In living cells, liquid condensates form in the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm via phase separation and regulate physiological processes. They also regulate aberrant aggregation of amyloid fibrils, a process linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In the absence of condensates it has been shown that amyloid aggregation can be inhibited by molecular chaperones and rationally designed drugs. However it remains unknown how this drug- or chaperone-mediated inhibition of amyloid fibril aggregation is affected by phase-separated condensates. Here we study the interplay between protein aggregation, its inhibition and liquid-liquid phase separation. Our key finding is that the potency of inhibitors of amyloid formation can be strongly enhanced. We show that the corresponding mechanism relies on the colocalization of inhibitors and aggregates inside the liquid condensate. We provide experimentally testable physicochemical conditions under which the increase of inhibitor potency is most pronounced. Our work highlights the role of spatio-temporal heterogeneity in curtailing aberrant protein aggregation and suggests design principles for amyloid inhibitors accounting for partitioning of drugs into liquid condensates.


The goal of this paper is to describe a new approach to a content creation and delivery mechanism for a programming course. This approach is based on the concept of creating a large repository of learning objects, each of which consists of the core material, code examples, supplementary notes, and review questions. A learning object will be uniquely described by a XML document and presents an interface for future search, retrieval and updating, as well as for potential connection to external assessment tools. Furthermore, we describe a new teaching, learning and authoring tool (called adaptive book) that allows users to add new learning objects, modify current ones, and discuss concepts using a variety of representation models. With the adaptive book, an instructor will be able to design his or her very own course using a large repository of material, which will target a particular audience or a customized syllabus. In addition, the electronic adaptive book will serve as an interactive, continuously up-to-date learning environment for students. It will allow students to create personal learning profiles that are embedded into the core content of the course. We believe that in the near future, this electronic adaptive book will have the potential to replace or enhance traditional paper textbooks. In all physicality, it is impossible to have a personal instructor for each student, but with the adaptive book, we believe we are one step closer to realizing the dream of individualized instructions for each and every student.


This paper describes the dynamic overmodulation strategies for fast torque control of the high-saliency-ratio ac motor. For the high-saliency-ratio ac motor, the dynamic control of both d- and q-axes currents is required for fast torque control with optimal efficiency. However, in transient operation, the d- and q-axes current regulators are easily saturated even at low speed because the stator inductance is designed large enough to generate the desired reluctance torque. With the conventional overmodulation strategies, the current regulation performance degrades severely compared to a nonsalient motor. In this paper, the drawbacks of the conventional overmodulation strategies are investigated and a dynamic overmodulation strategy is proposed to improve the current response to fast transients. For the effective implementation of the strategy, a practical algorithm is also presented. The performance of the proposed strategy is confirmed by computer simulation and experiment with a 3.75-kW axially laminated synchronous reluctance motor and an interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor for 42-V integrated starter-generator applications.


Intensivists are often called upon to help care for patients who develop severe sepsis syndrome and septic shock where the primary source is an enterocutaneous fistula (ECF). The purpose of this article is to describe to the nonsurgeon intensivist how these complex surgical situations arise in the first place and provide the reader with a detailed understanding of the potentially devastating complications of ECF. In addition, we will describe a structured algorithm regarding the management of this often highly challenging surgical situation.


Purpose. To develop a risk-scoring tool to identify in a base year patients likely to have high medical .spending in the subsequent year and to understand the role obesity and obesity reduction may play in mitigating this risk. Design. Cross-sectional analysis, using commercial claims and health risk assessment data. Setting. United States, 2004-2009. Subjects. Panel of 192, 750 person-year observations from 116,868 unique working-age employees of large companies. Measures. Probability of high medical expenses (80th percentile or above) in the following year; adjusted body mass index (BMI). Analysis. Generate risk scores by modeling the likelihood of high next-year expenses as a function of base-year age, sex, medical utilization, comorbidities, and BMI. Estimate the effect of simulated bariatric intervention on patient risk scores. Results. Individuals with higher BMI were more likely to be categorized in the very high risk group, in luhich the average annual medical expense ivas $8621. A weight-loss intervention transitioning a patient to the next lower obesity class was predicted to reduce this risk by 1.5% to 27.4%—comparable to hypothetically curing a patient of depression or type 2 diabetes. Conclusion. A logistic model was used to capture the effect of BMI on the risk of high future medical spending. Weight-loss interventions for obe.se patients may generate significant savings by reducing this risk. (Am J Health Promot 2014;28[4]:218-227.)


For the first time Bernhard Marfan described the Marfan-Syndrome in 1896; it is a meso- and ectodermed variety with the conducting symptom of "arachnodactyly". Marfan-Syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder with high penetrance and variable expressivity. In our opinion this case of a 41-year-old patient with kidney cysts and aneurysma dissecans of the arteria ascendens by Marfan-Syndrome was described in the literature only twice. The casuistics of this Marfan-Syndrome patient shows a particular rare associated organ-change--the kidney cysts--and illustrate the frequency of this hereditary disease.


The main result of this paper is that a $2$-convex $Q_k$-translator with principal curvatures in the cone $\Gamma_{k+1}$ is convex. This is analogous to the theorems by Spruck-Xiao and Spruck-Sun on Mean Curvature Flow. In addition, we prove interior gradient and second order estimates for $Q_k$-flow and $Q_k$-translators in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$.


Distributed video coding (DVC) has attracted increasing research efforts due to its low-complexity encoding requirements and its applications in wireless video sensor networks for monitoring. This paper proposes a modified Prior-Hash-Based Side-Information Search for decoding Scheme in DVC. LDPC is introduced to produce the syndromes to realize DVC. And a hash-based side-information search scheme is proposed to get the most possible side information before syndrome decoding, named the Prior-Hash bits scheme. The proposed scheme not only reduces the bits of hash in the encoder, but also greatly decreases the computation complexity and delay in the decoder. Simulation results illustrate the performance of PSNR and the complexity advantages of the proposed scheme compared with the original PRISM [1] scheme.


Response of One Degree of Freedom System to Harmonic Loading on the structure idealized as single degree of freedom systems excited harmonically, that is structure subjected to force or displacement where the magnitude may be represented by a sine or cosine function of time. This type of excitation results one of the most important motions in the study of mechanical vibrations as well as in applications to structural dynamics. Structure is very often subjected to the dynamic action such cyclic load acting and resulting response due to the the unavoidable load eccentricity. The objective of the present study is to analyze the response of one-degree of freedom system to the portal 2D. The structure is modelled and analyzed using finite element method. The result obtained by FE method is joint displacement of the structure.


The estimation of covariance matrices of multiple classes with limited training data is a difficult problem. The sample covariance matrix (SCM) is known to perform poorly when the number of variables is large compared to the available number of samples. In order to reduce the mean squared error (MSE) of the SCM, regularized (shrinkage) SCM estimators are often used. In this work, we consider regularized SCM (RSCM) estimators for multiclass problems that couple together two different target matrices for regularization: the pooled (average) SCM of the classes and the scaled identity matrix. Regularization toward the pooled SCM is beneficial when the population covariances are similar, whereas regularization toward the identity matrix guarantees that the estimators are positive definite. We derive the MSE optimal tuning parameters for the estimators as well as propose a method for their estimation under the assumption that the class populations follow (unspecified) elliptical distributions with finite fourth-order moments. The MSE performance of the proposed coupled RSCMs are evaluated with simulations and in a regularized discriminant analysis (RDA) classification set-up on real data. The results based on three different real data sets indicate comparable performance to cross-validation but with a significant speed-up in computation time.


CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FRUIT DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENING OF COFFEA ARABICA CULTIVARS The aim of this research wAS to determine the thermal requirements in degree-days for sub-phases of fruit development in arabic cultivars and to indicate those genotypes for scalonated harvesting. This research was carried out at the experimental farm of the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (IAPAR), in Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil. Each plant was evaluated at 15 to 20 days intervals from August 2004 to August 2005 (harvest 2004/05) and from August 2005 to August 2006 (harvest 2005/06), according to a phenological scale of fruit development. The average number of days, the thermal requirements in degree-days, the accumulated precipitation and the average temperature to reach the stadium of complete maturation (cherry) were, respectively, 226.2 ± 15.3 days, 2781 ± 143.5 degree-days, 1065 ± 149.2 mm and 22.49 ± 0.47 oC. It was possible to characterize the genotypes by their thermal needs as follows: the cultivars Icatu Precoce IAC 3282, Mundo Novo IAC 464-12, IAPAR 59, Rume Sudam IAC1139 and Costa Rica 95 as early maturation; the cultivars Catucai 785-15, Catucaiaçu, Villa Sarchí ICAFÉ, Rubi MG1192 and Ouro Verde IAC H5010-5, as intermediate maturation; the cultivars 'Obatã IAC 1669-20', Sarchímor IAPAR88480-8, 'Tupi IAC 1669-33', 'Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99', 'Catucai vermelho 4-79' and Sarchímor E9702 III-1-9 as late maturation. By using regression analyses it was possible to determine and quantify the influence of water supply in different phenological stages. The occurrence of water deficiencies accelerated maturation, therefore, reduced the thermal necessities for fruit maturation in Arabic coffee.


