The design of multiple degrees-of-freedom frames is critical in civil engineering, as these structures are commonly used in various applications such as buildings, bridges, and industrial structures. In this study, a six-degrees-of-freedom beam-column element stiffness matrix was formulated by superposition of beam and truss elements stiffness matrices and was adapted to statically analyze indeterminate frame structures. The development of a numerical model for the frame structures was achieved using the finite element method in the current study. Also, the investigation of the effects of various parameters such as frame geometries, material properties, and loading conditions was conducted on the internal forces developed in the frame structures. Three different parametric study cases that presented the frame structures with varying geometries and loading conditions were analyzed utilizing this matrix approach for the sake of emphasis and to evaluate the flexibility and adequacy of this formula to analyze the indeterminate frames using the MATLAB software. The analysis method comprised the derivation of the system displacements employing the relationships between the stiffness matrix and fixed end forces as the force vector and taking the attained displacements, which would be transformed to the local coordinates to obtain the member forces. The computed results from the element stiffness matrix approach were further statistically compared with the results achieved from the finite element software (SAP2000) applying the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical results showed a P-value > 0.05, which indicated a good correlation between the compared results and adequate performance for the derived beam-column element matrix formula method. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-07-012 Full Text: PDF


The unified Jacobian–Torsor model has been developed for performing three-dimensional tolerance analysis in both deterministic and statistical situations. The aim of this paper is to develop a statistical approach for three-dimensional tolerance redesign of mechanical assemblies by integrating the unified Jacobian–Torsor model and Monte Carlo simulation to guide the designer to choose tolerances more economically. To implement the proposed approach, a unified Jacobian–Torsor model is created based on the assembly functional requirement and assigned initial tolerance values. The Monte Carlo simulation is employed to iteratively evaluate the model using sets of random numbers as inputs so as to make this deterministic model become a stochastic one. The simulation is stopped as the number of iterations increases to the pre-specified number of iterations, the statistical results of functional requirement are obtained as well as corresponding contribution percentage of each functional element to the total functional requirement is calculated. The results are verified by comparing the statistical results of functional requirement with the specified design specification, while the contribution percentage chart can help the designer determine which tolerance should tighten or loosen. After several iterations, once the statistical result of functional requirement is sufficiently close to the design specification, the final result of tolerance values can be obtained and three-dimensional tolerance redesign of mechanical assembly is achieved. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the application of the proposed method, and the comparison with the deterministic tolerance redesign method exhibits that the proposed method has better economic effect.


NEUROSCIENCE Correction for "Intersectin associates with synapsin and regulates its nanoscale localization and function," by Fabian Gerth, Maria Jäpel, Arndt Pechstein, Gaga Kochlamazashvili, Martin Lehmann, Dmytro Puchkov, Franco Onofri, Fabio Benfenati, Alexander G. Nikonenko, Tanja Maritzen, Christian Freund, and Volker Haucke, which was first published October 23, 2017; 10.1073/pnas.1715341114 (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 114:12057– 12062). The authors note that Kristin Fredrich and Oleg Shupliakov should be added to the author list as the 10 and 11 authors, respectively, between Alexander G. Nikonenko and Tanja Maritzen. Kristin Fredrich should be credited with contributing new reagents/ analytic tools, and Oleg Shupliakov should be credited with designing research. The corrected author line, affiliation line, and author contributions appear below. The author information in the online version has been corrected. The authors also note that the following statements should be added to the Acknowledgments: "This work was also supported by Swedish Research Council Grants VRM N01501 and RSF N16-15-10273 (to O.S.). A.P. received a post-doctoral fellowship from the Swedish Research Council, Grant N21627."


Abstract Biogas is a vital renewable energy source that could play an effective role in fulfilling the world's energy demand, not only in heat and power generation but also as a vehicle fuel in the future. Unfortunately, due to impurities, biogas requires a series of upgrading steps, which affects its economics and sustainability. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the impurities that economically and environmentally hinder the biogas utilization as a source of energy. H2S removal from biogas using different technologies was extensively studied and established. One of such technology is adsorption. Adsorption by solid sorbents is considered as a suitable removal technique for toxic gases such as H2S because of its simplicity, easy handling, and environmental friendly sorbents. In this review, the utilization of waste material-based sorbent for H2S removal was appraised. Other gaseous components of biogas such as siloxanes, CO2, etc., are out of the scope of this work. The potential and effectiveness of the waste-derived sorbents, either raw waste or modified waste, were summarized in terms of its characteristics, suitability, and sustainability. The review provides an insightful analysis of different types of wastes such as sewage sludge, food waste, forestry waste, fly ash, and industrial wastes as an alternative to commercial adsorbents to adsorb H2S gas. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that if these sorbents are to be successfully commercialized, its economic analysis, regeneration conditions, and potential utilization of the spent sorbents has to be further exploited. Nevertheless, there is a great prospectus in the future for these waste materials to be utilized as sorbents for H2S removal.


Variability models (e.g., feature models) are a common way for the representation of variabilities and commonalities of software artifacts. Such models can be translated to a logical representation and thus allow different operations for quality assurance and other types of model property analysis. Specifically, complex and often large-scale feature models can become faulty, i.e., do not represent the expected variability properties of the underlying software artifact. In this paper, we introduce DirectDebug which is a direct diagnosis approach to the automated testing and debugging of variability models. The algorithm helps software engineers by supporting an automated identification of faulty constraints responsible for an unintended behavior of a variability model. This approach can significantly decrease development and maintenance efforts for such models.


Left–right asymmetry is determined by the distinct activities of two populations of cilia in the node of the mouse embryo, according to results from James McGrath, Martina Brueckner (Yale Univesity, New Haven, CT), and colleagues.Previous experiments suggested that ciliary movement at the node generates movement of the extracellular fluid surrounding the node, called nodal flow. Nodal flow is critical for establishing L–R asymmetry and requires the motor protein left–right dynein (lrd). But just what kind of signal could be at work in such a situation was unclear. To find out, Brueckner and her team engineered a mouse expressing GFP-tagged lrd under the control of the wild-type lrd promoter. GFP-lrd is expressed in the central cilia in the node, but is absent from a second population of cilia surrounding those expressing lrd. With the use of videomicroscopy, the team finds that the lrd-expressing cilia are motile, whereas many of the cilia in the surrounding population are nonmotile.

Figure

Calcium is concentrated on the left side of the node (red, green).

Both populations, however, express polycystin-2, a cation channel that acts as a mechanosensor in the kidney, where fluid currents trigger an influx of calcium. When the Yale team looked at calcium signaling in the node, they found that only those cilia to the left of the motile population induce a rise in intracellular calcium. This asymmetric distribution is disrupted in lrd and polycystin-2 mutants, suggesting that nodal flow produced by the central motile cilia induce calcium influx only in cells in the direction of flow.

"The whole nodal flow hypothesis has been somewhat of a difficult sell, because a major developmental process—formation of one of the three primary body axes—is happening in the extraembryonic space," says Brueckner. "But our model suggests that L–R development is entirely dependent on the physical force created by nodal flow, and its inherent simplicity makes it really satisfying." The next step is to determine how asymmetrically expressed genes like nodal are regulated by calcium signaling. ▪

Reference:

McGrath, J., et al. 2003. Cell. 114:61–73. [PubMed]


Global climate governance has developed from a classic international regime (based on the interests and decision-making of states) to a polycentric system (see Chapters 1 and 2), encompassing a wide range of non-state and subnational actors. Polycentric governance theory assumes that while governing initiatives are largely independent in establishing their own norms and rules via self-organisation, they are able to mutually adjust and collaborate with each other. Polycentric governance, in other words, highlights a non-hierarchic, layered landscape in which initiatives are linked rather than isolated. However, the exact nature of linkages has not been a major puzzle in polycentric governance theory to date. To close this gap, we explicitly discuss linkages between and among state, nonstate and subnational actions in the polycentric climate governance system. From a research perspective, 'linkages' is a broad and diverse concept. Linkages can be material, functional, biophysical or a 'fact of life' (van Asselt, Gupta and Biermann, 2005). For instance, climate change has an impact on biodiversity and poverty levels in countries lacking adaptive capacity. We focus, however, on institutional linkages that occur directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, among climate actions. Cities, for instance, collaborate and compete with other cities for resources; they are also dependent on the actions by the regions and countries in which they are located, the companies and industries driving their economies and their citizens (see Chapter 5). From a policy perspective, coordinating and improving linkages between actors and institutions has started to gain traction. The 2015 Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) could be seen as marking a decisive shift towards more polycentric climate governance, increasingly trying to harness the potential benefits of linkages, while at the same


Children born to mothers with fertility problems have a higher risk of psychiatric problems in childhood and young adulthood, a large Danish study has found. However, the biological basis of this association remained unclear.

At an annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology held in Munich, Allen Jensen of the Danish Cancer Society Research Centre in Copenhagen said that the results came from a database of all children born in Denmark from 1969 to 2006—a total of 2.4 million children, of whom 5% (124 384) had been born to women with fertility problems.

