The uncertainty of estimating relative channel impulse responses (CIRs) obtained using the radiated signature from a ship of opportunity is investigated. The ship observations were taken during a 1.4 km (11 min) transect in a shallow water environment during the Noise Correlation 2009 (NC09) experiment. Beamforming on the angle associated with the direct ray-path yields an estimate of the ship signature, subsequently used in a matched filter. Relative CIRs are estimated every 2.5 s independently at three vertical line arrays (VLAs). The relative arrival-time uncertainty is inversely proportional to source bandwidth and CIR signal-to-noise ratio, and reached a minimum standard deviation of 5 μs (equivalent to approximately 1 cm spatial displacement). Time-series of direct-path relative arrival-times are constructed for each VLA element across the 11 min observation interval. The overall structure of these time-series compares favorably with that predicted from an array element localization model. The short-term standard deviations calculated on the direct-path (7 μs) and bottom-reflected-path (17 μs) time-series are in agreement with the predicted arrival-time accuracies. The implications of these observed arrival-time accuracies in the context of estimating sound speed perturbations and bottom-depth are discussed.


Inertial sensors such as seismometers, geophones, and accelerometers cannot distinguish horizontal motion from tilt motion. Rotation measurements can be used to subtract the tilt component from horizontal measurements, but the noise in the tilt sensor is often a limiting factor. No mechanism can change the dual sensitivity
of inertial sensors to tilt and translation, but the transmission of ground motion can be mechanically filtered in a frequency-dependent way. This article discusses the use of mechanical filters to reduce the transmission of tilt motion from the ground to inertial instruments, which can be applied to existing sensors, or considered for integration in the design of new horizontal sensors. The limitations of this approach are related to (1) geometrical couplings due to the separation between the reference point and the input point of the mechanical filter, (2) residual tilt transmission through the joints stiffness, (3) effects of the mechanical filtering on the signal-to-noise ratio of the horizontal motion measurement, and (4) practical difficulties with the implementation of such concepts, including thermal noise in the flexures. This study analyzes and
quantifies the benefits and limitations of the mechanical filtering approach for seismic studies and for seismic isolation applications.


Abstract Indices of relative abundance allow managers and researchers to examine changes in population size over time or compare relative population sizes in different areas. In the Pisgah Bear Sanctuary, bait-station surveys were conducted in most years from 1983 to 2000 to follow trends over time in the black bear (Ursus americanus) population. Baited bear trapping also took place in the sanctuary during those years, and some trap lines coincided with bait-station lines. Because the same baits were used for both trapping and bait station lines, we hypothesized that visitation rates of bears to bait stations established in proximity to baited trap lines would differ from rates at bait stations that were not associated with baited trap lines. We modeled probability of bait stations being visited by bears on trapped and untrapped lines to estimate the effect baited trapping had on visitation rates. We found that population trends inferred from bait-station visits in areas that also were trapped with bait were biased high and that bias increased over time. Bears may have become habituated to the bait on trap lines and incorporated it as a regular food source. Bait-station indices should not be conducted near research sites that employ similar bait when both produce a tangible reward for the animals.


Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Pathology and Surgery Vol 4, No 1, Spring 2015 Received: Jun 30, 2015 Accepted: Aug 17, 2015 Introdouction: Although highly desirable outcomes and longterm survival of dental implant treatments are well documented, implant failures still occur due to various reasons. Several risk factors may impair implant survival including implant dimensions (length, diameter, and implant design), procedures, local bone density at the implant site, and patient-related risk factors such as age, smoking, and history of periodontal disease, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis. Implant failures are classified as early (failure to establish osseointegration) and late (failure to maintain osseointegration) failures. This retrospective study evaluated the survival rates and the associated risk factors of dental implants. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort of 969 Biomet 3i dental implants from two private practices between 2008 and 2011 were evaluated. The implants were evaluated based on the following parameters: age and sex, smoking, and diameter and surface characteristics of implants. All the dental implants were from a single manufacturer, Biomet 3i (West Palm Beach, FL, USA) with two surface modifications including dual acid-etched with calcium phosphate nanoparticles (NanoTite) or acid-etched (OSSEOTITE). Results: Overall success and failure rates of Biomet 3i implants were 97.11% (n = 941) and 2.88% (n = 28), respectively. Among the risk factors, smoking significantly correlated with the increased failure rate of implants (p = 0.041). No significant relationship was observed between other risk factors and the survival rate of dental implants. Conclusion: The overall survival rate of Biomet 3i dental implants was considerably high. Smoking is a major risk factor that is positively correlated to the failure rate of dental implants. More prospective clinical trials are required to evaluate the exact effect of other risk factors on the implants.


Do the rich always get richer by investing in a cryptocurrency for which new coins are issued according to a proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol? We answer this question in the negative: Without trading, the investor shares in the cryptocurrency are martingales that converge to a well-defined limiting distribution and, hence, are stable in the long run. This result is robust to allowing trading when investors are risk neutral. Then, investors have no incentive to accumulate coins and gamble on the PoS protocol but weakly prefer not to trade. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance.


Caribou and reindeer herds are declining across their circumpolar range, coincident with increasing arctic temperatures and precipitation, and anthropogenic landscape change. Here, we examine the mechanisms by which climate warming and anthropogenic landscape change influence caribou and reindeer population dynamics, namely changes in phenology, spatiotemporal changes in species overlap, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, and demonstrate that many caribou and reindeer herds show demographic signals consistent with these changes. While many caribou and reindeer populations historically fluctuated, the current, synchronous population declines emphasize the species' vulnerability to global change. Loss of caribou and reindeer will have significant, negative socioeconomic consequences for northern indigenous cultures.


The quest for single-stage deposition of CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) is an open race to replace very effective but capital intensive thin film solar cell manufacturing processes like multiple-stage coevaporation or sputtering combined with high pressure selenisation treatments. In this paper the most recent achievements of Low Temperature Pulsed Electron Deposition (LTPED), a novel single stage deposition process by which CIGS can be deposited at 250 °C, are presented and discussed. We show that selenium loss during the film deposition is not a problem with LTPED as good crystalline films are formed very close to the melting temperature of selenium. The mechanism of formation of good ohmic contacts between CIGS and Mo in the absence of any MoSe2 transition layers is also illustrated, followed by a brief summary of the measured characteristics of test solar cells grown by LTPED. The 17% efficiency target achieved by lab-scale CIGS devices without bandgap modulation, antireflection coating or K-doping is considered to be a crucial milestone along the path to the industrial scale-up of LTPED. The paper ends with a brief review of the open scientific and technological issues related to the scale-up and the possible future applications of the new technology.


Firm principles which can be relied on to analyze and discuss textual and graphical code representations are still missing. We propose a framework relying on ScanVis, an extension of the Semiology of Graphics that models the perception and scanning of abstract graphics, to model and to provide plausible explanations of phenomena pertaining to the visual perception of representations of code. This framework unifies many aspects of the visual layout and appearance of programming languages and reveals similarities and substantial differences in the visual operations required by those notations. We also show how the framework may help compare and generate representations of programming languages with respect to visual perception. This work suggests that the gap between textual and graphical languages is narrow, and that all kind of programming languages should rely on the capability of the human visual system.


Acute kidney injury develops in up to 30% of patients who undergo cardiac surgery, with up to 3% of patients requiring dialysis. The requirement for dialysis after cardiac surgery is associated with an increased risk of infection, prolonged stay in critical care units and long-term need for dialysis. The development of acute kidney injury is independently associated with substantial short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis involves multiple pathways. Haemodynamic, inflammatory, metabolic and nephrotoxic factors are involved and overlap each other leading to kidney injury. Clinical studies have identified predictors for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury that can be used effectively to determine the risk for acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. High-risk patients can be targeted for renal protective strategies. Nonetheless, there is little compelling evidence from randomized trials supporting specific interventions to protect or prevent acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery patients. Several strategies have shown some promise, including less invasive procedures in those at greatest risk, natriuretic peptide, fenoldopam, preoperative hydration, preoperative optimization of anaemia and postoperative early use of renal replacement therapy. The efficacy of larger-scale trials remains to be confirmed.


Peroxisomes are organelles that are involved in a number of important cellular metabolic processes, including the β-oxidation of fatty acids, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, the role of peroxisomes was examined in Fusarium graminearum by targeted deletion of three genes (PEX5, PEX6, and PEX7) encoding peroxin (PEX) proteins required for peroxisomal protein import. PEX5 and PEX7 deletion mutants were unable to localize the fluorescently tagged peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1)- and PTS2-containing proteins to peroxisomes, respectively, whereas the PEX6 mutant failed to localize both fluorescent proteins. Deletion of PEX5 and PEX6 resulted in retarded growth on long-chain fatty acids and butyrate, while the PEX7 deletion mutants utilized fatty acids other than butyrate. Virulence on wheat heads was greatly reduced in the PEX5 and PEX6 deletion mutants, and they were defective in spreading from inoculated florets to the adjacent spikelets through rachis. Deletion of PEX5 and PEX6 dropped survivability of aged cells in planta and in vitro due to the accumulation of ROS followed by necrotic cell death. These results demonstrate that PTS1-dependent peroxisomal protein import mediated by PEX5 and PEX6 are critical to virulence and survival of F. graminearum.


