MOTIVATION
Multiple displacement amplification (MDA) has become the most commonly used method of whole genome amplification, generating a vast amount of DNA with higher molecular weight and greater genome coverage. Coupling with long-read sequencing, it is possible to sequence the amplicons of over 20 kb in length. However, the formation of chimeric sequences (chimeras, expressed as structural errors in sequencing data) in MDA seriously interferes with the bioinformatics analysis but its influence on long-read sequencing data is unknown.

RESULTS
We sequenced the phi29 DNA polymerase-mediated MDA amplicons on the PacBio platform and analyzed chimeras within the generated data. The 3rd-ChimeraMiner has been constructed as a pipeline for recognizing and restoring chimeras into the original structures in long-read sequencing data, improving the efficiency of using TGS data. Five long-read datasets and one high-fidelity long-read dataset with various amplification folds were analyzed. The result reveals that the mis-priming events in amplification are more frequently occurring than widely perceived, and the propor tion gradually accumulates from 42% to over 78% as the amplification continues. In total, 99.92% of recognized chimeric sequences were demonstrated to be artifacts, whose structures were wrongly formed in MDA instead of existing in original genomes. By restoring chimeras to their original structures, the vast majority of supplementary alignments that introduce false-positive structural variants are recycled, removing 97% of inversions on average and contributing to the analysis of structural variation in MDA-amplified samples. The impact of chimeras in long-read sequencing data analysis should be emphasized, and the 3rd-ChimeraMiner can help to quantify and reduce the influence of chimeras.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
The 3rd-ChimeraMiner is available on GitHub, https://github.com/dulunar/3rdChimeraMiner.


Studies have demonstrated that the induction of oxidative stress may be involved in oxidative DNA damage. The present study examined and assessed the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated DNA damage in human tumor KB cells and also assessed the ability of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts to inhibit the oxidative damage. H2O2 imposed a stress on the membrane lipids which was quantified by the extent of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formed. The leaf extracts caused a very significant inhibition of the extent of LPO formation and enhanced the activity of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in KB cells. The comet assay was employed to study the DNA damage and its inhibition by the leaf extracts. H2O2 caused a significant increase in the number of cells bearing comets, resulting in significant DNA damage. The leaf extracts significantly reduced the incidence of comets in the oxidant stressed cells. The extent of cytotoxicity of H2O2 in the presence and the absence of leaf extracts studied in KB tumor cells by the MTT assay showed that H2O2 caused a marked decrease in the viability of KB cells where as the leaf extracts effectively increased the viability of assaulted KB cells. The observed cytoprotective activity is probably due to the antioxidant properties of its constituents, mainly phenolics. Total phenolics showed higher correlation with antioxidant activity. The leaf extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than the reference compound. These results suggest that the inhibition by the leaf extracts on oxidative DNA damage could be attributed to their free radical scavenging activities and the effect evidenced in KB cells can be in part correlated to a modulation of redox-sensitive mechanisms.


Background Evidence-based medicine (EBM) plays a critical part in ensuring that practitioners use the soundest available medical procedures while avoiding ineffective ones. As such, it plays a key role in medical residency education. However, little research has shown what factors influence residents' adoption of habits in, self-efficacy in, and skills of EBM. Materials and methods This study gathered responses from a cross section of family medicine residents and new interns from 40 different residencies across the USA. The survey was based on Taylor et al's survey of EBM attitudes and behaviors and the Fresno test's assessment of EBM knowledge and skills. The study used negative binomial regression, ordinary least squares regression, and nonparametric tests of difference to assess the impact of residents' background (year in residency, type of residency, previous EBM training, and previous research experience) on these EBM outcomes. Results Residents with previous research experience are associated with stronger EBM habits, more self-efficacy in applying EBM, and greater ability in using EBM skills. Previous research experience had a bigger impact on these outcomes than any other predictor. EBM habits, self-efficacy, and skills did not appear to show even increases by year in residency. Previous EBM training was associated with more hours spent reading the literature and higher EBM skill test scores. Conclusion Our findings suggest the practice of EBM may benefit from medical education increasing research experiences and EBM training. Research experiences provide the practical training, while EBM training provides focused instruction necessary for EBM self-efficacy, habits, and skills. These EBM outcomes are not inherently gained through time in family medicine residency. Future research, particularly longitudinal designs, should continue to pursue this line of inquiry.


Purpose

Despite their growing popularity among organisations, satisfaction with activity-based work (ABW) environments is found to be below expectations. Research also suggests that workers typically do not switch frequently, or not at all, between different activity settings. Hence, the purpose of this study is to answer two main questions: Is switching behaviour related to satisfaction with ABW environments? Which factors may explain switching behaviour?

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire data provided by users of ABW environments (n = 3,189) were used to carry out ANOVA and logistic regression analyses.

Findings

Satisfaction ratings of the 4 per cent of the respondents who switched several times a day appeared to be significantly above average. Switching frequency was found to be positively related to heterogeneity of the activity profile, share of communication work and external mobility.

Practical implications

Our findings suggest that satisfaction with ABW environments might be enhanced by stimulating workers to switch more frequently. However, as strong objections against switching were observed and switching frequently does not seem to be compatible with all work patterns, this will presumably not work for everyone. Many workers are likely to be more satisfied if provided with an assigned (multifunctional) workstation.

Originality/value

In a large representative sample, clear evidence was found for relationships between behavioural aspects and appreciation of ABW environments that had not been studied previously.


Abstract This article is inspired by the typology of "dialect/standard constellations" outlined in Auer (2005, 2011), which aims to detect common dynamics in the current processes of dialect/standard convergence in Europe. The specific sociolinguistic situation addressed in this article involves Italian, Piedmontese, and Occitan in Piedmont, a northwestern region of Italy. We analyze a set of linguistic features with the aim of depicting the dynamics of intralinguistic and interlinguistic convergence as they relate to the ongoing standardization processes in these languages. Some adjustments to the two types of repertoires drawn by Auer (diaglossia and endoglossic medial diglossia) are proposed to better suit them, respectively, to the Italo-Romance continuum between Piedmontese rural dialects and standard Italian (which actually consists of two separate subcontinua with intermediate varieties) and to the relationship between Occitan dialects and their planned standard variety (as well as that between Piedmontese and its "Frenchified" standard variety). (Language standardization, dialect/standard convergence, Italian, Piedmontese, Occitan.)*


In an attempt to characterize a possible drug interaction between methadone and disulfiram, 500 mg/day insulfiram was administered orally for seven days to seven subjects on methadone maintenance. Plasma methadone concentrations and urinary excretion of methadone and its pyrrolidine and pyrrolidone metabolites were measured and subjective symptoms of opiate intoxication and abstinence were noted before, during, and after disulfiram administration. Mean trough plasma methadone concentrations and terminal half-lives were lowest and shortest during disulfiram treatment, although this finding was not statistically significant. The ratio of urinary methadone to its pyrrolidine metabolite decreased during disulfiram treatment in all subjects. There is no evidence to support our original hypothesis that disulfiram might inhibit methadone metabolism. In contrast, urinary excretion of the major pyrrolidine metabolite increased relative to excretion of methadone. This suggests enhanced N-demethylation during disulfiram treatment. Disulfiram had no effect on opiate intoxication or abstinence symptoms. Disulfiram may alter methadone disposition, but in this study it was shown that in doses used for management of alcoholism there was no significant interaction between disulfiram and methadone.


Two peptides with counterpart sequences in the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain of human protein C (PC) have been synthesized and characterized. One peptide contained 38 amino acids (38-mer) and spanned the region from the amino terminus of the protein to the DNA splice junction between the Gla domain and the following short helical stretch, and the second peptide (48-mer) included a 10 amino acid extension that has been designed to incorporate the exon for the helical segment that is thought to play a role in stabilizing the Ca(2+)-dependent conformation of the Gla domain of proteins of this class. The peptides were synthesized by solid-phase methodology, then oxidized to allow disulfide pairing, and finally purified by FPLC methodology. Chemical characterization showed that each peptide contained its full complement of Gla residues. Two types of Ca(2+)-binding sites were found in these peptides, tighter sights (2-3) with Kd values of 60-370 microM and a weaker set of sites (7-10) with a range of Kd values from 0.8 to 3.1 mM. In general, the 48-mer interacted with Ca2+ more tightly than the 38-mer. As revealed by circular dichroism analysis, and by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies that recognize both the unfolded form of the Gla domain as well as the Ca(2+)-dependent conformation of this same domain, the 38-mer and 48-mer underwent the Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes characteristic of the intact protein. Both peptides displayed Ca(2+)-dependent binding to negatively charged phospholipid vesicles (PL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


BACKGROUND Aedes albopictus is an important vector with an extensive worldwide distribution. Only female mosquitoes play a significant role in the transmission of pathogens. Doublesex (dsx) is a central nexus gene in the insect somatic sex determination hierarchy. RESULTS In this study, we characterized the full-length sex-specific splicing forms of the Ae. albopictus dsx gene (Aalbdsx). Then, we identified 15 direct target genes of DSX in adult females using digital gene expression (DGE) combined with qPCR following a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) with specific DSX antibodies. The knockdown of Aalbdsx suppressed ovarian development, and the transcript levels of the Aalbdsx target vitellogenin receptor (VgR) gene decreased, whereas vitellogenin (Vg) expression showed an increase in the fat body. Genes in the major Vg regulatory pathway were also upregulated. Our results suggest that the effects of Aalbdsx RNAi on ovarian development are exerted mainly via VgR rather than Vg. CONCLUSION The results of our study not only provide a reference for the further elucidation of the sex determination cascade and comparative analyses of dsx target interactions in mosquitoes but also reveal potential molecular targets for application to the development of sterile male mosquitoes to be released for vector control.


