Challenging and involving all employees in the innovation process will improve the "climate for innovation" and, ultimately, the contribution of RD people naturally think of ways to make their jobs easier, faster and more productive. Although these words are a truism, few R&D organizations have effective systems in place to solicit ideas and then implement the best ones. In short, there is no formal process for innovation. The informal process required an "idea champion," usually the idea's creator, whose persistence and personal energy were required to make things happen. An effective innovation process should include a system for encouraging employee suggestions that removes barriers and makes it easy to contribute ideas, and makes it equally easy to decide next steps for the best ideas. Any system that does this will increase the likelihood that good ideas will be submitted. Strong, visible support by leadership lets everyone know that individual thinking and ideas are valued, and allows everyone to be more involved with the business. This, in turn, establishes an improved climate for innovation. Perhaps you have been involved with "suggestion systems" in the past that didn't work well. Typically, these were instituted by leaders and kicked off with high visibility "hoopla" only to eventually fall into disuse and be quietly abandoned. One Fortune 100 company we know became so disenchanted with its system that it formally abolished it and replaced it with nothing! The Human Side Suggestion systems most often fail because the human side of the system is ignored, and because the added work of administering the system becomes so burdensome that it falls under its own weight. In another Fortune 100 company with a highly publicized employee suggestion system focused on cost reduction, participants were paid for their ideas. Program administrators and managers (who saw the ideas first) began stealing ideas, submitting them as their own to get the reward! Naturally, this diminished cooperation and gave employees an incentive to withhold their ideas from one another, which in turn squelched "debates on the issues," another important dimension of the climate for innovation. This is a classic example of the well-known "fix that backfires" archetype in systems thinking technology (3), which could have been avoided by considering the human issues. Such behavior is not surprising to those schooled in systems thinking technology or in knowledge management and human behavior (4), but came as a complete surprise to the leaders. …


The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between teachers' professional experience and students' perceptions of their relationships with teachers. It also investigated the influence of these perceptions on students' affect toward the course and the teacher. Fourteen high school teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) and 436 students participated in the study. Teachers had a professional experience of either two years or less or twenty years or more. Results showed that experienced teachers were perceived by students as significantly more co-operative than new teachers. There was no significant difference between influence behaviors of experienced and new teachers. Students' perceptions of relationships with teacher had a significant effect on their affect toward the course and the teacher. Effect of proximity was higher for both forms of affect.


Church bells will ring and lights will be lit to remember the 2019 Easter Sunday tragedy. Meanwhile, people have also been putting up a fight against the deadly coronavirus.


One construct that lies in between the cognitive and affective domains of mathematics education is belief and this concept is rarely investigated in the Nigerian mathematics education community. Thus, an investigation of early-years future teachers' mathematical beliefs as determinants of performance in primary mathematics within the blueprint of the quantitative method of the descriptive survey research design was conducted. Three research questions were addressed and secondary data relating to performance in mathematics of 320 early-years future teachers were retrieved from their records at the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, University of Lagos, Nigeria. One other instrument labeled Mathematical Beliefs Scale was employed for the collection of key data connected to the mathematical beliefs. The collected data were condensed and explored with the principal components factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, and independent samples t-test. Results showed that mathematical beliefs measured using the Mathematical Beliefs Scale are a multidimensional construct with four-factor structure: emotional and developmental commitment in learning of mathematics; self-assurance and philosophies concerning one's subjective mathematical aptitude; beliefs about mathematics; and mathematical problem-solving beliefs. These factors show adequate and excellent reliabilities as computed using Cronbach alpha. Also, gender was not a factor in early-years future teachers' mathematical beliefs even at the subscale level and the four factors of the mathematical belief scale predicted early-years future teachers' performance in primary mathematics. In line with these results, it is recommended that early-years future teachers be taught in a constructivist manner so that they can imbibe constructivist beliefs capable of engendering better learning of mathematics.


Lymphocytes play key roles in the chronic inflammation critical for T2D pathogenesis. We have shown T2D patients have an elevated ratio of pro- to anti-inflammatory T cells, and B cells that produce a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile. Thus lymphocytes promote T2D-associated inflammation. Numerous studies implicate the pro-inflammatory CD4+ T cell balance in T2D pathogenesis, but mechanisms that underlie elevated CD4+ T cell inflammation are poorly understood. We explored the possibility that the T2D-associated changes we identified in B cell function regulate T cell inflammation. We show that B cells control the T2D-associated increase in Th17-mediated inflammation in T2D patients and in obese/insulin resistant mice. Surprisingly, the disease-associated ability of B cells to regulate T cell function is contact-dependent, despite evidence that B cell cytokines hyper-secreted in T2D patients activate T cells. In contrast, elevated activation of Th1 cytokines is B cell-independent. We conclude that both T cell-intrinsic and T cell-extrinsic (B cell-dependent) changes regulate T cell inflammation in T2D. These data indicate that B cell depletion may partially curb T2D-associated T cell inflammation, and thus disease pathogenesis; however, combinatorial treatments aimed at multiple inflammatory axes may be required for favorable clinical outcomes.


Background: A recent trend in second language acquisition and learning has been oriented towards brain-based studies and its association with brain development and plasticity. There are currently unprecedented opportunities for contemporary understanding of the neurological basis of second language (L2) learning owing to recent advances in cognitive neuroscience. Brain functional and structural investigations have contributed remarkably to biological explanations of language acquisition in addition to behavioral explorations. Methods: This study used a meta-analysis of previous findings of functional neuroimaging studies to elucidate the neuroanatomy of language learning from a functional perspective. By synthesizing existing literature, brain activation areas associated with different language learning skills and their convergence and overlap with other areas of activation for other cognitive and motor skills are extracted to reveal consistent functional areas of the brain. The current study attempts to link psycholinguistic research and cognitive neuroscience in the mediation of L2 learning and teaching. This review paper begins with a theoretical view of brain structure and function and concludes with a practical model of brain-based language instruction, resulting in a deeper understanding of the field. Results: Organized, conjoining cognitive neuroscience findings and L2 acquisition and learning approaches provide an opportunity for collaboration in cross-disciplinary studies. They provide new insights into how our brain represents languages. This article reviews recent advancements in our understanding of the brain; structural and functional organization of the brain; the role the brain plays in emotion, cognition, and development; and its consequent implication in language instruction. In effect, taking neurocognitive findings into account may have potential in developing brain-based tasks for the benefit of second language instruction in educational settings. Based on the revealed structural and functional areas of the brain and their networks of connection and interaction, manipulating areas of demanded activity may be as efficient as doing physical exercise to strengthen muscles. Conclusion: Developing a systematic model of second language instruction compatible with brain functions and patterns can benefit the rate and proficiency of language learners, thus improving language teaching and learning outcomes. This paper will aid the quest for utilizing general information of brain functions and related methods in developing practical, efficient language instruction as well as enhancing interdisciplinary research studies in both language and cognitive neuroscience.


Dynamically planning in multi-agent systems has been explored to improve decision-making in various domains. Professional basketball serves as a compelling example of a dynamic spatio-temporal game, encompassing both concealed strategic policies and decision-making. However, processing the diverse on-court signals and navigating the vast space of potential actions and outcomes makes it difficult for existing approaches to swiftly identify optimal strategies in response to evolving circumstances. In this study, we first formulate the sequential decision-making process as a conditional trajectory generation process. We further introduce PLAYBEST (PLAYer BEhavior SynThesis), a method for enhancing player decision-making. We extend the state-of-the-art generative model, diffusion probabilistic model, to learn challenging multi-agent environmental dynamics from historical National Basketball Association (NBA) player motion tracking data. To incorporate data-driven strategies, an auxiliary value function is trained using the play-by-play data with corresponding rewards acting as the plan guidance. To accomplish reward-guided trajectory generation, conditional sampling is introduced to condition the diffusion model on the value function and conduct classifier-guided sampling. We validate the effectiveness of PLAYBEST via comprehensive simulation studies from real-world data, contrasting the generated trajectories and play strategies with those employed by professional basketball teams. Our results reveal that the model excels at generating high-quality basketball trajectories that yield efficient plays, surpassing conventional planning techniques in terms of adaptability, flexibility, and overall performance. Moreover, the synthesized play strategies exhibit a remarkable alignment with professional tactics, highlighting the model's capacity to capture the intricate dynamics of basketball games.


Abstract Nursing staff plays a key role in the public health response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, being in the front line of care. This study sought to synthesise the qualitative literature on care experiences of frontline nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A search was conducted on five databases in January 2021. Fifteen qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the research, being submitted to interpretive meta‐synthesis according to the eMERGe guide. The final synthesis included a line of argument that shows the experiences of frontline nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic, divided into three major themes: 'Instability on the edge of a cliff: unpredictable and unknown context,' 'The price of walking the tightrope: the uncertainty surrounding care,' and 'Finding the balance to reach the other side: dealing with the emotional demands of care.' Although essential in the health response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, nurses experienced an emotional impact arising from the hampered care provision. Our results point to need for strengthening the training of nurses and future nurses, creating and promoting measures that contribute to their psycho‐emotional well‐being, ensuring a safe environment for their clinical practice, and promoting their participation in decision‐making processes.


