Spreading or migrating fibroblasts explore their environment by extending lamellipodia, membrane extensions that are driven by actin polymerization. They sense the rigidity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and migrate toward more rigid regions. Giannone et al. used total internal reflection fluorescence and differential interference contrast microscopy to investigate how cultured mouse embryo fibroblasts transduce the rigidity of the ECM into a contractile signal to direct migration. Lamellipodial extensions in spreading and migrating cells grown on fibronectin showed periodic localized contractions. These contractions, which depended on growth on a rigid substrate coated with fibronectin (which binds integrins), triggered integrin clustering and generated rearward movement of actin filaments that transported proteins including α-actinin and myosin light-chain kinase (whose activity was required for contractions) from the leading edge of the lamellipodium to its base. The period of the contractions coincided with the time required for actin to cross the lamellipodium and was proportionally affected by manipulations that altered lamellipodial width. Cells transfected with constitutively activated Rac had wider lamellipodia and an increased period between contractions, whereas cells transfected with a constitutively active cofilin mutant or with a dominant-negative LIMK (LIM kinase) had narrower lamellipodia and a decreased period. The authors proposed a model in which contractile forces applied to a rigid integrin-binding substrate stimulate the generation of an actin-bound signaling complex that is carried by actin from the tip of the lamellipodium to its base and thereby initiates the next contraction-extension cycle. Ridley discusses this research in a Preview. G. Giannone, B. J. Dubin-Thaler, H.-G. Döbereiner, N. Kieffer, A. R. Bresnick, M. P. Sheetz, Periodic lamellipodial contractions correlate with rearward actin waves. Cell 116, 431-443 (2004). [Online Journal] A. J. Ridley, Pulling back to move forward. Cell 116, 357-358 (2004). [Online Journal]


This paper describes the context and background of the conference workshop "Social networking tools and widgets to promote or expand eParticipation initiatives". Social networking tools form many people's main Internet destination and communication method and appear to be largely "free" to use. EParticipation initiatives are increasingly applying these tools in their promotion strategies to encourage more people to get involved. Further, some eParticipation initiatives are piloting the use of social networking tools and sites at the interactive core of their participation processes. This paper looks at these objectives in more detail. It begins to identify characteristics of individual projects and types of social networking tools that will need to be explored by practitioners, in order to successfully promote their projects this way. This identification process began before the workshop, by using a simple matrix to gather information about projects' use of social networking tools.


Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent vaginal condition that has been associated with a number of pregnancy complications, including spontaneous preterm births (sPTB). A number of risk factors for BV have been identified yet its etiology is not understood. Few studies have investigated the role of nutrition in the etiology of BV. Maternal iron and folate status may be important in the development of BV as they play key roles in host immunity. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature and provide support to the hypothesis that certain micronutrients, iron, and folate, are risk factors for BV early in pregnancy. Iron and folate may be important in both humoral and cell-mediated innate immunity, respectively. Both facets of innate immunity are important in the control of BV. Preliminary data suggests that vitamin D is associated with BV early in pregnancy. In a prospective cohort study, pregnant women enrolled at <16 weeks were followed through delivery. Serum collected at enrollment was analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and Gram-stained vaginal smears were evaluated for BV using Nugent criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between 25(OH)D and BV while adjusting for a number of confounders. The association between vitamin D and BV varied by race (likelihood ratio test, p=0.09). A 50-nmol/l decrease in 25OHD was associated with a 4.2-fold (95% CI, 2.1, 8.1) increase in the odds of BV in black women. Among white women, there was no association between maternal 25(OH)D and BV. These results indicate that maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with BV in early pregnancy among black, but not white women. Studies such as these are of great public health significance because maternal nutrition is modifiable, and interventions to improve maternal nutritional status can be safe, inexpensive, and readily acceptable to patients.


We develop a framework to model the shopping and consumption decisions of forward-looking consumers. Assuming that the consumer's future utility for each product alternative can be characterized by a standard random utility model, we use dynamic programming to determine the optimal consumption policy and the maximum expected value of consuming any n substitutable products selected while shopping (an n-pack). We propose two models. In the rst (canonical) model, we assume that an alternative is consumed on each successive consumption occasion and obtain a closedform optimal policy and a closed-form value function. Given a consumer's preferences for the product alternatives in an assortment, we then show how to identify that consumer's optimal n-pack using a simple swapping algorithm that converges in at most n swaps. In the second (generalized) model, we introduce an outside option so that a product alternative need not be consumed on each consumption occasion. We obtain a closed-form value function for the generalized model and show that its optimal n-pack is related to that of the canonical model using a special type of majorization. Additional structural properties and implications of each model are explored, as are other applications. To whom correspondence should be addressed


This study examined the marketing of edible mushroom in three villages (Alesi, Ekukunela and Ohon) in Central Cross River State, Nigeria. The marketing of edible mushroom in the state offers job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled rural population at farm gate and offers market employment opportunities for middlemen (wholesalers and retailers), enable talent utilization and stimulation of increase in edible mushroom production. The socio-economic characteristics of sellers, profit margin and marketing efficiency were the main focus. One hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed at three different markets in three selected villages in Central Cross River State, Nigeria, namely: Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon. These markets were chosen because of the large number of edible mushroom sellers in them. However, the sellers were randomly selected. This study revealed that the marketing of edible mushroom in Central Cross River State was completely dominated by women and children, with monthly profit margin for Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon markets as N60,000.00, N56,000.00 and N52,000.00 per annual respectively. This suggests that edible mushroom marketing business was lucrative. The concentration of sellers is low while entry is free. The markets are thus prefect competitive markets. The regression analysis, however, revealed that of all the marketing costs, transportation had the most significant impact on the returns of sellers in all the studied markets. It was therefore recommended that farmers should form Mushroom Grower and Marketing Cooperative to enable them obtain loans from banks. Banks should provide loans with low interest rate to both small and large – scales genuine mushroom farmers and marketers (not politicians, motor park boys or civil servant). Furthermore, extension agents should monitor beneficiaries of such loans to ensure that the farmers or marketers do not divert funds to buy motor-cycles, cars or marry more wives and also they should ensure regular repayment of loans by loan beneficiaries. The study also recommended that government should implement action –research type of programs that integrate institutional-technical and socio-economic aspect of mushroom farming and include post harvest and marketing aspects either through cooperatives or export processing zones. Finally, the study recommended that serious attention should be paid to improve the markets to perfect markets for optimal efficiency. KEY WORDS : Edible Mushroom, Nutrition, Improved Health, Marketing Efficiency


At the 2005 World Summit, the United Nations General Assembly unambiguously recognized a collective international responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. Each state has the responsibility to protect their population from these four egregious crimes and the international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to protect these same populations. The recognition of a positive obligation inherent in the concept of sovereignty represents a substantial leap forward in international law. The implications of this 'Responsibility to Protect' ('R2P') remain controversial and the future of the concept remains uncertain. This article addresses the potential operational substance and application of R2P on the ground. This article does not address the distinct issue of criteria for humanitarian intervention. Distinction between these two concepts is critical to an understanding of the potential impact of R2P. There are a number of measures short of military intervention that are less controversial and are directly implicated by the recognition of a collective R2P. The debate surrounding the limits of, and criteria for, military intervention in the affairs of a sovereign state to prevent mass atrocities in the context of R2P can and should continue. Meanwhile incidents of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity can be greatly diminished by operational application of R2P through domestic and international humanitarian actors who can provide early warning, risk analysis, technical assistance and capacity building, as well as international protection through facilitating asylum and other measures designed to prevent victimization. There may be no easier way for the international community to meet its responsibility to protect than by providing asylum and other international protection on adequate terms. A related concern is for states to take effective measures to ensure the protection of internally displaced persons who are often victim to R2P-related crimes. This article seeks to identify some of the preventive, responsive and rehabilitative measures that are implicated by R2P with a focus on diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means.


Indications for administration of surfactant to infants with established respiratory distress syndrome (RDS; rescue therapy) remains an area of continued investigation. Current recommendations vary from use in infants who are intubated and have an aAPO2 <0.22 to use in infants receiving >/=40% oxygen administered in a hood when the PaO2 is <80 TORR (aAPO2 approximately <0.36). This commentary is written in response to the article by Verder et al, in this issue of Pediatrics, who evaluated early versus late treatment of RDS in 60 preterm infants <30 weeks' gestation receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Early-treated infants (aAPO2, 0.22 to 0.35; mean, 0.26) had a lower incidence of mechanical ventilation or death (21%) than did late-treated infants (63%), who did not receive surfactant treatment until the aAPO2 was <0.22 (0.15 to 0.21; mean, 0.16). The authors conclude that although approximately half of infants <30 weeks' gestation with RDS can be treated with nasal CPAP alone, early treatment with surfactant when the aAPO2 is 0.22 to 0.36 reduced significantly the need for mechanical ventilation. Limitations of applicability of the study to widespread use include determination of PO2 values from transcutaneous measurements, which may vary from those obtained from arterial samples and affect significantly aAPO2 ratios. Likewise, use of nasal CPAP significantly affects oxygenation, and interpretation of results cannot be extrapolated to intubated infants or those receiving oxygen delivered under a hood. Nonetheless, the use of the aAPO2 ratio and early administration of surfactant are supported by this study.


