Modern neural networks are often quite wide, causing large memory and computation costs. It is thus of great interest to train a narrower network. However, training narrow neural nets remains a challenging task. We ask two theoretical questions: Can narrow networks have as strong expressivity as wide ones? If so, does the loss function exhibit a benign optimization landscape? In this work, we provide partially affirmative answers to both questions for 1-hidden-layer networks with fewer than $n$ (sample size) neurons when the activation is smooth. First, we prove that as long as the width $m \geq 2n/d$ (where $d$ is the input dimension), its expressivity is strong, i.e., there exists at least one global minimizer with zero training loss. Second, we identify a nice local region with no local-min or saddle points. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether gradient descent can stay in this nice region. Third, we consider a constrained optimization formulation where the feasible region is the nice local region, and prove that every KKT point is a nearly global minimizer. It is expected that projected gradient methods converge to KKT points under mild technical conditions, but we leave the rigorous convergence analysis to future work. Thorough numerical results show that projected gradient methods on this constrained formulation significantly outperform SGD for training narrow neural nets.


Australian literature has over the last fifty years witnessed the gradual inclusion of writers and texts formerly considered marginal: from a predominantly white, male and Anglophone canon it has come to incorporate more women writers, writers of popular genres, Indigenous writers, and migrant, multicultural or diasporic writers. However, one large and important body of Australian writing remains excluded from mainstream histories and anthologies: literature in languages other than English. Research conducted at the University of Wollongong under the auspices of the AustLit project has revealed the immensity of this gap in knowledge: hundreds of writers in dozens of languages writing and publishing in Australia and overseas; lively literary exchanges of great relevance to Australian history and culture known only to specific language communities; a veritable treasure trove of neglected archives at great risk of being permanently lost.


In multivariate regression models we have the opportunity to look for hidden structure unrelated to the observed predictors. However, when one fits a model involving such latent variables it is important to be able to tell if the structure is real, or just an artifact of correlation in the regression errors. We develop a new statistical test based on random rotations for verifying the existence of latent variables. The rotations are carefully constructed to rotate orthogonally to the column space of the regression model. We find that only non-Gaussian latent variables are detectable, a finding that parallels a well known phenomenon in independent components analysis. We base our test on a measure of non-Gaussianity in the histogram of the principal eigenvector components instead of on the eigenvalue. The method finds and verifies some latent dichotomies in the microarray data from the AGEMAP consortium.


Migrant students face many challenges to their educational experiences due to the migratory lifestyle of their families as they seek employment in agriculture across state and school district lines. For migrant student with disabilities, these challenges are exacerbated. Migrant children with disabilities may be eligible and entitled to educational services from migrant education, special education, and ELL programs which are distinct federal programs coordinated as separate agencies. This exploratory study examined the extent to which, if any, collaboration exists within three Florida school districts' providing educational services to migrant children with disabilities through the migrant education, special education, and ELL programs. Data were collected through personal interviews with nine district level supervisors, one each per district: migrant education, special education, and ELL programs using a semistructured interview protocol. Data were analyzed through a latent content analysis to identify, code, and categorize patterns (Mayan, 2009) regarding the extent to which, if any, supervisors collaborated when developing and coordinating educational services for migrant students with disabilities. Further, data were reviewed through document analysis provided by the participants or accessed through school, district, or state websites. Finally, the data from the interviews and document analysis were aligned with Gitlin et al. (1994) five-stage model for collaboration framework to determine the extent to which, if any, the characteristics of the five stages for collaboration exists for each district, and if not, the potential for them to be developed and lead to collaboration. The intent of this study was to explore current practice and use this knowledge to provide recommendations for future practice and scholarship regarding interagency


Two main types of data are available to resolve phylogenies using fossils data: (1) stratigraphic ordering of taxa, and (2) morphological characters. In most phylogenetic studies dealing with ammonites, authors have given priority to the stratigraphic distribution of taxa. This practice is classically justified by the fact that the ammonite fossil record is frequently outstandingly good. In practice, the level of integration of stratigraphic and morphologic information in a single analysis depends on the confidence that authors have in the quality of data. Besides, many evolutionary concepts, which could differ over time and between authors (e.g. anagenesis, cladogenesis, iterative evolution), are added to these data to help infer phylogenetic relationships. As a result, phylogenetic hypotheses are based on eclectic methods which depend on the relative weight given to stratigraphic and morphologic information as well as on evolutionary concepts used. The vali- dity of relationships proposed by previous authors is not dealt with in this paper. Instead, our goal is to draw attention to problems that these eclectic methods may cause, that is to say: (1) ammonites systematics is poorly formalised and (2) phylogenetic hypotheses as they are classically constructed are not rigorously testable. During the last 10 years, cladistic analysis has been applied to ammonites but is still unpopular among ammonitologists. However, studies have consistently shown that cladistics is not as unsuited a tool for ammonites phylogenetic reconstruction as is widely believed. Moreover, classical works open new questions about ammonite phylogeny and in particular, help to reappraise our view on the defini- tion of morphological characters and their phylogenetic significance.


Optimization-based motion cueing algorithms based on model predictive control have been recently implemented to reproduce the motion of a car within the limited workspace of a driving simulator. These algorithms require a reference of the future vehicle motion to compute a prediction of the system response. Assumptions regarding the future reference signals must be made in order to develop effective prediction strategies. However, it remains unclear how the prediction of future vehicle dynamics influences the quality of the motion cueing. In this study two prediction strategies are considered. Oracle: the ideal prediction strategy that knows exactly what the future reference is going to be. Constant: a prediction strategy that ignores every future change and keeps the current vehicle's linear accelerations and angular velocities constant. The two prediction strategies are used to reproduce a sequence of maneuvers between 0 and 50 km/h. A comparative analysis is carried out to objectively evaluate the influence of the prediction strategies on motion cueing quality. Dedicated indicators of correlation, delay and absolute error are used to compare the effects of the adopted prediction on simulator motion. Also the motion cueing mechanisms adopted by the different conditions are analyzed, together with the usage of simulator workspace. While the constant strategy provided reasonable cueing quality, the results show that knowledge of the future vehicle trajectory reduces the delay and improves correlation with the reference trajectory, it allows the combined usage of different motion cueing mechanisms and increases the usage of workspace.


Teaching the SQL skills that businesses demand when hiring programmersIf you're a SQL beginner, you don't just want to learn SQL basics, you also want to get some practical SQL skills you can use in the job market. This book gives you both. Covering the basics through intermediate topics with clear explanations, hands-on exercises, and helpful solutions, this book is the perfect introduction to SQL. Topics include both the current SQL:2008 standards, the upcoming SQL:2011 standards, and also how to use SQL against current releases of the most popular commercial SQL databases, such as Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. Introduces SQL concepts, explains SQL statements, and clearly shows how to write efficient and effective SQL codeUses a hands-on style and a sample database that incorporates all SQL concepts taught in the book; this database will be enhanced through the book as key points and lessons are coveredCovers topics such as how SQL interacts with the sample database via various interfaces, including vendor-provided utilities, programming languages, SQL clients, and productivity softwareIncludes appendices with primers on database normalization, set theory and bollean algebra, RDBMS software step-by-step setup guides, and database connectivity Learn how to write effective, efficient SQL code with Discovering SQL: A Hands-On Guide for Beginners.


Background: Given the popularity of thigh-worn accelerometers, it is important to understand their reliability and validity. Purpose: Our study evaluated laboratory validity and free-living intermonitor reliability of the Fibion monitor and free-living intermonitor reliability of the activPAL monitor. Free-living comparability of the Fibion and activPAL monitors was also assessed. Methods: Nineteen adult participants wore Fibion monitors on both thighs while performing 11 activities in a laboratory setting. Then, participants wore Fibion and activPAL monitors on both thighs for 3 days during waking hours. Accuracy of the Fibion monitor was determined for recognizing lying/sitting, standing, slow walking, fast walking, jogging, and cycling. For the 3-day free-living wear, outputs from the Fibion monitors were compared, with similar analyses conducted for the activPAL monitors. Finally, free-living comparability of the Fibion and activPAL monitors was determined for nonwear, sitting, standing, stepping, and cycling. Results: The Fibion monitor had an overall accuracy of 85%–89%, with high accuracy (94%–100%) for detecting prone and supine lying, sitting, and standing but some misclassification among ambulatory activities and for left-/right-side lying with standing. Intermonitor reliability was similar for the Fibion and activPAL monitors, with best reliability for sitting but poorer reliability for activities performed least often (e.g., cycling). The Fibion and activPAL monitors were not equivalent for most tested metrics. Conclusion: The Fibion monitor appears suitable for assessment of sedentary and nonsedentary waking postures, and the Fibion and activPAL monitors have comparable intermonitor reliability. However, studies using thigh-worn monitors should use the same monitor brand worn on the same leg to optimize reliability.


OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to test the association of mean adult word counts at 32 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age in the NICU with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III), cognitive and language scores. It was hypothesized that preterm infants exposed to higher word counts would have higher cognitive and language scores at 7 and 18 months' corrected age. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 36 preterm infants with a birth weight ≤1250 g. Sixteen-hour recordings were made in the NICU by using a digital language processor at 32 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Regression analyses were performed on adult word count per hour, with Bayley-III measures correcting for birth weight. RESULTS: Adult word counts in the NICU were positively correlated with 7- and 18-month Bayley-III scores. For the 32-week recording, in regression analyses adjusting for birth weight, adult word count per hour independently accounted for 12% of the variance in language composite scores (P = .04) and 20% of the variance in expressive communication scores at 18 months (P = .008). For the 36-week recording, adult word count per hour independently accounted for 26% of the variance in cognitive composite scores at 7 months (P = .0049). CONCLUSIONS: Increased amount of parent talk with preterm infants in the NICU was associated with higher 7- and 18-month corrected age Bayley-III language and cognitive scores. These findings offer an opportunity for language intervention starting in the NICU.


Gain Confidence in Modeling Techniques Used for Complicated Bridge Structures Bridge structures vary considerably in form, size, complexity, and importance. The methods for their computational analysis and design range from approximate to refined analyses, and rapidly improving computer technology has made the more refined and complex methods of analyses more commonplace. The key methods of analysis and related modeling techniques are set out, mainly for highway bridges, but also with some information on railway bridges. Special topics such as strut-and-tie modeling, linear and nonlinear buckling analysis, redundancy analysis, integral bridges, dynamic/earthquake analysis, and bridge geometry are also covered. The material is largely code independent. The book is written for students, especially at MSc level, and for practicing professionals in bridge design offices and bridge design authorities worldwide. Effectively Analyze Structures Using Simple Mathematical Models Divided into three parts and comprised of 18 chapters, this text: Covers the methods of computational analysis and design suitable for bridge structures Provides information on the methods of analysis and related modeling techniques suitable for the design and evaluation of various types of bridges Presents material on a wide range of bridge structural types and is fairly code independent Computational Analysis and Design of Bridge Structures covers the general aspects of bridges, bridge behavior and the modeling of bridges, and special topics on bridges. This text explores the physical meanings behind modeling, and reveals how bridge structures can be analyzed using mathematical models.


This paper presents a spiking neural network-based investigation of the issues associated with extraction of onset, offset, and coincidental firing features from spectro-temporal data. Speech samples containing spoken isolated digits from the TI46 database are employed to demonstrate the way in which these features can be extracted using leaky integrate-and-fire spiking neurons with dynamic synapses. The flexibility that the additional synaptic parameters in the neuron model provides, is demonstrated to be essential for onset, offset and coincidental firing extraction. Recurrency and the interaction between excitation and inhibition together with latency is demonstrated to be a viable means of extracting offset features. The effects of lateral inhibition and in particular its ability to induce transient synchrony in spike firing is evaluated. In particular, by defining a connection length parameter, and hence a neighbourhood size, synchronous firing is shown to gradually develop as connection length and neighbourhood size increases. Finally, the implications for this connectivity in spiking neural networks and its potential for learning spectral and spatio-temporal patterns via the formation of receptive fields is discussed.


In the field of object recognition in natural images, a variety of established tasks exist, which are focus of attention when it comes to comparing different methods, for example image segmentation, semantic image segmentation or object detection. Image segmentation is the task of grouping pixels in an image that belong to the same region or object. Semantic image segmentation is the task of assigning a semantic label to each pixel of the image. The semantic labels can be objects: for example car, person, building ; or classes of areas in an image: sky, floor, vertical surface. Object detection is the task of predicting occurrence and position in an image, for example by determining a bounding box of the object. Traditional object recognition challenges have limitations such as ambiguity in more general contexts. For example for a single natural image, there are often multiple image segmentations a human would consider to be correct, depending on the object that person is particularly interested in. We raise the question: "Is there a different task, that overcomes these limitations?" As an example we propose the task of interactively assigning a semantic label to each segment of a segmentation hierarchy. The result can be represented as a stack of semantic segmentations, with an inclusion-relationship between segments of adjacent segmentations. The focus of this work is to provide a solution to this task and discuss advantages and problems that arise. The main disadvantage is that it is harder to obtain suitable ground-truth that consists of annotated segmentation hierarchies. Also the quality of underlying segmentation methods is, in general, sub-optimal for natural images. The main advantage is that the structure implied by the occurrence of labels in the ground-truth can be used to aid the user in labeling the segments of the hierarchy. We propose a framework that consists of a feedback loop, where a label prediction is provided by the framework and a human user may select one or more misclassified segments and assign the correct label. This process can be repeated until the user is satisfied. The prediction is done using a Conditional Random Field (CRF) that is modified so that we are able to condition the model on the segmentation hierarchy as well as the user input. The framework is evaluated on two distinct datasets by comparing its quality to a straight-forward baseline. The baseline consists of a single prediction step of the proposed framework followed by fully manual correction of the segments without new predictions. The results show a significant difference in quality, after several user interactions. For example after 20 user interactions the baseline adjusts 20 misclassified


Linde and Entegris are both investing in facilities that will supply materials to China's electronics sector. China is currently spending more than $100 billion to build up its semiconductor industry, Linde says. Through its joint venture with Lien Hwa Industrial, Linde will spend close to $120 million on facilities that supply high-purity gases to companies producing semiconductors, displays, and solar energy cells in eastern and central China. Linde already supplies high-purity nitrogen, ammonia, nitrous oxide, and other gases to customers in China. Separately, Entegris has reached a technology and licensing agreement with China's Spectrum Materials, a manufacturer of germane and other high-purity gases for electronics. Spectrum will implement Entegris's manufacturing processes to produce the U.S. firm's specialty chemicals at Spectrum's facility in Quanzhou, Fujian. Entegris entered the electronic materials business in 2014 when it acquired ATMI for $1.2 billion.


A number of microfabricated flow cytometry devices have been proposed based on electrical(1,2) or optical(3) detection techniques. On chip marker-free differentiation of cells using impedance spectroscopy was demonstrated between leukocyte sub-populations and on erythrocytes+ghosts mixtures.(4) The detection part of the chip includes 4 microelectrodes patterned on the top and bottom walls of a rectangular microchannel which define two detection volumes (Figure 1). Although preliminary results showed the potential of the impedance measurement using specific frequencies, a systemic approach is required to determine an optimal set of discrimination frequencies for cell sorting.


In a series of experiments, the extrinsic afferent pathways to the somatic sensory areas have been selectively interrupted and the distribution and mode of termination of degenerating synaptic endings studied at intervals of 2 to 6 days. Degenerating commissural fibres terminate on spines attached to dendrites of medium and small size in all cortical layers, but the endings are concentrated in the deeper parts of layers I and III and in layer IV. Cortical association fibres passing from SII to SI end on spines of small and medium-sized dendrites mainly in the intermediate layers (III, IV and V) of the cortex, but a small number are invariably seen in the molecular layer. Some of the latter are probably derived from thin myelinated axons which spread radially from a lesion and run just beneath the pia mater. Degenerating thalamo-cortical axons terminate on spines and to a lesser extent on shafts of dendrites of small diameter, mainly in layer IV but with overlap into adjacent parts of layers III and V and with an additional small but consistent number ending in the molecular layer. Thus, the molecular layer and layer IV receive the terminations of all extrinsic afferents, while the relations of these to the other laminae and their mode of termination is, in each case, slightly different. One interpretation of the results is that all three sets of extrinsic afferents terminate in the middle portion of the apical dendritic tree of pyramidal neurons, and that thalamo-cortical fibres have additional terminals on stellate neurons. The functional implications of this arrangement are discussed.


Peripheral venous blood markers may reflect the systematic inflammatory response condition. Various indices have been used to evaluate Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), however, there is no ideal maker to assess the IBD activity and severity. We aim to investigate the potential value of Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) in IBD patients, and use it to predict the disease activity and severity. We designed a retrospective study to evaluate the SIRI in estimating disease severity in patients with IBD. We enrolled 210 patients with IBD, included 110 cases of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 100 cases of Crohn's Disease (CD) in our hospital, between May 2011 and October 2014. The blood samples were collected from the IBD patients before any treatment of antibiotics, steroids and surgery. The categorical variables were provided with frequencies and percentages (%), and using the Chi-square test. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression model analysis were used to determine the demographic and clinicopathological features with active IBD. The optimal cut-off value of SIRI by Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.86 × 109/L, and patients were stratified into 2 groups: a low SIRI group (SIRI<0.86 × 109/L) and a high SIRI group (SIRI ≥ 0.86 × 109/L). A high SIRI was significantly correlated with active IBD (P=0.019), CRP (P=0.002), ESR (P<0.001), NLR (P<0.001) and MLR (P<0.001). The active IBD was statistically significant between the two groups (P=0.019). Compared with the inactive IBD, the mild active and moderate active IBD were not statistically significant (P=0.907, 0.137), however, the severe active IBD was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was statistically significant of the different severity of active IBD between low SIRI group and high SIRI group (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis indicated that the CRP, ESR and SIRI were independently associated with active IBD. SIRI is cost-effective and convenient indicator in IBD patients and may be a new promising marker of the disease severity in IBD. High SIRI may help the doctors to make decisions for patients with active IBD.