The EU plays an increasingly important role in issues such as the fight against organised crime and the management of migration flows, transforming the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) into a priority of the EU's political and legislative agenda. This book investigates whether institutional change - the gradual communitarisation of the AFSJ - has triggered policy change, and in doing so, explores the nature and direction of this policy change. By analysing the role of the EU's institutions in a systematic, theory-informed and comparative way, it provides rich insights into the dynamics of EU decision-making in areas involving high stakes for human rights and civil liberties. Each chapter contains three sections examining: * the degree of policy change in the different AFSJ fields, ranging from immigration and counter-terrorism to data protection * the role of EU institutions in this process of change * a case study determining the mechanisms of change. The book will be of interest to practitioners, students and scholars of European politics and law, EU policy-making, security and migration studies, as well as institutional change.


The present invention consists of a composition which may be used in process of obtaining dentifrices and other dental products. It may find application in the production of oral hygiene and dental filling materials for dental cavities. Final products may be used independently or along with toothpastes. Dentifrices help to maintain hygiene in mouth and thanks to proper polishing of tooth surface they provide their white colour. Dentifrices may be supplied in the form of paste, powder, gel or liquid [1]. The composition comprises ions of tin (II), fluoride, phosphorus, and nanoparticles of silver, gold or copper. The presence of tin ions gives a number of benefits, of which the most important are: the reduction of plaque, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, combating odour and reduction of tooth sensitivity [2]. The composition also contains fluoride ions, which are omnidirectional. Due to the presence of fluoride ions in dental products, it is possible to improve the overall health of the mouth. Properties of fluorinecontaining formulations promote the strengthening of teeth. The coating on the tooth surface with a thin layer of fluorine-containing compounds, allows to reminalizate the tooth enamel, which occurs due to the slow but continuous release of fluorine and its penetration into the tooth structure [3]. The addition of polyphosphates to the composition is also a novelty in the presented invention. These compounds are essential so that tin ions are stabilized. Polyphosphates prevent the formation of tartar and discoloration of teeth surface [4]. An additional innovation is the use of nanomaterials in the form of silver, gold or copper nanoparticles. In presented technology, they may be obtained directly during the preparation of the composition. Metals present in the nanocrystalline form are characterized by unique biocidal properties [5]. The use of nanomaterials allows to enhance antimicrobial effects, which is especially desirable in the case of oral hygienization.


This paper seeks to join the national conversation on race and policing. This conversation about race and policing should be of concern to everyone because problematic shootings by police cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements arising from civil lawsuits. These monies could instead be going towards improving social services, schools, and jobs. The need for reform of policing practices also transcends race. Almost half of all individuals shot and killed by police each year are White.The paper starts by examining the social science research on race and the decision to shoot. By and large, this research demonstrates that most people are quicker to see a weapon when dealing with a Black suspect than when dealing with a White suspect. Interestingly, several shooter bias studies have found that police officers are better than civilians at deciding when to shoot, suggesting that training and experience can improve accuracy and reduce racial bias in the decision to shoot. Some of the more recent shooter bias studies suggest a counter bias. In these studies, police officers were slower to shoot armed Black suspects over armed White suspects.The contradictory findings of the various shooter bias studies suggest that implicit racial bias may be playing less of a role in police shootings than commonly thought. Indeed, recent research by Phillip Atiba Goff and L. Song Richardson on police officers and stereotype threat suggest that racial bias plays less of a role in police decisions to shoot than whether the officer feels confident in his or her ability to command respect from the subject. Similarly, Frank Rudy Cooper suggests that police officers may be quicker to act punitively against Black suspects than White suspects left because of implicit racial bias and more because they perceive Blacks to pose a greater threat to their masculinity than Whites. In light of the research described above, Professor Lee offers two proposals for reform at the departmental level. First, she proposes that police departments implement training aimed at improving accuracy and reducing bias in the use of deadly force. Fortunately, studies have shown that repeated exposure to Black and White suspects when race is not a diagnostic cue as to whether the suspect is holding a gun results in less biased and more accurate decisions about when to shoot over the long-term. Professor Lee suggests that police departments borrow from these studies but use high-definition shooting simulators rather than computer keyboard exercises to more closely replicate on-the-street experiences. Second, she proposes that police departments mandate ongoing traditional martial arts training for all officers.


Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of capitalization of research and development on the valuation of equities for listed firms in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: 15 years of financial data (2000 to 2014) was collected, and portfolios with similar price-to-book and market size ratios were formed to find any evidence of any post-investment excess returns and the association to the level of research and development investment. Portfolios were re-formed and annually ranked by their research and development intensity relative to sales. In addition, we looked at the changes in excess returns after adjusting the book value as a result of capitalizing R&D expenditure, to see if the distortion imposed by expensing R&D contributed to the under-valuation of firms that invest in R&D. Findings: The results indicate that firms that invest in research and development are systematically under-valued. We found no evidence of any positive association between the returns and investment levels, but rather found evidence of the glamour stock phenomenon in highly intensive research and development firms. Research limitations/implications:  The sample data is limited to listed firms in South Africa, and for firms with intermittently omitted R&D on their financial report, we have assumed that such expenditure is zero for the non-disclosed period for the purpose of capitalization and amortisation. Listed firms whose main focus is on building intangible assets, are relatively few, hence our research is descriptive in nature. Practical implications: This paper highlights the commercial significance of valuing the long-term benefits of research and development. Capitalizing the development phase as afforded by the IASB lacks standardization, and as such, inconsistencies arise in the earnings reflected on companies' financial statements. For investors though, highly intensive R&D firms should be avoided as these earn negative returns. Originality/value: The authors are not aware of any studies showing the effect of accounting rules on research and development that have been conducted in South Africa, or any research that have shown the glamour stock phenomena when investigating the impact of capitalization of research and development. Thus our contribution was to provide evidence on the valuation of stocks for listed firms that report research and development in South Africa that may be a result of the accounting rules. There is limited research on the on the accounting treatment of research and development in emerging markets, whose stock exchanges have been shown to not be highly correlated with the more developed markets, hence enables investors to diversify risk. This should motivate both managers and investors to venture beyond what the conservative accounting treatment of R&D has possibly instigated when valuing stocks.


The future of wild tigers is dire, and the Global Tiger Initiative's (GTI) goal of doubling tiger population size by the next year of the tiger in 2022 will be challenging. The GTI has identified 20 tiger conservation landscapes (TCL) within which recovery actions will be needed to achieve these goals. The Amur tiger conservation landscape offers the best hope for tiger recovery in China where all other subspecies have most likely become extirpated. To prioritize recovery planning within this TCL, we used tiger occurrence data from adjacent areas of the Russian Far East to develop two empirical models of potential habitat that were then averaged with an expert‐based habitat suitability model to identify potential tiger habitat in the Changbaishan ecosystem in Northeast China. We assessed the connectivity of tiger habitat patches using least‐cost path analysis calibrated against known tiger movements in the Russian Far East to identify priority tiger conservation areas (TCAs). Using a habitat‐based population estimation approach, we predicted that a potential of 98 (83–112) adult tigers could occupy all TCAs in the Changbaishan ecosystem. By combining information about habitat quality, connectivity and potential population size, we identified the three best TCAs totaling over 25 000 km2 of potential habitat that could hold 79 (63–82) adult tigers. Strong recovery actions are needed to restore potential tiger habitat to promote recovery of Amur tigers in China, including restoring ungulate populations, increasing tiger survival through improved anti‐poaching activities, land‐use planning that reduces human access and agricultural lands in and adjacent to key TCAs, and maintaining connectivity both within and across international boundaries. Our approach will be useful in other TCLs to prioritize recovery actions to restore worldwide tiger populations.


The Australian Workplace Barometer project aims to provide science driven evidence of Australian work conditions and their relationships to workplace health and productivity, through a national monitoring and surveillance system. This report was commissioned by Safe Work Australia to provide a summary of the results from data obtained from six Australian states and territories: New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The data provides evidence relating to psychosocial risk factors in the working Australian population as well as an analysis of relationships between risk factors and employee health and motivational outcomes.


First, we consider the group integrals where integrands are the monomials of matrix elements of irreducible representations of classical groups. These group integrals are invariants under the group action. Based on analysis on Young tableaux, we investigate some related duality theorems and compute the asymptotics of the group integrals for fixed signatures, as the rank of the classical groups go to infinity. We also obtain the Viraosoro constraints for some partition functions, which are power series of the group integrals. Second, we show that the proof of Witten's conjecture can be simplified by using the fermion-boson correspondence, i.e., the KdV hierarchy and Virasoro constraints of the partition function in Witten's conjecture can be achieved naturally. Third, we consider the partition function involving the invariants that are intersection numbers of the moduli spaces of holomorphic maps in nonlinear sigma model. We compute the commutator of the representation of Virasoro algebra and give a fat graph(ribbon graph) interpretation for each term in the differential operators.


