The DNA sequence-specific binding ability of polybenzamide minor groove binding ligands was investigated. These ligands were compared with the known minor groove binder Hoechst 33258, using both DNase I footprinting and chlorambucil interference footprinting. The monocationic derivative showed some sequence specific binding to A/T-rich sequences, as shown by DNase I footprinting, but results for the biscationic polybenzamide were inconclusive. A general non-specific inhibition of cleavage at high drug concentrations was observed, suggesting these compounds had a low DNA binding affinity compared to Hoechst 33258. Using a complementary technique, chlorambucil interference footprinting, the biscationic derivative displayed a clear preference for sites containing at least three consecutive adenines and in contrast with the monocationic analogue, a lesser affinity for mixed A/T sequences.


HISTORICAL

The relation between calcium metabolism and tumor growth has been a subject of investigation by numerous workers. Analysis of serum calcium shows that the calcium is often below the normal level (Theis and Benedict (1), Krehbiel (2)). It has been demonstrated that the calcium content of growing tumor tissue is low (Clowes and Frisbie (3)). With this fact, Rohdenburg and Krehbiel (4) note that the fixed tissue of a rat containing a receding transplanted tumor showed an increase of sodium, potassium, and calcium as compared with the salt content of a normal rat. Creamer (5) can inhibit proliferation and growth of tumor cells by suspending them in an isosmotic solution of calcium chloride. Waterman (6), Crile (7) note a greater conductivity of tumor cells as compared with normal cells. Osterhout (8) showed a decrease of conductivity of cells in the presence of calcium salts.

Logically, the next step was to observe the growth in vivo of tumor tissue by maintaining a high serum calcium, in this way bathing the tissues with extra calcium.

Numerous attempts have been made to increase the salt content in tumor bearing rats and so to study its effect on tumor growth. High calcium diets and intravenous salt injections have been tried in a vain effort to cause a generalized and persistent hypermineralization. It occurred to us independently of any other work that hypodermic injections of parathyroid hormone and a slightly increased calcium diet would permit of an accurate method of study. It should however be stated that Rohdenburg and Krehbiel have first noted the significance between endocrine and tumor growth.


Two main factors pose challenges in designing wireless sensor network systems, namely energy and bandwidth. In this paper, we will focus on the topic of decreasing energy consuming in wireless networks by employing the Artificial intelligent in this domain. In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the sensors are working by small batteries. Since the small batteries are restricted power resources, they should use carefully. The proposed algorithm extends the life of these batteries by making use of artificial intelligence science in general and cluster technology in particular, by finding the optimal number of clusters for the network so that the routing process consumes the least amount of energy and that is the bottleneck in the energy consumption in the network. The K-mean algorithm used as the basis for the network sensor clustering process and optimal fixed packet size used according to radio parameters and transceiver channel conditions. By following this manner, the energy consumption of each sensor node can be decreased individually then the overall network lifetime will be increased.


To ascertain the applicability of the isoamyl nitrite-assisted sulfanilic acid sulfonation method, a series of carbon precursors (sucrose-derived disordered mesoporous carbon, ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3, glucose-based hydrothermal carbon, and activated carbon) were utilized in attempts to synthesize carbon-based solid acids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis (EA), and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) were applied to characterize the catalysts. The carbon-based solid acids were applied in the dehydration of xylose and corn stover to evaluate their catalytic performance. Sucrose-derived disordered mesoporous carbon (C-CCA) and ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 were successfully sulfonated by isoamyl nitrite-assisted sulfonation, while glucose-based hydrothermal carbon (HGC) and activated carbon (AC) were unsuccessful. Compared with ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 solid acid (S-CMK-3), sucrose-derived disordered mesoporous carbon solid acid (ISC-CCA) showed better performance for the production of furfural. The reusability of ISC-CCA for furfural production from xylose during 5 runs was favorable. Using pure water and ISC-CCA as a solvent and catalyst, from corn stover, achieved a furfural yield of 43.1% at 190 °C in 4 h.


The cadastral education in Korea has developed as the education and training of special purpose from the national land management point of view. So, the goal and growth of cadastral education have been closely related to the cadastral development plans and demands of the government authorities. This paper intends to investigate the development and characteristics of the modern cadastral education in Korea, in relation to the change of cadastral systems. Also, this paper includes the in-depth analysis on the characteristics and differences of the cadastral courses in two-year colleges and universities. In this part, Myongji College and Chongju University are selected in order to make a comparative analysis between college and university for the period 19912001. And the curriculums of the two departments are divided into five categories: cadastre, surveying, cadastral computerization, urban & real estate, and law. The modern cadastral education has been developed continuously during the last 20th century. The early education was mainly short-term technical training for executing the national surveying projects. The core of cadastral education was transferred to college and university education in the 1970's as a turning point. Since that, the national affairs of cadastre and the demand of cadastral experts have been increased, so the cadastral courses have been opened at high-level educational institutes with the active support of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs. The two-year cadastral course was firstly established in Myongji College in 1976. The field of cadastral education has been developed rapidly both in quantity and quality. Nowadays, the professional theories and technical practices on cadastre are educated in 11 two-year colleges and 4 universities. Recently the changes of cadastral affairs and system are accompanied with the reformation of cadastral education. For the purpose of preparing for the national projects such as the computerization of cadastral affairs, the cadastral resurveying project and the construction of Parcel-Based Land Information System(PBLIS), each department of cadastre has changed its name, educational section, educational program and curriculum. The names of the existing departments of cadastre were changed from cadastre to the information-related names such as Cadastral Information, Cadastral Information Engineering, and Construction Information. This phenomenon means that the nature of cadastral education and cadastral affairs is transformed to the application of information or informatics. And the educational section of many cadastral courses in colleges has been changed from section of social science to section of engineering or construction. Obviously, this tendency was also appeared in the names of the newly established departments of cadastre in the late 1990's. Many of them took Land Information Management, Cadastral Information, and Geoinformatics as the name of department. But, because the educational goal of college is to produce the mid-level technicians equipped with practical ability, the educational program and the curriculum of colleges are differed from those of universities. The educational goal of the department of Cadastral Information in Myongji College is to produce the mid-level technicians who will be engaged in the fields of the cadastral and land information management. On the other hand, that of the department of Land Administration in Chongju University is to produce cadastral professionals and experts equipped with the theory and the practical ability to analyze and solve the various problems related to land. This difference between the two is reflected on their curriculum and its change. The department of Cadastral Information in Myongji College provides the curriculums that are focused on obtaining the national technical certificates and on improving the practical ability of cadastral and land information processing. Therefore, the proportion of the surveying sector required to the acquisition of qualification and cadastral technique is 44.2%, and that of computer sector for land information processing is 17.4%. These sectors form two thirds of total subjects. The department of Land Administration in Chongju University provides the curriculums that are focused on the principle of cadastre and real estate, land use, urban information, cadastral surveying. Because it intends to set up cadastre as the integrated and applied social science, the urban & real estates sector occupies 37.4% of total subjects. And the proportion of the law sector related to cadastre is higher than that of Myongji College. Analyzing the changes of curriculum of the two departments during last decade, the proportion of computer sector has been increased in all. The change of that results from opening the subjects related to cadastral computerization such as LIS/GIS, GPS, Digital Mapping, Graphic Information Processing, Spatial Database Management etc. This result also means that cadastral education has positively accepted the demand of practical field from the viewpoint of school and industry(practical field) cooperation. Finally, in the 21st century or advanced information society, the educational goal and curriculum of cadastral course should be more focused on not only the cadastral development plan of government authorities but also the land information management using advanced technique and equipment. And it will be necessary that the broad supporting system of cadastral education and the interdisciplinary researches should be activated in order to set up cadastre as the comprehensive and integrated science.


Abstract The complex pathogenesis of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis involves arachidonic acid-derived inflammatory mediators, among them leukotrienes. Montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, is reported to exert an alleviatory effect in the course of cystitis associated with overactive bladder symptoms. The aim of this study was to verify whether the effect of montelukast is also associated with its influence on autonomic activity. The experiment included 20 rats with cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis (75 mg/kg, four doses every second day), among them, 10 treated with oral montelukast (10 mg/kg for 8 days) and 10 controls. Time and frequency domain analyses of heart rate variability (HRV) were conducted in all the rats as an indirect measure of their autonomic activity. The montelukast-treated animals showed an increase in root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), as well as an increase in HRV spectrum total power (TP) and power of very low (VLF) spectral component. This suggests that due to its anti-inflammatory and its anti-leukotriene effect, montelukast improves overall autonomic activity, with no preferential influence on either the sympathetic or parasympathetic part. Furthermore, the increase in VLF corresponds to attenuation of inflammatory response. In conclusion, this study showed that aside from its antagonistic effect on leukotriene receptors, montelukast can also modulate autonomic activity.


The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires the appointment of data protection officers in local governments. In this article, we systematize information about the role of the data protection officer in a local authority, assess to what extent the legal obligation to publish their contacts is duly met in the case of the Intermunicipal Community of the Region of Aveiro (CIRA), and reflect on the sufficiency of his or her appointment to fulfill the functions envisaged. The study has an exploratory nature and is based on document analysis. The analysis carried out revealed that the eleven municipalities have privacy policies on their websites, but only two publish the contact details of their data protection officers. In addition, as a result of the critical reflection, it is proposed to set up multidisciplinary teams to support and/or develop the functions envisaged for data protection officers in local governments. Future work is also identified.


