Many animal and plant pathogenic bacteria employ a type three secretion system (T3SS) to deliver type three effector proteins (T3Es) into host cells. Efficient secretion of many T3Es in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) relies on the global chaperone HpaB. However, how the domain of HpaB itself affects effector translocation/secretion is poorly understood. Here, we used genetic and biochemical approaches to identify a novel domain at the C-terminal end of HpaB (amino acid residues 137-160) that contributes to virulence and hypersensitive response (HR). Both in vitro secretion assay and in planta translocation assay showed that the secretion and translocation of T3E proteins depend on the C-terminal region of HpaB. Deletion of the C-terminal region of HpaB did not affect binding to T3Es, self-association or interaction with T3SS components. However, the deletion of C-terminal region sharply reduced the mounts of free T3Es liberated from the complex of HpaB with the T3Es, a reaction catalyzed in an ATP-dependent manner by the T3SS-associated ATPase HrcN. Our findings demonstrate the C-terminal domain of HpaB contributes to disassembly of chaperone-effector complex and reveal a potential molecular mechanism underpinning the involvement of HpaB in secretion of T3Es in Xcc.


: The work discusses the results of a study of the overall electric activity of the cerebral cortex, its frequency analysis and integration in brain tumors attended with epileptic seizures. The changes in electric activity are correlated with the cortical ultrastructure and the oxygen balance in the brain tissue. The possible mechanisms responsible for the development, cessation or absence of epileptic seizures in the clinical picture of brain tumors are analysed. Data are presented in evidence of the important role of hypoxia of various degrees in these mechanisms. It is established that activation of the synaptic apparatus may be considered as an ultrastructural correlator of hyperexcitation in the epileptic focus.


Giant solar flares are the most powerful phenomenon in the solar system, which can strongly affect various geospheres and technical systems in the near Earth's space or its surface. During the space era, only few events with a total energy of more than 1034 erg happened, and probably, only one of these ldquowas directedrdquo to the Earth (August 4, 1972). In this paper, we report on the first attempts to simulate in a laboratory both the initial (at the Sun) and final (near the Earth) stages of relevant interaction processes between the plasma flows and magnetic fields. By using laser-produced plasmas and intense magnetic dipole, we performed two types of simulation experiments: 1) on the interaction of ejected solar plasma flows with/in dipole magnetic field and 2) on the extreme (three fold) compression of the Earth's magnetopause by giant coronal mass ejections from the Sun. General physical conditions of these phenomena are briefly described, and the developed methods of laboratory simulation and numerical modeling of various explosive processes in collisionless space plasmas are discussed on the basis of relevant dimensionless criteria of the problems.


We report structural determination of cation-templated self-assembly of a guanosine derivative, 2′,3′,5′-O-triacetylguanosine (TAG), in the presence of three alkaline earth metal ions (Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+) in CDCl3. Using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) methods, we have found that TAG molecules form discrete octamers in the form of [TAG]8M2+ (M2+ = Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+), which is composed of two G-quartets and a sandwiched metal ion. We have determined the ability of the three alkaline earth metal ions to promote TAG self-assembly (relative binding affinity) to be Sr2+ ≫ Ba2+ > Ca2+. More importantly, we have used two-dimensional (2D) NMR methods to determine the structural details of [TAG]8Sr2+. In particular, we found that each octamer consists of an all-anti G-quartet stacking on top of an all-syn G-quartet in a tail-to-head fashion with a twist angle of 45° between the two G-quartets. This TAG octamer structure represents a uniq...


Abstract Expression profiles of flavour-related genes and the aroma quality of fruit headspace were investigated in the four strawberry genotypes 'Reine des Vallées' (Fragaria vesca), 'Profumata di Tortona' (F mos-chata), 'Onda' and VR 177 selection (F" x ananassa). Differences in the expression level of genes coding of strawberry alcohol acyltransferase (SAAT), F. x ananassa nerolidol synthase 1 (FaNESl) and F vesca monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthases (FvPINS and PINS1, respectively) were detected among these genotypes. In fruits of F. x ananassa the terpenoid profile was dominated by nerolidol, whereas wild spe–cies produced mainly monoterpenes. It was correlated with the higher induction of FaNES1 in cultivated and PINS gene in the wild Fragaria species. The flavour biogenesis in ripening fruits was determined by the expression of SAAT gene, especially visible for 'Profumata di Tortona' and 'Onda' strawberries. The fruit solid-phase microextraction (SPME) headspace was analysed using the Gas Chromatography-Olfac–tometry (GC-O), that allows for the chromatographic separation of volatiles together with their olfactomet-ric evaluation. 'Reine des Vallées' fruits have a peculiar profile characterized by high concentrations of limonene, linalool and mesifurane that resulted in "spiced", "citrus, floral" and "sweet, baked" descriptors. The character impact compound in 'Profumata di Tortona' fruits was ethyl butanoate, responsible for "sweet" and "fruity, strawberry" descriptors. However, it was detected in lower amount in comparison to the data obtained for F. x ananassa strawberries. The sesquiterpene nerolidol was identified in both culti–vated strawberry genotypes.


CD8+ T lymphocytes recognize antigens as short, MHC class I-associated peptides derived by processing of cytoplasmic proteins. The transporter associated with antigen processing translocates peptides from the cytosol into the ER lumen, where they bind to the nascent class I molecules. To date, the precise location of the class I-TAP interaction site remains unclear. We provide evidence that this site is contained within the heavy chain α3 domain. Substitution of a 15 amino acid portion of the H-2Db α3 domain (aa 219-233) with the analogous MHC class II (H-2IAd) β2 domain region (aa 133-147) results in loss of surface expression which can be partially restored upon incubation at 26°C in the presence of excess peptide and β2-microglobulin. Mutant H-2Db (Db219-233) associates poorly with the TAP complex, and cannot present endogenously-derived antigenic peptides requiring TAP-dependent translocation to the ER. However, this presentation defect can be overcome through use of an ER targeting sequence which bypasses TAP-dependent peptide translocation. Thus, the α3 domain serves as an important site of interaction (directly or indirectly) with the TAP complex and is necessary for TAP-dependent peptide loading and class I surface expression.


Thinness is a part of today's sociocultural standards of beauty and thus is implicated in body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. In female aesthetic sports, thinness is a standard for aesthetics and performance. Measuring the internalisation of thin-ideal standards in these athletes may therefore help them to gain insight into the risks associated with body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. This study aimed to develop and validate the Internalisation of Sociocultural and Thin-Ideal Standards in Sports (ISTISS) Scale. Four studies involving 357 female aesthetic athletes examined the exploratory factorial structure, temporal stability, and concurrent validity of the ISTISS, which gave rise to a 10-item scale with two subscales: internalisation of sociocultural standards and thin-ideal standards in sports. Internal consistencies were satisfactory and relationships with the self-regulation of eating attitude in sport were as expected. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the appropriateness of the ISTISS Scale for female aesthetic sports athletes.


Background: Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are important cause of morbidity and mortality world- wide owing to their life threatening complications. Today with the availability of excellent antimicrobials, many of these disorders are potentially treatable, making early recognition imperative. MRI has revolutionised the manner in which diagnosis is made. Aims: Our aim was to study the characteristic MRI imaging features of various CNS infections and corelate them clinically. Subjects and Methods: Total 50 (of all age groups) patients who were clinically suspected of CNS infections were subjected to MRI examination using MAGNETOM ESSENZA SIEMENS operating at 1.5 Tesla. MRI findings were analysed & corelated clinically. Results & Conclusion: CNS infections were almost equally distributed among males and females and were mostly found in paediatric population. Neurocysticercosis and Tuberculosis were the two most common CNS Infections diagnosed. Basilar meningitis is highly suggestive of tuberculosis.


The study objective was to evaluate the usefulness of Classification and Regression Trees (CART), to classify clinical responders to antidepressant and placebo treatment, utilizing symptom severity and quantitative EEG (QEEG) data. Patients included 51 adults with unipolar depression who completed treatment trials using either fluoxetine, venlafaxine or placebo. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and single electrodes data were recorded at baseline, 2, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. Patients were classified as medication and placebo responders or non-responders. CART analysis of HAM-D scores showed that patients with HAM-D scores lower than 13 by day 7 were more likely to be treatment responders to fluoxetine or venlafaxine compared to non-responders (p=0.001). Youden's index γ revealed that CART models using QEEG measures were more accurate than HAM-D-based models. For patients given fluoxetine, patients with a decrease at day 2 in θ cordance at AF2 were classified by CART as treatment responders (p=0.02). For those receiving venlafaxine, CART identified a decrease in δ absolute power at day 7 at the PO2 region as characterizing treatment responders (p=0.01). Using all patients receiving medication, CART identified a decrease in δ absolute power at day 2 in the FP1 region as characteristic of nonresponse to medication (p=0.003). Optimal trees from the QEEG CART analysis primarily utilized cordance values, but also incorporated some δ absolute power values. The results of our study suggest that CART may be a useful method for identifying potential outcome predictors in the treatment of major depression.


Abstract This study focuses on the soft-storey behavior of RC structures with lead core rubber bearing (LRB) isolation systems under near and far-fault motions. Under near-fault ground motions, seismic isolation devices might perform poorly because of large isolator displacements caused by large velocity and displacement pulses associated with such strong motions. In this study, four different structural models have been designed to study the effect of soft-storey behavior under near-fault and far-fault motions. The seismic analysis for isolated reinforced concrete buildings is carried out using a nonlinear time history analysis method. Inter-story drifts, absolute acceleration, displacement, base shear forces, hysteretic loops and the distribution of plastic hinges are examined as a result of the analysis. These results show that the performance of a base isolated RC structure is more affected by increasing the height of a story under nearfault motion than under far-fault motion.


