PREDICTION OF FORELIMB MUSCLE ACTIVITIES AND MOVEMENT PHASES USING CORTICOSPINAL SIGNALS IN THE RAT by Sinan Gok The targeted population for this project is primarily patients with high level spinal cord injury (SCI) and individuals with motor neuron diseases (MND). In both SCI and MND cases motor control is interrupted due to lack of communication between the brain and the musculature, although both sides are otherwise functional. The approach in this project is to use neural engineering techniques to restore the motor function that was lost because of an injury or disease. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) attempt to extract the volitional signals from the cortex when the brain's normal outputs to the musculoskeletal system are impaired. However, BCIs that depend on the cortical activities suffer from two main impediments that are intrinsic to the BCI approach itself; firstly, under-sampling of the volitional information due to limited number of recording channels, and secondly, the long-term instability of the neuronal firings that make it difficult to track movement parameters, such as hand kinematics. As an alternative approach, a spinal cord computer interface (SCCI) can address both obstacles by providing means to access neural signals from a relatively smaller yet denser implant area in order to extract low-level movement parameters, such as muscle electromyography (EMG) signals, for prolonged signal stability. Since the descending fibers of the spinal cord influence the lower motor neurons that directly innervate the skeletal muscles, decoding the information in these fibers can provide a way to establish a robust relationship between the neural control signals and the output parameter, that is the EMG signal. The axons carrying the cortical information through the spinal cord are tightly bundled together in the descending tracts that eventually synapse with the inter-neurons and alpha motor neurons located in the spinal grey matter. The corticospinal tract (CST) is one of the descending tracts that carry the forelimb volitional information. In this study, the CST signals are recorded in rats that are implanted with custom-designed flexible multielectrode arrays (MEAs). The power spectral density of the CST signals during the movement is notably higher than those observed during resting and anesthesia. The average inter-channel coherences up to 1.5 kHz are significantly higher for reach-to-pull task compared to face grooming and resting states, suggesting the presence of volitional information in the recorded CST signals. The results show that the CST signals can be segregated into two or three different classes using the forelimb movement components as guidance criteria with 97% and 71% accuracies, respectively. Predictions with correlation coefficients as high as 0.81 for the biceps EMG are achieved in individual sessions, although the average prediction accuracies vary considerably among rats. These results support the feasibility of an EMG-based Spinal Cord Computer Interface for patients with high level of paralysis. PREDICTION OF FORELIMB MUSCLE ACTIVITIES AND MOVEMENT PHASES USING CORTICOSPINAL SIGNALS IN THE RAT


This study investigates the gender biases of managers in assigning tasks to subordinates. Gender discrimination affects the productivity and efficiency of employees in any organization. It is assumed that managers assign challenging tasks to subordinates of same gender and assign dull tasks to the subordinate of opposite gender. The industry taken for the research purpose was banking sector of Pakistan. Ten banks and ten branches of each bank were taken for this study. The data was taken from the managers and four subordinates, which summed up to 100 managers and 400 subordinates; the questionnaire was comprised of demographics and personality traits. The model illustrated that managers commit gender discrimination in assigning a dull/challenging task to a subordinate. Generalized Linear Model (Logistic Regression) was used to study a nominal variable task type with two levels Challenging Task (1) and Dull Task (0). Young male managers were found to follow exchange theory concept. Experienced, male managers were mostly found to assign challenging tasks to the subordinate of opposite gender and dull task to the subordinate of same gender.


This paper proposes a non-iterative computational algorithm for the design of discrete-time fixed order controller for an H optimization problem. Using the coprime factors and pole placement constraints, the fix-order controller design is reformulated as a convex optimization problem. The solutions are obtained using linear matrix inequality techniques. An aircraft model with 3-inputs and 3-outputs is used to illustrate the design algorithm.


approved: A. J. Bouco Thirty-five species of gastropods are described from a gastropoddominated faunule (USNM locality 38755) within an unnamed Middle Devonian clastic unit in the Livengood quadrangle, east-central Alaska. Three new genera are described, each represented by a single new species: Pseudomphalotrochus dutrol, Clathronema cloughi, and Alaskozygopleura crassicostata. In addition, 11 new species belonging to extant genera are described: Bucanopsis sullivani, Bellerophon (Bellerophon) chapmani, B. (B.) livengoodensis, Straparollus (Euomphalus) bundtzeni, Buechelia nodosa, Peruvispira churkini, Gyronema ormistoni, Naticopsis (Naticopsis) bowsheri, Naticopsis (Jedria) deckeri, and "Goniasma" plumleyi. Conodonts recovered from limestone beds 24.7 rn above the gastropod horizon indicate an australis Zone (mid-Eifelian) age. A middle Eifelian age for the gastropod fauna of USNM locality 38755 is accordant with the high number of the same or similar species shared with undescribed early-middle Eifelian faunas from west-central Alaska Redacted for Privacy (Nixon Fork terrane). A single, new gastropod-based community, the Buechelia nodosa Naticopsis (Jedria) deckeri Alaskozygopleura crassicostata Community, is defined on the three most abundant species present in the faunule, each representing respectively 21.8%, 14.4%, and 13.0% of the gastropod specimens collected. Two new Eifelian paleobiogeographic subprovinces are defined for gastropod faunas of the Cordilleran Region of the Old World Realm: the Alaska-Yukon and Nevada Subprovinces. The Alaska-Yukon Subprovince includes faunas from west-central Alaska (Nixon Fork terrane) and east-central Alaska (Livengood terrane). It is characterized by a rich calcareous green algal flora (absent in Nevada), greater diversity and more highly ornamented shells than that of the Nevada Subprovince in central Nevada. These differences are thought to indicate that these areas were located in the equatorial and warm, subtropical regions, respectively. The faunal unity of interior Alaskan Paleozoic rocks in the Eifelian, and throughout much of Ordovician-Devonian time, as well as lithofacies continuity with rocks of the Yukon Territory suggests that this region represents a western extension of the Cordilleran geosyndine, albeit tectonically slivered, and not a collage of disparate, accreted terranes. Taxonomy and Paleobiogeographic Affinities of an Early Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Gastropod Faunule from the Livengood Quadrangle, East-Central Alaska


A sample of 46 men was evaluated with the DAPP (Questionnaire of Domestic Aggressor Psychological Profile). All were inmates convicted for various degrees of violence against their wives in different prisons. The sample was divided into three groups: homicides without previous violence against their wives (H) (n=11), homicides with previous violence (VH) (n=9) and domestic batterers without previous homicide attempts against their partners (B) (n=26). The aim of the study was to analyze the possible existence of three different kinds of profiles and more specifically if it's possible to obtain an independent profile for domestic homicides with previous episodes of violence against their wives. The results neither confirm the hypothesis as whole nor for the violent homicides. However, differences between groups were obtained in the admission and description of the facts, in the risk of future violence, in some sociodemographical characteristics (i.e., level of education, social status), in the couple relationship, in the dissatisfaction concerning the unachieved ideal woman, in the use of extreme physical force during the aggression, the time of the first aggression, the use of verbal threats during the aggression, explanation of the events to the family and the period of time between the beginning of the romantic relationship and the manifestation of violence. The implications of the results for the theoretical frameworks proposed and future research are discussed.


The goal of model checking is to verify the correctness of a given program, on all its inputs. The main obstacle, in many cases, is the intractably large size of the program's transition system. Property testing is a randomized method to verify whether some fixed property holds on individual inputs, by looking at a small random part of that input. We join the strengths of both approaches by introducing a new notion of probabilistic abstraction, and by extending the framework of model checking to include the use of these abstractions. Our abstractions map transition systems associated with large graphs to small transition systems associated with small random subgraphs. This reduces the original transition system to a family of small, even constant-size, transition systems. We prove that with high probability, "sufficiently" incorrect programs will be rejected (E-robustness). We also prove that under a certain condition (exactness), correct programs will never be rejected (soundness). Our work applies to programs for graph properties such as bipartiteness, k-colorability, or any /spl exist//spl forall/ first order graph properties. Our main contribution is to show how to apply the ideas of property testing to syntactic programs for such properties. We give a concrete example of an abstraction for a program for bipartiteness. Finally, we show that the relaxation of the test alone does not yield transition systems small enough to use the standard model checking method. More specifically, we prove, using methods from communication complexity, that the OBDD size remains exponential for approximate bipartiteness.


The field of development studies is expanding and should continue to grow as momentum toward global interdependence builds. This book presents a guide for staff interested in teaching a wide variety of areas associated with global issues and Third World development. Focusing on pedagogical techniques and strategies for curriculum development and reform, this volume should also be of interest to staff of any other discipline who are interested in inserting a global perspective into their courses. "Teaching Global Development" consists of three sections. The first part, "Essays in Development Education" contains six interdisciplinary papers that grapple with specific concerns of development educators. Some of the issues addressed include ethics and development, incorporating the humanities into development education, student activism and pedagogy, as well as development education and mass media. The next section includes seven course outlines and, rather than simply reproducing their syllabi, the contributors also discuss in brief essays their courses and teaching practices. These essays are a guide through the varieties of development education and draw attention to course design, use of texts and the lessons of teaching experience. The final section, "Annotated Bibliography", responds to what is perhaps the most frequent request among college-level development educators: the call for a thorough annotated discussion of books for select areas of development studies. The categories included in the bibliography are theory, economics, environment, food and hunger, gender, democracy and grassroots power, and refugeeism. In addition, a number of the essays include extensive discographies and listings of video resources.


