort with HIV/AIDS and willingness to work with the population (Knox, Friedrich, Gaies, & Achenbach, 1994; Riley & Greene, 1993). …


A nonlinear morphodynamic model is analysed to gain fundamental knowledge about the initial growth and longterm behaviour of observed shoreface-connected sand ridges. The model describes quasi-steady, depth-averaged flow on a storm-dominated inner shelf with an erodible bottom and a transverse slope. Both bed load and suspended load sediment transport are incorporated. The formulations are linear with respect to the current and account for depthdependent stirring of sediment by waves as well as for the effect of local bed slopes. A linear stability analysis has already revealed the initial growth of bed forms that resemble observed shorefaceconnected ridges. Here, a nonlinear analysis is carried out to study the long-term dynamics of these bed forms. The method is based on an expansion of the flow and the bottom perturbations in a truncated series of eigenfunctions of the linear problem for a coastal stretch with a fixed longshore length. The result is a set of nonlinear algebraic equations, describing the flow over the topography, and differential equations for the bottom amplitudes. Results indicate finite-amplitude behaviour in the mode amplitudes. The long-term bottom pattern shows the observed asymmetries of the ridges with steep bottom gradients on the downstream side. The migration speed of this finite-amplitude perturbation appears to be unaffected by nonlinear effects. Extrapolation of the results to Long Island shelf yields bed forms with a characteristic height of about 4 m in a saturation time of B850 yr; which are consistent


Background: Philadelphia chromosome (Ph): Hallmark of CML is caused by reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 resulting in BCR-ABL fusion protein. Most commonly associated breakpoint with CML is M-bcr in exon 13 or exon 14, producing splice variant b2a2 or b3a2 respectively. The distribution of these transcripts and their influence on clinico-hematological parameters is variable. Impact of the fusion transcripts on treatment outcome in Imatinib treated CML patients is still a matter of debate. Aims/settings and design: We conducted this study on 400 CML-CP patients to look for the distribution of fusion transcripts i.e. b3a2 and b2a2, their clinico-hematological profile and impact on treatment response in patients treated with Imatinib. Material and Methods: CML-CP was diagnosed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for the BCR-ABL fusion transcript. Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was performed on peripheral blood every 3-6 monthly to look for treatment response. Results: The overall frequency of b3a2 transcript was observed in 288 (72%) followed by b2a2 in 104 (26%) and hybrid fusion transcript (b3a2 + b2a2) was seen in 8 (2%) cases. MMR was attained in 198/288 (68.7%) patients with b3a2 transcript and 90/288 (31.3%) patients failed to achieve MMR after 12 months of Imatinib therapy. Among the patients with b2a2 transcript, 44/104 (42.3%) patients achieved MMR and 60/104 (57.7%) patients failed to achieve MMR after 12 months of Imatinib therapy. Conclusions: In conclusion, the frequency of b3a2 transcript was more as compared to b2a2 transcript. MMR was significantly higher in patients with b3a2 transcript as compared to patients with b2a2.


Abstract. We introduce a method that accounts for errors caused by the slit function
in an optimal-estimation-based spectral fitting process to improve ozone
profile retrievals from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) ultraviolet
measurements (270–330 nm). Previously, a slit function was parameterized as
a standard Gaussian by fitting the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the
slit function from climatological OMI solar irradiances. This cannot account
for the temporal variation in slit function in irradiance, the intra-orbit
changes due to thermally induced change and scene inhomogeneity, and
potential differences in the slit functions of irradiance and radiance
measurements. As a result, radiance simulation errors may be induced due to
convolving reference spectra with incorrect slit functions. To better
represent the shape of the slit functions, we implement a more generic super
Gaussian slit function with two free parameters (slit width and shape
factor); it becomes standard Gaussian when the shape factor is fixed to be 2. The effects of errors in slit function parameters on radiance spectra,
referred to as pseudo absorbers (PAs), are linearized by convolving
high-resolution cross sections or simulated radiances with the partial
derivatives of the slit function with respect to the slit parameters. The
PAs are included in the spectral fitting scaled by fitting coefficients that
are iteratively adjusted as elements of the state vector along with ozone
and other fitting parameters. The fitting coefficients vary with cross-track
and along-track pixels and show sensitivity to heterogeneous scenes. The PA
spectrum is quite similar in the Hartley band below 310 nm for both standard
and super Gaussians, but is more distinctly structured in the Huggins band
above 310 nm with the use of super Gaussian slit functions. Finally, we
demonstrate that some spikes of fitting residuals are slightly smoothed by
accounting for the slit function errors. Comparisons with ozonesondes
demonstrate noticeable improvements when using PAs for both standard and
super Gaussians, especially for reducing the systematic biases in the
tropics and midlatitudes (mean biases of tropospheric column ozone reduced
from -1.4∼0.7 to 0.0∼0.4 DU) and reducing
the standard deviations of tropospheric ozone column differences at
high latitudes (by 1 DU for the super Gaussian). Including PAs also makes
the retrievals consistent between standard and super Gaussians. This study
corroborates the slit function differences between radiance and irradiance,
demonstrating that it is important to account for such differences in the
ozone profile retrievals.


The control and regrowth after nicosulfuron reduced rate treatment of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) populations, from seven Argentinean locations, were evaluated in pot experiments to assess if differential performance could limit the design and implementation of integrated weed management programs. Populations from humid regions registered a higher sensibility to reduced rates of nicosulfuron than populations from subhumid regions. This effect was visualised in the values of regression coefficient of the non-linear models (relating fresh weight to nicosulfuron rate), and in the time needed to obtain a 50% reduction of photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance. The least leaf CO2 exchange of subhumid populations could result in a lower foliar absorption and translocation of nicosulfuron, thus producing less control and increasing their ability to sprout and produce new aerial biomass. The three populations from subhumid regions, with less sensibility to nicosulfuron rates, presented substantial difference in fresh weight, total rhizome length and number of rhizome nodes, when they were evaluated 20 week after treatment. In consequence, a substantial Johnsongrass re-infestation could occur, if rates below one-half of nicosulfuron labeled rate were used to control Johnsongrass in subhumid regions.