This book examines the relationship between immunization status of children and religion before and after controlling for other factors such as maternal education in Ethiopia, a country characterized by highest mortality and morbidity rates in the world. Using data from the nationally representative 2000 Demographic and Health Survey, the bivariate results indicated that there are substantial differences in child immunization by maternal religion. More children born to traditional mothers are significantly less likely to receive full immunization coverage than children born to mothers professing Orthodox religion and other religions. The social mechanism that explains this huge disparity is that traditional mothers may be attributable to the traditional spiritual explanation of events, including diseases, and do not believe in the prevention of child-killer diseases. Further, significant variation in receiving complete immunization is observed with mother's level of education, and place of residence (rural/urban)..


ConspectusDevelopment of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) with desired properties is a significant topic in the field of nanotechnology and has been anticipated to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment modalities. The surface character is one of the most important parameters of NPs that can directly affect their in vivo fate, bioavailability, and final theranostic outcomes and thus should be carefully tuned to maximize the diagnosis and treatment effects while minimizing unwanted side effects. Surface engineered NPs have utilized various surface functionality types and approaches to meet the requirements of cancer therapy and imaging. Despite the various strategies, these surface modifications generally serve similar purposes, namely, introducing therapeutic/imaging modules, improving stability and circulation, enhancing targeting ability, and achieving controlled functions. These surface engineered NPs hence could be applied in various cancer diagnosis and treatment scenarios and continuously contribute to the clinical translation of the next-generation NP-based platforms toward cancer theranostics.In this Account, we present recent advances and research efforts on the development of NP surface engineering toward cancer theranostics. First, we summarize the general strategies for NP surface engineering. Various types of surface functionalities have been applied including inorganic material-based functionality, organic material-based functionality like small molecules, polymers, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, antibodies, etc., and biomembrane-based functionality. These surface modifications can be realized by prefabrication or postfabrication functionalization, driven by covalent conjugations or noncovalent interactions. Second, we highlight the general aims of these different NPs surface functionalities. Different therapeutic and diagnostic modules, such as nanozymes, antibodies, and imaging contrast agents, have been modified on the surface of NPs to achieve theranostic function. Surface modification also can improve stability and circulation of NPs by protecting the NPs from immune recognition and clearance. In addition, to achieve targeted therapy and imaging, various targeting moieties have been attached on the NP surface to enhance active targeting ability to tissues or cells of interest. Furthermore, the NP surfaces can be tailored to achieve controlled functions which only respond to specific internal (e.g., pH, thermal, redox, enzyme, hypoxia) or external (e.g., light, ultrasound) triggers at the precise action sites. Finally, we present our perspective on the remaining challenges and future developments in this significant and rapidly evolving field. We hope this Account can offer an insightful overlook on the recent progress and an illuminating prospect on the advanced strategies, promoting more attention in this area and adoption by more scientists in various research fields, accelerating the development of NP surface engineering with a solid foundation and broad cancer theranostics applications.


Healthcare insurance fraud influences not only organizations by overburdening the already fragile healthcare systems, but also individuals in terms of increasing premiums in health insurance and even fatalities. Identifying the behavioral characteristics of fraudulent claims can help shed light on the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to detect fraud in health information system research. In this paper, a theoretical model of medical insurance fraud identification is proposed that characterizes the judgment variables of fraud from the three dimensions of time, quantity, and expenses. The model is verified with large-scale, real-world medical records. The study shows that, in comparison with claims made by normal people, fraudulent claims usually have a greater frequency of hospital visits, more medical bills, and higher medical expenses. An interesting discovery is that the price per bill for fraudulent cases is not statistically different from the normal cases.


If we appeal to God when our technology (including medicine) fails, we assume a " God of the gaps." It is religiously preferable to appreciate technological competence. Our successes challenge, however, religious convictions. Modifying words and images is not enough, as technology affects theology more deeply. This is illustrated by the history of chemistry. Chemistry has been perceived as wanting to transform and purify reality rather than to understand the created order. Thus, unlike biology and physics, chemistry did not provide a fertile basis for natural theologies. It is argued that an active, transformative role of humans is appropriate in biblically inspired religions and called for in the light of imperfections and evil in the world. When the expression "playing God" is used dismissively, as if we trespass upon God–given territory, a theologically problematical association of God and the given order is assumed. A different view of the human calling can be articulated by drawing upon the Christian heritage and by developing an antinatural religious naturalism.


Taxonomic investigation of the Cucurbits (family-Cucurbitaceae) growing throughout the Northern parts of Bangladesh was carried out. Documentation of species distribution, ecology and indigenous uses by local people has been made. Lists of the taxa examined with all synonyms are provided. Taxonomic position, occurrence, cultivation method, food value (mainly cultivated), uses and classification are presented and discussed. All the Cucurbits species studied were collected from the northern parts of Bangladesh. A total of 24 species under 13 genera of the family Cucurbitaceae were collected from the study area. Most of the cultivated species are grown in all districts of Bangladesh. Some of the species which are sometimes cultivated and sometimes wild are grown in particular area. Most of the species are distributed all over the study area, i. e. Benincasa hispida, Citrullus lanatus, Coccinia grandis, Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima, C. pepo, C. moschata, Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa acutangula, L. cylindrica, Momordica carantia, M. cochinchinensis, Melothria maderaspatana, Trichosanthes anguina, T. cucumerina, T. bracteata and T. dioica.


An examination of the frequency and effects of the plague in Egypt and Syria between 1347 and 1517 is presented. In particular the author offers a critique of the work of Michael W. Dols and contends that the plague occurred more frequently and had a greater impact than suggested by Dols. (ANNOTATION)


A recent trend in the research of ROM-less DDFS architecture, which is endowed with high speed, low power and high SFDR features and will generate the sine or cosine waveforms within a broad frequency range. In this work one high-speed, low-power, and low-latency pipelined ROM-less DDFS has been proposed and implemented in Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA. The proposed ROM-less DDFS design has 32 bit phase input and 16 bit amplitude resolution with maximum amplitude error of 1.5×10−4. The FPGA implementation of the proposed design has an SFDR of −94.3 dBc and maximum operation frequency of 276 MHz by consuming only 22 K gate and 1.05 mW/MHz power. The high speed of operation and low power makes the propose design suitable for the use in communication transceiver for the up and down conversion.


To have an ability to cope with the demand in reading English and to develop reading habits in English is significant for EFL students because they are engaged much in reading English literature to achieve their academic success. This article aims at exploring what makes EFL students establish good reading habits in English. This is a multicase study towards the EFL students who already established good habits in reading English. The results of the present study provided valuable insights that the EFL students' reading habits in English is established if they live in a good literacy environment with parents reading them aloud, have regular reading motivation and good reading habits in L1, and have access to digitalized texts and phenomenal literary works. Indeed, the establishment of the EFL students' good reading habits in English is contributed by the individual, social, cultural and technological construct factors.


The article defines the objective reasons stipulating the substantial potential of commercial activity in Ukraine, which is characterized by increasing competition. Taking into account the results of scientists-economists' research and other sources the essence and peculiarities of the characteristics of commercial enterprise are considered. The main functions of commercial enterprises: economic, industrial and technological, external economic, social are characterized. The determination of commercial enterprises by different characteristics depending on the factors of their operation is given. It is noted that recently on-store retailing as an alternative to commercial enterprise has been increasingly getting importance. The attention is focused on the need to take into consideration the aforementioned features and characteristics of commercial enterprise while developing strategy of its promising economic development using marketing techniques. The essence of the term "strategy" and the possibility of using different kinds of development strategies of commercial enterprise as a non-dated plan of specific activities covering a long period are considered. Operating, investing, market economic strategy, strategy of diversification and differentiation, often used in the activity of commercial enterprise are analyzed. It is proved that the development of such a strategy should be carried out taking into account the socio-economic situation of the region in which commercial enterprise is located. The article highlights the features of the socio-economic development of Chernivtsi Oblast, changes which have recently occurred in the field of commercial activities. Current trends in the regional economy are defined. Based on the results of the development of trade in the studied region, it is conceptually shown that for a medium-term perspective the strategy for perspective economic development of commercial enterprise should be stabilizing, breakthrough and innovative.


Organotins, important environmental pollutants widely used in agricultural and industrial applications, accumulate in the food chain and induce imposex in several marine species as well as neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects in higher animals. Reduced birth weight and thymus involution, observed upon exposure to organotins, can also be caused by excessive glucocorticoid levels. We now demonstrate that organotins efficiently inhibit 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), converting active 11β-hydroxyglucocorticoids into inactive 11-ketoglucocorticoids, but not 11β-HSD1, which catalyzes the reverse reaction. Di- and tributyltin as well as di- and triphenyltin inhibited recombinant and endogenous 11β-HSD2 in lysates and intact cells with IC50 values between 500 nM and 3 μM. Dithiothreitol protected 11β-HSD2 from organotin-dependent inhibition, indicating that organotins act by binding to one or more cysteines. Mutational analysis and 3-D structural modeling revealed several important interactions of cysteines in 11β-HSD2. Cys90, Cys228, and Cys264 were essential for enzymatic stability and catalytic activity, suggesting that disruption of such interactions by organotins leads to inhibition of 11β-HSD2. Enhanced glucocorticoid concentrations due to disruption of 11β-HSD2 function may contribute to the observed organotin-dependent toxicity in some glucocorticoid-sensitive tissues such as thymus and placenta.


