Taxol-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by solvent-evaporation technique with methoxy-added methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(e-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PCL) (PEG wt % = 18.5%) as drug carrier and MPEG-b-PCL (PEG wt % = 86.8%) as the additive in the outer aqueous phase. The MPEG-b-PCL copolymers were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone using Novozym 435 as biocatalyst. As a newly used additive in the outer aqueous phase, only 0.1% (w/v) MPEG-b-PCL with relatively high-PEG content was needed. The effects of feed ratio of taxol to copolymer (w/w, 5–20%) on the characters of nanoparticles and in vitro drug release were investigated. The fabricated nanoparticles reached the highest encapsulation efficiency of 52.5% ± 3.9% when the feed ratio was 10%. The nanoparticles presented a core-shell structure in aqueous solution, and their hydrodynamic diameter ranged from 75 to 105 nm. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope investigations exhibited that the nanoparticles had fine spherical shape and narrow particle size distribution. The size of nanoparticles did not change distinctly after incubation in pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) and pH 7.4 PBS with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37°C for 24 h. The nanoparticles with drug loading around 5% could achieve a sustained drug release for 7 days. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011


With 'novel' scientific discoveries accelerating at an unrelenting pace, the need for accessible and implementable standards for evaluating the legal admissibility of scientific evidence becomes more and more crucial. As science changes, legal standards for evaluating 'novel' science must be plastic enough to respond to fast-moving changes. This, ostensibly, was the Daubert objective. Since it was decided in 1993, however, Daubert's impact has been hotly contested – with plaintiffs and defendants each claiming the decision unfairly favors the other side. New approaches are constantly suggested to deal with the perceived impact, although there is no uniform consensus of exactly what that impact is. Without accurate and demonstrable evidence of Daubert's effect, however, the current ad hoc approach of suggesting new gatekeeping methods – is at best blind, and at worst, a partisan attempt to manipulate judicial decision-making.This article reports on a retrospective review of data regarding the impact of Daubert on admissibility of scientific evidence, for the first time – via a simple statistical perspective. This method confirms other assessments (using different methodologies) that (allowing for short-term corrections post-Daubert), there is no difference in outcome whether Frye or Daubert tests are used. Given that entirely different standards were used in both cases – yet yield similar results – one must acknowledge the possibility that both tests are 'scientifically' flawed. Further, empirical evidence and academic research agree that judges now substitute their own mechanisms for evaluating scientific evidence, in some cases applying neither Daubert nor the pre-existing Frye test. The reasons are unclear – perhaps due to an instinctual aversion to the muddied or flawed standards enunciated in both. Nevertheless, it does appear that judges are uncomfortable understanding several Daubert tests, including the 'falsification' criterion, which is the foundation stone of the Daubert analysis. Via re-analysis of the Rand study of 2001 which examined effects of Daubert, this research further highlights the scientific/mathematical illiteracy of the current legal community (especially, as I demonstrate, compared to judges pre-Frye). This situation presents a major obstacle for devising a workable method for judicial gatekeeping of scientific evidence. Ultimately, however, lawyers and scientists must first agree what 'science' is before better methods of evaluating proffered evidence can be devised. It is suggested that lawyers turn to scientists who developed the scientific method as it applies to the science of the courtroom: biology, chemistry and simple physics to enlighten themselves – substituting these approaches for the flawed and faulty premises advocated by Daubert and Frye.


A new Pd-catalyzed tandem intramolecular oxypalladation/Heck-type coupling between 2-alkynylphenols and alkenes is reported, leading to 3-(1-alkenyl)benzofurans. Participating alkenes include those substituted with an electron-withdrawing group (ester, ketone, amide, nitrile, sulfone), as well as styrene. Remarkably, beta-substituted-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl-type derivatives also participate effectively. The ready availability of substituted alkynylphenols, together with flexibility in the alkene choice, makes this simple strategy a versatile one for the synthesis of structurally diverse benzofuran derivatives.


Public sharing is integral to online platforms. This includes the popular multimedia messaging application Snapchat, on which public sharing is relatively new and unexplored in prior research. In mobile-first applications, sharing contexts are dynamic. However, it is unclear how context impacts users' sharing decisions. As platforms increasingly rely on user-generated content, it is important to also broadly understand user motivations and considerations in public sharing. We explored these aspects of content sharing through a survey of 1,515 Snapchat users. Our results indicate that users primarily have intrinsic motivations for publicly sharing Snaps, such as to share an experience with the world, but also have considerations related to audience and sensitivity of content. Additionally, we found that Snaps shared publicly were contextually different from those privately shared. Our findings suggest that content sharing systems can be designed to support sharing motivations, yet also be sensitive to private contexts.


Hybrids of intercalative nitrile-butadiene rubber/organomodified bentonite (NBR/OMB) were prepared by the latex intercalation technique. Investigation of their mechanical properties and the microstructure of NBR/OMB showed that the organomodified bentonite is an effective toughener for NBR. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests showed that the NBR macromolecule could be intercalated into the galleries of bentonite. Incorporation of NBR/OMB hybrids as tougheners into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) results in a substantial increase in the impact strength of PVC, but little decrease in its tensile strength and flexural strength, compared to the unmodified PVC.


The Metchosin Igneous Complex of southern Vancouver Island has three components—gabbro stocks (formerly Sooke Gabbro), a newly recognized sheeted-dike complex, and a basaltic volcanic sequence (formerly the Metchosin Volcanics). The sheeted dikes occupy a position transitional between the gabbro stocks and submarine volcanics, which they tie together in an ophiolitic pseudostratigraphy. The submarine volcanics shoal upward and pass into subaerial sheet flows. The complex formed in an area of regional extension, as an emergent island.


ABSTRACT As contemporary surf tourism research primarily focuses on sustainability or socio-economic impacts, the materiality of waves tends to become simplified or overshadowed. By taking the latter more seriously, this article particularly aims to explicate how local human-waves relations offer nuanced and complex accounts of what it means to live with waves in surf tourism destinations. Drawing on Ingold's (2000. The perception of the environment: Essays on livelihood, dwelling and skill. London: Routledge) notions of 'engagement' and 'perception', human-waves relations become illustrated here as 'ambivalent' given their practically complex interdependence and the irreducibility of waves and humans. On basis of field observations in Siberut, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, this article highlights how local Mentawaian engagements with waves develop in terms of ambiguous and dynamic notions of 'good waves', 'fear' and 'pleasure', and practices of 'avoidance/encounter'. These notions emphasize the often complex and everyday engagements Mentawaians have with waves, but also offer an avenue to recognize the importance of attending to the seemingly trivial matter of waves in context of a surf tourism destination.


Objectives Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can be used to repair tissues after myocardial infarction (MI) but EPC activators have adverse reactions. Rehmannia glutinosa is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, which can promote bone-marrow proliferation and protect the ischemic myocardium. We investigated the effects of Rehmannia glutinosa extract (RGE) on EPCs in a rat model of MI. Methods A total of 120 male Wistar rats were randomized to 2 groups (n = 60 each) for treatment: high-dose RGE (1.5 g·kg−1·day−1 orally) for 8 weeks, then left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, mock surgery or no treatment, then RGE orally for 4 weeks; or normal saline (NS) as the above protocol. The infarct region of the left ventricle was assessed by serial sectioning and morphology. EPCs were evaluated by number and function. Protein and mRNA levels of CD133, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 4 (CXCR4), stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) were measured by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and quantitative PCR analysis. Results RGE significantly improved left ventricular function, decreased the ischemic area and the apoptotic index in the infarct myocardium, also decreased the concentration of serum cardiac troponin T and brain natriuretic peptide at the chronic stage after MI (from week 2 to week 4). RGE increased EPC number, proliferation, migration and tube-formation capacity. It was able to up-regulate the expression of angiogenesis-associated ligand/receptor, including CD133, VEGFR2 and SDF-1α/CXCR4. In vitro, the effect of RGE on SDF-1α/CXCR4 cascade was reversed by the CXCR4 specific antagonist AMD3100. Conclusion RGE may enhance the mobilization, migration and therapeutic angiogenesis of EPCs after MI by activating the SDF-1α/CXCR4 cascade.


Context. Recent studies have shown that a remarkable share of quasars classified in the literature as gigahertz-peaked spectrum (GPS) sources and high frequency peakers (HFPs) are actually flaring flat-spectrum sources or blazars. Thus, at least among the quasar-type samples, genuine GPS sources and HFPs seem to be rare. Aims. We have studied variability and the shape of the radio continuum spectra of a sample of 96 galaxy-type GPS sources and HFPs in order to find out whether there is a similar contamination in the galaxy-type samples. Methods. We collected radio data for the sample from the literature, our long-term monitoring campaigns, and recent observations, and then plotted the radio continuum spectra. We also calculated the peak frequencies, the spectral indices, and the variability indices, and finally classified the sources according to these parameters. Results. About 30% of the galaxies in our sample are clearly GPS sources, for another ∼30% there are not enough data for a solid classification, and the rest are flat- or steep-spectrum sources. Conclusions. The galaxy-type GPS samples seem to be cleaner than the quasar-type, but there is also a remarkable contamination of other source types among the galaxies. However, there may be a strong selection effect, originating from the different selection criteria of the original samples, which must be taken into consideration when comparing the results of this and our previous study. Both simultaneous spectra and long-term monitoring are essential when classifying convex-spectrum sources. However, even monitoring for several years may not reveal the variable nature of a source with a convex radio spectrum.