ABSTRACT We report herein the first laboratory-diagnosed case of Lyme disease in a human in Taiwan. A 45-year-old Taiwanese man living in Taipei, in northern Taiwan, had an expanding skin lesion (measuring 23 by 15 cm) on his abdomen for 2 to 3 weeks and recurrent attacks of pain and swelling of the knee joint. Serologic tests indicated a significantly elevated titer of antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi. After appropriate antibiotic treatment for 3 weeks, the skin lesion was cured and the joint swelling was improved. Although several strains of Borrelia spirochetes had been isolated from rodents (Rattus losea) in Taiwan, the tick vector responsible for the transmission remains to be identified.


Although an Accounting Information System (AIS) course is important to equip accounting students with adequate knowledge and skills, little research has investigated factors that should be considered in developing such course content. This scenario is obvious in Iraq, particularly because the education system deteriorated severely due to the civil war of the last several decades. To look for critical success factors, this study identified employers" needs, professional bodies, learning environment, and International Federation of Accounting Committee (IFAC) recommendations as factors that might influence AIS course content. This study considered instructors" characteristics as a moderating variable that could enhance the relationship between IFAC recommendations and AIS course content. The objectives of the study were the following: (1) to identify the critical success factors influencing AIS course content at Iraqi Higher Education Institutions (HEI), and (2) to investigate the moderating effect of instructors" characteristics on the relationship between IFAC recommendation and AIS course content. To achieve these objectives, 260 questionnaires were sent to accounting lecturers at different Iraqi HEIs of these instruments, 165 were returned, yielding a response rate of about 63.5%, but only 134 were usable. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the relationships between (and among) AIS course content and employers" needs, professional bodies, learning environment, and IFAC recommendations. The findings showed that personal traits, professional bodies, participatory learning and teaching methods and general information and communication technologies (ICT) knowledge had no significant influence on AIS course content whereas other dimensions such as core knowledge and Information Technology (IT) competency had significant influence. Hierarchical multiple regression was applied to investigate the moderating influence. The results show that IT competency and general ICT knowledge were not significant whereas IT control knowledge and general IT knowledge were significant.


An unknown peptide fragment, which was released from bovine high-molecular-weight kininogen by bovine plasma kallikrein [EC 126.96.36.199], was isolated and its chemical structure was established. The fragment consisted of 41 amino acids with serine and arginine at the NH2- and COOH-termini, respectively. The molecular weight was calculated to be 4,584. It was very basic and contained eleven residues each of histidine and glycine and seven residues of lysine. Thus, the total number of these three amino acids accounted for about 70 percent of the total residues constituting the fragment. The amino acid sequence of the fragment, designated tentatively as "His-rich peptide," was studied by Edman degradation and standard enzymatic and chemical techniques. These data made it possible to deduce the following sequence: H-Ser-His-Gly-Leu-Gly-His-Gly-His-Gln-Lys-Gln-His-Gly-Leu-Gly-His-Gly-His-Lys-His-Gly-His-Gly-His-Gly-Lys-His-Lys-Asn-Lys-Gly-Lys-Asn-Asn-Gly-Lys-His-Tyr-Asp-Trp-Arg-OH. The fragment had an extremely interesting feature in that repeating sequences occur along the peptide chain. The repeats were of the type His-Gly-X or Gly-His-X and this sequence appeared six or seven times up to 26 residues from the N-terminal end. Moreover, three tetrapeptide sequences of Gly-His-Gly-His and two heptapeptide sequence consisting of His-Gly-Leu-Gly-His-Gly-His were found in the N-terminal portion. It should be noted that plasma kallikrein liberates such a histidine-rich peptide from the kininogen in addition to a physiologically active peptide, bradykinin. The location of the "His-rich peptide" fragment in the percursor protein is also discussed.


We consider the problem of fault tolerance in the graph-state model of quantum computation. Using the notion of composable simulations, we provide a simple proof for the existence of an accuracy threshold for graph-state computation by invoking the threshold theorem derived for quantum circuit computation. Lower bounds for the threshold in the graph-state model are then obtained from known bounds in the circuit model under the same noise process.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Passing from the supine to the upright position favors cerebral venous outflow into vertebral venous systems rather than into the internal jugular veins. We sought to determine venous connections between dural venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa and craniocervical vertebral venous systems.

METHODS
Corrosion casts of the cranial and cervical venous system were obtained from 12 fresh human cadavers, and anatomic confirmation was made by dissection of three previously injected fresh human specimens. MR venography was performed to provide radiologic correlation.

RESULTS
The lateral, posterior, and anterior condylar veins and the mastoid and occipital emissary veins were found to represent the venous connections between the dural venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa and the vertebral venous systems. This study revealed the nearly constant presence of the anterior condylar confluent (ACC) located on the external orifice of the canal of the hypoglossal nerve. The ACC offered multiple connections with the dural venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa, the internal jugular vein, and the vertebral venous system. All these structures were shown by MR venography.

CONCLUSION
The lateral, posterior, and anterior condylar veins and the mastoid and occipital emissary veins connect the dural venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa with the vertebral venous systems. These connections are clinically relevant, because encephalic drainage occurs preferentially through the vertebral venous system in the upright position. The ACC is a constant anatomic structure that may play an important role in the redirection of cerebral blood in the craniocervical region.


Abstract : This study opens with the proposition that students attending the U. S. Army War College (USAWC) have not accepted that institution's curricular theme -- the conjoining of political and military perspectives at the senior level of military leadership. This rejection is traced to the American tradition of antimilitarism and its source in the writings of the Antifederalist opponents of the Constitution of 1787. The views of both Antifederalists and Federalists are contrasted as revolutionary zeal and sober reflection. Despite the adoption of the Constitution, the Antifederalist doctrine of hostility to a standing army survived the intervening two centuries as a respectable opinion and found popular proponents. This opinion shaped the public interpretation of the paradigmatic event of modern U.S. civil-military relations: the Truman-MacArthur controversy. Since World War II, respected authorities of academia, civil government, and the U.S. military have espoused a preference for the isolation of the military from political matters and this preference has informed the current generation of U.S. military officers. General Eisenhower's wise dissent from this trend is not widely heeded. The essay concludes with a call for the introduction of instruction on civil-military relations within the USAWC curriculum which will revive the great tradition of the American warrior- statesman and which will inculcate an ethic in the student body supportive of our Constitutional heritage and the purposes of the USAWC as the prerequisite of its pedagogical success.


The world economic recession caused the loss of jobs for 34 million people between the years 2008 and 2009, thus finding viable alternatives for job creation is a global priority. In this context, our work's objective is to study the effects of green economy development on job creation at global level for the next decades. Based on a detailed documentary analysis, our paper will analyze the estimations regarding the number of jobs that will be created in one sector of the green economy, namely the renewable energy sector. Data prove that the renewable energy sector has a remarkable potential for job creation, the estimations showing that by carrying out smart policies for its support, massive investments would immediately follow and the number of jobs created in renewable energy sector could double in the next ten years and even triple in the next twenty years.


The possibility of using cosmic ray produced radioisotopes for studying large  scale circulation in the atmosphere has been explored recently. The potential significance of these isotopes in the field of metrology arises because of the following features in their production and properties-(l) Several radioisotopes are available whose half-lives are comparable to time scales involved in the atmospheric circulation. Four of the isotopes (S35, Be7, P33, and P32) have half-life periods ranging from three months to a fortnight, and one (Na22) has a half-life of about two and a half years, and (2) Isotope production is continuous, constant, strongly dependent on the latitude and altitude in the atmosphere and independent of meteorological factors, These isotopes can be used for investigating the nature of circulation of air in the troposphere and the detailed mechanism of exchange of air between the stratosphere and the troposphere.

Experimental work on the use of these isotopes in meteorology has so far been confined mainly to determination of the concentration in rainwater by the Geophysics Research Group of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay. Some of the important results of these investigations are summarized in this pa per.


In this paper a new approach to analytical decision making support based on on-line analytical processing of multidimensional data is suggested. The effectiveness of data analysis depends largerly on the data accessibility and transparency of an analytical model of domain. As usual, analytical model of domain is a set of OLAP-models for solving particular problems. The method of constructing a conceptual OLAP-model as an integral analytical model of the domain is proposed. The integral analytical model includes all possible combinations of analyzed objects and gives them the opportunity to be manipulated ad-hoc. The suggested method consists in a formal concept analysis of measures and dimensions based on an expert knowledge about the structure of analyzing objects and their comparability. As a result, conceptual OLAP-model is represented as a concept lattice of multidimensional cubes. Concept lattice features allow the decision maker to discover the nonstandard analytical dependencies on the set of all actual analyzing objects. Conceptual OLAP-model implementation improves the effectiveness of decision making support based on on-line analytical processing of multidimensional data.


【Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between knowledge and attitude about smoking of college student smokers. Methods: The data were collected from the 6th to 27th of April 2005, from 411 college student smokers in Jeollabuk-Do area. The collected data were analysed by using the SPSS WIN 11.0. Results: 1) The focus group showed mean $17.40{\pm}12.45$ in the knowledge about smoking. The knowledge about smoking was significantly different among general subject characteristics of age(F=4.84, p=.008), grade(t=2.96, p=.003), major(F=5.93, p=.001), and religion(t=2.96, p=.003). 2) The focus group showed mean $23.69{\pm}16.19$ in their attitude about smoking. The attitude about smoking was significantly different among general subject characteristics of age(F=8.15, p=.000), grade(t=-2.33, p=.020), major(F=8.35, p=.000), and residence(t=3.08, p=.010). 3) The correlations between knowledge and attitude about smoking were positively correlated(p】


A path in an edge colored graph is said to be a rainbow path if no two edges on the path have the same color. An edge colored graph is (strongly) rainbow connected if there exists a (geodesic) rainbow path between every pair of vertices. The (strong) rainbow connectivity of a graph $G$, denoted by ($src(G)$, respectively) $rc(G)$ is the smallest number of colors required to edge color the graph such that the graph is (strong) rainbow connected. It is known that for \emph{even} $k$ to decide whether the rainbow connectivity of a graph is at most $k$ or not is NP-hard. It was conjectured that for all $k$, to decide whether $rc(G) \leq k$ is NP-hard. In this paper we prove this conjecture. We also show that it is NP-hard to decide whether $src(G) \leq k$ or not even when $G$ is a bipartite graph.


OBJECTIVE
To study the correlation between serum pepsinogen (PG) level and gastric mucosal changes of the residents who live in the high incidence area of gastric cancer, and investigate the value of serum PG level in screening for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS
Serum PG level was detected with time resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA). The correlation between serum PG level and gastric mucosal changes was analyzed through endoscopic biopsy and pathological examination in 720 adult residents.

RESULTS
The median serum PG I, PG II level and PG I / PG II ratio in 30 healthy residents with normal gastric mucosa was 172.0 microg/L, 9.6 microg/L and 17.5, respectively. The median serum PG I level of GC patients was significantly lower than that of chronic gastritis patients, gastric ulcer (GU) patients and local healthy residents (P < 0.05). The median PG I level of GU patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy resident group and the other groups (P <0.05). Serum PG II level in CAG, GC and GU groups were all significantly higher than that in CSG and healthy resident group (P <0.05). The PG I/PG II ratio in CAG or GC patients was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of serum PG I < or = 60 microg/L for screening CAG or GC was 19.7% and 95.5% respectively, which were 34.7%, 89.3% for PG I/PG II < or =6, and 14.1%, 97.3% for PG I < or =60 microg/L + PG I /PG II < or =6. None in GU group was found to have serum PG I < or =60 microg/L. The median serum PG I level and PG I /PG II ratio in chronic gastritis (including CSG and CAG) with intestinal metaplasia were significantly lower than that of healthy resident group (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity for screening of intestinal metaplasia were 16.6% and 92.9% by PG I < or =60 microg/L; 25.6% and 80.4% by PG I/PG II < or =6; 11.9% and 93.9% by PG I < or =60 microg/L + PG I/ PG II < or = 6.

CONCLUSION
Serum pepsinogen level of the residents in the high incidence area of gastric cancer is closely correlated with the pathological changes of gastric mucosa. Though the sensitivity of serum pepsinogen level is relatively lower in the screening for chronic gastritis, gastric cancer and intestinal metaplasia, the specificity was quite high. PG I < or = 60 microg/L may be usful in differential diagnosis of gastric cancer from gastric ulcer.


In postmodern era, technology has evolved so rapidly that brings the people into the digital world (cyberspace), a new space to present the virtual reality and to provide free space for every individual to take any action that ends the simulation of reality. The development of digital technology has been brought through human fantasy boundaries, creating a three-dimensional space of the following items inside, going to the stage where virtual reality has exceeded manipulation and visual imagery so we step from the real world into a fantasy world. By reviewing the virtual communication through social media in cyberspace and how the virtual communication through new media (internet), and the formation of identity, the identity of both the real and virtual identities. Freedom and comfort of a virtual entered into a structured system, then to minimize misperceptions, prejudices and miss understanding should be built communications balanced relationship between the real world and the virtual world.


We demonstrate a scalable architecture for coherent combining of pulsed fiber ring lasers based on mutual injection and direct phase modulation. By direct phase modulation in the common arm of two ring lasers, synchronous pulsed lasers can be generated and coherent combining of the two synchronous lasers is obtained. Two pulsed fiber ring lasers are coherently combined with 0.55 μJ pulse energy and 10 μs pulse duration at a repetition rate of 27.5 kHz. Experimental results show that the two fiber ring lasers are phase locked with an invariable phase difference of π and have good temporal synchronization and spatial coherence. The combining efficiency of the two pulsed fiber laser reaches 90% and the fringe contrast is larger than 40%. Neither active phase control nor polarization control is used in our experiment and this method can be extended to combine more beams and higher repetition rate scaling up to higher power.


This research questions about the scope and limits of the volitional acts. From Husserls description of the structure and genesis of voluntary acts, the question arises about unaware determinations of the decisions and about the volitional resolutions. The phenomenological description of the will is primarily connected with the ethical considerations on the conditions for the realization of a full and happy life. However, Husserls phenomenology provides the basis for studying the will in general. While it is true that psychoanalysis does not provide a description of the will, it offers a description of its boundaries and the ability to understand the importance of failure as a way of moderating a proud will. Despite its restrictions and constraints, the will forms a part of human nature. The clarification of such limits and conditions of the will is an issue where the empirical investigations of psychoanalysis and those of transcendental phenomenology fruitfully coincide.


Murta (Ugni molinae Turcz.) is a native species from central and southern Chile. There is an increasing interest in the plant due to its high content of essential nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals to human health. In fact, the berries contain a wide variety of anthocyanins, which are the main antioxidant compounds. There are some studies on the phytochemical composition and biological activities of murta fruit, but human intervention studies using whole fruits are still lacking. This manuscript reviews the nutritional and phytochemical composition of murta berries and leaves. However, more scientific background is needed to validate the properties of this species so as to gain complete knowledge of the whole shrub in order to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals.


By means of the transfer matrix approach, the linear conductance spectrum for electronic transport through a T-shaped quantum waveguide is calculated. The resonant peaks and the antiresonant dips in the conductance spectrum are mainly focused. The previous prediction about their positions by other theoretical approaches is checked. In addition, a function of spin filtering is suggested based on the interplay of the resonance and antiresonance in this T-shaped quantum waveguide.


The newly recognised coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2, causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), has caused a pandemic with huge ramifications for human interactions around the globe. As expected, research efforts to understand the virus and curtail the disease are moving at a frantic pace alongside the spread of rumours, speculations and falsehoods. In this article, we aim to clarify the current scientific view behind several claims or controversies related to COVID‐19. Starting with the origin of the virus, we then discuss the effect of ibuprofen and nicotine on the severity of the disease. We highlight the knowledge on fomites and SARS‐CoV‐2 and discuss the evidence and explications for a disproportionately stronger impact of COVID‐19 on ethnic minorities, including a potential protective role for vitamin D. We further review what is known about the effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children, including their role in transmission of the disease, and conclude with the science on different mortality rates between different countries and whether this hints at the existence of more pathogenic cohorts of SARS‐CoV‐2.


In this paper, we propose a novel spatial variation modeling method based on robust dictionary learning for nanoscale integrated circuits. This method takes advantage of the historical data to efficiently improve the accuracy of wafer-level spatial variation modeling with extremely low measurement cost. Robust regression is adopted by our implementation to reduce the bias posed by outliers. An iterative coordinate descent method is further introduced to solve the dictionary learning problem with consideration of missing data. Our numerical experiments based on industrial measurement data demonstrate that the proposed method achieves up to 70% error reduction over the conventional VP approach without increasing the measurement cost.


ABSTRACT Background: Stress has been shown to have major effects on metabolic activity. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that results from an alteration of the secretion or action of insulin. This study aimed to investigate biopsychosocial determinants of diabetes mellitus type 2 Subjects and Method: A case control study was conducted in Surakarta, Centra Java, Indonesia, from November 2019 to January 2020. A sample of 200 patients with type 2 DM was selected by fixed disease sampling. The dependent variable was type 2 DM. The independent variables were family history of DM, dietary pattern, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), central obesity, stress, hypertension, and smoking. The data were collected by medical record and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by a multiple logistic regression run on Stata 13. Results: The risk of type 2 DM increased with family history of tipe 2 DM (OR= 12.88; 95% CI= 5.18 to 32.04; p<0.001), poor dietary pattern (OR= 2.92; 95% CI= 1.16 to 7.36; p= 0.023), and low physical activity (OR= 3.15; 95% CI= 1.22 to 8.18; p= 0.018), central obesity (OR= 4.55; 95% CI= 1.55 to 13.41; p= 0.006), stress (OR= 3.07; 95% CI= 1.21 to 7.79; p= 0.018), history of hypertension (OR= 3.83; 95% CI= 1.49 to 9.79; p= 0.005), and smoking behavior (OR= 3.86; 95% CI= 1.29 to 11.57; p= 0.016). The risk of type 2 DM decreased with normal BMI (OR= 0.37; 95% CI= 0.13 to 1.01; p= 0.053). Conclusion: The risk of type 2 DM increases with family history of tipe 2 DM, poor dietary pattern, and low physical activity, central obesity, stress, history of hypertension, and smoking behavior. The risk of type 2 DM decreases with normal BMI. Keywords: Determinan biopsikososial, DM tipe 2. Correspondence: Anggi Putri Aria Gita. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. Mobile: +628975406464. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.01.46


Micromorphological and image analyses in substrate thin sections were used in order to determine particles distribution, porosity variability, and the degree of sorting, in: bulk materials, within the same material but with different particle size, and within the same particle size but with different material ratios. In addition, physical properties (air capacity, easily available water, and less readily available water) were determined to relate with micromorphological data. The materials used were: peat moss (Pm), compost (C), volcanic scoria or tezontle (T), agrolite (Ag) and pumice (P). Thin sections were elaborated and described both in mixtures and in individual materials. Further, thin sections were photographed (20 photographs) and their image analyzed, to quantify in situ porosity. Our findings showed that bulk material present unsorted particles with high porosity variability (between 44-79%) within the same mixture; hence, these data correlate with the high variability of their physical properties. Also, each particle size within the same material (organic or inorganic) are perfectly sorted, but with different types of pores: compound packing voids (3.36 mm), vughs (1 mm), and close packing voids (0.25 mm). Consequently, physical properties vary in each particle size analyzed. Finally, in mixtures with different ratio, porosity variability is low, because only complex packing voids occur in these; however, physical properties vary according to dominance of the type of pore (storage or percolation). Micromorfological and image analysis are recommended in the studies of mixtures of materials in order to understand the physical properties of the substrates. It is necessary to use the same particle size in individual or mixture materials to guarantee reproducibility of their physical properties.