Modern applications (portals, e-commerce, digital libraries, etc.) require integrated access to various information sources (from traditional RDBMS to semistructured Web repositories), fast deployment and low maintenance cost in a rapidly evolving environment. Because of its exibility, there is an increasing interest in using XML as a middleware model for such applications. XML enables fast wrapping and declarative integration. However, query processing in XML-based integration systems is still penalized by the lack of an algebra with adequate optimization properties and the diiculty to understand source query capabilities. In this paper, we propose an algebraic approach to support eecient query evaluation in XML integration systems. We deene a general purpose algebra suitable for semistructured or XML query languages. We show how this algebra can be used, with appropriate type information, to also wrap more struc-tured query languages such as OQL or SQL. Finally, we develop new optimization techniques for XML-based integration systems.


Our Korean traditional cultural inheritance Bangpae Kite has the stable rectangular shield shape decorated with artistic paint or poem and a good flight performance due to the central wind hole. In this paper, to analyse the wind hole effect to kite performance we performed the wind tunnel testing of the various design factor of kite model and air flow visualization passing through the wind hole. As the result of aerodynamic analysis, we knew that the wind hole of kite displays similar function of slot system for the wing high lift device. This fact demonstrates that our ancestor understood the function of slot system and applied effectively to the development of kite flight performance.


Two kinds of substituted phthalocyaninatozinc, tetra-beta-phthalimidobutoxy phthalocyaninatozinc (1) and tetra-beta-phthalimidomethyl phthalocyaninatozinc (2), were synthesized by mix melting method, which bear the same phthalimide substituents but the linking of the substituents to the phthalocyanine ring is different. The substituent linking to the phthalocyanine ring is one methylene in ZnPc (2), while the substituents linking to the phthalocyanine ring is four methylenes and one ather in ZnPc (1), in which ather is near by phthalocyanine ring. The absorption and fluorescence spectra and the abilities of singlet oxygen generation of these two phthalocyanines were compared with respect to the effect of different linked fashions. The magnitude of the redshift of absorption and fluorescence spectra relative to unsubstituded ZnPc is greater for tetra-beta-phthalimidobutoxy phthalocyaninatozinc (1) than for tetra-beta-phthalimidomethyl phthalocyaninatozinc (2). This result is related to the presence of stronger electron donating peripheral substituents of ZnPc (1), with phiF of (1) is larger than that of (2) and the abilities of singlet oxygen generation of (1) is smaller than that of (2).


It is difficult to accurately estimate the rates of rape and domestic violence clue to (lie sensitive nature of these crimes. There is evidence that bias in estimating the crime rates from survey data may arise because some women respondents are "gagged" in reporting some types of crimes by the use of a telephone rather than a personal interview, and by the presence of a spouse during the interview. On the other hand, as data on these crimes are collected every year, it would be more efficient in data analysis if we could identify and make use of information from previous data. In this paper we propose a model to adjust the estimates of the rates of rape and domestic violence to account for the response bias due to the "gag" factors. TO estimate parameters in the model, we identify the information that is not sensitive to time and incorporate this into prior distributions. The strength of Bayesian estimators is their ability to combine information from long observational records in a sensible way. Within a Bayesian framework, we develop an Expectation-Maximization-Bayesian (EMB) algorithm for computation in analyzing Contingency table and we apply the jackknife to estimate the accuracy of the estimates. Our approach is illustrated using the yearly crime data from the National Crime Victimization Survey. The illustration shows that compared with the classical method, our model leads to more efficient estimation but does not require more complicated computation.


This paper aims to investigate the role of knowledge in the economic growth convergence of the OECD member countries during the 1995-2011 period, by utilizing the production function approach. In our augmented production function framework, in addition to human capital, we consider other important channels of knowledge (R&D, trade and ICTs) to understand how knowledge contributes to the growth performance and growth convergence of the OECD countries. Furthermore, in contrast to most of the existing studies which used traditional panel data analysis, this study utilizes dynamic panel data techniques. This approach enables us to utilize the long-run information in the data and hence gives us the possibility to analyze the impact of knowledge indicators on economic growth by focusing on equilibrium relations over a longer time horizon. The empirical results suggest a positive impact of knowledge indicators on the economic growth performances of OECD countries and that there is convergence to a common long-run equilibrium in OECD.


Abstract : Principal components analysis is already used in multispectral image analysis to reduce the number of spectral dimensions. We, propose to use projection pursuit to find interesting combinations of spectral variates that produce images that enhance, contrast differences between differing land-use types. We develop a 3-dimensional moment index based on Jones and Sibson's index for projection into 2-dimensions.


Over the last decade, zebrafish has proven to be a powerful model in cancer research. Zebrafish form tumors that histologically and genetically resemble human cancers. The live imaging and cost-effective compound screening possible with zebrafish especially complement classic mouse cancer models. Here, we report recent progress in the field, including genetically engineered zebrafish cancer models, xenotransplantation of human cancer cells into zebrafish, promising approaches toward live investigation of the tumor microenvironment, and identification of therapeutic strategies by performing compound screens on zebrafish cancer models. Given the recent advances in genome editing, personalized zebrafish cancer models are now a realistic possibility. In addition, ongoing automation will soon allow high-throughput compound screening using zebrafish cancer models to be part of preclinical precision medicine approaches.


Background Interbody fusion is a common operation in spinal surgery, which is often used for various causes such as vertebral instability caused by trauma or degeneration. At present, a new material of calf bone interbody fusion cage has been used in clinic, but the curative effect has not been reported yet. In this study, the traditional metal interbody fusion cage was used as the control to evaluate the curative effect of this new type of interbody fusion cage. Method This retrospective non-blind case-control study included 96 patients with lumbar degeneration who underwent single segmental interbody fusion. Among them, 58 cases used calf bone material interbody fusion cage and used metal material (titanium) in 38 cases. The Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were compared before, immediately after, 3 months after, 1 year after operation and the last follow-up. IBM SPSS is used to compare the collected data one by one, and the parameter samples are tested by independent-samples t-test. Result There was no significant statistical difference between patients who received calf bone fusion cage and metal fusion cage in each follow-up time point.Conclusion The curative effect of calf bone fusion cage was not inferior to that of traditional metal interbody fusion cage at each follow-up time. Level of Evidence Ⅲ


This research aims to explore the secondary school sixth and seventh graders' length measuring estimation skills developing activities related to the daily life objects. The study is in a qualitative multiple case study model. The universe of the research consisted of the sixth and seventh graders. The sample of the research consisted of 85 students, who were studying at a secondary school in sixth and seventh classes in 2 (two) state schools determined with the purposive sampling method in the 2018-2019 educational year. The maximum variety was ensured for the class level, gender, and mathematics achievement scores; voluntariness for the easily accessible situation. The data were obtained with the scales and semi-structured interview forms prepared during the research process and analyzed descriptively. The research results suggest that the length measuring estimation skills of the secondary school sixth and seventh graders relevant to the daily life objects can be developed with the activities that will develop the students' prior knowledge and skills.


Abstract This paper addresses the concept of chronic illness as a socially constructed experience of stigma. The stigma of having a chronic illness affects the person's self-concept, capacity to adapt to the illness and the quality of his/her social networks. Social stigma is a delegitimising social process derived from both popular and medical views of chronic illness. Based on research into the coping strategies of a range of people with long-term, serious chronic illnesses, the paper argues that government health policies and services in Australia can best help people with chronic illness by supporting their self-help groups and community-based activities.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of participation and engagement among participants of a fandom-based virtual community. Netnography, a specialized from of ethnography adapted to the unique computer-mediated environment, was utilized to analyze posts collected from the Hogwarts Running Club (HRC), a closed Facebook group. The HRC was a virtual community with over 16,000 members that was founded in 2014 to provide a space for members to share stories, experiences, and passion for running and Harry Potter. The text of the collected posts was coded thematically. Four themes emerged: You're a Wizard Harry: Shared Passion for Harry Potter, Running in the Rain: Engagement Despite Challenges, Hogwarts is Home: Identity, and Pepper-up Potion: Improvements in Mental and Physical Health and Well-being. As a conceptual framework, the themes aligned with the Serious Leisure Perspective. HRC members whose posts were analyzed exhibited one or more of the six characteristics of Serious Leisure with all six characteristics being represented within the dataset. Findings suggested that virtual communities, as a leisure setting, can facilitate Serious Leisure engagement and should be considered a viable setting for Serious Leisure participation.


"All I knew was that they just kept saying I had the bad blood—they never mentioned syphilis to me, not even once," said Tuskegee Syphilis Study participant Charles Pollard.
Mr. Pollard was referring to the early 1930's, when he was a participant in the Tuskegee Study. He was also one of the last eight living participants when Pres. Bill Clinton apologized to the men at the White House in 1997, saying "they were denied help, and they were lied to by their Government."
Unfortunately, in 2010 another medical injustice has been uncovered—the case of a Baltimore woman who died in 1951 nearly at the half-point mark of the noted Tuskegee Study.
Bioethics is basically the study of the ethical issues brought about by advances in medicine. As we explore these two bioethics episodes, it involves the lack of respect for persons and the absence of informed consent guidelines during research, we can learn much about their influence on the Black community and contemporary medical research.