Over a follow-up period of 20 years the team found that 170 240 children had been admitted to hospital with psychiatric disorders. Those born to women with fertility problems were found to …


Explants from 12- to 14-week-old human fetal pancreases were organ cultured in a chemically defined medium and cultured for up to 12 months in the presence or absence of methylnitrosourea (MNU). Differentiation of the exocrine pancreas occurred in vitro, and explants cultured in the absence of MNU for 4 weeks or longer revealed normal acinar structures with zymogen granules. Ducts and ductules also developed normally. The undifferentiated tubular structures of the 12- to 14-week fetal pancreas expressed neither ductal nor acinar cell markers. Acinar cell surface marker appeared first after 2 weeks of culture, and the development of centroacinar and ductal cell markers followed 2 to 4 weeks later. MNU-treated explants showed minimal degeneration and necrosis. MNU caused early loss of apical cytoplasm and zymogen granules in acinar cells, resulting in dilation of acinar lumens, concomitant proliferation of cells bearing duct cell markers, and ductal hyperplasia. Enhanced foci of proliferation and carcinoma developed within 3 and 5 months of treatment, respectively. Cells derived from 4- to 5-month MNU-treated explants were tumorigenic in nude mice. Tumor cells revealed a human karyotype and expressed duct cell surface markers.


In this book dielectric and microwave investigations on different nematic liquid crystalline systems are presented. New knowledge about the influence of the chemical structure of molecules on the microwave performance was obtained. This information was used for the preparation of new, optimized nematic mixtures with high values of tunability and low dielectric losses in the microwave region. These new mixtures can be used for producing new devices like phase shifters or varactors. The dielectric measurements of investigated mixtures show that there is no direct influence of dielectric properties in the low frequency region on the GHz region. The influence of different structural fragments of molecules on their properties in the dielectric and microwave region was studied.


Many studies have been conducted, mainly in a university environment, and researchers have identified both advantages and disadvantages of e-learning. Very little is known about the applicability and suitability of e-learning to vocational and skills-based training. The research presented in this paper evaluates an adaptive e-learning model INNOVRET which combines skills-based learning by means of the Competence based Knowledge Space Theory CbKST with the principles of self-regulated learning SRL for a practically-oriented vocational training area, namely highly skilled heat pump system installation, in Ireland. The research methodology employed to carry out this study consists of a participative study to develop the INNOVRET approach for e-learning for heat pump systems installation and an empirical study carried out to evaluate the INNOVRET system. The results show that it is the IT skills of the installers that determine the way they perceive the system and the whole learning experience, as well as the level of knowledge acquired.


A high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed to determine riboflavin content in goat and cow whole milk. The present method involves acidification of the milk to precipitate bulk of the proteins and centrifugation affording a supernatant, which was diluted with 2% acetic acid to a constant volume. This solution was subjected to HPLC analysis using an ODS column. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive for riboflavin determination. The results obtained by the method compared well with the results of analysis by the \"Official Methods of Analysis\" of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC).
Several analytical methods for the determination of riboflavin have been reported (Kamman, 1980). Most of the procedures involve a pretreatment to liberate the protein bound vitamin from flavoproteins. Fluorometric methods of detection are considered the most desirable because of their sensitivity, rapidity, and specificity. However, they require extra treatments to separate riboflavin from interfering fluorescent compounds. In the official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 1996, method 970.65), samples are treated with potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to remove background fluorescence. Rashid and Potts (1980) treated milk samples with acidified lead acetate solution to separate extraneous protein and minimize background fluorescence. Fellman et al. (1982) have reported a C18 reversed phase separation for the simultaneous determination of thiamin and riboflavin in selected foods including milk. This method required the removal of interfering substances using a 0.01M phosphate buffer. Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol.3(2) 2001: 96-101


The objective or this study was to assess the status of Acanthopagrns berda, an estuarine dependent sparid, in estuarine systems of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The importance of A. berda, to fisheries in Kosi Bay, St Lucia and Richards Bay was evaluated and A. berda was found to be one of the five most important species taken in both the gill net and recreational fisheries at Kosi Bay and St Lucia. It was less important in Richards Bay. Catch per unit effort for A. berda showed a disturbing downward trend in the Kosi recreational fishery. Ages of A. berda specimens caught in northern KwaZulu-Natal estuaries were determined by examining whole otoliths. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve indicated that A. berda in northern KwaZulu-Natal is slow growing, attaining at least 16 years of age. A stock assessment completed for the species showed that A. berda is at 47% to 55% of its unfished level. Although these results may indicate that A. berda in northern KwaZulu-Natal is not at present overexploited, longevity coupled with late maturation, sex change, estuarine dependency, increasing catches of A. berda and poor monitoring give cause for concern for the continued sustainable use of this species in northern KwaZulu-Natal.


This article traces the evolution in Australia of fundamental rights protection provided by the courts. It is a fascinating and controversial story that at its most critical moments was (and continues to be) informed by American constitutional law design and statutory interpretation principles. On one level that is no surprise when 'it may be said that, roughly speaking, the Australian Constitution is a redraft of the American Constitution of 1787 with modifications found suitable for the more characteristic British institutions and for Australian conditions.' But what is extraordinary is that the decision of the framers of the Australian Constitution to consciously reject American notions of formal rights guarantees has not, ultimately, been decisive in this regard. As Sir Anthony Mason - one of the leading figures central to the new judicial rights consciousness in Australia - noted, portentously, in 1995 '[j]ust as the courts can protect common law rights by applying presumptive rules of construction, so they can protect fundamental rights, even in the absence of constitutional entrenchment and statutory backing.' And so it has proven to be. The Australian High Court has transformed an old interpretive canon (with American roots) into a strong Australian species of clear statement rule for fundamental rights called the principle of legality. It has done so to fill the lacuna in formal rights protection in Australia and to temper (if not outright resist) increasingly common legislative attempts to eradicate fundamental rights. The Court has used the application of the principle of legality to construct (and robustly protect from legislative encroachment) a quasi-constitutional common law bill of rights. In order to normatively justify these developments the High Court has turned towards the inherently contested principles of the Australian Constitution to anchor the principle of legality and the interpretive process more generally. This has, controversially, occurred as part of a foundational shift in judicial doctrine and practice that considers legislative intention to be the product not the lodestar of statutory interpretation.


The functional analysis of transmembrane receptor proteins is frequently hampered by the difficulty to produce sufficiently homogeneous receptor preparations that preserve the physiological biomembrane integration of the receptor protein. To improve the receptor protein density in the lipid bilayer and to maintain the physiological lipid-protein environment, a novel method has been established that enables the selective integration of transmembrane receptors into a virus-like particle (VLiP). Here we have studied the binding of tetramethylrhodamine-labeled endothelin-1 (TMR-ET-1) to VLiP-integrated endothelin A receptor (ET(A)R) by fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy. The concentration of TMR-ET-1 was determined by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). These measurements also confirmed that the free ligand is monomeric in solution in our experiments. Fluorescence intensity distribution analysis (FIDA) was used to quantify the fraction of ligands bound to ET(A)Rs in the VLiPs. For the interaction between ET-1 and VLiP-integrated ET(A)Rs, K(D) values of 0.5 nM and 0.3 nM were determined from ligand and receptor titration experiments, respectively. For comparison, a FIDA analysis was also carried out with ET(A)Rs in membrane fragments derived from an ET(A)R-overexpressing mammalian cell line, which yielded a similar K(D) of 0.2 nM. In addition, we examined the binding competition of a set of reference compounds to VLiP-ET(A)Rs in the presence of ET-1 and obtained K(i) values similar to those reported in the literature. Our results demonstrate that integration into VLiPs does not change the binding properties of the ET(A)Rs. FIDA analysis of VLiP-integrated receptors shows great promise for highly miniaturized and fast compound testing in the pharmaceutical industry.


Current electoral systems, though purporting to count votes equally, in fact create legislatures that fail to represent the whole community. This Note presents a thought experiment inviting the reader to consider seriously an alternative method of selecting representatives to legislatures that combines features of four traditional egalitarian systems: voting, lottery, quota, and rotation. Under "lottery voting," citizens would vote for representatives in local districts, much as they do today. Rather than automatically electing the candidate who receives a majority or plurality of votes, however, lottery voting chooses the winner in a lottery of the ballots cast: A single ballot is randomly drawn, and the candidate chosen on that ballot wins the election.' If A receives sixty percent of the overall vote and B gets forty percent, A does not automatically win; rather, A's ex ante chances of winning are sixty percent and B's are forty percent.' Section I of the Note examines the puzzle of minority participation in a majoritarian political system and suggests that justice for minorities may require a new method of selecting legislatures; Section II discusses the American jury and other historical uses of political lotteries; Section III sketches the implications of lottery voting and demonstrates how it could be used to create a richer democracy; and Section IV surveys the practical and constitutional limitations on lottery voting as a mechanism of social choice. The ideas presented furnish a novel perspective on various problems of democratic and constitutional theory.


Online Fashion retailers have significantly increased in popularity over the last decade, making it possible for customers to explore hundreds of thousands of products without the need to visit multiple stores or stand in long queues for checkout. Recommender Systems are often used to solve different complex problems in this domain, such as social fashion-aware recommendations (outfits inspired by influencers), product recommendations, or size and fit recommendations. Moreover, the research interest on this area is increasing, demonstrated by the success of the first and second editions of the fashionXrecsys Workshop in 2019-2020. The third edition of the workshop aims at providing an avenue for continuing the discussion of novel approaches and applications of recommendation systems in fashion and e-commerce.