The contact resistance between organic semiconductors and metallic electrodesaffectsthe performance of the organic thin film transistor (OTFT) negatively so that it may make thefield effect mobility of charge carrier seem small. In order to reduce the contact resistance weused conducting Carbon Nanotube (CNT) films, which consist of the same element as the basicmaterial of the organic semiconductors, as source or drain electrodes. The measurements oftransistor properties based on pentacene single crystals have been carried out by using both CNTfilm electrodes and metal electrodes


The methods used for estimating rhizodeposition of plants (carbon (C) deposition of living roots), and the results obtained for different plant species are reviewed. Three tracer techniques using C isotopes to quantify rhizodeposition are discussed: pulse labelling, continuous labelling, and natural C abundance. Only the tracer methods provided adequate results for the whole rhizodeposition. The differences in the below-ground C translocation pattern between cereals and grasses are discussed. Cereals (wheat and barley) transfer 20 – 30% of total assimilated C into the soil. Half of this amount is subsequently found in the roots and about onethird in CO2 evolved from the soil by root respiration and microbial utilization of root-borne organic substances. The remaining part of below-ground translocated C is incorporated into the soil microorganisms and soil organic matter (SOM). The portion of assimilated C allocated below the ground by cereals decreases during growth and by increasing N fertilization. Pasture plants translocated about 30 – 50% of assimilates below-ground, and their translocation patterns were similar to those of crop plants. On average, the total C amounts translocated into the soil by cereals and pasture plants are approximately the same (1.5 Mg C ha; calculated for the productivity of about 6 Mg grain yield), when the same growth period is considered. However, during one vegetation period the cereals and grasses allocated beneath the ground about 1.5 and 2.2 Mg C ha, respectively. Finally, a simple approach is suggested for a rough calculation of C input into the soil and for root-derived CO2 efflux from the soil. Contribution of C4 carbon (from maize and some C4 grasses) to turnover of SOM (C3 soils) estimated by natural C abundance is reviewed. In average for Ap horizons, the portion of maize derived carbon increases of about 0.98% of SOM content per year. Factors influencing the contribution of maize-derived carbon to soil organic carbon are discussed. The contribution of maize derived carbon decreases with soil depth, without fertilization, after removal of above ground biomass, and with soil tillage.


A given B lymphocyte makes an antibody containing either kappa- or lambda-light chains, but not both. This isotype exclusion is effected at the level of the rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene segments, although by an unknown mechanism. An attractive possibility is that, following productive rearrangement of one of the light-chain loci, the newly synthesized light-chain polypeptide inhibits DNA rearrangement for the other isotype. To test such feedback regulation, we have created transgenic mice carrying a rearranged lambda 1-gene. By contrast with the B cells in normal newborn mice which are mainly kappa+lambda-, the B cells in the newborn transgenic mice express lambda- but not kappa-chains. We propose that the synthesis of any light chain, be it kappa or lambda, that allows expression of IgM on the cell surface results in a cessation of all V-J joining. Interestingly, the limited light-chain repertoire of the transgenic mice does not persist and most adult B cells express endogenous kappa-rearrangements and down-regulate the transgene.


Crepispalaestina subsp. babcockii Inceer & Aksu Kalmuk subsp. nov. (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) is described and illustrated. It grows in shady places and red pine forest in southwest Anatolia, Turkey. The chromosome number of the new subspecies is 2n = 2x = 8. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish C. palaestina subsp. babcockii from morphologically similar taxa C. palaestina subsp. palaestina and C. pulchra are discussed, and a conservation status for the new taxon is suggested.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 25(1): 45-49, 2018 (June)


Earthquake RecoveryJust before midnight on 7 August, heavy rains in the mountains north of Zhouqu, in western China's Gansu Province, unleashed a torrent of mud, boulders, and rubble on the slumbering town. Like many settlements in mountainous regions, Zhouqu is built on an alluvial fan from earlier debris flows. The August disaster was the 12th damage-causing event since 1823. Researchers estimated that some 25 million cubic meters of loose rock and sediment had accumulated in two gullies north of town. Human activities like quarrying contributed to the precarious mass, but most of it, researchers believe, was deposited by landslides and rockfalls after a big earthquake in 1879. The findings suggested that debris flows could strike more than 100 years after a major quake.


The Economic Policy Package Volume X has been announced by the Government on February 11th, 2016. The concrete step of the policy package is to revise the Presidential Regulation concerning the field of business in investment known as the negative list of investment. Areas of business that are experiencing changes in the negative list of investment include the sector of Tourism and Creative Economy. In Bali, the tourism appeal is built and developed, apart from Government and private, is also managed by the community of customary villages. The existence of customary village - based tourism can attract foreign investors or otherwise require foreign capital which may then be agreed upon in the form of agreement. In addition to globalization, other things that could lead to the possibility of such agreement are the liberalization in the field of investment and tourism. Liberalization arises from various international agreements that have been agreed by the Government, such as one of ASEAN regional liberalization with the ASEAN Economic Community. So, to face that possibility, the Government needs to regulate foreign investment in customary village based tourism with various levels of policy. As a normative legal research, the method used in this study is a legislative approach that is integrated with a conceptual approach. Policy and legislation have variations in relationships based on differences in understanding and application of the use of policy concepts. The policies studied in normative legal research, in addition to legislation also concerning government actions relating to the terms discretion, policy, beleid, and ermessen are reviewed.s


Clinical research encompasses a wide range of scientific investigations including case reports on a single patient, case series, retrospective studies, prospective studies, and multicenter randomized clinical trials. These activities aim to enhance our understanding of medical conditions with the intention of helping patients.

Clinical research is time-consuming, challenging, and expensive, and with current practice pressures, it can be a daunting task. An increasing number of regulatory obstacles produce further challenges to performing clinical research. Both evidence and opinion indicate that these regulatory obstacles have adversely affected the conduct of clinical research. Ninety-one percent of the audience who attended the symposium at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA; a clinical meeting of senior orthopaedic surgeons) in Asheville, North Carolina, characterized this threat as moderate or severe. When the attendees were presented with three negative statements about their institutional review board, which described it as (1) cumbersome, bureaucratic, and difficult to deal with; (2) more interested in protecting the institution than the patient; and (3) causing delays and unnecessary costs, 66% felt that all three applied to their board. This reflects the deep sense of frustration many clinicians have with the current regulatory process and their belief that institutional review boards are clearly obstructive to clinical research.

This symposium explores the barriers and obstacles to clinical research provided by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and by institutional review boards and presents the position that change is necessary to minimize the problems and the expense they create. Clinical research requires substantial funding, particularly for large-scale multicenter trials, which limits the number and quality of these important clinical experiments. Issues related to the funding of orthopaedic trials from the perspective of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) are reviewed. Finally, high-quality clinical research needs clinician researchers trained in the methods of large clinical trials, and this type of expertise must be developed, mentored, and financially supported with protected time.


This study explores how magazines became the first mass medium in the USA and how they expressed a new American culture based on "dreams" of a better future. Schneirov argues that the birth of the popular magazine at the turn of the century helped to form the foundations of contemporary consumer culture. Revolutionary concepts and products from the skyscraper to the automobile were extolled in these publications as symbols of the might of science and technology that would irrevocably change modern living. Photographs from 19th-and 20th-century magazines interspersed throughout the text illustrate the impetus to dream of a new social order.


Binding interactions of various synthetic oligohomonucleotides with anti-ssDNA autoantibody BV 04-01 (IgG2b, kappa) and the corresponding single-chain antibody (SCA) 04-01/212 were studied. Oligonucleotide binding to IgG or SCA resulted in quenching of the protein's tryptophan fluorescence permitting direct assessment of ligand binding under equilibrium conditions. The effect of oligothymidylate length, (dT)n, on tryptophan quenching was evaluated. The equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) for the binding of (dT)6 and (dT)8 were the same [(1.3 +/- 0.02) x 10(-7) M], while decreasing the length of the oligothymidylate to (dT)3 increased the Kd an order of magnitude. To assess base specificity, the comparative binding of other hexahomonucleotides was examined. Neither (dA)6 nor (dC)6 showed measurable binding, while the dissociation constant for (dG)6 was (7.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) M. Fluorescence lifetime quenching data correlated with the steady-state binding results and indicated that the quenching process contains both dynamic and static components. The ability of BV 04-01 to bind (dT)6 and (dG)6 nucleotides was further supported by fluorescence anisotrophy studies with fluorescein-labeled hexadeoxynucleotides. Various levels of tryptophan fluorescence quenching upon titration with oligothymidylates of different length, as well as the similar affinities for (dT)6 and (dG)6, supported the concept that the groove-type binding pocket in BV 04-01 consists of binding subsites that cooperatively adapt for efficient binding of oligonucleotides.