11 Deep learning plays an important role in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The security of deep networks has 12 become the crucial thing to be considered. When the deep learning algorithms are implemented in the hardware platform, the 13 interference for topology structure will appear because of cyber-attacks. We analyze the working capacity of acyclic deep networks 14 under the topology attacks and injection attacks. Considering the topology structure of the deep network, the maximum working 15 capacity is studied under the topology attacks and injection attacks. Furthermore, the robustness of the random networks is researched 16 and the structural robustness index (SRI) is proposed to measure the toleration for the topology attacks. This work supplies some 17 suggestions for building a robust deep network and improving the endogenous safety and security (ESS) of the deep networks.


This paper studies the changes in the pattern of Africa's trade with China and OECD countries, and the impacts of these changes on sub-Saharan Africa's economic growth. In the study, the country-level total exports and imports, as well as the commodity-based exports and imports are considered for 42 sub-Saharan African countries between 1980 and 2014. The results show that as the share of China in sub-Saharan Africa's trade has significantly increased, a declining trend is observed for OECD countries, traditional trading partners. Despite changing trade links, the investigation of the commodity-based exports and imports indicate that the types of imported and exported commodities have not changed much for Africa. However, a strong link is observed between economic growth in SSA and its changing trade links from the OECD countries towards China at the total level as well as at the commodity level. The study concludes that there is an increase in the international competition for Africa's commodities, and resulting in improvements in the terms of trade has led to higher income growth in the region.


A recently developed method for ultrastructural demonstration of cell surface receptors for immune complexes is applied to evaluation of these receptors on various cell types. The method entailing incubation with a complex of horesradish peroxidase (HRP) and antibody to HRP (anti-HRP) disclosed dense foci indicative of immune complex receptors distributed at 30- to 120-mmu intervals over macrophage surfaces. Invaginations, loop-like evaginations, and pinocytotic vasicles stained prominently. The number of stained immune complex receptors averaged 200,000 per oil-induced macrophage and 120,000 per noninduced macrophage, as determined from counts of focal deposits in electron micrographs. Receptor periodicity on giant cells present in oil-induced exudates resembled that on macrophages, but the larger giant cells contained an estimated 1.5 million sites. Although receptor periodicity on eosinophils and neutrophils equaled that on macrophages, the staining was lighter and was interrupted by intervals of unstained membrane. Neutrophils averaged 28,000 and eosinophils 35,000 receptors per cell, whereas those lymphocytes with receptors averaged 3,500 per cell. Viable cells incubated with anti-HRP sequentially exhibited about half as many reactive sites as did cells incubated with immune complex. When warmed to 37 C, viable macrophages and eosinophils pinocytosed soluble immune complexes almost completely within 30 minutes and phagocytosed insoluble complexes more slowly. The endocytosed soluble immune complexes were sequestered within tubulovesicular structures in addition to the expected phagocytic vacuoles. Receptors appeared fully active on macrophages that were restained with soluble, cold immune complex after they had endocytosed immune complex in the course of a 30-minute warming interval.


BackgroundChromobox (CBX) family proteins (CBXs) are important components of epigenetic regulation complexes. Abnormal expression of CBXs is related to the occurrence and development of various cancers. However, the role and mechanism of CBXs in esophageal cancer (ESCA) need further research. MethodsThe mRNA expression of CBXs, clinicopathological parameters, prognostic values, genetic alteration, enrichment analysis, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed with several databases including Oncomine, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, cBioPortal, DAVID, and TIMER2.0.ResultsThe expression level of CBX1/2/3/4/8 was significantly upregulated in ESCA while that of CBX7 was down-regulated. Besides, mRNA expressions of CBX1/2/3/4/5/7/8 were correlated with patients' individual cancer stages and the nodal metastatic status. The mRNA expression of CBX3/4/7/8 was significantly correlated with the overall survival (OS) in ESCA. What is more, high mutation rate of CBXs (49%) was also observed in ESCA patients. Then, CBXs were related to the infiltration of a variety of immune cells.ConclusionsThis study may provide new ideas for the selection of prognostic biomarkers in the CBXs in ESCA.


The purpose of this research was to examine Mark Wood's "Electrify Your Strings" (EYS)
program. Three research questions guided this study: 1) What is the history of the EYS program
and what was the driving philosophy behind its start? 2) What are the pedagogical benefits, if
any, that EYS provides for a typical music ensemble? 3) What is the perception of EYS by
current music educators, students, parents and school administrators?
This case study attempted to triangulate current research against participant interviews
and their member checking, (Creswell and Poth, 2018). Participants were selected from current
music educators, former high school students, parents of high school students, and school
administrators who all had participated in an EYS event. Interviews were semi-structured in
nature, transcribed, and double coded using a set of a priori codes that evolved between the first
and second coding.
Perception of the program was positive, citing increased student confidence, increased
camaraderie in the ensemble, increased program growth and retention, and increased support of
the program as benefits of participation in EYS. Perceived hindrances were few, cost of the
program and logistics of hosting a program, but insignificant against the perceived benefits.
EYS is not a new paradigm in music pedagogy. It doesn't replace the long standing
tradition of Western European classical music. It augments the successful pedagogy already
being used in the classroom, incorporating classic rock and contemporary music, to encourage
students to use creativity, innovation, movement, and self-expression to connect with music
more deeply.


Introduction When the initial and boundary conditions are given, many solutions of the diffusion equation have been obtained in the literature and textbooks, and the solutions have been applied to many technical problems [1–6]. In this chapter, we shall select a few thin-film problems to illustrate the application of Fick's first and second laws. Darken's analysis of the Kirkendall effect of interdiffusion in a bulk diffusion couple will be presented [3–5]. Why do we include the bulk diffusion behavior in a book on thin-film reliability? This is because interdiffusion is one of the most common behaviors in materials, whether it is in bulk or in thin films. More importantly, it will help us to understand the mechanism of failure in thin films. In Darken's analysis of interdiffsuion, specifically, no void formation and no stress are assumed, hence there is no failure in the microstructure. It is a constant volume kinetic process. While Darken's analysis explains the Kirkendall shift (or lattice shift) by assuming vacancy to be equilibrium everywhere in the sample, it does not allow Kirkendall (or Frenkel) void formation. Only when vacancies are supersaturated will voids nucleate and form. Thus, Kirkendall (or Frenkel) void formation will require a different condition from that in Kirkendall shift, so we assume that Kirkendall shift is missing in void formation.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to ascertain the proliferative and probably reparative potentials of the periarticular osteophytes by evaluating the sites of expression of c-myc, c-jun and c-fos oncogenes in this neoplastic repair tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sections of osteophytes were obtained from knees of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. Decalcified sections of osteophytes were stained for c-myc and c-jun oncogenes using the avidin HRP technique. Sections of breast carcinoma were used as positive controls. Undecalcified or frozen sections of osteophytes were stained for c-fos oncogene using the avidin alkaline phosphatase technique. Sections of the human skin were used as positive control. For both techniques, sections of normal articular cartilage were used as negative controls.

RESULTS
The chondrocytes of the entire cartilage mantle of the peri-articular osteophyte had positive staining for c-myc oncogene but no staining for c-jun oncogene. The basal chondrocytes of the deep layer of the cartilage mantle of the peri-articular osteophyte had positive staining for c-fos oncogene. The normal articular cartilage sections had no staining for any of the oncogenes evaluated.

CONCLUSION
The expression of c-myc oncogene in the osteophytic chondrocytes suggests that these cells are actively proliferating. However, c-fos expression in the basal chondrocytes implies that these cells are capable of transformation. This result confirms the proliferative ability of the peri-articular osteophytes and this may suggest that this osteochondral repair tissue, which is apparently wrongly sited, may be a source of tissue for osteochondral grafting for full thickness articular cartilage defects.


Based on the classical time division multi-channel communication theory, we present a scheme of quantum time-division multi-channel communication (QTDMC). Moreover, the model of quantum time division switch (QTDS) and correlative protocol of QTDMC are proposed. The quantum bit error rate (QBER) is analyzed and the QBER simulation test is performed. The scheme shows that the QTDS can carry out multi-user communication through quantum channel, the QBER can also reach the reliability requirement of communication, and the protocol of QTDMC has high practicability and transplantable. The scheme of QTDS may play an important role in the establishment of quantum communication in a large scale in the future.


The growing online traffic that is bringing the infrastructure to its limits induces an urgent demand for an efficient content delivery model. Capitalizing social networks and using advanced delivery networks potentially can help to solve this problem. However, due to the complex nature of the involved networks such a model is difficult to assess. In this paper we use a simulative approach to analyze how the SatTorrent P2P protocol supported by social networks can improve content delivery by means of reduced download duration and traffic.


In millimeter-wave (MMW) passive detection, the sky brightness temperature is a crucial physical quantity that usually determines parameters of the detecting system. It presents great nonlinear relations with frequency, zenith angle and meteorological conditions. In this paper, a novel method utilizing the nonlinear approximation function of the back propagation (BP) neural network was proposed to estimate the sky brightness temperature at MMW band. The given simulation results demonstrate this method can obtain a higher degree of accuracy than the previous methods, especially for the large zenith angle conditions. Furthermore, the proposed method avoids the complicated calculation of the atmospheric absorbing coefficient and provides an innovative way to estimate the MMW sky brightness temperature.


The diversity and personal requirements of services has increased the need for a service platform. The web is considered to be a suitable way to deliver data but it has many restrictions. A service overlay network can provide additional functions to integrate and/or converge existing services. This paper proposes a modified DSON architecture to solve these problems. Also, this paper proposes a service model, scenario, and implementation of a web-based multimedia service using a service overlay network platform.