This volume concentrates on different forms of honesty and dishonesty in management and their consequences for managers, firms and society. These issues are related to values and behavior patterns and thus, the basis of contemporary business.


A detailed review on the structural, optical, chemical and electrical properties of the almost entire group II-VI compound including ZnTe have been presented in this book. Also, a brief discussion of the references through the literature regarding zinc telluride is presenting. A brief review of thin film preparation techniques has also been covered.Preparation of ZnTe thin film using thermal evaporation technique has been discussed. The effects of thickness and substrate temperature on structural, optical, electrical & transport properties have been investigated. Book also includes the overall conclusions drawn from the present investigation, which is followed by the future scope of work.


The causes and implications of Kenya's 4% rate of natural increase and fertility rate of 8.1 births per woman were examined. Attention was directed to the following: pronatalist pressures; inadvertent pronatalist impact of development; women's education and employment and fertility; population growth and pressures; mortality decline and population growth; fertility levels and differentials; fertility desires; the family planning program; and family planning knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Kenya's development success has worked to push up the population growth rate. Improved health care and nutrition halved infant mortality from 160 to 87 deaths/1000 live births between 1958 and 1977 and a marked increase in primary school enrollment may be factors in the birthrate increase to 53/1000 population. At this time fertility is highest among women with 1-4 years of education. The 1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey showed that only 5.8% of married women were using modern contraception, indicating that the national family planning program, established in 1967, has made little progress. Program difficulties have included shortages of staff, supplies and easily accessible clinic as well as an almost universal desire on the part of Kenyans for families of at least 7 children. Children are viewed as essential to survival and status to the rural population.


Fatigue is a common symptom in primary care settings [1-10]; it is reported by at least 20% of patients seeking medical care. Similarly, large community surveys indicate that up to half of the general population reports having unusual fatigue, usually of limited duration [11-18]. In most cases, the fatigue is transient and is explained by prevailing circumstances, relieved by rest, and of little cause for concern. Fatigue can, however, be chronic and debilitating. Chronic fatigue may be associated with many well-known medical and psychological conditions and is the hallmark of the chronic fatigue syndrome, which is characterized by profound fatigue that is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, myalgias, pharyngitis, and depression [19]. The chronic fatigue syndrome has been reported worldwide, and case definitions have been developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (see Appendix) and British and Australian researchers [19-21]. Recently, the CDC directed the formulation of a new international case definition that incorporates the major components of the original criteria [22]. We report the results of the first study of the chronic fatigue syndrome in the community. Previous population-based surveys have examined the prevalence of fatigue [11-18], but none have directly ascertained the prevalence of the chronic fatigue syndrome itself. Studies in the United States [23], Australia [21], and Scotland [24] have indirectly estimated the prevalence of the chronic fatigue syndrome in the community by identifying persons seeking care for fatigue through sentinel physicians. Another study in the United Kingdom used self-report on a mailed questionnaire to determine the diagnosis of the chronic fatigue syndrome [18]. In these investigations, the frequency of the chronic fatigue syndrome ranged from 3.4 to 249 cases per 100 000 persons. Other approximations of prevalence have used data from an epidemiologic study of psychiatric illness [25] or information from viral serology request forms [26]; these sources did not provide the specific information required to assess whether persons met any case definition for the chronic fatigue syndrome [19-21]. To determine the prevalence of the chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic, unexplained, debilitating fatigue in the community, we surveyed 4000 members of a large health maintenance organization. Another of our objectives was to compare the results of systematic physical and laboratory examinations and assessments of psychological distress and functional status in persons with chronic fatigue (including those with the chronic fatigue syndrome) with the results of these tests in healthy, nonfatigued, age- and sex-matched controls drawn from the same population. Methods The study setting was Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, a staff-model, nonprofit, prepaid health maintenance organization that serves 388 000 persons in Washington State. Group Health Cooperative medical records reflect essentially all medical care received by the organization's members, regardless of service site. Facilities include two hospitals, 23 medical centers, three specialty centers, and a progressive care facility. Group Health Cooperative serves a heterogeneous socioeconomic population, the age and sex of which closely resemble the age and sex of the general population of the Puget Sound region. Group Health Cooperative maintains computerized clinical information systems and supports the Center for Health Studies, a research unit experienced in conducting epidemiologic studies. Study participants were drawn from the Group Health Cooperative central region, which administratively includes five clinic sites and 84 primary care physicians and geographically contains much of the greater Seattle area. At study commencement, approximately 108 000 persons were enrolled in this region. Selection of Potential Cases and Controls A screening survey was mailed to 4000 randomly selected Group Health Cooperative members, regardless of whether they had sought medical care for any reason. The survey was re-mailed to nonrespondents; those who did not respond to the second mailing were telephoned and interviewed directly by research assistants. The screening survey included the following two queries, which were intended to assess the presence of two major criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome that were established by the original CDC case definition [19] (see Appendix): Have you felt unusual fatigue or loss of energy, either constantly or repeatedly, for at least the past 6 months? and Does this state of fatigue interfere with your work or responsibilities at home such that you have had to reduce your level of activity by at least one-half? Enrollees answering no to one or both queries were excluded from further consideration as cases. Those answering yes to both questions reviewed a list of medical and psychiatric conditions that can produce fatigue. If any of these conditions were present, members were considered ineligible for further study. The Group Health Cooperative records of persons answering yes to the above questions and explicitly denying any potential cause of fatigue were abstracted and reviewed. If the medical record showed any previously unreported, unrecognized, or incompletely evaluated medical or psychiatric conditions, or regular use of medications or other substances that could result in chronic fatigue, persons were not evaluated further. Persons were not excluded for a history of a grief reaction (for example, depression after the death of a spouse). When this screening process produced a potential case, approval for study participation was sought from that person's primary care physician. After receipt of approval, eligible cases were invited to participate in the study. Controls were chosen from among those answering no to both of the two major screening questions. The Group Health Cooperative records of controls were reviewed to confirm the absence of medical and psychiatric illnesses associated with fatigue. If they were eligible, potential controls were invited to participate after receipt of approval from their primary care physicians. Controls were age-matched (within 5 years) and sex-matched to the cases; 80% were also matched for clinic location. Cases and controls gave written informed consent. Index Visit Evaluation All 74 cases and 74 controls had a medical evaluation consisting of a questionnaire (148 items for cases; 124 items for controls) about past and current medical problems; the questionnaire included items that would elicit the information required to diagnose the chronic fatigue syndrome. Cases and controls also had a standardized physical examination and a battery of blood tests directed toward detecting causes of fatigue. The physical examiner was blinded to whether a person was a case or a control. Routine tests included a complete blood count with manual differential; a test for erythrocyte sedimentation rate; SMA-24 (to assess electrolyte concentrations and levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, uric acid, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, globulin, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, -glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and iron); and tests for thyroid function and antinuclear antibodies. Additional laboratory testing was done on the basis of the medical history, the physical examination, and the laboratory results, according to an explicit, previously developed algorithm. Functional status and psychological status were assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The SF-36 assesses physical and mental health, role and social functioning, pain, and health perception [27]. The SCL-90 was used to determine current psychological distress by measuring the presence and severity of specific symptoms [16]. Of particular interest were the dimensions of depression, anxiety, and somatization. Psychiatric diagnoses among persons meeting the criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome were determined using the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version III-A [28], a structured interview administered by a trained research assistant that assigns current and lifetime diagnoses on the basis of DSM-III-R criteria [29]. Additional information was obtained during the administration of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to determine the onset and resolution of psychiatric disorders relative to the onset of chronic fatigue. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was not given to all persons because structured psychiatric interviews in the assessment of the chronic fatigue syndrome were not formally recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NIMH, or the CDC until 2 to 4 years after study commencement. Follow-up Evaluations At 12 and 24 months, cases and controls completed the SCL-90, the SF-36, and a brief fatigue inventory that explicitly inquired about the presence of chronic, debilitating fatigue during the follow-up period. Cases were also seen in person at 1 year and reassessed using a questionnaire (which included questions about symptoms required by the original CDC criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome) and repeated laboratory and physical examinations identical to those done at the index visit. The physical and laboratory examinations were not repeated for controls. Lastly, the medical records of the 74 cases and the 74 controls were reviewed approximately 1 year after enrollment and at completion of the study protocol to record information collected by Group Health Cooperative providers during regular visits. Definitions of Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Alone, and the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cases who met the two major criteria from the original CDC case definition [19, 30] on th


Background In auditory fear conditioning, repeated presentation of the tone in the absence of shock leads to extinction of the acquired fear responses. The glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is thought to be involved in the extinction of the conditioned fear responses, but its detailed role in initiating and consolidating or maintaining the fear extinction memory is unclear. Here we investigated this issue by using a NMDAR antagonist, MK-801. Methods/Main Findings The effects of immediate (beginning at 10 min after the conditioning) and delayed (beginning at 24 h after conditioning) extinctions were first compared with the finding that delayed extinction caused a better and long-lasting (still significant on the 20th day after extinction) depression on the conditioned fear responses. In a second experiment, MK-801 was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected at 40 min before, 4 h or 12 h after the delayed extinction, corresponding to critical time points for initiating, consolidating or maintaining the fear extinction memory. i.p. injection of MK-801 at either 40 min before or 4 h after delayed extinction resulted in an impairment of initiating and consolidating fear extinction memory, which caused a long lasting increased freezing score that was still significant on the 7th day after extinction, compared with extinction group. However, MK-801 administered at 12 h after the delayed extinction, when robust consolidation has been occurred and stabilized, did not affect the established extinction memory. Furthermore, the changed freezing behaviors was not due to an alteration in general anxiety levels, since MK-801 treatment had no effect on the percentage of open-arm time or open-arm entries in an Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) task. Conclusions/Significance Our data suggested that the activation of NMDARs plays important role in initiation and consolidation but not maintenance of fear extinction memory. Together with the fact that NMDA receptor is very important for memory, our data added experimental evidence to the concept that the extinction of conditioned fear responses is a procedure of initiating and consolidating new memory other than simply "erasing" the fear memory.