Global data suggest Dental caries is a dysbiotic, biofilm-mediated disease imparting serious health problems impacting almost half the world population. An ecological equilibrium of microbes is crucial for maintaining the human biofilm in a healthy state. One way to restore this homeostasis is to equilibrate the acidity and alkalinity processes to maintain a neutral pH. Physiological factors that can countervail the acidification of biofilms mainly include the buffering capacity of saliva and the metabolism of salivary substrates, such as urea and arginine, which generates alkali in the form of ammonia. Hence, there has been an increasing interest in therapeutic interventions that modulate the microbiome of biofilms to reinstate this balance. The current scenario focuses on approaches using either antimicrobial strategies or to augment the growth of health-promoting bacteria. Here we review, the knowledge gained from laboratory and clinical studies that support a remarkable role of arginine metabolism in the ecological balance of supragingival biofilms, inhibition of caries, and also report its promising clinical applications in dentistry. The major points are the following: 1. the significance of arginine and its associated mechanism of action. 2. Potential of arginine to promote remineralization and decrease dentinal hypersensitivity. 3. To Provide oral health professionals with recommendations for using arginine in clinical practice. KEYWORD : Dentistry, Arginine, Dental Caries, Biofilms.


A numerical method is presented for solving a system of equations for the forward and reverse waves of radiation with a superwide spectrum in a transparent optical waveguide with arbitrary dispersion and cubic nonlinearity. The method can be used to model the interaction of counterpropagating pulses, as well as to model the process of generating the reverse (self-reflected) wave if it was originally absent. A discussion is given of the formation of the wave reflected from the optical inhomogeneities of the medium, induced by an intense pulse consisting of three field vibrations in a quartz fiber. Its intensity is small, and therefore it has no reverse effect on the pulse of the forward wave. The spectrum of the reflected wave contains triple frequencies.


Code and design smells are poor solutions to recurring implementation and design problems. They may hinder the evolution of a system by making it hard for software engineers to carry out changes. We propose three contributions to the research field related to code and design smells: (1) DECOR, a method that embodies and defines all the steps necessary for the specification and detection of code and design smells, (2) DETEX, a detection technique that instantiates this method, and (3) an empirical validation in terms of precision and recall of DETEX. The originality of DETEX stems from the ability for software engineers to specify smells at a high level of abstraction using a consistent vocabulary and domain-specific language for automatically generating detection algorithms. Using DETEX, we specify four well-known design smells: the antipatterns Blob, Functional Decomposition, Spaghetti Code, and Swiss Army Knife, and their 15 underlying code smells, and we automatically generate their detection algorithms. We apply and validate the detection algorithms in terms of precision and recall on XERCES v2.7.0, and discuss the precision of these algorithms on 11 open-source systems.


We demonstrate a method of fabricating varied-line-spacing grating by employing elastic medium with variable vertical section. The advantages of this technique include continuous variation of line spacing, high fabrication efficiency, low cost, etc. It is very difficult or impractical to produce this variation of line spacing by traditional interference lithography. This kind of grating can be used in an optical position sensor to improve the precision of the sensor.


It has been the academic researching subject how to objectively compare the various face identification algorithms. This paper design a system based on the Colorado State University identification evaluation system, which can compare face identification algorithms under application-specific. First of all, introduced the old system; then taken the logging system for desktop of PC as an example, designed the comparing system of face identification algorithms under application-specific, coded the process of achieving and pre-processed data and described the steps of processing data; at last tested PCA_MahCosine, LDA_ldaSoft, Bayesian_ML, PCA_Euclidean and Bayesian_MAP five common face identification methods, conclude Bayesian_ML algorithm is the best algorithm in face recognition logging system for logging on PC desktop and give the parameter in the system, provide a sample for testing face identification algorithms under application-specific.


Current approaches to health care quality have failed to reduce health care disparities. Despite dramatic increases in the use of quality measurement and associated payment policies, there has been no notable implementation of measurement strategies to reduce health disparities. The National Quality Forum developed a road map to demonstrate how measurement and associated policies can contribute to eliminating disparities and promote health equity. Specifically, the road map presents a four-part strategy whose components are identifying and prioritizing areas to reduce health disparities, implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce disparities, investing in the development and use of health equity performance measures, and incentivizing the reduction of health disparities and achievement of health equity. To demonstrate how the road map can be applied, we present an example of how measurement and value-based payment can be used to reduce racial disparities in hypertension among African Americans.


With the increase in humanitarian crises and consequent aid, there is greater demand for evidence of the effectiveness and accountability of aid. Information Systems (ISs) are critical for emergency response and humanitarian operations in fulalling these demands, but also because the consequences of having or not having timely and accurate data are usually life and death. IS innovation in the context of the humanitarian sector highlights the need for contextbased approaches to innovation. In this article, we explore the process of the improvement, development, and implementation of an international development organization's logistics and supply chain system in Chad. Actor-network theory provides the framework for making sense of this IS.


This thesis presents an interdisciplinary cultural history of the Anglo-Saxon relationship with trees
and woodland. Although the paramount importance of woodland to the Anglo-Saxon world is a
known and undisputed aspect of early medieval studies, the intricacies of the relationship between
the Anglo-Saxons and trees have never been fully appreciated because this subject has not, until
now, been the focus of an interdisciplinary study. By exploring the representation of trees and
woodland in Old English literary culture in the context of Anglo-Saxon literary-historical sources
and the early medieval archaeological record, this thesis seeks to shed new light upon the terms of
this complex interaction. I present arguments for the existence of a common Germanic tree creation
myth, reaffirm the notion of an Anglo-Saxon world tree analogous to the Norse Yggdrasill that was
subsequently replaced by the cross, and re-evaluate the role of trees in Anglo-Saxon heathenism and
Christianity. I demonstrate that the paramount importance of woodland in Anglo-Saxon material
culture was understood, appreciated, and is well represented in Old English literature. Furthermore,
I show that attitudes towards the physical make-up of settlements were strongly defined by an
enduring attachment to woodland that had its origins in the forests of first-century Germany.


Objective Certain HLA-DRB1 alleles and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our objective was to examine the combined effect of these associated variants, calculated as a cumulative genetic risk score (GRS) on RA predisposition, as well as the number of autoantibodies (none, one or two present). Method We calculated four GRSs in 4956 patients and 4983 controls from four European countries. All four scores contained data on 22 non-HLA-risk SNPs, and three scores also contained HLA-DRB1 genotypes but had different HLA typing resolution. Most patients had data on both rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated proteins antibodies (ACPA). The GRSs were standardised (std.GRS) to account for population heterogeneity. Discrimination between patients and controls was examined by receiveroperating characteristics curves, and the four std.GRSs were compared across subgroups according to autoantibody status. Results The std.GRS improved its discriminatory ability between patients and controls when HLA-DRB1 data of higher resolution were added to the combined score. Patients had higher mean std.GRS than controls (p=7.9×10−156), and this score was significantly higher in patients with autoantibodies (shown for both RF and ACPA). Mean std.GRS was also higher in those with two versus one autoantibody (p=3.7×10−23) but was similar in patients without autoantibodies and controls (p=0.12). Conclusions The GRS was associated with the number of autoantibodies and to both RF and ACPA positivity. ACPA play a more important role than RF with regards to the genetic risk profile, but stratification of patients according to both RF and ACPA may optimise future genetic studies.


The small airways of the human lung undergo pathological changes in pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans and cystic fibrosis. These clinical problems impose huge personal and societal healthcare burdens. The changes, termed 'pathological airway remodeling', affect the epithelium, the underlying mesenchyme and the reciprocal trophic interactions that occur between these tissues. Most of the normal human airway is lined by a pseudostratified epithelium of ciliated cells, secretory cells and 6–30% basal cells, the proportion of which varies along the proximal-distal axis. Epithelial abnormalities range from hypoplasia (failure to differentiate) to basal- and goblet-cell hyperplasia, squamous- and goblet-cell metaplasia, dysplasia and malignant transformation. Mesenchymal alterations include thickening of the basal lamina, smooth muscle hyperplasia, fibrosis and inflammatory cell accumulation. Paradoxically, given the prevalence and importance of airway remodeling in lung disease, its etiology is poorly understood. This is due, in part, to a lack of basic knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate the differentiation, maintenance and repair of the airway epithelium. Specifically, little is known about the proliferation and differentiation of basal cells, a multipotent stem cell population of the pseudostratified airway epithelium. This Perspective summarizes what we know, and what we need to know, about airway basal cells to evaluate their contributions to normal and abnormal airway remodeling. We contend that exploiting well-described model systems using both human airway epithelial cells and the pseudostratified epithelium of the genetically tractable mouse trachea will enable crucial discoveries regarding the pathogenesis of airway disease.


Since the smart Cards came out in the 70s, it has been widely used throughout the world. But for various reasons, development process of one card system is very long and complicated. The Java Card technology is a good way to deal with the needs of a variety of applications and without interfering each other. Use Java Card technology development system has the advantages of simple programming, short development cycle, and high security, strong scalability and reusability and cross platform ability etc. The current development of the complexity of the campus IC system and use Java Card technology to develop such a system has a unique advantage. Due to the use of Java virtual machine, java Card Applet can perform in different JCAEs (Java Card Application Environment) in Java Card. To achieve cross-platform ability through the mechanism of the Java virtual machine, achieve the function of IC card, which greatly enhances the flexibility of smart Cards[3].


