This paper presents a matrix–vector computational library written in the C++ language. Effective matrix–vector manipulation is an essential aspect of scientific numerical modeling, especially while using the finite element method. Even though there are a lot of matrix libraries written in C++ which are freely or commercially available on the Internet, most of them are either too complicated or too simple, i.e. with very limited capabilities. Therefore, the main idea is to develop a reliable matrix library, as part of the computer code in C++, which will be, at the same time, as simple as possible and as complex as possible. Consequently, the basic motto of the library, which is called SMV++, is "Simple and effective" and it is meant to be of use to researchers dedicated to reliable obtained results and not to the "beauty of programming." The library is developed without use of the template concept and inheritance, with the purpose of understanding it easily and of extending it easily with new possibilities and algorithms. Last but not least, it is aimed at having a simple and intuitive user interface. The bottom line is that the SMV++ is not meant to be of use to someone who is in the software development business. Rather, it is oriented to the user who has a modest programming knowledge (e.g. a Ph.D. student) and who is basically concerned about how to obtain the solution to the considered problem, for which he has to do some "homemade programming," because the available commercial software cannot be applied for all of his/her needs. Consequently, as mentioned, the motto of the library is "Simple and effective"; the effectiveness is in the sense of complexity of possibilities, rather than computational efficiency. However, if one is forced to choose between the two in the development of the library, having in mind the target users, priority is given to simplicity of use.


Reading literary production from different literary and cultural backgrounds has been enabled by the growth of postcolonial studies. Postcolonial studies and its comparative perspective, however, have focused almost entirely on literary production from the British Empire. This paper aims to address these limitations by engaging with the work carried out by scholars on the links between postcolonial studies and the new comparative literature, and by exploring the possibilities that this engagement offers. This kind of work leads to an active exploration of a dialogue between writers, theorists and scholars working on the British and French empires, so that a truly comparative literature might emerge. The other aim of this paper is to translate this kind of comparative literature into an exploration of the links between postcolonial African fiction of French and English expression.


The decomposition theory of matroids initiated by Paul Seymour in the 1980s has had an enormous impact on research in matroid theory. This theory, when applied to matrices over the binary field, yields a powerful decomposition theory for binary linear codes. In this paper, we give an overview of this code decomposition theory, and discuss some of its implications in the context of the recently discovered formulation of maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding of a binary linear code over a binary-input discrete memoryless channel as a linear programming problem. We translate matroid-theoretic results of Grotschel and Truemper from the combinatorial optimization literature to give examples of nontrivial families of codes for which the ML decoding problem can be solved in time polynomial in the length of the code. One such family is that consisting of codes for which the codeword polytope is identical to the Koetter-Vontobel fundamental polytope derived from the entire dual code Cperp. However, we also show that such families of codes are not good in a coding-theoretic sense-either their dimension or their minimum distance must grow sublinearly with code length. As a consequence, we have that decoding by linear programming, when applied to good codes, cannot avoid failing occasionally due to the presence of pseudocode words.


This brief article particularly focuses on my 'piercing memories' of the 1976—83 military dictatorship when visiting a photography exhibition about the missing people. As an Argentinean born in Buenos Aires 30 years ago, I do not have many personal recollections of the period of dictatorship, yet the photographs of the exhibition act as external memory devices, enabling me to reconstruct and re-encounter both the largely forgotten and unarticulated personal experiences as well as the socially shared memories about what happened under the dictatorship. Despite the lack of first-hand knowledge and direct suffering — I do not have a missing relative - my 'piercing memories' of this traumatic period in Argentinean history are still very emotionally loaded and play a central role in defining my identity and personal motivations.


Here we describe an unprecedented synthetic approach to poly(styrene)-supported chiral salen ligands by the free radical polymerization of an unsymmetrical styryl-substituted salen monomer (H2salen = bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine). The new method allows for the attachment of salen moieties to the polymer main chain in a flexible, pendant fashion, avoiding grafting reactions that often introduce ill-defined species on the polymers. Moreover, the loading of the salen is controlled by the copolymerization of the styryl-substituted salen monomer with styrene in different ratios. The polymeric salen ligands are metallated with cobalt(II) acetate to afford the corresponding supported Co-salen complexes, which are used in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epichlorohydrin, exhibiting high reactivity and enantioselectivity. Remarkably, the copolymer-supported Co-salen complexes showed a better catalytic performance (>99 % ee, 54 % conversion, one hour) in comparison to the homopolymeric analogues and the small molecule Co-salen complex. The soluble poly(styrene)-supported catalysts were recovered by precipitation after the catalytic reactions and were recycled three times to afford almost identical enantiomeric excesses as the first run, with slightly reduced reaction rates.


Abstract Existing schemes for the palynozonation of the Namurian deposits in western Europe require updating to reflect improvements in both independent biostratigraphical calibration and species distribution data. New biozonation proposals are presented which include the accurate positioning of all biozonal boundaries and the establishment of new sub-biozonal units within the Pendleian – Alportian sections. The base of the renamed Cingulizonates cf capistratus – Bellispores nitidus (CN) Biozone is placed within the late Brigantian and a new unit, the C. cf. capistratus (Cc) Sub-Biozone, with an upper boundary coincident with the Viséan – Namurian Stage boundary is proposed. The Pendleian part of the revised CN Biozone is established as the Verrucosisporites morulatus (Vm) Sub-Biozone. Additional data from the Lycospora subtriquetra – Kraeuselisporites ornatus (SO) Biozone, in the interval adjacent to the proposed Mid - Carboniferous Boundary, permits the establishment of L. subtriquetra – Apiculatisporis variocorneus (SV)Sub-Biozone in the upper part of the Arnsbergian Stage and the L. subtriquetra – Cirratriradites rarus (SR) Sub-Biozone which occupies the Chokierian and most of the Alportian stages. The base of the Crassispora kosankei – Grumosisporites varioreticulatus (KV) Biozone is repositioned into the upper part of the Alportian Stage. Comparable assemblages described from the Silesian Coal Basins of Poland are discussed and correlations between the palynozonations of both areas are suggested.


SUMMARY Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus is a digenean parasite believed to be involved in a yearly fall die-off of ducks in Québec, Canada. Hatching characteristics of eggs stored at 7°C for 0–28 weeks in the lab and following maintenance overwinter in a lake are described. The hatching success of eggs stored for 4–28 weeks remained constant (71–81 %) but slightly less than that observed in fresh eggs (90%). The hatching success of eggs kept overwinter under natural conditions did not differ from that of eggs stored an equivalent length of time in the lab at 7°C (74·7 and 75·8%, respectively). With the exception of fresh eggs (17·7 days), the mean hatch time of eggs steadily decreased with increased storage time (18·9 days following 4 weeks storage to 11·4 days at 28 weeks storage) due to a slow embryonation of the eggs at 7°C. Hatching characteristics of a subsample of eggs incubated at 10, 15 and 20°C were compared and the embryonation rate was found to increase with incubation temperature. The majority of eggs stored at 10°C embryonated but failed to hatch. When their incubation temperature was raised to 15°C, a further 46% hatched within the following week. The survivorship functions of miracidia hatching from eggs stored for 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks differed but the mean expected life-span of the miracidia did not decline with increasing storage time as expected. The results of these experiments are discussed in relation to the potential importance of overwintered eggs in the development of the infective pool of metacercariae.


This paper proposes a tool for the classification of domain-specific intraterm relations. It thus aims to present both the process and the product of classifying these relations. First, a description is given of how semantic relations and — more specifically — intraterm relations are understood and represented. Then, a structured set of relational schemas is presented, based mainly on insights from cognitive semantics and functional linguistics. Finally, the general model is applied to the semantic classification of complex terms. This step is specific in several ways: in the type of relation (internal semantic relations of complex terms), in the subject field (ceramic tile manufacturing) and in the languages analysed (German and Spanish). The advantage of this procedure is that, if applied to different subject fields, the resulting classifications can reach a high degree of specificity, but they are nonetheless comparable due to the fact that they will be based on a common theoretical background and methodology of classification.


The recent global food and financial crises have reversed the last decade's progress in reducing hunger and poverty. This paper conducts a factor and sequential typology analysis to identify groups of countries categorized according to five measures of food security—consumption, production, imports, distribution, and agricultural potential—by using indicators from 175 countries. The analysis first identifies five distinct food security groups, characterized by food intake, and then further splits these groups based on the various measures of food production, trade security, and agricultural potential. The results suggest that the general category of "developing countries" is extremely heterogeneous and is not particularly useful if the focus is on issues of food security. The results also indicate that different responses are needed by different types of food-insecure countries to address the food and financial crises.


In this work we extend the domain-theoretic approach of the generalized Riemann integral introduced by A. Edalat in 1995. We begin by laying down a related theory of general Riemann integration for bounded real-valued functions on an arbitrary set X with a finitely additive measure on an algebra of subsets of X. Based on the theory developed we obtain a formula to calculate integral of a bounded function in terms of the regular Riemann integral. By classical extension theorems on set functions we can further extend this generalized Riemann integral to more general set functions such as valuations on lattices of subsets. For the setting of bounded functions defined on a continuous domain D with a Borel measure for the Scott topology, we can compute the Riemann integral of a function effectively and so the value of the integral can be obtained up to a given accuracy. By invoking the results of J. Lawson we can extend this type of Riemann integral to maximal point spaces, as a special case of the Polish spaces. Furthermore we show that when X is a compact metric space, our approach of Riemann integration is equivalent to the generalized Riemann integration introduced by A. Edalat in the sense that the two integrals yield the same value. Finally we prove that the approach of integration taken by R. Heckmann is equivalent to our approach, and the values of the integrals are the same.