Conventional wisdom suggests that copyright piracy may in effect reduce the deadweight loss resulting from copyright protection because it allows the public unlimited access to information goods at a price closer to marginal cost. It has been further contended that lower copyright protection would benefit the society as a whole, as long as authors continue to receive sufficient incentives from alternative revenue streams in any ancillary markets, e.g. touring, advertising and merchandizing. By evaluating the empirical evidence from the music, performance and videogame markets, this article highlights a counterintuitive yet important point: Copyright piracy, while decreasing the deadweight loss in the music market, could simultaneously increase the deadweight loss in ancillary markets via the interaction between complementary goods. The deadweight loss in ancillary markets tends to become dominant if a substantial portion of relevant consumers have high valuation but low frequency in music consumption, are risk averse towards upfront payment with uncertain demand, and/or discount future value at a high rate. Additionally, the findings shed new lights on the current debates on several competing propositions to reform indirect copyright liabilities in the digital age.


This Special Topic section of Biomicrofluidics contains original contributions that were presented at the 82nd Colloid and Surface Science Symposium, which took place on 15-18 June 2008 at North Carolina State University. The Symposium covered a wide range of topics that are relevant to the fundamentals of fluidics and their application to biological systems.


BACKGROUND
Allergen skin prick test (SPT) and serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) are effective diagnostic tests in allergic rhinitis (AR), however, positive results may not always correlate with clinical allergies. A nasal provocation test (NPT) can identify the causative allergen for immunotherapy, but it's not routinely performed.

OBJECTIVE
To establish the cutoff value for the house dust mite (HDM) SPT mean wheal diameter (MWD) and HDM sIgE level for identifying children with HDM-induced AR diagnosed from NPT.

METHODS
Children aged 5 to 18 years old with chronic rhinitis were evaluated by HDM SPT, sIgE, and NPT. Children with positive NPT results indicated HDM-induced AR. The cutoff values of the HDM SPT and sIgE level for predicting positive NPT were determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS
A total of 245 children with a mean age of 9.53 ± 3 years were enrolled. HDM SPT results were positive (≥ 3 mm) in 160 (65.3%) children. HDM NPT results were positive in 176 (71.8%) children. Among children with positive HDM SPT (n = 160), 153 children (95.6%) were confirmed as having AR on NPT findings. The cutoff values for positive NPT responses were 6.6 mm for HDM SPT (yielding 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value) and 17.0 kUA/L for sIgE (98.6% specificity and 99.2% positive predictive value).

CONCLUSIONS
This study proposes HDM SPT and sIgE cutoff values for use in the diagnosis of HDM-induced AR based on NPT. These cutoff values can be used to identify HDM-induced AR children who might benefit from immunotherapy.


Abstract
In order to evaluate of yield and yield components of eight wheat cultivars against flix weed (Descurainia Sophia), an experiment was conducted using a factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replications during 2003-2004 growing season in Varamin region. The wheat cultivars were Tabasi, Roshan, Karaj2, Azadi, Niknejad, Mahdavi, Shiraz and Pishtaz. In this experiment traits such as: competitive index, grain yield and yield components of wheat were measured. The results showed that significant differences between cultivars in yield, so results of analysis of variation showed cultivars were significant differences in (HI), but were not significant differences between cultivars under weed-infested and weed-pure condition. The results showed that cultivar Niknejad from the competition ability was superior to cultivars and had a greater yield compare to other cultivars.

Key words: Competitive index, Niknejad, AWC


Secret data delivery is an important application in the modern world. When sending secret data over public computer networks, it has been found that using the Steganography technique is more suitable than the Cryptography technique, because encrypted data looks like random noise that an unexpected user may not pay attention to. This paper presents a (2, 3) threshold secret sharing scheme to achieve the goal of secret data delivery with the high visual quality of a stego image and good security. The concept of Sudoku was adopted in the proposed method. According to the method's design, secret data can only be extracted when a minimum number of two shadow images are received. Furthermore, a large number of solutions of Sudoku are an advantage to increase secret data delivery security.


Extracellular fluid volume (ECF, [125I]iothalamate space), blood volume (BV, 51Cr-labeled erythrocyte space), and hematocrit were measured continuously to study the kinetics of fluid movements between intracellular, interstitial, and plasma compartments during water immersion (WI) at 38 degrees C in seven splenectomized and acutely nephrectomized dogs. ECF and plasma volume (PV) increased linearly during WI by 10 +/- 2 ml/kg (4% of initial ECF volume, P less than 0.05) and 12 +/- 2 ml/kg (33% of initial PV, P less than 0.05), respectively, above the control level by 120 min of WI. We estimate that 83% of the fluid entering the intravascular compartment is derived from the intracellular space at 120 min of WI. The results of this study indicate that WI leads to a sustained fluid movement of intracellular fluid toward the intravascular compartment. The increase in interstitial hydrostatic pressure (wick method) by 28.5 mmHg from the control level at 5 min of WI in response to the external water pressure exceeds the increase in mean capillary pressure by 10-11 mmHg relative to the control level. We postulate that this negative hydrostatic pressure gradient across the capillary wall leads to an increase in PV during WI.


The embodiment of virtual hand (VH) by the user is generally deemed to be important for virtual reality (VR) based hand rehabilitation applications, which may help to engage the user and promote motor skill relearning. In particular, it requires that the VH should produce task-dependent interaction behaviors from rigid to soft. While such a capability is inherent to humans via hand stiffness regulation and haptic interactions, yet it have not been successfully imitated by VH in existing studies. In this paper, we present a work which integrates biomimetic stiffness regulation and wearable finger force feedback in VR scenarios involving myoelectric control of VH. On one hand, the biomimetic stiffness modulation intuitively enables VH to imitate the stiffness profile of the user's hand in real time. On the other hand, the wearable finger force-feedback device elicits a natural and realistic sensation of external force on the fingertip, which provides the user a proper understanding of the environment for enhancing his/her stiffness regulation. The benefits of the proposed integrated system were evaluated with eight healthy subjects that performed two tasks with opposite stiffness requirements. The achieved performance is compared with reduced versions of the integrated system, where either biomimetic impedance control or wearable force feedback is excluded. The results suggest that the proposed integrated system enables the stiffness of VH to be adaptively regulated by the user through the perception of interaction torques and vision, resulting in task-dependent behaviors from rigid to soft for VH.


It is essential for patients to have understanding of the significance of morphine administration and to cope well with its side effects, as it leads to enhancement of the analgesic effects of morphine in the treatment of cancer pain. Since August 1993 we have used the booklet "Relieving Pain Effectively--Manual for Patients" and have consulted up to date approximately 670 patients about taking narcotics. The initial information eliminates the anxiety before taking morphine--we set up the time that each patient should take medicine to fit their life-style and explain about the the medicine and its side-effects. For this reason, the above information takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes per patient. We guide the patient over to over till the pain and side-effects have disappeared and file a "Morphine Education Record" with the details. We also prepare a "Pain and Side-Effect Control Sheet" that consists of 6 items and a pain scale where 0 equals no pain and no side-effect and 5 equals most pain and side-effects. Patients select the scale themselves every day. Pharmacists provide the information to a doctor and advise him on steps against side-effects, selection of dose, interval and rescue-dose. This is a report on the role of the pharmacist in patient narcotics guideline for cancer pain management.


The results derived from this study, about the Yangjin-dang
 in Hahoe based on literatures, are as follows ; 1)Before
 fired, 3Kan Sadang(사당) was existed in old Yangjin-dang.
2)After 1599, the Yangjin-dang' Anchae(안채) was built by
 Luo, woon loeng and Luo, won jik. 3) In 1650-1651, Luo,
se chul built Jechung(제청). 4) After 1868 Sadang were
 controlled from 3(chae) to 2.


Spoken dialog tasks incur many errors including speech recognition errors, understanding errors, and even dialog management errors. These errors create a big gap between user's will and the system's understanding, and eventually result in a misinterpretation. To fill in the gap, people in human-to-human dialog try to clarify the major causes of the misunderstanding and selectively correct them. This paper presents a method for applying the human's clarification techniques to human-machine spoken dialog systems. To increase the error detection precision and error recovery efficiency for the clarification dialogs, error detection phase is organized into three systematic phases and a clarification expert is devised for recovering the errors using the three phase verification. The experiment results demonstrate that the three phase verification could effectively catch the word and utterance-level errors in order to increase the SLU (spoken language understanding) performance and the clarification experts can actually increase the dialog success rate and the dialog efficiency.


