Historically, debates over media violence have been a central focus of media research. Yet lacking from these debates is a meaningful discussion about the conceptualization of media violence. We argue that violence is not a monolithic construct, and is based on viewer perceptions of specific types of images and framing in media content. This idea has scholarly precedence: In 2002 and 2003, Potter and his colleagues proposed that perceptions of violence are formed as audience members make assessments about the relative levels of (in order) graphicness, realism, and justification for witnessed, onscreen violent actions. This article furthers this tri-partite conceptualization by using a binary-choice conjoint analysis to determine the role of each attribute in guiding audience perceptions of and preference for violent media in film and video games. For both media types, justification was the most central factor in shaping perceptions of violence, but realism was the most important predictor for the preference of violence.


The interaction of the gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria with its host plants pepper and tomato is mediated by a type III secretion (T3S) system that translocates bacterial effector proteins into the plant cell. The T3S system is encoded by the chromosomal hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity) gene cluster. Here, we report on the analysis of the hpaB-hrpF region, which encodes the novel virulence factor HpaE, the effector protein XopF1, and two proteins with unknown functions, HpaD and HpaI. Promoter and transcript analyses revealed that the corresponding genes are coexpressed with the hrp genes and that hpaD, hpaI, and xopF1 form a novel operon. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that the efficient T3S and translocation of XopF1 depends on the global T3S chaperone HpaB and the putative lytic transglycosylase HpaH, which specifically contributes to the secretion of a certain set of effectors. Taken together, our data suggest that the efficient secretion of effector proteins in X. campestris pv. vesicatoria requires the contribution of several different Hpa proteins.


The transmitter identification of the DTV systems becomes crucial nowadays. Transmitter identification (TxID, or transmitter fingerprinting) technique is used to detect, diagnose and classify the operating status of any radio transmitter of interest. A pseudo random sequence was proposed to be embedded into the DTV signal before transmission. Thus, the transmitter identification can be realized by invoking the cross-correlation functions between the received signal and the possible candidates of the pseudo random sequences. Gold sequences and Kasami sequences are two excellent candidates for the transmitter ID sequences as they provide a large family of nearly-orthogonal codes. In order to investigate the sensitivity of the transmitter identification in different topologies and Kasami sequences with different length, we present the analysis here for four different geometric layouts, namely circular distribution, doubly concentric and circular distribution, square array and hexagonal tessellation under the ENG (electronic news gathering) crews' working environment. The covered area and the lowest received signal-to-interference ratio are considered as two essential parameters for the multiple-transmitter identification. It turns out to be that the larger the Kasami sequence length, the larger the received signal-to-interference ratio. Our new analysis can be used to determine the required Kasami sequence length for a specific broadcasting coverage.


ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Emergence of carbapenem resistance among Enterobacteriaceae in different geographical regions is of great concern as these bacteria are easily transmissible among patients. Carbapenem-resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is due to production of carbapenemases of various classes and hyper production of the ESBLs (Extended spectrum beta lactamases) and Amp C beta lactamases with reduced cell wall permeability mechanisms. Phenotypic detection and differentiation is important for proper infection control and appropriate patient management. This study was done to know the prescence of various beta lactamases and carbapenemases with other mechanisms of resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 non-duplicate carbapenem resistant isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from blood culture specimens were included and various mechanisms of resistance were studied based on phenotypic and genotypic methods. RESULTS: Out of 50 isolates, 39 (78%) of K.pneumoniae isolates were Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producers based on CLSI guidelines. All 50 showed positive Modified Hodge Test (MHT ) and 32 showed Metallo Beta Lactamase (MBL) by Combined Disc Test (CDT). Four isolates showed AmpC production with porin loss . None of the isolates showed Class A KPC production by CDT . In our study all the 10 isolates evaluated by genotypic technique produced CTX-M group 1 enzyme by multiplex PCR. Seven out of 10 strains which showed positive MBL results were positive for NDM . CONCLUSIONS: Carbapenems are often considered last resort antibiotics in the treatment of infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms. It is therefore mandatory to maintain the clinical efficacy of carbapenems by early detection of various enzymes . For routine clinical laboratories both phenotypic and genotypic tests need to be followed to detect various mechanisms of carbapenem resistance and this is of epidemiological relevance also.


Automated monitoring systems that can capture wetlands' high spatial and temporal variability are essential for their management. SAR-based change detection approaches offer a great opportunity to enhance our understanding of complex and dynamic ecosystems. We test a recently-developed time series change detection approach (S1-omnibus) using Sentinel-1 imagery of two wetlands with different ecological characteristics; a seasonal isolated wetland in southern Spain and a coastal wetland in the south of France. We test the S1-omnibus method against a commonly-used pairwise comparison of consecutive images to demonstrate its advantages. Additionally, we compare it with a pairwise change detection method using a subset of consecutive Landsat images for the same period of time. The results show how S1-omnibus is capable of capturing in space and time changes produced by water surface dynamics, as well as by agricultural practices, whether they are sudden changes, as well as gradual. S1-omnibus is capable of detecting a wider array of short-term changes than when using consecutive pairs of Sentinel-1 images. When compared to the Landsat-based change detection method, both show an overall good agreement, although certain landscape changes are detected only by either the Landsat-based or the S1-omnibus method. The S1-omnibus method shows a great potential for an automated monitoring of short time changes and accurate delineation of areas of high variability and of slow and gradual changes.


Background Ibalizumab, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, blocks the entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) by noncompetitive binding to CD4. Methods In this single‐group, open‐label, phase 3 study, we enrolled 40 adults with multidrug‐resistant (MDR) HIV‐1 infection in whom multiple antiretroviral therapies had failed. All the patients had a viral load of more than 1000 copies of HIV‐1 RNA per milliliter. After a 7‐day control period in which patients continued to receive their current therapy, a loading dose of 2000 mg of ibalizumab was infused; the viral load was quantified 7 days later. Through week 25 of the study, patients received 800 mg of ibalizumab every 14 days, combined with an individually optimized background regimen including at least one fully active agent. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a decrease in viral load of at least 0.5 log10 copies per milliliter from baseline (day 7) to day 14. Results A total of 31 patients completed the study. The mean baseline viral load was 4.5 log10 copies per milliliter, and the mean CD4 count was 150 per microliter. Of the 40 patients in the intention‐to‐treat population, 33 (83%) had a decrease in viral load of at least 0.5 log10 copies per milliliter from baseline (P<0.001 for the comparison with the control period). The mean viral‐load decrease was 1.1 log10 copies per milliliter. During the control period, 1 patient, who received the optimized background regimen prematurely, had a decrease in viral load of 0.5 log10 copies per milliliter. At week 25, patients who had received ibalizumab plus an optimized background regimen had a mean decrease of 1.6 log10 copies per milliliter from baseline; 43% of the patients had a viral load of less than 50 copies per milliliter, and 50% had a viral load of less than 200 copies per milliliter. Among 10 patients who had virologic failure or rebound, in vitro testing identified 9 who had a lower degree of susceptibility to ibalizumab than at baseline. The most common adverse event was diarrhea (in 20% of patients). Four patients died from causes related to underlying illnesses; 1 had a serious adverse event (the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) that was deemed to be related to ibalizumab therapy. Conclusions In patients with MDR HIV‐1 infection who had advanced disease and limited treatment options, ibalizumab had significant antiviral activity during a 25‐week study. Evidence of the emergence of diminished ibalizumab susceptibility was observed in vitro in patients who had virologic failure. (Funded by the Orphan Products Clinical Trials Grants Program of the Food and Drug Administration and TaiMed Biologics; TMB‐301 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02475629.)


OBJECTIVES
The objective was to compare the effectiveness of physician judgment and an electronic algorithmic alert to identify pediatric patients with severe sepsis/septic shock in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

METHODS
This was an observational cohort study of patients older than 56 days with fever or hypothermia. All patients were evaluated for potential sepsis in real time by the ED clinical team. An electronic algorithmic alert was retrospectively applied to identify patients with potential sepsis independent of physician judgment. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients correctly identified with severe sepsis/septic shock defined by consensus criteria. Test characteristics were determined and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were compared.

RESULTS
Of 19,524 eligible patient visits, 88 patients developed consensus-confirmed severe sepsis or septic shock. Physician judgment identified 159 and the algorithmic alert identified 3,301 patients with potential sepsis. Physician judgment had sensitivity of 72.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 72.1% to 73.4%) and specificity of 99.5% (95% CI = 99.4% to 99.6%); the algorithmic alert had sensitivity of 92.1% (95% CI = 91.7% to 92.4%) and specificity of 83.4% (95% CI = 82.9% to 83.9%) for severe sepsis/septic shock. There was no significant difference in the area under the ROC curve for physician judgment (0.86, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.91) or the algorithm (0.88, 95% CI = 0.85 to 0.91; p = 0.54). A combination method using either positive physician judgment or an algorithmic alert improved sensitivity to 96.6% and specificity to 83.3%. A sequential approach, in which positive identification by the algorithmic alert was then confirmed by physician judgment, achieved 68.2% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity. Positive and negative predictive values for physician judgment versus algorithmic alert were 40.3% versus 2.5% and 99.88% versus 99.96%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
The electronic algorithmic alert was more sensitive but less specific than physician judgment for recognition of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock. These findings can help to guide institutions in selecting pediatric sepsis recognition methods based on institutional needs and priorities.