This work examines some of the fundamental problems behind the control of wave energy converters (WECs). Several new perspectives are presented to aid the understanding of the problem and the interpretation of the literature. The first of these is a group of methods for classifying control of WECs. One way to classify control is to consider the stage of power transfer from the wave to the final energy carrier. Consideration of power transfer can also be used to classify WECs into families. This approach makes it possible to classify all WECs, including those that had previously eluded classification. It also relates the equations of motion of different classes of WECs to a generalised equation of motion. This in turn clarifies why some types of control are suited to some WECs, but not others. These classification systems are used to demarcate the boundary for the theoretical work that follows. The theory applies to WECs with governing equations of motion that are linear, and to control systems that are linear, aim to maximise power, and which regulate the PTO stage of power flow. Another important perspective is the new wet and dry oscillator paradigm, which is used to differentiate between frequency domain modelling and a commonly used technique, monochromatic modelling. This distinction is necessary background for many of the new ideas discussed. It is used to resolve an ongoing debate in wave energy research: whether frequency domain modelling can be applied to cases that are not monochromatic. It is the key to an extension to the theory of capture width, a widely used performance indicator. This distinction is also the rationale behind an improved method of presenting frequency domain results: the frequency responses due to both monochromatic and polychromatic forcing are represented on the same graph. These responses are different because the optimal control problem is acausal, a topic that is also discussed in depth. This visual tool is used to investigate and confirm various ideas about the control of WECs, and to demonstrate how the newly redefined capture width encapsulates the essential control problem of WECs. The optimal control problem is said to be acausal because information about the future is required to achieve optimal control. Another vantage point offered is that of the duration of the prediction interval required for optimal control. This is given by a new parameter emerging from this work, which has been termed the premonition time. The premonition time depends on the amount of knowledge required, which is determined by the geometry of the WEC, and the amount of information available, which is largely determined by the bandwidth of the sea state. The new perspectives introduced are the various systems of classification, the wet and dry oscillator paradigm, the presentation of monochromatic and polychromatic results on the same axes, premonition time, and the revised theory on capture width. These are all used to discuss the interrelationship between WEC geometry, the control strategy and the sea-state. The opportunities for, and limitations of, the use of intelligent control techniques such as artificial neural networks are discussed. The potential contribution of various control strategies and associated design principles is explored. This discussion culminates in a series of recommendations for control strategies that are suited to each class of WEC, and for the areas of research that have the potential to bring about the greatest reductions in the cost of harnessing energy from sea waves. Declaration of originality I hereby declare that the research recorded in this thesis and the thesis itself was composed and originated entirely by myself in the School of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh, unless otherwise stated. This work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification.


The results of this study demonstrate that the spontaneously hypertensive rat is sensitive to salt excess. The hypertensinogenic effect of salt was mediated through elevation of peripheral vascular resistance. The addition of DOCA aggravated the hypertension, mainly be elevating the cardiac output without appreciably decreasing peripheral vascular resistance. SHR'S EXPOSED TO 1% NaCl consumed more fluids and excreted more sodium and urine than control rats. Those exposed to 1% NaCl and DOCA had higher fluid consumptions and excreted more sodium than the other two groups. These effects of sodium in a neurogenic strain of hypertensive rats suggest a possible interplay between the neurogenic and salt-dependent components in the development and maintenance of hypertension. They also suggest that SHRs, like other hypertensive rat models, are salt sensitive.


Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), a member of the Ig superfamily, is found on endothelial cells and neutrophils and has been shown to be involved in the migration of leukocytes across the endothelium. Adhesion is mediated, at least in part, through binding interactions involving its first N-terminal Ig-like domain, but it is still unclear which sequences in this domain are required for in vivo function. Therefore, to identify functionally important regions of the first Ig-like domain of PECAM-1 that are required for the participation of PECAM-1 in in vivo neutrophil recruitment, a panel of mAbs against this region of PECAM-1 was generated and characterized in in vitro adhesion assays and in an in vivo model of cutaneous inflammation. It was observed that mAbs that disrupted PECAM-1-dependent homophilic adhesion in an L cell aggregation assay also blocked TNF- a -induced intradermal accumulation of neutrophils in a transmigration model using human skin transplanted onto SCID mice. Localization of the epitopes of these Abs indicated that these function-blocking Abs mapped to specific regions on either face of domain 1. This suggests that these regions of the first Ig-like domain may contain or be close to binding sites involved in PECAM-1-dependent homophilic adhesion, and thus may represent potential targets for the development of antiinflammatory reagents. The Journal of Immunology,


The process of looking back on the Holocaust is one of a double nature: it can bring both enlightenment and a paralyzing pain, particularly for its survivors. This volume addresses the process of looking back, the challenges to understanding of unimaginable horrors that took place, and how academia, media, popular attitudes, and even judicial mind-sets handle that process. A collection of nineteen essays, this book is organized into four sections: the first focuses on how various fields of study can open new perspectives on the Holocaust and sharpen old ones; the second examines culture and politics in Germany before and after 1933; the third addresses the problems associated with the memorialization of those years; and the final section examines the shocking denials of the Holocaust.


A growing body of research has associated brain oscillations with the cognitive process of selective attention, as well as visual perception. Modulation of alpha frequency band (8-14Hz) has been related to changes in perception and attention with an inverse correlation between alpha amplitude and perceptual ability. To date the association between alpha and target detection has been shown in numerous studies but using only near-threshold stimuli. Here we attempt to study the extent to which visual entrainment at alpha and non-alpha frequencies will affect attention in a more complex, higher level target detection task. In the current experiment subjects took part in a visual search task where they were instructed to find a target among a set of distractors. The visual search display was preceded by a stimulus which either flickered in alpha (10Hz), non-alpha (random flicker sequence with an average of 10 Hz) frequency or was a static control. Given that alpha entrainment has been shown to enhance endogenous alpha levels, we predicted alpha entrainment to increase reaction time (RT) for target detection. On the other hand, as non-alpha stimulation should prevent alpha synchronisation, we predicted shorter RTs in this condition. The results reveal that non-alpha flicker stimulation resulted in significantly faster target detection in the visual search task compared to the control condition. Alpha entrainment gave rise to marginally slower RTs than non-alpha, while at the same time marginally faster than the control. The pattern of results suggests that entrainment allows for quicker responses than in the static control condition. These results are in line with research showing that inhibition of alpha is associated with better attentional and perceptual performance. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.


The topic of this book fits in with the recently growing interest in phraseology and fixedness in English. It offers a description of multi-word verbs in the language of the 17th and 18th centuries, an important formative period for Modern English. For the first time, multi-word verbs are treated together as a group, as it is argued that phrasal verbs, prepositional verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs, verb-adjective combinations and verbo-nominal combinations share defining characteristics. These characteristics are also reflected in similar possibilities of usage, in particular the subtle modification of verbal meaning and these verbs' potential for topicalization structures, both leading to a greater expressiveness. Using a new text collection, the Lampeter Corpus of Early Modern English Tracts (1640-1740), the study provides a description of the multi-word verb types found, their syntactic behaviour, and their semantic structure. The composition of the corpus also allowed the examination of the development of these verbs over time and in different registers. The corpus study is supplemented by an investigation of attitudes towards multi-word verbs with the help of contemporary works on language, leading to a more speculative discussion of the factors influencing the choice between multi-word and simplex verbs.


Developments in national fisheries and marine environmental policies during the last 30 years have changed the relationship between coastal communities and the marine resources that people in these communities traditionally harvested. In Norway, for example, when the state authorities have made decisions to defend what they regard as national interests, the local level has been left with authority over minor issues related to area planning in the coastal zone. Although coastal planning until recently was about sharing fishing areas between different users, we now see a spatial dimension emerging in planning, giving it a much broader scope. The processes of defining spatial properties and creating coastal space as a governable object have the potential to empower local communities. These processes contribute to enhanced local control and improved local participation in the governance of natural resources. In Norway, the 2008 Planning and Building Act strengthened the role of municipalities in local planning. In addition, the application of a new three-dimensional, spatial approach to coastal planning may create opportunities for new control over local resources. In marine spatial planning (MSP) the natural resources are seen as part of coastal spatial properties; thus, governing of sea space implies resource governance. As our examples illustrate, considerable power is associated with the ability to identify and define the properties of coastal space. MSP could become an important tool for controlling local resources, rebuilding collapsed fisheries, and managing them sustainably at the level of municipalities.