Here we present the synthesis of a new family of sugar derived 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol based AB-type monomers, containing one methyl ester group and a secondary hydroxyl group in all four possible stereo isomers (RR, RS, SR, SS). Structural characterization of the monomers (5a–d) was established by 1D and 2D NMR analysis, which was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The application of these monomers in step-growth polymerization afforded fully isohexide based stereo-regular polyesters. Homo polyesters based on the RR and RS monomers were obtained with reasonable molecular weights by melt polymerization (Mn 2400 and 2500 resp.). These materials showed unexpectedly low glass-transition temperatures of 20 °C and 15 °C respectively. In contrast, the monomers with SR and SS configuration yielded only low molecular weight oligomers. Surprisingly, copolymerization of the RR and SR monomers gave a polyester with higher molecular weight (Mn 4100) and a high Tg of 80 °C. These preliminary results show that isohexide hydroxyesters are an intriguing new class of biobased building blocks with many potential applications.


RNA is the second major form of nucleic acid in human cells that play intermediary role between DNA and functional protein. Several classes of RNA's are found in cells, each with distinct function. Understanding of storage and utilization of a cell's genetic information is based on the structure of RNA. Many experimental results have shown that RNA plays a greater role in the cells. RNA sequences contains signals at the structure level can be exploited to detect functional motifs common to all or a portion of those sequence. Different types of analysis of a structure can provide functional information in different degrees of detail. In this paper various types of RNA secondary structure representation has been discussed and in which appropriate structure has been adopted for probabilistic approach that shows un-ambiguity.


This paper reviews a recent development in the theory of resonant MHD waves in non-uniform plasmas. An asymptotic analysis of the equations for MHD waves in plasmas with high magnetic Reynolds numbers has shown that resonant slow and Alfvén waves obey conservation laws and jump conditions across the dissipative layer. These conservation laws specify the dominant dynamics of the resonant MHD waves. In combination with the jump conditions they enable us to understand the basic physics of resonant MHD waves and also help us with the interpretation of results of large scale numerical simulations in resistive MHD. They also can be used to design an accurate and computationally simple methods for numerical studying resonant MHD waves in non-uniform plasmas. Conservation laws and jump conditions for resonant MHD waves are first discussed in linear MHD for 1-dimensional equilibrium states. Subsequently the generalization of these results to 2-dimensional equilibrium state in linear MHD and to nonlinear MHD is reviewed. The interaction of sound waves with an inhomogeneous plasma is discussed as an application of the theory. Firstly the results of linear theory are used to consider the interaction of sound waves with 1-dimensional magnetic tubes. The phenomenon of total resonant absorption is discussed. Secondly the nonlinear theory of cusp dissipative layers is used to study the interaction of sound waves with 1-dimensional inhomogeneous plasmas in planar geometry. New effects that owe their existence to nonlinearity in the cusp dissipative layer are reviewed.


INTRODUCTION There is a paucity of studies on e-cigarette use among adults with chronic lung disease. In the present study, we aimed to assess whether psychosocial or cognitive factors elucidate the relationship between chronic lung disease (CLD) and susceptibility to e-cigarette use and whether the relationship between CLD and e-cigarette use is conditional on the presence of respiratory symptoms. METHODS We recruited adults aged ≥18 years in Alabama with CLD from university medical clinics (n=140) and individuals without CLD (n=123 as a reference group). Information on sociodemographics, susceptibility to e-cigarette use, psychosocial factors, and cognitive factors were collected. Mediation analysis was used to assess whether the psychosocial factors or cognitive factors explained the association between CLD and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes, and moderation analysis was conducted to determine if respiratory factors would change the association between CLD and susceptibility to e-cigarette use. RESULTS Psychosocial factors (stress, depression, anxiety) and e-cigarette positive expectancy were notably high among individuals with CLD. Having CLD was associated with a lower likelihood of susceptibility to e-cigarette use. Higher levels of stress, being a smoker, boredom, taste/sensorimotor manipulation, and social facilitation were associated with higher odds of susceptibility to using e-cigarettes among individuals with CLD. Mediation analysis indicated a statistically significant indirect effect of CLD on the susceptibility to using e-cigarettes through stress and boredom reduction. We did not find a statistically significant interaction between CLD and respiratory symptoms affecting susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with CLD often exhibit stress, depression, and a positive view of e-cigarettes but are generally less inclined to use them. Stress, smoking habits, boredom, taste, and social influence can increase their susceptibility to e-cigarette use. Our findings call for further exploration to evaluate the temporal relationship between CLD status, psychosocial factors, cognitive factors, and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, on 5 November 2019. Identifier: NCT04151784


How markets perform during famines has long been a contentious issue. Recent research tends to associate famine with market segmentation and hoarding. Evidence based on an analysis of the spatial and temporal patterns of food-price movements during four famines in pre-industrial Europe indicates that markets functioned "normally" in times of crisis.


What special problems arise for managers and employees of companies when they do business in countries and cultures other than their own? The essays in this book identify universal principles of business ethics and spell out minimal legal and ethical absolutes in foreign trade. They examine human rights and analyze the cross-cultural aspects of two sexual harassment cases filed against Mitsubishi in America.


Terminal oxo complexes of the late transition metals Pt, Pd, and Au have been reported by us in Science and Journal of the American Chemical Society. Despite thoroughness in characterizing these complexes (multiple independent structural methods and up to 17 analytical methods in one case), we have continued to study these structures. Initial work on these systems was motivated by structural data from X-ray crystallography and neutron diffraction and (17)O and (31)P NMR signatures which all indicated differences from all previously published compounds. With significant new data, we now revisit these studies. New X-ray crystal structures of previously reported complexes K(14)[P(2)W(19)O(69)(OH(2))] and "K(10)Na(3)[Pd(IV)(O)(OH)WO(OH(2))(PW(9)O(34))(2)]" and a closer examination of these structures are provided. Also presented are the (17)O NMR spectrum of an (17)O-enriched sample of [PW(11)O(39)](7-) and a careful combined (31)P NMR-titration study of the previously reported "K(7)H(2)[Au(O)(OH(2))P(2)W(20)O(70)(OH(2))(2)]." These and considerable other data collectively indicate that previously assigned terminal Pt-oxo and Au-oxo complexes are in fact cocrystals of the all-tungsten structural analogues with noble metal cations, while the Pd-oxo complex is a disordered Pd(II)-substituted polyoxometalate. The neutron diffraction data have been re-analyzed, and new refinements are fully consistent with the all-tungsten formulations of the Pt-oxo and Au-oxo polyoxometalate species.


Energy saving is a hot topic. People are getting more and more aware of their energy usage because of continuously rising energy prices and awareness of the greenhouse problem. One of the most important causes of the greenhouse effect is the massive emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is produced when (fossil) fuel is burned, for example by cars, industry and (natural gas fueled) boilers for domestic heating. Rising energy prices and the need for CO2 emission reduction stimulate the research for new, more energy-efficient technologies.
 One of the innovative, energy-saving domestic appliances is the micro Combined Heat and Power (µCHP) [1] >. µCHP appliances produce, besides heat, electricity with a total overall efficiency comparable to conventional high-efficiency boilers [1,2], which is around 90%. Energy is saved because the heat (a rest product of electricity production) is used. Heat produced in central power plants is mostly wasted, resulting in a maximum efficiency of 55% [2]. > Replacing a high-efficiency boiler with a µCHP appliance causes a slight increase in natural gas usage, but the electricity import decreases. The benefit for an average Dutch family is a CO2 emission reduction of 1000kg and Є200 saving on the energy bill annually [2]. An average family currently causes an CO2 emission of 5000kg due to electricity and gas usage and 7700kg in total [2,3]. Households together are responsible for 20-25% of the total CO2 emission in the Netherlands[3]. The figures in this article are based on a Stirling based µCHP appliance, currently the only market-ready technology. The same principles are applicable for µCHP appliances based on other technologies (e.g. fuel cells) and other heat/electricity production rates.


Annuities provide insurance against outliving one's wealth. Previous studies have indicated that, for many households, the value of the longevity insurance should outweigh the actuarial unfairness of prices in the voluntary annuity market. Nonetheless, voluntary annuitization rates are extremely low. Previous research on the value of annuitization has compared an optimal decumulation of unannuitized wealth with the alternative of annuitizing all unannuitized wealth at age 65. We relax these assumptions, allowing households to annuitize any part of their unannuitized wealth at any age and to return to the annuity market as many times as they wish. Using numerical optimization techniques, assuming the levels of actuarial unfairness of annuities calculated in previous research, and retaining the assumption made in previous research that one half of household wealth is pre-annuitized, we conclude that it is optimal for couples to delay annuitization until they are aged 73–82, and in some cases never to annuitize. It is usually optimal for single men and women to annuitize at substantially younger ages, between 65 and 70. Households that annuitize will generally wish to annuitize only part of their unannuitized wealth. Using data from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old and Health and Retirement Study panels, we show that much of the failure of the average currently retired household to annuitize can be attributed to the exceptionally high proportions of the wealth of these cohorts that is pre-annuitized. We expect younger cohorts to have smaller proportions of pre-annuitized wealth and project increasing demand for annuitization as successive cohorts age.


