Abstract: Plasma concentrations of neurohypophysial hormones show clear rhythms over 24 hr which can be suppressed by exposure to constant light, an observation consistent with pineal involvement. A study has therefore been performed on the changes in the hormone levels in the hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, and plasma over 24 hr in control, pinealectomised, and sham pinealectomised animals to determine if the pineal could play a role. Water intake, urine excretion, packed cell volume, plasma osmolality, and electrolytes were also monitored. Pinealectomy had little effect on fluid balance, but after 8 weeks for oxytocin and 2 weeks for vasopressin the morning values (0700–0800) for the circulating concentrations of the hormones were significantly higher in the pinealectomized group compared with the combined sham operated and unoperated groups (pineal intact). By contrast, the pituitary vasopressin was significantly lower in the pinealectomised group. The increase in plasma oxytocin and vasopressin seen over the hours of daylight and accompanying fall in plasma osmolality seen in the pineal intact group were absent in the pinealectomised group. Similarly, the evening fall in pituitary hormone concentrations and increase in hypothalamic hormone content were absent in the pinealectomised animals. After 10 days of exposure to constant light, the fall in plasma osmolality in the pineal‐intact animals over the day was no longer significant; instead a significant increase in plasma osmolality and sodium was seen in the pinealectomised group. Exposure to constant light, while altering the patterns of neurohypophysial activity in the pineal intact group, had little effect on the pinealectomised animals.


Glycine has been shown to protect renal tubule cells and hepatocytes from ischemia, ATP depletion, and cold storage injury. Glycine may be a useful additive to organ preservation solutions or suppress reperfusion injury by infusion into recipients of liver transplantation. In this study, the effects of glycine on survival and postoperative liver injury were studied in the rat and dog orthotopic transplant model. Rat livers preserved for 30 hr in the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution were 50% viable (3 of 6 survivors for 7 days). When glutathione was replaced by 10 mM glycine, survival increased to 100% (6 of 6). There was a significant reduction in hepatocellular injury at the end of preservation (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] in the pretransplant flush-out of the liver was lower in the glycine group) and after transplantation (serum LDH concentration 6 hr after transplant was lower in the glycine group). In the dog, omission of glutathione from the UW solution resulted in 33% survival (48-hr preservation model) versus 100% survival with glutathione. Replacing glutathione in the UW solution by glycine did not improve survival (33% after 48 hr of preservation). However, when glycine was given to recipients of livers preserved in the UW solution for 24 or 48 hr, there was a decrease in the degree of hepatocellular injury. After 48 hr of preservation, peak aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and LDH were reduced by about 45–55% when glycine was given to the recipient. Although the differences, with and without glycine treatment of the recipients, did not reach statistical significance, there was a noticeable reduction in hepatocellular injury with glycine. There was 100% survival of dogs in the groups that received livers preserved with the UW solution plus or minus glycine infusion. Hepatamine, a parenteral nutrition solution containing glycine and other amino acids increased hepatocellular injury (higher concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, and LDH versus control 48-hr preserved livers), although all dogs survived. This study shows that glycine is cytoprotective when administered to recipients of livers preserved for 24 or 48 hr and suppresses hepatocellular injury, as reflected in a reduction in the concentration of serum enzymes. However, the differences, with and without glycine, were, at best, marginal and further studies are needed to determine whether glycine would make a significant improvement in liver preservation and prevent primary nonfunction.


Because of its diuretic and antihypertensive actions, chlorothiazide has been recommended for use in edematous and hypertensive states, 1-10 including renal disease. 11-13 Although chlorothiazide is known to cause increased excretion of Na and K, 14-21 only few untoward clinical reactions have been described during its use. 22-26 However, since patients with renal insufficiency may have a diminished ability to conserve Na, K, and Cl ions, the administration of such a diuretic might accentuate the process of depletion. We present two cases of chronic glomerulonephritis to emphasize the dangers in the use of chlorothiazide in patients with renal insufficiency. In each case electrolyte balance studies were carried out, including the measurement of total exchangeable Na and K by the isotope dilution principle. Method Serum and urine Na and K were determined by flame photometry. Osmolality of serum and urine was measured by the method of freezing point depression using the Fiske Osmometer. Na 22 and K 42


Thermoelectrochemical cells (TECs) provide conspicuous advantages, including a high Seebeck coefficient (Se), design flexibility, and low cost compared with conventional thermoelectric devices. Here, we investigated TECs employing Li metal electrodes (Li-TECs) and a series of glyme (CH3O[CH2CH2O]nCH3, n = 1-4, nG) solvents with 0.5-3.0 M lithium-imide salts (lithium bis [fluorosulfonyl]imide, LiFSI, and lithium bis[trifluoromethane sulfonyl]imide, LiTFSI). The Se value and power performance of Li-TECs markedly depend on the nature of glyme solvents and Li salt concentration. The dependency of Se on the solvation structure of the Li-ions is examined via Raman measurements, and the internal resistance of Li-TECs is analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Notably, a Li-TEC with 1.0 M LiFSI 1G displays about two times higher power density and about eight times higher conversion efficiency than a conventional Cu-TEC utilizing aqueous electrolytes, which is ascribed to the high Se value and low thermal conductivity of the former. In addition, for a Li-TEC with 1.0 M LiFSI 1G, the low-temperature performance is examined to assess its practical feasibility.


Concentration together with the stable isotope composition (δ15N) of both ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen were conducted for sedentary soils under the piscivorous seabird colony developed on Quaternary basaltic ejecta from the Hatana islands, Fiji, south Pacific. Higher inorganic nitrogen content (up to 2,420 mg-N/kg dry soil) was observed for soils under dense forest vegetation, relative to a lower nitrogen content for soils under sparse grass vegetation (270 mg-N/kg dry soil), reflecting the difference in the mulching effects of vegetative cover for leaching of nitrogen by meteoric water. Active mineralization of uric acid in the bird excreta followed by partial loss due to volatilization of ammonia, nitrification and denitrification were indicated by unique δ15N values of the inorganic nitrogen as high as +50‰. This unique process was facilitated by high soil surface temperature (24 to 32°C) in combination with the humid tropical climate (annual rainfall: 3560 mm). Distinct isotopic composition of the foliar nitrogen (δ15N = +13.6 to +36.7‰) indicated acquisition of the inorganic nitrogen derived from bird excreta in soils.


This study aims at the experimental determination of the detector-specific 1D lateral dose response function K(x) and of its associated rotational symmetric counterpart K(r) for a set of high-resolution detectors presently used in narrow-beam photon dosimetry. A combination of slit-beam, radiochromic film, and deconvolution techniques served to accomplish this task for four detectors with diameters of their sensitive volumes ranging from 1 to 2.2 mm. The particular aim of the experiment was to examine the existence of significant negative portions of some of these response functions predicted by a recent Monte-Carlo-simulation (Looe et al Phys. Med. Biol. 60 6585–607). In a 6 MV photon slit beam formed by the Siemens Artiste collimation system and a 0.5 mm wide slit between 10 cm thick lead blocks serving as the tertiary collimator, the true cross-beam dose profile D(x) at 3 cm depth in a large water phantom was measured with radiochromic film EBT3, and the detector-affected cross-beam signal profiles M(x) were recorded with a silicon diode, a synthetic diamond detector, a miniaturized scintillation detector, and a small ionization chamber. For each detector, the deconvolution of the convolution integral M(x)  =  K(x)  ∗  D(x) served to obtain its specific 1D lateral dose response function K(x), and K(r) was calculated from it. Fourier transformations and back transformations were performed using function approximations by weighted sums of Gaussian functions and their analytical transformation. The 1D lateral dose response functions K(x) of the four types of detectors and their associated rotational symmetric counterparts K(r) were obtained. Significant negative curve portions of K(x) and K(r) were observed in the case of the silicon diode and the diamond detector, confirming the Monte-Carlo-based prediction (Looe et al Phys. Med. Biol. 60 6585–607). They are typical for the perturbation of the secondary electron field by a detector with enhanced electron density compared with the surrounding water. In the cases of the scintillation detector and the small ionization chamber, the negative curve portions of K(x) practically vanish. It is planned to use the measured functions K(x) and K(r) to deconvolve clinical narrow-beam signal profiles and to correct the output factor values obtained with various high-resolution detectors.


The therapeutic management of various HER2-positive malignancies involves the use of HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The primary mechanism of action of ADCs is the release of cytotoxic chemicals, which leads to single- or double-strand DNA breaks and cell death. Since both endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damage are unavoidable, cells have evolved DNA damage-repair mechanisms. Therefore, combining inhibitors of DNA damage repair and HER2-targeted ADCs may be a practical strategy for treating HER2-positive cancers. Effects of the HER2-targeted ADC, DS-8201, in combination with PARPi (AZD2281), a DNA damage repair inhibitor that targets poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and ATRi (BAY1895344), which inhibits the serine/threonine kinase ATR, were determined by assessing cell-growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, as well as using in vivo pharmacodynamic studies. Combined use of AZD2281 and BAY1895344 synergistically potentiated the inhibitory effects of DS-8201 on the growth of HER2-positive cancer cells, inducing DNA damage and apoptosis, but had no effect on HER2-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Our data demonstrate that DS-8201 and DNA damage repair inhibitors together have synergistic anticancer effects in NCI-N87 xenograft models, effects that may reflect upregulation of γ-H2AX protein in tumor tissues. Collectively, our results indicate that the combination of DS-8201, BAY1895344, and AZD2281 exerts significant synergistic antitumor activity, suggesting that DNA damage-repair inhibitors in combination with HER2-targeted ADCs is a potential approach for treating HER2-positive malignancies, offering a promising strategy for future clinical applications.