With the rapid increase in adoption of consumer technologies, including inexpensive but powerful hardware, robotics appears poised at the cusp of widespread deployment in human environments. A key barrier that still prevents this is the machine understanding and interpretation of human activity, through a perceptual medium such as computer vision, or RBG-D sensing such as with the Microsoft Kinect sensor. This thesis contributes novel video-based methods for activity recognition. Specifically, the focus is on activities that involve interactions between the human user and objects in the environment. Based on streams of poses and object tracking, machine learning models are provided to recognize various of these interactions. The thesis main contributions are (1) a new model for interactions that explicitly learns the human-object relationships through a latent distributed representation, (2) a practical framework for labeling chains of manipulation actions in temporally extended activities and (3) an unsupervised sequence segmentation technique that relies on slow feature analysis and spectral clustering. These techniques are validated by experiments with publicly available data sets, such as the Cornell CAD-120 activity corpus which is one of the most extensive publicly available such data sets that is also annotated with ground truth information. Our experiments demonstrate the advantages of the proposed methods, over and above state of the art alternatives from the recent literature on sequence classifiers.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the market risk disclosure practices among Malaysian listed firms. Specifically, it aims to examine the level of compliance with FRS132: Financial Instruments – Disclosure and Presentation for financial periods beginning or after 2006. Design/methodology/approach - The approach taken is content analysis and coding procedure. Findings - Although a large number of companies have shown compliance with FRS132 in relation to disclosing the financial risk management policy, there are systematic differences across companies in terms of level of details (i.e. qualitative and quantitative) disclosure. Interest rate disclosure was the most mentioned category and the credit risk was the least mentioned category of market risk. There is telling evidence that most Malaysian firms did not engage in hedging any type of market risk over the reporting period of 2006-2007. Research limitations/implications - There is a need for some standardized risk reporting format to achieve greater financial transparency to make investors aware of the market risks. Originality/value - This is believed to be the first study to provide survey findings on the use of derivatives instruments by listed firms in Malaysia.


The Bushveld Complex consists of three roughly coeval components, namely the Lebowa Granite Suite, the Rashoop Granophyre, and the Rustenburrg Layered Suite (RLS), the latter being the only economically important unit. The RLS underlies an area of ∼65,000 km2 in the northeast sector of South Africa, and is the oldest and largest mafic-layered complex in the world (Figure 1). It is also the largest repository of magmatic ore deposits and hosts, inter alia, 80% of the world's platinum-group-metal (PGM) resources and most of the chromitite resources. Over an east-west distance of roughly 350 km, the RLS outcrops as three apparently discrete, crescent-shaped lobes (the Western, Eastern and Northern limbs) and lies below cover rocks along the southeastern limb. The far Western Limb is currently not of economic significance. Lithologies range across mafic and ultramafic cumulates plus anorthosites. Pseudo-stratigraphic layering exhibits dips of 8–20° toward the center of the complex. The UG2 and Merensky "reefs" constitute the major PGM-bearing horizons of mining interest and fall close to the top of the 1500-m thick Critical Zone, an assemblage of alternating leuconorite, anorthosite, and pyroxene rocks outcropping midway through the RLS succession.


This report explores mainstream Canadian newspaper coverage of HIV non-disclosure criminal cases in Canada. It pays particular attention to how defendants' race and immigration status figure into the newspaper representations of such cases. We empirically enquire into claims that African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) people living with HIV are negatively portrayed and overrepresented in Canadian newspaper stories about HIV non-disclosure cases. Our analysis is based on what, to our knowledge, is the largest data set of news coverage of the issue: a corpus of 1680 English-language Canadian newspaper articles about HIV non-disclosure criminal cases in Canada written between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 2015. Our quantitative and qualitative findings show that Canadian mainstream newspapers are a source of profoundly stigmatizing representations of ACB men living with HIV. For example, Black immigrant men living with HIV are dramatically overemphasized in Canadian mainstream newspaper stories about such cases. While these men account for only 15% of defendants charged they are the focus of 61% of newspaper coverage. Mainstream newspapers rely on forms of language that transfer a long history of exaggerated connections between criminality, race, sex, and otherness to the site of HIV. The result is that ACB men living with HIV are repeatedly represented as dangerous, hypersexual, foreigners who pose a threat to the health and safety of individuals (White women) and, more broadly, the imagined Canadian nation.


Purpose Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) originate from monocytes and differentiate into mature macrophages. The interaction between cancer cells and TAMs promotes tumor growth and suppresses immunosurveillance. However, this phenomenon has seldom been observed in ampullary cancer. Patients and Methods TAMs in ampullary cancer were investigated using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of cancer tissues. Bioinformatic analysis of data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database revealed transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling in ampullary cancer. The complementary DNA microarray of cancer was compared with adjacent normal duodenum and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum was used to verify TGF-β signaling in patients. The THP-1 cell line was activated in vitro to imitate M2 TAMs. ClueGo and CluePedia software were operated to simulate TGF-β-related networks in ampullary cancer. Results The IHC study revealed that the majority of TAMs inside ampullary cancer were cluster of differentiation (CD)163+ cells and that the expression of mature CD68+ macrophages was correlated with advanced cancer stage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that TGF-β and its downstream signaling were significantly upregulated. To verify our bioinformatics-derived predictions, we performed several experiments and demonstrated that increased TGF-β expression was detected in the cDNA microarray. Higher serum levels of TGF-β were correlated with fewer CD68+ and more inducible nitric oxide synthase macrophages in ampullary cancer. Treatment with TGF-β induced modulation of THP-1-derived macrophages. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that TGF-β modulates macrophage activity in ampullary cancer. Targeting TGF-β could be an approach to activating immunosurveillance.


Legislators depend upon their respective electoral districts for reelection. As a result, they face incentives to advance the interests of their constituencies, even when those interested are at odds with the wider interests of the country as a whole. These incentives generate logrolling, pork barrel projects, and other effects that are potentially detrimental to the national interest. Any solution to these problems would have to align the interests of legislators more closely with the national interest. This paper explores one possible proposal for accomplishing this aim. The proposal would require candidates seeking legislative election (or reelection) to run in different districts for primary and general elections. While a candidate would be at liberty to seek nomination by a particular party in any district she chooses, once nominated she would be required to face the candidates of other parties in another district selected at random. The result would be that legislators would make decisions behind what we call a veil of randomness.Our paper describes such a rule, including its philosophical and economic underpinnings, and subsequently demonstrates how the rule changes each politician's preference function to align with a more universal interest. It concludes by reflecting upon the lessons of this proposal for the project of institutional reform.


Lensless illumination single-pixel imaging with a multicore fiber (MCF) is a computational imaging technique that enables potential endoscopic observations of biological samples at cellular scale. In this work, we show that this technique is tantamount to collecting multiple symmetric rank-one projections (SROP) of a Hermitian \emph{interferometric} matrix -- a matrix encoding the spectral content of the sample image. In this model, each SROP is induced by the complex \emph{sketching} vector shaping the incident light wavefront with a spatial light modulator (SLM), while the projected interferometric matrix collects up to $O(Q^2)$ image frequencies for a $Q$-core MCF. While this scheme subsumes previous sensing modalities, such as raster scanning (RS) imaging with beamformed illumination, we demonstrate that collecting the measurements of $M$ random SLM configurations -- and thus acquiring $M$ SROPs -- allows us to estimate an image of interest if $M$ and $Q$ scale linearly (up to log factors) with the image sparsity level, hence requiring much fewer observations than RS imaging or a complete Nyquist sampling of the $Q \times Q$ interferometric matrix. This demonstration is achieved both theoretically, with a specific restricted isometry analysis of the sensing scheme, and with extensive Monte Carlo experiments. Experimental results made on an actual MCF system finally demonstrate the effectiveness of this imaging procedure on a benchmark image.


Aims. We present the results of high-resolution optical spectroscopy, low-resolution near-IR spectroscopy and near-infrared speckle interferometry of the massive young stellar object candidate V645 Cyg, acquired to refine its fundamental parameters and the proper-ties of its circumstellar envelope.
Methods. Speckle interferometry in the H- and K-bands and an optical spectrum in the range 5200-6680 A with a spectral resolving power of R = 60 000 were obtained at the 6 m telescope of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Another optical spectrum in the range 4300-10 500 A with R = 79 000 was obtained at the 3.6 m CFHT. Low-resolution spectra in the ranges 0.46-1.4µm and 1.4-2.5µm with R ~ 800 and ~700, respectively, were obtained at the 3 m Shane telescope of the Lick Observatory.
Results. Using a novel kinematical method based on the non-linear modeling of the neutral hydrogen density profile in the direction toward the object, we propose a distance of D = 4.2 ± 0.2 kpc. We also suggest a revised estimate of the star's effective temperature, Teff ~25 000 K. We resolved the object in both H- and K- bands. Using a two-component ring fit, we derived a compact component size of 14 mas and 12 mas in the H- and K-band, respectively, which correspond to 29 and 26 AU at the revised distance. Analysis of our own and previously published data indicates a ~2 mag decrease in the near-infrared brightness of V645 Cyg at the beginning of the 1980's. At the same time, the cometary nebular condensation N1 appears to fade in this wavelength range with respect to the N0 object, representing the star with a nearly pole-on optically-thick disk and an optically-thin envelope.
Conclusions. We conclude that V645 Cyg is a young, massive, main-sequence star, which recently emerged from its cocoon and has already experienced its protostellar accretion stage. The presence of accretion is not necessary to account for the high observed luminosity of (2-6) x 10 4 M☉ yr-1. The receding part of a strong, mostly uniform outflow with a terminal velocity of —800 km s-1 is only blocked from view far from the star, where forbidden lines form. The near-infrared size of the source is consistent with the dust sublimation distance close to this hot and luminous star and is the largest among all young stellar objects observed interferometrically to-date.