At roundabout approaches, vehicles must yield to pedestrians who are using crosswalks. The presence of pedestrians using the crosswalk at a roundabout approach thus decreases the entry capacity of the approach. This research used a calibrated microscopic traffic simulation model to study the effect of crosswalk location and pedestrian volume on the capacity of a two-lane approach entering a two-lane roundabout. The simulation results show that (i) at the same pedestrian volume, the crosswalk located further upstream from the yield line causes a smaller magnitude of reduction in the entry capacity, but there is no significant change in the entry capacity when the crosswalk is beyond three car-length upstream from the yield line; (ii) for the same crosswalk location and conflicting volume, the entry capacity reduces with increasing pedestrian volume, but the marginal reduction diminishes with increasing pedestrian volume. Linear regression equations for entry capacity adjustment factor for pedestrians as a function of conflicting volume have been developed. The adjustment factors are found to be lower than the values provided by the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 which are based on research conducted in Germany.


Acetylation of multiple lysine residues in the p53 plays critical roles in the protein stability and transcriptional activity of p53. To better understand how p53 acetylation is regulated, we generated a number of p53 mutants and examined acetylation of each mutant in transfected cells. We found that p53 mutants that are defective in tetramer formation are also defective in C-terminal lysine residue acetylation. Consistently, we found that several cancer-derived p53 mutants that bear mutations in the tetramerization domain cannot form oligomers and are defective in C-terminal lysine acetylation, and these mutants are inactive in p21 transactivation. We demonstrated that the acetyltransferase p300 interacts with and promotes acetylation of wild-type p53 but not with any of the artificially generated or human cancer-derived p53 mutants that are defective in oligomerization. These results, combined with a computer-aided crystal structure analysis, suggest a model in which p53 oligomerization precedes its acetylation by providing docking sites for acetyltransferases.


One of the most important parameters to be considered in life's style and life's situations of human is the comfort. The usual tools for making thermal comfort are traditional mechanical air conditioners. The disadvantage of them is using much energy and also being dangerous for environment ecological system. Therefore passive air conditioning can be used as a good alternative to conventional system. There are many various ways to achieve this goal. There should be a deep attention to the climate of each region to study passive air conditioning there. In this research different approaches for some major climates are discussed. There is a special focus on Iran's climates and new ideas are presented for passive air conditioning in some of them. Results show that passive approach is an advisable proposed solution in Iran. Keywords : passive air conditioning; climate; energy.


The influence of the method of heparin (HEP) immobilization on human serum albumin (HSA), fibrinogen (FG), and antithrombin III (AT-III) adsorption, platelet adhesion, and activation on the surface of polyvinylchloride, polyurethane Vitur, and a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene was measured. The negative correlation between the degree of irreversibility of plasma protein adsorption and the amount of adsorbed AT-III for HEP, immobilized onto the polymer surface passivated with HSA, FG, and plasma was found. The same negative correlation was observed between the amount of AT-III adsorbed on these systems and the number of adhered platelets. Schemes of the interaction of surface bound-HEP with AT-III, including the influence of an irreversibly adsorbed protein layer and adhered platelets, have been proposed. The essential role of AT-III in heparinized biomaterials/platelet interaction has been shown. A new method of combined immobilization of HEP and platelet adhesion inhibitor has been elaborated on.


In this paper, we examine how the cash holdings have an impact on R&D expenditures and whether the ownership mechanisms moderate the R&D expenditures- the resource of internal funds relationship. The result showed that cash holdings have a positively relationship with R&D expenditures. Specially, we found that institutional ownership had a positive moderating effect of the R&D expenditures-the resource of internal funds relationship. In additional analysis, the large business group and the share of managers doesn't moderate the relationship between cash holdings and R&D expenditures. These results provide that institutional investor in Korea tend to be long-term oriented, "active" and "sophisticated" investor. They are less likely to evaluate corporate executives on the basis of short-term earnings alone and are more likely to support value-creating.


A simple, economical, rapid, accurate, precise spectrophotometric method has been developed and validated according to ICH Guidlines for the Mirabegron as active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) by UV spectrophotometric method. The absorption maxima of Mirabegron was found to be at 249 nm wavelength using 1N Hcl as a solvent. Linearity range was found to be 3-15μg/ml, with the correlation coefficient being more than 0.999. The relative standard deviation was found to be < 2%. The percentage recovery was within the range of 98% -105%, indicating that there is no significant interference from the other ingredients present in the formulation. The method can be applied for the routine analysis of Mirabegron as API in pharmaceutical preparation.


Molecular typing methods are highly discriminatory for strains that cannot be separated by phenotypic methods. They are especially suited to monitoring outbreaks in children's hospitals. In many cases, molecular typing has improved the understanding of the mechanism of nosocomial acquisition of organisms by allowing distinction between endogenous and exogenous infections. Among exogenous infections, it has distinguished between individual and epidemic strains, thus differentiating cross-infection from independent acquisition.


The petrodollar came into existence in 1973 in the wake of the collapse of the international gold standard which was created in the aftermath of World War II under the Bretton Woods agreements. These agreements also established the US dollar as the reserve currency of the world. The Nixon Administration understood that the collapse of the gold standard system would cause a decline in the global demand for the US dollar. Maintaining demand for the US dollar was vital for the United States' economy. So the United States under Nixon struck a deal in 1973 with Saudi Arabia.Under the terms of the deal, the Saudis would agree to price all of their oil exports in US dollars exclusively and be open to investing their surplus oil proceeds in US debt securities. In return, the United States offered weapons and protection of Saudi oilfields from neighbouring countries including Israel. For the Americans, the petrodollar increases demand for the dollar and also for US debt securities and allows the US to buy oil with a currency it can print at will. In 1975, all of the OPEC nations agreed to follow suit. Maintaining the petrodollar is America's primary goal.Everything else is secondary. However, as the US dollar continued to lose purchasing power, several oil-producing nations began to question the wisdom of accepting increasingly devalued petrodollar for their oil exports. Several countries have attempted to move away from the petrodollar, or already moved away. Examples include Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Iran, Syria and Venezuela.Additionally, other nations are choosing to use their own currencies for oil like China, Russia and India. This paper will deal with the actions, incentives, and related consequences that the United States has created through its attempts to maintain global hegemony through the petrodollar. It will examine the latest challenges facing the petrodollar and how the petrodollar system influences the United States' foreign policy. The paper will conclude that the petrodollar has had its day and that it will be a matter of time before it becomes redundant with huge repercussions for the US economy and the global economy.


Seven coumarin derivatives were screened for their inhibitory effect on laccase utilizing ABTS and L- DOPA as substrates. 2-[(4-Methyl-2-oxo-2H-1- benzopyran-7-yl)oxy]acetic acid (E)-2- [(dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]hydrazides were proven to be stronger inhibitors than corresponding thiosemicarbazides when ABTS [2, 2'-azinobis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] was used as a substrate. In kinetic experiments mixed type inhibition was determined for 2-[(4-methyl-2-oxo- 2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)oxy]acetic acid (E)-2-[(2, 5- dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]hydrazide and (E)-2- [(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]hydrazide. In reaction of L-DOPA (L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) oxidation catalyzed by laccase none of the tested compounds has shown inhibitory effect.


The saturation level of the two Upper-Hybrid-plasmon low-threshold parametric decay instability (PDI) depends on the pump wave beam width. The edge plasma turbulence may lead to drastic distortion of the pump beam, thus generating PDI characteristic changes. Numerical evaluations of the PDI process are provided in this work for different turbulence scenarios. The average PDI characteristics are evaluated and compared to the simulation results for the pump beam unperturbed by the edge plasma turbulence. It is shown that up to the intermediate turbulence level, the PDI characteristics are only gently modified. But at high edge turbulence level, which can happen in tokamaks, the threshold increases and the growth rate reduces. It is important to note that the anomalous absorption keeps a little reduction value, whatever the edge turbulence regimes.


Abstract The goal of the research was to get an overview on the possibilities of sustainable development in relation to information and communication technologies in primary and secondary schools in Slovenia from the perspective of media ecology. The study analyses the reasons for a reorientation of the educational system and new programmes towards sustainability and relates these developments to the activities of Eco-schools in Slovenia. The findings show that the guidelines of sustainable development are included in the programmes, yet they do not encompass the possibilities opening up by new technologies. Contemporary teaching methods are not widespread due to the inadequate education and training of teachers. At the same time, numerous problems arising from the introduction of new technologies and equipment into schools are neither anticipated nor tackled in the renewed curricula, thus failing to integrate a contemporary media-ecological perspective. Judging from the roadmap documents, even after the renewal process will have been finished, the situation will hardly change unless major changes are introduced into the planned concept of renovation and additional investments of funds for equipment, the preparation of materials and, above all, teacher education are secured.


CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts

Abstract #1004

Background : Sentinel node (SLN) biopsy is widely used as a staging procedure in early breast cancer. usual procedures for intra-operative assessment have a low sensitivity and lead to reoperations for axillary dissection when the SLN is metastatic. The semi-automated OSNA test is based on a short sample preparation step and subsequent rapid amplification of CK19 mRNA. Results are available within 30 - 40 minutes. The OSNA method was developed to accurately detect metastases (≥ 0.2mm) in an intra-operative setting. The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic performance of OSNA in comparison to intensive histological examination. Methods : A total of 509 fresh SLN (234 patients) were cut into four slices. Two alternate slices were analysed by OSNA, the remaining ones were cut at 200µm intervals. On each level, Haematoxylin & Eosin and immunohistochemical staining (CK19 and AE1/AE3) were performed. In case of discordant results, the lysates of samples were subjected to QRT-PCR and Western Blot (Discordant Case Investigation, DCI) in order to detect whether the discordances were caused by tissue allocation bias (TAB): localisation of tumour deposits in only one slice due to the study design. Results : results were concordant for 202/234 patients (33 positive and 169 negative). 17/32 discordant cases were due to TAB. 2 cases were ininterpretable due to procedure errors. For remaining discordant cases, 2 were histology + / OSNA - and 11 were histology - / OSNA + (8 of them had CK 19 expression levels close to the cutoff). The sensitivity was 94.30% and specificity 93.90%. The overall concordance rate was 93.96%. Conclusion : OSNA is a rapid and accurate tool for intra-operative assessment of SLN and could reduce the reoperation rate for secondary axillary dissection when the SLN is metastatic.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1004.


Goal: The objective in this paper is to test the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation to perform Behavior model (COM-B model) from the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) tool (Michie et al., 2014) as part of the diagnosis of Lean Healthcare. Design / Methodology / Approach: Interviews were performed with health professionals from the Pharmaceutical Care Process (PCPr) in the city of Porto Alegre-RS, responsible for the stages of selection, programming, acquisition, storage, distribution and dispensation (SPASDD) of the PCPr cycle in the municipality. The content analysis of data allowed to develop a model for diagnosing and monitoring the logistical performance of PCPr. Results: Results indicated that about 94.0% of problems related to physical and social opportunities in the processes, including improvements in the workspace, furniture, HR hiring and training, security of assets and relationships with users of the PCPr system, which if minimized can reduce the resistance of employees to the change process. Dimensions such as motivation, psychological and physical capacity have revealed lower percentages, but they are important opportunities to improve the PCPr process. Limitations of the investigation: The reduced number of respondents, however interviews were sufficient to capture the perceptions and build a scenario that may be validated in the future with other stakeholders involved in the process. Practical implications: The practical contribution resides in the identification of the behaviors to be changed in a Lean Healthcare project at the Pharmaceutical Care context. COM-B helped to identify behaviors that may hamper the efficiency of the PCPr in a large city. Originality / Value: COM-B has proved to be a useful method to support Lean Healthcare projects, the contribution of this investigation lies in expanding the applicability of COM-B model along with Lean Healthcare projects, mainly at the diagnosis stage.


Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a major advancement in the field of functional neurosurgery in the last century. This treatment option is now utilized for many hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders and certain disorders in the field of psychiatry. The basis of treatment is a by-product of excellent advancement made in the field of basic neuroscience and technology. Due to the improvement in the field of neuroimaging, brain structures are now better localized leading to a better outcome. Newer sites of stimulations are being recognized, which may further improve the clinical outcome in patients. However, it is very important to stick to stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria while selecting patients for DBS to get the best results.


Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall.) has a restricted distribution in India, though it is an important ecological and economic species in the Himalaya. This species is restricted in dry temperate region of North-Western Himalaya but lack of regeneration has threatened species existence in the Himalaya. Because, large numbers of biotic and abiotic factors have affected P. gerardiana in these forests; hence, there is a crucial need to review ecological status of species in the region. One of the important site factor is the collection of cone/seed by local villagers from most of the trees, while few trees those grows in remote areas and steep slopes, which cannot be harvested, only provide seeds for the regeneration. Young trees are scarce or entirely lacking, the mature trees predominate in its natural zone. Phytosociological study showed the high endemism of the Pinus gerardiana in its natural zone. Overall more than 70% of the area was covered by this species and rest by other species. Therefore, the productivity and sustainability of chilgoza pine need to be ensured.


BACKGROUND
Schistosoma haematobium infection is a major public health problem in most of Africa and the Middle East and praziquantel remains the only drug used for schistosomiasis control, therefore emergence of drug resistance is unavoidable. The antimalarial artemisinin-naphthoquine phosphate combination (co-ArNp) was recently documented to have promising effects on Schistosoma mansoni and its snail host.

METHODS
We conducted this in vitro study to assess the bioactivity of co-ArNp on S. haematobium and its snail vector Bulinus truncatus.

RESULTS
Treatment of S. haematobium worms with 1 μg/ml co-ArNp for 24 h reduced worm motility, while 20 μg/ml resulted in 25-100% mortality of adult flukes within 48-72 h. Incubation of S. haematobium miracidia and cercariae with the molluscicidal co-ArNp (50% lethal concentration 7.5 μg/ml) killed all the free larval stages within 40 and 15 min, respectively. Also, exposure of B. truncatus adult snails to 20 ppm of the combined regimen caused a mortality rate of 100% within 24 h.

CONCLUSIONS
Co-ArNp therapy has also shown encouraging activity against the other major human schistosome, S. haematobium, as well as its vector.


Students who are intimate partners at institutions of higher learning experience an extremely high level of violence during their college or university careers, with prevalence rates ranging between 20% and 50%. The main reason to conduct this study was that Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among college and university students is such a widespread problem, therefore it is important to understand factors that contribute to this form of abuse in higher learning institutions. The study was conducted amongst university students about IPV in students residences, as they often cohabitate during their academic enrolment. Phenomenological research design method was used to conduct the study. Participants were purposively selected based on the fact that they have intimate partners. These were both male and female students, from different cultural backgrounds. The results of the study have shown that there is high rate of IPV amongst students and contributing factors vary including physical abuse (beating, causing injury), emotional abuse (shouting, emotional black mailing) and sexual abuse (rape, harassment).Keywords: Students. Higher learning institution. Intimate partner violence. Abuse. Knowledge


Abstract: Freshwater is discovered in thirty percent of the ground which lands located by several water sources and humans living there along by eighty percent of bio-diversity. The human population is growing and requiring freshwater. Now humans are relevant eighty percent of freshwater to underground water for farming and daily activities in urban areas. By considering the heavy utilization of underground water, the surface water sources are influenced, especially in the summer. Patna is the capital of Bihar state (India), and the urban zone is developing so quickly now loaded by about 2 million people restricted with Sone, Punpun, and Ganga by Gandak rivers. The ground is plain and there are a dozen ponds for recharging the underground water. In May, the Punpun River includes little water, Sone and Ganga contain lower than ten percent of water in October. People are utilizing underground water by mainly utilizing tube well of >200 feet depth that is go down thirty to fifty feet deeper every year according to slightly restore velocity. It is according to minimum rainwater production. Most of the rainwater runoff is in the Ganga River. Patna requires twelve billion liters of water for billions of rupees in May, and the temperature increases 5 to 7 Degree Celsius higher than the temperature of April generating an alarming condition in the community, especially for fishes, amphibians, birds, and even mammals. The condition becomes so difficult while air contamination, fluoride, and arsenic toxic generate death to organisms cause extinction. for meeting this threatening condition, each rainwater drop must be gathered by the pond's network. At least > ten percent of the land is needed for ponds for meeting the need for water of the increasing human and other organisms for saving green earth.


The genera of Lolium and Festuca belong to the same tribe Poeae, of subfamily Pooideae, but offer a range of complementary characteristics of agronomic importance. Intergeneric hybridization between the two genera is expected to combine the desirable characteristics of Lolium (good turf quality and good establishment) with Festuca species (drought and heat tolerance and disease resistance) in turfgrass breeding. The use of molecular markers to trace genome introgression in intergeneric hybrids has been reported for many crops, but not for Lolium and Festuca. The objective of this study was to use simple sequence repeats (SSR) or microsatellite markers developed from Lolium perenne L. and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to assess genomic introgression of Festuca mairei St. Yves (Fm) into L. perenne (Lp). Out of the 40 SSR markers tested, nine markers covering seven linkage groups, fully discriminated the Fm and Lp parents and revealed that the Fm genome was transferred into the backcross progenies of Fm and Lp. In 13 backcross derivatives detected by SSR markers, 11 individuals showed that the Fm genome was introduced. Forty-one RAPD primers were chosen to detect genome introgression of the backcross progeny. A total of 188 parent-specific markers were obtained. Ninety-two (49%) are Fm-specific markers. The 13 backcross progenies showed a range of introgression of Fm-specific markers (5.4-60.9%). The introgression levels of the backcross progeny revealed by SSR and RAPD markers were significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.0116). The SSRs and RAPD markers were informative and effective in detecting Fm genome introgression into the Lp genome.


Exact prediction of Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) epidemics must improve to establish effective preventive measures in China. A Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model was applied to establish a highly predictive model of HFRS. Meteorological factors were considered external variables through a cross correlation analysis. Then, these factors were included in the SARIMA model to determine if they could improve the predictive ability of HFRS epidemics in the region. The optimal univariate SARIMA model was identified as (0,0,2)(1,1,1)12. The R2 of the prediction of HFRS cases from January 2014 to December 2014 was 0.857, and the Root mean square error (RMSE) was 2.708. However, the inclusion of meteorological variables as external regressors did not significantly improve the SARIMA model. This result is likely because seasonal variations in meteorological variables were included in the seasonal characteristics of the HFRS itself.