Academic librarians are under pressure to continually adapt services and resources to meet the changing needs of academic staff and students and respond to the wider availability of unmediated digital information (Jaguszewski & Williams, 2013). Many university libraries are responding by pursuing new methods of client engagement by providing more targeted and personalised library services (Tiffen & England, 2011). This paper presents findings from a small study of the information seeking approaches of 13 academics teaching mathematics in a range of Australian universities. It finds that while academics have direct access to more information than ever before, they are also time poor, face many challenges as teachers and are under increasing pressure to change their approaches to teaching. Findings suggest that communities of practice could be effective in supporting access to information about teaching. Librarians have the opportunity to foster such communities and to support the information gathering and sharing of the communities of practice.


Parallel Independent Component Analysis (para-ICA) is a multivariate method that can identify complex relationships between different data modalities by simultaneously performing Independent Component Analysis on each data set while finding mutual information between the two data sets. We use para-ICA to test the hypothesis that spatial sub-components of common resting state networks (RSNs) covary with specific behavioral measures. Resting state scans and a battery of behavioral indices were collected from 24 younger adults. Group ICA was performed and common RSNs were identified by spatial correlation to publically available templates. Nine RSNs were identified and para-ICA was run on each network with a matrix of behavioral measures serving as the second data type. Five networks had spatial sub-components that significantly correlated with behavioral components. These included a sub-component of the temporo-parietal attention network that differentially covaried with different trial-types of a sustained attention task, sub-components of default mode networks that covaried with attention and working memory tasks, and a sub-component of the bilateral frontal network that split the left inferior frontal gyrus into three clusters according to its cytoarchitecture that differentially covaried with working memory performance. Additionally, we demonstrate the validity of para-ICA in cases with unbalanced dimensions using simulated data.


In this paper, the effects of internal reflector size on the neutron flux of PBMR reactors by means of MCNP code has been investigated as a part of establishing Monte Carlo computation system for PBMR core analysis. At first, high temperature library in this reactor is built by NJOY code then, cross sections in the library are used by MCNP code. Because of complex fuel structure, several simplifications are assumed in order to limit the need for any further approximations when defining code models. In neutronic simulation, at first, all the important neutronic parameters such as thermal and fast flux distribution and power density of the reactor core are compared with the results of other codes and the accuracy of the simulation has been validated. Then the best size of internal reflector has been chosen by comparing the neutron flux in some different sizes and obtaining the best form factor.


Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and it accounts for 1% of all intracranial tumors. Only a few PCNSL studies have been reported from India, and hence, we conducted the retrospective study in our institute to analyze the main clinical features at diagnosis and the treatment results in PCNSL. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 32 patients with PCNSL who were treated from 2003 to 2014. A complete history was recorded, and the physical examination included neurological assessment. Baseline investigations such as complete blood count, blood biochemistry, chest X-ray, HIV serology, and two-dimensional echocardiography were also done. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the brain or magnetic resonance imaging, positron-emission tomography (if affordable), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for cytology, histopathological diagnosis (following stereotactic or open biopsy), CT of the thorax and abdomen, and bone marrow biopsy were done. All patients received whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) (36–50 Gy) followed by cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) regimen for six cycles. Clinical features and the treatment results were analyzed. Results: A total of 32 patients with PCNSL were studied. The median age was 50 years (range: 32–70 years). Male: female ratio was 2.5:1. All the 32 patients were histologically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The most common presenting symptom was headache in 20 (62.5%) patients. The area of involvement was mainly cerebral hemispheres in 22 (68.8%) patients. Multifocal involvement was seen in 22 (68.8%) patients. CSF cytology was negative in all patients. All patients received WBRT (36–50 Gy) followed by CHOP regimen for six cycles. All patients were compliant to radiation as well as chemotherapy. On a median follow-up of 18 months, the median overall survival was 14 months (range: 1–80). Conclusions: Breaking the blood–brain barrier with radiotherapy followed by CHOP chemotherapy results in reasonable outcome in patients of PCNSL, especially in the Indian setting where general built and tolerance is low- to high-dose methotrexate regimens. Newer chemotherapy regimens or targeted therapies need to be evaluated to further improve the survival.


The scientific, political, and economic policy debates about the global environmental crisis have tended to ignore its historical, ethical, religious, and aesthetic dimensions. This book redresses that omission by highlighting these humanistic components that are integral to the fabric of our ecological understanding and, consequentially, essential to a broad, multidisciplinary approach to environmental studies and public policy initiatives. In this slim volume, seven world-class scholars discuss the wide range of perspectives that the fields of literature, history, religion, philosophy, environmental ethics, and anthropology bring to the natural environment and our place in it. The preface summarizes the development of the religion and ecology movement; the editor's critical introduction highlights the essays' major themes. Bringing insights from the humanities to bear on ecological concerns, this volume will appeal to a wide audience in the humanities and environmental studies, policy makers, and the general public. The book represents a continuation of the Center for the Study of World Religions' highly regarded "Religions of the World and Ecology" series.


Modern structural studies of biologically relevant molecules require an exhaustive interplay between experiment and theory. In this work, we present two examples where a poor choice of the theoretical method led to a misinterpretation of experimental results. We do that by performing a rotational spectroscopy study on two large and flexible biomolecules: methyl jasmonate and zingerone. The results show the enormous potential of rotational spectroscopy as a benchmark to evaluate the performance of theoretical methods.


Calculation of second-order supersonic flow past bodies of revolution at zero angle of attack is described in detail, and reduced to routine computation. Use of an approximate tangency condition is shown to increase the accuracy for bodies with corners. Tables of basic functions and standard computing forms are presented. The procedure is summarized so that one can apply it without necessarily understanding the details of the theory. A sample calculation is given, and several examples are compared with solutions calculated by the method of characteristics.


: The term social-distancing (S-D) is a way to stop or slow the spreading of contagious disease. In other words, it means less physical communication between two or more persons. In S-D the gap between two living beings (normally human) is 6 feet (two meters). In this short note, we propose a proximity-based alarming device that alerts the user when he or she crosses the threshold S-D limit. This equipment will help people to maintain safe distance among themselves that ultimately help avoidance of spreading coronavirus. This model is the integration of the proximity sensor and an alarming mechanism. This prototype has been tested on a toy for validation purposes.


Water is an endangered resource, imperiled by population growth, mega-urbanization, and climate change. Scientists project that by 2050, freshwater shortages will affect 75 percent of the global population. Steven Mithen puts our current crisis in historical context by exploring 10,000 years of humankind's management of water. Thirst offers cautionary tales of civilizations defeated by the challenges of water control, as well as inspirational stories about how technological ingenuity has sustained communities in hostile environments. As in his acclaimed, genre-defying After the Ice and The Singing Neanderthals, Mithen blends archaeology, current science, and ancient literature to give us a rich new picture of how our ancestors lived. Since the Neolithic Revolution, people have recognized water as a commodity and source of economic power and have manipulated its flow. History abounds with examples of ambitious water management projects and hydraulic engineering--from the Sumerians, whose mastery of canal building and irrigation led to their status as the first civilization, to the Nabataeans, who created a watery paradise in the desert city of Petra, to the Khmer, who built a massive inland sea at Angkor, visible from space. As we search for modern solutions to today's water crises, from the American Southwest to China, Mithen also looks for lessons in the past. He suggests that we follow one of the most unheeded pieces of advice to come down from ancient times. In the words of Li Bing, whose waterworks have irrigated the Sichuan Basin since 256 bc, "Work with nature, not against it."


Purpose
Firms are now investing heavily in sponsorship, yet much of this sponsorship fails to deliver the expected positive outcomes to firms. This paper aims to address this problem by taking into consideration the nature of corporate sponsorship and the fit between brand image developed by corporate sponsorship and established brand concept.

Design/methodology/approach
Two separate studies were conducted. Study 1 aimed to test the main effect of two types of corporate sponsorship on consumer responses to the brand and the mediating role of brand image perception. Study 2 used a different design to test the moderating effect of brand concept. Data collected from two distinct samples were analyzed using MANCOVA and regression analysis.

Findings
The results from two studies indicated that two types of corporate sponsorship commercial and philanthropic influenced consumer response through varied mechanisms. Specifically, commercial sponsorship increased the competence perception of sponsors and thereby enhances purchase intention, while philanthropic sponsorship promoted brand attitude through strengthening the warmth perception of sponsors. Moreover, the fit between established brand concept and brand image perceptions is critical for consumer responses. That is, warmth perception was more congruent with the self-transcendence brand concept, while competence perception fitted better with the self-enhancement brand concept in increasing consumer responses.

Originality/value
This paper divides corporate sponsorship into commercial and philanthropic sponsorship and investigates the process of achieving fit when conducting corporate sponsorship. More important, this paper adds to the literature by investigating the interaction between brand image produced by corporate sponsorship and original brand concept, which helps to reveal how fit occurs when conducting sponsorship.


