3D visualization can be an important investigative tool for understanding physical processes and recovery mechanisms in reservoir simulation. In this paper, we will demonstrate the utility of 3-D visualization in the context of compositional and thermal simulations, and how this new tool aids process understanding and facilitates project design. The main uses of the reservoir simulator include history matching to understand past performance, gain credibility of the reservoir simulation model, and project design to optimize future recovery (in an economic sense) whether for continued primary recovery, waterflooding, or EOR. To achieve these goals, it is essential to understand the interaction of the fluid dynamical and physical and chemical mechanisms with the complex geology of the reservoir, and the operational parameters and constraints at the wells. While the reservoir simulator is capable of answering these questions, one of the major problems in the past has been in the three dimensional representation of such key variables as oil, water, and gas saturations, pressure, temperature, and individual component concentrations. Maps of these quantities relative to local geology and wells are essential to understanding the complex interactions outlined above, before process optimization may be achieved. Even simple questions such as the location of bypassedmore » pockets of oil, cannot be adequately addressed using these tools. With recent advances in complex reservoir characterization, it is even more essential to be able to visually understand the control that local geology exercises on the recovery mechanism.« less


Abstract The development and integration of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) or edge computing devices is contributing to the formation of an increasingly digital, intelligent and connected world. As a result, there is a massive flow of data in different sectors of human activity. One example is intelligent buildings, where thousands of components, devices, systems and suppliers interact. In this context, failures in control and monitoring systems are frequent. To analyze this situation, this paper presents as a case study the problem of fault-tolerant robust adaptive monitoring control with state prediction performance for a class of IoT temperature systems subject to uncertainties of precision states and external disturbances. The authors propose a new control strategy based on consensus game theory and prediction of future precision states to reduce tracking error and improve algorithm efficiency. The authors present the development of a new algorithm that improves the functioning of monitoring and control of parcel networks. This has the purpose of increasing the energy efficiency of the same and ensure the effectiveness of our adaptive temperature control algorithm, compared to existing results. With the simulation presented in this research, it is possible to conclude that a new fault tolerant error tracking algorithm ensures robust monitoring of the reference model. It was shown that the predicted temperature signal is limited by a small range close to the collected temperature data. A case study result is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fault-tolerant adaptive monitoring control algorithm.


Objectives This study aimed to identify the difficulties that caregivers of chronically ill patients experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide directions for future studies. Methods Five electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus Full Text, EMBASE, and Scopus, were systematically searched from January 2019 to February 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were employed for the literature screening, inclusion, and exclusion. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was adopted for qualifying appraisal. Results Six studies met the study criteria, including three quantitative studies, two qualitative studies, and one mixed-method study. Mental health, personal experience, financial problems, physical health, and improvement approaches were the major five themes that participants reported regarding the impact of COVID-19 they encountered during the pandemic. Discussion The results could heighten healthcare providers, stakeholders, and policy leaders' awareness of providing appropriate support for caregivers. Future research incorporating programs that support caregivers' needs is recommended.


Objective: To investigate occupational stress in assembly line workers in electronics manu-facturing service (EMS) and related influencing factors. Methods: From June to October, 2015, a cross-sectional survey was performed for 5 944 assembly line workers in EMS (observation group) and 6 270 workers from other posts (non-assembly line workers and management personnel; control group) using the self-made questionnaire for basic information, job demand-control (JDC) model questionnaire, and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaire to collect respondents' basic information and occupational stress. Results: The observation group had significantly lower work autonomy, social support, and work reward scores than the control group (2.72 ± 0.63/3.64 ± 0.68/4.06 ± 0.80 vs 3.00 ± 0.67/3.83 ± 0.68/4.24 ± 0.75, t=23.53, 15.41, and 12.70, all P<0.05) , as well as significantly higher work effort and job involvement scores than the control group (2.34±0.78/2.48±0.78 vs 2.21±0.80/2.33±0.77, t=-9.08 and-10.90, both P<0.05). The observation group had significantly higher proportions of workers with occupational stress determined by JDC and ERI models than the control group (64.5%/12.7% vs 52.6%/9.9%, χ2=182.26 and 23.41, both P<0.05). Female sex, migrant workers, working time >60 hours/week, and sleeping time <7 hours/day were major risk factors for occupational stress in JDC model; education background of Bachelor's degree or above, working time >60 hours/week, and sleeping time<7 hours/day were major risk factors for occupational stress in ERI model, while female sex and a high monthly income reduced the risk of occupational stress in ERI model. Conclusion: Assembly line workers in EMS are a relatively vulnerable group and have a high degree of occupational stress. Working time >60 hours/week and sleeping time <7 hours/day are major risk factors for occupational stress.


We studied the contribution of stocking with Mediterranean autochthonous brown trout (Salmo trutta) to the lake-migratory spawners in French tributaries of Lake Geneva. This singular lake system is inhabited by both the resident and the migratory life-history form, and by trout of Atlantic and Mediterranean origins. Using two discriminatory microsatellite loci between the Atlantic and Mediterranean alleles, we compared the genetic composition of the migratory Atlantic populations of the four main tributaries before (1999; N = 113) and after (2004, 2005 and 2006; N = 137) recent introductions of native Mediterranean trout. No significant modification of the genetic composition was detected in all four populations over time and only two individuals were statistically assigned to the Mediterranean strain by the Bayesian method implemented in the structure program. These results suggest a negligible contribution of the stockings with autochthonous Mediterranean trout to the lake-migratory spawners migrating into the four tributaries.


In combination with a single-crystal diamond anvil cell (DAC), a polycapillary half-lens (PHL) re-focusing optics has been used to perform high-pressure extended X-ray absorption fine-structure measurements. It is found that a large divergent X-ray beam induced by the PHL leads the Bragg glitches from single-crystal diamond to be broadened significantly and the intensity of the glitches to be reduced strongly so that most of the DAC glitches are efficiently suppressed. The remaining glitches can be easily removed by rotating the DAC by a few degrees with respect to the X-ray beam. Accurate X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) spectra of polycrystalline Ge powder with a glitch-free energy range from -200 to 800 eV relative to the Ge absorption edge are obtained using this method at high pressures up to 23.7 GPa, demonstrating the capability of PHL optics in eliminating the DAC glitches for high-pressure XAFS experiments. This approach brings new possibilities to perform XAFS measurements using a DAC up to ultrahigh pressures.


Tuberculosis lymphadenitis (TBL) is the most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) manifestation. Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) is a World Health Organization-endorsed diagnostic test, but performance data for TBL, including on noninvasive specimens, are limited. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens (FNABs) from outpatients (≥18 years) with presumptive TBL (n = 135) underwent (i) routine Xpert MTB/RIF testing (later with Ultra once programmatically available), (ii) an MGIT 960 culture (if Xpert or Ultra negative or rifampin resistant), and (iii) study Ultra testing. Concentrated paired urine specimens underwent Ultra testing. ABSTRACT Tuberculosis lymphadenitis (TBL) is the most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) manifestation. Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) is a World Health Organization-endorsed diagnostic test, but performance data for TBL, including on noninvasive specimens, are limited. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens (FNABs) from outpatients (≥18 years) with presumptive TBL (n = 135) underwent (i) routine Xpert MTB/RIF testing (later with Ultra once programmatically available), (ii) MGIT 960 culture (if Xpert or Ultra negative or rifampicin resistant), and (iii) study Ultra testing. Concentrated paired urine specimens underwent Ultra testing. Primary analyses used a microbiological reference standard (MRS). In a head-to-head comparison (n = 92) of an FNAB study Ultra and Xpert, Ultra had increased sensitivity (91% [95% confidence interval: 79, 98] versus 72% [57, 84]; P = 0.016) and decreased specificity (76% [61, 87] versus 93% [82, 99]; P = 0.020) and diagnosed patients not on treatment. Neither HIV nor alternative reference standards affected sensitivity and specificity. In patients with both routine and study Ultra tests, the latter detected more cases (+20% [0, 42]; P = 0.034), and false-negative study Ultra results were more inhibited than true-positive results. Study Ultra false positives had less mycobacterial DNA than true positives (trace-positive proportions, 59% [13/22] versus 12% [5/51]; P < 0.001). "Trace" exclusion or recategorization removed potential benefits offered over Xpert. Urine Ultra tests had low sensitivity (18% [7, 35]). Ultra testing on FNABs is highly sensitive and detects more TBL than Xpert (Ultra still missed some cases due in part to inhibition). Patients with FNAB Ultra-positive "trace" results, most of whom will be culture negative, may require additional clinical investigation. Urine Ultra testing could reduce the number of patients needing invasive sampling.


An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Val from a Val-containing fermentation biomass product (Val-FB; 64.4% L-Val) has a bioavailability of 100% relative to L-Val (98% Val) when fed to weanling pigs. A Val-deficient basal diet containing 0.63% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val was formulated. Six additional diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet with 0.08, 0.16, or 0.24% L-Val or 0.12, 0.25, or 0.37% Val-FB to create experimental diets containing 0.71, 0.79, or 0.87% SID Val. A total of 224 weanling pigs (6.87 ± 0.64 kg) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 7 diets and 8 replicate pens per diet. Diets were fed for 21 d and growth performance was measured on a pen basis. Orthogonal-polynomial contrasts were used to determine linear and quadratic effects of L-Val and Val-FB levels on performance and the effect of Val sources. A linear regression model based on performance was used to estimate the relative bioavailability (RBV) of Val in Val-FB relative to L-Val. The final body-weight (BW) and average-daily-gain (ADG) were greater (P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets supplemented with Val-FB than pigs fed diets supplemented with L-Val (Table 1). The average-daily-feed-intake (ADFI) decreased linearly (P < 0.01), whereas gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased (P < 0.01) by supplementing graded levels of both Val sources to the diets. The RBV of Val in Val-FB as determined by ADG, G:F, and final BW was 146, 135, and 143%, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals of 99 to 191%, 83 to 187%, and 70 to 217%, respectively. In conclusion, the linear regression estimated a RBV of at least 100% for Val-FB relative to L-Val, and pigs fed diets supplemented with Val-FB had greater ADG and final BW than pigs fed diets supplemented with the same amount of L-Val.