The present work demonstrates that tuning the donor density of protective TiO2 layers on a photocathode has dramatic consequences for electronic conduction through TiO2 with implications for the stabilization of oxidation-sensitive catalysts on the surface. Vacuum annealing at 400 °C for 1 hour of atomic layer deposited TiO2 increased the donor density from an as-deposited value of 1.3 × 1019 cm−3 to 2.2 × 1020 cm−3 following the annealing step. Using an Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couple it was shown that the lower dopant density only allows electron transfer through TiO2 under conditions of weak band bending. However it was shown that increasing the dopant density to 2.2 × 1020 cm−3 allows tunneling through the surface region of TiO2 to occur at significant band bending. An important implication of this result is that the less doped material is unsuitable for electron transfer across the TiO2/electrolyte interface if the potential is significantly more anodic than the TiO2 conduction band due to moderate to large band bending. This means that the lesser doped TiO2 can be used to prevent the inadvertent oxidation of sensitive species on the surface (e.g. H2 evolution catalysts) as long as the redox potential of the material is significantly more anodic than the TiO2 conduction band. Conversely, for situations where an oxidative process on the surface is desired, highly doped TiO2 may be used to enable current flow via tunneling.


The analysis of the multiresonant ZVS DC/DC bridge converter is presented. The control system of the converter is basedon the method of frequency control at the constant time of transistor turn-off with a phase shift. The operation of the circuit is givenand the operating range of the converter is defined where ZVS switching operation is assured. Control characteristics are given andthe converter's efficiency is defined. The circuit's operation is analysed on the basis of results of the converter simulation tests using Simplorer programme.


This work aims to develop a reoffending score for assessing the likelihood of an offender reoffending within a certain fixed period of time. Currently, OGRS - the Offenders Group Reconviction Score - is a heavily used measure for assessing reconviction scores of a group or set of offenders. However, dates of conviction can be far removed from the reality of offending. The aim in this report is to develop a new approach which focuses on 'offending' rather than 'conviction' and, hence, to provide a 'reoffending measure' rather than a 'reconviction measure'. While OGRS has been remarkably successful, there is a need to develop a new measure. There are various reasons - to make offending behaviour rather than convictions as the primary focus of interest; the existing score is somewhat outdated; to confront the problems with the existing OGRS score; to improve the documentation relating to the construction of a measure; and to make the measure more 'user-friendly' for the practitioners.


Feature selection is a challenging problem for high dimensional data processing, which arises in many real applications such as data mining, information retrieval, and pattern recognition. In this paper, we study the problem of unsupervised feature selection. The problem is challenging due to the lack of label information to guide feature selection. We formulate the problem of unsupervised feature selection from the viewpoint of graph regularized data reconstruction. The underlying idea is that the selected features not only preserve the local structure of the original data space via graph regularization, but also approximately reconstruct each data point via linear combination. Therefore, the graph regularized data reconstruction error becomes a natural criterion for measuring the quality of the selected features. By minimizing the reconstruction error, we are able to select the features that best preserve both the similarity and discriminant information in the original data. We then develop an efficient gradient algorithm to solve the corresponding optimization problem. We evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm on text clustering. The extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach.


There is a crisis in poetry. There is a crisis in Victorian poetry. At least according to much that has been said of late about the future of verse. PMLA recently sought submissions for a special issue on poetry, asking, "has the time come to revisit the relevance of poetry and the pleasures of the poetic text in this changed interpretive universe?" and questioning "the possibilities of aesthetic analysis after deconstruction." A recent call for papers for a conference on the future of Victorian poetry notes "gloomy prognostications about the academic future of poetry in general and 'difficult' poetry in particular." No other literary form that I know of seems to generate this apocalyptic rhetoric, doubtless because poetry, perhaps unlike prose, loses much if it loses its aesthetic capital. Poetry's relevance and survival are ongoing concerns, as many Victorians themselves thought the fate of Western civilization to turn in large measure upon the question of verse. While Matthew Arnold prescribed the "sweetness and light" of culture as the tonic for a society sick with philistine utility, Lord Macaulay provocatively declared in his essay on Milton, "we think that, as civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines." If poetry has survived utilitarianism and industrialism, can it survive in the wake of theory or post-theory? More important, can it weather the downsizing, utilitarian university and a student population unequipped to encounter "poetry in general and 'difficult' poetry in particular"? I would not be writing this article, nor would you be reading it, if most of us were not prepared to answer "yes." To convince others to answer in the affirmative, I hope to profile some trends in the study of Victorian verse and to sketch out new scholarly dimensions grounded in the classroom, where the future of Victorian poetry, like that of the rest of the liberal arts, lies. I shall keep in the background of this academic profile the following practical concerns: the survival of Victorian poetry classes amid shrinking budgets and enrollments; the ongoing crisis in the job market; and the enduring problems of reading, difficulty, and rigor in our ever-changing classrooms. Three broad areas of scholarship address these concerns--the cultural status of poetry, its forms and genres, and its academic history. As the Victorians placed the value of poetry at the center of culture, so I think the best work today examines Victorian poetry's cultural value. I am encouraged by scholarship that both investigates and challenges nineteenth- and twentieth-century patterns of canon formation, (1) as Victorian poetry is, in the words of Kathy Alexis Psomiades, "that area of literary endeavor upon whose devaluation the profession of literary criticism was founded." (2) The work of recovery and the analysis of dominant canonical values in scholarship on Victorian women's poetry continue. Isobel Armstrong, Joseph Bristow, and Cath Sharrock's anthology, Nineteenth-Century Women Poets, is exemplary in its generous selections of both canonical and noncanonical women's poetry, including sentimental lyrics and evangelical hymns. (3) This endeavor extends to a large number of journal issues, books, and collections of essays on women's verse. (4) Following from groundwork laid down by James Eli Adams and others in the study of Victorian masculinities, much recent work has also taken a self-consciously "masculinist" approach, as does Clinton Machann's essay on Lord Tennyson's Idylls. (5) The study of Victorian genre and form seems never quite to exhaust itself, partially because the Victorians themselves were such innovators of genre. I am interested in a kind of scholarship that examines poetic form as both reflective and constitutive of the outside world. Yopie Prins studies the lyric and the fragment, arguing that Sappho, and therefore lesbian desire, are its origin (pp. 3-5); Prins demonstrates elsewhere that the Victorian explosion of prosody books reflects the death of voice and the emergence of a graphic materialization of poetry "through the continuity of metrical marks. …


Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the accumulation of mast cells in one or more organs. Our objective was to identify a peripheral mast cell precursor and assess its variation rate in mastocytosis. A peripheral blood phenotypic analysis was performed among 50 patients with mastocytosis who were enrolled in a prospective multicentric French study, and the phenotypic analysis results of the patients were compared with those of healthy donors. The rate of peripheral blood CD34(-)c-Kit(+) cells correlated with the severity of mastocytosis. This cellular population was isolated from healthy donors as well as from patients with systemic mastocytosis. After 30 days of culture, the CD34(-)c-Kit(+) cells gave birth to mature mast cells, indicating that this cellular population constitutes a mast cell circulating precursor. Monitoring peripheral CD34(-)c-Kit(+) cells by flow cytometry could be a useful and low-invasive tool to determine the disease severity and the relapses and to assess treatment efficiency.


Structured in five parts, Ps. 14 tackles the problem of the just who suffers on account of the fool. The psalmist seeks God in prayer and asks Him to intervene in his favour, so that in conformity with the theology of the treaty, the just may prosper and the wicked perish. Under the literary aspect, Ps. 14 is indeed complex. To the proper elements of the sapiential Psalms, it adds others of diverse orientation, and so it is not easy to insert it within a well defined literary genre. The actuality of the Psalm is found in the "atheistic humanism" proudly professed by the fool. It is not a matter of "speculative atheism " but rather of «practic.al atheisme». More than denying the existence of God, the fool acts as if God did not exist and behaves as if at the end of this life no sanction awaited him (v.l). With an antropomorphic language the Psalmist presents God as witness to this general apostasy (w.2-3) and his subsequent intervention for the restoration of the disturbed order (w. 4-5). At the conclusion the just-poor obtains assurances: the fool shall not succeed in his endeavours, because God sides with the just, intervenes in his favour and will not permit the fool to prevail (v.6). In the liturgical addition the Psalmist expresses the certitude that for Israel there is «salvation», and that this will come from Sion, namely from the place which God has chosen for his dwelling (v. 7).


"Submitted to the Graduate College of Texas A&M University in partial
 fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."


Before Ontario there was ice. As the last ice age came to an end, land began to emerge from the melting glaciers. With time, plants and animals moved into the new landscape and people followed. For almost 15,000 years, the land that is now Ontario has provided a home for their descendants: hundreds of generations of First Peoples. With contributions from the province's leading archaeologists, Before Ontario provides both an outline of Ontario's ancient past and an easy to understand explanation of how archaeology works. The authors show how archaeologists are able to study items as diverse as fish bones, flakes of stone, and stains in the soil to reconstruct the events and places of a distant past - fishing parties, long-distance trade, and houses built to withstand frigid winters. Presenting new insights into archaeology's purpose and practice, Before Ontario bridges the gap between the modern world and a past that can seem distant and unfamiliar, but is not beyond our reach. Contributors include Christopher Ellis (University of Western Ontario), Neal Ferris (University of Western Ontario/Museum of Ontario Archaeology), William Fox (Canadian Museum of Civilization/Royal Ontario Museum), Scott Hamilton (Lakehead University), Susan Jamieson (Trent University Archaeological Research Centre - TUARC), Mima Kapches (Royal Ontario Museum), Anne Keenleyside (TUARC), Stephen Monckton (Bioarchaeological Research), Marit Munson (TUARC), Kris Nahrgang (Kawartha Nishnawbe First Nation), Suzanne Needs-Howarth (Perca Zooarchaeological Research), Cath Oberholtzer (TUARC), Michael Spence (University of Western Ontario), Andrew Stewart (Strata Consulting Inc.), Gary Warrick (Wilfrid Laurier University), and Ron Williamson (Archaeological Services Inc).