In the contention of Oladipo (2006), the debate on the idea of African philosophy which has been divided into trends or schools, dates back to the 1960's and 70's, which constitute the modern epoch of African philosophy, when some African thinkers began to question the perspective that traditional African beliefs and worldviews, as embedded in pre-colonial African cultures, constituted African philosophy. This question bordering on the parameters of African philosophy sprang from and was weaved around the idea, promoted by both western and African thinkers that Africans do not have a philosophy. And if they do have, who are they? And if there are, what ideas from within their community of thought constitute African philosophy? As significant as this enquiry might have been in the historical evolution of African philosophy, with the work of Makinde (2010) on African Philosophy: The Demise of a Controversy, African Philosophy has moved beyond the question of whether there is an African philosophy or not. When Onyewuenyi (1994) wrote on The African origin of Greek Philosophy: An Exercise in Afrocentricism he gives African philosophy an age, such that to question the existence of African philosophy is to negate the being of western philosophy. This piece goes beyond the question of whether there is an African philosophy or not, to study the development of the different trends that have emerged from the study of the history of African philosophy. It moves beyond the conventional limits of the study of the trends or schools of African philosophy tied to the 1960's and 70s to the contemporary developments in the study of African philosophy.


In a context of increasing emphasis on academic performance and accountability, data from a structured survey in which academics elaborated on eight different attributes of high-performing researchers were used to build a conceptual model of research performance. From these data, research performance was seen to comprise two basic components, with six secondary level dimensions and a range of potential indicators. Four essential (necessary and sufficient) dimensions, relating to the research activity component of research performance were: engagement, task orientation, research practice and intellectual processes. Two alternative dimensions (of which at least one is necessary) relating to the performance, or making research visible, component of research performance were: dissemination, and collegial engagement. Research performance was seen to occur within conditions provided by an institutional context (education and training; opportunity and resources), and to bring about a range of outcomes (product, impact and reputation).


Land-use allocation models can effectively support sustainable land use. A large number of studies solve the problems of land-use planning by constructing models, such as mathematical models and spatial analysis models. However, these models fail to fully and comprehensively consider three uncertain factors of land-use systems: randomness, interval and fuzziness. 33Therefore, through the study of the watershed land-use system, this paper develops a land-use allocation model considering the regional land–society–economy–environment system under uncertain conditions. On the basis of this model, an interval fuzzy two-stage random land-use allocation model (IFTSP-LUAM) combining social, economic and ecological factors is proposed to provide sustainable development strategies at the basin level. In addition, the proposed IFTSP-LUAM takes into account the above three uncertainties and multistage, multiobjective, dynamic, systematic and complex characteristics of typical land-use planning systems. The results showed that the model considers more socioeconomic and ecological factors and can effectively reflect the quantitative relationship between the increase in economic benefits and the decrease in environmental costs of a land-use system. The model was applied to land-use planning of Nansihu River Basin in Shandong Province. The results provided a series of suitable land-use patterns and environmental emission scenarios under uncertain conditions, which can help the watershed environmental protection bureau and watershed land-use decision-makers to formulate appropriate land-use policies, so as to balance social and economic development and ecological protection. The simulation results can provide support for an in-depth analysis of land-use patterns and the trade-off between economic development and ecological environment protection.


To understand the characteristics of F-V curve configuration and its tangent time constant (tau 1) in normal humans above 50 years old, the tau 1 at high, mid, low lung volumes (tau 175, tau 150, tau 125) were measured from F-V curves for 135 normal humans aged 50-84. The results showed that the convex type was the most frequent one (40%-75%) among the 4 types of F-V curve and its tau 1 characteristics were tau 175 > tau 150 < tau 125 and magnitude of tau 175 < 1s; on the other hand, the concave type was the least frequent one (0.18%). These suggested that the convex type and its tau 1 characteristics might be the changes in senility. Further, the mechanical mechanism for the convex type of F-V curve configuration was explored.


Letter by Brugaletta et al Regarding Article, "Vascular Reactivity and Flow Characteristics of Radial Artery and Long Saphenous Vein Coronary Bypass Grafts: A 5-Year Follow-Up" To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Webb et al,1 demonstrating that, 5 years after coronary surgery, radial artery (RA) grafts have a preserved flow-mediated vasodilatation, whereas saphenous vein (SV) grafts have not. We agree with the authors that these results may provide insight into the more favorable patency of the RA graft over the SV graft, because the RA grafts preserved their ability to autoregulate their diameter in response to changes in myocardial flow physiology. However, some considerations about the SV graft should be highlighted. First, although the results represent a situation 5 years after the surgery, it is important to know the baseline situation of these patients. The authors have already shown a reduced dilatation to acetylcholine but preserved dilator response to nitrate in SV grafts 3 months after surgery.2 According to these published results, the authors stated that they have now found a loss of the dilator response to both acetylcholine and nitrate. However, it is intriguing and difficult to argue a worsening in endothelial-independent vasomotion of SV grafts, especially when different patients have been evaluated in 2 different studies without a paired comparison. Moreover, at 3 months with nitrates infusion, there was not a significant increase in the mean diameter of SV graft (only 3.4%) compared with baseline; in addition, the authors had already found no vasodilatation of SV grafts in response to adenosine infusion, but a significant increase in blood flow.2 Thus, the knowledge of the preexisting vasomotor response of those grafts is relevant to determine whether endothelial dysfunction or inability of SV grafts to autoregulate the flow is present at follow-up or was already present at baseline. Second, the baseline anatomic differences in amount and sensitivity of smooth muscle cells between a RA and a SV graft should be accounted for the behavior of the SV graft as an inert conduit of blood flow. The data from literature about the ability of the SV graft to dilate in response to acetylcholine and nitrates in an in vivo model are varied. Werner et al3 have already shown the functional superiority of the internal mammary artery over SV grafts; SV grafts showed a less pronounced cholinergic vasoconstriction, and only half of them showed a significant vasodilatation to nitrates. Hanet et al4 have also demonstrated that SV grafts do not dilate in response to nitrates. The difference in vasomotor response and, in particular, in vasodilation response to nitrates between a RA and a SV graft, derived by these contrasting results, could reflect their heterogeneity in the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells to nitrate or some differences in the baseline tone.5 With these considerations, we think that, although the results obtained by the authors are noteworthy and represent the longest follow-up available in the literature, they are not new and should be interpreted carefully, considering that, probably from the beginning, SV grafts are already poor responders to vasodilators and act as inert conduits of blood flow, unable to autoregulate their diameter in response to changes in myocardial flow physiology.


Many old buildings have unsatisfactory thermal performance compared to the standards of today. One way to increase the thermal performance is to add thermal insulation to the building envelope. However, many old buildings are listed and considered to be valuable for historical and esthetic reasons. This often limits the position and thickness of the additional insulation layer. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) present unprecedented possibilities to reduce the required thickness of the insulation layer. The aim of this work was to investigate the possibilities, limitations and risks when using VIPs in the walls of old buildings. A special focus was on the practical experiences, durability assessment and quality assurance of the VIPs from field studies. The thesis is divided into three themes where the first theme aims to investigate the applicability of the transient plane heat source (TPS) method as a tool for quality assurance of the VIPs. The conclusion is that the method is applicable in a laboratory, but the equipment is too large to perform field measurements. In the second theme, the exterior wall of a county governor's house was thermally insulated on the exterior with 20 mm thick VIPs. The calculated energy use for heating decreased with 24%. However, due to air and moisture diffusion into the VIPs, the energy use increases slightly during the service life. Temperature and relative humidity sensors were installed in the test wall and in a neighboring (non-retrofitted) wall as reference. It was concluded that the hygrothermal performance of the test wall was substantially better than of the reference wall. A deviation was found between the measured and numerically simulated relative humidity. Using numerical simulations, the deviation could be explained by air leakages in the wall. The third part of the thesis consists of a laboratory study where a brick wall with wooden beam ends was thermally insulated with VIPs on the interior. A parametric study was performed using hygrothermal numerical simulations to evaluate the influences by the climate, the thickness of the wall, and the properties of the brick and mortar on the moisture content in the wall. Based on these results, the wall was built and tested in a large-scale building envelope climate simulator. The wall was exposed to driving rain on the exterior surface and a temperature gradient. It was expected that the moisture content would increase in the wall with VIPs on the interior. However, the measurements showed that there was no significant difference between the cases with and without VIPs. Finally, it can be concluded that a substantial energy use reduction can be achieved when using VIPs in old buildings. With a careful design and construction process, the risk of damages to the old structure can be minimized.


Ultrathin dielectric capping layers are a prominent route for threshold voltage control in advanced Si devices. In this work the position of an Al2O3 layer inside a HfO2-based stack is systematically varied and investigated following a low and a high temperature anneal. Electrical results are compared with a sub-nanometer resolution materials characterization, showing a diffusion of Al to the bottom HfO2 interface. A correlation is found between the presence of Al at the bottom interface and a flatband voltage increase. Based on these findings, we propose to use the position of the Al2O3 for fine-tuning the threshold voltage.


The hydrodistillation of the fresh leaves of Hyptis spicigera gave a colourless volatile oil with yield of 0.65%.The volatile oil gave forty compounds on the basis of  gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) with low composition of cineole(4.11%) and caryophyllene (2.61%) while α-pinene (12.16%) β-pinene(9.47%) and α-phellandrene (10.19%) were predominant compounds. The biological activity of the volatile oils was evaluated in vitro for activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Tbb) and was found to possess anti-trypanosoma activity in vitro in a dose dependent pattern at 0.5 µg/ml in 6 min. This activity showed the volatile oils from H. spicigera leaves to be a potential trypanocide.