We study the dynamics of head-on collisions of traveling pulses for a three-component reaction diffusion system. A variety of outputs with large deformation such as annihilation, repulsion, and fusion are observed after collision, however it remains open for a long time that what kind of mathematical structure controls the input-output relation at collision point. A series of works [18, 19, 20, 24] clarify some aspect of scattering dynamics that a network of unstable patterns called scattors forms a backbone of the traffic control of input-output relations. Namely the unstable manifolds of those scattors constitute a network and complicated deformation processes and their transitions are controlled by rewiring those connections depending on parameters. In this article, by employing a three-component reaction diffusion system, we numerically show that there occurs a nested sequence of outputs among annihilation, repulsion, and fusion as parameters are varied in an appropriate way. It turns out that there exists a time-periodic unstable solution that plays a role of scattor and two heteroclinic connections are detected between the unstable periodic solution and other unstable stationary scattors which are responsible for the nested output of periodic type.


Many people work in windowless offices where they are deprived of the sight of their outside environment. With this in mind we created a piece where a view of the surrounding neighborhood is streamed from a camera, through a network, and projected as an ambient display on a blank wall in a hallway of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) at Pace University. We discuss the simile of Plato's cave with relationship to our viewers, and comment on the artistic influences of Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro.


Correspondence: e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com and email@example.com Public discourse often promotes volunteerism as a novel and empowering solution to social problems, and it is a signifi cant international phenomenon. In this chapter, we engage in an interdisciplinary review of the literature on the topic. We begin by clarifying three key terms around which we organize our review: volunteer, volunteering, and volunteerism. We take an explicitly discursive approach in our review, treating academic research on volunteerism as instantiations of discourses of representation, understanding, suspicion, and vulnerability (Mumby, 1997), and we use this framework to identify key areas of research and their possibilities and limitations. We conclude with some suggestions for future study.


In this article Jim Davis considers gender representation in Victorian pantomime alongside variance in Victorian life, examining male and female impersonation in pantomime within the context of cross-dressing (often a manifestation of gender variance) in everyday life. While accepting that male heterosexual, gay, and lesbian gazes may have informed the reception of Victorian pantomime, he argues for the existence of a transgendered gaze and a contextual awareness of gender variant behaviour, with a more nuanced view of cross-dressed performance. The principal boy role and its relationship to variant ways of seeing suggests its appeal goes beyond what Jacky Bratton calls the 'boy', a notion she applies to the dynamic androgyny of male impersonators in burlesque, music hall, and occasionally melodrama. For the principal 'boy' is clearly transmuting back into a girl, at least physically. Equally, while the dame role is usually unambiguously male, Dan Leno's late-Victorian dames seem based on observation of real women. There has been enormous scholarly interest in theatrical cross-dressing, but also a partial tendency to associate it with what Marjorie Garber calls 'an emerging gay and lesbian identity'. This is appropriate, but should not obscure the relevance of cross-dressed performances to an emerging transgender identity, even if such an identity has partially been hidden from history. Any discussion of cross-dressing in Victorian pantomime should heed the multifaceted functions of cross dressing in its society and the multiplicity of gendered perspectives and gazes that this elicited.


Soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) isolated from the T cell hybrid 393D2.6 was originally reported to exist as at least two m.w. forms and to migrate on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography columns as three separate species. In experiments presented here, a further analysis of the different chromatographic forms of SIRS has been carried out. SIRS-alpha elutes from C-18 reverse-phase columns in 20% propanol. When SIRS-alpha is subjected to isoelectric focusing, three biologically active species are isolated at approximately pH7, approximately pH6, and approximately pH5 (SIRS-alpha 7, SIRS-alpha 6, and SIRS-alpha 5, respectively). SIRS-beta elutes in 30% propanol, and on isoelectric focusing the biologic activity is found only at approximately pH7 (SIRS-beta 7). Both the alpha and beta forms of SIRS have nearly identical m.w. when subjected to molecular sieve chromatography and migrate with a m.w. of 11,000. The molecular basis for these isoforms is not yet clear but is consistent with earlier studies showing two separate messenger RNA species coding for SIRS.


ABSTRACT There is much change afoot in the financial systems of East Asia. Historically, states in the region have actively sought to shape financial markets for developmental – and indeed other political – ends. Yet, their capacity to do so has been significantly transformed by the fragmentation and transformation of financial systems in East Asia as well as the onslaught of globalising forces more generally. The increasing complexity of the financial landscape poses new challenges for the types of financial policymaking traditionally associated with the notion of the 'developmental state'. These developments raise important questions for those interested in the relationship between finance, development and the state – not only in East Asia – but across the globe. How, to what extent, in what ways and with what purpose, do East Asian states continue to intervene in their financial markets? Can their interventions still meaningfully be characterised as 'developmental' in nature? If so, how effective are they? In seeking to address such questions, the contribution of this special section is threefold. First, theoretically, it advances debate on the relationship between finance and the state in East Asia, in particular against the background of new forms of financial (dis-)intermediation. Second, conceptually, it situates the changes it analyses vis-à-vis a renewed interest in questions of legitimacy and social purpose. Third, the collection provides new empirical insights drawing on original fieldwork in Northeast and Southeast Asia.


Chapel is inherently well suited not only for homogeneous nodes but also heterogeneous nodes because they employ the concept of locales, distributed domains, forall/reduce constructs, and implicit communications. However, it is unfortunate that there is room for further improvements in supporting GPU in Chapel. This paper addresses some of the key limitations of past approaches on mapping Chapel on to GPUs as follows. We introduce the GPUAPI module, which provides multi-level abstractions of existing low-level GPU API such as CUDA runtime API. This module allows Chapel programmers to have the option of explicitly manipulating device memory (de)allocation and data transfer API at the Chapel level while maintaining good performance and productivity. The GPUAPI module is useful particularly when they dive into lower-level details to incrementally evolve their GPU implementations for improved performance on multiple heterogeneous nodes. We provide two tiers of GPU API: the MID-LOW-level API and the MID-level API. The MID-LOW-level API offers thin wrappers for raw GPU API routines, whereas the MID-level API provides Chapel programmer-friendly interface i.e., allocating device memory using the new keyword. Also, the module allows the coexistence of different levels of API even with the prototype GPU code generator in Chapel 1.24. Our preliminary performance and productivity evaluations show that the use of the GPUAPI module significantly simplifies the manipulation of GPU API in Chapel for multiple CPUs+GPUs nodes while achieving the same performance. CCS Concepts: • Software and its engineering → Distributed programming languages.


Objectives. We sought to provide additional information about the characteristics of adolescents who were most likely to cause unintentional injury to other people. Methods. In 2008, as part of a randomized survey of high-school students in the Boston Public School system, more than 1800 respondents answered questions about unintentionally causing an injury to someone else in the past year. Results. More than 20% of boys and 13% of girls reported unintentionally injuring another person in the past year. Being male, exercising, participating in organized activities, and having carried a knife were risk factors for unintentionally causing an injury during sports. Using illegal drugs, having friends who are a bad influence, and having carried a knife were risk factors for unintentionally causing an injury not associated with sports. Conclusions. Unintentionally injuring another person is a fairly common event for high-school students. Characteristics differ between adolescents who unintentionally injure others during sports versus those who unintentionally injure others during nonsports activities. Many of the risk factors for causing unintentional injury unrelated to sports are similar to those for intentionally causing injury. (Am J Public Health. 2011;101:663‐668. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010. 300057)


Numerous studies have attempted to determine what makes hospitality expatriate executives successful and a large variety of managerial skills have been generated. The rapidly increasing trend toward internationalization of business has fostered an interest in examining important management skills that international hospitality executives should possess. The study findings indicated that there were underlying dimensions that contributed to the success of hospitality expatriate executives on their overseas assignment. National culture and corporate using management skills could influence a successful overseas assignment. However, it was not revealed which one between the two dimensions has more influence towards a successful overseas assignment. Successful expatriates are being profiled as organizations have found that expatriate assignments are an effective, yet expensive, means of developing international qualities in their managers. The increasing globalization of business appears to have led to the emergence of an international business workforce that shares a unique set of cultural beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. The thrust of this chapter was to examine the influence of national culture and corporate culture of hospitality expatriate executives that led to a successful overseas assignment.


Earlier experimental findings and isolately clinical experiences too made to suppose spironolacton and their derivatives to have an immunosuppressive effect. Under this point of view and in connection with it the conception to apply cortisone in a combination as low as possible or even to avoid it al all, aldactone has been applied by way of trial in the therapy of the sarcoidosis of the lungs. After an experience over three years the therapeutical results are compared with the earlier treatment methods only basing on cortisone and the possible effective mechanism is discussed. Merely spontaneous regressions are not supposed to be in all cases showing a good therapeutical effect; the successful application of aldactone in the treatment of lung fibrosis is also speaking in favour of it.


 This paper presents details of a prototype for research project on face detection systems. The prototype uses Emgu CV cross platform .Net wrapper with the Intel OpenCV image processing library and C# .Net. The library allows capture and processing of image from a camera in real time. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Eigen face is used on the technology. Details of the project such as code samples, architecture diagram, system design ER diagrams, use cases, activity diagrams, data flow diagrams, class diagram, and sequence diagram are presented. Details of the testing, and feasibility are also given. Key Terms  Emgu CV, Face Detection, Intel OpenCV, Principal Component Analysis.