Educational collaboratives offer a promising approach to disseminate educational resources and provide faculty development to advance residents' training, especially in areas of novel curricular content; however, their impact has not been clearly described. Advocacy training is a recently mandated requirement of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education that many programs struggle to meet. The authors describe the formation (in 2007) and impact (from 2008 to 2010) of 13 California pediatric residency programs working in an educational collaboration ("the Collaborative") to improve advocacy training. The Collaborative defined an overarching mission, assessed the needs of the programs, and mapped their strengths. The infrastructure required to build the collaboration among programs included a social networking site, frequent conference calls, and face-to-face semiannual meetings. An evaluation of the Collaborative's activities showed that programs demonstrated increased uptake of curricular components and an increase in advocacy activities. The themes extracted from semistructured interviews of lead faculty at each program revealed that the Collaborative (1) reduced faculty isolation, increased motivation, and strengthened faculty academic development, (2) enhanced identification of curricular areas of weakness and provided curricular development from new resources, (3) helped to address barriers of limited resident time and program resources, and (4) sustained the Collaborative's impact even after formal funding of the program had ceased through curricular enhancement, the need for further resources, and a shared desire to expand the collaborative network.


A major focus within the field of creativity has been on the development of methodologies aimed at deliberately nurturing creative thinking. These methodologies have attempted to mirror the creative process in ways that allow individuals and groups to explicitly call on and employ their creative faculties. In an attempt to uplift employees' creative capabilities many of these methodologies have been introduced into organizations through training programs, as well as through application to business challenges. Do these methods work? What is the empirical evidence that these deliberate creative process methods enhance employees' creativity? Though there are a handful of creative process methods, few have married the concern for application with an interest in demonstrating the benefits of these applied efforts through systematic research. Creative Problem Solving (CPS), one of the more popular creative process models, has been one of the rare exceptions. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the research literature that reports on the impact of CPS training carried out within organizational contexts, that is training programs that involved professionals or students working on real business challenges. Additionally, the positive benefits of CPS are further examined through reports that cite the outcomes of applying CPS to business challenges. In a field replete with methods that have been commercialized, it is imperative to strike a balance between research and practice as an imbalance towards practice may foster a field dominated by individuals who offer untested products and services.


Semantic Query Optimisation (SQO) in Relational Database Management Systems (RDMSs) is a query optimisation ap- proach which uses rules learned from past queries in order to execute new queries more intelligently without accessing database, whenever possible. The approach is composed of several components: Query Representation, Query Optimisation, Automatic Rule Derivation and Rule Maintenance. This paper focused on the query optimisation component. In RDMSs, during the traditional SQO, different alternative queries of a given query can be constructed us ing matching rule(s) from the rule set, and then its optimiser selects one of the alternatives as an optimum query which will give the same answer set but it can be executed faster than the original query. One of the main problems occurs during this process is to have many matched rules e.g., if the number of the rules is N , the number of the alternative queries is 2 N 1. The construction and the optimisation of these alternatives also take time in ad dition to the execution of the query. In order to overcome this problem, in this paper we propose a new Rule Evaluation Algorithm. The main goal of the algo- rithm is to evaluate matching rule(s) and select useful/promising rules. And then use selected rules to construct an optimum query. The algorithm can answer the question of the utility of rules in the query optimisation. The system of the approach based on the algorithm has been implemented and its computational results are given. The experimental results show that the algorithm can trim the number of the rules significantly.


This study was conducted to better understand the psychological and roadway correlates of aggressive driving. The study had two phases: In Phase One, survey data was used to investigate the relationship between personality, emotional, and behavioral variables and self-reported driving behavior-710 people were surveyed. In Phase Two, 67 participants (35 classified as high hostile-those with the most extreme high hostility survey scores-and 32 classified as low hostile-those with the most extreme low hostility survey scores) drove for 19-miles on a simulated four-lane freeway. The data yielded a number of interesting findings; in particular, there were significant differences in driving behavior between drivers characterized as high hostile and those characterized as low hostile. For example, when drivers in the high hostility group were blocked by other vehicles, they responded by driving much closer to the blocking vehicles than drivers in the low hostility group. This risky driving behavior, found in a driving simulator, validates the self reports given by the high hostile drivers in the surveys. This finding is likely to be of value for public safety organizations whose mission is to educate the public about potentially dangerous and risky behavior. It is not likely that all those who are classified as high in hostility will engage in aggressive driving behavior. Further research may yield additional understanding on this point.


Directly transmitted infectious diseases spread through wildlife populations as travelling waves away from the sites of original introduction. These waves often become distorted through their interaction with environmental and population heterogeneities and by long-distance translocation of infected individuals. Accurate a priori predictions of travelling waves of infection depend upon understanding and quantifying these distorting factors. We assess the effects of anisotropies arising from the orientation of rivers in relation to the direction of disease-front propagation and the damming effect of mountains on disease movement in natural populations. The model successfully predicts the local and large-scale pre-vaccination spread of raccoon rabies through New York State, based on a previous spatially heterogeneous model of raccoon-rabies invasion across the state of Connecticut. Use of this model provides a rare example of a priori prediction of an epidemic invasion over a naturally heterogeneous landscape. Model predictions matched to data can also be used to evaluate the most likely points of disease introduction. These results have general implications for predicting future pathogen invasions and evaluating potential containment strategies.


Play among preschool children is a highly well researched phenomenon. The present study aimed to find out relationship of play in child development. A series of three pilot studies were carried out to develop (a) an insight in to the play behaviour of preschool children- study I, (b) try-out the play material, observational schedule and play activities- study 2, and (c) to develop a scale for the measurement of play behaviour of pre school children- study 3. These three observational studies were carried out on children at day care centre, in the family situation . and also in play groups, specially created for the purpose. Play behaviour was rated on a five point rating scale. Inter-rater reliability was established the observational schedule tried out in study 2 had 25 dimensions of play behaviour. In the pilot study 3, the observational schedule was tried-out on 40 children of preschool age children. As a result of the Factor analysis 10 dimensions out of the 25 dimensions were retained in the final scale. These 10 dimension had the factor loading of higher than .70 on the factor of playfulness. Internal consistency was computed by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, which was .94 for the pilot study and .98 for the main study. The objective of the main study was to find out the relationship of intellectual, social and emotional development and home environment of children with playfulness. The main study was conducted on 40 children,20 boys, 20 girls age ranging between 42-59 months, mean age 49.60 months and SD 4.02. Play behaviour was observed during 5 sessions of free play, of 90 minutes each, on alternate days, after two days of familiarisation. The second rater was also introduced according to the systematic randomization schedule. A significantly positive correlation was found between the two rater. The research instruments used for the assessment of intellectual, social, emotional development and home environment were the Test of Intellectual Development for Pakistani Preschool Children, constructed at National Institute of Psychology, Islamabad, Scale for the Measurement of Social Development of Preschool Children developed at the Institute, Children Apperception Test- Pakistani Adaptation and the Home Inventory developed by Bradley & Caldwell. Analysis of Variance and Pearson's product moment correlations were carried out to find out the relationship of play with various aspects of development. It was statistically significant with social development. Intellectual development was found positively correlated with play only in the groups of high playful and low playful children. Thematic analysis of the stories could also differentiate between high and low playful children. Home environment inventory did not bring statistically significant results


The growth in urban population and economic upturn is leading to higher demand for construction, repair and renovation works in cities. Houses, public utilities, retail spaces, offices and infrastructure need to adapt to cope with the increasing number of residents and visitors, urban functions and changing standards. Construction projects contribute to more attractive, sustainable and economically viable urban areas once they are finished. However, transport activities related to construction works have negative impacts on the surrounding community if not handled appropriately. It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of heavy goods vehicles in cities are related to construction, and 30 to 40 percent of light commercial vans [1]. In the cities studied in the CIVIC project, construction-related transport was found to be one of the biggest challenges to improving sustainability. Smarter, cleaner and safer construction logistics solutions in urban areas are needed for environmental, societal and economic reasons. However, in many European cities and metropolitan areas the sense of urgency is not evident or a lack of knowledge is creating passivity. The goal of the CIVIC project is to facilitate and support efficient, sustainable and broadly endorsed transport to, from and around urban construction sites that minimises disruption in the surrounding community, improves construction productivity and optimises energy efficiency. The CIVIC project found that the impact of construction works on mobility and livability of a city was only a very limited part of the urban planning in the cities studied: Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels, Stockholm and Gothenburg. The studied cities focused on large-scale infrastructure projects such as building motorways, railway stations and underground train systems or development projects, for example, whole new city areas. It is not only these large projects that need to be considered focusing on the impact of construction related transports. Additionally, there are many small-scale development projects in cities with a combination of different official and private actors. Contractors and developers/clients are displaying increasing interest in construction logistics since research shows that improved construction logistics can improve the productivity of a construction project by about 30 percent. Construction companies using innovative logistics concepts see less congestion around the sites and improved productivity and road safety. Thus, there is a need to align public planning coordinating construction projects with traffic planning in order to manage city infrastructure bottlenecks. The ultimate goal is coordinated planning between the public partner of construction projects and the private construction contractors and developers on the necessary measures for mobility, livability and road safety in the city. This handbook has been developed for local governments, clients, developers, contractors, or any other actor that can influence logistics planning and the setup of construction projects. It can help local governments collaborating with private partners to realise more sustainable, and safer, construction works with less inconvenience and cleaner air. In addition, it can help clients, developers and contractors to ensure smooth and efficient construction operations. Hence, sustainable construction logistics could be a future deal-breaker. The handbook first provides a description of the challenges of urban construction logistics and the governance of construction logistics. Secondly, it presents the Smart Governance Concept developed under the CIVIC project, combining different tools to improve construction logistics and its governance. This concept can be applied on two levels: the city level and the project level. On a city level, a sense of shared ownership and urgency should be created to optimise construction logistics on the project level. This is the first step of the concept. Steps 2 to 6 outline different tools and methods for the development of a solution: in step 2, a conceptual solution is required to create a common understanding of the prerequisites for the specific project and possible methods for organising logistics. Step 3 entails the different instruments, policies and guidelines that are needed for creating the formal conditions for the solution. In step 4, the specific stakeholders are involved to identify important criteria that influence the selection of the final solution. Step 5 then aims to select the final solution by providing cost calculations and traffic optimisation models. Step 6 entails the collection of data and follow-ups of KPIs. The final step 7 regards the evaluation of the different projects that feed back into the continuous development process of the optimisation of construction logistics at a city level. This final step is presented together with step 1 since these both concern the city level. The Smart Governance Concept should be part of development/construction projects from the very beginning, meaning from the planning phase.