Silicon based optoelectronic devices have been investigated for decades [1]–[10]. However, due to the indirect band gap nature of Si and Ge, developing of efficient light-emitting source on Si is still a challenging topic. GeSn based optoelectronic devices have the great potential to overcome this deficiency for several reasons. By adding more fraction of Sn into Ge, GeSn band gap could be reduced. The narrowed band gap could be developed for near to mid infrared applications. The alloy can even become the direct band gap material with a large Sn composition (beyond 8%). This feature could enhance the light emission from the direct band gap transition. Due to the simple process of GeSn device fabrication, the cost of infrared optoelectronic devices could be reduced. Furthermore, the compatibility of GeSn based devices on complementary metal on semiconductor (CMOS) process enables further opportunities for Si photonic integrated circuits. This thesis discusses the fabrication and characterization of GeSn optoelectronic devices to prove the great potential of this material. The discussion mainly covers the double hetrostructure (DHS) LED, following with an extension study on photodetector. The grown material was characterized and proved to be high quality using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL). The LED fabrication process and results are described in detail. Surface emitting LED characterization was studied using the current-voltage (I-V) measurement, electroluminescence (EL), as well as optical power. EL spectra of 6%, 8%, 9%, and 10% Sn LED was measured. Emission due to the direct band was observed. The wavelength of the EL spectrum peak of 2348 nm was achieved for measuring 10% Sn LED. Optical power with an average of 0.2 mW was measured under 100 mA current injection. Surface emitting LED design was developed into three generations serving for different research purposes. Edge emitting LED was fabricated and characterized with I-V and EL measurements. For light-detection, both photoconductors and p-i-n photodiodes were characterized with I-V and the spectral response. The absorption spectral response was measured with different Sn composition devices, showing the extended detection range towards mid infrared. The characterizations of GeSn based optoelectronic devices in this thesis demonstrated the GeSn material is versatile and capable for optoelectronic devices.


BACKGROUND
Child and adolescent mental health problems are prevalent and require adequate interventions. Despite several evidence-based interventions for these problems described in the literature, few studies addressed strategies to diffuse efficacious interventions for child mental disorders especially in developing countries.

METHODS
An extensive but not systematic review of the literature was performed aiming to identify evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with mental disorders, professionals to target in disseminating these interventions, and the available strategies to diffuse information.

RESULTS
Substantial evidence-based information is available to guide preventive, psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions. The effectiveness of treatments in real-world settings and the cost-effectiveness of interventions are rarely tested. Professionals at different levels (teachers, school counselors, social workers, general practitioners, pediatricians, child psychologists and psychiatrists) should be targeted in diffusing efficacious interventions for child mental health problems worldwide. Telepsychiatry and the internet seem to be the most promising strategies to diffuse knowledge with lower costs.

CONCLUSIONS
Medical and allied professionals must incorporate child and adolescent mental health issues in their under- and postgraduate curricula, and be better prepared to critically evaluate available information. Professionals need to disseminate evidence-based programs to guide parents and teachers in developing countries to deal with child and adolescent difficulties. Countries need to explore internet solutions for dissemination of medical information.


*Bacteriologist,Ph.D,Al-Kindey College of Medicine. **Community Medicine Specialist, Specialized Center for Chest and Respiratory Disease. ***Pulmonologist ,Internist, Specialized Center for Chest and Respiratory Disease. ****Pulmonologist ,Specialized Center for Chest and Respiratory Disease. INTRODUCTION: The emergence of drug resistance in the course of treatment for tuberculosis (TB) is a phenomenon that was recognized shortly after the introduction of streptomycin in 1946–1947. Acquired drug resistance in TB patients is largely an iatrogenic ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is caused by strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most effective bactericidal agents currently available for TB treatment.It has emerged as a global public health emergency . It requires treatment with combination therapy consisting of four to six medications for up to 2 years . Additionally, the treatment is generally more toxic and far more expensive than the standardized treatment regimen used to treat drug-susceptible TB . The latest estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO) arrive at 650 000 prevalent MDR-TB cases among the 12 million tuberculosis cases worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To identify the Characteristics of multidrug resistance tuberculosis cases attending the specialized center for chest and respiratory disease in Baghdad during the period 9 th of September 2012 – 9 th of December 2012. METHODS : A cross sectional study was done in the specialized center for chest and respiratory disease in Baghdad during the period 9 th of September 2012 – 9 th of December 2012.Any patient attending the specialized center for chest and respiratory disease in Baghdad during the study period diagnosed as a case of MDR TB was enrolled in this study. RESULTS: The sample is composed of 42 MDR-TB patients (29 male and 13 female ) , with age mean of 38.3±12.8 year . Male sex significantly dominates and exceeds two thirds of the sample (69.0%) (P < 0.05). The study find ages between 25-45 year contribute to about two thirds (62.0%) of patients, and ages between 55-65 years constitute about one fifth (19.0%) of the sample. (P < 0.05). Body habit significantly showed that half the sample (50.0%) were underweight and only 10% were overweight or obese (P < 0.05).Smoking is found in 21.4% of total sample. The duration of taking first line antituberculosis drugs (FLD) before being labeled as MDR-TB varied from 14 to 72 months, with mean duration of 27.3±15.2 months with no significant difference in mean duration between the two sexes (P > 0.05,). Time required to diagnose these cases as MDR-TB varied from 0 to 24 months with mean time of 9.0±6.5 months. There was no significant difference in mean diagnosis time between males and females (P > 0.05). This study found that around one fifth (19.0%) of the sample have a history of default from treatment with FLD. Only one female was significant to be a case of primary MDR-TB (P > 0.05). Two cases (both were males) significantly had history of reaction to FLD treatment (P < 0.05). None of the sample had positive HIV testing. CONCLUSION: Most MDR patients in this study were males aged between 25-45 years .Most cases had acquired MDR TB and primary MDR-TB was rare finding in this study. Around one fifth of the sample have a history of default from treatment with FLD.