This thesis examined influential factors in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The first chapter investigated homosexuality as a predisposing factor in the development of anorexia and bulimia nervosa in males by considering the published literature on this subject. The implications of the role of homosexual culture in the treatment of males with eating disorders are examined.
The main study used techniques from grounded theory to examine the subjective experiences of women with anorexia and bulimia nervosa regarding the influence of media in the development and maintenance of their disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine women and data collection and analysis were carded out until a point of saturation was reached. A model was developed to explain the relationship between media influence and eating disorder development and maintenance. Clinical implications and avenues of further research were explored.
The brief paper examined the stories of women with anorexia and bulimia nervosa about the development of their eating disorder using narrative analysis techniques. Three semi-structured interviews were analysed and the ways in which the women made sense of their eating disorders were examined. Clinical implications were also discussed.
The final chapter explored the researcher's reflections on the research process focusing on methodological considerations and personal reflections of the researcher.


This paper is intended to shed light on the extent of poverty in the Russian Federation. We present estimates of poverty lines and poverty ratios derived from subjective questions used in a during data collection for a large household panel (RUSSET). We estimate poverty using a subjective approach, where the level of the poverty line is derived using the opinion of the individual, rich or poor, on poverty. This approach differs from the objective approach to poverty, which defines poverty according to the opinion of experts. Three subjective poverty lines are presented: one the Financial Satisfaction Poverty Line, two the Leyden Poverty Line, and three the Subjective Well-Being Poverty Line. The first two poverty lines are based on subjective questions regarding income and economic welfare while the last concept focuses on satisfaction with life as a whole. The results obtained are compared with each other and with results derived using 'objective' measures and official figures.


The historical development of the singular personal pronouns in Greek from the Classical language into Modern Greek is presented here with attention first of all to the ways in which sound change, analogy, and semantic change shape the paradigms. In addition, the role that the notions of deixis and person have played in these processes of change is examined, and claims that have been made in the literature, especially by Haiman 1991, about the principles that guide the emergence of weak ("clitic") pronouns in a language are tested against the Greek developments, and ultimately found to be inadequate. Of particular note is the unusual development in latter Greek by which a weak subject pronoun was created with two, and only two, predicates. It is shown too that Modern Greek provides a basis for distinguishing between syntactically weak forms and forms that are merely phonologically weak.


Scribble was originally identified as a Drosophila protein that regulates epithelial polarity and formation of the basolateral surface. The mammalian orthologue, Scrib, is evolutionarily conserved, but does not appear to be necessary for apical-basolateral epithelial polarity. Instead, it is implicated in the regulation of cell survival, protein trafficking, adhesion and migration. A key issue is to understand the molecular pathway by which Scrib participates in these processes. Here, we investigate Scrib using a 3D epithelial cell culture system. We show a novel association between the LRR domain of Scrib and the co-chaperone Sgt1 and demonstrate that these proteins are necessary for epithelial morphogenesis and tubulogenesis following HGF stimulation. The molecular chaperone HSP90 is also required for Sgt1 association with Scrib, and both Sgt1 and HSP90 are needed to ensure proper Scrib protein levels. Furthermore, reduced Scrib stability, following inhibition of Sgt1-HSP90, lowers the cellular abundance of the Scrib- βPix-PAK complex. Inhibition of any member of this complex, Scrib, βPix or PAK, is sufficient to block HGF-mediated epithelial morphogenesis. The identification of Scrib as an Sgt1-HSP90 client protein required for 3D cell migration suggests that chaperonemediated regulation of polarity protein stability and homeostasis is an unappreciated mechanism underlying dynamic rearrangements during morphogenesis. © 2012.


Starting from a single display giving test-data feedback on MIT's Whirlwind system, computer graphics grew to a multibillion-dollar industry that revolutionized human-computer communication. Cutting across all application areas-whether engineering and scientific, or business and arts/entertainment-are the fundamental technologies and business issues of computer graphics. The increasing power of the personal computer and the enormous numbers currently installed-on the order of 100 million-provide a tempting base for investment and growth. The author expects selectively healthy industry growth through the end of this decade. Annual growth in the early 1990s has been about 12 percent. How long double digit compound revenue growth can continue, in view of the continuing price pressure, is not clear. However, the author expects to see 10 percent annual unit growth for at least the next five years (1994-99). Certainly, companies continue to form, although professional investors now seem to favor software over hardware start-ups. In particular, companies specializing in graphical user interfaces, object-oriented programming, VR, and parallel processing software appear attractive to investors.<<ETX>>


The issue of taxes has always been a highly politicized one in the UK, and never more so than in 2009 as the UK government discusses how to rebalance its budget after rescuing its banking sector with its economy suffering its most severe financial crisis since the 1930s. Debates about taxes, however have tended to focus mainly on the overall level of taxation and government expenditure and on distributional effects between households. With the exception of the work of the Women's Budget Group, a think tank that regularly comments on the gender implications of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's annual budgets, little attention has been paid to the gender aspects of the taxation system. In particular, there has been little debate about what effects any proposals for tax rises to pay for a 2008 stimulus package or for bailing out the banking sector are likely to have on men and women.

This chapter seeks to address this gap by analysing some gender aspects of the UK personal income tax system and its expenditure taxes. Taxes have both distributional and behavioural impacts and both of these impacts can be gendered. In this chapter we consider their impact on both inter- and intra-household inequalities, as well as whether taxes reinforce or challenge existing gender roles.


A challenge for researchers and other developers of new technologies in agriculture is to find ways of communicating their results and recommendations. This challenge is particularly acute in regions in which farmers have limited access to education and where illiteracy is widespread, such as in the rural areas of Mali. One approach that shows potential, yet remains largely unused by extension services, is the dissemination of educational videos on mobile phones with video and Bluetooth technology (3G mobile phones). It has been shown that the conditions are suitable for this approach to be used in Mali, with 3G mobile phones widely available in the region but there is little empirical evidence of its acceptance and potential impact. This article aims to explore the potential of video on mobile phones as a tool to facilitate the diffusion of new agricultural technologies in Western Africa. Three videos showing agricultural innovations for sustainable production were shown and shared with 200 farmers in twelve villages in Mali. The villages were revisited 10 months later and farmers were asked about their experiences with the videos that had been shared and their previous knowledge of the innovations shown in them. Of the farmers who had watched one of the videos (N=148), 60.1% had adopted at least one of the videos' innovations. Mobile-phone videos could be accessed by people who had previously received limited access to information sources, such as younger women, and video based information was found to be understandable for illiterate farmers. These results show that mobile-phone videos could enhance information transfer and thereby expand outreach. The use of video on mobile phones is a novel approach to farmer-to-farmer exchange and has tremendous potential for enhancing dissemination programs or specific research and development projects to enable more resilient, inclusive and democratic systems.


Eye tracking has many comprehensive achievements in the field of human computer interaction. Uses of human eyes as an alternative of hands are an innovative way in the human computer interaction perspective. Many application of autonomous robot control has already been developed, but we developed two different interfaces to control the articulated robot manually. The first of these interfaces is controlled by mouse and the second is controlled by eye tracking. Main focus of our thesis is to facilitate the people with motor disabilities by using their eye as an input instead of a mouse. Eye gaze tracking technique is used to send commands to perform different tasks. Interfaces are divided into different active and inactive regions. Dwell time is a well known technique which is used to execute commands through eye gaze instead of using a mouse. When a user gazes in an active region for a specific dwell time, the command is executed and the robot performs a specific task. When inactive regions are gazed at, there no command execution and no function are performed. The difference between time of performing the task by mouse and Eyetracking is shown to be 40 ms, the mouse being faster. However, a mouse cannot be used for people with motor disabilities, so the Eyetracker in this case has a decisive advantage. Keywords: Eyetracking, Interface, Articulated robot


ABSTRACT. The purpose of this article is to gain a deeper understanding of difficulties experienced in using ICT for learning, the importance of self-efficacy in relation to positive learning outcomes, the future development of games that leverage emerging social media platforms and mobile technologies, and the trend toward more blended and online delivery in higher education. The theory that I shall seek to elaborate here puts considerable emphasis on the development of educational programs based on ICT, the impact of the community peer-reviewing process on the quality of produced annotations and student learning, dynamic and reciprocal communication and interaction resulting in positive learning outcomes, and difficulties associated with introducing technology into the classroom.Keywords: technology, ICT, learning, education, online, virtual1. IntroductionThe mainstay of the paper is formed by an analysis of the evaluation of ICT's impact on education, the predominance of information processing models of learning, the social motivation and institutions that sustain learning interactions, and the development of technology-enhanced learning. The analysis presented in this paper contributes to research on the design of educational programs supported by ICT, the potential of engaging students in authoring example annotations, the effects of teaching on the tutor's own learning, and cross-cultural online collaborative learning contexts. These findings highlight the importance of examining the support of collaborative learning environments that foster communities of inquiry and discourse, the extent to which specific learning objectives are achieved through mobile social media games, collaborative online learning situations, and the features and design choices available in virtual environments.2. The Value of ICT in the Educational SystemBreadth of use, experience, self-efficacy and education are as important as age in explaining how people become digital natives. There are significant differences within cohorts of young people in terms of their preferences, skills and use of new technologies. The presence of children in the household does not influence parents' use of the Internet for their own learning activities. There are potential learning benefits (Bacalu, 2012) in many online activities from playing collaborative games to chatting in a forum. Immersion in technology (Hunter, 2012) is an important factor in understanding whether people are confident in their ICT skills. The integration of ICTs in many aspects of a person's life may lead to the uptake of digital learning opportunities (Internet users may ignore these learning activities if they otherwise use technologies in a broad fashion). (Helsper and Eynon, 2010) The Evolutionary Development Model (EDM) aims at the building and rigorous, iterative testing of each of the components of the ICT for education (ICT4E) programs in real educational settings, establishing a roadmap to create and validate ICTbased, pedagogic innovations for the classroom. (Rodriguez, Nussbaum, and Dombrovskaia, 2012)Teachers should select the most appropriate ICT resources to enable their students to meet the required learning goals. Knowledge of technology (Lazaroiu, 2013) will not be enough if teachers do not feel confident using that knowledge to facilitate student learning. Beliefs can influence knowledge acquisition (Radulescu, 2013) and use of technology. Teacher beliefs are heavily influenced by the subject (Doomen, 2012) and school culture in which they participate. Today's students have little to no knowledge about how to use ICT tools in an instructional manner (David, 2012), needing to know how to use them to facilitate student-centered instruction. Inservice teachers have a multitude of variables to consider when incorporating technology into their practices. Teachers can develop confidence by hearing about or observing other teachers' successful efforts using technology. …