Mobile networks up to this point have used general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) in the core network. The fifth generation (5G) will be a major revolution in mobile networks and there have been discussions onto adopting a different protocol, with the proposals being generic routing encapsulation (GRE), virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) and generic network virtualization encapsulation (Geneve). In this paper, these protocols are compared. GTP has a 32-bit tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) and runs on top of user datagram protocol (UDP), thus allowing many applications in the same IP address in different ports. However, GTP unnecessarily stores packet length many times in the Internet protocol (IP), UDP and GTP levels, and the fragmentation strategy defined in third generation partnership project (3GPP) specifications is suboptimal. GRE has well-defined fragmentation strategy but runs directly on top of IP, so multiplexing based on ports is not possible. VXLAN and Geneve have only 24 bits for network identifier and encapsulate media access control (MAC) frames, which is not really what is needed here, and the fragmentation strategy of VXLAN is suboptimal albeit in a different way than in GTP. In this paper, we propose a common fragmentation strategy that may be applicable to all protocols. Keywords—Generic Routing Encapsulation; General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol; Virtual Extensible Local Area Network; Generic Network Virtualization Encapsulation


We have examined the bottoms of many large slide blocks and found basal layers of well-rounded, fine- to coarse-grained, granular material that typically has the appearance of stratified, stream-deposited sandstone or conglomerate. Stratification is subparallel to the basal surface (detachment) and is typically inversely graded, although normal grading and banding of material are present in some samples. The sandstone-conglomerate–like material of the basal layer can be traced continuously from the detachment surface directly into the upper plate, where it is localized within clastic dikes. Although many of the physical characteristics of these basal layers appear to be those associated with water-laid stream deposits, there is no direct evidence of fluid involvement. We interpret the sandstone-conglomerate–like material in the basal layer to be produced by mechanical sieving in a high-energy fluidized environment under a rapidly moving rock mass during a single catastrophic emplacement event. These sandstone-conglomerate layers found along detachment surfaces may prove to be important in determining whether a detached block is simply a gravity slide or the upper-plate remnant of a low-angle normal fault associated with significant crustal extension.


In this paper we study precedence constrained scheduling problems, where the tasks can only be executed on a speci ed subset of the machines. Each machine has a loading time that is incurred only for the rst task that is scheduled on the machine in a particular run. This basic scheduling problem arises in the context of machining on numerically controlled machines, query optimization in databases, and in other arti cial intelligence applications. We give the rst non-trivial approximation algorithm for this problem. We also prove non-trivial lower bounds on best possible approximation ratios for these problems. These improve on the non-approximability results that are implied by the non-approximability results for the shortest common supersequence problem. We use the same algorithmic technique to obtain approximation algorithms for a problem arising in the context of code generation for parallel machines, and for the weighted shortest common supersequence problem.


Systematic health management is crucial in small-sized enterprises since the number of enterprises and their employees make up a large proportion of all businesses and they account for the majority of industrial accidents and occupational illnesses. The Korean government had operated the Banwol-Sihwa Regional Center for Occupational Health to provide occupational health services and chronic disease management to the workers in small-sized enterprises as a pilot health promotion project from 2007 to 2010. Since then, Gyeonggi-seobu workers health center (WHC) was established in 2011 to provide physician care for small-sized enterprises through the Industrial Accident Compensation Fund. The WHC has provided basic occupational health services including health promotion activities to prevent work-related diseases. Core strategies of the WHC were networking with regional health resources, post-examination care for workers with abnormal findings in health screenings, the operation of branch offices for better accessibility, and services for vulnerable workers including immigrant, women, and elderly workers. An evaluation of WHCs conducted in 2012 showed excellent performance in terms of cost-effectiveness, high satisfaction, and intent toward continuous use among visitors. For the advancement of WHCs, visiting services to the worksites have to be integrated adequately with services in WHCs, and more subsidiary centers need to be established for better accessibility. Moreover, the expansion of the service items and development of specialized health programs are needed. Measures should be considered to systematically collect health data and identify workplace risk factors to improve the quality of post-examination care.


Many of CMIP5 models, including MIROC, share common biases in cloud radiative effect (CRE) such as too large shortwave cooling effect in subtropical ocean and too small cooling effect in Southern Ocean and subtropical west coasts. Diagnosing inherent cloud biases is critical to mitigate the CRE biases. Such model diagnostics, particularly on the global scale, are enabled by comparisons to satellite observations. Notable in this regard is the recent emergence of active sensors on board satellites, i.e. CALIPSO and CloudSat, that provide vertical measurement of clouds, bringing unprecedented information for model evaluations. This is further facilitated by recent development of satellite simulators, such as COSP (CFMIP Observational Simulator Package), which.enable consistent comparisons between the models and satellite observations. This study utilizes these tools to quantitatively assess cloud properties and relevant radiative fields in MIROC in comparison to satellite observations. For this purpose, atmospheric component of MIROC5 was used to simulate climatological fields of clouds and radiation with T85 horizontal resolution and 40 vertical levels. The simulation was equipped with inline COSP to diagnose cloud phase and cloud fraction in the manner consistent with what is observed by CALIPSO. The simulated cloud properties and radiative fluxes were then evaluated against the satellite-observed cloud product (CALIPSO GOCCP v2.X) and radiative flux product (CERES-EBAF), respectively. A particular focus of this study is placed on evaluation of cloud phase, which is represented in MIROC5 through parameterizations of microphysical processes, not a prescribed function of temperature. We analyzed how ice cloud ratio (ICR), defined as relative occurrence of ice clouds to total clouds, varies with temperature based on both the native model outputs and COSP-derived diagnostics in comparison to CALIPSO observations. The results show that while the original outputs from MIROC overestimate ICR at a given temperature, the ICR from COSP outputs well fitted to the satellite observation. This underscores the importance of using satellite simulators to make consistent model comparisons to satellite observations and thus to better characterize the inter-model spread of cloud phase dependence on temperature recently reported. Our result also suggests that the too negative CRE at high latitudes in MIROC5 is more like attributed to the less total cloud fraction than observed, rather than to cloud phase biases.


We discover unusual chemical bonding in a novel planar hyper-coordinate Ni2Ge free-standing 2D monolayer, and also in a nearly planar slightly buckled Ni2Si monolayer. This unusual bonding is revealed by Solid State Adaptive Natural Density Partitioning analysis. This analysis shows that a new type of 2c-2e Ni-Si σ and 3c-2e Ni-Ge-Ni σ bonds stabilize these 2D crystals. This is completely different from any previously known 2D crystals. Both of these free-standing monolayers are global minima in two-dimensional space. Although their exotic structure has unprecedented chemical bonding, they show extraordinary stability as single layers. The stabilities of these frameworks are confirmed by phonon dispersion calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations. For Ni2Si, the framework was maintained during short 10 ps molecular dynamics annealing up to 1500 K, while Ni2Ge survived 10 ps runs up to 900 K. Both systems are predicted to be non-magnetic and metallic. As these new 2D crystals contain hypercoordinated Group 14 atoms, they are examples of a new class of 2D crystals with unconventional chemical bonding and potentially exciting new properties. Interestingly, we find that the stabilities of Ni2Si and Ni2Ge are much higher than that of silicene and germanene. Thus, this work provides a novel way to stabilize 2D sheets of Group 14 elements.


Typhoid and intestinal infestation with parasites are common and may co-exist especially in the tropics. Their synergistic acute abdominal presentation is rare. We here report a 38-year-old male who presented with complaints suggestive of enteric fever and signs of peritonitis. Following baseline investigations, laparotomy was performed which proved to be a surgical surprise. A live tape worm was seen pouting out of the terminal ileal perforation. The clinical presentation and the stringent attention to preventive measures are discussed.


A retrospective study of 73 patients treated for symptomatic hemangiomas of head and neck from May 1981 to April 1994 was conducted. Fifty-three females and 20 males ranging in age from 1 day of life to 11 years with the average age being 19 months were reviewed in the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. All patients were referred by pediatricians or family practitioners for evaluation and possible laser treatment. The lesions reported were particular troublesome because of obstruction of orifice(s), repeated ulceration, bleeding, subsequent pain or life threatening. Various lasers have been used for these patients including: CO2 laser [10], Argon laser/with intralesional steroid injection [33/14], Nd YAG laser [21], KTP laser [1] and Flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPPDL)[8]. All treated lesions healed in 7 to 21 days (mean, 12 days). Complications associated with laser treatment, such as postoperative bleeding and infection were not seen. The symptoms were totally relieved from 7 days to 24 months (mean, 9 months). Combined with reconstructive surgery, the texture changes (7 patients) after laser treatment were corrected successfully. The outcome was graded by reduction in volume, improvement of color and texture of hemangioma as follow: Grade 1 - Poor (0-25%); Grade II - Fair (26-50%); Grade III - Good (51-75%); Grade IV - Excellent (76-100%). The final results of the patients are similar to what may be expected after spontaneous involution of a complicated hemangioma. In summary, complicated hemangiomas of head and neck in infancy have significant morbidity that can be efficiently avoided with the use of laser therapy.