The paper is motivated by a finite interval, terminal constraint control problem for a class of nonlinear hereditary systems. Application of variational methods to the optimization problem requires a density condition (dense range) for some related linear hereditary systems, a controllability condition. The density condition can be characterized by a condition on the matrix representation of the differential of the input/output operator. The characterization reduces to a 'checkable' condition when the matrix representation is time invariant.


prior to surgery in TTTS cohort. ADC calculations were done based on region of interest (ROI) at the cord insertion of each twin. Gestational age (GA) at time of MR and intertwin ADC differences were compared between cohorts (Mann-Whitney test). The intrapair ADC differences at the site of the cord insertion were compared between the smaller and larger; donor and recipient in the uncomplicated and TTTS cohort resp (Wilcoxon-signed rank test). Results: 71 pregnancies were included in the analysis. Median GA at the time of MRI was 21 w (range 18-27) in the uncomplicated (N = 47) and 21 w (range 18 – 29) in the TTTS (N = 24) (p = 0.9). The intertwin and intrapair ADC differences are summarised in table 1. Conclusions: In TTTS, the placental ADC values measured at the donor insertion were lower compared to those at the receptor insertion. Also, intertwin ADC difference was larger in TTTS than in uncomplicated twins. These findings demonstrate placental diffusion differences in TTTS that can be helpful to delineate the vascular territory of each twin.


ABSTRACT The study recognizes the lack of a clear theoretical and empirical link between employees' sense of well-being and hotel design aesthetics, although beautiful environments are associated with optimal human functioning. Drawing on conceptual insights from organizational aesthetics and theory of subjective well-being, this quantitative study explored relationships between workplace design aesthetics, hotel employee subjective well-being and the role of contrast of back- vs. front-of-the-house. Based on cross-sectional data collected from 525 operations-level hotel employees in USA, the study found that backstage employees experience less aesthetic pleasure and report lower levels of well-being than frontstage employees. Design characteristics Unity and Variety positively affect the sense of well-being, while Typicality exhibits a U-type relationship with well-being. The effect of Variety is weaker for back-of-the-house employees. This study is the first attempt to empirically and explicitly connect organizational aesthetics to well-being and identifies a novel way to enhance the well-being of the hospitality workforce.


Geochemical tracers of crustal fluids (CO2, He, Rn) provide a useful tool for the identification of buried fault structures. We acquired geochemical data during 7-months of continual sampling to identify causal processes underlying correlations between ambient air and degassing patterns of three gases (CO2, He, Rn) in a nest of red wood ants (Formica polyctena; "RWA") and the soil at Goloring in the Neuwied Basin, a part of the East Eifel Volcanic Field (EEVF). We explored whether temporal relations and degassing rhythms in soil and nest gas concentrations could be indicators of hidden faults through which the gases migrate to the surface from depth. In nest gas, the coupled system of CO2-He and He concentrations exceeding atmospheric standards 2-3 fold suggested that RWA nests may be biological indicators of hidden degassing faults and fractures at small scales. Equivalently periodic degassing infradian rhythms in the RWA nest, soil, and three nearby minerals springs suggested NW-SE and NE-SW tectonic linkages. Because volcanic activity in the EEVF is dormant, more detailed information on the EEVF's tectonic, magmatic, and degassing systems and its active tectonic fault zones are needed. Such data could provide additional insights into earthquake processes that are related to magmatic processes at the lower crust.


Following a routine necropsy of a bovine fetus aborted at 5 months of gestation, placenta, fetal tissue samples, and stomach contents were subjected to a number of laboratory tests. Staphylococcus warneri was isolated in pure culture from the lung, liver, and stomach contents, whereas the placenta yielded S. warneri and a number of contaminants. Gross evaluation of agar plates showed predominant colonies to be morphologically consistent with those of S. warneri and the identity of the agent was further confirmed on a Trek Diagnostic Systems Sensititre, gram-positive identification (GPID) plate. Microscopic evaluation of fetal tissue sections showed extensive necrotizing lesions of the tongue, lung, and placenta in which there were numerous coccoid shaped gram-positive bacteria with morphology consistent with Staphylococcus spp. These results provide strong diagnostic evidence of S. warneri as a possible cause of bovine abortion and suggest there should be further investigations into the abortivirulence of this agent.


Recent industrial requirements for highly precise shape processing have brought the electric discharge machining (EDM) in great need. High precision in EDM is primarily achieved by high performance controllers. However there exists inherent precision loss due to structural micro-deformation. On this background, we study structural deformation characteristics of wire cut EDM via finite element (FE) analysis and axiomatic design. Two different wire cut EDMs are selected as analysis models. 3D CAD package I-Deas is first used to construct FE models of wire cut EDMs, and then ABAQUS FE code is used for following structural analysis. Pertinency of FE mesh refinement is discussed in terms of η -factor. It is shown that performance accuracy of EDM depends strongly on the structural characteristics. Some design enhancements are suggested in an axiomatic design point of view. Finally we provide weight and temperature induced displacement discrepancies between wire end points as position functions of each subframe.


We investigate the nature of 48 low-level stellar overdensities (from Froebrich, Scholz and Raftery catalogue – FSR07) projected towards the Galactic anticentre and derive fundamental parameters for the confirmed clusters, thus improving the open cluster (OC) census in that direction. Parameters are derived with field-star decontaminated photometry, colour–magnitude filters and stellar radial density profiles. Among the 48 targets, we identified 18 star clusters, six previously studied OCs and seven probable clusters that require deeper photometry to establish the nature. We discovered seven new clusters, six of them forming an association of clusters with BPI 14, FSR 777, Kronberger 1 and Stock 8 in the region of the nebula IC 417 and related to the Aur OB2 association, and one embedded in the nebula Sh2-229. We also derive parameters for these three non-FSR07 clusters, because they are important in determining the structure of the Galactic anticentre. Thus, 58 objects are analysed in this work and we could derive fundamental parameters for 28 of them. The scenario in the IC 417 star-forming region is consistent with a sequential event. FSR 888 and FSR 890 are embedded in Sh2-249 within the Gem OB1 association. According to the distance derived for these clusters and those in the association of clusters, both Aur OB2 and Gem OB1 are located in the Perseus arm.


This brief examines whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased part-time work using recent Current Population Survey data. We find a small increase in part-time work in 2014 beyond what would be expected at this point in the economic recovery, attributable to an increase in involuntary part-time work. The increase is not specific to part-time work as defined by the ACA (less than 30 hours per week). Moreover, job transition patterns suggest that the increase in part-time work in 2014 is more likely due to a slow recovery of full-time jobs following the Great Recession than the ACA.


The purpose of this study was to identify factual and potential conditions, as well as to analyze community empowerment in the tourism sector in Surodadi Village. This research used the descriptive qualitative research method. Data were collected through field observations, literature study, and documentation. The data were then analyzed using an interactive data analysis model, including data condensation, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Furthermore, the factual conditions, tourism potential, and community empowerment in Surodadi Village were analyzed using five dimensions of the community-based tourism approach. The results showed that there are three pillars in the development of tourism in Surodadi Village, namely the economic, environmental, and social pillars. This study also recommends four stages in the development of community-based tourism in Surodadi Village, namely by assessing the needs and readiness of the community for tourism, training and preparing the community in the field of tourism, identifying and determining local leadership, and preparing and developing community organizations.


By definition, the practice of Continuous Integration (CI) promotes continuous software quality improvement. In systems adopting such a practice, quality assurance is usually performed by using static and dynamic analysis tools (e.g., SonarQube) that compute overall metrics such as maintainability or reliability measures. Furthermore, developers usually define quality gates, i.e., source code quality thresholds that must be reached by the software product after every newly committed change. If certain quality gates fail (e.g., a maintainability metric is below a settled threshold), developers should refactor the code possibly addressing some of the proposed warnings. While previous research findings showed that refactoring is often not done in practice, it is still unclear whether and how the adoption of a CI philosophy has changed the way developers perceive and adopt refactoring. In this paper, we preliminarily study—running a survey study that involves 31 developers—how developers perform refactoring in CI, which needs they have and the barriers they face while continuously refactor source code.


Objectives: The neuropathological findings of 32 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) cases over a period of 17 years were reviewed. Results: Of the 26 cases with adequate clinical data, 20 patients either presented with cognitive dysfunction or developed a cognitive impairment subsequently during the course of the disease. Co-existing changes of argyrophilic grains and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) were found in 28% and 32% of the cases respectively. Alzheimer-related pathology was found in 69% of cases but only 18.75% of cases fulfilled the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) criteria for either definite or probable Alzheimer's disease. Lewy bodies were noted in four cases (12.5%), all in the subcortical regions. Only seven cases of PSP showed no pathological evidence of other co-existing neurodegenerative diseases. The severity of the cerebrovascular pathology in this cohort was insufficient to explain any clinical symptomatology. Conclusions: As in previous studies, this study has demonstrated the frequent co-existence of pathological changes usually noted in other neurodegenerative diseases in PSP. Whether these coexisting pathological changes contribute to the cognitive impairment in PSP remains uncertain.


Automatic labeling is a type of classification problem. Classification has been studied with the help of statistical methods for a long time. With the explosion of new better computer processing units (CPUs) and graphical processing units (GPUs) the interest in machine learning has grown exponentially and we can use both statistical learning algorithms as well as deep neural networks (DNNs) to solve the classification tasks. Classification is a supervised machine learning problem and there exists a large amount of methodology for performing such task. However, it is very rare in industrial applications that data is fully labeled which is why we need good methodology to obtain error-free labels. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current literature on how to perform labeling using ML, we will compare these models in terms of popularity and on what datatypes they are used on. We performed a systematic literature review of empirical studies for machine learning for labeling. We identified 43 primary studies relevant to our search. From this we were able to determine the most common machine learning models for labeling. Lack of unlabeled instances is a major problem for industry as supervised learning is the most widely used. Obtaining labels is costly in terms of labor and financial costs. Based on our findings in this review we present alternate ways for labeling data for use in supervised learning tasks.