Music Research: A Handbook introduces music students to the major print and electronic research tools available to them. Ideal for graduate-level music bibliography and research courses, it can also be used in any undergraduate or graduate music course that requires students to engage in library research or to write a research paper. Concise and practical, this unique handbook does not aim to provide an exhaustive introduction to the subject; rather, it is highly selective and guides students to the most significant English-language research tools and resources, reference titles in major areas, and the principal sources in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The book's first section (Chapters 1-14) is organized by type of research tool--for example, encyclopedias, periodical indexes, and discographies. Each chapter in this section includes an overview of the tool it covers; an annotated bibliography that describes the tool's purpose, scope, strengths, and weaknesses; and an evaluation checklist that encourages students to think critically about the tools and materials they discover as they do research. The second section (Chapters 15-16) discusses style manuals and various resources for writing about music and citing sources. Methods for evaluating reference and research tools are emphasized throughout the book. Music Research: A Handbook is supplemented by a companion website, www.oup.com/us/musresearch, which includes supplemental links, updates to available bibliographies and readings by chapter, research tools listed by composer, and lists of core music journals and major professional music associations.


Keywords: informal seed systems, seed recycling, seed quality, germination, seed pathology, seed health, seed-borne diseases, mycotoxigenic fungi, Fusarium verticillioides, mycotoxins, Vigna unguiculata, Zea mays, Nigeria. Seed is a crucial input for agricultural production. Approximately 80% of the smallholder farmers in Africa depend for their seed on the informal seed system, consisting of farmers involved in selection, production and dissemination of seed. The lack of overhead, distribution and seed testing costs enables seed-producing farmers to offer seed for low prices, but seed quality is not always good. Seed-producing farmers multiply their seed on-farm without frequent seed renewal, referred to as seed recycling, which may lead to low seed quality. This research analysed the effect of seed recycling on physiological quality and seed health of cowpea and maize, and compared seed quality of the formal and informal seed system. We tested the physical and physiological quality of cowpea seeds produced by the formal and informal seed system. Five out of six foundation seed samples, 79 out of 81 samples of farmers' seed, and six out of six seed company samples failed to meet standards for foundation and certified seeds of the National Agriculture Seed Council (NASC), the seed industry regulatory agency in Nigeria. No evidence was found for a negative effect of seed recycling on physiological quality of cowpea seeds. We analysed 45,500 cowpea seeds for seed-borne bacteria and fungi to compare the performance of formal and informal seed systems. All samples were heavily infected with seed-borne pathogens, including Fusarium oxysporum (69% of the samples) and Macrophomina phaseolina (76%). No evidence was found that seed recycling in the informal seed system did lead to increased levels of seed-borne pathogens. We also analysed seed quality of farmer-produced maize seed to compare it with the formal seed system. The seed company samples had significantly higher germination (99.3%) than farmer-produced seed (97.7%), but not a single sample passed the requirements for certified seed of the NASC. Twelve seed-borne pathogens were identified including Bipolaris maydis (found in 45% of the farmer-produced samples), Botryodiplodia theobromae (97%) and Fusarium verticillioides (100%). Seed recycling had no negative effect on the physiological quality or seed health of maize seed. We analysed formal and informal seed systems to assess the opportunities to prevent mycotoxigenic fungi infection in maize seeds. A range of control methods to avoid fungal infection and mycotoxin production is discussed in relation to three criteria for sustainable implementation in developing countries. An integrated approach is recommended, with special attention towards the local seed system. As an overall conclusion of the work it can be stated that the informal seed system did not underperform compared to the formal seed system for cowpea, but did underperform in relation to seed company samples of maize. There was no evidence that seed recycling reduces seed quality of cowpea and maize seed samples, so frequent seed renewal will not improve seed quality of the informal seed system. We recommend a new quality assurance system for the informal seed system based on seed quality testing by farmers themselves, without interference by government or external laboratories. Farmers publish their seed testing results on the bag, while buyers can retest the seed to verify the quality. Further research is required to develop and implement this system in different countries, agro-ecologies and crops, and to develop methods that enable farmers to test seed health quality themselves.


Intensive high-density plantings (HDP) of plum trees in the Republika Srpska involve the use of Myrobalan (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.) seedling as the predominant and, in most cases, the only rootstock. Using Myrobalan as a vigorous rootstock is a serious challenge in growing plums at higher planting densities. Although Myrobalan seedling rootstock increases the vigour of grafted cultivars, plum trees trained to the spindle system on Myrobalan rootstock can also be grown at very high plant densities ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 trees per hectare, depending on the cultivar/rootstock combination and central-leader inclination. The most common training system for plums in high density plantings is the slender spindle or the spindle bush system. Successful training and maintenance of spindle systems in intensive production on high-vigour rootstocks is not possible without the consistent use of canopy management practices, particularly during the first three years after planting, when these practices are most intensive for proper training of both the central leader and main lateral branches. Canopy management practices require a professional attitude and substantial manual labour. Particular importance in training spindle systems for plums as well as in maintaining the training system (replacement of spur-bearing branches) is given to the following specific canopy management practices: notching, shoot bending, shoot twisting, undercutting and replacement of spur-bearing branches. This paper outlines some important canopy management practices and their effect on plum growth and development, focusing on cultivar-specific responses to treatments.


Abstract A humanoid robot developed to play multievent athletes like human has paved a way for interesting and popular robotics research. One of the great dreams is to develop a humanoid robot being able to challenge human athletes. Therefore, the challenge of humanoid robots to play archery against human is organized at Taichung, Taiwan, in HuroCup, FIRA 2018, on August 7th. The difficulties of developing humanoid robot are not just on playing archery. The humanoid robots for HuroCup must make use of the same hardware for the 10 events. In this paper, the design and implementation of the humanoid robot for archery are proposed under the trade off with other nine events. Therefore, the humanoid robot must have some special design and development on software. More specially, the humanoid robot must use professional bow to challenge human for archery competition. Therefore, in this paper, special shooting posture under constrained arm structure and motion planning of both arms for more torque to play professional bow are proposed. In addition, the further development of humanoid robot to improve archery shooting is summarized.


Recent advances in molecular and synthetic biology are enabling the engineering of gene drives that spread genes of interest through interbreeding populations at a frequency greater than the rate expected by simple Mendelian inheritance. At present, insects represent the most likely cases of gene drive modified organisms for deliberate release into the environment. Through an open workshop, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) aimed to engage with stakeholders to discuss potential environmental risks associated with the deliberate release into the environment of gene drive modified insects. Workshop participants were invited to contribute to an example problem formulation to: (1) identify relevant broad protection goals and make them operational for use in environmental risk assessment; (2) formally devise examples of plausible pathways to harm that describe how the deployment of gene drive modified insects could be harmful; (3) formulate example risk hypotheses about the likelihood and severity of such events; (4) identify possible information that would be useful to test these risk hypotheses; and (5) identify how to acquire new data for hypothesis testing when existing information is deemed insufficient for regulatory decision-making. The problem formulation exercise was run for two hypothetical case studies (i.e. self-sustaining low threshold gene drives to control disease-spreading mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito) and agricultural pests (Drosophila suzukii, the spotted-wing Drosophila)). Points raised by the workshop participants reveal different often contrasting opinions/perspectives toward gene drive and their risk assessment. Overall, there was agreement that the problem formulation process is fit-for-purpose for the environmental risk assessment of gene drive modified insects, but it was acknowledged that practical challenges may be encountered. Points raised by the workshop participants, on defining protection goals, formulating specific pathways to harm and on structuring risks, have been considered by EFSA's Panel on genetically modified organisms during its deliberations. © European Food Safety Authority, 2020


There is growing evidence that students throughout the world no longer see the US as the primary place to study; that in some form this correlates with a rise in perceived quality and prestige in the EU and elsewhere; and further, that this may mean a continued decline in the US's market share of international students. There clearly are a complex set of variables that will influence international education and global labor markets, including the current global economic recession. Ultimately, however, we think these factors will not alter the fundamental dynamics of the new global market, which include these facts: the international flow of talent, scientific or otherwise, is being fundamentally altered as nations invest more in educational attainment and human capital; the US will continue to lose some of its market share over time — the only question is how quickly and by how much; and without a proactive strategy, nations such as the US that are highly dependent on global in-migration of talented students and professionals are most vulnerable to downward access to global talent, with a potentially significant impact on future economic growth. This study provides data on past and recent global trends in international enrollment, and offers a set of policy recommendations for the US at the federal, state, and institutional level. This includes our recommendation of a national goal to double the number of international students in the US over the next decade to match numbers in a group of competitor nations, and requires recognition that the US will need to strategically expand its enrollment capacity and graduation rates to accommodate needed increases in the educational attainment rate of US citizens, and to welcome more international students. Attracting talent in a global market and increasing degree attainment rates of the domestic population are not mutually exclusive goals. Indeed, they will be the hallmarks of the most competitive economies.


Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is an important condition for clinicians to be aware of in the presence of cirrhosis. In simple terms, HRS is defined as a relative rise in creatinine and relative drop in serum glomerular filtration rate (GFR) alongside renal plasma flow (RPF) in the absence of other competing etiologies of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. It represents the end stage complication of decompensated cirrhosis in the presence of severe portal hypertension, in the absence of prerenal azotemia, acute tubular necrosis or others. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. The recognition of HRS is of paramount importance for clinicians as it carries a high mortality rate and is an indication for transplantation. Recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease improved treatment approaches, but the overall prognosis remains poor, with Type I HRS having an average survival under 2 weeks. Generally speaking, AKI and renal failure in cirrhotic patients carry a very high mortality rate, with up to 60% mortality rate for patients with renal failure and cirrhosis and 86.6% of overall mortality rates of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Of the various etiologies of renal failure in cirrhosis, HRS carries a poor prognosis among cirrhotic patients with acute kidney injury. HRS continues to pose a diagnostic challenge. AKI can be either pre-renal, intrarenal or postrenal. Prerenal causes include hypovolemia, infection, use of vasodilators and functional due to decreased blood flow to the kidney, intra-renal such as glomerulopathy, acute tubular necrosis and post-renal such as obstruction. Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to developing renal impairment. HRS may be classified as Type 1 or rapidly progressive disease, and Type 2 or slowly progressive disease. There are other types of HRS, but this chapter will focus on Type 1 HRS and Type 2 HRS. HRS is considered a functional etiology of acute kidney injury as there is an apparent lack of nephrological parenchymal damage. It is one several possibilities for acute kidney injury in patients with both acute and chronic liver disease. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most severe complications that could occur with cirrhosis. Up to 50% of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis can suffer from acute kidney injury, and as mentioned earlier an AKI in the presence of cirrhosis in a hospitalized patient has been associated with nearly a 3.5-fold increase in mortality. The definition of HRS will be discussed in this chapter, but it is characterized specifically as a form of acute kidney injury that occurs in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis which results in a reduction in renal blood flow, unresponsive to fluids this occurs in the setting of portal hypertension and splanchnic vasodilation. This chapter will discuss the incidence of HRS, recognizing HRS, focusing mainly on HRS Type I and Type II, recognizing competing etiologies of renal impairment in cirrhotic patients, and the management HRS.


© 2010 GSTF DOI: 10.5176_2010-2283_1.1.09 Abstract—ToyBox Futuristi is a digital puppeteering toolkit created by a student team from Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center (known from this point forward as ETC). The team took its inspiration from the work of Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, in particular Balli Plastici, the 'plastic dance' he created in 1918. Depero's marionettes encapsulate the Futurist ideal of machinery striving to break free of human control, a theme expanded upon by the use of contemporary technologies. The project was driven by two deliverables: the digital re-imagining of Balli Plastici, a version of which was shown at the Performa 09 Arts Festival in New York City, and the development of ToyBox Futuristi, the puppetry software that enables users to create their own versions of the ballet. This paper will focus on the creation of ToyBox Futuristi, including how the creative team took inspiration from the work of Depero and the Futurists while simultaneously establishing a sense of style and functionality adapted to the digital age.


Environment friendly wastewater treatment method is the biggest challenge faced by textile industries. Water system around Dhaka City Corporation experiences high concentration of COD and color in the discharge effluent into environment by textile industries. Lack of appropriate treatment facility for wastewater exceeds the standard discharge limits. Conventional wastewater treatment methods become decisive challenge to environmental engineers for increasing more and more restrictive effluent by water and industrial discharges. Biologically treated discharges will no longer be reduced textiles dyes or color as 53% of 87 colors are identified as non-biodegradable. On the other hand, electro-coagulation or coagulation method produces a huge amount of hydroxide sludge that is harmful for our environment. The purpose of this study is to investigate a single treatment method that is properly and effectively treated different types of textile effluent. Electro-coagulation method for treatment of textile effluent and reduction of COD, BOD and color from effluent is compared with activated sludge process. The chemical and biological oxidation is carried out using electro-coagulation and bacillus bacteria respectively without adjustment pH of the wastewater sample. In this work, the comparison of the efficiency of electro-coagulation and activated sludge process for COD, BOD and color removal of different textile industries in Bangladesh are investigated. Electro-coagulation or coagulation method and activated sludge process results are not satisfied to protect our ecology and human health, so combined method of wastewater treatment is necessary. From cost estimation and practical performance of different treatment methods textile wastewater revealed high susceptibility to treat the effluents using electro-coagulation and biological method separately. Effluent characteristics such as color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are reduced by considerable amount by electro-coagulation method but in activated sludge process marked degradation of pollutants than coagulation method. If we combined at first electro-coagulation then activated sludge process, a better result will be found that is more effective and economical than any single method because non-biodegradable organic matters are not destroyed by activated sludge process, so combination of methods is necessary. Keyword: COD, BOD, pH, electro-coagulation, Activated Sludge.


A one-way, high-speed, high-frequency acoustic modem (HS-HFAM) operating between 260 kHz and 380 kHz has been developed to transmit compressed underwater images and status information in real-time. High data rates are made possible using a high-resolution decision feedback equalizer with parallel algorithm for tracking and compensating large Doppler. Previous experimental results have shown that this modem achieves 13298.2 information bits per Joule at 87768 information bits per second and at a range of 88 m in ports and shallow waters. More recently, the HS-HFAM has shown very promissing results during a series of under-hull inspections using a Lockeed-Martin Cetus-II vehicle and conducted at SPAWAR in San Diego, California. These tests were followed shortly thereafter with a series of demonstration during the AUV Fest 2007 event at NSWC in Panama City, Florida. During these tests, the same Cetus-II vehicle and the BlueFin HAUV-1 vehicle were equipped with the FAU HS-HFAM and conducted multiple hull inspections successfully.


In this paper, we propose a new broadband microwave amplifier structure using multi layer technology. Thus the design of multilayer interconnections, with combined slotlines and microstriplines, improves the integration of a feedback passive cell and permits to obtain a broadband balanced amplifier without increasing the circuit area. A first part details the structure design and the conception of this feedback cell. In a second part, the method is performed for a microwave amplifier design considering a GaAs FET commonly used in microwave circuits. A large frequency bandwidth of about 500MHz around 4 GHz is obtained. The results concerning the input VSWR, the output one and the gain are then presented. In conclusion the amplifier performances are satisfying and the feasibility of such a structure with the use of the multilayer interconnections is then evidenced.


PURPOSE
To examine the antiproliferative and lysyl hydroxylase-suppressing effects of minoxidil on cultured proliferating and density-arrested human retinal pigment epithelial cells (hRPE) and Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (hTCF).

METHODS
Proliferating and density-arrested hRPE and hTCF, exposed to minoxidil (0.1-5 mM) for 15 min to 7 days, were examined by proliferation assays, [3H]thymidine incorporation, trypan-blue exclusion, and phase-contrast microscopy. The lysyl hydroxylase-suppressing effects were examined in confluent hRPE exposed to minoxidil (0.01-1 mM) using L-[4,5-3H]-lysine-labeled procollagen substrate and measuring the amount of tritium released as 3H2O after vacuum distillation.

RESULTS
Minoxidil (0.1-5 mM) inhibited the proliferation of subconfluent cultures of hRPE and hTCF in a dose-dependent manner with a half-maximal effect at 1.5 and 2.5 mM, respectively. The antiproliferative effect, detectable within 24 hr, occurred with a limited exposure period and persisted even after removal of minoxidil from the culture medium. In contrast, 1-5 mM minoxidil had minimal effect on density-arrested hRPE and hTCF. However, at doses above 3 mM, although minoxidil had no effect on the number of density-arrested hRPE, morphologic and viability experiments indicated signs of cytotoxicity. Minoxidil (0.1-1 mM) caused a maximum of 71% reduction in the activity of lysyl hydroxylase, an enzyme needed for stable cross-links in collagen.

CONCLUSIONS
Minoxidil may be a useful drug for the treatment of conditions such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy and bleb scarring after trabeculectomy, disorders with unwanted cell proliferation and collagen production.


Many courses in the School of Medicine are open to any registered Stanford student who has fulfilled the prerequisites, subject to the usual limits of course enrollment and faculty approval. The school also offers courses specifically for undergraduates, as well as graduate-level courses where advanced undergraduates with backgrounds in the life sciences are welcome. Among the undergraduate offerings are numerous Stanford Introductory Seminars for freshmen and sophomores, the Emergency Medical Technician program, Stanford Immersion in Medicine Physician Shadowing, Pre-Vet Advisory, and courses in Community Health, including participation in the Stanford Free Clinics. The school also offers several undergraduate courses through the Department of Biology and the Interdisciplinary Program in Human Biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences. See the school's Undergraduate Studies (http://med.stanford.edu/education/undergrad-studies.html) web site for additional information.