A study was performed to evaluate the performance characteristics of a laser-induced plasma for real-time determination of various gas-phase metal hydrides, specifically Sn and As. The choice of carrier gas composition and the effect of the pressure on the temporal emission behavior of neutral atoms excited by the laser-induced plasma were investigated. Metal hydrides were generated by using a NaBH4-based hydride generation system. The hydrides were equilibrated into an evacuated cell and isolated from the generator prior to measurement. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectra of Sn and As were recorded in He and N2 atmospheres at 300 and 760 Torr. The temporal behavior of the LIBS signal was most affected by gas composition, gas pressure, and intensity of the laser beam. The Sn neutral atom emission (284.0 nm) in a N2 atmosphere decreased exponentially with time. In contrast, with a He atmosphere and identical experimental conditions, the Sn signal increased logarithmically with time over the first 100 s. Then the signal maintained a steady-state value until approximately 400 s, after which it decreased exponentially. The steady-state time depends on the concentration of metal hydride. The variation of the LIBS signal with time was mirrored for the As neutral atom emission in He and N2 atmospheres. Various experiments have been performed to find the possible reason for the signal variation with time. It was found that chemical reactions in the laser plasma that might deplete the metal from the gas volume were responsible for the decrease in the signal with time.


Expansion of conifers into sagebrush steppe is a management concern, since conifers reduce sagebrush cover for wildlife. The primary objective of this research was to examine the relationship between the conifers, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), and two subspecies of big sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis) and mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana), in southwest Montana using a best-fit model. A secondary objective was to determine whether either of the two conifer species have a greater influence on sagebrush cover. Percent cover of both conifers and sagebrush was recorded at 40 Wyoming and 40 mountain big sagebrush plots at each of three study sites in southwest Montana (n = 240). The best-fit model utilizes the terms site, sagebrush subspecies, √conifer cover and site by sagebrush subspecies as the independent variables, with √sagebrush cover as the dependent variable. The model (√sagebrush cover = ai – 0.401√conifer cover; r 2 = 0.61) found a negative relationship between conifer cover and sagebrush cover and indicates that there is no difference between the two sagebrush subspecies and across all three sites in the study area. The best-fit model was validated within the 95 % confidence interval at all three study sites. Validation trials with data from three sites outside the study area were successful for one site, suggesting that the model is better suited to lower elevation, less productive sites. There was no difference in the influence of Douglas-fir or Rocky Mountain juniper cover on live sagebrush cover, indicating that sagebrush responds similarly to competition from both species. Controlling both conifers may increase sagebrush cover slightly, but responses will be small due to low levels of initial sagebrush cover. If maintenance of sagebrush cover is desired, conifer control should be initiated before conifer cover reaches 10 %, since the rate of sagebrush decline is highest at low levels of conifer cover. However, conifer control is not recommended because both conifers and sagebrush are important components of big game winter range.


Argument mining is the automatic identification and extraction of the structure of inference and reasoning expressed as arguments presented in natural language. Understanding argumentative structure makes it possible to determine not only what positions people are adopting, but also why they hold the opinions they do, providing valuable insights in domains as diverse as financial market prediction and public relations. This survey explores the techniques that establish the foundations for argument mining, provides a review of recent advances in argument mining techniques, and discusses the challenges faced in automatically extracting a deeper understanding of reasoning expressed in language in general.


The present work analyses decision making behaviour in personnel selection. The analysis focuses on the investigation of the relative importance of particular characteristics of the applicant on his or her hirability (applicant competencies, person-organisation and person-job fit, and social capital). Furthermore, it is analysed how firm size and age moderate this relative importance and in how far decision makers possess insight into their own decision making behaviour. The work is structured as follows: In the first chapter, the research topic is introduced, its importance and research gaps are described and the research approach is laid out. Furthermore, a literature review (chapter 2) provides a brief overview of the literature written on staffing in small and / or emerging firms. In chapter 3, I will elaborate that personnel selection is basically a decision making process with three major components: decision cues, criteria, and predictors. The description of selection theory with the interaction of criteria and predictors in the process of predicting future job performance of the applicant as well as a brief overview of selection practices with a vast number of potential decision cues leads to the next chapter. Chapter 4 presents an excursus in this thesis. As the findings of the previous chapter created a particular tension between theory and practice, an empirical pilot investigation was conducted to close that gap and to reconcile both theory and practice. Five case studies in emerging German IT and high-tech companies shed light on the elements to focus on in further research. These case studies also help to reconcile the theory of personnel selection with the special aspects of selection in the IT-context which is the particular focus industry of this thesis. In chapter 5, I continue with laying out the theory of personnel selection and close the theoretical part. I analyse the role and impact of three sets of decision cues: applicant competencies, applicant-organisation fit and applicant networks. This chapter is closed with the generation of a number of hypotheses on the use and importance of these decision cues in personnel selection in emerging high-technology firms. The third part of this thesis describes the empirical research undertaken to further investigate decision making in selection situations and to test the hypotheses. Chapter 6 introduces conjoint analysis as an appropriate means to capture decision policies and to answer the research questions. Variables, research instrument, and research approach are presented. The results of the described experimental survey are laid out in the following chapter 7. After the sample has been described, the data collected is analysed and presented and the hypotheses are tested. The fourth and final part of this thesis comprises the conclusion. In the last chapter, the results are discussed in the light of the previously laid out theory. Both limitations of the study as well as hints for future research are presented.


An American can tweet "the president is a fucking idiot" and not go to jail. Yet if a U.S. soldier does the same, they are committing a federal crime. This example is only the tip of the iceberg representing a large swathe of otherwise constitutionally-protected speech that is criminalized only for those in uniform. Like the captain of the Titanic, none of the three branches of federal government have bothered to carefully chart the dangers of such drastic speech suppression. Nor have they provided sufficient lifeboats for those on board in the form of substantive limitations regarding the types of speech that can send a service-member to jail. This Article explores why this situation exists, and recommends a safer course.
To do this, this Article analyzes how the federal military speech crimes deviate from civilian criminal law, highlighting the former's deficiencies while laying out a clear path of straight-forward statutory reform. This analysis is supported by a critical examination of the military courts' messy speech jurisprudence, with the Supreme Court's seminal incitement law's doctrinal development as the backdrop. This Article paints this larger landscape to demonstrate that the military speech doctrine, an expanded "dangerous speech" approach to what is unprotected speech, took an early off-ramp from the Court's more protective speech law development. Linked to the worst excesses of the Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918, the current military speech doctrine fails to require clear causation of harm, thus allowing persecution of disliked ideas.
This Article recommends replacing the military speech doctrine with approaches that far better align with the modern Court's speech jurisprudence. While the most expansive speech crimes should be subject to strict scrutiny, this Article concludes that a discrete list of military speech crimes remain unprotected by the First Amendment due to their nature as speech integral to crime, an unprotected category long recognized by the Court. Finally, this Article cautions that retaining the military's unique service-discrediting crime risks skewing the role of the U.S. military within our greater democracy.


Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence nanomaterials with low toxicity and long wavelength emission play an important role in bioapplications. Herein, a simple and rapid microwave heating method is designed to synthesize fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) by using glutathione (GSH) as a reducing agent and stabilizing agent simultaneously. By adjusting the microwave heating time, the as-prepared GSH–AuNCs can show size-dependent tunable fluorescence from the visible region to the NIR region, and even to 800 nm wavelength. Besides, the as-prepared GSH–AuNCs are water-soluble, low toxicity and highly stable, and exhibit multifunctional surface chemistry based on GSH as the protective surface layer. Another attractive feature of the resultant NIR GSH–AuNCs is temperature-dependent fluorescence and they could be used as a nanoprobe to measure the temperature in the range from 0 to 80 °C. Moreover, this process is reversible, which means that the fluorescence intensity of the GSH–AuNCs can be recovered to the initial intensity when the temperature changes reversibly. Finally, the resultant NIR GSH–AuNCs are further conjugated with folic acids (FAs) which helps the AuNCs target HeLa cells. These properties provide FA-conjugated GSH–AuNCs with potential applications as a platform for cancer diagnosis studies in various biological systems.


