BACKGROUND: Traditional approaches to medial temporo-occipital intra-axial brain tumors carry the risk of visual or language deficits related to brain retraction or transgression of deep fiber tracts. To reduce these risks, the microscopic supracerebellar transtentorial approach with the patient in the sitting position has been previously described for lesions in relative proximity to the tentorium. OBJECTIVE: We describe this approach performed with endoscopic tumor resection to allow better visualization and a more ergonomic operating position. METHODS: Four consecutive patients harboring a medial temporo-occipital lesion are reported. All were operated on while in the sitting position using frameless navigation and a supracerebellar transtentorial approach. Tumor resection was performed by 2 surgeons with endoscopic visualization. RESULTS: Pathologies included intraparenchymal metastatic melanoma, cavernous hemangioma, and ganglioglioma, as well as an intraventricular metastatic tumor. The distance from the tentorium to the lesion ranged from 1 to 4 mm. Gross total resection was achieved in 3 of the 4 patients. The patient with a metastatic melanoma had an intentional near-total resection given the tumor encasing a branch of the posterior cerebral artery. The patient with the intraventricular tumor sustained a small but symptomatic infarct of the lateral geniculate region, resulting in a visual field deficit. CONCLUSION: This small series suggests that the endoscopic supracerebellar transtentorial approach with the patient in the sitting position can be a safe and effective approach for removing medial temporo-occipital lesions. It allows excellent tumor visualization, eliminates the need for brain retraction, minimizes parenchymal transgression, and improves surgical ergonomics. Significant experience in endoscopy and excellent neuroanesthesia support are recommended before undertaking this approach.


In the first part of this study, the accuracy of the JBN technique for the determination of heavy oil/water relative permeabilities, and the effect of temperature on relative permeabilities is examined by giving numerical as well as experimental examples. Using the JBN technique leads to a false temperature dependence of relative permeability curves. In the second part, we present unsteady state relative permeability experiments with initial brine saturation at differing temperatures conducted using South Belridge sand and heavy oil. A new three step experimental technique and an analysis procedure were developed to test the effect of temperature on relative permeabilities. In this technique, an ambient temperature unsteady-state relative permeability run is conducted in the first stage, and following that the temperature is increased twice (i.e. 122°F and 150°F). Two phase saturation profiles along the sand pack are measured using a CT scanner. A commercial black oil simulator, coupled with a global optimization code is then used to estimate two phase relative permeabilities. Experimental saturation profiles, differential pressure and recovery data collected from both the ambient and higher temperature data are used in the numerical model. It has been observed that a single set of relative permeability curves can represent both the ambient and high temperature parts of the experiment. This suggests that relative permeability is not a function of temperature at least for the system tested.


The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of learning geometry topics of 7th grade in primary education with dynamic geometer's sketchpad geometry software to student's success and retention. The experimental research design with The Posttest-Only Control Group was used in this study. In the experimental group, dynamic geometer's sketchpad geometry software adapted to Computer assisted instruction; and in the control group, traditional teaching method was used. Quantitative research approaches were adopted in the study. Data was collected through 6th grade SFBS (state free boarding and scholarship) 2005 test, achievement test and worksheets. Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the quantitative data of the study. As a result of this study, it was found that there was a significant difference between achievement test scores of experimental group learning geometry with GSP dynamic geometry software and control group learning through traditional method in favor of experimental group.


Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), caused by Xylella fastidiosa, is an important disease of citrus in Brazil. X. fastidiosa is restricted to xylem vessels of plants and knowledge regarding xylem colonization is still limited. Our goal was to verify how this bacterium colonizes and spreads within xylem vessels of sweet orange Citrus sinensis cv. Pera. Petioles and pieces of leaf blades from naturally infected plant exhibiting characteristic symptoms were prepared for light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunogold labeling (IGL). Petioles from healthy plants were used as control. IGL results, using an antibody against wall hemicelluloses, revealed that the pit membrane of vessels was altered. Bacterial cells were observed in the pit between adjacent vessels. Results support the contention that X. fastidiosa produces cellulases to reach adjacent vessels. SEM revealed that colonization of sweet orange started with X. fastidiosa cells attaching to the xylem wall, followed by an increase in the number of bacterial cells, the production of fibrous material, and finally vessel occlusion by biofilm composed of copious amounts of amorphous material, strands and cells. Phenolic materials, hyperplasia and hypertrophy were noticed in leaves with gummy material. Xylem vessels frequently contained an unknown needle-like, crystallized matter blocking the vessel.


The diurnal cycles of meteorological and radiation variables are analysed during the wet and dry seasons over the Sahel region of West Africa during 2006 using surface data collected by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) programme's Mobile Facility, satellite radiation measurements from the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) instrument aboard Meteosat 8, and reanalysis products from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The meteorological analysis builds upon past studies of the diurnal cycle in the region by incorporating diurnal cycles of lower tropospheric wind profiles, thermodynamic profiles, integrated water vapour and liquid water measurements, and cloud radar measurements of frequency and location. These meteorological measurements are complemented by 3 h measurements of the diurnal cycles of the top‐of‐atmosphere (TOA) and surface short‐wave (SW) and long‐wave (LW) radiative fluxes and cloud radiative effects (CREs), and the atmospheric radiative flux divergence (RFD) and atmospheric CREs. Cirrus cloudiness during the dry season is shown to peak in coverage in the afternoon, while convective clouds during the wet season are shown to peak near dawn and have an afternoon minimum related to the rise of the lifting condensation level into the Saharan Air Layer. The LW and SW RFDs and CREs exhibit diurnal cycles during both seasons, but there is a relatively small difference in the LW cycles during the two seasons (10 − 30 W m−2 depending on the variable and time of day). Small differences in the TOA CREs during the two seasons are overwhelmed by large differences in the surface SW CREs, which exceed 100 W m−2. A significant surface SW CRE during the wet season combined with a negligible TOA SW CRE produces a diurnal cycle in the atmospheric CRE that is modulated primarily by the SW surface CRE, peaks at midday at ∼150 W m−2, and varies widely from day to day.


High Resolution Chronostratigraphic Geological Grid Models, and their Importance for Accurate Reservoir Characterisation and Volume Forecasting Presented by Luke Van Den Brul, Paradigm Abstract This paper introduces a new approach to structural modelling and grid building that incorporates all coherent seismic reflections to build a high resolution 3D chronostratigraphic model. The geological grid is created directly from this chronostratigraphic model, so that the (k) layers in the grid are accurately collocated with any local scale deformation seen in the seismic data. Trends of facies and petrophysical properties can then be calculated and simulated through the geological layers in this new type of chronostratigraphic grid, allowing for true stratigraphic orientations of facies bodies and flow units between wells. A case study comparing flow simulation results using this new chronostratigraphic type of grid is compared to results from a normally constructed grid (without intraformational constraints), and shows the impact this new approach can have on volume forecasting.


This research aims to extend the literature on stress by exploring the relationship between incivility and employees' counterproductive work behavior (CWB). We investigate the mediating role of psychological distress (PD) to understand the relationship of family and workplace incivility with CWB. The study also evaluates the moderation effect of emotional regulation between incivility and PD. Analysis of three-wave lagged data (N=328), collected from bank employees in Pakistan, indicates that PD mediates the effect of family and workplace incivility on CWB and emotional regulation moderates the effect of family and workplace incivility on PD. Our findings highlight the fact that emotional regulation and PD are important mechanisms in the incivility–CWB relationship. The inclusion of these two constructs is a key to understanding the relationships among family incivility, workplace incivility, and work-related outcomes. The paper concludes with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications.


From the perspective of experimental phonetics, this paper makes an acoustic comparison analysis of the diphthongs Uyghur and chinese college students, and examines the situation of Uyghur students' acquisition of Chinese Mandarin diphthongs. A total of 132 samples (including 9 diphthongs) are extracted from the recorded corpus, and the formants of the vowel are statistically analyzed. The characteristics and the distributions of the formants are analyzed to investigate the acoustic characteristics. Finally, combined with the experimental results, the Uyghur students' acquisition of diphthongs will be further discussed and analysed. The purpose of this paper is to understand the Uyghur college students' acquisition of Chinese Mandarin diphthongs tracks and to provide the correct reference data for the Computer Assisted Language Learning System of Uyghur Learning Chinese Mandarin.