This essay examines several contemporary articulations of the figure of the migrant, exploring both the stigmatic representations of this figure in the public imaginary, and migrants' own personal self-identifications. I argue that as today's increasingly complex flows of capital, people and information continue to erode both the sovereign authority of nation-states and the hitherto dominant codes of belonging, the figure of the migrant has undergone a series of reconfigurations. In its contemporary manifestations, the migrant figure has been imagined variously as a mechanical, animalistic, spectral, zombified, vampiric or cyborg entity. I contend that this series of images reveals a complex set of cultural anxieties around issues of belonging, cultural identity, citizenship and mobility. Drawing on theoretical constructs including Giorgio Agamben's notion of the homo sacer along with representations of the figure of the migrant that have emerged recently within popular culture, literature, political discourse and media reporting, I aim to examine the forms of dehumanisation that are expressed in contemporary debate on migration.


Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories - or myths - to explain the mysteries of life and death. These myths tell about brave heroes, fearful monsters, and gods and goddesses. The mightiest gods and goddesses live in a golden palace high above the clouds on Mount Olympus. Zeus, the king of the gods, and his family reign supreme over gods and mortals alike.


Extracted from text ... 70
EVERYONE IS
SO AFRAID OF
BEING SUED
THESE DAYS! NOTICE: THE OWNER
OF THIS CASTLE IS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
INJURIES CAUSES
BY ARROWS, SPEARS
BOILING OIL OR
FALLS FROM LADDERS
Not responsible . . .
We live in an era where lawsuits are becoming the order of the day. Some doctors
will not stop at the scene of an accident for fear of malpractice suits or accusations
of medical negligence. Cigarette companies and fast-food chains abroad have
been hit with huge claims.
The fear of being sued is getting more and more bizarre. One London five-star
hotel has served ..


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the infection of calves with Mycobacterium bovis through oral exposure and transmission of M. bovis from experimentally infected white-tailed deer to uninfected cattle through indirect contact.

ANIMALS
24 11-month-old, white-tailed deer and 28 6-month-old, crossbred calves.

PROCEDURE
In the oral exposure experiment, doses of 4.3 x 10(6) CFUs (high dose) or 5 x 10(3) CFUs (low dose) of M. bovis were each administered orally to 4 calves; as positive controls, 2 calves received M. bovis (1.7 x 10(5) CFUs) via tonsillar instillation. Calves were euthanatized and examined 133 days after exposure. Deer-to-cattle transmission was assessed in 2 phases (involving 9 uninfected calves and 12 deer each); deer were inoculated with 4 x 10(5) CFUs (phase I) or 7 x 10(5) CFUs (phase II) of M. Bovis. Calves and deer exchanged pens (phase I; 90 days' duration) or calves received uneaten feed from deer pens (phase II; 140 days' duration) daily. At completion, animals were euthanatized and tissues were collected for bacteriologic culture and histologic examination.

RESULTS
In the low- and high-dose groups, 3 of 4 calves and 1 of 4 calves developed tuberculosis, respectively. In phases I and II, 9 of 9 calves and 4 of 9 calves developed tuberculosis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results indicated that experimentally infected deer can transmit M. bovis to cattle through sharing of feed. In areas where tuberculosis is endemic in free-ranging white-tailed deer, management practices to prevent access of wildlife to feed intended for livestock should be implemented.


Travel arrangements and flight ticket booking via internet is widely used nowadays and follow already certain standards. Although increasing activity for multimedia/web education components can be observed, we are far away from standards in this important area. Statistics can possibly profit the most from e-learning since it requires a variety of skills including handling of quantitative data, graphical insights as well as mathematical ability. In this paper we take two positions – the student?s view and the teacher?s view – and discuss their relative coherence in order to propose standards for e-learning of statistics. The proposed standards are flexible with regard to content, multi-functionality, interactivity type, integration technology and design. Therefore the main focus may be directed on quality of e-learning tools in order to meet both teacher?s and student?s requirements. This is especially true for statistics which is taught in various disciplines. We present our thoughts and exemplify them via the e-learning/e-teaching tools MM*Stat, e-stat, MD*ReX and RExcel. The structure and the main characteristics of these multimedia tools will be explained. Then it will be described how such standards may be transferred to other cultures, languages or disciplines via the platform MD*Book.


The meanings of care are contested – the approaches to care in the development and feminist literature have varied greatly. At the same time, care is a common word, loaded with moral meanings concerning notions of duty and love, and care is commonly associated with women. These associations are not innocent; they have concrete effects in shaping different policy agendas and institutional responses to care and care work. While the feminist meanings of care stem from feminist philosophy, feminist economics, and feminist social policy research, these meanings compete with the more conservative and traditional meaning of care in the development discourse. This article provides a conceptual introduction to care, and aims to show how the different understandings of it affect the ways policymakers approach the issue. Depending on the way care is framed, policies and practices can be designed and implemented in transformative ways, in the sense of supporting carers – predominantly women – and lightening their care burdens, while challenging the notion that this work is intrinsically 'female' and of lesser importance than work seen as 'productive'. The article invites development practitioners to reflect on their own views about care, and to identify what can be done to recognise, reduce, and redistribute care at multiple levels.


Abstract. This paper analyses the use of BIM in heritage buildings, assessing the state-of-the-art and finding paths for further development. Specifically, this work is part of a broader project, which final aim is to support stakeholders through BIM. Given that humidity is one of the major causes of weathering, being able to detect, depict and forecast it, is a key task. A BIM model of a heritage building – enhanced with the integration of a weathering forecasting model – will be able to give detailed information on possible degradation patterns, and when they will happen. This information can be effectively used to plan both ordinary and extraordinary maintenance. The Jewel Tower in London, our case study, is digitised using combined laser scanning and photogrammetry, and a virtual model is produced. The point cloud derived from combined laser scanning & photogrammetry is traced out in with Autodesk Revit, where the main volumetry (gross walls and floors) is created with parametric objects. Surface characterisation of the façade is given through renderings. Specifically, new rendering materials have been created for this purpose, based on rectified photos of the Tower. The model is then integrated with moisture data, organised in spreadsheets and linked to it via parametric objects representing the points where measurements had been previously taken. The spatial distribution of moisture is then depicted using Dynamo. This simple exercise demonstrates the potential Dynamo has for condition reporting, and future work will concentrate on the creation of a complex forecasting model to be linked through it.


The authors believe that the preferred treatment for pineal region tumors in children requires definitive surgery with a histological diagnosis and that a conservative approach consisting of shunting and radiation therapy no longer seems to be appropriate. The results are reported of a retrospective review of the presentation, treatment, and outcome of 36 children under the age of 18 years treated between 1974 and 1986. Eleven children had germinomas (two-cell type), seven had astrocytomas, and the remaining 18 had 15 histologically different tumor types. Surgery was performed on 30 patients; there were no deaths, but a 10% rate of persistent morbidity was found. The median follow-up period was 4 years. Nine (82%) of 11 patients with germinomas are alive without evidence of recurrence; one child died from recurrent tumor in the pineal region and another is presently being treated for recurrent tumor of the spinal cord. Six (86%) of the seven patients with astrocytoma are well after biopsy and radiation therapy. Of the remaining 18 children, five (28%) died from tumor progression. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were helpful in determining the presence of malignant germ-cell tumors, particularly those with a poor prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging was useful for diagnosis and for planning the operative approach. Magnetic resonance images showed the presence of pineal region tumors in four children with hydrocephalus who had no evidence of tumor on computerized tomography scans. Because the great variety of tumor types found in the pineal region must be treated in different ways and because improved microsurgical and stereotaxic surgical techniques have made mortality and morbidity rates acceptably low, a biopsy diagnosis should be obtained in all patients. Preoperative assessment of CSF tumor markers and cytology is useful for the identification of patients who have a poor prognosis.


The protection qualities of discretionary access control systems realised by today's prevalent operating systems are based on an assessment of the trustworthiness of users. By starting a program a user transfers his trustworthiness to it, i.e., there is the tacit assumption that the program's trustworthiness at least matches that of the user. However, malicious programs are a growing source of threat. They perform operations without the user's consent and often in contravention of his interests. To eliminate this danger we examine program-orientated protection strategies. We then present, firstly, a small enhancement to the operating system and, secondly, an addition to the operating system, which support both a user and an application with high security demands in the enforcement of authenticity and integrity even in the presence of malicious programs.


NeuroscienceNeuroscientist Tania Singer, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, has embarked on an ambitious study involving 160 participants to find out whether meditation can make people more compassionate. Meditation research does not have a very rigorous reputation, and some scientists are skeptical about the work, but Singer—who has long practiced meditation herself—hopes her study will be methodologically rigorous enough to withstand criticism. By increasing compassion, she hopes her research will contribute to a better world.


As the computational requirements for machine learning systems and the size and complexity of machine learning frameworks increases, essential framework innovation has become challenging. While computational needs have driven recent compiler, networking, and hardware advancements, utilization of those advancements by machine learning tools is occurring at a slower pace. This is in part due to the difficulties involved in prototyping new computational paradigms with existing frameworks. Large frameworks prioritize machine learning researchers and practitioners as end users and pay comparatively little attention to systems researchers who can push frameworks forward -- we argue that both are equally important stakeholders. We introduce Flashlight, an open-source library built to spur innovation in machine learning tools and systems by prioritizing open, modular, customizable internals and state-of-the-art, research-ready models and training setups across a variety of domains. Flashlight allows systems researchers to rapidly prototype and experiment with novel ideas in machine learning computation and has low overhead, competing with and often outperforming other popular machine learning frameworks. We see Flashlight as a tool enabling research that can benefit widely used libraries downstream and bring machine learning and systems researchers closer together. Flashlight is available at https://github.com/flashlight/flashlight .


