Campylobacter coli and C. jejuni, the causing agents of campylobacteriosis, are described to be undergoing introgression events, i.e., the transference of genetic material between different species, with some isolates sharing almost a quarter of its genome. The participation of phages in introgression events and consequent impact on host ecology and evolution remain elusive. Three distinct prophages, named C. jejuni integrated elements 1, 2, and 4 (CJIE1, CJIE2, and CJIE4), are described in C. jejuni. Here, we identified two unreported prophages, Campylobacter coli integrated elements 1 and 2 (CCIE1 and CCIE2 prophages), which are C. coli homologues of CJIE1 and CJIE2, respectively. No induction was achieved for both prophages. Conversely, induction assays on CJIE1 and CJIE2 point towards the inducibility of these prophages. CCIE2-, CJIE1-, and CJIE4-like prophages were identified in a Campylobacter spp. population of 840 genomes, and phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering in three major groups: CJIE1-CCIE1, CJIE2-CCIE2, and CJIE4, clearly segregating prophages from C. jejuni and C. coli, but not from human- and nonhuman-derived isolates, corroborating the flowing between animals and humans in the agricultural context. Punctual bacteriophage host-jumps were observed in the context of C. jejuni and C. coli, and although random chance cannot be fully discarded, these observations seem to implicate prophages in evolutionary introgression events that are modulating the hybridization of C. jejuni and C. coli species.


ABSTRACT Aim: To compare the effects of blood glucose lowering regimens in groups of patients categorized by baseline age and diagnosed age. Methods: Placebo-controlled randomized trials in type 2 diabetes patients with a study length ≥12 weeks were included. Results: A total of 246 trials were included. HbA1c changes from baseline corrected by placebo were comparable in sulfonylurea treatment between older and younger patients' groups (weighted mean difference (WMD), –1.28% vs –0.92%, p > 0.05). Treatment with metformin between groups resulted in a comparable change in HbA1c levels (WMD, –0.97% vs –1.23%, p > 0.05). Treatment with α–glucosidase inhibitor (WMD, –0.68% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05), treatment with thiazolidinedione (WMD, –0.74% vs –1.01%, p > 0.05), treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors (WMD, –0.67% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05), and treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors (WMD, –0.54% vs –0.67%, p > 0.05) between groups also resulted in comparable HbA1c changes. Treatment with GLP-1 analogs between groups in HbA1c changes were also comparable (p > 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that the baseline age or diagnosed age was not associated with the HbA1c changes from baseline. Conclusion: In each hypoglycemic treatment, the baseline age or diagnosed age was not associated with the HbA1c changes from baseline.


Outdoor smog chamber photooxidations to determine the molecular composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, m-ethyltoluene, p-ethyltoluene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene in sunlight-irradiated hydrocarbon-NOx mixtures are reported. Gas-phase mechanisms leading to the observed products are proposed. Unsaturated anhydrides (2,5furandione, 3-methyl-2,5-furandione, 3-ethyl-2,5-furandione) are predominant components of aerosol from all the aromatics, an observation that is consistent with gas-phase aromatic mechanisms involving ring fragmentation. Saturated anhydrides were also detected in significant quantities, which could result from the hydrogenation of the furandiones in sunlight in the particle phase.


The wide-ranging use of information and communication technologies, especially the World Wide Web, has brought significant changes in the way information is generated, stored and accessed. With the rapid development and use of the internet and web-based tools and technologies the major development that is taking place in libraries is extensive availability and use of various kinds of eresources such as online database, OPAC, CD-ROM databases, online portals in general or subject wise. Now libraries and information centers spend increasingly more funds for subscribing eresources, even when shrinking budgets of the libraries. This paper deals with a study on the awareness, accessibility, and use by the faculty members and research scholars of five disciplines of social science of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana. A structured questionnaire was distributed among 500 research scholars and faculty members out of which 30% responded. It was found that more than 3/5 of the research scholars visit Vivekananda library to read books, the largest part of them are aware of the library facilities and are also aware of the availability of eresources. Indian Citation Index, Web of Science, and Scopus are being used by faculty members and research scholars for citation analysis. Shodhganga and MDU Institutionary repository are being used for Theses and Dissertations. Turnitin software as a plagiarism checker tool is known among the academic community. Majority of the user used UGC-Infonet E-Journal Consortium and JSTOR. 2/5 users (research scholars) preferred hostel as the best location for accessing e-resources, almost half are using e-resources daily, half of them are accessing 2-5 hours a week, more than half of them expressed the advantage is that they can access it from anywhere/anytime, restricted timings in the digital library is the major difficulty expressed by half of them, 39.55% are aware of library orientation program conducted in the library.


Abstract Aim: The aim of this study is to identify a possible damage to heart ventricles caused by supraphysiological doses of testosterone, voluntary physical activity or their combination. Methods: In the 8-week long experiment, 10-12 weeks old male Wistar rats were administered testosterone depot in dose of 100 mg/kg (TES, n = 15) or vehiculum (CON, n = 12) once a week subcutaneously. Next groups injected with testosterone (SPOTES, n = 12) or vehiculum (SPO, n = 12) were running in exercise wheels ad libitum. Gene expressions in left and right ventricles of the heart were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Results:ln left ventricles of the testosterone groups, we observed a mild but significant increase in the percentage of Myh6 myosin heavy chain isoform and higher expression of NADPH oxidase subunit Cybb (*p < 0.05). Conclusions:Testosterone affected the expression of genes related to contractile apparatus and oxidative stress in the left ventricle but not in right ventricle of the heart of rats. The observed level of physical activity did not have a compelling effect on the expression of measured genes.


OBJECTIVE
There is a paucity of data on clinical correlates and outcomes of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) in the era of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our objective was to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of infants with D-TGA with and without PH, defined as hypoxemia that required iNO and/or ECMO.

METHODS
We undertook a single-center retrospective chart review involving infants with gestational age ≥32 weeks with D-TGA who, underwent arterial switch operation over a 12-year period. Demographic and clinical data, details of the repair and postoperative complications were abstracted.

RESULTS
Our cohort (n = 93), 61 (66%) of whom were males, had a mean (SD) gestational age and birth weight of 38.7 (1.8) weeks and 3.2 (0.6) kg, respectively. PH requiring iNO and/or ECMO was noted in 20 (21.5%) infants. Infants with PH had significantly lower birth weight [2.8 (0.56) vs. 3.33 (0.61)] and gestational age [37.7 (2.1) vs. 38.9 (1.7)] than those without PH. Rates of postoperative complications (duration of pressors, sedative medicaiton and duration of hospital stay, and mechanical ventilation were higher in the group with PH. Of the five (5.4%) infants who died, four received iNO and ECMO. Death or postoperative complications tended to be associated with lower gestational age [OR 0.689; 95% CI: 0.469-1.012, P = 0.058] but not with D-TGA category or bypass duration.

CONCLUSIONS
Despite aggressive treatment with iNO and ECMO, the coexistence of PH in this population is associated with higher rates of mortality and postoperative complications. Our results also suggest that an early term birth may be associated with PH in infants with D-TGA.


Natural products (NPs) are synthesized by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), whose genes are involved in producing one or a family of chemically related metabolites. Advances in comparative genomics have been favourable for exploiting huge amounts of data and discovering previously unknown BGCs. Nonetheless, studying distribution patterns of novel BGCs and elucidating the biosynthesis of orphan metabolites remains a challenge. To fill this knowledge gap, our study developed a pipeline for high-quality comparative genomics for the actinomycete genus Rhodococcus, which is metabolically versatile, yet understudied in terms of NPs, leading to a total of 110 genomes, 1891 BGCs and 717 non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). Phylogenomic inferences showed four major clades retrieved from strains of several ecological habitats. BiG-SCAPE sequence similarity BGC networking revealed 44 unidentified gene cluster families (GCFs) for NRPS, which presented a phylogenomic-dependent evolution pattern, supporting the hypothesis of vertical gene transfer. As a proof of concept, we analysed in-depth one of our marine strains, Rhodococcus sp. H-CA8f, which revealed a unique BGC distribution within its phylogenomic clade, involved in producing a chloramphenicol-related compound. While this BGC is part of the most abundant and widely distributed NRPS GCF, corason analysis unveiled major differences regarding its genetic context, co-occurrence patterns and modularity. This BGC is composed of three sections, two well-conserved right/left arms flanking a very variable middle section, composed of nrps genes. The presence of two non-canonical domains in H-CA8f's BGC may contribute to adding chemical diversity to this family of NPs. Liquid chromatography-high resolution MS and dereplication efforts retrieved a set of related orphan metabolites, the corynecins, which to our knowledge are reported here for the first time in Rhodococcus. Overall, our data provide insights to connect BGC uniqueness with orphan metabolites, by revealing key comparative genomic features supported by models of BGC distribution along phylogeny.


Abstract : United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) underpins regional stability through an integration of forward presence and a network of bilateral security alliances. This presence makes the United States the key regional presence, contributes to regional stability, enhances U.S. diplomatic influence, and contributes to an environment conducive to the growth of U.S. economic interests. As the 21st century approaches, strategic planners should analyze changes in the international environment, domestic political realities, and the ability of the United States and her allies to share responsibility in shaping the future. This paper examines USPACOM and its organizational structure in light of changes in the strategic environment. The essay seeks to review the ways in which USPACOM meets these strategic ends. First, this paper begins with a brief background of the USPACOM area of responsibility (AOR) and organizational structure. Next, a military response model introduces a means to examine the deployment challenges of USPACOM forces and contingency responses. Finally, the paper explores three internal organizational alternatives and one external modification to the USPACOM structure identifying strengths and weaknesses of the proposals. A logical place to discuss USPACOM begins with its strategic environment and the organizational structure to prosecute the mission. The first two proposals appear cost prohibitive. The last two alternatives make fiscal sense and could promote more effective responses to future crises. Figure 5 summarizes the recommended changes to USPACOM's organizational structure.