When the etiology of a disease is uncertain, the treatment of that disease is bound to be in question. So it is that pyloric stenosis has had different forms of treatment advocated for its cure, depending on the point of view held at the time. Recently medical treatment alone was practiced, until the brilliant results of Downes and those following him, by means of the Rammstedt operation, showed the cures which could be obtained by surgery, with the result that now operation alone is advocated, and medical treatment is supposed to have no place. Such a state of affairs must prevail so long as the results of treatment are the only criteria on which judgment can be founded. To have seen and felt a pyloric tumor such as exists in this condition is sufficient excuse for any one to hold that nothing short of surgery can possibly relieve the existing


Purpose : There is limited research on the costs of social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions [Crowley, Jones, Greenberg, Feinberg & Spoth (2012). Resource Consumption of a Diffusion Model for Prevention Programs: The PROSPER Delivery System. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50 (3), 256–263]. This paper describes a comprehensive methodology for determining the costs of a successful universal, school-based SEL intervention that was implemented in nine public schools over 3 years. Methods : Resource costs were identified using the Cost–Procedure–Process–Outcome Analysis Model [Yates (1996). Analyzing Costs, Procedures, Processes, and Outcomes in Human Services. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc.; Yates (1999). Measuring and Improving Cost, Cost-Effectiveness, and Cost-Benefit for Substance Abuse Treatment Programs . No. NIH 99-4518, 135] and the ingredients model [Levin (Ed.) (1983). Cost-Effectiveness A Primer (Vol. 4). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage; Levin & McEwan (2001). Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Methods and Applications . (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications]. This involved careful identification of resource use, finding the cost per unit for each resource by intervention activity, and ultimately calculating the total resource cost (resource use $\times$
 cost per unit). Results : Our analysis estimated the overall cost of this 3-year SEL and literacy intervention to be $1,831,296 for nine schools. This averages to $67,825 yearly per school and $130 yearly for each student. The analysis estimated the first year of the intervention to be the costliest ($683,106) and then decreasing in Year 2 ($581,764) and Year 3 ($566,426). Conclusion : This research emphasizes the need to study the costs of SEL interventions. By providing a detailed and standardized methodology, this cost analysis can provide added support for implementing an effective social and emotional learning intervention in a school setting. Furthermore, it provides groundwork for more advanced cost analyses, such as a cost–effectiveness analysis or a benefit-cost analysis (BCA).


Solar-terrestrial science is pursued by individuals and teams of workers situated in academia, research institutes, industry, and government laboratories. Progress in the field is made in various ways, but publication of results in scientific journals is the principal means of assuring that the knowledge gained from research is available to the public, now and in the future. In general, much of the research in the field is made via careful evaluation of data viewed in the context of fundamental physical principles as set forth in theoretical and analytical models, and computer simulations of physical processes. In addition, there is accumulation of knowledge expressed in the development of empirical or phenomenological models. Experience gained over the past three decades of solar-terrestrial research indicated that advances in the field require a diversity of resources and that the health of the entire discipline depends upon a balance among these. To maintain the health of the discipline, NASA and other federal funding agencies concerned with solar-terrestrial research must work together to insure that the following resources are available in reasonable measure to support solar-terrestrial research endeavors: ground-based facilities; balloons and rockets; spaceborne experiments; information networks; computational resources; models of solar terrestrial processes; data bases and archives; and research students.


The effects of various concentrations of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on `Ankara? pears ( Pyrus communis L.) were investigated. The pears were harvested at commercial maturity level and 1-MCP (250 and 500 ppb) was applied to the fruit for 24 h at 5 °C. After 1-MCP treatments, the pears were kept at 0 °C temperature with 90%-92% relative humidity (RH) for 8 months. Fruit samples were taken at 2-month intervals from the storage room and various physical and chemical analyses, including soluble solids content, weight loss, flesh firmness, titratable acidity, skin color, respiration rate, ethylene emission, and fruit taste were carried out on the fruit samples during the storage and shelf-life periods. Treatment with 1-MCP reduced weight loss and the loss of titratable acidity. Furthermore, fruit treated with 1-MCP had higher flesh firmness, soluble solids content, chroma ( C *), and hue ( h °) values at the end of the storage and shelf-life period. Ethylene emission and respiration rate were also inhibited by 1-MCP applications. The 500 ppb 1-MCP application was the most appropriate concentration for preserving the postharvest quality of pears. It can be concluded that 'Ankara' pears treated with 1-MCP can be stored commercially up to 8 months at 0 °C temperature and 90%-92% RH. Thus, 1-MCP application can serve as a vital means of maintaining postharvest fruit quality of 'Ankara' pears during long-term storage with economic benefits.


Numerous image processing functions involve repetitive operations and therefore can benefit from parallel processing, where performance may be significantly improved as a function of the number of processors applied to the task. One such application that requires processing to be as near to real-time as possible is vision processing and, in particular, low level vision processing. A system developed by the National Bureau of Standards (now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology) and commercialized by Aspex Incorporated typifies the performance improvements which may be realized in vision processing through the use of parallelism. The Pipelined Image Processing Engine (PIPE) is a coarse-grained parallel system ranging from three to eight stages. Using an innovative implementation of parallel hardware and software, the efficiency in executing complex imaging algorithms may be greatly improved. As will be seen, it is extremely useful in accelerating image processing functions in the areas of point processing, spatial processing, sequence processing and Boolean processing. These functions may be used for real-time or near real-time edge extraction, motion detection and disparity map generation. Applications include inspection in food processing and electronics and textiles manufacture; robot and autonomous vehicle guidance; and research into image understanding, image processing and vision processing.


CLINICAL SCENARIO A 55-year-old man had his serum cholesterol level measured at a shopping mall 2 months ago. His cholesterol level was elevated and he comes to you, his primary care physician, for advice. He does not smoke, is not obese, and does not have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or any first-order relatives with premature coronary heart disease (CHD). You repeat his cholesterol test and schedule a follow-up appointment. The test confirms an elevated cholesterol level (7.9 mmol/L [305 mg/dL]), but before deciding on a treatment recommendation, you elect to find out just how big a reduction in the risk of CHD this patient could expect from a cholesterollowering diet or drug therapy. THE SEARCH There are a number of cholesterol-lowering trials, and instead of trying to find and review all of the original studies yourself, you use Grateful Med to find a recent overview. On the first subject line you


Most existing approaches to named entity recognition (NER) rely on a large amount of highquality annotations or a more complete specific entity lists. However, in practice, it is very expensive to obtain manually annotated data, and the list of entities that can be used is often not comprehensive. Using the entity list to automatically annotate data is a common annotation method, but the automatically annotated data is usually not perfect under low-resource conditions, including incomplete annotation data or non-annotated data. In this paper, we propose a NER system for complex data processing, which could use an entity list containing only a few entities to obtain incomplete annotation data, and train the NER model without human annotation. Our system extracts semantic features from a small number of samples by introducing a pre-trained language model. Based on the incomplete annotations model, we relabel the data using a cross-iteration approach. We use the data filtering method to filter the training data used in the iteration process, and re-annotate the incomplete data through multiple iterations to obtain high-quality data. Each iteration will do corresponding grouping and processing according to different types of annotations, which can improve the model performance faster and reduce the number of iterations. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed system can effectively perform low-resource NER tasks without human annotation.


Axisymmetric geometries can be found in many practical flow applications. In the attempt to predict these flows numerically, RANS flow solvers can decrease the computational efforts dramatically by taking this axisymmetry into account and by computing only a pie-segment of the flow. However, the extension of the concept of axisymmetric flows to LES computations is not straightforward, since the boundary conditions on the axis of symmetry are altering the instantaneous flow field. In this study, the influence of the introduction of an axis of symmetry to LES computations is assessed by computations of a flow with and without swirl over an axisymmetric expansion. The LES computations are performed on a full three-dimensional and a 90° segment of the geometry. The results are compared and the influence of the axis put into relation with the gain in computational costs.


A theorem, which characterizes two-block partitions that lead to the formation of shift register, is presented. It can be used to simplify existing approaches to realize sequential machines with shift registers. Furthermore, this register-forming characteristic can be treated as a contributing element in selecting a secondary assignment for the implementation of sequential circuits.


The security of a network configuration is based not just on the security of its individual components and their direct interconnections, but also on the potential for systems to interoperate indirectly across network routes. Such interoperation has been shown to provide the potential for cascading paths that violate security, in a circuitous manner, across a network. In this paper we show how constraint satisfaction provides a natural approach to expressing the necessary constraints to ensure multilevel security across a network configuration. In particular, soft constraints are used to detect and eliminate the cascading network paths that compromise security. Taking this approach results in practical advancements over existing solutions to this problem. In particular, constraint satisfaction highlights the set of all cascading paths, which we can eliminate in polynomial time by breaking a minimal number of system links to ensure security.


Many have pondered why some nations are much more successful than others. Is the central factor an abundance of natural resources, wise traditional systems of governance, or the absence of serious conflicts? Or does a nation thrive merely as the result of a series of historical accidents? I believe that a primary determinant of success, often neglected, is how the leaders of its major institutions,* governmental and nongovernmental, are selected; how they in turn choose their deputies; and under what incentives they must operate.


The task of time selection of the signals from individual radio emission sources (RES) occurs at the station of radio control (RC) whenever at the entrance of the analyzing device combines signals from multiple sources. This problem is solved using a search algorithm [2]. However, this algorithm does not work reliably, if the pulses from the several (usually 3-5) RES present in the mixture. In this case, the probability of forming false estimates of the input sequences. The purpose of this article is to develop an improved algorithm for time selection with a higher accuracy of signal separation in the complex electronic environment. Classification of signals by referring to the wobble of pulses repetition period in the sequence, including the sequence with constant value of the period, dwell and switch, stagger, sliding, wobulaten and jittered sequences are given. Based on the classification improved algorithm for the allocation sequence is developed. The algorithm (Fig. 3) provides analysis of the histogram of the values of the delays between the adjacent pulses of the input mixture. The most probable values of the periods of repetition is allocated on the basis of the analysis of changes in pulses which are related to the signals, composed the mixture. The allocation is from the simple to the more complex signals. After the detection of the individual signal in's pulses are removed from the mixture, and the analysis is repeated. The results of the processing of signal (Fig. 6), including pulse sequences from several sources (Fig. 5) are given.