Abstract Introduction The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program's (IDCRP) Emerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (EIDAR) Research Area is a Department of Defense (DoD) clinical research capability that is responsive and adaptive to emerging infectious disease (EID) threats to US military readiness. Among active-duty and other Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries, EIDAR research is largely focused on evaluating the incidence, risk factors, and acute- and long-term health effects of military-relevant EIDs, especially those caused by high-consequence pathogens or are responsible for outbreaks among US military populations. The EIDAR efforts also address Force Health Protection concerns associated with antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship practices within the MHS. Methods The EIDAR studies utilize the approach of: (1) Preparing for emergent conditions to systematically collect clinical specimens and data and conduct clinical trials to assist the military with a scientifically appropriate response; and (2) Evaluating burden of emergent military-relevant infectious diseases and assessing risks for exposure and development of post-infectious complications and overall impact on military readiness. Results In response to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, the IDCRP partnered with the National Institutes of Health in developing a multicenter, randomized safety and efficacy study of investigational therapeutics in Ebola patients. Subsequently, the EIDAR team developed a protocol to serve as a contingency plan (EpICC-EID) to allow clinical research activities to occur during future outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever and severe acute respiratory infections among MHS patients. The EIDAR portfolio recently expanded to include studies to understand exposure risks and impact on military readiness for a diversity of EIDs, such as seroincidence of non-Lyme disease borreliosis and Coccidioides fungal infections among high-risk military populations. The team also launched a new prospective study in response to the recent Zika epidemic to conduct surveillance for Zika and other related viruses among MHS beneficiaries in Puerto Rico. Another new study will prospectively follow U.S. Marines via an online health assessment survey to assess long-term health effects following the largest DoD Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli outbreak at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego. In cooperation with the Trauma-Related Infections Research Area, the EIDAR Research Area is also involved with the Multidrug-Resistant and Virulent Organisms Trauma Infections Initiative, which is a collaborative effort across DoD laboratories to characterize bacterial and fungal isolates infecting combat-related extremity wounds and link lab findings to clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the EIDAR team has developed an Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Collaborative Clinical Research Consortium, comprised of Infectious Disease and Pharmacy specialists. Conclusions The EIDAR Research Area is responsive to military-relevant infectious disease threats that are also frequently global public health concerns. Several new EIDAR efforts are underway that will provide Combatant Command Surgeons, Infectious Diseases Service Chiefs, and other Force Health Protection stakeholders with epidemiological information to mitigate the impact of EIDs and antimicrobial resistance on the health of U.S. military service members and their dependents.


We determine the asymptotic behaviour of the function computed by support vector machines (SVM) and related algorithms that minimize a regularized empirical convex loss function in the reproducing kernel Hilbert space of the Gaussian RBF kernel, in the situation where the number of examples tends to infinity, the bandwidth of the Gaussian kernel tends to 0, and the regularization parameter is held fixed. Non-asymptotic convergence bounds to this limit in the L2 sense are provided, together with upper bounds on the classification error that is shown to converge to the Bayes risk, therefore proving the Bayes-consistency of a variety of methods although the regularization term does not vanish. These results are particularly relevant to the one-class SVM, for which the regularization can not vanish by construction, and which is shown for the first time to be a consistent density level set estimator.


BACKGROUND
Because of the lack of results from randomized clinical trials comparing the efficacy of aggressive therapies with that of more conservative therapies for clinically localized prostate cancer, men and their physicians may select treatments based on other criteria. We examined the association of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with four management options: radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and watchful waiting.

METHODS
We studied 3073 participants of the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study diagnosed from October 1, 1994, through October 31, 1995, with clinically localized disease (T1 or T2). Participants completed a baseline survey, and diagnostic and treatment information was abstracted from medical records. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with initial treatment. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS
Patients with clinically localized disease received the following treatments: radical prostatectomy (47.6%), radiation therapy (23.4%), hormonal therapy (10.5%), or watchful waiting (18.5%). Men aged 75 years or older more often received conservative treatment (i.e., hormonal therapy alone or watchful waiting; 57.9% of men aged 75-79 years and 82.1% of men aged 80 years and older) than aggressive treatment (i.e., radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy) (for all age groups, P</=.001). After adjustment for age, clinical stage, baseline prostate-specific antigen level, and histologic grade, the following factors were associated with conservative treatment: history of a heart attack, being unmarried, geographic region, poor pretreatment bladder control, and impotence. In men younger than 60 years, use of aggressive treatment was similar by race/ethnicity (adjusted percentages = 85.5%, 88.1%, and 85.3% for white, African-American, and Hispanic men, respectively). However, among men 60 years old and older, African-American men underwent aggressive treatment less often than did white men or Hispanic men (adjusted percentages for men aged 60-64 years = 67.1%, 84.7%, and 79.2%, respectively; 65-74 years = 64.8%, 73.4%, and 79.5%, respectively; and 75 years old and older = 25.2%, 45.7%, and 36.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
The association of nonclinical factors with treatment suggests that, in the absence of definitive information regarding treatment effectiveness, men diagnosed with prostate cancer should be better informed of the risks and benefits of all treatment options.


