The Recital Liberated was a series of three artistic events formatted as classes, or workshop-like sessions, in which attendees and I collectively examined an aspect of the human spirit as it manifested in a number of artworks of my choosing, across various mediums and genres. Unlike conventional recitals, this event did not consist of me imposing a selection of art upon a silent and captive audience. Rather, I sought to engage those in attendance in an active exploration of the very meaning of art, and the way in which each of our individual lives and experiences could inform infinite unique interpretations of a singular artwork. This concept began as a reaction against the traditional Western Classical "art-music" recital format, but has since become a complete departure from it. I replaced formulaic with organic, elitism with individualism, "concert black" with a t-shirt and jeans. And by returning to the core of what I believe art to be—communication, a true dialogue among equals, rather than a lecture from "artist" to "audience"—I created an event that can help us remember that art and its creation are not merely extracurricular pastimes, but are indeed truly practical endeavors. This document will detail The Recital Liberated through its conception, development, and realization; summarize attendee feedback to the three sessions as a whole; explain applications of this concept to education in a secondary general music setting; include materials I created and used for each session (such as programs, posters, worksheets, and lesson plans); as well as contain a partial video recording of one of the sessions.


The Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964, caused four phenomena at the head of Puget Bay in south-central Alaska. A large rock-snow avalanche fell from Puget Peak and slid into the bay. Sea waves struck the coast, transporting debris inland to elevations of 7 m. Tectonic warping uplifted Puget Bay 1.7 m, and earth cracks formed in the surficial valley alluvium. The Puget Peak avalanche transported 1.8 × 10 6 m 3 of rock, snow, soil, and plant debris downslope. The avalanche began as a large rockfall of jointed and fractured bedrock from Puget Peak. The rockfall reached the cirque traveling at a speed of more than 100 kph; there, it set in motion a large volume of snow. Most of the debris was deposited on the beach and in the bay. Undisturbed 1963-1964 snow in the cirque, areas of undisturbed vegetation and soil, many fresh grooves and scars on bedrock surfaces, and large areas stripped of surficial vegetation and soil along the avalanche track indicate that the avalanche mass slid on snow, soil, and rock from the cirque to the bay. Evidence along the avalanche track indicates that the avalanche mass traveled at high speed along its entire extent. Similar avalanches have occurred at Puget Bay in the past and will occur again, because shattered bedrock and steep slopes remain on Puget Peak.


A total of 50 samples of poultry feed mixtures of Slovak origin were analysed for fumonisin B(1) and B(2) (FB(1), FB(2)) and moniliformin (MON) using SAX-clean up procedure being detected by high pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), respectively. The samples were also simultaneously investigated for Fusarium species occurrence, and for the capability of Fusarium isolates recovered to produce FB(1) and MON in vitro. FB1 was detected in 49 samples (98 %) in concentrations ranging from 43 to 798 microg x kg(-1), and FB(2) in 42 samples (84 %) in concentrations ranging from 26 to 362 microg x kg(-1). MON was detected in 26 samples (52 %) in concentrations that ranged from 42 to 1,214 microg x kg(-1). Only two Fusarium populations were encountered, namely F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans, of which the former was the most dominant and frequent. All 86 F. proliferatum isolates tested for FB1-production ability proved to be producers of the toxin although none of them produced MON. On the contrary, MON production was observed in a half out of 16 F. subglutinans isolates tested, yet no FB1 production was detected in this case. Despite the limited number of samples investigated during this study, it is obvious that poultry feed mixtures may represent a risk from a toxicological point of view and should be regarded as a potential source of the Fusarium mycotoxins in central Europe. This is the first reported study dealing with fumonisin and moniliformin contamination of poultry feeds from Slovakia.


This paper is a case study to identify elements of teacher competence development in the ongoing professional development of teachers in Sambas, Indonesia. Quite difficult to ensure that the implementation process of teacher professional development today, including how the teacher reaction to the declaration of functional regulation of teachers and credit figures that has been in effect since 2013 a go. So the goal of this research is to identify the concept, implementation and management of the response of teachers to the teacher professional development, particularly in the field of scientific publications. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach, as a basic introduction to the field (grand tour of observation), carried out with the documentation and interviews with technique. purposive sampling The findings were obtained: (1) The concept of teacher professional development in the field of scientific publications Sambas district is still not arranged in a programmed and systematic, they are self-supporting, the government has not directly organize scientific papers training; (2) Development of professional competence of teachers is implemented on a limited basis by organizing training scientific papers by involving non goverment organization, the Department of Education and Teachers; (3) The implementation of teacher professional development policies vary by teachers responded, as an opportunity or a threat to the profession as a teacher career advancement. The results of this paper form the basis of teacher professional development program for teachers and decision making, the school, as well as educational and cultural offices.


Blood capillaries are thread‐like structures that may be considered as an example of a spatial fibre process in three dimensions. At light microscopy, the capillary profiles appear as a planar point process on sections. It has recently been shown that the observed pair correlation function g(r) of the centres of the fibre profiles on two‐dimensional sections may be used to estimate the reduced pair correlation function of stationary and isotropic fibre processes in three dimensions. In the present study, we explored how this approach may be extended to statistical analysis of reduced g‐functions of capillaries from multiple specimens of different groups and with replicated observations. The methods were applied to normal prostatic tissue compared with prostate cancer. Confidence intervals for the mean reduced g‐functions of groups were estimated for fixed r‐values parametrically using the t‐distribution, and by bootstrap methods. Each estimated reduced g‐function was furthermore characterized in terms of its first maximum and minimum. The mean length of capillaries per unit tissue volume was significantly higher in prostate cancer tissue than in normal prostate tissue. Significant differences between the mean reduced g‐functions of malignant and benign lesions could be demonstrated for two domains of r‐values. In general, bootstrap‐based confidence intervals were slightly wider than parametrically estimated confidence intervals. Falsely negative lower bounds of the intervals, which sometimes arose using the parametric approach, could be avoided by the bootstrap method. Testing of group mean values for significant differences by the bootstrap method yielded more conservative results than multiple t‐tests. The functional value of the first maximum of the reduced g‐function and a global statistical parameter of short‐range ordering was significantly reduced in the carcinoma group. Prostate cancer tissue is more densely supplied with capillaries than normal prostate tissue and the three‐dimensional arrangement of the vessels differs with respect to interaction at various distance ranges. In the local approach used here, bootstrap methods can be used as a robust statistical tool for the computation of confidence intervals and group comparisons of mean reduced g‐functions at specific ranges of interaction.


Despite much progress with remote sensing, on-site measurements of glacier mass balance (with stakes and snow pits) still have advantages for resolution of interannual and seasonal changes of mass balance. Understanding these changes may help to identify the types of glaciers most sensitive to climate change. The standard deviation of mass balance data series for a few years describes the interannual variability, and balance amplitude, defined as half the difference between winter and summer balances, describes the seasonal variability. Interannual variability increases with seasonal variability, and seasonal variability increases with annual precipitation and summer temperature available from a half-degree gridded climatology. Measured glaciers have higher mean and median precipitation than average for all glaciers in the Randolph Glacier Inventory (version 6). High balance amplitudes are associated with warm/wet (maritime) environments and low amplitudes with cold/dry (continental) environments, as shown in previous studies of climate at the equilibrium line altitude. Balance amplitude can be modelled for half-degree grid squares in the glacier inventory using multiple regression of measured balance amplitude on the climate data. The resulting modelled balance amplitude is relatively low for Arctic Islands and Central Asia, but high for Western North America, Iceland, Scandinavia, Alps, and Caucasus.


BACKGROUND
The purpose of this randomized, controlled pilot study is to address the question whether normal hospital diet (NHD) is safe when compared with low-bacterial diet (LBD) given to prevent infections in cytopenic patients who receive antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The patients were randomized into two groups: one group to receive AP and LBD, the other to receive the same AP and NHD. The primary outcome parameter is colonization of the digestive tract with aerobic gram-negative bacilli and yeasts. Secondary outcome parameters were infections and total societal costs.

RESULTS
No statistically significant differences between treatment groups were observed regarding the primary outcome parameter, gut colonization by yeasts or gram-negative bacilli, or infections, use of antimicrobials, days with fever and total societal costs.

CONCLUSION
On the basis of the results of this pilot study, NHD appears to be as safe as LBD in patients with chemotherapy-induced cytopenia. Furthermore, the results indicate that LBD may offer no additional benefit as an infection preventive measure to the measures already implemented, such as AP. Thus, a larger randomized study, powered adequately to determine noninferiority of NHD to LBD is warranted and safe to be carried out.


Since 2014, the Formula 1 car has been a hybrid electric vehicle with a turbocharged gasoline engine and electric motor/generator units connected to the axle, for kinetic energy recovery and boosting, and to the shaft of the turbocharger, mainly to recover waste heat from the exhaust gases. This system offers a new degree of freedom, namely, the power split, which is the ratio of power delivered by the electric traction motor in comparison to the overall propulsive power. In the straights, where the driver usually requests 100% acceleration, regulations allow the implementation of a thrust controller, since only by limiting the acceleration power, the maximum allowed fuel consumption of 100 kg gasoline per race can be achieved. The decisions of the corresponding energy management controller strongly influence the achievable lap time, and thus need to be carefully optimized. Furthermore, there exist several operational constraints imposed by the regulations that need to be tracked. This paper proposes a real-time implementable energy management strategy minimizing the lap time, by deriving the optimal control policy analytically. Optimality of the proposed controller is verified by comparing the results obtained with a benchmark simulator against the global optimal solution, while implementability and compatibility with the regulations are demonstrated using a high-fidelity nonlinear simulator.