Divertor impurity radiation is considered as one possibility of reducing the target heat load in ITER-grade devices. The radiative power fraction in the divertor is, however, limited in principle and, under standard high recycling conditions, it is relatively small. In this paper we discuss the possible increase of the maximum radiative fraction by a 'neutral cushion' that provides a pressure drop in the divertor due to ion-neutral interaction. For ITER EDA parameters and the present ITER divertor design a pressure drop by a factor of about ten would allow the radiative fraction to increase sufficiently to satisfy constraints on ITER target loads ( approximately=5 MW/m2). Experimental and theoretical evidence has been given in the literature for gas targets with the required properties. Supersonic flow conditions at the target are also included in the discussion, but are found to be insufficient, by themselves, to provide the required effect


Abstract This paper asks whether scarcity increases violence in markets that lack a centralized authority. We construct a model in which, by raising prices, scarcity fosters violence. Guided by our model, we examine this effect in the Mexican cocaine trade. At a monthly frequency, scarcity created by cocaine seizures in Colombia, Mexico's main cocaine supplier, increases violence in Mexico. The effects are larger in municipalities near the United States, with multiple cartels and with strong support for PAN (the incumbent party). Between 2006 and 2009 the decline in cocaine supply from Colombia could account for 10% to 14% of the increase in violence in Mexico.


The present study focuses on the behavior of diffusion phenomenon in stenosed capillary-tissue exchange system where the rheology of flowing blood in the capillary is characterized by the generalized Power-law fluid model. Assessment of the severity of the disease could be made possible through the variation of a parameter named as retention parameter. The concentration profile and associated physiological diffusion variable involved in the study for diseased state have been analyzed. The model is also employed to study the effect of shape of stenosis on flow characteristics. An extensive quantitative analysis is performed through numerical computations of the desired quantities having physiological relevance through their graphical representations so as to validate the applicability of the present model.


In this paper we provide the first, to the best of our knowledge, Bayesian formulation of one of the most successful and well-studied statistical models of shape and texture, i.e. Active Appearance Models (AAMs). To this end, we use a simple probabilistic model for texture generation assuming both Gaussian noise and a Gaussian prior over a latent texture space. We retrieve the shape parameters by formulating a novel cost function obtained by marginalizing out the latent texture space. This results in a fast implementation when compared to other simultaneous algorithms for fitting AAMs, mainly due to the removal of the calculation of texture parameters. We demonstrate that, contrary to what is believed regarding the performance of AAMs in generic fitting scenarios, optimization of the proposed cost function produces results that outperform discriminatively trained state-of-the-art methods in the problem of facial alignment "in the wild".


With essays by an international group of scholars, Questions of Identity in Detective Fiction delves into the ways in which this genre, given its status as popular yet marginalized literature, allows for the exploration of a wide range of meanings. Contributors examine how the genre both mirrors and focuses the personal/sexual/ ethnic/spiritual, how it interfaces with national literatures and histories, and how the generic identity of detective fiction has evolved over time. Chapters include discussions of novels and short stories from American, Argentine, British, Canadian, French, German, and Japanese national literatures, ranging from the mid 19th century to the early 21st century.


Segmental spinal instrumentation has been applied to three groups other than scoliosis. It has been used: 1) to treat fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine; 2) to control instability secondary to malignant destruction; 3) as a closed loop to help stabilize lumbar instability secondary to degenerative disease. A case history ot each was presented. Complications in this series of 63 patients Included three Instances of broken wires, one broken rod, one partial loss of reduction due to wire migration and one deep infection two years postoperative. There was no absolute need for postsurgical immobilization.


Rainwater contains nutrients and can, in a low-input situation, constitute an important
nutrient source for crop production. During 1981-90, rainwater was collected using standardized
collection procedures at tbree different locations at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh.
Samples were analysed for N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg and Na. Ion concentrations were low and varied
from year to year. The mean pH was 7.05. Because the locations were close to each other, there
was no significant. variation in tbe composition of rainwater among tbe locations. There were
negative correlations between the amount of rainfall and the chemical parameters. Phosphorus
was positively correlated witb N, K, S, Ca, Mg and Na. Patancheru is highly industrialized and
its atmosphere will have a bearing on the composition of rainwater. Sulphur fertilizer response
experiments should not be carried out at tbis location. On an average, rainfall at this location
contributes, per hectare, 5.8 kg N, 0.4 kg P, 4.8 kg S, 1.7 kg Ca, 1.7 kg Mg and 10.5 kg Na. The
increase in N, P and S contribution was higher during 1986-90 than in 1981-85.


© The editors and contributors 2010. All rights reserved. This chapter provides a discussion of the use of two different types of mapping tasks in offender interviews, namely sketch and cartographic maps. The methodological issues associated with their use are discussed and examples of their application in previous studies presented. To provide a more concrete example of how they may be used together to examine a specific research hypothesis, illustrative findings from a recent study concerned with the spatial decisionmaking of property offenders are presented. The use of maps in offender interviews is associated with a number of problems, but we argue that they are beneficial and help to elicit information that otherwise might not be revealed.


Amyloidosis is one of the protein conformational disorders in which normally soluble proteins accumulate insoluble amyloid fibrils, leading to severe organ dysfunction. To date, 30 different amyloidogenic proteins have been reported. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is usually used to identify the amyloid precursor protein, but the results may be inconclusive owing to a loss of epitopes or small amounts of amyloid deposits, comprising unknown amyloidogenic protein. Recently, laser microdissection (LMD)-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been used in a novel method to identify amyloid precursor protein from amyloid-laden formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues. We describe the usefulness of the system for amyloid typing in this report.


Undoubtedly, tracer study results is a powerful tool which documented the employment characteristics, transition to employment and the level of satisfaction of the PNU graduates of 2009-2011 in terms of the level of satisfaction of the University services, learning environment and facilities. It also looked into the skills and competencies of the different bachelors' degree programs in teacher education provided during the pre-service training if these existing programs were still effective, adequate and relevant in responding to the rapid and complex changes as brought about by emerging developments such as the international standards in academic programs, the upcoming ASEAN 2015 integration, the Competency Framework of South East Asian (SEA) Teachers in the 21 st


Layout is an important step in analog IC design. This paper presents an automation design of analog circuit layout by matching of devices and reducing noise coupling to decrease noise sensitivity. We first avoid the mismatch of constructing devices. Then, all devices are placed according to the wire length and area constraints. Finally, an effective approach is proposed to reduce noise coupling in the routing step. We have implemented our design method in several CMOS analog circuits. It can be seen that the proposed method can generate good analog circuit layout with specified timing constraints


Blade vibrations, with the possibility of failure, is one of the major factors controlling the reliability of compressors and turbines. The prospects of encountering high alternating stress environments in blades make efficient turbomachine operation a very challenging task. In many cases the compressor or turbine functions through a wide range of load, flow, temperature, and speed which affect blade vibration, thus the stress environment continuously changes as the operating conditions changes. Any flow disturbance upstream of the rotating blades and some disturbances downstream will produce repetitive wake pulses that excite the blades. Resonance occurs with any coincidence of repetitive pulses with structural natural frequencies of rotating blades or impellers resulting in substantial amplification of alternating stresses. Most OEM design practices control vibratory stresses by avoiding resonance with expected stator sources; those excitations that cannot be avoided are designed with sufficient endurance to prevent failure. Thus three aspects of rotor/ blade design affect reliability: 1) aerodynamic excitation level and frequency, 2) structural response and resonance margins, and 3) selection and control of materials, coatings and their fabrication process to withstand the service environment. The main objective of this study is to develop a mathematical model to simulate the stresses in the rotating blade row that evaluates all three aspects of design to assess long term endurance.This is a two part paper on high cycle fatigue (HCF) failure analysis procedure of rotating blades and impellers. Part 1 [1] discusses aerodynamic excitation caused by stator vane and its role in generation of blade vibration. Here comprehensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to get a better understanding of the stator-rotor flow interactions at different operating conditions. The results of the aerodynamic simulations are order related excitation spectrum that can be applied to the stress/pulsation relationship defined in this part of the paper.This paper, Part 2, discusses an empirical dynamic stress model developed by impulse testing, assessing material endurance strength, and evaluation of criteria for failure by HCF.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Aim Coral reefs are widely considered to be particularly vulnerable to changes in ocean temperatures, yet we understand little about the broad-scale spatio-temporal patterns that may cause coral mortality from bleaching and disease. Our study aimed to characterize these ocean temperature patterns at biologically relevant scales. Location Global, with a focus on coral reefs. Methods We created a 4-km resolution, 21-year global ocean temperature anomaly (deviations from long-term means) database to quantify the spatial and temporal characteristics of temperature anomalies related to both coral bleaching and disease. Then we tested how patterns varied in several key metrics of disturbance severity, including anomaly frequency, magnitude, duration and size. Results Our analyses found both global variation in temperature anomalies and fine-grained spatial variability in the frequency, duration and magnitude of temperature anomalies. However, we discovered that even during major climatic events with strong spatial signatures, like the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, areas that had high numbers of anomalies varied between years. In addition, we found that 48% of bleaching-related anomalies and 44% of disease-related anomalies were less than 50 km 2 , much smaller than the resolution of most models used to forecast climate changes. Main conclusions The fine-scale variability in temperature anomalies has several key implications for understanding spatial patterns in coral bleaching- and disease-related anomalies as well as for designing protected areas to conserve coral reefs in a changing climate. Spatial heterogeneity in temperature anomalies suggests that certain reefs could be targeted for protection because they exhibit differences in thermal stress. However, temporal variability in anomalies could complicate efforts to protect reefs, because high anomalies in one year are not necessarily predictive of future patterns of stress. Together, our results suggest that temperature anomalies related to coral bleaching and disease are likely to be highly heterogeneous and could produce more localized impacts of climate change.