Despite their known carcinogenic potential, primary aromatic amines (AAs) continue to be used in various consumer products. Human exposure to AAs is a subject of current concern. Although urinary measurements are used in the assessment of exposure, little is known about within- and between-individual temporal variability in urinary concentrations of AAs. In this study, we determined the concentrations of 30 AAs, nicotine and cotinine in 213 first morning void (FMV) urine samples collected longitudinally for over a five-week period from 15 participants residing in the Albany area of New York State, USA. Eight AAs, namely, aniline, 2-naphthylamine (2-NA), p-cresidine (p-CD), p-toluidine (p-TD), o/m-toluidine (o/m-TD), 4-chloroaniline (4-CA), 4,4'-methylenedi-o-toluidine (4,4'-MDA), and 2,6-dimethylaniline (2,6-DMA) were found in urine at a detection frequency (DF) in the range of 68-100%. Aniline and 2,6-DMA were the predominant compounds found at median concentrations of 6.0 and 3.81 ng/mL, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of all urinary AA concentrations, except for 4-CA, showed moderate to poor predictability (ICC values ranged 0.248-0.697). Gender and ethnicity-related variations in ∑8AA concentrations were significant. Spearman's correlations among AA concentrations suggested that the sources of exposure were not related to tobacco smoke. No significant correlations existed between AAs concentrations and oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs). The estimated daily intakes of AAs calculated based on urinary concentrations were several orders of magnitude below the tolerable daily intakes.


Self-decoupling technology was recently proposed for radio frequency (RF) coil array designs. Here, we propose a novel geometry to reduce the peak local specific absorption rate (SAR) and improve the robustness of the self-decoupled coil. We first demonstrate that B1 is determined by the arm conductors, while the maximum E-field and local SAR are determined by the feed conductor in a self-decoupled coil. Then, we investigate how the B1, E-field, local SAR, SAR efficiency, and coil robustness change with respect to different lift-off distances for feed and mode conductors. Next, the simulation of self-decoupled coils with optimal lift-off distances on a realistic human body is performed. Finally, self-decoupled coils with optimal lift-off distances are fabricated and tested on the workbench and MRI experiments. The peak 10 g-averaged SAR of the self-decoupled coil on the human body can be reduced by 34% by elevating the feed conductor. Less coil mismatching and less resonant frequency shift with respect to loadings were observed by elevating the mode conductor. Both the simulation and experimental results show that the coils with elevated conductors can preserve the high interelement isolation, B1+ efficiency, and SNR of the original self-decoupled coils.


Background: Risk modeling has been shown to be important in detection and prevention of disease, and this is especially true for cancer research. One prominent lung cancer risk model is the Spitz Lung Cancer Risk Model, which was constructed from case-control data and incorporates clinical and epidemiologic variables (smoking status, family history and select co-morbidities). Although the Spitz model is validated using case-control data, the model has not been calibrated. Methods: We used data from 109 lung cancer patients and 4622 controls that were a subset of a large longitudinal cohort study, the Dutch-Belgian randomized lung cancer trial (NELSON). We estimated absolute lung cancer risks from the Spitz risk model to evaluate the model9s calibration, discriminatory power and clinical utility. Results: With the 10 year absolute risk calculations, the Spitz model was well calibrated with NELSON data, with slightly weaker calibration for five year absolute risk calculations. The overall discriminatory power was 0.69 (95% CI = 0.64-0.74), with current smokers having higher discriminatory power (0.73, 95% CI = 0.67-0.79) compared to former smokers (0.61, 95% CI = 0.51-0.70). When examining clinical utility, it peaked at four lung cancer patients correctly identified by the model for every control incorrectly identified as a lung cancer patient. Conclusions: This is the first time the Spitz model has been evaluated for calibration, with very good results except for the lowest and highest risk individuals. The calibration results also confirmed the notion by Dr. Peter Bach9s group that 10 year absolute risk models are better indicators of cancer risk than five year models. The clinical utility results are very similar to those calculated by the Spitz model with Harvard data that was published in the British Journal of Cancer recently. The Spitz model showed moderate discriminatory power, especially among current smokers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1899. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1899


Reliable execution of software on untrustworthy platforms is a difficult problem. On the one hand, the underlying system services cannot be relied upon to provide execution assurance, while on the other hand, the effect of a tampered execution can be disastrous -- consider intrusion detection programs. What is needed, in this case, is tamper resistant software. Code obfuscation has been an area of development, in part, to enhance software tamper resistance. However, most obfuscation techniques are ad hoc, without the support of sound theoretical basis or provable results. In this paper, we address one aspect of software protection by obstructing static analysis of programs. Our techniques are based, fundamentally, on the difficulty of resolving aliases in programs. The presence of aliases has been proven to greatly restrict the precision of static data-flow analysis. Meanwhile, effective alias detection has been shown to be NP-Hard. While this represents a significant hurdle for code optimization, it provides a theoretical basis for structuring tamper-resistant programs -- systematic introduction of nontrivial aliases transforms programs to a form that yields data flow information very slowly and/or with little precision. Precise alias analysis relies on the collection of static control flow information. We further hinder the analysis by a systematic "break-down" of the program control-flow; transforming high level control transfers to indirect addressing through aliased pointers. By doing so, we have made the basic control-flow analysis into a general alias analysis problem, and the data-flow analysis and control-flow analysis are made co-dependent. We present a theoretical result which shows that a precise analysis of the transformed program, in the general case, is NP-hard and demonstrate the applicability of our techniques with empirical results.


The swordtail fish is a species particularly abundant in fresh water of Mexico and Central America. It is an ovoviviparous species, not really territorial which shows nipright order. In this research, significant differences of spatial distribution have been found according to the position in the nipright order and according to the sex of the fish. These differences bind with two external variables: the presence of sexual partners and the space available for the fish. The dominating males prefer a space partition allowing access to the females more than a compartment allowing access to more space in volume. They also chase their subordinates in the contiguous compartment of the aquarium. Females swordtails prefer the bigger compartment independently of the presence of conspecific males. These results are discussed in the light of reproductive strategies particular to each sex.


A hybrid approach for simulating proton and hydride transfer reactions in solution and proteins is described. The electronic quantum effects are incorporated with an empirical valence bond potential. The nuclear quantum effects are included with a mixed quantum‐classical molecular dynamics method in which the transferring hydrogen nuclei are represented by multidimensional vibrational wavefunctions. The free energy profiles are obtained as functions of a collective reaction coordinate, and a mapping or umbrella potential is utilized to drive the reaction over the barrier for infrequent events. The vibrationally adiabatic nuclear quantum effects are incorporated into the free energy profiles. The dynamics are described with the molecular dynamics with quantum transitions (MDQT) surface hopping method, which incorporates vibrationally non-adiabatic effects. The MDQT method is combined with a reactive flux approach to calculate the transmission coefficient and to investigate the real-time dynamics of reactive trajectories. Nuclear quantum effects such as zero point energy, hydrogen tunnelling and non-adiabatic transitions, as well as the dynamics of the solvent and protein environment, are included during the generation of the free energy profiles and dynamical trajectories. This methodology provides detailed mechanistic information at the molecular level and allows the calculation of rates and kinetic isotope effects. The feasibility of this approach is illustrated through an application to hydride transfer in the enzyme liver alcohol dehydrogenase. This approach may be extended for use with mixed quantum mechanical‐molecular mechanical potentials and alternative mixed quantum‐classical molecular dynamics methods. It has also been generalized for multiple proton and protoncoupled electron transfer reactions.


As the contributions of exercise to health and well being are becoming increasingly recognised, 1-3 interest in health promotion has stimulated demand for practical methods of assessment of physical activity patterns. Unfortunately, no methods are generally accepted, so it has become the custom for investigators to devise their own-often with scant reference to validity, and still less to comparability with other studies. Walking, for example, can range from gentle strolling to striding at a brisk pace.4 Yet frequently all walking will be graded as light activity. The manner in which walking is treated can, therefore, substantially affect individual classification for total activity and for aerobic exercise, since walking is the only sustained aerobic activity that is at all common in industrialised societies. The same applies to other important sources of exercise. Gardening, the commonest hobby involving physical "work" in this country, can vary in energy expenditure from pruning roses to heavy manual labour in a vegetable allotment, yet it is commonly graded as "moderate" activity.


Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is associated with cardiovascular co-morbidities and increased mortality. Arterial stiffness, and more specifically its gold standard pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a recognized independent strong predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Several studies have shown that PWV is elevated in OSA patients and might be improved by treatment with continuous positive airway pressure. However the respective impact of traditional risk factors for elevated arterial stiffness on the relationship between OSA and PWV has not been evaluated. Design and method: Data from participants involved in 10 studies involving OSA and performed by our group were pooled. In all studies, PWV was measured with the same technic (Complior SP, Alam Medical, France). Results: The cohort included 901 subjects (age: 56 ± 12 (mean ± SD) - 73% male - 84% with confirmed OSA syndrome). BMI varied from 15 to 81 kg/m2 (30 ± 7) with 22%, 39% 18%, 12 and 9% with normal, overweight, obese, severe obesity and morbid obesity respectively. PWV ranged from 5.3 to 20.5 m/s (10.4 ± 2.3). In a univariate analysis, PWV was strongly related to age (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.0001), presence of diabetes (p < 0.0001) and to BMI class (p < 0.01). It was only moderately related to total cholesterol (p < 0.01), mean nocturnal saturation (p = 0.03) and Epworth sleepiness scale (p < 0.01) and was not related to apnea-hyponea index (p = 0.25) nor to sleep time with oxygen saturation below 90% (p = 0.42). In a backward multivariate analysis, OSA parameters did not independently contribute, only age, systolic blood pressure, BMI class, diabetes and total cholesterol remained in the model. Conclusions: Our individual meta-analysis shows that PWV values in OSA patients is mainly driven by the standard classical risk factors: age, blood pressure and BMI. Apnea parameters per se, have little influence independently of the standard confounding factors. While treating OSA symptoms is important for patient quality of life, managing the whole cardiovascular risk implies combined therapies addressing the overall cardiovascular risk.