The cultivation of winter oilseed rape is characterized by high rates of nitrogen fertilization. This can cause large nitrogen surpluses after seed harvest of oilseed rape. Most of the rapeseed oil is used for the production of biofuels. New regulatory standards in the European Union demand a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biofuels of 60 % (by 2018) compared to fossil fuels. Energy input to produce mineral nitrogen fertilizer is responsible for a high proportion of GHG emissions in the production chain of rapeseed oil. The environmental aspects and new legislative regulations illustrate the future challenge of maintaining current seed yields while using less nitrogen fertilizer than today. The development of oilseed rape cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency is one contribution to cope with this challenge. The use of semi-dwarf oilseed rape types might be a step towards this direction.
The aim of this study was to analyze the agronomic performance of semi-dwarf and normal oilseed rape hybrids at low and high nitrogen supply. Several nitrogen related traits were analyzed with regard to nitrogen use efficiency. The genetic mechanisms controlling these agronomic and nitrogen related traits were analyzed by QTL mapping.
A population of 150 oilseed rape hybrids, segregating in 75 semi-dwarf and 75 normal hybrids was developed from a DH population. DH lines were generated from the cross 'Alesi-bzh' x 'H30'. 'Alesi-bzh' is a dwarf line carrying the bzh dwarf allel. The DH population is segregating into dwarf and normal type lines. The hybrids were tested in field experiments in Einbeck and Gottingen at low nitrogen supply (without nitrogen fertilization) in 2010/2011. In 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 108 hybrids were tested at the same locations at low and high nitrogen supply.
On average, semi-dwarf hybrids produced a significantly higher seed yield (2.4 dt/ha) at low nitrogen supply compared to normal hybrids. At high nitrogen supply both growth types produced similar seed yields with a non-significant difference of 0.2 dt/ha. In general semi-dwarf hybrids formed significantly less straw in all environments than normal hybrids. The combinations of higher or similar seed yields and less straw yield resulted in a higher harvest index of semi-dwarf hybrids at both nitrogen supply levels. Semi-dwarfs had a significantly higher nitrogen utilization efficiency compared to normal hybrids at low and high nitrogen supply. That means they produced more kg seed per kg nitrogen taken up. The difference between the growth types was 2.7 and 1.1 kg seeds per kg nitrogen taken up at low and high nitrogen supply, respectively. Therefore, semi-dwarf hybrids revealed a higher nitrogen use efficiency at both nitrogen levels. The variation in nitrogen uptake efficiency contributed more to genetic variation in nitrogen use efficiency than variation in nitrogen utilization efficiency. QTL mapping identified a QTL on linkage group (LG) A06 with pleiotropic effects on seed yield, straw yield, harvest index and nitrogen use efficiency at low and high nitrogen supply. Due to the position of the QTL it is most likely the effect of the dwarf gene Bzh itself. Another QTL with pleiotropic effects on seed yield, harvest index and nitrogen use efficiency was identified on LG A07 at low nitrogen supply. Based on the results of the present study semi-dwarf hybrids produce higher seed yields and show a higher nitrogen use efficiency than normal type hybrids, especially at nitrogen deficient conditions.


Structural confinement effect on a pair of Eu2+ and Mn2+ optical centers is developed to realize the greatly enhanced red emission attributed to the 4T1(4G)–6A1(6S) transition of Mn2+ ions. Sr9Mn1.26(2)Li0.24(2)(PO4−δ)7 , when it is doped with Eu2+, emerges as a new red‐emitting phosphor, and the intensity dependence of such a red emission on the trace amounts of Eu2+ doping is quantitatively analyzed with a combined experimental and theoretical methods. The modeling result confirms the validity of this proposed design strategy, and the intrinsic high‐efficient Eu2+–Mn2+ energy transfer process can be elucidated by the structural confinement effect featured as some Sr (Eu) close to Mn atoms. The results can initiate the exploration of Mn2+‐based red phosphors for pc‐white light‐emitting diodes applications, and such a strategy can be easily expanded to other systems, thus opening a new perspective for the development of luminescence materials.


There has been a lot of recent interest in trying to characterize the error surface of deep models. This stems from a long standing question. Given that deep networks are highly nonlinear systems optimized by local gradient methods, why do they not seem to be affected by bad local minima? It is widely believed that training of deep models using gradient methods works so well because the error surface either has no local minima, or if they exist they need to be close in value to the global minimum. It is known that such results hold under strong assumptions which are not satisfied by real models. In this paper we present examples showing that for such theorem to be true additional assumptions on the data, initialization schemes and/or the model classes have to be made. We look at the particular case of finite size datasets. We demonstrate that in this scenario one can construct counter-examples (datasets or initialization schemes) when the network does become susceptible to bad local minima over the weight space.


Predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) neonates has led to reduced recruitment in many deer populations in southeastern North America. This low recruitment combined with liberal antlerless deer harvest has resulted in declines in some deer populations, and consequently, increased interest in coyote population control. We investigated whether neonate survival increased after coyote removal, whether coyote predation on neonates was additive to other mortality sources, and whether understory vegetation density affected neonate survival. We monitored neonate survival for 4 years prior to (2006–2009) and 3 years during (2010–2012) intensive coyote removal on 3 32-km2 units on the United States Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, South Carolina. We removed 474 coyotes (1.63 coyotes/km2 per unit per year), reducing coyote abundance by 78% from pre-removal levels. The best model (wi = 0.927) describing survival probability among 216 radio-collared neonates included a within-year quadratic time trend variable, date of birth, removal treatment, and a varying removal year effect. Under this model, survival differed between pre-treatment and removal periods and it differed among years during the removal period, being >100% greater than pre-treatment survival (0.228) during the first removal year (0.513), similar to pre-treatment survival during the second removalmore » year (0.202), and intermediate during the third removal year (0.431). Despite an initial increase, the overall effect of coyote removal on neonate survival was modest. Mortality rate attributable to coyote predation was lowest during the first removal year (0.357) when survival was greatest, but the mortality rate from all other causes did not differ between the pretreatment period and any year during removals, indicating that coyote predation acted as an additive source of mortality. Survival probability was not related to vegetation cover, either directly or in interaction with coyote abundance. When the objective is to increase the recruitment of white-tailed deer, we conclude that neither coyote control nor vegetation management appear effective. Reduction of the antlerless harvest may be necessary to meet this objective, but this harvest strategy warrants additional research in Southeastern deer populations.« less


Stellar flares, winds and coronal mass ejections form the space weather. They are signatures of the magnetic activity of cool stars and, since activity varies with age, mass and rotation, the space weather that extra-solar planets experience can be very different from the one encountered by the solar system planets. How do stellar activity and magnetism influence the space weather of exoplanets orbiting main-sequence stars? How do the environments surrounding exoplanets differ from those around the planets in our own solar system? How can the detailed knowledge acquired by the solar system community be applied in exoplanetary systems? How does space weather affect habitability? These were questions that were addressed in the splinter session "Cool stars and Space Weather", that took place on 9 Jun 2014, during the Cool Stars 18 meeting. In this paper, we present a summary of the contributions made to this session.


Background: The use of probiotics and/or prebiotics as an effective means of regulating gut microbiota may have a beneficial effect on metabolic disorders.Aims: This study was designed to assess the ability of probiotics and synbiotic to modify lipid profiles in subjects with prediabetes who are at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.Methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 120 pre-diabetic adults aged 35-70 years from the first-degree family of type 2 diabetic patients were recruited and randomly equally assigned to consume 6 g/d either probiotic or synbiotic or placebo supplements for 6 months. The probiotics used were Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium longum. Food record, physical activity, anthropometric measures and lipid profiles were assessed repeatedly at baseline, and 3- and 6-month supplementation.Results: Probiotics and synbiotic were effective in reduction of serum triglycerides after 6 months of intervention (SMD=- 10.6 and -9.4 respectively). Compared with the placebo, synbiotic resulted in a significant reduction in serum triglyceride levels (MD±SE: -9.4 ± 6.6 mg/dl vs. +13.2±6.8 mg/dl, p=0.02). Serum total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol were statistically unaffected by probiotic or synbiotic.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that supplementation with probiotic and especially synbiotic could decrease the concentration of triglyceride in prediabetic adults. This finding could warrant future studies to determine the therapeutic and preventive effects of these supplements in individuals at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.Keywords: probiotic; synbiotic; prediabetes; lipid; lipoprotein


Charles Schulz, the most widely syndicated and beloved cartoonist of all time, is also one of the most misunderstood figures in popular culture. Now, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis gives us the first full-length biography of Schulz: at once a creation story, a portrait of a hidden genius, and a chronicle contrasting the private man with the central role he played in shaping the imagination of a generation and beyond. The son of a barber, Schulz was born in Minnesota to modest, working class roots.In 1943, just three days after his mother's tragic death from cancer, Schulz, a private in the army, shipped out for boot camp and the war in Europe. The sense of shock and separation never left him. And these early experiences would shape his entire life. With "Peanuts", Schulz embedded adult ideas in a world of small children to remind the reader that character flaws and childhood wounds are with us always. It was the central truth of his own life, that as the adults we've become and as the children we always will be, we can free ourselves, if only we can see the humor in the predicaments of funny-looking kids. Schulz's "Peanuts" profoundly influenced popular culture in the second half of the 20th century. But the strip was anchored in the collective experience and hardships of Schulz's generation-the generation that survived the Great Depression and liberated Europe and the Pacific and came home to build the postwar world.