Information on the main indicators of the Pandemic COVID-19 is published daily for each subject of the Russian Federation. Of interest is the comparative ranking of regions in terms of new cases, active cases that have recovered from COVID-19, the allocation of homogeneous groups of regions in terms of the distribution of COVID-19. Since several indicators, respectively, the ranking of regions can be several options: the same regions with a high level of morbidity can be characterized by lower mortality from COVID-19 and vice versa, which will shift their position in the overall rating assessment. Such a state complicates the perception of the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic in the spatial-territorial context. In this regard, it makes sense to develop a certain latent integral indicator for assessing the COVID-19 pandemic process, which will allow comparing the subjects of the Russian Federation with each other in order to develop practical recommendations.


Phlorins bearing different substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized meso-position were investigated. The extent to which different substituents at this unique position can influence phlorin spectroscopic properties, structure, and stability is of interest given that such substituents are not in direct conjugation with the phlorin macrocycle. While the effect of various substituents at the sp(2)-hybridized positions has been the subject of prior investigations, the impact of different substituents at the saturated carbon atom has not been systematically examined. In this study, phlorins with different combinations of geminal methyl and phenyl substituents were prepared in yields of 24-49% via dipyrromethane + dipyrromethanedicarbinol routes, and their NMR spectra, UV-vis spectra, X-ray crystal structures, and stability toward light and air were compared. The nature of the substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized position was found to impact spectroscopic properties, structure, and stability to varying degrees. Thus, the choice of substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized meso-position provides a further option for altering phlorin properties.


This major international history project succeeded because of the goodwill, commitment, and collaborative endeavor of a team of researchers drawn not only from different countries but also from different disciplines. Its immediate product is a recently published book, HISCO: Historical International Standard Classification of Occupations (van Leeuwen, Maas, and Miles 2002). The authors describe the substantive issues, methodological questions, and practical arrangements behind the HISCO scheme, which is a classification tool designed to enable researchers working with historical occupational titles in a variety of linguistic and geographical contexts to communicate with each other and to make international comparisons across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in social, economic, and other fields of history. HISCO is rooted in the 1968 version of the International Labour Organisation [then known as Office]'s International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO68) (ILO 1969). This means that in addition to comparing historical information across national boundaries, we can establish linkages between historical and contemporary data sets. The authors also note some recent developments on the application of HISCO in historical research.


The Northern Sector Action Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), a local NGO in Northern Ghana commissioned a research into the threats and effects of climate change on local livelihoods of the local people, especially women and the youth in four districts of their operational area in the northern region of Ghana. In all, 320 respondents (160 males and 160 females) were selected for interview using the stratified and random sampling techniques. The method of data analysis was basically descriptive. We found that the people's livelihoods basically centre on small-scale agriculture and its related activities such as food processing (using traditional methods) and petty trading, especially for the women. Limited opportunities such as education, off-farm activities and credit as well as irrigation and extension services have meant that they are not able to cope with the negative effects of climate change. Consequently, while a significant percentage of respondents relied on prayers and sacrifices to cope with the effects of climate change, others were simply doing nothing. As intervention measures we propose irrigation and some improved, but affordable equipment for food processing. Also, efforts must be stepped up to increase access to education, credit and extension services in the district, especially for women. Keywords: Climate change, Livelihoods, NORSAAC, Northern Ghana


Techniques in image similarity can be used to improve the classification of breast cancer images. Breast cancer images in the mammogram modality have an abundance of non-cancerous structures that are similar to cancer, which make classification of images as containing cancer especially difficult to work with. Only the cancerous part of the image is relevant, so the techniques must learn to recognize cancer in noisy mammograms and extract features from that cancer to appropriately classify images. There are also many types or classes of cancer with different characteristics over which the system must work. Mammograms come in sets of four, two images of each breast, which enables comparison of the left and right breast images to help determine relevant features and remove irrelevant features. In this work, image feature clustering is done to reduce the noise and the feature space, and the results are used in a distance function that uses a learned threshold in order to produce a classification. The threshold parameter of the distance function is learned simultaneously with the underlying clustering and then integrated to produce an agglomeration that is relevant to the images. This technique can diagnose breast cancer more accurately than commercial systems and other published results.


A persistent argument against the transitivity assumption of rational choice theory postulates a repeatable action that generates a signi…cant benefit at the expense of a negligible cost. No matter how many times the action has been taken, it therefore seems reasonable for a decision-maker to take the action one more time. However, matters are so fixed that the costs of taking the action some large number of times outweigh the benefits. In taking the action some large number of times on the grounds that the bene…ts outweigh the costs every time, the decision-maker therefore reveals intransitive preferences, since once she has taken it this large number of times, she would prefer to return to the situation in which she had never taken the action at all. We defend transitivity against two versions of this argument: one in which it is assumed that taking the action one more time never has any perceptible cost, and one in which it is assumed that the cost of taking the action, though (sometimes) perceptible, is so small as to be outweighed at every step by the significant benefit. We argue that the description of the choice situation in the first version involves a contradiction. We also argue that the reasoning used in the second version is a form of similarity-based decision-making. We argue that when the consequences of using similarity-based decision-making are brought to light, rational decision-makers revise their preferences. We also discuss one method that might be used in performing this revision.


BACKGROUND
Cancellation of elective operations during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the number of patients waiting for treatment. In neurosurgery, treatment for spinal diseases, in particular, has been disproportionately delayed. We aim to describe the waiting list burden at our institution and forecast the time and theatre capacity required to return to pre-pandemic levels.

METHODS
A retrospective evaluation of the waiting list records (both cranial and spinal), from January 2015-October 2022, inclusive, was conducted at a high-volume neurosciences centre. The average monthly decrease in the waiting list was calculated for the months since the waiting list was noted to fall consistently during or after the pandemic, as applicable. Five different scenarios were modelled to identify the time required to reduce the waiting list to the pre-pandemic level of December 2019. Data collection and analyses were performed on Excel (Microsoft).

RESULTS
At the pre-pandemic threshold (December 2019), 782 patients were on the waiting list. Between January 2015-January 2020, inclusive, an average of 673 patients were on the waiting list but this has doubled over the subsequent months to a peak of 1388 patients in December 2021. Between December 2021-October 2022, on average, the waiting list reduced by 18 per month. At the current rate of change, the waiting list would fall to the pre-pandemic level by October 2024, an interval of 24 months. A seven-day service would require 18 months to clear the backlog. Doubling or tripling the current rate of change would require 12 months and 8 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Pre-existing, pandemic-related, and new NHS-wide challenges continue to have negative influences on reducing the backlog. Proposals for surgical hubs to tackle this carry the risks of removing staff from hospitals which cannot avoid emergency/urgent operating thereby further reducing those institutions' capacity to undertake elective work.


Room-temperature thermal detection at a wavelength of 2 µm in the short-wave infrared range (1.7-3 µm) was demonstrated for the first time using a Nb5N6 microbolometer. The photothermal responses of two types of Nb5N6 microbolometers were evaluated. By suspending Nb5N6 microwires in the air above the substrate, a reduction in thermal conductance of the device by a factor of 39 was achieved. The measured optical voltage responsivity RO of the Nb5N6 microbolometer reached the value of 61.5 V/W. A noise equivalent power of 8.5 × 10-11 W/√Hz (at 1 kHz) and a detectivity D* = 2.0 × 107 cm√Hz /W with a typical response time as small as 0.17 ms was obtained at a wavelength of 2 µm for a 10 × 30-µm2 device. The performance could be improved further by optimizing the design and operating parameters. This study revealed a simple low-cost technique to develop a large-scale focal plane array in silicon for infrared detection.


Background: Gallbladder surgeries are among the commonest major abdominal operations and to continuously improve the procedure many variants have developed that need evidence-based comparison in terms of frequency common bile duct (CBD) clearance, the mean operative time and hospital stay, and rate of adverse outcomes (post-operative pancreatitis). Through this study, we aimed to compare the surgical outcome of single-stage Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) with LC in comparison to two-stage ERCP. Methodology: This prospective study was conducted on a sample of 190 diagnosed patients (chosen via nonprobability consecutive sampling) of cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis, aged between 20 to 70 years who were scheduled to undergo surgery at the Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi. The patients were divided into two equal groups (Group A: Single-stage ERCP & LC, and Group B: Two-stage ERCP followed by interval LC). After taking written informed consent, data pertaining to surgical outcome were recorded onto a pre-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics of both the groups were similar and so were the success rates. Adverse events free and positive outcomes were reported in 95.79% and 90.53% of the patients in groups A and B respectively. Post-operative pancreatitis was reported more often among the patients of group B. The length of hospital stay and costs were lower among Group A patients despite the longer operative times in this group. Conclusion: Patients in group A yield better surgical outcomes, giving single-stage ERCP & LC the edge over two-stage ERCP followed by interval LC. Thus, single-stage ERCP & LC is recommended as the method of choice.