A music composition typically comprises a complex arrangement of material, with many internal relationships between events in different locations - repetition, inversion, retrograde and more sophisticated transformations. With compositions created on computer, the information involved can also be highly varied in nature, including audio samples, MIDI events, Standard Western Notation (SWN) or other control data (e.g. Open Sound Control, Csound scores). The creation of such complex artefacts is labour intensive, and current systems typically place a significant cognitive burden on the composer in terms of managing changes and maintaining a work as a coherent whole. FrameWorks 3D is a novel software tool for composers aimed at providing improved support for composition tasks within a traditional Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) style environment. FrameWorks 3D introduces a simple meta-score notation in three dimensions which builds on the standard DAW paradigm of tracks, regions and tape recording analogy. This notation displays hierarchical and transformational information in a single, fully navigable workspace and allows relationships to be established by the composer but maintained by the system, encouraging exploration and experimentation with musical ideas. Currently an audio-only prototype is in development and is presented here as a possible future direction for computer-based music notation.


A new vaneless diffuser model is presented. Upon thorough examination of the change in average total pressure, the average static pressure and the average flow angle through a vaneless diffuser, it was discovered that existing models fail to provide useful integrity. Consequently, a new model was built. It was learned that it was necessary to use a two-zone model of the flow entering the vaneless diffuser and to carefully model the two-zone degradation as the flow passes through the vaneless diffuser. The new model is presented with detailed testing. The impact upon future design is outlined, and the expectation is established that various future designs will require the integrity of the new model; old models can be used in limited cases with care.Copyright © 2005 by Concepts ETI, Inc.


Exploitation and development of renewable energy such as solar and wind energy is a very important alternative to reduce gas emissions, reduce the bill for power generation. This paper examines the implications of renewable energy deployment in power generation with the classical energy system, managed by an intelligent method, to minimize the cost of production of electric energy and also reduce the emission of gases. Simulation results on the 10 units power system prove the efficiency of this method thus confirming its capacity to solve the environmental/economic power dispatch problem with the renewable energy.


The rate of dissociation of recombinant, purified human estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) from a fluorescein-labeled DNA containing the consensus vitellogenin ERE sequence (F-vitERE) was determined in real time using fluorescence anisotropy. The complex of estradiol-occupied ERalpha with F-vitERE had an apparent dissociation rate of 1.48+/-0.06x10(-2) s(-1) and a half-life of 46.6 s at room temperature. The dissociation rate was characterized by a single exponential decay, suggesting that ER dissociates from the DNA as a preformed dimer, rather than as two individual monomers. The association rate of estradiol-occupied ERalpha for the F-vitERE was calculated as 7x10(6) M(-1) s(-1) based on the dissociation rate measured and previous determinations of the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) in similar assay conditions (Ozers et al., 1997). In buffer containing various concentrations of salt, the rate of dissociation of estradiol-occupied ERalpha from F-vitERE was accelerated by increasing salt concentrations. Compared to estradiol-occupied ERalpha, the rate of dissociation of unoccupied ERalpha from the F-vitERE was very similar, indicating that estradiol occupancy does not affect the dissociation rate of ERalpha from the ERE.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between type 2 diabetes (DM2) and socioeconomic inequalities, mediated by the contribution of body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), and diet (diet-DII).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data of adults participating in the Diabetes Mellitus Survey of Mexico City. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics as well as height and weight, dietary intake, leisure time activity and the presence of DM2 were measured. We fitted a structural equation model (SEM) with DM2 as the main outcome, and BMI, diet-DII and PA served as mediator variables between socioeconomic inequalities index (SII) and DM2.

RESULTS
The prevalence of DM2 was 13.6%. From the fitted SEM, each standard deviation increases in the SII was associated with increased scores of DM2 (β=0.174, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
The results in the present study show how high scores in the index of SII may influence the presence of DM2.


likely communication with the indigenous peoples of Brazil was limited, and whatever the Portuguese needed from them may have been obtained by force instead of dialogue. This is a topic of tremendous importance, especially if we take into consideration the current historical context in Brazil. Contemporary Brazil is in such an effervescence as a nation in all of its aspects of identity that I would even take the risk of comparing the linguistic context of current Brazil with the linguistic context of Spain at the end of the 15th-century. Of course, this is not at all a comparison with the economic and infl uential power of Spain back then, but simply the establishment of Spain as a unity, as a nation and the imposition of the Spanish language in this process. Queen Isabel of Spain trusted Antonio de Nebrija to write the Gramática castellana of 1492 to impose a linguistic unity over the Spanish territories. Brazilianists, Brazilian linguists, philologists and grammarians are currently working on a number of projects which may result in a more realistic, unifying grammar of Brazilian Portuguese in terms of its language, memory and nation, and beyond. Soon, in 2022, Brazil will have completed two centuries of independence. This could be a repeat of the impact of the Week of Modern Art of 1922. At the opening of Bethania Mariani's book, we fi nd an inspiring quote from Mário de Andrade in a letter to Câmara Cascudo, ". . . nós não herdamos de Portugal uma língua: herdamos uma gramática." This citation fi ts rather well the focus of Mariani's book which is the study of "language" in terms of its culture, history, memory, nation and socio-political network. In closing, I want to emphasize that Colonização lingüística, despite its need of polishing, is an important contribution to understanding the formation of Brazilian Portuguese.


Permanent pastures and meadows are species‐rich vegetation systems that play an important role in the ecology and agriculture of temperate climates. Intensive management reduces species diversity and may also influence the genetic diversity within individual species and populations. The objective of this study was to assess genetic variability of meadow fescue, an important component of species‐rich grasslands, and to determine whether fertilization and defoliation frequency influence genetic variability within natural populations. Genetic diversity of six natural populations and three cultivars of Festuca pratensis was investigated using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and agronomic traits. Samples of natural populations were taken from two unrelated long‐term experiments, where treatments had been applied for 11–38 years. RAPD analysis detected a clear genetic distinction of the cultivars from the natural populations. Genetic variability within cultivars was lower than within natural populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a significant effect of management on genetic variability. Fertilization and frequent defoliation led to a reduction in genetic variability within natural populations. Analysis of agronomic traits was only partially congruent with the results of RAPD analysis. This study shows that significant genetic variability exists within cultivars and natural populations of Festuca pratensis and can be reduced by intensive management.


Integrins, which act as an important role in the connection between cells and extra-cellular environments, are important cell surface receptors. Integrins have been demonstrated to play critical roles in many aspects of the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA-binding sites of integrin genes and the susceptibility and progression of OSCC in Chinese Han Population. We recruited 167 OSCC patients and 200 cancer-free controls from three independent medical centers. Genotyping was completed successfully for the five selected integrin SNPs: rs1062484 (integrin α3), rs11902171 (integrin αv), rs17468 (integrin β1), rs3809865 (integrin β3), and rs2675 (integrin β5). The results demonstrated that the A allele of rs3809865 T/A (a T-to-A nucleotide change), a functional polymorphism in the 3'UTR of integrin β3 gene, was associated with OSCC risk (p < 0.05). In addition, the association analysis between this SNP and integrin β3 mRNA expression level in the patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated that OSCC patients carrying the A allele would have a lower integrin β3 expression level (p = 0.047). Meanwhile, survival analysis showed that the C allele of rs2675 A/C (nucleotide change from A to C), another 3'UTR polymorphism in integrin β5 gene, was related with progression of OSCC. Overall, our results suggest that rs3809865 and rs2675 may contribute to OSCC risk and progression in Chinese Han Population. These two SNPs may be used as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for OSCC in future.


A combination of a Fabry-Perot interferometer, a grating monochromator and an optical multichannel analyser is used to measure argon ion line profiles with a spectral resolution lambda / Delta lambda of 2*106 and a temporal resolution of 500 ns. A deconvolution technique using Voigt profiles allows one to determine the argon ion temperature in pseudospark discharges. The main advantage over conventional methods is the registration of the whole line profile in a single exposure, which eliminates line profile distortions caused by intensity fluctuations which occur during a scanning process. Using the monochromator as a filtering element allows attainment of high resolution even in wavelength regions of high spectral line density, whereas the optical multichannel analyser provides single shot capability.


Techniques are described which make it possible to study beta-adrenergic receptors on intact neuroendocrine cells. Receptors were characterized on neonatal pinealocytes using the radioligand [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol ([125I]IHYP). Specific binding of [125I]IHYP, which is 4-fold greater than nonspecific binding, is concentration and temperature dependent, reversible, and saturable. [125I]IHYP binds noncooperatively (Kd = 35 pM), and Scatchard analysis indicates that only a single class of receptor sites for [125I]IHYP is present. Under the conditions used, it appears that there are about 12,000 +/- 1,100 sites/cell. Inhibition of specific [125I]IHYP binding by beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists is stereospecific, and the relative potency of agonists is characteristic of binding to beta-adrenergic receptors. Analysis of adrenergic stimulation of intracellular cAMP accumulation indicates that similar half-maximal concentrations of antagonists inhibit [125I]IHYP binding and adrenergically stimulated cAMP accumulation. In contrast, beta-adrenergic agonists are considerably more potent in stimulating cAMP than in inhibiting [125I]IHYP binding. Unexpected differences, not previously reportd, were found in the shapes of the cAMP accumulation dose-response curves of norepinephrine and isoproterenol. The relative potencies of these two agonists appear to be partially concentration dependent. This raises the possibility that there may be distinct differences in the intrinsic effects of these compounds on the regulation of intracellular cAMP accumulation in pinealocytes. (Endocrinology 108: 559, 1981)


Changes in paramagnetic centres (PC) concentration in rabbit's myocardial muscle were studied under experimental myocardial infarction during 168 hours by means of ESR-spectroscopy. PC characterized by ESR signal with g = 3.0 was found. It was shown that hyperbaric oxygenation did not affect PC content in the infarction zone, and resulted in an increase of PC concentration with g = 1.94 and g = 2.0 in the intact myocardial zone.