The mechanisms of drag reduction in a Mach 2 supersonic flow induced by repetitively deposited laser pulse energy are investigated through computational fluid dynamics based on Navier-Stokes equations for an axis-symmetric flow. The effectively deposited energy into the flow is determined by fitting a measured stagnation pressure history. With the repetition frequency lower than 20 kHz, the experimental flow-field, the residence time of baroclinically-generated vortex rings in the shock layer and drag reduction characteristics are well simulated by the axis-symmetric computation. At the lower frequency below 5 kHz, the low-density bubbles successively generated by energy depositions behave in an almost independent manner, so the drag reduction can be estimated by superimposing single pulses. At a middle frequency from 5 to 14 kHz, there is weak interaction among the successive vortex rings, but the behavior can be assumed to be almost independent. At even higher frequency, a quasi-stationary vortex ring is observed in the shock layer and grows according to frequency increases and the shape of the shock transit from the bow shock to the oblique one. The drag reduction is related to the number and the residence time of the vortex rings.


We review progress in a recent line of research that provides a concurrent computational interpretation of (intuitionistic) linear logic. Propositions are interpreted as session types, sequent proofs as processes in the pi-calculus, cut reductions as process reductions, and vice versa. The strong proof-theoretic foundation of this type system provides immediate opportunities for uniform generalization, specifically, to embed terms from a functional type theory. The resulting system satisfies the properties of type preservation, progress, and termination, as expected from a language derived via a Curry-Howard isomorphism. While very expressive, the language is strictly stratified so that dependent types for functional terms can be enforced during communication, but neither processes nor channels can appear in functional terms. We briefly speculate on how this limitation might be overcome to arrive at a fully dependent concurrent type theory.


In this paper, we discuss how the adoption of a particular theoretical framework affects task design in the research field of modelling and applications. With this purpose, we start by referring to the existence of different reference epistemological models about mathematical modelling to analyse better the consequences they have for decision making concerning designing modelling tasks and their implementation. In particular, we present the analysis of three case studies, which have been selected as representatives of different theoretical perspectives to modelling. We discuss the impact of the chosen reference epistemological model on the task design process of mathematical modelling and the local ecologies suited for their implementation.


Most studies in molecular electronics focus on altering the molecular wire backbone to tune the electrical properties of the whole junction. However, it is often overlooked that the chemical structure of the groups anchoring the molecule to the metallic electrodes influences the electronic structure of the whole system and, therefore, its conductance. We synthesised electron-accepting dithienophosphole oxide derivatives and fabricated their single-molecule junctions. We found that the anchor group has a dramatic effect on charge-transport efficiency: in our case, electron-deficient 4-pyridyl contacts suppress conductance, while electron-rich 4-thioanisole termini promote efficient transport. Our calculations show that this is due to minute changes in charge distribution, probed at the electrode interface. Our findings provide a framework for efficient molecular junction design, especially valuable for compounds with strong electron withdrawing/donating backbones.


Challenges to the conventional paradigm have isolated industrial agriculture from consumer segments exhibiting preferences for a growing array of credence attributes, including organic, locally produced, and raised using humane livestock and poultry practices. This review surveys the empirical evidence on the economic impact of the alternative to the conventional industrial agriculture paradigm that motivates these growing market segments. We define this alternative the Naturalist Paradigm. While more research is needed to completely assess the impacts of specific naturalist responses, current findings demonstrate that restrictions on industrial practices imposed by policy or consumer preferences sacrifice productivity, thereby imposing environmental costs and raising food prices. Such restrictions may also reduce choice sets of consumers, impeding consumer and producer welfare gains. The intended benefits of such practices for human, animal, or environmental well-being must be weighed against the costs they impose. Trade-offs imposed by such practices suggest that their contributions to obesity reduction in the developed world, alleviation of hunger and malnutrition among poor populations, and avoidance of environmental pollution and biodiversity loss are highly uncertain.


The effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin E on feed intake and serum lipid peroxidation formation were examined in 200 light breed cockerels infected with infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus. The birds were reared from day-old in deep litter, and were divided into 8 groups of 25 birds each by day 21. Half of each group was fed either basal (10 IU/kg) or high (supplemented) (210 IU/kg) level of vitamin E – containing chick mash. All the birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease. By day 35, half of each group was vaccinated against IBD using a local IBD vaccine, while the other half was untreated. At day 42, half of each group was challenged with a virulent field strain of IBD virus (experimental groups) while the other half was left unchallenged (control groups). Malondialdehyde level in the serum and feed intake were monitored in all the groups. Serum peroxidation level was significantly lower in birds receiving supplemental vitamin E throughout the experimental period irrespective of vaccination history, while significant differences existed in feed intake among groups only during and after infection periods. Vitamin E supplementation was very efficient in reducing systemic lipid peroxidation, whereas its combination with vaccination led to faster recovery as shown by significant increase in food intake during and after infection periods.


An as-cast nickel-aluminum bronze alloy was subjected to nickel ion implantation, modifying its surface structure. A nickel-rich layer was formed on the surface of the alloy and its corrosion resistance in salt spray environment was improved gradually with the increasing implantation fluence. The corrosion resistance enhancement after ion implantation is believed to stem from the more compact Cu2O film with the incorporation of nickel ions. Under the protection of this more compact film, selective phase corrosion was inhibited effectively.


A simple, specific, accurate, and precise reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the estimation of Rosuvastatin Calcium (RC) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. A Thermo hypersil reversed phase C18, 5 µm column having 100 x 4.6 mm i.d. in gradient mode, with mobile phase containing HPLC grade Acetonitrile : Potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (50 : 50 v / v, pH 3) was used. The flow rate was 0.5 ml / min and effluents were monitored at 243 nm. Chromatogram showed a main peak of RC at retention time was 3.333 ± 0.004 min. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, robustness and ruggedness. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for estimation of RC was found to be 0.14 µg / ml and 0.46 µg / ml, respectively. Recovery of RC was found to be in the range of 98.50-100.17 %. Proposed method was successfully applied for the quantitative determination of RC in pharmaceutical dosage forms.


Vitamin K is known as a critical nutrient required for bone homeostasis and blood coagulation, and it is clinically used as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis in Japan. Besides its enzymatic action as a cofactor of vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), we have previously shown that vitamin K(2) is a transcriptional regulator of bone marker genes and extracellular matrix-related genes, by activating the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR). To explore a novel action of vitamin K in osteoblastic cells, we identified genes up-regulated by a vitamin K(2) isoform menaquinone-4 (MK-4) using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Among these up-regulated genes by MK-4, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) were identified as novel MK-4 target genes independent of GGCX and SXR pathways in human and mouse osteoblastic cells. The induction of GDF15 and STC2 is likely specific to MK-4, as it was not exerted by another vitamin K(2) isoform MK-7, vitamin K(1), or the MK-4 side chain structure geranylgeraniol. Investigation of the involved signaling pathways revealed that MK-4 enhanced the phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA), and the MK-4-dependent induction of both GDF15 and STC2 genes was reduced by the treatment with a PKA inhibitor H89 or siRNA against PKA. These results suggest that vitamin K(2) modulates its target gene expression in osteoblastic cells through the PKA-dependent mechanism, which may be distinct from the previously known vitamin K signaling pathways.


Abstract : Thermal properties characterization of Bi nanowires is critical in order to validate the predicted enhancement of their thermoelectric figure-of-merit. In this paper we report the effective thermal diffusivity of Bi nanowires array embedded in alpha-Al2O3 (alumina) template. The composite material consists of 85% alumina and approximately 15% Bi nanowires with a diameter of 40 nm and an average length of 40 micrometers. Measurements are performed along the nanowire axis. A thermal wave is produced at the front side of the sample and it is monitored at the backside through a fast thermoelectric effect. A one-dimensional heat conduction model is used to extract the thermal diffusivity.