The Akron club's accumulation of talented ball players and its success against the best opposition of the time set it apart from the general development of 19th century baseball. Like many of the independent baseball teams that proliferated in the 1870s and 1880s, it was formed as a joint stock company by prominent citizens and businessmen. Its talent led it to be raided out of existence. Of the 20 men who played with the Akrons during 1881, 14 played major league ball in subsequent seasons. Most prominent were Hall of Famer Bid McPhee and Tony Mullane. This work traces the development and play of the team from its formation in 1879 through its great 1881 season and on. Biographical profiles of the players, with personal and professional details, are interspersed throughout. Appendices include the 1881 calendar of scores and 40 box-scores (and compiled statistics) for the 1881 season, as well as the box-score of the Akrons' victory over the Chicagos of Cap Anson in 1880.


Over the past few years, the use of certain types of halogenated flame retardant additives such as decabromodiphenylether has come under intense scrutiny due to their toxicity, environmental persistence and bio-accumulation. There is an immediate need for the development of non-toxic alternative flame retardant materials and fire resistant polymers with comparable or better efficacies, obtained using benign synthetic approaches. Enzymatic polymerization is being used increasingly as an environmentally friendly alternative method for the synthesis of functional materials including polymers and additives. Here, we report a biocatalytic synthesis of a new class of thermally stable, ultra-fire resistant polyphenols based on deoxybenzoins. In calorimetric studies, these polyphenols exhibit very low heat release capacities (comparable to Nomex™) and form a large amount of carbonaceous char rendering them suitable for flame retardant applications.


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Hierarchical clause structure is an important feature of most theories of grammar. While it has been an indispensable part of formal syntactic theories, functional theories have more recently discovered for themselves a 'layered structure of the clause'. A major focus of the current discussion on semanto-syntactic clause structure is the hierarchical ordering of grammatical categories such as tense, aspect and modality. However, there are very few empirical studies yet to provide systematic evidence for presumably universal hierarchical structures. This book presents a systematic corpus-based study of the semantic and morphosyntactic interaction of modality with tense, aspect, negation, and modal markers embedded in subordinate clauses. The results are critically compared with extant theories of hierarchies of grammatical categories, including those in Functional Grammar, Role and Reference Grammar, and the Cartography of Syntactic Structures. Also provided is an extensive description of the expression of modality and related categories in Modern Japanese.


Research suggests that young people are arriving at sex education sites mostly through campaigns on social media and paid sites. Whilst not everyone is accessing porn, it is essential to find creative ways to engage with young people to strengthen and build on existing online sex education. In this study, a team of researchers, international project staff, musicians and multimedia artist worked effectively together on mobilising audiences based on research evidence on sex education for young Kenyans. The approach taken was innovative but it was also rooted in high-quality research evidence. This article focuses on two areas of learning from the programme – how research can support a creative team to discuss sexuality in a radically open fashion and how to remain focused when working in multidisciplinary teams.


Introduction: Warts are benign proliferations of skin and mucosa caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Palmoplantar warts are caused any HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27, 57 and occurs mostly in children and young adults. Among the treatment modalities, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) application along with needling after sufficient penetration causes coagulation of proteins of the infected cells of skin and causes necrosis. Aim: To study the efficacy of 100%TCA needling in the treatment of palmoplantar warts. Study Design: Longitudinal study carried out at a tertiary care center in Gujarat. Materials and Methods: Patients having palmoplantar warts between the age group of 4-50 years over a period of 8 months were included in the study as per our inclusion and exclusion criteria. 100% TCA application followed by needling using an insulin syringe was done once per week after informed consent. The necrosed skin was pared on each follow-up and the procedure was repeated till complete clearance of warts. Results: The total number of patients were 60 out of which 6 patients were irregular in follow up. In 4 patients, the treatment modality was changed after 6 weeks because of lack or response. 50 patients had complete clearance of warts. The minimum and maximum duration for complete clearance of warts were 3 weeks and 8 weeks respectively. Limitation: It gives varying results in different individuals and average duration in clearance of wart is comparatively slower as compared to some other methods. Conclusion: TCA needling is an effective treatment modality for palmoplantar warts.


Remarkably little is known about the Cretaceous rifting process between New Zealand and Antarctica as well as within the submarine parts of the microcontinent of New Zealand itself. The Bounty Trough offers good insights into these break-up processes. Here we present results from a combined gravity, multichannel seismic and wide-angle reflection/refraction seismic transect across the Bounty Trough and interpret this on the basis of velocity distribution and crustal composition derived from Poisson's ratio and P-wave velocity. The lower crust exhibits a high-velocity (vp "ca." 7 - 7.7 km/s, vs "ca." 3.9 - 4.5 km/s), high-density body ("rho" "equals" 3.02 kg/cm³) at the location of the most thinned crust of the Bounty Trough. In this part, crustal thickness is reduced from 22 - 24 km beneath Chatham Rise and Campbell Plateau to about 9 km. We interpret this high-velocity/density body as a magmatic intrusion into a thinned continental crust. Our results show that the Cretaceous rifting of the Bounty Trough is very likely not the result of back-arc extension caused by the Hikurangi Plateau subduction in the Gondwana margin, but of continental break-up processes related to the separation of New Zealand from Antarctica. Rifting ceased at the onset of seafloor spreading, so that only little oceanic crust was produced in the Middle Bounty Trough. Comparisons with the Oslo Rift and the Ethiopian/Kenya Rift indicate analogue systems and imply a stretching model that combines uniform stretching and simple shear extension.


Activated murine macrophages produce high level of nitric oxide by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is an important mechanism in macrophage-induced inflammation. In the present study, we isolated emodin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin compounds from Aloe barbadensis and investigated their inhibitory effects on the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-12) from murine macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Our results showed that the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of emodin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin on NO, TNF-α and IL-12 from activated peritoneal macrophages were 120, 30 and 200 μM respectively. Our experimental results showed that reduction of NO level by emodin might inhibit both at the pretreated LPS/IFN-γ activation and post-LPS/IFN-γ activation pathway. Activities of aloe-emodin and barbaloin could be caused by inhibition at the pretreated LPS/IFN-γ activation event. Chemical structures of all the isolated components were identified by comparison of NMR, mass spectral data and melting points with those reported in literature.


These proceedings describe the experimental basis and preliminary results of the CIFOR project Site Management and Productivity in Tropical Plantations. The papers they contain were presented at the second workshop of project partners held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in February 1998. This research, which is underway at 17 sites in seven countries and involves scientists from 16 institutions, focuses on inter-rotation management. This phase between tree harvesting and replanting for the next rotation is a window of considerable risks as well as opportunities. It holds the potential for physical and chemical soil degradation, but also offers a chance to remedy past mistakes and introduce sound technology for improved long-term management of plantation soils. Although the species and the soil problems vary according to local conditions, all the experiments have been designed to provide knowledge that will benefit both the specific sites and our understanding of underlying processes of tree productivity. (Resume d'auteur)


2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 (1 x 10" to 5 x 10" 5 M) on normally polarized sheep and canine cardiac Purkinje fiber short segments. EADs occurred with higher Bay K 8644 concentrations and had an average take-off potential of —34 mV. The initiation of EADs was preceded by lengthening of action potential duration and flattening of the plateau. Induction of EADs with Bay K 8644 was enhanced by low stimulation frequencies, lowering of [K]a, addition of tetraethylammonium chloride, or application of depolarizing constant current pulses during the plateau. EADs were abolished by increasing stimulation frequency, raising [K],, the addition of tetrodotoxin, lidocaine, ethmozin, verapamil, and nitrendipine, or application of repolarizing constant current pulses. Using current pulses to modify the action potential plateau, a steep inverse relationship was found between the EAD peak voltage and its take-off potential, and EADs could be initiated over only a narrow range of take-off potentials. Thus, interventions that suppressed EADs shortened action potential duration or shifted the plateau away from the voltage.range needed to initiate EADs. These observations suggest that mechanisms dependent on both time and voltage underlie EADs, and provide a unifying hypothesis for the induction of the EADs. We propose that induction of EADs requires 1) lengthening of action potential duration within a plateau voltage range where 2) recovery from inactivation and reactivation of an inward current possibly carried through Ca 2+ channels can occur. (Circulation Research 1988;62:563-571)


After millions of years of evolution, humans can achieve locomotion tasks in complex environments with versatile, robust and efficient bipedal gaits. Understanding human locomotion control systems can help us develop novel bio-inspired based methods for improving the current legged robots (e.g. humanoids) and wearable devices (e.g. prostheses, exoskeletons).

This thesis systematically explores the bio-inspired approaches from concepts to applications for further understanding human locomotion. It includes three main parts: biomechanical studies on human experiments, hardware implementations of bio-inspired concepts, and modeling of human locomotion.