Recently, the Ingleside Recreation Therapy department instituted a method of self-charting with thirty-nine adolescent inpatients in which both the patient and the therapist chart the patient's behavior in activities daily. The patient reads the therapist's chart note and may respond in any way he desires. The primary purpose of self-charting was to explore the possibility of establishing ongoing treatment goals with input from both the patient and the therapist, and of increasing communication and understanding between the two. Oftentimes, this did occur especially with distrustful or angry patients. Other results noted included the expression of a variety of feelings and the establishment of treatment goals by the patient--either on his own or in response to the therapist's written expectations.


This study examined the effectiveness of visual-perceptual training for improving fielding performance in cricket. Twelve highly-skilled cricket players completed a video-based decision-making test and an in-situ fielding test before and after a six-week training intervention. During this period, all participants completed the same on-field training program, but seven players completed three additional perceptual training sessions per week (TRAIN). The remaining five players acted as a control (CON). Despite no group differences at pre-test, TRAIN scored significantly higher than CON at post-test for decision accuracy within the video-based test. For the in-situ fielding test, TRAIN demonstrated greater improvements in fielding success following the intervention compared to CON. The results indicate that six weeks of on-field training combined with visual-perceptual training can lead to improvements in the fielding performance of skilled cricketers above those of on-field training alone. Findings are discussed from empirical and applied coaching perspectives.


CrossCult (www.crosscult.eu) is a 3-year H2020 research project, which started in March 2016. It involves 11 European institutions and 14 associated partners from the areas of Computer Science, History and Cultural Heritage. The goal is to spur a change in the way European citizens appraise History, fostering the re-interpretation of what they may have learnt in the light of cross-border interconnections among pieces of cultural heritage, other citizens' viewpoints and physical venues. This talk will look into how state-of-the-art technologies can be applied to deliver novel and meaningful interactive experiences in Digital Humanities.


The impact of the recent Customs Union (CU) agreement between Turkey and the European Union on internal migration is studied using an intra-industry trade Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model with intersectoral capital mobility under two alternative specifications for the labor market: the traditional Harris-Todaro approach and the existence of a "wage curve" in the urban sector. Under both specifications, the numerical results show that the CU is welfare enhancing and causes a reduction of the urban-rural wage gap as suggested by theoretical studies. At the same time, it leads to rural-to-urban migration and raises the capital rent, results that are counter intuitive with respect to the dual economy literature. Furthermore, the rise in formal labor demand and the migration response to the CU have not resulted in an increase in urban unemployment (i.e. the "Todaro paradox"), but rather to a fall in the unemployment pool. The study also shows that the Bhagwati-Srinivasan proposal of maximizing welfare by uniformly subsidizing the entire labor market is impracticable, especially if the high wage union sector can negotiate employment conditions.


Unwanted pregnancies that occur outside of marriage in adolescents are problematic because they have wider after-effects academically, financially, and socially. The occurrence of unwanted pregnancy outside of marriage is certainly based on a psychological condition such as decision making at the first time an adolescent engages in risky sexual behavior. This study aims to explore cognitive considerations such as what factors are considered for risky sexual acts and also the cognitive process of risky behavior. The participants in this study were three people consisting of one male and two female who were taken by purposive sampling technique. This study used a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach, while the data collection techniques used interviews and observations. The results of this study indicate that the factors that cause risky behavior (unwanted pregnancy) are 1) the experience of watching pornographic videos, 2) an environment that is accustomed to promiscuity, and 3) trust and comfort when interacting with partners. While systematic decision-making through several stages does not occur, because the risk behavior of individuals is more dominated by emotional states, memories of previous experiences, and the people around them, so that decision-making is more heuristic.


Radiative opacity and emissivity of tin plasmas at average ionization degree of about 10 was investigated in detail by using a fully relativistic detailed level accounting approach, in which main physical effects on the opacity were carefully taken into account. Among these physical effects, configuration interaction, in particular core-valence electron correlations, plays an important role on the determination of accurate atomic data required in the calculation of opacity. It results in a strong narrowing of lines from all transition arrays and strong absorption is located in a narrow wavelength region of 12.5-14 nm for Sn plasmas. Using a complete accurate atomic data, we investigated the opacity of Sn plasmas at a variety of physical condition. Among the respective ions of Xe6+-Xe15+ , Xe10+ has the largest absorption cross section at 13.5 nm, while the favorable physical condition for maximal absorption at 13.5 nm do not mean that Xe10+ has the largest fraction. Comparison with other theoretical results showed that a complete set of consistent accurate atomic data, which lacks very much, is essential to predict accurate opacity. Our atomic model is useful and can be applied to interpret opacity experiments. Further benchmark experiments are urgently needed to clarify the physical effects on the opacity of Sn plasmas.


Objective: To analyze the curative effect of AngioJet mechanical thrombus aspiration combined with catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) on acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LEDVT). Methods: The clinical data of 20 cases of acute LEDVT treated by AngioJet combined with CDT were analyzed. The inferior vena cava filter was implanted preoperatively, and then the thrombolysis was performed by using AngioJet. The thrombolytic catheter was placed for CDT treatment, and the thrombolysis was evaluated by review angiography. Results: All cases were successfully punctured and catheterized. The suction time was (235±75) seconds. The usage of urokinase was (180±90)*10(4) U. The differences before and after thrombolysis of ipsilateral and contralateral thigh circumference were (8.3±1.5) cm and (2.5±1.0) cm, respectively. The differences before and after thrombolysis of the ipsilateral and contralateral calf circumference were (2.4±1.0)cm and (1.5±0.7) cm, respectively. All of which had statistical significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: AngioJet mechanical thrombus aspiration system is a novel and safe method for the treatment of acute LEDVT. When used in conjunction with CDT, its advantages was more significant.


In order to develop a new fabrication process using a high magnetic field, we intended to demonstrate a chemical vapour deposition technique in magnetic fields (in-field CVD). The in-field CVD apparatus was made for the first time, combining with an 11 T cryogen-free superconducting magnet. From a viewpoint of high temperature superconducting power applications, YBa2Cu3O7 films deposited on polycrystalline Ag tapes were prepared by in-field CVD process. It is found that the magnetic field in the CVD method improves the crystallinity of YBa2Cu3O7. Moreover, we found that the surface morphology of YBa2Cu3O7 outstandingly changed by the in-field CVD process, and in particular, the grain size of YBa2Cu3O7 is reduced by a factor of about 10 by applying a magnetic field above a few tesla.


Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are heme-thiolate proteins whose role as drug targets against pathogens, as well as in valuable chemical production and bioremediation, has been explored. In this study we performed comprehensive comparative analysis of P450s in 13 newly explored oomycete pathogens. Three hundred and fifty-six P450s were found in oomycetes. These P450s were grouped into 15 P450 families and 84 P450 subfamilies. Among these, nine P450 families and 31 P450 subfamilies were newly found in oomycetes. Research revealed that oomycetes belonging to different orders contain distinct P450 families and subfamilies in their genomes. Evolutionary analysis and sequence homology data revealed P450 family blooms in oomycetes. Tandem arrangement of a large number of P450s belonging to the same family indicated that P450 family blooming is possibly due to its members' duplications. A unique combination of amino acid patterns was observed at EXXR and CXG motifs for the P450 families CYP5014, CYP5015 and CYP5017. A novel P450 fusion protein (CYP5619 family) with an N-terminal P450 domain fused to a heme peroxidase/dioxygenase domain was discovered in Saprolegnia declina. Oomycete P450 patterns suggested host influence in shaping their P450 content. This manuscript serves as reference for future P450 annotations in newly explored oomycetes.


What did "historical distance" mean to historians in the Rankean tradition? Although historical distance is often equated with temporal distance, an analysis of Ernst Bernheim's Lehrbuch der historischen Methode reveals that for German historians around 1900 distance did not primarily refer to a passage of time that would enable scholars to study remote pasts from retrospective points of view. If Bernheim's manual presents historical distance as a prerequisite for historical interpretation, the metaphor rather conveys a need for self-distanciation. Self-distanciation is not a Romantic desire to "extinguish" oneself, but a virtuous attempt to put one's own ideas and intuitions about the working of the world between brackets in the study of people who might have understood the world in different terms. Although Bernheim did not explicitly talk about virtue, the article shows that his Lehrbuch nonetheless considers self-distanciation a matter of virtuous behavior, targeted at an aim that may not be fully realizable, but ought to be pursued with all possible vigor. For Bernheim, then, distance requires epistemological virtue, which in turn calls for intellectual character, or what Bernheim's generation considered scholarly selfhood (wissen-schaftliche Personlichkeit). Not a mapping of time onto space, but a strenuous effort to mold "scholarly characters," truly able to recognize the otherness of the past, appears to be characteristic of Bernheim's view of historical distance.