Plato's Protagoras is a unique text in the history of criticism, the only extended example of practical poetic criticism that we have from classical Greece. This long passage (338E-347C) shows a group of fifth-century intellectual luminaries debating the meaning of a dense lyric poem by Simonides: the text is quoted at length and its language examined closely and methodically - and wildly. My paper first attempts to pinpoint how this passage - often written off as a parody or a joke or misunderstood as a simplistic polemic against "sophistry" - fits into the work. I argue that Plato is more serious here than is usually supposed, and that the passage gives his best account of uses and limits of literary criticism. In a coda, I consider an analysis of the passage by Glenn Most, which suggests some reflections on recent developments in academic literary criticism.


This paper reports research into adaptation to climate change for regional tourism destinations. It explains the application of a regional tourism adaptation framework model to the Surf Coast destination, within the state of Victoria, Australia. It then examines the usefulness of the framework model in guiding a vulnerability resilience assessment of the destination and developing strategies to increase the destinations resilience, resistance and readiness. A Delphi study was conducted, using a panel of experts, to determine the major risks and opportunities for tourism in the region as well as appropriate adaptation options. Although many of the findings focused on the best way to manage the negative bio-physical impacts of climate change, such as increased bushfire risk or more frequent and intense storms, several opportunities also became apparent including the potential to reduce seasonality. Tourism destination management is already a complex area and the introduction of climate change provides yet another challenge for managers and policy-makers. Consequently, the development and use of a regional adaptation framework can play an important role in assisting destination planning and management.


This article engages with the claimed limitation that critical design fails to address the problems it condemns, such as capitalism, and suggests looking at the different ways critical design practices have related to production in the past. Three examples from different historical moments are discussed through the theoretical lens of tension with progression. The discussion brings to light four areas of reflection which concern the way we understand progression, time, socio-technical contexts, and use. These — all suggesting that critical design is frictional yet can also be progressional — are presented as perspectives relevant to better position critical design in relation to production and to assess its potential contributions.


The effect of alloying the Eu element on primary Si refinement in varied purity Al–16Si alloys was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis, micro x–ray diffraction (μ–XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the P impurity element in hypereutectic Al–Si alloys has a great influence on the rare earths' refinement efficiency of primary Si. Coinstantaneous primary Si refinement and eutectic Si modification by Eu was obtained in high purity (HP) Al–16Si and commercial purity (CP) Al–16Si–0.06P alloys, but the primary Si was gradually coarsened in CP Al–16Si alloys. An excellent integration of ultimate tensile strength (144.8 MPa) and elongation (9.8%) of CP hypereutectic Al–16Si–0.06P alloy was obtained by adding 0.15% Eu. The refinement of primary Si in Eu–modified HP Al–16Si alloys was related to the constitutional undercooling of Eu. There was no sufficient Eu element partition into the primary Si particles, and fewer parallel twins, rather than multiple twins, were observed within them. The refinement of primary Si in CP Al–16Si–0.06P alloys was caused by the overlay of two kinds of mechanisms including the heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of AlP and the constitutional supercooling mechanism of Eu. However, in order to refine the primary Si in CP hypereutectic Al–16Si alloys, the Eu:P weight ratio should not exceed 3.33, otherwise the refinement efficiency of primary Si will be reduced due to mutual poisoning between Eu and P. This work can be used to interpret the controversy concerning the influence of rare earths on the primary Si in hypereutectic Al–Si alloys, thereby elucidating the importance of alloy purity to primary Si refinement by rare earths.


History recorded that there was a period of time when muslims were triumphant in science and technology, known as the Islamic golden age. Not only muslims were preserving knowledge and translating works from foreign languages, such as India, China, Greece and Persia, they were also advancing and extending science and technology. The era was strongly supported among others by the application of the sharia-based economic system that allowed the governments to have stable national economic conditions as well as healthy scientific environments. In this paper, we will first review the history of science and technology in the medieval Islamic era. As it is a wide subject indeed (see, e.g., [1,2,3]), it will be impossible to discuss the history in great details within half an-hour. Because of the time-constraint we will concentrate on a tiny part of it, particularly in mathematics. We will discuss how algebra, that is commonly known among muslims as the contribution of Al-Khawarizmi, and geometry shaped the culture and art of that time, their importance in the development of modern mathematics [4,5,6], and their relation to the so-called quasicrystals that won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2011 [7]. The second part of the paper will be on the relevance of the sharia-based economic system for science and technology development. In relation to the first part of the talk, We will first briefly discuss how the economic system drove the development of science and technology in the medieval time and how it is still an important drive. On top of that, as a major (if not the most important) supporting factor in the development of science and technology, we will review the current economic crisis [8,9] (as a particular example, in the UK) and its effects on research funding due to worldwide budget cuts by major government funders of research. The sharia economic system that can be an alternative towards strong and stable financial supports will also be discussed. Finally, we will review science and technology policy in several countries, including UK and Indonesia, and the current national research management worldwide. Research management under the application of sharia economics will be posed as open questions.


Previous studies have shown that there is an underrepresentation of female coaches and a lack of opportunities for women to coach males, particularly at the elite-level. Very few studies, however, have focused on elite-level coaches' demographics and whether these vary with respect to gender. The aim of this article is to get an overview of the gender distribution of Norwegian national team coaches with respect to different demographic variables, such as age, education and marital status. Furthermore, athletic background, coach education and coaching experience are examined. The results are based on data from an online survey among coaches who in 2012 worked as national team coaches (n=197). The main result is that the female and male coaches seem to be very similar, which is in contrast to the majority of previous research among elite-level female coaches. Another contradiction to previous studies, which mostly consist of qualitative research, is that the present quantitative study is based on a sample of national team coaches from all sports in Norway. Only 14% of the elite-level coaches are women. The explanation for this underrepresentation is discussed with respect to structural barriers that may be particularly relevant for elite-level coaching: sex-typing, stereotyping and homologous reproduction.


The edible flesh of guinean tilapia (Tilapia guineensis), blackchin tilapia (Sarotherondon melanotheron) and mullet (Liza falcipinnis) were collected from Buguma River for elemental studies of cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, nickel and organometallic forms of elements using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) respectively. The highest concentration of cadmium (1.7 mg/kg) was observed in Tilapia guineensis. They all contained about the same concentration of arsenic (0.5 mg/kg) and mercury (1 mg/kg). The highest concentration of lead was detected in Sarotherodon melanotheron (4.8 mg/kg) while the highest concentration of nickel (21.4 mg/kg) was detected in Tilapia guineensis. The organometallic compounds detected were diethoxydimethylsilane, dimethylisobutoxysilane, diethyl(trans-4-methylcyclohexyloxy) undecycloxysilane, diethyl(decycloxy)borane, [(3a)-pregn-5-ene-3,20-diyl]bis(oxy)bis[trimethyl]silane, dimethyl(4-methoxyphenoxy)dodecycloxysilane, Bis(diethylcarbamodithioato-S,S'-(T-4)zinc in Tilapia guineensis. Diethyldecycloxypentadecycloxysilane, diethoxydimethylsilane, diethyl(decycloxy)borane, dimethyl(2-naphthoxy)hexadecycloxysilane in Sarotherodon melanotheron and tetracarbonylnickel, carbonylborane, trimethylaluminum, dimethoxydimethylsilane, diethyl(decycloxy)borane, pthalocyaninedichloridegermanium in mullet.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

The antitumorigenic effects of metformin were mostly interpreted as attributing to the activation of LKB1-AMPK pathway and the studies investigating the AMPK-independent mechanism of metformin remained limited. In lung cancer, cisplatin-based chemotherapy remained the first line regimen for advanced lung cancer patients especially those without EGFR mutation. Previous study demonstrated the linkage between IL6-Stat3 autocrine and chemoresistance. In this study, we first showed that lung cancer line S3C (PC14PE6/AS2 cells with expressing plasmids containing constitutively-active Stat3) was more resistant to cisplatin than PC14PE6/AS2 cell. Treating lung cancer cells with Stat3 inhibitor (JSI-124) or metformin combined with cisplatin, the proliferation of cancer cells were inhibited additionally. And metformin inhibited Stat3 phosphorylation in PC14PE6/AS2 and A549 cells. To investigate the upstream mechanism associated Stat3 phosphorylation, we examined the secretion of IL-6 which was inhibited by metformin. And VEGF secretion, representing Stat3 downstream pathway, was inhibited by metformin in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, the secretion of VEGF was not inhibited in S3C cells after metformin treatment. However, using another AMPK activator-AICAR, the enhancement of cisplatin cytotoxicity is not obvious. In contrast to metformin, AICAR induced AMPK phosphorylation but Stat3 phosphorylation was not inhibited. To verify the LKB-AMPK independent effect of metformin on Stat3 phosphorylation, PC14PE6/AS2 cells were transfected with siRNA targeting LKB1 or AMPK. We demonstrated the inhibition of Stat3 phosphorylation of metformin even under the knockdown of LKB1-AMPK pathway. We also found that MTOR downstream signal including P70S6K and 4EBP1 were inhibited by metformin. Though previous study demonstrated MTOR pathway modulated Stat3 pathway, we found P70S6K and 4EBP1 phosphorylation were inhibited after treatment with metformin at 8hr and Stat3 phosphorylation change was detected after 24hr. Using MTOR inhibitor (rapamycin), the Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation was not inhibited. Finally, we used subcutaneous tumor xenografts to evaluate the effect of combination of metformin with cisplatin in vivo. Body weight, blood sugar, and tumor volume were recorded in four groups including control, metformin, cisplatin, and metformin combined with cisplatin. Body weights and blood sugar were not different between combination treatment group and control group. In combination group, tumor stopped growing at 18th day and the tumor sizes were obvious less than the other three groups. Immunohistochemical staining of ki67 verified the lower proliferation in combination group. Our study demonstrated that metformin, independent of LKB1-AMPK pathway, inhibits Stat3 phosphorylation which contributes the enhancement of cisplatin cytotoxicity in lung cancer.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3222. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3222