The ability to distinguish effectively between a range of gases in a reliable, repeatable
manner is of major interest with both scientific and commercial relevance.
Semiconducting metal oxide gas sensors have a long life-span, are inexpensive and are
highly sensitive; however, they are generally found to lack a desired level of selectivity.
One highly viable approach for enhancing the selective power of such devices is the
addition of a transformation layer. This will typically be a micro- or meso-porous, solid
which will act to transform the analyte gas stream by some means. Here the use of
zeolite compounds for this purpose is investigated.
Different theoretical models are used to probe the dependency of the response of a
porous metal oxide sensor on the transport properties of gas through the device,
including through an additional zeolite layer. Through the use of a force-field based
method, shape and size selective adsorption is predicted and used to justify
experimental results of zeolite modified sensors, for example, the reduction of response
to linear hydrocarbons as the chain-length is increased. However, the limit of such
calculations is also realised such that this approach is unlikely to provide an adequate
predictive tool for selecting a suitable zeolite for a particular gas sensing task.
Following this, a model based on the method of diffusion eigenstates has been
developed to calculate bulk effective diffusivities and rate constants for porous systems
representing both the sensor and zeolite porous layers. The effective properties are
found to depend strongly on the microstructure, the partitioning between phases and
diffusion coefficients of the different phases. The effective parameters are then
interpreted in terms of sensor response by solving the one-dimensional diffusionreaction
equation for a simple two-layered macroscopic geometry. The method of finite
differences is used to find the concentration profile which generates a response on
interaction with an electric field established between two electrodes. The concentration
profile and hence the response depends on the balance of diffusion and reaction of the
analyte gas within both the sensor and zeolite layers. It is shown how the response can
be explored to expose such differences by firstly looking at both the steady state
response and response time and also by varying the positioning of the electrodes used
to measure the response. Good correlation with experimental response data is
demonstrated, supporting the importance of the diffusion-reaction properties modelled
to the sensing mechanism, and the potential of developing a predictive tool based on the
models presented is discussed.


Seven laboratories in six European countries examined 40 isolates belonging to the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex to investigate whether standardized protocols and quality-controlled reagents could produce reliable, discriminatory, and reproducible PCR-based fingerprinting results. Four PCR protocols with different primers (primers DAF4, ERIC-2, M13, and REP1 + REP2) were used. The epidemiological conclusions reached by the participating laboratories were substantially correct, with 96.4% of the total isolate grouping allocations agreeing with the consensus view. All laboratories identified the main epidemiological clusters, and each laboratory also identified two non-outbreak-related isolates. There were no significant differences between the isolate grouping results obtained by the different protocols and with the different primers. Visual comparison indicated that the standardized protocols and reagents yielded reproducible fingerprint patterns, but with some variations in particular band intensities. Minor variations in fingerprint profiles were detected, but computer-assisted analysis of PCR fingerprints obtained on agarose gels demonstrated that 88.3 to 91.6% (depending on the source of DNA) of the patterns clustered correctly, while 96.4 to 98.9% of the patterns clustered correctly following automated high-resolution laser fluorescence analysis. Correlation of the patterns for isogenic isolates ranged from 83.3 to 86.6% but was slightly better (mean correlation, 87.1%) for centrally prepared DNA extracts than for DNA extracts prepared by individual laboratories (mean correlation, 84.7%). It was concluded that independently produced PCR fingerprint patterns can be obtained reproducibly for Acinetobacter spp. at the practical level if (i) quality-controlled reagents, (ii) standardized extraction of DNA, and (iii) standardized amplification conditions are used.


Local socio-economic cooperation arrangements can contribute to the development of adequate solutions which can compensate the negative impacts of globalization. One of the specific areas is agriculture. Capital-intensive technology is the key element in the competitiveness and viability of firms. The present paper reviews the factors affecting the joint machine use arrangements of agricultural producers, with special regard to the role of trust. The questions of trust are examined in two dimensions: contractual and competence trust. On the basis of the survey carried out among farmers a positive connection was detected between the level of trust and the farmers' activity in cooperation arrangements. Our results also pointed out that the trust needed in different areas of cooperation is very different. The experiences indicate a tendency, according to which contractual trust is more important in intensive cooperation arrangements which result in higher dependence, while competency trust is more emphasized in more extensive solutions.


Figs 2 and 4 are incorrect. The authors have provided corrected versions here. access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


Fossil Nothofagus leaves from the Meyer Desert Formation of the Sirius Group in the central Transantarctic Mountains have been found with recycled marine diatoms indicating that they are no older than 4.1–3.1 Ma; they have been interpreted as evidence for Pliocene warming and diminution of the East Antarctic Ice Cap. In contrast, Plio-Pleistocene ice-cap stability and sustained polar palaeoclimate has been argued from landforms in Victoria Land and isotopic data from the Southern Ocean. New evidence on this question comes from fossil soils in the Meyer Desert Formation. One of these, the Siesta palaeosol, has a gypsic horizon at a depth of 85 cm as in soils of polar deserts with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 120–220 mm. Clastic dykes from a 60–80 cm thick permafrost active layer in the palaeosols are evidence of a mean annual temperature (MAT) of −3 to −11°C. This is warmer and wetter than the Dominion Range today (MAP 36 mm, MAT −39°C) but still a periglacial climate, cooler and drier than southern Chilean moorland and krummholz (MAP 600–7500 mm, MAT 5–8°C), or subantarctic tundra (MAP 400–2500 mm, MAT −5 to +5°C). A Pliocene age for the Nothofagus fossils and Siesta palaeosol is compatible with soil development on surfaces that bracket their enclosing deposits. The Dominion Range was significantly warmer and wetter than it is today during Pliocene (c. 3.5 Ma) growth of Nothofagus and formation of the Siesta palaeosol, but the Beardmore Glacier was still large at that time. Surface soils and palaeosols of the Meyer Desert Formation are evidence of another warmer and wetter episode earlier during the Pliocene (c. 5 Ma). Both warm intervals were separated by intervening times of glacial expansion and frigid palaeoclimate.


In this paper, we describe how prototype-based classification can be used for knowledge acquisition and automatic image classification. We developed the prototypical methods and techniques of the system in order to serve the special development issues of an expert when starting a new image-based application. Often an expert can present a catalogue of prototypical images instead of a large enough image data base for setting up the system. Starting with the set of prototypical images we can learn the important image features and the concept description of an image class. In this paper, we describe the necessary functions a prototype-based classifier should have. Besides the similarity calculated based on the numerical image features we introduce the experts estimated similarity as new knowledge piece and a new function that optimizes between this similarity and the automatically calculated similarity by the system in order to improve the system accuracy. This function reduces the influence of the uncertainty in the calculated features and the similarity measure and brings the similarity value closer to the true similarity value. The test of the system is done on the study of the internal mitochondrial movement of cells. The basis for the development is fluorescent cell images. The aim was to discover the different dynamic signatures of mitochondrial movement. For this application the expert knows from the literature how the different signatures should look like and based on this knowledge he picks prototypical images from his experiment. We present our results and give an outlook for future work.


Auditory training is an intervention that aims to improve auditory performance and help alleviate the difficulties associated with hearing loss. To be an effective intervention, any task-specific learning needs to transfer to functional benefits in real-world listening. The present study aimed to identify optimal outcome measures to assess the benefits of auditory training for people with hearing loss. Thirty existing hearing-aid users with mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss trained on a phoneme discrimination in noise task. Complex measures of listening and cognition were assessed pre- and post-training. Functional benefits to everyday listening were examined using a dual-task of listening and memory and an adaptive two-competing talker task. There was significant on-task learning for the trained task (p < .001), and significant transfer of learning to improvements in competing speech (p < .05) and dual-task performance (p < .01). For the dual-task, improvements were shown for a challenging listening condition (0 dB SNR), with no improvements where the task was either too easy (in quiet) or too difficult (-4 dB SNR). Findings suggest that for listening abilities, the development of complex cognitive skills may be more important than the refinement of sensory processing. Outcome measures should be sensitive to the functional benefits of auditory training and set at an appropriately challenging level.


The advent of democracy in 1994 catalysed a radical law reform process resulting in new forms of governance that sought to address past injustices. However, despite a progressive Constitution that requires the recognition of a range of socio-economic and environmental rights, and the recognition of living customary law, the small-scale fisheries sector continues to be marginalized; meanwhile decisions regarding rights of access to resources, and the use of these, remain centralized. A new policy was gazetted in June 2012 but has yet to be given effect through implementation. During recent policy deliberation processes, small-scale fishers have referred to customary practices and taken inspiration from international policy instruments in articulating their vision for a new system of fisheries governance. This paper outlines the processes that have shaped tenure relations in the past and assesses the debates on 'good governance' that are influencing the emerging policy framework in South Africa. The authors argue that, if the twin objectives of social equity and environmental sustainability are to be achieved, constitutional recognition of 'living customary law' is central to fisheries governance. Drawing on insights from local case studies, the authors suggest that an understanding and utilization of the 'emancipatory potential' of living customary law can guide and enhance the interpretation of new governance proposals outlined in the small-scale fisheries policy. It is suggested that this could be used to facilitate forms of tenure governance that are locally appropriate, legitimate and sustainable.