The paper deals with the effects and costs of implementing a base isolation system for the mitigation of the seismic risk of an existing steel rack structure. Different realistic distributions of the payload mass and occupancy levels, which form different plan asymmetric variants, have been analysed. The results obtained by the pushover analysis (N2 method) are presented as top floor envelopes and as plastic hinge damage patterns. In the presented cost study, the cost of the implementation of the proposed base isolation system is compared with the estimated costs of structural repairs to the damaged structural members of the superstructure, as well as with estimated expenses of the downtime period. The results have shown that base isolation is, in general, not economically feasible for lower ground motion intensities, whereas it could be of great benefit in the case of moderate and high intensities, especially if the downtime period is taken into account.


Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for text generation have recently received many criticisms, as they perform worse than their MLE counterparts. We suspect previous text GANs' inferior performance is due to the lack of a reliable guiding signal in their discriminators. To address this problem, we propose a generative adversarial imitation learning framework for text generation that uses large pre-trained language models to provide more reliable reward guidance. As previous text GANs suffer from high variance of gradients, we apply contrastive discriminator, and proximal policy optimization (PPO) to stabilize and improve text generation performance. For evaluation, we conduct experiments on a diverse set of unconditional and conditional text generation tasks. Experimental results show that TextGAIL achieves better performance in terms of both quality and diversity than the MLE baseline. We also validate our intuition that TextGAIL's discriminator demonstrates the capability of providing reasonable rewards with an additional task.


Enterprise security management system proposed to properly manage heterogeneous security products is the security management infrastructure designed to avoid needless duplications of management tasks and inter-operate those security products effectively. In this paper, we defined the security policies using Z-Notation and the detection algorithm of policy conflict for managing heterogeneous firewall systems. It is designed to help security management build invulnerable security policies that can unify various existing management infrastructures of security policies. Its goal is not only to improve security strength and increase the management efficiency and convenience but also to make it possible to include different security management infrastructures while building security policies. With the process of the detection and resolution for policy conflict, it is possible to integrate heterogeneous security policies and guarantee the integrity of them by avoiding conflicts or duplications among security policies. And further, it provides convenience to manage many security products existing in large networks.


A laboratory testing method which is capable of imposing plane-stress and localized plane-strain loading conditions on tubing specimens was used to examine effects of annealing temperature and test environment on the strength and ductility of neutron irradiated Zircaloy-2 tubing. Tests were performed at 350°C in both air and iodine environments on specimens previously irradiated at 327°C in a helium atmosphere to fluences ranging between 1.26 and 1.60 x 10 2 1 neutrons (n)/cm 2 (E > 1 MeV). The tensile ductility under plane-strain loading conditions depended on preirradiation annealing temperature, with recrystallized specimens showing the largest plastic strain at maximum load (6 to 10 percent) in air. By way of comparison, stress-relieved specimens showed the largest plastic strain at maximum load (4 to 5 percent) under conditions of plane-stress loading in air. An iodine environment reduced the load-carrying capacity of the cladding (plane-strain loading) and lowered the strain at maximum load to near the detection limit of the test technique (approximately 1 percent), regardless of prior heat treatment. A change in failure mode from dimpled ductile rupture to quasicleavage and fluting accompanied this loss of ductility.


High-speed photography was utilized to observe the dynamic growth behavior of a cavity in a viscous liquid. From these observations it has been shown that a relatively elementary analytical approach will reproduce the general cavity growth characteristics.


Polyploidy has evolved many times across the kingdom of life. The relationship between cell growth and chromosome replication in bacteria has been studied extensively in monoploid model organisms such as Escherichia coli but not in polyploid organisms. Our study of the polyploid cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus demonstrates that replicating chromosome number is restricted and regulated by DnaA to maintain a relatively stable gene copy number/cell volume ratio during cell growth. In addition, our results suggest that polyploidy confers resistance to UV, which damages DNA. This compensatory polyploidy is likely necessitated by photosynthesis, which requires sunlight and generates damaging reactive oxygen species, and may also explain how polyploid bacteria can adapt to extreme environments with high risk of DNA damage. ABSTRACT Homologous chromosome number (ploidy) has diversified among bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes over evolution. In bacteria, model organisms such as Escherichia coli possess a single chromosome encoding the entire genome during slow growth. In contrast, other bacteria, including cyanobacteria, maintain multiple copies of individual chromosomes (polyploid). Although a correlation between ploidy level and cell size has been observed in bacteria and eukaryotes, it is poorly understood how replication of multicopy chromosomes is regulated and how ploidy level is adjusted to cell size. In addition, the advantages conferred by polyploidy are largely unknown. Here we show that only one or a few multicopy chromosomes are replicated at once in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus and that this restriction depends on regulation of DnaA activity. Inhibiting the DnaA intrinsic ATPase activity in S. elongatus increased the number of replicating chromosomes and chromosome number per cell but did not affect cell growth. In contrast, when cell growth rate was increased or decreased, DnaA level, DnaA activity, and the number of replicating chromosomes also increased or decreased in parallel, resulting in nearly constant chromosome copy number per unit of cell volume at constant temperature. When chromosome copy number was increased by inhibition of DnaA ATPase activity or reduced culture temperature, cells exhibited greater resistance to UV light. Thus, it is suggested that the stepwise replication of the genome enables cyanobacteria to maintain nearly constant gene copy number per unit of cell volume and that multicopy chromosomes function as backup genetic information to compensate for genomic damage. IMPORTANCE Polyploidy has evolved many times across the kingdom of life. The relationship between cell growth and chromosome replication in bacteria has been studied extensively in monoploid model organisms such as Escherichia coli but not in polyploid organisms. Our study of the polyploid cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus demonstrates that replicating chromosome number is restricted and regulated by DnaA to maintain a relatively stable gene copy number/cell volume ratio during cell growth. In addition, our results suggest that polyploidy confers resistance to UV, which damages DNA. This compensatory polyploidy is likely necessitated by photosynthesis, which requires sunlight and generates damaging reactive oxygen species, and may also explain how polyploid bacteria can adapt to extreme environments with high risk of DNA damage.


A prospective study was performed in order to establish HBsAg prevalence on population living in urban areas of three geographical regions of Peru. There were included 100 apparently healthy people of each city, with a residence major to 5 years, no migrate neither transitory. Each subdivided group in 50 adults and 50 children. Of these last ones 15 between 1 to 7 years old and 20 cases between 7 to 14 years old. Samples were obtained by venipuncture, then they were centrifuged and the serum obtained was stored at -20 degrees C before being sent to Lima for processing. Determination of HBsAg was made by the Elisa's technic (Abbott Lab-III.-USA). In this preliminary report we informed about results in 7 cities (Lima, Iquitos, Chiclayo, Arequipa,Ica, Chachapoyas y Tarapoto) that include 680 persons of which 373 were adults and 307 children. The HBsAg, was positive in 26 cases (3.8%). In the adult group were 13 positives (3.4%), and in the children also 13 cases (4.2%). Result of all sample shows figures of prevalence (3.8%) major to that reported before at national level. The same phenomenon was observed in the cost while in the jungle our results were similar to those found before. In the andean area not studied previously there were obtained similar results to the rest of the country. It is also interesting to mention the high percentages of prevalence in children. These results indicate that hepatitis B is a serious problem of public health in our country that merit to take immediate prophylactic measures.


The performance of a quasi-physically based rainfall-runoff model is evaluated for a set of 72 events from a small upland catchment based upon two levels of characterization for overland flow plane geometry. In the first level of characterization there are 22 overland flow planes with average estimates of steady state infiltration rates based upon soil type. In the second level of characterization there are 145 overland flow planes centered upon the locations of steady state infiltration rate measurement sites. Model performance is also evaluated for four different estimates of antecedent soil water content for a subset of 39 events for the more detailed overland flow plane characterization. The results show only slight improvements in model performance for the more detailed characterization of overland flow plane geometry and soil hydraulic property information.


Cancer Genomics
Glioma brain tumors that carry mutant copies of the IDH gene can be subdivided into two major classes. However, the development of and differences between these two classes are not well characterized. Venteicher et al. coupled bulk sequencing and publicly available data with single-cell RNA sequencing data on glioma patient tissue samples. They identified a common lineage program that is shared between glioma subtypes. This suggests that the observed differences between the two glioma classes originate from lineage-specific genetic changes and the tumor microenvironment.

Science , this issue p. [eaai8478][1]

 [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aai8478


There have been several published reports on metastatic lesions in the stomach, but the number of cases have been limited due to the low frequency of the condition. Metastatic lesions in the stomach are usually asymptomatic. A 55-year-old man with known metastatic lung adenocancer exhibited epigastric pain, hematemesis, and melena. A bleeding, ulcerated gastric metastasis was found and treated with endoscopic therapy and omeprazole.


Ground-based GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) have efficiently been used since the 1990s as a meteorological observing system. Recently scientists used GNSS time series of precipitable water vapor (PWV) for climate research. In this work, we compare the temporal trends estimated from GNSS time series with those estimated from European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis (ERA-Interim) data and meteorological measurements. We aim at evaluating climate evolution in Germany by monitoring different atmospheric variables such as temperature and PWV. PWV time series were obtained by three methods: 1) estimated from ground-based GNSS observations using the method of precise point positioning, 2) inferred from ERA-Interim reanalysis data, and 3) determined based on daily in situ measurements of temperature and relative humidity. The other relevant atmospheric parameters are available from surface measurements of meteorological stations or derived from ERA-Interim. The trends are estimated using two methods, the first applies least squares to seasonally-adjusted time series and the second using the Theil-Sen estimator. The trends estimated at 113 GNSS sites, with 10 and 19 year temporal coverage, varies between −1.5 and 2 mm/decade with standard deviations below 0.25 mm/decade. These values depend on the length and the variations of the time series. Therefore, we estimated the PWV trends using ERA-Interim and surface measurements spanning from 1991 to 2016 (26 years) at synoptic 227 stations over Germany. The former shows positive PWV trends below 0.5 mm/decade while the latter shows positive trends below 0.9 mm/decade with standard deviations below 0.03 mm/decade. The estimated PWV trends correlate with the temperature trends.