Subjects judged the orientation of a 2 min. gap Landolt C located at a distance of 2.4 m. The stimuli were presented in central vision on a CRT, at low to medium contrast. The effects of varying the spectrum and luminance of surround lighting were assessed on both pupil size (measured using infrared pupillometry during task performance) and task accuracy. The task display was protected from the surround lighting, so that its luminance and contrast could be varied independently of the changes in the surround lighting. Indirect surround illumination was provided by either two illuminants of very different scotopic spectral content but with the same photopic luminance (Experiments 1 and 3), or by using the same illuminant at two different luminance levels (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, the effect of changing surround spectrum was compared to the effect of varying task background luminance between 12 cd/m{sup 2} and 73 cd/m{sup 2}. In all experiments, scotopically enhanced surround lighting produced pupil areas which were reduced by almost 50% in comparison with surround lighting with relatively less scotopic luminance. Concomitantly there was improvement in Landolt C task performance with the scotopically enhanced surround lighting at all contrast and luminance levels. In these experiments, smaller pupil sizes were associated with significantly better visual-task performance in spite of lower task retinal illuminance when compared to the condition with larger pupils. These results suggest that changes in surround spectrum can compensate for the effect on task performance of a reduction in task luminance and supports the hypothesis that lighting energy savings could accrue in the workplace by shifting lamp spectra to obtain greater scotopic efficacy.


The murine B lymphocyte Fc epsilon R is functionally multivalent. Radiolabeled rat IgE, when bound to the B cell Fc epsilon R will co- isolate with the Fc epsilon R on a rat IgE affinity column; examination of the affinity column eluate by SDS-PAGE reveals the component previously identified as the Fc epsilon R as well as E and L chains from IgE. At low levels of Fc epsilon R saturation, up to 30% of the Fc epsilon R bound IgE becomes bound to IgE-Affi-Gel. By using a biotin- avidin system, the coprecipitation of non-haptenated IgE with haptenated IgE was examined and the results suggest (but do not prove) a divalent receptor.


This study investigated the effectiveness of detergent and aqueous solutions of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate in decontaminating gutta-percha cones (gpc) contaminated with bacteria, yeast, or bacterial spores. Gutta-percha cones were contaminated with 107-108 colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) of the following test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, or Candida albicans. Spores of Bacillus subtilis were also tested. Contaminated gpc were treated with the chlorhexidine solutions for 1, 5, 10, or 15 min. Each cone was then transferred to a tube containing saline and the micoorganisms were recovered after homogenization for cfu determination. Both detergent and aqueous chlorhexidine solutions were effective in eliminating S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans cells adhered on the surface of gpc within 1 min of exposure. E. coli was eliminated in 5 min with detergent solution. The Bacillus subtilis spores were eliminated by chlorhexidine solutions within 5 min. The results of this study demonstrated that both aqueous and detergent solutions of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate were effective in decontaminating gpc within 5 minutes of exposure.


Crop fertilization is an important component of integrated weed management systems. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of various application timing-tillage intensities and N sources on weed growth and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Timing-tillage treatments consisted of applying the various N sources in either the previous fall or in spring each under zero-till or tilled conditions. Nitrogen sources consisted of granular ammonium nitrate fertilizer applied either surface broadcast or subsurface banded 10 cm deep between every second wheat row, fresh cattle (Bos taurus) manure, and composted cattle manure. An unfertilized control also was induded. Treatments were applied in four consecutive years to determine annual and cumulative effects. Subsurface-banded N compared with broadcast N fertilizer often reduced N uptake by weeds, decreased weed biomass, and increased wheat yield. Weed N uptake and growth with fresh and composted manure tended to be intermediary between banded and broadcast N fertilizer in the initial year but was similar to or greater than that with broadcast N fertilizer in subsequent years. The gradual N release from manure and compost over years appeared to benefit weeds more than spring wheat. The ranking of the weed seedbank at the conclusion of the 4-yr experiment was composted manure = fresh manure ≥ broadcast N fertilizer > banded N fertilizer. Information gained in this study will be utilized to develop more efficient fertilization strategies as components of integrated weed management programs in spring wheat production systems.


This paper presents a novel approach to automatic transcription of piano music in a context-dependent setting. This approach employs convolutional sparse coding to approximate the music waveform as the summation of piano note waveforms (dictionary elements) convolved with their temporal activations (onset transcription). The piano note waveforms are pre-recorded for the specific piano to be transcribed in the specific environment. During transcription, the note waveforms are fixed and their temporal activations are estimated and post-processed to obtain the pitch and onset transcription. This approach works in the time domain, models temporal evolution of piano notes, and estimates pitches and onsets simultaneously in the same framework. Experiments show that it significantly outperforms a state-of-the-art music transcription method trained in the same context-dependent setting, in both transcription accuracy and time precision, in various scenarios including synthetic, anechoic, noisy, and reverberant environments.


BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption has multiple biochemical consequences. Only a few of these are useful as diagnostic markers, but many reflect potentially harmful or beneficial effects of alcohol. Average consumption of 2 to 4 drinks per day is associated with lower overall or cardiovascular mortality risk than either lower or higher intake. We have analyzed the dose-response relationships between reported alcohol consumption and 17 biomarkers, with emphasis on intake of up to 3 drinks per day.

METHODS
Biochemical tests were performed on serum from 8,396 study participants (3,750 men and 4,646 women, aged 51 ± 13 years, range 18 to 93) who had provided information on alcohol consumption in the week preceding blood collection.

RESULTS
Gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, urate, ferritin, and bilirubin showed little or no change with alcohol consumption below 2 to 3 drinks per day, but increased with higher intake. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin showed increasing results, and insulin showed decreasing results, across the entire range of alcohol use. Biphasic responses, where subjects reporting 1 to 2 drinks per day had lower results than those reporting either more or less alcohol use, occurred for triglycerides, glucose, C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, and butyrylcholinesterase. Increasing alcohol use was associated with decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in younger women, but higher LDL-C in older men.

CONCLUSIONS
Some markers show threshold relationships with alcohol, others show continuous ones, and a third group show biphasic or U-shaped relationships. Overall, the biochemical sequelae of low-to-moderate alcohol use are consistent with the epidemiological evidence on morbidity and mortality.


Peace Islands Institute hosted Dr. James Harrington at Ant Bookstore in Clifton on March 1st 2012. Journalist/Writer Aydogan Vatandas interviewed Dr. James Harrington on his book titled "Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen". Following the interview, Dr. James Harrington did a book signing of his book. We thank him for his presence.


Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate effects of cassava root chips (CRC) andMoringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) inclusion in layer rations on egg laying performance, egg quality parameters, fertility, and hatchability. One hundred twenty Dominant CZ layers, 22 wk of age, and 12 cocks were used and equally divided into 4 dietary treatments with 3 replications. Treatment rations contained CRC and MOLM [i.e., T1 (0% CRC and 0% MOLM), T2 (50% CRC and 0% MOLM), T3 (0% CRC and 5% MOLM), and T4 (50% CRC and 5% MOLM)]. The CRC and MOLM were used to substitute for 100% corn grain and 5% soybean meal, respectively. Hens were weighed at the start and end of the experiment and BW change was calculated. Data on DM intake, hen-day egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were recorded daily. Egg quality parameters were determined at an interval of 15 d on 4 eggs per replicate. Fertility and hatchability of eggs, as well as mortality of birds and embryonic mortality of fertile eggs during the incubation period were recorded. From the chemical analysis, the calculated ME content of CRC was 3,852 kcal/kg of DM and the CP content of MOLM was 28%. The DM intake of birds, hen-day egg production, egg mass, FE, and mortality rate were not influenced by treatments. Body weight change and egg weight were higher for T4 as compared with other treatments. Most external and internal egg quality parameters, especially yolk color, were improved when the diet contained MOLM. Fertility showed nonsignificant differences among treatments. However, hatchability percentage for T1 was lower than the other treatments. In conclusion, CRC at 50% of the diet, CRC replacing corn grain 100%, or MOLM at 5% of the diet replacing soybean meal can impart similar or better positive effects on egg production, egg quality parameters, eggs fertility, and hatchability of Dominant CZ layers. Thus, 50% CRC, 5% MOLM, or a combination of both can successfully be used in the diet of layers as energy and protein feed ingredients, respectively.


In the early 1800s, when once-powerful North American Indian peoples were being driven west across the Mississippi, a Shawnee prophet collapsed into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he told friends and family of his ascension to Indian heaven, where his grandfather had given him a warning: "Beware of the religion of the white man: every Indian who embraces it is obliged to take the road to the white man's heaven; and yet no red man is permitted to enter there, but will have to wander about forever without a resting place." The events leading to this vision are the subject of A Spirited Resistance, the poignant story of the Indian movement to challenge Anglo-American expansionism. Departing from the traditional confines of the history of American Indians, Gregory Evans Dowd carefully draws on ethnographic sources to recapture the beliefs, thoughts, and actions of four principal Indian nations-Delaware, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Creek. The result is a sensitive portrayal of the militant Indians-often led by prophets-who came to conceive of themselves as a united people, and launched an intertribal campaign to resist the Anglo-American forces. Dowd also uncovers the Native American opposition to the movement for unity. That opposition, he finds, was usually the result of divisions within Indian communities rather than intertribal rivalry. In fact, Dowd argues, intertribal enmity had little to do with the ultimate failure of the Indian struggle; it was division within Indian communities, colonial influence on Indian government, and the sheer force of the Anglo-American campaign that brought the Indian resistance movement to an end. An evocative history of long frustration and ultimate failure, A Spirited Resistance tells of a creative people, whose insights, magic, and ritual add a much-needed dimension to our understanding of the American Indian.