The unbridled use of pesticides in agriculture sector poses a serious environmental degradation problem besides, being intimately associated with public and workers health hazard. Although the use of pesticides help to considerably control diseases, hence reduce crop losses and result in better yield of the crops. Pesticides are particularly under use to improve production of crops like corn, vegetables, potatoes and cotton, although their unfavourable effects on environmental quality and human health have frequently been reported and well documented. Pesticides mismanagement starts at the local area but always exhibits local and global impacts.with universal dimensions. The study aimed at determining the extent of pesticide use and farmers' knowledge of the pesticides and their use on the field. One hundred farmers were interviewed concerning pesticides usage patterns from amongst farmers in vegetable production area in Lower Sindh, Pakistan. Information was obtained through structured Questionnaire coupled with personal interviews. The results revealed that 27 different pesticides were used by farmers and majority of pesticides were insecticides. All pesticides used were registered by Government of Pakistan. Toxicity class of majority pesticides belonged to Class-II, which WHO classifies as moderately hazardous and one highly hazardous pesticide with the class- Ib was also being used. Okra and tomato were more affected by the insect pests. Majority of farmers relied on nicotinoid and organophosphate groups of pesticides. A considerable number of farmers had received education at middle school level only. The source of farmers knowledge of pesticide use was the pesticides dealer who advised them when to spray the crops (s). Half of farmers had no safety protection gears/tools during pesticide application and vegetable harvesting. The survey has shown some overuse, misuse and abuse of pesticides. Farmers were not aware of pesticide hazards and they lacked appropriate knowledge on safe handling and use of pesticides, which can be attributed to inadequate agriculture extension services and state of art trainings to the farmers at their door steps along with lack of education. Since these pesticides were being traditionally used by the farmers in the near by fields and on the same fields with out their deleterious effect knowledge to the farmers, soil and environment combined together as most of the farmers were not educated but also ill equipped about the knowledge of the kind/type of pesticide being used/sprayed what to talk of its chemical nature leading to harmful effects. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2011.01.01.13


Estrogen (E(2)) exerts its effect on target organs principally by interacting with specific estrogen receptors (ER) such as ER-alpha or ER-beta. The role that these E(2) receptors play in mediating the protective effects observed in RSL+I/R induced injury remains to be defined. To study the role of ER-alpha, we anesthetized female and male wild type (wt; C57Bl/6) and ER-alpha-deficient (alphaERKO) mice and subjected them to 70% liver ischemia for 45 min followed by resection of the remaining 30% nonischemic lobes and reperfusion of the ischemic tissue. For some experiments, wt and alphaERKO male mice were injected with E(2). Survival was monitored on a daily basis while liver injury was assessed by quantifying serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histopathology. Hepatic eNOS mRNA levels were evaluated using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Our data showed that untreated females or males treated with E(2) survived RSL+I/R surgery indefinitely whereas all male mice given vehicle died within 3-5 days following surgery. This protective effect was diminished in alphaERKO female mice such that only 40% of alphaERKO females survived 7 d following RSL+I/R. Furthermore, liver injury was significantly higher in alphaERKO females compared with their wt counterparts and similar to those seen in wild type males and alphaERKO males. The protective effect observed in wild type females or E(2) treated males correlated well with increases in hepatic eNOS message whereas both male and female alphaERKO mice exhibited significantly lower levels of eNOS mRNA. We conclude that this protection may in part be due to the E(2)/ER-alpha-mediated activation of eNOS.


A specific method of the isolation of the cholera toxin gene by the directional amplification of DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed. The product of this reaction has a molecular weight of 440 sequence pairs and is a DNA fragment located on the A-subunit of V. cholerae gene vct. The sensitivity of the method permits the detection of one bacterial cell in the reaction mixture. The method is effective when V. cholerae purified DNA, cell lysates and the DNA of total microflora isolated from the water of natural springs are used. The study of water samples from natural water bodies by the method of PRC has revealed cholera toxin genes of V. cholerae noncultivated forms ni 5 out of 7 water samples taken from natural water bodies at the regions of Azerbaijan endemic for cholera and made it possible to evaluate the number of V. cholerae. The prospects of using PCR for the control of the epidemiological situation in regions endemic for cholera are discussed.


Detector applications are discussed for three fundamental areas of Biology and Medicine: Radiobiology, Photobiology and Nuclear Medicine. The detectors discussed include photomultiplier tubes, image intensifier tubes, scintillators, semiconductors and spark chambers. Examples of biomedical work in progress are given which have been made possible by the development of adequate detectors. The biological and medical significance of the work is discussed and some needed detector advances are pointed out.


Federated Learning (FL) is a fast-developing distributed machine learning technique involving the participation of a massive number of user devices. While FL has benefits of data privacy and the abundance of user-generated data, its challenges of heterogeneity across users' data and devices complicate algorithm design and convergence analysis. To tackle these challenges, we propose an algorithm that exploits proximal stochastic variance reduced gradient methods for non-convex FL. The proposed algorithm consists of two nested loops, which allow user devices to update their local models approximately up to an accuracy threshold (inner loop) before sending these local models to the server for global model update (outer loop). We characterize the convergence conditions for both local and global model updates and extract various insights from these conditions via the algorithm's parameter control. We also propose how to optimize these parameters such that the training time of FL is minimized. Experimental results not only validate the theoretical convergence but also show that the proposed algorithm outperforms existing Stochastic Gradient Descent-based methods in terms of convergence speed in FL setting.


The paper presents an algebraic approach for finding vulnerabilities in a program system that is given as the sequence of processor instructions. The main result of the paper is the transformation of code to algebraic specifications and providing its symbolic modeling for the detection of vulnerability cases that are presented as formulas in logic language. The method anticipates the usage of solving and proving systems integrated with the Algebraic Programming System developed by the authors. A given example illustrates the method.


Yami, an endangered Austronesian language spoken on Orchid Island in Taiwan has been under heavy influence from Mandarin for several decades. In the current linguistic ecology, the pressure of Mandarin on Yami is increasing and its influence has been reported in Yami intonation. This study, on the flip side, examines whether Yami influence has also diffused through the Mandarin spoken on Orchid Island. Taiwan Mandarin speakers make a three-way distinction in sentence intonation: (1) falling statements, (2) level neutral questions and statement questions conveying lighter incredulity, and (3) high-rising default statement questions. Orchid Islanders showed deviation in their default statement question intonation by using a high-level intonation. Interestingly, we observed two hybridization patterns in Yami-Mandarin bilingual intonation: one that fuses Yami phono-syntax with Mandarin intonation in Orchid Island Mandarin, and one that incorporates Mandarin phono-syntax with Yami intonation in young islanders' Yami speech. This provides crucial evidence showing that in addition to the overwhelming phenomenon of transfer/borrowing, speakers may combine discrete (sub)strates from different sources. If the innovative, hybrid pattern continues, present-day Yami intonation may evolve over time into a newly-styled system.


Abstract Little is known about the risk profile of the offenders managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), yet this information is central to ensuring appropriate resources to manage the risks posed. The aim of this paper is to explore typologies of risk among this offender group in order to identify the resources needed to strengthen the risk management strategies employed by MAPPA. Cases registered under the MAPPA as requiring the highest level of risk management (n = 230) were reviewed and the risks posed were identified. Using latent class analysis, this information was analysed to explore typologies within this high-risk cohort. Three distinct groups emerged, with a relatively small number of risk factors distinguishing one cluster of offenders from another. These relate to mental health disorders, psychological disorders, self harm and/or substance abuse, and the risk of sexual offending and/or the type of violence committed. The findings highlight the importance of consistent representation from mental health and psychology services at MAPPA meetings to ensure the appropriate assessment and management of this offender group.


The Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising technology which tends to revolutionize and connect the global world via heterogeneous smart devices through seamless connectivity. The current demand for machine-type communications (MTC) has resulted in a variety of communication technologies with diverse service requirements to achieve the modern IoT vision. More recent cellular standards like long-term evolution (LTE) have been introduced for mobile devices but are not well suited for low-power and low data rate devices such as the IoT devices. To address this, there is a number of emerging IoT standards. Fifth generation (5G) mobile network, in particular, aims to address the limitations of previous cellular standards and be a potential key enabler for future IoT. In this paper, the state-of-the-art of the IoT application requirements along with their associated communication technologies are surveyed. In addition, the third generation partnership project cellular-based low-power wide area solutions to support and enable the new service requirements for Massive to Critical IoT use cases are discussed in detail, including extended coverage global system for mobile communications for the Internet of Things, enhanced machine-type communications, and narrowband-Internet of Things. Furthermore, 5G new radio enhancements for new service requirements and enabling technologies for the IoT are introduced. This paper presents a comprehensive review related to emerging and enabling technologies with main focus on 5G mobile networks that is envisaged to support the exponential traffic growth for enabling the IoT. The challenges and open research directions pertinent to the deployment of massive to critical IoT applications are also presented in coming up with an efficient context-aware congestion control mechanism.


When beds constituted of sediment particles are submitted to shearing ows, the particles at the surface of the stream-bed are able to move as soon as hydrodynamic forces acting on them exceed a fraction of their apparent weight. Bed-load refers to the sediment in transport that is carried by intermittent contact with the stream-bed by rolling, sliding, and bouncing.This situation occurs in a wide variety of natural phenomena, such as sed- iment transport in rivers, and in industrial processes, such as problems due to hydrate formation in pipeline that are encountered in oil production and granular transport in food or pharmaceutical industries (Ouriemi, 2007). We propose to use a two-phase model having a Newtonian rheology for the uid phase and Coulomb friction for the particulate phase. The model equations have been solved numerically in one-dimension and analytically in asymptotic cases. The model results have been compared with experimental data for a bed composed of spherical particles in laminar pipe ows (Ouriemi et al., 2008a). This continuum approach is able to provide an onset of motion for the particle phase and a description of the ow of the mobile granular layer. At some distance from threshold, we obtain the simpler analytical result of the particle ux varying cubically with the Shields number. This algebraic formulation seems quite satisfactory for describing experimental observations of bed-load transport in pipe ows. Based on this particle ux a simple linear stability analysis has been performed to predict the threshold for dune formation. This basic analysis accounts reasonably well for the experimental observations for the small dune formation (Ouriemi et al., 2008b). We are working on the implementation of the two-phase equations in a three dimensional numerical model to study the bed instability. This model will be used for better understanding of the coupling between the granular media and the uid in terms of the bed instability.