Introduction Routine toxicological screening is not undertaken in individuals presenting to emergency departments (ED) with acute recreational drug toxicity, because it does not usually alter an individual patient's management. Localised information on the types of recreational drugs being used is often not available. The pilot study described here looks at the analysis of presumed recreational drugs in the possession of individuals presenting to the ED with acute recreational drug toxicity. Methods Suspected recreational drug samples were handled as controlled drugs and transported to a Home Office approved laboratory. Samples were initially categorised on the basis of their physical appearance; liquid samples were analysed by infrared spectrophotometry and non-liquid samples were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results A total of 33 (12 liquid and 21 non-liquid) samples was analysed in this pilot study. Liquid samples were shown to contain either γ-butyrolactone or isopropyl nitrite. 19% of non-liquid samples (12% of total samples) did not contain any drugs and 23% contained legal pharmaceutical agents. Of the remaining samples, they contained both 'classic' and 'novel' recreational drugs. Only 33.3% of crystalline substances contained methamphetamine. Discussion This pilot study has shown that analysing samples obtained in the ED can contribute to clinicians' knowledge of local drug epidemiology. Extension of this approach in areas with a high prevalence of recreational drug use, with appropriate funding, may be useful in monitoring drug trends and detecting novel emerging drugs.


How do we conceptualize the fragmentation of internally divided movements? And how does variation in fragmentation affect the probability and patterns of infighting? The internal politics of non-state groups have received increasing attention, with recent research demonstrating the importance of cohesion and fragmentation for understanding conflict dynamics. Yet there is little consensus on how to conceptualize fragmentation, the concept at the center of this agenda, with authors using different definitions and measures. In this paper we conceptualize fragmentation along three constitutive dimensions: the number of organizations in the movement; the degree of institutionalization across these organizations; and the distribution of power among them. We then show how variation across these dimensions can explain variation in important conflict processes, focusing on infighting.


Heatwaves (HWs) are one of the "natural" hazards with the greatest impact worldwide in terms of mortality and economic losses, and their effects may be exacerbated in large urban areas. For these reasons, more detailed analyses of urban HW trends represent a priority that cannot be neglected. In this study, HW trends were investigated during the warmest period of the year (May–September) by using a slightly improved version of the EuroHEAT HW definition applied on long meteorological time-series (36-year period, 1980–2015) collected by weather stations located in the capitals of the 28 European Union member countries. Comparisons between two 18-year sub-periods (1980–1997 vs. 1998–2015) were carried out and a city-specific HW hazard index (HWHI), accounting for the main HW characteristics, was proposed. Most of the capitals revealed significant positive trends of the majority of HW hazard characteristics and substantial HWHI increases were observed during the sub-period 1998–2015, especially in the central-eastern and southeastern cities. Conversely, minor HWHI increases were observed in most of the northern capitals and opposite situations were even observed in several northern and especially southwestern cities. The results of this study represent a support for planning urban HW-related mitigation and adaptation strategies with the priority given to the southeastern cities.


We now know that natural signed languages such as American Sign Language, French Sign Language, British Sign Language and others are fully independent languages. But natural signed languages are only one way of conveying language in the visual/gestural modality. Signed languages also have mechanisms for representing the material of oral languages. Fingerspelling is one example of such a representational system. This book examines fingerspelling from a phonetic perspective. Several studies of the kinematics of fingerspelling articulators are reported. From these detailed analyses of articulator timings and velocities, conclusions are drawn which suggest that, like speech, fingerspelling may be explained in terms of coordinative structures and task dynamics. The thrust of the book is to explore the notion that signed and spoken languages can be compared not only as abstract linguistic systems but also at the physical level as dynamically structured articulations. An implication of these studies is that a common basis in gesture can be found for the production, perception, and neural organization of signed and spoken languages.


This text focuses on some of the key legal areas which have become increasingly important in recent years; particularly race, gender, the environment and international law. Considering how critical legal studies might inform radical legal and political practice, the contributors focus on the celebration of diversity and difference that characterizes critical legal scholarship. They examine how the law supresses diversity by excluding and silencing some voices while privileging others, particularly on the grounds of gender or race. They highlight the extent to which traditional interpretations of international law ignore questions of economic and political inequality - despite the recent insistence on increasing globalization. They ask how effective the law - and the rule of the law - really are in pursuing the goals of multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism, and in dealing with the problems of racial and sexual inequality, ecological destruction and international instability. They promote the development of new and valuable sensitivities which focus on those dimensions of human experience often ignored, while at the same time arguing that a critical (legal) understanding of capitalism has never been more urgently needed, if the law is to have any role to play in fighting oppression.


The potential impact of covalently bonded disordered thin films is enormous. These materials are amorphous-to-nanocrystalline structures made from light atomic weight elements from the first row of the periodic table. Examples include amorphous tetrahedral diamond-like carbon, boron nitride, carbon nitride, boron carbide, and boron-carbon-nitride. These materials are under development for use as novel low-power, high-visibility elements in flat-panel display technologies, cold-cathode sources for microsensors and vacuum microelectronics, encapsulants for both environmental protection and microelectronics, optical coatings for laser windows, and ultrahard tribological coatings. Researchers come together to report on the status of key areas and discoveries. The book is organized into five sections. The first four highlight ongoing work primarily in the area of amorphous/nanocrystalline (disordered) carbon thin films: theoretical and experimental structural characterization; electrical and optical characterizations; growth methods; and cold-cathode electron emission results. The fifth section describes the growth, characterization and application of boron- and carbon-nitride thin films.


The eastern Sahara Desert of Africa is one of the most climatically sensitive areas on
Earth, varying from lake-studded savannah woodland to hyperarid desert over the course
of a glacial-interglacial cycle. In currently semiarid Sudan, there is widespread evidence
that a very large freshwater lake once filled the White Nile River valley. Here we present the
first quantitative estimate for the dimensions of the lake and a direct age for the emplacement
of its shoreline. Using a profile dating approach with the cosmogenic nuclide 10 Be, we
estimate an exposure age of 109 ± 8 ka for this megalake, indicating that it probably formed
during the last interglacial period. This age is supported by optically stimulated luminescence
dating of Blue Nile paleochannels associated with the lake. Using a high-resolution
digital elevation model, we estimate that the lake was more than 45,000 km 2 in area, making
it comparable to the largest freshwater lakes on Earth today. We attribute the lake9s
existence to seasonal flood pulses as a result of local damming of the White Nile by a more
southern position of the Blue Nile and greatly increased precipitation associated with an
enhanced monsoon.