The adaptive effects of physical training on cardiovascular control mechanisms were studied in 11 subjects with mild hypertension. In these subjects we assessed the gain of the heart periodsystolic arterial pressure relationship in the unfit and the fit state by using 1) an open loop approach, whereby the gain is expressed by the slope of the regression of heart period as a function of systolic arterial pressure, during a phenylephrine-induced pressure rise and 2) a closed loop approach with proper simplification, whereby the gain is expressed by the index a, obtained through simultaneous spectral analysis of the spontaneous variabilities of heart period and systolic arterial pressure. Both methods indicated that training significantly increased the gain of the relationship between heart period and systolk arterial pressure at rest and reduced arterial pressure and increased heart period significantly. This gam was drastically reduced during bicycle exercise both in the unfit and fit state. In a second group of normotensive (n = 7; systolic pressure, 133 ± 3 mm Hg) and hypertensive (n = 7; systolic pressure, 180 ± 10 mm Hg) subjects undergoing 24 -hour diagnostic continuous ekctrocardiographic and high fidelity arterial pressure monitoring, the index a was significantly reduced in the hypertensive group at rest. Furthermore, when analyzed continuously over the entire 24-hour period, this index underwentminute-to-minute changes with lower values during the day and higher values during the night. We propose the index a as a quantitative indicator of the changes in the gain of baroreceptor mechanisms occurring with physical training in mild hypertension and during a 24-hour period in ambulatory subjects.


The potentially adverse impact of carbon pricing on the competitiveness of businesses and economies has been a matter of concern to industry and policymakers. It has also been a barrier to progress on carbon pricing. The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition launched the High-Level Commission on Carbon Pricing and Competitiveness at its 2018 High-Level Assembly to address the issue. This report showcases dialogue among business leaders to explore the evidence base, the concerns of business, and the lessons learned in the design and implementation of carbon pricing policies in the context of competitiveness.


To ensure equal participation of people with disabilities in all levels of education the state owes to build structures and develop inclusive and accessible services that not only cover the specific needs but also aim to aid an autonomous experience in the knowledge acquiring process and ultimately in self-realization.
Α successful project in this context is AMElib, an accessible multi-modal electronic library that provides accessible bibliography to all the print disabled persons regardless if they are students or not. The collection consists of e-books, documents, different learning objects in various formats and in order to accommodate this versatility of items the RDA cataloging standard and the FRBR entity-relationship model were chosen for the documentation.
AMElib was created by Heal-Link -the Greek academic libraries consortium- in coordination with Panteion University Library and a network of supporting organizations. All bodies are actively involved to integrate the Marrakesh Treaty on exceptions of international copyright for the benefit of the visually impaired persons (VIPs) in the Greek legislation. Future aspiration of the project is to evolve into a national digital library following all the international developments on the subject of accessibility and assistive technologies, towards an unhindered education for all.


The 2011-2012 Supreme Court term created quite the media buzz. The Affordable Care Act cases and the controversial Arizona immigration law dominated the headlines. But the term also included other fascinating yet less sensationalized cases. The Court heard its fair share of criminal law controversies involving derelict defense attorneys and prosecutors as well as civil procedure disputes involving qualified immunity for witness in grand jury proceedings and private parties assisting the government in litigation. The justices also entertained arguments on a federal law allowing United States citizens born in Jerusalem to have "Israel" stamped as their birthplace on a passport. The Secretary of State refused arguing that the practice would inflame tensions in an already volatile Middle East. Another case pitted the First Amendment right to lie about receiving military honors against the Stolen Valor Act prohibiting that type of dishonest speech. A case from Montana hearkened back to 1889 and implicated the Equal Footing Doctrine – a Constitutional provision granting territory to states upon entering the Union. Texas crafted new electoral maps based on the 2010 census and soon found them scrutinized under the Voting Rights Act. In all, the term was extraordinary because most of its cases revolved around topics ripped from the headlines and touched on areas of public policy relevant to Americans in 2012 and beyond. The term was also compelling because of its impact on the business arena. The justices granted certiorari in fourteen business cases, eight of which were cherry picked for this article. Each case chosen covered a classic business law topic, generated strong interest within the business community, contained predominately business-focused facts, and had a connection to a business-related constitutional provision/amendment or statute. These eight cases provide the best glimpse into the Roberts Court's most recent stance on topics important to the business community. This article evaluates these cases in depth and proposes the following business impact theory of the term: (1) the Court's opinion in each case had as strong pro-business slant with business interests receiving fifty out of fifty-two potential votes. This slant is significantly different from the previous term where the Court unanimously voted against business interests several times; (2) these pro-business decisions did not occur in ordinary, run of the mill cases. Instead the impact of these decisions is magnified because they involved subjects critical to America's economic recovery; (3) perhaps surprisingly, the Court's liberal-leaning justices voted with the Court's conservatives in twenty out of a possible twenty-two opportunities. They did so in cases that presented compelling arguments from both a conservative and liberal perspective and where the facts allowed for a strong four-justice dissent; (4) perhaps unsurprisingly, the Court proved willing to narrow or expand Constitutional provisions or state/federal statutes to reach its desired result. There appeared to be no concerted effort to adhere to a minimalist or living Constitutionalist philosophy. In the end, the results in the business cases of the term could prove to be a fluke. Or, they could indicate a pivot at the Court towards supporting business interests to a greater extent. Time will tell because the next first Monday of October is right around the corner.


The transcriptional mechanisms driving lineage specification during development are still largely unknown, as the interplay of multiple transcription factors makes it difficult to dissect these molecular events. Using a cell-based differentiation platform to probe transcription function, we investigated the role of the key paraxial mesoderm and skeletal myogenic commitment factors—mesogenin 1 (Msgn1), T-box 6 (Tbx6), forkhead box C1 (Foxc1), paired box 3 (Pax3), Paraxis, mesenchyme homeobox 1 (Meox1), sine oculis-related homeobox 1 (Six1), and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5)—in paraxial mesoderm and skeletal myogenesis. From this study, we define a genetic hierarchy, with Pax3 emerging as the gatekeeper between the presomitic mesoderm and the myogenic lineage. By assaying chromatin accessibility, genomic binding and transcription profiling in mesodermal cells from mouse and human Pax3-induced embryonic stem cells and Pax3-null embryonic day (E)9.5 mouse embryos, we identified conserved Pax3 functions in the activation of the skeletal myogenic lineage through modulation of Hedgehog, Notch, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways. In addition, we demonstrate that Pax3 molecular function involves chromatin remodeling of its bound elements through an increase in chromatin accessibility and cooperation with sine oculis-related homeobox 4 (Six4) and TEA domain family member 2 (Tead2) factors. To our knowledge, these data provide the first integrated analysis of Pax3 function, demonstrating its ability to remodel chromatin in mesodermal cells from developing embryos and proving a mechanistic footing for the transcriptional hierarchy driving myogenesis.


The world's population is growing faster than ever. As a consequence, it is challenging to maintain a sustainable food production to satisfy all needs. In recent years, krill has emerged as a viable and effective supplement, especially for fishand animal feed. In an industry characterized by increasing demand and harvesting limitations, it is particularly interesting to investigate whether time series forecasting can be a useful tool to aid effective decision making and long-term strategic planning. Demand forecasting in the krill market is an area in which little previous research is attributed. However, research within related areas such as fisheries harvesting and food production have shown positive results from applying ARIMA and exponential smoothing models. This thesis therefore considers univariate demand forecasting of krill meal for twelve months ahead, applying both of these methods, as well as a combination of decomposition and exponential smoothing. We use historical sales data over a seven-year period from Aker BioMarine as a case study to test the accuracy of the proposed methods. This is done through an automatic model built using R, which chooses the best model from each method based on a variety of criteria. The performance of the models is evaluated using the mean absolute error and the mean absolute scaled error and compared to simple benchmarks. According to our results, the benchmarks seem to perform better than the more complex methods. However, the chosen models from the automatic modeling procedure generally yield a high forecasting error. The provided forecasts should therefore be interpreted by someone with expert knowledge about the krill market and the specific customer, in order to be useful for resource allocation and strategic planning purposes. Since the chosen models do not give satisfying results in terms of forecast error, this opens an opportunity for further research within demand forecasting of krill meal.