1 Two experiments were performed to determine the extent to which ash species (black, green and white) and larval developmental stage (second, third and fourth instar) affect the efficiency of phloem amino acid utilization by emerald ash borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larvae. 2 EAB larvae generally utilized green ash amino acids more efficiently than those of the other two species. For example, the concentrations of only six (two essential) and seven (two essential) amino acids were lower in frass from EAB that fed upon black and white ash than in the corresponding phloem, respectively. By contrast, concentrations of 16 (eight essential) amino acids were lower in the frass from EAB that fed upon green ash than in the phloem. In addition, in green ash, the frass : phloem ratios of 13 amino acids were lower than their counterparts in black and white ash. 3 The concentrations of non‐essential amino acids glycine and hydroxylproline were greater in frass than in phloem when EAB fed on black ash, although not when EAB fed on green or white ash. 4 The concentration of total phenolics (a group of putative defensive compounds to EAB, expressed as antioxidant activity of acetone extraction) was high in EAB frass but even higher in the phloem samples when the data were pooled across ash species and EAB larval stages. This suggests EAB larvae may eliminate phenolics through a combination of direct excretion and enzymatic conversion of phenolics to nonphenolics before excretion. Because the ratio of frass total phenolics to phloem total phenolics in white ash was lower than the ratios in black and green ash, the ability to destroy phenolics or convert them to nonphenolics was greater when EAB larvae fed on white ash. 5 Fourth‐instar EAB extracted phloem amino acids, including threonine, more efficiently than third‐instar EAB. The different larval developmental stages of EAB did not differ in their apparent ability to destroy phenolics or convert them to nonphenolics.


With remote work becoming a prevalent practice, the use of videoconferencing tools has significantly increased. While the accessibility of these tools in remote work has been studied previously, there is a lack of understanding of how professionals with disabilities conduct meetings using them and what accessibility means in this context. To fill this gap, we investigated the experience and accessibility practices of 18 blind and low vision (BLV) meeting facilitators who regularly use videoconferencing tools. Our findings reveal that BLV professionals undertake several steps to facilitate meetings effectively, including preparing materials in advance, ensuring the security of the meetings, maintaining awareness of attendees' activity, coordinating with co-hosts to overcome accessibility obstacles, maintaining professionalism, and advocating for accessible meeting practices and technology. We discuss how our findings reveal barriers to career advancement for BLV professionals, help understand the interdependent activity of meeting facilitators and co-hosts, and provide recommendations for making videoconferencing more accessible.


Introduction: Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK-i), a class of targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tDMARDs), are suggested as second or third-line therapies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synthesized cost-effective evidence would aid in informed decision-making given the similar clinical effectiveness of JAKi, but incongruent cost-effectiveness reports. Methods: Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Tufts Medical Centers' cost-effective analysis registry. We pooled the incremental net benefit (INB) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using random-effects model and the heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane-Q test and I2 statistic. Modified economic evaluation bias checklist was used to assess the quality of selected studies. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment was performed to assess the certainty of outcomes presented. Results: We included seventeen relevant studies for systematic review, of which fifteen were eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that JAK-i is cost-effective compared to csDMARDS/bDMARDs with a pooled INB (INBp) of $19,886 (95% CI, 1,635 to 38,137) but with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 99.14). As a second-line treatment for csDMARD failed RA, JAK-i is cost-effective than csDMARD/bDMARD with a pooled INB of $23,144 (74.1–46,214) and high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.67). But on a separate analysis JAK-i as second-line treatment is not cost-effective than TNF-a-i (INBp = $25,813, -5,714 to 57,340). However, leave-one-out analysis found that omitting a single outlier makes JAK-i cost-effective. Further, JAK-i is not cost-effective as a third-line treatment for csDMARD-TNF-a-I failed RA, compared to csDMARDs/bDMARDs with INBp $26,157 (-7,284 to 59,598). Conclusion: Meta-analysis suggests that JAK-i is cost-effective when used after csDMARD failure but not cost-effective when used after csDMARD-TNF-a-i failure with low certainty of evidence. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021222541, identifier CRD42021222541


The three dimensionally curved aortic arch is modeled as a portion of a helical pipe. Pulsatile blood flow therein is calculated assuming helical symmetry and an experimentally measured pressure pulse. Appropriate values for the Womersley and Reynolds numbers are taken from allometric scaling relations for a variety of body masses. The flow structure is discussed with particular reference to the wall shear, which is believed to be important in the inhibition of atheroma. It is found that nonplanar curvature limits the severity of flow separation at the inner bend, and reduces spatial variation of wall shear.


This paper presents a simple, yet effective model for managing attention and interaction control in multimodal spoken dialogue systems. The model allows the user to switch attention between the system and other humans, and the system to stop and resume speaking. An evaluation in a tutoring setting shows that the user's attention can be effectively monitored using head pose tracking, and that this is a more reliable method than using push-to-talk.


Aim To explore who responded to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) bereaved family survey. Background The LTHT Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) locally adapted a bereavement survey for families (Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust, 2012). This was developed to give bereaved relatives the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience of the care their relative received at the end of life in the acute setting. The LTHT SPCT Bereaved Carers Service User (BCSU) group contributed to the design of the survey at the outset. Method Over a 10 week period, March to May 2013, the survey was given to bereaved relatives of adult patients when they collected medical cause of death certificates from the bereavement office. Patients who died in A&E were excluded. Results There were 146 respondents (response rate 23%).Trends identified from the demographics were that respondents tended to be from children of the deceased (son 23%, daughter 40%) and most responses came from older peoples' services (27%). The most prevalent age of death was 86–90. There was a low response rate from oncology wards (1%). Results were presented to the BCSU group. Conclusion The highest response was from daughters of older adults. Further exploration is needed into the low response rate from oncology, and spouses of the deceased. The timing of the survey may have influenced the group of respondents. It may have been too early on in their bereavement. Delaying the time that the survey is sent to bereaved relatives/carers may help increase the response rate. Opinions from the BCSU group and experience from other hospital trusts will be considered to inform changes to the next survey to gain feedback from a more representative population and improve the care patients receive at the end of life.


The National healthcare Service (NHS) in the UK collects a massive amount of high-dimensional, region-centric data concerning individual healthcare units throughout Great Britain. It is challenging to visually couple the large number of multivariate attributes about each region unit together with the geo-spatial location of the clinical practices for visual exploration, analysis, and comparison. We present a novel multivariate visualization we call a cartographic treemap that attempts to combine the space-filling advantages of treemaps for the display of hierarchical, multivariate data together with the relative geo-spatial location of NHS practices in the form of a modified cartogram. It offers both space filling and geospatial error metrics that provide the user with interactive control over the space-filling versus geographic error trade-off. The result is a visualization that offers users a more space efficient overview of the complex, multivariate healthcare data coupled with the relative geo-spatial location of each practice to enable and facilitate exploration, analysis, and comparison. We evaluate the two metrics and demonstrate the use of our approach on real, large high-dimensional NHS data and derive a number of multivariate observations based on healthcare in the UK as a result. We report the reaction of our software from two domain experts in health science.


In the Netherlands, statistical information about income and wealth is based on two large scale household panels that are completely derived from administrative data. A problem with using households as sampling units in the sample design of panels is the instability of these units over time. Changes in the household composition affect the inclusion probabilities required for design-based and model-assisted inference procedures. Such problems are circumvented in the two aforementioned household panels by sampling persons, who are followed over time. At each period the household members of these sampled persons are included in the sample. This is equivalent to sampling with probabilities proportional to household size where households can be selected more than once but with a maximum equal to the number of household members. In this paper properties of this sample design are described and contrasted with the Generalized Weight Share method for indirect sampling (Lavallée 1995, 2007). Methods are illustrated with an application to the Dutch Regional Income Survey.


This work focuses on the development of local building materials in Benin for their efficient use in buildings. It aims to make mud bricks lightened with good mechanical, thermal and sound properties and enhance the waste polystyrene. This article is the result of experimental work on a broad field of applied sciences: building mechanics. The study is focused on BTS (blocks of stabilized earth) chosen as reference materials to which we linked polystyrene. The percentage of polystyrene varies from 0% to 100% starting from a constant volume of each reference material. The results showed that the increase in polystyrene percentage lowers mechanical properties. These results also showed that the gradual addition of polystyrene to the laterite-cement mixture has a significant influence on the density and mechanical resistances of the final composite material.