Recently, much attention has been paid to the investigation of solution-driven oxides for application in thin film transistors (TFTs). In current study, a fully solution-based method, using 2-methoxyethanol as solvent, has been adopted to prepare InZnO thin films and HfAlOx gate dielectrics. Amorphous HfAlOx thin films annealed at 600 °C have shown a high transparency (>85%), low leakage current density (6.9 × 10−9 A cm−2 at 2 MV cm−1), and smooth surface. To verify the potential applications of HfAlOx gate dielectrics in oxide-based TFTs, fully solution-induced InZnO/HfAlOx TFTs have been integrated. Excellent electrical performance for InZnO/HfAlOx TFTs annealed at 450 °C has been observed, including a low operating voltage of 3 V, a saturated mobility of 5.17 cm2 V−1 s−1, a high Ion/Ioff of ∼106, a small subthreshold swing of 87 mV per decade, and a threshold voltage shift of 0.52 V under positive bias stress (PBS) for 7200 s, respectively. In addition, time dependent threshold voltage shift under PBS could be described by a stretched-exponential model, which can be due to charge trapping in the semiconductor/dielectric interface. Finally, to explore the possible application in logic operation, a resistor-loaded inverter based on InZnO/HfAlOx TFTs has been built and excellent swing characteristic and well dynamic behavior have been obtained. Therefore, it can be concluded that fully solution-driven InZnO/HfAlOx TFTs have demonstrated potential application in nontoxic, eco-friendly and low-power consumption oxide-based flexible electronics.


During the past years, due to the decrease of the minimum feature size in CMOS technology, the on-chip clock frequencies have increased dramatically ranging into the GHz domain. This increase has also pushed the need for higher data-transfer rates between these high-speed ICs, in order to optimize the entire PCB system. As a result, the clock/data skew can span tens of clock cycles. In order to cope with this skew, synchronization strategies have been developed which rely on either analogue or digital multitap delay-lines. In order for the synchronization mechanism to function properly, all tap-delays of the delay-line should have the same values within few percentages. This paper presents a technique, based on the oscillation method, to measure tap-delays of a delay-line with an accuracy of §10ps. A chip has also been implemented in an UMC 0.18¹m CMOS technology to prove our assumption. The measurements carried out on the chip confirmed the above mentioned accuracy.


The author studies the long-term impact of genocide during the period of the Khmer Rouge (1975-79) in Cambodia and contributes to the literature on the economic analysis of conflict. Using mortality data for siblings from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey in 2000, he shows that excess mortality was extremely high and heavily concentrated during 1974-80. Adult males had been the most likely to die, indicating that violent death played a major role. Individuals with an urban or educated background were more likely to die. Infant mortality was also at very high levels during the period, and disability rates from landmines or other weapons were high for males who, given their birth cohort, were exposed to this risk. The very high and selective mortality had a major impact on the population structure of Cambodia. Fertility and marriage rates were very low under the Khmer Rouge but rebounded immediately after the regime's collapse. Because of the shortage of eligible males, the age and education differences between partners tended to decline. The period had a lasting impact on the educational attainment of the population. The education system collapsed during the period, so individuals-especially males-who were of schooling age during this interval had a lower educational attainment than the preceding and subsequent birth cohorts.


PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION
Description of precancerous lesions and kidney tumors developing in a patient with chronic uremia treated by long-term hemodialysis.

MOST IMPORTANT METHODS
Light microscopy, polarization and immunohistochemistry with CK1/CK3, CK5/6, CK7, CK8, CK20, EMA, Renal cell, CD10, Ki-67, PCNA, p53 and E-cadherin antibodies were used.

MAIN FINDINGS
After 11 years of hemodialysis treatment of end-stage diabetic nephropathy and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis an urgent left-sided nephrectomy was performed because of pain and massive intrarenal bleeding. Biopsy revealed acquired cystic kidney disease associated with multiple precancerous lesions, several small papillary adenomas and a multifocal renal cell carcinoma with conventional and papillary structures with admixture of small foci of highly cellular sarcomatoid features. Severe vascular nephrosclerosis and uremic oxalosis were additional findings. The upper pole of the kidney was massively hemorrhagic.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the association of chronic renal insufficiency, uremic oxalosis, long-term hemodialysis, acquired cystic kidney disease and development of variable precursor intratubular and intracystic lesions progressing to several papillary adenomas and multifocal renal cell carcinomas with variegated microscopic structures in one kidney.


Specifications in England and Wales frequently cite improvement in the quality of students' arguments as a key objective of courses of study for public examinations. More generally, this objective might be seen as a central element in the process of citizenship education. However, there is evidence that progress in the quality of students' arguments is disappointing relative to other dimensions of their achievement. Research evidence on the differences between informal and formal arguments provides a basis for identifying weaknesses in students' arguments that might be addressed in teaching. This evidence also suggests ways in which these weaknesses might be addressed. However, this literature provides a generic account of the development of argument, rarely paying attention to differences between different subjects. Drawing on this literature this paper describes an approach to supporting the development of students' arguments within two curriculum subject areas: geography and business studies. Similarities and differences between the subjects are identified and the way in which these characteristics of arguments have been used with students to develop their arguments is exemplified.


Kuratsuki bacteria enter during the sake making process and interact with sake yeast until their growth is attenuated by ethanol produced by sake yeast. Due to the interaction between kuratsuki bacteria and sake yeast, the metabolism of sake yeast changes, affecting the composition of esters and organic acids and subsequently the flavor and taste of sake. We cultivated kuratsuki bacteria and sake yeast, and performed test making at sake breweries to clarify the interaction among microorganisms in the sake making process. We aim to propose a sake making process that controls the flavor and taste of sake by utilizing the functions of kuratsuki bacteria.


Exponential population growth and the increased demand of land for food production present the challenge to secure enough food for everyone whilst preserving natural landscapes and biodiversity. The targets of biodiversity conservation and food production have been historically perceived as conflicting, yet the productivity of many crops is maximised by pollinator abundance and diversity. The Ecosystem Service approach addressed this dichotomy by putting emphasis on the benefits that humans obtain from conserving biodiversity. An example is ensuring a diverse food supply by maintaining diverse pollinator communities. Pollinators are intimately connected to our welfare, securing a variety of food and maintaining ecosystem function and health. Consequently, the ongoing global decline of wild pollinators prompted a growing body of research on the extent to which reproductive success of plants is enhanced by flower-visiting animals and how land-use change affects wild pollinators. The overarching aim of this thesis is to understand how losing pollination services can affect human well-being. The objectives of my research are: (1) to elucidate pollinator contribution to wild and crop plants; (2) to develop practical methods for pollination services site-scale assessment; and (3) to pilot the novel tools developed in this thesis in a nature reserve within an agricultural matrix. Little is known about the potential consequences of losing vertebrate pollinators on plants. I used a systematic review protocol to give an overview of the importance of vertebrate pollinators for the reproductive success of the plants they pollinate. Based on a meta-analysis of 126 experiments on animal-pollinated plants, I found that an exclusion of vertebrates from plants visited by both insects and vertebrate pollinators may reduce fruit and seed production by 63%. Model selection based on Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) further revealed that tropical plants are more reliant on vertebrate pollination than their temperate counterparts, and bat-pollinated plants are more dependent on vertebrate pollination than those pollinated by other vertebrates. These findings highlight the potential importance of vertebrate pollinators for the long-term maintenance of both natural and agricultural tropical systems. This study also demonstrated the need for effective conservation action for threatened flower-visiting vertebrate species. More research is needed on the pollination system of plants and their vertebrate pollinators at a community level. Information on the production dependence of plants on their vertebrate pollinators is scant. Here, I created a dataset of the degrees of production dependence of wild and crop plants on vertebrate pollination based on field exclusion experiments. The database includes information on 126 sites for 29 countries and 90 plants species and information on site details, plants and flower visitors. The production dependence in this dataset can be used for economic valuations of pollination services provided by vertebrates to increase understanding of their importance for food production and the maintenance of natural ecosystems, particularly in the tropics, and to better guide conservation actions. Currently available tools for pollination service assessment operate at a global or regional scale or rely on high technical expertise. I used expert elicitation techniques to develop a practical tool for the site-scale assessment of pollination services. Three sets of methods were developed to suit different levels of technical expertise and resource availability: desk-based (Red standard method), observational (Amber standard method) and experimental (Green standard method). The novel tool was applied to estimate the value of pollination services provided by a small protected area in Hampshire, UK. The annual net economic value of pollination service in the current state was greater than the alternative state by between £111 and £151 ha-1 year-1. This thesis adds novel insight into the potential effects of the decline of pollinator taxa in different regions by assessing variations in the reproductive success of wild and crop plants at a global and local scale; thus increasing the much-needed knowledge of the dependence of flowering plants on flower-visiting animals, both invertebrates and vertebrates. The methods developed in this thesis can be useful to a broad range of users including scientists, governments, land managers and conservation practitioners. The accessibility of this tool provides rapid and practical means to generate robust data to inform decision-making in various regions, ecosystems and socio-cultural contexts.