This knowledge review is about identifying key findings about teaching, learning and assessing communication skills with children in social work education settings. Its main focus is to enable social work educators to apply these findings in the design and implementation of social work programmes.


In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. Congress, with allies in the news media, created legislation that came to be known as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It was designed to help hold the federal executive accountable to the public. It became law in 1966. Its significance can be understood in several contexts: (1) in connection with a special relationship of journalists to the operation of the FOIA; (2) in terms of arguments that transparency in government is necessary for citizens' informed participation in democracy and that, on the other side, there are strong democratic arguments that transparency should be limited in the pursuit of other legitimate values, some of them recognized in the language of the FOIA itself that government agencies may deny a citizen's request for information on the grounds that honoring the request could endanger national security, personal privacy, the integrity of internal government deliberations, or other significant objectives; and (3) that freedom of information law are one institution within a wider web of institutions and practices dedicated to holding government accountable. In this regard, the U.S. Freedom of Information Act can also be seen in a broad context of a cultural shift toward "openness" and a political shift toward what has been called a "monitory" model of democracy.


Porokeratoses are uncommon hereditary or acquired keratinization disorders due to abnormal clones of keratinocytes in the epidermis. Porokeratoses have several clinical features which may occur simultaneously. A rare type is verrucous porokeratosis (VPK). Herein, we present a 47-year-old man with a 4-year history of perianal verrucous lesions and one year history of annular pruritic lesions on his extremities. Tissue biopsies from the annular and verrucous lesions showed cornoid lamellation in the horny layer with epidermal invagination and lichenoid reaction in the dermis that favored porokeratosis (PK). Genotyping for human papilloma virus (HPV) on the paraffin block of the verrucous lesion was negative. Shave excision was performed with moderate improvement. Annular and VPK lesions might coexist in an individual patient and we should consider VPK in the differential diagnoses of perianal warty lesions.


We review our recent work on ferromagnet/semiconductor hybrid structures. In particular we focus on magnetotransport experiments performed on Co/InAs/Co hybrid structures fabricated on the cleaved edge of an InAs/InGaAs heterostructure. By modulation doping we inserted a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system (2DES) between the Co source and drain contacts which were separated by about 0.2 µm. This separation was smaller than the mean free path in the 2DES. Two additional metallic gate electrodes were integrated, thus forming a prototype spin field-effect transistor on a cleaved (110) surface of an InAs/InGaAs heterostructure. Intriguingly, we observe two characteristic magnetotransport signals at 4.2 K: (a) a hysteretic spin-valve-like signal and (b) a large positive magnetoresistance. We attribute the latter to the extraordinary magnetoresistance effect, i.e. the magnetic-field induced current redistribution between the Co contacts and the 2DES.


In an era where climate change and environmental variability is having an overwhelming impact on the livelihoods and well-being of poor rural households, ecological conservation and development interventions that ensure sustainable livelihood security of such households have been posited as the most effective approach in addressing both environmental degradations and household well-being in the rural communities of Ethiopia. This study investigated the impact of the 'Tree Gudifecha' ecological conservation project on the livelihoods and well-being of rural households located in two villages in the Amhara regional states of Ethiopia. The data collection and analysis was done using mixed approaches involving household surveys, interviews and focus groups meetings over a period of twelve weeks. The findings show an increase in both household income and savings after the implementation of the 'Tree Gudifecha' ecological conservation project with disparities between households and communities. A moderate association was observed between livelihood diversifications and household income after the 'Tree Gudifecha' ecological conservation project has been implemented. The study also revealed that the extent and amount of the share that each diversification activity brings to the household income is equally important for participation in conservation programmes. The research revealed that skill enhancement interventions in livelihood activities by itself does not necessarily make a contribution to increasing community participation or household income unless a comprehensive livelihood package and adequate credit scheme is made available for potential diversification activities. The results suggest the need to incorporate indigenous livelihood security programmes at both development practice and policy levels aimed at addressing environmental/ecological degradation in rural Ethiopia. Such programmes should involve a composite framework that includes the profitability of diversification activities, identification of new livelihood activities and capacity enhancement.


Prisons are exploding all over the world. The number of inmates increases despite a substantial stability in the number of offences. Simultaneously, we witness a growing sense of insecurity among citizens as shown, inter alia, by the boom in the purchase of weapons for personal defence. In this context, to rethink the nature, function and philosophy of punishment is not a mere academic endeavour, but a necessary exercise in realism. This is the sense of the volume written by Vincenzo Ruggiero who, starting from the classics, critically examines the origin of contemporary justice systems and the very concepts of crime and punishment. He analyses the central tenets of the school of thought known as 'abolitionism', its theoretical origin and philosophy. Abolitionism, here, is not understood as an immediate programme for action, but as approach, a perspective, a methodology, a specific angle of observation which may offer an alternative to repressive practices and lead to the identification of something better than the current penal systems.


This paper discusses the challenges of carbon-dioxide emission measurement on corporate credit portfolios. We illustrate how it can be difficult to translate traditional CO2 reductive strategies into incentives for portfolio managers. As an alternative approach to the footprinting techniques commonplace in equities, we introduce the ECOBAR model which looks at CO2 missions from an ordinal standpoint and takes a risk-based approach to measuring this in credit portfolios. We build out the model to encompass important credit alpha factors such as short positions, leverage and derivatives as well as explicit green investments such as green bonds. We apply the model on two sets of data, where the first is a historical real traded investment-grade credit portfolio and the second is a systematic CDS trading strategy. In the traded portfolio, we find that it has been possible to own a clearly CO2 efficient portfolio whilst still generating average alpha of 4.5 percentage points per annum. In the CDS-based strategy, alpha loss turns out to be insignificant with reasonable investment constraints on high-CO2 emitting issuers. We conclude that there is a good potential for low-CO2 strategies in a variety of operational, mainstream credit trading settings.