ABSTRACT Background Overworking is one of the most frequent stressors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of behavioural/psycho-educational group training in men who are chronically stressed from overworking. Method Of 72 male subjects, 36 were randomly assigned to training for 8 weeks and another 36 formed the control group, which received a placebo intervention. Primary outcome measures were systolic blood pressure, salivary cortisol concentration upon awakening, and self-reported changes on the scales of the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results A significant reduction in mean values was observed in daily systolic blood pressure and salivary cortisol concentration on all the TICS and most of the STAXI and SF-36 scales. Conclusions Behavioural/psycho-educational group training appears to be effective in the treatment of men suffering from chronic stress due to overworking.


Recent studies of autism diagnosis in New Zealand have revealed inconsistent implementation of best practice standards in autism assessment and high rates of parental dissatisfaction with the diagnostic process. These findings have arisen despite the development and dissemination of the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline (the Guideline). In this study, we investigated current diagnostic processes, and adherence to the Guideline in New Zealand, for an opportunity sample of 117 health professionals who practice across a wide range of diagnostic services, health professionals and geographic regions in New Zealand. The results show considerable variability in practice, and suggest specific areas for improvement. These include the robustness of diagnostic evaluations conducted in private settings, the provision of specialist assessment services for youth and adults presenting for autism diagnosis, and the uniformity of post-diagnostic supports and services. These findings have implications for further implementation of the Guideline in New Zealand. Lay abstract Many clinicians in New Zealand do not follow guidelines for best practice in autism diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the processes that health professionals in New Zealand follow when diagnosing autistic children and adults. We asked 117 health professionals from a range of services and regions in New Zealand, how they identify and diagnose autism. We found that there are differences in the way that clinicians in New Zealand diagnose autism. We identified areas in which autism diagnosis in New Zealand could be improved, for example, by establishing more services to diagnose autism in adolescents and adults, and providing more consistent support after a person is diagnosed with autism. These findings will help to improve autism diagnosis in New Zealand.


Within the framework of the valorization of the aromatic and medicinal plants of the Moroccan flora, we were interested in Anacyclus pyrethrum Link and Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis (Boiss.), in the area of Timahdite province of Ifrane, Morocco. An ethnobotanic and socio-economic surveys were conducted, using the data sheets, in the rural district of Timahdite in May, June and July 2013 with the help of the collectors, intermediaries, cooperatives, herbalists and exporting companies in order to know the use of these two species, their distribution channels, their economic value as well as the factors of degradation caused by the local population. The results of this study showed that the two sexes, men and women are concerned with the collection of these plants whose majority are illiterates. In addition, Anacyclus pyrethrum and Thymus zygis are used for their therapeutic, industrial and cosmetic virtues. The part most used for Anacyclus pyrethrum is the root whereas for Thymus zygis it is the leaves. On the other side, the interviews made it possible to describe the commercial outlets of these two species since the collection until their exports. This study enabled us to conclude that Anacyclus pyrethrum and Thymus zygis are medicinal herbs by excellence; they are used in the Moroccan pharmacopeia for the treatment of various diseases. The weakness of the incomes, the elevated level of poverty and the prices relatively high of these two plants are the essential factors which push the bordering population to use or exploit commercially largely these species in their territory.


The "young man" is an unmarried young preacher in his first pastorate after seminary days. Coming to grips with the Establishment, he meets frustration and disillusionment Many pastors will be able to see herein part of their own biography, and one wonders how much this story is a reflection of her husband's experience. A love story is deftly woven into this description of a small town Baptist congregation where the members know each other too well and many lack the virtue of compassion. Rather abruptly the love story climaxes and the spirit of forgiveness conquers some stubborn hearts. We presume with the exception of the "villainess" that all live happily ever after. The writer being the mother of five children is "hep" to modern lingo and her use of descriptive adjectives and phrases is delightful. Recommended for church libraries.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine how entrepreneurship education is being marketed to students within the Canadian university sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis of the webpages representing 66 entrepreneurship education programs in Canada is performed.

Findings

Entrepreneurship education is found to be framed as providing students with a collaborative learning experience, useful hands-on skills with real world applications and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Research limitations/implications

This study looks at only one type of promotional material, and thus, further research is needed to triangulate its findings.

Originality/value

This is the first study that empirically examines the marketing of entrepreneurship education in Canada.


Three different designs of a transpiration cooled multilayer plate-plane, convex, and concave-are analyzed numerically by application of a 3D conjugate fluid flow and heat transfer solver. The geometrical setup and the fluid flow conditions are derived from modern gas turbine components. The conjugate analysis of these designs focus on the influence of the surface curvature, the cooling film development on the plate surface, the fluid structure in the cooling channels, and on the cooling efficiency of the plate. Moreover, to predict the effective thermal properties and the permeability of these multilayer plates, a multiscale approach based on the homogenization technique is employed. This method allows the calculation of effective equivalent properties either for each layer or for the multilayer of superalloy, bondcoat, and thermal barrier coating (TBC). Permeabilities of the different designs are presented in detail for the TBC layer. The influence of the plate curvature and the blowing ratio on the effective orthotropic thermal conductivities is finally outlined.


In a cooperative game with transferable utility, it is usually assumed that all coalitions are equally feasible. However, if we deal with cooperative games with coalition configuration, only some coalitions are a priori feasible, due to the preferences of the agents. In this paper, we propose a generalization of games with coalition configuration. In our model, the feasibility of a coalition is determined by the cohesion of its members, and obviously, this cohesion does not have to be equal for all coalitions. The cohesion of each coalition will be determined by a cohesion index. We introduce the class of games with cohesion index and propose an allocation rule, which is characterized by using reasonable properties. The cohesion idea is not only a concept related to social groups. In software design, this concept explains the relationships among all the elements of a module. Our value can be applied in this way as we show in the paper.


As indicated from the experience of developed countries and mature marketing economy, the more strictly protection, the more active in the field of enterprises technology innovation. The protection of the intellectual property rights is one of the basic guarantee for the smooth operation of the marketing economy. In this paper, a new evaluation method -DEA evaluation method-and a broadly census was conducted in order to shed light to the relationship between the intellectual property protection and technological innovation of the enterprise. The research results indicate that the proper protection of the intellectual property is necessary for the technological innovation. In order to get the economy growth, the intellectual property protection should strengthen in the future for the economy development.


There are some problems in the traditional warehousing monitoring systems, such as complex wiring and high power consumption. Sometimes the warehousing is so remote that it is not quite convenient to supply the alternating current with cable. This paper introduces a new warehousing environment monitor system based on wireless sensor network (WSN), which can acquire real-time warehousing environment parameters and reduce the unnecessary loss caused by emergency such as fire. We adopt the CC2530 as a wireless data transceiver, SHT11 temperature and humidity sensors to realize the gathering of warehousing environment parameter, and voice module to realize audio acquisition. The communication system run the corresponding program for the coordinator nodes and terminal nodes under the IAR system, and realize data transmission between the nodes in a star network. The experimental results show that the system can realize the acquisition and processing of environmental temperature and humidity in a wide area.


As the license plate is multiscale and multidirectional in the natural scene image, its detection is challenging in many applications. In this work, a novel network that combines indirect and direct branches is proposed for license plate detection in the wild. The indirect detection branch performs small-sized vehicle plate detection with high precision in a coarse-to-fine scheme using vehicle–plate relationships. The direct detection branch detects the license plate directly in the input image, reducing false negatives in the indirect detection branch due to the miss of vehicles' detection. We propose a universal multidirectional license plate refinement method by localizing the four corners of the license plate. Finally, we construct an end-to-end trainable network for license plate detection by combining these two branches via post-processing operations. The network can effectively detect the small-sized license plate and localize the multidirectional license plate in real applications. To our knowledge, the proposed method is the first one that combines indirect and direct methods into an end-to-end network for license plate detection. Extensive experiments verify that our method outperforms the indirect methods and direct methods significantly.


A patient is not always told when a student is performing a procedure for the first time. Withholding this information is a form of deception. It is justified on paternalistic grounds (it is in the patient's interest not to know), or on public policy grounds (given the choice, patients would refuse, thus compromising the training of future physicians). Using the spinal tap procedure (lumbar puncture) as a paradigm, 173 patients were surveyed to determine how they felt about first time procedures by medical students, interns, and residents. The patients indicated that they would be willing to be the subject for a student's (52%), intern's (62%), or resident's (66%) first spinal tap. This paper reassesses the ethics of consent for first time procedures based on responses to this survey.