The biomechanical studies provide insights on the human locomotor control systems. Human locomotion control can be separated into three locomotor subfunctions which are stance (axial leg function), swing (rotational leg function), and balance (posture control). We investigated how these subfunctions interact with each other by analyzing the contribution of stance and swing leg movements to the walking dynamics. The results reveal a coupling mechanism and synergistic interactions between the subfunctions. Further analyses on the human gait initiation (from standing to walking) experimental data demonstrate that the swing leg and stance leg functions are emerged during the first stride of the stance limb. And we find a strong correlation between the control of the frontal plane and the sagittal plane joints. All these results indicate that the support of one subfunction can provide benefits for the others.

Inspired by the findings from the previous biomechanical studies, we implemented bio-inspired balance control strategies on a lower-limb exoskeleton for human walking. The hardware implementations are used to validate and demonstrate the benefits of bio-inspired control concepts. The results show that the bio-inspired balance controller can not only support the swing and stance leg function but also reduce the metabolic costs and assist human walking. The results also support the prior biomechanical studies which suggest synergistic interactions between the subfunctions. In addition, we also implemented a bio-inspired neuromuscular reflex based controller for a hopping robot to investigate the potential benefits of the muscle properties for the stance (rebounding) leg function. The results demonstrate that the robot can achieve stable and robust hopping with the bio-inspired controller. Further analyses show that the neuromuscular properties play an important role in stabilizing the motion. These results indicate that gait models which include the muscle properties and reflex-like control could better reproduce human locomotion.

The modeling of human locomotion help us test the bio-inspired concepts in the simulation and reveal the key components of human locomotion control. Here, based on the previous findings, we developed a complex neuromuscular gait model to produce subject specific walking behaviors. Deep reinforcement learning methods were used to generate the control policy (sensor-motor mappings) which has similar functionality as human spinal cord neural circuitries. The results show that the model can achieve robust walking and closely reproduce human joint kinematics and muscle activations. In addition, we also found that the neuromuscular dynamics can facilitate the learning. In future, the proposed gait model can be used to identify optimal control schemes for wearable robots (e.g. prostheses, exoskeletons).

In summary, this thesis presents a systematic approach of investigating bio-inspired concepts for human locomotion by experimental studies of human gait, simulations, and hardware implementations. The main contribution of this work is demonstrating how the bio-inspired concepts are extracted from the human experimental data, tested with the simulation models, and implemented and validated with the hardware systems. The outcomes of this thesis can be used as a framework to develop novel bio-inspired controllers for improving the performance of legged robots (e.g. humanoids) and wearable robots (e.g. prostheses, exoskeletons).


During navigation, animals process temporal sequences of sensory inputs to evaluate the surrounding environment. Thermotaxis of Caenorhabditis elegans is a favorable sensory behavior to elucidate how navigating animals process sensory signals from the environment. Sensation and storage of temperature information by a bilaterally symmetric pair of thermosensory neurons, AFD, is essential for the animals to migrate toward the memorized temperature on a thermal gradient. However, the encoding mechanisms of the spatial environment with the temporal AFD activity during navigation remain to be elucidated. Here, we show how the AFD neuron encodes sequences of sensory inputs to perceive spatial thermal environment. We used simultaneous calcium imaging and tracking system for a freely moving animal and characterized the response property of AFD to the thermal stimulus during thermotaxis. We show that AFD neurons respond to shallow temperature increases with intermittent calcium pulses and detect temperature differences with a critical time window of 20 s, which is similar to the timescale of behavioral elements of C. elegans, such as turning. Convolution of a thermal stimulus and the identified response property successfully reconstructs AFD activity. Conversely, deconvolution of the identified response kernel and AFD activity reconstructs the shallow thermal gradient with migration trajectory, indicating that AFD activity and the migration trajectory are sufficient as the encoded signals for thermal environment. Our study demonstrates bidirectional transformation between environmental thermal information and encoded neural activity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Deciphering how information is encoded in the nervous system is an important challenge for understanding the principles of information processing in neural circuits. During navigation behavior, animals transform spatial information to temporal patterns of neural activity. To elucidate how a sensory system achieves this transformation, we focused on a thermosensory neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans called AFD, which plays a major role in a sensory behavior. Using tracking and calcium imaging system for freely moving animals, we identified the response property of the AFD. The identified response property enabled us to reconstruct both neural activity from a temperature stimulus and a spatial thermal environment from neural activity. These results shed light on how a sensory system encodes the environment.


When we begin to build and interact with machines or robots that either look like humans or have human functionalities and capabilities, then people may well interact with their human-like machines in ways that mimic human-human communication. For example, if a robot has a face, a human might interact with it similarly to how humans interact with other creatures with faces, Specifically, a human might talk to it, gesture to it, smile at it, and so on. If a human interacts with a computer or a machine that understands spoken commands, the human might converse with the machine, expecting it to have competence in spoken language. In our research on a multimodal interface to mobile robots, we have assumed a model of communication and interaction that, in a sense, mimics how people communicate. Our interface therefore incorporates both natural language understanding and gesture recognition as communication modes. We limited the interface to these two modes to simplify integrating them in the interface and to make our research more tractable. We believe that with an integrated system, the user is less concerned with how to communicate (which interactive mode to employ for a task), and is therefore free to concentrate on the tasks and goals at hand. Because we integrate all our system's components, users can choose any combination of our interface's modalities. The onus is on our interface to integrate the input, process it, and produce the desired results.


Abstract There is a major housing affordability crisis in many American metropolitan areas, particularly for renters. Minimum parking requirements in municipal zoning codes drive up the price of housing, and thus represent an important potential for reform for local policymakers. The relationship between parking and housing prices, however, remains poorly understood. We use national American Housing Survey data and hedonic regression techniques to investigate this relationship. We find that the cost of garage parking to renter households is approximately $1,700 per year, or an additional 17% of a housing unit's rent. In addition to the magnitude of this transport cost burden being effectively hidden in housing prices, the lack of rental housing without bundled parking imposes a steep cost on carless renters—commonly the lowest income households—who may be paying for parking that they do not need or want. We estimate the direct deadweight loss for carless renters to be $440 million annually. We conclude by suggesting cities reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirements, and allow and encourage landlords to unbundle parking costs from housing costs.


Background: The metabolic syndrome unites three pathologies of the person – obesity, arterial hypertension and diabetes. In recent years the progressing of such distribution covering from 2.5% to 3.8% of the population with increase twice each 10-15 years is noted. Even at maintenance of level of sugar at diabetes accumulation of the secondary metabolites breaking small vessels isn't excluded. At the same time many life-endangering complications develop. Objective: To identify the possibilities of plasmapheresis in the prevention and treatment of complications of metabolic syndrome. Method: Analysis of the world literature data on complications of metabolic syndrome and methods of their treatment. Results: At metabolic syndrome the frequency of strokes and myocardial infarctions there is twice more often than in population. For 5-9 years the general life expectancy decreases. Disorders of microcirculation at diabetes lead to a retinopathy with total loss of sight, a nephropathy from the outcome in a renal failure, to polyneuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome with high risk of high level amputations of the lower extremities. At the same time medicamentous therapy is not able to prevent such complications and almost only way of removal of these pathological metabolites is therapeutic apheresis, mainly the plasmapheresis. Data from our own studies confirm the effectiveness of such tactics. Conclusion: Plasmapheresis has to be applied not only to the correction of already critical conditions, but also to their prevention.


Thymopharyngeal duct cyst is one of the most uncommon benign cervical lesions encountered in the paediatric population. Due to its rarity, it almost always escapes a correct preoperative diagnosis and is usually misdiagnosed as a branchial cyst or lymphangioma. Furthermore, although located at the neck it may present with retrosternal or mediastinal extension. In this case report here we present a case of a young boy with a right cervical mass, diagnosis of thymopharyngeal duct cyst was confirmed during histopathological examination of the excised specimen. Furthermore, preoperative ultrasonography and MRI did not detect the thin cord and the lower part of the lesion, which rendered operative treatment more demanding. Apropos to these findings, we reflect on the crucial points of awareness that affect the diagnostic and surgical process of this lesion.


Significance All Americans are affected by rising political polarization, whether because of a gridlocked Congress or antagonistic holiday dinners. People believe that facts are essential for earning the respect of political adversaries, but our research shows that this belief is wrong. We find that sharing personal experiences about a political issue—especially experiences involving harm—help to foster respect via increased perceptions of rationality. This research provides a straightforward pathway for increasing moral understanding and decreasing political intolerance. These findings also raise questions about how science and society should understand the nature of truth in the era of "fake news." In moral and political disagreements, everyday people treat subjective experiences as truer than objective facts. Both liberals and conservatives believe that using facts in political discussions helps to foster mutual respect, but 15 studies—across multiple methodologies and issues—show that these beliefs are mistaken. Political opponents respect moral beliefs more when they are supported by personal experiences, not facts. The respect-inducing power of personal experiences is revealed by survey studies across various political topics, a field study of conversations about guns, an analysis of YouTube comments from abortion opinion videos, and an archival analysis of 137 interview transcripts from Fox News and CNN. The personal experiences most likely to encourage respect from opponents are issue-relevant and involve harm. Mediation analyses reveal that these harm-related personal experiences increase respect by increasing perceptions of rationality: everyone can appreciate that avoiding harm is rational, even in people who hold different beliefs about guns, taxes, immigration, and the environment. Studies show that people believe in the truth of both facts and personal experiences in nonmoral disagreement; however, in moral disagreements, subjective experiences seem truer (i.e., are doubted less) than objective facts. These results provide a concrete demonstration of how to bridge moral divides while also revealing how our intuitions can lead us astray. Stretching back to the Enlightenment, philosophers and scientists have privileged objective facts over experiences in the pursuit of truth. However, furnishing perceptions of truth within moral disagreements is better accomplished by sharing subjective experiences, not by providing facts.