In Africa slowly but steadily a transformation is taking place in the management styles of enterprises. There is a trend towards more precise time management, more precision in dealing with increasingly sophisticated technology, more feedback from the bottom to the top in order to manage the processes properly, more professionalism and independence of the individual worker. This contribution makes two points: first, neither cultures nor the so-called mental states of individuals are ever static, but always on the move. Second, the force of passion and inspiration by which particular cultural values are endorsed in a particular context makes all the difference in their impact. The importance of these two propositions comes to the fore, if the concept of an "economic culture" is taken into consideration. The claim of the authors is that the ongoing cultural transformation can be better understood in the dynamic approach of cultural values as proposed here.


The October 2009 Government Statement on Economic Regulation proposes a number of sensible reforms that are likely to improve regulatory performance in energy, airports, telecommunications, postal services and transport. However, the Government Statement also proposes to reduce the independence of regulators by holding them to account through a whole series of additional mechanisms, some of which are informal and lack transparency, while at the same time instructing regulators to take into account evolving/current – possible transient – priorities. There are good reasons for preserving and strengthening rather than undermining regulatory independence. For example, it facilitates investment in long-lived assets with a large element of sunk or irrecoverable investment, a common characteristic of network sectors. The Government Statement's unexplained move to reduce regulators' independence finds no support in either the government commissioned background report prepared by the Economic Intelligence Unit, Review of the Regulatory Environment in Ireland, or recent European Union legislation on energy and telecommunications regulation. Indeed, these sources are strongly in favour of regulatory independence. Two, not necessarily mutually exclusive explanations, for reducing regulatory independence are discussed: to remove an anomaly in the Irish political system; and, to assist in the delivery of social partnership. The paper concludes by arguing that some thought might be given to public consultation of the reforms in the Government Statement prior to further implementation.


The main goal of this research is to test how well existing feature extraction, matching and motion estimation algorithms (with appropriate modification) work on outdoor scenes. For this purpose, a careful calibrated image sequence data base has been created. The data used for the results reported in the paper consists of a sequence of 24 stereo images of an outdoor scene containing a moving truck with stationary background. Two motion estimation methods using feature correspondences were applied in the data: point correspondences over two stereo image pairs and line correspondences over three monocular images. In spite of the large values of the range to baseline ration (10:1) and the range to focal length ration (1000:1), the estimated rotation parameters are reasonably accurate (10-20% errors) in both methods. Although the translation estimates in the monocular method are large, the translation errors in the stereo method are around 1 meter, and are mainly due to image sampling.<<ETX>>


Message from President Antonin Novotny thanking President Johnson for the pictures from the moon and congratulating him on the success of Surveyor I.


An optical method is described to perform instantaneous thermometry along a line in low-density air seeded with I2. Laser-induced fluorescence is generated by exciting the I2 Cordes bands (D 1Σu+ ← 1Σg+) with a tunable ArF excimer laser near 193 nm. Temperatures from 295 to 648 K are measured by fitting the I2 emission spectrum from 188 to 195 nm to a vibrational Boltzmann distribution. Uncertainties for average measurements are typically ±5% (±1σ).


Abstract
This paper explores the argumentative work undertaken in talk and text about conspiracy theory (CT), relating this to recent scholarly debate regarding the significance of critical inquiry in the context of developments in poststructuralist and postmodern social theory. We examine discussion of CT as a site where the transformation between deconstructive, depth analytic critique and its opposite, realist claims takes place. Meta-theoretical formulations attempting to accommodate both such argumentative gestures in a coherent program for the pursuit of dialogue are shown to be inconsistent with the nature of argumentation as an undertaking to resolve ambiguity in accounts. the sharing of concerns on which agreement is to be founded are the outcome, rather than the basis, of dialogue, even if such an encounter is pursued on the grounds of shared presupposition distinct from the shared concerns which emerge from dialogue. Discussion concerning CT is a site where the formulation of motivation is made to bear on the question of an argument's validity in virtue of either depth analytic or realist assumptions.

Keywords: Conspiracy theory, Critical inquiry, Argument, Dialogue, Conversation.


We give an analysis of relationships between expected retrieval performance and classification recognition accuracy in the context of document image content extraction and inventory. By content extraction we mean location and measurement of regions containing handwriting, machineprinted text, photographs, blank space, etc, in documents represented as bilevel, grey-level, or color images. Recent experiments have shown that even modest per-pixel content classification accuracies can support usefully high recall and precision rates (of, e.g., 80–90%) for retrieval queries within document collections seeking pages that contain a given minimum fraction of a certain type of content. In an effort to elucidate this interesting empirical result, we have analyzed the interdependency of classification and retrieval under a variety of assumptions about the distribution of content types in document image collections. We show that under general conditions we cannot derive precision and recall measures from per-pixel classification measures alone, but we can estimate the expected values of these measures. If however the distribution of content and error rates are uniform across the entire collection, our results suggest, it is possible to predict precision and recall measures from classification accuracy and vice versa.


Runoff quality draining from 17.14 km2 urban catchment in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, was analysed. The land-use consists of residential (30.3%), agricultural (27.3%), open space (27.9%), industrial (8.1%) and commercial (6.4%) areas. Three storm events were sampled in detail. These storms produced stormflow between 0.84 mm and 27.82 mm, and peakflow from 2.19 m3/s to 42.36 m3/s. Water quality showed marked variation during storms especially for TSS, BOD and COD with maximum concentrations of 778 mg/l, 135 mg/l and 358 mg/l, respectively. Concentrations of TOC, DOC, NH3-N, Fe and level of colour were also high. In general, the river quality is badly polluted and falls in Class V based on the Malaysian Interim National Water Quality Standards. Event Mean Concentrations (EMC) for various parameters varied considerably between storms. The largest storm produced higher EMC for TSS, NO3-N and SS whereas the smaller storms tend to register higher EMC for BOD, COD, NH3-N, TOC, Ca, K, Mg, Fe and Zn. Such variations could be explained in terms of pollutant availability and the effects of flushing and dilution. Based on a three-month average recurrence interval (ARI) of rainfall, the estimated event loadings (ton/ha) of TSS, BOD, COD, TOC, NH3-N and NO3-N were 0.055, 0.016, 0.012, 0.039, 0.010, 0.0007 and 0.0002, respectively. Heavy metals present in trace quantities. Storms with 3 months ARI could capture about 70% of the total annual loads of major pollutants.


We are investigating computing platform-independent policy frameworks to specify, analyze, and deploy security and networking policies. The goal is to provide easy to use mechanisms for refining high-level user-specified goals into low-level controls. This scenario-based demo of a Coalition Policy Management Portal prototype uses the context of a hostage rescue situation to demonstrate usable and effective policy authoring through either natural language or structured lists that create natural language policy rules; policy visualization; analysis of policies for conflict, dominance, and coverage, and methods to resolve the issues identified; policy transformation from natural language to XML or ACPL SPL for automated enforcement, and deployment of policies onto mission equipment. The prototype builds on the SPARCLE and PONDER2 research projects.


Abstract Objectives: Third line treatment of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and/or reduced bladder capacity is bladder augmentation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clam enterocystoplasty (CECP) was an efficient treatment for patients who were refractory to conservative treatments of UUI and small functional bladder capacity and secondly if there was a difference in outcome in patients with neurogenic and non-neurogenic bladders. Methods: We evaluated 118 patients retrospectively treated in the period 2006–2018 at a single university hospital. Data were collected retrospectively. Patient groups were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Overall, 76% became continent with 92% using clean intermittent self-catherization (CISC) of patients with neurogenic bladder, 82% became continent and 100% were using CISC, whereas of patients with non-neurogenic bladder 64% became continence and 77% were using CISC. The median overall improvement of capacity was 296.5 mL (IQR: 142–440), 310 mL (186–467) in the neurogenic group and 214 mL (IQR: 126.8–361.5) in non-neurogenic (p = 0.01). Conclusion: CECP is an efficient treatment in UUI and reduced bladder capacity. Difference in outcome was seen with neurogenic patients having a bigger functional capacity and a higher rate of continence compared to the non-neurogenic.


Pilot wave theory (PWT), also called de Broglie-Bohm theory or Bohmian Mechanics, is a deterministic nonlocal `hidden variables' quantum theory without fundamental uncertainty. It is in agreement with all experimental facts about nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (QM) and furthermore
explains its mathematical structure. But in general, PWT describes a nonequilibrium state, admitting new physics beyond standard QM.
This essay is concerned with the problem how to generalise the PWT approach to quantum field theories (QFTs). First, we briefy state the formulation of nonrelativistic PWT and review its major results. We work out the parts of its structure that it shares with the QFT case. Next, we come to the main part: We show how PW QFTs can be constructed both for field and particle ontologies. In this context, we discuss some of the existing models as well as general issues: most importantly the status of Lorentz invariance in the context of quantum nonlocality. The essay concludes with a more speculative outlook in which the potential of PWT for open QFT questions as well as quantum nonequilibrium physics are considered.