This article analyzes equity in Mexican higher education. It suggests a new conceptualization in educational equity based on a social justice definition that includes: effective access, compensation of inequalities, assuring permanence, and the achievement of meaningful results. Based on this framework, there is a warning that despite policies aimed at democratizing this public good, the education system still excludes thousands of young people from poor areas, and so many others are inadequately attended. The Mexican State has failed to ensure equal access for young people coming from disadvantaged areas and who have a different socio-economic and cultural background. In this light the meritocratic approach is questioned as a fair measure of distribution and advocates for the implementation of compensatory programs and affirmative action. In terms of school permanency, it is mentioned that the strategies and institutions addressed to the population that was excluded, do not always fulfill the basic quality requirements –infrastructure, teachers, libraries, technology, and must of all, relevant teaching practices. All this is deemed important in order to respond to the particular needs associated with youth's low cultural capital in vulnerable areas. A way to overcome these problems is to generate equity policies that can guarantee a fair distribution of higher education that takes into account the disadvantages of large segments of young people so that their needs are addressed adequately.


AFTTR started incorporating HIV/AIDS activities into its projects from 2000, and initiated this assessment to review the process, results, and challenges of mainstreaming HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the sector. This is not an impact study, but rather an attempt to determine the extent to which the mainstreaming effort reached targeted populations, the lessons learned, and the outlook for the future, using a more flexible methodology. The three major lessons learned are: a) the need to dialog with the HIV/AIDS teams in the client countries to accelerate the process of endorsing, disseminating, and operationalizing the policies; b) establishing simple and clear ME and c) developing evidence-based programs which will help for a better understand of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the transport sector. Improvements are required in the following areas - project management, selection of an appropriate mix of interventions, performance evaluation, and linkages with other service providers. Information exchange and dissemination of best practices should be a priority in the next phase of the project.


This study characterized the annual mean US East Coast (USEC) offshore wind energy (OWE) resource on the basis of 5 years of high-resolution mesoscale model (Weather Research and Forecasting–Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting) results at 90 m height. Model output was evaluated against 23 buoys and nine offshore towers. Peak-time electrical demand was analyzed to determine if OWE resources were coincident with the increased grid load. The most suitable locations for large-scale development of OWE were prescribed, on the basis of the wind resource, bathymetry, hurricane risk and peak-time generation potential. The offshore region from Virginia to Maine was found to have the most exceptional overall resource with annual turbine capacity factors (CF) between 40% and 50%, shallow water and low hurricane risk. The best summer resource during peak time, in water of 50 m depth, is found between Long Island, New York and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, due in part to regional upwelling, which often strengthens the sea breeze. In the South US region, the waters off North Carolina have adequate wind resource and shallow bathymetry but high hurricane risk. Overall, the resource from Florida to Maine out to 200 m depth, with the use of turbine CF cutoffs of 45% and 40%, is 965–1372 TWh (110–157 GW average). About one-third of US or all of Florida to Maine electric demand can technically be provided with the use of USEC OWE. With the exception of summer, all peak-time demand for Virginia to Maine can be satisfied with OWE in the waters off those states. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Vitamin A (retinol) is the prototype of all other natural retinoids. It is composed of a nonaromatic ring structure, a polyprenoid side chain and a carbonyl end group. These features make it liable to metabolic interconversion and protein interactions but also cause detergent-like properties and a sensitivity to UV irradiation and oxidation. Natural retinoids are present in all living organisms, either as preformed vitamin A or as carotenoids, and are required for a vast number of biological processes, e.g. vision, cellular growth and differentiation and reproduction. Although retinol is the most omnipotent compound, natural retinoids like all-trans-, 9-cis- and didehydroretinoic acid (RA) are clearly more potent outside the retina and trigger gene expression via binding to nucelar retinoid receptors. Retinaldehyde takes an intermediate position in this respect, with ability to convert to both retinol and RA. Over the years, many natural retinoids have been tried therapeutically against skin disorders with the best effects achieved with retinol, retinaldehyde, 13-cis-RA and all-trans-RA. The latter compound was the prototype when new, synthetic derivatives of vitamin A were sought, hoping for a better therapeutic index and a higher functional specificity. Inevitably, treatment with such drugs will influence the effects of coexisting natural retinoids. An understanding of the basic principles of these interactions may have major impact on patient outcome.


The African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa but populations are in decline. Loss of suitable habitat for foraging and breeding are among the most important causes, and future conservation will require identification of suitable remaining habitat and the threats to it and to the vultures in it. Like many large raptors, African White-backed Vultures have a long breeding cycle and thus spend much of each year near their nest site, but ecological correlates of nest sites have not been quantified for any African vulture species. We use nest-site data for African White-backed Vultures collected during aerial and ground surveys and habitat data derived from a GIS to develop statistical models that estimate the probability of nest presence in relation to habitat characteristics, and test these models against an independent dataset. The models predicted that both direct and indirect disturbance by humans limit the potential distribution. Suitable habitat needs to be identified and receive adequate protection from poaching. Poaching of vultures is thought to be mainly for use in traditional medicine and does not target any particular species, so all vulture species can be considered equally at risk. We predict the likelihood of individuals nesting in currently unprotected areas should they become protected. These predictions show that readily available GIS data combined with relatively simple statistical modelling can provide meaningful large-scale predictions of habitat availability.


OVER 200 recessive X chromosome-linked diseases, typically affecting only hemizygous males, have been identified. In many of these, prenatal diagnosis is possible by chorion villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, followed by cytogenetic, biochemical or molecular analysis of the cells recovered from the conceptus. In others, the only alternative is to determine the sex of the fetus. If the fetus is affected by the defect or is male, abortion can be offered. Diagnosis of genetic defects in preimplantation embryos would allow those unaffected to be identified and transferred to the uterus1. Here we report the first established pregnancies using this procedure, in two couples known to be at risk of transmitting adrenoleukodystrophy and X-linked mental retardation. Two female embryos were transferred after in vitro fertilization (IVF), biopsy of a single cell at the six- to eight-cell stage, and sexing by DNA amplification of a Y chromosome-specific repeat sequence. Both women are confirmed as carrying normal female twins.


The aim of the study is to isolate and characterize Pseudomonas aeruginosa  recovered from different clinical specimens and then study the susceptibility of the isolated strains to different antibiotics, screening for heteroresistant isolates and detecting the metalloβ-lactamase genes in these isolates. A total of two hundred and fifty clinical isolates were collected, from which one hundred forty five isolates revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They were collected from different clinical specimens applied for bacteriological testing from hospitalized in-patients admitted to Kasr Al Aini Hospital and Al-Demerdash Hospital, Egypt, in the period from February 2016 to December 2017. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using ten antibiotics. The study covered the heteroresistance of P.aeruginosa  towards several classes of antibiotics to make the statistical analysis convenient and to overview the significance of this resistance. The minimum inhibitory concentration was detected for the heteroresistant P.aeruginosa  resistant isolates.  The polymerase chain reaction of the heteroresistant strains was performed to detect the metallo-β-lactamase genes SIM, IMP and SPM and then sequencing was done consequently. SIM, IMP and SPM metalloβ-lactam e genes were detected in the heteroresistant isolates. The isolates showed a high resistance pattern to ampicillin (98.62%) and a high sensitivity rate to imipenem (96.55%) and the IMP gene was the highly significant gene.


Assessing muscle tone is an essential component of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning of developmental disabilities (DD) in children and is of great help in developing clinical diagnosis patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability using the myotonometer, which is an assessment tool to measure muscle tone in children with DD. This study included 26 children diagnosed with DD. Two physical therapists measured the children's muscle tone using a myotonometer. For all the muscles measured, reliability was determined using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard measurement error (SEM), and the minimal detectable change (MDC). The intra-rater reliability for all muscles was excellent (ICC = 0.75~0.78), except for the biceps brachii (ICC = 0.68). The inter-rater reliability was also excellent for all muscles (ICC = 0.75~0.95), and the SEM and MDC showed small measurement errors. Therefore, the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of measurements by the myotonometer was found to be good or excellent. This suggests that the myotonometer is a tool that can objectively assess muscle tone, and it can be utilized in clinical practice to quickly and conveniently measure muscle tone in children with DD.


Research question: This study analyzes the leverage process of a nautical small-scale sports events portfolio, hosted in a tourist community of Portugal. Strategic goals were identified and the implementation process examined, according to economic and social leveraging models. Since these models have lack of empirical research, their application to real contexts may improve their contribution to the development of the sports events' strategic approach. Research methods: Fieldwork was conducted from February 2008 to June 2009. Direct observation of the events (6 days in average), document analysis (79 documents), and qualitative interviews were conducted (82 actors). Data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis approach through the software – NVivo 9 by QSR International. Results and findings: Results showed a strategic approach emphasizing 'enhancing the host's destination image,' while other categories of the models were not so evident. The use of a portfolio approach favored the construction of the nautical destination brand. Implications: Cross-leveraging processes, enhancing coordination efforts, and planning ancillary events are key factors to successfully leverage a portfolio of events.


Simonsohn, Nelson, and Simmons (2014a) proposed p-curve – the distribution of statistically significant p-values for a set of studies – as a tool to assess the evidential value of these studies. They argued that, whereas right-skewed p-curves indicate true underlying effects, left-skewed p-curves indicate selective reporting of significant results when there is no true effect ("p-hacking"). We first review previous research showing that, in contrast to the first claim, null effects may produce right-skewed p-curves under some conditions. We then question the second claim by showing that not only selective reporting but also selective nonreporting of significant results due to a significant outcome of a more popular alternative test of the same hypothesis may produce left-skewed p-curves, even if all studies reflect true effects. Hence, just as right-skewed p-curves do not necessarily imply evidential value, left-skewed p-curves do not necessarily imply p-hacking and absence of true effects in the studies involved.