Social sharing of information goods---wherein a single good is purchased and shared through a network of acquaintances such as friends or coworkers---is a significant concern for the providers of these goods. The effect of social sharing on firm pricing and profits depends critically on two elements: the structure of the underlying consumer network and the mechanism used by groups to decide whether to purchase at a given price. We examine the effect of social sharing under different network structures (decentralized, centralized, and complete), which reflect a range of market conditions. Moreover, we draw from the mechanism design literature to examine several approaches to group decision making. Our results suggest that a firm can benefit from increased social sharing if the level of sharing is already high, enabling a pricing strategy targeted primarily at sharing groups rather than individuals. However, the point at which sharing becomes marginally beneficial for a firm depends on both the distribution of group sizes (which derives from the network structure) and the group decision mechanism. Additional insights are obtained when we extend the model to capture homophily in group formation and the potential that a subset of consumers will never share for ethical reasons.


1. Four experiments designed to investigate the effect of fertilizers on the rate of bulking of Majestic potatoes are described and the results discussed. 2. Irrespective of fertilizer application yield increased until the haulm died and then decreased slightly. 3. Sulphate of ammonia increased the yield by increasing the number of tubers and increasing the yield in all size-grades. Thus its effect was seen throughout the season, no matter what grades yield was based on. It also increased dry-matter percentage.


Models for the spin systems in LiHoF4 and the randomly diluted spin system LiHo0.3Y0.7F4 are investigated by a Monte Carlo simulation. The models are described by long-range dipolar Hamiltonians. The experimentally observed ferromagnetic ground state for LiHoF4 is reproduced in the simulations provided the 'sample' is of prolate ellipsoidal shape with an axis ratio of four or more. The transition temperature Tc(L)-where L is an effective length-is obtained from the position of the maximum of the heat capacity for a number of sample sizes. The critical temperature, Tc(L= infinity ), obtained by extrapolation of Tc(L), is in fair agreement with the experimentally observed critical temperature. The randomly diluted spin systems are obtained by removing spins from the undiluted sample. Two different dilution methods are considered. Both produce an incompletely ordered ferromagnetic ground state in agreement with experiment. Comparison with simulations on a modified long-range model indicates that the absence of a perfect ferromagnetic ground state is due to frustration effects inherent in the dipolar Hamiltonian. The estimates for the zero-temperature magnetisation and the critical-temperature depression agree with the experimental results. Some simulations that include a magnetic field along the c axis have also been performed on the diluted spin system. The results show that the ferromagnetic ground state is obtained for a sufficiently strong magnetic field. Experiments to test this prediction are suggested.


The representation of "what happened when" is central to encoding episodic and working memories. Recently discovered hippocampal time cells are theorized to provide the neural substrate for such representations by forming distinct sequences that both encode time elapsed and sensory content. However, little work has directly addressed to what extent cognitive demands and temporal structure of experimental tasks affect the emergence and informativeness of these temporal representations. Here, we trained deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents on a simulated trial-unique nonmatch-to-location (TUNL) task, and analyzed the activities of artificial recurrent units using neuroscience-based methods. We show that, after training, representations resembling both time cells and ramping cells (whose activity increases or decreases monotonically over time) simultaneously emerged in the same population of recurrent units. Furthermore, with simulated variations of the TUNL task that controlled for (1) memory demands during the delay period and (2) the temporal structure of the episodes, we show that memory demands are necessary for the time cells to encode information about the sensory stimuli, while the temporal structure of the task only affected the encoding of "what" and "when" by time cells minimally. Our findings help to reconcile current discrepancies regarding the involvement of time cells in memory-encoding by providing a normative framework. Our modelling results also provide concrete experimental predictions for future studies.


McCormick writes about a rare pamphlet owned by the Library, "Proposals for Traffick and Commerce, or Foreign Trade in New-Jersey . . .," printed in 1718, probably by Andrew Bradford. The central concern of the pamphlet is one that has long plagued Jerseymen—how to achieve freedom from a "slavish dependence" on New York. The answer, devised in the best mercantilist tradition, was to develop an independent foreign trade by a judicious use of export and import duties and by the creation of a local supply of money.


FMRI retinotopic mapping is a non-invasive technique for the delineation of low-level visual areas in individual subjects. It generally relies upon the analysis of functional responses to periodic visual stimuli that encode eccentricity or polar angle in the visual field. This technique is used in vision research when the precise assignation of brain activation to retinotopic areas is an issue. It involves processing steps computed with different algorithms and embedded in various software suites. Manual intervention may be needed for some steps. Although the diversity of the available processing suites and manual interventions may potentially introduce some differences in the final delineation of visual areas, no documented comparison between maps obtained with different procedures has been reported in the literature. To explore the effect of the processing steps on the quality of the maps obtained, we used two tools, BALC, which relies on a fully automated procedure, and BrainVoyager, where areas are delineated "by hand" on the brain surface. To focus on the mapping procedures specifically, we used the same SPM pipeline for pretreatment and the same tissue segmentation tool. We document the consistency and differences of the fMRI retinotopic maps obtained from "routine retinotopy" experiments on 10 subjects. The maps obtained by skilled users are never fully identical. However, the agreement between the maps, around 80% for low-level areas, is probably sufficient for most applications. Our results also indicate that assigning cognitive activations, following a specific experiment (here, color perception), to individual retinotopic maps is not free of errors. We provide measurements of this error, that may help for the cautious interpretation of cognitive activation projection onto fMRI retinotopic maps. On average, the magnitude of the error is about 20%, with much larger differences in a few subjects. More variability may even be expected with less trained users or using different acquisition parameters and preprocessing chains.


The development of a formaldehyde-free wood-based panel is a major research direction in the wood-based material industry. Previous research has demonstrated that nitric acid activated fibers and coupling agents could be utilized to manufacture formaldehyde-free medium-density fiberboards. Herein, based on the chemical characteristics of wood, nitric acid and tannin were applied in formaldehyde-free particleboard, featuring suitable mechanical properties and water absorption resistance. The results of modulus of rupture (MOR), surface bonding strength, internal bonding strength, and 2 h moisture thickness swelling (TS) of formaldehyde-free particleboard (that was synthesized at optimal conditions and satisfied the China National Standards GB/T 4897 (2015) and GB/T 17657 (2013)) are discussed. The investigation of the technological conditions on bond performance showed that when the particleboard was bonded with the conditions of 20/80 nitric acid/particles mass proportion, 50% tannin concentration, and 135 °C temperature, the MOR, surface bonding strength, inner bonding strength, and 2 h TS were better than that of the particles with urea formaldehyde resin adhesive. The synthesis mechanism was studied by both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and the chemical composition indicated polycondensation of furfural and tannin, and hydrogen bonding of hydroxyl groups as the reaction mechanism between nitric activation and the tannin coupling agent.


PLATypus (PLA Test pattern generation and logic simulation tool) is an efficient tool for large PLA's which is interfaced with other existing PLA tools such as the folding program PLEASURE [12] and the logic minimizer ESPRESSO II-C [11] developed at the University of California at Berkeley. A new algorithm is proposed based on complementation and the tautology check of a logic cover, derived from the PLA personality matrix. Both complementation and tautology check are performed by advanced logic manipulation algorithms used in the logic minimization program ESPRESSO II-C [11]. The algorithm is exact, i.e., every testable crosspoint fault is tested, and maximum fault coverage is guaranteed. A quick preprocess, the biased random test generation, is used followed by the proposed algorithm to achieve the best balance between run time and test-set compactness. The program is refined at various stages by many powerful heuristics in the area of fault processing order, backend fault simulation, "don't-care" bit fixing, and on-the-fly test compaction. Both single stuck-at and crosspoint fault models are supported. PLATYPUS can also be used as a logic simulation tool and redundancy identifier. Test pattern generation has been performed by PLATYPUS on a large number of industrial PLA's.


Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing provides thorough coverage of GD&T practices, as established by the ASME Y14.52009 standard. From understanding symbols on existing drawings to calculating the tolerances for proper size and location of features, topics are introduced in a methodical manner to establish an understanding of basic concepts before building to more advanced applications. Heavily illustrated, the use of the second color enhances learning by highlighting callouts and labels separately from the symbols and text of each drawing. The textbook discusses the interpretation of GD&T symbology and proper representation on drawings. Included in the textbook are Chapter Tests, Print Reading Exercises, Drafting Problems, and a comprehensive Final Exam. Instructors resources include answer keys, lesson plans, Final Exam and Drawing Problem solutions, visual masters, and course syllabi.


This paper describes the results obtained from a wind tunnel test on the aerodynamic characteristics of road vehicles subjected to unsteady wind. In order to study the aerodynamic response of vehicles under atmospheric fluctuations, the velocity of the wind has been simulated in a pulsating state, where vehicles at a constant speed are driving in air with large wind oscillation. On the other hand, we consider three types of vehicles: two types of the Ahmed model, with slant angles of 0° and 30°, and the basic rectangular-prism model. The effect of wind oscillation on the drag and lift forces acting on the vehicle models under a pulsating wind condition has been extracted by comparing it to the forces under steady wind conditions. The oscillation of the wind exerts a significant effect on the fluid forces, and the drag and lift forces change with time in a peculiar way, depending on the body shape of the vehicle.