ABSTRACT This article examines attempts to naturalise the alpaca in the British Empire. In the nineteenth century Britain made concerted efforts to appropriate useful plants and animals and acclimatise them within its own colonies. The alpaca was a prime target for acclimatisers on account of its silken wool, which was manufactured into a range of luxury textiles. Its export was, however, banned by law in Peru and Bolivia, so the animals had to be smuggled out of the Andean states and shipped illegally to Britain and Australia. The article studies the circuits of exchange that facilitated the transfer of alpacas from one continent to another and considers how British subjects in places as diverse as Bradford, Liverpool, Sydney and Arequipa promoted and benefited from the naturalisation scheme. It situates alpaca acclimatisation within a wider discourse of agricultural 'improvement', bio-piracy and imperial adventure.


We establish decidability for the infinitely many axiomatic extensions of the commutative Full Lambek logic with weakening FLew (i.e. IMALLW) that have a cut-free hypersequent proof calculus. Specifically: every analytic structural rule extension of HFLew. Decidability for the corresponding extensions of its contraction counterpart FLec was established recently but their computational complexity was left unanswered. In the second part of this paper, we introduce just enough on length functions for well-quasi-orderings and the fast-growing complexity classes to obtain complexity upper bounds for both the weakening and contraction extensions. A specific instance of this result yields the first complexity bound for the prominent fuzzy logic MTL (monoidal t-norm based logic) providing an answer to a longstanding open problem.


We explore the process of transmitting real-time Internet video frames over TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and discover that the delay of waiting in TCP sender-buffer is the critical factor that causes large end-to-end delay. We propose a multi-buffer scheduling model for decreasing the end-to-end delay by scheduling video frames among application-layer sender-buffer, TCP sender-buffer, TCP receiver-buffer and receiver playout-buffer. Based on the proposed model, we present a new rate adaptive scheme to dynamically deliver variant bit rate video frames according to available network bandwidth by adjusting frame rate as well as assuring video frames to be played at normal time. Our scheme does not require any modifications to the network infrastructure or TCP protocol stack and only needs an application-layer buffer of sender. The performance of the proposed solution is evaluated through extensive simulations using the NS-2 simulator.


We give a uniform, Lie-theoretic mirror symmetry construction for the Frobenius manifolds defined by Dubrovin-Zhang in arXiv:hep-th/9611200 on the orbit spaces of extended affine Weyl groups, including exceptional Dynkin types. The B-model mirror is given by a one-dimensional Landau-Ginzburg superpotential constructed from a suitable degeneration of the family of spectral curves of the affine relativistic Toda chain for the corresponding affine Poisson--Lie group. As applications of our mirror theorem we give closed-form expressions for the flat coordinates of the Saito metric and the Frobenius prepotentials in all Dynkin types, compute the topological degree of the Lyashko-Looijenga mapping for certain higher genus Hurwitz space strata, and construct hydrodynamic bihamiltonian hierarchies (in both Lax-Sato and Hamiltonian form) that are root-theoretic generalisations of the long-wave limit of the extended Toda hierarchy.


Substance P (SP) regulates interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production through interaction with the SP receptor NK1 (SPr) on T cells at sites of inflammation. Using murine schistosomiasis, we evaluated whether SPr expression was subject to immunoregulation. Splenocytes from schistosome-infected mice cultured for < or =18 h did not express SPr, as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. However, exposure to schistosome egg antigen (SEA) for < or =4 h induced strong receptor expression. Experiments using splenocytes fractionated with antibody-coupled, paramagnetic beads showed that induction localized exclusively to T cells. Receptor protein expression was confirmed with Western blot. Interleukin 12 (IL-12) also induced strong T-cell SPr expression. Both SEA and IL-12 remained strong inducers of T-cell SPr in lymphocytes from the IL-12 (p40) and IFN-gamma R double-knockout mouse, which suggested that SEA did not require IL-12 to induce SPr and that both worked independently of IFN-gamma. Splenocytes from wild-type mice cultured with SEA and neutralizing anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) also showed SPr induction. However, anti-Ia mAb inhibited SEA induction of SPR: Thus, SPr is inducible on T cells. SEA induces SPr through interaction with T-cell receptor (TCR), independently of IL-12 and IFN-gamma. IL-12 induces SPr independently of TCR activation and IFN-gamma expression. SP and its receptor, which regulate IFN-gamma production, are probably part of the IL-12-Th1 circuit.


Although there is a voluminous psychological literature on performance evaluation (PE), surprisingly little of this research examines the consequences of linking pay to evaluated performance in work settings. Rather, PE research has been dominated by cognitive processing, measurement, and construct validity issues. At the same time, a large literature on pay-for-performance (PFP) linkages does exist, but most of it has been conducted in disciplines other than psychology. We think this pattern should change. To this end, we briefly trace the origins of the general separation of PE research from PFP research in psychology. From there, we review recent research on the relationship between PE and performance improvement, particularly with respect to multisource or 360-degree evaluation. We then turn to research on various PFP systems, such as merit pay and individual and group incentives. We conclude with suggestions as to how psychological research can make useful contributions to knowledge of PE, PFP, and performance improvement.


Inspired by Manjul Bhargava's theory of generalized factorials, Fedor Petrov and the author have defined the "Bhargava greedoid" -- a greedoid (a matroid-like set system on a finite set) assigned to any "ultra triple" (a somewhat extended variant of a finite ultrametric space). Here we show that the Bhargava greedoid of a finite ultra triple is always a "Gaussian elimination greedoid" over any sufficiently large (e.g., infinite) field; this is a greedoid analogue of a representable matroid. We find necessary and sufficient conditions on the size of the field to ensure this.


abstract The phase and amplitude spectra of the S waves radiated from five different bilateral, tensile fractures in two-dimensional models are discussed. Two S waves, radiated in approximately opposite directions, were recorded for each fracture. The amplitude spectra display the regular sequence of holes first explained by Ben-Menahem. The phase spectra display a phase jump of π radians associated with each hole in the corresponding amplitude spectrum. The phase of the source-time function was extracted from the phase spectra; it is consistent with a representation of the source-time function by a ramp function of 14 μsec duration. An explanation of the observed spectra is given in terms of interference between the initial and stopping phases of the radiated signal. From this viewpoint Ben-Menahem9s directivity method is seen as a procedure for detecting the stopping phase in dispersed wave trains. Finally, it is suggested that the analyses by Ben-Menahem and Toksoz of the phase spectra of the Kamchatka 1952 and Alaska 1958 earthquakes have not properly taken account of the phase jumps in the spectra.


The 21st century has seen an enormous and almost sudden expansion in the use and types of technology. However, the cyber-age has also brought along with it new ways to wage attacks which has been a daunting task to thwart. This paper analyzes the number of high-impact security threats, vulnerabilities and alerts that have been reported by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) over the past five years. This paper also closely examines the companies with the highest numbers of reports.


An important component of psychoneuroimmunology research is to reveal the myriad ways that behaviors and health are interrelated, with a focus on the immunological mechanisms that underlie these interactions. Research in human psychoneuroimmunology has shown that immunoregulatory processes are an integral part of a complex network of adaptive responses. As such, this review provides a perspective from our laboratory over the last 20 years to define the inter-relationships between behavior and immunity; to identify the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) and autonomic mechanisms that link the central nervous system and immune responses; to examine the clinical implications of immune alterations during depression or life stress on inflammatory and infectious disease risk; and to explore the reciprocal role of immune mediators on behavior in humans. 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.


This paper considers the thermal problems associated with the design of high component-density encapsulated circuits, constructed with small solid-state components. The thermal resistance to the dissipation of component-generated heat is shown to consist of that of the encapsulating medium, plus that of the external circuit cooling process. Because the external cooling becomes more difficult as the size of an encapsulated circuit is reduced, a method of constructing such circuits is proposed which minimizes the thermal resistance due to the encapsulating medium. This construction makes a large fraction of the allowable component temperature rise available for use in the external heat dissipation process by providing high thermal conductance paths for the transfer of heat from the surfaces of the components to one surface of the circuit structure. Analytical models are developed for the most important heat transfer processes in the proposed circuit structure. The equations based on these models are arranged in a form suitable for design use, and example designs are presented.