McCormick in 1966 and Russell and Rubenstein described four types of vascular malformations, and this is now accepted as the current nomenclature. [62-64] Cerebrovascular malformations are classified according to their histopathologic features as : arteriovenous malformation (AVMs), venous angioma, cavernous malformation, and capillary telangiectasia. The focus of this chapter is on true AVMs. A possible fifth category is a direct fistula, or arteriovenous fistula (AVF). These conditions are regarded as acquired lesions involving single or multiple dilated arterioles that connect directly to a vein without a nidus. They are high-flow, high-pressure lesions that have a low incidence of hemorrhage (examples include vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation, dural AVF, and carotid cavernous fistula). [62-64]


We conducted ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the δ phase of the hydrous mineral aluminium oxide hydroxide (AlOOH) at ambient temperature and high pressure. Nuclear quantum effects were included through a Langevin dynamics in a bath of quantum harmonic oscillators. We confirm that under increasing pressure δ-AlOOH undergoes a phase transition from a P 2 1 nm structure with asymmetric and disordered O–H bonds to a stiffer Pnnm phase with symmetric hydrogen bonds, which should be stable within the pressure and temperature ranges typical for the Earth's mantle. The transition is initially triggered by proton tunneling, which makes the mean proton position to coincide with the midpoint of the O–O distance, at pressures as low as 10 GPa. However, only at much larger pressures, around 30 GPa as previously found by other calculations, the Pnnm phase with symmetric hydrogen bonds is stable from the classical point of view. The transition is also characterized through the analysis of the H–O stretching modes, which soften considerably and fade out around 10 GPa in the P 2 1 nm structure, when thermal and nuclear quantum effects are taken into account in the simulations. At variance, the harmonic picture is not adequate to describe the highly anharmonic effective potential that is seen by the protons at the transition. Finally, we propose that the picture of a dynamical transition to the high-symmetry and proton-centered Pnnm phase, which is brought about by the onset of proton tunneling, could be confirmed by quasi-elastic neutron scattering and vibrational spectroscopy under pressure.


What would happen if Christian spiritual life is seen, not as a pilgrimage through a landscape, but as the landscape itself? In order to explore this question, this thesis expands the metaphor of the 'landscape of the soul' into a model of Christian spiritual life. The 'landscape of the soul' is treated as a system; with its input being God's self-revelation of love through Jesus Christ; its transformational process being the re-creation of a person through the love of God; and its output being union with God. In a representational mapping of the model, three interrelated networks of systems are identified: a geology representing physical and psychological processes relating to human experiencing; a geomorphology connected with human growth and development; and an ecology depicting the flow of God's love through various interrelationships present in the 'landscape of the soul'. These systems are considered with reference to three characteristics of landscape: matrix, the area that is most prominent; patches, areas that are different from the common matrix; and corridors, areas that facilitate the flow of information, energy or materials. The 'landscape of the soul' is also thematically mapped using different types of understandings that are associated with mysticism. The geological network is seen as analogous to those discourses that interpret mysticism as a distinct type of altered state of consciousness; the geomorphological network, with those understandings that link mysticism with stages in prayer or psycho-spiritual development; and the ecological network, with those understandings that associate mysticism with the encounter and relationship with God in Christ. From this thematic exploration, the model proposes that the altered state of consciousness in the geology of experiencing be likened to being-in-love with God; that the process represented by stages in the geomorphology of growing be seen as the deepening and honing of attention to God; and the relationship depicted in the ecology of relating be perceived as a mutual selfgiving between God and a person in an exchange of love. The model is tested in an individual case study of the life and writings of Clare of Assisi and through a survey of spiritual directors and therapists. A model of Christian life based upon the metaphor of the 'landscape of the soul' emphasises an encounter with Christ in the present moment and provides a framework in which some different understandings of mysticism can be situated. Moreover, what emerges is a distinctly Christian understanding of a mysticism of everyday in which the apophatic and transformational encounter with God is grounded in Christ.


The 2014 ISZB meeting provided an exciting forum for presenting zinc biology-related research across the full spectrum. ISZB meetings are among the few scientific gatherings that are truly interdisciplinary, bringing together scientists from widely diverging fields, all having in common the desire to study the role of zinc in biological systems. Thus membrane transporters and cell signaling are discussed with relevance to structure/ function relationships, while physiological and pathophysiological studies are described in many species and across most organ systems. Novel tools and techniques are presented to researchers and potential users to allow dissemination of zinc research-related information for the benefit of a wide scientific community studying various aspects of zinc in biology. This is one meeting that should not be missed by biochemists, cell and molecular biologists, physiologists, or anyone interested in the rich and exciting biology of zinc. We all look forward to our next gathering in Istanbul, Turkey, September 25-29, 2016, http://iszb2016turkey.medicine.Ankara.edu.tr. The ISZB would like to thank Qiagen, Pfizer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis Pharma AG, Shino Test Corporation, Strem Chemicals, Genostaff and Hamari Chemicals for their generous donations that helped support the meeting. Book prizes for excellent talks were kindly provided by The Royal Society of Chemistry, Springer and IOS Press. Travel awards were supported in part by NIH grant GM112419. The authors would also like to thank Wolfgang Maret, Daren L. Knoell, Robert A. Colvin and David I. Soybel for their invaluable contributions to the organization of the meeting.


The use of liposome as an adjuvant and a vaccine carrier has been cited previously in the literature. It has also been shown to be effective in enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates. BALB/c mice immunized subcutaneously with outer membrane protein (OMP) of Brucella abortus S19 vaccine strain entrapped in a commercial cationic liposome (S19-OMP-liposome) for vaccine delivery, showed enhanced protection (P<0.05) compared to groups of mice inoculated with S19 OMP alone, S19 live B. abortus vaccine and liposome alone, when challenged intra-peritoneally with virulent B. abortus strain 544 at 30 days post-immunization (DPI). The S19-OMP-liposome preparation was found to be safer compared to the live B. abortus S19 vaccine at 15 days post challenge (DPC), as evidenced by the significant difference in spleen weight between S19-OMP-liposome, S19 OMP and S19 live as well as the liposome control groups (P<0.01). Antibody isotype response profiles of the experimental groups indicated that the immune response was Th1 cell mediated. The protective advantage conferred to mice immunized with S19-OMP entrapped in liposome over those immunized with the live B. abortus S19 version, could probably be related to the significantly different response of IgG2b at 30 DPI (P<0.01), IgG2a (P<0.01), IgG2b (P<0.01) and IgG3 (P<0.05) at the DPC stages, respectively.


Art critic Martin Gayford, author of "The Yellow House", brings the Regency period to life in "Constable in Love: Love, Landscape and the Making of a Great Painter" his account of the life of English Romantic painter John Constable. Love, not landscape, was the making of Constable...John Constable and Maria Bicknell might have been in love but their marriage was a most unlikely prospect. Constable was a penniless painter who would not sacrifice his art for anything, while Maria's family frowned on such a penurious union. For seven long years the couple were forced to correspond and meet clandestinely. But it was during this period of longing that Constable developed as a painter. And by the time they'd overcome all obstacles to their marriage, he was on the verge of being recognised as a genius. Martin Gayford brings alive the time of Jane Austen in telling the tremendous story of Constable's formative years, as well as this love affair's tragic conclusion which haunted the artist's final paintings. "Delightful...a small drama of love, frustration and despair played itself out with massive repercussions for the history of painting." ("Financial Times"). "Gayford's nuanced narrative throws much-needed fresh light, as well as real understanding, on both Constable's painting and his love life." ("Sunday Telegraph"). "A scrupulously observed tragical-comical tale." ("Evening Standard"). Martin Gayford is a celebrated art critic and journalist who has written for the "Spectator" and the "Sunday Telegraph" and is the current Chief European Art Critic for Bloomberg. In his other book "The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin and Nine Turbulent Weeks" in Arles Gayford depicts the period in which artistic geniuses van Gogh and Gauguin shared a house in the small French town of Arles.


"Homoeopathy is an alternative medical system proposed by Samuel Hahnemann in the eighteenth century. It uses highly diluted and agitated substances that derived from plants, minerals or animals, which have shown to be effective in human medicine, agronomy, veterinary, and as a novelty, in marine aquaculture. Aquacultural homoeopathy has developed rapidly in recent years, partially motivated by the misuse of powerful drugs (hormones, antibiotics, disinfectants) that when solving a problem generate undesirable side effects. In the last 10 years, scientific articles have been published on its application in freshwater fish native to Brazil, obtaining beneficial effects on growth, survival, hepatosomatic index, development of muscle fibres and lipid content in muscle. At Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR, Mexico: www.cibnor.mx), we have studied the effects of homoeopathy to improve the culture of economically important marine species of molluscs, fish and shrimp. In this chapter, we show a selection of different research with preliminary or advanced results, related to the use of homoeopathy and its impact on zootechnic, biochemical, genomic and transcriptomic parameters in marine molluscs, fish and crustaceans. The results obtained suggest that homoeopathy is an eco-friendly alternative applicable in aquaculture industry to improve various productive and health aspects."