The public morals exception to the World Trade Organization ("WTO") trade rules was explicitly invoked for the third time in the trade regime's history in the WTO dispute over seal products. While shedding further light on the public morals exception, the WTO Appellate Body's decision in this dispute has raised concerns about an overbroad public morals doctrine that could provide a cloak for protectionism. Some commentators argue that the decision has left the exception with no boundaries, leaving the door open for validation of otherwise illegal trade-restrictive measures disguised as measures intended to protect a public moral. This Note addresses such concerns about the unforeseen but far-reaching implications of the European Communities-Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products ("EC-Seal Products") decision, and argues that the Appellate Body properly and necessarily left the definition and scope of what constitutes a public moral to the discretion of individual WTO member countries. In discussing the WTO's treatment of the public morals exception in the context of the trade-morality conflict, this Note argues that the implications of the EC-Seal Products decision are not as severe as they may seem. Given the increasingly diverse values, beliefs, and morals that exist among WTO member countries, as well as the crucial role of the WTO as adjudicator among them all, this Note argues that the decision necessarily protects member countries' sovereignty as well as the trade regime's legitimacy and resilience.


The clinical recognition of CSF fistula is a clinical challenge. We report the case of a young woman, who presented with a late orthostatic headache 20 months after epidural anesthesia. She developed a lumbar dural fistula of CSF confirmed in myelography CT scanning and treated successfully with epidural blood patch.


Leprosy is a chronic disease of the skin and peripheral nerves that afflicts more than 5 million persons worldwide and more than 7,000 persons in the United States. Although leprosy is indigenous to the southern United States, most new cases in this country occur among immigrants from foreign areas where the disease is endemic. Leprosy presents as a skin rash and/or peripheral neuropathy. The diagnosis can be confirmed when acid-fast bacilli are found in skin biopsies or smears. The multiple-drug treatment regimens recommended by the World Health Organization have considerably reduced the length of treatment to six months to two years. The optimum duration of treatment has yet to be determined. In most countries, including the United States, leprosy remains one of the most stigmatizing diseases.


REPORT OF CASE A boy, aged 16, burned in an explosion on a gasoline launch and having come through fire to make his escape, was brought by automobile 50 miles, wrapped in a sheet, to the hospital, and was admitted at midnight, July 13, 1919. He was burned on the brow, both ears, the face, nose, mouth, neck, left forearm and hand, right arm, forearm and hand, including the axilla and across the back, down to and on the buttocks and posterior surfaces of the thighs, abdomen and the anterior surfaces of the thighs to the knees. It will be seen that the only uninjured parts by which the patient could be handled were his right arm, both legs below the knee, and his hair, of which he had a large mop. He was well saturated with a hypnotic, and when aroused was delirious. He was cleansed with surgical solution


In "Behavioral Thermoregulation by Turtle Embryos," published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [4] in April, 2011, Wei-Guo Du, Bo Zhao, Ye Chen, and Richard Shine report that turtle embryos can move towards warmer temperatures within the egg [5] when presented with a small, 0.8 degrees Celsius gradient. This behavioral thermoregulation may benefit the embryo's fitness by accelerating the rate of development enough to decrease the incubation period by up to four and a half days. Embryos are generally thought to have little control over their surroundings. This study revealed that embryos may be able to control their developmental environment by modifying their behavior.


Pre-emptive intelligence is seen as key to enabling the state to counter terrorism without alienating the minority communities from whom the terrorists hope to gain support. The international nature of jihadist terrorism is placing increasing demands on intelligence agencies to cooperate with new partners overseas and to extend their range of methods, human and technical, to acquire such intelligence. This pressure is creating ethical dilemmas for the agencies at a time when the methods of secret intelligence and their impact on individual rights are the subject of public controversy. This article discusses the implications of the requirement to produce and share actionable high-value intelligence, and suggests a set of ethical guidelines for the British intelligence community. These guidelines aim to help sustain public confidence in intelligence work and in the directions in which this work must develop in order to generate the pre-emptive intelligence needed for public security.


The prevalence of xerostomia was evaluated in 259 volunteers 70 ± 4.5 years old. Seventy–two (27.7%) complained of dry mouth. In 31 (11.8%) salivary secretion was under 0.1 ml/min. The xerostomic patients were compared to an age–matched control group. The main complaints of xerostomia were dry mouth during the day, dry throat, burning sensation of the tongue, difficulty in swallowing, and taste disturbances. Systemic diseases frequent in the xerostomic patients were heart failure and hypertension. Chronic renal failure, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism were also encountered. The medications most frequently used by the xerostomic patients were parasympatholytics, sympatholytics, and diuretics. A higher frequency of active caries, gingivitis, and dryness of the mucosa was detected in the xerostomic patients. A significantly higher response to stimulation, elevated salivary calcium, and lowered oral pH were found in this group. Xerostomia was found to be related o t systemic diseases, medications, or a combination of these factors. The importance of saliva for maintaining oral health was also observed. Twenty–nine patients suffering from xerostomia were treated with an artificial saliva. On reexamination after one month, most of them reported improvement, and a significant increase in salivary flow rate was found.


If a line width of a resist pattern of the wafer to uniformly form within, and the temperature setting of the hot plate. The soleplate of the PEB devices is divided to a plurality of heat plate area, it may be set for each soleplate temperature range. In each area of the hot plate heating plate, respectively, the temperature correction values are set for adjusting the temperature in the wafer surface is placed on a hot plate. The temperature correction value for each area of the hot plate heating plate is set is calculated by a calculation model created from a correlation between a line width and a temperature correction value of the resist pattern to be formed is heat-treated in the heat plate. Calculation model (M) is based on a line width measured value of the resist pattern, and calculates a temperature correction value as a line width in the wafer surface is uniform.


This paper explains the microcontroller based fuzzy controller for an agricultural robot which can be used to plough the field, seeding and soil moisture sensing. By using the agricultural robots in field which can be used to reduce manpower and can be operated using remote controls from a distant place. In this paper , an agricultural robot is designed with an internet based remote control by using LAB VIEW and its position and speed control are discussed. Fuzzy controller is designed to change the steering angle and the speed of the robot according to the desired reference position. The control was implemented using Atmega16 Microcontroller and the results are documented. The Robot control is implemented from a remote place using internet and web publishing tool in LabVIEW. This LabVIEW software enables complex and expensive equipment to be replaced by simpler and less expensive hardware. The agricultural Robot with the designed controller can be controlled from any distant computer. Thus this agricultural Robot control reduces the manpower and becomes advantageous and cost-effective In existing they are using RF technology for transmitting and receiving purposes.But RF module operates at 433.92 MHZ.and it can transmits the information about a single robot.This is is one of the main disadvantages in existing system.so only GPRS technology is proposed to overcome this problem.By using the GPRS transmission of data is very fast,long distance communication,collects and transmits information about multiple number of robots .


Because the traditional HMM algorithm has three disadvantages: firstly, the output probability of observed features is irrelevant to its history; secondly, continuous multiplication of the probability values can be easy to cause underflow phenomenon in the Viterbi algorithm; thirdly, the observed values of high dimensional vector will bring about a larger computational burden in the training stage, so a new improved HMM algorithm was proposed. At first, we should separate hands from complex backgrounds by using the deep message of kinect, and reduce the dimensionality of the observed value. Next, we use the angel of adjacent point as trajectory feature of gesture and utilize curvature's changing of trajectory as the new HMM Model state numbers. Finally, the improved HMM algorithm is used to train and recognize the gesture. Results show that this method of the improved Hidden Markov Model has a low complexity, high efficiency and accuracy of recognition, which also has a good practicability.


Radiation-induced hepatic injury in rats, which is characterized by marked ascites accompanied by liver necrosis, fibrosis, and vein lesions, is described in this study. These adverse sequelae are produced within 30 days after irradiation if there is surgical removal of two-thirds of the liver immediately after whole-liver irradiation. The LD50/30 day and median survival time after liver irradiation and two-thirds partial hepatectomy is 24 Gy and 17 days, respectively. Death is preceded by reduction in liver function as measured by [131I]-labeled rose bengal clearance. Prior to death, liver sepsis and endotoxemia were detected in most irradiated, partially hepatectomized animals. Pretreatment of the animals with endotoxin and/or antibiotic decontamination of the GI tract, which increase the host resistance to infection and endotoxemia, resulted in increased survival time, but no irradiated, partially hepatectomized animal survived beyond 63 days. The combination of these treatments resulted in additive effects leading to 38% survival at 100 days. These treatments did not, however, prevent the eventual development of radiation-induced liver pathology. This suggests that sepsis and endotoxemia resulting from the bacteria in the intestine are the immediate cause of death after 30-Gy liver irradiation and partial hepatectomy. It is concluded that the hepatectomized rat model is an economical and scientifically manageable experimental system to study a form of radiation hepatitis that occurs in compromised human livers.


This paper describes case study research undertaken in six Iranian manufacturing companies aimed at advancing the understanding of the manufacturing strategy formation process. Based on this study culture, leadership, policy and incrementalism have their own undeniable roles in manufacturing strategy formation. It could be useful to utilize formal business planning for firms interested in deliberative manufacturing strategy. In this study we use Barnes's studies on six UK manufacturing companies.