Products are no longer solely judged on their functionality; this is nowadays taken for granted. Today's products distinguish themselves by the user experiences they elicit. Depending on the product at hand, audition may play an important role in establishing such an experience. Therefore, it is important for product designers to consider the quality of the auditory experience. A typical design process consists of four phases: problem analysis, conceptual design, embodiment design, and detailing. A final prototype is commonly built during the last design phase, often it is only at that time the sound of a product becomes apparent. The sound may be evaluated, and should it fail to comply with the aimed user experience, a large part of the product may have to be redesigned. The product development process could be much more efficient if product sound design is incorporated from the very beginning. Product sounds, as emitted by domestic appliances (e.g., electric tooth brushes, microwave ovens, alarm clocks, etc.), are composed of sound producing mechanical and electrical parts. Various sounding models and tools have already been developed to imitate the sound of product parts. However, at the beginning of a product design process often no knowledge is yet available on the parts to be used. Contrary to sounding models, no tool to sketch product sounds existed, until now. This graduation project concerns the conceptual development of PSST: a Product Sound Sketching Tool. PSST is a sketching tool consisting of a collection of playful physical icons (phicons), a table, and a web-cam connected to a product sound synthesizer. The synthesizer can be controlled by manipulating phicons on the table. Each phicon resembles the sound parameters it manipulates by means of its visual and tactile design. PSST allows unexperienced industrial sound designers to create ideas for product sounds belonging to different product sound categories. Findings of two experiments demonstrate this activity can be characterized as sketching. Furthermore, the findings strongly suggest that the tool facilitates an interpretive cycle, and consequentially thinking sketching. Finally, findings demonstrate that the tool allows for intentionally creating energetic product sound sketches. PSST is specifically designed for the conceptual design phase. Proposals have been made to integrate PSST in a design studio environment. These proposals include exchanging sound sketches between design team members, modifying existing sound sketches, and coming to a fine-tuned compromise during design meetings. PSST is a first step in designing product sounds from the very beginning of the design process. When the resulting product sound sketches are used as guide throughout this process, a final prototype can be developed more efficient and more effective. The sound of this prototype will then comply with the intended product character, and the experience the product is supposed to evoke. PSST was realized through iterations of building, testing, interviewing, and creative sessions with (sound) designers. The project took place at ID-StudioLab, a design research community at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology.


Nonlinear magnetosonic waves propagating perpendicularly to a magnetic field are studied in two-ion plasma. It is shown that a high frequency magnetosonic wave under the influence of finite cut-off frequency can be described by an extended K-dV equation, rather than a conventional K-dV equation. The modulational stability of this mode is strongly affected by the finite cut-off frequency in two-ion plasma.


The Best Practices Guide for CVD Prevention describes and summarizes scientific evidence behind 8 effective strategies for lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels that can be implemented in health care systems and that involve community-clinical links. The guide is a resource for state and local health departments, decision makers, public health professionals, and other stakeholders interested in using proven strategies to improve cardiovascular health.


Epigenetic silencing is the reversible inactivation of a gene transcription which occurs as a result of changes in the structure of the chromatin that can be successfully inherited from parent to daughter cells. It involves non-genetic mutations within the genome, as well as post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. Existence of these mechanisms at various levels warrants their role in development and disease and thus it is crucial to study different factors and mechanisms of silencing. The aim of our study was to establish a method for rapid screening for the loss of epigenetic silencing in mammalian cells, to identify factor(s) involved in epigenetic silencing, and to get insights into their mechanism of action. For this purpose, we used RNAi screening approach using shRNAs that targeted our genes of interest. We employed a modified mouse cell line which contained a GFP transgene under the control of CMV promoter which has been silenced by epigenetic modifications. Our screening identified several proteins as epigenetic silencing regulators including Kat5/Tip60, an acetyltransferase of MYST family of proteins. To characterize its function, we performed preliminary experiments using microscopy and Western blot analysis of histone marks. We observed changes in H4 acetylation levels in Kat5/Tip60 knockdown cells. Our study thus serves as a pilot for a genome-wide silencing screening using mammalian cells, and provides preliminary results suggesting that Kat5 can be considered as a silencing factor, which, we propose, could function by maintaining H4 acetylation patterns.


In footwear manufacturing systems, the upper parts of the shoes are manually sewed on a sub-line while bottom parts are produced by machines such as injection and molding machines on a sub-line before these two parts are combined into complete shoes on a final assembly line. The manual operations for the upper parts lead to a large variability in processing times, resulting in higher work-in-process inventory. In most footwear industries, production lines have been controlled by MRP-based push systems. Some industries attempt to introduce Kanban-based pull systems. This paper identifies the characteristics of the footwear manufacturing processes, and discusses the problems of the current control systems. As an operational alternative, a CONWIP-based control strategy is presented. Simulation experiments are performed to examine the performance of the control strategies.


A patient affected by cancer is never alone with his/her disease; his/her social surroundings shape and are shaped by the daily practices aiming to manage the disease and its treatments. According to Macmillan Cancer Support reporta, informal caregivers of colorectal cancer patients tend to provide more hours per week of care than those supporting patients affected by other types of cancer (40% of them give at least 20 hours of care versus 25% of all carers). Such care usually requires performing multiple tasks, from emotional support, practical work to advocacy. Psychosocial studies in oncology have successfully attended to the repercussions of cancer and cancer care in the family unit, emphasising the impact of such experiences and transactions for the mental and physical health of family members. In this abstract, I would like to contribute to that research by explaining how an anthropology of care can shed further light on these dynamics, unfolding the practical, cognitive and emotional aspects of care in the everyday contexts of people affected by cancer. My argument is that an anthropology of care would illuminate: (1) the generation of embodied knowledge, emotion work and practical tinkering of caregiving practices by which requirements, side effects and consequences of colorectal cancer treatments are addressed, (2) the ways in which patients and their significant others negotiate the temporalities of treatments and the collective identities as supporters and patients during the day to day life, and (3) the ways in which social-cultural and political and economic arrangements shape people's experiences of cancer treatments. aMore than a million: Understanding the UK's carers of people with cancer—a report by Ipsos Mori for Macmillan Cancer Support.


The interactions between land, vegetation, and climate are highly complex and there are few demonstrations of the many potential combinations of treatments which could be used to combat dryland salinity. For this reason, computer simulations are used. This is the first of 2 papers that describe the results of computer modelling of revegetation strategies to reduce land and water salinisation in the western wheatbelt of Western Australia. A distributed parameter, physically based, cellular, 2-layer, mathematical model was used to simulate the effect of a variety of treatments. Modelling predicted that if current land use continues, 40% of the cleared area will become saline.

Modelling replacement of the annual pasture with a deep-rooted perennial pasture or pristine native vegetation prevented the onset of salinity, but block or alley treatments always left a significant residual saline area and seepage even at the highest density of revegetation modelled. Combining remnant vegetation in pristine condition, 60-m-spaced tree belts and deep-rooted perennial pasture in mainly the upper mid-slope bays between tree belts reduced saline land to 10% of the cleared area and seepage volume to 30% of the untreated case. The second paper describes the impact of faults on treatment effectiveness.


A piglet model of acute respiratory failure was used to determine whether necrotizing tracheobronchitis (NTB) reported during high-frequency pneumatic flow interrupter (HFFI) ventilation could be minimized by a different ventilatory strategy. Twenty-one piglets (mean age 3.8 days, average weight 1.4 kg) were anesthetized with ketamine and given Pavulon prior to saline lung lavage. Femoral vessels were cannulated for measurements of blood pressures, arterial blood gases (ABG), and fluid administration. Airway pressures were measured 5 mm above the endotracheal tube tip. To allow for lung deflation, HFFI (10 Hz) was programmed to pause for 1 sec either 5 (HFFI5) or 12 times per min (HFFI12). Seven animals were assigned to each of the treatment groups and to a conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) control. All animals were kept on 1.0 FIO2 with ventilators adjusted to maintain ABG (pO2 = 50-100 mmHg and pCO2 = 30-40 mmHg). After 6 h of ventilation, the animals were sacrificed and their lungs inflated with formalin to 40 cm H2O. Sections were obtained from trachea, carina, mainstem, and hilar bronchi. An airway injury score (AIS) was calculated after "blinded" microscopic evaluation. There was no difference in total AIS between CMV (2.4) and HFFI12 (8.6) but a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.05) existed between CMV and HFFI5 (14.1). NTB was limited to the trachea during HFFI12 but extended down to the hilar bronchi during HFFI5. More frequent lung deflations reduce the severity and distribution of NTB during HFFI ventilation.


A simulation program that models the gas immersion laser doping (GILD) process is described. This program, which is called LASERMELT, first solves for the silicon melt depth and melt time versus laser energy fluence, and then the impurity dopant profiles using a dopant incorporation and impurity diffusion model. Experimental and simulated dopant profiles and sheet resistance values are given as functions of the laser energy fluence and number of pulses. The determination of liquid phase impurity diffusion coefficients in molten silicon is also described. >


A control rod using boron carbide as the neutron poison was analyzed for use in a pressurized water reactor. The motivation for this study stems from the increasing use of boron carbide in control rod elements for large commercial nuclear power stations and the potential safety hazard related to excessive inelastic cladding deformation due to pellet-cladding interaction. As such, the radiation induced dilatation of the boron carbide pellets and the ensuing pellet-cladding interaction phenomena were the dominant concerns of this investigation. Based on the small deformation theory of linear elasticity, the method developed herein can be used to predict that rod burnup which initiates the yielding of the cladding. The details of the physical properties of boron carbide and related design data required for the analysis are included.