Street vending is important to income earn and poverty alleviation for some people of Nepal. The street trade provides employment and income generation for the rural poor in the urban areas. And not only rural poor are getting earning opportunities in the informal economy; this has been providing goods in cheaper price to urban poor. This paper analyzes the determinants of the street vender's income. It examines whether the income from vendor business of the people doing street business in Kathmandu metropolitan city increases with the rate of increase in investment, education and labor supply. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v13i0.7193 Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol.13 & 14 2011, pp.1-14


Abstract The present study attempts to find out the distribution of superficial fungal infection with respect to socio-economic and demographic variables among a symptomatic group (112 individuals) in West Bengal. Moreover, an attempt has also been made to find out the risk factors associated with the superficial fungal infection type. The results show that Tinea corporis is the most common infection type and the risk factors associated with this infection are age, occupational types, history of prior corporis infection and unexposed parts of the body.


Students in Grades 5 and 8 completed a 30-minute writing performance assessment and a writing performance assessment completed over 3 days. Assessments were evaluated on four traits (ideas, organization, conventions, and sentence fluency). A significant interaction was found at Grade 5 between length of time allotted for the assessment and students' educational classification (general or special education). Grade 5 students performed significantly better on the 3-day writing assessment, with students in special education benefiting the most. At Grade 8, there were no differences between scores on the 30-minute and the 3-day assessments. No significant differences were found in students' writing performance across various types of discourse (narrative, imaginative, persuasive, and expository); significant differences were reported across certain writing traits. We shared three hypotheses for reported differences: (a) students' proficiency with the writing process, (b) scoring scale bias, and (c) differences in the revision behaviors of developing and mature writers. Educational implications related to statewide test programs are discussed.


The structure, working principle and fabrication of a humidity sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were presented. The sensor resistance was sensitive to humidity. Schrödinger equation associated to the potential barrier between two CNTs was set up and solved. The analysis results indicated that the fluctuation of sensor resistance was caused by instability of CNTs, and the testing frequencies can change the relationship between sensor resistance fluctuating and CNTs stability. According to the experiment results, the stability was related to testing frequencies, and the fluctuating range of the sensor resistance at the testing frequency of 500Hz is about 10 times of that at 100KHz.


Background Ruptured blister aneurysms of the carotid artery are difficult to safely treat. We present a novel strategy of microsurgical clip wrapping of internal carotid artery blister aneurysms in the setting of acute rupture, followed by delayed placement of a pipeline embolization device for definitive treatment. Clinical presentation We present two cases of ruptured blister aneurysms of the internal carotid artery treated by wrapping of the diseased segment of the vessel, followed by delayed deployment of a flow diverting stent once the patient was out of the vasospasm window but during the same hospitalization. Results Clip wrapping followed by flow diversion in a delayed fashion results in anatomic remodeling of the diseased artery without a high morbidity. Conclusions A combined approach of acute surgical stabilization followed by definitive endovascular reconstruction may reduce hemorrhagic complications while improving long term treatment durability.


Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, loss of joint function, and a rise in acute-phase reactant levels. Pain causes much discomfort in patients with RA. Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and Glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat RA, but these medications alleviate the inflammatory process to improve short- and long-term goals of treatment. Vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties that may be effective in RA patients, suggesting that Vitamin D may have a remedial effect in these patients. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D in controlling the inflammatory response thus controlling pain in patients with RA. Materials and Methods: The study analyzed 96 diagnosed cases of RA presenting to our tertiary care center. The subjects were allocated into two groups one in which Vitamin D was supplemented and other in which placebo was given. Their disease activity was measured and VAS score was analyzed at presentation and 1 month and 3 months of follow-up. Results: At presentation levels of Vitamin D were inversely correlated with disease activity. Mean VAS score decreased subsequently during the follow up from 3.2 ± 1.7 at presentation to 2.25 ± 1.12 in Vitamin D group and from 4.38 ± 1.79 at presentation to 2.67 ± 1.19 at 3 months follow-up in placebo group, respectively. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation did not statistically significantly improved the VAS score thus requiring the need for further research for the evaluation of Vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of RA.


In this paper, a performance-agnostic fusion of probabilistic classifier outputs from [21] (called Yayambo) is modified. Yayambo is iterative and was proposed for combining probabilistic outputs of black-box classifiers trained for the same task to make a single consensus class prediction. Yayambo considers the diversity between the outputs of the various classifiers, iteratively updating predictions based on their correspondence with other predictions until the predictions converge to a consensus decision. [21] treated black-box classifiers. For this paper, cases where prior information, i.e. performances of individual classifiers in the form of accuracy is taken into account for fusion of classifier outputs are considered. Then we discussed the relevance of prior information for combination of probabilistic classifier outputs. Though informed classifier fusion methods outperform uniformed classifier fusion methods in general, the experiments have demonstrated that performances of classifier fusion methods, for both informed and uniformed fusion methods, depend on nature of data and types of individual classifiers used. This means that one needs to carefully select a classifier fusion method under good understanding of characteristics of data sets and classification models used. In other words, for some situations, uninformed classifier fusion methods might outperform the informed ones. The modified version of Yayambo (i.e. informed Yayambo) outperforms the uninformed one in most cases considered in this study.


OBJECTIVE
To determine alternate combinations for reductions in US medical school graduates (USMGs), international medical graduate (IMG) immigration, and graduate medical education (GME) residencies, based on future physician supply targets.

DESIGN
A demographic projection model of the physician supply was constructed and calibrated to fit observed American Medical Association Physician Masterfile data and current supply forecasts. Total annual input to GME was backcast from given future supply targets, adjusting for the portion of IMGs in GME who do not enter the US workforce.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The annual number of new physicians added to supply from domestic or international sources needed to reach future physician-to-population ratio targets.

RESULTS
Because of the low rate of attrition from the physician supply, it takes up to 50 years for workforce policy to effectively stabilize the physician-to-population ratio at a target level. All target ratios considered here would require immediate reductions in the total number of GME positions. These reductions must be followed by gradual annual increases to account for population growth. The size of USMG and IMG reductions are interrelated and depend critically on the percentage of IMG trainees who remain to practice in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS
Reductions in future physician supply can come from either the IMG or USMG component of physician production, or both. The model developed here allows the estimation of multiple combinations of both GME components.


This study aims to describe the method of introducing tolerance through Islamic education learning and its stages at the Indonesian School in The Hague. The background of this research stems from the researcher's interest in finding out how educators at SIDH overcome various problems such as promiscuity, bullying, the position of minorities based on citizenship and religion, and complex cultural and cultural differences. This research uses qualitative research methods with a descriptive approach. The subjects in this study were teachers and principals of SIDH. The data collection technique is done by interview and documentation technique. The results of the study were the methods used by educators in the introduction of tolerant attitudes including exemplary, guidance, and habituation methods. Its implementation is in classical and online learning activities (in network) and also in supporting activities for Islamic education. The stages include the stages of information, appreciation, application,


Fabry-Perot cavity analysis and circuit theorems me used to obtain the approximate terminal characteristics of a general two-port surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator. The results are cast such that the performance of a two-port device with two transducers between the reflectors can be predicted simply from the insertion loss of the transducer pair without the cavity and the externally measured cavity parameters unloaded by the internal transducers. The analysis gives relative power levels within the device allowing a greater physical understanding of the individual effects of the various loss and reflection elements. Also, the analysis provides a very simple technique for deriving element values in proposed two-port equivalent circuits.


RhoH is an hematopoietic-specific, GTPase-deficient Rho GTPase that plays a role in T development. We investigated the mechanisms of RhoH function in TCR signaling. We found that the association between Lck and CD3ζ was impaired in RhoH-deficient T cells, due to defective translocation of both Lck and ZAP-70 to the immunological synapse. RhoH with Lck and ZAP-70 localizes in the detergent-soluble membrane fraction where the complex is associated with CD3ζ phosphorylation. To determine if impaired translocation of ZAP-70 was a major determinant of defective T cell development, Rhoh-/- bone marrow cells were transduced with a chimeric myristoylation-tagged ZAP-70. Myr-ZAP-70 transduced cells partially reversed the in vivo defects of RhoH-associated thymic development and TCR signaling. Together, our results suggest that RhoH regulates TCR signaling via recruitment of ZAP-70 and Lck to CD3ζ in the immunological synapse. Thus, we define a new function for a RhoH GTPase as an adaptor molecule in TCR signaling pathway.


Wireless sensors and implantable medical devices have driven IC design to extremes of low power consumption to maximize system operating lifetimes from fixed energy stores or from energy harvested from the environment. Reaching the limits of miniaturization will require approaching the limits of power dissipation. We describe three key sensor subsystems: integrated diodes for solar energy harvesting, efficient microwatt power conversion circuits, and supply-voltage-ripple-tolerant digital circuits. We then extrapolate from these examples to find the minimum surface area and volume required for energy harvesting sensors.