BACKGROUND
Prior to the implementation of the Hospital-Acquired Condition-Present on Admission (HAC-POA) payment policy, concerns regarding its potential impact were raised by a number of organizations and individuals. The purpose of this study was to explore direct and indirect effects of the HAC-POA payment policy on hospitals, patients, and other payers during the policy's first 3 years of implementation.

METHODS
The study included semi-structured telephone interviews with representatives of national organizations, hospitals, patient advocacy organizations, and other payers. Interview notes were coded using QSR NVivo qualitative analysis software using inductive and deductive qualitative analysis techniques. We conducted interviews with 106 individuals representing 56 organizations. Hospital staff included physicians, nurses, patient safety officers, coders, and finance, senior management, and information management staff. Individuals from other organizations represented leadership positions.

RESULTS
Key changes to hospitals included: cultural shifts involving attention, commitment, and support from hospital leadership for patient safety; hiring new staff to assure the accuracy of clinical documentation and POA oversight structures; increased time burden for physicians, nurses, and coders; need to upgrade or purchase new software; and need to collaborate with hospital departments or staff that did not interface directly in the past. The policy was adopted by a majority of other payers, although the list of conditions and payment penalties varies. The HAC-POA policy is invisible to patients; therefore, the presence or lack of unintended consequences to patients cannot be fully assessed at this time. Understanding of policy effects to all stakeholders is important for maximizing its successful implementation and desired impact.


The social and environmental responsibility of corporations is a subject that continues to ignite public passions. No wonder, given the regular reminders of the kinds of trouble that irresponsible business practice can get society in! The persistence of corporate social responsibility in this context has proved controversial. A strategy for managing the social and environmental responsibility of business that relies on self-regulation, CSR is a concept that strikes an uncomfortable chord with the already high levels of corporate autonomy. Yet, there seems to be no shifting from CSR. The activist shopping, of which it boasts, has ingratiated itself with democratic politics and, as such, seems set to remain. Everyone today agrees on the need for business to be more responsible. CSR is an important part of how this responsibility is managed and organised today.

This thesis analyses this entrenchment of CSR in terms of what it describes as 'the double play.' Markets first make demands on people, time and resources, in order to secure productivity and profitability. They then make a second play to service the social and environmental fall-out of this first drive for marketisation. CSR takes place on this second play, deploying market incentives and techniques to the remedy of market generated problems.
Corporations participate, drawn to the security accorded their autonomy. They see in CSR a chance to right wrongs created in earlier cycles of exchange, without the risks created by external interference. The public engage where, as the ultimate source of economic demand, they feel the responsibility for everything that goes on in the market. They try to 'shop better' on the second wave, to instil recovery and prevent the rematerialisation of harm.

This thesis problematises CSR and the double play. It does so in a series of critical provocations directed at CSR informed by the philosophy of Jean Baudrillard. It discusses CSR's capacity to politically disempower public participants, by drawing their energies into a perpetual cycle of economic imperialism and exchange. It discusses the difficulty CSR creates, in terms of raising conflict with business actors, and the tendency for the system to leave inert, or exposed and abandoned, those that try. Finally, the thesis pushes up against an ultimatum in CSR – 'buy, or people perish!' – through which the market is able to indefinitely extend and regenerate itself. The thesis argues for the disengagement of this ultimatum. For only when social and environmental concern is not held hostage to the market can the political ambition, which is somewhere present in all of this, be realised.


Nine species of Paraclius are reported from Singapore. The following seven Paraclius species are described as new to science: P. asiobates new species, P. crassatus, new species, P. digitatus, new species, P. obtus, new species, P. polychaetus, new species, P. serratus, new species and P. singaporensis, new species. All these new species were collected in mangrove habitats and are assigned to a new species group: the singaporensis-group. P. adligatus Becker, 1922, is recorded from Singapore for the first time and re-described. The presence of P. abbreviatus Becker, 1922, originally described from Singapore could not be confirmed. A key to the males of the nine Singaporean Paraclius is provided.


We study the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals selected from the general population of poor households in rural Ghana. Results from 2-3 months after a randomized intervention show strong impacts on mental and physical health, cognitive and socioemotional skills, and downstream economic outcomes. We find no evidence of heterogeneity by baseline mental distress; we argue that this is because CBT can improve human capital for a general population of poor individuals through two pathways. First, CBT reduces vulnerability to deteriorating mental health; and second, CBT directly improves bandwidth, increasing cognitive and socioemotional skills and hence economic outcomes.


Non Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) is fundamentally different from the Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) techniques as in NOMA the user make access to channel by using the same frequency and in the same time. In NOMA the multiplexing is performed in power domain by using superposition coding at the transmitter and receiver side uses Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) to separate the transmitted signals that are multiplexed in power domain. This technique is a possible candidate for future radio access so this is a hot topic in research. Being a different method from OMA that is implemented in all previous mobile communication generations several misconceptions have been developed about this technique. This paper give an overview about NOMA based system and also analyze the major misconceptions about this technique and also explain the concepts to resolve these mistaken beliefs.


More than thirty years ago, the Supreme Court held that students with disabilities have a substantive right to a "free appropriate public education," or "FAPE," under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). At that time, however, it declined to set a standard for evaluating that right. This year, the Court re-visited the issue in Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District and finally and unanimously set that standard. The Court determined that a child's individualized education program (IEP), the document that sets out a child's special education services, must be "reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances." Although many disability rights advocates praised the Court's holding as finally putting teeth in the substantive meaning of FAPE, the Endrew F. standard presents steep pitfalls for low-income parents who seek to assert their child's rights under the IDEA. When read together with the Court's previous decisions in Arlington Central School District Board of Education v. Murphy and Schaffer ex rel. Schaffer v. Weast, Endrew F.'s new FAPE standard further entrenches the extant disparities between the special education programs of low-income children with disabilities and those who come from higher income families.


As American states continue to struggle with low revenues and growing financial obligations, a number of commentators have proposed that states should be able to seek relief under bankruptcy law. Currently, there is no formal mechanism for facilitating the efficient restructuring of states' obligations if that becomes necessary or desirable. American states and sovereign nations are similar in this respect. As this Article (forthcoming in Conti-Brown and Skeel, eds., Confronting Fiscal Crisis in American State Government) explains, however, the history of sovereign debt crises and debt restructuring reveals that much can be done in the absence of a formal mechanism. The primary lesson from the experience of sovereign debtors is that a state experiencing acute financial crisis will likely find a way to encourage its counterparties to agree to restructure or reduce their claims, even if they have no legal obligation to do so and have some legal basis for objecting. Thus, a formal mechanism is probably not necessary for a successful restructuring of a state's obligations if one is truly necessary. It may be suboptimal to force a state to reach the point of acute crisis before it can gain its creditors full attention, and the overall costs of ad hoc restructuring may be higher for states and their creditors (and the federal government) than those of reorganization in bankruptcy. But the history of efforts to promote a sovereign bankruptcy regime or a sovereign debt restructuring mechanism indicates that even if there is room for improvement over an ad hoc approach, there is unlikely to be much of an appetite among policymakers for adopting a more formal mechanism.


This paper examines the socially optimal allocation by focusing not on the social welfare function but instead on the utility possibility frontier in exogenous growth models with a heterogeneous population. A unique balanced growth path was found on which all of the optimality conditions of all heterogeneous households are equally and indefinitely satisfied (sustainable heterogeneity). With appropriate government interventions, such a path is always achievable and is uniquely socially optimal for almost all generally usable (i.e., preferences are complete, transitive, and continuous) social welfare functions. The only exceptions are some variants in Nietzsche type social welfare functions, but those types of welfare functions will rarely be adopted in democratic societies. This result indicates that it is no longer necessary to specify the shape of the social welfare function to determine the socially optimal growth path in a heterogeneous population.