Heat stroke (HS) is a medical emergency characterized by increased core body temperature with associated systemic inflammatory response leading to a syndrome of multi-organ damage in which encephalopathy predominates. We describe a case of a 29 year old male recruit presenting with altered mental status during military training in Puerto Rico. Associated symptoms included high grade fever, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and profuse sweating followed by loss of consciousness. Upon arrival to medical evaluation the patient was found with dry skin and depressed Glasgow Coma Score. Initial laboratories, clinical evolution of symptoms and imaging studies were consistent with the diagnosis of HS. Patient was managed with mechanical ventilatory support, intravenous fluids and external cooling measures. He was later discharged home without any neurological sequelae. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of HS in Puerto Rico.


As the demand of Electricity is increasing day by day and is already more than the production of Electricity whereas reserves of fossil-fuel are depleting, there is a strong need to shift for other sources which are renewable energy sources. Regarding this, DC micro grids and their energy management of these renewable energy sources have gained more importance which is discussed in this paper. The main objective of the proposed system is to provide uninterrupted power supply to the load systems which are located at isolated sites of remote and rural areas. The proposed system mainly deals with implementation of Energy Management System (EMS) to DC microgrid using maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. A coordinated and multivariable EMS is proposed that employs a wind turbine and a photovoltaic array as controllable generators by adjusting the pitch angle and the switching duty cycles and a storage system consisting of batteries. In order to realize constant current, constant voltage (IU) charging regime and increase the life span of batteries, the proposed EMS require being more flexible with the power curtailment feature. The proposed strategy is developed as an online nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm based on individual MPPTs of the system. The entire designed system is modeled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink Environment.


The main goal of non-invasive genetic capture-mark-recapture (CMR) analysis is to gain an unbiased and reliable population size estimate of species that cannot be sampled directly. The method has becomean importantandwidelyusedtoolto research andmanage wildlifepopulations.However,researchers have to struggle with low amplification success rates and genotyping errors, which substantially bias subsequent analysis. To receive reliable results and to minimize the time and costs required for non-invasive microsatellite genotyping, one must carefully choose a species-specific sampling design, methods that maximize the amount of template DNA, and methods that could overcome genotyping errors, especially when using low-quality samples.This articlereviewsthe literature and theprosandcons ofthemain methods used along the process described above. The review is strengthened by a case study on Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) using feces; we tested several methods for their appropriateness to accommodate for genotyping errors. Based on this method testing, we demonstrated that high genotyping error rates are the key problem in this process leading to a severely flawed dataset if no consensus genotype is formed. However, even if generating consensus genotypes minimizes errors dramatically, we show that it may not achieve a definite eradication of all errors, which results in overestimated population sizes if conventional estimators are used. In conjunction with these findings, we offer a step-by-step protocol for non-invasive genetic CMR studies to achieve a reliable estimate of population sizes in the presence of high genotyping error rates. 2013 The Wildlife Society.


Advances in the use of RNA-guided Cas9-based genome editing in plants have been rapid over the last few years. A desirable application of genome editing is gene targeting (GT), as it allows a wide range of precise modifications, however this remains inefficient especially in key crop species. Here we describe successful, heritable gene targeting in barley using an in-planta strategy but fail to achieve the same using a wheat dwarf virus replicon to increase copy number of the repair template. Without the replicon, we were able to delete 150bp of the coding sequence of our target gene whilst simultaneously fusing in-frame mCherry in its place. Starting from 14 original transgenic plants, two plants appeared to have the required gene targeting event. From one of these T0 plants, three independent gene targeting events were identified, two of which were heritable. When the replicon was included, 39 T0 plants were produced and shown to have high copy numbers of the repair template. However, none of the 17 lines screened in T1 gave rise to significant or heritable gene targeting events despite screening twice the number of plants in T1 compared to the non-replicon strategy. Investigation indicated that high copy numbers of repair template created by the replicon approach cause false positive PCR results which are indistinguishable at the sequence level to true GT events in junction PCR screens widely used in GT studies. In the successful non-replicon approach, heritable gene targeting events were obtained in T1 and subsequently the T-DNA was found to be linked to the targeted locus. Thus, physical proximity of target and donor sites may be a factor in successful gene targeting.


Many of the compounds taken up by the liver are organic anions that circulate tightly bound to protein carriers such as albumin. The fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium of the liver permits these compounds to have access to hepatocytes. Studies to characterize hepatic uptake of organic anions through kinetic analyses, suggested that it was carrier-mediated. Attempts to identify specific transporters by biochemical approaches were largely unsuccessful and were replaced by studies that utilized expression cloning. These studies led to identification of the organic anion transport proteins (oatps), a family of 12 transmembrane domain glycoproteins that have broad and often overlapping substrate specificities. The oatps mediate Na(+)-independent organic anion uptake. Other studies identified a seven transmembrane domain glycoprotein, Na(+)/taurocholate transporting protein (ntcp) as mediating Na(+)-dependent uptake of bile acids as well as other organic anions. Although mutations or deficiencies of specific members of the oatp family have been associated with transport abnormalities, there have been no such reports for ntcp, and its physiologic role remains to be determined, although expression of ntcp in vitro recapitulates the characteristics of Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport that is seen in vivo. Both ntcp and oatps traffic between the cell surface and intracellular vesicular pools. These vesicles move through the cell on microtubules, using the microtubule based motors dynein and kinesins. Factors that regulate this motility are under study and may provide a unique mechanism that can alter the plasma membrane content of these transporters and consequently their accessibility to circulating ligands.


This paper investigates the relationship between the two major sources of bank default risk: liquidity risk and credit risk. We use a sample of virtually all US commercial banks during the period 1998–2010 to analyze the relationship between these two risk sources on the bank institutional-level and how this relationship influences banks' probabilities of default (PD). Our results show that both risk categories do not have an economically meaningful reciprocal contemporaneous or time-lagged relationship. However, they do influence banks' probability of default. This effect is twofold: whereas both risks separately increase the PD, the influence of their interaction depends on the overall level of bank risk and can either aggravate or mitigate default risk. These results provide new insights into the understanding of bank risk and serve as an underpinning for recent regulatory efforts aimed at strengthening banks (joint) risk management of liquidity and credit risks.


Modified single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides have been used to direct base changes in the CYC1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this process, the oligonucleotide is believed to hybridize to the target site through the action of a DNA recombinase and, once bound, DNA repair enzymes act to excise the nucleotide, replace it, and revert the gene to wild-type status. Nucleotide exchange exhibits a strand bias as, in most cases, a higher level of base reversal appears in cells in which the oligonucleotide is designed to hybridize to the nontemplate strand. But, in one case, a higher level was observed when an oligonucleotide complementary to the transcribed strand was used. Mutant haploid and diploid strains are reverted to wild type at this locus with approximately the same frequency and all strains take up the oligonucleotide with approximately equal efficiency. Some repair preference for certain base mismatches was observed; for example, T/T and C/C mispairs exhibited the highest degree of reactivity. Finally, we demonstrate that proteins involved in DNA pairing can enhance the repair activity up to 22-fold, while others affect the reaction minimally. Taken together, these results confirm the importance and versatility of yeast as a model system to elucidate the factors regulating the frequency of nucleotide exchange directed by oligonucleotides.


We invite you to participate in a collaborative research effort among scholars with conflicting viewpoints to jointly devise and conduct a quantitative survey on free speech on campus.A recent study (Revers & Traunmüller 2020) claims to have found evidence for widespread support for restricting free speech on campus, experiences of conformity pressures, and self-censorship. The study attracted broad public interest along with critical reactions from other scholars. The criticism concerned issues of study design and item wording as well as the normative framing of the results. Some of the disagreement regarding the empirical findings seems to reflect differences in the researchers' epistemic, methodological, and ideological backgrounds. This call and the proposed project are motivated by the desire to leverage this diversity of perspectives in a constructive way. Specifically, we are looking for scholars to join the group of skeptics who do not agree with the original study's conclusions. In the form of a pre-registered adversarial collaboration, the group of skeptics along with the group of proponents work to consent on a questionnaire and analysis plan for a new quantitative survey that is to be conducted in the German university context (and potentially beyond).


High alcohol consumption is related to colorectal cancer (CRC). Our objective was to study associations between alcohol consumption and risk of CRC according to characteristics of aetiological pathways: the chromosomal instability (CIN) and the microsatellite instability (MIN) pathway. We classified CIN+ tumours (tumours with either a truncating APC mutation, an activating K-ras mutation or overexpression of p53), MIN+ tumours (tumours lacking hMLH1 expression) and CIN− /MIN− tumours (tumours without these defects). In the Netherlands Cohort Study on diet and cancer, 120 852 men and women, aged 55–69 years, completed a questionnaire on risk factors for cancer at baseline (1986). Case–cohort analyses were conducted using 573 CRC cases with complete data after 7·3 years of follow-up, excluding the first 2·3 years. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Compared with abstaining, alcohol consumption of ≥ 30 g/d was positively associated with the risk of CRC irrespective of genetic or molecular aberrations present, although statistical significance was not reached (RR 1·35 (95 % CI 0·9–2·0) for the CIN+ tumours, RR 1·59 (95 % CI 0·4–5·8) for the MIN+ tumours and RR 1.15 (95 % CI 0·5–2·7) for the CIN− /MIN− tumours). Beer, wine and liquor consumption were, independent of their alcoholic content, not consistently associated with the risk of CRC within the defined subgroups. In conclusion, our results indicate that a daily alcohol consumption of ≥ 30 g is associated with an increase in risk of CRC, independent of the presence or absence of the studied characteristics of different aetiological pathways.