Within the framework of the "knowledge society" and the globalized economy, with the consequent processes of rescaling nation-state and improving of more horizontal modes of governance, many European urban areas carry out activation policies through their capacity to mix productive flows, foreign investments, social characteristics and local economic development. According to this perspective, activation policies have to be interpreted as territorial qualified initiatives that contribute to shape local socio-economic growth. Barcelona Activa is the local development agency of the city of Barcelona (Spain) designed for the increase of employment, business cooperation and local entrepreneurial spirit. This agency promotes Barcelona through citizenship participation and professionalization, public-private partnership and integral plans of urban marketing. I will focus my analysis both on methodological strategies and governance outlines of this agency, approaching activation policies as indispensable instruments for the improvement of Barcelona as one of the most important southern gateway to Europe.


Ajmaline is an anti-arrhythmic drug that is used to unmask the type-1 Brugada syndrome (BrS) electrocardiogram pattern to diagnose the syndrome. Thus, the disease is defined at its core as a particular response to this or other drugs. Ajmaline is usually described as a sodium-channel blocker, and most research into the mechanism of BrS has centered around this idea that the sodium channel is somehow impaired in BrS, and thus the genetics research has placed much emphasis on sodium channel gene mutations, especially the gene SCN5A, to the point that it has even been suggested that only the SCN5A gene should be screened in BrS patients. However, pathogenic rare variants in SCN5A are identified in only 20–30% of cases, and recent data indicates that SCN5A variants are actually, in many cases, prognostic rather than diagnostic, resulting in a more severe phenotype. Furthermore, the misconception by some that ajmaline only influences the sodium current is flawed, in that ajmaline actually acts additionally on potassium and calcium currents, as well as mitochondria and metabolic pathways. Clinical studies have implicated several candidate genes in BrS, encoding not only for sodium, potassium, and calcium channel proteins, but also for signaling-related, scaffolding-related, sarcomeric, and mitochondrial proteins. Thus, these proteins, as well as any proteins that act upon them, could prove absolutely relevant in the mechanism of BrS.


Confocal microscopy through-focusing (CMTF) of the cornea produces a three-dimensional (3-D) display of corneal structure and intensity profiles that allow objective measurements of corneal sublayer thickness and relative assessment backscattering of light. In this study, a prototype confocal instrument was evaluated in which a photon counting photomultiplier tube (PMT) detector was added to provide faster and more quantitative measurements, while still maintaining the imaging capability of the microscope. To acquire images and measure backscattered light simultaneously, an uncoated pellicle beam splitter was incorporated into the light path of the confocal microscope. This beam splitter reflects 8% of the confocal signal to the PMT. The CMTF scans were performed on four rabbits using the prototype instrument. Corneal images and 3-D reconstructions acquired with and without the beam splitter in the light path appeared identical. Both the camera and PMT CMTF curves had easily identifiable peaks corresponding to the epithelium, basal lamina, and endothelium. No significant differences were found between PMT and camera CMTF measurements of epithelial, stromal, or corneal thickness (n = 12 scans). Furthermore, a high correlation was found between camera and PMT measurements (linear regression analysis, y = 0.999 x -0.4, r = 0.99, p < 0.001). The data suggest that by adding a pellicle beam splitter, CMTF intensity data can be acquired using a PMT. The PMT has a faster sampling rate and greater dynamic range than the camera and provides a count of the photons detected. Thus, the instrument has the potential for improving corneal pachymetry and back-scattering measurements while still providing high-resolution corneal images.


According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the highest level of displacement on record was reached in 2019 with 79.5 million people being forced to migrate (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2020). Although there is a significant influx of asylum seekers arriving in Canada from Turkey, there have been no studies completed in Canada that focus on the experiences of Kurdish and Turkish refugee claimants. Asylum seekers' lived experiences need to be further investigated because their precarious legal status together with changing governmental policies may limit their access to language education and resettlement programs. Grounded in the arts, this paper analyzes the role of languages and language-learning experiences on Turkish and Kurdish asylum seekers and their integration into Canadian life. Participants were given the opportunity to document their challenges, needs, concerns and successes related to their integration and language-learning experiences by creating different art forms. Analysis of the data is made through the lens of Cooper's (2011) Bridging Multiple Worlds Theory and Freire's (1972) concept of critical consciousness. This research will be informative for educators and policy makers involved in the education of young adults from refugee backgrounds.


states where vaccination was compulsory, the mortality from smallpox was taking up a small figure compared with France, England, and other countries where it was not; fourthly, the existing system of voluntary vaccination, although progressive, was attended with serious and important imperfections, exceeding irregularity, uncertainty, and inequality, for various reasons. The figures in the above table give abundance of thought for study, especially for those taking part in State medicine. I can throw out one suggestion, viz., the time of vaccination should be increased from three to six months. This would, in fine, remove the-popular prejudice of ascribing many ailments of children and many deaths to vaccination, and, in my opinion, would afford better protection against small-pox.


This article aims to analyze the achievements of each indicator that measures the mathematical comprehension skills of SMAN 10 Pinrang learners on Binomial Opportunity Distribution materials in online learning through the Ms Teams and WhatsApps applications. This research is a qualitative descriptive research that seeks to analyze the mathematical abilities of learners. Imi's research subjects were students of class XII IPA consisting of 29 students. Data collection methods include tests of the level of mathematical understanding of Binomial Peluan Distribution material. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there are 11 people get a score of 80, 2 people get a score of 90, 9 people who get a score of 95 and 5 people get a score of 100. The overall average is 75.27. This indicates that the level of mathematical understanding of learners is able to choose, use precise formulas and calculations.


How do elites signal their superior social position via the consumption of culture? We address this question by drawing on 120 years of "recreations" data (N = 71,393) contained within Who's Who, a unique catalogue of the British elite. Our results reveal three historical phases of elite cultural distinction: first, a mode of aristocratic practice forged around the leisure possibilities afforded by landed estates, which waned significantly in the late-nineteenth century; second, a highbrow mode dominated by the fine arts, which increased sharply in the early-twentieth century before gently receding in the most recent birth cohorts; and, third, a contemporary mode characterized by the blending of highbrow pursuits with everyday forms of cultural participation, such as spending time with family, friends, and pets. These shifts reveal changes not only in the contents of elite culture but also in the nature of elite distinction, in particular, (1) how the applicability of emulation and (mis)recognition theories has changed over time, and (2) the emergence of a contemporary mode that publicly emphasizes everyday cultural practice (to accentuate ordinariness, authenticity, and cultural connection) while retaining many tastes that continue to be (mis)recognized as legitimate.


Modern Cajun music, Creole music, and Zydeco are often grouped together at festivals and dance halls throughout Louisiana and around the world. These music styles are considered distinct by scholars and fans, yet they are all the result of related generations of Creolization; the product of the variegated host of older localized styles created and impacted by patterns of immigration beginning in the eighteenth century. General audiences, from outside the Southwestern Louisiana area, experience this music as "traditional": seemingly a closed style, particular to the people from that region and social culture. This perception, which has been both intentionally and unintentionally fostered over generations, has worked in a culturally exclusive fashion, creating stereotypes and socio-cultural barriers to understanding. These barriers can be mitigated, however, through performative study of the music, especially that of one of its integral genres, the ballad. Although ballads are not the first genre that most listeners associate with this region, as dance music by and large reigns supreme, songs with stories primarily of love, loss, and ameliorative drink form a notable backbone throughout this repertoire.


We sought to determine how the pattern of cerebral activation, and in particular in frontal motor areas, during the performance of conditional motor tasks is dependent upon the modality of instruction (visual, auditory, or somatosensory). Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes with externally instructed movements were also compared with internally generated, self-paced, movements. We used positron emission tomography (PET) with the tracer H2(15O) to measure rCBF in 22 healthy volunteers. External stimuli consisted of the randomized presentation of single or double impulses using a single modality for each condition. In the movement scans, the subjects used the index and middle fingers of their right hands to press a left button for a single and a right button for a double impulse, respectively. In the control scans, subjects were required to covertly distinguish a single from a double stimulus without a motor response. Data were analyzed using conventional subtraction techniques with a statistical threshold of Z > 2.33 with corrections for multiple comparisons. When the activation differences between the three externally instructed movement conditions were statistically compared, nonsignificant trends toward increased rCBF in the sensory cortex of the modality of the cue were observed but no differential activity in cortical motor areas. Internally generated movements, when compared to externally triggered movements, were associated with enhanced activation in bilateral medial and lateral premotor, dorsolateral prefrontal and superior parietal regions, largely confirming previous reports. The data indicate that, on a regional level, modality-specific processing in a conditional motor task does not occur in frontal motor areas and is probably confined to sensory areas.


Proliferation and innovation of wireless technologies require significant amounts of radio spectrum. Recent policy reforms by the FCC are paving the way by freeing up spectrum for a new generation of frequency-agile wireless devices based on software defined radios (SDRs). But despite recent advances in SDR hardware, research on SDR MAC protocols or applications requires an experimental platform for managing physical access. We introduce Papyrus, a software platform for wireless researchers to develop and experiment dynamic spectrum systems using currently available SDR hardware. Papyrus provides two fundamental building blocks at the physical layer: flexible non-contiguous frequency access and simple and robust frequency detection. Papyrus allows researchers to deploy and experiment new MAC protocols and applications on USRP GNU Radio, and can also be ported to other SDR platforms. We demonstrate the use of Papyrus using Jello, a distributed MAC overlay for high-bandwidth media streaming applications and Ganache, a SDR layer for adaptable guardband configuration. Full implementations of Papyrus and Jello are publicly available.