Desbuquois dysplasia (DD) is characterized by antenatal and postnatal short stature, multiple dislocations, and advanced carpal ossification. Two forms have been distinguished on the basis of the presence (type 1) or the absence (type 2) of characteristic hand anomalies. We have identified mutations in calcium activated nucleotidase 1 gene (CANT1) in DD type 1. Recently, CANT1 mutations have been reported in the Kim variant of DD, characterized by short metacarpals and elongated phalanges. DD has overlapping features with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia with congenital joint dislocations (SDCD) due to Carbohydrate (chondroitin 6) Sulfotransferase 3 (CHST3) mutations. We screened CANT1 and CHST3 in 38 DD cases (6 type 1 patients, 1 Kim variant, and 31 type 2 patients) and found CANT1 mutations in all DD type 1 cases, the Kim variant and in one atypical DD type 2 expanding the clinical spectrum of hand anomalies observed with CANT1 mutations. We also identified in one DD type 2 case CHST3 mutation supporting the phenotype overlap with SDCD. To further define function of CANT1, we studied proteoglycan synthesis in CANT1 mutated patient fibroblasts, and found significant reduced GAG synthesis in presence of β‐D‐xyloside, suggesting that CANT1 plays a role in proteoglycan metabolism. Hum Mutat 33:1261–1266, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Introducing variability while maintaining coherence is a core task in learning to generate utterances in conversation. Standard neural encoder-decoder models and their extensions using conditional variational autoencoder often result in either trivial or digressive responses. To overcome this, we explore a novel approach that injects variability into neural encoder-decoder via the use of external memory as a mixture model, namely Variational Memory Encoder-Decoder (VMED). By associating each memory read with a mode in the latent mixture distribution at each timestep, our model can capture the variability observed in sequential data such as natural conversations. We empirically compare the proposed model against other recent approaches on various conversational datasets. The results show that VMED consistently achieves significant improvement over others in both metric-based and qualitative evaluations.


This paper presents the benefits of a well-managed, long-term asset management program in determining the current condition and predicting future deterioration of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP). More than 10 years of inspection and monitoring data were analyzed, accumulated from Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), operated by the Arizona Public Service Company (APS). Pipe segments were inspected every 3 years on average. These data were analyzed to determine the current condition of the PCCP assets, and to develop statistical models of future deterioration of the pipeline and future deterioration rates of distressed pipes in different repair priorities by tracking individual deterioration zones throughout the inspection history. Using established risk and uncertainty analysis techniques, future repair priorities are forecast. The frequency of inspections and quality of the data collected allowed us to develop meaningful predictive statistical models of deterioration in PCCP assets. Starting from the detailed data on distress levels in the pipelines, the models forecast future progression of distress, including the total number of distressed pipes, total number of highly distressed pipes requiring repair or replacement, areas of severe distress, areas of rapid deterioration, and specific pipe segments reaching severe distress level in a specific future time period. The inspection data and results of this study were incorporated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Such information is of paramount importance for effective PCCP asset management.


Sensor imperfections in the form of photoresponse nonuniformity (PRNU) patterns are a well-established fingerprinting technique to link pictures to the camera sensors that acquired them. The noise-like characteristics of the PRNU pattern make it a difficult object to compress, thus hindering many interesting applications that would require storage of a large number of fingerprints or transmission over a bandlimited channel for real-time camera matching. In this paper, we propose to use real-valued or binary random projections to effectively compress the fingerprints at a small cost in terms of matching accuracy. The performance of randomly projected fingerprints is analyzed from a theoretical standpoint and experimentally verified on databases of real photographs. Practical issues concerning the complexity of implementing random projections are also addressed using circulant matrices.


Ample evidence has accumulated showing that different coding variants of the PRNP gene confer differential susceptibility for prion diseases. Here we evaluate the patterns of nucleotide variation in PRNP exon 2, which includes all the protein-coding sequence, by resequencing a worldwide sample of 174 humans for 2378 bp. In line with previous studies, we found two main haplotypes differentiated by nonsynonymous substitution in codon 129. Our analyses reveal the worldwide pattern of variation at the PRNP gene to be inconsistent with neutral expectations, indicating instead an excess of low-frequency variants, a footprint of the action of either positive or purifying selection. A comparison of neutrality test statistics for PRNP with other human genes indicates that the signal of positive selection on PRNP is stronger than expected from a possible confounding genome-wide background signal of population expansion. Two main conclusions arise from our analysis. First, the existence of an ancient, stable, balanced polymorphism that has been claimed in a previous study and related to cannibalism can be rejected and is shown to be due to ascertainment bias. Second, our results are consistent with a complex history of selection including mainly positive selection, even if short local periods of balancing selection (Kuru-like episodes), or even a weak purifying selection model, are consistent with our data.


BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are higher in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population because the metabolic side-effects of antipsychotics and schizophrenia increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (cvd) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). The metabolic syndrome is defined in order to discover which patients have a high risk of developing cvd and DM2.

AIM
To survey the current knowledge about the relationship between schizophrenia and the metabolic syndrome, the influence of the use of antipsychotics on the development of the metabolic syndrome, and the possible differences in the effects that first and second generation antipsychotics have on the syndrome.

METHOD
The PubMed and Medscape databases were searched for relevant articles published between 2000 and July 2008. results Schizophrenia and the use of antipsychotics increase the prevalence of abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and DM2 (i.e. the metabole syndrome). Second generation antipsychotics tend to cause a marked increase in the prevalence of abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia, whereas first generation antipsychotics hardly have any of these effects. Both first and second generation antipsychotics increase the risk of DM2.

CONCLUSION
The metabolic syndrome has a significant effect on the morbidity and mortality of patients with schizophrenia because it increases the risk they will develop cvd and DM2. The risk increases still further if patients are taking antipsychotics. The risk of cvd can be decreased if patients with schizophrenia are screened in time and are monitored regularly.


The interaction of turbulent wakes with one another and with the adjacent fluid directly impacts the generation of electricity in wind turbine arrays. Computational modeling is well suited to the repeated iterations of data generation that may be required to inform understanding of the function of wind farms as well as to develop control schemes for plant function. In order to perform such computational studies, a simplified model of the turbine must be implemented. One of the most computationally efficient parametrizations of the blade utilizes a stationary disk which has a prescribed drag and produces a wake. However, since accurate estimates of wake properties and the interaction with the surrounding fluid is critical to the function of wind farms, a comparison of the wakes emitted from a stationary disk model should be compared to that of a model with a rotating blade. Toward this end, an array of model rotating wind turbines is compared experimentally to an array of static porous disks. Stereo particle image velocimetry measurements are done in a wind tunnel bracketing the center turbine in the fourth row of a 4×3 array of model turbines. Equivalent sets of rotors and porous disks are created by matching their respective induction factors. The similarities and differences in the wakes between these two cases are explored using time-averaged statistics. The primary difference in the mean velocity components was ii found in the spanwise mean velocity component, which is much as 190% different between the rotor and disk cases. Conditional averaging of mean kinetic energy transport in wake from these two models reveals that a differing mechanism is responsible for the entrainment of mean kinetic energy in the near wake. In contrast, results imply that the stationary porous disk adequately represents the mean kinetic energy transport of a rotor in the far wake where rotation is less important. Proper orthogonal decomposition and analysis of the invariants of the Reynolds stress anisotropy tensor is done in order to examine large scale structure of the flow and characterize the turbulent wake produced by the porous disks and rotors. The spatial coherence uncovered via the proper orthogonal decomposition in the rotor case and its absence in the disk case suggests caution should be employed when applying stationary disk parametrization to research questions that are heavily dependent on flow structure. Motivated by questions on the impact of freestream turbulence on wakes in wind energy, a study of pairs of cylinders subject to varying levels of inflow turbulence is undertaken. Time-averaged statistics show a modification of the symmetry and development of the wakes originating from the pairs of cylinders in response to freestream turbulence. Recurrence-based phase averaging allowws examination of the many configurations of the wake and the modification of these topologies due to varying inflow turbulence. Results show the changes in vortex shedding synchronization as well as large scale cross stream advection in response to elevated levels of incoming turbulence.


This paper details an approach for shifting the gain of an S-band thulium-doped fiber amplifier (TDFA) that employs a high thulium concentration doping technique. The technique can shift the gain from the conventional gain band to the promising longer wavelength region by forming a suitable population inversion between the 3H4  and 3F4 levels that results from cross relaxation between thulium ions. It has been shown that, unlike with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, the interaction between thulium ions caused by the high concentration doping increases the efficiency up to a thulium concentration of 6000 ppm. The authors also describe the particular characteristics of Tm ions that appear when the fiber length and pump power ratio between the forward and backward pump powers in bidirectional pumping are varied. Furthermore, the authors optimized the thulium concentration, fiber length, and pump power ratio between the forward and backward pump powers, so that a high gain and a low noise figure (NF) in the S-band are obtained. As a result, the TDFA achieved a gain of 22 dB and NFs of < 6 dB in the 1477- to 1507-nm wavelength region at a thulium concentration of 6000 ppm