The paper presents a contribution to the construction of tools for decision-making support in organisational systems from the uncertainty aspect. Developed theory of risk assessment is based on the adapted Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In decision making under uncertainty, risk analysis aims at minimising the failure to achieve a desired result. In the paper our original method of uncertainty estimation is presented. Each problem involving uncertainty and consecutive appearing risk is divided into identified categories and factors of uncertainty. The basic method used in the numerical part of the evaluation is the two-pass Fuzzy AHP (applied: first for the importance and second for the uncertainty of risk factors). The process is based on the determination of relations between particular risk categories and factors. The estimates are derived from pairwise comparison of factors belonging to each category. By using fuzzy numbers the consideration of possible errors of the estimator is taken into account. In the following stages the interval results obtained by this method are used for calculating the integral uncertainty value, which, in comparison with the boundary value, defines the risk of the process in question. Based on the "Uncertainty – Importance" relations special ABC focus diagrams are created. These diagrams serve for the classification of uncertainty factors, which provides a decision making part of the systematic approach which is composed of three contextual parts: analytical, process, and decision making part.


It has been shown that the most general type of gauge invariance for a single massless spin-2 field is either 'normal' spin-2 gauge invariance or general covariance. The authors extend that analysis to the case of a collection of spin-2 fields. They obtain the general solution of the integrability condition which determines whether a given candidate infinitesimal symmetry arises from an exact symmetry. This general solution is a new type of gauge invariance involving associative commutative algebras in a manner analogous to the way gauge symmetries of collections of spin-1 fields are based on Lie algebras.


SUMMARY

Mitochondria were isolated from beech mycorrhizas, by disruption of the tissue in a medium containing PVP and reducing agents, to counteract the enzyme denaturing actions of endogenous phenols, tannins and the products of phenoloxidase activity.

Electron microscopic examination of the isolated mitochondria showed that they were structurally intact, and spectral analysis revealed that their cytochrome composition was marked by a particularly high content of cytochrome b557.

The mitochondria actively respired with the Krebs cycle intermediates α-ketoglutarate, malate + pyruvate and succinate, and with exogenous NADH. In each case the oxidation was tightly coupled to phosphorylation, and ADP:O ratios were obtained which indicated that three sites of oxidative phosphorylation were associated with the respiration of the NAD-linked substrates α-ketoglutarate and malate + pyruvate, and two sites with the respiration of succinate and exogenous NADH.

The inhibitors rotenone, antimycin A and cyanide blocked electron flow at the known sites of action in the electron transport chain. Rotenone completely inhibited the oxidation of both α-ketoglutarate and malate + pyruvate, but had no effect on the oxidation of succinate or NADH. Oxidation of the four substrates was found to be partially sensitive to antimycin and to cyanide which caused a maximal inhibition of 50–60% in the rate of respiration. The antimycin- and cyanide-insensitive respiration was abolished by mCLAM.

It was concluded that there was at least one fraction of the mitochondrial population which had a cyanide-insensitive pathway of respiration, and that the respiratory system of the mitochondria in this fraction could best be explained by a model in which the respiratory chain is branched from substrate to oxygen, one branch via cyanide-sensitive cytochrome oxidase and the other via a cyanide-insensitive alternate oxidase. No oxidative phosphorylation was found to be associated with the alternate pathway of oxidation with succinate as substrate. Evidence is presented to show that the cyanide-sensitive pathway was the favoured route of oxidation under phosphorylating conditions, whereas the alternate pathway only operated when electron flow along the cyanide sensitive pathway was restricted either by inhibitors or by the imposition of respiratory control. Some implications of these findings in relation to the physiology of the mycorrhizal system are discussed.


The aim of this study is to compare collection of sufficient material and diagnostic accuracy of Pipelle biopsy with curettage and hysterectomy. A total of 82 cases with indications for endometrial biopsy for any reason and in which endometrial biopsy was performed with dilatation and curettage (D&C) and Pipelle aspiration biopsy, and 66 cases in which an indication for hysterectomy was established for any reason were included in the study. Histopathological findings were examined in the following six groups: normal; endometrial polyps; hyperplasia without atypia; hyperplasia with atypia; atrophy; and insufficient material. Descriptive statistical methods and McNemar's test were used. When the histopathological compatibility between Pipelle and D&C was considered (n = 82), a diagnosis that was different from that obtained by D&C was obtained in 22 of the 63 cases (34%), in whom normal endometrial histology was found with a Pipelle biopsy specimen. It was observed that only 1 of 13 cases of endometrial polyps was diagnosed with Pipelle biopsy. Insufficient material was obtained in six cases (7%) with Pipelle biopsies and three cases (4%) with D&C. While Pipelle biopsies and D&C have a nearly equal level of success in widespread endometrial lesions, Pipelle biopsies provide limited diagnostic accuracy in cases with focal pathologies.


Highly conductive silver was fabricated at room temperature using in situ reactive silver precursor inks by microreactor-assisted printing without any post-processing. Reactive silver nanoinks, synthesized in situ from the microreactor, were directly delivered onto glass and polymeric substrates without any surface treatment to form a highly dense and uniform silver feature. The distribution of the reactive silver nanoinks can be controlled simply by adjusting the flow rate of the continuous flow system. Silver lines were fabricated using the in situ reactive precursors delivered via a micro-channel applicator. The electrical conductivity of the silver film and feature were measured to be around 3.3 × 107 (S m−1), corresponding to about half of the conductivity of bulk silver. The functionality of the silver line was confirmed through the operation of LEDs. This study demonstrates the possibility to fabricate patterned silver features at room temperature from in situ nanoinks without the aid of any post-processing.


The synthesis and crystal structure of the first mixed-metal organometallic polymer network containing phenylthiolato ligands, [K2Fe(SPh)4]n, are investigated. The simple phenylthiolate acts as a sigma- and pi-donor ligand to give a 3-D potassium iron coordination polymer with both metal-carbon and metal-sulfur coordination interactions.


The authors report the direct observation of a single asperity tungsten tip sliding on graphite by in situ transmission electron microscopy TEM nanomanipulation. The in situ TEM studies have confirmed that graphitic flakes transfer to a sliding tungsten probe, validating proposed friction mechanisms explaining the unique tribological properties of graphite. Wear of graphite was observed, typically removing sheets of graphite on the order of ten basal planes in thickness. Consistency between wear flake thickness and interfacial dislocation standoff distances is discussed. © 2007 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.2456192


During the last decades the forest damage in the Black triangle region (where the borders of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland meet) has increased rapidly. Many attempts to explain the widely spread damage has been done. To quantify the risk of damage, the expression "critical level" has been introduced. Critical level is the highest concentration of an acidifying compound that the air can contain, without damaging the ecosystem in the long term. The forest damage is proportional to the ratio of SO2-concentration and vegetationperiod, and the critical level is 0.07 nPa/Pa/dag. The aim of this study is to investigate if this theory is applicable in a regional scale, and to quantify the area which is exceeding the critical level. An error propagation analysis was also to be calculated to be able to evaluate the results.
The study area is approximatly 13850 km2 i the northern part of the Czech Rebublic. The S02-concentration data is modelled values. Measured SO2-concentrations from 1971-1990 were used to compare with modelled values from 1992. Damage degree and salvage cutting (1985, 1990 and 1995) of 19 forest enterprises were compared with the forest damage and the SO2-concentration/vegetationperiod. The comparison showed high negative correlation with damage in category l, and high positive correlation with damage in category 3. Small permanent plots with forest damage data from 1992, were compared with SO2-concentration/vegetationperiod. The correlation coefficient (-0.078) did not support that the forest damage is propotional to S02-concentration/vegetationperiod. This could be that the permanent plots are small compared with the geometric resolution in the S02-concentration data (13.5 * 13.3 km).
Error propagation with an error in the modelled data of ± 20% and ± 50% and an error in the vegetation period data of ± 10% resulted in an error of + 33% to (-27%) respectively + 67% to (-55%) in the ratio SO2-rconcentration/vegetationperiod. This means that in the best case, 87% (1250 km2) to 95% (13160 km2) of the area is below the critical level. In the worst case, 80% (11080 km2) to 100% (13850 km2) of the study area is below the critical level.


This report investigates the effects of select climate policies, non-climate policies, as well as political economy factors on the decarbonisation of electricity in OECD countries from 2000 to 2015. Effects are analysed on the three phases of decarbonisation: (1) increasing the share of renewables installed, (2) increasing the use of renewables in generation, and (3) reducing the emissions from electricity.


One approach for improving the quality of stormwater runoff before it enters the receiving water is to install stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Stormwater BMPs include a wide range of systems (rain gardens, ponds, wetlands, underground proprietary sediment removal devices, etc.) used to reduce stormwater runoff quantity or improve stormwater quality, or both. No standard methodology for the assessment of stormwater BMPs is available. Therefore, we propose a tiered approach to stormwater BMP assessment that is termed the "Four levels of assessment" (Table 1), that are numbered in order of increasing difficulty and cost. Developers of an assessment program should consider each of the four levels of assessment in order, and consider advancing to the next level only when requirements of the assessment program have not been satisfied. All stormwater BMP assessment programs should include regularly scheduled (at least annual) visual inspections (level 1). In addition to visual inspections, capacity testing (level 2) and/or simulated runoff testing (level 3), if warranted, should be included in stormwater BMP assessment programs at regular intervals to determine the performance of a BMP immediately after installation and to determine how performance of a stormwater BMP is changing with respect to time, changes in the watershed, or both. If the goals of the assessment program cannot be met by capacity testing or simulated runoff testing, or these techniques are not feasible, then monitoring (level 4) should be implemented as part of the assessment program.