A bona fide morality favours a consistent free market capitalist system of law. If there are dangers and temptations arising from such a society, let the various institutions that can develop among free people respond to them. Individuals and their various voluntary organisations – not governments that have the unique responsibility to use force judiciously – ought to take care of our souls, our medical needs, our preservation of monuments, historical buildings, wild parks and the rest. Let those things be taken care by people in their voluntary interaction, not by some elite that thinks itself to be above the rest of us – even if they do it democratically.


Air Traffic Management involves many different services such as Airspace Management, Air Traffic Flow Management and Air Traffic Control. Many optimization problems arise from these topics and they generally involve different kinds of variables, constraints, uncertainties. Metaheuristics are often good candidates to solve these problems. The book models various complex Air Traffic Management problems such as airport taxiing, departure slot allocation, en route conflict resolution, airspace and route design. The authors detail the operational context and state of art for each problem. They introduce different approaches using metaheuristics to solve these problems and when possible, compare their performances to existing approaches


Polarized absorption and dye-laser excited fluorescence spectra of Nd3+ in the Y3+ site of yttrium orthovanadate at 85 and 300°K are presented and analyzed. The absence of allowed transitions and the unusual concentration of line strength into one transition in π polarization within a given line group is shown by the Judd-Ofelt theory to be a consequence of the D2d symmetry of the site and ion placements in the unit cell which cause the A±67 odd-parity crystal-field coefficient to be dominant. An energy level scheme giving level positions, level identities, and observed transitions is presented. The ground state was found to be Γ7(μ = ±3/2) with a Jz composition of ∓1/2, ±7/2, and ∓9/2. Linewidths and peak cross sections of the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transitions are also presented. The principal laser line in this group at 10 640.9 ± 0.2 A was found to be predominately π polarized and to have a cross section of 30 × 10−19 cm2, which is 4.6 times larger than the laser transition of Nd3+ in YAG.


Amplified climate warming has led to permafrost degradation and a shortening of the winter season, both impacting cost-effective overland travel across the Arctic. Here we use, for the first time, four state-of-the-art Land Surface Models that explicitly consider ground freezing states, forced by a subset of bias-adjusted CMIP5 General Circulation Models to estimate the impact of different global warming scenarios (RCP2.6, 6.0, 8.5) on two modes of winter travel: overland travel days (OTDs) and ice road construction days (IRCDs). We show that OTDs decrease by on average −13% in the near future (2021–2050) and between −15% (RCP2.6) and −40% (RCP8.5) in the far future (2070–2099) compared to the reference period (1971–2000) when 173 d yr−1 are simulated across the Pan-Arctic. Regionally, we identified Eastern Siberia (Sakha (Yakutia), Khabarovsk Krai, Magadan Oblast) to be most resilient to climate change, while Alaska (USA), the Northwestern Russian regions (Yamalo, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Nenets, Komi, Khanty-Mansiy), Northern Europe and Chukotka are highly vulnerable. The change in OTDs is most pronounced during the shoulder season, particularly in autumn. The IRCDs reduce on average twice as much as the OTDs under all climate scenarios resulting in shorter operational duration. The results of the low-end global warming scenario (RCP2.6) emphasize that stringent climate mitigation policies have the potential to reduce the impact of climate change on winter mobility in the second half of the 21st century. Nevertheless, even under RCP2.6, our results suggest substantially reduced winter overland travel implying a severe threat to livelihoods of remote communities and increasing costs for resource exploration and transport across the Arctic.


In Germany, around 200 billion euros are invested every year in knowledge-based capital, which encompasses assets such as research and development, software and databases, organizational capital, marketing and advertising, and technical design. Yet investments in traditional capital (such as machinery and non-residential buildings) still significantly outweigh knowledge investments, standing at over 320 billion euros across the whole economy. Nevertheless, at the sector level, manufacturing, information and communication services, professional services, and financial services stand out: Investments there are dominated by knowledge-based capital. More importantly, in the years since the financial crisis, there has been no increase in the investment intensity in knowledge-based assets. DIW Berlin compiled a novel dataset on company investments in knowledge-based capital covering almost 2 million records to explore the relationship between investments and company productivity. Initial results show that knowledge-based capital has a positive effect on productivity of comparable magnitude for all the different assets measured. Furthermore, intangible assets complement material assets—therefore, investments in traditional capital goods should always be accompanied by investments in intangible assets. An economic policy to increase investment needs to take these interdependencies into account and emphasize the importance of strengthening intangible assets.


Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the compatibility of microbial feed additive Bacillus subtilis PB6 with the coccidiostats maduramycin ammonium, monensin sodium, narasin and robenidine hydrochloride.
The in vivo compatibility of the coccidiostats with Bacillus subtilis PB6 was assessed as part of a larger trial in which performance characteristics were measured. A negative control group was included, while the other groups received the recommended dose of Bacillus subtilis PB6 in the presence or absence of the tested coccidiostats at their maximum authorised levels.
Intestinal samples from six birds per treatment group were analysed for aerobic spore formers. Heat treatment of the samples was included to distinguish spores from vegetative cells. No significant differences in numbers of bacilli were observed between the coccidiostat-treated
groups and the group treated with Bacillus subtilis PB6 alone.
Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Bacillus subtilis PB6 is compatible with maduramycin ammonium, monensin sodium, narasin and robenidine hydrochloride when added to diets for chickens for fattening.


Lu Yang's first institutional solo exhibition in Germany took place at Kunstpalais in Erlangen in 2022. Lu Yang is undoubtedly a global artist, yet at the same time, his art is testimony of his embeddedness into an Asian/Chinese background. In his works, he draws heavily from a mixture of religious tradition, pop and subcultural influences from Asian countries, and global postinternet art trends. The presentation and mediation of his works in a German art institution needs to consider preconceived ideas that the local audience might have about art with Asian aesthetics. To avoid the pitfalls of Othering and the reproduction of stereotypes, a deeper understanding of underlying topics, such as religious tropes, is necessary. Therefore, a collaborative, interdisciplinary curatorial approach is the curator's means of choice.


In this thesis, we solve a mean-variance portfolio optimization problem with portfolio constraints under a regime-switching model. Specifically, we seek a portfolio process which minimizes the variance of the terminal wealth, subject to a terminal wealth constraint and convex portfolio constraints. The regime-switching is modeled using a finite state space, continuous-time Markov chain and the market parameters are allowed to be random processes. The solution to this problem is of interest to investors in financial markets, such as pension funds, insurance companies and individuals. We establish the existence and characterization of the solution to the given problem using a convex duality method. We encode the constraints on the given problem as static penalty functions in order to derive the primal problem. Next, we synthesize the dual problem from the primal problem using convex conjugate functions. We show that the solution to the dual problem exists. From the construction of the dual problem, we find a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for the primal and dual problems to each have a solution. Using these conditions, we can show the existence of the solution to the given problem and characterize it in terms of the market parameters and the solution to the dual problem. The results of the thesis lay the foundation to find an actual solution to the given problem, by looking at specific examples. If we can find the solution to the dual problem for a specific example, then, using the characterization of the solution to the given problem, we may be able to find the actual solution to the specific example. In order to use the convex duality method, we have to prove a martingale representation theorem for processes which are locally square-integrable martingales with respect to the filtration generated by a Brownian motion and a finite state space, continuous-time Markov chain. This result may be of interest in problems involving regime-switching models which require a martingale representation theorem.


Transgenic mice expressing MyrAkt from a proximal Lck promoter construct develop thymomas at an early age, whereas transgenic mice expressing constitutively active Lck-AktE40K develop primarily tumors of the peripheral lymphoid organs later in life. The thymus of 6- to 8-week-old MyrAkt transgenic mice is normal in size but contains fewer, larger cells than the thymus of nontransgenic control and AktE40K transgenic mice. Earlier studies had shown that cell size and cell cycle are coordinately regulated. On the basis of this finding, and our observations that the oncogenic potential of Akt correlates with its effect on cell size, we hypothesized that mechanisms aimed at maintaining the size of the thymus dissociate cell size and cell cycle regulation by blocking MyrAkt-promoted G1 progression and that failure of these mechanisms may promote cell proliferation resulting in an enlarged neoplastic thymus. To address this hypothesis, we examined the cell cycle distribution of freshly isolated and cultured thymocytes from transgenic and nontransgenic control mice. The results showed that although neither transgene alters cell cycle distribution in situ, the MyrAkt transgene promotes G1 progression in culture. Freshly isolated MyrAkt thymocytes express high levels of cyclins D2 and E and cdk4 but lower than normal levels of cyclin D3 and cdk2. Cultured thymocytes from MyrAkt transgenic mice, on the other hand, express high levels of cyclin D3, suggesting that the hypothesized organ size control mechanisms may down-regulate the expression of this molecule. Primary tumor cells, similar to MyrAkt thymocytes in culture, express high levels of cyclin D3. These findings support the hypothesis that tumor induction is caused by the failure of organ size control mechanisms to down-regulate cyclin D3 and to block MyrAkt-promoted G1 progression.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In terms of asthma and COVID-19, there is also a risk of experiencing an asthma exacerbation triggered by coronavirus infection beyond the direct risk of the infection itself. As a comorbid disease, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asthma patients is not clear. In addition, the influence of asthma on the severity of COVID-19 has not been reported. The aim of this review was to summarize the reported worldwide data about the prevalence and the clinical characteristics of patients with asthma during COVID-19 infection.