The development of a new generation of cyberinfrastructure promises to increase and facilitate globally distributed scientific collaboration as well as access to scientific research via computer networks. But the potential for such access and collaboration is subject to concerns regarding the intellectual property rights that will be associated with networked data and with networked collaborative activity. Intellectual property regimes are generally problematic in the practice of science, because scientific research typically assumes practices of openness that may be hampered or obstructed by intellectual property rights. These difficulties are likely to be exacerbated in the context of networked collaboration, where the development and use of intellectual resources will likely be distributed among many researchers in a variety of physical locations, often spanning national boundaries. Such issues may be addressed by a combination of public and private approaches, including amendment of U.S. law to recognize transborder collaborative work, and adoption of clarifying contractual agreements among those who are collaborating via cyberinfrastructure, including cautious adaptation of "viral" licensing from the open source coding community


Turkey, Past and FutureUnder the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP), Turkey's foreign policy has been associated with the prescriptions and efforts of three men: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gill, and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Davutoglu, a former international relations professor, has been the most articulate exponent of the troika's ideas, penning perhaps the most authoritative summary of its worldview in his 200 1 StratejikDerinlik (Strategic Depth)1 and coining its foremost article of faith: a "zero-problems policy" with Turkey's neighbors because Ankara "wants to eliminate all the problems from her relations with neighbors or at least to minimize them as much as possible."2This might all be well and good if such words were supported by actions. But Davutoglu has also described Turkey as a "heavyweight wrestler," hinting that it may use "the maximum of its abilities" when dealing with its neighboring "middleweight wrestlers."3 A survey of Ankara's relations with these "middleweight wrestlers" reveals its "zero problems policy" to be little more than a cover for the AKP's reasserted "neo-Ottoman" ambitions.THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEANAchieving a zero problems status with Greece and Cyprus would seem to be the most difficult goal for Ankara to attain, given both countries' painful history with Turkey.Even if one could put aside the long and tortuous past - from the Greek war of independence of the 1820s, to the 1923 uprooting of Greeks from Asia Minor, to sporadic crises over Aegean islands(1976, 1987, 1996), to the continuing standoff over air space and territorial waters - the AKP's rise to power has exacerbated, not allayed, tensions.Far from following a zero problems policy with Greece, Turkey maintains existing problems and adds new ones: It has made alleged violations of the Muslim minority's rights in Western Thrace an item on the Islamic Conference's agenda4 and has muddied the waters over what constitutes Greece's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by questioning the role of the Greek island of Kastelorizo (one mile off Turkey's coast) in detennining that EEZ. And Davutoglu's ambitions did not stop here:The security of the Balkans is increasingly identified with the security considerations of Turkey's western border. The security zone that has been established in eastern Thrace during the Cold War should be extended to the west with multilateral and bilateral agreements which should be made on a Balkan level.5These are not mere words. Ankara has recently signed a military cooperation agreement with Albania, allowing docking privileges for Turkish warships at Dures, thereby marking the return of the Turkish navy to the Adriatic Sea after centuries.6 The press has reported that Turkey is responsible for the cancellation of an agreement between Athens and Tirana over the delimitation of maritime zones,7 and Turkey has also initiated major programs of military assistance to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, a state with which Greece is in dispute over the use of the name "Macedonia." Finally, Turkey continues to flood Greece and the European Union with tens of thousands of mostly Muslim illegal immigrants.8Meanwhile, the already fraught relations with Cyprus have worsened. Turkey not only works against ending the continued and illegal occupation of the northern half of the island but seems bent on increasing problems. Such behavior is not all that surprising considering Davutoglu's belief:It is not possible for a country that neglects Cyprus to have a decisive say in the global and regional politics . . . Even if there was not one Muslim Turk there, Turkey had to maintain a Cyprus issue. No country can stay indifferent toward such an island, located in the heart of its very own vital space . . . Turkey needs to see the strategic advantage which it obtained ... in the 1970s, not as the component of a Cyprus defense policy, directed toward maintaining the status quo, but as one of the diplomatic main supports of an aggressive maritime strategy. …


Abstract:Freedom House's latest Freedom in the World report found that 2020 marked the fifteenth consecutive year of decline in global freedom, with countries where freedom deteriorated outnumbering those where it improved by the largest margin since the negative trend began. Authoritarian governments exploited the covid-19 pandemic to consolidate power and crack down on dissent, and international democratic norms continued to erode, contributing to armed conflicts and impunity for human-rights violations. Grassroots protest movements encountered harsh repression in many settings, dimming hopes for reform, while major democracies such as the United States and India experienced further setbacks, with the latter dropping into the Partly Free category for the first time in decades. Nevertheless, Free countries generally proved more resilient than their Partly Free and Not Free counterparts, and ordinary people around the world persisted in demanding the benefits of democratic governance.


Harassment and sexual assault are a key concern for universities due to the impact that such incidents have on student victims—and potentially on a university's reputation. Women are particularly at risk during student nights out, where unsafe routes home increase vulnerability, and alcohol may fuel risky, transgressive and/or abusive behaviour. The ProtectED team at the University of Salford (UK) has developed a code of practice to ensure student safety, security and wellbeing in higher education. This contains 'instruments' that, among other issues, specifically address 'harassment and sexual assault' and the 'student night out'. The instruments were developed through a creative design process involving: action research; identification of themes; concept generation; and testing with an advisory group of key stakeholders. This highlighted the need to adopt a broader approach to harassment, stemming from the fact that harassment may occur online and relate to other issues and identities. ProtectED is helping universities tackle sexual assault as part of a wider programme of measures to ensure student safety, security and wellbeing and improve the student experience. ProtectED promotes partnership working at all levels — internally and externally — and will enable the collection and analysis of more accurate data across the higher education sector, to allow service improvement.


To understand the dynamics of optimization in deep neural networks, we develop a tool to study the evolution of the entire Hessian spectrum throughout the optimization process. Using this, we study a number of hypotheses concerning smoothness, curvature, and sharpness in the deep learning literature. We then thoroughly analyze a crucial structural feature of the spectra: in non-batch normalized networks, we observe the rapid appearance of large isolated eigenvalues in the spectrum, along with a surprising concentration of the gradient in the corresponding eigenspaces. In batch normalized networks, these two effects are almost absent. We characterize these effects, and explain how they affect optimization speed through both theory and experiments. As part of this work, we adapt advanced tools from numerical linear algebra that allow scalable and accurate estimation of the entire Hessian spectrum of ImageNet-scale neural networks; this technique may be of independent interest in other applications.


The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been beset by a series of external interventions, regional crises and local conflicts – most recently precipitated by the Arab uprisings – that have led to major uncertainties and changes in the existing order. The aim of this paper – which launches Work Package 5 within the MENARA project – is to provide a general framework within which to understand and contextualize the transformations in regional dynamics, particularly since the uprisings. It is divided into four parts, focusing on the major regional actors (state and non-state); regional conflicts (Arab–Israeli, Syrian, Moroccan–Algerian and Sahel); themes (i.e. refugees and illegal trafficking); and key regional cooperation platforms (i.e. the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab Maghreb Union and the African Union). By introducing the basic background literature, approaches and research questions, this paper, in turn, paves the way for more in-depth and focused research papers within the MENARA project.


We study the problem of how to repeatedly sell to a buyer running a no-regret, mean-based algorithm. Previous work [Braverman et al., 2018] shows that it is possible to design effective mechanisms in such a setting that extract almost all of the economic surplus, but these mechanisms require the buyer's values each round to be drawn independently and identically from a fixed distribution. In this work, we do away with this assumption and consider the prior-free setting where the buyer's value each round is chosen adversarially (possibly adaptively). We show that even in this prior-free setting, it is possible to extract a $(1-\varepsilon)$-approximation of the full economic surplus for any $\varepsilon > 0$. The number of options offered to a buyer in any round scales independently of the number of rounds $T$ and polynomially in $\varepsilon$. We show that this is optimal up to a polynomial factor; any mechanism achieving this approximation factor, even when values are drawn stochastically, requires at least $\Omega(1/\varepsilon)$ options. Finally, we examine what is possible when we constrain our mechanism to a natural auction format where overbidding is dominated. Braverman et al. [2018] show that even when values are drawn from a known stochastic distribution supported on $[1/H, 1]$, it is impossible in general to extract more than $O(\log\log H / \log H)$ of the economic surplus. We show how to achieve the same approximation factor in the prior-independent setting (where the distribution is unknown to the seller), and an approximation factor of $O(1 / \log H)$ in the prior-free setting (where the values are chosen adversarially).