The aim of this work was to investigate the effects on carbohydrate metabolism of a reduction in tbe capacity to degrade leaf starch in Arabidopsis. The major roles of leaf starch are to provide carbon for sucrose synthesis, respiration and, in developing leaves, for biosynthesis and growth. Wild-type plants were compared with plants of a starch-excess mutant line (sex4) deficient in a chloroplastic isoform of endoamylase. This mutant has a reduced capacity for starch degradation, leading to an imbalance between starch synthesis and degradation and the gradual accretion of starch as the leaves age. During the night the conversion of starch into sucrose in the mutant is impaired; the leaves of the mutant contained less sucrose than those of the wild type and there was less movement of 14 C-label from starch to sucrose in radio-labelling experiments. Furthermore, the rate of assimilate export to tbe roots during the night was reduced in the mutant compared with the wild type. During the day however, photosynthetic partitioning was altered in the mutant, with less photosynthate partitioned into starch and more into sugars. Although the sucrose content of the leaves of the mutant was similar to the wild type during the day, the rate of export of sucrose to the roots was increased more than two-fold. The changes in carbohydrate metabolism in the mutant leaves during the day compensate partly for its reduced capacity to synthesize sucrose from starch during the night.


The 2015 Mississippi coastal shorelines were originally extracted from 2015 Landsat imagery and published within United States Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report (OFR) 2015-1179 (https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151179). Shoreline files for Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands were merged to a single shapefile and spatially adjusted using 2015/2016 USGS bathymetric survey tracklines (Dewitt and others, 2017) to more closely match island shoreline positions during USGS surveys.


highest adolescent births during the last four years compared to other districts. Teenage pregnancy has a negative impact on mother and baby. According to WHO, girls aged 10-14 years have a five times greater risk of dying in cases of pregnancy and childbirth than women aged 20-24 years. The aim of this study was to know the factors related to the incidence of teenage pregnancy in adolescent girls in Saptosari Health Center working area in 2017. This research used a cross-sectional study design. The sampling technique was purposive sampling with 67 girls in the working area of Saptosari Public Health Centre. The research instrument was in form of the questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using the Chi-Square test. Respondents in this study were at most 14-16 years old with age 11-15 year menarche and high school parent's education level. The results of the Chi-Square test showed that factors significantly related to teenage pregnancy adolescent behavior were the level of knowledge p = 0.032 and the role of parents p = 0.036. Attitudes toward teenage pregnancy (p = 0.081) and peer roles (p = 0.100) were factors that not related to the incidence of teenage pregnancy factors influencing the incidence of teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Saptosari. Factors related to teenage pregnancy were knowledge of teenage pregnancy and parent's role.


The sheer size, growth, and complexity of cities worldwide are creating an ever-increasing burden of negative externalities on society and the environment. This systematic review aims to illuminate the broad range of negative urban development externalities and to analyze them in way that sharpens our ability to perceive, anticipate, and manage them. After finding that negative urban development externalities are more complex and diverse than has been previously articulated in the literature, the paper categorizes a representative sample by type (social, environmental, and economic) and identifies three modes of impact (visibility, emergence, and distribution) that make them extremely challenging to anticipate and mitigate. The most problematic negative externalities are social or environmental, with low visibility, cumulative patterns of emergence, and effects that extend beyond regulating jurisdictions. The analysis then draws on welfare economics to strengthen the case for the proactive management of these negative externalities and analyzes the competencies and capacities of local governments to strategically intervene in order to more effectively achieve sustainable development.


Birds follow the "island rule", under which small-bodied forms tend to get larger on islands and large-bodied forms tend to get smaller. The traditional explanation for larger island relatives of small-bodied forms is based on ecological release on islands: islands support relatively few species, interspecific competition thus is weak, selection therefore favors niche expansion and ecological generalism, and ecological generalism is facilitated by larger body size. Anecdotal observations that islanddwelling populations sometimes have unusual feeding habits support this. However, important predictions arising from this hypothesis remain untested, namely that (1) island populations will display a greater range of foraging behaviors than mainland populations, and (2) generalist island populations will be made up of individual generalists rather than a diversity of individual specialists. We tested these predictions using the island-dwelling white-eyes (Zosteropidae) of the Southwest Pacific region, and the Heron Island population of the Capricorn silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus) in particular. Results show that island-dwelling populations of silvereyes are indeed consistently more generalistic than their mainland counterparts when viewed en masse. Contrary to the generalist foraging hypothesis, however, individual island-dwelling silvereyes are actually more specialized than expected by chance alone. Thus generalist foraging and ecological release are not the full explanation for increased body size in these birds.


We have studied the effect of moderately impaired maternal insulin secretion on oocyte chromosomal constitution, fertilization and zygote DNA synthesis. Female mice were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) 14 days before fertilization/ovulation. Zygotes/oocytes were recovered from control and subdiabetic mice on day 1 of pregnancy. Compared with control animals, subdiabetic females showed a significant difference in the proportion of zygotes/oocytes. The subdiabetic mothers had a lower percentage of zygotes and a higher percentage of unfertilized and degenerated oocytes in comparison with control animals. The investigation of [3H]thymidine incorporation did not show any influence of the maternal subdiabetes on the initial zygote DNA synthesis. An analysis of the ovulated oocytes at the metaphase II stage isolated from subdiabetic mice did not reveal increased chromosomal anomalies in comparison with the controls. Control and subdiabetic mothers had a similar percentage of oocytes with a normal haploid set of chromosomes, and the incidence of aneuploidy/diploidy did not differ significantly. These observations suggest that insulin changes in subdiabetic mothers had a deleterious influence on oocyte fertilization in mice, but apparently they did not have any effect on the nuclear events.


Rosenthal fibers are present in several neurologic disorders. Their occurrence in widespread subependymal, subpial, and perivascular locations is thought to be diagnostic of Alexander's disease, but they have also been reported in rare adult cases. Some of these patients were neurologically intact with severe systemic illnesses. In symptomatic cases, the neurologic disorder has simulated multiple sclerosis. We report an elderly woman with progressive parkinsonism, dementia, and hallucinations whose brain showed severe Rosenthal fiber proliferation.


&NA; Composite bone models are increasingly used in orthopaedic biomechanics research and surgical education—applications that traditionally relied on cadavers. Cadaver bones are suboptimal for many reasons, including issues of cost, availability, preservation, and inconsistency between specimens. Further, cadaver samples disproportionately represent the elderly, whose bone quality may not be representative of the greater orthopaedic population. The current fourth‐generation composite bone models provide an accurate reproduction of the biomechanical properties of human bone when placed under bending, axial, and torsional loads. The combination of glass fiber and epoxy resin components into a single phase has enabled manufacturing by injection molding. The high level of anatomic fidelity of the cadaver‐based molds and negligible shrinkage properties of the epoxy resin results in a process that allows for excellent definition of anatomic detail in the cortical wall and optimized consistency of features between models. Recent biomechanical studies of composites have validated their use as a suitable substitute for cadaver specimens.


The protection of water resources has attracted enormous consideration aswater pollution is now the bottleneck of sustainable development of popular society. For this purpose, eco-friendly efficient photo-catalysts are urgently required. This work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of nitrogen-doped porous carbon/ZnO nanorod arrays (PC/ZnO NRs) as a photo-degradation catalyst. Using absorbent cotton as a carbon source, nitrogen doped porous carbon was obtained by urea decomposition during the carbonization process of cotton at set temperatures. ZnO NRs were grown on the porous carbon to form the PC/ZnO NR hybrid. The prepared samples were systematically characterized, and their photo-catalysis capability was evaluated by the degradation process of rhodamine B (RhB). It is found that PC500/ZnO NRs demonstrated an efficient photo-catalysis under Xe lamp irradiation, such that over 96.5% of RhB (10 ppm) could be photo-degraded within 20 min with 10 mg. The mechanism is discussed based on the tight interfacial bonding and the appropriate Fermi energy between porous carbon and ZnO NRs, which enhanced the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers and provided an ultrahigh density of catalytic reaction centers. Overall, this green and scalable fabrication technology will provide new insights into a reasonable design for high performance photo-catalysts and environmental pollutant management.


Fourier analysis is used to formulize and characterize grating-based displacement transducers. The analysis is carried out for linear and radial binary grating sensors, and for both single and grating-pair sensors. The influence of the grating (pair) structure and the receiving window on sensing sensitivity, linearity of response and dynamic range is investigated. Several types of photoresist grating are fabricated and are used to experimentally characterize the grating sensor. The tested result is found to be in general agreement with the analysis result.


The aim of this study was to assess the association between the distance to the nearest feces, the type of substrate to be studied (feces, soil, grass), and whether a given area was licensed or not with the presence of helminth eggs in Concepción, Chile. A total of 256 samples taken from feces and either from soil or grass at 10 cm, 50 cm, and 100 cm from feces (including 16 public areas), were examined for the presence of parasites using the ZnSO4 technique. The association between variables with the presence of eggs was assessed with multifactorial logistic regressions. 24.21% of samples presented at least one egg. The higher odds of Toxocara egg presence was positively associated with the licensed 'area type' and the soil 'sample type' (when compared with feces). The odds of Ancylostomatidae egg presence was positively associated with the licensed 'area type', but negatively associated with the soil 'sample type' (compared with feces). The results suggest that finding eggs must be interpreted differently based on the parasite species and substrate to be analyzed, and that the presence of parasitized dogs is a more important contributing factor than the frequency with which the ground is cleaned of feces.