This report provides a case study from the province of Esfahan, in central Iran, describing the struggle of a village to secure the water resources without which local agriculture, and altogether life in the village, would be impossible. It illustrates the endless ingenuity of farmers in their quest for water, how land and water rights have developed, how various legal repertoires may conflict with one another, and how the intervention of the state transformed the wider hydrological cycle of the valley and affected the delicate equilibrium between population and resources that had prevailed until then. The report estimates the costs of accessing one cubic meter from each of these different sources and shows how political interventions or drought mitigation policies elicit solutions that are extremely costly.


Background Compressive force across the growth plate may cause retardation and even arrest of physeal growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate histologic changes, metabolic changes in terms of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration, and contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CEMCT) findings of physeal cartilage in a rabbit model of physeal damage caused by excessive compression. Methods Compressive forces were applied via external fixators for two weeks to the growth plates of distal femurs and proximal tibiae of right hind-legs in 8-week-old rabbits. Left hind-legs remained intact and were used as controls. Forty-four bone specimens containing growth plates of distal femurs or proximal tibiae were harvested one week (n = 12) and four weeks (n = 32) after surgery, and examined for histologic findings (H&E staining) and GAGs quantification in physeal cartilage. After incubation in an ionic contrast material for 48 hours, specimens were scanned by CEMCT, and the pixel values of physeal cartilage were measured. Results CEMCT showed a thin, highly attenuated line parallel to the growth plate in compressed specimens harvested at four weeks after surgery, which was found to be transversely connected trabecular bone. In these specimens, GAG content in physeal cartilage was significantly lower, and CEMCT pixel values of physeal cartilage were significantly higher than in the specimens from the contralateral control side. Conclusions Excessive compressive force applied to growth plates produces altered histologic features and metabolic function in terms of decreased GAG content in physeal cartilage, changes that can be demonstrated by CEMCT.


The management of pain and sedation during burn dressing change is challenging. Previous reviews and studies have identified wide variability in such practices in hospitalized burn patients. This survey-based study aimed to determine the most commonly utilized sedation and analgesia practices in adult burn patients treated in the outpatient setting. The goal was to identify opportunities for improvement and to assist burn centers in optimizing sedation procedures. A 23-question survey was sent to members of the American Burn Association. Non-pharmacological interventions including music, television, games, and virtual reality were used by 68% of survey respondents. Eighty-one percent reported pre-medicating with oral opioids, 32% with IV opioids, and 45% with anxiolytics. Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated that the initial medication regimen for outpatient dressing changes consisted of the patient's existing oral pain medications. Forty-three percent indicated that there were no additional options if this regimen provided inadequate analgesia. Fifty-six percent of respondents felt that pain during dressing change was adequately controlled 75-100% of the time, and 32% felt it was adequately controlled 50-75% of the time. Nitrous oxide was used by 8%. Anesthesia providers and an acute pain service are available in a minority of cases (13.7% and 28%, respectively) and are rarely consulted. Procedural burn pain remains significantly undertreated in the outpatient setting and the approach to treatment is variable among burn centers in the United States. Such variation likely represents an opportunity for identifying and implementing optimal practices and developing guidelines for burn pain management in the outpatient setting.


We show that the clock signal can be extracted from both NRZ and RZ data, and that this extracted signal power represents the total accumulated dispersion. We also demonstrate dynamic dispersion compensation at 10 Gbit/s using the extracted power as a control signal.


We present an algorithm for layer-specific edge detection in retinal optical coherence tomography images through a structured learning algorithm to reinforce traditional graph-based retinal layer segmentation. The proposed algorithm simultaneously identifies individual layers and their corresponding edges, resulting in the computation of layer-specific edges in 1 second. These edges augment classical dynamic programming based segmentation under layer deformation, shadow artifacts noise, and without heuristics or prior knowledge. We considered Duke's online data set containing 110 B-scans of 10 diabetic macular edema subjects with 8 retinal layers annotated by two experts for experimentation, and achieved a mean distance error of 1.38 pixels whereas that of the state-of-the-art was 1.68 pixels.


Breast cancer continues to be one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers around the world. Despite the decrease in mortality, there has been a steady increase in its incidence. There is much evidence that naturally occurring phytochemicals could prove to be safer alternatives aimed at prevention and development of breast cancer. In the present review, we discuss important phytochemicals, namely capsaicin, alpha-santalol and diallyl trisulphide that are shown to have chemopreventive and anti-tumour properties against breast cancer development. We examined current knowledge of their bioavailability, safety and modulation of molecular mechanisms including their ability to induce apoptotic cell death, promote cell cycle arrest, and inhibit cellular proliferation in different breast cancer cell lines and in vivo models. This review emphasises the importance of these naturally occurring phytochemicals and their potential of becoming therapeutic options in the arsenal against breast cancer development provided further scientific and clinical validation.


This paper presents a method for identifying various systems based on input-output data and a real-coded genetic algorithm(RCGA). The advantages of this technique are, first, it is not dependent on the deterministic or stochastic nature of the systems and, second, the globally optimized models for the original systems can be identified without the need of a differentiable measure function of linearly separable parameters. Under suitable hypotheses, the estimation error is shown to converge in probability to zero. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through several simulations.


This research is an in-depth case study conducted, through participant observation and semi structured interviews, within Spaceship Management, a well-established boutique artist management company, active in the field of electro/pop music genre.

This study examines the management processes, related to the concept of artist success, operated by the company's managers. The capacity to understand success, could be also crucial to improve the personal professionals skills of the author, under the reflexive approach, in his double role of both researcher and practitioner.

This study contributes to the literature offering an operative management insight into different themes such as artist/manager relationship, strategic planning, reflective practice, success and artist management processes related to artist success.

Success, through the analysis of this specific case, has been considered as the result of a two stages artist management process. These two stages could be defined as "self-management" and "total management". The first stage has been observed to occur within the autonomous experience of the artist, during his "self-management" phase. This phase has been found to include three elements that need to happen consequently in order to contribute to the artist success: the creation of an artistic identity, the exposure of this identity to the audience and the occurrence of an initial visibility.

Then the author observed how, as soon as an artist manager at Spaceship recognizes that both the elements of creation of the identity and exposure have generated a first level of visibility, they are ready to take in serious consideration to start working with an artist, permitting the shift from "self" to "total management".

During the total management stage, a process of value adding has been observed to take place. A Spaceship's manager, as soon as the relationship is established and the targets have been defined with the artist, could start to implement the strategy plan agreed, engaging the best team possible in order to guarantee a constant effectiveness of the delivery of the artistic product into the market.

This study contributes to increase the stock of relevant and practical management knowledge within a specific case.


Background and Objective: The widespread use of colonoscopy has led to an increasing number of subepithelial lesions (SELs) being detected in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This study aimed to analyze the utility of EUS and its role in the management of lower GI SELs. Patients and Methods: Records of all patients who were referred for lower EUS evaluation of a SEL at a tertiary center between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed after IRB approval. Data collection included patient/lesion characteristics, technical details of procedure, and pathology results. Results: A total of 47 patients underwent EUS examinations for the evaluation of 49 suspected SEL in the lower GI tract (2 patients had 2 SELs each). Out of the 49 suspected lesions, the most frequent location was in the rectum (30/49, 61.2%). EUS showed extraluminal compression in 2 cases (2/49, 4.1%) and intraluminal lesions were identified in 40 cases (40/49, 81.6%). In 7 patients (7/49, 14.3%), no lesion could be identified by EUS. Twenty (20/49, 40.8%) SELs were malignant or had malignant potential. Twenty-six EUS-guided fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) and 14 EUS-core biopsies were performed. EUS-FNA alone was able to correctly diagnose 15/26 (57.7%) of the lower SELs. When EUS-guided fine needle biopsies (FNB) were performed during the same procedure, the final diagnosis was confirmed in 21/26 (80.8%) cases. There was only one procedure-related complication caused by use of narcotics. Conclusion: EUS-guided FNA/FNB are feasible and safe techniques for assessing lower GI SELs and provide valuable information regarding lesion characteristics and their malignant potential with high diagnostic accuracy.


OBJECTIVES
To assess the impact of a whole-of-school health promotion program targeting healthy eating and physical activity on physical fitness levels, and physical activity-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior of primary school children.

METHODS
Sixteen primary schools were randomly assigned as intervention (N = 8) and control (N = 8) schools. A selection of tests from the Eurofit testing battery was used to assess changes in fitness levels over the 3 years of the intervention. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight. A physical activity knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) questionnaire was administered to participants. Multi-level mixed effect linear models were used to assess differences between intervention and control schools.

RESULTS
No overall improvement in physical fitness was found. The sit-ups score improved significantly in the intervention group (p < .05). No overall intervention effects were found on the determinants of physical activity behavior. Knowledge improved in both the intervention (p = .005) and control (p < .001) groups.

CONCLUSION
The lack of a specific intervention effect on fitness levels and physical activity-related KAB indicates that a "low intensity" intervention is not effective in South African primary school settings.