Jansen, H M, The, T H, de Gast, G C, Esselink, M T, van der Wal, A M, and Orie, N G M (1978).Thorax, 33, 429-438. Adjuvant immunotherapy with BCG in squamous-cell bronchial carcinoma. Immune-reactivity in relation to immunostimulation (preliminary results in a controlled trial). Twenty-nine patients with, at operation, evidence of locally advanced primary squamous-cell bronchial carcinoma (stage II, UICC, Geneva, 1974) had lung resection to remove all the visible tumour. Postoperatively a randomly chosen group of 16 patients received adjuvant BCG immunostimulation by scarifications, while the control group received no adjuvant treatment. Follow-up studies were done from three to 23 months. Immune-reactivity in vivo with PPD and DNCB skin tests, and in vitro with E-rosetting tests and lymphocyte transformation tests with PHA, Con A, diphtheria toxoid, and PPD was monitored in 10 treated and in seven untreated patients. Recurrence rates decreased appreciably in the BCG-stimulated group after a six to 23 months' follow-up (p<0·005). A pronounced increase in both in-vivo and in-vitro immune-reactivity went in parallel with a more favourable clinical outcome in the BCG-treated group. In these cases there was a significant increase in skin reactivity to PPD three months after surgery (p<0·025) and a statistically significant rise in lymphocyte reactivity to Con A (p<0·05), diphtheria toxoid (p<0·01), and PPD (p<0·05) but not to PHA 12 months after surgery. DNCB skin reactivity increased as well in the BCG-treated group, but the number of individuals was too small for statistical evaluation. Increase in immune responsiveness did not occur in the control group and appeared to be independent of the initial immune state of the patients. No differences were found in the numbers of E-rosetting lymphocytes in relation to immunotherapy. It is concluded that adjuvant BCG immunotherapy used in patients with minimal residual bronchial carcinoma improves the prognosis and a favourable clinical outcome is mirrored by an increase in cellular immune reactivity.


The nature of the physical regime in the vicinity of the Rhine ROFI (Region Of Freshwater Influence) has been determined in a series of collaborative observations. Extensive surveys with shipboard CTD/rosette systems have been used to complement time series observations by an array of moorings instrumented with currentmeters, transmissometers and fluorimeters.

The observations reveal a highly variable system in which the influence of the freshwater input from the Rhine extends northeastwards from the source and out to 30 km from the coast. The mean flow within this region is generally parallel to the coast (northeastwards) and with surface speeds, determined by the HF radar, of 15-20 cm/s. The residual current at sub-tidal frequencies was strongly correlated with windstress-forcing with a transfer factor of ca. 1%.

Water column structure exhibits marked periodic variations particulary on semidiurnal and semi-monthly time scales, the latter highlighted by contrasting post-springs and post-neaps surveys of the ROFI region. Springs tidal stirring was reinforced by strong wind (and wave) mixing which brought about complete vertical homogeneity everywhere except at the Rhine mouth. After the following neaps, and a period of light winds, the water column was observed to have re-stratified over the whole inshore region through the relaxation of the horizontal gradients under gravity and with the influence of rotation as in the model of Ou (1983).

The switching of the water column regime between stratified and mixed conditions was observed to markedly change the coupling between low frequency surface and bottom currents and is also reflected in the suspended sediment variations. Generally high levels of seston throughout the coastal boundary layer in the post-springs period were followed by a dramatic reduction especially in the region which re-stratified. An interesting exception was combined occurrence of high turbidity and low salinity in surface waters due to the immediate influence of the Rhine outflow near the source.


In a series of papers, Martin Weitzman has proposed a Dismal Theorem. The general idea is that, under limited conditions concerning the structure of uncertainty and preferences, society has an indefinitely large expected loss from high-consequence, low-probability events. Under such conditions, standard economic analysis cannot be applied. The present study is intended to put the Dismal Theorem in context and examine the range of its applicability, with an application to catastrophic climate change. I conclude that Weitzman makes an important point about selection of distributions in the analysis of decision-making under uncertainty. However, the conditions necessary for the Dismal Theorem to hold are limited and do not apply to a wide range of potential uncertain scenarios.


In the last 200 years, harmonic analysis has been one of the most influential bodies of mathematical ideas, having been exceptionally significant both in its theoretical implications and in its enormous range of applicability throughout mathematics, science, and engineering. In this book, the authors convey the remarkable beauty and applicability of the ideas that have grown from Fourier theory. They present for an advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate student audience the basics of harmonic analysis, from Fourier's study of the heat equation, and the decomposition of functions into sums of cosines and sines (frequency analysis), to dyadic harmonic analysis, and the decomposition of functions into a Haar basis (time localization). While concentrating on the Fourier and Haar cases, the book touches on aspects of the world that lies between these two different ways of decomposing functions: time-frequency analysis (wavelets). Both finite and continuous perspectives are presented, allowing for the introduction of discrete Fourier and Haar transforms and fast algorithms, such as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and its wavelet analogues. The approach combines rigorous proof, inviting motivation, and numerous applications. Over 250 exercises are included in the text. Each chapter ends with ideas for projects in harmonic analysis that students can work on independently. This book is published in cooperation with IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute.


The collaborative inference systems are designed to speed up the prediction processes in edge-cloud scenarios, where the local devices and the cloud system work together to run a complex deep-learning model. However, those edge-cloud collaborative inference systems are vulnerable to emerging reconstruction attacks, where malicious cloud service providers are able to recover the edge-side users' private data. To defend against such attacks, several defense countermeasures have been recently introduced. Unfortunately, little is known about the robustness of those defense countermeasures. In this paper, we take the first step towards measuring the robustness of those state-of-the-art defenses with respect to reconstruction attacks. Specifically, we show that the latent privacy features are still retained in the obfus-cated representations. Motivated by such an observation, we design a technology called Sensitive Feature Distillation (SFD) to restore sensitive information from the protected feature representations. Our experiments show that SFD can break through defense mechanisms in model partitioning scenarios, demonstrating the in-adequacy of existing defense mechanisms as a privacy-preserving technique against reconstruction attacks. We hope our findings inspire further work in improving the robustness of defense mechanisms against reconstruction attacks for collaborative inference systems.


Knowledge of reproduction in baleen whales such as the blue whale Balaenoptera musculus is still limited. Here, we combined the sighting histories of 24 yr of reproductively active female blue whales from the United States (US) west coast and the Gulf of California (GoC), Mex- ico. The latter region is a nursing ground for some of the blue whales that feed off the US west coast during the summer months. We report here that females show site fidelity to the GoC even when not lactating. The mean calving interval based on consecutive sighting histories was 2.57 yr. Two female calves returned with their own offspring after 11 and 13 yr, indicating an apparent age of first parturition of >10 yr. While 60% of females identified in the GoC were also sighted off the US west coast, only 30% of the females from the latter area were seen in the GoC. Thus only a part of the US Californian population migrates to the GoC, suggesting the existence of additional calv- ing and nursing grounds for this population. Despite the presence of killer whales, female blue whales presumably migrate to the GoC to benefit from high prey abundance. The lack of docu- mented births in the GoC may indicate that female blue whales choose open, pelagic waters for calving and move to the GoC when the calves are older.


AIM
A decrease in proteinuria has been considered protective from renal damage in lupus nephritis (LN), but a cut-off point has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of renal damage in patients with LN and to determine the best cut-off point for a decrease in proteinuria.

METHODS
We included patients with LN defined clinically or histologically. Possible predictors of renal damage at the time of LN diagnosis were examined: proteinuria, low complement, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, red cell casts, creatinine level, hypertension, renal activity (assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)), prednisone dose, immunosuppressive drugs and antimalarial use. Sociodemographic variables were included at baseline. Proteinuria was assessed at baseline and at 12 months, to determine if early response (proteinuria <0.8 g/day within 12 months since LN diagnosis) is protective of renal damage occurrence. Renal damage was defined as an increase of one or more points in the renal domain of The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index (SDI). Cox regression models using a backward selection method were performed.

RESULTS
Five hundred and two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus patients were included; 120 patients (23.9%) accrued renal damage during their follow-up. Early response to treatment (HR=0.58), antimalarial use (HR=0.54) and a high SES (HR=0.25) were protective of renal damage occurrence, whereas male gender (HR=1.83), hypertension (HR=1.86) and the renal component of the SLEDAI (HR=2.02) were risk factors for its occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS
Early response, antimalarial use and high SES were protective of renal damage, while male gender, hypertension and higher renal activity were risk factors for its occurrence in patients with LN.