In recent years, the popular thulium-doped fiber lasers (TDFL) are expanding their operational wavelength coverage through accessing the 1.7-μm region, where they have previously been hindered by the quasi-three-level nature of TDF emission, which leads to strong re-absorption of short wavelength light [1]. This was driven by a plenty of applications such as deep bio-imaging, spectroscopic analysis and material processing that takes advantages of the third near-infrared (NIR3) optical window (1600–1870 nm) for bioimaging and abundant molecular absorptions in this spectral region [2][3]. At present, short wavelength TDFLs have been demonstrated to operate in the continues-wave (CW), soliton mode-locking and gain-switching regimes [4–6]. Here we report a TDFL that demonstrates dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) at 1750 nm with a maximum single pulse energy of 321.2 nJ.


Reading was one of skill that should be mastered by the students to get an information and idea from a text. The purpose of this research was to improve the students' reading comprehension in reading journal article text. This research used classroom action research design which was held at STKIP PGRI Pasuruan on 30th of April and 03rd of May 2018 for the cycle one and on 07th and 10th of May 2018 for the cycle two. The subject of this research was the second grade in 2017 academic year of STKIP PGRI Pasuruan. The instruments used were observation, interview, test, questionnaire and documentation. This research used two criteria of success, they were the test and the questionnaire. The result showed that cycle one was failed because there were 83% students who passed the test and 46% students who liked skimming technique. Meanwhile, in cycle two the research was successful because there were 98% students who passed the test and 95% students who liked skimming technique. The conclusion of this research was using skimming technique couldimprove the students' reading comprehension in journal article text. Key words : journal article, reading comprehension, skimming.


Droplets and bubbles are thought to be two sides of the same coin; this work determines how true this is at the molecular scale. Stable cylindrical nanodroplets and nanobubbles are obtained in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with three-phase contact lines pinned by alternate hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterns. The surface tension and Tolman length for both types of curved interfaces are obtained with the Kirkwood–Buff method, based on the difference between normal and tangential pressure components. Both bubble and droplet cases are compared to the flat interface case for reference. Results show that the surface tension decreases linearly while the Tolman length increases linearly with the gas/liquid density ratio. By running a careful parameter study of the flat interface over a range of densities, the effect of the density ratio can be corrected isolating the effects of curvature on the surface tension and Tolman length. It is found that such effects start to be seen when the equimolar curvature radius goes down to 20 reduced Lennard–Jones (LJ) units. They have the same magnitude but act with opposite signs for nanodroplet and nanobubble interfaces. Considering effects of the density ratio and curvature, a fitted Tolman equation was obtained, which predicts the surface tension of a curved interface. Results obtained by the fitted Tolman equation agree well with those obtained by the MD simulations except at very small curvature radius (<10 reduced LJ units) due to the accumulation of the curvature dependence of the Tolman length.


In this article, we propose Gatling, a framework that automatically finds performance attacks caused by insider attackers in large-scale message-passing distributed systems. In performance attacks, malicious nodes deviate from the protocol when sending or creating messages, with the goal of degrading system performance. We identify a representative set of basic malicious message delivery and lying actions and design a greedy search algorithm that finds effective attacks consisting of a subset of these actions. Although lying malicious actions are protocol dependent, requiring the format and meaning of messages, Gatling captures them without needing to modify the target system by using a type-aware compiler. We have implemented and used Gatling on nine systems, a virtual coordinate system, a distributed hash table lookup service and application, two multicast systems and one file sharing application, and three secure systems designed specifically to tolerate insiders, two based on virtual coordinates and one using Outlier Detection, one invariant derived from physical laws, and the last one a Byzantine resilient replication system. We found a total of 48 attacks, with the time needed to find each attack ranging from a few minutes to a few hours.


For constrained minimization problem of maximum eigenvalue functions, since the objective function is nonsmooth, we can use the approximate inexact accelerated proximal gradient (AIAPG) method (Wang et al., 2013) to solve its smooth approximation minimization problem. When we take the function in the problem , where is the maximum eigenvalue function, is a proper lower semicontinuous convex function (possibly nonsmooth) and denotes the indicator function. But the approximate minimizer generated by AIAPG method must be contained in otherwise the method will be invalid. In this paper, we will consider the case where the approximate minimizer cannot be guaranteed in . Thus we will propose two different strategies, respectively, constructing the feasible solution and designing a new method named relax inexact accelerated proximal gradient (RIAPG) method. It is worth mentioning that one advantage when compared to the former is that the latter strategy can overcome the drawback. The drawback is that the required conditions are too strict. Furthermore, the RIAPG method inherits the global iteration complexity and attractive computational advantage of AIAPG method.


The acquisition of highly malignant traits by carcinoma cells is often associated with the activation of a transdifferentiation program termed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT program is deployed in a variety of steps of embryonic morphogenesis, enabling the interconversion of epithelial and mesenchymal cell types. When both normal and neoplastic epithelial cells undergo an EMT, they acquire addition changes in addition to expressing characteristic mesenchymal cell markers. In particular, they acquire motility, an increased resistance to apoptosis and, in the case of carcinoma cells, invasiveness. The motility and invasiveness components associated with the EMT would appear to empower many types of cancer cells to metastasize. An interesting question is how the resulting disseminated cancer cells are able to spawn a macroscopic tumor mass at distant anatomical sites, since this clonal expansion would appear to require an ability to self-renew. Recently, we have examined the cellular products of an EMT. Contrary to our expectations, the resulting cells acquired many of the attributes of stem cells, including the expression of stem cell-associated cell-surface markers. Conversely, mammary epithelial cells that naturally express these markers also express greatly elevated levels of at least four pleiotropically acting transcription factors that have been found able to induce an EMT. More recent studies have confirmed that the product of an EMT in mouse mammary epithelial cells is a cell that has a greatly increased ability to generate an entire mammary ductal epithelial tree. Moreover, we find that cells with the attributes of stem cells exist naturally as minor subpopulations in cultured human mammary epithelial cells. These cells can differentiate spontaneously into non-stem cells and, conversely, the non-stem cells appear capable of dedifferentiating spontaneously into cells with progenitor or stem-cell phenotypes. Hence, the study of certain aspects of mammary epithelial cell biology, including the biology of mammary carcinoma stem cells, may be feasible with cultured cells. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr A1-1.


Polymers at interfaces play a major role in a broad variety of applications ranging from engineering purposes (for instance polymer based nanocomposites) to high tech implications (for instance light emitting diodes).
Here, thin films with thicknesses down to few nanometers are prepared on different substrates as model systems for polymer composites. The thin films are investigated by a combination of surface analytical and volume sensitive methods. As surface analytical methods atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements (CAM) are employed. As volume sensitive broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), specific heat spectroscopy (SHS), and ellipsometry are used. Especially attention is paid to understand the glass transition behavior of thin films because the glass transition is the key phenomenon determines the application of polymers also in thin films.
To understand the glass transition behavior of thin films, which is controversially discussed in literature, a three layer model is discussed. Firstly, a mobile surface layer is assumed at polymer air interface of the film due to missing of segment/segment interactions. Secondly, in the middle of the film a bulk-like layer should be expected. Thirdly, for polymers having non-repulsive interactions with the substrate an irreversibly adsorbed layer is expected to be formed. Due the adsorption the molecular mobility of the segments in this layer is slowed down. What is measured for the glass transition of thin films is a complicated average of all of these effects. The different layers are hardly to address separately. Therefore, in the presentation especially model systems are selected and investigated to verify the layer model.


Kink dynamics in spatially discrete nonlinear Klein-Gordon systems is considered. For special choices of the substrate potential, such systems support continuous translation orbits of static kinks with no (classical) Peierls-Nabarro barrier. It is shown that these kinks experience, nevertheless, a lattice-periodic confining potential, due to purely quantum effects analogous to the Casimir effect of quantum field theory. The resulting `quantum Peierls-Nabarro potential' may be calculated in the weak-coupling approximation by a simple and computationally cheap numerical algorithm, which is applied, for the purposes of illustration, to a certain two-parameter family of substrates.


SPE511. Working and Collaborating with Families and Service Providers. 3 Credits. Covers topics related to working with families of individuals with disabilities and teacher's best practices for providing supervision to staff working with individuals with disabilities. Issues of cultural and ethnic diversity will be discussed. Restrictions: • Must have the following level: Graduate • Must be enrolled in the following field(s) of study (major, minor or concentration): Bx Anlys & Itd Autism Stud (075)


Background Close to one in ten individuals worldwide is born preterm, and it is important to understand patterns of long-term health and mortality in this group. This study assesses the relationship between gestational age at birth and early adult mortality both in a nationwide population and within sibships. The study adds to existing knowledge by addressing selected causes of death and by assessing the role of genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings. Methods Study population was all Norwegian men and women born from 1967 to 1997 followed using nation-wide registry linkage for mortality through 2011 when they were between 15 and 45 years of age. Analyses were performed within maternal sibships to reduce variation in unobserved genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings. Specific outcomes were all-cause mortality and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer and external causes including accidents, suicides and drug abuse/overdoses. Results Compared with a sibling born in week 37–41, preterm siblings born before 34 weeks gestation had 50% increased mortality from all causes (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17, 2.03). The corresponding estimate for the entire population was 1.27 (95% CI 1.09, 1.47). The majority of deaths (65%) were from external causes and the corresponding risk estimates for these deaths were 1.52 (95% CI 1.08, 2.14) in the sibships and 1.20 (95% CI 1.01, 1.43) in the population. Conclusion Preterm birth before week 34 was associated with increased mortality between 15 and 45 years of age. The results suggest that increased premature adult mortality in this group is related to external causes of death and that the increased risks are unlikely to be explained by factors shared by siblings.