I first met Sam during the third month of my hematology/oncology fellowship. I had just started the acute leukemia hospital service, and while getting checkout from the outgoing fellow, I was warned, "He is a handful." I learned that he was 21 years old, had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) just 2 weeks after getting out of jail for a sexual offense, had a history of drug abuse, and was giving the nurses fits. Sam's family was also causing problems—his wife was 8.5 months pregnant, and his mother was not easy to deal with. He had become infamous after only 3 days in the hospital. I walked into Sam's room to introduce myself, knowing that we would have 1 month together on the hospital service while he was undergoing induction chemotherapy. On top of that, the fellowship program's policy meant that he would become my patient in my continuity clinic on discharge. Our first meeting was a disaster. He used foul language, made an inappropriate comment toward me, and made it very clear that he was going to be the bane of my existence for the remaining 33 months of my fellowship. During induction, neutropenic fevers, mucositis, and the birth of his child tamed his behavior somewhat. He was dismissed from the hospital, and started follow-up with me as an outpatient. My attending physicians were sympathetic to my plight. Although I was given the option to have one of my male colleagues take over his care, it was early in my fellowship, and I was determined to follow the rules and be strong. So I gave Sam clear boundaries for our patient-physician relationship—basic things like no cursing, no vulgarities, and being respectful to me and the medical team. We survived intensification and consolidation, along with the discovery that he was not the baby's father, his subsequent messy divorce, and ongoing arguments with his mother that resulted in him getting kicked out of the house. His behavior continued to be a problem. I struggled to keep my sanity when he got a tattoo when still neutropenic, when the nurses from the hospital called me to tell me about his suspected involvement in missing cash from another patient's room, and when his parole officer called to ask me for help with his conduct. Because he adamantly refused to receive intrathecal chemotherapy without my presence (and I knew that he needed it), I had to regularly leave other obligations to administer methotrexate. I often had to remind myself that my job was to cure him from leukemia, and not strangle him in the process (first do no harm). I do not know when the shift happened— when Sam went from being an inappropriate and demanding patient to someone who was respectful, considerate, and funny. I realized that in his chaotic life, I had become one of the only people that he could count on. The nurses, social workers, clinical assistants, and I had evolved into his extended family, his support system. I started to feel like he was my younger brother. Our appointments became a mixture of talk about his treatment, symptoms, and stressors in his life. I provided encouragement, and also was tough—we set goals for his life (get a job, finish parole without another offense, see a psychologist for ongoing therapy to help the anxiety), and at each appointment, we checked his list to monitor progress. It was give and take. I prescribed dronabinol to help with his nausea ("nothing else works," he claimed), and he did his best to make it to every scheduled appointment. We celebrated his remission, and I tried my best to maintain his compliance with the maintenance chemotherapy. The successes came slowly, but they came. He got a job. He bought a car (although it usually broke down on the day of appointments). He started dating. He moved into his own apartment. And finally, he got his general equivalency degree (GED). Sam was granted the GED in December. He was proud when he told me. I was so happy for him, knowing the opportunities that would now be available to him. A few months later, he casually mentioned that he had been chosen for an award at the GED diploma ceremony in June, for overcoming adversity while seeking an education. I beamed like a proud mother. At the next month's appointment, shyly, somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Hey, if you can make it to the graduation, I have to give a speech, and it would be cool if you were there." JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY T H E A R T O F O N C O L O G Y: When the Tumor Is Not the Target VOLUME 26 NUMBER 24 AUGUST 2


White upconversion luminescence (UCL) was achieved under 980 nm excitation in the CaF2:Yb(3+)/Eu(3+) material using Y(3+) to adjust the luminescence performance. In this luminescent system, Yb(3+) not only plays the role of a sensitizer of Eu(3+), but also generates green fluorescence from Yb(3+) dimers (2-Yb(3+)) by cooperative transitions in the CaF2 matrix. One of the primary colors of green corresponds to the 2-Yb(3+) cooperative emission exactly. Eu(3+) acts as an activator for emitting red and blue fluorescence simultaneously. Interestingly, the color of the UCL can be controlled by adjusting the doping concentration of Y(3+) ions, and white UCL was realized when the concentration of Y(3+) was 1%.


We detail the calculation of two-loop all-plus helicity amplitudes for pure Yang-Mills theory. The four dimensional unitarity methods and augmented recursion techniques we have developed, together with a knowledge of the singular structure of the amplitudes allow us to compute these in compact analytic forms. Specifically we present the computation and analytic results for the six- and seven-gluon leading colour two-loop amplitudes these being the first QCD two-loop amplitudes beyond five-points.


Sequencing viral genomes during an outbreak can facilitate response and containment efforts. In this study, we describe a reverse transcription long-range polymerase chain reaction for efficient amplification and sequencing of the Ebola virus (EBOV) genome in 2 seminested reactions. We demonstrate that our method remains robust with complex biological samples by amplifying and sequencing the EBOV genome from EBOV-infected nonhuman primates (NHPs). We further demonstrate that we are able to recover viral genomes from starting concentrations as low as 103 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50)/mL, suggesting that this method can be employed to sequence EBOV genomes from ecologically or clinically derived samples.


We present measurements of glucose, amino acids, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bacterial uptake at tracer concentrations across an oceanic gradient from the Cape Blanc upwelling to the Northeast Atlantic subtropical gyre. The bulk uptake of the compounds increased in the upwelling, with amino acids being the most actively taken up substrate (up to 20 pmol L−1 h−1). The single‐cell activity of the bacterial groups also increased in the upwelling, particularly for Rhodobacteraceae (up to 94% of active cells), but this group had low activity in oligotrophic waters (< 10% of active cells), which suggests it is exclusively adapted to high‐nutrient conditions. The percentage of SAR11 active cells was relatively high in the upwelling area, particularly for glucose and amino acid uptake (up to 53% of active cells), which suggests that some members of this group are also adapted to nutrient‐rich environments. Of the broad phylogenetic groups tested, Bacteroidetes were the least active and Alpha‐ and Gammaproteobacteria showed similar percentages of active cells in amino acid uptake (∼ 30%). Alphaproteobacteria had the highest percent of cells involved in glucose uptake, while Gammaproteobacteria dominated ATP uptake. This general pattern was confirmed in a broader analysis that included data from contrasting marine environments, which suggests that major phylogenetic groups of bacteria participate differently in the turnover of these low‐molecular‐weight organics. Our results support the view that broad phylogenetic groups can be identified within the bacterial 'black box' with different patterns in the cycling of organic matter. Analyzing them may help us understand, and ultimately predict, oceanic carbon processing.


A 64-year-old female was referred to the acute medical team in view of new onset confusion. Over 12 h, the patient had become confused and aggressive, necessitating admission. There were no preceding symptoms or recent medication alterations.

On admission, the patient was very agitated and had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 9. There was no fever or meningism. An extensive macular and urticated eruption was noted. Neurological and general examinations were normal. Treatment with acyclovir and ceftriaxone was commenced empirically.

The following tests were normal: C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white cell count, serum electrolytes and full-body CT scan. MRI head was normal with no medial temporal lobe signal change. EEG showed generalised slowing without focal epileptiform activity. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed an acellular, mildly raised protein (0.8 g/dl), and the polymerase chain reaction was negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus and enterovirus. Urine, CSF and blood cultures yielded no growth. Autoimmune screen showed negative voltage gated potassium-channel antibodies (VGKCAb), N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antibodies, paraneoplastic antibodies (Hu, Yo, Ri, CRMP5 and Ma2), antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and positive cytoplasmic antinuclear neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies but negative MPO and PR3 antigen tests.

On day 3 of admission, the patient suddenly deteriorated. The GCS dropped to 5, and temperature rose to 38.4°C. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission was necessary for intubation and …


The science of energy harvesting has recently undergone radical change, with the advent of new materials exploiting mechanisms fundamentally different from those of traditional solar cells. Utilizing principles that are in many cases acquired from breakthroughs in molecular photobiology, the introduction of a range of new synthetic polymers, multichromophore arrays and nanoparticle-based materials heralds a marked resurgence of interest, a shift of focus and heightened expectations in the science of light-harvesting. The interplay between structure and mechanism significantly impinges upon issues extending from fundamental theory to the principles of energy-harvesting materials design. Understanding and exploiting the principles allows materials to be engineered that can harness absorbed energy with heightened efficiency. Two of the key areas of application are dendrimers and rare-earth doped solids.


In vitro propagation systems by areole activation were developed for Pilosocereus robinii (Lemaire) Byles et Rowley, an endemic cactus of Cuban island in extinction danger. Seeds from mature fruits were collected under field conditions and disinfected with two concentration of NaOCl (1.0 and 2.0%) and two time of disinfection (15 and 20 min). During germination a half- and full-strength MS basal medium were tested. The highest germination rate (92.8%) was reached when half MS basal medium were used. Shoot formation from areoles of in vitro-germinated plantlets was achieved in explants cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 30 g l -1 sucrose, 3.0 g l -1 Gelrite ® and three concentration of 6-Bencilaminopurine (4.44, 6.66 and 13.32 µM). Shoot production in this proliferation medium was evaluated during three culture cycles. Proportionately proliferation rate increase with 6-BAP concentration, on the contrary shoots length decreased. The highest proliferation rate (8.9 shoots per explant) was reached employment 13.32 µM of 6-BAP. On average, rooting efficiency was 100% in MS basal medium free of growth regulators. The frequency of survival of the plants once transferred to substrate composed of cattle manure rotted for eight months was on average 91.6%. Finally, 500 individual plants of Pilosocereus robinii were transferred to nursery. We describe for the first time a system for the production of multiple shoots by areole activation, as well as their rooting, acclimatization and nursery establishment of endangered and endemic specie, that are difficult to propagate by conventional methods.