Objective: This study was done on 40 male wistar rats to evaluate the curative and protective effect of grape seeds extract on oxidative damage, inflammatory and apoptotic insult on lung tissue induced by cadmium chloride toxicity.
Materials and Methods: The rats were classified to control group (group I), cadmium chloride group (group II), grape seeds extract group (group III) and mixture of grape seeds extract and cadmium chloride group (group IV). At the end of the experimental period, the lungs were collected and fixed in formalin saline (10%) for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Serum samples and frozen lungs were used for biochemical analyses.
Results: The rats groups treated with grape seed showed a significant attenuated oxidative stress by reducing lung tissue malondialdehyde and improving glutathione peroxidase content as well as antioxidant enzymes activities in lung tissues and serum total antioxidant capacity in comparison to group II. The lung tissue of the group II is characterized by thick interalveolar septum, congested and edematous blood vessels. Diffuse and circumscribed lymphocytic infiltration especially around the bronchioles with hyperplasia in the lining cells. Most of the lung tissue showed normal structure as that of the control group except some blood vessels showed congestion in group IV. The immunohistochemical results were negative immunostaining for bcl-2, positive for bax and ki67 in the cadmium treated group, while showed positive immunostaining for bcl-2 in group IV.
Conclusion: The addition of grape seeds extract improves the hazard toxic effect of cadmium chloride in the lung tissue through its powerful free radical scavenging property, strong antioxidant activity and effective anti-apoptotic potential.


fourteenth—fifteenth centuries A.D. Horizon III was represented by two burials only, distinguished by a new burial rite including interment in a plank-built coffin and fewer grave goods. To the reviewer this suggests Christian and Spanish influence, but the excavator does not raise the issue. This report is clearly aimed at two audiences, professional archaeologists with an interest in South-East Asia, and the educated members of a young nation which, in the author's words, is ' eagerly demanding wellreasoned and scientifically sound information of its ancient history' at a time when its archaeological sites are threatened by total destruction as a result of the booming antique market. The author must be congratulated on the masterly way he has satisfied these two requirements within such a short report. Abundant and accurate detail is provided for the professional, while the archaeological data and historical and traditional sources are briefly synthesized to provide a clear picture of pre-colonial Cebuano life. Furthermore, the book is well written, with clear illustrations and exceptional photographs considering its economical offset production.


Stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy is a promising fluorescence microscopy to detect unresolvable structures at the nanoscale level and then achieve a superior imaging resolution in materials science and biological research. However, in addition to the optimization of the microscope, luminescent materials in STED nanoscopy are also of great significance to obtain imaging, visualization and even long-term tracking at an ultra-high resolution (less than 100 nm), but this is seldom summarized. Based on this consideration, recent progress on STED fluorophores for super-resolution imaging is outlined here, including inorganic fluorophores, fluorescent proteins, organic luminescent materials, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens, and fluorescent nanoparticles. Characteristics of these aforementioned STED fluorophores are also included and compared to provide a deep understanding of the relationship between the properties in luminescent materials and their performance in STED imaging. According to the results on such luminescent materials, it is anticipated that guidelines to select proper probes and even develop new materials for super-resolution imaging via STED nanoscopy will be provided here, finally promoting the development of super-resolution imaging in both materials science and biological research.


Nowadays, employees are seen as active Human Capital Management (HCM) consumers. Megatrends such as individualization and flexible work impact the workforce, especially generations Y and Z. Finding and retaining talent is a challenge that companies try to address, from employer branding to covering the whole lifespan of the company-employee relationship. Management is likely to know every employee in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); however, larger companies need to categorize their human capital into certain entities. This paper explores the usability of the Persona concept for HCM. Persona is a service design approach widely applied in marketing, and a few research papers have argued that personas may have a role in improved people-oriented HCM. In short, personas aim to create a limited set of archetypes that differ from each other regarding demo- and psychographics. Generally, they are a mix of real-life people and some imaginary attributes. Different personas will likely request different services to feel fully motivated and supported. The core target of this article was to identify the common awareness of personas among HCM experts across industries and countries. Also, the ideation of future use of Personas was studied with marketing experts actively using personas in their professions. The qualitative study based on twelve semi-structured individual interviews was conducted in November-December 2022. The results indicate that the HCM community is well aware of the persona concept, which is widely used. However, the current usage of personas is mainly focused on employer branding and recruitment, and only in a few cases the usage covered the design of internal HCM processes. The study also revealed some limitations for HCM that are not present in the marketing field. Demands for transparency, equality, data privacy, and personal integrity set challenges in clustering the workforce. The results indicate the further need for research on best practices of creating and using Personas in a way that ethically serves the interests of both the company and the employee.


ABSTRACT Introduction: Primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL) are highly aggressive tumors and optimal treatment is not yet defined. For the last two decades, clinical trials have focused on developing efficient chemotherapy protocols with or without dose-reduced radiation to avoid late cognitive decline after whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Areas covered: This review addresses the question if these substantial developments have led to clinically relevant therapeutic improvement for PCNSL within the last decade. Expert opinion: The high risk of neurotoxic side effects of WBRT was further substantiated, and in most centers WBRT is omitted from first-line treatment in patients eligible for high-dose systemic methotrexate (HDMTX)-based chemotherapy. Intensified polychemotherapy regimens, particularly high-dose chemotherapy regimens with autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT), were investigated within prospective multicenter randomized trials and have achieved long-term disease control in a fraction of patients, but no significant progress was made for elderly patients, who are not able to tolerate intensified chemotherapy. Results on the efficacy of rituximab in PCNSL are conflicting; it did not show clinical benefit in a recent large prospective multicenter randomized trial. New substances such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors and targeted molecules are subject to investigation, but have not yet been implemented in clinical routine.


Spatial Modulation is a newly developed concept for multi-antenna systems, which could greatly reduce the signal processing complexity and hardware implementation burden faced by these systems today. However, there are few works on the analysis of grouped Spatial Modulation, which has relatively large bit error rate(BER). In this paper, we propose a novel approach that the BER is approximatively calculated by channel matrix simplification and study the influence of the number of groups(K) at the sending end and the number of users(M) at the receiving end on the BER in the downlink of Rayleigh channels. When the number of groups(K) is increases while the number of users(M) is constant, the error performance is improved obviously. Finally, Monte Carlo Simulations is provided to verify the analytical results.


The phenomenal explosion of the information and
communication technology (ICT) has brought great
changes to our daily lives. And with the advent of
numerous kinds of Internet communications such as
electronic mails (e-mails), chat groups, online fora,
web logs (blogs), social media platforms and many
others, Internet users are able to easily publish and
disseminate any kind of information to the public at
large. Unfortunately, the ease of use of these online
media has on several occasions been misused by
unscrupulous individuals for publishing defamatory
remarks in the cyber world. At present, reported
cases of cyber defamation have been on the rise in
Malaysia. In relation thereof, the paper embarks on
a doctrinal study to examine the efficacy of the
existing regulatory regime that governs such a
crime. In so doing, the study will analyse the
provisions of the Malaysian Defamation Act 1957
(the primary source of law for defamation) and
relevant reported cases that have been decided by
the Malaysian judiciary. Apart from that, a
comparative analysis with the position in the United
Kingdom after the enactment of the English
Defamation Act 2013 will be made since the
Malaysian statute was drafted far back in the 1950s
and since then no significant amendment was made
to reflect the advancement of the Information Age.
Finally, this paper will attempt to highlight any
loopholes or lacunae in the existing laws and
possible suggestions and recommendation as part of
its conclusion.


As the traditional toys of the past are quickly being replaced with electronically "enhanced" toys, it is important to understand how these changes impact parent–child interactions, especially in light of the evidence that the richness and variety of these interactions have long-term effects on diverse areas of cognition (Hart & Risley, 1995). Here, we compared the quantity and quality of the language children hear during play with either a traditional (nonelectronic) or an electronic shape sorter designed to teach children about geometric shapes. Spatial toys and spatial language, in particular, were explored since recent work has established that parents' use of spatial language links to children's short- and long-term performance on spatial tasks (Pruden, Levine, & Huttenlocher, 2011), and that spatial skills are relevant to success in learning mathematics and science (Newcombe, 2010). Traditional toys prompted more parental spatial language and more varied overall language than did electronic toys.


The effects of immigration on the host country are pervasive and long-term. It is not surprising that they have been extensively analysed, not least the economic effects which have been the subject of both theoretical and empirical research. While some of the empirical research has had a regional dimension, this has often been incidental to the analysis of the labour market – the effects of immigration on wages and employment prospects of the native-born depend on the regional migration response. In contrast, there has been little analysis of the general effects of immigration on regional economies per se. This paper contributes to the filling of this gap by constructing a small two-region computable general-equilibrium (CGE) model which is used to analyse the effects of various immigration shocks on regional variables such as output, employment, the labour force, unemployment, wages and welfare. We simulate the effects of different types of immigration shocks and distinguish between short-run and long-run effects. We also consider the effectiveness of government intervention designed to alleviate the adverse regional effects of immigration including the possibility that regional governments behave in a welfare-maximising way.


Esophagobronchial fistula (EBF) formation is a severe complication of advanced thoracic malignancies, that affects the prognosis and quality of life of patients. This study reports the case of an 80‐year‐old man with advanced esophageal cancer, complicated by EBF formation in the left main bronchus proximal to the carina following chemoradiation therapy. A fully covered stent was placed in the left main bronchus but was dislocated on the oral side. The attempt to place a partially covered self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) also failed due to stent dislocation on the oral side. To avoid stent dislocation, a partially covered SEMS with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 16 mm was placed to cover the EBF in the left main bronchus. Then, a silicone Y stent (16 × 13 × 13 mm in outer diameter) was inserted to support the SEMS from the inside. After placing the SEMS and Y stent, the position of the SEMS was stabilized. The patient remained stable with adequate oral intake.


For any integer, the famous Smarandache function is defined as the smallest positive integer such that. That is, where denotes the set of all positive integers. The main purpose of this paper is using the elementary method to study the lower bound of the Smarandache function, and get that if, then, where is the integral part of logn/loglogn.


Classic reading has high educational value, but the integration of classic reading and Ideological and Political Education is low due to the cultivation of different majors in Colleges and universities. Ideology-oriented Course is a kind of collaborative concept of curriculum. The integration of classical reading and Ideological and Political Education in the goal setting, curriculum implementation and curriculum evaluation of classical reading education can improve the educational value and efficiency of classical reading.