The main purpose is to analyze how a number of wing-stroke parameters are related to the lift (average vertical force) and thrust (average horizontal force) produced by the insect under well defined aerodynamic conditions. The locust was suspended from a complicated balance and flew against a uniform horizontal wind from an open-jet wind tunnel. The wind speed was automatically adjusted to the preferred flying speed (air speed), i.e. the speed at which the thrust equals the extra-to-wing drag. The lift was measured as the apparent reduction in weight; it is given as a percentage of the weight which the individual would have if it had flown for about one hour, was full-grown and well fed but, if a female, with undeveloped eggs ( = basic weight). This figure is the relative lift, and it is used because the actual weight changes much with age, feeding, sexual development, etc., while the dimensions of the flight motor remain constant. The angle between the wind and the long body axis is the body angle and was chosen by the observer or by the insect itself. Most experiments took place at 30° C (constant temperature room), but series were run at the upper and lower limits for flight, including experiments with small flocks of locusts suspended from a roundabout. The rate of evaporation of water from the thorax was kept constant. In a large number of individuals sustained steady-state flight was studied; at regular intervals a set of simultaneous readings were taken consisting of the lift, the speed, the body angle, the stroke frequency, the extreme angular positions of the wings, and of the inclination to the vertical of the stroke planes. In addition, the angular movements of the entire wings relative to the body were estimated from slow-motion films. The results are seen in §§4 to 7. The frequency distribution of the relative lift has its maximum about 100 %, showing that, in this respect, the flight comes near to free flight. It varied from 35 to 175 %, i.e. about five times. During continuous horizontal flight the flying speed was 3•5+ 0•1 m/s and may increase to 4•2 m/s in free flight. At larger lifts (climbing) the steady-state speed could reach 4•5 m/s. During the first minutes the speed was often 4•5 to 5•0 m/s, the maximum observed being 5•5 m/s. No locust lifted its own weight at speeds less than 2•5 m/s. The power necessary to overcome the extra-to-wing drag only corresponds to 1 to 3 % of the total metabolic rate. The effect of altering the body angle is fundamentally different from that of altering the pitch of an aircraft; the lift is controlled and kept constant by the locust and proved to be independent of alterations in the body angle amounting to as much as 20°. This is the basis for the technique and for the treatment of the results. In spite of the large variations in lift, the following stroke parameters varied little or not at all: the stroke angles, the stroke-plane angles, the middle position of the wings, and the time course of the angular movement of the entire wing, y = y(t). The latter function deviates considerably from a simple harmonic oscillation. According to figure II, 20, the average points are determined with an accuracy of better than + 1 %, permitting graphical differentiation. The stroke frequency was rather constant but increased with the reflexly controlled lift, contrary to Chadwick's experiments on Drosophila, and decreased with increasing size, according to Sotavalta's findings in other insects. The maximal changes were small, however, amounting to 8 % (lift) and 15 % (size) respectively. The flight performance and the stroke parameters were independent of changes in air temperature (no radiant heat) within 25 to 35° G, although the pterothorax is subjected to similar changes. Sustained flight does not take place below 25° C and above 35° G, but short performances were observed between 22 and 24° C as well as above 37° C. The great variation in lift could not be explained by changes in the measured stroke parameters, and by analogy with a variable-pitch propeller, it must be caused by differences in wing twisting 0(r,t). It was also found that lift and thrust varied in a more intricate way than in a simple actuator disk. The regularity of the stroke and its independence of temperature makes it possible to define a standard stroke, making it easy to compare a given performance with the normal.


Biogeochemical fluxes and Gibbs energies in sedimentary pore-waters point to the existence of sulfate-reducing ammonium oxidation. This process has not been previously inferred in natural environments. Porewater profiles in the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean) demonstrate that significant ammonium disappears at the ammonium-sulfate interface. Loss of ammonium at this horizon greatly exceeds possible nitrogen demand by biomass production. In situ Gibbs energies of reaction (ΔG) in Bay of Bengal and Greenwich Bay (Rhode Island) sediments indicate that sulfate-reducing ammonium oxidation is energy yielding. Relatively small and constant but consistently negative ΔG values for this reaction in both locations match the thermodynamic signature of anaerobic microbial respiration. The ΔG results and the substantial ammonium loss suggest that sulfate-reducing ammonium oxidation occurs in Bay of Bengal sediment. The Greenwich Bay ΔG results suggest that the process may also occur in anoxic sediment where the ammonium concentration profile shows no net loss of ammonium.


This paper argues the paradox that industrial countries and international financial organizationsrecommended less developed countries (LDCs) to reinforce their financial liberalization progressions. However, due to the current financial crisis, developed economies have to admit not taking the necessary policies themselves to circumvent the worst period of unbridled risk-taking by financial institutions. During the 1980s, industrialized economies feared LDCs fragile financial systems and their potential policy mismanagement given their lack of familiarity. Incongruously, markets have taken revenge on the "rentiers" and empirical evidence has shown that technocrats running the international financial system are also prone to big mistakes with adverse economic consequences.


Outcomes of competition between corals vary temporally and spatially, and depend in part on the agonistic mechanism involved. Competition may impact coral growth, reproduction and energy reserves, however few experimental studies have quantified these effects. We conducted a 1 yr laboratory experiment on competition between 2 massive corals, Platygyra daedalea and Favites complanata. Colonies of P. daedalea developed sweeper tentacles and extensively damaged the F. complanata colonies, causing them to loose ca. 55% of their soft tissue and eventually killing 30% of F. complanata colonies. Skeletal accretion rate varied widely among corals within each treatment, and correlated negatively with the percent tissue damaged on competing colonies of F. complanata. On isolated control colonies, sweeper tentacles developed randomly throughout the year, and then reverted back to feeding tentacles. They appeared to serve as probes to detect the approach of com- petitors. Development of sweeper tentacles is a powerful aggressive/defensive mechanism that may enable brain corals to dominate some reef areas in the Indo-Pacific region.


Objective – This article discusses a series of actions taken by the Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to implement organizational change, using the ClimateQUAL® survey and facilitated discussions with ThinkTank™ group decision software. The library had experienced significant changes over a five-year period, with a renovation of the facility and three reorganizations resulting in a 50% staff turnover. Recognizing the strain that years of construction and personnel changes had placed on the organization, there was a desire to uncover the mood of the employees and reveal the issues behind low morale, uneasiness, and fear.

Methods – In November 2009, the library conducted a ClimateQUAL® survey to develop a baseline to assess the effectiveness of any changes. After the results were distributed to library faculty and staff, a series of two-hour facilitated discussions was held to gather opinions and ideas for solutions using thinkLets, a pattern language for reasoning toward a goal. The group support system ThinkTank™ software was loaded onto computers, and employees were able to add their ideas anonymously during the sessions. Finally, 12 employees (29%) completed a four-question survey on their perceptions of the facilitated discussions.

Results – The facilitated discussions returned 76 sub-themes in 12 categories: staffing and scheduling issues, staff unity/teamwork, communication, goodwill/morale, accountability, decision-making, policy issues, skills and training, leadership, ergonomics/physical work environment, respect, and bullying. An advisory team culled the 76 sub-themes into 40 improvement strategies. Five were implemented immediately, and the remaining 35 were scheduled to be presented to the faculty and staff via an online survey. Participants' perceptions of the facilitated discussions were mixed. Eighty-three percent of respondents reported that they did not feel safe speaking out about issues, most likely because a supervisor was present.

Conclusion – Improving organizational climate is a continuous and iterative process that leads to a healthy environment.


The paper investigates whether the market size of a regional trade agreement (RTA) is a determinant of foreign direct investment (FDI) received by countries participating in the RTA. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of 71 developing countries during the period 1980-99. Evidence is found that the RTA market size had a positive impact on the FDI received by member countries, even more so in the 1990s when such agreements were revived and became more widespread. The size of domestic population also seemed to matter, possibly because of its effect on the availability of the labor supply. It appears, however, that not all countries in the RTA benefited to the same extent from the RTA: countries with a relatively more educated labor force and/or a relatively more stable financial situation tended to attract a larger share of FDI at the expense of their RTA partners. This evidence suggests it is essential for all RTA countries to improve their business environment to the best available in the region. Finally, a partial negative correlation between the FDI received by RTA countries and that received by non-RTA countries possibly reflects a diversion of FDI from non-RTA to RTA countries. As an illustration, FDI benefits are simulated from the creation of a regional trade agreement between Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.


We consider the design of compact multisub-carrier constellations for intensity-modulated direct-detected optical systems. The constellations are designed to minimize the average electrical, average optical, and peak optical power for a given minimum distance between constellation points. We formulate the constellation design as a nonconvex optimization problem with second-order cone constraints, (nonconvex) quadratic constraints, and a convex objective function. We show that this problem can be relaxed to a (convex) second-order cone programming (SOCP) problem. We introduce a simple iterative method in which the SOCP relaxation is improved in each iteration. Several numerical simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our method. For the single-subcarrier case, the new constellations are compared with the best known formats in terms of power and spectral efficiency. Our new constellations outperform the corresponding face-centered cubic lattice and quadrature-amplitude-modulation-based constellations, with average electrical and optical power gains in the vicinity of 0.5 dB, for low symbol error rates. The corresponding peak optical power gains are also in the vicinity of 0.5 dB. By studying the mutual information inherent to the new constellations, we show that the potentials are still valid for coded systems. For the two-subcarrier case, we still outperform two-subcarrier schemes based on conventional constellations and optimized single-subcarrier constellations with the same dimensions.


Jessica P. Havery A STUDY OF THE IMPACT ROWAN UNIVERSITY'S ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG PROGRAM HAS ON BEHAVIORS, DISPOSITIONS & ATTITUDES AMONG STUDENTS 2008/09 Dr. Burton R. Sisco Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that Rowan University's Alcohol & Other Drug program had on the behaviors, dispositions and attitudes of students responsible for violating the institution's alcohol policy. The study focused on the changes among students that attended the new program, instituted in the Spring 2008 semester, during the 2008-2009 academic year. Data on the behaviors, dispositions and attitudes were collected using a pre and post-test instrument, which consisted of 53 questions composed in both close-ended and Likert form. Data analysis suggests that the most significant changes among students were behavioral in nature. Students reported a significant change in their decision making while intoxicated, specifically regarding their involvement in unlikely sexual encounters and participation in physical altercations. Additionally, students reported a change in dispositional factors including a decrease in their approval of drinking for the sole purpose of intoxication and their intent to knowingly violate Rowan University's alcohol policy simply because they thought they could get away with the violation. In regards to the students' intent to change their alcohol-related behavior, there appeared to be minimal statistical significance.