Abstract This paper presents a multiple flow-regime model for pressure drop during the condensation of refrigerant R134a in horizontal microchannels. Two-phase pressure drops were measured in five circular channels ranging in hydraulic diameter from 0.5 mm to 4.91 mm. For each tube under consideration, pressure drop measurements were first taken over the entire range of qualities from 100% vapor to 100% liquid for five different refrigerant mass fluxes between 150 kg/m2-s and 750 kg/m2-s. Results from the previous work by the authors on condensation flow mechanisms in microchannel geometries were used to assign the applicable flow regime to the data points. Pressure drop models for intermittent [1] and annular [2] flow reported earlier by the authors were modified and combined to develop a comprehensive model that addresses the entire progression of the condensation process from the vapor phase to the liquid phase. This combined model accurately predicts condensation pressure drops in the annular, disperse wave, mist, discrete wave, and intermittent flow regimes. Overlap and transition regions between the respective regimes are also addressed using an appropriate interpolation technique that results in relatively smooth transitions between the predicted pressure drops. The resulting model predicts 82% of the data within ± 20%.


We investigate the mechanics of ice-stream shear margins based on the assumption that the underlying bed behaves plastically. Sliding is assumed to occur if a prescribed, locally defined yield stress is attained, while no sliding is assumed possible if basal shear stress is lower than the yield stress. Mathematically, the ice-flow problem takes the form of a contact problem, in which the zones of sliding are part of the solution and cannot be prescribed arbitrarily. Simplistic assumptions about the location of till failure, or about mechanical conditions at the bed, predict stress singularities at the margins which lead to corresponding singularities in the basal melt rate. The ice-flow problem is solved using a complex variable method, and an associated quasi-static thermal problem is also solved using a Green's function. High stress concentrations, which coincide with high rates of strain heating, are found on the ice-stream side of the margins, where basal melting is also greatest. Our results further indicate that a temperate zone may form over time above the bed in the margins. These findings differ from earlier studies based on dif- ferent sliding laws, suggesting a high sensitivity of margin behaviour to basal conditions.


It was found that the interference effect of chlorides at the lead determination by GF AASdepends on the properties of the chlorides and on the medium in which the sample is dissolved. In nitric acid solution one observes mainly the effects of cations contained in the chlorides. In hydrochloric acid or in a mixed nitric-hydrochloric acid medium the observed effects are due to the type of chlorides. The chlorides, which have a decomposition temperature higher than the used pyrolysis (charring) temperature, inhibit the reduction of lead chloride to the metal form and enable its losses by evaporation. Other chlorides, which decompose below the pyrolysis temperature, evolve free chlorine atoms and those form very volatile lead-chlorine compound evaporating already at about 200°C. Palladium acts properly as modifier only in nitric acid solution. In the presence of a large excess of chloride ions, particularly in the hydrochloric acid medium, it is transformed, at least partially, into the form of thermally unstable chloride which causes the losses of lead during pyrolysis and, consequently, causes a strong suppression of the measured signal. The explanation of the mechanism of all processes occurring in the graphite tube for the analytical system to be discussed has been proposed.


In this work, a microwave approach is developed to rapidly synthesize ultralong zinc pyrovanadate (Zn3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O, ZVO) nanowires with a porous crystal framework. It is shown that our synthesis strategy can easily be extended to fabricate other metal pyrovanadate compounds. The zinc pyrovanadate nanowires show significantly improved electrochemical performance when used as intercalation cathode for aqueous zinc–ion battery. Specifically, the ZVO cathode delivers high capacities of 213 and 76 mA h g−1 at current densities of 50 and 3000 mA g−1, respectively. Furthermore, the Zn//ZVO cells show good cycling stability up to 300 cycles. The estimated energy density of this Zn cell is ≈214Wh kg−1, which is much higher than commercial lead–acid batteries. Significant insight into the Zn‐storage mechanism in the pyrovanadate cathodes is presented using multiple analytical methods. In addition, it is shown that our prototype device can power a 1.5 V temperature sensor for at least 24 h.


Background: This study aimed to draw the perspective of e-learning in Iran and the world. In other words, an attempt was made to explore the goals, strategies, obstacles, enablers, and innovations of e-learning in higher education systems of Iran and other countries across the world. Methods: A systematized literature review of domestic and international studies was performed using PRISMA guidelines for data collection. Original studies from Iranian databases (Magiran, IranDoc, Civilica, and Noormags) and international databases (ScienceDirect, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Sage) were included. Three criteria were considered for selecting the sources: relevance to the topic, date of publication (2004-2019 for domestic, and 2005-2020 for international databases), and credibility of sources. Additionally, comparative data analysis was performed using open and axial coding in Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM). Results: Forty one studies from Iranian databases and 22 from international databases were included. The Iranian research review demonstrated that the principal goals of e-learning were quality, cost reduction, and educational justice. Furthermore, it showed that the applied strategies included instructional design, needs assessment, suitable multimedia, and blended learning. Finally, it was revealed that the innovations were MOOCs. As for the international databases, the research review demonstrated that the principal goal of e-learning was innovation in providing instruction and learning at any time and location. The applied strategies included instructional design, evaluation of educational systems, and an interdisciplinary view of e-learning. Other research findings were also discussed. Discussion: Domestic sources were divided into 20 subcategories with respect to the goals, obstacles, enablers, strategies, and innovations. Based on the same factors, international studies fell into 21 subcategories. Decision makers are recommended to consider these elements in their policies regarding e-learning in higher education. Additional discussions and suggestions are provided within the article.


B lymphocytes likely divide asymmetrically to generate different effector and memory lymphocytes subsets. Studies in C. Elegans have shown that Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase (Ric)-8A helps orient the mitotic spindle during asymmetric cell division. However, the role of Ric-8A in lymphocytes development and function during asymmetric cell division is unknown. We have used a mouse strain carrying the Cre recombinase under the control of vav1 promoter or Mb1 promoter to specifically delete a floxed Ric-8a allele in all hematopoietic cells or specifically in B lymphocytes. As Ric-8A is a molecular chaperone for the Gα proteins, we first verified that Ric-8A deletion was correlated with a physical and functional loss of Gαi and Gαq proteins. As only the absolute number of B220+ cells was reduced in lymphoid organs (mostly the marginal zone B cells and T2-B subsets) we focused on the BCR signaling. Ric-8A deletion leads to an altered production of antibodies and defect in calcium response towards IgM stimulation. The simultaneously visualization of the ancestral polarity network member PKCζ with B220 distributions revealed that Ric-8A KO B-cells are less susceptible to asymmetric fate than the WT cells [ImageStream (AMNIS)]. While the molecular mechanisms leading to this phenotype are under investigation, these results indicate that Ric-8A is important for the expansion and/or differentiation of B cells by regulating the asymmetric cell division properties.


Land and Sea breezes are the most commonly observed meso scale local systems on coastal zones. They have been significant role on transport and diffusion of air pollutants in coastal areas. In the present study we have simulated the sea breeze circulation for the coastal city of Visakhapatnam (17.42'N,83.15').The mesoscale model WRF ARW is used for this study. Modeling period is selected for typical summer (18 may 2011). The WRF model used with 2 nested domains with 9km and 3 km horizontal resolution. The initial and boundary conditions were taken from NOAA NOMADS GFS data with horizontal resolution of 1 degree by 1 degree. The model could predict the essential features like onset, strength and decay of sea breeze. The model outputs of temperature, potential temperature, Relative humidity, Wind speed are compared with the radiosonde observations of the Viskhapatnam.The horizontal and vertical extent of Sea / Land Breezes also simulated well.


This article aims to determine the implementation of property inheritance to daughters in Tanjung Mompang Panyabungan Utara Mandailing Natal and the factors that cause people to choose the way in the distribution of inheritance. This article uses a juridical-empirical approach. The results of this research shows that the distribution of inheritance done traditionally due to the lack of public awareness about Islamic civil law particularly about inheritance. It becomes the most fundamental factors causing disputes and injustice among family members because the inheritance were distributed not in accordance with Islamic law. Religious and education factors are two common factors that determine the distribution of inheritance. Low understanding of Islamic law and inheritance knowledge are the cause of this case.


Aims: The study examined the effect of corporate social responsibility on financial sustainability  of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria.
Study Design: The research work adopted for the study ex-post facto research design. Secondary data spanning 2009 to 2020 was sourced and collated from financial statement of oil and gas firms annual report in Nigeria and Nigeria Stock Exchange factbook.
Place of Study: Department of Accountancy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Methodology: The data was analyzed employing the Pearson coefficient correlation and least square regression technique.
Results: The study revealed that corporate social responsibility has a significant positive effect on net profit margin and return on asset of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria at 5% level of significance.
Conclusion: Given the integral role the Oil and Gas sector plays in Nigeria, this paper showed the importance of corporate social responsibility in ensuring the financial sustainability of corporations in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry.


A novel approach for microwave imaging of the dielectric objects in free space using hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) is presented in this paper. A scattering model based on the method of moment and the asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) is used to solve the scattering problem in this paper. The error between measured field and computed field is considered as the object function. The inverse scattering problem is transferred into an optimization problem by minimizing the object function, which is solved by hybrid particle swarm optimization. Comparisons of the Genetic Algorithms (GA) and hybrid particle swarm optimization are carried out. The results show that hybrid particle swarm optimization has the excellent performance imaging precision and robust anti-jamming. Another important advantage is that there is no necessary to utilize the regularization term which is essential to obtain the stabilization in application of typical direct optimization routine.