We prove that a family of groups R(n) forms the algebraic structure of an operad and that they admit a presentation similar to that of the Braid groups of type A.  This result provides a new proof that the Braid Groups form an operad, a topic emphasized in ~\cite{16}~\cite{ulrike}. These groups proved to be useful in several problems which belong to different areas of Mathematics. Representations of R(n) came from a system of mixed Yang-Baxter type equations. We define the Hopf equation in braided monoidal categories and we prove that representations for our groups came from any braided Hopf algebra with invertible antipode. Using this result, we prove that there is a morphism from R(n) to the mapping class group $\Gamma_{n,1}$, using some results from 3-dimensional topology.


VIRTIS-M observations of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko acquired from 2014 August to 2015 May have been analysed to investigate surface temporal variability at both seasonal and diurnal scales. The measured reflectance spectra are studied by means of comet spectral indicators (CSI) such as slopes in the visible and infrared ranges, and 3.2 μm band area and band centre. CSI maps derived from data acquired at different heliocentric distances (from 3.62 to 1.72 au) along the inbound leg of the comet's orbit are used to infer surface water ice abundance. We measure a global scale enrichment of water ice from 2014 August to 2015 May across the body of the comet, along with variability at small spatial scale, possibly related with the local insolation conditions. Analysis of water ice diurnal variability is performed on 2014 August observations. Water ice appears at the border of receding shadows in the neck of the comet (Hapi), sublimating in less than 1 h, after exposure to sunlight. As similar variability is not observed in other regions of the comet, we interpreted this as the expression of a diurnal cycle of sublimation and re-condensation of water ice, triggered by sudden shadowing produced on the neck by the body and the head of the nucleus.


A 91-year-old female sustained injuries to her left forearm while walking across a crosswalk. X-rays showed left radial shaft and ulna shaft fractures, and the injury was a type IIIB open fracture. On the day of admission, irrigation and debridement of the open wound, and temporary fixation of the radius and ulna using an external fixator and a Kirschner wire were peformed. Six days after the surgery, we used negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using the V.A.C.ATS system for the open wound. Thirteen days after the first surgery, definitive fixation was performed by using locking compression plates, and full thickness skin grafting was undertaken for the open wound. NPWT is a treatment that accelerates the wound healing process through the delivery of continuous subatmospheric pressure within a closed environment. In our case, we could reduce the healing period of the soft tissue and could convert to the definitive fixation in a timely fashion. NPWT is thought to be a useful adjunct in the management of the soft tissues of open fractures.


We present a theoretical study of multiple bistability in an optical-fiber double-ring resonator. The multiple bistability is caused by the optical Kerr effect, which modulates the refractive index of the fiber. The dependence of the multiple bistability on various parameters of the fibers and the couplers is investigated. >


Togo is a good example of the way in which developing countries are facing the questions of the integration of population data in their planning process. In 1964, when Togolese planners promoted studies to prepare the formulation of prospects for the next 20 years as part of the program "Horizon 85," 90% of the children in a population expected to number 3,000,000 attended school, full employment was realized along with a 3-fold increase in the standard of living. Not mentioned was the structure and dynamics of population. It is true that, at this time, there was almost no reliable demographic data to be used. In 1966-70, the 1st 5 year plan, addressing this lack of data, programmed several statistical and demographic tracking operations, principally the 1970 General Census, and the 1971 demographic survey. The 2nd (1971-75) and 3rd (1976-1980) plans, while insisting on the importance of "Man" as the main preoccupation of the planners, and noticing the population increase at a rate of 2.7% a year, as well as the problem of internal migration, did not give to these demographic questions an effective answer. Nevertheless, these years saw the creation of educational structures, including the University of Benin, the "Ecoles Normales." The quick replacement of the ambitious 4th plan (1981-1985) by 1 year plans, introduced more adaptability in the planning process. Togolese planners, like those of other developing countries, confronting the lack of data and means, kept the integration of population data at the level of intentions. Lately, planners are programing studies integrating demographic data at a quantitative and structural level: meanwhile several demographic surveys are in progress in the country. This, hopefully, means that population is going to take the place it deserves in the planning system.


Recently, user tagging systems have grown in popularity on the web. The tagging process is quite simple for ordinary users, which contributes to its popularity. However, free vocabulary has lack of standardization and semantic ambiguity. It is possible to capture the semantics from user tagging and represent those in a form of ontology, but the application of the learned ontology for recommendation making has not been that flourishing. In this paper we discuss our approach to learn domain ontology from user tagging information and apply the extracted tag ontology in a pilot tag recommendation experiment. The initial result shows that by using the tag ontology to re-rank the recommended tags, the accuracy of the tag recommendation can be improved.


The medical management of women at an increased risk of breast cancer has substantially changed over the past few years, with improvements in screening, cancer prevention, and treatment, and is best defined for women with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Screening techniques, such as breast magnetic resonance imaging, enable early detection of cancers in high-risk women. Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy has been demonstrated to decrease the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as mortality in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Most recently, there have been considerable strides in the treatment of cancers in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 mutations treated with systemic therapy do not appear to have excess toxicity, and have similar relapse-free and overall survival compared to noncarriers. Preclinical and early clinical research suggests that specific classes of chemotherapy may be more effective in mutation carriers. PARP inhibitors represent a novel therapeutic strategy that exploits the weaknesses of BRCA1/2-associated malignancies.


To adequately analyze flows in pipe or duct network system, traditional node-based junction coupling methods require the junction loss which is specified by empirical or analytic correlations. In this paper, a new finite volume (unction coupling method using a ghost junction cell is developed by considering the interchange of linear momentum as well as the important wall-effect at junction without requiring any correlation on the junction loss. Also, boundary treatment is modified to preserve the stagnation enthalpy across boundaries, such as pipe-end and the interface between junction and branch. Also, the computational accuracy and efficiency of the Godunov-type finite volume schemes are investigated by tracing the total mechanical energy of rapid transients due to sudden closure of valve at downstream end.


The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of simethicone against bloat in ruminants. The investigation was conducted in Potiya Upazila under the Chittagong district where routine veterinary services were in operation by the Community-based Dairy Veterinary Foundation (CDVF), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The diagnosis of bloat in animals was done based on clinical history, clinical signs and examination of animals. A total of 90 ruminants (60 cattle, 10 sheep and 20 goats) affected with bloat were treated with simethicone containing two commercial products marketed in Bangladesh (One product such as Bloat Stop®, marketed by ACME Laboratories, Bangladesh and another imported product by other pharmaceutical company). For treatment, 1 gm simethicone in 100 ml solution in cattle and 200 mg simethicone in 20 ml solution in sheep and goats were administered once at a time. The efficacy of simethicone from two commercial products was evaluated on the basis of recovery rate of affected animals. The overall recovery rates in ruminants after treatment with Bloat Stop® and other commercial product were 80% and 76%, respectively. In cattle recovery rate was numerically higher (83%) when treated with commercial product than that of other product (80%). In sheep, recovery rate was numerically higher (80%) when treated with Bloat Stop® than that of imported product (60%). In goats, the recovery rate was 70% after treatment of bloat with both products. However, the recovery rates in ruminant did not differ statistically between two drugs used for treatment of bloat (p>0.05). In conclusion simethicome is an effective drug for clinical treatment of bloat in ruminants.


This study seeks to test for the presence of asymmetric effect in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researcher obtains the average market return, the equilibrium market returns generated by the risk factors of the APT, and then subjects them to asymmetric tests using the TAR-GARCH technique. Findings from the study reveal that equilibrium market return generated by pre-specified APT does not significantly respond to information asymmetry. This implies that is volatility does not really change with information. However, the equilibrium market return generated by statistical APT exhibits the presence of information asymmetry whereby the volatility of stock returns significantly responds to information. This reveals the presence of leverage effect in the Nigerian stock market whereby stock returns volatility increases with bad news but the volatility reduces with good or positive news. The researcher recommends that government agents in respect of this market should provide more adequate means of information diffusion into the market at zero cost to all participants.


In this commentary Glenny examines the Greek text of Hosea found in Vaticanus as an artifact in its own right to determine how it would have been understood by early Greek readers who were unfamiliar with the Hebrew.


When trying to maximize the adoption of a behavior in a population connected by a social network, it is common to strategize about where in the network to seed the behavior, often with an element of randomness. Selecting seeds uniformly at random is a basic but compelling strategy in that it distributes seeds broadly throughout the network. A more sophisticated stochastic strategy, one-hop targeting, is to select random network neighbors of random individuals; this exploits a version of the friendship paradox, whereby the friend of a random individual is expected to have more friends than a random individual, with the hope that seeding a behavior at more connected individuals leads to more adoption. Many seeding strategies have been proposed, but empirical evaluations have demanded large field experiments designed specifically for this purpose and have yielded relatively imprecise comparisons of strategies. Here we show how stochastic seeding strategies can be evaluated more efficiently in such experiments, how they can be evaluated "off-policy" using existing data arising from experiments designed for other purposes, and how to design more efficient experiments. In particular, we consider contrasts between stochastic seeding strategies and analyze nonparametric estimators adapted from policy evaluation and importance sampling. We use simulations on real networks to show that the proposed estimators and designs can substantially increase precision while yielding valid inference. We then apply our proposed estimators to two field experiments, one that assigned households to an intensive marketing intervention and one that assigned students to an antibullying intervention. This paper was accepted by Gui Liberali, Special Issue on Data-Driven Prescriptive Analytics.