The Transmission of Psychopathology From Parents to Offspring: Development and Treatment in Context* In their research report, Loukas et al. report that parental alcoholism is prognostic of childhood behavior problems, both directly, through genetic and modeling effects, and indirectly, through parental distress and physical problems. They hypothesized that the heightened rate of behavior problems in young children of alcoholics could be traced to the combination of negative interactions with the alcoholic parent (e.g., abuse, neglect) and the generalized stress involved in living with an alcoholic (e.g., chaotic and unpredictable family climate). Loukas et al. point out that the negativity in alcoholic families is likely to be exacerbated by heightened levels of parental distress and by a lack of closeness and "quality time" between parents and children. As a result, children may somehow "act out" their parents' distress in addition to acting out the dysfunction inherent in an alcoholic family. Loukas et al. found that alcoholic fathers with comorbid antisocial personality disorder tended to have sons with the most severe conduct problems, replicating an earlier finding obtained by the same research group (Puttler, Zucker, Fitzgerald, & Bingham, 1998). They argue that this finding may be due to the personal and family antecedents and correlates of antisocial personality disorder, particularly a history of psychiatric problems and childhood conduct disorder, heightened family stress, less "quality time" spent between parents and children, and a chaotic family environment. These factors have all been empirically found to contribute to the genesis of child behavior problems: Negative psychiatric histories and conduct problems have been shown to be transmitted familially (Merikangas & Avenevoli, 2000; Taylor & Carey, 1998). Family stress is a significant predictor of conduct problems in childhood (Kagan & Schlossberg, 1989; Keiley, Bates, Dodge, & Pettit, 2000). The amount of time parents and children spend together (Griffin, Botvin, Scheier, Diaz, & Miller, 2000) and the quality of parent-child communication (Harnish, Dodge, Valente, & Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group, 1995) are protective factors against child behavior problems. Finally, a chaotic family environment is often implicated in the onset of conduct problems (Patterson, 1982; Patterson, Bank, & Stoolmiller, 1990; Weiss, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 1992). The risk for problem behaviors is further exacerbated when these risk factors act in combination with one another (beater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 1998), especially when risk factors from different contexts act in concert with one another (Dishion, Capaldi, & Yoerger, 1999). The findings reported by Loukas et al. are highly consistent with the extant literature on parental substance abuse, family dysfunction, and childhood conduct problems. The associations among parental substance abuse, family chaos, and childhood conduct disorder have been reported in the literatures on parenting, drug abuse, behavior problems, and psychiatric disorders (e.g., Bukstein, 1995, 1997; Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group, 2000; Dishion et al., 1999; Loeber, Green, Lahey, Frick, & McBurnett, 2000; Pettit, Bates, & Dodge, 1997; Taylor & Carey, 1998). The purpose of this companion paper is to trace some of the antecedents, causes, and treatment implications of the findings of Loukas et al. As treatment- and prevention-oriented researchers, we are particularly interested in the developmental psychopathology of childhood behavior problems, because understanding the etiology and developmental course of any disorder is key to preventing or treating it (cf. Cicchetti, 1984, 1993; Liddle & Hogue, 2000). Moreover, as we will discuss further, childhood conduct disorder occupies a pivotal position in the developmental sequence of behavior problems. …


INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer is, now often diagnosed in patients older than 70 years due to longer life expectancy. The usual treatment is mastectomy to obviate radiotherapy or breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the need for adjuvant radiotherapy in older patients and the consequences of omitting radiotherapy following conservative surgery.

METHODS
An extensive database search was made of patients who had been treated for breast cancer at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital Olomouc and the Atlas Hospital in Zlin (2004-2008). We identified 738 patients of whom 190 patients (25.7%) were older than 70 years of age. These were followed up for progression-free and overall survival. The cause of death was checked for breast cancer relapse.

RESULTS
In total only 9 patients undergoing breast saving surgery were ultimately identified. No patient had confirmed local recurrence during the follow up period: Two patients have died due to distant metastasis without local relapse and one patient has died for reasons other than breast cancer.

CONCLUSION
Omitting radiotherapy after breast saving surgery provides an opportunity for women to undergo breast saving surgery and avoid 7 weeks of radiotherapy. This could significantly improve patient quality of life. In our of many years experience and from published randomized data, this procedure is safe for a select group of patients 70 years of age and older.


Few things make Japanese adults feel quite as anxious today as the phenomenon called the "child crisis." Various media teem with intense debates about bullying in schools, child poverty, child suicides, violent crimes committed by children, the rise of socially withdrawn youngsters, and forceful moves by the government to introduce a more conservative educational curriculum. These issues have propelled Japan into the center of a set of global conversations about the nature of children and how to raise them. Engaging both the history of children and childhood and the history of emotions, contributors to this volume track Japanese childhood through a number of historical scenarios. Such explorations—some from Japan's early modern past—are revealed through letters, diaries, memoirs, family and household records, and religious polemics about promising, rambunctious, sickly, happy, and dutiful youngsters. "I do not know of any collection like this in English, dealing so comprehensively and from so many angles with the topic of the history of children and childhood in Japan." PETER CAVE, author of Schooling Selves and Primary School in Japan "In Child's Play , 'childhood' assumes many roles and guises, and many points of departure. The authors demonstrate the significance of Japanese cultural institutions and practices for a more comprehensive, and sobering, understanding of the artifice and operations alike of 'childhood.'" JENNIFER ROBERTSON, author of Robo sapiens japanicus: Robots, Gender, Family, and the Japanese Nation SABINE FRUHSTUCK is Professor of Modern Japanese Cultural Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her publications include Colonizing Sex: Sexology and Social Control in Modern Japan and Uneasy Warriors: Gender, Memory, and Popular Culture in the Japanese Army . ANNE WALTHALL is Professor Emerita of Japanese History at the University of California, Irvine. Her publications include The Weak Body of a Useless Woman: Matsuo Taseko and the Meiji Restoration , and Japan: A Cultural, Social, and Political History .


The Government of India had launched the National Biofuel Mission in the year 2003 as an initiative to limit the country's dependence on crude oil imports. An integral part of this mission is the Biodiesel Blending program and Jatropha, a tree-borne biodiesel yielding crop, is the cornerstone of the program. This study has been specifically designed to carry out economic assessment of the upcoming jatropha-based biodiesel value chain in the country. The study, based on primary data collected from three major jatropha growing states, has observed that jatropha cultivation is an economically viable proposition in the long-run as indicated by favourable values of net present value, internal rate of return and benefit cost ratio. Nevertheless, initial government support till attaining break even point is crucial to sustain the interest of the farmers. The jatropha seed processing industry has been found to be viable if operated at sufficient economies of scale, which in turn is determined by the level of backward integration with the seed market and a forward integration with biodiesel distribution channels. However, the existing biodiesel value chain in India lacks this integration and is characterized by under-developed seed markets, sub-optimal processing infrastructure and ill-defined biodiesel distribution channels. The involvement of corporate players to participate in processing and distribution activities has further delayed the program to take off. The study has cautioned that unless proactive orientation of all the stakeholders is ensured, the program may fail to meet its objectives, at least in the medium-term.


The mechanisms involved in the regulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) via the cAMP pathway are not yet completely understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate cAMP-mediated ENaC regulation in Xenopus laevis oocytes heterologously expressing the three subunits (αβγ) of rat ENaC and to determine the ENaC regions important for mediating the stimulatory effect of cAMP. In oocytes treated for about 24 h with 1 mm 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and 1 μm forskolin (FSK) so as to increase intracellular cAMP, the amiloride-sensitive whole cell current (ΔIAmi) was on average 10-fold larger than ΔIAmi in matched control oocytes. This effect on ΔIAmi was paralleled by an increase in ENaC surface expression caused by a reduced rate of ENaC retrieval. In addition, IBMX/FSK also enhanced ENaC open probability from about 0.2 to 0.5. The stimulatory effect of IBMX/FSK was dependent on the presence of intact PY motifs in the C termini of the channel. Mutagenesis of putative protein kinase A and CK-2 consensus motifs in the cytosolic domains of the channel did not reveal critical sites involved in mediating the stimulatory effect of IBMX/FSK. In contrast, site-directed mutagenesis of two putative ERK-consensus motifs (T613A in βENaC and T623A in γENaC) largely reduced the stimulatory effect of IBMX/FSK. Phosphorylation of these ERK sites has previously been reported to enhance the interaction of ENaC and Nedd4 (Shi, H., Asher, C., Chigaev, A., Yung, Y., Reuveny, E., Seger, R., and Garty, H. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 13539–13547). Using co-expression experiments we demonstrated that mutating the two ERK sites attenuates the inhibitory effect of Nedd4-2 on ENaC currents. We conclude that an increase in intracellular cAMP favors the dephosphorylation of the two ERK sites, which reduces channel retrieval and increases PO by modulating ENaC/Nedd4 interaction. This defines a novel regulatory pathway likely to be relevant for cAMP-induced stimulation of ENaC in vivo.


The Baltic Sea Region was the first multi-country region in the world to adopt common goals and actions for sustainable development. The instrument for that cooperation is Baltic 21 (formally "An Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region"). There are two de"nitions of sustainable development (SD): technical and nontechnical. Technical definition: "a sound balance among the interactions of the impacts (positive and/or negative), or stresses, on the four major quality systems: People, Economic Development, Environment and Availability of Resources". The non-technical definition was given as being: "a sound balance among the interactions designed to create a healthy economic growth, preserve environmental quality, make wise use of our resources, and enhance social benefits" [Global Community Assessment Centre].


We use the intense, 5-ns-long, excitation pulses provided by the fourth harmonic of a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser to induce a strong high-energy shift of the photoluminescence of a 7.8-nm-wide GaN/Al0.15Ga0.85N single quantum well. We follow the complex relaxation dynamics of the energy and of the intensity of this emission, by using a time-resolved photoluminescence setup. We obtain excellent agreement between our experimental results and those of our finite-element modeling of the time-dependent energy and oscillator strength. The model, based on a self-consistent solution of the Schrodinger and Poisson equations, accounts for the three important sources of energy shifts: (1) the screening of the electric field present along the growth axis of the well, by accumulation of electron-hole dipoles, (2) the band-gap renormalization induced by many-body interactions, and (3) the filling of the conduction and valence bands.