Three spectroscopic techniques have been combined to resolve the complex problem of crystal field levels in luminescence has been investigated in the off-resonance condition for several excitation energies as a function of temperature. Raman phonons and several Raman crystal field transitions are obtained. From reflectance experiments (between 1.25 and 3.7 eV), multiplet levels are determined. The schemes of the lowest electronic levels of both sites have been established combining data from these three spectroscopies which show a good agreement with the calculated values. Crystal field parameters are obtained in an approximation to a local symmetry. The high value of fourth-rank parameters indicates a partial covalent character of Eu-O bonds. The obtained spin-orbit coupling value, , is similar to those in other europium oxides. The variation of the Raman crystal field transition intensity with temperature presents an unexpected deviation with respect to the ground state population, specially pronounced in the low temperature range. The peaks corresponding to the three highest levels of the multiplet are anomalous probably due to some hybridization with the nearest oxygen levels. The relative intensity of luminescence peaks associated with transitions from and levels vary versus temperature as a function of the probability of the non-radiative decay. We propose a mechanism that can explain the observation of anti-Stokes luminescence even at low temperatures.


This paper presents an analysis of the ability of different criteria to predict fatigue crack initiation under thermal loading. More precisely the predictions of the number of cycles to crack initiation are compared with experimental results obtained using five different fatigue criteria in three types of thermal fatigue tests (namely the FAT3D, JRC and SPLASH test campaigns).

This analysis has revealed that:

• The conventional criteria based on equivalent strain variation substantially overestimate the lifespan of a structure subjected to thermal loading.
• A criterion making account for loading multiaxiality is required to estimate thermal fatigue life.

Three of the criteria studied give satisfactory results: the Zamrik criterion, the Park and Nelson criterion and a criterion taking hydrostatic pressure into consideration proposed by Amiable et al. The latter should be preferred for the accuracy of its results and the Zamrik criterion for its simplicity.


It is widely accepted that infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) ameliorates hyperglycemia by alleviating insulin resistance in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, the detailed underlying mechanisms are not clearly defined. Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is an E3 ligase that has recently been implicated in the aggravation of insulin resistance by promoting the ubiquitinoylation of insulin receptor substrate‑1 (IRS‑1) in skeletal muscles. It was therefore hypothesized that MG53 may be involved in MSC‑mediated therapeutic effects on insulin resistance. To test this hypothesis, in the present study, T2D rat models were induced by a high‑fat diet combined with streptozotocin administration and MSC infusion was performed four times (once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks). The therapeutic effects of MSC infusion on insulin resistance were evaluated and the effect on the expression of MG53 and insulin receptor signaling elements in skeletal muscle was also investigated by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. The results demonstrated that MSC infusion ameliorated hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in T2D rats. Furthermore, MSC infusion inhibited MG53 elevation and reversed the decreases in glucose transporter type 4, insulin receptor, IRS‑1 and phosphorylated‑AKT levels in the skeletal muscle of T2D rats. These results indicated that MSC infusion has therapeutic effects in rats and that MG53 in skeletal muscle may be a promising novel therapeutic target protein for MSC‑mediated amelioration of insulin resistance in T2D.


Audiovisual texts are usually built according to the conventions of film language, a complex language that overcomes linguistic communication and has its own rules and conventions. In film language it is possible to distinguish several signifying codes which complement and frame words and linguistic meaning. This paper will focus on the interplay of non-linguistic codes in film language and audiovisual translation. In the first place, I will argue that for the analysis of audiovisual texts from a translational perspective at least the theoretical contributions of Translation Studies and those of Film Studies are necessary. Then, I will review the different models of analysis of audiovisual texts offered from the perspective of Translation Studies. Finally, I will introduce a new paradigm based on Film Studies, and present the signifying codes that primarily affect translation operations in the transfer. I will also illustrate these codes with a number of non-linguistic signs and their representation in the text, and will finally discuss the influence of such signs on translation operations.


Wireless networks are becoming the most popular in today communication systems, where users prefer to have wireless connectivity regardless of its geographic location. But the open environment of wireless communication increasing threat on the wireless networks under diverse network circumstances. The random and dynamic activity increases the  vulnerability due to the complete dependency on the intermediate nodes which frequently join and leave the network. It is extremely significant to have a secure routing in such a dynamic network to preserve the data privacy. In this paper, we propose a secure and privacy routing based on Node Activities Learning (NAL) approach. This approach knows the runtime activities of the node to predict the probability of activity transformation for the intentional and unintentional activities which interrupt the data communication and affects the privacy. The mean of privacy is decided based on the node individual trust factor. It also suggests a method for the node which loses their trust due to the unintentional activities. A simulation-based evaluation study shows positive improvisation in secure routing in different malicious node environment.


currently lacks integrated policy guidelines for its distribution of funds at regional, state and national levels. Smith (1993) examined ATSIC's existing financial powers and budgetary processes and argued that its financial objectives and the developing role of regional councils are hindered by the lack of funding policy and by an overly complex, functionally-based program structure. It was suggested that ATSIC needed a funding model based on distributive equity, where program expenditure would be allocated on the basis of relative need. The present discussion paper develops the analysis of ATSIC's current funding role, suggesting that future funding policy and practice should be focused at the regional council level and equitably account for relative levels of indigenous socioeconomic disadvantage, as well as between indigenous peoples and the wider Australian population. ATSIC is currently reassessing its methods for distributing financial resources to indigenous organisations and communities and considering the relevance of horizontal fiscal equalisation. This paper examines the principle and methods of fiscal equalisation used by the Commonwealth Grants Commission and critically investigates its suitability as a future basis for ATSIC's allocation of funds to regional councils. While the paper is exploratory, it suggests that the principle of equalisation provides a potentially valuable distributive framework for ATSIC, but one which would require substantial modification. In conclusion, a number of issues associated with the use of equalisation are considered, including data management; implications for ATSIC's program structure; for government funding more broadly; and for ATSIC's potential co-ordinating role at the intergovernmental and interagency level.


Growth and survival of Salmonella typhimurium DT104 were evaluated during the manufacturing of Ergo (Ethiopian naturally fermented milk) and Ayib (Ethiopian cottage cheese). Three different initial inoculum levels of DT104 (high: ~108 cfu mL-1; medium: ~106 cfu mL-1 and low: ~104 cfu mL- 1) were used. Samples were drawn at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h of fermentation for bacterial enumeration and pH measurements. Ayib was made using defatted fermented milk after 24 and 72 h of fermentation and at three cooking temperatures (50, 60 and 70°C) with sampling being performed at 0, 20, 40 and 60 min of cooking. DT104 survived up to 72 h of fermentation when co-inoculated with Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) at high and medium initial inoculum levels, though DT104 population dropped by 3.3 and 5.6 log cfu mL-1, respectively. In the control milk with no LAB, DT104 survived better with only 0.8 log cfu mL-1 reduction in cell number after 72 h of fermentation. When fermented milk (inoculated with or without LAB at 0 or 24 h of fermentation) was cooked at 50°C for Ayib-making, DT104 survived up to 60 min of cooking with survival varied based on initial inoculum level. Complete inhibition was achieved between 20 and 40 min of cooking at 60 and 70°C. Direct consumption of Ergo is not safe. The use of boiled milk with fermentation initiated by a portion of fermented milk resulting from 'back-slopping' can be recommended for Ergo-making. For Ayib-making, a minimum cooking temperature of 60°C for at least 40 min is required to ensure the wholesomeness of the product.


Abstract Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be associated with significant postoperative pain despite multimodal analgesic (MMA) protocols, and most patients require the use of opioids postoperatively. HTX-011 is a dual-acting local anesthetic containing bupivacaine and low-dose meloxicam in an extended-release polymer. In a prior randomized controlled trial (RCT), HTX-011 reduced pain and opioid use through 72 hours after TKA compared with bupivacaine hydrochloride. This open-label study (NCT03974932) evaluated the efficacy and safety of HTX-011 combined with an MMA regimen in patients undergoing TKA under spinal anesthesia. All patients received intraoperative HTX-011 (400 mg bupivacaine/12 mg meloxicam) in combination with an MMA regimen consisting of preoperative acetaminophen, celecoxib, and pregabalin and postoperative acetaminophen and celecoxib until discharge. Opioid rescue was allowed upon patient request for additional pain control. Pain scores, opioid consumption, discharge readiness, and adverse events were recorded. Fifty-one patients were treated. Compared with the prior RCT, HTX-011 with this MMA regimen further lowered pain scores and reduced opioid use. Mean patient-reported pain scores remained in the mild range, and 82% of patients or more did not experience severe pain at any individual time point through 72 hours after surgery. Mean total opioid consumption was low over 72 hours: 24.8 morphine milligram equivalents (1–2 tablets of oxycodone 10 mg/day). Approximately 60% of patients were ready for discharge by 12 hours, and 39% were discharged without an opioid prescription and did not call back for pain management. The treatment regimen was well tolerated, and no added risk was observed with the addition of MMA. HTX-011 with an MMA regimen reduced postoperative pain and opioid use following TKA.