In this paper, we present results from a joint oceanographic-acoustic study of solitary waves and their effects during the 1997 winter PRIMER4 experiment on the shelfbreak south of Cape Cod, MA. The study addresses the acoustic effects induced by solitary waves and associated oceanographic phenomena. Solitary wave generation and propagation simulations are produced by the Lamb model [J. Geophys. Res., vol. 99, pp. 848-864, 1994]. The model is nonhydrostatic and is formulated in 2.5 dimensions using terrain following coordinates. Acoustic field calculations are performed with a parabolic equation acoustic model along the path of solitary wave train propagation. The oceanographic model is initialized from density profiles derived from conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) casts using analytical functions. The model is forced with a prescribed semidiurnal tidal velocity. An ocean background current is introduced. Simulations based on parameters derived from measurements show the following: 1) internal solitary waves of elevation propagate onto the shelfbreak region; 2) opposing ocean currents enhance the formation of solitary waves at the shelfbreak; 3) deepening of the winter mixed layer results in less penetration of the solitary waves on to the shelf; 4) density structure, mixed-layer depth, tidal forcing, and ocean currents control the formation of solitary waves of elevation at the shelfbreak; 5) energy conversion, from semidiurnal barotropic to semidiurnal barcoclinic tides and to internal solitary waves, occurs; 6) amplitudes and periods of modeled solitary waves are in the range of thermistor chain measurements; and 7) lower mixed-layer densities increase the phase speed of simulated solitary waves. Acoustic field calculations are coupled to the propagation of the solitary wave packets through the sound-speed changes that are derived from the oceanographic simulations. Acoustic model predictions show signal intensity fluctuations similar to the anomalous loses in acoustic energy observed in the Yellow Sea data taken by Zhou [J. Acoust. Soc. Amer., vol. 90, pp. 2042-2054, 1991]. In some cases, the presence of solitary waves on the shelf enhances the propagation of acoustic energy onto the shelf. This was observed for acoustic simulations where the acoustic source was located beyond the shelfbreak and at a depth greater than the shelf depth.


On the rise of China-chic, diverse trends have surfaced in the Hanfu development because of revivification and innovation. Understanding the perception and acceptance of potential users is vital for Hanfu development as it develops genuine confidence in their national identity and traditional culture. This study investigated and discussed the Kansei aspect of perception and acceptance of users in the appearance and structure of Hanfu. The study aims to grasp of characteristics of Kansei to identify the diverse style of Hanfu images to help designers understand the market needs of Hanfu products style and improve the attractiveness of a product. Two types of Hanfu were selected for evaluation. All data were gathered and analysed using semantic differential methods, descriptive statistics, factor analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Results revealed two kinds of Hanfu: S01 can be categorised as practical and modern traditional Hanfu images, whereas S02 represented original and adequate fashionable Hanfu images. Finally, this paper is the first empirical research in Hanfu using the Kansei engineering method from users' perception and acceptance.


This article presents the findings of an Australian study that aimed to explore how young women construct their self-identity while negotiating motherhood and the associated transition to adulthood. Teenage motherhood, within contemporary discourse, often attracts negative assumptions about young women's worth and ability to parent. This study used a combination of semi-structured interviews and memory work to draw out women's stories and give voice to their experiences of becoming mothers. Three key themes were induced from the findings: pride and self, autonomy and change, and resilience. This article explores these themes that are, in many ways, a resistance and challenge to dominant public discourse, and relates them to how young women ascribe positive meaning to their experiences of becoming mothers. The findings demonstrate women's autonomy in shaping their lives in the way they forge relationships and raise their children. The article concludes by examining the implications of meaning-making in relation to self-identity for young mothers to inform service provision.


Abstract:This paper traces the path of Motif K111.1, Alleged gold-dropping animal sold, through a series of tales in which the trickster Aldar Köse works his way to wealth through ruses that exploit the norms and institutions of mobile pastoral production. Comparison of the motif across eras reveals the ways in which a trickster figure who embodied a disorderly anarchy of appetite was improbably reborn as an apostle of order.


Hibiscus syriacus (H. syriacus) as the national flower of Korea has been used as the herbal medicine in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of 70% ethanol extracts from the root of Hibiscus syriacus (RHS-E70) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS and IL-β expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, RHS-E70 suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38, which results in the inhibition of ATF2 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. These results indicate that RHS-E70 may exert antiinflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK/ATF2 signaling. From these findings, RHS-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.


Flood is a reoccurring natural hazard in many parts of Nigeria, and is likely to increase in severity and frequency. Characterization of recently flooded areas was carried out using hydro-morphological indices to identify flood prone areas. In flood risk quantification and identification, hydrodynamic models require vast amounts of data, while contour delineation fails to account for the upstream contribution and accumulation at downstream locations. Data on recently flooded areas and elevation data were collated. Hydro-geomorphometric indices were computed and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Across the indices, the terrain roughness indices – vertical roughness measure (VRM) and topographic roughness index (TRI) were found to be significant but weakly correlated (r = 0.455, P<0.05). There was a significantly positive but moderate correlation between topographic wetness index (TWI) and VRM (r=-0.673) and TWI vs TRI (r=0.572). Topographic position index (TPI) displayed a weak but significant relation to VRM, TWI and TRI. Of these four indices, TWI and TRI have standardized test statistics of -6.11 and 10.00 respectively and a significant test value < 0.05. Results show that flooded and non-flooded areas can be distinguished for the study area using these indices. It is recommended that hydro-geomorphometric indices should be used, adding another layer of confidence in the identification of flood prone areas for disaster risk management in data poor environments.


The present experiments were carried out to develop new antioxidants from EtOH extract of flower resources of Compositae plant concerning total polyphenol and flavonoid content, scavenging activities on DPPH and ABTS radicals, ferrous ion chelating effects, and inhibition activity on lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid. EtOH extracts from Matricaria recutica, Cosmos bipinnatus, Synurus deltoides, and Aster pilosus showed higher level of total polyphenol content, and the flavonoid content was the highest in C. bipinnatus. However, scavenging activity on DPPH radicals was the highest in EtOH extract of Hieracium pilosella-1.1 times higher than BHT control. The activity on ABTS radical scavenging was the highest in EtOH extracts of M. recutica and S. deltoides-2.0 and 1.2 times higher than ascorbic acid, and 2.2 and 1.3 times higher than BHT, respectively. Ferrous ion chelating effects was also the highest in M. recutica, but the level was much lower than EDTA. Inhibition activity on lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid, measured at every 4 days for 32 days, was superior and longer lasting with M. recutica and Achillea alpina, compared to that of BHT. In conclusion, antioxidant activity was different depending on species, so selection of proper plant species for the development of potential antioxidant is very important.


Study Design. Opportunistic prospective follow-up study. Objective. To describe the natural history of low back pain in the community and to model the factors predictive of recovered versus persistent low back pain. Summary of Background Data. A two-phase questionnaire was mailed to adults in the Bradford Metropolitan Health District in 1994. Valid respondents were surveyed again in 1997. Analysis is based on the combined results of these two surveys. Methods. Unifactorial and multifactorial statistics were analyzed based on 1455 adults, with and without low back pain. Results. One third of respondents reported no lifetime low back pain. Average lifetime prevalence was 59% and average annual prevalence 41%. Of those who reported lifetime low back pain, 42% reported persistent annual low back pain, 18% reported a first episode in 1997, resulting in a 4% population incidence rate, and 40% reported intermittent low back pain. The likelihood of having had low back pain increased significantly with age. Those who reported a new case of low back pain in 1997 were significantly more likely to be 25–34 years of age, and these persons were most likely to report acute low back pain with very little disability. Those with persistent low back pain were significantly more likely to report chronic low back pain with some disability. Logistic regression modeling was unable to predict recovered versus persistent low back pain, given the person, pain, and treatment factors available. Conclusions. Results showed that low back pain is a mutable problem with acute episodes blending into longer periods resulting in more disability as time progresses. A wide range of demographic, pain, consultation, and treatment factors were not predictive of low back pain recovery.


Background We evaluated associations between antibiotic prescription and healthcare resource use and costs (Part A), and between antibiotic switching and healthcare resource use, costs, and uncomplicated urinary tract infection recurrence (Part B) in female patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infection in the United States. Methods This retrospective cohort study of linked Optum and Premier Healthcare Database data included female patients ≥12 years old with an uncomplicated urinary tract infection diagnosis (index date), who were prescribed antibiotics during an outpatient/emergency department visit between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. In Part A, patients were stratified by antibiotic prescription appropriateness: appropriate and optimal (compliant with Infectious Diseases Society of America 2011 guidelines for drug class/treatment duration) versus inappropriate/suboptimal (inappropriate drug class/treatment duration per Infectious Diseases Society of America 2011 guidelines, and/or treatment failure). In Part B, patients were stratified by treatment pattern (antibiotic switch vs no antibiotic switch). Healthcare resource use and costs during index episode (within 28 days of index date) and 12-month follow-up were compared. Results Of 5870 patients (mean age 44.5 years), 2762 (47.1%) had inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions and 567 (9.7%) switched antibiotic. Inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions were associated with higher healthcare resource use (mean number of ambulatory care and pharmacy claims [both p < 0.001]), and higher total mean cost (inpatient, outpatient/emergency department, ambulatory visits, and pharmacy costs) per patient ($2616) than appropriate and optimal prescriptions ($649; p < 0.001) (Part A). Antibiotic switching was associated with more pharmacy claims and higher total mean costs (p ≤ 0.01), and a higher incidence of recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infection (18.9%) than no antibiotic switching (14.2%; p < 0.001) (Part B). Conclusions Inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions and antibiotic switching were associated with high costs, ambulatory care, and pharmacy claims, suggesting a need for improved uncomplicated urinary tract infection prescribing practices in the United States.