The range of existence and the stability of spatially periodic solutions has been studied for steady and oscillatory two-dimensional convection in a fluid-saturated porous medium. We have analysed the limit where viscous effects are dominant and Darcy's law can be applied. A Galerkin method has been used to obtain the steady and the centrosymmetric oscillatory solutions that appear in nonlinear convection at Rayleigh numbers up to 20 times the critical value. Their stability boundaries to arbitrary infinitesimal perturbations have been obtained. Above a given Rayleigh number stable oscillatory solutions are possible at wavenumbers close to the critical values. The stability of this oscillatory state with respect to infinitesimal perturbations of any wavenumber has also been studied. The resulting temporal dynamics in the different unstable regimes is briefly discussed. We show the existence of 3:l spatial resonances of the steady roll solutions and the existence of stable centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric oscillatory solutions.


By using an analog prefilter and a sampled data processor, it is possible to easily implement an entire class of weighting functions. Their main feature is a finite time duration; an additional interesting property is the small number of samples needed to process a pulse. Flat tops within better than 1% accuracy can also be achieved. Possible implementations of these filters are discussed with emphasis on causes of inaccuracy. In particular, these filters come out to be time-variant. Synchronization issues are therefore developed and thoroughly discussed. In a mixed analog-digital implementation, special regard should be given to the A/D converter: the requirements on its characteristics are derived. In particular, a simple way to evaluate its resolution (number of bits) is derived, and the interrelationships between the achievable accuracy, ballistic deficit reduction, and the characteristics of the analog prefilter are discussed. Strategies aimed at achieving and/or at avoiding the synchronization of the input pulses with the digital acquisition are proposed. >


A new joint carrier frequency offset (CFO) and channel estimation technique by using the detected data is developed for OFDM systems. The synchronization information contained in the channel estimated results which is gained by LS channel estimation method is extracted based on the maximum likelihood (ML) criterion for synchronization estimation, and then the estimated results of CFO are used to correct the initial estimated channel and make it approach to the real channel more strictly. In order to suppress noise, the closed-loop schemes are described in details. Set appropriate values for the loop factors, the algorithm can be used to tracking the time variable channel.


Entanglement of charge orderings and other electronic orders such as superconductivity is in the core of challenging physics issues of complex materials including high temperature superconductivity. Here, we report on the observation of a unique nanometer scale honeycomb charge ordering of the cleaved IrTe2 surface, which hosts a superconducting state. IrTe2 was recently established to exhibit an intriguing cascade of stripe charge orders. The stripe phases coexist with a hexagonal phase, which is formed locally and falls into a superconducting state below 3 K. The atomic and electronic structures of the honeycomb and hexagon pattern of this phase are consistent with the charge order nature, but the superconductivity does not survive on neighboring stripe charge order domains. The present work provides an intriguing physics issue and a new direction of functionalization for two-dimensional materials.


Keratoconus (KC) is non‐inflammatory, bilateral progressive corneal ectasia, and a disease of established biomechanical instability. The etiology of KC is believed to be multifactorial. Although previous studies gained insight into the understanding of the disease, little is known thus far on global protein phosphorylation changes in keratoconus. We performed phosphoproteome analysis of corneal epithelium from control (N = 5) and KC patients. Tandem mass tag (TMT) multiplexing technology along with immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) were used for the phosphopeptides enrichment and quantitation. Enriched peptides were analyzed on Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid mass spectrometer. This leads to the identification of 2939 unique phosphopeptides derived from 1270 proteins. We observed significant differential phosphorylation of 591 phosphopeptides corresponding to 375 proteins. Our results provide first phosphoproteomic signature of the keratoconus disease and identified dysregulated signaling pathways that can be targeted for therapy in future studies.


We consider geodesic flows between hypersurfaces in $\R^n$. However, rather than consider using geodesics in $\R^n$, which are straight lines, we consider an induced flow using geodesics between the tangent spaces of the hypersurfaces viewed as affine hyperplanes. For naturality, we want the geodesic flow to be invariant under rigid transformations and homotheties. Consequently, we do not use the dual projective space, as the geodesic flow in this space is not preserved under translations. Instead we give an alternate approach using a Lorentzian space, which is semi-Riemannian with a metric of index $1$. For this space for points corresponding to affine hyperplanes in $\R^n$, we give a formula for the geodesic between two such points. As a consequence, we show the geodesic flow is preserved by rigid transformations and homotheties of $\R^n$. Furthermore, we give a criterion that a vector field in a smoothly varying family of hyperplanes along a curve yields a Lorentzian parallel vector field for the corresponding curve in the Lorentzian space. As a result this provides a method to extend an orthogonal frame in one affine hyperplane to a smoothly "Lorentzian varying" family of orthogonal frames in a family of affine hyperplanes along a smooth curve, as well as a interpolating between two such frames with a smooth " minimally Lorentzian varying" family of orthogonal frames. We further give sufficient conditions that the Lorentzian flow from a hypersurface is nonsingular and that the resulting corresponding flow in $\R^n$ is nonsingular. This is illustrated for surfaces in $\R^3$.


Twenty-one coastal rivers located on the western Peruvian margin were analyzed to determine the relationships between fluvial and environmental processes and sediment grain properties such as grain size, roundness and sphericity. Modern gravel beds were sampled along a north-south transect on the western side of the Peruvian Andes, and at each site the long a -axis and the intermediate b -axis of about 500 pebbles were measured. Morphometric properties such as river gradient, catchment size and discharge of each drainage basin were determined and compared against measured grain properties. Grain size data show a constant value of the D 50 percentile all along the coast, but an increase in the D 84 and D 96 values and an increase in the ratio of the intermediate and the long axis from south to north. Our results then yield better-sorted and less spherical material in the south when compared to the north. No correlations were found between the grain size and the morphometric properties of the river basins when considering the data together. Grouping the results in a northern and southern group shows better-sorted sediments and lower D 84 and D 96 values for the southern group of basins. Within the two groups, correlations were found between the grain size distributions and morphometric basins properties. Our data indicates that fluvial transport is the dominant process controlling the erosion, transport and deposition of sediment in the southern basins while we propose a geomorphic control on the grain size properties in the northern basins. Sediment properties in the northern and southern basins could not be linked to differences in tectonic controls. On the other hand, the north-south trend in the grain size and in the b/a ratio seems controlled by a shift towards a more humid climate and towards a stronger El Nino impact in northern Peru. But, generally speaking, the resulting trends and differences in sediment properties seem controlled by differences in the complex geomorphic setting along the arc and forearc regions.


ON THE INFLUENCE OF CANCEROUS GASTRIC JUICE UPON THE LIVER ARGINASE. By Haruhiko Tamaki (1st Medical Clinic, Wakayama Medical College) (Prof. R. Iwatsuru) In the previous reports, I dealt with the influence of the cancerous gastric juice on the liver catalase and also on the phosphatase. The liver arginase is the subject of the present paper. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The liver arginase activity of normal rats ranged from 24.3 to 38.4, and the average value was 31.2. 2. The activity of the enzyme was depressed by injection of the cancerous gastric juice, indicating 17.5-25.5, average 21.4. 3. No remarkable change of arginase activity was observed when injected non cancerous gastric juice as control experiment. 4. The precipitate of cancerous gastric juice by trichloracetic acid proved arginase depressing effect, but the supernatant fluid had no effect on the enzyme.


The human MxA protein is a type I and III interferon (IFN)-induced protein with proven antiviral activity against RNA viruses. In this study, we investigated the effect of MxA expression on the replication of West Nile Virus strain Kunjin (WNV(KUN)). Pretreatment of A549 cells with IFN-alpha lead to increased expression of MxA, which contributed to inhibition of WNV(KUN) replication and secretion. However, in Vero cells stably expressing the MxA protein, WNV(KUN) replication, maturation and secretion was not inhibited. Biochemical and subcellular localization studies of WNV(KUN) proteins and MxA suggest that the MxA activity was not compromised by a flavivirus-encoded antagonist. Instead, we show that characteristic membranous structures induced during WNV(KUN) replication provide partial protection from MxA, possibly by 'hiding' WNV(KUN) replication components. This distinct compartmentalization of viral replication and components of the cellular antiviral response may be an evolutionary mechanism by which flaviviruses can hide from host surveillance.


The importance of robotic assistive devices grows in our work and everyday life. Cooperative scenarios involving both robots and humans require safe human-robot interaction. One important aspect here is the management of robot errors, including fast and accurate online robot-error detection and correction. Analysis of brain signals from a human interacting with a robot may help identifying robot errors, but accuracies of such analyses have still substantial space for improvement. In this paper we evaluate whether a novel framework based on deep convolutional neural networks (deep ConvNets) could improve the accuracy of decoding robot errors from the EEG of a human observer, both during an object grasping and a pouring task. We show that deep ConvNets reached significantly higher accuracies than both regularized Linear Discriminant Analysis (rLDA) and filter bank common spatial patterns (FB-CSP) combined with rLDA, both widely used EEG classifiers. Deep ConvNets reached mean accuracies of 75% ± 9 %, rLDA 65% ± 10% and FB-CSP + rLDA 63% ± 6% for decoding of erroneous vs. correct trials. Visualization of the time-domain EEG features learned by the ConvNets to decode errors revealed spatiotemporal patterns that reflected differences between the two experimental paradigms. Across subjects, ConvNet decoding accuracies were significantly correlated with those obtained with rLDA, but not CSP, indicating that in the present context ConvNets behaved more "rLDA-like" (but consistently better), while in a previous decoding study with another task but the same ConvNet architecture, it was found to behave more "CSP-like". Our findings thus provide further support for the assumption that deep ConvNets are a versatile addition to the existing toolbox of EEG decoding techniques, and we discuss steps how ConvNet EEG decoding performance could be further optimized.