A broad spectrum of earth materials have been linked to, blamed for, and/or debated as sources for disease. In some cases, the links are clear. For example, excessive exposures to mineral dusts have long been recognized for their role in diseases such as: asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancers (asbestos); silicosis and lung cancer (silica dusts); and coal-workers pneumoconiosis (coal dust). Lead poisoning, particularly in toddlers and young children, has been conclusively linked to involuntary ingestion of soils or other materials contaminated with lead-rich paint particles, leaded gasoline combustion byproducts, and some types of lead-rich mine wastes or smelter particulates. Waters with naturally elevated arsenic contents are common in many regions of the globe, and consumption of these waters has been documented as the source of arsenic-related diseases affecting thousands of people in south Asia and other regions. Exposure to dusts or soils containing pathogens has been documented as the cause of regionally common diseases such as valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) and much rarer diseases such as anthrax. Links between many other earth materials and specific diseases, although suspected, are less clear or are debated. For example, it has been suggested that geographic clusters of diseases such as leukemia are related to exposures to waters or atmospheric particulates containing organic or metal contaminants; however, for many clusters the exact causal relationships between disease and environmental exposure are difficult to prove conclusively. Even for many diseases in which the causal relationship is clear, such as in asbestosis and mesothelioma triggered by asbestos exposure, the minimum exposures needed to trigger disease, the influence of genetic factors, and the exact mechanisms of toxicity are still incompletely understood and are the focus of considerable debate within the public health community. Hence, understanding the health effects resulting from occupational and environmental exposures to a wide variety of …


The key element in gas-to-liquid technology is the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis in which liquid hydrocarbons are produced from syngas (CO and H2). During FT synthesis the catalyst and the catalyst support are subjected to considerable wearing. γ-alumina is considered as one of the most promising materials for catalyst support in a slurry bubble column reactor although the resistance to attrition is not satisfying. The γ-alumina is prepared by spray drying and is a highly porous aggregate. In order to improve the resistance to attrition, the porous support has been modified by impregnation of a metal oxide precursor followed by thermal treatment. The objective of the present thesis was to find the underlying mechanisms for the enhanced mechanical performance of the modified catalyst support based on γ-alumina. The first part of the work was devoted to the processing of the γ-alumina based support, the second part to the thermal evolution of the phase composition and the microstructure of the support and the last part was concerned with the characterization of the resistance to attrition. The distribution of the impregnated salt was investigated by electron probe micro analysis and the element mapping demonstrated that the impregnated salt was not homogeneously distributed in the γ-alumina aggregates. The inhomogeneous distribution of the metal oxide formed by decomposition of the salt reflected the inhomogeneous packing of the primary γ-alumina crystallites in the aggregates, and incorporation of the metal oxide in the initial step to produce γ-alumina would improve the distribution of the metal oxide. Previous investigations have shown that enhancement of the attrition resistance was achieved after calcination at high temperature. In-situ high temperature X-ray diffraction was carried out to investigate the thermal evolution of the phase composition and crystal structure of several impregnated catalyst supports. Refinement of the diffraction data revealed that the chemical reaction between γ-alumina and the impregnated metal oxide was controlled by the valence of the metal oxide and the site preference of the metal cation in the spinel phase formed in the reaction. The reaction with γ-alumina and impregnated NiO or MgO was initiated at around 500 °C. A metastable solid solution between γ-alumina and NiAl2O4 or MgAl2O4 spinel was formed. The reaction between γ-alumina and ZnO was less pronounced and the initiation of the reaction was more challenging to determine. Additional materials prepared by solid state reactions were investigated to elucidate the crystal structure and solid solubility of alumina in NiAl2O4 and similar spinels. The lattice parameter of the metastable solid solution between γ-alumina and the spinel revealed that α-alumina precipitated from the solid solution at around 1100 °C resulting in a reduction of Al2O3 content in the spinel. The formation of the metastable solid solution prevented the direct transformation of γ-alumina to θ- and α-alumina. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the reaction between the impregnated oxide and γ-alumina had a pronounced effect on the final microstructure of the support. Non-impregnated supports transformed to α-alumina crystallites with an approximate size of 200 nm after thermal treatment, while mainly crystallites in the range 20 – 40 nm were observed in the impregnated supports. Dependent of the homogeneity of the γ-alumina aggregates and the amount of the impregnated oxide some large α-alumina crystallites were also formed. The intergranular interface or neck formation between the crystallites was shown to be significantly enhanced by the impregnation. Investigation of γ-alumina, impregnated with a Mn oxide precursor, revealed that the final phase composition and microstructure was strongly dependent on the oxidation state of Mn. By heat treatment in reducing atmosphere, where MnO is stable, a similar microstructure to those impregnated with precursors of MgO, NiO and ZnO was obtained. Heat treatment in air or inert atmosphere, where Mn is stable in a higher oxidation state, the formation of the metastable spinel solid solution did not occur. The influence of the phase composition and the microstructure on the resistance to attrition was investigated by Vickers hardness indentation on individual catalyst support aggregates and a standard attrition test. It was demonstrated that the Vickers hardness showed a very good correlation with the wear resistance. The supports with the modified microstructures exhibited the best mechanical performance, while the pure alumina based supports with larger crystallites showed poor performance. The hardness and wear resistance of the modified supports revealed that the increase in the performance appeared concurrently with the precipitation of α-alumina. It was demonstrated that the most wear resistant microstructure corresponded to the ones with small crystallites of α-alumina and spinel with considerable neck formation or intergranular interfaces between the crystallites. X-ray diffraction revealed that the spinel formed in the modified supports were strained, reflecting the strong interfacial bond between the phases and the thermal mismatch of α-alumina and spinel. Effect of possible epitaxial relationship between the two phases was therefore discussed. Based on the present findings the enhanced mechanical performance of the modified catalyst support reflects a considerable modification of the microstructure, which reduce the grain growth and coarsening of α-alumina and the formation of strong intergranular interfaces between nano-crystalline spinel and α-alumina.


SUMMARY: This paper is a review of the hydrography of the northwestern Mediterranean. It examines, at several scales from basin-scale to local processes, water mass distribution, circulation and driving mechanisms and their variability. It is focused on those aspects that may influence the success of spawning and recruitment of anchovy: stratification processes, continental influence, frontal instabilities, mesoscale events and shelf-slope exchanges.


The present study focused on somatotypical and sports anthropological differences in German basketball players of different position and performance classes. German basketball players (n=64) from Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia (the mean age 26.8±6.3 years) were divided by league affiliation in 3 pools (2./3. Division, 4./5. Division and 6./7. Division) and differentiated to their positions (center, winger, guards). They were measured according to the standardized guidelines of sports anthropology. The body height of the pool 1 guards averaged 187.2±5.3 cm, the body height of the center players 205.4±5.7 cm, and the body height of the wingers 191.5±4.7 cm (p<0.001 relative to the position, p<0.01 with respect to the performance level). Calipermetry showed a significantly higher percentage of the body fat of the lower divisions. In the top divisions, the body fat percentages were 13.2% for the guards, 20% for the centers and 18.3% for the wingers (p<0.001). The mean somatotypes were 4.0 – 4.4 – 2.8 for all the guards, 5.7 – 4.5 – 2.5 for all the center players and 4.5 – 4.5 – 2.6 for all the wingers. Today's German basketball players are tall and leggy. The athletes of the middle and lower levels have a higher fat content. With respect to the playing position the guards are relatively smaller players with the lower percentage of body fat. The center players show the highest body weight and the body height dimensions, wherein the wingers are classified as player somatotypes therebetween.


Malaria, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. This study has focused on the role of the spleen in the control of the blood stage of infection. Three aspects have been examined specifically: the effect of infection on the architecture of the spleen, the role of the spleen in parasite clearance and the formation of B cell memory.

Firstly, the effect of infection on the splenic microarchitecture was examined. An

essential component of the splenic architecture is the marginal zone (MZ), an area of the spleen that separates the reticuloendothelial red pulp of the spleen from the lymphoid white pulp compartment. Two unique populations of macrophages are

found in the marginal zone: marginal zone macrophages (MZM) and marginal metallophilic macrophages (MMM). In the current study, parasitised red blood cells (pRBC) as well as normal RBC located to the MZ thirty minutes after intravenous injection and formed close associations with both MMM and MZM. Eight days after infection, at the time of peak parasitemia, a complete loss of both MMM and MZM was observed. Assays to detect cell death revealed that the loss of both MMM and MZM appeared to occur as a result of apoptosis. The apoptosis was not induced by

up regulation of the inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor or interferon-γ

and could not be blocked by over expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl2. Significantly, MMM were retained in the absence of CD8+ T cells implicating CD8+

T cells in the loss of MMM. Finally, infection of CD95-/- mice demonstrated that

CD95/CD95-ligand (Fas/Fas-ligand) interactions were responsible for some of the CD8+ T cell-mediated loss of MMM. These data provide evidence for a novel interaction between MMM and CD8+ T cellsfollowing infection with Plasmodium.

Secondly, the role of the spleen in the control of parasitemia and disease was

monitored with an emphasis on determining the role of splenic macrophage populations (MMM, MZM and red pulp macrophages [RPM]) in parasite clearance.

A clodronate liposome-mediated macrophage depletion technique was used, and caused a complete loss of all three macrophage sub-populations, as well as 50% of splenic dendritic cells, within 24 hours of administration. Each of the macrophage

populations, as well as splenic DC, demonstrated different repopulation kinetics following their depletion from the spleen and these kinetics were utilised to examine

each cell population in isolation. RPM depleted mice had significantly higher peak

parasitemias than the controls. This peak returned to the level observed in undepleted control animals only after the repopulation of RPM was complete, suggesting that RPM play a role in the control of peak parasitemia following infection. Neither MMM nor MZM played a role in the control of parasitemia. The role of non-splenic macrophages and splenic dendritic cells also was investigated and shown to be insignificant in the absence of splenic macrophages. Finally, the role of RPM in mice immune to infection was investigated and their role shown to be dispensable, with immune mice clearing parasitemia efficiently in the absence of RPM. RPM therefore are important for the innate control of infection with P. chabaudi but are dispensible once adaptive immunity is established.

Finally, the role of the spleen in the development of parasite-specific B cell memory was examined. Initial studies demonstrated that germinal centre (GC) development was compromised following infection with P. chabaudi, with an involution of B cell follicles noted early in infection. Adoptive transfer of memory B cells from immunised to naive mice demonstrated that some protection was conferred on recipient mice by parasite-specific memory B cells. But, the memory B cells could not protect the host from developing parasitemia and did not produce significant amounts of parasite-specific immunoglobulin within seven days of challenge infection. Memory B cells could not be detected ten weeks after infection, indicating that the development, or survival, of parasite-specific memory B cells was compromised. The development of bystander memory B cells was not affected by

infection. Finally, long-lived plasma cells were shown to develop in response to

infection, although re-exposure of the cells to parasites in the form of recrudescent

parasitemia resulted in their loss. This study therefore has identified a defect in the development of long-term, B cell-mediated, protection against infection with P. chabaudi.