Whilst Italian optometrists refract patients and prescribe optical appliances, it is ophthalmologists who are responsible for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular pathology. In settings with similar scope of practice, close collaboration between optometrists and ophthalmologists is required to minimise avoidable visual impairment. Referral to ophthalmology represents the basis of this synergy, yet no formal guidance is available to Italian optometrists indicating when referrals are warranted. This study aimed to identify circumstances deserving a referral in a routine Italian optometric examination in adults, constituting preliminary evidence-based indications of a referral model. A literature review was conducted using Pubmed and the Cochrane Library. To derive clinical guidance, the main focus was high quality secondary literature such as systematic reviews and clinical guidelines. Several signs and symptoms detected during a routine Italian optometric exam might constitute reasons for referral. Further, while awide range of anomalies of the visual systemare likely to be detected by the exam, up to 19% of patients could suffer an asymptomatic condition potentially undetected by the current assessment. This results in the need to refer seemingly healthy patients if they have not attended routine ophthalmological examinations within optimal time frames. The current training and scope of practice of Italian optometrists requires close collaboration with ophthalmologists to safeguard the ocular health of patients. Referral is a fundamental instrument that in Italy, and countries with similar settings, optometrists must use to enable early diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions by ophthalmologists. We have presented a preliminary evidence-based framework for optometric referral which identifies categories constituting reasons for referral. This has the potential of standardising optometric practice, enhancing optometry-ophthalmology synergism and, more importantly, improving ocular and general wellbeing of patients.


Integration of the technologically favorable mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with the specific recognition properties of proteins could enable the development of novel bioelectronic, in particular biosensing, applications. The hydrophobic graphene surface of CNTs, however, is not a biological substrate and as-synthesized CNTs aggregate in aqueous solution. CNTs can be easily dispersed by non-covalent binding of surfactants like sodium dodecyl sulfate, but the use of such detergents is undesirable because they unfold proteins and degrade cell membranes. We show here that carbon nanotubes can also be dispersed by coating them with biocompatible surfactant analogs. Incubation of multiwalled CNTs with sonicated vesicles of synthetic phospholipids resulted in a stable aqueous suspension of the nanotubes, also after removal of the vesicles by centrifugation. When the vesicles were doped with a fluorescently labelled lipid, the washed CNTs could be observed by fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, atomic force microscopy indicated that the nanotubes were coated by a smooth layer, with occasional defects or transitions to a second layer. These discontinuities were consistently 4-5 nm deep, the typical thickness of a lipid bilayer. It can thus be concluded that vesicle fusion results in the formation of lipid bilayers on the surface of multiwalled CNTs. We addressed the influence of vesicle size, lipid acyl chain saturation, lipid head group charge, CNT surface modification, and CNT diameter on the efficiency of lipid coating. Significantly, it proved possible to include a fluorescently labelled transmembrane peptide in nanotube-supported bilayers, and we are currently investigating whether this can also be achieved for membrane proteins


Abstract This paper re-evaluates the party system change in Turkey based on Sartori's framework. It also explores the role of opposition parties in this. The paper suggests that, while a fragmented opposition may lead to the emergence of a one-party government and/or military intervention because of the high levels of polarization it induces, bilateral opposition prolongs one-party governments. The paper relies on an analysis of party programs and public opinion surveys in order to position the parties in terms of spatial distance and to understand the level of polarization.


Despite the significant progress that has been made in exploring the molecular basis for multiple adhesive events in the animal kingdom, the exceptional adhesion behaviors of climbing plants, such as English ivy, are still poorly understood. In this study, the spheroidal nanoparticles observed in the mucilage exuded by the English ivy were identified to be predominantly composed of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). The roles of these AGPrich nanoparticles in favoring the generation of strong adhesion strength are elucidated. The Ca-driven electrostatic interactions among uronic acids within AGPs and pectin upon curing could be exploited as guidelines in the design and fabrication of novel synthetic adhesives, and the ivy-derived adhesive composite is capable of serving as a template for inspiring the development of diverse adhesive biomaterials. (See pp. E3193–E3202.)


Purpose: To determine the accuracy of TomoTherapy's delivery verification planned adaptive (DVPA) dose reconstruction software in post‐ mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) calculations to the chest wall. Methods: Archived treatment data for 5 patients treated at MBPCC were restored to the DVPA analysis software. This data included daily pretreatment MVCT images as well as exit detector transit dosimetry data collected during treatment. These were used to calculate the delivery verification (DV) sinogram for each treatment fraction. The DV sinogram and MVCT image for each fraction were used to reconstruct the delivereddose for that fraction using a convolution/superposition algorithm. Point doses at four TLD locations were previously acquired for 15 treatment fractions for each patient. The DVPA and TLDdoses for each patient TLD for each fraction and compared to our clinically acceptable criterion of 5% agreement. Results: The mean difference for all the data was −3.2 ± 0.28% (4.7%). Approximately 66% of the data points agreed within 5%. The largest difference between measured and calculated doses was −17.3%. While the mean difference was within 5%, the large standard deviation of the data demonstrates the potential for large differences in agreement for individual fraction data. Conclusions: Patient motion after the MVCT can have a large effect on the calculation of radiological path‐length used by the database technique, especially near the surface. This uncertainty may be responsible for the differences seen in this work. Future evaluations of the DVPA software will include anthropomorphic phantom studies. Since the motion variable is removed in the treatment of the phantom it is expected that the dose reconstruction will compare well to TLDdoses.


This paper describes the emotion
recognition to determine the driver's conditions.
The emotion recognition could be envisioned to
sense the driver emotions automatically through a
camera. Therefore, facial images were analyzed to
extract the features to characterize the variations
between facial emotions images. The features
extraction techniques apply was Principal
Component Analysis (PCA), this algorithm finds
the principle components of the covariance matrix
of a set of face images. Then, the eigenvalues
component will be used as an input to the KNearest
Neighbor (KNN) classifier. The facial
expression recognition used to investigate the
emotion and thus carry out an awareness system
for drivers to perform an appropriate intervention
system.


Pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis is a rare manifestation of myelofibrosis. We encountered a unique case of pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis occurring in a 59-year-old white man, where in addition to the typical foci of interstitial hematopoietic cells, a surgical lung biopsy showed airspace and arterial wall involvement. Airspace foci were associated with acute and organizing alveolar hemorrhage, while within arteries the hematopoietic elements had a striking predilection for the vascular intima. The hematopoietic foci included erythroid precursors, myeloid precursors, and megakaryocytes, which were immunoreactive with hemoglobin, myeloperoxidase, and CD61, respectively. Whether extramedullary hematopoiesis represents in situ embryonic stem cell differentiation or a compensatory seeding of hematopoietic cells from the bone marrow remains to be elucidated. However, familiarity with these findings in the lung could be helpful in uncovering occult hematological disorders accompanied by extramedullary hematopoiesis. Extramedullary hematopoiesis should also be considered as a cause of pulmonary hemorrhage, especially in the setting of myelofibrosis.


Various correlations of saturated vapor density in a truncated power series form are tested and compared in this study. Saturated vapor density correlation can be expressed relating logarithmic reduced density to the reduced temperature. Five types of correlation has been investigated using saturated vapor density data for 22 pure substance refrigerants from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) property tables and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Chemistry Webbook. Correlations are fitted to the data points by least squares method. Data points are equally weighted. The best type of correlation among the five types is suggested. The results obtained indicate that the best correlations with 3, 4, and 5 terms yield average AAD's (Average Absolute Deviation) of 0.27%, 0.04%, and 0.02%, respectively, while widely used conventional correlations with 3, 4, and 5 terms yield those of 1.19%, 0.61%, and 0.17%. The suggested type of correlation could reduce the number of terms while improving performance.


This note is intended to inform Public Financial Management (PFM) reform in small Pacific Island Countries (PICs). PFM systems in PIC contexts are often very different from the sophisticated and comprehensive systems operating in larger, wealthier countries. The authors give two key messages. Firstly, PFM capacity should be prioritized to areas that matter most in achieving development outcomes, and reforms should be intended to address specific, identified, problems, rather than to achieve blueprint good practice standards. Secondly, with small numbers of staff and high staff turnover limiting potential for sustainable gains from standard capacity building solutions (such as training programs and workshops), broader options for meeting capacity gaps should be considered, including accessing ongoing support for specialized tasks or even the wholesale outsourcing of certain functions. The three main sections of this note are as follows: (i) how to plan PFM reforms, including through the development of PFM roadmaps; (ii) how to prioritize limited PFM reform capacity to address the most pressing constraints to development; and (iii) how to access additional capacity to implement and sustain required PFM reforms.


In this study we explore the mediating role of emotions in the process of becoming a politically informed citizen. Contrary to previous studies, we expect that anger and anxiety will have much different effects on this process. We suspect the role of anxiety is somewhat unique even among negative emotions as mediator of the causal effect of political threats on information seeking and learning. In addition, we speculate that anxiety should improve the quality of information seeking, not just its quantity. In one experiment, we induce emotions directly and find that while anger, enthusiasm, and anxiety can lead people to claim they will pay attention to the campaign, anger actually depresses total information seeking. In a second experiment, we examine the impact of realistic political threats and find that exposure triggers several emotions but that only anxiety boosts information seeking and learning.