Using SFM we have observed a peculiar twisting motion of diblock macromolecules pre-collapsed in ethanol vapour during their subsequent spreading in water vapour. The intrinsic asymmetry of the diblock macromolecules has been considered to be the reason for such twisting. Further, friction-deposited PTFE nano-stripes have been employed as nano-trails with the purpose of inducing lateral directed motion of the asymmetric diblock macromolecules under cyclic impact from the changing vapour surroundings. Indeed, some of the macromolecules have demonstrated a certain tendency to orient along the PTFE stripes, and some of the oriented ones have moved occasionally in a directed manner along the trail. However, it has been difficult to reliably record such directed motion at the single molecule level due to some mobility of the PTFE nano-trails themselves in the changing vapour environment. In vapours, the PTFE stripes have demonstrated a distinct tendency towards conjunction. This tendency has manifested itself in efficient expelling of groups of the mobile brush-like molecules from the areas between two PTFE stripes joining in a zip-fastener manner. This different kind of vapour-induced cooperative macromolecular motion has been reliably observed as being directed. The PTFE nano-frame experiences some deformation when constraining the spreading macromolecules. We have estimated the possible force causing such deformation of the PTFE fence. The force has been found to be a few pN as calculated by a partial contribution from every single molecule of the constrained group.


Background The type of major duodenal papilla could be associated with difficult biliary cannulation at first endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in adults. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients undergoing ERCP for the first time by an expert endoscopist. We defined the type of papilla according to the endoscopic classification of Haraldsson in type 1-4. The outcome of interest was difficult biliary cannulation, defined according to the European Society of Gastroenterology. To assess the association of interest, we calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRc and PRa, respectively) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Poisson regression with robust variance models, employing bootstrap methods. For the adjusted model we included the variables age, sex, and indication for ERCP, according to an epidemiological approach. Results We included 230 patients. The most frequent type of papilla was type 1 (43.5%), and 101 (43.9%) of the patients presented difficult biliary cannulation. The results were consistent between the crude and adjusted analyses. After adjusting for age, sex, and ERCP indication, the prevalence of difficult biliary cannulation was highest in patients with papilla type 3 (PRa 3.66, 95%CI 2.49-5.84), followed by patients with papilla type 4 (PRa 3.21, 95%CI 1.82-5.75), and patients with papilla type 2 (PRa 1.95, 95%CI 1.15-3.20) compared to patients with papilla type 1. Conclusion In adults undergoing ERCP for the first time, patients with papilla type 3 had a greater prevalence of difficult biliary cannulation than patients with papilla type 1.


Background: Snake bite is a significant public health problem in many countries with large number of cases of envenoming and deaths being reported, although it is difficult to define the actual number of snake bite victims.
Objectives: Clinical and Epidemiological aspects of human snake bite amongst the victims admitted to emergency ward of Manipal Teaching Hospital Pokhara, Nepal was studied.
Methods: This retrospective hospital record based study involved a total of 77 snake bite victims admitted to emergency ward of hospital during 1st November 2004 to 31st October 2005. Information on demographic data, identification of the snake, time and place of bite, symptoms of snakebite, time lapsed between bite and seeking treatment and snakebite case management and outcome was collected. SPSS windows version 14.0 software was used to analyze the data. Percentages were applied to find out the results.
Results: Majority of the victims were from Kaski district (79.2%). Higher proportion of victims were aged between 10-59 years (80.5%) and were males (55.8%). Majority of the victims were farmers (37.7%) and illiterate (58.4%). Most of the snake bite cases were reported in the months of June to September (84.4%). The most common place of bite was field (36.4%) and the most common site of bite was foot (55.8%). Most of the snakes could not be identified (59.7%). The symptom commonly encountered was cellulitis (46.8%). Majority of victims were applied tourniquet as first aid measure (59.7%). Time lapsed for seeking hospital treatment was half to 1 hour in most (29.9%) of the cases. Majority of the individuals recovered after snake bite (89.6%).
Conclusions: Public health interventions should focus on improving victims\\\' rapid transport to adequate treatment centers for anti snake venom.


Caryl Churchill is one of the most widely performed female dramatists in contemporary British theatre. She is arguably the most successful and best-known socialist-feminist playwright to have merged from Second Wave feminism. Her plays have been performed all over the world. In her materialist plays, she shows the matters of culture, education, power, politics, and myth. Her oeuvre hovers over the material conditions which testify to the power relations within society at a given time in history. Pierre Bourdieu, a French sociologist, and theorist in cultural studies points out the dynamics of power relations in social life throughout ideas such as capital, field, habitus, symbolic violence, theories concerned with class and culture. The overarching concern for the purpose of this essay is to analyse Churchill's Serious Money (1987) in the light of Bourdieu's sociological concepts. In accordance with Bourdieu, there exist various kinds of capital (cultural, economic, social, and symbolic) which distinguish every individual's status both in society and in relation to other individuals. The present study attempts to show that in Serious Money, the capital especially economic capital forms the foundation of social life and dictates one's position within the social order and respectively, determining the power discourse in the matrix of social life.


Classical results for randomly covering a one-dimensional domain are generalized to multiple domains. The density function for the number of gaps is derived in the context of Bell's polynomials. Limiting forms are determined as well. The multiple domain configuration is a good model for DNA sequencing scenarios in which the target is fragmented, e.g., filtered DNA libraries and macronuclear genomes. Large-scale sequencing efforts are now starting to focus on such projects. Fragmentation effects are most prominent for small targets but vanish for very large targets. Here, the current model converges with classical theory. Pyrosequencing has been suggested as a viable, much cheaper alternative for large filtered projects. However, our model indicates that a recently demonstrated microscale Sanger reaction will likely be far more effective.


An efficient amortized data structure is one that ensures that the average time per operation spent on processing any sequence of operations is small. Amortized data structures typically have very non-uniform response times, i.e., individual operations can be occasionally and unpredictably slow, although the average time over a sequence is kept small by completing most of the other operations quickly. This makes amortized data structures unsuitable in many important contexts, such as real time systems, parallel programs, persistent data structures and interactive software. On the other hand, an efficient worst case data structure guarantees that every operation will be performed quickly. The construction of worst case efficient data structures from amortized ones is a fundamental problem which is also of pragmatic interest. In this report, we have studied two different problems in data structures, namely, the implementation of priority queues and concatenable double ended queues with heap order. We have eliminated amortization from the existing data structures and have proposed new worst case efficient data structures for these problems.


BACKGROUND
Previous studies of the qualitative sensation of breathlessness have suggested that greater sensory discomfort is reported as airflow obstruction increases. This study investigated relationships between the language of breathlessness and severity of impairment in subjects with COPD.

METHODS
Using a prospective, observational approach, subjects completed a structured interview in which they volunteered words to describe their sensation of breathlessness and endorsed statements from a preexisting descriptor list. Global impairment was assessed by the BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index. Independent t tests and logistic regression analyses (odds ratios) were used to assess relationships between language categories and severity of impairment.

RESULTS
In this group of 91 people (47 men, 70 +/- 10 years of age, percent predicted FEV(1) 54 +/- 23), subjects volunteering extreme affective descriptors (frightening, awful, worried) had greater impairment (BODE index, perceived respiratory disability, functional exercise capacity, and airways obstruction), and this language category was significantly associated with increasing BODE index scores (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.86; P = .001). Descriptors denoting heavy, rapid, more, shallow, or does not go in or out all the way were significantly less likely to be selected as BODE index scored increased (OR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS
Affective descriptors or the emotional response to the sensation of breathlessness have a significant relationship with severity of COPD impairments. Affective descriptors may reflect the degree of threat imposed by the sensation and predict the likelihood of long-term behavioral changes.


Synthetic oligonucleotide probes were used to identify a cloned DNA fragment from the cyanobacterium Agmenellum quadruplicatum that contains the genes for the alpha and beta subunits of C-phycocyanin. The coding region for the alpha-subunit gene begins 108 base pairs downstream from the 3' end of the beta-subunit structural gene. The sequences of the coding regions for both genes have been determined as well as 379 base pairs of 5' flanking region, 204 base pairs of 3' flanking region, and the 108 base pairs between the two genes. The site of transcriptional initiation is located approximately equal to 325 base pairs upstream from the beta-subunit gene, and an open reading frame 114 base pairs long is found within this region. The significance of this additional open reading frame is not yet known. The derived amino acid sequences for both C-phycocyanin subunits were compared with other known C-phycocyanin sequences for homology. Homologies between the A. quadruplicatum alpha subunit and alpha subunits from other species were approximately equal to 70%, as were homologies between the A. quadruplicatum beta subunit and other beta subunits. Homologies between the various alpha and beta subunits were 21%-27%. Codon usage for both the C-phycocyanin alpha- and beta-subunit genes shows asymmetries for many amino acids that correspond closely to those seen in highly expressed Escherichia coli genes.


Conditions and factors influencing the formation of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to yeast-like fungi of the species C. albicans under experimental conditions have been studied. The intensity of this reaction has been found to depend on the dose and method used for infecting mice, the time of the test and the qualitative state of fungal cells. As the result of this study, the infectious model of DH to C. albicans has been proposed. This model may be used for the study of the influence of different exogenous and endogenous factors of cell-mediated immune response to candidiasis.