Early weaning may be used in beef cattle production to improve reproduction rates in range conditions. However, weaning causes a stress response in cows, which may be especially strong in early weaning management, as the bond between the cow and the calf is still strong. We hypothesized that weaning calves in two steps, with the aid of anti-sucking devices (nose flaps) would reduce the behavioural stress response in the cows separated from their calves 2 months after parturition. We compared the behaviour frequency and weight change in cows that were weaned abruptly, by separation of the calf on day 0 of the study, or in two steps, consisting of the use of anti-sucking nose flaps for 5 days before permanent separation; a third group was not weaned to serve as control. Thirty-six crossbred multiparous Aberdeen Angus×Hereford cows and their calves (n=12/treatment) were managed in three paddocks with similar pasture availability, with four dyads from each treatment per paddock. Cows' behaviour was observed by direct visual instantaneous sampling, at 10 min intervals from days -3 to 11. Weaning the calves in two steps clearly attenuated the behavioural stress response observed in abruptly weaned cows, which included reductions in grazing and lying, and increases in pacing, walking and vocalizing. Our results corroborate those previously shown for cows nursing older calves, and indicate that step weaning can reduce the behavioural stress response of cows at weaning, even when the calf is weaned shortly after birth, when the bond between the cow and calf is still very strong.


Psychological stress is thought to undermine host resistance to infection through neuroendocrine-mediated changes in immune competence. Associations between stress and infection have been modest in magnitude, however, suggesting individual variability in stress response. We therefore studied environmental stressors, psychobiologic reactivity to stress, and respiratory illness incidence in two studies of 236 preschool children. In Study 1, 137 3- to 5-year-old children from four childcare centers underwent a laboratory-based assessment of cardiovascular reactivity (changes in heart rate and mean arterial pressure) during a series of developmentally challenging tasks. Environmental stress was evaluated with two measures of stressors in the childcare setting. The incidence of respiratory illnesses was ascertained over 6 months using weekly respiratory tract examinations by a nurse. In Study 2, 99 5-year-old children were assessed for immune reactivity (changes in CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cell numbers, lymphocyte mitogenesis, and antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine) during the normative stressor of entering school. Blood for immune measures was sampled 1 week before and after kindergarten entry. Environmental stress was indexed with parent reports of family stressors, and a 12-week respiratory illness incidence was measured with biweekly, parent-completed symptom checklists. The two studies produced remarkably similar findings. Although environmental stress was not independently associated with respiratory illnesses in either study, the incidence of illness was related to an interaction between childcare stress and mean arterial pressure reactivity (beta =.35, p <.05) in Study 1 and to an interaction between stressful life events and CD19+ reactivity (beta =.51, p <.05) in Study 2. In both studies, reactive children sustained higher illness rates under high-stress conditions, but lower rates in low-stress conditions, compared with less reactive peers. Stress was associated with increased rates of illnesses, but only among psychobiologically reactive children. Less reactive children experienced no escalation in illness incidence under stressful conditions, suggesting that only a subset of individuals may be susceptible to the health-altering effects of stressors and adversity.


Introduction: Due to the limited sensitivity of definitive tests coupled with slow culture tuberculosis (TB) remains a clinical diagnosis, at least initially in those without sputum smear-positive disease. NICE guidance (2011) provides data on the role of clinical factors in diagnosis, but limited additional data on the role of investigations. We aimed to corroborate this data and investigate the additive effect of different tests and we investigate whether negative predictive values (NPV's) can exclude TB. Our study was performed in a UK hospital serving a population with an annual TB incidence of ∼60/100,000. Methods: 235 patients referred to TB clinic had history and investigations recorded in binary form i.e. present/absent or normal/abnormal. Of these 28 were diagnosed with active TB, the remainder with an alternative diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV's), NPV's and odds ratios were calculated using standard formulae for cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), white cell count (WCC), globulin, QuantiFERON and Mantoux. Results: Results are summarised in Table 1. Conclusions: Our data suggest that in the diagnosis of TB history is less important than investigations. However, as 15 (53.6%) of our diagnoses were clinical, with no laboratory confirmation our results may be a factor of clinician over reliance on investigations.


The putative peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase gene PACO1 from Phalaenopsis was isolated from a genomic library constructed in the lambda EMBL3 vector by screening with PACO1 cDNA. This gene encompasses approximately 14 Kb and is divided into seven exons by six introns. The consensus GT-AG dinucleotides situated at all the boundaries between exons and introns. According to the genomic Southern analysis with different fragments of the first intron, PACO1 gene possesses a large intron about 10 Kb interrupting the first and secondary exon.


When performing indoor tasks, miniature swarm robots are suffered from their small size, poor on-board computing power, and electromagnetic shielding of buildings, which means that some traditional localization methods, such as global positioning system (GPS), simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and ultra-wideband (UWB), cannot be employed. In this paper, a minimalist indoor self-localization approach for swarm robots is proposed based on active optical beacons. A robotic navigator is introduced into a swarm of robots to provide locally localization services by actively projecting a customized optical beacon on the indoor ceiling, which contains the origin and the reference direction of localization coordinates. The swarm robots observe the optical beacon on the ceiling via a bottom-up-view monocular camera, and extract the beacon information on-board to localize their positions and headings. The uniqueness of this strategy is that it uses the flat, smooth, and well-reflective ceiling in the indoor environment as a ubiquitous plane for displaying the optical beacon; meanwhile, the bottom-up view of swarm robots is not easily blocked. Real robotic experiments are conducted to validate and analyze the localization performance of the proposed minimalist self-localization approach. The results show that our approach is feasible and effective, and can meet the needs of swarm robots to coordinate their motion. Specifically, for the stationary robots, the average position error and heading error are 2.41 cm and 1.44°; when the robots are moving, the average position error and heading error are less than 2.40 cm and 2.66°.


NICE guidance for mandibular third molars has been available since 2000. This was set up to limit the surgical treatment of these teeth to symptomatic patients. There are numerous risks involved with surgical treatment of mandibular third molars and these should be explained in detail to the patient. Common and serious complications of mandibular third molar surgery are damage to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerve. Predicting the risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury is useful for treatment planning. The orthopantomogram (OPT) is the baseline special test for assessing this and numerous signs on an OPT can predict an increased risk of injury to the nerve. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is being more frequently used to assess this relationship further and can influence treatment planning. Coronectomy is a technique whereby the crown of the tooth is sectioned and removed leaving the roots in situ. This has proven to be a useful technique in high risk cases, but is not without its own complications. The increase in availability of CBCT imaging and the recent resurgence of coronectomy as a treatment modality can increase the number of treatment options available to patients. We have proposed an algorithm to aid the treatment planning and informed consent processes associated with mandibular third molar surgery. Clinical relevance: This article is relevant to primary and secondary care dental practitioners as it will aid the investigation, treatment planning, correct referral and management of patients with problematic mandibular third molars.


In this article we present recent activity of our laboratories on testing specific hidden variable models and in particular we discuss the realizations of Alicki – van Ryn test and tests of SED and of Santos' models.


Recently, companies have been experimenting with parallel-mechanism based approaches for milling machines. This research presents an investigation into the development of a special 6-6 parallel mechanism for application to contour milling. The idea behind this approach is that existing non-CNC milling equipment can be augmented to increase its capability at a lower cost than purchasing traditional 5-axis machining centers. This paper presents the phase of research associated with developing a parametric kinestatic design methodology for a special 6-6 parallel mechanism (Kinestatic Platform, KP). This methodology was applied to the design specifications associated with 5-axis contour milling. The resulting kinestatic design's dynamics were evaluated to determine the actuation requirements of each connector. A prototype connector was built to allow the evaluation of actuator response under simulated loading conditions. Joint stiffness and control strategy were of primary concern in evaluating the performance of the prototype connector. The parametric kinestatic design and control strategy results are presented. Several observations are evidenced from the research. Joint deflection is an obvious critical issue and the most difficult to quantify. A scheme is proposed detailing the concept of using a separate metrology frame to overcome difficulties associated with accurate connector length determination.


This study investigates the impact of some selected socio-economic factors on fertility rate in Tunisia over the period of 1971 to 2014. Philips Perron (PP) unit root test is used for testing the stationarity of the variables. For examining the co-integration among the variables of the model, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to co-integration is used. Causality among the variables of the model is examined with the help of Variance Decomposition and Impulse Response Function. The estimated results show that selected variables of the model has mix order of integration. Long run results of the study show that female education, urbanization have a significant negative relationship with the fertility rate in Tunisia. The results reveal that life expectancy and per capita income have positive and significant relationship with fertility in Tunisia. The value of ECT reveals that short needs more than 5 years to converge in the long run equilibrium. The results of Variance Decomposition and Impulse Response Function reveal that all independent variables have causal relationship with the dependent variable. The study suggests that socio-economic improvement is a key in reducing fertility rate in Tunisia.


In this research the appropriation of space by rural youth is discussed, taking in perspective the temporal dimension of sustainability of a rural settlement organized by Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), in Teresina, Piaui, Brasil. Mostly young settled people are inserted in the struggle for land as a result of the decision of their parents. Therefore, from this fight they will have to (re) construct their life projects within the settlement, tensioned by transformations of the rural world and characteristic problems of the youth in rural areas. From a participatory research through focus group technique, with the yet existing Youth Group, the processes and vectors that act on constructing the life plans of young people settled concerning Vale da Esperanca settlement were discussed. The data were analyzed using the technique of Categorization of Content Analysis, which pointed to the importance of the form of insertion of the classes on land as well as activities of the social mediators in the space appropriation and construction of life projects for the settlement itself.