There is a large body of research devoted to exploring quality in interpreting and various authors have identified survey methodology as one of the most frequently applied to this line of research. However, this line of research lacks fundamental and principled guidance regarding survey methodology, in spite of a fairly rich literature on survey design. This paper attempts to remedy this by developing a succinct, yet comprehensive guide to questionnaire design for quality research in interpreting, covering important concepts such as validity, reliability, construct design and ethical dimensions.


Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) integrating multidomain sensors and actuators with conventional microelectronic batch fabrication processes are becoming increasingly complex. In order to design systems with large numbers of multi-domain components, we need to use a hierarchical structured design approach, with design at the schematic level instead of the traditional layout representation used in MEMS design. However, since fabrication can only be done from a layout representation, an automatic or manual layout generation from schematic is necessary. It is essential to be able to translate from the layout representation back to the schematic to reason about layout correctness in meeting the schematic's function as well as to extract geometric parameters for functional simulation. An extraction module is developed which reads in the geometric description of the layout structure and reconstructs the corresponding schematic. This schematic can then be fed to an ordinary differential equation solver or can be compared with the design schematic to validate the correctness of the designed layout. The extraction module also minimizes the number of nodes required to represent the schematic as a netlist. The results presented show the success of the module for some example MEMS designs.


The primarily Neotropical dolichoderine ant genus Linepithema is revised at the species level for the first time. Morphological and biogeographic data support the recognition of 19 species. The following taxonomic scheme is proposed: L. angulatum (Emery) stat. nov. [= pordescens (Wheeler) syn. nov.], L. dispertitum (Forel), L. flavescens (Wheeler & Mann) stat. nov., L. fuscum Mayr, L. gallardoi (Brethes) [=breviscapa (Santschi) syn. nov. = impotens (Santschi) syn. nov.], L. humile (Mayr) [=arrogans (Chopard) = riograndense (Borgmeier)], L. iniquum (Mayr) [= bicolor (Forel) syn. nov. = dominicense (Wheeler) syn. nov. = fuscescens (Wheeler) syn. nov. = melleum (Wheeler) syn. nov. = nigellum (Emery) syn. nov. = succineum (Forel) syn. nov.], L. keiteli (Forel) [= subfaciatum (Wheeler & Mann) syn. nov.], L. leucomelas (Emery) [= aspidocoptum (Kempf) syn. nov.], L. micans (Forel) stat. nov. [= platense (Forel) syn. nov. = scotti (Santschi) syn. nov.], L. oblongum (Santschi), L. piliferum (Mayr). Seven species are described as new: L. anathema sp. nov., L. aztecoides sp. nov., L. cerradense sp. nov., L. cryptobioticum sp. nov., L. neotropicum sp. nov., L. pulex sp. nov., and L. tsachila sp. nov.. Seventeen species are sorted into one of four groups associated with the species L. fuscum, L. humile, L. iniquum, or L. neotropicum, and two species are left unassigned. New generic diagnoses are provided for worker, male, and queen castes, and Shattuck's (1992a) generic descriptions of the worker, male, and queen castes are modified slightly to take into account expanded knowledge of character state variation. Worker and, where known, male and queen castes are described. Diagnoses, illustrations, and keys are supplied for worker and male castes. Discussions of variation, comparisons to similar species, and nomenclatural issues are given for each species, as well as synopses of life history traits such as queen number, colony structure, geographic distribution, nest site and habitat records, and associations with parasitoid Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae).


This paper focuses on interest rate models with regime switching and extends previous nonlinear threshold models by relaxing the assumption of a fixed number of regimes. Instead we suggest automatic model determination through Bayesian inference via the reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Moreover, we allow the thresholds in the volatility to be driven not only by the interest rate but also by other economic factors. We illustrate our methodology by applying it to interest rates and other economic factors of the American economy.


Universities are by their nature learning based organizations. They deliver knowledge to students through teaching processes. Students acquire knowledge through learning processes, from their professors and from other different knowledge resources. Since learning is a fundamental process within any university, people may consider universities as being learning organizations. This is a major error, especially in the former socialist countries. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that most universities are far away from being learning organizations, due to some organizational learning barriers.


On September 11, 2001, ordinariness died. In its place, a new anxiety was born. In this personal story of anxiety and response, the author reflects on events as they have unfolded in the days following September 11. Focusing on the possibilities invoked by anxiety, the author also questions the limits of anxiety. Can anxiety be both a springboard and a ceiling of possibility? In the Age of Anxiety, we may need to rethink our relationships with anxiety, learning, and one another. Events such as those of September 11 may well force us to question how everyday life is changed by interruption, disruption, and anxiety and then to question how anxiety might be extended and used to spark our collective creativity.


Ambient Intelligence environments host various agents that collect, process, change and share the available context information. The imperfect nature of context, the open and dynamic nature of such environments and the special characteristics of ambient agents have introduced new research challenges in the study of Distributed Artificial Intelligence. This paper proposes a solution based on the Multi-Context Systems paradigm, according to which local knowledge of ambient agents is encoded in rule theories (contexts), and information flow between agents is achieved through mapping rules that associate concepts used by different contexts. To resolve potential inconsistencies that may arise from the interaction of contexts through their mappings (global conflicts), we use a preference ordering on the system contexts, which may express the confidence that an agent has in the knowledge imported by other agents. On top of this model, we have developed four alternative strategies for global conflicts resolution, which mainly differ in the type and extent of context and preference information that is used to resolve potential conflicts. The four strategies have been respectively implemented in four versions of a distributed algorithm for query evaluation and evaluated in a simulated P2P system.


Multi-axis milling operations are widely used in many industries such as aerospace, automotive and die-mold for machining intricate sculptured surfaces. The most important aspects in machining operations are the dimensional integrity, surface quality and productivity. Process models are employed in order to predict feasible and proper process conditions without relying on empirical methods based on trial and error cutting and adaptation of previous experiences. However, previously developed process models are often case specific where the model can only be employed for some particular milling tools or they are not applicable for multi-axis operations. In many cases, custom tools with intricate profile geometries are compatible with the surface profile to be machined. On the other hand, for more robust and stable cutting operations, tools with wavy cutting edge profiles and varying geometric edge distributions are utilized. In this thesis, a complete numerical mechanic and dynamic process model is proposed where the tool is modeled as a point cloud in the cylindrical coordinates along the tool axis. The tool geometry is extracted from CAD data enabling to form a model for any custom tool. In addition, the variation in the cutting edge geometry, where serrated and variable helix/pitch cutting edges can be adapted for any milling tool is taken into account. The cutting engagement boundaries are identified numerically using a Boolean intersection scheme. Moreover, a Z-mapping algorithm is integrated in the proposed multi-axis mechanistic force model to predict cutting forces for a continuous process. As for the multi-axis milling dynamics, previous single-frequency stability models are extended to encompass all possible tool geometries taking the time delay variation introduced by irregular cutting edge geometries. The proposed model is experimentally verified with different tool geometries investigating cutting forces and also predicting the stable cutting conditions.


Diagnostic physicians during the treatment of patients usually profile a disease into various severity (stages) levels, which gives better picture about the course of the treatment, financial estimate, material needs, time-line of the treatment, further diagnostics and recovery. With the advent of Computational Intelligence (CI), Big Data technologies and with the availability of enormous clinical data, the severity levels prediction by Clinical decision making systems (CDMS) has become ease. Apart from predicting the current severity level of the disease, it is very important to predict the next coming severity level of the disease. The disease severity level transition does not always happen in a predefined sequence on a certain timeline and there are many examples in diseases such as diabetes, cancer, sudden heart attack etc. where there is some sort of randomness in the severity level transition which happens irrespective of the timeline. The severity level jump varies from person to person due to some inexplicable reasons, so if CDMS predicts a possible severity level transition sequence along with the current severity level, it will be very helpful in the treatment phase. This research work provides novel solution for predicting the transition of severity levels using data mining approaches. Cleveland heart data set which has four severity levels is taken from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) machine learning repository and it is used for the analysis of the proposed method.


Ketone photolysis is a potentially important source of HOx radicals in the upper troposphere. To represent this photolysis, models need to include actinic flux, quantum yield, and absorption cross sections over a range of atmospherically relevant conditions. This work seeks to improve the representation of ketone ultraviolet (UV) absorption by quantifying it as a function of temperature. We present observations of 1‐nm resolution absorption cross sections from 200 to 335 nm of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and diethyl ketone (DEK) at temperatures between 242 and 320 K, as well as propyl ethyl ketone (PEK) cross sections at 296 K. Our measured room temperature absorption cross sections agree to within 2%, 2%, and 5% with previous studies for MEK, DEK, and PEK spectra, respectively. We parameterize the temperature dependence of the cross sections of MEK and DEK using a two‐state model, which reproduces our experimental results well. With additional assumptions, this model can be applied to the temperature dependence of PEK in the absence of experimental data. This model is appropriate for atmospherically relevant temperatures both inside and outside the temperatures used in this study and is suitable for incorporation into model atmospheric photolysis schemes. R programs to facilitate usage of these data are included in the supporting information . Inclusion of temperature‐dependent absorption cross sections in atmospheric photolysis calculations decreased the rate coefficients of MEK, DEK, and PEK photolysis in the upper troposphere when compared to those calculated using only the room temperature cross sections; the decrease can be as large as 20–25%.