Abstract There is growing evidence that dyslexia may involve difficulty with implicit learning, which may hinder learners with dyslexia to acquire spelling skills in a foreign language through implicit instruction. Paradoxically, this is exactly how Dutch students with dyslexia learn English spelling at school. This research aims to determine if implementing explicit spelling instruction, based on a direct comparison between L1 Dutch and L2 English spelling, facilitates the development of spelling skills of dyslexic learners in English as a Foreign Language. The participants were 40 Dutch-speaking secondary-school students independently diagnosed with dyslexia (age 12–14). Twenty participants attended their regular English lessons (comparison group), whereas 20 other participants received explicit contrastive spelling instruction once a week for eight weeks (intervention group). The results reveal that during the eight weeks of the intervention spelling skills of the intervention group developed faster than those of the control group, and they remained at the same level five weeks after the intervention. These findings suggest that even a relatively short intervention based on explicit instruction of spelling rules and cross-linguistic comparisons has a facilitative effect on the development of spelling skills of students with dyslexia in a foreign language.


Great polarity of opinion existed toward religious and secular authorities among English Catholics in the later sixteenth century. Anthony Copley presents a well- documented, yet hitherto understudied example of how Catholic loyalties could operate. Importantly, Copley's loyalty, influenced by the Wars of Religion, proved cosmopolitan rather than insular. This article examines how in his life, poetry, and polemical writing during the Archpriest Controversy of the 1590s, Copley promoted a brand of loyalist politics informed by continental affairs and ideas. He attempted to convince Catholics of the urgent need to follow a sincere form of religion, rejecting religious extremism. As his role in the failed 1604 Bye Plot against James I demonstrated, Copley also argued for Catholic participation in the state. Copley provides an example of a lay Catholic devoted to both his religion and nation, but who promoted a loyalty that advocated action for Catholics within the state, not retirement and docility.


This thesis explores depictions of established Russian-Siberian peasants, settlers from European Russia, non-agricultural workers, indigenous Buriats and Jews in Irkutsk province during the late imperial period. In particular, it focuses on characterisations of these groups that were created by the Irkutsk 'cultural class' (kul'turnogo klassa) in the late imperial period. The sources it uses are print media such as journals and newspapers produced in or associated with Irkutsk to create a 'microhistorical' study. It is structured around categories of analysis that were used at the time in scientific and literary treatments of lower class peoples, such as social mores, cultural activity, economic function, physiognomy and sexuality. It also studies how these images informed the development of a transformationist culture of government in rural, urban and colonial environments. Using theories of imperial networks and cultural projects borrowed from human and cultural geography and adapting them to an anthropocentric study of Russian colonialism, these debates are situated within the wider context of pan-European, inter-imperial frames of reference. The portrayals of population groups in both domestic and colonial settings that lay within these frameworks rested on common core signs and assumptions found across other pre-war European empires, which made both the frameworks and the images highly portable. This anthropocentric comparative is used to "bring the empire back in", both in recognising the imperial frames of reference within which its culture played out, and also as a means of furthering historiographical analyses that argue against Russian exceptionalism.


Dynamic spectrum access networks are designed to allow today's bandwidth hungry "secondary devices" to share spectrum allocated to legacy devices, or "primary users." The success of this wireless communication model relies on the availability of unused spectrum, and the ability of secondary devices to utilize spectrum without disrupting transmissions of primary users. While recent measurement studies have shown that there is sufficient underutilized spectrum available, little is known about whether secondary devices can efficiently make use of available spectrum while minimizing disruptions to primary users.
 In this paper, we present the first comprehensive study on the presence of "usable" spectrum in opportunistic spectrum access systems, and whether sufficient spectrum can be extracted by secondary devices to support traditional networking applications. We use for our study fine-grain usage traces of a wide spectrum range (20MHz--6GHz) taken at 4 locations in Germany, the Netherlands, and Santa Barbara, California. Our study shows that on average, 54% of spectrum is never used and 26% is only partially used. Surprisingly, in this 26% of partially used spectrum, secondary devices can utilize very little spectrum using conservative access policies to minimize interference with primary users. Even assuming an optimal access scheme and extensive statistical knowledge of primary user access patterns, a user can only extract between 20-30% of the total available spectrum. To provide better spectrum availability, we propose frequency bundling, where secondary devices build reliable channels by combining multiple unreliable frequencies into virtual frequency bundles. Analyzing our traces, we find that there is little correlation of spectrum availability across channels, and that bundling random channels together can provide sustained periods of reliable transmission with only short interruptions.


Abstract. Atmospheric particles were measured in the late winter (25 February–26 March 2009) at a remote coastal site on the island of Crete, Greece during the Finokalia Aerosol Measurement Experiment-2009. A quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) was employed to quantify the size-resolved chemical composition of non-refractory submicron aerosol, and a thermodenuder was used to analyze the organic aerosol (OA) volatility. Complementary measurements included particle size distributions from a scanning mobility particle sizer, inorganic and organic particle composition from filter analysis, air ion concentrations, O 3 , NO x and NO y concentrations, and meteorological measurements. Factor analysis was performed on the OA mass spectra, and the variability in OA composition could best be explained with three OA components. The oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) was similar in composition and volatility to the summertime OA previously measured at this site and may represent an effective endpoint in particle-phase oxidation of organics. The two other OA components, one associated with amines (Amine-OA) and the other probably associated with the burning of olive branches (OB-OA), had very low volatility but were less oxygenated. Hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) was not detected. The absence of OB-OA and Amine-OA in the summer data may be due to lower emissions and/or photochemical conversion of these components to OOA.