In this article, the design and implementation of an electronic bicycle gear-shift with moving cassette is presented. The niche context where the needs developed is explained and the project evolution over two versions is described. Technical aspects considered in the design phase are discussed and detailed explanations of hardware layout and control software logic are given. Performance of the two implemented versions are compared through data recorded during the target competition (pedaling cadence and torque), highlighting the higher reliability of the second design thanks to mechanical simplification and a more stable position feedback. An additional comparison with cadence data from other competitors in a speed-challenge competition is then presented to highlights the main benefit obtained: a reduced variance in cadence that enables the rider to pedal at his optimal rate since the early stage and through the whole run-up. Finally, the current development of the project under a Proof of Concept grant is presented by discussing its potential application on the standard bicycle market, the need for an assessment of its value proposition and the main obstacles to overcome for complying (or not) with the current market standards. The article offers an overview of practical aspects to be considered when designing high-speed human powered vehicle transmissions, including technical details of an innovative solution and critical considerations about the possibility of such a specific design to develop within the standard bicycle market.


Acute septic pancarditis is a life threatening but fortunately rare condition. We report a case of this condition in a young 20-year-old female patient with an early complication of mitral valve destruction and a late complication of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm formation.


Oil sands are known to be an alternate source of energy and of great economic value. To map the occurrence of shallow oil sand deposits in Idiopopo, Okitipupa area in Ondo state southwestern Nigeria, vertical electric sounding (VES) in 11 stations along 3 profiles were carried out using the Schlumberger configuration. Apparent resistivity value obtained ranged from (135.7 ± 0.05) ohm-m to (4592.6 ± 0.05) ohm-m. The resistivity curves obtained for each VES location were interpreted using partial curve-matching and computer iterated techniques and it revealed the presence of 4 and 5 geoelectric layers. Interpretation of the geo-electric parameters obtained indicates the possible presence of
oil sand in the fourth layer of VES 8 with a resistivity value of 164.9 ohm-m at a depth of about (16.50 ±
0.05) m and thickness of (39.03 ± 0.05) m. Also, VES locations 5 to 8 (profile one) all indicate the possible presence of oil sands in the fifth layers with a resistivity value of less than (725.0 ± 0.05) ohmm at a mean depth of (39.05 ± 0.05) m. However, due to the depth of probe more information about these layers could not be ascertained. It is recommended that further geophysical survey techniques like VES with increased electrode spacing and/or 2D resistivity method should be employed to effectively map the oil sands especially along profile one.

Key words: Geo-electric, oil sand, Idiopopo, South-western Nigeria, vertical electric sounding, resistivity.


. In argument search, snippets provide an overview of the aspects discussed by the arguments retrieved for a queried controversial topic. Existing work has focused on generating snippets that are representative of an argument's content while remaining argumentative. In this work, we argue that the snippets should also be contrastive , that is, they should highlight the aspects that make an argument unique in the context of others. Thereby, aspect diversity is increased and redundancy is reduced. We present and compare two snippet generation approaches that jointly optimize representativeness and contrastiveness. According to our experiments, both approaches have advantages, and one is able to generate representative yet sufficiently contrastive snippets.


ABSTRACT
 The bivalve genus Spondylus, with its large and magnificent shells, has played an important cultural and economic role in coastal Ecuador that reaches back to Valdivian and Incan times. At least 2 of the 3 occurring species lately faced exploitation rates that the populations could not sustain, and a fishing ban for Spondylus calcifer and Spondylus princeps was announced in October 2009. The objective of this study is to evaluate the recovery potential of the stocks that are still present. We analyzed the reproductive cycle of 5. calcifer in the area of Ayangue (Santa Elena Province), and its relation to temperature and food abundance. In addition, we calculated fecundity values for the two threatened species. Our results show that S. calcifer in Ayangue reproduces year-round, although with a peak in October to December, when temperature is low and chlorophyll concentration is high. The total fecundity increases with soft body mass and is significantly higher in S. calcifer than in S. princeps. The individual fecundity levels in our study range from 2.2–8.3 million eggs in S. princeps, and from 2.9–35 million eggs in S. calcifer, which is in the range of better studied oyster and scallop species. With the latest observations on current densities of both species, we conclude that these have long fallen below the reproduction thresholds for other broadcast spawning invertebrates, and possibly for positive net recruitment rates. Because broadcast spawners are susceptible to mate limitation (which is the dominant cause of Allee effects in aquatic invertebrates), the reproductive asynchrony we found in Spondylus populations in Ecuador further increases the significance of potential depensatory mechanisms and of nearest neighbor distance.


In this work, polystyrene (PS)/functionalized graphene nanocomposite foams were prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide. Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG) and graphene oxide (GO) were incorporated into the PS. Subsequently, the nanocomposites were foamed with supercritical CO2. The morphology and properties of the nanocomposites and the nucleation efficiency of functionalized graphene in foaming PS are discussed. Compared with GO, TRG exhibited a higher nucleation efficiency and more effective cell expansion inhibition thanks to its larger surface area and better exfoliated structure. It is suggested that the factors that have a significant influence on the nucleation efficiency of TRG and GO originate from the differences in surface properties and chemical structure. Furthermore, PS/TRG nanocomposites and their nanocomposite foams also possess good electrical properties which enable them to be used as lightweight functional materials.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry


Matching and estimating motion are basic problem of computer vision. Classical methods are first to find the matching point (or line etc.) and then estimating motion. This paper discussed the application of Clifford algebra (Geometric algebra) in the area of computer vision, presented the uniform formula of 2D and 3D rotation and their application in matching and estimation motion of the line segments model. Based on improving the algorithm of matching 2D polygonal arcs in reference [4], this paper provides an algorithm solve both of matching and estimating motion simultaneously using Clifford algebra. Via minimizing the distance between the model and the detected characteristic (the distance measure is defined as the integral of the Euclidean distance between corresponding points), The algorithm results with that the rotation of the best estimation can be represented by the SVD of a matrix. To our knowledge, this paper is the first investigation to solve both of them. And the algorithm is free from the dimension of the line segment model. Synthetic data has been used to test the algorithm, and excellent result has been obtained.


The Monte Carlo Independent Column Approximation (McICA) method for computing domain‐average broadband radiative fluxes is unbiased with respect to the full ICA, but its flux estimates contain conditional random noise. McICA's sampling errors are evaluated here using a global climate model (GCM) dataset and a correlated‐k distribution (CKD) radiation scheme. Two approaches to reduce McICA's sampling variance are discussed. The first is to simply restrict all of McICA's samples to cloudy regions. This avoids wasting precious few samples on essentially homogeneous clear skies. Clear‐sky fluxes need to be computed separately for this approach, but this is usually done in GCMs for diagnostic purposes anyway. Second, accuracy can be improved by repeated sampling, and averaging those CKD terms with large cloud radiative effects. Although this naturally increases computational costs over the standard CKD model, random errors for fluxes and heating rates are reduced by typically 50% to 60%, for the present radiation code, when the total number of samples is increased by 50%. When both variance reduction techniques are applied simultaneously, globally averaged flux and heating rate random errors are reduced by a factor of ∼3. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society


In this letter, the microwave and noise performance of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) has been characterized when cooling down the temperature. It was found that SiGe HBTs (fabricated in the framework of BiCMOS process) exhibit a maximum oscillation frequency f/sub max/ of about 292 GHz at 78 K, which represents an increase of about 30% with the value measured at room temperature. The noise performance has also been characterized at cryogenic temperatures, using an original de-embedding approach. Then, using the Hawkin's noise model in conjunction with an accurate small signal equivalent extraction, the four noise parameters have been estimated. The noise figure with a 50 /spl Omega/ source impedance was measured to be equal to 1.5 dB at 40 GHz at 78 K, which is one of the lowest value reported for BiCMOS SiGe HBT in the millimeter-wave range.


Detectors with AuZn square Schottky contact of the area of 2.5 × 2.5 mm2 were fabricated. On the back side, the whole area AuGeNi eutectic ohmic contact was evaporated. The thickness of the base material (semi-insulating GaAs) was 220 μm. The connection of 4 detectors in parallel was tested to get the detection area of 25 mm2. The 239Pu-Be fast neutron source with energies between 0.5 and 12 MeV was used in experimental measurements. We have investigated the optimal thickness of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) conversion layer for fast neutron detection. The spectra of the neutrons were measured by detectors covered by HDPE converter of different thicknesses. The fast neutron detection efficiency proved experimentally was compared with results from simulations performed by MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) code.


Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancers affecting women. Non-coding micro RNAs (miRNAs) seem to play an important role in the regulation of pathways involved in tumor occurrence and progression. Extending on the research in Haakensen et al., where significant miRNAs were selected as being associated with the progression from normal breast tissue to breast cancer, in this work we put forward 112 sets of miRNA combinations, each including at most 5 expressions with high accuracy in discriminating healthy breast tissue from breast carcinoma. Our results are based on a recently developed machine learning technique which, instead of selecting a single model (or combination of features), delivers a set of models with equivalent predictive capabilities that allow to interpret and visualize the interaction of these features. These results shed new light on the biological action of the selected miRNAs which can behave in different ways according to the miRNA network with which they interact. Indeed, these revealed connections may contribute to explain why, in some cases, different studies attribute opposite functions to the same miRNA. It is therefore possible to understand how the role of a genomic variable may change when considered in interaction with other sets of variables, as opposed to only considering its effect when it is evaluated within a unique combination of features. The approach proposed in this work provides a statistical basis for the notion of chameleon miRNAs and is inspired by the emerging field of systems biology. Author Summary The notion of a single predictive genomic (statistical) model is replaced by that of a set of models that can be considered as exchangeable due to their indistinguishable (optimal) predictive abilities; Our results indicate that the role of miRNAs cannot be interpreted independently from the combination of features with which they interact and can therefore vary considerably when considered in a network of different combinations. Some miRNAs may act as chameleons and behave in opposite manners thereby showing some kind of antagonistic duality; Some miRNAs are exchangeable inside models with equivalent predictive ability and seem to point to latent biological functions.