This paper analyses the empirical validity of Prebisch-Singer hypothesis using the time series Grilli-Yang Commodity Price Index data spanning from 1900 to 2015. The methodology employed is encapsulated in a three fold approach: a) endogenous detection of structural breaks; b) estimation of trend through piece-wise linear regression; and c) validation of the statistical signi(cid:28)cance of the trends applying the Mann-Kendall test. The four structural breaks endogenously determined, primarily, coincides with four important historical/economic events over the last century: (a) World War I (1914 to 1918) and, thereafter, the Great Depression (1929 to 1939), (b) World War II (1939-1945) and immediate post war rebuilding (1950s), (c) First Oil Crisis (1973-74) and (d) Commodity Price Boom (late 1990s). From the trend results, the inference derived on the validity of Prebisch-Singer hypothesis is mixed. If the overall period of study is considered, then the empirical evidence in support of PS hypothesis is weak. However, if the terms of trade movement over the last century is considered, especially the second half, then the evidence in favor of Prebisch-Singer hypothesis is strong. The other important (cid:28)nding is that it also depends on the nature of the commodities i.e. the terms of trade of agricultural commodities are more prone to secular decline than metals.


Money is broadly defined to include M2 plus large denomination time deposits and deposits in savings institutions. Splitting M2+ into two components, M1 and the remainder, MD, each was found to bear a stable relationship to GDP over the 1929-94 period. An economic test of the causality question reveals that it runs from money to economic activity. Lastly, the evidence attests to the short-run non-neutrality of money on unemployment, and to the stabilizing influence of the private sector on the economy.


The main topic of the session is to show how dose optimization is being implemented in various regions of the world, including Europe, Australia, North America and other regions. A multi-national study conducted under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) across more than 50 less resourced countries gave insight into patient radiation doses and safety practices in CT, mammography, radiography and interventional procedures, both for children and adults. An important outcome was the capability development on dose assessment and management. An overview of recent European projects related to CT radiation dose and optimization both to adults and children will be presented. Existing data on DRLs together with a European methodology proposed on establishing and using DRLs for paediatric radiodiagnostic imaging and interventional radiology practices will be shown. Compared with much of Europe at least, many Australian imaging practices are relatively new to the task of diagnostic imaging dose optimisation. In 2008 the Australian Government prescribed a requirement to periodically compare patient radiation doses with diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), where DRLs have been established. Until recently, Australia had only established DRLs for computed tomography (CT). Regardless, both professional society and individual efforts to improved data collection and develop optimisation strategies across a range of modalities continues. Progress in this field, principally with respect to CT and interventional fluoroscopy will be presented. In the US, dose reduction and optimization efforts for computed tomography have been promoted and mandated by several organizations and accrediting entities. This presentation will cover the general motivation, implementation, and implications of such efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand importance of the dose optimization in Diagnostic Radiology. 2. See how this goal is achieved in different regions of the World. 3. Learn about the global trend in the dose optimization and future prospectives. M. Rehani, The work was a part of the work of IAEA where I was an employee and IAEA is a United Nations organization.


Using only an elementary constructive method, we prove the universal approximation capability of three-layered feedforward neural networks that have sigmoid units on two layers. We regard the Heaviside function as a special case of sigmoid function and measure accuracy of approximation in either the supremum norm or in the Lp-norm. Given a continuous function defined on a unit hypercube and the required accuracy of approximation, we can estimate the numbers of necessary units on the respective sigmoid unit layers. In the case where the sigmoid function is the Heaviside function, our result improves the estimation of Krkov (1992). If the accuracy of approximation is measured in the LP-norm, our estimation also improves that of Krkov (1992), even when the sigmoid function is not the Heaviside function.


1 Dear Editor, A growing body of scientific literature suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can also be found in wastewater, with a viral lifespan of 3–4 days. However, the CDC points out that there is no scientific evidence to prove that the virus in untreated wastewater can cause COVID-19 to people who are exposed to it1. According to Mallapaty2, monitoring for viral RNA in wastewater can provide a better estimate on how widespread is the coronavirus pandemic. At present, countries around the world still rely on testing individuals. However, asymptomatic individuals are not included in these tests. As such, the real magnitude of the pandemic might possibly be hidden. Using wastewater with viral RNA might provide a better estimate because it includes viral RNA samples from every member of the population in a given community, including those who have mild or no symptoms of COVID-192. According to Daughton3, wastewater-based epidemiology measures chemical signatures in sewage like the fragments of SARS-CoV-2. However, the determination of biomarkers in wastewater samples and ensuring their stability can be challenging4. In addition, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the possibility of faecal-oral transmission is not yet clear5. As precautionary measures, however, the following methods and resources can be considered by authorities in developing countries in treating wastewater with SARS-CoV-2: 1. Decentralization of wastewater treatment facilities. This includes separating the wastewater treatment of healthcare facilities from the general community so that the removal of viral RNA is better implemented6. In Chirisa et al.'s appraisal of centralized and decentralized water systems, centralized wastewater treatment systems such as in the case of Latin America tend to be unsustainable because of its high water consumption7. In addition, centralized wastewater treatment facilities can also be more expensive to construct and operate7, thereby making decentralized wastewater treatment facilities in the context of developing countries more feasible. 2. Point-of-use devices for virus decontamination. Adelodun et al.6 recommend the use of inexpensive approaches such as the use of filters like iron-oxide bio-sand, zero-valent iron, nanocellulose-based filters and gravitybased ultrafilters, and the use of oxidants like chlorine, as well as ozonation and UV irradiation. The use of flocculants and coagulants that are stored in sachets, moreover, have helped to reduce pathogenic organisms that cause diarrhea in Kenya, Guatemala, and Vietnam8. Coagulation and flocculation, however, are not standalone methods but must be used in conjunction with other approaches. 3. Cultivation of microalgae. Wastewater disinfection using cultivated microalgae, specifically the use of Galdieria sulphuraria has been proven to remove high rates of coliphages, noroviruses and enteroviruses9. Viruses in wastewater can be removed when they are adsorbed onto the biomass of microalgae, followed by the process of sedimentation9. Nwoba et al.10 in addition, asserted that bioproducts that can be obtained from wastewater-grown microalgal biomass may include animal feed, biofuels and biofertilizers. These bioproducts, derived from the innovative and sustainable cultivation of microalgae, can then help to boost the economic status of individuals in impoverished communities. Examining wastewater for fragments of the SARSCoV-2 virus provides health and sanitation authorities with the advantage of knowing whether pandemics or outbreaks are likely to occur. Point-of-use devices for virus decontamination are widely available but they are not without risks and disadvantages. Given the present magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic among developing AFFILIATION 1 College of Nursing, University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City, Philippines 2 College of Engineering and Architecture, University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City, Philippines 3 School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines


Internal phoretic flows due to the interactions of solid boundaries with local chemical gradients may be created using chemical patterning. Alternatively, we demonstrate here that internal flows might also be induced by geometric asymmetries of chemically homogeneous surfaces. We characterise the circulatory flow created in a cavity enclosed between two eccentric cylindrical walls of uniform chemical activity. Local gradients of the diffusing solute induce a slip flow along the surface of the cylinders, leading to a circulatory bulk flow pattern which can be solved analytically in the diffusive limit. The flow strength can be controlled by adjusting the relative positions of the cylinders, and an optimal configuration is identified. These results provide a model system for tunable phoretic pumps.


Humility Is the New Smart

 Your job is at risk—if not now, then soon. We are on the leading edge of a Smart Machine Age led by artificial intelligence that will be as transformative for us as the Industrial Revolution was for our ancestors. Smart machines will take over millions of jobs in manufacturing, office work, the service sector, the professions, you name it. Not only can they know more data and analyze it faster than any mere human, say Edward Hess and Katherine Ludwig, but smart machines are free of the emotional, psychological, and cultural baggage that so often mars human thinking.

 So we can't beat 'em and we can't join 'em. To stay relevant, we have to play a different game. Hess and Ludwig offer us that game plan. We need to excel at critical, creative, and innovative thinking and at genuinely engaging with others—things machines can't do well. The key is to change our definition of what it means to be smart. Hess and Ludwig call it being NewSmart. In this extraordinarily timely book, they offer detailed guidance for developing NewSmart attitudes and four critical behaviors that will help us adapt to the new reality.

 The crucial mindset underlying NewSmart is humility—not self-effacement but an accurate self-appraisal: acknowledging you can't have all the answers, remaining open to new ideas, and committing yourself to lifelong learning. Drawing on extensive multidisciplinary research, Hess and Ludwig emphasize that the key to success in this new era is not to be more like the machines but to excel at the best of what makes us human.


Abstract Early detection of heart failure and the accurate diagnosis of heart failure remains a huge clinical challenge to family practitioners. ECGs and chest x-rays merely serve as baseline investigations and the diagnosis is eventually only confirmed by a two-dimensional echocardiogram coupled with Doppler-flow studies. Another biomarker of left ventricular dysfunction that could be added to the armamentarium of the generalist is the blood test proBNP, the precursor of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Studies have shown that, already in early phases of left-ventricular systolic dysfunction (asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction), BNP proved to be a good marker of both development of heart failure and prognosis. This article gives the generalist an approach to using proBNP in general practice for early detection of left ventricular dysfunction, exclusion of heart failure and prudent referral to the cardiologist.