Knowledge of the microbial population, particularly that of acetic acid bacteria (AAB), present during the fermentation process is required to produce good quality traditional rice vinegar (Kurozu). We focused on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes of AAB for easy and rapid detection of AAB from Kurozu. Five PCR primer sets were designed to amplify the five specific DNA fragments within the ITS region of AAB. PCR amplification with these primer sets resulted in the detection of specific fragments from AAB chromosomal DNA, but not from other bacteria or yeast. Use of a DNA sample directly isolated from Kurozu mash as a template gave the same distinct PCR fragment pattern with these primer sets. This one-step PCR analysis is an easy tool for rapid detection of AAB during the long process of Kurozu fermentation and maturation.


PtSi Schottky-barrier detectors, which are conventionally used in the back-illumination mode for thermal imaging in the 3-5- mu m infrared (IR) spectral band, are shown to exhibit excellent photoresponse in the near-ultraviolet and visible regions when operated in the front-illumination mode. For devices without antireflection coatings, external quantum efficiency in excess of 60% has been obtained for wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. The efficiency decreases below 400 nm but is still about 35% at 290 nm. High-quality imaging has been demonstrated in both the visible and 3-5- mu m spectral bands for front-illuminated 160*244-element PtSi focal plane arrays integrated with monolithic CCD readout circuitry.<<ETX>>


Government with Decision No. 12 of 2012 on higher education states that every university will be authorized to operate and issue a diploma after accreditation. Accreditation is the acknowledgment of the public or external parties to the college concerned and is also a form of assessment of the quality and feasibility of institutions conducted by independent organizations such as the National College Accreditation Committee (NHE-AC). Private higher education institutions under the coordination of Kopertis XII region, Maluku and North Maluku face challenges and difficulties to compete. In 2016, from 44 private universities under the coordination area of Kopertis XII only 7 of them have institutional accreditation status. This amount is considered very little compared to other Kopertis region's, therefore need further research to reveal the challenges faced by universities. The purpose of this research is to know the factors causing low accreditation submission among private universities under coordination of Kopertis region XII. The method used is qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection techniques are conducted through interviews and observation; Data were analyzed using Ishikawa or fishbone diagram. The results of this study indicate that of the 7 criteria given by BAN-PT, there are several factors causing the low delivery of accreditation by universities, namely: the vision and mission that has not been socialized and well understood by all parts of the academic community; Internal management within organizations that have not met standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality assurance agencies that have not been functioning properly; unqualified human resources, limited facilities and infrastructure; information systems are only partially available; curricula that are inconsistent with higher national education standards; interest of lecturers to conduct research and low dedication of education; and low number of publications.


Due to Calcutta's proximity to the sea and location on the east bank of the River Hooghly in India, it used to experience tidal influence through its canals. This prompted commerce and trading, and...


Aspects of environmental crisis (industrialization, explosive growth of population and urbanization) have a negative effect on the environment. However, they also impact the mentality of population (for example, urbanization has lead to the decreasing numbers of adults and children having a direct contact with the natural environment). Environmental education and education for sustainable development has developed from the concern of destruction of environment and anthropocentric mentality. Experts are convinced that education based on environmental ethics leads to a quality future. The author analyses the currently valid Curriculum for kindergartens in Slovenia from the aspect of sustainable development. In the second empirical part of the article, the author presents the research that was conducted in order to get the answer to that how the Slovenian kindergartens include sustainable development into daily praxis.


Traumatic injuries are leading causes of spinal cord damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether wrestling induced cervical spondylosis amongst professional wrestlers or not. To test this assumption, two groups of athletes, 72 wrestlers versus 76 non-wrestlers 15-55 years of age were studied. Radiographic findings and clinical assessment were compared in both groups. Significant difference (Odd ratio=2.91, P=0.007) were noted between the two groups regarding the prevalence of radiological cervical spondylosis. The clinical radiculo-myelopathy was significantly developing in wrestlers in higher ages (odd ratio=77.5, P<0.001). Torg ratio of < 80% was found to be somehow more in the younger age group. Considering the awesome and debilitating implications of this entity among professional wrestlers, it seems prudent to keep an eye on the cervical spine of all new entrants and closely follow up the professional wrestlers to prevent developing myelopathy.


Previous reports have demonstrated the suitability of alginate microencapsulation for chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro. This study examined the MSCs-alginate constructs that were transplanted beneath the dorsal skin of nude mice for 8 weeks after a variety of in vitro culture periods. The in vitro culture had great effects on gross morphology and histological characteristics of transplants. The integrity of alginate of transplants increased as the in vitro culture period increased. Transplants were characterized by an opaque and yellowish color, fair burnish, a firm to elastic texture, but without any evidence of calcification spots. Histological findings agreed with the clinical determination of hyaline cartilage, characterized by isolated cells with basophilic ground substance positive in Safranin-O staining and collagen type II immunohistochemistry. Transplants with exposure to TGF-beta1 for more than 2 weeks before transplantation, lost burnish, were flexible in texture, and had an increased formation of calcification spots. Accordingly, 1-week exposure to TGF-beta1 in vitro before transplantation is appropriate for neocartilage formation of human MSCs in alginate. These findings suggested that regeneration using cell therapy or tissue engineering should assist in ascertaining the optimal timing of transplantation.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the cytopathology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural organization features of Mycobacterium abscessus keratitis.

METHODS
This retrospective case report included six cases with the lesions tissues scraped from acute phase of mycobacterium abscessus keratitis after corneal foreign body removal. Among the 6 scrapings, 4 were tested for Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining and 3 were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The corneal tissues of 2 cases in chronic phase of the disease were collected during keratoplasty and were examined by pathological examination including hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, acid-fast staining, immunohistostaining and TEM.

RESULTS
A single or fascicular red bacilli were observed after acid-fast staining in the four cases of corneal scrapings. The smear samples contained a large number of neutrophils and necrotic corneal epithelium and stroma tissue accompanying with a large number of mycobacteria that were positive for acid-fast staining scattered in and out of inflammatory cells. The corneal buttons obtained at keratoplasty in the 2 patients demonstrated corneal epithelial hyperplasia, stroma degeneration, necrosis and exelcosis, neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration, neovascularization and fibrous hyperplasia, but no positive mycobacteria by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining. There were no CD4(+) or CD8(+) cells from immunohistochemistry examination. TEM of the corneal scrapings of the 3 cases showed phagocytosis of mycobacterium abscessus in mononuclear macrophage or neutrophils, inclusion compounds of small vacuoles and metachromatic granules in the thallium. TEM of corneal buttons of 2 cases showed slender rod-shaped mycobacteria with several to dozens of finely ground particles with high electron-dense, but no cell wall (L-form) or inclusion compounds.

CONCLUSIONS
Mycobacterium abscessus keratitis presents acute purulent inflammatory changes in early stage and advances to chronic and non-specificity inflammation changes in late stage. L-formed mycobacterium abscessus make the disease protraction.


The aim of this study was the evaluation of the usefulness of an arrhythmia simulator: (1) for measuring the different skills of nurses in recognizing the arrhythmic events on the ECG monitors (2) as a teaching tool for improving the nurses' efficiency. Using an arrhythmia simulator connected to the same ECG monitors used in the nurses' working places we proposed 25 arrhythmic events to 28 nurses (group A) with no experience of intensive care (CCU), and to 6 nurses with at least 3 years of experience in CCU. Group A attended a course and was finally reevaluated. The sensitivity and specificity in detecting the arrhythmic emergencies were respectively: 91.7% and 66% for group A; 88.9% and 93.9% for group B; 91.1% and 95.7% for group A after the course. So our conclusion is that the use of this simulator is an excellent tool for measuring and improving the nurses' efficiency.


The direct relationship between glomerular filtration surface and glomerulaf filtration rate was studied in a group of eight short term, young diabetics exhibiting a 50 per cent elevated glomerular filtration rate with a 2-fold variation within the group. A close correlation was obtained between glomerular filtration surface and glomerular filtration rate, r = 0.8. This supports the idea that the increase in glomerular capillary surface may be a main factor in diabetic kidney hyperfunction. The possible long term implications of the functional and morphologic abnormalities are discussed.


In this article, we argue that changes in workplace characteristics over the last few decades may affect work relationships and call for adjustments in the traditional theoretical framework used to understand them. Since the last quarter of the 20th century, there have been theories regarding changes in labor relationships following technological, political, globalization, and economical changes. However, we examine the changes in light of psychological theories rather than labor or industrial approaches. We review four main areas where social exchange theory (SET) has been implemented, address recent changes that challenge the traditional SET perspective, and propose alternative models. We refer to these models as "hybrid" as they integrate traditional SET premises with new-era workplace characteristics. First, we describe several changes in workplace characteristics. Next, we review some of the most conventional applications of SET to work relationships. Finally, we critically examine whether this theory meets the requirements of work relationships in the new world of work and conclude by arguing that SET needs to be adjusted to reflect the assumption that frequent changes in employee and organizational characteristics in the new workplaces require similar frequent adjustments in exchange relationships.


This thesis is a study of the travel writing inspired by automobile journeys in Britain in the period 1896 to 1930 and the new modes of subjectivity afforded by the motor car. In permitting greater access to the countryside away from railway stations, motorists were able to gain fresh perspectives on the landscape. Their journeys in the countryside invited them to 'rediscover' England and shape new versions of national identity based on a revival of pre-industrial pastoral idylls. This model of Englishness was directly influenced by car travel, particularly ideas of getting 'off the beaten track'. A comparative study of the travelogues of American writers visiting Britain looks at their search for a shared heritage and the contrasting vision of England that they convey. The different experience of automotive travel and freedom to use the car as described by female writers in the period is also explored in two case studies. Many of the texts analysed in this work have never been discussed in scholarly studies and so this thesis aims to apply new material to the catalogue of home tour narratives, and to shed new light on the early years of automobile travel. This thesis also explores the car's relationship to modernity in the narratives and concerns about the impact of motorised tourism on the landscape. By weaving together different theoretical concepts from travel writing, such as notions of the tourist and traveller, with historical studies of the car's cultural impact in Britain, this work aims to establish the travelogues featured as a distinct sub-genre of travel writing studies.