Bragg Bowlin and I are talking as we sit in the living room of his home, a 1920s-era row house two blocks from the famous Monument Avenue historic district in Richmond, Virginia. The room is furnished in dark mahogany and cherry, with impressive overstuffed chairs and sofa. Antique lamps and rugs join with the heavy wood furniture to give the room a turn-of-the-century feel. In these formal surroundings, Bragg's bare feet, blue jeans, and white T-shirt look out of place. The room's most prominent features, however, are its numerous images of the Confederacy and antebellum South. On a bookshelf is a bust of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Above the fireplace are framed prints of figures on horseback, generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. A Confederate battle flag hangs limp in one corner of the room. But the icon of the Old South that keeps drawing my attention is a striking collection of figurines, men in minstrel-style black face. Their pitch-black faces, stark white lips, and bulging eyes are contorted and twisted into expressions meant to convey lightheartedness and contentment. Whether these are antiques, the objects of a collector's curious fancy, or the wistful longings for the good-old days purchased by a middle-aged white southerner at a tourist shop, I do not know. I did not ask. Bragg is a self-assured member of the Richmond chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He and I are both southerners, proud of that designation and heritage. Yet Bragg's shrine to "our" shared past leaves me uneasy for many reasons. I am an African American descendant of slaves, and, save for a few ancestors who were Cherokee and a small number who were white, I consider myself fully African American and fully southern. As I sit in the middle of Bragg's Confederate sanctuary, I wonder whose interpretation of these images is more accurate. Bragg reveres those gray-clad men of honor, courage, and love of country--men he would claim fought to uphold the independence and rights of a sovereign people. I do not see that. I see men who hoped to sustain a society based on chattel slavery and an ideology of white supremacy, a society that held that some men were by right born "booted and spurred" to ride the saddles placed on the backs of Negroes by providence itself. Looking around the room I see images that degrade the memory of my ancestors. Which of our interpretations is more faithful to the historical reality? Who is the true southerner? Examine any newspaper in the American South during any week and you will undoubtedly find an article detailing yet another storm over a Confederate image. The principal actors are by now cliches--vocal black southerners and their liberal white southern allies on one side, demanding justice, calling for an end to bigotry and the consignment of all things Confederate to the nearest museum. Facing down this group is the needed adversary, the other half of the cliche--the conservative white southerners, usually stressing heritage, history, and the undeniable truth that their great-great-granddaddies did not own slaves. They were men, in fact, who fought for their homes, hearths, and independence. Whatever the source of the conflict--the Confederate battle flag, an image of a Confederate general, the portrayal of the Confederacy in print or film--the rhetoric from both sides is so familiar that it has taken on the characteristics of a refrain from a worn-out song heard once too often at too high a volume. I believe that for most Americans this debate is a nonissue. It's an old dog that won't hunt. This third group is guided by the principle of "The war is over, you lost (or slavery is over, you're free). Get over it! Move on!" In spite of this short-sighted majority sentiment, something important is going on in this debate. This argument is a dispute that goes to the heart of southern collective memory, a struggle over shared history and contested identity. In other words, who is really a southerner, Bragg or myself? …


Vietnam has experienced crucial transformations in every turning point of the world history. In this process, along with changes in the economic model, social institutions, are changes in the Government's management method in specific areas, especially in the shift from a centrally-planned to a socialist market-oriented economy. Vietnam's science, technology and innovation system has also gone through innumerable reforms to evolve, adapt and positively energize self-innovation. Science, technology and innovation indicators are embedded into the strategic goals of national policies and entered into every area, every sector (public and private) and individuals/organizations in Vietnam. In the context of international economic integration and the fourth industrial revolution, science, technology and innovation have become the targets and means for socio-economic development more than ever before. This paper aims to explore the philosophical moves in Science, technology and innovation management in Vietnam. It will clarify successes and challenges in the context of international integration. The first part of the paper discussed the concepts and approaches in policy and innovation research, since these aspects have not been fully established and agreed in previous studies in Vietnam. Secondly, the author reviewed and assessed the changes in Vietnam's science, technology and innovation policy framework to observe the four philosophy shifts of the relationship between the State and the science, technology and innovation system through the periods. Thirdly, changes in policies resulted in changes in resources, organizational structure, operational content and correlation as well as the position of elements in the science and technology and innovation system. The last part addresses macro and micro policy solutions for the development of the science, technology and innovation system for Vietnam in a new, potential, but risky context. Accordingly, science, technology and innovation policies need to be more "open" and "autonomous" to ensure the self-fulfillment, adaption and innovation of the science, technology and innovation system.


This paper presents a new MRAS speed observer for high performance FOC induction motor drives which employs the flux error for estimating the rotor speed, but overcomes the pure integration problems by using a novel adaptive integration method based on neural adaptive filtering. A linear neuron (the ADALINE) is employed for the estimation of both the rotor speed and the rotor flux-linkage using a recursive TLS (total least squares) algorithm (the TLS EXIN neuron) for on-line training. This neural model is also used as a predictor with no feedback loops between the output of the neural network and its input. The proposed scheme has been implemented in a test setup and compared with an MRAS OLS (ordinary least squares) speed estimation with low-pass filter integration and with the well-known Schauder's scheme. The experimental results show the in the high and medium speed ranges with and without load, the three algorithms give practically the same results, while in low speed ranges (i.e. below 10 rad/s) the TLS based algorithm outperforms the other two algorithms. Experiments have also been made to test the robustness of the algorithm to load perturbations and to test its performance at zero speed operation.


This article discusses the mechanisms
of particle deposition onto cleanroom
surfaces. The main mechanism
for particles above about 0.5μm is
gravitational settling. Turbulent
deposition and electrostatic attraction
can also occur at all particle sizes, and
for particles below 0.5μm Brownian
diffusion is important. Measurements
of particle deposition rates (PDRs) were
made of particles ≥ 0μm on witness
plates orientated in different directions
and exposed in different ventilation
conditions, and it was concluded that
over 80% of particles were deposited
by gravitational sedimentation, and
probably more than half of the
remainder by turbulent deposition.


RATIONALE
NBS19 carbonate, a primary reference material (RM) for the VPDB scale realisation introduced in 19871 , was exhausted in 2009, and no primary RM was available for several years. This study describes the preparation and characterisation of a new RM, IAEA-603, (Ca-carbonate, calcite of marble origin) which shall serve as a new primary RM (replacement for NBS19), or primary calibrator aimed at the highest realisation of the VPDB scale for δ13 C and δ18 O values, including the VPDB-CO2 δ18 O scale.

METHODS
IAEA-603 preparation and characterisation (value transfer) against NBS19 were performed by addressing the major modern technical requirements for RM production and characterisation (ISO Guide 352,3 ). IAEA-603 was produced in a large quantity, and the first batch was sealed into ampoules (0.5 g) to ensure RM integrity during storage; four other batches were sealed for long-term storage. The most accurate method of CO2 preparation for isotope mass spectrometry was used, namely carbonate-H3 PO4 reaction under controlled conditions.

RESULTS
The assigned values of δ13 C= +2.460±0.010 ‰ and δ18 O= -2.370±0.040 ‰ (k=1) are based on a large number of analyses (~10 mg aliquots) performed at IAEA and address all the known uncertainty components. For aliquots down to 120 μg, the δ18 O uncertainty remains unchanged but shall be doubled for δ13 C. The uncertainty components considered are as follows: (i) material homogeneity (within and between the 5200 ampoules produced), (ii) value assignment against NBS19, (iii) storage effects and (iv) effect of the 17 O correction.

CONCLUSIONS
The new primary RM IAEA-603 (Ca-carbonate, calcite of marble origin) replaces NBS19 in its use as the highest calibrator for the VPDB δ13 C and δ18 O scale, including the VPDB-CO2 δ18 O scale. The use of IAEA-603 will allow laboratories worldwide to establish consistent realization of the scales for δ13 C and δ18 O values and metrological comparability of measurement results for decades. The VPDB scale definition based on NBS19 stays valid.


Purpose. Development of theoretic and methodological approaches and scientific and practical recommendations concerning the management of the material flows of building complex. Methodology. Research includes analysis of existing scientific works concerning the problems of management of the construction development programs taking into account logistization on the enterprises of different branches related to the building complex. Experience generalization of administrative decision making in the process of production preparation, in particular the motion of material flows management of building resources and information flows (which accompany building resources), systematization of experience, logic analysis, design and system processing of information. Findings. Results give the building organization management an opportunity to estimate the material and technical support of the building objects according to the terms of building, technology of building processes, as well as to into account the minimization of expenses. Originality. Originality lies in the fact that the theoretical and methodological management foundations of the logistic system formation in the programs of building complex development are formulated on the basis of organization methodology development, planning and management from the point of view of the only system positions. Practical value. The contribution to the decision of the number of complex organizational and economic problems accompanied by the problems of building development is provided due to the increase of management efficiency of the material flows of building complex.


Studies developed for the past years and recent earthquakes have brought to light the importance that efficient connections between structural elements can have in the global behaviour of the structure. Although out-of-plane mechanisms of masonry walls are considered to be local, the reality is that their occurrence can lead to total collapse of the structure. The scarcity of data, both at experimental and numerical levels, introduces an urgent need to characterize the response of connections to seismic actions and understand their impact on the overall behaviour of the structure. Therefore, a total of 15 quasi-static monotonic and cyclic pull-out tests were performed on representative wall-to-floor (timber pavement beams) and wall-to-timber framed wall connections, unstrengthened and strengthened, in order to assess their performance and allow their characterization. The analysis contemplates parameters like: failure mode, hysteretic curve, strength degradation and total energy. The study of these parameters promotes better understanding of this type of connection and also the development of design recommendations for the strengthening. As further development, the experimental data will allow calibration of representative numerical models, enabling parametric studies of material properties and formulation of backbone curves.