 Key words: Hyptis spicigera, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy,Trypanosoma brucei brucei, trypanosome, volatile oils.


Welcome to Molstead Library Digital Collections. Partial funding for this digitization project has been provided by the North Idaho College Foundation through the A.K. and Ellen Walden Memorial Endowment.


Chronic Hepatic deficiency due to the ingestion of alcohol remains as one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in our country. From it a variety of complications arise, one of them is the Hepatopulmonary Syndrome, which usually goes unnoticed and undiagnosed; this syndrome is distinguished by the presence of hypoxemia and pulmonary vasodilation. The gold standard to establish a diagnostic is contrasted Echocardiogram. No pathognomonic sign is known for this syndrome, which leads the present elaboration to evaluate the use of orthodeoxia by pulse oximetry as a screening test in the detection of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome cases.


Background: Experimental data indicate that vitamin D has anticancer properties. However, epidemiologic studies on vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results. We previously developed a model to predict long‐term plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] levels from multiple determinants of vitamin D status (dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, adiposity, geographic residence, and leisure‐time physical activity as a surrogate of sunlight exposure). Here, we examine the association between predicted vitamin D status and pancreatic cancer risk in the Nurses9 Health Study and Health Professionals Follow‐up Study. Methods: We prospectively followed 118,597 participants in these two cohorts from 1986–2006. We calculated a 25(OH)D score from six predictors of vitamin D status for each individual using a multiple linear regression model and then examined the predicted 25(OH)D levels in relation to pancreatic cancer risk with Cox proportional hazards models. The multivariate models were adjusted for age, sex, race, height, smoking, and diabetes. Results: During 20 years of follow‐up, we identified 575 incident pancreatic cancer cases. Higher 25(OH)D score was associated with a significant reduction in pancreatic cancer risk; compared with the lowest quintile, participants in the highest quintile of 25(OH)D score had an adjusted RR of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.50–0.86; P for trend = 0.001). The results remained unchanged after further adjusting for BMI and physical activity or after excluding the first 2 years of follow‐up. This inverse association was also consistent across gender and strata of other covariates, including age, region, smoking, BMI, and physical activity. Conclusion: Higher 25(OH)D score was associated with a lower risk of pancreatic cancer in these two prospective cohort studies. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A107.


A process for producing a polymer composite, comprising performing mixing agitation of a polymer as a dispersion medium and an addition material as an additive in a cavity of vessel so as to obtain a polymer composite in which the addition material creates a desired dispersion state in the polymer, wherein up to the creation of desired dispersion state by the addition material in the polymer, the mixing agitation is performed at temperature of <= softening temperature of the polymer so that at least partial chemical bonds of the polymer are cleaved to result in low molecular weights and re-united.


The study tested two models on the interaction of teacher variables using Structural Equations Modeling (SEM). In the first model, the effect of teacher's personality characteristics and teaching efficacy on teacher's performance and effective teaching was tested. In the second model, the effects of learner-centered practices on teacher's performance, effective teaching, and teaching efficacy were included. 296 teachers from a community college were assessed by their students on their teaching performance using the Student Instructional Report (SIR), the Effective Teaching Inventory (ETI), and the Learner-centered Practices Questionnaire which were devised by the researchers. On the other hand, the teachers assessed themselves using Osgood's Personality Characteristics Scale and the Teacher Efficacy Inventory by Gibson and Dembo (1984). In the SEM analysis, the two models did not change on their measures of goodness of fit with a RMSEA of .045 indicating that both models have a rather good fit. It was found that the teachers practicing learner-centered approaches use their self-efficacy in order to be effective in teaching, but it was also found that being effective does not result in high teaching performance ratings. The use of learner-centered practices is seen as effective but does not warrant having high ratings based on student assessment.


Guanine nucleotide exchange factors of the Dbl family regulate the actin cytoskeleton through activation of Rho-like GTPases. At present the Dbl family consists of more than thirty members; many have not been phenotypically or biochemically characterized. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors universally feature a Dbl homology domain followed by a pleckstrin homology domain. Employing data base screening we identified a recently cloned cDNA, KIAA0424, showing substantial sequence homology with Rac activators such as Tiam1, Sos, Vav, and PIX within the catalytic domain. This cDNA appears to be the human homologue of the Ascidian protein Posterior End Mark-2 (PEM-2). We refer to this exchanger as hPEM-2. hPEM-2 encodes a protein of 70 kDa and features an N-terminal src homology 3 domain, followed by tandem Dbl homology and pleckstrin homology domains. The gene is highly expressed in brain and is localized on the human X-chromosome. Employing biochemical activity assays for Rho-like GTPases we found that hPEM-2 specifically activates Cdc42 and not Rac or RhoA. Ectopic expression of hPEM-2 in NIH3T3 fibroblasts revealed a Cdc42 phenotype featuring filopodia formation, followed by cortical actin polymerization and cell rounding. hPEM-2 represents an exchange factor, which may have a role in the regulation of a number of cellular processes through Cdc42.


In this paper we present a decentralized formation control method using weighted graphs intended for a multi-agent system of sailing robots. Sailing robots, when well designed, can operate continuously for long period of time. They face the challenge that their speed is affected by their sailing angle, and their movement direction is restricted to a certain range. Existing graph theoretic methods for decentralized multi-agent coordination assume uniform dynamics with respect to direction. In this study we takes into account characteristics of sailing and develop a weighted graph method with corresponding control law for a group of sailing agents under a given communication topology. Graph weights are used to select a persistent graph from the given undirected topology, for which the executability is discussed theoretically. Numerical simulation is performed for a triangular formation of 10 agents as an example to demonstrate the stability of the proposed method.


Considering recent developments in IT and the wake of the global economic crisis, crowdfunding has become an increasingly significant alternative form of finance. The aim of this paper is to analyse and discuss the current state and development of alternative finance markets focusing on crowdfunding. Firstly, we define the terms ?alternative finance?, ?alternative funding?, and ?crowdfunding?. The paper continues with the theoretical framework of crowdfunding and discusses different models of this type of financing. Development of alternative forms of financing is analysed based on data from previous surveys carried out in the field of alternative finance markets and individual crowdfunding platforms functioning around the world. Crowdfunding is growing worldwide, and the Asia-Pacific region, headed by China, is the world?s largest alternative finance market, followed by the Americas. In Europe, the UK is the market leader in alternative finance. As individual models of financing are concerned, the most common forms of alternative finance activities are peer-to-peer consumer lending, reward-based crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer business lending. At the end of the paper, we provide a conclusion of the presented aspects of crowdfunding and development of alternative finance. Finally, we mention potentially problematic areas of this type of financing that could be elaborated upon in the future.


Absorption and fluorescence of donor-substituted pyrylium compounds are studied in order to get information of the x- and y-chromophore system and of the role of structural and solvent effects. The experimental results are in accordance with the assumption that the absorption and fluorescence behaviour can be rationalized in terms of intramolecular radiative and non-radiative charge transfer (charge shift) processes.


The solubility and viscosity of sugars (glucose, lactose, leucrose, maltose, raffinose, sucrose, and trehalose), polyols (maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol), and polysaccharides (β-cyclodextrin, dextrans, and inulin) in water and water−ethanol mixtures was investigated at 310 K. The increase in ethanol fraction caused a decrease in solubility in all cases. The viscosity of a 10 % (w/w) solution of any of those sugars was (1 to 1.25) mPa s except dextran solutions, which reached 5 mPa s. The viscosity of saturated solutions varied strongly from one compound to another even though the solubilities were similar. The metastable zone widths of sucrose, maltose, and lactose precipitated with ethanol were significantly larger than the one measured for mannitol.


Pera Magroon anticline is located within the northeastern of Iraq, covering area estimated by 958 Km 2 . The Landsat ETM + false color composite imagery was produced by assigning [741] bands. It is used to distinguish alluvial fans in the southwestern limb of Pera Magroon anticline. Digital elevation models (DEM) were used for describing topographic features related to the alluvial fans, as well as, three dominations model (3D) was created from (DEM) and the Landsat ETM + image.  Arc GIS, hydro tool set was used to draw the drainage patterns, the area of study was covered by dendritic and parallel patterns. Contour lines across the fans form segments of ellipses reveal the pattern of tectonic activity at near a mountain front. The slope map depends on ITC system explaining the alluvial fans slope range between almost flat to gently sloping.


Since silicon and potassium are nutrients that influence plant physiological and biochemical aspects, the combined use of these minerals in the fertilization of cultivated plants has been increasingly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the gas exchanges (Net photosynthesis, Stomatal conductance, Transpiration, Water use efficiency, Carboxylation efficiency, Internal carbon concentration, Chlorophyll a, b, total, Carotenoids and the Chlorophyll a/b ratio) of three castor bean cultivars in response to the foliar application of potassium silicate (PS). The assay in design of randomized blocks, was conducted in a factorial 5 × 3, five doses of potassium silicate (0; 222; 444; 665 and 836 mg L-1) and three varieties of castor bean (BRS Energia, BRS 149 Nordestina and BRS 188 Paraguacu), with three replications and 45 plants per. The promising effects of foliar fertilization using PS in castor bean plants depend on the genotype. Foliar application of PS increases photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, chlorophyll a, b, total, carotenoids and the chlorophyll a/b ratio, besides reducing water losses through transpiration.