Pasteurella multocida is one of the most frequently isolated bacteria in acute pneumonia cases, being responsible for high mortality rates in Peruvian young alpacas, with consequent social and economic costs. Here we report the genome sequence of P. multocida strain UNMSM, isolated from the lung of an alpaca diagnosed with pneumonia, in Peru. The genome consists of 2,439,814 base pairs assembled into 82 contigs and 2,252 protein encoding genes, revealing the presence of known virulence-associated genes (ompH, ompA, tonB, tbpA, nanA, nanB, nanH, sodA, sodC, plpB and toxA). Further analysis could provide insights about bacterial pathogenesis and control strategies of this disease in Peruvian alpacas.


Physical Education and objective evaluation system can effectively improve teaching effectiveness. In order to find a more objective and scientific teaching evaluation system, this paper designs use AHP method to construct a public sports teaching evaluation system, including the teaching process, teaching effectiveness, teaching evaluation three indicators and evaluation systems were evaluated to determine the index weights concluded: teaching methods to improve the health level, in the form of teaching organization occupies an important position in the evaluation system evaluation. Thus, in the public physical education, in order to improve the quality of teaching, innovative teaching methods should be highlighted in order to improve students' health for the purpose of taking into account the form of flexible teaching organization.


Corruption is not a new topic, but it has increasingly become a central policy issue around the world. Many countries, international organizations, business networks and firms have pursued anticorruption campaigns. Nonetheless, corruption persists. Although the (empirical) literature on corruption and (economic) performance at the country level has been relatively well developed, a firm‐level perspective remains a relatively underexplored area of research. The papers in this issue break new ground both by advancing our theoretical understanding of firm‐level corruption and by introducing new and promissory research methods and empirical achievements. In this introduction, we provide the points of departure for the special issue and present the contributions and added value before introducing the individual papers. We end by offering conclusions for our new field of research.


Abstract
Far too often refugees are being researched on; however, the purpose of this chapter is to research with refugees while exploring the ways refugee youth in a higher education protracted context can become producers of research and knowledge. I sought to collaborate with my co-researchers / co-authors through a community-based action (CBA) approach at Kakuma Refugee Camp to assure that their youthful (ages 18–35) voices were included in this study. A CBA approach seeks to speak with participants, not for them. They learned about the research process, why research is needed, and how we can produce it together. Using a critical-hope framework, that is, a pedagogical tool that uses a critical theory lens to address unjust systems through meaningful dialogue and empathic responses, we co-led 30 psychosocial peace-building education (PBBE) courses in Kakuma and Nairobi, Kenya. Data were collected from the researcher and co-researchers' reflective logs on our own observations in the PBBE courses. A thematic analysis approach was chosen in order to avoid focusing on the norms and/or creating specific norms that dictate, demand conformity, and silence divergent voices. There were three themes: time, place, and person.


In this paper we investigate well-posedness for the problem $u_t+ \div \ph(u)=f$ on $(0,T)\!\times\!\Om$, $\Om \subset \R^N$, with initial condition $u(0,\cdot)=u_0$ on $\Om$ and with general dissipative boundary conditions $\varphi(u)\cdot \nu \in \beta_{(t,x)}(u)$ on $(0,T)\!\times\!\ptl\Om$. Here for a.e. $(t,x)\in(0,T)\!\times\!\ptl\Om$, $\beta_{(t,x)}(\cdot)$ is a maximal monotone graph on $\R$. This includes, as particular cases, Dirichlet, Neumann, Robin, obstacle boundary conditions and their piecewise combinations. As for the well-studied case of the Dirichlet condition, one has to interprete the {\it formal boundary condition} given by $\beta$ by replacing it with the adequate {\it effective boundary condition}. Such effective condition can be obtained through a study of the boundary layer appearing in approximation processes such as the vanishing viscosity approximation. We claim that the formal boundary condition given by $\beta$ should be interpreted as the effective boundary condition given by another monotone graph $\tilde \beta$, which is defined from $\beta$ by the projection procedure we describe. We give several equivalent definitions of entropy solutions associated with $\tilde \beta$ (and thus also with $\beta$). For the notion of solution defined in this way, we prove existence, uniqueness and $L^1$ contraction, monotone and continuous dependence on the graph $\beta$. Convergence of approximation procedures and stability of the notion of entropy solution are illustrated by several results.


Transient dielectric measurement is used to study the transitions among the planar, focal conic, and homeotropic states of cholesteric liquid crystals. If the initial state is the field‐induced homeotropic state, at low bias fields, the liquid crystal transforms to the planar state in a sequence of homeotropic‐transient planar–planar; at high bias fields, the liquid crystal transforms to the focal conic state. The homeotropic‐transient planar transition is on the order of 1 ms while the homeotropic‐focal conic transition is on the order of 100 ms. Large hysteresis is observed in the transitions between the homeotropic and the focal conic state. Based on the rapid homeotropic‐transient planar transition and the hysteresis effect in the focal conic‐homeotropic transition, we have designed a drive scheme which can address bistable reflective cholesteric displays at the speed of one line per millisecond.


Schedules of reinforcement were shown to control the rate of chirping bychickens in the same way as other motor responses in subhumans. Under a discrimination procedure, chickens responded selectively to the visual stimulus associated with food reinforcement for chirping. Control experiments demonstrated that food influenced the rate of responding because it was presented dependent on the chick's vocalizing and not because it had an innate eliciting or "emotionalizing" power.


By combining the high-order accuracy of spectral expansions with the locality and geometric flexibility of finite elements, spectral elements are an attractive option for the next generation of numerical climate models. Crucial to their construction is the configuration of nodes in an element---casual placement leads to polynomial fits exhibiting Runge phenomena manifested by wild spatial oscillations. I provide high-order triangular elements suitable for incorporation into existing spectral element codes. Constructed from a variety of measures of optimality, these nodes possess the best interpolation error norms discovered to date.
Motivated by the need to accurately determine these error norms, I present an optimization method suitable for finding extrema in a triangle. It marries a branch and bound algorithm to a quadtree smoothing scheme. The resulting scheme is both robust and efficient, promising general applicability.
In order to qualitatively evaluate these nodal distributions, I introduce the concept of a Lagrangian Voronoi tessellation. This partitioning of the triangle illustrates the regions over which each node dominates. I argue that distant and disconnected regions are undesirable as they exhibit a non-physical influence.
Finally, I have discovered a link between point distributions in the simplex and on the hypersphere. Through a simple transformation, a distance metric is defined permitting the construction of Voronoi diagrams and the calculation of mesh norms.


Two novel antibacterial peptides of clostridial species were purified, N-terminally sequenced, and charac- terized. Moreover, their structural genes were identified. Closticin 574 is an 82-amino-acid bacteriocin produced by Clostridium tyrobutyricum ADRIAT 932. The supernatant of the producing strain showed a high level of activity against the indicator strain C. tyrobutyricum . The protein is synthesized as a preproprotein that is possibly secreted via the general secretion pathway, after which it is hydrolyzed at an Asp-Pro site. Circularin A is produced by Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC 25752 as a prepeptide of 72 amino acids. Cleavage of the prepeptide between the third leucine and fourth valine residues followed by a head-to-tail ligation between the N and C termini creates a circular antimicrobial peptide of 69 amino acids. The unusually small circularin A leader peptide of three amino acids is cleaved off in this process. The supernatant of C. beijerinckii ATCC 25752 showed a broad antibacterial activity range. Sequence anal- ysis degradation an sequena-tor or Biosystems, Warrington, United Kingdom) Applied Biosystems. Biotechnology sequence A under accession


High doses of dexamethasone (Fortecortin) for the prophylaxis of cerebral oedema were administered to 19 children aged 3 to 14 years because of head injury of varying degrees of severity. In order to assess possible suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activity an insulin tolerance test and an intravenous tetracosactid (Synacthen) test was performed 1 to 26 weeks after the last dexamethasone dose. There was no evidence from the insulin tolerance test of inadequate cortisol excretion. After intravenous Synacthen injection satisfactory serum cortisol increase was found. However, from this test there was evidence of a lesser increase of serum cortisol depending on the time elapsed since cessation of dexamethasone. Investigation of circadian cortisol values showed 7 cases with subnormal serum cortisol at 18 o'clock independent of the time elapsed. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis was functioning again during induced stress 7 days after withdrawal of dexamethasone. Subsequent stress situations do not require treatment with corticoids.


A laser ultrasonic method is proposed for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of structural adhesive bonding. Zero-group-velocity (ZGV) resonances were generated and detected in five trilayer assemblies composed of two asymmetric aluminum alloy plates bonded with an epoxy adhesive. Cohesive and adhesive defects were introduced to degrade the practical adhesion. The attenuation of the temporal signal of ZGV resonances was found to provide sufficient information to discriminate between strong and weak bonding. Two metrics characterizing the attenuation were identified, which allow us to quantitatively evaluate the differences between the manufactured samples. A 2D scan of a trilayer assembly with different bond defects demonstrates the imaging capability of this all-optical NDE method.