The decay rate of isotropic and homogeneous turbulence is known to be affected by the large-scale spectrum of the initial perturbations, associated with at least two canonical self-preserving solutions of the von Kármán-Howarth equation: the so-called Batchelor and Saffman spectra. The effect of long-range correlations in the decay of anisotropic flows is less clear, and recently it has been proposed that the decay rate of rotating turbulence may be independent of the large-scale spectrum of the initial perturbations. We analyze numerical simulations of freely decaying rotating turbulence with initial energy spectra ∼k^{4} (Batchelor turbulence) and ∼k^{2} (Saffman turbulence) and show that, while a self-similar decay can not be identified for the total energy, the decay is indeed affected by long-range correlations. The decay of two- and three-dimensional modes follows distinct power laws in each case, which are consistent with predictions derived from the anisotropic von Kármán-Howarth equation, and with conservation of anisotropic integral quantities by the flow evolution.


Rowan Williams goes back to the fourth century desert fathers and mothers for inspiration and insight. In exploring their stories and spirituality, the Archbishop discovers that their spirituality resonates strongly with aspects of the modern spiritual search. He uses examination of their stories and sayings as a starting point for his own reflections on topics such as: living in relationship with others discovering the truth about ourselves reassessing our priorities silence and the importance of language living in a fearless community living within our limitations life and death staying and leaving.


1016 Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a lipid kinase that is a known regulator of cellular growth and proliferation. The PI3K pathway plays a critical role in the development of cancer. Somatic mutations in the p110-alpha catalytic subunit, PIK3CA, have been reported for colon (19-32%), gastric (25%), breast (8%-40%), lung (4%) and ovarian (6%) cancers as well as glioblastomas (5-27%), oligodendrogliomas (14%), medulloblastomas (5%) and astrocytomas (3%). Mutations cluster in two "hot spots" located in the helical (exon 9) and kinase (exon 20) domains. We performed mutational screening analysis of PIK3CA in several so far uninvestigated cancers: hematologic malignancies, lymphomas as well as endometrial, prostate and ovarian cancers. Cell lines and patient samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction - single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and nucleotide sequencing of the two "hot spots". Two colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (SKCol1, SW403) were used as positive controls and revealed the known missense mutation (Q546K) in exon 9. Twenty-eight endometrial cancer samples and 6 endometrial cancer cell lines (HEC59, HEC1B, RL95-2, KLE, AN3 and Ishikawa) were screened for mutations. One patient sample showed a mutation at codon 1025 in the kinase domain (exon 20) causing an amino acid change from Threonine to Alanine (T1025A). Ishikawa revealed a previously undocumented polymorphism for Threonine residue 1025 (T1025T). The same change was found in one of 43 primary lymphoma samples and in two MDS patients out of 46 AML and MDS samples. Twelve prostate cancer samples and two prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145) together with 18 ovarian cancer samples and one ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3) showed no shifted bands by SSCP-analysis. Sequencing a shift for the erythroid chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562, revealed an amino acid change from Glutamic acid to Alanine at amino acid position 545 of exon 9 (E545A). Further analysis lead to the discovery of a previously unidentified PIK3CS pseudogene spanning exons 9 through 13 on chromosome 22. In summary, PIK3CA mutations occur infrequently in hematologic malignancies as well as prostate, ovary and endometrial tumors. Being aware of the PIK3CA pseudogene could prevent misleading mutational analysis of the PIK3CA gene.


New studies of the dynamics of rotating objects have shown the origin of their gyroscopic effects is more sophisticated than presented in publications. Their rotating mass acting on bodies generates the system of the kinetically interrelated inertial torques. The method for developing mathematical models for inertial torques of the spinning objects shows their dependencies on geometries. The inertial torques generated by the disc, ring, paraboloid, and others have confirmed this statement. The derived analytical method presents a new direction for the dynamics of classical mechanics. The several inertial torqueses acting on any movable spinning objects in space were unknown until recent times. The gyroscopic effects of rotating objects in engineering and a new method for computing their inertial torques are the challenges for researchers. The novelty of this manuscript is the mathematical models for the inertial torques generated by the rotating mass acting on the spinning solid and hollow sphere.


This monograph tackles three challenges. First, show a mathematics-based meta-model that matches known elementary particles. Second, apply models, based on the meta-model, to match other known physics data. Third, predict future physics data. The math features solutions to isotropic pairs of isotropic quantum harmonic oscillators. This monograph matches some solutions to known elementary particles. Matched properties include spin, types of interactions in which the particles partake, and (for elementary bosons) approximate masses. Other solutions point to possible elementary particles. This monograph applies the models and the extended particle list. Results narrow gaps between physics data and theory. Results pertain to elementary particles, astrophysics, and cosmology. For example, this monograph predicts properties for beyond-the-Standard-Model elementary particles, proposes descriptions of dark matter and dark energy, provides new relationships between known physics constants (including masses of some elementary particles), includes theory that dovetails with the ratio of dark matter to ordinary matter, includes math that dovetails with the number of elementary-fermion generations, suggests forces that govern the rate of expansion of the universe, and suggests additions to and details for the cosmology timeline


Abstract Digital native, the term ubiquitously used to describe contemporary learners, is fraught with debate over its meaning and measurement. The Digital Natives Assessment Scale (DNAS) was developed and validated to measure digital nativeness. This study extends the DNAS validation discussion with data from 178 participants in three teacher preparation programs in the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicate the data fully fit neither Teo's validated 21-item, 4-factor model, nor a theorized 30-item, 4-factor model. Further analyses showed the DNAS may not address the factors of digital nativeness. Discussion contributes dialog to the ongoing and growing critique of the construct. Future research within educational technology and beyond should focus on alternative conceptualizations of contemporary learners and educators.


Solving physics problems usually requires geometric reasoning; a computer problem solver must use a representation that is in some respects equivalent to the use of diagrams by human problems solves. In this paper, we review the uses of diagrams and geometric reasoning in physics problem solving programs. Next, we consider the many roles that diagrams seem to play in human problem solving, the relative strengths and weaknesses of computers and human problem solvers for reasoning with diagram-like representations, and ways in which some of the uses of diagrams by humans might be implemented in computer programs.


Abstract Family of T-type or low-voltage activated calcium channels consists of three members: CaV3.1, CaV3.2, and CaV3.3. CaV3.2 channel has almost identical biophysical properties as the CaV3.1 channel, but is distinguished by a specific tissue expression profile and a prominent role in several pathologies, including neuropathic pain, epilepsy, and dysregulation of cardiac rhythm. Further, it may be involved in phenotype of autism spectrum disorders, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It represents a promising target for future pharmacotherapies.


Binders are agents employed to impart cohesiveness to the powdered material during the formulation of tablets which remains intact after compression. As part of continuing efforts to design a cost-effective pharmaceutical grade binder, two different types of plant-based polysaccharides such as hemicelluloses from corn cobs and mucilage from sapota seeds were extracted from domestic waste and used as a binder in amoxicillin tablet formulations using wet granulation technique. Finally the efficiency of the tablet was evaluated by different pre-compression and post-compression analysis. The in-vitro drug release profile of formulated tablets were assayed at different gastrointestinal tract pH. The extracted hemicellulose and mucilage were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). All the formulations with natural polymers produced tablets easily and showed satisfactory results. The sapota seed mucilage exhibited better in vitro drug release profile than the corn cob hemicellulose. The dissolution time of the tablets was found to be increased with increase in polymer concentration. Tablets with highest binder concentration showed controlled released dissolution pattern which is more essential and requirement for a good binder. Formulated tablets with sapota seed polymer showed maximum drug release of 83.56% at pH 7.4, and 96.36% at pH 1.2, where the corn cob polysaccharide showed 68.9% at pH 7.4, and 90.9% at pH 1.2. On the basis of drug release behavior it can be summarized that corn cob hemicellulose and sapota seed mucilage can act as excellent binder in dosage forms. Since it is of natural origin and these biopolymers available at low cost it may prove to be better binder over commercially used costly synthetic binders.


Reduction in the prevalence of mental retardation has been identified as a national goal since 1971. President Nixon proposed the year 2000 as a benchmark, by which time the prevalence of severe mental retardation should be reduced by as much as 50%. An analysis to determine the fraction of severe mental retardation that could be prevented with strategies currently available indicates that the goal will not be met. Knowledge of the causes of severe mental retardation is fundamental to developing prevention strategies. Increased diagnostic capability-clinical and laboratory-must be dramatically increased if a 50% reduction in the prevalence of severe mental retardation is to be achieved in the foreseeable future.


Environmental factors and life experiences impinge on brain circuits triggering adaptive changes. Epigenetic regulators contribute to this neuroadaptation by enhancing or suppressing specific gene programs. The paralogous transcriptional coactivators and lysine acetyltransferases CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300 are involved in brain plasticity and stimulus-dependent transcription, but their specific roles in neuroadaptation are not fully understood. Here we investigated the impact of eliminating either CBP or p300 in excitatory neurons of the adult forebrain of mice from both sexes using inducible and cell type-restricted knock-out strains. The elimination of CBP, but not p300, reduced the expression and chromatin acetylation of plasticity genes, dampened activity-driven transcription, and caused memory deficits. The defects became more prominent in elderly mice and in paradigms that involved enduring changes in transcription, such as kindling and environmental enrichment, in which CBP loss interfered with the establishment of activity-induced transcriptional and epigenetic changes in response to stimulus or experience. These findings further strengthen the link between CBP deficiency in excitatory neurons and etiopathology in the nervous system. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How environmental conditions and life experiences impinge on mature brain circuits to elicit adaptive responses that favor the survival of the organism remains an outstanding question in neurosciences. Epigenetic regulators are thought to contribute to neuroadaptation by initiating or enhancing adaptive gene programs. In this article, we examined the role of CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300, two paralogous transcriptional coactivators and histone acetyltransferases involved in cognitive processes and intellectual disability, in neuroadaptation in adult hippocampal circuits. Our experiments demonstrate that CBP, but not its paralog p300, plays a highly specific role in the epigenetic regulation of neuronal plasticity gene programs in response to stimulus and provide unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroadaptation.