As data traffic on the Internet continues to grow exponentially, there is a real need to solve the switch bottleneck by developing ultra-scalable switching fabrics. Although in recent years there have been a lot of efforts to solve the switching fabric scalability problem, in the optical domain, the proposed solutions have been (very) expensive, (very) complex and (much) larger than electronic switching fabric alternatives. Unfortunately, electrical interconnection of existing (off-the-shelf) electronic switching devices is very difficult due to wave reflections on transmission lines, impedance mismatching, crosstalk and noise. Consequently, electronic switching with electrical interconnections has major scalability limitations. Thus, the question is whether and how optical interconnects can be used to link off-the-shelf electronic switching devices in order to develop optoelectronic switching fabrics that can scale up to 10-100 terabit per second (Tb/s) capacity in a single chassis. In order to further increase the scalability of the proposed novel optoelectronic switching fabric a UTC-based (coordinated universal time) time driven switching or fractional lambda switching (FlambdaS) architecture is proposed. This novel low-complexity switching architecture capitalizes on the ubiquitous of UTC from GPS and Galileo. FlambdaS architecture is especially suitable to support high capacity streaming media applications over the Internet


Slow nerve conduction velocities and pathological changes have only recently been described in Krabbe's disease (Sourander and Olsson, 1968; Dunn et al., 1969). A similar demyelinating peripheral neuropathy with slow nerve conduction velocities also occurs in metachromatic leucodystrophy (Fullerton, 1964) and Cockayne's syndrome (Moosa and Dubowitz, 1970). Nerve conduction velocity measurement is therefore useful in separating some of the leucodystrophies from other progressive degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in which demyelinating peripheral neuropathy does not occur. The association of the ichthyosis with Krabbe's disease in this patient may possibly be fortuitous, but there is some evidence to suggest that the two may be associated. Krabbe's disease is an inborn error of lipid metabolism in which deficiency of the enzyme cerebroside sulpbotransferase results in an accumulation of cerebroside (Bachhawat, Austin, and Armstrong, 1967). Esterly (1968) has suggested that ichthyosis may be the result of a disturbance of lipid metabolism in the skin. Ichthyosis and peripheral neuropathy occur in Refsum's syndrome, in which the fatty acid phytanic acid accumulates in the body. Ichthyosis also occurs in two other central nervous system disorders, namely Sjogren-Larsson and Rud's syndromes. The ichthyosis and enteropathy in a case of SjogrenLarsson syndrome was cured by substituting medium chain triglycerides for normal lipids in the diet (Hooft, Kriekemans, and Devos, 1967). A polyneuritis was also present in Rud's original case (Rud, 1927). Motor nerve conduction studies may therefore be worth doing in patients presenting with ichthyosis and associated nervous system disorders.


The rapid growth of elderly population has created a huge increase in demand for home health-care services. Home service robots are expected to play an important role to support elderly people at home to improve their life quality. Unlike industrial robots, home service robots face many challenges in terms of safety, autonomy, flexibility and usability, etc. How to efficiently realize human-robot interaction is one of the main areas to achieve home service tasks. Understanding the mechanisms of empathy in human beings and applying such mechanisms to home service robots is crucial to make human-robot interaction natural and friendly. Recent studies shows the links in the functional, and neural mechanisms between imitation and empathy in human beings. In this paper, algorithms are developed to allow robots to understand natural color names given by the user to help locate target objects, and showing by examples is applied to express human's intentions to robots in imitation. Case studies are conducted to demonstrate the proposed approaches.


Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don is widely found in Southeast Asia. Its oleo-resin has reportedly been used in biodiesel production. Two different biodiesel production processes produce resinous byproducts, namely degumming (DG) and distillation (DT). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified sesquiterpenes and triterpenes in oleo-resin, DG, and DT; and long-chain hydrocarbons in oleo-resin. High-performance liquid chromatography detected dipterocarpol as a marker compound, with the highest to lowest amounts detected in DG, DT, and oleo-resin, respectively. Oleo-resin, DG, and DT exerted more cytotoxicity than dipterocarpol, and melphalan, a chemotherapeutic drug. Oleo-resin, DG, and DT exerted cytotoxicity to a different degree in T cell leukemia (Jurkat), cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, while the highest selectivity was found in the Jurkat cells compared to the non-cancer Vero cells. Dipterocarpol exhibited the highest cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells and the lowest cytotoxicity in Jurkat cells. Oleo-resin, DG, and DT induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells. In oleo-resin, DG, and DT, dipterocarpol and other compounds may act in synergy leading to cytotoxicity and an apoptosis-inducing effect. Oleo-resin, DG, and DT could be potential sources for anticancer agents. Dipterocarpol could serve as a biomarker for follow ups on the anticancer activity of a sample from D. alatus.


Recent Australian health care reform in all jurisdictions of government, have attempted to address the need to curtail the burden of chronic disease by adopting and or referring to a primary health care (PHC) approach. In this way, community health nurses are challenged to demonstrate their understanding and capacity to practice according to primary health care principles. Evaluated in this paper is the impact a community health nursing curriculum adaptation of the Public Health Intervention Model (PHIM) has had on students' understanding and application of PHC to community nursing practice. A thematic analysis was utilized to review student assessment tasks. Generated themes support the PHIM adaptation, as a means to facilitate students' cognitive learning of community nursing practice interventions 'greater than treating the wound', and thus this model is particularly pertinent to future Bachelor of Nursing curriculum development and Australian Community Health Nursing.


The pocket gopher (Thomomys spp.) is one of the most damaging wildlife species in California, as well as other locations throughout the United States. Several techniques are used to manage pocket gophers, including trapping and rodenticides. Improved protocols to increase the efficacy of rodenticide baiting programs, and quantifiable information on the time required to become a proficient pocket gopher trapper, would assist individuals interested in developing an Integrated Pest Management program for pocket gophers. Therefore, I initiated a study to address the following objectives: 1) determine the number of days required to become a proficient pocket gopher trapper; and 2) determine the impact of a thorough training program on efficacy of a rodenticide baiting program for managing pocket gophers. I determined that novice trappers became proficient with only 3 days experience (94% of the efficiency obtained by an expert trapper). Capture rates for novice trappers also exhibited a dramatic increase in just 3 days, although rates were not as proportionally high (77% of expert trapper). Clearly, the time required to set traps and detect active burrows should continue to decrease as trappers gain more experience. Baiting trials indicated that individuals who received a through training program on bait application were 3.6 times more likely to attain greater efficacy from baiting programs than were individuals who received only limited training. Proper training, particularly on identifying active tunnel systems, clearly increased the efficacy of baiting programs. These results should increase the applicability of both trapping and rodenticide baiting in pocket gopher management programs. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.


This paper discusses the Jam-O-Drum multi-player musical controller and its adaptation into a gaming controller interface known as the Jam-O-Whirl. The Jam-O-World project positioned these two controller devices in a dedicated projection environment that enabled novice players to participate in immersive musical gaming experiences. Players' actions, detected via embedded sensors in an integrated tabletop surface, control game play, real-time computer graphics and musical interaction. Jam-O-World requires physical and social interaction as well as collaboration among players.


Transition metal catalyzed C-H activation has developed a contemporary approach to the omnipresent area of retrosynthetic disconnection. Scientific researchers have been tempted to take the help of this methodology to plan their synthetic discourses. This paradigm shift has helped in the development of industrial units as well, making the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceutical drugs step-economical. In the vast zone of C-H bond activation, the functionalization of proximal C-H bonds has gained utmost popularity. Unlike the activation of proximal C-H bonds, the distal C-H functionalization is more strenuous and requires distinctly specialized techniques. In this review, we have compiled various methods adopted to functionalize distal C-H bonds, mechanistic insights within each of these procedures, and the scope of the methodology. With this review, we give a complete overview of the expeditious progress the distal C-H activation has made in the field of synthetic organic chemistry while also highlighting its pitfalls, thus leaving the field open for further synthetic modifications.


Abstract : The potential for catalytically enhanced ignition in low-heat rejection Diesel engines has been experimentally studied under engine simulated conditions in a high pressure chemical flow reactor. Results are presented for propane oxidation on platinum at 6 and 10 atmospheres, at temperatures from 800K to 1050K, and at equivalence ratios from 0.5 to 4.0. For turbulent transport rates which are typical of those in an engine, as much as 20% of the fuel was found to react on the catalyst before the onset of the gas-phase ignition reactions. Depending on the adiabaticity of the combustion chamber walls, this could lead to significant thermal enhancement of the gas-phase ignition process. Evidence of chemical enhancement was also observed, at 10 atm under very fuel rich conditions, in terms of a change in the concentration and distribution of the hydrocarbon intermediate species. Possible mechanisms for the observed chemical enhancement due to surface generated species are discussed.