OBJECTIVE
To help to co-ordinate and harmonize research on utilization review in Europe, the US Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (f¿EP) was adapted for use in the European setting. The aim of this paper is to assess the reliability of the European version of the AEP (EU-AEP).

DESIGN
Nineteen English-language medical records were reviewed by a physician reviewer from each of six participating countries: Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Each of the six reviewers was asked to assess the appropriateness of the 19 admissions and 31 hospitalization days (19 admission days and 12 randomly selected days of hospital stay, excluding days of discharge) using the revised review instrument. To evaluate inter-rater reliability, the kappa statistic was used to measure overall and pair-wise agreement for the assessment of appropriateness of admission and of day of care, respectively.

RESULTS
For admission, the overall kappa statistic among the six reviewers was 0.64, with kappa values for each pair of reviewers in the range 0.46-0.86. For day of care, the kappa was 0.59, with pair-wise kappa coefficients in the range 0.25-0.95.

CONCLUSION
The observed agreement could be considered substantial, especially if the fact that medical records were hand-written in a language native to only one of the reviewers is considered. Besides all the study limitations, this finding provides at least preliminary support for the application of the EU-AEP as a reliable instrument in the European setting, including application in comparative studies involving two or more countries.


Background: Iron overload is frequently observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and is associated with the increased risk of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Hepcidin is a regulator of iron homeostasis and a component of innate immunity. Based on experimental studies, iron overload might be a result of low hepcidin synthesis in CHC. Objectives: The aim of this case-control study was to assess hepcidin mRNA expression in liver tissue of patients with CHC in terms of iron metabolism parameters, hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations, disease activity, and efficacy of antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Patients and Methods: A total of 31 patients with CHC, who were qualified for antiviral therapy, were compared with 19 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In both groups, liver function tests and serum iron parameters were assayed and hepcidin mRNA expression was measured in liver specimens using real time PCR with normalization to reference genes mRNA of stable expression. Results: Patients with CHC had lower hepcidin mRNA expression and more frequently iron deposits in hepatocytes than subjects with CHB did. In CHC group, hepcidin mRNA expression was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase activity and serum iron concentration. Low expression of hepcidin had no correlation with tissue iron overload in those with CHC. In univariate analysis, HCV viral load and efficacy of antiviral treatment were not significantly associated with hepcidin mRNA expression. Conclusions: Further studies on the role of hepcidin in pathogenesis of CHC are needed to assess the potency of its use in antiviral treatment.


Abstract There is no doubt about risky nature of international trade. Such risk can be conceptualized as country risk, transportation risk, customer risk and etc. Documentary Letters of Credit (LC) are used as a method of payment in international business for many centuries in order to reduce risk of trade specially when parties are located in different countries and do not have precise information from financial standing of each other. In such occasion LC will reduce the risk of trade by shifting payment obligation from buyer as an individual to a payment guarantee of a bank as a legal entity in return for presentation of complying documents with terms of credit by seller. Familiarity with legal nature and different legal frameworks which govern the international operation of documentary letters of credit can facilitate the process of international trade for businessmen and boost national economies. However, lack of knowledge about them can impose huge losses on international traders. Situation will be more complicated when we understand that there are many internationally recognized legal frameworks which can affect the operation of LC and they get frequently updated in order to address technological and economic developments in global market. In this paper, author tries to answer questions regarding (i) what are international legal frameworks governing operation of documentary letters of credit? (ii) which areas of LC operation has been covered by them and (iii) how do they address the legal questions regarding international operation of documentary letters of credit?


In the IEEE 802.16e OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) physical layer, the optional LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code channel coding scheme based on the IEEE 802.16e protocol is able to be applied in order to improve the whole system's BER (bit error rate) performance. Due to the excellent characteristics and good error correcting performance of LDPC code itself, it has become the central issue of current channel coding field with broad application prospects. In this paper, we use the improved BF (Bit Flipping) decoding algorithm, which is based on the structure of check matrix and the protocol's provisions of LDPC coding scheme, to replace RS-CC (Reed Solomon-Convolutional Codes) concatenated coding scheme on the consideration of decoding delay and further improvement of BER performance. Meanwhile, the storage method of constructed check matrix mentioned in this paper is also optimized. The improved BF decoding algorithm can be verified by simulation that improvement of BER performance is realized on basis of low complexity.


Determining the business value of management information systems (MIS) is hindered by the lack of a strong theoretical foundation. To better understand and evaluate the impact of MIS in organizations, microeconomic production theory is offered as a foundation that relates MIS to decisions and decisions to firm productivity. Based upon analytic and empirical analyses, this production approach is found to be appropriate in more programmed and management or operational control contexts, such as inventory control. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by providing the ability to compare and evaluate alternative MIS as well as to identify optimal MIS configurations. The use of this approach is illustrated in an inventory ordering context.


Ending a 2-year-long search, German scientists have uncovered a piece of science history: brain samples from Auguste D., the first Alzheimer9s patient ever to be described in medical literature. The finding, published this week in
 Neurogenetics , is likely to put an end to lingering doubts about the cause of Auguste9s dementia. Some scientists had argued that she may have suffered not from Alzheimer9s, but from another, rarer, brain disease.


As materials are confined to low dimensions with a size comparable to the scattering mean free paths, the thermal conductivity is often reduced due to increased boundary scattering. The reduced thermal conductivity is desirable in some applications such as thermoelectric cooling, but is often unwanted for others especially for nanoelectronic devices. An exception of this scaling trend is carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Due to the unique crystalline structure, boundary scattering is nearly absent in CNTs, giving rise to super high thermal and electrical conductivity that makes the CNT an ideal candidate for replacing Cu in future VLSI interconnects. The potential electronic applications have inspired several groups to employ a variety of techniques for measuring the Seebeck coefficient [1], specific heat [2–3], and thermal conductivity [4] of CNT bundles and mats. Estimated thermal conductivity from these measurements is significantly reduced by numerous tube-tube junctions in the sample and is much lower than the theoretical expectation [5–7].Copyright © 2002 by ASME


Background Imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has undergone extraordinary change in recent years and new techniques are now available to help the clinician diagnose and manage patients much more effectively than previously. Ultrasound (US) examination could be of valuable help in the early diagnosis of RA. Objectives The present study is designed to assess the contribution of the US in diagnosis of the very early RA (within the first 6 months of the disease onset). Methods we conduct a cross sectional study of 36 consecutive patients with recent rheumatoid arthritis (less than 6 months of disease onset) diagnosed according to ACR-EULAR 2010 RA criteria. Patients have been clinically evaluated for pain and swelling of their hand joints, and underwent radiographs and sonography of the hand. The ultrasonography was made by the same radiologist who was unaware of clinical pattern using the same US machine (Philips HD 11) and high frequency linear probe 15 MHz. Results 28 women and 8 men were included. Their mean age was 48.3±1.15years (range: 16-74) and mean disease duration was 4.3±2.4 months (range 2-6 months). The disease have been active in all cases: mean DAS28 4.39±2.46. the mean tender joint count was 12. The mean swollen joint count was 5. The Rheumatoid factor was positive in 44.4% of cases and the ACPA was positive in 30% of cases. In 30% of cases, US had a valuable contribution in establishing RA diagnosis. In fact, among patients having no synovitis on examination, US showed at least one synovitis in 12 cases. In other 12 cases, bone erosions was found only on US (not shown on radiography). Radiography showed joint narrowing in 26 cases and bone erosion in 9 cases. The Sharp score was 7.58±8.36 in average. Ultrasounds showed erosion in 16 cases, joint synovitis in 29 cases, joint effusion in 18 cases and synovial hypertrophy in 24 cases with power doppler in 20 cases. Conclusions US is an accurate tool for the assessment of joint inflammation and bone erosion in patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5677


A new method that improves the accuracy of text dependent speaker verification systems is presented in this paper. The new method exploits a set of novel speech features derived from a principal component analysis of pitch synchronous voiced speech segments. We use the term principal pitch components (PPCs) or optimal pitch bases (OPBs) to denote the new feature set. Utterance distances computed from these new PPC features are only weakly correlated with utterance distances computed from cepstral features. A distance measure that combines both, cepstral and PPC features provides a discriminative power that cannot be achieved with cepstral features alone. By augmenting the feature space of a cepstral baseline system with PPC features we are able to reduce the equal error probability of incorrect customer rejection versus incorrect impostor acceptance by over 10% beyond the discriminative limit of the cepstral analysis.