Since its inception about two centuries ago thermodynamics has sparkled continuous interest and fundamental questions. According to the second law no heat engine working between two heat reservoirs at temperatures $T_1>T_2$ can have an efficiency larger than Carnot's efficiency $\eta^C = 1-T_2/T_1$. The latter can be achieved by the Carnot engine, which however ideally operates in infinite time, hence delivers null power. A question that is currently in the limelight of current investigation is whether the Carnot efficiency can be achieved at finite power. Most of the previous works addressed this question within the Onsager matrix formalism of linear response theory. Here we pursue a different route based on finite-size-scaling theory. We focus on quantum Otto engines and show that when the working substance is at the verge of a second order phase transition diverging energy fluctuations can enable the asymptotic approach towards the Carnot point at finite power. The rate of such approach is dictated by the critical indices, thus showing the universal character of our analysis.


By adding suitable amount of amino acid L-cysteine to acidic solution in contact with sphalerite or pyrite,the activity of Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans is largely enhanced. But, at comparable higher concentration of L-cysteine, a deleterious effect on bacterial activity was found, which can be due to the toxic effect of this amino acid at higher concentrations to microbes. The addition of L-methionine would be great inhibition to the bioleaching no matter how much it was applied, which indicates that L-methionine is harmful for bioleaching. The quite different effect on bioleaching between L-cysteine and L-methionine lies in that L-cysteine has a SH group which is useful in helping metal sulfide bioleaching by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.


Through the focus on organizational space, using the reception and significance of the seminal work on the subject by sociologist Henri Lefebvre, this book demonstrates why and how Lefebvre's work can be used to inform and elaborate organisational studies, especially in view of the current interest in the "socio-material" dimension of organisations. As the "spatial turn" in organisational research exposed the importance of spatial design in inducing power and cultural relations, Lefebvre's perspective has become an inspiring, theoretical framework. However, Organisational Space and Beyond explores how Lefebvre's work could be of a much wider relevance, especially given his profound theoretical engagement with diverse schools of philosophical and sociological thought, including Nietzsche, Marx, Sartre and Foucault. This book brings together a range of authors that collectively develop a broader understanding of Lefebvre's relevance to organizational studies, including areas of management concern such as strategy and diversity studies, and ultimately draw on Lefebvre's work to rethink, reimagine and reshape scholarship in organisational studies. It will be of relevance to researchers, academics, students and organizational professionals in the fields of organisation studies, management studies, cultural studies, architecture and sociology.


Introduction. Specialists dealing with the Pazyryk culture keep posing questions about its social structure. Traditionally, scholars ― with due account of outer parameters of kurgans, depths and areas of graves, numbers of buried horses, quantities and qualities of burial utensils ― have tended to identify three groups within the Pazyryk. Goals. The paper aims to analyze Pazyryk burial rites for social differences within the culture. Results. When it comes to social classifications, researchers usually form respective hypotheses on the bases of dimensional and quantitative properties of examined burial facilities. Still, the paper specifically focuses on positions of the buried and on how crouched their legs are. In common burials from minor kurgans, all bodies are placed lying on their right side with heads to the east (faces to the north), and with legs strongly doubled up, i.e. in crouched positions. In elite princely burials from large Pazyryk kurgans, bodies lie in similar positions ― on the left side with heads to the east ― but are stretched to their full heights with slightly bent legs. Conclusions. So, the buried elites can be imagined doing a 'curtsy' with legs 'slightly bent in the knees', while the commoners would be seen paying deep knee bends or even prostrating themselves. This feature was never viewed as essential since the stretched position matched the shape of coffins carved from single tree trunks. The work compares widths of coffins and heights of mummies to conclude that the stretched position was determined by rites rather than by shapes or sizes of the coffins. Proceeding from previous studies, the paper examines and interprets the discovered aspect in the context of Pazyryk burial rites and related ideas about the world of the dead.


Introduction. Hypercalciuria is one of the main factors in the formation of the most common calcium-containing stones. Urolithiasis (UL) is more common in men than in women, which indicates the existence of gender lithogenic factors. In this work, the effect of varying degrees of calciuria in stone formers (men and women) on metabolic parameters and the frequency of detection of urinary stones of various chemical composition was investigated. Materials and methods. A total of 982 patients with UL (439 men and 543 women aged 18 to 79 years) were examined. To estimate lithogenic activity of calciuria in patients, the values of calcium excretion (mmol/day) were ranked in ascending order and divided into 10 equal parts (ten 10%-х percentilesей). In each of the calciuria ranges кальциурии, the percentage distribution of urinary stones types and biochemical blood and urine parameters were determined. Results. As the degree of calciuria increased from minimum to maximum values, the proportion of oxalate stones in men increased by 1.4-2 times, compared with women (χ2 test for trend p<0.02), and in women there was an increase in the proportion of carbonatapatite stones compared with men by 2-2.9 times (p<0.025, χ2 test). Increasing calciuria was accompanied by an increase in excretion, uric acid, phosphates and magnesium, which was more pronounced in men than in women (p<0.0001) and positively correlated in patients of both sexes with an increase in the frequency of detection of oxalate stones (p<0.05). The frequency of detection of carbonatapatite stones in men was directly dependent on calcium excretion (r=0.6783, p=0.0314). There was no such dependence in women, despite their high proportion of these stones, unlike men. Oxalate stones are more common in men in all age groups (20-70 years). In women, the greatest predominance of carbonatapatite stones is observed in the period from 20 to 40 years. Conclusion. Gender features of lithogenesis are clearly revealed at calciuria, which increases from minimum to maximum values. At the same time, the frequency of oxalate stones formation increases in men. Women have a high percentage of carbonatapatite stones, which, however, did not depend on the severity of calciuria. Thus, there are certain sex differences in lithogenesis of calcium stones and in dynamics of metabolic parameters of excretion, depending on the severity of calciuria, which can be used to assess the risk of stone formation and to implement a personalized approach to metaphylaxis of urolithiasis.


Abstract:This article looks at a selection of Hellenistic epigrams (mostly by Callimachus), focusing on the way they produce humor through verbal ambiguity and subversion of the conventional form and meaning of epigrammatic topoi relating to religion, sexuality, common values and beliefs, and death. A detailed analysis of the epigrams is followed by a general discussion of their ideological orientations, which are shown to resemble the psychological motives for jokes identified by Freud in Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious. Epigrams discussed include Callimachus 10, 13, 23, 28, 30 Pfeiffer, Asclepiades 2 Sens, and Hippon 1 Page.


Helicobacter species (H. sp.) is a gram-negative spiral-shaped motile bacteria that causes gastritis in pigs and also colonizes the human stomach. The current study seeks to assess the prevalence of various H. sp. in the gastric mucosa of slaughtered and dead pigs, as well as the prevalence of Helicobacter infection among pig farmers. A total of 403 stomach samples from various pig slaughter points, 74 necropsy samples from various pig farms and 97 stool samples from pig farmers were collected from Assam, India. Among 477 pig stomach samples tested, 214 samples with gastritis (20.09%) showed Gram negative, spiral-shaped organisms in brush cytology from the mucosal surface, and the rest of the 263 stomach samples without any gastric lesion showed only 3.04% Gram negative, spiral-shaped organisms. In ultrastructure investigation, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the four urease positive stomach samples revealed a tightly coiled Helicobacter bacterium (spiral-shaped) found in the mucous lining of the stomach. In histopathological examination of pars esophagia, cardiac and fundic mucosa showed chronic gastritis associated with hemorrhagic necrosis, leucocytic infiltration with neutrophils and macrophages, and lymphoid aggregates (lymphoid follicles) etc. PCR confirmed 16S rRNA genes of Helicobacter suis (H. suis) where a total of 42 (19.63%) out of 214 pig stomach samples and 2 (2.08%) out of 96 stool samples of pig farmers were found positive for H. suis. of these 96 stool samples of pig farmers 3 (3.12%) were confirmed positive for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Phosphoglucosamine mutase gene in PCR. Phylogenic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of H. suis showed distinct clusters with other H. sp. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the prevalence of Helicobacter both in pig gastric mucosa and human stool. The findings highlight the need for improved sanitation and hygiene practices among pig farmers to minimize the risk of Helicobacter infection in humans.


. The phenomenon of the illusion of knowledge as a mistake of metacognitive monitoring is considered in the article. The factors of illusion of knowledge that arise in the learning process (use of schemes and presentations, teacher feedback, group interaction, repetition of material, problematization of experience, type of test question, presence or absence of assessment situation) are analyzed. In the process of psychological and pedagogical experiment, the factors that increase the probability of the illusion of knowledge in the educational process of students have been identified


Fishing miRNAs from individual living cells enables quasi–single-cell analysis for dissecting cellular heterogeneity. The capability to analyze small RNAs responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of genes expression is essential for characterizing cellular phenotypes. Here, we describe an intracellular biopsy technique (inCell-Biopsy) for fast, multiplexed, and highly sensitive profiling of microRNAs (miRNAs). The technique uses an array of diamond nanoneedles that are functionalized with size-dependent RNA binding proteins, working as "fishing rods" to directly pull miRNAs out of cytoplasm while keeping the cells alive, thus enabling quasi-single-cell miRNA analysis. Each nanoneedle works as a reaction chamber for parallel in situ amplification, visualization, and quantification of miRNAs as low as femtomolar, which is sufficient to detect miRNAs of a single-copy intracellular abundance with specificity to single-nucleotide variation. Using inCell-Biopsy, we analyze the temporal miRNA transcriptome over the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The combinatorial miRNA expression patterns derived by inCell-Biopsy identify emerging cell subpopulations differentiated from ESCs and reveal the dynamic evolution of cellular heterogeneity.