ABSTRACT A method utilizing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the Helicobacter pylori genes is widely used to differentiate strains. However, with this typing method only a single base change at a specific restriction site can be detected. In addition, it is unclear whether the nucleotide base change recognized by RFLP is related to a substitution of encoded amino acid. To examine the validity of the PCR-RFLP method, 933-bp PCR products were obtained from 41 different clinical H. pylori isolates and were digested with Sau3A restriction endonuclease. Furthermore, the nucleotides of the same region in the ureB gene were directly sequenced and compared. PCR-RFLP confirmed that there was genetic diversity within the ureB gene with three distinct types, one being well conserved and the other two being variations. However, the direct sequencing method revealed that there was no difference at the nucleotide level among these RFLP types. Base substitutions recognized by Sau3A occurred in the third-base position and did not change the encoded amino acid. In addition, many nucleotide mutations, which could not be recognized bySau3A, were frequently found. These results suggest that the PCR-RFLP method provides for an easy typing scheme of isolates, but does not reveal the true extent of genetic diversity. It is proposed that careful observation is required for the interpretation of results when clinical isolates are differentiated.


Abstract The current revision provisionally lists 77 valid earthworm taxa in seven families from Japan, with approximately 80 further names (ca. 50% of the total) either in synonymy – including 40 new synonyms – or retained as species incertae sedis. Generic placement of the species yielded 17 new combinations. About 30 species are known introductions and another ten are possibly more widespread, thus the probable number of wholly endemic Japanese earthworms is around 40 species (ca. 50% of the total valid species). However, a definitive work on the systematics of Japan's earthworms is pending, and the current revision aims only to provide a status quo and to track changes from the last comprehensive revision by Easton (1981) that listed 74 taxa. Subsequently, 60 or so new pheretimoid names were added by Ishizuka in 1999–2001, but only a few are considered valid taxa, the remainder being synonyms or species incertae sedis. The substitute name 'Pheretima' palarva, nom. nov., is provided for the junior homonym Pheretima parvula Ishizuka et al., 2000. While much of Easton's synopsis is supported, Pontodrilus is now placed in Megascolecidae sensu Blakemore (2000) rather than Acanthodrilidae sensu Gates (1959); Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) is removed from synonymy with Amynthas gracilis ; and an informal Amynthas corticis species-complex is established to accommodate the various morphs of this widely distributed species group. Pheretima (Parapheretima) koellikeri Michaelsen, 1928 is considered synonymous with Metaphire vesiculata (Goto & Hatai, 1899), thereby removing the genus Pheretima sensu stricto from the Japanese list. Polypheretima is also removed from Japanese indigeny, as the original description of Polypheretima iizukai (Goto & Hatai, 1899) failed to report intestinal caeca, and inspection of fresh material allows its placement in synonymy with Amynthas fuscatus (Goto & Hatai, 1898). Easton (1981) had listed this taxon as Metaphire fuscata , but further demonstration of superficial male pores qualifies it for Amynthas . Conversely, the discovery of copulatory pouches results in transfer from Amynthas to Metaphire for M. hilgendorfi (Michaelsen, 1892), comb. nov., Metaphire communissima (Goto & Hatai, 1898), comb. nov., and Metaphire megascolidioides (Goto & Hatai, 1899), comb. nov. The Metaphire hilgendorfi/Amynthas tokioensis species-complex ( Amynthas hilgendorfi species-complex sensu Easton 1981) remains one of the most intractable and pressing problems for comprehension of the Japanese fauna, as most of the component taxa, e.g. Metaphire agrestis (Goto & Hatai, 1899), are parthenogenetically degraded morphs as yet unaffiliated with their ancestral and biparental populations. Resolution may be sought employing combinations of morphological and molecular (RNA, DNA) techniques to determine specific affinities while also complying with requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999).


There are still no highly sensitive and unique biomarkers for measurement of puberty onset. Circulating miRNAs have been shown to be promising biomarkers for diagnosis of various diseases. To identify circulating miRNAs that could be served as biomarkers for measuring chicken (Gallus gallus) puberty onset, the Solexa deep sequencing was performed to analyze the miRNA expression profiles in serum and plasma of hens from two different pubertal stages, before puberty onset (BO) and after puberty onset (AO). 197 conserved and 19 novel miRNAs (reads > 10) were identified as serum/plasma-expressed miRNAs in the chicken. The common miRNA amounts and their expression changes from BO to AO between serum and plasma were very similar, indicating the different treatments to generate serum and plasma had quite small influence on the miRNAs. 130 conserved serum-miRNAs were showed to be differentially expressed (reads > 10, P < 0.05) from BO to AO, with 68 up-regulated and 62 down-regulated. 4829 putative genes were predicted as the targets of the 40 most differentially expressed miRNAs (|log2(fold-change)|>1.0, P < 0.01). Functional analysis revealed several pathways that were associated with puberty onset. Further quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) test found that a seven-miRNA panel, including miR-29c, miR-375, miR-215, miR-217, miR-19b, miR-133a and let-7a, had great potentials to serve as novel biomarkers for measuring puberty onset in chicken. Due to highly conserved nature of miRNAs, the findings could provide cues for measurement of puberty onset in other animals as well as humans.


The number of people utilizing a railroad system in our country has been increasing steadily, and new modern railroad stations are having been built mainly due to the introduction of high-speed railroad system and more efficient transfer facilities. Meanwhile, our society is becoming a super-aged; the average age of our population is rising fast. Therefore, we need to re-exam current barrier-free environment for mass transit facilities in our country and find out what would need to be done to provide better environment for unspecific majority. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of universal design at major railroad stations and find out which areas need our attention and suggestions for improving their environment so everybody could use the facilities safely without physically discriminational problems at least. The scope of this research is focused on the application of The Mobility Enhancement For The Mobility Impaired Act toward three major railroad stations in the metropolitan cities along the Gyeongbu Line. The result of the research shows the followings: first, the application toward the visually handicapped is the weakest area compared to others and it needs to be improved immediately. Secondly, it turned out that some of detailed guidelines provided by "The Mobility Enhancement For The Mobility Impaired Act" are not clear, and even some of the guidelines collide with those from "Act on the Promotion and Guarantee of Access for the Disabled, the Aged, and Pregnant Women to Facilities and Information". These need to be reexamed and reworked immediately so the accommodations are applied properly.


Sensors are important components of the dynamic positioning system, take compass for instance, which measures the course of a ship. Based on the Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter, a simple and efficient sensor fault diagnosis scheme was proposed to improve the ability for judging whether sensor is out work or not. This method improved the capability of diagnosing when and what faults occur by using double criterions of fault detection method, and solved the sensor fault diagnosis problem in output mutation. The double criterions consist of state deviation and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Only the output signal of both state deviation and SNR changed suddenly can prove a fault of sensor has occurred. If the output signal of state deviation transforms but the SNR does not, it just indicates that the sensor is disturbed by the external environment. Applying this method, an explicit solution was obtained, and achieved a greater capacity and efficiency in the implementation process. The validity and excellent performance of this algorithm was proved by the simulation results.


ABSTRACT Parental leave has important benefits for women, men, and families. This study examines how individual, family, and workplace factors are associated with the length of parental leaves taken by workers in diverse jobs and work contexts, but with the same employer, focusing on gender differences in the factors associated with longer parental leaves. The data are the result of a collaboration between university researchers and a municipal employer. We find that gender was a major driver of the duration of parental leaves for these workers, who must use their accumulated paid time off or take unpaid leave for parental leave; women's leaves were almost three times longer than men's. We also find gender differences in the factors associated with leave duration. For women, socioeconomic status seemed to matter most, while for men, family and workplace context influenced leave length. The results indicate the centrality of financial considerations in parents' leave decisions, reinforcing the importance of having a dedicated paid parental leave policy. We argue that paid parental leaves would help reduce disparities between and within genders at work and in the family.


In this paper, the performance of the cooperative multiuser direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) system is analyzed in the asymptotic regime where both the spreading codes and the number of users grow unboundedly large with the same ratio. Assuming that each terminal is paired with another user which, in addition to transmitting its own data, estimates and relay the information transmitted from its partner, a simple approximate signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) expression is derived that is independent from the spreading codes and explicitly accounts for the effects of the multiple-access interference (MAI) and the relay noise. The so-obtained SINR expression is then computed based entirely on the available local information and without any knowledge about the interfering users. The results obtained above are then used to optimally design the cooperative system. In particular, it is shown how the amount of cooperation between each collaborating pair can be adjusted to simultaneously achieve a preassigned target SINR for both users. Based on the local information, the globally optimal amount of the relay power is obtained that maximizes the achieved SINR at the access point. It is shown that increasing the relay power does not necessarily result in improving the quality of reception at the access point and, to maximize each user's SINR, its relay power should be carefully adjusted based on the environmental parameters such as the interpartner channel link and the powers of MAI and the relay noise. The connection between the cooperative and the conventional multiuser systems is also studied and simulations are used to demonstrate the validity of the analytical results.