ABSTRACT Potato virus Y (PVY) is a deadly environmental constraint that damages productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum) around the globe. One of the major challenges is to develop resistance against PVY. Emerging clustered regularly short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas systems have the potential to develop resistance against PVY. In the current research, CRISPR-Cas13 has been exploited to target multiple strains of PVYN, PVYO, and PVYNTN. Multiple genes PI, HC-Pro, P3, Cl1, Cl2, and VPg genes of PVY were targeted by CRISPR/Cas13a. Multiplex gRNA cassettes were developed on the conserved regions of the PVY-genes. Three independent CRISPR/Cas13 transgenic potato lines were developed by applying an optimized concentration of trans-ribo zeatin and indole acetic acid at callus development, rooting, and shooting growth stages. The level of resistance in transgenic plants was confirmed through double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR. Our results have shown that efficiency of PVY inhibition was positively correlated with the Cas13a/sgRNA expression. Finding provides the specific functionality of Cas13 with specific gRNA cassette and engineering the potential resistance in potato crop against multiple strains of PVY.


Plants being sessile can often be judged as passive acceptors of their environment. However, plants are actually even more active in responding to the factors from their surroundings. Plants do not have eyes, ears or vestibular system like animals, still they "know" which way is up and which way is down? This is facilitated by receptor molecules within plant which perceive changes in internal and external conditions such as light, touch, obstacles; and initiate signaling pathways that enable the plant to react. Plant responses that involve a definite and specific movement are called "tropic" responses. Perhaps the best known and studied tropisms are phototropism, i.e., response to light, and geotropism, i.e., response to gravity. A robust root system is vital for plant growth as it can provide physical anchorage to soil as well as absorb water, nutrients and essential minerals from soil efficiently. Gravitropic responses of both primary as well as lateral root thus become critical for plant growth and development. The molecular mechanisms of root gravitropism has been delved intensively, however, the mechanism behind how the potential energy of gravity stimulus converts into a biochemical signal in vascular plants is still unknown, due to which gravity sensing in plants still remains one of the most fascinating questions in molecular biology. Communications within plants occur through phytohormones and other chemical substances produced in plants which have a developmental or physiological effect on growth. Here, we review current knowledge of various intrinsic signaling mechanisms that modulate root gravitropism in order to point out the questions and emerging developments in plant directional growth responses. We are also discussing the roles of sugar signals and their interaction with phytohormone machinery, specifically in context of root directional responses.


This article examines the effects of exchange rate variability on export demand for semiconductors, which is the largest sub-sector of electronics industry in Malaysia as reported by Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA, 2004). The empirical results, which are estimated based on the Johansen's multivariate cointegration tests and error-correction model, suggest that there is a unique long-run relationship among quantities of export, relative price, real foreign income and real exchange rate variability. The major finding of this article is that the variability of real exchange rate has some effect on semiconductor exports in both the long run and the short run. In the light of rapid advances in technology in the global markets for electronics products, the findings are useful to policy makers for the design and target of appropriate exchange rate and industrial policies to enhance the export competitiveness of semiconductor industry.


Introduction : Hematological complications (HC) as Aplastic anemia (AA) and myelodysplasia and acute leukemia (MDS/AL) are frequent and life threatening in patients with Shwachman Diamond Syndrome (SDS) with SBDS mutations. The therapy of such events is based on Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which results remain quite poor, especially in case of malignancy. So far, it is difficult to anticipate to such HC and a lot is expected from the study of clonal evolution prior HC.
 Methods: A Targeted panel of 43 genes involved in MDS/AL (sensibility 1%) has been evaluated in 80 patients with SBDS mutation, representative of a nation based cohort of 154 patients. This cross sectional study has been completed by a prospective study for 40 patients evaluated at several time points.
 Results: The evaluation was performed in various situations: steady state i.e. no haematological complication, in MDS/AL and AA and lastly after HSCT. At the first evaluation, somatic mutation was found in 21 patients (30%) among the 70 in steady state and in 7 of the 8 cases with HC (6/6 cases with MDS/AL, in 1 among the 2 cases with AA) while the 1 of the 2 patients long term survivors after HSCT have no mutation and the other one kept a TP53 clone with a normal blood count and a low (1.5%) variant allele frequency (VAF). Among the 40 patients with several time points, 17 have a mutation at the first time points, but 10 others had additional mutation later. Globally, the most frequent gene involved was TP53 (82%) while mutations in other genes have been observed rarely. VAF in patients with vs without HC is lower (median VAF 0% vs 22.8% respectively p < 0.001) . Complex caryotype, monosomy 7, Iso7q were associated with P53 clone while in Del20q, 8 patients out 14 have a P53 mutations. The comparison between blood and bone marrow results allow the possibility to monitor such mutations in blood. Clonal evolution in one patient who presents a MDS in the course of the follow up had shown a competition between clones.
 Conclusion: Acquired TP53 is extremely frequent in patients with SBDS mutations, even in the absence of HC, but the prevalence as well as the VAF increased in case of HC. When sequential evaluation could be performed, competition between clones is frequent and a clinical decision remains therefore difficult, just on the evaluation of a time point.
 Acknowledgments: The French SCN registry is supported by grants from Amgen, Chugai, Prolong Pharma, X4 Pharma, Inserm, the Association 111 les Arts, the Association RMHE, the Association Sportive de Saint Quentin Fallavier. The authors thank the association IRIS and Mrs Grosjean and Mr Gonnot(ASSQF), the association Barth France for their support.

 Sicre de Fontbrune: Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Renard:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Tournilhac:ABBVIE: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travle grant; INNATE Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; GILEAD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Grant; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grant; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grant.


In Statnotes 24 and 25, multiple linear regression, a statistical method that examines the relationship between a single dependent variable (Y) and two or more independent variables (X), was described. The principle objective of such an analysis was to determine which of the X variables had a significant influence on Y and to construct an equation that predicts Y from the X variables. 'Principal components analysis' (PCA) and 'factor analysis' (FA) are also methods of examining the relationships between different variables but they differ from multiple regression in that no distinction is made between the dependent and independent variables, all variables being essentially treated the same. Originally, PCA and FA were regarded as distinct methods but in recent times they have been combined into a single analysis, PCA often being the first stage of a FA. The basic objective of a PCA/FA is to examine the relationships between the variables or the 'structure' of the variables and to determine whether these relationships can be explained by a smaller number of 'factors'. This statnote describes the use of PCA/FA in the analysis of the differences between the DNA profiles of different MRSA strains introduced in Statnote 26.


Multipath caused by reflections from interior walls of buildings has been a long-standing challenge that affects Through-the-Wall Radar Imaging. Multipath creates ghost images that introduce confusion when detecting desired targets. Traditionally, multipath exploitation techniques under the compressive sensing framework have widely been applied to address the challenge. However, the multipath component emanating from target-to-target interactions has not been considered–a consequence that may, under multiple target scenarios, lead to incorrect image interpretation. Besides, far targets experience more attenuation due to free space path-loss, hence resulting into target undetectability. This study proposes a signal model, based on multipath exploitation techniques, by designing a sensing matrix that incorporates multipath returns due to target-to-target interaction and path loss compensation. The study, in addition, proposes the path-loss compensator that, if integrated into the proposed signal model, reduces path loss effects. Simulation results show that the Signal to Clutter Ratio and Relative Clutter Peak improved by 4.9 dB and 1.9 dB, respectively compared to the existing model. Keywords :  Compressive sensing, multipath ghost, multipath exploitation, pathloss, path-loss compensator, through-the-wall-radar imaging .


The genus Orbivirus consists of 12 defined serological groups of arthropod-borne viruses. The taxonomic group was formed following the demonstration that the genome of bluetongue virus consisted of 10 segments of double-stranded RNA. Viruses with morphology and physico-chemical proper ties similar to those of bluetongue virus were included in the genus. As viruses representative of each serogroup are studied, it is apparent that the orbiviruses are a heterogeneous group and further reclassification of them will be necessary. The structural components and the distinct ecological features of some of the viruses, suggest the basis for taxonomic revision.


Various experiments involving very excited atoms and millimetre-wave photons are described, including high-resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg transitions, Rabi nutation and transient maser action between Rydberg levels. The large number of extremely narrow Rydberg spectral lines observed throughout the millimetre-wave spectrum provide a very good 'calibration' of the scale of Rydberg levels of Na and Cs near the ionization limit, which could be used for the realization of precise infrared frequency markers. The observation of Rabi nutation and maser signals involving an unusually small absolute number of atoms and photons reveals the very great strength of the Rydberg atom to radiation coupling and is a clear indication that these atoms could be used as extremely sensitive millimetre-wave detectors. At a more fundamental level, the study of transient Rydberg masers provides a test of superradiance theory. Extrapolation of these maser experiments to the investigation of a situation where a single atom would exchange a single millimetre-wave photon with a resonant cavity is considered.


The effect of magnetic field on the nematicisotropic phase transition of liquid crystal was studied by Monte Carlo simulation. The classical spin lattice model was used to describe the liquid crystal systems and the Lebwohl-Lasher potential model. We calculate the energy per spin, the orientational order parameter, and specific heat of subtances and then study their phase diagrams as a function of temperature for various magnetic fields and as a function of magnetic field for various temperatures. In the absence of magnetic field, the nematic-isotropic phase transition is a weak first order transition. If the magnetic field is increased, then the minimum value of the spin energy will drop, the minimum value of the order parameter will increase, and the peak value of the specific heat is going down. We find that the magnetic field shifts the nematic-isotropic phase transition and induces an isotropic phase into a paranematic phase.