Race and ethnicity represent a pivotal issue in almost any conversation regarding gang members. These two concepts have been invariably linked in both research and the larger social world. Images of this connection invade our social milieu and appear frequently in movies, television, news, and music. However, academic research also contributes to this perception. Much of the early work, as well as a significant portion of the qualitative work on gangs, perpetuates the continued examination of racial and ethnic homogeneous gangs, with a focus on African American and Hispanic groups. This work ignores increasing problems among other racial and ethnic groups, such as Asians and Native Americans, within the literature. More recently, however, the intricacies of this relationship are becoming clearer, including the growing involvement of White individuals and the fact that gangs are increasingly multiracial. Furthermore, with the development of the Eurogang project in the late 1990s, research regarding these groups in Europe, as well as in other countries across the world, has become more plentiful, further expanding our knowledge regarding gangs and the role of race and ethnicity, as well as immigration and migration.
 As the relationship between race and ethnicity and gang membership takes on more meaning, numerous explanations have been developed to account for this connection. Much of the research, both past and present, centers on the association between race and ethnicity and the impacts of social disorganization, discrimination, immigration, and cumulative disadvantage. Community and environmental factors play a crucial role in explaining why gangs thrive in communities often occupied by racial and ethnic minorities. Relatedly, external threats, specifically violence from other groups, can provide the impetus for gang development in neighborhoods marked by disorder; thus, other explanations center on violence and the role that gangs play in mitigating this threat while serving as a protective factor for the youth in the community. The risk factor approach, gaining more prominence in gang literature, investigates individual risk for gang membership, as well as the cumulative effects of risk factors. These various frameworks assist in beginning to understand the underlying factors contributing to gang membership.
 With regard to policy recommendations, investigating "race and ethnicity specific" risk factors as well how these risk factors might impact programming remain key. In order to fully comprehend the development of gangs, a number of gang researchers have called for the need to understand the different historical experiences of racial and ethnic groups within the United States. For example, the histories of Hispanic and African American groups impact their experiences and thus may result in different pathways to gang membership. And yet, in many respects, these groups are still treated as single entities, ignoring their distinct histories. In fact, there remains a paucity of information regarding cross-group comparisons that examine actual differences between racial and ethnic groups. Without a closer examination of the relationship between race, ethnicity, and gang membership, effective gang policies and practices will remain out of reach.


Outsourcing – transferring a portion of an organisation's processes to external entities – has grown significantly over the last 20 years. Developing Commonwealth countries, such as India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, are among the top 20 most attractive locations for outsourcing worldwide. Belize is a small state that shares its borders with larger countries in Central America. Like many small states, Belize's competitiveness in manufacturing is constrained by high transaction costs and limited economies of scale. Can the country leverage its strengths to provide business services to clients abroad?


Fungi are a large group of eukaryotes found as saprophytes, pathogens or endophytes, which distribute in every corner of our planet. As the main pathogens, fungi can cause 70–80% of total plant diseases, leading to huge crop yield reduction and economic loss. For identification of fungal plant pathogens, mycologists and plant pathologists have mainly gone through two stages, viz. morphological observation and morphology/phylogeny, and the next era might be utilizing DNA barcodes as the tool for rapid identification. This chapter accounts i) the brief history of development for fungal identification tools and main concepts, ii) the importance and confusion of "One fungus, one name" for pathogen identification, iii) more or fewer species that we need in agricultural practice, and iv) the foreground of fungal plant pathogen identification. These will help to solve the practical problems of identification of fungal pathogens in agricultural production.


A crucial technology in fully autonomous aerial swarms is collaborative SLAM (CSLAM), which enables the estimation of relative pose and global consistent trajectories of aerial robots. However, existing CSLAM systems do not prioritize relative localization accuracy, critical for close collaboration among UAVs. This paper presents $D^2$SLAM, a novel decentralized and distributed ($D^2$) CSLAM system that covers two scenarios: near-field estimation for high accuracy state estimation in close range and far-field estimation for consistent global trajectory estimation. $D^2$SLAM has a versatile and powerful front-end that can use stereo cameras or omnidirectional cameras as input, the former being easy to obtain and the latter being an excellent solution to the Field of View problem in relative localization. Our experiments verify $D^2$SLAM achieves high accuracy in ego-motion estimation, relative localization, and global consistency. Moreover, distributed optimization algorithms are adopted to achieve the $D^2$ objective to allow the scale-up of the swarm and ensure robustness against network delays. We argue $D^2$SLAM can be applied in a wide range of real-world applications.


ABSTRACT Introduction Modulation of epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to retinal development may render the eye susceptible to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Progression of AMD involves alterations of epigenome such as CpG methylation and histone modifications, and study of the epigenetic regulation of molecular/cellular pathways associated with AMD might identify target epigenetic markers for treatment of AMD. Areas covered In this review, we provide an overview of the influence of epigenetic factors on signaling pathways/related genes associated with AMD, mainly hypoxia, angiogenesis, inflammation, complement, and oxidative stress; and discuss the critical role of microRNAs in AMD. Expert opinion Better understanding of epigenetic-mediated and microRNA-mediated regulation of the AMD disease-related pathways would help to assess the risk of developing AMD besides providing valuable insight on potential target candidates for AMD therapy.


In this work, a facile and cost-effective approach to assemble metallic wires into two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) freestanding geometries by room-temperature welding is demonstrated. The low melting point of gallium (29.8 °C) enables the welding at room temperature without the aid of high-energy sources required for high-melting-point metals and alloys. The welding enables assembly of solid gallium wires into 2D and 3D geometries that could create freestanding architectures with multiple junctions along any inclined direction. These 2D and 3D freestanding metallic structures are freeze-cast in soft elastomers to obtain stretchable and soft devices: a 2D stretchable resistive and capacitive sensor patterned with parallel metal lines, a 2D stretchable capacitive sensor patterned with an interdigitated metal structure with capacitive changes on stretching in both x- and y-axes, and a 3D compressive sensor by assembly of liquid metal helices, which could sense foot pressure compression. We also developed a facile method to interconnect between soft circuits and external electronics, suppressing stress during mechanical deformation.


The Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine hosts student-run free clinics that offer surgical sterilization of male and female dogs and cats, with the goal of 20 surgical cases per clinic. Surgical complexity varies significantly between the surgical procedures for males (castration) and females (ovariohysterectomy) and is also influenced by weight and age for dogs. A surgical complexity scoring system was implemented to ensure the minimum number of patients while providing a diverse mix of cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether the surgical complexity scoring system accurately predicted procedure duration. Surgical records were collected between August 2016 and October 2019. Points (1-5) were assigned to each patient at the time of appointment based on species, sex, additional procedure, age and weight, and the schedule was targeted for 50 points. Each point was predicted to account for 15 minutes of surgical time. The duration for each point category was assessed via rank-sum against the predicted median. Sixteen clinics occurred during the study period, having a mean of 40.4 points and 17 patients, 29.5 (74%) of which were allocated to students. There were 264 surgeries, with 241 (91%) having complete start and end times. Surgical duration for student surgeries was not different from the estimate for each point category, with the exception of 2-points, which had a median 5.0 minutes longer than anticipated (p = 0.0004). The surgical complexity scoring system is an effective tool to optimize scheduling of educational spay/neuter mobile clinics.


The rotifer fauna of Iran is poorly known. This comprehensive study presents the results of an investigation of rotifers sampled in 51 freshwater sites of Tehran and neighboring provinces of Iran, from May 2006 to May 2007. Of the 115 species identified, 72 from 19 genera and 5 families are new for the fauna of Iran. Including the present records, the number of known Iranian rotifers has now reached 143. So far, the species found in Iran are overwhelmingly Palearctic. The present study is a first step towards more similar studies to update the existing species list of rotifers from all over Iran.


Two experiments show that metamaterials can shape the thermal distribution around an object, eliminating its disturbance of the thermal flux.


ABSTRACT
 The family Protocetidae was first delimited to include Protocetus and Eocetus, the only protocetid genera known at that time. Both are from the middle Eocene of Gebel Mokattam, Egypt. Only three genera were added to the family prior to the 1990s, but since then 16 genera from Indo-Pakistan, North and West Africa, and North America have been added, greatly expanding our knowledge of their diversity, anatomy, behavior, and biogeography. Protocetids are as yet unknown from Europe, Oceania, the North Pacific, or Antarctica. Here, several protocetid teeth are described from New Jersey and South Carolina. The New Jersey specimens represent the northern-most discovery of protocetids in the world. Several were collected by avocational paleontologists, while others were identified in museum collections, where they were previously misidentified. Currently, there are four protocetid species from North America, each in its own genus: Carolinacetus gingerichi, Crenatocetus rayi, Georgiacetus vogtlensis, and Natchitochia jonesi.


The electrical properties of ferroelectric substances are investigated and related to the Curie-Weiss law. A cryogenic experiment suitable for students measures the electrical susceptibility of strontium titanate in the 90-300 K temperature range. By measuring the electrical susceptibility of a modified barium titanate ceramic between 273 K and 343 K a phase transition is clearly observed at 304 K.