Design of drainage and dam structures involves a full understanding of the duration, magnitude and volume of peak flood flows anticipated. For gauged catchments a number of established flood frequency models and rainfall-runoff models are used widely. However, most planned developments for bridge or dam or any other water development structures in a catchment are located at a site in a stream where there are no discharge records. In a catchment, records of short duration rainfall data might not also be available in order to transform them to design flood. In this study, a generalized parametric model for rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) relations is developed for the estimation of rainfall extremes in Botswana. The model is calibrated on available records on rainfall IDF relationships that are in use by the Botswana Roads Department. The proposed formulation allows one to estimate the expected rainfall depth for a duration ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours and beyond and for low and medium return periods (up to 50 years) in any location within Botswana. A simplified experiment is developed in order to assess the reliability of the proposed formulation, whose performances are tested also in comparison with other regionalization approaches recently proposed by the scientific literature. The proposed model reproduced the observed IDF both qualitatively and quantitatively with high values of R2 ranging between 92.9 to 99.9 % during model calibration and 92.3 to 99.8% during model verification. Given the lack of recorded continuous and short duration rainfall information, the model can be used to assist hydrologists in the design of drainage and other water control structures for ungauged sites in Botswana. Keywords : Design storms, IDF model, Calibration, verification, parameter sensitivity analysis, Botswana


The Snake River Plain (SRP), Idaho, hosts potential geothermal resources due to elevated groundwater temperatures associated with the thermal anomaly Yellowstone-Snake River hotspot. Project HOTSPOT has coordinated international institutions and organizations to understand subsurface stratigraphy and assess geothermal potential. Over 5.9km of core were drilled from three boreholes within the SRP in an attempt to acquire continuous core documenting the volcanic and sedimentary record of the hotspot: (1) Kimama, (2) Kimberly, and (3) Mountain Home. The Mountain Home drill hole is located along the western plain and documents older basalts overlain by sediment. Data submitted by project collaborator Doug Schmitt, University of Alberta


The difficulty in scientifically attacking the basic aspects of the linguistic behavior of the child has forced investigators to concern themselves largely with extrinsic determinants and concomitants of speech development, such as intelligence, sex, home environment, and sibling status; and with the more obvious and readily measurable intrinsic characteristics of speech, such as vocabulary growth and sentence length. The analysis of basic grammatical processes must, however, be made before such higher-order phenomena as sentence length can be adequately understood. Although a number of studies have been published on sentence structure, sentence length, and degree of grammatical complexity, the present analysis is one of the first to investigate the development of a specific set of grammatical phenomena namely, the use of determining and numerating adjectives with substantives. It attempts 1) to ascertain whether there are significant trends in the frequency of such words, and in which directions these trends lie; and 2) to describe grammatical development in terms of these trends. The rules for the use of determiners and numeratives are stated by Bloomfield (1, pp. 202-6). The following outline will help to clarify these rules as well as Bloomfield's classification of adjectives:


The widespread construction of coastal embankments limited the natural deposition on the floodplain and accelerated the silt deposition in river channels. It resulted in drainage congestion and large-scale waterlogging problem. The temporary de-poldering is one of the effective methods to solve this issue. During high tide, muddy water enters the selected tidal basin depositing a major portion of sediment and at low tide, relatively clearer water erodes the riverbed. This paper presents a twodimensional numerical model to simulate the mechanism of sediment transport and deposition during the process of controlled flooding. The model was applied to three different scenarios of the embankment cuts in East beel Khuksia, Bangladesh. The study recommends operating single embankment cut at a time if the tidal equilibrium is fulfilled by the opening size of that embankment cut. The developed model can be used to assess the land heightening in sediment-starved tidal basins and ultimately plan the rotation of tidal basins for sustainable sediment management.


Objective: This study is to investigate the effects of appropriate exercise on learning and memory function of mice, and the related mechanisms involving PAI-1 and miRNA (miR)-30b. Methods: Mice were subjected to the voluntary wheel running exercise training for 8 m. Morris water maze test was performed to assess the animal learning and memory function. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to detect the mRNA expression levels, while Western blot analysis and ELISA were used to determine protein expression levels. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and confirm the up-stream regulator of PAI-1. Results: Morris water maze test showed that, compared with the control group, the escape latency was significantly declined in the exercise group. The swimming distance was significantly declined, while the platform crossing number was significantly increased, in the exercise group. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PAI-1 in both the hippocampal and blood tissues were significantly declined in the exercise group. According to the bioinformatics analysis, miR-30b might be the up-stream regulator of PAI-1, which was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, compared with the control group, the expression levels of miR-30b in both the hippocampal and blood tissue samples were significantly elevated for the exercise group. Conclusion: Appropriate amount of exercise could improve the mouse learning and memory function, which might involve the up-regulated miR-30b expression and down-regulated PAI-1 expression in the hippocampal and blood tissues.


Study of planar and linear subfabrics across the Catoctin Mountain-Blue Ridge anticlinorium in central Virginia suggests distinct differences in the kinematic history of the core and flanks of the anticlinorium. The Precambrian basement complex gneisses in the core of the anticlinorium record the effects of penetrative deformation in the a direction. Maxima of mica cleavage poles form a complete girdle subnormal to the pronounced down-dip lineation of elongated minerals. Northeast-striking foliation produces well-defined maxima that have a poorly developed partial π-girdle. Piedmont rocks in the James River synclinorium, on the eastern limb of the Catoctin Mountain-Blue Ridge anticlinorium have an s-surface pattern somewhat similar to that of the basement gneisses, but with a better developed partial π-girdle. However, the lineation and mica cleavage pole patterns differ markedly from those in the basement. Lineation is predominantly crenulation in the older foliation and is either subhorizontal or steeply plunging. These lineations define a great circle girdle. A plot of poles to mica cleavage shows a partial π-girdle almost coincident with that of the s-poles, indicating mica growth in the bedding and axial plane cleavage. Crenulation lineations probably have resulted from intersections of younger cleavages having different strikes than the older foliations they cut. A plot of poles to bedding and cleavage parallel to bedding in the Chilhowee Group on the northwestern flank of the anticlinorium shows a well-defined great circle π-girdle. This girdle indicates that the folds are overturned northwestward and are cylindroidal. A later cross-cutting cleavage parallels the statistical axial plane of the s-pole π-girdle. The intersections of this late cleavage with bedding and cleavage parallel to it produce a subhorizontal northeast-bearing lineation. A diagram of poles to mica cleavages defines a subfabric characterized by a complete girdle similar to the s-pole π-girdle, but having a β pole bearing 17 degrees closer to due north. The Catoctin Mountain-Blue Ridge anticlinorium in central Virginia is similar to its extension in Maryland and Pennsylvania and possesses the same cleavage and foliation fan evident in the anticlinorium there. The anticlinorium in central Virginia, however, has fewer similarities with the Grandfather Mountain Window area southwestward in North Carolina. Like the rocks in the Window area, the Precambrian basement rocks in the anticlinorium are profoundly deformed cataclastically and have a pronounced cataclastic a lineation. Unlike the rocks in the Window area, those in the Piedmont part of the anticlinorium do not have a pronounced cataclastic fabric.


The canonical problem of an infinitely long electric current line radiating above a lossy infinite half space is examined. The solution is based on the method of auxiliary sources (MAS). In this method one can, in general, apply a numerical solution by introducing sets of fictitious current sources whose fields are elementary analytical solutions to the boundary value problem, in order to approximately describe the actual electromagnetic (EM) fields in each domain. In general, the convergence rate and the accuracy of the MAS solution depend on the spatial distributions of the fictitious current sources sets and their locations in regard to the singularities of the actual EM field simulated by each set. Here, both the accuracy and the convergence rate of the method are examined, investigating complex image approximations in order to optimally choose the auxiliary sources placements. It is proved that the convergence rate and the accuracy of the method are significantly improved by utilizing the complex images as locations of the auxiliary sources. The main contribution of the paper consists in the application of MAS to an open structure, which involves lossy dielectrics excited by a nonuniform EM field, as well as in the optimal choice of the locations of the fictitious current sources according to complex image techniques.


For many in Europe, effective dialogue between employers and workers is seen as an important means of achieving the twin goals of social cohesion and economic growth. Using a recent workplace survey we explore the substantial variance in the incidence and nature of workplace employee representation across the European Union. Country dummies account for roughly one-fifth of all the variance in workplace representation. Its incidence is strongly and independently correlated with the degree of centralization in industrial relations regimes, public confidence in worker representation and the extent of legislative support for it. We also find evidence supportive of the exit-voice model traditionally associated with AngloSaxon regimes whereby worker representation is associated with poorer perceptions of the employment relations climate and with lower voluntary quit rates. However, these findings on the effects of worker representation are only statistically significant where representation has a dual-channel format, combining both trade union and works council representation. JEL Classification: J51; J53; J83


Abstrak: This study aims to describe how micro businesses survive in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods, relying on secondary data. The results of this study show that the micro-businesses that are mostly engaged in by women have their own vulnerabilities during the Covid 19 pandemic. Micro businesses that are involved in women have experienced many shocks in terms of marketing and business capital. Micro enterprises, in general, are not familiar with virtual technology to overcome direct marketing, have a hard time surviving. Failure in marketing is the reason for the difficulty of working capital for the next production process. So, the only way is to ask patrons for help to extend the maturity of the fund debt or ask for new debt for business capital. It's used to be done. But during a pandemic, extending the maturity of new debt or debt is a way out so that the business can still survive. Patrons (pengambe ') lend new debt in a condition where the old debt has not been paid off, because it is based on a close personal relationship. In a society with a patronage culture, the owners of this capital are the patrons and the micro-small entrepreneurs are the clients. This business relationship is an important social capital and means social security. During the Covid 19 pandemic, this relationship became functional for the client. Even though, in normal times before the COVID-19 pandemic, the patron-client system working relationship was more profitable for the patron. In the case of fishing communities, landlords profit from monopolizing the purchase of fish. Meanwhile, fishermen have business capital continuity. This relationship is close and unique. In normal times, patronage relationships can form the basis of analysis of exploitative relationships. However, during the emergency of the Covid 19 pandemic, this relationship is useful as a way out. However, the exit was "bitter" and always would be a dangerous spider web trap. It might be better than dying immediatelys.