Three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model (POM) is used to understand coastal ocean processes and its variability along the west coast of India. An attempt is first made to understand variability of the surface circulation and associated SST during July-August 2000 and 2002 as a response of daily wind stress forcing derived from the QSCAT winds. The coastal current reverses its direction to either offshore or northward if the wind reduces its strength suddenly to less than 3 ms-1 towards the coast. In this event, the coastal upwelling is inhibited by the reversal of near shore currents and results in an increase in the local SST. This feature is also noticed in the buoy data available for 2002. Another experiment is made to understand the dynamics in relation to the fact of observed low-salinity plume off Gulf of Khambhat during post-monsoon season. It is found that the freshwater discharge to the gulf from the adjoining rivers during monsoon season is trapped in the region as the currents are onshore. As the currents change its direction to offshore after withdrawal of the monsoon, the confined low-salinity waters are being released to the open ocean. Lastly, the study is made to understand the response of the ocean to tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea (AS). The study focuses on surface cooling and temperature rise in the sub-surface waters and explained its mechanism through upwelling and downwelling processes respectively. Local stratification of the vertical temperature plays an important role for the cooling of the surface waters and warming in the sub-surface depths. The analysis of the model simulations and observations suggest that the extent of sub-surface warming is directly related to the depth of the thermocline region.


Purely by chance, 1999 brought together the main themes of Australian foreign policy during this century, especially the second half of it. The year was dominated by issues arising out of East Timor, the ramiŽ cations of which went far beyond the narrow conŽ nes of that sad territory. Australians faced questions of basic identity: our role and place in the region; the value and costs of the American alliance; the in uence of domestic sentiment on foreign policy; the limitations of Australian power and in uence; human rights; the South PaciŽ c; and foreign trade. In this article, I will look at how events during 1999 shed light on some of these basic issues. I will not attempt to cover everything that happened; nor even less to give a blow-by-blow account of all the detail. I also ignore some important questions and relationships where there were no signiŽ cant changes in 1999.


A continuous record of oxygen-18 (δ18O) variations in the continental hydrosphere during the middle-to-late Pleistocene has been obtained from a uranium-series dated calcitic vein in the southern Great Basin. The vein was deposited from ground water that moved through Devils Hole—an open fault zone at Ash Meadows, Nevada—between 50 and 310 ka (thousand years ago). The configuration of the δ18O versus time curve closely resembles the marine and Antarctic ice core (Vostok) δ18O curves; however, the U-Th dates indicate that the last interglacial stage (marine oxygen isotope stage 5) began before 147 � 3 ka, at least 17,000 years earlier than indicated by the marine δ18O record and 7,000 years earlier than indicated by the less well dated Antarctic δ18O record. This discrepancy and other differences in the timing of key climatic events suggest that the indirectly dated marine δ18O chronology may need revision and that orbital forcing may not be the principal cause of the Pleistocene ice ages.


We have compared barium swallow with a radionuclide gastro-oesophageal scintigraphy (milk scan) method of detecting gastro-oesophageal reflux in 26 infants. In 17 cases, presenting as near miss sudden infant death syndrome, reflux was detected in 2 by barium swallow and in 8 by scintigraphy. In the remaining 9 infants with suspected pulmonary aspiration, reflux was demonstrated by barium swallow in 2 and by scintigraphy in four. Aspiration after gastro-oesophageal reflux was demonstrated only by the radionuclide scan. The feasibility of recording physiological variables during periods of reflux was confirmed.


Abstract Scientists are searching for eluding link between spirituality and science. Some believe fundamental essences of universe to be energy and information. As per current understanding, energy and matter always coexisted and is considered one and the same. Energy is considered as 'matter in perpetual motion' and matter as 'stationary energy'. Interconversion between matter and energy has been defined by Einstein's famous energy–mass equation (E=mc2) which has been proven by nuclear physicists using complex nuclear reactions involving high energy particles. However, many spiritual masters have claimed to realise this energy–matter interconversion using their spiritual powers/energy but scientifically unknown and unverified. It is the first time that the lead author (M. K. Trivedi) has been using his unique superconsciousness energy in the form of thought intervention and information signals to bring about dramatic and radical transformations in the physical and structural properties of organic and inorganic materials. The present paper is the first scientific report that deals with the effect of consciousness energy which M. K. Trivedi uniquely communicates through thought intervention by sending an information signal that transforms carbon allotropes. The changes the energy has caused at the atomic, molecular and crystalline levels in diamond, graphite and activated charcoal have been studied very systematically and are reported in this paper. It has been observed that the superconsciousness energy when transmitted to carbon allotropes has changed the lattice parameters of unit cells, crystallite sizes and densities. Computed weight and effective nuclear charge of the treated atoms exhibited significant variation. It is believed that the energy is acting on the nuclei causing their transmutation.


This study examined how perturbation-evoked compensatory arm reactions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) are influenced by explicit verbal instruction. Ten individuals with PD and 15 older adults without PD responded to surface translations with or without specific instruction to reach for and grasp the handrail. Electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic recordings were taken from the reaching arm. Results showed that individuals with and without PD benefitted similarly from explicit instruction. Explicit instruction resulted in earlier (p=0.005) and larger (p<0.001) medial deltoid EMG responses in comparison to no specific instructions. Compensatory arm reactions also occurred with a higher peak medio-lateral wrist velocity (p<0.001) and higher peak shoulder abduction angular velocity (p<0.001) with explicit instruction. Explicit instruction positively influenced compensatory arm reactions in individuals with and without PD. Future research is needed to determine whether the benefits of instruction persist over time and translate to a loss of balance in real life.


Between September 1982 and January 1984, verminous colitis was diagnosed post mortem in eight red-footed tortoises (Geochelone carbonaria) and three leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) from the reptile collection of the National Zoological Park. This represented 69% of 16 tortoise necropsy accessions for that period. Etiology was determined to be a viviparous pinworm-like nematode of the genus Proatractis (Family Atractidae). Clinical signs were either nonspecific, consisting of anorexia, lethargy, and depression, or were absent. Limited trials with piperazine citrate and fenbendazole appeared to be ineffectual against the parasite and supportive therapy was unsuccessful. Post mortem examination revealed roughening and thickening of the mucosa of the cecum and colon, and in severe cases myriads of tiny (0.5–1.0 cm) nematodes were evident on the mucosal surface. In six tortoises, worms were found also in the small intestine. Histopathologic features in severe cases included mucosal necrosis with parasites and mixed inflammatory cells extending into the tunica muscularis. Focal to diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates were present consistently in the submucosa of the cecum and colon, and similar but milder lesions occasionally occurred in the small intestine.


Martian slope gullies are argued to be evidence for recent liquid water flow on the surface of Mars. To explain the source of water, a wide range of environmental conditions and processes has been invoked. However, a lack of information about the environmental context or timing of gully activity makes it difficult to evaluate the theories. Here, we present new observations of extensive gully modification over the past 6 Mars years within dune gullies with slope-gully morphology. Observed activity within 18 gullies in 7 dune fields constrains timing to winter, which is consistent with observed slope-gully activity. These observations show that fluvial processes are unlikely to cause present-day Martian dune-gully activity, and imply that CO 2 frost accumulation may play the dominant role.


The Prince Edward Islands form a unique component of South Africa's natural estate. Here we present an overview of the diversity of the invertebrate fauna found on Marion and Prince Edward Islands and the conservation threats facing it. The invertebrate fauna at the islands is well known owing to a significant recent effort to sample the entire fauna, although the nematodes remain poorly known. Mite, insect and springtail assemblages differ considerably between habitats and these patterns support an earlier distinction made between the epilithic and vegetated biotopes. Seasonal variation in the abundances of the arthropods is the norm, although the form of this seasonality varies considerably between species and between habitats. Froma regional perspective, the biogeographic affinities of the fauna remain enigmatic. Nonetheless, it seems likely that isolation has been an important contributor to local, indigenous species richness on Marion Island, and speciation has clearly contributed several endemic species to the fauna. Introduced insect species richness is more closely related to mean annual temperature and the number of humans occupying islands in the sub-Antarctic region, and this pattern is reflected locally in the distribution of indigenous and exotic springtails on Marion Island. The introduced species are common in warm, moist habitats, while the indigenous species prefer colder, drier sites. Local climate change, in step with global trends, seems set to have pronounced influences on the invertebrate fauna. Direct effects are likely to take the form of increased abundances of introduced species because of their shorter life cycles and greater fecundity compared to indigenous species, which tend to be long-lived with low reproductive output. Indirect effects are likely to be the result of changes in predation patterns of introduced house mice, and changes in plant communities precipitated by the spread of invasive vascular plants, which in turn have a marked influence on invertebrate assemblages. Undoubtedly the largest conservation threats at the island are the interactions between climate change, introduced species, and human use. In particular, climate change is likely to mean the ready establishment of alien species propagules, while increasing human use is likely to increase propagule pressure. Conservation of the invertebrates at the island will best be served by reduction in human use and stringent enforcement of the provisions of the management plan for these special nature reserves.