 Key words: Foliar spraying, Photosynthesis, Ricinus communis L., Silicate fertilization


This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of antimicrobials sprayed by electrostatic versus conventional sprayer for inactivation of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni on eggs and to determine the economic feasibility of these treatments. Eggs were dip inoculated with overnight cultures (18 h) of Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Tennessee, a two-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes, and a three-strain mixture of C. jejuni (microaerophilic condition). Inoculated eggs were then not sprayed or subjected to electrostatic and conventional spraying with peroxyacetic acid (PAA; 0.1%), lactic acid (5.0%), lactic and citric acid blend (2.5%), sodium hypochlorite (SH; 50 ppm), and SaniDate-5.0 (SD [a mixture of PAA and H2O2]; 0.25%) for 30 s (15 s each side). Surviving bacteria on eggshells were recovered on xylose lysine Tergitol 4 agar ( Salmonella), modified Oxford agar ( L. monocytogenes), or Brucella agar ( C. jejuni). Compared with conventional spraying, electrostatic spraying of PAA, SD, and SH achieved significant additional reductions ( P < 0.05) of Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and C. jejuni of 0.96 to 3.18, 1.19 to 3.05, and 0.96 to 1.62 log CFU per egg, respectively. A simple cost comparison suggests that regardless of the antimicrobial agent used, the cost of using an electrostatic sprayer is 20 to 40% lower than that of a conventional sprayer for a small poultry farm that produces 1,500 eggs per day. Among the five antimicrobials, the total sanitizing cost was lowest for SH, followed by PAA and SD. The results indicated that electrostatic spraying of commercial antimicrobials can be considered an effective and economical approach to enhancing the microbial safety of eggs, especially for small poultry processors.


A major mechanism leading to ischemic damage is loss of cellular ion homeostasis. Energy failure with shortage of ATP is responsible for presynaptic release of glutamate, which then triggers rapid cellular efflux of K+, and influx of Ca2+, Na+, and Cl-, with osmotically obligated water. The neuronal damage occurring in ischemia is probably secondary to the influx of Ca2+, and/or to the intracellular release of Ca2+, with the subsequent activation of proteases and lipases. A delayed form of ischemic damage, observed after transient ischemia, may be caused by increased calcium cycling across metabolically perturbed membranes. Another type of damage, typically leading to pan-necrosis (infarction), seems related to excessive acidosis and to production of free radicals. The mechanisms may involve release of pro-oxidant iron-catalyzed free radical reactions. It has been proposed that free radical damage may preferentially affect microvessels, predisposing to vasogenic edema.


Endorsing the role of Universities as caregiving organisations and following an initial report on contemplative practices (CP) in Higher Education by the Institute of Theological Partnerships (2016) and the Mindful Nation UK (2015), a Contemplative Pedagogy Working Group (CPWG) was convened to explore the possibilities to implement contemplative pedagogy and practices at the University. CP such as Buddhist meditation have direct bearings in developing and cultivating compassion. With the intention to foster a culture of gentleness within the University, a survey was administered to 301 students to: 1- probe their attitudes toward the introduction of CP at the University and 2- to collect information on their use of technology. Results indicate that 79% of students will be favourable to the introduction of CP at the University on a voluntary basis and 58% will be keen to engage with the practice. However, if short time practices were to be introduced in classes, 44% will be self-conscious and admit it will affect their practice. Seventy percent admit difficulty with their attention during lectures and exam revisions and 58% are distracted by mobile technologies used in classes, report of distractibility is more marked among the youngest.
The survey's result highlights student's tendency to consider learning about CP in relation to the mind and emotions should be part of their education. This awareness is indicative of a change in students' expectation and support the CPWG initiatives in offering regular Zen meditation practices and building up a Cosmic Garden within the University premises. Challenges in fostering a compassionate learning and teaching environment and concerns related to the pervasive use of technology in classes, in particular the correlation between the variety of online multitasking and the worry of feeling self-conscious during CP will be discussed.


A robust, sound, and comprehensive waste management system is a fundamental aspect to achieve environmental sustainability and development. Though as individuals, people are aware and conscious of this particular aspect of waste management, there have not been any concrete steps taken to tackle the issue. As per a statistical report from World Bank on waste, about 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated annually at a global scale out of which about one-third of it is not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Keeping in mind the UN General Assembly goals with respect to sustainable development for the benefit of all by 2030, it is imperative to act in ways to manage and come out with ways to treat solid waste in particular. Keratin is a key structural protein that can be found in a variety of forms in nature, including hair, feathers, nails, horn, hoofs, scales, and wool. It is also found in several hard tissues that protect the organ by providing blockage with the surroundings. Keratin, a protein, fibrous in nature has solubility issues. Keratin is tolerant towards protease enzymes like pepsin, and trypsin is due to its structure, which is protected by bonds such as disulfide and hydrogen. The waste consisting of keratinous residues, like feathers, provides carbon, nitrogen, and Sulphur source that are transformable to certain products. Keratin-rich waste possesses a high content of amino acids and, if not correctly managed, can harm the environment, water supplies, and soil. This form of waste, on the other hand, can be used for less-cost amino acid sources, can be turned into animal feeds, or used as a fertilizer. This necessitates a thorough understanding of feather structure and properties. Feathers are composed of β- keratin and melanin pigments. In addition, to strategize their control and degradation, there is a necessity to differentiate α- keratin from β-keratin. The present article summarizes the various methods of waste treatment of compounds possessing keratin, limitations of conventional methods, ecological implications, the role of microbes in Bioconversion, and ways to improve enzyme production which can ultimately be used for the management of keratinous substances. This would also cater to Sustainable development goal number 12 which includes responsible consumption as well as production including the major focus on environmentally sound ways to manage waste through either its prevention, reduction, recycling, or reuse of such solid wastes including keratin.


New family of free-fluoride synthetic clay was synthesized via solution route. All starting solutions were made by applying carbon tetra-chloride (CCl4) as a solvent. The selected sample of synthetic free fluoride–Na-4-mica was having the general formula (Na4Mg6M4Si4O22.nH2O) where M = Cr3+ was exposure to two different E¤-irradiation doses 1st dose = 1.5 MR/h and 2nd dose = 3 MR/h at 25 cm distance. Structural parameters such as lattice constants, volume and phase quality were monitoring carefully by using both of XRD and SEM evaluating grain size of the mica bulk. Structural investigations proved that Cr-clay exhibits monoclinic phase accompanied with structure quality in comparison with both of Bi-and Al-clays.


Tension in domain walls between adjacent regions of opposite state in bistable laminar cholesteric twist cells can prevent growth of very small domains. This fact makes permanent bistability possible even when dust particles are available to nucleate the unwanted state. A crude model of a wall yields an approximate relation between allowable variation of cell thickness or of holding voltage and the maximum allowable size of dust particles or similar imperfections. If imperfections are smaller than this maximum a picture element can remain in either state indefinitely.


Biofilm contamination is common in patients with percutaneous osseointegrated (OI) implants, leading to frequent infections, irritation, and discomfort. Reported infection rates soar up to 65% as the recalcitrant nature of biofilms complicates treatment. There is persistent need for therapies to manage biofilm burden. In response, we formulated and tested oregano essential oil in a topical gel as a potential biofilm management therapy. We developed an ex vivo system based on an established ovine OI implant model with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 biofilms as initial inocula. Gel was administered to the samples across a period of five days. Samples were quantified and colony forming unit (CFU) counts were compared against a positive control (initial bacterial inocula without treatment). Significant biofilm reduction was observed in samples treated with oregano gel compared to controls, demonstrating the potential of an oregano oil-based gel as a biofilm management therapy at the skin-implant interface of percutaneous OI implants.


Dawson tephra is the most prominent tephra bed in the Quaternary deposits of the Klondike and Sixtymile areas of the Yukon. It occurs in organic-rich, reworked, Late Wisconsinan loess deposits that occupy valley-bottom sites and has a maximum thickness of 30 cm, although most values are in the range of 15–30 cm. The tephra consists of thin, bubble-wall shards that have a distinctive, rhyolitic composition. Orthopyroxene, plagioclase, magnetite, and ilmenite are relatively abundant in the small crystal component, which also contains minor amounts of clinopyroxene, apatite, and zircon. Overall, the composition of Dawson tephra bears a close resemblance to that of the well-known Old Crow tephra, and, like that tephra, demonstrates a source in the Aleutian – Alaska Peninsula region. Given that the nearest vent in the Alaska Peninsula is 700 km distant from the Klondike, it follows that this explosive eruption must have been of great magnitude, distributing tephra over southern and central Alaska and the Yukon...


Cervical cancer is a female-specific cancer with relatively high morbidity and mortality. As known to all, immune cell infiltrations in the cancer microenvironment are closely related to the cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Here we revealed that the CD8+ T cell infiltration was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer versus normal cervix uteri samples. Through univariate and multivariate cox analyses, we discovered that the CD8+ T cell infiltration was the only independent beneficial factor for the prognosis of cervical cancer. To explore the genes associated with the CD8+ T cell infiltration in cervical cancer, we performed the WGCNA analysis on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of cervical cancer versus normal cervix uteri tissues. As a result, 231 DEGs were found to be associated with CD8+ T cell infiltration in cervical cancer. Subsequently, with the Cytoscape analysis, we identified 105 hub genes out of the 231 DEGs. To further explore the genes that might be responsible for the prognosis of cervical cancer, we performed a univariate cox analysis followed by a LASSO assay on the 105 hub genes and located four genes (IGSF6, TLR10, FCRL3, and IFI30) finally. The four genes could be applied to the prediction of the prognosis of cervical cancer, and relatively higher expression of these four genes predicted a better prognosis. These findings contributed to our understanding of the prognostic values of CD8+ T cell infiltration and its associated genes in cervical cancer and thus might benefit future immune-related therapies.