Immunoassay is recognized as a promising method for screening environmental contaminants. The article deals with principles and practical applications of immunochemical methods in pesticide analysis. An overview is given of organochlorine and carbamate pesticides for which immunoassays, in particular the ELISA test, were developed, including commercially available kits. In addition, a survey is given on further developments of existing or new immunoassays and on the application of immunochemistry in other fields (immunoafinity chromatography, immunosensors).


Five groundwater samples taken from different Hydrogeologie settings in Connecticut were analyzed for major cation chemistry and the concentration of U and Th decay series nuclides 238U, 234Th, 226Ra, 222Rn, 210Pb, 210Po, 232Th, 228Ra, 228Th, and 224Ra. The concentration of 222Rn in the waters ranged between 103 and 104 dpm l−1 and was three to four orders of magnitude greater than that of the short-lived alpha daughters 224Ra, 228Ra, and 234Th, even though the rates of supply of these four nuclides to solution are expected to be similar. We infer that sorption removes radium and thorium from these groundwaters on a time scale of 3 minutes or less. The (224Ra/228Ra) and (234Th/228Th) activity ratios in these waters indicate that desorption of these nuclides occurs on a time scale of a week or less and that equilibrium between solution and surface phases is established. In situ retardation factors for radium, thorium, and lead may therefore be calculated directly from the isotopic data; values range from 4,500 to 200,000. Neither sorption time scales nor retardation factors are strongly dependent on the nuclide or on hydrogeology of the aquifer. Since our study includes nuclides with diverse chemical properties, we suggest that other uncomplexed heavy metals and transuranic elements will also behave in a manner similar to those measured here. The approach presented here should therefore find application in developing site-specific models of the transport of radioactive or stable elemental waste through water-saturated media.


Abstract In the contemporary northern Baltic Sea area, there are two states, Finland and Estonia, in which a western Uralic language has an official status. Several Finnic minority languages are or used to be spoken in the adjacent areas in the contact zone of Baltic, Germanic and Slavic languages. Historically, the north-eastern surroundings of the Gulf of Finland reflect a gradual spread of the language area during the past millennium and especially the late Middle Ages, while more southern areas in contemporary Estonia, and its eastern neighbourhood in Russia show longer continuity of language borders. The Finnic languages were used predominantly orally until very recently, whereas written language began to affect non-standard varieties more strongly only in the 19th and 20th centuries. The diversification of the Finnic languages in the Northeastern Baltic Sea area involves both integration and disintegration of mutually closely related varieties. This article focuses on i) the variability of changes and their correlation with emerging divergence between Finnic languages, ii) local language contacts during the late Middle Ages and the Early Modern age, and iii) the rate of linguistic change. The external powers affecting the diversity between the Finnic languages include the settling of early Swedish, German and Slavic centres among or in the vicinity of Finnic communities, the policies of medieval Catholic and Orthodox church, the extension of the trading networks of the Hanseatic League, wars and conflicts between dominant political powers in the east and west, as well as the gradual establishment of political borders. I will suggest that all these factors have played a role in the rate of both lexical and grammatical change.


Aims. We object to elucidate that protective effect of H2S on endothelium is mediated by downregulating BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4)/cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2 pathway in rats with hypertension. Methods and Results. The hypertensive rat model induced by two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) model was used. Exogenous NaHS administration (56 μmol/kg/day, intraperitoneally once a day) reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 2K1C rats from 199.9 ± 3.312 mmHg to 159.4 ± 5.434 mmHg, while NaHS did not affect the blood pressure in the Sham rats and ameliorated endothelium-dependent contractions (EDCs) of renal artery in 2K1C rats. 2K1C reduced CSE level twofold, decreased plasma levels of H2S about 6-fold, increased BMP4, Nox2, and Nox4 levels 2-fold and increased markers of oxidative stress MDA and nitrotyrosine 1.5-fold, upregulated the expression of phosphorylation-p38 MAPK 2-fold, and increased protein levels of COX-2 1.5-fold, which were abolished by NaHS treatment. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that H2S prevents activation of BMP4/COX-2 pathway in hypertension, which may be involved in the ameliorative effect of H2S on endothelial impairment. These results throw light on endothelial protective effect of H2S and provide new target for prevention and therapy of hypertension.


New complexes of the type [AuCl2L] have been prepared, where L is a chelate consisting of a phenyl group bearing an N-donor substituent (oxazoline and/or dimethylaminomethyl). The structures of two of these, together with that of [AuCl{C6H3(CH2NMe2)2-2,6}]2[Hg2Cl6], have been determined by X-ray crystallography; the gold atoms exhibit strict square-planar geometry in all cases. The chloride ligands undergo ready substitution by other halides, thiocyanate, acetate or diethyldithiocarbamate. The monodithiocarbamate complexes [Au(S2CNEt2)L]+ contain chelated S2CNEt2 groups whereas in [Au(S2CNEt2)2L] the L ligand is monodentate (through C), one S2CNEt2 is monodentate, the other bidentate; in solution the two S2CNEt2 ligands appear equivalent on the NMR time-scale, indicating a rapid equilibrium between the two possible forms.


Traditionally, it has been emphasized that hemolytic disease was the primary cause of gallstones (cholelithiasis) in most young patients. In recent years, gallstones and common bile duct calculi have been increasingly diagnosed in infants and children, unrelated to hemolytic diseases. On the matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified intraepithelial neoplasia (dysplasia) of gall bladder as one of the precursor lesions of invasive cancer. The following article describes the case of a 2-year-old girl who had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to cholelithiasis and the pathologic diagnosis was chronic cholecystitis with diffuse, mild mucosal dysplasia. (J Korean Surg Soc 2010;79:S58-61)


Objective: To explore the relationship between parental feedback and the accuracy of children's self-perceptions. Children with ADHD have been demonstrated to overestimate their own competence, a phenomenon known as positive illusory bias (PIB). Method: Participants were families of 56 children (41 male) ages 7 to 10, half of whom had clinical diagnoses of ADHD. PIB was assessed by comparing children's self-ratings of their competence relative to teachers' ratings. Laboratory interactions were observed where parental feedback to children was coded. Results: Parental warmth was associated with lower PIB about social competence in children with ADHD, but greater PIB in comparison children. Parent criticism was positively correlated with greater PIB about social competence in children with ADHD, but the relationship was nonsignificant for comparison children. Parent praise was associated with lower PIB about behavioral conduct in comparison children. Conclusion: Results support the self-protective hypothesis of PIB, and implications for interventions are discussed.


A lovely stream flows through the campus at UC Davis. While it is widely believed to be filled with dangerous agrochemical runoff, this stream offers an idyllic place for students, staff, and faculty to stroll or sunbathe. One day toward the end of the spring quarter of 2010, a young man stood in that beautiful but toxic water, protected by hip-high waders. He wore a cowboy hat and overalls and looked like a character from the 1849 Gold Rush. With a pan in his hands, he called out to passersby to watch as he demonstrated his solution to student financial problems. A sign planted in the ground near him said: gold: the tuition solution. He cried out to passersby, "It's an old California tradition, and it's the only way I can pay for school!" He had several gold-painted rocks to prove that one could still strike it rich, and he offered them to passersby. As a small crowd gathered around to observe this Swiftian "modest proposal," he made his point about the desperate situation students have found themselves in at the University of California.


Motivated by recent experiments, we analyze the stability of a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate loaded in a periodically driven one-dimensional optical lattice. Such periodically driven systems do not have a thermodynamic ground state but may have a long-lived steady state which is an eigenstate of a ``Floquet Hamiltonian.'' We explore collisional instabilities of the Floquet ground state which transfer energy into the transverse modes. We calculate decay rates, finding that the lifetime scales as the inverse square of the scattering length and inverse of the peak three-dimensional density. These rates can be controlled by adding additional transverse potentials.


Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and stiffness (cS) are predictive markers of early vascular aging and atherosclerotic risk. This study assessed, whether exercise has protective effects on carotid structure and function or on vascular risk in the young. Methods: Volume and change of exercise (recreational and organized sports participation) of German adolescents and young adults was assessed within the prospective population-study KiGGS at KiGGS-Wave-1 (2009–2012) and KiGGS-Wave-2 (2014–2017) using standardized self-reporting questionnaires. CIMT and cS were measured by real-time B-mode ultrasound sequences with semi-automated edge-detection and automatic electrocardiogram-gated quality control in 2,893 participants (14–28 years, 49.6% female). A cumulative index for atherosclerotic risk (CV-R) included z-scores of mean arterial pressure, triglycerides, total/HDL-cholesterol-ratio, body mass index, and HbA1c. Results: At KiGGS-Wave-2 cross-sectional CV-R but not cS and cIMT was lower in all exercise-groups compared to "no exercise" (B = −0.73, 95%-CI = −1.26 to 0.19, p = 0.008). Longitudinal volume of exercise was negatively associated with CV-R (B = −0.37, 95%-CI = −0.74 to 0.00, p = 0.048) but not with cS and cIMT. Cross-sectional relative risk of elevated CV-R but not cS and cIMT was lower in all exercise-groups compared to "no exercise" (RR = 0.80, 95%-CI = 0.66 to 0.98, p = 0.033). High exercise volumes were associated with lower relative risk of elevated CV-R (RR = 0.80, 95%-CI = 0.65–0.97, p = 0.021) and cS in tendency but not with cIMT. Conclusions: Increased levels of exercise are associated with a better cardiovascular risk profile in young individuals, but not with cS and cIMT. Our study confirms previous recommendations on exercise in this age group without demonstrating a clear benefit on surrogate markers of vascular health.


Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has the potential to result in irreversible damage in various organs. Objectives To determine the accrual of damage in each organ system in the first five years of SSc disease. Methods A panel of experts defined organ-specific indicators of damage in SSc. Using prospectively acquired data from patients entering the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study within 2 years of disease onset, annual accrual of organ damage from years 2 to 5 following disease onset was determined. Results The frequency of each damage indicator at years 2 to 5 in 182 patients is presented in the graph. Damage occurred in all organ systems, most commonly in the skin/MSK (23.1% at 4 years), respiratory (12.1%), GI (7.1%) & GU systems (erectile dysfunction in men 31.4%). Image/graph Conclusions Organ damage occurs early in SSc. This is a compelling rationale for forming a large inception cohort (INternational SYstemic Sclerosis Inception Cohort; INSYNC) of patients with SSc to determine the predictors of organ damage and to develop strategies for preventing the occurrence of organ damage in SSc. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Several lines of evidence have shown that nerve growth factor (NGF), the progenitor of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, plays a fundamental role in the developmental plasticity of the rat visual cortex. However, the expression of NGF receptors (NGFRs) TrkA and p75NTR and the possible sites of NGF action in the visual cortex remain to be elucidated so far. Using a highly sensitive ECL immunoblot analysis, we have been able to show, in the present study, that the TrkA protein is expressed in the rat visual cortex and that it is developmentally upregulated during the critical period for cortical plasticity. In contrast, the expression level of the low-affinity NGF receptor p75NTR seems to remain nearly constant throughout development. In the analysis of possible pathways involved in the regulation of NGFR expression, we found that neither blockade of the visual input nor NGF administration to the visual cortex resulted in a modulation of NGFR levels of expression. On the other hand, the selective destruction of cholinergic afferents to the visual cortex caused a dramatic, but not complete, reduction of the cortical NGFRs, which suggests that these receptors are located on cholinergic terminals predominantly. At the functional level, we found that, after the elimination of the cholinergic afferents to the visual cortex, the NGF-induced increase of both acetylcholine and glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes was strongly impaired. These results indicate that the cholinergic input is an important mediator of visual cortex responsiveness to NGF action.


Aided by advances in neural density estimation, considerable progress has been made in recent years towards a suite of simulation-based inference (SBI) methods capable of performing flexible, black-box, approximate Bayesian inference for stochastic simulation models. While it has been demonstrated that neural SBI methods can provide accurate posterior approximations, the simulation studies establishing these results have considered only well-specified problems -- that is, where the model and the data generating process coincide exactly. However, the behaviour of such algorithms in the case of model misspecification has received little attention. In this work, we provide the first comprehensive study of the behaviour of neural SBI algorithms in the presence of various forms of model misspecification. We find that misspecification can have a profoundly deleterious effect on performance. Some mitigation strategies are explored, but no approach tested prevents failure in all cases. We conclude that new approaches are required to address model misspecification if neural SBI algorithms are to be relied upon to derive accurate scientific conclusions.


This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Parenting Behavior Questionnaire which was developed to measure parenting behavior directed from parents to child and the Quality of Parent-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire which was developed to measure the quality of bidirectional relationship between parents and children (Wissink et al., 2006). The original scales based on adolescent reporting were rearranged in line with the suggestions of the researchers who developed the original scale, in a way that permitted adolescents' evaluation of their parents separately and mothers' self-evaluation. Thus, we examined the validity and reliability of four different forms including the Mother Behavior Questionnaire-Adolescent Form (MBQ-A), the Quality of Mother-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire-Adolescent Form (QMARQ-A), the Mother Behavior Questionnaire-Mother Form (MBQ-M), the Quality of Mother-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire-Mother Form (QMARQ-M). The study was conducted in independent samples with 1033 students aged 11-17 (Mean age = 14.01, SD = 1.75) and 465 mothers (Mean age = 44.14, SD = 5.72) with children aged 11-17. The results of the exploratory factor analysis performed to examine the construct validity of the scales showed that the factor structures of all scales were consistent with the original scales. In addition, the Youth Self Report (YSR 11-18) was used to determine the criterion validity of the scales and it was seen that the relationships examined were significant and expected. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the sub-dimensions of the scales ranged from .81 to .91. Findings show that the validity and reliability of the adolescents and mothers' forms of MBQ and QMARQ are at a sufficient and acceptable level.


The Undoukai (Athletic Association) at the Imperial University of Tokyo was a student association that consisted mainly of sports club members. The Undoukai was a departure point for Japanese sports, and led to the establishment of school sports in the Meiji period, being incorporated as a foundation in 1934. The purpose of this study is to describe the process of how the Undoukai was organized as an incorporated foundation from the late Taisho era to the early part of the Showa era, focusing on interactions among students and the university. The main documents are gathered from the Imperial University Newspaper.The results of this study are summarized as follows.1) This study describes the history after establishment of the Undoukai, which was integrated into the Gakuyukai (Athletic and Cultural Association) at the Imperial University of Tokyo in 1920. The Gakuyukai was an all-university association that included cultural activities. However, the members of the sports clubs left the Gakuyukai and organized the Undoukai again in 1928.2) This study clarifies two oppositional relationships among students during the organizational process of the Undoukai. One was between sports club members and the other students, and the other was between the left-wing students and the right-wing students. In both relationships, sports club members would win the understanding of non-athletic students and would distance themselves from the left-wing students. Both practices enabled the Undoukai to become independent from the Gakuyukai.3) This study clarifies that strong assistance from the University contributed to the reorganization of the Undoukai. There were two problems that the University needed to address: one was how to prevent students' illnesses, and the other was how to discourage students from becoming inclined to the politcal left. Therefore, the University expected general students to aspire to "healthy body" and to have "healthy idea". While the University would recommend sports to general students in order to realize the expectation of "healthy body", at the same time it would separate general students from left-wing students in order to realize the expectation of "healthy idea". These expectations and practices of the University provided the impetus that nurtured the Undoukai.


This paper discusses a long term compression behavior of fibrous peat, analyzed based on data obtained from consolidation test performed in Rowe cell with excess pore water pressure measurement. The preliminary test results show that the peat used in this study is classified as fibrous peat with low to medium degree of decomposition and of very high organic and fiber contents which are typical of peat found in Peninsular Malaysia. The results of consolidation test show that the fibrous peat has a high compressibility with primary compression index of 3.15 and significant secondary compression stage which is not constant with the logarithmic of time. The secondary compression started as early as 65% degree of primary consolidation. The study showed that the consolidation test with pore water pressure measurement using Rowe cell is advantageous because it enables the observation of the large deformation and better assessment of the long term compression behavior of fibrous peat. The separation of primary and secondary consolidation is very important for the evaluation of long term compressibility behavior of fibrous peat.


Abstract We study the distribution Ex[exp(-q∫0t1(a,b)(Xs)ds); Xt ∈ dy], where -∞ ≤ a < b < ∞, and where q, t > 0 and x ∈ R for a spectrally negative Lévy process X. More precisely, we identify the Laplace transform with respect to t of this measure in terms of the scale functions of the underlying process. Our results are then used to price step options and the particular case of an exponential spectrally negative Lévy jump-diffusion model is discussed.


Air pollution is an important problem concerning the quality of living and health conditions of the population in urban areas (Pasero & Mesin, 2010). Indeed, the issue of air quality is now a major concern for many governments worldwide. Since the early 1970s, the EU has been working to improve air quality by controlling emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, by improving fuel quality and by integrating environmental protection requirements into the transport and energy sectors. As the result of EU legislation, much progress has been made in tackling air pollutants. However air quality continues to cause problems. As an example, photochemical smog, particularly active in sunny days, regularly exceeds a safe limit over main European metropolitan areas. EU legislation established an hourly average of 180μg/m3 as the threshold of safe limit for ozone (Directive 2002/3/EC) beyond which authorities have to inform population. According to the indications of the Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik (Potočnik, 2010), air pollution is responsible for 370.000 premature deaths in EU each year. Airborne particles (e.g. Particulate Matter with diameter lower or equal to 10 m, PM10) are mainly present in pollutant emissions from industry, traffic and domestic heating. They can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death. The EU Directive 2008/50/EC requires Member States to ensure that certain limit values for PM10 are met. These limits, which were to be met by 2005, impose both an annual average concentration value (40 ┤g/m3), and a daily concentration value (50 ┤g/m3) which must not be exceeded more than 35 times per calendar year (European Environmental Bureau, 2005). The World Health Organization pointed out that USA traffic fatalities are over 40.000 per year, while air pollution claims 70.000 lives annually (Air Quality Guidelines, WHO, 2006). Experimental studies carried on Oslo urban site pointed out the temporal connection between cardiopulmonary inflammatory state of sick citizens and high concentration of PM in the area, especially in winter and early spring time (Schwarze P.E. et al, 2010). The impact of air pollution is on human health and on ecosystems also, as marine, freshwater, grassland, heat or forest ecosystem. The air pollution is directly linked to acidification of forests and water ecosystems, and eutrophication of soils and waters, leading to limited supply of oxygen in rivers and lakes. The benefits of air pollution abatement in the heat and grassland ecosystem, typical European farm environment, have been estimated as two hundred millions of euro each year saved (DeSmet et al, 2007). Indeed, air pollution not only affects