Anyone who takes paying passengers aboard a boat must pass a tough exam to earn a captain's license from the U.S. Coast Guard. This guide: -- Features all 6,215 Coast Guard questions and answers -- Includes an interactive CD-ROM for self-testing -- Leads readers through every required field of mastery, including navigation, seamanship skills and regulations. Get Your Captain's License, Second Edition is the best possible course in seamanship. This new edition extends the coverage and brings the book into conformity with the Coast Guard's revised Q&A database.


Testing on reactive systems is a well-known laborious activity on software development due to their asynchronous interaction with the environment. In this setting model based testing has been employed when checking conformance and generating test suites of such systems using labeled transition system as a formalism as well as the classical ioco conformance relation. In this work we turn to a more complex scenario where the target systems have an auxiliary memory, a stack. We then studied a more powerful model, the Visibly Pushdown Labeled Transition System (VPTS), its variant Input/Output VPTS (IOVPTS), its associated model Visibly Pushdown Automaton (VPA), and aspects of conformance testing and test suite generation. This scenario is much more challenge since the base model has a pushdown stack to capture more complex behaviors which commonly found on reactive systems. We then defined a more general conformance relation for pushdown reactive systems such that it prevents any observable implementation behavior that was not already present in the given specification. Further we gave an efficient algorithm to check conformance in this testing scenario and also showed that it runs in worst case asymptotic polynomial time in the size of both the given specification and the implementation that are put under test.


We propose to bring the instruments to the samples in the form of miniature wireless instrumented robots called the NanoWalkers. With the NanoWalker robot approach, instrumentations and throughput requirements can be adjusted extremely fast by simply adding, replacing, or removing robots at will. It is the aim of this project to develop a powerful and flexible environment that we believe may revolutionize the way drug, biological, material discovery, and characterization will be performed in the future.


In this paper, we define the superposition operator P_{g} where g:ℕ²×ℝ→ℝ by P_{g}((x_{ks}))=g(k,s,x_{ks}) for all real double sequence (x_{ks}). Chew & Lee [3] and Petranuarat & Kemprasit [6] have characterized P_{g}:l_{p}→l₁ and P_{g}:l_{p}→l_{q} where 1≤p,q<∞, respectively. The main goal of this paper is to construct the necessary and sufficient conditions for the continuity of P_{g}:ℒ_{p}→ℒ₁ and P_{g}:ℒ_{p}→ℒ_{q} where 1≤p,q<∞.


In 1868 Zolotarev determined the polynomial which deviates least from zero with respect to the maximum norm on [−1,1] among all polynomials of the form xn+σxn−1+an−2xn−2+…+a1x+a0, where Σ ∈ R is given. The polynomial was given explicitly in terms of elliptic functions by Zolotarev. It is now called the Zolotarev polynomial. Zolotarev also gave an explicit expression for the minimum deviation. In the sequel attempts have been made to replace the elliptic functions and to express the Zolotarev polynomial and the minimum deviation in terms of elementary functions, at least asymptotically. In 1913 Bernstein succeeded in finding an asymptotic formula for the minimum deviation, which has been improved several times since then. Here we give the first asymptotic representation of the Zolotarev polynomials. For the asymptotic representation we use the rational functions introduced by Bernstein. Furthermore, we obtain asymptotic representations of minimal polynomials with interpolation constraints which are of interest in the theory of the iterative solution of inconsistent linear systems of equations.


Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 22 is a uniparental disomy of maternal origin that does not seem to have an adverse impact on the phenotype of an individual. There is a possibility of homozygosity for a recessive disease mutation for which the mother is a carrier and specific phenotype depends on the inherited disorder.


This article intends to analyze the process of the institutional construction of the Public Defender's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro. It discusses the change from an office designed to deal with individual legal questions to an institution for the de-fense of wide-ranging individual and collective rights. The autonomy from the Executive Branch and the existence of institu-tional guarantees close to the Judiciary and to the Public Prosecution Service characterizes this new institutional model. This new model takes place in the context of the expansion of the presence of rights in Brazilian society due to the strengthening of the democratic principles of the 1988 Federal Constitution.


Dynamic ocean management, or management that uses near real-time data to guide the spatial distribution of commercial activities, is an emerging approach to balance ocean resource use and conservation. Employing a wide range of data types, dynamic ocean management can be used to meet multiple objectives—for example, managing target quota, bycatch reduction, and reducing interactions with species of conservation concern. Here, we present several prominent examples of dynamic ocean management that highlight the utility, achievements, challenges, and potential of this approach. Regulatory frameworks and incentive structures, stakeholder participation, and technological applications that align with user capabilities are identified as key ingredients to support successful implementation. By addressing the variability inherent in ocean systems, dynamic ocean management represents a new approach to tackle the pressing challenges of managing a fluid and complex environment.


Inspired by nature, chemists have designed new catalysts in the pursuit of selective bond activation and chemical transformations. Emergent biological systems often use earth-abundant first-row transition elements as catalytically active sites to facilitate specific and highly selective chemical processes. The design of a new catalytic system based on abundant and inexpensive catalysts, particularly the iron-based catalysts, for fundamentally significant synthetic transformations under environmentally benign conditions is an important paradigm in chemical synthesis. In recent times, iron-based catalytic systems have shown unprecedented reactivity in the acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions of feedstock chemicals, with the liberation of molecular hydrogen as the by-product, and have enabled greener chemical synthetic methods and alternative energy storage systems. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the proper design of iron catalysts by judiciously choosing ligands, can aid in the development of new sustainable energy storage systems and catalysis. This tutorial review focuses on the recent development of iron-based dehydrogenation reactions of fundamentally important feedstock, as a route to sustainable chemical synthesis and energy storage applications. The emerging area of the iron-based dehydrogenation strategy provides an opportunity to make industrially applicable, cost-effective and environmentally benign catalytic systems.


Sediment transport and bedforms in alluvial streams, significantly affect the flow resistance. In the present research to discuss the effect of ripple bedform on the flow shear stress, a series of experiments were done and the influences of ripples on flow roughness coefficient were investigated. These experiments were carried out in a laboratory flume with changing discharge, slope and flow depth alternatively to create different hydraulic conditions. In flow surfaces having bedforms, shear stress includes two parts. The first part is the , which is imposed on each particle of the sediment and the second part is the " , which is the stress created by bedforms. The results showed that the shear stress and roughness coefficient increased with formation of bedforms. Also, with intensifying the flow parameters the turbulences were grown in the downstream of the bedform crest and the studied factors increased accordingly. In a certain limit of discharge (10 to 14 lit/s) and slope (0 to 0.015), results showed that with increasing flow velocity, the height of ripple increased and the number of them increased too. The most variation area was at the last 70 cm length from the end of the channel. With ripple height increasing, sediment transportation was increased more and there was a 40 percent growth of dimensionless sediment discharge, when the ∆ (bedfrom height to the length) increased about 35 percent. Studying the shear stress caused by bedform in relation with bedform height, it was obvious when the ripple height increased about 45 percent, the bedform shear stress increased about 58 percent.


This study examines the awareness of traditional Korean food culture among immigrant housewives in multicultural families, with the aim of introducing educational plans suitably designed for them. Our survey shows that Korean traditional holidays most well-known to the immigrant housewives are New Year`s Day and Chusuk. Sambok and Chusuk are at the top in terms of preference. Samgyetang, Ddukguk, and Ogokbab are among the best known festive food to immigrant housewives for holidays such as New Year`s Day, Jeongwol Daeboreum, Sambok, Chusuk, and Dongji; Samgyetang is the most preferred food, followed by Ddukguk and Patjuk. In addition, a vast majority of immigrant housewives who have ever attended Korean traditional cuisine education programs found the need for such an experience, with the score of 4.16 out of 5. In addition, the survey shows the order in which the immigrant housewives want to learn: the recipe of Korean food (53.5%), followed by table setting and manners (16.5%) and then nutrition (15%). The recipe of interest for most respondents is the one concerning daily food (69.5%). And more than half of the respondents prefer cooking practice as a desirable educational method. The difficulties that they have when attending such an educational course are usually inability to understand the language, difficulty in identifying the ingredients (seasonal), and lack of cultural understanding. The most preferred educational method is direct lecture (71.5%), followed by written materials such as books and newspaper (10.5%) and the Internet (9.5%). Finally, strategies for promoting traditional food culture are suggested as following: developing educational resources (31.5%), making various educational programs more available (25%), narrowing the cultural gap (22%), and improving the educational environment (21.5%). Therefore, this study proposes that there is a need to develop and diffuse Korean traditional food culture first, and then provide many immigrant housewives with a variety of educational programs. It is expected that these efforts will solve the problems caused by cultural differences in the early stage of international marriages and eventually contribute to the harmony in multicultural families.