Dipolar electric radiative lifetimes are calculated for Al iv. The semiempirical method that associates the parametric procedure, the optimization of a central parametric potential, and a second-order calculation of the radial matrix elements of the transition operator is shown to be related in a natural way to the effective-operator formalism and to perturbation theory. In contrast to previous applications of this method, all second-order contributions are taken into account. Two types of improvement are introduced, namely, the contributions arising from the inner shells and p5 shell excitations and the contributions of the continuum. They are shown to lead to a significant decrease in the discrepancies between the dipole-length and dipole-velocity results. Furthermore, their sizes in the second-order corrections are far from negligible in most cases and can even contribute in an essential way.


The type strain (strain ICMP 4289) and two reference strains (strains ICMP 4290 and ICMP 4291) of Pseudomonas cissicola (Takimoto 1939) Burkholder 1948 were obviously mislabeled at the Plant Disease Division Culture Collection (presently the International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants) in New Zealand when they were deposited in 1975 or subsequently when they were coded for the catalog of the collection. The strains were also mislabeled at the National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria in England when strain NCPPB 2982T (T = type strain) was transferred from the Plant Disease Division Culture Collection. Recently, these errors have caused considerable confusion in the taxonomic placement of this bacterium, not only in workers who received cultures from the culture collections but also in workers who are directly responsible for the culture collections. The type strain of the bacterium should be strain PC1 in the culture collection of plant-pathogenic bacteria at the Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Shizuoka University, strain ATCC 33616 in the American Type Culture Collection, or strain CCM 2888 in the Czechoslovak Collection of Microorganisms.


The error of instrument transformers is measured by connecting the external burden with the secondary terminal of the instrument transformers. Because the error of transformer is affected by the apparent power and power factor of the external burden, an accurate measurement of burden is important for transformer evaluation. We have developed the burden evaluation equipment for both potential transformer and current transformer by employing the series resistor in the range of and the parallel resistor in the range of , respectively, together with visual basic program. We could reduce testing time more than 5 times by employing method developed in this study, compared with that developed in past. This method shows more better reliability by analyzing the evaluation results and fitting graphs of burden measurements. The test results of the developed system is compared with those obtained in the power meter analyzer to verify the validity.


We study the electron capture process from molecular hydrogen targets by proton and alpha particle impact at high collision velocities. The dependence of the differential cross sections on the orientation of the internuclear axis of H2 is evaluated within a two effective center approximation for capture to selective final states of the projectile. In particular, the molecular B1B model is applied in the calculations. The molecular orientation effects observed are due to the interference between the scattering amplitudes from the two centers of the target.


Ensemble modeling is now a well-established means for improving prediction accuracy; it enables you to average out noise from diverse models and thereby enhance the generalizable signal. Basic stacked ensemble techniques combine predictions from multiple machine learning algorithms and use these predictions as inputs to second-level learning models. This paper shows how you can generate a diverse set of models by various methods such as forest, gradient boosted decision trees, factorization machines, and logistic regression and then combine them with stacked-ensemble techniques such as hill climbing, gradient boosting, and nonnegative least squares in SAS Visual Data Mining and Machine Learning. The application of these techniques to real-world big data problems demonstrates how using stacked ensembles produces greater prediction accuracy and robustness than do individual models. The approach is powerful and compelling enough to alter your initial data mining mindset from finding the single best model to finding a collection of really good complementary models. It does involve additional cost due both to training a large number of models and the proper use of cross validation to avoid overfitting. This paper shows how to efficiently handle this computational expense in a modern SAS environment and how to manage an ensemble workflow by using parallel computation in a distributed framework.


Background The tobacco cost literature has predominantly focused on estimating direct healthcare costs and productivity losses from morbidity and mortality. This study places a greater focus on the effects that arise through the fiscal system, illicit trade and fire accidents to estimate the social costs and benefits of tobacco use in Estonia in 2018. Methods A prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach was used, relying on data from the 2017–2018 period. Age-specific tobacco-attributable fractions were employed to estimate the costs and benefits of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Data on mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs were received from the National Institute of Health Development and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. We used data for offences and fires from the Estonian Rescue Board and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Results It was estimated that the total social cost attributable to tobacco in Estonia in 2018 was €174 million, representing 0.67% of the nation's GDP. If future benefits are also considered, the net social cost is €78 million. While the greatest cost components are productivity losses from mortality and morbidity, the level of tobacco-related law enforcement costs are comparable to direct healthcare costs, both of which exceed €10 million annually. Conclusions Despite the substantial social benefits arising through the fiscal system, tobacco-related costs outweighed these benefits in Estonia in 2018. In addition, a considerable portion of the economic burden of tobacco is associated with illicit trade. Therefore, the healthcare and law enforcement sectors would both benefit from effective tobacco control policies.


The microscopic urine sediment examination is a crucial part in the evaluation of renal and urinary tract diseases. Recently, there are emerging CNNs-based detectors to detect the urine sediment particles in an end-to-end manner. However, it is not very compatible to transfer CNNs-based detector directly from natural images application to microscopic images, especially in which small objects are in majority. This paper proposes a bidirectional context propagation network called BCPNet for urine sediment particle detection. In BCPNet, spatial details encoded by shallow convolutional layers are propagated upward to improve the localisation ability of deep features. On the contrary, high semantic information encoded by deep convolutional layers is propagated downward to enhance the distinctiveness of shallow features. With the refinement by convolutional block attention modules, the enriched features are more powerful to both localisation and classification. Experimental results on urine sediment particle dataset USE demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed BCPNet.


This book presents the first comprehensive description of the Manambu language of Papua New Guinea. Manambu belongs to the Ndu language family, and is spoken by about 2,500 people in five villages: Avatip, Yawabak, Malu, Apa:n, and Yambon (Yuanab) in East Sepik Province, Ambunti district. About 200-400 speakers live in the cities of Port Moresby, Wewak, Lae, and Madang; and a few live in Kokopo and Mount Hagen. The book is based entirely on the author's fieldwork.

After an introductory account of the language and its speakers, Professor Aikhenvald devotes chapters to phonology, grammatical relations, word classes, gender, semantics, number, case, possession, derivation and compounding, pronouns, morphology, verbs, mood and modality, negation, clauses, pragmatics, discourse, semantics, the lexicon, current directions of change, and genetic relationship to other languages. The description is presented in a clear style in a framework that will be comprehensible to all linguists and linguistic anthropologists.


Nitrogen is the main elemental constituent of Earth's atmosphere, but the deep Earth cycle of nitrogen is enigmatic because the speciation of nitrogen in the mantle has not been well constrained. Xenoliths from Earth's upper mantle contain small amounts of nitrogen: from a few parts per million in the depleted sub-ridge mantle to nearly 100 ppm in mantle-enriched domains formed by the recycling of organic materials transported to the deep mantle by subduction. It has been also suggested that the redox conditions in the mantle wedge resulting from subduction favor the development of the nitrogen-enriched atmosphere of the Earth (Mikhail and Sverjensky 2014).

The comparison of the composition of bulk Earth and carbonaceous chondrites shows that the nitrogen in Earth is depleted by an order of magnitude relative to hydrogen, carbon, and most noble gases (Marty 2012). That depletion can be due to un-accounted nitrogen that is stored in the Earth's deep interior. The "missing" nitrogen would likely have been sequestrated into the core or retained in the mantle during core-mantle differentiation. A host …


In the process of reaching a medium income country, science, mathematics and technology have become an emphasis of Ethiopia. But, currently, students' interest to study mathematics and ability in mathematics is declining. This study therefore aimed to investigate the prevalence of mathematics anxiety and its effect on students' current mathematics achievement. Additionally, by grounding on the literature, some strategies supposed to reduce the negative effects of math anxiety were identified for practice. The study was conducted on five randomly selected public secondary schools of district Kangra of Rural region in Himachal Pradesh. Math anxiety was measured using a validated instrument called Math Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS), whereas students' current mathematics achievement was measured using achievement test. Structural model was developed to examine causal relationship of the variables treated in the study. The finding revealed that there was a significant negative relationship between mathematics anxiety and achievement. There was also a statistically significant gender difference in mathematics anxiety and current math achievement, with effect size small and typical respectively. Based on the findings of the study, imperative implication for practice and future research were made.