Mosquitoes control and personal protection from mosquito's bites is one of the serious ways for preventing of contagious diseases distribution. Mosquitoes in addition to the localsymptoms (itching, redness and irritation) can cause transmission of fatal and dangerous disease especially in tropical areas. In recent years, interest in plant-based products has been revived because of the development of resistance, cross-resistance and possible toxicity hazards associated with synthetic insecticides and their rising cost. Various plant-based products as herbal repellents are safe and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for use against mosquitoes. In the present study, essential oils and extracts of six plants "Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Citrus limonum, Eucalyptus globulus and Ocimum basilicum" were evaluated compared against mosquitoes of Anopheles Stephensi. Finally, repellant properties of essential oils and extracts as experimental groups and of N, N-diethyl 3 - methylbenzamide (DEET) as a positive control group were compared.We used Duncan's multiple range tests to determine the significant differences at 1% level between the experimental group and the control group. Results of statistical analysis showedsignificant differences between the extracts and essential oils. Essential oils indicated moreeffectiveness rather than extracts.

 Key words: Malaria, Anopheles stephensi, insect repellent, essential oil, plant extract.


The sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) is widespread throughout Europe and can transmit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), which can cause Lyme borreliosis and B. miyamotoi, the agent of Borrelia miyamotoi disease in humans. Borrelia afzelii is the most common genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in western Europe and it circulates between I. ricinus and rodents. The density of infected nymphs determines disease risk and is affected by complex multi-trophic interactions between factors that are not well understood. The aim of this thesis was, therefore, to gain insight into the multi-trophic interactions that affect the density of B. afzelii-infected and B. miyamotoi-infected I. ricinus nymphs. Interactions between I. ricinus, rodents (wood mice and bank voles) and B. afzelii were reviewed to elucidate knowledge gaps concerning these interactions. The effect of rodent density on the density of infected nymphs and the factors that affect the contribution of a rodent to the density of infected nymphs were investigated in field experiments. The effects of a B. afzelii infection on larval tick burden of bank voles and nymphal body weight were investigated in the laboratory. The effects of CO2 and host odour on the host-seeking behaviour of I. ricinus were investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Finally, the ability of field-collected I. ricinus larvae to transmit B. afzelii and B. miyamotoi was analysed. The review showed that rodent density, rodent infection rate, and larval tick burden are the major factors affecting the density of B. afzelii-infected nymphs one year later. The field experiments showed that rodent density can positively affect the density of B. burgdorferi s.l.- infected nymphs one year later. However, the effect of rodent density was small when the density of infected nymphs was limited by the density of questing larvae in the previous year. Rodent density had, however, no effect on the density of B. miyamotoi-infected nymphs. The field studies also showed that tick burdens are 2.4 times higher on wood mice than on bank voles and that body weight of emerged nymphs was 36% higher for ticks that fed on wood mice compared to ticks that fed on bank voles. Bank voles infected with B. afzelii acquired a larger larval tick burden, resulting in a 27% increase in nymphal infection prevalence. Furthermore, infected nymphs had a 10% greater the body weight. Ixodes ricinus nymphs are activated by but not attracted to CO2, whereas they are attracted to and not activated by host odour. Ixodes ricinus larvae transmitted both B. afzelii and B. miyamotoi to rodents and it was calculated that rodents have a chance of about 25-75% of acquiring B. afzelii from larvae relative to the chance of acquiring B. afzelii from nymphs. The main conclusions of this thesis are discussed and suggestions are made for future research.


This article uses social practices to better understand the interrelations between a social ideology that decried aspiration and the practices of the young men bettering their lot in life when entering the Stockholm guilds. The path into guild membership is investigated regarding the inclusion of would-be members, their social networks, the materiality of documentation and the ideas, symbols and aspirations expressed in the process. The article shows that transition from one social position to another was laden with positive value and symbolism, and that this was underscored with the help of scores of participants apart from the would-be apprentice himself. These young men held a liminal position in society, but one that was understood as largely positive. They were deeply embedded within a local community, but with a direction in life, unmarried, skilled or wanting to acquire skill. While practices of social mobility opened paths for these young men, they also contained social order and the mobility of others.


It is well known how to build arrays. Phased arrays have not been cost-effective for most applications. An important consideration is how phase array become affordable. Extensive system trade studies are critical to ensuring the "best investment strategy" for the transition from platforms with multiple RF systems of single antennas supporting single functions to multi-function, multi-frequency shared apertures. These trade studies must consider system performance requirements, signature requirements, topside integration issues, and cost. However, it appears that phase arrays are fundamental to this strategy. In order to ensure the implementation of this important technology, the investment in multi-function phase array technology needs to focus on affordability. A strong case can be made for investing in multiple, wideband arrays technology with limited investment in extremely wideband arrays for special applications.


Home price growth expectations remained stable relative to last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York?s 2018 SCE Housing Survey. Respondents expect mortgage rates to rise over the next year, and perhaps as a result, the share of owners who expect to refinance their mortgages over the next year declined slightly. In addition, homeowners view themselves as more likely to make investments in their homes, and renters? perceived access to mortgage credit has tightened somewhat. Although the majority of households continue to view housing as a good financial investment, there are some persistent and large differences across regions in the pervasiveness of this view, as this post will discuss.


Abstract ABO blood group system discovery was an important step in development of such areas as transplantation and transfusion medicine. At the same time understanding of fundamental role of antigenic determinants in physiological functions maintenance and pathological conditions development remained unexplained for a long time. Today it is known that A and B antigens are widely represented not only on erythrocytes membrane but also on other cells and tissues: platelets, epithelial tissue, oral and spermal fluids. Earlier authors studied metabolic and coagulation profiles, as well as blood cells composition in clinically healthy individuals on more than 180,000 donations, thus revealing group-specific features for each blood group. The review provides synthesis of association of such pathological conditions as coronary heart disease, thromboembolic complications, tumors of various localizations, inflammatory and destructive oral diseases, psychiatric and some infectious diseases with the presence or absence of antigenic determinants A and B. 0 (I) blood group carriers are more resistant to development of diseases, excepting H. pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases. Carriers of "antigenic" blood groups A (II), B (III), AB (IV) are more susceptible to infections, cardiovascular diseases, and oncological diseases. The data presented may contribute to a personalized patient approach formation, based on antigen-associated biological variability of various signs in norm and pathology.


The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Attachment Style, Personality and Interpersonal Relations among Indian youth. The sample for the study comprised of 409 youth (205 male and 204 female). The age of the sample range from 17 to 20 years with mean age of 18 years. Attachment Style Questionnaire, 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire and Interpersonal Relationship Scale were administered. The main objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between Attachment Style, Personality and Interpersonal Relations and to find out the predictors of Interpersonal Relations.To meet the objectives of the study, the data was subjected to Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results showed significant positive correlation between Attachment Style and Personality Factors, between Attachment Style and Interpersonal Relations and PersonaHty and Interpersonal Relations. Multiple regression analysis found three predictors of Interpersonal Relations. Two of the predictors, i.e. TP and AN are from PersonaHty and one i.e. CRTO from Attachment Style. The three predictors explain 15% of the total variance. It can be concluded that Attachment Style and Personality predicts Interpersonal Relations.


This papers reviews the main threats to the today's consumer market and offers a historic tour of their existence. The results of a comprehensive diagnostics technique of economic safety of the consumer market in the region taking into account the impact of threats are presented. In the basis of the procedure is an indicative method of analysis, in which diagnosis is carried out on a set of criterial parameters. Along with a comprehensive assessment, the paper offers a detailed analysis of one of the method's modules - evaluation of consumer protection as the most vulnerable category of participants in the consumer market. A classification of prejudice of consumers in accordance with international studies is considered. The conducted study showed that, in general, there is a positive trend of economic safety of the consumer market in the region for the period from 2003 to 2010, but, according to some modules (evaluation of consumer protection), the situation has worsened for the majority of the subjects discussed during the reviewed period. The results of economic safety diagnostics of the consumer market actors can be used in the formation of program-target events to neutralize the negative trends in the consumer market.


To improve the general stability of submarine pressure hulls, this paper brings forward that redistribute the stiffness of the ring-frames according to the radial displacement of the buckling shell instead of uniform circular ring-frames. With energy methods, the formula of general buckling pressure is deducted in this paper. Some pressure hulls of different thickness with different number of frames are taken as examples. This method turns out to be effective on raising the general stability of ring–stiffened cylindrical shells by both the formula calculation and finite element analysis.