This study was conducted in two public universities in Ethiopia to assess the impact of conceptions of teaching and learning on the evaluation of teaching quality. Students' and teachers' approaches to teaching and learning and their conceptions of the meaning of teaching have been examined. Results indicated that both teachers and students predominantly perceive teaching as transmitting knowledge and assessment as recall of factual knowledge. For the students, the mean values for teaching as transmitting knowledge and assessment as recall of facts were significantly correlated. The experiences and conceptions of both teachers and students reflect a teacher-focused approach to teaching and learning. The teaching evaluation questionnaire also reflects teacher performance as indicator of effectiveness. Improving the measure should be considered as a means of changing teachers' and students' conceptions of teaching and learning.


ABSTRACT Neurobehavioural impairment on the first night shift is often greater than on subsequent night shifts due to extended wakefulness. The aim of the study was to determine whether a 1-h afternoon nap prior to the first night shift is sufficient to produce neurobehavioural performance at levels comparable to the second night shift. Twelve male volunteers (mean age 22.9 years) participated in a laboratory protocol that simulated two 12-h night shifts. A nap preceded the first shift and a 7-h daytime sleep was scheduled between shifts. Neurobehavioural performance and subjective sleepiness measured across each night did not significantly differ between first and second shifts.


Credit and Community examines the history of consumer credit and debt in working class communities. Concentrating on forms of credit that were traditionally very dependent on personal relationships and social networks, such as mail-order catalogues and co-operatives, it demonstrates how community-based arrangements declined as more impersonal forms of borrowing emerged during the twentieth century. Tallymen and check traders moved into doorstep moneylending during the 1960s, but in subsequent decades the loss of their best working class customers, owing to increased spending power and the emergence of a broader range of credit alternatives, forced them to focus on the 'financially excluded'. This 'sub-prime' market was open for exploitation by unlicensed lenders, and Sean O'Connell offers the first detailed historical investigation of illegal moneylending in the UK, encompassing the 'she usurers' of Edwardian Liverpool and the violent loan sharks of Blair's Britain. O'Connell contrasts such commercial forms of credit with formal and informal co-operative alternatives, such as 'diddlum clubs', 'partners', and mutuality clubs. He provides the first history of the UK credit unions, revealing the importance of Irish and Caribbean immigrant volunteers, and explains the relative failure of the movement compared with Ireland. Drawing on a wide range of neglected sources, including the archives of consumer credit companies, the records of the co-operative and credit union movements, and government papers, Credit and Community makes a strong contribution to historical understandings of credit and debt. Oral history testimony from both sides of the credit divide is used to telling effect, offering key insights into the complex nature of the relationship between borrowers and lenders.


Youth suicide is a leading cause of mortality. Greater still is the prevalence of suicidal behavior and ideation. In this study with 813 secondary school students, we explored youth engagement in structured extracurricular activities as a possible protective factor for suicidal ideation. Personally meaningful youth engagement significantly moderated the relationships between depressive symptoms, risk behaviors, self-esteem, and social support in the prediction of suicidal ideation. Specifically, the more meaning found in engagement, the less likely youth were to report suicidal thoughts in spite of risk factors. Acknowledging limitations, a focus on engaging youth in well-selected activities of interest might represent a nonstigmatizing approach to universal prevention. Further research into the mechanisms of such an approach is warranted. Language: en


Can the sleeping brain develop predictions of future auditory stimuli? Past research demonstrated disrupted prediction capabilities during sleep in the context of novel, arbitrary auditory sequences, but the availability of overlearned knowledge already stored in long-term memory could still be preserved. We tested the sleeping brain capabilities to detect violations of simple arithmetic facts. Sleeping participants were presented with spoken arithmetic facts such as "two plus two is nine" and brain responses to correct or incorrect results were recorded in electro and magneto-encephalography. Sleep responses were compared to both attentive and inattentive wakefulness. During attentive wakefulness, arithmetic violations elicited a succession of N400 and P600 effects, whereas no such activations could be recorded in sleep or in inattentive wakefulness. Still, small but significant effects remained in sleep, advocating for a preserved but partial accessibility to arithmetic facts stored in long-term memory and preserved predictions of low-level and already learned knowledge. Those effects were very different from residual activities seen in inattention, highlighting the differences of information processing between the sleeping and the inattentive brain.


Neurological complications of haematological malignancies are wide ranging but isolated myopathy as a presenting complaint is rare. Cases: 63 year-old lady with progressive proximal upper then lower limb weakness over 7 years to wheelchair-dependence and hoist-transfers. Muscle biopsy revealed nemalin rods, HIV negative, IgG kappa paraprotein=6 g/L. Late-onset nemalin rod myopathy was diagnosed; function is stable 6/12 post-autologous bone marrow transplant. 56 year-old lady with limb-girdle weakness leading to immobility over 2 years and IgG lambda MGUS. Re-examination of muscle biopsy revealed amyloid deposition, SAP scan negative for systemic AL amyloid. Treated with velcade and dexamethasone but died from amyloid cardiomyopathy 6/12 later. 73 year-old man with painless deltoid weakness. Muscle biopsy revealed plasma cells infiltrate and lightchain deposition with matched lightchain restriction in bone marrow, IgG kappa paraprotein=8 g/L. Cyclosporin and dexamethasone were recommended for infiltrative multifocal, myopathic plasmacytoma. 28 year-old female with pain, fatigue and pelvic-girdle weakness was diagnosed with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis without systemic lymphoma or connective tissue disease. Muscle biopsy demonstrated T-cell and macrophage infiltration. Muscle symptoms are responding to steroids, mycophenolate, cyclosporine and etopiside. An allogenic bone marrow transplant is planned. We describe four cases of progressive myopathic weakness as the primary manifestation of an underlying haematological disorder.


With the proper planning and preparation, nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) can improve physician productivity and increase patient access to the practice. A thorough training and orientation program is vital to optimizing the effectiveness and retention of an NPP. An organized approach to understanding payer reimbursement guidelines will ensure that his or her services are documented and billed correctly, and paid appropriately. And proper communication and marketing will go a long way toward building the NPP's patient base. This article offers seven proven ideas for getting an NPP off to a great start in any physician practice.


We report the results of comprehensive studies of the piezo-optic and elasto-optic effects in lithium tetraborate crystals, Li2B4O7. The full matrices of piezo-optic and elasto-optic coefficients are obtained using a recently developed method based on four-point bending. On this basis, we have estimated the acousto-optic figure of merit for Li2B4O7.


Background
Floods are the most common type of natural disaster worldwide and are projected to become more frequent and more extreme. Cambodia is prone to annual, seasonal flooding. Floods impact health in many ways and can disrupt the health system through destruction of infrastructure and loss or diversion of human, economic and physical resources. Through knowledge acquisition and skills development, training of healthcare professionals can lead to a more effective flood response. Globally, there is a need for more and improved disaster management training for healthcare professionals. Little is known about the current challenges faced by healthcare professionals when working during floods or the gaps and barriers that exist in providing flood management training in Cambodia.
Aim
To describe the challenges faced by healthcare professionals when working during floods and to increase understanding of flood management training from the perspectives of key training stakeholders in Cambodia.
Methods
Two qualitative methods were used; rapid assessment methodologies during a national workshop attended by health professionals and semi-structured interviews with key training stakeholders. Data from the workshop was analysed descriptively and thematic content analysis was used for the interviews.
Results
The challenges when working during a flood include a lack of physical and human resources. Challenges are mainly operational, relating to planning, preparation and resource use, and communication between healthcare professionals. Gaps in current flood management training include teaching non-technical skills and providing sustainable training. Barriers include a lack of resources and competing interests from external funders and stakeholders.
Conclusion
The findings of this study offer better understanding into flood management and may help to inform future disaster management curriculums inside and outside of Cambodia. Recommendations for future flood management training in Cambodia include increasing the number and capacity of trainers, harmonizing the involvement of all those involved in training provision and recognising the potential implications of external funders. Recommendations for further research include understanding how informal knowledge sharing processes can contribute to flood management training, particularly in a resource stretched setting, and how best to incorporate essential non-technical skills into training.


A linear inversion procedure is introduced that images weak velocity anomalies using amplitudes of transmitted seismic waves. Using projection operators from geometrical ray theory, an image of an anomaly is constructed from amplitudes recorded at arrays of receivers using arrays of sources. The image is related to the velocity anomaly by a second-order partial-differential equation that is inverted using 2-D discrete Fourier transforms.
 As an example of the inversion procedure, magnitude residuals for European stations recording Shagan River explosions are used to image the deep lithospheric anomaly beneath the Shagan River test site described in Part 1. This formal inversion analysis confirms the existence of a small-scale lateral heterogeneity located 50 km west-northwest of the test site at a probable depth between 80 and 100 km and indicates that it is consistent with a deterministic 1.5% peak-to-peak (or 0.5% rms) velocity anomaly with a scale length of about 3 km. 3-D dynamic raytracing is then used to verify that the inferred laterally varying structure produces amplitude fluctuations consistent with observations.


Objectives: To determine the prevalence, types, and risk factors for work-related eye injuries in a Nigerian population of stone quarry workers. Materials and Methods: The study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of stone quarry and stone processing industry workers in Abakaliki, south-eastern Nigeria. Data on participants' socio-demographics, job characteristics, clinical ophthalmic symptoms and previous work-related eye injuries were collected and analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. Statistical significance was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: The participants (n = 384; males 158, females 226) were aged 32 ± 11.8 SD years (range, 14–68 years). Of them, 140 (36.5%) reported previous work-associated eye injury. Industrial injuries accounted for uniocular loss of vision in 2 (0.52%) of these workers. The most common eye injury was Blunt ocular trauma 106 (58.2%). The majority 379 (98.7%) of the workers did not use eye protective devices. Risk factors for work-related eye injury included unprotected eye exposure 85 (46.2%) for quarry sites and 117 (62.2%) for stone processing plant sites, following nonuse of eye protective devices, time of the day: 99 (53.8%) quarry site and 103(57.2%) stone processing site, occurred in the afternoon representing the highest time of occurrence. Occurrence of eye injury was found to be higher in the younger age group, male gender working in the stone processing plant, being a nontechnical worker, afternoon duty, and nonutilization of personal protective eye device (PPED). Conclusion: Adequate health education, emphasizing these risk factors, should be mandatory while comfortable and standard eye protective devices should be enforced for prevention of work-related eye accidents and work environment should be modified to ensure safety of workers.