Should products containing alpha-hydroxy acids or similar substances be considered cosmetics or drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (FDCA)? Under most interpretations of the FDCA with regard to cosmetics, the answer to this question would be rooted not in the chemical composition or physiological effect of AHAs but rather in how the manufacturer has positioned the product and the promises made as to its effects. The cosmetic/drug distinction has considerable implications for the cosmetics industry because of the difference in regulation between cosmetics and drugs, most notably the lack of any requirement of premarket review for cosmetic products. A decision that AHAs are to be regulated as drugs could force manufacturers to pull available products from the market and submit extensive tests as to the products' safety and effectiveness for FDA approval, clearly an undesirable result for the industry. But a decision that the products are to be treated as cosmetics means that any regulation of their safety comes completely ex post in the form of product liability suits or FDA seizure proceedings, which involve considerable government resources.


bandicoot is an open-source Python toolbox to extract more than 1442 features from standard mobile phone metadata. bandicoot makes it easy for machine learning researchers and practitioners to load mobile phone data, to analyze and visualize them, and to extract robust features which can be used for various classification and clustering tasks. Emphasis is put on ease of use, consistency, and documentation. bandicoot has no dependencies and is distributed under MIT license.


Most of the anthropology of tourism has focused either on authenticity
or on the commoditization of culture. Furthermore, tourism has been looked at
as a service sector and, at most, as an urban strategy. Few authors have investigated
the organization of (in)formal labor in the tourism industry outside the wage
form. I address this gap by looking at the living and dead labor that the production
of cultural heritage is about. I argue that the tourism industry transforms long-labored
spaces and existing collective use values into commodities. After illustrating
this argument with sketches from the Ciutat de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain),
I conclude that the relation between the dead labor and the living labor that produce
heritage determines people's differential access to its commoditized outcome.


We present DBToaster, a novel query compilation framework for producing high performance compiled query executors that incrementally and continuously answer standing aggregate queries using in-memory views. DBToaster targets applications that require efficient main-memory processing of standing queries (views) fed by high-volume data streams, recursively compiling view maintenance (VM) queries into simple C++ functions for evaluating database updates (deltas). While today's VM algorithms consider the impact of single deltas on view queries to produce maintenance queries, we recursively consider deltas of maintenance queries and compile to thoroughly transform queries into code. Recursive compilation successively elides certain scans and joins, and eliminates significant query plan interpreter overheads.

In this demonstration, we walk through our compilation algorithm, and show the significant performance advantages of our compiled executors over other query processors. We are able to demonstrate 1--3 orders of magnitude improvements in processing times for a financial application and a data warehouse loading application, both implemented across a wide range of database systems, including PostgreSQL, HSQLDB, a commercial DBMS 'A', the Stanford STREAM engine, and a commercial stream processor 'B'.


Thomas Pogge labels the idea that each person owes each other person equal respect and concern 'ethical cosmopolitanism' and correctly states that it is a 'non-starter'. He offers as an allegedly more convincing cosmopolitan alternative his 'social justice cosmopolitanism'. I shall argue that this alternative fails for pretty much the same reasons that 'ethical cosmopolitanism' fails. In addition, I will show that Pogge's definition of cosmopolitanism is misleading, since it actually applies to ethical cosmopolitanism and not to social justice cosmopolitanism. This means that cosmopolitanism as defined by Pogge is wrong in the light of his own arguments and that Pogge is not even a cosmopolitan in the sense of his own definition. I will further show that he is also not a cosmopolitan if cosmopolitanism is defined as a philosophical position involving the claim that state borders have no fundamental moral significance.


The article presents an eight‐point analytical framework for the examination of key political‐institutional aspects of the functioning of national competition policy institutions. These are assessed against the competition policy regimes of the EC, UK, Germany, and, to a lesser extent, the US. Each element represents an aspect or institutional arena in which there is potential andlor actual room for the exercise of political influence and power in an increasingly important realm of micro‐economic governance. Such political arenas and channels are woven in and around a set of competition authorities in each county or jurisdiction otherwise primarily attempting to apply economic analysis to numerous specific case decisions. The eight elements of the framework are: 1) the use of explicit non‐competition criteria that can be taken into account by competition authorities; 2) ranges of, and opportunities for, ministerial discretion; 3) intra‐cabinet and intra‐govern‐mental pressures from other ministers and departments and their political clientele interests; 4) direct hearings or avenues for direct representation and pressure by interests; 5) opportunities for private legal action; 6) processes for giving comfort or guidance letters to private parties; 7) vehicles for pressure and political learning through studies, media exposure, and public persuasion; and 8) the extent to which "one‐stop" versus multi‐sector competition institutions exist and can be played off one another. Copyright


The specificity and thermal reversibility of DNA interactions have enabled the self-assembly of crystal structures, self-replicating materials and colloidal molecules. Grafting DNA onto liquid interfaces of emulsions leads to exciting new architectural possibilities due to the mobility of the DNA ligands and the patches they form between bound droplets. Here we show that the size and number of these adhesion patches (valency) can be controlled. Valence 2 leads to flexible polymers of emulsion droplets, while valence above 4 leads to rigid droplet networks. A simple thermodynamic model quantitatively describes the increase in the patch size with droplet radii, DNA concentration and the stiffness of the tether to the sticky-end. The patches are formed between droplets with complementary DNA strands or alternatively with complementary colloidal nanoparticles to mediate DNA binding between droplets. This emulsion system opens the route to directed self-assembly of more complex structures through distinct DNA bonds with varying strengths and controlled valence and flexibility.


The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of individual reaction patterns among professional first responders (emergency treatment, military officers, and police officers) during and after acute situations that involve moral stressors in combination with cumulative stress. Swedish and Norwegian informants within these professional groups were interviewed (n=37). Data were analyzed according to a grounded theory approach. A model was developed according to which long-term effects following such stress exposure depends on the character of the continued everyday living. In particular, the frequency and intensity of perceived daily hassles and uplifts is important. Cognitivebehavioral aspects are discussed to prevent and/or reduce negative long-term reactions.


This paper investigates the determinants of entrepreneurial spirit as measured by parental preference of self-employment for male heirs in Japan since 1992 through a statistical analysis. In addition to the relevance of our findings for entrepreneurship research, this empirical study serves as a showcase for the rule approach of Dopfer and Potts in applied research. It helps to understand how self-employment has become a less and less desirable occupational choice since the abandonment of Japan's high growth path in the early 1990s. For entrepreneurial spirit in Japan, business sentiment, interest rates (perceived cost of capital), changing family structures (declining number of siblings), and fear of unemployment are all identified to exert significant negative influence. While the former three are strongly significant during all of the investigation period (1992–2007), fear of unemployment is found to strongly influence entrepreneurial spirit in the general population from 1998 onwards only. The rule approach helps to motivate how agents have come to understand unemployment as a factor relevant for their economic lives in the course of the years following the burst of the Japanese bubble economy. Negative signs on both business sentiment, and on fear of unemployment relate to different subgroups of agents, namely to self-employed individuals (business sentiment), and to individuals in dependent employment (fear of unemployment). Improving business sentiment means higher viability of preferred occupational choice for the self-employed, whereas a higher degree of fear of unemployment discourages dependently employed individuals from embarking on the route of self-employment. Further findings include significant evidence that the nominal interest rate—rather than its real counterpart—likely influences entrepreneurial spirit in Japan.


Let ρ be an unknown Borel measure defined on the space Z := X × Y with X ⊂ IR and Y = [−M,M ]. Given a set z of m samples zi = (xi, yi) drawn according to ρ, the problem of estimating a regression function fρ using these samples is considered. The main focus is to understand what is the rate of approximation, measured either in expectation or probability, that can be obtained under a given prior fρ ∈ Θ, i.e. under the assumption that fρ is in the set Θ, and what are possible algorithms for obtaining optimal or semi-optimal (up to logarithms) results. The optimal rate of decay in terms of m is established for many priors given either in terms of smoothness of fρ or its rate of approximation measured in one of several ways. This optimal rate is determined by two types of results. Upper bounds are established using various tools in approximation such as entropy, widths, and linear and nonlinear approximation. Lower bounds are proved using KullbackLeibler information together with Fano inequalities and a certain type of entropy. A distinction is drawn between algorithms which employ knowledge of the prior in the construction of the estimator and those that do not. Algorithms of the second type which are universally optimal for a certain range of priors are given.


We analyse the links between credit default swap (CDS) and bond spreads and try to determine which one is the leading market in the price discovery process. To do that, we construct a sample of CDS premia and bonds spreads on a generic 5-year bond, for 17 financials and 18 sovereigns. First, we run VECM estimations, showing that the CDS market has a lead over the bond market over the whole sample. A decomposition of the sample shows that this result holds for financials as well as for the high-yield emerging sovereigns. However, the bond market still drives the CDS market for the sovereigns in the core of the euro area. Second, we check for non-linearities in the adjustment process during the current crisis. Results show that the CDS market's lead has been amplified by the crisis for financial institutions.