hanks in part to Steven Spielberg's film Munich (2005), the name of this fine Bavarian city no longer conjures up only happy images of the Hofbräuhaus and Oktoberfest—or even the much less happy connection to the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938, which made "Munich" a byword for appeasement. These days "Munich" is indelibly associated with the brutal murder of eleven Israeli Olympians during the 1972 Summer Games. The death on June 8, 2008 of famed ABC sportscaster Jim McKay prompted widespread recollections of Munich '72, for it was McKay who anchored ABC's coverage of the surreal hostage-taking drama at the Olympic Village and the horribly botched rescue effort at nearby Fürstenfeldbruck Airfield, which resulted in the death of the remaining nine hostages (two had been killed earlier at the Village). Later, McKay published an autobiography in which he opined that the Munich murders represented "the end of an age of innocence for sport." Of course, that wasn't quite right; high-level sports, including the modern Olympic Games, have never really been innocent. The modern Olympics in particular were politicized from the outset. Before 1972 the Games were often used for propagandistic and ideological purposes. Here we might recall Hitler's famous exploitation of the 1936 Berlin Olympics; the Arab boycotts of the 1956 Melbourne Games in protest against the Anglo-French and Israeli Suez Canal invasion; and the "Black Power" demonstrations by two African-American athletes at the 1968 Mexico City Games. And yet McKay was correct to posit Munich as a kind of watershed in modern sport, especially Olympic sport, because the supposedly peaceful and brotherly Olympic festival had never been violated quite so brazenly or cruelly before (or— thankfully—since). In fact, the challenge of ensuring that there would be "no more Munichs" at ensuing Olympics drastically changed the complexion of the Games. Records from Bavarian archives relating to the preparations for Munich '72 make clear that the planning process was dominated by the imperative of thoroughly distancing these Games from those infamous "Nazi Games" of 1936, and indeed from all associations with the Third Reich. Of course, there was good reason why the city of Munich in particular had to worry about Nazi associations. It had been the birthplace of Nazism and the site of Hitler's first (unsuccessful) grasp at power, the "Beer Hall Putsch" of 1923. Once Hitler came to power, he named his adoptive German hometown the "Capital of the [Nazi] Movement," and it remained Nazi Party headquarters throughout the Third Reich. Hitler himself maintained an office in the newly built Führerbau in Munich's Königsplatz, site of the Munich Conference of 1938. Just up the road from Munich lay Dachau, home to Nazi Germany's first concentration camp. Munich Olympic organizers were careful not to call attention to the fact that the '72 Games took place on the site of the former airfield where British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had arrived to attend the Munich Conference, or that the Königsplatz, where the Olympic Torch was welcomed following its relay run from ancient Olympia—a ritual invented by the Nazis in 1936—had recently served as the heart of Nazi Munich. With all this very much in mind, the Munich planners determined that visitors to their Games would encounter, instead of any associations with the bad old past, an alternative set of images mirroring the "new Munich" and the "new [West] Germany"—images connoting parliamentary democracy, peace, civilian rule, and, above all, laidback good times. Not for nothing was the unofficial motto of Munich '72 "the Carefree Games" and the official mascot a cuddly little dachshund, who clearly didn't bite. Whereas Berlin in the summer of 1936 had pulsated with national pride and military assertiveness (Hitler had just remilitarized the Rhineland), T


Two main interventions are available for opening up blocked coronary arteries: balloon angioplasty and open heart surgery. In percutaneous coronary angioplasty a wide lumen catheter is fed from the groin up to the aortic root and into the coronary arteries. A guide wire is passed through the catheter and across the stenosis in the coronary artery. The wire is used to guide a balloon (with a stent mounted on it if necessary) into the diseased section of the artery. The balloon is inflated, pushing the atheroma outwards and enlarging the lumen of the artery. A stent can be expanded to fit the artery. Once the stent is in place (confirmed by angiography), the wires and the catheter are removed.

Arterial restenosis remains a serious problem after percutaneous coronary angioplasty. It tends to occur within three months of the procedure and is due to proliferation of smooth muscle as a reaction to vessel injury. Restenosis used to occur in over 30% of patients after percutaneous coronary angioplasty, but with the use of stents and advances in stent design and improved techniques for implanting them the rates now lie between 10% and 20%.1,2 This is comparable to the 10% of vein grafts that are lost in the year after bypass grafting. The main risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous coronary angioplasty are diabetes, thrombus formation or inflammation in the coronary tree, and small vessel size.

Two recent trials found no difference between percutaneous coronary angioplasty plus stenting and bypass surgery for death or myocardial infarct in patients without diabetes within two years of the procedure. Angina does, however, recur more commonly after percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting than it does after bypass surgery.3,4 Despite this, percutaneous coronary angioplasty remains the more popular choice, and the number of procedures that are performed each year is increasing. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty usually requires just one or two days in hospital, and patients can expect to be back at work within a week. Surgery is much more invasive and requires lengthy rehabilitation.

No trials have looked specifically at people with diabetes, but subgroup analyses of existing trials indicate that angioplasty is not as successful as surgery for these patients.3,5 This reflects the higher acute risk of percutaneous coronary angioplasty in a diabetic patient and the higher restenosis rate. However, with the advent of the glycoprotein Iib-IIIa receptor blockers (given intravenously at the start of the procedure), new data indicate that the risks may match that of people with no diabetes.6,7 These agents reduce platelet aggregation, which in turn reduces the risk of clot formation. A multicentre trial presently under way in the United Kingdom compares percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting and the concomitant use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa blockers with modern coronary artery bypass grafting. Preliminary results are expected within two years.

Stent development has enabled percutaneous coronary angioplasty to catch up with bypass graft surgery. Stent insertion using intravascular ultrasound guidance is the key to longer term success. In addition, localised radiotherapy at the time of stent implantation helps to reduce proliferation of smooth muscle. The newest stents (which are expensive and not yet in general use) are made of metal coated with a cytostatic agent such as sirolimus or paclitaxel.8,9 These agents are released slowly and locally to reduce proliferation of smooth muscle. Early trials with these newer stents suggest that less than 5% of people will have arterial restenosis.


This article explores experiences of gender, love, sex and family during the present period of complex social transformation in Hong Kong (HK) and the mainland through the narratives of five HK men and their adventures across the border. Whilst initially rose-tinted, their adventures encountered unexpected problems and brought about unforeseen needs. The article explores the emotions and responsibilities these men needed to contend with as they tried to exploit the opportunities that the mainland presented and argues for the need for services and support for the increasing number of men who frequently cross the border to achieve their goals.


A 10-year-old boy with subacute sclerosing panencehalitis (SSPE) is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by typical clinical picture, electroencephalographic changes, post-mortem pathohistological study and high titer of measles antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Serum to cerebrospinal fluid ratio of measles antibody titers was 16. The determination of measles antibody titer in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid, by using complement fixation and hemagglutinin inhibition tests, should be done in all patients with SSPE.


The spin-Hamiltonian parameters for the 3d3 ion in an orthorhombic centre are calculated within the framework of the electrostatic model. Expressions for the three components of the g tensor and the fine structure parameters b20 and b22 are given in terms of the crystalline field energies and spin-orbit coupling parameters. The calculations are performed including the contributions from the 4T2 states in the ground term and the 2T2 states in the excited terms. The relationship between g/sub ///-gperpendicular to and b20 is derived. The basis of the spin-Hamiltonian separation for the orthorhombic centre of 3d3 ions is shown by electrostatic theory. The proper coordinate system for the orthorhombic centre is also discussed.


An immunomodulator ginsan, polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, showed a mitogenic activity, generation of LAK cells, and the secretion of several cytokines. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of in vivo injected ginsan against irradiation. Ginsan was found to significantly increase the number of bone marrow cells, spleen cells and the number of circulating neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets in irradiated mice. In addition, ginsan induced the production of a variety of cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-a and SCF, which are required for a hematopoietic recovery and are closely correlated with the antioxidant defense systems. We demonstrated that the pretreatment with ginsan protected the mice from the lethal effects of ionizing radiation more effectively than given after the irradiation. A dramatic increase of the survival of the ginsan-treated group from LD50/30 7.54 Gy of the PBS-control group to 10.93 Gy was observed. Moreover, the levels of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and gluthathion peroxidase (GPx) were increased 1.5-2 fold in the ginsan treated mice compared to the irradiated mice. In conclusion, our data suggests that the radioprotective action of ginsan in the irradiated mice may be due to not only to the rapid regeneration of hematopoietic cells but also to the modulation of antioxidant defense systems.


Abstract Exocyclic DNA adducts are considered as potential tools for the study of oxidative stress-related diseases, but an important aspect is their chemical reactivity towards oxidant species. We report here the oxidation of 1-N2-etheno-2′-deoxyguanosine (1,N2-εdGuo) by singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) generated by a non-ionic water-soluble endoperoxide [N,N′-di(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,4-naphthalenedipropanamide endoperoxide (DHPNO2)] and its corresponding oxygen isotopically labeled [18O]-[N,N′-di(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,4- naphthalenedipropanamide endoperoxide (DHPN18O2)], and by photosensitization with two different photosensitizers [methylene blue (MB) and Rose Bengal (RB)]. Products detection and characterization were achieved using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ultraviolet and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. We found that dGuo is regenerated via reaction of 1O2 with the ε-linkage, and we propose a dioxetane as an intermediate, which cleaves and loses the aldehyde groups as formate residues, or alternatively, it generates a 1,2-ethanediol adduct. We also report herein the quenching rate constants of 1O2 by 1,N2-εdGuo and other etheno modified nucleosides. The rate constant (kt) values obtained for etheno nucleosides are comparable to the kt of dGuo. From these results, we suggest a possible role of 1O2 in the cleanup of etheno adducts by regenerating the normal base.


Abstract Background: The cause of congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is unknown and characterized by hyperinflation of one or more lobes of the lung. The purpose of this retrospective study was to present the anesthetic management of children with congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) receiving treatment in our center. Methods: Ten children underwent CLE-related surgical treatment in our center between March 1995 and August 2014. All cases were diagnosed on the basis of postero-anterior chest radiography and computerized tomography. Age, sex, preoperative clinical findings, location of lesions, surgical and anesthetic procedures, results of anesthesia and duration of hospitalization were evaluated. Results: Six patients were male (60%) and four female (40%). Their ages ranged from 40 days to 6 years. Dyspnea was present in all cases and severe in four of them. Four patients had emphysema in the left upper lobe, three in the right middle lobe, one in the right upper lobe and one in the left lower lobe. All patients were extubated in the operating room and none experienced post-operative respiratory distress. Post-operative analgesia was provided via the previously placed intrapleural catheter. All the patients were extubated in the operation room. There was no post-operative mortality or morbidity. Conclusions: Anesthetic management of patients with CLE is challenging. In these patients the surgical team and anesthetists should collaborate closely and the time between anesthesia induction and thoracotomy should be as short as possible.