The geology and especially the magmatic rocks of Gokceada, which is the biggest island of Turkey and located at 20 km's west of Biga Peninsula, constitute the subject of this study. Late Ediacaran/Early Paleozoic aged Camlica metamorphics which crop out with a tectonic uplift in a narrow area in northwest of Gokceada are the oldest rocks of the island. Early Eocene aged Karaagac Formation which is formed by submarine fan deposits unconformably overlies Camlica metamorphics. As for the Dagicitepe volcanic member which is formed by rhyolitic lavas, tuff and tuffites emplaced into Karaagac Formation cutting Camlica metamorphics is the oldest volcanic unit of the study area. On Karaagac Formation, Koyunbaba Formation has unconformably been deposited which consists of Middle Eocene shallow marine sediments. Then it has conformably been overlain by Sogucak Formation which consists of SE-NW extending reefal limestone. Middle-Upper Eocene aged Ceylan Formation which conformably overlies the Sogucak Formation and the early Oligocene aged Mezardere Formation which conformably overlies Ceylan Formation have been deposited due to turbiditic currents in deep marine environment. Late Eocene(?) – Oligocene aged subvolcanics which cut Mesozoic and Eocene units and emplaced into Eocene aged sedimentary units in the form of crypto dome and dome form the recent rigid topography of the study area and are the second magmatic phase called the "Gokceada Domes". Diorite-monzonites porphyry which crystallized in lower zones of subvolcanics on the other hand constitutes Mutludere intrusion. In eastern and southern parts of Gokceada, Late Oligocene Gokceada ignimbrites are located which are observed in the form of pumice flows on Mezardere Formation. These ignimbrites are then overlain by Early Miocene aged Kesmekaya volcanics which are formed by blocky ash flows. Middle Miocene aged Eselek volcanics consisting of lava and pyroclastics with composition basaltic andesite and andesite are observed on a large area in east of Gokceada. Upper Miocene aged Canakkale Formation which is generally formed by the intercalation of poor consolidated conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and marl crops out in narrow regions at east, southeast and south of Gokceada. Quaternary alluvial deposits and debris composed of loose, unconsolidated sand, silt and other sediments unconformably overlie all previous units and complete the succession. Main tectonic structures of Gokceada are formed by right lateral oblique faults which developed in Neo-tectonic period


This research purposes to evaluate the influence created by brand value, product quality, and consumers complacency on consumers' fidelity directly and indirectly thru complacency. Then the populace sample used as a reference in this subject was 100 respondents using a sampling technique, namely Purposive Sampling with the criteria of consumers aged 17 years and over and following Instagram @msglow_dee. Data analysis using Path Analysis technique (Path Analysis). The analysis results show that brand value and product quality positively and prominently affect complacency. Results show that brand value has a positive and prominent influence on consumers' fidelity. Product quality has a positive and prominent effect on consumers' fidelity, and brand value product quality positively and prominently impacts consumers' fidelity thru complacency.
Keywords: Brand Value, Product Quality, Consumers Fidelity, Consumers Complacency.


We propose and demonstrate a novel reconfigurable instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) system based on the dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DPMZM). The IFM system can be reconfigurable with tunable measurement range and resolution by simply adjusting the dc bias voltage of the DPMZM. In principle, the measurement range could be tuned to any frequencies, which is only limited by the bandwidth of the optical transmitter and receiver employed. Alternatively, the IFM system can also work with a fixed wide measurement range and moderate resolution by generating two complementary power-fading functions.


Effects of exchange-transfusion with a modified hemoglobin (pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate; PHP) on diameter of rat mesenteric arterioles responding to various vasoactive substances were examined using the image-splitter television microscopy method. The mesentery of the anesthetized rat was spread over the stage of a microscope and the microvasculature was visualized by transillumination. Exchange-transfusion with a 6%PHP solution (30 ml/kg) was performed and effects of topical application of norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine(ACh) on diameter of mesenteric arterioles were examined. By exchange-transfusion with PHP, NE induced a dose-dependent decrease in diameter, while ACh induced a dose-dependent increase in diameter of the arterioles preconstricted by NE. There was no difference in vascular responsiveness to ACh and NE before and after exchange-transfusion with PHP solution. Results suggest that circulating PHP moiety does not exert any action on function of endothelial cell to release endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in rat mesenteric microvasculature in situ.


Background: Patients with multiple myeloma, an incurable haematological cancer, often receive palliative care only late in their trajectory. Criteria for early referral are lacking. Aim: To identify which patients might benefit from early integration, by identifying trajectories of health-related quality of life and the determinants for declining or poor Health related quality of life . Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Participants: Multiple myeloma patients at all stages (newly diagnosed, first-line or second-line treatment, early or later treatment-free interval, refractory disease) from in- and outpatient units at 14 hospitals in England were recruited. In addition to clinical information and standardised Health related quality of life and psychological aspects, the Myeloma Patient Outcome Scale (MyPOS) measured palliative care concerns. Results: A total of 238 patients were recruited, on average 3.5 years (SD: 3.4) post-diagnosis. Latent mixture growth models identified four Health related quality of life trajectories. Classes 3 and 4 represent trajectories of stable poor Health related quality of life or declining Health related quality of life over an 8-month period. The strongest predictors of poor outcome at the end of follow-up were general symptom level (odds ratio (OR): 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.6, p = 0.028), presence of clinically relevant anxiety (OR: 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–1.4, p = 0.019), and presence of pain (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.0–1.1, p = 0.018), all being more predictive than demographic or clinical characteristics. Conclusion: General symptom level, pain and presence of anxiety predict declining Health related quality of life in multiple myeloma. Identification of patients with palliative care needs should focus on assessing patient-reported symptoms and psychosocial well-being for identifying those at risk of deterioration.


Background: Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism (SNH) is a metabolic disease related to calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and causes generalized bone dystrophy. It occurs especially when animals are fed diets which contain proportionally high levels of phosphorus. SNH has been diagnosed in various large feline species such as jaguars, tigers, lions and leopards by means of biochemical and radiographic exams. Even though the feeding habits of these animals are well known, mistakes regarding administration of diets to animals in captivity are common, the most frequent being feeding them exclusively meat. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and radiographic fi ndings of SNH in a cougar kept in captivity. Case: An approximately 9-month-old cougar (Puma concolor) which had been fed an exclusive meat diet was referred to the UFMT Veterinary Hospital after a period of diet correction and oral supplementation with calcium. The animal exhibited hind limb ambulation problems, poor nutritional condition and constipation. Radiographic examination revealed a slight skeletal density reduction, severe angular deformities of the hind limb bones, thickening of the femoral diaphysis, abnormal curvatures of the tibiae and calcanei, lateral displacement of the patellae and narrowing of the pelvic canal. Additionally to the skeletal alterations, there was intense colonic impaction caused by exacerbated accumulation of segmented, highly radiopaque feces. Discussion: In their natural habitat, wild carnivores eat not only meat but also organs like liver, intestines and bones, which suffi ce the body's needs for essential minerals and vitamins. A meat exclusive diet with no calcium and vitamin D supplementation results in imbalance of calcium and phosphorus levels as well as an increase in the parathyroid hormone levels in the serum. Increased levels of this hormone cause bone resorption and generalized decrease in skeletal density and resistance which can be identifi ed by means of radiographic exams. In this report, the animal exhibited history, clinical signs and radiographic fi ndings similar to cases of SNH in other large felines. Prolonged meat exclusive diet administration caused marked deformities of the pelvis and hind limb bones which were refl ected by severe problems in locomotion and defecation. Radiographs showed the existence of angular deformities in several long bones, alterations in shape and of the cortical and medullary portions of the bones, and also the presence of numerous radiopaque lines indicative of fracture consolidation. However, contrary to findings described in other reports, there was only a focal reduction in bone density, probably owing to the balanced diet and treatment employed before the radiographs were taken. Furthermore, in this case constipation occurred simultaneously to the skeletal problems. As reported for domestic animals, the most plausible explanation for the fecal retention observed is mechanical compression of the rectum by the deformed pelvic bones. The present report demonstrates that nutritional hyperparathyroidism can occur in cougars, with characteristics similar to those observed in domestic cats and other large felines. Additionally, it can be diagnosed based on epidemiological data, clinical fi ndings and radiographic imaging.


Abstract Existing studies have provided evidence of job polarization in many developed countries. The issue of wage polarization is less obvious: many articles do not address it at all, and some even confuse it with job polarization. At the same time, the significance of the phenomenon of polarization results precisely from the consequence of wage polarization: the increase in wage inequality. The aim of this article is to find out whether wage polarization occurred in the Czech Republic during the period 2004–2018. Wage development in the private sphere does not imply wage polarization, but in the public sphere, results imply a very slight wage polarization mainly due to the development between 2004 and 2010. This phenomenon has occurred in both male and female occupations. Panel regression analysis shows that globalization reduces upper-tail inequality (the ratio Q90/Q50) while increasing lower-tail inequality (the ratio Q50/Q10). At the level of the whole economy, technology seems to contribute to reducing both upper-tail and lower-tail inequality. These results probably correspond to the nature of the Czech economy, which is based on middle-skilled workers with a pro-export focus.