The pathogenesis of COVID-19 involves cell death caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection and hyperinflammatory response. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of inflammatory response during SARS-CoV-2 is the key to develop strategies to reduce COVID-19 complications. We investigated what viral ligand is responsible for activation of innate immune cells by stimulating human and mouse macrophages with recombinant spike (S), membrane (M), envelope (E), and neucleocapsid (N) proteins. Interestingly, we observed that S protein, its subunits and S-trimer, but not M, N, and E proteins, induced inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Similar to immune cells, human and mouse lung epithelial cells also responded to S protein to produce inflammatory molecules. Since SARS-CoV-2 dose not infect immune cells, we interrogated whether virally infected epithelial cells stimulate macrophages. We observed that S protein-expressed lung epithelial cells induced inflammatory responses in macrophages when cocultured. Notably, S protein induced inflammation independent of ACE2 receptor. Digging dipper, we wanted to explore what pattern recognition receptor senses S protein to trigger inflammation. Our investigation revealed that TLR2, but not TLR4, is the immune sensor for S protein which in association with either TLR1 or TLR6 activates the NF-kB pathway via MyD88. Consistently, S-induced inflammatory response was completely absent in Tlr2−/− mice. Blocking TLR2 chemically or though gene manipulation also abrogated S-induced inflammation in vitro. Together these data demonstrate the mechanism of cytokine storm during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and suggest that TLR2 could be a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19.
 Supported by R01 DK125352


Why this Vademecum?This Vademecum is designed to arouse interest in the results of the CELAN Network project Language Strategies for Competitiveness and Employability, which was carried out in the period January 2011-March 2013 with support from the European Commission (Lifelong Learning Programme - Key Activity 2/Languages).1 It is targeted at companies - particularly small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs), business representative organisations (BROs) and social partners. It may also be of interest to education institutions that regard it as their responsibility to provide language preparation for professional life.CELAN was launched from within the Business Platform for Multilin- gualism, a stakeholder forum created in September 2009 by the European Commission, comprising 12 European intermediary organisations, an EU "body", two higher education associations, and six specialist organisations.The Platform adopted the following mission statement.Provision to European enterprises and individuals of services and tools to enable them to improve their professional performance through effective language strategies, and to provide the European Commission and Member State governments with pertinent advice.CELAN is an innovative project experience in that the partnership comprises three European business representative/intermediary organisations, three higher education associations, three specialist organisations, two universities, and a vocational education and training institution.The point of departure of the CELAN Network is the fact that as a result of economic globalisation, linguistic and language-related needs in industry and business have increased to an extent unimaginable 10 or 15 years ago. In view of this development, it is not surprising that in the first decade of the twenty-first century the relevance of multilingualism to competitiveness and employability became a major issue in EU policy.The Business Platform in general, and the CELAN Network in particular, decided that their activities had to be bottom-up oriented, needs- and business- driven. This is why CELAN started off by conducting a Europe-wide survey among enterprises and business representative organisations on "Companies' Linguistic and Language-Related Needs in Europe". While the 540+ responses received cannot be regarded as providing a representative picture, they nevertheless prove that the CELAN partners' view of the business activities for which internationally-oriented companies need "foreign" languages was basically right, and the principal responses were as follows:* attending business meetings (negotiation, collaboration, etc.)* maintaining international relations, travelling abroad* presenting company products, services* using multilingual communication (telephone, e-mail, video conferencing)* attending trade fairs, conferences, congresses* preparing communication material - leaflets, brochures, mailshots, instructions* interacting socially with customers and suppliers* retrieving and using business/technical/market information* interacting in teams/with colleagues/with headquarters* preparing internal operational procedures, technical briefs, machine operating instructions, product user guides/leaflets/instructionsThe following language-related business activities received less attention.* installing and maintaining company products abroad* responding to/presenting offers, bids, tenders* reporting: market analysis, policy documents, product development* managing a multilingual websiteWhat the survey - not surprisingly - also revealed was that there are consid- erable differences between companies, depending, among other things, on size, sector and geographical location.From a provisional identification of needs, CELAN moved on to research into language industry products, tools and services that can enable employers and employees to overcome language and language-related needs. …


Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors that can be cured by surgical resection in most cases. However, the most disconcerting is high-grade meningiomas, which frequently recur despite initial successful treatment, eventually conferring poor prognosis. Therefore, the early diagnosis and classification of meningioma is necessary for the subsequent intervention and an improved prognosis. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the potential of multi-omics study (including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics) for meningioma diagnosis and mechanistic links to potential pathological mechanism. This thesis addresses a neglected aspect of recent advances in the field of meningiomas at multiple omics levels, highlighting that the integration of multi-omics can reveal the mechanism of meningiomas, which provides a timely and necessary scientific basis for the treatment of meningiomas.


Objective: Our present investigation is based on development and synthesis for new derivatives of amoxicillin as the wide use of this antibiotic led to serious medical problem of drugs resistance. Methods: Condensation of amoxicillin trihydrate with 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy benzaldehyde yielded a novel Schiff base derivative of amoxicillin in good yield. Characterization of synthesized compound detected by IR and 1 HNMR spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of new compound was screened against the selected bacteria species Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus cereus, and Klebsella pneumonia . The LD 50 value was determinate by using up and down method. Results: Our obtained results for this antibiotic modulation method are within high acceptance criteria in vivo study determination of the toxic effect (LD 50 ) of synthesized compound which was 477.2 mg / kg of body weight give a moderate value. Furthermore, in vitro study included antibacterial activity against some bacteria species of new compound was higher than the respective standard drug at tested doses level. Conclusion: Modulating amoxicillin drug can be used in the management of bacterial resistant disorders.


From Humanism to Nazism. The case of Frederik Jzn. Muller (1883-1944)

 Frederik Jzn. Muller (1883—1944) was professor of Latin at Leiden University from 1921 to 1944 and one of the few prominent Dutch classicists who collaborated with the German occupiers during the Second World War. The driving force behind Muller's collaboration was not political opportunism or anti-Semitic ideology, but the conviction that only in a 'Third Reich' under German leadership could a new era of European culture dawn. With his belief in the close connection between cultural flourishing and state-building, Muller was a rare Dutch exponent of the intellectual movement known as the 'third' humanism, of which the German classicist Werner Jaeger (1888-1961) is commonly seen as the most typical representative. However, Frederik Muller's views, much more so than Jaeger's, expose the utterly paradoxical relationship between the 'third' humanism and the history of National Socialism.


In this paper we propose a novel scaling approach that combines the advantages of the fully decoupled Birkhoff-von Neumann architecture and the low latency of maximal size matching (MSM) schedulers, to meet the highly demanding performance requirements of electro-optical switches. We identify a sufficient condition for the stability of a decoupled MSM scheduler. The particular case of decoupled iSLIP is studied.


Abstract Conversion is one of the ways in which religion diffuses in society. Different than other diffusions, such as adopting a new technology or a fad, religious adoption can be riskier since it entails a life changing transition thereby making it a complex contagion. This study investigates whether Islam diffuses through weak ties or strong ties. By comparing conversion cases in Michigan, where there is a larger Muslim community, and Kentucky, where there is a less tangible Muslim community, I argue Islam is more likely to diffuse through what I call recessive or dominant weak ties in Michigan, whereas it is more likely to diffuse through strong ties in Kentucky. I collected personal social networks of 18 individuals who converted to Islam living in Michigan and 12 living in Kentucky. I found the research participants through mosques located in several cities in Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Flint, Detroit, Dearborn, and Canton, and two cities in Kentucky: Lexington and Louisville. Having investigated a set of egocentric conversion networks from both Michigan and Kentucky, I found that the existence of a Muslim community and how it is perceived by mainstream society is an ultimate factor in determining the strength of a tie to other Muslims. Thus, Islam is more likely to diffuse through weak ties where there is a Muslim community, but it is more likely to diffuse through strong ties where there is no such community.


The article engages in exploring the differences between standard panel regression model and multilevel panel model while estimating growth models on a sample of European food manufacturing companies for period 2004–2013. The article provides an overview of both approaches, critically identifies their strengths and weaknesses and concludes by recommendation on specifics of usage of each of those. Results of models suggest positive impact of political and legal framework and openness of economy and negative impact of government expenditures and economic conditions on firm performance. Comparison of approaches shows that similar results are obtained, though with relative higher significance of multilevel model's coefficient. Theoretical background of Growth Theory and statistical methods suggest preference of multilevel model with a constrain of data availability.


It is accepted globally that management of the coastal zone should be done through an inte-grated process. Special Area Management (SAM) is a particular form of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), which addresses multi-stakeholder conflicts in environmentally sensitive areas. The most important characteristic of the SAM process is that it is community based and collaborative. Yet, a proper mechanism to deal with such conflicts had to be insti-tuted for SAM to be successful. A study was carried out to examine the relevance of SAM in Rekawa, an environmentally very sensitive coastal area in Southern Sri Lanka. A number of stakeholders, such as marine fishers, lagoon fishers, hoteliers, farmers, turtle conservationists, coral miners, etc. were identified, who generated negative externalities on each other giving rise to conflicts. By using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques, the issues con-fronted by each stakeholder group were studied along with their perceptions and suggestions for resolving such conflicts. The study attempted at finding how far SAM was able to cope with the conflicts and effectively manage the coastal zone at Rekawa. Stakeholders had placed a high reliance on SAM, but proposed the establishment of a Coordinating Committee consisting of all stakeholders, as the most appropriate tool to create a common flat form to bring all stake holders together to form a common coastal zone plan. Yet, the study found a number of pre-requisites, for successful operation of SAM, including the provision of appropriate legal and official status to the proposed Coordinating Committee. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension 15(1): 2012: page 11-13 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tare.v15i2.5243


Researches on lens proteomics are becoming prevalent in recent years. Characterized by their high resolution and efficiency, proteomics approaches provide reliable methodological support for lenses proteomic research, which demonstrates a new orientation for revealing the mechanism of cataractogenesis. This review outlines the separation, identification and some novel approaches of proteomic techniques applied in recent lenses proteomic research.