Several recent projects have shown the feasibility of verifying low-level systems software. Verifications based on automated theorem-proving have omitted reasoning about first-class code pointers, which is critical for tasks like certifying implementations of threads and processes. Conversely, verifications that deal with first-class code pointers have featured long, complex, manual proofs. In this paper, we introduce the Bedrock framework, which supports mostly-automated proofs about programs with the full range of features needed to implement, e.g., language runtime systems.
 The heart of our approach is in mostly-automated discharge of verification conditions inspired by separation logic. Our take on separation logic is computational, in the sense that function specifications are usually written in terms of reference implementations in a purely functional language. Logical quantifiers are the most challenging feature for most automated verifiers; by relying on functional programs (written in the expressive language of the Coq proof assistant), we are able to avoid quantifiers almost entirely. This leads to some dramatic improvements compared to both past work in classical verification, which we compare against with implementations of data structures like binary search trees and hash tables; and past work in verified programming with code pointers, which we compare against with examples like function memoization and a cooperative threading library.


Background: Tendon injury is a painful and often debilitating affliction, which commonly presents to the sports medicine professional. Researchers have often struggled to determine the most appropriate way to manage this condition. Despite the plethora of literature on management strategies, there appears to be little stemming from sound scientific evidence. Objective: The aim of this is to identify studies that demonstrate a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of tendon injury and evaluate the most effective management strategies for this difficult condition. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Results: The current review found support for the early use of corticosteroid injections, despite long term detrimental effects. The review also demonstrated exercise therapy designed to stretch and strengthen will be more effective in the long term. Conclusion: Individuals with tendinopathy should perform a regular strengthening and flexibility regime as early as possible. Patients with pain limiting daily activities may benefit from corticosteroids injections, to allow them to perform activities with reduced pain.


Owing to the wide applications in a large variety of multi-disciplinary areas, electrowetting-based digital microfluidics (DMF) has received considerable attention in the last decade. However, because of the complexity involved in the droplet generation process, the techniques and configurations for precise and controllable microdrop generation are still unclear. In this paper, a numerical study has been performed to investigate the impact of electrode arrangements on microdrop generation in an electrowetting-based DMF Platform proposed by a previously published experimental work. The governing equations for the microfluidic flow are solved by a finite volume formulation with a two-step projection method on a fixed numerical domain. The free surface of the microdrop is tracked by a coupled level-set and volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) method, and the surface tension at the free surface is computed by the continuum surface force (CSF) scheme. A simplified viscous force scheme based on the 'Hele-Shaw cell' model is adopted to evaluate the viscous force exerted by the parallel plates. The generation process has been simulated with three different electrode arrangements, namely, 'SL', 'SW', and 'SQ'. The effect of electrode arrangement on microdrop volume has been investigated. Besides, the influences of the initial microdrop location and volume on the generation process for the 'SL' design have been studied. The results can be used to advance microdrop generation techniques for various electrowetting-based DMF applications.


This paper addresses the following questions as they relate to the Maryland Department of Transportation: (1) How has the Department used current data collection activities to feed performance measures? (2) How does the Department plan and prioritize improvements to data systems involved with performance measurement? (3) How have individual data collection systems been developed or modified to better support performance measures? (4) How have tools for displaying or interpreting data been incorporated into the development of performance measures?


Publisher Description: Distilling the research literature and translating the scientific approach into language relevant to a college or university teacher, this book introduces seven general principles of how students learn. The authors have drawn on research from a breadth of perspectives (cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; educational research; anthropology; demographics; organizational behavior) to identify a set of key principles underlying learning, from how effective organization enhances retrieval and use of information to what impacts motivation. Integrating theory with real-classroom examples in practice, this book helps faculty to apply cognitive science advances to improve their own teaching.


WQMAP is a PC-based water quality analysis tool linking numerical models and environmental data with a geographic information and display system. For this application the model set consisted of boundary-fitted hydrodynamic and pollutant transport finite difference models. WQMAP is used to display model results such as time varying velocity vectors and pollutant contours, maximum pollutant concentrations and other post processing products. An application of WQMAP was made to the Providence River and Upper Narragansett Bay (PR/UB) in Rhode Island. Storm induced combined sewer overflows (CSOs) cause the dumping of untreated sewage into the receiving waters at 85 sites at the head of Narragansett Bay. The impacts on the shellfishing industry include the conditional closure of prime beds for more than 200 days a year. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a series of mitigative measures designed to reduce the deleterious effects of fecal coliform (FC) contamination in the PR/UB and specifically the conditional closure areas. These measures included a set of near surface storage facilities, tunnel options, and combinations of both. A series of 13 mitigation alternatives was developed. These alternatives consisted of near surface storage and treatment, tunnel storage and treatment, and a mixture of both types. Time series of loads from each CSO, alternative facility and other sources were developed as model input to the PR/UB model. The pollutant loading was analyzed with respect to four design storms of 3, 6, 12, and 24 month return frequency.


This short article analyzes a proposal that merger consent decrees should include a review and modification provision that would give the agency the ability to petition the court to order further relief if the consent decree fails to preserve or restore competition and protect consumer welfare in a reasonable period of time after the merger is consummated. This review and modification process would help to protect competition and consumers from insufficient, poorly designed or otherwise ineffective consent decrees. It would place more of the risk of failure on the merging parties who claim to the agency that the merger will not harm competition and that the remedy is sufficient to cure the agency's concerns. The merging firms then would be incentivized to provide more efficient and effective remedies at the HSR stage rather than bear the risk of potentially more costly remedies, disgorgement and other relief later on. This allocation of risk to the merged firm also would help to deter the post-merger exercise of market power achieved or enhanced by the merger. For the same reasons, it also would increase the deterrence of anticompetitive mergers. The article analyzes the structure of the proposal, its goals and benefits, potential relief provisions if modification is required, and potential criticisms.


The Coaching manual (COMIT) is the manual of the second version of the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) and of coaching or professional support for protected area management teams. IMET is a decision-support tool intended to develop the planning-monitoring-evaluation process in order to improve protected area management effectiveness. It is suitable for all protected areas, regardless of their management and governance category. IMET collects, organises and visualises data related to protected areas in order to facilitate analysis and guide decision-making for the planning, management and organisation of operations.


1. The intestinal absorption of a mixture of [3H]cellobiotol and [14C]mannitol was determined by measuring the 3H/14C ratio in urine after oral administration of the labelled sugars to rats. This index of intestinal permeability was used to identify cellular dysfunction in experimental enteropathy in rats. 2. Rats with mucosal damage induced with ethanol showed an increased uptake of [3H]cellobiotol and a decreased uptake of [14C]mannitol compared with normal controls. The increased 3H/14C ratio in urine reflected the abnormal cell function known to be caused by ethanol. 3. Methotrexate treatment reduced the absorption of the two sugars whereas cetrimide treatment enhanced their absorption. However, in both methotrexate-induced and cetrimide-induced enteropathy the 3H/14C ratio in urine was unaffected by the mucosal damage. Here the permeability change was not related to absorptive dysfunction of the mucosal cells. 4. It is concluded that this labelled sugar absorption test enables the rapid and accurate identification of malfunction of intestinal mucosal cells in the rat. Moreover, the test distinguishes between changes in permeability caused by abnormal cell function and changes caused by gross disturbance of the structure of the mucosal surface.


Derivatives markets in Chile and Brazil play a large and growing role in their financial markets and overall economic activity. Of special importance is Chile's over-the-counter market in foreign exchange derivatives which has become an established market with dealers, high liquidity and low bid-ask spreads. These derivatives markets have helped many firms lower their risks and lower their borrowing costs. At the same time, they pose new challenges to the stability of Chile's economy. This report focuses on Chile, and to a lesser extent on Brazil, to provide an analytical description of the growth of derivatives markets and an economic analysis of their role in the economy. The first part includes a discussion of the various derivatives instruments, the different market participants and the manner in which prices are determined in these markets. Also included in this descriptive analysis is a discussion of Chile's regulatory framework for derivatives and how they have shaped the growth and stability of the markets. The second part of the report includes an economic analysis of what derivatives markets mean for the cost and risk of foreign borrowing, the stability of international capital flows, pro-cyclical linkages to exchange rate movements, the use of derivatives in certain hedge fund investment strategies, and the potential risks to the stability of Chile's financial markets. Using a unique data base of derivatives' daily open position for Chile, provided by the Central Bank, we analyze their impact on the exchange rate during particular periods. It also includes a discussion of derivatives' use in speculative flows between Chile and Brazil.


Evidence‐based practice is not possible without an evidence base. Guldemond et al. confuse our attempt at assessing the status of the evidence base of restoration programs in South Africa with attempting to assess whether restoration is evidence‐based. While we fully agree with them that there is a need to assess whether practitioners use evidence in their decision‐making, we assert that use of evidence is the last step in the evidence‐based approach. It is preceded by the generation (and documentation) of evidence through baseline condition assessment, proper goal setting, sound monitoring of the impacts of the chosen intervention as well as effective dissemination of resulting evidence. To answer the question whether restoration is evidence‐based would require the assessment of all stages from generation to use. We chose to start at the beginning, a logical place to start.