Each of these factors has significant implications for the understanding of how the spleen contributes to the control of infection with Plasmodium and potential

applications for the further development of malaria vaccines and treatment regimens.


Medical diagnosis through classification is often critical as the medical datasets are multilabel in nature, that is, a patient may have more than one health condition: high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. The aim of this article is to improve the accuracy and performance of multilabel classification using multilabel feature selection and improved overlapping clustering method. The proposed system consists of Optimized Initial Cluster Centers and Enhanced Objective Function technique to reduce the number of iterations in the clustering process thereby improving the clustering performance and to improve the clustering accuracy which will result in improving the accuracy and performance of multilabel classification. Ratios of clustering distance to class distance and execution time are used as the evaluation metric for accuracy and total execution time is used as the evaluation metric for performance. Based on the different combination with the number of labels, attributes, instances, and number of clusters, different values of accuracy and performance are obtained. The results on all 10 datasets show that the proposed technique is superior to the current technique. Furthermore, on average, the proposed technique has improved the classification accuracy by 5%–7%. Furthermore, the performance of new technique is improved by decreasing the processing time by 0.5–1 s on average. The proposed system targets on improving the accuracy and performance of the multilabel classification for medical diagnosis, which consists of multilabel feature selection and enhanced overlapping clustering technique. This study provides an acceptable range of accuracy with improved processing time, which assists the doctors in medical diagnosis (high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes) of patients.


Ensuring that women around the world have access to high-quality family planning (FP) information services and commodities requires commitments such as those made as part of Family Planning 2020 (FP2020). However a myriad of bottlenecks including diversion of funds due to competing priorities delays and leakages of resources limited contraceptive choice poor quality service provision and inadequate protection of women's rights can prevent these commitments from translating into real progress in family planning access quality and rights. Further limited resources and disincentives often limit government efforts to monitor and address these problems. New solutions are needed. In recent years accountability initiatives led by citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) have proliferated particularly in the health and education sectors. These initiatives also referred to as social accountability (SAc) initiatives are designed to empower citizens and ensure that government policy spending and services are high- quality efficient and responsive to citizens' needs. There is growing evidence that when appropriately designed and implemented these interventions produce important results including greater citizen agency and engagement higher quality and more appropriate services improved provider performance increased service utilization more efficient allocation and use of resources and improved development outcomes. With appropriate support social accountability initiatives in the FP sector can address bottlenecks and help FP programs achieve their goals. This study – led by the Results for Development Institute (R4D) with generous support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation – was designed to identify options to support stronger monitoring and accountability (M&A) particularly social accountability around Family Planning 2020 and family planning more broadly.


The basic core for the success of agricultural education programs over the years has been its reliance on the three intra-curricula components model. We have known these components traditionally as: 1) classroom/laboratory instruction 2) experiential learning through supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) and 3) leadership activities and training centered around the FFA. When these three components are combined with a well defined, integrated and organized plan for community engagement and support, existing agricultural programs become even stronger and more effective. Local school systems and various other educational agencies not currently providing an agricultural education experience for students are more likely to consider the importance and relevance of doing so. Two examples of this in the "community" of Eastern North Carolina, a rural region of North Carolina consisting of thirty-one counties located in the Coastal Plains area are: 1) a Bachelor of Science offering in Agriscience Education at Mount Olive College and 2) the establishment of the Bertie County Early College/ Agriscience High School. The idea for Mount Olive College to provide a Bachelor of Science in Agriscience Education began with a series of negotiations and meetings between Dr. Don Scott, who, at that time was the Director of the Mount Olive College Agribusiness Center, Dr. Barbara Kornegay, Vice President of Enrollment at Mount Olive College and other Mount Olive College officials. Their intent was to initiate a strategy for the Mount Olive College "community" and the Agricultural Education program to work together in a partnership that would benefit both programs and institutions. During these discussions it was noted that neither of the four year institutions in the state currently offering agricultural education programs were producing enough students to fill the demand for agriculture teachers in North Carolina. It was Dr. Scott's belief that a four year Agri-science program at Mount Olive College might be a good compliment to the already existing agribusiness program that was housed there. Later meetings also included Dr. Phil Hamilton and Dr. Sandy Maddox from Mount Olive College and various representatives from the Department of Agricultural & Extension Education at NC State. These meetings resulted in a proposal for a 3 plus 1 partnership agreement between Mount Olive College and North Carolina State University to establish the four year Agriscience Education program. Under the partnership agreement, students who enter the Agriscience Education program at Mount Olive College will receive their first three years of instruction at Mount Olive. They will then receive their final year of training, which includes their student teaching, with the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education at NC State. The students will receive a Mount Olive College diploma and recommendation for licensure from NC State. The partnership agreement has been finalized and the first students were accepted into the program during the 2007-08 academic year. Discussions are now underway to see if a similar partnership can be developed between Mount Olive College and North Carolina A & T State University. The establishment of the Bertie County Early College/Agriscience High School began while meeting with Bertie County School Superintendent Chip Zullinger. …


FuTUKE B3G TDD is designed to provide 100 Mbps peak data rate in both uplink and downlink. In this paper, based on the results from the field channel measurement, the radio transmission parameters of physical layer is optimized, and the downlink performance of FuTURE B3G TDD is evaluated in system level. To provide a multi-cell coverage, a soft frequency reuse is adopt. Further, a joint spatial and frequency scheduling is proposed to explore the multiuser diversity gain at both spatial and frequency domain. As the channel reciprocity can be obtained in TDD system, the Channel Status Information (CSI) can be exploited at the transmitter to obtain the spatial-frequency multiuser diversity by joint spatial-frequency subcarrier and antenna assignment of MIMO OFDMA for the independent fading of different user in spatial and frequency domain. With the optimised radio transmission parameters, the peak data rate and system throughput can be improved 12.7%. The downlink system throughput in multi-cell scenario can achieve about 30 Mbps with 4times2 MIMO in 10 MHz bandwidth.


BACKGROUND: Otosclerosis is one of the most leading causes of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane in adults. Stapes prostheses have seen many changes in its shape, design and material. Both Teflon and Titanium prostheses used in this study having different method of application are reviewed in detail.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of use of Teflon and Titanium prostheses in stapedotomy surgery in patients with conductive hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study SETTING: Tertiary referral centre
METHODS: A prospective study of 50 patients of otosclerosis, who underwent stapedotomy at B.J.Medical College, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, with Teflon/Titanium prostheses, from June 2009-February 2012 was done. Follow up was done for a minimum period of 6 months. Revision cases were excluded. A comparison of prostheses was concluded by differences in AB (Air Bone) Gap.
RESULT: Postoperative ABG of 20db or less was seen in 96% in both groups. The mean postoperative ABGap was 8.2 dB and 11.5 dB for Teflon and Titanium group respectively. There was no statistically significance difference noted in ABGap between Teflon and Titanium pistons at 95% confidence limit at P<0.05. There was significant improvement of AC thresholds at each frequency except for above 4 kHz, in postoperative period.
 CONCLUSION: Both prostheses provide equal benefit to patients and there is no statistically significant difference between the uses of Teflon/Titanium prostheses. Long term results are still to be analyzed.


Objective: Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is re-ported in the literature ranging from 1 to 14.2%. The aim of the present study was to as-sess the impact on patient's quality of life and symptoms of Flower pollen extract in asso-ciation with vitamins (Deprox 500®) in comparison with Serenoa repens 320 mg (Permix-on 320 mg® by Pierre Fabre) in patients with CP/CPPS. Methodology: All consecutive patients, with a diagnosis of CP/CPPS, referred to our center from January to August 2016, were screened to be enrolled in this single-center, random-ized, controlled trial. The main outcome measure was the evaluation of IPSS/NIH-CPSI (International Prostatic Symptom Score/NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index) score variation and the assessment of the quality of life and symptoms at the end of the thera-py. The second outcome measure was the evaluation of the comorbidity role in the CP/CPPS therapy. 63 patients were analyzed; patients were randomized into two groups: 29 patients were treated with Deprox 500® 2 tablets/day for 6 weeks and 34 patients with Serenoa repens 320 mg, 1 tablet/day for 6 weeks. Results: The mean score variation for IPSS was -12.7 ± 4.3 in the Deprox 500® group and -7.8 ± 4.7 in the Serenoa repens group (p=0.0005) while for NIH-CPSI was -17.3±3.1 in the Deprox 500® group and -13.6±4.8 in the Serenoa repens group (p=0.0016). By ac-counting only the symptoms part of NIH-CPSI questionnaire, the mean score variation reported was -11.5±2.5 in the Deprox 500® group and -9.02±4.0 in the Serenoa repens group (p=0.009321). Furthermore, analyzing the comorbidity subgroups, in patients with hypertension, the mean IPSS score variation was -14.3±3.2 in the Deprox 500® group and -9.02±4.0 in the Serenoa repens group. Conclusion: In conclusion, in patients with CP/CPPS, Deprox 500® improves IPSS and NIH-CPSI scores up to 74.5% and 84.5% respectively. Furthermore, in patients with hypertension, the antioxidant effect of Deprox 500® reduces the mean IPSS score of 82.7%.