BACKGROUND
Violence is a very sensitive research topic and interview's setting might influence the participation rate and response accuracy. We aimed to evaluate such effect when assessing the prevalence of different types of violence in a sample of urban elderly by comparing those interviewed at home with those assessed at the research office.

METHODS
Study subjects were members of a cohort of urban dwellers previously assembled using random digit dialling. The initial 450 individuals aged 60-84 years old were invited to participate in the present study, after being randomly allocated into two groups: 150 for being scheduled to research office interview and 300 to home interview. Both groups allocated were similar regarding gender, age, education, marital status and behavioural characteristics such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Information was obtained by face-to-face standardised interviews.

RESULTS
We obtained a participation rate of 67.0% in the group allocated to home interview and 70.7% in the other group (P = 0.431). No statistically significant differences were found when prevalence of violence during the previous year was compared according to the interview setting (physical 2.5 versus 1.0%, psychological 19.7 versus 19.0%, financial mistreatment 8.6 versus 9.5%, sexual 1.0 versus 1.0% and neglect 5.1 versus 3.8% in home and research office, respectively).

CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that the interview setting has no influence both in participation rate and in the prevalence estimates of different types of violence in the elderly.


The notion that contemporary society as a knowledge economy is undergoing profound transformation has implications for the occupation of public relations, as well as the professional and personal identities of public relations practitioners. With the increasing erosion of once clear demarcations between people, time, space and communication technologies, public relations practitioners experience increasing tensions in their encounters between self and other, private and public, economic and cultural factors. We are interested in how women in public relations undertake identity work as a way of responding to these pressures, notably at the point where their home and work lives intersect. In interviews and focus groups conducted in Perth, Western Australia, women of different ages and career backgrounds related their experiences of juggling multiple roles including worker, mother, partner, friend, parent or grandparent. The findings reveal a set of complex identity constructions that indicate that some women are successful in separating professional and personal identities, while others are unable to resist work as an all-encompassing activity and as the marker of a meaningful identity. To develop as a public relations practitioner involves not only the social expectations of what it means to be a professional coupled with an individual's presentation of themselves in public relations. It also involves a changeable relationship that expands over the whole life situation, including career trajectories and family life stages. A recognition of this set of circumstances prompts further research questions in relation to public relations and its specific influence on gendered, identity and relationship practices, and has significant implications for the profession more broadly.


Renewable energy use is on the rise and these alternative resources of energy can help combat with the climate change. Around 80% of the world's electricity comes from coal and petroleum however, the renewables are the fastest growing source of energy in the world. Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biogas are the most common forms of renewable energy. Among them, wind energy is emerging as a reliable and large-scaled source of power production. The recent research and confidence in the performance has led to the construction of more and bigger wind turbines around the world. As wind turbines are getting bigger, a concern regarding their safety is also in discussion. Wind turbines are expensive machinery to construct and the enormous capital investment is one of the main reasons, why many countries are unable to adopt to the wind energy. Generally, a reliable wind turbine will result in better performance and assist in minimizing the cost of operation. If a wind turbine fails, it's a loss of investment and can be harmful for the surrounding habitat. This thesis aims towards estimating the reliability of an offshore wind turbine. A model of Jacket type offshore wind turbine is prepared by using finite element software package ABAQUS and is compared with the structural failure criteria of the wind turbine tower. UQLab, which is a general uncertainty quantification framework developed at ETH Zurich, is used for the reliability analysis. Several probabilistic methods are included in the framework of UQLab, which include Monte Carlo, First Order Reliability Analysis and Adaptive Kriging Monte Carlo simulation. This reliability study is performed only for the structural failure of the wind turbine but it can be extended to many other forms of failures e.g. reliability for power production, or reliability for different component failures etc. It's a useful tool that can be utilized to estimate the reliability of future wind turbines, that could result in more safer and better performance of wind turbines.


Many researchers have studied market orientation over the last two decades and have argued its impact on firm performance. Much of the work has focused on the intra-firm market orientation of firms, namely manufacturers or suppliers and their own firm's performance. Some have also considered the impact of market orientation in distribution or value networks. However, many of the researches have taken a monadic approach to the study of market orientation. Given the importance of business relationships, this study extends the construct of market orientation to introduce the role of inter-firm market orientation and its impact on both relationship and individual firm performance, with the business relationship as the unit of analysis.


Managing redundant information is becoming an important issue in today's increasingly large distributed computer networks. As total redundancy is extremely costly to achieve, it has been proposed to keep perfectly updated information only at the servers, while keeping old copies of that information on local computers. For such copies to be useful, a maximum lifetime length is assigned to them. Before the lifetime has elapsed, the local devices must be stashed with a new updated copy. The problem of optimizing the updates so that the maximum lifetime length constraints are respected has been previously formulated as a binary problem and proved to be NP-hard through a reduction to the Steiner tree problem in graphs. In this paper we explore the properties of another formulation, based on a state transition graph approach. We prove that only a subset of states and transitions will be in the optimal solution and that, thanks to those properties, it is possible to greatly reduce the size of the graph. A solution algorithm that is based on an efficient evaluation of similar Steiner tree problems with similar properties is presented. We discuss extensions of this problem to future applications of broadband multicast services.


When the new Congress convenes in January, the committee that keeps the closest eye on federal science policy—the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in the House of Representatives—will have a new chair. The Republican lawmaker who gets the job ([see sidebar][1]) is expected to reinvigorate the panel as it tackles two major pieces of legislation. The full House will be without two of its staunchest advocates for federally funded research, as veteran representatives Judy Biggert (R–IL) and Brian Bilbray (R–CA) lost their seats. Partially offsetting those losses, the Democrat who beat Biggert, Bill Foster, is a high-energy physicist turned politician who will be returning after a 2-year absence.

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6109/875.summary


Recently there is a great research interest in networked control systems (NCSs). The intended contributions of this study, in the order of they are presented, are (a) to point out a major limitation of current studies on NCSs: many theoretical results - although important and have some significant technical merit - cannot be applied to distributed control systems and therefore have little application value; (b) in contrast to that simple numerical examples - often linear systems - are widely used to demonstrate some theoretical results. The authors study the NCS controller design for a non-linear unstable system, which has been historically used for the study of large-scale system control; (c) application of a new design approach: it is suggested that the NCS controller design problem, where data packet time delay, loss or out-of-order need to be addressed, is equivalent to a design problem where the system is point-to-point connected but has delayed and unreliable measurement subsystems; (d) a theorem for the asymptotic stability of a class of non-linear time-delay systems and (e) the stability theorem and the proposed new design approach are applied to the controller design for a model of a network-connected non-linear unstable system stated in (b). Extensive simulation results presented here have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed new design approach and the stability theorem.


The dense, large urban region has often been assumed to lead a region's structural development because of agglomeration economies and easy access to both a rapidly changing market and a variety of production resources. This paper analyzes whether or not three metropolitan regions of Sweden adapted their industrial sector rapidly and successfully between 1965-75 compared to more sparsely populated parts of the country. The regions include some areas which have received industrial aid during the period.

The analysis of components of urban manufacturing employment change utilizes statistics for 110 industries. However, these industries are classified into various analytical aggregates. First of all, the paper makes a distinction between foreign-trade sheltered industries, trade-exposed raw material based industries, and footloose industries. The latter type of industries are trade exposed but not based on raw materials. Since these industries rely on the competitiveness of the value added process they can be assumed to be most flexible to changes in external conditions that possibly affect the incentives for spatial mobility.

Three kinds of changes which are external to the urban industrial sector are analyzed for the footloose industries; namely, industry differences in domestic market growth rates, changes in comparative advantage patterns and technical change. They are studied with regard to both urban and regional employment consequences and consequences for the demand for skilled labor.


The purpose of this research is to examine the complex debates surrounding Chinese development. Although China has displayed impressive economic figures throughout its reform period, an argument remains as to whether the double-digit rates of growth reflect a broader phenomenon of development. Furthermore, the question of which development model China subscribes to is widely disputed within the scholarly literature. While there is clearly no lack of academic research concerning Chinese development, in this project I will propose a comparative analysis of the competing theoretical perspectives to understanding the Chinese political economy. The unresolved debates, which formed the key research questions, can be assessed in a more systematic and comprehensive manner using the proposed approach. This thesis therefore offers an analysis of the Chinese development through the lenses of four relevant theories of development: 1) Modernisation Theory, 2) Developmental State Theory, 3) Dependency Theory and 4) Theory of Uneven and Combined Development. Using these theories, this thesis seeks to answer two key questions derived from the complex debates surrounding Chinese development: 1) Can China catch up? And 2) What is the particular development model of China? As the primary type of data required to answer the research questions is macro-level data, document analysis has been employed where this thesis triangulates facts and figures derived from Chinese governmental bodies, international institutions as well as key scholarly literature. This research has also engaged extensively with the database of the World Bank for a comparison of Chinese development with developing and developed economies. The analysis concludes that substantial progress has been achieved by China on its path of catch-up with developed economies, with potential for complete developmental catch-up. The analysis also confirms that the developmental outcomes were achieved through the adoption of East Asian Development Model. In sum, the theoretical and empirical assessments of the two main key debates conclude that Chinese political economy is state-led modernisation and uneven and combined.