This paper examines the impact of foreign direct investment and trade openness on economic growth for 34 Sub-Saharan African countries. The methodology involves estimating the augmented endogenous growth model using panel data that runs from 2006 to 2015. The coefficients of the estimated REM model are statistically significant with all the signs compatible as expected. Our findings show that all the variables are significant in explaining SSA growth. Specifically, foreign direct investment and trade openness positively impact growth except inflation with a negative effect on growth. This study will assist the policy makers to increase effort towards the creation of favorable business climate that attract more foreign direct investment to SSA and enhance long term growth.


This part of the work is based on two foetal heads which I received from the New South Wales Fisheries Commission some years ago. The larger of these was converted into a skull by careful dissection, and it has now been extensively disarticulated as the work proceeded. It measured seventy-eight millimetres from tip to occiput. The smaller was decalcified and cut into serial sections along the sagittal plane after straining in alum carmine. This specimen measured fifty· two millimetres from


Entrainment, mixing and chemical reactions are investigated in the far field of steady, axisymmetric, momentum-driven, turbulent jets issuing into an unconfined, quiescent medium in the large Schmidt number (liquid-phase) regime. Visualization experiments using both passive and chemically sensitive planar laser induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques show the importance of large scale transport in the jet far field, and suggest that entrainment, mixing and chemical reactions in the far field are dominated by a large scale organization of the flow. Successive instantaneous profiles of the jet fluid concentration along the axial and radial directions in the jet far field are measured by combining these LIF techniques with direct, high-resolution, linear photodiode array imaging and high-speed digital data acquisition. These imaging measurements have revealed an axial similarity concentration variable for which probability density functions (PDFs) in the jet far field are self-similar along rays. A chemical reaction method is presented which allows the self-similar form of these PDFs to be measured with full resolution at all scales of transport and mixing. Furthermore, these imaging measurements have shown that instantaneous radial profiles of the jet fluid concentration do not resemble the mean concentration profile. Specifically, unmixed ambient fluid is found deep within the jet and the composition of molecularly mixed fluid within large regions in the jet is approximately uniform. The results from these experiments are interpreted in the context of a simple conceptual model for large scale organization of entrainment, mixing and chemical reactions in the far field of turbulent jets.


In this work, we report on our studies on the multiferroic properties of two rare earth chromates, GdCrO3 and YCrO3. Polycrystalline bulks and thin films have been fabricated using conventional solid state reaction and pulsed laser deposition. Magnetic measurements have revealed that both compounds show weak ferromagnetism below the antiferromagnetic Neel temperature, TN, of 170 and 140 K for GdCrO3 and YCrO3, respectively. However the well-developed ferroelectric polarization electrical field loop was not successfully measured for both samples due to their low resistance. The high conductivity of the samples at room temperature is related to the thermal activation of charge carriers at around 200 K in the samples revealed by temperature dependent dielectric measurement. Capacitance measurement at 77 K within magnetic field of 3000 Oe and zero field for GdCrO3 bulk sample shows an increase in 58% in capacitance at 400 kHz by a magnetic field.


Final project for ENGL 277 Asian American Literature; Spring 2015 --Stranger in a Home Land: Asian American Literature and the Mechanisms of Alienation.


This popular Build-It-Yourself (BIY) PC book covers everything you want to know about building your own system: Planning and picking out the right components, step-by-step instructions for assembling your perfect PC, and an insightful discussion of why you'd want to do it in the first place. Most big brand computers from HP, Dell and others use lower-quality components so they can meet their aggressive pricing targets. But component manufacturers also make high-quality parts that you can either purchase directly, or obtain through distributors and resellers. Consumers and corporations alike are opting to build rather than buy PCs to ensure high quality and compatibility. The new edition of Building the Perfect PC shows you how to construct a variety of top-flight systems with the latest technology, including AMD Socket AM-2 and Intel Core 2 processors, that are Vista- and Linux-ready. The book includes several new options, including:A Budget PC you can build for approximately $350 that offers performance and reliability similar to that of mainstream systemsA full-blown media-center system that runs Linux and MythTV or Windows MCE with multiple tuners and HDTV supportA fire-breathing high-performance gaming systemA fast, low-power, low-heat, low-noise, Small Form Factor system (the size of a shoe box)A low-cost SOHO (small office, home office) server system with a 2 terabyte (2,000 GB) disk subsystem that's suitable for a residential environment rather than a server closetRegardless of your technical experience, Building the Perfect PC will guide you through the entire process of building or upgrading your own computer. You'll use the latest top-quality components, including Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon X2 CPUs. And you'll know exactly what's under the hood and how to fix or upgrade your PC, should that become necessary. Not only is the process fun, but the result is often less expensive and always better quality and far more satisfying than anything you could buy off the shelf.


Though many are harmless and even beneficial, invertebrates are some of the world's most feared and dangerous creatures.

Guide to Venomous and Medically Important Invertebrates describes the health threats posed by invertebrate groups worldwide, from physical pain and annoyance to disease transmission risk. Featuring clear photographs, distribution maps and descriptions of biological, physical and behavioural characteristics of key groups, this book aids identification of potentially harmful invertebrates. It also summarises personal protection measures to reduce the risk of attack and disease, and provides guidance on treatment.

This book will help to protect the health of travellers and serve as a reference for medical personnel working in high-risk areas, as well as those interested in entomology.


This paper is devoted to the computation of flows between free and porous media separated by a thin interface . The basic strategy relies on some ideas developed earlier by J.M. Greenberg and A.Y. Leroux on their work on well balanced schemes. This approach requires introducing a set of partial differential equations at the interface, in order to account for the sudden change of medium. The main features of the interface PDE are investigated. We afterwards propose to compute approximations of solutions with help of an approximate Godunov scheme. A linear interface Riemann solver is introduced, which aims at enforcing the continuity of the two (steady wave-) Riemann invariants. Numerical computations involving shock waves or rarefaction waves are examined and the agreement with the entropy inequality is tracked. Effects of the mesh refinement and the impact of the smoothing of the thin interface are also adressed in the paper.