The splanchnic circulation constitutes a major portion of the total capacitance vasculature and may affect venous return and subsequently cardiac output during low output states. This study assessed the effects of rapid (10 microg/kg over 5 min) and slow (10 microg/kg over 60 min) induction of endotoxin (Escherichia coli) shock on splanchnic blood volume in 8 farm swine. Blood volume was measured by using Tc99m-labeled erythrocytes and radionuclide imaging. Baseline arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), and liver, splenic, mesenteric and total splanchnic volumes were stable during the 30-min baseline. Approximately 30 min after the rapid endotoxin infusion, splenic volume decreased by 45%, whereas liver volume increased by 40% and MAP decreased by 60% (P < 0.01). The reduction in splenic volume occurred within 10 min of the endotoxin infusion, whereas liver volume changes occurred after MAP reduction. The slow endotoxin infusion also reduced splenic volume by approximately 50% (P = 0.05), whereas MAP declined by 30% (P < 0.05). However, the slow endotoxin infusion lowered liver volume (P < 0.05). Mesenteric volume was unaffected by the fast or slow endotoxin infusion. Total splanchnic volume was unaffected by the fast infusion but decreased by 37% in the slow infusion group (P < 0.05). In summary, E. coli endotoxin reduces splenic blood volume and increases liver blood volume after acute hypotension ensues. Endotoxin does not increase total splanchnic blood volume and may actually decrease total splanchnic volume in the absence of circulatory collapse. This endotoxin shock model is not associated with blood volume pooling in the splanchnic capacitance circulation.


It is well known fact that impact damper is effective to reduce the vibration amplitude. Two different paths are followed for the analysis of dashpot. In the first path, the concept of coefficient of restitution is used assuming two impacts per cycle symmetrically. In the other path impact forces are split assuming periodic impacts into harmonic functions through Fourier series expansion. The main concept of vibration analysis of impact damper is based on impact duration & impact interval. Study of impact damper is essential to reduce the amplitude of vibration so that the structure can be safe against vibration hazards. Mostly researchers adopt duration of contact to be zero. There is no experimental analysis available for the same. So, in this study attempt is made to set up the experiment to determine the characteristic of different parameters of impact damper for the case of periodic steady state vibration. For the experimentation forced vibration is created by unbalance rotating masses. Experimental outputs were studied on Digital Storage Oscilloscope, (DSO). In this paper first experimental set up is explained and in later part effect of speed, clearance and mass ratio on impact interval is explained.


We discuss the bonding of O_2 to hemoglobin (Hb) at the molecular level. The ideas presented here are the results of ab initio calculations on idealized portions of the Hb molecule.

The bond between Fe and O_2 is formed by coupling a triplet state of Fe to the triplet ground state of O_2. The electronic structure of the FeO_2 moiety is analogous to that of ozone. We show how the ozone model is in agreement with the EPR data for MnO_2 and CoO_2, predicting unpaired spin density on the Mn for the former molecule, and unpaired spin density on the O_2 ligand in CoO_2. Our calculations lead to a bound molecule with very little transfer of electron density onto the O_2 ligand. Valence bond ideas also indicate the similarity between HbO_2 and the formal Fe(III) complexes of HbOH and HbCN.

The heme plane and axial imidazole ligand are seen to play a key role in promoting reversible O_2 binding. The effective size of high- spin Fe is not found to play a major role in the O_2 binding process. The Fe remains in the heme plane for four-coordinate molecules, regardless of the local spin state about the Fe. The Fe moves out of the heme plane for five-coordinate complexes in order to keep a strong dative bond to the axial ligand while reducing the nonbonded repulsions between the heme plane and the axial ligand. The spin state change on Fe is found to occur, not because the Fe moves into the plane of the porphyrin, but because the formation of the FeO_2 bond reduces the number of local exchange interactions that stabilize the high-spin state. The role of the coordination sphere of Fe pertaining to the chemistry of the Hb molecule is to reduce the energy separation between the atomic states. It makes an intermediate-spin state accessible for bond formation and thereby provides a mechanism by which an O_2 molecule can easily and reversibly bind to Hb. Neither the diamagnetic (t_(2g))^6 excited state of Fe nor the excited singlet state of O_2 play a role in the formation of the FeO_2 bond.

We show how movement of the proximal imidazole, long thought to initiate the change in quaternary structure of Hb, is also responsible for the reduced O_2 affinity in the T quaternary form of Hb. Assuming that protein forces hinder the movement of the axial ligand leads to the calculation of protein forces in the T and R quaternary forms, and a prediction of the movement of Fe upon a change in the quaternary structure. This movement of the Fe center is found to be on the order of 0.05 A. Based upon the structural studies of Perutz and co-workers we show how the different protein forces in the T and R quaternary forms can be traced to a small number of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges. This allows us to present a model that displays the molecular origin for the cooperative binding effect. Transferring these protein forces to the coboglobin molecule allows us to calculate the magnitude of the cooperative effect in this metal-substituted Hb. The predicted cooperative effect is found to be in excellent agreement with the experimentally determined value.

The ozone model of transition metal-O_2 binding leads to the prediction of a second metal-O_2 stretching band between 1000-1200 cm^(-1). It has also been used to tentatively assign the near-infrared and z- polarized ultraviolet-visible spectra of HbO_2, HbCN, and HbCO.


Industries seeking engineers have increasing expectations as to how well prepared students should be when embarking on engineering practice. Any prior experience such as through internships is highly valued as it implies that the student has potentially been exposed to some real life engineering. New engineers entering the workforce may be expected to tackle many facets of engineering and to begin making a meaningful contribution as soon as possible in the execution of projects. In capstone engineering design projects we attempt to incorporate as many aspects concerning engineering practice as we believe are necessary or that we can fit into a relatively crammed course schedule. In the Industry Linked Design Project course taught in the dept of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois, the concept of an "engineering toolbox" is used in equipping students with a carefully selected knowledge set that covers most of the topics and issues which an engineer may be expected to face when practicing engineering. Topics range from ethical issues and product liability to project scheduling and designing for worldwide markets. In addition, topics that could have an impact on the success of a student and his future are included, such as personal financial management and career planning. Collectively these "tools" provide students with thinking skills and knowledge that help them quickly become effective and competent engineers. These topics for the engineering toolbox are covered during a semester while simultaneously the students undertake a "real life" industry project in which they are able to apply much of what they learn. The selection of topics for the engineering toolbox has evolved over more than ten years in accordance with industry feedback and rapid technological changes. The strong connection with industry that is required for the course has helped to ensure that it remains relevant, effective and modern.


Rural villages are often portrayed as problem-free, idyllic environments characterized by neighbourliness and cultural homogeneity. Drawing upon the growing body of research into issues of rural racism, this article challenges these prevailing notions by highlighting some of the problems associated with the increasing ethnic diversity of rural populations. The article begins by addressing the symbolic importance given to the English countryside by many of its white inhabitants, and assesses how this is related to romanticized feelings of national identity, 'localism' and narrow invocations of village 'communities'. It is argued that village space is not neutral but is instead racialized and contested, and that it is feelings of insecurity among white rural populations, exacerbated by the presence of a markedly different 'other', that results in the marginalization of minority ethnic groups from mainstream community activities. It is also suggested that these groups are often subjected to racist victimization, which can go unrecognized by local agencies. This clearly has implications for policing diversity in the rural, and the article explores ways in which the public police (and other rural agencies) could begin to develop a more nuanced understanding of the diversification of rural space and the 'othering' of outsider populations.


"Drop Dead Cute" showcases the work of 10 cutting-edge female Japanese artists whose art combines the pop charge of Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara with a thrilling personal mixture of sweetness and power. This next wave of painters and illustrators from the red-hot Japanese art scene blend aspects of manga, anime, and traditional art with their own idiosyncratic visions to create work that is international in appeal yet uniquely Japanese. This gorgeous book features profiles of the artists based on fresh interviews, along with a generous survey of their art. Also including new work by pioneering art world superstar Yayoi Kusama that salutes these extraordinary young artists, "Drop Dead Cute" is a must-have for fans of Nara and Murakami, as well as anyone interested in contemporary art and pop culture.interior image: Chiho Aoshima, Japanese Apricot 2, 2000. Inkjet printer on paper. 104.9 x 74.9 cm. Copyright 2005 Chiho Aoshima/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.


Technological innovation is a dynamic process that spans the life cycle of an idea, from scientific research to production. Within this process, there are often a few key innovations that significantly impact a technology's development, and the ability to identify and trace the development of these key innovations comes with a great payoff for researchers and technology managers. In this article, we present a framework for identifying the technology's main evolutionary pathway. What is unique about this framework is that we introduce new indicators that reflect the connectivity and the modularity in the interior citation network to distinguish between the stages of a technology's development. We also show how information about a family of patents can be used to build a comprehensive patent citation network. Finally, we apply integrated approaches of main path analysis (MPA)—namely global MPA and global key-route main analysis—for extracting technological trajectories at different technological stages. We illustrate this approach with dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a low-cost solar cell belonging to the group of thin-film solar cells, contributing to the remarkable growth in the renewable energy industry. The results show how this approach can trace the main development trajectory of a research field and distinguish key technologies to help decision makers manage the technological stages of their innovation processes more effectively.


We focus on using object-oriented techniques to improve the hardware design process. The advantages of these techniques for hardware design include: improved modifiability and maintainability of models; easy component instantiation with different parameters; quick composition of new components; the ability to identify and reuse common components; the ability to tailor general-purpose components to more specialized components; support of dynamic object creation and destruction; and the possibility of employing existing software synthesis and verification techniques. We illustrate the application of object-oriented techniques using a load-store, reduced instruction-set processor that contains a local memory. The instruction set consists of 22 instructions, which require one or two 16-bit words. Arithmetic is performed in two's complement. We use C++ to demonstrate the usefulness of object-oriented techniques, not to provide arguments for or against its use in hardware modeling and design.<<ETX>>