In the search of analytical techniques to achieve reliable results in
assessing animal feed raw materials and/or forages, in vitro gas
production using bovine feces can be a selected procedure to predict
digestibility, without any aggression to the animals. Applying such
technique, samples of Chamaecrista lineada , Desmodium barbatum ,
Desmodium incanum , Dichrostachys cinerea , Leucaena leucocephala ,
and Stylosanthes viscosa were evaluated. The correlation between the
influence of PEG4000 on gas production and the concentration of
extractable polyphenols was evaluated. The addition of PEG
significantly (P<0.01) improved in vitro gas production (mL/200 mg
DM) of Ch. lineada (8.5 to 12.3), D. cirenea (17.3 to 27.1), and L.
leucocephala (16.8 to 20.0). In the evaluated legumes, there was a
positive correlation (r2 = 0.94) between the improvement in gas
production because of PEG and the concentration of polyphenols.


Since its invention, the electron microscope has facilitated numerous advances in a plethora of disciplines ranging from materials science, physics, and chemistry, to biology. Traditional electron microscopy must be carried out, however, in a high vacuum environment that does not allow for real time imaging of processes in liquid media. Consequently, traditional electron microscopy has been restricted to painstaking "postmortem" investigations on dry or frozen samples without any guarantee that an image is captured at the "right" moment. Static images also do not provide information on process dynamics, and the sample preparation may adversely impact the structure of the object to be imaged. The ability to image dynamic processes in liquid media is certain to be transformative, lead to new discoveries, and provide a better understanding ofmany important processes at the nanoscale. To overcome the limitations of traditional electron microscopy, there has been a growing interest in recent years in developing means for wet electron microscopy that will allow one to image samples in real time in their native environment and observe processes in situ as they take place. We briefly survey recent efforts pertaining to wet electron microscopy and then describe in greater detail the work of our group with a custom-made, micro-fabricated liquid cell dubbed the "nanoaquarium". The nanoaquarium sandwiches a thin liquid layer, ranging in thickness from tens of nanometers to a few microns, between two thin, electron-transparent, silicon nitride membranes. The liquid cell is hermetically sealed from the vacuum environment of the electron microscope. The thin liquid layer scatters only a small fraction of the electrons and allows one to image objects suspended in the liquid with high resolution. We describe briefly the imaging of oriented assembly of colloidal crystals, diffusion limited aggregation of nanoparticles, and electrochemical processes.


"English Learning and Teaching in Taiwan: Theory and Practice of Communicative Language Teaching" examined the extent to which the communicative approach is implemented in the English classroom in senior high school in Taiwan. It also investigated senior high school students' attitudes towards English learning at school. This book employed a combination of a dominant quantitative approach and a less-dominant qualitative data aggregation procedure. Data were collected through focus group interviews, classroom observations, and questionnaire. The findings reveal that the traditional approach, which focuses on the teaching of vocabulary, grammar and the explanation of the textbook contents, still prevails in the English classroom. Teachers' classroom practices reflect students' current learning purpose of achieving good exam results. Despite their short-term need of passing exams, the majority of students hold positive attitudes towards more communicative-based language teaching or activities in class. Accordingly, English teaching in school needs to help achieve students' long-term goal, which is to develop the ability to use English in the real situation outside of the classroom.


We embark on a hitherto unreported problem of an autonomous robot (self-driving car) navigating in dynamic scenes in a manner that reduces its localization error and eventual cumulative drift or Absolute Trajectory Error, which is pronounced in such dynamic scenes. With the hugely popular Velodyne-16 3D LIDAR as the main sensing modality, and the accurate LIDAR-based Localization and Mapping algorithm, LOAM, as the state estimation framework, we show that in the absence of a navigation policy, drift rapidly accumulates in the presence of moving objects. To overcome this, we learn actions that lead to drift-minimized navigation through a suitable set of reward and penalty functions. We use Proximal Policy Optimization, a class of Deep Reinforcement Learning methods, to learn the actions that result in drift-minimized trajectories. We show by extensive comparisons on a variety of synthetic, yet photo-realistic scenes made available through the CARLA Simulator the superior performance of the proposed framework vis-á-vis methods that do not adopt such policies.


We investigated the structures formed when blends of poly(styrene-b-ferrocenyl silane) (PS-b-FS) and poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) were spread at the air/water interface. The results demonstrated that new structures were formed which were distinct from those formed when either of the copolymers was spread alone. Furthermore, in contrast to the pure copolymer films, the morphologies could also be controlled with surface pressure and applied external electric fields. This greatly increases the range of nanostructured patterns that could be produced by this technique in the fabrication of polymeric templates for lithography.


Incidents in the road transport system can have large negative consequences for the society and the business community. The basic aim of vulnerability analysis is to identify scenarios that i) would lead to severe consequences, and ii) have some likelihood of being realized in the future. The Thesis proposes two main approaches to vulnerability analysis. The first significant component of the analysis is to identify important links in the road network, i.e., links where a disruption would lead to severe consequences. The second component is to identify exposed users, i.e., users for which the consequences of a disruption would be particularly severe. Paper I introduces the concepts of importance and exposure and how they can be operationalized in terms of increased travel time when road links are closed. The measures are applied to the road network of northern Sweden. Among other things, we find that the most important road links from a socio-economic efficiency perspective are sections of the main roads in the region going through the main population centres. The most exposed users, on the other hand, live in the sparsely populated municipalities in the northwest along the Norwegian border. Paper II studies the geographic patterns of exposure and importance in Sweden and identifies properties of the geography, road network and travel patterns that to a large extent explain the observed spatial differences. We find that the municipalities around Stockholm have the most important road networks, and that people in the southern parts of Sweden are considerably less exposed than in the northern parts. We also find that the sparsity of the road network, the travel times of the users and the traffic load on the links provide good explanatory variables for the regional variations in exposure and importance. Paper III proposes a link importance measure that incorporates both efficiency considerations, i.e. the total increase in travel time, and equity considerations, i.e. the unevenness of the distribution among users. We show analytically that there is a strong inverse relationship between the two components. In a case study of the Swedish road network we find that when only efficiency is considered, links in many of the main roads are among the most important. With more weight put on equity, importance is gradually shifted to smaller local roads with poor or no alternative routes.


Achieving network connectivity and user coverage are among the most important objectives in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). These objectives are formulated as optimization problems, which unfortunately cannot be solved to optimality due to their computational hardness nature. Heuristic methods have thus been considered for such optimization problem aiming to compute near optimal solutions in reasonable amount of time. One family of heuristic methods known for their efficiency is that of local search algorithms. The methods in this family explore the solution space through a path of solutions, visited during the search process. Among methods of this family, Tabu Search (TS) has shown its superiority due to advanced mechanisms to overcome getting stuck into local optima. In this paper we present the implementation and evaluation of TS for the problem of mesh router node placement in WMNs, formulated as a bi-objective optimization problem. The optimization model consists in the maximization of the size of the giant component in the mesh routers network (for measuring network connectivity) and that of user coverage. The experimental evaluation showed the efficiency of TS in solving a variety of problem instances generated using different distributions for the mesh client nodes in WMNs.


BACKGROUND
Lip closing functions have never been evaluated from the viewpoint of elastic properties.

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the behavior of the lower orbicularis oris muscle during a button-pull exercise to measure lip closing force and quantitatively evaluate its elastic properties using sonographic elastography.

METHODS
Appropriate compression loads for elastography were randomly measured on one of three types of acoustic couplers on three examiners. Compression tests were performed on three types of acoustic couplers within the appropriate compression load. Using the acoustic coupler with the lowest elastic modulus, the strain ratio of the lower orbicularis oris muscle during lip closing was measured, and elastography was performed on six males under tension loads of 0-8 N.

RESULTS
The intraclass correlation coefficient (1, 3) for the tension load of 0 N was 0.81. Elastography showed that the strain ratio values increased significantly (p < 0.05) as the tension load increased.

CONCLUSIONS
Combining the data obtained from lip closing test devices and sonographic elastography enabled the muscle performance to be evaluated objectively and accurately.


3-Methoxypterostilbene is a naturally occurring stilbene with potential in the treatment of diabetes. The preclinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 3-methoxypterostilbene were evaluated in the present study. The right jugular veins of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cannulated. The rats were dosed 10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of 3-methoxypterostilbene intravenously (IV) or orally (PO), respectively. Serum and urine samples were analyzed using a previously validated reversed-phase HPLC method. Serum AUC, serum t 1/2, urine t 1/2, Cltotal, and Vd for IV dosing were 48.1 ± 23.8 μg/h/mL, 18.9 ± 10.9 h, 9.54 ± 1.51 h, 47.8 ± 23.7 L/h/kg, and 5.11 ± 0.38 L/kg, respectively (mean ± SEM, n = 4) . Serum AUC, serum t 1/2, urine t 1/2, Cltotal, and Vd for PO dosing were 229 ± 44.6 μg/h/mL, 73.3 ± 8.91 h, 20.6 ± 3.01 h, 0.48 ± 0.008 L/h/kg, and 52.0 ± 10.5 L/kg, respectively (mean ± SEM, n = 4). Bioavailability of the stilbene was determined to be 50.6%  ± 10.0%. A 3-methoxypterostilbene glucuronidated metabolite was detected in both serum and urine. 3-Methoxypterostilbene exhibited antidiabetic activity including α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition as well as concentration-dependent antioxidant capacity similar to resveratrol. 3-Methoxypterostilbene also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. 3-Methoxypterostilbene appears to be a bioactive compound and may be useful in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.