Carbon is a keystone element in global biogeochemical cycles. It plays a fundamental role in biotic and abiotic processes in the ocean, which intertwine to mediate the chemistry and redox status of carbon in the ocean and the atmosphere. The interactions between abiotic and biogenic carbon (e.g., CO2, CaCO3, organic matter) in the ocean are complex, and there is a half-century-old enigma about the existence of a huge reservoir of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon (RDOC) that equates to the magnitude of the pool of atmospheric CO2. The concepts of the biological carbon pump (BCP) and the microbial loop (ML) shaped our Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/nsr/nwy074/5053813 by University of East Anglia user on 31 July 2018 understanding of the marine carbon cycle. The more recent concept of the microbial carbon pump (MCP), which is closely connected to those of the BCP and the ML, explicitly considers the significance of the ocean's RDOC reservoir and provides a mechanistic framework for the exploration of its formation and persistence. Understanding of the MCP has benefited from advanced "omics", and novel research in biological oceanography and microbial biogeochemistry. The need to predict the ocean's response to climate change makes an integrative understanding of the BCP, ML and MCP a high priority. In this review, we summarize and discuss progress since the proposal of the MCP in 2010 and formulate research questions for the future. Received: 16-May-2018; Revised: 28-Jun-2018; Accepted: 03-Jul-2018


Objective The objective of the study 'Women's health at menopause across India' was to understand the experience of menopause in urban Indian women. The study aimed to ascertain the average age of menopause and its symptomatology, to study the prevalence of chronic diseases, and to understand the health status, health behavior and health needs of Indian women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 1765 menopausal women carried out at ten clinical centers managed by gynecologists in urban India. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by gynecologists using a validated structured questionnaire in English. Results A total of 1132 (64.14%) of the 1765 women had a natural menopause and 486 (27.54%) had a surgical menopause; 147 (12.99%) women (mean age 35.89 ± 3. 02 years) were considered to have premature menopause. Out of 1765 women, 192 women were asymptomatic and 1573 reported symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms were reported by 1211 (75.3%) women and psychological symptoms by 999 (62.01%), physical ailments by 515 (32%) and genitourinary symptoms by 250 (15.53%). Diabetes mellitus was reported by 11.7% and hypertension by 21.9%. Conclusion The average age of menopause in the sample studied is 46 years. Chronic diseases are on the rise and osteoporosis presents a decade earlier than in Caucasians. These findings can be a basis for further research and help to understand the symptoms, health status and health needs, to formulate guidelines, and to establish menopause clinics for screening and managing women in the transition phase in India.


In the downlink module of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access(OFDMA)system, there is needed an alterable points FFT processor. Therefore, it is meaningful to design a FFT processor for the FFT processor which input data points could be alterable. In this paper the variable input FFT processor is designed to meet the requirements of OFDMA system. For this, in this paper we select the 2D Fourier transform algorithm as the kernel algorithm, use VHDL language to present in detail a design of two-stage pipeline structure, use QuartusII and ModelSim SE for the simulation, and verify on the EP3C25Q240C8N chip FPGA. Simulation results show that the way of implementation and design is right and meet the IEEE802.16e standard, at the same time the data precision is 16 bits, limit the clock frequency of 100MHz, the overall timing design stability, and it could reach the scope of real-time processing.


This paper reports on a study that explored community psychiatric nurses' experiences of working with people who self-harm. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used with eight experienced community psychiatric nurses who participated in semi-structured interviews. Established quality control procedures were utilized including audit of the analysis process and validating the results with participants. The participants described struggling to conceptualize self-harm behaviour and generally reported finding working with people who self-harm stressful particularly in terms of managing the emotional impact upon themselves and the boundaries of their professional responsibilities in relation to managing risk. The therapeutic relationship was viewed as crucial and a variety of coping methods to manage the impact of the work, which had largely developed through 'on the job', experience were described. The results highlight the potential difficulties faced by community staff and can be translated into clear recommendations for training and support.


OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine whether a rapid, fingerstick β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) test predicts ketonuria in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting.

METHODS
A convenience sample of 82 pregnant women who presented to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital emergency department (ED) with complaints of nausea or vomiting were enrolled into an institutional review board-approved, prospective, observational study. Exclusion criteria were temperature of >38.3°C, altered mental status, prisoners, and >1 L of any intravenous (IV) fluid before screening. Subjects had fingerstick β-OHB tests, with results reported in increments of 0.1 mmol/L. Urine ketone results were made available once reported as part of standard care and varied from 0 (trace) to +4 values. Ketonuria was defined as a urine ketone value of 3+ or 4+ and was analyzed as a dichotomous, categorical variable. A contingency table and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve were constructed for comparing the β-OHB values to those urine ketone values for each patient.

RESULTS
Mean (±SD) β-OHB was 0.43 (±0.52) mmol/L, and median urine was 1+ for the cohort as a whole. The area under the ROC curve equaled 0.95. The sensitivity and specificity for a fingerstick test of >0.45 mmol/L were 89 and 94.5%, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio (LR) was 16, and the negative LR was 0.12.

CONCLUSIONS
Fingerstick β-OHB is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool that correlates well with ketonuria and identifies ketonemia in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting. Fingerstick β-OHB testing has the potential to increase triage efficiency, shorten length-of-stay times, and positively affect patient outcomes in an ED setting.


We describe the set of packages providing a standard for the declaration of the most frequently used constants and types required for multiple energy domain modeling. Use of these packages with their defined types, constants and attributes is intended to provide a mechanism for writing VHDL models (compliant with IEEE Std 1076.1-1999) that are portable and interoperable with other VHDL models adhering to this standard. The standard serves a broad class of applications including electronics, thermal, magnetic, optical, fluidic and mechanical systems. The work described is the culmination of efforts by groups with the same basic goals working over a period of over two years. During this time many individuals have made valuable contributions to the development of this standard from the academic, industrial and EDA communities. Rather than describe every aspect of the standard in detail (impractical in a short paper), we have highlighted the key elements of the proposed standard.


Groups, C. Pp 217. £11-95. ISBN 0-521-31694-4 Press) This is a well-written, interesting and significant book by a world expert in groups, geometries, combinatorics and related fields. Group theory is often made to appear as arrrsolated part of mathematics, but not here. In Professor Lyndon's hands there is great stress on its links with geometry. The result is no less an elucidation of geometrical concepts than a source of non-abstract examples of groups. The fundamental object of study is the familiar Euclidean plane. The seven types of frieze groups and the regular tessellations of the Euclidean plane are discussed. Descriptions of the relevant groups are given in terms of generators and relations. Similar detailed treatment is given to the seventeen types of plane crystallo graphy groups, a most important topic in applications. From these humble beginnings the author moves on to the sterner topics of regular tessellations in higher dimensions, incidence geometry of the afflne plane, projective geometry, inversive geometry, hyperbolic geometry and Fuchsian groups. This volume is highly recommended to anyone with the least interest in groups and geometry.


This phase I trial assessed the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of dacarbazine in combination with lenalidomide in metastatic melanoma. Cohorts of three to six patients with metastatic melanoma without brain metastases were enrolled at each of three dose levels of dacarbazine: 600 mg/m2, 800 mg/m2, and 1000 mg/m2 administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Lenalidomide (25 mg/day) was administered orally for 14 days followed by a 7-day rest. Safety was assessed every 3 weeks, and tumor response was evaluated every 6 weeks. An additional 10 patients were enrolled in an expansion cohort at MTD level. Twenty-eight chemotherapy-naive patients were enrolled. The MTD was determined to be dose level 2 (800 mg/m2). Three patients experienced a grade 4 adverse reaction; two pulmonary emboli and one cerebral ischemia. Two patients had a deep venous thrombosis. Of 27 patients assessable for disease response, two experienced a complete response and four experienced a partial response. The median overall survival was 10.6 months (range 1.6–46.0+ months). One patient had a small brain lesion at the baseline; 10 additional patients developed brain metastasis at 0–10.8 months after completion of study therapy. The combination of dacarbazine and lenalidomide is safe and well tolerated in patients with metastatic melanoma. Clinical activity was seen at the MTD level. Additional measures to prevent brain metastasis are needed for patients who achieve a response.


Children under five years of age constitute about 15% of population of most developing countries. An estimated 12.2 millions of deaths occur in this age group every year and most of the deaths are vaccine preventable diseases. According to Samutsakorn Provincial Health Office Data (2010) the total migrant population was approximately 250000 and negligence of the health of the migrant children resulted in risky behaviors. The immunization coverage rate of Myanmar migrant children in Samutsakorn Province was very low compared to immunization coverage of children in Thailand. The objective of the study is to investigate the factors influencing immunization status of Myanmar migrant children among 1-5 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 183 Myanmar migrant mothers who had 1-5 years old children and were interviewed by structured questionnaires. The data were collected from 28th January to 24th February 2008 using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed by frequency distribution and Multiple logistic regression with the significant level set at p-value of <0.05. The results found that the education of mothers and perception of mothers towards Expanded Program on Immunization had significant influence on the immunization status of children (p-value <0.05). Low education of mother had 4.92 times higher chance of incomplete immunization of children. Poor perception of mother had 4.22 times higher chance of incompletely immunized children than those with good perception. For high Expanded Program on Immunization and to ensure complete immunization the involved organizations have to emphasize health education and improve maternal and child health activities in the district especially in migrant group. It is important to strengthen the activities of outreach mobile clinic.