Background and Purpose:Recent dual-task studies suggest that Tai Chi practitioners displayed better control of standing posture and maintained a quicker response time of postural muscle activation during a stepping down activity. Whether this effect extends to voluntary balance control, specifically the limits of excursion of the center of pressure, remains to be examined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cognitive-motor interference pattern by examining the effects of a concurrently performed cognitive task on attention of voluntary balance control in older adults who are long-term practitioners of Tai Chi. Methods:Ten older Tai Chi practitioners and 10 age-matched nonpractitioners performed a voluntary balance task that required them to shift their weight to reach a preset target in the forward and backward directions, with (single task, ST) and without (dual task, DT) a secondary cognitive task, which was the counting backward task. The counting backward task required the individual to compute and verbalize a series of arithmetic differences between a given pair of randomly generated numbers. The cognitive task was also performed independently (cognitive-ST). All trials were performed in a random order. Balance outcomes included reaction time, movement velocity, and maximal excursion of the center of pressure provided by the NeuroCom system. Cognitive outcome was the number of correct responses generated within the 8-second trial during the ST and DT conditions. Outcome variables were analyzed using a 2-factor, group by task, analysis of variance. DT costs for the variables were calculated as the relative difference between ST and DT conditions and were compared between the 2 groups using independent t tests. Results:Tai Chi practitioners displayed shorter reaction times (P < .001) and faster movement velocities (P < .05) of their center of pressure than older nonpractitioners for both directions; however, no difference was found between the maximal excursions of the 2 groups. Cost analyses revealed that reaction time and cognitive costs were significantly lower in the Tai Chi practitioners for both forward and backward directions (P < .05); however, similar findings for movement velocity costs were significant only in the backward direction (P < .05). Discussion and Conclusions:Our results suggest that Tai Chi practitioners expended fewer motor and cognitive resources than older nonpractitioners during a fairly complex (dynamic) postural equilibrium task while performing a verbal working memory task. They exhibited lesser cognitive-motor interference and thus better allocation of attentional resources toward the voluntary balance control task. Given that dynamic balance is a crucial prerequisite for walking and dual-tasking ability is considered to be a significant predictor of falls in older adults, our results might point at the possible long-term benefits of Tai Chi practice to counteract age-related decline in dual-tasking ability. Findings present preliminary data for further investigation, especially related to potential benefits in fall prevention.


In Canada, the audio-visual and print industries are referred to as the cultural industries, whereas the United States calls them the entertainment industries. These language distinctions are accompanied by different domestic policies and political discourses. The United States has relatively open policies toward these activities, while Canada has adopted an inward-looking approach. Failure to integrate cultural industries into NAFTA and WTO has led to trade disputes between Canada and the United States over copyrights, television licensing, violence in media, and discriminatory magazine policy, indicating the need for an agreed-upon process for settling cultural trade disputes."Much Ado about Culture" explores the differing sets of policies--cultural nationalism versus the open option--and the resulting conflicts in the context of technological developments as well as international agreements dealing with trade, investment, copyright, and labor movements. The Canadian cultural industries are examined, from film and television production and distribution to broadcasting, publishing, and sound recording. Several areas of recent conflict, such as "Sports Illustrated," Country Music Television, and Borders Books, highlight the types of policies disputed, the process followed, and the conclusions reached. Finally, the authors propose an alternative approach to constraining national cultural policies by international agreement that would allow the gains from openness to be realized while serving legitimate cultural concerns.Authored by the acknowledged experts on trade disputes in the cultural arena, this book will be essential reading for international economists, policymakers, and lawyers interested in the cultural industries.Keith Acheson and Christopher Maule are Professors of Economics, Carleton University, Ontario.


Garlic (Allium sativum) extract has been known to have inhibitory activity on various pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. The objective of present investigation was to study in vitro inhibitory activity of garlic extract on multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from human carious teeth. Filter sterilized aqueous extract of garlic was prepared and used in the present study. For isolation of S. mutans, extracted human carious teeth were cultured in Todd-Hewit broth and Mitis-Salivarius-Bacitracin agar. S. mutans was characterized by colony morphology, biochemical tests and other conventional bacteriological procedures. Disk sensitivity tests and broth dilution methods were used to determine antibiotic sensitivity profile and inhibitory activity of garlic extract on S. mutans isolated from carious teeth. Of 105 carious teeth tested, 92 (87.6%) isolates of S. mutans were recovered, among which 28 (30.4%) were MDR since they were resistant to four or more antibiotics. The highest rate of resistance was observed for tetracycline (30.4%) and least resistance (0%) to teichoplanin and vancomycin while 22.8% and 23.9% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin, respectively. Chlorhexidine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for MDR and non-MDR S. mutans varied from 2 to 16 microg ml(-1) and from 0.25 to 1 microg ml(-1), respectively (P<0.05). All isolates, MDR and non-MDR of S. mutans were sensitive to garlic extract with the MIC ranging from 4 to 32 microg ml(-1). Considering in vitro data obtained in the present study, mouthwashes or toothpaste containing optimum concentration of garlic extract could be used for prevention of dental caries.


Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yield is integrated through whole-plant and within-boll yield components. Crop management practices such as irrigation and plant density may impact yield. Thus, yield dynamics due to irrigation and plant density may result from changes in the most basic yield components. This study investigated howwithin-boll yield components are altered through irrigation and plant densities. Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Complex for Advanced Research and Extension Systems in Lamesa, TX in 2006 and 2007. Two contemporary cotton cultivars were arranged in a split-split plot design with irrigation rate as the main plot, cultivar as the subplot, and plant density as the subsubplot. Plants from 3 m of one row were removed from each plot and hand harvested by fruiting position. Then first fruiting position bolls from nodes 9 and 14 had their seeds separated by locule position. Seed number, mass and surface area, and lint mass and fiber number for each seed position were recorded. Individual seed surface area and mass increased as irrigation increased and plant density decreased. Seeds per locule increased with increased irrigation and decreased plant density. Superior within-locule yield components occurred in seed positions between the base and midpoint of the locule. Moreover, fiber number per unit seed surface area was not altered by any treatment, indicating it is probably a heritable yield component. Irrigation rate and plant density effects on cotton yield components occurred at the levels of the plant, within the boll, and even within the locule.


The Middle Jurassic Brent Group of the northern North Sea presents a mature and highly productive reservoir play fairway where a combination of effective facies analysis and depositional sequence stratigraphy offers real potential to optimize exploitation. The north of the Brent province differs from classically studied southern areas in being dominated by marginal-marine delta-front facies. A core- and log-based study of 37 wells around the Don fields was performed to establish a sequence stratigraphic framework, map facies and thereby describe facies architecture. The results demonstrate that reservoir quality and productivity are regionally and locally controlled by facies. Of particular interest are intervals of fluvio-estuarine channel to sharp-based shoreface sandstone that formed during sea-level lowstands, since it is these packages that boost well productivity but, conversely, also increase the risk of early water breakthrough on production. Analogy with the Saloum Delta of Senegal highlights the importance of rapid and continuous barrier migration and destruction in controlling the deflection and switching of fluvio-estuarine channels, explaining also the preferential preservation of channel-floor deposits over continuously eroded barrier and delta-top facies. Interpretations suggest that deposition in the study area was dominated by punctuated progradation of the Brent Delta, as periods of delta plain incision alternated with episodes of base-level rise and delta aggradation/progradation. A model of regression for the Brent Delta is presented, where the Rannoch, Etive and Ness formations are an amalgam of highstand, falling stage and lowstand systems tract deposits, and the Tarbert Formation is a transgressive systems tract deposit, with the delta responding to regional relative sea-level changes driven by uplift and deflation of the mid North Sea dome. The prograding Brent Delta is characterized as a succession of attached shorefaces formed by alternating periods of normal and forced regression. Significantly, this explains the long distance (>200 km) build out of the Brent Delta and the continued presence of coarse-sandstone packages, as well as the potential for high-quality reservoirs even in the distal reaches of the system. It also suggests that there is limited potential for lowstand fan plays beyond the northernmost tip of the delta.


Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) is a process of transferring electrical energy without using any physical wire or cable. There are two popular methods in WPT system which are Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) and Inductive Power Transfer (IPT). The main problem in the WPT is to produce high power in a long distance. There are studies that achieved power tansmission of more than 2 meters and power transfer of high voltage more than lkV however it is limited to creation of inverter and converter, translation of project into simulation without a clear physical project and not abiding to allowed frequency. This is proven by observation that there is lack of technique being explained in innovation and limited technical information given. Hence the development of wireless power transfer is slow and its market potential is still unclear. In order for the wireless power transfer to be beneficial for the lifestyle of community, it should be produced according to specification and its ability to function should be put as priority. Therefore, the objective in this research is to develope a new topology known as superimposed technique in order to overcome the existing problem. Many researchers had designed an inverter with high power and high efficiency but in their research, it was found that the short distance has been used although the power produced is high. The energy transfer happens when the transmitter resonance with the receiver, hence the main element in WPT is a transmitter system. Higher voltage suppression by transmitter produce higher power and distance of transmission. Wireless Power Transfer is designed with capability to transfer 231 Watt electrical energy for each transmitter wirelessly. A huge number of experiments are required to be completed, hence statistical analysis is needed to reduce it. Taguchi method has been used in this experiment to reduce number of experiments, cost and time. Taguchi method has reduced 98% number of experiments and improved 10% output power. Based on WPT principle, one of the important parameter is a coil. Size of coil had been explored by increasing the diameter size. 16cm and 160cm diamater size of coil had been explored using algorithm approach by Taguchi method. Result shows that by increasing the diameter size the distance had been improved by 500%. During transmission of electricity, a few factors need to be considered such as barrier and environment. In order to identify the performance of WPT, the system had been embedded in soil as a comparison with open area. The performance of transferring electrical energy by embedment in soil is explored with the distance losses in range 1 % to 3%, losses for current in range 1.5% to 15% and voltage drop in range 3% to 10%. The losses is depending on the distance between transmitter and receiver. WPT system had been developed to support electrical energy from solar PV. Eventhough there are many software to identify the sun radiation but in real implementation, the manual inspection is needed. Based on HOMER analysis, annual average energy for sun radiation for daily data is 5.16kW/m2. Manual inspection covered three areas in north Peninsular Malaysia. Based on development for single coil, the power system was developed to transfer 4000Wp energy from solar pv. The name of the device given is 'The Chargiszi" where the purpose of the design is to supply electrical energy for mobile phone and laptop wirelessly. The minimum distance for power transfer is 130cm with efficiency of 18.42% with 42.55W (between transmitter and receiver) for ac voltage and 200cm for 5V application (14.7W). Receiver is one of the part to be used in order to avoid disconnected energy while transferring as an online power transfer. Hybrid system had been developed between online power transfer and energy storage to avoid disturbance. Design of power system based on requirement from user and enviroment must be considered before implementation of WPT technology.


The writer of this thesis became interested in the poetry of Christina Georgina Rossetti through the study of \The Blessed Damozel," a poem by her brother Dante Gabriel. After receiving some helpful suggestions from her adviser, the writer decided to make a rather thorough and careful study of Miss Rossetti's poems. In the meantime, the adviser, Dr. Myrta E. McGinnis, head of the English Department, selected Dr. Clarice Short as director and guide for the study. Dr. Clarice Short suggested that the writer make an additional study of the poetry of Emily Jane Bronte to ascertain likenesses and unlikenesses in the two poets, thereby making it a comparative study. After utilizing every available source in Forsyth Library to gain knowledge about the two poets and after a rapid reading of the poems of these two women, the writer decided upon making a comparative study of the religion or philosophy of life of Emily Jane Bronte and Christina Georgina Rossetti through the medium of their literary works. In pursuing this study, the author read practically all the poems of Emily Jane Bronte and Christina Georgina Rossetti. During a rapid reading of the poems, she selected for a more detailed and thorough study those poems of each poet which seemed to be pertinent to and illustrative of the proposed problem. As far as the writer could learn, there are not many graduate students who have written theses on these two poets. In consulting the lists of theses available in Forsyth Library, the author found that Miss Wilhelmina Rose Schreiner wrote a thesis in 1937 entitled : \The Criticism of Emily Bronte, 11 and Miss Mary Louise McCluskey on \Christina G. Rossetti: The Development of her Character and its Effect on her Poetry\ in 1941. Both of these studies were made at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1931, Miss Eleanor Walter Thomas wrote a doctoral dissertation: \Christina Rossetti\ at Columbia University.


This study aims to understand the variability of net ecosystem metabolism in a tropical sea. The contrasting pattern of metabolic state between wet and dry seasons was caused by the pronounced difference of river exports in the Kaoping coastal sea. The depth-integrated gross primary production (IGPP) through the euphotic zone ranged from 2451 to 16 230 mg C m–2 day–1 in summer, and from 844 to 5549 mg C m–2 day–1 in winter, and was apparently regulated by oceanic temperature, nutrients and organic carbon. The depth-integrated dark community respiration (IDCR), attributed largely to bacterial respiration (BR, ~69%), ranged from 861 to 12 418 mg C m–2 day–1 in summer, and from 997 to 5781 mg C m–2 day–1 in winter. GPP and DCR correlated inversely with salinity but positively with nutrients, Chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC). The autotrophic state (IGPP : IDCR > 1) prevailed in most stations in summer, whereas the heterotrophic state (IGPP : IDCR < 1) occurred in all but Station B1 in winter. Bacterial production (BP) and bacterial respiration (BR) also correlated inversely with salinity but positively with nutrients and DOC. Bacterial carbon demand (BCD) was 0.15 GPP in summer and 0.64 GPP in winter, supporting the autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions in summer and winter, respectively. The metabolic state is apparently determined by seasonal variation of temperature and river exports.


Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is an immune-mediated retinopathy, resulting from an immunologic process caused by the aberrant recognition of retinal antigens as autoantigens. The diagnosis of AIR involves the detection of antiretinal antibodies with concurrent clinical and electrophysiological evidence of retinopathy. A 40-year-old patient presented with progressive loss of bilateral vision over several months. A fundus examination was unremarkable. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed a blurred photoreceptor ellipsoid zone at the subfoveal region in both eyes with more prominent disruption in the left eye. Fullfield electroretinography (ERG) showed relatively normal rod and cone responses in the right eye, and decreased photopic bwaves with minimal attenuation of a-waves in the left eye. Multifocal ERG demonstrated slightly reduced amplitude of the inner segment ring in the right eye and decreased amplitudes and delayed latencies of all modalities in the left eye. The patient was suspected to have AIR and it was supported by positive Western blots for 23-kDa protein, enolase (46-kDa), aldolase (40-kDa), 62-kDa and 78-kDa proteins and by immunohistochemical staining of human retinal bipolar and ganglion cells. Despite the immunosuppressive treatment, the destruction of the retinal photoreceptors progressed, and immunosuppressive interventions produced very little visual improvement. We report on what is, to the best of our knowledge, the very first case of serologically confirmed nonparaneoplastic AIR in Korea.


We have performed angle-dependent reflectance measurements of in situ magnetron sputtered films of B(4)C, C, Mo, Si, and W. The Fresnel relations were used to determine the complex index of refraction from the reflectance data in the region of approximately 35-150 eV. In the cases of Si, C, and B(4)C we found excellent agreement with published data. However, for Mo and W we found that the optical properties from 35 to 60 eV differed significantly from those in the literature.


Many problems involving fluid flow can now be simulated numerically, providing a useful predictive tool for a wide range of engineering applications. Of particular interest in this thesis are computational methods for solving the problem of compressible fluid flow around aerodynamic configurations.

A finite element method is presented for solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions on unstructured meshes. The method is stablized by the addition of a least-squares operator (an inexpensive simplification of the Galerkin least-squares method), leading to solutions free of spurious oscillations. Convergence to steady state is reached via a backward Euler time-stepping scheme, and the use of local time-steps allows convergence to be accelerated. The choice of both the nonlinear solver, which is employed to solve the algebraic system arising at each time-step, and the iterative method used within this solver, is fully discussed, along with an inexpensive technique for approximating the Jacobian matrix.

In order to obtain accurate solutions more effectively, the idea of adapting the mesh is investigated, and two distinct methods of mesh refinement are described in detail. These are the addition of nodes to the mesh in regions determined by an error indicator (h - refinement ) and the local repositioning of existing nodes using the value of this error indicator across neighbouring elements (r - refinement). As well as considering these adaptive techniques separately, we introduce an original algorithm which combines the two ideas, with results indicating that this combination is an effective approach. The example problems used consist mainly of steady transonic flow at low to moderate Reynolds numbers.

Transient flow problems are also considered, and we examine the difficulties which occur when the method of lines is used as a solution technique and h-refinement (including derefinement of elements) is carried out.


Allowing agents to share information through communication is crucial for solving complex tasks in multi-agent reinforcement learning. In this work, we consider the question of whether a given communication protocol can express an arbitrary policy. By observing that many existing protocols can be viewed as instances of graph neural networks (GNNs), we demonstrate the equivalence of joint action selection to node labelling. With standard GNN approaches provably limited in their expressive capacity, we draw from existing GNN literature and consider augmenting agent observations with: (1) unique agent IDs and (2) random noise. We provide a theoretical analysis as to how these approaches yield universally expressive communication, and also prove them capable of targeting arbitrary sets of actions for identical agents. Empirically, these augmentations are found to improve performance on tasks where expressive communication is required, whilst, in general, the optimal communication protocol is found to be task-dependent.


Research suggests that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display movement impairments that are distinct from typically developing peers. Results from numerous studies suggest various and inconsistent findings. Therefore, movement differences in children with ASD should continue to be assessed. The current study examined the characteristics of gait and balance in children with ASD, between the ages of 7 and 11, by comparing behavioral observation and parent report. As two of the most frequent behaviors of movement and two of the main movements implicated in neurological disorders, an evaluation of how these behaviors differ in children with ASD will offer a better understanding of this spectrum of disorders to those who are affected, their families, and support services. Gait characteristics and balance abilities were examined in four children with ASD. Parent questionnaires were completed for each participant and compared to behavioral observations. Results supported previous research that suggests that children with ASD exhibit atypical gait patterns. Additionally, parent reports were consistent with behavioral observation. Implications are discussed in detail. Movement Differences in Children with Autism 3


Evidence is presented that properties of objects, or events, or man-made artifacts in the natural world are clustered in a multidimensional space. Hence observations made by different sense modalities can be highly correlated. Such clustering favors perceptual inference, increasing its robustness, as well as supporting generalizations.