OBJECTIVE
To standardize serological surveillance to compare rubella susceptibility in Australia and 16 European countries, and measure progress towards international disease-control targets.

METHODS
Between 1996 and 2004, representative serum banks were established in 17 countries by collecting residual sera or community sampling. Serum banks were tested in each country and assay results were standardized. With a questionnaire, we collected information on current and past rubella vaccination programmes in each country. The percentage of seronegative (< 4 IU/ml) children (2-14 years of age) was used to evaluate rubella susceptibility, and countries were classified by seronegativity as group I (< 5%), group II (5-10%) or group III (> 10%). The proportion of women of childbearing age without rubella protection (< or = 10 IU/ml) was calculated and compared with WHO targets of < 5%.

FINDINGS
Only Romania had no rubella immunization programme at the time of the survey; the remaining countries had a two-dose childhood schedule using the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The percentage of susceptible children defined five countries as group I, seven as group II and four as group III. Women of childbearing age without rubella protection were < 5% in only five countries.

CONCLUSION
Despite the low reported incidence in many countries, strengthening the coverage of the routine two-dose of MMR vaccine among children is needed, especially in group III countries. Catch-up campaigns in older age groups and selective targeting of older females are needed in many countries to ensure necessary levels of protective immunity among women of childbearing age.


The modified ghost fluid method (MGFM) provides a robust and efficient interface treatment for various multi-medium flow simulations and some particular fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations. However, this methodology for one specific class of FSI problems, where the structure is plate, remains to be developed. This work is devoted to extending the MGFM to treat compressible fluid coupled with a thin elastic plate. In order to take into account the influence of simultaneous interaction at the interface, a fluid-plate coupling system is constructed at each time step and solved approximately to predict the interfacial states. Then, ghost fluid states and plate load can be defined by utilizing the obtained interfacial states. A type of acceleration strategy in the coupling process is presented to pursue higher efficiency. Several one-dimensional examples are used to highlight the utility of thismethod over looselycoupled method and validate the acceleration techniques. Especially, this method is applied to compute the underwater explosions (UNDEX) near thin elastic plates. Evolution of strong shock impacting on the thin elastic plate and dynamic response of the plate are investigated. Numerical results disclose that this methodology for treatment of the fluid-plate coupling indeed works conveniently and accurately for different structural flexibilities and is capable of efficiently simulating the processes of UNDEX with the employment of the acceleration strategy.


Metal additive manufacturing is becoming a popular manufacturing process in industries requiring geometrically complex components, part consolidation, and reductions in material waste. Metals manufactured via additive manufacturing processes such as laser powder bed fusion typically exhibit process-induced defects, material inhomogeneities, and anisotropy in terms of mechanical properties. Post-processing techniques such as heat treatments and surface finishing have been touted as approaches for improving these materials. Although various post-processing techniques have been proposed, the optimal post-processing route remains an active area of research. This research investigates Ti-6Al-4V ELI produced using laser powder bed fusion and post-processed via different routes. The materials in the stress-relieved and duplex annealed material conditions as well as dry electropolished and machined surface conditions were characterised. The duplex annealed Ti-6Al-4V ELI material showed improvements in ductility but at reduced strength when compared with the material in the stress-relieved condition. The microstructure of the duplex annealed material shows little evidence of process-induced defects and features and consists primarily of elongated and acicular α in a lamellar structure with intergranular β and exhibits uniform microhardness throughout the material. A reduced surface roughness due to surface finishing resulted in an improved reduction in area. This research highlights the effects of post-processing treatments and their ability to improve the properties of laser powder bed fusion-produced Ti-6Al-4V ELI.


The design concept, geometry, simulated and measured results of a large-area RFID reader antenna for the smart shelf at UHF are presented. The antenna is implemented by cascading two layers of microstrip lines and being terminated with a matched load. The proposed antenna can produce a uniform magnetic field even though the size of the antenna is large. It has a low far-field gain and adaptability of its dimension as per requirement. These properties make the antenna suitable for smart shelf RFID readers.


An efficient calibration method of total polarimetric errors in a channeled spectropolarimeter (CSP) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Total polarimetric errors, including alignment and retardance errors as well as those caused by nonideal retarders and the polarizer in CSP, are considered and calibrated. We first construct the calibrated modulation matrix of CSP by directly measuring the Mueller matrix spectrum of the polarization module in CSP. Compared to previously reported calibration works that required 1074 measurements, our calibration requires only 16 individual measurements, which reduces the measurement time by 67-fold while ensuring high accuracy with a maximum rms error less than 0.02. Further experimental test on three types of different CSP systems confirms the efficiency, reliability, and accuracy of the proposed calibration method.


1. Twenty spring-born Friesian calves, housed indoors, were divided into two groups each of 10 calves. During their first three weeks all calves were fed alike on whole milk containing 3·5% butterfat. At three weeks of age calves in one group were changed to a diet consisting of reconstituted buttermilk powder which was made up to the same energy content as the milk. Up to the 30th day intake was gradually increased to 20% of body weight; thereafter till slaughter of the calves at approximately 200 1b. live-weight both groups were fed to appetite twice daily. 2. Calves in both groups grew well and differences between groups in growth rate, and age at slaughter, food consumption and food conversion, were all statistically non-significant.


We study three fundamental topics in the representation theory of disconnected algebraic groups whose identity component is reductive: (i) the classification of irreducible representations; (ii) the existence and properties of Weyl and dual Weyl modules; and (iii) the decomposition map relating representations in characteristic $0$ and those in characteristic $p$ (for groups defined over discrete valuation rings). For each of these topics, we obtain natural generalizations of the well-known results for connected reductive groups.


Abstract Lipophilic anionic copolymer (styrene-maleic acid; SMA) conjugates of albumin and antitumor protein neocarzinostatin (NCS) (smancs) were found to stimulate the release of H2O2 and O- 2 from the peritoneal macrophages obtained from mice which had been pretreated with the heat-killed preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes (OK-432) in vivo. Some alkyl esters of SMA exhibited effects similar to protein-polymer conjugates. Among them, butyl-SMA was the most effective followed by ethyl-SMA, whereas hydrolyzed SMA showed no effect. This activity was dose-dependent but exhibited a bell-shape profile. These results suggest that the aliphatic ester residue in SMA as well as the main chain of the copolymer may be important for the activation of macrophages. A strong antitumor effect of smancs reported elsewhere may be attributed partly to the activation of macrophages in addition to the direct damage to the cellular DNA by the NCS component. A preliminary investigation of the subcellular mechanism of macrophage activation was carried out in view of membrane fluidity by the fluorescence polarization method. The results showed that the apparent decrease in the cell membrane fluidity and the degree of macrophage activation paralleled the same dose range and at similar time courses. This indicated the interaction of SMA component and macrophage cell membrane.


Synchronous reference frame (SRF) proportional–integral (PI) current controller (CC) is the most well-established solution for current regulation in ac machine drives and grid-connected voltage source converters. The design of high dynamic performance current control loop has several challenges in high-speed and high-power applications due to the effects of controller gain's selection, nonlinearities, parameters variations, disturbances, digital implementation, and time delays. These become more significant due to high operating frequencies, which severely degrade dynamics and stability of the current control system. Various structures of SRF PI CCs have been reported in the literature. However, the aforementioned effects on the dynamics at high-frequency operation have not been thoroughly addressed. Therefore, a comparative analysis of different SRF PI CCs' structures is proposed in this article, which addresses the design principles and gains' selection while also taking into account the heavy computational burden and pulsewidth modulation (PWM) delays. In addition, this article thoroughly analyzes and evaluates the dynamics and stability of the system operating at high fundamental frequencies. The advantages and limitations of each SRF PI CC scheme are studied and reported. The performance of the SRF PI CCs is comprehensively tested to demonstrate the analytical outcome of this study.


The current 'rigid' construction systems and material of Emirati social housing leave little room for residents to undertake their desired adaptations and extensions of their turn-key houses, which have been designed, built and submitted to them by federal and local social housing institutions. This lack of adaptability and responsiveness to the residents' changing needs has caused undeniable problems with regard to social sustainability. In response, residents have reacted spontaneously by changing and extending their houses, but, unfortunately in many cases, these actions have resulted in structural, environmental and health hazards. On the other hand, the recently emerging Structured Insulated Panels (SIPs) systems have been investigated in this research as sustainable, resilient and relocatable external/internal wall-floor-roof construction systems replacing the current 'rigid' masonry-and-reinforced-concrete one used in the construction of UAE social housing. This would help achieve the resilience of social housing and, thus, allow residents to have the lead in adapting and extending/contracting their houses without compromising environmental, structural and safety considerations. This research indicates that the use of SIP systems is promising and thus proposes a self-build construction mechanism that would give the residents the upper hand in the decisions relevant to their houses.


It is shown theoretically that indirect interaction between two quantum dot levels can generate an anomalous phase shift for a system of the dot placed in one of the arms of the Aharonov–Bohm ring. The interaction between levels arises from the non-conservation of the orbital quantum number during the hopping process of electrons between the levels and leads. Such an unusual "phase lapse" behavior is observed experimentally and still lacks of proper theoretical description.