Among seven insecticides in combination with fungicide Saaf ® tested for efficacy, five insecticides (chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, novaluron, Proton ® and profenophos) showed synergistic effect, whereas two insecticides (indoxcarb and Hamla ® ) were antagonistic against P. xylostella larvae.


OBJECTIVES
Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive inherited disease affecting mainly the skeletal and cardiac muscles. We aimed to seek associations between the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and corrected QT (QTc) dispersion and its component, corrected JT (JTc) dispersion in patients with DMD.

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 43 consecutive male patients (mean age 8.8+/-3.0 years; range 3 to 17 years) with DMD. On standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) the QT and JT intervals and the corrected QT (QTc) and JTc dispersions were calculated. Ventricular extrasystoles were assessed on 24-hour Holter ECG recordings. Ventricular dysrhythmic patterns were evaluated according to the Lown-Wolf classification. The results were compared with those of a control group of 34 healthy children (mean age 9.5+/-3.1 years).

RESULTS
The mean QTc and JTc dispersion values were significantly higher in DMD patients compared to controls (QTc: 78.0+/-20.6 msec vs. 50.9+/-16.5 msec; JTc: 77.6+/-20.5 msec vs. 50.8+/-17.7 msec; p<0.05). The results of Holter monitoring were evaluated in 36 patients and in 33 controls. Ventricular extrasystoles were found in six patients (16.7%) and in one (grade I) control subject (3%). The incidence of pathological findings was significantly higher in the study group (p<0.05), including grade I pathology in four patients, grade II pathology in one patient, and grade IV in one patient. QTc and JTc dispersion values of the patients with and without ventricular extrasystoles showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION
Similar QTc and JTc dispersion values detected in patients with and without ventricular extrasystoles may suggest that ventricular repolarization abnormalities occur in early life and may predispose to the development of ventricular arrhythmias in the long-term.


Helicobacter pylori causes several gastroduodenal diseases. Various antibiotic regimens are available that eradicate H. pylori in 80 to 90% of patients, but no regimen cures all patients. Dual therapy is now obsolete. Triple therapy with two antibiotics and either a proton pump inhibitor or bismuth is the regimens of choice. Metronidazole and clarithromycin are the two key antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance against these two drugs is becoming more problematic and should be taken into consideration when choosing a regimen. Antibiotic resistance is usually induced after failure. Quadruple therapy has been used as a salvage regimen in failed cases but it is also the most complicated regimen. Several new agents are being studied including a single capsule that contains bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a conceptual framework that can facilitate investigations concerning the impact of marketing communication and financial consideration on the relationship between customer attitude and purchase intention of Islamic banking products and services.

Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper is structured based on the extant literature; it provides a review of theoretical perspectives, highlights the gap and illustrates the significance for developing a framework.

Findings
The authors identify notable patterns and limitations in previous empirical studies. Specifically, despite increasing interest in Islamic banking customer behavior, prior research has not given much attention to explore moderating effects on the customer attitude–intention link. This has left researchers and bank managers with very limited information to explain the conditions that enhance customers' attitude and intentions toward Islamic banking products. Based on this backdrop, the paper displays a viable research model with propositions that assess potential moderating effects on the domain relationship.

Research limitations/implications
This paper contributes to Islamic banking and management literature because prior research has predominantly focused on variables that directly influence customers' behavior. This novel conceptual framework enables managers to better understand their customers and has implications for emerging themes, such as formulating strategies for specific customer groups and internationalization process. In addition, this paper provides a starting point to empirically examine whether and how the proposed moderators affect the link between customer attitude and behavioral intentions to purchase Islamic banking products.

Originality/value
To the best of knowledge, this is the first attempt to introduce relevant moderating variables for investigating the attitude and intention nexus in an Islamic banking context. Furthermore, the authors propose a new measure, namely, profit-loss sharing proportions which could enhance customers' intention to purchase Islamic banking products.


ABSTRACT The DNA transposon piggyBac is widely used as a tool in mammalian experimental systems for transgenesis, mutagenesis, and genome engineering. We have characterized genome-wide insertion site preferences of piggyBac by sequencing a large set of integration sites arising from transposition from two separate genomic loci and a plasmid donor in mouse embryonic stem cells. We found that piggyBac preferentially integrates locally to the excision site when mobilized from a chromosomal location and identified other nonlocal regions of the genome with elevated insertion frequencies. piggyBac insertions were associated with expressed genes and markers of open chromatin structure and were excluded from heterochromatin. At the nucleotide level, piggyBac prefers to insert into TA-rich regions within a broader GC-rich context. We also found that piggyBac can insert into sites other than its known TTAA insertion site at a low frequency (2%). Such insertions introduce mismatches that are repaired with signatures of host cell repair pathways. Transposons could be mobilized from plasmids with the observed noncanonical flanking regions, indicating that piggyBac could generate point mutations in the genome.


The United States Government advanced several initiatives to stimulate the commercialization of technologies. The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 provided the legal basis for the private sector's access to government facilities and technical resources. In 1987, the Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award was established to "stimulate American companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining competitive edges through increased profits." Then, in 1988, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act entrusted the US Department of Commerce with the promotion of innovation. The cumulative effect of all these steps has been to involve the Federal scientific institutions, including the standards-setting organizations, in industrial and commercial activities. Particularly affected were two institutes under the US Department of Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA, which was formed in 1977, includes the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), located in Boulder, Colorado. >


Data visualizations are transforming how information is communicated. Educators should understand and support how youth reason about these complex representational artifacts. We analyze an interview in which young learners interpreted an interactive visualization as describing both relative distribution and absolute trends, and resolved conflicts related to this dual interpretation by re-aligning mathematical and personal knowledge. This case reflects a need for attention to multidimensional data and narrative design in research on data visualization literacy.


Subglacial bed conditions exert a significant control on ice stream behavior and evolution, and can be characterized by determining bed roughness from FFT analysis of radar‐imaged basal reflectors. Here we assess bed roughness across Institute and Möller ice streams, West Antarctica, and compare our findings with bed roughness determined across the Siple Coast ice streams. We find that variations in bed roughness are spatially organized, and attribute this to the varying efficacy of subglacial erosion and deposition, with rougher (inland, slow‐flowing) regions largely manifesting preglacial topography, and smoother (downstream, fast‐flowing) regions evincing significant postglacial modification to the subglacial landscape. The observed similarities between bed roughness characteristics of IIS/MIS and the Siple ice streams suggest that IIS and MIS are largely underlain by wet, poorly consolidated sediments, and may therefore be vulnerable to the types of dynamical instabilities experienced by the Siple ice streams.


A real-time smoothing scheme of MEPG-4 video for CDMA systems is proposed in this paper. It is carried out within group of pictures (GOP), using data prediction method to reduce delay, setting the minimum rate based on delay requirement, and choosing transmission rate among CDMA physical layer rate sets. This scheme can considerably reduce the peak rate and variance of the transmitted signal. Simulation results show that with the proposed smoothing scheme, higher system stability and better QoS have been achieved. Moreover, the system performance gain is more considerable when the channel condition is relatively bad


This biomechanical study evaluated and compared the longitudinal and perpendicular stresses generated and the applied load required during the insertion of a tibial nail with three different insertion techniques. Insertion of a narrow-diameter nail using an unreamed technique generated significantly greater stress and required significantly greater applied load than either the single-pass reamed technique or a reamed technique. The single-pass reamed technique and the standard reamed technique were not significantly different from each other. This study biomechanically justifies the use of the single-pass reaming technique during the insertion of a narrow-diameter intramedullary nail in severe open tibial fractures. The use of this technique cannot be advocated until the biologic effect of single-pass reaming is more clearly defined.


Electric force microscopy, in which a charged probe moves above a surface, can measure thermally generated electric field fluctuations from the sample. Noncontact friction measurements of energy loss from the probe have been performed over insulators, semiconductors, and conductors and have been interpreted in terms of the dielectric response of the sample. Noncontact friction over metal surfaces has recently been ascribed to dielectric relaxation of adsorbed molecules, motivating the examination of the baseline noncontact friction over a bare metal surface. The noncontact friction for a thin conducting film is calculated for a wavevector-dependent dielectric function, complementing previous calculations for insulators and semiconductors employing a dielectric continuum representation. Inclusion of the wavevector dependence in the dielectric response of a conductor enhances the friction and alters its dependence on tip-sample separation, relative to the continuum treatment.


The emerald deposits in Rajasthan, northwest India, are situated in a narrow NE–SW belt in the Aravalli Mountains. The studied deposits were formed by the metasomatic reaction between muscovite (± garnet ± tourmaline) pegmatites and lenticular bodies of altered ultramafic rocks that are hosted by the Delhi Group gneisses. This reaction produced phlogopite schists containing the exometasomatic emeralds, as in all other granite-related emerald deposits. Endometasomatic changes of the mineralogy of the pegmatites is indicated by the geochemistry of the muscovite (phengitic substitution) and the feldspars (disappearance of the potassic feldspar and calcification of the plagioclase).
 The K-Ar analyses of syngenetic phlogopite (from the phlogopite schist) and muscovite (from the pegmatites) give an age of ca. 790 Ma, close to that of the last major orogeny affecting the region. This is in accordance with the ages of other granite-related deposits, which all formed in conditions of active orogeny. The ages of the biotite are lower than those of the muscovite, indicating limited radiogenic argon loss as a result of deformation.