Introduction . Temperate bacteriophages infect and subvert their bacterial host range driving Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) adaptation in the chronic lung. Aim. To stratify PA in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and non-CF Bronchiectasis (nCFBR) lung utilising the co-evolution of phages and bacteria, specifically viral infectivity as a marker of increased bacterial adaptation. Methods. Temperate phages were chemically induced from 47 CF and 47 nCFBR PA isolates and cross infected across all 94 PA isolates. The data was modelled alongside clinical data using interaction modelling (Biolayout 3D). Results. Phages from a CF PA background successfully infected 66% and 69% of PA isolated from CF and BR backgrounds. Conversely, BR phages had poor infectivity on CF PA bacteria with only 31% infection of CF and 49% infection of BR PA isolates. The data was used to construct 2 models of infectivity in R (confidence levels >80%, integrity 0.5). Using age as a discriminator in the CF phage infectivity model, paediatric PA isolates were easily infected by phage but adult PA strains were not. The Biolayout 3D model visualises these corresponding profiles of phage infectivity, where limited adaptation by paediatric PA (CF) phages correlates to infectivity from the BR PA background. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the level of adaptation and evolution of both the phage and bacteria based on phage infection. We also show that phages isolated from BR PA are less adapted to infect PA bacteria from the CF lung. We determine that phages of BR and early CF PA colonisation have similar levels/profiles of infectivity, possibly alluding to lower levels of bacterial adaptation in the lung.


A comprehensive solution to the intra-gate diagnosis problem, including intra-gate bridging and stuck-open faults is provided. The work is based on a local transformation technique that allows transistor-level faults to be diagnosed by the commonly available gate-level fault diagnosis tools without having to deal with the complexity of a transistor-level description of the whole circuit. Three transformations are described: one for stuck-open faults, one for intra-gate resistive-open faults and one for intra-gate bridging faults. Experimental work has been conducted at NXP Semiconductors using the NXP diagnosis tool – FALOC. A number of real diagnosis results from the wafer testing data including both stuck-open faults and intra-gate bridging faults have confirmed the effectiveness of this new method.


A backdoor attack allows a malicious user to manipulate the environment or corrupt the training data, thus inserting a backdoor into the trained agent. Such attacks compromise the RL system's reliability, leading to potentially catastrophic results in various key fields. In contrast, relatively limited research has investigated effective defenses against backdoor attacks in RL. This paper proposes the Recovery Triggered States (RTS) method, a novel approach that effectively protects the victim agents from backdoor attacks. RTS involves building a surrogate network to approximate the dynamics model. Developers can then recover the environment from the triggered state to a clean state, thereby preventing attackers from activating backdoors hidden in the agent by presenting the trigger. When training the surrogate to predict states, we incorporate agent action information to reduce the discrepancy between the actions taken by the agent on predicted states and the actions taken on real states. RTS is the first approach to defend against backdoor attacks in a single-agent setting. Our results show that using RTS, the cumulative reward only decreased by 1.41% under the backdoor attack.


: This preliminary study applies a bilingual term list (BTL) approach to cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) in the consumer health domain and compares it to a machine translation (MT) approach. We compiled a Spanish-English BTL of 34,980 medical and general terms. We collected a training set of 466 general health queries from MedlinePlus en español and 488 domain-specific queries from ClinicalTrials.gov translated into Spanish. We submitted the training set queries in English against a test bed of 7,170 ClinicalTrials.gov English documents, and compared MT and BTL against this English monolingual standard. The BTL approach was less effective (F = 0.420) than the MT approach (F = 0.578). A failure analysis of the results led to substitution of BTL dictionary sources and the addition of rudimentary normalization of plural forms. These changes improved the CLIR effectiveness of the same training set queries (F = 0.474), and yielded comparable results for a test set of new 954 queries (F= 0.484). These results will shape our efforts to support Spanish-speakers' needs for consumer health information currently only available in English.


Funil Reservoir receives inflow from a highly industrialized region and acts as a natural sink to pollutants. Among the consequences of the uncontrolled nutrient loading is the constant presence and periodic heavy blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa. This study verified limnological features and zooplankton assemblage of the Funil Reservoir focusing on the environmental-indicator properties of rotifers and cladocerans. The summer bloom of M. aeruginosa caused reductions in water transparency, nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations and raises in chlorophyll a, pH, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand values. All zooplankton species presented spatial and temporal variations with the exception of the copepods, which were present in all samples. According to canonical correspondence analysis, ammonium was the variable most related to zooplankton variability and different Rotifera and Cladocera assemblages indicated distinct environment conditions. Rotifer taxa associated with increases of water temperature and chlorophyll a concentration were found with high densities during M. aeruginosa blooms. Species of rotifer and cladocerans are suggested as indicators that can be used to identify different physical and chemical gradients or eutrophic increases in Funil Reservoir.


Accuracy of search results over web is improving steadily due to ongoing incorporation of semantic web technologies into traditional information retrieval approaches of the present web. These semantic technologies along with knowledge base they contain are being exploited at large scale by all mainstream web search engines to provide conceptually precise search results to satisfy user's efficient information needs on web. In this paper, first, semantic search and its key concerns have been explored and discussed. Second, it revisits various semantic search approaches which process and consume knowledge from semantic technologies to improve precision of search results. Thirdly, keyword to concept mapping is revisited and illustrated using domain Ontology. Finally, key design issues of search engines incorporating semantics have been revisited.


The nonlinear rheology of multilayer stacks of alternating isotactic polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films with N layers was measured in shear and uniaxial extension. We show that the force to extend N − 1 interfaces can lead to strain hardening. We studied three PE/PP pairs: a Ziegler–Natta catalyzed pair and two metallocene pairs, one with high density PE and one with linear low density PE. Interfacial tension was measured on matrix/droplet blends of each pair using small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements fitted with the Palierne model. Multilayer coextrusion was used to fabricate bilayers and sheets with hundreds of layers for each polyolefin pair. Under shear deformation, disentangling of chains in the N − 1 interfaces led to a decrease in the overall shear viscosity, which is interpreted as an interfacial slip velocity and is in agreement with previous studies on multilayer films. Under extensional flows, the multilayers exhibited an increased transient extensional viscosity (tensile stress growth coefficient, η E , M +) and pronounced strain hardening, even when the constituent homopolymers exhibited no strain hardening behavior. A model based on a force summation was developed to predict this behavior with interfacial tension as a fitting parameter; the extracted interfacial tensions agreed reasonably well with those from the Palierne model. The "slip in shear" and "hardening in extension" behaviors highlight the role of interfacial polymer physics during rheological measurements and polymer processing.The nonlinear rheology of multilayer stacks of alternating isotactic polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films with N layers was measured in shear and uniaxial extension. We show that the force to extend N − 1 interfaces can lead to strain hardening. We studied three PE/PP pairs: a Ziegler–Natta catalyzed pair and two metallocene pairs, one with high density PE and one with linear low density PE. Interfacial tension was measured on matrix/droplet blends of each pair using small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements fitted with the Palierne model. Multilayer coextrusion was used to fabricate bilayers and sheets with hundreds of layers for each polyolefin pair. Under shear deformation, disentangling of chains in the N − 1 interfaces led to a decrease in the overall shear viscosity, which is interpreted as an interfacial slip velocity and is in agreement with previous studies on multilayer films. Under extensional flows, the multilayers exhibited an increased transient extensional viscosity (tensile ...


Using angular spectral representation, we demonstrate a generalized approach for generating high-dimensional elliptic umbilic and hyperbolic umbilic caustics by phase holograms. The wavefronts of such umbilic beams are investigated via the diffraction catastrophe theory determined by the potential function, which depends on the state and control parameters. We find that the hyperbolic umbilic beams degenerate into classical Airy beams when the two control parameters are simultaneously equal to zero, and elliptic umbilic beams possess an intriguing autofocusing property. Numerical results demonstrate that such beams exhibit clear umbilics in 3D caustic, which link the two separated parts. The dynamical evolutions verify that they both possess prominent self-healing properties. Moreover, we demonstrate that hyperbolic umbilic beams follow along a curve trajectory during propagation. As the numerical calculation of diffraction integral is relatively complex, we have developed an effective approach for successfully generating such beams by using phase hologram represented by angular spectrum. Our experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations. Such beams with intriguing properties are likely to be applied in emerging fields such as particle manipulation and optical micromachining.


Radioembolization is a well-established treatment for primary and metastatic liver cancer. There is increasing interest in personalized treatment planning supported by dosimetry, as it provides an opportunity to optimize dose delivery to tumor and minimize nontarget deposition, which demonstrably increases the efficacy and safety of this therapy. However, the optimal dosimetry procedure in the radioembolization setting is still evolving; existing data are limited as few trials have prospectively tailored dose based on personalized planning and predominantly semi-empirical methods are used for dose calculation. Since the pretreatment or "scout" procedure forms the basis of dosimetry calculations, an accurate and reliable technique is essential. 99m Tc-MAA SPECT constitutes the current accepted standard for pretreatment imaging; however, inconsistent patterns in published data raise the question whether this is the optimal agent. Alternative particles are now being introduced to the market, and early indications suggest use of an identical scout and treatment particle may be superior to the current standard. This review will undertake an evaluation of the increasingly refined dosimetric methods driving radioembolization practices, and a horizon scanning exercise identifying alternative scout particle solutions. Together these constitute a compelling vision for future treatment planning methods that prioritize individualized care.


The analysis of a 1.2-meter, contour-shaped reflectarray antenna through the use of Artificial Neuronal Networks (ANNs) is carried out in this paper. The analysis is a two-step procedure: reflectarray element modeling and pattern synthesis. In the first step, artificial neural networks are found to reproduce both the amplitude and the phase of the complex reflection coefficient of the three-layered reflectarray element. For this task, up to 9 free input parameters are considered: six geometrical parameters, the incident angle in terms of azimuth, θ, and elevation, φ, and the frequency. Because of this large number of free parameters, a new artificial neural network training methodology has been developed regarding both the training set and the training process itself. In the second step, extensive full wave electromagnetic computation is replaced by trained artificial neural networks to calculate the electric field on the planar structure and the radiation pattern. A good agreement is obtained compared to an analogous analysis carried out by Method of Moments. Thanks to this methodology, the speed up factor in terms of time is in the order of 7×102, which represents a significant improvement in Computer Aided Design (CAD) of reflectarray antennas.