This paper presents the entire fabrication and processing steps necessary for wafer scale monolithic integration of series interconnected GaSb devices grown on semi-insulating GaAs substrates. A device array has been fabricated on complete 50 mm (2 inch) diameter wafer using standard photolithography, wet chemical selective etching, dielectric deposition and single-sided metallization. For proof of concept of the wafer-scale feasibility of this process, six large-area series interconnected GaSb p–n junction thermophotovoltaic cells with each cell consisting of 24 small-area devices have been fabricated and characterized for its electrical connectivity. The fabrication process presented in this paper can be used for optoelectronic and electronic device technologies based on GaSb and related antimonide based compound semiconductors.


Introduction: Challenges of service provision systems necessitate the presence of staff with higher motivation to work more efficiently; therefore, paying close attention to job satisfaction of such staffs to enhance organizational efficiency sounds essential. This study aimed to prioritize factors affecting personnel satisfaction in hospitals of TUMS using AHP Model. Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 5 hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2015. The data collection tool was a questionnaire containing demographic questions as well as nine questions on personnel satisfaction. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed, and the data was analyzed using analytic hierarchy process and Expert Choice V. 11 software. Findings: According to the AHP model, rewards and compensations were the most important factors (0.262), and monitoring and supervision were of the lowest importance (0.030). Factors of Job security (0.182), job improvement (0.177), job positions (0.091), working conditions (0.075), communications among colleagues (0.063), associated with personal life (0.060), and policy management (0.035) obtained next priority. Also, rank of items in unmarried female employees were higher than that of married male employees. Discussion & Conclusion: The conclusions for our investigation demonstrate that correction mechanisms in hospitals and use of leverage by offering incentives such as performance-based management can enhance motivation as well as the employees performances. In addition, efforts to strengthen social relationships among colleagues would lead to more satisfaction as a significant component.


Abstract The present study was designed to examine the antioxidative potential and antihyperlipidemic activity of Swietenia macrophylla in streptozotocin diabetic rats. The experimental groups were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg body weight, BW). Rats with glucose levels >200 mg/dL were considered diabetic and were divided into five groups. Three groups of diabetic animals were orally administered daily with seed extract (SME) at a dosage of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg BW. One group of STZ rats was treated as diabetic control and another group orally administered 600 μg/kg BW glibenclamide daily. Repeated daily oral administration of S. macrophylla significantly reduced blood glucose levels after 45 days of treatment. The lipid peroxidation products such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides of SME treated rats decreased in the plasma, liver and kidney. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were significantly increased in SME treated rats. Antioxidants such as reduced glutathione level in the plasma, liver and kidney and vitamins C and E levels in the plasma increased in SME treated rats. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids and lipoproteins levels increased. Altered lipid profile of treated rats lead to normality with treatment of S. macrophylla. Thus, our results indicate that the administration of 100 mg/kg BW SME restores near normal blood glucose, redox status and lipid profile in STZ-diabetic rats.


The training complexity of deep learning-based channel decoders scales exponentially with the codebook size and therefore with the number of information bits. Thus, neural network decoding (NND) is currently only feasible for very short block lengths. In this work, we show that the conventional iterative decoding algorithm for polar codes can be enhanced when sub-blocks of the decoder are replaced by neural network (NN) based components. Thus, we partition the encoding graph into smaller sub-blocks and train them individually, closely approaching maximum a posteriori (MAP) performance per sub-block. These blocks are then connected via the remaining conventional belief propagation decoding stage(s). The resulting decoding algorithm is non-iterative and inherently enables a highlevel of parallelization, while showing a competitive bit error rate (BER) performance. We examine the degradation through partitioning and compare the resulting decoder to state-of-the art polar decoders such as successive cancellation list and belief propagation decoding.


CCN promises to solve many problems related to traditional network architecture with its receiver-driven, secure and simplistic model. Transparent and ubiquitous in-network caching, mobility management are two active research topics within CCN domain, and we intend to address both in this thesis. This document mainly consists of our work on improving in-network cache management in static and dynamic network environments. In-network cache management in Content-Centric Networking (CCN) has received significant interest from research community in recent years. On the positive aspect, it helps in increasing content availability and quality-of-experience (QoE) by reducing end-to-end delays, and reduces server load. On the other hand, opting the default approach, that is, store a content at every node on the delivery path is not resource-efficient as it introduces high cache redundancy. A multitude of schemes are proposed to increase efficiency of the network, which aim to reduce redundancy by selecting a small fraction of nodes on returning path for storing contents. This selection is generally based on taking into account knowledge about the network or the content itself. However, in many schemes node's utility is generally determined by analyzing only one concept at a time. For example, some schemes store contents based on popularity, while others select nodes employing only the information about network topology etc. Considering only a single aspect while taking a decision may limit the scope of the cache management scheme to be deployed in diverse scenarios, and might result in sub-optimal performance when the environment is changed. Hence, there is a need to devise an efficient caching mechanism that can dynamically adjust and adapt itself to any environment. With this in mind, we propose an adaptive caching strategy, named as Multi-Attribute Caching Strategy (MACS) based on multi-parameters for CCN. MACS attempts to overcome inefficient cache utilization by intelligently selecting caching locations along the content delivery path. Simulation results show that MACS reduces cache load at each node while providing comparable delay and better cache hit rate using both synthetic and real network topologies.


This article assesses the contributions of public–private partnerships, understood as a specific type of networked climate governance, to effective and legitimate climate governance. The appraisal of networked governance in the climate change arena is based on three sets of criteria. First, their potential contribution to effective climate change mitigation and adaptation; second, their contribution to broader political goals such as increased participation and inclusiveness in global environmental governance; and third, their linkages and fit with the existing institutional architecture of international climate change governance. I conclude with a set of questions for future research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


ABSTRACT Nutritional excess and/or obesity represent well-known predisposition factors for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, molecular links between obesity and NIDDM are only beginning to emerge. Here, we demonstrate that nutrients suppress phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase/Akt signaling via Raptor-dependent mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)-mediated phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). Raptor directly binds to and serves as a scaffold for mTOR-mediated phosphorylation of IRS-1 on Ser636/639. These serines lie close to the Y632MPM motif that is implicated in the binding of p85α/p110α PI3-kinase to IRS-1 upon insulin stimulation. Phosphomimicking mutations of these serines block insulin-stimulated activation of IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase. Knockdown of Raptor as well as activators of the LKB1/AMPK pathway, such as the widely used antidiabetic compound metformin, suppress IRS-1 Ser636/639 phosphorylation and reverse mTOR-mediated inhibition on PI3-kinase/Akt signaling. Thus, diabetes-related hyperglycemia hyperactivates the mTOR pathway and may lead to insulin resistance due to suppression of IRS-1-dependent PI3-kinase/Akt signaling.


Cochlear implants continue to be used in the treatment of profound deafness. Because of the tonotopic nature of the cochlea, more controlled insertion is perhaps the most important factor affecting device performance. The implant stiffness, and therefore the scala tympani (ST) wall contact force, contributes to insertion difficulties. Attempts to correlate the implant carrier structural properties and the intracochlear contact forces during insertion are limited. Researchers in the Michigan Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems are developing perimodiolar-shaped silicon and parylene-based thin film cochlear electrode arrays and backing devices for a more controllable implantation. We report a method developed for measuring the thin film actuated electrode array rigidity to quantify the ST and modiolus wall contact forces during and after insertion. The method used a pneumatically actuated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monolithic electrode actuator using pressurized air (0–200 kPa) for actuation. The prototype actuators consisted of PET tubes with an ID of 365 μm and a wall thickness of 58 μm. Force calculations using cantilever beam bending theory were performed to estimate the tube bending forces as a function of internal pressure and therefore variable structural stiffness. Based on estimations, a method was developed to measure such small forces avoiding the use of commercially available, relatively insensitive load cells. A fixture was fabricated incorporating two brass microcantilevers (reference and deflection arms) sensitive to sub-mN forces applied by the actuator on the deflection arm of the cantilevers. Microcantilver deflection data, captured by an interferometric microscope, was used to calculate the actuator force and eventually the reaction force acting on the actuator. The implant actuation forces ranged from 0–0.76 mN over an actuation pressure range of 0–140 kPa, from nearly straight to the relaxed perimodiolar post-implantation shape. For estimating the implant rigidity (EI), the actuator stiffness and the actuation pressure was correlated. The actuator stiffness at different actuation pressures was obtained both theoretically (using beam bending theory and PET tube structural properties) and experimentally (using the derived unconstrained actuator deflections at measured actuator forces). The theoretical and experimental stiffness values ranged from 3.6E-08 to 5.34E-07 N/μm and 2.5E-08 to 7.8E-06 N/μm respectively over the working pressure range. The calculated rigidity constant (EI) of the best prototype insertion tool from the experimental stiffness measurement was 6.71E06 Nμm2. The insertion tool-ST wall contact forces were calculated, using the estimated rigidity, in a hypothetical insertion situation. Force calculations assumed that the implant is equipped with actuator deflection feedback sensors and the actuator's stiffness remains constant over its entire length for a given operating pressure. A contact force of 1.19 mN was found acting on the cochlear ST wall when the insertion tool hits the wall and deflects by 200 μm at an actuation pressure of 140 kPa.