Keywords: Business Process Management, Workflow Systems, Messaging Middleware, Enterprise Application Integration Abstract: Workflow systems in specific and Business Process Management Technologies in general, have significantly contributed to overcoming some of the integration problems of intra and inter enterprise process control and monitoring. However, the complexity of the interactions between heterogeneous and autonomous systems within the enterprise and often between trading partners in ever increasing. A number of initiatives and proposals are underway to provide solutions for process specification and communication. However, the focus is often on defining APIs and interfaces rather than the semantics of the underlying interactions. On the other hand messaging technologies are well positioned as the key enabling technology for facilitating these interactions. Although messaging systems have traditionally had a different agenda dominated by scalability and performance, we see a great potential in the enhancement of current messaging infrastructure, in its new role in facilitating complex, long running interactions for dynamic and collaborative processes operating in decentralized environments like the web. In this paper, we primarily present a vision for a technology aimed at providing a level of harmonization to multiple messages to form a single custom definable backbone. We will provide the foundation framework for the harmonized messaging technology and identify fundamental issues for the management of such complex interactions.


We review a recently introduced effective graph approximation of causal dynamical triangulations (CDT), the multigraph ensemble. We argue that it is well suited for analytical computations and that it captures the physical degrees of freedom which are important for the reduction of the spectral dimension as observed in numerical simulations of CDT. In addition multigraph models allow us to study the relationship between the spectral dimension and the Hausdorff dimension, thus establishing a link to other approaches to quantum gravity.


The purpose of the study was to describe the extent to which cooperating and student teachers used the problem-solving approach to teaching. A hypothesis was employed to test the relationship between cooperating teachers' use and the student teachers' use of the approach. The sample consisted of 15 student teachers and their cooperating teachers. Videotapes of the student and cooperating teachers' classroom teaching were collected and analyzed using an instrument developed by the researchers. Student teachers and cooperating teachers spent less than 20% of their instructional time using the problem-solving approach to teaching. Student teachers spent the most time guiding students in seeking data and information to solve the problem. Cooperating teachers spent the most time gaining and maintaining the interest of students in learning the subject matter. A positive relationship was found between the cooperating teachers' use and the student teachers' use of the problem-solving approach to teaching. It was concluded that a student teacher's use of the problem-solving approach to teaching could be enhanced if cooperating teachers modeled the approach. It was recommended that priority be given to selectin g cooperating teachers who model the desired teaching behaviors expected of student teachers. The agricultural education profession has placed Research (Boone, 1988; Osborne & Hamzah , an emphasis on teaching secondary agriculture 1989) found that teachers of agriculture organize d students decision making skills through problem- their lessons on a problem-solving basis, but did not solving (American Association for Agricultural follow through with actual problem-solving teaching Education, Preparation of Professionals fo r in the classroom. Boone and Newcomb (1990) Agricultural Education, 1991). Teacher educators concluded that teachers who were utilizing th e (Association of Teacher Educators, Commission on problem-solving approach to teaching were not fully the Education of Teachers, 1991), across subjec t employing all essential elements of the problem matter disciplines, have also supported teachin g solving approach to teaching. teachers how to use problem-solving as a teachin g methodology. Crunkilton (1988), in his address to With regard to student teachers' use of th e the American Association for Agricultural problem-solving approach to teaching, McKee and Education, stated that "... problem solving, both as Warmbrod (1992) found that student teacher s a method of teaching and as a skill that student s perceived they were using the approach; however, need, is more critical today than it was years ago " an analysis of teaching audiotapes revealed that they (p. 8). However, to what extent have teachers of were not using the problem-solving approach i n agriculture been utilizing the problem-solvin g their teaching. Additional research (Osborne & approach to teaching?


Lactam-containing structural compounds are ubiquitous in drugs and biomolecules. An electrochemical oxidative direct C(sp3)–H azolation of lactams has been reported under metal catalyst-free and external chemical oxidant-free conditions. This electrochemical C(sp3)–H/N–H coupling is characterized by its broad substrate scope of azoles and lactams under mild conditions at room temperature. Mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction possibly involves a radical process. Moreover, the site selectivity can be explained by DFT calculations. More meaningfully, a gram-scale synthesis method of flow electrochemistry was employed to show the scaled-up applicability of this transformation.


In a Biodiversity_Next 2019 symposium, a vision of Digital Specimens based on the concept of a Digital Object Architecture (Kahn and Wilensky 2006) (DOA) was discussed as a new layer between data infrastructure of natural science collections and user applications for processing and interacting with information about specimens and collections. This vision would enable the transformation of institutional curatorial practises into joint community curation of the scientific data by providing seamless global access to specimens and collections spanning multiple collection-holding institutions and sources. A DOA-based implementation (Lannom et al. 2020) also offers wider, more flexible, and 'FAIR' (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) access for varied research and policy uses: recognising curatorial work, annotating with latest taxonomic treatments, understanding variations, working with DNA sequences or chemical analyses, supporting regulatory processes for health, food, security, sustainability and environmental change, inventions/products critical to the bio-economy, and educational uses. To make this vision a reality, a specification is needed that describes what a Digital Specimen is, and how to technically implement it. This specification is named 'openDS' for open Digital Specimen. It needs to describe how machines and humans can act on a Digital Specimen and gain attribution for their work; how the data can be serialized and packaged; and it needs to describe the object model (the scientific content part and its ‡,§,| ¶ © Addink W, Hardisty A. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. structure). The object model should describe how to include the specimen data itself as well as all data derived from the specimen, which is in principle the same as what the Extended Specimen model aims to describe. This part will therefore be developed in close collaboration with people working on that model. After the Biodiversity_Next symposium, the idea of a standard for Digital Specimens has been further discussed and detailed in a MOBILISE Workshop in Warsaw, 2020, with stakeholders like the GBIF, iDigBio, CETAF and DiSSCo. The workshop examined the technical basis of the new specification, agreed on scope and structure of the new specification and laid groundwork for future activities in the Research Data Alliance (RDA), Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG), and technical workshops. A working group in the DiSSCo Prepare project has begun on the technical specification of the 'open Digital Specimen' (openDS). This specification will provide the definition of what a Digital Specimen is, its logical structure and content, and the operations permitted on that. The group is also working on a document with frequently asked questions. Realising the vision of Digital Specimen on a global level requires openDS to become a new TDWG standard and to be aligned with the vision for Extended Specimens. A TDWG Birds-of-a-Feather working session in September 2020 discusses and plans this further. The object model will include concepts from ABCD 3.0 and EFG extension for geosciences, and also extend from bco:MaterialSample in the OBO Foundry's Biological Collection Ontology (BCO), which is linked to Darwin Core and from iao:InformationContentEntity in OBO Foundry's Information Artifact Ontology (IAO). openDS will also make use of the RDA/TDWG attribution metadata recommendation and other RDA recommendations. A publication is in preparation that describes the relationship with RDA recommendations in more detail, which will also be presented in the TDWG symposium.


This paper presents a comparative critique of the 'processual temporalities' which infuse both social-scientific theorizing and selected Western cultural practices. Through study of a public-private partnership which emerged from a biotechnology project devised for producing 'self-cloning' maize for resource-poor farmers, I analyse how processual temporalities were central to re-gearing knowledge practices towards market-orientated solutions. In a study of characterizations of the 'state of flux' which affects life in a French peri-urban village, I explore how processualism is identified as a component of a metropolitan hegemony which villagers 'resist' through idealizing 'enduring temporalities' of cultural practice. Drawing on Arendt and Deleuze, I analyse processualism as a dominant contemporary chronotope, mediating and disciplining conflictive temporalities and practices, underwriting economic projects of deterritorialization and restructuring – whose idiom is also prominent in social-scientific paradigms. I substitute an 'immanent anthropology', which advocates a non-transcendental ontology of cultural practice and analysis – displacing anthropological analysis onto a polychronic temporal foundation.


Human papillomavirus (HPV) occurs in many types, some of which cause cervical, genital, and other cancers. While vaccination is available against the major cancer-causing HPV types, many others are not covered by these preventive measures. Herein, we present a bioinformatics study for the designing of multivalent peptide vaccines against multiple HPV types as an alternative strategy to the virus-like particle vaccines being used now. Our technique of rational design of peptide vaccines is expected to ensure stability of the vaccine against many cycles of mutational changes, elicit immune response, and negate autoimmune possibilities. Using the L1 capsid protein sequences, we identified several peptides for potential vaccine design for HPV 16, 18, 33, 35, 45, and 11 types. Although there are concerns about the epitope-binding affinities for the peptides identified in this process, the technique indicates possibilities of multivalent, adjuvanted, peptide vaccines against a wider range of HPV types, and tailor-made different combinations of the peptides to address frequency variations of types over different population groups as required for prophylaxis and at lower cost than are in use at the present time.


Assessment is defined as the processes and instruments applied to measure the learner's achievements. The word "assess" comes from the Latin word "assidere" meaning "to sit with." In assessment, one is supposed to sit with the learner. This implies that it is something we do "with" and "for" students and not "to" students (Green, 1999).


The need for visual perception systems providing situational awareness to autonomous vehicles has grown significantly. While traditional deep neural networks are effective for solving 2-D Euclidean problems, point cloud analysis, particularly for radar data, contains unique challenges because of the irregular geometry of point clouds. This letter proposes a novel transformer-based architecture for radar point clouds adapted to the graph signal processing (GSP) framework, designed to handle non-Euclidean and irregular signal structures. We provide experimental results by using well-established benchmarks on the nuScenes and RadarScenes datasets to validate our proposed method.