Abstract Background: Prehospital pediatric endotracheal intubation (ETI) is rarely performed. Previous research has suggested that pediatric prehospital ETI, when performed by ground advanced life support crews, is associated with poor outcomes. In this study, we aim to evaluate the first-attempt success rate, overall success rate and complications of pediatric prehospital ETI performed by critical care transport (CCT) personnel. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in a multi-state CCT service performing rotor wing, ground, and fixed wing missions. We included pediatric patients (<18 years) for whom ETI was performed by CCT personnel (flight nurse or flight paramedic). Our primary outcome of interest was rate of first-attempt ETI. Secondary outcomes were overall rates of successful ETI, complications encountered, and outcomes of patients with unsuccessful intubation. Results: 993 patients were included (63.2% male, median age 12 years, IQR 4–16 years). 807/993 (81.3%) patients were intubated on the first attempt. Lower rates of successful first-attempt intubation were seen in younger ages (42.9% in infants ≤30 days of age). In multivariable logistic regression, lower odds (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) of successful first-attempt ETI were associated with ages >30 days to <1 year (0.33, 0.18-0.61) and 2 to <6 years (0.60, 0.39–0.94) compared to patients 12 to <18 years. Patients given an induction agent and neuromuscular blockade (NMB) had a higher odds of first-attempt ETI success (1.53, 1.06–2.15). 13 (1.3%) had immediately recognized esophageal intubation and 33 (3.3%) had vomiting. No episodes of pneumothorax were reported. 962/993 (96.9%) patients were successfully intubated after all attempts. In patients without successful ETI (n = 31), supraglottic airways were used in 24, bag-valve mask ventilation in 5, and surgical cricothyroidotomy in 2, with an overall advanced airway success rate of 988/993 (99.5%). Conclusion: Critical care flight nurses and paramedics performed successful intubations in pediatric patients at a high rate of success. Younger age was associated with lower success rates. Improved ETI training for younger patients and use of an induction agent and NMB may improve airway management in critically ill children.


Abstract There is a trend towards smaller and smaller structures (nanostructures/ miniaturization) which is well-known in microelectronic, energy and semiconductor applications. Nanoengineering is expected to lead to significant improvements in the intrinsic properties of structures, e. g., in energy storage for supercapacitors. In this context, a deeper understanding of the growth mechanisms of the thinnest crystal layers is of crucial importance for the controlled growing of nanowhiskers with outstanding properties. In the present study, we consider a simple whisker growth model based on the surface energy (i. e., wettability) of the components and investigate the effect of the carbon interlayer deposited on a Si (111) wafer using the magnetron sputtering technique on the whisker formation during the subsequent molecular beam epitaxy process in the Si-C-Cu system. In the present study, the topographic holes in the carbon layer which are the preferred nucleation areas of whiskers were identified by a series of scanning tunneling microscopy analyses, and the natural hole density was statistically determined. Using atomic force microscopy, the surface roughness of the carbon layer was characterized. The results of our investigations indicate that there is a correlation between the hole density in the carbon layer and the density of Cu nanowhiskers. This may validate the supposition that the holes in the carbon layer are the preferred nucleation sites for whiskers – an effect that could be relevant for future works on the growth of nanowhiskers at predefined positions.


Abstract Skin and soft tissue infections are common disease presentations to the pediatric emergency department, and rapid and accurate identification of potentially serious skin and soft tissue infections is critical. In cases of atraumatic musculoskeletal pain with systemic complaints, a bacterial etiology must be ruled out. Point-of-care ultrasonography is increasingly common in the pediatric emergency department and assists in rapid and accurate identification of a variety of disease processes. We present a case of a 14-year-old adolescent boy with atraumatic right knee pain to illustrate the benefits of point-of-care ultrasonography in the timely diagnosis of musculoskeletal and soft tissue pathology. Moreover, we describe the use of ultrasound in procedural guidance of deep-space fluid aspiration, with an eventual diagnosis of femoral osteomyelitis. Ultrasonographic techniques and the emergent work-up and management of osteomyelitis are reviewed.


IntroductionLooking back over the course of the three-plus decades of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, scholars and researchers have made many significant strides in understanding and responding to HIV and AIDS. From the inception of the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, when highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) was introduced as an innovative and highly-effective way of controlling HIV and HIV-related diseases, the "average" person diagnosed as being HIV-positive could expect to live for several months and if lucky, for a few years. Today, with the medical advances that have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, people who have contracted HIV usually can expect to live relatively healthy lives, in most instances for many years without experiencing any serious complications of HIV disease.HAART has been so successful that it has resulted in a 94% reduction in excess mortality (1), giving people who have been infected with HIV a significantly longer life and a greatly-lengthened period of healthy living post-infection. Research on the exact extent to which HAART adherence reduces the likelihood of sexual transmission of HIV has suggested that the risk of HIV transmission drops by 60-80% when the HIV-infected person adheres to his/her medical regimens and has been taking HAART medications for at least six months (2,3). Over the course of the three-plus decades of its existence, HIV/AIDS has transitioned from being a short-term death sentence to a long-term manageable condition. In no small part, this transition can be credited to medical and pharmaceutical research advances, which have made strides that, in many ways, are almost miraculous in their scope.Social science effortsSimultaneously, while the medical and pharmaceutical researchers were exploring ways to treat HIV-related illnesses and to delay the onset of HIV-related diseases in HIV-infected persons, social science researchers were working to curtail the HIV/AIDS epidemic in other ways. Their efforts focused on different types of research questions, including, among many others, such ponderances as these:· Are all population groups equally at risk for acquiring and/or transmitting HIV? If not, why not?· Among populations that seem to have a greater risk for acquiring and/or transmitting HIV, what are the factors that lead to their heightened risk?o Are these factors psychological or psychosocial in nature, perhaps resulting from having lower selfesteem, greater depression, greater impulsivity, lower perceived selfefficacy, and so forth?o Are these factors normative in nature, resulting from societal and/or subcultural expectations pertaining to gender roles, racial/ethnic identities, expressions of sexual identity and sexual orientation, manifestations of masculinity norms, and the like?o Are these factors sociocultural in nature, resulting from differences in access to accurate information about HIV transmission based on one's age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, etc?o Are these factors socio-structural in nature, resulting from circumstances affecting people's everyday lives and the decisions that they make? This might include romantic partnership or relationship dynamics, previous experiences with childhood trauma, economic necessities that affect how people live their lives, or neighborhood influences on receiving/accepting help from community "outsiders."· How do various factors co-occur to make the likelihood of HIV acquisition or transmission even greater among some persons-for example, among substance-abusing men who have sex with other men, or among persons who simultaneously are unhappy with their current life circumstances and who see no brighter prospects for their future, or among persons who suffer from the lingering effects of previous abuse and/or neglect and who, as adults, now find themselves involved in a dysfunctional relationship? …


Although clinical decision-making occupies a central role in the practice of medicine, the basic principles of this art have, until recently, rarely been discussed, formally taught, or subjected to the well-deserved scrutiny applied to most aspects of medical care. This brief, more or less readable book attempts to give both student and practitioner an armchair view of medical logic. The first edition might have served to introduce the preclinical student to uncertainties commonplace in the clinic; unfortunately, the second edition delivers far less than the reader must invest, hardly providing a modern view of a rapidly evolving field. After reading this monograph, the student will certainly appreciate the nature of clinical reasoning and the flaws that all too often make it irrational. Wulff delineates the problems but fails to provide reasonable approaches to their solution. In fact, he dismisses the entire field of prescriptive decision-making: "I hope that no clinician


Preliminary results on the measurement of nuclear transparencies from exclusive {rho}{sup 0} meson production from E665 at Fermilab are reported. The data were collected on hydrogen, deuterium, carbon, calcium, and lead targets with a mean beam energy of 470 GeV. Increases in the transparencies are observed in both coherent and incoherent production channels as the virtuality of the photon increases, as expected of color transparency. Ideas of systematic studies of color transparency in exclusive vector meson production at CEBAF are discussed.