The use of biometric technology for identification has gone from Orwellian fantasy to everyday reality. This technology, which verifies or recognizes a person's identity based on physiological, anatomical, or behavioral patterns (including fingerprints, retina, handwriting, and keystrokes) has been deployed for such purposes as combating welfare fraud, screening airplane passengers, and identifying terrorists. The accompanying controversy has pitted those who praise the technology's accuracy and efficiency against advocates for privacy and civil liberties. In America Identified, Lisa Nelson investigates the complex public responses to biometric technology. She uses societal perceptions of this particular identification technology to explore the values, beliefs, and ideologies that influence public acceptance of technology. Drawing on her own extensive research with focus groups and a national survey, Nelson finds that considerations of privacy, anonymity, trust and confidence in institutions, and the legitimacy of paternalistic government interventions are extremely important to users and potential users of the technology. She examines the long history of government systems of identification and the controversies they have inspired; the effect of the information technology revolution and the events of September 11, 2001; the normative value of privacy (as opposed to its merely legal definition); the place of surveillance technologies in a civil society; trust in government and distrust in the expanded role of government; and the balance between the need for government to act to prevent harm and the possible threat to liberty in government's actions.


Background Leprosy remains a public health problem in Brazil. Although the overall number of new cases is declining, there are still areas with a high disease burden, such as Pará State in the north of the country. We aim to predict future trends in new case detection rate (NCDR) and explore the potential impact of contact tracing and chemoprophylaxis on NCDR in Pará State. Methods We used SIMCOLEP, an existing individual-based model for the transmission and control of M. leprae, in a population structured by households. The model was quantified to simulate the population and observed NCDR of leprosy in Pará State for the period 1990 to 2014. The baseline scenario was the current control program, consisting of multidrug therapy, passive case detection, and active case detection from 2003 onwards. Future projections of the NCDR were made until 2050 given the continuation of the current control program (i.e. baseline). We further investigated the potential impact of two scenarios for future control of leprosy: 1) discontinuation of contact tracing; and 2) continuation of current control in combination with chemoprophylaxis. Both scenarios started in 2015 and were projected until 2050. Results The modelled NCDR in Pará State after 2014 shows a continuous downward trend, reaching the official elimination target of 10 cases per 100,000 population by 2030. The cessation of systematic contact tracing would not result in a higher NCDR in the long run. Systematic contact tracing in combination with chemoprophylaxis for contacts would reduce the NCDR by 40% and bring attainment of the elimination target two years forward to 2028. Conclusion The NCDR of leprosy continues to decrease in Pará State. Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem could possibly be achieved around 2030, if the current control program is maintained. Providing chemoprophylaxis would decrease the NCDR further and would bring elimination forward by two years.


This document defines new attributes to facilitate Proxy Mobile IPv6
operations using the RADIUS infrastructure. The protocol defined in
this document uses RADIUS-based interfaces of the mobile access
gateway and the local mobility anchor with the AAA server for
authentication, authorization, and policy functions. The RADIUS
interactions between the mobile access gateway and the RADIUS-based
AAA server take place when the mobile node (MN) attaches,
authenticates, and authorizes to a Proxy Mobile IPv6 domain.
Furthermore, this document defines the RADIUS-based interface between
the local mobility anchor and the AAA RADIUS server for authorizing
received Proxy Binding Update messages for the mobile node's
mobility session. In addition to the interactions related to mobility
session setup, this document defines the baseline for the mobile
access gateway and the local mobility anchor generated accounting.
[STANDARDS-TRACK]


Multilevel regression with poststratification (MrP) has quickly become the gold standard for small area estimation. While the first MrP models did not include context-level information, current applications almost always make use of such data. When using MrP, researchers are faced with three problems: how to select features, how to specify the functional form, and how to regularize the model parameters. These problems are especially important with regard to features included at the context level. We propose a systematic approach to estimating MrP models that addresses these issues by employing a number of machine learning techniques. We illustrate our approach using 89 items from public opinion surveys in the United States and demonstrate that our approach outperforms a standard MrP model in which the choice of context-level variables has been informed by a rich tradition of public opinion research.


Adverse drug-drug interactions (DDIs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Identifying potential DDIs during the drug design process is critical in guiding targeted clinical drug safety testing. Although detection of adverse DDIs is conducted during Phase IV clinical trials, there are still a large number of new DDIs founded by accidents after the drugs were put on market. With the arrival of big data era, more and more pharmaceutical research and development data are becoming available, which provides an invaluable resource for digging insights that can potentially be leveraged in early prediction of DDIs. Many computational approaches have been proposed in recent years for DDI prediction. However, most of them focused on binary prediction (with or without DDI), despite the fact that each DDI is associated with a different type. Predicting the actual DDI type will help us better understand the DDI mechanism and identify proper ways to prevent it. In this paper, we formulate the DDI type prediction problem as a multitask dyadic regression problem, where the prediction of each specific DDI type is treated as a task. Compared with conventional matrix completion approaches which can only impute the missing entries in the DDI matrix, our approach can directly regress those dyadic relationships (DDIs) and thus can be extend to new drugs more easily. We developed an effective proximal gradient method to solve the problem. Evaluation on real world datasets is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


I develop a theory that predicts a two-photon-induced molecular polar order in solid polymers at a temperature far below the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Phenomenologically, the rotational mobility of the chromophores is enhanced during a two-photon isomerization process, allowing for polar order to build up in the presence of a dc field that is applied across the solid polymer. No (or negligible) poling is possible in the absence of two-photon isomerization. Using the formalism of Legendre polynomials solves the general equations of the theory, and analytical solutions are derived for the early time evolution and the steady state of this two-photon poling process. The effects of the poling parameters are discussed, and it is shown that the two-photon poling efficiency can be as high as that achieved by dc field poling at elevated temperatures.