The design of Au-based materials with good dispersion and more active sites is critical to enhance the catalytic performance of electrochemical ammonia production. Herein, two-dimensional (2D) heterojunction Au-Bi2Te3 nanosheets (Au-Bi2Te3 NSs) are prepared by Au nanoparticles growing on Bi2Te3 nanosheets. Benefiting from the good dispersion of Au nanoparticles and the synergistic effect of the heterojunction composite, Au-Bi2Te3 NSs demonstrate excellent behavior for an ambient nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). In a 0.1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte (N2-saturated), Au-Bi2Te3 NSs display a high NH3 yield rate of 32.73 μg h-1 mgcat.-1 and a faradic efficiency of 20.39% at -0.4 V. The proposed synthetic method provides a feasible strategy for designing high-performance heterojunction electrocatalysts for electrochemical ammonia synthesis.


The authors have analyzed 8 years of wind and salinity data from a frontal zone in a region of the inner continental shelf off the southeastern United State. The changes in low-salinity water stored in the frontal zone have been parameterized by analyzing the monthly rate of change in freshwater content. When the rate of change in freshwater content was negative, the authors interpreted this as a loss of low-salinity water from the frontal zone. When this parameter was compared with seasonally averaged alongshore wind stress, the rate of loss was independent of the alongshore wind stress magnitude until threshold of about 0.1 dyne cm/sup -2/ was reached. Above the threshold there was a clear relationship between northward alongshore wind stress and rate of loss of freshwater from the inner shelf. Experimental evidence suggests that horizontal currents in the inner-shelf frontal zone have cyclonic shear with increasing depth. When wind stress is northward and offshore, near-shore low-salinity water is transported offshore by Ekman transport while near-bottom high-salinity water is transported shoreward.


There have been reports in the literature of allergic contact dermatitis to various topically used adrenal steroids.1,2Coskey3reported a case of contact dermatitis due to multiple corticosteroid creams; this patient had a positive patch test reaction to pure desonide (11β,21-dihydroxy-16α,17-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(oxy)]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione) powder in water and in petrolatum. Contact allergy to components of the vehicles of topical corticosteroid preparations have also been recorded.4-6We report herein another case of allergic contact dermatitis to desonide. Report of a Case A 21-year-old woman was first seen by one of us (R.C.R.) in May 1981, for intertrigo of the groin. She was treated with 0.05% desonide cream three times a day and the intertrigo cleared after several days of treatment. Several months later, in July 1981, the patient had a recurrence of intertrigo and was again given desonide cream. During the next several days, however, the dermatitis became worse. Therapy with desonide


We present the use of a nonlinear optimization scheme called generalized simulated annealing to invert seismic reflection times for velocities, reflector depths, and lengths. A finite‐difference solution of the eikonal equation computes reflection traveltimes through the velocity model and avoids ray tracing. We test the optimization scheme on synthetic models and compare it with results from a linearized inversion. The synthetic tests illustrate that, unlike linear inversion schemes, the results obtained by the optimization scheme are independent of the initial model. The annealing method has the ability to produce a suite of models that satisfy the data equally well. We make use of this property to determine the uncertainties associated with the model parameters obtained. Synthetic examples demonstrate that allowing the reflector length to vary, along with its position, helps the optimization process obtain a better solution. We put this to use in imaging the Garlock fault, whose geometry at depth is po...


Introduction Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. The combination of statins and cholesterol-absorption inhibitors promotes the decrease in risk factors, such as high concentrations of LDL (low-density lipoproteins). The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the lipid profile and the effect on therapeutic goals, as well as the safety of dyslipidemia patients treated with Rosuvastatin/Ezetimibe (Trezete®). Materials and Methods A real-world evidence study was conducted with retrospective data collection through a review of clinical records from dyslipidemia patients treated with Trezete® in routine medical practice. Clinical records included results of biochemical markers before treatment and at least one follow up between weeks 8 and 16. Results The study included 103 patients' clinical records (55.4% men) with a mean age of 56.0 ± 13.0 years. More than 57% of the patients had mixed dyslipidemia and a median disease progression of 3.1 (IQR, 1.5; 9.1) years. Regarding LDL concentrations, 72.8% of the patients achieved therapeutic goals according to cardiovascular risk (CVR), which was statistically significant. Similarly, 94.1% achieved goals for total cholesterol (<200 mg/dL) and 56.0% for triglycerides (<150 mg/dL), a p value <0.001. No cardiovascular events were observed. Conclusion Trezete® shows an important clinical impact on CVR-related target markers during the treatment of dyslipidemia patients. It is relevant to mention that a significant percentage of patients achieved therapeutic goals during the first months of treatment. Fixed-dose combination therapy has shown to be as safe as monotherapy treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04862962.


Greedy perimeter stateless routing (GPSR) protocol is an appropriate and the most well-known routing protocol for high mobile vehicular ad-hoc networks. The protocol includes two routing modes, the greedy mode and the recovery mode, and utilizes a neighbor list to make a route decision. However, not only does the neighbor list in the protocol involve stale neighbor information, but also the stale nodes inherit a higher selection priority in the greedy mode according to the routing policy; besides, the useful redundant route information can be eliminated during planarization in the recovery mode. To overcome those problems, we propose a new recovery mode, named as greedy border superiority routing (GBSR), along with an adaptive neighbor list management (ANM) scheme. A node generates a border superior graph instead of generating a planar graph when the node faces the local maximum. Packets in the recovery mode can escape from the recovery mode as fast as possible using the graph. Here, GBSR protocol has the same assumption as that of GPSR, and does not require any additional information. With a network simulator, GBSR and ANM are evaluated using two vehicle mobility scenarios. GBSR shows higher network performance in comparison with GPSR protocol. In addition, we accomplish a nearly stale-free neighbor list using the ANM scheme.


Introduction: Greenhouse cultivation is a steadily developing agricultural sector throughout the world. In addition, it is known that water is a major issue almost all part of the world especially for countries which have insufficient water source. With this great expansion of greenhouse cultivation, the need of appropriate irrigation management has a great importance. Accurate determination of irrigation scheduling (irrigation timing and frequency) is one of the main factors in achieving high yields and avoiding loss of quality in greenhouse tomato and cucumber. To do this, it is fundamental to know the crop water requirements or real evapotranspiration. Accurate estimation on crop water requirement is needed to avoid the excess or deficit water application, with consequent impacts on nutrient availability for plants. This can be done by using appropriate method to determine the crop evapotranspiration (ETc). In greenhouse cultivation, crop transpiration is the most important energy dissipation mechanisms that influence ETc rate. There are a large number of literatures on methods to estimate ETc in greenhouses. ETc can be measured or estimated by direct or indirect methods. The most common direct method estimates ETc from measurements with weighing lysimeters. Thisalsoincludes the evaporation measuring equipment, class A pan, Piche atmometer and modified atmometer. Indirect method includes the measurement of net radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and air vapour pressure deficit. A large number of models have been developed from these measurements to estimate ETc. Due to the fast development of under greenhouse cultivation all around the world, the needs of information on how it affects ETc in greenhouses has to be known and summarized. The existing models for ETc calculation have to be studied to know whether it is reliable for greenhouse climate (hereafter, microclimate) or not. Regression and artificial neural network models are two important models to estimate ETc in greenhouse. The inputs of these models are net radiation, temperature, day after planting and air vapour pressure deficit (or relative humidity).
Materials and Methods: In this study, daily ETc of reference crop, greenhouse tomato and cucumber crops were measured using lysimeter method in Urmia region. Several linear, nonlinear regressions and artificial neural networks were considered for ETc modelling in greenhouse. For this purpose, the effective meteorological parameters on ETc process includes: air temperature (T), air humidity (RH), air pressure (P), air vapour pressure deficit (VPD), day after planting (N) and greenhouse net radiation (SR) were considered and measured. According to the goodness of fit, different models of artificial neural networks and regression were compared and evaluated. Furthermore, based on partial derivatives of regression models, sensitivity analysis was conducted. The accuracy and performance of the employed models was judged by ten statistical indices namely root mean square error (RMSE), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2).
Results and Discussion: Based on the results, the most accurate regression model to reference ETc prediction was obtained three variables exponential function of VPD, RH and SR with RMSE=0.378 mm day-1. The RMSE of optimal artificial neural network to reference ET prediction for train and test data sets were obtained 0.089 and 0.365 mm day-1, respectively. The performance of logarithmic and exponential functions to prediction of cucumber ETc were proper, with high dependent variables especially, and the most accurate regression model to cucumber ET prediction was obtained for exponential function of five variables: VPD, N, T, RH and SR with RMSE=0.353 mm day-1. In addition, for tomato ET prediction, the most accurate regression model was obtained for exponential function of four variables: VPD, N, RH and SR with RMSE= 0.329 mm day-1. The best performance of artificial neural network for ET prediction of cucumber and tomato were obtained with five inputs include: VPD, N, T, RH and SR. The RMSE values of test data sets for cucumber and tomato ET were obtained 0.24 and 0.26 mm day-1. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis results showed that VPD is the most sensitive parameter on ETc.
Conclusion: The greenhouse industry has expanded across many parts of the word and the need of information on a reliable ETc method especially by indirect method is crucial. In this research, the artificial neural network models indicated good performance compared with linear and nonlinear regressions. The evaluated method could be used for scheduling irrigation of greenhouse tomato and cucumber.