The use of medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) differs globally. Stimulant prescriptions for ADHD among Israeli Jewish children are four times higher than among Arab children. This qualitative study aimed to identify mothers and teachers' attitudes regarding ADHD and what affects mothers' decisions on whether to medicate their child diagnosed with ADHD. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 Arab and Jewish mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD and 12 elementary school teachers. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes were revealed, describing different perceptions of ADHD in the two ethnic groups: (1) medicalization of ADHD; (2) between guilt and sympathy: Mothers' feelings toward ADHD; (3) social pressure and social norms; (4) stigmatization: Jewish mothers and teachers tended to perceive ADHD as a medical problem, whereas Arab mothers and teachers perceived it more as a childhood social behavior. Arab mothers reported guilt feelings relating to ADHD, whereas Jewish mothers felt sympathy toward their child. The social environment influenced Arab mothers more than Jewish mothers. Stigmatization was reported only by Arab mothers. Ethnic differences in ADHD perception may explain the differences in diagnosis and treatment. Educators and school psychologists should consider cultural factors when advising parents and planning educational programs for children with ADHD.


signs. No organomegalyor abdominal mass was found. Hematocritwas0.39, white blood cell count was 8.21 x 109/L, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 35 mm/h. The urine tested positive for protein. Blood glucose was 8.1 mmollL, serum amylase 315 units/L (normal 130), and lipase 285 units/L (normal 190). Prothrombin time; calcium, triglyceride, and electrolyte concentrations; and liver and renal function tests were nonna!. An abdominal ultrasoundexaminationrevealednodilationof pancreaticor hepaticducts and a normal gallbladder. Because of absence of other risk factors, enalapril was stopped on hospital day 5 and the patient's condition improvedover the next severaldays. She has nothadanotherepisodeof pancreatitisduring fivemonths of follow-up, but she has not been rechallenged with enalapri!. It is well known that cough and other adverse reactions to captopril have been reported.P In our case the probability that captopril was responsible for cough was estimated as "definite" using an adverse drug reaction scale.' Several toxic effects related to enalapril maleate have been described, but to our knowledge only one case of pancreatitis has been reported.' In our patient, the exclusion of other precipitating factors and the evidence of improvement suggest a close etiologic relation. Therefore, because of the severity of this complication, enalapril-induced pancreatitis should be considered in patients taking this ACE inhibitor who present with abdominal symptoms. Pathogenesis is unclear and there is no information about the mechanism of this adverse drug reaction.


The directed migration of cell collectives is essential in various physiological processes, such as epiboly, intestinal epithelial turnover, and convergent extension during morphogenesis as well as during pathological events like wound healing and cancer metastasis1,2. Collective cell migration leads to the emergence of coordinated movements over multiple cells. Our current understanding emphasizes that these movements are mainly driven by large-scale transmission of signals through adherens junctions3,4. In this study, we show that collective movements of epithelial cells can be triggered by polarity signals at the single cell level through the establishment of coordinated lamellipodial protrusions. We designed a minimalistic model system to generate one-dimensional epithelial trains confined in ring shaped patterns that recapitulate rotational movements observed in vitro in cellular monolayers and in vivo in genitalia or follicular cell rotation5–7. Using our system, we demonstrated that cells follow coordinated rotational movements after the establishment of directed Rac1-dependent polarity over the entire monolayer. Our experimental and numerical approaches show that the maintenance of coordinated migration requires the acquisition of a front-back polarity within each single cell but does not require the maintenance of cell-cell junctions. Taken together, these unexpected findings demonstrate that collective cell dynamics in closed environments as observed in multiple in vitro and in vivo situations5,6,8,9 can arise from single cell behavior through a sustained memory of cell polarity.


Background— Many authors using a hybrid debranching strategy for the treatment of thoracoabdominal pathologies have reported disappointing results and the initial enthusiasm for the technique has given way to criticism and ambiguity. The aim of the present meta-analysis study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the technique in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms or other aortic pathologies. Methods and Results— A multiple electronic search was performed on all articles describing hybrid open endovascular repair. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for technical success, visceral graft patency, spinal cord ischemia symptoms, renal insufficiency, and other complications as well as 30-day/in-hospital mortality. Nineteen publications with a total of 507 patients were analyzed. The pooled estimates for primary technical success and visceral graft patency were 96.2% (95% CI, 93.5%–98.2%) and 96.5% (95% CI, 95.2%–97.8%) respectively. A pooled rate of 7.5% (95% CI, 5.0%–11.0%) for overall spinal cord ischemia symptoms was observed; whereas for irreversible paraplegia the pooled rate was 4.5% (95% CI, 2.5%–7.0%). The pooled estimate for renal failure was 8.8% (95% CI, 3.9%–15.5%). The pooled 30-day/in-hospital mortality rate was 12.8% (95% CI, 8.6%–17.0%). During the mean follow-up period of 34.5 (95% CI, 31.5–37.5) months, a total of 119 endoleaks were identified in 111 patients (22.7%). Conclusions— The repair of thoracoabdominal pathologies by means of hybrid procedures in patients who are poor surgical candidates is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Future studies may substantiate whether the technique is amenable to amelioration and improvement.


This paper estimates the yields for five grains in 33 provinces of Spain in the mid-18th century. The results show that yields were higher in the north of the country, and that the most fertile provinces of Spain were not far behind the most advanced agricultural regions of the world. Average wheat yields in Spain remained stagnant between 1750 and the late 19th century when they doubled, only to remain stagnant again until the modernisation of the primary sector in the 1960s. Our results show that, in the very long run, yields between provinces tended to converge, and this was the case until the 1960s when the traditional differences in provincial yields began to disappear. The use of artificial fertilisers or new wheat strains were key improvements that helped low yield provinces to break with severe natural constraints such as lack of rainfall or low-quality soils.


The efficiency of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on N,N'-bis(1-naphthyl)-N,N'-diphenyl-N,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine (NPB) (the hole transport layer) and tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) (both emission and electron transport layers) is improved remarkably by inserting a LiF interlayer into the hole transport layer. This thin LiF interlayer can effectively influence electrical performance and significantly improve the current efficiency of the device. A device with an optimum LiF layer thickness at the optimum position in NPB exhibits a maximum current efficiency of 5.96 cd/A at 215.79 mA/cm2, which is about 86% higher than that of an ordinary device (without a LiF interlayer, 3.2 cd/A). An explanation can be put forward that LiF in the NPB layer can block holes and balance the recombination of holes and electrons. The results may provide some valuable references for improving OLED current efficiency.


On December 7th, 2007, the Chinese government decided to place traditional festivals on the national calendar. This event, which can be considered a textbook example of "inventing tradition", reinforced the position of those who believe that the Communist Party uses the past in the service of an aggressive foreign policy and to reinforce national unity, which has been jeopardized by the disappearance of socialist ideology. Yet "genealogical" analysis of the decision process reveals that a phenomenon of convergence of interests and representations was at work, bringing together various milieu : Hong Kong deputies, intellectuals, economists, folklorists and businessmen. It also shows the obstacles – among others, managing the flows brought about by an increased number of holidays in such a heavily populated country – that the government encountered before ratifying the proposal. Yet China is now also a society of leisure. Proof of this can be found in the popular enthusiasm with which the government's initiative was greeted, especially among the urban middle class, who can now profit from new vacation periods.


This paper build on the existing research (Adamu, A. and Darma M. (2016)) to further analyse the dynamic relationship between gas consumption and economic growth in the Nigeria. This helps to discover if sudden increase in the gas consumption can positively affect economic growth immediately. After administering VAR model, impulse response function and variance decomposition economic techniques were used to analyse the sensitivity between economic growth and gas consumption in the country. The research found that change in economic growth in the country cannot be explained by gas consumption in the period of shock, but change in gas consumption in the period of shock can be explained largely by changes in its own self and then by changes in economic growth. However, the change in gas consumption responded negatively to shock in the change in economic growth and vice versa in the period of the shock, but in subsequent period, change in gas consumption responded positively to change in economic growth. We concluded that among other variables, change in gas consumption has more influence to the movements of the economic growth, which further discovered the unique relationship between the gas consumption and real economic growth in the country in the event of shocks. Gas consumption is highly and positively responsive to its own innovation, which means direct investment in the sector can result to significant improvement in the gas consumption. The development of domestic gas consumption cannot significantly come as a result of shocks or intervention in the other sectors, it has to be a deliberate actions and interventions to enhance the gas development. Keywords: Gas Consumption, Economic Growth, Nigeria, Shock, Sensitivity


This master thesis aims to offer a state of the art technological vision of the current internet services provided and used by the top reference social network platforms. This study will pay especial attention to different technologies exporting and exporting content around the net. This Master Thesis has been developed inside the e-Catalunya frame project, an iniciative promoted by Generalitat de Catalunya in collaboration with the Barcelona Faculty of Informatics (FIB). E-Catalunya is a web 2.0 platform setting a common workspace that encourages collaboration between different groups within the Catalan society ( e.g: Biblioteques judicial, E-moderadors, medicio familiar, veins). This project has two differentiated main goals. The first one is providing LCFIB and Generalitat de Catalunya with a study about how technologies are being used nowadays by social networks to achieve their social purposes. The second goal is making a decision about which capabilities would be interesting to be aggregated to the platform in order to fulfill current needs and challenges. Finally, a prototype will be developed to analyze the viability of the decisions made.


ABSTRACT We use bird distributions in non-forested coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes to illustrate a new, conceptually explicit method for developing biotic indicators. The procedure applies a probabilistic framework to derive an index that best "fits" an observed assemblage of species, based on preliminary information about species' responses to human environmental disturbance. Among 215 coastal wetland complexes across the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes, 23 bird species were particularly sensitive (positively or negatively) to a multivariate environmental disturbance gradient ranging from 0 (maximally disturbed) to 10 (minimally disturbed). Species like Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) showed strong negative relationships with human disturbance, while others like Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), and European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), showed strong positive relationships with disturbance. The functional shapes of these biotic responses were used to determine indices of ecological condition (IEC) for new sites. Values of IEC were highly correlated with the environmental gradient, but deviations from a 1:1 relationship reveal novel insights about local ecological conditions. For example, sites dominated by invasive plant species like Phragmites australis tended to yield IEC values that were lower than expected based on the environmental gradient. This framework for calculating ecological indicators holds significant potential for other applications because it is flexible, explicitly linked to a disturbance gradient, and easy to calculate once standardized biotic response functions are documented and made available for a region of interest.