Computational protein design will continue to improve as new implementations and parameterizations are explored. An automated protein design procedure is implemented and applied to the full redesign of 16 globular proteins. We combine established but simple ingredients: a molecular mechanics description of the protein where nonpolar hydrogens are implicit, a simple solvent model, a folded state where the backbone is fixed, and a tripeptide model of the unfolded state. Sequences are selected to optimize the folding free energy, using a simple heuristic algorithm to explore sequence and conformational space. We show that a balanced parametrization, obtained here and in our previous work, makes this procedure effective, despite the simplicity of the ingredients. Calculations were done using our Proteins @ Home distributed computing platform, with the help of several thousand volunteers. We describe the software implementation, the optimization of selected terms in the energy function, and the performance of the method. We allowed all amino acids to mutate except glycines, prolines, and cysteines. For 15 of the 16 test proteins, the scores of the computed sequences were comparable to those of natural homologues. Using the low energy computed sequences in a BLAST search of the SWISSPROT database, we could retrieve natural sequences for all protein families considered, with no high‐ranking false‐positives. The good stability of the designed sequences was supported by molecular dynamics simulations of selected sequences, which gave structures close to the experimental native structure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008


Soybean is one of the crops that produce seeds with high protein content, as well as used by the inhabitants of Indonesia. Domestic soybean production can not meet the needs of the national soybean thus needs to be improved, one through breeding varieties with superior. One important step in plant breeding is the selection. To save time and costs of selection, it is necessary to determine the estimated correlation between characters and to determine the causal relationship between characters used path analysis. Through path analysis can be seen directly and indirectly influence between variables forecaster with the response variable. The purpose of this study to obtain information (1) correlation between characters agronomic towards production. (2) direct and indirect effects of agronomic between characters towards production. The research was conducted from October 2013 until January 2014 in the integrated field laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung and observations made in Lab oratory of Seed and Plant Breeding, University of Lampung. Soybean seeds used were F 5 generation zuriat from Wilis x Mlg 2521,  Willis and Mlg 2521. The treatment laid out in a randomized block design ,  2 replications. The results showed that  the re was a positive phenotype correlation between character of days to flowering, plant height, number of branches, number of pods, weight of 100 grains with grain weight per plant and there was no correlation between day to harvesting with the seed weight per plant. Direct selection of the most effective was through the number of pods because number of  pods have a direct effect almost equivalent to the correlation. The relationship between the number of pods  and weight of seeds per plant explained a real relationship. Keywords: correlation, path analysis, selection, soybean


Objective:To describe the clinical implications of an often neglected mechanism through which localized acute lung injury may be propagated and intensified. Data Extraction and Synthesis:Experimental and clinical evidence from the medical literature relevant to the airway propagation hypothesis and its consequences. Conclusions:The diffuse injury that characterizes acute respiratory distress syndrome is often considered a process that begins synchronously throughout the lung, mediated by inhaled or blood-borne noxious agents. Relatively little attention has been paid to possibility that inflammatory lung injury may also begin focally and propagate sequentially via the airway network, proceeding mouth-ward from distal to proximal. Were this true, modifications of ventilatory pattern and position aimed at geographic containment of the injury process could help prevent its generalization and limit disease severity. The purposes of this communication are to call attention to this seldom considered mechanism for extending lung injury that might further justify implementation of low tidal volume/high positive end-expiratory pressure ventilatory strategies for lung protection and to suggest additional therapeutic measures implied by this broadened conceptual paradigm.


The TNF superfamily of cytokines play an important role in T cell activation and inflammation. Sustained expression of lymphotoxin-like inducible protein that competes with glycoprotein D for binding herpesvirus entry mediator on T cells (LIGHT) (TNFSF14) causes a pathological intestinal inflammation when constitutively expressed by mouse T cells. In this study, we characterized LIGHT expression on activated human T cell subsets in vitro and demonstrated a direct proinflammatory effect on regulation of IFN-γ. LIGHT was induced in memory CD45RO CD4+ T cells and by IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells. Kinetic analysis indicated rapid induction of LIGHT by human lamina propria T cells, reaching maximal levels by 2–6 h, whereas peripheral blood or lymph node-derived T cells required 24 h. Further analysis of intestinal specimens from a 41 patient cohort by flow cytometry indicated membrane LIGHT induction to higher peak levels in lamina propria T cells from the small bowel or rectum but not colon, when compared with lymph node or peripheral blood. Independent stimulation of the LIGHT receptor, herpesvirus entry mediator, induced IFN-γ production in lamina propria T cells, while blocking LIGHT inhibited CD2-dependent induction of IFN-γ synthesis, indicating a role for LIGHT in the regulation of IFN-γ and as a putative mediator of proinflammatory T-T interactions in the intestinal mucosa. Taken together, these findings suggest LIGHT-herpesvirus entry mediator mediated signaling as an important immune regulatory mechanism in mucosal inflammatory responses.


We propose a natural cost function for the bi-clustering task, the monochromatic cost. This cost function is suitable for detecting meaningful homogeneous bi-clusters based on categorical valued input matrices. Such tasks arise in many applications, such as the analysis of social networks and in systems-biology where researchers try to infer functional grouping of biological agents based on their pairwise interactions. We analyze the computational complexity of the resulting optimization problem. We present a polynomial time approximation algorithm for this bi-clustering task and complement this result by showing that finding (exact) optimal solutions is NP-hard. As far as we know, these are the first positive approximation guarantees and formal NP-hardness results for any bi-clustering optimization problem. In addition, we show that our optimization problem can be efficiently solved by deterministic annealing, yielding a promising heuristic for large problem instances.


High-throughput molecular profiling technologies have produced high-dimensional multi-omics data, enabling systematic understanding of living systems at the genome scale. Studying molecular interactions across different data types helps reveal signal transduction mechanisms across different classes of molecules. In this paper, we develop a novel Bayesian representation learning method that infers the relational interactions across multi-omics data types. Our method, Bayesian Relational Learning (BayReL) for multi-omics data integration, takes advantage of a priori known relationships among the same class of molecules, modeled as a graph at each corresponding view, to learn view-specific latent variables as well as a multi-partite graph that encodes the interactions across views. Our experiments on several real-world datasets demonstrate enhanced performance of BayReL in inferring meaningful interactions compared to existing baselines.


: Most of current managerial studies on Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) focus on future social and economic impacts of privately-owned AVs. In contrast, the present study aimed on carrying out an in-depth benchmark on successful experimentations with Autonomous Shuttles for Collective Transport (ASCTs), identifying the most relevant social and economic findings as well as understanding how such results may contribute to future projects and trials. The research was designed as an in-depth qualitative benchmark of exploratory and descriptive nature on three selected European projects with ASCTs: CityMobil2, GATEway, SHOJOA. Results mainly focused on the trials' social aspects (e.g., user acceptance, trust, willingness to use and, shuttles' interactions with mixed-traffic). Economic impacts were not widely disclosed and/or explored (results were mainly centered on users' willingness to pay and potential to reduce fares). Thereby, we advocate that economic aspects shall not be considered as " ceteris paribus " while measuring user acceptance. From the perspective of social sciences, the study sheds light into what is currently being evaluated on ASCTs' trials. Results are relevant for future ASCTs projects to focus on neglected aspects and also to improve upon the trials' successful results in a sense that, to date, no current studies were found aiming to understand and evaluate the social and economic impacts of ASCTs deployments.


A class of dynamical systems associated to rings of S-integers in rational function fields is described. General results about these systems give a rather complete description of the well-known dynamics in one-dimensional additive cellular automata with prime alphabet, including simple formulae for the topological entropy and the number of periodic configurations. For these systems the periodic points are uniformly distributed along some subsequence with respect to the maximal measure, and in particular are dense. Periodic points may be constructed arbitrarily close to a given configuration, and rationality of the dynamical zeta function is characterized. Throughout the emphasis is to place this particular family of cellular automata into the wider context of S-integer dynamical systems, and to show how the arithmetic of rational function fields determines their behaviour. Using a covering space the dynamics of additive cellular automata are related to a form of hyperbolicity in completions of rational function fields. This expresses the topological entropy of the automata directly in terms of volume growth in the covering space.


All chemists have heard of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, or IUPAC as it is usually called, whether pronounced "eye-upac" or "upac". Most chemists have regularly made use of the work of IUPAC, even if they did not realize that they were doing so. For example, current nomenclature in all areas of chemistry owes much to the work of IUPAC. Also, infrared spectroscopists have depended for years on the IUPAC wavenumber standards to make their spectral data transferable between laboratories, or even transferable across temperature changes in the same laboratory. But few chemists or spectroscopists know much about IUPAC. The authors of this article are the chairmen of the two commissions of IUPAC which focus on spectroscopy, and the purpose of the article is to tell the reader about IUPAC and its spectroscopy commissions.