A rarely collected shallow‐subtidal Hawaiian macroalga has been determined anatomically and molecularly to belong to an undescribed species of Tylotus J. Agardh, the most widely distributed genus of the small, mostly Australian‐endemic family Dicranemataceae. Thalli are repent and imbricate on calcareous boulders at the type locality on O'ahu, and are anchored both basally and by haptera arising marginally and ventrally on the (sub‐)dichotomous, linear axes. Simple or forked terete haptera can be a means of perennation by the occasional direct issuing of adventitious blades. Fronds are multiaxial and consist of a broad pseudoparenchymatous medulla of thick‐walled cells surrounded on both sides by a two‐ or three‐layered small‐celled pigmented cortex in which numbers of 'glandular' hairs are embedded. Tetrasporangia are zonate, and gametophytes are monoecious. Carpogonial branches are three‐celled, directed to the thallus surface, and borne laterally on inner‐cortical supporting cells; cystocarps are prominently protuberant and scattered sparingly on dorsal frond surfaces, the carposporophytes directed outwardly beneath an ostiolate pericarp and connected to the parent gametophyte across a broad placental base in which the remnant auxiliary cell persists centrally. The inner surface of the pericarp is unusual in producing extensive patches or isolated islands of short gonimoblast filaments with terminal carposporangia as an apparent result of the implantation of gonimoblasts into the tissue of the lining. Anatomy indicates that the new species is more closely related to the East‐Asian Tylotus lichenoides Okamura than to the only other described member of the genus, the type species T. obtusatus (Sonder) J. Agardh from southern Australia. An rbcL phylogeny supports placement of sequences for Hawaiian specimens within the genus Tylotus but distinct from all previously recorded sequences of Tylotus. As is widely reported in other molecular‐phylogenetic analyses of the Gigartinales, we find that support for generic and familial relationships within the order is strong whereas that for between‐family relationships is low.


In this article Claude Le Jeune's Dix Pseaumes is investigated, with special attention to its historical context. The Dix Pseaumes came into existence during the initial phase of the Frenchwars of religion, between the Edict of Ambois on 19 March 1563 and its publication in 1564,with Le Jeune as its composer and Theodore de Beze wrote the texts. De Beze's influence in forming the French Protestant's view on armed resistance makes his connection to the Dix Pseaumes very interesting. It is argued that the non-sequential order of the psalms in this work cannot be accepted as unintentional, but relates directly to the political situation of that time. The texts were evidently chosen to mirror a well-defined consciousness of the French Protestants' particular existential situation. This is worked out in detail with respect to theopening psalm (Psalm 96), but can be detected in all the other psalms as well. The closing psalm (Psalm 81) ends with an upbraiding of the people's unkindness in refusing the yoke of God's law. Thus the obstinate disobedience of the people is blamed for the sad state of affairs in the country. This sorrowful note is echoed in the chanson spirituelle , Mais qui es-tu , which closes Le Jeune's collection.


To find the effective features from many syntactic features could improve the efficiency and accuracy of the semantic role labeling system. Based on the original semantic role labeling system, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize those syntactic features. From the experiment results, it could be concluded that the syntactic feature selection based on genetic algorithm is efficient. The system uses fewer features, but achieves almost the same F value as the whole extended model.


Abstract Psychopathy is a severe form of personality disturbance, resulting in a detrimental impact on individuals, healthcare systems, and society as a whole. Until relatively recently, most research in psychopathy has focused on male samples, not least because of its link with criminal behavior and the large proportion of violent crime committed by men. However, psychopathy in women also leads to considerable problems at an individual and societal level, including substance misuse, poor treatment outcomes, and contribution to ever-increasing numbers of female prisoners. Despite this, due to relative neglect, most research into adult female psychopathy is underpowered and outdated. We argue that the field needs revitalizing, with a focus on the developmental nature of the condition and neurocognitive research. Recent work international consortia into conduct disorder in female youth—a precursor of psychopathy in female adults—gives cause for optimism. Here, we outline key strategies for enriching research in this important field with contemporary approaches to other psychiatric conditions.


national centrifuge cup 353A), covered with aluminium foil and autoclaved. In practice, however, contamination has never been a problem, and it has been found practicable to remove the used capillary tubes after one run and replace these carefully with fresh sterile ones. If the capillary tubes had been charged with pathogenic microorganisms, this handling procedure might constitute a hazard to the operator. In that event, the lower ends of the used capillary tubes should be immersed in an appropriate disinfectant contained in a suitable vessel such as a 600 ml beaker. The height of the vessel would be adjusted with the laboratory jack so that the capillary tubes are introduced belowthe surfaceofthe disinfectant before their removal. Each tube would be individually removed by applying forceps below the lower polypropylene sheet of the capillary holder and carefully pulling downwards until the tube is freed from the teflon collar and slides into the disinfectant. This method effectively safeguards against splashing. If the number of cell suspensions to be tested is large, the apparatus could be readily modified by preparing larger rectangular capillary holders and patterns as recommended by Hartman and Pattee (1968) and using appropriately sized plates. Using the apparatus as described, it was found possible to inoculate the surface of 190 plates with 12 inocula on each plate in less than two hours. The main advantages of this apparatus are its relatively low cost, its simplicity of operation, and its reproducibility of performance.


Real-time heuristic search is a popular model of acting and learning in intelligent autonomous agents. Learning real-time search agents improve their performance over time by acquiring and refining a value function guiding the application of their actions. As computing the perfect value function is typically intractable, a heuristic approximation is acquired instead. Most studies of learning in real-time search (and reinforcement learning) assume that a simple value-function-greedy policy is used to select actions. This is in contrast to practice, where high-performance is usually attained by interleaving planning and acting via a lookahead search of a non-trivial depth. In this paper, we take a step toward bridging this gap and propose a novel algorithm that (i) learns a heuristic function to be used specifically with a lookahead-based policy, (ii) selects the lookahead depth adaptively in each state, (iii) gives the user control over the trade-off between exploration and exploitation. We extensively evaluate the algorithm in the sliding tile puzzle testbed comparing it to the classical LRTA* and the more recent weighted LRTA*, bounded LRTA*, and FALCONS. Improvements of 5 to 30 folds in convergence speed are observed.


The trajectories of ions in the Tsyganenko magnetic field model with a convection electric field have been compared to the trajectories when a perturbation electric field based on ISEE-1 and Geotail observations of lower hybrid frequency waves is included. The inclusion of waves dramatically modifies the characteristics of the ion trajectories. For example, initial conditions which result in adiabatic orbits in the absence of waves are often non-adiabatic when waves are included. In addition, both the regions of space accessible to the particles and the energization are changed. Although only individual trajectories were examined in this study, it is argued that the effect of the waves is to mix previously distinct regions of phase space.


Graduate student Teaching Assistants (GTAs) contribute to calculus instruction in two ways: as the primary teacher and as recitation leaders. GTAs can also be viewed as the next generation of mathematics instructors. Thus, in addition to their immediate contribution to the landscape of Calculus 1 instruction, GTAs will contribute significantly to the long-term state of calculus in their future occupations. However, their preparation for these roles varies widely and is often minimal. In this study, I first compare the mathematical beliefs, instructional practices, and student success of GTAs to other Calculus 1 instructors. I then provide rich descriptions for three GTA professional development (PD) programs that prepare graduate students as course instructors, as recitation leaders, and as future faculty. I then investigate the instructional practices and mathematical beliefs of graduate students coming from these three PD programs. I conclude this work with a description of a framework for GTA-PD programs. To accomplish this work, I conducted a mixed-method analysis on national survey data and case study data from four doctoral granting institutions. These four institutions were chosen because of their higher-than -expected student success in Calculus 1. The results of these analyses indicate that graduate students teach in more innovative ways than other instructors, though their students were less successful. Among the four case study institutions, I identified three models of GTA-PD, each of which appeared successful in accomplishing their goals. These goals included transitioning graduate students into the role of instructor, preparing graduate students to implement an innovative approach to Calculus 1, and supporting graduate students as recitation leaders. These analyses also led to the development of a framework to be used to characterize, evaluate, and consider the implementation of graduate student professional development programs. This GTA-PD framework is thus one of the major contributions put forth by this dissertation


To document the enthusiasm for the CAMEA spectrometer, we provide in this document: i) Letters of support from leading scientists representing several of the fields of science that will be enabled by CAMEA. ii) A list of scientists who wished to be listed as supporters of CAMEA, because they are keen to see CAMEA built. iii) Statistics from a survey to identify the need for CAMEA, and the demand for each of the advanced measurement capabilities CAMEA will enable.


The Mediterranean agro-food systems need to be properly managed. A promising pathway is the transition towards more sustainable food systems through agroecology, which represents the ecology of food systems. In this paper, the state-of-the-art of agroecology is described for three representative euro-Mediterranean countries: Italy, Greece, and Spain. The analysis has been partly based on results of a dedicated literature search and partly on grey literature and expert knowledge. After an overview of the history of agroecology, targeted research and education, collective action (political and social), and some agroecological practices in the three countries are presented. These countries share a rather similar use of the term "agroecology", but they differ regarding (i) the existence/extent of strong civil and social movements; (ii) the type of study/educational programmes, and the relative importance of different scientific disciplines and their evolution; (iii) the development of political support and legal frameworks; and (iv) the elaboration of concepts to rediscover traditional practices and apply new ones, often taken from the organic agriculture sector. Agroecology is an emerging concept for the Mediterranean agricultural sector, with huge potential due to the peculiar socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic features of the region. To boost agroecology in Mediterranean Europe, better networking and engagement of different actors within a coherent institutional framework supporting the transition is strongly needed.


Abstract The waxing-and-waning nature of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), complex treatment plans, along with variable responsiveness to therapy, can create management challenges for patients. In this pilot cross-over randomized controlled trial, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness a HS-written action plan (HSWAP) on patient disease understanding and confidence in recognizing flares and adjusting management. Participants were randomized into a pre-crossover control group that received a verbal consultation (VC)-only, and an intervention group which received the VC + HSWAP. The pre-crossover control group then crossed over (post-crossover control) to also receive the VC + HSWAP (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04600375). Patient comprehension of their disease and management steps was high after both a thorough VC and HSWAPs. However, the majority of patients prefer receiving both a VC and a HSWAP. After the addition of the HSWAP, pre-crossover control group patients' understanding and confidence of their disease and management plan increased across all surveyed questions.