To harness the cytotoxic capacity of T cells for the treatment of EGFRvIII+ cancers, we developed a humanized bispecific tetravalent antibody, with two binding sites for CD3 and EGFRvIII, the EGFRvIII/CD3 RECRUIT-TandAb. EGFR dysregulation has been linked to numerous cancers, and both small molecules and EGFR targeting antibodies have successfully reached the clinic. However, the antibodies approved for clinical use, and those in development, all share a severe side effect profile due to the broad normal tissue-expression of EGFR. The deletion variant III of EGFR (EGFRvIII), with truncated extracellular domain and ensuing ligand-independent constitutive activity, is the most common mutant form associated with oncogenic transformation. EGFRvIII is expressed exclusively in cancer tissues and is associated with various solid tumor types. The restricted EGFRvIII expression on cancer cells provides an opportunity to develop cytotoxic antibodies that solely target cancer, sparing normal tissues, and substantially reduce the side effects associated with EGFR therapy. Using phage display libraries, we identified anti-EGFRvIII antibodies that selectively bound to the mutated and not the native form of EGFR. T cells are potent tumor-killing effector cells that cannot be recruited by native antibodies; hence we engineered a panel of bispecific EGFRvIII/CD3 TandAbs, capable of T cell-recruitment, with a broad range of binding and cytotoxic properties. The TandAbs' binding properties, T cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, and target-mediated T cell activation were characterized in a panel of in vitro assays. They exhibited exquisite specificity towards EGFRvIII in ELISA and FACS assays, with no wild-type EGFR binding observed, up to the maximally evaluated TandAb concentration of 1 μM. The most potent TandAbs displayed cytotoxicity towards EGFRvIII expressing F98 glioma and CHO cells with EC50 = 25 pM. We also assayed the cytotoxicity of these TandAbs towards EGFR+ cells as a more sensitive probe of residual binding to the native form. No cytotoxicity was observed up to the maximally evaluated TandAb concentration of 0.5 μM. The cytotoxic potency of the EGFRvIII/CD3 TandAb was higher than that of a comparator bivalent bispecific antibody, constructed from different anti-EGFRvIII/CD3 moieties; moreover, the comparator was not strictly specific for EGFRvIII and had residual cytotoxicity, EC50 = 1 nM, towards EGFR+ cell lines. High affinity binding to CD3 was essential for efficacious T cell recruitment and yet, in the absence of EGFRvIII+ target cells in vitro, TandAbs did not elicit T cell activation, as measured by their lack of proliferation, contributing to a good preclinical safety profile. In summary, our data demonstrate the strict specificity and high potency of the anti-tumor cytotoxicity mediated by the EGFRvIII/CD3 TandAb, a novel highly potent drug candidate for the treatment of EGFRvIII+ malignancies. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C163. Citation Format: Eugene A. Zhukovsky, Kristina Ellwanger, Uwe Reusch, Markus Eser, Ivica Fucek, Carmen Burkhardt. A highly cytotoxic EGFRvIII/CD3 TandAb recruits T cells to specifically and potently kill several types of solid tumor cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C163.


This paper examines the effect of basic money management skills and financial decision making. It is a survey of small scale trading enterprises owners in Kamwangi market of Gatundu north constituency in Kenya. The need for basic money management skills has become increasingly significant with the more accessible access to credit and the ready issue of credit cards. A descriptive research design was adopted. This was because the study was primarily focused on establishing Kenyans' basic money management skills and describing the critical variables associated with them. A sample of one hundred and sixty small scale trading enterprises owners was drawn as guided by the Yamane formula. Forty of the questionnaires were not returned, and attempts to follow them up were unsuccessful. Therefore, the results are based on the one hundred and twenty returned questionnaires produced. The data was collected by the use of the closed-ended questionnaire. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. It was then presented employing frequency distribution methods involving tables and bar charts. Most traders do not possess basic money management skills from the study's findings. The county government should engage traders in basic money management skills through the relevant ministry.


When examining a man's theology, the obvious starting point is the scrutiny of the forces which shapedthat man and that theology. We thus first of all investigate the ecclesiastical events in sixteenth and seventeenth century England, noting the effects these events had on John Owen, gradually convincing him that the 'Congregational Way' was God's chosen way of church government. The doctrine of the church is, however, only one part of Owen's total theology. His views on other important doctrines are therefore considered to see how they are shaped "by, and shape, his doctrine of the church. The doctrines examined are the Person and Work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Holy Scripture and Grace. The doctrine of the church is then discussed in detail. The salient points of Congregational belief are pointed out - the stress on the local, particular church as opposed to the universal church, the concept of the church as completely independent and comprising visible saints, voluntarily gathered together, the total reliance on the Scriptures as the sole rule of 'worship, the rejection of liturgies. The Congregationalists were frequently accused of schism because of their practice of drawing people out of parish churches to form gathered churches. A chapter is therefore devoted to these charges and Owen's refutation of them, chiefly by redefining the term schism more scripturally. This doctrine of the church is, however, not peculiar to Owen. A comparison between his doctrine and that of the Congregationalist Thomas Goodwin, discloses a substantial agreement between the two men. Owen was, therefore, expounding the Congregational way, and not a way of his own devising. The thesis is concluded by a critical assessment of Owen and his theology.


We show that in a class of non-supersymmetric left-right extensions of the Standard Model (SM), the lightest right-handed neutrino (RHN) is naturally stable and can therefore play the role of thermal Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe for a wide mass range from TeV to PeV. Our model is based on the gauge group SU(3)c × SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)YL × U(1)YR in which a heavy copy of the SM fermions are introduced and the stability of the RHN DM is guaranteed by an automatic Z2 symmetry present in the leptonic sector. The active neutrino masses in the model arise from the type-II seesaw mechanism. We find a lower bound on the RHN DM mass of order TeV from relic density constraints, as well as an unitarity upper bound in the multi-TeV to PeV scale, depending on the entropy dilution factor. The RHN DM could be made long-lived by soft-breaking of the Z2 symmetry and provides a concrete example of decaying DM interpretation of the PeV neutrinos observed at IceCube.


Indian laws on copyright for streaming of music online is very limited. This paper deals with the two latest cases which is Spotify and Warner Chapple Music Limited conflict and the judgment given by the Bombay High Court on Tips Industry v. Wynk Music. The paper analyse Section 31 D of the Copyright Act, 1957 which is interpreted by the Court with respect to licensing the song/music track to the online broadcaster without an agreement with the music producer.


Shifts in transistor performance due to mechanical stress resulting from interaction of die, packaging, test socketing, and board mount are discussed. Mechanical stress induced transistor drive current shifts are measured indirectly using ring oscillator frequencies. P and N effects are extracted independently using appropriately weighted oscillators, and P/N shifts in opposite directions agree with numerical models, which also predict significant differences between stress states associated with packaged-die test and the final usage configuration. The shifts show systematic variation across the die, raising concerns for predictable circuit performance. An example is SRAM caches, where die-package interactions may degrade VCCmin. The results highlight the need to fully characterize these stress effects in both the test and final usage configurations. These shifts, while significant, can be managed through a combination of package technology, circuit techniques, process optimization, and strategic product floor planning.


The recent slowdown in CO2 emission is largely result of three factors; weaker economic growth due to global crisis aftermaths, continual improvements in energy intensity and shifts to lower carbon energy thus higher carbon footprint of energy. Various approaches such as IPAT and/or KAYA identities are used to analyze the input factors of CO2 emissions, playing a crucial role in the creation of distinct emission forecasts. In addition, Environmental Kuznets curve hypothesizes a positive relation between income and environmental quality. Arguments that came out of the controversies regarding the validity of these identities provided relevant theoretical discussion for the claim that economic growth can be achieved on sustainable and green foundations. Based on a scarce number of papers related to Green GDP – energy intensity – carbon footprint nexus, we want to analyze how major environmental factors (GDP per capita, emissions of CO2, energy consumption per GDP and carbon intensity per unit energy) affect the so-called green growth perspective. Long-run empirical assessment is founded on a panel cointegration modelling for the period 2007-2019 for the sample of 37 European countries. The results confront some established environmental stances, confirming the negative effect of GDP per capita and CO2 emissions, and a positive effect of both energy intensity and carbon footprint on the green growth developments.


This study sought to examine the association between DNA methylation and body mass index (BMI) and the potential utility of these cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in predicting metabolic health. We pooled summary statistics from six trans-ethnic EWAS of BMI representing nine cohorts (n=17058), replicated these findings in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI, n=4822) and developed an epigenetic prediction score of BMI. In the pooled EWAS, 1265 CpG sites were associated with BMI (p<1E-7), and 1238 replicated in the WHI (FDR < 0.05). We performed several stratified analyses to examine whether these associations differed between individuals of European descent and individuals of African descent. We found five CpG sites had a significant interaction with BMI by race/ethnicity. To examine the utility of the significant CpG sites in predicting BMI, we used elastic net regression to predict log normalized BMI in the WHI (80% training/20% testing). This model found 397 sites could explain 32% of the variance in BMI in the WHI test set. Individuals whose methylome-predicted BMI overestimated their BMI (high epigenetic BMI) had significantly higher glucose and triglycerides, and lower HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to accurately predicted BMI. Individuals whose methylome-predicted BMI underestimated their BMI (low epigenetic BMI) had significantly higher HDL-cholesterol and lower glucose and triglycerides. This study identified 553 previously identified and 685 novel CpG sites associated with BMI. Participants with high epigenetic BMI had poorer metabolic health suggesting that the overestimation may be driven in part by cardiometabolic derangements characteristic of metabolic syndrome.